A Strange First Night
Dr. Eliza Bennett stared at her reflection in the hospital bathroom mirror. Her dark curls were neatly tucked into a ponytail, and her new blue scrubs still had creases from the package. It was her first night shift at St. Lunaire Hospital, and something felt... different.
"You can do this," she whispered to herself. "It's just another hospital."
But as she walked through the dimly lit corridors, she wasn't so sure. The night seemed to wrap around the building like a thick blanket, and the fluorescent lights flickered in an odd rhythm.
"Dr. Bennett!" A cheerful voice called out. "I'm Nurse Maya Chen. Welcome to the night shift!"
Maya had bright eyes and a warm smile that made Eliza feel a bit better. "Thanks! I'm just heading to check the blood bank inventory."
Maya's smile twitched slightly. "Oh, the blood bank? That's... interesting. Just remember to always check the special labels. And don't forget to wear your ID badge - it's very important here at night."
🏥 Important Hospital Rules:
Always wear ID badge after sunset
Check special labels carefully
Never enter restricted areas alone
Keep detailed records of all "special deliveries"
Eliza nodded, though she found the rules oddly specific. As she made her way to the basement where the blood bank was located, the air grew noticeably cooler. Her footsteps echoed against the tile floor, each step seeming louder than the last.
The blood bank itself was state-of-the-art, with rows of refrigerated units humming softly. But something caught her eye - a separate section marked with strange symbols she'd never seen in medical school.
"Those are the special reserves," said a deep voice behind her.
Eliza jumped and spun around. A tall man in a white coat stood in the doorway. His skin was unusually pale, and his eyes seemed to reflect light like a cat's.
"Dr. Dimitri Vassov," he introduced himself with a slight accent. "Night shift supervisor. I see you've found our... unique storage area."
"What makes it special?" Eliza asked.
Dimitri's lips curved into an enigmatic smile. "Some patients have very specific needs. You'll learn more soon enough."
Before she could ask more questions, both their pagers buzzed urgently. "Emergency in Room 113," Dimitri announced. "Come with me, Dr. Bennett. Time for your first night shift patient."
As they hurried upstairs, Eliza couldn't shake the feeling that St. Lunaire Hospital was hiding something extraordinary. The way Maya had acted, those strange symbols, Dimitri's mysterious smile - none of it made sense.
The patient in Room 113 was hidden behind privacy curtains. Dimitri paused before entering. "Remember, Dr. Bennett - whatever you see tonight, your job is to heal. Some things might seem... unusual. But we help everyone who comes through these doors."
Eliza took a deep breath and followed him inside. Nothing in medical school had prepared her for what she was about to see.
The monitors beeped steadily as she approached the bed, but when she reached for the curtain, a cold breeze swept through the room. The lights flickered once, twice, and then steadied.
"Ready?" Dimitri asked quietly.
Eliza squared her shoulders and nodded. She was a doctor. She could handle anything.
But as she pulled back the curtain, she realized her first night at St. Lunaire Hospital was about to change everything she thought she knew about medicine - and reality itself.
The patient was floating three inches above the bed.A Matter of Blood
The emergency room doors burst open at exactly midnight. Two orderlies wheeled in a patient who was deathly pale, even by hospital standards. Eliza noticed their unusual uniforms - black instead of the standard blue scrubs.
"Special admission," one called out, flashing a red card she'd never seen before.
Dimitri appeared instantly. "Room 217. Dr. Bennett, with me."
The patient's skin had an alabaster quality that seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights. His canine teeth were... different. Eliza blinked hard, sure she was seeing things.
"Remember what I said about specific needs?" Dimitri whispered. "This is one of our regular visitors. He requires a very particular type of transfusion."
The patient's eyes snapped open - they were a striking amber color. "Dr. Vassov," he said weakly, "it's been too long."
"Marcus," Dimitri nodded. "Dr. Bennett here will assist with your treatment tonight."
Eliza watched in fascination as Dimitri retrieved a bag of blood from a locked refrigerator in the room. The label matched the strange symbols she'd seen in the blood bank.
"That's not standard hospital protocol," she whispered.
"No," Dimitri agreed. "But then, St. Lunaire isn't a standard hospital."
Marcus's eyes followed the blood bag with an intensity that made Eliza's skin prickle. She noticed his heart monitor showed no heartbeat, yet he was clearly conscious and speaking.
🩺 Patient Notes:
Name: Marcus Blackwood
Age: [REDACTED]
Condition: Acute blood deficiency
Special Protocol Required
As they set up the transfusion, Nurse Maya entered with a thick manual bound in dark leather. "The protocol guide," she explained, handing it to Eliza. "You'll need to memorize this."
The pages contained detailed instructions for treating patients Eliza had only ever encountered in folklore. Vampires, werewolves, spirits - each had specific medical requirements and safety procedures.
"We've maintained this arrangement for centuries," Marcus explained, his strength returning as the special blood entered his system. "Hospitals like St. Lunaire are sanctuaries. Places where our kind can receive care without fear."
Eliza's scientific mind struggled to process this new reality. "But this defies everything I learned in medical school!"
Dimitri placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Medicine is about helping those in need. Sometimes that means expanding our understanding of what's possible."
The night continued with more revelations. A werewolf with silver poisoning. A banshee with vocal cord strain. Each patient challenged Eliza's medical training in new ways.
"The hospital's protection spell keeps us hidden from the outside world," Maya explained as they updated charts. "Your ID badge grants you access through the magical barriers."
Eliza touched her badge thoughtfully. "Is that why night shift positions here are so hard to fill?"
"Most doctors can't handle the truth," Dimitri said. "But you... you've shown remarkable adaptability."
As dawn approached, Marcus prepared to leave. He looked completely restored, his skin now with a healthy glow. "Thank you, doctors. I trust we'll meet again."
Eliza watched him disappear into the early morning shadows. Her world had expanded dramatically in just one shift. Everything she thought she knew about medicine, about reality itself, had changed.
Maya handed her a stack of forms. "These are your confidentiality agreements. Welcome to the real night shift, Dr. Bennett."
In the staff room, Eliza poured herself coffee and began studying the protocol manual. She had a lot to learn about her new supernatural patients - and this was just the beginning.Secrets in the Archives
Eliza's fingers trembled as she turned the brittle pages of St. Lunaire's oldest records. The hospital's basement archive smelled of dust and time. Maya had given her the key with a knowing smile, saying "If you want answers, start here." 🔑
"June 15, 1823," Eliza read aloud. "First official covenant between Dr. Jonathan Lunaire and the Elder Council of Night Beings..."
"We hereby establish this hospital as a sanctuary for all creatures, seen and unseen, who require medical care. Let it stand as a bridge between worlds."
The old journal entries painted an amazing picture. Dr. Lunaire had been treating a vampire in secret when witch hunters attacked his clinic. Other supernatural beings came to their defense, and from that night grew a pact of protection and healing.
"Found anything interesting?"
Eliza jumped. Dimitri stood in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee. He handed her one.
"Did you know Dr. Lunaire's wife was a witch?" she asked. "Her spells still protect the hospital!"
"Indeed. ⚕️ Those are the same wards that keep our special patients safe today," Dimitri said. "Though we've added modern security too - cameras, key cards, that sort of thing."
A weathered map caught Eliza's eye. Red lines connected St. Lunaire to other hospitals around the world.
"The Sanctuary Network," Dimitri explained. "We're not the only hospital serving supernatural beings. But we were the first."
Eliza traced the lines with her finger. "So many secrets, hidden in plain sight..."
The archive door creaked open again. Marcus swept in, his dark coat flowing behind him.
"Dr. Bennett," he smiled, showing just a hint of fang. "I thought I might find you here. Learning our history?"
"Marcus serves on the current Elder Council," Dimitri said. "He's been coming here longer than any of us have been alive."
"Three hundred years, give or take," Marcus winked. "I knew Jonathan Lunaire. Good man. Terrible fashion sense, but a brilliant doctor."
He pulled an ancient leather book from his coat. "This belongs in your archives. The original supernatural medical guide, written by Lunaire himself."
Eliza opened it carefully. The pages were filled with detailed drawings and notes about treating various magical beings:
Essential Treatments:
• Vampire blood typing & transfusions
• Werewolf silver extraction
• Fairy wing repair
• Ghost manifestation therapy
• Phoenix burn care
"Study it well," Marcus said. "The knowledge in those pages has saved countless lives - human and supernatural alike."
A bell chimed somewhere above. Time for evening rounds.
"Speaking of which," Dimitri checked his watch, "we have a newly admitted werewolf in Room 412. Full moon's tomorrow. Care to assist, Dr. Bennett?"
Eliza hugged the book to her chest. "Absolutely. But first..." She turned to Marcus. "I have so many questions about the early days."
"All in good time, doctor," he smiled. "You're part of our world now. The stories aren't going anywhere."
As they headed upstairs, Eliza felt the weight of history around her. She wasn't just learning hospital protocols - she was becoming part of a centuries-old tradition of healing, hope, and harmony between worlds.
Maya met them at the elevator with an urgent look. "We've got an incoming emergency. A young siren with vocal cord paralysis."
Eliza opened Lunaire's guide to the section on aquatic beings. Time to put this historical knowledge to practical use.Shadows and Threats
The emergency room doors burst open. Two figures in black tactical gear stormed in, weapons drawn. 🔫
"Nobody move!" the taller one shouted. "We're with the Supernatural Containment Unit."
Eliza's heart raced as she stepped between them and her patient - a young werewolf with silver poisoning. "This is a hospital. Lower your weapons."
"Step aside, doctor," the shorter agent growled. "We have reports of dangerous creatures here."
Maya appeared beside Eliza, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by steel. "You have no jurisdiction here. This hospital is protected."
"The Lunaire Covenant states clearly - all beings seeking medical care are under our protection. Leave. Now." - Maya's voice carried ancient power.
The agents hesitated. Dimitri emerged from the shadows, his massive frame blocking the doorway. Marcus materialized next to him, fangs gleaming.
"Last warning," Marcus said softly. "Exit peacefully, or things will get... unpleasant."
The shorter agent raised his gun. In a blur of motion, Marcus disarmed him. The weapon clattered to the floor.
"This isn't over," the taller agent backed away. "That wolf is wanted for questioning."
"He's my patient," Eliza stated firmly. "Doctor-patient confidentiality applies to all species."
After they left, Maya activated additional magical wards. Glowing symbols appeared briefly on the walls. ✨
"Who were they really?" Eliza asked, checking her patient's vitals.
"Hunters," Dimitri spat the word. "They've gotten organized lately. Government backing."
"They won't stop," Marcus warned. "The balance between worlds is shifting. Some humans want control, not cooperation."
Hospital Security Measures:
• Magical wards
• Supernatural guardians
• Hidden entrances
• Cloaking spells
• Emergency protocols
Later that night, Eliza found Maya in the blood bank, reinforcing protective spells.
"How can I help?" Eliza asked. "I won't let them hurt my patients."
Maya smiled. "You already are helping. Your presence here, a human doctor treating supernatural beings openly - it matters."
The werewolf patient, James, was recovering well. He shared his story - hunted for refusing to spy on his pack.
"Thank you," he said weakly. "Most humans fear us."
"Fear comes from ignorance," Eliza replied, adjusting his IV. "I took an oath to help ALL who need healing."
A commotion outside drew their attention. More black vehicles surrounding the hospital. 🚗
"They're back," Dimitri growled, peering through enchanted windows. "With reinforcements."
Marcus swept in, his ancient eyes blazing. "They've blocked the emergency exits. Magical dampening fields in place."
"Time for Plan B," Maya said grimly. She pressed a hidden panel, revealing a glowing portal. "The Underground Railroad still runs, friends."
As they evacuated vulnerable patients...
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