"House Skinwalker," I repeated Greyson's question, stretching my neck from side to side. I really didn't know how to describe them without insulting the Skinwalker in our midst.
"If House Van Helsing is considered to be the Boogeyman to keep monsters in line, then House Skinwalker is the reason they are needed," said Dementyev as he looked over at Sasha. "Skinwalkers can, for the most part, take on any form of people or animals that they want to. They could be standing right beside you, and you wouldn't know it until they ripped off your head."
Greyson started at the man from his unit, and I couldn't begin to know what was going on in his head. Dementyev returned his gaze and, never breaking eye contact once, shifted into an exact replica of General Duncan Richards.
"Oh no," I said, holding up my hand. "Pick someone else. I have already killed that man twice today; I don't need nightmares about him coming back for a third time."
The man chuckled and then turned into Viktor. I cocked my head as I looked at him. I would fully admit that I might not know every inch of Viktor, but that was a damn good replica.
"So that was how all your missions seemed to go easier than the other teams. You could infiltrate anywhere without a problem," said Grayson, nodding in approval, and I could practically see the gears in his head spinning.
"Well, not without any problems. If I don't plan carefully, then I can walk right into the one that I am copying, and that leads to some issues," admitted Dementyev with a shrug.
"I bet. But still, it would be enough to get your team out of a bad situation safely."
"All right," I said, bringing the conversation back. "You guys can discuss it after. I am going through the Houses so pay attention."
"There are more?" asked Levi, confused.
"Two more, Houses Van Helsing and Tesalor," I answered, looking to Sasha to see if he was going to explain his House to the newcomers.
"House Van Helsing is the military and police section to the monsters. We ensure that the Laws of the Six are followed, and when they aren't, then we are the ones that deal with those situations too. For example, the human that tried to kill a Head would fall under our jurisdiction. We are the only ones that are allowed to touch a human that has found his or her way into our world. Too bad. We had been watching you for a while now." Sasha shrugged like it wasn't a big deal that someone they were considering adding to their House was about to die.
"Can any human become part of a House?" asked Levi after a moment.
"Yes, but it depends on how far you are willing to go to be one of us," I said, once again taking over the conversation. "You can make deals with the vampires; they are normally happy to add to their house. Wolves can create more wolves, but they can also be born. Gypsies used to take any human, but I will be bringing back the rule that they have to have witch blood in them. And I think the Knights are the only other House that can convert a human into a monster."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Greyson, his gray eyes searching mine as if I held all the answers to the universe. I mean, I held a lot of them, but I didn't know what he was trying to ask.
"For the most part, we all have something extra inside of us that tends to come out under times of stress. Our eyes will change color, and the monster under the skin will come out. Think of Dracula movies. He looks human most of the time, but then his teeth grow, and his eyes turn red, that sort of thing. But you will have the rest of your lives to find out all the nuances of each individual house."
I was done, and I had finally made my decision when it came to Reid Marcus Jackson. I looked at Greyson one last time before I turned my full attention to Sasha. "If you are interested in having him in your House, you are more than welcome to him. I can attest that he is a phenomenal soldier who would be an asset to the House Van Helsing. If nothing else, we know he obeys the orders of his superiors no matter what. If you don't want him. Kill him. I will not have him in my House."
I might be kinder than most monsters that I knew, but that didn't mean that I was a bleeding heart to be walked over. He killed me once; I would be an idiot to let him do it again. Even if the one that gave the order was dead.
"I can see if Lucas needs him," said Mathew looking at me. "We have lost a lot of wolves lately and can always do with someone from the military. Not to mention, after the conversion, he will be much less likely to disobey orders. Especially from an Alpha."
I looked at Sasha to get his opinion. He just shrugged. "Ask Lucas first. There is no point in deciding and then having your Head saying no."
"Do I get a say in the matter?" snapped Jackson, clearly not impressed that we were deciding his fate without asking him. Such a cute little human habit. Thinking that they had any say in the world of monsters.
"You want a say?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "Sure, I will give you a say. House or die. How is that for getting a say?" Monsters were not like humans. You submitted, or you died. Unless, of course, you were an Alpha, but even then, most Alphas had to submit to the Head of their House.
"Lucas will take him if the Knights don't," said Mathew reading from his phone. "But we make no guarantees that he can survive the transformation."
"So, what is your choice? Wolf, Knight, or dead?" I asked, putting my elbow on the desk in front of me and laying my chin on my hand. "You have two seconds."
"General!"