For their Safety

## Content Information

The typical perfume of the sea that wafts about the air around Burgundy is missing. It is instead replaced by the scents of the ancient texts that litter their side of the dorm. On any other given week, Burgundy would be the poster child for minimalism and the ideal roommate. They were rarely around, never cluttered, and when they did arrive it was at reasonable hours. Now it seems that he hasn’t slept in a period of time and spends his days in the dorm or it’s lounge thumbing through thick books of the arcana and occult.

Burgundy was found doing exactly that in the small lounge adjacent to their dorm. It is just across from the kitchenette, another space Burgundy had somewhat abused. The tomes were stacked high on the small dinner table and coffee table of the area. Burgundy sat by their lonesome mumbling aloud from a dark leather book that made the energy around them feel bleak.

Didi paced back and forth in front of the door to their room. Burgundy didn’t seem to be doing very well and she didn’t know why. Was it something to do with Ash? If so, Didi might not be the right person to talk to them… but then who? No, it had to be her. But she didn’t know what this was about.

With a whine, she turned and made for the kitchen.

Some time later, she returned with a home-cooked meal in one hand and a sweet potato pie cooling in the oven mitt in the other hand.

She stepped up to the door, then paused. Looked at the doorknob, then at her two very full hands.

“Dammit.”

Burgundy nervously looked to the door and began mumbling prayers of protection to their worshipped water spirits. They set the text down atop the nearest pile and approached the door. It took them a little bit of time to approach the door and finally open it.

A small sigh escaped their lips as they saw Didi and not a threat. “Hello,” they mumbled half heartedly as they stepped out of Didi’s way.

She stopped trying to balance the plate on the pie, but her face fell at Burgundy’s reaction.

Just as quickly as her expression had soured, she put on a cheerful face.

“Burgs, I thought -- it seemed like maybe you were stressed out so --” She stuck her arms out, holding the food. “Have you eaten yet?”

“*Eat* …,” they mumbled under their breath in a flat tone as they accepted the food in their arms. They walked away from the door and towards a table.

“Yes, I ate. I appreciate the food, though … I feel trapped in a dangerous situation-,” Burgundy blurted out the last portion while staring at the food. It took them a couple moments in this state to realize what they just admitted. When they do, they drop into a seat at the table and look to Didi with a forlorn expression.

“Before I elaborate, do you know Arsling Broganson?”

“Danger??” Didi immediately looked side to side as if she’d spot the danger, then slowly sat across from Burgundy. “And it involves Ash? I didn’t know her last name was Broganson… why does that sound familiar?” She puzzled at it for a moment, then shook her head. “Never mind. What’s the danger?”

“How do you know her? If her last name is familiar I urge you to sort out why.” Burgundy’s appearance and tone was hard to read at the moment.

Didi leaned back in the chair as if buffeted by a wind.

“I-- I’ll try to remember, but… I met her last year, and-- she lives on another hall.” She met Burg’s eyes very suddenly. “She said she kissed you!”

Burg’s expression shifted and narrowed in on Didi. “Didi, I’m terrified that Arsling may end my life or harm others. I need you to be as honest as possible with me right now. Why was I mentioned and how much do you know about her?”

They pushed the food aside and pulled a journal from the stack of books. They held it in their lap as they awaited a reply.

They didn’t have to wait long, but that first reply was a strangled noise of disbelief. “She’s gonna ‘’kill’’ you? No way…” Her heart was pounding. “I mean, I believe you, I just… fuck, you never can tell, can you.”

She stood up, unable to keep still, and started pacing in the tight quarters of their dorm room. “I don’t know anything about her that explains why you’ve got *those* books out! She was gushing about what a romantic week she was having and she said you’d been her first kiss. She didn’t sound like she was going to kill you-- wait, how was she going to kill you?” She touched her fingertips to her lips. “Was it the kiss? Does she have the kiss of ‘’death’’!?”

Burgundy cocked their head to the side at the mention of a romantic *week* and then righted themselves as they saw Didi touch their lips. “You were intimate with her too? I’m guessing you aren’t human either. I don’t believe she has a kiss of death. First, please read this.”

Burgundy set the journal down where Didi had been sitting. It is opened to the entry detailing the events that occurred specifically when Arsling explained her curse and how much monster blood she may have on her hands. It also implied if not directly mentioned that Burgundy himself is not human.

Turning paler by the moment, Didi returned to the seat and leaned on the back of it to peer at the journal. She didn’t get very far before she let out a sound between a choke and a whimper.

“Arse-ling… is… Linny… Ash…” That’s where she recognized the last name from; she was the one the pack mother had commanded her to turn. “Monster slayer…” Werewolf slayer.

Her breaths coming fast, she climbed into her bed and hauled the blankets around her, over her head, just her face peeking through.

Burgundy had a hard time standing back up. They managed a stoic composure but only from the waist up. Their legs have been shaking the entire time. The fatigue and lack of self care caught up with them as they moved to follow and continue the conversation.

“I at first accepted her reasoning behind who she does and who she doesn’t kill but obviously reflecting on it …,” he sighed as he gestured to the books around him. “Her dictating who has innocence and who doesn’t, regardless if her remorse was real, is disgusting. I honestly suspect she could be taking advantage of the curse to lure in monsters … in any other situation I wouldn’t be for this, and I know it’s her greatest fear, but she needs to be turned for everyone’s safety. Please tell me that could’ve happened when you two hooked up, I’m assuming?”

“Slow down! Please,” Didi said, sounding on the verge of tears and pulling the blanket close around her. “She’s luring in monsters? Killing them?” She met Burgundy’s eyes for a moment. “Killing us.”

It should be a simple decision; her pack mother wanted Ash -- Arsling -- turned, Burgundy thought it was the right thing to do. And Ash would make for one hell of a werewolf. Or was that just the curse talking?

Why did she have doubts, then, if the curse was supposed to make her *want* to turn her?

“A hunter who draws in prey like lambs to the slaughter. That’s terrifying. I don’t think I’ve turned her yet, but I think I’ll have the chance soon enough.” She frowned and hung her head, then reached for Burgundy. “Or… are ‘’you’’ going to turn them?”

Being near the bedroom reminded Burgundy of some of their responsibilities they’ve been neglecting. As they listened to Didi, they walked to their own bed to check their phone and computer that sit piled underneath a stack of cardboard boxes. The bed isn’t dressed and is stripped down just the mattress and it’s frame.

They flinched at the sight of a few minutes to hours late text from Arsling. They read the text over, looked to Didi momentarily with a fearful expression, then sent a quick text back.

They swallowed hard as they prepared a reply and dropped the phone into the nearest box. “It is important to remember that I am speculating. I have no idea if Arsling has killed since coming to Night Falls or if she is responsible for the recent deaths on campus …,” they begin as they sit down on their bed.

“I have already asked the water spirits to give me the strength to learn magic. I don’t believe they’d be willing to do a favor or execute it in a favorable method for the bloodline who killed the Fae King … I’ve just now given her my blessing to pursue a relationship with you …,” they sighed and slumped a bit. “I can’t see her again until she is turned. I believe if she has never lied to us, turning her could prevent her from continuing her path as a hunter.”

“Okay,” said Didi, seeming as far from ‘okay’ as Burg had ever seen her. “I think you’re right, I think this must be why…” She looked up at her roommate. “I’ll turn her. It’s gonna be okay.” She swallowed.

“I’m a werewolf,” she said, fear clenching at her heart. “I have been since the summer before college. Not like an out-of-control movie werewolf who hunts humans or anything, but… but I ‘’can’’ turn her. Stop her from luring people in and killing them. Protect you.”

She stared into space for a moment.

“Pack Mother wanted her turned; this must be why.” Her voice wavered, and it was strained as she continued. “Did she really say she’d killed entire ‘’packs’’ of werewolves?”

Burgundy took a shaken breath as they listened to the answer of one their plaguing questions. It was one thing to learn just the previous Friday that these creatures from the movies were real but even more frightening, yet somehow comforting, to know he had been rooming with one of them for almost two years.

“I believe she said two ‘packs’ …,” Burgundy said with obvious horror in their tone. They clear their voice and continue solemnly.

“There is no name for what I am. Water fae and spirits don’t often speak in verbal languages … I was in high school when I encountered them. I would visit them regularly and some of the mischievous ones led me out too far. I would have drowned if they hadn’t transformed me but they also made me the protector of their home. It’s mainly environmental work hence everything I do. It also leaves me alone without inhuman kin.”

Didi’s brow was furrowed. “That sounds really hard… I know it’s not the same, but you’re my friend and I care about you and I’m not going anywhere.” She blinked, taking in the now-bare mattress and the freshly-packed boxes. “... are ‘’you’’ going somewhere?”

“Actually yes, I am, thank you for reminding me,” they said as they finally took off their sleep bonnet and disrobed. In typical Burg fashion, there wasn’t much under the robe but it didn’t take long before they slipped on a baggy earth-toned dashiki and loose fitting, cuffed, faded blue jeans. They also load whatever clothing remained in their dresser into a box.

As they began to slip on their rings, they spoke back up. “I have until next Monday to confirm I’ve found proper housing and don’t plan to return to the dorm,” they paused to meet Didi’s gaze and try to read her expression. “I made this decision Saturday morning.”

It wasn’t hard to see the distress on Didi’s face. “Shit, I’ve been gone way too much, I wish… ugh, if we’d talked *yesterday* I would have turned her at the spring.” She leaned forward and held her head in her hands. “I can tell you’re really scared… I’m scared, too. Do you really have to go? You think she’s going to come here to kill us?”

“The thought has crossed my mind, multiple times, but it’s not just her that I’m afraid of. We’re really accessible here in the dorms and I want to live somewhere where I know specifically inhumans can be safe. I never told her what dorm room we live in.” At this point Burgundy’s only belongings outside of boxes were the tens of books scattered about the dorm.

Didi shot up with a flushed face and a clenched fist. “I’m not running away! This is our home! Let’s go down there and turn her right now.”

Burgundy draws in a deep breath before sighing audibly. “That doesn’t solve the risk of other monster hunters.” They paused to pick a book from a stack and hold it up. It’s clearly about bonds, wards, and other supernatural ways to deter danger. “I want a place well prepared. And even if this dorm was, it wouldn’t cure how badly my anxiety gets when I realize that I know nothing about the people who live across the hall. I support whatever decision you make but I will be packing my car.”

Looking at the book and then to the door, Didi let out a little whine.

“Across the hall, that’s Xiao and Kiri! Xiao’s a CS major from Virginia, Kiri’s architecture or something. They’re both vegetarians! Kiri stayed here over winter break and hooked up with…” She saw she wasn’t getting through, none of this was the point.

“What am I supposed to say when people ask why you leave? What are you going to tell Ash? If she’s killed two entire packs of werewolves I need the element of surprise. I need ‘’help’’.”

Burgundy grew a steady frown as their neighbors were described to them. They probably are loosely familiar with them but only in passing because of their typically busy schedule.

“Whatever you said for Iva? I don’t know many people who would care about why. Umm, I guess you can say that a spot suddenly opened in a dorm I really wanted and I took the opportunity?” Burgundy shrugged a bit as they realized that they never really thought about this part of moving out.

“As for Arsling, what does it take for you to turn her?”

“Of course people will miss you… you’re our ‘’hallmate,’’” replied Didi, glumly. “Before we talk about the turning… is there even a place that’s safe for our kind? Do you have a safe place to go?”

“I have my car and a few coworkers’ couches who are outside of the university. It’s a bit of a drive but my parents aren’t too far and I’m sorta figuring out they probably knew a lot more about the supernatural than I did and um …,” Burgundy rubs their face as they look at the ground before admitting this. “I might try to become a Hellfire. I don’t know how much information I’m allowed to disclose, but I know monsters are safe and protected there.”

Didi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ok. I-- I’ve been to hellfire parties in werewolf form, but I didn’t give my real name, so I know some of what goes down. I think if you’re a Hellfire, you’re pretty safe from outside threats, but you’re completely at Selene’s mercy, and she has a mean streak a mile wide. If you can make it work, if you think it’s worth it…”

She shook her head. “Burg, you have the power of ‘’water spirits’’! Untameable spirits of the wild, spirits who tear down mountains, who mean life and death for every living thing. You’re wild and ‘’free’’. Monsters have been living here at the university for ‘’years’’; there must be other options.”

“There are but I like having a degree of separation from the water and my human life … and I know Selene is mean but … I won’t be alone there. There could be other water monsters there? Worst case scenario I can leave. I’m on track to graduate and if I take out some more loans I could drop a job and graduate faster.” Burgundy was careful to avoid exposing what he knew about Lezly.

Didi finally nodded, looking lost. She hadn’t been able to persuade Gene, either. Turning to hide the tears welling in her eyes, she tried to control the waver in her voice. “It sounds like you’ve thought it through.” She swallowed. “Just. Promise if you’re in trouble there you’ll reach out, okay? I’ll deal with Ash.”

Burgundy walked to Didi’s side and wrapped an arm around their shoulders. “I will keep you updated constantly, maybe even to an annoying degree, okay? And I will be there if you need help turning Arsling. But I will not see her again until you tell me she is turned or if you need help during the process.”

After a moment, Didi turned to wrap Burgundy in a fierce hug, holding him close. It was another minute before she could speak.

“To turn her -- we call it ‘awakening.’ To awaken her wolf, I need to tear her weak human skin with my teeth in the light of the moon. I need to taste her blood, to reach her wolf. Then I howl, and the moon will hear me. My pack will hear me. Her wolf will hear me, and awaken. It might be gradual, it might be all at once, but… once her wolf is awakened, she won’t want to go back to just being human. You’ll be safe.”