Chapter 83

TV Audience POV

[Music plays and the opening credits roll]

Announcer: Welcome, everyone, to Darleen’s Den! The show that asks real questions about real people. Join Darleen and her guests, Alpha Zane Cavendish and his children’s goddess-mother, Sarah Astor! Plus, Darleen will be sitting down with Emma Fleming to discuss tips for keeping safe during deer tick season, Chef Laverne will be here with five different ways to prepare beef tongue, and we’re going to visit with some pups from Pride Academy who are doing a craft-a-thon for charity! But first, here’s your host, Daaaaaaaaaarlene!

[Darlene comes out from behind the scrim as the studio audience claps wildly. Her bright blue eyes and wide smile are highlighted by her smooth black skin, looking all the more charming, and she basks in the applause before rolling her eyes. The crowd quiets.]

Darlene: Usually, I’d think you were all excited to see me.

[She makes a sad face.]

Audience: Awwww.

Darlene: But I know what you’re really excited about, and so am I! So let’s get right to it! Ladies and gentlemen, Alpha Zane and Sarah Astor!

[Wild applause rings out as Zane and Sarah come from behind the scrim and take their bright red seats around a low glass coffee table with Darleen at the other end in her black host’s chair.]

Darleen: Thank you both so much for coming on the show.

Zane: It’s our pleasure, Darleen. We’re fans.

Sarah: Absolutely.

Darleen: Now, Alpha Zane, I hope you forgive me if I start with Sarah.

Zane: Of course. I’m old news, after all.

[Audience laughs.]

Darleen: Hardly! And I have some very good questions lined up for you. But, yes, welcome to your first talk show, Sarah!

Sarah: Thank you. It’s lovely to be here.

Darleen: Now, the press has told us several different versions of that night, but no one has been able to ask you to tell the story in your own words. Can you do that for us now?

Sarah: I will tell you what I can, but please understand that my testimony is going to be used in many, many cases over the next months, if not years. I’ve given several statements to the authorities, but I haven’t been officially deposed. The DA has asked me, personally, not to reveal facts about the case that may cause trouble later in a court of law.

Darleen: I see.

Sarah: But, if you like, I can tell you about how I felt.

Darleen: Yes, please! We’re all wondering it.

Sarah: To see people, humans and werewolves—please don’t ask for details—being degraded like that, to see people just like you and me being treated as property, it was abhorrent.

Darleen: You’re talking about the slaves.

Sarah: Please, I have to ask you not to call the people I saw slaves. That suggests they really were property, or something allowable under certain circumstances. These were human captives, kidnapped and being held very much against their will.

Darleen: That is an excellent point. I will do that from now on.

[Audience applauds.]

Darleen: Alpha Zane, would you agree with that?

Zane: Of course, because we’re talking about sexual deviancy not in the actions we saw, but in the lack of consent for those actions. A sane adult can choose to be the sexual slave of another, and no one should be able to take that choice from them. But that’s precisely what was happening: the removal of choice.

[Audience applauds.]

Zane: Though we may prefer to pretend it’s not true, there’s a forbidden thrill with the concept of a slave in the bedroom. These were captives being abused. The people abusing them weren’t their owners. They were just their abusers.

[Audience applauds. The camera pans to show people standing up while they clap. The camera cuts to Darlene, who is also clapping. Then she turns to the camera.]

Darlene: And on those words, we’re going to take a quick break.

[The cut to commercial shows two boy pups picking at their dinner.

Announcer: Do your pups feel like they’re being fed, well, dog food?

An extreme close-up of one boy’s disgusted face is accompanied by a low “uh oh” noise.

Announcer: Give your pups the food they want!

The boys dig into new plates of food and make faces of happiness.

Announcer: Chef Puppers knows what your children want: wolf food that tastes great and is great for them!]

[Darlene is talking to Zane and Sarah while the lead-in music plays. Darleen turns to the camera with a smile.]

Darleen: And we’re back here talking to Alpha Zane and Sarah Astor. Now, Sarah, I have to ask. I’ve been told you studied to be a teacher, correct?

Sarah: Yes, I received my degree in childhood education a little over five years ago.

Darleen: And that was when Chloe came into your life. And you had no idea who she really was?

Sarah: None at all. Obviously, if I had, I’d have done everything I could to get her back to Alpha Zane as quickly as possible. But I didn’t. So I raised her, and we were our own little family.”

Darleen: Until Alpha Zane recognized her?

Sarah: Yes.

Darleen: But how did he meet her?

Sarah: I was working for his wife’s sister. He gave me a ride home one night and saw her, and that was that!

Darleen: And, Alpha Zane, what was that like?

Zane: It was wonderful. I had been looking for her for so long, but I had never given up hope. But it had never occurred to me I would just happen upon her like that. It was a blessing from Luna herself.

Darleen: The same Luna whose temple has given their blessing to Sarah’s role as your daughters’ goddess-mother.

Zane: Yes. [chuckles] Nice segue.

Darleen: Thank you, I am a professional. [does a little sitting bow]

[Audience laughs.]

Darleen: And as a professional, I know I’m going to get fired if I don’t ask about the other thing everyone’s curious about.

[Zane and Sarah look at each other and shrug slightly.]

Zane: What’s that?

[Darleen looks back and forth between them for a moment.]

Darleen: Well, I know you love your daughters very much, Alpha Zane.

Zane: Yes.

Darleen: And I know you love Chloe very much, Sarah.

Sarah: Yes, and Grace as well. [looks to the audience] She’s a darling. Chloe and I both love her very much.

[Audience “aws” sincerely then applauds.]

Darleen: So.

[Zane and Sarah wait.]

Darleen: Any other kind of love going on that maybe you could tell us about? We won’t tell anyone.

[Zane and Sarah both burst out laughing. Darleen looks a little puzzled.]

Sarah: No, no, nothing like that. I’m human, and Alpha Zane is, well, Alpha Zane. It wouldn’t be remotely appropriate.

[Darleen leans forward.]

Darleen: Something tells me people really wouldn’t mind all that much. [turns to audience] Am I right, people?

[Audience applauds. Darleen smiles into her close-up as the music plays.]

Darleen: Let’s thank Alpha Zane and Sarah Astor for being kind enough to come on the show!

[A wide shot shows Zane and Sarah smiling at the audience. Camera cuts back to Darleen.]

Darleen: After the break, we’re going to be talking with renowned pediatrician Emma Fleming to talk about how to keep you and your family safe during deer tick season, so don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back!