Chapter 5
With diminished powers, the hybrid offspring of gods and mortals were left on earth.
Thousands of generations later, a descendant's powers should be diluted to almost nothing, though legend has it some can still recognize their own, often driven mad by visions when they happen across a true child of Zeus.
She's only ever heard stories of descendants. Has never actually met one, not in all her visits to earth since she was first created.
Not until today.
"Where did you come from?" the patient demands as the porter turns his bed and situates him into an empty bay.
"Sorry?" she says, eyebrows drawn together as she reviews his file.
"Where were you before Holby?"
"Oh, um, Royal Army Medical Corps," she smiles kindly, her voice deliberately warm and soft as she slides the file into the pocket at the end of the bed and pumps antibacterial gel. "Don't worry, Mr. Fielding, you're in safe hands."
With the gel rubbed in, she moves toward the head of the bed and leans over to check his wounds. But he flinches away and roughly grabs at her wrist.
"That's not what I mean," he snarls, dragging her close with a fierce grip, piercing eyes meeting her own.
What she sees staring back steals her breath. Mirrored in his eyes is her true self, golden and blinding in her flowing white tunic, as if she were back in the heavens and staring into the pool of reflection.
"Who are you?" he growls, but she pulls from his grip and steps back.
"I'll get someone to stitch up those cuts," she says, doing her best to pretend nothing is amiss.
"I see you!" he yells, but she's already walking away and she doesn't look back.
She spends the rest of the day avoiding him, keeping a safe distance. Decides no one will take his ranting seriously, that he'll blend in with the rest of the craziness they have to deal with on a daily basis.
She'll just get someone else to treat him and suggest he be on his way as soon as possible.
Nothing to worry about.
She's already on her way back to the ward when she hears it - Serena's silent call for help – and when she bursts through the double doors to AAU, she'd swear her trauma unit was being destroyed.
Following the noise, she finds Serena and Fletch, both with their palms out, trying to control a very volatile Mr. Fielding.
"Come on now, mate," Fletch soothes, stepping forward whilst gesturing back to the ward. "That's enough; let's get you back into bed."
"NO!" he screams, veins bulging at his temples. "I KEEP TRYING TO TELL YOU BUT YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!"
They both flinch as he tosses another supply cart across the room, breaking drawers and spraying sharp tools all over the floor in the resulting crash.
"MR. FIELDING!" Serena bellows, patience clearly run out. She pauses to take a steadying breath, notices Bernie in the room, then speaks loud and firm. "Any opportunity for us to listen to you does not begin until you CALM. DOWN."
"No – no – no," he mutters, feet shuffling back and forth, restless and agitated. "Ask her where she came from," he says, pointing right at Bernie. "She's not of this earth! You would see it if you just looked -"
"Mr. Fielding," Serena sighs, cutting him off. She takes a step forward, but he won't be calmed.
"Serena, no!" Bernie warns, throwing out an arm, but she's not close enough to get between them as the motion spooks him and he snatches up several scalpels.
He stalks slowly around the trauma bay, eyes narrowed and blades pointed toward Bernie. "Which one are you, huh? Persephone? Artemis, perhaps?"
"Now, look," she says, palms out, desperately trying to maintain her air of nonchalance and appear unimpressed by his accusations in front of her colleagues. "You don't want to do this."
"What are you doing here?" he sneers, pausing and thrusting his makeshift weapon in her direction again.
She doesn't answer, just stands her ground, as her mouth forms a tight line and every muscle coils like a spring. Gaze buried beneath a dangerous scowl, Bernie's eyes flick briefly over to Serena, still somewhat cornered, as he continues to question her.
"Why would you willingly - ohhh," he drawls, a knowing smile growing on his lips as he switches targets, points the blades at Serena. "I get it… You came here for her."
"You touch her…" she threatens as she feels a surge of power within and is unable to control her temper. Her words are a literal, thunderous rumble that shakes the room, sending the remaining spilled scalpels skittering across the floor in a frightening dance. "… and these mortal hands will send you straight to Hades."
"There you are," he whispers with a grin as the lights flicker and the machines hum.
Serena looks to her in shock. "Bernie?"
She wants to say something reassuring, moves her mouth but nothing comes out. Manages only a soft look that begs please trust me before movement in her peripheral vision drags her attention away.
Fletch is trying to sneak up on Mr. Fielding as the man continues to rant, gaining ground on the two women.
"I told you I wasn't crazy! She's not who she says she is."
She can see it happening but she can't stop him. Her suggestions aren't getting through to him and she has to watch as he makes the decision to lunge.
"Fletch, no!" she yells as he grabs the patient from behind.
They tussle and wrestle, toppling yet more equipment and tripping over the discarded cart as he tries desperately to control hands that still hold deadly instruments. But the patient is wild, slams him into a wall and only misses crashing into Serena because Bernie is quick to drag her to safety.
"Get out, go!" she orders, the words ground furiously through her teeth as she shoves Serena towards the entrance. She can't let anything happen to Serena, ever, or she'll never forgive herself.
But there's no time to make sure she leaves as Fletch shouts, "Bernie, lookout!"
Spinning around, she ducks and weaves skillfully enough to dodge a wildly swinging arm, the sharp metal still in his hand glinting under the fluorescent lights as it flies past her face. Making a grab for his arm, she steps into him, checks his body with her hip and throws him off balance.
Fletch joins in, tripping and pulling him from behind, but he grabs a fist full of her scrubs with his free hand and all three bodies crash down in a twisted heap as both men's skulls hit the ground with a sickening crunch.
Mr. Fielding is out cold, she realizes, his body totally limp beneath her as she climbs off him and stands up, breathing hard.
A commotion at the door turns her head, and she finds Serena hurrying two members of uniformed security toward the incapacitated offender.
They share a brief smile when their eyes meet, Serena's a little more shy than normal, but she supposes it's to be expected. There's a lot she probably needs to explain.
As the security officers drag Mr. Fielding away, Fletch groans. Well, no doubt he'll have one almighty headache, she thinks, expecting to find him nursing an impressive lump. But as Serena steps beside her and they stoop to help him up, her breath leaves her chest in one almighty rush.
No, no, no.
"WE NEED SOME HELP IN HERE PLEASE!" Serena screams, as Bernie is momentarily frozen.
There is so much blood.
And a scalpel protruding from Nurse Fletcher's chest.