I clawed my way back to consciousness. Sleep hadn't dowsed my bloodlust for that sneaky price drugging me.

I wrenched my sleep crusted eyelids open and hissed at the lights above.

“Dim them,” I heard and growled, warming up my throat.

The next time I opened my eyes, Morgan leaned close enough to breathe puffs of air on my face. “Niamh! You're okay,” She soothed and my hand was clasped, squeezed to comfort.

“I'd be better if I wasn't drugged,” I rasped and caught more movement in my peripheral. The bastard and a stranger in a brown apron and the local version of a skirt stood off to the side. The two men watched with varying degrees of anticipation.

Morgan fussed over the light blanket covering my body, patting at my arm to soothe herself more than me. I poured all my hatred into the most venomous glare I could muster as I tracked a happy Atlas strolling closer to the bed. “You're awake,” He said and gestured the other man over.

'No thanks to you’.

I turned my head away from him. “Morgan, where am I?” I asked my friend, not trusting the male on the other side of the bed. He laid a claiming hand on my wrist and I jerked the limb to disengage. He threaded his fingers through mine to trap methere.

Morgan somehow didn't catch that. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “In the hospital wing of the resort. You passed out,” She answered, looking confused at my visible aversion to his proximity. “Are you feeling better?”

Wonderful question! “I feel like I was drugged,” I snapped, cutting a harsh look upto Atlas and baring my teeth.

“Just some muscle relaxants,” He lied, easily. “You were panicking and couldn't breathe.”

I bit back the instinctive cuss as Morgan nodded along, trusting the bullshit. Even the other guy nodded along and I squinted at the man. “I was breathing just fine. For future reference, I'd like to stay in my bungalow,” I retorted, turning back to Morgan. “Can we leave now?”

“You should stay a little longer. She needs to be seen by the doctor,” Atlas interrupted and pretended I didn't dig my nails into his hand. Blood beaded there, not enough in my opinion. “We cannot have a valued guest being hurt or sick, can we Morgan?”

Slimy piece of...

“You're right,” She agreed, looking flustered when the 'doctor’ held up a clipboard. “You had to deal with Jane and whatever that water thing was, Nee. I thought you might've drowned, you were under there that long.”

“Miss Inglese, I am Boabi Ro. A physician here at the resort as well as the Isle's senior doctor,” He bowed his bald head, laugh lines at the corner of his eyes. Nothing stood out aside from a half tucked wooden amulet under his shirt. A faint glint of silver caught the light. “I had my daughter change you out of your wet clothes. How are you feeling?”

“Just peachy.”

He nodded, silver brows smooth with his lack of nerves. “Do you feel nauseous or dizzy at all?” He asked.

“Neither,” I forced out and finally wrenched my hand from Atlas’ grip. The doc took a step back but didn't lose his ‘patient doctor smile’. I flexed my bloody nails, glancing around the blue walls and medical equipment that littered the otherwise empty room. Curtains on ceiling rails were all pulled back and tied. “Since Mr Atlas said I had a panic attack or whatever, I'd say I'm fit as a fiddle and good enough to leave.”

He shared a loaded look with Atlas. “As a physician, I can't in good conscience let you go before we do a full check up. We have some affective treatments to help ease the symptoms you experienced earlier.”

“I don't need medicine,” I shot back, barely keeping my tone 'civil’. “ I'll just go swim or something. That always helps me wind down.”

He blinked before understanding eased out his smile. “It is good to exercise. Swimming will be gentle enough on your body. I will send a basket of our Dir'dir sweets. We give them to our children to help growing pains and I ask you at least try the seaweed wraps.”

I grunted, nodding. “So I get a clean bill of health?”

Baobi Ro became my favourite doctor instantly when he nodded and approached with each step measured. I appreciated the consideration for my bugging nerves and instinctive need to escape. “ I recommend rest and as little stress as possible. You are on vacation so enjoy yourself.”

“I suddenly wish you were my regular doctor,” I said and pushed myself up to sit. I shivered from the stale cool air drifting across the room. “Morgan, would you be a dear and help me here?”

“Niamh,” Atlas murmured, gentle and far too close. His hand settled on my shoulder and squeezed a little. My gums ached with the urge to bite. “I only want to help."

“And I want to leave,” I hissed and shucked off the hand. “Morgan, let's go.”

My body felt light, limbs tingling when I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I'd been dressed in a lovely pink tunic that flowed loose past my waist. The ties along my side were hidden by a flap sewn in to cover them. The pants on my legs were smoother than anything I'd ever worn, almost a second skin that didn't keep the heat in like a furnace. “Thanks for these. They're beautiful,” I said to the physician and did a little hop in place. Barefoot, I got a feel for my own limbs again, surprised by the almost featherlight feel. When I clenched my hand around a metal rod poking out from the bed, it folded like paper. Probably made from foil. “Morgan, we’re leaving. The doctor gave me the green light.”

I stalked over to the door, getting a feel for the fresh ease of just moving. “Come on,” I called to my friend, no begging and all demand. Morgan should be happy I didn't need to stay here. Then again, she'd always been swayed by a pretty face.

Atlas’ mouth pulled into a sad droop, shoulder dipping when Morgan followed me. “It wouldn't hurt to have a rest here and consult our specialists,” He urged and Morgan wavered. "It's not the first time we've had guests in here for the same symptoms as you, Niamh.”

“As interesting as that sounds, I don't care. I know my body," I stated, grabbing a stunned Morgan by the hand to get her moving. Whatever floor I woke up on, I needed out. The window we passed had a short drop down to the grass. Must be the second or third floor. “ I can't wait to get out of here. Can't believe he bloody drugged me and still tried to get me to stick around. The balls on that man!”

Morgan tugged at my hand and I let her go. “Nee,” Morgan chided, hands on her hips. “He only wants to help.”

Did she not feel his possessiveness? It suffocated me. He must have practised, to have that sleazy aftertaste so subtle to starry eyed romantics here.

His eyes had stayed glued to my back until the door closed behind us.

Ah, the naive charm of someone raised by loving parents. “I need space. He has been around most of the places I've been the past day and some. I don't like the way he touches me.”

“He likes you, he's flirting,” She rolled her eyes.

Why did I even bother? “There's a fine line between flirting and creepy. I don't appreciate or reciprocate,” I corrected. “I just want to go back to bed and sleep. That's all I need.”

She gave in but I could practically hear her mental complaints about me. I had enough about her so she could suck it. I yawned the way back to the bungalow, greeted by a pacing Miles and Josh clattering around the kitchen. The aroma of delicious, fresh seafood and flavoured rice tickled my nostrils. One of his (few) great qualities was his culinary skills and the cakes he stress baked every few weeks.

Miles had tell-tale crumbs on his cheek when he rushed over to check me over. “How are you feeling? Any aches or pains?”

I pressed my cheek into his palm, slow blinking. “I'm sleepy. Cuddles?”

Josh came around the kitchen aisle, a bruise on his face. Against my better judgement, I reached out to cup his face. “Where is she?”

Miles answered for the quiet Josh. “Removed. She is banned from this side of the resort and put up in one of the small rooms for singles. The staff that came to relocate her belongings promised she wouldn't be too comfortable. That and she so much as raises her voice, she's thrown onto the next boat out of here and back to the mainland.”

Satisfaction flared though me and I dropped my hand, rubbing my eyes. “Sleepy,” I grumbled.

“We can nap some more and then go to that class you were going crazy over,” Miles said and leaned down to hiss my forehead. “I'll even join the first time if you promise not to go hunting Jane down. Trust me, I'm tempted too but we'll settle for getting her kicked off the Isles.”

Josh cleared his throat, eyes averted. “I made a fruit salad and seafood platter. Uh, got it from one of the local vendors. Want some?”

Miles didn't immediately shuffle away and I could see how anxious and scared one of my oldest friends was. I sighed. “I can never turn away free food,” I grumbled and let Miles usher me into my room. “If it's any good, you can even take the floor.”

It was that good and Josh curled up on the floor beside the bed. Miles spent a minute agonising over it before he draped a blanket over Josh's body and hung an arm over that side of the bed. I pretended I didn't see the shiny gel on Josh's red cheek, or the bottle it came from in Miles' pocket.

Morgan didn't join us, leaving to go meet up with Qeha somewhere near the resort.

Tucked away safe and listening to their breathing even out, I rolled over to stare out the crack in my curtains.

The glistening water would wait.