Chapter Three- Further Education
Shiro groaned slightly. He was feeling a little strange. A desire to be vicious, mean, and turn others into werewolves like himself. It had been a few hours since Iverson's visit before these feelings surfaced. He didn't fight these feelings as he would indulge in them as he would be an animal who operated on instinct.
He heard two sets of footsteps and he growled; a sound that echoed down the corridor. "Ah, you're beginning to feel the intense, angry emotions of the werewolf," came Collin's voice before both men appeared at the door.
"I could fight it but by tonight I won't be able to so I decided to not fight it at all," he replied.
"Very wise." Collin put the tray down and lifted the tray to reveal the same food and drink but in a larger portion. "I heard you met my boss and that you've known him for years."
"Yes. He gloated over my capture and being bitten but he did tell me about the operation and a little about my part tonight and tomorrow. I do have questions of what to expect."
"Of course you do. We would be happy to tell you while you eat." Collin fed Shiro a couple of spoonful before saying, "You'll be exposed to your weaknesses before being brought to what's called the Ritual Room. You will be chained to the center and the roof will open to reveal the moon. You will be clothed as they will meld with your skin. Once you have changed and are tame, the slaves will be brought to you and you will feel the urge to bite."
"I was told a lot of slaves need to be bitten between tonight and tomorrow."
"Oh, yes. It is the biggest surge of orders ever, so naturally we need a newly-bitten to fulfill them."
"I dislike the idea of sending others into a life of slavery."
"It sounds like the boss didn't tell you that we only take the homeless and troubled teens, with the former being young adults or teenagers."
"He didn't tell me, but it doesn't change how I feel."
"I understand but I still do my duty to insuring all werewolves are healthy and properly vaccinated. I will be administering those shots to you tomorrow as you are still fully human right now.
"So, the perks and weaknesses. As Steppin said earlier, your aging will slow and you will live longer."
"Iverson said Paul has been a werewolf for a hundred years."
"Correct," Steppin said. "The body becomes younger to the height of maturity, however the hair continues to change color but slowly. You are clearly of perfect mature age so you won't look any different except for being a bit more muscular."
"So a teen could age until maturity is reached? Then they'll cease aging?"
"Precisely," Collin said. "You will be stronger and faster as well as able to heal quickly."
"Paul did lick his wound and it healed."
"Yes. The saliva of a werewolf can heal wounds. If I had a cut on my body, I lick my hand and run it over the cut. It is easier to heal a wound when in human form," Steppin said. "However, a burn from silver takes longer to heal. No amount of saliva will heal it faster."
"But it would heal, wouldn't it?"
"Yes. All wounds eventually heal. Our saliva is a quick heal actually."
"This brings us to the weaknesses. I will come with your dinner later on with human guards and the weakness. Silver is one of the weaknesses. It burns as Steppin said and takes time to heal. Your chains will be iron and silver so it won't be as painful.
"Wolfsbane is the other weakness. I've seen it weaken werewolves and they tell me how it makes them ill while it is in their presence. I have seen it turn a wild, vicious werewolf tame and not as vicious. That will be you tonight."
"Will the change hurt?"
"It will tonight," Steppin said. "The first change hurts as the virus is altering your body and DNA. Tomorrow it will be an itchy tingle and you'll automatically change."
"You said the slaves will be brought to me," Shiro said to Collin. "How will I want to bite?"
"It is an inborn trait. The urge to bite is hard to resist but it does diminish as you get older. By the time you've been a werewolf for fifty years, the desire to bite will fade but you will still feel the want to bite but it won't be the compulsion it is now."
"Iverson said that self-awareness comes at fifty as well."
"It does," Steppin spoke up. "I am aware and don't bite as much. It is a wonderful feeling and this cycle will be my fourth time with awareness and less biting."
"Tell me," he said to Steppin. "Are you being blackmailed or coerced by Paul to work here?"
"No. I do have a regular job. I only come here every full moon. However, I cannot go to the police as Iverson has a threat over my head: Death."
"Death. How does a werewolf die?"
"Silver bullets. Rumor say he has silver nitrate bullets." Steppin looked at Collin who shrugged.
"I've heard the rumors too but didn't think to confirm it. Perhaps I'll asked once we're upstairs."
Shiro swallowed hard at that. It was likely that Iverson would use this threat to keep him from going to the police. Shiro hated to see an operation like this flourishing but he also liked to live. He had a reason to live: Keith. His boyfriend would be devastated if Shiro died. For Keith'' sake and mine, I will not speak of this place to the police.
"Paul will likely let you leave and you won't be expected to come back," Steppin said. "Although, we do have comfortable cells to restrain those who are not self-aware."
"I can convert my basement or at least part of it into a cell," Shiro mused.
Collin nodded. "Yes, an excellent idea and you'll have a month to work on it. Do you live alone?"
"I do." Until next month. I'll have to tell Keith so I don't bite him.
"That's good as it would be difficult to hide it in the basement if you live with someone else. Very few people would accept you for what you are now."
Shiro felt his heart sink at those words. He knew Collin was right. Werewolves were viewed as monsters who need to be eliminated. Hiding his condition made sense, but that meant betraying his trust in those whose trust he had. How could he not trust those he cared about when they confided much in him? Besides, teen wolves hide their condition. I am not a teenager. I will tell Keith, Adam, and anyone else that I have to tell. "So, silver and Wolfsbane are things I have to avoid."
"Yes and avoiding Wolfsbane is easy as it is native to Europe and Asia. The only place to come across it outside of those continents, is here. We have greenhouses constructed for the sole purpose of growing Wolfsbane. It is quite an impressive endeavor.
"Well, Shiro. I will see you in a few hours for dinner and exposing you to your weaknesses." Collin and Steppin left the cell and Shiro reflected on what he had learned and what was to come.
I have learned a good deal today about being a werewolf. I can't say the full moon is a good thing, but the enhanced abilities are cool and I'll have them tonight, thought I won't know it. Wait. Will I recall what I do on the full moon? Damn, I didn't think about that and now I have to wait until Collin comes back before I can ask him.