Blood Moon Read Free Page B

begin.” He turned to Rose. “Doctor Fisher, would you see if Doctor Channing is going to grace us with his presence?”
    Rose nodded and got to her feet. She’d almost made it to the doors when they burst open and a tall, thin man wearing horn-rimmed spectacles, a white, bloodstained surgical smock and gore-encrusted rubber gloves strode into the room. The man glared at the Colonel. “What is it now, Richards? I’m in the middle of something important.”
    The Colonel gave Doctor Channing a thin smile. “We’ll try not to keep you long, Doctor. In fact, we might as well start with you. What have you found so far?”
    Doctor Channing huffed and rolled his eyes. “The creature’s blood is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The cells are more animal than human, although I’m still waiting on the DNA analysis from those imbeciles in Wroughton. The two I’ve examined so far appear to have similar regenerative abilities, however, Mr Wilkinson’s capacity for healing is seriously inhibited by silver. The other creature appears to be unaffected by it.”
    Steven raised an eyebrow. “You have one in custody? If it’s healing from a silver wound then it’s a member of a pack field team. I’d watch your back. They don’t tend to leave their people behind.”
    The room went silent for a moment. Steven noticed Paul clench his fists into tight balls, while Phil looked physically sick. Given their recent experiences with pack werewolves, Steven couldn’t say he blamed them.
    The Colonel gave Steven a thin smile. “I can assure you, Mr Wilkinson, we have taken every precaution. Please, Doctor, continue.”
    Doctor Channing exhaled in irritation at the interruption. “Anyway, I’ve yet to determine exactly how the transformation occurs, however there appears to be some evidence of a viral vector that I’m attempting to isolate, which may explain how an individual becomes infected. Beyond that, it’s almost impossible to learn more with a living subject. The damn thing heals before I can do any real exploratory surgery. If you’d only allow me to dissect him properly, then we might get somewhere.”
    The Colonel shook his head. “We’ve discussed this before, Doctor. With the exception of Mr Wilkinson here, who is our guest and is not to be harmed, I can’t sanction the termination of our only living werewolf. As far as we know, he’s the only one in captivity anywhere in the world.”
    “Then, Colonel Richards, I suggest you get me something else to work with. There are too many disparities between the two subjects we currently have, and the Hamilton woman was too badly damaged to give much insight. I need more subjects to continue my work.”
    Colonel Richards smiled at this. “And that, Doctor, is precisely why I’ve brought us all together today.”
     
    21st December 2008. Trecorras Cottage, Llangarron, Herefordshire. 15:30
    “Marie, he’ll be here in a minute. Can you please do the drying up? Like I asked you to do an hour ago.”
    Marie groaned and tried to push herself up from the sofa. The makeshift stitches across her side tugged at her tender skin, and she felt a couple pop loose. A warm trickle of blood ran down the inside of her t-shirt, staining the white fabric a deep crimson.
    “Marie?”
    She bristled at the sound of his voice, but bit down her irritation, almost managing to keep it out of her voice. “Alright, I’m doing it now.”
    “And can you pick your clothes up off the bedroom floor? And did you remember to clean the toilet?”
    “Why would Daniel go into our bedroom? Just close the fucking door and he won’t see the clothes.”
    “Marie, just do it, please.” John’s voice had acquired an edge that Marie didn’t like, however, she decided not to push the point.
    She shuffled through to the kitchen and began half-heartedly drying up the cutlery and plates, keeping one eye on the long gravel track that was the only route to or from the isolated house.
    John bustled into the