Page 17 of This Ravenous Fate
Thalia grinned. “Just wait until you see the clinic.”
Mr. Wayne laughed gently. “That’s where Miss Gray spends most of her time.”
Elise couldn’t help but notice how pale Stephen Wayne looked under the lights. He was almost ghostly, his skin so white it looked nearly translucent. But his smile seemed genuine at least.
He turned to her just then and held out his hand. “I hear congratulations are in order for you. You graduated with honors from your music school?”
Elise smoothed sweaty palms over her skirt, then took his hand. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Have you any plans to continue performing?” Mr. Wayne asked.
Elise opened her mouth to respond, but her father spoke instead, “She auditioned for the Paris Conservatory, but is still waiting to hear back from them. We’re not worried about it. I know she will be playing full-time in Paris come autumn. She will remain home until then.”
Sterling stared hard at Elise, and she looked away.
Relief crashed through her when Thalia suggested they tour the adjoining clinic.
Thalia and Mr. Wayne led the group down a hallway and into a bright room that resembled a busy hospital ward. Visitors filled the entryway, lining up at a front desk. Others occupied cots while nurses tended to them. An antiseptic scent overpowered Elise’s senses, and she fought the urge to wrinkle her nose.
“It’s so beautiful, I love it here,” Thalia breathed, her eyes lit up. “It was originally supposed to just be a lab, but I suggested we havea clinic attached.”
Elise noticed Sterling sharing a gentle look with Thalia, who bit her lip, hiding a smile.
“Excuse me,” came a voice from behind Thalia. “I need help.” A Black boy who could not have been older than fifteen stepped up to her and Stephen Wayne. His clothes were so loose he appeared to be swimming in them, and his voice quavered as if he was on the verge of tears.
Mr. Wayne held out his hand. “That’s what we are here for. What’s your name, son?”
“Th-Theo,” the boy whimpered.
Elise watched Sterling narrow his eyes and move closer to Thalia, putting himself between her and Theo. But Thalia pushed past him to talk to the boy. “It’s okay. You’re safe here. What’s going on—”
“Miss Gray, he should see Dr. Harding,” Mr. Wayne interrupted. His brow creased with concern.
Mr. Saint cleared his throat. “I would like to meet the man who founded this lab. Do you mind if Analia and I accompany you?”
Mr. Wayne nodded. “Please. Join me.” With an arm around Theo’s slumped shoulders, the man led Elise’s parents back to the lab.
Worry crept into Elise, and her heart rate sped up. She didn’t realize how hard she was squeezing Josi’s hand until she yanked herself away. “I’m sorry,” Elise mumbled.
“What do you think is wrong with the boy?” Josi asked.
Thalia shrugged. “He might have been bitten by a reaper.”
“What?” Elise gasped.
“Reaper bites are common cases here. What most people do not know is that just one bite will not turn them; you have to die with reaper blood in your system as well. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. We give them a little pain medication, then send them home with less anxiety.” Thalia pushed her hair back from her face, rubbing her chin. “I think it’s better to have scared people come here than anywhere else. Other hospitals would…take advantage of them. I want these patients to feel safe,” Thalia said.
Elise rubbed her chest, right where the scars marred her skin. Perhaps she was lucky. All she had gotten was Layla’s nails. Elise could not imagine the suffering that would have followed if she had been infected by reaper venom—if five years ago, Layla hadbittenher.
“It’s clear they do,” Sterling said. “Look at how many people are in here already, and you’ve only just started working.”
Thalia beamed. “My hope is that one day the clinic will be empty, because that would mean there are no more reapers.”
Sterling reached forward to tuck a lock of Thalia’s hair behind her ear. “I’m proud of you. And you should let yourself be proud too.”
Josi sighed. “This is boring, Lisey,” she whispered to Elise. “I don’t want to be heir if I have to do stuff like this when I’m older.” She kicked at the linoleum.
“We’re going soon, so stop kicking,” Elise whispered back. “And tie your shoe.”
