Page 28 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

Amelia’s brow creased. “It sounds terrible.”

He tsk-ed. “Not really. I belong to both vampires and lycanthropes, possessing mixed qualities, yet in truth, I belong nowhere, and that suits me just fine. After all, who needs large clans and gatherings that demand family reunions every decade or so?”

Sheneeded those.Dreamedof those. “But the vampire lady adopted you despite your mixed species?”

A shortbingannounced their arrival on the fourteenth floor. “She,and I, didn’t know I was one until I reached immortality and unlocked my secondary form.” They walked out in an empty vestibule, arches leading to similar corridors on either side. “In vampiric clans, there’s a ritual to celebrate a creature’s achievement of immortality. When someone feels their body is ready to undergo the first transformation, the clan wouldprepare a celebration night with fire and special blood. Then, in front of everyone, the creature would step forward to experience its first transformation. When I was ready for mine, I waited until I was alone and then changed. I was too afraid of what I might see – and with good reason.”

Amelia’s curiosity sparked. “What did you see?”

“I was neither a vampire nor a lycanthrope – I was something that can’t really be described with a single word. I resembled a transformed vampire because my secondary form had a humanoid shape with vampire fangs and red eyes. But unlike a vampire, my body wasn’t smooth and white but covered in fur like a wolf. A vampire with fur.”

“I… Wow.”

Zacharia frowned. “It wasn’twow.It was more like – athousand fucking devils!”

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh.

“That was pretty cold-hearted of you.” He shook his head, stopping in front of a closed door.

She placed a palm over her mouth to hide the smile still on her lips. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’m used to it.” Zacharia waved his hand before retrieving a key from the pocket of his jacket. He handed it to Amelia. “Here. Get some rest.”

That immediately returned her focus to Mikhail. “I don’t want to. Can I go to the OR?”

“You must know better than I do that he’d need some time to heal before seeing you.”

“But we still don’t know if he’s going to make it…”

“The worst has passed, trust me. He made it to the OR. This means he’s making it out. I’ll let you know as soon as Nyavolski calls.”

She was too exhausted to challenge the steady and determined manner in Zacharia’s voice. When they separated, she strolledinto her new room. Pacing inside for a time that felt like hours, she couldn’t make herself relax, yet she couldn’t walk out and start searching for the ring, either.

9

The Queen filled their glasses with raspberry juice once more, causing Kathrine’s stomach to tighten. She despised the sweet-and-sour liquid she’d been forced to drink ever since she could remember.

Kathrine lifted her eyes to the tall mouldings and heavy scarlet drapes that blocked the view of the city. Perhaps the Queen insisted on the raspberry juice because it was her favourite colour – red. The curtains weren’t the only detail in the meeting room that bore the colour of fresh blood. It was everywhere – on the soft carpet under the table, the chair upholstery, intertwined in the complex ornaments on the cutlery. Today, even the Queen’s lips were blood-red.

Despite his brief stay on Antambazi, the Queen’s new pet also seemed to have developed a disdain towards the mandatory drink. He was curled up in his chair in a desperate attempt to leave some space between his lips and the glass the Queen was shoving in his face.

“Drink, Baron. It’s good for your health. Especially for your human kind,” she hissed.

The young man traced the approaching raspberry juice with his bloodshot eyes and pressed his lips together, smacking his shiny shoes against the carpet under the chair.

Kathrine glanced at the wall clock. Sevar was late. He’d left for the earthly realm to fetch the new Oracle – a simple task, given the girl’s inexperience. But what was the source of this inexplicable inner impulse that made Kathrine count everyminute until his return?

She turned her head just in time to spot the blood-red drops flying towards her face. Pink trails of juice dripped down Baron’s chin and clothes, colouring his immaculate white shirt. The front part of the Queen’s dress had an enormous smear of raspberry juice.

“Bad boy! Why did you spit the juice out?” The Queen grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped away the drops off her face, then Baron’s.

“Perhaps he just doesn’t enjoy raspberry juice.” Kathrine reached out for a tissue for herself and added, “Your Majesty.”

“Nonsense, daughter. Everybody loves raspberry juice. And, you know well that when we are alone, you don’t need to be so formal.”

“All right, Mother.”

The Queen reached out and grabbed the handset of the communication system hanging on the wall. “Come take Baron and bring me a clean dress, dear!” she instructed someone – likely one of the new Chosen responsible for her personal needs.