Chapter 24
Chapter 24:
His eyes were steel gray. There was no haze of confusion, no groggy transition from coma to consciousness. He had been here before, weeks ago, when the migraines had nearly claimed him. He knew the feeling of the return.
They were instantly alert, sharp, and scanning the room with a predatory intensity.
Dr. Stone, desperate to regain control of the narrative, pushed forward. He clicked on a penlight and shone it directly into Elias’s eyes.
“Mr. Thorne? Can you hear me? Follow the light p>
Elias frowned. He raised his hand—weakly, but with enough force to swat the light away. “Who turned on the sun p>
His voice was raspy, like gravel grinding against stone, but the command in it was undeniable.
Julian scrambled up from the chair, rushing to the bedside. “Uncle Elias! Sir! You’re back. You’re actually back p>
Aurora stood in the shadows near the window, quietly cleaning her hands with sanitizer. She watched the scene with detachment. Her job was done. The transaction was complete.
Dr. Stone straightened his white coat, puffing out his chest. “Mr. Thorne, you suffered a severe neurological event. I administered a high dose of corticosteroids earlier. It seems there was a delayed reaction. The drugs finally kicked in. You are very lucky I was here p>
Elias blinked, his vision clearing. He looked at Dr. Stone. Then he looked at the waste bin where the silver needles lay. He looked at the small red marks fading on his wrist.
He slowly turned his head back to Stone. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
“Your drugs,” Elias said, his voice gaining strength, “nearly killed me, Xavier. I could feel my heart stopping. I could hear you shouting about intubation p>
Dr. Stone turned pale. “Sir, I assure you, standard protocol p>
L𝗎tєѕτ ϲh𝒶ρτєrs ιn
“Protocol?” Elias cut him off. “You were panicking p>
Elias shifted his gaze. He looked past Julian, past the expensive medical equipment, directly into the shadows where Aurora stood.
Recognition softened the steel in his eyes. He didn’t ask who she was. He knew.
“You came,” Elias said. It wasn’t a question. It was an acknowledgment of a debt.
Aurora stepped forward. Her face was impassive. She didn’t bow, she didn’t smile. “Vital signs are stable. The toxin has been neutralized, but your underlying condition remains. You will have a headache for an hour, but you will live p>
Dr. Stone sputtered. “Mr. Thorne, this woman practiced unlicensed medicine! I demand a full MRI. Her… voodoo… could have caused brain damage. We need to check for hematomas p>
Elias lifted a finger. Just one. It was enough to silence the room.
He looked at Aurora. “Water p>
It was a test. A command.
Aurora didn’t flinch. She walked to the bedside table, poured a glass of water, and inserted a straw. She handed it to him, but she didn’t hover. She didn’t act like a servant. She acted like an equal handing a tool to another worker.
Elias took a sip, his eyes never leaving hers.