Nikolai frowned at the vampire who entered his home, carrying an injured slave.  Nikolai was an extremely private person and he greatly preferred visiting his patients in the dwellings of their masters.  However, for extremely wealthy clients, he occasionally made exceptions -- and this was one of those times.  But that still didn’t mean he liked the idea of sharing his residence with a human.<br/><br/>Ushering the pair into his workroom, Nikolai watched as the vampire lowered the young woman onto the examination table.  She looked quite traumatized and Nikolai couldn’t prevent the splinter of pity that pierced his heart.  But he did his best to ignore it.  This was just the way things were.  No one had asked him if vampires should enslave humans -- hell, no one had asked him if he wanted to join their ranks.  Things just happened that he was powerless to prevent.  All he could do was make a place for himself in this difficult world.<br/><br/>The vampire’s instructions were received with a curt nod.  Then, after the vampire departed, Nikolai turned back to his patient.  The chains binding her seemed unnecessary.  Even if she was at full strength, he would still be faster and stronger than her.  And in her current condition?  She didn’t look like she could stand, much less try to escape.<br/><br/>“I do not think you are needing these,” Nikolai murmured, his Russian accent still thick, even after fifty years of living in America.  The vampire hadn’t left him with any keys.  But brute force allowed Nikolai to snap away the shackles and collar.<br/><br/>“I am Nikolai,” he murmured, hoping to distract his patient from the potentially frightening display of physical power.  He didn’t expect her to like him -- after all, he was one of the enemy.  But maybe he could at least calm her down a little.  “What are you being called?”