Callas Laurence

After getting out of detention, Callas headed straight for the school kitchens. With most students out trick-or-treating or attending Halloween parties, the halls were nearly empty. It wasn't hard getting into the kitchens, he had a speciality key. He passed by the kitchen, walking towards the walk-in freezer. He didn't flinch at the cold, merely unlocking the special freezer with the same key.

Inside was the school's supply of blood bags for Vampires. Callas grabbed one and then a straw from a smiley face mug, poking the plastic bag. After being bitten years ago, he had gotten used to the coppery taste of blood despite the fact it was God-awful.

So that's how Callas Laurence spent his Halloween drinking from a blood bag like it was a pack of KoolAid, walking around the halls until he became tired. It was sort of nice since there was no one to bother him, and you'd be surprised at how noisy Monster High was. Callas had finished his blood bag, throwing it in the trash when a familiar someone suddenly appeared.

"Hi!" a girl's voice said cheerfully, popping out from behind him. Callas, startled, clutched his chest as if Vampires could get heart attacks. He recognized her asC.C., the rather problematic Cherub. From a distance, he would watch her mess up another couple pairing. For a Cherub, she had a horrid aim, those arrows were deadly and often ended up flying all over the place!

Oh, and don't get Callas started on the Alabama Cousin situation that occurred six months ago. What happens in Monster High stays in Monster High, Amora would be taking that secret to the grave.

And for some fucking reason, this little—and quite honestly, surprisingly stubborn—girl has sought out Callas for a few days now. She liked to single him out and talk to him, asking freakishly odd questions about Vampires. Do they have heart attacks? Or would that be considered a heart attack if it's with a wooden stake soaked in holy water? If a flower is a part of the garlic family, does an allergic reaction occur? Truly, it was a bit irritating.

"Hi," Callas said bitterly, walking away from her. Amora, clueless, followed him and matched his stride. God, take a hint, he thought. Though he did suppose he'd have to thank her for getting everyone out of detention on Halloween, he did not want to spend his evening rotting away in that classroom. He wiped the remaining blood off his mouth with the back of his hand. "Do you need something...?"

"No," she replied simply, shrugging. "I just felt like talking to you."

"Well, thanks...?"

"Can I ask you more questions about Vampires—"

"No, definitely not," he said curtly.

"Aw. Okay." A small pause. "Bye." Amora turned around and went down the other way of the hall. Briefly, Callas stood there for a few seconds, momentarily baffled by that odd interaction with the Cherub. Why does she constantly seek me out? Callas wondered stubbornly. Every time that he'd ask why she was there, she'd make up some half-lie. Liar, he thought. She must take me for a fool if she thinks I can be deceived. Though, it did seem rather trivial.

Then there was a blood-curdling scream, echoing in the halls. Callas immediately turned around, but Amora had vanished and the door that led to the Courtyard slammed. His heart pounded as he stood there, like a buffoon, staring at the empty hall. Something's amiss, you slow, stupid buffoon! His mind screamed at him like a Banshee. Callas hurried towards the door, throwing it open. He was instantly drenched by the midnight rain, the water running down his pale skin. Thunder rumbled as there was another scream; it was Amora's.

That's when he saw her. Amora shaking in the rain, hunched over something laid on the stoned pavement. Not something, but rather someone. Callas' voice caught in his throat as he cautiously approached, the blood rushing to his head as he realized who the person was.

Lovella Cherish, the beloved Cherub.

Blood poured out of her crack skull, tangling with her wet blonde hair. Lovella's mouth was ajar, ghastly and daunting. Her eyes were closed as if she had shut her eyes and screamed. She laid in a pool of red, fresh blood.

Amora's sobs brought Callas back to the present. He stooped to the ground, pressing his finger to her neck. "No pulse," he said, checking her wrist as well for good measure. He felt sick to his stomach; yes, he was a Vampire and had seen blood before, but nothing this grisly. Lovella was twisted, she looked morbidly undead.

"Oh my Ghoul, oh God," Amora whispered, her hands slick with sticky blood. Lovella's, he assumed. Stay level-headed, Callas told himself. Amora's hands were on Lovella's body as she tried to shake her awake. "Please, L-Lovella," she said, trembling. "W-Wake up. Wake up, please, oh God, please."

"No pulse," he repeated.

"Please, I still need you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Amora cried out, sobbing. That's when Callas noticed something weird, though horrifying was a better word. Her Cherub wings were bloodied, but they were clipped. Only her feathers remained, her wings were gone. But why would her wings be clipped...?

Callas nudged Amora lightly, his mind filling up with a dozen thoughts. Keep your head clear, he ordered himself. "C.C., you need to tell me what you saw," he said gently as he heard the doors open. Gasps and distorted shrieks rang in his ears. He heard 9-1-1 calls being made as a crowd gathered around Amora and Lovella. Go away, he wanted to tell them. Can't you see you're worrying her?

"You need to tell me what happened. What you saw." Callas nudged her again, but she would not budge or utter another word. Is this a part of the shock? He couldn't see her face. "C.C." Then he repeated, "Amora."

Amora lifted a quivering, bloodied finger in the air. Callas traced his eyes up to the roof, the rain droplets blurring his vision. "There," she rasped out, "I saw Lovella. She was falling, and falling, and falling..." She lowered her finger, turning around her head, meeting Callas' eyes. Her eyes darkened, her pupils hazy. "Someone killed her."

Then she collapsed, falling over Lovella Cherish's corpse.

✦⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ ✦

Nero Therie

When Nero Therie saw Lovella's corpse, he couldn't stop staring at those clipped and bloody wings. Just like his. Stop it, stop thinking about it, you goddamn overthinker, he tried to tell himself. He wrung his pale hands, slick with sweat. The air in the Courtyard stank of rot and dew, the skies and clouds gray. Lovella's body was covered by tarp and carried away, but the bloody stain did not wash away. It was etched into each corner of the stonework, forever immortalizing Lovella Cherish's death. He stood inside the hall, looking out to the closed Courtyard. Nero couldn't sleep all night, he rose up at the crack of dawn just to observe.

Then he heard the soft clicks of heels down the hall. Nero turned around to come face-to-face with Headmistress Bloodgood. "Good morning," she greeted, prominent dark eyebags under the woman's eyes. She held a bundle of files, presumably Lovella's, and there was a coffee stain on her shirt. "It's awfully early, though I suspect none of the students slept well last night. Too much buzz."

Nero didn't mind Bloodgood, she may be strict, but she did truly care for Monster High. So they walked together in the corridor since she needed to drop off papers for Professor Creeper, it was better than staring out the window for hours in Nero's opinion. "How are you faring today, Mr. Therie?" she asked, a tight smile on her lips.

"Okay."

"Mhm, you're the third person today to tell me that exact response. Now, hold these for me, please." Bloodgood handed him her papers, tucking back her hair, properly buttoning her blazer, and smoothing her skirt. Is she meeting someone? Nero wondered. "Today is a busy day," she tutted, grabbing her papers again. "Thank you."

"Are you going to a meeting?" Nero asked, curious.

"A meeting of sorts. We as the school have reason to believe there was foul play in Lovella's death," Headmistress Bloodgood said bluntly. That was one thing Nero appreciated; Bloodgood was brutally honest, she didn't try to hide the most horrifying of truths. They were monsters, they were used to the scares. "A formal assembly will be made as investigation kick-starts."

The wind was knocked out of Nero. "Was it... murder?"

"We're treating her death as a crime as of now," she replied primly, but something was amiss. Suddenly, the doors to Monster High were thrown open and Nero's stomach pooled with dread, his throat running dry.

Humans.

Headmistress Bloodgood turned to Nero with a spin of her heels. "Because Miss Cherish's death is being investigated, this has become an affair of locals as well. We're handing over her case to the human cops, it's the law."

"The Normies?" Nero felt hollowed out. "But..."

"The segregation of monsters and humans are left behind in the past, but there is still discrimination. Yes, it concerns me that we have human police supervising our student's case, but there is nothing that can be done. Perhaps our worries are just paranoia." Bloodgood cast a glance towards the cops. "Now, excuse me, but I must attend to our guests now." She said goodbye and left Nero alone.

That's how Nero realized Lovella Cherish's case would never be solved.