25
Amelia enjoyed Viktor Volk’s company. His vast knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of immortal species, coupled with his understanding of the mysteries of the universe, surpassed the most comprehensive encyclopaedia.
Sitting with him in the autopsy room, listening to his stories, had become a rare pleasure.
Occasionally, Viktor would drift into his own thoughts, eyes vacant, and the striking beauty of his face clouded with sorrow.
It was during these moments that Amelia sensed in him a kindred spirit, someone who could understand the inexplicable sense of loss that had settled over her since Mikhail’s arrest.
For the third day in a row, she found herself in the gloomy, underground halls. Earlier today, a manticore’s dead body had been brought in, found on the outskirts of Sofia. A deep transverse cut across his wrist suggested he’d died due to massive blood loss.
“What if the body is discovered by humans and falls into their hands?” Amelia asked, tying her hair in a tall bun.
“It is highly unlikely for a creature to die in the middle of nowhere.” Viktor pulled out his apron and clean gloves from the metal cupboard beside him. “Most manage to reach the Hospital before death takes them. But occasionally, a creature could end up with a human medical examiner.”
“And what happens, if they notice the peculiarities of an immortal organism?”
“Ever heard of ayradjakli ?” Viktor snapped on his sterile blue gloves.
Amelia shook her head. “They’re witchers with the rare ability to perform hypnosis – fortunately, it only works on humans.
A while ago, I treated a Tribunal agent with a nasty rash in a delicate area, and he told me the Tribunal works with ayradjakli.
They’ve hypnotised all medical examiners to keep silent if they ever encounter something non-human in a body. ”
A shiver ran down Amelia’s spine. “All of them? Hypnotised without even knowing? Worldwide?”
“Well, I don’t know about the entire world, but certainly in regions like Bulgaria, where there’s a dense population of creatures.” Viktor began his visual examination of the manticore.
Amelia wasn’t dressed for an autopsy, and the opening up of dead bodies had never really captivated her. So she took a few steps back and observed the sequacious process that Viktor followed while he recorded his discoveries on a small voice recorder.
As they both studied the manticore’s face, Amelia wondered if someone out there was searching for their lost lover…
Probably not. The long lifespan of immortal beings, while an advantage, seemed more like a curse tainted by solitude. Most creatures lived like lone wolves, independent.
Was that what centuries of existence had taught them? Never to depend on another soul? To be happy…and solitary? If that were true, Amelia would fit right in – except without the “happy” part. She had learned how to be independent, but also alone.
As much as she denied her longings, in a hidden corner of her mind, and of her heart, she’d believed that it wouldn’t be forever.
Oh, but it will be.
Her vision blurred. She glanced away from the manticore’s lifeless face and focused on the dim light filtering through the windows.
Her blood pressure must have dropped, even though it hadn’t happened since her transformation.
She leaned against the autopsy table and a man’s voice echoed around her, shutting out all other sounds…
“Don’t worry, soon it will be over…”
It wasn’t Viktor’s. An icy wave of terror gripped her, freezing her in place.
She tried to stay upright, but dizziness overwhelmed her, and she collapsed backwards.
Everything went black. When her vision returned, a bright light was pointed at her.
Then, a man’s silhouette appeared, but his features were distorted through the glare.
“You’re a very beautiful creature, don’t you know?” His voice was soft, almost tender.
Her instincts fought for control: first, to blink away the spots in her vision; second, to leap up. But when she tried, her wrists and ankles pulled against chains. She was confined to a bed.
The man’s face came into focus – grizzled hair, puffy blue eyes threaded with red veins, tanned skin marked by small wrinkles that hinted he was around fifty, maybe fifty-five. “You’ll be a lovely addition to my collection…”
Amelia let out a piercing scream.
“Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes. Viktor was kneeling beside her on the cold floor of the autopsy room.
“I think so…” She gripped the gurney and pulled herself to her feet, her dizziness fading.
“Your eyes were white,” Viktor noted with a tense expression.
A wave of nausea hit her when memories of the vision returned – the man, the bed, the fear. “Turn him over,” she said.
“What?”
Without waiting for Viktor to react, she grabbed the lifeless body and tried to roll it over. When she struggled, he took over and flipped the manticore face down.
They both saw it at the same time.
“Valknut,” Viktor whispered.
Three interlocking triangles branded the manticore’s neck.
***
The silence in the autopsy room threatened to suffocate her. Amelia could hear her own breathing, but not Viktor’s. He was frozen, staring at the symbol, the light above casting harsh shadows on his tense features.
“I knew I’d find you here!” Helena Nyavolska strode across the room, her sudden entrance making Amelia jump. The nymph wrinkled her nose and buttoned her white coat up to her chin. “Ugh, how can you stand it? It reeks.”
Viktor tore his gaze from the corpse. His throat bobbed. “Hello, Helena.”
She glanced at the table, lips twisting into a sly smile. “Why don’t you do something more productive instead of playing with corpses? Like genetics, perhaps?”
“What do you mean?” Amelia asked.
“I have Constantine’s approval to obtain genetic material from the Temple of the Dead Immortals, but it’s strictly off the books.”
Viktor frowned. “But Constantine voted against it.”
Helena made a dismissive gesture. “Yes, for the Council’s sake. To keep any loose-lipped idiots from blabbing to the wrong people. Get it?”
Amelia and Viktor exchanged glances.
Helena sighed. “I need to assemble a team for the mission. You in?”
“Of course, you can count on me,” Viktor replied.
Helena pointed at Amelia. “And you, Oracle?”
She hesitated. While it was a great opportunity, her chances of finding the ring decreased if she left the country.
On the other hand, she’d been in the Hospital for months and still had no clue of where it could be.
And going to the temple to get genetic material…
It could lead to something big! Something that might help the entire immortal world.
Her chest filled with anticipation just like it had when she’d walked for the first time in the OR.
No matter how much her new Oracle abilities might resist her, this was her opportunity to do something, to affect the state of things.
“Yes…” Her eyes widened at her response. God , Mikhail would be livid with her!
The nymph clapped her hands. “Show some enthusiasm, people!”
“Is it going to be just us three?” Viktor asked.
Helena flung a lock of hair off her forehead with the back of her hand. “My husband will join us.”
Amelia lifted a sceptical eyebrow. “Nyavolksi approved?”
“He did not, but there was no way I could keep this from him. Our marriage vows compel me to be honest with him, and him – to keep my secrets. Apparently, he doesn’t trust me enough, so he has decided to come and keep me under control .
” The nymph rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, I promise to keep him under control. ”
Amelia wondered if the expressive surgeon could ever be controlled, even by his wife.
“We need one more,” Helena said. “The temple has three halls, each connected by a lobby. We need two people in one hall to retrieve the genetic material, while the rest keep watch. Someone trustworthy, who won’t buy into that nonsense about a curse falling on those who disturb the ghosts in the temple. Got anyone in mind?”
They fell silent for a while. Then, Viktor sighed. “How about Alex?”
“Your stepdaughter?” Helena asked.
“Yes. She’s trustworthy and it would be a chance for me to give her some liberty and prove that I don—”
Helena pursed her lips. “Please, save the family drama for when I’m not present. If you trust her, then I’m fine with it. Be ready in three days!” She pivoted on her high heels.
Once Helena’s footsteps faded, Amelia said, “Should we tell the Tribunal a serial killer is branding his victims with the valknut?”
“The Tribunal?” Viktor’s voice filled with anger. “Can’t you see they aren’t the good guys anymore?”
“Viktor…” She chose her words carefully. “When… it happened to you, didn’t the Tribunal do something about it?”
His throat bobbed. “The Tribunal didn’t exist at that time.”
“Right. Which means they never had a chance to do anything about it. But they might now. Someone has to stop him.”
Viktor’s brows creased. “Yes. Someone… Not them.”
Later that evening, Amelia went to the gazebo in the courtyard and pretended to stargaze while her fingers searched the gap under the bench. She pulled out a folded piece of paper. Back in her room, she opened it. Ana had written:
I can’t do anything for him.
Keep searching or I’ll make good on my word!
Her heart sank. Visions of the icy walls engulfing Mikhail resurfaced in her mind. She clutched her forehead, trying to maintain her composure. If she didn’t find the ring soon enough, there might not be a Hospital once Mikhail returned.