Chapter 41: The Preparation

The door closed behind the Warden Commander, and the room seemed smaller for some reason. I slid my back down the wall and leaned my injured hand on my thigh, feeling each beat in it. Outside, snow tapped the window, soft and monotonous.

"Guess it could have been worse," Kael murmured, leaning on the doorframe and running his fingers through his hair.

Jenna shot him a look full of loathing and disdain. "He owned her now, you think that’s any better?"

The other man shrugged. "The Commander owns a debt. Just a difference." He strode towards the bed, stopping by it and looking at Dorian. His face looked like dried-up parchment and the stains on his shirt seemed to grow darker. He barely moved and was as silent as the living dead.

Vance knelt beside the bed and gently felt Dorian's neck and pressed his fingers into his skin, counting under his breath. After some time, he withdrew his hand from beneath the sheets. "His heartbeat's way too low, the stitches tore while he was standing up," he announced solemnly, turning to me. "He needs another blood donation, fresh one."

I raised my right hand and unrolled my sleeve. "I'll give him my blood again."

The healer shook his head, looking at my injured hand. "No, you've done that once a week already, your wounds are still healing, one more transfusion might weaken you beyond recovery."

Jenna crossed her arms over her chest and gave us an impatient look. "Then what do we do? We just let him bleed to death?"

Before I managed to utter something in response, Kael approached the bed, knelt beside Dorian, and pulled a knife from his pocket. He sliced himself without showing a trace of fear; dark blood dripped from his hand, thick as treacle. "I can help. Nephilim's blood works way better than human's and heals faster."

Vance blinked a few times before realizing what's happening. "Yes, that would do. But be careful. If he rejects it..."

"No need to worry," Kael muttered, pressing his bleeding hand to Dorian's mouth, slightly turning his head back. "Drink."

The latter's throat moved several times as he swallowed Kael's blood greedily. His fingers twitched on the sheets.

Disgust hit me in the gut as I watched Dorian slowly coming back to life. His cheeks flushed from pale gray to pink; his breathing became slower. Relief washed over me and made my head light; my hands trembled despite me.

"That doesn't cancel the contract I offered you," the other man said, wiping his bloody palm on his jeans. He straightened and looked at me calmly. "I'd advise to reconsider and take my offer. The Commander's not merciful, and sooner or later, he'll come after his debt. You won't enjoy that experience."

Zoe hugged Mira, who clung to her neck, shivering and crying quietly. Mira was trembling violently, and tears streaked her face.

Vance put his hand to Dorian's heart again. "His pulse is stronger," he announced, lifting Dorian's shirt to examine the cut. "Bleeding's stopped; he needs a good rest and sleep to recover."

Dorian opened his eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling. He moved his head and looked at me. His lips barely moved as he spoke softly. "What happened?"

I leaned closer to the bed and explained in a soft voice. "Council came and Mira offered herself to them. Commander came and told them to leave, so I ended up owing him a debt."

The other man's lips compressed as he tried to move up in the bed, but Vance pushed him down lightly. "Don't. You'll tear the stitches again."

He sank into the pillows once again. "The Commander? What one?"

"He's called Marcus," Jenna said from the window, "Golden-eyed one with scars."

Dorian's eyes closed. "That's the Warden Commander," he said, opening his eyes again and looking at me. "He remembers debts, and he doesn't forgive."

A knocking on the door froze all of us.

Three taps, nothing menacing. Almost politely.

Jenna hurried to the door and peeked through the peephole. She withdrew from the door and turned around. "A student's here. He has a letter for you."

Vance opened the door, and a boy appeared in the doorway, maybe eighteen with round glasses and untidy brown hair. His eyes were dull, and his body was rigid as he presented me with a white envelope.

The healer took it and closed the door without saying a word; the boy went away quietly.

Vance turned the envelope upside down and saw a golden seal with a Warden's symbol pressed in red wax. He broke the seal and read the letter in silence. His face paled.

"What does it say?" I asked.

"The debt is due in 30 days," Vance said in a hoarse voice, clearing his throat. "Instructions will follow. Don't try to escape."

He looked at me, and Kael chuckled under his breath. The latter walked to the window and looked outside, at falling snowflakes. "30 days is a pretty nice gift from his part. For you, anyway."

The thought of having 30 days to find out what Marcus demanded from me frightened me. I was sure it wasn't easy.

Zoe looked up from Mira. "What should we do now?"

I looked around, at Dorian, at Mira, at Vance, at Jenna. "We rest tonight, and tomorrow we'll think of how to pay him off."

Dorian took my hand; his fingers were cold, and he held them softly. "We will think of it."

My fingers intertwined with his, and I didn't feel like withdrawing them.

Outside, the snow fell steadily, covering the tracks in the parking lot.