He called for Sarah, who quickly appeared at the top of the stairs with Connor. Upon seeing the wolf, they both stopped abruptly. Jackson pleaded, "It's Elisabeth. Something is wrong. Help." Sarah turned to Connor with fear-filled eyes. He took her hand and they started down the stairs together, approaching the wolf with reticence. Jackson was patting her, her heart rate had become more regular and the panting subsided.
Sarah and Connor stood above, gawking at her with a mix of terror and awe. "She's so beautiful."
As Connor headed back to the stairs, Sarah questioned where he was going.
"To get the video camera."
Jackson ran both his hands through her fur, checking for injury. "I think she might just be exhausted."
Sarah crouched to the floor and timidly put her hand into Elisabeth's fur. "Oh, my God. This is incredible."
Connor returned and began videotaping the scene.
"Maybe we should get her some water." Sarah hurried to kitchen and returned with a bowl. She put it in front of Elisabeth, and with some effort, the wolf rose to drink from it. "She seems to be hurting. I wonder how far she came."
After she finished drinking, she approached Jackson, licked his face, and put her head in his lap. He patted her with both hands. "Are you feeling a little better now?" She nuzzled her nose into his hand. He smiled at Sarah who was staring, slack jawed. "Isn't she amazing?" Sarah nodded, speechless. After a while Jackson said, "I think I'll get her something to eat."
Sarah stood. "You stay with her, I'll get something."
She returned with two raw steaks on a metal platter."
"Raw? That's kind of gross, isn't it?"
His grimace produced a chuckle from Sarah. "Says the man who drinks human blood. She's a wolf. I bet she prefers them raw." She placed the platter in front of Elisabeth, whose nose already sniffed the air. She devoured the steaks.
"Hmm, I guess you're right," mused Jackson.
The wolf licked her muzzle then approached Sarah and sat in front of her staring. The vampire stood frozen, fear returning to her eyes. Jackson grinned. "I think she is trying to tell you she won't hurt you."
Sarah slowly bent and pet her. "Hi, Elisabeth, remember me?"
The wolf then walked to Connor and repeated her actions. Connor still held the camera, recording the action. "She has to believe you when she sees this, Jackson."
They all moved to the drawing room. Elisabeth struggled to climb onto the sofa. Once there, she dropped her head to Jackson's lap and quickly fell asleep.
The three vampires sat quietly, occasionally shaking their heads in disbelief. When dawn neared, Jackson said, "I think I'll take her upstairs. I'm going to have some explaining to do."