Page 53 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, walking quickly to his side.
"Trying to move," he grunted, managing to raise himself approximately two inches before collapsing back. "And failing spectacularly. Why am I so weak?"
"It's part of the process, and it shouldn't worry you. Is there a reason you're making efforts you shouldn't?"
"I'm hungry," he admitted. "Starving, actually. Like, 'would eat hospital food and be grateful' level hungry."
"That is strange." She made a note on his chart. "Transitioning Dormants usually get hungry when they are past the initial stageand need to replenish their stores of energy. There is no chance you are there yet."
He grimaced. "Can I have something to eat, please? I'm really hungry, like hunger pangs." He moved his hands to his stomach, which was a good sign since he'd regained some strength in his arms, and his erection was gone, which was good news for him.
"I have to ask the doctor, and if he says that you can eat, the most I can give you is broth. Maybe some Jell-o if you're very good."
"You're offering me flavored water as my first immortal meal?"
"First of all, you are not an immortal yet, and second, would you prefer unflavored water? Because I can do that. Sometimes the body interprets thirst as hunger."
"Broth it is, then." He studied her face. "Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask. I might not answer."
"Fair enough." He paused, seeming to gather his thoughts. "Were you born immortal?"
"None of us are born immortal. We are born human, or rather Dormant. Girls transition early, at about two years old, and boys at puberty. Did no one explain things to you before throwing you into the ring with Magnus?"
He pursed his lips. "Andrew tried to cram everything in during the ride to my apartment to collect my things and then to the village, but I was too shell-shocked to absorb what he was saying. He might have explained that detail, or he might not have."
She nodded. "You can ask me anything you want to know. Since you are the only patient in the clinic, it's not like I have other things to do."
His eyes widened, not in surprise but in delight. "I'm your only patient?"
"That's what I said."
"So, you can devote all of your attention to me?"
"I can, doesn't mean that I will. If you don't need anything, I might busy myself with other things."
"I have lots of questions," he said. "Can you sit down with me for a little bit?"
"I thought you were hungry."
"Food can wait."
She pulled a chair closer to his bed and sat. "Ask away."
"How old are you? Or is it inappropriate to ask?"
"Older than you, by a lot, and age is not something that we talk about. It's irrelevant when you live forever."
"Older, like in you could be my mother? Or grandmother?"
He was a stubborn guy. "Like your great-great-grandmother. Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't. You could be as old as Methuselah, and it wouldn't matter to me. I would still think that you are the hottest chick on Earth."
"Methuselah lived to be almost a thousand, and I'm not quite that old. I don't appreciate being called a chick, though."
"My bad. Can you give me a list of approved words? Is babe okay?"
