Clawdeen had been right: Autumn was the perfect flyer for the fearleading team. During the homecoming game halftime show, the scarecrow had nailed every flip and twist, and when she’d weightlessly fell back into her teammate’s waiting arms, the crowd went wild. To top it off, Autumn had pulled off all her routines without a scratch.


    Later that night, when the excitement from the game had died down, Autumn came up with a surprising idea: she and Beatrix should skip the homecoming dance. Beatrix wasn’t sure if Autumn was just tired from all the fearleading, wasn’t in the mood for another big event, or just wanted some quality time together. Either way, Beatrix happily agreed to a night in, and they retreated back to their dorm room to relax and knit like they used to on the farm. Beatrix had to admit she was grateful for the one-on-one time with her friend — something she''d been missing since they''d started living on campus.


    As the days passed and Halloween drew closer, Monster High transformed. The once green forest surrounding the school had turned to rich shades of orange, red, and gold. Oregon was getting colder and colder, and the vivid leaves of the trees stood in stark contrast to the overcast sky above, which hung heavy with the promise of rain.


    On this particular day, Beatrix found herself seated in the back of a shuttle, which was making its way down the winding mountainside road leading away from Monster High. In the driver’s seat of the shuttle, Mr. Gore hunched over the steering wheel. Beside him, Johannah “The Thing” Carpenter scrolled through her iCoffin, seemingly unfazed by the bumpy ride.


    The reason why Beatrix was in a shuttle today was because the MSS group was heading to New Salem, the closest human city, for a field trip. Beatrix, Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson had to go practice blending into normie society as part of an assignment for the seminar, and by the end of the day, they needed to turn in a worksheet comparing monster social groups to human ones.


    As the shuttle navigated down the mountain, Beatrix clutched her sides, her stomach churning with each lurch of the vehicle.


    “Hey, you’re looking kinda green,” Jackson Jekyll said next to Beatrix, sounding concerned. “Oh, uh, I guess some witches have green skin, right? I didn’t mean to insult your natural hue.”


    Beatrix managed a weak smile despite her queasy stomach. "Actually, witches having green skin is just a myth," she clarified.


    “Oh. Sorry,” Jackson said, his cheeks flushing.


    This boy overthought everything, but it was one of the things Beatrix found endearing about him. The more she got to know him, the more he reminded her of Autumn: they both took their studies very seriously and were on the timid side, which made Beatrix feel naturally drawn to Jackson over the past month.


    Jackson fiddled with a notebook in his lap. Beatrix noticed "Frankie Stein" written inside a heart on one of the pages. She quickly looked away, not wanting to embarrass him.


    Given Jackson''s anxious nature, Beatrix still didn''t understand why he''d been forced to repeat another year of MSS. She guessed it was because he was clearly human, making it hard for him to assimilate into Monster High. He''d mentioned during their first seminar that he was half-human, half-creature—whatever that meant—but if Jackson really did have a monster side to him, he never showed it.


    Another thing Beatrix didn’t understand was why Headmistress Bloodgood had let the MSS group leave campus for this field trip.


    Earlier that day, when the MSS group was heading out, dozens of gargoyle security guards had blocked the south exit, determined not to let the shuttle pass. However, Mr. Gore had only needed to show a permission slip signed by Bloodgood to leave, and now they were on their way, hurtling towards the human city of New Salem.


    “Jackson,” Beatrix whispered.


    “Yeah?”


    “Do you know why we get to leave Monster High? What about the ban on leaving the school grounds?” Beatrix asked, hoping Jackson might know more about it than she did. “The whole Gilda Goldstag thing didn’t happen that long ago…”


    “I’m not sure…” Jackson started. “I guess Bloodgood thinks Mr. Gore and Johannah are good chaperones.”


    “But isn’t it weird we get to leave school but no one else does?” Beatrix asked. “I mean… Bloodgood even let him come…”


    Beatrix was referring to the MSS group’s third chaperone, Grey.


    Up head, in front of the shuttle, Grey rode a black motorcycle, its engine rumbling like thunder. He wore black from head to toe, with a black helmet hiding his entire face. For some reason, he had insisted on not taking the shuttle. Grey glided on every curve and bend with ease, the bike almost like an extension of his body as he led the shuttle down the treacherous mountain pass.


    The son of the Grim Reaper was known to be a rule-breaker and had even been suspended last year. But despite this, Bloodood still trusted him enough to let him accompany the MSS group on this field trip.


    “Grey probably gets to tag along because his dad pulled some strings…” Jackson whispered to Beatrix.


    Beatrix nodded. That seemed like the only logical explanation—special privileges for monsters from important families.


    Watching Grey weave his bike so quickly made Beatrix feel even more nauseous.


    Finally, Mr. Gore slowed the shuttle as they reached the base of the mountain.


    Beatrix wiped cold sweat from her forehead. “Thank the hells, it’s over,” she muttered.


    Johannah turned around in her seat to address everyone. “Alright, folks, this is our first day trip to a human city center. As a reminder, we’re visiting a history museum and grabbing dinner at a real human restaurant. We need you all to be on your best behavior and stay within ten paces of either me, Mr. Gore, or Grey at all times.”


    Orion groaned in the seat in front of Beatrix and Jackson. “I was literally a normie until last summer. Do I really need a babysitter to walk through a boring museum?”


    “As a newly turned werewolf, you''re in the most unpredictable stage of your metamorphosis. So, yes, you definitely need a babysitter,” Johannah said.


    Guillermo snorted.


    Orion shot Guillermo a glare. “Oh, shut it, bat boy. You’re still a normie. If anyone should be annoyed by this whole thing, it''s you.”


    “In case you haven’t noticed, I spend most of my time in the company of vampires. So a refresher course on how to act around humans will be good for me,” Guillermo replied with a snooty air. “Vampires might have more refined manners than mortals, but it’s good for me to be adaptable.”


    Orion rolled his eyes. "Right, because bloodsuckers are just the picture of polite society."


    "At least they don''t shed on the furniture," Guillermo retorted.


    Orion''s fists clenched as he shot back, "No, vamps just leave a trail of half-drained bodies wherever they go."


    Johannah slammed her hand down on her armrest, making the entire group jump. "Enough! Both of you, zip it before I make Mr. Gore turn this bus around.”


    As the tension between Orion and Guillermo simmered, the shuttle pulled onto a highway that ran alongside a long stretch of sparkling ocean. The sun peeked through the overcast clouds and cast a silvery sheen on the water''s surface.


    Beatrix’s attention was drawn to Grey, who rode his motorcycle just beyond her window, his black leather jacket flapping in the wind. Even though she couldn’t see his face under his helmet, she waved, hoping to catch his eye. Grey glanced over and gave her a nod of acknowledgment.


    Since they’d talked behind the gardening shed, Beatrix had been making an effort to be nicer to Grey, and thankfully, things had become fairly peaceful between them.


    However, their new dynamic made Beatrix feel nervous about what she was hiding in her cross-body satchel: a book titled, Merpeople: Enchanting Voices and the Sinking of Sailors.


    Beatrix had borrowed the book from the library after ruminating on what the spirit in the screamatorium had told her.


    The spirit had hinted that a mermaid song might work like Operetta''s mind control ability, manipulating people in the same way the phantom girl''s singing did.


    But Beatrix wasn’t a phantom or mermaid. She knew she had no chance of copying a monster’s supernatural ability without a boost of magic. That’s why the spirit had suggested that Beatrix combine a monster technique with a witchcraft spell.


    Even though the spirit''s theory was interesting, Beatrix didn''t know how to move forward. She had no clue what kind of witchcraft to pair with a mermaid''s song or how to weave the two together in a way that would grant her the same mind-controlling powers as Operetta.


    I had a ten-minute conversation with a random ghost and I’m already thinking about experimenting with witchcraft here? About breaking my promise to Bloodgood? Beatrix realized. She shook her head, and almost cackled at how ridiculous it sounded. I must be losing my mind.


    But to be fair, Beatrix had only borrowed the mermaid book out of curiosity. She didn’t have any plans to practice magic; she just wanted to see if there was any truth to the ghost’s theory.


    Still, the mermaid book felt like a ticking time-bomb in her bag. If Grey found out she was poking around in magic, he’d rat her out to Bloodgood in a second.


    Growing up, Beatrix had often heard the saying, "Curiosity killed the cat." However, she knew the full phrase was: “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” This was why Beatrix believed that investigating the ghost’s claims might be worth the risk. She only wanted to learn more.


    The shuttle came to a stop.


    “Who’s ready for some human activities?” Johannah asked cheerfully.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    “Hey, ‘Trix. What do you call people who testify at a witch trial?” Orion asked, his green eyes twinkling mischievously beneath the low-hanging lights of the restaurant.


    “Enlighten me,” Beatrix said, already regretting taking the bait.


    Orion leaned forward with a grin, showing off his sharp canines. “Witchnesses.”


    Beatrix rolled her eyes and threw a crumpled napkin at the werewolf.


    “Hey, stop drawing attention to us. And enough with the terrible jokes already,” Johannah sighed, exhausted from looking after their unruly group all day.


    Ever since they’d left the 1600s exhibit at the history museum, Orion had been cracking witch jokes left and right.


    As the group had wandered around New Salem, soaking up the sights and sounds of the bustling city, Beatrix had gradually grown closer to her fellow MSS members. She’d learned that Guillermo wasn’t half bad as long as you didn’t bring up vampires, and that beneath Orion’s snarkiness was an earnest wolf who just wanted the respect of his pack. She’d also discovered that Jackson had a thing for mad science and studied all kinds of monsters in his free time.


    The MSS group was now sitting in a restaurant in Downtown New Salem, hoping that the dim lighting would help hide their monster traits from any nosy normies. The group members who had the hardest time blending in were Orion, Mr. Gore, and Grey — so Orion had his furry ears tucked under a beanie, Mr. Gore wore a face mask over his troll features, and Grey had pulled up his black hood and donned a pair of sunglasses to hide his pitch-black eyes.


    Oddly enough, Jackson, who looked the most normal out of all of them, seemed the most nervous. He’d been wearing his noise-canceling headphones all day at the museum and still hadn’t taken them off.


    Beatrix''s eyes drifted down the table to where Grey was sitting. His imposing height always made him stand out, no matter how inconspicuous he tried to look. With his black hood up, he really did look like Grim Reaper’s son.


    Grey was deep in a conversation with Johannah, quietly talking about how the museum left out Abraham Lincoln''s vampire hunting days.


    Grey and Johannah get along well, Beatrix noted. Is it just because they''re both MSS leaders? Or is there something more going on between them? A small part of Beatrix hoped it wasn’t the latter.


    As if he sensed her staring, Grey looked up, his dark eyes sinking into hers over the rims of his sunglasses. A sly smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, aware she’d been sneaking a glance at him. Beatrix felt a blush creep up her neck. She quickly averted her gaze and turned to Jackson, hoping for a distraction.


    However, Jackson was pressing his headphones against his ears so tightly his knuckles were turning white.


    “Jackson? What’s wrong?” Beatrix asked, but her words were lost in the clamor of the restaurant. Besides, with his headphones on, Jackson couldn’t have heard Beatrix anyway. He didn’t even look at her. Instead, he kept his head lowered.


    Nearby, a violinist wove between the tables, the melody of her instrument filling the air as she drew closer to their booth. With each step, Jackson got more tense, his shoulders nearly up to his ears.


    As soon as a waiter arrived to take everyone’s orders, Jackson blurted out, “I have to use the restroom!” and bolted to the back of the restaurant.


    The waiter stood there, perplexed, but Johannah smoothly took over without missing a beat and ordered on Jackson’s behalf.


    Beatrix snuck another glance at Grey and saw him staring intently out the large windows near the restaurant’s entrance. His dark sunglasses had slipped down the bridge of his nose, revealing equally dark eyes. He watched the windows on high alert.


    Beatrix tilted her head, trying to see what he was looking at. Dusk had settled over the city outside, and the glow of street lights illuminated the passing cars. Beatrix didn’t notice anything unusual. When she tilted her head back, the waiter was leaving the table.


    Johannah huffed, shaking her head. “I thought I told you guys to lay low,” she said. “I’m gonna go check on Jackson before we draw any more attention to ourselves. Grey, make sure nobody moves.”


    “I can’t. I have to head out,” Grey said out of nowhere, his chair scraping against the floor as he stood and shrugged on his leather jacket.


    Johannah looked up at him, dumbfounded. “What? Right now?”


    “Yeah, I’ve got something I need to take care of. You and Mr. Gore should take everyone back to school as soon as you''re finished here. I''ll catch up,” Grey said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    Mr. Gore furrowed his brow. "But Grey, you already ordered some food. Why don’t you eat and ride back with us?"Stolen novel; please report.


    “Can''t. Don''t wait up for me. Go straight back to campus and call me if anything comes up,” Grey replied, already making his way towards the door. Beatrix expected Mr. Gore to object—he was the adult in the group, after all—but the teacher just sat there quietly as Grey left.


    Beatrix couldn’t tell if this weird exchange was a result of Grey having special privileges to do whatever he wanted, or if everyone else was simply too scared to challenge him.


    As Grey reached the door, he paused, glancing out the restaurant windows again. His attention seemed to zero in on an unlit alley across the street. Without another word, he pushed through the door, letting it slam shut behind him as he disappeared into the shadows between the buildings.


    That’s when Beatrix remembered Jackson was still in the bathroom.


    While everyone was distracted by Grey''s abrupt departure, Beatrix slipped away from the table and made her way to the back of the restaurant, retracing Jackson''s steps.


    “Jackson?” Beatrix called softly, knocking on the men’s room door. “Everything okay in there?”


    The only response was the sound of rushing water from inside the bathroom.


    Beatrix frowned. Jackson had looked sickly earlier and she was worried he might have gotten an upset stomach.


    Suddenly, a thud came from inside. Without hesitation, Beatrix swung open the men’s door, expecting to find Jackson passed out on the floor. Instead, she found herself face to face with a boy with electric blue skin and flaming red hair, standing in front of the sinks casually like he owned the place.


    “Shoot, sorry. I’m looking for a guy with glasses and a yellow t-shirt,” Beatrix said, not quite processing the bizarre scene she’d walked in on.


    Beatrix looked the blue boy up and down. He was wearing the exact same outfit Jackson had on earlier. A pair of headphones had been carelessly tossed into the restroom sink, which was now overflowing with water, and next to the sink, a pair of glasses lay crushed on the counter. Jackson’s glasses.


    “Hey! That’s my friend’s stuff!” Beatrix scolded, her voice rising in anger.


    The blue boy smirked. “You mean my stuff,” he corrected her.


    Beatrix’s blood ran cold. This guy was clearly a thief, and Jackson was nowhere to be seen.


    Slowly, she started to back away, hoping to make a break for it. But the blue boy saw what she was up to. A crazed smile stretched across his face and he quickly positioned himself between her and the door, his expression unsettling.


    Beatrix blinked, reality sinking in. Hold up. Since when are humans blue?


    It dawned on her that she was in a bathroom with an unknown monster in the middle of Downtown New Salem.


    “You must be Trixie!” the blue boy exclaimed, and as he spoke, his striking red hair seemed to dance.


    “How do you know who I am?” Beatrix demanded, eyeing him warily. There was something vaguely familiar about the shape of his face, the curve of his jaw, but she couldn''t quite place it.


    "Huh, I thought Jackson would''ve told you all about me by now," the blue boy said with an exaggerated sigh. "I''ve seen all the notes he''s written about you. Dude''s got stacks of ''em. Guy''s obsessed with studying. Normies, am I right?"


    Jackson’s been taking notes on me? Beatrix thought.


    The blue boy propped the bathroom door open with his foot, and the soft notes from the restaurant’s violinist floated in. He nearly purred like a cat at the music.


    "Name''s Holt Hyde. I''m Jackson''s cooler, better-looking half," he said with a grin, and it suddenly clicked for Beatrix — Jackson and Holt were two sides of the same coin. A human and a monster who shared the same body.


    “DJ Hyde!” Guillermo cut in, appearing in the doorway with Orion, both of them looking starstruck at the sight of Holt.


    Orion was grinning from ear to ear. "Dude, we''ve been waiting for you to show up!"


    Holt grabbed Orion''s hand, pulling him in for a bro-hug and slapping him on the back like they were old pals. "Yo, what''s good?"


    Beatrix glanced between them, totally lost. "Wait, you guys know each other?"


    “Uh, yeah. He was the DJ at Deuce Gorgon''s back-to-school bash this year," Orion explained. "Everyone on this side of the monster world knows who he is."


    Holt’s face lit up. “Hey, let’s get out of here. There’s gotta be a high-voltage party we can crash right now.”


    As infectious as Holt''s energy was, Beatrix couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. Her heart was still thumping from the unsettling first impression Holt had made.


    Orion''s expression fell. “Man, I wish we could go, but Mr. Gore and Johannah won’t let us out of their sight.”


    “So ditch ‘em!” Holt said. “Rules are meant to be broken.”


    Guillermo shifted uncomfortably.  "I don''t know... I don''t wanna get bad marks on my school records. Draculaura might be annoyed with me if I get detention…"


    Holt rolled his eyes. “Wow, you guys are even lamer than Jackson! I’m out.” Holt turned, approaching the window above the sinks.


    Beatrix''s stomach dropped as she realized what Holt was about to do.


    “Holt, wait! You can’t just leave — Jackson has to take the shuttle back with us after dinner!”


    “Sorry, Trixie. The music gods are calling my name! Catch you on the flip side!” Holt hollered, already halfway through the window.


    Beatrix, Orion, and Guillermo rushed over and helplessly watched Holt sprint down the street. He disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye.


    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Beatrix groaned.


    "What are we gonna do now?" Guillermo asked.


    Orion just shrugged. "I mean, is it really our problem?"


    "Yes, it''s our problem!" Guillermo practically shrieked. "Holt just ditched the field trip! What if Johannah decides we''re guilty by association and her head rips open again when she yells at us?"


    The color drained from Orion''s face. "Oh no… you don''t think Mr. Gore''s gonna blame us for letting Holt take off, do you?"


    The two boys looked like they were about to freak, and Beatrix couldn''t blame them. Now that she’d met Holt, things were making more sense: Jackson was probably stuck repeating MSS this year because his alter ego was too wild to control.


    Beatrix had to find a way to bring Holt back before anyone realized he was missing, or they''d all be in hot water — especially Jackson. If Johannah and Mr. Gore found out Holt had run off in the middle of a human city, Jackson would be the one to face the music. The poor guy might even have to take MSS a third time.


    Beatrix couldn''t let that happen. She’d seen first hand during her shifts at the creepateria how Jackson often struggled to fit in, spending all his lunches sitting alone. High school was rough enough for him as it was. The last thing he needed was another reason for his monster classmates to give him a hard time. But what can we do? she thought, racking her brain for a solution.


    And then it hit her — she had that mermaid book stashed in her bag.


    Beatrix took a moment to weigh her options, turning the idea over in her mind, yet she kept coming back to the same conclusion.


    Beatrix faced Orion and Guillermo. “Okay, I think I have an idea. But you guys have to promise to keep what happens tonight a secret. Got it?”


    The boys stared at her blankly, clearly not following.


    But it was now or never. Beatrix was going to try to replicate a monster ability using one of the songs she''d read about in the mermaid textbook. However, she was still missing a key element: a witchcraft spell to boost the mermaid song''s power. If Beatrix wanted the singing to work, to be able to make others do her bidding with a simple melody, she''d need to combine the song with a spell.


    It’s a long shot, but it might be worth a try…


    Beatrix racked her brain, trying to think of any witchy spells that might be similar to the mind-controlling powers phantoms and mermaids had — something to pair with the song to make it effective.


    What Beatrix wouldn''t give to have Autumn there to bounce ideas off of. Her brainy scarecrow friend would know exactly what to do. Too bad Beatrix was running out of time. Every second she wasted, the further away Holt was.


    The closest thing Beatrix could come up with was the botched sleeping potion she''d tried to make back on the farm when she was twelve.


    Sleeping potions mess with your brain to make you tired… right? That''s kind of like mind control... I think… Beatrix reasoned.


    That would have to do.


    “Orion, I need you to sneak back to our table and grab a textbook from my bag. If Johannah and Mr. Gore ask what’s taking us so long, just tell them Jackson’s sick in the restroom and we’re helping him out,” Beatrix ordered. “And Guillermo, go see if you can find some salt from the restaurant’s kitchen. Make sure it’s pure sea salt. Oh, and find me some herbs like chamomile or lavender or mint. If you can get your hands on all three, even better."


    Something about Beatrix''s tone must have conveyed how serious she was, because Guillermo and Orion followed her orders without a peep, slipping out of the bathroom immediately.


    She shut the door behind them and peered at the overflowing restroom sink, the water still running. She shut off the faucet and circled the surface of the water with her fingertips, watching the ripples fan out from her touch.


    Okay. Remember what Aunt Cordelia always says… your intentions are just as important as your ingredients, Beatrix thought. … so I better get my intent right.


    Beatrix desperately hoped that whipping up a magical sleeping elixir wouldn’t be that much harder than cooking in the creepateria, that the mermaid song and the witchcraft potion would intertwine seamlessly and give her the power she needed to bring Holt back before it was too late.


    And she really hoped that Grey wouldn’t find out what she was about to do.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix’s boots pounded on the pavement. High-rise buildings towered around her, and a drizzle rained down from the overcast sky.


    “He went this way!” Orion shouted, his werewolf nose in the air like a bloodhound on a scent, tracking Holt through the many alleys and side streets of Downtown New Salem. Judging by the excited tone in Orion’s voice, they had to be getting close.


    Poor Guillermo was struggling to keep up, his short legs working double-time to run after Beatrix and Orion. But Beatrix couldn''t afford to slow down. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, urging her forward.


    She still couldn’t believe her crazy plan had actually worked.


    Beatrix had doused Johannah and Mr. Gore’s water cups with the sleeping elixir she’d crafted in the bathroom sink. Then, soon after, she’d muttered a siren song from the mermaid book in both their ears after they’d taken a sip. And to Beatrix’s surprise, the sleeping elixir had knocked Johannah and Mr. Gore out cold in seconds flat, slumping in their seats like they''d been hit with a tranquilizer dart.


    When Beatrix followed traditional witchcraft recipes back home, she had consistently failed at making a sleeping elixir. Even experienced witches couldn''t make someone fall into such a deep sleep so quickly. Most witches'' potions took a lot longer to kick in, and the effects weren''t nearly as strong. But apparently, mixing in a mermaid technique did the trick.


    Luring Johannah and Mr. Gore to sleep with a mermaid lullaby was far more effective than Beatrix could''ve ever imagined.


    While Beatrix had smuggled Johannah out the back door of the restaurant, Guillermo and Orion slumped a snoozing Mr. Gore over their shoulders and pretended like the teacher was too drunk to walk by himself. They’d placed both of their chaperones in the parked Monster High shuttle, and with any luck, they’d stay asleep long enough for the group to track down Holt and drag him back.


    “Over here!” Orion skidded to a stop in front of a sketchy-looking metal door, the muffled thump of music pulsing from the other side. "Holt''s scent leads right to this club."


    Beatrix grabbed the handle and yanked, but it wouldn''t budge. "It''s locked."


    "Step aside, Trix — I got this." Orion puffed out his chest, cracked his knuckles, and wrapped his hands around the door handle.


    With a grunt of effort, Orion threw his full weight into it, the muscles in his arms bulging as he strained to get the door open. But even with his werewolf strength, the door didn’t move.


    By the time Guillermo caught up, he was panting so hard Beatrix was afraid he might pass out. "I bet... Clawd... could open that... easily…," Guillermo wheezed.


    Orion’s pupils shrunk to pinpoints. “What, are you saying I’m weaker than Clawd?”


    “Abso…lutely.”


    “Oh yeah? Could Clawd do this?” Orion snarled, yanking the handle again. This time, Orion put his back into it, letting out a roar of effort that made Beatrix take a step back. The veins in his forearms popped, his face turning red with exertion, and his beanie fell off, revealing his pointy wolf ears.


    For a second, Beatrix was sure the door would hold — but then, with an ear-splitting shriek of metal, it finally gave way, nearly coming off its hinges as Orion practically ripped it open.


    EDM music blasted at them, so loud Beatrix could feel it vibrating in her bones. She had to shout to be heard over the pounding bass. "Good job! We''ll cover more ground if we split up! Keep your eyes peeled for Holt!"


    Beatrix entered the club and edged along the back wall. The space was packed with bodies, moving and swaying to the pulsing rhythm.


    She would’ve been worried about someone noticing Orion’s ears if it wasn’t for the fact that every human in the club was dressed in Halloween costumes, their faces painted and their bodies adorned with fake fangs, wings, and tails.


    Beatrix scanned the packed dance floor, searching for a flash of bright blue skin or flame-red hair, but it was hard to pick out individual faces in the swaying mass of bodies.


    Suddenly, a voice boomed over the speakers. "Alright, party people, let''s make some noise for our special guest DJ tonight — the one, the only, DJ Hyde!"


    The crowd went nuts, screaming and cheering as a familiar blue figure bounded up to the DJ booth. Holt soaked up the attention like a sponge, waving to his adoring fans like he was some kind of rock star.


    “You normies ready to par-tay?” Holt yelled into the mic, and the crowd roared back in response.


    Through a break in the crowd, Beatrix beheld Holt at the DJ booth, his head bobbing to the beat as his hands flew over the turntables. Holt looked right at home up there.


    Next to the booth, Guillermo waved frantically to get Beatrix’s attention. Beatrix snaked through the crowd to get to him.


    “Holt won’t budge! And Orion’s no help!” Guillermo shouted over the music. He gestured to the dance floor, where Orion was in the middle of a dance circle, showing off moves straight out of Michael Jackson''s "Thriller," his wolf ears on full display. The crowd cheered him on, oblivious to the fact that they were in the presence of a real werewolf.


    Okay, think, Beatrix, think, she told herself, trying to come up with a plan. Any minute now, the sleeping elixir could wear off Johannah and Mr. Gore.


    Beatrix was about ready to march up to the DJ booth and yank Holt away herself, however, she knew that Holt was too strong to bend to her will.


    Guillermo suddenly perked up, pointing towards the bar.


    “Hey! I know those guys!” Guillermo said excitedly as he pointed at two vampire boys in the crowd, each with a human girl on their arm. “That’s Bram and Vilhelm. They’re juniors at Monster High! They’ll help us out!”


    Before Beatrix could stop him, Guillermo was off, pushing his way through the crowd, following the vampires towards the exit.


    “Guillermo! Hold on!” Beatrix called out, chasing after him as Guillermo walked out the same door Orion had just broken into. Beatrix reached out to grab Guillermo''s arm, her fingers closing around his wrist. “We shouldn’t get others involved! And, wait, why are there other students off campus—”


    Beatrix’s words got caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her.


    Behind the nightclub, the street lights had gone out and a relentless rain poured down. Guillermo stared, motionless, at two shadowy figures hunched in the dark outside.


    A lightning strike lit up the alley, illuminating the two vampires with a harsh, white light.


    Bram and Vilhelm had the girls pinned against the wall, their faces buried in their necks. For a second, Beatrix thought maybe they were just making out. But then she saw the blood, dark and glistening in the rain, running down the girls'' necks and staining their clothes.


    She couldn''t tear her eyes away as Bram — or was it Vilhelm? — drained the life out of his victim, the girl growing paler and weaker with every passing second.


    Pieces of a puzzle Beatrix wasn’t even aware of fell into place. The bags of blood lining the creepateria’s refrigerators. Greta the lunch lady telling her that only one vampire at Monster High was a “vegetarian.” Orion hating Guillermo’s loyalty to bloodsuckers. Clawdeen''s warning that the woods around the school were most dangerous at night. And Draculaura’s cryptic words: Not everyone plays by the rules here.


    During Beatrix’s first MSS meeting, Grey had been convinced that Gilda Goldstag was murdered. Now Beatrix was convinced too.


    Beatrix grabbed Guillermo''s arm, hoping the rainfall would cover any sound they made as they fled.


    But then Guillermo whimpered, “That’s against school rules…”


    The vampires'' heads snapped up, their glowing red eyes locking onto Beatrix and Guillermo. The two girls crumpled to the ground, their bodies hitting the pavement with a thud.


    “Run!” Beatrix screamed, dragging Guillermo back into the club with her. She shoved her way through the mass of bodies, trying to keep her grip on Guillermo, her heart pounding against her ribcage. “Orion! Holt!” she shrieked, muffled by the raging storm and music.


    Hip hop beats blasted through the speakers, the bass thumping in time with Beatrix''s racing pulse. She dodged dancing bodies on all sides of her, twisting and turning, tugging Guillermo along, refusing to leave him behind despite how slow he was.


    They’d made it to the center of the dance floor when Beatrix realized they were surrounded, walls of human bodies pressing in on them from every angle.


    A hand shot out from the crowd, yanking Beatrix''s head back by the hair, the pain sharp enough to bring tears to her eyes.


    “Leaving so soon?” a vile voice taunted in her ear.


    Beatrix couldn’t pull away, couldn’t break free from this inhuman grip.


    However, the hand let her go, and another hand, stronger, pulled her in the opposite direction, fingers gripping onto her upper arm as hard as an iron trap.


    Beatrix looked up to see Grey towering above her. His inky eyes were filled with barely-contained rage as he stared down the vampire, fierce and stone cold.


    In his other hand, Grey wielded that long black staff he always carried, the one he usually kept retracted at his belt loop. Its polished metal gleamed under the pulsing lights. Grey aimed the staff towards the vampire, threatening to swing, looking ready to crack some skulls.


    For a long moment, Grey and the vampire didn’t move. Beatrix held her breath, sure that at any second, all hell was about to break loose. But then, just as quickly as he''d appeared, the vampire vanished into the crowd, like he''d never been there at all.


    Every muscle in Grey’s body was rigid, his jaw clenched so tightly Beatrix could see the tendons standing out in his neck. When his sullen gaze finally flicked to her, she flinched at the fury simmering in those dark depths.


    Behind Grey, Guillermo was shaking like a leaf, his face ghost-white. Beatrix was pretty sure the only thing keeping him upright was his death-grip on the back of Grey''s shirt.


    “Yo, there you guys are!" Orion bounded up, grinning obliviously.  “Oh… Hey, Grey. We were just—”


    “The shuttle. Now,” Grey bit out, his voice pure ice.


    Orion and Guillermo didn’t waste any time scurrying out of the club. Grey released Beatrix’s arm and she hurried after them, keeping her eyes on the floor. She didn’t dare look back as Grey pulled Holt off the stage.