Page 78 of Werewolves Don't Howl
I sighed heavily. “That’s not the question, Forsythia. It’s what did you do? Hm? And why?”
She raised herself as tall as she could in the embrace of the vines and said stiffly, “It was an accident. I was simply checking on the elf you had such a blinding crush on, because that wasn’t like you, and no one else gets to mess with my friends. I was right, too. He was a spy, there to investigate some of the science labs. I tracked him with a subtle spell and then went later to see what was so interesting to him.”
“And…” I urged, as she hesitated.
She looked down at the vines that bound her so thoroughly. “I don’t suppose you’re nearly as defenseless as you used to be. Fine, I’ll tell you. I was in the lab, and I heard people talking about you, like you were a cute little experiment. He was going to use you for some big project. He also talked about another potion that was supposed to make you stronger, smarter, faster, more capable. He specifically said that it wasn’t for you, because your soft sweetness was to be protected and nurtured. I was crouched in that bottom cabinet for two hours until they finally left and I was able to sneak out. Can you imagine me, Forsythia Mantle in such a shocking position?” She gave me a look like I’d falsely accused her of something so ridiculous. I really couldn’t imagine my elegant and appropriate friend stuffed in a cupboard, eavesdropping on someone else.
I frowned, trying to look tough. “How was that an accident? And why did you put a love spell on the elf?”
She sniffed delicately. “I never put any spell on him. You did that all on your own with your charm and sweetness that came out in your song. I watched his face change as you sang until he was looking at you like you were the only creature in the universe. I didn’t like that. You have no idea how many times I’ve had to put an end to men who think that you’re soft, sweet, defenseless Delphi, who clearly can’t say no. He wasn’t like the others. He had more focus, more reserve, more elf blood than all the rest of them. Confident, too, when you were so absolutely not. Could you blame me for wanting to protect you?”
“You’re trying to not tell me about the accident. No one’s coming, and you aren’t going anywhere until you do.” I frowned at her and fed the gnomish discontent that kept anyone from approaching. She had several people she was summoning, but I kept them back. They were society people that I wouldn’t have pegged as her special friends, but there was clearly a lot I didn’t know about proper Forsythia.
She pursed her lips. “Fine. I gave all three of us the potion that was supposed to make us stronger, etc. What I didn’t know was that it was mixed with various kinds of infernal creature DNA, such as whatever it was in it that killed Elodie.” She winced and her face fell. “I wove a spell to make everyone forget her. You too, but then you turned up two years later in that horrible werewolf den. I was sick, but since I’m just an elf, and apparently infernal DNA doesn’t break down my molecular structure, I came out of it none the worse for the wear.”
“Seriously? You killed all those women!”
She gave me a disdainful look. “Nonsense. The only person I killed was Elodie, and it was an accident. I don’t know what you’re talking about, all these women. As if I’d ever stoop to hurting someone intentionally.”
“But what about Ridley and the missing women?”
She gave me an impatient look. “I thought you knew about Lynx.”
“You’re saying that you aren’t part of…”
“There you are,” Loren said, walking through the shadows like the gnome magic wasn’t there. “Delphi, what are you doing? Did you tie up Forsythia? I should take a picture of that. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something that made me smile.” Her smile was genuine, bright, and very, very wide.
“Loren. What are you doing here?” I asked, taking a step back, glancing at Forsythia who managed to look terribly bored, even bound by vines.
Forsythia said, “You remember Loren, always getting involved in every questionable activity imaginable. She was a science major in school. Isn’t it interesting that she switched to working as a reporter for Zephin Clay a few years after she graduated? That was around the same time you started working for him. Such an interesting change of interests.”
Loren’s smile grew wider somehow. “Forsythia, I should thank you. Some considered experimenting an untried serum on healthy patients unethical. You gave us three test subjects to study, one clearly a marked failure, but two on a spectrum of successes. With your work, I was able to take part in the final trial.”
I gasped and turned to face my fellow reporter. “You took part in an experimental trial willingly? To test the same serum that destroyed me?”
She gestured at Forsythia and my vines carelessly. “Destroyed? Improved. Vastly improved. Not that you’re particularly bright, Delphi, but you are oh so powerful. He’ll be so disappointed that your time has come to an end. He did enjoy watching you progress.”
He? There’d been a ‘he’ in the lab Forsythia had mentioned. What he could there be from my college days? Clay’s description matched the ‘boyfriend’ who visited Loren’s house.
I smiled at Loren. “You’re the beast. You’re the one who killed all those women and framed Ridley for it. That’s why you killed him, to wrap up any loose ends. Why did you kill them? Was it for your experiments, or did you lose control to your monster?” I subtly loosened the vines from Forsythia, hoping that she could get away before the real terror came out.
Loren’s face bulged and flexed before going back to her normal dimensions. “I never lose control.”
She’d just basically lost control, so yeah.
“Of course you don’t. Why did you spell me to lose control at my brother’s wedding? How did you do it?”
Her lip curled in contempt. “He’s never seen your beast. He needed to know how disgusting you were. How could he want you when I sacrificed so much for his cause?”
“He who? Are we talking about our boss’s boss, Zephin Clay? You wanted him to see me as a monster, like he saw you?” That clinched it. Loren was completely nuts.
She snarled at me. “I’m the perfect culmination of all those studies, but he said that it was over, that it wasn’t worth the risk, that it wasn’t ethical. He watched me to make sure I didn’t become a problem. You were this precious jewel to him, but I was a problem? You were the problem, always pretending to be soft and helpless while you tangled men in your coils!”
Forsythia snorted. “Yes, clearly, the person who leaves a trail of dead bodies couldn’t possibly be the problem. Be a bit more self-aware, if you don’t mind.”
Loren bared her teeth at her, long fangs descending for a moment before she pushed them back.
“But I still don’t understand how you put that reveal spell on me at Bram’s wedding.”
