Chapter 38: Choosing a successor

Months had passed, but Nefera's glory hadn't faded. She had achieved the impossible by winning more fearleading throphies than anyone before her. She had won Mashionals four times in a row and finally, she got the praise she deserved, and no one was questioning her skills regarding the fear squad.

Especially Bloodgood was more fond of Nefera than ever before and insanely proud about the fame she had brought the school. Everything had gone so well - her father's amulets had been of great help - that it was almost sad to give the position of fearleder captain away. After all, her teachers and her father were very proud of her for achieving the impossible, and it was plain that no one would beat her records in the future.

Yet, there was no other way but to accept her fate. The position of the fear squad captain would go to someone else, and it was that day that Nefera had to make a decision. Naturally, it was Toralei who the princess planned to give the title to, as the orange werecat was indeed talented and had made it onto the list of monsters Nefera would at least call 'acquaintances'. It was almost like the two had similar interests regarding the treatment of the... lesser beings.

When Nefera was busy analyzing her pores in the mirror, a gargoyle ghoul showed up behind her, mumbling in a rather confused way, "Uhm... Nefera, it's time for the last tryout. The ghouls are waiting, we can't start without you."

With a raised, critical eyebrow, Nefera turned around to say, "Again?"

"Uh? Yeah? It's the last chance for some ghouls to get a spot on the team before you leave. You have to appoint someone to captain afterwards. Who knows, it might be one of the new ghouls."

"Ugh, Ivana, don't bore me with your nonsense." She rolled her eyes in an exaggerated way.

"...It's Liliana."

Nefera fake smiled. "Did I ask?"

"...No?"

"That's right. Besides, I already know who to appoint."

"The tryout is obligatory, sorry."

She rolled her eyes again. "Way to ruin my free time."

"Sorry, but I don't make the rules."

"Shut up, Melania. Let's just go."

A few minutes later in the gym, Nefera was busy with her phone. Katy Scary had released a new song and Nefera was texting her servants to create fake profiles and criticize and bully her on social media. There was no way that goul would steal the attention that was clearly meant for Nefera. She would start her modelling career right after high school, so the competition had to be crushed. Naturally.

Right before she could press 'Send', though, a hand was touching her shoulder.

"Are you ready?"

She turned around in anger. "Don't touch me! I'm working!"

"Sorry, but we wanna start," Liliana replied in a rather rude way, this time failing to hide her annoyance.

"I'll 'start' with throwing you out!"

Liliana's eyes widened in shock. "You can't possibly mean that!"

The fact that Nefera was unpredictable by nature became obvious, as she answered, with a smile, "Nah, I'm just messing with you."

"I- Oh my Ghost. Thanks."

"No prob, Melania."

"Actually, it's-"

"Cleo?!"

Now, the judges were turning to where Nefera was looking to see a familiar face in front of them.

Cleo couldn't hide a smirk. With a fake smile, similar to her sister's, she asked, "Surprised?"

Nefera caught herself quickly. "...Very. I thought you had embarrassed yourself quite enough last time, but apparently some people don't learn from their mistakes."

Cleo yawned, this time, confident. "Are you done talking, or...?"

Her sister's eyes narrowed to a slit. Remembering the younger de Nile of their father, Nefera mumbled darkly, "Watch your tone, or else..."

She felt the urge to ask 'Or else, what?', but decided against it. There was no point in making Nefera even angrier now. She was supposed to be a fair judge, after all. "Can I start?"

Silence, then, "Sure."

Cleo took a deep breath before starting. After a minute, she had performed almost flawessly.

The two judges clapped with a smile, but the best thing about the whole situation wasn't their approval - it was the angry look on her older sister's face that made Cleo feel like a winner.

"Liliana?" the werecat asked with a grin. "I say she made it. And you?"

"Too. For sure! You were amazing, ghoul!"

"Thanks," Cleo answered calmly, with a small smile. She didn't want to present too much happiness in front of those commoners.

After a few seconds of silence, Nefera asked, "I would let you pass, dear sis, but I can't."

"Huh?"

"I can only assume that you cheated yourself through it since such progress is simply impossible. Tell me what spell you used, and I will not call in Coach Igor and Miss Bloodgood."

Cleo's eyes widened. It was shocking that her sister was turning the truth around in a way that seemed to be so natural to her, basically stating it as a fact that Cleo was a cheater. Which she was not, of course. Apart from the fact that her father kept a strict eye on his amulet collection, she wanted to achieve things the honest way. She had spent the past months training with Toralei, several monsters could testify that fact. The princess answered the only thing logical. "I didn't use a spell."

Nefera's expression darkened, her eyes forming another slit. "How did you get that good, then, huh?"

"Training."

"Alone? Sure."

"No, with Toralei."

Now, the princess' violet eyes widened. "What?!"

"She helped me."

"This whole time?!"

"Yes. That's not forbidden, Nefera."

"I-"

It was then that the door to the gym opened, revealing Coach Igor, who seemed rather angry when seeing that the audition hadn't been finished yet. "Isn't this over?!"

Surprisingly, the werecat judge stood up. "Yep. We made our choice, no, Liliana?"

Liliana followed. "Totes." She faced the coach. "Cleo is on the team."

"Good," he said, rather uninterested.

Now, Nefera stood up as well. "No! I disagree!"

"Your time's over," Coach Igor simply stated.

Nefera couldn't believe it. "Excuse me?!"

He turned to the door. "Ghouls, you can come in."

Suddenly, the entire fear squad entered the gym, walking to the middle and forming a line.

"Time to make your choice, Princess," Coach Igor said to Nefera.

She raised an eyebrow, unprepared, seeing Toralei in line, who winced at her. As the best member, she had obviously prepared to be chosen. This was not a secret, since Nefera and her had spoken about it openly in the past.

"I choose..."

After a few seconds of silence, the coach hurried, "A bit quicker, ghoul! The casketball team needs the gym."

Nefera smiled sweetly. She turned to her sister, who stood next to her instead of in line, obviously not prepared to be chosen, and announced, "Cleo is my successor."