Page 21 of Bitten By Trouble

“He was probably just as caught off guard as you,” Daphne said, eyes sparkling with laughter. “He hates it when people see him eat his prey. But good job handling it.”

“Thanks,” I said, unsure how to feel about Oscar but filing away the information for later.

Daphne caught my arm. “Be careful, Char. Oscar aside, now that most people are aware of your abilities, if they really want to hurt you, they’d be prepared for them. The element of surprise won’t be there to help you.”

Her words stayed with me as I showered and got in the elevator for my visit to Dr. Orpheus. It shook me to think about the possibilities. But I had to remind myself that no one was really out there trying to hurt me. Daphne was just training me to be ready in case. And if I did find myself in a fight, it would probably be with someone who didn’t know me and hadn’t planned ahead. Just like with Oscar.

At least this morning, my walk in the daylight had been far less stressful, and I’d gotten to our training session on time with a change of clothing. Every time I thought of the fact that Julian hadn’t so much as texted me since disappearing yesterday, a whole mixing bowl of emotions churned up and I had to focus on something else. For the moment, that was the meeting I had scheduled.

Dr. Orpheus’s office was similar to mine, even though I’d been expecting more of an exam room situation. The first thing I checked was his aura as he rose to greet me. Black and bright blue that matched his glasses swirled in a dizzying display, swallowing him. I shook my head to clear it.

“Let’s get right to the point, Dr. Devaux,” he said as we both took a seat across from each other. “The general wants answers, and it’s our mutual goal to give them to him.”

“That depends on both the question and the means,” I replied, setting my hands in my lap. “I want to help, believe me, but I will not be a lab rat.”

Orpheus chuckled and tapped a pen on the desk. “I’m not Dr. Frankenstein. Obviously, we should do some scans and measure electrical impulses, but I’m not going to dissect you or inject you with GoDKiller.”

I startled at his casual mention of the weapon I’d accidentally created when trying to cure vampirism. Was that supposed to be a slap in the face? Was he saying I was a hypocrite? I never forced anyone to be a guinea pig, though. I’d used it as a means of self-defense. Well, okay, I’d used the cure on Julian, but it was our only option—

No. Julian hadn’t told anyone and neither had I. It was a coincidence.

“I suppose I can agree to those terms,” I said finally. “As long as we share the data. I may be able to help after all. I’m a specialist in genetics.”

“So I hear. It’ll be a pleasure to collaborate with you. I’m excited to have a fellow science-minded individual around.” He stood, and I followed suit, assuming we were done. Until I realized the elevator was nowhere to be found.

Dr. Orpheus opened a door to the left of the office and gestured for me to go through. One glance told me that was the examination room I’d initially expected.

“No time like the present to get started,” he said when I didn’t move.

“I—” I had no reason to feel so uneasy about the situation. Everything he’d said made perfect sense. And didn’t I want to know more about my own abilities? Why psychics were randomly born into witch families throughout the generations with seemingly no rhyme or reason?

Biting the inside of my cheek, I strode through the door and hopped up onto the exam table. “What were you thinking? An MRI? CAT scan?” I guessed, despite the lack of either machine in the room.

Orpheus snapped a latex glove on his wrist. “An EEG. I’m going to fasten some electrodes to your skull and see what happens in the brain when you use your abilities.” He wheeled over a portable machine with multiple wires attached to a screen.

I swallowed but nodded my assent as he unclipped my hair. Sitting still was difficult as he stuck multiple plastic bits to my scalp until it looked like an alien octopus had landed on my head.

“Okay,” Orpheus said, switching on the screen and grabbing a clipboard. “Now, I want you to start by using telekinesis. Call this over to you.”

I reached out and snatched the proffered clipboard from the air as it flew into my grasp.

“Remarkable,” Orpheus said. His aura turned an excited fuchsia, which took me aback, considering I usually associated that kind of excitement with, well, the sexual kind. “Now let’s try mind-bending. Order me to do something.”

My mouth opened but nothing came out. What was I supposed to tell him to do?

“Something simple,” he suggested, taking a step closer. “Tell me to put the clipboard back on my desk.”

“Put this on your desk. Please.” I stretched my hand out, and he did as I asked while the machine lit up like a disco ball.

“What else can you do?” Orpheus asked excitedly when he returned to the room.

I shrugged as best I could while entangled in electrodes. “Those are the big ones. Sometimes I have visions. Usually when I make physical contact with someone, and especially if it affects me somehow. I can also…see auras.”

“What does mine look like?” he asked, eyes alight.

“Right now? It’s bright pink with swirls of blue and black.”

“What does that mean?” he asked.