A/N: I'd like to start by thanking the readers, you're what keep me writing! Sorry for the wait; I'm sure some of you can relate to the hectic mess that is college. However, since today is my birthday, I've relieved myself from any work (really shouldn't but oh well). This is one of my favorite chapters, hope you enjoy it!
"But we need you. We need all the help we can get."
"Sorry ghouls, but I'm not interested in joining."
"Operetta, please."
"If y'all were really rebels, y'all have done something already."
"Operetta..."
Operetta shook her head. "I'm not a joiner. At least not to wannabes."
The ghouls looked defeated, having nothing left to say.
It was their looks that caused Operetta to recall the moment yesterday when Lagoona and Rochelle approached her. She hadn't seen them in years, and they were pressuring her to be a part of some group claiming to be rebels.
Please, Operetta thought as she looked out her apartment's wall-length window, soft sunlight streaming through it now that the rain had stopped. Those by-the-book ghouls wouldn't know nothing 'bout being rebels.
Beside her window was the organ she bought to replace the one lost in the catacombs years ago. Operetta sat on the bench in front of it, her elbows resting on the lid encasing the keys of the instrument as she propped up her chin with her hands. Her guitar was on its stand on the right side of the window, and long, spidery-red drapes brushed against it. Operetta made sure to deck out her new home with her style as soon as she got it. Red, black, and purple sprawled about the apartment's white walls in a remarkably coordinating fashion. As much as she loved her new home, the musical ghoul truly missed the haunting tunnels she knew so well.
The daughter of the Phantom of the Opera hadn't changed much these past years. No, she still played her instruments and danced even though so many unlife-changing events had occurred. She wasn't surprised when Frankie stepped up like she did. In fact, she didn't consider it out of character in the slightest. How she ended up rising to power was just the way things worked for monsters like Frankie. As much as ghouls like Cleo de Nile would say otherwise, Frankenstein's daughter hogged the spotlight back in high school, so why not now? The queen ordeal was a bit flashy, sure, but Frankie always got the attention back then so, again, why not now?
Operetta had always spent most of her time in the catacombs, away from all the monster drama going on above, playing her music and studying whenever a test was coming up; her only companion being her pet spider, Memphis. She went up to the surface time and time again, socializing with the other ghouls and sometimes even getting involved in some drama of her own—and, of course, for the school portion of her unlife.
Soon she spent less time retreating to the homey underground tunnels and more time above, being a gear in the machine that was Monster High. The only time she realized how deeply attached she was to the catacombs was when a delinquent ghost tried taking them back by challenging her to a musical duel quickly turned jam session. Operetta didn't think she could make a friend after that encounter, but she did. Then friendship morphed into romance which, nowadays, came on and off like a light switch.
"It's past noon," a voice behind her said. "Why aren't you playing?" Operetta turned her head to the translucent figure of Johnny Spirit beside her apartment door, his body hovering slightly above the white tile floor.
Operetta sighed. "Johnny," she said as she rose up from her seated position, approaching the ghostly monster. "Use the door." She pointed toward the locked entrance to her apartment.
The specter smiled coyly. "You say that every time I'm here."
"Which seems to be 'bout every day now, Johnny," she said pointedly, crossing her arms. Whether they were on or off, the ghost would visit whenever Operetta felt the need to jam with someone who wasn't an arachnid. After some time, he would start coming on his own. Operetta didn't mind his visits. Of course, there was the whole walking-through-walls thing he took advantage of but, otherwise, Johnny was good company. He came over so often that his visits were expected even on the days when Operetta found them most unwelcoming.
The ghost floated over to her organ, sitting at its bench and opening its lid.
Operetta let out another sigh, not turning back to look at him. "Why do you come here so often anyway?"
He chuckled as he played a key—G. "What kind of question is that?"
The ghoul turned around and rolled her eyes. "I just don't see why you can't at least call before you phase through my door."
Johnny raised an eyebrow as he played another key—E... sharp. "It bothers you that much?"
"I think I made that pretty clear, ghost boy," Operetta said while approaching the monster at the organ, her right hand on her hip.
"Okay phantom ghoul." He laughed and started playing the composition the two had come up with the week before. It was a simple tune, slow at first and fast once it hit certain intervals, but Johnny liked it more than Operetta did. She was impressed by his memorization of the piece, but his technique made her cringe. The ghost was an expert at the violin, of string instruments in general, but when it came to one of the simplest instruments, the organ, he was a little sloppy.
She shook her head. "Johnny, I can't watch this."
The specter grinned. "Then why are you smiling?"
Operetta hadn't noticed her grin so she made a show of scrunching up her lips over her teeth, only fueling his confidence as he continued to play. The ghoul let out a frustrated huff. She didn't know whether it was the music or the musician that had caused her to smile, but she wasn't going to let Johnny get the best of her.
"Scoot over," she told him, sitting on the bench beside him. The specter was still playing, and the ghoul lifted her hand, motioning him to stop. Johnny raised his hands in mock surrender. Operetta ignored him and stretched out her fingers in front of her, spanning out the intricate tattoo on her left arm. She took a deep breath and played. Her fingers glided over the keys, playing out the week-old collaboration she had created with the guy sitting next to her. It hadn't changed from when Johnny was on the organ, but Operetta felt it had improved now that she was in control.
"Better now, see?" she told him, playing out the song.
"Mmhmm," he responded simply, letting her play as he sat beside her.
Operetta was well into the song now and closed her eyes as music flooded the once quiet room.
"Keep playing," Johnny whispered. Operetta didn't understand why until she heard other notes join the piece. Johnny complemented each of her notes with one of his: a duet. Operetta smiled and continued playing, her arm brushing against the specter's leather jacket as the music superseded itself with two monsters as its conductor.
Time always seemed to fly whenever these two played and today was no exception. By the time they played the song twice, Operetta freestyled on the keys, and Johnny followed suit. They were creating their own song, this time hands on instead of sitting around with sheet music. Operetta's hands flew across the keyboard and she could tell that Johnny's hands were as well. But when she reached over to Middle C, Operetta felt the ghost's hand brush hers; she played the key, but he faltered, loudly slamming the D key beside it.
Her eyes snapped open and she turned her head to the monster, who shrugged at her look of disapproval.
"Let's play again," he said plainly, as if nothing major had happened—which was true, except for monsters like Operetta. Yet she couldn't help but grin at his easygoing attitude and was willing to restart their song. The ghoul nodded and reached out her fingers to the keys when a knock sounded: someone was at the door.
Operetta groaned and retracted her fingers, turning to glare at the entrance.
Johnny chuckled. "I guess that's my cue." He glided off the bench over to the door, hovering beside it.
"I don't see a reason for you to leave," Operetta told the ghost as she rose from the bench.
"You have guests or something," he argued, stuffing his pale hands in his pockets.
Operetta grimaced. "No, really, it's—what? Four o'clock. Honey is just here to take me to the early screening of the boovie she did camera work for. You can come."
Johnny sighed. He wasn't one for crowds, even if it was just Operetta and her friend. "I can just wait here if you want," he said.
"It'll be fun, Johnny," she urged.
"I thought we were having fun just now," he told her, glancing over at the organ.
Operetta rolled her eyes. His attitude bothered her; Johnny wasn't one to shy away from social events, even though he preferred being alone.
Or with you, a little voice in her head sounded. "Well, we can have more fun."
The specter didn't say anything and another knock sounded at the door.
Operetta sighed. "Come on, Johnny we can grab a bite afterwards or somethin'."
A slow grin appeared on his face, and Operetta knew what was coming. "You asking me out?" he asked slyly, which only led Operetta to smack his arm. He laughed and Operetta couldn't stop a smile forming from his shift in mood.
She pointed her index finger at his face. "You're coming, got it?" She opened the door to reveal Honey Swamp wearing a sludge-themed white dress and looking no different than how she did back in high school.
"Hi," Honey said, smiling at Operetta. Then her eyes shifted over to the ghost beside her. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt somethin'?"
Operetta's eyes widened. "No, Honey, not at all. But I hope you don't mind sparing Johnny a ticket 'cause he'll be comin' with us," she informed the other ghoul.
Honey grinned. "Y'all are in luck, I happen to have a couple extra."
"Thanks," Johnny said.
She beamed. "Not a problem, Mister Spirit. We should be going now."
Operetta walked out into the hall and turned back to lock her door. Johnny phased through the wall beside it, to which Honey let out a startled yelp. Operetta laughed and ushered the monsters down the hall so that they could make it to the screening on time.
"What's this boovie about, anyway?"
-.-.-.-
"Honey, those might've been the worst two hours of my life," Operetta commented as she and her friends walked out of the theater into the winter-cold city streets.
Honey adjusted the small hat sitting atop her bicolored afro. "Well," the swamp monster began, "the camera positioning was good, don't you think?"
"Sometimes too good," Johnny said with a teasing shudder.
Operetta laughed and Honey raised a hand to her chest.
"Well, I'm sorry but even the worst boovies need good camera work," she argued.
"I just hope it paid well, sugar," Operetta told her; Honey shrugged in response. Johnny cleared his throat behind Operetta, and the lilac-skinned ghoul turned to see him giving her a pointed look. Right. She promised she'd grab a bite after the boovie. She turned to the other ghoul. "Hey, Honey, thanks for taking us to the screening but—"
"Viperine?" Honey walked past Operetta, and she turned to see her heading toward a pink-clad Gorgon at the edge of the theater. Viperine hadn't noticed Honey, and walked right into the alleyway beside the theater; Honey stopped abruptly.
"Uh, I thought Viperine had work over in Hauntlywood," Operetta mentioned as she approached the swamp monster, Johnny at her heels.
"She did... She was supposed to be heading back to Barcelgroana today," Honey mused. "Come on." She beckoned the other two monsters as she pursued Stheno's daughter.
Operetta followed closely behind Honey, who stopped once she reached the edge of the building leading into the alleyway. She held a finger to her lips, signaling the couple to be silent. The two complied, now hearing voices coming from the alley.
Viperine's Spanish accent touched their ears first. "...and I just need to get some more of my things before I commit to—"
"You better hurry," another voice said. Operetta groaned inwardly. Lagoona.
"Please, Viperine. We would be very grateful," a different voice sounded. Rochelle. Operetta rolled her eyes. Those two were still tryin' to get monsters to join their little "rebel" gang.
"Okay that's enough eavesdropping for now," Operetta was startled as Honey began ushering her and Johnny away from the building's edge.
"Honey! What's the big idea?" Operetta asked, halting in front of the theater beside the ghost.
"Why, nothing's the matter." The swamp monster looked flustered as she avoided eye contact.
"It's just Lagoona and Rochelle tryin' to get monsters to join their little wannabe club. It's no big deal," she assured her.
Honey's eyes widened, lifting to make eye contact with the musical ghoul. Her voice was barely above a whisper, "How do you know about that?"
"They came to me yesterday, talkin' 'bout how they 'needed' me an'—wait a minute." Operetta crossed her arms. "How do you know about that?" she asked Honey accusingly, her eyes narrowed.
Honey didn't respond, avoiding Operetta's gaze.
"Spill it," the cerise-haired ghoul demanded.
The swamp monster sighed. "I ran into them this afternoon," she told her. "I plan on meeting them at their campsite later tonight."
Operetta raised an eyebrow. "Really, Honey? You're gonna get yourself dragged into that?"
"What's this 'club' you ghouls are talking about?" Johnny asked beside her, his opaque body looking paler than usual in the moonlight.
Operetta let her arms fall to her side. "It's nothin', Johnny, just a bunch of rebel wannabes," she told him.
The ghost responded with a nod of his head as if her explanation cleared up everything.
"Well, I believe they'll make a change," Honey stated, her expression resolved.
Operetta scoffed. "You can go on ahead and run off with those so-called rebels. Thanks for the screening," she spat. "Johnny, let's go." With the specter close behind, Operetta headed down the street away from the theater, leaving Honey alone at its entrance.
-.-.-.-
"Are you sure you're not too cold?" Johnny asked Operetta as he held open the door of the nearest die-ner.
"I'm fine Johnny," she said as she walked into the brightly colored food joint.
"Wearing that in this cold?" he scoffed, following in behind her.
"What, this old thing?" Operetta looked down at her dress. "Found it tucked away in my closet this mornin'; wore it to picture day back in high school—mask and all," she told him. She caught a strand of hair and twirled it in her fingers. "You don't like it?"
The ghost rolled his eyes. "All I'm saying is that that is the worst excuse for a jacket I have ever seen."
"Oh, don't pretend you don't love it," she taunted.
He chuckled as the two settled into a nearby booth. A harpy waitress came and took their orders, leaving the couple to themselves.
"Hey, Op," Johnny said after some silence had passed.
"Hmm?" Operetta looked up from her iCoffin to face the ghost seated across from her.
"We should play like that again next time," he told her.
Operetta smiled, thinking back to their jam session from earlier that day. "Freestylin' with you was fun, Johnny."
He grinned, a wistful expression settling onto his face. "Almost as fun as jamming together back at the catacombs."
The ghoul smiled sadly. "Yeah."
Johnny seemed to notice her change in tone and quickly changed the subject. "So," he began, "what were you saying about the 'rebel wannabe club'?" The ghost asked this meaning to perk up Operetta, but instead, her mood soured.
"Honestly, Johnny, they're wastin' their time. Tryin' to 'expose' the Queen. What's there to expose her for? It's not like Frankie's done anythin' wrong—what's the point in taking her down?"
"Take down the Queen?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow.
Operetta nodded. "The idea's crazier than a bag of bats."
Johnny ran a hand through his thick violet hair before leaning back in the booth without a word.
The ghoul sighed. "Whatcha thinkin', Spirit?"
"It might not be all that crazy," he murmured.
Operetta raised both eyebrows in disbelief. "What was that, ghost boy?"
"Think about it." Johnny leaned forward across the table. "When was the last time you—or anyone—has seen the Queen outside the palace? It's like she has something to hide. Don't you think that's... strange?"
Operetta did believe it was strange, but she hadn't given it much thought. She smirked at the ghost, leaning across the table so that their faces met. "What're you tryin' to play at here, ghosty?" she jested.
"I'm serious, Operetta," he told her with an irked expression.
Operetta rolled her eyes. "Riiight," she snickered. "This conversation is totally about joining up with those 'rebels'."
"Maybe it is," Johnny replied, looking straight into her eyes.
Operetta pulled back, appalled.
When she didn't say anything, Johnny continued, "You know as well as I do that something about the Queen isn't right."
She shook her head. "No, I don't." By then, the waitress had returned with their meals.
"Even so," he said as the waitress left the couple, "ghouls like Lagoona and Rochelle wouldn't be a part of a lost cause."
-.-.-.-
After their meal at the die-ner, Johnny had accompanied Operetta back to her apartment where she was once again seated at the organ, her pet spider probably scurrying around the apartment somewhere. Soft moonlight streamed through the window, reminding Operetta that she should be in bed. She wasn't tired, and she felt more comfortable near her instruments anyway.
Thoughts swarmed through her head, and Operetta wasn't sure what to make of them. One part of her was thinking back to her jam session with Johnny that day and—as infuriating as he was earlier—how hauntingly killer he looked, making Operetta question for what seemed like the thousandth time whether she should get back together with him or not. She grinned to herself until another irritable thought came to mind.
Was the rebel thing for real?
Operetta didn't see anything wrong with the way the Queen ruled, but a part of her knew Johnny was right. Ghouls like Lagoona and Rochelle wouldn't be a part of a lost cause. The rebels had to have a reason for banding to take down the Queen, even if she wasn't aware of that reason. After a few more minutes of contemplation, Operetta let out an exasperated sigh.
"Honest to claw, this is like joining the SKRM team all over again." She took out her iCoffin and dialed. The ghoul picked up after a couple rings.
"Operetta?" Honey Swamp's southern-laced accent sounded confused. "Why are you calling me now?"
"Are you heading out?" Operetta asked.
"Heading out?"
"To, you know, meet up," she told her.
"I," Operetta heard Honey let out a tired sigh on the other side. "Yes," she admitted. "Why?"
"'Cause..." Operetta started slowly, "I'm comin' with you."
There was a pause on the other end. "Really?"
Operetta sighed. "Yeah, Honey."
"That's wonderful, Operetta!"
"Just stop by my place, first," she told her.
"Oh, of corpse, Operetta! I'll be there as soon as I can!"
The Phantom's daughter smiled at the other ghoul's excitement. "See you later," she concluded, ending her call with the swamp monster.
Operetta stood up from the organ's bench; she had to get packing. But first, she began to dial on her iCoffin. She had to make another call.
-.-.-.-
Johnny came before Honey did, phasing through the door instead of using it, much to the musical ghoul's displeasure. Operetta could understand why he came so soon, for the only thing she said on the phone was to come as soon as he could.
"Now it's time for me to ask you..." he said cautiously. "Why am I here?"
Operetta smiled as she approached the ghost's lucid outline, filling him in on what she planned to do.
He groaned in frustration. "I haven't packed."
"You're a ghost," the ghoul said flippantly. "What would you need?"
Johnny stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You could've at least told me to bring my violin," he argued, and Operetta snickered at his discomfort.
A knock sounded at the door, and Operetta opened it to once again reveal Honey Swamp, this time toting a suitcase beside her.
"Ready?" she asked expectantly.
Operetta nodded and, her own suitcase trailing behind her, walked into the hallway. She made sure Memphis had everything he needed to survive without her, even though her pet arachnid was adept at living on his own. Operetta locked the door to her apartment, Johnny phasing through it just as she pulled the key out.
"Gah!" Operetta yelped as she jumped back. "Johnny! Use the door!"
The ghost gave her a coy grin while Honey giggled. Operetta sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright Honey," she turned to the other ghoul, "where to?"
