83
LYRIC
Among the clothes I picked, corporate wears were among. And as I got ready to go to TCH, I wore one of them.
It was a grey knee–length dress, and I didn’t think I’d ever been more in love with the color.
I went to TCH for my nightshift, my heart feeling lighter and warmer.
I wasn’t new to this feeling. I was happy, and each time I was, there was always something to ruin my joy. This frightened me more than anything.
The warmth was quick to diminish when I ran into Marta on the ground floor. Right. What an awesome way to start my evening. Fortunately, she looked like she was leaving.
We walked past each other without saying a word, but that was until recalled what I had in mind.
“Congratulations, Marta.” I faked a smile as I turned to her.
She was on me in seconds, her face cold.
“I was told you have been performing a lot of wonders in the ward lately. First, it was Mr. Owen. Now it’s Pete.” I clicked by tongue. “You’re a genius.”
I didn’t miss his uneasy she became. But it was Marta. She’d combust before she let someone see her guilty she was.
“Thank you. I’ve always been good at the game. It’s the reason I’ve lasted in TCH and became a head doctor.” She shrugged defiantly.
I forced my fake smile to stay on, even though all I wanted to do was tell her how much of a liar she was. Did she know I was the actual one behind the glory? Hopefully, not.
“That reminds me, Lyric,” she stepped into my line of sight. “I’ve noticed your growing attachment to doctor Guinevere and would like to remind you that Guinevere is simply our supervisor. Over here, in our department, I’m your head, Lyric. So, I’d advise you start running things through me. You’ll get your assignments through me, and if you have any questions, I’m the one to ask.”
I bit the inside of my cheeks, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Do you understand, Lyric?” Her gaze was piercing.
Ugh. I hated that bossy look in her face.
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But I didn’t give her the satisfaction of replying to her stupid words. So, I walked out on her, feeling her burning glare on my back.
Guinevere must have been keeping an eye out for me, because not long after I got into my office, she arrived.
We talked warmly for sometime before she told me about the patient demanding for me. It was enough to make my stomach drop.
Oh, gods.
I tried to bid my time with Guinevere, but it was impossible when she was hell bent on taking me to the man.
I felt a little assured that he hadn’t told my secret yet. Otherwise, Guinevere’s tone would have been different.
Maybe it was better I talk to him to know what he wanted and see how I could avoid him.
I was beyond nervous as I walked into the room. The man was awake, sitting up and eating. There was a woman before him. Judging from her age, I guessed she was his wife.
The man’s eyes lit up the second he saw me. “It’s her!”
I glanced at Guinevere, not missing the surprise in her face. “Did you treat him?”
My stomach knotted with nerves. I licked my lips as I shook my head. “Let me talk to him.”
The man dropped his plate. And to my greatest relief, he dismissed Guinevere and the woman before him, saying he wanted to speak to me in private.
I noticed his face lolked much better. On our way to the room, Guinevere mentioned he could be discharged the next day.
“What’s the name?” He asked, his eyes raking over me.
I hesitated, then realized he could easily get it torn Guinevere if he wanted.
“Lyric.”
“Lyric. I’m Pete.” He sighed. “I wanted to thank you for saving me.”
My throat ran dry. “I think you’re mistaken, sir. I wasn’t-”
“You’re a Siphon.” He cut me off, the confidence in his tone chilling. “I saw your face. I know what you did.”
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I glanced at the door. We were alone. I could feel safe.
I didn’t want to believe this man would be a threat in any way. He’d have exposed me already, right?
“I know because, sixty years ago, my sister was one.” His countenance fell, sadness marring lines on his forehead.
My eyes lit up, my brows scrunching.
Oh.
“Maelisa.” His eyes were on the floor now, thoughtfully. “She was my little sister. My bestfriend. But our parents, the moment they knew what she was,” his face grew tighter. ” They handed her over themselves.”
What?
My jaw dropped, a gasp slipping through.
“They said she was a curse and meant more harm to them. They gladly took her to the King, and she was… she was…” Ye shook his head, unable to get the words out.
She was executed. There were no two ways about it.
In our world, Siphons were the greatest form of taboo. We’ve never been accepted. A weapon that could cause so much harm from mere touch.
The thought sent shivers down my spine.
“Before Maelisa was killed,” he smiled. “She used to play with her gift a lot. She’d heal me each time I hurt myself or got sick. We didn’t even know what she was yet. We only knew she could take ailment away by touching you.”
Gift. I didn’t miss that detail. He saw it as a gift, not a curse.
The gloom returned in his eyes when he looked at me. “What you carry is special, girl. But the world sees you as evil. You shouldn’t be here. If Maelisa and I were grown enough to know better, we’d have run for the heels when we had the chance. Too bad our own parents betrayed us.” 1
A tight ball formed in my throat. It was a difficulty to swallow.
I should run. Everyone keeps telling me. Yet, here I was, held back by something I couldn’t explain.
“I didn’t know there’s been another Siphon in recent years,” I murmured.
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“It’s been sixty years. The King and his Alphas made sure to bury the truth. They didn’t want the public to know and panic.”
“I’m sorry about your sister.” My eyes dropped to the floor. “I didn’t ask to be this. If I could, I’d just want to be normal like everyone else.”
“We can’t really choose our fate, can we?” He shrugged. “You should take my advise, child. Run as fast as you can. These people, you might think you’re helping them, but the moment they learn the truth, they’d treat you worse than a slave.”
His eyes darkened. “I was there. I remember what they did to Maelisa. Nobody deserves to go through that for being something they could not control.”
A cold liquid touched my cheek. I sniffled and realized I’d been crying.
I was in danger here. My kind would never be accepted. I should leave.
But Xylon… He was only getting better because of me. I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if I abandon him.
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