Page 15 of Reflections of Peonies
It was hard to keep track. “W-w-what time is i-i-it?”
“Geeze, don’ttalkto her,” the brunette snapped. “Didn’t you read the memo? Nothing good will come from a conversation with the fae. They’d be the first to trick you and have you bartering away your future if you’re not careful.”
The redhead’s gaze moved back to me, and she stepped back.
I blinked, stunned by the strange remark. I’d known they thought I was bad—but there’d been a memo sent out?
I didn’t want to hurt anyone.
“I—I wouldn’t!” I tried to tell them, but no one responded.
The large male nurse closed in on me and grabbed my ankle, jerking me down the bed. My broken yelp echoed throughout the room, and before I could regain my bearings, my wrists had already been restrained.
“S-stop!” Adrenaline was burning through me. I kicked out as confusion and fear clouded my thoughts. “I’ll tell Julian! I—” Cloth was roughly shoved into my mouth, cutting off my plea. Darkness swam in the corner of my vision that had nothing to do with the fluorescent lights shining down on me.
“Knock it off,” the brunette said, frowning at me. “I’ve beenhere long enough to not let threats frighten me. There’s a reason you’ve been committed.”
She glanced at the others and warned, “Be careful not to let her enchant you. I’ve read that they can steal your soul.”
“Where did you read that?” the redhead responded in a soft voice. “She seems pretty harmless.”
“That’s part of their magic,” the first nurse responded. “Just look at Bryce Dubois, for example. He’s as hot as sin, and you might even think he’s nice. But those taken by him feel much differently.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” the male said. “But if you’re so scared of the fae, why accept this assignment?”
“Well, some of us have bills,” she responded. “The hazard pay makes it worth it. Her people are loaded. Now shut up and move over; I need to do my job.”
Hurried hands loosened my gown, and my blood turned to ice as the bindings around my neck were removed.
I knew it’d be less painful to let them do what they wanted, but my courage failed with the remains of my calm. When a liquid cold dripped across my neck, pooling into the hollow of my throat, I couldn’t hold back my panic.
I lifted my knees, struggling, and crashed one into the glass bottle that the ringleader was holding. She cursed as she moved her hand from my chest to press against my arm instead.
“Here,” the brunette nurse said as she tossed a wet rag on my face, and I struggled to hear her over the resulting darkness. “Clean her up while I deal with the dressings. Kohler wants to see her in the morning.”
Someone responded—the other female—and before I could try to interpret what was said, water poured over my face, and the damp weight threatened to pull me under.
“Be careful!” This time, the not-so-mean nurse was louder now.
“I just tripped,” said the male, and his deep tones radiated through me. “Get a grip, these bowls suck.”
My lungs were screaming in panic before the rag was finally removed and rubbed harshly over my face and wounds, and even though I could hardly move, I tried to escape.
“Stop squirming!” the curly-haired brunette ordered, and her nails dug into my skin. She pushed against my shoulder, pinning me further into the bed, and the back of my shoulder jolted as I screamed through the gag.
“Maybe she’s in pain?” the redhead offered, but she was hesitant as she looked between the others. “Isn’t it time for her medication?”
“I suppose.” The brown-haired nurse huffed. She looked across the room. “I’ve premeasured the dosage already—you can give it to her.”
The other female picked up a syringe from the tray and looked at it. “That doesn’t look right—and she’s not prescribed the other.”
“Doctors don’t know shit,” the brunette answered. “Of course, it will be different—she’s not human. I’m a head nurse, and I’ve experience in these matters. Just give it to her.”
The red-headed nurse frowned. “I don’t want—”
The man stepped between them and took medicine from the redhead. “You’re cutting into my break,” he told her, then turned to me. I winced as he dispersed the medication through the IV.
A coolness began to spread through me, and my fingers tingled. My eyes filled with tears as the last semblance of control was stripped from me, and my tense muscles began to relax as my thoughts began to hum with numbness.
