Maleficent was growing impatient, very impatient. Where were they? Just as she was about to see for herself, Diaval returned alone.
"Well?" she asked when Diaval landed before her, human once more, "Where's Diablo?"
"We found her Mistress. Your granddaughter, Diablo stayed with her,"
Maleficent went at once to her magic mirror to validate Diaval's claim. Ordering the mirror to show her her beloved pet, it fogged and sparked before clearing. She didn't see Diablo. Not at first. She only saw a girl who looked so much like Alissa she could have mistaken the two at first glance. After a few minutes, Maleficent spotted Diablo peeking out of the red jacket disappearing back into the folds of the hood a moment later.
"Good work, Diaval," Maleficent nodded.
…...
Christina sat next to her trunks just staring at the wall before her. She had been for an hour, unmoving. Her gaze fixed on the wall with a glassy-eyed stare that hurt Vincent to see. He tried his utmost to distract her but nothing seemed to work. After checking in he shut the door, allowing her to be alone.
"He's gone,"
the raven flew from his hiding place, landing on the window ledge to watch her.
"I'd better get unpacked,"
Christina stood unlocking her trunks to begin the long process of unpacking. She was so distracted that she failed to notice the spider-bat that flew from her trunk and out the window. The raven noticed, however, and flew into a frenzy. Flying circles around Christina to get her attention
"Shh, shh," Christina soothed, "What's the matter? It's okay,"
it led her to the window but she saw nothing except low-hanging clouds all around. A sharp breeze cut through the room making her shiver. Shutting the window she promptly returned to the task at hand wondering what could have set her little friend off like that. Whatever it was, it was gone now. So, Christina brushed it off, pulling the clothes from her trunk and setting them on her bed to be sorted later , her books came next, quickly filling the once empty shelf beside her, art supplies soon followed with little odds and ends being left in her trunk which she moved to the foot of the four-poster bed, the smaller trunk being pushed under the bed.
Little by little her new room came together but it wasn't home. Home was many miles away.
She curled up on her freshly made bed and let her tears loose. The cause her emotional pain and the burning that reared it's ugly head, trying to fry her from the inside out.
…...
Christina wasn't faring any better when Vincent checked on her a few hours later. She had at least unpacked but now she was huddled under her blankets.
"Christina?"
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you go explore the forest around the mountains?"
"Okay,"
Christina slid from the bed, pulling the hood of her jacket over her head she slipped her shoes back on and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Vincent saw the raven perched in the window. He looked like-
It can't be!
The Raven cawed before flying away. Vincent shook his head, just because he saw a raven didn't mean it was that raven!
There must be some way to cheer up, Christina,
He understood Dracula's motives he too wanted to keep Christina safe but at the cost of her friends? Vincent snapped his fingers. That was it! Now, where did he put that mirror?
…...
"Shaggy?"
"Yeah, Clawdeen?"
"You holding up, okay?"
"No," Shaggy moaned, pushing away his lunch tray, despite not eating a single bite.
"He's been like this all day," Sugie whispered.
Shaggy's head dropped to the table.
"Why don't you call her, Shaggy?"
"I tried, she's not answering," he moaned.
"She probably doesn't have reception," Draculaura commented, "Vincent's castle is very remote,"
"I know!" Shaggy snapped.
"He's moody, don't take it personally," Sugie said calmly.
Draculaura smiled reassuringly. She didn't take Shaggy's anger to heart. He was simply hurting.
"Don't worry, Shaggy," Frankie said, "Christina will find a way to contact us, even if she's without reception,"
"How?" he challenged.
"Magic most likely, once she gets past her woe-is-me stage,"
"Can you blame her though?"
"I guess not, Clawdeen,"
"What do we do in the meantime then?" Sugie questioned.
"Wait,"
…...
The woods were chilly, eerie, covered in fall leaves that crunched underfoot as she roamed. So quiet, very quiet. With the mountain at her back, she set to exploring.
"Chilly," she mumbled, pulling her jacket tighter around herself.
And lonely, very lonely/ Christina supposed she had become accustomed to meeting with Shaggy in the woods, she half expected him to step out of the trees. But this was her life now, in isolation until further notice. After a few minutes of wandering, she took a seat on a rock and stared straight ahead, trying to work through her emotions.
"Why so sad?', a gentle female voice asked.
Christina startled with a gasp of surprise. There were three wolves sitting before her; two gray, the third-the one in front-was black and silver. "D-did you just talk?"
"Hmmph! mind like a steel trap", one of the grays said sarcastically, sounding male.
"Hush, brother", the other gray said, a different female voice. "Can't you see she's troubled? And we surprised her?"
"Indeed", the black and silver female agreed. "We're sorry for scaring you, Miss...?"
"Christina. Christina Rose Shadowfae Dracula. I'm staying nearby with my magic teacher, Mr. Van Ghoul, so I know about talking animals. Actually, I have a friend who has a talking dog", Christina said, then looked downcast. "Well, I HAD a friend."
"What happened?" the gray female asked.
"I had to leave," Christina sighed, "It's a long story,"
"We have time," the male snorted.
"Hush!" the leader ordered, "It's her decision,"
Christina cracked a small smile. Their bickering made her laugh. She felt better than she had in hours, days even.
"She's laughing at us,"
"No, she's laughing at you, Brother,"
The trio came closer as Christina recovered from her laughing fit.
"I'm sorry," she apologized earnestly, "I haven't felt like myself for a while,"
"It's okay,"
"Want us to keep you company?" the leader offered, "Or we can show you around?"
"Great, person-sitting,"
Christina smiled, "I'd like that very much but what are your names,"
"We don't have names," the gray female said sadly.
Christina laid a hand to the wolf's head, "I'm sorry,"
"It's okay, we never really think about it,"
"That's a lie-OW," the male whined, "What? We don't have a home-OW, STOP THAT!" he snapped at the leader who'd been stepping on his tail.
Christina smiled sadly at them, "I know how that feels, my home is thousands of miles away from here," then, she got an idea, "I could name you if you'd like,"
"Would you?"
"Yes- AHH!" Christina shrieked as she was pushed to the ground by the male who seemed to have changed his mind about her, "Okay, okay, you're welcome,"
she sat up and studied the trio, "Let's see, Thunder," she decided, patting the excited male, "Pepper," she said looking at the gray female, "Jade," she dubbed the leader.
"Come on," Jade said, "We'll show you around,"
…...
Vincent went looking for Christina when the sun began to set. He found her playing fetch with a trio of wolves. She was smiling again something he was happy to see.
"I see you made some friends, Christina,"
"Yes," she laughed, "I did,"
Out of the corner of his eye, Vincent spied the raven watching Christina from the tree branches above. He was getting a bad feeling, "It's getting late, Christina, we should head back to the castle,"
"Yes sir," Christina nodded.
"You have to leave?" Thunder moped.
"Aw, don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow," Christina reassured him.
"But what are we supposed to do until then?"
"We'll think of something, Thunder," Jade declared.
Christina stood to leave only for Thunder to seize her jacket, "Don't go," he mumbled.
Vincent watched this exchange curiously. Christina hugged the wolf, scratching under his chin to calm him down.
"They seemed to be attached to you,"
"No kidding,"
"Why don't you bring them with you?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, as long as you give them a bath," Vincent nodded, "I think you can take care of them,"
…...
Giving the wolves baths was not easy. She had to drag Thunder into the tub and keep him there with magic.
"I don't like this," he growled.
"I know you don't but it has to be done," Christina said sternly, "The sooner you sit still the quicker this will be,"
"Hmph, fine,"
Christina took her time, working the mud, leaves and, twigs out of his fur. Next, she dried, brushed and, trimmed his fur. She repeated this process with Pepper who although reluctant was far better behaved. Jade was the only one she didn't have to coax into the tub. Once Christina was finished, she cleaned the mess they had created and returned to her room in time to see Vincent carrying in a mirror which he hung above the desk.
"What's the mirror for?" she asked curiously.
"Remember your magic lessons?"
"Oh," she face-palmed, "Magic mirror,"
"Yes, now you can speak with your friends tomorrow, now, let's have dinner,"
"Right behind you,"
…...
Maleficent spent the whole day watching Christina. Noticing how downcast she seemed and how she cheered up when playing with the wolves she had so clearly bonded with just as Alissa had bonded with her dragon many years prior. She wondered why Christina had been separated from her family.
"They did it for her protection," Diaval explained when asked, "From what I'm not sure,"
"Let's find out shall we?"
Maleficent watched through her mirror seeing what Dracula had only been told about the reason Christina had been sent away.
…...
"Naughty Princess," Drew scolded as Christina was yanked from her locker by Torq who threw her into Drew's arms.
Christina scowled, "Let go of me!"
"That human is beneath you," Drew growled.
Christina wriggled her way from Drew's grasp and went to grab her wand only for drew to seize her arm with both his hands, the more she fought the tighter his grip became, tears swam in her eyes. She kept trying to get away from him despite her pain.
"That's enough!" Clawdeen snarled forcing her way between the two.
Drew looked to Torq and the Horde for backup only to see them laying in a tangled heap, Duncan standing above them, a fireball at the ready.
Drew ran as fast and as far away from them as he could. Leaving Christina with her friends and a multi-colored arm.
…...
Maleficent continued to dig. Growing more and more angry with each incident that she saw, her rage burning, rising on the brink of erupting, making Diaval recoil, preparing to duck out of sight.
Maleficent calmed, however, turning her attention to Christina's family instead. Deciding to see what they were doing, what they were like.
/
Meanwhile,
"Shaggy, it's time for dinner," Sugie informed her brother.
"I'm like, not hungry," he muttered, pulling the blanket over his head.
"Mom says you have to come downstairs at least," Sugie pointedly replied.
"Fine," Shaggy grumbled kicking the blanket off and following behind his sister.
Stacey watched Shaggy when he sat down at the table he hadn't been happy since the dance. Hoping for at least a smile she pushed the tallest stack of pancakes in front of him but he didn't even dent it.
"It's breakfast for dinner, your favorite-"
"Sixth favorite," Sugie interjected.
"Sixth favorite," Stacey corrected herself, "You have to eat something. I know you're sad but I don't think Christina would want you to starve yourself,"
Hearing this, Shaggy ate his meal without a word before returning to his room.
"Miss me already?"
Shaggy spun. He heard Christina but couldn't pinpoint her voice.
"The box, Shaggy, under the bed,"
Shaggy followed the gentle directions digging a long-forgotten crystal ball out. The glow it created was easy to see.
"Christina?"
"What?"
"How are you-"
"Magic mirror,"
"That makes sense," Shaggy grinned.
"You didn't tell me you knew Vincent,"
"It was a few summer's ago"
"Tell me the story?"
"Scooby, Daphne, Scrappy and I were headed to Hawaii..."
…...
Sugie came to check in on her brother, finding him smiling ear to ear as he told a story she had heard a couple times already. Problem was, she couldn't see who her brother was speaking with.
"Shaggy?" she questioned warily, "Who you talkin to?"
But he didn't seem to hear her.
"So if Vincent tells you not to touch something, like, DON'T TOUCH IT!"
Sugie relaxed when Christina's laughter filled the room. Her brother hadn't lost it. She knocked on the doorframe to grab his attention. He turned to her still grinning. Sugie spied the crystal ball in his hands. That was how he was speaking with Christina and here she thought Christina had popped out of thin air or something!
"Hi, Sugie!" Christina smiled.
"Hi, Christina, how's it going,"
Christina's smile fell but only for a moment, "Okay, I made some friends"
"Friends?"
A trio of wolves suddenly appeared.
"This is Thunder, Pepper and, Jade,"
"They're so cute!"
"Thank you," Pepper grinned.
"They can talk!"
Thunder rolled his eyes, "Again?"
Christina pat the snarky wolf with a small grin, "Go lay down, okay?"
"Okay,"
The wolves left to do as they were told.
"Don't mind Thunder he's just snarky by default,"
"We notice,"
They talked for a long while until Christina yawned, "I better hit the hay, I'll check-in tomorrow, night,"
"Goodnight, Christina,"
…...
Christina devoted her newfound free-time to continuing her magic studies and taking care of her pets. Any time Vincent wanted to find her she was either in her room or outdoors. Every day was just the same. She would wake before sunrise, get ready for the day, join Vincent for breakfast check-in with her friends and family, feed her pets and get lost in a book.
It was a stable but mundane way of living and Christina yearned to return to Monster High and see her friends.
"Ugh!" Christina stood from the desk so fast that the chair toppled over, scaring the wolves from their nap.
"Are you okay, Christina?" Jade asked worriedly.
"Burning," Christina hissed through clenched teeth, staggering to the window and forcing it open.
Breathing heavily she let the frigid air wrap around her, cooling her down. She slid to the floor, sitting in the direct path of the cold air. This is where Vincent found her. He was worried. This had been happening more frequently, reminding of when Christina was a child with newly-awakened powers that she couldn't control. It was happening all over again just because she didn't understand the growing power inside her, the Dragon that wanted out. He feared if she didn't learn to control it she would lose herself to it.
"Christina, maybe you should take a walk outside?" he suggested.
"Good idea,"
Pepper brought her jacket for when she finally managed to cool down. She took the trio with her when she left.
With Christina occupied, Vincent rushed to call Dracula and tell him of this latest development.
"Help her Vincent!" Dracula pleaded.
"I can only do so much, my friend" Vincent reasoned, "It's trying to force-"
"Stop it then!" Dracula interjected.
"Dracula-"
"Alissa didn't have this problem,"
"Alissa was a grown woman who spent her entire life learning to control it. She knew how to handle her powers in a way that Christina doesn't, can't you see that even after all this time Christina's still scared of her powers?"
"Bur she can control them now,"
"That doesn't mean she understands them," Vincent argued, "Not like her mother did,"
"Help her, Vincent,"
"I'm trying, Dracula,"
/
Maleficent watched this exchange with interest. She had spent the past several days watching Christina, her family, her friends. It was clear how they cared for her and she for them. Even though she'd been forced into an exile of sorts she still spoke to her uncle. Filled him in, told him stories of the wolves antics.
The wolves she had bonded with just as Alissa had with Spitfire.
Even though maleficent wasn't quite ready to pay a visit to this world she knew she needed to help her granddaughter.
She knew what to do.
/
Christina walked through the forest trying to cool off. Her skin still burned to the touch and it irritated her to no end. As soon as she cooled off she would check-in with Shaggy and Sugie to see what they were up to.
BUT SHE HAD TO COOL DOWN.
She dropped to her knees, trying to breathe, trying to cool down but nothing helped. Flapping wings alerted her to the raven's return. He came and went as he pleased but always seemed to show up when she had an episode. She glanced at him, grimacing from the pain. He held something in his beak but Christina didn't really notice what it was considering the pain she was in. she fell forward grunting from pain. The raven was right in front of her now, she pushed herself to her elbows to look at him,
He flew up whatever he held glinted in the light as he circled above her before releasing what he held.
A necklace, it fell from the sky encircling her neck perfectly the pendant-that looked oddly like her birthmark-rested right on her heart.
She cooled down almost instantly.
"Where'd you get this?" she asked, eyeing the raven curiously.
He gave no response not that she expected him to, only landing on her shoulder as he always did.
"Thank you,"
…...
"You seem to be in a good mood, Shaggy," Stacey grinned when Shaggy returned home from school.
"He gets to talk to Christina,"
"Oh yes," Stacey nodded, "With that crystal ball of his,"
"And you wanted him to throw it out," Sam commented, looking up from his paper.
"Well, I didn't see the point in keeping it," Stacey defended herself.
"Now, it has a purpose," Sugie replied watching as Shaggy galloped up the stairs.
"Shaggy slow down!" Stacey yelled.
"Thirteen steps Mom, like, I'll be okay," Shaggy responded, slamming the door to his room shortly afterward.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed Shaggy waited and waited and waited some more but Christina didn't call.
"Christina? Christina?" he asked hopefully.
Nothing.
He whimpered.
Where was she?
