Page 107 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“Don’t worry about that. She’s my most trusted creature. She will be the only one taking care of you from now on. As much as I hate to admit it, the Hospital isn’t a safe place anymore. There have been two murders in the span of a few weeks. One of the victims was the chambermaid you attacked in your room.”

Amelia nearly choked on her food. The woman she had pushed to the floor to provoke her to do anything immortal. “She… is dead?”

“Yes. One of my Council members discovered the body.” Mikhail’s speech was casual but his deep voice also carried discontentment. “So, I did the only thing I could think of. I called in the Tribunal. As dreaded as they are by many creatures, they are the only ones with the means to catch the perpetrator. They’ve concluded that the maid was murdered by her roommate and her boyfriend, both of whom are missing.”

Killed by her friends? For God’s sake… Mind still reeling that all of this had happened in the same building she’d been living in – while she’d been busy moping around – Amelia took a sip from her wine. “You said two murders?”

“Yes. The first victim was a witch. A member of the Council.” A darker shade crept across his face.

Then he spoke about the head in the box that had materialised in front of the building with a threatening message carved inside. Amelia listened, observing him. He appeared relaxed but if she focused on his chiselled jawline, the tense muscles underneath were evident. His calm composure was a mask to hide his true emotions from everything that was happening in the building.

Because he really cares.

He cared about the immortal creatures, the Hospital and all those who suffered under his watch. It didn’t justify him kidnapping her twice, but at least she was beginning to understand him.

When he finished the story, she asked him about his Council.

“It’s a gathering of creatures I created a long time ago. Its main purpose is to discuss Hospital problems. Oftentimes, we also solve other matters.”

“Something like a board of directors?”

“You could say that. Except the members of the Council are not regular creatures. It’s not easy to kill any of them. Especially in the way that Kaliope Gazis was murdered.”

Amelia rested her chin on her palm, leaning in closer, all thoughts of food forgotten. The mystery he presented was much more interesting. “Do you know who did it?”

“Who killed her – no. We know who delivered the box, but he died before we could get anything out of him.”

She remembered what he’d told her the other day. “Why did you say I’m responsible for these murders? How are they connected to me? The chambermaid was killed by her friends…”

“I don’t know.” A tiny wrinkle creased his brow. “Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.”

But they could be. It was on the tip of her tongue to admit it all – the Oracle, the voice in her head. She downed the rest of her wine in a large gulp and started, “There’s something I—”

“Dessert has arrived!” Stella burst into the room once again with her trolley. “Oh, wow!” She stared at their untouched plates, her eyes wide with surprise. “You haven’t eaten!”

“Don’t take it personally, Stella. It’s my fault. I didn’t warn you that Amelia was vegetarian,” Mikhail said.

“Vegetarian?” Stella squinted. “She wasn’t when she lived downstairs!”

Mikhail turned to Amelia. Her stomach twisted.

“I…. am not feeling well,” she whispered as she attempted to stay upright on her chair. The room was spinning.

“Water! Humans drink water!” Stella dashed into the bathroom with a glass.

“What’s going on?” Mikhail looked at her askance.

Amelia tried to say something but it was hard to speak, so she just shook her head, immediately regretting her decision. The contents of her stomach rushed up. Oh, no! No way, she wouldn’t…

Stella returned with a glass full of water, passing it to Amelia. Instead of taking it, she buried her head between her knees and threw up.

It was humiliating. The vampire held her hair and Mikhail knelt beside her. At least as her stomach emptied, her head cleared.

She lifted her eyes to Mikhail.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

She nodded. “I need to use the restroom.”

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