Page 39 of Chosen
Johra steps forward. “Acknowledge your Sector Leader,” he barks in a command.
They all jump apart signifying their guilt.
“Sector Leader!” Head Physician Dean rushes forward. He’s short in stature for asuperiousbut would be considered average height for a male homo sapien. His dark bushy brows are raised in apparent surprise.
“What are you doing here? You didn’t have to come all the way to the crematorium to see me. I would have come out to greet you properly had I been told. The crematorium is usually off limits to non-medical personnel”
I cock my head to the side with raised brow. “There’s no place that is off limits to me.”
He waves his hands in front of him and shakes his head. “Of course not, that isn’t what I meant at all, My Lord. I just meant for safety reasons. The smell of the crematorium can be overwhelming to those who aren’t used to it. Please allow me to escort you to my office and we can discuss whatever it is you came to the infirmary for?”
I no longer have the patience necessary to perform the social niceties. I shove past him and head to the body on the table. The other physicians and nurse who’d surrounded the corpse earlier jumped away from it.
I look down at deceased steward. His body is pale and ashen, lips blue and skin slightly bloated. The claw marks where I’d struck him are still deeply embedded in his face. Nothing obvious indicates what he died from exactly but as I lean forward, I get a whiff of him.
My nostrils twitch and I bend closer to get a proper smell. I’ve been around enough dead bodies to recognize the scent but, perhaps there’s something in his blood stream? The scent is familiar but I can’t place it.
I straighten myself and turn to Physician Dean. “What was the cause of death.”
“Cardiac Arrest, My Lord.”
I stiffen. Had I misheard? I glance over my shoulder at Johra. “Did you not say he passed because of an aneurysm due to a blood clot?”
Johra nods his head. “I did, My Lord. That report came directly from Physician Dean.” The direct eye contact and unwavering tone makes his words more credible than the doctor’s.
I turn back to Dean. “Well, the cardiac arrest happened after the aneurysm.”
My suspicions that he’s hiding something is even more apparent. “Why was this man going to be cremated instead of being sent back to his family?”
“Well…Chancellor Braeden had gotten in contact with his family and they don’t want him returned. It’s protocol to cremate the body in that case.”
I’d long suspected my cousin was overstepping his authority in many of the staff affairs around the fortress but this made no sense.
I don’t know what his motives are but until I have concrete proof, I can’t accuse him of anything nefarious. One thing was certain however, I won’t allow this body to be cremated withouta proper autopsy being done on it. And at this point, there are very few staff I can trust.
“Physician Dean, you are dismissed from your post pending an investigation.
“Physician Gwyen, you’ll be in charge until further notice.”
“But My Lord, what have I done to deserve this harsh treatment? I understand you’re under a tremendous amount of stress because of the current state of our sector, but surely?—”
Something inside of me snaps. Before he can finish, I grab him by the back of the head and slam my fist into his throat. When he opens his mouth to gasp for air, I reach into his mouth with my claws unsheathed and pluck out his tongue.
Blood splattered everywhere as he dropped to the ground making a high pitched sound that wasn’t quite a scream. The other medical professionals flocked around him.
And I realize I may have gone too far.
Every time I try to pull away from the image of a beast I’ve been boxed in, I do something like this.
A wave of shame washes over me. “Jorah, see that he receives treatment. And then sequestered.”
“Of course, My Lord.”
“Physician Gwyen, see that the autopsy is done and be sure to have the results are delivered to me and me alone.”
“Yes, My Lord,” the old physician responds with a shaky voice. Clearly, I’ve frightened him. I’ve frightened myself.”
I have to get out of here. I turn to leave but Johra calls out to me. “My Lord, should I come with you?”
