Darcy
After his last drink, was feeling tipsy. He stood at the far corner of the great hall, listening to the band and enjoying the sights and sounds of the party. He couldn’t help but to admire the handsome features of the Native American man standing next to him.
“So, how did you end up joining this fraternity?” he asked Alo. “Don’t tell me you picked it because of its name. I mean, Dark Moon? What is that, a national organization? Kind of bypasses the whole Greek naming thing that comes with fraternity and sorority life, right?”
“How’d I join Dark Moon?” began Alo. “Well, my brother joined when I was younger. He’s the house father now.”
“Oh?” asked. He so badly wanted to blurt out what Griff had already told him about the fraternity, but he knew it was important not to blow their cover. “I’ve heard of house mothers, but—well, I guess that makes sense. I was thinking of joining a few fraternities. Even did the whole rush thing. What’s the backstory on you guys?”
Alo smirked, taking another sip from his cup as he did. “Well, you see, there’s an old superstition at Moonhaven that the different phases of the moon act as a conduit of power. The forefathers of Dark Moon Clan, our original name, believed they were strongest at the time of the last visible crescent of the waning moon.”
“Huh,” raised a brow. “So, what happens to you guys when the dark waning moon is over?”
“Well, we’re taught to conserve that power. Save it for when we need it. I mean, that’s what the forefathers suggested.” Alo said with a smile. “But it all sounds a little bogus to me. I joined for the parties, anyway.”
laughed. “Now, that I believe.” But also clearly you guys are werewolves, he thought to himself.
“You want the rest?” Alo asked, handing over his drink.
“Uh,” hesitated before taking the cup and then taking a sip. “Thanks.”
“You know, I get this strange feeling that you might fit in here at Dark Moon Manor, ,” Alo said with a wink.
“Oh, yeah?” ’s grin turned to a look of concern. “Is that because you think I’m a werewolf?” Oh shit, he thought to himself as he looked down at the cup. Griff put a truth serum in Alo’s drink and I drank it.
Alo’s friendly look turned to one of surprise. “What’d you say?” he asked, hoping he misheard his new acquaintance.
“Um, werewolf. Isn’t that what you are?”
“Me? A werewolf?” Alo belly laughed, but as his chuckling died down, his face became serious. “Yes, that’s true, actually. Myself—in fact, every single member of Dark Moon Fraternity—we’re all werewolves.”
“I mean, duh,” replied . “So, you think I’m a werewolf, too?”
Alo leaned in close, so close that could feel the tip of his nose against the soft skin of his neck. “Have you been bitten by a werewolf?” he asked, his breath hot on ’s skin.
“Uh, um, I-I-I—” stuttered . “I mean, for some reason, it’s like I can’t say for certain. It almost feels like?—”
“Something is holding you back?” Alo asked.
nodded, looking again from the cup back to Alo. “I’ve been feeling that way a lot lately.”
Alo, on the other hand, leaned in for a kiss. “I’ve felt that way about a lot of things, ,” Alo said in a smooth, seductive voice.
“Ah!” gently put his hands on Alo’s chest. “Sorry, that’s not exactly what I meant. I-I’m not saying I’m not interested—because you are a very, very handsome guy, Alo—but I’m just trying to figure some things out here.”
Alo pulled back, a look of embarrassment on his face. “I apologize. I don’t usually—I’m not like that.”
took a moment. “Has anything weird been happening here, Alo? I mean, at Dark Moon Manor? Like—I don’t know—a power hungry, evil werewolf controlling everybody?”
“Huh?” Alo asked, a stupefied look on his face.
“I mean, I know that werewolves all have their own little inborn magic trait. That’s like Werewolf 101, am I right?”
“Well,” began Alo, “I’ve actually never discovered mine, if I even have one at all…”
“Really?” asked, looking back down at the cup full of truth serum. He’s got to be telling me the truth. “Anyone else you know with the power to control others? Mind control? And—well, what about memory manipulation?”
“Memory manipulation?” Alo cuffed his chin. “My older brother—he always told me that we don’t have a magical power because we don’t need one. Something special about us.”
“And you’ve never seen him use a special power?”
Alo shook his head. “But what you’re saying about memory manipulation…” His voice trailed off. “I mean, it sounds familiar.”
“Any mysterious bites or scratches that you can think of?” prodded, but Alo again shook his head no. “Are you sure? Maybe in some kind of spot you don’t usually look?”
“Um, like my back?”
spun Alo around and grabbed the back of his shirt. “Do you mind?”
“You undressing me?” He winked at . “ Never .”
lifted Alo’s shirt, but saw nothing on his lower back. He leaned forward, pulling at ’s collar until he saw it. “You get any hickeys recently?” He asked, poking at a sore red spot covered by the werewolf’s shirt collar.
“Me!?” There was a look of surprise on Alo’s face. “No, why? Do you want to give me?—”
“Calm down, pretty boy. All I’m sayin’ is you have one. Right here, in fact,” said, his second jab at the bruise making Alo jump up. “You think some werewolf bit you?”
“Why would a werewolf bite another werewolf?” Alo asked in a defensive tone. “And why are you so concerned, anyway?”
put his hands up in defeat. “Sorry, man. No reason.”
A sympathetic look crossed Alo’s face, his mouth opening as if to respond when the music was cut and the chime of the stage microphone rang out.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to say thank you for allowing the good professor to cover most of our vocals tonight,” a voice recognized as Uriah took over the microphone. “It’s my understanding there’s an event happening in the manor’s east ballroom in just a few minutes—and I’m told I must usher you all in there soon—but I’ve received a special song request from a partygoer tonight by the name of Pru.”
“Pru, huh?” crossed his arms as he looked from the band back to Alo.
The only accompaniment to Uriah’s voice was the gentle rapping of drumsticks. The lyrics were familiar, but delivered at a slow tempo. quickly recognized the song as Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog.”
As the lyrics traveled through the speaker system and throughout the house, most partygoers fell silent, as though they were entranced by Uriah’s slow, steady voice. and Alo watched with bated breath. Magnus, Nik, and a small pack of Dark Moon pledges and members near the stage were beguiled by the vampire’s voice.