It has been two days later after their mother's funeral. Holt sat outside the school during lunch watching his friends play a quick game of casketball. He was never really interested in that sport…give him skates or swim gear any day, but casketball was alright. He was much more interested in finishing this song he was writing…he hit a standstill with it. It didn't help that Jackson was constantly popping in and out of his mind. As nice as it was to know Jackson was okay…but the headache was almost not worth it. He was tapping his pencil as he tried focus on the paper in front of him when Heath called for his attention.
He looked in the direction to where Heath called to him, "No I will not play…." He started to say as he finally understood why his cousin called for him. There was smoke arising from where the dormitories stood. Holt rushed up running with the others to get a better look as Abbey and a few other monsters were trying to put the fire out.
"What happened here?" Clawd asked as Cleo pushed him out of the way.
"Oh My Ra! What happened here?"
"That is what I just said…" Clawd whined out as they all watched as the fire slowly went out.
"I do not know what happened." Abbey said smiling happily for stopping the fire.
"Was anyone hurt?" Deuce asked as Neighan was healing Scarah.
Holt pointed to them as Deuce sighed, "Anyone else?"
"No…just me, I got to close trying to help Slow Mo." Scarah said sadly as Neighan helped her up.
"Did you see anyone start it?" Cleo demanded in a queenly voice.
Scarah looked around, "Yes…but it was more of a mental find. The boys who started are normies. That is all I know." She told them as the small group gasped. Heath's hair caught on fire as he folded his arms, "Damn normies can't leave us alone can they?"
"Why are they being so hateful this year?" Draculaura said as she held onto Clawd.
Everyone just looked at each other with the same questions in their eyes. Soon more students came to inspect the damage to their homes away from homes…they were lucky that only one or two rooms got damaged beyond repair…but the rest had smoke damage and most of their items needed to be replaced. Abbey's room included. Heath walked over to his girl friend as she looked at her window from the ground, "Why must normies hurt us? We not do anything to hurt them."
"There is a new monster hater group!" Spectra announced getting everyone's attention, "I just found out that in New Salem there is a small group of people devoted to ruining all monster's lives! Their leader was murdered by a monster lover not too long ago! They say that soon everyone will understand that monsters are evil creatures that need to be put down!"
Many up roars of anger shouted throughout the growing group of monsters as Cleo took to standing in front of them. "I say this has to stop!" She announced getting everyone's attention away from Spectra, "These monster haters no nothing about us! Who says that it was a monster lover that killed their leader! It may have been a normie that believed they were doing something hideous to us monsters!"
Holt laughed a little, "If I may say somethin'!" He shouted getting Cleo's attention as she motioned him to say what he was going to. "I know who their leader was as well as who killed her."
Many monsters looked shocked or in awe that Holt already knew so much, but for the ones that knew the whole story looked sadly at him…even a little scared as Holt's hair caught on fire. "It was my mother…she killed Clair Steller's mother for reasons I don't even care to know." He told them as many monsters cheered for his mother. He chuckled humorlessly, "So if you want revenge…give me tonight…and I will show them that messing with us monsters was a bad idea. It is time for us to take a stand and show those damn normies their places!"
Heath cheered with all the other monsters. Even Heath went as far as asking Holt if he could come getting a dark look from Abbey. Holt of course agreed to his cousin coming before walking away as Abbey tried to talk Heath out of doing whatever Holt planned for that night. Deuce just shook his head…he knew this was not going to end the way Holt thought it would. So he followed Holt grabbing his arm stopping him as Holt pulled his arm roughly away from him, "Do not touch me!" He growled as Deuce took a step back giving Holt a questioning look.
Holt rubbed his face trying to calm down as his hair went out, "What?" He tried not to ask harshly as Deuce folded his arms across his chest.
"What is your plan for tonight?" He asked as Holt smiled darkly at him.
"You will just have to find out."
"Holt I am not one to play this guessing game." Deuce stated angrily as Holt got defensive.
"And I am not one to care if other's play the guessin' game!"
"Just think before you act!" Deuce said through gritted teeth trying not to lose his cool, "Because whatever you do-"
"Effects Jackson! Yes I know!"
"Then think!" Deuce tried to reason with him, "Do you really think revenge is a good idea?"
"Yes I do!" Holt countered as his hair flared, "I am done tryin' to be good! I am done tryin' to please other people!"
"You don't have to please other people! All you have to do is-"
"Nothing! There is no point to anythin'! You know why I say that? It is cuz of my damn family! My whole Jekyll and Hyde side! The only fuckin' way they survive is actin' like they are supposed too! So maybe…just maybe if I get my damn revenge I can get my sanity back!"
Deuce was in shock as Holt made his small confession to him, "You know that isn't true…you are not what they say you are!" Deuce tried as Holt waved that down.
"I am doin' what I want…what a Hyde would do, I might just make someone proud of me." He whispered out walking away from Deuce.
"Yes you will, but the wrong people!" Deuce called after him as Holt closed his eyes for a moment as he walked. He knew Deuce was right…but he didn't care. He had all this anger…all this pain. He felt the fire burning inside of him. He couldn't numb himself like he used too. Even if Jackson broke their promise…it wouldn't help it Holt broke it as well. He needed Jackson's trust to make him better. So the only thing Holt knew to do to make his life easier was to do what his grandfather said to do. Be the alter ego…be a Hyde…be a monster.
Jackson pulled into his drive way…Deuce told him what happened as Heath was planning with a Manny, Venus, and Rochelle on what places Heath and Holt should hit for tonight. The others would go another night if the normies didn't get the point the first time. Jackson sat back listening…he knew Holt would do what he wants…and Jackson was alright with it for once. He didn't care what Holt did to the normies. He knew Holt had a lot of built up rage and he couldn't do anything about it. Maybe this was one thing he could give Holt. One full moment of Jackson free rage…as long as he didn't hurt someone…he didn't care. As school ended Jackson walked slowly to his car alone. Heath went to Manny's house until this evening…so Jackson drove home in peace. It was nice not to have someone taking glances at him every five seconds.
He walked inside to hear talking in the living room. Looking in he saw Clair sitting on the couch with a police officer and a nice looking lady wearing a shirt that said child services. His uncle sat looking a little nervous as Clair looked like she could kill any second. "Ah you must be Jackson." The officer said noticing him in the door way.
"Yeah…" He said walking in.
"It came to our attention that you and Clair have been staying here at your uncle's since the untimely death of both of your mothers."
Jackson looked at his uncle as he looked at his shoes, "Yes I have been, I have no other family to go to and Clair didn't either so…he offered to let her stay until you found a relative for her."
The officer smiled sadly at him as the lady started talking, "That is great that your uncle opened his doors to you both…but there is an issue…" She started as Jackson sat his bag down and folded his arms.
"And what is that issue?" He asked a little harshly making his uncle give him a look.
The lady seem unfazed by his harsh remark and just continued smiling, "That you both are human and your uncle is not…it is not a suitable environment for you to grow up in."
Jackson stared in shock, "So where the hell would to take me?" He growled out trying not to lose his cool.
Once again she stayed smiling a sad smile, "Your grandfather offered to let you live with him." She told them as his uncle's hair flared a little as Jackson gave her a disbelieving look.
"I refuse to even step near his doorstep!" He yelled out, "I will not stay I will leave if you take me from my uncle's." Jackson stood his ground as the women finally stopped smiling.
"Jackson I understand you pain-"
"No you don't understand a damn thing!" He yelled at her as he felt rage clouding his vision. "I may look human, but I can promise you I am far from it! As for my grandfather you can tell him I rather die than live with him."
David's hair went out at Jackson's last comment, "There is no need to take him." He said as the lady looked at him.
"You maybe his uncle…but his grandfather seems more of a suitable fit to finish Jackson's education and development." David laughed at what she said earning a dirty look.
"Jackson goes to school at Monster High…he was enrolled there by his mother," He stated plainly as the women shrugged, "None the less he is human in our eyes, just like his mother."
Jackson folded his arms…why was these people so blind? "Do you want me to prove I am more than human?" He asked her as she gave him a concerned look.
"There is nothing you can do…you are not an elemental." She reasoned with him as Jackson laughed.
"How do you think he is my uncle?" He pointed angrily at his uncle who gave the lady an amused look.
The women looked at the officer who shrugged, "We just guess the man your mother was seeing adopted you into his family-"
Both Jackson and his uncle laughed, "You really need to get your facts straight before you try taking a child away from a loving home." David said as Jackson walked up to the lady.
"My father was his twin brother…making me half fire elemental," He told her lighting a small flame in his hand as she jumped back.
"They didn't tell us that." She squeaked out, even the officer looked a little shocked.
"Then do what my uncle said and get your facts straight," Jackson said sitting next to his uncle, "Because I am not leaving this house or my real family. Plus…if you didn't believe I was a monster…then I could have let you meet Holt."
The lady looked at her paper, "Who is Holt?" She asked as Jackson shook his head.
"See not even all the information you need." David said placing a hand on Jackson's shoulder.
The women sat there dumb-founded on what just happened…she didn't understand how she could have been wrong, but her phone started ringing taking her from her trance.
She answered it listening to the other voice on the phone as everyone else watched. She smiled a happy smile looking at Clair. "It seems we found a living relative that would be more than happy to take you in!"
Clair groaned a little as the lady smiled her 'everything is wonderful smile', "If you want you can come to the station to meet her!"
Clair shook her head, "If she wants me she can come here."
"Where does she live?" Jackson asked as Clair sat up a little more forgetting that she might have to move.
"New Salem…" She said as Clair smiled.
"Well at least I won't move far from my friends."
The lady's eyes lit up, "That's the spirit!" She slowly got up, "But we really need to be leaving so you can meet her!"
Clair grumbled again staying seated, "She can come here."
The lady looked a little less than pleased and looked at the officer to help her remove the stubborn child from the chair.
David seemed to understand where this was going, "She is more the welcome to come here to pick up Clair while we get her things together."
At that moment there was a knock at the door as David looked at it, "Are we expecting anyone else?"
The lady shook her head as he went to answer the door. There was a young looking woman with midnight black hair shining in the sunlight…her slender frame was covered by a black flowing dress with sleeves falling to the ground, she eyes green eyes shined with soft power as she smiled at the elemental in front of her.
"Hello David Burns…I am Echo Cast, I am here to pick up my niece." She told him sweetly as he cleared his throat letting her in. She moved past him walking in the living room setting her eyes on Clair. She smiled warmly at her as Clair looked at her in awe.
"Hello Clair…I am sorry we haven't met before, but your father took you away from me after your real mother pasted…I am sorry about your step-mother, if I knew you were in New Salem I would I came got you sooner." Clair smiled reaching out to the women, "I feels like I have known you my entire life thought, why is that?"
She giggled, "Witches have a way of knowing each other without ever really meeting."
Clair closed her eyes trying to figure out what this woman meant, "Are you saying I am a witch?"
"Part…your mother didn't have any powers…it sometimes skips generations, but you I am sure you have some…even if you are part normie."
Clair was glad she was sitting down…that explains why her step-mother fought so hard to keep Clair from monsters. Why she made her hideaway and not be herself! She was afraid her powers would get stronger…That is why her father didn't care.
"Will you be able to teach me magic?" Clair rushed out making Echo laugh, "Well of course! First rule though, never use your powers for darkness…once you cross that line it is near impossible to get out."
Jackson and David sat stunned a little as Clair asked her aunt many different questions before she waved her down telling her she has all the time in the world to learn. "So will I go to Monster High now?" Clair asked as Jackson sat up a little wanting to know that answer as well.
"Why I do not see why not." Echo said thoughtfully, "It seems you spend a lot of time there anyway." She looked at Jackson who smiled a little.
Clair screeched out in happiness hugging her aunt, "Thank you, thank you!"
She hugged her back, "You are very welcome…but we still need to make sure Head Mistress Bloodgood is okay with it."
Jackson helped Clair pack up her things as she couldn't help but smile. "I can't believe I am part witch!" She told Jackson again as he chuckled.
"That was surely not expected," He said a little glumly…He didn't want to hurt her feelings. She needed this happiness…he would just suck it from her. He was still broken…as much as he loved Clair he had to let her go. Now she had her aunt…she would make sure she stays happy. Soon she would make many different friends a Monster High that she would forget all about him. He watched her as she hummed packing her things away, "I was thinking that once I get settled into Monster High, you could show me how to play Scream!"
"It is a lot harder then what you think," Jackson told her as she looked at him sitting on his bed watching the floor.
Her eyebrows knitted together as she looked at him, "What is wrong?" She asked, "It isn't like I am moving to a different part of the world…just to a different house in New Salem. I am sure she will be more and happy to let you come over!" Clair told him as he smiled a bit.
"It isn't that…" He started.
"Then what is it?" She asked with concern.
Jackson hesitated a little as Clair watched him, "I-I think we shouldn't see each other anymore." He said as Clair laughed a little.
"What brought this up?" She asked as Jackson looked at her confused.
"I am not following?"
She saw the seriousness in Jackson's eyes, "You got to be joking?" She asked as Jackson looked back at the floor.
"What the hell crawled into your head?" She shouted as Jackson flinched, "What did I do? What happened? Just tell me what I did wrong! We can fix this!" She cried out as Jackson hid his face in his hands as she stood up glaring at him.
He shook his head as Clair finally let the emotions flow over her…tears smudged her mascara, tears of sadness was over took by tears of rage. "Answer me!"
Jackson shook his head again not answering her as she stomped her foot. "Jackson just give me a reason! Cuz I am not letting you go! You can be a stubborn as you want! I don't understand why you are doing this…but I love you." She waited for a response as she saw Jackson crying a little.
"Please Jackson just tell me! Why?" She pleaded as Jackson got up walking to his bathroom closing the door. He sat down on the floor as he heard her pounding on the door, "Jackson! Please…" He heard her crying…he couldn't watch her. As much as he wanted to comfort her to open the door and hold her, he had to let her go. In the long run she would be happier without him.
She soon stopped hitting the door as he heard the click of the lock as his uncle opened the door, he sighed in relief to see Jackson just sitting on the floor. He took a seat next to him, "Clair told me you broke it off with her."
Jackson nodded slowly as he uncle leaned back looking at the ceiling, "Do you care to explain why? You both have been doing so well."
Silence reached his uncle's ears, "I am sure you had a good reason," He said as Jackson hid his face in his knees, "She was pretty hurt by it…maybe when you feel up to it…you could give her that good reason. She doesn't seem like a girl that would let you go without one."
He heard Jackson groan…his uncle looked sadly at him, "Pushing people away will only hurt you more…" He told him getting up and leaving as Jackson laid in the floor. Why did people have to question his actions? Laying there for a few seconds more he got up to see the time…Holt would want out soon. Sighing at the opened drawers on his dresser he turned on the music. Holt looked around smiling…he let him out early. Noticing the opened drawers he walked down stairs to find the person the drawers once belonged too. Finding his uncle in the kitchen he stepped in.
"Hey what happened to Clair?"
His uncle turned around smiling sadly at him, "They found her family…don't worry she is nice," he said quickly as Holt went to go interrupt, "Her aunt…she is a witch…so Clair might be able to go to Monster High…still uncertain though, oh and Jackson broke up with her with no reason."
Holt was trying to process all this information until he got to the point that Jackson broke up with Clair, "Wait he did what?" He stated angrily.
His uncle nodded slowly, "No one knows why…so if you can get it out of him that would put Clair's mind to ease."
Holt shook his head, "I will see what I can do." Holt left the kitchen to head to his cousin's room. Heath was sitting playing some video game not noticing Holt entering the room.
"Hey cuz…I believe we have some rules to go over before tonight."
Heath saw Holt and quickly paused the game, "Alright shoot!" He said pulling out the papers he got from Manny's house. Holt smiled evilly at them as he picked the best route to get to each one without getting caught. He noticed some of Rochelle's perfect script on the paper. Make sure there are no misunderstandings…tonight is about revenge…but if anyone was going to get caught it was going to be him. He wasn't going to let Heath be taken and of course the others wouldn't be with them. Watching the sun set he heard his uncle and aunt go to their bed room to watch some T.V. before they fell asleep. Two hours…just two hours…