A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 22 

“Please sit down on the bed over there,” said the doctor, pointing in the direction.

She was an older lady and quite pretty for her age, her most notable feature being her gentle eyes. She had introduced herself as Doctor Melissa Chambers. “Kieran, did you want to sit in the chair?” she asked without looking. A question met with a second of awkward silence between the two of us.

We hadn’t discussed him being in the room whilst I was examined. I’d just assumed that, like human doctors, they normally were more of a private thing unless the person was a spouse or relative.

But before any of us could talk, the doctor quickly shook her head. “Oh, right, I forgot… I suppose just wait outside then.”

“No… hang on,” I said, hesitating. “Kieran should probably be here. You know… in case I don’t understand parts of what you tell me. I may need him to help explain later….” I then turned to look at him. “If that’s okay with you?”

He nodded.

“Of course,” he said. “Whatever is most comfortable for you.”

And without any further delay, I went and sat on the bed as the doctor began examining me.

There was a small privacy screen, so I didn’t need to worry about Kieran seeing anything, but I was just grateful to have him there. Truthfully, I was more nervous than I cared to admit and having him close by helped soothe my anxiety a little.

“I didn’t hear the whole story from Kieran, but I was told there was something about potential suppressor usage… and silver,” she said. “If that really is true then we should do an internal investigation as soon as possible.”

She poked and prodded at my skin as she conducted different tests, but her words caused a stir in me.

An investigation could lead back to my father… which could lead back to me. All of which I didn’t want uncovered. My past was still something I hadn’t divulged to Kieran yet.

I didn’t argue with her though, choosing to remain silent. My head was now already thinking of ways I could avoid the situation. But I was promptly pulled from my thoughts after she finished taking my blood pressure,

Because upon lifting my shirt up, a small gasp left her, Just how bad did it need to be for a doctor to be surprised?

“However..,” she continued, her eyes not leaving the old scarring on my skin. “Kieran told me a little about your situation Told me about the potential abuse. As a personal favour, he’s asked me to give you some time to adjust here before we let officials go digging into your personal life I can see merit in that Mental wounds are just as important to heal.” It felt strange to have someone talking about me like this. My last doctor never seemed to show more interest than was absolutely necessary,

“…Were these scars originally caused by a silver object?” she then asked.

It was a difficult question that brought up some less than pleasant memories, but I bit back any discomfort I had.

“No,” I answered, keeping it simple.

The truth was that most of these were from my victim’s pocketknives, training daggers or… whatever instrument Gavin felt like using during punishment. All normal metal from what I could recall.

“Adult scarring like this is rare for our kind. You should have completely healed from these. It’s true the suppressors would limit ability but I’m more inclined to think this might be from the… silver consumption.” She seemed to struggle to say the last part, almost as though the idea of it made her sick “I’m going to take a blood sample now. You can pull your shirt down.” I did as instructed and allowed her to do what she needed. She spoke a little as she worked.

told you about blessed silver, I hope?” she asked, taking the sample

“Yes.”

you how lucky you are to

were now sharper, I could tell her blunt response had good reason behind it. “There isn’t any point in sugar coating it. She needs to understand just how bad this really is,” she defended. “…And I don’t say that lightly. This is the worst case I’ve ever seen in all my years as a doctor. Worse

Kieran said, a warning in

sure what she was referring to, but it was a

whatever she’d made “This is the best I can give you,” she finally said, walking back over to me. “The external damage already done will most likely never heal and, for that, I am truly sorry. But what I give

permanent scarring.”

quickly?” I asked, unable to hide

quick, but she made it sound as though I were only harnessing a fraction of my potential. “For bruising and wounds… usually within a day. Of course,

then leaned over and stabbed

loathed after discovering the truth regarding my medical care all these years. “This will help to absorb and flush it out. Once a day for two weeks. I would also like to see you again soon

her…? But I proceeded to take the pills from her anyway, deciding not to mention it. “I appreciate

reaching for my hands. “I’ll do everything I can to make

like a standard thing to say, I couldn’t help but hear a tone of genuine sincerity. Almost as if the apology were more personal. I frowned a little but thanked her nonetheless, doing my best to stay neutral. Another several minutes then passed before Kieran and I

she perhaps involved? But that didn’t make any sense. She was the one who brought up needing to do an investigation. Then…. “.. Are you okay?” Kieran asked. I hadn’t said anything since we left

“About”

my lip. “But…

quiet. Something that made me think he knew

he would

“Kieran?”

passing. But… there was another reason too.” He then paused, a crease forming between his brows. “She was one of the lead developers who originally designed the suppressors.

That explained a lot.

choice either. Meting you now

Did I resent her? I wasn’t sure. She knowingly helped create something that had the sole purpose of hurting others. Even in her old age and whether it was voluntary or not, surely she had to be culpable for her actions even a little bit. She might not have made the

though, knowing it wouldn’t do much good to mull on it. There wasn’t much I could do about what had already happened.

me recall her words regarding

of finding out where the drugs came from, especially if there could be others out there just like me, unknowingly affected. But… letting them follow my trail back to my father was

where they came from before it got

heir,” someone

a man. They reminded me of the person we’d met at the border yesterday; a similar sort of athletic authority about them. A ‘warrior’ perhaps? I remembered Kieran mentioning that

minutes,” Kieran said to me. “I’ll meet you

walked over to talk

it was, it was work

get me thinking about my own