Chapter 2
A heavy tarpped truck pulled to a stop in front of an imposing wrought iron gate. Rain poured from full clouds creating bogs of mud. A man, the leader of the hunters, pressed a button on the intercom. A butler with a stuffy voice answered,
"Name and business."
"Names Carter. I got some pretty rare merchandise I think your boss would be interested in."
" is not interested in purchasing drugs," the butler scoffed. Low voices were heard in the background and the butler paused before continuing , "Please leave the premises. You have nothing that could interest us." Punching the intercom Carter yelled into the device,
"Hey wait a second! I ain't sell'in drugs! But I think I have something your boss'll like!"
"What could you possibly have that would be of interest," the butler sneered. Carter smirked and said one word,
"Animus." The voices in the background picked up and were conversing rapidly with the butler. After a moment the butler returned,
"Mr. Braginski will accept an audience with you." Carter chuckled to himself and thought, "Thought so." The imposing gates opened with a loud groaning creak allowing the trucks entrance. Carter drove his truck through trailed by two others, the sound of clanking cages rattled in his truck bed. They pulled to a stop in front of an elegant house. An elderly man who regarded them with contempt led the men inside. Carter ordered two of his men to bring in the tarpped cages as they followed the old man.
"Hey gramps, we been walk'n for a while. Where the hell is your boss," came Carter's rude grumble. Ignoring the rude nickname their guide replied,
"Right this way gentlemen," and stepped aside to usher the men through a door. Through the door lay a vast study with towering bookshelves. A burgundy armchair lay in the center of the floor. A man with ashen blonde hair sat awaiting their arrival, his long legs crossed. The butler stepped forward and bowed,
"These men are here to discuss selling an item of theirs," a hint of malice could be detected in the butler's tone. A hard look flashed through the blonde's eyes but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. Getting up he excused the butler,
"Afon, please send in Katyusha and Natalia. Prepare a room, I feel we may have a new resident and no matter what you hear do NOT come into this room until I call for you," he told the man in Russian. Afon nodded and exited. Not long afterwards two women entered the room. One carrying a tray with glasses the other carrying a large bottle of vodka. Katyusha, the woman carrying the tray, was tall with short platinum blonde hair and very large brests. The second woman, Natalia, had long blonde hair and harsh violet eyes.
"Have a seat gentlemen," the man gestured to the seats around the coffee table, "I am Mr. Ivan Braginski. How may I be of service to you," he said with an accent. Carter plopped down immediately and helped himself to the vodka, not bothering to wait for his host.
"Nice place ya got here. Pretty ritzy. Even the woman are in good taste," he chuckled and grabbed Natalia around the waist and onto his lap, "Hey cutie how about you leave this place and come have some fun with me?" Natalia glared daggers at Carter causing him to laugh.
"she's feisty. I love 'em feisty," Carter gave Natalia an inappropriate look. Turning to Ivan, Natalia hissed her displeasure in Russian.
"Ivan if this asshole doesn't release me in a second I'm going to take my knife and slit his belly from his testicules up." Ivan cleared his throat,
"Ahem Mr. Carter, I'd appreciate it if you released my little sister." A look of annoyance passed over Carter's face.
"Fine," he said and released a very homicidal Natalia. Natalia glared back at him and almost released a snarl like sound but a warning look from Ivan silenced her. Redirecting the conversation Ivan said,
"So please tell me about this merchandise you have Mr. Carter," the hunter still didn't notice the dangerous look in Ivan's eye.
"I'd heard from a Russian hunter in the U.S. that there was a Russian big wig by your name who fancied Animus and figured my newest capture would be of interest to you," Carter stated then yelled at two of his men, "Hey show 'em what we got!" The men hurried to get the cover off the cage and both women gasped beside Ivan at the sight.
Inside were the twin cougar Animus, Alfred and Mattew. Both were unconscious and covered in scrapes and bruises, Al more so then Mattie. Even in unconsciousness Alfred was partially draped over his little brother's body, still trying to protect him. A heavy chain was attached to the heavy collars around their necks and connected to one of the cage bars. Thorns, burrs, and mud still clung to them from their earlier flight.
"Yep real beauties ain't they? Was hell to catch 'em though. The big one," he pointed to Alfred, " had to be tranqed and beat to finally knock him out and we smacked the little one around for good measure. Didn't want him getting the wrong idea. Little bitch cried the entire time. Pathetic," he scoffed. Clearing his throat Ivan asked,
"Do you have any other Animus?"
"Naw, these two were hard enough to catch and that Russian guy bought the rest of my stock before I could get them to the underground market. These are it. take 'em or leave 'em."
"Did. . .did you have to beat them up," Katyusha's voice trembled as she asked, already close to tears.
"Didn't have to but it's always fun to show these monsters whose boss. After all they're just soulless beasts," Carter replied. Ivan's face tightened and he stood up.
"Thank you Mr. Carter. I will be taking these two," Ivan said.
"That's what I'm talking about! So how much you willing to pay for these two? $50,000? $60,000?"
"Nothing," Ivan stated.
"The hell did you just say," Carter deadpanned.
"I'm not paying you anything. I'm going to take these two and you won't get a penny."
"Wait just one fucking second! It was hard work catching those two and I'll be damned if you're gonna take them without paying up," Carter began yelling, "What makes you think you're getting away with that pile of bullshit!"
"Are you aware," Ivan pronounced each word slowing bathing them with hatred, "that in this country it is illegal to hunt or sell Animus? Here they are recognized as a people and we do not tolerate slave trading in our country."
"What the fuck?! So what you're gonna turn us into the police," Carter glared, "We'll be outta here before they can haul us off."
"Unfortunately gentlemen, imprisonment is not the consequence for this action," Ivan smiled a dangerous smile, "It's death." Carter and his men had backed up towards the door but Natalia was blocking their escape.
"You can't do that it's inhumane," Carter screamed.
"Inhumane? Inhumane! What you did to those two boys was inhumane! You hunted them, dragged them from their home, beat them, and then tried to sell them and you say this is inhumane?! If you wanted to be treated like a human then you should have acted like a human you filthy monster," Ivan yelled. Turning towards Natalia he tried to move her out of the way but she didn't budge and this time a snarl did rip from her mouth.
"I'm afraid you won't be escaping," Ivan smiled.
"Don't do this," Carter pleaded.
"Why? I mean, after all you are just soulless beasts, da," Ivan smiled a sweet smile before a shimmer passed through his body and instead of a man, a massive mountain of a grizzly bear. Ivan roared and a snarl behind them alerted them to Natalia shifting into a very large wolverine and Katyusha shifting into a massive lynx. All three Animus were snarling and a final roar from Ivan thundered before they attacked. The poacher's screams echoed in the building until the silence of death came. Afon returned at Ivan's command.
"Take those two," he nodded at Alfred and Matthew, "to my room. They'll probably feel safer being surrounded by the scent of another Animus," Ivan told the old man. Afon nodded and mentioned calling the maids in to clean up the carnage.
