It was like a nuke went off inside Lucas' head as he registered what Imani just told him and stared at her without blinking.
Imani tipped her head to the side when he didn't say anything after a little while. She leaned forward and poked one of his arms which were crossed over his chest. "Uh, Lucas?"
That woke him up and he leaned back in the couch the both of them were sitting on as his jaw tightened. "Absofuckinglutely not," he stated with a frown on his face.
Imani just told him she wanted to tell Lola about the virus in Wolfborn. She knew Lucas wouldn't want that because he definitely didn't like her father, Renfield Sutton, so she had expected that kind of reaction from him. There was also the fact that Renfield was part-owner of TNF, The Night Force.
The Night Force was an organization that was created years ago after humans found out about the existence of vampires, witches and werewolves. They were officers that dealt with supernatural delinquents. There were fears of the organization not working out at first but then the supernatural ones began to turn on each other. They provided knowledge of what could subdue or kill the other supernaturals and in the end, TNF ended up with weapons they could use against them. Wolfsbane to weaken werewolves, wooden stake to weaken vampires and enchanted chains or handcuffs to prevent a witch from using her magic. Werewolf venom, heart extraction, decapitation and exposure to sunlight without wearing a daylight ring could kill a vampire. Werewolves and witches could be killed the same ways could be killed but that's only if the werewolf's healing ability doesn't or can't kick in and if the witch can't heal herself/himself.
The Night Force became hell-bent on excluding vampires and werewolves from the society when they got these weapons. They began to kill vampires, werewolves and witches and hung their bodies where everyone could see them. That was one of the reasons why the werewolves moved out of cities fifty years ago. Another reason was because TNF kept wolfsbane in the water system.
"What if she tells her dad?" he asked and the corner of Imani's mouth twitched as she couldn't imagine Lola telling Renfield anything important... or anything at all.
"She won't tell him, Lucas. I promise."
"No," he said, shaking his head. "No. Why do you even want to tell her?"
"Because I need the Sirizan virus," she replied and he instantly furrowed his brows at her. "And Lola can help me get it."
He slowly sat up. "And why exactly do you need that?"
She pressed her lips together and inhaled slowly. She needed the Sirizan virus to create the virus that was in Wolfborn and she knew he'll definitely ask how she can create something that's undetectable but she already had an answer which didn't include telling him that she was the one who created the virus.
"I'm going to try to create the virus," she stated. "Scientists can try to predict the changes that are likely to occur to viruses and since this virus you're dealing with is similar to the Sirizan virus, I can try to predict and create other possible strains."
She was actually telling the truth. After she found the cure to the Sirizan virus, she and the other scientists at the institute were meant to predict the changes that were likely to occur to the virus but the government shut them down. They didn't want anyone handling a different strain of the virus because they feared it would escape from the lab.
"Sometimes the prediction is accurate and other times the prediction misses its mark but I'm sure I can create the strain you're dealing with... sooner or later," she said.
"Other scientists that tried to find the cure to this virus told me about that prediction stuff but there was no way of getting the Sirizan virus because the government amassed everything."
"Well not everything," she replied and he tilted his head at her. "Underworld market."
Lucas had guessed some people had vials of the virus but he didn't have the sort of connections that would help him to procure a couple of the vials. The few prominent people he had as friends wouldn't be caught dead buying the virus because the government knew it was still out there but they didn't know where so they closely monitored anything that had to do with it. He had tried to find the people that had it but after a couple of weeks, it became obvious they didn't want to be found.
Lucas' jaw ticked and he shut his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're sure your friend can get it?" he asked as he opened his eyes again and Imani bobbed her head. "And Renfield wouldn't find out what's happening here?"
"She won't tell him," she replied, bobbing her head again, and he took in a deep breath as he rubbed his forehead. "I promise she won't," she added after a while when he didn't say anything.
He was thinking of the two options he had. The first option was he could let Imani tell Lola about the virus in Wolfborn and get her help but he would be risking Renfield finding out. Yes, Imani promised him that the old man wouldn't find out but telling Lola there was a new virus that was like the Sirizan virus spreading in this town could make the woman scared and she could tell her father who would definitely make sure the virus never gets out of Wolfborn.
The second option was to not let Imani tell Lola and that would make finding a vaccine and cure very difficult because the virus was undetectable. All the infected werewolves might die before a cure is found and if a couple of people somehow get infected and spread it... well, it would be a disaster.
He really hoped that Imani was right as he glanced at her. "... Tell her."