The Anxiety of Kalix the Werewolf by Martin Millar

become everyone’s mother? thought Moonglow. I’m too young to be in charge of three idiots.

    Beauty and Delicious were surprised at how easily Dominil had been persuaded to attend Kalix’s birthday party. They’d assumed she’d refuse and had been preparing to assail her with a long string of reasons as to why she should attend. Kalix was a fellow werewolf, she was Dominil’s cousin, and she had on one occasion saved Dominil’s life. Besides, as Beauty pointed out, Dominil lived the most boring life imaginable, visiting art galleries and translating Latin poetry. It would do her good to let her hair down.
    â€œAlthough her hair is pretty much straight down already,” said Delicious.
    â€œTrue. But it is a bit weird, being so white. She should let us dye it.”
    Beauty’s hair was bright pink and Delicious’s a vivid blue. The twins devoted a lot of time and energy to hair maintenance. It was worth the effort. Even in Camden, where brightly colored coiffures were common, the magnificence of the sisters’ brightly colored tresses could still attract attention as they sauntered down the pavement. Their visits to a salon in Knightsbridge were expensive, but they could afford it. Their parents had died in an accident, making Beauty and Delicious wealthy at a young age. They’d wasted no time in decamping to London to engage in a riotous lifestyle. The rest of the clan didn’t approve, but Beauty and Delicious didn’t care what the rest of the clan thought.
    â€œSo why is Dominil coming to Kalix’s party?”
    It was puzzling. Even though Dominil had been acting as manager of the twins’ band, she’d resolutely refused to join in with their lifestyle. Dominil would never visit pubs or clubs. But now she’d agreed to travel south of the river to Kalix’s birthday party, and she hadn’t even complained about it.
    â€œDominil likes Kalix, I suppose,” said Delicious. “More than us, anyway.”
    â€œTrue. Though I wouldn’t have thought she liked her enough to put up with a lot of drunken werewolves.”
    â€œWhat drunken werewolves?”
    â€œUs. Dominil has this weird thing about not liking drunken werewolves. It’s a flaw in her character.”
    â€œMaybe she’s looking for a man?”
    The twins roared with laughter. The twins amused themselves with the continual fantasy that Dominil was desperate to find a boyfriend. There was no reason to believe this was true, though Dominil had beenknown to engage with the opposite sex. She’d once spent the night with Pete, their guitarist. Dominil had initiated this, and ended the relationship immediately afterward. Pete had never gotten over it. He still longed for Dominil, though she’d shown no interest in continuing the relationship.
    The phone in the living room rang.
    â€œI’m outside,” said Dominil.
    The twins rushed out to Dominil’s car, clutching their bags. It was mid-afternoon and they were due to meet the others at the Odeon Cinema in Marble Arch. The twins weren’t particularly keen on the Runaways, but they were willing to watch any film about a rock band.
    â€œI hope there’s lots of drugs and stuff,” said Beauty. “And alcohol.”
    â€œAnd sex,” said Delicious. “At the same time. Hi, Dominil, looking forward to the movie?”
    â€œNot really,” said Dominil, and pulled carefully away from the curb.
    â€œIs there any chance you could not drive like a nervous eighty-year-old?” asked Beauty as Dominil carefully negotiated the turn into the main road in Camden. Her cautious driving was another target of the twins’ mockery.
    â€œDid the Mistress of the Werewolves call you?” said Delicious.
    â€œYes,” replied Dominil. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œWe wondered if she nagged you into going to the party, to check up on Kalix.”
    Dominil halted at a traffic