Chapter 8

"WHAT?!", Cleo screamed across the royal breakfast feast buffet table, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Not at all, dear sister", Nefera smirked. "I'm going to be coaching the fear-leading squad. With my help, Monster High will win the fear-leading championship again."

"I'm captain of the squad, Nefera!", Cleo protested. "You made me captain yourself when you graduated! If you think you can take it back now…!"

"Perish the thought, Cleo", Nefera said. "Much as I hate to admit it, you've been a good captain, and the squad is pretty good. I'll only be coaching to help give you a little more…..polish."

Cleo seethed, but it was true. When Nefera was captain, she led the fear-squad to three championships.

"Fine!", Cleo said. "But I decide the squad line-up, understood? I will not be letting Torelei back on the squad! In fact, I have someone new trying out this afternoon."

"Fine", Nefera huffed. "I'll watch and give you my opinion, but the decision is yours. See you this afternoon."

xxXXxx

"A 'welcome back' scarnival and dance?", Duncan asked.

"Yeah", Clawdeen answered. "Every year the weekend of the first week, Headmistress Bloodgood throws a scarnival and dance to welcome all the students back to school, and welcome the new students. The scarnival starts right after school tomorrow and runs until 10. Then again Saturday from noon until 7. Then the dance starts at 8."

"Yup! It's Voltageous!", Frankie said.

"Totes!", Draculaura chirped. "Clawd and I are definitely going!"

"And I already promised to take Cleo", Deuse said.

Avia looked hopefully at Neighthan, who was looking at Frankie.

"And how about you, Frankie?", Neighthan asked, with just a touch of hope.

"Hmmm? Oh! I'm thinking of asking Kenny if he wants to come", Frankie answered. Duncan smirked, Neighthan slumped, and Avia perked up. "With Holt as the DJ, you know Claire will be coming to the dance at least. So maybe Jackson will invite her to the scarnival, too."

"I guess I'll just go alone", Neighthan said in a disappointed tone, oblivious to the pained, frustrated look Avia gave him.

As the others arranged to meet at the fountain later and went their separate ways, Duncan walked with Clawdeen to the creepateria to get their before class lattes.

"So, um, Clawdeen", Duncan swallowed nervously. "Do you have a date for the weekend?"

"Are you asking me, Duncan?" Clawdeen asked with a coy smile, a hint of hope sparkling in her eyes.

"Y-yeah! I am", he said, smiling.

"Good! Now I don't have to ask you!", she said with a giggle. "We'll meet at the scarnival entrance right after school tomorrow, ok?"

"Sure! Are you going to watch me try-out for the Scream team this afternoon?"

"Yes and no", she answered. "Jinx is trying out for the fear-leading squad today, at around the same time. But we'll be in the same area, so we'll see each other." She smiled coyly, "I'll be cheering for you."

As they walked to join their friends by the fountain, Clawdeen's mind drifted back to the night before; when Duncan carried her in his arms as they soared through the sky on his wings, her arms around his neck. How warm and safe she felt in his arms. How handsome, even heroic, he looked. She closed her eyes and affectionately leaned her head against his shoulder until, all too soon, they landed in his back yard….

"Heads up, Ghouls!", Cleo announced, breaking Clawdeen's reverie. "Nefera is coming back….to coach the Fear-Leading Squad!"

"Please tell me you're jokin', Cleo", Clawdeen groaned.

"Afraid not", Cleo steamed. "According to the rules and by-laws of the school, 'any former champion team /squad captain can return to coach a current team/squad if there is no school-hired coach'!"

Clawdeen, Draculaura, and Frankie all groaned, and Jinx gulped nervously.

"What does this mean for me trying out today?", Jinx asked.

"Don't worry about my sister, Jinx", Cleo said. "I put my foot down that I'm still in charge of who's on the squad and who tries out. Your only concern is impressing me."

"What's the big deal about your sister, Cleo?", Duncan asked. Cleo opened her mouth, when Clawdeen cut her off.

"Imagine an older, bitchier, more spoiled and stuck up version of Cleo, and take away all of her redeeming qualities; and you've got Nefera", she said, then turned to Cleo. "Sorry, ghoulfriend."

"I would be so offended right now...if it weren't true", Cleo conceded. "But I do have to give her this: she can occasionally be a good sister. And while she was captain before graduating, she did lead the squad to three championships."

"But why come back now?", Draculaura asked. "You're doing a great job, Cleo."

"She claims that she just wants to help give us more 'polish' and an edge to bring home another championship", Cleo said. "But I have a rotten feeling that there's more to it than that, because she never gave a sphinx before after she named me her successor when she graduated."

"Nefera is a real piece of work, Dude", Deuce said to Duncan. "Cleo's dad has finally backed off her relationship with me, but Nefera still gives Cleo a hard time; claiming I'm not 'good enough' to be with a De Nile."

"And she's a trouble-maker", Draculaura said. "Torelei used to be her sidekick until she graduated!"

Duncan growled, not liking what he was hearing at all. Then the bell rang for class.

xxXXxx

During his free period, Duncan went to see Cupid. When he first spoke to her the day before, she had assured him she could be trusted. He told her everything; about his past, about his heritage, about his pain. Even about his feelings for Clawdeen. Cupid had convinced him to go with it and start opening up to Clawdeen.

"And I did", he said. "After we ran into Kenny at the Maul, I told her that I'm half-normie. She already knew! She'd smelled it on me, but kept it to herself, and thanked me for telling her myself. And when she kissed my cheek…." The look on his face was all Cupid needed to see, and she smiled.

"But then things kinda went outta control", he said, and told her what happened later; from the vision with Scarah, the cave confession, all the way to teasing Kenny about Frankie.

"So Clawdeen helped you cleanse your soul", Cupid said, understanding.

"But this morning, after I asked her out to the scarnival and dance…."

"Wait! You asked her out?!"

He nodded. She squealed and hugged him, practically bouncing with joy. "That's so wonderful!"

"Then why do I feel so guilty?", he asked, a bit crestfallen. "Like I'm betraying Jenna's memory?"

"Duncan, to be lucky enough to fall in love at first sight is rare enough in this world", Cupid said. "But for it to happen twice? Do you have any idea how blessed you are? Do you think Jenna would want you to spend the rest of your life alone, mourning her? Or would she want you to be happy?"

Duncan thought about that. Cupid was right. Jenna would want him to find love again.

"Duncan, I have sources that confirm that neither you nor Clawdeen had originally planned to be in the spot where you two first—literally—ran into each other", Cupid said in a serious but smiling tone. "It was Fate."

"Whoa…", he whispered, as that sank in.

xxXXxx

"Not bad, Jinx", Cleo said, slightly impressed. "You didn't make any mistakes in the routine. We can help you tighten up your technique and timing."

The hobgoblin blushed and smiled.

"I agree, Cleo", Nefera said. "She has potential. And she looks good in the uniform."

Cleo scowled at Nefera, then smiled at Jinx while Frankie, Draculaura, and Clawdeen waited anxiously.

"Welcome to the Fear-Leading Squad, Jinx!", Cleo sang. All the ghouls cheered for their new friend and teammate.

"Great!", Neferea said, interrupting the celebration. "Now listen to me, ghouls. I know you've got the skills, or you wouldn't be here. And my dear sister Cleo is a good captain, and she is still in charge. But I'm here to help you train and give you the polish that will bring home the Fear-Leading championship. I've done it before, and I can help you do it again! Cleo will be the first to tell you; my training will be tough and push your limits, but I will never ask you to do more than I know you are capable of."

"Well, she talks a good coachin' game", Clawdeen whispered to the others, who giggled softly, earning a sharp look from their new 'coach'.

"But I do demand respect", Nefera continued, "and will accept nothing less. Now, first, let's go watch who we will be cheering for, shall we? I do believe there are Scream try-outs going on across the quad."

As the Squad walked over, Duncan was making adjustments to his skates and armor. The guy Scream players mostly opted for armored uniforms; to be more physical. While the ghouls tended to wear less armor; depending more on their speed, agility, and unique powers. Robecca and Ghoulia modified a piece of back armor to accommodate his ability to grow and extend his wings. He stood when he was ready.

"Ok, Duncan", Clawd said. "We've set up a makeshift course with obstacles and a few surprises. If you can get through it easily, we'll go down to the actual school course and have you join a team practice run. Sound good?"

"Bring it on!", Duncan said gamely.

"Ok!", Clawd said, as the fear-leaders arrived to watch. "Ready…set…GO!"

Duncan took off like a shot, weaving through the pylons, dodging a heavy punching-bag swinging on a rope, jumping a row of tires, used his wings to help him on a hairpin turn, avoiding a patch of ice, back-bending under an obstacle, and skidding to a halt at the starting point. Cheers of encouragement came from his fellow players and the squad.

"Nicely done, Duncan", Clawd said. "I'd say you're ready to see if you have what it takes to take on the real course. Let's head down there, team!"

"Oh, Clawd!", Nefera called out. "You're ok if the Fear-Leading Squad comes to watch, too, right?"

"Sure, whatever, Nefera", Clawd growled, before leading the way to the Scream Maze down in the school catacombs.

"Ok. Abby, Gil, Deuse, and Rochelle? You're on the bench. Manny and Robecca? You're with me as the opposing team. Duncan? You're with Lagoona and Operetta as the home team. Remember, Scream is about speed, strategy, and team-work! The course changes randomly and the goal is to work together to get any member of your team across the finish line first. Ghoulia, are you tapped into the course system yet?"

"Aaheuuh", the cute zombie groaned.

"Ok, good", Clawd said. "Starting line!"

The designated players took position at the starting line, as Ghoulia finished tapping into the course cameras. Then she blew her whistle, and the players took off!

Clawd's team took an early lead. Duncan and his teammates kept close behind, as they dodged and weaved through a long hall of pillars and pop-out pillar traps. Next came a corridor of randomly firing fire-jets.

"Get close to me!", Duncan yelled. Lagoona and Operetta obeyed, and he surrounded them with his wings, enabling all three to simply barrel through the flames rather than dodge them, closing some of the gap between them and Clawd's group. The others all cheered, watching on Ghoulia's lap-top, as they continued into various tunnels and corridors of obstacles and traps.

Next was a large cavern with a narrow bridge across water…and the tentacles of an orange Kraken. Clawd, Manny, and Robecca had to dodge, weave and help each other past them.

"Get behind me!", Duncan called. The ghouls looked puzzled, but obeyed. Duncan took a deep breath, and exhaled a moderately large blast of fire. This forced the tentacles to withdraw beneath the surface, allowing them to cross unhindered, closing the gap further. Both groups hit the spiral-table elevator of the course at the same time; circling the central post as they were lifted to a random higher level, then sped into the pipeline-like tunnels, where the ghouls excelled with their speed and maneuverability.

Clawd and Manny attempted to use themselves and any obstacles to block their opponents, the intent to let Robecca hold the lead and take the win. The ghouls each took a side, while Duncan barreled up the middle, trying to knock the guys off-balance. Manny went down, but Clawd was able to trip up Lagoona.

Clawd then focused on catching Operetta before she could reach Robecca, until he felt Duncan coming up behind him. They jostled against each other; jockeying for position. Clawd's experience gave him the edge, but it wasn't easy. He managed to squeeze ahead of Duncan and block him….until he somersaulted over the werewolf! Then Duncan used his wings to increase his speed in the straight-away to catch up with Operetta, who was catching up to Robecca. The finish-line was in sight as Duncan caught up to his teammate. He remembered some of the plays from the videos they'd shown him.

"Operetta! Whiplash!", he called out. She nodded and grasped his hands, as they spun together to gain momentum, then he launched her toward Robecca and the finish-line. They crossed simultaneously, it was too close to call.

The Fear-Leading Squad and the Scream team members all cheered and congratulated their teammates and Duncan as they gathered at the team bench.

"That was clawsome, Duncan!", Clawd said as Ghoulia showed them the video. "You took your own powers into account in your strategy! And you did it on the fly! Plus you showed an ability to take the lead and help your team."

"Not ta mention ya pulled off that Whiplash with me just from watchin' it before, Sugah!", Operetta said. "Took us at least a week of practice ta git it right last year!"

"So what do we think, Team?", Clawd asked.

"Abby is only alternate", the yeti said, "but da, please to join team."

"Dude", Deuse said, fist-bumping Duncan, "I knew you'd be clawsome."

"Good on ya, mate", Lagoona smirked.

"Aw, yeah!", Manny grunted.

Gil gave a 'thumbs-up'.

"Oui, mon ami", Rochelle said.

Operetta nodded.

"As co-captain",Robecca said, "I say 'yes'."

"That makes it unanimous", Clawd smirked. "Welcome to the school Scream Team, Duncan; the Monster High Nightmares!"

Everyone cheered and started to gather around him. Clawdeen was about to hug him with her pom-poms, only to suddenly find Nefera in her way.

"Hi there, Duncan", she said with a wink. "I'm Nefera. You've got talent! And we can never have too much talent on the school teams. As the new fear-leading coach, I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other."

Clawdeen and Duncan both growled.

xxXXxx