Chapter 6

Why Fear the Moon?

William's eyebrow twitched as he scanned over the report that had just come in. This would mean overtime; a lot of overtime. And if there was one thing he hated more than lateness (and Grell), it was overtime. He sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose before getting up and walking out of his office. The other five Shinigami were standing around their desks chatting, enjoying the end of the work day. William took note of Ronald's arm around Ashling's shoulders; ever since that party a few weeks ago things had been going well in their relationship.

"Everyone, your attention, please. I have something I need to tell you." he said tiredly, and they turned to look at him.

"Are you finally going to confess for me, Will~?" Grell nearly sang, batting his eyes at the annoyed Shinigami.

"No. We have to work overtime tonight." William growled, rolling his eyes.

"Ugh. I'd much rather just watch you confess to Grell." Alan muttered, earning a light chuckle from Eric.

"Why do we have to do overtime?" Ronald asked, concerned.

"It appears that at a little after midnight tonight several people are going to die in our district. Enough so that I need everyone, and I mean everyone, to work tonight." William answered seriously.

Ashling's eyes widened, and she cast a quick glance out the window at the darkening sky.

"William, I don't think-" she started, but he interrupted her.

"You're coming, too. I don't know what it is about the dark or whatever that makes you so nervous, but we need your help as well. You're not getting out of this." he said sternly.

"But William, I-"

"That's final."

Ashling gulped and nodded at him, not daring to question him when he was already so angry at having to put in overtime in the first place.

"What's the cause of the deaths?" Eric asked curiously.

"Murder." William read, looking at the file.

"Demons?"

"No, it says that the murderer is unknown. All I can tell is that the first one happens of Stetson Avenue, and then it runs in a string all the way to the outskirts of London."

"So whatever it is will be killing on its way out of the city,
toward the forest." Ronald said thoughtfully.

None of them noticed the shade of white Ashling's face was going as they spoke. After a moment, William spoke again.

"Alright. Go get ready, get something to eat, and we'll meet next to the old refinery on Stetson. Before midnight. Got it?" he looked at each of them in turn, his eyes resting heavily on Ashling before turning away.

The group of Shinigami filed out of the building slowly, grumbling to themselves about how much they despised unpaid overtime. Ronald walked by Ashling's side, her hand in his, and complained about the whole mess this was going to be. When he noticed that she wasn't paying him any attention, he shook her arm gently. Ashling blinked and turned to him with an apologetic smile.

"Are you okay?" Ronald asked.

"Eh, I've been better. I'm just nervous about tonight. Do you think it's possible for me to do my job and stay out of the moonlight?" she asked suddenly.

"Ahn, I don't know. Maybe. Why?"

"I just...I can't be in strong moonlight."

Ronald nodded understandingly.

"It's okay, everyone is scared of something. I'll be there with you, so it'll be okay. Ronald's gotcha!" Ronald gave her his signature sloppy grin, expecting a smile or a laugh.

Instead, Ashling sighed and shook her head.

"Yeah, that's part of what I'm worried about..." she whispered so softly that Ronald was hardly sure if she had spoken at all.

Several hours later, the group sat atop the roof of the refinery; except for Ashling. She was standing on the ground, leaning against the building and doing her best to avoid the white light of the moon. The others watched her curiously, not at all sure what was going on. It didn't seem that she was scared of the dark; she was doing her best to stay in it. She was terrified of the moon.

"What's up with your girlfriend, Ronald?" Alan asked, stretching and glancing up the street.

"I dunno." Ronald sighed, shrugging.

"You've not asked her?"

"No. I figure that if she wanted to tell me what was going on, she would."

The others contemplated his words, then sighed. Grell watched Ashling with a pitiful look in his eyes as she hunched up against the wall.

"Ashling, dear, come up here with us! You don't have to worry, we're here with you!" he called at her.

"No, thanks! It's better for all of us if I stay here!" Ashling called back, her voice trembling slightly.

Grell sighed, finally getting tired of this. He jumped off the roof and walked up to Ashling, leaning against the side of the building next to her. She looked at him curiously, casting quick glances at the shadows to make sure she was still in them.

"So, what's so bad about the moonlight that you're huddling up in the dark? I've seen plenty of people who were scared of the dark, but not the moon. It's quite the curious phobia." Grell asked gently.

"It's not a phobia. A phobia is an intense, unfounded fear of something that makes little to no sense. My fear is extremely founded, and makes more sense than any of you realize." Ashling replied quickly.

"Then tell us what's wrong."

"I can't. I just...I can't tell you. It's better if you don't know."

Grell growled impatiently and quickly grabbed her wrist, and she yelled in surprise.

"Well, the best way to get over a fear is to face it head on! Out you go~!" Grell called happily, slinging Ashling out of the shadow and directly into the moonlight.

Ashling froze, going rigid as the cool white light bathed her in an almost eerie glow. She shuddered and turned slowly to look at the other Shinigami, and they gasped audibly. Her eyes were no longer the yellow-green characteristic to a Shinigami. They were completely black, and inky black that seemed to radiate a sinister glow that send shudders up their spines.

"You Shinigami...you have a bit of light to you..." she muttered, her voice harsh and grating.

"Wha-what?" Grell stuttered, taking a step back.

"You shine bright like the Sun...but all I need is the moon." her last word came out as a pained growl, and she doubled over with a low whine.

Ronald moved to jump off the roof, but William quickly grabbed his shoulder and shook his head at him. Grell jumped up to the roof in panic as Ashling began a horrifying transformation. She gasped loudly as her body shuddered, and she was suddenly surrounded by a thick cloud of black fog; so thick the Shinigami couldn't see through it to see what was happening. All they could do was stand, frozen in curious horror, as screams resounded from within the cloud. After a few moments, the screams became low, eerie whines, and the smog cleared away.

Crouched where Ashling had been moments before was a wolf-like animal, its body covered with shining silver fur. A bushy tail uncurled from around its slender legs as it stood up on its hind legs, yawning and exposing a row of dagger-like teeth. It seemed to roll its shoulders before throwing its head back and emitting the loudest, shrillest, and most blood-curdling howl any of the stunned Shinigami had ever heard. It then turned its long head to glare at them with pitch black eyes full of hatred and hunger. William sighed.

"Shit."

Yay, werewolf! I've been wanting to write on of these into a story for so long, because I love the idea of them! A person cursed to transform into a beast by the light of the full moon! And I know you lot saw that coming, too! Can't wait to see what happens!

~Silver