Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(50)

I took Motrin and it did nothing for the pain… I don’t know what else to do…” The poor kid looked tortured.

“Let me see… Open your mouth…” Yamanu took a peek. “Don’t be a wuss…,” he said as Michael flinched away from his finger, then gently probed the guy’s swollen gums. “Just as I thought…” Yamanu grinned and clapped Michael’s back. “Welcome to immortality… You’re growing fangs and venom glands, and it hurts like a son of a bitch. I know, I still remember it as if it happened last week, though it was ages ago. It was that bad.”

Michael remained speechless, his mouth still gaping as he stared at Yamanu’s happy face in shocked disbelief. “You’re shitting me, right?” he finally said.

“No, I’m not. But let’s ask the good doctor’s opinion if you don’t trust mine.” Yamanu took Michael by the shoulders and turned him toward Bridget’s office.

“Hold on, I want Kri to come with us…” Michael walked over to where she was sleeping on the floor.

“Kri… wake up, sweetheart. I have great news.” Michael brushed his hand over her arm.

Kri sat up with a start. “Did they find Amanda? Did Syssi wake up?”

“No, unfortunately not… But Yamanu thinks I’m transitioning, and we are going to see Doctor Bridget to confirm it. I would really like for you to be there with me.”

With a surge, she got up and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Michael! This is wonderful. I can’t believe it… I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy for us…” The kid grinned.

Puppy love. Yamanu rolled his eyes.





4 5

K I A N

N auseous with fatigue, Kian finished his coffee and took a few more bites of the sandwich, making an effort to shove some food down his tight throat and into his empty stomach. But swallowing was a pain, and he dropped it back on the plate.

With a grimace, he kicked the rolling cart away.

Turning back to Syssi, he enfolded her small hand with his own, and closing his eyes, rested his forehead on her open palm.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure whether what he’d felt was real or his imagination playing tricks on him, but he could’ve sworn he had felt Syssi’s finger brush lightly over his cheek.

Slowly, he lifted his head, hopeful, and yet afraid it was just a phantasm.

Her eyes were open, and as a profound sense of relief washed over him, the small, pitiful smile she managed for him was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

She lifted her arm with marked effort, reaching for his cheek. “Wha…”

She tried to talk but managed only a croak.

“Hold on, baby. I’ll get you something to drink…” Kian rushed over to the tray and poured a glass of water from the pitcher. “I need a straw…”

Frantically searching through the cabinets, he found what he was looking for in the one above the sink.

“Here you go, sweetheart…” Kian lifted the head of the bed and brought the straw to her lips. “Slowly, I don’t know much about this, but I don’t think you should drink a lot at once… Where the hell is Bridget when we need her?” He looked for the call button.

“I’m here.” Bridget knocked once before barging in.

“The monitors in my office sounded the alert. Welcome back, Syssi.” She smiled.

“Back from where?” Syssi whispered around the straw.

“You’ve been unconscious since yesterday afternoon, and we’ve been worried. I’ll run some tests and take a blood sample to see where we’re at.”

Syssi drained the glass. “Did I transition?” she asked hopefully.

“That’s what the tests are for. We’ll know in a moment.” Bridget pulled a syringe and a small surgical knife from the supply cabinet, placing them on her tray.

Kian grabbed her wrist. “What’s the knife for?”

“I’m going to make a small cut to see how fast it closes. It’s a crude but conclusive test. We’ll know right away.” She looked at him pointedly, waiting for him to release her.

“It’s okay, Kian. I want to know. Let her do it.” Syssi extended her arm, offering her palm to Bridget. Then she motioned for Kian to refill her glass with the other.

“Make sure it’s tiny and doesn’t hurt!” He released Bridget’s wrist to pour Syssi more water. Holding the glass with the straw to her lips, he grasped her free hand. “Squeeze my hand if you feel pain.”

Bridget rolled her eyes and quickly slashed with her knife.

A line of bright red blood formed over the cut, more of it welling as the seconds ticked away with the three of them watching and holding their breath.

“It’s not working…,” Syssi whispered, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

“No, look!” Bridget lifted Syssi’s hand, bringing it close to her eyes. “It’s closing!” She took a small gauze square from her tray and wiped the blood away. The skin underneath it was already knitting back together, and the small scar faded right before their eyes. In less than a minute, there was no sign of the incision.

“Welcome to immortality, Syssi. To completely transition will take up to six months, but the major change has already taken place. Your body heals itself fast, and it will just keep improving.” Bridget smiled at Kian and Syssi’s relieved faces. “You’re the second one I’ve welcomed today.”