Figures – Jessie Reyez

_______________________

"Nina." I sung as I creaked her door open. "Wake up, it's time to go."

I was met with an angry groan and a, "Girl, if you don't close my door and get out of my room, I'll shove you in the wash basket."

My mouth lifted into a grin as I slipped into her abnormally dark room. Nina was not a morning person. Her reaction to someone waking her up usually went something like this. She'd either threaten to push me off the tram the next time we were on one, pull off my daylight pendant and open a curtain or, like today, shove me into a wash basket.

"If you want to get breakfast before work then let's go."

"I'll get up in an hour."

I walked over to her comforter and yanked it off. Thankfully, she was actually dressed to go. Nina usually got ready and slipped back into bed for an extra twenty before work. If that were me, I'd end up staying the bed.

And Mia and her don't share a room, despite them being desperately in love with one another. Sure they practically stayed in the same room most nights but until they move in together – by themselves – then they wanted to make use of their own space for the time being. I respected that.

"You promised." I retorted opening her curtain. It was barely 7.30 in the morning but the sun was creeping in. It was Monday, my first day at the hospital and I was nervous but outrageously excited.

"I need moral support before I start my first shift."

"Fine, fine." She huffed, angrily jumping out of bed and fixing her hair. "You're lucky I love you."

"And I love you too."

After grabbing all of our stuff and making our way to the tram, Nina started to get back to her normal self and started smiling. Her first smile of the day is always the best one, always the most genuine. Only because, you know, she's not in her morning mood anymore.

Nina only worked ten minutes from the hospital which was good for when she needed my wonderful motivation to get up. Mia wasn't going to be up for another two hours so it looked like it was going to be my job for a while.

"So," Nina started as we sat in a café in between the hospital and her office. "Tell me, what's on your mind."

"Just nerves," I shrugged picking up the menu. "But it'll pass."

"Of course it will, you're a strong independent woman, you'll be awesome."

Another reason I chose Nina for this breakfast. She was an amazing motivator. You're in any kind of anxiety ridden state, Nina was the woman to go to. She could calm you down instantly. To be honest, our aunt Kate believed it was a bit of a gift from when she turned. A very few select group of vampires had gifts, even a few in the family had some.

I certainly wasn't complaining. Especially when it came in handy with situations like these. "You're being too kind."

"I'm doing the thing you love. You know, the one that boosts your ego and stops your head from getting through doors? Yeah that one."

I laughed a little and smiled kindly at the waitress that came over to take our orders. She left with a bright skip to her step after we ordered and I turned my smirk to Nina. "Hold on-"

"No, no it's fine Anna." She sipped her coffee with a ghost of a smile. "Sometimes you just need that gentle bout of support to get you going."

"You're like a warm blanket." I joked. "But anyway, really, thank you for having breakfast with me. I really needed this."

"And I meant what I said. You'll do amazingly, trust me. I've only known you a few years but I know you're a confident woman. Who wouldn't see that?"

Good question, I snorted. I could think of one person in particular.

Our breakfast came out in record time, me with pancakes and bacon and Nina with her egg whites, toast and avocado. I smothered mine in syrup and watched her smile as she shook her head. "You may be half vampire but there is such thing as too much sugar."

"We live forever, I'll be fine. Enough about me though, you settled into work?"

"Yeah, it's great," Her eyes brightened. " Everyone's super nice, the work load is perfect. Couldn't have asked for a better job."

"And you're not mad about completely uplifting your life?" I smiled sheepishly.

"Uplifting what life? My parents are in Florida and the woman I love was moving here. My life is with her."

"Aw, you're such a romantic."

"Something you're not."

"Let's not start this." I said as I swallowed a mouthful of pancakes.

We ate swiftly with idle chitchat and paid. We said our goodbyes with a quick hug and I waved as she hurried off in the opposite direction. I exhaled as much as my nerves as I could and out on a smile. I could do this. This was the first day to the rest of my life, this is the stuff I'd dreamed about. I just hoped the doctors and the introduction were good.

**

Our introduction was an intro and more. Mid introductory-speech in the ER from Doctor Richards – a very handsome silver fox of a man – a thirteen year old rolled in with a ruptured appendix.

Everyone's faces turned slightly pale as the EMT's lifted the girl to the table; in rolled a crash kit and readied her for surgery.

Maybe it was the fact I dealt with blood often. I'd seen enough pale faces and hollow eyes to not be surprised by the scene in front of me. 

Only once had I almost killed someone, I thought as I watched the medic's roll the girl out and into a surgery room.  I was eighteen, sure, I'd learnt how to control my thirst but sometimes it sneaks up on you.

Jack nudged me with an exhale. "I wonder who will be shadowing the EMT's first."

Dr. Richards heard him and smiled. "Depends on what you're focusing on. What's your name?"

"Jack Hall."

He scanned his clipboard then nodded. "Neurology. And you?" He turned to me.

I swallowed. "Anna Reeves."

Richards eyed the clipboard again and made a humming sound. "Pathology. Meaning you won't be where the action is."

For good reason.

"But everyone will experience three to four different sectors in this hospital before they get their doctorate and get their residency next year. All of you will begin in your specified area for the first month."

Great.

We toured the rest of the hospital, everyone slowly growing more and more excited for what was coming. Jack chattered away in my ear as Dr. Richards explained what was what. The tour ended back near the ER an hour later, which we were given new stark white coats with student name tags. It was almost like registration day all over again.

"Okay, I'll assign you guys to your area and you can meet your superiors."

As he handed out envelopes, my eyes drifted to the opening and closing doors of the ER. My nose flared slightly at the different types of blood. It bothered me only a little bit. But it was something I was going to eventually get used to.

Richards waved the envelope in my face and raised a brow. "Here you go, Ms. Reeves."

I took it from him with a weak smile and ripped it open. Pathology, then the ER, the maternity ward, and paediatric intensive care for a month each. I grimaced a little. Intensive care will be... well, intense. I wasn't looking forward to that one.

Jack plucked my sheet from my fingers and said, "Well at least we'll be in the ER together."

"So you have someone to hide behind when there's too much blood?" I grabbed it back.

"No, but thanks for the vote of confidence."

I laughed but my attention once again thwarted to the closed ER doors as a scent of someone in familiar distress came in. I moved my head to look through the frosted window and watched with narrowed eyes as a woman staggered in. I tuned out everyone around me and tried to listen to the conversation beyond the doors.

There were so many noises, making out exactly what everyone was saying was difficult. I recognised the scent through the door, the whimpers of someone suffering, someone anxious and stressed.

Someone had been fed from.

I glanced at the excited chatter of my peers briefly before sliding as discreetly as possible closer to the doors.

"...did this happen?"

"I'm... not too sure when. I woke up this morning and this was there. Is my arm okay?"

There was a pause before one of the nurses said, "So, last night?"

"Anna,"

I jumped slightly and looked to Jack with a slight frown. "What, what's up?"

"We're going to our wards."

"Oh," I cleared my throat and nodded. "Cool, okay."

As we moved off, I glanced one more time to the double doors and peaked in when a nurse walked through. As the doors slowly shut, I caught a peak at the patient's arm and inwardly groaned.

The scar of a bite sat prettily on her wrist. Thankfully, before I'd walked away, I'd heard them say they were keeping her overnight.

It was none of my business. Not even damn close. But if I'd just entered a city with vampires stupid enough to feed without giving them enough blood and  Vlad popping up out of nowhere, then I needed to stay as far away from that drama as humanly possible...

After I found out just a little bit more.

**

For most of the day, my mind wandered to that woman. After lunch, I'd tried looking for her room but had no such luck. I wasn't desperate enough to compel anyone, if I didn't find her, I didn't find her and I needed to remain out of it.

Our fifty-four year old teacher/doctor/old crank, Doctor Wesley Liggins, didn't crack one smile. Only when I smiled at him did the corner of his mouth twitched as if the idea of smiling were truly that foreign.

The pathology lab was on the first floor of the second building. Despite Wesley being a sad sap, it was clear he loved what he did. He talked with – some form of – vigour; not too sure what that vigour is considering he looked about ready to walk straight out those doors and not come back until tomorrow.

I was in a six person class, including me. Quite small, which wasn't all too surprising. Pathology was a good job to fall into... if you were good enough.

Although all we did today were tours and equipment prep, ten hour day walking around, memorising where each ward was and who was who was definitely draining.

By seven o'clock in the evening, everyone was moaning about how much their feet hurt or how tired they were or how Wesley needed to yank that rake out of his ass before he hurt himself.

I smirked slightly when that was said. I didn't doubt that.

On my way to radiology to meet Jack on the second floor, I faltered near the ER entrance. Don't do it. Just keep going, don't try to look for her again, it's none of your business if she got bitten, accidents happen all the time.

Vampires are reckless. I've seen it happen a million times why should I be investigating it now?

I groaned out loud this time and pushed heavily against the door. I'm angry at myself for even considering this.

I shrugged my student lab coat back on and went over to the reception desk with a risky idea. "Hey, I'm one of the new students and I was looking for Doctor Richards. He said he'd be with the patient that had a bite on her arm. He failed to tell me which room though," I laughed a little, keeping my eyes firmly on the woman frowning at me. "Can you tell me where that is?"

The older woman appraised me not at all discreetly and then squinted at my name badge. Should have taken that off.

She made a humming noise before clicking a few times on her computer. "This floor, room 12."

"Thank you," I smiled brightly. And just for good measure, my pupils expanded as I murmured, "Forget you saw me."

She blinked as I hurried away. If I hadn't of compelled her and she'd seen Richards walking around she'd probably rat me out, it was for the best.

On my way to the room I took a few deep breaths and started to consider my options. Like what was I going to do when I found her? Ask her what happened? Who did it? Fight crime and stop any rogue vampires?

I paused when I rounded the corner and actually snorted. No. I sure as hell am not going to be going on a vampire hunt so why on earth was I investigating?

And with that easy resolve, the thought of even going into that woman's room left me.

I'm keeping myself to myself.

I started slipping my arm out of my lab coat when an unfortunately familiar body popped out from around the corner on the other side of the hall.

"You're freaking kidding me."

Vlad stood with one hand clutching his jacket. Honestly, it figures he'd be here. A vampire bite from a careless vampire? I'm not even surprised. He looked casually from room to room, not actually acting as casually as he clearly wanted to because every nurse, doctor, patient and visitor that passed him stood as far away from him as they could.

His eyes stopped on one closed door nearer the middle of the hall before he started towards it.

I glanced at the number and hopped quickly into his tracks with crossed arms. His eyes narrowed considerably before he appraised me almost exactly as he did when we met the other week.

This time, however, I didn't cower, shiver or even bother appreciating him. I simply said, "I bet I could guess why you're here."

"I'm trying to guess why you are but that name tag and white coat explains it. Good to know you're sober."

My eye twitched. "Good to know you're going to be trouble."

His dark eyebrows rose in surprise and I had to mask mine at any form of emotion gracing his face. "I'm not the one that's going to be trouble."

"Then why are you going into this room?"

"That's none of your business."

"I know that," I should have known that, and yet here I am. "But I'm making it my business if I'm going to be working in this hospital and you're going to be turning up out of the blue."

"You work here?"

"For a while, yes. It's part of my studies."

"To be a doctor."

My nose flared. "Yes, Vlad, to be a damn doctor. And don't-" I stepped into his path once more when he tried to steer around me. "Don't try to get around me. That's rude for one, and two, even though it isn't any of my business, you being in this hospital is. I... am this woman's student doctor."

"For some reason, I don't believe you."

I snorted and held a hand up when he made another step forward. "Well you better believe it. Whatever it is you need, it needs to go through me first."

He crossed his own arms with a raised brow. "You're this woman's doctor."

"Correct."

"And I have to go through you."

There was something in his eye that made me hesitate but, still, I said, "...Yeah."

Despite the passing nurses, despite anyone walking past, he backed me into the door with small slow steps. I kept my chest puffed and my jaw clenched – despite faltering a step backward – as he invaded any space that was mine.

He surrounded me, my shoulders hit the door, his full mouth was a straight line of business. And then he leaned toward me.

"Don't you dare." I warned. "Vlad-"

Even if he did smell amazing, even if he was staring into my soul, I still stood my ground when he twisted the door knob and opened the door. But then, he had both of his hands on my shoulders and shoved me ever so gently into the room.

I stumbled backward a little with an annoyed grunt. I opened my mouth to curse at him but his pupils dilated and contracted. I spun around and frowned at the three other patients and an empty made up bed in the corner. She wasn't here.

"If you're her doctor, where is she?"

I let out a sigh and ignored him as I approached one of the elder patients. "Excuse me, where was the woman that was here earlier? The one with the bite?"

"She got discharged," He replied grumpily. "Two or three hours ago."

Perfect.

I turned in time to watch Vlad slip out of the room. Oh, no, he wasn't getting away that easily. I followed him out with quick steps and grabbed his arm. "No you don't, I am not letting you leave until you tell me why you're here."

He released a heavy breath and dropped his gaze. "I'm keeping the peace."

What? "Wait, what does that mean?"

His jaw clenched before he shook his head.

"Vlad Tepes I will call you by your nickname for the rest of my existence if you don't tell me what the heck is going on-"

"Anna, do you want to know? Really?"

I blinked and glanced around the emptying hall. How many times had I preached to myself that I didn't want to know. That I didn't want to get involved? Probably around five or six times. I literally said, I hoped whatever he was doing stayed in his world and out of mine. And here I was, tracking down a victim of a vampire ten hours into my first day at the hospital.

What did I think I was doing anyway? I'm not my mother. Studying is my objective. Studying, friends and growing up normal-ish.

From my silence, he nodded his head. My skin tingled when he lifted his hand and skimmed his thumb against my cheek in affection I wasn't certain he was capable of. But it wasn't the affection of a man attracted to a woman.

It was almost like he was giving a five year old a light knuckle to the chin. Honestly demoralising.

"I didn't think so. Stay out of trouble." Vlad said before turning around and walking away.

I opened and closed my mouth with a frustrated groan and stomped my way to radiology. If I bumped into that man again, I swear...

"What's wrong with you?" Jack asked as I met up with him to leave. "Have a bad day?"

"Had a swell day." I grumbled. "Let's go get a drink."

"We have class tomorrow."

"I don't care," I said as I brushed past him.

As we walked to grab our bags from our assigned lockers, I heard him mumble, "Didn't think pathology could be that stressful."

________________________

Its late I know, but work is so busy I'm trying to write in between projects. I have however managed to write out how this story is going to pan out so that helps me a little.

ALSO I'll be adding Vlad point of view chapters every 4-5 chapters for a lil insight into his head, excited for those!

Hope you enjoyed it!