Belle followed the woman's lead. She really wanted to make faces behind her back, stick out her tongue or something more childish. However, there were cameras all over that would preserve her behavior and this woman was spiteful enough to leak it for the world to see. So, she remained aloof and professional as they proceeded from one locked door to the next. Security was tight, promising the weredragons were safe here.
The office was empty; not even a piece of paper remained on the desk. All that accompanied it were two hard chairs. Belle had nothing to occupy her while she waited. She was watching the door when the weredragon arrived. The name Blayze fit him. His burnt-orange eyes reminded her of a blazing campfire. His hair, though, was different than most of the Talonians she had met. It was a sandy hue with a slight wave to it, where the others had dark hair. He was simply hot. There was no better word to describe him: tall, muscular, and oozing sex appeal.
Untangling her tongue, she greeted him. "Good evening, Blayze. I'm Belle. I work for the CIA. I'm sorry to intrude on your plans. I wouldn't have if it wasn't so important. Please, sit down. This may take a while."
"No, lady, it will not. I do not know you, and I doubt that there is anything I could help you with. I do not mean to be rude. I am just stating facts. I work on an oil rig, not for the government. The CIA has nothing to do with me."
"That may or may not be true, depending on your answers to my questions," Belle retorted. "I've been advised that you are the only documented weredragon living in this area, and yet we found one a few miles away, where he shouldn't have been. His documentation says he's from New York. Do you have any idea why he was in Texas?"
Blayze tried not to laugh. So what if another weredragon was in the area. "Lady, we go where we please. It is the law according to the alliance."
"Stop calling me "lady." I'm Belle, and I'm aware that legally you can go where you please. Unfortunately, you're all kept on a short leash. We know where you are assigned and when you take vacations. I think that's wrong, but it's not up to me. The weredragon we found wasn't listed as being on vacation, and his employer wasn't aware of his absence."
"That is not my problem. I do not know every Talonian's location any more than you know every human's. Although, maybe you do. How many of your species do you keep on a short leash?" Blayze sarcastically replied.
"Too many. We pay too much attention to other people's business when we should be seeing to our own. I'm not trying to offend you or even annoy you. I didn't expect you to have information on the weredragon we found, but my superior demanded that I ask."
"What did he supposedly do that brought him to the CIA's attention? Maxxus will want to know," Blayze asked, calmer after her admission.
"I don't know that he did anything. We found him in a small town near here. He and the entire town were dead. Testing showed they expired from a biological weapon. We don't have a clue who set it off or how."
"Right away you suspect the weredragon. Maxxus was correct to be wary of humans, at least the ones in governments. Those I have met otherwise do not show such prejudice against our species, nor do they spy on us. We swore to never intentionally harm a human, and we uphold our word. If we were to commit such an atrocity, Maxxus would have us destroyed," Blayze argued.
"Don't blame me. I'm only the messenger. I don't think the weredragon is responsible either. The problem is, there was another incident in Korea. The same weapon was used on a military unit doing humanitarian work. They all died, along with innocent families, including small children. Another weredragon was discovered among them, still in dragon form. In both cases, the towns were on fire. The unit who found them is sick now too. It doesn't look good. Biological weaponry works quickly and can spread."
"I see why you are looking at us as the perpetrators. It would seem to be an obvious conclusion; perhaps too obvious. I assure you I know nothing about any of this. We do not create weapons of that nature. Maxxus would never sanction it. He needs to know what has occurred. Under other circumstances, he would wish the bodies to be sent home for the burning ceremony. I know that cannot be allowed or death would come to Talonia, and we are just now recovering from the nuclear devastation. How much more bad news can Maxxus endure? He will not appreciate your government's accusations."
"I need your help with that. My director has bestowed upon me the honor of reporting all this to your king. I tried to get out of it, but he threatened my job. I don't relish the idea of being stuck alone in Siberia, or worse. So, will you help me talk to King Maxxus? I have to find a way to soften the blow of the deaths and make the accusations sound less threatening. I've done a lousy job of it with you. I expect I won't do any better with him."
Blayze smiled sincerely for the first time. This human was honest and without prejudice. She was treating him as an equal and seeking his aid, despite the difference in their positions. He was warming up to her, forgiving her for the bad impression she had made in the beginning. Her superiors had stuck her in an impossible situation, and she was doing her best to follow their orders and yet not alienate the weredragons. Facing Maxxus alone would be tough.
"I will help with Maxxus. We are friends and have been all our lives. No matter how you phrase the news, he will no take it well. He has a quick temper and it has been tested often lately. We can begin by congratulating him on his new mate and the son she has given him. Then, we can ask about the recovery of Talonia. Those may ease his anxiety before we hit him with the bad news. The shouting and name calling may be kept to a minimum. Just remember, he will not be aiming his anger at you. It is just his nature. The one thing I really suggest is that you do not call him by his title. He despises the use of it and has made it taboo on Talonia."
