Read Online Courage by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo - Free Book Online Page B

she said, glancing meaningfully at Aerigo. The lead doctor nodded. “Be right back again.” The two extra doctors left with her, but not without sizing up Aerigo first. Of course they were curious. Hopefully they’d just leave him alone. He didn’t have the energy for much talk, much less to think about anything but Roxie’s plight. And... what that dead Aigis had said. Emotions were powerful things, but how did they bring out power in an Aigis?
    Skitt rummaged through a chest-high cabinet for medicine as Donai delivered another dose of antivenin in each of Roxie’s shoulders. With aid of the scanner, he watched the antivenin flow through her bloodstream. It looked like tendrils of food coloring swirling about in stirred water, but this time the coloring was clear, and the water murky. Gradually, the antivenin erased more and more of the poison. The doctor gave a satisfied nod and collapsed the scanner. “Okay. Aerigo, you still with me?”
    Aerigo nodded, the action causing his head to swim. He grabbed ahold of the gurney, wishing he hadn’t crushed his oxygen mask.
    “Just to let you know, even if the antidotes do save her life--and that’s still a big if at this point--she may not make a full recovery. Dragon venom often causes irreparable nerve damage; there’s a good chance she may lose function in her right arm. There’s so much venom in it. You said you and she are quick to heal, but I’m going to lean towards the conservative side for the time being. What breed of human are you?”
    “We’re Aigis, both born from human mothers. We share their physical makeup to an extent, but we’re not pure human.”
    “I’ve never heard of Aigis,” Donai admitted. “But I have heard of people with glowing eyes.” He looked at Rox. “What’s her name?”
    “Rox.”
    Donai deposited the spent needles in a red biohazard bucket on the far counter. “Kismet deals with all sorts of aliens on a regular basis. Nostrum Hospital has quite the database. There’s gotta be something on Aigis in there. Were you referred to Nostrum, or have you been here before?”
    Aerigo hesitated. The reasons for his last trip to Nostrum Hospital were quite personal, but for all he knew something in there would be crucial to helping save Rox. Without looking at the good doctor, he admitted to his previous visit as a patient.
    “Alright.” Donai bent over and retrieved a garbage bucket lined with a plastic bag. “And before I get distracted and forget about poor Rox, let me get this ready.” He stuck the garbage bucket under the gurney, then checked the EKG and mumbled something about her dangerously low blood pressure. “Skitt, record her vitals every fifteen minutes. If they don’t improve, give her more antivenin. Also, she should wake up in about half an hour.” He looked at Aerigo. “Fifteen minutes, maybe?”
    Aerigo shrugged.
    “Well, soon then, and--”
    Rox sat bolt upright and ripped off her oxygen mask. With aid of superhuman speed, Aerigo seized the garbage bucket and shoved it in Roxie’s lap, then put a hand on her back. She wasted no time in emptying her stomach of its contents.
    Donai and Skitt stared, stunned. Donai shook his head and ran a hand through his close-cropped hair. “Skitt, either Jenna or I needs to head down the archives after we glean what we can from Aerigo. I don’t like playing guessing games with people’s lives.”
    Rox absently handed the bucket to Donai and wiped her mouth on a forearm. She looked at the two doctors with golden-eyed confusion. Aerigo put his other hand on Roxie’s left shoulder and she turned. Her face screwed up into tearful hysteria. “Aerigo, I’m scared,” she said in a thick whisper. She swallowed. “I’m scared. Don’t...” She slumped back and her head lolled back as garbled words escaped her lips. “Help.” She passed out. Aerigo guided her onto her back.
    Donai glanced at the EKG, then said to Skitt, “Here, you’ll need this.” He handed the