Chapter 7

Not until you tell me what you discussed with Roberto." He parroted as he recalled the waitresses discussion on his way to her.

"Isn't that a form of blackmailing?" She asked with a quizzed grimace plastered on her face.

She had to give it to this friend of hers. He surely knew how to use what he could do to get what he wanted to hear. She laughed in her head as she recalled what she had described him with.

"Yes it is, but which do you prefer? To tell me what you discussed with Roberto or have me tickle you until you laugh your ass out?"

He threatened her with his eyebrows raised in trying to tell her to be sure of what she wished for.

"The latter!" Lucia declared, taking up r6 challenge. She would match up with him today and make him realise that he couldn't always use what he could do to get what he wanted to hear.

"Really, then you have chosen death!" He said with a loud chuckle and then with all his might, tickled her until she almost fell. She managed for a minute before giving in.

Well, that was in the physical world. To those watching, he was a man and she was a woman.

They would never know that in their wolf forms, he would have to seek protection from her if the battle became too strong for him to handle.

"Fine, I would tell you about it, you gossip!" He stopped tickling her and then burst into laughter.

"He offered me a job." She said after taking a minute or two to catch her breayh after laughing so hard.

She began to say something and paused awhile. Her countenance changed from the laughing and childish one to a serious face. She looked on ahead without catching anything in her line of vision.

"Wow! That's good news, why then do you have a gloomy look on you? Isn't the pay enticing?"

"It is, but I'm a bit skeptical about it. He wants me to work as a stripper in his friend's club for just a night and with a pay of almost a thousand dollars." She explained the reason for her gloomy look to him.

"A thousand dollars! So much just to be a stripper? For a night!?" Jackson asked with a flabbergasted grimace.

"Are you indirectly asking me to go for it?" She turned on him and asked.

"Are you indirectly telling me that you don't want to go for it? Come on girl, a thousand dollars isn't child's play.

For the entire month you work here, do you get up to a third of that? You shouldn't allow your heart to rule over your brain…"

He was about to launch into a lecture on how to use one's brain when faced with situations like this that pitched one's moral standing and need for money against each other.

"But won't it be used against me later in the future?" She asked with a concerned grimace, as she continued to stare at Jackson like he was some piece of statue.

"It may and it may not! The probability of that is slim but you shouldn't think of the future now, let the future think for itself.

Or better still, let me come with you as your agent and require that no one should capture or make videos of you."

He told her. He wanted her to go for the money as he knew how dire for money they always were. Opportunities like this shouldn't be allowed to pass away he thought as he left the counter and went back the way he had come.

It was seven pm and Lucia had just completed her shift at the shop and was heading home. She felt so tired and exhausted that she couldn't see herself doing any other thing other than sleeping when she got home.

She had gone through a lot of thinking which made her experience a roller coaster ride in her thoughts.

First was Roberto and his ridiculous offer. She hadn't had enough time to think about it in the shop due to the number of customers she had to attend to.

Now was the time to reflect on it and think of how to make the most out of this opportunity.

Perhaps, she should take on Jackson's offer for help and take on the dancing job. She didn't know if Roberto knew Jackson but what does it matter if he knew him?

At most, Jackson was a friend who was watching out for her so that no harm should come to her. She would call Roberto and see if she could bring Jackson along.

She whistled as she trudged on the sidewalk leading to her house. She would have to call Roberto to inform him of her decision.

"Hey! Pretty lady! Stop right there!" She heard a voice and turned towards the direction she heard the sound from. The voice had sounded from her right.

She could see some men, walking towards her at a fast pace. Four of them were heavily built. She furrowed her brows as she thought of what they wanted from HR.

Her heart thumped loudly against her chest and for the first time in her life, she prayed. It was a prayer, forced out of desperation and fear.

She continued walking, pretending not to hear that she was being called. They soon caught up with her, and one of them pulled her rudely into him.

"Didn't you hear us calling you?" He asked, cupping her breasts with his thick, rough hands.

"Let go of me, you Bastards!" She roared, battling him with her hand and feet. He didn't bulge.

"If you love yourself girl, calm down, and let's have some fun with you. You look sweet." Another said, placing his hands over her buttocks.

"I said you should let go of me!"

She yelled and then with fury, landed him a resounding slap, leaving her fingerprint on his cheek.

That Infuriated him in response, they pushed her on the floor and then carried her into a secluded place.

"Let go of me! Leave me!" She screamed as they dragged her.

She felt something snap in her as her eyes changed into yellow like a fiery furnace.

The men became scared and limbless. Hairs appeared all over her body and long, sharp claws grew out of her fingers.

They dropped her on the floor and took to their heels but they weren't fast enough.

She caught the first one and buried her teeth in his neck. He yelled in pain and then fell to the floor within seconds. Dead.

The fourth hadn't gone far when he heard the scream of his friend. He looked back and froze at the sight staring him in the face.

He continued running and boom! Lucia appeared in his front. Perspiration ran down his face and he realized he was done for.

"Please! Please, don't kill me!" He pleaded with tears in his eyes. Mucus flowed from his face without restraint.

"And why shouldn't I kill you?" Lucia asked in a loud, formidable voice that echoed in the air.

"I have a wife and two kids who depend on me for their survival!"

Those words touched Lucia's heart. She didn't want those children to become fatherless. She remembered her parents and how she lived a lonely life all her years.

"Fine, I would let you go, but under one condition! You mustn't tell anyone about what you saw tonight."

"Yes, I wouldn't. I promise." He said with his palms clasped together.

She waved her hand and immediately took off on his feet. He hadn't gone far when he began to shout, "Help! Help me! It's a wolf! It's going to kill me!"

Lucia went mad and went after him with all her might. She caught up with him and buried her claws and teeth in him.

"Ahhhhhh!" He groaned in pain and then fell to the floor.

Lucia returned to her normal self after almost half an hour. She couldn't understand herself and why she couldn't gain control over her powers.

She stared at the corpse beside her and felt a sharp pang of guilt, though in a subdued manner in comparison to those she killed at the event center.

She heard a small sound and hurried off as fast as her feet could carry her. She didn't want anyone to catch her there else it would be disastrous for her.

She got home and was panting heavily. She met Jackson by her door and wondered what he wanted.

"What's the problem and why are you panting like you just completed a marathon?" He joked but stopped when he noticed the fear on her face.

"Another one! On my way!" She said and he understood immediately.

"How did it happen?" He asked, with concern in his voice.

"I was coming on and..." She went ahead to narrate her tale to him and he gave her his undivided attention.

"Serves them right!" Jackson said after hearing what happened, "But I hoped no one saw you?"

"No, no one! But why are you here?"

"I came to collect your sociology note."

"And why didn't you copy yours in the class?" She asked, poking her lips at him.

"I felt so tired and bored so I couldn't copy any while he was teaching."

"Lazy bone!" She teased him as she opened the door to her room. They stepped in and then she moved her hand across the wall in search of the light socket. She found it and then it flickered on.

"Have it!" She asked with a thick frown.

"Thank you, and don't forget to call Roberto Avanti in regards to the job!" He said as he was leaving.

Yes.

Roberto! She remembered she needed to call him. Her hand dug into her bag and fished out her phone. His number was hidden carefully in her phone's pouch.

She brought that as well and continued to stare at it.

She felt hesitant to call him and at that moment wanted to drop the idea but the thought of losing a thousand dollars flashed through her mind and wiped away any hesitation she felt...

She dialed the number on her phone...

"Dring... Dring... It rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello Roberto." she said in a cold manner. He recognized her voice.

"Hi, Lucia! You called... I thought you probably had no interest in it and thanks for calling me because I now have your number."

He said with a mischievous grin and Lucia felt pissed that that was the only thing he could think of at that moment.

"I'm interested and how do I go about it?" She asked, a few seconds later after taking a deep breath.

"That's great! So I would call my friend and inform him about it and then tell you what he says tomorrow morning at school!"

"Alright and thanks for calling! I love.." He said but couldn't complete it before she hung up.

He sighed in resignation and then went to bed. He had been waiting for her all before going to bed. Now, he could sleep peacefully.

Morning came early, but without the usual bright feeling that accompanies it. It was gloomy and all was dark.

The cloud was filled with rain. Those threatened to pour down within seconds.

Roberto felt hesitant to get up from the bed as the cool breeze blowing from the open window made his skin tingle.

Just when he decided that he wouldn't go to class, the door came open.

He buried his head under his duvet, pretending to be fast asleep.

The man stood by the door and then brought out a huge alarm bell from a black bag and began to fiddle with it.

It rang so loud and at an alarming rate that left Roberto no choice but to get up.

"Why do you derive joy in stressing me out all the mother fucking time?" He yelled at the middle-aged man in front of him.

"I'm sorry but it's the Madam's order," the man responded, giving a low bow.

"Is she back?" Roberto asked, as his pupils dilated around.

"Yes, and she came back with a guest."

"A guest? Who?"

"A certain Mr. Sanchez."

Roberto froze and his face dropped when he heard the name.

It shook it to the marrow because he hadn't expected it.