Page 118 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“Vladislav, you’re head of surgery.” Mikhail faced the vampire. “What do you think?”

“Well… I agree on upping the prices, but reducing the patients to VIPs only…” Hesitation crept into Nyavolsky’s voice. “What the fuck is a VIP in the immortal world?”

“Probably those billionaires that are behind bars right now,” someone chimed in.

“Creatures,” Mikhail said, raising his hand in the air, “please, be quiet for a moment. I would like Vladislav’s opinion on the infectious origin of the carcinoma.”

“There’s a theory that some carcinomas are caused by viruses in humans, but for now, we’ve got no reason to believe that’s the case here,” the vampire replied.

From the opposite end of the table, Elisanda scowled. “I thought we had agreed on that.”

“All right,” Mikhail said. “I refuse to reduce the patients to VIPs only, but I will consider raising the prices. Anything else?”

Viktor laughed again. These creatures were nothing more than immortal knuckleheads.

“We might have a small problem,” Jaguar said.

Viktor yawned, earning himself another death stare from Platinum.

“A friend of mine, a vampire, told me a very strange story,” Jaguar continued. “About a witcher he knew, who knew a lycanthrope…”

Viktor rolled his eyes.

“That lycanthrope claims his father died of old age.”

“What do you mean old age?” Platinum slapped her cheeks.

Viktor smirked. If the nymph wrinkled up and lost her beauty, she’d probably have no issue with his hand on her thigh.

“His skin aged, his hair went grey”—Jaguar skimmed his brow with fingers—“and his joints were aching.”

“We know that our bodies have been ageing since 1744, but at a very slow rate. And though we haven’t heard of immortals dying of old age, it’s not impossible to think that we will, in the near future… Why did this man not come here?” Mikhail asked.

“He led a solitary life, in some Russian village. The man believed it was God’s curse.”

“And the son?”

“He’s good – in decent health.”

“You are right. It is strange. If it is at all true. Would you check?” Mikhail suggested.

When the meeting was over, Viktor got up, convinced he would pay a nice visit to the city’s hotspots. He had heard of a place called Students’ Town, where apparently most humans housed their student dormitories. What entertainment could he find there, he wondered…

“Could we talk?” Mikhail asked.

Viktor’s muscles tensed. Everyone else had left the room, so the manticore was clearly talking to him. Oh, crap. Out loud, he said, “Yeah…?”

Mikhail’s attention stayed on him for far too long. “Have you been feeling all right? You’ve been distracted, ever since we stopped the drugs.”

Viktor plastered on his most charming smile. “I feel wonderful!”

“Glad to hear it. I’ve been wondering about something, and I’d like your opinion.”

Viktor sighed to himself. The danger had been neutralised for now. The two of them walked down the hall.

“Do you think it’s possible that Amelia belongs to one of the immortal species?” Mikhail asked after making sure nobody else was around.

“Amelia, Amelia…” Viktor tapped his nose. “Your pet, right?”

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