After countless hours of darkness, Alex''s eyes finally fluttered open.


    A dull ache pulsed through his entire body.


    "Alex, you''re awake?"


    The relief in Kelly''s voice practically echoed off the sterile Hospital walls.


    Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears, and before he knew what was happening, shetched onto him in a fierce hug.


    "You had me scared half to death," she whispered, voice trembling. "Don''t ever pull something like that again."


    Alex gave a weak chuckle, trying to shift into a morefortable position.


    "I''m fine, Kelly. Quit looking at me like I''m about to keel over any second. Where... where am I?"


    Before Kelly could respond, the door swung open with a loud click.


    Jasmine glided in, followed by Lyra, each looking polished and stunning in their own right.


    "Alex!" Jasmine eximed, her tone tinged with urgency. She rushed to his bedside. "Thank God you''re alright. We were worried."


    Alex offered her a faint smile. "Little banged up, but I''ll live."


    Jasmine''s gaze flickered to Kelly, who was still clinging to Alex like a lifeline.


    "Ahem,"


    Jasmine began, not even attempting to hide the edge in her voice. "Kelly, don''t you think you''ve squeezed the life out of him enough? He''s injured, not a teddy bear."


    "Exactly," Lyra chimed in, crossing her arms. "He needs rest. Preferably without someone suffocating him."


    Their words immediately elevated the tension in the room-like striking a match near a powder keg.


    Kelly whipped her head around, shooting daggers at Lyra. "You got a problem with the way I take care of him?"


    "Take care of him? Honey, you''re practically crushing him," Lyra retorted, arching a perfectly shaped brow.


    A hostile silence stretched thin and taut between the three women.


    Jealous sparks ignited in the air, crackling with a challenge that Alex could practically feel rippling across his skin.


    Then, in the worst possible timing, the door opened again revealing the hospital doctor.


    He took one look at the trio ring at each other over Alex''s wounded body and faltered, clearing his throat. "Um,dies, if I could just-"


    "Don''t," Jasmine, Kelly, and Lyra snapped in perfect unison.


    The poor man blinked, face reddening.


    “Right. I''ll just, uh..." He backed out of the room with a sigh that could only be described as envi


    "Great," Kelly muttered, rolling her eyes, "we just chased out our doctor. That''s gotta be some kind of record."


    Lyra snorted. "Well, that''s on you."


    Jasinine ignored their bickering, focusing again on Alex.


    She stepped closer, producing a small white bottle and a ss of warm water. "Alex, take this. It''s a top-secret medicine I tracked down just for you. Cost me a fortune―don''t ask how I got it. But trust me, one pill and you''ll be on your feet in no time."


    Alex''s eyebrows shot up at her serious tone. "Secret medicine, huh?"


    "Don''t scoff," Jasmine warned, her eyes shing.


    "They say it was made by a five-hundred-year-old sage. ording to Lyra, she basically has to sell her soul to get this pill. I went through hell-money, connections-you name it. So just take it."


    At this, Alex nced at Lyra, who was blushing furiously.


    The so-called "miracle pill" Jasmine spoke of was his own creation-one he had entrusted to Lyra long ago for distribution.


    Now it was sudd nly the product of an ancient sorcerer''s craft,plete with soul-selling conditions?


    He forced his expression to remain nk, hoping he wouldn''t burst outughing. Jasmine''s eyes narrowed when she saw his amused look.


    "What? You know something?"


    Lyra chose that exact moment to clear her throat-loudly. "Miss Kingston, I just remembered I have...some urgent business. You know, top-secret stuff. Alex is awake, so my job here is done."


    In a sh, Lyra was gone, leaving the door swaying behind her.


    Jasmine stared after her, confusion etched into her features


    "What the heck''s her problem?" She shook her head and pressed the pill bottle


    into Alex''s hand. "Anyway, take it. I''m not asking."


    He tried to wave her off. "Honestly, I''m already feeling better. No need to waste your fancy miracle pill."


    Jasmine''s lips thinned. "Don''t make me repeat myself."


    She shoved the bottle into his pocket, effectively ending the argument. Alex sighed. She meant well, so he let it go.


    Suddenly, Jasmine perked up as if recalling something. "Oh-by the way, I almost forgot. I spotted Sophia Lancaster downstairs in the ER. It looked serious. Her grandfather was brought in, and I heard he''s in critical condition."


    Alex''s face went grim. "Sophia? Are you sure?"


    Jasmine shrugged. "She was a wreck, so yes, I''m pretty sure. Her grandfather''s not looking good."


    Alex swung his legs off the bed, ignoring his body''s protests.


    "I''m going to see him. Abraham Lancaster always treated me like family. I''m not about to sit here dying."


    le he''s


    Kelly opened her mouth to argue, but she recognized the steely look in his eyes and held back, giving a short nod.


    Meanwhile, in another wing of the hospital, chaos brewed in a private room.


    Sophia Lancaster paced frantically by her grandfather''s bedside, her heels cking against the tile like an agitated heartbeat.


    Abraham Lancastery motionless, his usually robust face ghostly pale. Family members hovered around, restless and frightened, with hushed voices swirling through the af


    "How could this happen?" one cousin murmured. "He was so vigorous just yesterday."


    "It''s like something attacked him from the inside," another rtive whispered." Florence stood off to the side, arms folded protectively.


    "The doctors can''t figure it out," she said softly, sympathy flickering in her eyes. "They say it''s bizarre, like nothing they''ve seen.”


    Sophia practically snarled in frustration. "Then find someone who can figure it out!


    I don''t care if we have to fly in every specialist on the!"


    A single voice, smooth and confident, broke through the tension. "I might have a solution."


    Heads turned to see Charles stepping forward, hands tucked casually in his pockets. "I know a brilliant physician -Dr. Vincent Foster from Detroit. He''s the apprentice of Dr. Jonathan Owens."


    A current of recognition buzzed among the Lancasters. Dr. Owens was legendary. Even in Vancouver, his reputation was second to none. If his apprentice was half as skilled, there might be hope for the old man yet.


    "Can you get him?" Sophia demanded, eyes shining with desperation.


    Charles offered an oily smile. "He''s a friend of mine. He''lle if I ask."


    The entire family breathed a collective sigh of relief. "Thank you, Charles," someone said. "If you save Old Mr. Lancaster, we''ll be forever in your debt." Wasting no time, Charles excused himself to make the call. As he stepped into the corridor, he nearly collided with Jasmine and Alex right behind her.


    "Oh!" Charles wore a too-sweet smile that made Alex''s stomach churn.


    "Heard you were hospitalized, Alex. Thought I''d drop by and see how you were doing-but look at you, already up and about. You must have the luck of the devil." Jasmine took an intimidating step forward, every syble clipped with cold fury. "Luck? Is that what you call it, Charles?” Her voice dripped with usation. "Because from where I''m standing, it looks a lot like you tried to kill me—and betray the Kingstons in the process.''


    Charles feigned a wounded expression, hand syed dramatically over his chest. "Betray you? My dear sister, I''d never. You know how fond I am of our precious family."


    Her eyes narrowed into slits, and a palpable rage radiated from her.


    "Cut the crap. I know you''re behind this, Charles, so don''t bother denying it. If you think you can just slither your way back after stabbing us in the back, you''re dead wrong."


    Charles''s polished grin twitched. "Ouch, you are hurting my feeling. I''m sure we


    can straighten out this little misunderstanding," he said, voice dripping with smug


    assurance.


    After all, I''m not a monster. My dear little sister."


    Jasmine''s coldugh cut through the hallway like a de. Keep telling yourself


    that, Charles. Maybe if you repeat it often enough, you''ll start to believe it."


    Even so, fury coiled beneath her cool exterior.


    She longed to crush Charles for every lie, every betrayal he had woven around


    her.


    Part of her wanted to drag him into the same ck pit he''d tried to shove her into-


    make him choke on the very filth he''d inflicted on everyone else.


    But if she stooped to his level, would there be anything left of herself worth


    saving?


    One look at Charles''s smirking face sent her pulse hammering.


    She who fights monsters must take care not to be one herself. 2)