The Darkness Within Us

4. Blocked Nose

~~Valentin~~

“Valentin, are you okay?” A soft voice brought back my attention to the moment; I was distracted.

“Eh? -Oh yeah. why?” I asked turning to Salomé.

“I don’t know, you seem a bit different today, a little off maybe?” Certainly, I woke up this morning with a tiny annoyance in my ear, and throughout the day I’ve noticed that my smell is shortening each time I check it, and right now there’s a little pressure between my eyebrows that is attempting to mess up with my day.

“It might be just a little headache,” I admitted.

“Do you want a pill for that?” She asked with a tender voice.

“Thank you, I’m all right.”

“Believe me, it’s better if you don’t let it grow.” She said as she took from a pocket in her backpack a small plastic box. “Here.” She offered it to me and I couldn’t find myself declining her offer twice, so I just accepted the pill.

“Thank you so much.” I just threw it in my mouth and swallowed it dry, ignoring its bitter taste.

“It is nothing. I hope you feel better soon.” She put the tiny box inside of her backpack again and returned her attention to the professor.

Salomé is like that. She doesn’t talk a lot, she is sometimes awkward with people and she lives in her own world, doodling, scribbling, reading a book, or doing schoolwork; rarely paying attention. But I can’t blame her, this is not my favorite class either. She has a wide smile and a light laugh although she doesn’t show them a lot, but I discovered that is actually quite easy to make her laugh. She is somehow demanding she doesn’t let anyone step over her but she is very polite and a nice. For someone not too social she is good at socializing, she seems confident. I’ve come to guess that she is selective over that.That much I have learned about her in the short time we have been working together and if I were to make a quick judgment, I’d say she just chooses to close up to people.

I instinctively sniffed to catch her scent but my nose, which feels a little bit blocked today, didn’t let me enjoy it as always. I looked at her, she took off her shiny, metallic glasses and placed them on the desk with her attention still on the front. She has a beautiful profile view; her hair was pulled in two braids that allowed to contemplate it. She had kind of a Mediterranean, straight nose, wide eyebrows, long lashes, puffy lips, and a pointy chin. There was a small wart on the far corner of her jawbone, and her small ears full of cute earrings that matched her clothes. She was such a view to behold, I’m sure she is as beautiful as she is smart.

I took out my phone and opened Notes, typed, and then slid it to her. She put on her glasses to look at the phone and then she looks at me. I wrote the message “If I ask for your number, would you give it to me? I like it more than emails.”

I don’t know why I want it, but I wanted it anyways. I pretended to pay attention to the front, but I was actually peeking from the corner of my eye and saw her adding her contact to my phone, and then she slid it back to me. The headache eased with the pill Salomé gave me, but the discomfort in my ears kept disturbing me. It was not much time after class when the headache came back, I also stopped smelling at all, and my body felt warm, warmer than usual. It’s possible that I caught the flu or something like that? I had some medicine and kept going. Next day I didn’t pay much mind because I do not get sick usually, and when I do it is just two days or so as much, so, it should have been gone soon, but it got worse. After my second class, I was all covered in sweat, my breath was raggedy and my ears were extremely sensitive to the sound, and that was driving me nuts. I even began to lose control over my body, I felt my nails and fangs grow, and my vision was blurry; that was not good. I returned home immediately, feeling weak and heavy. The first thing I did was to throw my sweater away and let myself fall on the bed; I just laid flat on my abdomen until my body surrendered and fell asleep-

Two soft knocks that I barely hear, they sounded more like patting on a pillow to me.

“Valentin?” Two knocks again. “Valentin.” The female voice sounded drowned. The door opened. “Hey, what’s with you? I haven’t seen you since yesterday, you didn’t come for dinner today either.” Her steps got closer although I couldn’t tell how much. “Are you sleeping already?” a side of the bed sank. “Valentin… you smell weird- are you okay?” She touched my back. ‘Heavens, you’re burning in fever!” When she tried to flip me, I slapped her hand away with a snarl. “Valentin!?” I felt exasperated, I was actually frustrated and angry, I wasn’t in my right mind, my body was just reacting. I peeled my teeth at her. “Wait, Valentin. Calm down, don’t shift, it’s me…” When she tried to come closer, I growled at her scratching her arm. “Auch!” She squeaked. And then I was all lost, I was only snarls and growls, I shifted. I launched at her but she managed to dodge me and trapped my snout wrapping her arms tightly around it. I pushed slamming her against the wall but she wouldn’t give up closing tightly my snout. “DAAD! MOM!” She yelled loudly, and I don’t remember what else happened…

When I woke up, I was on my bed with a blanket covering me. I saw a blonde, short-haired silhouette but I couldn’t figure out who’s was it until my eyes adapted to the light in the room. Hazel eyes, it was Samantha.

“Aunt Sam…” I said with my voice hoarse.

“I’m glad to see you are back sweetie.” She offered me a warm smile.

“What-ugh” I slowly sat up feeling numb and my head heavy.

“Easy boy. You must be hungry, I made something soft for you to eat.”

“Did you have a nightmare? You were squirming and saying something about the fire.

“I don’t remember—Wait, how’s Terr, what happened?” I grabbed Sam’s arm, remembering that earlier I had hurt Terrisha.

“Terry is okay, her arm will be all healed in the morning, she must be sleeping right now. It’s quite late.

“I’m really sorry about that, I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“It’s all right, we all know a delirious wolf can be aggressive. You were burning with fever.”

“I’m sorry to keep you up, Sam.”

“It’s okay darling, even big, bad wolves need their mommies to take care of them.” She kindly swept my hair back placing a peck on my forehead. “I’ll be back with some food and medicine.”

I was too young when I lost my parents, there are moments when I miss them although I barely remember them. Morgan and Samantha raised me as if I were their son, they gave me a family and all I have ever needed. I feel really lucky to have them, to have such a caring family. As Sam promised she was back and stayed with me until I fell asleep again. The next time I opened my eyes it was still dark, it was three-something in the morning and my body felt heavy, I was about to sleep again but a sudden thought made me jump out of the bed “The freaking essay!” I took my laptop off my backpack and started working on my essay, otherwise, Salomé wouldn’t have anything to work on. I snoozed from time to time but I finally finished about five or so and went back to sleep.

A soft voice called my name while a hand was shaking my shoulder. “Valentin”

“Terr” I sat up rubbing my eyes.

“How are you feeling Val? Did you eat the food mom left for you?”

“Yes.”

“Liar, I checked already.” She protested

“Then why do you ask, leave me alone.”

“C’me on Val, you know you need to eat properly.”

“I ate some, I just don’t have much appetite… By the way, I’m sorry for hurting you last night”

“Don’t even mention it, it was nothing” she said putting a strand of her pixie-short, blonde hair behind her ear. “Are you feeling better?” I forgot to answer trying to not focus on the terrible headache I have. “Should we go to the hospital?”

“No, I’m good.” I was tugging my blanket although I was covered in sweat I was shivering.

“Valentin, you don’t look good. You look pale and demolished, and you still have a fever, let’s go.” She demanded.

Having no other option, I had to let Terrisha drag me to her car as a rag doll and take me to the hospital where now a nurse is pointing some hellish lantern in my eye while Terr gives her explanations. The nurse put a thermometer in my mouth and checked briefly her spreadsheet. When the digital thermometer beeped, she took it off and checked it.

“Oh my god, son! This temperature is terribly high you must be burning inside. We might have to intern you; I’ll get the doctor right away.” The nurse rushed to find the doctor.

Terrisha and I exchanged looks, which could not be something good so the moment the nurse left, Terr and I disappeared, we didn’t have in mind that my temperature would be much higher than what is normal. We were hiding in a bathroom; Terrisha was talking on the phone with Morgan and I was trying hard to breathe slowly. If before all sounds felt drowned to me, now my ears feel extremely sensitive to any sound and that’s driving me crazy. I was panting, bathed in sweat until we finally moved again. Terrisha was arguing with the receptionist.

“I already told you that if you want to see Dr. Donovan Pierce you need an appointment”

“Please, this is an urgent matter, at least try calling him, he might not be busy, just tell him that Queenie’s grandson has an emergency and needs him” After all Terri’s persistence the receptionist gave in and to our luck, it turns out that the doctor was willing to attend us. Once we got to his office I plopped on the stretcher.

“What brought you guys here Today?” The young white-skinned, black-haired, and blue-eyed doctor asked and started to run the same routinary examination as Terrisha explained to him what was going on with me. “And who told you about me? Just out of curiosity because you know you used “key””

“I’m Morgan Warren's daughter, he is one of Queenie’s hands”

“Oh, I see. All right, Valentin, I’m going to take some samples from you and take them to the laboratory to do a viral test so, please rest in the meantime.” I must have fallen asleep because I don’t even remember when he left. Dr. Donovan came back into his office and locked the door behind him. “All right Valentin, I got your results,” he said shaking the papers in his hand. “Your body is being attacked by a very strange virus that is common on foxes, dogs, and other wild canines.” The doctor took out a key and opened a drawer with a small case. “Now I’m going to give you a shot that must help you feel better.

“What is that?” Terr Asked.

“A colleague of mine that works at a veterinary helped make this shot with an antibody to kick out the virus.”

“So, you’re giving me a vaccine for dogs.” The Doctor chuckled as Terrisha scowled at me.

“You are funny Valentin. I’d Say it is a little more complicated than that. You see, for us, not completely humans not completely animals, certain things work a little similar and certain others differently, so we had to design this thing to make sure it was effective for us.” He said giving the syringe a gentle hit whit his gloved finger and a tiny drop ran down the needle. “Now, you aren’t afraid of needles are ya?”

“What if I am” I retorted.

“Well, that would make you funnier, I guess” In less than a second he inserted the injection and put a ball of cotton. “You’re such a good boy. It wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“You’re not funny, you know?” For some reason, I was behaving more insufferable than usual and the doctor’s carefree attitude slightly irritated me.

“Forgive him, he is just being grumpier than usual” Terrisha said apologetically.

“No, it’s all right. Honestly, who wouldn’t?” He said returning to his desk. “You know, although we are incredibly healthy beings, we can still get sick and stuff so use wisely your noses, if you hunt something infected with a virus or disease you are likely to acquire it and I recommend you to not do any excessive alcohol or drugs and have a lot of vitamins to strengthen your immune system.” He got up and handed Terrisha and me two personal cards. “I’m gonna give you guys my number so you can contact me directly if you ever need something.”

“Thank you very much, doctor,” Terr said securing the card in her purse.

“You can Call me Donovan, and it’s nothing, we got each other’s back.” He said hanging his glasses in his pocket. “I have to leave but you guys can stay until you feel ready to go. With that shot that I gave you, you should feel better in no time Valentin.” He walked toward the door. “Make sure he eats well, has some rest, hunts something to regain strength and raise his defenses, oh and consume vitamins, I insist. And you know what they say about doctors and apples.” He winked his stupid eye and closed the door behind him.

It didn’t take us long to go back home, I got to rest enough and check on college work. I was actually reading the review that Salomé gave me, and at the bottom of the page, it was written in light blue “I hope you feel Ok” for some reason something simple like that made me smile.

“Valentin” Terrisha’s voice came from outside right before she strode in “Look I got you dinner.” She was holding by the ears a pair of wild Rabbits.

“Ohg, Terrisha.”

“What? Did you prefer a fawn? Well, this is the best I got.”

“I don’t know if that’s cruelty.”

“Don’t be ridiculous”

“That doesn’t even count as hunting, you’re feeding me.”

“You are supposed to say thank you, ungrateful.”

“I bet I could have found something much better.” I said cockily

“Just eat them!” She squeaked as she threw the two rabbits at me

“Wait you crazy—” I lifted my laptop to save it from being hit by a dead rabbit.

“Well, that was funny.” She said walking toward the bed as I gathered the rabbits.

“You are crazy.”

“And you stupid.”

“And have you texted Mr.Dr yet?”

“Huh?” She looked at me in confusion.

“The funny-ass doctor. It looks like you liked him.”

“No, what are you saying.” She retorted.

“I caught you looking at him a lot, don’t lie. I admit it, the guy’s handsome.”

“Tsk, don’t be silly.”

“Looks like someone is embarrassed.”

“Looks like someone is better.” She said annoyed attempting to hit me with one rabbit.

“Hey, stop it you crazy!”

By Sunday I was feeling all better with the only exception that sudden moves would make my head hurt and that my nose felt still a little blocked. Morgan, Samantha, and Terrisha went to an eastern food restaurant with an old friend of the family that recently got married, I decided to go with them because I was getting sick of being confined to my bed. The place was nice, there were a lot of people, the light was dim and there was background music. After a while in there, some women dressed in red paraded through the place heading to the tables. Next to us, a tall, dark-skinned, middle-aged woman appeared. She was wearing a sexy blue dress with golden details. She started to do some Arabic dance moving her hips and hands. Morgan and his friend Cameron were hypnotized by the woman who had a shiny smile, even Samantha was enchanted. Suddenly and at the rhythm of the music, she changed places with the woman dancing at the adjacent table. This one was younger and was dressed in red. She wore a low skirt with two openings that allowed her to see her legs, a delicate top that cupped her breasts adorned with golden details, and two long, translucent sleeves. She had wavy dark blonde hair with some golden locks and a thin veil hung from her nose. The ballerina opened wide her big brown eyes when she looked at me, and I opened mine when our gazes met. Now I’m hundred percent sure that she is who I think she is. Salomé, I was amazed to encounter her here, I absolutely didn’t expect this. Her arms flowed delicately as if they were noodles, and her body moved graciously like a snake. Her eyes were glued on mine and ended up generating this strange unease and nervousness that made me gulp with difficulty.

“Careful, your eyes might fall off your face.” Terrisha’s voice broke the enchantment that Salome’s eyes and movements casted over me. I looked quickly at her with some embarrassment but when I looked back at Salomé, she had left already and the music stopped. Not long after that, the lady dressed in blue was in the center of the room on a dais playing a funny-looking drum with her hands, another girl in red started playing zills, and in the middle of them, Salome re-appeared and started to dance with a sword on her head as if it were nothing. It was an incredible presentation, later on, the lady in blue replaced Salome, it was noticeable how she was more experienced due to the complexity of her movements but I would have never guessed that Salomé could have such ability, honestly, I feel that she never fails to impress me.