Page 38 of Chosen
Johra places his hand on my shoulder. “May I handle this, My Lord?”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak because I realize I’m on the cusp of ripping out Rui’s throat.
Johra moves from behind me and steps directly in front of the physician. My personal attendant is considered flamboyant by many standards with his unconventional hair color an ostentatious way of dressing, but he possesses the savagery of a concerned animal when crossed. It was one of the reasons I’d taken him in my employ once I became Sector Leader.
“Lord Draken asked you a question and I believe you know the answer.” His eyes turn a jade green with vertical pupils.
Physician Rui takes a step back. “Former steward? I-I’m not aware of?—”
Before he can get the words out, Johra back hands him with enough force to send him flying to the floor.
Collective gasps from the bystanders lined up, echoes down the hall.
I hold myself back from lifting the physician off the ground and delivering a blow of my own because he was wasting my time. Barely managing to hold myself back, I clench my fists at my sides aching to release the beast. Lately, this urge has been harder to control.
When I was away from the fortress the past week, I had had no problems but now that I’m back, it’s a constant struggle to maintain my beast.
Johra lifts Rui off the ground by the collar and raises him in the air. “You can answer the question, or I can separate your head from your neck.”
“Wait! Please let me explain! We were given orders to not interrupt the procedure,” Rui cries out like the coward I’d figure him to be.
“What procedure?” I demand. “Isn’t Steward Lawreynce already deceased?”
Rui nods frantically. “Yes, but his body is currently being prepared. He’s been taken to the crematorium.”
I furrow my brows trying to make sense of this matter. The only bodies that were usually sent to the crematorium were of homo sapiens who died while serving at the fortress. The body of asuperiouswho met an untimely death was usually shipped to their families for a proper burial.
I’d always thought that everyone deserved to be mourned properly by loved ones but this protocol has always been the way. I knew for a fact that Lawreynce’s family had some pull in the region he hailed from.
“Release him, Johra.”
Johra snarls at the whimpering doctor before dropping him to the floor.
I turn to the group of medical professional watching the scene unfold before them. I scan the faces until I recognize one. An oldersuperiouswho’s served at the fortress before even my uncle’s time.
“Physician Gwyen.”
The old man shuffles towards me and stops a respectful distance with head bow. “Yes, My Lord?”
“Take me to the crematorium,” I order before turning to the rest of the bystanders. “If any of you warn the head Physician in advance that I’m on my way, I will see that you all personally discovered the head of the crematorium fires for yourselves while you’re still breathing.”
No one says a word, and I don’t wait for a response.
“This way, My Lord.’”
My mind reels as I try to figure out what the hell is going on in the fortress. When did the staff stop working like a well-oiled machine? I had noticed the thinly veiled contempt in the eyes of some of the infirmary staff members. Or was my mind playing tricks on me. Either way, I needed to figure out what was happening around me.
My old insecurities reared their head and I’m taken back to a time when I’m told I’m not good enough to ever be more than guard dog on a leash. I could make people fear me by overwhelming them with brute strength but then I’m no better than the animal they accuse me of being.
The crematorium is on the opposite end of the entrance. We walk down winding halls past private rooms and offices and the operating room until we come to a metallic door with a peep through window in the center.
I place my palm on the heat sensory panel to make the doors open. I step through first to see the Head Physician Dean with two attendants and a male nurse standing over the body in question and speaking in a hushed tone.
“No one will know,” comes the whisper of the unfamiliar physician.
“It’s not right to do this.” Another one replies.
They’re so deep in conversation that they don’t notice they’re no longer alone.
