Chapter Six- First Confession

The contractor's white pen moved quickly over the blueprint, the lines forming the design of a long prison cell. Shiro nodded. "Perfect. When can you start?"

"We have an opening on Saturday and Sunday. The building won't take long. It should be solid and sturdy by late Sunday night."

"That's acceptable. I can provide the materials and have them ready for you."

"I appreciate that. Will nine a.m. be good?"

"Nine a.m. Yes, see you then."

"If I may, I find it odd that you want this room constructed."

"Well, I've got a big dog that made me realize that I need a room like this." Shiro gave a slight smile as he left the building, after paying a deposit, pleased with his errands. He had already placed an order with the brickyard and the bricks and cement would be delivered just before he left for class today. He had also already bought the door, anchors, and cuffs and had them in the basement. Once the cell was solid, he would screw in the door, anchors, and cuffs himself. He wasn't sure he would need the cuffs but the anchors he would need for chains and manacles. He would hand the keys for the door and manacles nearby so he could free himself in the morning during the next full moon cycle.

I'll be sure to buy lots of raw meat later on and store them in the chest freezer in the basement. But tonight, I'll tell Keith and Adam what happened to me since our last class. Shiro arrived at his mailbox, opened it, and withdrew a couple of envelopes and a flat package. He frowned at this one as he headed for the door. Strange. I don't recall ordering anything until today and there's no return address, yet my name is on it.

Suddenly, Shiro felt ill and a repulsive familiar smell reached his nose: Wolfsbane. The source were two potted Wolfsbane flowers on his doorstep. He had a good idea where they came from and who sent them. He opened his door, carried them in, and left them by the stairs before sitting in the living room with the mail. He put the envelopes aside and opened the package. Inside was a baggie of seeds and a letter:

Dear Shiro,

I didn't have the opportunity to give you the flowers or these seeds. Wolfsbane is your best defense to keep you safe in your cell. Paul mentioned you have a greenhouse which is perfect. On the next page are instructions on potting and caring for the Wolfsbane. Please use the potted ones for your next moon.

Doctor Collin

Shiro smiled slightly; of all the people he had encountered recently, Collin had been the only one who cared about his health and safety. I'll certainly use the potted ones as he asked. I'll install some hooks on either side of the door so I can hang them. He turned to the second page to see a detailed description of potting and caring for the flower. The instructions covered both sides of the page and Shiro intended to follow them to the letter. He took the instructions, seeds, and flowers up to his greenhouse and stored them as per the instructions.

The brickyard delivered his order on time and he had them place it in the two-sided rectangle he had drawn on the floor. A few minutes after they left, Shiro also departed for class. He composed in his head a general confession he would make to both men, knowing that he might deviate from it as he had no idea how either of them would react. He prayed that both of them would take the revelation well.

"Hey, Shiro! Ready for tonight's class?" Adam greeted as Shiro entered the locker room.

"Of course. We're teaching a new move tonight." Shiro slid his jacket off to reveal the white tank top he wore under his uniform top.

Adam looked at Shiro's profile. "Hey, Shiro. You been working out at home? You look like you put on some muscle."

"No, I'm not, but I have gained some muscle."

"Then what? Supplements?"

"No. Adam, after our last class, I got attacked and abducted."

"What!?" Adam yelped. "How the heck did that happen?"

"I came across what I thought was an injured dog or wolf outside my home and when I was close enough, it bit me, and I felt a blow hit me from behind, striking a pressure point. I woke up to find myself cuffed to the wall of a cell. There was a young man with silver hair outside of the cell and told me he was the wolf that bit me and said he was a werewolf and that I was one as well since he bit me."

"A werewolf, huh? That's not so bad."

Shiro blinked at him. "You believe me?"

"Yeah, I do. You see, Shiro, I'm a vampire hunter most nights."

"A vampire hunter?" Shiro grinned. "Well if werewolves exist, so do vampires."

"They sure do and they have different weakness and way to die. They're weak to garlic and crosses and they can die by sharp stakes to the heart and sunlight. Expert hunters are working on making and distributing ultra-violet bullets as bright as the sun."

"I was told rumors of silver nitrate bullets being developed by the crime lord that had me abducted."

"Shiro, why were you bitten and abducted?"

"I was abducted by an organization who has a black market niche in selling werewolf slaves. They had gotten a huge surge in orders and lots of homeless and/or troubled people needed to be turned in a hurry. I was told a newly-bitten could bite people and cause them to change soon after the bite."

"Oh. They used you to turn others so they could be sold quickly."

Shiro nodded, misery on his face. "I was told after the last full moon that I had bitten 130 people."

"Oh, Shiro." Adam crossed to his friend and hugged him.

Shiro melted in Adam's embrace. "Thanks for understanding and accepting me."

"Of course. Vampire hunters are told werewolves are still human, unlike vampires. Do you think I could see your wolf form?"

"Sure." Adam stepped back and his mouth dropped as Shiro became a large white wolf. He then grinned. "Shiro, you look cool." He went up and ran a hand down the back. "Your fur is so soft and smooth."

"Thanks." Shiro changed back once Adam had stepped back. "I'm already working on having a sturdy cell constructed in the basement. The space has been chosen, the bricks and cerement were delivered today, and I've hired contractors who will build the cell over the weekend. I'll install the door and hardware myself."

"Wow, you work fast. It's only been two days since they let you go…they did let you go, right?"

"Yes, they did. I had gotten a surprise when I arrived home earlier today: A package of Wolfsbane seeds and two potted flowers."

"Wolfsbane! Shiro, that's one of your weaknesses!"

"I'm well aware of that. A human doctor took care of me during my imprisonment and I think he was fond of my company. He had also sent a letter saying Wolfsbane is my best defense for my safety and he included instructions on how to care for them and grow the seeds. I'm thinking of having hooks to hang the pots on and have them placed on either side of my cell door like they did the day after my first change.

"I do have a concern, though. Adam, are you aware that I'm dating Keith?"

"Yeah. I've seen how you two look at each other."

"Well, he asked to move in with me next month when he turns eighteen."

"You need to tell him that you're a werewolf if he's going to live with you."

"I do," he said as the pair left the locker room. "I only hope that he is as understanding and as accepting as you are."