Beatrix, Clawdeen, and Venus followed a trail that led deep into the forest, a mile away from the school, heading towards Draculaura's house.

Draculaura was able to have a property off campus because she was the sole descendant of Dracula—who was the epitome of old money.

The rule which kept students on school grounds had previously forced Draculaura to stay in a private dorm, but she'd promptly moved back to her forest home once the ban was lifted.

With the moon as their only source of light, Beatrix, Clawdeen, and Venus trekked uphill.

Clawdeen was walking at an effortlessly quick pace, her strong legs unfazed by the incline.

A squirrel chittered nearby. In the distance, ravens cawed, shill and foreboding.

The cold chilled Beatrix to the bone, so she tucked her hands in her pockets. Within, wolfsbane crinkled between her fingers.

Beatrix had successfully stolen some from the garden without Clawdeen or Venus noticing, and she'd grabbed dozens of purple leaves.

Clawdeen's ears twitched. "Hear that?"

Beatrix worried Clawdeen had heard the wolfsbane rustling in her jacket.

Clawdeen glanced around, surveying the mossy trees around them.

"Hear what?" Venus asked.

The animals and birds had fallen silent.

Thump-a-thump.

Beatrix's ears perked up.

Thump-a-thump.

The noise's rhythm was unsteady, not far off in the woods. Like hooves stomping in the dirt.

"Probably some animal," Clawdeen said.

"Let's hurry, we're late," Venus urged.

Beatrix hung back.

She squinted in the direction of the noise.

As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, a shape became clear.

A great black shadow stood motionless between the pines. Beatrix couldn't tell if it was a boulder, a trunk, or something else…

"You coming?" Clawdeen shouted.

Beatrix hurried after them.

At last, through the trees, Beatrix spotted twinkling lights.

Draculaura's house stood alone, tucked back in the mountainside. It was the most chic building Beatrix had ever seen. It stood three stories high with a polished white porch wrapping around the front, and every wall was made almost entirely of glass.

When they reached the front doors, someone opened it immediately.

"Guillermo!" Beatrix said. She hadn't spoken to him since the nightclub incident.

She'd seen him during MSS since then, but the meetings had turned into a detention hour rather than a seminar. Mr. Gore was still punishing them for putting him and Johannah to sleep.

And for some odd reason, after every MSS meeting, Guillermo had scurried away before Beatrix could talk to him.

Clawdeen and Venus walked past Guillermo and entered the massive entryway.

"How are you doing?" Beatrix asked him.

"Fine," Guillermo answered stiffly. Judging by the way he avoided Beatrix's gaze, he was hiding something.

"Come in, it must be freezing out there!" Draculaura beckoned, strutting into the foyer.

Draculaura tugged Beatrix along and told Guillermo to make more punch for everyone.

"Right away, master!" Guillermo beelined away.

As Beatrix stepped inside, she took in Draculaura's house.

The first story featured a wide staircase to the right and a grand piano on the left, and the sitting room was filled with sleek lounge furniture and fur carpets. Expansive forest views could be seen from the wall-length windows.

"The witch is here," Abbey announced bluntly. Her statement wasn't negatively charged; Abbey was simply a straightforward ghoul.

Beatrix received some "hi"s. Cleo even gave her an indifferent look, rather than a disdainful one. The fearleaders had all gotten used to her presence and were mostly friendly to her now.

Except Autumn, who only glanced in her direction for a second before turning back to Frankie.

"Your house is amazing," Beatrix said.

"It was my dad's birthday present to me last year." Draculaura smiled. "If only he wasn't so old-school, I'd introduce him to everyone. He doesn't really like any monsters aside from vampires. He wanted me at a private vampire academy, but after a few centuries I convinced him to let me go here."

"Well, I'm glad you're here," Beatrix said.

"Same to you," Draculaura said. "You're quite entertaining, after all."

"How so?"

"Mixing witchcraft with monster abilities? I'd never heard of such a thing until I discovered what you did with that sleeping elixir and siren song. It's quite an achievement."

Beatrix looked at the vampire, dumbfounded.

Her use of a siren song was the most sensitive piece of information from that night on the field trip. Beatrix had even omitted the siren song part from the headmistress. If Bloodgood found out, there'd be trouble.

As far as Beatrix knew, no one knew about her usage of such a bizarre witchcraft technique on the field trip.

No one except…

"Drac! We need another player!" Clawdeen called. The fearleaders were beginning a card game.

"Make yourself at home, Beatrix," Draculaura said as she joined them.

"Sure thing," Beatrix said darkly, stomping to the kitchen.

Guillermo stirred a punch bowl.

"You," Beatrix quietly hissed.

Guillermo flinched. "Beatrix! What—"

"You and Orion promised you wouldn't tell anyone about the specific magic I used. How does Draculaura know I used a siren song to put Johannah and Mr. Gore to sleep?"

"I—"

"People knowing about this puts me at risk of getting kicked out!"

Guillermo was sweating. "You've got it wrong—"

Suddenly, Beatrix heard Draculaura's voice from the sitting room. "Gory?"

Instinctively, Beatrix crouched behind the kitchen island.

She never expected Gory to show up. Without any campus security around, uneasiness twisted in Beatrix's stomach.

"We heard about your kick back and wanted to stop by," Gory said. Beatrix couldn't tell how many vampires were with her.

"The more the merrier!" Frankie cheered.

"Is this everyone?" Gory asked. "Aren't there more members of the fear squad gang coming tonight?"

Are they looking for me? Beatrix worried.

Suddenly, Guillermo scrambled down behind the counter with Beatrix.

Guillermo met her eyes and silently mouthed something that made Beatrix's blood run cold: Bram and Vilhelm are here.