Before we get started, I wish to sincearly apologize for the massive delay in posting new chapters, for several reasons. My personal live has been so chaotic, pretty much all of 2018 was one crisis after another, I barely had any time to write and what time I did have, I was either trying to work on my Descendants crossover, or suffering the worst bout of writers block in my life. Then there's the fact that there hasn't been a new episode of EAH in forever and I'm not too fond of the new format for Monster High.

I'll try to keep going with new chapters as best I can, but no promises as to a regular schedule. Thank you.

Chapter 12: Life and Unlife in New Goreleans

…The Steam Vault…

"They've got the thousand-meter stare," said Gil as he sat in front of Skelita and Jinifire. It has been almost three hours since Apple, Frankie and the others returned through the wormhole with their enthralled friends, and the mood in the immaculately cleaned Steam Vault wasn't good.

"They're just sitting there like zombies," said Ashlynn, "no offense, Ghoulia."

At that Ghoulia moaned something along the likes of 'none taken.'

"Man, whatever whammy the baddies put on them," said Hunter, "it's a dozy."

"I'll say it's a dozy," said Dexter, "trying to snap them out of it makes waking Briar up look easy, and when she's in one of her sleep funks, she's out to lunch."

"Speaking of which," said Clawdeen as she saw Briar snoring peacefully on one of the couches, "is she alright?"

"She's sleeping off the decompression sickness," said Apple, "she'll be right as rain soon enough," she then looked at the still catatonic Jinafire and Skelita, "I wish I could say the same for them."

"We've tried talking to them," said Avery, "yelling at them, singing, pinching, slapping, throwing water on them, we even tried different smells and flashing different colored lights at them, but nothing works."

"We haven't tried magic," said Lagoona.

"And we won't, yet," said Raven as she sat with her spell books around her, "not until I figure out what that enthralling gas is and what I need to counter it. It's just taking a while."

"At the rate you're researching," said Clawdeen, "the stuff could wear off on its own."

"Possible," said Raven, "it could wear off, but I need to be sure of what I'm doing before I try anything on our friends. The way my magic acts up, I could end up making things worse."

"How could you make things worse?" Jackson asked.

"I could end up hurting them, or worse," said Raven.

"And what the enemy is doing to or friends isn't worse?" asked Frankie, "what Valentine and Draculaura made Manny and Iris do to each other was just…just…"

"Monstrous?" suggested Chad.

"Exactly," said Frankie.

"What's even more monstrous is what the enemy is probably doing to our friends we left behind," said Lagoona, "I don't even want to think what those bloody blokes are doing to our friends back at Monster High."

"I don't even want to know what that bastard Fabian was going to do to Skelita and Jinafire," said Clair.

It was then that Clawd let out a wrathful growl and flipped over one of the tables, startling everyone in the room and waking Briar up.

"What's going on?!" asked Briar in a groggy tone, "where's the fire?"

"No fire, love," said a highly taken aback Lagoona, "just one irate werewolf."

"Why are we just sitting here?" asked Clawd, "why are we just talking when Valentine is using Draculaura for his sick games?!"

"I think we've established that Draculaura's evil by now," said Raven cautiously.

"She's Not Evil!" barked Clawd, "Valentine's controlling her! She's only acting evil because he's making act evil!"

"Like she was exposed to the gas?" asked Hunter.

"Yeah, yeah, that's it!" said Gil, "that's how Valentine's controlling her! He exposed her to the gas!"

"No, it's not like that," said Lagoona, "he didn't expose her to the gas. Whatever hold Valentine has on Draculaura, it's not the gas."

"Then what?" asked Clawdeen, "what could he have done to make Draculaura, one of the most kind, most cheerful, most warmhearted ghouls in the world, turn evil?"

"I don't know," said Frankie, "but we can't do anything about it right now."

"Why not?" asked Clawd irately as he glared at Frankie, "why can't we go back to Monster High, find Draculaura and save her?"

"Because we don't know, Clawd," said Frankie as she glared back at Clawd, "we don't know what Valentine did to Draculaura, and until we know, trying to rescue her could end up getting a lot of us hurt, captured, killed or worse."

"Then what do you expect me to do?" growled Clawd, "just sit here and wait?!"

"That's exactly what I expect you do to!" said Frankie as her neck bolts sparked angrily. Everyone else in the room held their breath in anticipation, not daring to blink as they expected Frankie and Clawd to fight. But one Monster managed to keep her head.

"Okay, you two," said Clawdia as she walked up to and separated Clawd and Frankie, "time for the adult to calm the children down."

"Stay out of this, Clawdia!" snapped Clawd, "this is between me and our so called leader."

"I'm the leader?" asked Frankie, "whoa, wait, I never said I was the leader."

"You kinda are, Frankie," said Lagoona.

"You've been our leader for quite a while," said Clawdeen.

"Yeah, but at school," said Frankie, "I'm not…I can't…if anyone should be the leader, it's Avery; he's been fighting Obsidian longer than we have."

"I'm just one warrior fighting the darkness," said Avery

"Oh come on," said Raven, "after everything we've been through, you don't think you deserve to lead?"

"Of course he should lead," said Apple.

"Or you should," said Lagoona, "from what I've heard, you're the dame who's held things together on your world."

"All I did was help everyone keep their bodies from falling apart," said Apple, "I'm a healer, not a leader."

"Why do we have to have one leader?" asked Maddie, "three heads are better than two, I always say."

"I think you mean 'two heads are better than one,'" said Frankie.

"Then why not two?" asked Raven, "like the student council at Ever After High?"

"Oh, right," said Apple, "I almost forgot about the debacle of the Student Body Presidential debate."

"Then we'll have two leaders," said Jackson, "like the Roman Republic; two Consuls with equal power."

"I nominate Frankie as one Consul!" said Clawdeen.

"And I nominate Apple as the other," said Raven.

"What…? No!" said both Frankie and Apple.

"You have to admit it, you two," said Raven, "you're exactly what we need."

"Both of you want peace but are prepared to fight for what's right," said Clawdeen, "and out of everyone here, I'd say you're the best ones to keep cool heads when the heat is on."

"As my grandmother once said," said Avery as he pointed at the brightest light in the room, "'if you can't take the heat, drink a glass of water and get back in the kitchen.'"

"What does that have to do with thinking clearly in a stressful situation?" asked Apple.

"Uh…I'm not sure," said Avery, "I just thought it sounded appropriate." He sighed, "well, my grandmother wasn't right on everything."

"And I'm not the right one either," insisted Frankie, "I don't always keep a level head. Heck, my head's held on with thread for crying out loud!"

"So's the rest of you," said Lagoona.

"And I've made so many mistakes," said Frankie.

"But you learn from them," said Clawdeen.

"And I'm only…" said Frankie.

"Don't bring up however many days old you are," said Gil, "you're the one for the job, except it."

"We've accepted it," said Jackson, "in fact, let's all vote on it." He then stood up, "all those in favor of making Frankie and Apple our leaders, raise your hands."

One by one our heroes and allies raised their hands, earning embarrassed looked from Frankie and Apple, but also looks of admiration as they realized just how much their friends trusted and believed in them.

"The ayes have it," said Jackson, "everyone approves!"

"No!" said an irate Clawd as he stood up, "I don't approve! I don't approve of all this sitting and talking when we should be doing stuff, like getting Dracularua back!"

"Oh my ghoul!" said an exasperated Clawdeen, "we've been over this already, Clawd! We're not rescuing Draculaura yet!"

"I refuse to accept that!" shouted Clawd, "but since it seems I'm the only one who feels that way, I'll do it myself!" he then walked up to the workshop door, "open this thing up to Monster High, I'm going to rescue Draculaura alone!"

"No you're not!" shouted Clawdia as she walked up to her brother, "not alone that is!"

"No one else is going to help me, Clawdia," said Clawd, "so why shouldn't I go alone!?"

"Because it's a suicide mission, that's why!" said Dexter.

"Monster High is crawling with Kaijin," said Jackson, "you'll never get close to Draculaura."

"Assuming she's still at Monster High and not hunting our friends," said Clawdeen.

"I just need to see her," said Clawd, "talk to her, reason with her. I know there's still good in her, and if I can reach that good, she'll come back to her old self."

"You still don't get it, man," said Chad, "the Draculaura we all know and love is gone."

"I don't believe that!" shouted Clawd.

"She's the bitch queen of castle hell," said Clair, "if you try facing her, she'll eat you alive. She's been feeding on humans, for crying out loud!" she then showed the healed bite marks on her neck, "she fed on me for the love of God!"

"I don't care about that!" snapped Clawd.

"Well, you'd better start caring," said Clawdia, "we're not gonna let you go off on a suicide mission, Clawd."

"And who's gonna stop me?" asked Clawd, "I'm strong enough to take all of you on."

"Care to back that up, little brother?" growled Clawdia as her eyes flashed menacingly and her talons flexed.

"Damn right I'll back it up!" growled Clawd as his eyes flashed and talons flexed, "I'm sick and tired of you treating me like a child!"

"Then grow up already!" barked Clawdia, "you're not leaving!"

"Yes I am!" baked Clawd.

"No, you're not," said Clawdia coldly as she advanced on Clawd, ready to attack at the slightest provocation. Claw responded by growling menacingly, ready to strike.

Frankie, Raven and the others held their breath in rapt anticipation, not daring to blink as the two Wolf siblings glared and growled at each other.

But then Clawd's aggressive posture relaxed as he backed away with his eyes lowered. He then turned around and sprinted out of the room.

"Clawd, wait!" shouted a now worried Clawdia as she chased after her brother, "I didn't mean…I'm sorry!"

"Uh…that's it?" asked Ashlynn as she and the others let out their held breath, "they're not going to fight?"

"They did," said a depressed-sounding Clawdeen, "Clawd tried to assert his male dominance over Clawdia's Alpha status. He wanted to lead the pack, but Clawdia's will was too strong for his. But I'm afraid Clawdia only made things worse." With that she hurried after her elder siblings.

"Well, at least he's not leaving," said a concerned Ashlynn.

"But his feelings and pride have been damaged," said Lagoona, "and they were on rough seas to begin with."

At that Ghoulia let out an urgent moan as she pointed to her laptop screen.

"We've got bigger things to worry about than Clawd's feelings," said Frankie as she read the screen, "Ghoulia just decoded a message from Rochelle; she's hiding in one of the aboveground cemeteries in New Goreleans."

"There's dozens of aboveground cemeteries in New Goreleans," said Jackson as he and the others clustered around, "did she say which one?"

"Uh…no," said Frankie, "she was running from a Fangire and got lost in the city. She hid in the first place she saw statues; a cemetery."

"It'll take too long to look in each cemetery," said Jackson, "if only I could get my laptop from home; it has its own wireless modem and is much faster than anything you'd find at a store."

"In that case," said Robecca as she programmed the wormhole control device, "ask and you shall receive."

"Okay, new plan, everyone," said Frankie, "Jackson, you go home and grab your computer. We'll then open the wormhole to New Goreleans. We'll then use Jackson's laptop to narrow down the search, find and bring Rochelle here."

"And all before dinner," said Hunter.

"Okay, all set to go, Jackson," said Robeeca as she finished programing the wormhole device. The door swung open, revealing Jackson's house on the other side.

But then something dashed through the room and leapt into the wormhole, something that turned out to be Clawd.

"Stop him!" shouted Clawdeen as she supported a limping Clawdia on one arm, "he's gone crazy!"

"He's also gone through," said Lagoona, "what in the name of the seven seas happened, Clawdeen?!"

"He…he hit me," said a dazed and astonished Clawdia as Clawdeen helped her sit down, one paw holding the side of her head. Apple rushed over and gently made Clawdia lower her paw, revealing a bruised temple and bleeding scalp.

"He blindsided her with a piece of pipe," said Clawdeen irately, "then he threw her at me; my brother, threw my big sister at me!"

"No way," said Gil, "no flipping way! Clawd would never do that!"

"There's no way Clawd would turn on his family," said Frankie.

"I think the evidence speaks for itself," said Apple as she cleaned Clawdia's scalp wound, "oh dear, this is going to need stitches."

"No need," said Venus as she walked up with a jar full of blue sap, "one of my extra credit projects. This'll heal Clawdia's head, but I can't guarantee there won't be a scar."

"I can live with a scar," said Clawdia, "but that's not important right now." She then looked at Clawdeen, "go, find and bring back Clawd before he does something stupid."

"Oh, he's already done something stupid," said Clawdeen, "he's gone renegade, and I'm gonna make him pay for it!"

"Not alone you're not," said Lagoona, "I'm going with you." At that Gil and the others nodded in agreement.

"Me too!" said Frankie, "no, wait, we can't all go."

"Some of us need to find and bring Rochelle to The Steam Vault," said Robecca.

"I'll do it," said Clair.

"And I'll go beat some sense into Clawd," said Chad.

It was decided that Clawdeen, Chad, Ashlynn and Hunter would chase after Clawd, while Clair, Elissabat, Jackson, Lagoona, Gil, Dexter and Apple would rescue Rochelle. Raven wanted to go but Apple insisted she stay and rest some more.

First went through Jackson, Clawdeen, Chad, Ashlynn and Hunter, with Jackson returning through the wormhole a moment later with his laptop. The door closed as Robecca reset the control device, then opened the wormhole again onto the streets of New Goreleans, through which dashed Clair, Elissabat, Jackson, Lagoona, Gil, Dexter and Apple.

"How much longer is she gonna keep me cooped up here with nothing to do?!" demanded Raven as the door closed, "I'm going stir crazy!"

"You want something to do?" asked Robecca as she pulled out some of her father's journals, "you can help me with these. Somehow we have to find the other six pieces of The Star, and I'll wager all my cogs, sprockets, nuts and bolts that the answer is in his writings."

At that Ghoulia moaned something.

"Yes, I know, you worked very hard to put me back together that time," said Robecca.

"But we've been through your dad's journals," said Frankie, "when we were trying to figure out what The Star of Rosskarn was. There's nothing in your dad's books."

"Maybe so," said Robecca, "but we didn't have Raven's insight then."

"What insight?" asked Raven, "you mean when I figured out how to read the chamber symbols upside down? That wasn't insight, I just got lucky."

"If that's the case, then your luck is just what we need," said Robecca as she handed a stack of her father's journals to Raven, "so start reading, I'll go get more."

"More?" asked Raven.

"My father dedicated his long life to science," said Robecca, "he had a lot to write down."

"Alright," said a reluctant Raven, "I'll take a look," she sat down with the journals and opened the first one, "don't know what it'll accomplish," she muttered, "me stuck here reading while my friends are risking their lives." She then winced as she received a papercut. Sighing with disgruntled despair, she set the book down, but then frowned with concentration as she picked it up.

"Are you alright, Raven?" asked Robecca as she and Ghoulia walked over.

"It couldn't be that easy, could it?" asked Raven. She then looked at Robecca, "your father wouldn't have made it that simple, would he?"

"Made what simple?" asked Robecca.

"The answer," said Raven as she carefully manipulated the page, indicating that the pages of the journal were thick, very thick, even for paper printed in the time of Hexiciah Steam. Raven then split the page, revealing hidden writing within the page itself.

At that Ghoulia moaned with triumphant excitement.

"You're right, Ghoulia," said an equally excited Robecca, "my father was a genius!"

…New Goreleans…

"I've sent a message to Rochelle that we're in the city," said Jackson, "all we can do now is wait for her to respond and, hopefully, she'll have a clue as to where she is."

"Well, since we've nothing to do now but wait, let's eat!" said Elissabat as she, Lagoona, Gill, Dexter, Apple, Jackson and Clair sat at a large table in one of the many restaurants of the Monster version of The Big Easy. The seven young heroes opened their menus, while Jackson's laptop was plugged into a nearby wall outlet.

"It's said that you shouldn't visit New Goreleans without at least one helping of gumbo," said Elissabat.

"You can eat?" asked Dexter, "actually eat real food?"

"Of course I can eat real food," said Elissabat, "most vampires can draw sustenance from food. What, did you think we were all blood-sucking freaks?"

"But you do need blood, right?" asked Dexter, "I mean…isn't blood…?"

"'Blood is the life,' yes, I know," said Elissabat, "antiquated vampire theology. Most vampires in this modern world subside on animal blood or donated human blood. Then there are those purely 'vegetarian' vampires like Draculaura," she then sighed sadly, "it's a shame; hundreds of years on the wagon and now…and now…" she then began crying.

"Uh…" said a confused and somewhat embarrassed Dexter, while the others looked equally confused, and somewhat sad at their friends' despair.

"Oh, sorry," said Elissabat as she wiped her eyes, "sorry, force of habit. I've been an actress so long, every now and then I tend to overdo it."

"So, you're not sad?" asked Apple.

"I'm sad my oldest and dearest friend has fallen so low," said Elissabat, "but I haven't given up on her. I know there's still good in her, we just need to figure out the right way to find it."

"And not charge blindly after it like Clawd did," said Gil, "seriously, I didn't believe he'd go that far."

"He's in love," said Clair, "it's a many special thing, but sometimes it makes you act really stupid."

"I just hope Clawdeen and the others find him before he really does something stupid," said Jackson.

"I hope that when they do find him," said Lagoona, "that Clawdeen doesn't tear him a new blowhole."

"Please, we're about to eat," said Clair as the waiter came over to take their order.

"So, Clair," said Elissabat afterwards, "since we're partners now, obviously, and we've got some time before we get into another sticky mess, I think we should get to know each other better."

"What's to know about me?" asked Clair, "I'm sorta a goth, but not that much of a goth that I hate the world and want to kill myself. I like wearing black, I'm not into popular fashion, nor do I care that much about making myself up into such a gaudy display that it'd be impossible to ignore me," she then put her hand on Jackson's and smiled at him, earning an embarrassed but loving smile from Jackson, "and I've fallen for and incredibly brave, kind and all around great guy." This earned an even more embarrassed smile from Jackson.

"But enough about me," said Clair, "what about you, Elissabat? You've been an actress for hundreds of years; I'll bet you've got a million stories to tell."

"Do I ever," said Elissabat, "I've been performing for over four-hundred years. I've been on stage, big and little screen and even on the radio for a while. Ask me anything?"

"Okay, what was your favorite role on stage?" asked Clair.

"Wow, that's actually harder than I thought it'd be," said Elissabat in a thoughtful manner, "I've been in so many plays and in so many roles; I've been headliners and extras, same thing when I was on screen and radio. I guess you can say they're all my favorite, for I've found that no matter what role you're playing, treat it as if it were the most important role of your life."

"Well…is there anything you don't like about acting?" asked Clair.

"Filming on location," said Elissabat, "I'm most comfortable when on a stage or in a studio. When you're outside and have to spend hours exposed to the elements, sometimes just to film a scene that's only a few seconds long, it's not very pleasant, especially when the weather isn't in your favor; rain, snow, fog, heatwaves, cold snaps, I won't upset you about the number of times I almost froze solid or melted."

"And then there's all the actors and actresses I've known who are completely opposite personality-wise off camera. You see a celebrity whom you idolize, but once you get to know them, they turn out to be complete jerks."

"It'll have to tell us later," said Jackson in an urgent tone as he looked at his computer, "Rochelle just contacted us. She still doesn't know which cemetery she's hiding, but she's described a unique tomb that I can search for. Just give me a second," he began typing, "almost there…yes! I've got it! Let's go!"

With that Jackson, Clair, Elissabat, Apple, Lagoona and Gil jumped out of their chairs and ran out of the restaurant, leaving a distracted Dexter behind. He realized he was the only one left, just as the waiter came back with their food.

"Oh, man!" said Dexter, he then looked at the waiter, "uh…can we make this to go?"

"You sure this is the right cemetery, Jackson?" asked Gil as he and the other walked through the rows of aboveground tombs.

"It should be," said Jackson as he pointed to one specific mausoleum, "that's the tomb Rochelle described.

The mausoleum in question was carved from Peruvian marble in a mixture of Greek and Roman styles, while the entrance to the tomb was guarded by two statues of weeping angels.

"I don't get it," said Apple after she and the others spent several minutes looking around nearby tombs and mausoleums, "Where's Rochelle?"

"That is the question, Ms. White," said Isidore as she and a gaudily dressed Fangire, emerged from behind one of the tombs, "where is Ms. Rochelle."

"You're one of Irvin's goombas!" said Clair.

"Goomba? Goomba!?" exclaimed an insulted Isidore, "I am a Master Shadow Acolyte! Not to mention an alumni of Cloud Tower, graduating at the top of my class."

"Well, congratulations," said Lagoona, "now what did you do to our friend!"

"Nothing, yet," said Isidore, "haven't found the stony bitch, but when I do," she then pulled out a canister of enthralling gas and corresponding mask, "when I do, I'll make her part of Irvin's collection of experiment subjects."

"You're experimenting on our friends?!" exclaimed an outraged Apple.

"Well, we haven't actually started yet," said Isidore, "but I digress. Since I haven't found the gargoyle yet, I'll have to settle for you lot." She then pulled out her phone and sent a text, "reinforcements are on their way to deal with you pubescent punks!"

"Then we'll just have to finish you before your mates show up," said Lagoona as she cracked her knuckles.

"You'll find I'm not to be trifled with," said Isidore coldly, "and neither is my companion here."

At that the gaudily dressed man morphed into a jaguar-like creature with the usual stained-glass patters associated with Fangire.

"You guys keep Apple safe!" said Clair as she and Elissabat stood forward, while Jackson, Gil and Lagoona forced Apple to back away, "we've got this! Elissabat!"

"Show time!" said Elissabat eagerly. The ruby around her neck flashed, morphing her into her golden bat form, flying around Clair, "Elissabat Ikuze!"

Clair then caught Elissabat and let her bite her left hand.

"Gabut!"

A rising and falling whistle could be heard as stained-glass patterns spread up Clair's arm and onto her face. Ghostly chains encircled her waist, materializing into the Kiva Belt.

"Henshin!" said Clair as she clicked Elissabat into place on the belt.

Her body was then covered in shimmering liquid metal that solidified, then shattered, revealing herself as Kiva. She then rushed at and began pummeling the Jaguar Fangire, whom then recovered from the moment of shock and began fighting back, delivering massive claw slashes that forced Kiva back.

But then out of nowhere came two more Jaguar Fangire, each with a different stain-glass pattern. The creatures joined their comrade and began pummeling Kiva.

"Hey! That's not fair!" shouted Lagoona.

"Well, excuse me," said Isidore as she put her hands on her hips, "I did say I called for reinforcements, and speaking of which, I do believe my pets here."

It was then that Apple and the others heard the sound of wolves howling, but these weren't the same wolf howls from a werewolf or from the wolves of Ever After.

From the rows of tombs emerged Shadow Dire Wolves, each three times as big as a normal wolf with pitch black fur and glowing eyes, each growling menacingly at our heroes.

But then one Shadow Dire Wolf that was twice as big as the others emerged, carrying an unconscious Rochelle in its mouth.

"ROCHELLE!" shouted Lagoona and Gil.

"Oh, I almost forgot about that one," said Isidore as the big Shadow Dire Wolf trotted over and deposited Rochelle in front of her, "good boy," she patted the Shadow Dire Wolf on the muzzle, earning an enormous tail wag of appreciation.

"You're all gonna bear witness to my triumph," said Isidore smugly as she loaded the enthralling gas canister into the mask, then knelt beside Rochelle, "first, I'm gonna turn her into a mindless slave like the others. Then," she then looked at where the three Jaguar Fangire were pummeling Kiva, "I'm gonna tear this one apart, bit by bit, and finally," she then looked at the rest of our heroes as the Shadow Dire Wolves closed in, "I'm gonna take you all to Irvin."

"You're not going to use the gas on us?" asked Gil nervously as one Shadow Dire Wolf got a little too close for comfort.

"I only have enough for one enslavement," said Isidore, "but don't worry, Draculaura and Valentine have more than enough. Now don't blink or you'll miss it!" she then grabbed Rochelle and, with much effort, lifted her up, "good grief! Why do gargoyles have to be so heavy!?"

But then came a quad-laser blast that missed Isidore by inches, blasting part of a nearby tomb into smithereens and causing Isidore to flinch back, activating the mask and dispersing the gas harmlessly into the air.

"What the…?!" exclaimed Isidore as she recovered and stood up, only to duck another quad-laser blast.

"LOOK!" shouted Lagoona as she pointed to the tallest tomb in the area, atop which stood the masked form of Gatack.

"Dexter!" said Apple joyfully, just as a Shadow Dire Wolf lunged at her, intending on grabbing her in its jaws and shaking her to death.

Gatack aimed and blasted the lunging Shadow Dire Wolf into oblivion, then blasted several more of the nightmarish creatures. He then jumped up, firing more blasts at the three Jaguar Fangire, forcing them away from Kiva. Gatack then helped Kiva steady her feat, "you okay, Clair?"

"Like these jerks could keep me down," said Kiva confidently.

"You bastards!" shouted Isidore, "I'll ruin you all with my anger!" she then began chanting, summoning more Shadow Dire Wolves.

"Looks like we'll have to take things up to the next level," said Gatack.

"Dexter, no!" shouted Apple, "you know what'll happen if…"

"Don't worry about me, Apple," insisted Gatack, "just take care of Rochelle and leave the rest to me." He then flipped the fangs on his Zecter.

Energy crackled across Gatack as the segments on his armor separated.

"Cast off!" shouted Gatack as he pushed the fangs all the way over.

CAST OFF

The armor segments blasted away, revealing the sleaker form of Gatack beneath, while the armor segments hit and destroyed several of the Shadow Dire Wolves.

CHANGE: STAG BEETLE

Gatack then drew his Double Calibur blades from his shoulders and began stabbing and hacking at the remaining Shadow Dire Wolves.

"He'll be fine," said Kiva as she stood in front of Apple and the others as they gathered around the still unconscious Rochelle, then tensed as the three Jaguar Fangire regrouped and closed in.

"But we may not be," said a worried Kiva, "these jerks are a little too close for comfort." She then pulled out the Garuru Fuestle. This caused the three Jaguar Fangire to hesitate and back away a pace or two.

"Wait!" said Elissabat, "Clawdeen's out looking for Clawd. Besides, it'd be rude to summon her from so far away without warning. Besides, you've another ally right here eager to get into the fight."

"You're right," said Kiva as she looked at Lagoona, "I hope you're ready, Lagoona, 'cause things are gonna get wild!"

"I'm ready!" said Lagoona as Kiva put back the blue whistle-like object and pulled out the green one next to it.

"Ready for what?" asked Gil as Kiva placed the green Fuestle in Elissabat's mouth.

"BASSHA MAGNUM!" shouted Elissabat as she blew the whistle, producing several high trumpet notes.

"Now wait a second!" shouted Gil as Lagoona glowed a bright green aura, levitated into the air and, with a flash of light, transformed into a blue, aquatic-themed blaster with fin-like turbines along the barrel.

Ghostly chains emerged from the blaster as Kiva caught it with her right hand. The chains flowed up Kiva's arm, turning the armor blue and giving the shoulder-plate a fin-like appearance. More chains wrapped around her chestplate, turning it blue.

Elissabat's eyes flashed blue as Lagonna's spirit fully merged with Kiva, turning her helmet's eyepieces blue.

The three Jaguar Fangire were momentarily stunned by the change of forms, allowing Kiva to aim and fire a water bullet at the nearest creature, knocking it back several paces as the water bullet hit with the force of a freight-train. Kiva then fired more water bullets at the other two Jaguar Fangire, forcing them back and away from Apple and the others.

"Lagoona!" shouted Gil as Kiva began moving away, forcing the three Fangire to chase her.

"They're fine," said Apple reassuringly as she and Jackson tried to lift Rochelle into a sitting position, yet found it quite difficult due to Rochelle's rock-hard physiology. "They're fine, but I need your help with her!"

"Oh, right!" said Gil. He hurried over and helped Apple and Jackson help Rochelle sit up. "She doesn't look hurt," said Gil.

"No, look there," said Apple as she pointed to Rochelle's forehead just below the hairline, where a long crack a few millimeters wide ran over one eye.

"How are you going to heal that?" asked Gil.

"I…I don't know," said Apple, "if this were a human wound, I'd clean and bandage the wound, and use stitches if needed, but she's a Gargoyle, how do you heal someone made out of living stone? It's not like I can glue on her wound shut, can I?"

"Maybe you can," said Jackson as he pulled out a tube of superglue from his pocket and handed it to Apple, "it's worth a shot."

"Alright, I'll try," said Apple as she took the glue from Jackson. She applied the glue to the crack, just as Rochelle regained consciousness.

"Easy, Rochelle," said Gil as she tried to stand up, "you're hurt."

"Mon deux!" said Rochelle, "I feel terrible, what happened?"

"That thing must have grabbed you," said Jackson as he pointed at the big Shadow Direwolf, whom was trying to grab Gatack with its rows of razor-sharp teeth, yet Gatack remained just out of reach, while also fighting more and more of the smaller Shadow Dire Wolves.

"I do not remember being grabbed by that abomination," said Rochelle. She then saw Isidore, whom was still summoning more Shadow Dire Wolves, "but I do remember that one approaching me as I hid in these hallowed grounds! She dared to use dark magic on sacred soil, blindsiding forcing me to hit my head on a tomb! How dare she desecrate this place of peace and rest for the dearly departed!"

Rochelle stood up, a look of righteous fury on her face as she shrugged off the restraining hands of Jackson and Gil. She spread her wings and flew towards Isiodore, delivering a stone-hard punch to Isidore, shattering the jaw of the sorceress, knocking out four of her permanent teeth and sending her crashing to the ground.

"That is for bringing conflict to sacred ground!" shouted Rochelle, "for disturbing the eternal rest of the dead!"

Her mouth dribbling blood and fragments of teeth, Isidore glared wrathfully at Rochelle, but then realized that with her concentration broken, her summoned Shadow Dire Wolves had vanished, allowing Gatack to rush to and fight one of the Jaguar Fangire. With part of her focus freed, Kiva concentrated her attacks on the other two.

Acknowledging the fight was lost, Isidore glared hatefully one last time at Rochelle, before teleporting out.

"Time to finish this!" said Kiva after delivering a furious barrage of water bullets to one Jaguar Fangire, forcing it away and behind a group of tombs.

"I'm with you, partner!" said Elissabat. Kiva brought the blaster to Elissabat, whom bit the hammer of the weapon.

"BASSHA BITE!"

The fin-turbines on the blaster rapidly spun as water flowed around and formed a furious vortex around Kiva. She aimed and fired a massive blast of pressurized water at one of the Jaguar Fangire, hitting it with the force of a guided missile and knocking it into a tomb, leaving a Fangire-shaped dent in the stonework.

The creature then recovered and stood up straight, seemingly unharmed. But then a piece of the tomb broke off and hit the Fangire on the head. Cracks rapidly spread across the creature and it shattered into bits of stained glass, while its Fangire essence rose up and vanished into thin air.

With a growl of fury, the other Jaguar Fangire rushed at Kiva, just as Gatack stood in front of Kiva, bringing the blades of his Double Calibur together.

"Rider Cutting!" said Gatack as he formed a pair of sheers out of his blades.

RIDER CUTTING

Gatack then reach out and grabbed the onrushing Fangire with his blades, lifting up as tachyon energy flowed over his body. The energy concentrated into the blades as Gatack closed the sheers, delivering a massive blow that shattered the creature, releasing its essence into the air.

"And that's that," said Dexter after he and Clair powered down. But then Dexter winced in pain and rubbed his arms.

"Dexter!" said Apple as she rushed over.

"I'm…I'm fine," said Dexter in a clearly uncomfortable tone, "I didn't Clock Up, so I should be fine, I just need a minute to…"

"You need to sit down before you fall and hit your head," said Jackson.

"Believe me," said Rochelle, "you do not want to hit your head on someone's tomb."

"Are you sure you're alright, Rochelle?" asked Lagoona as Apple and Jackson helped Dexter sit down.

"Oui," insisted Rochelle, "though my body be damaged, my resolve to stand against the darkness remains as strong as ever."

"Alright, I'll sit," said Dexter as he leaned against and slid down the side of a tomb, "just…just don't tell Raven, she's got enough to worry about."

"Our lips are sealed," said Apple, while the others nodded in agreement.

"Well, I'm glad you're alright," said Gil as he and Lagoona embraced, "but, seriously, are sure you're okay with merging with someone else like that?"

"Oh, Gil, I wish you could have been there with me," said an awed Lagoona, "becoming one in spirit with another, merging two powers, I don't even have the words to describe it."

"Neither do I," said Elissabat, "and I've been around long enough to memorize several editions of dictionaries."

"Hey, I'm still new at this," said Clair.

"Well, as long as you're alright," said Gil. He then frowned with worry, "wasn't there another Fangire here?"

Just then the third Jaguar Fangire, the one Kiva blasted out of sight, ran out from behind a tomb towards Clair, it's glass fangs out and ready to impale and drain Clair of her life-force.

"NOOOOOO!" shouted Jackson as he ran in front of Clair, his arms alight with fire as he aimed his hands at the oncoming Fangire. Two streams of fire shot at and hit the creature, stopping it in its tracks.

"LEAVE US ALONE, YOU CREEPS!" yelled Jackson as the fire from his hands burned with increasing intensity, causing the stonework of nearby tombs to melt.

With a final scream of fury, the Jaguar Fangire shattered, releasing its pulsating essence into the air.

"Creep," said Jackson, before gasping in exhaustion and falling over, only to be caught by Clair.

"Man, we really need to figure out how you're doing that," said Gil.

"You're preaching to the choir, my friend," said Jackson, "and the worst part is we all skipped out on lunch."

"Oh, right, we did run out of the restaurant," said Elissabat as a chorus of growling stomachs sounded through the cemetery.

"Not to worry," said Dexter, "I had everyone's orders to go."

"Dexter, if Jackson and I weren't together, I'd kiss you," said Clair.

"But how'd you pay for lunch?" asked Apple, "it's not like this world will take our currency?"

"Don't worry," said Dexter, "I borrowed Lagoona's prepaid debit card."

"Oh, okay," said Clair.

"And how'd you get my card?" asked Lagoona as she placed her hands on her hips.

"You left your purse in the restaurant," said Dexter, "yours too, Elissabat."

"Oh," said a deflated Lagoona, while Elissabat looked equally sheepish. "Okay, then, so, where's my purse?"

"With everyone's lunch," said Dexter, "I put it all down so I could transform when I saw you were all in trouble."

"Okay then," said a now impatient Lagoona, "so where's all our stuff then?"

"Uh…" said Dexter as he stood up and looked around, "I think…I was sure…" he then scratched his head in confusion and worry as he realized he forgot where he had dropped the items, "oh man!"

…Monster High…

'And-that-is-what-happened-Mr-Weis'

"I see," said Irvin as he sat at Bloodgood's desk, while a wheelchair-bound Isidore sat across from him, her jaw wired shut and a tablet with a voice synthesizer app in her lap.

"I must say," remarked Irvin as he stood up and stretched his arms, "you tell quite a tale."

'It's-all-true-Mr.-Weis' said the voice synthesizer, while Isidore's look of fury and outrage as she typed on the tablet spoke volumes, 'I-would-have-had-Apple-White-and-the-others-if-that-damned-Gargoyle-bitch-haddn't-broke-my-jaw.'

"Yes, I'm sorry about your jaw," said Irvin, "you had such a lovely smile. It's a shame the doctors have to wire it shut while you heal, but it has to be done."

'But-if-I-can't-speak-I-can't-summon-Shadow-Beasts,' said Isodore.

"Again, a shame," said Irvin, "we're already shorthanded due to Fabian's departure, and with you convalescing for your jaw, our efforts will be doubly hindered."

'Are-you-going-to-punish-me-too?' asked Isidore, her eyes betraying her fear of reprisal.

"Not as drastically as Fabian," said Irvin, "you did everything asked of you while out in the field; you tracked down a valuable fugitive Monster and called for reinforcements, as you right you should have. Once again, a shame. To have Rochelle Goyle under our control, or better yet, to have her willingly join us, would have opened the door to other Gargoyles joining Obsidian."

'Just-wait-until-I-can-speak-again,' said Isidore, 'I'll-break-her-jaw-and-ask-her-how-she-likes-it.'

"I'm sure you would," said Irvin, "but in the meantime, you've to atone for your failure; you neglected to keep an eye on your prize, thereby allowing the enemy to rescue Rochelle and allowing her the opportunity to deprive you of your lovely smile. As soon as the doctors are done with your jaw, you are to go to one of the classrooms and fill the chalkboards with the phrase 'I Will Not Underestimate My Enemies, No Matter How Weak They Seem.' And when you've filled the chalkboards, you're to go to another classroom and fill those chalkboards."

'And-how-many-times-do-I-have-to-do-that?'

"Until you the lesson takes hold," said Irvin as he sat down again, signaling that the meeting was over.

'Yes-Mr.-Weis,' said Isidore, then snapped her fingers at the enthralled Monster behind her wheelchair, whom then wheeled her out of the office.

"Now there's a subordinate who knows her place," said Valentine as he and Draculaura emerged from the shadows of the office.

"She's loyal," admitted Irvin, not at all surprised by the two dark lover's sudden entrance, "but she's angry. Those teenagers humiliated her and she wants revenge, and a vengeful subordinate is a reckless subordinate. I'm going to have to keep an eye on her, least she makes a fatal mistake that'll lead to further humiliation."

Just then Neffra strutted into the office, a look of smug satisfaction on her face. "Oh good, you're all here," said the vile Egyptian princess.

"Don't you know how to knock?" asked Valentine.

"Royalty never knocks," said Neffra, "if this were the old country, I'd have you beaten to an inch of your undead life, Valentine."

"Do that and I'll suck you dry," hissed Draculaura, "now either say what you've got to say or get out!"

"This is my office now, Draculaura," said Irvin, "I'll say who can stay or go," he then glared at Neffra, "now, either say what you've got to say or get out!"

"Such impertinence," said an annoyed Neffra, "regardless, I do have good news. I've made contact with my nerd of a former boyfriend and he's agreed to help."

"He has the Plasmid research?" asked an eager Irvin as he stood up.

"He's already emailed his data and will be here to continue the research," said Neffra, "he has a few loose ends to tie up first but will arrive at Monster High soon enough."

"Well, that's definitely good news," said Valentine, "but why wait for the man? Why not begin making our own super Monsters?"

"Don't be a fool, Valentine!" snapped Irvin, "we're talking about altering the very DNA of an already powerful creature. It's like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get. Unless, that is, you're also an expert of genetic manipulation as well as a fop of a playboy."

"My Valentine is a genius!" said Draculaura, "if he wants to mess with Monster DNA, I say let him!"

"And I say wait for the expert!" snapped Irvin.

"But I'm bored!" moaned Draculaura, "there's nothing to do here!"

"Go torture some of your former classmates," suggested Neffra.

"I've been torturing," said Draculaura, "but they're all mindless slaves. It's really not satisfying when your victims can't scream, let alone cry."

"Go shopping, then," said Neffra, "spending money always alleviates boredom, at least I say so."

"There's nothing I want to buy right now," said Dracualura morosely as she sat down in a depressed heap.

"Oh, poor darling," said Valentine as he walked over to and massaged Dracualura's shoulders, earning a purr of enjoyment from her, "we'll find something to occupy your time."

Just then a gray-clad Orphnoch ran into the office and whispered something into Irvin's ear.

"Doesn't anyone around here knock?" asked Valentine.

"We can forgive this example of rudeness," said an eager Irvin, "apparently some of your former classmates are snooping around outside, Draculaura."

"Clawd?" asked Draculaura as she stood up, her expression betraying her eagerness for pain and destruction, "is Clawd among them?"

"No, but his sister Clawdeen is," said Irvin.

"Oh, well, that's just as good," said Draculaura, "by hurting Clawdeen, I'll hurt Clawd. But how shall I do it?"

"Might I suggest something, dearest?" asked Valentine. He then whispered something into Draculaura's ear, something that earned a shocked expression from her.

"Oh no," said a horrified Draculaura, "no, not that, that's too cruel, far too cruel!" she then smiled with delighted wickedness, "it's perfect!" she then flung her arms around Valentine's neck, pulled him down and kissed him with dark passion.

"Now what could be tickling her fancy?" asked Neffra.

"I don't know," said Irvin, "I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of Draculaura's former friends, and you can take that to the bank and cash it."

…Outside Monster High…

"What do you mean you lost Clawd's scent?" asked Hunter as he, Ashlynn, Chad and Clawdeen, stood together surrounded by fog. By their recollection, they were a few hundred yards from the school property line, yet the heavy fog around them made it all but impossible to see anything.

"It's exactly what I mean," said Clawdeen irately, "I had his scent, right up to where we ran into this fog. His trail was fresh, very fresh, only a few minutes old. But…this fog…" she sniffed the air and frowned, "it's not natural. I should still be able to sense Clawd, but…"

"I know, this fog is eerie," said a slightly nervous Ashlynn, whom had donned a windbreaker and shivered slightly against the clammy moisture.

"You can bet Irvin and his goons have something to do with this," said Chad, "the fog goes all over Monster High's property and beyond, but doesn't move with the wind."

"This is dark magic, alright," said Hunter as he looked around yet couldn't see more than a few yards, "it's a trap and we've walked right into it. All the enemy has to do is find us."

"They're as blinded by the mist as we are," said Clawdeen.

"Unless they have infrared-vision goggles or something like that," said Chad, "all they need to find us is track our body heat."

"That's for putting that in my mind," said Hunter irately, "let's just get out of here before they find us, if we can find out way out of here."

"We can't leave! Clawd's still out there!" said Clawdeen.

"I know, but he's as lost as we are," said Hunter, "I hate to admit it, but there's nothing we can do for him right now."

"I can't believe you said that, Hunter!" snapped Ashlynn, "we can't leave a friend behind!"

"Clawd wouldn't abandon us," said Chad, "then again, he's really not thinking straight right now."

"You jerks can do whatever you want!" snapped Clawdeen, "but I'm not leaving without my brother and that's that!" suddenly her ears perked up, "wait! I think I hear something!"

"I'm amazed you can hear anything in this mess," said Hunter as he waved his hand through the mist, "it's so think, you could cut it with a knife."

"Shut up!" hissed Clawdeen as she listened intensely, "footsteps, I hear footsteps!" she then cupped her hands to her mouth, "CLAWD!"

"Don't do that! It could be a Kaijin or a Shadow Acolyte!" snapped Chad.

But it wasn't a Kaijin or Shadow Acolyte that appeared from the fog in front of our heroes. It was a young male werewolf, and it wasn't Clawd.

"Romulus!" said Clawdeen as she recognized her friend.

"Clawdeen!" said the pack leader from Full Moon High ran up to and embraced Clawdeen, "I can't believe it, you're alright!"

"I can't believe you were alright," said Clawdeen, "you and the rest of the pack, why didn't you try and call me? And how did you get away from Obsidian?"

"It's a long story, Clawdeen," said Romulus, "and I'll tell you once you're safe. Come on, we've gotta go."

"Oaky," said Clawdeen, "oh, you guys never meet," she then pointed at her friends from Ever After, "that's Ashlynn and Hunter, you already know Chad."

"Right," said Romulus as he nodded at Chad, then nodded at Ashlynn and Hunter, "you all can come, but we've got to move, now."

"Wait, we can't go yet!" said Clawdeen, "Clawd's here somewhere! We've got to find him."

"I know, we'll find him," said Romulus, "but first I need to get you safe."

"Okay, let's go," said Clawdeen, "wait…wait…how'd you know we're looking for Clawd?"

"Uh…you told me," said Romulus.

"Yeah, just now," said Clawdeen as she looked at Romulus with suspicious eyes, "but the way you just said 'I know,' it's like you already knew what we were doing here. How did you know Clawd was alone and we were looking for him?"

"Uh…" said a nervously sweating Romulus, "uh…it doesn't matter. All I want is to keep you safe, Clawdeen."

"And us, right?" asked Hunter suspiciously, while Ashlynn and Chad also looked equally inquisitive at Romulus.

"Whatever," said Romulus, "we've got to go and go now!"

"What's the rush, Romulus?" asked Clawdeen, "unless you know something we don't."

"How did you get away from Obsidian?" asked Chad, "and how are you so sure it's safe where you want to take Clawdeen?"

"It is safe!" insisted Romulus, "it's safe for the whole pack, but we've got to go now!"

"How do you know?!" demanded Clawdeen, "I'm not going anywhere unless you start talking!"

At that Romulus growled irately, to which Clawdeen growled back. But then Romulus relaxed, a serious look on his face, "you want to know? I made an arrangement with Obsidian."

"What kind of arrangement?" asked Clawdeen calmly, yet her hands twitched, hinting at the rage boiling within.

"My pack stays free," said Romulus, "no enthralling gas, no enslavement. In return, we help round up the other fugitive students and run occasional errands."

"You're actually helping Obsidian?!" exclaimed Chad, "are you crazy?! Or just plain stupid!?"

"I'm an Alpha looking after his pack!" snapped Romulus, "I did what was best and got a pretty good deal out of it."

"By selling your souls to the darkness?" asked an appalled Ashlynn.

"By protecting my own!" said Romulus, "a leader has to look after his pack," he then looked at Clawdeen, "you should know that more than these Normies."

"They're my friends, you bastard!" shouted Clawdeen as she slashed her talons at Romulus, whom jumped back in time to avoid having his face torn off.

"You piece of dragon dung!" snapped Hunter, "you sold yourself and yours to Obsidian, you son of a motherless chimera!"

"You're a disgrace to werewolves and Monsters alike!" said Chad.

"Not all werewolves," said Romulus, "my pack isn't the only one to side with Obsidian."

Just then Clawdeen, Chad, Hunter and Ashlynn heard menacing growls around them in the fog. Before they knew it, they were surrounded by Romulus's fellow werewolves from Full Moon High, as well as several more. And they weren't the only ones surrounding our heroes. Over a dozen vampires wearing the colors of Belfry Prep were there too.

"Who would have thought that it took an invasion to fully bring vamps and werewolves together," said Romulus as Clawdeen, Chad, Hunter and Ashlynn clustered together, "we're building something great, Clawdeen, we're carving out a place for ourselves in Obsidian's new order, and you can be a part of that too."

"What are you saying?" asked Clawdeen, "you…you actually want me to join you? Never!"

"Don't be a fool, Clawdeen!" said Romulus, "you can't beat Obsidian, no matter how many of your friends you've got with you. Obsidian's too powerful; you can either join them or be crushed by them!"

"Listen to him, Clawdeen," said Bram Devlin as he stepped forward from the ranks of vampires, "Obsidian is the future. Better to be swept along with it than left behind."

"Et tu, Bram?" asked Chad irately, "where's Gory?" He then stood on his toes to look over the heads of the vampires, "yeah, I see you, you little traitor!"

"I see no treason in my actions," said Gory Fangtail, "in fact, I should be lauded as a hero; I was the one who convinced my fellow vamps to join Obsidian, rather be rendered slaves."

"Do you know what they're doing to our friends at the school?" Romulus asked Clawdeen, "they're fortifying the school, turning it into an impregnable fortress. This fog is just the first line of defense, you don't want to know what they're putting in on the outside, let alone the inside. But I will say that all the zombies are in chain gangs, while the stronger monsters were regulated to heavy lifting."

"And don't get us started on the experiments," said Gory.

"What experiments?!" demanded Ashlynn, "are they…are they…"

"They haven't started with the experiments," said Bram, "but word is that Irvin wants to make stronger, more deadly Monsters, but again, they haven't started yet, or so I'm told."

"But Draculaura has more than started torturing her former classmates," said Gory, "believe me, you don't want to know what she's capable."

"You can hear the screams from the dungeons," said Romulus, "what she's done to some of our friends; enthralled Monsters and captured fugitives, it's enough to make you sick."

"You make me sick!" snapped Clawdeen. She then glared at the encircling vampires and werewolves, "all of you make me sick! But you especially, Romulus! How dare you do this, to us, to all Monster kind?"

"I did it for the good of the pack!" said Romulus defiantly, "for all werewolves, for all Monsters, and for you, Clawdeen." He then held out his hand, "come with me to the future, Clawdeen. The pack is that much stronger when the Alpha male has an Alpha female by his side."

"I…what?!" exclaimed Clawdeen as she did a double take at Romulus, "what?! WHAT!?"

"I've admired you for so long, Clawdeen," said Romulus, "your courage, your beauty, your pride, you're everything an Alpha Male seeks in an Alpha Female. Come with me and we'll lead our pack to a future so bright, so beautiful, it'd be the envy of all werewolves."

"You're saying you like me?!" snapped an outraged Clawdeen, "and you want me to be your mate?! You're saying this NOW!?"

"Dude, seriously bad timing," said Hunter, to which Ashlynn and Chad nodded in agreement.

"I told you she'd refuse," said Gory to Bram, holding out her hand, "pay up!"

"Here," said an annoyed Bram as he handed Gory a hundred-dollar bill, "but I'm going to win that back."

By now Clawdeen looked ready to chew solid iron and spit out nails into Romulus's eyes, "I would rather be stripped, shaved bald and beaten to a pulp than mate with you, traitor!"

At that Romulus sighed with disappointment, "I'm sorry to hear that, Clawdeen, I really am. I'd hope to spare you from Obsidian's wrath, and maybe convince Irvin to go easy on some of the others, especially Clawd, but I guess that's not going to happen."

"You and the others are wanted fugitives, Clawdeen," said Gory smugly, "you and the rest of your family. Oh, Irvin, Valentine and Draculaura have plans for you, especially for Clawd. Draculaura's gonna tear that mutt to pieces, stitch him back together and tear him apart all over again for her pleasure."

"But mostly they want the Star pieces you have," said Bram, "handing them over will go a long way towards leniency with Obsidian."

"And tell us where Frankie Stein, Raven Queen, Apple White and the other fugitives are hiding," said Gory, "there's more, but you get the point."

"Go frak yourself," said Chad in a matter of fact tone as he opened the metal case with the Faiz Gear.

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Romulus, "GET THEM!"

At that the werewolves growled and the vampires hissed as they readied their talons and teeth.

But then came an especially loud wolf howl, followed by the surprised and pained yelps and cries from vampires and werewolves as they were tossed into the air.

"CLAWDEEN!" shouted Clawd as he rammed his way through the ranks of enemy Monsters, "wait, hold on," he then ran over to, kneed Bram in the crotch, ran over to and tossed Gory into the air, then ran over to and delivering a bone-shattering tackle that sent Romulus crashing into more vampires and werewolves, before running back to Clawdeen, "are you alright?! Did they hurt you? Did they touch you?!"

"I'm fine, Clawd," said Clawdeen, "but you're not. Boy, are you in trouble when we get back to The Steam Vault, Clawdia's gonna skin you alive!"

"Uh, yeah, sorry about that," said Clawd sheepishly, "I guess I kinda lost my head back there."

"We're just glad you're okay, man," said Hunter, "now let's get out of here," he then glared at the enemy werewolves and vampires, "it stinks of treason!"

But then the enemy Monsters parted ranks, revealing Draculaura, whom stood looking at Clawd with a welcoming smile on her face and her right hand behind her back, "oh, Clawd, you've come all this way, just to leave without even saying hello?"

"DRACULAURA!" exclaimed Clawd. He then ran towards her.

"Clawd! No!" shouted Clawdeen as she, Hunter, Ashlynn and Chad tried to go after him, only to find themselves blocked by the recovering enemy vampires and werewolves.

"Draculaura," said Clawd as he stopped in front of her, "I…I…"

"It's okay, Clawd," said Draculaura warmly, "everything's going to be alright."

"But…but," said Clawd, only to be shushed by Draculaura as she held out her left hand.

"We're together again, that's all that matters," said Draculaura as she beckoned Clawd to come close.

"No! Don't!" shouted Clawdeen as she and the others struggled to get past the enemy Monsters.

"What's in her hand?!" asked Hunter, "what's she got behind her back!"

"Get away from her, Clawd!" shouted Ashlynn as Clawd allowed Draculaura to put her left arm around his neck, bending down to kiss her.

Quick as lightning, something silver flashed from behind Draculaura's back. Before anyone knew it, she had stabbed Clawd in the abdomen with a silver knife.

"I'd hoped to use this on Clawdeen," said Draculaura in a wickedly satisfied tone as she saw the look of agonized betrayal in Clawd's eyes, "but you'll do, mutt." She then twisted the knife as she pulled it out of Clawd, earning a pained yelp from him as he collapsed to the ground, "now, die like the dog you are."

…The End Is Just the Beginning…