Their destination was the far-end of campus, past the Black Lagoon and near the perimeter fence. They stopped behind the gardening shed—where they'd spoken months ago.
Grey started in immediately. "Astar isn't investigating the murders. He pretends to be a detective at night when really he's just hanging out with ghouls on campus."
"How do you know that?"
"The ghouls he's been hanging out with won't stop gushing about him," Grey said, curt.
"Why are you scolding me?"
"He's your devil familiar! He hasn't lifted a finger since he got here. If anything, he's trying to keep the school from figuring things out," he snapped.
Beatrix snapped back, "You mean, like you do to me? You keep me in the dark all the time! Like when you stopped me from seeing Henry at the crime scene!"
"I didn't let you near a dead body and you're upset with me for that?" Grey scoffed. "How could you be so blind? Astar's wasting your time, probably working on some sinister plan, and we have no idea what it is. He's lured you in with a 'test trial' so he and his mom can persuade you to join their side."
"I didn't have a choice! You act like I'm a backstabber! I thought we were partners in this, you big idiot!" she shouted.
Beatrix and Grey fell quiet. Dusk faded into night, yet Beatrix could still see the contours of Grey's face and the darkness of his eyes. The trees stirred beyond the fence.
"Big idiot?"
"Shut up," Beatrix's agitation broke into a laugh. "I was ready to fight you just now. But I wouldn't want you to get kicked out of school again."
That last part had slipped out.
Still, Beatrix was curious to hear Grey's side of why he'd been suspended last year. And she wanted a change of topic from all the devil talk.
"I wasn't suspended because of fighting," Grey said. "I thought most classes were useless, so I skipped a lot. I only got into one fight last year, with a vampire named Valentine. He was picking on some ghouls, and I don't like seeing stronger creatures mistreat vulnerable ones."
"I should've known," Beatrix said. "You're a real softie for monsters."
"Got it from my dad."
Beatrix blinked. "Why does the Grim Reaper like monsters?"
"Probably because he had a crush on Bloodgood a few centuries ago. She rejected him for a robot tinkerer. He hasn't gotten over it," Grey explained, matter-of-factly.
Beatrix burst into laughter. "Bloodgood? And the Grim Reaper?"
"Bloodgood's a family friend. She's the one who convinced me to attend Monster High when she became headmistress. Bloodgood and my dad wanted me to be exposed to monsters. I resisted it at first, but now I'm following my dad's path, even though being on good terms with monsters is controversial. He caused a stir in the afterlife when he... My dad made some enemies after accepting peace treaties with monsterkind."
"Too bad I'm not a monster. Those treaties might have forced you to be peaceful with me," Beatrix joked.
"You should be grateful for your mortality. Regardless of the whole devil thing, you're human."
Beatrix furrowed her brow. "If I'm human, how'd you know my soul was claimed by a devil when we first met?"
Grey moved closer. "Your soul is still yours, technically. But it's on the verge of being claimed by Astar. I can see it in your chest."
Beatrix blushed. "Huh?"
Grey placed a calloused hand on her collarbone. "I can see the glimmer of your soul here. Human souls are like orbs of light, getting brighter when it's time to move on. Reapers are naturally drawn to them, like I'm meant to be in your orbit."
Beneath Grey's hand, Beatrix was certain he could feel her racing heart.
Grey went on, "Your soul has a regular human glow, but there are hints of orangey-red at its edges. The orange is more noticeable now because Astar plans to claim your soul soon. When that happens, red will completely replace the white light."
"How are human and monster souls different?" Beatrix asked.
"Monster souls are dull, muted in a Reaper's sight. I can barely even see that one over there," Grey pointed at the Black Lagoon.
Beatrix squinted, as if that would help her human eyes. "Where?" She didn't see anything beneath the murky waters.
"There's a monster in the lake."
"That must be Levi, Lagoona's friend," Beatrix remembered.
Then she asked Grey, "Do you have a soul?"
A twig snapped.
Beatrix spun around and scanned the treeline. The sound had come from the other side of the fence, in the forest that grew darker by the second.
Beatrix stepped closer to the edge of campus. Her eyes fixed on the darkest part of the woods.
She saw a faint, shifting motion among the trees. Too far to see clearly.
A potential suspect?
"Quick, Grey! Do you see a soul out there?" Beatrix whispered. "Human or monster? Hurry, before they leave!"
Grey didn't speak.
"What do you see?" Beatrix urged.
Grey took hold of her shoulders to prevent her from moving closer. "Don't."
She attempted to wiggle out of his grip, but he locked her in place. She twisted to look at him.
Grey's entirely black eyes appeared hollow in the night. His charcoal gaze burrowed into her. He looked like he had seen a ghost.
Beatrix felt a rush of nerves. It was more than just butterflies in her stomach.
She was perplexed. And terrified.
Then, something in Grey's pocket illuminated, and his eyes reflected the light from a phone screen.
He pulled out his black iCoffin. It read: "B's friend."
Grey handed it over.
"Autumn?" Beatrix frantically answered.
"Bea! Astar and I lost track of time in the library! Where are you? Astar flew off to look for you," Autumn's concerned voice came through the phone.
Beatrix stepped out from behind the gardening shed and saw a wide set of devil wings in the night sky, circling the Monster High bell tower.
"On my way."
She hung up and turned to Grey. "Another student will probably be found dead soon, and Astar's taking too long. I don't know what your problem is, but if you're not going to help me solve these murders, I'll do it on my own. Thanks for the birthday present."
Beatrix rushed into the night toward the flying devil, birthday gift in hand, leaving Grey behind.