Venipuncture

Chapter 8: Sub-Human

The day came and went, though, her last patient was proving to be rather troublesome.

“So," Willow said as she looked over her clipboard. “You're saying that you've had headache problems for the past two years?"

“Yes," her patient replied.

“And you're not sure which headache it is?"

“Er, yes."

“And nobody in the Underground could help you," Willow raised a brow. “Forgive me for asking Mr…Jan,"

“Oh, it's no problem at all," Jan replied.

“It is kinda a problem," someone else cut in, and Willow sighed.

Her patient was, of all things, the ancient Roman God Janus, or, as they preferred to be called, Jan and Us. Two heads joined atop the body of a single man. The left head, Jan, was suffering from fairly bad migraines for a while now, and no amount of headache medicine was able to help him, while his twin, Us, had proved to be of no help.

The weirdest part was though, was that each head was attached to the other by the back of the skull. Like, two faces existed on the same head, just in opposite directions.

She had no idea how they ate, nor how only one head wasn't getting said margarine, or a growing number of factors about their biology that didn't make sense. But Jan was patient, and she would do her best to help him.

The treatment took place in the operating room, which was really just a small room with a single bed with a cabinet nearby, filled with most of her go to tools and tablets. One of which was an aspirin bottle she was really thinking of taking a few pills from herself.

“Right," Willow noted, and adjusted her glasses.

She didn't need them, really, but they looked good on her, and helped sell the idea that she was, well, good at her job. Appearances tended to be what people focused on first, and ancient Roman gods were no exception.

They…he…them, sat on the bed, ironically, quite like a child. Jan faced her, with Us being on the back.

“So," Willow began again. “Nothing at home worked?"

“Yes," Jan replied. “I was hoping that such a well-educated doctor…" And here came the empty flirting, Willow noted, “…would be able to help."

“I'll try my best," Willow replied. “Now, have you noticed any straining? Like, any periods when it gets worse?"

“Hm," Jan paused, “I believe it's when Us speaks."

Willow frowned. “Please stay on topic, sir."

“Oi!" Us snapped. “I'll have you know my brain is working just fine!"

“Oh, if it was, we wouldn't be here!" Jan returned.

“Fool! You just want to flirt with the pretty doctor!"

Willow sighed. “Sir, please refrain from arguing with yourself. Would you say that you've been under a lot of stress?"

“Yes!" Jan replied. “I work in a warehouse, doing backbreaking labor all day. I've fallen quite a way from the god I used to be…"

A pity flirt? Or just lamenting his past? Willow didn't know, but she did have an answer.

“I'll give you some antibiotics, pain meds, and some stuff for headache. If it continues or gets worse, come in and I'll see about scheduling you with…" she clicked her tongue.

If this problem was beyond her, or needed equipment that she didn't have, what could she do? These creatures were out of myth and legend, not something you could just introduce to the local big names.

And there was a reason Lilith put her on that Blood Oath, like it or not.

“Ma'am?" Jan tilted their head. “Is everything alright?"

“Ah, yes, just considering what to have for dinner," Willow replied and lied quickly. “But like I said, come see me again if it gets worse."

The Roman god gave her an affirmation of thanks, and a few cheesy pick-up lines before she sent him out the door.

With nothing more to do for the day, officially, Willow almost threw herself in her chair, and leaned back. She released a long, heavy breath, and ran a hand through her hair. “What has my life become?"

“The sole lifeline for many in need?"

Willow swiveled her chair, searching for the sound of the voice. But Lilith was nowhere to be seen. “Wha—Lilith, where are you?"

“Um…over here?"

Willow turned once again, and found Lilith standing in the doorway, holding a bag of take out.

“I hope you like Chinese," Lilith offered with a small, unsure smile.

Willow paused, took a breath, and smiled in return. “That sounds lovely," she said.

***

Chinese, had in fact, hit the spot. Though, questions burned within Willow's mind, namely why the princess kept visiting her. Was it a guilty conscious about robbing her, drugging her, enslaving her, and then forcing her to do work for little to any pay?

Because if so, it would take a lot more than one bed made, and one free dinner to make up for it.

“So, uh, how was your day?" Lilith asked. She sat on the desk, cross-legged, while going through a plastic tray of orange chicken faster than Willow could eat hers.

“I'm…still getting used to it," Willow replied. “I met Janus…or Jan and Us."

Lilith nodded. “Ah, those two," she mused. “They used to be much more in sync, but these days…" She shook her head.

“…by the way," Willow chomped down on another piece of chicken. “I've been meaning to ask, how old are you?"

“Oh," Lilith paused. “I think…somewhere over 200?"

Willow's eyes widened as the bite she had just taken found itself lodged in her throat. Willow thumped her own chest and swallowed. “Y-you're what?" she asked.

“I was…uh," Lilith frowned. “Around during the Revolution…I think that was in the late 1800s."

“You were…" Willow paused. “I'm sorry, what?"

“Oh, no," Lilith shook her head. “I wasn't a vampire then, just a girl. I didn't meet Washington during that time if that's what you were hoping."

“…Wait, then how are you named Lilith?" Willow paused. “Weren't there a lot of Christians during that time? It seems strange to name a child after a demon."

Lilith smiled. “What makes you think that is my real name?"

“What is it then?"

Lilith paused. “Well, you know the fae?"

“Yes."

“And you know how names have power?"

“Well, yes, but…aaaahhh," Willow nodded. “I guess that makes sense. Not something you can hand out easily?"

“Yep," Lilith replied. “And…truthfully, I keep forgetting that name. It's easier to be Lilith then her."

A second passed, and Willow considered her options. What to say, how to say it, and most importantly, perhaps get on the good side of this vampire princess.

Or she could say something funny. “That's cringe," Willow replied, and Lilith raised a brow.

“But I'm not cringing," she said, and Willow forced back a chuckle.

“You're an odd girl, you know that?" Willow said. “Seriously, I can't seem to understand you. One moment you kidnap me, the next, you bring me food. I can't tell if you're trying to put Stockholm syndrome on me or not."

Lilith frowned. “Who's Stockholm?"

Willow furrowed her brow. “Strange indeed. So, tell me Lilith, why…did you use the Blood Oath on me, for real? Is it because you just want me around?" She asked with a coy smile.

Lilith's face turned a shade of scarlet. “I—I mean to say, its like I said!" she breathed. “The Underground needed a human doctor. Most of the more magical stuff doesn't work so well in the city, or is expensive enough that the local witches are at their wits end."

“And because…"

“And because not every problem needs to be solved under the moonlight, while the planets align with a potion brewed from a demon's blood and a virgin's soul," Lilith snapped. “I mean, seriously, do you even know the logistics of that? It's not fun, and it barely works on the common cold anymore!"

Willow blinked. “…What kind of potions do your witches make?"

“Bad ones," Lilith muttered.

“W-well," Willow tried, and failed, to keep the smile off of her face. “As nice as it is to get free food from my first stalker—"

“Stalker?" Lilith muttered.

“—I believe that it's time for me to hit the hay, not literally, of course."

“Of course…" Lilith frowned. “Wait, hold on. When you say first, does that imply you have a second?"

Willow blinked. Observant little thing, wasn't she? “I…yeah, this morning's run, I ran into a doctor of the local hospital. We were walking along the same route, but…I dunno."

“You thought he was following you?" Lilith asked.

“It…" Willow shook her head. “I've had creepy people follow me before. After a while, I guess I just got paranoid."

“Why?"

“Because I was creeped out by people following me?" Willow furrowed her brow. “You know, like vampires?"

“No, I mean, why did they follow you?" Lilith asked, and Willow shrugged.

“I don't know, sometimes they do weird things. I mean, no weirder than a vampire, or a Roman god, or a goblin, or…"

Evidently, that was the wrong thing to say. Lilith's lips turned into a frown, and she glared at Willow. “We're not--!" Suddenly, she snapped her hand to her head, and breathed in through hissing teeth. “We're not…weird, like that. Not sub-human."

Willow clicked her tongue. “Are…you okay?" she asked. “That was quite the reaction."

“I've…" Lilith shook her head. “Let's just say that being over 200 years old leaves you with a few scars." With that, she set the food down. “And I am going to make sure what you said was true."

“What, about me being stalked by someone other than you?"

At that, Lilith frowned. “I'm not stalking you."

Willow raised a brow. “Said every stalker ever. You know where I live, and you keep visiting me in the wee hours of the morning."

“You know where I live," Lilith returned. “And for the record, your morning is my night."

“Oh, really?" Willow rolled her eyes. “Why don't you stay here with me, oh mighty princess, to make sure your charge is safe?"

She had meant it as a jest, an insult, but to her surprise, Lilith narrowed her eyes, and nodded. “Oh, you know what? I will!" With that, she hopped off the desk, and went to a nearby supply closet. “And since I'm here…" She opened the door, despite Willow's sputtering cries of protest. “I might as well clean up and make myself a useful stalker!"

“No, Lilith, I—"

“No!" Lilith snapped. “I got you into this mess, the very least I can do is make sure you're happy!"

Willow blinked, and a rush of red covered her face as Lilith's words settled in. Make her happy? What, did this vampire have a crush on her, or something? No, that couldn't be....right?

Right?