16
Mikhail held the antique gold ring, a gift from his father to commemorate his attainment of immortality. The trinket was a family heirloom, passed down through generations. His father could have given it to either of Mikhail’s two brothers, but for some reason, he’d chosen to bequeath it to him.
He hadn’t touched the relic since establishing the Hospital. The guilt he carried over his family’s death wouldn’t let him. But tonight, for the first time in over two hundred years, the urge to grasp it in his hand overwhelmed him. It was the single tangible memory of his past before the Hospital.
Examining the rather unremarkable lion’s face carved into the front of the ring, he reflected on the years it had endured.
His father had cherished the object, thus its sentimental value.
Whose hands would it fall into after Mikhail’s death?
He had never considered it before because he had always believed his time was limitless.
Clenching the ring in his fist, he frowned.
Time was a deceptive thing – something that could trick a man into thinking he possessed it.
Mikhail had once believed eternity was his.
Then came the decline of immortals’ regeneration abilities, and even for him, the most favoured by Fate, eternity was not guaranteed.
He’d consoled himself with the belief he still had a long and happy life ahead of him.
Well, at least it had been long, and it had changed him from a spoiled rich son into a man obsessed with control.
Mikhail had forgotten the words the Oracle had once told him many years ago: ‘There’s a simple rule in the universe, manticore: the tighter you hold on to something, the more likely you are to lose it.’
And then Amelia happened. At first glance, she had nothing that could shake his world – until she did.
Now, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He longed for her. He wanted to possess her, to protect her, to care for her. To help her through her transformation. To give her everything.
But how long before his past would break him again? How long could he support Amelia before he inevitably disappointed her? She was the Oracle, and he couldn’t afford to lose her as a valuable ally.
Moreover, Amelia seemed determined to maintain a distance between them.
And maybe she was right. Why the hell should he get involved with her?
With the Oracle? If he made her his , his judgement would be completely clouded.
Even now, the thought of something happening to her drove him mad.
What would he do when the entire damned world learnt of the new Oracle and began flocking to her for visions?
If she were his , he would never allow her to expose herself to danger daily. That would be a tremendous loss for the immortal world and the Hospital. They all needed the Oracle.
The fact that she could see his tattoo puzzled him. It was just another thing he didn’t understand, and it made the beast within him thrash with frustration, because what he couldn’t understand… he couldn’t control.
Maybe Amelia could see the tattoo because she was the Oracle. Or perhaps it was a sign he should include her in the Council? Elisanda was yet to be replaced… The thought of exposing Amelia to so many dangerous beings tightened his chest.
On the flip side, it was a way to keep her by his side.
***
Amelia grasped the metal handle, pulling the door to the Conference table. Despite her inner turmoil, her fingers didn’t tremble.
She remembered the elongated room well, with its long conference table crafted from dark, sturdy wood.
Along the left wall stretched an arched window with a breathtaking view of the winter night outside.
The room was dimly lit by elegant lamps hanging from the ceiling, shaped like curved tentacles.
The ceiling itself was an artist’s canvas, depicting scenes of battles between men in military attire, mounted on massive black horses, spears in hand.
Amelia tore her gaze away from the artwork above, her attention drawn to the far end of the table.
Mikhail sat in the leader’s position, engrossed in a quiet conversation with the man to his left – the man with bi-coloured eyes , Jaguar.
Under the artificial lights, Mikhail’s face looked older, with light brown strands of hair falling casually just below his jawline, and his hands resting on the table.
When he noticed her, their eye contact sent a sharp pang through her solar plexus.
Mikhail gestured for her to come over. Amelia circled the table, still wondering why she was there.
Earlier, he had called to inform her about the upcoming Council meeting and added that he would be pleased with her presence.
His words had made her stare at the phone long after the conversation ended.
Usually, he didn’t extend invitations – he issued commands.
She had concluded that he wanted to introduce her as the new Oracle – though Amelia doubted anyone had missed that after her previous appearance at the Council.
Now, aware of the many eyes on her, Amelia straightened her shoulders. Passing a red-haired woman with refined features and a challenging expression, Amelia recognised her as the healer from Radiology. Across from her sat her husband, Nyavolski.
“Hello,” Amelia greeted them.
The redhead gave her a once-over. “You look well.”
To the left of the redhead sat two women, one with a businesslike demeanour and a leather folder placed on the desk before her.
She gestured while speaking on the phone, stealing glances at Amelia.
The other woman, stocky with a short, masculine haircut, nodded at her.
Opposite them, a woman with purple dreadlocks and matching lipstick grinned, her eyes darting between Amelia and the silver-haired Latino beside her.
Something made Amelia look towards the window, where the shadows shrouded a tall male figure. He stepped forward, and the crystal lights illuminated his face and clothing. It was Constantine.
“Hello, how are you?” Jaguar stepped in front of her and shook her hand. Besides his mismatched eyes, he had a crooked nose and overly full lips.
“I’m fine…” She scanned the room again, trying to decide where to sit.
Mikhail pointed to the seat on his right. “Please, over here. We’re waiting for all the members to gather.”
Taking the offer, Amelia settled down.
Gradually, the room filled with beings, and among them, Amelia spotted a beautiful blonde woman she remembered from the previous Council meeting, as well as the lycanthrope Viktor Volk.
The eccentric scientist paced past the table, deeply absorbed, and for a moment, Amelia worried he might sit on her.
Viktor stopped, wide eyes focusing on her, and opened his mouth, but Mikhail spoke first. “Take Elisanda’s empty seat.”
Only then did Amelia remember that Viktor’s place had been to Mikhail’s right at the last Council meeting. She started to rise. “I’ll move.”
Mikhail’s hand brushed her thigh. “Stay.” She ignored the warmth spreading from his touch.
“No problem. Elisanda’s seat is free,” Viktor assured her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“No, I’ll—”
“ Amelia, ” Mikhail said her name quietly, but something in his tone made her obey. She didn’t need supernatural abilities to understand. Here, he was in charge and wouldn’t tolerate objections.
Fine, she would comply only because she didn’t want to cause a scene in front of the others. But afterwards, she planned to remind him that she wasn’t a Council member and didn’t take orders from him.
Mikhail started the meeting and pointed to an exotic brunette in dark clothing seated to Constantine’s left.
Her name was Diana Jones, and she wasn’t a Council member but was present to provide information on the reptilians.
Mikhail paused as the double doors swung open, and a breathless blonde woman in a medical coat entered.
“You know Alex Volk, the foremost expert on the mysterious Journal of C. ” He gestured towards the newcomer.
“Thank you for the recognition. It’s entirely accurate.” Alex gave a theatrical bow before taking the last available seat.
Mikhail cast a sideways glance at Amelia, the corners of his lips lifting. “I’m sure you all remember Amelia, who succeeded the previous Oracle.”
“We remember her, all right.” Nyavolski’s wife grinned.
“Good. Because she is now the twentieth member of the Council.”
Amelia whipped her head towards him. What the hell? Wasn’t there supposed to be a vote by the other members?
Shouldn’t he have asked her first?
Her eyes widened in shock, sweeping over the beings around the table, expecting someone to protest. The news of her joining the Council didn’t seem to affect anyone – except her. A few nods and “welcome” gestures in her direction summed up the reactions.
“Without further delay, let’s hear what Jaguar has to tell us,” Mikhail said.
Amelia clenched her teeth. Later, she and Mikhail would definitely have a conversation about it.
“Thank you, Mikhail.” Jaguar’s eyes glinted. “I’m sure the information I bring will give us more reasons for enjoyable gatherings and deep reflection…”
“Well, let’s hear it already!” The blonde woman to Amelia’s right slapped her palms on the table, her voice sharp with impatience. “I postponed a meeting with a celebrity for this emergency Council session!”
Jaguar smiled. “I’m sure your admirer will be willing to wait, Platinum.”
She bared her teeth in a grimace that would have robbed any other being of their beauty, but not her.
“At that Council meeting when the new Oracle appeared”—Jaguar gestured towards Amelia, who stiffened – “she asked me for a pen and paper. She wrote down coordinates – a location in Kamchatka, on a Russian peninsula, near the base of a mountain. The nearest human settlement is fifty miles away…”
“Don’t tell me you went to Kamchatka in the middle of winter,” the pudgy man in the middle of the table interjected.