Return of the Dragon Master

Chapter 11

Lewis and Irene turned their gaze to the man standing, looking like he was in his late forties, dressed in a suit with a mad expression on his face. His gaze snapped to Lewis immediately.

“How dare you touch Mrs. West? You quack bastard? Are you really trying to kill her?”

Dawson stepped aside immediately, his earlier arrogance disappeared as the grey-haired man walked in, wearing a white coat, gold cufflinks, a leather medical case, and a badge on his lapel that read Dr. Kale Merrick. The chief of advanced medicine, Harrington Institute… the best in the world.

“That’s him sir Kale.” Dawson pointed towards Lewis with a sneer.

Kale’s eyes stared at Lewis. “Step away from my patient right now.”

Lewis didn’t move.

“I said step away.” Kale crossed the room, standing between Lewis and Eleanor, looking Lewis up and down slowly, his worn-out jacket, his lean frame, the two thin needles in his hand, and a plain look on his face. Kale’s lips curled as he turned to Irene.

“Miss West, Dawson informed me of the situation and I came immediately, I do understand that you’re in a desperate situation but I viewed you as someone rather knowledgeable to know that this man is unqualified to help your grandmother.”

“Well Mr Dawson is your best student and if he doesn't help I believe I could try elsewhere,” Irene replied calmly.

“I have treated three heads of state.” Kale snapped the case open. “I hold seven medical patents, trained under Stein Kandiff.” He began laying out instruments carefully, then glanced sideways to Lewis with a cold grimace. “I can allow you to observe this once-in-a-lifetime scenery as it’s quite rare for me to approve of this, most people pay fortunes just to attend my lectures… consider it your lucky day.”

Lewis scoffed. “You’re worse than a quack, nothing worth learning from you.”

The room went silent.

Kale turned slowly. “I beg your pardon?”

Dawson stared with his jaw open. “How dare you talk to him that way? You had better start begging for your life because it would be over before you know it.”

“A quack pretends to know it all.” Lewis met Kale’s eyes without thinking. “You actually believe you do.” He scoffed, tilting his head. “Seven patents, a famous teacher, and you or your so-called best student couldn’t identify night silk poisoning when it’s written boldly on her neck in plain sight… whoever taught you would be quite embarrassed.”

“H-how dare you!” Kale raised his voice. “Do you have any idea what I could do to your nonexistent career with a single phone call? I could have you arrested for being a proud quack… I can destroy you even before you…”

“You can make this simple for yourself.” Lewis began, staring at the now quiet Kale. “A bet.” He held up the two needles. “I’ve already begun suppressing the poison but you believe my method will kill her…”

“Obviously.” Dawson interrupted.

“So let’s settle it, whoever heals her gets to punish the other however they fit.” He lowered the needles calmly with a smirk. “You can resist if your seven medical patents are quite inferior.”

Kale clenched his jaw then smiled. He hated this man’s guts and was willing to make him beg on his knees. “And when you lose, I’ll make sure everyone in this country knows you’re nothing but a lowlife quack.”

“That’s fine.” Lewis turned back to Eleanor. Placed the first needle at the base of her neck along the dark veins. A thin bead of black-tinged blood seeped to the surface.

Irene stepped closer. “What is that?”

“The poison is leaving her body,” Lewis explained. “Once night silk bonds to the blood, it’s either drawn out this way or it finishes what it started.” He placed the second needle a few inches away from the first one, Eleanor’s breathing lightened.

“Blood letting was abandoned in the nineteenth century for good reasons and you’re opening ways for her to get infected.

“Her colour is returning,” Irene said quietly, almost to herself.

“That’s only temporary.” Kale waved his hand. “The aftermath of this will be very toxic, her body will crash in a few moments and every minute you let this man do this, the harder it will be for me to actually save her.”

Irene looked between both men.

Lewis stared at her quietly, her eyes darted towards her grandmother’s chest, which was rising and falling steadily. “She’s breathing better,” she stated.

“Thats a coincidence,” Kale said immediately. “Its only a moment before it goes downhill… You know I'm the best in the country.”

“I have no idea what to believe,” Irene admitted. “All I want is for her to be alive.”

“Then believe what you can see.” Lewis carefully removed the needle, dark discoloration had begun to reduce. “The poison will be completely drawn out in twenty minutes, she’ll be awake and stable.”

“Certainly not!” Kale stepped forward and took hold of Lewis's wrist… not aggressively but firmly. “You’ve had your moment, step aside for the deal to happen.”

Lewis looked him up and down before quietly stepping aside.

Dawson clapped his hands together. “About time.” he scoffed at Lewis. “Master Kale will show you what real medicine looks like, perhaps you should pay more attention and you might actually learn something useful for once in your miserable life?”

Lewis ignored him, eyes peering at whatever Kale knew he was doing.

Kale opened his case, preparing his antiserum. “The nightsilk antiserum is the only clinically proven treatment, whatever that quack was doing will only give your grandmother an hour before she faces death again.” he pressed the IV needle into her arm. “This will neutralise the poison immediately.”

“If you claim this to be the treatment, why does your student not know about this?" Lewis shot the question at Kale, and his shoulders froze.

“What are you getting at? Are you trying to insult my master?” Dawson clenched his fists. “You really must bow down and apologize to him at this point.”

Lewis turned his gaze to him. “You claim to be his best student but couldn’t identify nightsilk poison when the symptoms were obvious. You call this man your master but a master’s best student should be able to recognize a simple poison such as this.” Lewis sneered. “You call this quack a renowned doctor? It seems you two are a pair of clowns.”

“Lewis,” Irene called his name. “You don't want to…”

“You don’t want to mess with master Kale? Do you have any idea who his family is? His brother is the second in command of one of the biggest guilds in the country, one call and you will be begging for your life.”

Kale raised his hand to silence the younger man. “Dawson, no need to scare him off like that.” Kale turned to face Lewis with a smile that wasn't genuine in any way but gave off stern warnings. “Besides I wouldn't waste such resources on a petty beggar like him once I prove to him he's useless, I will have him licking my feet.”

Lewis let out a scoff.

He was about to respond when Eleanor’s back arched off the mattress, her hands gripping the sheets tightly.

Dawson stumbled back. “What… what’s happening?”

Kale rushed to her side, losing his composure while rechecking all he had done. “It’s just a reaction, this shouldn’t have happened.”

Irene grabbed the bedpost, turning to Doctor Kale. “You said this will work, what did you do to her?”

Kale didn't answer, his eyes narrowed to the dark veins that were now stretching to every part of her neck. “Looks like you aren’t as good as you think.” Lewis scoffed. “Admit your defeat and I will heal her.”

Kale turned to look at him, clutching the syringe in his hand tightly