Page 45 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures
Amelia turned to the chambermaid, pulling her finger pads away right before they touched the sculpture. “Is she a goddess?”
“The daughter of a god. We need to go.” The woman tapped her black shoe against the floor.
Was she nervous about making Mikhail wait?
“Turns out you can speak, after all,” Amelia said as they picked up the pace.
They passed under the arch at the end of the hallway and found themselves in a murky lobby with a lift.
When she didn’t receive an answer, Amelia tried again. “What’s your name?”
The woman gave her a wary glance. “None of your business.”
“None of your business? How long have you worked for Mikhail Korovin? You seem very young.”
“Look, I have nothing against your kind, but I am not allowed to talk to you.” The chambermaid stepped inside the lift.
Amelia followed. “Who forbade you? Mikhail? Did you know he kidnapped me?”
The indifference on the woman’s face was a clear enough answer. She pressed the button for the twentieth floor and, after a short while, the doors revealed another lobby with grey walls. While they walked, the dark chestnut floor barely creaked. Through the window, the outside world was gloomier than ever. They hurried down the hall to their right, past numerous identical doors, until they reached a warm room with a humble library and a wooden desk.
In front of the window, facing away from them, Mikhail’s broad shoulders appeared frozen. He stared through the window pane, his light brown hair grazing the back of his neck.
“Thank you, Mary. You’re free to go.” He dismissed the chambermaid without turning around and she obeyed with a small curtsey. Finally, he acknowledged Amelia, his colourful eyes raking over her form before he spoke. “We didn’t start on good terms, Amelia.” His voice was like dark chocolate – rich, with a trace of bitterness.
Amelia stayed by the door. She had rehearsed this encounter a million times in her head and yet the only thing she managed was, “How is any of this possible?”
“I will explain anything you’d like, but first, I owe you an apology for keeping you locked in for days.” He crossed his arms, drawing her attention to his broad chest. And making her wonder about the scars beneath. Did they really exist? “This was probably the first time you witnessed an immortal transformation. Am I right?”
She returned her focus to his face, reminding herself that she wasn’t here to dwell over his past and his wounds. She was here to negotiate her way out of this place.
“Transformation is the most natural thing in the world,” he said.
“This place…” She trailed off, her eyes drawn to the documents and books scattered across his desk.
“A study.” Mikhail pointed to the shelves of books. “Sometimes I come here to read and work. By the way, blue looks good on you.” The corners of his lips twitched. “It matches your eyes. Do you like the clothes they bring you? Or would you prefer dresses?”
Had he complimented her?
She glanced down to inspect her clothes. Dresses? An image from her dream of him running his hands down the woman’s white dress appeared in her mind and her heart rate quickened.
“I don’t want dresses.” She shook her head and met his eyes. “So, this place really is a hospital?”
Mikhail made himself comfortable into one of the chairs and motioned towards the other one. After a moment of hesitation, Amelia accepted the invitation and sat.
“Yes. As I told you before, the Hospital for Immortal Creatures. The first ten floors are where the doctors work. The rest is used as living accommodations, common rooms, conference halls and training rooms.”
Amelia let that information sink in before she asked, “Are you saying many people live here?”
“Hundreds. Of creatures. Anyone in need of shelter is welcome to stay, so long as they contribute with something.”
“What do you mean, creatures?”
“Living things. Creatures of the seventh species are called humans.”
“Seventh?” What the hell are the other six?
He pursed his lips. “Although, to be completely honest, humans were among the first to roam the earth, if not the very first…”