Inside Monster High''s weight room, Beatrix crouched behind a rack of dumbbells, her bandaged hands throbbing. Her hastily assembled team was hidden around the room — Frankie by the mirrors, Holt near the door with his headphones on, Manny trying and failing to hide his bulk behind a pillar, and Deuce pressing himself against the far wall, his snakes lying still against his head.


    Sickly white flashes lit up the weight room through the high windows as another monster lost their soul outside. The sound of hooves on cobblestones mixed with screams and the crashes of Abbey''s ice storm.


    Grey crouched next to Beatrix, still wearing Cleo''s healing wrappings around his head. Cleo’s bandages were already working their magic — the swelling on his forehead had started to go down.


    "You sure about this?" Grey asked.


    "No," Beatrix admitted quietly.


    Still, she carefully unwound the golden wrapping from her right palm, exposing angry red blisters underneath. Beatrix took one last look at her team. Frankie and Holt stood ready, gripping long chains and climbing ropes they''d grabbed from the gym’s storage, while Manny''s massive frame tensed like a spring ready to release.


    Fighting through waves of pain, Beatrix traced Astar''s summoning symbol into her raw palm. In a blink, two figures appeared out of thin air in the middle of the room.


    "—trust me—" Astar''s words cut off mid-sentence. He was gripping someone''s wrist with his taloned hand.


    It was Autumn. The scarecrow swayed in place, her button eyes darting wildly around the room, trying to process her new surroundings. Beatrix hadn''t planned for this. The magic must’ve pulled Autumn through because she was touching Astar when he was summoned.


    Astar’s head snapped up. "What the—"


    "NOW!" Beatrix roared.


    Manny barreled forward with a battle cry. On instinct, Astar shoved Autumn out of the way, sending her stumbling to safety just as the minotaur slammed into him. The impact knocked the wind from Astar''s lungs as Manny drove his shoulder into the demon''s midsection, using his tremendous weight to slam the devil to the ground. Even with Manny''s knee pressed hard against his chest, Astar''s talons dug into the minotaur''s shoulders as he started fighting his way free.


    Grey was already moving. Sliding in on his knees from behind, Grey pressed his staff across the demon''s collarbone, forcing Astar’s shoulders back down. Astar''s head thrashed just inches from Grey''s face, and then Beatrix saw something horrifying happen. The devil''s features began to twist and change. His handsome face stretched into something monstrous — those perfect razor teeth stretched into savage fangs while his yellow eyes blazed like hellfire.


    Holt and Deuce jumped in to wrestle with Astar’s massive crimson wings that were beating against the floor. A violent thrash sent Deuce stumbling back, but working together, they managed to pin his wings down flat. Astar snarled and bucked against their hold, but he couldn''t throw off the combined weight of the three mansters. Chains clinked as Frankie quickly bound the devil''s limbs.


    “Stop struggling,” Beatrix ordered, moving closer to her trapped familiar.


    When Astar''s eyes met hers, her blood ran cold. This wasn''t the playful devil she knew anymore.


    "So this is how you repay me? After everything I''ve done for you?" Astar’s voice had changed. It was much deeper now.


    "Everything you''ve done?" Beatrix guffawed. "You mean poisoning me? Using me to hurt my friends? Destroying the only thing keeping these monsters safe?"


    "I protected you! Taught you! Treated you like an equal!" Astar hissed through clenched teeth. "Everything I did was to make you stronger."


    His wings slammed against the ground with bone-crushing force, but the chains held firm. His face twisted with pure rage.


    “No — you used me,” Beatrix fired back. “You just needed a witch stupid enough to trust you so you could tear down Monster High''s defenses."


    "As your familiar," he snarled, fangs growing longer as he spoke, "I command you to release me. NOW." The final word echoed unnaturally, like multiple distorted voices speaking at once.


    Beatrix knelt beside him, staying just out of reach of those deadly talons. “I''ll make you a deal: tell me how to stop the Reapers, and we''ll let you go. Nothing we throw at them works. Not Abbey''s ice, not Heath''s flames, not even Deuce turning them to stone. There has to be a way.”


    Astar''s lips pulled back in a grotesque shadow of his usual charming smile. "Oh, sweet little Bee," he crooned. "Did you really think you could bargain with a marquis of hell? That''s adorable." His yellow eyes slid to Grey. "And if you think your brooding boyfriend can scare me into talking, you''re even dumber than I thought."


    Grey''s dark eyes hardened. He pressed his scythe harder against Astar''s throat.


    Astar let out a choked laugh, more amused than concerned by Grey crushing his windpipe. "That all you got? My military training in the Pit was worse than anything you could do.” But Astar’s wings betrayed him, spasming against the floor as Grey cut off his air.


    "Stop it!" Autumn cried. “You’re hurting him!”


    Beatrix ignored her friend’s pleas, leaning in closer to the devil. "Tell us how to stop the Reapers, or you''ll regret ever setting foot in Monster High."


    "No, you''re the one who''ll regret it, Beatrix. If you stay here, you''ll die with the rest of these vermin. And when that happens..." Astar wheezed out the words. "...you''ll have no one to blame but yourself."


    "Please!" Autumn begged. "Astar was just trying to help — he took me to some cliffs nearby to keep me safe from the horsemen!"


    "Exactly!" Beatrix spun to face her friend. "He was only going to save you, Autumn. Just you. He wants everyone else dead."


    "But..." Autumn''s voice grew small. She looked at Astar, really looked at him.


    A scream pierced the air outside — Venus''s scream. Then came the hollow whoosh of another soul being collected. Autumn stepped back, her button eyes darting frantically between Astar and Beatrix.


    The demonic rage suddenly melted from Astar''s face. His features softened back to their usual handsome mask as he looked up at Beatrix with an almost tender expression. "You know what’s funny?" he asked Beatrix. "I care more about your scarecrow friend than you do. Let me go, and I''ll take you both somewhere safe, far away from all this. Leave the rest of these monsters to their fate.”


    "Stop trying to manipulate us," Beatrix snarled.


    "You really want to die here?" Astar pressed. "For what? A bunch of creatures that were never meant to exist anyway?"


    "You betrayed me!" Beatrix shouted. "The belladonna cake, the possession—"


    "That was Spectra''s plan, not mine," Astar said, his wings shifting restlessly against the chains. "I kept you alive so she could use your body. That’s all." His face filled with what looked like genuine regret. "My mother arranged everything. Me coming here, watching over you... I never wanted to hurt you, Bee. I was sent to protect you.”


    “Just so I could help destroy this place,” Beatrix finished for him, shaking with anger.


    The gentleness vanished from Astar''s face in an instant. "You''re still mortal. Those Reapers won''t spare you just because you took down the barrier. They''ll steal your soul too, just for the fun of it,” he said. "This is your last chance. Escape with me while you can.”


    "I don''t care what you threaten me with. I''m not leaving."


    "Then bind yourself to me permanently," Astar said. "Right now. Swear your soul to me, and I''ll tell you how to stop them. That''s my only offer."


    Grey''s black eyes snapped to Beatrix. “Don’t listen to him,” Grey warned her.


    Beatrix''s heart pounded. “I…” she faltered.


    If it meant saving everyone...


    "Astar." Autumn''s voice broke as she stepped forward, tears gathering in her button eyes. "Don''t make her do this.”


    The demon looked at the scarecrow.


    "I know you," Autumn whispered, moving closer. "All those nights you flew with me around campus… When you''d sneak into the kitchen to help me bake… The stories you told me about the fifth circle..." She drew in a shaky breath. "You made me believe I could be more than just a weak scarecrow. I know that wasn''t fake. It couldn''t have been."


    Something crumbled in Astar''s expression as he stared up at her.


    "You’re so much better than what your mom wants you to be. Please… help us stop this," Autumn begged.


    Rain drummed against the windows as Astar looked between Autumn''s tear-stained face and Beatrix. Grey adjusted his grip on the staff pressed to the devil''s collarbone, his black eyes never leaving Astar.


    The devil finally let out a sharp breath.


    "You want to stop a Reaper?" Astar''s voice was quiet, defeated. "Fine. Copy a gorgon''s sight." He glanced at Deuce. "One set of eyes won’t cut it, though — they’ll break free from the stone too fast. But two gorgons hitting the same target at the same time? That''ll freeze a Reaper long enough for everyone to escape."


    His wings rattled against their chains as he shifted. "Once you''ve trapped all three of them, everyone needs to run. Get as far from this school as possible. Go back to how monsters used to live — hidden in shadows, scattered across the world where they belong." Bitterness crept into his voice. "You''re just making yourselves easy targets, all huddled together like prey here. Monster High was always going to end this way."


    "Then tell me how to copy Deuce''s power," Beatrix demanded.


    "Snake scales," Astar bit out, his fangs bared in a pained grimace. "Grind them to dust, then mix them with blue lotus oil." His yellow eyes locked onto Beatrix like a predator. "Paint your eyelids with the paste and say these words exactly: ''Eyes of serpent, hold and bind. Still as stone, your will confined.''"


    Beatrix stood, satisfied.


    She then pulled out a can of spray paint from her jacket pocket.


    "What are you doing?" Astar''s wings twitched under Holt and Deuce''s grip.


    With steady hands, Beatrix began spraying a square with branching lines onto the floor around the devil — Astar’s summoning sigil, but bigger than she’d ever drawn it before. Manny''s muscles strained as he kept his knee planted on Astar''s chest, while the devil''s eyes followed every movement of the spray can. Understanding dawned on Astar’s face.


    The chains shrieked against the floor as Astar threw himself forward, fighting against the mansters holding him down. "Hey!" he roared. "You said you''d let me go!"


    "I did," Beatrix replied, her voice emotionless as she focused on making every line perfect. "But I can''t let you warn your mom about our plans."


    As paint hissed against the ground, Astar''s wings suddenly exploded outward. The chains groaned as they strained to hold back his rapidly growing form. His horns stretched toward the ceiling while savage claws burst from his fingertips. The pupils in his burning eyes narrowed to snake-like slits.


    "Hold him!" Beatrix yelled, racing to finish the sigil. Grey''s knuckles turned white as he struggled to keep Astar''s shoulders down.


    The moment Beatrix finished the final line, the mansters restraining Astar all leaped back at once. Manny stumbled over a stray dumbbell in his rush to get away, while Grey rolled into a defensive crouch, keeping his staff trained on the demon.


    Astar surged to his feet, his arms chained together, all fury. Beatrix''s breath hitched as she braced for him to rush at her, but he stopped short, trapped inside the sigil’s boundary. Her trap had worked. The binding symbol she usually drew on her palm to summon him had become his prison.


    Astar unleashed a scream of rage that made the gym equipment rattle. Everyone flinched, clamping their hands over their ears to block out the sound straight from the depths of hell.


    When the piercing screech finally stopped, Beatrix looked up and saw Autumn standing with Frankie near the wall of mirrors. Her friend''s button eyes were huge.


    "... What did you do?" Autumn asked, horrified.


    "When I draw that symbol, it pulls him in like a magnet. Every time he tries to escape, the summoning magic drags him right back to that spot.” Beatrix kept her eyes locked on Astar as he prowled around the edges of his magical cage.


    "Oh, Bea... this is horrible..." Autumn whispered, swaying like she might unravel at the seams.


    Beatrix rushed to her friend and turned her away from what Astar had become. Even Beatrix could barely look at him now, rattled by how much he''d changed, though she tried not to show it.


    Beatrix took off her crooked witch hat and placed it on Autumn’s head. "Here. This hat is charmed with protective enchantments. It’ll protect you out there. You need it more than I do," Beatrix said softly. "Come on, we have to go."


    "Autumn!" Astar’s anguished cry stopped them cold. "Don''t let her trap me like this! She''s going to get you both killed! Let me save you — you know I care about you more than she ever has!” His voice twisted into something raw and guttural as his appearance shifted further. His crimson skin darkened, veins writhing beneath the surface like black rivers. His eyes glowed with a sickly yellow light, pupils slitted like a serpent’s, and the horns that jutted from his temples were now jagged and uneven.


    Autumn trembled as she stared back at him. Another flash of white light from outside lit up his demonic features.


    "Don''t look at him," Beatrix said, pulling Autumn away. "Let''s go."


    Grey kept his defensive stance as he followed them out, staff still trained on Astar until they were through the door. Behind them, Astar''s screams echoed in the weight room, growing louder and more distorted until they no longer sounded remotely human.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    When Beatrix, Deuce, and Autumn made it to the third floor, they positioned themselves on an old stone balcony overlooking the courtyard. Rain hammered down around them, bouncing off the crooked witch''s hat on Autumn''s head. The scarecrow gripped the railing, watching the death unfold below. She hadn''t said a word since they’d trapped Astar. Now she just stood there, shoulders hunched, her button eyes dim and distant.


    Crouched on the wet balcony, Beatrix carefully ground snake scales between her fingers. One of Deuce''s more easy-going cobras had given them to her earlier. The snake had been surprisingly cooperative, its tongue flicking peacefully while Beatrix had gently worked a few of its loose scales free.


    Beatrix’s hands were still tender from the burns, but thanks to Cleo''s bandages (which she''d already returned to the mummy), they''d healed enough to work with.


    "You done yet?" Deuce asked, his voice tight with worry as he leaned over the edge of the balcony with Autumn. His snakes writhed anxiously on his head as he peered through his shades at the battle still raging.


    "Not yet," Beatrix said without looking up. She pulled out a vial of blue lotus oil she''d snagged from one of the lab classroom''s emergency stores. Moving quickly, she poured the oil onto the crushed up snake scales. It was messy trying to make a thick, shimmering paste without any proper tools, but there wasn''t time to hunt down mixing bowls or spoons. The sickly sweet smell of the oil made her nose wrinkle.


    Meanwhile, Autumn flinched at every flash of a scythe, every scream. Iris and Simon Clops went down by the fountain nearby, and it happened so fast — one swing of Mahlon''s staff and their eyes went dark. Their souls twisted upward like wisps of smoke, sucked into the Reaper''s glowing pendant. Scarah Screams let out one last banshee wail, and even the tough-as-nails Serpentine twins didn''t stand a chance once Cassius got to them.


    "Abbey!" Autumn''s cry made Beatrix snap her head up just in time to see the yeti launch a volley of ice spears. But Mahlon''s staff shattered them like glass, and then Abbey was gone too, her soul joining the others. Without Abbey’s ice keeping the Reapers back, they were out of defenses.


    "Hurry! Everyone''s waiting for my signal," Deuce told Beatrix, scanning the surrounding buildings where the other gorgons were on standby. Four other gorgons had spread out strategically in pairs across different balconies — a formation that would let each duo target a Reaper with their petrifying gaze.


    With the other gorgons already paired up, Beatrix would complete the final team – three pairs for three horsemen.


    Once the Reapers turned to stone, the survivors in the courtyard below would finally have their chance to run. The werewolves and vampires were ready to lead the survivors to safety the moment they froze the Reapers.


    The closest horseman to Beatrix and Deuce was Mahlon. Plague… She could see Mahlon''s sickly figure shamble closer and closer to their balcony.


    "Hang on, almost done," Beatrix mumbled, dabbing the snake scale paste onto her eyelids. The mixture tingled weirdly on her skin, and she felt a strange pressure building behind her eyes. She kept them squeezed shut, afraid of what might happen if she opened them too soon.


    "Listen, dude," Deuce said to Beatrix gravely, his snakes going quiet, "you''ve gotta be super careful with your sight now. One wrong look and you could turn our own people to stone."


    "That''s why I need you, Autumn," Beatrix said. She reached out blindly until she found the scarecrow''s cloth hand. "You have to be my eyes. Tell me exactly where to aim."


    "Right. The skinny one is getting closer," Autumn said, watching intently.


    "Now?" Beatrix asked, fighting the urge to peek.


    "No…” Autumn said. “Wait… not yet…"


    Thunder cracked overhead as Beatrix got to her feet. The sounds of battle were reaching a fever pitch — screams and snarls mixing with hoofbeats and rain. The air grew heavier with each step Mahlon took, thick with the smell of death. The Reaper''s presence reached her even up here, making her skin prickle.


    Beatrix felt Autumn''s cloth hands on her shoulders, then under her chin, carefully turning her head to face the right direction.


    "Now?" Beatrix asked, her heart pounding.


    "Not yet," Autumn whispered. "Almost..."


    A sharp whistle split the air. Autumn screamed and yanked Beatrix down. Something heavy whooshed past, with chain links rattling behind it, before it smashed into the balcony with a deafening crash. Whatever weapon had been hurled at them had obliterated one of the balcony''s support beams. The whole structure lurched sideways, the stone cracking beneath their feet.


    "Mahlon’s got another weapon!" Deuce yelled.


    "What is it? Can it take souls?" Beatrix asked, hating how helpless she was without her sight.


    She heard Deuce answer, "No, it’s just some kind of flying hammer — but trust me, you don''t want it hitting you!”


    The screech of steel on stone told Beatrix that Mahlon was retrieving his weapon. Then, almost immediately, another whistle sliced through the air as Mahlon swung the weighted chain at them again.


    "Get down!" Autumn shouted, shoving Beatrix lower and thrusting the witch hat between them like a shield. Mahlon’s hammer hit the enchanted hat, but instead of crushing it, the hammer rebounded off it as though the hat were made of steel.


    Beatrix heard Mahlon grunt, frustrated, as he yanked the chain back.


    The balcony groaned, and the floor pitched sharply. Beatrix’s heart leapt into her throat as she felt herself sliding toward the edge.


    Deuce''s hand clamped around her wrist. "I got you!"


    "Bea!" Autumn''s voice came from somewhere to her left. "Hold on!"


    "He''s trying to knock us off!" Deuce said through clenched teeth. "This whole thing''s coming down! We have to do it now!"


    "Don''t!" Autumn urged. "He keeps ducking under the balcony — Bea, don’t open your eyes yet, he''s out of your line of sight!"


    "We can’t wait anymore!" The balcony gave another sickening lurch. "We''re not gonna make it!" Deuce shouted.


    Beatrix felt Autumn''s cloth hand squeeze her shoulder. There was something final in that touch. "I have an idea," the scarecrow said, her voice suddenly quiet and strange.


    Autumn removed the witch hat from her own head and placed it carefully back onto Beatrix’s.


    "Mahlon’s hiding under the balcony. He’s waiting for you two to slip and fall," Autumn explained. "... I’ll draw him out into the open, and then you’ll have your chance.”


    Beatrix didn’t understand.


    “When I drop down…” Autumn said, “open your eyes."


    "Autumn, don''t you dare—" Beatrix lunged for her friend''s arm, but her fingers closed on empty air.


    Beatrix heard the soft rustle of straw as her best friend stepped away, her light footsteps crossing the groaning balcony. Then came a silence — a horrible, stretching silence — as Autumn stepped off into nothing. The sound of Mahlon’s heavy boots could be heard below… his scythe swinging… and Autumn''s body dropping to the cobblestones with a dull, wet thud.


    Beatrix''s scream ripped through the night air. Through the sound of her own grief, Beatrix heard a soft, singing whisper of a departing soul, her best friend''s essence spiraling upward into the Reaper''s waiting orb.


    "It worked!" Deuce yelled. "He''s out in the open now — look, quick! Before he moves!"


    Beatrix forced her eyes open despite the burning pain. Tears burned like acid down her cheeks as she and Deuce unleashed their combined power. Through the flood of green light that flooded her vision, she saw Mahlon standing over Autumn''s broken body, his tattered robes rippling like dark wings.


    What happened next was different from the first time Deuce had turned a Reaper to stone — this transformation was faster, more powerful. With Beatrix and Deuce combining their power, the stone raced across Mahlon rapidly, consuming his dark, rotting robes in seconds. Realizing what was happening, Mahlon panicked, his movements growing frantic as the gray rock crawled up his skeletal arms and chest.


    His scythe froze, and his glass orb that held so many stolen souls — including Autumn''s — solidified into cold, lifeless granite in his petrified hand.


    For a moment, the Reaper stood frozen in place, trapped in the middle of a step. A second passed. Then two. Slowly, Mahlon began to tip forward, his statue off balance.


    He hit the ground, and chunks of rock skittered across the courtyard.


    The green glow faded from Beatrix’s vision, and she squeezed her eyes shut. "What''s happening?" she choked out, fingers clawing at her eyelids to wipe off the magical paste. "Did he break free?"


    Deuce''s fingers dug into her wrist, astonished. "No… there’s… black smoke coming from the broken pieces… He’s..."


    When Beatrix could see again, still fuzzy but thankfully normal, she saw there was nothing left of Mahlon except fragments of stone on the ground. Wisps of inky black smoke drifted up from the rubble of his body, whisked away by the stormy wind and vanishing into the night.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Then, tiny points of light, like stars, floated up from the cracked pieces of Mahlon’s stone orb. Mahlon’s stolen souls drifted upward, each one finding its way back to its owner. All around them, the courtyard came alive as fallen monsters started to twitch and move, life flowing back into their bodies.


    But Beatrix couldn''t stop to watch the miracle happening around them. She and Deuce scrambled down the tilting balcony, clinging to the old ivy vines growing up the building. The second her feet hit the ground, Beatrix ran to where Autumn lay broken on the wet pavement.


    She collapsed to her knees next to Autumn, rain soaking her clothes. Her hands were shaking as she reached for her friend.


    "Autumn?" Beatrix''s voice cracked, searching for any sign of life. The scarecrow girl lay still.


    Then Beatrix caught a glimpse of soft light — one of the freed souls floating over like a dandelion puff. It hovered over Autumn''s chest for a moment, then sank in. Color bloomed back into the scarecrow''s canvas skin.


    Autumn''s button eyes fluttered, then blinked open. "Did... did we get him?" Her voice was weak but unmistakably, wonderfully her.


    Beatrix''s laugh came out as a sob as she pulled Autumn into a crushing hug, feeling the scratch of burlap against her cheek, never wanting to let go again.


    "Careful — ow! I think I popped a few seams…" Autumn squeaked, trying to sit up. Beatrix pulled back to see straw spilling from fresh tears in the fabric along Autumn’s sides and shoulders. Rain was falling on the exposed stuffing, turning it into a soggy mess.


    Beatrix scanned the courtyard and spotted Frankie emerging from the science building''s doorway about thirty feet away.


    "Frankie!" Beatrix whispered urgently, waving her down. Beatrix wrapped an arm around Autumn''s middle, carefully avoiding the worst tears as she held her enchanted witch hat over her friend to shield her from the downpour. "Let''s get you patched up before you lose any more stuffing," she said. They stumbled toward the building''s entrance.


    Frankie darted out to meet them halfway, helping them into the sheltered doorway alcove. "Did Astar’s plan work?" Frankie asked breathlessly, but then her mismatched eyes went wide at the sight of Autumn. "Oh my ghoul!"


    "She needs stitches," Beatrix said, pressing deeper into the shadowed entrance. "Can you help me?"


    "Say no more!" Frankie pulled out her curved surgical needle — the same one she used for her own wonky self-repairs. "Set her down here against the wall. My stitches won’t be as good as yours though..."


    "It’s okay, it doesn’t matter what they look like," Beatrix said, already threading her own needle through Autumn’s side. "Just help me keep her together."


    "Guys!" Deuce''s footsteps splashed across the courtyard before he ducked into their hiding spot, pressing against the doorframe opposite Beatrix. "We got one! The stone actually destroyed Mahlon! All we have to do is shatter their glass pendants—”


    Screams echoed. From their hiding spot, they could see a gorgon named Viperine collapse on the library steps, her pink snake-hair falling lifeless around her face as Viggo’s dark form towered over her. By the bell tower beyond, two gorgon sophomores broke ranks and fled as Cassius charged them, their nerve failing at the last moment.


    "No..." Autumn whispered as Frankie tied off a stitch. "They were supposed to…"


    "At least we know how to beat them now," Beatrix reassured quietly. "What’s important is that we can bring everyone back. This isn''t over."


    Beatrix carefully peered around the doorframe, watching the remaining two Reapers regroup near the library. They moved more cautiously now, their heads turning beneath their hoods as they searched for any sign of Beatrix and her friends, having learned from Mahlon’s fate. What had worked on him wouldn''t work again. Their element of surprise was gone now, and Cassius and Viggo weren''t about to make the same mistake.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix splashed another handful of cold water onto her face in the girls'' bathroom, trying to wash away the lingering burn of the snake scale paste. She gripped the sink, willing her eyes to focus as aftershocks of green light pulsed at the edges of her vision. In the mirror, her bloodshot eyes streamed uncontrollable tears that left green trails of leftover paste down her cheeks. The harsh fluorescent lights above made everything swim together, but at least the stabbing pain behind her eyes had dulled.


    "Beatrix?" Grey''s voice came through the bathroom door. Three sharp knocks followed. "You in there?"


    Beatrix grabbed a paper towel and dabbed at her stinging eyes. The bathroom door creaked open with a rusty whine as she stepped into the dark hallway. Grey stood waiting for her, his staff held tightly at his side, his black clothes spattered with mud and rain from running across campus to help evacuate the other students while she and Deuce had carried out their plan.


    "Did you—" Beatrix started, but Grey closed the distance between them and pulled her into a fierce hug that stole her words away.


    "It worked," Grey whispered against her hair, his voice rough with relief and exhaustion.


    His arms tightened around her, and for the first time that day, Beatrix felt safe enough to let her guard down. She sank against him, letting out a shuddering breath that was almost a sob and buried her face in his shoulder, not caring that his rain-soaked clothes were cold against her skin.


    "You heard about what happened to Mahlon?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.


    "Yeah," Grey''s reply stirred her hair as he spoke, his arms tightening around her. "Deuce told me he turned into black smoke when his statue broke."


    "Does that mean he''s gone? Really gone?" Beatrix''s fingers clutched at the back of Grey’s shirt, needing the reassurance, needing something solid to hold onto.


    She felt Grey nod, his chin brushing the top of her head. "I think so." His voice softened. "Looks like your devil was right."


    "He''s not my devil anymore." Beatrix turned her head against Grey’s shoulder.


    Grey pulled back just enough to look at her face, though his arms stayed wrapped around her. His free hand lifted, hovering uncertainly for a moment before gently wiping away the tears that wouldn''t stop falling down her cheeks. "Beatrix… your eyes..."


    Heat crept up Beatrix''s neck at his touch. "I’m fine. I can try the snake scale paste again,” she said. "I still have some left." But the idea made dread curl in her stomach. Every time she copied a monster''s power, the toll on her body got worse.


    "Hey, no, look at me," Grey said. He brushed a lock of hair out of her face. He was trying so hard to be gentle, even though Beatrix could tell he wasn''t used to comforting someone. "You don''t have to keep doing this to yourself. I don''t have a soul, remember? I can get close to them. Let me handle the other two."


    "I''m not letting you face them alone," Beatrix said.


    "Beatrix..." Grey''s voice had that edge she knew too well — the one he used when he was trying to protect her from herself.


    “I didn''t come this far to sit out the final round,” Beatrix said.


    Grey stared at her for a long moment. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You really are a weird witch."


    "Pretty sure that''s why you like me," Beatrix shot back with a grin.


    That comment made Grey’s pale face flush, the tips of his ears going pink as he glanced away quickly. His gaze darted to the floor, then back up at her, and then — as if he’d just realized how close they were — Grey abruptly dropped his arms and stepped back. He snapped into a rigid soldier’s stance, trying to keep his cool, and cleared his throat awkwardly. Beatrix suppressed a smile.


    "So, uh, Deuce said if we break the soul-collecting orbs Cassius and Viggo are carrying, we can bring everyone back,” he stammered, the red in his face not going away.


    “Yeah, but…” Beatrix stopped, her mind flashing to Autumn dead on the cobblestones earlier. It had cost her friend''s life just to take down one Reaper. Could they really handle two more?


    "Their scythes…” Beatrix continued. “... we have to get their scythes away from them first. They''re too dangerous armed."


    "Right,” Grey started, “then you and Deuce should use your snake-eyes move again—"


    A crash suddenly shook the building. From dark hallway came the sound of running footsteps and Deuce''s terrified voice:


    "BEATRIX, RUN!"


    Beatrix and Grey watched in helpless horror as Deuce stumbled around the corner and collapsed — his soul torn from his body in a flash of light.


    Seconds later, a horde of zombie students came around the same corner, shuffling away from the Reaper who had just claimed their friend. Behind them, Cassius was driving his black horse straight into the building, its massive hooves striking sparks off the floor as it charged through the halls, nostrils flaring. Students scattered in terror, unable to outrun the beast thundering after them.


    The corridors erupted into chaos as zombies stumbled through. Through gaps in the undead crowd, Beatrix caught glimpses of Cassius. He was even more disturbing to look at than Mahlon. His body, although hidden beneath black robes, was stretched, distorted, as if his bones had been pulled too far apart. His spine cracked and twisted at impossible angles as he moved.


    The horseman briefly paused at an intersection in the hallways. His skull rotated with a sound like grinding bone, then he turned toward the sound of distant yelling coming from another part of the building. With a violent jerk of his reins, his horse veered off, pursuing another group of screaming students.


    Across the hall, Beatrix spotted Ghoulia''s pale blue hand shooting up above the crowd. She groaned urgently at Beatrix, pointing at a side hall that led to the kitchen’s back entrance, as if to say: That way.


    "He''s heading for the creepateria!" Beatrix shouted to Grey over the pandemonium.


    Grey''s fingers locked around Beatrix''s wrist as he shouldered through the horde, against the tide of undead students flooding the halls. He kept her close behind him as they pushed toward where Ghoulia had pointed.


    They burst through the kitchen''s swinging doors into the creepateria and took in the horrific scene before them. Cassius had his massive horse reared up on its hind legs, trapping a group of students against the gleaming metal serving counter.


    Clawdeen and Clawd stood at the front, fangs bared and claws out. Clawd''s alpha instincts were in full force as he positioned himself in front of the others. Behind them, Romulus tried to shield Howleen and the other werewolves with his body. Orion had been cut off from his pack, crouching behind an overturned lunch table by the dessert station.


    Near the ice cream freezer, Gory and some of her vampire friends were cornered too, their crimson eyes darting frantically for any escape route around the Reaper. "We need to split up—" Gory commanded her crew, but she didn’t get to finish.


    The werewolves dove and rolled across the checkered floor, desperately staying out of reach of Cassius''s deadly staff. But the vampires had nowhere to run, trapped against the freezer. Two of Gory''s friends had their souls ripped out of them, spiraling up into the glass pendant swinging from the Reaper''s neck as their bodies fell to the floor.


    That''s when Orion made his move. He’d been watching, waiting for his chance. While Cassius was focused on the others, Orion used his smaller size to his advantage, slipping around the edge of the room, ducking behind upturned tables and scattered chairs.


    Beatrix saw that familiar glint in the young wolf''s eyes — the same look he got before picking fights with Clawd, when his anger overwhelmed his sense. "Orion, don''t!" Beatrix yelled.


    Orion didn’t listen. He hurled himself at the Reaper''s back with a savage snarl that held all his pent-up rage. His claws snagged those dark robes as he scrambled up Cassius''s twisted form.


    "I''m not afraid of you!" Orion growled.


    The surprise attack caught Cassius off guard. His horse staggered sideways, hooves scraping across tile as its rider was yanked from the saddle. Cassius’s horse bolted in panic. Grey dropped Beatrix’s hand and sprinted to help Orion, while the distraction gave the trapped wolves and vampires the opening they needed to escape.


    "Get his arms!" Grey yelled at them as he tried to grab Cassius''s staff-wielding hand. "Don''t let him swing his scythe!"


    Orion fought with everything he had, his claws raking for a hold while Grey wrestled for the Reaper''s weapon. But neither of them could get a solid grip, and Cassius rammed the end of his staff into Orion’s face, hitting him square in the mouth. The crack of impact echoed through the creepateria. Blood splattered across the checkered floor along with one of Orion''s fangs. The scythe flashed, and Orion''s soul floated up to join the others stuck in Cassius''s pendant.


    "NO!" Clawdeen''s howl was raw with fury. First Brocko, now Orion — another packmate gone. She charged in without thinking, fur bristling.


    "His scythe!" Grey called out, rallying the others. "We have to get it away from him!"


    The pack circled around Cassius. Romulus and Clawd came at him from opposite sides, swinging metal pipes they''d ripped from the kitchen walls. Howleen stayed low, darting at the Reaper''s legs, jabbing at his knees with a broken broomstick she''d sharpened.


    Gory and the other vampires attacked from above, using their agility to launch themselves off the walls and lunch tables, their sharp nails trying to get at the Reaper''s hooded face.


    Now surrounded, Cassius whirled his staff around himself, keeping everyone at bay. That invisible soul-stealing blade swept closer and closer to claiming new victims.


    "Let me through!" Grey yelled over all the noise, ducking under one of Cassius''s swings. "Stop rushing in—" Grey fought to get near Cassius, his own staff raised defensively, but the frenzied werewolves weren''t listening to his warnings, too consumed by grief and rage to fall back.


    Beatrix watched from the side, feeling more useless than she had all year at Monster High. Then her eyes caught the splash of Orion''s blood on the checkered floor. Those red drops seemed to call to her, and suddenly she remembered — Orion''s blood counted as werewolf venom. Her hand flew to her pocket where she still had that wolfsbane stashed.


    Beatrix dropped down, quickly swiped her finger through Orion''s blood, and brought it to her mouth. With her other hand, she grabbed fistfuls of the purple flowers and forced them down her throat. The wolfsbane was bitter, coating her tongue. Too much wolfsbane would stop the werewolf transformation, but too little meant she’d turn into a werewolf permanently — and she had seconds to get it right.


    This time, Beatrix was ready when the power surged through her. Unlike her first werewolf transformation, she anticipated the rush of strength, the way her senses exploded until every heartbeat in the room rang in her ears. But something felt different — her fingernails began turning into curved claws, way bigger and more savage than the last time she''d copied a werewolf’s power. Fear clawed at her chest as she watched them continue to grow. Had she consumed too much werewolf venom? Her nails looked way more wolf-like than the first time she’d done this.


    But she couldn''t worry about that now. Her muscles were loaded with power, and she fought to stay focused, letting the wolf part of her take over. She dove right into the chaos in front of her, joining the most aggressive werewolves in their attack.


    Cassius''s scythe whistled past her face twice — near misses that sent her stumbling back, her new claws coming up on instinct to protect herself, a snarl rising in her throat.


    Then the Reaper''s hood turned to look straight at her, that infinite darkness fixing on her transformed state. His scythe came slashing down at Beatrix, ready to kill.


    Grey appeared in a blur, shoving Beatrix aside, knocking her away from the invisible blade.


    "Back up!" Grey yelled at her. “You can''t get so close—"


    But the wolf''s power thrumming through her veins wouldn''t let her stop. This borrowed strength wouldn''t last much longer — she had to make it count.


    All around her, werewolves were dropping. Their souls were stolen one by one, adding to Cassius’s swirling collection. No one could break through his lethal defense, his masterful swings. Nobody except Beatrix. Before Grey could grab her, she lunged forward, her werewolf speed letting her duck under a deadly arc of Cassius''s scythe. Her clawed fingers snagged his dark hood, shredding the fabric.


    What she saw underneath made her wish she’d never looked. A face like bleached bone stared back at her, with eyes darker than Grey''s. Something ancient and starving lurked in those depths. The sight froze the blood in her veins.


    That split-second of shock cost her. Cassius''s staff slammed into her ribs, sending her flying.


    She crashed into a row of water coolers lined up along the wall, her claws puncturing the plastic tanks as she tried to catch herself. Water exploded everywhere, gushing across the creepateria floor and soaking the hem of Cassius''s torn robes as it spread.


    The creepateria doors banged open as Frankie and Holt barreled in. Frankie skidded to a stop at the sight of the flooded floor, her neck bolts shooting off electric sparks.


    Something clicked in Beatrix''s mind as she watched Frankie’s sparks dance. The water. The electricity. The tables...


    Beatrix rushed over to Frankie. "I need you to send a shock wave through the water."


    "Eep! Beatrix, is that you??" Frankie squeaked, shocked at Beatrix''s wolf form.


    "Frankie! The water!" Beatrix growled.


    “What are you tryna do? Deep fry the hood guy?” Holt asked with a crazy grin as he adjusted his headphones. "Now that sounds like a killer plan! Let’s light this place up, Frankie Fine!”


    "Wait, not yet! Hold on — I''ll tell you when," Beatrix ordered. She then splashed through the spreading water toward Gory, who was helping a dazed werewolf to his feet.


    "Get everyone onto the tables," Beatrix told the vampire. "Quick!"


    Gory nodded sharply. The vampire zipped around the room, spreading the word. One by one, monsters scrambled onto the tables and countertops, pulling each other up.


    “Come on, Trixie,” Holt grabbed Beatrix around the waist and effortlessly swung her onto a high counter before vaulting up beside her. "Front row seats to the light show, baby!"


    Beatrix caught Grey’s eye. She mouthed "get up" to him, pointing to a nearby lunch table. He gave her a subtle nod before following her lead.


    Beatrix spun back to Frankie. "NOW!" she screamed.


    Frankie plunged her green hands into the water. Blue-white electricity exploded from her bolts, dancing between her fingers, then racing across the water''s surface in a dazzling spider web of light. The current found its target instantly, catching Cassius''s soaked robes. The Reaper seized up as electricity coursed through his ancient bones. His staff slipped from his grip, splashing into the electrified water.


    "YEAH!! THAT''S HOW WE DO IT AT MONSTER HIGH!" Holt whooped, pumping his fists in the air. "WOO!!!"


    As the last sparks faded, Cassius dropped to his knees. Grey seized the moment, launching himself from his perch and tackling the Reaper. Water erupted around them as they grappled, Grey''s fist connecting with that bone-white face.


    During their fight, Cassius’s glass pendant fell from his robes. It shattered on the wet floor, and the trapped souls burst free in a brilliant flash, each one streaming back to its rightful body. Fallen students gasped back to life. Orion’s eyes flew open as he sucked in a desperate breath, immediately swarmed by his packmates. Howleen, Clawdeen, and Clawd were soon at his side, relieved.


    "Beatrix!" Grey shouted, struggling to keep the Reaper down. "The staff! Get the staff!"


    Beatrix lunged, clawed fingers stretching toward the black scythe. Her hand closed around its handle. But before she could pull it back, Cassius threw Grey off him. The Reaper''s hollow eyes locked onto her as his skeletal form twisted, diving for his weapon.


    Without thinking, Beatrix brought the staff down across her knee. The sharp crack that followed sounded like a bone breaking. The staff split clean in two, and dark energy exploded out of it like a shockwave.


    Cassius''s form began to dissolve before her eyes, his body disintegrating, whirling away into black smoke just like when Mahlon’s stone shell had shattered. Soon Cassius''s black robes were completely deflated, floating empty in the water


    Beatrix stood there in shock, still clutching the broken halves of the scythe.


    Grey splashed over to her, water and sweat dripping down his face, his hand landing heavy on her shoulder as his eyes lit up. "That''s it!" he exclaimed. "We need to break their scythes!”


    Beatrix looked up at Grey, understanding dawning. “... That''s why Mahlon didn''t come back after we turned him to stone… his scythe was shattered!"


    All around them, monsters were coming out of their hiding spots and running to their revived friends. The wolf pack huddled protectively around Orion, helping him stand.


    “Breaking their pendants frees the souls, but destroying their scythes is what kills them for good," Grey said, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. Hope blazed in his dark eyes, something Beatrix hadn’t seen in a while, but then his brow furrowed as he looked at her more closely. "Hey... shouldn''t you be back to normal by now? You’re still… uh, wolfy.”


    Beatrix''s stomach lurched as she realized he was right. Her bones were still humming with that wild wolf energy. Maybe she had consumed too much of Orion’s venom. But just as panic started to set in, the feral power began to ebb, leaving her legs feeling like jelly.


    "Whoa, easy," Grey said, helping her to a nearby table. His hand stayed steady on her back, anchoring her as the werewolf venom slowly released its hold.


    "I''m good, I''m good," Beatrix insisted, though she gratefully sank onto the bench. "I always get a post-werewolf crash."


    "Voltage! You guys really took down another one!" Frankie bounded over, her black and white streaked hair standing on end from the electricity, sparks still dancing between her stitches. Holt sauntered behind her, letting out an impressed whistle at Cassius''s empty robes drifting in the water.


    Beatrix gave Frankie a tired grin. "We couldn''t have done it without your lightning blast, Frankie."


    "Oh please, you''re the one who wolfed-out! That was awesome!" Frankie beamed.


    Just then, the creepateria doors opened. Autumn limped through, leaning heavily on Cleo. The scarecrow''s body was a patchwork of stitches — some neat and careful from Beatrix''s hand, others crooked and rushed from Frankie''s emergency repairs. Deuce followed behind them, his face washed out and exhausted beneath his scales. Dying and coming back to life had definitely given him whiplash.


    "Bea!" Despite looking like she''d been through a war, Autumn''s button eyes sparkled. "You guys did it!"


    "Yeah, but Viggo''s still out there," Grey said heavily, exchanging a look with Beatrix, “and he''s the worst of the three."


    Cleo rolled her eyes dramatically as she unwound a long length of shimmering golden bandages from her leg. “Obviously, someone with actual healing experience needs to take charge here. Not all of us want to run off and play hero.” However, there was concern in Cleo’s voice as she added, “Go. We’ll make sure everyone stays in one piece.”


    Beatrix gave Cleo a quick glance, smiling at her appreciatively.


    "You should stay too," Beatrix told Autumn as the scarecrow eased down next to them. Frankie pulled out her curved needle, starting to reinforce some loose stitches in Autumn''s shoulder.


    "Be careful," Autumn told Beatrix.


    While Frankie''s needle flashed in and out of Autumn''s shoulder and Cleo tended to the wounded with her Egyptian bandages, the creepateria doors slammed open yet again. This time, it was Lagoona, rushing in with Draculaura and a revived Abbey hot on her heels.


    "The big one''s making a break for it!" Lagoona called to Beatrix.


    "My bike''s outside," Grey shot to his feet. "I can catch him.”


    "Right behind you," Beatrix said, pushing herself up. She nodded to Deuce. "Ready to turn another bag of bones to stone?"


    Deuce''s snakes stirred as he cracked his knuckles. "Always."


    "Come on," Grey said, his hand finding the small of Beatrix''s back. “We can’t let Viggo get away."


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Outside, the rain had finally stopped, leaving the campus grounds slick and gleaming under the moonlight, puddles dotting the landscape like dark mirrors.


    By the creepateria doors, Beatrix noticed Johannah sitting beside Mr. Gore''s dead body, staring down at their fallen teacher in shock. Beatrix made her way over and crouched next to Johannah, putting a hand on her back.


    "Hey," she assured her softly, “we found out how to bring Mr. Gore back.”


    Johannah looked up at Beatrix, her face threatening to split apart. “... Really?”


    Beatrix nodded. “We just have to deal with the last Reaper first.”


    Johannah’s shoulder sagged with relief, but then her face hardened again as she glanced at Mr. Gore. “Good. Make that horseman pay."


    "We will," Beatrix promised.


    In the student parking lot close by, Draculaura stood beside her pink convertible, head tilted as she listened intently to something in the distance only her vampire senses could detect. Her violet eyes suddenly snapped to Beatrix.


    "He''s by the Black Lagoon!" Draculaura exclaimed, fangs glinting. "I can hear Viggo''s horse galloping along the east side!”


    Deuce was already rushing toward his motorcycle a few spaces down from Draculaura''s car. "I''ll follow you guys!" he called over his shoulder.


    Then, unexpectedly, Guillermo stumbled out of the creepateria, nearly face-planting on the wet pavement in his rush to reach Draculaura’s convertible where Abbey and Lagoona were already settling into the back seat. "Master, wait!" he cried, his glasses sitting crooked on his nose as he made a desperate beeline for the passenger door. "You can''t face a Reaper without your loyal familiar to protect you!"


    "Oh, Guillermo," Draculaura sighed as if she was dealing with an overeager puppy, barely glancing his way as she slid into the driver''s seat. "The last time you tried to protect me, you fainted at the sight of blood."


    "That was different!" Guillermo protested. "I''ve been working on my fainting recovery time — I''m down to like, thirty seconds now. Besides, what kind of familiar would I be if I let you chase down literal Death without me?"


    Draculaura scanned the road ahead as her fingers drummed on the steering wheel. "Okay, okay," she said. Her familiar''s dramatics were just part of the package at this point.


    Meanwhile, Grey wheeled his motorcycle around to the creepateria entrance, the sleek black metal catching the dim light as he pulled up in front of Beatrix. The engine rumbled impatiently beneath him.


    Beatrix hung back from his motorcycle, eyeing it nervously. She’d never been on one before. "Um, wait... where exactly am I supposed to..."


    "We''re gonna lose him," Grey said. His hand shot out and took her wrist, pulling her onto the seat behind him. "Hold on." Beatrix barely had time to slide her arms around his waist before the bike roared and they shot forward.


    "Holy hells!" she shrieked as the wind whipped her hair back. Her witch hat almost flew off, but she managed to snatch it with one hand, clutching Grey tighter with the other. Her heart was pounding so hard she knew he must’ve felt it too.


    Grey gunned the engine harder, following Viggo''s trail of destruction, passing withered grass and decaying earth scarring the school, scattered bodies that thinned out as they neared the Black Lagoon. Beatrix''s fingers dug into Grey''s leather jacket as she found herself moving with him instinctively, leaning into each turn like their bodies were one.


    Behind them, Draculaura''s pink convertible bounced over the uneven ground. Abbey and Lagoona hung on for dear life in the back while Guillermo gripped the dashboard, looking like he might throw up.


    They found Viggo right where Draculaura said he''d be. The massive Reaper stalked back and forth along the shoreline of the Black Lagoon, his dark horse churning up sprays of mud with each restless step. The glass pendant around his neck swung like a pendulum, filled with the writhing souls he''d claimed during his killing spree. His hooded head swept back and forth as he checked the iron fence for any way out.


    Grey eased his motorcycle to a stop on the gravel path, keeping a safe distance from the Reaper by the water. His boot crunched on the stones as he steadied the bike.


    Viggo went still when he spotted them.


    Minutes ago, Viggo had been tearing the school apart, but now the Reaper didn''t move a muscle — he simply stood there, sizing the group of teenagers up.


    "There''s nowhere left to go, Viggo," Grey shouted in the silence. He angled his bike to block the path back to the school, leaving the horseman trapped with the lagoon at his back.


    "Time to get that scythe," Grey muttered to Beatrix. As their backup rolled in — Draculaura''s convertible and Deuce''s bike screeching to a halt beside them — Beatrix swung off the motorcycle and started pulling snake scale paste supplies from her pockets. Deuce ran over to help.


    But then… a voice came, blaring in Beatrix’s head. A voice only Beatrix could hear.


    WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?


    Beatrix flinched. She jolted around, her shoes squelching in the mud, and found herself face-to-face with Spectra. Spectra’s form flickered like a corrupted video feed. Rusty, ghostly chains were coiled around her neck, wrists, and ankles. Violet tears fell down her translucent face, but there was nothing sad about them — only pure hatred.


    You ruined EVERYTHING! Spectra''s voice tore through Beatrix''s skull until her head felt like it would split open.


    Beatrix grabbed her temples, cringing at the screeching.


    "I won''t let you sacrifice innocent monsters just to save yourself!" Beatrix yelled back, stumbling away from the furious spirit.


    I don''t need your permission. But your body... that I can use.


    "Petra, stop!" Beatrix''s voice shook as she spoke Spectra''s human name, clinging to the hope that somewhere inside this vengeful ghost, a trace of her humanity remained. "I know your coven forced you to do something terrible… you were just trying to save your friend. I don''t blame you for that—"


    The others stared, dumbfounded, as Beatrix backed away from nothing, seemingly arguing with empty air. Beatrix knew how it looked, like she was losing her mind, since she was the only one who could see Spectra advancing toward her.


    She noticed Grey''s eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Even with his supernatural senses, Beatrix knew he could only detect the faintest shimmer of Spectra''s murky soul. Regardless, he moved swiftly to stand between Beatrix and the unseen threat, raising his staff defensively.


    "Beatrix, what''s happening?" Grey asked. "Who''s threatening you? Is it the spirit you told me about?" He slashed his scythe through the air, but Spectra danced around each strike with a fluid, taunting grace. Before Grey could attack again, Spectra surged forward. Beatrix caught a glimpse of purple, translucent hands reaching for her before Spectra entered her chest. Beatrix tried to scream but couldn''t make a sound as she crumpled into the mud. Her back arched off the ground as two souls battled for control of her body. Bitter cold spread through her veins as Spectra pushed her way deeper.


    "What''s happening to her?" Deuce''s panicked voice seemed to come from far away.


    Grey dropped beside Beatrix in the mud, trying to hold her thrashing body still. "Stay with me, Beatrix! Fight it!" But the darkness was already creeping in, and somewhere in the growing void, she heard Spectra''s laughter.


    Beatrix didn’t understand why it was so easy for Spectra to get into her body this time. But then again, the spirit had already possessed her once before. It was almost like Beatrix had left a door unlocked in her mind to be invaded again.


    "Petra..." Beatrix could barely get the words out between spasms. "We''re... trying to save you. You''re gonna... burn... if you let Viggo... take you..."


    HELL IS BETTER THAN THIS PRISON! Spectra''s shriek tore through Beatrix''s skull like shattering glass.


    Another wave of cold ripped through her, and Beatrix gasped: "Grey — bath salts... my jacket!"


    Grey lunged for her pocket, but Spectra was quicker. The spirit seized partial control of Beatrix, yanking her arm like a puppet. The jar of bath salts went flying, smashing against the ground. Beatrix watched helplessly as the crystals melted into the rain-soaked earth.


    "I can''t — I won''t let you — GET OUT!" Beatrix''s voice sounded warped, shifting between her own to Spectra''s as they fought for control. That horrible sensation of disconnection washed over her. Beatrix’s hands rose like they belonged to someone else, fingers trembling and jerking as Spectra forced them toward the snake scale paste in her pocket. Terror gripped Beatrix as she felt herself smearing the paste across her eyelids — the sickly green glow returning to her vision. But this time, it wasn''t meant to help take down a Reaper. This time, the gorgon ability would be aimed at her friends.


    Then came the final, sickening wrench. Beatrix felt herself torn away from herself, forced to watch helplessly as a ghost while Spectra claimed her. The glow of Spectra’s purple eyes now blazed from Beatrix''s face, an unholy light that had no place in a living person.


    Grey’s eyes went wide. "She''s possessed! Everyone get down!" Grey dove behind his motorcycle as Beatrix''s body lurched forward unnaturally, like a marionette with tangled strings.