"I-I'm not ready! Please don't make me!"
"It'll be alright, Christina," Dracula took his niece's hand, guiding her out of the car and into the sunshine, "You had so much fun at camp, remember?"
The five-year-old vampire fairy hybrid trembled in place, tugging on her side ponytail with her free hand. Attempting to duck under her Uncle's cape.
"Christina," Dracula held her in place, "You vill be just fine, let's go inside, okay?"
"No, no, I don't want to"
"You have to go to school," Dracula picked her up, carrying her through the doors where he set her down, keeping a grip on her arm so she couldn't run off.
"CHRISTINA!"
Luckily, he didn't have to worry about her running off as his younger sister had arrived with her daughter, Amora who despite the heat wore a tight-sleeved black dress, her black hair curled and nails painted for the first day of school. The little succubus easily broke from her mother's grasp, flying on small bat-like wings to where her cousin trembled.
"Aren't you hexcited?" Amora asked with a grin.
"No," Christina focused more on her light-up shoes than on her cousin who still hovered off the ground.
"We're going to be in the same class"
"I know"
"It'll be fun," Amora grabbed her cousin's free hand, attempting to pull her toward the hall of classrooms but Christina stayed rooted in place.
"Amora, you're going to yank her arm out of place," Elvira chided, "Let go, please"
"Come on ve don't vant to be late"
Christina struggled the whole walk down the hall, "I don't want to go, I wanna go home"
But Dracula remained firm, walking his niece into the brightly colored Kindergarten classroom.
"They're staring," Christina ducked behind Dracula.
"C'mon Sparkles," Elvira coaxed her niece out, "Why don't you and Amora find a spot?"
"Okay"
The teacher was noticeably nowhere to be found so the room was full of confused parents who milled about, unwilling to leave their kids. Elvira guided Dracula to the farthest corner to watch the girls play. It took a few moments but Amora was soon showing off her new crayons and asking Christina where she got the princess backpack.
"Hello, Dracula,"
"Regina," Dracula scowled at the vampire who darkened the doorway.
"CHRISTINA!"
Dracula watched in shock as the little boy who held Regina's hand beelined for where Christina sat with Amora comparing school supplies.
"Hi, Drew!" Christina gave him a hug.
Dracula looked toward the doorway but Regina had gone Miss Grimwood one of the school's principals stood there instead with her hands on the shoulders of a very human-looking boy.
"Shaggy!", two voices squealed, as the Wolf twins Clawd and Clawdeen ran to the boy.
"C-C-Cousins? Like, zoinks! I'm so glad to see you two here!", the boy Shaggy said, noticeably relaxing.
"I told you that you'd see some familiar faces, Norville", Grimwood smiled, then looked about. "Mr. Creepers? Your last student has arrived, please come out."
A grinning figure in a cloak and wide-brimmed hat stepped out of a shadow with a young girl the same age as the other child with him. She had lavender skin and turquoise/purple-streaked hair. "Forgive me for being a bit tardy Miss Grimwood", he said as he hung his hat on the hat stand next to his desk. "But I had to pick up my niece Twyla."
*RIIIINNNNNGGGG*
"Well, I'll let it go since you weren't actually late, but please don't cut it so close again. As a teacher you should set an example to your students", the middle-aged witch/principal smiled and winked as she left.
"Good Morning, children", he gave them a sharp-toothed grin and turned to the blackboard to write. "I am Mr. Creepers, first name Jeepers. Now, why don't we start by everyone introducing themselves and telling us one thing they like? For me, I love my favorite niece, Twyla!"
"Uncle Jeepers!", Twyla chirped and blushed in embarrassment as he chuckled.
"Who'd like to go first?", he asked.
"ME! ME!", Amora called, waving her hand frantically. "I'm Amora Demona Diabolique, and I can't wait to find the perfect boy to make my perfect love forever and ever!"
"I'm Clawd Wolf, and I love sports."
"I'm Clawdeen Wolf and I love fashion!"
The children all clamored to answer, going one by one, Even Shaggy who'd been scared at first managed to tell the class that he liked helping his mother cook until it circled to Christina.
"What about you?" the teacher encouraged softly.
But the hybrid shrunk under the classroom full of eyes on her. Everyone was waiting, everyone was watching.
"My-my name is Christina and I-I like to read"
"You can read?"
"Liar"
"Reading is boring"
"That's for grownups"
"HEY!" Amora jumped to her feet angrily, "Don't make fun of her!"
Drew squeezed Christina's hand under the table, "I think it's cool you can read," he whispered.
"Kids," Mr. Creepers quieted the class, "Let's be nice to one another"
It took everything in Christina not to cry.
The morning was spent explaining how each day would go, with plenty of get-to-know-you games but by the time lunch and recess rolled around Christina was eager to go home and watch a movie with her care bears. Because it had begun to rain during lunch recess was held in the classroom, and the kids broke off into little groups to color pictures or play.
"Don't you wanna play, Christina?" Drew asked when she made no move from her spot at the group table.
"No, that's okay," she replied, "You go on"
"I think I'll stay with you"
"Okay"
Drew watched as she pulled a large red book with gold gilded pages from her bag.
"What's that?"
"This is my fairy tale book, my Mommy made it for me when I was a baby"
"Ever fairy tale is in there?"
"No, I don't think so," Christina scratched her head in thought, "But a lot are"
"Will you read me a story?"
"What story do you want to hear?"
"The Three Little Pigs?"
"Okay!" Christina flipped through the book with a small smile finding the story near the back, the trio lined up under the title, "Once upon a time there were three little pigs who decided it was time to make their way in the world so they journeyed through the woods and down the road where they found a farmer with a cart full of hay-"
Drew jumped.
"What's the matter?"
"It moved!" Drew pointed at the picture of the first pig on the page Christina was reading.
"They do that a lot, see?" she waved at the picture.
The characters waved back slowly.
"Keep going"
"Okay," Christina smiled, "May I have some hay?' asked the first pig and the farmer gave it to him. The other two pigs continued down the road where they found a pile of sticks the second pig decided this would be perfect for his new house and so he built it. The last pig continued on until he met a man building a house out of bricks, 'may I have some bricks?' he asked and the man gave it to him. So the three little pigs had three different houses each thought theirs was the best-"
"Where's the wolf?"
this time it was Christina who jumped finding they'd been joined by Clawd, Clawdeen, and, Shaggy.
"I was getting to him," Christina said shyly, turning the book so the three could see the gray wolf at the bottom of the page, smiling a sharp-toothed grin.
"He doesn't look very scary," Shaggy observed.
"Just wait," Christina promised before continuing her tale, "But what the three pigs didn't know was that a fearsome wolf lived in the woods and he hadn't eaten for a long time. The very hungry wolf came to the first pig's straw house, banging on the door he howled, 'Oh little pig, oh little pig let me in so I may eat you up!' but the pig replied, 'not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin. The wolf replied, 'very well then I shall huff and puff and blow your house down"
"Wow!" the three gasped watching the house on the page fall down and blow away.
"Do you want to see what happens next?"
"Yes please"
"Oh please," one of their classmates sauntered over, "We know what happens!" Toralei sneered wrenching the book from Christina before engaging in a game of keep away with the twins.
"Give it back!" Christina raced to save her favorite book, "Please"
Toarei pushed her down while laughing.
Drew leaped across the table smacking the laughing werecat in the face and knocking her on her bottom.
"Drew and Toralei!" Mr. Creepers seized the two by their shoulders, "Go stand in the time out corner"
"She took Christina's book!" Drew pointed at Toralei.
"Give the book back to Christina," the teacher glared at the twins who dropped it before scampering away.
The two scowling kids were walked to the enchanted time-out corner where invisible walls separated them from each other and their classmates.
Shaggy picked up the book which had fallen open on the floor.
"It's okay, Christina," Amora was comforting her upset cousin.
"Here," Shaggy offered her the book.
"Thank you," Christina sniffled, taking the book from Shaggy, "Ow, you shocked me!" she jumped at the shock that went up her arm.
"Sorry," he smiled, "Will you like, finish the story?"
"When Drew gets out of time out, we can read something else if you wanna?"
"What's your favorite story, Christina?" Clawdeen asked.
"Sleeping Beauty"
"Can we hear that?"
Draculaura bounced over, "I love when Christy reads this story," she wiggled between the twins.
For the first and only time that day, Christina smiled.
…...
Dracula had scarcely stepped into the classroom before Christina ran at him desperate to go home.
"We go home now, right?" she was pulling him towards the door.
"Not just yet, calm down," Dracula freed himself.
Crossing her arms Christina slumped to the floor.
"Tomorrow will be better," Shaggy told her.
"I dunno"
"Tomorrows are always better," he promised, sitting beside her, "What are you like, gonna do when you get home?"
"Watch a movie"
"What movie?"
"I dunno, what are you going to do?"
"Mommy's taking me to get a puppy"
"A puppy?!"
"Yeah," Shaggy smiled excitedly. "I hope it can talk"
"Talking animals are the best!" Christina agreed.
"Do you like, have a dog?"
"No, Draculaura has a pet bat"
"What about you?"
"I don't have a pet but I want a dragon"
"A dragon?"
"I love dragons!" her shoulders slumped again, "Uncle Dracula says no"
"Maybe it's like because dragons are so big?"
"Not all dragons are some are the size of dogs and others are small enough to fit in your pocket"
"How do you know that?"
"I read about it"
"Cool"
"Norville, what are you doing on the floor?"
"Mommy!" Shaggy jumped to his feet excitedly.
Stacy hugged the wiggly boy with a smile, "Did you have a good first day of school?"
"Yeah!"
"Aunt Stacy!" the wolf twins rushed to hug their aunt.
"Hello you two," Stacy greeted, "I take it you had a good day?"
"Yes!" Clawd grinned.
"Are you coming for dinner tonight?" Clawdeen asked hopefully.
"No, you are coming for dinner"
"Oh, yeah"
"Did you make friends?"
The three nodded.
Shaggy looked to where Christina still sat staring holes into the wall across from her where Dracula stood talking with Amora and her mother while Draculaura waited quietly.
"Christina?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you bring your book tomorrow?"
"Yes, I bring it everywhere"
He helped her up, "Can-can I like, pick the story?"
"Sure"
"Ahem," Stacy coughed politely.
Shaggy flushed red but Christina took the lead.
"Hello," she held out her hand, "My name's Christina"
"It's very nice to meet you, Christina," Stacy smiled, shaking her hand.
"She's our friend," Clawdeen declared.
"I gathered that," Stacy laughed softly, "We better get going, Norville so we can-"
"PUPPY!" Shaggy fist pumped before racing out of the classroom only to make a U-turn, hugging his cousins and Christina goodbye.
"Bye Shaggy!" they waved.
After Shaggy left Christina wandered to the corner where Drew was made to wait for his mother with his arms crossed in front of him, pouting.
"Are you okay, Drew?"
"She shouldn't have taken your book," he mumbled as Christina pulled a chair over.
"I know but you shouldn't have hit her," Christina replied reasonably.
"I know," he nodded, "I just got mad"
"Will your Mommy be very mad at you?"
"No"
This confused Christina but she didn't say anything choosing instead to hug the sulking boy.
"Christina," Dracula called, "Time to go"
"Oh, don't rush on my account," Regina stood in the doorway with a smirk.
"Mommy," Drew perked up as Regina swept into the room, the train of her immaculate crimson gown dragging the floor.
Dracula speed-walked towards his niece but Regina was quicker.
"My, my aren't you a pretty one," she knelt to meet Christina's gaze, "The very image of your mother"
"Thank you," Christina shifted bashfully, "My name is-"
"Oh, I know who you are, Christina, I've been eager to meet you-"
'Christina," Dracula was suddenly beside her, "Time to go, Amora and Auntie Elvira are coming for dinner later, come on ve have to go home and get ready,"
"Okay," Christina hopped down from her chair, "Bye Drew!"
"Bye Christina!"
"It vas nice to meet you, Christina," Regina put a hand on her other shoulder stopping her from walking off, "I hope to see you soon"
"Maybe," the hybrid said politely as Dracula pulled her away, she scarcely had time to wave goodbye to the wolf twins.
…...
Upon returning to the castle Christina flung the bag from her shoulders, bolting upstairs to her room with her book tucked under her arm. With a long sigh, she turned on her little pink princess tv and climbed onto the bed as the opening titles began to roll.
"I don't like school," she whispered to Grumpy bear, "I don't wanna go back"
…...
Meanwhile, Shaggy bounced with excitement the whole way to the breeders. The puppy was a gift to make up for their sudden move from Coolsville so they could be closer to Stacy's family, especially as it became apparent their son wasn't as human as he appeared but Shaggy didn't know the reason why they'd moved so quickly, he didn't care. He was getting a puppy to take care of and love on. This was hands down the best day of his life.
"What did you do in school today?" Stacy asked in an effort to help Shaggy calm down.
"Nothing really, Mommy we like, played some games and talked about the rest of the week"
"Tell me about recess then"
"It was raining so we stayed inside and colored well, I colored, Clawd wouldn't share the blue crayons so I had to use purple"
"Purple is a nice color"
"But I like wanted a blue race car"
"Maybe you'll get to color one blue tomorrow"
"No, not tomorrow"
"Why not?"
"Because Christina said I could pick the story"
"Come again?"
"Christina can read really, really good and she has this big book full of fairy tales," Shaggy explained, "She read us stories today"
"Well that was nice of her"
"She's really quiet, Mommy"
"Some people are"
"Why?"
"Because they are"
"Why?"
"Sometimes people like to listen instead of talk"
"Why?"
"It's just the way things are"
"Okay"
"We're here!"
"YAY"
…...
Vana sat in the nursery watching Draculaura rock baby Sibella to sleep. The way she watched the baby made Vana smile. Draculaura was so gentle, often doing things just to make Sibella laugh but now as the littlest member of their family nodded off to sleep Vana tucked her into her crib before creeping out of the room with Draculaura just behind her.
"How was school?" Vana asked, sitting Draculaura in front of her vanity where she began to brush the tangles out of her hair.
"It was fun!" Draculaura gushed, "I made friends"
"That's what your Daddy said"
"Clawdeen and her brother are really, really fun, we played all the games with their cousin"
"vhat about Amora?"
"She stayed with Christina today," Draculaura stopped smiling, "No one would talk to Christina"
"No one?"
"Well, we did, and Drew did too but"
"It's okay, I understand," Vana promised, "Vhat else did you do today?"
Draculaura smiled again.
…...
"Uncle Dracula?" Christina knocked on the door of the study where her Uncle sat shuffling papers around on his desk.
"Yes?" he looked up hopefully thinking she'd come to tell him about school.
"Can I have a pet dragon?"
"No, Christina ve don't have room for a dragon"
"But not all dragons are big! And Laura has a bat"
"Bats aren't the same as dragons"
"But I want a dragon!"
"No, Christina"
"But-"
"I SAID NO
Christina backed up and Dracula realized he had yelled.
"Christina I-"
But she was already gone wailing as she ran down the hall.
"Vhat did you do?" Vana demanded when he raced into the hall with the intent to chase her down.
"She vas asking for a dragon, I didn't mean to yell but vork and Regina-"
"Dracula, you know vhy she asks for a dragon,"
"I know," Dracula sighed heavily, "I'll go talk to her-"
"I don't think she vants to see you right now," Vana caught his shoulder, "I'll talk to her"
…...
When Vana opened the door to her niece's room she found Christina hiccupping sobs on the floor, the Sleeping Beauty tape beside her evidently having been eaten in the VCR.
"Christina?" Vana knelt next to her, "Sweetheart?"
"I-I-I"
"Oh," Vana pulled the girl onto her lap, "It'll be okay"
"I-I d-d-di-"
"Shh, shh, shh, ve know, ve know," Vana promised, "I know you had a hard day"
"Uh-huh"
"How about-" Vana wiped away Christina's tears, "ve go get you a new movie, I know it's your favorite and ve'll go to the bookstore, sound good?"
Christina nodded.
…...
It was the same scene every morning. Christina resisted, struggled, and pleaded to be anywhere else. She had friends, yes, but the group was far outnumbered by the students who whispered and pointed as she passed, calling her names under their breath. For this reason, alone school was terrifying. The following week, she sat between Amora and Draculaura, with Shaggy and the Wolf twins across from her. Drew was the last to arrive, taking the empty seat beside Draculaura as the teacher arrived.
"Class, this is Duncan", Mr. Creepers introduced the new boy. "He is new to New Salem and today is his first day. Let's all make him feel welcome, shall we?"
"Hi, Duncan", they all said together.
"Hi", Duncan replied confidently.
"Wow, he is super cute!", Amora whispered to Christina and Draculaura. "And powerful, too! I can feel it from here~! I call dibs!"
"Really, Amora?", Christina groaned, while Draculaura softly facepalmed herself at their cousin's antics. Even at such a tender age, the succubus was boy-crazy, but "calling dibs" on one was a bit much even for her!
Duncan was shown to their table where Amora eagerly made room.
"Hi," he greeted his new tablemates quietly.
"Hi" they returned the greeting before shifting their attention to their numbers lesson.
It wasn't until recess when they filed out of the classroom and skipped toward the colorful playground did they get a chance for proper introductions.
"Duncan!" Amora waved him to where they were gathered under an old tree, "Over here!"
"What are you doing?" he asked, sitting beside Clawd.
"Christy reads us a story during recess," Draculaura explained with a grin.
"If-if you wanna join us," Christina managed, pulling her fairy tale book from her bag.
"Sounds fun"
"Who's turn is it?" Drew peered over Christina's shoulder.
"Mine!" Clawdeen said excitedly.
"What story do you want to hear?"
"Little Red Riding Hood?"
It took Christina a moment to find it, flipping speedily through the pages before she found the story, Red skipping down the forest path on the title page. The group was so consumed by the story that they didn't notice Toralei creeping up behind them. Not until she threw an egg at Christina, the yolk splattering across the hybrid's face.
Drew lunged to strike the laughing werecat like he did every time she messed with Christina only for Duncan to seize the werecat by the arm, marching her to Mr. Gravedale who was filling in for the playground monitor.
"Christy," Draculaura, Amora, and, Clawdeen immediately began helping her clean up.
"I don't wanna read anymore," she said afterward, tucking her-thankfully unharmed book to her chest.
"That's okay," Shaggy beamed, "Do you like, wanna hear what Scooby did this morning?"
"Who's Scooby?" Duncan asked rejoining the group.
"My dog," Shaggy explained, "He's my best friend"
"What did he do this time?" Amora wanted to know, Scooby was an energetic little pup but that much energy often led to trouble.
"Daddy's like, supposed to cook tonight so Mommy put the meat out and Scooby like, snuck off with the hamburger meat when she found him he'd like, eaten all of it, wrapper too," Shaggy was almost laughing now, "Scooby said it was yummy"
"He ate all of it?"
"And my waffles too"
"How'd he do that?" Christina was confused, Shaggy devoured his food before she could even take a bite of hers at lunch.
"I looked away to ask Mommy a question, Scooby sucked my waffles right off the table"
this caused the group to fall into a fit of giggles.
"Who wants to play on the swings?" Clawd saw the empty swings nearby.
"I do!" Amora jumped to her feet, "Will you push me, Duncan?"
"Sure"
"I'll stay here," Clawdeen pulled out her sketchbook.
"Oooh, can I see?" Draculaura excitedly peeked over Clawdeen's shoulder.
"Yeah"
Clawd bounded over to the swings with Shaggy.
"Come on, Christina," Drew grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet, "I'll push you"
"Okay," Christina said nervously.
At first, everything was okay. Sitting between Shaggy and Amora she let drew push her but her laughter was cut short when she realized how high she was going, how it rocked the swings.
"Too high!"
"You're okay Christina!" Drew said in response.
"No, no, stop!"
Drew wasn't listening. In fact, he seemed rather determined to beat Duncan at the task. As a result, Christina was swung higher and higher still, screaming all the while until her hands slipped from the ropes, and she was flung clear across the playground, landing in a heap just shy of the school doors.
"CHRISTY!" Shaggy jumped off his swing, sprinting across the playground.
Her screams of pain brought the entire playground to a halt.
Shaggy beat both principles kneeling beside his friend.
"Hurts!' she wailed.
"I know," he held her hand, "They're coming"
"I wanna go home"
Meanwhile, the others surrounded dumbstruck Drew.
"I didn't mean to!" he held his hands up.
"She asked you to stop, Drew," Clawdeen said with a scowl, "You didn't listen to her"
"I thought she was kidding"
"She was screaming," Duncan added, "Scared"
"You don't know her!" Drew pushed Duncan.
"She wanted to stop," Clawdeen repeated, "I heard her!"
Drew pushed Clawdeen down.
"Hey!" Draculaura snapped, "She was only-"
Drew pushed her down too.
Amora seized Drew's arm, all but dragging him to the adult's Miss Grimwood walked him to the office while Mr. Gravedale carried Christina to the nurse, Shaggy following behind them, unwilling to leave his friend.
…...
Vana was there in under three minutes to take Christina home despite having only very bad scrapes and a twisted ankle that would surely heal themselves by the end of the day. When she walked into the school, Christina was sitting on the bench next to the front doors with Shaggy beside her, the fairy tale book spread across their laps but this time, it was Shaggy who was trying to read to Christina.
"B-be-before t-h-e s-su"
"Sun," Christina helped, "Before the sun sets"
"I like, don't think I can do this"
"It just takes practice," she smiled weakly.
"Are you okay?" Vana asked worriedly drawing their attention.
"Everything hurts, Aunt Vana"
"Come on, Sparkles," Vana smiled softly, "Let's get you home"
Shaggy handed the fairy tale book over, giving Christina a hug before watching her leave. After which he returned to class where he continued to sulk for the rest of the day. Something his mother noticed when she arrived with Scooby and two-year-old Sugie.
"Rhat's the matter?" Scooby demanded when Shaggy didn't respond to his licking.
"Christina got hurt during recess," Mr. Creeper whispered to Stacy, "Her aunt took her home"
"Oh, I'm sure she's okay, sweetie," Stacy promised.
"Vhy don't you come visit her?"
They turned to find Dracula who'd just arrived to collect the girls.
"We wouldn't want to impose-" Stacy began.
"Trust me it's no problem," Draculaura assured, "Christina vould be happy to have a visitor"
"Can I Mommy? Can I? Can I?"
"Sugie has a check-up-"
"I can take him, Stacy," Dracula offered.
"Please, Mommy, please please, please, please, please-"
"Yes Norville, you may go"
"Re Roo?" Scooby peeked out from behind Shaggy.
"Yes, you too, Scooby"
…...
Clutching a stuffed dragon, Christina lay on her bed watching Beauty And The Beast. Her scrapes had healed but her ankle still throbbed with pain. She only looked away from her movie when her uncle entered the room.
"How do you feel, Christina?"
"Hurts," she pointed to her ankle, eyes darting back to her movie.
"I brought something to cheer you up"
"A dragon?" Christina asked hopefully.
"No," he opened the door all the way.
"Christina!"
"Shaggy, Scooby!" Christina broke into a grin as the duo raced inside, Scooby jumping on her chest and licking her face.
"Your ankle still hurts?" Shaggy asked worriedly.
"It will be okay tomorrow," she promised, "Wanna watch a movie?"
"You're like, already watching a movie?"
"You can pick a new one, just remember to rewind it before you take it out"
"Okay"
Shaggy took a few minutes to pick, finding Christina had a lot of movies, lined on the shelf below the TV eventually he settled on Hercules, sitting on the floor beside Christina's bed they talked briefly about school before turning their attention to the film. Shaggy's attention was solely focused on the movie until he noticed that Christina was singing. Softly, if he hadn't been right next to her he wouldn't have heard it.
"You sing?"
Christina flinched, embarrassed at being caught, "I can't really, I'm not very good"
"I think you are"
"You're just saying that to be nice"
"No, I'm saying it because it's like, true"
"You really think so?"
"Yes, I do"
"Thank you"
…...
There were things that became routine. Not the school days but what happened during them. It was a routine that Christina struggled with every morning. It was routine that Toralei caused trouble. A routine that Drew got in trouble if not every day then every week. Routine that they had story time during recess. The months rolled on the heat of August giving way to the chill of September which plummeted when October arrived. Now, the classroom was wonderfully decorated with grinning Jack-O-Lanterns and ghosts hanging from the ceiling.
On this particular early October day, the kids did not rush-or struggle in Christina's case-to the classroom instead they met each other in the hall. The Wolf twins were first, Clawd dribbling a basketball while Clawdeen worked furiously on her costume. Next came Duncan who was happy to pass the ball back and forth with Clawd until Amora arrived, tackling him from behind with a hug as she liked to do. Drew arrived next sipping on the last of his breakfast while waiting for Christina. Then came Shaggy and Scooby the latter was learning how to roll over while the former was having a hard time teaching him.
Last but not least came Draculaura who skipped inside, eager to see Clawdeen's costume idea while Christina was carried inside.
"I don't wanna!" she was crying.
"But look," Dracula set her down, blocking the door, "All of your friends are already here"
"I like your shirt, Christina," Clawdeen declared.
"Thank you," the hybrid glanced at her glittery sleeping beauty top, "It's my favorite"
"We like, have to get to the classroom before the bell rings," Shaggy reminded them, "Let's go"
Drew took Christina's hand, "C'mon Christy, we have arts and crafts today"
He pulled her down the hall in his mad dash to beat the others for no other reason than beating them there.
"Drew," she panted, "Please slow down, it isn't a race"
the little vampire slowed down, only a tiny bit, still holding onto Christina even when they entered the half-full classroom.
"Ow," Christina shook out her hand as she sat down.
"I'm sorry," Drew apologized, "Mommy says I'm really strong." he lightly kissed her fingers, "All better?"
"You must be really hexcited for arts and crafts, Drew," Amora remarked sitting on Christina's right.
"Yeah," he nodded watching the others file in.
there were always the same pairs when the Kindergarten kids went anywhere. Amora walked with Drew, Draculaura with Clawd, Clawdeen with Duncan, and, Shaggy with Christina while Scooby trailed after them so it was an odd thing when someone bucked the system as Drew had just done. But, all was forgiven as the others took their seats, Scooby resting by Shaggy's feet under the table.
Mr. Creepers stepped into the room with his usual welcoming grin, "Good morning class!"
"Good Morning, Mr. Creepers," the children chorused.
"Shall we get started?"
…...
Naptime took place directly following recess. All the tables were whisked magically away and replaced with sleeping mats and blankets. On this day, the wind began blowing, shaking the last leaves from the trees while thunder rumbled in the distance. Two things quickly became apparent:
one, Shaggy was scared of thunder.
Two, Toralei delighted in this.
Because Christina was already sleeping, her back to the wall to safeguard her wings Shaggy inexplicably felt alone. This wasn't helped by the fact that his friends were scattered throughout the room to prevent talking.
"There are giants up there," Toralei whispered to Shaggy who was growing paler and paler, "They're coming to eat you"
"T-th-th-there -a-a-a-a-aren't giants," Shaggy stammered.
"Listen," Toralei giggled when thunder rumbled overhead, closer than before, "They're close"
"No," Shaggy whimpered, pulling his blanket over his head.
"Shh," Mr. Creeper reminded them.
Toralei continued her torments with the twins joining in, it was when Meowoldy grabbed Shaggy's ankle that he cried, howling with fear.
"Shaggy!" Christina sat up as if she'd been slapped, "What's the matter?"
"The giants are coming to eat me!" he was so scared that he crashed through the classroom door leaving a perfect outline in his wake.
Mr. Creepers raced after Shaggy after getting one of the teachers next door to mind the class. Toralei and the twins cackled wickedly.
"What a scaredy wolf!"
"You're a bully, Toralei," Clawdeen growled from her mat, "Why can't you just leave us alone?"
"Cause you're all freaks!" Toralei sneered, "Especially those two," she pointed to Christina and Duncan.
"Watch your tongue, Miss Stripe," the stand-in teacher reprimanded, "Or it will be your downfall one day"
"Oh, I'm sooo scared!"
"Christina," Mr. Gravedale appeared at the door, "Vill you come vith me, please?"
"Am I in trouble?" she asked worriedly, trailing after the principal.
"No, of course not," Gravedale assured her.
Confused Christina quietly followed, flinching at the bright flashes of lightning which lit up the hall.
"Why are we in the library?"
"We think Norville's hiding in here but we can't find him," Mr. Creepers stepped out of the shadow beside the door, "I thought you could"
"I can try"
The library was painted in a bright rainbow of colors with large curly letters dancing on the walls while the carpet was made up of somewhat faded blocks of color that were worn down. As Christina wove between the shelves, calling for Shaggy and Scooby she found it hard not to pick up a book and read. Finally, in the very back corner, Christina dropped to her knees glancing under the shelf she found the boys, pressed thin against the floor, pale and sweating from fear.
"Shaggy, Scooby, why don't you come out?"
"The giants will like, eat us!" Shaggy said, "They like, almost dragged me away"
"That was Toralei," Christina reached her hand under the shelf, "Please come out"
The grownups rounded the corner.
"Vhere are they?" Mr. Gravedale asked.
"Here," she pointed under the shelf, "They don't wanna come out, they're too scared"
"Perhaps," Miss Grimwood arrived, "We should let the children be they're good students they can come back to the classroom only when and if they're ready"
Christina stood to head back to the classroom.
"You may stay here if you want, Christina," Miss Grimwood stopped her, "I think they could use a friend," she added with a smile.
"Okie Dokie," Christina sat back down.
When the grownups left Christina grabbed a book and began to read quietly. She was no stranger to the library. Because she was already reading chapter books she had her English lesson apart from the rest of the class.
"What's it about?" Shaggy's eyes peered at her from under the shelf.
"It's Charlotte's Web"
"I like the movie"
"Me too"
…...
Back in the classroom, the mats were whisked away, replaced by the desks once more. Drew glanced sulkily at Christina's empty chair with her bag still hanging over it. He seemed to be the only one who was overly concerned about her absence. Clawdeen scooting her chair closer to Duncan so the table didn't feel so empty with Amora doing the same.
"What's your costume gonna be?" Clawdeen asked Duncan as their shapes worksheets were passed out.
"I dunno," Duncan shrugged, "Costumes are scratchy"
"Not all of them," Clawdeen replied, concentrating on forming the letters of her name at the top of her paper as did the others, "I'm gonna be Red Riding Hood"
"I'm gonna be a football player," Clawd beamed, "What about you, Draculaura?"
"Snow White, Mommy got me a special dress"
"I'm going to be a fox!" Amora piped excitedly.
"Why?" Clawd wondered.
"Foxes are sneaky," replied Amora, coloring her triangle orange.
"Mommy says we're having a party on Halloween," Draculaura giggled excitedly.
"A party?" Drew perked up.
"Yeah, there's gonna be music and dancing and food"
"Do you think-" Clawd began.
"We could come?" Clawdeen finished hopefully, half-colored shapes forgotten.
"I dunno, it's just a bunch of grownups"
But the thought of a party where there might be piles and piles of treats set the kids to daydreaming. What kind of treats would be there? Would there be scary human stories, the kind they weren't supposed to talk about? Would everyone be dressed up? What would the costumes look like?
…...
Back in the library, the boys were still pressed under the shelf, whimpering at every lightning flash, every rumble of thunder while Christina tried her best to be a distraction though she was having very little success.
Would they ever go back to class?
…...
Long after all the children had gone home a week later Mr. Creepers met with the co-principles and the other Kindergarten teacher, stern-faced Ms. Applegate a werewolf with little patience for antics of any kind. As one of the senior teachers, she had a reputation for turning would-be troublemakers into model students.
"Miss Stripe and her friends seem to start the trouble but Mr. Easton often resorts to hitting or biting"
"I've tried everything, time outs, trips to the office, no recess, lunch by themselves," Mr. Creepers recounted, "There's no progress"
"They'll be completely different monsters when I'm done," Applegate smiled. "Don't worry"
…...
"Can I have a dragon?"
"No, Christina," Dracula rubbed his temples tiredly, every few days Christina asked undaunted by the rejections.
"Why?"
"Ve don't have space for a dragon"
"Why?"
"Because the castle vasn't built for a dragon"
"Why?"
"Because the builders didn't think about dragons"
"Can't I have a small dragon?" Christina held up her dragon book, "Look this ones like a kitty cat"
"No, Christina, not even a small dragon"
"But, Mommy had a dragon"
"You're not your Mommy"
"Christy," Vana swooped in to avoid a meltdown, "Do you vant to bake cookies?"
"Cookies!" the five-year-old dropped the book, racing from the study.
…...
Stacy was normally a heavy sleeper, all but dropping into bed at the end of the day but the bedroom door banging open startled her into sitting up, eyes wide. Scrambling for the bedside table lamp she was relieved to see that it was only Shaggy who launched himself on the bed, a look of pure panic on his face.
"Norville what in-"
"Christina's Christina's in trouble we like need to help her now, now, now, come on we like need to save her," he was yanking her arm,
"It sounds like you had a bad dream sweetie," Stacy attempted to soothe, "I'm sure Christina's okay, she's probably sleeping-"
"No, noo, no, she's in trouble we need to help-"
"Baby," she stopped him, "You had a bad dream, that's all, Christina is okay, okay?"
"But Mommy-"
"What's going on?", Sam asked sleepily, sitting up beside his wife.
"Norville just had a nightmare, Honey, I'll handle it."
"No! Christina's in trouble! I'm sure of it! She needs me!"
Sam woke a bit more, curious at how sure his son was. If he didn't know better...no, it couldn't be! Norville is way too young! "Norville, Christina is home with her family right now, right?"
"Yeah, like, I suppose."
"And you haven't heard any sirens pass our house, have you?", Stacy asked.
"Well, no, but..."
"Then Christina is most likely ok, and it was just a nightmare", Stacy assured him. "But I will call over there in the morning to be sure, ok? Now go take Scooby, grab a midnite snack, and go back to bed."
"Like, ok", he yawned, a bit calmer. "Come on, Scoob."
…...
the forest surrounded her on all sides. Black towering trees with the thinnest of light forcing its way through. Just ahead there were voices, frightened by the way her body seemed pressed under a dozen weights she peered through the foliage hoping to see a friend.
Instead, she saw two adults one a complete human stranger, the other
Mommy? She tried to call out but her mouth refused to move. Trapped in her own body she was forced to watch. So she saw it all when her mother was turned to stone before being shattered to bits.
"ALISSA!"
Daddy! No!
Radu charged the attacker only to be staked through the heart, coughing blood he was carelessly dumped on his wife's shattered remains.
…...
"MOMMY! DADDY!" the scream ripped from Christina's throat as she tumbled from bed, limbs flailing.
Back to the floor, the child cried, body shaking with sobs bigger than herself.
This was how Vana found her.
"Christina?"
Crying, shaking with tears pouring down her cheeks Christina was lifted into Vana's arms
"Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Daddy" Over and over these were the only words she could say.
"Vhat, Christina? Vhat?" Vana sat on the bed, rubbing circles into her niece's back.
"Dead, dead, dead, died, dead," shuddered the hybrid, "They were in the forest and a shadow, shadow killed them, they didn't hear me, Mommy, Mommy was broken to bits a-a-a-a-nd d-d-da-d-da"
"Shh, shh, shh,"
Vana's shoulder was quickly soaked with unending tears. No matter what she did Christina refused to calm down.
"Dead, dead, dead, died dead"
"It vas just a nightmare Christina"
"But they did die!" there was another crying jag, "Mommy was broke to bits and Daddy was staked!"
Vana felt her blood run cold. How did Christina know the carefully concealed details of her parent's deaths? Before Vana could ponder this for too long Dracula stepped into the room, sleepy-eyed with his hands behind his back.
"Christina," he kneeled to meet her eye level, "I have something for you"
Glassy-eyed, Christina watched Dracula bring his hands into view.
A fluffy orange kitten with green eyes larger than the rest of its body meowed softly in his grip.
"I vas going to surprise you at breakfast but I thought you might need him now," Dracula explained, "Do you vant to hold him?"
For the first time in several minutes, Christina released Vana reaching for the orange fluff ball.
Blinking up at Christina the kitten tried to lick away the tears still rolling down her face, his sandpaper tongue making her smile a bit.
"Vhat are you going to call him?"
"Ace"
The Hunch Bunch popped into the room then, with a pink princess mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream on a tray which they set on the bedside table before ducking out.
When Christina stopped trembling Vana tucked her back into bed, mindful of the kitten she was holding while Dracula double-checked that the balcony doors were locked before drawing the curtains shut.
"Because it's the veekend you can read until you're ready to sleep again," Dracula said, handing Christina her mug, "Okay?"
Christina nodded.
"Ve're right down the hall," Vana added.
Both pressing a kiss to her head, the adults left, shutting the door behind them.
Christina became so engrossed in her book, that her terrible nightmare slid to the edges of her mind. So swept away was she that she didn't notice when the Hunch Bunch took the tray with the empty mug, didn't notice when the hooting of owls gave way to the crowing of roosters and chirping of the songbirds. It was only when the sky turned gray with early morning light that the book fell from her hands, finished. Hunkering down beside the kitten sleeping on her pillow she slept.
She was still sleeping when the raven came.