Page 72 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“What?”

“Not only did he not fall in love with me, but he was so afraid of me from that day on, that he didn’t even want to talk to me.”

“Why did you hit him?” The boy shook his head. “Don’t you know it’s childish to pick on the person you like?”

She chuckled. “No. But it’s good that you know it.”

He looked down at his feet again and murmured, “Do you have a boyfriend, Amelia?”

“…No?”

“When I become immortal, if you’re still alone, do you want to be my girlfriend?”

The seriousness in his tone, the blush of his cheeks, made her smile wide. “Of course.”

Two hours later, Dave returned to his mother, and Amelia stepped into action. She rested on the bed and cried out. “I NEED A DOCTOR!”

One of the twins that Dave had called hybrids rushed into the room. “What’s all this yelling?” She scanned the room until her eyes found Amelia, curled up on the sheets.

“My ulcer…” She gritted her teeth. “It’s probably perforated. It should be checked by… a surgeon.”

The hybrid wrinkled her nose. “Forget it. Nobody comes in except the kid and the maids.”

Amelia bit her lip and twisted further. “It hurts… a lot.”

“I’ll go get you some painkillers.”

“They won’t help… I’m a medical student. I know.”

The woman stared at her a moment – Amelia added a low, pained moan for good measure – then growled. “Fuck! I’ll bring someone over.”

She slammed the door shut behind her.

Ten minutes later, an imposing man in scrubs barged into the room. Amelia shivered for real this time, because she recognised him – it was the man who had pursued the wolf on the day she had tried to escape.

“What’s going on here? Come…” He towered over her, the hybrid following him like a shadow. “I had no idea there was a human here. It’s okay. I’m Doctor Nyavolski. I’m the chief surgeon of the Hospital.” He gently pushed her on her back. “Where does it hurt, sweetheart?”

“Here.” Amelia placed a hand over the upper part of her stomach.

“Is it spreading or staying in one place?” His rushed words told her he wanted to be out of there as soon as possible.

She swallowed hard. “Just here.”

“Dizziness, nausea?”

“I threw up twice.”

“All right. Let me see your belly now,” he explained, leaning over her. “Pull your shirt up. Good.” His hand started moving up and down her abdomen, pressing carefully at first, then a little firmer. “Does it hurt here? How about here? Is it more painful when I push or when I release?”

Amelia intentionally made any diagnosis challenging by moaning and crying with every touch.

“All right.” He faced the hybrid. “I wouldn’t say the abdomen is hard, but I want to check. Take her for blood tests, urine and a contrast CT. I’ll go over the results when they’re ready. Okay?”

“No!” she snapped back. “I’m forbidden from letting her leave this room.”

Doctor Nyavolski was already at the door. “If that’s the case, why’d you call me over and waste my time? Do you have any idea how fucking busy I am, woman?”

“I’m just following Korovin’s orders, but he’s not here. I’ve been trying to reach him and he’s not picking up.”

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