On Becoming Eve

"No, Victor, I'm serious as the heart attack it sounds like you're about to have," I chuckled," I found out Hank was going to kill me, so I took the money and left them on the mountain. It's that simple, "I paused for a moment," I figure if I bring you the money instead of them, then I get to stay alive and they get to deal with you." That's fair, isn't it? So, if, you tell me where I need to be, I'll bring you your money, um, minus a few expenses."

"I'm in Vegas," he actually laughed," So, who are you anyway?"

"I'm the girl that took out three of your men and carried 25 million in cash down a mountain by myself. I'll call you when I get to town," I tore the phone on half and threw it out the window. I heard a voice in my head laughing.

I had just crossed into Utah, when I saw three black Suburban's, very much like the one I left in the Walmart parking lot, pass me going the other way in a big hurry, "Well, Jackson, it's a good thing I didn't stay," I thought to myself, smiling as I remembered the kiss I had given him. I laughed out loud thinking about what they were going to do when they started trying to track the money and how confused the poor people with the trackers on their cars were going to be when the big burly men started threatening them and asking them questions they couldn't answer.

I chose an exit with both gas and a hotel and pulled off the highway for the night, hit a drive through, gulping down a burger, filled up the Jeep and got a room; this morning's shower and the new clothes made that a lot easier. After I had unloaded everything into the room, I took a shower and settled in for the night, flipping on the T.V. and watched the reporters describe the horror at the crash scene. I lasted about five minutes before I couldn't stand it anymore. I got up and stared out the window at the vast expanse of open space across the highway. I needed to do something to vent the rage building inside me, to deal with the unfairness that I had lived while those kids, the others on the plane had not.

I slipped on some shorts and a t-shirt, pocketed my room key and made my way out of the hotel and across the highway to the open area beyond. Stripping off my shorts and shirt and placing them under a rock, I marked the spot with my scent and ran into the darkness. Stopping only when the noise of the road was in the distance, I opened myself to what was around me, scanning the area for anything moving, listening for the slightest sound and filling my nose with the smells of the night. I began to hunt. It didn't take long before I had found a small herd of antelope. I stalked them, slowly getting closer and closer, picking a small one near the edge of the heard as my target, I sprang from my hiding place and tore his throat open with my claws. The herd bolted, leaving me alone with my prey.

I could feel him next to me and stepped aside, allowing the big cat first rights to the kill; an honor that he accepted. When he was done, I took my fill and curled up next to him, listening to him purr quietly in the night.

We lay together for a short time before I broke the silence," Will it always be like this, Will I always need to hunt," I asked?

"It is what you are now," his voice was becoming comfortable in my head.

"And you, will you always be with me like this?"

"We are the same now, you and me. I am part of you, and you are part of me. That is what the transformation did, that is what the joining is. The spirits deemed it time for me to walk the earth again and this is how it is done," he nudged me with his head," it is not a bad thing, I think."

I knelt before him and he took me," No it is not a bad thing," I said as he came inside me.

We mated several more times before I fell asleep next to him, using his warmth to protect me from the night air and waking up to find him, once again, gone. Following my scent back to my clothes, I slipped on my shorts and shirt and made my way back to the room. I rinsed the hunt and the blood from my body and climbed into bed, sleeping to dreams I didn't understand, dreams of violence interlaced with things carnal until my phone rang, it was my wakeup call. Dressing quickly, I loaded the Jeep before I grabbed a Danish and a cup of coffee from the hotel lobby, after the midnight snack of antelope, I wasn't very hungry. Besides, I would have lunch in Vegas and, hopefully, soon after, this whole thing would be over.

The rain slowed me down a little and It was just after one when I reached Vegas. Remembering how Joe had promised Alex and Hank a steak for lunch, I stopped at the first steak house I found, ordered a rare ribeye, and fought the urge to eat it with my hands. I took out my remaining burner phone and called Victor, "So, you are here," he asked without saying hello?

"Yes, I just stopped for lunch, send me your address and I'll bring you your money and we can put this business behind us," my phone beeped as the text arrived, "See you soon. I am actually looking forward to meeting you, Victor."

"And I, you," he replied, "I would very much like to meet the woman that can do what you did. I will see you soon, and do not worry, you are not at risk, you have my word," the phone went dead.

I decided a new outfit was in order and that Victor was going to pay for it. I asked my waitress where I should go to shop for business attire; two and a half hours and several thousand dollars later, I pulled up to Victor's house in a charcoal grey pencil skirt with subtle pink pinstripes, that fell about halfway above my knees, a matching jacket with a red blouse and four inch heels, and my hair pulled back into a tight pony tail. The money was in the back of the Jeep and the three suitcases I had used Victor's money to fill were in the back seat. One guard loaded the duffle bags onto the sled while another gave me a cursory search and took my gun, it was Hank's anyway. The first guard led me into Victor's home office with the 25 million dollars, minus expenses, in tow. Joe, Alex and Hank stood off to the side looking seriously cowed, they must have driven all night, or the plane I had speculated had been a reality. None of the three looked happy to be here, Joe was trying to hide a nervous smile, Alex just looked confused and Hank wanted to kill me right there. I took a deep breath, filling my senses with the smells in the room, I recognized the scents of the three men I already knew and picked up a similar one that I assumed was the guard that showed me in and then, a much stronger musk that I knew had to be Victors. It was rich and full, not earthly as Jackson had been but, robust and full of spice, almost like a good steak, well-seasoned on a hot grill. I heard the cat snarl inside my head and knew immediately that Victor was not to be trifled with. I put my hand out, "Nice to meet you Victor, I am Eve," I said, taking the first name that came into my head. He stood up and shook my hand, looking at me curiously and not totally convinced I was who I said I was.

"You know my men," he motioned to Joe, Alex and Hank as he took his seat behind the desk?

"That I do, and I want to thank them for their courtesy and your hospitality. If not for you gentlemen, I would still be on that mountain and would never have found these amazing heels, " I smiled at them and showed off the shoes, "Also, I am sorry that we had to part ways in the manner that it happened, but, you see, I just could not in all good conscience, let 'Little Henry' touch me again;" I wiggled my little finger, locking eyes with Hank, hoping the diminutive would have an effect, it did, "especially if it was the last thing I would ever experience. My only other option was to slaughter you while you slept and I just didn't want to deal with the fallout of that choice," the veins in Hank's neck were bulging at my audacity; his face was almost purple with rage. I winked at him and looked back at Victor.

"So, is my money all there," he asked calmly?

"Almost, I had to borrow a little for expenses, I smiled as I drew my fingers down my lapels, showing of my new suit; just over ten, maybe close to twenty thousand dollars, I believe. I am sorry, I did not think to keep receipts," I smiled at him, "and before I forget," I reached into my purse and laid the three wallets, the sat phone, and the tracking device on Victors desk, setting my purse next to them. "One of your guards has 'Little Henry's' gun," I smiled again, wiggling my little finger and winking at Hank; he lost it, charging at me in a wild rage.

I dodged, letting him run past, tripping him in the process and laughing as he crashed to the floor. I could feel my senses heightening as I stepped out of my heels and unzipping my skirt, letting it fall to the floor. I kicked them to the side and out of the way, tossing my jacket on top of the pile as I turned to meet Hank's next attack. I didn't want to get Hank's blood on my new clothes and felt I could move better without them. I could feel the rage rising inside me and taste the blood lust in my mouth as the tension between Hank and me grew.

"I shoulda killed you when I had the chance," Hank pulled a knife from his pocket flipping the blade open, "I'm going to enjoy cutting you open, you fucking bitch," he glared at me. His attack was slower and more deliberate this time, giving me time to add my blouse to the pile, leaving me in only my matching pink bra and panties with a garter belt and stockings.

I wiggled my little finger at him again," then come on 'Little Henry'" I snarled as I crouched slightly, staring Hank down, forcing my claws from my fingers and baring my teeth, and hissing loudly. We moved in a slow circle, I could see him focusing on my body, trying to figure out where he was going to cut me first. My stripping had had its desired effects, protecting me new clothes, distracting Hank giving him something else to focus on besides the razor sharp blades he was facing and giving me the freedom of movement to leap into the air as he lunged with his knife, slashing at my gut. Without thinking, I did a flip over Hank's head and, grabbing his shoulders dug my claws in deep, Hank cried out in surprise and pain as I twisted in the air and landed behind him. The muscles in my arms and shoulders burned as I shoved the claws of my left hand into his back, twisted my hand and snapped his spine; reaching around his neck; I ripped his throat open with the claws on my right. He collapsed in a heap at my feet.

Delicately licking Hank's blood from my fingers and my claws as they retracted, I wiped the remaining blood from my hands with his coat. When they were clean, I picked up my clothes from where they lay as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Folding them neatly I set them next to my purse, opting not to get dressed lest any splash on my body from Hank might stain them. No one, including Victor, said a word. The big cat roared in my head as I stepped into my heels, "Well done. Now you begin to understand what you are," I smiled to myself; I had wanted to do that since that first night with Hank.

"I hope you have a good maid service, that's is going to be a bitch to clean up," Joe's face had turned white and he was leaning back against the wall, staring in disbelief. Alex had collapsed to the floor, peeing himself in the process. Victor had leaned back in his chair and watched with intense interest as I so easily dispatched a man twice my size.

"So, are we all good here," I stepped away from the spreading pool of blood and looked at Victor?

"I believe I would like for you to be my guest for a few days, if you are willing," his smile offering a cautious invitation as his eyes scanned my scantily clad body, "We may have things to discuss," He looked at Joe and Alex, "You two, get some help and clean this up," Victor stood up and moved from behind his desk, gesturing toward a door. I followed him out of his office, leaving Joe and Alex to clean up the mess that had been Hank. Victors scent had changed, I smelled arousal.

The next room was a smaller version of Victor's office. An attractive young woman looked up from her desk, raising a single eyebrow, nodding and smiling politely, "This is my assistant Sarah. She will make sure you are comfortable," Victor gestured toward the young woman and I thought I saw he lick her lips," Sarah, can you please take care of Eve. She can use the guest room upstairs at the end of the hall to refresh herself and rest if she would like. I am hoping she will join us for dinner," he looked at me and smiled, "Now if you ladies will excuse me, there are some things in my office that require my attention," he left the room.

"Yeah, about 25 million of them," I thought to myself as I turned to follow Sarah out of the room into the hallway.

We took the back stairs up to the second floor down a long hallway, Sarah stopped at the last door on the right, "You will be in here, Victor's room is next door," The fact that she mentioned it gave me the impression that it mattered. " Dinner will be at 7:30, cocktail attire is preferred, should you decide to join us. You will find your luggage already in your room. I would suggest you freshen up a bit," she commented as she turned to leave.

I opened the door. The room was beyond spacious, it was huge. The large canopy bed on the wall to my right, dominated the room, it had translucent lace drapes covered in delicate pastel flowers in various shades of pinks and purples. The rest of the room was done in subtle greens and yellows giving a very spring-like feel to the space. There was a sitting area by large fireplace in the corner, with a writing desk and a chaise lounge by a large bay window that looked out over the opulent grounds behind the house. It was decidedly feminine, but also very tasteful and did not come across as overdone at all. The room had a natural warmth to it, and I felt comfortable almost immediately.

There were two sets of double doors on the left wall, kicking off my shoes and started to explore a little. I chose the door closest to me, it led to a huge walk in closet, larger than most bedrooms. The suitcases that I had filled, using Victor's money earlier that afternoon, were on the floor under some shelves that held the shoes I had bought. The things that needed to be were hung with care, whoever had done it had left just the right amount of space between each item so they would not get wrinkled but not so much that it looked like something was missing. I found the rest of my tops, pants and my underwear meticulously placed in drawers next to the shoes. It amazed my how little space fifteen thousand dollars' worth of clothes took up in a closet this size. Somebody wanted me to stay for a while.

The closet opened into an equally impressive bath area, with a double vanity with a makeup mirror in between the sinks, a massive jacuzzi tub, a glass shower enclosure with four shower heads and room for a small party. Next to the shower was a door that concealed a toilet with a bidet, next to that a linen closet full of towels and sheets for the massive bed in the other room. I stripped down and pushed the big button that said 'FILL' on the side of the tub, thinking a nice long soak would be just what I needed to relax. Turning to put my clothes on the vanity, I immediately understood Sarah's comment about freshening up, my face and chest were covered with splatters of Hank's blood, small dots decorated my bra< perhaps they would fade to match the bright pink, and my lips were deep red from licking my fingers and claws. I sat heavily in the chair facing the makeup mirror staring at myself, trying to understand what I had done and how it had come so easy for me. I knew it was me or him, it didn't help... the big cat's words came back to me, "Now you begin to understand what you are," I shuddered at what that meant as I scrubbed the blood from my body.

When I was sure I had gotten it all, I sat there staring at myself wondering what I was truly capable of. I raised my hands in front of my face and just watched, mesmerized, as I extended and retracted my claws. Reaching out with my index finger, I drew the short blade along the granite countertop, leaving a small but distinct scratch in the stone. I took a close look at my face; my large eyes accented my long face and were complimented by high cheekbones, a slightly square chin, and a nose just on the wide side. My mouth was wide, with full lips, and gave me a huge smile. I bared my teeth and hissed at the image in the mirror; my canines were suddenly well over an inch long. I closed my mouth and smiled again; they were barely noticeable. Decidedly on the exotic end of the spectrum, I was a very attractive woman.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. "Master Victor thought perhaps a glass of wine," the poor butler blushed bright red and coughed, trying his best not to stare and I realized I had opened the door without thinking and was standing in front of him butt naked. I apologized, thanked him and took the glass of wine. In my defense, the scent had been like Jacksons and I knew, whoever it was, was not a threat. I laughed at myself as I walked back to the bathroom, thinking about that poor butler, slipped into the tub, taking a sip of the wine as the faucet turned itself off, "Somebody has too much money," I laughed to myself. The hearty Cabernet was excellent, robust and full bodied with earthy undertones; It would have been a good paring for the antelope I had enjoyed last night. I turned on the jets, closed my eyes and started to purr.

The timer on the jets lasted about thirty minutes, by which time, the warm water had just turned tepid, and I was very relaxed. Strategically repositioning one of the jets had given me a very nice orgasm that had definitely helped; I finished my wine as I climbed out of the tub and pushed the 'EMPTY' button, leaving the glass on the vanity next to the scratch I had made. The linen cabinet had a large stack of huge, fluffy towels that were nice and warm. I dried myself off and exited the double doors to my room where I discovered a red cocktail dress and a jewelry box laid out on my bed; a pair of matching heels were on the floor below the dress. My purse and a small briefcase had been placed on the writing desk; my clothes were laid out on the chaise. I took a deep breath and found Sarah's distinctive scent in the air as I walked to the desk; checking my phone, it was almost seven and time to get dressed for dinner, if that is what I decided to do. I checked the briefcase, I found 23 bundles of hundred-dollar bills; I guess 1% percent was the finder's fee for Victors money. I chuckled thinking how he had deducted my 'expenses' from the amount.

It hit me that the way the items were laid out implied a definite choice; I had the option to take the money and leave, or to join Victor for dinner and accept his offer of hospitality and all that implied. There was no hint of pressure, just two options, both very clear and both of which led to an even larger unknown. I thought about Victor's scent, how raw and powerful it was and how the big cat had reacted to it. I thought about the way Victor had watched me kill Hank with a dispassionate interest, almost curiosity, and, for some reason, how Sarah had not been phased at all by my blood splattered visage; and how she had raised that eyebrow and smiled at the sight of me. Understanding that it was by far the more dangerous choice, I could feel myself moisten as I walked to the bed and picked up the dress; the big cat purred softly in my head.

Sarah walked out of the closet holding lacey red underwear, "I can help you with your hair and makeup, if you'd like," she smiled at me as her eyes scanned my naked body. I wondered how she had been so sure of the choice I would make when I hadn't known until a few seconds ago what I was going to do.