Laurann Dohner - Fury

Tiger moved quickly and grabbed Ellie around her waist, spun her, and clamped his hand over her mouth. Her feet left the floor. Tiger strode quickly toward the front door with her struggling, caught inside his arms. They were outside in seconds.

“Quiet,” Tiger growled next to her ear. “And don’t be afraid. He’ll smell it. You said he took your scent. Just take some deep breaths and I’ll explain it all to you, okay? You have to keep your voice down. Promise me?”

Ellie was furious, not afraid, when she nodded against his hand. The body holding hers relaxed as he lowered her to the ground and released her. His hand left her mouth. Ellie spun to glare up at him.

“What was that for?” She hissed.

“Don’t you realize how injured Fury was?” Tiger frowned. “A human would have died. It’s been just over a week but he’s walking around. He’s been healing really fast. Didn’t you wonder about that?”

“You guys just do that faster. Fury told me it’s normal for New Species.”

“We do to a certain degree but not as fast as Fury has, without help. This is classified but as Fury’s mate, you’re considered New Species. You need to be told. Not all of the records were destroyed when we were discovered. Some of the doctors hadn’t kept all their notes and research on the computer systems they destroyed when the testing facilities were breached. In some cases we were even able to get the formulas and exact chemical compositions of some of the drugs they used on us.”

The news surprised her. “Why keep it a secret?”

He hesitated. “Did you ever wonder why the President and the United States was so eager to hand over a military base to us for our home? To be so agreeable with whatever demands we made? We had some humans who were very sympathetic, very happy to give Justice advice. They told him about sovereignty. We demanded equal human rights and were given them as well. New Species govern themselves on American soil, on the land we were given. We were also extended diplomatic immunity in many ways for New Species. We’re considered American citizens but given special concessions.”

“Of course you’re Americans. You were born here. It’s only right you are given a safe place to live. There are so many hate groups out there that it wouldn’t be safe for any of you to try to merge with regular society right off the bat.”

“Mercile Industries were given billions of dollars to help fund drug studies and research for decades. The President signed off on the last six years of the money given to Mercile. It came from military funds.”

Ellie stared at him, confused. “How does this apply to Fury right now?”

“Mercile promised to create drugs that would make the armed forces stronger, better fighters, heal faster after battle, and even heighten their senses. A pharmaceutical advantage that other countries wouldn’t have. They vaccinate our fighting forces to prevent them from catching diseases when they send them to other countries. Imagine giving them a shot that would make them stronger, faster, and harder to kill in battle situations. It would win wars easier, quicker, with a lot less casualties. No one knew Mercile had crossed moral and legal boundaries to gain the advancements they were promising to develop. Every dollar they were given helped enslave us and paid for blood, sweat, and torture.”

People would be outraged if they discovered their tax dollars had been sunk into something so vile. Every human rights organization on the planet would be up in arms and some countries might accuse the government of horrific crimes.

“That’s awful,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. What does this have to do with Fury and why you believe he could be dangerous? I want to get back inside, Tiger. Just get to the point.”

“They created a lot of drugs and a few of the recovered reports stated that some humans who volunteered to take them died. One batch of the drugs increased healing in New Species at a phenomenal rate.” He cleared his throat. “It also drove a small percentage of New Species temporarily insane when tested on us. The doctors didn’t drop the study. According to the few notes on it, they believed an insane, injured person on the mend was worth the temporary insanity. New Species who had that adverse effect of rage-driven insanity always recovered fully. The humans in that study weren’t so lucky. Either they died, or if their bodies healed, their minds were permanently destroyed.”

Her mind clicked. “You were worried Fury would go insane?”

“Yes. The notes weren’t complete. We don’t know a time frame on when the insanity strikes or how long it lasts if he’s one of the unfortunate ones. Aggression and murderous rages are part of those side effects.”

“And you believe he’s exhibiting them?”

“You said he was enraged and very aggressive, that he forced you against the wall when he scented you, Ellie. Tell me the truth. Is he acting normal for him? You know him well.”

She hesitated, remembering the scene inside the bathroom. “He didn’t hurt me and I don’t believe he will. Maybe he’s just mad because that nurse could piss anyone off. I’m not on experimental drugs but I still want to strangle her.”

“It’s best to be safe than sorry. You need to be taken away from him until we are certain he’s not a danger. The human side of Species seem to fade during the reaction and our animal instincts take total control. We’re natural predators and he may have scented you as prey, Ellie.”

“Don’t be ridicules,” Ellie sputtered. “Fury loves me. He was just upset that Nurse Bitch in there threw herself at him. He didn’t hurt me and he wouldn’t.”

Tiger watched her face closely. “We can’t take any chances.”

She hesitated. “I understand but I’m not leaving him. Let’s just go talk to him and you’ll see that he’s fine.”

A car pulled up in front of the house. Ellie turned as Slade opened the driver’s door of the car and Justice climbed out of the passenger side. Trisha and a stranger got out of the back.

“You’re safe.” Justice looked relieved. “You need to leave. Tiger will drive you to Doctor Norbit’s house.”

Trisha held out keys to the tall New Species. “These are to my house. I have a guestroom.” She visually scanned Ellie from head to foot. “Help yourself to my clothes and anything else you need. My closet is your closet.”

“Where is the nurse?” Slade glanced around the area.

“Inside still.” Tiger shrugged. “She’s packing her things.”

“Damn it,” Justice growled. “He might attack her. She started this. Get Ellie out of here.”

Slade jerked open the front door and stormed into the house, Justice right behind him. Trisha and the stranger stood outside. Ellie studied the man with curiosity.

“This is Doctor Ted Treadmont. He’s the leading scientist on New Species,” Trisha said. “You need to go, Ellie. You can come back when it’s safe.”

“How many times do I have to say that Fury isn’t going to hurt me before someone listens? I’m not leaving.”

Tiger cursed. “He’s going to kill me for this.” He suddenly lunged, grabbed Ellie around her waist, and clamped his hand over her mouth. He jerked his head at Trisha. “Don’t stand there, Doctor Norbit. Could you please go open the trunk of the car for me? There’s a release pull for it on the dash. I need to get her away from him in case he goes nuts.”

Trisha ran for the car. Ellie struggled and clawed at Tiger’s arms but he wouldn’t put her down and she couldn’t do more than make soft sounds with his palm cupped firmly over her mouth. She kicked at his legs but no matter how many times she nailed him with her bare feet, it didn’t slow him down. The trunk opened and Tiger dumped Ellie inside.