An amused scoff came from Viktor. “Because I know that is a lie. She has no interest in men, of all things. If you know her, you would at least know that.” He laughed, flashing a dimpled smile at me. “How do youreallyknow her?”
“Can’t fault a man for trying,” I answered him. “We run in similar circles.”
“That seems more plausible than courting.”
“Even so, I have better odds thanyou.”
“Are you certain of that?”
“I amabsolutelycertain.”
“We will see.”
Our banter was interrupted by Alina’s reappearance, this time with her journal and no torture devices. She looked sickly. There was red around her eyes as if she had been rubbing them.
“What brings you to the lab?” That thick Russian accent cut through my thoughts. His haughty tone was grating against my eardrums.
“Alina tells me she might have a study for me to invest in.” I politely smiled, but I couldn’t help a small sneer. “Not unlike my father, I like to put bets on many horses. Pharmaceuticals are almost as good as property nowadays.”
“That’s good news!” Viktor was trying too hard to keep up an elated facade about my being here, which brought me some joy. “You must be excited.” He looked at Alina, his eyes drifting over her.
Watch where you linger, boy.
“Yes, it’s all very exciting,” she said, though she’d stopped watching us. Her eyes were closed as she pressed her palm into her eye.
“Alina?” I leaned over. “What is it?”
“Jus’ a ’eadache,” she slurred, her body suddenly tense.
“Alina!” Viktor shouted as her knees buckled.
I wrapped my arms around her, slowly lowering her to the floor as her body shook violently. Her skin turned almost a pale yellow, and her eyes rolled farther back than I thought possible. I held her head on my lap as Viktor turned her on her side. Muffled sounds came from her as her head was forced upward so forcefully that I could see the veins in her neck throb.
“She’s having a seizure,” Viktor said quickly. “Don’t move—I’m getting Dr. Hayes.”
Her spasms began to slow by the time he left. It was only around thirty seconds, but it felt likeso longwhile it happened. Feeling her body tense like that in my arms made me realize how tightly I held her.
She slowly stopped moving, her breathing returning to its peaceful rhythm. It was like nothing had happened, peacefully asleep as she was now.
I stared down at her, the pink returning to her cheeks and the blue of her lips fading now that she was breathing steadily. The only things still shaking were my hands. I lifted one to inspect it. The tremors jittering and vibrating from my fingers through my arm were as involuntary as the clicks in my throat.
I wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, moving the stray hairs that stuck to her cheek as I watched her seemingly return from the dead. Perhaps I should stop jesting with her about being a specter, or she might decide to become one to escape me.
“I will not forgive you if you die without my permission,” I whispered. While it was supposed to be a joke, it was also truthful.
31
THE POISONER
My room. I see my room.
An invisible gravity holds me down like a heavy blanket.
My eyes are wide open, and I see the chair in the corner of the room.
Just breathe.
A prickling gnaws at my spine, and a dreadful draining overcomes my senses. The only thing I can manage is to wait for it to be over.
