I'm not feeling 100% on this, do let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 21
Dr Lane insisted we take the very awkward and extremely tense conversation elsewhere, for there could be prying ears and he didn't want his companions to make a scene.
"Follow me," Dr Lane insisted, already scurrying off in the direction of the elevators, weaving us through the crowd to reach the guarded chrome doors.
"Dawson they are with me," Dr Lane informed the rifle clutching brute that was safeguarding the offices and labs above us. The brute nodded and stood aside, allowing us access to the same elevator I used everyday at work. All seven of us squeezed into the steel cage, usually no problem for a group of humans, but these Lycans were built and the fit was a bit tight. I grabbed the train of my dress and squeezed in. I ended up chest to chest with Quint who delicately laced his arm around my waist to steady me as the lift began to rise; his attention wasn't on me however he was busy staring daggers at our four new friends out of the corner of his eye.
"We won't be disturbed here," Dr Lane smiled, trying to disperse the awkward silence as the lift began to slow and come to a halt. Level eight. We piled out of the lift, Quint's arm still wrapped loosely around my waist. "This way," Dr Lane called over his shoulder as he led us down the familiar hallway, we passed the room where Dr Lane administered his tests on me. We carried on down the hallway passed the high security doors labelled Subject one and Subject two. Before I'd wondered what experiments Dr Lane was conducting in there, and who subject one and two were, if they were 'who's' that is. But now not so much, I didn't want to know what he was doing behind any of these doors, from my own experience I knew that they would unethical and cruel. We passed the half destroyed Antigen statue I'd hidden behind when I first encountered Quint as a Lycan, that day he almost killed me, ah memories.
"Just down here, excuse the mess, we still haven't full cleaned up Quint's little outburst," Dr Lane chuckled as we reached. Sure enough the hole in the wall where the door used to be was still there, but it was much smaller now, the brick work had been repaired and the only thing missing was the door and hinges.
"Outburst? It looks like he tore a hole right through the wall and the door that used to be here, how thick is the brickwork? A foot? More?" Sebastian questioned, eyeing up the fresh laid red brick that sat in contrast to its older painted neighbour bricks.
"That's exactly what he did," I remarked, memories flashing back from that horrendous night, I thought I'd successfully erased most of them from my memory.
"You were present?" Nicholas questioned.
"Yes, Quint was trying to kill me," I said bluntly, I felt a little disapproving squeeze on my side from the murderous Lycan.
"It was before Victoria became one of us, you were just a mere human back then who stumbled upon something she shouldn't have," Dr Lane scolded leading us through door shaped hole in the wall and into the lab. It was still, like the wall, being done up but it looked far better than the last time I saw it, it wasn't littered with broken glass for a start.
"It's lucky she did, if she hadn't you wouldn't have had your new prize guinea pig otherwise. Where are you taking us old man?" Clayton said looking around the barren room, a little bit of disdain dripping from his words.
"Yes quite lucky," Dr Lane mumbled to himself, he stepped over to white glossy panelled wall and pressed onto one of the square tiles with one hand. "Patience Clayton," Dr Lane said. A loud hiss echoed the room as the panels folded away to reveal another chrome lift door.
"Here we are, nearly there now I promise," Dr Lane smiled.
"What is this place?" I asked as we emerged from the second elevator, this ride was much longer, I had a feeling we were deep below the Antigen building, a huge clue was that the corridor we stepped into was a like a concrete tunnel, with no windows or doors. We anxiously followed Dr Lane down the passageway; suddenly the walls, floor and ceiling began to shake violently, I grabbed onto the front of Quint's tux jacket tightly, wrinkling it slightly.
"You're okay, it was just a tremor, this place is like a nuclear bunker a few shakes aren't going to bring it down," Quint reassured me with a small smile, he had obviously been down here before.
"Don't worry that's normal, that is a subway train passing, we are few hundred feet down below the building," Dr Lane called over his shoulder. We finally stepped into a room at the end of the corridor; it was just a concrete shell, nothing cheerful. It had an orange sofa, a wood coffee table and a large window sat on the far side, next to it a thick security door was bolted into the wall. Below the window were various security screens and control panels, I presume they control the door. I pulled away from Quint and stepped closer to the window. I peered through; I couldn't see anything since the room on the other side was pitch black. A funny feeling began to grow inside my stomach.
"What's in there?" I asked over my shoulder to the group of men, my voice was shaky and unsure; I scolded myself for sounding so weak. Dr Lane stepped over to the control panel next to me and flicked a few switches. The room before us lit up suddenly, and I was kind of disappointed. The concrete prison was vacant.
"This is our safe room gentleman," Dr Lane announced to his four companions, as they strode over to join us. "And Lady," Dr Lane nodded to me, realising his sexist mistake. "It's a purpose built indestructible cell. I built it for my son, in the early stages of experimenting his mutations were unstable, he would sometimes have to be contained in here, now we only use it when his angers gets control of him, we still haven't perfected his dosages yet, but I believe my work on Victoria will aid us in finding the right balance" Jacob explained.
"Is that what you were doing that night? Coming here?" I asked in a hushed whisper.
"I was trying to," Quint sighed.
"Didn't make it in time?" I questioned.
"Needed my fathers hand print to get in," Ah, that's why he rang asking for Jacob and only Jacob.
"Blah blah blah, what are we doing down here Lane?" Clayton sneered.
"Well Clayton I'll tell you if you give me time to explain," Dr Lane snapped, his eyes darkening. Jacob turned to face me, his face now calm. "As Victoria has not yet turned I am not risking it in one of my labs, or my house, we don't know how powerful she will be or how she will take to her new form, it is safer for our cause to have Victoria turn down here where it is isolated and secure," For once I agreed with Dr Lane, this was for the best, what if I become Quint sized? Or have incredible strength and break out of the labs as he did? It was definitely safer down here, and I felt more secure knowing I was isolated from my human friends.
"I'm guessing it's soundproof down here?" Shane asked, he was quiet compared to the others, and definitely more civil.
"Of course," Dr Lane confirmed, his words soaked in attitude as if it was a stupid question, which it was – Antigen rarely spares no expense.
"Great, Victoria will change and then she will be claimed," Nicholas announced.
"I really don't think any claiming is necessary, and I really don't think the safe room is big enough for so many participants," Dr Lane said, it was odd that he sounded like he was begging. Horrible, unnecessary and vulgar things were running through my mind, I didn't know anything about this 'claiming' malarkey and I was not going to be taken as a possession, especially in the way that was running through my mind?!
"What the hell are we talking about, participants? Not big enough? Someone explain, now!" I snapped.
"It's not what you're thinking," Quint said, "when multiple male Lycan's lay claim to a female they fight for her,"
"To the death?" I asked, part of a little shocked, and a part of me really not.
"Of course not, with such a female shortage do you think there would be any Lycans left if we had to fight to the death?" Sebastian snorted; these pigs were really getting on my nerves now.
"Technically Victoria has already been claimed as Antigen property, she is one of my research subjects and I won't allow a claiming to go ahead," Dr Lane said confidently, trying to assert his authority.
"Bullshit! You have no power over this Lane, you're a scientist, not an alpha, you may have almost wiped out the vampires, developed the mutations to make us stronger, but you're still just little worker bee, you're not one of the four," Clayton hissed, his eyes darkening. "Victoria will be claimed tonight, as has always been done, I officially lay my claim to the bitch," Clayton announced, I think if he had a microphone he would have dropped it. I clenched my fists in anger at his words but knew better than to lash out this time. The other three alphas nodded in agreement, and each one also lay his claim to me. My cheeks began to burn as the anger boiled up inside of me; it was like being in the middle ages.
"I lay claim too," Quint announced, his eyes avoiding mine. I was pissed at him, yet I was glad he had dipped his hand into the pot, better him than one of the other assholes.
"That's unfair, he's mutated," Sebastian protested.
"He's still Lycan like the rest of us, and he will be a good opponent, I look forward to your defeat Quint," Clayton smiled smugly. Overconfident bastard.
"And you doctor?" Shane asked, eyeing up Jacob.
"No, I believe in science, not ritualistic nonsense," Jacob spat.
"Seems we're set," Clayton smiled at his opponents.
"No we're not," I hissed, my frustration, upset and anger had all led to this point, I stepped forward towards the swine who call themselves men. "I also lay claim,"