Drew was always happy to see his mother when she visited him in monster prison, as she was to see him. Coming from one of the nobles families of the Vampire Court had its privileges. But today Lady Bathory was agitated.
"What's wrong, Mother?", Drew asked.
"What you and have been hearing from Valerie is...disturbing", she replied. "This new werewolf girl and her father at Grimwoods, they could threaten our plans."
"How? Your brilliant curse has worked perfectly! Eventually, my Princess will give in to loneliness and the desire for children of her own, and I will be out of here soon; the ONLY one who can give her what she wants!", he laughed.
"Has your arrogance not cost you enough, my Son?!", Bathory hissed, making him flinch. "It landed you in THIS thrice-cursed place, and cost you your arm to the Kaiju Prince! You were fortunate that was able to procure the blood of a hunter to help you regenerate your arm, or else you would be called 'Lefty' for the rest of your unlife! If I tell you our plans are in danger, you had best believe me!"
"Y-yes, Mother! I'm sorry", he said sufficiently cowed. "Please explain the 'danger'? You said nothing could break the curse?"
"Under normal circumstances that would be true", she huffed. "But I had not counted on the love of a child who has no mother or werewolf imprinting. Either one might be circumvented, but together? The combination is the one thing that COULD break the curse. There is a saying as old as magic itself, 'When you take the child by the hand, you take the mother by the heart.' This is also true of single fathers. And Valerie told me yesterday that the little werewolf has begun calling Christina 'Mommy'!"
"YOU PROMISED ME!", he hissed, his rage rising. Luckily, there were no guards in the visitation room, noble privilege. "You swore my Princess would be MINE!"
"Calm yourself, my Son!", she hissed firmly, cowing him once again. "I have a plan or two nearly ready. One to exploit the nightmares of the child by bringing them to life! And the other to crush her love of the hybrid. Your godmother and her spider-bats will be helpful in that regard."
…...
Shaggy was on cloud nine. After a wonderful birthday feast, Christina carried Sophie to bed giving him a few moments alone with his parents and sister.
"She's good for you"
He'd been walking on air since his mother had said that.
So, it was no wonder he couldn't sleep.
Dragging himself from the bed he eased open the door and peeked into the hallway. Everything was quiet. Next, he checked on Sophie pleased to find her sleeping peacefully.
"Shaggy"
He jumped a foot in the air.
"Why are you still awake?"
"Like, I'm having trouble sleeping," Shaggy fibbed, "Thought I'd check on Sophie"
"You wanna talk?" Christina whispered, "It might help"
The two crept to the kitchen where Christina started making hot chocolate. Shaggy watched, lost in thought.
"What's on your mind?" she asked, passing him a mug after a few minutes.
"You, me, us," he blurted before he thought any more about it.
She looked at him confusedly putting her mug down.
"What?"
"I uh, imprinted on you when we met. I didn't like, know at first but now there's like, no denying it" he reached for her hand but she pulled away.
"Shaggy, I can't," she whispered sorrowfully.
"But, you can!"
"No, Shaggy-"
"I've like, seen how you are with the ghouls, and my Sophie loves you", Shaggy told her. "You've been more of a mother to her in these few weeks than her birth-mother has all these years. And she knows it, too, or she wouldn't call you Mom..."
"Don't you remember?" Christina sobbed, "I'm cursed! I can never have a 'happily-ever-after'! I dare not even try, no matter how I feel, or something terrible could happen to yo... anyone I open my heart to!"
Shaggy opened his mouth to protest only to be interrupted by a sleepy yet frightened Sophie.
"I had a bad dream again," she declared in a whimper, running past Shaggy and straight to Christina.
Christina did a 180. no longer was she sobbing, on the edge of a breakdown now she was calm and collected lifting the trembling five-year-old into her arms and whispering promises that it was going to be okay. Shaggy meanwhile, moved from his place at the table, fixing another cup of hot chocolate for Sophie. Both adults knew this wasn't the end of their discussion. They were just putting it on hold.
"Are you sad, Mommy?" Sophie questioned noticing the tears in Christina's eyes.
"Yes, but don't worry about it, okay?"
Sophie nodded, leaning into Christina after finishing her drink, eyes closing, "I love you, Mommy"
Once she was asleep, Shaggy took her from Christina and carried her back to bed.
Christina remained where she was. Seated at the table staring hopelessly into a half-empty mug of hot chocolate. It just wasn't possible. Happily-ever-after just wasn't possible and it was heartbreaking that shaggy believed it was.
Cursed.
Cursed.
Cursed.
Never know love.
Never be happy.
Never have children.
With tears blurring her vision Christina fled back to her room, shutting the door before falling to the floor.
…...
When Sophie woke early the next morning she crept to Christina's room only discover the door was shut and locked. Confused, she sat on the floor waiting. Her mommy was sure to be up soon. Or maybe her daddy. So, Sophie waited and waited and waited.
"Sophie?" Harper asked in a stage whisper at the end of the hall, "What are you doing up?"
"Waiting for Mommy and Daddy," Sophie explained.
"Your Daddy's in his room" Harper pointed at the slightly opened door across from Sophie's own room.
Curiously Sophie tip-toed to her father's room surprised to see him snoring away in his own bed. She slipped inside climbing onto him and sitting on his chest which of course caused him to wake, looking at her groggily.
"Can we make muffins today?" she asked hopefully.
"Like, that's a good idea," he agreed, lifting her so he could sit up.
"Why's Mommy's door locked?" she questioned as they walked to the kitchen.
"I'm not sure, Sophie," he fibbed.
He knew why the door was locked.
Christina had locked him out.
…...
Meanwhile:
Moonscar Island was overgrown and overrun with feral cats but Regina didn't care. The once-grand house was falling apart, a hazard but she pressed on. Under the stairs and through the dank, rat-infested tunnel straight into a dusty forgotten voodoo chamber with torn bits of clothing scattered about.
She smiled viciously.
This was exactly what she needed.
Gathering the torn cloth and one forgotten necklace she spread them in a semicircle which she then doused with a vile-smelling potion before walking counterclockwise around it while muttering the spell she needed.
Slowly, the results began to take shape as the pile of scarps glowed and glimmered with a black haze before rising into the air.
The bodies began to reform themselves first the skeletons followed by the muscles then the nerves before the skin, or rather fur began to cover it. Even the clothes the three had worn were sewn back together.
As if the three Cat Creatures never left.
…...
"Here, Sophie," Harper beamed, passing her a plate of jellied toast.
Sophie didn't notice. She was still waiting for her mommy to appear, with her sunny smile.
But, she didn't which worried her greatly. She hadn't known such worry before.
"Daddy," she asked as he sat beside her at the very full breakfast table, "Where's Mommy? Is she sick?"
"I don't know"
That is when Christina made her entrance. Clean, calm but sullen. There was a look in her eyes. A sad hollow, shaken look.
"Good morning," Dani said cheerily.
"Is it?" Christina asked with a bite to her tone that made the young halfa recoil.
A dark fairy with negative emotions was a dangerous thing.
Christina slipped into the kitchen, returning shortly with long strides and loud steps. Her hands clenching her coffee cup, the steam blowing in her face though she made no move to cool it down. She sat at the far end of the table, separated from the others.
The brooding silence that surrounded her warned the others not to speak to her.
That didn't stop them from trying, however. Anything and everything said to Christina that day caused her to lash out much to their surprise until she finally disappeared back into her locked room.
…...
"I wonder what's wrong with Christina?" Webbigale pondered.
"She's awfully upset," added Winnie, glancing up from her comic.
"But, why?" Dani stressed, "She seemed fine yesterday"
"Well, she's not now," Lupa shuddered, "Did you guys see her shadow at lunch?"
"You mean when Harper tried to talk to her?" Phantasma faded into view, "I did"
"What's wrong with Mommy's shadow?" Sophie bounded into the room, Matches at her heels followed closely by the wolves.
"Uh, what happened to Thunder?" Tannis gaped at the soaking wet wolf.
"He fell into the moat" Harper giggled.
"When do you get your bandages taken off?" Phantasma questioned, Harper as she sat on the couch.
"I dunno"
"Hello?" Webbigale cried, "Back to the problem"
"I don't see how Christina's bad day is our problem," Tannis said.
Webbigale turned to Lupa, "Isn't it concerning to you?"
"Well, yeah, I mean-"
"What do you think is wrong with her?"
"I think she's just having one of those days," Lupa declared, "It will be better tomorrow," she turned to the window, watching the sunset.
Harper startled causing the others to look at her questioningly.
"What's the matter?"
"I thought I saw something"
"Like what?"
"I dunno, a cat maybe"
"You just got the sun in your eyes, cats are too scared of Matches to hang around here," Winnie giggled.
While the others were talking, Sophie slipped away. Down the hall to Christina's door. She wanted to know what was bothering her Mommy and no one would tell her not even her Daddy who'd spent the whole day in his room too.
Knocking on the door she jumped back when it swung open with such force it was surprising it didn't come off the hinges.
"What?" Christina demanded.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Sophie asked worriedly.
"I'm NOT your mommy! I can NEVER be a mommy!", Christina screamed in anguish.
Sophie burst into tears.
Mommy was angry with her.
Turning quickly, she dashed down the hall, through the main room and entry hall right outside. She didn't stop for anyone. Not her friends, not Miss Grimwood. Not her daddy.
She didn't care how dark it was growing she just wanted to get away, as far away as she could.
Meanwhile back inside:
Christina had crumpled to her knees in the doorway to her room, sobbing loudly while Shaggy boiled with angry confusion.
"Like, what is going on with you, Christina?" he demanded.
But, she gave no answer only sobbing louder.
The rest of the girls gathered in the hall, watching curiously.
Shaggy stood there awaiting an answer but Christina continued to cry in a way they'd never seen before. It had never been this bad.
Ever.
"Excuse me, girls," Miss Grimwood shuffled to the front of the group and further into the hall to get a better look at Christina.
"When do you think she'll calm down?" Winnie questioned her cousin.
"Shh," replied Lupa, "Wait"
Miss Grimwood stepped in front of Shaggy and knelt before Christina, prying her hands away from her face, "Just as I thought"
"What?" Shaggy asked.
"She's been spelled"
"Huh?"
"Hexed, enchanted, take your pick,"
"But, how?"
"Revolta!" the girls exclaimed in unison.
"How do we like, snap her out of it?"
Miss Grimwood smiled, "We don't, you do, Shaggy"
"Wha-"
"You have to kiss her"
"K-K-Kiss?"
"Yes"
"But I-"
"No time for buts"
"Here," Phantasma said, "We'll turn around"
The girls and Miss Grimwood turned their backs to him and Christina.
Shaggy slowly moved towards her as she still hadn't quit sobbing and he was worried she might retreat into her room locking him out again. Once he was close enough he grabbed her wrist to keep her from fleeing while brushing her tears away with his free hand.
"Kiss her already!"
"Dani!"
After glancing back at the girls to make sure their backs were still turned Shaggy kissed Christina. Slowly.
I don't see how-
Then she began to return the kiss.
If his heart beat any faster it was sure to explode out of his chest.
"They've got to come up for air at some point"
"Dani!"
"Feel better?" Shaggy asked when they finally separated.
"Much," Christina smiled.
…...
Meanwhile:
When Sophie finally stopped running, she was far into the woods in a small clearing. The little werewolf sat on a small stump, crying her eyes out.'Why did Mommy yell at me? Doesn't she love me?', she asked herself.
"Bonjour, mon cher petite` ", a deep voice said. "why so sad?"
Sophie looked up...to a sight that froze her blood with terror. Before her stood the three demons of her nightmares in living flesh; Simon, Lena, and Jacques. With them were dozens of cats of all breeds and colors.
"Are you afraid, little pup?", Lena sneered 'sweetly'.
"She may be a dog", Simone smirked, "but her youth will sustain us for years. And it will taste oh so sweet."
Sophie screamed as Jacques grabbed her and stuffed her into a sack!
Her scream was heard by the others who'd just come outside to search for her.
"ZOINKS!", Shaggy cried. "Like, that was Sophie! And she's, like, terrified!"
Shaggy, Christina, and the girls took off into the woods. However, Scooby and Jade were faster in the woods.
"Fluffy, Thunder, come on!" Scooby barked at the two wolves behind them.
"I may only have three legs but don't doubt me!" Thunder huffed catching up to his sister and Scooby.
"Hey, wait for me!" Fluffy heaved.
Sophie was still screaming. So long and loud she could've put her father to shame. The four eventually came across the clearing and the trio in it.
"It's that blasted dog!" Simone snarled catching sight of them, "Kill them!"
"Get the sack!" Jade ordered Scooby, "We'll take care of these pests"
The wolves charged the cats who ran their way while Scooby ran after the retreating werecats. Taking a running leap he snatched the sack in his jaws, tearing it open with his landing.
Sophie tumbled out, frightened. She threw her arms around Scooby.
"SOPHIE!" Shaggy yelled, only now catching up.
"Daddy!" she scrambled to her feet and ran his direction.
"Don't just stand there gawking!" Simone ordered her companions, "Grab her!"
"We don't think so," the girls emerged from the woods, surrounding them on all sides.
Jacques leaped over them running for and cutting Sophie off before grabbing her by her shirt and lifting her from the ground.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he snarled.
"Put my daughter down like, right now!" Shaggy ordered blocking his exit.
"And what are you going to do about it?" Jacques challenged.
Shaggy growled, transforming as he did so, "You like, don't want to find out"
Jacques laughed.
Shaggy jumped him causing Sophie to fall from his grasp and right onto Scooby's back. The great Dane turned and headed for the school, passing by the girls who still surrounded Simone and Lena only to be jumped by a group of cats he hadn't seen blocking his path.
Sophie fell to the ground with a yelp, spotting Matches behind some brush. He waved his tail as if telling her to hide there. She was in no place to object.
Jacques was taken aback. This was not the same coward that had been on the island. This was an enraged werewolf who was currently rearranging his face.
Simone meanwhile couldn't help but laugh at the girls who were surrounding her.
She and Lena split up, each taking a side, claws and teeth bared, swiping at the girls who were beginning to realize maybe this wasn't the best idea. True they certainly had abilities that could help but they weren't properly trained just yet.
"Get AWAY from my girls!" Christina ordered the duo, charging them.
"You really think you're a match for us? there's only one of you" Lena laughed.
But, Christina wasn't backing down. She threw a fireball at them so big so hot it forced the two apart while the girls scattered.
"We want to help!" Dani cried.
"Then get Sophie and get her back to the school,"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Dani saluted before flying off in a frantic search for the hidden five-year-old.
The remaining girls went after the cats the wolves hadn't yet caught, assisting as best they could.
From her hiding place, Sophie watched with Matches on her lap as her self-appointed protection. Simone was in front of her mommy while Lena was behind. Jacques had finally recovered and attempted to throw her daddy off of him, only succeeding in cutting open Shaggy's face.
Sophie wanted to cry but doing so would surely attract attention to herself and as brave as Matches was he couldn't take on so many attackers away at once. So, she just watched, wincing at the final yowl of the cats who met their fate while keeping her eyes locked on her parents. She was so distracted she didn't notice Jade and Scooby's arrival
Despite the blood that poured down his face soaking his fur, Shaggy kept fighting and was slowly wearing down his attacker.
"You can't take us both down, Sparkles," Lena spat at Christina who had just caused her and Simone to collide.
"Wanna bet?" Christina raised her wand.
Jacques had finally succeeded in pulling Shaggy off of him with one very well-timed hard blow to the head, causing the angered werewolf to fall to the ground with a cry.
This of course caught Christina's attention. She watched Shaggy hit the ground.
Something inside her snapped.
Turning back to her attackers she said, "You know, I've had enough"
Eyes flashing brightly, they turned to draconic slits before fire erupted. Encasing her and expanding outward, upward.
Simone, Lena and, Jacques watched in shock as a large angry, purple dragon took place of the fairy they'd just been fighting. Wings spread wide, barbed tail lashing as it let out a fearsome roar.
It charged but the trio was ready with an unspoken plan. once the dragon was close enough they latched on to it, eager to begin the draining process. This move only backfired as it felt like they were being burnt alive by the inside out. Hastily letting go the trio moved onto their only other option, fighting physically.
They could wear it down.
They thought wrong.
While they were distracted Shaggy had time to get to his feet, surveying the scene that surrounded him. Cat corpses and blood-soaked ground, Dani in the sky still searching for Sophie while the other girls just watched and waited despite Christina's clear direction. Fluffy and Thunder bounded by, blood soaking their fur as they pursued one of the remaining cats who scrambled up a tree, hissing at them.
Where was Sophie?
He staggered forward a few steps only to fall once more.
"Sophie!" he called out, "SOPHIE!"
She was nowhere to be seen!
Worry driving him, he got to his feet once more and pressed on, searching for her.
Sophie watched from her hiding place, tears running down her face. She had almost called out to her daddy but Jade had put a paw to her mouth warning her not to.
"How much longer?" she whispered into Scooby's back.
The Great Dane gave no response, eyes trained on the moon counting down the minutes until their adversaries expired. He remembered they would die if they didn't drain someone's life and considering how tied up they were with the dragon who was currently treating them as bowling pins they wouldn't have a chance to do so.
Mere minutes later, they froze, shaking violently as they crumbled to nothing.
The cat creatures were dead once more.
Fire was lit to the remains of their clothing to ensure they could never be brought back as well as to all the dead cats.
Only then did Christina revert back to normal, running to where Shaggy still staggered in circles calling for Sophie.
"Like, I don't know, I don't know-"
"DADDY!" Sophie ran for him.
With everyone accounted for the group went back to the school.
…...
Sophie had a bath and was dressed in her warmest pajamas but she didn't want to go to sleep. She couldn't now so, she wandered to the kitchen where Miss Grimwood was bustling about trying to pull together a late-night dinner. Not wanting to bother her, Sophie moved to the living room, settling on the couch in time to see the freshly bathed wolves and Scooby emerge from the hall before flopping to the floor.
Her daddy followed them, sitting next to her.
She jumped into his lap without a second thought.
"I don't wanna go to bed," she informed him.
"That's okay, I like, won't make you," he promised, holding her close.
She looked up at the sound of a door opening and closing again.
"Mommy?"
"Hi, Sophie," Christina replied quietly, sinking into the chair across from the couch.
Sophie scrambled off her father's lap and went to Christina, climbing onto her lap instead.
"I'm sorry I yelled, Sophie, I'm not mad at you I was just sad"
"That's okay," Sophie promised, "Daddy told me you were sad" she hugged her, throwing her arms around her neck.
"Dinner!" Miss Grimwood called.
Sophie ran excitedly for the dining room, taking a place beside Harper.
"Why are you all staring?" she questioned her friends who were to busy looking at her to even consider touching their plates.
The realization that Sophie saw them made their heads drop to their food, hurriedly stuffing their faces with her friends no longer staring, Sophie returned her focus to the food before her.
"Sophie?"
"Yes, Harper?"
"Are you okay?"
"Harper!" Tannis chided.
"I think so I'm just..."
"Scared?"
"Yeah," Sophie nodded, "Scared"
"Me too," Harper hugged Sophie, "But it's going to be okay"
"Is it?"
"I'm sure"
…...
Christina sat wrapped in her blanket.
I caused this.
It's my fault.
All my fault.
The door opened and Sophie bounded inside followed closely by Shaggy.
"Mommy, are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, Sophie, I'm okay" Christina lied.
Sophie stared at her, head tilted to the side, "Where did those come from?"
"What, Sophie?"
"You have horns, Mommy" Sophie declared reaching up to touch them.
now Christina felt it. She reached up in thought, only to shrug, Grandmother will be excited.
"They're pretty," Sophie decided, "Can we read a story now?"
"Yes," Christina couldn't help but laugh, pushing her negative thoughts away, "We can"
…...
A few days later everyone was grasping for normalcy. Currently, the girls were having magic class, each trying to forget the horrors they'd just been through
"Christina?"
"Yes, Webbigale?"
"Who taught you magic?"
"I had a few different very good teachers," Christina responded not turning from the board.
"Well, I hope I was the best,"
the girls gasped making Christina spin on her heel, "Grandmother! What are you doing here?"
Maleficent beamed, "Surprising you,"
THUD!
Scooby, who'd been sitting quietly in the back promptly fainted.
"Christina, Miss Grimwood said to tell you-" Shaggy faltered, going pale before joining Scooby on the floor.
Sophie stared owl-eyed at the dark fae who stood next to her desk, "You're Ma-ma-ma-Maleficent," she stammered fearfully.
Hearing the fear in his daughter's voice spurred Shaggy to action, growling protectively he stood in front of Sophie's desk.
"Shaggy, deep breath, it's okay" Christina grabbed him by the shoulders.
"No," he growled "She's-"
"My Grandmother"
Three or four pages of nothing but cat creature battle and I'm still not sure if it's good enough! UGH! Anyway, don't expect things to go back to normal just like that. Change is coming...
A big thank you goes to my friend, DRAGONDAVE45 for all the help with this chapter. I hope it was a good one.
Review!
