Free Sacrifices of the Siren [Sirens and Sailors 6] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Bella Settarra Page A

nurse returned about an hour later with cups of coffee for the three sailors. “I sent a message to let Dr. Ernaut know you’re here, he’ll be back up shortly,” she explained as she handed them their drinks.
    “It must have been important. Was it serious?” Dr. Jay enquired politely as he sipped his coffee.
    The nurse nodded. “Yes, I believe it was. A young girl was brought in. She’d had some kind of nervous breakdown, apparently, and had been badly beaten. She was found in the street screaming.”
    Blandon felt himself go very hot and he slowly put down his cup. “Who is she?” His heart was hammering as he spoke and he felt his throat begin to close.
    The nurse shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    Dr. Jay was on his feet. “Nurse, would it be possible to see this girl? We might know her.” His voice was calm but his jaw was tight.
    “I’m not sure. I’ll take you to the department if you like. Dr. Ernaut’s still down there.”
    They followed as quickly as they could. Blandon clutched the little bag in his hand as he shook with fear. Dr. Ernaut met them in the corridor just outside a little side-room. The nurse explained to him that the men might know the patient and he frowned.
    “She’s been sedated,” he said quietly.
    “Please.” Blandon felt like he would burst. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted her to be Melantho or not, but he had to know.
    The elderly doctor looked over at Dr. Jay and then nodded. “Be very quiet, though.”
    He slowly opened the door to the little room and they peered into the darkness. Blandon gasped as his eyes fixed on her long mousy-brown hair which was splayed across the crisp white pillow. Her face looked peaceful as she slept, but her eyes looked puffy and her cheeks were bright red. He felt his stomach lurch and his heart ached.
    “It’s Melantho,” Dr. Jay whispered to Dr. Ernaut. “We came to talk to you about her.”
    Blandon sniffed as he felt a hot tear roll down his cheek. He wiped it away angrily, and felt a large hand on his shoulder.
    “Let’s go talk,” Dr. Jay said as he rubbed the young man’s back. “She needs to sleep.”
    Dr. Ernaut gathered up her notes and led them back to his office. The young nurse arrived with a drink for the elderly doctor and a plate of biscuits. They sat in silence for a few minutes while they digested the events.
    “We came to ask for your help.” Dr. Jay explained the situation.
    “She’ll be OK,” Dr. Ernaut assured them. “She just needs some time to recover.”
    “Have the police been involved?” Farris asked.
    “They were called to the scene. A couple of old ladies said she tried to attack them. They claimed she’d gone mad. Neighbors heard yelling and shouting, and a passerby saw her come flying out of the house where she collapsed, screaming hysterically in the road. He called an ambulance. She was brought in just over an hour ago. We made an assessment of her wounds, she’s got quite a few bruises and her back’s got a couple of severe marks—looks like she’s been hit with a stick of some kind.” Dr. Ernaut was studying the notes as he spoke.
    “Those old witches were beating her , not the other way around,” Blandon said through gritted teeth. Bile rose in his throat and he clenched his fists.
    “The police will have a copy of her medical report,” Dr. Ernaut said calmly.
    “It’s so unfair. She’s done nothing wrong.” Blandon choked back a sob as he shook uncontrollably with anger and horror.
    Farris patted him on the back. “It’s all right, bro. Everyone knows those old crones are just lying. The cops’ll get the truth. Then she can come home.”
    “I think she’ll need to stay with us for a while,” Dr. Ernaut said with a frown. “We need to assess her mental state.”
    “She’ll be fine once she’s home.” Blandon insisted.
    “Dr. Jasun, can I have a private word with you? As her doctor, I mean.” The elderly doctor had been perusing the medical notes in his