Page 100 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“They’re also investigating the witch’s death. The one from the Council.”

“And, as you can see, they’re rushing to conclusions on that, too!”

Viktor wanted to roll over in his bed and hide. He knew what would come next – the monologue about the circumstances surrounding Kaliope’s death.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long.

“I wonder how someone could kill a witch, who—”

“Gotta go, sis! I have a date.”

The door creaked. A minute later, Alex said, “Vik, I wish you were awake. We have so much to discuss…”

Viktor wondered how much longer they intended to keep him pumped up with drugs. Wouldn’t it be better if he just woke the wolf up and listened to his constant insults?

The door opened again, and heavy footsteps approached. That couldn’t be Grigor.

“How is he?” a man asked.

Mikhail. He hadn’t come to visit him since they’d returned from Italy.

“Same old,” Alex replied with noticeable tension in her voice. “Why?”

“We need to wake him up.”

The girl held her breath. “Shouldn’t we wait another day?”

“It’s already been longer than I planned. He’s probably ready.”

“All… right…” Alex didn’t sound convinced.

“Would you leave us, please?” Mikhail asked.

“Well… Hang on a second… Why do you have a taser baton?!”

Viktor curled up in his sleep. This was not good.

“It’s not for him,” the manticore said. The sound of something being placed on a solid surface followed. “See? I’ll just leave it here.”

Oh, but Vik knew it was for him.

Alex’s hesitant footsteps, then the door closing, told him it was just him and Mikhail now.

The manticore moved around the room. Viktor could picture him discontinuing the infusion system – the machine that continuously pumped the drugs in him. If he was right, he’d soon wake up.

The wolf stirred.

A few minutes later, Viktor cracked his eyes open and looked around. He was in a bed inside a hospital room, one of the hundreds in the building. Mikhail was sitting on a chair beside him, the taser baton resting in his lap.

“Mikhail?” Viktor spoke first in a hoarse voice.

“Tell me what happened in the underground cave,” the manticore said.

The quietness of the wolf surprised Viktor, though he sensed his presence. Maybe he had finally learnt to control him.

An optimistic thought.

“I don’t know,” he replied, remembering the chaos with the witches. “I didn’t mean to fight, but when I realised we were losing, I did what I had to.”

---