Chapter 2 Learning about my subjects

As Brian shut the thick steel door he gestured towards the right hall and told me there was a cafeteria at the end.

"Are you hungry?" he asked and I shook my head and said I'd be interested in something to drink.

"I'm going to head back to my room and go over the files," I replied and he smiled and told me that he needed to show me the lab first then he'd take me to the cafeteria. I thanked him as I pulled out the pad of paper and added another hall to my drawn map. A few steps down the hall I could see the fluorescent lights humming in a lab. Through the glass wall, I could see Jordan and Abby both fully dressed in sterile suits so they didn't contaminate their samples. Abby noticed me and waved as she headed to the intercom. I watched the young redhead with her freckled face smile happily at seeing me.

"Hi dear, can't invite you in but we're about finished up and can meet with you in the cafeteria," she said quickly and I nodded with a smile. I glanced over at the older Jordan and waved back at the gray-haired gentleman. I waved Abby back over and told her I'd see her back in our room and explained that I wanted to get my research done. She nodded in understanding and waved me off. I laughed and asked Brian to please take me to the cafeteria. I chose tea and an apple just in case I got hungry. Brian escorted me back to my room and asked if I thought I got the layout. I lifted my notepad and nodded.

"If you need anything else you can call me on the intercom right here," Brian informed me and he patted the cream-colored box. I nodded and told him thanks once again. After the door closed behind him I headed to my file cabinet and began pulling out each subject's folder. I pulled out Enzo's first and flipped open the manilla folder. A picture of an attractive healthy man was there. He had nice-styled black hair and silver reflective eyes. Enzo looked nothing like the photo now and I wondered if it was due to him only being fed once a week from what his file states. I shook my head as my finger followed the words "uses compulsion" and is weak when underfed. My eyes widened at seeing all the degrees he had and grinned seeing he had the same knowledge as any of the doctors on staff here. His actual age was unlisted but I assumed he was very old and his file listed him as a Homo Nosferatu Vampires or vampire. I rubbed my eyes wondering what exactly had I gotten myself into. His blood type was Rh-negative but not null and they'd been altering Enzo's feeding time to see if they could change it.

"Idiots," I mumbled sourly. The poor guy was starving and some dumb ass thought that would change his blood. I was gritting my teeth and thinking the vampire should be released. I put his file to the side and opened Malia's and gasped loudly at seeing the soldiers had been shocking the skinwalker to try and change her blood type. I ran both my hands down my face and wondered if Jordan approved of this. Dr. Bryce was a retired military doctor and he would cut off his hand if it was ordered by some stupid general. I pulled out all their files and the only subject that had golden blood was the red wolf. I laughed at the photo of the burly, curly red-haired man with a big bushy beard. Tristan looked like a ginger lumberjack. Upper ranking wolves in packs carried the Rh Null blood type and they had a hard-on trying to capture Alphas of known wolf packs. I hadn't realized that the government was aware of and studied all these mythical creatures. I start to wonder if all the things I'd read about as a teen were real. The door opened and Abby came rushing in and cheerfully bound towards me.

"Here you are," she shouted and hugged me tightly.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, honey. Jordan and I were informed by Thomas that it was only you coming and when we asked why he told us what happened. It was so sudden," she mumbled softly and I nodded.

"Yes it was unexpected," I replied quickly, not wanting to discuss my husband's death. Abby glanced down at the files and grinned.

"It's crazy finding out all of them are real and exist, huh?" I nodded my head and Abby sat on my tiny bed.

"Did you meet them all?" I grinned slightly and nodded again.

"The blood we need to collect is in the wolves so the "hunters" are setting traps all over known werewolf lands," she said softly.

"Do you know who ordered the vampire's limited feedings and Malia's electrocutions?" I asked curiously and she looked horrified.

"That's terrible, I'd go and feed it and unplug the wires. I had to do some minor adjustments for my cryptids when I arrived here too," she mumbled irritatedly. My brow rose at what she said.

"You have different subjects than I do?" She nodded and went to her file cabinet and carried over a bigger stack than mine.

"I have a total of seven subjects and only two carry the blood. A demon named Ezra and some Beta wolf named Jackson," she said calmly and I nodded. I exhaled deeply and told her I wanted to feed my vampire and unplug my skinwalker and she laughed and told me she'd help me. We both went directly to the cafeteria and rummaged through the kitchen for some suitable meat.

"Vampires eat the same as humans and drink blood like once a month. They can go out in the sunlight too," Abby was telling me as I sat a pan on the stove and melted butter for a steak I was going to cook for Enzo. Abby sat on the counter and watched me cook. She knew it was my second love and if I had dropped out of medicine I would have become a chef. Abby was sniffing the air and saying that it smells delicious.

"Are you trying to win this guy's heart through food," she teased and I rolled my eyes.

"You know I can't tolerate any kind of mistreatment," I responded and she smiled. I plated the food I'd prepared. Making it look like it came from a five star Michelin restaurant.

"Can you hold that," I asked as I gave her the plate? Abby licked her lips and told me I should cook dinner tomorrow night. I shrugged as I poured a glass of red wine and gathered utensils.

"Let's go," I said softly and opened the door for her as she carried the plate of steak and vegetables. I hurried quickly towards the huge steel door and used my key card to unlock it. I pulled it open in a huff and watched the overhead lights flickered on. I heard the grumbles and chuckled softly as I told Abby to set the plate on the table in the corner. I approached the first cell and noticed that Enzo was watching me intently and sniffing the air. Our eyes were locked on each other until Abby spoke.

"You can slide the plate through the opening right there," Abby said softly and I broke contact to look down. I handed him the wine glass through the bars and the utensils. He grinned devilishly, showing me his fangs. He handed the utensils back and told me he didn't need them. I grabbed the plate and kneeled to slip it through the opening. Enzo grabbed the steak and hurried quickly to his corner and began tearing into the flesh. He sounded like a rabid animal.

"I hope you like it," I mumbled sourly and heard him growl back. I shook my head and headed towards Malia's cell and followed the electrical wires to a fuse in the back. It was a tight fit between her cell and Tristan's the wolf. I gritted my teeth and proceeded to shuffle between the pair sideways. I was facing the werewolf and noticed that he had returned to his human self and was sitting there completely nude. I glanced away from him and back down at my goal. I bent down and pulled out the fuse and heard a quiet thank you. I looked up to see Malia looking down at me with a grin. I nodded my head and stood back up, handed the fuse I'd removed to her through the bars. As I did I heard a deep growl and Abby yelling at me to be careful. I closed my eyes as hot wolf breath assaulted my shoulder and back. Tristan was back as his wolf and snapping his teeth at me. I clenched my fists and turned to stand my ground.

"Knock it off you big furbaby. Behave and I'll bring you a steak as well," I said sternly and he dropped to the ground and whimpered. I shook my head and sighed at the beast.

"I'm sorry for your, well actually all of your treatment. I don't know what the government wants with this blood but I can promise you all that I'll treat you well to the best of my ability. So please, let's work together," I said sincerely and glanced over at Abby.

"Let's take a food order and return to the kitchen, Abby," I mumbled softly and Malia mumbled softly that she desired a pudding cup. I glanced over at her and chuckled as I nodded. I exited the confined space and pulled out my notepad. Turning to the mop of red curls I smiled.

"Raw t-bone or cooked, sir," I asked in a lighthearted manner and relaxed when he said," medium rare." Malia only wanted a pudding cup, preferably tapioca and Darya wanted raw lamb. I looked down at Scotty and just wrote down chicken and laughed at the goofy creature jumping around. As I headed back past the cells a healthy-looking Enzo told me thanks.

"You do well with the others and don't need my help. Why are you being kind to us," he asked curiously with an accent. I grinned slightly and bent down to take the empty plate as I thought about my answer. When I stood his hand was reaching out to touch me.

"I have a kind heart and only wish to help all of you and stop trying to compel me. My mind is too sharp for you to do that. I cannot be hypnotized either. Your eyes are very pretty when you try though," I told him honestly and he stepped back in surprise.

"You and I are going to be great friends I foresee," he told me in Italian and I nodded my head and told him I thought so too, leaving Abby clueless as to what we were discussing.

"I'll return in half an hour with your treats," I yelled out happily and hurried with Abby to the kitchens.