Page 58 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“No English.” Constantine paced away from the woman and her dolls. He reached the ice cream shop from yesterday and took a seat, ordering an espresso and a chocolate and raspberry ice cream.

Ten minutes later, Mikhail Korovin and Viktor Volk made themselves comfortable on the seats around his table.

A waitress appeared to take their order. Mikhail asked for two coffees and waved her away. She hurried back inside the trullo, more than a little spooked, it seemed, by the authority dominating his tone. Constantine wouldn’t have been surprised if she didn’t show up again.

“Where’s the witch?” Korovin asked in his usual straight-to-the-point manner.

Constantine pointed to the nightclub. “In there. Her name is Mada.”

“The Witch? I never would have guessed,” Viktor said, right before being distracted by a group of tourists that had filled up the street with their enthusiasm and flashlights.

“We must be careful. The place is full of humans. And witches. I haven’t seen her, but she’s there.” Constantine failed to mention that gut feeling he’d had earlier, warning him she was also aware of their presence. “The club is famous. The witches offer numerous ways of entertainment to tourists and locals.”

“And you’re sure the witch with the portals is in there?” Mikhail asked.

“Undoubtedly. Here”—Constantine placed Irene’s medallion on the table—“it should serve as an entry ticket.”

They stared at the two-headed snake with deep interest. The silver glowed in the sunlight. Before any of them could say anything, a shadow covered the medallion’s glow.

“We need to talk.”

They all looked up at the voice that had spoken. Standing in front of them was a slender woman dressed in tight black leather pants and a jacket. Her braided dark hair covered the long blade held in a sheath on her back. The scent surrounding her had the typical blend of blood and black pepper, characteristic of vampires.

The men exchanged confused glances.

Constantine spoke first. “Do we know you?”

“I know who he is.” She pointed to Mikhail. “Mikhail Korovin. Founder of the Hospital.”

Mikhail narrowed his gaze on her. “That doesn’t tell us who you are and why you’re attracting everyone’s attention with that toy strapped to your back.”

“People think I’m an actress.” The woman dropped her weapon and seated herself at the table, her molten honey gaze flickering between the three of them. “My name is Diana. My brother hired a witch to open a portal at your Hospital and I’ve been searching for him ever since.”

The men exchanged another confused glance.

Mikhail recovered first, schooling his features into a blank expression. “Start at the beginning.”

“My brother, Luka, met a couple of guys who offered him something he’s been seeking for a long time, in exchange for a little favour. He was just supposed to deliver a box through a portal. It took a while before he realised that the box would be delivered to the Hospital. The moment he mentioned that the job involved a portal, I forbade him from doing it. He’s older than me, but he’s always got himself into trouble. I thought we had an understanding. Then…” She threw her arms out in despair. “Then, suddenly, he disappeared. No explanation, nothing.”

“Maybe he took whatever his reward was and got out of town,” Constantine said.

“No. No.” Her voice was flat. “What he was seeking is with me. There’s no way he left without it. I only found out that he’d done the job – despite our conversation – because I discovered it in our safe.”

Viktor leaned forward on the table, steepling his fingers together. “Would you tell us what that thing is, darling?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. The point is, he wouldn’t have left without it.”

Constantine tilted his head to the side, observing her. She had an indentation above her upper lip, determination written all over her face, and noticeable inexperience. Was she aware that Mikhail intended to find her brother and make him regret his decision to ever approach the Hospital, be it through a portal? And her bringing this information to them on a silver platter only facilitated his task?

“Let’s go back to why you’re here,” said the manticore.

“Because we’re looking for the same thing – my brother. And clearly, we’ve all come to the conclusion that the only way to find him is through the witch that opened the portal.”

“Darling, if we find your brother, you’d have wished he’d stayed hidden. Believe me,” Viktor said in his sweetest voice.

“I disagree.” Her confidence made Constantine’s lips curl with amusement. “If you kill him, how will you know who hired him to mediate the job? And, by the way, what was it that he delivered that’s got you so riled up?”

Mikhail raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Why do you assume we’re here because of your brother?”

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