Page 86 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“And yet some of them do…” Elisanda muttered.

Mikhail could only think of one such case. “A rare, controlled exception.”

“If you trust them…” Lyla said.

Mikhail had no intention of digging deeper into the topic. “Yes, I do,” he said in a manner that made it clear this was not up for debate.

“I suggest we gather all humans that work here and torture them until someone confesses!” Platinum exclaimed with a smile.

Jaguar focused his gaze on her. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, given the Tribunal’s presence, which will probably be felt as early as tomorrow.”

“And we sure wouldn’t want to upset the Tribunal – not when they value humans over all other species!”

“I wouldn’t say that…”

“Oh, please, I know what they’re up to.”

“Give them over to me and I promise they’ll be done with when I’m, um… done with them.” Lyla resumed her lunatic laughter.

Mikhail interrupted her giggles. “Only those with something to hide should be worried about the Tribunal’s presence.” He continued with some reassurances about how they would soon catch the culprits and everyone would once again be safe.

For the first time since the Council’s inception, he felt compelled to withhold the truth of all that had happened. As their leader, honesty was his duty, but instead, he had opted for a plausible deception to buy time and solve his problems on his own.

A sense of remorse overwhelmed him. When had he started to distrust these creatures?

Maybe it’s not a lack of trust, but weariness.

Finally, they voted on the matter of the Tribunal.

“Ten to eight. The majority supports the idea to call the Tribunal, so I’ll be doing it tonight,” he finished. “If anyone wants to take over from here, please go ahead.”

Lyla burst out laughing again. Was there some sort of contagious disease among witches that caused them to giggle uncontrollably?

“Did I say something funny?” Mikhail asked her.

“You’re done?” She opened her mouth wide. “Like the message accompanying Gazis’ head?! Come on, fellas! This is clearly some twisted joke. We can never be done!”

“And yet, it looks like for at least two of us, it’s done,” Jaguar noted.

Vladislav Nyavolski jumped to his feet. “Brothers and sisters, I must share something with you,” he said with his hand on his heart. “We encountered a problem in one of the ORs. A malignant cancerous tissue in the body of a vampire…”

Mikhail leaned against his chair’s headrest. Guess this Council meeting won’t be over any time soon…

***

At sunrise, Mikhail decided to pay someone a visit.

Elisanda Grace opened the door after the first knock, dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt although they were in the East Wing Intensive Care Unit where creatures rarely wore anything but scrubs. “Mikhail? I didn’t expect to see you…so soon.”

“I would like to talk. Now.” He immediately forced a smile, to take the sting out of his words. He didn’t mean to be rude.

However, she shouldn’t have been at all surprised to see him so soon.

Elisanda glanced back over her shoulder, then returned his smile. “No problem. Come on in.”

Mikhail stepped forward. Not once in all the years since Elisanda had been living in the Hospital had he visited her private room. Most of the furniture was modern, but everywhere around the room – by the window sills, the black leather couch legs, tables and cupboards – were hints of the typical Hospital décor. Also, there was no bed. The nymph must have a separate bedroom.

Elisanda invited him to sit on the couch.

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