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Clawdeen Wolf was staring at Madame Ghostier as she was wondering why the ghost was staring at her. “Yes?” She questioned, wanting to inquire about what the older ghoul was thinking. When the older ghoul realized that she was staring at the werewolf, Madame Ghostier shook her head, turning away from the monster. I know who will be my apprentice, I just need insurance. Madame Ghostier knew that she had to be smart about how she would get Clawdeen to listen to her and she wondered which one of the other ghouls to use against her. However, the answer was painfully obvious. When Madame Ghostier’s gaze fell onto Skelita Calaveras, she had to hold back the smirk that was about to split her face apart. Such a gullible, innocent ghoul. She thought as she floated towards Skelita, getting the ghoul’s attention. She innocently tilted her head to the side, showing the older ghoul her warm brown eyes as she blinked.
Clawdeen wondered what the ghost was thinking about as she suddenly felt a little unsafe. Why is she staring at Skelita like that? She wondered as she wanted to pull the smaller ghoul away from Madame Ghostier’s prying eyes. I don’t trust her but why? She wondered as she felt the urge to keep Skelita close to her. However, Clawdeen resisted the urge as she didn’t want to scare Skelita by pulling her all of the sudden. That would scare her and she would probably think that I was going to bite down on her. She thought as she tried to satisfy her protective feelings by watching the interactions.
Jinafire Long noticed how Clawdeen was acting and she pulled the werewolf aside. “What’s wrong? You looked ready to tear Skelita away from her.” She asked, wondering what was going on with Clawdeen and the werewolf sighed.
“It’s probably stupid but I don’t trust her with Skelita.” Clawdeen admitted to Jinafire. Clawdeen waited for the Chinese dragon to tell her that she was overreacting and yet, the ghoul didn’t say anything. She didn’t accuse Clawdeen of anything.
“She is smaller than the both of us.” Jinafire spoke slowly, wanting to see how Clawdeen was going to react to her words. She watched as Clawdeen balled her hands up, trying to cover up the fact that she hated the assumption that Skelita was weaker but unfortunately, she was weaker. She would often need Clawdeen or Jinafire to help her with things and while they didn’t mind doing so, she would be left feeling guilty because she knew that she was so much smaller than the two ghouls.
She hated asking them for help when they were working on their designs and yet, both ghouls dropped what they were doing to help her, and Madame Ghostier found it amusing because none of them had figured out that Madame Ghostier would be the reason why Skelita would need help. Skelita would leave her station for one second and Madame Ghostier would take her things just to see would be more willing to help the skeleton ghoul. The ghostly ghoul had a thought that it would be Clawdeen that would help Skelita often and she was right. Clawdeen would willingly stop drawing her designs to help the ghoul find her notebook.
At first, Jinafire wanted to assume that Skelita would do it on purpose but when she started to watch Skelita, she understood that Skelita wouldn’t do anything to mess them up. Skelita’s notebook went missing for two days before she finally asked for help. Madame Ghostier is the only ghoul who isn’t seen when Skelita’s notebook goes missing. Jinafire thought as she stared at the ghostly ghoul. When the ghoul felt eyes on her, she turned towards Jinafire and the younger ghoul hated the smirk that the ghost sent her. She wondered why the ghastly ghoul wanted to menace them. She’s vile. Jinafire thought as she didn’t like the way Madame Ghostier was treating them. It’s abuse and she is enjoying hurting us. She thought as she remember hearing the scathing words she told Skelita as she didn’t enjoy the girl’s want to get inspiration from her family.
Jinafire understood that the ghastly ghoul needed an apprentice but she didn’t have to be so rude towards them. We’re only fifteen. She thought as she didn’t know why Madame Ghostier was so being so rude towards fifteen-year-olds. We’re just children. Jinafire hated that she had just remembered that about herself and the other two. Jinafire heard Skelita make noises and she looked up to see Madame Ghostier running her fingers through Skelita’s hair. Jinafire growled and she heard Clawdeen growl as well. Skelita really is our weak points. Jinafire thought as she glared at Madame Ghostier. The ghoul then huffed as she started to whisper to Skelita. She wanted the ghoul to listen to her and because Skelita wanted to get better at designing, she took in Madame Ghostier’s every word. She may not have enjoyed hearing Madame Ghostier say that her way of getting inspiration was trash but Skelita knew that she had to take in Madame Ghostier’s ways of drawing designs. After all, she was the expert and thus, she knew best.
~~
Madame Ghostier trapped the young ghoul against the wall as she sighed at how confused Skelita was. However, when she wouldn’t let the girl leave, Skelita’s eyes widened before showing fear towards the older ghoul. “You do not seem to be understanding when I saying that your designs are pathetic.” Skelita frowned, her shoulder bones raising slightly as she felt threatened but she was afraid to do anything. “Luckily, I know who will I pick.” The ghost revealed to Skelita and the ghoul widened in her eyes in shock. Why is she telling me this? Skelita thought as she whimpered when she felt the ghoul grip her shoulder. “And you will help me make sure that she will obey me.” The ghoul said as she started to drag Skelita towards the catacombs.
Skelita’s entire body trembled as Madame Ghostier heard bones rattle behind her. The ghoul was glad that she was holding onto Skelita tight because the ghoul was pulling against her hold. The ghoul didn’t want to hurt the younger ghoul but when she lightly squeezed Skelita’s arm, a gasp of pain left the ghoul’s lips as she felt a stinging pain shoot up her arm. “Are you going to stop fighting me?” The ghou asked and Skelita stopped fighting against the woman’s hold and once she had stopped struggling, Madame Ghostier loosened her hold on the skeleton ghoul’s wrist. “There we go.” She said as Skelita started to walk behind the ghoul, seeing that fighting her would cause her to get hurt.
When Madame Ghostier found the cell she wanted to put Skelita in, she unlocked it and she roughly pushed Skelita into the room, not giving her any chance to recover before she closed the door.
Skelita approached the bars of the door and she realized that she couldn’t see because of how high the window was. When she backed up enough, she was able to see Madame Ghostier’s face as the ghost’s lips formed a smirk. “I know Clawdeen would listen to me now that I have you.” She said and Skelita’s eyes widened as she couldn’t believe it. I’m bait for Clawdeen? Skelita didn’t want Clawdeen to be forced to do Madame Ghostier’s bidding as she wanted the ghoul to keep her true personality.
“W-wait…” Skelita weakly said and Madame Ghostier paused as she turned towards Skelita.
“I was never going to choose you as my apprentice.” She told the ghoul and Skelita knew that. She understood that she wasn’t going to be Madame Ghostier’s choice in an apprentice but she also didn’t want the ghoul didn’t want to crush her love for fashion permanently. She didn’t want the older ghoul to hurt any of her new friends and yet, she knew that she was helpless because she was bait for one of them.
“Why are you so cruel?” Skelita questioned as she didn’t expect Madame Ghostier to answer her question. To her relief, the ghoul didn’t seem to hear her as she didn’t return to question the younger ghoul. Skelita was glad that Moanatella Ghostier didn’t hear her as she didn’t want the ghoul to scare her again. She didn’t know why the ghoul wanted to pick and choose just one apprientace but that was because she had found out about how cruel she was. If she wasn’t so mean, then she could train all of us. Skelita thought as she leaned against the door of the cell she was locked in. Skelita didn’t like being used as bait and yet, she couldn’t get out of the ghoul’s grasp when she had the chance. She knew that it wasn’t her fault but she still felt bad because she knew that Clawdeen and Jinafire would do anything to protect her. She didn’t want them to get hurt because of her. Skelita didn’t want anyone to suffer because of her. She hated that she was weak. She wished that she was stronger.
Skelita closed her eyes tightly as she felt tears pool up in her eyes. She didn’t enjoy the fact that she was weak. She had always wished that she was stronger and Skelita knew that her wish would never be granted to her. She didn’t like the fact that she would need to be protected by other monsters because it made her feel helpless. I am helpless. I’m locked up in the catacombs. She thought as she frowned, not enjoying the situation she was in. She hoped that Clawdeen and Jinafire were having a much better time than she was.
~~
Clawdeen and Jinafire were searching for Skelita, not knowing where she could have gone. “She didn’t leave, did she?” Jinafire asked and Clawdeen shook her head.
“She wouldn’t leave without telling us. I know that about her.” Clawdeen said as she wished that she could see Skelita right now, wanting to protect the ghoul from all of the bad things in the world. Jinafire also realized that Skelita wouldn’t want to leae them hanging like that. I still can’t believe I thought that she would have been willing to ruin our chances. Jinafire hated that she was so competitive and yet, she knew that Skelita would have understood. Jinafire hated that she knew that Skelita was so understanding but she knew that it simply because that the ghoul was too nice.
She knew that Skelita would never say a damning word about anyone, not even about their mean teacher. And she’s a bitch. Jinafire thought as she glared at Moanatella Ghostier. Once the ghost had started to become cruel towards them, neither of the kids wanted to be around her anymore. Even Clawdeen thought that she was too much and the werewolf girl just wanted to hang out with both Jinafire and Skelita, and now, they couldn’t find Skelita. Did she do something to her? Clawdeen hoped that Moanatella Ghostier left Skelita alone because she knew that she would go feral if the younger girl was hurt. She’s too innocent. Clawdeen thought as she glared at Moanatella Ghostier.
“Where is she?” She growled out at the ghost and when the ghost woman turned towards her, Clawdeen had to resist the urge to keep on being rude towards the woman. She hated that the woman had the audacity to look at her in mock confusion. “You know who I’m talking about. She was just with us.” Clawdeen hated that her protective instincts were all out of wack because of Skelita not being there but she also knew that she was being thrown off of her rhythm because of Moanatella Ghostier. I can’t believe I used to look up to her. I wanted to be like her one day. Clawdeen didn’t like it. She didn’t like the fact that her idol and now her mentor, was a cruel monster. She wanted nothing more to do with the Moanatella Ghostier and she intended on letting the woman know that now.
“She’s in the catacombs.” Moanatella Ghostier spoke softly and slowly, acting as if she was addressing a five-year-old instead of a fifteen-year-old. “Don’t worry, she’s safe.” She said when she noticed the look of horror in Clawdeen’s eyes. “But her remaining safe depends on you.” The ghastly ghoul said and when Clawdeen ran the ghoul’s words in her brain, she stared at the woman in shock.
“What do you mean?” Clawdeen asked, afraid of the answer. She wanted to kill the ghost that was standing in front of her. She couldn’t believe that she was threatening Skelita’s safety right now. Moanatella Ghostier giggled darkly as she appeared in front of Clawdeen, causing the werewolf girl to step back a little bit.
Moanatella Ghostier’s eyes flashed a bit as she smirked at Clawdeen. “Well, Clawdeen Wolf, I have picked you to be my apprentice.” Clawdeen hated hearing those words fall from the ghost’s cold lips. Those were not the words she wanted to hear from the ghoul’s lips and she hated that she growled at the ghost once Madame Ghostier had finished with her sentence.
“And if I refuse?” Clawdeen didn’t want to be anywhere around Madame Ghostier. The ghoul knew this as she giggled darkly.
“Skelita is fragile. It would be unfortunate should she have an accident.” Madame Ghostier didn’t care that both of the ghouls were staring at her in anger and horror. She wanted to keep their attention and if she has to repeatedly threaten Skelita’s wellbeing to get them to listen to her, then so be it. “What do you say, Clawdeen?” Clawdeen hated how smug Madame Ghostier was but she knew that the ghost was depending on her caring for Skelita. She knows I care for her. I never want her to get hurt. Clawdeen thought as she glared at Madame Ghostier. She really didn’t enjoy the way Madame Ghostier was using Skelita.
“I want to see her.” Clawdeen growled at her and Madame Ghostier merely shrugged her shoulders, agreeing to let the werewolf see Skelita.
~~
Clawdeen was staring at the doors as she wondered which room Skelita was in. Clawdeen then heard small, pitiful cries that squeezed her heart. She knew that voice really well and she turned to glare at Madame Ghostier.
“What have you done?” She growled out and when Skelita heard her voice, a hiccup left her lips as she stood up, seeing Clawdeen angrily glaring at Madame Ghostier. When Clawdeen noticed Skelita, all anger melted away as Clawdeen’s eyes softened. “Are you alright?” She asked Skelita and the skeleton girl nodded her head, not trusting herself to speak.
“You see what I mean, Clawdeen? She’s feeble and she needs protection.” Madame Ghostier was enjoying angering the werewolf because she understood how protective instincts worked and she knew that threatening the weaker one would get both Clawdeen and Jinafire to want to be careful in order to make sure that Skelita is safe. Madame Ghostier knew what she was doing as she continued to speak to Clawdeen and she knew that the werewolf ghoul understood the threat that was left unsaid.
Clawdeen growled at the ghastly ghoul as she turned back to Skelita. “I will get you out of there.” Clawdeen promised the ghoul. Clawdeen glanced at her phone and saw a text from Cleo de Nile and she got a sudden idea as she grabbed her phone to check the service. When she noticed that there was little service in the catacombs, she frowned. I need to get Cleo down here. She thought.
Hoping for a miracle, Clawdeen sent a message to Cleo and hoped that it had somehow been sent.
~~
Cleo paused as she felt her phone vibrate. “Who texted me?” She questioned out loud as she pulled out her phone. When she read the contents of the text, her eyes widened. I know Rochelle said that the catacombs are forbidden but Clawdeen and her new friend are in trouble. She thought as she tried a way to get into the catacombs without being seen. When she finally found an entrance, she immediately went inside it as she searched for Clawdeen.
As Cleo traveled further into the catacombs, she understood why they were forbidden. Creepy. She thought as she shivered. Despite feeling weirded out by the darkness around her, Cleo made her way toward Clawdeen once she had spotted her. When Clawdeen noticed her, her eyes widened as she hadn’t expected Cleo to find them so quickly. Cleo giggled at the look of shock. I sped down here as quickly as I could. She thought as she stared at Madame Ghostier, who was staring at her in shock, wondering why another ghoul was in the catacombs. “What are you doing down here?” Madame Ghostier asked her and Cleo glared at her, not wanting to amuse the ghoul.
That was when Cleo allowed her eyes to look around and when her gaze locked onto another ghoul, Cleo stilled as she continued to stare at the ghoul. Clawdeen noticed the way Cleo was looking and while she would normally find it cute, they needed to get Skelita out of the room. “Cleo, you can crush on her later.” Cleo blushed at the werewolf ghoul’s words.
“I…She’s pretty…” Cleo said to Clawdeen and she turned to glare at Madame Ghostier. “Why are you doing this?” She demanded and Madame Ghostier huffed as she turned towards Skelita.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Madame Ghostier hissed as she glared at Clawdeen. “And you are simply reacting so angrily. Do you want me to hurt her?” She asked and Clawdeen’s eyes widened as she froze. No. She’s too innocent. She thought as she wished that she had texted Rochelle as well because she knew that Rochelle would be able to find an actual solution. Clawdeen hated that her only thought was to text Cleo. Damn it. She thought. I should have planned this better. She thought and when Cleo did something so very rash, Clawdeen wondered why she had bothered worrying in the first place.
Cleo didn’t care for the keys to the room as she used her shoulder to hit the door.
That was when Clawdeen remembered the keys. “Cleo, the keys are in her hands.” Clawdeen told her as she rushed at the ghost. Madam Ghostier was startled when she realized that Clawdeen was running toward her. In her shock, Cleo was able to grab the keys from the palm of her hand and she quickly unlocked the door.
Skelita ran to Cleo and the mummy lifted her into her arms. “Sorry about this.” Cleo apologized as she ran behind Clawdeen. When Clawdeen noticed that Cleo was carrying Skelita, she shook her head. We got her away from Madame Ghostier. Clawdeen felt better when she saw that Skelita was smiling at Cleo. Those two would be good for each other. She thought as she continued to lead the way out of the catacombs.
Once they were out of the area, Clawdeen followed the scents of her friends. Once she had found them, she was very excited to see them. “Cleo, who is that you’re carrying?” Frankie Stein asked, seeing the skeleton ghoul in Cleo’s arms.
Cleo stared down at Skelita. “I’m Skelita.” She introduced herself and Cleo found herself swooning. She’s so pretty. Now they were out of the catacombs, Cleo was able to see Skelita completely and Cleo knew that she had found a jewel.
Clawdeen watched as Cleo swooned over Skelita and while she understood, she wished that Cleo made it less obvious that she was swooning. Lucky for her, Skelita is oblivious. Clawdeen thought as she smiled at the sight. Skelita was just staring at Cleo in confusion but she was smiling at the taller ghoul.
As Clawdeen and the gang created a plan to reveal Madame Ghostier’s true personality, Jinafire came to join them on the plan. “That witch will get what’s coming to her.” Jinafire said as her gaze was heated, ready to show Madame Ghostier why she should have not messed with a dragon.
~~
Madame Ghostier was staring at all of the reporters as she bathed in the attention. Yes! She thought as she could feel her body gain some of its’ strength back.
“She’s not a real fashion designer!” Clawdeen shouted, causing Madame Ghostier to turn her attention towards the werewolf. What is that miserable girl doing? She wondered as she glared at Clawdeen.
“Madame Ghostier, is it true that you do not approve of original designs?” The ghost froze at the question because she knew that her answer was no but she knew that reporters would eat it up and make it gossip. And yet, she knew that she could be honest with them.
“Yes, that’s true. It’s better to use old designs.” She said and Clawdeen smirked at Madame Ghostier’s response as she clapped her hands, causing the reporters to turn towards the stage where Clawdeen and her friends had lots of original outfits that were designed by Clawdeen.
“Waiting for Madame Ghostier to tell me what to do almost caused me to lose sight of why I like designing but never again.” Clawdeen announced as she smiled at all of the reporters.
No one paid attention to Madame Ghostier, which caused her to disappear into thin air, never to be seen again.
~~
After the fashion show, Cleo and Skelita were getting to know each other. “You’ll make such a cute princess.” Cleo let the words slip out and she knew that she couldn’t take them back, not when Skelita was staring at her with such happy eyes. Skelita was glad that she couldn’t blush because she knew that her face would be rosy because of Cleo’s words.
“Thank you.” Skelita responded softly. Cleo continued to stare at Skelita as she leaned forward to kiss Skelita on the cheek. Cleo may not have known Skelita for a long while but she knew that Skelita was a sweetie. She’s adorable. Cleo thought as she watched Skelita shyly smile at her.
Yep, Skelita was an adorable ghoul.