Harriet had to park in the Steinsâ cul-de-sac because her driveway was full. Not that Clawdeen minded. Showing up late to her own party was bad enough, but in a beat-up utility vehicle? Fur-get about it.
Clawdeen: Lagoona delivered like Dominoâs!
It was warmer here than at the inn. Or did it feel that way simply because she was about to be reunited with the people she loved?
Draculaura: Our street looks like a used-car lot!
She had managed to not tell Clawdeen that you had texted her, telling her that the party was safe thanks to you, Helsing, Dracula, and even the Steins. Still, Harriet being here was still a surpise.
Harriet: Just think. All these kids are here to celebrate you.
Clawdeen: See? I told you it would be okay.
Still, as Harriet pulled her daughter close, stubble poked through her black blouse and irritated Clawdeenâs bare shoulders. It was another reminder of the risk they were taking. Not only with the party but with the rounding moon. But why think about that when the electronic beat of âThe Timeâ by the Black Eyed Peas was pulsating from the Wolfsâ backyard?
Clawdeen: Woo-hoo!
She and Lala raised their hands over their heads and began dancing and singing their way up the block.
Clawdeen/Draculaura: I had the time of my life, and I never felt this way beforeâ¦
Clawdeen couldnât have been happier. The closer they got, the more she wanted to run. But Cleo always said, âGuests of honor donât run; they appear.â So Clawdeen and Draculaura decided to run and appear excited.
Clawdeen: Whoa.
Dozens of luminary candle bags had been placed on her lawn, lighting a path to the tent in the backyard. Clawdeen recognized them immediately from the de Nilesâ New Yearâs Eve party, and she felt tremendous gratitude to Cleo (well, her staff) for all the hard work. The scene looked like one of those elegant celebrity affairs featured in InStyle magazine.
Harriet: Itâs beautiful.
Suddenly, a tightening sensation gripped Clawdeenâs scalpâ¦heldâ¦and then released. Another growth spurt. Her auburn curls dropped, bounced, and then settled below her shoulders. Luckily, her mother had been too busy admiring the lights to notice. If she had, theyâd be speeding back to the Hideout.
Clawdeen: Whoâs ready?
Draculaura flashed a fang-tabulous smile, and they all linked arms. Rounding the side of her house in a DIY dress and sparkling booties, guided by the luminaries and the sound of Bruno Marsâs latest single, Clawdeen was having a major Dorothy moment. That Kansas normie had gotten one thing right: Thereâs no place like home.
Then someone suddenly fell from a tree right in front of them.
Y/N: Ow.
You pushed yourself up and looked back up at the branch you were trying to set a camera up in. You had a few to keep an eye on the areas around the house as per Dracula's orders, but the branch you were on had broken and you were dropped.
Y/N: Crap. Well, that camera is gone.
You turned around to move onto the next one, but stopped when you were suddenly face to face with Clawdeen. It was the first time the two of you had seen each other since The Ghoul Next Door special aired. Since she had blamed you for what followed.
You looked to Harriet, who you had spoken to earlier. It was how she actually knew that the party was still on. You figured Clawdeen's parents would like to be here for their daughter's party.
Y/N: Uh, hey. H-Happy birthday.
Clawdeen said nothing. Instead, she hugged you. You went tense in surpise.
Clawdeen: I am still mad at you, but Cleo and La told me everything. I'm sorry.
She pulled away and smiled.
Clawdeen: I'm happy that you came.
You let out a sigh of relief. You thought this would be much worse. But you were glad to have your friend back.
Y/N: Well, it might not be exactly as you planned, but we did the best with what we had. Mostly what Cleo had. I never threw a party before.
Clawdeen: Wait, you helped set this up?
You nodded. You then rubbed the back of your neck.
Y/N: Even if it wasn't my fault with the whole uncensored interview thing, I still got you all in this mess. It was the least I could do.
Clawdeen hugged you again, which you returned this time. You then grabbed her by the shoulders.
Y/N: Now, let's party.
----------------------
The golden tent cast a royal glow on the forty-plus guests as DJ Duhman spun things sweaty.
His gear consisted of an iPod touch, a thin black wire, a headset microphone, and refrigerator-sized speakers. His âboothâ, a bronze-plated, hieroglyphic-covered tomb with black-lacquered lionâs paws for legs, had been relegated to the far corner of the tent because Cleo swore he smelled like bananas. And apparently Clawdeen couldnât stand bananas.
I hope she likes Egyptian-themed parties and Middle Eastern munchiesâ¦.
Duhman: We have another contest coming up in T-minus five minutes.
Rainbow-colored dreadlocks hung slack around his pasty face like deflated balloons as he scrolled through his playlist, fading out âThe Timeâ and turning up Bruno Mars.
Cleo finger-pulled Deuce off the dance floor. He plodded behind her dutifully, like a Great Dane being walked by a child. Ten minutes with the exotic beauty and he was already wrapped, just like the jewel garland around her bangs, the gold silk around her legs, and the ruby-red strapless mini around her curves.
Despite Clawdeenâs arrival, the dance floor was still packed. You stopped by a table and took a look at the pictures of Clawdeen as a bald newborn, a thumb-sucking baby, a big-eared toddler, dressed up as a superhero, a tap dancer, a tool-belt-wearing tween. Each picture was more adorable than the next. At least, the photos had been adorable before the boys arrived.
But the pen that was once tied to the guestbook had been used to draw long fingernails on Clawdeenâs hands. Pointy teeth jutted from her mouth, and scribbles of hair covered her face.
Melody swallowed hard to avoid barfing up her baba ghanoush. How could she have let this happen?
Boys: Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
They had moved on to the photo of Clawdeen at her middle school graduation. A guy in a pit-stained polo had drawn a full moon over her head and was now adding a squirrel hanging from her mouth.
Harriet: My pictures!
Clawdeen didnât have to see the ink smudges on Colton Tateâs fingertips to know that he was responsible. He, along with Darren, Tucker, Rory, Nick, and Trevor, had been tormenting her ever since she joined their precious Merston High track team. Sheâd never put them on the invite list. Why were they even there? They blew spitballs in her hair, âaccidentallyâ bumped into her, and even taped crude sketches of male anatomy to her locker.
Cleo insisted they had a six-way crush on her, but Clawdeen knew better. As Coach Paige liked to say, she ran faster than a toddlerâs nose. And that left the boys feeling more disposable than tissue. But why couldnât they have let it go? Just for one night? Instead, they turned away and faced the crowded dance floor, feigning innocence with wide eyes, casual whistles, and hands jammed into the front pockets of their jeans.
Cleo: Oh my Geb, I know exactly how you feel. Youâve been waiting and waiting for this party, and even though itâs super raging and the decorations are golden, something like this...
She gestured to the photo display...
Cleo: Had to happen and ruin your big moment.
Clawdeen hugged Cleo harder. Yes, thatâs exactly how I feel.
Cleo: Earrings?
Two spectacular pear-shaped hunks of emerald, wrapped in gold wire, winked their good-time intentions. But Clawdeen looked away. The jewels were far too fabulous for her mood.
Beneath her beautiful DIY wrap dress, with its iridescent sheen and black metallic slash, a kaleidoscope of emotions revolved and collided. Rage smashed into frustration; frustration struck devastation; devastation hit regret; then regret teamed up with shame and sucker punched Clawdeen in the heart. All she could do was stare at her defiled baby photos and fight the urge to cry.
Draculaura was gripping her now, trying to shake out a reaction the way she might dislodge a soda can that was stuck in a vending machine.
Draculaura: Deenie, say something.
But Clawdeen couldnât speak. Words would bring tears. And nothing says you win like a mascara-smudged face and a salt-stained DVF knockoff.
Colton: Hey, when did you get here?
Heâd come from the dance floor.
Clawdeenâs heart began to pump Red Bull instead of blood. The skin on the back of her neck tightened. He was the worst one of all.
Colton: Hey, guys!
He wiped his sweaty forehead on the sleeve of his button-down.
Colton: The guest of honor has arrived! Letâs have a round of a-claws for...
Nick: Omigod, dude. Look at her neck!
Colton: Sheâs like a Chia Pet!
Nick: She needs a Chia vet!
Clawdeenâs scalp cramped and then released. Auburn curls bounced and settled on her collarbone.
The guys began reaching for their cell phones.
Trevor: CNN is gonna be all over this!
Nick: So is Animal Planet!
Y/N: So will the Monster Hunter's Association.
The boys turned around to see you standing there. You had seen what happened and you decided to step in.
Colton: Who are you?
Y/N: Me? I'm Y/N Van Helsing, and you're messing with my friends. I suggest you leave.
The boys didn't back down. However, you weren't the only one here to make sure things go smoothly.
Dracula: A grand suggestion.
The boys turned back around to see Dracula standing there. Beside him was your uncle, wearing a casual suit, but he was still recognizable. The boy began to stutter over their words. They then turned around where you smirked.
Y/N: Boo.
The boys immediately made a break for it, leaving the party as quickly as they could. You and Helsing laughed while Dracula changed the photos with the backups that you had prepared.
All of a sudden, a series of familiar piercing beats filled the yard. Something that felt like a rocket shot straight up from her toes to her brain. The DJ was playing their song.
Draculaura: Ahhhh!
Clawdeen: Ahhhh!
Clawdeen/Draculaura: If youâre one of us then roll with us.
Cleo: We runninâ this townâ¦
Frankie joined in.
Frankie: You donât wanna mess with usâ¦
And before they knew what was happening, Clawdeen had grabbed her friends and run with them across her lawn to the dance floor. She was finally going to be like her European cousins and let it all hang out.
Forcing her way through a giant mass of gyrating bodies, Clawdeen landed right in the middle, just in time for the chorus.
They sang as loud as they could, their voices blending with the dozens of others around them. The track guys were documenting the scene with their cell phone cameras, and instead of hiding, the girls gave them exactly what they wanted.
Draculaura smiled wide for their tiny lenses, Clawdeen twirled her fur, and Frankie wiped her makeup off on their uptight button-downs. Soon you wete dancing beside Lagoona. Ghoulia worked her way into their circle and wiggled up against Heath. A shot of fire rushed from his mouth, and everyone cheered. Harriet was among them. Frankie lifted her fingers above the crowd and sparked to the beat. The track boys made a circle around Clawdeen as she danced. They danced too.
Songs melted into one another, and the party showed no signs of slowing down. The Wolf brothers arrived, thanks to a call from Harriet and strict orders to let their hair down. When all was said and done, DJ Duhman had logged three hours of overtime.
Clawdeen promised her mother sheâd clean out her life savings to cover the extra cost, and Harriet acquiesced. After all, six hundred dollars was a small price to pay for freedom.
----------------
You leaned against a tree and smiled. Things were now back to what they should be. And, to make matters even better, your uncle had helped you set up a page for your videos. Now that the Monster Hunter's Association couldn't move against any student of Monster High, you could now make videos of them, with their consent, and post them online.
You already had a bunch of subscribers and several videos posted. And, after working with Clawdeen, you'll have another with the Sassy Sixteen.
You put your phone away and let out a sigh.
Dracula: Tired already?
You looked up to see Dracula standing next to you. Parties weren't really his thing, but he enjoyed seeing everyone have fun.
Y/N: Yeah.
Dracula: State your troubles, boy. I'll listen.
You sighed. He was very upfront.
You looked to your friends and crossed your arms.
Y/N: You ever feel like you didn't belong anywhere?
Dracula: Explain.
Y/N: Well, I'm not really a Monster Hunter, but I'm also not a monster. I don't really blend in with humans either. I don't really know anything about before Uncle Vincent found me.
Dracula looked at you from the corner of his eye. He then sighed.
Dracula: I know it's not my place to say this, but you're right. You don't belong anywhere.
You looked at him with a gee thanks face, but stopped when you realized he was also watching everyone.
Dracula: Your parents, they weren't of this world. They're from another land.
Your eyes grew wide.
Y/N: Wha...
Dracula: Your father is gone, but your mother may be alive somewhere. And, maybe one day, you'll get to meet her.
You couldn't believe it. Your mother might be alive somewhere?
Dracula: But, if I may offer some advice.
He finally turned to you, and smiled.
Dracula: Enjoy the life you have now rather than try and throw it away for another. It's a good life, with good friends.
Draculaura: Y/N!
You looked back to the dancefloor where everyone was looking at you.
Draculaura: Come dance!
Clawdeen: Yeah! Come shake that thing!
Cleo: Show us what you got.
Frankie: Show them that dance you did at the concert.
Deuce: Dance battle, bro!
Ghoulia: Mhahma.
Lagoona: Come on, mate!
Maybe you didn't belong among Monsters. Maybe you didn't belong among the Monster Hunters. Maybe you didn't even belong among normies. But, under the multicolored lights and the pop music playing over the large speakers, surrounded by both monsters and normies, you couldn't find it in yourself to care.
Draculaura, Clawdeen, Frankie, Cleo, Deuce, Lagoona, and Ghoulia were your friends. You were a student at Monster High. You were here and you were happy. That was all that mattered.
The mystery of your past could wait. The present was calling now, so why not enjoy it?
Dracula watched as you hurried over to join your friends and dance. He couldn't help but smile. He then closed his eyes and took a breath.
Dracula: Your destiny isn't here yet, kid. Enjoy this. You'll miss it when it's gone.
He knew this from experience. He just hoped you wouldn't have to learn the same way he did.
------------------
Once Upon A Time.....
Dracula looked around the dark school as he walked with his friends. The moon light was the only source of light that they had. He was young still. Only 1,500. He had barely mastered the art of changing into a bat. Still, the darkness was a lot.
He looked to one of his friends, a girl wearing a black dress with a large brimmed hat that one would see on a witch.
Dracula: Hey, can we get some light?
Witch: What? Oh, uh, I can try. Give me a second.
The girl stopped and held her hands together. She then focused her power and created a ball of light, exposing her green skin. She held it up and it began to float around the small group.
Besides the two of them, there were three others. A boy who wore a pair of brown trousers and a white button up with a coat and a green pendant. There was also a girl with a white dress with ebony hair that seemed to not be affected by the dust floating around. The last was a girl with slight purple skin and a cat ear headband.
They had stumbled across this place by sheer coincidence. The boy with the coat had a dream that told him about it. How to get to it. After finding two Monster Mapalogues in the Vault and avoiding the Headmaster's knight watch, they managed to make it here.
They didnât know what they were looking for, but the boy was sure that he would know once he saw it. They knew if they got caught, it would end in disaster.
And that's what happened.
A narrow escape and near death soon landed them on the lawn of their school, their headmaster already waiting.
Dracula made a choice that day, one that changed everything.
The Shadow Ban was put into place and he was banished from his home.
Not before making a promise to his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dracula watched you with the others.
Dracula: Don't worry, Green. I'll keep him safe.