by Jenna Payne
“Here, let me help you,” said James. He offered his arm, and Anita clasped her hand around him, feeling the strong muscles in his forearm straining beneath his jacket. On the dance floor his arm circled her waist. The band had just started playing an old-fashioned waltz, and they set off around the ballroom. Anita wasn’t a dancer but James was the perfect partner, twirling her around the other couples like a pro.
“I didn’t know you could dance,” said Anita.
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” James growled in her ear, his low gravelly voice making the hairs on her neck stand on end. She nuzzled her face into his shoulder, breathing deeply a sweet manly smell, a mixture of expensive cologne and something else; something more basic, earthy and musky, almost animal like. She had not felt this happy for a long time. Maybe she had never felt this way. She was bewitched and beguiled and didn’t want the dance to end. She was lost in the moment.
A loud crash ended her reverie and suddenly the atmosphere changed in the room. Two masked men had broken in through the large plate glass doors and were standing in the middle of the dance floor wielding automatic machine guns. The music stopped abruptly and the dancers froze. Anita felt James’s body tighten, a coiled spring ready for action before he released her and moved away.
“James?” she whispered his name under her breath, already sensing that he had moved away. Moving her hand out to the side she reached for him but he had gone.
“You, stay still, stop moving,” he said quietly. Anita looked forward as one of the masked men moved towards her, roughly taking her by the arm. Waving his rifle in the air he fired a warning shot into the ceiling before dragging her towards the centre of the room. A bullet hit the magnificent glass chandelier sending shards of splintered glass onto the crowd. The women screamed and the men tried to shield them from danger. Another shot was fired and the room fell silent.
The man pushed Anita in front of him and she felt something cold, something metal pushed against her temple. She had quickly sobered but now felt sick with alarm, her heart hammering strangely in her breast. This was something that happened on the news, in war zones, not to ordinary people. Her captor reeked of evil, rancid and bitter, the acrid sweat leaching from every pore. He spoke with a thick accent.
“Don’t move, lady, or I shoot you,” he said. His hand moved from across her middle up to her breast and squeezed the soft flesh hard, causing her to flinch.
Anita looked around the room at the other guests, all wide-eyed with fear, glad at least that they weren’t in her shoes. Where was James? When the going got tough he had disappeared like a coward and abandoned her. Where were all his words of bravado now, all that macho talk and arrogance?
The other raider had started haranguing the other guests, stripping the ladies of their jewels and the men of their expensive watches and cufflinks.
A noise from outside the ballroom caught the attention of the gunman holding Anita, and he cautiously marched her over to a door and listened carefully. Using Anita as a human shield he slowly pushed at the door with the butt of his gun allowing it to slowly open.
There was a soft pitter-patter sound, as something moved across the marble tiles in the darkness. The gunman raised his rifle in readiness.
Out of the doorway sprang an enormous Bengal Tiger leaping through the air with a mighty roar that toppled the masked raider on impact and threw Anita away from his clutch. The gun fired once into the air and the tiger let out a fierce, deep and rippling roar before sinking its teeth and claws into the man now lying prostrate upon the floor. He didn’t have a chance.
All eyes were on the tiger, a magnificent, sleek and muscular creature. The poor animal had been hit by the gun shot and sat licking blood from a wound on its front leg. A man picked up one of the raiders’ guns to shoot it. But as if sensing danger, the cat snarled at the crowd, baring its large fangs before springing out of the damaged glass windows and out into the night. Anita could have sworn that it looked directly at her just before leaving.
The security men arrived to apprehend the raiders. During the commotion, the crowd had turned on the second masked man, who was now pinned to the wall, pathetic and whimpering without his rifle.
The disorientated guests started to move back to their seats, some to gather their coats to go home. Geoff rushed over to Anita concerned that they somehow needed to save the evening. Her whole body was shaking from adrenalin and shock, and she felt as if she was going to faint. Geoff helpfully told her to put her head between her knees for a moment.
“Have you seen James Miller?”
Geoff shook his head; he was more interested in stopping people from leaving than to think about her or indeed James Miller. Anita took a few deep breaths. She was OK, a little bit shaken up but unhurt. A story she could tell her grandchildren about no doubt.
Spotting the celebrity singer Anita had an idea. She walked over to him and had a quick word with the band. The gala dinner would definitely be an evening to remember and even though she couldn’t end on fireworks she could end the evening with a song. She walked out of the doors and into the warm evening air, and as the band started up a cheer rang out from the crowd as the first strains of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ drifted across the room and out into the night.
At least the charity ball had ended on a high note. Once she was alone again back at her bungalow Anita allowed herself a few tears. She was tired, her head hurt and she deserved a little self-pity.
There was no doubting she had just been through a great ordeal, but it wasn’t the fact that she had been held with a gun to her head or that all her months of planning had almost been ruined. It was the fact that James Miller had let her down. She had dropped her guard with a man again, allowed herself to feel close and he had disappointed her in the most despicable and cowardly way. He had abandoned her when she needed him most. What a fool she had been. She never wanted to see or speak to him again.
The next day Anita woke with a throbbing headache. It felt like a hangover but it was mainly due to the fact that she had been crying all night.
At least it was a Saturday and she didn’t have to go in to work. Geoff would be busy no doubt with the aftermath from last night, but she would leave him to it. He hadn’t been the one held up with a gun to his head!
Walking through to the kitchen to get some aspirin she noticed that the red light on the answer phone was flashing. No doubt it would be Geoff panicking over something or other. Pressing the play button, she walked to the sink to run herself a cold glass of water. At first the tape was silent, just some heavy breathing, until finally a male voice spoke. It wasn’t Geoff, it was James Miller.
“Anita, it’s me James. I just wanted to call. It’s about last night. There’s something I want to tell you.”
The tape fell silent for a few more seconds.
“Ring me will you?” and then he hung up.
Anita sat on the edge of the sofa sipping at the water and looking at the phone. How dare, he, how very dare he? She could really start to get angry but it would only make her head feel worse. Something about last night eh? Something he wanted to tell her. Well, she could definitely give him a piece of her mind about last night. She picked up the phone and pressed the number for last call redial.
And how on earth had he got her number? She was sure she didn’t give it out last night.
The phone was answered after two rings and James voice purred down the line.
“Hi Anita.”
She wasn’t ready for his voice again, and struggled to speak.
“Look, about last night. I’m sorry I had to leave. When those two guys burst in like that, look I can’t talk about it down the phone. Why don’t you let me buy you lunch so I can tell you in person?”
Anita croaked into the phone, “Look James, I don’t think I want to see you again. You abandoned me last night to that maniac. I could have been killed!” She could feel her voice start to become thick with emotion and stopped talking.
She was a sucker for the sorry word. It got to her every time, well nearly every time. George had been sorry, very sorry but he hadn’t sounded sincere. There was something about the tone of James’s voice that got to her, tugged at her heart. Before she knew it she had agreed to meet him at a small restaurant just out of the city at noon.
The restaurant was small and homely. It served daily specials and cheap wine. James was already there when she arrived. She noticed him as soon as she walked through the door, his eyes lighting up as soon as she entered. He was wearing a white linen jacket that emphasised his dark good looks, but he looked tired and drawn as if he hadn’t slept easily. Standing as she approached, he held out his hand in greeting. She deliberately ignored it, and sat down quickly.
“I ordered a bottle of wine.”
Anita shook her head. “Just water for me, please.”
“On duty eh?” James flashed his most dazzling smile but she wasn’t in the mood. He would have to do a lot better than that.
“Look about last night...”
Anita could feel the anger start to rise up in her throat.
“Where the fuck did you go to?” she snapped. The words were out of her mouth before she had time to think them through.
James sighed. The wine arrived and he poured himself a large glass.
“Listen Anita, there is something you need to know about me.”
“What, that you’re a coward? I already know that.”
“No, there’s something I have to explain to you.”
“So you keep saying.”
“Look I can’t do it here, come back to my place and I can explain properly.”
Anita let out a repressed laugh. “Look if you just want me to come back to your place and have sex then just say. Anyway the answer is no.”
Draining his glass James grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her to him, his face serious, his jaw clenched.
“Listen Anita, I really like you, I mean I really like you. Of course I want to make love to you, what man wouldn’t, but there is something else, something really important I need to tell you. Please come with me.”
James stood and threw a note down on the table to cover the cost of the wine, and held out his hand once again. This time, something made Anita take it, and they headed out into the afternoon.
They had to cross a small park to reach his apartment. It was a beautiful afternoon and the sun shone through the trees, creating patches of dappled green light along the pathway. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and their scent filled the air. Anita paused to breathe in the sweetness, it was good to be alive and she smiled despite everything. James looked down at her, the sun reflecting the amber flecks in his dark eyes. She could get lost in eyes like those. He bent forward slowly to kiss her.
“Ouch, what did you do that for?”
Coming to her senses at the last moment Anita had punched him on the arm. The afternoon may be beautiful but she hadn’t forgotten last night, she couldn’t be won over that easily.
James seemed to be in real pain. For a strong, powerful man, not only did he seem to be a coward, but also a wimp at that. Yes she could pack a punch but it couldn’t have hurt him that much.
Holding his arm she tried to remove his jacket to see what was causing the pain. At first he resisted, then looking deep into her eyes he relaxed, allowing her to remove the white linen jacket. The upper arm was heavily bandaged, and spots of blood had started to appear on the white cotton.
She pressed the bandaged area gently and James winced.
“What on earth have you done to yourself?”
James smiled through the pain. “It’s only a flesh wound.”
“But how, when? I mean you seemed OK last night.”
“That’s what I need to explain, about last night.”
Anita shuddered as she thought about the events of the previous night. No-one had been harmed, only the gun man. The other guests had been shocked but apart from that, perfectly OK. James hadn’t even been present. To her knowledge there had only been a couple of gunshots and the only casualty had been that poor tiger, shot in the front leg. She shivered, a cold sensation running along her spine. Something strange was going on and she felt uncomfortable.
Releasing his arm, Anita stood back a little suddenly, afraid of his gaze.
“What’s going on James?”
“That’s what I need to explain, come back with me and I will tell you everything.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked back up at him. “OK, just tell me one thing, is that a bullet wound?”
James’s eyes were steady and bright as he looked at her. “Yes, it’s a bullet wound.”
They walked in silence back to his apartment. Anita walked with her arms crossed in front of her; a shrink would no doubt call it a defensive pose. She was tired and couldn’t think straight; maybe she needed that drink after all.
His apartment was fresh and cool. The interior was modern and sparse with a few home comforts and she sat on the white leather sofa letting herself sink easily into the soft folds. James poured two large bourbons, and handing her one he sat in the armchair facing her.
“Here’s mud in your eye.”
The liquor was strong and hot on the back of her throat but it felt good. She felt her shoulders start to relax.
“Another,” she said. James fetched the bottle and refilling her glass set it on the small coffee table between them.
He was trying to get her drunk! She wasn’t stupid, and although her head started to feel heavy she had come up here for answers.
“What happened last night James, how did you get shot?”
“You saw me, I was in the Ballroom. I was shot on the dance floor.”
Anita raised an eyebrow; he definitely had not been in the Ballroom during the attack. Did he think she was stupid?
“James, you ran away during the raid, you left me to fend for myself with those disgusting men. They held a gun to my head. Don’t bullshit me. There were only two shots fired and the only things that got shot were that chandelier and the tiger.”
“So you did see me,” said James. His eyes had narrowed into cat like slits, he almost purred at her across the room.
Anita laughed; the alcohol was distorting her perception. “So what are you saying, that you are a tiger?”
His eyes were almost burning now, slits of amber and yellow forming in his eyes, blazing across at her.
“Yes, that’s exactly right.”
The room was silent except the tick tick of a large clock mounted on the wall. Taking another sip of the golden liquid, Anita set her glass firmly down on the table in front of her and smiled across at James.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing Mr, but I ain't no fool. You either really tell me what happened last night or I walk out of here and never want to see you again.”
James sighed, he understood that actions were louder than words but knew that he would have to prepare her first.
Standing up he moved to the windows and started to close all of the blinds. Anita stood up starting to protest; slightly worried for her safety. Taking her by the arm, James sat her firmly down again.
“I’m going to tell you everything Anita but you must trust me. Trust that I won’t hurt you. What I am about to tell you will be hard to believe, but I will prove to you that what I am saying is true, if you will trust me and promise not to be afraid.”
Anita did feel a little afraid, he was acting weird and the whole thing was becoming too strange for her liking. On the other hand the booze was kicking and a warm glow gave her a newfound sense of bravado.
“OK James, do your worse, tell me your secrets.”
James stood in front of her, his face now serious.
“I’ve been a Navy SEAL for 10 years. I work on a lot of undercover projects, top secret missions, things you would never hear about in the press or on the news. I was br
ought in to help at last night’s event after we discovered a terrorist threat had been made.”
Anita poured herself another drink and raised her glass. “A Navy SEAL, I am impressed!” that would really amaze the girls back home.
“But that’s not it, Anita. That’s not my real secret,” said James. He paused to pour himself another large glass of bourbon as Anita watched transfixed, her mouth open in expectation.
“You see, I’m not normal, well, not a normal human being that is. I’m a shape shifter; part of me is a Tiger.”
Anita almost choked on her drink. What was the man saying? “Come on James, it’s not Halloween, tell me your secret.”
James sighed, he knew it would come down to this eventually, there was no other way to make her believe him, believe the truth about him.
“OK then, I’ll show you but promise me whatever happens you won’t be afraid and that you won’t scream. I promise that I won’t hurt you.”
Sitting upright Anita nodded and readied herself for the show. Whatever was going to happen she had the best seat in the house.
He started by removing his shirt. He had the most amazing body and this was going to be fun. His abs were perfect, a bulging six pack to be proud of. She started clapping slowly, it reminded her of seeing the Chippendales with her girlfriends years ago, only this time she had a better view. As he started to remove his trousers she had to stop herself from chanting, “Off, off!”
He was perfect in every way, firm muscular thighs and tight buns. He was a magnificent specimen.
Then something began to happen. His body started to twist and shake; she could see the muscles starting to ripple under his skin. Stretching his arms upwards towards the ceiling, his body seemed to elongate, his head rolling from side to side. At first she thought he might be having a fit or maybe blood poisoning from his wound. He dropped to the floor, a deep growling sound emitting from his throat.
Anita stood up in alarm as she raced to his side. He looked up at her as if in agony, his eyes now glowing brilliant amber. His face was changing too as if a dark shadow were crossing over it, soft hairs appearing all over his face and body. She reached for his hand, shocked to find huge claws extending from what used to be his fingers, now huge paws. Anita dropped her glass in shock. Before her very eyes, James was turning into a tiger. Her heart pounding, she backed away, looking for a large heavy implement, just in case she needed it. She spied a set of golf clubs in the corner of the room. They would have to do. Arming herself, she started to head back to the front door.