stage. I found an alligator shifter in Louisiana. I think I’ll bring him in next week.”
“I’m sure it will be against his will.” She definitely did not want to hear about him branching out and hunting shifters in other states. Mara wouldn’t let that happen. She just had to get out of the damn cage first.
“I need a little more time to perfect the serum. The human body is so fragile. I’m having problems with human transformation.”
“What are you talking about? Look at me! I’m a fucking science fair project.”
“I thought I hit gold with you. I really did.” He shook his head. “Until your initial blood tests came back, and I found out you were so much more than human. I mean, what were the chances of me capturing a partial demon.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m no demon.” She’d heard him say something about her being “more” the first night of her capture. Though at the time, she didn’t think much of it.
“Maybe not a full-blooded demon, but it’s in your DNA. I can still use that. It’s why I chose to push the limits with you. I can’t wait to see what you’re capable of. Should I add another? I think you’re capable of holding so much more.” He tapped his chin with his index finger. “There are just too many possibilities.”
Mara was too shocked by his declaration to yell at him. Could her family’s bad joke not be a joke at all. How could she be part demon and not even know? Why wouldn’t her parents tell her? Did they know, or did they want it to be a family joke too? Did one of her parents have a demon riding around in their head, or were they plain humans?
“What happened to the humans you experimented on?” She knew he had abducted at least a couple in the last two months.
“They expired after their transformation. I’m hoping your DNA will provide better results in humans.” He rubbed his hands together and looked around at the other shifters.
“Fuck you and your results.” She brought his attention back to her. “You won’t be alive to experiment much longer.”
“Like you can do much from in there.” He knocked on the bars of her cell.
“You son of a bitch! I’ll get out,” she assured him.
Wait, we grow, the panther told her.
Need blood, another voice spoke. Mara recognized it as the vampire in the bunch.
“It is not like I have a lot of options here,” Mara told the voices.
“Glad you see it my way.” Dr. Phenix nodded.
The tiger in the next cell moved slowly. Orange and black fur receded, seeming to melt away into skin. Once the change was completed, Mara had confirmation Trina was in the cage next to her. Trina’s limp body lay motionless on the compacted dirt floor.
“Ah, this one, I’m afraid, is at capacity.” He looked at Trina with a disappointed expression and shook his head.
“What do you mean? Is she okay?” Mara watched Trina count her breaths.
“Don’t concern yourself with her. All she will ever be is a tiger, maybe even a wolf again. Not sure.” He shrugged. “That’s what all these tests are for. It needs to be perfected with your DNA. I can make the human transformation hold.”
She heard a scream from upstairs. Mara understood the scream all too well. She wanted to holler her head off to get someone’s attention. To get them some help.
“Ah, my donor is awake. This was much easier in our facilities. Too bad you had to ruin that. Great things are happening.” He smiled and rocked on his feet.
“You’re doing terrible things to good people.” When another scream sounded right above her, Mara jerked her eyes toward the ceiling.
“There’s one of your good people now.”
The woman screamed for help. Her voice sounded muffled, but Mara made out what she was saying. She recognized Raveena’s voice. Raveena screamed loud enough to wake the man in the corner cell. He rolled onto his back. The man looked pasty pale, cheeks sunken in. It looked like someone had sucked all the fluids from his body. He didn’t move much, only a few inches. Was that all their fates?
“I’m glad you brought me another wolf. I played all I could with the other ones.” He glanced down at Trina.
“I didn’t bring you shit,” she spat. Her hatred for him was unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
Mara heard footsteps above them, and closing. The footsteps became louder the closer they came.