Griff
“Something wrong with your drink?” asked Haven when they were finally alone.
“Whoa,” Haven said as he turned to , his eyes wide. “I mean, no. Nothing. Just a little surprised at Alo’s forwardness there.”
“Oh,” said as he looked from his cup to Haven’s. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”
“Really?” Haven asked, raising a brow before taking a sip of his jungle juice.
“Really,” repeated .
The two stood in silence for a moment. could only imagine that Haven was trying to think of what to say next. Or what to say first, hoped.
“It’s weird that I feel more comfortable around you than my own best friend,” Haven finally uttered. “Something’s up with Alo today.”
“Fraternity politics, perhaps?” pried .
“You could say that,” Haven nodded. “You see, I’m a were-… Um, aware that things are a little different here at Dark Moon Manor than other fraternities.”
’s ears perked up. “How so, Haven?”
“I know you said you’re seeing someone, but I think I’ve got a schoolboy crush on you,” said Haven, a pained look on his face as the words came out. “But since you’re polyamorous, maybe that’s okay.”
was happy to report back the good news. ?Truth serum officially activated.?
?Good little witch,? Uriah replied. ? Now’s the perfect time to ask him what he’s packing down under. Get it? Down under. You know, ‘cause he’s an Aussie.?
rolled his eyes in response to Uriah, almost forgetting how obvious he was.
Haven’s face changed from a look of horror to one of hurt. “Wait, you didn’t want to hear that, did you?”
“No, that wasn’t about you,” tried to explain. “I mean, I figured. I, um—I have an interest in you, Haven. But I also?—”
“Have a boyfriend?”
“Well, two, actually. But it doesn’t mean that my harem can’t expand. Did I just harem? Not harem, but—damn. It’s a lot to explain.”
“Well, I’m a werewolf, so that’s a lot to explain, too,” said Haven. As he realized what he had just revealed, he squeezed his cup in his hands so hard that he crushed it. “I mean, I’m aware that wool can be —uh, itchy.”
“No, no. I heard you the first time,” said, grabbing Haven’s wrist. “Don’t be afraid; I’m not.”
“You’re not?” Haven asked, his voice hushed. “Well, I guess you appeared pretty calm when I first approached you in the woods. And by that, I mean— well, shit. ”
suddenly connected the dots, his voice low. “The blonde wolf? Were you trying to attack me?”
“No,” began Haven, “never.”
“Are you trying to now?”
“No. At least I’m not, anyway.”
looked around the room, realizing that several people had stopped their conversations and were wondering why Haven had sent jungle juice and solo cup pieces flying.
Already used to being the new kid who didn’t know anyone everywhere he went, the witch tried to let the idea of prying eyes roll off his shoulder. However, it’s their ears I’m more concerned about , he thought to himself. Maybe I should change the topic. “So, uh, tell me more about Haven,” he began aloud. “Like, uh, how’s Australia? What books are you reading? Oh, and what’s your morning routine look like?”
“Well, um, Australia’s good. My family still lives there. I try to visit every year for the holidays.”Haven smiled. “I’m a big Stephen King fan, so right now I’m reading Carrie. Um, and as far as my mornings go, I start off every day with a thirty-minute jog around campus. Usually around seven or so.”
“Really? Even on weekends?”
“Even on weekends,” Haven nodded. “Why don’t you tell me more about you, ?”
“Uh, sure.” hesitated. “But can we talk somewhere private?”
“No,” replied Haven. “I mean, I’d like to, b-but I don’t know if anything’s private anymore.”
“What do you mean by that? Like the house is bugged?”
“See, I was just curious when I saw you out there that day, . You had this unbelievable aura about you. This —this scent.”
“In the spirit of being honest, I think what you were attracted to was?—”
Haven put his hands over ’s mouth, pushing him against the wall as a group of fraternity members walked by. “You understand what I mean about nowhere private, right?”
nodded, and only then did Haven drop his hands to his sides. “Okay, but I think there’s more to that statement that I don’t quite understand yet.”
“There’s something special about you,” said Haven. “And something special about me, too. In my case, it’s not a good thing.” Haven banged his fist against the wall in frustration, wanting so badly to say more.
held up his phone, his text message app wide open. The blonde werewolf seemed to understand, typing something up on his phone and texting it to .
“Thanks,” said with a fake giggle, putting an arm around Haven as more of his frat brothers and their dates walked by.
“Everything okay, Have?” asked Dachre, the lone solo member of the passing group. A large professional camera was strapped over his neck.
“All good,” Haven said with a stoic face, turning his attention back to his date.
“Great!” continued Dachre. “Why don’t you let me get a few photos of you and your date? It’s kind of my job at the party as a pledge.”
Haven looked to , unsure of what to do. “Uh, sure thing, Dachre,” Haven nodded. “By the way, this is my—uh, not date; but friend, .”
“, it’s a pleasure,” Dachre said as he shook ’s hand. “I’m Dachre. Smile pretty for me?”
Haven awkwardly put his arm around ’s shoulder as they smiled for a photo. Dachre took several of them. Finishing up, he gave Haven a thumbs up and a wave before wandering off to a nearby table.
Finally free, scrolled through the message Haven wrote.
Haven Hemming
I think something is happening to me. I’ve been seeing things that I shouldn’t—images of you; of a vampire. Almost like I’m taking over someone else’s body and making love to you. This isn’t my natural power, either. I think someone did something to me.
typed back a response, his fingers moving at top speeds, and sent his message off to Haven, who grabbed up his phone to read it.
Kyler
Did you bite the werewolf that was with me? He’s my boyfriend. His bite isn’t healing like it should, either. Were you also bit by another wolf?
The two looked around the room, worried they may appear suspicious.
“I bit him. Only in self-defense, I swear,” whispered Haven. “And no. I wasn’t bit, but I did find a mysterious scratch on my back.”
“From who?” asked, too impatient to type.
Haven looked to , then to his phone, before finally typing up a response and sending it back.
Haven Hemming
Just like I find myself taking control of your boyfriend—like how I can see what he sees—I’m afraid someone is doing the same thing to me. Watching my every move.
“Then typing it isn’t going to matter.” grabbed Haven’s hand and pulled him down the nearest hallway. “Where’s the nearest restroom?”
“There.” Haven pointed to a door at the end of the hall.
pulled his date into it, bending down to ensure that the stalls were empty before locking the door. “The scratch on your back. Is it still there?”
“I-I don’t know,” Haven shrugged. “The night I met you, I checked it out in the mirror upstairs. You know what?”
“What?”
“Hold on.” Digging around in his pants pockets, he pulled out a small ziplock baggie with the piece of chipped nail he had found in his wound. “This was in the claw marks on my back.”
held the bag up, trying to examine just what it was. “Looks bloody.”
“I rinsed it off,” Haven said as he shook his head no. “That’s not blood.”
“ An acrylic nail ,” said with growing realization as he took the baggie.
“Uh, sure.”
“And what’s your wolf power?”
“Wolf power?” Haven asked.
“Pruitt told me you all have some kind of different special ability. What’s yours?”
“Pruitt, huh?” Haven asked, connecting the dots. “Sorry. It takes away some of my energy temporarily, but I can heal others.”
“Huh. Like my hand on the night we met,” replied before holding up the baggie. “And so how does that relate to this?”
“It doesn’t,” sighed Haven, “But there’s a power I’ve heard of before… There must be someone else here with some kind of parasitic bite ability. Someone who infected me, and in turn?—”
“Infected Pruitt.” ’s eyes grew wide. “Um, how about Alo?”
“He doesn’t have a power. I mean, not that I know of. Apparently, not all wolves get them.”
raised a brow. “Guess I don’t know many werewolves.”
“Until now,” corrected Haven.
“So what about Dr. Dark Moon?”
“What about her?”
“I mean, what’s her power?”
“Oh, hm,” Haven scratched his head. “It’s on the tip of my tongue.”
“Is it?”
“ No, guess not, ” Haven conceded. “It’s like I know it, but I can’t say it.”
“Well,” began as he held up the bag again, “this looks to be the missing piece to her stellar red manicure. I just ran into her when you were getting me a drink. Mind if I keep this?”
Haven’s eyes widened as placed the baggie in his satchel.
“And what about you? Have you been forgetting things?” asked. “Can parasites—I don’t know—affect mind control?”
“I mean, maybe .”
“Well, compulsion is a vampire magic,” said. “Vampires can compel people to forget things.”
“Vampires. That’s who you hang out with; not me .”
“Didn’t you just say you fucked a vampire through some kind of body-mind parasite control?” exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. “That’s my other boyfriend, mind you.”
“N-no comment.” Haven’s face flushed. To , it was cute. “Vampires—can they compel werewolves?”
“I guess I don’t know the answer to that one,” said with a shrug. “But maybe there’s a lucky werewolf with the same power.”
“Maybe.”
“What were you doing the night we first met? You said you were just getting off your shift, right?”
“Right,” said Haven. “Well, that wasn’t exactly the truth. I was out doing a little reconnaissance of the forest with Strix.”
“Strix?” asked. “Was that the second werewolf that attacked me?”
“The one I shot with my dart gun, yes,” Haven nodded. “He’s our house father here at Dark Moon Manor. I know it looked bad, but I’m sure he was just?—”
“And what’s Strix’s power?”
“Again, heard he doesn’t have one,” said Haven. After studying the suspicious look on his date’s face, he spoke again. “Look, he’s also Alo’s older brother. It could be that they just don’t have one. It’s not unheard of, you know.”
shrugged. “Alo seems nice.”
“He is.”
“You said something’s been up with him, though? Something different about him?”
Haven turned to look in the closest mirror. It couldn’t be Alo, he thought to himself. Could it? My first college roommate? My best friend? “Can’t be,” muttered Haven, sweat beads forming at the top of his forehead. “If anything, maybe he’s just got the parasite, too.”
“Well, maybe you have a new, undeveloped power?” asked, trying to brainstorm through scenarios. “If you’re able to take control of Pruitt’s body, then why hasn’t whoever infected you taken control of yours?”
Haven made eye contact with through the reflection. could read the confusion and frustration on his pained face. He felt bad for him—wanted to comfort him, put his hand on him, something. As he reached for him, Haven grabbed his hand.
looked back into the mirror, surprised to see that the look on Haven’s face had changed from one of confusion to something more sinister. “ Good idea , , ” he cackled as he squeezed the witch’s hand tight.
“Haven?” struggled in his grip. “Let go.”
“Haven can’t answer your call at the moment,” the tone of voice of the man before him changed as he spoke. “Please leave your message after the beep.”
With that, Haven flung headfirst into the nearest bathroom stall.
’s glasses tumbled to the floor as everything went black.