Early the next morning Christina was driven to school by her uncle and told to clean out her locker while he spoke to Bloodgood. Her arm now in a sling she walked to her locker finding Shaggy there.
"How is it?" he quietly asked.
"Bad," she mumbled, "I'm being taken out of school,"
"I heard,"
"I'm sure everyone has by now,"
"Like, we can still be friends right?"
"Of course we can,"
Shaggy smiled sadly at her, "Meet me after school?"
"Of course,"
He helped her clean out her locker and carried the box to the office. He knew she was being taken out of school for her own safety but that didn't make things any easier. Who would he spend his free period with now? Sugie shouldn't feel obligated to do so she was making friends and doing her own thing.
He hung his head after Christina had left, gripping Scooby's harness so hard his knuckles were white.
"You can still sit with us, Shaggy," Clawdeen called.
He quickly joined them trying not to acknowledge the empty spot next to him.
"You did the right thing, Shaggy," Duncan said.
"I know," he mumbled.
Clawdeen and Duncan shared a knowing look.
"Now, we'll never know what her costume was!" Kenny said, jokingly.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Frankie teased.
At this Shaggy perked up, wanting to hear what Frankie had to say but Clawd beat him to it asking what exactly the ghouls had up their sleeve.
"You'll find out later," Draculaura assured them, "We've still got work to do,"
"And I," Duncan declared, "Have a vampire to deal with,"
"Speak of the devil," Clawdeen hissed.
Shaggy found himself roughly pulled from his seat and tossed to the ground.
"I told you to stay away from my Princess!" Drew yelled, "Where is she?"
Shaggy wasn't having it. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. He stood with a snarl, Duncan and the entire table behind him.
"Safe from you!" he growled, the same burning rage filling his chest as before.
Scooby watched the exchange hidden under the table, tense and ready to spring an attack if need be but Shaggy and the others seemed to have it under control. The Great Dane recalled seeing how worried and enraged Shaggy had been the day before. He was protective over Christina whether she realized it or not. It showed in the ways he talked about her, interacted with her and handled her injury. Now, that protective instinct seemed to have come full force.
"I'll find her," Drew swore, "Nothing can stop me,"
"I will," Shaggy growled, transformation overtaking him in a matter of seconds.
He knew all eyes were on him, he knew they were all shocked and confused but at that moment he didn't care.
Drew blinked several times in surprise but recovered quickly and swung.
Shaggy caught the oncoming fist with ease and proceeded to twist Drew's arm only letting go at the last second.
"Never go near her again," he warned, "Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I won't protect her,"
Shaggy shoved him back and Duncan caught him by the collar, lifting him off his feet, smoke pouring from his mouth in warning before he tossed Drew into the garbage bin nearby and trapped him inside.
With the confrontation over, Shaggy sat down and let his head fall to the table. They were all staring he could feel it but he chose to ignore it. How would they react?
"My child is cursed," His mother's words rang in his ears.
The screams of his former classmates mingled with those words until they were one and the same.
Dead silence until the school bell rang signaling the official start of the day. He took this opportunity to book it out of there, grabbing Scooby's harness and spurring him onward to escape.
…...
Meanwhile, back in the safety of her room, Christina changed into some comfortable clothes, tied her messy locks into a loose bun and moved onto her balcony with nothing but a book to keep her company. Her uncle was in his study researching alternative schooling options and filing a restraining order. Basically doing everything he could to ensure her safety.
She glanced at her arm, the odd birthmark on full display. With a wave of her hand, it faded from sight. She did this more for her uncle than anyone else. He tended to act strangely whenever he saw it. Heck, anyone who saw it acted strangely. Her magic teachers most of all.
She never understood why she just kept it under wraps like her wings.
Her phone beeped from its place on the side table.
She grabbed it without much thought.
Clawdeen had texted her:
We need to talk ASAP.
About?
Things.
Things?
Meet me after school.
Can't.
Why?
I'm meeting Shaggy.
She received no response from Clawdeen after this. Odd, what was that about? Christina shrugged picking up her book once more and resumed reading. Absently, she wondered how Shaggy was doing.
…...
Shaggy was quiet, eerily quiet after the confrontation with Drew. Classmates stayed away. Far, far away. Shocked. They were shocked.
"Shaggy? Are you okay?" Sugie asked as third period rolled around.
"Fine, just fine,"
Shaggy was lying. Sugie knew him well enough to know that. It was no secret, however,
"You want me to stay with-"
"No, Sugie, no way" Shaggy interjected, "I'll be fine,"
"Okay,"
Come free period, Shaggy went to the music room and sat at the piano bench alone.
…...
Dracula found Christina asleep on her balcony her book face down beside her.
"Christina, wake up,"
Christina yawned, sitting up and sleepily glancing around.
"Time to take your medicine,"
"Right,"
Christina swallowed her pain meds without argument.
"I've made a decision,"
"And?" Christina asked fearfully.
"You have a choice,"
"Which is?"
"You can either go back to Grimmwoods or you can go study with Vincent,"
"But why do I have to go so far away?"
"Why do you think?"
"But-"
"Your safety is my priority and I'd rather send you somewhere you von't be found,"
"I don't want to go so far away," Christina protested, "I can't just disappear when there's a rough patch! What do you think they'll say?"
"That vas no rough patch you nearly staked yourself! If Draculaura hadn't found you..."
"But, I'm better now!"
"You're in danger! Vhat do you think your father vould say if he found out I vas incapable of caring for you, Christina?"
"I wouldn't know, you don't talk about him or my mother," Christina sullenly pointed out.
It hurt Dracula too much to do so nevertheless, he faced his niece with a stern yet caring look, "He vould be angry angrier than I am at the boy vho did that to you,"
Christina turned away. She didn't want to speak anymore.
"You have a month to make your choice and say your goodbyes,"
Then her Uncle was gone back to his study leaving her alone with troublesome thoughts.
…...
Meanwhile, in another world entirely.
"You two are my very last hope. Take this charm it will guide you and be fast, I've grown tired of ruling and wish to make peace,"
"But how does it work?"
"It will lead you to any living link. If a part of my daughter, her child, lives in this world you'll know"
…...
"How was school today?" Stacey cheerily asked upon her children's entrance.
"Okay," Sugie smiled.
"Sad," Shaggy mumbled, placing his bag on the coat rack before opening the front door once again.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Christina,"
Stacey relented. Although suspicious of the girl at first she now saw that Christina meant no harm. And that Shaggy cared for her.
Maybe Christina could help them?
…...
Christina agreed to meet with Clawdeen AFTER she spent some time with Shaggy. Her costume could wait. With the way things were going she wouldn't need it anymore anyway.
She might have snuck out of the house to see Shaggy but she had her phone and her wand so she'd be okay.
"Hey, Christina," Shaggy happily greeted her, stepping through the trees.
"Hi, Shaggy, how was school?"
He cringed, "Bad, upsetting like, take your pick,"
"What happened?" Christina asked, concerned.
"I'd like, rather not talk about it,"
"That's okay,"
As they spoke Shaggy pulled her into the same position as the day prior, holding her free hand tightly. Why he did this was a mystery even to him he just liked having her close.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"I'm being sent away," the words came tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them.
As she feared, Shaggy did not take it well transforming rather quickly, eyes so full of confusion and sadness that one could drown in it.
"S-sent away?"
"Yes,"
"Where?"
"Uncle Dracula says it's my choice. I can either return to Grimwoods or I can study with my old magic teacher. Both are far and I really don't want to go but he put his foot down,"
"When do you leave?"
"A month from now,"
Shaggy began to cry.
Christina was taken aback. They hadn't known each other for very long at all and yet, Shaggy reacted as if someone had died.
"Let's talk about something else?" she whispered, gently.
"Tell me a story,"
"Okay, In a faraway land, long ago, there lived a King and his fair Queen. Many years they had longed for a child, and finally, their wish was granted. A daughter was born, and they called her Aurora. Yes, they named her after the dawn, for she filled their lives with sunshine. Then a great holiday was proclaimed throughout the land so that all of high or low estate could pay homage to the infant Princess. And our story begins on that most joyful day...
…...
Later.
"We need to talk!" Clawdeen declared, throwing open Christina's balcony doors.
Christina calmly her book down saying, "If this is about my costume-"
"It's not"
Christina looked at her friend confusedly, "Then what are we-"
"It's about Shaggy"
"What about-"
"He imprinted on you! But it's like his instincts are kicked up ta eleven! Shoulda saw him today! He about tore Drew apart!"
"He burst into tears when I told him about being sent away," Christina commented.
"And yesterday, he was protective over you-wait sent away?"
"Take a seat, Clawdeen, we've got some talking to do,"
Well, there you have it! Man, things are getting worse and worse for Christina and Shaggy. Now, I want to hear your thoughts! What could Stacey want Christina's help with? What are the ghouls planning? What's going on with Shaggy? Where will Christina end up? Please let me know what you think!
Review!
