Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson chased after Beatrix.
"I can't believe you spoke to Grey like that!" Guillermo exclaimed.
"I don't know who Grey thinks he is, calling himself 'the Lord of Death,'" Beatrix said.
"Grey's dad is a huge deal. He's the CEO of Death Co."
"How do you know that?" Orion mocked.
Guillermo pushed up his glasses. "I know everything about upper monster circles. To serve my master, I have a thorough knowledge of—"
Orion rolled his eyes. "We get it, you're Draculaura's familiar."
That vegetarian vampire is Guillermo's 'master?'
"If Grey's dad is so powerful, how come he got suspended last year?" Orion asked.
"Having a powerful dad is the reason why Grey only got suspended. Anyone else would've been expelled," Guillermo said.
"What'd he do?"
"He got into a ton of fights," Orion said.
"No, he constantly ditched class," Guillermo argued.
"All I know is Grey scares me," Jackson said. "I'm not sure why he volunteered to help with MSS. He never showed interest last year."
Beatrix wasn't following. "Jackson, did you take MSS last year too?"
"Ya. Bloodgood made me repeat the seminar." Jackson didn't seem comfortable sharing why, so Beatrix didn't push for more.
Beatrix walked ahead. "See you next week."
"Where are you going?" Orion called.
"Fearleading tryouts!"
"Don't be a fearleader! They're snooty!" Orion said.
Steam nearly blew out of Guillermo's ears. "My master's on the team and she's the opposite of snooty!"
Beatrix ignored their bickering and left them behind.
She wasn't the one trying out for fearleading. Autumn was.
Although Frankie had once been shocked upon learning Beatrix's identity, she'd warmed up again and had been teaching Autumn choreography for days now. According to Autumn, Frankie had been brought to life a year ago and consequently was good-natured about everything.
At first, Beatrix had tried to dissuade the scarecrow from trying out. She'd been worried Autumn would end up torn and mangled. However, Autumn had insisted.
When Beatrix walked into the gym, a group of girls formed a pyramid in the center of the casketball court.
To Beatrix's horror, Autumn was at the very top.
"Steady! No room for weakness! Your spot on this team depends on it!" Cleo ordered.
Beatrix's heart was in her throat. Autumn needs to get down from there. She was about to yell it out, but it was too late.
An orange werecat at the base of the pyramid wobbled under the weight and the girls toppled to the floor.
In a flash Beatrix was at Autumn's side. "Are you okay? Are you ripped anywhere?"
"Don't worry!" Autumn sat up. "I'm fine."
"What's the witch doing here?" Cleo sneered.
"What were you thinking? Autumn's fragile!" Beatrix cringed at her choice of words. Referring to Autumn as "fragile" made her sound like her aunts.
Cleo arched a brow. "What am I, her mummy? She volunteered to be at the top. And watch how you speak to me, sorceress."
Before Beatrix could react, Autumn said, "Cleo's right, I volunteered!"
"Why? I told you to be careful!" Beatrix scolded.
"I wanted to… I don't know…"
"Autumn, if you're going to be such high maintenance, you won't be a good fit for this squad," Cleo said.
"Told you I should've been at the top," the werecat complained.
Autumn was begging now. "This is a one time thing! Bea was just taken off guard. I'm fine!"
The reality of the situation hit Beatrix. She was making Autumn look bad.
Thankfully, a different voice spoke up.
"Let the scarecrow join. She'll be a good flyer because she's weightless. Don't be stubborn, Cleo," a werewolf girl said.
"Clawdeen, stay out of it," Cleo snapped. However, she seemed to be thinking it over, and ended up giving in. "I'll show mercy."
Frankie cheered, but Beatrix didn't feel like celebrating.
At least she hadn't ruined Autumn's chances.
"Back in formation, people!" Cleo shouted.
Since Beatrix didn't want to cause any more issues, she waited on the bleachers.
The werewolf girl joined her. "Ignore Cleo. She's a real piece of work."
"Tell me about it," Beatrix said. "Thanks for intervening."
"Don't mention it." Clawdeen pointed a manicured claw past Beatrix. "Those guys with you?"
In the corner of the gym, Orion, Guillermo, and Jackson stood together, watching the fearleaders in awe.
"Sort of. I'm taking a seminar with them," Beatrix said, noticing how geeky they all looked.
"How do you like MSS?" a pink-skinned vampire asked behind Beatrix.
Beatrix jumped in her seat. The vampire had appeared out of thin air.
Guillermo had mentioned his "master" was on the fearleading team, so this had to be Draculaura.
"It's certainly something…" Beatrix said, recalling her argument with Grey.
"Well, let me know if you ever need anything and I'll send Guillermo to help. He's my best familiar yet," Draculaura told Beatrix, her eyes warm.
"I'm curious, what does 'familiar' mean to you? Is Guillermo your servant?" Beatrix asked.
"More like a personal assistant."
"He said you'd turn him into a vampire. Is that true?" Beatrix asked.
Draculaura stifled a giggle. "Maybe one day, but probably not. Don't tell him, it'll break his normie heart."
Beatrix felt a pang of sympathy for Guillermo. It sounded like Orion was right when he'd said vampires didn't keep their promises.
Beatrix watched Autumn practice a cheer with pink pom poms, her straw braids bouncing with every jump.
"Your friend has potential," Clawdeen said. "I'm glad Frankie recruited her. We need to replace Gilda."
"The student who died?"
"Ya," Clawdeen softly confirmed.
Beatrix remembered how Grey had said Gilda was killed. "I'm sorry for your loss. It must've been hard losing a teammate. Did you hear how she passed?"
Clawdeen and Draculaura glanced at each other.
Beatrix backtracked. "I don't mean to pry."
"We have our suspicions," Clawdeen said. "You should know, it's dangerous in the woods around the school."
Draculaura, whose eyes were now cold as ice, added, "Don't wander alone at night. Not everyone plays by the rules here."
