I don’t know how to answer this question as he slowly walks over to me.
“Pain,” I finally answer, barely able to get the word past my lips.
“Of course, but that is to be expected given what happened. Water?”
I try to nod, but find I can’t even do that. Nevertheless, Valentine slips a straw between my lips allows me to sip from a glass of water.
It stings, my throat raw from the inside out, but I don’t care as I suck down as much as I can ... which turns out not be nearly enough as Valentine pulls the straw my lips, drawing an involuntary whimper from me.
This seems to please him as he reaches out to run a finger over my cheek to brush away a runaway tear.
“Now, now, we mustn’t be greedy,” he says, placing the glass down somewhere off to the side. “We wouldn’t want you peeing all over everything before we can get you fixed up, would we?”
“What’s wrong with me?” I ask, the water helping the words come easier.
“It would be easier to tell you whatisn’twrong with you,” Valentine snorts. “You’ve broken a number of bones, as well as endured spinal trauma, not to mention the numerous cuts and bruises.”
“Everything hurts, but I-I can’t move.”
“Of course, you can’t. You’re paralyzed, and I’ve restrained you to keep you from further harming yourself.”
“How can I be paralyzed and still feel pain?” I ask, my voice catching in my throat as I work through a whirlwind of emotions and tears once again find their way out of the corners of my eyes.
“Because your paralysis is only temporary.”
“Temporary?” I breathe.
“Yes. Normally, it might take anywhere from a few months to years to treat, but seeing as how you now have me to help you, I’m sure it’ll be much sooner.”
I hate that I can’t wipe away the tears that have burned salty trails down my cheeks. Why didn’t he lead with this?
“You can help me?”
“I can.”
Something about the way his eyes trail over my body leaves me at this has me doubting whether or not I actually want his help.
“How can you help me?”
Valentine tilts his head, giving me a curious look.
“Has my son not shown you what runs in the family?”
I blink at him for a few seconds.
“You have healing capabilities too?”
“Among other things, though my powers differ in both their usage and effects,” he says, the corner of his mouth turning up ever so slightly. “I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.”
“Powers?” I ask, calling attention to his strange wording, before I can bite my tongue.
“So, Dante hasn’t told you?”
“Told me what?”
“Where he gets his special healing abilities from.”
“I-I suppose he gets them from you,” I answer. “He said it was from some kind of rare enzyme.”