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“Are you awake? How are you feeling? I’m sorry about the state of you. I only barely got in there in time to stop them from burning you.”
The doctor bit the inside of his cheek. The man lying on the carpet appeared to be breathing, but wasn’t moving. Kneeling over him, the doctor felt for a pulse on the man’s neck. “Please. Please be alive. I’ve worked so hard and-” He dug his teeth into his cheek, tasting blood. “Please Artemy. Wake up.” He whispered.
The pulse under his fingers fluttered. The doctor dared look at the man’s face, and as he watched a pained grimace smeared across Artemy’s features. Hope clawed at the doctor’s ribs.
“Wake up.” He said through gritted teeth.
Artemy convulsed, rolling into a fetal position.
“Artemy.” The doctor put a firm hand on the man’s shoulder.
In an instant, Artemy was crouching on his toes and fingers, his eyes wide open.
“God, I did it. I did it.” The doctor felt laughter swelling in his chest but it came out as a sort of strangled gasp instead.
Artemy’s head swiveled toward the doctor. His eyes were blue like the kind of ice that can only be found in the heart of a glacier. Had they always been that color?
The doctor tried to compose himself. “Are you…?”
He was interrupted by the sound of Artemy coughing uncontrollably, wet-sounding like he was trying to expel his own lungs.
“Can you speak?” The doctor said to Artemy’s hollow blue eyes.
Artemy was staring at him sideways, like a prey animal.
“I beg you, say something.” The doctor commanded. “You’re unnerving me.”
Artemy retched, clearing his throat. Artemy looked the doctor dead in the face, his blue eyes shining unnaturally.
“Why?” Artemy hissed at the doctor through long teeth. It didn’t seem as though he intended to elaborate on his meaning.
“Well I had to, didn’t I? I brought you back. Alive is better than dead, don’t you think?” The doctor said. Artemy sneered as though he didn’t agree. The doctor fiddled with his tiepin idly. “I would have thought you’d be more grateful.”
As he spoke Artemy lunged forward and sank his teeth into the outer edge of the doctor’s hand, closing his jaws around the outermost metacarpal.
The doctor swore and yanked his hand free. “What are you, rabid?” He looked down at the perfect ring of tooth-marks imprinted on his hand. “You shouldn’t be acting like this. It isn’t you.” the doctor sighed, sitting back on his heels. “I know you’re in there, somewhere. I brought you back right, I know I did!” He said mostly to himself. “So why can’t you hear me!” He punched the floor, which was a bad idea. The wooden floor made his knuckles smart even through the carpet.
Artemy loomed in front of him, and gently knocked his forehead against the doctor’s, eyes boring into his face. The doctor closed his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I had to have you back, alright? I can’t deal with this plague alone. I’ve already tried. You’re the only person in existence who can fucking fix this. I can’t resurrect the whole town. I think two is already pushing it. So you have to dig this town out. You and I.” The doctor paused for breath. “Artemy?”
“Daniil.”
It hurt to hear his name said in that mocking tone, but Daniil pressed on. “Have you been listening to me?”
“I’ve heard every word you have said.” He sounded nothing like Artemy Burakh.
“Who are you? Don’t you care at all? All you wanted was to save this town, but death took you too soon and now I’ve stolen you back and you don’t care? Who are you?”
“I’m Artemy Burakh.”
“Liar.” Daniil said.
The other man laughed cruelly. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“You know damn well what I wanted.”
The man put his arms around Daniil’s shoulders. “I don’t see how this doesn’t fit your vision? I’m animate, aren’t I?” He laid the back of his hand on Daniil’s cheek, so Daniil could feel the warmth of his skin.
“Don’t taunt me. I don’t want your lies.”
“But are you sure you can handle the truth, Daniil Dankovsky? Would you tell him the truth about what you have done to him? What you have done to yourself? As Artemy Burakh, I could cure this plague for you with a snap of my fingers. I could give you everything you’ve ever wanted.” He pressed his mouth to Daniil’s. He tasted cloyingly of decaying roses, and the lingering flavor of blood.
Daniil ached to give in. But he knew he would never be free if he did.
He pushed the man away. “I thought I told you,” He snarled. “I don’t want your lies.”
The other man laughed. “Very well. Have your Haruspex back. But he’ll never love you like I will.” And he slumped forward into Daniil’s arms. Daniil heard the man’s breaths take on a different tone; the kind of labored wheeze that results after a severe respiratory illness. The man felt in front of him, his fingers finding the silk of Daniil’s cravat. When he spoke, it was Artemy’s voice.
“Is that you, Dankovsky? What’s going on?”
“Shh.” Daniil couldn’t help but whisper. “Yes, it’s me. You’ve been sick. Everyone thought you were dead. I’ve managed to bring you back… back to health.”
Artemy nodded. He leaned back and blinked sleepily at Daniil. His eyes were plain greenish-blue, a little bit bloodshot. “Why am I on the floor with you?”
“You’ve been delirious.” Daniil lied quickly. “You crawled out of bed, and I’ve been trying to get you back there. You haven’t been very cooperative.”
Artemy frowned. “I guess that makes sense. I’m sorry. I didn’t say anything while I was delirious, did I?”
“Nothing I could make out. Why do you ask? Is there something I ought to know about?”
Artemy brushed the question off. “I think I need some rest.”
“That seems advisable.” Daniil agreed, though he worried if Artemy went to sleep now he might not be himself when he woke up.
“I think I’m going to need your help to stand, oynon.” Artemy smiled gently, looking much more like himself. He slid his arm around Daniil’s shoulder, and Daniil nearly flinched. His lips burned with the memory of the false-Artemy’s kiss.
“Is something wrong?” Artemy asked him.
“No,” Daniil gathered his feet underneath himself. “I’m just a little ticklish.” He supported Artemy under his shoulders and, with some effort, pushed the two of them off the ground.
Artemy swayed on his feet. He grunted and sagged against Daniil, breathing heavily. “You smell like death.”
“Because I’ve been caring for you these last couple days.” Daniil struggled to walk Artemy over to the bed in the corner.
“Hmm.”Artemy mused. “I must have been worse than I thought.”
“Yes, you’ve been extremely ill.” Daniil hoped Artemy hadn’t noticed that the bed hadn’t been disturbed recently. He helped Artemy onto the mattress. “You were, in fact, mistakenly put in the morgue. It was only because of me that you got out.”
“Then I owe you a great debt, Daniil Dankovsky.”
Daniil stiffened. He avoided meeting Artemy’s eyes as he tucked the blankets around him. “I assure you, it wasn’t quite so noble as you make it out to be.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Artemy laughed. “I’ve never heard you be so modest.”
“Just tired from taking care of you is all.” Daniil poked Artemy in the chest. “You’re quite the handful.”
Artemy smiled warmly at Daniil. “How fortunate for me then, that I’m in your hands. I won’t have to worry about death sneaking in under your watchful eyes.”
“You don’t have to worry about anything. Everything will be fine from here on out.”