Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 31: Medicine

"Serenity?" a soft female voice whispered, bringing me out of my dreams. The world hazed around me in a blur of reality and unconscious thoughts. I tried to answer her, but no noise came out of my mouth.

"Here," the woman whispered and cold water rushed between my lips, making me choke. I sputtered, feeling the liquid seep down my throat and into my empty stomach. "Easy, easy," she urged, her voice still quiet.

My eyes opened finally, and I was comforted to find a kinder familiar face: Maria.

"I'm so sorry, Serenity. I can't believe what they're doing to you," she whispered. "If I could get you out of here..."

I nodded, still unable to speak. I pulled back from the glass of water she had been tipping into my mouth and sighed. As my vision sharpened, I glanced downward just enough to see my exposed chest above my sports bra. My porcelain skin had become about three shades paler and blood stained my body. I tilted my head up to inspect my arms and could see the bruises that covered them from blood pooling in my unused muscles.

"Jason?" I asked, my voice rough.

Maria's brow wrinkled with concern. "He doesn't know. Victoria and Vraal have kept your presence a total secret. They think he'll do something stupid if he knows you're here. I should have known when Victoria mentioned the Butcher that something bad was going to happen. I'm so sorry, Serenity."

"They're doing this to me." It wasn't a question. I had seen Victoria here, laughing at my struggle. It hadn't been a dream. "Where is he?"

Maria glanced over her shoulder hesitantly. "It's only for a little longer. Their tests are almost complete. Jason left the grounds. He's out looking for you with your family. I'm so sorry," she repeated herself.

I inhaled in slowly, fighting down the urge to throw up the cold water in my stomach that felt like frozen lead. "How long?"

"You've been here for almost a week. I've been sneaking in to check on you. They put so many drugs in your system to see how you'd react to it," she said quietly. "Thomas kept them from doing extreme measures. He's used whatever influence he has to make sure they don't try to cut you open. We didn't think you'd survive any type of the Butcher's 'exploratory surgery.'"

She paused and looked over her shoulder, listening for anyone that might be nearby. "Serenity, did you know?" she asked, her voice hushed.

I looked up at her from staring at the blood spatters on the floor. I frowned, unsure of what she meant.

"Did you know...your eyes?" Maria finished her question. She held the water glass up and I shook my head, refusing another sip. I was going to be sick.

They knew. They knew I was officially bonded to Jason.

"Yeah," I whispered.

"Oh, Serenity," she gasped, her face paling. "When Victoria finds out, if she knows already..."

I closed my eyes tightly, ready to throw up.

The door opened and I heard three sets of footfalls come down the short hall. Maria panicked, quickly pouring the water out in a medical sink and slipping the glass away into a hiding place. She grabbed a medical clipboard and pretended to check my stats.

I kept my gaze on the corner of the hall and waited. I squinted when Vraal came in first, holding a champagne bottle in one hand, the other grasping two flute glasses. Victoria was right behind him, looking triumphant and excited. She grinned from ear to ear, showing her white teeth in what reminded me of an animal's snarl. Doctor Nelson brought up the rear, wearing clean scrubs that were devoid of my blood.