Page 2 of Chain Me

“I found a roster of your most recent benefactors, and I’d love to ask them some further questions before I invest. I’m familiar with most, but this person…” I pointed a trembling finger to one entry in particular. Initials, really.

Squinting, Dr. Goodfellow read them out loud. “D.H.?” She seemed oblivious to the shudder that racked my spine. I had to clench my hands into fists to keep them from shaking, crumpling the brochure further. “I’m not familiar with that person, to be honest, Eleanor. But we really should discuss your treatment options. I’ll be blunter: Going off your recent results, I found some of your labs a tad alarming. We should schedule an immediate follow-up.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Another cough rattled from my chest as I pushed the brochure into my purse. Disappointment was surprisingly hard to swallow down.

My gagging prompted Dr. Goodfellow to shove a napkin into my hands. This time, my coughing fit succeeded in bringing up liquid, which I spit into a nearby wastebasket. Snot, perhaps.

Red, vibrant snot.

“Eleanor…” The doctor’s gaze was fixated on whatever substance clung to the tissue. “I really do think we should run a few more tests—”

“So, you don’t know that name?” I pressed, impatiently wringing my hands. “What a shame. I thought he might provide a unique perspective on the establishment.”

“He?” Goodfellow cocked her head. “Do you know this person? I was under the impression that you didn’t.”

“Um…” I blinked and coughed again. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You saidhemight provide a unique perspective—”

“Did I? Um, anyway, as you were saying… My symptoms. Are you sure you’ll be able to find a diagnosis soon?”

“Of course.” She nodded emphatically. “As you yourself mentioned, we are a state-of-the-art facility, Ms. Gray. You can rest easy under our care. I’m glad that you came in when you did.”

For all the good it had done. The poor woman didn’t even have enough sense to transfer my case to a psychiatrist. Or perhaps a priest would have been more fitting in this instance?

Someone used to dealing with the damned and hopeless.

Still, I attempted to return her smile with a thin grin of my own. “Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Oh, let’s not jump to the worst just yet. However…” She snatched up my hand without warning, lifting it to display the quivering fingertips. “This tremor. It’s more pronounced than when you first entered my office, and I see from your preliminaries that you’ve lost more weight. That cough is concerning as well, considering the color the sputum—”

“Color?” I echoed innocently.

“It looked like blood, Eleanor.” Her gentle smile slipped, revealing something far more unnerving underneath. Alarm. “I’m beginning to think that Dr. Wallis may have been a bit hasty in clearing you so soon. It’s only been a month since your diagnosis was reversed, after all. I would like to order another blood test—”

“More?” I eyed my forearm where the sleeve of my sweater was rolled up to reveal a bandage—my souvenir from the last round of tests done earlier that morning. “I feel fine, honestly. I would hate to waste your time.” I gingerly untangled my hand from hers and started to rise from the leather armchair facing her desk. “Thank you.”

“Of course, my dear. We can use your sample from this morning for the new tests. I’ll make sure to call you with the results.” She folded her hands together. “Now, you should go home and get some rest. I’m sure we’ll have an answer for you by the end of the week. In the meantime, keep your chin up.”

Her smile widened.

But I merely stooped for my bag and scrambled from her office before she could suggest another battery of tests to suffer through.

My disappointment loomed, inescapable. Even the sky visible beyond the windows of the corridor seemed to reflect it: dark, churning clouds and a smattering of raindrops.

What a fuss for nothing. Though the poking and prodding should have been a small price to pay if my hunch turned out to be correct.Small,I insisted as my hands shook over the handle of my bag. Though Goodfellow didn’t need to try so hard to feign concern. Apart from my brain, nothing else was wrong with me.

Physically, at least.

For the first time in years, I theoretically had a clean bill of health.

No life-threatening illness to worry about.

No vampire lurking in the corridor to smuggle me his magic blood.

No crippling, fearful uncertainty, no siree…

I wasfine.