Martin Mystery – Chapter 3 - Mystery of the Full Moon

The day of the full moon Martin noticed Izabel had been acting distant from him and the others. It wasn't particularly cold that day but Martin noticed Izabel was bundled up good with a hoodie, gloves and a long skirt. Her hood was pulled up and Martin noticed Izabel tense up every time someone touched her. As the day progressed Martin got the bright idea to help Izabel loosen up by surprising her with a tickle attack while he, Java and Diana hung out along with Izabel on campus. No one was around which was lucky for them and the next events. Martin's tickling plan was working but it soon took a dark turn. Martin stumbled which caused Izabel to trip and fall to the ground with Martin on top of her. In the fall Izabel's hood slipped off her head revealing her large wolf ears to the three of them. Martin stared in amazed shock at her, but Izabel was horrified. She quickly pushed him off her and ran away as quickly as she could. Martin was confused but understood that she must have spent years hiding her secret.

"Izabel wait!" Martin called to her but she was long gone.

"I don't get it. Doesn't she know we'd never think differently of her?" Martin said.

"Of course she does, but she must have had people she's trusted turning on her." Diana said.

Martin frowned and went to find her.

He looked for her everywhere but couldn't find her. Just when he'd given up he remembered the last place he hadn't looked. As he stepped through the doorway to the roof he saw Izabel watching the sunset. He could tell she knew it was him.

"I'm sorry; I should have known you were trying to hide something." Martin said as he stepped closer.

"It's alright. I shouldn't have been hiding it." She replied and Martin touched her arm in objection.

"No you have…" He began but stopped when he felt her tense with fear and flinch under his touch.

He frowned and removed his hand.

"Please turn around." Martin said and Izabel turned but kept her eyes down.

"May I see you Loup Garux?" Martin asked.

He saw her eyes widen and then soften with a slight smile.

"Alright, but not here." She said as she locked eyes with Martin.

Her eyes were full of concern and worry. Martin nodded.

"Will my room be ok?" He asked and she nodded.

Once at Martin's room he locked his door to make sure no one would enter uninvited. Izabel stood with her back to Martin, who waited for her to be ready to show him her Loup Garux side. After a moment she moved to take off her gloves and then unzipped her sweat shirt jacket and untied her wrap around skirt. As the skirt fell to the ground Izabel dropped the sweatshirt from her shoulders and then it fell to the ground as well. She was wearing a spaghetti tank top and shorts that Martin realized were boxers backwards for her long bushy tail to poke through. Fur covered her arms, legs and back. Her large ears framed her face perfectly and gave away her emotions better than her eyes. Martin was like a kid at Christmas, Izabel amazed him. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Before he could stop himself he was moving to touch her arm to feel how soft her fur was. Like before Izabel flinched with fear absentmindedly, which brought Martin out of his trance. He frowned again and realized why she responded this way.

"People have hurt you." He said.

She nodded and Martin moved to place his hand on her other arm too. Again she trembled. Martin then wrapped his arms around her from behind. Izabel trembled in his arms but soon stopped.

"I'd never hurt you Izabel. I'd never think of you as they do. Please don't be afraid of me." Martin said softly.

Izabel made a move to turn in his arms to face him and he let her. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes as she looked up at him.

"I'm not afraid of you… I'm afraid of what you think of me." She said as her tears fell.

Martin brushed her cheek with his fingers whipping her tears away.

"I think you're beautiful." He said and Izabel looked into his eyes.

He caressed her cheek and brushed her ear. Martin leaned closer to her and before he knew what he was doing he was pressing his lips to hers. After a moment he stepped away and stammered.

"I… I'm sorry." He began but Izabel stopped him.

She stepped closer and placed a finger on his lips but immediately removed her finger in embarrassment. Martin was pleased. He quickly prevented her from moving away by holding her close in his arms. He held her with one arm around her shoulders. Her hands rested on his chest as her eyes were downcast in embarrassment. Martin raised his left hand to place over her right. With his thumb he caressed the back of her hand.

"You're fur is so soft. It's like velvet. You're amazing Izabel." Martin told her.

Izabel looked back up at him and smiled as he touched her cheek. Her smile reviled her canine teeth to be sharper than normal. Martin grinned.

"Your teeth even change." He said and Izabel blushed and looked away.

"Don't be embarrassed. I'm just amazed. Does it hurt to change?" He asked and Izabel frowned.

"A little." She told him and he frowned too.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"It's alright. It wouldn't hurt if I learned to do it at will, but I have no one to teach me." She said.

"I bet it's not hard to teach yourself. I bet I could help you." Martin said.

Izabel smiled.

"Maybe."

There was a pause but Martin brushed her chin to bring her eyes to his again. He then cupped her head with his hand and kissed her once more. This time for much longer; as if they had been waiting forever to be this close to each other.

After a little while Martin pulled away to look at her.

"Are you hungry?" He asked as he continued to caress her cheek.

"Yes, but I don't like eating in public like this." She replied.

"That's all right I understand. I'll bring us something back. Is that alright?"

Izabel nodded.

"I'd like that thank you." She said and Martin left to get them some food.

When Martin returned he entered his room to find Izabel looking out his window. He was on a higher floor and his room faced the woods that surrounded Torrington. She stood with elegance and grace as her tail twitched lightly behind her. She seemed to be staring at the woods and Martin could feel she was sad. Martin set their food on his desk and walked up to Izabel. She turned her head and smiled as he approached, he could still see the sadness on her face.

"I'm sorry." Martin said and Izabel frowned.

"For what?" She asked.

"That you aren't able to go out there. Have you ever tried sneaking into the woods? I'm sure there's plenty of cover for you." Martin said and Izabel shook her head.

"I could go with you, maybe next time? I could watch your back." Martin suggested but Izabel shook her head again.

"No, that's alright I feel safer indoors."

Martin frowned again.

" Don't you ever wish you could go outside? Don't you miss it?" Martin asked.

"I used to but I'd rather stay indoors. I'm safe inside."

Martin frowned with worry as he watched Izabel, who was looking out the window again. The light from the moon played into his dimly light room the frames in the window casted shadows on her face making it look like she was in a cage.

"So, what's for dinner?" Izabel asked after a little while and inspected the food he'd brought.

Martin snapped out of his trance and showed her what he brought.

"I wasn't sure what you liked so I brought a little of everything." Martin said as he started setting up the food.

"It all looks so good. I don't know where to start. Thanks for doing this for me Martin."

"No prob. How would you like to do this every full moon?" He asked.

Izabel smiled.

"I'd like that."
"Would you like to stay over tonight? We can fall asleep watching a movie." Martin said.

Izabel blushed.

"Won't we get in trouble?" She asked.

"Nope, the school doesn't have a curfew for us on the weekends. You can stay here all night." Martin said and Izabel smiled.

"Alright."

As they ate Martin turned on his TV and they debated which movie to fall asleep to. Izabel had finished eating first and watched TV while Martin finished. She noticed Martin kept looking at her which made her blush. When he was done eating he turned and smiled at Izabel. He then leaned forward toward her. Izabel was surprised and leaned back in her chair a little but Martin kept coming closer. He rested his finger under her chin and brought her closer to him. He pressed his lips to hers and she blushed. After a moment he pulled back to examine her face.

"Am I moving too fast for you?" Martin asked.

"No I'm just not used to someone looking at me the way you do. No one has ever looked at me like this." Izabel said.

Martin grinned and slid the computer chair she was sitting on closer to him. He wrapped his long arms around her neck, resting them on her shoulders.

"Well get used to it cause I don't ever want to stop looking at you. You are beautiful. You have no idea how long I've waited to tell you that." Martin said with a sigh.

Izabel stared in surprise from his enchanting honey eyes, her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"Since the moment MOM woke you up and I got to see you for the first time I've thought this. I didn't act the same around you as other girls because I was so afraid to lose you. Girls don't seem to get me, I scare them off I know. I didn't want to scare you off." Martin said, his eyes were down cast for a moment but then locked them on Izabel.

Tears were welling up in her eyes from an over whelming happiness though Martin was confused. Izabel sat straight and still as Martin held her at arm's length with his forehead almost touching hers. She was breathing deeply in nervousness.

"You… you had me the moment I opened my eyes and saw you Martin." Izabel was finally able to get out.

Martin smiled and touched his forehead to hers and hugged her all the way. Izabel was fighting with her confused thoughts.

"You don't think this is weird being like this and what I am?" She asked.

Martin leaned back to look at her.

"Have you not noticed? I'm a little weird. But no I don't think this is weird. Do you?"

Izabel locked eyes with him quickly.

"No! I'm sorry… It's just…"

"I know." Martin said before she could finish. "I promise no one will ever hurt you again Izabel."

Izabel frowned.

"Please don't promise. I don't want you to feel bad if you can't keep your promise."

"Alright would you compromise for, I promise to do everything in my power to keep it from happening?"

"Yes; thank you." Izabel told him.

Martin smiled and then leaned forward to kiss her deeply. He held her face in his hands. He then pulled away and held her ears, feeling how soft they felt and how they fit perfectly in his palms. Her ears dropped in relaxation as Izabel enjoyed how he was making her feel. Martin noticed he was getting carried away with how he seemed to be examining her. He just couldn't help it; Izabel was so amazing to him. Martin noticed her deep flushed cheeks and worried it was too hot in his room for her.

"Is it too hot in here for you? You look flushed." He said as he touched her cheek and Izabel's flush seemed to deepen.

"No, I'm fine." She replied shyly and Martin understood.

"Oh I see. I'm making you blush." He said mischievously as he leaned close to her again and rubbed his nose against hers.

She giggled and smiled.

"I'm going to enjoy this; you're so cute when you blush." He said and Izabel's tail swished at her side.

When she noticed what she was doing she quickly stopped the action. Martin frowned.

"Don't be afraid to be yourself around me Izabel. Don't change a thing about you. I want to know everything. The way your ears move with your emotions or mood, the same with your tail." He said and Izabel smiled.

She was so happy and hugged him.

"So, what movie should we watch? Something SciFy or something scary?"

"Something scary? I kinda don't wanna deal with SciFy right now."

Martin grinned, he understood how she felt.

"I think I've got just the movie, a classic." He said as he got up to get it.

He showed it to her and she looked it over.

"I've never seen this." She said as she handed it back to him, he gleamed with delight.

"You're gonna love it, hope you don't get creeped out easily." He said as he motioned for her to sit on his bed.

He popped in the movie and then went into his bathroom for a second to change for bed and came out in time for the movie to start.

"Which side of the bed would like to sleep on?" Martin asked and Izabel thought for a moment and then pointed to the left side.

Martin climbed over to the right side, pulling back the blanket and got under them to lay on his side facing the TV. Izabel climbed under the covers next to him and he waited for her to get settled. He fluffed the pillow and curled his arm under it to lay on. He turned out the light above his bed and placed his hand on her shoulder. Izabel leaned back against his chest and they were settled for watching the movie.

As the movie progressed Martin noticed Izabel was getting more and more jumpy as she hid her eyes several times, she kept leaning against him more. After she flinched another time he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.

"Is this movie too scary? I could turn it off." He whispered.

"No I'm fine; I like being scared by movies."

Martin could hear the smile in her voice, and grinned. When she flinched again Martin held her. Being so close and comfortable they fell asleep quickly, missing the last half of the movie.

Early in the morning Martin awoke from Izabel twitching. He was laying on his back with Izabel's head on his shoulder and chest. Martin opened his eyes and watched in amazement as Izabel was transforming back to her human self. She flinched and twitched as she transformed, but never woke up. It would look as though she were merely dreaming if it wasn't for the fact that ears tail and fur were disappearing from her body. When the transformation was complete she sighed and fell back into a deep sleep. Martin pulled the blanket over her shoulder and went back to sleep himself.

"AGENT MYSTERY, AGENT FADEN! You have three minutes to get to my office or ELSE!" MOM yelled through Martin's U-watch.

At the sound of her voice they shot up alert and terrified. A door to the center opened just after MOM had stopped yelling. Izabel exchanged a fearful look with Martin. Martin placed a hand on her shoulder as he moved to get off the bed.

"We did something wrong! What if us being together is illegal?" Izabel asked in panicked worry.

"We did nothing wrong. We didn't break any school rules. And it's not illegal for us to be together." Martin said firmly to reassure her.

He helped her up and looked through the door.

"Come on or she'll start yelling again." Martin said.

"But we're not dressed!"

"That's the point. She wants to embarrass us. Clearly we did something she didn't like." Martin said as they walked through the door onto the platform.

Martin held his arm around her shoulders. Izabel huddled next to Martin as every eye was on them. She blushed deeply and worried MOM would lock her up. This was the first time Izabel wished she could transform at will just to hide the fact that she was scarcely dressed. Billy was waiting for them but didn't greet them as he normally did. He just frowned sadly. Martin didn't look to be in a friendly mood as he scowled straight ahead.

As Martin and Izabel entered MOM's office they could see her intensely angry face from the door. Martin held tighter to Izabel as they approached the desk, a few other center agents were in the room as well.

"I am shocked and appalled to hear that two of my underage agents are sleeping together! I am ashamed at you Martin."

"All we did was sleep in the same bed. Last time I checked we didn't break any school rules. And how did you know we were together? Are you admitting the Center spies on its agents?" Martin asked darkly.

"We do for your protection and it's none of your concern. You are underage and Izabel is under my supervision while she's in this country and working for the Center."

"She's not a child; she can make her own choices. I'd never do anything without her permission." Martin said, "I'd never hurt her." Martin added.

"I don't care, this can't go on!" MOM fumed.

"Fine we won't sleep in the same bed anymore, big deal."

"No Martin, you can't be together."

"What! Why?" Martin asked in shock as he held Izabel tighter, he could swear he saw the agents in the room move closer.

"She isn't human Martin. That doesn't bother you?" MOM spoke as if Izabel weren't there, Martin was appalled.

"She's no more human than me. Being Loup Garux is not a curse. It's genetic. She can't pass it to anyone but her children and I know that's not illegal. It's the same as eye or hair color."

"No Martin it's not the same."

"Whatever! You know what I mean. I want to be with Izabel. I know the risks. I know if anyone found out about her we'd be considered freaks or worse. I don't care; as long as we're together everything will turn out alright. I've loved her since I first saw her MOM. You can't keep me from her."

Izabel was moved to tears by Martin's words, she turned into him to hide her tear-filled face in his chest.

For a while all was silent. Martin watched MOM pace behind her desk, suspicious of her. But then MOM turned and grinned at Martin.

"Congratulations Martin, you pass." She said and he was dumbfounded.

"What?"

"We weren't sure if your feelings about Izabel were real. We know you don't have the greatest track record with girls. We had to test you."

Martin became angry when her words registered.

"A test… You humiliated Izabel just to test me!?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry for that but had I let Izabel in on it she would not have been able to hide it from you. Izabel is a special case Martin, you know this. And you know you can't help looking at every pretty girl who comes your way."

Martin was still fuming.

"Weren't you paying attention last night? Izabel is different to me than any other girl. I can't help telling a pretty girl she's pretty!"

"Please don't be mad that we didn't trust you Martin."

Martin rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I'm not mad that you didn't trust me. I don't care if you don't trust me still! I don't care if you keep testing me! I'm mad about what you put Izabel through! You of all people should know her past! Humans have hurt her, betrayed her, and turned on her! Did you give a thought to how this would make her feel!?" Martin fumed.

"Yes Martin I did and I'm sorry to have had to do it but I was also preparing you both. The worst may happen… you'll always have a safe place at the Center, but if the worst should happen and the Center is no more? Izabel has kin in Germany, who live nearly in secret. They'd welcome you both warmly but it would feel secluded. A day may come when you have to hide like they do, like you do now. I want you to be prepared. There are other organizations out there, organizations that would do anything to have Izabel. To run experiments on her, kill her or even sell her to supernatural zoos. We're just trying to prepare you for all the possibilities." MOM said.

Martin began to calm down but he was still pretty angry.

"Fine, consider us prepared. Right now I'm too angry to talk to you anymore. We'd like to go back to Torrington, if that's ok?" Marin asked darkly.

MOM nodded and opened a door for them. Martin walked with Izabel through the door, his arm still around her shoulders.

Back in Martin's room the door closed behind them and Martin stood holding Izabel close to him. She could tell he was upset but she couldn't see his face, he had it buried in the nape of her neck.

"I'm not mad Martin." Izabel said softly and Martin took a deep breath.

"I know. I am though. I'm mad at the whole world for not accepting you. I'm mad that you have to hide." Martin said.

Izabel leaned back to see his face. He looked up slightly and she placed her hand on his cheek.

"None of that bothers me anymore. I've accepted it a long time ago. As long as we're together none of it should matter. Let's just live a normal life as possible." She said.

He closed his eyes for a moment as she caressed his cheek; he sighed and looked at her. He nodded and kissed her.