Wolf pack

Cecil Groman

The sun had past it's peak and started again on it's descent, not quite dark. The winter air and forming clouds made the sky a foggy gray.
A faint chill whished by in the wind, causing Cleo to release a shiver. Anu pulled her against his chest, eyes sharply focused on the scene before them. This house was way too large for it's owner. It made Anu sick to think of a man so cruel living here.
The brown-eyed scientist. He was a man that could not be forgotten in Anu's mind even if he wished.
Thankfully, he could be forgotten by this city around them. Magical laws of property did hold great convenience at times.
Casting the scent through his nostrils and back, it was clear the man was inside. With his work schedule so scattered, the man was likely asleep.
It would be so much easier if he was Jynx, but Anu had tools up his sleeve.
"We need to get in without being conspicuous." He whispered to Cleo. "We must be careful."
Anu thought, looking at the house. Then came the realization that if the scientist was killed within the magical world, all this property would become his own. This could be far better than the Hotel. He was getting ahead of his own thoughts though.
Anu slunk forward, looking at the door. The cameras were not hard to spot. They would need to play this naturally then.
"He will recognize me, you'll need to knock on the door."
"Me?"
"Yes. Tell him that you admire his work and wanted an interview. Appeal to his pride."
She nodded. "I can do that."
"I will work to sneak in when the door is unlocked. Try to get as much information as possible. I'll break in if I have to."
Cleo looked at the door nervously, but swallowed. She could do this.
Stepping away from the warmth of his arms, she walked forward to the door and knocked. There was no response, and she turned to look at Anu. He gestured to the button on the wall, so she pressed it and found with surprise a ringing that echoed on the inside of the house.
She rang one more time when a faint groaning was heard on the other side of the wall. Latches clicked and then the door stung open.
There the brown-eyed man stood. He looked at her tiredly, asking what she wanted with his eyes.
Cleo stood frozen a moment, and was tempted to look back at Anu. She reminded herself, this was an act and she better play it well.
"Hey! I am so glad I caught you at home! I am a huge admirer of your scientific work. Could I please take some time for an interview?"
The man was very tired, and rubbed his eyes. "Now?"
She didn't let herself look nervous. "I would appreciate it very much."
Those brown eyes looked her over. He wished to say no and go back to sleep. She was beautiful though. Her skin appeared very soft. If she was an admirer perhaps he could take this to his advantage.
He straightened himself, "Of course," He leaned against the door, gesturing with an arm into the house. "Come right in."
A moment's glance behind her, and she disappeared inside.
The door swung closed, and as Anu snuck forward he heard that click as it was locked again.
He frowned in annoyance, then pulled out pieces of metal from his toolbelt. He would just have to do this the hard way.

Cleo took note of everything she saw as they walked through the elaborate house. The walls were decorated in pictures, more than half being long letters or short statements that she could assume were awards he had received. From the sheer amount of them two things were clear.
1) He was very accomplished and very smart.
2) He knew it.
They passed through the hallway from the front door and past a kitchen with polished marble countertops into a wide and open room. This room had massive windows on the far side. A concave flat screen was mounted within a wall at their right, speakers and sleek cabinets were under and around it. Facing the screen were two extravagant couches, both a red velvet matching the trimming along the entire inside of the house. A cold gray marked the walls and ceiling.
"Take a seat." The scientist gestured to one of the couches.
Cleo did not fail to notice a fur rug laying in the middle of the room. Though it was far smaller than her kind, she did recognize the fur of a grey wolf. She sat down, trying not to stare at it.
The man walked to pull silky red curtains over the windows, obscuring any view of the outside world. He noticed her gaze and grinned as he sat on the second couch. "I see you have discovered my wolf." His gaze drifted off thoughtfully. "The permit was expensive, but the prize was worth it. I traced and observed the beast over the course of three months. He was a mighty alpha."
Cleo tried to look interested rather than appalled.
"Enough of my hunting days." He waved the subject to the side and looked her in the eyes. They were cold and dark. "You had questions for me?"
Cleo straighted up, glad for the change in subject. She had no idea what to ask, but knew how to act well enough to make it up.
"Tell me about your career, what made you interested in this field of work?"
He smiled and leaned back.
"I have always had a fascination with the sciences, Anatomy in particular. The human body is an incredible thing and truly I wished to explore it. My diving into the career of a doctor stemmed from the dream of finding cures to all manner of mortal afflictions-"
Cleo listened as he trailed on, using words larger than necessary. While what he sought to explain to her may have been interesting to someone else, it was not what she was here for. Something was not right. He never once mentioned his animal experiments- the ones he had infamously done in the same labs that Anu and Nimera were tested. He talked of the career of a doctor, not a scientist. He talked of finding cures to human illness but not of his experiments to find these cures.
He was holding back information, perhaps she needed to dig deeper.
Cleo leaned forward, looking at him carefully. "That is fascinating. What kind of experiments led to those cures?"
Noticing her lean forward made him lean forward as well, brown eyes shining now. "Well, when researching many of these ailments, I first looked at the chemicals that would naturally appear.."
On he went again. Cleo listened, searching his words for any kind of helpful information. While the long names of chemicals, proteins and petri dishes would have been fascinating from Anu, hearing it from this man took all of the ring out.
Cleo looked for an opening where she could jump in and ask a more specific question, but it appeared he was going to talk a long while. So, she observed him.
The most obvious of his features were his brown eyes. They were in contrast to blonde hair, neatly brushed back. His skin was pale, testifying of his inside nightlife. Rather than his scrubs he was wearing a sleek maroon robe. They appeared tailored to fit him, and on his right pocket a name was sewn. It was obviously pajamas but he acted like it was a suit.
Finally he took a breath, and Cleo jumped in.
"Have you ever participated in animal experiments?"
He grinned. "Of course! Lab mice, rats and rabbits were my test subjects. They proved my theories correct nearly every time."
Cleo wished she could punch that cocky smile off his face.
"Were there any other test subjects?"
"Sadly no, the number of legalities and ethical codes prevent branching out far. Anything else would be illegal." He gave that grin again.
She tried to keep a glare back. He was lying. She watched him to see if he would say anything else. He didn't.
Perhaps she would try another direction.
"Tell me about your business partners."
He started again on listing off names of high-class people. She realized there would be no way to memorize the list. Many could be scientists and it could be valuable.
"I'm sorry for my lack of preparation, but could you write that list down for me? I appear to be without pen and paper."
The man looked annoyed at first for being interrupted, but looked at her for a moment. It was too long for her liking.
He changed the topic quickly.
"Ah, I don't think I caught your name. Perhaps there should be a more formal introduction." He shifted to the edge of the couch, closer to her. "I am Doctor Cecil Groman, but you already know this." He rested his hand proudly on his chest. "You can simply call me Cecil." He looked at her like he was giving her a hundred dollars.
"Now, what may I call my guest?"
"Cleo Vulva."
"Miss Vulva." He smirked, "May I call you Cleo?"
Cleo looked at him carefully. She did not like this man. However, she did not like being called Miss Vulva either. "Yes."
His hand dropped from his chest only to pull himself off the couch.
"Then, Cleo, I will further the introduction with an official house tour."
With that he stood and held his hand out for her to take it. She didn't.
He reached over and took her hand anyway.
May as well get this over with. Besides, Anu would be breaking through any moment. She could hear the light fiddling on the front door. It was too quiet for Cecil to hear. Thank goodness.
First he led her to the kitchen, pulling a sleek bottle out of the refrigerator and pouring it in a glass. He poured some in the second glass and slid it over to her across the table. Cleo instinctively caught it.
Cecil raised his glass. "Welcome to the kitchen, and welcome to my home."
Cleo gently smelled the fluid. It burned her nose. It would not be good for her. She put the glass back down. "I can't drink this."
He frowned. "It's not good enough for you?"
Cleo didn't know what to say, so stayed silent.
He swapped the bottle out with one further back in the fridge, pulling out one that had not been opened and placing it on the counter. "This wine is far sweeter. It should be better for your taste. I was saving it for a special occasion." He walked over and took her glass, reaching over to the new bottle. He looked at her again. "Perhaps this could be a special occasion."
Cleo waved her hand. "No, I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I don't drink at all."
His expression changed, clearly disappointed. "Not even the finest?" He held the bottle with anticipation.
Cleo shook her head. "It's not good for me. Water or nothing."
Cecil sighed, pouring her glass into his quicky before putting the bottle back and using her cup to take water from the dispenser.
"You are a lady of interesting taste Cleo."
She drank the water carefully, ensuring it smelled clear first.
He drank the wine, watching her. He had never seen someone quite like her. Her hazel eyes were shining with intelligence.
Her frame was slender and very feminine. No doubt she was a model or actress.
Her hair was styled wonderfully and he had never seen a tattoo like that before. It was a simple black design on one side of her face- part of it going above her eye and another below it. The line followed beside her nose, split to make a wide upward crescent in the middle and then back down in a single line that disappeared under her chin. Her jacket partially covered it, but the tattoo continued on part of her right arm.
The markings seemed so natural to her, as if they were actually the color of her skin. That was impossible, of course.
Her skin was a pale pink, glowing with a faint warmth. He could imagine how soft it would feel. He wondered how he had never seen her before.
Cecil's mind snapped back into focus as he found her looking at him just as intently. It appeared she was observing him too.
Cleo's purposes were very different than his. She could barely believe this man. He was human in and out, but there was a darkness that could only come from tampering out of his lines. Truly, this was the man. He was the source of torture and pain. He was a monster.
Her eyes focused as he looked at her. Cleo did not like that look. She was far too used to it.
She put her glass down. "Thank you. Now, could you please write down your information for me? I would like to know the others who supported you in this work."
Cecil waved it aside. "Ah, the tour is not over! We'll make it to the office in time. There is paper waiting."
She followed him, boring holes with her eyes as he walked in front of her. She put her hands in her pockets, refusing her hand out to him. Anu better get in here quickly.