we don’t have time for-- um.”
“Doctor Who,” he supplied happily.
“Ah. We’ve got to head across town for your appointment. Then we’ll get dinner afterwards, okay?”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
The journey was expedited via the London Tube, and they arrived nearly thirty minutes early. The five-story office building was actually used for a variety of businesses, which included small medical practices. Dr. Guilhelm’s office was on the fifth floor and reminded him of the small office that Alondra Vargas, actually Chimalma, had maintained in Atlanta during last fall’s adventure. The small seating room outside of the doctor’s main office was eerily similar in size and layout. A brown-haired, human receptionist greeted them, acknowledged their appointment and asked them to sit in some chairs on the other side of the room.
Caleb looked up at Katrina with a frown and made a comment regarding the odd coincidence in setting. Her expression turned serious as she whispered, “Something like that’s simply not going to happen to you again. I promise no vampires will be messing with your mind or body. Except for me, of course.”
He sighed with his arms folded across his chest, and she placed a comforting arm across the back of his shoulders as they sat next to each other. After a few minutes, the doctor’s interior office door opened, and a tall figure with teal eyes and silvery blond hair looked at Caleb with an inviting expression. The fellow appeared to be in his late forties and had gaunt features and a lean body. Aside from his overly pale complexion, the only attribute even hinting at his true nature was that his eyes appeared somewhat brighter than normal.
“You must be Caleb,” he ventured calmly. “I’m Dr. Guilhelm, and I’m pleased to meet you. Alton said to expect you. And Ms. Rawlings, I presume?”
“Katrina,” she offered as she rose to shake his hand firmly.
Dr. Guilhelm shook Caleb’s hand in turn and gestured towards his dimly lit office. “Please come in, Caleb. Would you mind if Katrina remained out here for the time being?”
He looked up at her, and she smiled supportively and nodded her affirmation.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” she assured him and noticed the doctor smile and nod subtly in agreement.
“And Ms. Prescott, you may clock out now,” Guilhelm politely instructed his aide. “I won’t need you back here until tomorrow afternoon at the regular time.”
“Yes, sir,” the woman acknowledged with a respectful tone. “Good night.”
“Good night,” he replied as Caleb walked past him to enter the office.
A few minutes later, he perched on the edge of a brown leather couch placed against the back wall of the office. A series of forest photographs was displayed in three large frames above the couch. A leather reading chair sat across from the couch, in which the doctor sat with his legs crossed. Caleb scanned the office and noticed the window behind the doctor’s large oak desk looked out upon a nighttime view of the city beyond. Overall, it was much more comfortable than Vargas’ office and far more warm and inviting.
“Kind of a classic look in here, Doc,” he offered with a hint of anxiousness. “Do all psychiatrists use the same office furniture catalog? Or maybe it’s a standard layout?”
The doctor smiled, briefly and nodded. “Chapter three of the psychiatrist’s manual, actually.”
Caleb sighed and smirked.
“Are you feeling nervous, Caleb?” Guilhelm asked calmly with a supportive, non-threatening expression.
Caleb swallowed. “No. Well, actually, yes. But I’m okay.”
“Ah, but if you really were okay, you wouldn’t be here, would you?” the vampire asked with a grin.
Caleb looked up with a surprised smirk and chuckled despite himself. “You’re not a real psychiatrist, are you?”
The doctor grinned reassuringly. “Actually I am, but I’ve found humor usually lightens the mood, and you seem to enjoy a little levity.”
“I can see that,” Caleb agreed good-naturedly as he absently rubbed his fingertips against each other. “And yeah, I like humor.”
“That’s good. So, why not tell me a little about yourself?” Guilhelm encouraged. “And then a little about what it is you’re trying to recall.”
Caleb described his background at a cursory level, but soon found himself going into further details about his childhood and abusive father. He was surprised how easy it was to talk to the doctor, and he effortlessly described his introduction to Katrina last fall, including the occasional flashes of memory flaring at odd occasions. He described the flashbacks after having discovered the old photograph of his mother and Katrina, then Amber, at the company banquet. Occasionally,