Chapter 37: Seeking help

Of course, Cleo's audition was the hot topic at the de Nile dinner table after school.

"Did you make it to the fear squad, Cleo?" Ramses asked, expecting a 'yes'.

"I..." She bit her lip, feeling her sister's smirk coming from the side of her. "Not really..."

"What?!"

She looked right at him, whining, "Nefera didn't let me pass, Daddy!"

"Cleo was so bad," Nefera lied, enjoying her role another time. Oh, becoming captain had been so worth it, alone for the golden opportunities to make Cleo look bad in front of Ramses, and ruin her her unlife a little more each day at high school. Nefera realized that Cleo's presence at Monster High was no threat to her. Actually, it was the other way around.

"I thought you were a bit more talented, Cleo," Ramses simply stated before taking a sip off his wine.

"I..." She faced the ground. There was no point in arguing. "I don't know. Apparently not."

"Don't worry, little sis. You can still become a part of the book club." Nefera laughed happily.

Suddenly, Cleo had a hopeful idea. "Or... I'll audition another time."

Nefera raised an eyebrow. "When I'm gone, you mean? Good luck with that. You were miserable."

"No, as soon as there's another one. I can do some more traning." She looked at her sister, clenching her teeth.

"I'd love to train you, but I have no time. We're having our final exams in a few months, and..." She faced her father, claiming, "My grades are my biggest priority."

Ramses nodded in approval. He turned to Cleo and told her, "Even if you do not have your sister's talents, I wish you a good upcoming four years, full of learning and reaching your goals, young lady. I have decided I will often be away from home from now on since I have taken my antiques business to the next level. Nefera, you have proven me you are mature and reliable. I trust you to oversee your sister's process at school whenever I am out of the country."

She smiled sweetly, her ego enlarging once again. "Sure, Daddy."

The next day at school, Cleo sat at a table in the creepeteria, with no one but herself. The whole room was full of chatting monsters, but it was barely possible to make friends if you pretended to be better than everyone. Well, in a way, Cleo knew she was better, yet she knew that she needed a thick skin if she wanted to survive this adventure called 'high school'. The past years, she had wished to be able to make friends, but why make friends when you're technically not even allowed to? Why make friends when the only thing you would get from it is disapproval from your entire family?

Maybe, just maybe, Cleo thought, her aunt was right when saying that most monsters were below them anyway. Maybe her father was right when telling her not to trust anyone.

Cleo took a deep breath. This year, the only one at high school she would have to spend under Nefera's influence, she would try to make herself a name at Monster High, the same way her sister had done it. She couldn't pity herself - no de Nile would do that.

Searching the creepeteria with her beautiful blue eyes, Cleo saw three werecats sitting together. Werecats who had apparently made themselves a name before Cleo had. The school was gossiping about them, being the only ones that had made it to the fear squad without having to discuss things with Nefera first. The only explanation for this was that either they bribed her, which was rather unlikely as they had nothing she wanted, or they were actually quite good.

Hoping that it was the latter, and taking a last deep breath, Cleo got up and approached them. As a true de Nile, she sat down at their table without asking first, immediately turning to the werecat that looked the most outstanding. "Toralei, right?"

She turned away from her milkshake with extra milk, and looked Cleo in the eyes. "Do I meow you?"

A bit taken aback by her way of speaking - replacing words like 'know' with 'meow' -, Cleo answered, "No, but you should." She held out a hand to shake. "Cleo de Nile. Of the de Niles."

The werecat locked eyes with her two friends, before turning back to Cleo and shaking her hand. "Toralei Stripe."

"You...made it to my sister's team, I heard? Quite...easily?"

Toralei licked her paw. "I'm a cat. We're naturally athletic."

Actually wondering what category of monster her aunt would sort werecats into, but suppressing the thought, Cleo asked, "Could you...train me?"

Now, the three seemed both interested and surprised.

"I didn't...make it to the team," Cleo admitted. Ugh, she hated this. Hopefully, this conversation would be worth it.

Toralei raised an eyebrow. "Your own sister didn't let you pass?"

"My sister is...evil."

"I heard."

"So? My offer stands."

"And what do we get in return?"

Cleo thought about simply trying to force them, but remembered herself that being ancient royalty did mostly not give her free pass to order others around. At least, not in this society. Instead, she shrugged. "Anything. I'm a de Nile, I got quite the connections. And funds."

Toralei smirked at her two friends. "And, what do you say, ghouls? Should we use this meow-my's helplessness to our personal advantage?"

They smirked back at her, licking their paws as well.

"Fine," Toralei said to Cleo. "I will train you."