Chapter 21 #3
Just like when my soul left it at that farm where I saved Lady, and I could see it clearly.
The body keeps calm when my clothing’s removed to reveal scars, bruises, and bones poking through skin.
It’s a puppet when medics lift my arms, talking to each other about my injuries and what to do to remedy them.
I let them rub different ointments on my skin, and drink whatever potions they tell me to.
One of the elves strokes something over my scalp, and her eyes wrinkle with a smile as she tells me my hair will grow back fast.
My hair. It’s the least of my problems.
All I want is for them to leave me alone.
I have no idea how much time passes, but there’s a hint of silver light growing in the sky, which must be moonrise. In their world, that would be morning.
I’m so tired.
I nod as the most senior medic talks about what will happen in the coming weeks. “…you will eat that five times a day, but with additions of regular foods, to get you used to them. They will be prepared under our supervision, so you need not worry.”
“And you don’t need any of the potions or ointments, one of us will bring and apply them,” the friendly elven woman adds.
It doesn’t seem they expect any answer, because once they help me into the clothes, (and embarrassingly, I do need the help), they all leave. I’m sure the healing is already happening, but right now, my scalp itches, my shoulders and knees ache, my nose feels swollen, and I’m mildly nauseated.
If they hadn't dressed me in my new clothes, I’d have dozed off the way I was—naked. I’m falling into nothingness on top of the soft, cool bedding when a loud, growly bark makes my eyes open.
Across from me, in the open doorway is a dog the size of a large boar.
It has a smooth coat, black with tan markings, and jaws full of needle-sharp teeth reminiscent of a shark’s.
Its red eyes zero in on me, and I freeze, my heart tumbling inside my ribcage.
Have I really survived until now to die ripped apart by this beast who hid among the books?
I gasp for air, crawling farther against the headboard when the hound from hell barks and comes closer to put its massive paws on the bed. I’m torn between desperate ideas on how to let this thing know I’m not tasty, and… just letting it happen.
I’m so darn done with everything. I can’t take any more trials.
But then Tristan walks into the room, now wearing just a simple shirt with one sleeve pulled up to reveal a fresh cast.
“I thought you’d want to see Lady before bed,” he says softly. “I know she doesn’t look like in the book you left me, but I think she’s growing quite nicely, right?”
Air gets stuck in my throat as I look from him to the huge dog that’s… smiling at me with two rows of teeth, then back at Tristan.
“Lady?” I ask in a small voice, and the creature from hell yelps, leaping onto the bed to start a circular dance.
It’s her.
It really is.
The puppy I saved has become… something else, because her looks sure as heck aren’t up to the breed standard. “She’s… huge.”
Tristan scratches his head, coming closer.
“That’s… these things happen to animals from the human realm.
Especially when they’re still growing. We often can’t predict what way they will develop, so it’s forbidden to bring them here.
But, of course, Lady is exempt of those rules.
” He leans down and I notice he has a snack for her.
She looks so happy when she crushes it with her giant teeth.
“She’s smart, and playful, and listens… most of the time. ”
The sweet way he treats her, how he scratches her behind the ear, is melting my defences all too quickly. He’s why I ended up here. Why I was tortured. And he will not be why I stay.
“I want her here,” I say quickly, sliding my arms around her muscular trunk. I can’t bear to look at Tristan now, because he obviously loves the dog and has had her for longer than me. If our eyes meet, I might just let him remain too.
“Of course. I’m sure she missed you. You probably want to sleep, but I’ll be back in a few hours and take her for a walk. You’ll be taking her to the garden yourself in no time—”
“No,” I say sharply,and rub Lady’s back when she whines, still very much a sweetheart, despite the unreasonable number of teeth in her jaw. “I don’t… I don’t want to see anyone. Just her.”
Tristan shifts his weight and strokes the cast on his arm. “Are you sure? I could—”
“I don’t want to see you especially. When I’m rested enough to think, I’ll send you a message. Through the medics, or… something. We don’t have to spend time together to research the unicorn.”
Tristan hesitates but then clears his throat. “As you wish. Lady, stay.”
She looks up in shock when he leaves, and at another time in my life it would have been adorable and hilarious. I don’t have the energy to enjoy her reaction.
I listen to his footsteps, my heart beating faster as the distance between us grows, and hug Lady tightly, disbelieving that she’s here with me. She’s grown so big and strange, but when she licks my face as if I’m covered in peanut butter, I know she recognizes me.