Page 71 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts (Hospital for Immortal Creatures #3)

Zacharia

A dozen harpies strode through the grass. Their faces bore the same uniform features as the others, yet something set them apart. Emotion.

Presiyan and Jasmina – maybe someone else too – opened fire. A few harpies collapsed, but most moved with unnatural speed, slipping through the hail of bullets.

Zacharia pointed to the knives in their hands. “These look like an upgraded version. Armed turbo-version.”

“I didn’t know there was more than one.” Kathrine took up a battle stance.

Zacharia tried not to be distracted by her immortal form, although it was odd to have a snake-like creature with feminine curves wearing a tank top and shorts speaking to him.

Two harpies attacked them, while the others lunged for the cabin. The one charging Zacharia possessed the speed of a sprinter and the strikes of a professional boxer. It was time for him to transform.

But this damned winged woman wasn’t giving him a break to shift into his animal form.

Her knife sliced through the air again and again, aiming at Zacharia’s body.

When his right cross found its way to her chin, she threw her knife to the ground with an angry scream and adjusted her dislocated jaw with her hands.

What a show! And an opportunity for Zacharia to strike.

He dropped into a sprinter’s stance – knees bent, torso almost parallel to the ground – and charged towards her.

He plunged his head beneath her elbow and gripped her waist, lifting her into the air.

Zacharia drove his shoulder into her solar plexus, then slammed her down with all his might. Her skull cracked upon impact.

Zacharia spotted her knife in the grass and picked it up. He approached Kathrine unnoticed, grabbed the harpy she was fighting by the head, and thrust the blade sideways into her neck.

The reptilian nodded towards the thrashing woman on the ground. “Thank you, although I had everything under control.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist. I’m a gentleman, after all.”

She laughed, revealing a reptilian mouth lined with two sharp fangs and a pointed tongue. Zacharia’s curious gaze drifted to her unusual skin. How would it feel beneath his fingers? Slick and cool like a serpent? Or soft like the fuzz of a peach?

Kathrine sprinted towards the main battle near the cabin. He moved to follow, but a sudden blow struck his back, forcing him forward. He staggered, barely maintaining his footing, then spun around just in time to avoid a second strike from the harpy’s fist.

Hadn’t he already killed her? Ignoring the searing pain in his lower spine, he attacked her with a series of punches. Before delivering the final blow, Kathrine interfered and neutralised the harpy with a kick.

“No need,” Zacharia said.

“I always pay back my debts.”

He reached his back, fingers brushing over the torn fabric of his T-shirt. The spot where the harpy had clawed him burned as if branded. Odd. He’d endured plenty of injuries during the fight, but none had hurt like this one.

He lifted his hand to his face and examined the blood-streaked palm. Dark red mixed with black, threaded through the smear. That could mean only one thing.

A thousand fucking devils.

“Watch out! They’re releasing nymph poison!” he shouted to the others.

***

Mikhail

Mikhail was losing it. Claws, teeth, wings – every part of him was a weapon. Every drop of blood spilt was a thrill. He was like an animal. He didn’t reason, didn’t plan. He killed.

Under normal circumstances, his human side guided his thoughts. When faced with mortal danger, primal instincts took over. It was nature’s way of ensuring survival. Now, that instinct roared with a single command: get to Amelia.

He tore through the attackers, his senses focused on her, scanning even while fighting. Just as he spotted an opening to pull her towards the car, a fresh wave of harpies burst from the trees. They dodged the bullets with ease and veered in the direction of the cabin.

He shielded Amelia with his massive body. “Get inside!” He growled, not taking his eyes off the approaching enemies.

“No! This is my fight, too!” she retorted to his back.

Presiyan fired, but the bullets vanished into the trees, dodged by the swift-moving creatures.

Mikhail growled again. “These are different.”

Three harpies circled him, trying to reach Amelia.

He unfurled his wings wide, forming a protective barrier.

A sharp blade slashed across one, forcing him to recoil and fold it.

The opening gave Amelia her moment – she surged forward and struck.

The winged creature shrieked in agony as her fingers made contact.

A heartbeat later, Callan emerged from the fray and slit the woman’s throat with a single, clean motion. Mikhail pressed on, fighting the other two who had attacked him. They wielded short sabres, but it appeared they aimed to inflict damage with their claws.

What kind of female fight is this, damn it?

“Watch out! They’re releasing nymph poison!” Zacharia shouted across the field.

That explained the claws.

Amelia was kneeling in the grass, finishing off a barely breathing creature with a hand around her throat.

“Don’t let their nails touch your skin! Stay with me !” he growled.

Two harpies swooped down on them. Mikhail shoved Amelia aside, taking the attack with his body.

He knocked one down with a paw strike and tore the arm off the second.

The first one attacked him again, hissing and slashing her claws in front of his face like daggers.

He was forced to step back while defending himself from her next lunge.

For a moment, he lost sight of Amelia. He scanned the area to find her, which allowed his opponent to strike again.

Before she could get close, her expression twisted as she opened her mouth and screamed in pain.

Only when she fell to the ground did Mikhail realise that Amelia had crouched low and grabbed the woman’s ankles with both hands.

Gunshots rang out, and the second attacker collapsed onto the grass.

Jasmina ran to them. “The cars are here! Let’s go while it’s clear!”

Mikhail scanned the lifeless black wings scattered across the now-crimson field. He was reluctant to return to his human form, but the animal one was draining too much energy.

He summoned his body to shift and searched for Amelia. She was covered in blood and dirt, but aside from a few superficial cuts on her arms and split lips, she seemed to have no other injuries.

“Here, brother!” Presiyan handed him a loaded weapon. “The cars are at the back.”

Callan led Amelia towards them. Mikhail rushed to check on the cars. Four black sedans waited, with the armed guards of the Tribunal surrounding them. He didn’t know the creatures in person, but if Presiyan trusted them, so did he.

Mikhail didn’t make a comment when Kathrine and Zacharia climbed into one of the cars.

“I told you there was no time to grab anything! Can’t you see they’re waiting for us?” Viktor emerged from behind the cabin, dragging Alex.

“I couldn’t leave without my books!” She nodded at the bag in her hand before both got into the back seat.

Mikhail and Presiyan remained outside, watching.

“If there’s been no new attack so far, I doubt there will be one now,” the head of the Tribunal said.

Mikhail scanned the sky. “I agree, but we can’t stay. Imagine if there is a follow-up attack, and this time it’s not just…”

“ Harpies . The reptilian said they’re called harpies.”

“Same difference. Next time, it won’t be so easy.”

“Next time, we’ll meet them with an army. But until we gather it, we’ll need to change locations.” Presiyan opened the car door and gestured for Mikhail to get in, then settled into the back seat next to Jasmina. “By the way, any idea what the Oracle was using to strike down the harpies?”

“It was exceptional!” Jasmina exclaimed.

Mikhail glanced at the creature behind the wheel. Despite their best efforts to hide it, Amelia’s secret had been revealed. “Her power,” he said, looking out the window at the car Amelia and Callan were in. His muscles felt heavy with exhaustion. “Are we still following the original plan?”

Presiyan nodded. “We’ll stay near Nova Zagora and attack the Hospital at the first opportunity.”

***

The Queen took a sip of raspberry juice. “How many?”

“Sixty-two first-generation harpies. Twelve from the second,” Sevar said. “It would be fitting to say we were torn to feathers and fluff.”

“Fitting, indeed.”

Sevar unfastened the top button of his shirt, crossing his legs on the sofa. “Forgive my curiosity, Mother, but I expected you to go there in person. Or at least have me dismiss that ridiculous little group of Mikhail Korovin from their ill-conceived venture.”

The Queen grasped the glass with her gloved fingers. “If I had sent you, Sevar, I would be organising your funeral right now.”

He almost choked on his spit. “Are you implying that I’m weak?”

“I’m implying that the enemy is stronger.” She tapped on the table. “Mikhail Korovin was in that cabin. And didn’t he already defeat you in combat once?”

Sevar snorted. “Because I wasn’t informed he was in love, and…”

“There was Amelia, who got hold of Renenutet’s Necklace, and it must have enhanced her physical abilities, because according to our informants, she alone neutralised quite a few harpies. I suppose it gave her other gifts as well…”

“Whatever they are, that girl is far too inexperienced to use them…”

“My brother was there, too. His is a strength you cannot match, even after a hundred lifetimes.”

Sevar’s upper lip curled. “You’re underestimating me. I’ve been expecting his appearance since the moment I was born.”

“The former leader of the Tribunal was also present, the one who allegedly placed a price on your head.”

Sevar gritted his teeth. “That braggart…”

The Queen’s eyes locked onto his in a way that suggested the unpleasant bit was yet to come. “Your fiancée was there too, Kathrine, whom you assured me was dead.”

Sevar stiffened. “We have no evidence it was her. According to the informants, there was a woman who resembled her…”

“You’re lucky I didn’t send you there because every one of those creatures has enough bite to turn you into…feathers and fluff, was it?”

His face flushed. He hated it when the Queen doubted his abilities. “Are you implying that you’re worried because of the enemy, Mother?” He wanted to say ‘scared’, but didn’t dare use the word.

“I only fight battles I’m sure to win, Sevar.”

“Are you implying those fools stand a chance?”

“Oh, not in the slightest.” The Queen lowered her gaze to her hands.

“Ten days ago, I would have gone to that cabin regardless of the risk, but thanks to the gloves, I gained a better perception of the situation. Consider what happened in the cabin as reconnaissance. Thanks to that, we’re aware of who’s fighting on the enemy’s side and what powers they possess. ”

She took a sip from her glass and frowned, as if the drink tasted bitter. “We also learned that our harpies are useless and need better training. And last but not least, we’ll find out how capable the healers in the Hospital are. Gather the survivors and transport them there.”