Chapter 11- Continuity

The door opened, and in the doorway stood a behemoth of a man. He was at least six-foot-four, and incredibly broad. His hair was oddly long, in no particular style, and jet black. His face was sharply defined, punctuated with eyes that weren't quite brown, seemingly tinted amber.

"Doctor Connors..." he said, in an accent not quite recognisable, but vaguely Eastern European. "I see that my panacea worked. Please... come in."

I nodded dumbly, as he stepped back to let us in, Edith with Micheal in tow. The house itself was sparsely decorated, but well furnished, with thick, practical furniture and plenty of storage space. It was surprisingly well-lit, too, with the help of electric lightbulbs. Dr. Harrow examined Edith and Micheal intently.

He tilted his head to beckon us into the living room.

Doctor Harrow sat down on the sofa, spread out in such a way his large frame looked entirely gargantuan. He gestured for us to do the same. Obliging, I took my seat in an armchair, as did Edith. Micheal lay curled up alomgside Edith. "Hmm..." he grunted, lighting a cigarette and putting it between his teeth. "Don't tell me..." he murmured, taking a long drag. "The boy has latent Deep One blood, yes?"

Both Edith and I were a little shocked. "Actually, yes..." I finally managed to say. "How could you tell?"

Dr. Harrow tilted his head back, blowing smoke up into the air, and tapped his nose. "Can smell it. He smells of Deep One, well, human mixed with Deep One."

"Can you help him?" Edith blurted.

Dr. Harrow looked at her, studying her carefully. "Depends on your definition of help, Miss...?"

"Merrows, Doctor." Edith informed him. "Can you cure him?"

"Call me Silas. And no, I cannot cure him, he isn't ill." Dr Harrow said.

"But he's going to turn into one of those things! We've come a long way, at least give us something of use!" Edith shouted at him, intensely upset at him

"Calm down, Miss Merrows." Silas said. "I can no more cure him of his bloodline than I can cure myself of mine, however, I might be able to... circumvent the transformation."

Edith jumped at the chance. "Yes, how would you do that?"

Silas leaned forward, thick forearms now leaning on his knees. "Well, I can take out his soul, and place it into a homonculus, an artificial body, if that's acceptable."

"What would that... homonculus look like?" I asked.

Silas looked out the door and clapped his hands twice. "Georgie?" He called. There was a shuffling around, out in the hall. Georgie shuffled into the room, he looked like a mannequin, with a glossy white surface, and no obvious facial features. Edith looked at him in a mix of horror and fascination. "That?"

Silas turned to face us again. "No, not quite. Georgie here has no soul, he's just a construct. If I were to make a homonculus for the boy, I'd make it look lifelike, naturally, and with an illusion sigil, he could live a relatively normal life."

Edith calmed a little. "I see. Well, yes, I think that's our best option."

Silas crossed his legs, throwing his arms over the back of the chair, cigarette clenched in his teeth. "Right, I'll start tomorrow, although I don't see the need for all the effort, most of us would just put a bullet in them. He's not yours and he sure as hell isn't Aspen's."

I didn't pick up on what he meant by that second part until a few seconds afterward. I was a little offended, even though I agreed. Edith explained the situation to Silas, although she didn't mention Micheal's mother, seeing as she was likely already transformed.

"Hmm." He said afterward, "Would've slit dear old dad's throat myself but I can respect the integrity. I can see why you like her, Aspen." He leaned in, disregarding personal space to ger a proper look at Edith. He narrowed his eyes, then stood up straight, turning to me. "Hmm." He grunted, not saying anything.

"You're welcome to stay here until the homonculus is made, as is Edith. Are you alright if Micheal is given the guest room, and you two, well, you don't really need to sleep but if you want to lie on tbe couch, I won't stop you. I'll be in my room, I lie on the bed a few hours, just for old time's sake."

"You're a vampire too?" Edith asked him.

"Correct." Silas confirmed.

"Why do you have a bed to begin with then? Would a coffin not be more appropriate?" She pressed.

Silas laughed and took a long drag of his cigarette, before extinguishing it between his fingers. "No, thankfully. The idea we sleep in coffins comes from the fact hiding in crypts and mausoleums is the done thing for vampires with no money. Besides, beds are far more comfortable, better if you have company, too."

Edith nodded. "I see."

"I'll leave you to unpack. Aspen, if you'd follow me for a moment?" Silas said, standing up, waving for me to follow him. I followed him to the kitchen, feeling anxious. I didn't know what to make of Doctor Harrow yet. He set about boiling a kettle, before turning to me and leaning against the kitchen cabinet. "So, Aspen, my panacea worked?"

"Yes." I said. "I didnt quite expect to end up a vampire, but it did work."

"Good. That concoction was actually an experiment, of sorts, on my part." He said, lighting up another cigarette. "My blood is part of it, but there were additives to... push the boundaries a bit."

I said nothing for a moment, before managing an "I see."

"So, are you and Edith... involved?" He asked.

"No."

"I can smell you on her. He said. Either she's wearing your clothes or you've been some way entangled." He contested.

"That's because I gave her a blood transfusion." I told him.

"Ah, she's your progeny, then. Why are you helping Edith?" He continued. "Did you not learn that sticking your neck out for others is the fastest way to an early grave from having tuberculosis?"

"I treated her once, I suppose I feel obligated," I said. "She needs help, I have the ability to do so. Nothing else to it, really."

"Sure." Silas said, covering his mouth. "Still, none of my business."

The kettle began to whistle. "Ah, wonderful, tea-time." Silas announced.