VIII. Daunting...

Von Rooyen Mansion, Ozuoba...

Day 2

14:02

"So you guys are not hunters?" Morenike asked again, confusion very evident in her voice.

"Why would anyone want to hunt werewolves?" Cecilia asked in near frustration to the repeatedly reoccurring question. "Do you even hear yourself?"

"Seriously, erm, Mo-Morenike, stop asking that question." Max said, "We. Are. Not. Hunters, okay?"

"I'm...I am sorry," Morenike seemed to sink deeper into the armchair. She was so anxious she couldn't bring herself to admire the waiting room.

All she could notice is that that is definitely bigger, more majestic, and far well furnished than any building she had ever been into.

"And seriously, you need to stop gawking like a thief." Cecilia snapped at her.

"I am sorry." Morenike said again, risking the inevitable flaw in her character.

"Okay, okay. Everyone cool down," James said stepping forward, Morenike had already dubbed him the pretty boy.

Maybe it is because he is the only one of the trio who said something remotely nice, or maybe he just has that playboy vibe.

"It's not her fault she has never been in a mad Mansion." He said with a scoff directed at Cecilia.

"Okay, now that everyone is perfectly calm," he turned to face Morenike, "why don't you try to state your case again, and this time try it in an inoffensive and understandable manner, eh." James said with an encouraging smile.

"I am..."

"And stop apologizing, seriously, it is annoying."

There goes all the niceties.

Morenike swallowed; "I..l-like I said, I am a werewolf. My name is Morenike and I am came to ask for your help."

"See?" James tapped the small marble center table and took a seat on the armchair opposite Morenike. "Inoffensive and understandable."

"So you came here looking for sanctuary from the hooded man?" Max said resting on the nearest pillar with his arms crossed across his chest just like Cecilia.

"His name is Benjamin, and he is not the only one after me." Morenike swallowed, unintentionally leaving a pause for dramatic effect.

"Like I said earlier, there is more to the world than you know. There are supernatural and magic and extraterrestrial powers. I was born into a family sworn loyal to the Fellowship of Chaos called the Downworlders."

"Wow, a cult." James said.

"And this Ben," Max said, "he is like you, right?"

"Unlike me, Ben is a Downworlder through and through. I never took the oath and I don't intend to, that is why I was excommunicated." Morenike paused, "by my grandfather."

"Excommunicated as in any Downworlder can kill you, no questions asked." James said. The he added with a laugh, "just like John Wick."

"No, every Downworlder has a duty to kill me." Morenike said, "I can hardly protect myself against an average werewolf, now all Downworlders are after me."

"Sounds like a real pickle," Cecilia said, "but we can't help. Like we said, we aren't hunters, whoever the hell those are."

"Then how did you even do it, why would you even interfere in something that is absolutely past your might?" She asked, "if you aren't hunters like you claim, then how could you possibly defeat Ben."

"That is a very complicated question," James said with a straight face and serious tone for the first time in God knows how long.

"And besides, you needed help so..."

"..we helped." Max completed.

"But you guys don't understand, Ben would have torn you limb from limb, how did you defeat him so easily?" Morenike asked.

"Trust me, that was no easy feat." Cecilia said with close to zero tension in her voice since Morenike entered the house.

Although the trio have heard Morenike's story and they have become more relaxed, they still refuse to forsake their posture and position - especially Cecilia .

"B-but..." Morenike swallowed, "but you defeated him."

"That... doesn't matter. We just figured out we meddled in something past our payday, so we have to be sure you are not a spy or something from the...the...uh..." Max racked, trying to remember the name Morenike had called her grandfather's cult.

"...Downworlders." James offered.

"Yeah, that."

"My grandfather is the Prime Alpha of the werewolves and an Elder of the Downworlders." Morenike said for the second time.

"Yeah, that is not really helping your case." Cecilia frowned.

"He is the person that issued an excommunication order on me. He wants me dead for our differences and remaining uninitiated into any pack." She paused for only a second, "what more do I need to say. Y-you were the ones to save me from Ben last night."

"Still doesn't matter, it could all be an act. After all, you didn't die from the wounds which healed up in seconds. Without a scar." Cecilia said, ever the least trusting and most skeptical of the group.

"You don't understand." Morenike said with a meek voice. "I have been excommunicated. Every Downworlder literally has an obligation to kill me."

"In all sympathy, that is still your problem. if we are to believe you and put ourselves in harm's way, we need more than that." James said, stroking his imaginary beard like an old school detective.

"I...I will tell you everything I know about the Downworlders plan and I can lead you to places and people that can help you find their lair." Morenike recited her only leverage.

She doesn't know much about negotiations and bargains, but she knows the entire country would want to know who the claw-killers are.

"Please," She begged when the friends just stood still looking at each other like automated robots. "I don't want to die. Please I beg of you." She paused, "my parents died the night they were excommunicated, the order came from my grandfather. I survived last night only because of you."

"Please help me."

Max isn't exactly sure how to respond to that and by the look at his friends, it doesn't seem like they know what to say either. The trio exchanged a knowing look;

"Uhm, give us a sec." Cecilia said. She tapped Max and James, and the boys followed her into the a hallway that leads to the main room as well as two guest rooms. They entered the first guest room.

"I have to admit, I feel really sorry for her." Cecilia said as soon as the door closed. "Her own grandfather? Can you imagine that?"

"Okay now, chillax." James said peeking into the bathroom like he has never been into the room before. "We don't know whether she is lying or not."

"Since when have you been the skeptical one?" Cecilia frowned. "Skeptics is my vibe, not yours."

"I am just saying," James said closing the bathroom door before going to open the wardrobe and scanning through the few XL shirts and bathrobes.

"This is absolutely unknown territory for us; she is a werewolf. Have you seen Teen Wolf?" He said with every bit of sass he could muster.

"What are you even looking for?" Cecilia snapped at him as he bends over to look under the bed.

"You never know." He said as though that explains everything. Cecilia scoffed speechlessly.

"Max, what do you think?" She said, tearing Max's attention away from the Ring he is been rolling around his fingers since they left the waiting room.

"What do we do?"

"She might be able to answer a question or two for us." Max said - more to himself than to his friends.

"Since she is a supernatural person, she might know about paranormal stuff, she might even be able to help solve this Ring's mystery."

Cecilia sighed.

"You do realize that taking her on would mean inviting werewolf guys into our lives?" James said absentmindedly.

"As well as devil men, witches, and all other supernatural dudes mentioned in Mr. Von Rooyen's journals? And all these dude are way above the might of three reckless spoiled troublemakers?"

"He is right, it is too dangerous." Cecilia said softly.

Max cursed himself internally for thinking about putting his friends in unnecessary danger just because he wants answers to his burning questions. If anything, he would take her in himself.

"Well then what are we waiting for?" James said with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Do you guys think I would pass up a chance to play with a werewolf?"

Cecilia chuckled and Max smiled. He should have known, James Onuoha would never pass up a chance to do something recklessly dangerous and stupid.

"She is not staying in my house though." Cecilia said.

***

Port Harcourt Gardens Estate, Max's apartment...

Day 2

15:19

"Damn, is this a pig's pen or a dog's yard?" Cecilia said on entering Max's apartment with Morenike in tow.

"Eh," James laughed, "you should see his room."

Cecilia had insisted against allowing Morenike stay at her place without an explanation. James couldn't accommodate Morenike since he doesn't even have a place of his own in Port Harcourt City.

So Max had to take her in, besides he is the one that needs her answers to settle his Ring mystery, and they had driven Cecilia's car to Max's four bedroom duplex apartment in PH Gardens Estate.

"It stinks in here, I thought you hired a house help." Cecilia continued holding her nose in an exaggerated gesture.

"She quit," Max said sitting on a leather couch, "she said I never stayed home, and that I might be a cultist or something like that."

"Have you looked at the mirror lately, you look like a cultist, dude," James paused looking around the twenty by sixteen feet spacious living room, "did you or was it the rats that throw a party here and forgot to clean up?"

Morenike entered the lavish sitting area. Although it is not half as massive as Cecilia's but it doesn't take an interior designing expert to know that Max's sitting room is just as luxurious.

Is it the extravagant couch and sofas that is riddled with stray clothes and magazines and dust adoring the left side, or the two settee couch that looks like a throne built into a Volkswagen vintage car which of course looks like it could use a thorough scrubbing, or is it the diamond laced glass center table that house two empty pizza boxes and pilled up dirty bowls.

And the last pieces; the fluffy rug, the basket swing, the folded recliner, and then the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling.

She would wiggle her toes in the fur rug if she hadn't wore an indoor slippers unlike James and Max.

'This place is just too dirty for its value.'

"He doesn't stay home much." James whispered to her when he noticed the poorly disguised irritated expression she had when she looked at the dinning room.

"That place is the doorway to another dimension." He added and she smiled sweetly.

"Don't mind the dirt, Morenike," Max said not feeling any self conscious about the level of dirtiness his living area portrays, "I will get someone to clean it up, hopefully this evening." She offered a small smile.

'Such lavishness.' She thought.

"So Morenike," Cecilia started taking a seat, "what do you think of your hideout, I know it's a little bit of a fixer upper, but it's only temporary."

"It is a nice home." Morenike said, making herself as comfortable as can be on the sofa directly facing the 70" OLED LG television.

"Thank you." She said to Max.

"You are welcome sweetie," Cecilia answered with a silly grin as though she is the host.

"Just make yourself comfortable while my friend here get out of the chair and clean this place up." She said the last part between gritted teeth and a scowl. Max groaned;

"Ugh!" Max sluggishly got out of the Volkswagen couch to pick up the pizza boxes and the dirty bowls. "You are such a bully."

It took less than two minutes for Max to throw the dirty stuffs behind the dining partition, roughly dust the furnitures and kicked his clothing away. And then went to sit on the couch beside Cecilia while James disappeared into the only clean and organized part of the living room; the bar - for whatever reason.

"Alright, can we get our heads straight now?" He said as James walked into the sitting room with four wineglasses, a Martini bottle, and a covetous grin on his face as he pours the wine for the others.

"Wait," he hesitated before giving Morenike her glass. "You are not a minor right?" He asked with a rised brow.

"Dude, seriously?" Max frowned. "She is easily 22 years old, look at her."

"Uhn uh." James disagreed, and gestured for Morenike to clearify. "Mm?"

"I am 21."

"See?" James grinned, "that is the sweet age." He raised his glass, "to a new age of friends that apparently now includes werewolves."

"What is wrong with you?" Cecilia asked with a laugh. "Can't you see you are making Morenike uncomfortable?"

"I...don't worry about me." Morenike said, clearly overwhelmed by the friends behavior.

"See? She says..."

"Shut up." Cecilia threw a pillow at him making him spill his wine.

"Come on." James groaned and trails out of the room and towards the stairs. "I am taking your shirt Max."

"Hey hey, don't..." Max sprang up and ran after James who quickly scaled the stairs and locked himself in Max's room.

"Don't mind them," Cecilia said to Morenike as Max raged at his door, "that is how they roll. James gets offended and Max loses a clothing item."

"You guys are..." Morenike trilled off, looking for an inoffensive word.

"... weird?" Cecilia supplied.

"Well that we are." She smiled and took a sip of her Martini.

"I am sorry."

"Ugh, like James said, still apologizing. It's a character flaw." Cecilia said looking at the skull shaped wall clock. "The boys have a football match in an hour's time. How about you settle in while the boys go play with ball and I get us some dinner, then we can try getting some answers out of you?"

"Sounds like a plan." Morenike smile, still cupping her wine in her palm like her life depends on it.

***

Day 2

15:48

Benjamin is still foaming with rage. All his life, he has been an achieving Omega, he has never failed any assignments. He has never let his Alpha down. Even when he was ordered to kill his brother for eavesdropping on a conversation with his Alpha, he did without hesitation.

He had always been his Alpha's pride.

Now he is going to make it right. He had been the first to be aware of Morenike's excommunication, and he had gone after her in ernest. After his defeat by the redhead kid, he had reported back to his Alpha and received the most humiliating speech of his life.

When his Alpha finally gave him a second chance to clean the plate, which meant killing all witness involved with the misshap, he accepted the chance gladly. If he sees Morenike, he will gladly kill her as a bonus.

"We found them." A voice brought him back to the present.

He had taken a pack of five young Betas with him, and had sent two to look for his target. And their return fueled his rage with sadistic excitement.

"Get ready," He said in a low groan, "we kill them all by nightfall."

***

NDP HQ, Forensics lab...

Day 2

19:11

"Hey," Silas picked up his phone on the second ring without looking at the caller Id, the customized ringtone already told him who is calling. He slowed down a notch so he won't need to concentrate on driving at 55 mph while receiving a call.

"Hey," Dr Mercy replied from the other end of the call, "I have something for you."

"Are you still at the lab?" Silas did a double take at the time on the dashboard. "It's well past your working hours, I was coming to your place to pick you up for dinner."

"Really? You didn't forget? Well, figured I could work overtime and get your 'evidence' analyzed before calling it a day since you might forget our dinner plans...again."

Silas chuckled with guilt.

"And guess what, you might actually have something good here."

"Talk to me Mercy, I have been anxious for this moment." Silas said parking his car by the roadside, the anxiety and excitement is just too much for him to drive with.

"Now don't get too excited, it is just a theory but it might help get an actual lead on the suspect." She said, "the hair you gave me is..." She paused, "how about you come over, it is better if I show you."

That was all Silas needed to hear;

"Give me a minute." Silas dropped the call and immediately made an illegal U turn.

This chunk of hair is starting to sound a lot more interesting by the sounds of things.

He floored the throttle and within record time he pulled into the Precinct main building's parking lot. Saying he raced to Mercy's lab would be an understatement even though he didn't, literally, but in Silas' mind, the elevator ride was the slowest moment of his life.

"Whoa, look at that, Detective George here to do my bidding. Now I know how to get your attention."

"Please tell me this is going to be half as interesting as I am anticipating." Silas said almost panting, ignoring her sarcastic comment.

"Depends on your definition of interesting," She said.

'Why is everybody talking like James these days.' He thought.

"Come over here." Silas oblige, positioning himself before a microscope, maybe not a microscope, but it looks a lot like a microscope, either way, Silas couldn't care less.

"This you are looking at is an average man's hair, observe it well?" Silas nodded still looking into the equipment's eyepiece, "now this is a fur,"

"A fur?" Silas asked momentarily looking up from the eyepiece as soon as Dr Mercy changed the sample.

"Yes a fur, keep looking." She said. Silas obliged, "observe some differences?"

"Uh hmm!" He nodded, "what animal is this?" Already losing interest in the science class.

"A dog," She changed the sample again, "what do you notice now?" At first Silas could hardly point out anything, none of the three samples seem to have anything in common but looking harder he found that to be false.

With his detective perspective, he could see that this sample could be a combination of the first two and then some.

"This one looks similar to the first two, kind of, I am guessing this is also a hair sample?"

"Yes!" Dr Mercy said, a proud smile like that of a teacher plastered on her face.

"That is the hair you bought me. You noticed that it looks almost like a combination right," Silas nodded now looking at her, "that is because it is, like literally, that hair is a mutated product from the features of an animal and that of a man, like ...like an hybrid."

"What are you talking about?" Silas frowned.

"That some scientist grew a clone? Or some crazy girl slept with a dog and birthed an even crazier son with the features of his parents and is now killing people?" Silas asked with a raised brow.

"Are you kidding me right now?"

"I don't kid. Although I can't say for sure because this analysis is not cellular so I can't be certain of the what or how." She said.

"What I am certain of is that this evidence brings us closer to understanding why we haven't gotten anywhere with the case," She said.

"Look," She changed the sample beneath the microscope and Silas looked in it, "those are the DNA samples I got from the claw-marks on the latest body."

"And what does it say?"

"Absolutely nonsense." Silas raised a brow at her, "I always thought the DNA was always contaminated or something, but in the light of the new and 'inappropriate' perspective, what if they weren't contaminated?"

"Mercy," Silas sighed, rubbing his temples to quench an upcoming headache. "Please, for the love of God. Please say something I can actually understand."

"In layman's terms," Mercy said, abandoning the prospect of showing Silas her findings. "I don't think our suspect is a human, and I don't think it is any kind of animal known to man. As far as I can tell right now, it is an intelligent mammal and is possibly an hybrid of human and another feral animal. But I think it could be a dog or a wolf, or maybe a cat. Any mammal in that class actually."

"So..?" Silas paused, "the suspect might or might not be a man-dog?"

"Yes, no. That is not the point." Dr Mercy said, bringing Silas back to look at another of her samples through the microscope.

"This is a combination of all the samples I have including the hair." Silas looked and he couldn't be even more confused about how this would help him.

"Look, I understand that all this may direct the investigation in the right path, but I don't get how it will help."

"It doesn't, we don't have enough to actually use this in a productive investigation." Dr Mercy answered, but somehow the declaration did nothing to slow her enthusiasm.

"So..?" Silas asked with a slight frown.

"So you need to get Max to give you more information on this hair."

Silas opened his mouth to deny that he got the evidence from Max and his friends, but then kept shut. Of course Dr. Mercy would see through that lie.

"What makes you think he would have more information to offer?" He asked instead.

"Cause it's Maxwell George." Dr. Mercy said simply, "when has any one of those three ever told you the entire truth?"

Silas rolled his eyes;

'Of course,they never do.'

"I heard they had a run in with a shady fellow in Orashi last night..."

"Of course," Silas cut her off, snapping his head upright as though a build had been lite. "Ugh, how did I miss that?"

"I..."

"I've got to go," Silas rushed in to kiss Dr. Mercy before running out of the lab, entirely forgetting about their dinner plans. "I will see you tomorrow."

"Eh...wait!"

Silas was already out the door. She let out an I-should-have-known sigh, smiling absentmindedly;

"Why didn't I wait till tomorrow to tell him my findings?"