Page 8 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species
A wave of ice washed over her, chilling her to the core. The weight of the choice pressed down on her, suffocating and inescapable.
“You have two choices, Amelia. Return to the manticore and fight a losing battle or take the ring from Mikhail Korovin and help me stop the Queen of Reptilians. The first option will lead to failure and destruction – yours, Mikhail’s, and the Hospital’s. The second is your only chance to prevent catastrophe. But youhave to act now.”
Amelia’s mind raced. She had believed her place was at the Hospital, working alongside Mikhail to find a solution to the species’ declining regeneration abilities. But now, everything seemed uncertain. Was Ana right – was she clinging to a doomed cause, tethered to a man who cared little for her beyond what she could do for him?
Ana’s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and clear. “You’re still not convinced you can take the ring from Mikhail? I understand. The manticore is a temptation for the senses, but that’s all he is. An empty shell. He’ll never fill the void inside you. He’ll only use you, drain you, until there’s nothing left.”
Amelia laughed, the sound bitter and hollow.‘You’re just a girl I wouldn’t give a second look if the circumstances didn’t require it.’Mikhail’s cruel words echoed in her mind, a painful reminder of her insignificance in his eyes. Ana had learnt much about her, but not everything. Amelia wasn’t naïve enough to expect love from Mikhail, yet the disappointment lingered, heavy and cold, in her chest.
Somethingabout Mikhail had touched her, reached a place inside her that had been numb since her family’s death. And because of that, his harshness had stung more than it should have. She had chosen to leave him, to be alone rather than endure his dominance and indifference.
But now… Could she really walk away? Could she ignore the genuine threat Ana posed to the Hospital, to Mikhail, and to the countless immortals who sought refuge there?
No, she couldn’t. No matter how much Mikhail had hurt her, she couldn’t stand by and let Ana destroy everything. But the thought of betraying Mikhail, of taking the ring… It twisted her insides.
At that moment, the reality of her situation hit her with a crushing force. She was defeated. The choice wasn’t a choice atall. If she walked away, Ana would carry out her threats, and the blood would be on Amelia’s hands. She couldn’t allow that. She wouldn’t.
Swallowing hard, Amelia met Ana’s gaze. “I left the Hospital of my own volition. It would be suspicious to return out of the blue.”
“You won’t have to. Mikhail will find you on his own. All you need to do is to be where he might expect you – at your family’s grave on the anniversary of their death.”
Amelia’s jaw clenched at the mere mention of her family. The pain of losing them, the void they’d left behind, and how Mikhail had briefly filled it before reminding her why she’d shut down her emotions for so long.
“If the Queen of Reptilians is truly responsible for the murders at the Hospital, then it’s likely she’ll be searching for me, too,” Amelia said.
“Yes, you are correct.” Ana pursed her pink lips. “Once you have the ring, you’ll have my protection. Until then, I can’t offer it. If I do, my sister will suspect I’m plotting against her, and I’ll never be able to use the ring to weaken her. For this to succeed, she cannot know I’m behind this. If anyone comes for you while you’re at the graveyard, you’ll need to protect yourself – just as you’ve done until now.”
Lovely.Amelia sighed, exhaustion weighing her down. “And then what?”
“Then you’ll return to the Hospital with Mikhail.”
Her heart pounded at the thought of being near him again, let alone staying long enough to get the ring… “What happens after I retrieve the ring?”
“If you wish, you can come with me. If not, you can go wherever you like. I promise that wherever you are, you’ll be under my protection. No one will touch you – not Mikhail, nor anyone else.”
“And if I take the ring, do you promise not to destroy the Hospital?”
“You have my word.”
“And Mikhail?”
“He will continue managing his Hospital. He is not my enemy.”
A lump formed in Amelia’s throat – the weight of the promise she was about to make.
“One more thing.” Ana pulled a small vial of green liquid from her coat. “This is a cure for the impaired regeneration. If you’re ever in danger, drink it. It will help your body heal.”
Amelia took the vial and slipped it into her pocket, unable to think about that now. “How do I contact you when I get the ring?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll contact you. Until then, you can report your progress to me with letters. Place them under the central gazebo in the Hospital yard.”
Amelia crossed her arms. “And how will those notes reach you?”
“Good luck, Amelia.”
Amelia had a million questions but voiced none of them.
An image of Dave, the ten-year-old boy living in the Hospital while his mother was in a coma, flashed before her eyes. How many innocent creatures had found refuge within those walls?
