Visiting the London Zoo had originally been an attempt to find Mina after Vanessa had experienced a vision in which she heard the sounds of animals from all around as the woman pleaded with her to save her. And while they hadn't found Mina, the attempt hadn't been completely fruitless. Because they'd returned with something – or someone? – else.

One of the creatures they were hunting the master of was in one of the zoo enclosures, tearing apart and eating the birds that had lived within. Ethan had held his gone to their head, but Sir Malcolm hadn't been so quick to dispose of them; after all, they were useful. If they wanted to get to the creature's master, then what better way than to pry the information out of the creature themselves? Besides, they needed to test to see whether what had happened to them was reversible; they were once human, after all.

And so, Sir Malcolm, Ethan, Vanessa and Victor chained them and brought them to the basement of Sir Malcolm's manor. To say they were feral was.. an understatement. Screaming for their master, lashing at their chains. Sir Malcolm had lost his patience and kicked them a few times because they refused to yield any information. Ethan swiftly reprimanded him for the actions. Sir Malcolm would've retorted, if not for the name that left the creature's lips.

Vanessa.

Vanessa's mind reeled as she stepped forward towards the creature. It knew her? How did it know her? Why did it know her? She tried to ask these questions, but they just lashed out again, writhing and growling in their chains. Vanessa was forced to back off while Ethan and Sir Malcolm held the creature still so that Victor could sedate them.

Still, even after the creature had been sedated and Vanessa was back upstairs attending to other business, she couldn't get them out of her mind. How did they know her? Why? What did this mean for her? And then there was the way that Sir Malcolm had visibly tensed when the creature had spoken her name. What was it that she didn't know?

The questions grew too heavy for Vanessa to bear, and so she put down her quill, leaving her chambers to go back down to the basement. Sembene was standing guard down there, watching the creature. She dismissed him promptly; she needed a moment alone with them. They were just beginning to stir from their sedative, disoriented mumbling leaving their lips through rows of razor-like teeth. Vanessa watched and waited, allowing them to regain consciousness enough to talk to her.