Chapter 2 Anomaly #3
Had he changed her?
Shaking away the thought, she grabbed the first thing she saw.
Rin tugged off her shirt, standing in only a pair of black lace panties. Her nipples pebbled in the chill. It was cooler this morning, especially for late summer. It was August, and the air still burned with heat in the city. The nippy air was a reprieve she welcomed.
She tugged a pair of tight black jeans up her legs, pairing them with a thin, fitted, burgundy top with straps at the sleeves that hooked over her pointer fingers. Lacing up her boots, she hopped on one foot to her dresser, catching her reflection.
Her skin was pale, but her cheeks still held a slight flush—leftover effects of the alcohol from last night?
The silver of her many earrings poked through the tangles of her white hair, a match to the simple chain around her neck.
She finished tugging on her calf-length black boots, running a brush through her hair.
Her pale lashes, brows, and grey eyes made her look on the verge of death. But she was.
So, not much to fix there.
Rin hurried out of her room, boots thumping on the steps as she flew down the large, curving staircase that led to the kitchen.
Empty. Silent.
Where was Kit?
Opening the fridge, she relished the burst of cool air against her overheated cheeks. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she tipped back a glass of water, nearly choking on the liquid.
As she shut the fridge door, she saw a note scrawled on a small strip of notebook paper, tacked to the fridge with a magnet in the shape of a moon.
Don’t forget to eat breakfast—I left it in the blue container on the middle shelf.
She smiled at Kit’s thoughtfulness. But a glance at the clock on the wall showed that she didn’t have time to eat. She would grab something afterward.
In the garage, she unhooked her helmet from the back of her motorcycle, fitting it over her head as she swung her leg over the seat. She revved it, pressing a button on the side to open the garage door, revealing the too-bright sun. She was grateful for the dark tint of the helmet’s visor.
The ride to downtown Solar City was quiet since it was a Saturday morning.
Idling at a stoplight near the beach, she watched the sun as it glanced over the water beautifully.
Her heart clenched at the sight, a strong wave of nostalgia ripping through her.
A honk from the car behind her made her jolt and look up to find that the light was green.
"Asshole," she grumbled, lifting her foot from where it was brushing the road and putting it back in place as she rotated the throttle, taking the corner sharply.
The engine rumbled to a stop as she parked on the side of the road, bordered by high-rises. Deeper, the city center opened into a gorgeous circle, where no vehicles were allowed, boasting a bubbling fountain, shops, eateries, and more.
Kicking the stand down, Rin put her helmet on the back of her bike, quickly walking toward her destination: Solar City General Hospital, a state-of-the-art medical facility that was renowned for not only providing human care, but also having specialists who worked with other species.
Rin passed a business on the street corner, a worker passing out flyers for the off-planet travel agency. Her eyes fell to the pictures posted on the glass door.
Sibeth, the word written in bold font over photographs of the planet—dark architecture that dripped opulence. Everyone knew Sibeth wasn’t a family-friendly planet. Home to incubi and succubi, anyone who traveled to Sibeth wanted one thing only.
"Would you like a brochure?" A bright-eyed travel agent pressed a pamphlet into Rin’s hands.
"Sibeth is gorgeous this time of year." She leaned closer to Rin, her eyes glimmering with put-on amusement.
"And just between us, Prince Soltren is said to be in the market for a wife. Who knows, maybe he likes human girls."
Rin stepped back, holding a hand up to ward the agent away. "I’m not interested."
The agent wasn’t perturbed. "If you change your mind, we’re open until 6 PM!" she called after Rin’s already retreating form.
Rin couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder; something inside her was intrigued by the photos of Sibeth.
"I’m here to see Dr. Quenlan." Rin folded her hands on the reception desk in front of her, blinking away the dark spots in her vision from the bright fluorescent lights.
Katri gave her a soft smile, lines at the corners of her eyes crinkling, long nails clacking away on her keyboard as the ends of her short black bob tickled her chin. "Of course, Vesperin, honey. How have you been?"
"Fine," Rin replied, quickly turning the conversation back around on the other woman. She hated attention from strangers. "How are you?"
That was the right answer. Katri started chatting away about her daughter’s first day of middle school. "…I hope she grows up to be a fine young lady just like you. A Hunter," she gushed.
Rin’s eyes widened; before she could comment, Katri looked away from her computer with a smile. "Dr. Quenlan should be in his office. I’ll page him and let him know you’re on the way."
Rin gave a grateful nod. "Thank you."
Her boots clicked against the polished floors as she walked to the elevator, like muscle memory, as her hands pressed the button for floor number nine.
She steeled herself with a shaky breath. The ding of the elevator as it opened onto the ninth floor sent shivers down her spine. The halls were quiet, and she found the door to Lucien’s private offices, ears straining to hear the low tenor of his voice.
Nothing.
She raised her hand and knocked.
Just when Rin was preparing to take a seat in the small sitting area nestled in the hall, the door opened.
"Vesperin." Lucien Quenlan raised a long, pale finger, adjusting the set of his black-framed glasses as he peered down at her. His white doctor’s coat fell open at the front, revealing his usual black slacks and pale blue button-down; the top few buttons were undone, and she saw the beginnings of his pale chest peeking through.
"Dr. Lucien," Rin greeted. "I—hi." She was always rendered speechless in front of the man. He had that effect.
Lucien checked his silver wristwatch. "You’re five minutes late." His voice was cool.
Rin’s cheeks flushed. "Sorry," she said.
He stepped aside to let her into his office, her arm brushing his chest as she passed by, making awareness prickle on the back of her neck.
"I got held up," she lied, not willing to admit she had almost forgotten.
"Hm." Lucien assessed her. "This way." He led her past his ornate, oak desk and collection of shelves lined with medical texts to the already open door set on the far wall, which led to his examination room.
It was a stark difference from his office.
The walls were white, the floors so shiny, her pale face was reflected on them.
The center of the room held an examination table, a light shining brightly above it.
Against one wall, a desk and a simple computer, and shelves with glass doors filled with a variety of medical instruments.
Without looking at her, Lucien gestured to the table, hooking his stethoscope around his neck.
Rin hopped up on the examination table, the paper underneath crinkling as she shifted to get comfortable. Her legs swung as she watched his back.
"Your pupils are dilated. Your breathing is so loud, I can hear you from over here."
She jolted at his words, watching as he opened a drawer, pulling a bottle of something from inside and sticking it in his pocket. Finally, he turned, pinning her with a stare so cold it made her blood freeze in her veins.
He leaned his hip on the counter behind him, crossing his arms. "Were you going to tell me that you haven’t been well?"
Rin’s fingers dug into the crinkly paper under her. "I am well! Nothing’s wrong."
"Liar." He walked toward her, and she focused on the stethoscope at his chest so she wouldn’t have to look into his eyes. She felt his stare burn on her skin, scrutinizing. "You’ve lost weight."
"I’ve been busy… training." Rin looked up, wishing she hadn’t. "You know I got accepted into the Hunter’s Guild Academy. You’re not even going to congratulate me?"
Lucien hooked the tip of his shoe under the bar of a rolling stool, dragging it to him.
He sat down, bringing him eye to eye with her.
"Why should I, when I have made my thoughts on the matter clear? The Academy is too dangerous for you, Vesperin. You’re in no state to keep up with the sort of training they require.
You’ve not even had your first day, and you look ready to fall asleep right here.
What do you think four years of training will do to you? "
She swallowed. "I don’t need your validation, but I do need you to sign off on my records so I can pass over a copy to the Academy’s physician. If it bothers you that much, I’ll find another doctor."
The wheels of his stool rolled him closer. His knee brushed hers. "No, I am your doctor, Vesperin. Even if we have a conflict of your best interests, I will still oversee your health."
Why did he have to be so damned infuriating?
Lucien put the earpieces of the stethoscope in his ears, lifting the circular piece in his hands. Before she could so much as blink, he tugged the collar of her shirt down and pressed the diaphragm to her chest.
"Breathe deep," he murmured, voice dropping an octave.
She inhaled shakily, feeling her heart thump weakly in her chest.
"Again," Lucien prodded.
And Rin breathed in, slower this time.
He was so focused on listening to the sounds of her heart that she was able to steal a glance at him. His black-framed glasses perched on the end of his nose, cool green eyes narrowed with worry as the corners of his lips turned down.
The leather of his stool creaked as he sat back. "You’re in pain right now, aren’t you?"
Rin studied her folded hands on her knees. "Yes," she said softly.
Lucien was her doctor; she could share this confidentially, but her pride made her hesitate. He was silent, waiting for her to continue. And she broke under the weighted quiet he crafted.
She pressed a hand over her sternum. "I can’t take a full breath. I’ve not been sleeping well. I thought it was just the stress of wondering if I’d pass the entry exams, but it’s not stopped. My head hurts almost all of the time. Does that… make me weak?"
Lucien studied her. "It makes you what you are: an anomaly."
The clinical word was harsh, but she understood. The only way he could separate himself from her impending death was to treat her as a normal patient.
"The Nova in your heart continues to weaken you every day.
If you forge ahead with your plans of being a Hunter, it will exponentially speed up the process, due to several factors.
Stress, physical strain, exposure to Nova in the field.
Tell me, Vesperin, have you thought about what will happen if you come into close contact with Nova? "
She had, but that hadn’t stopped her from wanting to be a Hunter.
"I’ll manage. Sabine and Talor mentioned an experimental drug," she started, not willing to admit that the thought of being subject zero for a drug on combating the effects of Nova exposure wasn’t something she was thrilled about. But she would do it if that’s what it took.
"No." Lucien stopped her with a sharp cut of his hand through the air. "Absolutely not. You’re just as likely to die. And it would be a far worse way to go, I would imagine."
She resisted the urge to rub at her near-constant aching chest. "Do you know what it’s like?"
Lucien raised a perfectly groomed, dark brow in question.
"I feel the Nova running through my veins with each beat of my heart, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
It’s like this—this electric heat inside me.
I would give anything to be rid of it," Rin breathed, staring into Lucien’s cool green eyes.
"Even if that means I shorten my time. It’s already numbered, anyway.
" Her tone was infused with sardonic, dark humor. But she was coping the only way she knew how—pretending it wasn’t real, until she would one day be faced with the inevitability of her Nova-induced demise.
His eyes darkened imperceptibly. "It will not come to that, Vesperin. I promise you, I won’t let you die."
He had been promising her that since the accident. Foolish research could only get him so far.
Rin sighed, scrambling for a topic change—she had never been good with serious conversations, most especially with the stoic Dr. Lucien.
He was just as emotionally stunted as she, for he adjusted his glasses, once more, and reverted to the professional man she knew him as.
"In light of your intensity of symptoms and your Hunter’s training, we’ll increase your appointments.
" He stood, towering over her. "You’ll see me once a week. Katri will send you a reminder. Don’t be late.
" His hand dipped into the pocket of his coat, and he pulled out a bottle of pills, uncapping it and tipping two small white tablets into his palm.
He held them out to her. "For the headache you’ve been trying to hide from me. "
Her cheeks warmed as she took the pills from him. Lips parting, she lifted the pills to her mouth and swallowed them dry—she didn’t want to come across as any weaker than she already did by asking for water. With a grimace, she felt the pills stick in her dry throat.
Carefully, to give her a moment to back away, Lucien raised his hand, settling it on the base of her throat. Her grey eyes grew wide.
"Let me help," Lucien murmured, stroking his thumb firmly down the column of her throat, forcing her to swallow. Just as quickly, he pulled away from her, leaving her wondering if the sparks between them were all in her head.
He gave her his back as he busied himself on the computer, continuing as if he hadn’t rendered her speechless. "In the meantime, get a full eight hours of sleep, minimal alcohol consumption, and don’t skip meals." The last part was said pointedly.
She took that as her cue to stand, and she hopped down from the examination table, heading for the door.
"Vesperin."
She turned at the sound of her name.
"Stay far away from the Nova."
Rin dipped her chin in a short nod, turning the handle as she left his office without a word.
She never did tell Lucien that it would be hard to stay away from Nova, seeing as she was on the Alpha Team.