Creature of the Night: Chap. 8

Chapter 8: A Name

“You know, my dear, we have yet to give you a name,” Dr. Embers smiled and patted her head as they walked down the moonlit halls of the castle.
“Given me a name?” she asked confusedly, “I already have a name.  It’s… it’s…”
“It’s what, my dear?”
“It’s…”
“You don’t remember and it’s okay, I’d be rather surprised if you did,” he scratched her ears as they stopped before a door, “Ah, here we are, our sleeping quarters,” he smiled as he opened the door.
She went in ahead, sniffing the air and gazing about the room, her footsteps echoing lightly in the rooms vastness.  A small fireplace cast it’s light upon the room, revealing a large four poster bed, a dresser, a desk, a heavily cushioned chair, and a large bookcase loaded with books.
“What do you think, my dear?” he bowed slightly and waved about the room, “Satisfactory, no?”
“Yes… it’s nice,” she muttered, still trying to think of her name.
“Please, come sit,” he patted the bed he had taken a seat on, “come sit and we’ll figure out a name for you.”
She paced hesitantly.
“Come,” he said a bit more sternly.
She leapt nimbly onto the bed beside him.
“Now that’s a good girl,” he cooed and scratched her ears.
She wished to bear her teeth and bite his hand off, but instead she lay down beside him.
“Alright, time for a name,” he smiled, sending a small shiver down her spine.  “Any suggestions or shall I just pick one?”
She looked over at him, “I don’t know, something cool?”
“How about ‘Illusion?’” the doctor grinned.
“You know, that really isn’t that bad,” she smiled weakly.
“Then Illusion it is,” he declared as he rubbed her back, “and now for your first lesson so that our night can continue.”
“First lesson?” she questioned.
“Yesssssss, how to control your form,” his grin only seemed to increase.  “Let’s see if you can do anything on your own first,” he gave her a nudge to get off the bed.  “Go ahead, transform.”
She landed gracefully and sat before the man, “Transform… into a human… now?  I don’t even know how I made it into wolf form to be completely honest.”
“Ah, but I do,” he said knowingly.  “You see, you now have the ability to be either wolf or human and you also have the ability to control it, although the wolf will take over if you let it.  I designed you that way, I needed a creature that was strong… strong… and beautiful…  Anyways, there are certain triggers that will send you immediately into wolf form… like blood, so there are similar things that will get you out of wolf form.  Although this is more mind over matter.”
She sat quietly, trying to separate the thoughts racing through her mind, trying to determine which were human and which were lupine, but they all meshed together so easily.
“Come on, girl!  Think!” he urged.
Illusion shrunk away slightly.  There was a knock at the door.
“Sir, may I come in?  I have news from the lab, they think they’ve found out who has stolen your creature,” said a voice from the other side of the door.
Dr. Embers sighed, “Alright, I’ll be out in a moment,” he turned to Illusion.  “You will remain silent and you will obey, correct?  You shall be rewards later for your good behavior and we shall pick up this lesson later.”
“Yes… master…” she whimpered.
“Very good, now lets go see what Vincent wants,” he picked up her leash and headed for the door.