The pamphlet in Beatrix's hand read, When the Undead Pass On: A Guide to Grieving and Healing.

A bleak introduction to the Monster Sensitivity Seminar, or "MSS," as Bloodgood had called it.

The seminar had been rescheduled and moved to a new room because the previous one had been too close to the north side of campus, where Monster High's security team had conducted an investigation in the woods bordering the school. Barricade tape closed the area off to students.

Since the first day of classes, a gloom hung over the school. Remembrance photos were plastered in the halls, the botanical club had planted flowers in the dead student's memory, and a commemoration service had taken place in the screamatorium.

The student's name was Gilda Goldstag, a horned monster who was known by many and loved to read in nature.

But something intrigued Beatrix about Gilda's death: the cause of it.

No one had said what happened; not the school newspaper, not the teachers, not even Bloodgood.

Regardless of how many times Beatrix asked the lunch ladies about what they'd heard, she remained in the dark.

For all Beatrix knew, Gilda could have slipped and hit her head, or been stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction.

But this didn't explain why security had increased and why there was a new rule forbidding students from leaving the grounds without permission.

Something must've been discovered at the crime scene, something more nefarious than a slip or a bee sting.

Johannah, the seminar leader, wrote on a white board up front.

"This is a difficult time for all of us, so if any of you need to talk to someone, here's my number," Johannah said.

Johannah Carpenter was a senior and ran MSS every Saturday for elective credit. Although Johannah looked like a plain-featured human, the other MSS members secretly called her "The Thing." Beatrix didn't know what the nickname alluded to, but it sounded ominous.

"While we wait for Mr. Gore, let's introduce ourselves," Johannah said.

A boy in the back went first.

"Uh, hi. M-my name is Jackson. I'm a sophomore."

The way Jackson fumbled with his headphones reminded Beatrix of how Autumn messed with her seams.

"What monster type are you?" Johannah asked.

"Half-normie, half-creature. Kinda," Jackson vaguely said.

"Everyone, let's welcome Jackson."

"Hi, Jackson," the group droned.

"Who's next?"

A small silver werewolf sat in front of Jackson, the same werewolf Beatrix had seen roughhousing in the creepateria with Clawd.

"I'm Orion," the werewolf said. "Freshman. Got bit by a werewolf last summer. It's been pretty painful. I've got all this hair now and I still can't grow a beard."

The class echoed, "Hi, Orion."

"I'm Guillermo and I'm a junior," a stout boy with round glasses said, stuffy in his sweater vest. "I'm a familiar," he said.

Beatrix's interest was piqued. The only kind of "familiar" she knew about were devil familiars that assisted witches. She wondered how Guillermo defined it.

Orion scoffed. "That's not a monster type. You're just a normie. Even worse, a lame co-dependent normie."

"Not true!" Guillermo cried.

"Must be hard being a normie who follows after bloodsuckers all day, begging for their approval," Orion flashed his canines.

"Boys," Johannah tried to cut in.

"I won't be human for much longer. My master promised to turn me into a vampire this year!" Guillermo said, a sheen of sweat glistening across his forehead.

"Good luck with that! We all know how well bloodsuckers keep their promises," Orion roared.

A guttural growl came from Johannah's throat. "Boys!"

Johannah's face suddenly burst open, displaying sharp teeth and blood-slicked flesh.

The group watched Johannah's face distort in horror.

"That's better," Johannah said, her face closing back up. Her features returned to normal and she pointed at Beatrix. "Your turn."

Before Beatrix could collect herself, the classroom door opened. Beatrix expected it to be Mr. Gore, the teacher in charge of the seminars, but she was quickly proven wrong.

"What brings you here, Grey?" Johannah asked.

Grey's large frame encompassed the doorway. His blacked-out eyes immediately landed on Beatrix.

"I got permission from Bloodgood to help run MSS," his rough voice said, not breaking eye contact.

"Really?" Johannah said. "Bloodgood didn't tell me."

Grey passed her a folded paper.

After reading it, Johannah said, "Alright, the more the merrier. We were listening to our last introduction." Johannah looked at Beatrix expectantly.

Grey sat next to Johannah up front. He leaned back and crossed his sturdy arms, like he was challenging Beatrix to speak.

Somehow Grey's presence unnerved Beatrix more than Johannah's monstrous face.

However, Beatrix kept a cool facade. "I'm Beatrix. I work at the school as a student aid and a lunch-time employee. I'm a witch."

Jackson, Orion, and Guillermo looked bewildered.

"Since when were witches allowed?" Orion asked.

"Since Bloodgood gave one permission to work here," Grey said. He didn't sound too happy about it.

Beatrix crossed her arms, mirroring Grey's body language. "The headmistress said you needed a witch to serve you lunch slop, so here I am. Take it up with her."

The corners of Grey's lips turned up slightly, but he reverted to his cold expression in an instant.

Beatrix recalled Grey rushing out of the creepateria on the first day. She still hadn't come up with any ideas about what he'd been up to, but she and Autumn had a feeling he'd spread the witch rumors about her.

It's just my luck that he's leading the seminar.

"Mr. Gore is running late. Let's start without him," Johannah started. "Today we're going over the basics of monster transformations—"

"We should tell them how monsters die," Grey interrupted.

Johannah looked startled. "Seems heavy for the first day."

"A student was killed. It's the ideal time to discuss it," Grey said, unflinching.

Killed? Beatrix didn't think Gilda's cause of death was common knowledge. Why in the hells does Grey think Gilda was killed?