by Robin Roseau
"I've got it," Karen said. She collected it from the back seat, slinging it over one shoulder. Portia held me in place, and then Karen was on my other side, taking my other arm. Together, the two of them led me towards the front door of Elisabeth's house.
The door opened as we approached, and Elisabeth was there. She wasn't smiling. I couldn't read her at all.
Karen and Portia handed me off to her. Elisabeth took my arm with one hand, then Karen held out my computer, and Elisabeth took it with her other hand. She exchanged a look with them, which I thought meant something, and then she pulled me inside. I went docilely. The door closed.
I turned to Elisabeth and folded myself against her. She let me, and then she wrapped her arm around me.
She didn't say anything, but I held her for a while, a long time, it seemed, but it was probably only a minute or two.
She held me, too, but we didn't kiss.
"Come on," she said finally. "You can tell me why you're so upset."
We moved deeper into the house. She led me to a living room, setting my computer down in a chair, then released me. I moved away from her and looked around the room.
It was a nice room, a normal room. There were sofas and chairs and coffee tables. There was art on the walls. I looked around, but I didn't see a fireplace.
"I have tea," she said from behind me. "I didn't know what kind you might want."
"Anything."
"Michaela likes Earl Grey, but I have herbal."
"Anything," I said again.
"Herbal is soothing," she said. "It will need to steep a few minutes."
I listened as she busied herself with the tea. In the meantime, I continued to roam the room.
It seemed so normal, but there wasn't anything normal about this situation.
I looked at the art -- photographs. They were amateur, but good. Most were outdoor scenes, but I came to one of a woman and beside it, a man. "Who are these?"
"My parents."
"You must miss them."
"Every day."
"How did they die?"
"You didn't come here to talk about that, Zoe."
She was right. I moved on. On a table near the front window was a ceramic sculpture of a wolf. I picked it up. It was beautiful, truly beautiful.
"This is stunning," I said.
"It was a gift from Michaela. She had it commissioned."
I turned around, still holding it. "Is it you?"
She stared for a moment. "My mother." Her voice cracked a little.
I stared at the sculpture for a minute then turned around and, with more care than I've ever used on anything before, I set it down on the table. With my back to her, I asked, "Did Michaela know her?"
"No. She found photographs. The artist thought it was just a wolf. It's a very good likeness."
"You aren't surprised I know."
"No."
"I haven't told anyone."
"Who knows you're here?"
"Whoever you told," I said. "I have video of you."
"How much?"
"About a minute, total. I knew about your eagle's nest. My network isn't huge, but it's not small. People tell me about things. I heard about your eagle's nest, and I heard that people wanted to find souvenirs. I set up cameras across the road to try to catch evidence. At least, I thought I could get license plates."
I turned around. "I didn't trespass."
"If you had, we'd have caught you."
"I didn't know that," I said. "How did you catch me?"
"You're a very obvious stalker. Did you know we'd caught you?"
"No. I haven't told anyone. Not a soul. I-" I turned away. "Is the tea ready?"
"Yes." I heard as she poured two cups, and then she moved closer, holding one out. I trembled as she grew closer, but I took the tea, and she moved away.
"I'm like a frightened animal."
"Yes. You thought I was going to bite you, that night in the park."
"Yes."
"It doesn't work that way," she explained. "Are there copies?"
"I brought almost everything." I turned to her. "Are you going to kill me?"
She paused. "I don't know. It's not my decision. But you need to tell me everything, and if you lie to me, I won't be able to save you."
"I didn't come to lie. I haven't lied. I didn't tell you everything, but I'm telling you now." I paused. "Was it all an act?"
"No."
I felt a glimmer of hope.
"Do you hate me?" I asked.
"No."
"I put a copy of the video in a safe deposit box. I thought about getting it on the way here, but I didn't want to take the time."
"It's a good thing you didn't," she said. "We would have assumed you were leaving something, not taking something. It would have looked very, very bad."
"I was being followed?" She nodded. "I never noticed."
"We're very good at what we do."
"You'd have to be, I suppose." I laughed nervously. "I made you eat chickpeas."
"They weren't that bad. I liked the potatoes."
"But you need meat."
"Yes. And I need to hunt."
"People?"
"Deer, usually."
"People?"
"No, of course not. Deer is our preferred prey, but Lara and Michaela are teaching their girls to start with rabbits."
"Oh. I see." I paused. "Are you a werewolf, or is there another word?"
"Werewolf," she agreed.
There. It was out there. It was entirely out there.
"The video wasn't very good," I said. She raised an eyebrow. "But... You're beautiful. You're stunning in this form, but you were magnificent as a wolf, even in the bad video."
I turned away, sipping the tea.
"Thank you," she said.
"I'll answer all your questions. I'll help you get the video from the bank. I have three requests."
"Tell me," she said.
"If you're going to kill me, then could I see you as a wolf first?"
"We'll see."
"I don't want to see it coming, but I'll want to say goodbye to you. And if you can make it so it doesn't hurt."
I started crying and turned back to her. "Please, I'm so afraid."
"I know," she said. "What was your last request?"
"Will you answer my questions before you kill me?"
"I don't know if we're going to kill you. Honestly, I don't want to. It's not my decision, and I won't be able to do it myself."
"Why not?"
"You know why not, Zoe."
I looked down. "You like me."
"We all like you."
"Who then?"
"I won't answer that," she replied. "We might have to keep you for a while."
"I understand."
"You'll do whatever I tell you."
"Yes."
"Sign whatever I tell you to sign."
"Yes."
"Answer any questions any of us have."
"Yes."
"Is there any chance anyone else knows?"
"I don't know how to answer that," I said. "I haven't told anyone. I didn't upload anything anywhere. So no, I don't think so. But... hackers? You talked about corporate espionage. I'm a known environmental activist. I don't know if there are any corporations hacking into my computer. I'm not good enough with a computer to be sure."
"Who has access to the video at the bank?"
"Locally, only me. But it's owned by GreEN, and if something happens to me, then someone from the parent organization could probably get to it. We have to get that video before..."
"All right," she said. "What else do I need to know?"
I turned back to her. "I had to meet you. I had to. You were... Amazing. I don't have the words. I couldn't believe it. I don't know how many times I watched that video."
"When searching for me, did you leave any signs of what you were looking for?"
"Not that I was looking for a werewolf." I told her what research I had done
. "It's all public record searches. I know hackers, but I didn't want to involve anyone. I didn't have your name or anything. I suppose I would have found a hacker eventually, just to find you, but I wouldn't have told him anything."
Neither of us said anything for a while. I finished my tea then poured another cup, cradling it against my chest. Elisabeth was watching me.
"Do you hate me?" I asked.
"No, Zoe." It was said gently. "And do you hate me? Do you hate us?"
"No."
"All right," she said. "Finish your tea. We need to go talk to Lara."
I looked over at her. "Is this my last cup?"
"It's your last cup from this pot. It's not your last cup, Zoe. We're not going to rip you to shreds when we step out the front door."
I finished the cup and set it down. Elisabeth stepped up to me then clasped my chin. "Now, I am going to speak very bluntly. If you have lied to me about anything, you damned well better tell me. Right now. We will find out, I promise you."
"I haven't lied. Not one word. I haven't told anyone. If you kill me now, no one will ever know."
"That seems like a foolish thing to tell me."
"Trust starts somewhere."
She dropped my chin, and I think I had surprised her.
"You told me to prove you could trust me," I said. "I'm doing my best."
"So I did," she said. She reached up a hand for me and I could tell she wanted to caress my cheek. She began to drop her hand, but I grabbed it and pressed it against my face.
She pulled me to her and held me.
"What is Michaela?" I asked.
"You'll need to ask her," Elisabeth said. "She may tell you."
"She's not a werewolf."
"No, she's not. We normally just say 'wolf'."
"She's not a wolf."
"No."
"You and Lara are wolves."
"Yes."
"Portia. Karen."
"Yes."
"Everyone."
"Scarlett's father is human."
"You can ... um... with humans?"
"Yes. The wolf genes are dominant, although Scarlett has her father's eyes."
"So you can't make me a werewolf?"
"Is that why you're here?"
"No. I'm here because..." I pushed away. "Michaela would understand."
"She very well might," Elisabeth said.
She stepped away and picked up my computer. "Let's go."
I moved for the front door. Elisabeth got there first and opened it for me. When we stepped out, there were two wolves -- furry wolves -- lying in the grass not far away. They both stood up and faced me. I came to a stop, staring at them.
Elisabeth stopped beside me and took my arm.
"They're... I don't know what to say." I looked up at her, smiling. "They're beautiful."
"They are," she said.
I looked back at them. "They're so big. They're bigger than a standard wolf."
"Yes."
"Are they... um... dangerous?"
"They're werewolves, Zoe. Of course they're dangerous. But not the way you mean. They're people, just in different clothes. They aren't animals. They aren't going to attack you the moment you walk down the steps."
"So... you're still, I don't know. You?"
"Yes. Thoughts can be a little different. But yes."
"Who... um. Who are they?"
"Karen and Portia."
Tears were running down my cheeks, but they weren't sad tears. I was just so astonished.
"May I touch them? Would they like that?"
"You may ask them," she said. "I'll release your arm in a moment. A word of caution. They are the same people you know, but they are both exceedingly dominant wolves. You need to be very, very submissive."
"I don't know what that means."
"Don't look them in the eye without permission. Don't try to force them, not even the slightest amount. Don't hug until you know them a whole lot better than you do."
"Would they hurt me?"
"They would chastise you, put you in your place. Firmly. You would find it very frightening, even if she didn't really hurt you." She paused. "Our top speed is as much as forty-five miles an hour, and we can leap ten yards easily. If you run, you become prey."
"I didn't come here to run."
She released my arm. I paused, then began walking down the steps.
"Look at the ground between you," she said. "Not into their eyes."
I lowered my gaze and stepped forward. I kept my hands to myself. I felt both wolves watching me carefully.
"Karen is on the right. Portia on the left. If you want to touch, ask."
I turned to Portia. "May I pet you, Portia?"
She stretched, and she was fabulous. Along the way, I got a good look at her claws.
"Holy shit!" I said.
"Remain calm, Zoe."
"But her claws..."
"She's not going to use them on you."
Portia moved closer then turned sideways.
"May I touch you?" I asked.
She made a strange noise in her throat.
"That wasn't a growl," Elisabeth said. "She gave you permission." She moved down the steps and walked up behind me then stepped over to Karen. "She likes this." Then she buried her hands in Karen's scruff. Karen made the same noise Portia had made.
I turned back to Portia, stepped a half step closer, then reached out and ran a hand through her fur. It was thick and, I imagined, very, very warm.
"You can't hurt her," Elisabeth said. "But don't be intentionally rough. She might take it poorly."
I dug my fingers into her fur and began massaging Portia the way Elisabeth had with Karen. Portia leaned into it a little and made that noise again.
I did that for a minute or two before I asked, "Is there more she likes?"
"Lara and Michaela are waiting for us, Zoe."
I turned around. "Please," I said. "I..."
"Ask her to show you her paw."
I turned back to Portia and knelt down. "May I see your paw, Portia?"
She held her closest paw up, then she did something, and the claws extended. They weren't like a dog's claws. She had more control over them, much like a cat might, and they were curved, although not as much as a cat's.
"You may touch, but be careful," Elisabeth said. "The edges of the claws are exceedingly sharp."
I clasped Portia's paw in my hand. Her paw was huge, absolutely huge. Then I carefully touched a claw with my other hand before releasing everything.
"You're amazing, Portia. I'm sorry. I don't know what words to use. But you're amazing."
She made the noise again.
"That noise is agreement," Elisabeth explained. "It can mean yes, or permission, or even a laugh."
I stood up slowly. "Thank you, Portia," I said. "You are very beautiful."
I turned back to Elisabeth. "Will you show me your wolf before... if..."
She nodded, just once. "I hope it won't come to that, but I'll let you see me before this is over."
"Thank you."
I moved to her, and she took my arm.
The next several minutes were surreal. We walked along a path, heading past two of the big buildings. Elisabeth gave me a small tour, explaining what the buildings were and describing the property in general. They owned a great deal of land, which I already knew.
The two wolves flanked us, walking in the grass about ten yards to either side of us. I had no doubt what would happen if I tried to run. But I couldn't have escaped Elisabeth, either. And I didn't come to run away.
I told Elisabeth that last part.
"They're here to keep everyone else away just as much as to watch you," she explained. "This is our home, and it is assumed anyone here is a friend."
"I'm a friend," I said. "Or I want to be." I looked up at her. "More than a friend."
She didn't respond to that. I guess I couldn't blame her.
We didn't go to another house. Instead, we went in the front
door of one of the big buildings. "This is a barracks, but it also has a conference room."
With both wolves still flanking us, we moved deeper into the building then climbed stairs to the second floor. Angel and a man I didn't know were standing at a set of double doors in front of us. The man watched me, but Angel looked the other way. I came to a stop.
"Is she mad at me?"
"She's afraid for you."
I took a step forward, and when I veered off from heading directly to the door but instead walked towards Angel, Elisabeth let me. I came to a stop about two feet from Angel.
"I hope I get to see you as a wolf," I said.
She turned to me. Emotion crossed her face, but I wasn't sure what. "So do I," she said eventually. "You have to tell them the truth."
"I will. I have been."
"If you tell the truth, they can fix it," Angel said.
"There isn't that much to fix," I said.
"No more," Elisabeth said. "This is above Angel's pay grade, you might say."
I nodded then turned to the man. He was watching me, and his gaze held a great deal of distrust. And, I thought perhaps, fear. I stepped towards him, and Elisabeth didn't stop me, but she didn't release my arm, either.
"I'm am Zoe."
He didn't respond immediately, but then from the corner of my eye, I saw Elisabeth nod.
"Eric," he said. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."
He didn't sound that pleased.
"I'm not a threat, Eric."
"Zoe..."
"He deserves to know, doesn't he?" I asked. I turned to her. "If I sent everything to Sixty-Minutes, he would deserve to know."
"Yes," she said after a moment. "He would deserve to know."
I turned back to Eric. "I haven't told a soul. There are no packages on their way to some news agency. I have no intention of telling anyone. I know that's hard to believe."
"It's not for me to say, ma'am," he said. I thought perhaps some of the distrust was missing from his voice, but that could have been wishful thinking. But then he added, "Good luck, ma'am."
Elisabeth tugged on my arm, just enough to get me moving, and we stepped to the door.
"Elisabeth," said Angel. "I want a vote."
We stopped.
"You know it's not a democracy, Angel."
"Fine. I want a voice. Please."
Elisabeth stood looking at her cousin. I looked between them. "This isn't an emotional decision," Elisabeth said finally. "We'll decide what to do based on a clear analysis of the facts."
"Begging your pardon, Head Enforcer," Angel said, although her eyes were aimed at about Elisabeth's waist, "But that's bullshit. She can't prove we can trust her, and in the end, it's going to be a gut decision. Well, I have a gut, too. And so does Scarlett. She should be here."