{"sf1_id":1737932,"sf2_id":"YnL3odGm","title":"Mind Games: Lycanthrope - Chapter 4","author":"Radical Gopher","words":3341,"posted_at":"2021-07-09T02:16:47.000Z","tags":["Clean","Human","M/F","Magic","Mayhem","Murder","Vixen"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1737932-mind-games-lycanthrope-chapter-4","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/YnL3odGm","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=1737932\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"As they say, life and change are inevidably intertwined. The nature of that change can be unpredictable, especially where magic is concerned.","content":"Saul yawned and stretched his arms above his head.\u0026nbsp; He glanced toward the window and saw that a light snow was falling and much of the glass was laced with frost.\u0026nbsp; Judging from the amount of light seeping into the bedroom it had to be about nine in the morning.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;He also noticed that the aches, pains and fever he'd been feeling were completely absent.\u0026nbsp; He smiled to himself.\u0026nbsp; Nothing like a good night's sleep to help the body cure itself.\u0026nbsp; However, even as he luxuriated in the feeling of well-being, he couldn't help but notice that something seemed off.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He looked around at his surroundings and noted that he was lying on the bed in their guest bedroom.\u0026nbsp; That, in and of itself wasn't too unusual.\u0026nbsp; He would occasionally sleep there if one or the other of them were sick, or needed a lot of sleep.\u0026nbsp; What seemed out of the ordinary was that he was lying in the bed normally.\u0026nbsp; Every other time he'd used the bed he had to lie diagonally in order to fit.\u0026nbsp; He sat up and discovered himself entangled in clothes a number of sizes too big for him.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The detective scrambled to his feet.\u0026nbsp; The only things that didn't fall off onto the floor was his football jersey, socks and heated underwear which now looked like a baggy clown suit.\u0026nbsp; That was when he saw himself for the first time in a mirror.\u0026nbsp; The kid looking back at him was someone he hadn't seen for more than thirty years.\u0026nbsp; He took one step closer, tripped and might have face planted had the pile of clothing on the floor not cushioned his landing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “PEPPER!!!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; There was a brief pause before he heard the soft padding of feet from the hall and the door opened.\u0026nbsp; His partner stood there, dressed in a thick bathrobe and holding a bundle of clothing under her arm and a mug of what smelled like hot chocolate.\u0026nbsp; She examined the tall, pre-adolescent with a slightly humorous smirk on her muzzle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Morning, Sunshine,\" she greeted him.\u0026nbsp; “Sleep well?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “WHAT THE HELL'S ALL THIS ABOUT?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The vixen handed him the mug, which was indeed filled with hot chocolate.\u0026nbsp; “Drink up.\u0026nbsp; Victor says it does wonders for curing a case of morning grumpiness.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul took the mug and sipped on it tentatively as she talked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “The short answer is that you're suffering the effects of Black Rose pollen.\u0026nbsp; It has unpredictable effects, but it's what makes Gwen's anti-lycanthropy potion work, provided you drink it within the first twenty-four hours of having been bitten.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I take it the potion worked then,\" he observed taking a large swig from the mug.\n\n\u0026nbsp;The vixen nodded.\u0026nbsp; “Like a charm.\u0026nbsp; Oh, and by the way, you owe her four and a half\u0026nbsp;pounds of gold for the cure.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Blackthorn\u0026nbsp;almost blew hot chocolate out through his nose as he gagged.\u0026nbsp; When he finished coughing she casually tossed him a bundle of clothes.\u0026nbsp; “What's this?\" he asked, unrolling the small polo shirt and small pair of gym shorts.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “We have a guest, if you remember.\u0026nbsp; You need something to wear around the house.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He started to put on the shirt and noticed the buttons were slightly different.\u0026nbsp; “Wait.\u0026nbsp; Are these your clothes?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “They're the only thing we have close to your current size.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “What do I do for underwear?\" Saul asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Well, I'm not giving you mine,\" the vixen chuckled.\u0026nbsp; “I'd recommend you go commando for now.\"\u0026nbsp; She handed him three large safety pins.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “And what do I do with these?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “They're for the tail hole, silly,\" she grinned wickedly, leaving her partner to figure the rest out for himself.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Fifteen minutes later Saul was showered and dressed and was sauntering into the living room.\u0026nbsp; In addition to the polo shirt and gym pants, the detective also wore his football jersey.\u0026nbsp; Though baggy, it worked to disguise the clothes he wore as it swept down to just above his knees and covered his arms passed his elbows.\u0026nbsp; Even as a nine-year old, the human had been exceptionally tall.\u0026nbsp; This was before the doctors had diagnosed his acromegaly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Victor sat on the couch, dressed in a cream colored shirt and gray slacks.\u0026nbsp; He looked up from the laptop computer sitting in front of him and greeted Saul.\u0026nbsp; “Morning.\u0026nbsp; How are you feeling?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Pretty good, all things considering.\u0026nbsp; Kind of surprised I don't have a hangover from all that whiskey I downed last night.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “One of the more pleasant side-effects of the potion,\" the todd offered.\u0026nbsp; “I don't think I need to mention the more obvious one.\"\u0026nbsp; He punched a few keys on the computer then rotated the screen around so the human could see it.\u0026nbsp; “Thought you might be interested in this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul looked at the image before him.\u0026nbsp; “The Oradean Daggers,\" he read aloud.\u0026nbsp; “Weapons of the Lycanthrope/Vampire war.\u0026nbsp; Used to slice apart the soul of one corrupted by the curse of a were-creature...\"\u0026nbsp; He paused for a moment to study the accompanying picture, then looked up at Victor.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The Zorr nodded.\u0026nbsp; “Your dagger is the missing mate to the other three.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Any idea who was in possession of it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “None... though popular speculation was that it resided in the private collection of either the Rothschild, Vanderbilt or Kanazawa families.\u0026nbsp; Obviously, that wasn't quite accurate.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The human looked at Victor.\u0026nbsp; “Does this mean the victim was a werewolf?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “I don't know,\" the Zorr replied.\u0026nbsp; “Pepper told me that she was raped, suffocated, and then stabbed post mortem with the dagger.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “That sounds about right.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Do you have any DNA evidence from the rape?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul shook his head.\u0026nbsp; “As random as the attack was made to look, our perpetrator used a condom and cleaned the body of any potential hair or fiber evidence.\u0026nbsp; We thought we might have a latent fingerprint on the knife, but so far we haven't been able to find a match.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “So the rape was window dressing,\" Victor said thoughtfully.\u0026nbsp; “His true intent was to murder the girl specifically using one of the Oradean Daggers.\u0026nbsp; It makes sense.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “How so?\" came a feminine voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The todd looked up to see his cousin enter the room.\u0026nbsp; She was now dressed and outfitted for work.\u0026nbsp; “Morning Penelope,\" the Zorr yipped a quick greeting.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Morning yourself, Vikki,\" she replied.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Victor wrinkled his nose pad.\u0026nbsp; “I hate that nickname.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “And I hate Penelope... so let's just stick to Victor and Pepper, alright?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Vikki?\" asked Blackthorne.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “I'll tell you later,\" the vixen said, looking back at her cousin.\u0026nbsp; “So, how does the post mortem stabbing make any sense?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Okay, it's predicated on the idea that your victim was a lycanthrope, or was in the process of becoming one and the murderer knew it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “I haven't indulged in as many horror movies as Saul has, so this is as clear as mud to me,\" said Pepper.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “If your victim...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Rita Hollingsworth,\" the vixen gently chided.\u0026nbsp; “Let's not list her as a statistic just yet.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Sorry... Ms. Hollingsworth.\u0026nbsp; If she were transitioning into a lycanthrope, then your murderer would not have risked exposing himself to any of her bodily fluids, as they could pass the curse to him as well.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Wait,\" interrupted Saul.\u0026nbsp; “I thought it was only the bite of a werewolf that could infect its victim.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Actually,\" the todd said, “it's the lycanthrope's saliva that carries the elements of the curse.\u0026nbsp; If for some reason one is exposed to any other internal fluids, blood, mucus, tears, then the curse can be passed on, but only during a full moon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Hence, using a condom to prevent an exchange of fluids and the accompanying lycanthropy,\" Pepper speculated.\u0026nbsp; “But it doesn't explain why he stabbed Rita through the heart after suffocating her.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Because she would have eventually recovered from the asphyxiation,\" Victor said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Hold on... time out here.\u0026nbsp; What do you mean recovered?\" the vixen asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “You need to use a silver weapon to kill a werewolf, or any lycanthrope for that matter,\" the Zorr explained.\u0026nbsp; “Without it, she would have 'woken-up' while lying on a slab in the morgue.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul grinned.\u0026nbsp; “I'd pay good money to see Derek's face if that happened during an autopsy.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Did anyone ever tell you you're sick, Detective Blackthorne?\" Pepper observed.\u0026nbsp; “I wish there was some way we could confirm whether she was a lycanthrope or not.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Actually, there is,\" Victor responded.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “How?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Well, if you could get me into the morgue, I could use my chrystal charm to check for residual signs of lycanthropy on her body,\" the todd replied.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Pepper looked at her watch.\u0026nbsp; “It's just after 9:15.\u0026nbsp; Derek should still be on shift and doesn't mind visitors.\u0026nbsp; Just don't go flashing your magic around or he'll think you're a nutcase and throw us out.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Victor rose, closed up his computer and went to get his coat.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Hey, what about your scent?\u0026nbsp; Won't that be a problem?\" Saul asked.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “We're passed the nadir of the full moon,\" the todd explained.\u0026nbsp; “I have a lot more control of my change now.\u0026nbsp; As long as I don't deliberately transform into a dragon the musk is almost completely neutralized.\u0026nbsp; That, and I took a really long shower this morning.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “I thought were-creatures always transformed during the three days of the full moon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Victor chuckled.\u0026nbsp; “Only freshly minted ones.\u0026nbsp; The longer you've had the curse, the more you learn to control things.\u0026nbsp; Hell, once you reach one-hundred or so, even a full moon can't force an involuntary change, though the urge is hard to resist.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Pepper pulled on her overcoat and linked arms with her cousin as they headed for the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Anything I can do to help?\" Saul asked his partner.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Well, aside from not answering the door or comlink you could get on our computer and try researching any similar cases that involve ritual murders or post-mortem knifings,\" Pepper suggested, gently ruffling her partner's hair.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “What, no goodbye kiss?\" he pouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; “Let's save that until you've grown up a little,\" she grinned.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The two Zorrs arrived at the coroner's office about twenty minutes later and Pepper introduced her cousin to Derek.\u0026nbsp; As it was a slow morning, he was more than happy to take a fellow scientist on a tour of the facility.\u0026nbsp; For his part, Victor was appropriately impressed by the organization and layout of the forensic laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\n\nWhen they reached the morgue proper, the vixen asked to take a look at Rita's body and a copy of the finished examiner's report.\u0026nbsp; Pepper explained she wanted to check for any unusual marks that might connect the waitress' death to a case she'd heard of in Denver.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Derek, helpful as always guided them over to the cold room and pulled out the storage rack containing Rita Hollingsworth's body.\u0026nbsp; He then left the two Zorrs alone while he went to print out a copy of the M. E. report.\u0026nbsp;\n\nVictor pulled out his charm and used it to examine the dead girl's hand, while Pepper strategically placed herself next to him in such a way as to conceal the softly glowing object from a nearby security camera.\u0026nbsp; The charm revealed the image of a shattered pentagram on the back of her hand.\n\n“No doubt of it,\" Victor said.\u0026nbsp; “She was cursed.\"\n\n“Why does it look different from Saul's?\n\n“The dagger literally cuts the soul of the lycanthrope to pieces,\" he replied, “killing them not only physically, but spiritually as well.\u0026nbsp; When used properly, all that is left is an empty shell.\"\n\nBoth Zorrs went quiet as Derek returned with the report and handed it to the detective.\u0026nbsp; “Sorry it isn't more complete.\u0026nbsp; There are a lot of unknowns that we don't have any pieces to.\u0026nbsp; It's up to you and Saul to find the pieces.\"\n\nThe vixen quickly scanned the report, then folded it and put it in her pocket thanking the M.E.\u0026nbsp; After a little more light banter with Derek the two left and headed back to the car.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“What happens to the victim's soul? Pepper asked as she closed the driver's door.\n\n“The stories aren't very precise about that.\u0026nbsp; Some hold that it is completely obliterated.\u0026nbsp; Other tales insist the lycanthrope's spirit is bound forever in limbo.\u0026nbsp; Whatever happens, the stories agree it isn't a pleasant way to die.\"\n\n“That sounds like a rather extreme cure for lycanthropy,\" the vixen observed.\n\n“I'd agree, if it were intended as a cure,\" Victor replied.\u0026nbsp; “The daggers were weapons, pure and simple, meant to permanently dispatch whoever they were used on to the afterlife, with extreme prejudice.\"\n\nPepper frowned.\u0026nbsp; “Leave it to a vampire to come up with something so nasty.\"\n\n“Actually, it wasn't the vampires who created them.\"\n\n“It wasn't?\u0026nbsp; But I thought it was a weapon from your mythological vampire/lycanthrope war.\"\n\n“It was,\" the todd said.\u0026nbsp; “The daggers were created by the Catholic church, as a means of fighting against both sides.\"\n\n“So it worked against vampires?\u0026nbsp; How?\u0026nbsp; They're supposed to be soul-less, undead blood suckers, or so popular culture says.\"\n\nVictor chuckled lightly.\u0026nbsp; “If you're going to rely on old Hollywood movies as your supernatural resource, I might as well pack-up and head home.\"\n\n“Then enlighten me.\"\n\n“Remember the runes etched into the dagger's blade?\"\u0026nbsp; Pepper nodded.\u0026nbsp; “They're actually an incantation that causes the weapon to take on the purifying effects of the sun.\u0026nbsp; Stab it into the heart of an undead creature and poof, nothing but ashes.\"\n\n“Wouldn't you have to be a mage to use something like that?\"\n\nThe todd shook his head.\u0026nbsp; “The magic's in the weapon.\u0026nbsp; All the wielder has to do is pronounce the spell correctly using the proper intonation and timing.\"\n\n“So a sage such as yourself could...\"\n\n“Nope.\"\n\nPepper looked at him curiously.\u0026nbsp; “Why not?\"\n\n“I'd burn my hand if I tried.\u0026nbsp; It's made of pure silver after all.\"\n\n“What difference would that make?\" she asked.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Victor just looked at his cousin with a silent, deadpan, 'are you kidding me' kind of expression.\u0026nbsp; It took her a moment to figure it out.\u0026nbsp; “Oh... Right!\"\n\nThey drove on in silence for a few minutes before something crossed the vixen's mind.\u0026nbsp; “Wait a second.\u0026nbsp; You said the bodily fluids of a lycanthrope are enough to pass on the disease.\u0026nbsp; Does that mean that Gwen...?\"\n\n“She's a sorceress.\u0026nbsp; She cast a spell that makes her immune to a lycanthrope's curse.\"\n\n“Could she do the same for others?\" Pepper asked.\n\n“Yes,\" Victor replied.\u0026nbsp; “As a matter of fact, we discussed using something like that on our two adopted kitts, just in case they somehow were exposed to my curse.\u0026nbsp; Turns out Oberon and Titannia have a natural immunity, thanks to their mother.\"\n\n“Their mother?\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe todd responded by pulling a small photo out of his wallet and handing it to his cousin.\u0026nbsp; Pepper pulled the floater to the side of the road before looking at the photo.\u0026nbsp; The image was that of Victor and Gwen hugging a beautiful set of twin fox kitts, one boy and one girl.\u0026nbsp; They were about two years old.\u0026nbsp; Pepper immediately noticed they had the same blue coloration as Victor's earlier mate, Sapphire.\u0026nbsp; She looked quizzically at her cousin.\n\n“I thought you'd adopted a pair of normal Zorr kitts.\"\n\n“Except for the fur, they are perfectly normal, so far.\"\n\n“So their mother was...?\"\n\nVictor nodded.\u0026nbsp; “And I am their biological father.\u0026nbsp; Djinn obstetrics.\u0026nbsp; Go figure.\"\n\n“So you finally found Sapphire?\"\n\nThe todd shook his head sadly. \u0026nbsp;“No.\" he sighed.\u0026nbsp; “For whatever reason, she's still hidden.\u0026nbsp; Gwen thinks it's part of the whole genie thing; that a former master can't ever find the lamp again.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“So what happened?\u0026nbsp; I knew she was pregnant when our whole tapestry adventure went down.\u0026nbsp; Where were the kitts all this time, and why did she abandon them?\"\n\n“Probably with her in the lamp.\u0026nbsp; Neither Gwen nor I think they were abandoned, not in the traditional sense.\u0026nbsp; She was able to use her magic to sort out that a spell had been placed on them that guaranteed they would magically find their way to us when the time was right,\" he explained.\u0026nbsp; “She figured that as they were non-magical beings, Sapphire wanted them raised by us rather than be subject to life in the lamp.\"\n\nPepper looked up from the photo and saw that her cousin was wiping a small tear from his eye.\u0026nbsp; He'd loved both Sapphire and Gwen with equal passion, and losing the former still hurt.\u0026nbsp; She undid the seatbelt, reached across and took Victor in a long, powerful hug.\u0026nbsp; He returned the embrace.\u0026nbsp; When they separated he was smiling.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Thank-you.\"\n\n“Hey, it's the least I can do for my favorite cousin.\"\n\n“I'm your only cousin,\" he replied.\n\n“Which, by default, makes you my favorite.\"\n\nThe vixen slid back over into the driver's seat and started the floater again.\u0026nbsp; “We'd better get back to the house and see what Saul's been able to turn up on our laptop.\"\n\nAt the word laptop, a strange expression crossed Victor's face.\u0026nbsp; He reached into his jacket pocket, then patted the rest of his coat.\u0026nbsp; “Shit,\" he muttered.\n\n“What's wrong?\"\n\n“My thumb drive... I think I forgot it in my computer when we left the house.\"\n\n“Well, Saul's there.\u0026nbsp; He'll keep an eye on it for you.\"\n\n“You don't understand.\u0026nbsp; It's a rather special kind of memory stick.\"\u0026nbsp; The todd looked over at Pepper.\u0026nbsp; “Your partner isn't overly curious by nature, is he?\"\n\n“He is a detective, if that's what you're asking.\"\n\n“Then we'd better get back to your house, before anything happens.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \\*\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; One of the disadvantages of being a pre-teen was that Sal's normal reasoning ability was being influenced by his present, slightly unbalanced body chemistry.\u0026nbsp; Most kids between the age of about seven and eighteen tend to think less with their rational mind and rely more on the subjective logic of their emotions.\u0026nbsp; In other words, he was bored.\u0026nbsp; Searching for connections between their current case and any possible similar cases was tedious work, requiring more patience than most pre-teens have.\u0026nbsp; Sighing in frustration, he closed the laptop and leaned back on the couch.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Glancing over at Victor's computer he noticed a data stick inserted into one of the ports.\u0026nbsp; For all intents and purposes, it looked like a perfectly normal data stick.\u0026nbsp; That is it would look normal if you ignored the tiny, glowing amethyst mounted on the end of the stick.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul reached over and gently pulled it out of Victor's computer, then rebooted his own and put the data stick in one of the available ports.\u0026nbsp; He waited, and after about twenty seconds a window opened up:\u0026nbsp; ENTER USER NAME.\u0026nbsp; The human thought about it for a moment.\u0026nbsp; He knew from previous conversations that the todd tended to think like a historian, from cause to effect, and was therefore often focused on finding the truth.\u0026nbsp; This occasionally resulted in him being quite literal in his thinking.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Saul typed in Victor's last name: PEABODY.\u0026nbsp; A second window popped up: ENTER PASSWORD.\u0026nbsp; The pre-teen pursed his lips.\u0026nbsp; He had no clue what to enter.\u0026nbsp; Noticing there was a timer in the corner of the screen, Saul shrugged and made a wild guess: SMITHSONIAN.\u0026nbsp; There was a pause.\u0026nbsp; A blue light jumped out from the computer's vidcam lens, quickly scanning his face.\u0026nbsp; A third box opened up: PASSWORD AND FACIAL SCAN INCORRECT FOR USER.\u0026nbsp; INIATING MEDUSA FIREWALL.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“What the hell is a Medusa firewall?\" the detective muttered to himself. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;","series":{"name":"Mind Games","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1737925-mind-games-lycanthrope-chapter-3.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1849022-mind-games-lycanthrope-chapter-5.json"}}