Draculaura certainly felt on top of the world. She had great friends, a loving family, and the absolute BEST boyfriend as long as she didn't say so in front of Cleo De Nile that is. There had been many ups and downs throughout her time at Monster High, a bad run-in with her manipulative ex-boyfriend, putting a stop to conniving Van Hellscream, the world-famous Monster Hunter on more than one occasion, and finding the missing vampire queen, her childhood Beast Friend Elissabat. Now everything had settled down. The highlight of the week was heading to the maul with the other ghouls and mansters.
Nothing. Nothing could ruin it.
"Draculaura and Amora please report to the front office!"
The stylish pink vampire glanced confusedly at her scantily dressed succubus cousin.
"Did you do something to Clawdeen again?" she demanded in a whisper as they stepped into the hall.
"Not since Monday," Amora shrugged.
"I can't believe you tried to push her into the pit of eternal body odor!"
"Desperate times, Laura, desperate times"
"Shut up"
"What do you think Bloodgood wants?"
"I dunno, we're about to find out anyway"
...
The world was ending. It was all upside down and inside out. Draculaura was drowning with no one to save her. Life dashed in an instant and now, now, she and Amora, wrapped in blankets waited by the magic mirror for the uncle they had never met to take them to a new world. To live with the only family they had left. The strange family. Family they had never met, never even talked to.
"Why can't I stay here with Daddy?" Amora kept demanding.
"Someone just tried to kill your entire family, It's for the best if you leave this world," Bloodgood patiently explained, "Your father agrees"
That silenced, Amora into glaring at the mirror, her eyes full of unshed tears.
The mirror flashed, a vampire the two had only seen in paintings stepping through the glass.
"Hello girls," he smiled sadly.
"Hello"
"DRACULAURA!" Clawd burst into the office, their friends swiftly following on his heels, "Please, please, please don't go!" he whimpered, tears rolling down his face.
"Clawd," Draculaura's voice cracked as she rushed to embrace him, "I have too!" she sobbed into his chest.
He hugged her fiercely, the two enveloped by Amora and the rest of their friend group. It was much too soon when they were made to part, With a final tearful kiss Draculaura was ushered through the mirror alongside her cousin.
...
The contrast was instant. The duo finding themselves in a bright, sun-filled castle tower. Without a word, their uncle led them downstairs into the main foyer where more mysterious family members awaited them.
"Girls," Radu spoke, "This is your Aunt Alissa and cousins Chase and Mallory"
Their Aunt was an imposing woman, dark horns cutting through her brown hair. Large scaly wings cloaked over her shoulders. She wore a long fancy gown trimmed with crystals that reflected the sunlight around them. When the solemn teens could finally meet her eyes they were taken aback by the kindness within the teal orbs.
Next to her Chase seemed to be ten years old with black hair cut in a fringe just above his nervous teal eyes. His bat-like wings dragged the ground behind him. He wore a faded long-sleeved cotton shirt and faded jeans with holey knees. When he noticed they were looking at him he ducked behind his mother who rested a reassuring hand on his back.
Six-year-old Mallory's brown hair was pulled into a ballet bun behind a pretend tiara. Her wings were small shimmering blue things that reflected the light around purple eyes were wide with curiousity but she was clearly nervous as she kept smoothing out her blue Cinderella dress. Like her brother, she ducked behind Alissa upon being noticed.
Radu looked around expectantly, "Is she not here yet?"
There was a burst of purple flame catching them both off guard making them take a step back. When it cleared another girl was standing beside Alissa.
"This is Christina," Radu introduced, "She's right around your age"
Christina had dark horns like her mother and her eyes were large and multi-colored with hints of red, purple, and gold hidden within their brown depths. Her hair was long and black-brown with vibrant purple at the ends. Unlike the others, her wings were a mysterious combination of bat and dragon, with the same color scheme as her hair. Christina was dressed in a thorn-printed dress, black leggings, and bejeweled flats.
"Hello," Christina's voice was barely above a whisper, eyes looking anywhere but their faces, "I'm sorry for your loss"
As soon as the younger hybrids rushed for their sister, Alissa stepped forward with a sad but kind smile, "May I?" she opened her arms for a hug.
Draculaura felt numb stepping into her aunt's embrace. While it was comforting it did very little to help.
"Here," Alissa stepped back, "Let me take you to your rooms, follow me"
Up the sweeping marble staircase, they went into a long hallway filled with stained-glass windows. Two wooden doors exactly alike stood beside each other, their new rooms.
"Your choice they're exactly the same right now-" Alissa explained, "Those are your cousins rooms," she pointed at the three doors across from them, "I'll leave you to get settled in, pull the rope by the door if you need anything"
"Thank you," Draculaura whispered hoarsely.
"Of course"
...
Alissa hurried back downstairs finding Radu frozen in place.
"I-I tried to varn them-" the vampire shook with emotion,
"I know, Love, I know," Alissa embraced her husband, wishing she could take away his grief, "You did all you could"
"They're gone, they're gone, I-I-I-"
"Shh, Shh, Shh, maybe you should go lay down?"
"No, I need to go back to Transilvania, see to the estate, until Draculaura comes of age, it falls on my shoulders...I have to leave now"
"No, leave tomrrow, your nieces need you, your children need you, now, go lay down, that's an order"
"Yes, dear"
"I'll bring you some tea shortly, help you sleep," Alissa kissed him softly.
"Thank you," Radu squeezed her hands tightly, "I'm so lucky to have you"
"You always will"
With leaden steps and slumped shoulders, Radu went back upstairs, into his room and limply fell into the center of the plush oversized bed. When Alissa entered a few minutes later she pulled the heavy red drapes closed with one hand before sitting beside Radu to ensure he drank the entire cup of sweet-smelling liquid. Once the last drop had slid down his throat she waved the tray away, eased him out of his shoes, and removed his cape. In one fluid motion, she spread her blue and white checked quilt over him with a kiss.
...
Now, that her nieces and husband were taken care of, Alissa went in search of her children, finding the trio in a parlor. Christina read the younger ones a story while they cuddled close on either side of her.
"And Cinderella and her Prince lived Happily Ever After, the end"
"Can you read another, please. Sissy?"
"Why don't we let Chase pick a story, okay?" Christina flipped back to the first page of her beloved fairy tale book before passing it to her brother, "Want to, Chase?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Hey, you three," Alissa sat down across from them, "Can I have a minute?"
"Mommy! Do you wanna hear the story too?" Mallory launched herself into Alissa's lap.
"Maybe later, we need to talk first"
"Yes, Mom?" Christina sat up straight, folding her hands in her lap with a curious expression.
"First, how are you? You know with everything that's happened today?"
Christina bit her lip in thought, "I don't know," she finally shrugged, "I'm sad that I never got to meet them but..."
"I understand," Alissa assured, "What about you Chase?"
Chase shrugged.
"Mallory?"
"They're scary looking"
"Your cousins?"
"Yeah," Mallory leaned into her mother, trembling slightly.
"I know they may seem scary but they're our family and they're going to live with us now-"
"Forever?"
"Maybe not forever but for a long time," Alissa rubbed her back soothingly, "They're very sad right now, everyone is very sad right now so we have to be nice and make them feel welcome and be paitent, can you all do that for me?"
The three nodded.
"I'm sorry, I know this isn't how you wanted your summer break to start but we're all going to stay home for the rest of the week so we can be there for Daddy and Draculaura and Amora, okay?"
The three nodded in understanding.
"So, did you pick a story, Chase?"
...
Draculaura looked around the very large room through teary eyes. The stones were painted a pale blue with white accents that matched the furniture. Tiptoeing across the room, she sat gingerly on the bed. This had to have been a nightmare. A walking, waking nightmare that she couldn't get out of no matter how hard she pinched herself. What happened to her home? Did she have any belongings left? The castle had been destroyed. Ransacked in a mad search for the Grimness Records but the book had disappeared so the young, brainwashed remainder of Van Hellscream's followers had set the place ablaze.
Bloodgood had refused to give them the specifics only adding that the culprits had also died and were no further threat. That didn't bring back her parents, her sister, or her aunt and it didn't provide comfort. Draculaura shattered all over again, the sobs welling up from the depths of her soul, ripping from her mouth to fill the room with the oppressive fog of grief. Why? Why her family? Why? Why did she have to be separated from them so cruelly? To be forced into this strange, bright world that was so different from her own? Away from her friends? Away from Clawd? Without her mother's advice. Without her father's comforting hugs.
At some point, Amora came into the room, her heels clicking against the marble floors before being kicked off as the silent succubus climbed onto the bed beside her, the two clinging desperately to each other like they were small children at one of their old sleepovers. They dozed off, tears still flowing.
...
The two were woken up by light knocking at the door. One glance out the window showed that the sun was setting the sky streaked with vibrant colors. Quickly wiping their eyes, Draculaura weakly called out:
"Come in"
Christina stepped into the room, "Mom wants to know what you'd like for dinner, if you want to come to the kitchen"
The duo looked at each other nodding slowly, "Okay," they agreed in unison.
"Follow me," Christina turned, walking through the door without waiting for them.
The maze of halls was confusing. They all looked the same especially in the stretching shadows as blinking soft ethereal lights slowly lit to guide their way. When they got to the kitchen it was a surprising change, it was a huge room, full of top-end appliances. Alissa stood at the center island having traded her fancy gown for a short-sleeved cotton dress over which she wore a 'kiss the cook' apron.
"Hello, girls," she smiled welcomingly, "I heard that one of you has a special diet?"
"I'm vegiterian, ma'am," Draculaura nodded confirmation.
"You and Christina have that in common, is there anything else i need to know?"
"I get woozy at the sight of meat, I'm trying to get better"
"That's okay, just avoid that freezer right there, with the red handle. Amora, is there anything I need to know?"
"No"
"How does homemade ravoli sound?"
"Good"
"Great, Christina? Will you make dessert tonight? Are you up for that?"
"Yes, ma'am," Christina snapped her fingers, her nice outfit being replaced by an oversized tee shirt and jeans with sneakers, "Daddy's favorite cake?"
"Excellant idea," Alissa agreed, "You're more than welcome to stay girls or you can explore the castle, we want you to be comfortable here after all"
Draculaura didn't want to explore, couldn't bring herself to accept this reality but she supposed this was a better use of time than simply watching someone cook.
"I think I'll explore," she softly declared.
"I want to watch," Amora decided, hooking her tail around a nearby stool to bring it to the island.
"Okay, Christina will come get you when the dinner chimes sound, Draculaura"
...
Her steps echoed back at her as she wove through the halls, all very much like the one her room was in. The rays of the setting sun spilled through the intricate windows. There were pretty sitting rooms, an art gallery, a library, a music room, a game room, a theater. Very similar to the setup she was used to but with a distinctive fairy tale touch. At first, she bypassed a darkened room only to pause when she saw movement within. Backtracking she spotted her uncle seated behind a large desk.
"Uncle Radu?"
"Hello, Draculaura," the lamp nearest the desk clicked on, "Exploring?"
"Yes, the castle's very nice,"
"Thank you, vhy don't you come in and keep me company?"
Nervously, Draculaura took a seat across from her uncle, noting how very alike her father's study this one was, the large heavy oak desk, the comfy chairs with shiny smooth wooden limbs, a roaring fireplace behind her and large shelves that encircled the room. The only actual difference was the sheer amount of well-kept leather-bound books.
"I like to read," Radu smiled.
"Have you really read all of them?"
"Yes, over many years, Dracula was alvays more adventerous than I"
"I think I remeber Daddy saying something about that, were-were you close? um-"
"Ve vere a long time ago but ve had a terrible falling out"
"Can-can I asked what happened? Daddy never answered questions"
"A few months after Christina vas born ve had a terrible run-in with monster hunters seeking the Grimness Book. Ve barely escaped by the skin of our teeth, they swore to bring down our entire family, vhen I told Dracula about it he tried to assure me that ve were safe now and nothing further would happen but I didn't believe him, ve fought terribly, I'll spare you the details," Radu took a deep breath, "I stormed out, Alissa and I left that night, returning to her home realm vhere the hunters couldn't reach us, I left the Book with Dracula because it didn't seem right to take it from the monster realm but now I'm vondering if that was the right choice"
"So, you were the book's orignal keeper?"
"No, that was my father, vhen he passed the book chose me, I had to convince it to stay with Dracula, it's a stubbron tricky thing you know"
"But, where is it now?"
"Whereever it goes when it needs to name a new keeper"
"So it's uh, with a new family?"
"Possible but not likely, the book was entrusted to our family for a reason but, enough about that, tell me about you, I only recieved the ocasinal letter"
Draculaura wistfully recounted all of her adventures big and small although it hurt to think she'd never have another one. Gushing about Clawd was particularly hard but she managed to do so without crying. All too soon the dinner chimes sounded. Christina promptly arrived in the doorway, still immaculately clean.
"Time for dinner," she declared with a smile directed at her father.
"You didn't happen to make dessert did you?" Radu teased, standing.
"Lemon cake"
"My favorite"
The three walked silently into the family dining room. Much smaller than the fancy dining hall with arched windows that Draculaura had passed. This room had large floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the far wall, allowing a nice view of the gardens. Above the smaller glass dining table, a small chandelier sparkled with those same lights that filled the halls. Mallory was already seated in a pink printed booster seat, her red and blue plastic ware at the ready. Chase, meanwhile, was distracted by his own fairy tale book, rereading the adventures of Robin Hood until Alissa slowly pulled the book away from him. Her apron was gone allowing Draculaura to see the faded floral print on the blue cotton. There was an empty seat beside her, Radu's. Beside his seat was Amora, looking acutely uncomfortable.
Radu took his place. Christina sat in between her younger siblings leaving Draculaura the last seat at the table.
As soon as she was seated dinner popped into existence in front of her. Her glass filled itself with tomato juice which she gratefully sipped on realizing she had not had anything since breakfast that morning. Breakfast which seemed so very long ago.
"So," Alissa spoke, startling Draculaura, "Amora, your trunk arrived an hour ago, it's been taken to your room but if you need anything else tell me right away and I'll get it ordered, alright?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Amora nodded, glancing at Draculaura, worriedly, "What about.."
"I'm sorry, Draculaura everything in the castle was destroyed"
"I figured," Draculaura hung her head quietly.
"I promise as soon as you're ready we can go into town and shop, I'll get some things ordered before I go to bed tonight but I'm sure Christina has some clothes you can borrow in the meantime, right, Butterfly?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Christina glanced away from where she was helping Mallory cut her food.
Dinner was finished in silence.
...
"I know it isn't your style and that it's big but here"
No sooner had the thought of going to bed crossed Draculaura's mind did Christina showed up at the door with a clean night dress. A plain black short-sleeved cotton with purple trim. Quietly the hybrid held the folded garment out to her.
"Thanks"
Christina nodded before returning to her room directly across the hall.
...
Christina stepped into her rooms with a heavy sigh. This was not how she'd expected finals week to go. To be pulled suddenly out of her Potions exam only to be informed relatives she'd never met had passed and that she was needed at home right away.
Upside down and inside out. She thought to herself, going through the motions of getting ready for bed, After letting her hair down and brushing it out, she slipped into a night dress exactly like the one she loaned Draculaura. Then she went to her library finding comfort in the alive wall murals that currently depicted a sky full of whimsical constellations. Settling into a favorite window seat she quickly lost herself in an adventure story.
Thump!
Startled, Christina dropped her book, looking for an intruder with her wand at the ready only to heave a sigh of relief. It was just a book that had fallen from the shelf. Propping her book against the throw pillow she stood to find the fallen book. Perhaps Ace had been weaving through the shelves again. The cat did think he ran the place after all. Christina stopped shortly, her thoughts about whether she'd given her kitty his bedtime treat came to a screeching halt as she beheld the book on the floor. That can't possibly be... Christina thought warily nearing the large, glowing book on the floor. The midnight-blue leather-bound tome with the shiny black border around the silver Gothic lettering of the title made it unmistakable: the Grimness Book of Records. Ace then meowed as he entered through the cat flap in her door, making it clear that he was not responsible for the Book falling. Carefully, she picked up the ancient tome. The title lettering seemed to gleam as her hand brushed across the cover.
The book suddenly opened itself! the first few pages flipped rapidly to the page listing the Keepers of the Book in each generation, including her father Radu Bloodblade Dracula. Then fresh letters appeared on the line beneath his name, as if being written with glowing ink by an invisible pen. Then the glow dimmed to show the freshly burned black letters of a new, very familiar name: Christina Rose Shadowfae Dracula.
"DADDY!" she cried before mentally kicking herself. Both of her parents were already fast asleep, her father with the aid of her mother's magic. No noise she could make would wake either of them after such a day. Trembling she set the book on the nearest shelf before running back to her window seat. Ace followed leauirly after her, jumping into her lap and headbutting her with a content purr.
"Love you too"
...
Bright and Early the following day, Radu was back in the study trying to maintain some semblance of normality when Christina knocked on the open door, one hand awkwardly behind her back.
"Good Morning..did you have a nightmare, my little shadow?" Radu asked upon seeing the look on his daughter's face.
"I'm not little anymore, Daddy," Christina replied.
"You'll alvays be my Little Shadow, now come in and tell me your troubles"
"This appeared in my library last night"
Christina revealed what she'd been holding behind her back, setting the Grimness Book on the desk between them.
"Well," Radu took a deep breath, "I knew it vould show up eventually"
"But that's not all," Christina flipped to the page of Keepers, pointing with a shaky finger. She was frightened to even touch the book for too long.
"It chose you," he couldn't help but smile.
"But-but-but why? I don't understand, why wouldn't it just go back to you or-"
"Deep breath, it vill be okay, this is a good thing"
"How is this a good thing?" Christina whimpered, overwhelmed. "Why me?"
"Is that The Grimness Book?"
Christina shrunk into herself, her posture reminding Radu of a turtle. Draculaura and Amora stood in the doorway with surprised looks on their faces.
"Yes," Radu answered his questioning nieces, "It's chosen your cousin"
"But why?" Amora asked.
"Amora!" Draculaura chided, hands on her hips, a humorous sight considering the borrowed shirt swallowed her like a sack dress.
"It's just a question," Amora shrugged.
"It is a setient magical object, I suspect it has it's reasons, perhaps it sees something in you, Christina"
Christina squeaked with anxiety.
"Go put it in your library for now I suspect it's almost time for breakfast" Radu rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Okay"
...
Draculaura watched Christina all but sprint back to her room with hardly a look in their direction.
"And how are you ghouls today?"
"Okay...I mean...considering," Amora declared.
Still lost in her thoughts, Draculaura nodded in agreement.
"DADDY, DADDY, DADDY!" Mallory, dressed in unicorn print pajamas and holding a stuffed dragon appeared at the end of the hall, "MOMMY SAYS IT'S TIME FOR BREAKFAST!"
"Ve're coming, Mallory"
Mallory smiled brightly, running down the hall toward the bedrooms to tell Christina, "SISSY, SISSY, BREAKFAST!"
Not even five minutes later Mallory was pulling Christina down the hall. The hybrid's tense, nervous demeanor was gone. She was giggling as she faked resistance, pretending to drag her feet along the floor. How could someone act so normal? So calm and unbothered by a tragedy? How could anyone? Overcome with emotion, Draculaura stammered an excuse before running to the bedroom, scarcely locking it before falling to the floor with a loud sob.
...
Amora started to follow Draculaura only for Radu to stop her.
"She needs to be alone right now"
"But-"
"Ve'll check on her after breakfast"
"Okay"
Amora slowly followed her uncle to the family dining room. Just as the night before Chase had his nose in a book, Mallory was already bouncing in her booster and a smiling Christina sat between them.
"Morning," Alissa greeted with a soft smile, "I hope you like waffles"
Nodding, Amora took a seat watching Chase put his book away with a slight pout. The breakfast that appeared before her had Amora almost drooling, perfectly golden waffles drizzled in chocolate with strawberries and whipped cream on top awaited. Surprisingly, Christina's plate was nearly the same except she had a heaping portion of blueberries and banana slices with hers.
"What do you want to drink, Amora?" Alissa asked, "There's juice, milk, tea-"
"I like black coffee"
"So does he," Alissa playfully nudged her husband before conjuring the piping hot drink.
Amora ate quietly, content to watch more than interact right now. Mallory chattered on and on about toys and movies, constantly tugging Christina's arm excitedly to get her attention.
"Mallory, let your sister eat, okay?"
"Yes, Mommy," the excited spark in her eyes snuffed.
"She's fine, Mom," Christina wrapped her arm around her younger sister, "Trust me, I'm eating plenty"
"Christina-"
"Seriously, Mom, I am okay," Christina laughed. "I'm alright," she took a large bite of her waffles.
Ten minutes later, Christina's plate was scraped clean, Wiping her face the hybrid stood from the table gathering her dishes, "I have to go unpack my trunks"
"Can I help?" Mallory asked.
"You stay and finish breakfast, Mally, we'll play later, okay?"
"Okay"
Alissa watched closely as Christina's footsteps faded upstairs, "Do you still want to have the party, Dear?" she turned to her husband, "With everything that's happened-"
"Yes, ve're having the party, I vill not ignore our oldest child's birthday"
"Okay," Alissa nodded turning to the children, "What do you two want to get Christy for her birthday?"
"I don't know, Mommy, why can't I just ask her?"
"Because it's a surprise"
"Vhat about you, Chase do you have an idea?"
Chase nodded eagerly pulling a photo from his pocket that he passed to his father.
"You got this from her room," Radu narrowed his eyes.
Chase nodded slowly.
The picture in question was more of a mini-poster carefully cut from a magazine. It was slightly worn and faded with age but it was clear to see it was Taylor Swift on stage during a performance as if the stylized font across the top didn't tell.
"Vell?"
Chase took the poster, laying it flat before tapping purposefully on the sparkly acoustic guitar in the performer's hands.
"A new guitair?"
He tapped harder.
"That guitar or one just like it?"
Chase smiled.
"I don't know, we can look for one but finding an exact match for something from the monster realm is rare, honey," Alissa reminded her son, patting his knee, "But I think your sister would love a new guitar, she did buy hers in very used condition"
"The strings keep coming off," Mallory added, "She's always fixing them"
"Ve'll get to looking," Radu promised "Not one word to your sister"
"Promise"
...
Draculaura felt drained. Eventually, she was able to drag herself back into the bed where she pulled the covers over her head to shut the world out. She was nearly asleep when there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?" her voice cracked, "Come in"
Alissa opened the door, a tall glass of tomato juice in her hand, "I thought you might be hungry," she set the drink on the bedside table.
"Thank you"
Alissa nodded, turning to leave.
"Aunt Alissa?"
"Yes?"
"Can-can I have another hug?"
"Of course"
It was selfish and might have been wrong but if Draculaura closed her eyes she could imagine it was her mother hugging her. Just for a moment. A moment that was over far too soon.
"Come find me if you need to talk"
"Okay"
She didn't want to talk she just wanted to close her eyes and make this all go away. Quietly sipping the tomato juice she stared out the window. Why was it so bright and happy outside? Why did it bother her so much?
I'll never get used to this.