The Curse Of A Lycan King

A Mark

It was already past midnight when Devi got back to her apartment to see that Jennie was gone and a note laid on the table. Her hands shook when she tried to take her medications to reduce the ache in her chest. She went straight to her room and locked the doors then got under the sheets as she thought about what had just happened in that house.

She wanted to believe it was one of those hallucinations but this felt too real. Those whispers, the skull, the writings on the wall, she felt like something was about to change. Why was this happening? And that person who called her in the first place, she never saw that person which made all of this stranger. Devi took out her phone with shaky hands and dialed back the number that had called her but like a part of her expected, it couldn’t get through.

Tired and scared and frustrated, Devi couldn’t remember how she fell asleep. She only woke up the next morning to find that she was late for work. Hurrying to get dressed, She suddenly remembered the doctor’s words the previous day and froze.

‘The hole in your heart did not heal. You have two months left to live’ These words echoed in her mind and she sighed, taking her bag with her as she left the apartment and drove straight to the hospital.

Like every other day, Devi checked in and attended to the patients assigned to her one after the other until a nurse came inside the office to tell her Doctor Martins needed her presence in his office. She scratched her neck which had suddenly started itching earlier this morning as she stood up and followed the nurse but couldn’t help looking behind her as she walked. She felt eyes on her. Like she was being watched yet when she looked, she found no one. The corridors were clear except for the seats that were lined close to the wall.

She found it strange as feelings like this never failed her.

“Devina” Doctor Martins called when she entered and she noticed how his voice was a bit gentler than usual. Perhaps, it was because he knew the condition she was in.

“Sit” He told her after they exchanged greetings and Devi took the sit in front of him. When she looked at his eyes, it was as if she already knew what he was going to say.

Doctor Martins stared at her for a moment. She felt something strange in the way he looked at her then he adjusted his glasses before clearing his throat to speak “I thought you were going to skip work today”

“I don’t have any reason to do that sir” She replied calmly.

“You do have a lot. I already filled in a form that you won’t be showing up for work for a few days” He looked at her with eyes filled with worry “Tell me Devina, are you really okay?”

“Of course, I’m okay” Devi forced a smile they both knew was fake and the doctor sighed.

“Yesterday-”

“I know what you’re thinking” She cut him off, taking a breath as her eyes wandered about. He was the only one who knew about her condition and apart from Jennie, she doubted there was anyone else who would cry for her. “I know you want me to live the rest of my life doing what I enjoy the most and I can assure you, I’m doing just that. I love my work and that’s why even when I feel… Lost like this, even when my days are numbered... I still come here” Her voice almost broke at the end but she held it in and forced herself to remain calm and not let the reality of it hit her once again.

The doctor looked at her for a long while as if trying to figure her out then his mouth opened and he asked “What about spending time with your loved ones?”

Heh, as if I have much of those.

Devi looked up at him and smiled “That’s why I’ll be leaving the hospital earlier than usual. I will be spending time with… loved one’s” She couldn’t almost say the term as it felt unfamiliar to her. Loved ones? She didn’t have those. She will actually be spending time by herself.

Devi scratched her neck again and felt her fingers wet. When she brought it to her face, she saw her fingers covered in blood. The doctor noticed this too and frowned.

“You hurt yourself?” Doctor Martin’s brows furrowed when he saw the large patch of blood on the sides of her neck and he stood up to come over to her side.

Devi blinked. She only scratched her neck a little so how did she end up injuring herself?

“Let me see that” When she felt the doctor’s hand on her neck, she felt startled as she didn’t realize when he reached her. Because she had her head down, she also didn’t see the look that appeared in the doctor’s eyes when he saw the wound forming on her neck. His eyes turned black for a moment before they returned to normal and he left her to open a drawer where he took an ointment from and handed it to her.

“Thank you” Devi told him as she stood up and started to leave while still touching her neck which was strangely bringing out more blood.

“Devina” Doctor Martins called when she reached the door and she stopped, turning her head to look at him.

There was a grim look on his face as he told her “Make sure to cover it well” His eyes trailed towards her neck and Devi nodded at him wondering why he had to point that out. Of course, she didn’t want people to see her like this and she was going to cover it up.

Going inside the rest room, Devi stared at her now bloody neck which had also stained her coat. She carefully removed her coat and hung it somewhere then she put her hands under the faucet to wash the blood off her neck but it just kept coming and she kept washing until it stopped. When Devi looked at her reflection in the mirror again, at the sides of her neck, she was shocked at what she saw there. There was a mark, no, not a mark. She didn’t know exactly what to call it but it sure was a drawing of something she didn’t recognize. Why was this suddenly appearing on her neck?

Devi wondered if it had something to do with going to her grandmother’s place the previous day. Still, she felt an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something was not right. Maybe with her... or maybe not.