A cheer rang out through the crowds as the fireworks around the Thames River, and parliament, began to light up the sky with fractal patterns of light. Helen Magnus sat at the leather couch in her office watching the display on the television, a glass of wine in her hand. One of the few bottles she had managed to keep away from Nikola the last time he visited. There hadn’t been many she needed to move to the new Sanctuary with his insistence in drinking her wine cellar dry every time he turned up. The new Sanctuary she had planned ahead for that though. The security system was state of the art, and designed to take into account wine guzzling Vampires.
Helen reached for one of the crackers and cheese pieces on the plate in front of her.
This was how she preferred to celebrate each year. No loud noise. Just a nice relaxing shift into the beginning of the new year. It was peaceful. Besides, she gets enough excitement with the Sanctuary’s mission throughout the year. This was her one chance to relax; something that rarely happened.
She heard a chattering of voices as she finished the cracker, and glanced at the clock. It read as 11:30pm. Almost time. She thought everyone had left for the night.
Helen sighed as the voices neared and entered her office.
“I told you she’d be in here,” William Zimmerman said as he entered the room with Abby right behind him.
“And I said, she probably doesn’t want to be disturbed, Will” Came Abby’s understanding and caring reply.
“It’s fine, Abby,” Helen smiled and took a sip from her wine, “I thought everyone was heading out for the evening?”
“Yeah, that was the plan,” Will told her taking a seat opposite and pouring a couple of glasses for himself, and Abby, “But the restaurant canceled due to overbooking the place. So we figured we’d have a quiet one and join you,”
“If you didn’t mind,” Abby prefixed trying to make it sound like a question rather than just them invading the room.
“By all means,” Helen told them smiling while her mind sighed at the thought of her quiet evening to herself disappearing.
William passed a glass to Abby, who sat beside him. He placed his arm around her, and looked across at the television that just displayed a notice about being 20 minutes away from the new year.
“Almost there.” He said out loud to the room, “Hard to believe we’ve been in this building for 8 years now. It feels like just yesterday since we left the Old City Sanctuary. Where did the time go, aye?”
Helen was about to respond in kind when another set of voices spoke outside the door, and Henry entered with Erika by his side.
“I’m sure the Doc will be ok with it,” Henry was saying as they entered, “It will bolster the security of the place. What could go wrong with that?”
“You said that a mid way through the year with the laser grid situation, darling,” Erika told him, “Should I remind you what happened there?”
Henry rolled his eyes.
“Fine. One incident,” He replied back, “ But that won’t happen this time. I’ve taken precautions for it,”
“Didn’t you say that with the laser grid, Henry?” Will asked him with a sly smile butting into the conversation as they neared the group.
Henry glared at him, “Dude, that was nothing,”
“You vaporised a floor, Henry,” Will reminded him with a smirk that vanished as he caught Magnus looking his way.
Ever the one the middle, Abby piped up excitedly, “So, what’s everyone got planned for next year? Anyone got any good resolutions?”
“Maybe William’s should be less jokes,” Henry said smugly, as he and Erika pulled a couple of chairs in and sat with the group. Erika nudged him in the side with an elbow which he knew meant he should shut up.
“Nothing really, Abby,” Erika said after sitting, “Perhaps just some volunteer work now that the hospital for HAPs is in good hands,”
“Sounds perfect. Will?” Abby said so that the room’s gaze fell on her boyfriend.
“Just to spend more time with my girl here,” He said and gave Abby a mini hug with the arm that was around her.
A noise came around the corner, and Nikola appeared in the doorway. He was clutching a wine glass, and carrying a bottle of what Helen saw was one of her most prized bottles.
She sighed.
“Nikola,” She began as he sauntered across the room, “How did you manage to get into my new wine cellar?”
Nikola Tesla smiled, and held his arms out wide, “Genius… Remember?” Before throwing back the remaining wine in the glass, “Seriously, Helen. Do you really think any fancy security system is going to keep ‘me’ out?” He laughed
“So, what are you all doing? Besides sitting around,” Nikola asked as he refilled the wine glass from the corkless bottle.
“Telling resolutions,” Abby said with a grin, a little excitedly.
“Really?” Nikola replied with a taste of disgust on his lips that made him swig another drink of the wine, “That tired old human tradition? Very well, do you know what I want out of the new year?”
“To somehow bring back the race of vampires you believe are superior?” Helen asked taking a sip from her own wine glass.
“Oh how well you know me, Helen,” Tesla replied, “Well yes, but also to finally be known for the genius I am. With the respect, and money, I deserve,”
Helen chuckled, “Of course,”
A mini cheer came up from the television and made everyone look towards it.
“Look guys,” Abby said, “Almost midnight. Nearly there,”
Nikola Tesla rolled his eyes, over the excited tone and took another swig of wine. The television began to count down, and the crowd yelled out with it.
10… 9… 8… 7…
The Sanctuary crew began to count as well, besides Nikola who refilled his wine and looked down at Helen with a wink.
4… 3… 2…
1
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Came the cheer from around the room, as well as the television set as the fireworks went off around the London Eye. Erika and Henry hugged, and kissed each other, along with William and Abby doing the same.
Nikola smiled, “Well, if everyone else is doing it Helen? It could be like Vienna, remember?” and gave her another wink.
“Not this year, Nikola,” She said as she began to stand, “Well, all of you have a good night. That’s me to bed,” Helen Magnus turned to walk away before looking back at Nikola who was still smiling, “Alone. Goodnight,”
“Happy New Year, Magnus,” William called out as himself and Abby sat back against the couch listening to the gentle singing on the television.
“Goodnight, Doc,” Henry called out before settling back into a comfy position with Erika.
Nikola Tesla looked back and forth at the two couples, “And I’m going to find more wine. All of this,” He said gesturing to the four of them, “is just uncomfortable,” and walked out of the room leaving the now empty wine bottle atop one of the chests framing the door of Helen’s office.
Dreaming Screenwriter 