The Autumn Mage

Chapter Twenty-One

     Aki was blinded by a startling bright flash of light. He gasped and sputtered for air and felt sick as if awaking from a hangover. His body felt heavier and weaker than it had moments ago and he was panting and felt tired like he had been running. He blinked until the ceiling came back into focus and he noticed the Rose Doctor was still kneeling over him.

     "Don't move," the Doctor said sternly. "And don't look – ". Aki glanced down and saw that his chest was flayed open and his insides were exposed and blood trickling down the sides of the open flaps of skin. He began shaking and lurched his head to the side vomiting. "...down," he finished with a frustrated sigh. "Just lie still and puke again. I'm finishing up and then you won't have to see this."

     "What the Hel are you doing to me?" Aki choked out. His mouth tasted rancid and burned his tongue. His teeth felt like they were covered in fish slime.

     "Bringing your sorry ass back to life, against my better judgment. Feel free to thank me at any time." He folded the two loose flaps of skin back over and rubbed a thick bitter-smelling syrup over the cuts. It felt like biting ants but was tolerable, all things considered.

     "That poison gave me nightmares. Like, a really scary one," Aki said softly. His throat burned and it was hard to speak. "This man in a black cloak was trying to abduct me."

     "Who would want to capture you?" the Doctor scoffed.

     "I don't know, but he had a scythe and was trying to stab me with it."

     "Was he stopped by a barrier?" the physician asked his tone much more troubled.

     "Yeah actually. How did you know?"

     "That wasn't a nightmare. You were dead and a Reaper was trying to take you to the afterlife."

     "I don't believe in Eden," Aki said smugly.

     "That's a relief. Considering you probably weren't headed there." He took the small ivory bowl once more and raised it to Aki's lips. He was suspicious at first but welcomed the cool water that was being poured into his mouth. After a few sips the Doctor poured it over his neck and chest washing away the blood, vomit, medicine, and dried poison off of his flesh. "Get dressed," he ordered curtly. Aki rubbed his chest where a faint scar had formed from being cut open.

     "Are we going somewhere?" Aki asked confused in a raspy voice. A brisk knock came at the door. Two soldiers entered the room. "What's happening?" he asked worriedly.

     "We are leaving now. And no, not to pick up Blondie. She's going to have to wait because we have pressing matters to attend to."

     "'We'? Since when are we 'we'?" The Doctor was hastily packing his black bag as his assistant entered once more. She stood quietly at the back with her arms crossed and her left foot pressed against the wall. She glanced at the small pool of vomit and then at Aki and breathed heavily through her nostrils. The Doctor looked at Aki squarely.

     "We are a 'we' since 'I' brought 'you' back from the grave and 'you' have been endangering the security of the kingdom and have a heavy debt to pay back. The King has agreed to pardon you in exchange for you leaving with me on my mission. And unless I'm wrong, which let's be honest, is never, it's going to be a difficult one. Now get dressed!" He picked up his bag with a groan and looked over at the woman. "Florence, be a dear and take care of the clinic for me."

     "But of course doctor Schnabel," she said smiling coyly.

     "I have the feeling I might be gone awhile. Will you be alright?" She smirked and moved her glasses back up her nose with a red pointed fingernail.