Chloe investigates

Kaitland beamed with satisfaction as the door to her sister's dorm opened and Chloe emerged with her roommate Amy. She motioned the pair over to her. I stood nearby and listened in to their conversation.

"What the Hell are you doing here?" Chloe demanded.

"My friends and I are just trying to spread our love and goodwill to your classmates, " Kaitland answered.

"With a party on at 10:00 in the morning?" Chloe challenged.

"Relax, enjoy the party," Kaitland remarked, "Have some wine if you like. Anyway, I have a friend here who'd like to meet you."

Kaitland glanced in my direction at this comment and gave me a hopeful nod as Chloe eyed me over. I nodded back and took my cue to approach.

Amy had met up with her boyfriend Chet. He was happy for any excuse for a party, but looked somewhat discouraged. "What kind of party doesn't serve beer?" he asked.

Amy gave him an exasperated look. "It wouldn't hurt for you to try some wine. It's pretty good and more sophisticated than that swill you and your friends drink!"

I was truly please to see Chet accept a sip of wine from Amy's cup. The pair then went off in search of more wine for them both. I was brimming with anticipation of what was to come as Amy, Chet and many others drank down my offering.

The party had grown considerably and some passing musicians took over entertaining the crowd. Their music was a bit loud by my taste, but I appreciated its fervor. The principle instrument was some sort of six stringed lute attached by a rope of some sort to several large black boxes. The notes boomed from these boxes and alerted many on the campus to our festivities. The students, particularly those who enjoyed my wine, were dancing before the band. Although times had changed, I recognized the dance as each participant did their best to entice their partner with their movements. Amy and Chet were in the midst of it – part of the fray, each driving the other on. In the end, little had really changed in my absence. In fact, the mores of the time seemed to encourage a freedom and self-expression that could only help me recruit more followers.

I turned my attention to Chloe. She was not unattractive, but her beauty was hidden. She wore a large, ill-fitting sweatshirt to conceal her less than perfect body. Her hair was flat, a far cry from the lustrous mane I had endowed her sister with. Her eyes were difficult to discern, given her glasses, and her completion, "E-ghad!" She was pale and freckled.

Nevertheless, I sensed a beauty deep within her, at her very core. I just had to bring it out. She was quite intelligent. We debated wide ranging topics on religion and history (although she mistakenly regarded it as mythology). She was a worthy adversary with a sharp wit and quick mind. I knew I would enjoy an eternity of conversations (and more!) with her if she would only chose to becoem a satyress as her sister had. But I was disappointed to see that she had not even sipped the cup of wine in her hand.

The time was close at hand when I would lead my new followers into satyrdom. I hoped Chloe would be one of them.

"Do you not like the wine I have brought to you?" I asked in earnest.

Chloe stared at her cup in contemplation. "No, it's just that … I don't like to drink. I'm … I'm afraid."

"Of what my dear, we mean you no harm."

She continued, "I'm just scared to lose control."

"Well my lovely," she blushed, and I continued with a wry smile, "There's something to said for losing control!"

Chloe laughed at my joke and drew the cup to her lips.