“Not yet.” White was annoyed at the intrusion. He turned away and one of his homunculi helped him into a stained surgical gown.
Gretta stalked to Kate. The werewolf did not need to bend over the bed for Kate to see her ferocious form and sharp canines. “You. You ruined my wulfsyl. I can smell it on you. You killed some of my best fighters. It took years to gather those beasts together. And you slaughtered them with poison like the coward you are.” The creature snorted. “Perhaps if I chopped off your limbs one by one, you’d be more willing to talk.”
Kate stifled a gasp and clamped her teeth down hard. She would not be weak. Fear was a thing born of uncertainty, but she was strong in her conviction. “I only wish I’d killed all of you monsters. Do what you want. It won’t change anything!”
Dr. White cocked his head and stared at his reflection in a broad scalpel. “You’re absolutely right, of course.”
Gretta snarled at the physician. “What are you blathering about? Make her confess!”
“No. You see, Kate here is the strong one. I don’t think she will break despite my best efforts. There is little we can do to her physically that will change that. And I don’t want to kill her by accident. Then we’ll never know.”
“You said threatening her with the transformation would make her talk.”
“So I did. I see now the slight miscalculation I made. But I believe I know where the chink in her armor is.” Dr. White walked to the corner and pulled Imogen by the arm to the examination table. “I’m threatening the wrong person, aren’t I, my dear?”
“My God! You filthy animal!” Kate hissed.
“Poor Imogen will be my next homunculus.”
“No!”
“Remove Miss Anstruther and strap this Miss Anstruther to the table,” White commanded the giant werewolf.
Gretta grinned, exhaling loudly with delicious glee. When the homunculi unstrapped Kate, Gretta shoved aside the pasty things and transferred the woman roughly to the hated wheelchair. Kate struggled, flailing, kicking, biting, but she was no match for the werewolf’s strength. Within moments, her fears were realized and she was helplessly tied down once again, watching Imogen lie compliantly on the table. The doctor restrained the girl’s arms and legs without any struggle.
Kate sobbed. “Please don’t hurt her. I don’t know anything about that key.”
“I’m not hurting her.” White turned to Kate. “You are. All you need do is tell me what I need to know. Then I will put you and your sister together in a cell and leave you in peace. I will depart, never to be seen again. And eventually your friends will find you and arrange for your release. You will both be back at home in Hartley Hall, a family again, brought closer by adversity.”
“I can’t tell you.” Kate felt paper-thin on the verge of a breakdown.
Gretta’s lips curled back in a snarl. “Just do it.”
“Your petty honor versus the suffering of your sister. How selfish are you?” Dr. White waited a beat, then sighed and began inserting thick needles into Imogen’s chest. Imogen screamed for the first time and thrashed wildly.
“Stop it!” Kate screamed. “All right! I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how to use the key. Please don’t hurt her!” It was a lie, but she had nothing else left. She had to buy time, if only another minute.
“Excellent. You won’t be sorry. Everything will be fine.” White stepped closer to Kate with a smile.
Kate’s throat convulsed, as if words had to be forced out through her lips. Her head bowed low to her chest. “You have to—”
“Don’t …”
Kate’s head snapped up at the sound of her sister’s weak voice. “Imogen!”
“Don’t … tell … him,” she rasped.
“Shut up, whelp.” Gretta shook the table hard.
Perhaps the pain had shocked Imogen out of her stupor, but somehow she was lucid for the first time in days. “He’ll kill us both … even so.”
Dr. White grabbed Kate’s chin. “She’s delirious, the shock of the drugs wearing off. I swear to you, I’ll not harm either of you if you give me the information.”
“Lies,” Imogen continued. “Promise me, Kate. Never … give them … what they want.”
The girl cried out as Gretta’s massive hand gripped her throat. Then the sounds were cut off abruptly as Gretta squeezed.
White snarled, “Tell me, Kate. And all this will stop.”
Kate drew in a deep, shuddering breath.
“Tell me or Gretta will tear out her throat!”
Gretta salivated over the helpless girl and brushed a long claw over Imogen’s placid face. Imogen’s head jerked toward Kate. Her eyes locked with her sister from across the room. Imogen wasn’t frightened. She looked calm even while she gasped.
“No,” Kate whispered.
“No, what?” Dr. White asked in a flat tone.
“No. I won’t tell you.” Kate’s gaze never left her sister’s. Did Imogen really believe Kate knew how to operate the key and was refusing to save her life by not confessing? Kate’s heart was in shreds at the thought.
“Bah!” shouted Dr. White. “Gretta, stand back.”