Page 164 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“I would have been more convinced if an autopsy had been performed, but you vehemently opposed that idea.”

“Because it would have been a desecration! I had nothing to do with the Oracle’s death!”

“It’s a little late to prove that. And right now, I have a much more pressing and unexpected problem, Elisa,” he said in a friendly voice, but the loathing he felt for her filled every fibre of his being. “With Amelia being the new Oracle and leaving the Hospital, she will be alone in the city. I suppose you can’t wait to disclose that information to your bosses.”

The nymph’s attention shifted to the leather bag beside her. She was surely thinking about her phone.

As if finally realising she was cornered, her mask cracked and was replaced by something else. Regret and guilt. “Mikhail, please. I had no choice. Please, listen to me.”

Mikhail arched his eyebrows. Why did they always claim they had had no choice?

“They threatened they’d destroy the Hospital if I didn’t cooperate. Everything I did was to save this place!” Elisanda cried out.

“What did they want?”

“The Oracle. They always wanted the Oracle. I had to report if I ever heard more. And then the human showed up and they wanted to know more about her… They were raging that I couldn’t give them anything and kept threatening me, Mikhail!”

Her desperation was palpable, but his tone remained unyielding. “And you thought that the best way to solve the problem was to go around murdering creatures in the Hospital?”

“I didn’t…” A tear trickled down her face. “I didn’t mean to. I swear.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“Oh, Mikhail! How could I rest this burden on your shoulders as well? I hoped to deal with them on my own.”

If he hadn’t been so infuriated, he might have laughed at her act. “And in your attempt to not burden me, you decided to remove me from the Council?”

“Remove you?!” The nymph gaped at him. “Never!”

This time, he did laugh. “I was watching you, thinking, ‘there’s no way Elisanda is behind all of this. If it was her, she’d stay quiet at the meetings, at least. Not attract attention.’ I underestimated your insolence.”

“I think you misunderstood—”

“How long have you worked for them?”

She hesitated before answering, “Five years.”

“You had plenty of opportunities to share this.”

“I told you, I didn’t want to mix you up in it. Believe me, I did everything because I care. For the Hospital. For you!” The corners of her pale mouth trembled.

“I don’t believe you.”

For a moment, he thought she would burst into tears. But then a feverish glint shone in her gaze, and the mask fell off. “Join me, Mikhail! Let’s work together. With them. Give them the new Oracle and maybe they will spare us. We’ll save the Hospital and continue our work!”

“No.”

Elisanda lowered her head and spoke, “Then I will leave, Mikhail. I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you. I hope you will find the strength to forgive me one day.”

Mikhail burst into laughter once more, although he didn’t feel the least bit cheerful. “I also regret to disappoint you, but you will never leave this place. Well, maybe you’ll change your living arrangements with something less comfortable, possibly underground and with bars, but you will stay here. Believe me.”

Elisanda’s gaze glowed like lightning. “You stupid, narcissistic ass!” She yelled furiously, forgetting her previous act of a repentant sinner. “You always think everything revolves around you. Your Hospital! Your Council! Your rules! Only, this is something far bigger than you! There is so much you don’t know and that’s why you will lose!”

“Enlighten me, then. Please.”

“They have knowledge. And technologies that you can’t even believe exist!” Her lips twisted with satisfaction. “You have no chance against them. None!”

“Who are they?”

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