Page 14 of Just One Bite
He escorts us to the left, through a windowed partition and down a hallway.There’s no hesitation when he opens the door to a small lobby. It has the same ambiance as the rest of the castle, but there’s a fireplace going as we all gather on a patterned rug. The castle is filled with intricately placed tiles that shimmer like moonstone in the crevices. The pamphlet said each was individually painted.
“Parker, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you already got into a scuffle.” An older woman appears behind the desk.
“No. Olivia needs help.” He swallows after saying my name. “I gave her some Quik-Recover. Someone bit her in the maze.”
“Oh dear, come here.”
She smells of firewood and antiseptic, leading me toward an open hallway. “The rest of you need to get back to orientation.”
“Can’t we stay?” Eva asks. “We’re her sisters.”
“Your sister will be fine here. It’s best you don’t miss anything as a first-year.”
“I can stay,” Parker says. “Since I’ve technically been.Zantcan escort Emma and Evangeline. As a grand member of the council, he’ll be a good guide.”
Zant is standing next to my sisters, towering over them with his hands in his pockets. His frame is slender but muscular. Parker and Zant are still shirtless and they both have scars across their chests and arms. Only Zant's are lighter and less pronounced.
There’s a look between them, but Zant says, “I’d be honored.”
“Yes, yes. That would be lovely. Thank you, Zant.” She obviously doesn’t detect the sarcasm in his voice.
“I’ll meet up with you after,” I tell my sisters, who’re being escorted away by Zant.
Orientation is crowded, so any worries I have of my sisters being attacked dissipates. I may not trust Zant, but I don’t have much of a choice but to trust Parker who could have left me in the maze if he wanted. As she steers me to a bed, I try again to pinpoint what his game might be. Perhaps he’s decided he wants my blood all to himself, so he’s gaining my trust to drain me later. Or maybe he’s going to use me in some deal for the council. Though, in his defense, he didn’t seem too friendly with Darien.
I’m too exhausted to keep thinking, so I stop.
The infirmary is a wide room with tall windows lining the walls on either side. It almost looks like our greenhouse back home, but the stonework looks expensive. I’m taken to one of the beds in the back, and she instructs me to holdout my arm, then runs a handheld beeping scanner over my wrist.
“Quik-Recover is working beautifully. But let’s get you a transfusion so you can be on your way. You’ll be tired, but we don’t want you to miss anything.”
I’ve never been in a hospital before. The most I’ve ever encountered is a bad cold, but the medicine my parents brought home was quick to knock it out. Where I’m from, the medicine is mostly human invention, but there is clearly a more advanced way of doing things at Doxlothia.
Heeled steps click on the smooth, cream stone flooring, echoing around us. A tall woman with dusty-blue hair demands all the attention in the room. She, like the other staff, is dressed in a long, structured skirt and blazer top with the school logo.
“Hello, Mrs. Abrams.” Parker straightens in her presence. His blue eyes are bright when he turns to me. “This is the dean of Doxlothia Academy.”
“I know.” I smile at her. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m a little dizzy.”
“Oh, no need. I was just about to go out and start the address when I heard one of you girls was in the infirmary. Terrible. Stop by the front office and fill out a report. We’ll investigate. I assure you we don’t allow that type of behavior here.”
“Actually, I know—”
Parker shakes his head swiftly.
“Parker …”
“I would be happy to show her how to fill out that report.” He flashes her a toothy smile. The weight of his gaze is heavier, so I decide to let it go for now.
“Perfect. I’m so glad you’re showing her the grounds. I can’t think of anyone better.” She turns to me. “I’ve been anticipating your arrival all summer. Your father called me a number of times to talk about the accommodations. I was happy to hear you were attending …”
Her brow furrows like she wants to say more, then my brain connects the dots and fills in the likely category.
“Have you given any thought to joining The Donor Program?”
That’s the only real way the university can assure our safety. Donor Program participants are federally protected by strict laws. I know that. That’s what my mother did and how she was able to attend Doxlothia in peace. I doubt anyone, including my father, anticipated one of us getting bitten on the first night here. The dean is probably worried I’ll tell my father, but he’s looking for a reason tobring me home. There’s no way I’ll tell him this.
“I know you were selected for the company audition. I wish you luck on your dancing endeavors. You know we sure do miss your father here on staff.”
