Page 30 of Keeping Sarah

When I came to, the room was familiar. Empty, but for a few books and vials on the walls. White and gray and nothing more. No decorations, no sign of life. Just sterile.The doctor at Rex’s manor—the one who had fixed my hands.

I tried to sit up, but Ode said, “Slowly. Be careful.”

My legs dangled off the side of the exam table. I held my head, which did not ache for the first time since I had been shot during the battle with Rex’s mercenaries. “What…where…”

“We are in Rex’s manor. Apparently dropping Sarah’s name was enough to get us here.”

I looked Ode over. “There is no more blood.”

She smiled. “I had a shower, and they gave me clothes. I didn’t leave you until I performed my own examination after hisdoctorhealed you.” Her eyes subtly flashed to someone behind me. “When I knew you were safe, I showered. How are you feeling?”

“I do not…odd,” I said, trying to make sense of things. “There is no pain.”

“That should be expected,” the doctor behind me stated flatly. “Your brain required reknitting. The odd feeling will fade within the hour.”

“Thank you for your help.”

The doctor walked around the exam table to see me. His face was as unsettling as the first time I had met him, like his face was a mask that clung to his real face. “You are welcome,” he said, and left without another word.

Remembering what had brought this about, I glanced back at Ode. “What happened out there with the man in the forest?”

Her lips smoothed into a flat line. “I killed him.”

“How?” I frowned at her. “I do not mean to be impolite, but Ode, you are not a fighter.”

She shook her head and mumbled, “No, I am not.” Then she met my eyes. “But Iama doctor. I know where to shove a scalpel to make sure someone will never get up again.”

Guilt wracked me. “I am so sorry I was not there to defend you—"

“Stop. Deacon.” She put a hand up. “In the last day, you’ve been shot in the head, severely concussed, terribly stubborn and out in the forest when you had no business being out at all. And you were attacked and hit your head again. Just like I said might happen.” Her expression was steely, until it softened again. “My point is, you would have defended me, had you the choice. You always have defended me. But this morning, it was my turn to take care of you.”

I gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Of course.”

“One thing still troubles me though,” I said thoughtfully.

“What’s that?”

“How did you manage to lift me onto the onworlder?”

She laughed. “You think I don’t have enough brute strength to do it myself?”

I blinked. “To be honest, I did not think you could.”

“Well, I did.”

“I sit corrected.”

She hesitated, then admitted, “Okay, it was mostly physics that lifted you. After I dragged your heavy ass close enough, I tied a rope to the back of your belt, threw the end over a tree, and used the onworlder to pull, until I could lower you onto it.”

I laughed, impressed with her ingenuity. “I will take your brilliant mind over brute strength any day.”

She smiled, then grew serious. “There’s something else you need to know, Deacon.”

“What is that?”

“Per Helios, Sarah is here,” she said carefully. “And so is Jac.”

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