Page 102 of Unveiled

As the conversation intensifies, my head throbs. It feels strange. The world tilts at the edges of my vision, but I push it aside. I can’t fall apart. Not now. There’s too much?—

"Anya."

Semyon’s on his feet, reaching for me. It’s so strange because it seems like the floor is rising to meet the ceiling. How is this… I’m spinning, falling… then everything goes black.

"No evidence of poison,"someone says above me in a grim voice.

"She has a fever. If it goes on much longer, we're going to have to take her to the hospital."

"No, she won’t be safe there.” I recognize Semyon’s voice.

“You’ll have to do your best to keep her well-hydrated and rested. It looks like a virus, but it could get out of hand quickly."

I try to open my eyes, but they’re so heavy.Tooheavy. I close them again.

I watch as my mother pounds her small fist on the kitchen table, pleading with Semyon, begging. My father’s lifeless eyes stare ahead, the stale stench of whiskey on his breath. Eli appears next—bound to a chair, bloody and broken. But when I look closer, it's not him anymore but Semyon. Bloodgushes from the wound in his shoulder, splattering the floor. I try to scream, but no sound comes.

Then I see Stefan playing outside. He’s building a castle with the blocks Yana bought him. Behind him, a large, tattooed figure raises a gun. I try to run to him, but my legs are too slow. I can’t reach him.

I gasp. Waking. Semyon is sitting in a chair, and his head has lolled to the side. I take in a quick breath.

He’s asleep.

"Semyon?"

My lips feel swollen and my mouth dry as if stuffed with cotton. He stirs immediately, suddenly alert, his glasses slightly askew.

"Are you all right?" he asks.

I’m surprised to find myself in bed.

"I'm fine," I say. I think? “What happened to me?"

Semyon’s on his feet, rushing to me. Immediately, his hand grips mine. It grounds me, calms me, even as my fears are rising.

“We don’t know. We thought you might have been poisoned, but the doctor says there’s no evidence of that. You have a fever, but the doctor said it’s most likely a virus.”

A fever… right away, they thought poison. I stare at him.

"You were out cold.”

I shake my head. “Your clothes are a rumpled mess.”

He snorts. “Yes?”

“It’s just… unusual for you.”

Semyon’s voice is rough as he leans in closer to me. “I’ve been preoccupied.” He sighs. I can still see his bandaged shoulder. It was only a surface wound after all, but it bled like crazy and can’t feel good.

“He definitely has.”

I look up to see Zoya standing in the doorway.

"He’s been by your side nonstop. You’ve been in and out.”

“Zoya.” Semyon shoots her a look, but she just shakes her head.

"He’s been absolutely glued to you, Anya. We’ve all been worried.”

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