"Hi, Daddy!" Valerie waved excitedly.
"Hi, Valerie," Drew smiled creepily as always, "Tell me about school,"
"It's a drag as always,"
"And Christina's still there?"
"Yes,"
"Good,"
"I don't know why you like her so much, Daddy she's a hard-headed human lover,"
"I know but she can be taught and I was this close!" he growled, pinching his fingers together.
To avoid her father's rant Valerie changed the subject.
"I found my Prince today, Daddy!", Valerie said.
"Really, my little blood-orange?", Drew smirked. "Tell me about him! And have you tasted him yet?"
"Oh, he's sooo handsome~, and strong! I think he might even be more powerful than you, Daddy", she gushed. "I haven't tasted him yet, but he'll be visiting his twin sister here often, so I WILL get my chance. I promise, Daddy, nothing will stop me from making him MINE~!"
"So his sister is one of your new classmates? Interesting. Twins are not common in our world", Drew considered. "What are their names?"
"His sister is named Lupa, and my Prince is named Drake~", Valerie told him. "They're hybrids. Their mom is a werewolf, Winnie's cousin. And their dad is a dragon, i think."
"WHAT?!", Drew yelled in shock. "What is their family name?!"
"Hmmmm...not sure. I was too busy flirting. Rosen-something, I think."
"ROSENBLATT?!"
"Yeah! That's it!"
"I LOST MY ARM TO THEIR FATHER!" Drew roared, "Duncan!"
Valerie resumed her usual scowl, "Not cool,"
"Their dangerous," he was grinding his fangs now, eyes blazing, "Stay away from them!"
He was being so loud the guards had to restrain him and didn't leave until he appeared to calm down.
"But Daddy," Valerie cooed, the wheels in her mind starting to turn, "Imagine how CRUSHED Duncan will be when his son falls head-over-heels for me!"
"Oh, I love the way you think! Just be careful okay?"
"Okay?"
"Times up!" Christina said from the doorway.
"No, it isn't I have an hour,"
"Yes it is because you didn't finish your assignment," Christina waved Valerie's English paper, "Get to the classroom!"
"Hi, Princess!"
"Bye, Scumwad!" Christina snarked shutting the computer down.
…...
Sophie slipped into Christina's classroom in search of crayons only to see Valerie cuffed to her desk, smacking gum as she stared her unfinished paper down.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" she yelled when she saw her.
Sophie ran crashing into Christina who was just leaving her room.
"Sophie?" Christina asked worriedly as the trembling girl clutched her leg.
"Valerie is scary,"
"What happened?"
"I just wanted crayons,"
With a sigh, Christina picked up Sophie, carrying her to the classroom to retrieve the crayons.
"Be nice to Sophie," she said to Valerie.
Sophie hid her face in Christina's shoulder as they left and didn't look up until they reached the living room.
"Dani, can you keep Sophie company?"
"Where are you going?" Dani asked glancing up from her comic.
"I need to go to the store-"
"WE WANNA GO!" the girls yelled.
"For personal things,"
"Nevermind,"
"I'll be back in half an hour,"
Dani turned to Sophie with a smile but Sophie remained quiet, hugging her knees to her chest.
"Valerie scared you?"
"Mm,"
"It's okay," Dani smiled, "Do you want to color something?"
Sophie nodded slowly.
"Come on,"
Dani brought Sophie to the dining room table where they were soon coloring jungle animals. Dani peeked at Sophie, pleased to see her smiling as she colored a tiger purple with blue stripes.
"That's pretty Sophie,"
"Thank you, I like yours too," Sophie grinned at the bright yellow gorilla.
"Whatcha guys doing?" Winnie asked curiously, moving to the kitchen, Lupa following.
"Coloring," Sophie chirped, "Look," she held her picture up.
"That's cute," the girls nodded.
"Wanna color too?"
"Yeah,"
Soon Webbigale, Tannis, and Phantasma joined them. Miss Grimwood was pleased to see this as she headed to the garden. Sophie finally seemed to be warming up to her classmates.
…...
August gave way to September which quickly faded to October. Sophie fell into a rhythm during this time, finding the days continued to get easier but Valerie only got worse and more terrifying. One chilly early October day Sophie was taking turns on the swing with Tannis and Dani. Webbigale was swimming in the moat, Phantasma was amending her latest piece, Winnie was writing to her father while Lupa tried to stay away from Valerie who thought getting close to her would give her easier access to Drake.
"Desperate," Tannis laughed.
"Obsessed," Dani agreed.
"Girls," Miss Grimwood warned, "Be nice,"
"Yes, Ma'am," they nodded while Sophie looked on confusedly.
"What does that mean?" she questioned.
"What?"
"Obsessed,"
"Er, don't worry about it,"
"But I wanna know!"
The girls saving grace arrived in the form of Christina who must have overheard them from her garden.
"Sophie, do you know what you're going to be for Halloween?"
"No,"
"I have to go to the store, do you want to look at the costumes there?"
"Yes, please." She hopped off the swing and grabbed Christina's hand.
"You girls need to be careful with what you say, someone might be listening,"
"Yes Christina," Tannis nodded.
"I just thought it was like-"
"I know, Dani, we don't talk about it,"
"But I thought-"
"Dani,"
"Yes, Christina,"
Don't talk about what? Sophie wanted to know but by the sad look on Christina's face, she knew she had to be quiet. Putting on a smile she ran to her room grabbed her dog and joined Christina at the door.
"Ready?"
Sophie nodded, skipping behind her teacher before climbing into the car.
"Whoa, girly, you need a booster seat first," Christina laughed, pulling her from the car, "Here we'll use Tannis's old one,"
Once it was set up, Sophie climbed in.
"What's your doggy's name?"
"Ruby,"
"That's pretty,"
"I know!" Sophie gushed, "Daddy says it goes with my birthday,"
"You were born in July?"
"Yes, when's your birthday?"
"May,"
"I like May,"
"Because it's warm?"
"Yes,"
"Me too,"
"What are you going to be for Halloween?"
"I dunno,"
"You should be Tinkerbell,"
"Why?"
"I dunno,"
Christina laughed as they pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine, "We're here,"
…...
"I really messed up didn't I?" Dani sighed, watching the clouds roll across the sky.
"Hey, stop beating yourself up already, it's depressing," Winnie said, a slight edge to her voice.
"You just have to be careful what you say," Tannis added.
"I thought she moved on?" Webbigale questioned, popping out of the moat.
"How can she? She has a scar from her chest to her ankle also, how are you not freezing?"
"Asks the ghost," Webbigale laughed
"Just drop the subject," Dani suggested.
"Good idea,"
…...
"Yes, she's doing great," Miss Grimwood said, speaking with Sophie's father, "No, not yet,"
"I've done my best to prepare her but-"
"Don't worry, she's in good hands here,"
"I know,"
…...
The week leading up to Halloween Sophie watched the others work on the gifts to their family but she was lost as to what she should do. When she was asked she simply said:
"I don't know,"
"Why don't you draw a picture?" Webbigale suggested.
"But I don't wanna go in there right now," Sophie whimpered.
"Valerie's in there?"
Sophie nodded.
"I bet Christina has some supplies in her bedroom, go ask,"
"Okay," Sophie skipped down the hall to Christina's room and knocked.
"Come in,"
Sophie pushed the door open, finding Christina on her bed.
"I wanna draw a picture but Valerie's in there and-"
Christina was already at her desk before Sophie could finish.
"What's that?"
Christina glanced at her leg, "A scar,"
"Does it hurt?"
"No, I promise it doesn't hurt,"
"Will you help with my costume later?"
"Yes,"
…...
Halloween.
From the time Sophie got up, she could feel the excitement in the air. A day of classes was replaced with movies and crafts, everyone was excited for the arrival of their parents but any mention of this put Sophie's stomach in knots. She didn't know if her daddy was coming. She could only hope. Finally, as classes were dismissed and everyone darted to their rooms to get ready, Sophie stayed rooted in her desk.
"Sophie? What's the matter?"
"I don't know if Daddy's coming," Sophie whimpered.
"Don't worry," Miss Grimwood smiled, "He'll be here,"
"Really?"
"Yes, and he has a surprise for you,"
"He does?"
"Yes, now why don't you get ready?"
"Okay,"
…...
Christina was almost ready for the impending party when Sophie screamed followed by Valerie's shrill laughter. She ran from the room, missing a shoe, hair falling from its not yet finished bun. Valerie was on the floor in front of Sophie's room laughing still. Christina jumped over her, charging into the room, shutting the door behind her.
"Sophie? What happened?"
Rounding the bed she found Sophie curled into a ball, her dress shredded but this Christina noticed last.
"You're a werewolf," Christina kneeled in front of the crying girl who barely nodded.
"Yes,"
"Is that why you screamed?"
"I scared myself," Sophie said bitterly, "Then I fell,"
"Did you hurt yourself?"
"Right here," she patted her knee.
"Let's get you fixed up," Christina smiled, "Come on,"
…...
"There," Christina placed the tiara on Sophie's head, "All better and the best part? It lasts past midnight,"
"Thank you," Sophie smiled at her reflection.
"You're welcome, I'll be out shortly,"
"Sophie? Where are you?"
Sophie lit up running from the room, "DADDY!"
Shaggy picked up his daughter with a smile, "Hi, Sophie,"
"I missed you!"
"I missed you more but guess what?"
"What?"
"I'm going to stay here with you,"
