Page 89 of Call of the Blood

“This way, sir, is there—” A human had come forward, looking at us. He was wearing scrubs and probably worked there.

“She has a hole in her abdomen she’s pretending isn’t bothering her and keeps trying to ignore. And then there’s her foot…”

“I can explain,” I said with a sigh. And I did. The knife, the tile and concrete, the blood.

“We can fix it tonight, but only if she’s restrained. We can also do it during the day if she sleeps heavily through it.”

“Restrained?” I asked.

“I walk during the sunlight hours. Could I bring her to the medical wing while she’s unconscious, then take her back once you’ve finished?”

“That sounds perfect. She’ll fall asleep in her bed and wake up in it, and you’re okay with supervising her in case she wakes from the pain?”

“I am.”

“Alexius, are you going to ask my opinion?” I didn’t have a lot of energy to be angry, but I could find a drop or two if I needed it.

“Everly, would you like your foot fixed?”

“Yes.”

“Then that is the easiest way that you don’t have to be awake for. Do you trust me to keep you safe during the daylight hours?”

“I do. I just want to be asked if that works for me before you come to the natural conclusion.”

His nostrils flared, but he nodded.

“I don’t like seeing you damaged like that,” he admitted. “I got ahead of myself. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. Yes, that works for me.” I turned to the human who was speaking to us.

I was wobbly again once that conversation was done. I pulled out of Alexius’s grip, though, still feeling too empty to be comfortable with touch.

“I’m sorry,” I said, curling inward as the hollowness in my chest began to echo too loudly.

“Is there anything you would like to do right now aside from having blood, or would you prefer to shower and rest for the rest of the night?”

A random thought came to me.

“Are they here?” I asked. “The vampires he made?”

“Yes.”

“I want to meet them. I’ll drink beforehand if someone can bring me some blood.”

Alexius snapped his fingers, and an attendant ran over.

“We’ve been keeping this warm for the request,” the young man said, holding it out. I took the goblet and started drinking. Each sip gave me back a little energy, but nothing filled the hollow hole at the center of me.

Alexius knew the way to the interview room, where the vampires had been left sweating for almost the entire night.

“They were all seated, but…” Alexius gestured through the double-sided glass. “Leave anyone to their devices, and they try to get comfortable.”

One woman was lying on the table. The other woman was sitting in the corner, staring blankly across the room. The man made an uncomfortable-looking bed out of the five chairs in the room. Three for the vampires. Two for more powerful interviewers.

“Are you sure you want to talk to them?” Alexius asked.

I nodded and went for the door to get in, knowing he would follow right on my heels. They were all startled by our sudden appearance.