《Monster High: Season of the Witch》


 1. Welcome to Monster High

    The late afternoon sun beat down on Monster High''s football field as the fearleaders moved into their final formation. At the tippy-top of their pyramid stood Gilda Goldstag, her delicate antlers gleaming as she balanced perfectly above Frankie Stein, Draculaura, and Cleo de Nile. Below them, Clawdeen Wolf, Toralei Stripe, and the werecat twins, Meowlody and Purrsephone, were locked in at the base, their arms steady despite the sweat dripping down their faces.


    "Hold it... hold it..." Cleo barked from her middle-row position. After a few seconds, she called out, "Alright, that¡¯s it for today.¡±


    The pyramid collapsed into a crowd of sweaty monsters.


    Cleo adjusted the golden bandages wrapped around her wrists. "Listen up, because I''m only saying this once,¡± she announced. ¡°With the new school year starting Monday, we need to be perfect. If anyone''s form is as atrocious as it was today when we''re back in session, you''ll be running laps until you decompose. Yeah, Toralei, I''m talking to you.¡±


    Toralei hissed at Cleo under her breath.


    Cleo continued, ignoring her. ¡°Now shoo. I need a break from all your mediocrity.¡±


    Draculaura delicately dabbed her forehead with the black lace handkerchief she always carried, her pink skin hidden under a thick layer of SPF 500 sunscreen that made her look more like a ghost than a vampire. Next to her, Frankie''s neck bolts sparked and crackled, making the teammates around her leap back with startled yelps.


    "Whoops! Sorry, guys!" Frankie reached up to fiddle with her bolts. "This weather really gets my circuits going."


    "Ghoul, you think you''ve got it bad?" Clawdeen was sprawled out on the turf, frantically fanning herself with a Teen Scream magazine. Her purple-tinted hair was piled up into a messy bun with pieces sticking out everywhere. "Try being a werewolf in this heat. It''s like wearing a fur coat. In an oven. In the desert."


    "Have you considered waxing?" Toralei said from a few feet away, her signature mean-girl smirk plastered across her face.


    Clawdeen''s eyes flashed as she let out a growl.


    The team scattered across the field, everyone making a beeline for their water bottles on the sidelines. While the rest of the squad was practically racing each other to get back to the school''s sweet, sweet air conditioning, Gilda hung back. She pulled out a well-loved copy of "Cryptid Classics: A Modern Collection of Monster Literature" from her gym bag, its pages worn around the edges. Instead of following the others, she headed toward the woods that loomed past the sports fields, where a massive wrought-iron fence was the only thing keeping the wilderness from taking over the school grounds.


    By the bleachers, a cluster of vampire students were lounging in the lengthening shadows, sheltered by Victorian parasols and designer sunglasses. Their long-sleeved outfits ¡ª all in fashionable shades of midnight and deep red ¡ª covered every inch of their pale skin. Gory Fangtell, their unofficial leader, spotted Draculaura and wiggled her manicured fingers in a wave.


    "¡¯Laura!" Gory flashed her fangs in what was supposed to be a smile but definitely wasn''t friendly. "Your dad''s soir¨¦e this summer was soooo cute. I mean, who serves vintage O-negative in crystal chalices anymore? The last time I saw that, people still thought the world was flat!¡±


    Draculaura clutched her handkerchief a little tighter, but didn¡¯t let her annoyance show. She kept a sugar-sweet smile on her face. "Oh, you know how Dad is," she said with a fake little giggle. "He''s super big on the whole ''keeping our vampire heritage alive'' thing."


    Draculaura gave Clawdeen a look that screamed ¡®please-drive-a-stake-through-my-heart¡¯, then reluctantly walked over to make nice with the other vampires.


    Frankie bounced over to Clawdeen. "Oh my ghoul, how voltage was practice today? I didn¡¯t even have a single body part fall off! That''s a new record!" Frankie beamed, oblivious to the social power play happening twenty feet away.


    Clawdeen couldn''t help grinning at her friend''s enthusiasm. "Good job, Frankie.¡± But then, Clawdeen¡¯s sharp eyes caught something moving ¡ª Gilda, slipping away toward the treeline that bordered Monster High''s grounds.


    "Hey, G!" Clawdeen called out. "We''re about to hit up the Coffin Bean ¡ª they''ve got this new Scream Protein smoothie that''s seriously killer. Wanna go?¡±


    "Rain check?" Gilda replied, already halfway to the fence. She held up her book with a gentle smile. "It''s way too nice out to be stuck inside, and I''m right at the good part."


    ¡°But it¡¯s getting dark soon! And haven''t you read that like twelve times already?" Frankie asked.


    "Thirteen''s my lucky number!" Gilda shouted over her shoulder, already turning back toward the woods.


    "She''s been sneaking off to read a lot lately," Frankie said to Clawdeen.


    Clawdeen shrugged, slinging her gym bag over her shoulder. "Some monsters just need their alone time.¡±


    Just then, a loud conversation floated over from the vampires. They were debating who had the most expensive custom-fitted coffin. Clawdeen noticed Draculaura¡¯s violet eyes flicking her way ¡ª a silent plea for help.


    Clawdeen cupped her hands around her mouth. "Yo, Drac! Smoothie time!¡±


    Relief flooded Draculaura''s face. "Coming!" She spun around to face the vampire clique, dropping into a perfect little curtsey. "So sorry to cut this short, but duty calls!"


    As Draculaura ran back to Frankie and Clawdeen, she glanced at the woods. Gilda was way off in the distance now, just a tiny figure against all those trees.


    The three of them watched as Gilda squeezed through a gap in the fence that the faculty never seemed to notice, much less repair. Gilda''s silhouette melted into the shadows between those massive pine trees, her little antlers the last thing visible before the forest swallowed her completely.


    Not giving it much mind, Draculaura squeezed between her two best friends as they headed off toward the other side of campus, already deep in debate about whether a Blood Orange Blast smoothie was better than Screechberry Supreme.


    None of them had any idea that this would be the last time anyone from Monster High would see Gilda Goldstag breathing.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    It was hotter than the sixth circle of hell.


    Not that Beatrix had been there before, but she¡¯d heard stories. Lots and lots of stories. Rivers of fire, flaming tombs, yada yada yada.


    Leaning against a creaky windowsill in her family¡¯s spell brewing room, Beatrix watched the crimson-streaked horizon. Their farmhouse loomed black against the setting sun, its imposing silhouette casting long shadows across their sprawling property.


    Sweat dripped down Beatrix¡¯s face while loose strands of her long dark hair stuck to her neck. She flapped her pointed black hat in front of her flushed face, though the sorry excuse for a breeze did little to help. Her hat had seen better days, its tip bent from years of her being careless with it. Traditional witch clothes were never really her thing.


    ¡°Eye of newt,¡± came a clipped voice behind her.


    Through the cracked window pane, Beatrix saw a flock of crows soar above miles of corn stalks, moving together in perfect unison.


    ¡°Eye of newt,¡± the voice repeated, louder this time.


    Beatrix kept watching the birds. Not a single one dared to break away from the flock. They reminded Beatrix of a witch coven.


    ¡°For the love of all things unholy, hand me that blasted jar!¡±


    Beatrix nearly jumped out of her skin at the shout, realizing it was directed at her. Turning back from the window, she saw her three aunts ¡ª Constance, Clarice, and Cordelia ¡ª crowded around a massive iron cauldron in the middle of the room. The cauldron emitted a green glow, casting eerie shadows on her aunts, accentuating every wrinkle and hollow in their faces.


    Her aunts may have been dressed in the same black robes, but that¡¯s where their similarities ended. Aunt Clarice was as thin as a withered twig, Aunt Constance, short and plump like a pumpkin, and Aunt Cordelia was tall and commanding like an old oak tree. Even at a hundred and twenty-six years old, Cordelia was intimidating. Maybe it was because of her height, maybe it was because she always looked ready to kill Beatrix. Probably a bit of both.


    Aunt Cordelia snapped her spindly fingers at Beatrix. ¡°The jar. Now.¡±


    ¡°What jar?¡± Beatrix asked, feeling dumb.


    ¡°The eye of newt jar, insipid child!¡± Aunt Cordelia snarled.


    Beatrix dropped her black hat and started fumbling through the cluttered cupboards lining the walls. She yanked open each cobweb-covered drawer with a loud clatter, then dropped to her hands and knees, the rough floorboards scratching her skin through her black skirt. She peered to see if the eye of newt jar had rolled under the cabinets. It was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°Quickly!¡± Aunt Constance yelled, shrill and panicked.


    ¡°One sec, I just had it!¡± Beatrix called over her shoulder. A lie. She had no idea where the jar was, even though her aunts had ordered her to prepare the potion ingredients last night.


    How was I supposed to know eye of newt was so important for a pyrokinesis spell? Beatrix thought, bitter.


    Steaming green liquid began to spill over the rim of the cauldron, splattering onto the floor. The putrid smell of boiling bat wings that was filling the room was enough to make Beatrix gag.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time!¡± Aunt Clarice screeched. ¡°Brace yourselves!¡±


    All three of Beatrix¡¯s aunts scrambled away from the cauldron, tumbling to the floor in a chaotic mess of flailing limbs and black skirts. Realizing what they were doing, Beatrix copied them, curling into a tight ball and hugging her knees to her chest.


    At the last second, she grabbed her pointy black hat from where it had fallen and jammed it onto her head, squeezing her eyes shut.


    A deafening blast rang out, shaking the whole room, rattling the windows and causing dust to rain down from the rafters. A hot wave ran flush against Beatrix¡¯s skin.


    After what seemed like an eternity, the heat subsided.


    Cautiously, Beatrix cracked open an eye. Thick smoke filled the room, and the suffocating odor of burning hair made her wheeze. Every inch of the walls was scorched black.


    As the smoke cleared, it took everything in Beatrix to suppress a cackle at the sight of her aunts. Constance, Clarice, and Cordelia were coated in a layer of ash from head to toe. Their hair stuck out in a million different directions, and Aunt Clarice was now missing half an eyebrow.


    However, any amusement Beatrix felt vanished when her aunts turned to glare daggers at her, their mouths pressed into thin, disapproving lines. If looks could kill¡­


    That''s when Beatrix realized her aunts weren''t glaring at her face. They were looking at her hair.


    ¡°Well, well, well. What have we here?¡± Aunt Constance remarked, highly suspicious. ¡°The blast barely touched a hair on your pretty little head.¡±


    Beatrix''s hands flew up, patting her wide-brimmed black hat. Her hat and hair were still perfectly in place.


    Aunt Constance turned to her sisters, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Isn¡¯t it peculiar how her hat survived without a scratch? It¡¯s almost like she cast some kind of charm on it. A protective enchantment, perhaps?"


    ¡°What? No way! I didn¡¯t charm anything!¡± Beatrix protested.


    Another lie. The truth was, Beatrix had secretly enchanted her hat with protective spells a few weeks ago. And it had worked, perfectly shielding her hair during the explosion.


    Aunt Cordelia planted her hands on her hips. "Beatrix Felicity Ravenwood. Are you trying to deceive us?"


    "No! I swear, Aunt ¡®Delia. I would never break your no-magic rule..." Beatrix mumbled the last part under her breath, "... even if it¡¯s stupid."


    "What was that?" Aunt Clarice snapped. "Speak up, child. A proper witch enunciates."


    Beatrix lifted her chin. "I said, your rule about not letting me practice magic is stupid. And before you ask ¡ª no, I didn''t charm my hat. But even if I did, what''s the big deal? Every other witch my age gets to use magic!¡±


    "Need I remind you why that rule exists?" Aunt Cordelia stepped forward, the floorboards creaking beneath her feet. Her eyes, sharp as a raven''s, fixed on her niece.


    "Ugh, I know, I know." Beatrix slumped against the wall. "No magic until I''m sixteen. You''ve only told me about a million times."


    "Why is that, Beatrix?" Aunt Constance pressed.


    "Because," Beatrix recited in a bored tone, "I''m not ''responsible enough'' to handle magic until then." She made air quotes with her fingers, earning a disapproving tsk from Aunt Clarice.


    "Precisely." Aunt Cordelia said. "Your power needs proper guidance. You''re still far too¡ª"


    "Reckless. Yeah, I got it.¡±


    Beatrix knew the real reason behind the age restriction, even if her aunts never said it outright: at sixteen, witches were expected to make a pact with a devil familiar from the underworld. Her aunts had spent years drilling it into her head ¡ª a reckless witch like her couldn¡¯t be trusted with magic until she had a devil by her side to "whip her into shape" and "keep her in line."Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°But I don''t even want a stupid familiar¡­¡± Beatrix muttered to herself.


    ¡°Watch your tongue!¡± Aunt Clarice snapped. ¡°Such insolence¡­ ingratitude¡­¡±


    "If you truly understood the benefits of a familiar, you wouldn¡¯t speak in such a way," Aunt Cordelia said, shaking her head. "Why, a devil can eradicate your enemies, vastly extend your lifespan, and help you master even the most challenging spells. There''s no limit to what you could achieve."


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have any enemies I want to ¡®eradicate¡¯,¡± Beatrix retorted, crossing her arms.


    And to Beatrix, living forever sounded awful too. One look at the decrepit state of her aunts ¡ª each well over a century old ¡ª was enough to convince her that having a demon extend your life wasn''t all it was cracked up to be. But Beatrix made sure to keep that thought to herself.


    Of course, her aunts always conveniently left out the cost of a devil''s contract: a witch has to serve her devil master without question, obey their every whim and command ¡ª no matter how nefarious. One toe out of line¡­ and there¡¯d be dire consequences. Or so Beatrix had heard.


    She¡¯d much rather deal with being bossed around by her family than be bound to a devil. It wasn¡¯t even close.


    No, Beatrix was determined to master magic on her own terms. She''d already enchanted her hat by herself ¡ª she bet she could master other spells on her own too. Without a devil¡¯s help. That¡¯s why she¡¯d been secretly breaking her aunts¡¯ rule and experimenting with beginner spells whenever she got the chance. Who cared if her sixteenth birthday was still half a year away?


    "Beatrix, if we find out you''ve been dabbling in the dark arts..." Aunt Cordelia started, letting the threat hang heavy in the air between them.


    "... I can kiss my freedom goodbye. Yeah, I got it," Beatrix finished Cordelia¡¯s sentence with a huff. ¡°You know, you guys seriously underestimate me¡­ I bet I could handle magic just fine. How hard could it be, really?¡±


    Her aunt''s nostrils flared, displeased by Beatrix''s dismissive tone.


    In an attempt to steer the conversation away from enchanted hats and devil familiars, Beatrix got to her feet and brushed the ash from the explosion off herself. Her skirt and apron were now an even darker shade of charcoal than they¡¯d been before.


    As Beatrix straightened her clothes, something heavy clinked in her apron¡¯s pocket. Beatrix reached in and pulled out a glass jar, its label written in spidery script: Eye of Newt.


    The ingredient she¡¯d been searching for earlier.


    Beatrix sheepishly waved the jar at her aunts. ¡°Found it.¡±


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    No matter how hard Beatrix scrubbed, the floorboards stayed black. Apparently, a pyrokinesis potion had never gone so wrong until today, so as punishment, her aunts were making her clean everything by hand instead of casting a renewal spell.


    Beatrix¡¯s hands were beyond sore from all the scrubbing. Desperate for a break, she pushed open the door and stepped out onto the weathered porch that wrapped around the old farmhouse she and her aunts called home. While stretching her limbs and drawing in a deep breath, she savored the fresh air, a welcome change from the burnt magic that lingered inside. The sun dipped low over the cornfields that surrounded their property, a warm orange glow settling over the vast countryside.


    After being sent to live here at six years old, the picturesque view of the farm was nothing new to Beatrix.


    But today, something was different. In the distance, stalks rustled in the fading light, parting as a figure made their way through them. A smile tugged at the corner¡¯s of Beatrix¡¯s lips. Only one person would dare approach this side of the farm.


    She scanned her surroundings, listening for any sign of her aunts. The air was still, except for the distant caw of a crow.


    Coast¡¯s clear.


    Beatrix descended the creaky porch steps and made her way towards the closest wall of crops.


    She paused briefly at the edge of the cornfield, then tiptoed in.


    The stalks closed in around her, and Beatrix moved carefully, unable to see more than a few inches ahead. Her feet sunk into the earth with each step and the leaves brushed against her skin, their rough edges scratching at her arms. Before long, she was in the middle of a sea of corn.


    Then, Beatrix stopped, held her breath, and listened.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a cornstalk rustle.


    Beatrix leapt forward, her hand closing around a soft arm.


    ¡°Aha!¡± Beatrix exclaimed. ¡°Gotcha, strawhead.¡±


    ¡°How do you always know it¡¯s me?¡± Autumn whined.


    ¡°What other scarecrow is brave enough to get so close to the main house?¡± Beatrix grinned.


    Beatrix pulled her best friend out from her hiding spot. Autumn wiggled her straw-filled arm free from Beatrix¡¯s grasp.


    Autumn Matilda Patches was one of the many scarecrows Aunt Clarice had made to work on the farm, and Beatrix and Autumn had been inseparable ever since they¡¯d met. In fact, Beatrix had named Autumn herself.


    When Beatrix was a kid, she¡¯d been sent to live with her aunts to learn about the hierarchical structure within a coven, and Beatrix still remembered how lonely she was that first year. So when Aunt Clarice created a scarecrow girl Beatrix¡¯s age, she was ecstatic.


    Beatrix had countless memories of her childhood with Autumn: racing across fields together, weaving flower crowns in the spring, and hanging around the scarecrow village whenever Autumn had the day off from her farm hand duties. The scarecrow village, nestled on the far side of the farm where Autumn¡¯s friends and family lived, had quickly become a second home to Beatrix. Since she was little, she found herself spending far more time with the scarecrows than her aunts.


    Despite being made of patchwork canvas and straw, Autumn resembled a fifteen-year-old human girl ¡ª aside from the stitches on her body, her button eyes, and her burlap skin. Where Beatrix had black hair and dark eyes, Autumn¡¯s straw hair was divided into two neat braids that hung down her back, with vibrant green button eyes and rosy cheeks painted on her face.


    ¡°How long have you been waiting out here?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°An hour, I think,¡± Autumn said.


    Beatrix noticed a tear near Autumn''s collarbone, a result of tugging on her arm earlier. Straw protruded from the injury, and Beatrix instinctively reached for the needle and thread she always kept on hand. Beatrix had become adept at repairing her friend over the years and began stitching Autumn¡¯s tear up with ease, her fingers moving deftly over Autumn¡¯s rough canvas skin. Autumn didn¡¯t flinch as the needle pierced her.


    ¡°I saw an explosion. What happened?¡± Autumn asked.


    Beatrix tucked the needle back into her pocket. ¡°I ruined a potion after getting distracted by some birds.¡±


    ¡°Birds? Where?¡± Autumn searched the sky. She tried retreating but Beatrix held her in place.


    ¡°A scarecrow afraid of crows. Aunt Clarice would be so proud,¡± Beatrix teased.


    ¡°You swore you wouldn¡¯t tell,¡± Autumn whispered.


    Beatrix felt a twinge of guilt. The scarecrows on the farm were created by her aunts for a clear purpose: work the fields and stay out of the witches'' way. So if Aunt Clarice ever discovered Autumn¡¯s phobia of birds, she would dispose of Autumn and replace her with a new farm worker without a second thought.


    ¡°My lips are sealed,¡± Beatrix assured her. ¡°Witch¡¯s honor.¡±


    Autumn relaxed, however, she twiddled her thumbs like she was contemplating something.


    After a moment, Autumn reached into her pocket and pulled out an already-opened envelope.


    A mischievous grin spread across Beatrix¡¯s face as she took the letter from Autumn¡¯s outstretched hand. Autumn had many secret admirers in the scarecrow village, and Beatrix bet one of them had sent her a love confession. ¡°Is it from Sawyer? Forrest? It better not be from Oakley! His poetry is too sappy.¡±


    Autumn¡¯s painted cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink. ¡°Oakley hasn¡¯t written me a poem since we were ten! Just look inside.¡±


    Beatrix unfolded the letter and read it aloud. ¡°Autumn Matilda Patches¡­ please send your response by July 28th¡­ regarding your acceptance to¡­¡± She skimmed the rest. ¡°You applied to Monster High?¡±


    ¡°No. I applied to New Salem Preparatory Academy,¡± Autumn corrected.


    ¡°Same thing, strawhead! ¡®Monster High¡¯ is just a nickname.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Autumn looked down at her feet, scuffing the toe of her boot against the ground.


    Beatrix knew all about Monster High; it was the dream school of every creature with even a drop of supernatural blood. However, since everyone wanted in, the admissions process was competitive.


    Not that it mattered to Beatrix. She couldn¡¯t enter the school even if she tried. Witches were forbidden from enrolling.


    ¡°You know how hard it is to get into that school, right?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Autumn nodded. ¡°Yeah. I was going to apply last year, but I got too nervous.¡±


    Knowing that Autumn had kept this from her made Beatrix feel odd. She thought they told each other everything.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you apply?¡± Beatrix asked, trying to sound casual and not resentful.


    Autumn fiddled with a seam on her wrist, one of her nervous habits. ¡°My Granny Magpie¡¯s worried about me,¡± she admitted softly. ¡°She thinks I¡¯m afraid of¡­ well, living.¡±


    Beatrix frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m pathetic,¡± Autumn said. ¡°I¡¯m a scarecrow who¡¯s scared of crows, for corn¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°What? Aside from the bird thing, you¡¯re the bravest scarecrow I know.¡±


    Autumn shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not brave,¡± she insisted. ¡°The bravest thing I do is lead knitting circle. I''ve never even set foot off the farm. That¡¯s why I need to go to New Salem Prep¡ªI mean, Monster High. I¡¯ll get an education to help the rest of the scarecrows! We need new irrigation methods, and I bet I can learn some things about running a business that will help sell our crops!¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s stomach sank. She was gonna be left behind.


    One night, she¡¯d eavesdropped on her aunts grumbling about how Monster High didn''t allow witches to attend the school.


    That institution is an insult to magic-folk! Aunt Constance had railed.


    Aunt Cordelia had a theory the rule existed because witches were too similar to humans. The only thing that separates us from humans is our connection to devils, Cordelia had said. Anyone can join our ranks and serve the underworld, if they''re willing.


    I¡¯d like to see any normal human try! Aunt Constance had countered. Not just anyone can take a blood oath and serve our devil overlords faithfully.


    Beatrix had to admit Aunt Constance had a point.


    While most witches usually signed their souls away at sixteen for advanced abilities from devils, many could still use some magic before then if they came from a long line of sorcerers. Devils looked favorably upon families who¡¯d served them, so the more witches in your bloodline, the easier it was to engage in witchcraft from a young age.


    This meant most witches weren¡¯t just your run-of-the-mill humans¡ªtheir propensity for magic set them apart from ordinary people. Which made it all the more frustrating that Beatrix wasn¡¯t allowed to do anything until her birthday. Her family tree was overrun with witches.


    Beatrix had also grown confused about Monster High¡¯s rule. If most witches are more than mere humans, why aren¡¯t we monster enough to attend Monster High?


    ¡°Bea?¡± Autumn snapped Beatrix out of her thoughts. ¡°You okay?¡±


    Beatrix forced a smile onto her face and pulled Autumn into a tight hug. ¡°Monster High is lucky to have you. I¡¯m just sad you¡¯re leaving.¡±


    ¡°About that¡­¡± Autumn pulled back, her button eyes shining with excitement, ¡°you¡¯re coming with me.¡±


    Beatrix opened her mouth to explain all the reasons why that was impossible.


    However, there was a blazing determination on Autumn¡¯s face that she¡¯d never seen before. The scarecrow wasn¡¯t taking no for an answer.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Aunt Cordelia said.


    Cordelia, the most sovereign witch of her aunts, tapped a long crooked finger on the dining table. Her beady eyes glinted with malice in the candlelight that illuminated the room.


    ¡°It¡¯s already done,¡± Beatrix snapped back, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. ¡°I got permission to go to Monster High.¡±


    Aunt Cordelia gave a dismissive wave. ¡°Witches are forbidden from entering the school.¡±


    ¡°Good thing I¡¯m not a witch yet,¡± Beatrix said.


    ¡°What''s that supposed to mean, child?¡± Aunt Constance said, stirring a concoction that was supposed to be dinner over a wood-burning stove.


    ¡°You three never let me practice witchcraft, so I¡¯m as harmless as a human at this point!¡± Beatrix huffed.


    Constance gasped, pressing a chubby hand to her mouth as if Beatrix had just slandered the family name.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny what you are. You''ve been destined to become a sorceress since your infancy,¡± Aunt Cordelia said, leaning forward, her eyes boring into Beatrix. ¡°You''re different from humans, whether you like it or not.¡±


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it strange that a sorceress can¡¯t be trusted around magic until her sixteenth birthday?¡± Beatrix returned with a sharp edge. ¡°You¡¯ve told me a million times that all I¡¯m good for is collecting slugs and picking mushrooms. So, like I said, I¡¯m as harmless as a human right now. That''s why Headmistress Bloodgood''s letting me live on campus with Autumn, because I don¡¯t know any spells.¡±


    Beatrix felt a pit in her stomach at the half-lie she¡¯d just told. Technically, Beatrix did know some magic, since she¡¯d managed to protectively charm her black hat. But, to be fair, that was mostly luck. She¡¯d tried dozens of magic techniques to make the hat durable enough to survive an explosion, and she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly how she¡¯d accomplished it. Beatrix lacked the knowledge and steady hand to yield true power.


    While she could read potion recipes as well as any witch, wielding magic was a balancing act. It required setting the right intentions, mixing delicate materials properly, and preventing the spell from harming the user. Beatrix was inexperienced on all fronts.


    When Beatrix was twelve, she¡¯d attempted a sleeping elixir to knock out Aunt Clarice so she could attend a harvest festival with Autumn. But the elixir had backfired, and Beatrix had woken up hours later on the kitchen floor with a pounding headache.


    Magic was both the greatest blessing and the ultimate danger to a witch. It needed to be handled accordingly.


    ¡°No matter how progressive this headmistress claims to be, they''ll never accept witches as students,¡± Aunt Cordelia said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be a student. I¡¯ll be working there,¡± Beatrix corrected.


    ¡°Working as that flimsy scarecrow¡¯s assistant?¡± Aunt Clarice sneered, her thin lips curling.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t like the word ¡°flimsy¡± being used to describe Autumn. Flimsy was a word for creaky stairs and ripped shirts, not her best friend. But Beatrix had a hard time taking Aunt Clarice¡¯s insult too seriously, since her aunt¡¯s seared eyebrow clung haphazardly to her face like a lopsided caterpillar thanks to the explosion earlier.


    Beatrix bit her lip to suppress a grin and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be working as Autumn¡¯s student aid. I¡¯m gonna help her around campus and patch her up whenever she gets injured.¡±


    This was the loophole Autumn had worked out with Bloodgood, the headmistress of Monster High.


    ¡°Since Autumn did so well in her homeschool program, Monster High really wanted her, so she got to make some demands,¡± Beatrix told her aunts. ¡°And Autumn refused to go unless I could go with her for emotional support.¡±


    Aunt Cordelia crossed her arms. ¡°Let me get this straight. The headmistress agreed to let you stay on school grounds as a faculty member?¡±


    "Yup," Beatrix replied. ¡°I¡¯ll be working there part-time to cover my room and board. I¡¯ll be Autumn''s student aid between classes and will serve food in the creepateria during lunch.¡±


    According to Bloodgood, allowing a witch to attend Monster High would cause too much controversy, so making Beatrix an employee and an ¡°emotional support witch¡± for Autumn was the superior alternative; a baby step to let the student body grow acclimated to a magic-user.


    It would be the perfect opportunity to sway monster culture if Beatrix was well received. In other words, she was a guinea pig.


    ¡°This is lunacy,¡± Aunt Constance said, slamming a pot of lumpy stew onto the table. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your time at that silly school.¡±


    ¡°You told me education is never a bad thing,¡± Beatrix argued. ¡°The classes Autumn will be taking are the best¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t compare her useless high school classes to your mastery of the dark arts. They¡¯re nothing alike. You¡¯re forbidden from going. And as the creator and master of that rag doll you call a friend, she''s forbidden too,¡± Aunt Cordelia said, her words heavy and final.


    ¡°What if I promised to enter into a devil contract with no complaints?¡± Beatrix blurted out.


    Everyone fell silent.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t know where she was going with this. If I can get away from my aunts, she thought, maybe I can avoid a devil contract when I turn sixteen. I¡¯ll have my own money and will be living in New Salem by then, far away from the farm. They won¡¯t be able to reach me there¡­


    Beatrix pressed on, lying through her teeth. ¡°If you let me go to Monster High for one semester, I¡¯ll sign my soul away without any issues on my birthday. I¡¯ll come back and be compliant with my devil familiar. I promise.¡±


    The room grew darker around Beatrix, the candle light around them fading.


    There was a hard glare in Cordelia¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You threaten to cast aside your oaths so easily?¡± Aunt Cordelia uttered.


    Beatrix gulped, her mouth suddenly dry as dust. ¡°I haven¡¯t taken any oaths yet¡ª¡±


    ¡°You have an opportunity to serve the most powerful devil dynasty in the underworld. And you¡¯re threatening to dishonor them, to run away from your responsibilities when you come of age, if we don¡¯t comply with your demands?¡±


    ¡°All to follow after a scarecrow with stuffing for brains, to a school that disgraces our witch legacy?¡± Aunt Clarice added in disgust, her scorched eyebrow flapping.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t know how to reply.


    ¡°Maybe a semester away will do her well,¡± Aunt Constance said, sarcasm dripping off every syllable. ¡°Let our little niece see how the outside world treats her. I¡¯m sure the students at this monster school will treat a witch as warmly as humans do.¡±


    That was Aunt Constance¡¯s way of saying Beatrix would either crawl back to the farm or be burned at the stake within a week.

 2. A Frightful First Day

    Headmistress Bloodgood was a sight to behold. Dressed in a striking velvet suit and slicked back bun, she sat before Beatrix and Autumn with impeccable posture in her high-ceilinged office.


    Not to mention, her detached head was sitting upright on her mahogany desk, staring straight at them. To be polite, Beatrix avoided looking at where Bloodgood¡¯s neck abruptly ended.


    Over the past week, Beatrix and Autumn had taken a train across several states to reach Oregon, rode a shuttle up a steep and perilous mountain, and when they¡¯d finally reached the foggy peak where Monster High was located, the girls had meticulously decorated their shared dorm room and bought a heap of school supplies for Autumn from the student store.


    Through it all, Beatrix could barely contain herself. She was getting a fresh start in New Salem, and she couldn¡¯t wait.


    ¡°Beatrix Felicity Ravenwood?¡± the headmistress asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    Bloodgood¡¯s body flipped through a thick stack of forms, her pale fingers flicking the pages. ¡°Novice witch?¡±


    ¡°If novice means newbie, then yes," Beatrix said.


    ¡°You understand you''ll be Ms. Patches¡¯ student aid for her sophomore year? As well as a part-time member of the creepateria staff?¡±


    Beatrix nodded eagerly.


    ¡°Very good,¡± Bloodgood said. ¡°Since you aren''t a student, you won¡¯t be allowed to attend Autumn¡¯s classes with her. You''ll only accompany her during certain intervals of the day to provide emotional and medical aid. This includes making sure she gets to all academic buildings safely, escorting her to and from Study Howl, and being on standby during her Physical Deaducation class for any torn limbs. I trust you¡¯re up to the task?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Beatrix said.


    Bloodgood added, ¡°As for your creepateria duties, you''ll be reporting to Marsha, our head lunch lady, at nine o¡¯clock sharp every morning.¡±


    Although lunch duty didn¡¯t sound very exciting, Beatrix assumed it would beat working for her aunts back home.


    ¡°Thank you again for letting my friend come with me, Headmistress,¡± Autumn said.


    ¡°Yes, well, it would have been dreadful to lose a student of your caliber, regardless of your¡­¡± Bloodgood glanced at Beatrix. ¡°... special accommodations.¡±


    Autumn nudged Beatrix gently with her elbow.


    ¡°Oh, right. Thank you, Headmistress,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°I promise I won''t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll try your best,¡± Bloodgood replied, her decapitated head assessing Beatrix. ¡°There is one last condition you must be aware of, Ms. Ravenwood. You will be attending the Monster Sensitivity Seminar¡ªor ¡®MSS¡¯¡ªevery Saturday morning. MSS is for newly transitioned monsters who possess more human traits than usual compared to the rest of our student body.¡±


    Bloodgood continued, ¡°The seminar will educate you on the different types of supernatural creatures at Monster High to help you get acquainted with your peers. Failure to attend will result in your immediate termination. Do I make myself clear?"


    Beatrix gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. ¡°Crystal.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Bloodgood said.


    Bloodgood¡¯s body shifted her head closer to the girls. ¡°Now, what I am about to tell you stays within the walls of this office.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Beatrix and Autumn responded in unison.


    Bloodgood lowered her voice. "Having a witch at Monster High is¡­ unprecedented. I only agreed to this because Ms. Patches wrote a very moving application essay about growing up around magic users and the importance of inclusivity."


    Bloodgood rubbed her temples, looking weary. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, Ms. Ravenwood. You''re likely going to face some hostility here. Old prejudices run deep. Nevertheless, I believe this could be a step towards officially opening our doors to witches one day. That¡¯s why it''s of the utmost importance that you be on your best behavior. And it should go without saying that magic of any kind, for any reason, is forbidden. This is your one and only warning.¡±


    Beatrix smiled. ¡°You can count on me.¡±


    However, behind Beatrix¡¯s smile, a question still pestered her: why exactly were witches banned from Monster High in the first place? It seemed hypocritical for a school that prided itself on its diversity.


    Just as Beatrix was about to ask, Bloodgood rose to her feet, cradling her head in the crook of her elbow. ¡°I appreciate both of you taking the time to meet with me this morning, but I¡¯m afraid I have another appointment to attend to. You best be on your way to Autumn¡¯s first class.¡± Her tone made it clear the discussion was over.


    Beatrix and Autumn stood as well. While Autumn thanked Bloodgood again, Beatrix had to admit she was glad to get away from the Headmistress¡¯s severed head. Eager to start her first day of work, Beatrix walked to the office door, grabbed its brass handle, and tugged it open.


    But as she stepped through the doorway, she collided with a wall and was nearly knocked off her feet. Strong hands quickly gripped her upper arms, steadying her. The scent of leather and pine needles hit her immediately.


    ¡°Bea! Are you okay?¡± Autumn cried out.


    Dazed, Beatrix blinked rapidly until the spinning corridor righted itself. It then dawned on her that she hadn¡¯t slammed into a wall. Rather, she¡¯d slammed into a tall guy¡¯s chest. She lifted her head and found herself looking into a pair of eyes unlike any she¡¯d ever seen.


    They were black¡ªcompletely black. There were no whites to this stranger¡¯s eyes, no irises, just darkness. His eyes were so dark they almost looked hollow, like bottomless caverns Beatrix could stumble down.


    Beatrix took in the rest of the teenage boy who stood before her. He was tall, towering over her by nearly a foot. His hair was buzzed close to his skull, he wore a battered leather jacket, and his skin was a shade of washed-out gray. A chain necklace glinted at his throat, and at his hip, a strange contraption hung from a silver ring¡ªa retractable staff of some kind. Beatrix couldn¡¯t tell what the staff was meant for.


    It took a moment for Beatrix to realize he was still gripping her arms. She jerked back, embarrassed, and he released her immediately, but his eyes never left hers as his imposing frame loomed over her.


    ¡°Grey,¡± Bloodgood said from behind Beatrix, ¡°meet our newest additions to Monster High.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a witch doing here?¡± Grey asked. His deep voice spat out ¡°witch¡± like it was a bad word.


    Beatrix¡¯s heart dropped. How did he know she was a witch? She had dressed as casually as possible, opting for a simple pair of skinny jeans and blouse for her first day. She''d even hidden her crooked witch hat in the back of her dorm closet. There wasn¡¯t a hint of her heritage visible, yet somehow Grey saw right through her.


    ¡°Why don''t we talk in my office?¡± Bloodgood interjected, stepping back from the doorway and motioning for Grey to come in. ¡°Have a good first day, ladies.¡±


    Grey brushed past Beatrix without a second glance. By the look of him, Beatrix assumed he was visiting Bloodgood for disciplinary reasons.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Beatrix said.


    Grey paused. His dark eyes met hers again.


    ¡°How can you tell I¡¯m a witch?¡± Beatrix asked. She couldn¡¯t bear not knowing.


    Grey glowered. ¡°I can spot a claimed soul a mile away.¡±


    Without further explanation, he disappeared into Bloodgood¡¯s office, the heavy door thudding shut behind him, leaving Beatrix and Autumn alone in the quiet hallway.


    ¡°A claimed soul?¡± Autumn whispered. ¡°I thought you got to keep your soul until you turn sixteen.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too¡­¡± Beatrix murmured, distracted, unable to tear her eyes away from the closed office door.


    Despite her family¡¯s long history of making deals with devils in exchange for dark powers and knowledge, Beatrix still needed to sign her own soul away to make her contract official. And she definitely wasn¡¯t going to go through with that.


    So why does Grey think my soul is ¡®claimed¡¯? How does he know anything about my soul at all?


    Thinking of his blacked-out eyes on her sent a shiver down Beatrix''s spine. She didn''t think blending in at Monster High would be this hard.


    Autumn linked her soft arm in Beatrix¡¯s. ¡°We should get going."


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    As Beatrix and Autumn wove through the hallway, glimpses of scales, wings, and horns whipped past. Monsters of every imaginable shape and size flowed alongside them ¡ª massive trolls with scaly green skin, elegant vampires with glinting fangs and ruby-red lips, translucent phantoms drifting silently through the air. The school was alive with growls, shrieks, and roars, while clawed feet clacked against the stone floors and wings flapped overhead.


    This place is like a labyrinth, Beatrix thought, unsure which way to go to find Autumn¡¯s first class.


    Autumn¡¯s straw-stuffed arm was still linked in hers, and Beatrix could feel her friend¡¯s grip tightening. While Autumn¡¯s face stayed neutral, Beatrix knew her well enough to know she was terrified.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna do great,¡± Beatrix reassured her, giving Autumn¡¯s arm a comforting squeeze.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Autumn¡¯s voice trembled quietly, nearly drowned out by the monstrous noises around them. ¡°I heard that I¡¯m one of the only transfer students this year. What if my homeschooling wasn¡¯t good enough? I might not be qualified to be here. What if I¡¯m the dumbest person in class, and everyone knows it, and I trip and my stuffing falls out, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Autumn. Breathe,¡± Beatrix reminded.


    Autumn took a deep breath and loosened her grip on Beatrix. ¡°Right. Okay. It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± she said.


    In the chaos, Beatrix didn¡¯t even notice a disembodied hand running past them on its fingertips, pale green fingers working like the nimble legs of a spider.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Bea! Look!¡± Autumn pointed.


    The green hand scurried between all the shuffling feet and clacking hooves with surprising speed.


    ¡°Someone grab it!¡± a loud voice shouted.


    Before Beatrix could react, Autumn hopped ahead and snatched up the scrambling hand. She clutched it tightly to keep it from wriggling free.


    A girl stepped forward from the passing crowd, standing over six feet tall, with the same unusual shade of pale green skin as the squirming hand. Lines of crooked black stitches crisscrossed over the girl¡¯s body, and she had two different colored eyes¡ªone an electric blue, the other emerald green. Both eyes lit up when they landed on Autumn.


    ¡°You have crazy quick reflexes!¡± the green girl exclaimed. Sparks snapped from the metal bolts that protruded from the sides of her neck. ¡°Usually catching my hand is a handful.¡±


    Autumn giggled at the pun and carefully passed over the appendage. The green girl hastily began to reattach it to her wrist with a wonky surgical needle. Beatrix had to suppress a shudder as she watched the girl pierce her green flesh and pull the thick black thread through in sloppy, uneven stitches, wincing at each graceless jab.


    No wonder her seams are so crooked, Beatrix thought. Beatrix was tempted to sit the girl down right there in the hallway, whip out her own needle and thread, and sew that rebellious hand back on herself.


    ¡°Sneaky little thing,¡± the girl said, stretching her reattached fingers. ¡°I¡¯m impressed you caught it! With your quick reflexes, you''d make a good fear squad member.¡±


    Autumn beamed with pride. Beatrix knew she wasn¡¯t used to getting compliments about her agility.


    ¡°What¡¯s a fear squad?¡± Autumn asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a team I joined last year as a freshman. We cheer and host pep rallies for the sports teams here. How strong are you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, not strong at all. Look at me,¡± Autumn said, wiggling her straw limbs. Her frame was a stark contrast to the green girl¡¯s study muscles. ¡°Even for a scarecrow, I¡¯m weak!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay! I¡¯m sure we can find a spot for you. I¡¯ve never met a scarecrow before! Are you one too?¡± the girl asked, turning her mismatched eyes to Beatrix.


    The question made Beatrix pause. Unlike that Grey guy, this girl didn¡¯t know she was a witch at first glance. I guess it¡¯s not obvious to everyone, Beatrix realized. She felt relieved. Maybe she could blend in here after all.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just Autumn¡¯s student aid,¡± Beatrix said, deciding to keep her true identity to herself for now.


    ¡°Frankie!¡± someone called.


    Beatrix saw a copper robot, a granite gargoyle, and a green plant monster waving at Frankie from across the hall.


    ¡°I better bolt,¡± Frankie said. ¡°Hope to see you at fearleading tryouts!¡±


    With a wave, Frankie journeyed over to her friends, who were glancing at Beatrix suspiciously.


    ¡°She was nice,¡± Autumn said brightly, oblivious to the group of ghouls.


    However, Beatrix kept an eye on them. The robot, gargoyle, and plant monster clustered around Frankie, whispering something to her.


    Suddenly, Frankie spun around to look back at Beatrix, her voice booming over the crowd. ¡°She¡¯s a witch?¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s heart dropped for the second time that day.


    Almost every monster in the hall halted in their tracks and followed Frankie¡¯s gaze to Beatrix. The flow of students parted around Beatrix and Autumn, leaving them standing alone in an empty spotlight. Murmurs rose from all sides, some curious, some confused, some displeased.


    Beatrix then became hyper-aware of the sharp talons and teeth around her. Her aunts¡¯ voices swirled inside her head: The students at your monster school will treat a witch as warmly as humans do¡­


    ¡°How does everyone already know about you?¡± Autumn whispered. "I thought you¡¯d stay under the radar for a few more days, at least.¡±


    Beatrix had no idea how Frankie¡¯s friends had figured out what she was so quickly. All this attention on her made Beatrix worry about how Autumn would suffer by extension. The last thing Beatrix wanted was for Autumn to become a social pariah because of her.


    ¡°You¡¯re the transfer student, right?¡±


    Beatrix turned to find two huge sea-green eyes peering at her, framed by a wild tangle of golden curls. The eyes belonged to a fish, or rather, a fish girl. Fins stuck out where human ears would be, and thin webs stretched between the fish girl¡¯s fingers as she clutched a turquoise binder.


    ¡°Oh, uh, I¡¯m not a transfer student. She is.¡± Beatrix pointed to Autumn.


    The fish girl smiled and shifted her attention to the scarecrow. ¡°You must be Autumn Patches.¡±


    Autumn blinked her button eyes in surprise. ¡°I thought Bea was the one everyone knew about. How do you know my name?¡±


    The fish girl tucked a lock of curly blonde hair behind a webbed ear. ¡°Bloodgood told me to look out for a new girl starting class today. Perks of being on the student council,¡± she said with a playful wink.


    Since the fish girl had approached them, the gawking students had dispersed. The hall was in motion again and the clamor of conversation was picking back up.


    ¡°Are you lost? You look lost,¡± the fish said.


    Autumn fumbled in her plaid skirt pocket and pulled out a class schedule. "Do you know where room 217 is?"


    ¡°Clawculus with Mr. Rotter? I don¡¯t know any sophomores taking Clawculus besides Ghoulia. You must be a smart cookie. It¡¯s right upstairs, c''mon,¡± the fish girl said warmly. ¡°Name¡¯s Lagoona, by the way. Lagoona Blue.¡±


    Beatrix couldn''t fathom why Lagoona was being so welcoming when other monsters were treating her like she had the plague. Still, she was relieved someone was being nice to them.


    Lagoona led Beatrix and Autumn through the crowd, her blonde curls bouncing ahead of them as they ascended a staircase to the second floor. Beatrix couldn¡¯t help but notice how much space other monsters gave them as they passed, feeling the weight of countless suspicious eyes on her.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°Here''s the brown slop. Here''s the green slop. Never mix the slop. Got it?¡±


    Beatrix grimaced at the food options in front of her. The slop didn¡¯t resemble anything edible. ¡°Loud and clear,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°Thanks for showing me the ropes, Marsha.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Now go fill the strawscarry containers.¡±


    Marsha, the gruff head lunch lady, had mossy fingers, reeked of ammonia, and made Beatrix¡¯s aunts look like beauty queens¡ªwhich was an impressive feat. However, Marsha didn¡¯t seem to have a mean-spirited bone in her body, and she¡¯d already taught Beatrix how to prepare spooketti, making her first shift at the creepateria productive so far.


    Food prep was proving to be much easier than brewing potions.


    ¡°One minute ¡®til the bell,¡± Marsha announced to the rest of the kitchen staff.


    As Beatrix dumped a bag of strawscarries into their designated tub, the lunch bell pierced the air, its shrill ring unleashing a stampede of ravenous students. In no time, the line was already out the door, an unruly mob of claws, fangs, and tails all jostling for a spot. The lunch ladies began piling dishes onto hundreds of trays.


    Meanwhile, a pack of werewolves wrestled in the middle of the creepateria, their fur standing on end as they playfully tackled each other. The largest of the pack, a hulking brown wolf in a casketball hoodie, had a small silver wolf trapped in a headlock.


    ¡°Give it up, Orion!¡± the other werewolves taunted, laughing and howling. ¡°You can''t beat Clawd!¡±


    Then, a hush fell over the rowdy pack as a newcomer entered the creepateria.


    Beatrix recognized that leather jacket and those pitch-black eyes right away ¡ª it was Grey, the tall boy who had easily known what she was when they met at Headmistress Bloodgood¡¯s office.


    As Grey strode past the wolves, Clawd nodded to him, and Grey nodded back before continuing on. An aura of authority radiated off of Grey that Beatrix couldn¡¯t quite explain. His broad-shoulders set him apart in the lunchroom, and everywhere he walked, students shifted to make way.


    Beatrix quickly averted her gaze. She didn¡¯t want his dark eyes peering at her soul again.


    ¡°''Trix, more spooketti!¡± Marsha hollered.


    Beatrix hurried to the serving counter with a bowl of noodles in hand, the sauce sloshing precariously as she rushed to replenish the rapidly dwindling supply.


    ¡°Oh. My. Ra!¡±


    An Egyptian girl, draped in gold wrappings, twisted her pretty face in disgust as she stared down at the sauce splattered on her designer top.


    ¡°Shoot! Sorry,¡± Beatrix said. She grabbed a napkin and reached out to dab the sauce away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! This top is priceless!¡± the girl sneered. She scanned Beatrix from head to toe. ¡°You must be that witch everyone¡¯s been talking about. What a surprise.¡±


    The venom in her words made Beatrix¡¯s blood boil.


    Marsha stepped in. ¡°Apologies, Miss Cleo. Why don¡¯t I help clean your shirt? ¡®Trix, back to work.¡±


    Beatrix did as she was told. She stomped over to the sinks and attacked the dirty lunch trays with a vengeance, scrubbing so furiously her knuckles went white. She hated being looked down on, and Cleo had looked repulsed by her.


    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see a Nicnevin again,¡± a shaky voice said.


    Beatrix looked up to see an old goblin lunch lady shuffling into view. The creature¡¯s back was stopped with age.


    ¡°A Nicnevin?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°Nicnevin. Magi. Enchantress. All the same,¡± the goblin croaked.


    Oh, she means ¡®witch.¡¯


    ¡°By the way everyone¡¯s been acting, witches are worse than cockroaches,¡± Beatrix said.


    The goblin¡¯s green claws quivered as she scrubbed trays alongside Beatrix. Her name tag read ¡°Greta.¡±


    ¡°Be glad it was Miss Cleo you spilled on and not a vampire,¡± Greta said. ¡°Trust me on that one.¡± The old goblin¡¯s words hung ominously in the air.


    Then Greta abruptly changed the subject. ¡°Let me show you the blood bags.¡±


    With a grunt of effort, the goblin shuffled over to the massive steel refrigerators that loomed against the far wall, pulling open the doors to reveal shelves upon shelves of crimson hospital bags.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of blood,¡± Beatrix murmured.


    ¡°Be careful handling these,¡± Greta cautioned. ¡°We don¡¯t get replenished often from suppliers. Every bag counts.¡± Greta gently grabbed a bag that was labeled differently than the others. It read: Veterinary use.


    ¡°For Draculaura, the ''vegetarian,¡¯¡± Greta explained. ¡°She only drinks animal blood, unlike the rest of them.¡± Every word sounded strained, like Greta had been a lunch lady for a few too many decades.


    With practiced movements, Greta showed Beatrix the proper way to prepare the bags for serving. Beatrix watched intently, committing every step to memory. When Greta was finished, she offered some parting words.


    ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± the goblin warned. ¡°And watch out for those blinded by their own purposes.¡±


    Beatrix was unsure of what the cryptic message meant. However, Greta didn¡¯t elaborate and shuffled away, her stooped form disappearing into the shadows of the kitchen.


    Left alone again, Beatrix turned her attention back to the blood bags, but a strange noise caught her attention.


    ¡°Psst.¡±


    Is that a damaged pipe?


    ¡°Pssssstt!¡±


    Beatrix glanced around. To her surprise, she spotted her scarecrow friend crouched beside the refrigerators.


    ¡°Autumn! What are you doing back here?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t find Lagoona! I don¡¯t know where to sit! It¡¯s terrifying out there.¡±


    Beatrix gave a quick scan of the kitchen to make sure no one had seen Autumn. Thankfully, the other lunch ladies were still absorbed in their duties.


    ¡°You can hang here, but stay hidden. I don¡¯t want to break any rules on my first day.¡±


    Autumn nodded eagerly and watched Beatrix resume her work with the blood bags. ¡°How are things? Better than the farm?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. I think I have a knack for food prep,¡± Beatrix said with a grin. ¡°How are your classes so far? Any injuries?¡±


    In response, Autumn pulled up the hem of her skirt. Bits of straw stuck out from a tear on her knee. ¡°I tripped over someone¡¯s tail during third period. I tried patching it up myself but the angle was tricky.¡±


    Beatrix peeled off her plastic gloves and fished her trusty needle from her pocket. She sewed up the knee as quickly as she could, finishing in record time.


    ¡°You¡¯re all anyone¡¯s been talking about in my classes,¡± Autumn said, sounding concerned. ¡°I don¡¯t get how everyone found out you were a witch so fast. Bloodgood didn''t tell anyone, did she?¡±


    Beatrix shook her head. ¡°Bloodgood told us to take things slow and let students get adjusted to me. It wouldn''t make sense for her to tell everyone on our first day.¡±


    Autumn¡¯s button eyes widened. ¡°Bea, I think I might know who started the rumor.¡±


    They shared a knowing look, on the same page.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the kitchen, sending Autumn ducking behind the fridges and Beatrix scrambling to look busy with the blood bags. But the person didn¡¯t spare a glance in their direction.


    Speak of the devil, Beatrix thought.


    Grey rushed through the kitchen, his hand clenched around the strange contraption at his belt, and left through the employee exit without a word.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Autumn whispered, poking her head out from her hiding spot.


    A distant rumble came from the creepateria; the sound of unsettled monster voices.


    Abandoning her post, Beatrix hurried over to Marsha. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    The lunch ladies all wore the same expression: brows furrowed, hands wringing together nervously.


    Marsha''s reply was hardly audible in the growing commotion. ¡°A student was found in the woods outside the school,¡± she said.


    It took Beatrix a second to process what Marsha meant. Then it clicked. Beatrix¡¯s blood turned to ice.


    Someone died?

 3. The Monster Sensitivity Seminar

    The pamphlet in Beatrix''s hand read, ¡°When the Undead Pass On: A Guide to Grieving and Healing¡± in a fancy gothic font. The cover displayed a picture of a sad, misty graveyard.


    This was a pretty bleak introduction to the Monster Sensitivity Seminar, or ¡°MSS,¡± as Bloodgood had called it.


    The seminar had been rescheduled multiple times and relocated to a new classroom in the west wing of campus because the original spot was deemed too close to the crime scene.


    On the north side of campus, just outside the iron fence that encircled the school, the security team was conducting an investigation in the woods. Yellow barricade tape closed off the area to keep curious students away.


    Ever since the first day of classes, when the shocking news had broken, a gloom had hung over Monster High. Remembrance photos of the deceased student were plastered everywhere in the halls, the botanical club had planted a garden in the dead student¡¯s memory, and a memorial service had taken place in the screamatorium.


    The student¡¯s name was Gilda Goldstag, a horned monster who was well-known around campus and loved to spend her free time reading classic literature in nature.


    But there was something about Gilda¡¯s untimely death that intrigued Beatrix: the cause of it.


    No one had publicly explained what had happened¡ªnot the school newspaper, not the teachers, not even Bloodgood. The adults on campus were oddly tight lipped on the subject.


    Regardless of how many times Beatrix asked the other lunch ladies about what they¡¯d heard, she stayed in the dark. Rumors were flying around, but it seemed like no one knew the truth for certain.


    Based on the snippets Beatrix had overhead while dishing out food in the creepateria, poor Gilda could have slipped on a rock and hit her head, or been stung by a bee and suffered a fatal allergic reaction out in the woods.


    But those theories didn¡¯t explain the sudden increase in Monster High security, with guards now stationed at every entrance to the school, or the new rule put in place forbidding students from leaving the grounds without written permission.


    Something more must have been discovered at the scene of Gilda¡¯s death, something more nefarious than just a slip or a bee sting. Beatrix could feel it in her bones.


    At the front of the classroom, Johannah, the seminar leader, uncapped a marker and began writing on a whiteboard. ¡°I know this is a tough time for all of us, so if any of you need someone to talk to, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. Here¡¯s my number,¡± Johannah said, jotting down her contact information.


    Johannah Carpenter was a senior student who ran MSS every Saturday for elective credit. Although she looked like an average human with mousy brown hair and plain features, the other MSS members secretly called her ¡°The Thing¡± behind her back. Beatrix hadn¡¯t figured out the reason for the nickname yet, but it sounded ominous.


    ¡°While we wait for Mr. Gore, let¡¯s go around and introduce ourselves,¡± Johannah said.


    A nervous-looking boy sitting in the back row went first. ¡°Uh, hi. M-my name is Jackson. I¡¯m a sophomore,¡± he stammered. The way Jackson fumbled with his headphones reminded Beatrix of how Autumn picked at her seams when she was stressed.


    ¡°And what monster type are you, Jackson?¡± Johannah asked.


    ¡°Half-normie, half-creature. Kinda,¡± Jackson answered vaguely, shifting in his seat.


    ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s give Jackson a warm welcome.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Jackson,¡± the group droned.


    ¡°Alright. Who¡¯s next?¡± Johannah asked, scanning the room.


    A small silver werewolf with a mane of ruffled fur and glinting green eyes sat in front of Jackson. It was the same scrappy werewolf Beatrix had seen roughhousing with Clawd in the creepateria the other week.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Orion,¡± the werewolf boy said. ¡°I¡¯m a freshman. Got bit by a werewolf last summer. It¡¯s been pretty painful. I¡¯ve got all this hair now and I still can¡¯t grow a beard.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Orion,¡± the group droned.


    Next up was a stout boy with a mop of curly hair and round glasses. He looked stuffy in his wool sweater vest, sweat beading on his upper lip. ¡°I¡¯m Guillermo. I''m a junior, and I¡¯m a familiar,¡± he said importantly, pushing his slipping glasses up the bridge of his nose.


    Beatrix¡¯s interest was piqued. The only kind of ¡°familiar¡± she knew about were the devil familiars that assisted witches. She wondered how Guillermo defined it.


    Orion let out a scoff, turning to sneer at Guillermo. ¡°That¡¯s not a monster type. You¡¯re just a normie. Even worse, a lame, co-dependent normie.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Guillermo protested.


    ¡°Must be hard being a normie who follows bloodsuckers around all day like a lost puppy, begging for their approval,¡± Orion taunted, flashing his sharp canines in a wicked grin.


    ¡°Boys, let¡¯s calm down,¡± Johannah tried to cut in.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be human for much longer, I¡¯ll have you know!¡± Guillermo insisted, a sheen of sweat now glistening across his forehead. ¡°My master promised to turn me into a vampire by the end of the year!¡±


    ¡°Ha! Good luck with that! We all know how well bloodsuckers keep their promises,¡± Orion roared with laughter.


    A guttural, inhuman growl came from Johannah¡¯s throat. ¡°Boys!¡±


    Johannah¡¯s face suddenly burst open with a sickening ripping sound, revealing layers of glistening flesh and a nightmarish mouth full of needle-sharp teeth.


    The entire group watched in horror as Johannah¡¯s gruesome face distorted.


    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Johannah said, her flayed face closing back up and knitting together in the blink of an eye.


    I guess her nickname makes sense now¡­ Beatrix thought.


    With Johannah¡¯s soft features back to normal, she nonchalantly pointed a finger at Beatrix. ¡°Your turn.¡±


    Before Beatrix could collect herself, the classroom door swung open. Beatrix expected it to be Mr. Gore, the teacher in charge of overseeing these weekend seminars, but she was dead wrong.


    ¡°What brings you here, Grey?¡± Johannah asked.


    Grey''s large frame encompassed the doorway, and his blacked-out eyes immediately landed on Beatrix.


    ¡°I got permission from Bloodgood to help run MSS,¡± he stated matter-of-factly, not breaking eye contact with Beatrix.


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s weird,¡± Johannah said. ¡°Bloodgood didn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    Grey pulled out a neatly folded piece of official stationery from his black denim jacket and handed it to Johannah. The Headmistress''s signature was clearly visible.


    After reading it over, Johannah said, ¡°Alright then, the more the merrier. We were just about to hear our last introduction.¡± She looked at Beatrix expectantly.


    Grey sat down in the vacant chair next to Johannah at the front of the room, leaning back and crossing his burly arms over his chest, like he was challenging Beatrix to speak.


    Somehow, Grey¡¯s presence managed to rattle Beatrix more than Johannah''s grotesque face ripping apart. Beatrix didn¡¯t scare easily, but something about him set her on edge.


    However, Beatrix was determined not to let it show. ¡°I''m Beatrix. I work here as a student aid for my friend and do some shifts in the creepateria. Oh, and I¡¯m a witch,¡± she said with cool indifference, as if discussing the weather.


    You could have heard a pin drop as Jackson, Orion, and Guillermo stared at her.


    ¡°Then¡­ where¡¯s your pointy hat and broomstick?¡± Orion blurted out.


    ¡°Since when were witches allowed at Monster High?¡± Guillermo asked suspiciously.


    ¡°Since Bloodgood gave this one special permission to work here,¡± Grey said, sounding less than thrilled.


    Beatrix crossed her arms defiantly, mirroring Grey¡¯s closed-off body language. She raised her chin and met his gaze head on. ¡°The headmistress said you needed a witch to serve you lunch slop, so here I am. Take it up with her.¡±


    The corners of Grey¡¯s lips twitched a bit, as if he was trying not to smirk at her boldness, but he went back to his usual cold expression in an instant.


    Beatrix thought back to the first day of school, when she¡¯d seen Grey rush out of the creepateria during lunch. She still hadn¡¯t pinned down what he¡¯d been up to that day, but she and Autumn were convinced that he was the one who¡¯d told everyone she was a witch.


    And now, as if the universe was playing a cruel joke, here he was leading the seminar she was required to attend all year. Beatrix gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Johannah began, clasping her hands together, ¡°Mr. Gore is running late, so let''s kick off today¡¯s session without him. Today, we¡¯re diving into the basics of monster transformations and how¡ª¡±


    ¡°Johannah,¡± Grey interrupted, ¡°we should tell them about how monsters die.¡±


    Johannah looked taken aback. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know, Grey. That seems a little heavy for our first meeting¡­ We should try to ease them into things.¡±


    ¡°A student was killed. It¡¯s the perfect time to talk about it,¡± Grey said bluntly.


    Beatrix felt her breath catch in her throat. Gilda was killed? She didn¡¯t know if Gilda''s cause of death was common knowledge yet. The faculty had never confirmed anything that sinister. So why did Grey sound so convinced?


    Beatrix glanced around the classroom, trying to gauge if anyone else was taken off guard by the news. However, the rest of the class didn¡¯t seem as shocked as she was, almost like they already suspected foul play.


    She then noticed Orion the werewolf narrowing his eyes at Guillermo, almost accusatory, and she didn¡¯t understand why.


    Beatrix could feel her frustration mounting by the second. She hated that she only knew what was happening at Monster High from what Autumn and the lunch ladies told her.


    Before the tense silence could stretch on for too long, Jackson spoke up, ¡°I was wondering how the whole concept of death worked in the monster world.¡±


    Jackson¡¯s curiosity was the only encouragement Grey needed to take the reins.


    Grey wiped the whiteboard clean, grabbed a black dry erase marker, and drew a thick line down the center of the board, dividing it into two sections.


    On the left side of the line, he wrote ¡°The Living¡± in bold letters. On the right, ¡°The Living Dead.¡±


    ¡°Alright, listen up. I¡¯m going to assume you guys already understand the basics of death for the Living,¡± Grey began.


    Jackson¡¯s hand shot up reflexively.


    ¡°No need for that. Just spit it out,¡± Grey said gruffly.


    ¡°Sorry, sir. Uh, I mean¡­¡± Jackson went red but continued, ¡°When a Living person dies, their soul moves on to the afterlife for judgment. At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve always heard.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re missing one thing,¡± Johannah said. ¡°Reapers. They¡¯re the ones who collect a Living person¡¯s soul and guide it to the afterlife. Right, Grey?¡±


    Grey seemed reluctant to dive into a discussion about Reapers. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Anyway, in the afterlife, souls get judged by a higher power and their fate is decided.¡±


    Grey paused, giving everyone a moment to absorb his words. Then he pointed to the other side of the board. ¡°But for the Living Dead, it¡¯s a different story. Think about ghosts, for example: they used to be mortal, but now they¡¯re stuck in limbo. Maybe a ghost thinks they have unfinished business here, maybe they managed to avoid a Reaper¡¯s scythe, or maybe they¡¯ve been cursed to stay put. Whatever it is, ghosts aren¡¯t following the usual ¡®life to afterlife¡¯ cycle.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Jackson looked up from the rigorous notes he was taking. ¡°So you¡¯re saying all monsters cheat death?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Grey said. ¡°Monsters have found a loophole, a way to cheat the system and avoid the whole afterlife thing. They¡¯re going against the laws of nature, clinging to a rare existence between life and afterlife by sticking around in an undead body or transforming into something else.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking like you don¡¯t consider yourself a monster too,¡± Beatrix said.


    Grey¡¯s black eyes flicked towards her.


    ¡°Grey¡¯s the son of the Grim Reaper,¡± Johannah explained. ¡°Reapers have a unique role in the monster world. They¡¯re a neutral party when it comes to the Living and the Living Dead.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re a Reaper, and monsters are cheating death, isn¡¯t it your job to¡­¡± Jackson trailed off.


    ¡°To send monsters to the afterlife?¡± Grey finished for him.


    Jackson gulped, nodding.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Grey said.


    ¡°There¡¯s different rules for Reapers when it comes to the Living Dead,¡± Johannah said. ¡°There¡¯s treaties, ancient agreements that stop Reapers from collecting monster souls whenever they want. Reapers have agreed to leave certain monster groups alone.¡±


    It was like Grey could read Beatrix¡¯s mind, because he followed up with, ¡°So with all these rules surrounding the Living Dead, you must be wondering how it¡¯s possible Gilda Goldstag died.¡±


    This is where Johannah took the reins back. ¡°We don¡¯t want to freak anyone out, but just because you¡¯re supernatural doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re invincible. Even though monsters aren¡¯t affected by natural causes of death, there¡¯s still plenty of stuff that can take you out: stakes to the heart, getting your head chopped off, being doused in holy water, getting set on fire, silver daggers, angry mobs with pitchforks and torches¡­¡±


    Beatrix had to bite her tongue to keep from cackling out loud. Johannah¡¯s list of things to avoid sounded beyond reasonable.


    ¡°One more thing," Grey said. "There¡¯s monsters here far older and stronger than you. Watch out for them too.¡±


    ¡°You mean monsters like you?¡± Beatrix asked. She couldn¡¯t resist the urge to needle him.


    Grey stared at her, his face unreadable.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused. Earlier, you said that Reapers are a neutral party. That makes it sound like you¡¯re not a true monster at all,¡± Beatrix challenged. ¡°It¡¯s interesting, witches aren¡¯t technically monsters either. I guess we have a lot in common.¡± Her pent up frustration at Grey was slipping out.


    ¡°I¡¯m a monster, but I¡¯m not only a monster,¡± Grey said, fists clenched at his sides. ¡°I¡¯m the Lord of Death.¡± He looked very self-important standing before Beatrix.


    It drove her batty.


    ¡°You mean your dad¡¯s the ¡®Lord of Death.¡¯ You¡¯re just a high schooler,¡± Beatrix shot back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take over my father¡¯s position eventually. You¡¯re splitting hairs.¡±


    Beatrix laughed. ¡°Oh, really? Well, as a witch, I¡¯ll eventually be an ally to devils in the underworld. So I guess you could call me a ¡®Lady of Hell.¡¯ Does that make me monster-enough for you?¡±


    ¡°¡®A Lady of Hell?¡¯ Funny. You¡¯ve never been a monster, and you never will be.¡±


    The rest of the class moved their heads side to side, following the verbal sparring match between Beatrix and Grey.


    ¡°Excuse me? You act like you¡¯re the expert on witches. What do you know?¡± Beatrix said.


    ¡°I know that witches are just glorified humans that stick their noses in places they don¡¯t belong,¡± Grey spat. ¡°And running errands for a devil doesn¡¯t make you a ¡®Lady.¡¯ It makes you a slave.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late, folks!¡±


    A balding middle-aged troll hurried in, panting and holding a binder of lesson plans. ¡°I had trouble finding the right classroom, hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting long.¡±


    Johannah breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Mr. Gore, glad you could make it. We were about to go over the basics of monster transformations.¡±


    Mr. Gore started lecturing as Grey cleared the white board and quietly took a seat.


    Throughout the entire mind-numbing hour, Beatrix¡¯s blood boiled. If Grey noticed her glaring at him, he didn¡¯t show it.


    Once the seminar finally came to a close and Mr. Gore dismissed them, Beatrix gathered up her things and made a beeline for the door. All she wanted was to put as much distance between herself and that infuriating reaper as possible.


    Beatrix was the first one out the door, speed-walking past the endless line of lockers in the winding hallway. She heard footsteps chasing after her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you talked to Grey like that!¡± Guillermo exclaimed, breathless as he caught up to Beatrix, with Orion and Jackson flanking her on either side.


    Beatrix tossed her raven hair over one shoulder, irritated. ¡°Who does Grey think he is, calling himself ¡®the Lord of Death''?¡±


    ¡°Grey¡¯s dad is a big deal,¡± Guillermo said. ¡°The Grim Reaper is the CEO of Death Co., the top soul-collecting company of the underworld. Rumor is, he¡¯s got God on speed dial.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? And how does a normie geek like you know so much about the Grim Reaper?¡± Orion mocked, his furry ears twitching as he sized Guillermo up.


    Guillermo pushed his glasses up with a huff. ¡°For your information, fleabag, I know everything about the upper echelons of monster society. To serve my master, I pride myself on acquiring a thorough knowledge of¡ª¡±


    Orion rolled his eyes. ¡°We get it, already. You¡¯re Draculaura¡¯s familiar. You can quit reminding us every five seconds.¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s mind flashed back to her first day working at the creepateria. She remembered Greta, the goblin lunch lady, carefully handling a special blood bag for Draculaura, labeled: ¡°Veterinary use.¡±


    That vegetarian vampire is Guillermo¡¯s ¡®master?¡¯ Beatrix wondered, putting two and two together.


    ¡°Hey, if the Grim Reaper is so powerful, how come Grey got suspended last year?¡± Orion asked.


    ¡°Well,¡± Guillermo started, ready to show off his knowledge, ¡°having a powerful dad is the reason why Grey only got suspended. Anyone else would¡¯ve been expelled.¡±


    ¡°What''d Grey do?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°I heard he got into a ton of fights,¡± Orion said. ¡°Put a bunch of kids in the infirmary. Even the toughest monsters are scared to mess with him now.¡±


    ¡°No, no no,¡± Guillermo argued, shaking his head vehemently. ¡°The vampires said he got suspended because he kept ditching class.¡±


    ¡°All I know is Grey scares me,¡± Jackson said. Jackson had been silent up until now, clutching the straps of his bulging backpack.


    Beatrix looked at the shy boy with new eyes. Clearly he¡¯d picked up on the same unsettling energy from Grey that she had.


    Jackson added, ¡°I just don¡¯t get why Grey volunteered to lead MSS this semester. He never cared about it last year.¡±


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t following. ¡°Hold up. Jackson, did you take MSS last year too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Bloodgood made me repeat the seminar.¡± Jackson didn¡¯t seem comfortable sharing why, so Beatrix didn¡¯t push for more.


    Beatrix then remembered she had somewhere to be and picked up her pace. ¡°See you guys next week!¡± she called over her shoulder.


    ¡°Where are you running off to?¡± Orion shouted after her.


    ¡°Fearleading tryouts!¡±


    ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t be a fearleader! They¡¯re so snooty!¡± the werewolf groaned, his snout wrinkling.


    At that, steam practically blew out of Guillermo¡¯s ears. ¡°How dare you! My master''s on the fearleading team and she''s the opposite of snooty! She¡¯s the epitome of grace¡ª¡±


    Beatrix tuned out their bickering and left them behind.


    She wasn¡¯t the one trying out for fearleading. Autumn was.


    Although Frankie had been shocked at first to learn about Beatrix''s witchy identity, she''d warmed up again and had been teaching Autumn fearleading choreography for days now, helping the scarecrow memorize a bunch of cheers backwards and forwards. According to Autumn, Frankie had been brought to life a year ago, which was why she was so good-natured about everything.


    At first, Beatrix had tried to talk Autumn out of trying out for the fearleading team. She was worried Autumn would end up torn and mangled from getting tossed around. But Autumn had insisted on going.


    When Beatrix walked into the gym, a group of ghouls formed a teetering pyramid in the center of the casketball court. And to Beatrix¡¯s horror, Autumn was perched right at the very top.


    ¡°Steady! Keep formation! No room for weakness!¡± Cleo¡¯s haughty voice ordered, her hands planted firmly on her hips. ¡°Your spot on this team depends on it!¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s heart was in her throat. Autumn needs to get down from there. She was about to yell it out, but it was too late.


    An orange werecat at the base of the pyramid wobbled under the combined weight of all the ghouls, and the pyramid collapsed in on itself like a flimsy house of cards, sending ghouls tumbling to the floor.


    In a flash, Beatrix was at Autumn¡¯s side, checking for any tears or straw sticking out of her friend. ¡°Autumn! You okay? Did you rip anything?¡±


    Autumn sat up and patted Beatrix¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°What is the witch doing here?¡± Cleo sneered, looking down at Beatrix like she was something she¡¯s scraped off the bottom of her sandal.


    ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Beatrix snapped. ¡°Autumn''s fragile!¡± Beatrix cringed at her choice of words. Referring to Autumn as ¡°fragile¡± made her sound like her aunts.


    Cleo raised an eyebrow. ¡°What am I, her mummy? She wanted to be at the top. And watch how you speak to me, sorceress.¡±


    Before Beatrix could react, Autumn said, ¡°Cleo¡¯s right, Bea. I volunteered!¡±


    ¡°Why? I told you to be careful!¡± Beatrix scolded.


    ¡°I wanted to¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Autumn twisted her fingers together anxiously.


    ¡°Autumn, if you¡¯re going to be so high maintenance, you won¡¯t be a good fit for this squad,¡± Cleo said.


    ¡°Told you I shoulda been up top,¡± the orange werecat who messed up the pyramid grumbled.


    Autumn was begging now. ¡°Please, Cleo, this was a one time thing! Bea was just surprised! I¡¯m fine!¡±


    The reality of the situation hit Beatrix. She was making Autumn look bad.


    Beatrix then realized that the entire group of ghouls attending tryouts were glaring at her venomously.


    Thankfully, someone else spoke up.


    ¡°Oh, can it already, de Nile. Let the scarecrow join. She¡¯ll be a good flyer, she¡¯s literally weightless,¡± a werewolf girl said.


    ¡°Clawdeen, stay out of it,¡± Cleo snapped.


    ¡°But Clawdeen¡¯s right, Cleo!¡± Frankie jumped in. ¡°Autumn is killing it!¡±


    Cleo paused, looking like she might double down, but after a moment, the mummy exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll show mercy.¡±


    Frankie cheered with joy, clapping her green hands together with a zap of electricity, and Autumn had a stitched smile stretching from ear to ear.


    Beatrix was relieved she hadn¡¯t jeopardized Autumn¡¯s chances of making the squad.


    ¡°Back in formation, people!¡± Cleo ordered.


    Since Beatrix didn¡¯t want to stir up any more trouble, she wandered over to the rickety metal bleachers, plopping down to watch from afar as Cleo bossed everyone around with a new fearleading routine.


    The werewolf girl strolled over and joined Beatrix. ¡°Ignore Cleo. She¡¯s a real piece of work.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it," Beatrix groaned. "Thanks for stepping in back there." Beatrix meant it. Clawdeen seemed to be one of the only ghouls in the gym who wasn¡¯t interested in being openly hostile to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Clawdeen pointed a manicured claw past Beatrix¡¯s head, to the corner of the gym. ¡°By the way, are those guys with you?¡±


    Beatrix followed Clawdeen¡¯s gaze and saw Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson huddling together, gawking at the fearleaders like they¡¯d never seen female monsters before.


    ¡°Kinda,¡± Beatrix said, noticing how out of place the trio looked. ¡°I¡¯m taking the Monster Sensitivity Seminar with them.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, I¡¯ve been dying to know ¡ª how are you liking MSS so far?¡± a high pitched voice said right next to Beatrix¡¯s ear.


    Beatrix spun around, finding herself face to face with a pink-skinned vampire sitting behind her on the bleachers. The vampire had appeared out of thin air.


    Guillermo had mentioned his ¡°master¡± was on the fearleading team. This had to be Draculaura.


    ¡°MSS has been¡­ interesting,¡± Beatrix replied, remembering her heated argument with Grey.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just so excited to finally meet the witch on campus!¡± Draculaura squealed, violet eyes scanning Beatrix¡¯s face with curiosity. ¡°I¡¯ve been around for over a thousand years and haven¡¯t met someone like you before. Can you believe it? Well, there¡¯s a first time for everything! If you ever need anything, anything at all, please let me know and I¡¯ll send Guillermo to help! He¡¯s my best familiar yet.¡±


    "Wow, uh, thank you,¡± Beatrix said, overwhelmed by Draculaura¡¯s peppiness. But then a question sprung into her mind. ¡°Oh yeah, I was wondering, what exactly is a ¡®familiar¡¯ to vampires? Is Guillermo, like, your servant or something?¡± she asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s more like my personal assistant. He helps me manage my social calendar," Draculaura explained.


    ¡°Oh, gotcha,¡± Beatrix said. A bit different than a devil familiar then. ¡°Guillermo said you''re gonna turn him into a vampire someday. Is that true?¡±


    Draculaura stifled a giggle. ¡°Maybe one day, but probably not. My dad would never approve. But don¡¯t tell Guillermo, it¡¯ll break his sweet normie heart."


    Beatrix felt a pang of sympathy for Guillermo. It sounded like Orion had been spot on when he¡¯d said vampires didn¡¯t keep their promises.


    Beatrix refocused her attention on the gym floor below, where Autumn was practicing cheer moves with pink pom poms, her straw braids bouncing with every jump.


    ¡°Your friend¡¯s got potential,¡± Clawdeen remarked as Autumn attempted a high kick. ¡°I¡¯m glad Frankie recruited her. We really need fresh blood on the squad¡­ you know, to fill Gilda¡¯s shoes.¡±


    ¡°The ghoul that died?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Clawdeen softly confirmed, her golden eyes distant. ¡°She was one of us.¡± There was a moment of silence. Clawdeen was lost in thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Losing a teammate must¡¯ve been¡­¡± Beatrix didn¡¯t know what to say, feeling awkward.


    Draculaura gave Beatrix a small smile to put her at ease. ¡°Thank you, Beatrix. You¡¯d think we¡¯d be accustomed to morbid stuff like this, being undead and all. What¡¯s really upsetting is how the school¡¯s handling the situation.¡±


    Clawdeen¡¯s fur bristled. "They ain¡¯t handling it at all. They¡¯re just sweeping it under the rug like nothing happened!"


    Beatrix hesitated, recalling what Grey had mentioned about Gilda''s death, and tried to choose her next words carefully. ¡°Did the school ever find out what happened to her?¡±


    Clawdeen and Draculaura glanced at each other. A silent conversation seemed to pass between them in that moment.


    Beatrix backpedaled. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to pry.¡±


    But Clawdeen stopped her, sounding calmer now. "Let''s just say me and ¡®laura have our own theories about what went down. And we¡¯re not happy with how the school¡¯s turning a blind eye.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been telling Bloodgood for ages that things would only get worse if they didn¡¯t take action¡­¡± Draculaura muttered, her violet eyes turning cold.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Beatrix said.


    Clawdeen looked around the gymnasium, making sure no one was eavesdropping, before leaning in close to Beatrix, her volume lowering. ¡°Listen, it ain¡¯t a secret that things can get sketchy here after the sun goes down. Some monsters get a little too comfortable. And since the administration doesn''t seem interested in figuring out what happened to Gilda¡ª¡±


    ¡°You need to be careful,¡± Draculaura finished for her, firm. ¡°Don¡¯t go wandering around campus alone at night if you can help it.¡± She paused, a haunted look passing over her pink features. ¡°The truth is, not everyone plays by the rules here.¡±


    A shrill whistle pierced the air, making the ghouls jump. It was Cleo.


    Clawdeen sighed. "Duty calls. We gotta go before Cleo has a royal fit." She looked back at Beatrix one last time. "Just watch your back, okay? And if you notice anything weird, let us know."


    The werewolf jogged off to join the rest of the fearleading squad, with Draculaura following close behind. Beatrix watched them go, her mind reeling from their conversation. Between their words and Grey''s earlier, one thing was abundantly clear ¡ª there was more to worry about at Monster High than simply not fitting in, something the monsters here didn¡¯t want to talk about out loud.


    As Beatrix sat alone on the bleachers, the once lively gym suddenly felt threatening, the fluorescent lights harsh overhead.


    There was something seriously wrong at this school.

 4. Ghastly Guidance

    Beatrix sat on a large rock jutting out over the dark surface of the Black Lagoon on the east side of campus.


    Monster High itself was hidden on a secluded mountainside near a normie city called New Salem, and this corner of the school provided a peaceful spot for Beatrix to wait for Autumn to finish her last class that afternoon.


    With Beatrix¡¯s lunch duties done for the day, she flipped through the well-worn pages of a cookbook she¡¯d borrowed from the school library.


    However, Beatrix was only half focused on the recipes for delicacies like Swamp Ooze Stew and Bat Wing Crumble. Her mind kept wandering to the stack of letters stuffed into her crossbody satchel ¡ª letters her aunts had sent over the past month, urging Beatrix to leave Monster High and return home, insisting that her ¡°rebellious trip to Oregon¡± had dragged on long enough.


    Despite her aunts¡¯ nagging, Beatrix wasn¡¯t planning on leaving Monster High anytime soon. Sure, a month ago, Clawdeen and Draculaura had warned her about weird things going down at the school after dark. But after the Gilda incident, nothing else had happened.


    In fact, the entire situation surrounding Gilda was bizarre ¡ª her memorial photos had disappeared from the walls, her locker stood empty, and her cause of death was still unknown. Nobody even talked about her anymore. It was like she''d never even set foot in Monster High.


    Beatrix and Autumn had hashed it out for hours, and yes, the whole thing gave them the heebie-jeebies, but they ultimately decided to stay put. Because what were Beatrix¡¯s other options? If she returned home, she¡¯d be forced to sign her soul away to some devil. And Autumn couldn¡¯t stop raving about how much she loved her classes ¡ª she was finally feeling academically challenged, something she¡¯d been craving since she was little.


    That¡¯s why staying at Monster High seemed to be the lesser of two evils, no matter how weird the Gilda situation was or how many nasty looks Beatrix got for being a witch.


    Plus, working in the creepateria had given Beatrix a sense of purpose she¡¯d never felt before. Whipping up grub had quickly become a passion for her, and she was hell-bent on making the perfect Key Slime Pie. She felt like she was finally discovering her true calling. Maybe her witchy blood ran deeper than she thought; she excelled at concocting things.


    Beatrix looked up from the cookbook in her lap and out over the Black Lagoon. Its black waters lapped against the shore, just a stone¡¯s throw from the iron fence that ran around the school''s perimeter. The fence, tall and topped with sharp spikes, separated the school grounds from a dense forest of fir and pine trees.


    Beyond the spiked fence, the forest was wild and foreboding. Gnarled, mossy tree branches reached out like claws in the sky. All kinds of monsters could creep around in there and nobody would even know, Beatrix thought.


    Beatrix tried to picture what Gilda Goldstag¡¯s final moments must¡¯ve been like out in those woods. What had the doomed girl been up to? What or who did she run into past the fence? Beatrix shuddered and tore her gaze away from the treeline.


    The Black Lagoon looked as sketchy as the woods, if you asked Beatrix. Its murky waters completely obscured its depths.


    Suddenly, right next to the rock Beatrix was sitting on, a pair of white orbs popped up out of the dark water.


    Beatrix leaned forward and squinted at the orbs, unsure of what she was looking at.


    The orbs blinked.


    Beatrix jolted upright. She was looking at two eyes. Two big, sea-green eyes.


    The next thing she knew, a beautiful blonde fish girl sprung out of the water.


    ¡°Lagoona!¡± Beatrix exclaimed as the fish pulled herself up onto the rock beside her in a cascade of dripping water.


    Lagoona wrung out her curly hair. ¡°Hi, mate! Whatcha doing out here?¡±


    ¡°Killing time ¡®til Autumn gets out of Biteology. What about you? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in class too?¡±


    ¡°I was, but I got dismissed early to set up the homecoming assembly with the rest of the student council,¡± Lagoona explained. ¡°But we finished way quicker than we expected ¡ª faster than a barracuda chasing its lunch ¡ª so I reckoned I¡¯d skip out on the rest of class and get a swim in.¡±


    ¡°A student council rebel. How scandalous,¡± Beatrix poked fun.


    Beatrix had learned that Lagoona was the sophomore class rep, which meant she was in charge of organizing school events. And with homecoming fever sweeping Monster High, today''s assembly was supposed to get everyone hyped to buy tickets for the upcoming game and dance.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gotta head to the screamatorium soon too,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°Autumn¡¯s doing a cheer routine during the assembly and I have to watch for injuries.¡± Beatrix then confided, ¡°Too bad hanging around the fearleaders is such a pain. If I have to listen to Cleo complain about witches one more time¡­¡±


    Lagoona gave Beatrix a sympathetic shoulder pat. ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. Cleo had a complicated home life, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Beatrix tilted her head. What does Cleo¡¯s home life have to do with her hating witches?


    Lagoona switched gears. ¡°So, tell me, have you met Levi yet?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Beatrix asked, setting her cookbook aside and dipping her bare feet into the cool water.


    ¡°Levi! My buddy who lives at the bottom of the lagoon.¡±


    Beatrix pulled her feet back out of the water. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s a total sweetheart, just a little shy. Lake dwellers get a bad rap.¡±


    While Lagoona gushed about Levi and how much she loved underwater critters, a person caught Beatrix¡¯s eye. Someone was booking it along the other side of the Black Lagoon, headed straight for the fence that separated the Monster High campus from the forest.


    ¡°Is that Grey?¡± Beatrix asked, interrupting Lagoona¡¯s chatter. ¡°What¡¯s he doing out here during school hours?¡±


    Lagoona shrugged, unconcerned. ¡°Probably ditching class. I think he likes to meditate by the woods,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s probably best to give him some space.¡±


    ¡°Wow, even you have to walk on eggshells around him,¡± Beatrix huffed. She couldn''t stop thinking about all the messed up things Grey had said to her during their first MSS meeting. The more she thought about it, the more pissed off she got.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re not exactly Grey¡¯s biggest fan,¡± Lagoona said with a small smile.


    ¡°He started it! He¡¯s had it out for me since my first day. Him and Cleo would get along great.¡±


    Lagoona smiled again. She didn¡¯t seem interested in getting involved in Beatrix¡¯s drama.


    Beatrix tried to keep her cool and move on, but that lasted a total of two seconds.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. I''m over this,¡± Beatrix announced. She jammed her feet into her black boots, stuffed her cookbook in her satchel, and slung her bag over her shoulder.


    ¡°Not sure what you¡¯re getting at, mate,¡± Lagoona said, looking a little worried.


    But Beatrix was already storming off. ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in later. See you at the assembly!¡± she yelled back.


    Rocks crunched under Beatrix¡¯s boots as she reached the other side of the lagoon. She lightly stepped towards the school perimeter, away from the lagoon¡¯s rocky shore and onto the soft grass, keeping some distance between her and Grey¡¯s back. Grey was still a little ways ahead, getting very close to the edge of the school grounds. He walked with that laser-sharp focus he always seemed to have.


    Beatrix thought about calling out to Grey, demanding to know what he was doing. He was getting precariously close to the woods, which was against school rules. However, she wanted to figure out if he really was out there to meditate.


    Beatrix spotted a wooden shed nestled between two huge pine trees. She watched as Grey disappeared behind it, then quietly approached, peeking around the corner.


    Grey was standing there, waiting.


    ¡°Need something?¡± he asked.


    Beatrix¡¯s face went hot.


    Grey almost looked ready for a fight, his hand resting on that contraption he always had at his hip, the collapsible staff thing that Beatrix was pretty sure had to be a weapon.


    To make things even worse, Beatrix had found out Grey got suspended last year, he was three times Beatrix¡¯s size, and the only other monster around was Lagoona¡ªwho was now far out of earshot on the other side of the lagoon.


    I¡¯m an idiot, Beatrix thought.


    The only thing she could think to do was deescalate the situation. So, Beatrix stuck out her hand and said, ¡°Truce?¡±


    Grey stared at Beatrix with eyes that pierced her soul, waiting for her to continue.


    ¡°I wanted to apologize for picking a fight with you in front of everyone,¡± she said.


    Grey¡¯s posture loosened up a bit and his icy expression thawed. ¡°Oh yeah?¡±


    Beatrix shoved down her pride. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being disagreeable during MSS.¡±


    Grey didn¡¯t respond.


    Beatrix felt her temper flare up again. ¡°Hey, you owe me an apology too,¡± she said.


    ¡°Is that why you''re stalking me? To make me own up to something?¡± Grey asked, letting go of his collapsed staff, looking amused.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think you have anything to apologize for?¡± Beatrix snapped, then caught herself. ¡°Okay, fine. I can¡¯t force you to say sorry.¡± She turned on her heel to leave.


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re making my life difficult,¡± Grey said.


    Beatrix faced him again. ¡°Why do you hate me so much?¡±


    ¡°I don''t hate you," he said. "I don''t even know you."


    ¡°Then why¡¯d you tell everyone about me?¡± she asked. ¡°The whole school knew I was a witch in, like, a day.¡±


    Grey leaned against the wood wall of the shed and ran a hand over his face in exasperation. ¡°I only told a couple of my friends. Gossip did the rest. I didn''t mean for it to spread like that."


    "Wow, I guess I should be thanking you then," Beatrix sarcastically said.


    Grey scowled. ¡°You shouldn''t be here. There¡¯s a reason why witchcraft isn''t allowed at this school.¡±


    ¡°Please, enlighten me,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen monsters that could squash me under their feet without breaking a sweat, so why in the hells are witches banned?¡±


    Grey pushed off the shed wall, taking a step towards her. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand what your kind is capable of,¡± Grey said, dead serious.


    Beatrix crossed her arms. ¡°You said witches are just ¡®glorified humans¡¯ during MSS. So which is it? Am I an all-powerful sorceress or just a lame normie?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have come down so hard on you during the seminar,¡± Grey said, almost gently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dodge the¡ª¡± Beatrix blinked, registering what he¡¯d just said, caught off guard. ¡°Oh. Um, it¡¯s okay...¡±


    The tension between them eased up, like a stretched rubber band going slack.


    ¡°Magic-users have always been a threat to monsters,¡± Grey explained. He took another step closer, afternoon sunlight glinting off a small glass pendant that hung at the end of his chain necklace. ¡°Remember when I said monsters cheat death? Most of the time, they don¡¯t cheat death on their own.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Do monsters avoid the afterlife with someone else''s help?¡±


    Instead of answering, Grey asked another question. ¡°How are zombies created?¡±


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t prepared for a pop quiz. ¡°By¡­ getting bitten by other zombies?¡±


    ¡°The first zombies were originally created with black magic,¡± Grey corrected.


    Before Beatrix was born, she¡¯d heard that Aunt Cordelia once tried to raise the dead with a necromancy spell. Apparently, it wasn¡¯t a pretty sight.


    Grey was right. Creating zombies was an act of witchcraft.


    ¡°Okay, but witches didn¡¯t create every kind of monster!¡± Beatrix protested.


    ¡°No, but they create a lot of them,¡± Grey said. ¡°The powers demons give witches are unmatched.¡±


    There was an obvious example that proved Grey correct: Autumn. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Aunt Clarice had brought Autumn to life by stuffing a mannequin full of hay and sprinkling some shimmering powder on Autumn¡¯s inanimate body.


    ¡°Witches have always been the main ones responsible for the Living Dead,¡± Grey went on. ¡°People even think vampires were created by an ancient warlock.¡±


    ¡°Hold up. Why do you think witches are a threat to monsters, again?¡± Beatrix questioned. ¡°I mean, we¡¯re the ones who create them.¡±


    Grey let out a harsh, joyless laugh. ¡°Trust me, not every monster is thrilled about the whole cheating death thing.¡±


    Beatrix hadn¡¯t considered that possibility, that some monsters might resent their existence.


    Grey continued, ¡°Witches force this ¡®life¡¯ on most monsters. And even for the monsters that don¡¯t mind their curses, or learn to make peace with it, witches are still a threat. Reapers like me have to follow a bunch of agreements and treaties ¡ª we can¡¯t just go around collecting monster souls whenever we want. But witches? You only answer to your devil masters, so you can snatch supernatural life away whenever you feel like it. One witch could wipe out an entire monster species. Your kind isn¡¯t part of monster society because you refuse to live peacefully with them.¡±


    ¡°I would never do something like that! My best friend is a scarecrow for corn¡¯s sake,¡± Beatrix started. Yet, as the words escaped her lips, she thought of every other witch she¡¯d come across, and how the scarecrows back home lived in constant fear of Aunt Clarice disposing of them.


    ¡°Fine, maybe you have a point,¡± Beatrix admitted, then joked, ¡°I didn¡¯t take you to be such a brave knight, protecting monsterkind from wicked witches.¡±


    ¡°Someone has to,¡± Grey said. ¡°Your kind is unpredictable. And with everything else going on here, the last thing I want to do is keep an eye on a witch all day.¡±


    There it was again, someone hinting that something shady was happening at the school.


    Beatrix also picked up on the second part of Grey¡¯s loaded comment.


    ¡°... You joined MSS to keep an eye on me? That¡¯s weird,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°A student just died and you¡¯re worried about me? Your priorities are out of whack.¡±


    Grey just frowned. For a second, he looked like he wanted to say something, but he stayed quiet.


    ¡°Look, thanks for telling me about all this,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m harmless. And I¡¯m definitely not a threat to you or any monsters here.¡±


    Grey¡¯s frown turned into a smirk. ¡°Oh really?¡±


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t used to seeing him show playful expressions. It was a refreshing change.


    ¡°Sadly, yes,¡± Beatrix said, matching his teasing tone. ¡°I¡¯m a pathetic excuse for a witch, so you can relax. I¡¯ll swear I won¡¯t wreak havoc on Monster High.¡±


    Just then, the distant clang of the bell rang out across the grounds. Classes were over for the day.


    Beatrix suddenly became very aware of the fact that she was standing behind a secluded gardening shed with arguably the most intimidating manster in school.


    Beatrix cleared her throat. ¡°So¡­ what are you doing out here anyway?¡± she asked him.


    Grey stiffened. ¡°None of your business,¡± he said brusquely, the rough edge back in his voice.


    Beatrix rolled her eyes. No wonder he has a scary reputation.


    ¡°You should head back,¡± Grey told her, turning away.


    ¡°What? You¡¯re not gonna escort me to the homecoming assembly? Don''t you need to keep an eye on the evil witch?¡± Beatrix teased.


    Grey didn¡¯t look back as he walked away along the perimeter fence. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re ¡®harmless,¡¯¡± he said. ¡°Try not to wreak any havoc. I¡¯ll be the first to know.¡±


    Beatrix watched Grey go, still curious about what had brought him out to this remote part of campus to wander the outskirts alone. But the growing clamor of voices and slamming lockers coming from the main school buildings reminded Beatrix she had more important matters to take care of. She had to meet Autumn in the screamatorium before the homecoming assembly kicked off.


    "Bye, ''Lord of Death!''" Beatrix shouted at Grey.


    ¡°Bye, witch girl.¡±


    Beatrix hoisted her bag higher on her shoulder and hurried to go meet Autumn.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°Who''s ready to get their school spirit on?¡± Cleo¡¯s amplified voice blasted through a megaphone.


    A deafening roar shook the screamatorium in response.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, ghouls!¡± Cleo ordered, and the fearleading squad took their positions on stage.


    Beatrix spotted Autumn near the center of the formation, standing between Clawdeen and Frankie. Autumn wore a pink and black uniform, pom poms at the ready.


    Music exploded from the speakers flanking the stage, so loud Beatrix could feel the bass thumping in her bones. Strobing lights pulsed in time with the heavy beats, painting the screamatorium in dizzying bursts of color. On stage, the fearleaders moved as one, each motion perfectly synchronized to the rhythm.


    Watching the spectacle from her place backstage, Beatrix shook her head in disbelief, shocked that all this was needed to promote Monster High¡¯s homecoming events. "Holy hells," she guffawed. "What is this, a rave?"


    A purple-skinned girl with a mask covering the right half of her face swiveled to face Beatrix. ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Beatrix noticed a name tag pinned to the girl''s shirt. It read: Operetta. Stagehand.


    ¡°I said, this is insane!¡± Beatrix yelled to be heard over the ear-splitting music.


    ¡°Darn right it is! Cleo doesn¡¯t mess around. She knows how to get a crowd going!¡± Operetta yelled back in a Southern drawl.


    Peering out from behind the heavy velvet curtains, Beatrix watched the crowd of Monster High students packing the audience. They jumped and howled along with Cleo''s chants, a writhing mass of fangs and horns and scales. One hulking figure in particular caught Beatrix¡¯s attention ¡ª a minotaur who was getting extra rowdy, his beefy arms flailing wildly as he bellowed and roughhoused with his buddies in the cheering crowd. He recklessly swung his massive head, and the curved points of his horns glinted dangerously.


    ¡°Gosh darn it, Manny,¡± Operetta sighed. She then asked Beatrix, "Be a dear and cover your ears for a sec, would you?"


    Beatrix did as she was told, pressing her palms over her ears.


    Once she''d done so, Operetta leaned forward ever so slightly and Beatrix saw her lips move, like she was singing some sort of melody under her breath.


    Beatrix looked out at the audience, at the minotaur again. Just as Manny was about to knock into someone, he went slack-jawed. His eyes glazed over, arms falling limply to his sides. As if in a trance, he sank heavily into his seat, suddenly docile as a lamb.


    Beatrix felt a tap on her shoulder. Operetta was motioning for Beatrix to take her hands off her ears.


    ¡°Did you do that?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°What? Calm that silly ol¡¯ minotaur down? Yep, I sure did,¡± Operetta gloated, looking pleased with herself.


    Beatrix gaped at her. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! How¡¯d you do it?¡±


    Cleo¡¯s voice boomed on stage. ¡°I wanna hear you scream, Monster High!¡±


    Beatrix strained to hear Operetta¡¯s reply over the chaos.


    ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°I said, sang to him!¡± Operetta repeated, a wild grin spreading across her face.


    ¡°Is it, like, mind control?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°Sorta,¡± Operetta said with a shrug. ¡°I was born with the gift¡ªit¡¯s from my daddy¡¯s side of the family. He was one heck of a hypnotist back in the day.¡±


    ¡°What a cool gift,¡± Beatrix complimented.


    Since coming to Monster High, Beatrix had seen students soar above the clouds, control all kinds of plant-life with a flick of their fingers, and slip in and out of rooms as smoothly as shadows. Needless to say, Beatrix was amazed by the monster abilities around her.


    But Beatrix still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around how singing could do anything, much less make a minotaur do Operetta¡¯s bidding. It seemed too powerful to be real.


    ¡°Bea! Did you see me?¡± Autumn squealed. She and the other fearleaders were jogging off the stage, catching their breath.


    ¡°You did great!¡± Beatrix said. She didn¡¯t want Autumn to know she¡¯d been distracted by Operetta for part of the performance.


    Beatrix noticed a seam coming loose at Autumn¡¯s shoulder. Bits of straw poked out, so Beatrix began to tighten the stitching for her.


    As soon as Beatrix finished, Frankie rushed over and clobbered the scarecrow in a hug, lifting Autumn off her feet. ¡°You were amazing!¡± she exclaimed.


    Clawdeen and Draculaura joined in and gushed about how well Autumn had kept up with the rest of the team, and Draculaura had to stand on her tiptoes to throw her arms around Autumn''s neck because she was so short. Even Cleo gave the scarecrow an approving nod before turning to address her squad.


    Beatrix stepped to the side and watched Autumn excitedly chat with the girls from the sidelines. Beatrix thought back to their fearleading routine. Each of their monster abilities had been shown off in such a flashy way: Draculaura had been so light on her feet she looked like she was floating across the stage. Frankie was so strong she could lift two of her teammates over her head at once. Clawdeen was so agile she¡¯d been able to scale the pyramid of fearleaders in a single leap.


    Beatrix was even amazed by Toralei, the orange werecat who didn¡¯t seem to like Autumn much. The werecat was far more flexible than any normie gymnast.


    As Beatrix had watched the ghouls embracing their unique abilities openly, using them to their advantage, a sharp pang of jealousy rose up within her. She felt like she paled in comparison to them.


    Autumn softly squeezed Beatrix¡¯s hand. ¡°Everyone¡¯s going to the Coffin Bean after this. You coming?¡±


    Beatrix suppressed the ugly feelings that had just reared their ugly head, put on a happy face, and agreed to go.


    Autumn smiled, too caught up in her post-performance high to notice anything wrong. ¡°Great! I¡¯m gonna go get changed real quick. Be right back.¡± She jogged off with the other fearleaders and left the backstage area.


    Beatrix heard the next assembly performance begin and the crowd chanting, ¡°Heath! Heath! Heath!¡± On stage, a boy with flaming hair juggled dozens of fireballs. Beatrix felt very small and out of place amid all the noise.


    Operetta had disappeared, so Beatrix could only wait for Autumn. She twiddled her thumbs and watched the other stagehands rushing back and forth.


    I might always be the odd witch out at this school, Beatrix thought, bitterness bubbling up in her again. She hoped Autumn would come back soon. She didn¡¯t want to be left alone with her thoughts for too long. But the minutes dragged on with no sign of the scarecrow.


    Then, Beatrix heard a whisper in her head from a voice that wasn¡¯t hers.


    Something bothering you? it said.


    Not at all, Beatrix instinctually denied.


    Why the long face, then? Jealous? the voice echoed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not jealous!¡± Beatrix blurted out.


    A merman in a wheelchair stopped as he passed by Beatrix, confused if she was talking to him or not.


    Beatrix sheepishly smiled and pretended like she hadn''t just shouted out of nowhere.


    The merman arched an eyebrow but wheeled on.


    ¡°Hells, that was embarrassing,¡± Beatrix said to herself. She shook her head, wanting to free herself from the prying voice, when suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.


    Beatrix glanced up just in time to see a spirit pass through the wall in front of her: a skinny teenage girl with long violet hair that almost reached her ankles as she hovered a foot off the ground. She had an iron ball and chain shackled to her ankle, but it didn¡¯t seem to weigh her down at all as she drifted through the air.


    The spirit¡¯s voice rang in her head again. It¡¯s okay to be jealous, you know. Who could blame you? You¡¯re the only witch at a school full of monsters, forbidden from embracing your true potential. It can¡¯t be fun watching monsters flaunt their supernatural gifts all day.


    The spirit was spot on. Feeling so powerless sucked. Still, Beatrix didn¡¯t like how easily this spirit could worm itself inside her mind.


    ¡°Hey, can you get out of my head, please?¡± Beatrix asked.


    The spirit floated to her side and said aloud, ¡°Sorry. You just seemed so troubled. I thought perhaps you could use a friend. And some advice.¡±


    ¡°Advice?¡±


    The spirit nodded, violet hair rippling around her. ¡°To help you fit in here,¡± she said. ¡°I know how it feels. To be on the outside looking in. I''ve spent countless years drifting through these school halls alone, never at rest.¡±


    Beatrix felt a little bad for her. ¡°I guess it is kinda hard sometimes,¡± Beatrix admitted. ¡°I can tell other students look down on me.¡±


    ¡°I understand completely,¡± the spirit said in a hushed tone. ¡°But what if I told you there was a way to even the playing field? A way for you to get a taste of the power your monster peers wield so easily?¡±


    Beatrix frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to learn how to replicate monster powers through the dark arts?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m not allowed to do any witchcraft here,¡± Beatrix said, defenses up. Is this girl trying to get me in trouble?


    ¡°Pity,¡± the spirit said, floating away. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bother you, I was simply curious. I¡¯ve heard whispers¡­ rumors that a sorceress can recreate monster abilities very easily.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I wish. Witchcraft is usually a hassle,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°Monsters are in a class of their own. I mean, I just met a girl who can literally hypnotize people with her singing. I¡¯ve never heard of a spell that could pull off anything like that!¡±


    ¡°I see. So traditional witchcraft really is as limited as people say." The spirit began to drift into the shadows that cloaked the far reaches of the backstage area, her translucent form growing fainter as she traveled further from the stage lights.


    Beatrix followed. ¡°Hey! Wait up! What do you mean ¡®traditional¡¯ witchcraft?¡± she asked. ¡°There¡¯s only one way to practice magic.¡±


    ¡°Says who?¡± the spirit asked with a sly smile.


    ¡°Says¡­¡± Beatrix hesitated. Honestly, almost everything she knew about witchcraft came from what her aunts taught her. And her aunts defined witchcraft in a super rigid way.


    Beatrix flipped the conversation. ¡°Wait, why are you talking to me about this? Why do you care?¡±


    ¡°I have an inquisitive mind. I''ve always been fascinated by witches and their craft,¡± the spirit said. ¡°And I see myself in you. The way you¡¯ve been treated by the monsters here isn¡¯t right. Especially when you have so much potential.¡±


    Beatrix felt an odd mix of emotions. It was creepy how perceptive this girl was, as if she''d been watching Beatrix for a while now, but it also felt really validating.


    Beatrix then realized that the spirit had led her to the farthest, darkest corner backstage. The heavy curtains around them blocked out all traces of the stage lights.


    Beatrix thought about turning back. Autumn had to be done changing by now, probably wondering where she went...


    Suddenly, the spirit started speaking in Beatrix¡¯s head again:


    If you seek to replicate a monster¡¯s power, you must first look to its source. The singing phantom girl, for example. She puts people into a trance. But how?


    ¡°By singing,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°Operetta sings and people do what she wants.¡±


    Ah, but there¡¯s more to it, the spirit said, sounding almost excited. Operetta doesn¡¯t merely sing. She sings perfectly. Every note, every inflection, flawlessly executed to ensnare the mind. That is the true secret to her monster power.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°You¡¯re saying that I could do what Operetta does just by singing the perfect pitch? That seems like a stretch.¡±


    I agree. It won¡¯t be that simple for a normal person. However, it¡¯s a place to start.


    Beatrix played along. ¡°Even if I somehow figured out how Operetta sings so perfectly, I still wouldn¡¯t be able to hypnotize anyone. I¡¯m not a phantom. I don¡¯t have supernatural vocal cords.¡±


    The spirit''s purple eyes twinkled in the darkness. You¡¯re right. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll need to pair the singing with some sort of spell to make it effective, the spirit¡¯s voice echoed. Tracking down the right incantations will be tricky, though. Monster High''s library is lacking when it comes to books on magic. But all is not lost, I have another idea. Tell me, what do you know about mermaids?


    ¡°Bea!¡± Autumn¡¯s muffled voice called on the other side of the curtains.


    ¡°I gotta go,¡± Beatrix told the spirit.


    The spirit melted back into the shadows. See you around.


    Beatrix hurried back the way she''d come. Once she stepped back into the stage lights, she heard Autumn exclaim, ¡°There you are!¡±


    Beatrix turned to see Autumn hurrying over, already changed out of her fearleading uniform into a cozy flannel and jean shorts. ¡°Everyone else already left for the Coffin Bean. Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Beatrix fell into step beside her friend and they made their way out of the screamatorium. Beatrix''s mind kept circling back to what the spirit had said.


    Why did that girl care so much about me using magic? Beatrix questioned. All that talk of monster abilities and how to replicate them left Beatrix feeling perplexed.


    Besides, Beatrix had sworn to Headmistress Bloodgood that she wouldn¡¯t dabble in any kind of witchcraft. She didn¡¯t want to betray the Headmistress¡¯s trust.


    If Beatrix got caught trying to learn any spells, she¡¯d be sent home. Beatrix didn¡¯t want to give her aunts the satisfaction. And, more importantly, she didn¡¯t want to disappoint Autumn.


    Grey also popped into her mind.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t think Grey would care if she was kicked off campus. If anything, he¡¯d probably be relieved.


    So why do I care about disappointing him too? Beatrix asked herself, hoping the purple spirit wasn¡¯t still listening to her thoughts.


    Beatrix glanced at her friend, who was happily skipping along. She was itching to tell Autumn everything that had just gone down backstage.


    But, for some reason, Beatrix felt the need to hold her tongue.

 5. Field Trippin

    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 ¡ª 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¡ªwhatever that meant¡ªbut 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¡ªspecial 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 ¡ª 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¡ªhe was the adult in the group, after all¡ªbut 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª¡±


    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 ¡ª or was it Vilhelm? ¡ª 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¡ª¡±


    ¡°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.

 6. The Bonfire

    After that dreadful night, Beatrix found herself standing alone before Bloodgood in her office. The headmistress sat behind her large mahogany desk, her piercing eyes fixed on Beatrix, waiting for an explanation.


    With a heavy heart, Beatrix said, "I used magic on Johannah and Mr. Gore. I am so so so sorry. I was just trying to help Jackson and I panicked¡­"


    Bloodgood''s eyes narrowed, her brows furrowing in suspicion. "What kind of magic did you use?" she asked, her tone sharp.


    Beatrix took a moment to think about what she was going to say. She figured that if she told Bloodgood just how complicated the magic she used was, it would only make her look even more guilty. So Beatrix decided to leave out the whole "mixing monster powers with witchcraft" stuff out of her confession.


    ¡°Just a basic sleeping potion, Headmistress,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°I swear, I can''t even begin to tell you how sorry I am for¡ª¡±


    Bloodgood wasn''t moved by her pleas. "You had one chance to make things work here, Ms. Ravenwood. I am very disappointed it has to end like this," Bloodgood said as she pulled out the dreaded employee termination papers.


    Beatrix''s heart sank, and she could feel a lump forming in her throat. "Please, give me one more chance¡ª" she begged, her voice cracking.


    Suddenly, the door flew open, and Grey burst into the office. "Wait," he said. "I left them unattended. This is on me."


    Bloodgood turned to look at Grey. "And why did you leave the field trip early?" she asked.


    Grey briefly glanced at Beatrix, then said, "I had my reasons. But that''s not what''s important right now.¡±


    Beatrix was shocked Grey had the nerve to talk to the headmistress like that, and even more shocked that Bloodgood didn''t push him on it. Judging by the tense charge between Grey and the headmistress, Beatrix had a feeling there was something they both knew, something they weren¡¯t going to let her in on.


    Grey continued, his voice calm yet firm. "The witch was reckless and stupid. There¡¯s no doubt about that. But still, given the situation, she did what she thought she had to. Beatrix didn''t have bad intentions, she was just trying to look out for her friend."


    Bloodgood frowned, not convinced. "Be that as it may, Ms. Ravenwood has broken the terms of our agreement. I simply cannot allow her to work here any longer.¡±


    ¡°Look, I get it,¡± Grey said, ¡°but there¡¯s a bigger issue here. Vampires almost killed her and Guillermo. And even if it was by accident, Beatrix ended up saving two human lives. You and I both know the vampires have been causing trouble for a while. And now they¡¯re completely ignoring the rule about not leaving school grounds. You can¡¯t just kick out Beatrix. She¡¯s a witness, proof there¡¯s students at Monster High who are a threat to others.¡±


    ¡°You''re saying Ms. Ravenwood should get off scot-free?¡± Bloodgood asked. ¡°After breaking the one rule she was forbidden from breaking?"


    ¡°No, I¡¯m saying you should have the school board look into all of this,¡± Grey said. ¡°Let them decide if the witch stays or goes. They might need her help to hold those vampires accountable.¡±


    Beatrix chimed in, "If Bram and Vilhelm are bold enough to attack humans in the city, then they''re definitely not afraid to kill a student like Gilda Goldstag in the woods."


    This made Bloodgood pause. The headmistress considered their words for a very long, nerve-wracking moment, rubbing her temples. Their argument must¡¯ve struck a chord.


    Finally, the headmistress gave in, her shoulders slumping as she let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. Ms. Ravenwood will make her case before the school board,¡± she said grudgingly. ¡°I don''t like this one bit. But I will allow her to stay on, at least until this vampire matter is resolved.¡± Bloodgood then fixed Beatrix with a stern look. ¡°Your magic use could forever damage our institution''s reputation, so until the trial, don''t breathe a word about any of this to anyone. And I expect your full cooperation in the investigation against Bram and Vilhelm.¡±


    "You mean I can stay?¡± Beatrix exclaimed, relief washing over her, but Grey side-eyed her so she reeled herself in. ¡°Sorry¡ªyes, I understand, Headmistress. Thank you. Thank you so much¡ª¡±


    Bloodgood held up a hand, cutting Beatrix off. "To make up for the incredibly serious trouble you''ve caused, I''m assigning you janitorial duties on top of your creepateria shifts. From now on, you will be responsible for cleaning every single attic on campus. We''ll discuss the terms of your employment again once I hear back from the school board.¡±


    With that, Bloodgood dismissed Beatrix and Grey from her office. As they stepped out into the hallway, Beatrix turned to Grey.


    ¡°Hey, thanks for sticking up for me¡­.¡±


    But Grey was already walking away, his back turned to her as he headed down the corridor. He didn''t even spare a glance in her direction. Beatrix watched him go, a sinking feeling in her chest. She knew getting back on Grey¡¯s good side would be an uphill battle. And if she was being honest with herself, she wasn''t sure if winning him over again was even possible.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix was beat. It was only six in the evening, but she¡¯d already crashed face-first into her bed, every muscle in her body aching from yet another grueling day cleaning out the dusty, cobweb-filled attics of Monster High.


    Being a janitor sucks, but at least it¡¯s better than getting shipped back to the farm, Beatrix thought as she laid there, staring up at her dorm room ceiling.


    Her mind couldn''t help but replay the painfully awkward meeting in Headmistress Bloodgood''s office earlier that week ¡ª the disappointment on Bloodgood''s face, the sinking realization that Beatrix''s place at Monster High hung by a thread.


    And then there was Grey... thinking about him made Beatrix want to pull the covers over her head and never come out. She hadn''t seen him since that disaster of a field trip. It was probably for the best though, considering the sheer level of embarrassment she felt about how she''d acted.


    As mortified as she was, Beatrix was extremely grateful Grey had vouched for her in front of Bloodgood. If he hadn''t said something, Beatrix would be back home right now, getting bossed around by her aunts again.


    Ugh, my aunts. Beatrix could just picture them hunched over their cauldrons and old spellbooks, plotting ways to micromanage her life. However, she hadn''t been getting many nagging letters from them lately ¡ª which was probably a sign they''d given up trying to control her, at least for now. Maybe they''d finally wrapped their heads around the fact that she was going to stay at Monster High, no matter how much they disapproved.


    As long as I don''t get myself kicked out for using magic first, Beatrix thought, cringing again as she remembered how close she''d come to getting fired after breaking Bloodgood¡¯s ¡°no witchcraft¡± rule.


    In an attempt to shake off the negative thoughts, Beatrix reached for the one piece of mail she still received every month: her copy of Maleficium Monthly, the go-to magazine for witches everywhere. Aunt Cordelia had signed her up for a subscription years ago, and even though the rest of Beatrix''s life was a mess right now, she could always count on MM to keep her in the loop on the latest witchy gossip and scandals.


    Beatrix flipped through the glossy pages of the magazine¡¯s latest edition. As usual, most of the big stories were all about the devils that different witches served, going on and on about all the impressively evil stuff they¡¯d been up to.


    There was a whole spread dedicated to a hotshot duke from the eighth circle of Hell who apparently broke the record for corrupting the most human souls in a single month. Another article raved about a demon who¡¯d won "Tormentor of the Year" for his creative new approach to psychological torture ¡ª turning damned souls into gnarled, thorny trees and making them relive their worst failures on repeat for eternity. And then there was a feature on a demon of greed, who¡¯d sent one of his top witches to go persuade a government agency to start some shady war overseas. Just another Tuesday in the world of demonic politics.


    This month¡¯s cover story was all about Cassia the Conniving¡ªthe demon duchess of the fifth circle of Hell¡ªattending her son¡¯s graduation from the elite Legions of Hell Military Institute. Apparently he''d gotten top honors in his combat training class. There was a picture of him too. The photo showed a devil boy with twin horns protruding from his forehead, his skin a deep shade of crimson. He looked exactly as Beatrix expected: powerful, cruel, and totally full of himself. Pretty soon this devil would be picking out a witch to serve him and do his bidding in the mortal realm.


    Hard pass, Beatrix thought. She chucked the magazine off to the side.


    No way was she signing up to be some arrogant devil''s personal servant any time soon, no matter how "impressive" his resume was.


    Then Beatrix noticed someone was standing at the foot of her bed. Their neck tilted forward at an unnatural angle.


    ¡°Holy hells!¡± Beatrix yelped, jolting up.


    ¡°I need help.¡±


    Beatrix hadn¡¯t even heard Autumn come in.


    The scarecrow plopped down on the edge of Beatrix¡¯s bed and pulled back her straw hair to reveal a huge rip in the back of her neck.


    ¡°Whoah! What happened to you?¡± Beatrix asked as she hopped up to grab some replacement hay from Autumn¡¯s closet.


    ¡°Toralei accidentally scratched me during fearleading practice,¡± Autumn explained.


    ¡°Accidentally, huh?¡± Beatrix muttered, getting a closer look at the damage.


    ¡°Toralei isn¡¯t a bad ghoul, Bea. I actually think we''re starting to become friends.¡±


    Beatrix shot her a skeptical look. ¡°You sure about that?¡± But she could tell Autumn didn''t want to bad-mouth her teammate, so she dropped it and focused on patching her up, carefully stuffing in fresh hay and stitching up the torn fabric. ¡°Sorry I missed your practice today. I was on janitor duty in the math building attic and lost track of time. That place is super gross, like ''Aunt Constance''s bathroom'' level gross.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that is bad,¡± Autumn said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I can handle myself for an hour of fearleading.¡±


    Except you almost snapped your neck in half, Beatrix thought as she finished fixing her friend''s tear.


    ¡°You know, you really should work in Monster High¡¯s infirmary,¡± Autumn joked.


    Beatrix snorted. ¡°Hah! That¡¯s just what I need: another job at this school. As if janitor duty isn¡¯t taking up enough of my time already.¡±


    Beatrix had given Autumn a basic rundown of why she was in hot water: that she¡¯d used a magic potion to knock out Mr. Gore and Johannah, that she and the MSS boys snuck off to find Holt, and that Bloodgood had her on a tight leash until the school board could decide just how much trouble she was in.


    Although Bloodgood had told Beatrix to keep her lips sealed about what happened on the New Salem field trip, there was no way she could keep Autumn totally in the dark. She had to tell her bestie at least some of it.


    But even though Beatrix trusted Autumn with her life, she hadn''t spilled every last detail about that insane night. Like how she''d boosted the sleeping potion''s effects with a mermaid song, or the fact that two vampire students had pursued her at the nightclub.


    Bloodgood had made it crystal clear that if word got out about the vampire attack before the school board finished their investigation, it would cause a massive uproar at Monster High. So Beatrix decided it was better to keep the craziest parts of the story on the down-low, even from Autumn. The scarecrow was already stressing enough about the whole situation. No need to add ¡°serial-killer vampires¡± to her list of worries.


    ¡°I¡¯m so annoyed,¡± Beatrix complained. ¡°Bloodgood told the lunch ladies to watch me like hawks so I don¡¯t cast any spells in the creepateria. They¡¯re acting like I''m going to hex the hash browns or charm someone''s chocolate milk when they¡¯re not looking. As if I would ever do something like that.¡±


    ¡°Can you really blame them for being a little paranoid?¡± Autumn asked, feeling along the new seam on her neck. ¡°You did promise to not practice witchcraft. That¡¯s kind of the whole reason they let you stay here, remember?¡±


    ¡°But I had to do something to help Jackson!¡± Beatrix countered.


    ¡°Did you actually help him though? You didn¡¯t catch Holt, and Jackson got in trouble anyway, even with you getting involved,¡± Autumn said.


    Beatrix crossed her arms, getting defensive. ¡°Okay, fine, but even Grey said I did the best I could given the circumstances.¡±


    ¡°Grey? The guy who got himself suspended last year and blabbed to the whole school about you being a witch on your first day here? He¡¯s bad news, Bea!¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t mean for the rumor to spread like that,¡± Beatrix insisted. ¡°Grey¡¯s not a bad guy, he¡¯s just¡­ a little rough around the edges, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Autumn''s button eyes started to well up with tears, her lip quivering. "But what if you do get kicked out? I... I don''t think I can handle this place without you."


    Beatrix felt a pang of guilt as she reached out to squeeze her best friend''s hand. "Hey, you won''t have to. I''m really sorry for causing so much drama and making you look bad. I know I wouldn''t even be here if it wasn''t for you." Beatrix tried to sound more confident than she felt. "But I promise, I''m not going anywhere. You''re stuck with me. It''ll be okay.¡±


    Beatrix bumped her shoulder against Autumn''s, managing a grin. The scarecrow girl gave a small smile in return, but Beatrix could still see the worry lingering in her eyes. I really need to get my act together, Beatrix thought. For Autumn''s sake, if nothing else.


    As Autumn took a moment to compose herself, a sudden buzzing sound came from the pocket of her patchwork dress.


    Beatrix''s eyes widened in surprise as the scarecrow whipped out a sleek, orange iCoffin, its screen lighting up with an incoming message.


    "Since when do you have one of those?" Beatrix asked, caught off guard. She was pretty sure Autumn had never mentioned having a phone, let alone one of the high-tech iCoffins that were all the rage among the Monster High student body.


    Autumn grinned, her stitched-on smile stretching even wider as she poked at the screen. "Draculaura got it for me so I can join the group chat! How cool is that?"


    Her cloth fingers danced across the screen as she read the message aloud. "Ooh, it''s from Frankie! She says there''s a big bonfire meet up tonight and we''re both invited!"


    Beatrix made a face. "I don''t know, Autumn. You and fire sounds like a recipe for disaster." All she could picture was Autumn getting too close to the flames, her straw stuffing turning into kindling.


    "Oh, don''t be such a worrywart, Bea! You¡¯re coming with me, so it¡¯ll be fine!"


    Beatrix bit her lip. "There''s no way Cleo wants me there.¡±


    Autumn''s smile remained bright and unassuming. "Frankie knows you''re always my plus one. She wouldn''t have invited me if you weren¡¯t invited too. And tonight''s the perfect opportunity for you and Cleo to put your differences aside, don''t you think?¡±


    Beatrix crossed her arms over her chest.


    ¡°C¡¯mon! It''s All Hallows Eve, for corn¡¯s sake!¡± Autumn begged, giving Beatrix her best puppy-dog eyes.


    Beatrix took one look at Autumn''s hopeful face. After all the drama she''d put the scarecrow through lately, the least she could do was go to this bonfire. So she gave in.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The chilly night enveloped Beatrix and Autumn as they made their way across the Monster High grounds, the moon lighting their way. It was cold enough that they could see their breath, and they could hear the wind whistling through the trees in the distance.


    There was something about the night that called to Beatrix, the sound of hooting owls and crickets chirping. When the sun set, there was a feeling of power in the darkness that she couldn¡¯t quite explain but felt deep in her bones.


    As they approached the school garden, Beatrix spotted Frankie, Clawdeen, and Draculaura huddled together, bundled up against the biting cold. The pale moonlight cast an eerie glow on the plants surrounding them, turning the leaves a silvery-green and making the flowers appear almost luminescent.


    "Autumn! Over here!" Frankie shouted, bubbling with excitement as she bounced on the balls of her feet.


    Autumn waved back enthusiastically, rushing over to join the group. As they all walked out of the garden together, the scarecrow girl immediately started gabbing away about that day''s fearleading practice, how hard their Biteology class was, and how it was sooo obvious that Jackson Jekyll was crushing on Frankie.


    At the mention of Jackson, Frankie''s green face went pink. "We''re just friends, you guys!" she protested.


    "Suuure you are," Clawdeen teased.


    ¡°Speaking of Jackson, what happened with Holt the other night?¡± Draculaura asked Beatrix.


    Beatrix was caught off guard at the question. How the heck did Draculaura know about the Holt stuff? Beatrix then realized that Guillermo must¡¯ve told her. It made sense, given his undying loyalty to his ¡°master.¡±


    Beatrix just hoped Guillermo hadn¡¯t told Draculaura every single detail about that night. The more monsters who knew she¡¯d practiced witchcraft, the harder it would be to convince Bloodgood to let her stay at Monster High.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Since Beatrix wasn''t sure exactly how much Draculaura knew, she decided to keep her answer vague. ¡°"Oh, you know, Holt ran off while we were on our MSS field trip. We tracked him down at some human nightclub nearby."


    "Geez, I''d lose it if I had to deal with Holt as my alter ego. I don¡¯t envy Jackson," Clawdeen said, shaking her head.


    "Really? I think Holt''s a blast to hang with!" Frankie piped up.


    ¡°Oh, trust me, we know,¡± Clawdeen teased again.


    As the others continued their lively banter, Draculaura saddled up next to Beatrix, her movements graceful and silent. ¡°Hey. How are you holding up?¡± she asked Beatrix softly.


    For a moment, Beatrix¡¯s confidence wavered. Being so close to another vampire, even a ¡°vegetarian¡± one like Draculaura, put her on edge. She couldn''t stop thinking about the attack at the nightclub.


    ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Beatrix said, but even to her own ears, the words sounded unconvincing.


    Draculaura''s gaze softened with understanding. "You don''t need to be scared around me, Beatrix. Vampires like Bram and Vilhelm... they make me despair at my entire race."


    Wow. Guillermo told her about the vampire attack too. Great, Beatrix thought.


    ¡°No no, I¡¯m not scared of you,¡± Beatrix said, trying to inject more confidence into her voice. ¡°You¡¯re nothing like those creeps.¡±


    Something passed through Draculaura¡¯s eyes. Anger. "I had my suspicions that Bram and Vilhelm were up to no good, sneaking around and causing trouble. But killing people like that? It''s deplorable. That''s why I renounced human murder centuries ago."


    A chill shot down Beatrix''s spine hearing Draculaura talk so casually about murder, like it was just some bad habit she managed to kick forever ago. It was a harsh reminder that underneath all that pink and glitter, Draculaura was still a creature of the night.


    And yet, Beatrix knew she was being overly sensitive. It''s not like monsters were known for being all warm and fuzzy towards humans. Sure, monsters had definitely toned things down in recent years and become more peaceful than ever before, mostly because they didn''t want to get caught by an ever-growing human population. But monsters were still feared for a reason.


    Draculaura¡¯s pink eyes flashed over to Beatrix. Beatrix crossed her fingers, silently praying that the vampire wouldn''t start asking questions about magic or spells.


    Luckily, all Draculaura said was, ¡°If any other vampires start giving you a hard time, you come straight to me. I''ll take care of it."


    ¡°Wait, do some of the vamps have a problem with me? It isn¡¯t my fault Bram and Vilhelm got busted,¡± Beatrix said.


    "The truth is, us vampires have had some disagreements over what transpired that night. There are those that believe the attack may have been¡­ exaggerated."


    Beatrix stared at Draculaura. "They think I''m lying?"


    "It''s not that they think you''re intentionally deceiving anyone. But you were in an intense, frightening situation in the heart of a human city. Some of the other vamps believe that the stress could have distorted your view of events."


    Beatrix blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ I know what I saw.¡±


    Draculaura reached over and placed a cool hand on Beatrix''s arm to reassure her. ¡°I believe you, Beatrix. I''m well aware of what Bram and Vilhelm are capable of. They''ve always acted like they''re untouchable because their families hold seats on the vampiric council. But not all the vampires see eye to eye on this."


    Draculaura added, ¡°As long as you stay in your dorm at night and avoid wandering around alone, you should be fine."


    Or else I¡¯ll get attacked? Beatrix thought.


    Sensing her unease, Draculaura gave Beatrix a gentle smile. "Don''t worry. We¡¯ll look out for you." She nodded to Clawdeen, Frankie, and Autumn, who were still busy chatting a few feet away.


    Despite Draculaura¡¯s short stature and youthful appearance, there was something about the way she spoke that reminded Beatrix of an older sister.


    Makes sense. She¡¯s, what, a thousand years older than me? Beatrix mused.


    Beatrix was touched by Draculaura''s kindness, but knew deep down it wouldn''t be enough to make her feel safe here.


    The only monster Beatrix really trusted to have her back was¡­


    Nope, not going there, Beatrix shut that thought down real quick. Every time Grey¡¯s face popped into her head, shame coursed through her. She''d promised him that he could count on her, that she wouldn''t go casting spells or stirring up trouble.


    And yet, at the first sign of trouble, she¡¯d ignored those promises without a second thought.


    As their little group reached the crackling bonfire raging behind the West dorms, Beatrix immediately recognized Clawd, Clawdeen''s older brother, who was in the middle of a rowdy cornhole game with his wolf pack, howling with laughter. Orion was always yapping about how Clawd was his archnemesis or whatever, but the rivalry really seemed one-sided.


    Beatrix scanned the crowd of monsters gathered around the fire, and she realized she didn''t recognize most of them.


    Except for one.


    Grey sat a short distance away, talking to a gorgon dude with snakes for hair. The snakes were hissing and squirming all over the place in the flickering firelight.


    ¡°Well well well, look who finally decided to show up! You ghouls are late!¡± Cleo''s snooty voice rang out over the chatter. Her heavily lined eyes zeroed in on Beatrix. ¡°And I see you brought the witch along¡­¡±


    Autumn, ever the peacemaker, flashed the mummy princess a bright smile. "Thanks for letting Bea come, Cleo! It means a lot to me." Autumn nudged Beatrix, urging her to make nice.


    Beatrix plastered on a smile too, determined to rise above Cleo''s pettiness. After dealing with the mummy''s attitude for months now, she¡¯d learned to let the insults roll off her back.


    Cleo looked far from pleased, but before she could say another cutting remark, someone called her name from the other side of the bonfire. Cleo spun on her designer heel and walked off, quickly forgetting about Beatrix.


    Draculaura and Clawdeen split off from the group to go say hi to Clawd. As they walked away, Beatrix noticed a cluster of vampires muttering among themselves at her arrival, their blood-red eyes tracking her every move.


    Beatrix tried her best to look unaffected and let Frankie and Autumn lead the way as they headed over to the bonfire to find a place to sit.


    But of course, the only spot left was smack dab next to Grey and his gorgon friend. Fantastic. Beatrix hesitated for a moment, debating her options, before finally sitting down as far from Grey as possible.


    Autumn, blissfully oblivious to the tension simmering between Beatrix and Grey, started happily telling Frankie all about how the scarecrows back home celebrated All Hallows Eve.


    ¡°We¡¯d make our own costumes, carve jack-o¡¯-lanterns, and bob for apples!¡± Autumn gushed.


    Frankie listened in awe. ¡°That sounds amazing, Autumn! Last Halloween, the ghouls and I went to see a horror movie in New Salem. It''s such a bummer we can''t leave campus this year to do it again. I wish the school lockdown was over already.¡±


    Autumn nodded, then confessed, ¡°I¡¯ve never actually seen a horror movie before. But I¡¯ve heard a lot of scary stories! My Grandpa Harry used to tell tales that would give me nightmares for weeks!¡±


    The gorgon dude perked up at that, leaning in to be included in the convo. "Oh yeah? What''s the scariest story you''ve heard?" he asked.


    "Ooh, you gotta ask Bea!" Autumn exclaimed, turning to Beatrix. "She''s great at telling spooky stories."


    Beatrix could feel Grey''s eyes boring into her, but she avoided meeting his gaze. Instead, she cleared her throat and launched into the first story that popped into her head. "I have one story about a town that got overrun by a massive flock of birds¡ª"


    "Noooo, not that one!" Autumn yelped, her hands flying up to cover her ears. "Anything but birds, I¡¯m begging you!"


    Beatrix threw her hands up. "Alright, alright, no birds. Lemme think of a different one..."


    "Yo, I''ve got a killer story," the gorgon said, his forked tongue flashing. "It''s a true story too. And it all happened right here, on the mountain we''re sitting on."


    ¡°Oh, you guys are gonna love this. Deuce tells the best stories,¡± Frankie whispered to Beatrix and Autumn.


    The flickering light of the bonfire danced across the surface of Deuce''s sunglasses, the flames reflected in the dark lenses as he leaned forward, his voice low and ominous.


    "There was a time, long before Monster High was even a thing, before New Salem and all the human towns popped up around here, when this mountain was nothing but a barren, isolated wasteland." He paused for dramatic effect. "... It was the perfect place for the cave dwellers to thrive."


    Deuce''s snakes squirmed and hissed, like they were into the story too. "The cave-dwelling monsters were pretty antisocial. They stayed beneath the mountain, and only came out at night when the world was dark."


    "But as time went on, human settlers started moving in closer, building their little villages around the base of the mountain. And some of the humans, the brave ones or maybe just the stupid ones, started climbing up this mountain¡¯s rocky cliffs, poking around."


    "Rumors spread among the humans, whispers of a monstrous clan that would slaughter anyone who stepped on their turf. But the thing is, the cave dwellers hardly even crossed paths with humans. They really just kept to themselves."


    "But you know how humans are. They get scared, and then they get dangerous. So some of their scouts tracked down a few of the cave monsters and dragged them away. No one knows for sure what happened to them, but they say if you dig around in the woods, you might find the bones of those poor monsters, left to rot."


    Beatrix glanced over at Grey and caught him looking out at the perimeter fence, just a stone''s throw from where they were sitting. Past the fence, the dark line of the woods loomed, the trees swaying in the cold wind.


    He¡¯s not scared, is he? Beatrix wondered, fighting back a smirk at the thought. But Grey''s blacked-out eyes gave nothing away¡ªas usual¡ªso Beatrix couldn¡¯t tell.


    "Anyway, the cave dwellers retreated deeper into the mountain, trying to get away from the humans hunting them. They went far down, deep into the earth so no human could ever reach them. Down there in the dark, the monsters were cut off from food, water, everything. But they stayed down there ''cause they had no choice."


    Deuce''s voice took on a haunted, hollow quality, like he was speaking from the depths of the mountain himself. "And then, one day, the monsters heard it. Footsteps, echoing in the twisting tunnels of the mountain, bouncing off the stone walls. They couldn''t tell where the footsteps were coming from. All the cave-dwellers knew was that the steps were getting louder, closer."


    Deuce mimicked the sound of dragging, shuffling footsteps. He scraped his sneakers against the ground in an erratic, jittery rhythm. "Whoever it was, they were trying to sneak up on the monsters, to catch them off guard."


    "The cave dwellers huddled together in the dark, too scared to even breathe too loud in case it gave away their position. And then, finally, the footsteps stopped right at the door to their hidden cavern."


    "But instead of getting attacked by humans, the monsters heard something else. The sound of a woman crying. And even though they were scared, the monsters couldn''t just ignore someone who needed help. They brought her inside and tried to heal her wounds with their ancient remedies. But when they looked closer, they couldn''t find a single scratch on her, even though she was covered in blood."


    Autumn''s fingers laced through Beatrix''s, squeezing tight. The scarecrow was gripped with fright.


    "And then,¡± Deuce continued, ¡°as the monsters stood there, trying to make sense of it, the woman straightened up. The tears were gone, and now she wore a wicked smile. She wasn''t some lost chick who needed help. She was a sorceress, a powerful one, and she''d been sent to wipe out the last of the cave monsters."


    ¡°... What? Is he saying the witch was working with the humans?¡± Beatrix whispered to Autumn. ¡°Since when do humans and witches work together? Hasn¡¯t anyone here heard of Salem?¡±


    Someone shushed Beatrix. Everyone around the fire was now locked into the story.


    Deuce kept going, his voice growing more grave. ¡°The sorceress attacked them with her dark magic, sending the monsters flying with a flick of her wrist, twisting their bodies like a demented puppet master. The monsters screamed, but there was no one around to hear them."


    ¡°The torture went on for hours, days, weeks¡ªthe monsters couldn¡¯t tell. They were sure it would never end, that they''d die there in the dark, at the mercy of this evil witch. But then, when it seemed like all hope was lost, one of the cave dwellers managed to get behind her. With the last bit of strength they had, they sank their claws into her side."


    ¡°The sorceress collapsed, her blood spilling out onto the cave floor. But even as she lay there, dying, she had one last trick up her sleeve. With her final breath, she uttered a curse, cursing the cave dwellers to live forever, but not like they were. No, she trapped them in the walls of the mountain, their bodies melting into the rock until they couldn''t move, couldn''t talk, couldn''t even scream. And that¡¯s where they remain to this day, stuck in their stone prison, alone in the dark, with nothing but their own minds to keep them company for all eternity."


    As the words left Deuce''s lips, a hush fell over the gathered monsters. The flickering orange flames of the bonfire cast dancing shadows across their faces.


    ¡°But there¡¯s more to this story. The witch¡¯s spell backfired.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Frankie asked in a thin voice, looking as scared as Autumn.


    ¡°When the witch cursed those monsters with eternal life, she accidentally trapped her own soul here for eternity too.¡±


    ¡°Now she roams the lands Monster High was built on, rising up from the depths of the mountain, vowing to take revenge on any monster she encounters. Some say you can hear her wailing in the school halls late at night, begging for an escape from limbo. Because, since she trapped herself here, both heaven and hell haven''t answered her pleas for a millenia.¡±


    Everyone was silent as Deuce''s story ended. The only sound was the crackle of logs in the fire.


    "Witches are scary,¡± Frankie said nervously. ¡°Thank ghoul you¡¯re not like that, Beatrix.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re the witch on campus?¡± Deuce realized.


    All attention was on her now.


    ¡°The one and only,¡± Beatrix said, sitting up straighter.


    Deuce rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. ¡°Shoot, my bad. I didn¡¯t know. Sorry, dude.¡±


    The monsters around them started whispering to each other. Beatrix overheard a few pointed comments.


    ¡°Watch out or she¡¯ll put a curse on you¡­ like she did to Bram and Vilhelm¡­¡±


    ¡°I heard she sucks at magic though¡­¡±


    ¡°She''s lying. She¡¯s just waiting for the right moment to strike¡­¡±


    Beatrix''s hands curled into fists on her lap, her nails digging into her palms.


    Cleo suddenly strutted over to the group, her gold rings flashing as she held out a hand to Deuce, beckoning him to rise to his feet. ¡°Twyla is reading my tarot cards and I want you to join me. Come.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your highness,¡± Deuce playfully obeyed, letting her pull him up.


    ¡°Tarot cards? I wanna see!¡± Frankie jumped up to join them. ¡°C¡¯mon, Autumn!¡±


    Before Beatrix could process what was happening, her friends had ditched her, leaving her alone by the fire with no one sitting between her and Grey.


    Beatrix snuck a peek at him from the corner of her eye, taking in his profile lit by the bonfire. He was staring broodingly into the flames, lost in thought.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t know what would be worse: leaving, which would make it obvious she was avoiding him, or sitting there in awkward silence with the Reaper.


    She hated both options.


    ¡°Hi,¡± she said.


    ¡°... Hey.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s the Lord of Death been up to these days?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°Cleaning up your messes,¡± Grey replied dryly. He sounded exhausted, his deep voice even rougher than usual.


    As much as Beatrix wanted to apologize for everything she''d done, she didn¡¯t want to grovel to Grey¡ªnot now, while everyone around the bonfire was gossiping about her.


    She tried to think of a neutral topic to talk about. "I didn''t think you went to stuff like this."


    ¡°Why¡¯d you think that?¡±


    Beatrix shrugged. "Oh, I dunno. Maybe it''s the whole ''dark and menacing'' thing you''ve got going on," she joked.


    A corner of Grey''s mouth twitched up. "Deuce said the bonfire was gonna be at the edge of school. I came to make sure none of you numbskulls hop the fence and run off into the woods."


    "Dang. You''re more responsible than campus security," Beatrix smirked. "Bloodgood should pay you at this point."


    Grey kept staring into the fire.


    Beatrix leaned in closer so no one else would hear what she was about to say. "I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you¡­ Thank you for saving me that night," she said quietly, glancing up at him. "And I get why you''re pissed at me. I would be too."


    "I''m not pissed," Grey said, but there was an edge to his voice.


    ¡°You looked like you wanted to kill me when you caught us at the nightclub.¡±


    Grey was quiet for a moment before letting out a slow breath. "Fine. I was pissed. More than pissed," he admitted, his eyes locked on hers. "But I didn''t want to kill you."


    He wanted to kill someone else, Beatrix thought. When Grey had aimed the end of his staff at the vampire boy, he¡¯d been gripping the weapon so fiercely Beatrix was sure he would¡¯ve taken the guy out in one hit.


    Beatrix had relived the memory of that vampire yanking her head back, exposing her throat, too many times to count. She¡¯d never felt so powerless before.


    She kept imagining Gilda Goldstag in the woods, alone in her final moments, facing the same danger Beatrix barely escaped.


    Grey got up and poked at the bonfire with a stick, shifting logs around to keep the flames going. When he sat back down, Beatrix noticed he had moved closer to her, closing the gap between them.


    Beatrix hugged her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, making herself small. "Do you think the school board will kick me out?" she asked quietly, dreading the answer.


    ¡°Not sure,¡± Grey said.


    Beatrix sighed, resting her chin on her knees. She stared grimly into the fire, watching sparks swirl up into the night sky. "If I get fired, maybe it''s for the best,¡± she thought aloud. ¡°Everyone''s been telling me to leave since I got here. I can''t believe I''m saying this, but maybe I should''ve listened to my aunts. This whole thing seems like it¡¯s more trouble than it''s worth."


    She buried her face in her arms, squeezing her eyes shut against the sudden sting of tears. "Why¡¯d you stick up for me, anyway?" she asked Grey. "You want me gone more than anyone."


    For a long moment, there was just the crackle and pop of the burning logs and the low murmur of conversation from the monsters gathered around the fire. Beatrix could feel Grey''s eyes on her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown on me,¡± Grey finally said. She¡¯d never heard him speak so gently before.


    Beatrix lifted her head to peek at him over her arms. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°You trusted your gut and took action. That¡¯s more than I can say for most monsters around here.¡± He cracked a half-smile at her. ¡°Plus, you¡¯re the only lunch lady who makes casketberry pie that doesn¡¯t taste like mush.¡±


    A surprised laugh burst out of Beatrix and she sat up straighter, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.


    "Don''t let it go to your head," Grey warned with a teasing smile.


    "The Lord of Death cares about an evil little witch like me? I''m flattered," Beatrix said, batting her eyelashes.


    Grey playfully sighed in fake frustration and Beatrix held back a cackle.


    Grey¡¯s expression sobered as he leaned in closer, his voice low for her ears only. "How¡¯d you knock out Johannah and Mr. Gore anyway?"


    Beatrix fiddled with a loose thread on her dress. "I made a sleeping potion¡­"


    Grey raised an eyebrow. "Sounds pretty advanced for someone who says she isn''t a good witch."


    "I guess I picked up more from my aunts than I thought," she said with a shrug. "I used to watch them do a lot of magic back home. When Holt ran off, the potion idea somehow popped into my head."


    It wasn''t the whole truth, but Beatrix didn¡¯t want Grey to know she''d been studying mermaid songs to pair with witch spells.


    ¡°If you do any witchcraft again, I¡¯m taking you to the headmistress myself. Got it?¡± Grey said, his wall back up.


    ¡°And if I don¡¯t get caught?¡±


    ¡°I''m not joking,¡± Grey said.


    ¡°Alright, grumpy. Trust me, I know how serious things are. Bram and Vilhelm¡¯s vampy friends are planning their revenge on me as we speak.¡±


    That got Grey''s attention. His brow furrowed in concern. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    "The vamps think I lied to get the boys in trouble." Beatrix sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Honestly, I shouldn''t even be out at night right now.¡±


    Unless I want to be the next body found in the woods.


    ¡°They''re threatening you?¡± Grey asked.


    ¡°I heard it through the grapevine,¡± Beatrix said with a huff. She grabbed a stick and poked at the glowing coals, sending up a shower of sparks. ¡°I hate that I can¡¯t fight back. Look, I''m not a fan of devils, but I wouldn''t have gotten chased by vampires if I had a devil familiar at the nightclub.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t walk around so vulnerable,¡± Grey said sharply.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to tell you, Death Lord. I guess I¡¯m stuck hiding out in my dorm until the school board confirms I told the truth.¡±


    Grey reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black iCoffin. ¡°I¡¯m giving you my number.¡± He tapped the screen, opening his contacts. Beatrix noticed he barely had any names saved.


    ¡°Why?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°So you can call me if anything happens.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have a phone.¡±


    Grey looked at her like she had two heads. ¡°What sixteen-year-old doesn¡¯t have a phone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fifteen,¡± Beatrix corrected.


    "Same thing."


    "Uh, No way. There¡¯s a huge difference between fifteen and sixteen for witches," Beatrix said.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Grey said. ¡°I¡¯m still giving you my number. Use one of your friend¡¯s phones, get your own, do what you need to do.¡±


    As if on cue, Autumn and Frankie came back from their tarot card readings, holding steaming cups of some purple liquid.


    "Here, Bea," Autumn said, handing Beatrix a cup. The letter "B" was scribbled on the side in black marker.


    Frankie plopped down next to them, her tongue sticking out in concentration as she labeled her own cup. Grey held out a hand. "Can I borrow that?"


    Frankie blinked at him in surprise, but handed over the marker. "Oh, um, sure."


    Grey took Beatrix''s wrist, pushed up her sleeve, and carefully wrote his number along the inside of her forearm. Her skin tingled beneath the marker¡¯s touch.


    "Don''t forget to call," Grey said when he was done, then he rose and strode away to join Deuce on the other side of the bonfire. Beatrix pulled her sleeve down over Grey''s number, but she could still feel the brush of his fingers on her arm.


    Autumn''s eyes narrowed as she watched him go. "What was that about?" she asked Beatrix, suspicion in her voice.


    "Nothing." Beatrix took a quick sip of her drink, wincing as it scorched her tongue. "Thanks for the drink."


    Autumn clearly didn''t buy it, but Beatrix wasn''t in the mood to explain what she¡¯d been talking about with Grey. She knew Autumn didn¡¯t approve of her associating with him, so pretending nothing happened seemed easier. That way Beatrix wouldn¡¯t have to tell Autumn why her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest.

 7. Double Trouble

    As Beatrix and Autumn walked together down the hall to Autumn''s first class of the day¡ªBiteology¡ªthe early morning sunlight shone through the tall, arched windows.


    ¡°Okay, tell me the types of venomous toxins,¡± Beatrix said, holding up a flashcard.


    Autumn scrunched up her face, trying to remember. "Necrotoxins and cytotoxins, neurotoxins, myotoxins, and haemotoxins," she said.


    "Nice. And how do natural and supernatural mammals produce venom?"


    Without hesitation, Autumn answered, "With venom glands attached to their canine teeth, or venomous saliva."


    Beatrix handed Autumn the thick stack of well-worn flashcards. "You''re gonna kill your midterm," she said encouragingly.


    "Let''s go through them again," Autumn insisted.


    "Trust me, you¡¯ve got this. Seriously, you''ve been studying non stop outside of fearleading," Beatrix said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do them again,¡± Autumn repeated, her tone getting stern.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been at it all night! It¡¯s too late anyway. And class is about to start, strawhead.¡±


    Autumn sighed. ¡°Stop calling me strawhead¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Beatrix challenged. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting weird ever since the bonfire.¡±


    Beatrix searched Autumn''s face, but the bell cut her off before she could get an answer.


    ¡°See you in an hour,¡± Autumn said flatly, throwing her backpack over her shoulder and taking off for Biteology.


    Beatrix watched Autumn go, and a mix of annoyance and worry churned in her gut. Autumn had been giving her the cold shoulder for over a week now. Sure, the scarecrow was stressed over her first midterm ¡ª which counted for a major chunk of her grade ¡ª but Beatrix sensed something else was bothering her friend.


    Beatrix had her own troubles weighing heavily on her mind. Her trial before the school board was coming up, looming on the horizon like a dark cloud. The board would finally deliberate what happened at the nightclub and whether those vampire guys were involved in Gilda''s death.


    Even though Grey had spoken up for her, Beatrix couldn''t shake the feeling that her days at Monster High were numbered. The thought of being shipped back to her aunts'' farm filled her with a sense of dread that grew with each passing day.


    Zoning out, Beatrix barely noticed the hallways emptying around her as students disappeared into classrooms until only a few stragglers remained. Suddenly, someone sneered, "Hey, witch snitch, don''t you have gruel to dish out?"


    Beatrix''s head snapped up to a gang of vampires lurking by the lockers. They smirked at her, their fangs glinting menacingly. Front and center was Gory, Bram''s girlfriend, her blood-red eyes fixated on Beatrix with a look of pure loathing. Gory and her friends had been bothering Beatrix ever since she "framed" Bram and Vilhelm at the nightclub.


    Figuring it was better to leave before things escalated, Beatrix hustled towards the creepateria to start her shift. But the vampires weren''t going to let her leave that easily. "Look, Gory, you scared her," one of them hollered after her. "I bet the witch snitch is gonna go cry to Bloodgood now."


    Something in Beatrix snapped. She whirled back around. "That¡¯s all you got? ¡®Witch snitch¡¯? Go gargle garlic, fangface."


    For a moment, the vampires looked stunned, but Beatrix didn¡¯t stick around to bask in her comeback. Instead, she dashed through the creepateria doors, praying they wouldn''t come after her.


    In the kitchen, Marsha was putting on her apron, her mossy fingers tying the strings into a knot. "Someone¡¯s punctual today," she said, eyeing Beatrix.


    "What can I say? Pumped to whip up some ghoulash," Beatrix quipped, still a little breathless as she pulled her hair into a braid.


    ¡°Change of plans. We''re serving haunt dogs and blood sausages now. I gotta go grab ¡®em from the back freezers. Be right back.¡± Marsha paused and shot Beatrix a look. "And no hocus pocus funny business while I''m gone, capiche ''Trix? I don''t want to have to report you to the headmistress.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got it,¡± Beatrix grumbled, trying not to sound too bitter about it. She was frustrated that Marsha and the other lunch ladies still didn¡¯t trust her after she got busted for the sleeping potion. It made creepateria shifts a little awkward.


    Marsha disappeared into the back storage room, leaving Beatrix alone in the creepateria kitchen. As Marsha¡¯s footsteps faded, Beatrix went over to her work locker and yanked it open, the metal cool against her fingers. She threw on her apron, then started digging through drawers for the haunt dog buns.


    Right when she found them, a loud bang resounded through the kitchen, making Beatrix jolt up. She peered around, trying to figure out where the noise came from, but everything seemed normal at first glance: the stainless steel counters gleamed under the fluorescent lights, the pots and pans hung in their usual spots, and the big ovens sat silently against the wall.


    But then Beatrix¡¯s eyes landed on her locker, and she did a double take. Her locker door was shut, even though she could¡¯ve sworn she¡¯d left it wide open mere seconds ago.


    A shiver ran down her spine as she cautiously scanned the deserted kitchen.


    "Hello? Anyone there?" Beatrix called out.


    Silence.


    Beatrix¡¯s mind went straight to Gory¡¯s blood-red stare.


    With Marsha gone, this was the perfect opportunity for Gory to get back at her for what went down at the nightclub.


    Beatrix grabbed a spatula, wielding it like a weapon. "Hey! I''m armed!" she yelled, putting on a brave face.


    Suddenly, behind her, the bag of haunt dog buns suddenly slid off the counter and hit the floor with a soft thud. Beatrix spun around, clutching the spatula in a white-knuckled grip as she braced herself for an attack.


    Hello again, a familiar voice rang out in Beatrix¡¯s head.


    ¡°Oh my ghoul,¡± Beatrix gasped. It was the purple spirit chick from the screamatorium, hovering before her. ¡°You almost gave me a heart attack!¡±


    You''re awfully jumpy these days, the spirit''s voice echoed in Beatrix¡¯s mind.


    Beatrix tried to swat the voice away as if it was a fly buzzing too close to her ear. "What do you want now?"


    ¡°Such a hostile greeting,¡± the spirit remarked aloud, gliding right through the kitchen counter like it was thin air. "Have I done something to upset you?"


    ¡°Uh, yeah. I might get fired and kicked off campus because of you!¡± Beatrix complained.


    The spirit¡¯s purple eyes sparkled with excitement. "Is this your way of telling me you successfully replicated a monster power?"


    Beatrix nodded, feeling a little proud despite herself. ¡°Yeah, I sang a mermaid song and pulled off an Operetta-style lullaby,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°Well done! What spell did you pair the song with?"


    "A sleeping potion. One I could never get right before," Beatrix replied, recalling the thrill that had coursed through her veins when the potion had actually worked.


    "So you mastered a magical technique in an unconventional way¡­" the spirit mused. "This sounds like a good thing to me."


    "Tell that to the headmistress. You''re the reason I''m in this mess," Beatrix accused, jabbing a finger at the apparition.


    The spirit looked taken aback. ¡°I apologize,¡± she said softly. ¡°I only wanted to help. But if you don¡¯t wish to see me anymore, I¡¯ll leave you be.¡± The spirit started to fade away, vanishing between the cabinets.


    Remorse suddenly hit Beatrix. ¡°Wait, no, come back!¡± she called out. ¡°I¡¯m the one who messed up. I used magic when I knew I wasn¡¯t supposed to.¡±


    The spirit rematerialized, regarding Beatrix with curious eyes.


    ¡°So¡­ how¡¯d you know that mixing a spell with a monster ability would work so well, anyway?¡± Beatrix asked.


    A hint of a smile played across the spirit''s translucent features."When you''ve been haunting these halls as long as I have, you tend to pick up a trick or two," she replied cryptically.  Then her face grew solemn. "I get the sense something else is bothering you.¡±


    Beatrix hesitated, not entirely sure she wanted to reveal her fears to this strange, otherworldly being. But it was all too much to keep inside, and the words came tumbling out before she could stop them. "The vamps at this school have been mad-dogging me since the field trip, like they''re just waiting for the right moment to strike," Beatrix whispered. ¡°I hate being so helpless around them, especially when I have a huge target on my back.¡±


    The spirit nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "You''re a lamb surrounded by lions.¡±


    Beatrix blinked. ¡°Uh, yeah. Exactly.¡±


    The spirit reached out a hand as if to caress Beatrix''s cheek, but her immaterial fingers passed right through, and Beatrix didn¡¯t feel a thing.


    "Well, when you¡¯re feeling as vulnerable as a lamb," the spirit said, her voice low and intense, "you should look to the wolves."


    Beatrix frowned. ¡°Wolves? You mean¡­ werewolves?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that werewolves are the top student athletes?¡± the spirit asked, her eyes boring into Beatrix''s with a hypnotic intensity. "Replicating their traits will be your best defense against vampires."


    The spirit was onto something. Beatrix thought back to the football games she''d sat through to watch Autumn''s fearleading, and how the werewolves consistently dominated on the field with their speed and strength. Even Orion, who was the smallest werewolf Beatrix had met, could rip a metal door off its hinges like it was nothing.


    Beatrix leaned in, intrigued. ¡°And how exactly do I do that?¡±


    "You could try smelling like a werewolf," the spirit suggested, sounding amused at the idea.


    Beatrix wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°Ew.¡±


    ¡°But that would only work for a short amount of time¡­¡± the spirit pondered aloud. ¡°... and the vampires would catch on quickly.¡±


    Beatrix thought about Draculaura and Clawdeen''s close friendship, and how the vampire girl seemed unfazed by the werewolf''s scent. Clawdeen''s smell clearly wasn''t enough to deter her.


    ¡°Okay, so I don¡¯t have to steal Orion¡¯s nasty gym socks,¡± Beatrix said, relieved. "So what¡¯s plan B?" She quickly added, "Oh, and it should go without saying, magic is off the table."


    The spirit¡¯s expression turned grave again. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to use witchcraft to protect yourself, I¡¯m afraid your only other option is to get bitten by a werewolf.¡±


    Beatrix paled. ¡°Um, no way! One, my aunts would murder me. Two, way too much body hair. Three, I don¡¯t want to permanently become a supernatural beast just because some vampire snobs are harassing me.¡±


    The spirit shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself. Looks like your only other option involves a bit of witchcraft. You''ll need to magically replicate a werewolf''s strength somehow.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Beatrix yelped.


    "Now Beatrix, don''t let fear hold you back. Embrace the power that lies within you," the spirit coaxed.


    "Nope, not listening, la la la!" Beatrix clapped her hands over her ears, refusing to get roped into another one of the spirit''s schemes.


    With a huff, Beatrix turned away, only to find herself face to face with Greta, the ancient goblin lunch lady.


    Beatrix lowered her hands and tried to act casual. "Oh, uh, hey, Greta! I was just, um, singing a song. It goes like this..." Beatrix awkwardly sang a few off-key notes that vaguely resembled her earlier outburst.


    The goblin gave Beatrix a gummy smile. ¡°Ah, you young people and your music¡­¡±


    Beatrix smiled back. Greta couldn¡¯t have come at a better time. The goblin¡¯s presence had made the spirit disappear.


    While Greta busied herself preparing some condiments nearby, her knobbly, clawed hands sorting packets with surprising nimbleness, Beatrix picked the bag of haunt dogs off the floor and began arranging them on the counter, grateful the nosy apparition was gone.


    Just as Beatrix was starting to relax, an eerie whisper popped up in her mind, making her skin crawl: You need wolfsbane.


    Sure enough, the purple spirit materialized again, hovering expectantly over Beatrix''s shoulder.


    In a dizzying rush, the spirit rattled off a list of ingredients and instructions, her voice echoing in Beatrix¡¯s head:


    You can safely replicate a werewolf¡¯s abilities if you consume cursed venom with wolfsbane leaves. The wolfsbane will prevent a full werewolf transformation, granting you supernatural strength and speed for a limited time.


    The spirit spoke so quickly, Beatrix struggled to keep up.


    Beatrix knew wolfsbane was a plant witches often used to repel werewolves, but she hadn''t realized consuming the plant directly could counteract a werewolf transformation.


    Beatrix directed her thoughts at the ghost: I can¡¯t get caught messing with magic again or I¡¯m dead meat.


    However, there was something about the spirit¡¯s earnestness that comforted Beatrix, like the ghost genuinely cared about her well-being.


    After all, the sleeping potion experiment had taught Beatrix something: replicating a monster''s abilities could be a powerful advantage. And this unconventional method of magic came more naturally to Beatrix than ¡°traditional¡± witchcraft did with its tedious rituals and incantations.


    I¡¯ll think about it, Beatrix silently told the spirit.


    I¡¯ll be there when you need me, the spirit replied before drifting up and phasing through the mildew-stained ceiling tiles.


    Beatrix could¡¯ve sworn that Greta¡¯s eyes flicked up to the ceiling too, following the spirit¡¯s movements.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a clinger,¡± Greta said as she meticulously sorted little plastic packets of batchup and monstard.


    ¡°You can see her too?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Greta gave a slow nod. ¡°That poltergeist is clinging to you, dearie.¡±


    ¡°Clinging to me? Are you sure about that? I don¡¯t see her around that much.¡±


    ¡°You see what Spectra wants you to see,¡± Greta said. ¡°Seems like she¡¯s grown quite attached to you. Usually, she¡¯s elusive to others around here.¡±


    Spectra, Beatrix repeated inwardly, glad to finally have a name for the spirit haunting her.


    ¡°Do you know why Spectra¡¯s so attached to me?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Greta¡¯s old, creased eyes looked at Beatrix with pity.


    ¡°A lot of spirits don¡¯t even know they¡¯re dead. They just want to be around the living because it makes them feel better,¡± Greta began.


    Suddenly, Greta lurched forward and seized Beatrix¡¯s hands in her gnarled claws.


    Caught off guard, Beatrix flinched. She had no idea Greta could move that fast.


    ¡°But don¡¯t be fooled,¡± Greta said in a hushed voice, her stale breath hitting Beatrix''s face as she tried not to be overheard. ¡°Spectra knows she¡¯s dead. She¡¯s very aware of it.¡± The goblin woman¡¯s jagged nails dug painfully into Beatrix¡¯s palms. ¡°Self-aware spirits sometimes latch onto someone, so they can experience life through them secondhand. Spectra misses being alive¡­ you help her feel that again¡­¡± Greta¡¯s gaze drifted, her thoughts somewhere else.


    Beatrix pulled away from the goblin woman''s grasp.


    ¡°A clingy ghost is better than a bunch of vengeful bloodsuckers,¡± Beatrix said, rubbing her hand where Greta¡¯s claws had almost broken the skin.


    ¡°Poltergeists are nothing but trouble. Watch yourself, girlie,¡± Greta warned.


    Just then, a speaker crackled to life overhead, turning on for a school-wide announcement.


    ¡°Attention students. As of today, the ban on leaving school grounds has been lifted. Please exercise this restored privilege responsibly. That is all,¡± Headmistress Bloodgood¡¯s voice declared.


    Scattered cheers and whoops of joy could be heard from classrooms down the halls.


    Beatrix¡¯s jaw dropped. She couldn''t believe what she''d just heard.


    They lifted the ban? Just like that? Without any explanation? What about the big school board trial that was supposed to get to the bottom of what went down at that nightclub in New Salem?


    The last Beatrix had heard, the higher-ups at Monster High were still investigating whether Bram and Vilhelm had something to do with Gilda Goldstag''s death.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    None of it made any sense.


    Does this mean the school board believes what I said about Bram and Vilhelm? And vampires aren''t a threat to students here anymore? Is everyone safe now?


    For the first time in a while, Beatrix felt a glimmer of hope that she might be able to stay at Monster High after all.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear you, ladies!¡± Cleo called, her voice ringing out over the wind whipping through the convertible. The mummy clapped her bandaged hands together, golden bangles clinking.


    The ghouls chanted in unison, "We got spirit, yes we do! We got spirit, how ''bout you?" They stomped to the beat as Ghoulia drove them up the winding mountain road back to Monster High. Dusk was falling, painting the sky in vibrant shades of magenta and coral.


    The fearleading ghouls were still buzzing from their huge win earlier.


    That morning, they had all piled into cars and road tripped out to Washington to face off against a bunch of fearleading squads from small private monster schools. But in the end, Monster High had crushed the competition. None of the other squads even came close to matching their skills and diversity, so they ended up completely sweeping the semi-finals.


    Now, the team was making their way back to campus.


    In the car Beatrix was in, the zombie always by Cleo''s side, Ghoulia Yelps was behind the wheel, her glazed eyes staring unblinkingly ahead as she maintained a slow, crawling pace. The other cars full of fearleaders had zoomed ahead of them, but Beatrix was secretly grateful for Ghoulia''s slow driving style. It was the only thing keeping her from feeling car sick on the twisty mountain road.


    Beatrix glanced over at Cleo in the passenger seat, who was practically glowing with happiness. Beatrix guessed it was probably a combo of the thrill from their big win and the fact that Headmistress Bloodgood had finally lifted the travel ban on students, so they weren¡¯t cooped up on campus anymore.


    In the back seat, Beatrix was sandwiched between Autumn and a yeti named Abbey, whose skin was so cold it was making Beatrix''s arm go numb.


    Abbey wasn¡¯t the only one giving Beatrix a cold shoulder.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Beatrix could see Autumn scrolling through her iCoffin, pointedly ignoring her. The scarecrow had been like this all day.


    As Ghoulia drove them through the school''s front gates, with the Monster High crest hanging above them, Beatrix started thinking about the school board trial again. It was happening tomorrow, but Beatrix wasn¡¯t nervous about it anymore. Since the lockdown was over, Beatrix figured that the vampire boys had already been found guilty and that her place at Monster High was secure. Of course, this was all just an assumption on her part. Nothing was for sure until the school board actually announced the verdict.


    But Beatrix couldn''t be bothered to worry about what-ifs. Right now, she just wanted to celebrate the fearleading team¡¯s victory and focus on something more pressing ¡ª getting her hands on some wolfsbane.


    No matter what happened with Bram and Vilhelm, Beatrix knew she might still have to deal with pissed off vamps like Gory. A witch could never be too prepared.


    Once Ghoulia pulled the car into the student lot, Beatrix couldn¡¯t wait to stretch her legs after the long drive. The fearleaders clambered out one by one, groaning as they stretched their stiff muscles.


    Clawdeen, who was sitting on the grass nearby, waved at the group. "Hey, ghouls! Over here!" Cleo, Ghoulia, Abbey, Toralei, Beatrix, and Autumn made their way over, their luggage in tow.


    Beside Clawdeen was Venus, another member of the fearleading squad. With her green skin and vibrant pink hair, Venus was hard to miss. Beatrix didn''t know much about the plant monster, except that she wasn''t too thrilled about a witch tagging along with Autumn to all the fearleading stuff. Oh, and that she was the head of the school''s gardening club.


    The latter was what piqued Beatrix¡¯s interest.


    Beatrix needed to get her hands on some wolfsbane, and the school gardens were her best bet. She¡¯d tried to sneak into the garden the other night, but the greenhouses had been locked.


    ¡°Took you long enough! The rest of us got back over an hour ago!¡± Clawdeen said as the group reached her.


    Toralei shot a glare at Ghoulia. "We wouldn¡¯t have taken so long if someone drove faster,¡± she hissed.


    Cleo stepped in front of Ghoulia, hands on her hips. "You have a problem with Ghoulia, you have a problem with me,¡± Cleo scolded. The mummy was used to putting Toralei in her place.


    Toralei¡¯s ears flattened, looking a little dejected as she muttered, ¡°Whatever.¡±


    Autumn placed a comforting hand on Toralei¡¯s shoulder. Beatrix expected Toralei to shrug Autumn¡¯s hand off, but she didn¡¯t.


    Huh¡­ maybe Autumn was right about them becoming friends, Beatrix thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, kitty. We gotta celebrate winning the semi-finals!¡± Clawdeen rallied. ¡°Who''s going to Draculaura''s tonight?"


    "Wait, what''s happening at Draculaura''s?" Beatrix asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re meeting up at Draculaura¡¯s house for a kick back,¡± Clawdeen said. ¡°Didn''t you see my text in the group chat?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ no, I didn¡¯t,¡± Beatrix said. She glanced at Autumn, who was busy chatting with Toralei on the side, aloof to the conversation. Autumn had been keeping Beatrix out of the loop more and more lately.


    It was obvious Autumn had put up a wall between them and Beatrix had no idea why. The scarecrow had never done this before; it was entirely new territory.


    ¡°Who is going to this, how you say, ¡®kick back¡¯?¡± Abbey asked Clawdeen in her thick accent.


    ¡°Just the fearleaders. We¡¯re having a ghoul¡¯s night!¡±


    Cleo tossed her hair over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere until I bathe.¡±


    Clawdeen rolled her eyes. ¡°Try not to take a three hour bubble bath, your royal highness. We¡¯ll meet you at Drac¡¯s soon.¡±


    As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the fearleaders began to disperse, lugging their bags towards the dorms.


    Autumn looked over her shoulder at Beatrix, almost as an afterthought. ¡°You coming?¡± The question sounded like it was more out of obligation than genuine interest.


    Beatrix shook her head. "Nah, you go ahead."


    Autumn walked off with Toralei.


    Beatrix approached Clawdeen and Venus, who were still sitting in the grass to watch the sun set.


    She plopped down beside them, the blades of grass tickling her legs. "Hey, mind if I sit with you guys for a bit?" she asked, trying to sound casual.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Clawdeen said.


    Venus, on the other hand, didn¡¯t look too happy about Beatrix''s arrival. Her lips pressed together in a tight line.


    Undeterred, Beatrix attempted to steer the conversation towards the gardening club and their plants. "So, Venus," she began, "I was thinking the lunch ladies could really use some help spicing up their dishes. Do you have anything I could use?"


    Venus raised an eyebrow. "If you''re looking for oregano, you¡¯ll have better luck at a grocery store," she said, her tone dismissive.


    Beatrix leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Actually, I¡¯m looking for something a little more unique. You know, something with a real kick to it."


    Venus shrugged. "I mean, it¡¯s not like you can cook with them, but we grow snapdragons, wormwood, hemlock, wolfsbane¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wow, those sound wicked! Any chance I could go see them?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Venus''s expression grew uneasy, and she glanced at Clawdeen as if seeking backup.


    Clawdeen chimed in. "Weren¡¯t you gonna swing by the garden anyway, Venus? To check on your poppies before we head to Draculaura¡¯s?¡±


    Thank the hells for Clawdeen, Beatrix thought, fighting back a smile.


    Venus mumbled, "Yeah, I was..."


    Beatrix jumped at the opportunity. "Perfect! I''ll tag along, if that''s cool with you." She gave Venus her most winning smile. The plant monster was obviously annoyed, but Beatrix wasn''t about to back down. She needed that wolfsbane, no matter what.


    Spectra''s advice about copying a werewolf power was her only shot at defending herself against Gory and the other vampires.


    Beatrix refused to end up like Gilda Goldstag.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The sun had set by the time Beatrix, Clawdeen, and Venus set out, leaving only the moon to light their way as they headed into the woods. The trail twisted and turned, taking them deeper into the forest and away from Monster High. They pushed through the thick bushes, ducking low branches as they went. The girls were heading to Draculaura''s place, which was about a mile from the school, tucked away in the middle of the forest.


    Draculaura was one of the lucky few who had a place off campus, all because she was the sole descendant of the infamous Dracula¡ªthe king of old money. The rule that kept students on school grounds had forced Draculaura to stay in a private dorm at Monster High for the past few months, but as soon as the ban was lifted, Draculaura had immediately moved back to her beloved forest home.


    As Beatrix, Clawdeen, and Venus trekked uphill, Clawdeen walked at an effortlessly quick pace, her strong legs unfazed by the steep incline.


    The deeper they ventured into the woods, the more the forest stirred. A squirrel chittered nearby, and in the distance, ravens cawed through the trees, shill and foreboding.


    The frigid night air was making Beatrix shiver, so she shoved her hands into her pockets to warm up. Inside her jacket, Beatrix¡¯s fingers brushed against the wolfsbane leaves she¡¯d stolen from the school garden earlier while Clawdeen and Venus were distracted. Beatrix had stuffed dozens of those purple leaves in her jacket and now was just hoping they wouldn''t crinkle too loud and blow her cover.


    Suddenly, Clawdeen''s ears twitched, her heightened senses picking up on something. "You guys hear that?" she asked, her voice low and cautious.


    Beatrix''s heart skipped a beat, worried that Clawdeen might have heard the wolfsbane in her pockets. She held her breath, watching as the werewolf glanced around, her keen eyes surveying the mossy trees that surrounded them.


    "Hear what?" Venus asked, her own senses not as sharp as Clawdeen''s.


    That¡¯s when Beatrix noticed how quiet the forest had become. The animals and birds had fallen silent, leaving only the sound of the ghouls¡¯ breathing and the quiet thump of something moving in the darkness.


    Thump-a-thump.


    Beatrix''s ears perked up, straining to pinpoint the source of the noise.


    Thump-a-thump.


    The noise''s rhythm was unsteady, not too far off in the woods. Like hooves stomping in the dirt.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably just some animal,¡± Clawdeen said.


    Venus was getting antsy. "Come on, we''re gonna be late."


    As the others walked on, Beatrix hung back, curious about the strange noise. She squinted into the trees, her eyes adjusting to the dimness of the forest.


    Slowly, she started to make out a shape. A big, black shadow, standing motionless between the pines.


    Beatrix couldn¡¯t tell if it was a boulder, a tree trunk, or something else¡­


    ¡°You coming?¡± Clawdeen called out to Beatrix.


    Beatrix hurried to catch up with them. As she pushed through the dense foliage, she spotted twinkling lights glimmering through a break in the towering trees.


    Draculaura''s house was like something out of a magazine ¡ª chic and modern, an architectural marvel tucked back against the mountainside. It was three stories tall with a polished white wrap-around porch and every wall was made almost entirely of glass.


    When Beatrix, Clawdeen, and Venus reached the grand front doors, it swung open before they could even knock, and Beatrix saw a familiar face in the doorway.


    ¡°Guillermo!¡± Beatrix said. She hadn''t spoken to him since the nightclub incident. They¡¯d seen each other briefly at MSS meetings, but those had basically turned into silent detention hours because Mr. Gore was still punishing them for the whole sleeping potion thing.


    And for some odd reason, after every MSS meeting, Guillermo had scurried away like a timid mouse before Beatrix could approach him.


    Clawdeen and Venus strode past Guillermo, their heels clicking on the polished marble floor as they entered the massive entryway.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡± Beatrix asked Guillermo.


    "Good," he answered stiffly, looking anywhere but at her.


    Yeah, he¡¯s definitely hiding something.


    ¡°Get in here, Beatrix! You must be freezing!¡± Draculaura beckoned, popping up out of nowhere in the entryway. She took Beatrix''s arm and pulled her inside with a surprisingly strong grip for someone so tiny. Vampire strength was no joke, even if you were pint-sized like Draculaura.


    "Guillermo, can you please go make more punch for everyone?" Draculaura added over her shoulder.


    ¡°Right away, master!¡± Guillermo said eagerly, beelining off.


    As Beatrix stepped inside, she gawked at how insanely fancy Draculaura¡¯s place was.


    The first floor featured a wide, sweeping staircase to the right, its railings twisting with intricate designs. To the left, a sleek white piano gleamed under a dazzling crystal chandelier. The living room was decked out with luxurious lounge furniture and plush fur carpets. Through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, breathtaking views of the moonlit forest stretched as far as the eye could see, with shadowy treetops swaying in the night breeze.


    All the fearleading girls were already hanging out in the living room when Beatrix and Draculaura walked in.


    ¡°The witch is here,¡± Abbey announced bluntly. Her statement wasn¡¯t negatively charged; Abbey was simply a straightforward ghoul.


    Beatrix received some friendly waves and hellos from the assembled monsters. Even Cleo graced her with an indifferent look rather than her usual disdain. The fearleaders had gotten used to Beatrix''s presence and were mostly welcoming to her now.


    Except Autumn, who barely looked Beatrix''s way before going back to talking to Frankie.


    ¡°Your house is unreal,¡± Beatrix said to Draculaura, still in awe.


    ¡°This place was a gift from my dad last year for my birthday.¡± Draculaura smiled. ¡°I just wish he wasn''t so old-fashioned. I¡¯d love for you guys to meet him, but he doesn¡¯t really like any monsters besides vampires. He wanted to ship me off to some boring vampire-only academy overseas, but I finally convinced him to let me come here instead. Only took a couple centuries of begging!"


    Beatrix grinned at her. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you ended up here.¡±


    "Right back at you," Draculaura replied, her expression turning mischievous. "You definitely keep things interesting around here, that''s for sure."


    Beatrix tilted her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, mixing witchcraft with monster powers? I¡¯ve never heard of anything like it before. How''d you even come up with the idea to use a sleeping potion and a mermaid song together?¡±


    Beatrix stared at the small vampire, completely dumbfounded. ¡°Um¡­¡±


    How the heck does Draculaura know about the mermaid song? I was so careful to leave that part out when I told Bloodgood what happened during the field trip. If the headmistress finds out, I''m gonna be in so much trouble.


    As far as Beatrix knew, no one else knew about the bizarre witchcraft technique she¡¯d used that night¡­ No one except¡­


    ¡°Drac! We need another player!¡± Clawdeen hollered. The fearleaders were starting up a card game around a large ornate table, shuffling a deck of cards.


    ¡°Go ahead and make yourself at home, Beatrix,¡± Draculaura said breezily as she glided over to join them.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Beatrix muttered under her breath. She then turned on her heel and stomped towards the kitchen.


    She spotted Guillermo standing at the kitchen island, concentrating hard on stirring a large crystal bowl of punch.


    ¡°You,¡± Beatrix accused, keeping her voice low as she marched up to him.


    Guillermo flinched, nearly dropping the ladle. ¡°Beatrix! What¡ª¡±


    ¡°You and Orion promised you wouldn¡¯t say anything about what magic I used,¡± Beatrix interrupted. ¡°So why does Draculaura know about the mermaid song?¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Guillermo sputtered.


    ¡°If people find about about this, I could get kicked out!¡±


    Guillermo started to sweat. "No, listen, it''s not what you¡ª¡±


    Just then, Draculaura''s voice carried in from the living room. "Oh hey, Gory!"


    Beatrix dropped into a crouch, ducking down behind the kitchen island, her heart leaping into her throat. Why is Gory Fangtell here?


    ¡°We heard you were having a little get-together, thought we''d swing by,¡± Gory said to Draculaura. Beatrix couldn¡¯t tell how many vampires she''d brought with her.


    ¡°The more the merrier!¡± Frankie chirped.


    ¡°Is this everyone?¡± Gory asked, a hint of something sinister lurking in her voice ¡°Aren''t there more members of the fear squad gang coming tonight?¡±


    Are they looking for me? Beatrix worried.


    Suddenly, Guillermo dropped down behind the counter with Beatrix, his eyes huge with terror. He silently mouthed something to Beatrix that made her blood run cold:


    Bram and Vilhelm are here.


    No way. Beatrix had to have read his lips wrong. Those two psycho vamps had been MIA ever since Grey ran them off in New Salem. Beatrix figured they had to be suspended while the nightclub and Gilda stuff got investigated.


    But...Bloodgood never actually said they were suspended, did she? Beatrix had just assumed¡­


    And even if they were banned from Monster High, that wouldn''t stop them from showing up at Draculaura''s place. It was way off campus, with no school security¡­


    "Hells," Beatrix breathed. This was bad. Really bad.


    Beatrix cautiously peeked out from behind the counter and caught a glimpse of Bram and Vilhelm. The two boys stood behind Gory and their other bloodsucker friends, looking just as menacing as that night Beatrix saw them draining those human girls.


    Right now, their blood-red eyes were locked on Draculaura, who was the only thing between the pack of undead predators and the kitchen.


    Vampires couldn''t just walk into homes uninvited. Draculaura must¡¯ve been close enough with this group to have invited them over before.


    Beatrix ducked back behind the counter before any of them could notice her.


    ¡°We¡¯re goners,¡± Guillermo whimpered. ¡°I¡¯m too young to die.¡±


    Beatrix heard soft footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Her and Guillermo froze, both thinking the same horrible thing ¡ª a vampire was about to find them.


    Frantic, Beatrix''s eyes darted around, but there were no kitchen knives or even spatulas to arm herself with. They were completely defenseless. Beatrix had no idea what to do.


    I wish Grey was here, she thought miserably, squeezing her eyes shut.


    Then Beatrix heard Guillermo let out a shaky sigh of relief beside her. She opened her eyes and saw Autumn walking into the kitchen, holding two empty glasses in her hands as she made her way to the punch bowl for a refill.


    As Autumn passed their hiding spot, Beatrix''s hand shot out and grabbed the scarecrow''s soft arm, yanking her down to the floor with them.


    ¡°What the¡ª¡± Autumn yelped, button eyes wide.


    Beatrix clamped a hand over Autumn''s mouth. "Shhh! I need your phone, quick!¡±


    "Mmph? Whmm?" Autumn mumbled against Beatrix''s palm.


    Not waiting for an answer, Beatrix reached into Autumn''s jacket and pulled out her orange iCoffin. Beatrix typed in a phone number that she had recently committed to memory, the digits burned into her brain.


    Grey had told Beatrix to call him if she ever ran into trouble, but calling wasn''t an option right now, not with the vamps so close. So instead, Beatrix hastily typed out a text message, her thumbs flying over the keys:


    Mad vamps @ Drac''s. SOS - B.


    She hit send, praying that Grey would see it in time.


    "Gimme that back," Autumn grumbled, making a swipe for her phone. "I gotta refill these drinks for me and Clawdeen."


    Beatrix''s gaze fell on the two glasses in Autumn''s hands, and she froze. One of them still had a few sips of punch left in it, the red liquid sloshing gently. Smudges of crimson lipstick stained the rim of the glass.


    Clawdeen¡¯s lipstick.


    By the look of it, the drink had touched Clawdeen¡¯s lips multiple times.


    And if any of Clawdeen¡¯s saliva had gotten into that cup, it meant Beatrix had werewolf venom right in front of her.


    Spectra''s words echoed in Beatrix''s head: To replicate a werewolf''s strength and speed for a limited time, consume two fingernail-sized amounts of cursed venom.


    Or wait¡­ did Spectra say it was only one fingernail''s worth of venom?


    If Beatrix didn¡¯t get the amount right, she was at risk of transforming into a werewolf permanently, no matter how much wolfsbane she consumed to counteract the effects.


    But there was no time for second-guessing now.


    Even if Draculaura and the other fearleading ghouls tried to intervene, Beatrix wasn''t convinced they''d be able to fend off a vengeful horde of bloodthirsty vampires.


    But if Clawdeen''s werewolf venom gave Beatrix a boost of supernatural speed and strength? They might just have a shot at getting out of this in one piece. Beatrix didn''t care if she had to sling Autumn and Guillermo over her shoulders and make a mad dash all the way back to campus herself; she wasn''t about to let those vicious vamps kill her and her friends.


    Beatrix turned to Guillermo and whispered, ¡°Is there a back door?¡±


    "It¡¯s right over there.¡± Guillermo pointed a shaky finger to a glass door in the kitchen that barely looked distinguishable from the glass wall. ¡°But they¡¯ll hear us. The latch on that door is super loud.¡±


    Beatrix chewed her lip, thinking. If they could just get out of here fast enough, it wouldn''t matter if the latch was loud. But that all hinged on Spectra''s werewolf power plan actually working.


    Ultimately, when it came to unconventional witchcraft techniques, Spectra knew her stuff. That mermaid song had worked like a charm, after all. Beatrix decided to trust in Spectra¡¯s plan, no matter how out-there it might seem.


    Before she could talk herself out of it, Beatrix snatched Clawdeen¡¯s glass from Autumn and downed the leftover liquid in one gulp. She was grateful that Clawdeen¡¯s saliva was mixed with tropical punch and maraschino cherries.


    ¡°Bea, what on earth¡ª¡±


    Beatrix was already digging into her pockets and pulling out fistfuls of purple wolfsbane leaves. She shoved them into her mouth and swallowed them down whole, not even bothering to chew, desperate to get the bitter herbs down her throat as quickly as possible. They tasted like dirt on her tongue, but she barely noticed.


    Once she¡¯d gulped down the odd mix of ingredients, Beatrix started crawling across the cold kitchen floor to the back door. Guillermo followed.


    ¡°Uh¡­ is someone gonna tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Autumn demanded.


    ¡°Not now, strawhead.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± Autumn snapped, voice rising.


    Beatrix twisted around to face Autumn and pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh! Not now. Trust me, okay? Now let¡¯s go."


    Autumn looked ready to argue, but with a huff of frustration, she gave in and began crawling after them.


    When Beatrix reached the back door, she reached up and slowly turned the knob, pushing the door open just a crack. A sliver of cool night air slipped into the kitchen, carrying with it the earthy scent of the forest.


    Beatrix squeezed through the narrow opening and lowered herself down Draculaura''s back porch steps. Guillermo and Autumn followed suit, copying Beatrix, and stepped down onto the forest grounds below. Their shoes crunched on the bed of pine needles that blanketed the ground.


    Once Autumn made it out, the door¡¯s heavy latch clicked loudly back into place behind them.


    "There''s no way they didn''t hear us," Guillermo said, his voice trembling.


    ¡°Pudgy¡¯s right. You really thought you could sneak away?¡± a chillingly familiar voice suddenly purred in Beatrix''s ear, the words dripping with malice.


    With a yelp, Beatrix jolted away and fell sideways into the dirt. Heart hammering, she looked up to see Bram and Vilhelm towering over her, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.


    One of the vampire boys gave Beatrix a hollow smile, his sharp fangs gleaming in the moonlight like polished blades.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been meaning to speak with you, witch snitch.¡±

 8. Pain in the Neck

    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Beatrix said, trying to sound tough from her spot on the ground.


    Bram''s face twisted into a mocking pout. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have lied to Bloodgood about us.¡±


    ¡°Lie?¡± Beatrix¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie about anything. I told Bloodgood exactly what I saw in New Salem.¡± She paused, then added defiantly, "Look, I didn''t mean to piss anyone off, I just didn''t want to die. I''m sure you can understand."


    A few paces behind Bram, Vilhelm let out a harsh laugh, leaning against a gnarled oak tree. "Gory was right," he said, a wicked gleam in his crimson eyes, ¡°she¡¯s a spirited one.¡±


    Bram ignored him, keeping his eyes on Beatrix as he stepped closer. "Didn''t your mother ever tell you lying is wrong?" he asked, his voice dripping with fake concern.


    ¡°Hey, who knows if she even has a mom?¡± Vilhelm chimed in. ¡°Aren¡¯t witches raised by a bunch of devil-worshiping fan girls?¡±


    Bram snickered. ¡°More like a bunch of devil-worshiping cat ladies. With her manners, she might as well have grown up in a barn.¡±


    Any other day, Beatrix might''ve laughed their insults off. Witch covens were pretty ridiculous, after all. But right now, trapped and terrified, she couldn''t see the humor in it.


    There was something off about how these boys talked ¡ª they spoke in a strange, old-fashioned way that didn''t match their youthful faces; a creepy reminder of what they really were: ancient predators stuck in teenage bodies, ready to attack at any moment. Beatrix felt her blood run cold as she realized just how screwed she was.


    Vilhelm pushed himself off from the tree and sauntered closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. "Why were you stalking us at the Halloween party?" he asked, his tone suddenly serious.


    "What are they talking about?" Autumn piped up a few feet away, her brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to piece together the conversation.


    "They''re the vampires we caught feeding on those human girls!" Guillermo blurted out, making Bram and Vilhelm turn their chilling glares upon him. Trembling, Guillermo ducked behind Autumn. "Allegedly," Guillermo added in a small voice.


    Autumn looked seriously confused, her gaze darting between the vampires and Beatrix. "What girls?"


    Guillermo peeked out from behind the scarecrow. "Beatrix didn''t tell you?"


    "Nope¡­ but I''m not surprised," Autumn huffed, crossing her arms. She glanced at Beatrix, clearly hurt. "Bea never tells me anything¡­"


    Bram snapped his fingers, drawing Beatrix''s attention back to him. ¡°So, why¡¯d you lie to Bloodgood, witch snitch?¡± he demanded. ¡°Were you that desperate for attention? Feeling left out at school and wanted your moment in the spotlight?¡±


    ¡°You''ve been a real pain this past month," Vilhelm added coldly, slowly circling Beatrix.


    Beatrix felt her fear giving way to anger, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.


    "Maybe you should¡¯ve thought about that before killing innocent humans!" Beatrix snapped, "and monsters!"


    Bram and Vilhelm exchanged a bewildered look.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Beatrix said firmly, adrenaline pushing her to be bolder than she should have been. ¡°I know what you did to Gilda Goldstag.¡±


    "Wait, you think we killed Gilda?" Bram snorted in disbelief.


    Beatrix maintained her glare, convinced.


    ¡°Oh man, she¡¯s serious!¡± Vilhelm wheezed. He doubled over laughing, like it was the funniest thing he''d ever heard.


    Bram''s smile faded fast. His eyes got dangerous as he leaned in close to Beatrix.


    "Well, if we really did what you''re accusing us of,¡± he said, his voice low and menacing, ¡°then you''ve definitely messed with the wrong monsters.¡±


    ¡°Bloodgood can¡¯t save you out here, witch snitch,¡± Vilhelm said.


    The vampire boys advanced a step closer. Beatrix scrambled back.


    Suddenly, Autumn scooped up a rock and threw it with all her might, aiming at the boys¡¯ heads. "Stop messing with her!" she yelled. The rock sailed through the air, only to land with a soft, anticlimactic thud a few inches from Vilhelm''s black dress shoes, missing its target by a wide margin. With a smirk, Vilhelm casually kicked the rock away, sending it skittering into the underbrush.


    "Nice throw," he sneered, taking another step towards Beatrix.


    Despite their playful facade, another emotion brimmed under the surface: impatience. They were looking at Beatrix like she was nothing more than a blood bag, eager to drain her dry and discard her lifeless body before she could even scream.


    Bram''s lips curled into a cruel smile. "Sorry, scarecrow. There won''t be anything left of your witch friend once we''re done with her," Bram taunted. ¡°Don''t worry, we''ll make it quick¡­¡±


    Beatrix was struck with horror. The surrounding trees, which had seemed so close before, now felt miles away. Escaping into the woods was impossible now.


    Even if she tried to make a break for it, she knew vampires were faster than all other supernatural creatures, except¡ª


    As if on cue, a shudder ran through Beatrix''s body, shaking her from the inside out. It spread from her head to her chest, reaching deep into her bones. Her jaw trembled, not from the cold, but from a sickening sensation rising within her.


    Each fingertip and toe tingled with an electric intensity. Blood rushed in her ears, momentarily numbing her senses before bringing them back into hyper-focus. The world around her shifted, colors becoming more vivid, scents more potent.


    Her vision sharpened dramatically, capturing every individual pine needles strewn across the forest floor. The vampires'' pale skin ¡ª once alluring ¡ª now appeared corpse-like in her heightened sight. Bram and Vilhelm''s faces transformed before her eyes, taking on a grotesque, zombie-like appearance. Every whiff of her nostrils brought a wave of revulsion, their scent a nauseating mix of decay and stagnant blood.


    In that moment, Beatrix grasped why Orion and most werewolves loathed these undead creatures. The revulsion was visceral, primal.


    Everything was happening too fast. She could hear every anxious breath from Guillermo, the sound of Autumn tugging at her seams in excruciating detail. And a terrifying thought sliced through her panic: what if I didn¡¯t eat enough wolfsbane?


    Her hands shook violently as she fumbled for more leaves in her pocket, but her hands spasmed uncontrollably. The hairs on her arms and legs stood on end, waves of nerves coursing through her body like an intensified flu.


    She felt on the verge of vomiting, but she fought the urge. She couldn¡¯t expel the ingredients giving her this temporary werewolf strength.


    Voices swirled around her, indistinct and distorted.


    Beatrix forced her eyes open to see Bram lunging towards her, closing in, sharp nails poised to strike. But to Beatrix¡¯s surprise and amazement, Bram was moving at her in slow motion, giving her an opportunity to spring up and react.


    Acting on pure instinct, she grabbed Bram''s forearm and, with a surge of strength that shocked even her, forcefully flung him away.


    A loud crash echoed through the night, followed by a scream¡ªGory¡¯s scream?¡ªand startled shouts from inside Draculaura¡¯s house.


    Beatrix whirled around. One of the kitchen windows was completely shattered, glass shards glittering on the back porch. She¡¯d sent Bram straight through the window.


    Before she could process what she''d done, an iron grip closed around her throat. Vilhelm slammed her against a tree, the back of her head colliding with the trunk. Stars exploded behind her eyes. Her werewolf strength was fading rapidly, the remaining trace of venom the only thing allowing her to endure the brutal impact.


    Beatrix clawed desperately at Vilhelm''s arm, but he didn''t even flinch. His sharp nails, filed to points, dug into her neck, causing blood to trickle down to her collarbone. His grip¡ªsolid like concrete¡ªtightened mercilessly around her throat.


    Just as black spots began to dance at the edges of her vision, Beatrix noticed a sudden change in Vilhelm''s expression. His eyes lost focus, the murderous intent fading away, and his jaw relaxed, no longer clenched in anger. His blood-red gaze grew distant and unfocused, as if he were looking through her rather than at her.


    Something crossed Beatrix''s fuzzy mind: Vilhelm''s glazed expression reminded her a lot of how Manny the minotaur looked after Operetta sang him a lullaby in the screamatorium.


    That was the last thought Beatrix had before the world went black.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°Bea? Bea!¡±


    Beatrix felt the gentle touch of soft hands on her cheek, unmistakably Autumn''s, trying to prevent her from slipping back into unconsciousness.


    Beatrix''s eyes fluttered open as she gasped for air, her lungs burning as they fought to restore the blood flow to her head.


    "Thank goodness," Autumn cried, relief evident in her voice. Autumn and Guillermo''s worried faces swam into focus above her.


    The buzzing in Beatrix¡¯s bones had disappeared entirely, replaced by a heavy, weighted sensation that made her body feel like a sack of bricks. Slumped against the tree where she¡¯d been thrown, she saw Vilhelm collapsed on the ground next to her. He appeared as if he had simply dozed off during their fight¡ªif it could even be called a fight.


    Immediately, Beatrix knew she would have met her demise if Vilhelm hadn''t fallen into that strange trance. At first, she''d thought that during their struggle, she''d managed to strike him and knock him out.


    However, Beatrix''s attention was quickly drawn to Draculaura, who stood nearby. Draculaura''s eyes were unnaturally wide, fixated on Vilhelm''s sleeping form with an eerie, hypnotic intensity.


    "Look," Guillermo whispered, crouching down in front of Beatrix. He nodded towards Draculaura. "That''s how she did it. I¡­ I didn''t want to tell her about your weird sleeping potion, but she made me¡­"


    Mind control? Beatrix thought. Like what Operetta and mermaids can do, but stronger? She was too exhausted to figure it out now.


    Glancing around, Beatrix noticed all the other vampires had vanished. Bram, Gory, and their friends must have fled to avoid falling under Draculaura''s trance.


    Beatrix tried to lift herself up, but her body wouldn¡¯t cooperate, and she sank back against the tree. She stared up at the stars peeking through the tips of the surrounding pines. The world still felt off-kilter as she struggled to process everything that had just happened.


    Suddenly, Frankie¡¯s strong green arms scooped her up effortlessly. Beatrix looked up at the tall girl carrying her, and couldn''t help but laugh inwardly at how ridiculous she must look ¨C like an oversized baby being cradled.


    Frankie gently set Beatrix down on Draculaura¡¯s porch, and immediately the other Fearleading ghouls swarmed around her, bombarding her with questions.


    "Did you really throw Bram?" Frankie Stein asked, her mismatched eyes sparkling, amazed.


    "How did you do that?" Iris Clops asked.


    "No way, that''s impossible,¡± Toralei scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re just a normie.¡±


    "That window¡¯s goin¡¯ to cost a pretty penny to replace!¡± Scarah Screams fretted. ¡°You best hope Dracula doesn''t catch wind of this mess!"


    Abbey pressed an icy hand to Beatrix''s collarbone. Her frigid touch was refreshing, and helped clear Beatrix¡¯s head a bit. Meanwhile, Ghoulia shuffled over with a damp pink washcloth from Draculaura''s kitchen. With gentle pressure, she applied it to Beatrix''s wound to stop the bleeding and wipe away the dirt on her neck.


    Venus leaned in, plucking a purple leaf from Beatrix''s cheek. "Is this... wolfsbane?"


    "That was incredible, Trixie!¡± Frankie said, oblivious to Venus¡¯s comment. ¡°You were so strong, like... like..."


    "Like a wolf," Clawdeen finished, wrinkling her nose. "I can smell it on you. But... it''s fading.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°What''s going on? Did you get bit? Why didn''t you transform?"


    "Hey, thank ghoulness she didn¡¯t transform. We don¡¯t need another mutt around here. The wet dog smell is bad enough already,¡± Toralei smirked and flicked her tail, unable to resist taking a jab.


    Clawdeen''s ears flattened and responded with a low growl.


    "Look, the witch has bite marks,¡± Abbey observed, taking her cold hand off Beatrix.


    Beatrix tensed. The nail marks on her neck, courtesy of Vilhelm, might have resembled a wolf bite. But how could Beatrix explain she hadn''t been bitten¡ªthat she¡¯d actually ingested Clawdeen''s saliva from a punch cup? She hadn''t planned on having to reveal the unorthodox form of witchcraft she''d used.


    Thankfully, everyone¡¯s questions came to an abrupt halt as Cleo parted the fearleaders like the Red Sea. Ghoulia shuffled aside to make room as Cleo carefully unwrapped a piece of shimmering golden fabric from her pinky finger and palm.


    Without a word, Cleo began wrapping the gold fabric around Beatrix''s neck.


    "Cleo¡ª" Beatrix started, but was quickly cut off.


    "Zip it," Cleo commanded. "Keep it on overnight and give it back to me tomorrow morning. My skin dries out like the Sahara without it."


    Beatrix didn''t feel any different with the wrapping on. Still, she was touched by Cleo¡¯s unexpected act of kindness. However, the tender moment was interrupted by a roar of thunder that echoed across the mountainside.


    The ghouls looked up, bracing for rain, but the sound wasn¡¯t coming from the sky ¡ª it was rapidly approaching through the dense woods.


    A powerful engine rumbled, growing louder and louder. Suddenly, a sleek black motorcycle burst from the treeline, its headlight slicing through the gloom. It tore down the tree-lined road towards Draculaura''s house, tires screeching as the rider expertly brought it to a halt in the driveway, leaving twin streaks of rubber on the pavement.


    The motorcyclist''s broad shoulders and muscular frame was apparent, even beneath his battered leather jacket. He yanked off his helmet, revealing pitch-black eyes and gray skin.


    Hushed whispers rippled through the crowd of fearleaders.


    ¡°Is that¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Grey dismounted swiftly, his heavy boots crunching on the gravel as he strode towards the group.


    "I left as soon as I saw your text,¡± Grey said, his voice tight with worry as he caught his breath. Towering above the others, his dark eyes swept Draculaura¡¯s backyard. His gaze settled on Draculaura, who was still exerting her mind control over Vilhelm.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve been here sooner,¡± Grey admitted, guilt racking his gruff voice. ¡°You¡¯re hurt.¡±


    He knelt in front of Beatrix, his large frame filling her vision, blocking out everything else. His black eyes locked onto her neck, and with surprising gentleness, his calloused hands moved to assess her wounds, his touch sending an unexpected surge of heat to Beatrix''s face.


    Flustered by her body''s reaction, Beatrix forced a grin. "I''m fine," she said. "I was wondering what took you so long. What happened to keeping an eye on me, Death Lord?"


    But Grey wasn''t in a bantering mood. His hand dropped to the staff he always kept secured at his belt, his whole body tense. "I was in the forest on the other side of campus," he said, tone clipped.


    Before Beatrix could ask why, Grey anticipated her question.


    ¡°Another student was found in the woods."


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The massive doors of the screamatorium loomed before Beatrix.


    What had started as a simple school board trial had escalated into an emergency town hall, or a PTA meeting gone wild.


    The moment news broke about the incident at Draculaura''s house, hell had broken loose. Rumors of Beatrix¡¯s face-off with the vamps and her mysterious surge of werewolf strength had spread through the school like wildfire.


    And as if that wasn''t enough, another student''s death had just been confirmed.


    Now, behind those imposing doors, every monster imaginable awaited her.


    Beatrix would¡¯ve done almost anything to avoid going in. She¡¯d gladly trim a cyclops¡¯s toenails, or dive headfirst into the murky depths of the Black Lagoon and let Levi¡ªLagoona¡¯s lake dweller ¡°friend¡±¡ªswallow her whole. Hells, she¡¯d even square off against Bram and Vilhelm again, assuming she had another dose of werewolf venom.


    Anything to avoid the judgment waiting on the other side of those doors.


    Well¡­ anything except going back to my aunts¡¯ farm, Beatrix reminded herself.


    That¡¯s why she had to walk through those doors. Otherwise, she¡¯d be on a one-way train ride home to endure her aunts¡¯ squawking for the rest of her days, with no choice but to sign her soul away.


    A touch on her shoulder brought Beatrix back to the present.


    She tilted her head to meet Grey''s gaze as they stood in a hidden side hallway ¡ª a secret entrance to the screamatorium she hadn''t known existed until this evening. Grey had suggested taking this route to avoid drawing any attention before the meeting began. She silently thanked the hells she wasn''t going in there alone.


    ¡°Stay near me,¡± Grey instructed, quietly easing open one of the heavy doors. A sliver of the dimly lit screamatorium beyond came into view. As Grey stepped inside, his broad frame blocked most of Beatrix''s line of sight. She followed closely behind, practically clinging to his shadow.


    Grey guided her to a pair of vacant seats in a far back row. Beatrix took in the dizzying array of creatures before them. Nearly every Monster High kid had brought their families along for this trial. Beatrix already found the regular students at Monster High intimidating, but their parents were on a whole other level of freaky.


    Rows upon rows of seats stretched out, packed with monsters of every conceivable shape and size. The main floor teemed with activity, while the second-story balconies groaned under the weight of even more spectators. In the cavernous screamatorium, hulking werewolf parents sat beside flickering ghosts, while tentacles and talons waved wildly as heated discussions erupted across the crowd.


    As she followed Grey, Beatrix noticed Deuce a few rows ahead. His mom, Medusa, sat beside him, her serpent tail flicking angrily between seats. On Deuce¡¯s other side sat Cleo, her fingers intertwined with his. Earlier that morning, Beatrix had returned Cleo¡¯s wrappings and discovered that Cleo¡¯s bandages weren¡¯t just for show. The red nail marks left by Vilhlem¡¯s chokehold had faded overnight thanks to the enchanted cloth. It was no wonder the centuries-old mummy always looked so flawless.


    As Beatrix glanced at Cleo, she wondered where the rest of the de Nile family was. Were they all mummified like Cleo?


    Beatrix and Grey settled into their seats, their all-black outfits helping them blend into the shadows that cloaked the far edges of the screamatorium. From here, they had a clear view of Headmistress Bloodgood on stage, who was struggling to maintain composure as angry voices bombarded her.


    A hulking troll roared, "Now there¡¯s two Monster High students found dead this semester! What¡¯s going on?¡±


    "What''s the administration doing to keep our kids safe?" a harpy demanded.


    From an upper balcony, a banshee shrieked, forcing nearby spectators to cover their ears, "Get rid of the vampires! They''re nothing but trouble!"


    A pale vampire lord stood. "You can¡¯t blame our boys without evidence! If there''s going to be such prejudice against our kind, we''ll pull our children out of school ourselves!"


    "Oh, please!" a werewolf dad scoffed. "Vampires get so many special privileges here, you''d never leave!"


    Another vampire hissed, baring her fangs. "The witch''s accusations are baseless. Bram and Vilhelm aren''t responsible for any deaths!"


    The arguments intensified, voices overlapping:


    ¡°So two students just dropped dead out of nowhere?¡±


    "Why did a bunch of bloodsuckers go after the fearleading squad?"


    "They were just trying to talk to the witch!"


    "That witch doesn''t belong at Monster High! Bram and Vilhelm were getting rid of a threat! She¡¯s probably the one who¡¯s killing our students!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know if those students were murdered! The school''s not telling us anything! How could the headmistress let this happen?"


    "I''ll tell you why! That devil-worshiper charmed Bloodgood so she could get to our kids!"


    Bloodgood gripped the podium, trying in vain to regain some semblance of order as the theories and accusations swelled.


    One thing was certain: another student¡ªa werewolf named "Brocko"¡ªhad been found in the woods. And just like Gilda Goldstag, no one knew his cause of death.


    In the front rows, the werewolf pack huddled together, mourning. Even Orion, who was usually the odd wolf out, had joined his packmates in their grief.


    Beatrix''s gaze drifted to the Wolf siblings. Clawd and Clawdeen were a mess. Clawdeen¡¯s face was buried in her hands, and beside her, Draculaura was doing her best to comfort Clawd, rubbing his back in slow circles. But even Draculaura looked rough. Those bags under her eyes were new, and Beatrix swore the vampire girl was even paler than usual.


    Draculaura had recently confided in Beatrix that her ¡°vegetarian¡± lifestyle had its drawbacks. Although she¡¯d inherited the mind control ability from her father, her animal blood diet limited her power. Consequently, the ability came with a taxing physical cost, demanding days of recovery afterwards. The night Draculaura had subdued Vilhelm had left her drained.


    Letting out a sigh, Beatrix scanned the room again and spotted Autumn sitting with Frankie and the other fearleaders in the middle of the assembly. Although Beatrix and Autumn had agreed to put their fight on hold with everything else going on, Beatrix still felt a rift between them, making her feel more alone than ever in the crowded room.


    Beatrix felt Grey place his hand over hers. His focus was still on the stage where Bloodgood struggled against the crowd, but his hand completely enveloped hers. The simple gesture helped steady Beatrix.


    Monster shouts filled the room, debating her fate, until a commanding voice cut through the commotion: ¡°Be still!¡±


    The immediate quiet that followed was so abrupt, it left a ringing emptiness in its wake. Beatrix felt her own tongue freeze in her mouth, and all around her, every monster had fallen silent in perfect unison, like someone had hit a mute button on the whole room.


    Slowly, Beatrix raised her eyes to see where that voice had come. There, on one of the second-floor balconies, stood a figure that practically oozed authority. This monster''s eyes glowed with a burning, otherworldly intensity ¡ª the same kind of intensity she¡¯d seen when Draculaura had entranced Vilhelm.


    Dracula.


    With inhuman grace, Dracula descended from the balcony. He didn''t really fall, he floated, his long cape billowing behind him like the wings of a bat. What should¡¯ve been a bone-shattering drop was, for him, as effortless as stepping down a single stair.


    "This madness must end," Dracula declared as he glided down the center aisle. ¡°Look at yourselves. Everyone''s losing their heads, and for what? A bit of youthful mischief?¡±


    Parents and students cleared a path for him as he passed, their movements eerily synchronized. Beatrix found herself fascinated by his casual display of mind control, by how easily he controlled everyone without saying a word. It made Operetta¡¯s lullaby and the mermaid''s song seem like kid stuff.


    "Come now," Dracula said, sounding amused. "Young monsters, regardless of the era, will be young monsters. It was the first time our offspring were allowed off campus this semester. Are they not allowed a bit of fun?¡±


    Dracula¡¯s piercing gaze swept the room, daring anyone to challenge him. When no one did, he nodded, satisfied. "I propose a simple resolution. Have the Devein and Radescu families issue a formal apology for the damage inflicted upon my daughter''s property. Then we can consider this matter closed."


    But a banshee with an Irish accent wasn''t having it. "Now, hold on just a second," she said sharply. ¡°We all know it was you vampires who pushed to get that campus ban lifted so quickly. The ban was put in place after poor Gilda died in those woods, to keep our kids safe, but you lot couldn''t stand it, could you? You always get your way, and look where it''s got us! More students are dying! You can¡¯t just shirk responsibility and act like nothin'' happened!"


    Dracula¡¯s red eyes bore dangerously into the banshee woman. ¡°I don¡¯t like what you¡¯re suggesting, madam,¡± he said. ¡°We don''t have all the facts yet. It¡¯s unwise to make such hasty accusations.¡±


    The banshee woman wilted under the weight of Dracula''s stare. She lowered her head.


    Dracula shifted his stare to Bloodgood on the stage. "Tell me, Headmistress," he said, "did you really think you could keep our offspring locked up on campus all year because of some... random incident in the woods?"


    Draculaura rose from her seat, placing a hand on Clawd¡¯s shoulder to steady herself. ¡°Dad! Stop it! It wasn¡¯t random!¡± She swayed slightly, looking ill.


    ¡°Not now, ¡®laura,¡± Dracula said.


    But Draculaura ignored him, her voice growing stronger. ¡°Bram and Vilhelm¡¯s parents are on the vampiric council and throw tons of money at the school,¡± she said. ¡°That''s the real reason why they got off so easily after what they did to those human girls. These murders prove that the vampire elite can do whatever they want here!¡±


    Dracula regarded his daughter with an unsettling calmness. "Innocent until proven guilty, my little bat," he said smoothly. Beatrix realized Draculaura was probably the only one who could talk back to her father and remain unscathed.


    Turning back to the second-floor balconies, Dracula called out, "Bram Devein, Vilhelm Radescu. Why don''t you tell us your side of the story? What exactly were your intentions when you confronted the witch that night?¡±


    Bram and Vilhelm stood up. Bram''s arm was in a sling and Vilhelm was covered in bruises. Even though vampire injuries healed quickly, the wounds still made Beatrix look pretty ruthless.


    Beatrix stifled a cackle. Grey glanced over.


    ¡°I did a number on them, huh?¡± Beatrix whispered, unable to hide her satisfaction.


    Grey pressed a finger to his lips, but he was suppressing a grin too.


    "We didn¡¯t want to harm the witch, just frighten her. We only wanted to protect our school,¡± Bram said to the crowd. His words came out rehearsed, as if he''d practiced them countless times.


    "We¡¯re not murderers,¡± Vilhelm added. ¡°The witch is the one you should be questioning. She''s already made up a story about us draining humans in New Salem¡ªwhy would you believe her now? She¡¯s trying to cover up her own evil deeds!"


    A blonde vampire, undoubtedly Bram¡¯s mom, chimed in, "Why are you pointing fingers at my sweet baby boy when there¡¯s a vicious sorceress in our midst?"


    Grey shifted uneasily in his seat, his hand moving to his concealed weapon at his hip. He looked ready to spring into action if things escalated. She knew they were both thinking the same thing ¡ª it was only a matter of time before someone spotted her.


    The room grew rowdy again as other parents joined in. A skeleton in the back rattled loudly as he shouted, ¡°This is ridiculous! Normies don''t belong here! Monster High is for monsters, not witches!"


    ¡°Oh yeah?" a gargoyle countered. "Then why does Draculaura get to keep a human servant on campus?¡± Beatrix hadn''t expected Guillermo to be brought into this.


    "My daughter''s familiar is not the issue here," Dracula snapped. "My little bat is entitled to whatever she needs."


    Though no one spoke against Dracula, Beatrix could feel the resentment simmering in the crowd.


    Dracula continued, growing exasperated, "Besides, vampires don''t even drink monster blood. How could one of us be behind these attacks?"


    A chorus of agreement rose from the assembled monsters. "He¡¯s right! The witch is our only suspect!¡±


    "Get rid of her!" someone cried.


    Beatrix held her breath, pressing herself further into the shadows. She could feel the weight of a hundred monstrous gazes sweeping the room, searching for her.


    Given the evidence, it should have been obvious Bram and Vilhelm were responsible for Gilda and Brocko¡¯s deaths. Yet, Beatrix was trapped in a room with a bunch of ancient overpowered snobs who all had their own agendas. And she was about to be their scapegoat.


    Grey¡¯s hand still held hers. He squeezed it firmly, a silent signal for her to calm down.


    "Where is the witch anyway? She should be facing us, confessing to what she''s done!" a multi-headed hydra demanded, each of its heads nodding in agreement with itself.


    "In all the nine hells¡­" Beatrix mumbled, her frustration finally boiling over. The direction this meeting had taken was pushing her beyond her limits.


    So Beatrix blurted out, "Fine!"


    Beatrix¡¯s outburst startled those sitting nearby, drawing all eyes to her. Gasps and hisses of surprise rippled through the crowd.


    Slipping her hand from Grey''s grip, Beatrix strode towards the front of the screamatorium, nimbly jumping to avoid Medusa''s swishing snake tail. As she reached the stage, she declared, "I''m innocent. But I do have a few things to explain."


    Headmistress Bloodgood frowned. "Ms. Ravenwood, wait a moment¡ª"


    But Beatrix pressed on, "It¡¯s true, I cast some spells. But they were quick, basically harmless, and one was in self-defense."


    ¡°See? The sorceress admits it!¡± someone shrieked.


    "How do we know Bram and Vilhelm attacked her at all? She has no proof!" came another skeptical voice.


    Beatrix reached for her neck, ready to show her wounds, only to remember they''d vanished thanks to Cleo''s wrapping. A surge of anger flashed through her. Did Cleo heal me to get rid of the evidence?


    Bloodgood stepped forward, raising her hands to quiet the crowd. With a measured tone, she began, "I think it''s time I addressed why Ms. Ravenwood is here."


    The headmistress let the murmurs die down before continuing. "As you all know, Monster High has always prided itself on being a sanctuary for all kinds of paranormal beings. Recently, the school board decided it was time to extend that inclusivity to magic-users as well."


    She gestured towards Beatrix. "That¡¯s why Ms. Ravenwood was carefully chosen to join our faculty, as the first step in this integration process."


    Bloodgood''s expression grew somber as she added, "However, given the... unfortunate events of late, the board has decided to delay this initiative indefinitely and seek a more... suitable candidate in the future.


    The headmistress''s words made Beatrix¡¯s stomach drop. I¡¯m being sent home.


    "Good riddance!" someone shouted.


    In the commotion, a timid voice rose. "Headmistress?"


    "Yes, Ms. Patches?" Bloodgood said.


    Autumn¡¯s hand was raised studiously, as if she were in a classroom. When Bloodgood acknowledged her, she stood.


    "Bea¡ªI mean, Beatrix has definitely broken some rules," Autumn began, her voice shaky. "And yeah, that sleeping potion thing on the field trip was bad. But..." She took a deep breath, gathering courage. "What happened at Draculaura''s house was in self-defense. It''s right there in the student handbook, regulation 6.06. You can''t expel someone for defending themselves against a stronger monster¡¯s attack."


    Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Autumn pressed on, ¡°Blaming Beatrix for everything isn¡¯t fair. I''m telling you, she¡¯s not responsible for Gilda Goldstag and Brock Barker''s deaths. Beatrix is always working, juggling multiple jobs as a lunch lady, a janitor, and my emotional support aid. She doesn''t have the time to terrorize students in the woods."


    Autumn''s button eyes met Beatrix''s. "I grew up with her. I know her better than anyone. She''s not capable of this."


    To Beatrix''s surprise, Johannah and Mr. Gore also came to her defense.


    ¡°I want to say something too,¡± Johannah said. ¡°Beatrix has never missed a single MSS seminar, not one, and I''ve seen firsthand how sorry she is for her past actions. She¡¯s really become one of us."


    Mr. Gore cleared his throat and followed suit. "I''ll be the first to admit I had reservations about Ms. Ravenwood. Her actions during the field trip were... troubling, to say the least. But I''ve observed her closely since then. Her attempt to help Jackson, misguided as it was, showed a genuine concern for others. In our interactions, I''ve seen a young woman earnestly trying to understand and connect with monsters. The murderous acts we''re accusing her of... they simply don''t align with the witch I''ve come to know."


    Beatrix felt a wave of relief wash over her, touched by this unexpected support, but Dracula¡¯s cold voice cut in.


    "Pretty words," he sneered, "but they mean nothing if she can practice witchcraft. For all we know, she could be using curses to manipulate those speaking in her favor."


    Then, Dracula looked just beyond Beatrix''s shoulder. The sudden shift in Dracula''s attention caught Beatrix off guard. Confused, she turned, following his line of sight. There, standing a few feet behind her, was Grey. He had silently followed her to the front of the screamatorium, standing guard.


    Dracula addressed Grey. "Why are you protecting this witch?¡± he asked. ¡°She''s allied with your adversaries. Surely you don''t want a pawn of those dark rulers here. Your father would be disappointed."


    Beatrix¡¯s mind reeled. Why would the Grim Reaper disapprove of me? she wondered. And¡­ Grey¡¯s ¡®adversaries¡¯? What¡¯s he talking about?


    She glanced at Grey. Grey didn''t reply, but Beatrix caught the slight furrow of his brows. Dracula had struck a nerve.


    ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t referring to us, Drac,¡± a sultry voice said from the back of the screamatorium


    Expansive red wings unfurled, accompanied by multiple pairs of sharp horns jutting from a group of newcomers'' foreheads.


    Beatrix''s eyes widened in recognition as she gazed at the striking red woman leading the group. It took her a moment to place the face, but then it clicked ¡ª she''d seen this woman featured in the latest issue of Maleficium Monthly: Cassia the Conniving, the demon duchess of the fifth circle of hell.


    Beatrix had never seen a devil in person before.


    Well, technically, devils lacked physical bodies. They were destined to never inhabit human forms on earth, so what she saw before her were merely projections, illusions of flesh and bone. That''s where witches came in¡ªthey bridged the gap between demonic will and physical existence.


    Yet, despite this knowledge, the devils looked as real and solid as anyone else in the room. They appeared to interact tangibly with the floor, their sleek black attire exuding a regal sophistication that absorbed the very light around them.


    Cassia the Conniving was breathtaking: tall, statuesque, with glowing yellow irises that seemed to pierce right through you. Where Dracula inspired fear, Cassia evoked a different reaction¡ªawe, like a living work of art.


    Grey moved swiftly, positioning himself protectively in front of Beatrix against the devil posse.


    "Your Grace," Bloodgood addressed Cassia with a bow, her surprise evident. Beatrix sensed the headmistress was as unprepared for this encounter as she was.


    Cassia''s voice was honey-smooth as she spoke, her words carrying effortlessly across the room. "My little birds told me a witch was on trial today. We thought we¡¯d stop by to observe the proceedings." The devil woman gave Beatrix a charming smile that revealed a glint of sharp teeth.


    "I have a solution to your dilemma," Cassia continued, her smile turning sly. "An offer you can''t refuse. Literally."

 9. Coming in Hot

    ¡°To ensure the headmistress''s efforts to unify witches and monsters aren''t in vain," Cassia said, her voice smooth as silk, yet simultaneously sharp as a blade, ¡°my son will watch over little Beatrix here."


    Dracula stepped forward with a sneer. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± he scoffed.


    The devil duchess turned to face him, her yellow eyes gleaming with wicked amusement. "Oh Vlad," she drawled, drawing out his mortal name mockingly. ¡°I¡¯ve always had a soft spot for bullied witches. Kicking the poor girl out now will just undo all the good Bloodgood''s been trying to do around here¡­ set back her admirable goals of inclusivity."


    Beatrix watched, stunned, as the mighty Dracula seemed to wilt before her eyes. Even the king of vampires wasn¡¯t willing to challenge a high-ranking devil.


    Cassia''s gaze swept over Grey, then past him to land on her. Beatrix instinctively tried to hide behind Grey.


    "Let''s not kid ourselves,¡± Cassia went on. ¡°We''ve still got a vampire problem on our hands. Who¡¯s to say more won¡¯t come after Beatrix, or put other students at risk? That''s where my son comes in.¡± A hint of pride crept into Cassia¡¯s voice. ¡°He''ll keep Beatrix and the rest of the school safe, get to the bottom of this murder mystery. He graduated top of his class in tactical combat. He¡¯ll be able to find your real killer.¡±


    ¡°This is preposterous!¡± Bram''s mom erupted, her fangs flashing. ¡°You can''t let that witch stay¡ª¡±


    Cassia cut her off with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand. ¡°Oh, and do expel those vampire boys while you''re at it. Their behavior has been simply..." she paused, savoring the moment like a cat with a cornered mouse, "... distasteful. We can''t have students attacking anyone, regardless of species.¡±


    Beatrix felt a surge of satisfaction at hearing someone finally stick it to Bram and Vilhelm. She glanced at Autumn, who looked equally pleased. But when Autumn and Beatrix¡¯s eyes met, Beatrix saw her own unease mirrored there. Was this her ticket out of trouble, or was she just diving headfirst into something way, way worse?


    ¡°I know Beatrix here hasn''t been winning any ¡®Employee of the Month'' awards with all these magical mishaps,¡± Cassia said. ¡°But I promise my son will put an end to it. Give him a chance, and we''ll have Monster High back to normal in no time.¡±


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix and Autumn found themselves back in Bloodgood''s office, in the same seats they¡¯d been in during their first meeting with the headmistress at the start of the year.


    This time, though, the room felt very different. The walls seemed to press in, and to Beatrix¡¯s right, Autumn sat fidgeting restlessly, quietly tugging at the seams on her wrists. To Beatrix''s left, Cassia lounged in her chair like she owned the place. By the way her demon posse stood at attention behind her in crisp black military uniforms, maybe she did.


    As Beatrix sat there, she mulled over all the events that had led to this moment. One minute, she''d been branded Public Enemy No. 1, facing down an angry monster mob on the brink of getting kicked out. The next, one of Hell''s most powerful figures was fighting for her place at Monster High. Talk about whiplash.


    The school board''s decision still rang in Beatrix''s ears: Bram and Vilhelm were officially expelled. Part of Beatrix wanted to cheer¡ªthose fanged jerks had it coming¡ªbut it felt off. Too neat. Too easy.


    Then, Bloodgood had pulled Beatrix, Autumn, and all the devils from the screamatorium¡¯s crowd, ushering them away to discuss Cassia''s son in private. Now, in the confines of the headmistress¡¯s office, Beatrix kept sneaking glances at Cassia, trying to get a read on her. But Cassia was the picture of composure, giving absolutely nothing away in her expression.


    Bloodgood leaned back in her chair, looking exhausted. ¡°This proposal regarding your son¡­ It¡¯s highly irregular,¡± Bloodgood said.


    Cassia smiled, her confidence unwavering. "I assure you, Headmistress, my plan is foolproof."


    Bloodgood sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°If he wants to look into these student deaths, is he applying for a position on our security staff?"


    ¡°Actually," Cassia replied, "I believe he''d do much better as a student here."


    "Why?" The question slipped out of Beatrix before she could catch herself.


    Cassia¡¯s head snapped immediately to Beatrix, looking thrilled to engage with her. ¡°An excellent question, my dear. You see, military academies become rather dull when you¡¯re leagues ahead of everyone else. My boy needs more than that. I want him to receive a well-rounded education, to learn about modern monster culture, how Monster High ticks these days. There¡¯s been... significant changes in the past century, especially in the last few months.¡± Her yellow eyes gleamed. ¡°That¡¯s why this arrangement is a win-win.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± Cassia continued, gently as if talking to a child, "there''s one essential condition. Devils can''t interact with the physical world, even though we appear to."


    ¡°Yeah¡­ like a nightmarish optical illusion," Beatrix said.


    "Exactly," Cassia said happily, not offended in the slightest. "So, for my son to actually help out around here, we''d need to bind him to you.¡±


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Beatrix exclaimed, jumping to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor. ¡°My aunts sent you, didn¡¯t they? Did they tell you I¡¯d enter into a devil contract? Because they¡¯re wrong.¡±


    Cassia''s perfect smile faltered for a split second, but she reapplied it before anyone else noticed. ¡°I understand why you''re worried,¡± she said, sounding entertained by Beatrix''s outburst. ¡°I''m just trying to nudge you in the right direction, that''s all.¡±


    ¡°If the ¡®right direction¡¯ means serving your brat son, then hard pass.¡± Beatrix crossed her arms, defiant. She knew better than to trust Cassia. Devils and deception were synonymous.


    Cassia cocked her head, studying Beatrix with renewed interest. ¡°Okay, how about this?¡± she pivoted, her voice honey-sweet. ¡°Try it out for a bit. A temporary arrangement with my boy¡ªa free trial, if you will. See what it¡¯s like having a devil familiar. That way, he can protect you and attend Monster High for a few months.¡±


    Beatrix paused, caught off guard. ¡°Free trial?¡± she repeated.


    ¡°Free trial,¡± Cassia confirmed.


    ¡°No strings attached? No permanent contract at the end of it?¡±


    Cassia shook her head. ¡°No blood oath required. Only your verbal consent.¡±


    Beatrix couldn¡¯t believe she was even considering this. She¡¯d been avoiding a devil contract her entire life.


    The clock on Bloodgood''s wall ticked loudly in the quiet room. Beatrix took a deep breath, reminding herself that without a blood oath, a devil couldn''t force her into anything permanent. A real contract had to be completely her choice. But a trial run? That was... kinda tempting. Having some backup at Monster High didn''t sound half bad. With a devil familiar around, her friends wouldn''t have to deal with vengeful bloodsuckers anymore. Plus, someone needed to look into all the student deaths, because the school sure wasn¡¯t doing a great job at that so far. The thought of that freedom, that safety¡­ it seemed too good to pass up.


    ¡°How long would the test trial be?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Cassia''s eyes lit up like she''d just won the lottery. "One semester. Plenty of time to put an end to these murders once and for all.¡±


    ¡°... I suppose¡­ given the circumstances... perhaps it''s our best option," Bloodgood admitted, her voice weary.


    Beatrix''s heart leapt. Was this really happening? She could stay?


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Cassia said to Bloodgood. ¡°Please arrange a private dorm for my son, headmistress. He needs ample room for his belongings."


    Bloodgood nodded slowly. ¡°I can place him in the West dormitory. What is his name?¡±


    "Astar," a voice behind Cassia answered.


    Beatrix spun around in her seat. The devil who''d spoken wore a black uniform adorned with military pins. He had a sharp jawline, stocky build, and broad chest ¡ª and was every bit as noble-looking as his mother.


    Astar caught Beatrix''s eye and gave her a flirtatious grin. "Happy to be of service."


    Cassia leaned in close to Beatrix. "Repeat after me," she instructed. "I, Beatrix Felicity Ravenwood, agree to be bound for eighteen weeks to Astar Phlegyas Devilman, the marquess of the fifth circle of hell, the ruler of the wrathful¡ª"


    "Wayyy too many words,¡± Beatrix interrupted. ¡°Can''t we just shake on it and get this over with?"


    Behind his mom, Astar¡¯s mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh.


    Cassia blinked, caught off guard. After a moment, she conceded, "A handshake works."


    Astar swaggered over, confidently holding out his hand to Beatrix. His red hand sported sharp, dragon-like talons. Taking a deep breath, Beatrix reached out too.


    She expected her hand to pass right through his. And at first, she felt nothing. But then, eventually, a palm materialized in hers. Astar''s hand became solid, firmly gripping her own. His touch was warm, almost burning, and Beatrix felt a jolt of energy surge between them.


    Just like that, the deal was sealed. His form was real. He was actually here, in the flesh ¡ª or whatever devils were made of.


    ¡°Congratulations! You¡¯re now under the protection of the fifth circle,¡± Cassia declared, beaming like Astar had just solved world hunger. Except, of course, a devil never would. Helping humanity wouldn''t be any fun for them. "I''m beyond excited for you and Astar to get acquainted," Cassia added, then turned to the headmistress. As the adults'' conversation faded to a low murmur in the background, Beatrix tried to process what had just happened. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her of how long it had been since she''d last eaten.


    "Here, Bea," Autumn said, pulling out a tupperware filled with pumpkin bread from her satchel. The sweet, spicy scent wafted through the air, making Beatrix''s mouth water.


    As Autumn passed the bread to Beatrix, a red blur intercepted it. Astar snatched the container and took a massive bite, crumbs falling onto the pristine carpet of Bloodgood''s office.


    His eyes widened in surprise, a look of pure pleasure crossing his face. "Hot damn!" he exclaimed, voice muffled by the mouthful of bread.


    Autumn, taken aback, timidly smiled and said, "Glad you like it..."


    For a moment, Astar seemed less like a terrifying entity from hell and more like a child experiencing something new and wonderful for the first time. It must be the first time he¡¯s taken a bite of real food.


    ¡°You''re ''Bee''? Like the bug?" Astar asked Beatrix as he devoured the remaining bread.


    "Like a bumblebee!" Autumn chimed in to ease the awkwardness of him swiping Beatrix''s snack. "You think she''ll sting you, but she''s actually a cuddle bug!"


    "Autumn!" Beatrix hissed through gritted teeth. The last thing she needed was for this devil to think she was soft.


    Astar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. A smirk played on his lips as he locked eyes with Beatrix. "Let''s get along, Bee," he said.


    Beatrix had a feeling they wouldn''t. Not even a little.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix''s legs burned as she crouched behind a dusty file cabinet in the language building''s attic. Her chest heaved from dashing up six flights of stairs. Dim light filtered through a grimy window, casting long shadows across the cluttered space as she tried to steady her breathing.


    Her heart pounded in her ears as she listened for any sign of her pursuer. The attic door creaked open. Beatrix held her breath, pressing herself closer to the file cabinet. After an agonizing moment of silence, she heard the soft flap of wings.


    ¡°BOO!¡±


    Beatrix yelped, stumbling backwards. Her back hit the wall, sending a cloud of dust billowing around her. Coughing and waving her hand to clear the air, she looked up to see Astar perched atop the file cabinet like a gargoyle. His red skin stood out starkly against the gloom, yellow eyes gleaming with triumph as he folded his wings. ¡°You¡¯ll have to be faster than that if you wanna ditch me.¡±


    Beatrix glared up at him.


    ¡°You almost had me fooled this time," Astar said, shifting into a more comfortable position on the cabinet. "Thought you were headed for the history building. But get this ¡ª when I got there, I ran into some hideous goblin scurrying around in the attic.¡± He grimaced dramatically.


    Beatrix frowned. ¡°A goblin? You mean Greta?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Greta?¡±


    ¡°The old goblin who works in the creepateria. What was she doing up there?¡±


    Astar shrugged. ¡°Beats me. Talking to someone, I think. Her voice was unpleasant." He wrinkled his nose. "By the way, why is everyone here so ugly?¡±


    Beatrix''s eyebrow shot up, her irritation returning in full force.


    Astar feigned innocence. "Present company excluded, of course. It¡¯s a good thing you have me for a change of scenery.¡± He winked at her.


    Beatrix rolled her eyes. Astar''s constant jabs at Monster High''s residents didn¡¯t surprise her anymore, but they still grated on her nerves.


    She couldn¡¯t wait for winter break to be over. Although the halls were empty and most students had left for the holidays, including Grey, Beatrix and Autumn had decided to stay on campus. But now she was second-guessing that choice. Without the usual mayhem of Monster High to distract her, Astar''s constant yapping was driving her up the wall.


    Before Grey had left, he¡¯d called Autumn¡¯s iCoffin one last time.


    This devil situation... it''s not good, Beatrix, he''d said, tension obvious in his tone.


    Tell me about it, Beatrix had groaned, flopping onto her bed. I should''ve known my aunts wouldn''t let me off the hook that easy. It¡¯s their life mission to make sure I sell my soul. But don''t worry, Astar won¡¯t be here long.


    The line had gone quiet for a moment. When Grey spoke again, his voice was low. If that devil even thinks about messing with anyone at school... He¡¯d trailed off, the threat clear.


    Beatrix picked up on the strain in Grey¡¯s voice, like he was being pulled in a thousand different directions. She got why Grey hated the idea of a devil at Monster High ¡ª he''d explained their dangerous nature when they''d talked behind the gardening shed. But why did Grey feel like he had to protect everyone? It wasn¡¯t his responsibility to keep other students safe. Yet, it seemed to be eating at him.


    Hey, she''d said, trying to sound more confident than she felt, I''ll keep you in the loop, okay? Try not to stress too much.


    There was a moment of silence before Grey muttered a quick ¡°Okay. Thanks¡± and hung up.


    So he left, and campus had been a ghost town for weeks. Leaving Beatrix alone with her scarecrow friend and a clingy devil babysitter.


    Beatrix wanted to keep Autumn away from the devil, which had actually turned out to be surprisingly easy since she was busy studying all winter break. Autumn had gone into full-on study mode after getting an A- in Biteology. Beatrix still remembered how crushed Autumn had looked when she saw her report card. Despite getting straight A''s in every other class, that one tiny minus sign was all that mattered. Now Autumn was camped out in the library, determined to "properly prepare" for next semester. Beatrix worried about her friend''s perfectionist streak, but at least it kept her out of Astar''s orbit.


    Meanwhile, Astar had been practically glued to Beatrix''s side. She''d expected commands, threats, maybe some attempts to corrupt her soul. But he hadn''t commanded her to do anything evil so far. He was just... annoying.


    Astar had ditched his harsh military uniforms and now mostly lived in sweatpants and black tank tops. Every morning, like clockwork, he''d go for a run around the school¡¯s perimeter, then hit the student gym for an hour of pumping iron.


    That morning, Beatrix had tried to sneak off during his workout without telling him which attic she¡¯d be cleaning out today. She''d hoped to avoid his pestering during her janitor shift, but as usual, he''d managed to track her down.


    Beatrix reached for her broom with a sigh as Astar gracefully hopped down from his perch on the file cabinet. Despite his muscular frame, he landed with surprising agility. They stood toe to toe now. He was only a bit taller, but his sharp devil horns gave him a few inches.


    Beatrix attempted to sidestep him, but Astar wasn''t easily deterred. His lips curled into that infuriating grin of his, falling into step beside her as she began to sweep. ¡°You know, your aloofness is just pulling me in,¡± he teased.


    Ignoring him, Beatrix pulled her hair into a braid. She could feel Astar''s eyes on her, watching her every move.


    "C¡¯mon," Astar nudged. "You''ve got a once-in-a-lifetime thing going on here. How many mortals can say they''ve hung out with a devil?"


    "Will you just drop it already?" Beatrix grumbled, sweeping the attic floor with more force than necessary.


    "Where''s the fun in that?" Astar said, leaning against a dusty shelf, studying Beatrix. "I know you''re dying to know more about me. How about this: for every question you ask, I get to ask one in return. You start."


    Beatrix stopped mid-sweep, her grip tightening on the broom handle. She looked at Astar. Really looked at him.


    Finally, she bit. "Fine. Did my aunts send you and your mom here?"


    ¡°Yes,¡± Astar answered immediately. ¡°Your aunts summoned my mom months ago when you showed up at Monster High. You''re the first witch to walk these grounds ¡ª we found that pretty fascinating.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Beatrix pressed on. "So my aunts told you about my school board trial?"


    Astar snickered. "Oh yeah. From what I heard, you''ve been using quite a bit of witchcraft here. Your aunts said you sucked at magic, but it seems they underestimated you."


    He held up two talons. "My turn. Two questions. You came here to avoid a devil contract. Why?"


    Beatrix¡¯s throat tightened, but she forced herself to answer. "I don''t want to live like my aunts do,¡± she reluctantly confessed. ¡°Why would I want a tyrant forcing me to obey their whims? And if I don''t meet your demands, you''ll abandon me, or worse. Devils are ruthless when they don¡¯t find a witch useful anymore."


    "You can''t blame devils for that,¡± Astar said nonchalantly. ¡°With so many witches lining up to serve us, why would a devil stick with an unruly or untalented one? We let witches thrive, help them harness power in this earthly realm." His eyes locked with hers, intense and searching. "I can see you haven''t witnessed the true benefits of a contract."


    Before Beatrix could fire back, Astar went on, "Anyway, question number two: tell me about your scarecrow friend."


    ¡°Why do you care?¡± Beatrix snapped, instantly protective.


    Astar shrugged, maddeningly casual. "I''m curious about the monster who brought you here.¡±


    Beatrix hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Aunt Clarice created Autumn to work on our farm when I was a kid," she said, curt.


    Astar didn¡¯t look satisfied with her answer, but Beatrix rushed to change the subject. "My turn," she said. "Why was Bloodgood so accommodating to you?"


    A slow, unsettling grin spread across Astar''s face, revealing his pointed teeth. "Because she was scared," he said, dark satisfaction dripping from every word. "I don''t expect you to know this, but most monsters are created by black magic."


    Beatrix fought to keep a neutral poker face on. Thanks to Grey, she already knew how monsters were made, but she wasn''t about to let Astar in on that.


    Astar kept going. ¡°Look, Bloodgood¡¯s not an idiot. She knows what happened to her family¡ªthe headless horsemen. They exist because of witchcraft, because a devil commanded a coven to curse them. So tell me, why would she want to piss off the ones who gave her this undead existence?"


    His tone was disturbingly casual, as if he was chatting about the weather, not the fate of an entire bloodline. Beatrix felt her skin crawl as she realized just how detached Astar was from what he was saying.


    Beatrix didn¡¯t hide her contempt. "Devils are despicable.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get your stockings in a twist,¡± Astar said. ¡°Without that curse, Bloodgood¡¯s family would¡¯ve faded into meaningless obscurity just like 99% of humans. Here today, gone tomorrow, blah blah blah.¡± He spread his arms wide, as if presenting a great gift. ¡°A devil made the headless horsemen into legends. And look at the headmistress now. She''s doing well running this school full of docile, tame little monsters."


    Astar flapped his wings and propelled himself to an attic window. The sudden gust of air stirred up a cloud of dust, sending Beatrix into a coughing fit. "Speaking of," he said, looking through the grimy glass, "check out all the corpses shuffling around down there."


    Beatrix joined him at the window and peered out. The new semester started Monday and students were finally arriving back on campus. Outside, swarms of monsters headed for the gymnasium to watch the first casketball game of the season.


    ¡°Shoot! I lost track of time!" Beatrix exclaimed, remembering she was supposed to be on standby for Autumn''s fearleading routine in the gym. "You distracted me," she accused Astar. "I''m nowhere close to finishing cleaning!"


    "What''s the rush, Bee Bee?" Astar asked.


    "Don''t call me ''Bee Bee''," Beatrix growled.


    Astar straightened up and gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma''am. Any other orders for me?"


    Beatrix narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "Orders you''ll actually follow?"


    ¡°I can choose which requests are appropriate, but I¡¯m not an unreasonable demon,¡± Astar said, shrugging. ¡°I scratch your back, you scratch mine. That''s how this works.¡±


    Beatrix surveyed the massive, cluttered attic, cobwebs clinging to every corner, and an idea struck her. ¡°Alright, hotshot,¡± she challenged, turning to Astar. "Clean this place for me in ten minutes."


    Astar''s eyes widened. "Ten minutes? Without magic? You''re kidding, right?"


    "What''s wrong? Can¡¯t handle it? Figures,¡± Beatrix taunted.


    Astar''s surprise quickly morphed into determination. He squared his shoulders, a competitive fire igniting in his gaze. "Make it five minutes," he countered.


    "As if¡ª" Beatrix began, but her words were cut short as Astar sprang into action.


    He became a crimson blur, snatching up Beatrix''s cleaning supplies and attacking every dusty surface. Starting high in the rafters, he worked his way down, moving so fast that debris swirled around Beatrix. She coughed, shielding her face with her hands as the air filled with the frantic beating of wings and the clatter of objects.


    Behind her hands, Beatrix''s lips curled into a sly grin. This was her chance to ditch the devil. Tiptoeing towards the door, her footsteps masked by Astar''s cleaning frenzy, she slipped out and bolted down the stairs.


    Heart pounding, she sprinted from the building, making a beeline for the gym. But her triumph was short-lived. She''d barely made it a few yards when a taloned hand seized her arm, yanking her upward.


    A shriek tore from Beatrix''s throat as her feet lost contact with the ground. The earth rapidly shrank away as Astar¡¯s powerful wings beat above her.


    "Still playing hard to get, I see!" Astar''s voice carried on the wind, lifting her higher into the sky.


    "Let go of me!" Beatrix demanded, struggling against his grip


    ¡°As you wish!¡± Astar replied cheerfully.


    Astar released his grip and Beatrix plummeted, her braid whipping back as tears welled in her eyes from the rushing wind. She was too shocked to scream as the ground hurtled towards her.


    Just as she was certain she was about to become a witch-shaped crater in the Monster High lawn, she heard Astar''s wings flap again, and he snatched her mid-air, grabbing her by the leg and hoisting her back up. The abrupt change in direction made her stomach lurch.


    ¡°Kidding. Can¡¯t have you dying on me,¡± Astar laughed. He tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.


    Beatrix''s fear gave way to fury. "If this is your idea of winning me over, you''re doing a terrible job!" she yelled, her words nearly lost in the howling wind. She closed her eyes and prayed it would end soon. Finally, Astar began to descend. He touched down and skidded to a stop, setting Beatrix back on her wobbling feet.


    "See? Much faster my way," Astar boasted, puffing out his chest, adding, "And the attic is spotless. Did it in four minutes."


    Beatrix swayed, her stomach churning. She was ready to hurl.


    A shrill whistle blew from inside the gym. Despite her queasiness, Beatrix straightened up and stumbled towards the entrance, determined to find Autumn. "Don''t even think about following me," she snapped at Astar without looking back. "That''s an order!"


    Inside, the fearleaders were lined up with their pom-poms, kicking off the casketball game with crowd cheers. A cool, webbed hand touched Beatrix¡¯s arm. She turned to see Lagoona beside her.


    "Crikey, mate, you alright?" Lagoona asked. "You look like you''ve been through the wringer."


    Beatrix reached up to touch her hair. Her braid had completely unraveled during the impromptu flight, leaving her hair looking like a rat''s nest. "That devil¡¯s gonna kill me," she groaned.


    "I would never," Astar''s voice quipped behind her.


    Beatrix''s shoulders slumped in defeat as a headache began to throb behind her eyes. "I told you to stay outside.¡±


    "And I chose to respectfully ignore that order," Astar replied. His gaze shifted to Lagoona. "And who is this ocean beauty?"


    ¡°Lagoona, sophomore rep for the student council, and captain of the swim team," Lagoona said, her voice taking on a shy quality that was unusual for her. A faint blush colored her cheeks, visible even through her blue scales.


    Is Lagoona¡­ blushing? Beatrix couldn''t believe it. She glanced around, noticing other ghouls in the bleachers glancing at Astar. The devil seemed to have an inexplicable effect on the female population of Monster High, and Beatrix didn''t like it one bit.


    "Say, Lagoona," Astar said, flashing a charming smile, "any chance you could show a new student around tomorrow? I could use a responsible guide for my first day of classes."


    Lagoona returned his flirty smile. ¡°Happy to.¡±


    Beatrix bristled, stepping between them. "He doesn''t need a tour," she said firmly. "He''s been living on campus all winter break."


    Astar leaned over Beatrix''s head, winking at Lagoona. "Bee''s just being a buzzkill."


    Lagoona giggled, clearly smitten, before saying goodbye. As she walked away, a few ghouls began to gather, all eager to catch a glimpse of the devilish newcomer. Frustration bubbling up inside her, Beatrix stomped ahead to put some distance between herself and Astar''s growing fan club.


    ¡°¡®Trix!¡± she heard Orion¡¯s voice call out.


    Beatrix looked up to see Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson waving from the back row of bleachers. Relieved to see familiar faces, she climbed up to join them.


    Orion snorted as she approached. "Geez, you look like you got hit by a truck."


    Beatrix responded with a swift jab to the werewolf boy''s arm.


    Guillermo''s eyes darted to where Astar stood surrounded by admiring ghouls. "So, uh, how''s it going with the freaky demon-dude?"


    Beatrix sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. She winced as her fingers got caught in the knots. "Apparently, the fifth circle of hell is full of crazy jerks, and he''s the lord of them."


    She turned her attention to the gym floor, watching Autumn clapping her pom-poms to blasting pop music. Across the gym, Astar was now busy charming a group of ghouls from the rival school¡ªa private academy full of forest nymphs. Beatrix felt a twinge of annoyance at how easily he seemed to fit in.


    Beatrix scanned the stands for Grey, but didn¡¯t see him anywhere. Jackson piped up. "Hey, Beatrix. I researched the circles of hell over winter break," he said. "Did you know that the fifth circle is known for its devil warriors? I read that the wrathful fight each other for eternity down there."


    ¡°Foul!¡± Orion hollered at the court, not listening to a word.


    Guillermo elbowed the werewolf. "Orion, you can''t root for the other team."


    "But Clawd totally fouled that nymph guy!" Orion protested. "Just ''cause he''s alpha doesn''t mean he can get away with it!¡±


    Just then, thud echoed through the gym, cutting through the cheers and music, and a collective gasp rose.


    Beatrix''s head snapped towards the commotion. A crowd was quickly gathering at the front of the bleachers where the fearleaders had been performing.


    Beatrix shot up and pushed her way ahead. As she broke through the crowd, her worst fears were confirmed. Clumps of straw and mangled threads were scattered across the gym floor.


    Beatrix¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Autumn!¡±


    She dropped to her knees beside her friend, frantic hands hovering over Autumn''s broken form, desperate to collect the scattered threads and hay that once made up her friend. "Autumn! Can you hear me?"


    Autumn''s shoulder was torn almost clean through, the gash extending down the front of her chest. Her right arm dangled precariously by a thread, barely attached to her torso. She lay crooked on the ground, button eyes wide in shock. The usual sparkle in them was gone, replaced by a vacant stare that chilled Beatrix to her core.


    Through her panic, Beatrix caught snippets of conversation around her. She heard Toralei saying, "I didn''t mean to! I jerked away ¡®cause I didn''t want her to get caught on my claws!"


    Abbey''s blunt voice responded, "I know, it vas simple mistake."


    Beatrix leaned in close to Autumn. "It''s okay, you''re going to be fine," she said, but the words felt hollow. Autumn blinked wearily, completely out of it.


    Frankie and Clawdeen moved to help.


    "Don''t!" Beatrix shouted, imagining Clawdeen''s sharp nails or Frankie''s unpredictable electric touch causing more damage to Autumn''s body. Beatrix tried to gather all of Autumn''s stuffing, but with so many monsters around, she worried she¡¯d miss some under their feet.


    Suddenly, a commanding voice cut through the chaos. "Make some room! Back it up!" Astar ordered. The crowd took a few steps back, creating a small circle of space around Autumn.


    "Watch it!" Manny the minotaur protested as Astar pushed past him.


    Astar turned to Manny, flashing a sharp-toothed grin that was more a threat than a smile. "Or what?" he challenged.


    Despite Manny being much larger than Astar, the minotaur looked nervous, his bravado crumbling. "Hey, man, I''m a lover, not a fighter," he muttered, backing away.


    Astar knelt beside Beatrix, sweeping his arms in a broad motion to gather Autumn''s scattered parts in one go. Despite his talons, he was surprisingly meticulous, collecting more than Beatrix could have managed on her own.


    He handed the stray hay and threads to Beatrix, then gently lifted Autumn into his arms. "Which way to the nurse''s office?" he asked, his voice carrying over the murmuring crowd. Clawd, who had paused the casketball game, pointed them in the right direction.


    As Astar strode towards the exit, Beatrix matched his pace. She turned back to the fearleaders. "Someone go to our dorm and grab replacement hay from Autumn''s closet!"


    "On it," Clawdeen said, dashing off.


    Hurrying down the hall, Beatrix couldn''t tear her eyes from Autumn. Her friend hung limply in Astar''s arms, blinking slowly, each flutter of her button eyes a small reassurance that she was still with them. She¡¯d never seen Autumn in such bad shape.


    Astar entered the nurse''s office, carefully laying Autumn on the nearest bed. Beatrix glanced around the empty room, anxiety rising. "Where are the nurses?"


    "I''ll find one," Astar said, his footsteps echoing as he left in search of help.


    Alone with Autumn, Beatrix quickly pulled out a needle and thread. But as she looked over her friend''s injuries, she realized this repair job would be far from easy.


    "What happened?" Beatrix pressed, trying to keep Autumn conscious and talking.


    Autumn''s voice was weak, but she managed to explain. "I was cheering on Toralei''s shoulders¡­ she slipped and couldn''t catch me when I fell¡­ got snagged on Abbey''s yeti horns on the way down."


    She paused, gathering strength before adding, "Toralei didn''t mean to¡­ It was an accident. Promise me you won''t get mad at her¡­ she already feels awful."


    Beatrix wanted to storm back to the gym and confront Toralei, but as she looked at Autumn, she noticed tears welling up in her friend''s button eyes. The sight immediately doused her anger like cold water on embers.


    "Okay, I promise," Beatrix said softly. She reached out and squeezed Autumn''s hand, careful not to disturb any of her loose threads.


    The room fell into silence for a moment, broken by the distant sounds of the casketball game picking up again. When Autumn spoke again, her voice sounded small. "I thought I¡¯d be able to handle Monster High¡­ but look at me. I''m such a burden."


    Beatrix was caught off guard. "What? Where''s this coming from?"


    "Don''t act like you don''t think so too," Autumn sniffled. "Last semester, you didn''t tell me anything."


    "I didn''t¡ª" Beatrix started, but Autumn pressed on, her words spilling out as if a dam had broken.


    "All that magic stuff, the vampire drama... you told everyone but me. Grey, those seminar guys, even Draculaura. But never me." Tears welled up in her button eyes. "Because I''m not strong enough. What kind of friend am I if I can''t even help you?"


    "Hey, hey, don''t cry!" Beatrix scrambled for a tissue box, gently dabbing at Autumn''s eyes to keep her burlap skin from getting soaked. As she tended to her friend, realization dawned. No wonder Autumn had been so distant lately, giving her the cold shoulder, so sick of that dumb "strawhead" nickname. She''d been wrestling with this for a while.


    "I was so mad at you last semester for keeping secrets,¡± Autumn said. ¡°But really... I was mad at myself. You don''t need me the way I need you. I brought you to Monster High to get you away from all that devil stuff with your aunts¡­ but I still couldn''t protect you."


    A lump formed in Beatrix¡¯s throat. She took Autumn''s hand, focusing on sewing up a small tear on her fingertip. It gave her a moment to gather her thoughts.


    ¡°Autumn, I didn''t tell you everything last semester, not because I didn''t trust you or thought you couldn''t handle it¡­" Beatrix said, focusing on her needlework. "I just... I didn''t want to pile more onto your plate. This whole Monster High thing is your adventure, and you''ve been crushing it!" She glanced up. "I mean, a year ago, would you have ever imagined yourself acing your classes and being the star flyer on the fearleading team?"


    A faint smile tugged at Autumn''s stitched mouth.


    "Seriously, you need to give yourself more credit," Beatrix continued, her voice warm. "You''re the bravest scarecrow I know, hands down, remember? So... no more secrets?"


    "No more secrets," Autumn agreed, her voice steadier. "From now on, we tell each other everything."


    Just as Beatrix finished patching up Autumn''s finger, the door creaked open. Astar sauntered in, followed by a cyborg nurse whose metallic body gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights.


    The nurse''s digital eyes whirred and clicked as she scanned Autumn, her voice calm and clinical. "We''ll need heavy-duty wire for these repairs. Ms. Patches, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"


    Autumn considered the question for a second. "... I don''t really feel pain, exactly. It''s more like... a weird, empty tingle in my chest? And I''m kinda woozy, like everything''s not quite real." Worry crossed her face. "Wait, this isn''t a dream, right?"


    "No," the nurse said matter-of-factly.


    Autumn visibly relaxed. "Oh, phew. Okay, so... maybe a 3?"


    Beatrix, still holding Autumn''s newly-mended hand, turned to Astar. "Hey, did you see Clawdeen out there? What''s taking her so long with that hay?"


    Astar looked blank. "Who?"


    "Maybe she got lost," Autumn suggested weakly.


    Beatrix gave Autumn''s hand a final squeeze before letting go. "I''ll go look for her. If I can''t find her, I''ll run to our dorm and grab the hay myself." She fixed Astar with a stern look. "Stay here and watch over Autumn. If she needs anything, listen to her like you would to me... Except you don¡¯t listen to me much."


    "I''ll stick around. Unless I get bored." Astar glanced at Autumn, wiggling his brow flirtatiously. "But I don''t think that''ll be a problem."


    "In all the nine hells," Beatrix muttered as she headed out, scanning the halls for any sign of Clawdeen. What could be taking her so long?


    As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with someone leaning against the wall. "Cleo?"


    Cleo looked up from inspecting her nails. "How''s Autumn doing?"


    "She''ll be fine," Beatrix replied, confused. "Why are you out here?"


    "I was waiting for you to leave before checking on my teammate."


    "Gee, thanks." Beatrix couldn''t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.


    Cleo''s eyes narrowed slightly. "I didn''t mean I was trying to avoid you," she scoffed. "I overheard some of your conversation with Autumn. Didn''t want to interrupt."


    "Oh," Beatrix said, feeling guilty for assuming the worst. "Well... thanks, I guess."


    Cleo''s expression softened, just barely. "You''re not what I expected," she admitted. "The way you reacted when Autumn got hurt... made me realize I might''ve judged you too quickly."


    Beatrix blinked, taken aback. Cleo de Nile admitting she might be wrong? That was new. "Autumn''s my best friend," Beatrix explained. "What, did you expect me to be like that witch from Deuce''s Halloween story or something?"


    "Yes. Like that witch," Cleo said, her tone dead serious. She absently rubbed at the golden wrappings on her arms. "I hate that Deuce keeps telling that stupid story, like hearing about a sorceress trapping monsters in stone walls is entertaining. Being alone in the dark for an eternity... It''s a kind of hell people can''t even imagine. It takes someone truly heartless to do that to another person."


    Beatrix felt a chill. Wait... as a mummy, she must have spent a lot of time in a tomb... Does that mean¡­


    "A warlock locked me away," Cleo finished the thought for her. "A high priest, technically."


    ¡°Cleo¡­ I¡¯m so sorry," Beatrix said, the horror of it sinking in.


    "Yeah. Me too," Cleo said quietly. "That''s why you''ve surprised me." With that, she strode into the nurse''s office. As Cleo entered, Astar was on his way out. His yellow eyes gave her an obvious once-over, but the mummy princess breezed past him, chin held high, completely ignoring him.


    As the door closed, Astar sidled up to Beatrix. "That mummy''s hot stuff."


    ¡°She''s taken. And not exactly a fan of dark magic." Despite herself, Beatrix couldn¡¯t help but soften a bit. "Thanks for helping me with Autumn."


    Astar''s and Beatrix''s eyes connected for a moment, and Beatrix felt a twinge of genuine gratitude.


    "Hey, that''s what I''m here for," Astar said. "To help you out."


    "And to investigate the deaths," Beatrix''s voice sharpened, snapping out of the moment. "It seems like you''re more interested in flirting and working out than solving these cases."


    "Who says I can''t do both?" Astar quipped. ¡°This place is surprisingly fun. Domesticated monsters are pretty entertaining, and it¡¯s the first time I haven¡¯t been stuck doing military drills like I was back in the fifth circle.¡±


    ¡°Where the wrathful duke it out for eternity?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Astar shot Beatrix a playful look. "Oh? Been reading up on my hometown?"


    ¡°No way,¡± Beatrix huffed. ¡°My friend Jackson likes to research different types of creatures. He told me.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Astar teased. "Admit it, you can''t resist my charms."


    Beatrix opened her mouth for a comeback, but the sound of pounding footsteps cut her off. She turned to see Clawdeen racing down the hall, arms full of hay, skidding to a stop in front of them.


    "Clawdeen! There you are!" Beatrix called out.


    Clawdeen was panting, eyes wide. "Something''s going down outside. Security isn''t here yet to lock down the area¡ª"


    "What are you talking about?"


    Clawdeen couldn''t find the words. Astar was already heading for the exit, Beatrix hot on his heels.


    They burst outside to see a crowd of students gathered near the school''s fence line. Something pale was in the grass just beyond the school''s boundaries, on the other side of the wrought iron fence.


    Without hesitation, Beatrix sprinted to the cluster of students, and as she got closer, she could see what the pale shape was ¡ª a boy named Henry Hunchback she vaguely recognized from serving food in the creepateria. The sight of his motionless body lying face down in the forest made her stomach lurch.


    She spotted Grey''s tall figure by the fence. He noticed her too, quickly grabbing her wrist and pulling her back from the crowd. His eyes were cold as he looked down at her.


    "You shouldn''t be here," he said.


    But then Astar wedged himself between them. Despite being shorter than Grey, his devil horns and chest-puffing made him seem taller than his actual height.


    "And why can''t she be here?" Astar challenged, yellow eyes flashing. "You her dad or something?"


    Tension simmered between the two boys, like ice meeting fire.


    "It''s none of your business," Grey said darkly. A clear warning for the devil to back off.


    Astar, however, didn¡¯t back down. "It is my business. I''m Bee''s familiar now, I¡¯m sure you heard. I''m taking care of her." His voice dropped, taking on a dangerous edge. "It''s weird that you¡¯re trying to keep us away from this crime scene, Reaper."


    Grey remained stoic, ignoring Astar''s attempts to provoke him. However, Beatrix noticed his hand move subtly to the retracted weapon at his belt.


    "We both know you can''t use that on school grounds," Astar needled, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What a shame."


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t following everything they were talking about, but Astar had a point. Grey always seemed to show up quickly at these murder scenes, gathering intel. His involvement was... odd.


    Why doesn''t he want me here? she wondered, mind racing.


    Beatrix then had the strangest feeling that Astar might be more honest with her than Grey.

 10. No Tombstone Unturned

    Beatrix carefully guided Autumn down Monster High''s main hallway. "Almost there," she said, readjusting her grip on Autumn''s straw-filled arm. "How you holding up?"


    Autumn nodded, her stitched lips tight with determination as she shuffled along. "I''m okay... I just wish I could move faster."


    Beatrix glanced at the thick black seams crisscrossing Autumn''s torso and shoulder. That fall during last week''s casketball game had really done a number on her. Her injuries had been so bad that the cyborg nurse had benched her from fearleading for the rest of the month, which was driving Autumn crazy.


    At least she was slowly getting better. The magic that gave Autumn life was working overtime to heal her battered body, the fabric of her patchwork skin gradually knitting itself back up.


    But for now, her movements were still stiff and awkward as they made their way through the corridor. Every few steps, a pained little gasp escaped Autumn, making Beatrix wince.


    ¡°You sure you''re good?" Beatrix asked.


    "Uh huh¡­ I¡¯m just... a little sore," Autumn said.


    Astar walked beside them, his wings folded against his back. "Can¡¯t I fly you to the library? It''d be way faster.¡±


    Autumn shook her head stubbornly. ¡°I can do this."


    "Come on Patches, there''s a bench right there," Astar pointed out. "Take a breather."


    "No way," Autumn insisted. "If I sit down now, I might not get up again. I''ve got too much studying to do."


    Beatrix raised an eyebrow, glancing at Astar. "Didn''t they cancel classes this week?"


    "Yeah, but that doesn''t mean I can slack off," Autumn said.


    Beatrix couldn''t help but snort. "Alright, bookworm. Library first, then I''ve gotta head to another MSS meeting."


    As they inched down the hallway, an eerie silence enveloped them.


    Classes had been canceled for an extra week after Henry Hunchback was found. Normally, an extended winter break would''ve had everyone celebrating, but the mood was anything but festive.


    The silence was broken only by hushed whispers and the occasional slamming of a locker, each sound making everyone jump. It was like the whole school was holding its breath, with one unspoken question lingering in the air: Who''s next?


    Sure, campus security ¡ª a team of gargoyles and enchanted suits of armor ¡ª were scouring the area where Henry was found for clues, but that did little to calm anyone''s nerves. Fear was written all over every monster''s face, from the youngest freshman to the most jaded senior. Beatrix saw it in the way werewolves traveled in tight-knit packs, their fur bristling and their ears laid flat; in how the vampire students huddled in dark corners, their red eyes glowing with suspicion at anyone who passed by.


    Beatrix couldn''t shake the image of Henry Hunchback lying face-down in the grass. But almost as unsettling was Grey¡¯s odd behavior in the aftermath. The way he''d pulled her away from the crime scene, his grip on her arm being a little too tight. It all felt off. Why was he being so secretive?


    "So," Beatrix murmured to Astar, "any clue what went down with Henry?" She searched the devil''s face.


    Astar''s reply was annoyingly vague. "Nothing concrete yet. But I''m keeping my eyes open." His wings twitched against his back.


    Beatrix held back an eye roll. Some detective, she thought.


    "Well, this is my stop," Autumn said when they reached the library doors. "Thanks for walking me, guys.¡±


    "Astar,¡± Beatrix said, trying to sound casual, ¡°could you stay with Autumn?"


    The request was partly out of concern for Autumn''s safety, but mostly to avoid another Astar-Grey clash at today¡¯s MSS meeting. Their last confrontation had been painfully awkward, and she knew it would be tense if Astar showed up to MSS uninvited.


    Astar crossed his arms over his chest. "What¡¯s the point of hanging around a scarecrow when I¡¯ve got a perfectly good witch right here? No offense, Patches."


    Autumn smiled. "None taken. But Bea might be onto something. I could use a hand in there. What do you say, Astar? Wanna be my study buddy while she¡¯s at her meeting?"


    "Hmm, tempting," Astar drawled, "but I¡¯ve been dying to crash Bee¡¯s little seminar. Might as well get some sensitivity training, since she thinks I¡¯m such a brute."


    Autumn''s face fell, but Beatrix suspected it was feigned disappointment. "Oh, that''s too bad. I was going to do our History of the Undead homework, but... no biggie. Maybe next time."


    Astar perked up. "Hold up. You¡¯re doing that mind-numbing essay that makes me want to gouge my eyes out?¡±


    Autumn nodded innocently. "Mhmm.¡±


    Beatrix hid a smirk behind her hand, impressed by Autumn''s acting skills. The scarecrow was trying to lure Astar away from her.


    Astar looked torn, obviously tempted by the chance to cheat off Autumn. He mulled it over, tapping a talon against his chin. After a moment of internal debate, he turned to Beatrix. "Change of plans, Bee. I''m ditching you for the library. I''ll catch you after your thing."


    Beatrix waved, relieved. "Counting on it."


    She watched as Astar held the heavy library door open for Autumn, and the pair disappeared inside.


    The timing couldn''t have been better. As soon as Astar and Autumn were out of sight, Beatrix spotted Grey down the hall. He was deep in conversation with Deuce, Clawd, and a few other boys. They were gathered together near a row of lockers, their heads bent close in hushed whispers.


    Beatrix quickly ducked behind a corner to eavesdrop.


    Deuce''s voice drifted over. "My mom was asking about your dad... what''s going on at Death Co.?"


    Grey''s response was harder to make out, but Beatrix picked up a few words: "... Preoccupied... went rogue..."


    The conversation abruptly stopped when Clawd growled, "Guys, we got company."


    "I got this," Grey muttered, and Beatrix heard his footsteps coming her way.


    He rounded the corner, his tall frame casting a shadow over her.


    "Oh, hey there," Beatrix said, her voice a touch too high. "Fancy bumping into you here." She cringed at how fake she sounded.


    ¡°You know, I can see your soul from a mile away," Grey said, looking down at her, half amused, half annoyed.


    "What does that even mean?" Beatrix asked. She stood up, trying to regain some dignity.


    Ignoring her question, Grey turned back to the group of mansters. "You guys go ahead. I''m mentoring a seminar."


    "Since when did you become Mr. Social Butterfly?" Beatrix teased, wondering what the boys had been whispering about.


    Grey''s pitch-black eyes narrowed. "Wouldn''t you like to know, now that you''re Ms. Popular? That devil''s been following you around like a puppy. Seems like you two are getting pretty cozy."


    "No, he''s just¡­" Beatrix trailed off, not sure how to describe her relationship with Astar. Nemesis? Master? Frenemy? Nothing fit.


    A classroom door down the hall swung open, and Mr. Gore stuck his head out. ¡°There you two are! You¡¯re late!¡± he called.


    Beatrix and Grey exchanged a look before following Mr. Gore into the room.


    As they entered, Beatrix''s jaw dropped when she saw what was inside. Purple streamers cascaded from the ceiling, and a small chocolate cake sat on a nearby desk.


    "Surprise!" a chorus of voices shouted.


    Orion set off a confetti popper a little too close to Beatrix''s face. Colorful paper exploded, showering her in a rainbow of tiny pieces. Some got caught in her hair and eyelashes, making her blink rapidly.


    "Orion! Are you trying to take her eye out?!" Guillermo exclaimed as he brushed confetti off Beatrix''s shoulders.


    "I''ll take your eye out!" Orion growled back, though there was no real heat in his words.


    "Boys..." Johannah warned.


    Jackson stepped forward, holding a gift in his hands. "Happy birthday, Beatrix," he said with a shy smile. The present was wrapped in shiny purple paper with a silver bow on top.


    "This is for me?" Beatrix said, feeling a rush of excitement.


    But it quickly fizzled out when she remembered what birthday they were celebrating ¡ª she was turning sixteen. Great.


    Now that she was sixteen, she''d have to fight tooth and nail to avoid selling her soul after her short term contract with Astar. A sixteen-year-old witch holding onto her soul was unheard of in the witching world. She no longer had a good excuse to keep it.


    Even though she hadn¡¯t said anything about it all day, Beatrix knew that Autumn and Astar had been aware.


    Pushing down her dread, Beatrix forced a smile and began tearing into the gift. Inside, she found a new cooking apron, the fabric soft beneath her fingers. The words ¡°Witchin¡¯ in the Kitchen¡± were written across the front in a swirling font that seemed to change colors when the light hit it.


    "Now you can ditch those gross lunch lady aprons," Johannah said. Her eyes gleamed as she added, "It was Grey''s idea."


    "Oh, really?" Beatrix smirked.


    Grey shrugged, trying to play it cool, but Beatrix could see the tips of his gray ears turning pink.


    "You guys... this is too much," she said, hugging the apron. "Seriously, thank you!"


    Soon, everyone was sitting down with slices of cake. The sound of chairs scraping across the floor filled the room as Mr. Gore prepared to start the lesson. He began sketching out diagrams of mer-people and krakens on the whiteboard.


    But then Jackson''s hand shot up. "Mr. Gore," he said, "I hate to be the one to bring this up, but... are we not going to talk about the... the third student?" He swallowed hard. "Should we expect to be sent home early this semester?"


    Mr. Gore''s pale face seemed to lose what little color it had left. He removed his glasses, polishing them on his tweed jacket as he gathered his thoughts.


    "The higher-ups have been talking about whether we''ll keep our doors open this year," Mr. Gore finally said, choosing his words carefully. He put his glasses back on his nose. "I wish I could give you a definitive answer¡­ but the situation is still uncertain¡­"


    Orion, never one for subtlety, turned to Beatrix. "Isn''t your pet demon supposed to be fixing this mess?"


    "Astar¡¯s been patrolling the perimeter every night," Beatrix replied. "He said he hasn¡¯t found anything yet¡­" But as the words left her mouth, even she didn''t buy it.


    Beatrix heard Grey mutter something under his breath. She couldn''t make it out, but judging by the tension in his jaw and the way he gripped his plastic cake fork ¡ª which bent a little under the pressure ¡ª it was clear he wasn¡¯t pleased.


    Mr. Gore steered things back to water monsters for the rest of class, droning on about mer-people politics and kraken hunting habits, quickly lulling everyone to sleep.


    Once he was done, they all held a moment of silence for Henry Hunchback.


    As the group filed out of the classroom, Beatrix looked around for Astar, expecting to see him waiting for her, but he was nowhere to be seen.


    Grey fell in step beside her. ¡°We need to talk,¡± he said.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Their destination was the far end of campus, past the Black Lagoon and near the perimeter fence that loomed against the twilight sky. Its iron bars stretched up, their tips gleaming dully in the fading light.


    Beatrix and Grey stopped behind the old gardening shed ¡ª the same spot where they¡¯d spoken months ago.


    Grey started in immediately, his words spilling out like he couldn''t hold them back anymore.


    "Astar¡¯s not really investigating the murders," he said. "He''s pretending to be a detective at night, when really he''s hanging out with ghouls on campus.¡±


    "Wait, what? How do you know that?"


    ¡°The ghouls he¡¯s hanging around won¡¯t stop talking about it,¡± Grey said, curt.


    Beatrix frowned. "Hold on, why are you scolding me?"


    "Because he''s your familiar! He hasn¡¯t done anything since he showed up here. If anything, he''s trying to keep the school from figuring things out!"


    "You do the exact same thing to me!¡± Beatrix fired back. ¡°Like when you stopped me from seeing Henry at the crime scene!"


    "You''re mad I didn''t let you near a dead body?" Grey let out a bitter laugh, running a hand over his dark, closely shaven hair. "How can you not see it? Astar¡¯s just wasting your time. He¡¯s probably busy working on some shady plan, and we have no idea what it is. He¡¯s got you wrapped up in a ¡®test trial¡¯ so he and his mom can control you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice!¡± Beatrix snapped, stepping closer to Grey. ¡°You¡¯re acting like I stabbed you in the back. I thought we were partners in this, you big idiot!¡±


    They both went quiet. Dusk faded into night, softening the world around them into shades of blue and gray. Beyond the fence, trees stirred in a gentle breeze, their branches swaying against the sky. The iron bars of the fence seemed to stretch even taller in the growing darkness, but Beatrix could still make out the contours of Grey¡¯s face, the depth of his eyes.


    "Big idiot?" Grey spoke up again, a teasing smirk cracking across his face.


    "Oh, shut up." Beatrix said, a laugh escaping her. "I was ready to fight you just now. But I don¡¯t want you getting kicked out of school again."


    Beatrix paused. She hadn''t meant to bring that up. But now that it was out there... "Why were you suspended last year anyway?"


    Grey leaned against the shed. The old wood creaked beneath his weight. "I didn''t get suspended for fighting," he said, his voice low. "I thought most of my classes were useless, so I skipped. A lot."


    Then he added, "I only got into one fight last year ¡ª with this vampire, Valentine. He was picking on some ghouls, and I..." Grey trailed off, shrugging. "I hate seeing stronger creatures pick on vulnerable ones."


    "I should''ve known," Beatrix said, shaking her head knowingly. "You''re such a softie when it comes to monsters."


    Grey''s eyes met hers for a moment. "Got it from my dad," he admitted.


    Beatrix blinked, surprised. "Why does the Grim Reaper like monsters?"


    "Probably because he had a thing for Bloodgood a few centuries back," Grey said matter-of-factly. ¡°She turned him down for some robot tinkerer. He''s still not over it.¡±


    Beatrix stared at him. "Bloodgood? And the Grim Reaper? That''s... pretty cute, actually."


    Grey''s face softened a bit. "Bloodgood''s a family friend," he said. "When she became headmistress, she talked me into going to Monster High ¡®cause she and my dad wanted me to be exposed to monsters. I wasn''t into it at first, since being cool with monsters is controversial, but I¡¯m following in my dad¡¯s footsteps anyway."


    Beatrix leaned against the shed next to him. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Grey glanced over at the iron fence. The moonlight shone in his dark eyes, making them look like polished onyx. "My dad¡­ made some enemies when he created peace treaties with monsterkind."


    ¡°Hm. Too bad I''m not a monster," Beatrix joked. "Those peace treaties might''ve forced you to be nice to me."


    "You should be grateful you''re mortal," Grey said quietly. "Even with the devil stuff, you''re human.¡±


    Beatrix frowned. "If I''m human," she began, "how¡¯d you know I was a witch when we first met at Bloodgood¡¯s office?"


    "Because I can see your soul," Grey said, reaching out to tap her collarbone gently. "Right here."


    "Huh?" Beatrix asked.


    Without warning, Grey placed a calloused hand on her collarbone. A small shiver ran through Beatrix at the contact.


    "I can see your soul glowing here," he said, his eyes not leaving hers. "Human souls look like little orbs of light, and they get brighter when it''s time to move on. Reapers are drawn to them¡­ Like I¡¯m meant to be in your orbit."


    Beatrix was sure Grey could feel her heart racing under his palm.


    "When I first saw you, your soul had a normal human glow, but there were hints of orangey-red at the edges,¡± Grey said. ¡°That''s a sign it''s close to being claimed by a demon. The orange is even more noticeable now¡­" He paused, taking his hand off her. "Astar plans to claim your soul soon. I mean, it''s still yours for now, technically, but he''s called dibs on it. When you hand it over to him, red will take over the white light."


    Beatrix swallowed hard, eager to change the subject. She managed to ask, "So, uh, do human and monster souls look different?"


    "Monster souls look really dull. Their light is muted to Reapers,¡± he said. "I can barely even see that one over there," He pointed at the Black Lagoon, its dark waters mirroring the fading light and stars above.


    Beatrix squinted, as if that would somehow give her human eyes Reaper vision. "Where?" The lake looked as murky as ever to her.


    "There''s a monster in the lake," Grey said confidently.


    "Oh... that must be Levi, Lagoona''s friend," Beatrix realized. Then, struck by a sudden curiosity, she asked Grey, "Do you have a soul?"


    Before Grey could answer, a sharp crack echoed through the night ¡ª the unmistakable sound of a twig snapping.


    Beatrix whipped around. She scanned the treeline. The sound had come from the other side of the fence, in the forest that was growing creepier by the second, shadows deepening into an impenetrable wall of black.


    Beatrix found herself moving closer to the edge of campus. Her eyes were glued to the darkest part of the woods, searching for any hint of movement. She gripped the iron bars of the fence, the metal cold under her fingers as she leaned forward, peering into the gloom.


    There ¡ª a faint, shifting motion among the trees. Too far to see clearly, but definitely there. A suspect?


    "Grey!" Beatrix hissed urgently, her voice tight. "Quick, can you see a soul out there? Human or monster? Hurry, before they leave!"


    Grey didn''t speak.


    "What is it? What do you see?" Beatrix pressed, her whole body tense, ready to spring into action.


    Suddenly, Grey took hold of her shoulders, his grip firm but not painful. He pulled her back, away from the fence, putting himself between her and whatever was out there in the dark.


    "Don''t," he said, his voice low and filled with a fear that made Beatrix''s blood run cold.


    She tried to squirm out of his grip, but he held her in place, his fingers pressing into her shoulders. She twisted to look at him.


    Grey''s black eyes appeared hollow in the night, like twin voids that absorbed all light. His charcoal stare burrowed into her, intense and unsettling. He looked like he¡¯d seen a ghost ¡ª or worse. Beatrix was perplexed. And terrified.


    Then, something in Grey''s pocket lit up, and his eyes reflected the light from a phone screen.


    He let go of Beatrix and pulled out his black iCoffin. The caller ID read: "B''s friend."


    Grey handed it over without a word.


    "Autumn?" Beatrix frantically answered.


    "Bea! Astar and I lost track of time in the library! Where¡¯d you go?" Autumn''s worried voice came through the phone. ¡°Astar just flew off to find you.¡±


    Beatrix stepped out from behind the gardening shed. She looked up and spotted a wide set of devil wings in the night sky, circling the Monster High bell tower. For once, the sight of Astar didn''t annoy her. It was actually a relief.


    "On my way," Beatrix said before hanging up.


    She turned back to Grey, who stood rigid, concentrated on the woods.


    ¡°I don''t know what your problem is,¡± she told him, ¡°but you¡¯re right ¡ª Astar¡¯s dragging his feet. At this rate, another body will turn up before we get any answers.¡±


    That got Grey''s attention. His gaze snapped to her.


    Beatrix sighed, ¡°So if you''re not going to help me figure out what¡¯s going on, I''ll do it on my own. Thanks for the birthday present."


    Without waiting for a response, she took off into the night, clutching her gift tightly as she headed toward the flying devil. She could feel Grey''s eyes watching her, but she didn''t look back.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°I told you Grey was bad news,¡± Autumn said, her knitting needles clicking softly as she worked on a black scarf.


    Beatrix lay sprawled on her bed as morning light streamed through their dorm room window, staring up at the ceiling. "I don¡¯t get it. One minute Grey¡¯s ranting about how Astar¡¯s screwing up the murder investigation, and the next he¡¯s freaking out because I¡¯m trying to find a suspect."


    Autumn looked up from her knitting, perched on her own bed across the room. "Grey said Astar''s messing up the investigation? But he¡¯s out patrolling every night."


    Beatrix rolled onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow. "According to Grey, that''s bull. Apparently Astar''s been hanging out with some ghouls instead."


    Autumn''s needles stilled mid-stitch. "Astar''s¡­ going out with ghouls?" Her posture deflated.


    "Yeah, so we can''t trust Astar or Grey!¡± Beatrix insisted, sitting up. ¡°We''re gonna have to solve this on our own.¡±


    "... And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Autumn asked skeptically.


    Beatrix''s determination faltered for a moment. She chewed her lip, thinking. "I... haven''t worked that part out yet. Maybe I could start sneaking out at night to check things out at the perimeter? Or..."


    "No way," Autumn interrupted, her button eyes wide with alarm. "Way too dangerous."


    Beatrix flopped back onto her bed with a groan, her dark hair fanning out on the pillow. "Fine. Then... I don''t know. You''re the smart one. Any bright ideas?"


    Autumn set her knitting aside, hesitating. "What about... magic?"


    "What did you say?" Beatrix''s head snapped up, surprised.


    "You pulled off some pretty impressive spells last semester,¡± Autumn reasoned, fidgeting with a loose thread on her arm. "If you''re going all detective mode, maybe magic could help you find the killer. Or at least keep you safe while you''re poking around."


    Beatrix sat up, incredulous. "Magic? Seriously? After all that drama with the school board last semester?


    "Well¡­ when you were in MSS yesterday, I was talking to Astar in the library¡­" Autumn said. ¡°... and I told him I wished my body could heal faster. He suggested you could try a healing spell on me. He even offered to help if... you know, if you were up for it."


    "He shouldn¡¯t have talked to you about that," Beatrix said, bristling at the thought of Astar trying to influence her through Autumn.


    "I''ve been thinking about it though," Autumn persisted. "I mean, given everything that''s going on, maybe using a little magic here and there wouldn''t be such a bad idea after all."


    "No. Just... no. I''m done with spells at Monster High. End of story."


    Autumn leaned forward, earnest. "But Bea, if you''re not gonna rely on Astar, you need to find some way to protect yourself."


    "Autumn! Stop letting Astar get in your head, okay?"


    Besides, even if Beatrix wanted to use magic again ¡ª which she absolutely didn''t ¡ª it''s not like she could do it effectively on her own. Spectra had been her teacher, and she hadn''t seen the spirit for months.


    A sudden THWACK against their dorm window made both girls nearly jump out of their skin.


    ¡°Good morning!¡± Astar''s annoyingly cheerful voice rang out. Through the frosted glass, they could make out his grinning face, those two sharp red horns jutting out from his tousled mess of black hair, as he clung to the outside their fifth-floor window.


    Autumn sprang out of bed and opened the window.


    Astar swung his legs over the sill, leaned in with a devilish smirk that made Beatrix want to punch him. "Ready, ragdoll?" he asked Autumn.


    ¡°For what?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Autumn suppressed an embarrassed smile. "I talked to Astar about ways to speed up my recovery and how to get a little bit sturdier. So, I¡¯m starting to train with him today..."


    "Autumn needs to toughen up if she ever wants to get back to fearleading," Astar said, examining his talons. "I, being the generous demon I am, offered my superior expertise.¡±


    "Autumn! Are you coming?" Frankie''s voice shouted from outside.


    Beatrix pushed past Astar to look out the window. Down below, she saw Frankie, Toralei, and Abbey dressed in running gear. Frankie''s bolts sparked with excitement, Toralei''s tail swished back and forth impatiently, and Abbey''s icy skin glittered in the morning sun, making Beatrix squint.


    "Just a sec!" Autumn called back, rushing to her closet to change. "Astar, turn around!¡±


    Astar made a show of turning away as Autumn slipped out of her pajama top.


    Beatrix glared at him, arms crossed. "What are you up to? Building yourself a little army?"


    Astar shrugged. "The ladies saw me working out around campus. They wanted in on this.¡± He gestured to his admittedly well-toned body. "And I never turn away eager pupils."


    Beatrix raised a brow. "Autumn¡¯s really exercising with you?¡±


    "Relax, it''s just a light jog," Astar said. ¡°I''m not about to make your precious scarecrow rip herself in half again. Hells below, monsters are so fragile these days. Just look at that sorry excuse for a creature."


    He nodded outside towards Jackson Jekyll, who had approached the group of ghouls below, clutching a notebook. The poor guy''s face was redder than a tomato as he stammered something to Frankie.


    "Yo, four-eyes! If you''re not working out those noodle arms with us, then scram!" Astar taunted.


    Beatrix elbowed Astar aside. ¡°Ignore him, Jackson! He¡¯s got a God complex!¡±


    ¡°Ha! God wishes!¡± Astar elbowed back, then turned to Beatrix. "Stop being a stick in the mud. You''re missing out on all the cool stuff I could teach you. I''ve got street smarts from the fifth circle that''d make your head spin ¡ª the best circle, hands down."


    "I don''t see what the big deal is. It''s only the fifth circle," Beatrix needled. "Couldn¡¯t I have gotten a devil from at least the sixth?"


    Her jab hit its mark. Astar''s face twisted, his pride wounded.


    "Only the fifth circle?!" he squawked. "You don''t know jack about what I can do! You haven''t even asked how to summon me!¡±


    Astar grabbed Beatrix¡¯s hand. His skin was unnaturally warm. "Pay attention," he growled, running the tip of his talon across her palm. It left a faint red line as he sketched out a small square with a few lines branching off. "Draw this symbol on your right palm, and I''ll be there when you need me."


    "All set!" Autumn bounced over, decked out in running shorts and an orange tank top covered in pumpkins. Her usual twin straw braids had been replaced by a single plait swinging behind her.


    Without warning, Astar scooped Autumn up into his arms. Beatrix''s heart leapt as she watched the devil casually step out the window with Autumn in tow. Beatrix¡¯s protest died in her throat as Astar glided down, five stories, and gently set down Autumn on the grass.


    "Trixie!¡± Frankie shouted, her mismatched eyes bright. ¡°Jackson wants to talk to you!"


    Beatrix looked down to see Jackson peeking up at her, fidgeting nervously at the edge of the group. His fingers drummed a nervous rhythm on the spine of his notebook.


    Astar herded the ghouls into some semblance of a formation. "Let''s move, ladies!" With that, he took off at a jog, the others scrambling to keep up. Autumn trailed behind, already straining as she struggled to match their pace.


    Sighing, Beatrix threw on a black denim jacket and headed outside to meet Jackson. The grass crunched beneath her sneakers, coated in a light frost.


    "What''s up?" she asked, eyeing the battered notebook in Jackson''s white-knuckled grip. "Everything okay?"


    Jackson''s eyes darted around, paranoid, before he cracked open the notebook. It was a chaotic mess ¡ª loose papers crammed between pages, scribbled notes that were barely legible, and a ton of rough sketches of various monsters.


    "I... I didn''t know who else to go to," he whispered. "I couldn''t tell Guillermo or Orion. They can¡¯t keep a secret."


    With trembling fingers, Jackson flipped to a page labeled "Henry" in jagged letters.


    Beatrix felt her blood run cold. "Henry Hunchback?" she breathed.


    Jackson nodded, swallowing hard. "I saw his body after Grey dragged you away from the crime scene. I managed to get close right before security taped everything off."


    He turned to a crude sketch that made Beatrix''s stomach lurch. It was Henry''s body, sprawled in the grass, rendered in unforgiving detail.


    "Hells, Jackson," Beatrix hissed, looking away. "Why would you draw that?"


    "I had to. It was stuck in my head," Jackson said. "And the more I thought about it, the weirder it all seemed. Henry had no clear cause of death. At first, I thought he might¡¯ve died from vampire bites, blood draining, but vampires usually target the neck or wrist arteries, and there were no marks there."


    Jackson jabbed a finger at his sketch. ¡°I did notice this."


    Beatrix''s eyes landed on a faint line Jackson had drawn across Henry''s back. She felt a chill that had nothing to do with the frost. Beatrix hadn''t noticed any strange slash like that on Henry, but Grey had pulled her away from the body so fast...


    "Did someone cut him?" Beatrix asked.


    Jackson shook his head. "That''s the thing. It didn''t break the skin. Henry and I had gym together, and I never saw that mark on him in the locker room. It looked like a pale, super precise slice.¡±


    Beatrix was baffled. "But his body was intact. How could that have killed him?"


    "That''s why I came to you," Jackson said, desperation creeping into his voice. "I was wondering if this resembles any witchcraft you know. Because it''s not a typical weapon."


    Beatrix wracked her brain, trying to recall any of her aunts'' spells that might leave a mark like that to take someone¡¯s life. Nothing came to mind. "I don''t think it''s magic," she said slowly.


    "I was afraid you''d say that," Jackson murmured, shoulders slumping. ¡°I''ve got another theory, but... you have to swear you won''t tell anyone. Not a soul."


    ¡°Promise. Witch¡¯s honor.¡± Beatrix said.


    Jackson took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Okay. So, this mark... it looks like a swift, ghostly slash across his body. Almost like it was made by some kind of... I don''t know, spiritual weapon or something. I''m not even sure if that''s possible, but look¡ª" His finger traced the faint line in his sketch. "See how it curves up slightly at both ends? It resembles a single-edged blade with a curved edge. The first thing that popped into my head was... a scythe."


    "A scythe?" Beatrix echoed, her mouth suddenly dry. "Who would be swinging a scythe around campus?"


    Jackson''s eyes met hers. "There''s only one kind of being that uses scythes as their go-to weapon."


    Jackson turned his notebook to the next page. A crudely drawn skull and crossbones stared back at them, its empty sockets boring into Beatrix.


    Death.


    Beatrix couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the drawing. Her body had gone completely numb.


    Jackson must have been worried about the look on Beatrix¡¯s face, because he started backpedaling. "I-it''s only a theory. It could be nothing. Maybe Henry scratched himself on a branch, or an animal attacked him¡­¡±


    "Thanks," Beatrix managed to croak out, her voice sounding distant and hollow to her own ears. "For telling me, I mean."


    "What should we do?" Jackson whispered.


    "We... we need more information," Beatrix said, the words tasting like ash in her mouth, ¡°... before we do anything."


    "Beatrix? Are you going to be okay? You''re looking kinda... well, green,¡± Jackson said, shutting his notebook.


    Beatrix''s legs felt like jelly as she walked back towards her dorm. "I just... I need to think," she mumbled. Without waiting for a response, she bolted.


    The spiral staircase of the East dorm seemed to stretch endlessly as Beatrix raced up, her mind a whirlwind of terrifying possibilities. Her only coherent thought was a desperate need to be alone.


    As she climbed to the third floor, voices echoed from above. Some monsters were entering the stairwell above her. Panic surged through Beatrix ¡ª she didn¡¯t want anyone to see her right now. She lurched out onto the second floor landing, her breath coming in ragged gasps.


    The hallway was mercifully empty, with most of this floor¡¯s doors shut tight. Beatrix slumped against the wall, trying to muffle her frantic breathing. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure the whole building could¡¯ve heard it.


    The voices in the stairwell faded as the ghouls descended, oblivious to Beatrix''s presence, then they were gone. Beatrix didn¡¯t move from her spot against the wall, her mind reeling.


    She swore she could still feel Grey''s hand resting on her collarbone, the memory of last night behind the gardening shed making her skin prickle¡­ when he¡¯d told her how bright her human soul was. The ache in Beatrix¡¯s chest threatened to drag her to the floor; she fought against it, barely holding herself together. Hot tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back furiously.


    She¡¯d been so thrown by Jackson¡¯s theory, so blindsided by the idea that Grey could be involved in the murders. It was all so confusing.


    In her mind, there were two Greys:


    One was caring, supportive. The Grey who had stood by her side at the school board trial, his hand a comforting anchor in hers. Who remembered her birthday, who usually found her antics funny, even if he disagreed with them.


    But the other Grey¡­ The one whose eyes had flashed with pure hatred when he first discovered she was a witch. Who''d scared her half to death by the perimeter fence last night. Who''d been ready to strike down a vampire during the MSS trip without hesitation.


    The memory of the nightclub surfaced, bringing with it the image of Grey''s staff. It was always on his belt loop, like an extension of himself, and he¡¯d been prepared to use it when he was confronting Bram on the dance floor.


    But scythes have blades at the end of them, Beatrix thought desperately. And Grey''s staff doesn''t have one.


    But what if Jackson was right... what if that staff had some kind of spirit blade attached to it? Something invisible to human eyes? It would explain why monsters feared Grey''s weapon so much.


    The sound of footsteps jolted Beatrix from her spiraling thoughts. She ducked her head, praying whoever was walking into the hall wouldn''t notice her distraught state.


    A low groan reached Beatrix¡¯s ears.


    Beatrix risked a glance up. Ghoulia Yelps shuffled towards her, a pencil tucked behind one ear. The zombie''s brow was furrowed in what might have been concern.


    Ghoulia groaned again, this one questioning.


    ¡°Oh, hey,¡± Beatrix managed. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just feeling a little, uh, sick.¡±


    Ghoula stood there, her cloudy eyes studying Beatrix. Something about the way the zombie slowly blinked at her was oddly comforting.


    Ghoulia began to shuffle back towards her dorm. She paused, looking back with another low groan. An invitation. On shaky legs, Beatrix followed.


    Ghoulia''s room was a bibliophile''s dream (or nightmare). Books covered nearly every available surface, stacked precariously on shelves, desks, and even the floor.


    "Dang, Ghoulia. You''ve got a whole freakin'' library in here," Beatrix marveled, her fingers trailing across the novels crowding Ghoulia''s desk. Some gleamed with that new-book sheen, while others were weathered relics, their covers faded and cracked with age.


    A few medical books lay open on Ghoulia''s bed, displaying gruesome diagrams of brain surgery procedures. Beatrix suppressed a shudder.


    Ghoulia pointed a crooked finger at a ratty armchair tucked in the corner. The message was clear: Sit.


    Once Beatrix had settled into the chair''s sagging cushions, Ghoulia shuffled over with a steaming mug of tea. The scent of chamomile wafted up.


    Beatrix blinked in surprise. She knew from working in the creepateria that zombies didn''t exactly consume normal food and drink. The idea that Ghoulia kept tea on hand just for visitors was touching.


    "Oh, you really didn''t have to¡ª" Beatrix started, but Ghoulia cut her off with a groan.


    So Beatrix leaned back, sipping her tea while Ghoulia returned to her gory medical texts. The silence should have been awkward, but instead it was soothing.


    Beatrix¡¯s mind wandered back to Henry''s mysterious mark. She hesitated, warring with herself. Talking about it felt dangerous, but the need for answers gnawed at her.


    "Ghoulia," Beatrix began, "Autumn''s working on a class project about¡­ injuries. I was wondering if you had any books on a certain type of wound."


    Ghoulia''s droopy blue eyes fixed on her with unnerving intensity.


    "Um, scientifically speaking... is there such a thing as a ''spirit weapon''? Like, I don''t know, a ghostly sword or something?" Beatrix asked.


    Ghoulia''s brow furrowed. She rose with agonizing slowness, scanning her overstuffed shelves. After what felt like an eternity, she pulled out a book titled "The Ghostly Realm."


    With painstaking care, Ghoulia flipped through the pages with her bony fingers, finally settling on a section about poltergeists. Her bluish nail tapped a paragraph insistently.


    Beatrix leaned in, reading aloud:


    "Many mistakenly believe that ghosts and poltergeists are the same, but there''s a crucial difference: poltergeists can interact with physical objects, while ghosts cannot. As a result, poltergeists may cause harm in the physical world, whereas ghosts lack this ability."


    Beatrix paused. "Ghoulia, could a poltergeist use some kind of spirit weapon to hurt someone?"


    Ghoulia''s face scrunched up in concentration. After a long moment, she shook her head no.


    The zombie turned to a different chapter: "Death and the Collection of Souls." She scanned the text rapidly, her pencil scratching as she underlined key passages.


    Beatrix¡¯s eyes raced over the marked sections:


    "Monsters and spirits trapped in limbo often hide from Death¡­ However, spirits who are ready to move on can easily be guided to the afterlife if they approach a Reaper¡­ To collect these souls, Reapers use a special tool..." Beatrix¡¯s voice broke as she blurted out the final words, "...a spiritual scythe blade!"


    She looked at Ghoulia. "A Reaper''s scythe ¡ª it can take a monster''s soul just like that? With one swing?"


    Ghoulia''s slow nod felt like a death sentence.


    The zombie reached for another book, this one so ancient Beatrix half-expected it to crumble at a touch. Ghoulia blew off a thick layer of dust, revealing the title: "A Monster''s History of New Salem."


    She flipped to a chapter titled "Mortality at New Salem Preparatory Academy." Beatrix''s eyes darted across the page, certain phrases jumping out at her:


    New Salem Preparatory Academy, often referred to as ''Monster High'' ¡­ largest monster school in history ¡­ Never before have so many monsters congregated in one place¡­


    Supernatural scholars have observed a phenomenon related to the land on which the academy was built¡­


    A faded map of the campus caught Beatrix¡¯s eye. Apart from the number of student dorms, the school looked the same ¡ª the academic buildings, the bell tower, and the sports fields were all in the same places; the Black Lagoon still hugged the perimeter fence.


    Beneath the map, a passage made Beatrix pause:


    For centuries, Death entities have claimed they cannot enter the academy¡­ Historians speculate that the act of collecting souls, whether from humans or monsters, is not possible on this piece of land in the Oregon mountains¡­


    Death appears to be rendered powerless here, shut out from the premises for reasons that remain shrouded in mystery... Evidence suggests the presence of a metaphysical barrier preventing Death entities from gaining entry...


    Beatrix looked up. ¡°A barrier is keeping Death out of Monster High? How is that even possible?¡±


    Ghoulia''s bony finger tapped insistently on a single word in the textbook: Speculation.


    "Okay, but... if that¡¯s true, then how is Grey here?"


    Ghoulia''s pencil scratched across the margin, her handwriting a spidery scrawl: Grey''s a Reaper-in-training. Not officially part of his dad''s company, Death Co. Might be a loophole.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Ghoulia''s pencil moved again:


    Grey doesn¡¯t have a Reaper robe or steed yet.


    "Steed?" Beatrix''s eyebrows shot up. "Like, a horse?"


    Ghoulia nodded, adding: Reapers collect souls on horseback. Old school tradition.


    Beatrix snorted at the mental image of Grey trotting around campus on a horse.


    ¡°So Grey can be here ¡®cause he''s not a full-on Reaper yet, huh?¡± Beatrix muttered, thinking out loud. ¡°Kinda like how I got into Monster High because I¡¯m a ''witch-in-training.¡¯"


    She let out a dry laugh as the irony hit her.


    All those judgmental looks Grey had given her, the not-so-subtle digs as he acted all high and mighty about being a ''real monster''... when he was basically in the same boat as her. Neither of them quite fit the Monster High mold.


    But her amusement didn¡¯t last long as reality came crashing back. "Hold on," Beatrix said, her anxiety returning, "can trainee Reapers use scythes?"


    Ghoulia''s response was quick and clear: They can, but no Reapers ¡ª official or trainee ¡ª are able to use scythes on campus. Their spirit blades don''t work.


    "Because of the... mystical barrier thing?" Beatrix asked, eyeing the old book skeptically. "And you¡¯re sure that''s not just some urban legend?"


    Ghoulia groaned. The zombie was sure.


    Beatrix felt relieved. Even though the barrier thing didn''t really make sense ¡ª like, how could a force field only stop scythes? ¡ª and trusting some random old book felt weird, Beatrix was looking for any reason to believe Grey wasn''t the killer.


    However, Ghoulia then wrote something else:


    BTW ¡ª trainees like Grey can''t take souls to the afterlife like official Reapers, but they can sever souls from bodies and hold onto them.


    "Where would a trainee even keep a soul?" Beatrix asked. If she could prove that Grey didn''t have Gilda, Brocko, and Henry''s souls, that would definitely prove he was innocent.


    Surprisingly, Ghoulia slowly shrugged. It was rare to see the zombie stumped by a question. After thinking for a moment, Ghoulia wrote: Maybe some kind of capsule? Not sure.


    Ghoulia tucked her pencil back behind her ear with an apologetic look, then held out the textbook to Beatrix.


    "You''re letting me borrow this?¡± Beatrix gingerly took the book. ¡°Thank you." Then, Beatrix added awkwardly, "And, uh, thanks for helping with... Autumn''s science thing."


    She winced at how fake it sounded.


    Ghoulia clearly wasn¡¯t buying the excuse, but instead of calling Beatrix out, she just gave a lopsided, knowing smile.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Back in her dorm, Beatrix sat on her bed, letting the afternoon slip by as she pored over the passages Ghoulia had shown her.


    The musty scent of old paper filled her nose with each flip of the textbook¡¯s pages. As Beatrix turned to a new chapter, something fluttered out. A small, folded piece of paper landed in her lap.


    Curious, Beatrix carefully unfolded the yellowed paper, its edges frayed and torn. Inside was a handwritten poem, the ink faded but still legible:


    Plague, Famine, and War


    seek to settle a score.


    Monsters can¡¯t hide


    when the dark horsemen ride.


    Their souls will burn once more.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± Beatrix muttered, reading the creepy words again.


    Suddenly, she heard wings flapping outside her window. Beatrix shoved the scrap of paper back in the book, laid down, and yanked her blanket up over her face. She wasn''t in the mood to deal with Astar after the morning she''d had, so she squeezed her eyes shut, pretending to be fast asleep.


    The window squeaked open, letting in a gust of cold air. There was a soft thud as someone landed on the carpet. Then came Astar''s voice:


    "Hey, I was thinking we could¡ª"


    "Shh!" Autumn cut him off. "She¡¯s sleeping."


    The room went quiet. Beatrix could practically feel Astar''s eyes on her, probably checking if she was really asleep.


    "Well, then¡­¡± Astar finally said, now hushed, ¡°Guess I better leave.¡±


    "I guess so," Autumn whispered back, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "See you tomorrow?"


    "Tomorrow can''t come soon enough, Patches," Astar flirted.


    "Oh, zip it," Autumn giggled softly. There was a muffled noise ¡ª probably Autumn giving him a playful smack on his arm.


    Oh brother, Beatrix grimaced under the bed sheets.


    Autumn''s voice dropped even lower. Beatrix had to strain to hear her next words. ¡°Hey, about what you said earlier... why isn''t the school sending everyone home early this semester? Is it because of you?"


    Astar murmured back, ¡°I''m a demon with a powerful devil dynasty behind me. The school wouldn''t dare shut down when someone like me wants to stay. They know better than to cross us."


    "But it''s not safe here anymore," Autumn protested. "Some of my classmates are already leaving because of the¡­ incidents. Everyone¡¯s so scared. If you can''t figure out who''s behind this soon, Bea and I might go home early too."


    Astar sounded surprised. "Why would you do that? I''m here to protect you."


    There was a pause before Autumn spoke again. "Protect me?" she asked. "You mean Bea."


    "Both of you," Astar insisted.


    An excruciatingly charged silence fell, making Beatrix wish she hadn''t pretended to be asleep. Being the third wheel in this ¡ª whatever the heck this was ¡ª was a new kind of torture.


    Autumn cleared her throat quietly. "You should probably go," she said. "I don''t want to wake Bea."


    There was a faint whoosh of air, and the curtains rustled. Astar had flown off.


    Beatrix remained perfectly still. She listened to Autumn moving around the room, drawers opening and closing, the soft pad of her feet on the floor.


    The stress of the day was catching up with Beatrix, and soon she started to doze off ¡ª for real this time. Eventually, she drifted into a deep, restless sleep beneath the covers...


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix jolted up in bed, her body covered in cold sweat. Gruesome scenes of the recent murders had invaded her dreams, replaying in a relentless, nightmarish loop that left her nauseated and terrified.


    Her dorm was enveloped in darkness, the familiar shapes of furniture ¡ª her desk, Autumn¡¯s vanity, her wardrobe ¡ª were transformed into looming, menacing shadows. The only sound was Autumn''s soft snores from the bed across the room.


    Beatrix''s eyes darted to the digital clock on her nightstand. Its glowing red numbers pierced the darkness: 1:03 a.m. She''d slept for far too long, and now had a pounding headache. Each throb felt like a hammer striking her skull.


    Beatrix reached for Ghoulia¡¯s textbook, got out of bed, and moved to the dorm window. With a soft rustle, she pushed aside the curtain, letting a shaft of silvery moonlight spill across the textbook¡¯s pages.


    Beatrix turned to the book¡¯s detailed map of Monster High and its surroundings again. Her fingers touched the familiar outlines of the school''s buildings and paths. The school grounds were shaded in a light tone, while the surrounding woods and mountains beyond were much darker, as if fading into an ominous unknown.


    As her gaze wandered over the map, Beatrix noticed something she''d overlooked before. Multiple spots in the darkness of the surrounding woods were marked with small symbols. She read over a legend at the bottom of the page.


    Each symbol on the map represented a monster death reported over the span of almost two centuries. With growing horror, Beatrix counted just over two dozen dead monsters discovered around the school¡¯s borders.


    An ogre professor, who had taught at Monster High between 1692 and 1706, was found deceased in the northern hills.


    A Monster High student, a chupacabra, had disappeared without a trace a mile away from the Black Lagoon.


    And oddly, even some animal deaths were noted, like a dead fox in a cave 40 feet from the school border, and a small family of birds found on a cliffside in 1788.


    But what really struck Beatrix was the glaring absence of death within Monster High''s boundaries. The lighter area of the map, representing the school grounds, ended precisely at the perimeter fence. Beyond that, the deaths began.


    Not a single reported incident inside the school. Not even a single animal.


    Which wouldn¡¯t seem strange if so many monsters hadn¡¯t died nearby.


    A realization dawned on Beatrix. This year''s victims followed the exact same pattern:


    Gilda had been discovered in a tree grove beyond the perimeter.


    Brocko in the distant woods on the opposite side of the campus.


    Henry mere feet from the border fence. Beatrix imagined him reaching desperately for the safety of the school grounds, only to fall short in his final moments.


    If there really was some kind of mystical barrier keeping Death at bay, one that stopped exactly at Monster High''s perimeter as the map suggested, the woods would create the perfect hunting ground for Death. A scythe-wielding Reaper could descend upon unsuspecting victims like Gilda, Brocko, and Henry the second they stepped outside the protected zone.


    Even a Reaper in training like Grey.


    Beatrix was desperate to return to Ghoulia¡¯s room, her unanswered questions driving her mad. But if she pressed Ghoulia about Reapers, mysterious barriers, and monster deaths, then Beatrix would basically be confessing that she thought Grey was the murderer.


    Beatrix recoiled from the thought. She didn''t want to commit to that idea. She couldn¡¯t bear it.


    The night pressed in on her. Beatrix felt like she was drowning in a sea of dark possibilities, grasping for some crucial detail she must be missing.


    Nightmare? a familiar voice sounded in Beatrix¡¯s head, startling her.


    ¡°Spectra?¡± Beatrix croaked, her voice hoarse from sleep. She blinked, trying to adjust her eyes as she turned away from the moonlit window.


    The purple spirit emerged from the darkness, hovering at the foot of her bed.


    It¡¯s been a while.

 11. Paranormal Activity

    Isn¡¯t it a little late to be studying? Spectra asked inside Beatrix¡¯s head, her purple eyes glowing in the dark dorm room.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Beatrix whispered.


    Spectra pressed a ghostly finger to her lips. Careful. Don''t want to wake up your friend, she cautioned, her gaze flicking to Autumn''s bed on the other side of the room. The scarecrow was buried under a pile of blankets, snoring softly.


    What are you reading? Spectra asked.


    Beatrix angled the book so Spectra could see. ¡°It¡¯s about Monster High¡¯s history. Check it out.¡±


    Spectra drifted closer. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as she neared, her see-through form casting no shadow in the moonlight. What am I looking at? she asked Beatrix silently, peering at the faded text.


    "It''s a record of monster deaths around school," Beatrix explained. "There''s been tons of them over the years."


    Spectra titled her head, her purple hair defying gravity as it swirled around her face. Well, the school is very old. Things were different back then. Not as many safety measures...


    "I thought that at first too," Beatrix whispered. "But think about it. There used to be what, maybe one death every few decades? But now..."


    You''re right, Spectra murmured. There¡¯s definitely been a spike.


    "And look at this," Beatrix said, her finger tapping a section of the map. "The book even includes animal deaths outside the grounds. It''s like there''s some kind of force field keeping Death away from Monster High." She paused. "Is that even possible?"


    Spectra''s eyes dimmed, their deep purple hue blending into the darkness of the dorm. In the shadows, her expression was unreadable.


    After a long silence, Spectra spoke. If a barrier like that existed, it''d make sense for a monster school to be built here. Maybe... maybe Monster High''s founders wanted to take advantage of this weird protection to keep students safe¡­ Her voice trailed off.


    ¡°You think the barrier was here before Monster High was built?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Just a hunch, Spectra replied, her voice oddly despondent as she drifted back slightly. Why is this gnawing at you so much?


    Beatrix traced the edges of the book in her hands. "Because I don''t think Bram and Vilhelm are behind the murders. I think someone else is involved,¡± Beatrix admitted.


    Hmm... Spectra said. Whoever this ''someone else'' is, they''ve certainly been busy lately.


    Spectra¡¯s words made Beatrix¡¯s stomach churn. She couldn''t ignore the fact that Grey was always skipping class and disappearing without explanation. During the MSS field trip, he''d slipped away from the human restaurant and vanished into the city alleys. Sure, he''d shown up later to save her at the nightclub, but where had he been before that? What if he was out hurting people that night?


    Spectra picked up on Beatrix''s unspoken thoughts, even though Beatrix hadn¡¯t meant to share them.


    Seems like you''ve got a theory brewing, Spectra observed, her voice a soft whisper that caressed the inside of Beatrix''s skull. But there''s some conflict in you. You don''t want to betray your... ''friend.'' And yet, you don''t want more kids turning up in the forest.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± Beatrix started, her voice strained, then stopped. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you say ¡®friend¡¯ like that?¡±


    Because I know you see him differently, Spectra said, her floating chains and tattered dress shimmering.


    "What? No! Grey''s just¡ªit¡¯s not like that," Beatrix sputtered, cheeks flushing.


    Spectra gave Beatrix a sly smile. If you say so. But if you want to prove Grey¡¯s innocence, you''re going to need proof. Why not hunt for evidence yourself? The spirit paused, then added, I can show you an easy way.


    Beatrix quietly set her textbook aside, eyeing the spirit warily. "Let me guess ¡ª you want to teach me a third magic trick."


    All good things come in threes, Spectra quipped.


    "Great," Beatrix said sarcastically. "I can''t wait to get in trouble because of you again. What monster ability do you want me to copy this time? Oh, and are you ever going to tell me why you''re such a witchcraft expert?"


    Spectra drifted around the room, her form weaving through the shadows. I told you, it¡¯s amazing what you can pick up by observing creatures around you for 400 years.


    Beatrix''s eyes widened, her jaw dropping. "Four hun¡ª You''ve been haunting this place for four centuries?" she asked, dumbfounded.


    A mere blink in the grand scheme of things. Now, more importantly, I have a special skill for you, Spectra continued, brushing off the subject of her age. It''s very discreet. Trust me.


    Beatrix scoffed, crossing her arms tightly, trying not to be interested despite how intriguing this sounded.


    Spectra''s eyes gleamed as she spoke, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. Imagine seeing through walls, Beatrix. Imagine watching Grey''s every move without ever leaving the safety of your room. No more guessing, no more sleepless nights wondering¡­


    "How?" The word escaped Beatrix before she could stop it, curiosity betraying her once again.


    Step out of your body, Spectra said in a soft, enticing whisper. Just for a bit.


    The drowsiness that had been tugging at Beatrix vanished in an instant, replaced by a jolt of adrenaline. "Sorry, what?"


    You''re about to see the world as I do, Spectra purred, circling Beatrix. Leave your physical form behind, and you can go check on your ''friend'' whenever you¡¯d like. I think I spotted him prowling near the school''s edge earlier. Fly over, keep an eye on him, and all your questions will be answered.


    Beatrix swallowed hard.


    ¡°Hold on, why do I need your power when you''re right here? You''re a ghost all the time!" Beatrix whispered, throwing her hands up in exasperation.


    Hey, I''m a busy apparition. I can¡¯t always help you snoop around, Spectra explained. I figured this skill might come in handy for you, since you¡¯re so dead set on clearing Grey¡¯s name. I can''t be everywhere at once, you know.


    Beatrix frowned. ¡°Okay¡­ but if I leave my body, won¡¯t Grey see my soul floating around?¡±


    Not if you stay hidden, Spectra assured her. Trust me, when you''re not constrained by the physical world, it''s easy to stay out of sight. Just keep your distance from him. And don''t worry, it''s not like you''ll be a ghost forever. Your spirit will naturally return to your body after a few minutes.


    Beatrix let out a long sigh. Classic Spectra, always making magic sound like the answer to all her problems. Yet, Beatrix had to admit that Spectra''s schemes usually worked out. When things went south, it was because Beatrix messed up, not her.


    This out-of-body thing would let her spy on Grey without him knowing. Which, honestly, sounded pretty great, because the thought of confronting Grey face-to-face about her suspicions made her want to crawl into a hole and never come out.


    She couldn''t picture him hurting her, but then again, maybe she didn''t have that great of an imagination.


    Beatrix paced her dimly lit room, mulling it over. She glanced at Spectra hovering near her dresser, bothered by how easily this spirit could talk her into using magic.


    But if Beatrix was being honest, Spectra''s offers were simply excuses for her to do what she really wanted deep down. No matter what her aunts said, or how much she pretended not to care about the dark arts, Beatrix knew she had the potential to be a great witch.


    Trying one more spell seemed worth it for something this important. Right?


    "Okay, fine. What do I have to do?" Beatrix asked, giving in.


    Lie back, Spectra instructed.


    Beatrix did as she was told. The mattress creaked softly as she settled onto it.


    Spectra drifted to Beatrix¡¯s bedside. This would be easier if you had some belladonna.


    ¡°Am I supposed to know what that is?¡± Beatrix asked.


    It¡¯s a plant that slows your heartbeat, Spectra explained. Witches use it in potions to poison their foes. Potent stuff.


    Beatrix glanced up at Spectra, alarmed. ¡°You want me to eat a poisonous plant?¡±


    Spectra wore a gentle smile.


    What do you think being a ghost is?


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Beatrix bolted upright, her sudden movement causing the bed springs to squeak. "I''m not letting you kill me!"


    "Bea?" Autumn mumbled, half-asleep. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing. Sorry, Autumn," Beatrix whispered quickly. "Go back to sleep."


    She held her breath until Autumn dozed off again, then turned back to Spectra.


    Don¡¯t be silly, Spectra chided. You¡¯d only need to chew half a belladonna leaf. Just enough to slow your heart rate briefly. It¡¯s like a taste of death to help you maneuver like a ghost for a short amount of time. You''ll return to your body soon after.


    Beatrix relaxed slightly.


    But since you don''t have any, Spectra continued, we''ll have to do this the old-fashioned way. First things first, empty your mind of all thoughts. Let them drift away like leaves on a stream. Now, take two sharp breaths in, and one long, slow exhale. Focus on the rhythm of your breathing.


    Reluctantly, Beatrix lay back down on her bed and did as she was told. She closed her eyes and followed Spectra''s instructions, inhaling sharply twice through her nose, then releasing a long, controlled breath.


    The room was quiet again, save for Autumn''s gentle snoring and the faint whisper of wind outside the window. Cool night air filled Beatrix''s lungs, bringing with it an unexpected sense of serenity that settled over her like a blanket.


    Good. Be careful not to fall asleep, Spectra advised.


    Beatrix continued the breathwork, her eyes still closed. The darkness behind her eyelids seemed to stretch on forever, occasionally interrupted by swirling patterns of light she couldn''t explain.


    Time became fluid, minutes bleeding into what felt like hours. The familiar sounds of the dorm all faded away, replaced by a strange, hollow silence that seemed to press against her eardrums.


    Gradually, Beatrix slipped into a trance-like state. A peculiar tingling sensation spread through her body, as if a thousand bubbles were dancing just beneath her skin, making her feel both weightless and hyper-aware of every inch of herself.


    That tingling sensation is a good sign, Spectra said, picking up on Beatrix¡¯s thoughts. Her voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.


    Next comes the hallucinatory stage. All mortals pass through it during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. Observe, but stay relaxed. Don''t move.


    Spectra''s tone grew softer, hypnotic. Be prepared ¡ª you might experience something like sleep paralysis. That''s normal. It means you''re on the right path. It will fade as soon as you fully relax.


    Beatrix was getting drowsy. And bored out of her mind. However, simultaneously, her body felt as if it were sinking into the bed, becoming one with the mattress.


    Spectra¡¯s voice whispered in her head. Now, picture your spirit-self rising up from your physical one. Keep at it until you feel like you¡¯re floating away.


    Beatrix''s head felt light from all the breathing. She was starting to think this whole thing might be a terrible idea. Doubt crept in, threatening to break her concentration.


    Suddenly, a peculiar sensation washed over her. It was as if she were drifting upward.


    Beatrix¡¯s eyes shot open. The ceiling was rushing straight at her.


    Before she could process what was happening, Beatrix passed right through the ceiling into an upstairs dorm room. She caught fleeting glimpses of sleeping students in the room above.


    Then she was drifting upward again, through another ceiling. The walls of the building seemed to melt away around her.


    ¡°Spectra!¡± Beatrix yelped, panicked. Her voice sounded alien and distant, as if echoing from the bottom of a deep well.


    She rose through the rafters into the dorm building''s attic, then, in the blink of an eye, she found herself looking at the bright, full moon, hanging impossibly large in the star-studded sky.


    You''re not paralyzed, Beatrix! Spectra''s voice boomed in her head. Move! You can do it!


    Beatrix tried to wiggle her fingers and toes, but felt nothing¡ªno resistance, no sensation at all. She tried to reorient herself, to find some semblance of control, but it was like trying to grasp smoke.


    Spectra popped up beside her, her ghostly form more vibrant and alive than Beatrix had ever seen it. A purple, otherworldly light danced in Spectra''s eyes as she looked at her pupil with pride.


    ¡°You''re overthinking it,¡± Spectra said, her voice crystal clear despite the whistling of the wind around them. ¡°Stop trying to control it and just go. It''s mind over matter now. Think, and it will be.¡±


    Taking Spectra''s advice, Beatrix imagined herself floating upright, and just like that, it happened. She shifted and found herself hovering above the dorm rooftop, no longer adrift like a lost balloon in the night sky.


    ¡°Holy¡­ this is insane!¡± Beatrix exclaimed, looking down at herself in awe.


    Her hands appeared translucent and shimmered in the moonlight, and each strand of her dark hair floated around her face as if submerged in water. Beatrix started twirling and spinning around in the air, like she was navigating some kind of lucid dream.


    "It''s like I''m not even real!" Beatrix tried a clumsy pirouette in mid-air, laughing as she wobbled. "How do you even get used to this?"


    Spectra floated beside her, her eyes distant. "You don''t, really," she said softly. "That''s the thing about being ''out of body.'' You never quite... feel anything."


    Beatrix took a good look around. Dozens of different ghosts and specters glided through school buildings and over the grounds, passing through solid objects and walls like they were nothing. They all gave off a soft glow ¡ª some purple like Spectra, others light green, pink, blue, or teal. It was like someone had scattered a bunch of glow-in-the-dark sticks across campus.


    "Wow," Beatrix breathed, her eyes wide. "Where''d they all come from?"


    Without even thinking about it, she drifted closer to the Monster High bell tower, which looked even more gothic and imposing up close.


    As she got closer, she spotted a group of ghost teens hanging out in front of the clock¡¯s giant ticking hands, chatting and laughing despite the late hour.


    "They''re from the other side. Limbo. Spirit world. Whatever you want to call it," Spectra called after her, then added urgently, "Don''t forget ¡ª you''ve only got a few minutes to find your ''friend'' before you''re drawn back to your body. I saw Grey hanging around the south end of school earlier. Go on, I¡¯m right behind you.¡±


    Beatrix floated by the group of ghosts. Feeling unusually friendly in her spectral state, Beatrix gave them a little wave as she passed by. She couldn''t get over how awesome it felt to be totally free from any physical limitations ¡ª her mind was clear, her body wasn''t tired, and she didn¡¯t feel any hint of hunger or thirst.


    "Hey there, boo-tiful," a green-hued ghost called out to her. Beatrix noticed spray paint bottles peeking out of his see-through satchel.


    Another ghost, decked out like a ''50s greaser with slicked-back hair and a leather jacket, chimed in. "Have we met before, dollface? I think I know ya from somewhere." His eyes, pinpricks of silvery light, seemed to peer right through her.


    Beatrix blinked, realizing she did recognize them from the creepateria ¡ª they were students who occasionally slipped through the veil to attend classes.


    "You might have seen me around¡­" Beatrix replied with a grin, but she trailed off, remembering why she was here. As cool as this was, she couldn''t waste time chatting. She needed to find Grey, fast.


    Glancing around, Beatrix realized Spectra had vanished. "Spectra?" she called out. The bell tower next to her chimed loudly, reminding her that time was ticking away. She had to find Grey before she had to return to her body.


    She willed herself forward, and suddenly she was zooming through the night. "Whoa!" she yelped, surprised by her speed. The world sped past her, a blur of moonlight and shadows.


    In mere moments, she reached the south side of school. Beatrix couldn''t believe it. What would''ve taken forever on foot had passed in seconds.


    As she approached the edge of campus, Beatrix spotted a familiar figure. She ducked behind one of the ornate gargoyles adorning the library''s roof, partially phasing halfway through the stone. From this vantage point, she peered down at the scene below.


    It was Grey, moving along the perimeter fence, scanning every inch of the woods beyond, his whole body tense and alert. There were no security guards around ¡ª the area was completely empty.


    Suddenly, Grey froze. He cocked his head, listening for something Beatrix couldn''t hear. She could¡¯ve sworn there was a rustle in the trees past the fence ¡ª leaves moving, a flash of something darting between the shadows. Beatrix squinted, trying to see what had caught Grey''s attention.


    Then, without warning, Grey began to scale the fence with impressive agility. He was about to jump over and chase whatever was in the forest.


    But just as Grey reached the top, he stopped. Beatrix watched as another figure dropped out of the sky, landing on the fence next to him.


    From where she was hiding, Beatrix couldn''t make out much about the newcomer. They were mostly in shadow, away from the dim campus lights. But even in the darkness, there was no mistaking those massive wings against the night sky, or the horns on his head.


    Astar was perched on top of one of the fence spires, his wings unfurling slightly to keep balance. The moonlight caught the tips of his horns as he looked down at Grey, his yellow eyes piercing.


    Grey, startled by Astar showing up out of nowhere, stumbled back from the fence.


    Beatrix saw Astar''s mouth move, curling into what had to be a smug grin. She couldn''t hear what he was saying, but if she had to guess, he was probably taunting Grey.


    In one smooth motion, Astar leapt off the fence. He landed without a sound, barely even disturbing the grass. Grey, though, lunged forward with unexpected aggression. His hand shot out, grabbing Astar''s shirt collar so hard it made Beatrix flinch, the fabric bunching up in Grey''s fist.


    Astar''s eyes blazed as he hissed something too low for Beatrix to catch. He shoved Grey off with enough force to send the other boy back a few steps. Tension crackled between them as they fell into a heated, whispered argument. Beatrix leaned forward, straining to hear, until Astar''s yellow eyes snapped up, meeting her gaze for the briefest moment. Recognition flashed across his features before he quickly looked away, trying to pretend he hadn''t seen her.


    Then, to Beatrix''s horror, Grey noticed Astar''s look and followed it. His eyes traveled up to where Beatrix was hiding, and he stared straight at her. If Beatrix could feel her heart in this ghostly form, she was sure it would have dropped to her stomach.


    Of course the boys could see her.


    Grey had told her he could spot her orange-tinged soul a mile away.


    And Astar, bound to her as her familiar, seemed to sense her presence even without her body.


    Feeling like a total idiot and completely exposed, Beatrix did the only thing she could think of ¡ª she bolted. She slipped down through the library roof, praying they wouldn''t follow her. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered as she fled.


    Once inside, she hurtled through the dark library as fast as she could.


    A door flew open, followed by loud footsteps on the library¡¯s marble floor.


    "Beatrix!" Grey''s voice rang out through the building, bouncing off the high ceiling.


    Beatrix was about to dart through the far wall, but she stopped. She turned to see Grey dashing toward her, weaving between the bookshelves, panicked.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Grey shouted mid-run.


    Beatrix shot back, "What are you doing¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why are you out of your body?!¡±


    Beatrix was taken aback by his intensity. "Relax, I''m not dead," she reassured him. ¡°My body¡¯s waiting for me in my room.¡±


    Grey skidded to a stop in front of her, chest heaving. In the dim light, Beatrix could see the wild look in his eyes. "No!" Grey''s voice rose, raw. "You can''t just leave it empty!¡±


    "It''s fine, I can leave it for a bit," Beatrix said. She drifted backward, away from him, passing through a table.


    ¡°No! You can¡¯t! You need to go back now!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I don''t¡ª"


    "Just go!" Grey shouted, making Beatrix jump.


    Despite her confusion and fear, she took off as quickly as she could. Some part of her still trusted Grey enough to know something was seriously wrong.


    So much for Spectra''s plan, she thought bitterly as she flew across campus, resenting the ghost for ditching her as she phased through wall after wall. She raced down the familiar hallways of her dorm building and up to the fifth floor, desperate to reunite with her body.


    Bursting into her room, she saw Autumn, still out cold in bed, snoring softly. But there, at Beatrix¡¯s own bed, Spectra hovered strangely over her empty form.


    Beatrix¡¯s body jerked back and forth unnaturally, like a puppet controlled by a demented puppeteer. Her head lolled side to side on her pillow, the bed sheets rustling as her lifeless feet twitched beneath them.


    It almost looked like Spectra was attempting to enter her body.


    "Hey!¡± Beatrix yelled. ¡°That''s mine, back off!"


    Autumn sprung awake. Beatrix''s ghostly voice must have stirred her from her dreams, reaching her on some subconscious level. "Bea?" Autumn whispered, looking at Beatrix''s body. "Bea!" Autumn scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over her tangled sheets.


    She rushed to Beatrix''s side, shaking her shoulders. "Wake up!¡±


    Beatrix watched, helpless, as her body thrashed. To Autumn, it must have looked like some kind of seizure, since Autumn couldn¡¯t see her or Spectra.


    Spectra recoiled, annoyed at Beatrix''s return, her form flickering and wavering like a candle flame. As Spectra released her hold and pulled away, Beatrix slammed into her body with a jolt, like opposite magnets clicking together.


    Beatrix gasped, eyes flying open. She blinked rapidly, every nerve ending lighting up, her senses flooding back like she¡¯d been dunked in ice water. Sweat plastered her t-shirt to her back and her heart was pounding like she''d just run a mile.


    Autumn was still gripping her shoulders, leaning over her. "You had a bad dream. Are you okay?"


    Beatrix sat up, the tingly sensation fading, as if the ghostly encounter was just a distant memory. She squinted into the darkness of their dorm room, searching for Spectra. But the spirit was gone.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The next day, Beatrix stood in front of a giant pot of meat and vegetable stew, stirring something the other lunch ladies called "ghoulash.¡± It was halfway through lunch, and the clamor of hungry students echoed beyond the kitchen doors.


    "How''s the extra batch coming, ¡®Trix?" Marsha hollered from around the corner. "These kids are acting like we''ve been starving ''em!"


    ¡°It¡¯s almost ready!¡± Beatrix shouted over her shoulder.


    As she reached for more herbs, Beatrix snuck a glance at Jackson and Autumn. They were huddled behind the refrigerators next to her, out of sight from the other lunch ladies. Not exactly the best place for a secret meeting, but it beat talking out in the open.


    Beatrix had already filled them in on her astral projection experience, Grey chasing her down, and Spectra''s creepy possession attempt.


    "So," Jackson whispered, his lanky frame awkwardly folded as he crouched next to Autumn. "Did Grey show up at your dorm after you got back to your body?"


    Autumn answered for Beatrix. "No, but he tried to," she murmured. "He blew up my phone a million times trying to check on Bea. I told him she was sick and needed space.¡±


    Beatrix stirred the ghoulash mechanically, her mind elsewhere.


    Now that Jackson and Autumn knew everything ¡ª including Spectra¡¯s involvement in her witchcraft antics over the past year ¡ª she didn''t feel so alone anymore. At least she had friends on her side, especially now that trusting Spectra was off the table.


    "Grey''s gotta be wondering about your out-of-body thing, right?" Jackson whispered, his eyes darting around the kitchen to make sure no one was eavesdropping on them. "I mean, he literally saw you spying on him. Did he say anything?"


    Beatrix paused, her spoon hovering over the bubbling pot of ghoulash. "Not yet," she said with a sigh. "I''ve been avoiding him all day. I didn''t even walk Autumn to her classes so he couldn''t corner me in the halls. I''ve just been hiding out in the creepateria."


    As she spoke, her eyes flicked to a plastic cup on a nearby counter. It was filled with clear liquid, looking innocent enough among the kitchen clutter. "It actually gave me time to... prepare a few things," she said.


    Jackson''s eyes followed Beatrix''s, his brow furrowing. "What''s in the cup?" he asked.


    "Nothing," Beatrix said, turning back to the ghoulash.


    "What are you gonna tell Grey when he finally corners you?" Autumn asked, steering the conversation back on track.


    "I have no idea,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°I''m just glad Spectra hasn''t shown her face again. She only seems to show up when I''m alone."


    "How did she manage to get you out of your body, anyway?" Jackson asked.


    Beatrix shrugged. "Through breathing.¡±


    Jackson blinked, clearly lost.


    Autumn jumped in. "Bea''s kind of a natural when it comes to magic," she explained. "It¡¯s in her blood. She comes from a long line of witches, so when she really focuses, she can pull off some pretty wild stuff.¡±


    "Yeah, when I actually know what I''m doing," Beatrix muttered. "My aunts were pretty stingy with the witchcraft lessons over the years."


    "I still can''t believe Spectra tried to possess you," Autumn whispered.


    Jackson dug through his bag, fishing out his battered notebook and pencil. "What was it like?" he asked, flipping to a blank page. "Being a ghost, I mean. How''d it feel?"


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Part of me felt so free, but also... empty?" Beatrix shivered. "I just know I never want to go through that again."


    ¡°But why did she want to possess you?" Autumn asked.


    Beatrix ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, so, Greta ¡ª you know, that old lunch lady?  Last semester she told me some spirits get desperate for a body. Like, they''ll do anything to feel alive again.¡±


    A sudden scuff of shoes on linoleum made them all freeze. Jackson and Autumn pressed themselves against the fridges to hide.


    Greta, the elderly goblin Beatrix had just mentioned, shuffled into view. Her rheumy eyes fixed on Beatrix. "Someone''s asking for you," she croaked. "Tall boy, dark eyes. Says it''s important."


    Beatrix''s stomach dropped. "Oh, uh... thanks, Greta. Could you maybe tell him I''m swamped back here? Don''t wanna fall behind, you know?"


    Greta''s lips twitched, revealing a flash of yellowed, jagged teeth. "I see... yes, you wouldn''t want¡­ any more distractions..." Her gaze slid to where Autumn''s foot poked out from behind the fridges.


    Embarrassed at getting caught, Beatrix leaned in close to the old goblin, dropping her voice. "Greta, please. Don''t let Grey come back here.¡±


    Greta peered up at Beatrix, her stooped back making her a few inches shorter. For a moment, sympathy gleamed in her clouded eyes. "Alright," she said. "I''ll tell ''im you''re busy."


    Beatrix waited until Greta''s footsteps faded before turning back to Autumn and Jackson. "Anyway, that''s not why I brought you guys back here. Last night, I saw Grey heading into the woods. He spotted something." She glanced between her friends, searching their faces. "I don''t know what he saw, but if I check that area, I might find a clue."


    ¡°You want to hop the fence?¡± Autumn squeaked.


    "No, hopping it is too risky,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°There''s spikes at the top, and I''m not strong enough to climb over them. I was hoping you guys might have some ideas on how I can get past the fence without anyone noticing."


    Jackson and Autumn exchanged a worried look.


    "Come on, don''t be scaredy cats," Beatrix urged, eyeing the kitchen clock. "I want to check that spot while everyone''s still in the creepateria. I don''t have much time."


    "Is it really worth the risk?¡± Jackson asked. "What if Grey just heard a squirrel or something?"


    "No way. He definitely saw something out there," Beatrix insisted. "Look, we need another lead since my ''spying on Grey as a ghost'' plan crashed and burned."


    Jackson tapped his pencil against his notebook, brainstorming. "What if... instead of going over the fence, you went through it? Find a weak spot in the fence and sneak through."


    Beatrix chewed her lip, considering Jackson''s idea. ¡°... Even if I find a weak spot in the fence, I''m not strong enough to bend an iron bar, even with your help.¡± She glanced at her friends¡¯ scrawny frames. ¡°No offense.¡±


    "Hey!" Autumn protested, puffing out her chest and flexing a straw-filled bicep. "I''ve been working out!"


    ¡°Right¡­¡± Beatrix snorted, then nodded towards the stove. "Hey, keep an eye on the ghoulash for a sec. Don¡¯t let it bubble over.¡±


    Beatrix slipped away from the kitchen to peek into the bustling lunchroom. She scanned the lunch line, relieved to find no sign of Grey. It seemed Greta had kept her word about keeping him out of the kitchen.


    Her eyes swept around the room until she spotted the Reaper boy at a far table. He was trapped in what appeared to be a one-sided conversation with Heath Burns, the notoriously chatty fire elemental. Heath''s flaming hair danced wildly as he talked, sending sparks flying through the air. Grey, on the other hand, looked bored out of his skull, managing only the occasional nod as Heath rambled on.


    Beatrix felt a rush of adrenaline. With Grey distracted, this was her chance to scope out the woods unnoticed. But she knew she''d need help ¡ª a devil''s help.


    Returning to the stovetop, Beatrix resumed stirring her ghoulash and overheard Jackson and Autumn quietly chatting.


    "Did you hear prom might get canceled this year?" Autumn asked.


    Jackson replied absentmindedly, "Really? That sucks. Orion was going to ask Howleen."


    Autumn stilled. ¡°Howleen? Clawdeen¡¯s little sister?¡±


    Jackson''s eyes went wide behind his glasses, realization dawning on his face. "Oh no. Orion¡¯s gonna kill me," he groaned. "Please don''t tell the other fearleaders."


    Autumn¡¯s stitched lips turned up into a mischievous smile. "I promise I won''t¡ªon one condition. If prom ends up happening, you have to ask Frankie to go with you."


    Jackson''s face went red as a tomato, the blush creeping up to the tips of his ears. "W-what?" he stammered.


    "She''s been dying for you to ask her," Autumn pressed, clearly enjoying Jackson''s discomfort.


    "She has? I, uh..."


    As their conversation continued, Beatrix held out her right hand, palm up, and began tracing the summoning sigil Astar had shown her¡ªa small square with a few extending lines¡ªacross her palm.


    As soon as she''d finished tracing the shape, the air crackled. Astar''s booming voice filled the room.


    "¡ªand then I had that punk demon in a headlock, like this¡ªwhoah!"


    Beatrix turned to find Astar stumbling next to her, trying to regain his footing. His eyes darted around in confusion, having been pulled mid-boast from somewhere else on campus.


    "That was easy," Beatrix said, feeling a lingering tingle where she''d drawn the symbol.


    "Astar!" Autumn whispered. "Where''d you come from?"


    The devil looked at Autumn, Jackson, and then Beatrix, a sharp-toothed grin spreading across his face.


    "You know, I usually hate being interrupted," Astar drawled, "but how can I complain when my little Bee''s summoning me?"


    Beatrix grabbed the devil by the arm and pulled him towards the fridges. "Hey, you¡¯re not supposed to be back here, so keep it down,¡± she said.


    Astar tucked in his leathery wings and squatted down beside Jackson and Autumn. "Hey, Patches," he said to Autumn, then nodded at Jackson. "Four-eyes."


    Jackson bristled, pushing up his glasses with an indignant huff.


    "So, Bee Bee, what can I do for you?¡± Astar asked. ¡°Need some devilishly handsome company? Got another attic to clean? ¡­ Or maybe you''re dying to try out another spell?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.


    He spun back to Autumn and Jackson. "Oh man, you should''ve seen what Bee did last night. She missed me so much she turned herself into a ghost and stalked me¡ª¡±


    "They already know," Beatrix interrupted, not bothering to hide her eye roll at his version of last night¡¯s events.


    Astar''s expression turned thoughtful. "So you¡¯re getting back into witchcraft, then? Good. Was starting to worry you''d given it up." He paused, studying her. "By the way, tell me, how have you been liking old magic?"


    "What old magic? What are you talking about?" Beatrix asked.


    ¡°That little trick you''ve been practicing ¡ª mimicking monsters ¡ª it''s an ancient technique,¡± Astar said. ¡°A few centuries ago, witches used to draw on monster abilities all the time. Think about it: monsters exist because black magic flows through their veins. That''s why mimicking their abilities comes so naturally to you ¡ª they''re an extension of your own magic, your power given form. The old covens understood this so well, they would create new monsters just to amplify their strength.¡±


    As Astar explained, Jackson¡¯s pencil flew across his notebook, taking down every word. Astar noticed and leaned over Jackson''s shoulder to see what he was writing. "Taking notes for your mad science collection, four-eyes?"


    "It''s for research purposes," Jackson mumbled, pushing up his glasses.


    While Astar was distracted, Beatrix quietly ladled a portion of steaming ghoulash into a bowl, then picked up the innocent-looking plastic cup she¡¯d set aside and poured its clear liquid contents into the broth.


    She gave the bowl a stir, the metal spoon clinking against the sides. "It¡¯s funny that you mention monster abilities," Beatrix said, keeping her tone casual, ¡°because that''s exactly why I summoned you here today."


    Astar perked up.


    Beatrix shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I need to know if there''s any magic that could help me bend metal."


    She hesitated for a second. How suspicious did that sound?


    Her mind raced for an excuse ¡ª anything to avoid revealing her true plan of breaking through the iron fence to sneak into the woods for a few minutes. Her eyes landed on a nearby food prep table, its stainless steel surface warped by a dent in the metal. Perfect.


    "See that?" she said, nodding toward the dented table. "The kitchen equipment here is all messed up, and replacing it would cost a fortune. I figured if I could just..." She mimed bending something back into place. "But I need a lot more strength to do it ¡ª and I don¡¯t want to turn into a werewolf or anything," she added quickly. "There¡¯s got to be a way to get that kind of strength without growing fur and fangs, right? Any idea what kind of monster I could copy to bend metal?"


    Astar sat cross-legged on the black and white checkered floor, propping his chin on his knuckles as he thought it over.


    ¡°What about mind control?¡± Beatrix ventured. ¡°Draculaura and her dad can make people do whatever they want with a single thought. Maybe something like that could help me bend objects with my mind?¡±


    ¡°Mind control''s definitely out,¡± Astar said firmly, shaking his head. ¡°Way too advanced for you. Unless you want to inject vampire venom into yourself and risk becoming immortal.¡±


    Beatrix fell quiet. Her mind wandered to Heath Burns, remembering the way the flames danced across his head.


    "What about fire?" she asked. "I mean, to bend metal, you need crazy high temperatures, right? Heath manipulates fire like it''s nothing.¡±


    "Hmm..." Astar tapped his chin. ¡°Heath''s a fire elemental ¡ª a humanoid made of living fire.¡± A smile played across his face. "Fire elementals are usually conjured up by really powerful sorcerers¡­ But lucky for you, fire is my specialty."


    "Okay, what ingredients do we need?" Beatrix said eagerly. "The closest witchy technique I can think of to replicate Heath''s ability would be... maybe a pyrokinesis potion? My aunts make these powerful fire-control potions using eye of newt and dragon''s breath flowers, but I don''t have any of that stuff here."


    "I''ve got something better in mind," Astar said, pushing himself off the floor. He strode over to Beatrix and yanked open the oven next to her, making her jump at the ear-splitting screech of the door¡¯s rusted hinges.


    "Astar! Keep it down¡ª" Beatrix started, but stopped as she watched him reach into the oven''s depths. He was gathering the black powder from the bottom, scooping up years of accumulated ash from countless burned meals.


    When he straightened and turned back to her, there was something sacred in the way he cradled the ash in his palms. "Give me your hands," he instructed. Beatrix hesitated for a moment before extending them. He began smearing the ash across both of her palms, leaving midnight-black streaks that reminded her of spilled ink.


    With methodical precision, he traced sharp, angular symbols on her hands. Beatrix didn¡¯t recognize these runes.


    ¡°Ashes are a powerful tool for spellwork,¡± Astar said, ¡°and these marks will let you channel hellfire. Everything and everyone else will feel the burn ¡ª but you won¡¯t.¡±


    He scanned the shelf of vegetable oils above the stove, bottles gleaming like amber in the kitchen light. He selected a dusty bottle of olive oil and drizzled it over Beatrix''s ash-covered hands, his taloned fingers rubbing the liquid into the grooves of the rune symbols until they glistened.


    ¡°Why olive oil?¡± Beatrix asked, shuddering as the slimy mixture squished between her fingers.


    "Any oil can become anointed oil if you want it enough," Astar said. "And having a devil around to make it unholy certainly doesn''t hurt." He winked at her, then clapped his hands together. "Now, rub your palms ¡ª harder than that. I want to see smoke."


    Beatrix complied, working the gritty paste between her hands.


    "Set your intention," Astar ordered, prowling around her in a slow circle. "See the flame in your mind''s eye, right in the center of your palms. Let those ashes sink deep into your skin."


    She picked up speed, hands sliding faster and faster until her arms ached. The runes began to prickle at her skin.


    The minutes dragged by. The oil worked its way under her fingernails, staining them black as if she''d been digging through charcoal. Her shoulders burned from the repetitive motion. Sweat beaded on her forehead.


    From the corner of her eye, she saw Jackson and Autumn inch backward until their backs pressed against the far wall. Smart move ¡ª this felt like an explosion waiting to happen.


    "Concentrate, Bee!" Astar''s voice cracked like a whip. "Strong mind, strong magic ¡ª hold onto it!"


    The first spark came without warning. A sharp pop from her left hand made her jump, followed by another from her right. The centers of her palms began to sizzle, the sound building like kindling catching flame.


    ¡°Look! I¡¯m doing it!¡±


    When she pulled her hands apart, they glowed like embers. The runes Astar had sketched now blazed against her skin, each line a burning thread of light. She waited for pain, for scorching heat, but felt nothing. The orangey-red light pulsed in time with her heartbeat, making the air shimmer and dance above her hands.


    Astar beamed, proud of his work. ¡°Now that¡¯s how it¡¯s done.¡± He reached out, passing his hand through the waves of heat rising from her palms. Like a chef testing his work, he nodded with quiet satisfaction. "You''ve got about an hour before the heat fades. Until then, you can shape and meld the flames however you want."


    "Can I shoot fire?" Beatrix asked, flexing her fingers experimentally.


    ¡°Hell yeah you can,¡± Astar said.


    ¡°And can I cool my hands down before the hour¡¯s up? I won¡¯t need the power for long,¡± she said.


    "Just press your palms to the earth." Astar demonstrated on the counter, spreading his hands flat. "It''ll discharge the energy. But steer clear of dry grass and leaves, or you¡¯ll torch the whole mountainside." He nodded at her hands. "When the color is gone, the heat will be too."


    Astar looked over the moon as he added, "You know, with enough practice, you could start creating fire elementals like Heath!¡±


    "Let''s save that lesson for another day," Beatrix said. "Right now, I need to fix this kitchen equipment. Oh, but first¡ªcould you taste test the ghoulash for me, Astar? I¡¯d do it myself, but¡­¡± She lifted her glowing hands with an apologetic smile.


    The mention of food snapped Astar to attention. His nose twitched at the aroma of paprika and meat wafting from the pot. Like a moth to flame, he drifted toward the stove, already reaching for the serving spoon. ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do¡­¡± he said.


    "Wait!" Beatrix took a step forward. "Not from there¡ªI set some aside for you." She pointed to the bowl sitting apart on the counter.


    Astar redirected his attention without missing a beat and scarfed down the small serving of ghoulash in two seconds flat.


    ¡°Well?¡± Beatrix asked.


    Astar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°Tastes wicked, but..." He paused, tilting his head as if trying to place something. ¡°... a little watery¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I tried something new with the recipe,¡± Beatrix said, stepping closer until her lips were near Astar''s ear. Instead of elaborating, Beatrix lowered her voice and sang a line of the mermaid song she¡¯d used on Mr. Gore and Johannah in Downtown New Salem.


    As the melody left her lips, Astar¡¯s upper body abruptly slumped down. His head dropped forward, and the bowl slipped from his loosening fingers, clattering to the ground and spinning in lazy circles on the tile. His legs wobbled, and he began to sway, his yellow eyes growing distant, unfocused.


    Autumn gasped.


    Beatrix instinctively reached out to him, but yanked her hands back before she could grab him. "My hands¡ªthey''re hot!" she hissed. "Someone catch him!"


    Autumn and Jackson scrambled forward and caught Astar awkwardly between them, grunting with effort as they lowered him to the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Autumn whimpered, her stitched features tight with worry, a few pieces of hay falling loose from her sleeve as she cradled Astar¡¯s head.


    "Don''t worry," Beatrix whispered. "He''s just sleeping."


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡­¡± Autumn began.


    ¡°You used a sleeping elixir. Like during the field trip,¡± Jackson realized. ¡°When did you¡­¡±


    ¡°I made a dose this morning and mixed it into his serving of ghoulash. I needed him to eat it before pairing it with a mermaid song,¡± Beatrix said.


    She¡¯d been gambling with that move ¡ª the chances of success were fifty-fifty, at best. She¡¯d assumed that Astar might be immune to witchcraft, but now she knew: in his current form, potions could affect him.


    The real question was how long it would last. Mr. Gore and Johannah had been out for about five hours when she''d used it on them, but a devil? That was uncharted territory. Watching Astar''s chest rise and fall in a peaceful rhythm, she had a feeling they were working with a much shorter window.


    "We need to move!" Beatrix whispered, already backing toward the kitchen''s employee exit. "He could wake up any¡ª"


    She froze. There, next to the hulking dishwasher, stood Greta, watching them with unblinking eyes.


    Please don''t rat on us, Greta, Beatrix thought. Please, please, please.


    She held her breath, waiting for the old goblin lunch lady to react. But Greta didn¡¯t move, and didn¡¯t look like she planned to. So, taking her chance, Beatrix nudged open the exit door with her elbow, careful to avoid touching anything with her scalding hands. The brisk winter air hit her hard as she hurried across the back lawn behind the creepateria, dead leaves crunching beneath her feet as she made a beeline for the south side of campus.


    ¡°Astar¡¯s gonna be mad when he wakes up!¡± Jackson wheezed behind her, struggling to keep pace. "What''re we supposed to tell him?"


    "That he slipped and hit his head!" Beatrix called back, not slowing down.


    "Are you kidding me?" Autumn''s voice cracked with distress. "Why would you knock him out, Bea? That was so messed up!"


    "Because he would''ve stopped us from checking the woods!"


    "You don''t know that!" Autumn''s footsteps faltered. "He''s our friend!"


    "No he¡¯s not! He stopped Grey from getting over the fence last night!" Beatrix''s voice rose sharply. "I''m not letting him get in our way!"


    "We could''ve just told him what was going on! He would''ve helped us!"


    Beatrix whirled around so fast Autumn nearly crashed into her. "I. Don''t. Trust. Him."


    ¡°He¡¯s not a bad guy!¡± Autumn argued.


    ¡°Pfft, yeah,¡± Beatrix scoffed, ¡°the demon isn¡¯t a bad guy!¡±


    ¡°Guys!¡± Jackson interrupted. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming!¡±


    The trio ducked behind the library building. The courtyard was mostly empty, except for a hulking gargoyle guard making his rounds near the casketball courts. He was blocking their path to the perimeter fence.


    Luckily, a commotion on the blacktop caught the guard''s attention. Beatrix spotted Orion surrounded by a ring of junior and senior werewolves, their mocking laughter carrying across the yard as he tried to square off against Clawd.


    Clawd watched Orion with the kind of expression someone might give a yapping chihuahua. His golden eyes gleamed with restrained laughter as he crossed his muscular arms over his varsity jacket.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Orion trying to date Howleen?¡± Autumn nudged Jackson, raising a brow. ¡°Harassing her brother¡¯s an interesting strategy¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, nobody said he was smart,¡± Jackson sighed.


    The gargoyle guard jogged over with heavy footfalls, stepping in just as Orion was about to unleash his fury on Clawd. As the guard¡¯s massive form blocked their view of the brewing fight, Beatrix seized her chance, sprinting toward the section of fence Grey had tried to scale.


    The perimeter fence towered at least six feet above Beatrix¡¯s head. From this angle, she was impressed that Grey had almost climbed it on sheer strength alone.


    She heard Jackson and Autumn catching up, huffing and puffing as the grass crunched under their feet. Beatrix examined the fence closely but didn¡¯t spot any weak points¡ªeach bar was as thick as her wrist, the metal rigid and unyielding.


    "There''s no way through," Jackson muttered, running his hands along the bars. "We should try another¡ª"


    "Keep watch," Beatrix said, giving a final glance around to make sure the coast was clear. Then, she placed her palms on the iron beam closest to her.


    At first, nothing happened.


    But gradually the intense heat from her hands began to work its magic ¡ª the beam¡¯s surface shifted from dull black to an angry red, then orange, and finally a blazing yellow-white. The iron groaned in protest as it expanded, and small wisps of smoke wisped up where her palms met the iron.


    Gripping the superheated metal, Beatrix pulled. The beam gave way like warm wax, bending to her immediately.


    "Little more to the left," Autumn whispered. "You just need enough space to slip through."


    Beatrix effortlessly bent the beam to the side until she had a space wide enough for her frame. She released it and waited for it to contract and cool down, watching as the yellow glow faded back to charred black.


    Jackson reached out tentatively, tapping the warped iron with his fingertip. ¡°Still warm, but you¡¯re good,¡± he said.


    Taking a deep breath, Beatrix turned sideways and squeezed through. As she stepped into the shadows, fallen leaves and damp earth squished beneath her sneakers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be quick,¡± Beatrix whispered through the fence.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous alone,¡± Autumn insisted. ¡°You need us with you.¡±


    "She''s right," Jackson said, fidgeting with the headphones around his neck. "Every victim was by themselves. There''s safety in numbers. And if that security guard spots me and Autumn near the fence, he''ll know something''s up. We need to stick together."


    Beatrix sighed, relenting. Every second counted, and she had to admit, Autumn and Jackson''s logic was sound. She stepped aside, letting them slip through after her.


    Once they were all on the other side, Beatrix gripped the lopsided iron bar, waited for it to heat up again, and eased it back into place. This way, if the guard passed by, nothing would seem out of the ordinary.


    The forest closed in around them. Twisted branches and moss-draped trunks forced them to duck and weave through the untamed wilderness. This wasn''t like the worn-in path she''d taken to Draculaura''s house with Venus and Clawdeen ¡ª the woods along the southern school perimeter were untouched.


    Beatrix tried to walk in a straight line from their entry point in the fence as she led the group. Autumn followed closely behind her, with Jackson bringing up the rear. They pressed deeper into the woods, the fence becoming less and less visible through the layers of trees.


    Beatrix¡¯s gaze swept from trunk to trunk, looking for a scythe mark like the one carved into Henry Hunchback, her eyes trailing over every knot and groove in the bark. So far, nothing stood out.


    "Anyone see anything weird?" Beatrix whispered.


    They stopped, falling into a triangle formation as they each looked out in a different direction. Nothing seemed out of place ¡ª no sign of trouble, nothing unusual that might have drawn Grey¡¯s attention. The forest simply stood around them with silent indifference.


    "Wait ¡ª look at that." Autumn pointed a few yards ahead.


    In a small clearing, there was a patch of barren earth without any greenery. Not even weeds dared to grow there.


    The three of them moved closer. Faint U-shaped marks could be seen in the dirt.


    ¡°Hooves?¡± Beatrix wondered aloud.


    Then she heard something. Something faint, distant in the forest.


    Thump-a-thump.


    It was familiar, vibrating through the soil beneath their feet.


    Thump-a-thump.


    The sound tugged at a memory of her last trek through these woods with Clawdeen and Venus. Just like back then, the animals and birds had fallen silent. No squirrels twittering in the branches above. No ravens cawing harshly. The forest was holding its breath.


    Thump-a-thump.


    The rhythmic noise sounded far off, but each beat seemed to be bringing it closer. Beatrix tiptoed ahead. She needed to pin the sound''s source, needed to understand what had lured Grey out here that night.


    Every few steps, Beatrix glanced back through the dense foliage to make sure she could still see the perimeter fence through the branches. She couldn¡¯t let them get lost.


    A gap between Beatrix and the others grew as she stepped over jagged rocks slick with moss and dew, passing through a line of trees and entering another clearing. A steep hill sloped down before her, revealing another layer of forest below.


    The blanket of trees stretched out until it met the rugged cliff of the New Salem mountainside. A thick mist lingered in the air, not the morning fog that sometimes cloaked Monster High''s grounds, but swirling tendrils of white that curled around tree trunks and slithered across the ground like searching fingers. The winter sky loomed overhead, a cold and muted blue.


    Beatrix surveyed the silent pines, their needles frozen in the still air. The forest remained eerily quiet.


    Thump-a-thump.


    Beatrix¡¯s eyes snapped to a tree that stirred below. Its leaves rustled, as if something had brushed past.


    Then Beatrix saw it. A great black shadow between the pines.


    The first thing Beatrix noticed was the horse, its hooves thudding against the frozen earth, its coat darker than the deepest night. Steam curled from its nostrils in thick plumes.


    The next thing Beatrix noticed was its rider ¡ª a figure cloaked in robes that devoured what little light remained in the forest. Although the figure had a human shape, the longer Beatrix stared, the more it resembled a shadow more than a person. It was as if someone had stretched and distorted a silhouette, with its limbs stretched too long, shoulders too broad, its robes rippling in the dead-still air.


    The figure''s leather gloves squeezed the reins in one hand, and with the other gripped a long wooden staff.


    Beatrix''s heart nearly stopped. She knew what that was.


    It wasn¡¯t a staff. It was a scythe¡­ with an invisible spiritual blade she couldn¡¯t see with mortal eyes.


    And that horseman looked ready to use it.

 12. A Brush with Death

    Beatrix couldn''t tear her gaze from the rider below. He sat there, unnaturally still in the saddle, steam curling from his mount''s nostrils in the cold air. Though his large hood cast his face in impenetrable darkness, she could feel his eyes on her, watching, waiting.


    Grey?


    No. It wasn¡¯t him. This figure was broader across the shoulders, his presence darker.


    "Bea!" Autumn''s voice shattered the silence. ¡°We should head back!¡±


    The rider¡¯s head snapped up.


    Beatrix''s breath caught as he wheeled his horse around with terrible precision, melting into the shadows.


    Thump-a-thump-a-thump-a-thump.


    Judging by the sound of the hoofbeats, the rider wasn''t retreating.


    He was winding around the trees, working his way to the steep hill where she stood.


    THUMP-A-THUMP-A-THUMP.


    Beatrix¡¯s blood turned to ice. "RUN!" The word tore from her throat. She spun toward Jackson and Autumn, her body already in motion. "RUN! NOW!"


    The horror in Beatrix''s voice told Jackson and Autumn everything they needed to know. They didn''t waste time asking questions. They ran.


    Beatrix could already hear the horseman bursting from the tree line below, his mount''s hooves striking the earth like rolling thunder as he charged up the hill. Each galloping stride grew louder, closer, the sound hammering against Beatrix''s eardrums until she could feel the ground quaking beneath her feet.


    The trio crashed through the forest, ducking under branches and stumbling over loose rocks. Beatrix''s heart sank as she found herself quickly catching up to Autumn and Jackson. They weren''t fast enough ¡ª couldn''t be fast enough. Straw flew out from Autumn¡¯s seams as they frantically ran, the pieces trailing behind them like breadcrumbs for the hunter closing in.


    Beatrix snapped her head back and saw the rider reaching the top of the hill. The dense forest seemed to slow his horse, so he dismounted in one swoop. With his scythe in hand, he pursued them on foot. And holy hells, he was fast.


    Even with his heavy black robes, the rider moved through the frosty pines with ease, like he¡¯d navigated this forest countless times before. He was closing the distance between them rapidly.


    Beatrix couldn¡¯t even push or pull Autumn and Jackson along to help them move faster since her hands were still scalding from the fire magic.


    That thought made Beatrix stop in her tracks.


    Autumn and Jackson, caught up in their panic, didn''t notice and kept dashing through the trees, their footsteps growing fainter until she was alone with their pursuer.


    Drawing in a shaky breath that misted in the cold air, Beatrix spun to face what was coming. She rubbed her palms together, focusing on the tingle of power beneath her skin as she imagined a blazing flame. The magic responded instantly, almost eagerly, as if it had been waiting for this moment. A ball of fire burst to life between her hands with a whoosh, sending dead leaves skittering across the forest floor. The flames cast dancing shadows on the surrounding trees and bathed her face in a warm, golden glow.


    ¡°Stay back! I¡¯m armed!¡± Beatrix yelled at the rider, the magical flame flickering.


    The rider stopped. His black horse whinnied in distress a few yards away. The horse pawed nervously at the ground at the sight of her fire, but its master didn¡¯t show any fear.


    Beatrix watched him through the skeletal branches. He towered close to seven feet tall, his billowing robes making him look even more imposing, and looking into the darkness beneath his hood was like staring into an abyss. No eyes glinted in that void, no face caught the light of her flame.


    Her hands shook, causing the fire to dance and twist, but she forced herself to stand her ground. "Don''t come any closer," she said, hating how her voice trembled.


    The rider¡¯s posture changed ¡ª just barely ¡ª but Beatrix caught it. He was starting to edge sideways, as if searching for a way around her.


    A disbelieving laugh bubbled up in her throat. Was he afraid of her witchcraft?


    She had no clue if her magic could actually harm something like him. But that moment of hesitation told her everything she needed to know.


    Beatrix lifted her chin, her voice stronger now. "Yeah, that''s right ¡ª back off,¡± she spat. ¡°You''re done stealing students'' souls."


    The rider¡¯s hesitation vanished in a heartbeat. His robes whipped out around him, and suddenly he was nothing but a dark blur, racing to get past her faster than she could blink.


    "Hey!" Beatrix yelled, her flame blazing brighter as she tracked his movement. "Oh no you don''t¡ª I said STOP!" Power surged through her, sending a thin flame out of her hands, which felt as exhilarating as a bolt of lightning shooting from her fingertips.


    The rider ducked behind a gnarled old tree to dodge her whip of flames. The fire lit up the tree instead, turning it into a giant torch against the sky.


    Running on pure adrenaline, Beatrix blasted another fireball straight at his hiding spot. The magic fed off her rage, making the flames burn blue-white at their center. A second tree erupted, fire racing racing up the trunk like it was starving. The rider backed off, putting some distance between them. Even when he was retreating, he moved like a predator.


    Up ahead, Jackson and Autumn reached the perimeter fence, desperately trying to pull back the iron bar Beatrix had moved earlier.


    "It won''t budge!" Jackson shouted as he threw his weight against the rusted metal. No security guards could be seen despite Autumn and Jackson''s shouts for help.


    Beatrix looked down at her hands. Her palms were shifting from crimson to a dull orange. The magic was wearing off.


    The rider must¡¯ve sensed Beatrix''s fear, because he tightened his grip on his scythe and he headed back towards her with deadly purpose. His tattered robes trailed along the forest floor, leaving decay in their wake ¡ª each step turning vibrant moss to gray ash.


    The fire had taken on a life of its own now, greedily leaping from tree to tree. Its hellish glow transformed the forest into a nightmare of orange and crimson shadows and silhouetted the rider¡¯s dark form against the growing inferno.


    "Bea, come on!" An urgent tug on her shirt snapped her back to reality as Autumn yanked her through the underbrush. Autumn''s voice barely carried over the roaring flames eating up the forest behind them: "This way!"


    Behind them, the sound of hooves striking the earth sent fresh terror through Beatrix. The rider had remounted his steed, and he and his horse were moving as one again.


    "The fence!" Beatrix''s voice came out ragged, her lungs burning from exertion and thick smoke as they ran parallel to the school''s perimeter. "Look for weak spots in the fence ¡ª anywhere we can break through!"


    The three of them wove through the twisted maze of branches, the dense foliage their only form of protection. Beatrix''s power had faded to nothing more than a sickly yellow glow, useless now as the rider¡¯s supernatural steed carried him through the pines with fluid precision, closing in faster and faster.


    In her panic, Autumn fumbled for her phone while sprinting, but her orange iCoffin slipped out of her grasp and fell to the ground. ¡°Oh no!¡±


    ¡°Leave it!¡± Beatrix ordered.


    Jackson stumbled beside them, his face a ghastly white as he fought for each breath. "There''s no weak spots!" he yelled, his wild eyes tracing the endless fence stretching next to them.


    ¡°So what do we do?¡± Beatrix heaved, her own lungs struggling to pull in enough air.


    ¡°We have to run around to the school¡¯s main entrance!¡±


    ¡°How far is that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Jackson wailed.


    THUMP-A-THUMP-A-THUMP-A-THUMP.


    The dark horse burst from the smoky haze behind them as the rider spurred his mount closer. She knew all he needed was just one clean strike of his scythe.


    To her horror, the rider maneuvered his horse diagonally across Beatrix¡¯s path, trying to cut her off from the others. Beatrix veered sharply away, her feet sliding on the leaf-strewn ground as she changed direction. She tried to conjure another flame, but only a weak spark sputtered out of her palms.


    Yet somehow, miraculously, that small flicker of fire was enough to make his horse rear up with a terrified shriek. The rider¡¯s dark robes whipped wildly as his mount bucked beneath him. For a moment, his leather-gloved hands lost their grip on the reins, and he teetered precariously in the saddle, losing control.


    ¡°Had enough yet? I¡¯m just getting started!¡± Beatrix hollered at him.


    She was bluffing, of course, but every second she kept the rider¡¯s attention was another second for Jackson and Autumn to escape. And if she could just summon one more decent flame, maybe she could set those dark robes ablaze.


    But once the rider steadied his horse, he didn''t challenge Beatrix again. Instead, he yanked hard on the reins, wheeled his mount around, and thundered past her as if she were nothing more than another tree in his path, charging full speed after Jackson and Autumn.


    Maybe her witchcraft had really freaked him out, or maybe¡­ she was never the one he wanted.


    For some reason, Autumn and Jackson were his targets.


    Suddenly, a piercing whistle cut through the air. Beatrix''s head snapped up as something huge hurtled from the direction her friends had fled.


    With inhuman reflexes, the rider yanked his midnight-black steed''s reins as he drove clear of whatever was flying at them with killer speed.


    Beatrix threw herself to the side, hitting the ground hard, narrowly dodging the tree log that slammed down next to her with bone-crushing force. The impact sent splinters and debris exploding at her, and she shielded her face with her arms. Someone had launched that log at the rider with an impressive amount of force.


    ¡°Dang it! Almost a bull¡¯s eye!¡± a voice announced with wild enthusiasm. "Two more inches to the left and BAM! Would''ve nailed him!"


    Beatrix looked up and saw blue through the settling dust. It was Holt, bouncing on the balls of his feet with manic energy, wearing Jackson''s prized headphones snug over his ears, heavy metal bleeding out from them.


    "Come on, come on!" Holt taunted the rider, throwing quick shadow punches. "That all you got, bone man?"


    "Good job, Jackson," Beatrix whispered, appreciating her friend''s quick thinking.


    With movements almost too fast to track, Holt whipped away through the trees, hoisting Autumn onto his back piggyback-style with much greater speed than Jackson could have managed.


    Holt''s log-throwing had bought them precious seconds. The rider was still wrestling to get his spooked horse under control, giving Beatrix a chance to come up with something to get them out of this. There seemed to be only one option left.


    She frantically ran a finger across her ashy, glowing right palm, tracing a symbol she¡¯d already used that day.


    Immediately, Astar materialized beside her ¡ª sprawled in the dirt, limbs flailing wildly as if he was in the middle of fighting an invisible opponent.


    "Get your grimy hands off me, you nasty old goblin!" he roared, kicking at nothing. Then he froze mid-swing, yellow eyes going wide as he realized he wasn''t in the creepateria anymore. His gaze landed on Beatrix, and his yellow eyes narrowed, glaring at her with the hellfire of a thousand suns. ¡°Well look who¡¯s summoned me again¡ª¡±


    Beatrix pointed at the rider galloping further and further away. ¡°I know you¡¯re pissed but that horseman is about to kill Autumn and Jackson!¡±


    "The what is about to¡ª" Astar''s head whipped around, taking in the looming trees and the smoke devouring the forest behind them. ¡°Wait, where are we?¡±


    ¡°In the woods! Obviously!¡± Beatrix shouted.


    ¡°You mean we¡¯re outside the school?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Why in the hells¡ª¡±


    ¡°We need to help Autumn and Jackson NOW!¡± Beatrix''s voice rose to a fever pitch.


    A switch flipped in Astar. His entire demeanor shifted ¡ª shoulders squaring, jaw setting, eyes gaining a predatory focus. He rose, crimson wings unfurling with a snap. He extended a taloned hand toward Beatrix. "Grab onto me."


    Beatrix seized his shoulder and he locked his arm around her waist.


    With a powerful flap of his wings, they shot above the treetops. A blast of wind rushed past Beatrix¡¯s ears, and she braced herself in the crook of Astar''s neck. She squeezed her eyes shut against the onslaught of pine needles and leaves that whipped past them as they burst through the canopy.


    In a matter of seconds, they soared directly above the horseman. Below, the dark figure had raised his staff like an executioner''s axe, ready to strike down at Autumn and Holt as they sprinted.


    Beatrix felt Astar''s muscles tense beneath her grip, and he suddenly tucked his wings tight against his back and plunged into a steep dive. Beatrix''s stomach lurched into her throat as the ground rushed up at sickening speed.


    At the last possible second, when she was certain they would crash, Astar''s free hand shot out. He caught the rider square in the back, channeling all the momentum of their dive into the blow. The dark figure was ripped from his shadowy mount, and the rider tumbled violently to the earth before crashing against the base of an oak. His staff went spinning from his grip, landing with a dull thud in the grass several feet away.


    His horse, now riderless, screeched and bolted into another part of the forest alone, leaving its master behind.


    Astar touched down and quickly released Beatrix. ¡°Get to the others,¡± he told her, his voice carrying the kind of authority that brooked no argument.


    ¡°Wait! I¡¯m out of fire magic.¡± Beatrix held out her hands to him, their yellow glow pulsing weakly.


    Without taking his eyes off the rider, who was still slumped against the tree trunk, Astar raised one of his hands to his forearm. Beatrix watched, confused, as he drew a sharp talon across his crimson skin, nicking himself.


    The cut wept, but what flowed wasn¡¯t blood ¡ª at least, not any blood Beatrix had ever seen. A golden substance welled, thick as blood but it gleamed like a melted down bar of gold coursed through his veins.


    ¡°Hands,¡± Astar ordered, his attention still fixed on their enemy. The rider was stirring now, dark robes rustling as the figure began to push himself upright.


    Beatrix cupped her palms together. Astar positioned his forearm over her waiting hands and let a few drops of golden blood fall onto them, each one landing with a hiss against her skin.


    Grimacing, Beatrix rubbed her hands together to apply the substance evenly.


    The effect was immediate and overwhelming. The fading glow of her original fire magic roared back to life with a vengeance. Beatrix squinted, spots dancing in her vision as her palms shifted through the color spectrum ¡ª first a harsh yellow, then a deep orange, and finally a blaring red.


    Aggressive heat distorted the air around her hands like mirages above hot pavement. A tingling sensation spread across her palms, building to an electrical intensity that made her skin feel too tight.


    ¡°Now go!¡± Astar commanded, sounding like a battlefield general.


    Beatrix didn''t hesitate. She turned and sprinted after Holt and Autumn, but couldn''t resist throwing one last glance over her shoulder.


    Out of thin air, a bright red pitchfork materialized in Astar¡¯s grip, its three wickedly sharp prongs gleaming. He dropped into a warrior''s stance and advanced to corner the rider with measured steps, wielding his pitchfork like a spear.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The rider brushed off his dark robes and pulled himself upright against the tree trunk. The hood of his cloak slowly turned, tracking Astar as the devil moved in a careful arc around him.


    Even with the rider towering over him, Astar didn¡¯t look afraid.


    As Beatrix ran deeper into the woods, the forest swallowed the scene behind her ¡ª the demon and horseman disappearing from view behind a veil of leaves and branches. She strained to hear the clash of weapons but caught nothing. How long would their standoff last?


    Astar will be fine, she told herself. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s got a soul to lose.


    Beatrix¡¯s hands pulsed with their new surge of fire magic as she ran, and behind her, smoke continued to trail into the sky.


    Astar''s golden blood shimmered on her palms as reds, deep crimsons, and striking oranges ebbed in and out. The bright colors looked far more intense and erratic than her first round of fire magic. Each shade seemed to fight each other for dominance, creating a dizzying light show that extended down to her wrists, claiming more surface area on her skin than last time.


    She accidentally brushed a hand against a branch, and it immediately burst into flames with explosive force. The wood blackened and crumbled to ash in seconds, leaving only wisps of smoke behind.


    "Shoot!" Beatrix cried, stumbling backward as the flames began to leap to nearby branches. She curled her hands into themselves and booked it.


    ¡°Autumn! Holt!¡± Beatrix called out, crashing through the brush and ducking under low-hanging branches. Her eyes darted frantically through the thicket, searching for any flash of Holt''s blue skin.


    ¡°Bea! Up here!¡± Autumn''s whisper voice floated down from above, accompanied by the faint pulse of metal music leaking from Jackson¡¯s headphones.


    Beatrix spun in a circle, scanning the canopy until she spotted Holt and Autumn perched on a thick branch high up in a massive pine.


    ¡°Autumn! How did you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Holt brought us up here! Is it safe? Is the cloaked guy gone?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Astar¡¯s handling him, but we need to move ¡ª hurry!¡± Beatrix urged.


    ¡°Hold on tight, spidermonkey,¡± Holt said with a playful grin, helping Autumn climb onto his back piggy-back style again. Autumn wrapped her arms around his neck as he began to scale down the pine, using branches as footholds for each step. When they were about ten feet up, Holt leaped down with casual athleticism, landing in a theatrical crouch that made Autumn yelp and smack his shoulder.


    "Thank goodness you¡¯re alright," Autumn said, sliding off his back and rushing to Beatrix. ¡°I didn¡¯t know where you went ¡ª whoah, what¡¯s up with your hands?¡±


    ¡°Astar gave me a power-up. I''ll explain later. Right now we need to get out of here." The itching beneath her skin was getting worse, getting harder to ignore.


    ¡°Hey, now that the freaky-robe-guy¡¯s gone, we can throw a rager out here!¡± Holt hollered, still riding high on adrenaline and heavy metal. ¡°I know some mansters and ghouls who''d be down to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not now,¡± Autumn said, clicking the power off of Jackson¡¯s blasting earphones and tugging them off Holt¡¯s ears. Holt shuddered and hunched over as his vibrant blue skin and flaming red hair melted away, his entire form rippling as the transformation reversed.


    Jackson doubled over with a groan, pressing his palms against his temples. "Ugh, is it over?"


    "Which part?" Autumn asked, trying to inject some lightness into her voice. "Holt''s time in the spotlight, or the murderer hunting us down?"


    "The latter. Definitely the latter."


    ¡°We¡¯re safe now,¡± Autumn reassured, patting Jackson¡¯s back as he got his bearings, adjusting to being back in control of his body.


    Beatrix shifted from foot to foot, desperate to return to the perimeter fence. The sensation in her hands had evolved from uncomfortable to excruciating ¡ª what started as ant bites now felt like wasps attacking from beneath her skin. She clenched her teeth, fighting back tears.


    Thump-a-thump-a-thump.


    The sound froze them all in place. Jackson and Autumn clutched each other, their faces draining of color at that now-familiar sound. But¡­ the sound wasn''t coming from where Astar had been squaring off with the rider. Instead, it echoed from up ahead, from a different spot in the woods, the hollow beats bouncing off trees until they seemed to come from everywhere at once.


    Through the treeline came a steed with a narrow, angular frame, and with it, a second horseman.


    This rider was different from the first. This one¡¯s frame was gaunt, skeletal, its sharp joints pressed against tattered black robes like knives threatening to tear through the fabric. In one bony hand, he held a crooked black staff, its surface chipped and scarred from what could only have been frequent and violent use.


    Despite his leaner build, this horseman radiated a malevolence that made the first seem almost tame in comparison.


    ¡°T-two¡­¡± Jackson stammered in disbelief. ¡°Why are there two?¡±


    Autumn trembled beside him as Jackson fumbled for his headphones, ready to bring Holt back, but before he could, Beatrix dashed in front of them both, summoning another flame between her palms.


    However, instead of a precise stream of fire, raw power erupted from Beatrix¡¯s hands. The force of it whipped her hair back as a massive wall of flames exploded forward, engulfing both the rider and the pines in front of her, transforming the forest into a writhing curtain of fire that reached hungrily for the sky.


    A shriek could be heard through the roar of the flames ¡ª the rider¡¯s horse. Beatrix''s heart pounded. Had she actually done it? The wall of fire completely obscured her view, but for one wild moment, hope surged through her chest. Maybe she''d actually managed to¡ª


    "Look out!" Jackson yelled.


    A wave of thick, black smoke rolled over them like an avalanche. Beatrix doubled over, chest heaving with violent coughs that tore at her throat. Her eyes burned, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to breathe.


    Beatrix heard Jackson shouting, and through the smoke, she saw him wrestling with his jacket. He threw the jacket to the ground, stomping to extinguish the fire that had already devoured half of it.


    "Bea! BEA!" Autumn''s shriek made Beatrix''s blood run cold. She spun to see one of her friend''s straw braids had caught fire. Autumn wailed, but she didn''t dare try to pat out the flames ¡ª one wrong move and her entire straw-filled body could go up like kindling. The flames on Autumn¡¯s braid were threatening to spread to her collarbone.


    Beatrix tried to call out to Jackson to help the scarecrow, but her smoke-filled lungs betrayed her. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision as she fought for air. Then, through the suffocating haze, a shadow approached.


    A wide set of wings cast a silhouette through the smoky film surrounding them, and Astar burst through the smoke. His yellow eyes widened as he took in the burning chaos.


    "What the hell did I miss¡ª" Astar cut himself off as he spotted Autumn. Without hesitation, he ripped off his t-shirt and lunged toward her, smothering the flames on her body.


    When he pulled back, the fire was out. Autumn''s braid was scorched black, her collarbone a mess of charred straw, wisps of smoke still rising from the damaged part of her body. She trembled, clutching Astar''s arm.


    A horse''s scream pierced through the roaring flames, but Beatrix couldn''t pinpoint where it was coming from.


    "Asta¡ª" The words caught in Beatrix¡¯s throat, transforming into violent coughs that racked her body. She forced air into her burning lungs and tried again. "ASTAR!"


    The moment his name left her lips, the wall of flames before them exploded outward. Through the cascade of orange and red emerged the rider she''d blasted earlier, his tattered robes ablaze as he charged toward them on foot. Flames licked at his tattered robes, but he moved as if they were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.


    Her earlier attack had seared part of his hood, but he wasn¡¯t backing down. There was no way he was letting them get away. She couldn''t tell if this rider had the same agenda as the last one ¡ª was he just after Jackson and Autumn too?


    She considered standing her ground, challenging him like she had the previous one. The power surging through her hands could probably blast him off the mountainside. But the spreading inferno made her hesitate ¡ª any more damage to the forest would send the flames straight toward Monster High. Besides, each breath felt like swallowing shards of glass. She wasn¡¯t going to last long at this rate.


    Through streaming eyes, Beatrix sprinted to Astar and grabbed onto him. "Get us out of here!"


    Astar moved swiftly, scooping up Autumn with one arm. Jackson awkwardly tried to find a place to hold on, finally settling for clinging to Astar''s leg like a terrified koala. Just as the rider closed in, Astar launched them above the treetops ¡ª but their takeoff was clumsy. The combined weight of three passengers dragged at Astar''s wings, forcing them to skim the treetops instead of soaring above them.


    The rider¡¯s staff whistled through the air below them. Jackson yelped as it missed his dangling feet by inches.


    "I-I''m losing my grip!" Jackson freaked as his hands started to slip.


    "Stop moving!" Astar''s neck corded with strain, sweat beading on his forehead. Each wingbeat was a battle, sending them bobbing up and down in sickening dips.


    The perimeter fence loomed ahead, its iron spikes glinting dangerously. Beatrix''s heart leaped into her throat. "The spikes! Don''t let us hit the spikes!"


    She could see the trimmed lawns of Monster High beyond ¡ª so close, yet terrifyingly far with the rider still in pursuit. The staff whipped through the air again, and Jackson let out a strangled cry as it nearly caught his shoes.


    Right before the rider tried for another swing, Astar made it over the perimeter fence, and Jackson curled his body just in time to avoid the iron spires that reached for them like hungry teeth.


    As they tumbled back inside the school, Beatrix, Autumn, and Jackson each dropped in a different spot on the grass, fighting to catch their breath.


    Beatrix barely registered hitting the ground. All she could focus on was the maddening sensation consuming her hands and wrists ¡ª an intense burning itch that made her want to claw her own skin off. Her fingers twitched and spasmed uncontrollably.


    Through the haze of pain, Beatrix remembered how to discharge the fire magic. She frantically pressed her hands to the frost-covered grass. Steam rose where her burning skin met the earth. Relief came slowly at first, then all at once. As she ground her hands against the ground, the burning sensation drained away like poison being drawn from a snakebite. The searing pain gave way to a merciful numbness. She lifted her hands to find that the angry red glow had subsided, but the skin remained tender and inflamed. Strange, welt-like markings covered her palms, looking less like ordinary burns and more like some kind of magical rash.


    A heavy silence drew Beatrix¡¯s attention to Autumn and Jackson, still frozen where Astar had dropped them. Their eyes were wide and unblinking as they stared beyond the perimeter fence. Beatrix followed their gaze to the second rider standing motionless on the other side of the fence. His robes hung in tatters from her fiery blast, thin wisps of smoke still rising from the charred fabric. Through the trees that partially concealed him, Beatrix could see his fingers clenched around the chipped staff.


    But he made no move to cross the boundary into the school.


    Like he couldn¡¯t get through.


    Ghoulia¡¯s textbook was right.


    Death can¡¯t enter Monster High.


    Through the iron bars of the fence, the rider stared at Beatrix from beneath his hood. Though she couldn''t see his face, she felt his gaze like ice water down her spine.


    Then, he silently stepped away and vanished into the burning forest, melting into the shadows as if he''d never been there at all.


    None of them moved.


    ¡°Guys¡­¡± Jackson said, his face white as chalk. ¡°People are coming¡­¡±


    He was referring to the growing mass of Monster High students and faculty pouring out of the creepateria to see why the forest on the south side of campus was burning down.


    Sirens blared as the on-campus firefighting team, composed entirely of aquatic monsters, roared across the field in their emergency vehicle. The first responders directed powerful streams of water into the forest, dousing the flames.


    No one had noticed Beatrix, Autumn, Jackson, and Astar yet. And they needed to leave before anyone did.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The last traces of ash on Beatrix''s hands swirled down the drain in hypnotic spirals. She watched them disappear, still hardly believing what they''d survived. They were safe now, away from the horsemen, their lethal scythes, the suffocating smoke and flames. Yet safety felt fragile, temporary, like a bubble that could burst at any moment.


    Leaning over the bathroom sink, Beatrix let the water soothe her inflamed skin. The blotchy rash stretching from the tips of her fingers to her mid-forearms showed no signs of fading, even though almost an hour had passed since their encounter with death, or deaths, in the woods.


    She was in Astar¡¯s bathroom, which was connected to his private suite in the boy¡¯s dormitory ¡ª a special living arrangement reserved exclusively for the marquess of the fifth circle of hell. The only other dorm on campus as nice as this belonged to Cleo. However, while Cleo''s room was likely spotless, Astar was a total slob.


    Crusty streaks of toothpaste residue lined the sink, nail files for his talons were scattered on the countertops, and dirty clothes and towels lay crumpled near his shower in heaps.


    There was a knock at the door. Jackson¡¯s voice came from the other side. ¡°Beatrix? You okay in there?¡±


    Rather than using one of Astar''s nasty towels, she carefully patted her hands dry on her black jeans. Even that light pressure made her wince. When she turned the handle, pain shot through her raw skin. She bit back a curse and pulled the door open to find Jackson looking like he''d been through a war zone. His glasses sat crooked on his face, smeared with soot, and his usually neat hair was a wild mess of leaves and broken twigs.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she said, then held up her arms, showing him the angry red welts. "But this isn''t getting any better."


    ¡°You definitely overdid the fire spell,¡± Astar said from across the room. The devil sat cross-legged on the floor next to Autumn, both of them leaning against the foot of his bed. He was dabbing carefully at the scorched area of Autumn''s collarbone with a damp cloth, trying to clean the burn marks from her canvas skin. Although Autumn had escaped the forest in one piece, the smell of singed straw still clung to her.


    Since the boy¡¯s dormitory had been the closest refuge, they were all hiding out in Astar¡¯s room until the chaos on the south side of the school died down. Through his window, they could hear the distant shouts and commotion of the firefighting effort.


    ¡°You mean you overdid the fire spell,¡± Beatrix countered, unable to keep the accusation from her voice.


    ¡°Ha! That¡¯s funny. You must¡¯ve hit your head out there, ¡®cause that''s not how I remember it,¡± Astar said. He nudged Autumn with his elbow. ¡°Come on, Patches. Back me up here.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t drag her into this,¡± Beatrix scolded. Besides, Autumn was being noticeably quiet at the moment.


    "Guys, stop it," Jackson tried to interject. "This isn''t helping. We need to figure out what to do now that¡ª"


    ¡°You''re the one who begged for my help, and I delivered,¡± Astar sneered at Beatrix.


    Beatrix glared back at him. ¡°Your blood, or whatever that gold stuff was, it boosted the magic too much. I didn¡¯t want to burn the whole forest down!¡±


    ¡°And whose fault is that?¡± Astar snapped. ¡°You ditched me, so now we¡¯re even. Normally, I would¡¯ve put more ash on your palms to counteract the ichor, protect your skin, and give you better control over the flames. But wait, I couldn''t do that because¡­ oh yeah, you knocked me out cold and then had the audacity to demand I save you. I woke up to that old goblin lady dragging me across the floor, trying to stuff me in a kitchen closet!"


    ¡°Greta? The lunch lady?¡± Jackson questioned. ¡°Why was Greta¡­¡±


    ¡°You told me the magic was supposed to last an hour,¡± Beatrix said, her anger flaring as hot as the flames she''d wielded earlier, ¡°but it fizzled out after a few blasts! That¡¯s why I needed to summon you again!¡±


    ¡°An hour was just a rough estimate. How long the magic lasts depends on how much power you expend. That¡¯s witchcraft 101! Don¡¯t you know anything?¡± Astar countered.


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t! My aunts barely taught me any magic! Funny, I thought you knew. Didn¡¯t you and your mom keep tabs on me before you showed up?¡±


    Astar didn''t respond to that accusation. Instead, he shot to his feet and stomped over to Beatrix, getting in her face, ¡°I think you¡¯re forgetting who I am. I¡¯m not one of your silly aunts. I¡¯m here to hone your abilities. So let this be a lesson: don¡¯t run off after using me to learn a spell.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t trust you to help us get past the fence!¡± Beatrix argued. She knew she was being stubborn, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself from shifting the blame.


    ¡°You guys need to be quiet! People will know we¡¯re hiding in here!¡± Jackson shushed them, his eyes darting nervously to the door.


    Astar''s voice dropped as he leaned even closer. ¡°Going past that fence is my job, not yours. The whole reason I¡¯m at this school is to keep you from getting kicked out.¡±


    ¡°How noble of you,¡± Beatrix huffed.


    ¡°Yes. It is noble of me. Not a single vampire has messed with you since I got here.¡±


    ¡°You may be a good bodyguard, but you suck at everything else,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for months watching the perimeter. How come you never crossed paths with those horsemen?¡±


    The question hit its mark. Astar''s confident mask slipped for just a moment, looking thrown.


    Before he could recover, Beatrix asked, ¡°And what happened to that first Reaper you fought? Did you see his face? Find out who he was? Tell me what happened!¡±


    ¡°I scared him off. You don¡¯t need to worry about him anymore,¡± Astar said curtly. His response carried the hollow ring of a lie, or at least a partial truth.


    ¡°So there¡¯s still two killers lurking in the woods,¡± Beatrix pressed, watching Astar''s face carefully.


    His yellow eyes flicked around, as if looking for an escape from the conversation. ¡°I told you, I beat him up. He¡¯ll be too chicken to come back.¡± Each word fell flat, unconvincing.


    "Why are you being so weird about this?" Beatrix stepped closer, her suspicion mounting. "You expect me to just believe you? You took down a seven-foot-tall Reaper, and now everything''s fine? You can¡¯t be serious."


    "If you''re thinking of going back out there¡ªdon''t." Astar''s voice hardened. "I could barely hold him off. It''s too dangerous to face one of them again." He paused, letting the words hang in the air. "Unless..."


    The room fell quiet. The distant sounds of the firefighting seemed muffled as Beatrix held her breath for Astar''s next words.


    ¡°... unless you bind yourself to me permanently,¡± Astar finally said.


    Beatrix could only stare, stunned.


    "If you sign your soul over to me, a Reaper can¡¯t collect it," he continued, taking on a smooth, practiced tone. "An official devil''s contract makes you immortal ¡ª no Reaper could touch you then. That way, you''d be free to investigate, confront the horsemen, whatever you want to do out there."


    Heavy footsteps echoed in the hall outside Astar¡¯s dorm, steadily approaching, but the sound barely registered with Beatrix.


    She glowered at the devil. "If that''s true," she said slowly, "then why did the Reapers ignore me earlier?"


    Beatrix noticed Astar¡¯s expression change, a subtle sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.


    Jackson tilted his head, lost. ¡°They ignored you?¡±


    Beatrix turned to Jackson. ¡°The first Reaper rode right past me to get to you and Autumn, and I bet the second one would¡¯ve done the same! They weren¡¯t interested in my soul at all.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your temporary contract with Astar¡¯s already protecting you?¡± Jackson thought aloud, trying to make sense of it.


    ¡°What? I¡­ I don¡¯t have a claim on your soul yet,¡± Astar wavered. ¡°... Not officially. You¡¯re as vulnerable to Reapers as anyone else¡­¡±


    The approaching footsteps grew louder.


    ¡°Stop lying! You''re trying to trick me into thinking a devil''s contract is the only way to survive those Reapers!¡± Beatrix scoffed. "I bet permanently binding myself to you wouldn''t change anything."


    Jackson attempted to get a word in. ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t get it. If you¡¯re not officially bound to Astar, why did the Reapers leave you alone¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making a lot of assumptions, Bee!¡± Astar''s voice rose to a shout, drowning Jackson out.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you exposed those killers? Why are you playing mind games with me? Is claiming my soul all you care about?¡± Beatrix rattled off, seeing red. ¡°You¡¯re such a snake!¡±


    ¡°Wow, the pot calling the kettle black!¡± Astar said, his dark eyebrows scrunching together.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°You risked your friends¡¯ lives for what? To prove a point? To show everyone you can handle things alone?¡± Astar spat. ¡°Don''t pretend this is about anything but yourself. You don¡¯t actually care about the monsters here. You only care about getting ahead, gaining power. Face it ¡ª you and I are birds of a feather."


    Beatrix stopped. The devil knew exactly which buttons to push to trigger her insecurities. She did have something to prove: she wanted to show her aunts they were wrong about her. She''d always believed she was meant for more than being a typical witch. Or at least, she hoped she was. More often than not, she was selfishly motivated. It was hard to swallow, but Astar was right.


    ¡°You don¡¯t care about any of the monsters here, Astar?¡± Autumn spoke up. She was still resting against the foot of his bed.


    Everyone looked at the scarecrow.


    Beatrix realized that Astar had, in fact, implied that he didn¡¯t care about anyone at Monster High.


    A strong hand thudded at the door.


    ¡°Uh, shouldn¡¯t we answer that?¡± Jackson asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± Astar softened as he spoke to Autumn. ¡°I¡­ I care about you.¡± This admission seemed to surprise even him.


    Autumn¡¯s lip quivered. ¡°But not anyone else?¡± she asked. ¡°What about Jackson? Frankie? Abbey? Toralei? You don''t care about them getting killed?¡±


    The devil looked very torn. His wings drooped, but he said nothing.


    Another hard thud rattled at the door. ¡°Astar! I know you¡¯re in there!¡± a deep voice boomed from the hallway.


    ¡°Autumn, Jackson, we¡¯re leaving,¡± Beatrix said.


    "Wait¡ª" Astar''s fingers closed around her wrist.


    Although his grasp wasn¡¯t tight, her damaged skin swelled with pain. Beatrix cried out, "Agh! Let go!"


    Before she could free herself from him, the door slammed open.


    Grey stormed into the room.


    With a powerful shove, he sent Astar stumbling back. The devil''s wings snapped open, fighting for balance. Beatrix, Jackson, and Autumn jolted away, startled by the sudden violence.


    Grey seized Astar by the front of his shirt, slamming him against the wall with enough force to rattle the windows.


    ¡°Get off her.¡±

 13. Skeletons in the Closet

    Grey pinned Astar against the wall, his forearm pressing hard against the devil''s throat. The impact shook several framed certificates off the wall, mementos of Astar''s time at the Legions of Hell Military Institute, and they crashed to the floor.


    "Whoa! Grey, we can talk this out!" Jackson exclaimed behind them.


    Astar struggled against Grey''s hold, his talons raking red lines across Grey''s arm. "What conspiracy theory have you come up with this time?¡± Astar spat, his voice dripping with the special kind of venom he reserved for Grey.


    "You''re pulling the strings somehow. Sneaking around school. Starting fires." Grey pressed harder. "Hurting Beatrix."


    Astar grunted at the increased pressure, but a smug grin spread across his face as he flashed his razor-sharp teeth mere inches from Grey''s face. "Oh no, is that what''s got you so worked up? Did I hold her hand too hard?"


    The taunt hit its mark. Grey''s grip faltered for a split second, and Astar seized the opening, swinging at Grey''s face. Though Grey jerked back and threw up an arm to block him, the punch still grazed his shoulder.


    Autumn was still huddled by the side of Astar''s bed, her button eyes wide with fear as she watched the confrontation unfold. Beatrix quickly pulled her close, both of them retreating to linger near the door, out of the way.


    With a forceful shove that sent papers flying from a nearby desk, Astar broke free of Grey''s grip. He straightened his rumpled shirt collar, that infuriating smirk never leaving his face.


    "I know you were involved somehow," Grey accused. "There¡¯s no way the fire in the woods was an accident."


    "You need to get your creepy black eyes checked," Astar scoffed, rolling his shoulders to loosen them, "''cause you keep missing things, numbskull."


    Grey lunged forward, his fist cutting through the air like a sledgehammer. But Astar evaded it with supernatural grace, using Grey''s own momentum against him. The larger boy stumbled into a chair, sending it clattering across the floor.


    ¡°Grey! Astar¡¯s not the problem!¡± Jackson shouted. ¡°It was your kind out there!¡±


    ¡°Stay out of this, four eyes!¡± Astar snapped, as if he didn¡¯t want Jackson to reveal what had happened in the forest.


    Grey froze mid-motion, his black eyes widening. "My kind¡ª"


    But before Grey could process Jackson''s words, Astar launched himself at him.


    The devil unleashed a flurry of swift, relentless punches. Grey was forced on the defensive as Astar attempted to overwhelm him with sheer speed.


    Astar seethed insults between attacks. "You really think¡ª" A jab that Grey dodged. "¡ªplaying hero will prove anything?" A hook that barely grazed Grey''s jaw. "You¡¯ll always be a cheap copy of your pathetic dad."


    Grey''s superior strength made up for what he lacked in speed. He blocked blow after blow, his forearms absorbing the impact.


    "All those military drills, and this is the best you can do?" Grey bit out.


    That pissed Astar off. A lightning-fast strike slipped through, catching Grey in the ribs. Grey''s breath hitched, but he didn''t falter. Instead, he channeled the pain into a crushing blow that sent Astar skidding backward.


    "Jackson! Watch out!" Autumn cried as Grey''s follow-up swing nearly hit Jackson. Jackson stumbled back just in time, Grey''s elbow whistling past his face.


    Jackson retreated to where Autumn and Beatrix watched by the doorway, his fingers moving to his headphones. Beatrix caught Jackson¡¯s wrist before he could flip the switch. She shook her head firmly ¡ª Holt''s chaotic energy was the last thing they needed right now.


    Meanwhile, Astar and Grey slammed into a side table. A lamp toppled and shattered, sending white shards across the floor like broken eggshells. If the fire wasn''t still raging on the south side of campus ¡ª its orange glow visible through the window like a distant sunset ¡ª Beatrix was sure the entire boy''s dorm would have come running to witness this fight.


    The boys¡¯ path of destruction continued as a waste basket tipped, spewing its contents everywhere. Amid the scattered protein bar wrappers and crumpled homework assignments, something caught Beatrix''s eye ¡ª a small package, partially crushed but intact. The label read in stark black text: B. donna ingredient. Rapid shipping. New Salem Preparatory Academy.


    Beatrix frowned at the strange package, distracted by it for a moment.


    "Do something!" Autumn urged Beatrix, her cloth fingers digging into Beatrix''s sleeve.


    Right ¡ª Beatrix suddenly remembered she wasn''t powerless here. Her eyes darted from the mysterious box back to the fight. She shouted: "Astar! I command you to stop!"


    It worked. Astar stopped, his yellow eyes snapping to Beatrix. But then Grey¡¯s fist connected with Astar''s jaw in a brutal arc, sending the devil reeling.


    With a snap of leathery wings, Astar launched himself to the ceiling. He wedged himself into a corner where walls met the roof, one hand clutching his swelling jaw, glaring down at Grey with murderous rage. "Cheap shot." Astar spat out along with a mouthful of golden blood. Like a spider, he used his limbs to hold himself in place up there.


    "Thanks a lot, Bee!" Astar snarled from his perch. "Tell your boyfriend to back off and crawl back to his crypt!"


    Heat rushed to Beatrix''s face, blooming across her cheeks and up to her ears. "Hey! He''s not¡ª" she started to protest, but the words caught in her throat as Grey''s intense gaze flicked her way.


    Then Grey, still riding the wave of adrenaline, advanced toward Astar''s corner, ready for round two.


    A red pitchfork materialized in Astar''s hand. Its prongs gleamed like fresh blood in the dim light. A thin stream of gold trickled from his nose, staining his shirt collar. "Try me, Reaper," he growled.


    "Grey, stop!" Autumn pleaded. "You''re going after the wrong person!"


    Grey turned to the scarecrow, his fighting stance faltering. "What?"


    "We saw two Reapers in the woods," Autumn explained. "We were looking for clues when they attacked us!"


    ¡°... That¡¯s impossible,¡± Grey said, although he sounded unsure of himself. ¡°No Reaper can defy my father. You must have seen something else. Maybe someone disguised as¡ª"


    ¡°Reapers can¡¯t defy your father, or they choose not to?¡± Beatrix asked.


    "They wouldn''t dare," Grey insisted.


    Autumn took a bold step forward. ¡°Maybe they''re not as scared of your dad as you think. We all saw them, clear as day."


    Grey''s gaze went to Beatrix, searching her face. "You''re sure?"


    "100% sure," Beatrix replied without hesitation, holding his stare.


    ¡°And those Reapers were way quicker than you. Not as clunky on their feet,¡± Astar sneered at Grey from above. ¡°Now get out of my room¡ª¡±


    ¡°Astar, shut it,¡± Beatrix said.


    Grey dragged a hand across his face, his eyes fixed on the floor. The fight seemed to drain out of him, replaced by something heavier.


    The silence stretched on until Beatrix finally broke it. "You knew those Reapers were here already, didn''t you?"


    When Grey looked at her again, what she saw in his eyes made her chest tighten: guilt, raw and undeniable, swimming in those dark depths.


    Astar descended from his perch with feline grace, landing softly on the balls of his feet. His jaw was swollen, golden blood still seeping from his nose. But the devil''s earlier swagger had vanished. As Grey took center stage, Astar looked noticeably concerned.


    Grey drew in a deep breath, steeling himself for a confession. "Remember last semester, when you joined MSS?" he asked Beatrix. "On your first day, I led the seminar.¡±


    "Yeah¡­ you taught us about how monsters cheat death," Beatrix said.


    "I think that''s why those Reapers are here." Grey said. "Death wants what it''s owed¡­ they want every monster soul at this school."


    "But your dad made peace treaties with monsters..." Beatrix started. "I thought the treaties protected monster souls from being collected by Reapers.¡±


    Grey ran a hand over his closely-shaved hair. "On paper, yeah. But a treaty is just a promise. Promises can be broken. Most Reapers follow my dad¡¯s rules, but..." Grey began to pace, each step heavy.


    He continued, "When my dad took over Death Co., three of his closest colleagues walked out on him. They couldn''t stand his vision for the company when it came to handling the monster world. That betrayal nearly broke my dad. I heard things got ugly.¡± Grey stopped at the window, focused on the orange glow of the distant fire. "They weren''t just his coworkers ¡ª they were like family to him. The four of them had worked together for centuries, collecting souls as one unit."


    "You¡¯re saying your dad''s old friends are behind this?" Beatrix watched Grey''s reflection in the window.


    ¡°Wait¡­ there¡¯s three Reapers out there?¡± Autumn squeaked.


    "There was a massive rider who chased us down ¡ª is he one of them?" Jackson asked.


    ¡°That sounds like Viggo,¡± Grey sighed, placing his head in his hands. ¡°... I should¡¯ve known.¡±


    ¡°Vy-go?¡± Jackson repeated the horseman¡¯s name, the foreign syllables awkward on his tongue.


    ¡°His name means ¡®Battle¡¯ in ancient Norse,¡± Grey explained. ¡°He¡¯s always had a thing for the souls of fallen men on battlefields. In the early days, humans called him ¡®Warrior¡¯ in their legends. Sometimes just ''War.''"


    "War..." Beatrix muttered to herself, the nickname striking a chord somewhere in her memory. Where had she heard it before?


    The poem from Ghoulia''s textbook surfaced in her mind: Dark horsemen riding... Plague, Famine, and War... settling a score.


    ¡°That second Reaper we saw, the thin one in the tattered robes ¡ª who was he?" Beatrix asked Grey.


    "Sounds like Mahlon," Grey said.


    ¡°Does Mahlon have a creepy nickname too?¡±


    ¡°Mahlon means ''sick'' or ''disease'' in Hebrew, I think.¡±


    Beatrix stilled. Plague.


    "You really know your languages," Jackson said, impressed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories a thousand times. It¡¯s impossible to forget their names,¡± Grey replied grimly.


    "And the third one?" Beatrix asked, though she dreaded the answer. "What''s his name?"


    ¡°Cassius.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Latin for ¡®empty,¡¯¡± Grey answered, looking puzzled as to why Beatrix wanted to know so badly. "Why?"


    Beatrix barely heard his question, her mind racing. ¡®Empty.¡¯ That¡¯s got to be Famine, she thought. The poem''s words were burned into her mind: Plague, Famine, and War... seek to settle a score¡­


    "The three horsemen¡­" she said, looking up at Grey. ¡°¡­they''re here for revenge, aren''t they? Against the Grim Reaper?"


    Grey''s jaw tightened. "They saw my father''s plan as blasphemy. Peace with supernatural creatures? Making deals with the undead?" He shook his head. "They saw it as an insult to Death itself. Called Monster High an abomination."


    He began pacing again, agitated. "That''s why my dad sent me here. Since I''m not ordained as a Reaper yet, I can walk these grounds freely. My dad wanted me to see what he saw ¡ª that monsters aren''t what those three think they are. Most monsters didn''t choose this existence. They''re just trying to live their undead lives in peace."


    "If you ask me, the monsters here are a little too peaceful," Astar muttered.


    ¡°Are you saying you knew those three Reapers were behind the murders this whole time?¡± Autumn asked Grey.


    Grey''s shoulders slumped. "No... not at first. I mean, I saw things, someone following the MSS group during our field trip last semester, shadows in the forest, but I couldn''t be sure. He drew in a breath. "Not until the night I was with Beatrix behind the gardening shed.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Beatrix asked.


    "That night, when you spotted something in the woods..." Grey''s black eyes found hers. "I stopped you because I saw a dark figure out there¡­ without a soul''s glow in their chest. Only Reapers lack that inner light."


    "And you kept it to yourself?" Autumn''s voice cracked with anger. "You should have gone straight to Bloodgood the moment you suspected your dad¡¯s old friends!¡±


    "I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me," Grey said, but guilt shadowed his features. ¡°... I wanted to believe I was wrong¡­ Viggo, Mahlon, Cassius ¡ª they''ve been ghosts in my family''s history for so long. I''ve never even met them. If I raised a false alarm about rogue Reapers, it would turn the monster world on its head. I needed to make sure it was them."


    "That''s why you were always first at every crime scene," Autumn pressed, her button eyes flashing. "All this time, you knew more than you let on." Her resentment was clear, especially after watching Grey attack Astar. Beatrix touched her friend''s arm, caught between wanting to calm Autumn''s anger and understanding it.


    "I wanted to help Bloodgood keep things under control," Grey admitted. "She''s put everything into this school. I didn''t want Monster High to fall apart under her.¡±


    Autumn jerked away from Beatrix''s touch. "Monsters are dying, Grey. Real monsters with real families. But I guess Bloodgood''s reputation matters more than their lives?"


    "You know that¡¯s not what I meant," Grey shot back.


    Jackson cleared his throat to diffuse the tension, stepping between them. "What I don''t understand is why these Reapers are targeting the school this year. Think about it, Monster High has been around for centuries. So why are they targeting monsters right now, of all times? There has to be a reason.¡±


    Grey turned to Jackson. "I don¡¯t know why. That''s what doesn''t add up. They can''t enter school grounds, but they''ve been waiting out there for months, picking monsters off one by one. It''s like they''re waiting for something.¡±


    "That barrier¡­" Beatrix said slowly. "Grey, do you know anything else about it?¡±


    Grey''s hand drifted to the glass orb that hung at the end of his chain necklace, turning it absentmindedly. ¡°No. No one does. It''s been here for centuries. My dad says it''s one of Death''s biggest mysteries.¡± Grey¡¯s gaze wandered to the misty mountain peaks visible through the window. "The founders who built Monster High chose this mountain because of it. They knew gathering so many young monsters in one place was risky, so they wanted that protection from death in case my dad¡¯s peace treaties failed."


    The hostility that had dominated the room began to dissolve.


    All this time Beatrix had been focused on Bram and Vilhelm terrorizing normies in New Salem, when something else had been stalking Monster High. The Reapers had been there all along, ancient and patient, watching them like hawks.


    "We need to tell Bloodgood," Autumn said. "Right now."


    Astar collapsed onto his bed with a dramatic groan, springs creaking beneath him. "Before anyone goes anywhere¡ª" He prodded his swelling eye, shooting Grey a pointed glare. "He owes me an apology.¡±


    Grey looked around at the wreckage of Astar''s room. "I''m¡­ sorry for coming after you," he said stiffly, the apology not coming easily to him.


    "We''re just glad you''re not a murderer," Jackson said, giving a nervous laugh.


    Grey arched a brow. "Is that why you''ve all been acting so weird lately?"


    Jackson nodded hesitantly. "We didn''t know who else could''ve made those marks on the bodies... and you¡¯re the only one here with a scythe."


    Grey''s fingers found the glass orb dangling from his necklace. He held it up for Jackson to see. "This is where Reapers store the souls we collect. Look ¡ª mine is empty. I''m not holding onto Gilda, Brocko, or Henry."


    He turned to Beatrix, his expression pained. "Did you think it was me too?"


    ¡°I¡­¡± Beatrix didn¡¯t want to admit it, but her silence was damning enough. The hurt that flashed across Grey''s face made her wish she could take it back. "Grey, I''m sorry, it''s just with everything that''s been happening¡­"


    "I was trying to help," Grey said quietly. "I thought if I could just figure out what was happening before anyone else got hurt..."


    As they spoke, Autumn went to check on Astar''s injuries, muttering something about ice packs. Grey moved closer to Beatrix. "There''s something else you need to know,¡± he said to her. "With those three horsemen here... every monster in this school... their souls are in danger."


    Beatrix leaned in. "Why?"


    ¡°They¡¯ll all be damned.¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s eyes went wide.


    That strange poem came rushing back with horrifying clarity:


    Plague, Famine, and War The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    seek to settle a score.


    Monsters can¡¯t hide


    when the dark horsemen ride.


    Their souls will burn once more.


    "I can''t condemn all the monsters here to eternal hellfire just because they''re undead," Grey went on. "It''s not right. Most monsters never chose this existence ¡ª why should they suffer forever for something forced on them? That''s why my father fights so hard to protect them."


    "When monsters die, they..." Beatrix couldn''t finish the sentence. Their souls will burn¡­ Every monster at Monster High ¡ª her friends, Autumn ¡ª were they all destined to spend eternity in¡­


    Grey stepped closer, the floorboards creaking beneath him as he tried to catch her distant gaze. ¡°Beatrix?¡± That''s when he noticed her hands. Alarm filled his face and he reached out and took her right hand in his. Beatrix winced but didn''t pull away as his calloused fingers carefully examined her wrist.


    "What happened?" he asked softly, touching the angry red marks blooming across her skin.


    "I''m fine," Beatrix said. "I''ll ask Lagoona for some lotion, she has gallons of the stuff. Only downside is I''ll smell like a fishing pier for a week." The joke fell flat, her thoughts continuing to spiral. Their souls will burn¡­ Their souls will burn¡­


    "Hang on¡­¡± Grey looked up at her. ¡°Did you start that forest fire?" When Beatrix wouldn''t meet his eyes, he let out an exasperated groan. "Let me guess: magic? Again? You''re lucky the whole mountain didn''t go up in flames. And while we''re at it, want to explain why I saw your spirit floating around campus the other night?"


    The sharp trill of a phone interrupted them. Grey released Beatrix''s hand to pull his black iCoffin from his jacket. He stared at the screen, confused. "Uh..."


    He glanced at Autumn.


    "What?" Autumn asked, shifting on Astar''s bed.


    ¡°You¡¯re calling me.¡±


    Beatrix snapped back to the present.


    Autumn frowned. "No I''m not..."


    "Your phone!" Beatrix exclaimed. "You dropped it in the forest when we were escaping.¡±


    "The firefighters must have found it," Jackson blurted out, gripped by anxiety. "They''re going to report us before we can explain what happened! That''s it ¡ª we''re done for! Do you have any idea what starting a forest fire means? We could get expelled, get sued by the school¡ª¡±


    "Why would they call Grey though?" Autumn asked, eyeing the Reaper.


    Ignoring the back and forth, Grey answered his iCoffin, putting it on speaker. ¡°Hello?¡±


    No answer came.


    Astar watched from his bed, his face bruised and swelling, his expression unreadable.


    Then came a sound ¡ª a faint shuffling, the rustle of leaves in the background.


    "Is someone there?" Grey''s voice stayed controlled, but Beatrix saw how his fingers tightened around the phone.


    ¡°Ah. It is you.¡± The male voice that crackled through the speaker was impossibly deep, as if it echoed from the bottom of a well. It sounded wrong ¡ª otherworldly in a way that made the hair on the back of Beatrix''s neck stand up.


    The silence lingered for a moment.


    "Say farewell to your friends," the voice rumbled. "Their hour of reckoning is near."


    The line went dead with a harsh click.


    Beatrix stared at Grey as he clutched his black iCoffin, his eyes reflecting the darkness of the now black screen.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    ¡°Grey! Hang on!¡± Autumn called, her voice bouncing off the walls of the boy¡¯s dormitory hallway as the rest of the group struggled to keep up with him.


    Astar lagged behind, his crimson wings folded tight against his back, looking agitated that everyone was following Grey¡¯s lead. Autumn twisted around to look at the devil. "Hurry!" she urged. With an exaggerated eye roll, Astar broke into a half-hearted jog, his shoes scuffing against the floor as he caught up.


    Beatrix followed Grey down the spiral staircase of the boy¡¯s dorm, the poem still looping in her mind, pounding against her skull: Their souls will burn once more¡­ Their souls¡­


    The weight of it pressed down on her, making each step down the stairs more demanding than it should¡¯ve been.


    Grey thumbed through his black iCoffin. He tapped on ¡°B¡¯s friend¡± in his contacts, redialing the number that had sent them all racing from Astar¡¯s dorm room. The phone rang once, twice, three times.


    Instead of an answer, Autumn¡¯s chirpy voicemail kicked in: ¡°Hi there! It¡¯s Autumn Patches! Sorry I missed you, I¡¯m probably busy studying or gardening¡ªFrankie! Shhh I¡¯m trying to record my voicemail¡ª¡± Grey''s thumb hit the end call button before trying again. Once more: "Hi there! It''s Autumn Patches¡ª"


    ¡°Which horseman was on the phone?¡± Jackson asked, sweat plastering his black and blond streaked hair to his forehead.


    ¡°Cassius,¡± Grey responded gravely.


    Beatrix¡¯s head was swimming. Her whole body was heavy with exhaustion ¡ª from the mad flight through the woods, choking on the smoke of the wildfire, from the realization that everyone she cared about in this school was doomed to spend eternity in the hell Astar had crawled out of.


    Suddenly, Beatrix¡¯s foot slipped, missing a step, and she started to fall forward ¡ª only to be caught by a strong arm around her waist. Astar. He held her effortlessly, his swollen face and piercing yellow eyes an inch from hers. "Careful," he murmured.


    Beatrix shrugged him off and righted herself. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said flatly.


    Grey lifted his iCoffin to his ear and dialed Autumn¡¯s phone another time, only to be met with her voicemail again. He stopped abruptly at the bottom of the stairwell to face the group scrambling after him. The emergency exit sign above cast a red glow over them all.


    ¡°If Cassius would pick up, I could try talking to him and the other two, try to reason with them, walk them off the ledge. Get my dad on the line somehow. I don¡¯t know¡­¡± The uncertainty in Grey¡¯s voice was more frightening than any monster Beatrix had ever encountered in these halls.


    Beatrix stepped forward, fighting her dizziness. She gripped the banister, hoping the others couldn''t see how much effort it took to hold herself steady. "Cassius isn¡¯t gonna call you back," she said, ¡°so we need to find Bloodgood and tell her everything we know, like Autumn said."


    Grey was already pulling out his iCoffin, thumbing through his contacts. The ring echoed in the stairwell, once, twice, three times. Then: ¡°You have reached Nora Bloodgood. I am currently unavailable¡ª¡±


    Grey cursed under his breath and ended the call.


    ¡°She¡¯s probably tied up with the fire,¡± Grey muttered, slipping the phone back into his pocket.


    Jackson whispered to Beatrix, ¡°He has Bloodgood¡¯s number?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a family friend,¡± Beatrix whispered back. She turned her attention back to Grey. ¡°You need to call your dad, then.¡±


    ¡°I will, on my way to Bloodgood,¡± Grey replied. ¡°I bet she¡¯s with the fire rescue team on the south side of campus.¡± They emerged from the shadowed stairwell into the late afternoon. The air outside was thick with smoke and the smell of burnt wood, making Beatrix''s eyes water.


    Across the broad yard in front of the boy¡¯s dorm, where the perfectly manicured grass was now dusted with a fine layer of ash, Clawd stood with his arm around Clawdeen¡¯s shoulders beneath a lone oak tree. Clawdeen was curled into herself, face hidden in the ruffled collar of Draculaura¡¯s lacy pink blouse as the vampire held her close. A few steps away, Frankie¡¯s blue and green eyes were wide with worry.


    Autumn took off at a run toward them, calling Clawdeen¡¯s name.


    As the group approached, Frankie darted to Jackson, her green arms flying around him. He stiffened for a moment, caught off guard, then returned the hug, burying his face in her black-and-white hair.


    ¡°Where have you been?" Frankie pulled back, her mismatched eyes scanning his face. "I was worried sick when you weren''t in the creepateria." She wrinkled her nose. "Um, why are you so dirty?¡±


    Jackson opened his mouth, then closed it, unsure how much he should tell her.


    Clawdeen sniffled and raised her head, the fur beneath her golden eyes damp with tears. Draculaura stepped aside as Autumn moved in and enveloped Clawdeen in a tight hug.


    ¡°Is Clawdeen okay?¡± Beatrix asked Draculaura.


    Draculaura¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. "Another body was found," she said, not even attempting to sugarcoat it, ¡°in the middle of the forest fire. It was a gargoyle security guard named Pierre.¡±


    "My pack saw him head into the woods," Clawd added. "We were on the casketball courts when the fire started. He told us to stay put while he checked it out. We saw him climb the fence, but he never came back.¡±


    They were talking about the security guard Beatrix had snuck past just hours ago at lunch.


    Their souls will burn once more. Their souls will burn once more. Their souls will burn¡­


    "Do you think he got burned out there?" Frankie asked.


    ¡°Come on, gargoyles are made of stone," Clawd said. "Fire can¡¯t hurt him like that."


    Clawdeen¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this nightmare is still going on,¡± she snarled. ¡°It¡¯s what happened to Brocko all over again. No one knew what happened to him either. When¡¯s this gonna end?¡±


    Seeing Clawdeen in such a state felt like a punch to Beatrix¡¯s gut. Autumn hugged Clawdeen even tighter.


    Clawdeen suddenly pulled back, noticing the scarecrow¡¯s collarbone. ¡°What happened to you?¡± the werewolf asked, referring to the burn mark on Autumn¡¯s canvas skin where she¡¯d gotten seared in the woods.


    Autumn glanced back at Beatrix, silently questioning how much to share about what happened in the forest. Beatrix looked to Grey, who gave a single nod. It was time. They needed to know the truth.


    Grey addressed the assembled group. "We know who¡¯s behind the murders.¡±


    Clawd''s arm tightened around Clawdeen''s shoulders. "What, man?"


    "Reapers," Grey told Clawd. "The same ones I told you and Deuce about. The ones my father has been trying to track down ever since they went rogue. I had my suspicions about them, but now I know for sure they¡¯re the ones doing this."


    Draculaura gasped, a dainty hand flying to her mouth. "Did they start the fire?" she asked. "What do they want?"


    Beatrix zoned out. Their souls will burn once more¡­ Their souls will burn¡­ burn¡­ They¡¯re all¡­ Autumn¡­


    "I don''t have time to explain everything now," Grey said, already turning to leave. "I need to find Bloodgood and tell her what¡¯s going on. Jackson, Autumn ¡ª fill them in. The death barrier, the horsemen, all of it." His jet black eyes cut to Beatrix. "You, come with me."


    Beatrix took a step forward, but her knees wobbled traitorously beneath her. Hands closed around her arms, keeping her upright ¡ª it was Astar, again.


    "Bea?" Autumn asked, concerned.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just¡­¡± Beatrix swayed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°No way. You look like you''re about to faint,¡± Autumn insisted.


    "Grey, go ahead without her," Astar ordered. "She needs a minute.¡±


    ¡°But we need to tell¡ª¡± Grey started.


    ¡°Oh, sure, let''s drag her to the headmistress while she can barely stand,¡± Astar said.


    Grey hesitated. By the way Grey¡¯s face softened as he looked at her, Beatrix figured she wasn¡¯t looking too hot. After a moment, Grey relented. "Fine. Meet me at the front office in twenty minutes." With that, he was gone.


    Autumn took Beatrix¡¯s hand, her touch soft. ¡°Come on,¡± the scarecrow said gently, leading her towards the girl¡¯s dorm. ¡°Let¡¯s get you something to eat¡ª¡±


    "I''ll take care of her," Astar interrupted, adjusting his grip on Beatrix. "You stay here and help Jackson explain everything to them." He nodded to the rest of the group, still gathered beneath the oak, faces drawn with fear. "I can fly Bee around faster on my own."


    Autumn looked up at the devil and something unspoken passed between them. The scarecrow squeezed Beatrix''s fingers before releasing her hand. "There¡¯s food in the common room fridge," Autumn said to the devil. "Make sure she eats."


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t really listening, lost in a daze of exhaustion and dread.


    Their souls will burn once more¡­ burn once more¡­ they''re damned, cursed¡­ that security guard is dead because of me.


    Astar crouched in front of Beatrix, presenting his back to her. She climbed on, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her cheek fall against one of his leathery wings.


    With Beatrix clinging to him, Astar stood and unfurled his wings. "We won¡¯t be long," he assured Autumn.


    And then they were airborne, the ground falling away, the wind whipping Beatrix''s dark hair back from her face. She closed her eyes and held on.


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t Autumn come?¡± Beatrix muttered to Astar, her voice faint and small even to her own ears. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have slowed you down. She doesn¡¯t even weigh anything.¡±


    Astar¡¯s shoulders tensed beneath her. ¡°She can¡¯t come with us,¡± he said. ¡°Not this time.¡±


    Beatrix had the feeling Astar wasn¡¯t really talking to her¡ªmore like he was trying to convince himself of something. Astar¡¯s taloned hand tightened around one of Beatrix¡¯s arms, making sure she stayed securely wrapped around his neck. As if he was determined to keep her from slipping away.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix sat slumped at a large, rectangular table in the East dorm¡¯s common room and slammed back a glass of cold water, the ice cubes clinking against her teeth. As soon as she set the empty glass down, Astar refilled it from the water purifier on the counter. Beatrix grabbed the glass and chugged again, some of it dribbling down her chin.


    "Thank you," she mumbled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She rested her cheek on her palm and watched Astar rummage through the industrial-sized fridge the ghouls in the East dorm all shared. The fridge was packed with containers of dubious leftovers, half-empty bags of blood for the vampire students, and an array of Pumpkin Spice coffee creamers.


    A few students were finally trickling back to the dorms now that the forest fire was extinguished, but the East dorm was still quiet.


    ¡°Aha,¡± Astar said, pulling out a large plastic container from the back of the fridge.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Beatrix asked, her eyelids drooping with fatigue as Astar plopped the container on the table between them.


    ¡°Tea cakes. Check it out, me and Patches whipped ¡®em up a couple days ago,¡± Astar said, popping the lid off to reveal a dozen neatly arranged glazed pastries. Beatrix perked up at the sight of the vanilla mini cakes, each one perfectly round and shiny with icing. She recognized them right away ¡ª Autumn had baked this same recipe a few times back on the farm.


    Beatrix was impressed. ¡°You helped make these?¡±


    ¡°Well, Patches did most of the work,¡± Astar said with a casual shrug. "She really wanted you to try them, so we haven''t touched them yet."


    Beatrix noticed a few empty spots where some cakes were missing from the otherwise perfect grid. "I thought you said you hadn''t touched any yet.¡±


    "Oh¡­ yeah, I might¡¯ve sampled a few when she wasn¡¯t looking," Astar said, then promptly snatched up another cake and popped the whole thing in his mouth, devouring it in one bite. "Can you blame me? Her desserts are sinful."


    "Hey, save some for me!¡± Beatrix protested as Astar inhaled yet another cake.


    "Chill out," Astar said through a mouthful. He pointed a talon at two cakes nestled in the corner of the container, each one decorated with delicate violet petals pressed into the icing. "Those are yours. Autumn said purple was your favorite color, so we made those ones special, just for you. Added flower petals and everything."


    Beatrix picked up one of the flowered cakes from the wax paper, admiring the artistry. "Wow. These are really pretty. Want one?" She held the cake out to Astar.


    He shook his head. "Nah, they¡¯re for you. We wanted you to have the fancy ones."


    Beatrix took a nibble and sweetness exploded across her tongue. With each bite, there was an underlying bitter note she couldn''t quite identify. Astar watched her intently as she chewed.


    "C''mon, speed it up," Astar said impatiently. "I don''t want to get chewed out by Grey for keeping you too long. I don''t know how you stand that guy. He''s wound tighter than a mummy''s bandages."


    Beatrix took a more substantial bite, the moist cake melting on her tongue, the flower petals adding an interesting texture. "Grey''s not..." she started. "He''s just trying to protect everyone..."


    "Right, because that''s working out so well," Astar sneered. "The Grim Reaper can''t even control his own kind anymore. And his son''s just as useless. It¡¯s no wonder his old coworkers are rebelling against him under his nose. Wait, does the Grim Reaper have a nose?¡±


    Beatrix bristled. "Don¡¯t talk about Grey and his family like that¡­¡±


    "Like what?¡± Astar¡¯s tone turned scathing. "You¡¯ve never thought maybe those rogue horsemen are onto something about this place?¡±


    Beatrix stopped. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± she asked, glaring at the devil. ¡°We have more important things to think about right now¡ª¡±


    The devil fixed her with a penetrating stare. He continued, "You really don''t get it, do you? Monster High is nothing but a grand experiment, trying to domesticate creatures that were never meant to be tamed. Monsters aren¡¯t supposed to act like humans. Sitting in classes and playing nice isn¡¯t why they were created."


    "Who are you to say why a monster''s created?" Beatrix snapped.


    "Bee, I''m the only one in this whole god-forsaken school who can say it." Astar spread his hands as if the answer should be glaringly obvious. "Witches and demons conjure monsters for a reason. To sow chaos. To cause discord. To make the dull mortal world a little more..." He paused, searching for the right word. "Interesting."


    Beatrix shook her head in disgust. "That''s garbage and you know it. Every ghoul here worships you, and I¡¯ve seen how you hang out with monsters between classes. You like living at Monster High. Are you seriously trying to tell me Autumn and our other friends would be better off as mindless creatures terrorizing normies?"


    "Death politics are way more complex than your pretty little head can grasp," he said coolly. "The three horsemen never wanted Monster High to exist in the first place. If they had their way, they''d turn this place to rubble and exorcise its memory from the face of the earth. And honestly? I think they have the right idea.¡±


    Beatrix¡¯s palms slammed against the tabletop. "Well, tough luck, Astar. You¡¯re gonna have to put aside your fantasies of letting those Reapers ruin everything," she said. ¡°What''s wrong with you? You¡¯re acting weird.¡±


    Astar cocked his head to the side. "If you had any respect for the old ways, took the dark order seriously, you''d see it too. This monster utopia was never meant to last. It¡¯s a waste of potential.¡±


    Something about the way he spoke reminded Beatrix of someone else. "Astar," she said. "These ideas about monsters embracing their ''true nature''... are they yours? Or are they coming from your mom?"


    For a fleeting moment, conflict warred across Astar''s face, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He wasn¡¯t going to answer her question.


    Beatrix sighed. ¡°Look, today¡¯s been crazy enough as it is. And I get it, you¡¯re still pissed about Grey attacking you. If it makes you feel any better, you landed some good swings on him too.¡±


    "I could¡¯ve taken him down if you hadn''t gotten in my way," Astar grumbled, looking away.


    "Can we not do this right now? I still need to meet with Grey and Bloodgood." Beatrix pushed herself up from the table. "Are you flying me over? Or do I need to run there myself?¡± Beatrix reached for another petal-strewn cake to eat on the way. But before her fingertips could brush the sugared surface, Astar''s hand shot out and stopped her.


    "Don''t," he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± she demanded. ¡°Did Grey hit you too hard or something?¡±


    "You never trusted me,¡± Astar said. His yellow gaze bored into hers. "I''ve finally come to terms with that."


    "Huh? Astar, you''re not making any sense..."


    The fiend ignored her and rose to his feet, crossing the common room kitchen with a distant expression. When he reached the arched doorway, Astar hesitated, glancing back at Beatrix over his shoulder. There was sorrow in his eyes.


    "I need you to understand," he said quietly, "that this isn''t what I wanted.¡±


    Astar slipped through the door and vanished from sight, leaving Beatrix completely confused. However, when she tried to get up and go after him, she stumbled to her feet, panic spiking as the room swayed around her. Gripping the table for support, she sucked in shallow breaths, fighting off a surge of dizziness. Dark spots danced at the corners of her vision.


    "Astar?" His name came out wrong, her tongue feeling too thick in her mouth. "What''s... what''s happening to me?"


    Her legs buckled and she collapsed to the tiled floor. She struggled to lift her head, her limbs unresponsive. Fear flooded her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a faint movement ¡ª a pair of violet legs, semi-transparent, drifting through the wall before her.


    ¡°Well done, Astaroth." Spectra sounded colder than Beatrix had ever heard her, devoid of even a shred of emotion.


    Beatrix peered up at the spirit floating above.


    "Spectra? Why are you here..."


    Hazy memories trickled into Beatrix¡¯s sluggish mind ¡ª Spectra looming over her bed the other night, hovering over her abandoned body. Suddenly, a nauseating emptiness swept through Beatrix, but this feeling was familiar to her now. The feeling of her spirit slipping away from her body.


    "Astar," Beatrix tried to call out. "Help..."


    "I''m afraid your devil has other matters to attend to." Spectra''s form wavered and doubled as Beatrix struggled to focus. ¡°He won''t be coming to save you this time.¡±


    "What..." Beatrix''s fingers scrabbled against the smooth floor, trying desperately to find purchase as she attempted to push herself up. Her limbs felt like they were made of lead. "What did you do to me?"


    "Don''t fret, it will all be over soon," Spectra cooed. "I can¡¯t have you getting in my way this time.¡± The spirit looked over at the container of the tea cakes and clicked her tongue in disapproval. ¡°I see Astar neglected to give you the full dose ¡ª if he followed my instructions properly, you would¡¯ve eaten both belladonna cakes. I need your pulse slowed down as much as possible. That¡¯s too bad.¡±


    The word belladonna rang in Beatrix''s head like a bell, dredging up memories of Spectra teaching her how to astral project as a ghost the other night, the small package she¡¯d spotted in Astar¡¯s room: B. donna ingredient. Rapid shipping. New Salem Preparatory Academy.


    ¡°Belladonna?¡± Beatrix asked, ¡°The poison plant that makes you... temporarily... dead?¡±


    ¡°Ah, excellent, I¡¯m glad you remember our lessons,¡± Spectra said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you recall that detaching your spirit from your body is much easier with belladonna petals. But this time, I need you out of body longer than just a few minutes. Let¡¯s hope one tea cake is enough to do the job.¡±


    ¡°He drugged me,¡± Beatrix said, tears welling in her eyes. The room swam in and out of focus, her pulse growing weaker and weaker.


    Spectra descended until her face hovered over Beatrix''s own, pale lips twisted in a cruel smile, her voice as smooth as silk. ¡°Don¡¯t fight it, Beatrix. Astar bought a high quality batch of belladonna, so it will slow your heartbeat without any pain. Just pretend you¡¯re back in your dorm, drifting off to sleep. The fear will vanish once you relax. Let yourself drift away.¡±


    Spectra was right. Beatrix simply felt sleepy as the room dimmed around her. As the poison coursed through her veins, a heavy drowsiness began to overtake her, and the colors of the kitchen bled together like a fever dream.


    ¡°Slipping a little witchy ingredient into food never fails, does it?¡± Spectra continued.


    ¡°Why are you¡­¡± Beatrix murmured.


    Spectra glided around Beatrix like a predator toying with its prey. ¡°I had hopes that you might understand, might help me willingly, but I found that you¡¯re an unusually stubborn witch. This way will be much easier.¡±


    ¡°Help you? With what?¡±


    ¡°A spell. A difficult one,¡± Spectra said. ¡°One that I couldn¡¯t master on my own back then.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ understand¡­¡±


    "I need to bring down the barrier," Spectra explained, ¡°the one that keeps death at bay. That spell has been in place for too long. Far too long.¡±


    "Spell?¡± Beatrix asked, shaky. ¡°The barrier¡­ is from witchcraft? How do you know?"


    Spectra''s face turned somber. "Because I was the one who created it.¡±


    Shock cut through the haze of Beatrix''s mind. "... You''re a witch?"


    "I used to be," Spectra confirmed, her form pulsing. "That¡¯s the thing about our craft, only a witch can tear down what a witch has built. But this..." She gestured to herself with bitter amusement. "This spiritual form cannot channel magic. And those Reapers can''t get into the school unless the barrier comes down. Lucky for me, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I won¡¯t¡­¡± Beatrix tried to protest, having a hard time keeping up with what she was saying. As the belladonna''s effects fully took hold, Beatrix felt herself slipping away, her consciousness drifting further and further from her weakening body.


    Spectra gazed down at her. "Unfortunately, that''s what I figured you''d say,¡± Spectra said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had to come to this. But you''re going to help me set things right.¡±

 14. No Rest for the Wicked

    Before Beatrix even realized that she¡¯d passed out, she found herself floating up through the common room kitchen, her ghostly form drifting like smoke. She blinked in shock as she looked down at her own body below her. It lay still, chest rising and falling with shallow breaths as if she were in a very deep sleep.


    Beatrix flailed her translucent limbs in panic, the numb, disconnected sensation of being wrenched outside her body just as terrifying as the first time she experienced it.


    Desperate for any anchor back to the physical world, she scrambled to grab at the furniture below ¡ª the table with Astar¡¯s belladonna tea cakes, the plastic fold-out chairs, the stainless steel fridge. But her hands simply passed through each object like they were nothing more than mirages.


    Right next to her body, Spectra hovered, her ghostly aura casting a lavender glow.


    "Spectra! Don¡¯t you dare mess with my body!" Beatrix shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing.


    Spectra slowly lifted her head, giving Beatrix''s spirit a penetrating look, her purple eyes gleaming with a twisted delight as she watched her float toward the ceiling.


    "Spectra! I¡¯m serious! Whatever you''re doing, stop it!"


    But Spectra ignored Beatrix¡¯s demands. Instead, she began to hover over Beatrix''s empty shell of a body.


    Beatrix''s lifeless form began to shudder with jerky, unnatural movements, like invisible strings were yanking it. She watched helplessly as her own head lolled from side to side and her feet twitched, her entire body convulsing as Spectra drew closer.


    Beatrix strained with every fiber of her being to force her spirit back into her body, but it was no use. It seemed to repel her, as if her spirit and her body were two matching magnets. So all Beatrix could do was watch as Spectra descended into her body, seizing total control in an instant.


    The last thing Beatrix saw before she vanished through the ceiling was her own eyes snapping open, glowing purple just like Spectra''s. Then Beatrix was gone, flying up uncontrollably up through the dorm¡¯s upper floors and out through the roof, propelled into the hazy twilight.


    The sky was stained a muddy brown ¡ª a result of the lingering smoke from the extinguished forest fire.


    As Beatrix flew further above the roof, the shock of being ripped from her body faded, and a memory cut through her swirling thoughts. She remembered Spectra¡¯s instructions about her first out of body-experience: You¡¯re not paralyzed. Stop trying to control it and just go. Think and it will be.


    Beatrix pictured her ghostly body righting itself, and thankfully, it did. She was able to will herself to hover steadily over the dormitory roof, now in control.


    Beatrix immediately flew back down, effortlessly gliding through the building¡¯s floors and ceilings, racing back to the first-floor kitchen. But when she got there, the kitchen was empty. There was no sign of Spectra or the body she''d stolen from her.


    Beatrix flew through the halls, frantically whipping around corners and peering into rooms, trying to find any clue of where Spectra had gone with her body. She yelled Spectra¡¯s name over and over, and after what felt like an eternity, Beatrix spotted a figure out the window ¡ª her own body walking to another school building.


    Even from a distance, Beatrix could tell something was off. Her body¡¯s posture, the way it moved, it was all wrong. It was like watching a stranger with her own face. Like an alien was under her skin.


    ¡°Spectra! Stop! Please!" Beatrix shouted as she rushed out through the wall.


    But Beatrix¡¯s body ignored her.


    ¡°Did you tell Astar to poison me? Or was this his idea?¡±


    Still no response from Spectra. Spectra wore Beatrix''s face like an ill-fitting mask and strode ahead with an eerie, single-minded focus, heading for the building that housed the creepateria and screamatorium.


    "Look, whatever you''re doing ¡ª we can sort this out!¡± Beatrix pleaded. ¡°You don''t have to take me over! I¡¯ll listen to whatever you have to say!¡±


    Spectra didn¡¯t even spare her a glance.


    "Hey! Stop ignoring me! Get out of my body right now!" Beatrix shouted, darting in front of her own face. "C¡¯mon, let''s talk this through. Help me understand ¡ª you''re the one responsible for keeping death out of Monster High?¡±


    "That''s correct," Spectra finally replied, her tone icy and foreign coming from Beatrix''s lips. ¡°I''m the one who cast that wretched spell ages ago.¡±


    ¡°So why are you trying to get rid of it?" Beatrix asked.


    "If I''d known back then what casting that spell really meant ¡ª what it would do to me ¡ª chaining me to an eternity of limbo between life and death, I would¡¯ve never done it. That damned barrier has kept me here," Spectra spat. "I alone am stuck in this purgatory because I was the one who cast death out from this mountainside. But now, thanks to one witch they decided to let into Monster High, I can escape the prison I put myself in, let the Reapers come and collect the undead souls they¡¯re owed. They will finally give me eternal rest.¡±


    "But Spectra, you don''t need those rogue reapers to free you! Let''s just go and talk to Grey," Beatrix pleaded. "He can help. Don¡¯t lower the barrier. You don¡¯t have to let the three horsemen into the school. There has to be a way to release you that doesn¡¯t put everyone in danger!¡±


    At that point, they entered the building and passed a windowed door to the creepateria. Through the window, Beatrix noticed someone hunched inside ¡ª Greta, the old goblin lunch lady, pushing a mop across the checkerboard tile.


    Greta glanced up right at that moment, eyes widening as she saw Beatrix''s ghostly form trailing after her own body. The old goblin''s face crinkled in confusion, then alarm. It was clear Greta knew something was horribly wrong.


    But Spectra kept marching Beatrix''s body forward, and Beatrix floated close behind, not wanting to lose her.


    Spectra laughed as she passed row after row of lockers. "But I do need those horsemen, Beatrix," she said. "Grey¡¯s not an official Reaper yet, so he can¡¯t send my soul to the afterlife. And even if he could, his scythe blade doesn¡¯t work on this mountain with the barrier in place. He¡¯s completely useless to me."


    "But Grey can get his dad involved! The Grim Reaper can help you¡ª" Beatrix started, but Spectra cut her off.


    "No. This is the only way I¡¯ll be free," she insisted. "This is the best way. That¡¯s what Cassia said.¡±


    "Cassia? Astar''s mom? Don¡¯t listen to her! She¡¯s a devil ¡ª she doesn¡¯t want to set you free out of the goodness of her heart! She has ulterior motives!"


    Rage surged in Beatrix as Spectra ignored her again, continuing down the hall in her body.


    Spectra shoved open the doors to the screamatorium and swiftly climbed onto the stage in a few quick strides. She then yanked aside a dusty velvet curtain to reveal a hatch on the stage floor, barely visible against the dark wood. A damp, foul draft wafted up as Spectra opened the hatch, carrying the scent of ancient earth and decay.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Spectra lowered herself down a rusted ladder into a cavern below the screamatorium, disappearing into the inky darkness.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Beatrix called out as Spectra descended. There was no response, just the echo of footsteps fading into the distance.


    Beatrix dove down after her, the darkness of the cavern swallowing her whole.


    "Spectra, listen to me!" she shouted. "You created a safe haven for the undead here, even if you didn¡¯t mean to! Monster High is special ¡ª monsters can coexist here, learn together. But devils like Cassia and Astar are against all of that. They want chaos, they want monsters terrorizing humans, they want all undead creatures in hell. You can¡¯t listen to them!¡±


    ¡°This is the only chance I have ¡ª can¡¯t you see that?¡± Spectra¡¯s words echoed through the darkness, her stolen voice sounding ragged. ¡°No witch has set food on these grounds since I put up the barrier. Until you came along. You are an opportunity ¡ª for me, for the Reapers ¡ª to break this curse. And I¡¯m not letting some dim-witted sorceress get in my way.¡±


    Beatrix was stunned by the hatred in Spectra¡¯s words. Why was she saying ¡°sorceress¡± like it was an insult? Wasn¡¯t Spectra a witch too? Or at least she used to be one?


    Spectra wasn¡¯t done.


    "You don''t know what it''s like," Spectra yelled at Beatrix, ¡°to have eternity stretching before you, feeling nothing, all because of one choice, a choice I thought I had to make¡­ to protect¡­"


    ¡°Protect who? Spectra, please, talk to me. We can work this out¡ª¡± Beatrix said.


    "That''s exactly what my coven said when they came for us,¡± Spectra screeched. ¡°¡®We''ll figure this out together, Spectra. Everything will be fine, Spectra. Stop being disobedient, Spectra¡¯ ¡ª No. Witches have been the cause of all my strife. I hate them with every fiber of my being, and you are no exception."


    Spectra plunged further into the darkness. Dumbfounded, Beatrix flew after her. Spectra reached the bottom rung of the ladder and they journeyed further into the catacombs of Monster High, flickering torchlight casting shadows on the stone walls as they ventured deeper and deeper. Beatrix watched her own body navigate a maze of dark tunnels and crumbling stone that sprawled beneath the school.


    Spectra¡¯s words echoed as she moved through the twisting passages ahead. ¡°I never meant for any of this to happen. I had no idea something like Monster High would come about because of my spell. The barrier keeping death out had nothing to do with any of that.¡±


    Beatrix''s spirit swirled around Spectra, desperate to understand. "Then why did you cast the spell in the first place?" she asked, hoping that if she could just unravel Spectra''s true intentions, she might convince the frenzied apparition that there was another way to handle things.


    Spectra''s stolen face twisted, a manic glint in her eyes. Her words came out in erratic bursts. "Witches hunted us down. My coven came after me. I had to get away from them ¨C to protect everyone, to protect her."


    ¡°Her? Who are you talking about?" Beatrix pressed.


    "Witches did this to her, to all of them,¡± Spectra muttered. ¡°Turned them into monstrosities ¡ª my friends. My family. I hate them. I hate them. I hate you."


    "Spectra, I don''t know what you''re talking about ¡ª but I swear I¡¯m not like your coven. I''m not a witch out to hurt you!"


    Spectra kept it moving, navigating the labyrinthine passages as if she''d walked them a thousand times before.


    "Spectra, please, don''t listen to Astar and Cassia. They¡¯re demons, liars. They never do anything that doesn¡¯t benefit them. If you lower the death barrier, you¡¯re damning hundreds of monsters to spend eternity in the circles of hell. Don''t do this ¡ª you''re being used!"


    Spectra sneered. "You¡¯ve been here, what, eight months? I¡¯ve been here for over four hundred years with no possibility of ever leaving. If you think I¡¯m going to let this opportunity go to waste then you¡¯re an even bigger fool than I thought,¡± she said. ¡°Astar¡¯s mother told me how to lower the barrier, gave me the knowledge I¡¯ve been craving all this time.¡±


    The narrow passageways gave way to a vast cavern. They were in the heart of the catacombs now.


    ¡°During my mortal life, the other witches never let me commune with demons,¡± Spectra continued. ¡°They considered me unworthy because I wasn''t born into a family of magic users like you ¡ª I was a mere human when I was recruited by my coven, naive and ignorant about so much.¡±


    Spectra went on. ¡°I was no more than a slave to them. The other witches only taught me the basics of magic to carry out their chores. I had to learn everything else on my own. Just imagine what I could have accomplished with a devil''s help back then, if I could¡¯ve communed with the dark lords directly, instead of taking orders from incompetent, heartless sorceresses.¡±


    Suddenly, Spectra threw herself at one of the walls of the cavern, her fingers frantically clawing at the stones. She wrenched the old, withered stones out one by one, dirt flying. Finally, Spectra tore away the last crumbling bricks, revealing a jagged opening in the wall leading to an even darker chamber. It was so pitch black that Beatrix couldn''t make out anything. It looked like it hadn''t been touched in centuries.


    "I have one last lesson for you, Beatrix. From one witch to another. Pay attention, now." Spectra''s voice was a mocking singsong as she snatched a torch from the wall.


    The flickering light from Spectra¡¯s torch filled the chamber. Beatrix gasped. Bones upon bones were scattered across the dirt floor in a chilling pattern ¡ª an odd asymmetrical circular shape. The same rough shape as Monster High¡¯s campus.


    And the bones were odd. They were twisted, curved, short in strange places. Humanoid, but not human. They had to be the bones of some kind of monster.


    ¡°Whose bones are these?¡± Beatrix asked, terrified.


    ¡°My friends. My family. My loved ones. Does it matter? My coven didn¡¯t care about them ¡ª why should you?¡± Spectra¡¯s words were laced with an ancient, unfathomable grief. ¡°Now look, Beatrix. Can you guess how I created the barrier that keeps death at bay?¡±


    ¡°Spectra¡­ please¡­¡±


    "Wrong answer! You should know by now that replicating a monster''s power is one of the best forms of magic we witches can draw upon!¡± Spectra chided. ¡°I''m disappointed, it seems my pupil hasn¡¯t been listening to me.¡±


    Spectra brought the torch closer to the configuration of bones. She said, ¡°Let me enlighten you then. I tapped into a Reaper¡¯s abilities by using death magic. With these bones and some runes as the base for this spell, I was able to place a veil over the mountainside to keep Reapers from coming in.¡±


    With a mad grin, Spectra began scooping up the bones in her arms. She then dumped them into a centuries-old knapsack that sat in a cobweb covered corner.


    Beatrix watched with mounting horror. As Spectra scooped the bones up, she seemed to be working herself into a frenzy. Spittle dripped onto her chin and the shine of tears twinkled in her eyes. Soon, the chamber was picked clean, and all the bones were now packed into Spectra¡¯s knapsack.


    Then, Spectra exited the dark room, squeezing back through the hole in the dirt wall she''d dug out, dragging the knapsack bulging with bones behind her. It caught and snagged on the rough edges of the opening, but she yanked it free with a vicious tug. Spectra was headed back the way they came, toward the ladder. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Oh, how glad I am that I met you, Beatrix!¡± Spectra cackled with glee.


    Beatrix followed Spectra back up into the screamatorium, her mind racing about what to do. But Spectra was moving too fast. The journey up through the trapdoor and back into the screamatorium passed in a surreal blur, and then Spectra was bursting from the screamatorium into the smoky evening air.


    Spectra dumped the sack outside the building with a grunt, yellowed skulls, femurs, ribcages, and other shards of bones spilling out onto the pavement with a clatter.


    Spectra dropped to her knees and immediately began to pulverize the bones with her bare hands, pounding them into the concrete one by one. For the bones that wouldn''t break, Spectra got up and brought the heels of Beatrix''s boots down on them. Beatrix watched, helpless and petrified, as Spectra used her own body to stomp again and again until the bones were ground to dust against the concrete.


    Soon, a small crowd of monster students gathered, drawn in by the commotion. Their expressions cycled from amusement to concern as they watched ¡°Beatrix¡± carry out this baffling ritual. No one dared approach the girl who had seemingly lost her mind.


    ¡°Someone stop her!¡± Beatrix shrieked, not restraining her utter panic anymore. But no one heard her. In her ghostly form she was invisible to most creatures.


    As Spectra carried her work out, something in the sky caught Beatrix''s attention. The air around Monster High was shimmering and warping like a desert heat haze.


    With suffocating dread, Beatrix watched a giant dome flicker into clarity, like an iridescent soap bubble encasing the entire campus. It quivered and swayed, as if in the throes of some invisible struggle, the protective magic around Monster High laid bare for all to see.


    For a single moment, the very air seemed to hold its breath. Hundreds of watching eyes were all fixed on the school¡¯s barrier.


    The barrier shuddered. Rippled. And then, like a soap bubble, it was gone.


    "No!" Beatrix screamed in her ghostly form, the implications hitting her all at once. The horsemen could come for them now. For her friends. For Autumn. There was nothing stopping them anymore. Monster High was now completely exposed and defenseless.


    Spectra, lost to madness, scooped up handfuls of the bone dust, letting it sift through her fingers as she cackled in triumph towards the woods beyond the iron fence. "It''s gone! My purgatory has ended! Come forth!" she cried, her voice hoarse.


    Suddenly, movement caught Beatrix¡¯s eye. Greta, the old goblin lunch lady, was shuffling out of the school building, heading straight for Spectra.


    Oddly, Spectra, caught off guard by Greta¡¯s approach, stammered when she saw the goblin woman. "Greta? Greta ¡ª I did it. I did it! Finally ¡ª I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I couldn¡¯t endure another century like this¡ª"


    But Greta didn''t say anything to Spectra. Instead, in one swift motion, the goblin woman pulled something from her apron pocket and thrust it under Beatrix''s body¡¯s nose. The pungent, chemical smell of ammonia filled the air.


    And just like that, Spectra was expelled from Beatrix''s body, and Beatrix snapped back into herself, stumbling forward as she regained control.


    Through blurry eyes, Beatrix saw Greta clutching a small jar of bath salts. Beatrix had scrubbed countless floors with the stuff during her janitorial shifts. Somehow, the salts had been enough to break Spectra''s possession and reunite Beatrix''s spirit with her physical form.


    But it was already too late. Spectra, a spirit again, cackled and hovered above them, lit from within by a feverish purple glow. Spectra kept her eyes locked on Beatrix. "It¡¯s done. The horsemen ride for Monster High tonight. It''s just a matter of time until they come for all of us," she crowed. Then Spectra shot straight into the nearest school building, disappearing from sight as she ascended toward the upper levels.


    Beatrix turned to Greta, wobbling on shaky legs, a thousand questions tripping over themselves on her tongue.


    "Greta¡ª" Beatrix started, but suddenly a solid mass slammed into Beatrix, sending her crashing to the ground.


    Pain lanced through her as her back and forearms skidded against the rough pavement. Beatrix¡¯s head hit the concrete, stars exploding behind her eyes.


    Through the haze, Beatrix blinked and saw Grey looming over her, backlit by the smoky brown sky, his face furious as he pinned her wrists to the pavement.


    ¡°What did you do?" he demanded.


    Grey''s grip tightened on Beatrix''s wrists. Her back was in pain but that was nothing compared to the ache in her chest as she watched Grey''s trust in her shatter before her eyes.


    "The barrier¡¯s gone! How did you do that?¡± Grey yelled. His face was inches from hers, his voice pure rage. ¡°Was this your plan all along?¡±


    Beatrix flinched at the hatred in his voice. "No, Grey, it wasn¡¯t me!" she pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes, blurring her vision. "It was Spectra ¡ª she tricked me, possessed me ¡ª she''s the one who did it, I swear!"


    Grey was beyond listening. Beatrix recognized that look. The stubborn set of his shoulders, his clenched jaw. There would be no reasoning with him now.


    Beatrix''s eyes darted to Greta, who stood off to the side, still clutching the jar of bath salts. Beatrix silently pleaded with her, hoping Greta would speak up and back up her story, but the old goblin woman looked torn.


    ¡°How am I supposed to believe a word you say?" Grey yelled. "You''ve been buddy-buddy with Astar for months!"


    Grey released her wrists, as if her very touch burned him. Stepping back, he glared at her with disgust. ¡°You''re just like them. A demon waiting to stab us in the back. Now the Reapers can waltz right in!"


    Beatrix pushed herself up, her body aching. "No!" she protested. "Grey, come on, you have to believe me! I''d never betray you ¡ª any of you!"


    For a split second, Beatrix saw a flash of doubt in his eyes. She dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, she was getting through to him. Grey searched her face, but then, the moment was gone. Grey''s face hardened, like someone had slammed a steel door shut. Whatever he''d been feeling, he''d buried it deep.


    "Get out of here," he said, his voice cold as ice. He turned away, as if he couldn''t even bear to look at her. "Run back to Astar."


    Beatrix stumbled to her feet, back aching in pain.


    ¡°Grey¡ª¡± her voice cracked.


    ¡°Go!¡±


    So Beatrix left, her feet carrying her across campus in a daze, leaving Grey and the bewildered crowd behind.


    Before she knew it, she found herself at Monster High¡¯s old clock tower. Its weathered stone base was overgrown with thick ivy, and Beatrix ducked into a hidden nook to hide herself. She sank to the ground, pulled her knees up to her chest, and buried her face in her arms. Tears threatened to spill as she heard shouting in the distance.


    Beatrix was sure that Grey was telling everyone what had happened, organizing evacuation plans. But what could he and Bloodgood possibly do now? Her tears began to flow despite her best efforts to contain them.


    Lost in her despair, Beatrix almost missed the quiet shuffling of approaching footsteps. She looked up to see a wrinkled green face peering around the corner of the tower. Greta. The old goblin lady didn''t say a word. She simply eased down next to Beatrix with a quiet grunt and sat with her in silence. That did it. The floodgates burst open, and Beatrix buried her face in her hands, shoulders heaving as she tried to muffle her sobs.


    Greta patted Beatrix''s knee with a gnarled hand.


    "Why¡¯d they do it?¡± Beatrix choked out. ¡°Astar¡­ Spectra¡­ They both pretended to be my friend, taught me magic¡­¡±


    Beatrix wasn¡¯t expecting an answer, but to her surprise, Greta spoke up.


    "Oh, dearie. You set off a lot of things that have been brewing for a while."


    Beatrix managed to lift her tear-stained face, curious.


    Greta looked Beatrix square in the eye. ¡°Spectra¡¯s been a prisoner of her own magic longer than you¡¯ve been alive¡­ Makes a spirit desperate after a few centuries...¡± Greta clicked her tongue. ¡°And that demon Cassia¡­ she took advantage of that, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    Beatrix''s eyes went wide. ¡°How do you know about that?¡±


    "You see, Spectra didn''t have the foggiest idea how to undo her own magic,¡± Greta said. ¡°But those demons you brought along finally clued her in. Cassia must¡¯ve realized only a witch could destroy that death barrier from the inside. That''s why Spectra needed you, a living, breathing witch, as a vessel."


    Beatrix held her breath as Greta continued.


    ¡°You were the missing piece in this whole mess, I''m afraid,¡± Greta said. ¡°Though I can''t wrap my head around why your devils wanted that barrier gone so badly."


    Beatrix swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I know why," Beatrix said. "Devils need Reapers to round up all the souls at Monster High¡­ because they want to get rid of all the monsters here and burn them in hellfire."


    Greta''s expression darkened. "Aye, that tracks," she muttered. "Those three horsemen have been sniffing around ever since Monster High opened its doors. But you showin¡¯ up? It was like blood in the water for them. Your demon probably tipped them off about you coming, that the barrier could be broken."


    The blood drained from Beatrix''s face. "You mean the Reapers were in the woods... killing students¡­¡± Her voice broke. ¡°They were lurking around because of me¡­?"


    Greta looked at Beatrix with pity. "You''re the first witch in history to step foot onto Monster High, their one chance to bring it all crashing down. But you couldn¡¯t have known, dearie. Even I never thought the horsemen would team up with demons..."


    A memory flashed in Beatrix¡¯s mind: when the tall Reaper ¡ª Viggo ¡ª had ignored her in the woods, and instead chased after Autumn and Jackson with his scythe. The pieces clicked into place: The Reapers left me alone because they needed me alive.


    Beatrix sat stunned and unmoving for a long moment.


    ¡°¡­ I didn''t mean for any of this to happen," Beatrix finally said, her voice hollow. "I just came here for a fresh start and to help my friend. But instead¡­ I ruined everything." A bitter laugh escaped Beatrix¡¯s lips. She didn¡¯t have any tears left to cry.


    Greta squeezed Beatrix''s arm gently and they sat side by side in somber silence. The old clock tower creaked above them, each tick counting down to Monster High¡¯s doom. Beatrix kept her eyes fixed on the treeline, waiting for a dark horse to come charging out. Any second now¡­


    Finally, Beatrix had to ask, "How do you know about the Reapers and demons'' plans? About all of this?"


    "Let¡¯s just say I knew Plague, Famine, and War had a score to settle," Greta replied cryptically.


    "Did you read the poem too?"


    "Read it? I wrote it,¡± Greta said.


    Beatrix''s head snapped towards Greta in surprise. ¡°But how¡­?¡±


    ¡°I was here when this whole mess started."


    Beatrix stared at the old goblin. The lunch lady who''d worked alongside her every day suddenly seemed like a stranger.


    "I''m the only Monster High employee who¡¯s never left the school," Greta said, tapping one of her claws on the ground.


    Beatrix frowned as she processed what Greta was saying. Then realization dawned. "Greta, how old are you?"


    The goblin''s eyes became distant, like she was peering back through time. "A little over four hundred years old," she replied quietly.


    "Four hundred..." Beatrix echoed.


    "I was there when Spectra put up the death barrier,¡± Greta said. ¡°She went by ¡®Petra¡¯ back then."


    Beatrix was speechless.


    Greta¡¯s beady eyes stared out at the smoke-stained sky. "You know, Petra wasn''t born into a line of witches. She was as human as they come. Just like I was,¡± Greta began. ¡°We were settlers, trekking across this vast country, and ended up here in Oregon. On this very mountainside.¡±


    Fond memories crossed Greta¡¯s face. ¡°Petra was a servant for my family, but more than that, she was my friend. Always an odd duck, that one. A bit of an outsider, you might say." Greta''s smile faded. "I suppose that''s why that coven of Nicneven set their sights on her."


    Beatrix leaned in, hanging on every word. Greta''s voice took on a far-off quality, as if she was watching it all unfold again.


    "A coven of witchy women from the east," Greta explained, "set up camp outside our little village. Got their hooks into Petra when we were just kids, with their strange customs and mysterious midnight firesides. I was afraid to talk to them, but not Petra. She was fascinated. They told her she didn¡¯t belong in the village, she was much more than a servant. She joined them in the woods, wanting so badly to have a family, to belong. They used that against her, they lied to her and did unspeakable things. They used their witchcraft on us regular village folks. Some didn¡¯t survive, others turned into monsters.¡±


    Greta gestured to her goblin body with a hand. "I¡¯m all that¡¯s left of their twisted magic.¡±


    Beatrix tried to picture Greta as a human girl, but the image wouldn''t come.


    Greta took a deep breath and kept going. "But Petra refused to abandon us. When that coven turned us all into monsters, she told us to high-tail it into the caves under the mountain. Petra was dead set on keeping who was left of us safe, no matter what."


    Beatrix thought back to the disturbing story Deuce Gorgon had told around the campfire on All Hallow''s Eve. Beatrix interrupted, "Wait, so¡­ Spectra didn''t sneak down into the caves and torture you guys?"


    ¡°What? No!¡± Greta shook her head vehemently. "She was trying to keep us safe ¡ª to keep me safe. It was her coven that was cruel. But they suspected her loyalties were with us, so they followed Petra down into the caves where she was hiding us."


    Greta''s voice dropped low. "Down in those caves¡­ the Nicneven found the monsters that Petra was hiding. I ran and hid and kept my eyes shut tight, but the screams¡­ the screams¡­ those witches were melting people from the inside out with their black magic. In seconds, there was ash and piles of bones everywhere. My friends, my family ¡ª all the villagers were gone in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, I was the only one left.¡±


    Tears welled up in the old goblin''s eyes. "They found me and were about to attack when Petra started chanting, she was repeating strange words I couldn''t understand. Then she arranged those bones and sprinkled the ash in a strange pattern. The Nicneven told Petra to stop, but they couldn¡¯t get to her fast enough. She took a black blade and..." Greta paused. "She sacrificed herself. Enchanted this mountain to be free from death, all to save me." She choked on the words as they came out.


    Beatrix''s brain was going a mile a minute. On All Hallow¡¯s Eve, Deuce had said that a cave monster had ¡®sunk a claw into the sorceress''s side'' ¡ª but the story got it wrong. It was Spectra, driving a blade into herself, to seal the death barrier ritual with her own blood.


    "I... I¡¯m so sorry. I don''t even know what to say," Beatrix managed. "Those bones in the catacombs... they''re your family''s?"


    Greta nodded slowly. Deep melancholy seemed to age the goblin even more. "Spectra gave up everything for me. Her life, her humanity... her soul."


    Beatrix stood up, struggling to find the right words. "... why did you keep this from everyone?¡±


    "I wanted to tell you, truly. I tried to talk Petra out of using you like this, I begged her,¡± Greta said. ¡°And when I saw you knock out your devil familiar with that ghoulash, part of me hoped you''d uncover the truth about the horsemen in the forest. But..."


    Greta wrung her gnarled hands, voice heavy with regret. Her eyes dropped to the ground. "Spectra has been trapped here for so long, frozen in time watching other monsters and spirits come and go. I''ve watched her mind unravel, bit by bit. This limbo... it''s been worse than any torture those witches could have dreamed up. Another hundred years like this would destroy whatever''s left of her.¡±


    Greta met Beatrix¡¯s eyes again. "The Reapers... I think they might finally end her suffering. She¡¯ll finally be at rest."


    "But Greta, you know what that means. If the Reapers collect her soul, Spectra will be damned to hellfire just like the rest of monsterkind. Is that really what you want for her?" Beatrix asked.


    Greta opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, second-guessing herself. Her shoulders slumped. "You haven''t seen what I¡¯ve seen, watched your only friend fade away, day by day, year by year. I... I didn¡¯t know what else to do."


    As Beatrix stood there, she wanted to scream, to rail against the unfairness of it all. To learn that so much of her life in the past year had been orchestrated, that she¡¯d been manipulated like a piece on a chessboard. But when she looked into Greta''s pained eyes, she felt her anger ebb away, replaced by an aching sympathy for both Greta and Spectra.


    Suddenly, a bone-chilling neigh pierced the twilight, echoing from the darkening woods beyond the school''s fence. Beatrix¡¯s blood ran cold.


    "They''re coming," Greta said gravely. "The horsemen ride for Monster High. You need to go."


    Beatrix turned to the old goblin, hesitating. "What about you?"


    Greta gave her a sad, resigned smile, not moving from her spot against the base of the bell tower. "I''m sorry, child. For everything. But my time has come to finally leave Monster High. I''ve been here far too long."


    "Greta¡ª" Beatrix started to protest, but Greta cut her off with a shake of her head.


    "Go," Greta urged. ¡°Take your friends and run.¡±


    The word ''friends'' made Beatrix jolt up. "Autumn," she gasped. "I need to find Autumn!"


    With one last, anguished look at Greta, Beatrix darted away, her feet pounding against the cobblestone path that snaked between the school''s buildings. The once-whimsical architecture of Monster High now loomed threateningly in the fading light. Gothic spires clawed at the smoke-filled sky, and grimacing gargoyles seemed to watch Beatrix''s every move as she raced towards the massive oak tree near the boys'' dorm where she''d last seen her friends.


    Her lungs burned and her heart thundered in her ears as she approached the tree. To her dismay, there was no sign of Autumn, Draculaura, Frankie, or the Wolf siblings. Beatrix skidded to a stop, doubling over as she fought to catch her breath.


    Everything was total chaos. Students rushed past in a panicked frenzy. Teachers were yelling and trying to herd everyone into buildings to hide. In the sea of terrified faces, Beatrix''s eyes darted frantically from monster to monster, until she caught a glimpse of familiar blue scales.


    "Lagoona!" Beatrix cried out.


    Lagoona turned at the sound of her name, her sea-green eyes meeting hers. Beatrix pushed through the throng to get to the sea monster.


    ¡°Have you seen Autumn?" Beatrix asked when she reached her.


    ¡°I saw Astar flying off with her. I don''t know where they went," Lagoona said.


    Beatrix felt as if the ground had dropped out from under her. What in the nine hells was he planning to do to her best friend?


    "Do you know what¡¯s going on?" Lagoona asked, grabbing Beatrix''s arm with a webbed hand. "I heard Grey shouting. He said there used to be something magical around the school, and to evacuate or hide¡ª"


    "He¡¯s right, there was a protective barrier around the school that kept Death out. And now it¡¯s gone. All the monsters here are in danger," Beatrix explained hurriedly. "Three rogue Reapers are coming, and they want everyone¡¯s souls. We gotta do something¡ª¡±


    "Crikey! Reapers? But why..."


    Beatrix looked away from Lagoona and focused on all the monsters rushing into different school buildings. The werewolf pack was sprinting to the gym, Gory and her vampire crew were heading to a dark basement, and gorgons were slithering fast, their snake hair hissing with anxiety. Even the zombie students were shuffling with uncharacteristic speed, heading for the creepateria.


    As she watched all these different supernatural creatures, Beatrix thought about everything she''d learned over the past year ¡ª all the spells and rituals and power she''d been tapping into. She''d been learning so much from the monsters at this school, from their unique abilities¡­


    A fierce determination started to bubble up inside her, pushing away the fear.


    "I''ve got an idea," Beatrix said with sudden resolve.


    Lagoona looked confused. "You do?"


    "We aren''t helpless. Every monster here has a power we can use," Beatrix said, her voice growing stronger. She gripped Lagoona''s shoulders. "It''s time we showed Death what we''re really capable of. We''re not going down without a fight."

 15. Witch Way Out

    Beatrix and Lagoona sprinted through the science building, their feet pounding up the staircase as they booked it to the second floor.


    Around them, the chemistry wing had descended into pure panic ¡ª monsters were diving into classrooms, barricading doors with anything within reach. Panicked whispers and the scrape of dragged furniture echoed down the halls, mingling with the crash of toppled lab equipment. Most students had already found shelter, leaving the corridors empty except for the occasional student darting past.


    Every thirty seconds, Headmistress Bloodgood''s voice came crackling over the intercom system: "Attention everyone. This is a code black lockdown." From Beatrix¡¯s job in the creepateria and her boring employee training sessions, she knew exactly what ¡®code black¡¯ meant: intruder alert. Everyone out of sight, lights off, doors locked. As if that would protect them from what was coming.


    "This way!" Lagoona shouted, her blonde curls bouncing as she whipped around the corner ahead, her sandals clicking on the floor. "I saw some of the fearleading squad heading over here!"


    I hope so, Beatrix thought. She really needed the fearleaders right now. If anyone could rally the student body in their darkest hour, it would be them.


    As they raced past endless rows of lockers, Beatrix caught sight of the sky getting darker through the huge gothic windows beside her.


    The setting sun painted everything in deep purples and midnight blues, bleeding across the clouds like spilled paint. Any other time, the sunset would''ve been beautiful, but right now it made her stomach sink as the darkness crept closer.


    Looking down at the lawn through one of the windows, she spotted Grey herding a bunch of freshmen into a nearby building. But she and Grey both knew the truth ¡ª hiding wouldn''t be enough. These horsemen could see souls as easily as Grey could. Sure, monster souls might be trickier for them to spot compared to human ones, but that wouldn''t stop the Reapers from hunting them down one by one now that they had free reign of the place.


    Lagoona led them down a corridor lined with mad science rooms. Most of the doors were locked tight, but Beatrix could hear the muffled whispers and occasional sob from the kids hiding inside.


    "Here!" Lagoona skidded to a stop in front of Lab 204 and pounded on the door. "Hey, open up! C''mon, mates, we need to get inside!"


    Beatrix put her ear to the door and caught snippets of people arguing:


    ¡°Don¡¯t open it¡ª"


    "But it¡¯s Lagoona¡ª"


    "It''s not safe¡ª"


    "Guys, shut up!"


    Then Cleo''s commanding voice cut right through the debate: "Let her in."


    Beatrix heard something heavy getting dragged across the floor on the other side, then the door cracked open. Slomo stood there, ready to slam it shut at the first hint of trouble.


    Peeking through the gap, Beatrix could see they¡¯d turned the lab into a makeshift shelter. Most of the monsters in there were trying to squeeze under lab tables along the walls, doing their best to blend into the shadows. She spotted a few familiar faces ¡ª Abbey keeping watch from behind a cabinet, Ghoulia ducking behind a flipped-over desk, and Cleo standing tall in the middle of the room.


    Slomo stepped aside to let Lagoona and Beatrix squeeze through. As soon as they were in, him and Abbey hauled a heavy metal cabinet back in front of the door. As the cabinet dropped back into place with a loud thunk, Slomo threw his arm out to block Beatrix¡¯s way, only now realizing who''d come in with Lagoona. He planted himself between Beatrix and everyone else.


    "No..." Slomo stretched out the word, his head shaking slowly. "Not... her..."


    "Grey told us ze truth about you!¡± a French gargoyle named Rochelle burst out, jabbing an accusing stone finger at Beatrix. ¡°You are working with ze Reapers!"


    The other monsters in the room started closing in, their faces twisted with a volatile mix of fear and rage.


    "You''ve got it wrong!" Beatrix¡¯s voice cracked as she backed against a table, feeling like everyone''s angry eyes were burning holes in her. "I would never do that¡ª"


    "Oh yeah?" Toralei jumped in, her orange standing on edge. "Then how come Grey saw you wreck that¡­ what¡¯d he call it? Some weird force field thing?"


    ¡°It was a barrier keeping death out¡ª but it wasn¡¯t actually me¡ª¡± Beatrix felt like she couldn''t get any air as they all crowded around her, the circle getting tighter and tighter until the lab felt like it was shrinking.


    ¡°Guys, wait!" Lagoona pushed through to get to Beatrix. "At least give her a chance to explain what happened!" the sea monster insisted. "I''ve known her all year. She''s one of us. She wouldn''t go and do something to put us in danger." But even as Lagoona said it, Beatrix could see the doubt on her face. After everything that had happened, even someone as kind-hearted as Lagoona was struggling to trust her.


    "Please, you guys have to believe me," Beatrix begged, forcing herself to look at each of them. ¡°I know how bad this sounds, but a spirit, Spectra ¡ª she''s been stuck here for hundreds of years ¡ª she hijacked my body, and¡­¡±


    No one was buying it.


    "I swear, I didn¡¯t want to take down that barrier. I was used," Beatrix pressed on. ¡°Right now, there¡¯s three Reapers coming after everyone in this school, and they''re not gonna quit until they''ve collected every single one of your souls.¡±


    She watched fear replace the anger in their eyes. "These horsemen think you''re all cheating death by being undead,¡± Beatrix said, ¡°and hiding¡¯s not going to save us ¡ª they can see our souls shining like flashlights in the dark. We can''t just sit here waiting to get caught, and we can''t just run into those woods. They''ll pick us off one by one."


    The monsters around her traded wary glances before all eyes went to Cleo. The mummy princess kept her face carefully neutral, her bandaged arms crossed, but still somehow had everyone in the room hanging on her every move.


    Cleo''s kohl-lined eyes narrowed as she sized up Beatrix. Finally, she spoke. "So what''s your big plan?"


    ¡°We have to fight,¡± Beatrix said. She waved at all the monsters around her. "Everyone in this room has something special, a supernatural power we can use. If we work together, hit them with everything we''ve got... The Reapers might be strong, but they''re not unstoppable."


    Cleo stood there for a long moment. Then something shifted in her expression. She straightened to her full height, gold bangles jingling. "Alright, listen up!" Cleo raised her voice to address everyone. ¡°Split up. Find every monster you know ¡ª friends, rivals, I don¡¯t care ¡ª and get them to the main courtyard. Now.¡±


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Beatrix slammed through the creepateria''s double doors and into the kitchen. She immediately grabbed a bottle of olive oil from the prep station, the same one Astar had used to light up her hands with fire magic. Next, she knelt to scoop fresh ashes from the bottom of the oven into a small plastic bag she¡¯d snatched from the counter. She sealed the bag and shoved it into her jacket pocket just as a chilling, unearthly whinny echoed across campus.


    The horsemen sounded close. Were they already reaping souls, tearing through the school grounds? The deafening silence that followed was enough to drive her crazy.


    Beatrix gritted her teeth. She needed more magic supplies, fast.


    "Bath salts," she murmured. "I need bath salts." Greta had used them to break Spectra''s hold on her body, and Beatrix had a gut feeling they¡¯d come in handy.


    She turned to a nearby janitor¡¯s closet where the cleaning supplies were kept. But as Beatrix yanked the closet open, she found herself staring into a pair of blood-red eyes. There, huddled between a mop bucket and a broom was Gory Fangtell. Dark tracks of mascara streaked her pale cheeks, and she trembled, hugging her knees. This wasn¡¯t the smug, cruel vamp who had tormented Beatrix all year. Her vampire clique was nowhere to be seen; they must have gotten separated when everyone scattered.


    "Gory?" Beatrix whispered.


    "Shh!" Gory''s hand shot up, putting a finger against her lips. "They''re getting closer¡­ in the woods¡­ by the west dorms..."


    Beatrix''s pulse quickened. With Gory¡¯s heightened vampire senses, she could hear the horsemen''s movements from a distance. If they were still in the forest, Beatrix had some time left to prepare.


    ¡°Tell me what you hear,¡± Beatrix urged, reaching past Gory for the bath salts on the top shelf of the closet. As Beatrix grabbed the bath salt container and tucked it into her pocket alongside the ashes and oil, Gory shrank back from Beatrix, pressing herself tightly against the wall as if bracing for an attack.


    Beatrix grabbed her shoulder. "Hey. Focus. What''s happening out there?"


    "Hooves¡­" Gory answered, her red eyes haunted. "I''ve heard them before, you know. Late at night when I¡¯d sneak off campus with Bram¡­ I thought it was just... deer or something¡­" A shudder ran through her. "But now they''re hunting down anyone trying to escape down the mountain. I saw some of my friends run out there. I hear screaming..." Her crimson eyes lifted to look at Beatrix. "What''s happening to them?"


    Beatrix crouched down to Gory¡¯s level. Their past feud meant nothing now. ¡°Listen to me, Gory. Hiding in here won''t save you,¡± Beatrix said. "I know we''re not friends, but right now, we need each other."


    "I don''t need anyone," Gory snapped, but her usual venom was gone. Gory¡¯s bloodthirsty facade had crumbled away. She was just another terrified teenager.


    "They''ll find you in here sooner or later," Beatrix said, holding out her hand. "So fight with me instead. I could use a vampire right now."


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Without Venus to unlock the garden gate, getting inside the school gardens would¡¯ve been impossible. Good thing Beatrix had Gory.


    "Move it!" Gory shouted over her shoulder, easily pulling ahead despite Beatrix running at her top speed. "The horses are getting closer!"


    The sky above had deepened to an ominous violet, like a fresh bruise spreading across the heavens. A bone-deep chill hung in the air that made Beatrix''s teeth chatter ¡ª though maybe that was just raw fear working its way through her system. The thunder of hooves grew louder as Beatrix pushed through the stitch in her side, forcing her legs to move faster.


    By the time she reached the garden gates, Gory had already torn through them, leaving them hanging crookedly on mangled hinges.


    Inside the garden, Beatrix ordered, "Wolfsbane! We need to gather every purple flower we can find!¡±


    Gory became a pale blur among the herb beds, her supernatural speed allowing her to cover the entire garden in seconds. Beatrix yelled instructions at the vampire as she caught her breath. "Those ones ¡ª yeah! And grab the leaves too!¡±


    Each time Gory zoomed past, she dropped another handful of the purple flowers into Beatrix''s waiting arms. Beatrix stuffed the wolfsbane into every available pocket until they bulged with blossoms and leaves and she couldn''t fit any more.


    "One more thing," Beatrix said to Gory. "There''s a witch hat in my dorm closet, behind my winter coats. I need you to grab it and meet me in the main courtyard. You''re faster than me, and we''re running out of time."


    The hat was still charmed with protective enchantments she''d cast last summer ¡ª which felt like a lifetime ago now. Tonight, Beatrix would need every bit of magic she could get.


    Gory gave a sharp nod, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone, leaving Beatrix alone in the garden. Beatrix did a final sweep of the herb beds, searching desperately for anything else that might help them survive what was coming.


    The hair on the back of her neck prickled.


    Beatrix spotted three dark shapes reflected in the greenhouse¡¯s fog-streaked windows, moving toward her with slow, deliberate steps.


    "My, my. Someone''s certainly learned their way around a garden.¡± Aunt Cordelia''s condescending voice hadn''t changed a bit.


    Beatrix''s mouth went dry as she faced her aunts.


    They stood in their black cloaks, wearing their ridiculous pointed hats, looking the exact same as the day she''d left the farm. Well, almost ¡ª Aunt Clarice''s eyebrow had partially grown back after the pyrokinesis explosion Beatrix had caused, though it now twitched up at such a bizarre angle that she looked permanently confused.


    "What are you doing here?" Beatrix demanded.


    Aunt Constance''s round face hardened. "Your familiar contacted us. Your little adventure is over. Pack your things." Her lips curled into a sneer. "And don¡¯t waste time saying goodbye to that ragdoll friend of yours. We have no use for her."


    White-hot anger surged through Beatrix at the mention of Autumn. She backed away from her aunts, hands curling into fists so tight her nails bit into her palms. "Over my dead body! You can''t make me leave."


    "Still the same insolent brat," Aunt Clarice said, her mouth twisting as if she¡¯d caught a whiff of something foul. "What''s wrong? Afraid you''ll miss prom?"


    "Prom''s canceled," Beatrix spat, shaking with rage. "Along with everything else if I don''t stop what''s coming. But you knew that already, didn''t you? That''s why you sent Astar to me?"


    "Now that the barrier''s fallen, there''s no reason for you to stay," Aunt Clarice replied coolly, completely ignoring Beatrix''s accusation. She took a step forward, reaching out with bony fingers. "So come along, child. Don''t make this more difficult than it needs to be. We''re doing what''s best for you."


    "I''m not going anywhere." Beatrix planted her feet firmly in the garden soil. "I won''t abandon my friends. I won''t leave them here to die."


    "Beatrix Felicity Ravenwood." Aunt Cordelia said in that patronizing tone that had always set Beatrix''s nerves on edge. "This is the natural order of things. Some things need to fall apart. Some barriers are meant to break. You''re too young, too naive to understand the cosmic balance at work here."


    "No!" The force of Beatrix''s shout startled a cluster of ravens from a nearby tree, their wings beating frantically against the darkening sky. "Why can''t the demons and Reapers just leave everyone alone? The monsters here only want to live their undead lives in peace!"


    "What the Reapers and our devil masters do is none of our concern," Aunt Cordelia hissed, her patience waning. However, the words sounded forced, rehearsed, like a mantra she''d repeated to herself over and over until she almost believed it.


    "How much did you know?" Beatrix stomped forward until she was toe-to-toe with her aunts. "When you sent me here, did you know what would happen? That I''d become their weapon against these monsters? Tell me!"


    The three witches exchanged wary glances, their united front wavering.


    Finally, Aunt Cordelia spoke with that look of superiority that used to intimidate Beatrix. Not anymore.


    ¡°If you must know," Cordelia said, "Cassia came to us after you''d left." She paused, a cruel smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "And it''s a good thing she did. Monster High needed to learn a lesson. Such arrogance, preaching about ''inclusion'' while looking down on witches. They had this coming.¡±


    "So murder is the answer?" Beatrix glared at them. "Wow, great plan ¡ª throw hundreds of souls into hell. That''ll fix everything!"


    For the first time in Beatrix''s life, Aunt Cordelia sounded a little unsure of herself. ¡°Cassia¡­ may not have been entirely forthcoming about what she was planning¡­¡± But then Cordelia quickly recovered, straightening up. ¡°Still, this is not up for debate. You will stay out of the way and let the Duchess handle her business¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, Beatrix¡¯s hand shot out, grabbing another fistful of wolfsbane. She shouldered past her aunts without a backward glance, heading for the broken gate. ¡°You know what? I¡¯m done with all of you,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°I¡¯ve got a school to save.¡±


    ¡°And what exactly are you planning to do with all that?¡± Aunt Constance called after her, eyeing the ingredients bulging in Beatrix¡¯s pockets.


    "I''m using witchcraft to protect monsters who actually give a damn about me,¡± Beatrix fired back over her shoulder.


    "Oh no you don¡¯t. You will not disobey¡ª" Aunt Cordelia started, but Beatrix had heard enough.


    In one swift motion, she pulled out the ash and oil she''d gathered from the kitchen. She smeared the mixture across her palms like war paint, her fingers tracing the fire runes Astar had taught her. Once she completed each mark and rubbed her hands together, they ignited, glowing a brilliant yellow against her skin.


    Flames erupted between Beatrix''s fingers, but these weren''t the wild, uncontrolled flames she''d unleashed in the woods earlier. These ones danced in precise, controlled arcs, weaving between her hands with a deadly grace that cast sharp shadows across her aunts.


    In the growing darkness, Beatrix''s hands glowed like twin suns, and for the first time in her life, she saw genuine surprise flash on her aunts'' faces.


    Aunt Cordelia''s hand flew to her robes, yanking out the ebony wand she always carried. Its tip glowed with the telltale shimmer of a nasty counter-spell, primed to deflect Beatrix''s flames back at her ¡ª but then Cordelia froze.


    Her eyes were fixed on the perfectly controlled fire flowing through Beatrix''s fingers like liquid gold. Not a single spark went astray, no flames licked at the garden around them. This wasn''t the messy, unpredictable magic they¡¯d expected from their defiant niece.


    "It''s..." Aunt Clarice¡¯s perpetual sneer gave way to something close to wonder. "That level of control... at your age..."


    "I learned more here in eight months than I did in fifteen years under your thumbs. And I''m just getting started," Beatrix said. She let the flames climb higher until they painted her face in shifting gold and amber, her shadow stretching massive against the greenhouse glass. "You know the best thing I learned here? I don¡¯t need you three breathing down my neck, trying to force me into your mold of what a ''proper'' witch should be. So yeah, I''m not going anywhere with you. Ever."


    Her aunts were transfixed ¡ª and was that a flicker of pride on Aunt Cordelia¡¯s face? That approval Beatrix had been chasing since she was a kid?This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "We don''t need to hold onto these grudges," Beatrix continued. "Witches, monsters¡­ we don''t have to hate each other." Her gaze drifted to Monster High''s towers stabbing up at the violet sky, their gothic spires like black thorns. "Destroying this place isn''t going to fix anything. There¡¯s another way. We don''t need to be pawns for evil."


    The three witches stood in silence, looking at Beatrix as if seeing her for the first time. Something had shifted in the garden''s heavy air, like a spell being broken.


    "We..." Aunt Cordelia started, then faltered. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet. "We thought that aligning ourselves with Cassia would finally earn our bloodline the respect it deserves." Her shoulders sagged, and Beatrix noticed how tired she looked. It was as if centuries of bowing and scraping to devils had finally caught up with her.


    "Open your eyes, already," Beatrix said. "Cassia and Astar only cozied up to you because of me. They wanted a witch inside these walls, and you handed them one. The second this is over, they''ll toss us aside. We¡¯re nothing to them.¡±


    Her aunts kept quiet as the thunder of hooves grew steadily louder.


    "Now," Beatrix said as she raised her hands higher, the flames deepening to a fierce blue at their cores, "if you''re not going to help me protect my friends, then get lost. Don''t make me show off the other tricks I¡¯ve learned here."


    Her threat wasn''t empty, and her aunts knew it.


    Slowly, Cordelia, Constance, and Clarice began backing away, their black robes melting into the twilight shadows until all Beatrix could see was the glint of Aunt Cordelia''s eyes in the dark, filled with something that might have been regret ¡ª or respect ¡ª maybe a little of both. Then they disappeared into the night.


    Beatrix sank to her knees, pressing her palms against the cold earth just as Astar had taught her. She let the magical fire drain safely into the ground, watching as the dirt sizzled and steamed beneath her hands until the last flames died away.


    Rising to her feet, she wiped the ash and oil from her hands onto her black jeans and set off toward the main courtyard.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    When Beatrix reached the main hall of Monster High, her heart lifted at the sight that greeted her. The front steps had become a gathering place for the scattered monsters who''d refused to hide ¡ª and it was a surprisingly large group.


    Cleo de Nile stood at the top of the stone staircase, her bandaged hands planted on her hips as she addressed the determined crowd below.


    "I don''t care if these Reapers are ancient and powerful. I am a de Nile, and I will not cower!" Cleo''s voice rang out with royal authority. "This is our school, and I refuse to let those bags of bones take it from us!"


    Cheers broke out. Beatrix scanned the faces before her ¡ª they were mostly fearleaders and their friends. Clawdeen stood with her arms crossed, golden eyes fierce, along with Abbey, and Frankie''s neck bolts crackled with nervous energy as she gripped Jackson''s hand. Guillermo had shown up too, though he kept glancing anxiously at Draculaura for reassurance.


    "Witch snitch!¡±


    She spun at the sound of Gory¡¯s voice. The vampire held out Beatrix''s black witch hat.


    Beatrix took it and placed it on her head, feeling a surge of confidence as the brim settled into place, the familiar weight pressing against her brow. Now she felt ready.


    Lagoona joined them. "Beatrix, we''re ready, mate. Just tell us your attack plan."


    Draculaura appeared at her side, violet eyes serious. "Grey has most of the students barricaded in the main buildings. He said that the teachers are going to try and negotiate with the Reapers..." She trailed off, biting her lip.


    "Negotiate?" Beatrix guffawed. "The horsemen aren''t here to negotiate."


    "Neither am I," Clawdeen snarled, stepping forward. "They murdered Brocko. Those Reapers want a fight? Fine. Let¡¯s give them one."


    Clawd moved to stand beside his sister, and the rest of the wolf pack emerged from the crowd ¡ª Howleen, Romulus, even Orion.


    "The pack is with you," Clawd told Beatrix. "Whatever you''re planning, we''re in."


    "Count us in too." Gory glided forward with her vampire crew.


    "Thank you," Beatrix said, meaning it. After everything that had happened with Bram and Vilhelm, she hadn''t expected all the vamps to ally with her.


    As the sound of approaching hoofbeats echoed off the school''s stone walls, growing louder with each passing second, Beatrix turned to Jackson. "Hey, I need your brain right now. You''ve spent all year studying monster abilities ¡ª help me figure out where to position everyone.¡±


    Jackson adjusted his glasses and pulled out a pen. He began sketching on a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "Okay, okay ¡ª we put the werewolves here at the front," he muttered, drawing as he thought aloud. "Their speed and strength will be perfect for the first line of defense. Then, we could position the vampires here. We¡¯ll need their night vision..."


    "Get away from them."


    Grey''s voice sliced through the courtyard like a blade, silencing all conversation in an instant.


    The crowd parted as he strode forward, each step radiating a cold fury. When his pitch-black eyes locked with Beatrix''s, the look he gave her could have frozen hell itself.


    Behind him, Monster High¡¯s most powerful students followed ¡ª Deuce, his snake mohawk writhing; Heath, his flames trailing him; Manny, his massive frame towering over everyone in the courtyard; and Johannah, her face threatening to split apart at any moment. Several of Monster High¡¯s faculty and staff flanked them, along with Mr. Gore.


    "All students inside. Now." Mr. Hack, one of the teachers, rasped. "Headmistress''s orders."


    "The situation is under control," Grey commanded the group, his voice like steel, refusing to look at Beatrix again. His hand tightened on his staff. "This isn''t a game. Anyone who stays out here is choosing suicide. We will handle it.¡±


    "I started this," Beatrix said. "And I''m going to help fix it. I won''t hide while those horsemen hunt down my friends.¡±


    The werewolves and vampires closed ranks around her, forming a solid wall shoulder-to-shoulder. Neither group showed any sign of backing down.


    "Clawd," Grey tried again, looking at his friend. "Don''t listen to her. She brought this down on us. The barrier, everything, it''s all because of her.¡±


    "My packmate is dead," Clawd growled, standing his ground. "I don''t care whose side I have to join. Those Reapers are going to pay."


    "Can''t you see what''s happening? She''ll turn on you the second she gets a chance! Just like¡ª" Grey cut himself off, but Beatrix heard the unspoken words: Just like she turned on me.


    "We don''t have time for this!¡± Beatrix exploded. ¡°The Reapers are coming whether you trust me or not. We need to fight together!"


    The heavy doors of the main building groaned open behind them, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Headmistress Bloodgood emerged, her phone screen casting a sickly glow on her face.


    "The Grim Reaper isn''t answering any of my calls, if they''re even going through," she told Grey and the rest of the staff. "Reception to the Underworld has always been dreadful. We''re on our own."


    Just then, she noticed the assembled monsters before her. "What is the meaning of this?"


    "We''re fighting back," Beatrix said, meeting the headmistress''s gaze without flinching. "With or without your permission."


    Bloodgood¡¯s eyes narrowed as she realized who was leading this impromptu resistance. "Ms. Ravenwood," she began, "After what you''ve done, I will not allow this¡ª¡±


    "Oh, for crying out loud!" Johannah''s face split open in frustration before sealing back together. She broke ranks with Grey¡¯s group to stand beside Beatrix. "Fighting is the only real chance we''ve got. While everyone else is hiding or making phone calls, she''s the only one trying to do something!"


    Grey''s jaw clenched so tight Beatrix could almost hear his teeth grinding. He still wouldn''t look at her. "Fine," he bit out. "Do what you want. But if you''re really going through with this, stay away from their scythes. Mid to long-range attacks only. Get too close, and your soul''s gone."


    Grey turned sharply on his heel and stalked off, his followers falling in line behind him.


    "Grey, wait¡ª" Beatrix called after him. But he didn''t even pause. She watched him leave, pain twisting in her chest at him turning his back on her.


    "Alright, ghouls, mansters, bring it in!" Cleo hollered.


    "Venus, I saw you grow big, flesh-eating plants in our Mad Science class ¡ª how quickly can you sprout them?" Jackson asked, back to business once their ragtag army huddled up in a circle.


    A smile spread across Venus''s green face as her vine hair writhed with excitement. "Fast enough to turn this whole courtyard into a death trap in minutes. I can make them big enough to swallow a horse whole."


    "Good." Beatrix nodded sharply, pushing thoughts of Grey aside. "We can use them to control the battlefield, force the Reapers to move where we want them.¡±


    Beatrix faced Toralei next, who was flexing her razor-sharp claws. "Toralei, I need you to break into every storage closet you can find. This school''s bound to have weapons, or stuff we can turn into weapons, stashed away somewhere. Get them, and make sure everyone''s armed.¡±


    "Breaking and entering?¡± Toralei purred, examining her claws with a sly smirk. "Consider it done."


    Finally, Beatrix faced Abbey. "Abbey, we''ll need your strength for distance attacks. Grey wasn''t wrong about the Reaper¡¯s scythes ¡ª we can''t get too close to them.¡±


    "Is simple," Abbey said with a confident shrug. "I throw heavy things at death men. Like game of snow-dodgeball, yes?"


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Beatrix said. ¡°Find anything you can throw ¡ª rocks, fallen trees, whatever you can get your hands on."


    Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall, pattering against the cobblestones of the courtyard.


    Abbey''s eyes gleamed as she held out her palm, catching the raindrops. "Or perhaps," Abbey said, "I turn rain into storm of ice daggers."


    "Even better," Beatrix said, allowing herself a small smile despite everything. She might have lost Grey, but she hadn''t lost everyone. Not yet.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The rain drummed against the campus grounds as Beatrix pulled her witch hat lower, trying to shield her eyes from the downpour. Around her, vampires and werewolves moved swiftly through the darkness, their forms barely visible as they crept toward the perimeter fence.


    They were headed for the mountain trail that cut through the woods ¡ª where Gory had heard those screams earlier. The horsemen would likely emerge from there to reach Monster High.


    The group stuck close to the dormitory walls, using the buildings as cover. Somewhere behind them, Abbey and Beatrix¡¯s crew were positioned on higher ground, ready to provide backup if things went south.


    Draculaura fell into step beside Beatrix.


    "Grey''s lost his mind," Beatrix muttered, raindrops sliding off the brim of her hat. "He really thinks ''negotiating'' with those horsemen will work? And he said our plan is suicide?"


    "I understand why he went," Draculaura said, her voice barely carrying over the rain. "He''s convinced they''ll listen because they worked with his father¡ª"


    "They won''t." Beatrix spun to face the rest of the group. "Guys, if you spot more than one Reaper, fall back. We might be able to handle one if we''re lucky, but even that''s pushing it..." She let that sink in. "Gory, picking up anything?"


    The vampire squinted through the sheets of rain. "They were near the library earlier, but now..." She cursed under her breath. "This rain''s messing with my hearing."


    "Wait!" Clawd snarled, his head snapped toward the west dorm, past the charred remains of last semester''s All Hallow''s Eve bonfire pit. The trees beyond were oddly still, like the whole forest was watching, waiting.


    And then a Reaper emerged from behind the dorm building like a piece of the night itself came to life. It was Viggo ¡ª towering nearly seven feet tall, his massive frame draped in pristine black robes. His dark horse stepped forward without making a sound, hooves sinking silently into the rain-soaked ground. They were already inside the school.


    There was nothing but pure darkness under that hood, but Beatrix could feel Viggo''s stare burning into them as it scanned their group ¡ª from werewolf to vampire to witch.


    The Reaper tilted his head, watching them with an eerie curiosity. Around his bony wrist, a glass orb swayed hypnotically in the rain, suspended from a delicate chain. It looked just like Grey''s necklace and was filled with swirling silver mist. As Beatrix stared, ghostly faces pressed against the glass from within, their expressions twisted in silent screams before dissolving back into the fog. Collected souls.


    Then everything exploded into motion. Viggo and his mount lunged forward, moving faster than anything that size had a right to. The group split apart instantly ¡ª wolves diving left, vamps sprinting right, just like they''d planned. Draculaura''s ice-cold grip caught Beatrix around the waist, yanking her clear of those massive hooves.


    Venus''s trap began right on cue ¡ª giant carnivorous plants burst from the ground one after another around them. Their tentacle-vines lashed out through the rain, catching Viggo''s horse mid-stride. The beast screamed, rearing up on its hind legs and toppling over.


    "Stay back," Draculaura ordered, fingers digging into Beatrix''s arm. "Let us handle the close combat for now."


    "Right." Beatrix pulled free, her eyes scanning the darkness beyond the fight. "Just don''t let any of the Reapers corner you."


    The werewolves and vamps moved around Viggo in their practiced formation. Clawdeen''s fierce snarls mixed with the thunder overhead as she darted in close to the horseman before leaping back, forcing him to pivot while Gory''s vampires harassed him on his other side. Despite his massive size, the Reaper moved with unnatural speed, his robes swirling like liquid shadow as he spun to track all the monsters dashing in circles around him. They kept Viggo turning, searching, his staff slicing through the empty air as he kept missing his targets. The mounting frustration radiating from beneath that dark hood was obvious.


    With Viggo distracted, Beatrix waved her hat high ¡ª Abbey''s cue to unleash their ice attack.


    "TRIX! WATCH OUT!"


    Beatrix spun to see Orion sprinting to her as a second Reaper charged from the darkness behind him, staff raised to strike. This one was leaner, with tattered robes that whipped wildly in the wind ¡ª Mahlon. His crooked form jerked forward, his chipped staff glinting dully in the rain.


    Orion launched himself at Beatrix, tackling her so hard it knocked the wind out of both of them, her hat flying off her head. They crashed into the mud and rolled as Mahlon''s otherworldly staff slashed through the space where they''d just been.


    Above them, icey shards formed straight out of the rain and shot at Mahlon, forcing the skeletal Reaper to yank his horse hard to the side to dodge. Abbey kept them coming, wave after wave, turning the storm into her weapon. Her ice spears drove Mahlon back, away from where Beatrix and Orion lay sprawled in the mud.


    "You good?" Orion asked, glancing at Beatrix, mud soaking his silver fur.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m good," Beatrix groaned, wiping the dirt from her face. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    As Beatrix pushed herself up, reaching for her hat, she caught sight of Grey''s team next to the screamatorium.


    Grey looked like he was in the middle of trying to "talk things out" with the third Reaper, Cassius. Cassius had gotten off his horse to speak with Grey, and they stood just steps apart, the tension visible even from a distance.


    However, she could see that members of Grey¡¯s team had secretly positioned themselves nearby, out of view from the Reaper standing with him: Deuce hid on a balcony overhead, one hand resting his sunglasses, waiting. Below, Manny''s hulking form filled a doorway, subtly blocking the escape route. And through an open window, Beatrix saw Robecca was setting up a steam cannon, her brass fingers prepping the gauges to be used as a weapon in case the negotiations turned deadly.


    As Grey kept talking to Cassius, the gaunt Reaper''s hood slowly turned to look over at Beatrix, taking in the mayhem their battle was unleashing across campus.


    Through the thick rain, Beatrix saw Cassius''s stance changing ¡ª like he was a cat done playing with a mouse. His sleek black staff suddenly whipped at Grey''s head. Grey barely got his own weapon up in time, the clash reverberating like thunder.


    What happened next showed exactly why Grey had his intimidating reputation: Grey matched Cassius blow for blow in those first crucial seconds, his own staff blocking strikes that would''ve dropped anyone else on the spot. When the Reaper swung down hard from above, Grey lurched out of the way and nearly landed a jab that would''ve cracked a normal person¡¯s ribs. Cassius staggered back, but Grey stayed on him, forcing this ancient killing machine to give ground.


    But Cassius fought with the patient cunning of something that had been collecting souls for eons. Every time Grey seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Cassius would shift tactics, his movements becoming more precise, yet unpredictable. The taller Reaper swung his staff hard, erratically, until Grey was forced to dodge and block more than attack as Cassius methodically wore him down. Sweat mingled with rain on Grey¡¯s face as he fought to keep up.


    Then Grey saw what he thought was an opening in Cassius''s attacks. He went for it ¡ª and that was exactly what the horseman wanted. With cold efficiency, Cassius knocked aside Grey''s strike like it was brushing off a bug, then smashed the scythe''s handle into Grey¡¯s head. Grey slammed to the wet cobblestones.


    At this, Grey''s team exploded into action. Robecca''s steam cannon screamed to life, blasting a jet of superheated vapor at Cassius. The Reaper twisted away to dodge it ¡ª right where Heath and another student named Jinafire were waiting. They unleashed an inferno that could melt stone, the flames roaring toward Cassius.


    Deuce saw his opportunity and took it, ripping off his shades on the balcony above. His mohawk of vipers hissed as he focused his stone-turning gaze on Cassius. For a split second, it worked ¡ª stone crept across those black robes like frost on glass.


    Then everything went wrong.


    The stone shell that encased Cassius exploded with a sound like a thousand mirrors shattering at once, shards flying everywhere as the Reaper stepped out completely unharmed.


    The battle was raging across campus now. Abbey''s ice storm filled the air with crystal spears, but the three Reapers remounted their horses and weaved through the monster¡¯s assault. Viggo''s massive form charged through, while Mahlon''s jerky movements made him impossible to hit. Cassius seemed to flow between the ice like water, always one step ahead. Venus hit back hard ¡ª more massive plants burst from the ground, their vines cracking like whips through the storm. The vamps and wolves had to scramble back as her plants went on the offensive.


    But those black staffs... even though Beatrix couldn''t see their spiritual blades at the end of them, she saw what they did. Every plant the Reapers swung at immediately withered away, their life draining like someone had hit fast-forward on decay, leaving nothing but gray husks that crumbled into dust. In seconds, they''d sliced through Venus''s deadly garden like it was nothing, leaving a trail of death wherever they moved.


    It hit Beatrix like a punch to the gut: if their strongest powers combined couldn''t even slow down one Reaper¡­


    The horsemen split up, each heading in a different direction to divide and conquer. Clawd and his pack held sharpened flagpoles and broom handles Toralei had grabbed from the gym, wielding them like spears, forcing Viggo to dodge and weave them, but ultimately Viggo''s thundering charge scattered the students like leaves.


    Mahlon continued to jerk and twist between their strikes, his chipped staff finding gaps in their guard. Cassius drifted through the chaos like a shadow, his hollow form appearing wherever defenses were weakest. Heath and Jinafire threw up a desperate wall of flames while Beatrix scrambled to trace fire runes with ash and oil on her hands. She sprinted to them, and power burned through her palms as she added her flames to theirs ¡ª but even as she did it, she knew it wasn''t enough.


    The Reapers rushed through their fire, their robes burning at the edges but they were too focused on swinging their black staffs to care. One student named Invisi Billy''s scream cut off mid-yell ¡ª and Beatrix watched in horror as a murky gleam of light ripped straight from his chest and floated up into a glass orb hanging from Viggo''s staff.


    Slowly, but surely, students, teachers, everyone began falling like dominoes. The Reapers moved through them like they were harvesting crops. Silvi Timberwolf''s murky soul glowed as it got sucked into an orb around Mahlon''s neck. The Reapers swung their scythes at Moanica, Fawn, Elle, and one after another, their souls were trapped like fireflies in glass, their makeshift weapons clattering uselessly to the ground as the Reaper¡¯s orbs grew brighter with every soul they captured.


    Through all this nightmare, Beatrix spotted Grey still lying motionless in the rain. She hurled one more fireball to buy some time, then ran for him. Her hands were still burning hot from the magic. She had to slam them into the wet ground, killing the flames with a burst of steam. Her palms were all blisters and raw skin, but she didn''t care.


    "Frankie! Holt!" Beatrix screamed, seeing them nearby hurling lightning bolts and pieces of school furniture at the advancing Reapers. "Help me get him out of here!"


    They rushed to her side, Frankie protected from the rain by Holt''s jacket draped over herself so she wouldn''t short circuit. Between the three of them, they managed to lift Grey. Holt took most of the weight while Beatrix and Frankie supported Grey''s legs. They staggered toward the closest building, desperate for cover as the battle raged behind them.


    Grey was barely conscious ¡ª that hit from Cassius had left an ugly bruise blooming and swelling across his temple. His unfocused eyes drifted aimlessly, head rolling against Holt''s shoulder as they carried him.


    They eased him down against a wall as gently as they could.


    "Beatrix," he slurred, his hand fumbling for her.


    ¡°Hey. I¡¯m here.¡± Beatrix knelt beside him, rain dripping from her hair as their eyes met.


    "... I saw you destroying those bones¡­ but something felt wrong. The way you moved... it wasn''t like you at all. Were you really possessed¡­?¡±


    Beatrix''s heart clenched at the pain in his words. "It wasn''t me. I promise," she said. "Spectra used me. All this time, she was just waiting for the right moment."


    "I''m sorry," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I should''ve trusted you. After everything we''ve been through..."


    For a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade away. Beatrix¡¯s fingers intertwined with Grey¡¯s despite her scorched palms, and she found herself drowning in those bottomless black eyes.


    "You had every right not to trust me," she whispered. "I''m just a witch who showed up and turned everything upside down. But I swear, Grey, everything I told you about wanting to protect this place ¡ª wanting to help ¡ª it was real. It still is."


    "I know," he said, squeezing her hand weakly. "I knew it then too, deep down. I just... got scared. Seeing the barrier fall... watching everything my dad worked for crumble...¡±


    "It''s okay, it¡¯s gonna be okay," she whispered, giving his hand a gentle squeeze back. "We''ll talk when we''re not all about to die. Everyone¡¯s fighting with everything they''ve got, but..." The words stuck in her throat. They were losing. Badly.


    Grey''s dark eyes locked onto hers with sudden intensity. "You''re nothing like what I thought witches were," he said softly.


    A crash from outside made them both flinch, but neither of them moved to let go.


    "Viggo, Mahlon and Cassius... they can''t be killed,¡± Grey started. ¡°My dad..." He tried to shake his head but immediately regretted it, sucking in a sharp breath. His hand flew to the throbbing wound at his temple. "My dad never taught me how to destroy other Reapers¡­ I never thought I''d need to know¡­"


    Through a shattered window, in the distance, Mr. Gore fell to Mahlon''s scythe. His soul ¡ª a murky ball of light ¡ª spiraled up from his chest to join the growing collection in the Reaper''s pendant, now glowing brightly against his tattered robes.


    Cleo appeared beside Grey, unwinding the golden bandages from her arms. Without a word, she pressed them against the angry purple bruise on Grey''s temple. Then, before Beatrix could protest, Cleo grabbed her burned hands and started wrapping them too ¡ª using three times the amount she''d needed for Beatrix''s neck after the fight with Bram and Vilhelm.


    "There," Cleo said firmly. "These bandages are worth more than this entire school combined, so don''t you dare ruin them."


    "I''m fine, save these for someone else," Beatrix said, even as relief spread through her scalded palms. "I still have wolfsbane on me. I need to get back out there, use a werewolf''s strength to attack them¡ª"


    "No," Grey interrupted. "You can¡¯t get that close to a Reaper."


    Beatrix flexed her bandaged hands in frustration. "Fine. Then I need something else ¡ª a spell that can hurt them from a distance while my hands heal. Fire magic isn¡¯t an option right now." She studied her blistered palms, falling silent as an idea formed in her mind.


    Beatrix looked up at Cleo, Holt, and Frankie, finding her own fear mirrored in their faces. "I need you to help me set a trap," she told them.


    "For the Reapers?" Frankie asked.


    "No," Beatrix said, ¡°for Astar."

 16. Reap What You Sow

    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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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.


    "¡ªtrust me¡ª" 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¡ª"


    "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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª"


    "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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 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 ¨C 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª" 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 a horrible, stretching silence ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª including Autumn''s ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª¡±


    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¡ª" 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª as if he¡¯d just realized how close they were ¡ª 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"


    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 ¡ª 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¡ª" 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª" 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª"


    But the wolf''s power thrumming through her veins wouldn''t let her stop. This borrowed strength wouldn''t last much longer ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª Draculaura''s convertible and Deuce''s bike screeching to a halt beside them ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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¡ª"


    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 ¡ª 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 ¡ª I won''t let you ¡ª 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 ¡ª 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.

 17. Soul Survivors

    Manny couldn''t stop fidgeting as he stood guard by the weight room door. There was no more of that weird, soul-stealing light flashing through the windows, no more rain pounding against the glass. Only Astar¡­ still stuck in the middle of the spray-painted square on the floor. Although the devil hadn¡¯t said a word since he¡¯d gotten trapped, Manny kept his eyes glued on him.


    Astar looked every bit the demon he was ¡ª his jagged horns reached for the ceiling, and sharp claws extended from his fingertips. But he just sat there, not moving, snake-like eyes staring at the painted lines holding him in place.


    Grey had ordered Manny to stay behind and watch the devil while everyone else dealt with the horsemen.


    The moment the group left, Astar had rushed the sigil¡¯s lines over and over, but each time, Beatrix¡¯s magic yanked him back to the center like a chain pulling tight, forcing him to give up.


    The demon''s shrieks had eventually subsided into silence. But that silence somehow made guarding him even worse. Manny felt like he was locked in a room with a coiled viper.


    Suddenly, footsteps running in the hall outside made Manny''s ears perk up. Through the door, he caught snippets of a conversation:


    "Zey actually took down two of zem!" That was definitely Rochelle.


    "They¡¯re heading to the Black Lagoon next," said a voice that sounded like Venus. "Johannah told me the last Reaper''s cornered there..."


    Manny couldn''t help himself. He cracked the door open and whispered after the ghouls running past, "Hey! Wait up! What''s going on out there?"


    Astar''s head tilted slightly at the commotion, like a wolf catching the scent of prey.


    Rochelle, Venus, and Robecca skidded to a stop in the hall, steam hissing from Robecca''s copper joints.


    "Manny?" Rochelle asked. "What are you doing in there?"


    "I''m, uh..." Manny scratched his head awkwardly. "... watching the weight room! You know, to make sure nobody, uh, steals the dumbbells¡­"


    "Right now? During all zis?"


    Manny shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof as he blocked the weight room doorway. "Well, Grey told me to guard¡ª" Manny¡¯s brain caught up with his mouth. He slapped a hand over his muzzle, but the damage was done.


    "Guard what?" Robecca asked, her gears whirring as she tried to peek around the massive bull.


    "Nothing! I''m not guarding anything! Just the weights! It''s super boring in here¡ª" Manny spread his arms across the doorway.


    But the ghouls were already ducking under his arms, slipping past despite his clumsy attempts to block them. They gasped as soon as they entered.


    "Mon dieu!" Rochelle exclaimed.


    Astar''s chains clinked as he lifted his head, his yellow eyes burning like twin flames as he sat there chained up like a feral animal.


    "Is that..." Venus whispered, taking a step back.


    A cold chuckle from Astar made them all jump. "Oh, don''t mind me," the devil said. "I''m just waiting to see how this all plays out."


    The ghouls exchanged nervous glances. Astar was enjoying their fear, savoring every second of it.


    Robecca looked at Manny. "What''s going on? Why is he chained up?"


    "Um¡­ I wasn''t supposed to tell anyone Astar''s in here, but¡­ apparently he''s been helping the Reapers since day one," Manny said.


    "Sacrebleu!¡± Rochelle erupted. ¡°First ze witch brings down ze barrier, and now we find out ''er pet devil was working against us too? I knew zey couldn''t be trusted."


    "Oh, please," Robecca teased. "Like you weren''t totally crushing on Astar. I saw you making googly eyes at him in our History of the Undead class."


    Rochelle''s stone face took on a rosy tint as she glanced at Astar, who was doing his best to look extremely fascinated by the ceiling. "I did no such thing!" Rochelle said hastily, "And wasn''t ''e seeing ze scarecrow girl?"


    "I thought he was dating Beatrix," Manny chimed in.


    "No way, he was always hanging around Autumn," Robecca said. "Remember that time in the creepateria when¡ª"


    Astar¡¯s shoulders slumped as his captors started gossiping about his love life right in front of him. So much for looking scary and intimidating.


    "Not important!!¡± Venus burst out. ¡°What actually matters is that Beatrix is out there risking everything to help us. She could''ve just bailed when everything went down, but she stayed."


    The other ghouls went quiet. They could tell Venus meant every word.


    "Yeah, I mean..." Manny rubbed his thick neck. "For a witch, she''s actually been... I mean, she helped us catch her own devil, right?"


    ¡°You do realize I can hear everything you''re saying?" Astar''s voice made them all freeze. The devil rose slowly to his feet, chains clinking ominously as he fixed them with a glare.


    The group huddled closer together, unnerved by the dangerous edge in his voice.


    Then, a distant shout echoed from across campus ¡ª it sounded like Grey''s voice, but the words were too muffled to understand.


    Astar went very still, every muscle in his body tensing. His yellow eyes snapped to the spray paint symbols surrounding him, narrowing with sudden interest.


    Something in the air had changed ¡ª a shift in magical energy that only he could sense.


    Astar took a slow step toward the edge of the painted square. The pull of Beatrix¡¯s summoning magic should have yanked him back to the center of the sigil by now.


    "Uh... Manny? What''s he doing?" Robecca whispered as Astar crept closer to the edge of his painted prison.


    Manny didn¡¯t get all this magical stuff, but everything in him was screaming that something was wrong.


    The demon reached one taloned hand out. Astar''s hand passed beyond the magical line without any resistance. Beatrix¡¯s sigil didn¡¯t work anymore.


    "... Guys¡­ you should get out of here... now,¡± Manny said, stepping forward to position his bulky frame between the ghouls and Astar.


    A smile split Astar''s face as he realized the symbol that had trapped him was now nothing more than paint on the floor. But the smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.


    "Bee..." Astar muttered, his voice strained with an emotion none of them could read. If her magic didn¡¯t work, something terrible must have happened to her¡­


    Astar shoved the thought aside. The chains at his wrists rattled as he stepped beyond the useless paint, stretching his wings until they scraped against the weight room walls.


    "OH NO YOU DON¡¯T!" Manny bellowed as he lowered his horns and charged, but Astar nimbly sidestepped the rushing minotaur.


    The devil moved with fluid grace despite his chains. Venus''s vines shot out to snare his limbs, but Astar was already weaving between the exercise equipment, using it as cover to dodge her attacks. When Rochelle dove at him from the left, her stone fingers merely grazed his wing as he spun past her.


    "STOP HIM!" Manny yelled. However, Astar was already airborne, his wings carrying him up toward the ceiling in a burst of speed.


    Robecca''s shoe-rockets fired up with a roar as she shot herself after him. Her fingers reached for his ankle, but Astar tucked his wings and dropped back down at the last second, leaving her grasping at empty air as she flew past.


    "Don¡¯t let him get away!" Venus called desperately from her corner.


    Manny charged again, horns at the ready, but Astar timed a jump perfectly to vault over the minotaur''s head. Mid-leap, he hooked the chains binding his wrists onto one of Manny''s curved horns.


    YANK. CRACK. Astar¡¯s restraints snapped apart.


    Manny was thrown off balance, arms windmilling as he stumbled forward and crashed headfirst into a weight rack. Dumbbells went flying across the floor with a clatter and Astar was through the door and gone, leaving only his broken chains behind.


    Manny pushed himself up just as the weight room door swung shut. "Zeus¡¯s beard¡­ I¡¯m so dead¡­" he cursed, then glanced nervously at the ghouls beside him. "Don''t tell Grey," he groaned.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Viggo''s dark laughter rolled across the Black Lagoon as Beatrix''s possessed body writhed. Her eyes flickered between a toxic green and a sickly purple ¡ª her gorgon sight now mixed with Spectra¡¯s ghostly glow.


    "Don''t look at her!" Deuce yelled, diving behind a log. "Whatever you do, don''t look at her face!"


    Abbey and Lagoona scrambled behind Draculaura''s car as Beatrix''s deadly gaze swept past them. Guillermo ducked his head and hit the mud with a splash.


    Beatrix''s spirit could only watch helplessly as Viggo spurred his horse through their scattered group. With each galloping stride, the glass pendant around Viggo''s neck swung wildly, the trapped souls within swirling.


    "Not today, death man!" Abbey declared as she stepped out from behind Draculaura¡¯s car. Frost spread along her pale blue arms as she turned the puddles around her into jagged ice crystals. They burst up from the ground to encircle Viggo and his horse.


    Hovering above it all, Beatrix saw Spectra forcing her hands to smear more snake scale paste across her eyes. Angry red welts blossomed on her eyelids wherever the mixture made contact.


    Petra! Beatrix pleaded. If you keep using that paste, you''re going to destroy my eyes!


    But Spectra ignored her, smearing the last of the paste on, busy scanning the battlefield, searching for victims.


    Below Beatrix, Grey darted between Abbey¡¯s spires of ice. He looked at Beatrix''s possessed body, then to Viggo, then back at Beatrix again. The conflict was written all over his face ¡ª he didn''t know which threat to deal with first.


    Then he made his choice. He vaulted over a spike of ice and landed next to Abbey, dropping low with his scythe ready. "We take Viggo out first," Grey said through clenched teeth.


    Abbey gave him a nod, and the two of them quickly found their rhythm against the Reaper. Ice shot out of the ground, forcing Viggo''s warhorse into a wild dance. The beast''s hooves slipped and scraped across the frozen earth while its breath came out in huge plumes of steam. Viggo''s scythe never stopped moving, smashing through the ice forming around him like it was made of glass.


    As Abbey kept him distracted, Grey struck wherever there was an opening, swinging his scythe again and again at Viggo. But hitting the Reaper was like hitting a stone wall. Grey''s arms shook with each hit while Viggo barely seemed to notice the impacts.


    "You''ll need to do better than that, boy," Viggo''s deep voice rumbled, knocking Grey''s weapon aside like it was nothing but a toy. "I thought the son of Death would put up more of a fight."


    That insult made Grey work overtime. He ducked and rolled under one of Viggo''s brutal swings, giving Abbey a chance to launch a wave of ice spears at the Reaper. Viggo¡¯s horse spun away, its massive hooves crushing the ice to powder beneath it.


    However, none of it registered with Beatrix. She was too busy searching for her bath salts, but it was too late, they had melted away in the mud. She had to find another way to shock her spirit back to her body.


    A splash caught Beatrix¡¯s attention. At the edge of the lagoon, Lagoona was diving in, cutting through the dark waters before vanishing beneath the surface. What was she up to?


    Suddenly, Beatrix heard her own voice screech ¡ª "Look at me!"


    Spectra was jerking her stolen body toward Deuce. Her fingers clawed for his face while his snakes recoiled and hissed. Deuce caught her wrists, still trying to avoid looking at Spectra, but fighting blind left him stumbling.


    Spectra twisted in his grip. "Just one little peek!" she cackled with unhinged delight as she ripped one hand free. "Don''t you want to see what I''ve done with your friend''s pretty eyes?"


    Deuce staggered back, twisting his face away, fighting not to look. Spectra pounced, her fingers snagging his sunglasses. She tore them off, the lenses shattering against a rock.


    "No!" Deuce squeezed his eyes shut and shoved Beatrix''s body. He fell to his knees, hands scraping through dirt as he felt around blindly for his broken shades. "Drac! Help!" he yelled. "I can''t open my eyes ¡ª I don¡¯t want to turn Beatrix to stone!"


    Draculaura zipped between fallen trees and ice spikes. "Hang on, Deuce! I¡¯m on it!"


    Guillermo wheezed as he stumbled after her. "Master! What can I do?"


    "Hide behind that tree and stay out of the way!" Draculaura said, not even turning to look at him.


    "But, master¡ª" Guillermo was cut short as he lost his footing on a patch of ice.


    "Guillermo!" Draculaura spun around. "Just¡ª"


    Draculaura''s face transformed as an idea struck her. ¡°Actually..." Draculaura waved her familiar over.


    The vampire grabbed Guillermo¡¯s sweater vest and pulled him in. Draculaura whispered something in his ear, too quiet for Beatrix to hear. Guillermo''s eyes got huge and he nodded hard. Then Guillermo scurried away to hide behind a pine tree close by, hiding in the shadows of its thick branches.


    Draculaura¡¯s gaze locked onto Beatrix''s possessed body ¡ª onto Spectra wearing her flesh like a costume.


    At that moment, Spectra went rigid, her muscles locking up, and she stopped moving.


    Mind control, Beatrix realized. Draculaura had done the same thing to Vilhelm last semester.


    But even as Spectra was paralyzed, her gorgon eyes continued to move, darting back and forth, hunting for someone to turn to stone. Beatrix screamed a warning to Draculaura, but it was pointless ¡ª no one could hear her voice when she was out of her body.


    That''s when Guillermo crept out from behind the pine tree and pulled off his sweater vest. Just as Spectra''s deadly gaze found Draculaura, Guillermo threw his vest over Spectra''s face, using it as a blindfold.


    "I did it, master!" Guillermo bounced up and down.


    ¡°Nice¡­ work¡­¡± Sweat beaded on Draculaura¡¯s forehead while forcing her eyes to stay on Spectra. Keeping her mind under control was clearly draining. Draculaura couldn''t release her hold, not yet¡ª


    A dark shape plummeted from the clouds above.


    Beatrix''s mind went blank with disbelief. Before she could process what she was seeing, Astar crashed into Draculaura, sending her tumbling across the grass.


    With Draculaura gone, Spectra burst back into motion, tearing away Guillermo''s vest with a snarl and hurling it into the mud. Guillermo gasped, both at the turn of events and because his beloved sweater vest was ruined.


    The gorgon paste had worn off, and Spectra¡¯s eyes were now an angry, irritated red, tears streaming down her cheeks. "My eyes! I can¡¯t see!" Spectra shriek pierced the night as she scratched at Beatrix''s burning eyelids.


    "That''s karma for stealing my body!" Beatrix shouted. "Give it back already!!¡±


    Spectra ignored her, still rubbing her eyes and blinking frantically.


    Astar slowly moved to join Spectra, his wings spread against the dark sky.


    The sigil in the weight room was supposed to hold him ¡ª so how had he escaped?


    "Astar..." Beatrix drifted over, trying to call out to him, but he turned away as if her spirit didn¡¯t exist. Of course. Why had she expected anything else? He was probably glad Spectra was running the show now.


    Instead, his attention moved to Draculaura, who wobbled on her feet, lightheaded from using her mind control.


    Astar¡¯s pitchfork appeared in his hand, its three wicked points shining in the moonlight. He struck without warning.


    Draculaura managed to twist away from his first thrust, but her movements were clumsy. The vampire fell back until her shoulder hit a tree trunk, her dark bangs plastered to her sweat-streaked forehead.


    Astar pressed forward mercilessly. Even with her vampire reflexes, Draculaura could barely stay ahead of those deadly pitchfork points. Her face had gone ghost-white, fangs bared in a grimace as she tried to concentrate.


    Beatrix could tell Draculaura was trying to slip into Astar¡¯s mind, but Astar didn¡¯t give her the chance. He threw his pitchfork right at her head. Draculaura dropped, and the weapon sank into the tree behind her, leaving three smoking holes when Astar ripped it free.


    Guillermo yelled, furious and desperate to protect his master despite being powerless to help. His outburst caught Spectra¡¯s attention. She turned her rage toward the panicked Guillermo, staggering toward him through her blurred vision. "You!"


    Guillermo let out a terrified squeak and tried to run, but even half-blind, Spectra was faster. She tackled him to the ground, her fists hammering down on him as she screamed incoherently.


    Beatrix couldn''t just float there, watching that body-stealing witch use her own hands to attack her friend. Beatrix tried to reach out, grab, pull, anything to deter Spectra, but her spectral fingers passed through everything. A scream of frustration built in her chest as Guillermo curled into a ball, trying to shield himself.


    Suddenly, the Black Lagoon began to bubble, sending ripples across its surface. Spectra stopped attacking Guillermo to look. The disturbance grew stronger and stronger, waves crashing across the once-calm waters. Whatever lurked below the water was stirring the surface into a menacing water frenzy, and then¡­ Lagoona burst out.


    And she wasn¡¯t alone.


    Rising beneath Lagoona was Levi ¡ª her "friend" from the bottom of the lagoon that Beatrix had heard about, although "friend" didn¡¯t seem to capture what was emerging.


    "Holy¡­" Beatrix whispered.


    The battle between Abbey, Grey, and Viggo came to an abrupt halt. Abbey''s ice storm died mid-blast, her jaw dropping as water cascaded off Levi¡¯s dark, armored scales, each scale the size of a jagged dinner plate. Grey lowered his scythe, dark eyes wide with disbelief. Even Viggo took a step backward as the creature rose higher and higher, blocking out the moon.


    "Menyin, Levi! Menyin!" Lagoona shouted in some native language Beatrix didn¡¯t recognize, nearly drowned out by the cascade of water pouring off the beast.


    Levi lifted its horned head above the water, and Lagoona looked small perched behind his massive horns as she guided the lake dweller to the shore. Levi''s tentacles were thick as tree trunks and whipped through the air shockingly fast for something so massive.


    Grey ducked behind a cluster of rocks just as one of Levi¡¯s tentacles smashed into the shoreline. The impact sent a spray of mud and pebbles flying past his head. "Abbey!" he shouted. "Over here!"


    As Abbey ran to him, Viggo was quickly realizing his horse would be useless among the thrashing tentacles, so he dismounted and maneuvered through Levi''s writhing limbs on foot. A tentacle as thick as an oak whipped toward him with impossible speed. Despite his fast reflexes, one of Levi¡¯s tentacles caught Viggo mid-dodge, slamming into his side with the force of a battering ram. It sent the cloaked Reaper flying, his dark form tumbling across the muddy ground before he finally skidded to a stop. Fueled by rage, Viggo flipped his grip on his scythe and drove the staff deep into the soft underside of a tentacle, like plunging a splinter into flesh.


    Levi roared in pain, the sound shaking the ground and sending waves crashing against the shore. Before Abbey could reach Grey, one of Levi''s massive tentacles struck her in the chest. The force launched her over the perimeter fence and into the woods beyond. Through the sound of breaking branches and rustling leaves, Abbey''s voice rang out: "Is fine! Just a scratch!¡±


    Lagoona pulled at Levi''s horns desperately. "Levi, mate, aim for the Reaper, not our friends!"


    But Levi''s rampage continued. A wild swing of a tentacle caught Spectra next. Beatrix saw her own body ripped away from Guillermo and hurtled toward the dark water nearby. Spectra landed with a SPLASH in the middle of the Black Lagoon.


    Beatrix''s spirit rushed over to hover above the waves. Below the murky surface, she watched as Spectra thrashed around in her body, getting more and more frenzied. Instead of swimming up, she was sinking deeper and deeper. Her arms and legs flailed and splashed without any coordination, fighting against the water but getting nowhere.


    Spectra doesn¡¯t know how to swim.


    Beatrix dove down into the lagoon in her spirit form, gliding easily through the water. Spectra was consumed by total panic, her glowing purple eyes locked onto Beatrix''s, wide with fear. Silent screams escaped her, sending bubbles rushing to the surface.


    Spectra! Kick your legs! Use your arms! DO SOMETHING!! Beatrix demanded. She couldn¡¯t let her own body die, even with Spectra in it.


    But Spectra¡¯s movements grew weaker, and deep in the dark water, a faint purple glow began pulsing from the chest of Beatrix''s body. The light grew brighter, intensifying like a star igniting underwater. Then, in a blur of motion, Spectra¡¯s spirit shot away, ditching Beatrix''s body, leaving it floating limply behind to sink.


    The instant Spectra¡¯s spirit fully separated, Beatrix felt an intense pull ¡ª one moment, she was watching her own body drowning, and the next, she was slammed back into herself like a rubber band snapping into place. She suddenly felt her lungs screaming for air, her vision blurring and burning from the gorgon paste Spectra had slathered on too thickly, lagoon water coating her throat, oxygen-starved and impossibly heavy


    No matter how hard Beatrix kicked, the dark depths dragged her under, weighed down by her wet clothes and the water pressing in.


    Just as she was about to black out, something grabbed her shoulders. Through the blur, she saw a flash of blonde hair floating beside her like seaweed in a current.


    Lagoona''s powerful strokes hauled them upward, cutting through the lagoon''s depths with practiced ease. Finally, Lagoona and Beatrix broke the surface. Beatrix gasped desperately, sweet air filling her burning lungs between violent coughs. Lagoona''s grip pulled Beatrix along to the muddy shore.


    Beatrix collapsed onto her hands and knees the moment they reached land, expelling mouthful after mouthful of lagoon water. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin like a sagging second skin, the night air biting at her wet flesh.


    "Beatrix, are you okay?!¡± Lagoona asked through her coughing. Then, suddenly tense: "Wait ¡ª is that even you in there?" Webbed hands clamped onto Beatrix''s shoulders, holding her back at arm¡¯s length. Her sea-green eyes turned hard, suspicious. "Quick ¡ª when we were by the Black Lagoon, before the homecoming assembly last semester ¡ª what did I tell you about Levi? I need to know it''s really you."


    The world swam around Beatrix as she tried to focus on Lagoona. Her vision was shot ¡ª Spectra had pushed the gorgon sight way past what any mortal eyes could handle. Lagoona''s features kept blurring and doubling, making Beatrix''s stomach roll.


    "That..." Beatrix''s raw throat burned as she forced the words out, "that Levi''s a sweetheart. Just... shy." She sucked in a painful breath. "And lake dwellers get a bad rap."


    Relief washed over Lagoona''s face, her webbed fingers instantly loosening their grip. But before she could say anything, Deuce came stumbling up the shore just yards away from where Levi was going berserk on Viggo. He had his arms stretched out blindly, feeling his way forward without his shades.


    "Lagoona? That you?" he hollered, eyes squeezed shut.


    "He needs help," Beatrix croaked. ¡°You should go.¡±


    "You sure about that?" Lagoona asked.


    "Just go," Beatrix managed a weak nod. ¡°And thank you.¡±


    "Hold on, Deuce!" Lagoona called, taking off after him.


    Behind Beatrix, Levi slammed a tentacle into the ground again, the impact making the earth shudder under her palms. Beatrix pressed her hands against her burning eyes, desperate to make the world stop spinning. But everything stayed a nauseating blur, each blink like acid against her eyeballs.


    She forced her eyes open, her vision clearing just enough to catch a familiar purple shimmer materializing above. Beatrix''s heart seized, her fingers digging into the pebbly shore. Even through her limited sight, there was no mistaking Spectra, now a spirit again, rippling with pure, cold rage in front of her.


    No no no no no no no no no no no¡­ Spectra''s voice splintered through Beatrix''s skull like shards of broken glass, each word driving deeper. Beatrix''s breath hitched as she scrambled back, loose stones cutting into her hands.


    "GIVE IT BACK!" Spectra''s screech made Beatrix''s ears ring. "GIVE IT BACK GIVE IT BACK GIVE IT BACK!"


    The world tilted. Up became down, left became right, everything spinning too fast for Beatrix to dodge a vengeful spirit shooting straight at her, determined to steal her body again.


    Beatrix screamed, yet through her blurry vision, she saw a black line slash through the air.


    Spectra suddenly jerked sideways, yanked off course like a kite caught in a gust of wind. Spectra contorted in the air, her furious scream warping and stretching as she was pulled into¡­  a glass pendant dangling from a shadowy figure''s neck.


    Viggo, Beatrix''s mind screamed, here to steal another soul...


    Her hands shook as she rubbed her eyes, smearing away the burning mix of tears and green paste that scorched trails down her cheeks.


    But no ¡ª- as her sight cleared, she saw Grey.


    He stood in front of her, chest heaving. In one hand, he was holding the pendant at the end of his own necklace.


    Inside, Spectra¡¯s soul twisted like violet smoke, slamming against the glass. Her face emerged in flashes, contorted in silent rage, only to dissolve again into the swirling chaos.


    His first collected soul.


    Grey swallowed hard, gripping his pendant tighter. ¡°Good riddance,¡± he muttered.


    "Grey!" Beatrix rasped. His name felt strange in her throat ¡ª her voice hoarse from the lagoon water ¡ª but at least it was hers again.


    Grey crouched down, his boots scattering pebbles. ¡°Welcome back,¡± he said, forcing a smile, though the strain in his voice betrayed him. He glanced over his shoulder. "I can''t stay long. Viggo¡ª¡± Grey cursed under his breath. ¡°I can¡¯t slow him down, but I had to make sure you were okay first." He hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can take him alone¡­¡±


    "That¡¯s okay, I¡¯m coming to help¡ª¡± Beatrix coughed, struggling to focus. "Gimme a sec¡­ everything''s so blurry."


    "Don¡¯t move,¡± Grey murmured. ¡°That green stuff is everywhere.¡± He wiped at the tears and toxic paste streaming down her face with his sleeve, then went back over it again, as if he could wipe away her pain along with the mess.


    "I got you, I got you," he repeated, his breath shaky. "Damn it, where''s Cleo and her bandages when you need them?"


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Beatrix said. She leaned into him, letting him help her to her feet.


    Supporting her weight, Grey kept his grip firm on her elbow. "The ghost ¡ª how did you get her out?"


    "She almost drowned, and I ¡ª WATCH OUT!"


    Even through her ruined vision, Beatrix saw the tall, dark Reaper coming at them. Grey yanked her down just as the Reaper''s scythe whistled overhead with a bone-chilling WHOOSH.


    Only a second later, an enormous tentacle erupted from the Black Lagoon. Grey shifted his weight and rolled them both sharply to the side, his arms locked around Beatrix, and they narrowly avoided the spot where Levi slammed into the muddy shore. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, spraying them with mud and murky water.


    The sudden attack had thrown Viggo off balance, but the Reaper recovered quickly. Grey jumped to his feet, planting himself between Beatrix and the towering enemy. He tightened his grip on his staff and spun to block Viggo¡¯s next blow. Their weapons collided with a CRACK that echoed across the water.


    Beatrix stumbled onto the grass by the lagoon, her heart pounding as she frantically dug through her sopping wet pockets. "Come on, come on," she muttered, praying she had something, anything left that could help. Her fingers closed around a few soaked wolfsbane leaves. Then she felt it ¡ª the smooth plastic of a baggie she''d sealed earlier.


    Inside were some ashes and oil she needed for fire magic, still dry and ready to use.


    The clash of metal on metal made Beatrix¡¯s head snap up. Grey was losing ground fast against Viggo, struggling without Abbey¡¯s ice powers to back him up. Beatrix fumbled with the baggie, trying to spread the mixture across her palms before it was too late.


    Another massive splash erupted from the lagoon as one of Levi''s tentacles whipped out of the water and slammed Viggo aside. The Reaper went sliding again, his dark robes slick with mud. It gave Grey precious moments to recover and Beatrix time to properly coat the fire magic materials on her hands.


    "Grey, move!" Beatrix yelled once she was ready. He didn''t need to be told twice, sprinting out of the way.


    Her hands prickled as the fire magic lit up her palms. But then, a strangled cry from across the lagoon made Beatrix freeze. She spun to see Astar standing over Draculaura, his wings spread wide as he pressed his shoe into the vampire¡¯s shoulder. Draculaura tried to fight back against his weight, but she was too weak from overusing her powers.


    "ASTAR! DON¡¯T HURT HER!" Beatrix screamed, but the devil didn''t flinch. His pitchfork gleamed as he angled it over Draculaura''s heart. Beatrix couldn¡¯t shoot a flame that far to stop Astar ¡ª not without lighting up Draculaura too ¡ª and vampires and fire did NOT mix.


    "Astar! Wait!" Beatrix shouted, forcing strength into her voice despite her burning lungs.


    Astar''s head snapped to her. Finally, he acknowledged Beatrix¡¯s existence. However, his pitchfork didn''t move an inch from Draculaura''s chest. Something clicked in Beatrix¡¯s exhausted mind. A crazy, desperate idea.


    "You''re really going to let Viggo steal Autumn like this?" Beatrix asked him.


    His face flickered with confusion. "What?"


    Viggo was pulling himself out of the mud. Swinging from his neck was that damned orb with its storm of captured souls.


    "Look at his pendant," Beatrix pressed, pointing at Viggo, her heart hammering. "Autumn¡¯s soul is in there, swirling with all the others. Viggo collected her back by the library. I saw it with my own eyes. She¡¯s about to be damned to hell with everyone else."


    The effect was instant. That cold mask cracked, real fear bleeding through as Astar''s eyes darted to the pendant. For a split second, Beatrix saw past the demon to the boy who might actually care about someone other than himself.


    Grey caught on immediately, his black eyes meeting Beatrix''s. Though his lip curled with disgust at having to appeal to the devil, he drove the point home: "What''s it going to be?" he spat. "You gonna stand there playing with your pitchfork while your girlfriend burns in hellfire?"


    Astar''s body stiffened. He stared at Viggo¡¯s pendant, his taloned fingers flexed around his weapon. Beatrix held her breath, praying her lie would convince him.


    Autumn ¡ª beautiful and kind Autumn. If anyone could break a devil, it would be her. She was the best of all of them.


    In a flash, Astar was next to Grey. They weren''t friends, not by any stretch. But right now, reluctant allies would have to be enough.


    Viggo stood opposite them, and his composure faltered for a moment at seeing Astar align himself with Grey.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take high, you go low,¡± Grey muttered to Astar.


    Astar snorted his disgust, wings unfurling behind him in a dramatic sweep. ¡°I¡¯ll go high Reaper,¡± he spat, shaking his head. Without waiting for a response, Astar launched himself to the sky, wings carrying him in a sharp arc before he pivoted mid-air, as if he was a deadly missile aimed straight at Viggo.


    Grey, caught off guard by Astar''s explosive start, shouted to Beatrix, "B! FIRE!"


    Heat surged through Beatrix¡¯s veins as flames erupted from her hands. She poured everything she had into it, and the timing was perfect ¡ª Astar''s pitchfork slammed into Viggo just as the flames caught his cloak. Before he could recover, Grey''s scythe struck hard against his other side.


    Their attacks wove together with deadly precision ¡ª Grey''s staff becoming a silver arc in the moonlight as he struck blow after blow, while Astar''s pitchfork and talons stabbed from above. Between their strikes, Beatrix''s fireballs forced Viggo to constantly divide his attention, never letting him focus on a single opponent.


    "His pendant!" Beatrix shouted at Astar. "And the scythe! You have to break them both!"


    "Cover me!" Grey ordered, his black eyes locked on Viggo¡¯s glowing orb.


    Astar swooped low without hesitation, his pitchfork forcing Viggo to raise his scythe in defense. The opening was brief, but it was enough. Grey lunged forward, his staff hooking the chain that held Viggo¡¯s soul-filled orb. Beatrix''s flames roared past Grey''s shoulder, keeping Viggo from countering as the young Reaper yanked hard on the pendant.


    Beatrix''s blurry vision suddenly sharpened as she caught sight of something down the shoreline. Draculaura, who loved pink and swore off human blood centuries ago, now had her lips pressed to Guillermo''s wrist, drinking deeply from her familiar''s veins.


    Guillermo''s face went pale as paper, but he didn''t move a muscle. He sat perfectly still, almost peaceful, as his blood trickled down Draculaura''s chin, staining the lace collar of her pink top.


    When she finally lifted her head, Draculaura''s violet eyes were now a bright, terrible red. The human blood had changed her, sharpening her dainty features into something ancient. The sweet, bubbly teenager was replaced by a creature that bore an uncanny resemblance to her father.


    Those blood-red eyes locked onto Viggo as she rose. Draculaura opened her mouth and spoke two words: "Be. Still."


    Viggo stilled as Draculaura''s blood-enhanced power seized his mind. The Reaper''s massive body shook as he fought against her control. His fingers twitched on the handle of his scythe ¡ª he wouldn''t be contained for long.


    But a moment was all they needed. Astar saw his chance and took it. With a fierce cry, he plunged his pitchfork deep into Viggo''s side, pinning the Reaper in place. Viggo''s hollow roar vibrated through Beatrix¡¯s bones as Grey darted in, wrenching away both the ancient scythe and the glass pendant that held so many trapped souls.


    "Beatrix!" Grey shouted, throwing Viggo''s scythe to her, desperate to get it away from the Reaper.


    Beatrix didn''t hesitate. When the scythe landed in her hands, her fiery palms searing the dark wood, she brought it down hard against a boulder jutting from the shore.


    The crack rang out across the water as a dark energy exploded from the broken scythe. Like Mahlon and Cassius before him, Viggo began to dissolve, his ancient bones disintegrating into black smoke that whirled away on the cold wind. His robes collapsed empty onto the wet earth.


    Grey lifted Viggo¡¯s pendant high above his head and smashed it against the ground. The pendant shattered and light burst around them in a blinding wave. The trapped souls broke free, spiraling up into a brilliant tornado reaching toward the stars. They flew across campus like shooting stars falling to earth, each one seeking its rightful owner to revive the fallen students.


    Beatrix and Grey stared at each other, both breathing hard. The triumph in Grey¡¯s eyes matched the wild relief in her chest ¡ª they''d done it, they''d actually done it.


    Without thinking, Grey let go of his scythe, letting it clatter against the rocky shore. He took a step toward her as Beatrix pressed her hands into the cool grass, letting the fire magic seep away until the last flames died out. She pushed herself up, her exhausted muscles protesting, but she couldn''t have cared less. A giddy grin spread across her face as she scrambled to her feet and practically launched herself at Grey, heart soaring.


    He caught her mid-leap, strong arms locking around her waist as she crashed into him. The impact sent them spinning around, and Grey laughed ¡ª an actual laugh, rich and real and completely new to her ears in the night air.


    "We did it!" Beatrix squealed, her face buried against his shoulder. She could feel his heart hammering against her chest, matching her own frantic rhythm. They spun together, squeezing tight, neither of them caring how cheesy they looked.


    Then a scraping sound interrupted their celebration.


    They stopped, and Beatrix lifted her head from Grey''s shoulder just enough to see Astar, who had moved to stand a few feet away from them. His taloned fingers were curling around the handle of Grey''s abandoned scythe as he straightened up, looking over the weapon dangerously. Ice flooded Beatrix''s veins.


    "Astar? What are you..."


    Was he about to break Grey''s scythe in half? Destroy Grey, just like the other Reapers?


    ¡°DON¡¯T!¡± Beatrix cried out.


    But when Astar''s yellow eyes lifted from the weapon, they weren''t focused on Grey at all. They were on Beatrix, still in Grey''s arms. Something terrible seemed to dawn in those inhuman eyes.


    "You lied," Astar said, his voice soft but cutting. "Autumn wasn''t in there, was she?" He clutched the scythe harder.


    "Astar¡ª" Grey released Beatrix, trying to rush between them to shield her, but Astar was too fast.


    The scythe swung down straight at Beatrix. She saw it coming, but she was too scared to move, to even breathe¡ª


    Numbness ripped through Beatrix''s body, every nerve dying as her soul was ripped away, leaving her floating in¡­ nothing. Black empty nothingness. Where was she?


    The void exploded into light.


    Colors danced and spiraled around her like paint in water, first as thin as ribbons, then as vast waves that pulled her along in their current. Crimson melted into blue, emerald green burst into gold, until a deep violet took over.


    The violet fractured like stained glass, and through the cracks poured memories that didn''t belong to her:


    A torch-lit cave¡­ a coven standing wrapped in ceremonial robes¡­ their hidden faces chanting in an ancient tongue¡­


    The vision was replaced by a young woman Beatrix had never seen before¡­ she had black hair that reached her knees, crowned with streaks of orange and purple, as she studied herself in a cracked mirror. Suddenly, her face twisted in horror¡­ the woman''s skin began to turn a harsh green, first at her fingertips, then it crept up and up¡­ the woman clawed at her arms, her hands, her face ¡ª trying to tear the color from her body¡­


    She melted away¡­ now Beatrix saw a short girl with freckles. Somehow Beatrix knew this was a young Greta, when she was still human four centuries ago, smiling brightly in a sunny meadow. Greta was teaching another girl the names of herbs, her laughter ringing across the grass¡­ the two girls ran arm-in-arm down a winding mountain path, their skirts catching the wind as purple wildflowers swayed behind them¡­


    Beatrix''s own memories began to seep through with that same dreamlike quality. She was six years old again¡­ watching her mom¡¯s car disappear down her aunts'' gravel driveway¡­ Beatrix¡¯s small hand gripped the handle of her suitcase as her aunts loomed over her, their stern faces already planning how to shape their wayward niece into a proper witch¡­


    The scene twisted, pulling her into the main house on the farm¡­ into the musty attic¡­ now she was thirteen, secretly practicing magic by candlelight while her aunts slept below¡­ her fingers trembled as she tried to levitate one of Aunt Cordelia¡¯s teacups ¡ª just a simple floating spell¡­ the cup shuddered, rose an inch, then exploded into razor-sharp shards¡­ one sliced Beatrix¡¯s cheek before she could duck¡­ she pressed her sleeve against the cut, fighting back tears. Why couldn''t she get it right like other witches could? Hopelessness pressed in around her like the darkness beyond her candle''s light¡­


    The memory wrenched violently, throwing her into the farmhouse kitchen. Aunt Cordelia, Constance, and Clarice were huddled around their dining table, their faces filled with terror¡­ What was scaring them so badly? Then she saw it: a monstrous shadow in front of them, crowned with massive twisted horns that touched the ceiling¡­ her aunts fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the floorboards as they begged for mercy¡­


    The visions began to spiral, each more bizarre than the last: Bram and Vilhelm''s red eyes glowing in that dark New Salem alley as they drained those human girls dry¡­ ancient pyramids rising from desert sands... a tomb sealed for millennia, its surface carved with hieroglyphs... a man in Egyptian garb, shrouded in shadow, raising what appeared to be a wand¡­ Grey standing alone beside a steaming river of fire, his black eyes reflecting flames as souls burned around him. When Beatrix reached for him, her hand was old, wrinkled, skin rapidly withering away, just like Venus¡¯s carnivorous plants had when the Mahlon, Viggo, and Cassius slashed them with their scythes¡­


    Deuce¡¯s voice, his story from the All Hallow¡¯s Eve campfire, echoed through it all: And that¡¯s where they remain¡­ alone in the dark¡­ with nothing but their own minds to keep them company for all eternity¡­ both heaven and hell haven''t answered¡­


    Then Beatrix was back in the scarecrow village, watching Aunt Clarice create Autumn from hay and cloth. When Autumn breathed her first breath, she turned to her, but her button eyes were cold, distant, clouded with betrayal...


    Beatrix looked down. In her hands was a long, black knife, her fingers wrapped around the handle. She was driving it into her own stomach. A young, human Greta screamed. But her voice was quickly drowned out by another scream, from something monstrous ¡ª no, demonic.


    Beatrix tumbled through this kaleidoscope of horrors until it split open, and¡ª


    Everything stilled. The chaos settled like dust after a storm, and Beatrix found herself standing in a bright forest glade. She was in the woods surrounding Monster High, before the school existed on the mountainside, the trees younger, brighter, untouched by death. Across from her stood a young woman with kind eyes and a servant''s simple dress.


    "Petra." The name fell from Beatrix''s lips. Before she became Spectra. Before she''d sacrificed everything to save her friend.


    Beatrix stared at the young girl before her ¡ª so different from the vengeful spirit she¡¯d become. Petra smiled sadly at Beatrix. For a moment, there was no hatred between them ¡ª only understanding passing between their two souls.


    The forest dissolved as they drifted apart into the swirling void¡­


    Beatrix gasped awake, cold mud from the lagoon¡¯s shore pressing against her back. Warmth flooded into her limbs as her soul reconnected with her body, every sensation sharp and new ¡ª the bite of rainfall, the scent of wet grass, her own heartbeat.


    She jolted up to see Grey and Astar locked in combat, their bodies silhouettes wrestling against the moonlit water. The rain had started up again, and it pelted her face as she watched them. Golden blood trickled from Astar¡¯s split lip where Grey had landed a punch, while Grey''s face was carved up with angry red cuts from Astar''s talons.


    Grey''s scythe lay forgotten beside them, and at their feet was scattered shards glinting in the darkness ¡ª the remains of Grey¡¯s orb necklace.


    A purple wisp of light drifted up from the broken glass. It was Spectra, but the spirit no longer seemed interested in tormenting Beatrix. Instead, she simply disappeared into the night sky without so much as a glance back.


    The crack of Grey''s elbow smashing into Astar''s jaw made Beatrix wince. The devil tripped away, his yellow eyes glaring first at Grey, then landing on Beatrix.


    Whatever was going through the devil''s head remained a mystery, as he suddenly flapped his wings with a powerful swoop and shot into the air, vanishing into the storm-dark clouds above.


    Once the sound of the devil¡¯s wings faded, Grey turned to Beatrix slowly, the fight draining from his body all at once. "Beatrix?" he said, like he couldn''t believe it. Then he was right there beside her, his legs giving out as he dropped down.


    Rain poured down his face as he leaned in close, his hands shaking above her shoulders, like he was afraid she might disappear if he touched her. In the harsh moonlight, she could see his eyes wild with hope and fear all tangled up together. He was beat to hell, covered in cuts and already-swelling bruises.


    She blinked at him, her fingers brushing against one of the glittering pieces of his orb that had scattered near her ¡ª it was warm.


    That¡¯s when she realized: her soul had been trapped inside Grey¡¯s pendant. And he¡¯d broken it, even though it meant letting Spectra loose too.


    Grey''s hands reached for her face. "I didn''t¡ª" He brushed wet strands of hair from her forehead, his touch lingering like he needed to convince himself she was really there. "I couldn''t let him¡ª the ghost that possessed you escaped, but I had to get you out... because¡­ because I¡ª"


    The emotion in his voice knocked down the last of Beatrix''s walls. She surged forward and pressed her lips to his, the kiss rain-soaked and desperate. When she pulled back, shocked by her own boldness, Grey looked like he''d forgotten how to breathe.


    For a heartbeat, they stared at each other.


    Then his fingers tangled in her dripping hair and he pulled her right back in. The rain faded away until all Beatrix could feel was the warmth of his lips, the pressure of his hands in her hair, the way her breath hitched when he shifted closer.


    ¡°You were fangtastic, Guillermo! How are you feeling?¡± Beatrix heard Draculaura gush, making Beatrix and Grey part abruptly, both flushed and breathless.


    The vampire''s voice sounded much stronger now, full of bubbly enthusiasm. Draculaura stood nearby in the rain, droplets sliding down her black bangs, one arm wrapped around Guermillo''s shoulders. Her eyes were slowly fading from blood-red back to their usual violet.


    Guillermo grinned like he''d just won a prize, even as he pressed a hand to his still-bleeding wrist. "Don¡¯t worry, master¡­ I¡¯m doing great¡ª" he managed, right before his complexion went green, looking ready to throw up any second. Draculaura let out a warm, affectionate laugh at her familiar''s brave front, her violet eyes twinkling.


    A crash of breaking branches announced Abbey''s return as she emerged from the woods where Levi''s tentacle had hurled her. With twigs and leaves tangled through her white hair, she looked like she''d wrestled a tree.


    Draculaura brightened. "Abbey! Oh my ghoul, you''re okay!"


    Abbey brushed the dirt off herself like it was nothing. "Takes more than angry squid to keep Abbey down."


    "Over here, mate. Mind your step." Lagoona was guiding Deuce around the edge of the Black Lagoon, which now looked like a warzone thanks to Levi''s rampage. "We gotta fix those shades¡­" Lagoona glanced around at the group. "Anyone got something we can use to patch Deuce¡¯s glasses up?"


    Despite still looking queasy, Guillermo dug through his pockets, wincing at the bruises Spectra had given him earlier. He pulled out a roll of tape with flourish. "A good familiar always carries emergency supplies.¡±


    Lagoona carefully helped Deuce with his sunglasses, and the gorgon slipped his shades on. He cautiously opened one eye. "Phew. This should do the trick," he said as his snake-hair relaxed. "You guys are the best ¡ª for real."


    That''s when they all noticed Beatrix and Grey tangled together on the ground, Beatrix¡¯s hands pressed against his chest, Grey¡¯s arms still around her.


    "Are we interrupting something?" Draculaura''s playful question made Beatrix and Grey spring apart as if they''d been shocked, both of them blushing furiously.


    As the group''s good-natured laughter and teasing washed over them, Grey and Beatrix''s eyes met. Beatrix couldn¡¯t help but laugh too, and Grey''s lips twitched up at the corner in that subtle way of his ¡ª a tiny smile meant just for her.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The first rays of sunlight painted the sky as Beatrix and the others made their way to Monster High''s gates. A crowd had already formed ¡ª students and teachers mingling together, including those who''d just gotten their souls back after Viggo''s pendant shattered. Beatrix felt her chest tighten with joy watching monsters finding each other in the crowd, hugging and crying and laughing. They were bruised and exhausted, but they''d made it through together.


    Grey''s fingers were woven through hers as they walked toward the growing crowd. Her heart skipped when he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.


    As they moved through the sea of monsters, Beatrix caught pieces of excited chatter. "Did you see our Trix in action?" Marsha''s voice rang out, bursting with pride as she bragged to the other lunch ladies. "Who knew our chef had that kind of fight in her?"


    Beatrix''s smile faded when she realized Greta wasn''t there with the other creepateria staff. Those strange visions of Greta as a young human flashed through her mind ¡ª her laughter echoing across that sun-drenched meadow with Petra...


    Mr. Gore stood near the entrance, looking dazed but whole again now that his soul was back where it belonged. "Professor!" Johannah called out as she ran up to him. "You missed everything ¡ª Beatrix, Grey, everyone, they were amazing!"


    "Well then," Mr. Gore chuckled weakly, adjusting his crooked bow tie, "I suppose they''ve more than earned their passing grades in Monster Sensitivity, don''t you think?"


    Cleo threw herself at Deuce, kissing him with such passion that several teachers awkwardly looked away. Not far from them, Frankie yanked Holt''s headphones off mid-song, catching a very confused Jackson as he transformed back into himself. She wrapped him in a tight hug, sparks flying.


    "What... what did I miss?" Jackson stammered through fogged-up glasses.


    Through the crowd, Beatrix saw Autumn swept up in a group hug with Abbey, Lagoona, and an unusually friendly Toralei. Meanwhile, the wolf pack had formed a rowdy circle around Orion, howling and cheering as he showed off his missing fang to Howleen.


    "So there I am, right?" Guillermo''s voice carried across the courtyard, his hands flying dramatically as he acted out the battle for a group of vampires. They huddled close under their parasols, shielding themselves from the pink-gold sunrise while hanging on his every word. "I whip off my vest ¡ª whoosh! ¡ª and throw it right over her head!¡±


    Beatrix felt Grey''s fingers tense around hers. She looked up to see his eyes scanning the horizon, the morning sun lighting up the red scratches Astar''s talons had left across his face. "Parents are going to start showing up soon," he murmured, worry creeping into his voice.


    "Oh no," Beatrix groaned. "How am I even supposed to explain my part in all this? Where do I even start?"


    "Hey," Grey said softly, giving her hand a squeeze. He nodded toward the gates. "Look ¡ª you won''t have to do it alone."


    A dark figure was standing at the school gates. This Reaper moved differently from the others they''d fought ¡ª there was something regal in his posture, commanding respect rather than fear. Grey''s whole face lit up as he broke into a run toward his dad. The Grim Reaper''s attention went first to his son, then shifted to Headmistress Bloodgood. When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle. "Nora... I came as soon as I saw your calls.¡±


    They moved away from the celebrating crowd, though Beatrix noticed more than a few students trying to eavesdrop, necks craning to catch what was being said. As Beatrix got closer, the darkness under the Grim Reaper¡¯s hood wasn''t the same impenetrable black as the others. She could actually make out his features, so similar to Grey''s but weathered by time. The Grim Reaper¡¯s black eyes fixed on her, studying her with an intensity that made her want to shrink back. "So. You''re the witch who helped my son."


    Beatrix shifted her weight nervously, fighting the urge to look away. Even seeing the clear resemblance to Grey, there was something deeply unsettling about being in Death''s gaze.


    "Dad," Grey jumped in, sensing Beatrix¡¯s discomfort, "we took down all three of them. And the souls they trapped in their pendants ¡ª we broke everyone free.¡±


    "So I''ve heard." The Grim Reaper tilted his head slightly toward Bloodgood, something unspoken passing between them. "It¡¯s fortunate you shattered their pendants before they processed those souls through the afterlife. Very fortunate indeed."


    "Tell me," Bloodgood said quietly, her eyes sharp. "Was I right? Did those three attack the school to overthrow you as CEO of Death Co.?"


    "I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. And the devils were more than happy to help, of course," the Grim Reaper answered, a trace of bitterness in his voice.


    Beatrix leaned closer to Grey, keeping her voice low. "How would taking down Monster High overthrow him?"


    "Death Co. works like a democracy," Grey explained, aware of his father and Bloodgood listening. "The CEO position is determined by popular vote among Reapers. Mahlon, Cassius, and Viggo figured they might win points with the underworld by destroying Monster High and the ''controversial'' monster-Reaper peace treaty here¡­¡±


    "They thought they''d gather enough support to force me out," his father finished.


    "Hells¡­ sir, I''m so sorry about everything," Beatrix burst out, the words tumbling over each other as the Grim Reaper¡¯s presence made her nervous system buzz. ¡°If I''d known I was a pawn... I mean, the devils and those Reapers working together, using me to¡ª"


    The Grim Reaper''s hood tilted slightly, and she could have sworn she saw the ghost of a smile. "A witch with connections to devils showing up at Monster High... it definitely spelled trouble. But even I didn''t see this particular disaster coming. Don''t torture yourself over it. And... thank you."


    The Grim Reaper looked between Grey and Beatrix, and something like warmth crept into his voice. "You both showed real backbone out there. Maybe there''s hope for witches and Reapers cooperating after all."


    Grey''s fingers found hers again, squeezing gently. She held on tight, returning the Grim Reaper¡¯s smile.


    The celebrating crowd at the gates gradually grew quieter as Beatrix took a step toward the Grim Reaper. There was still one crucial thing that needed to be solved.


    "Sir," she said, fighting to keep her voice steady despite her racing heart. "About what happens to monster souls after... after death. Does it have to be hellfire? It seems so wrong to condemn them¡­"


    The Grim Reaper studied her for a long moment, those dark eyes impossible to read in the shadows of his hood. "The plagues and evils of this world aren''t mine to decide. That''s the Maker''s domain. I''m just the cosmic paper-pusher who makes sure souls get where they''re meant to go."


    "Is that so?" The crowd split apart as Cassia the Conniving appeared in their midst, her devil entourage lined up behind her. Astar stood at his mom¡¯s left side, crimson wings pulled tight against his back, carefully avoiding Beatrix''s eyes across the courtyard.


    Across the courtyard, Beatrix caught sight of Autumn standing alone, staring at Astar with hurt in her eyes. But Astar might as well have been carved from stone, standing at attention with the other devils, giving nothing away.


    "Cassia." The Grim Reaper''s voice stayed level, but Beatrix felt the temperature around them drop. "I was wondering when you''d show your face."


    "Your own son, taking down three Reapers?" Cassia''s painted lips curved into something that wasn''t quite a grin. "Wouldn''t have missed it for the world."


    Grey tensed beside Beatrix, but his father''s hand came down firmly on his shoulder. "My son defended himself against those who twisted everything we stand for. I''m officially pardoning him of any wrongdoing in this matter."


    Whispers spread through the crowd.


    "How... touching," Cassia practically purred, her voice sticky-sweet with mock sincerity. "And completely self-serving. You do realize how this will look to the other Reapers, don''t you? Destroying your own kind is sacred law." Her eyes glinted with cruel satisfaction. "Makes things rather messy for your plans to hand over that CEO chair to young Grey, doesn''t it?"


    "Though perhaps," Cassia went on, examining her polished claws as if they were having a casual chat over coffee, "we could work something out. Something that works for everyone involved." She paused, letting the tension build. "A new approach to monster souls. No more automatic ticket to hellfire. We evaluate each case individually. After all..." Her smile revealed far too many teeth. "Shouldn''t every being on Earth get to choose their final destination?"


    "And what''s your price?" the Grim Reaper asked. There was always a catch when dealing with devils.


    "Your son." Cassia''s eyes fixed on Grey. "He steps down from the CEO track. Instead, he becomes our ambassador to Hell ¡ª for my circle specifically. Only the fifth circle. A bridge between our worlds."


    The crowd held its breath. Grey''s father stood motionless, his dark robes stirring in the dawn breeze. "And if I say no?"


    "Then nothing changes. Monster souls keep burning. Their eternal suffering continues to feed our flames." Cassia gave an elegant shrug. ¡°But wouldn''t you rather be the forward-thinking leader who changed an unjust system? With your son blazing the trail between realms?"


    Before his father could speak, Grey stepped forward. "I''ll do it."


    "Son¡ª" the Grim Reaper started, but Grey cut him off.


    "Dad, no. She''s right ¡ª this has to change. And if this is what it takes..." He straightened up to look Cassia dead in the eye. "I''ll do it."


    Cassia''s smile was like watching a knife unsheathe. ¡°Swell. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you.¡±


    While the demons around Cassia began to fade like morning mist, she turned those razor-sharp eyes on Beatrix. "Oh, and little witch? It¡¯s such a shame we''re parting on bad terms. Watch yourself, won''t you? We have... special arrangements... for those who fail to do what we ask." Her final words hung in the air like poison: "Why don''t you ask your aunts about it sometime?"


    With that, Cassia was gone. Just as Astar was about to leave alongside her, Autumn burst through the crowd, reaching for his arm. Beatrix couldn''t hear what passed between them, but she watched Autumn''s determined expression crumble into confusion at whatever he said. Then he disappeared too, leaving Autumn reaching for empty air, her hand grasping at nothing but a memory.


    The crowd stayed quiet for a heartbeat before erupting into whispers as the reality sank in ¡ª no more automatic hellfire waiting for them after death. But the victory felt hollow, tainted.


    Beatrix looked up at Grey, her heart tight with worry. He met her eyes, and for just a moment, she saw his mask slip ¡ª saw the fear and uncertainty he was trying so hard to hide.


    "What... what does this mean?" she whispered. "You''ll be living between worlds?"


    "I... I honestly don''t know," he admitted softly.


    Near the gates, the Grim Reaper pulled Bloodgood aside, their heads close together as they spoke in hushed, urgent tones. The Grim Reaper seemed ready to leave, his shoulders heavy with the weight of what had just transpired, troubled by this devil''s bargain his son had agreed to.


    Something caught Beatrix''s eye as they spoke ¡ª a flicker of purple in the woods beyond. Spectra''s ethereal form emerged from between the trees. The ghost''s eyes were clear now, free of the hatred that had consumed her for so long.


    "Wait!" Beatrix called out as the Grim Reaper prepared to leave. "There''s something else. A monster who actually wants to pass on." She pointed to where Spectra hovered. "There''s a spirit here who''s no longer bound to this mountainside. She''d like to be taken to the afterlife."


    The Grim Reaper stood silent for a moment, his presence commanding the attention of the crowd. "I see¡­" He turned to address everyone, his dark eyes sweeping over them. "If any among you wish to move on from an immortality you never asked for, I will guide you myself. Every monster has the right to choose their path, even if that means continuing lives marked by struggle or darkness. But understand this ¡ª I know true evil when I see it, and it is not what stands before me."


    A ripple of uncertainty went through the monsters there, but no one moved.


    Then, from the back, someone walked forward ¡ª Greta, her green skin almost glowing in the morning light. "I think," she said, soft but certain, "it''s time."


    At the sight of her old friend, Spectra drifted forward from the shadows of the woods. The two moved toward each other as if drawn by an invisible thread, and when their eyes met, centuries of pain seemed to melt away from both their faces. They were sticking together again, this time for good.


    The Grim Reaper stepped forward, drawing forth a scythe unlike any Beatrix had seen before. Its handle was adorned with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as she watched. When he raised it, the motion wasn¡¯t threatening. The light of souls shone from the crystal orb hanging from his scythe¡¯s base, bathing Spectra and Greta in a soft, otherworldly glow as they faced him, ready to cross over together.


    Just before the end, Spectra and Beatrix¡¯s eyes locked one last time. Beatrix gave her a gentle nod ¡ª telling her without words that everything would be alright.


    The scythe descended in a graceful arc. In a flash of light, Spectra vanished, and Greta''s body was tenderly gathered by the staff to be given a proper burial.


    The Grim Reaper turned to Grey. "We''ll talk soon about this new... arrangement." He then nodded to Bloodgood before starting down Monster High''s front path alone. Just as the Grim Reaper reached the treeline beyond the school, reality seemed to ripple around him, space folding in ways that made Beatrix''s brain hurt, and he slipped into the shadows, leaving only the whisper of wind through leaves.


    "Well," Headmistress Bloodgood''s voice finally spoke up, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to her. "I believe it goes without saying that finals are canceled this year."


    A wave of cheers erupted from the gathered students.


    "As well as prom."


    The cheers came to a halt, replaced by a collective groan.


    "What?" Draculaura''s voice rose above the others, her hands flying to her cheeks in horror. "But I already bought my dress!"


    "And I''ve been working on my moves!" Deuce protested, launching into what he probably thought was an impressive dance but looked more like a zombie having a seizure. Next to him, Cleo pressed her hand to her face, hiding her secondhand embarrassment.


    As the crowd dissolved into excited chatter and playful arguments, Bloodgood turned to Beatrix. "I suppose I''ll need to reconsider the ban on magic on campus." A smile tugged at the headmistress¡¯s lips. "At least for one particularly troublesome witch."


    Warmth bloomed in Beatrix as she looked around at her Monster High family. They were battered and exhausted, sure, but they were alive. Grey''s fingers laced with hers again, his thumb drawing soft circles on her hand that sent little shivers up her arm. In that moment, despite everything ¡ª despite devils, deals, and an uncertain future ¡ª she knew this was where she belonged.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    "LET¡¯S PART-AY!!!" Holt''s voice boomed over the pulsing music that made Draculaura''s entire mansion practically shaking. The whole school had packed into her place in the woods for their unofficial celebration, just a few days after their visit with the Grim Reaper. The windows lit up with spinning colors while Abbey''s ice sculptures turned the rooms into something between a dance club and an ice palace that moved with Holt''s beats.


    Beatrix saw Frankie and Clawdeen in the crowd, talking animatedly as they planned elaborate beach trips with the kind of excitement that only comes from narrowly avoiding Death and living to talk about it.


    "Guess we got our prom after all," Autumn said with a laugh as they pushed through the packed room.


    Toralei slipped up next to Autumn, flashing a feline grin. "Can''t get in trouble if Bloodgood can''t see it, right?"


    "Beatrix!" someone called out. She spun around to see Guillermo waving at her, standing next to ¡ª of all people ¡ª Henry Hunchback, now very much alive and kicking, dancing like he''d never left.


    "Thank ghoul you didn¡¯t get cremated!" Beatrix said as she made her way over. "It¡¯s nice to finally meet you!¡±


    "Man, you should''ve seen the morgue security guard when I sat up,¡± Henry shouted over the music. ¡°Thought the poor guy was gonna pass out!"


    A chorus of happy howls erupted from deeper in the party ¡ª the wolf pack celebrating with Brocko, who was just as back-from-the-dead as Henry.


    "BEATRIX!" Draculaura''s high-pitched squeal called to her. The pink vampire appeared with Cleo at her side, both of them trying ¡ª and failing ¡ª to hide something behind their backs.


    "We''ve got a little surprise for you!" Draculaura announced.


    "Can''t have you missing out on the group chat over summer break, can we?" Cleo pulled out a sleek black iCoffin. "Consider yourself officially part of the Ghoul Squad."


    "You bought me a phone!? You guys didn¡¯t have to..." Beatrix felt her throat get tight, touched.


    Draculaura bounced on her toes. "Oh! By the way ¡ª is it true Bloodgood''s letting you come back next year?"


    "As a real student this time," Beatrix confirmed, then added with a self-conscious laugh, "Though I should probably warn you ¡ª I''m not exactly what you''d call ¡®academically-gifted¡¯..."


    "Please," Cleo waved her hand dismissively. "Have you seen how Clawd does in Dead Languages?"


    "Hey!" Clawd''s voice carried over from nearby. "I heard that!"


    The night stretched on. Vampires danced with werewolves, ghosts floated among gorgons, witches and normies mixed together ¡ª celebrating not just the end of an absolutely insane year, but the beginning of something entirely new.


    Through the pulsing lights, Beatrix spotted Grey cornered by Heath, nodding along politely while the fire elemental rambled about whether Abbey''s looks from across the room meant anything. Beatrix bit back a grin as she headed over, reaching for Grey''s hand.


    "Sorry Heath," she said, not sorry at all, "but I need to steal him for a minute." She led Grey out to Draculaura''s massive balcony, where the party sounds became a distant thrum. Beatrix pulled out her new black iCoffin, holding it up next to his matching phone case. "Look ¡ª we''re phone twins now."


    "Let me see," Grey said, surprised, taking the phone to put in his number.


    "So," Beatrix bumped his shoulder, trying to keep things light despite the weight of what she was asking. "Heard anything about your... uh¡­ new job?"


    Grey¡¯s face fell. "Not much yet... Becoming an ambassador for the fifth circle is some way to end my senior year¡­ It''s all Dad talks about now. That, and my grades this semester."


    Beatrix nudged him playfully. "Been slacking off?"


    "Hard to focus on grades when you''re fighting killer Reapers," Grey gave her a half-smile. "And chasing you around."


    She laughed at that, then grew more serious. "I''m sorry about what happened with Cassia. Just... keep me posted about what it all means, okay? We''ll figure something out. I mean, I was able to wiggle out of a permanent devil contract after all."


    Grey''s knuckles whitened against the balcony railing, worry creating deep lines around his eyes. Beatrix''s heart ached at his distress. She covered his hand with hers, making him visibly relax. His expression softened, vulnerability replacing the harder edges as he met her eyes.


    Grey¡¯s hand came up to brush her cheek. Then he leaned in, close enough that she could feel his breath against her lips, and he kissed her. The kiss was gentle at first, then hungry as Beatrix pressed closer. Grey backed her against the railing, one hand sliding to her waist, his body caging hers as he deepened the kiss. The chill night air raised goosebumps on her arms, but everywhere they touched felt like fire. Her hands roamed across his shoulders, feeling the muscle beneath his shirt. He broke the kiss only to trail his lips along her jaw before capturing her mouth again. When they finally pulled apart, Grey stayed close, his forehead resting against hers.


    "You better come visit me this summer," Beatrix said.


    "I will."


    "And you better not make me wait more than a week, or I might start thinking you only like me for my spells."


    "Your cooking''s not bad either,¡± he teased.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Beatrix playfully swatted at his chest.


    The smile hadn''t yet faded from her lips when a shadow swept overhead, blotting out the glittering stars. Wings ¡ª broad and silent against the velvet-dark sky. Beatrix''s pulse jumped. "Did you see¡ª"


    Grey frowned up at the darkness. Beatrix slipped from his arms, following the shadow''s path along Draculaura''s balcony. She rounded the corner and found Autumn standing alone, her face tilted to the sky as an owl disappeared into the night.


    "Oh!" Autumn jumped when she noticed her, hastily wiping at her eyes. "Sorry, I thought... for a second..." She couldn''t finish, but she didn''t need to.


    "Me too," Beatrix said quietly, knowing exactly who her friend had hoped those wings belonged to.


    Autumn drew a shaky breath, wrapping her arms around herself. After a long moment, Autumn spoke again with a hollow sort of humor. "You know what''s weird? Birds don''t scare me anymore." She gave a weak laugh. "Funny how things change."


    Beatrix settled beside her friend, letting her shoulder brush against the scarecrow¡¯s in silent support. Grey followed, and all three of them gazed up at the starry sky together, each lost in their own thoughts. The night carried the faint scent of spring.


    "You know¡­¡± Beatrix said. ¡°We don''t have to go back to the farm for summer break."


    Autumn turned to face her, moonlight catching the stitches at the corners of her mouth as concern filled her face. "But your aunts... they''re already mad that you went against them. Is making them angrier really the best idea?"


    "That''s exactly why we should stay away,¡± Beatrix said.


    "But¡­" Autumn started, "... your aunts aren''t exactly the scariest thing we''ve faced lately¡­ Besides," Autumn¡¯s voice softened, "we can''t just abandon everyone in the scarecrow village. And you''re different now, Bea. You¡¯re stronger than when we left."


    "I guess you¡¯re right¡­¡± Beatrix sighed. ¡°I bet I can help change things up at the farm when we get back¡­"


    Grey stayed quiet beside them as the girls worked through their thoughts.


    "Bea," Autumn said cautiously, "I know you don''t want to hear this, but Astar did help us in the end. That gorgon sight he gave you¡ª"


    "Oh, come on," Beatrix said. "All he did was tell us how to trap a Reaper long enough to run away. We had to figure out how to actually destroy the horsemen by ourselves. Everything that mattered? That was all us.¡±


    "No, there''s something you don''t know,¡± Autumn insisted. ¡°That day, when Grey¡¯s dad showed up, I tried to reach Astar in the crowd... but my hand went right through his arm. He wasn''t solid anymore, Bea. That means the devil contract between you two was already broken."


    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Beatrix asked.


    ¡°Before Astar left with his mom, he told me why he killed you with Grey''s scythe. He did it to break your temporary contract with him. A devil familiar can break their contract by..." she hesitated, "by killing the person they''re bound to. That''s why he did it. To free you."


    Beatrix stared her friend''s face, shocked Autumn was still defending the demon after everything he¡¯d done. "You''re saying I should be grateful he murdered me?" Beatrix''s words came out harsher than intended.


    "No, that''s not¡ª" Autumn struggled to find the right words. "Look, you know what happens if you fail to obey a devil while you¡¯re in a contract with them¡­ If he hadn''t done something..."


    The balcony door creaked open, cutting her off. They turned to see a girl step out, obviously trying to escape the party inside. Beatrix recognized her immediately ¡ª it was Gilda Goldstag, the same face and antlers Beatrix had seen on all those memorial posters during her first week at Monster High.


    "Oh, sorry to interrupt," Gilda said quietly, shrinking under their gaze. "I just needed some air. Parties aren''t really my thing. I feel so... out of place. Everyone keeps talking about all these crazy things that happened while I was... gone."


    Something in Beatrix softened at Gilda''s lost expression. She managed a gentle smile. "You might want to sit down. We''ve got a lot to catch you up on."


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    The evening sun stretched Beatrix and Autumn¡¯s shadows like dark fingers as they trudged up the dusty farm road from the train station, their suitcases leaving tracks in the dirt behind them.


    Autumn let out a tired huff as she peeled off her "normie" disguise. They''d passed through several human towns on their journey back from New Salem, so Autumn had wrapped a black scarf around her face to hide her painted features and hidden her straw-filled body in a long, bulky jacket.


    Just then, excited shrieks erupted from the cornfield nearby.


    "Autumn! Bea!" A small stampede of little scarecrows burst through the corn stalks, led by Autumn''s youngest cousin who bounced more than ran, bits of straw drifting from her patched dress. They were all holding woven crowns made from wildflowers.


    "Welcome home!" they chorused, their stitched smiles stretching wide as they rose on their tiptoes to place the crowns on both girls'' heads.


    "We missed you all so much!" Beatrix laughed, bending down to scoop up the nearest child in a hug. Within seconds, both she and Autumn were swarmed by scarecrow kids, who clung to their legs and arms as they continued down the road.


    The scarecrow village came into view down the slope ¡ª a cluster of cabins and barns around an old church with a steeple. All of Autumn¡¯s family and friends had gathered in the packed dirt yard to welcome them home. Beatrix spotted Autumn''s Grandpa Harry, his burlap skin softened to a gentle grey with age, leaning on his wooden cane. By the well, some of the older scarecrow boys ¡ª Raine, Sawyer, Forrest, and Oakley ¡ª were doing their best to look casual, though they couldn''t hide their curiosity about Autumn''s unexpected early return.


    "Oh Granny," Autumn said as they reached the group, adjusting her slightly crooked flower crown. "You won¡¯t believe what happened this year..."


    Granny Magpie wiped flour-covered hands on her apron. "Your letters did get rather... interesting toward the end there," Granny Magpie said with a raised eyebrow, though her smile was warm as she wrapped both girls in a hug that smelled like fresh bread.


    Several of the scarecrows stepped forward to help with Beatrix''s bags, but she shook her head. "It''s okay ¡ª I can handle this part myself." Beatrix noticed their poorly hidden relief ¡ª none of them were exactly jumping at the chance to get close to the looming Victorian manor where the witches lived.


    "Haven''t seen your aunts around for a few days now," Granny Magpie mentioned, keeping her voice carefully neutral. "Been awful quiet up at the main house lately."


    "Yeah..." Beatrix said, fidgeting with the leather strap of her bag as she glanced at the dark house on the other side of the property. "They¡¯re not happy with me¡­" Beatrix straightened up to face the long walk ahead. "Wish me luck."


    The dirt path winding between the corn stalks seemed to stretch forever as Beatrix made her way to the main house. When she finally slipped in through the old back door, she noticed the remnants of scorch marks still across the spell room''s floor and walls ¡ª leftovers from that disastrous pyrokinesis potion before school started. Back when Beatrix¡¯s life was way simpler.


    The kitchen welcomed her with bundles of dried herbs dangling from the ceiling rafters, spellbooks piled in precarious towers, and that same old smell of burnt sage and old magic that had worked its way deep into the house''s bones over the decades. Beatrix¡¯s bags hit the floor at the bottom of the stairs with a hollow thud that echoed through the weird silence.


    Something was definitely off. The house¡¯s front door was slightly ajar ¡ª letting in a whisper of breeze. That was totally unlike her aunts, who were obsessive about their privacy, guarding it like dragons hoarding gold.


    "Hello? Aunt Constance?" Beatrix called out, her voice sounding too loud in her ears. "Aunt Cordelia? Clarice?"


    Nothing.


    Her iCoffin suddenly buzzed at her hip. Her heart did a little flip when she saw Grey''s name lighting up the screen ¡ª after that kiss at Draculaura¡¯s, just seeing his name gave her butterflies.


    "Miss me already?" she answered, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.


    "Maybe," Grey said. She could hear the smile in his voice. "Though I''m also calling to see how much trouble you¡¯re in."


    Her elation at hearing Grey eased Beatrix¡¯s nerves. "Not sure yet..." Beatrix glanced around the empty entryway. ¡°It¡¯s weird¡­ My aunts aren¡¯t here. I think they went out¡ª"


    She stopped. Her eyes fell on something out of place on the wooden floor ¡ª an elegant calling card adorned with a crimson sigil. Picking it up, she turned it over to find cursive scrawled on the back:


    Cassia the Conniving. Demon Duchess of the Fifth Circle of Hell.


    No.


    No no no.


    Her aunts wouldn''t have... they couldn''t have...


    ¡°Beatrix?" Grey asked.


    The card slipped from Beatrix¡¯s numb fingers as she rushed into the dining room.


    ¡°Beatrix, you okay?¡±


    Time froze as Beatrix took in the sight of her family''s long mahogany table ¡ª and the three witches'' hats and black robes lying in crumpled heaps before it.


    With a hand that wouldn''t stop shaking, Beatrix reached out and pulled back the heavy fabric of Aunt Cordelia''s cloak.


    Beneath it lay bones. Bare, gleaming bones.


    Just like the villagers. The ones Spectra and Greta had watched melt from the inside out centuries ago.


    That¡¯s when she knew. Her aunts had sworn their souls to Cassia.


    And when they failed to push Beatrix into Astar''s plans ¡ª failed to fulfill Cassia¡¯s orders to end Monster High for good ¡ª this was the price.


    The only reason Beatrix wasn''t punished along with them, turned into nothing but a pile of bones, was because she was no longer bound to Astar by their temporary contract. Without a tie to a devil, she couldn¡¯t be harmed.


    "B?" Grey''s voice called out from the phone, small and far away. "What happened? Beatrix?? What¡¯s wrong?"


    Beatrix¡¯s iCoffin slipped from her hand, clattering against the hardwood floor.


    ~ o ~ O ~ o ~


    Author¡¯s Note:


    Thank you for reading ¡°Monster High: Season of the Witch¡± !!! This is my first fanfic, so I¡¯ve really appreciated your comments, feedback, and patience as I¡¯ve worked on it!


    Sorry to end things on a dark note (I couldn¡¯t resist haha), but this isn¡¯t the end for these characters. I¡¯m brainstorming a sequel, so stay tuned!


    Thank you so much again for taking the time to read!! <3