Immortal Beloved: Chapter Twelve
When Vicki woke, it was with a start. Instinctively she knew it was not a place she was familiar with, and it was on the tip of her tongue to call for Henry when she realized where she was.
There was a small light coming down the stairs to the fully developed basement and Vicki could hear Dr. Sagara moving around up the stairs.
“I wish I had my pillow,” Vicki murmured and crawled out of bed. She felt a pang of homesickness, and not for her apartment, but for Henry’s. She attributed it to the fact that she had been with him since this whole fiasco had begun, so it was only normal that now that there was a crimp in the routine, she missed the routine. Just gonna have to get over that, she thought stoically and marched up the stairs.
Dr. Sagara was cooking, the scent of something delicious causing Vicki’s mouth to water. Despite the fact that she was now a vampire and did drink blood, her human traits had not left, and honestly, she hoped they didn’t.
“What are you making?” Vicki asked, sauntering into the kitchen.
“Spaghetti. Would you like some?”
Vicki frowned, “I do, but…can I have that?”
Dr. Sagara smiled. “Yes, dear, you can. Every so often Henry will even eat food.”
“Then yes, please.”
“I washed and dried your clothes today so you can feel free to shower and change if you so wish.”
“I do, thanks,” Vicki murmured. “Dr. Sagara?”
“Yes?”
“Did you call Henry last night?”
Dr. Sagara smiled, “What do you think?”
“He’s okay?”
“He’s concerned.”
“But he’s all right? I mean he and Mike didn’t have a big to do?”
“No, he sounded fine. Just worried about you.”
Vicki nodded slowly, playing with the hem of her borrowed t-shirt. “I won’t stay long.”
“You can stay as long as you need to.”
“I don’t want to impose, you were kind enough to put me up as it is-“
“Nonsense. I like the company. I get lonely and besides, you intrigue me.”
“Me? The woman who studies and teaches the occult is intrigued by me?”
“Of course! The closest I’ve ever come to private investigators and cops is on television. If you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain, hear some stories.”
Vicki smiled, “Oh, I could tell you a few.”
“I bet. Why don’t you sit and make yourself comfortable? Some blood?”
“Please.”
“So tell me. You ever shoot someone?”
*********
The thing Vicki liked about Dr. Sagara was how she didn’t treat her like anything other than Vicki Nelson. She wasn’t Vicki the Vampire; she was still Vicki who just happened to drink blood now. The nights since her turning had been all about adjustment and trying to find her niche once more. She’d felt as though she’d lost it the minute she’d learned she was turned. A person can spend their life trying to find their niche, and just when Vicki had felt she had, it had been yanked out from under her and now it was a struggle to find it again. As a vampire.
She was beginning to think however, that the key was not in trying so hard to find it, but just letting things be long enough to realize that she was just as Dr. Sagara had said the night before: She was still alive, but just different. Normalcy could still be found, and in these moments, laughing and talking about her life with Dr. Sagara, she felt that normalcy once more. Henry had told her that even though a few adjustments had to be made, she was still the same person and could lead the same life. Somewhat.
“Your thoughts are heavy,” Dr. Sagara observed, sipping her wine. “What are you thinking?”
Vicki smiled sheepishly. “I was thinking that I forgot what I was for a little bit, talking with you like this.”
“’What’ you are is not ‘who’ you are, Vicki. Remember that. You might not ever forget that you are a vampire, but you also don’t have to spend all your time dwelling on it.”
“I think I’m starting to get that,” Vicki murmured. “Baby steps, right?”
“Exactly.”
“I think I might take a walk,” Vicki said suddenly. “Let me help with the dishes first.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you.”
“Dr. Sagara?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
********
Ending up at her apartment, Vicki stood in the doorway to her bedroom and stared at the blinds. She’d have to do something about those. If she planned to live here, she was going to have to make the space a little more vampire-friendly. Extra locks on the door ‘just in case’ and a better way to block the sun. A whole new system. Maybe like Henry had. That might entail whole new windows, so she’d have to start looking around. She couldn’t, after all, rely on Henry or Dr. Sagara for the rest of her unlife. If she wanted normalcy, then she was going to have to work for some of it. Carve her own path, move forward instead of staying stagnant in what had been instead of what was currently.
As much as she wanted to say “I’m better” in regards to how her life had changed, she knew that it was going to take baby steps for it still pained her. She still missed the sun, missed being awake during hours when most people were awake and missed having the best of both worlds: the day and the night.
“Vicki?”
Jumping, Vicki turned and found Coreen gazing at her meekly. She smiled at her assistant. “Hi, Coreen. How are you?”
Coreen lunged at her, throwing her arms around her in a fierce hug, nearly knocking Vicki over. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Vicki chuckled, awkwardly patting Coreen’s back. “’Okay’ I think, is relative.”
“How do you feel? What was it like? What do you feel like? Is it amazing?” Coreen asked eagerly.
Vicki sighed, “It’s … I’d rather not get into it right now.”
Coreen nodded, solemn suddenly. “Right, adjusting still.”
“Right. Hey, what do you know about windows?”
********
Vicki didn’t know that Henry stood outside her apartment, listening to her talk with Coreen about windows and how to go about conducting business in the day and night. He’d followed her since she left Helena’s; just wanting to make sure she was all right. He was pleased to learn she was making plans, but not pleased to learn that her plans did not include him.
He should be happy though, right? Making plans was better than wallowing. Moving forward was better than staying back. Though, there was still more for her to learn. Would she come to him as Helena had seemed to think she would? Or would she find a way to teach herself? Vicki was nothing if not self-sufficient and he knew she abhorred leaning on others for help and guidance. She would need him at some point, right? Henry had to wonder though if she would ever need him as much as he seemed to need her.
When the lights turned off and their voices drew nearer, Henry hid in the alley next to her building and peered out from the shadows. He was not accustomed to having to hiding like this - this was yet another thing she’d reduced him to.
“I’ll give you a ride,” Coreen offered. “My car is across the street.”
“Thanks,” Vicki smiled and the pair jogged across the street. While Vicki waited for Coreen to open to the door, she stared right at him and Henry stared right back. He knew she had to see him, especially now with her vampire sight. She said nothing though, and her expression remained blank.
Come home, Vicki, he pleaded her in his head and his heart sank when she climbed in the car and left him standing there.