Page 26 of Bite at First Sight

“I always welcome a challenge.” Cassandra toyed with the food on her plate and attempted to keep her tone light, but Anthony’s severity resonated within her mind. For a man…vampire…like Rafe, what would regaining at least some use of his arm mean for him? Her heart thrummed. No, she could not fathom. However…she could imagine.

“Do you have any idea how you’ll go about it?” the vampire interrupted her thoughts.

Cassandra touched the smooth, unblemished skin on the side of her neck where Rafe had bitten her. “I do, but I am afraid I will need the assistance of another vampire.”

Anthony leaned forward, all the playfulness gone from his features. “I’m your man.”

This time, Cassandra couldn’t hold back an answering grin. “I had hoped you’d say that.”

True to his word, Anthony followed her up to the lab and complied with her requests and, most importantly, endured her syringe with no complaint.

With just as much aplomb, the vampire bowed. “I hope this will work, my lady.”

“I do as well,” Cassandra agreed emphatically. “I have reason to believe—” Her words broke off as she looked around the laboratory and noticed a change. Four gas lamps had been placed in the corners of the room. Lamps that could illuminate the chamber like daylight.

Her lips parted in awe. “Did Don Villar do this?”

Anthony nodded, a strange smile curving his lips. “He seemed to think you need more light for your work, but isn’t this a trifle excessive?”

Cassandra shook her head. Again, that strange warmth curled through her at Rafe’s thoughtfulness. “No, this is perfect! Please, light them all.”

Before Anthony could reply, she dashed past him down the stairs and out to the icehouse. Teeth chattering from the frigid air, she seized the chilled vials containing samples of her blood as well as Rafe’s. Her heart pounded with exhilaration at the prospect of a new discovery.

Once back in her laboratory, Cassandra prepared slides of hers and Rafe’s blood with utmost care. The gas lamps were so bright that they nearly made her eyes water. Sucking in a breath, she positioned the microscope close to one of the lamps, angling it for the best possible illumination. Willing her hands to cease shaking, she carefully positioned the specimen of her blood below the lens. Would the Van Leeuwenhoek truly be able to show her blood cells?

It did. Cassandra gasped at the tiny specimens. Not only was she able to see the red cells, but the often-doubted presence of white corpuscles was apparent. Quivering with excitement, she replaced the slide with one containing Rafe’s blood. Just as she’d suspected, there were obvious differences. His red blood cells appeared to be denser and were more oval in shape. Also, there were nearly twice as many white corpuscles than her sample contained.

Checking for consistency, she made a slide of Anthony’s blood. His specimen displayed the same anomalies as Rafe’s. There were also some oval-shaped cells in both vampires’ blood samples that differed from hers. Unfortunately, she couldn’t magnify the slides well enough for a sufficient view.

“Fascinating,” she said softly as she grabbed her notebook to make sketches and record her observations.

Anthony interrupted shortly afterward. “Thomas Wakley has arrived, my lady. He has brought a corpse.” His mouth twisted in disgust. “I’m going to have to heft the thing up here, aren’t I?”

“Most likely.”

Wakley grinned when she greeted him in the drawing room. “Lady Rosslyn, I have the perfect specimen. Male, aged twenty-eight, and he died only two days ago. Nice and fresh.”

“Splendid.”

Anthony grimaced. However, he assisted Wakley in hauling the linen-shrouded corpse up to the laboratory without complaint, although he was looking quite green about the gills when he left them alone.

Cassandra and Wakley each donned aprons, took up a scalpel, and began making incisions in the arm. Wakley explained the function and connection of each muscle, showing her which tendons were most susceptible to damage. They worked quickly, before the scent of decay became unbearable.

When they finished, Wakley covered the specimen with the shroud and removed his apron. “You intend to operate on Don Villar’s arm, don’t you?”

“Perhaps.”

His blue eyes narrowed. “I should help.”

“I am not certain he would permit it.” She avoided Wakley’s gaze. It wouldn’t do for a human to witness the methods with which she intended to experiment. She changed the subject. “What would you recommend to treat pain during and after a surgery?”

Wakley ran a hand through his golden curls. “Unfortunately, very little can be done during the actual cutting. I suppose you could give him laudanum or perhaps coat your scalpel in a tincture of morphine. Some fellows are experimenting with ether and nitrous oxide, though the latter may be more difficult to procure. As for afterward, I would recommend cannabis. I have found the herb to be effective on muscle spasms and other ailments.”

Cassandra smiled gratefully as she put away her scalpel and jotted down a list. “I cannot thank you enough. When will you be able to give me another lesson?”

“I cannot come tomorrow. I have a lecture scheduled as well as more work on The Lancet. Perhaps the night after?”

“That is agreeable.” She rang for Anthony.

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