Chapter Text
Jackson’s teeth clattered with excitement as he eagerly skimmed through the Monster High brochure. A school entirely just for monsters? He couldn’t believe it. Why hadn’t his mother told him about such a school before?
“We’re almost there, Honey,” his mother called out from the driver’s seat. “Just another twenty minutes or so.”
Jackson nodded. He was still surprised that his mother was able to drive him. According to Headmistress Bloodgood, no human had ever set foot in the premises. She would be the first, and thus she was sworn to secrecy.
Jackson knew it was for formality reasons, but he didn’t understand why the Headmistress didn’t just trust his mother to keep her mouth shut. Yes, she wasn’t technically a monster, but her father was and she carried the gene. Plus, she always did her best to protect Jackson from his monster secret ever being discovered.
He pushed the thought of his mind, not wanting anything to ruin his excitement. Giddy, he looked out at the window, waiting for the first glimpse of his new school.
“Oh, looks like we’re here!”
Jackson looked around in confusion. They appeared to be in an old, deserted landscape. There were overgrown vines and fallen trees everywhere. He noticed a sign to the left that read ‘Pet Sematary’, with mini tombstones strewn around.
His mother grinned at him, noticing his confusion. “Oh don’t worry, this is just a charm to keep humans out!”
She rustled her purse and pulled out an old wooden key. “The Headmistress informed me that we just have to press this key against the barrier and we should be able to see Monster – oh look there it is!”
She rushed a few feet a way and places the key on some sort of invisible force shield, mid air.
Jackson glanced up hesitantly at his mother. “Are you sure -?”
But it seemed as though his mother was right, because at long last, they arrived. Monster High was much grander than he’d imagined. He gazed up at its many gothic, indigo towers in awe. A large, ivory gate stood at the front centre of the school, where he and his mother walked up towards, anxiously waiting to be let in.
“What are you humans doing here?” A deep, gurgling voice questioned.
Jackson jumped. It appeared to be coming from one of the two giant gargoyles positioned at the forefront, their grey, stony exterior almost blending in with the gate.
His mother took initiative. “Jackson Jekyll and his caretaker,” she said, not once breaking eye contact with the beasts. “We’re here for his enrollment.”
“Well they couldn’t have gotten this far without some sort of key,” one murmured to the other.
“Bloodgood did say we had a few extra enrolments this semester,” the other grunted in agreement.
The first gargoyle sighed and turned back to Jackson and his family. “Follow us,” He grumbled.
Obediently, they followed the gargoyles through the gate and into the field. Monster High was even grander once inside. With lush fields of sage green grass, as well as archways and water fountains.
The oddest thing to Jackson by far though, was the monsters. He hadn’t seen another monster in ages; let alone so many roaming around freely. At the nearby water fountain, he noticed a large bull-minotaur fellow flexing his muscles to a curvy, green-skinned girl with one eye. She must have seen him too because she pointed excitedly in his direction. The bull man turned and glared at him, muttering something under his breath.
Jackson shivered and mentally decided to avoid him. He knew a bully when he saw one.
“Jackson Jekyll?” a voice boomed. “Welcome, welcome!”
It was the Headmistress Bloodgood, standing at the top of the staircase to what he assumed to be the main building of the school. She was holding her head in her hands, which despite his mother warning him of such a predicament, he found that he was still slightly disconcerted.
“Now I understand that you have another son which you wish to enrol,” The Headmistress said, addressing his mother.
His mother gave a tight nod. “Yes, I have detailed the state of their condition in the paperwork.”
The Headmistress clapped her hands briskly in return. “Very well then. You may leave now.”
“Oh, I was just wondering if I could take a tour around the school and -”
The Headmistress smiled at his mother, more firmly this time. “You may leave now.”
Very well, his mother murmured. She clasped her arms around Jackson and squeezed him tight. “Well I’ll be going now! I love you and don’t forget to write to me!”
“I will!” Jackson called out as he waved her off.
He had a good feeling about this – which was saying something, because he rarely felt good about anything.
***
Clawdeen traced the outer lining of the page. She really should be on her way to Monster High, but she was slightly distracted. Her sketchbook was opened up to a page of sun hats, with dark and brisk marks to convey the thick, ebony material she intended on using. She chewed the top of her pencil, brows furrowing. There was something missing in the design, but she couldn’t quite put her claw on it. What would Draculaura think?
Her Coffindroid buzzed beside her. It was Draculaura calling. Speak of the vampire and she doth appear, Clawdeen thought, grinning to herself.
“Clawdeen! I’ve been calling for ages! What’s taken you so long?” Draculaura’s indignant voice cried out. “Is it because you're still using that old Coffindroid?”
“I was busy!” Clawdeen rolled her eyes. “Besides, Coffindroids are much better than iCoffins, and if you actually –”
Draculaura groaned, interrupting her mid-rant. “Not again Clawdeen! That’s not what I wanted to talk about.” She paused for a moment, and Clawdeen could almost hear Draculaura’s unbeating heart pounding. “I have a surprise for you!”
Now it was Clawdeen’s turn to groan. “If this is about the double date thing again Draculaura, I swear –”
Draculaura hushed her. “Just hurry on up to Monster high!” She exclaimed, before ending the call.
Clawdeen smiled fondly despite herself. It was hard to stay mad at Draculaura, it was like scolding a newborn pup.
Briefly, she pondered what the ‘surprise’ entailed. She sincerely hoped it wasn’t another blind date – Draculaura had recently become obsessed with finding a boyfriend and she insisted on dragging Clawdeen through the mud with her.
“Clawdeen!”
Clawdeen shut her sketchbook instantly, suddenly embarrassed. There was no way she could explain why her entire sketchbook consisted of vampire clothing designs to any member of her family. “Yeah?” She answered, trying to appear casaul.
“Hurry up! Dad has your bags! ” Howleen called from outside her room.
“I’m ready!” Clawdeen yelled back. She glanced up at her younger sister at the doorway, whose eyes were glued to her iCoffin screen.
Clawdeen sighed. Howleen was easily influenced by everyone around her, and already she had started to see changes in the young ghoul. Dying her hair pink, throwing out her old clothes in favour of more feminine ones. Clawdeen wished that Howleen was coming to Monster High with her so she could keep an eye on her.
“Hey ‘Leen,” Clawdeen said in a softer tone. “You’re drop dead gorgeous.”
Howleen gazed up from her device, the surprise clear in her wide, amber eyes. “Uh, thanks sis. You really do have to hurry up though.”
“I’ll just be sec.” Hastily, she grabbed her sketchbook, Coffindroid and favourite shade of plum coloured lip gloss, and made a run for it.
***
“…And the welcome committee will be here tomorrow, so they can give you a proper tour then. Any questions?”
Jackson blinked. For the last twenty minutes, the headless Headmistress had been bombarding him with information about Monster High. He didn’t remember much; except that school hours would be during the night and daylight hours meant bed time. That would take some time getting used to. Welcome to my world, Holt’s voice snarked.
Shut up Holt, Jackson muttered.
“What was that, Mr Jekyll?”
Jackson’s ears reddened. “I was just wondering if I could get my class schedule?”
“Yes of course!” She handed him a crisp piece of paper.
Jackson studied his classes. He noticed that some were marked with ‘Jackson’ and some with ‘Holt’. He frowned. “Will we be sharing classes?”
The Headmistress gave Jackson a look he couldn’t quite decipher. “I understand that your…brother has had no formal classes, but this is a monster school. It hardly seems fair for you to take them all.”
Jackson nodded profusely, suddenly ashamed. “Of course Headmistress! I’ll let him know.” He paused, not quite knowing how to phrase his next question. “No one is aware of my condition right?”.
The Headmistress shook her head. “Only me, and you will be provided with special exemptions if necessary. Although –” Her voice lowered, and she gazed at him somewhat sympathetically. “This is a monster school, people wouldn’t be nearly as judgemental as your past schools would have been.”
“Uh- I’m good thanks!” Jackson stammered. “But I’l keep that in mind.”
The Headmistress smiled at him, not unkindly. “Go on and unpack then. Your roommates are already there.”
Jackson nodded, and as he watched the Headmistress walk off, he’d just processed what she’d said. Roommates?
Fuck.