Page 19 of The Jaguar's Flower

“We won’t be going to your lab tonight. There are some things you need to see.”

A lump formed in her throat, which made it impossible to swallow. “Yes, sir.” She followed Renfield to a bank of elevators. Her clearance wouldn’t allow her on the elevators alone. She’d only been off the first floor once. She remained in her lab most days unless she went to the soldier training area.

When Renfield hit the button for the third floor, her heart sank. With each ping, her stomach dropped lower until she thought she would have to drag it behind her as she viewed whatever the doctor wanted to show her. When over three pings sounded, she looked over at Renfield, but his face was impassive.

“When we get off the elevator, head to your right. You will need to be in a lab coat and carry certain items with us. The nurse will join us as well.”

Her reflection in the metal door seemed to mock her as she waited for the doors to open. Mentally, she prepared herself for any number of horrors she would see, but she had a feeling no amount of preparation would be enough.

Once the doors opened, Violet stepped through and went to her right. A sterile room was directly in front of her, but she didn’t ask questions.

“I’m proud of the way you have comported yourself, which is why you have been invited here this evening.”

Bile rose in her throat with his words, but she smiled. “Thank you. This is a tremendous honor since I don’t get to work with you.”

Arrogance rolled off of him as he nodded. “Well, I am a medical doctor and a scientist. Since I lead this site, consider it a great honor that I have included you while I check on some of my test subjects since you are nothing more than a geneticist.”

Was he proud of himself for the atrocities he was committing?She wondered, not even being bothered by his backhanded compliment.

“Tie your hair back. You will also need booties.”

He handed her the items he deemed necessary to prepare herself for rounds. Then a nurse walked in and handed her several vials of blood. Violet tucked the vials into the pocket of her lab coat while the nurse unlocked a cabinet and brought out several syringes.

“The subjects should be well engaged, so guards will not escort us. As a precaution, the nurse will bring tranquilizers.”

Violet’s head nodded before she followed Renfield down a long corridor with doors every twenty feet. She stopped with the nurse behind them when he stopped at the door.

“I was just about to start here when I called you, so I want to check on these specimens first.”

Not prepared for the sight before her, a scream caught in Violet’s throat. She expected to be sick as she stood there. A male lay strapped to a table with his abdomen cut open to expose his intestines. She knew she would recognize more than intestines if she drew closer to him.

Violet thought he was dead when the male didn’t move until a low growl rumbled through him. His body tensed for a moment, telling her it brought him substantial pain. Fearful, she didn’t want to follow his line of sight, which caused the growl. A female stood trapped between two naked males. Her pants reminded Violet of sex, but the pained expression on the female’s face said she was anything but enjoying what she experienced.

“I learned a great deal from this pair tonight, so I thought to reward them by not separating them.”

Violet blinked at those words.If this is a reward, I would hate to see a punishment.She bit down on her tongue until it bled.First, do no harm,repeated in her mind as she witnessed the disturbing scene.

“Please.”

The strangled word floated to Violet’s ears. She realized the female had uttered it. When Violet glanced at Renfield, she whispered. “Shouldn’t we help them? He needs to be put back together, and she needs–”

The look Renfield sent her stopped Violet’s words. “She is receiving exactly what she needs. If my calculations are correct, she has entered a heat cycle.”

Violet didn’t know what results he was discussing but felt she didn’t want to know either. “Renfield, as you know, I’m a lowly geneticist. What exactly went on here?”

His head turned away from the specimens. Noting Violet’s much paler complexion, he chuckled. “A little negative reinforcement to gain answers that have eluded teams for a while. We finally have some answers we sought, but the next specimens have enlightened us further.”

Those words frightened Violet. When they finally exited that room and the awful happenings inside, she felt like she could breathe again. Shame filled her at the realization of why they hired her.

She didn’t realize they entered another room until the door clicked behind them. This time, a male pinned a restrained female beneath him, but it appeared they were asleep.

The doctor’s words brought Violet from her haze. “We dosed the female subject earlier today with the same treatment. If we are correct in our assumptions, we should see results quickly. The vials of blood come from this female. There are tissue samples in your lab from the others. By morning, you should have more samples to test. I want you to report any changes in their genetics directly to me.”

Eyes glued to the floor, Violet nodded. Tears burned her eyes while guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“Stop that.” Her head jerked at the reprimand, only to realize he stared at her with disdain. “They are test subjects, no different from mice or any other animals within a lab. They may appear human, but they are nothing more than animals.”

Again, she nodded. She bit her tongue hard enough to stop the tears. “Can I go to my lab now?”

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