So, this story will be a series of little out-takes and snippets of stories that are discussed in 'Letter's to the Past.' Unless you've read that one, this might all be a bit confusing so I'd highly recommend you do that.

This first story comes directly from Helen's first letter when she talks about Nikola feeding from her. I'm hoping to have at least one teeny story per pair of letters (that is Helen's original and Nikola's response) but I'm not making promises, some of them don't really have a lot for me to work with in that sense.

That said, if there is something you pick up on in the story and you'd like to see that fleshed out, let me know and chances are, I'll be able to write it :)

Enjoy

xx

"Nikola," she said tentatively, knocking on the door quietly.

His whimpering stopped and, sensing that he wasn't going to open the door she pushed it open. He was curled up in the middle of the bed, sheets torn and strewn all over the room, shoulders hunched in as his body shook. She couldn't see his face but she could imagine the grimace of pain.

"Oh my God, Nikola," Helen said, dashing across the room to him, no longer caring that she was standing before him in nothing more than the thinnest of her cotton nightgowns. She all but jumped on to the bed, crawling over to his body, running a hand down the torn fabric of his previously pristine shirt.

It had been two weeks since they injected him and, while at first he showed absolutely no sign that anything had changed, in the past week he'd come down with what appeared to be the flu. Which was odd considering it was the middle of summer.

Of course, looking at his shuddering body, Helen realised this most certainly wasn't the flu. Grasping his shoulder firmly, she tried to pull him over to face her but he resisted with surprising strength.

"Get out Helen," he ordered, his voice deeper than she'd ever heard it. Eyes wide, Helen tugged more firmly on his shoulder.

"I mean it! Get out now!" he almost yelled, his voice still coming out deep and twisted. His body was shaking even harder now and he pulled out of her grip, curling up into an even tighter ball. His hands were on his elbows, gripping hard enough to turn his knuckles white but, even in the shadowy light of the room, Helen could make out the talons that had erupted from his fingers.

"Oh Nikola," she said with a soft gasp. Slowly she reached out and put a hand on top of his, stroking the metallic looking additions.

"GET OUT!" he screamed at her, jerking away from her touch. She could hear the pain in his voice and it sent bolts of fear straight to her gut. She knew she should call the others to come and help but this was Nikola, her closest friend and her first instinct was to comfort him.

"Please, let me look at you Nikola. It's just me. Just roll over please. Please," she begged softly, running her fingertips along his upper arm.

"Please leave me, Helen. I can't-," he said, his voice more human now but cracking in a way that told her he was crying.

"Nikki, please," she whispered, her own voice breaking pitifully as she took in his crumpled form.

"Please," she cooed, shuffling to rub a hand soothingly up and down his back. He shuddered under her touch but didn't pull away. His breathing slowed slightly and he let out what sounded like a sigh before he slowly rolled onto his back to face her.

"What's happening to me, Helen?" he asked, his voice pitifully small as he stared up at her with big, black eyes. She could see the dried tear tracks on his face, the fear evident in his abnormal eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she gave him an unsteady smile before grabbing his hand in hers, holding it tightly. One look and she knew exactly what was happening to him.

"Sanguine Vampiris," she said soothingly. His eyes widened even further and he let out a whimper at her words, clutching her hand even tighter.

"No," he whispered, his mouth drawing back to show her a full set of deadly looking teeth. Slowly, his eyes swirled and she was looking again into the blue eyes of her friend. "It can't be…" he whimpered.

"It's alright Nikola, it's going to be O.K, I promise," she said, feeling the tears rise in her eyes. He was so frightened, lips trembling as he stared up at her, eyes asking her to take away this pain.

"I can't be…" he said again and she shuffled so that she could be even closer to him, placing her free hand on the side of his sweaty face.

"You are Nikola. But it's going to be alright. I swear on my life that you will survive this. Just think of the positives," she urged, smiling at him in what she hoped was an encouraging manner.

"No!" he cried. "NO! It's not possible. Stop saying it!" he almost screamed at her, his eyes turning black once more as his metallic talons grew. "NO!" he yelled, this time his voice more guttural than before. In once swift movement he sat up, throwing Helen to the side. She scrambled to stay on the bed as he leapt away from her, backing up against the wall.

"Nikola, please," she cried, making to move closer to him.

"DON'T. Not any closer," he said warningly. "I can smell you."

Her eyes widened with understanding. She sat back on her haunches, unsure of how to proceed. The pair stayed still for a moment, unable to move as they watched each other, waiting for a reaction, something to tell them how to proceed.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Nikola let out a low moan before shutting his eyes. All of a sudden, he slumped to the floor, his legs giving out. At his tiny whimper, Helen was on her feet, dashing to him once again.

"No," he protested weakly. Out of nowhere it seemed, his strength left him. His eyes were still black, his voice still distorted and his fangs and talons were on display but his eyes were half closed, his limbs still as if they'd grown heavy with lead.

"Nikola, what's wrong? What happened?" she asked hurriedly, her hands flitting over his clammy face. She moved to feel his pulse and, when she found it thready and weak, her own heart began to beat double time. Maybe he was having a reaction? Maybe he wasn't becoming a vampire? Maybe this was his body rejecting the source blood? Thousands of questions flew through her mind but it was all peripheral. Her entire being was focused on the panting man in front of her.

"Please Helen, leave. I can't… I won't… I need…"

"What do you need Nikola? What can I get you? Just tell me, please," she urged, panic creeping into her voice. He moaned again, his fangs glistening in the soft glow of the single candle next to his bed. Then it hit her. Blood. He could smell her and he needed blood.

She had two choices, either she could let him take what he needed or she could run and find the others. Glancing down at the man before her, her mind was made up.

"Nikola," she said softly, pulling his arm so that he stood with her. Surprisingly, he complied and soon enough they were seated on the edge of the bed, her hands gently supporting him.

"Nikola." His eyes were glazed and stuck to his lap as his head lolled about. "Nikola." Still she got no response. "Nikki please," she begged, those pesky tears clouding her vision once again. He seemed to perk up slightly at that. Taking her chance, she reached over and grabbed the small knife on Nikola's untouched dinner tray, one hand still holding him up. Taking a quick breath, she drew the blade across the tip of her finger until a small bead of blood appeared. She heard Nikola's quick intake of breath and she knew her hunch was right.

"Nikola," she said, cautiously grabbing his hand and placing her own in it.

"No," he whimpered. "Please, don't ask this of me Helen, I can't." He tried to push her hand away but she could tell there was no real heart to his actions. He wanted that single bead of blood and she knew. He made another feeble attempt to push her hand away and she sighed, taking her hand from his grasp before drawing her finger across his parted lips before dropping it to her lap, turning so she could watch him. He let out a moan at her actions.

"No," he pleaded, tears in his eyes. She could see him beginning to accept what he had become and, with his single word, he managed to taste her blood. Quickly, his tongue stole out to swipe his bottom lip. He groaned at what she assumed was the flavour, letting his eyes flit shut as he proceeded to suck on his bottom lip.

"Oh God, Helen, no," he cried, tears beginning to stream down his face as he turned to face her.

"Yes Nikola, you need it, drink from me."

He let out a tiny whimper before moving closer to her.

"Please don't let me do this," he begged, his face getting closer and closer to hers until their noses were touching. Despite the blackness in his eyes, she could see that his movements were not of his own volition, he was like a dead man walking into the light, moving only on instinct. She had the feeling that if she hadn't pricked her finger, her would have drunk from her anyway, unable to resist the urge down pounding through his body.

"Drink," she insisted softly. He let out one last pitiful wail before roughly shoving her back against the bed. She let out a small startled noise as his body descended over hers. He grabbed her hands, pinning her wrist above her head and, without any conscious thought on her behalf, her legs shifted until his body was cradled by her thighs.

"Forgive me," he whispered, burrowing his head in her neck. She felt his tongue flick out a taste her skin. She bit her lip, trying not to let the whimper of submission out. "Oh God, forgive me Helen. Don't let me hurt you," he said, his twisted voice breaking.

"Of course not," she whispered into his untamed hair.

Slowly, he peeled himself off her, shifting until his chest was just inches away from her nose. His shirt was torn and she could almost taste the sweat beading on his skin.

"Please don't make me do this," he said, his chest vibrating as he spoke.

"Nikki, it'll be alright. You need this, I know you need it," she soothed. He moaned at her words and, before she could even rethink her decision, his teeth sunk into the underside of her wrist. The pain was excruciating but short lived, quickly overcome by the most exhilarating sensation she'd ever felt. It was soft, gentle, like a caress that soothed every ache she ever would or could have. She let out a soft sigh, her hips shifting restlessly under his. Suddenly she needed his arms around her, his body pressed against hers. She whimpered, leaning up until she could run a tongue down his chest. He tasted like nothing she'd ever experienced before and it made her want more.

"Nikola," she breathed against his skin. She arched her back, bring more of her body into contact with his. He groaned against her skin, picking up the pace. All at once, what had been gentle became fiery, lighting her body in a way she'd never imagined. She out right moaned and his body moved closer to hers until her lips were able to plant, hot, open mouthed kisses all over his chest.

With a growl, he let one of her wrists go and trailed his hand down her side, caressing and teasing everything he could find until he reached her hips. From there he quickly began bunching up the sheer fabric that stood between them until he could feel her heated skin. With unerring accuracy, his hand slipped between their bodies until he could reach between her bare legs, stroking her harshly, making her cry out for him. Ripping his lips from her wrist, he licked the wound once before shuffling down until their lips were aligned, hand still moving frantically between them. He paused, hot breath fanning across her face and then, all of a sudden, he ripped himself away from her writhing body until he was, once again, flattened against the wall.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered lips still tinged red from her blood. Helen sat up, feeling woozy.

"Come here," she said softly, holding a hand out to him. He shook his head and she let out a small whine. "Please, Nikola. I want to sleep."

He stayed still for a moment before slowly moving towards her. His eyes were still black and his voice distorted but his nails had disappeared. She realised with a start that that had happened when his hands dove under her night gown. He climbed onto the bed with her, his face a mixture of wonder and shame but she reached out to him, pulling until he fell down on the bed next to her. He rolled to his side, still facing her and she moved closer until his head was resting against her chest, tucked under her chin. Unthinkingly, she threw a leg over his body as she pulled him closer, pleased when his arms did the same.

"Thank you," he whispered against her skin and she was pleased to hear his voice was back to normal. In a matter of moments she felt his breath even out and then he was asleep.

"Oh Nikola," she said softly, stroking his head. For all she had promised to make it better, she knew her promises were empty ones. She could no more make this better than she could undo any of the other transformations they had experience.

With a sigh, she pulled him closer, resigning those thoughts for the next day. Until then, she had a newly born vampire to comfort.