Nowhere To Go But Roanapur

My phone woke me up seemingly thirty minutes later. Vision hazy, I saw that in fact hours had passed as I answered the phone.

“Mm?” I moaned into the receiver.
“Not the way you should greet me,” came a voice that drew me to full consciousness.
“Forgive me, Miss Rebecca, I am not at my best first thing. What can I do for you?”
“I got a job that takes me to the far side of Roanapur, care to come along?”
“I’d love to. Where shall I meet you?”

Revy told me where. She hung up and so did I. I showered in record time and was waiting at the rendezvous for her. I smelt her first; like hot skin and violence, it drew me to face her, absently reminding me that I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. She wore what she usually did and had an unlit cigarette clasped between her lips. I wanted to go to her, take her in my arms and rub my nose along the nape of her neck, taking in the lovely scents. I wanted to roll my tongue along her skin, set my teeth to her flesh and…

“Hey whore, the hell are you daydreaming about lookin’ at me like that?” Revy asked, scowling at me.
“Like what, Miss Rebecca?” I asked, setting my face to mildly amused.
“Don’t fuck with me, you looked like you wanted to eat me,” she added, “And not in a sexual way.”
“Many pardons, I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“I didn’t tell you not to eat,” Revy rolled her eyes, “If you’re not going to be any good because you didn’t eat, leave now.”
“My skills are not hampered by hunger, I assure you. I have the utmost control.”
“Then let’s go. If you’re good we might grab something along the way.”

Being good consisted of paying for the cab to take us to the outskirts of Roanapur, and bribing him to drive further into the most uncivilized parts of town. Meanwhile Revy briefed me on the job as we pulled up to a street vendor and bought a few recognizable snacks. I munched, and shared, happily as the taxi slowed to a stop half a mile outside of the Ruffian Row. No amount of money I was willing to offer the driver would have taken us further. I stared back, watching the dust settle from the cab driver’s hasty retreat back towards the relatively safer parts of town. Revy touched my shoulder, turning me towards the Ruffian Row, and on we ventured.
It was already a little past noon when the taxi left us, and well past one when I felt the eyes on us. Our destination was an old run-down train station and I was more than a little concerned when we made it to the station without any hindrances.

“This feels wrong,” I said low enough for only Revy to hear me, “Especially for a ten grand job.”
“I know that; just keep your eyes peeled.”

The station was almost like an old time western; half built, several small buildings along the tracks, and a few more across from them. Not a light in sight, at least not one that would work. Revy suggested we check both rows of buildings at the same time; I agreed. If we got to be out of this area before the rest of the city blotted out the sun’s light, I’d be a happy camper. The very lack of life this place was emanating was creeping me the hell out. It was as if the place had frozen in time, taken a collective breath and was waiting… But waiting for what?
Revy checked the buildings on the incoming side of the tracks, I checked the outgoing side. Our job was to find a man responsible for assassinating a lieutenant of the Taiwanese Navy. This was supposed to be his hiding ground, his cutting ground for when he abducted people. Soon this would be his burial ground. I scented the air around the first building; empty. I carefully opened the door, pushing it flush to the wall behind it and scanned the single room area. A table, some files, chairs for waiting riders, a water closet. Once content that it was truly empty, I continued to the next cabin. I looked across the tracks, watching Revy enter another cabin with her guns drawn. I peered into the shadows between her buildings, making sure nothing would come in behind her and continued searching my side.
Several things happened at once: something foul attacked my nose, a light flashed, blindingly bright and ruining my vision, and something caught me on the chest. I was knocked off my feet, my gun drawn and pointed before my back hit the ground. Something sinewy wrapped around my ankle and yanked me inside the room, the door slamming shut behind me. I would have fired, but there was nothing to shoot. The room was empty, well, except for the booby trap I stupidly tripped. My chest hurt, bad, and I looked down to see blood quickly spreading over my shirt.

“Shit, perfect time to get shot,” I growled and sat up, unhooking my foot from the corded wire.

I cursed under my breath, the pain was a mind fuck, I’d never been hit with a shotgun before, no matter what gauge. I lucked out that it was small, even more so that it wasn’t silver shot. Luckilly I wore a dark shirt, so the blood would be hard to see, especially with night creeping up. With a grunt I made it to my hands and knees and began to shift forms; I had to heal this or Revy would learn what I was, and I wouldn’t be able to help her if things got worse. Once the rush of a complete change washed over me, I took a deep breath at the pain that seeped away. I looked down at my chest; my black spotted white fur was still clean, save for the deeper wounds that still seeped red blood. They weren’t life threatening anymore, they would heal soon. I never quite understood how one as dark skinned as I could possibly become a magnificent white furred creature. I’m not the darkest in human form, but save for my spots, in animal form I am the lightest.
Thoughts pushed aside, I went to the window and climbed out, making my way to the rooftops to finish patrolling my buildings and keep a relative eye on Revy. I might have stuck out more if the sun wasn’t already fighting to peek over the tops of the buildings of Roanapur. My side was empty, of course, aside from more booby traps that I didn’t set off. They seem to reset themselves anyway, replenishing ammo every now and again and removing the bodies the only maintenance they required. I crept across the tracks, keeping low and rechecking the buildings Revy already hit.
Gunfire rang out and I looked to see Revy at the end of the line of buildings shooting across the street to a figure on the roof. How I managed to miss him, I’ll never know, but he didn’t miss me. I heard the bullet whizzing over my head and thud into the wood behind me. I backed around the corner and changed back, sighting thru the cracks of the building to the man across the street. He was just standing there, and Revy was missing, I don’t know why but she was. I took my shot and it went wide as well. What the hell? Revy kept at it, I used her as cover to cross back over and come up on the backside of the buildings. The man turned and put a shot in my shoulder; I growled and ducked into shadows, changing again. I’d definitely be shot in front of Revy if I charged him in human form. I could take a shot and kill him in animal form and Revy, hopefully, wouldn’t know it was me. Or kill me. I pounced off a building, rebounding off the wall to reach the roof of the cabin the man was on. I charged him straight on, my shoulder already healing, my chest wounds stopped bleeding. I leapt at him tackling him off the building and crushing him under my weight on the ground. With a mighty roar I tore into his neck at the same time his gun went off one last time into my gut. My body jerked but I kept my teeth clamped to his neck.
I tore away that chunk of flesh, my teeth snagging on metal, making me leave a part of his throat attached. A bullet grazed my shoulder and I ducked away, backing from the rapidly approaching, foul mouthed Revy. I turned and ran into the shadows, finding adequate cover to change back. Revy was kneeling by the man’s body, well and truly sure that he was dead. She was scowling as I came closer. I’d circled around so that I didn’t return in the wake of the leopard.

“Check this out,” she pointed at the metal ring around his neck.
I knelt down, touched the cooling flesh to examine it, “If this is what I think it is, how the hell did he get one?” I turned his head, unhooking the ends of the wire from his flesh and pulling it free.
“What is it?” Revy asked.
“Experimental military technology. It’s a ring of protection; it deflects a bullet’s pattern, bouncing it away from hitting the wearer by messing with magnetic fields or something. Made for terrible accounts of friendly fire so it’s still in development…how could he get a beta version though?”
“Do I want to know how you know that?” Revy asked through narrowed eyes.
“Ask me later and I might tell you,” I replied. “What did the client want as proof of death?”
“He’s got a tattoo on his hand that some of the soldiers saw.”
I pulled out a knife and grabbed the inked hand. I looked to Revy, “Would you like to do this?”
“Go right on ahead. I got your back.”

I nodded and detached the hand. The swelling smell of blood and meat was beginning to make me hungry again. I looked up, shadows were falling quickly. We had to leave this place before all light ceased to touch it. I stood and wrapped the hand in a bit of the shirt from the man I killed and turned to Revy.

“I’ll try to answer any questions as soon as we get out of he-“

The ground started to rumble. A deep thrumming as the last of the light faded over the edges of the distant buildings. The lonely station was bathed in darkness and the rumbling grew nearer; fast. Revy dropped a few choice curses and I pulled her gently around behind a building, on high alert. Bullets rained down, drowning out the sound of the oncoming train, because that’s what it was. Bits of metal riddled the wooden building we used as cover. I backed Revy up further and told her we had to catch that train. If we missed it… well, we can’t afford to miss it. This was a hell of an elaborately set trap.
We ran out into the rain of bullets, nimbly dodging, but getting grazed in several places. I grabbed Revy’s arm and tossed her ahead of me onto the quickly passing train. A few cars and a bullet later, I was onboard too. God damn this mission, this was the 4th time getting shot full on today. I was actually getting tired, but I had to get back to Revy’s side. The moon was still far from showing and we didn’t have time to stick around here waiting for it. I met up with Revy in the next train car. Apparently she wasn’t going to wait for me to come to her. Fine by me, better actually.

“We need to make sure this train is empty before we get comfortable,” I said, tearing a piece of my tattered shirt to use as a tourniquet.
“We also need to figure out where this goes.”
“No where we want to be, that’s for sure. If memory serves me correct,” I huffed, “We need to jump off this train in about 3 and a half minutes. That should put us as close to the edge of the city as we are going to get on this thing.”
“You know an awful lot for someone who’s only recently come to town,” Revy said. “Something you want to tell me, whore?”
“Revy,” I cringed, “Miss Rebecca, I promise I’ll answer your questions once we clear this train.”
“How bad are you hurt?” she asked.
“Not that bad, mostly grazed, but I’m feeling drained.”

Revy stood up and pulled me to my feet. We decided to stick together as we checked the last few cars and moved up to the front of the train. We were alone. As alone as we were going to get on a ghost run train. Ok, maybe not ghost run, but this train isn’t supposed to be operating. The tracks are shit for one, and the engine room is devoid of any solid life. Revy pushed me into a seat and began to look over my wounds. I tried to stop her from touching the heavier bleeding ones, but she protested.

“Ok, whore, I want some answers. Now.”
“Yes Miss Rebecca. Ask your questions.” I sighed.
“How did you know about the military tech?”
“I’m ex military, way back before I became wanted.”
“Why are you wanted? How do you have so much money?”
“I’d much prefer to tell you those answers in a much secure place, please Mistress.”
“How the fuck are you healing so quick? You got shot but now it looks like a small stab wound.”
“Please Miss Rebecca,” I panted, if I didn‘t know better, I‘d think I was getting sick.
“Fine, let’s go. It’s time to jump.”

The land speeding by us didn’t seem soft at all. I was tempted, but knew better than to offer to shield Revy with my body. Instead, I waited for her to jump and followed right behind her. The stony earth wasted no time in breaking our fall, catching us in small bits and painful pieces. Revy stopped rolling first and just lie there taking in the pain. I tumbled a little past her and rose to my hands and knees, scenting the air and looking around us. We were clear for now. I urged Revy to get up, we needed to keep moving. Whatever hunted in these darklands was not something I wanted to meet in my current condition. We climbed to our feet and started to jog towards Roanapur. We were maybe a good 3 miles out and still a good while longer until the moon rose to her cradle in the night sky.
It took us almost an hour, Revy had to stop several times before she allowed me to carry her. Her smoker’s lungs just weren’t up to a long distance run; not to say much more of my condition. We finally hit the outer reaches of Roanapur and I let Revy slide to the ground as I huddled over and caught my breath.

“Do they want the hand tonight or tomorrow?” I huffed, sweat dripping of my face.
“They can get it tomorrow; I’ll contact them when I get back to my place.”
“I have a phone, do you want to crash at my place? It‘s closer.”
“Yeah, sure lets go. Then you can answer my questions.”

Revy gave me a considering look there, like maybe she had underestimated me, or maybe I had a second head. Did she guess that it was me who killed that man? It’s possible. My face neutral, I led her to my much closer abode. I had a very simple setup, contrary to my money. An understated 2 bedroom house, with 1 full bathroom and a half bathroom, a decent kitchen and living area, and a really nice fenced yard. I had a couple lovely trees in the back, big, thick and leafy, that I loved to nap in when the moon was out. Revy made herself at home, without my invitation, and jumped in the shower. Meanwhile I cleaned up in the half bathroom. I had to pick out a few bits of metal from the shot gun blast, that’s one of the things that had me feeling sick. I didn’t think I could get lead poisoning, but it certainly didn’t make me smile. I cleaned up and started a meal. I smelt her before I saw her; she’d used my body wash and smelt deliciously clean. Fresh, I could almost smell the water beading on her skin. I turned as she came through the door and nearly lost my composure. She came out with a towel fastened around her waist, and another draped over her hair, barely covering her breasts. I watched a drop of water stream down her collar, swoop between her breasts and curve around her belly button.

“You’re doing it again,” she said, bringing my attention to her face.
“I’m sorry?” I asked.
“Watching me like you want to eat me, though there’s some sex in the look this time.”
“I’ve got food on my mind, sorry Miss Rebecca, but I am cooking.”

She sauntered closer to me, the towel around her head slipping. She pushed her face close to me, just a breath away from a kiss. Her hands roamed my abdomen, fingers curling under my shirt and pulling it up higher. Her hands roamed the smooth expanse of my stomach and higher. She kissed me finally, pressing her lips to mine, but only chastely before she retreated as she felt the soft healing skin from the buck shot.

“You were the white cat, huh? That‘s why you heal fast.”
One helluva way to drop the bomb, but, “I am. Are you afraid?”
Revy laughed, “Hardly. I own you, remember?”
I smiled at that, “Odd reaction to someone who’s learned that their pet really is an animal.”
“Change for me, I want to see it up close,” she stepped closer.
“If you thought it was me, why did you shoot at me?”
“I wasn’t entirely sure. Better safe than sorry,” she stepped in front of me, her tantalizing body so close it hurt not to touch her. “It certainly explains the way you’ve been watching me.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you more than you wanted me to,” I said.
Revy leaned in close, her lips inches from my own, “Change for me,” she breathed against me.

She kissed me, a quick domineering probe that awakened the hunger within me even more. Was she trying to see how far she could push me? Was she testing my control? My loyalty? While it is true that I’d heal faster if I changed… I stepped back from Revy’s delicious body and obliged her request. I changed as quickly as I could, going fully from human to leopard in the blink of an eye. Revy did good not to step back or show her fear, but I heard her pulse spike, smelt her scent change. It excited me. I turned and sniffed at the meal I was preparing, not quite done yet. I turned back and sat down, letting Revy decide what she wanted to do. She put out her hand and called me to her, I went slowly. She pet the fur of my head and I rubbed myself under her hand. I came up to waist high easily, and weighed over 150 pounds. I felt her hands tighten in the fur behind my head, I pushed my head against her touch.

“This is amazing,” Revy murmured, “Where you born like this?”

Resisting the urge to nuzzle her, I stepped back and changed again. My torso was a little tight from the quickly healed wounds, but the holes were sealed. I checked the food once more, thinking to myself how best to orchestrate the following conversation. Revy seemed to gather as much and waited; toweling off as she did so.

“Just to let you know, its very hard to think with you naked beside me,” I drank in the sight of her, now bare breasted, and lost my train of thought.
Revy must have read the thought on my face but ignored her nudity, “How’d you come to be a shape shifter?”
“Remember that ex-military career I mentioned? Well I was in a very secretive special unit within Black Ops. I was actually drafted out of death row,” I scoffed, “Given the option to either die that day or join. I figured if I joined it wouldn’t be hard to escape eventually, much better odds than death, at least. They didn’t show me any small print. Apparently I was joining an experimental unit.”
I busied myself with the food, focusing harder on its preparation rather than the trip down memory lane, “Long story short. They experimented on us, gave us this drug and gene manipulations and shit. Next thing I know I’ve got fur and fangs. I’m definitely not natural, I’m not a lycanthrope, not a skinwalker…”
“That explains the shapeshifting and healing. Also why you keep staring at me weirdly. I assume it also has to deal with why you’re wanted, right?”
“That’s pretty much it. Saw my opportunity to split and deuced it.”
“And the money came from?”
“Well my heightened abilities helped me thank the people that made me into a freak. Not to mention a few banks. Due to my knowledge and abilities, I’m wanted, preferably dead before I can let the cat out of the bag, pardon the pun.”
“Then why tell me? Surely not because I asked.” Revy was sure, in fact.
I looked at her, “Either you’ll kill me, or I’ll kill you if it came down to it. I’ve been everywhere on this planet and I’m tired of running and hiding.”
“Why not just live in the jungle? Adopt your new nature and rough it.”
“Like I said, I’m not natural. I’m an outcast no matter where I go.”
“Well then you came to the right place for rejects,” Revy scoffed.
“Yeah, maybe I did,” I cast an appreciative look her way, “Food’s done.”

The meal was eaten in relative silence. Relative because with Revy mostly naked only a few feet from me, the roar inside my mind could not be silenced. The hunger at least was sated, though usually with one fed the others quiet; not in this instance. A carnal hunger raged through me, imploring me to close the short distance between us. I almost did, but the quick flexing of my back told me that extra strenuous movement would not be advantageous to recovery. With an internal sigh, I relaxed into my seat. The human side of me needed a shower. The animal side preferred a bath and a nice tree.