To Van Helsing's displeasure Principal Mooncall agreed to allow Beetlejuice to temporarily pose as another new student. His code name was to be Sham Spade. An alias he had used before for an attempt at money making.

"Why Sham Spade?"

"Betty wouldn't sit well with your father or the Principal. Or me for that matter." He said while floating around the spacious room that belonged to his favored niece as she was typing away on her laptop. Her uncle peered around her shoulder at what she was doing.

"I know you finished your homework an hour ago so what has your attention now?"

"Just writing up my journal for the day."

"Don't girls normally have diaries?"

"True, but the program is called journal."

"That is mainstream."

"Look at you. You finally decided to read urban dictionary?"

"I get bored."

"Maybe that is why Aunt Lydia always says that you need to get a job." His skin began to crawl in a way that was not his usual enjoyable way. At the same time Lucinda received a text from her new friends.

"Did you have to say that word?"

"I am not sure how to answer that Uncle BJ. Do you think we could take a quick trip to the Neither world?"

"Why?"

"Brad and Vivi are hanging out at the Neither world Mall and I wanna go to the mall."

"I don't see why not. You know the words."

"Beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice!" The wind swishes and the world gets darker as the two enter the Neither World. Lucinda looked down at her wardrobe and how it had changed. She now wore a dark purple poncho with a spider web design.

"Why is it that Aunt Lydia's red and mine purple?"

"Different colors for different girls? I don't know. Come on lets go." The two walk the short distance into the mall. Where she received another text telling them where to go. Next stop was the food court where Beetlejuice decided that Lucinda deserved some space.

"I'm going to go by the gym that Jacques just opened. See if I can scare someone pants less."

"Um Uncle BJ?"

"OH! Sorry about that Louie." He said blushing while putting his pants back on.

"I better get to scaring. It's Showtime!" Lucinda waved her uncle goodbye and then proceeded to her friend's table. Vivi was slurping down the Bloody Madness smoothie. Brad was sorry to say this word wolfing down his triple deluxe bacon burger.

"Hey!"

"Hey, guys."

"You hungry?"

"No I ate before I left home."

"Okay. We'll be done in a minute and then we can hit the stores. I so need a new dress for the Sarah's party next week. You know what you should come with us!"

"I don't know. A third wheel is not exactly the life of the party. And I don't even know who Sarah is."

"Oh Sarah is Brad's sister."

"Triplet actually."

"She wouldn't mind if you came with us."

"If she is your sister than why…"

"Lives with my Mom."

"Oh."

"Parents aren't divorced."

"But they live in separate houses?"

"They find that when they live in separate houses they function better than when they are living together." Lucinda's face draws a blank and Brad gives an understanding eyebrow lift.

"I don't get it either, but it works for them so I don't complain. It's better than hearing them hound each other every night over bills or whatever else comes to their minds."

"Let's not start something here. Let's just go back to talking about shopping." The conversation went to other topics at hand. They soon left the food court and into the various stores that littered the mall. Vivi couldn't resist trying on nearly every brightly colored dress and Brad was soon loaded down with boxes and bags of new things that his girlfriend bought. Good thing he was strong. And coordinated otherwise he would have fallen over the escalator twice. Yeah Vivi is a serious shopper. It was when they entered the eighth store that Vivi felt that it was a good time to bring up Lucinda's wardrobe. Subtle like and all that.

"Any thoughts to changing your wardrobe?" See what I mean?

"In what way? If you are asking me to try wearing something that is not my normal style then…"

"Not what I was saying. I was talking about you trying to wear something that was…dressier?"

"Well."

"You should show off those legs with a nice handkerchief dress or baby doll dress."

"Well those sound a little too nice to wear at school. Nonsense. Come on." She grabbed her and stuffed outfit choice over outfit choice in Lucinda's arms before shoving her into one of the dressing rooms. Lucinda pounded on the door for a short while to get Vivi to let her out, but then she thought what the heck. She put on the first choice outfit. A black and dark pink handkerchief dress that if she wore a tee shirt under it would still look good and could be wore to school.

"I thought you would also like some shoes to try on too!" Vivi in giddy excitement through them over the door and they fell with a thump onto her head.

"Hey!"

"Sorry. I was hoping they would fall on the floor."

"Next time hand them to me instead of throwing them over the door." Vivi said a quick yes and Lucinda finished getting the outfit on. The shoes did look good with the dress. Black heeled strappy sandals.

"You have on the first outfit?"

"Yes."

"Then come out. Let's see how it looks!" Lucinda exists the changing room looking for Vivi. She was by the little runway inside the store.

"That is a good look for you. Get on the runway."

"What?"

"Get on the runway. Walk in the outfit. Show it off. How many do you what me to say it?"

"I don't want everyone staring at me."

"First off there is not enough room in this store for everyone to stare at you. Second off it's just me."

"Wait where is Brad?"

"Oh he saw some of his football buds and went off to talk to them for a while. He'll be back in a little while with some friends."

"You are trying to set me up on a date already? I have only been your friend for what barely a day and already you are starting to set me up with someone."

"It's my nature. I'm a matchmaker slash meddler. Now get up on the runway and work it because you and I both know that you are using this conversation to avoid it."

"Psychology also in your nature?"

"I could be a psychiatrist one day, but fashion inspires me so much more. Like watching how an outfit flows as a model walks in it on the runway." She pointed to the structure and Lucinda did a quick walk on it. When she was done Vivi got inspired to get to try out the runway and like a diva she took it. The girls try a couple more outfits and purchased them. Vivi insisted that Lucinda wear the handkerchief dress out. So she did earning a few stares from the teenage boys as she and Vivi went to sit on a bench to wait for Brad. One was particularly interested. He moved in closer to Lucinda. He reached from behind his mouth was right by her ear when he spoke.

"Perhaps I was wrong about the beauty you hold." Lucinda jumped and turned around to find Dracula behind her with the same look he had when she had first met him.

"What is it you want?" Vivi said snippily. Dracula paid no heed to the younger vampire as he moved closer to Lucinda.

"I believe my friend asked you a question."

"I heard her. I just don't have anything to say to her. But to you I have plenty to say."

"I'm sure you do, but we don't have anything to say to you either."

"I find that Lucinda can speak for herself."

"Dracula, what is it that you are trying to pull?"

"Nothing." That's what he said out loud. He said something else with his eyes. A hypnotic spell one that would restrain her from telling her father about their encounter. He soon left no urging needed from Vivi. Brad came back and the group decided to leave. Lucinda found Beetlejuice smiling like a Cheshire cat that he currently was. He had a successful scare party.

"Ready to go Uncle BJ?"

"Sadly I must leave such a perfect herd of scaredy cats."

"Okay. Have you been hanging out with Lord Byron again?"

"Not since last Tuesday when Mary Shelly decided on a third sequel to Frankenstein again."

"Let's head home before Dad sends in the troops."

"You got it Louie." He snaps his fingers and again she finds herself in her dark safe room. The time passed quicker than she expected and it was already time for dinner. She went down the stairs and into the dining room. Her father was sitting in his usual seat drinking a cup of coffee while looking over some papers. She bounced over to the family portrait, placing a kiss on her fingers and then placing them on four of the members in the portrait. She then moved over to her father and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

There is some information that must be known. The four who received the kisses in the portrait belong to Josephine Van Helsing, wife of Gabriel Van Helsing, sister of Lydia Deetz and mother of Jane, Lucinda, Jasper, John and Michael. To this day Josephine, Michael and John have passed on. Josephine died from cancer years ago. John died during a mission with his father and Michael; his death came from a car accident that left Jasper in a coma. Every weekend Lucinda spent time with her beloved brother.

"Isn't it early to start on the coffee?"

"I have a long night ahead of me. If I want to get it done even close to a reasonable time. I have to start drinking coffee now."

"Just pace yourself."

"Will do." Jane came in, her older sister. Already working on digs all over the world. It was rare that she could come home. But her work was here at the moment and soon she would be in Egypt contributing to the study of ancient worlds and to gather more information on a family secret.

There were quite a bit of differences between the two sisters both physically and personality wise. Jane, blonde and beautiful like a model in a magazine and had high marks in all her studies, yet she was a shy person and preferred to stay away from the social events she was forced to go to for the college she worked for. Lucinda, dark haired and pretty in her own right. She wasn't a party girl type either, but she was not afraid to explore whatever mystery lay before her. She had her father's spirit of adventure.

"Dinners ready." Lucinda sits promptly as Jane begins to serve the steaming bowls of stew. The aroma awoke the lingering hunger that Gabriel had forgotten till then. A loud belly growl erupted causing his daughters to look his way. Jane hurried over to her father to place his bowl in front of him.

"Dad, please promise that you will not forget to eat while I'm in Egypt."

"I can take care of myself quite well. I have been doing so for over a hundred years." He said as he ate. Jane looks to her sister.

"You will make sure he eats."

"I will." The family eats their portions and talk lightly of things that have happened and when it got to the point about Dracula…

"Are you mad! Dad how could you let her go back to that school?"

"Inside voice please Jane. It was your sister's decision to go back."

"But what about Dracula?" Jane took note at her father's gritted teeth that she had voiced it a little loudly. "Sorry. Dracula?"

"The Principal has taken precautions and your uncle has taken up the role of being a body guard."

"That sounds worse than Dracula being at her school."

"Hey, Uncle BJ is better than that. He's the ghost with the most." Lucinda said sinking back into her chair arms crossed with a smile on her face. Jane didn't agree.

"Jane, I will be fine. Now if both of you will excuse me. I believe that I would like to go to sleep." She rose from her chair and left the two. She went up to her room and changed into a large night shirt and shorts and went to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Jane cleaned up the kitchen and plates before retiring to her room for the night. Though she had a flight the next day she was feeling reluctance to leave. Their father was down in his study and already he was feeling the fatigue and given a few minutes he would be asleep at his desk. None knew of the figure that lurked outside their home.

Dracula walked up the walls and managed to unlatch the window and crawled through it. Silently he walked about the house. Not one person noticed his presence. Well one would have but he was hunched over his desk asleep. Still it's not like it would have mattered to Dracula. He kept searching for the one room that he knew he needed to find. With little to no luck he found it. Inside was the sleeping form of Lucinda. He slunk over to her side. No movement could be seen from her.

"So vulnerable you are Miss Helsing. A small candlelight flame in an otherwise dark and desolate world. Only one short breath would be needed to snuff out your flickering light. Still you will serve some purpose deeper than a revenge death for me and your father. Something deeper and far more appealing." He moved in closer watching her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. He could feel the fresh warm blood rush through veins. Oh how he wanted to sample but a taste of the virgin blood she held, but sense kept him at bay. There would be a time he said inside his head when I shall take away your blood and I shall wait in silent rapture when it comes. His ice cold fingers fell lightly over her cheek. The feeling of cold caused a stir inside of Lucinda to wake up. The count had little warning to hide but in quick haste found a spot on the ceiling. Lucinda looked left to right and then got up from her bed. Dracula watched her very closely careful not to have his presence known. She moved to her large window and looked out through the glass panes and then went back to her bed to rest. When the air in the room fell into calm sleep again. The vampire walked down the wall back to Lucinda. He gave her a passing glance and then left the Van Helsing house. A smile of glee at the foolish man who lived there. Dracula knew that his enemy was indeed home, but Van Helsing was none the wiser.

The morning came and with it a loud morning welcome from one Beetlejuice and a one Lydia. Both poofed in and caused a clatter in the study that Gabriel had been sleeping in. Emphasis on had. He awoke to the noise with rather a gruff air.

"Sorry about that Gabriel, I told Beetlejucie to just knock on the front door." Lydia said with her hands on her hips.

"Hey Babes, I was trying to be spontaneous."

"Mm hmm."

"Hey Dad what's with all the..? Hey Uncle BJ."

"Hey Louie ready for your first day of high school with your Uncle as Sham Spade?" he swirled into a detective costume.

"No offense Uncle Beetlejuice but I don't think a detective will stick well in a high school setting."

"She has a point. You need to look like a teenager. Though I do love you in your detective gear." Aunt Lydia said while tracing the neck lining of his coat seductively.

"Okay. I'm gonna go get ready for school now." Lucinda made a hasty retreat up the stairs into her room.

"And I have to get ready for work."

"Gabriel did you sleep at your desk again?"

"Unfortunately." He said rubbing his forehead.

"You really have to stop working yourself so hard. Take it easy once in a while."

"I will one day, but for now I need to work hard."

"You go get ready. I'll get the coffee made." Van Helsing goes to his room to shower and change quickly by the time he was done both his daughters were downstairs ready to go. His eldest was dressed in comfortable travel wear in an assortment of khaki colors. His youngest of course was dressed in gothic apparel. A Mortica inspired dress of black, red and white. To his delight there was fresh coffee.

"Here you go Gabby." The ghost passed the cup to his brother in law, floating in his new teen look.

"Beetlejuice." Van Helsing gave a warning. Many times he and told him to stop calling him Gabby.

"Old habits die hard." To illustrate his point he went into a grave that read habits on the tombstone. Stirring a bit on laughter among the people, especially his wife. Jane was the only one who had not made a sound. She did not feel that it was a good idea to let Uncle BJ watch over Lucinda at school. Sure he could be a good ally in a pinch situation, but he was normally the cause of those pinch situations. Dad really should have just taken her out of that school and into another school. A Neither World school would have been better than Nightshade. She truly did not want to think about the deadly part since hello her sister plus Dracula would mean that. She felt she had to do something, anything to lessen Dracula's evil hand from reaching her. Absentmindedly she reached into her purse and felt something cold against her skin. She gave a quick look and saw what it was and knew that the object was her best bet at giving her sister protection. Still if she were to give it to her sister it would cause her father some grief. The object that's origin was never to be revealed to her sister.

"Jane?" Her father asked.

"Hmm?"

"Are you ready?"

"For what?"

"To catch your flight. You need to be there soon don't you?"

"Oh right. We should get going, but before we get going. Lucinda I have something for you. Lucinda came off the bar stool and went to her sister. She pulled out of her purse a silver chain that revealed a silver ankh.

"Wow."

"Turn around." Lucinda did so and pulled her hair up. Her sister latched the necklace on and turned her sister around again to see how it looked on her.

"It looks perfect."

"Jane we have to get going now if we are going to make your flight." Van Helsing said ushering his eldest to the door. They said their goodbyes and closed the front door. The two jumped into the car and began their way towards the airport.

"You had to give it to her."

"She needed protection and Mother's way has always done a good job."

"What about me? If your memory recalls I saved your and her life quite a bit."

"Dad, no one is saying you don't protect us, but the ankh is a one way you can ease a little in worry."

"I do worry, but that is the job of a parent to be worried about their children. That shall not fade."

"Dad, if Dracula is back, do you think that Dracula will hurt her for spite?"

"I will see to it that he won't"

Meanwhile in the kitchen with Lydia, Beetlejuice and Lucinda. Who realized at that time it was nearing the beginning of the school day. They rush into the car with Beetlejuice in disguise. The two new students enter the building eyes fall to them again. Beetlejuice I mean Sham Spade cared less and instead was devising inside his head all the little things he could do to mess with every student in that hallway just by looking at them. What a guy. Brad and Vivi were the first and only ones to greet the two.

"Hi Lucinda."

"Yo."

"Hi guys."

"Hey party peeps."

"So you are the new guy. Nice to meet you." Vivi said coyly since she knew who he really was.

"The names Spade, Sham Spade." He said almost poofing into his detective gear. Lucinda moved away from the group to get to her locker where surprise! There were visitors. Three of them to be exact. Three beautiful girls.

"Are you the one named Lucinda Van Helsing?" asked a rather disgusted looking dark haired girl.

"Am I going to regret saying yes?"

"Only if you do not listen to us." Replied the red head.

"And if you prove to be a nuisance." Finished the blonde.

"Okay. What are you talking about?"

"We want you to stay away from Dracula."

"That's technically what I have to do anyway, but thank you for the reminder."

"We also wish that you leave this school."

"I worked hard to get in this school and there is no way that I am just going to leave." Lucinda said opening her locker. The blonde girl moved and slammed her hand on one side of the locker and the dark haired girl took the other side. Leaving the red head the one exit Lucinda had left.

"Take a good look sweetheart. No one wants you here. If it wasn't for the fact that the principal made it painfully clear that anyone who does anything violent to you will suffer greatly. You would have been splattered all over the front entrance. Take your stuff and leave." Lucinda took her books for her classes and stared straight at the once talking red head.

"You girls don't scare me. No please get out of my way so I can get to class." She shoved her way past the girls only to be pulled back harshly into the metal surface of the lockers.

"You can leave when we say you can leave. And you can leave when you will no longer come back to this school."

"No she is going to go to class." Vivi said shoving the girl away with tremendous strength.

"Now get out of here! More people want you three out of here than her." The girls leave but throw death glances at Lucinda. Once they had gone Lucinda turned to Vivi.

"Thanks for the save."

"Don't listen to them. They are just stupid girls who want to become part of Dracula's harem." Vivi said flipping her hair. "Some girls have no standards."

"I take it you know them well."

"Regrettably I do. We use to be friends, but that ended when they said that me dating Brad was an embarrassment on them."

"How is he an embarrassment?"

"He's a werewolf, the creature that once killed Dracula and in uptight vampire circles a creature below them in rank. But I don't care. I love him. He's strong and sweet. He carries my purchases without a complaint and it's cute when he growls playfully at squirrels."

"How did you two meet?"

"Oh the same old high school way that has been told and retold for years. Cheerleader meets football player, they talk, they flirt, they kiss, they date and then get married." She gets all dreamy eyed as if she were already seeing the wedding unfold before her.

"Does he see it that way?" Lucinda asked not really expecting an answer.

"He knows or at least he will when he proposes." She said laughing. The two rejoin the two males and go to their classes. Things go well with a few spills, shrill screams and otherwise comical mischief courtesy of the ghost with the most. I mean Sham Spade. Lunch rolled in and gang went to their spot.

"Ah lunchtime, one of the best times to hunt for bugs!"

"When is it a bad time for you to hunt bugs?"

"That's a good point Louie." He said loudly crunching into a cockroach he had caught.

Far away from the campus of school, Dracula was having lunch at a little café. He soon finished and walked down the road. He was coming upon an alleyway that he was quickly shoved into. Painfully he was pushed against a wall.

"If you value your life. You will desist your grip upon me."

"Not until we have a little talk you and I." Dracula found that it was Gabriel.

"Hello Gabriel. Trying to kill me again so soon?"

"Only if you give me reason and after what you had attempted last night to my daughter I find it is difficult not to maim you right now."

"So you knew about my presence in your home and yet you did nothing about it."

"Because you had not harmed anyone inside, but if you even thought for one minute about harming my child I would no sooner cut off your head before you could stand."

"Really Gabriel you think after all this time I would simply kill off one of yours? You know me better than that. I will not harm her now. But I do need to return to class so goodbye Gabriel." He left and Gabriel fumed inside. Cursing himself for not having the foresight to be doubly sure that Dracula had died those hundreds of years ago.

Dracula arrived back to the campus in time for classes. He enjoyed the squirming feelings of fear that the recent friends of his awaiting prey were radiating. But what he enjoyed more was the challenge of riling his awaiting prey. So far she had been successful in ignoring him, but things were going to change.

"You know you should wear less revealing necklines to school. It may cause some to take a bite."

"You come up with that yourself or are you just that old?" Lucinda said not looking up from the notes she was taking. Dracula felt he was urged to go on and so he did.

"Maybe I just wish to give you fair warning?"

"I doubt you are doing this for karma points or to really warn me. Now if you please be quiet so I can take notes." Lucinda said writing down with more ferocity. Dracula smirked at the way she wrote already he was getting to her and it took only two sentences to do so.

"If you are smirking because you think that you have gotten under my skin then you are mistaken."

"How can you be certain that I am smirking about that?" She didn't respond and continued to stay silent around him till class ended. She went to the car lot and stepped into her uncle's car, the lovable and spilt personality Doomie. Beetlejucie was sitting in the front seat already changed into his normal look.

"Hey Louie how was your second day of school?"

"It was fine Uncle BJ."

"Hey Lucinda!" She turned around to see Vivi bounding for her with a large grin on her face.

"I have got the greatest news!"

"What?"

"You know how you didn't want to be a third wheel at the party?"

"Look Vivi I don't know if I want to go to…"

"I found you a date!"

"You what?" (BEEP! BEEP!)

"Come on Louie we have to get going!"

"I'm right here Uncle BJ. You don't have to yell." He honked again. Vivi ignored him and went right on with her excited words.

"Brad was talking to his friend Max. Max is a totally amazing soccer player and super cool guy. He's a relation of some big wig of the mummy world. Anyway he saw you the other day asked Brad about him and of course I put my opinion in and he so wants to take you out on a date! So what do you think?"

"I think it's amazing that you said that without the need of breath. Look Vivi I'll talk to you later for now I have to get going."

"Call you later then." Vivi stated as Lucinda got into Doomie and her uncle began to drive off.

"Lucinda there is something you should know. Your uncle and I are going to be staying with you for the rest of the week."

"That doesn't sound too bad. Dad might have an issue with Uncle BJ's eating habits and cleanly habits."

"Actually your father isn't going to be here for the rest of the week that's why we are staying with you. He got a call from work saying he was needed on some big deal overseas. He's leaving tonight."

"Let me guess Dad wasn't keen on the idea, but you talked him out of it with the promise of watching over me and some sort of second condition."

"You have to keep lavender on your window sill and doorway, there of course many other protection things we have to do to the house but he really doesn't want you to ever take the ankh off."

"Does the ankh have magical powers?"

"No. It's just really old and really important to your mother's memory. He just doesn't want you to lose it."

"I won't. Besides the look is so cool and will go with so many of my outfits."

"And will prove a conversation starter for your upcoming date?" her aunt teased lightly.

"I don't even know when Vivi found time to do that."

"Well it's nice you have a friend at school. Besides your uncle that is."

They zoom past the streets and towards home. Right when Lucinda gets through the door her cell goes off. No surprise who it was calling.

"Hi Vivi. Couldn't wait huh?"

"Girl! He so wants to talk to you! Any chance you can sneak out over to my place for a tiny bit?"

"I don't think now is the best time. My Dad just left town and I kind of want to spend time with my family."

"Just for a few minutes please!"

"Well. I'll ask." She cuts off her phone and turns to Lydia.

"Any chance I could go to Vivi's for a few?"

"I'll drop you off, but no going anywhere else and stay inside until you see my car."

"Deal." The return call to Vivi was made and Vivi was ecstatic. The two females climbed back in the car and drove on to the stately home of Vivi. She was at the door waving to the two to come on through. Lucinda exited the car and went right in with Vivi chatting away. Once inside the vast wealth surprised the teen.

"How rich is your family?"

"We do well. Wait till you see the game room. Bet you the boys have already started playing foosball." The girls travel the hall and go into the game room. Where there were old style arcade games, foosball, video games, a true life dance dance revolution game and a soda bar.

"I would say that your family does very well." Lucinda's eyes follow to the boys playing foosball. Well one in particular. He had blonde hair with a black streak over one of his eyes. Beautiful gray eyes that were intensely focused on the game. He wore a bandaged style shirt with a sleeveless jean jacket over it and whitewashed jeans and military style boots. He stopped playing when he saw that he was attracting looks.

"Hey." He said coming over to the girls with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey yourself."

"Lucinda this is Max."

"Max this is Lucinda." Vivi said shoving Lucinda closer before going over to Brad who gladly kissed his girl.

"So did Vivi invite you or…"

"Brad did, but odds are that she had more of a hand in it." She gave a light chuckle.

"Hey made ya laugh. That must mean I'm doing something right."

"It seems favorable."

"You want a drink or something?"

"Sure." The two walk over to the soda bar which turned out to also be an equipped ice cream bar.

"Root beer float, your poison?"

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. You want vanilla or smooth French vanilla?"

"French."

"Got us a fancy girl here."

"With ice cream flavors maybe." He mixed up the drink the way you see a pro bar tender do so. Obviously trying to earn some favor points with the girl of his choice. Things were on a rise but soon fell with the sound of two ding dong.