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Chapter 9 : No Serenity

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Nikola Tesla untied his harness and began to walk, but he made less than three steps when he fell on his knees, breathing deeply and fast. Helen freed herself from her own harness and ran toward him. She knelt in front of him, cupping his face between her both hands.

"Nikola, you're okay?" She whispered worried.

"I need a minute… I'm still a little in shock about what just happen." Nikola answered closing his eyes during a short moment.

"What have you thought?" Helen exclaimed standing up. "The bomb was armed, it could had exploded with you still around."

"I could have never let you behind, Helen." Nikola simply replied lifting a hand up. Helen grabbed it and helped him up. He leaned on her, not sure about the strength of his legs.

"I called the team, Doctor Magnus." Declan said as he jumped out of the helicopter. "I told them our position. "

During the explosion of the bomb, they went through troubles and had to land quickly on a uninhabited beach on the edge of a tropical wood.

"They should arrive soon." The British man added.

Magnus nodded, thankful. "You will be fine?" Helen asked to Nikola.

"Yes, don't worry." Nikola smirked. "I may not be a vampire anymore, but please know I have not lost my touch."

"Well done, Magnus."

Helen, Nikola and Declan abruptly turned round to see Terrance Wexford walking toward them. All first noticed the gun he was holding, and Declan quickly took his own out of his holster.

"You should not wanna do that." A voice behind them told. Olaf Van Ausberg was standing in front of two armed men. "Put this down, please."

Declan had to obey and let his gun fall on the ground. Wexford smiled and slowly stepped toward Olaf and the other men. The German man was the only one who had no weapon and Wexford was proudly pointing his gun on Helen and Nikola.

"How did you find us?" Helen asked as Nikola put his arm away from her shoulder.

"We followed you." Wexford replied. "I had a tracking device on your helicopter and yacht."

"And what are you going to do?" Helen yield. "And what the bloody hell are you doing here!" She asked to Olaf.

"I told you she would try to stop Big Bertha to have the network back… you didn't believe me, and here we are." Wexford spat loading his gun.

"Respond to my questions!"

"Shut up, I don't owe you anything, Magnus!"

Helen Magnus had to contain herself to not yell at him again. Why everything seamed to tear any hope away from her? Was she such a bad person to deserve that all these miseries happen to her. She felt Nikola's hand on her shoulder, her anger suddenly dampened.

"Olaf… please." She whispered but the barn man looked away from her.

Wexford smiled. "Don't worry; she will not cause any more trouble…" He began to target Helen's head and Olaf suddenly pushed his hand down. A gunshot resounded, everybody jumped and Nikola quickly stepped in front of Helen.

"What the hell is going on with you?" Wexford spat. "I though we had an arrangement."

"We never talk about keeling anybody!" Olaf exclaimed. "I said I would help you to stop her and tell that YOU killed Big Bertha!"

"You failed!" Wexford suddenly pointed his gun toward Olaf. "Everybody already know what she did and I'm in trouble for misappropriation. I am repairing your mistakes."

One more shot, Olaf eyes the little smoke escaping from the barrel of Wexford's handgun. His glare slowly travelled from the arm to his chest where a tin blood trickle was slowly flowing down his stomach.

He fell on his knees and gasped. "Bastard." Olaf finally lied down, his face on the ground motionless.

"Why did you do that?" Helen breathed.

"Some sacrifices are unavoidable." Wexford simply replied. "Now, let's talk about yours." He added with an evil sparkle in his eyes.

"Don't do this." Nikola said.

"Get away from her, Tesla."

"That'll not give you anymore more."

"Oh Yes, it will… Satisfaction. All my life, I have been compared to the great Helen Magnus!" Wexford exclaimed. "All my life I was limited in everything I wanted to do just because I was told she already did it better than me! Not any single day of my life I haven't heard the name of Helen Magnus! I hate you. I hate you with all of my being!" Wexford was screaming but he suddenly spoke in a worrying tone. "Now, Mr Tesla, please get away from her."

"Then kill me, I'm not stepping away."

Wexford armed his gun angrily. "Perfect!" Nikola hardly clenched his jaw and fists in the expectation of what was going to happen.

"Put your weapon down!" A voice screamed behind them.

Nikola and Helen turned around to see the Sanctuary and Declan's teams all holding their guns right on Wexford.

"NO!" Wexford cried out.

Helen suddenly closed her eyes when a gunshot resounded followed by a dozen of others. A disquieting silence followed this short and violent fight. When Helen opened her eyes again; she saw two people falling down, Wexford…

…and Nikola.

She quickly stepped forward to stop Nikola from hitting the ground. His weight made her kneel down. She slowly made him lie down against her, keeping his head on her shoulder. Helen's breath was locked, she had a lump in her throat. She couldn't say anything, she was terrified. Helen quickly pushed away Nikola's jacket and saw a growing crimson blot on his chest. His gaze was lost somewhere in front of him.

"It hurts." He raised his hand to softly grab Helen's. "I've already been shot a lot… but this time… it hurts."

Helen dropped an uncontrolled sob and she finally managed to whisper his name. She saw somebody step toward her on the corner of her eye.

"We need to drive him to an hospital quickly."

Helen nodded, a tear sliding along her cheek, she leaned forward to kiss Nikola's forehead.

TBC