Goddess, it's been a while… (cringes before angry readers) I blame my Writer's Block and being busy and concentrating on my other stories and also, um… um… I blame muffins! (twitches) Heh. I like the chapter that comes after this and it will be longer I promise, but I have to finish it. Don't worry! I'm almost done! Read, review and enjoy! This means you, Beast-Child! Lol…

Chapter Three

Eoife snarled to herself and her burning muscles. Since coming to this lab, she had had nothing to do, so she exercised. Eoife completed one last chin-up and sat down, panting. She decided that this boredom and loneliness was what caused prisoners in jail to get all buffed up. Eoife had never been fat, but she had been slightly on the plump side. The meager rations and strenuous exercise had melted all extra fat from her frame, leaving her lean and mean. Her arms bore long, lean muscles and her legs were powerful, knotted with muscle. Her legs had always been naturally strong and the exercise only enhanced them. The belly bared by her low-cut shirt was flat and would have been the envy of most women. Eoife didn't just exercise her regular muscles though. Her wings, toes and fingers were all treated the same. She would beat her wings until the air in the room was a swirling maelstrom and gouged at the floor and walls with her claws. Eoife twitched her tail as she caught her breath, mentally timing herself between sets.

Just when she was getting up again, the intercom clicked on. "Eoife. The guards are coming. You know the drill." Sevarius announced. She sighed and crossed her arms in front of herself, the wrists held together. Sevarius's guard's footsteps clicked along the hall long before they reached the door. The motors in the door whirred softly as the door slid open. The lead guard pressed a button on a small remote and Eoife knew without even testing that her manacles were locked.

"Come on, monster. Sevarius has something new in store for you today." A low growl rumbled in her throat as the female pressed a gun roughly into her spine, urging her out.

…..

Sevarius stood before a large plate glass window overlooking another, much larger and blindingly white room. With his usual amount of imagination, he wore the typical short-sleeved white lab coat and blue pants, his orange hair combed sleekly back. He didn't turn at their footsteps.

"So, Eoife. You must be wondering why I have brought you here."

"No shit, Sherlock." she scoffed. The butt of a gun was rammed into her belly, doubling her over while she wheezed, teeth gritted in an effort not to show pain.

"Now, now. Mind your manners. A creature as beautiful as you shouldn't have such a dirty mouth." rebuked the doctor, turning to treat them to one of his smirks. "Come over here." A gun poked her in the back again and Eoife stepped forwards obediently. She halted beside Sevarius, only a few feet away. She could smell him, his distinct odor of expensive cologne and soap, disinfectant and rich food. Her nostrils flared. He was so close; if only her hands were free! Eoife could hear him breathing slowly and evenly, his heartbeat unrushed and steady. It maddened her that he could be so calm in the presence of a creature that could kill him with a single stroke!

"What do you want, Doctor?" Sevarius grinned toothily at her and tugged at her cloaked wing. She flinched away, half opening her wings.

"Today you get to learn how to fly." Eoife peered through the window into the smooth-walled room and realized it was a wind tunnel.

…..

Eoife clutched at the small, raised platform, crouched with all four sets of claws shot. Her fur was fluffed and her tail resembled a black banded gold bottle brush. Her heart pounded madly in her ears, fear clenching her stomach. Any moment now, the huge fan would start rotating and she would have to learn to fly or get sucked into the fan and turned into mutate puree. Machinery clanked into motion and a low hum thrummed through her body. The fan before her began rotating as did the one behind her, slowly at first, but soon faster and faster, the wind whistling in her tall ears. She slicked them down and shot a desperate look at Sevarius. He waved the small, hated remote at her. The message was simple: Fly or get punished. If he activated the small stud in her ear, she would die. Grinding her fangs and tensing, Eoife slowly unfurled her wings. The growing wind caught them, lifting the leathery black expanses, lifting her. Her legs slid loose, claws screeching on the metal; now she was anchored only by her hands. The jaguar mutate swallowed and… let go. She opened her eyes, not remembering shutting them. Eoife wasn't being blasted back to her doom on metallic blades. She floated almost perfectly in place, drifting backwards only the slightest amount. She could fly. Well, glide, but still! It was a huge accomplishment! Eoife tilted her wings upwards the slightest amount, moving gingerly since she wasn't used to moving them finely. She rose obediently. Tilted down, she sank into a graceful dive. One wing lowered resulted in her banking to the side. Eoife practiced each move of her wings slowly, gingerly, avoiding rapid movements that could send her spinning out of control.

…..

Back in her room, Eoife's heart pounded with excitement. Her wings were not useless! She could fly! The flight lessons also awoke a new curiosity. The fact that she was being taught and not simply being left to rot in this 'exhibit', meant that she was changed for a purpose, not for curiosity or as proof of power and skill. But what could it be? she wondered, stretching and fanning her wings. The intercom clicked and she rolled a golden eye at it, her ears perking up unconsciously.

"Every other day, you will taken out to practice your flight. Tomorrow you start with new lessons." The box clicked again and Sevarius was gone. Strange happenings… What could they be?