Not an epilogue, the next chapter.

[teratologist]

It took time to settle in to the new Sanctuary. No longer the world wide network but one main facility with tiny satellite branches for necessary local use hidden about world. For starters it was massive, the subterranean grounds made some of the worlds major cities look shabby and small.

The venture had taken careful planning to grow through the 113 years of her hiatus from humanity, ending with an achievement Helen was exceptionally proud of. This single unit of habitats could house most, if not all, of the abnormal population of the world; with that came certain precautions.

Helen dare not let anyone into the confidence of it all until she was absolutely sure things were running as well as could be. This was by now a labor of love, and no one had the experience or commitment to preserving both spirit and letter of the Sanctuary foundation than she did. Eventually she brought the others in, Henry of course and her faithful companion Bigfoot came along right away. Will soon followed and Kate not long after, but there were others that required..well..the proper timing.

She had to give Nikola credit, he'd been vastly determined to not only locate her but try and gain entrance to the facility. She had enough time to plot this out though and Occam's razor prevailed. Nikola remained the last vampire on Earth, if she wanted to keep him out explicitly, she need only block that DNA. No matter how sophisticated a trick or trap he could make, the watchful eye of security would not allow him to pass, not until she was ready.

Three months, blink of an eye to their life times, but three months of denial was surely torture for Tesla. So, when it finally arrived the invitation came also with the balm a 2003 Opus One Bordeaux blend. Of course he couldn't have made finding him easy, it required most of her considerable resources and a bit of hunting by Henry to track down the genius and see that her invitation was passed along. So there it would arrive, a bottle, a single long stemmed blush rose and a rather poetic invitation written in Praxian so only they two would know what it said.

Nikola,
Forgive me the rudeness, but until now I'm afraid things weren't quite ready for you. But, if you're willing, you'll know how to find me.

Helen

Defenses down, his entry allowed, the new Sanctuary welcomed Nikola Tesla.

Comments

[tesla_vampiris]

He placed his hand on the wall, and a sublime smile spread across his face.

"Oh, you utter genius," he said, closing his eyes in deep concentration. He laughed, briefly.

"Got a burned out lightbulb three floors up. Good heavens. This is magnificent, Helen."

[teratologist]

"Well then, I can see this meets with your approval." As if there was ever a question? But it did show, should he care to apply a fraction of that commendable brain power, that she had Nikola in mind for this for some time.

"Thank you, I thought it was rather impressive myself."

[tesla_vampiris]

That fact was, slowly, sinking in. A bit delayed by his marveling at the architecture - but there it was, nevertheless.

"The most scientifically advanced building in history, so yes, I'd start with impressive. Work my way up to a marvel of scientific achievement."

[teratologist]

"Henry mentioned your disdain for the former era of the Old City Sanctuary, so I couldn't rightly expect Nikola Tesla to work in something beneath him could I?"

Compliment and barb in one, oh yes, Henry had told her what he said, even if it was under times of stress.

[tesla_vampiris]

He sighed.

"I'm going to have a word with him about private conversations, but then again, I should let him off the hook this time. He is expecting, after all. And if I want to be the Godfather or have a chance at it being little Nikola Foss, I'd better make a start now."

[teratologist]

"Do you honestly think Henry would name his child after you? No, Nikola, I think if you intend on namesake progeny that will be something you'll have to make on your own."

Helen had to laugh, as much as Henry admired Tesla, he was also driven half mad by him. There was no man or woman who could have influenced the naming of the child with two very strong willed HAPs as parents.

[tesla_vampiris]

He smiled. "It's always worth a try, you know. Better to attempt than not, as they always say."

He paused, frowning a little bit. "I was thinking of sliding a few patents his way, as a baby shower sort of gift. So he and Erika want for nothing." He would never, ever admit it, but he had something of a soft spot for Henry. A kindred spirit.

[teratologist]

"Of course, and you are nothing if not dogged in pursuit of your goals." Helen chuckled and took up their walk again.

"That is sincerely moving Nikola, I think Henry would be very touched. You might just have a shot at that name after all." Her arm looped through his again. "Just as well really, can you imagine the pitter patter of tiny Tesla feet? It could be an omen."

[tesla_vampiris]

"Only of good tidings, under an auspicious name," he replied.

He tilted his head to one side, whispering to her.

"Speaking of omens, you and I working together on a permanent basis? We'll turn the world on its ear. One might think you wanted me around."

[teratologist]

"Heaven forbid." Helen's made a mock look of shock at his whisper.

"Nikola, has none of this struck you as particularly convenient for you? I did spend rather a lot of time and money to make this a Tesla friendly environment."

[tesla_vampiris]

"I'm well aware," he said, a little bit more quietly, the smile fading just a little bit.

"I'm currently trying to catch up to the implications. Trust you to pull the rug and the world out from under me." It was a weaker attempt at levity, but it had a point behind it.

"I see them," he repeated, "I just don't know what to do with them yet."

[teratologist]

"It was intended to show how indispensable you are to me...to the Sanctuary."

They had agreed to talk about things later, so this was not the time to delve into such things. But later there would be time, all the time in the world.

[tesla_vampiris]

He nodded.

"And I find myself humbled by that, I really do. We've come so far in such a short time, you and I. I'd trust you with my life now, Helen, and I think this tells me that there is trust in return."

He took her hand, kissed it gently.

"And if I were completely honest, I'd admit that I'm rather content working for you nowadays."

[teratologist]

"As you said, discussions for a later time."

But how could she not smile to this show of affection and respect? Nikola could be utterly charming when he chose to be.

"I would hope that we would be working with each other more often than not. Of course there will be times when I may have to over rule your requests. I only say this because I know you, as you said, so well by now."

[tesla_vampiris]

"If I was discouraged by you saying no, I doubt we'd be having this conversation," he replied, with a wink. He walked on with her, a smile seemingly a permanent part of his expression.

"It's just this sense of newness. Like all the old patterns have been thrown out and we're starting from scratch. I think it's exciting."

[teratologist]

"You always did like to be cutting edge Nikola, now you have a place to work designed with you in mind. A position of some respect and authority and a place among friends, the Sanctuary is a family for those of us cast out by time and circumstance." It was true for more than just the Abnormals.

[tesla_vampiris]

He was quiet for a long moment, still walking along.

"I haven't had a family in a very long time." It was, in part, a story told in a sentence. He'd watched his family die, one by one, of old age. It had been a trauma, and he had locked himself off from a repetition.

In a sense, Nikola Tesla was afraid. But of losing others. Of losing her.

[teratologist]

"You have one now, and I think that may be by your choice or not." Like it or not Nikola you've been adopted by the motley assortment.

"You pointed out to me once that a life lived in fear of pain was no life at all. It's a belief I was willing to sacrifice everything for. I won't say I was willing to die for it, because that's quite the point really. It's an ideal I'm willing to live for."

[tesla_vampiris]

"Being shanghaied into a family. Well, that's impressive."

He grinned for a moment, then shook his head.

"You drive a hard bargain," he said, with fondness. "It's one of your more endearing traits." He said it for lack of anything else to say for a long moment.

"You also make the world seem like somewhere I can still believe in."

[teratologist]

"You're reputation would allow it no other way, I'm afraid."

To include Nikola in a family, you almost had to sneak attack it on him.

"Is it endearing? I could have sworn I'd heard you use other words in the past."

She rested her head to his shoulder and breathed deeply. "The world is a magnificent place. It is filled with wonders untold, for each benign spectacle there may be one more malevolent. It's the nature of life, I encourage cultivating the best in hopes that one day we may all come to see and share the wonders, in at least a civil sort of peace."

[tesla_vampiris]

"Oh, you heard wrong, naturally," he replied, with a grin. Then...then she was close, and that changed every thought in his head, sending them into disarray. He wondered if she knew the effect she had on him, really.

"You've always believed, more than I did. And I believed, too. In a better world, and a better life."

He turned his head, slightly, inhaling the scent of her hair.

"Your belief is marvelous, Helen."

[teratologist]

"Naturally."

Best to not try too hard to quash his ego, who knew what the resulting shock wave might be.

And no, she was mostly unaware of the degree of her effect on him. Largely she had chalked up Nikola's flirtations to her being unconquered by his charms.

"I believe because the world has shown me the truth of it. There are always aberrant actions offshoots in every species. I believe humanity has the potential to overcome these with the proper guidance and time.

[tesla_vampiris]

He just smiled at her for long moments, then pressed his hand to hers.

"Helen, I..." he paused, then chuckled.

"I look forward to working with you on a regular basis, my dear Miss Magnus."

[teratologist]

She took his hand, no hesitation just the ease of fingers entwining with his long. spidery-thin ones.

"There's more to discuss, but as you said, another time."

She nodded ahead of them. "Care to continue the tour? Or does dinner sound more appealing?"

[tesla_vampiris]

"Dinner," he said. "Starving, frankly. And this is a lot to take in. I'd like to save it for dessert."

He just smiled at her, that same take-on-the-world grin he'd always had.