Owner Of The Broken Hearts

Once Lily was content she began finishing up the letters she could get to and left the others for the next day. Once she was at a stopping point she looked out of the library and wondered what the good doctor was up.

She left the library and smiled at the staff as she passed them by. She had a bit of pep in her step and the closer to the good doctor's lab she was getting a bit giddy. She was a bit embarrassed by this feeling since she looked down on the other girls in her school for getting all excited about a guy they liked. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever see herself to be like them. Having to hide the fact that she was a werewolf was hard enough, so having anyone close would end on a very sour note. However when she looked at the good doctor she knew it was a bad idea, but could not help it. On a positive note he was kind, polite, very respectful and very attractive. On a bad note he was much older, a bit shy, would never be approved by her father and had a demonic monster hidden inside him that could be unleashed and go on a rampage destroying most of France or any place. Though she even saw it first hand he didn't scare her. So that kind of put him in the bad boy category, which was rather appealing to young Lily who had daddy issues to begin with.

After she made her way to the lab she saw the maid bringing Dr. Jackal his coffee and snacks on a tray. She greeted her politely and walked with her to knock on the lab door. After a minute of awkward silence Lily and the maid pursed their lips in annoyance and the maid opened the door and they both entered. There they saw Dr. Jackal focused on his work and completely oblivious to their presence. Lily smirked as the maid seemed annoyed as she put the tray down. Lily talked to the maid and found out that the good doctor had a bad habit of overworking himself and she has been having to force him to stop in order to take a break. She told Lily that the gnome Lorem was just as bad according to the other maids. So Lily offered to stay and watch Dr. Jackal and get him to take a break so the maid could finish her other duties. The maid was unsure, but accepted the offer since she was behind her schedule already.

After the maid left, Lily poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe and added some sugar and cream to make it less bitter. She noticed there was three cups on the tray and figured that maybe they were in case the good doctor broke them by accident. She occasionally drank it instead of tea, but found it helped her stay up to cram for her exams back in school. It was an acquired taste, but she had much worse in her time making her own snacks late at night. She then took a Jammie Dodger biscuit (cookie) and nibbled on it after her sip of sweet creamy coffee.

She sat at the break table and watched the good doctor work in silence as she nibbled on her snack. Before she realized it she was eyeing him up like candy and began to have some impure thoughts in her mind. Once she realized that she stuffed the whole biscuit in her mouth and began to choke a bit. As she was coughing she sipped some coffee to help her swallow the biscuit or at least melt it.

Dr. Jackal got to a stopping point and rubbed his tired eyes as he stretched his stiff muscles a bit and popped his neck. As he slowly turned around he heard someone coughing and looked behind himself to see Lily patting her chest like a monkey and guzzling down some coffee. At first he was concerned as he moved towards her but once she was gasping for air and looking a bit shocked he could tell she was fine now. Dr. Jackal handed her a cloth napkin.

Dr. Jackal: You okay Miss.....................Lavigne?

Lily took the napkin and wiped her face as she was very embarrassed by this scene. It was hard to looked cute with coffee and snot running down your nose, especially while in front of the guy you were checking out earlier. In the past she would run away in embarrassment, but this time it was different for some reason. The good doctor sat down and looked at Lily before he sipped his coffee again.

Lily: Thank you doctor.

Dr. Jackal: So what brings you here?

Lily: I promised the maid you would take a break and not over do it.

Lily recomposed herself as she pointed at the chair next to her. She wanted to look confident to the good doctor despite her last embarrassing moment.

Dr. Jackal: I see you already helped yourself.

Lily: Just making sure they were up to standards.

Dr. Jackal smirked at her attempt of a joke. Lily poured a refill into her cup and Dr. Jackal took the cup and drank it without reservation or a second thought. She was a bit shocked to see him drink out of the same cup she drank from. Then she poured the second cup for herself and added her cream and sugar. She took another biscuit and nibbled on it before she sipped her coffee. Dr. Jackal sipped the coffee this time and looked at Lily as he pondered her presence.

Lily: Is something out of sorts doctor?

Dr. Jackal: You could say that. I am at a loss as to why you are here?

Lily: What do you mean doctor? You saved me and Lady Elizabeth took me in. Then....

Dr. Jackal raised his hand to stop her to keep her from going in the wrong direction.

Dr. Jackal: My apologies Miss. Lavigne. I was referring why are you in this lab with me?

Lily seemed confused as she cocked her head to the side.

Lily: I am helping the maid ensure you take a break and not over do it.

Dr. Jackal could see she didn't understand his question.

Dr. Jackal: Let me describe the bigger picture for you.

Dr. Jackal stood up and leaned on the wall as he crossed his arms and looked at Lily with a sigh.

Dr. Jackal: You see I am not someone people flock to, especially once they find out I can turn into a giant rampaging demon when I have a bad day. The maids attend to me because Lady Elizabeth told them to. Miss. Lagrave follows me because its her job to babysit me. The team only works with me because of Lady Elizabeth. Lady Elizabeth allows me to be in her presence, because she needs my scientific skills. Since we just met recently you might not be aware of this, but I have no friends, no living relatives, no lovers, no money, no home and no proper standing in the scientific community. I am a pariah and a big threat to all I meet.

Lily looked at Dr. Jackal in a sad manner as if he was a lost puppy. This made him uncomfortable as he continued.

Dr. Jackal: For the last five years I have been living on the run from the police and living in the slums eating rats and garbage to survive. There is nothing good about me other than my intelligence, which got me in my current situation to begin with. It may seem that I am more than I appear, but its all a lie. In return for my lifetime of indentured servitude to Lady Elizabeth, she has provided me a better life in her gilded cage instead of prison. I am a caged beast regardless of how fancy my cage is. I have no doubt in my mind that I am being watched all the time and reported to Lady Elizabeth and Mr. Sung regularly.

Lily: How awful.

Dr. Jackal: That is what I can't understand.

Lily: That your life is awful?

Dr. Jackal smirked at her response and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he replied.

Dr. Jackal: Why are you not afraid of me?

Lily looked at Dr. Jackal who seemed very concerned about this topic and she then realized what he was asking her. She felt so dim for not realizing where he was going with this and she smirked and covered her mouth to suppress her giggle.

Dr. Jackal: Something funny?

Lily: Oh I'm so sorry. Its just we were talking about two different things.

Dr. Jackal: Huh? I don't follow.

Dr. Jackal had a puzzled expression on his face. He was not sure what was going on in the young mind of the young woman before him. Women had always been an enigma he could not get. His poor history with them made it clear he was bad boyfriend material. Lily regained her composure and spoke up.

Lily: I am not afraid of you because we have more in common than you think Doctor.

Dr. Jackal looked at Lily with a puzzled expression and sat down slowly as she had peaked his interest.

Lily: I know what you are thinking. What is this cute, rich, intelligent, amazing, young woman going on about? With the exception of her almost being kidnapped by her longtime butler and the kidnapping of her father, she has no problems at all since she is an heiress. You probably think before we met my biggest problem was finding the right outfit to wear or shop for.

Lily sipped her coffee with her pinky raised and a raised eyebrow. She had a sly smile on her face as he courage was worked up now.

Lily: Well the jokes on you. I had my problem long before you had yours dear doctor. As a matter of fact I was born with it.

Dr. Jackal began observing Lily with a scientific mind as he listened to her and saw her body movements. She then showed off her manicured and painted nails and made them grow before his eyes. Then her eyes altered into wolf eyes before him. His jaw dropped as he saw this and a gasp came from his mouth as he covered it in shock and sat back into his chair. Lily then returned her eyes and nails back to normal.

Dr. Jackal: You're a werewolf?

Lily: Its about time you looked at me doctor. I was beginning to feel hurt by your neglect.

Dr. Jackal: Who else knows of this?

Lily: Only Lady Elizabeth and Mr. Sung. No one else did till now. Not even my father knows.

Dr. Jackal: Well keep it that way till Lady Elizabeth allows it. Why did you even tell me?

Lily: I'm tired of it. Having to be someone else in the public eye is so tiresome don't you think? Do you have any idea what would happen if others found out about this?

Dr. Jackal: It would be a huge scandal considering your station.

Lily: Exactly. Of all the people I have ever met you would be the only one who really gets it.

Dr. Jackal: I see. Now it all makes sense. I apologize, but for a moment I was under the impression you were making a pass at me.

Lily went silent and looked down at the cup of coffee as the doctor reached for his cup of coffee. He stopped as he quickly realized he was wrong again. He looked up and sighed as he realized he was indeed a fool when it came down to women.

Dr. Jackal: I'm sorry Miss. Lavigne, I am not good with women. None of my past relationships lasted long and I always put my work first then my foot in my mouth. This is a bad idea, besides I am hot mess and twice your age. Your father would never approve and why me?

Lily: My father doesn't know my secret and my mother died while pregnant with me. She was brutally killed and I am sure it was by a werewolf. My mother was a maid that my father got pregnant by accident. At first he seem to care about me but as I got older he began to spend more time at work and less with me till barely speak at all unless its regarding our social standing in public. We have been estranged since he sent me away to boarding school. I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to arrange my marriage before he was taken away. Knowing him I might have to marry some old, smelly, fat guy. If he survives and finds out my secret, I might get disowned or worse. If I am abandoned by him will you pay attention to me then doctor?

Dr. Jackal: That's so not fair using guilt on me like that.

Lily: Well life is not fair for either of us doctor. So I say why not make the best of it? Besides I won't deny I find you charming and you don't scare me. How many other women will say such a thing to you now?

Dr. Jackal made a time out hand gesture.

Dr. Jackal: Time out okay?

Lily looked at the doctor calmly and raised her pinky as she sipped her coffee.

Lily: Go on.

Dr. Jackal: I'm flattered. I'm very flattered you see me that way. However,............ This is all new territory for me. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

Lily could see she was stressing the doctor out and the smell of his sweat glands were clearly noticeable to her nose. So she calmly put her coffee down and smiled politely to negotiated with him.

Lily: Very well then I propose this.

Dr. Jackal was confused as he looked at Lily. He was nervous about what she was going to say.

Lily: How about we start as friends for now and see if this will blossom into something else down the road?

Dr. Jackal was shocked how she lowered the bar so quickly. He wondered if there were any strings attached to this offer.

Dr. Jackal: Just friends? For now?

Lily: Of course doctor. We are both in need of a close friend we can drop our guard down around. Sometimes we need to vent out our troubles to someone who will listen and not judge us. Since we both have similar circumstances it would make it easier to get along right?

Dr. Jackal: Your logic is truly terrifying Miss. Lavigne.

Lily: Please when we are alone please call me Lily.

Dr. Jackal: It will take time for me to get used to that. Does that mean you want to address me by my first name?

Lily smiled at the doctor and she replied.

Lily: I'll wait till you are ready for that doctor.

Suddenly an alarm clock rang in the lab.

Lily: Looks like you need to get back to work doctor.

Dr. Jackal was at a loss for words as he went back to work and tried to figure out how he was outsmarted by a young woman. To clear his mind he focused on his work and continued to the next step in the process.

Lily nibbled on the biscuits (cookies) as she watched the doctor work with his chemistry set. Then around 3:30 - 4 pm the maid came by and talked to Lily and was pleased that the doctor took a break. She had a package for the doctor from Lady Elizabeth as well as a note attached to it. After the doctor accepted the package he read the note from Lady Elizabeth.

The note reads.
Dr. Jackal,

Mr. Cronk and myself ran into Dr. Lemaire. He was trying to sell the serum to an unsuspecting victim. We managed to stop the person from taking the serum. However, in my attempt, I knocked the vial out of his hand and it broke on the ground.

The mouse, in the package, drank the serum. This was a field mouse, as you can see it had probably tripled it size.

The mouse ran around attacking its own kind for several minutes until it started running in circles then collapsed and died.

I though you may be able to use it for your research.

Sincerely,
Lady Elizabeth

Dr. Jackal opened the box on the lab counter and looked at the rat for a bit. Lily saw the large dead field mouse and made a gross face.

Lily: Is that some kind of sick joke?

Dr. Jackal: Five years ago I was at the highlight of my life. I attained several degrees in Biology, Medical Science, Occult and Biochemistry. I also learned to speak the Queens English, American English, French and Spanish. I lost my family at a young age and focused on my science career more than anything else. My work was cutting edge and I had written many research papers that elevated my standing in the science community. Then during my last big experiment I opened "Pandora's Box" in a manner of speaking and was turned into a rather large and destructive demon. After that I went on a rampage of murder and destruction. I even ate people in that form. I later learned my transformation is triggered by anger. During the five years I was on the run in the slums, a certain petty and jealous doctor stole my research and is trying to copy it. Sadly since he can't get all the ingredients I used he is trying to substitute the ingredients and testing it on animals and people with very poor results. I have no idea how many people and animals he has killed so far. This mouse accidently drank his serum instead of a human victim. I need to study the mouse and take samples to see what he used to make this batch of serum. The vials I am testing as well seem to be from different failed recipes. If this is unappealing to you it may be best if you don't watch.

Dr. Jackal set up a tray and some clean tools to prepare for the autopsy of the mouse as Lily watched from behind. She was curious by his gentle manner and the skill of his hands as he made his incisions with his scalpel. Then the doctor put some samples into clean vials to isolate them. He then took some notes and made some labels on the vials. At this point Lily was confused as she saw the doctor working on three different projects at once. He was breaking down the ingredients to the samples of two serums and the mouse now. She was amazed by his flawless attention to detail as he works and the detailed notes he made for each batch he was working on.

It reminded her of the dedicated students she went to school with who were not so popular since they were a bit too studious and less social. Of course their less appealing appearance probably didn't help their confidence either. Sadly not everyone was blessed with good looks regardless of their station in life. Despite having a cute appearance Lily went out of her way to be less appealing because of her secret while many other girls went out of their way to be more appealing. She recalled their odd ritual of caking on make up, wearing tight corsets to hide their bulges and faking their reactions to sound more pleasant. It was a harsh reality but life for women was hard since they were often used as a pawn for their family to gain more political power and money. Arranged marriages often meant a sad meaningless life and crushed dreams depending on the situation they married into. Lily had heard of abusive husbands, cheating husbands and a few other unsettling stories. This was all the more reason for her to escape the life her father might plan for her.

If she could earn enough favor from Lady Elizabeth, she could become independent of her father and at least choose her own future. She knew that she was making some dangerous choices at her age, but at least it was her decision instead of the ones forced on her by her father and her standing. Living in the high society was exhausting for her and many nights she dreamed about living a free life with excitement and fun instead of drinking tea and pretending to care about the latest gossip. She sipped the coffee and ate another biscuit as she watched the good doctor toil away.

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