by Susan Harper
“Look, Mom!” Abigail said when the gift shop workers brought out the posters of Brian and Urrgah. Monica froze, realizing what Abigail had just said. She had not called her mom before, and it felt so good. Monica smiled, and she looked at the poster, trying hard not to laugh. The poster depicted a rather comical Brian standing with a smirk on his face and Urrgah using the top of Brian’s head to rest his elbow. The two of them had evidently had a good time during their photoshoot.
“We better hurry up, honey,” Monica said, feeling quite affectionate toward Abigail now. “Or we’ll miss the start of the game.”
They left with their arms loaded with posters, stuffed animal mascots for both teams, and more Wysteria Werewolves gear than Monica knew what to do with. Mona was waiting for them outside the shop and laughed, shrinking it all down for them with a quick spell to put in her coin purse. The three hurried off together while Abigail talked excitedly about how she was going to decorate her bedroom when they returned to Bankstown.
Eventually, they found their seats, and Monica was relieved to see Holly sitting by Isaac. Holly hadn’t left the ship with everyone else that morning. After Grace had killed their mother, things had gotten even more startling for them all. Grace had broken down into tears, muttered a simple, “I’m sorry,” and vanished without a trace. Grace, undoubtedly, was on the run now. Where she was, none of them knew. They had seen the remorse in her eyes, but that didn’t erase the crimes she had committed alongside her mother. The Sorcerer’s Council and their authorities would be looking for her. Holly had understandably been quite shaken up by the events, and Monica had been unsure whether she would make it to the game.
Monica offered her a warm smile as she sat beside her. “I’m glad you made it,” she said.
Holly smiled. “Well, my dads were a little more than excited about this,” she said, nodding behind her.
Her biological father, Jonathan, was seated next to her adopted dad, George. This was the first Romp-A-Roo game for them both, and they had painted their faces for the occasion, much to their wives’ horror. Norah and Bonnie were seated next to one another, laughing in embarrassment about their husbands while Norah went through the rules of how to play Romp-A-Roo for Bonnie to make sure she would be able to follow the game. “This is my first time seeing it professionally too,” Anniston told Bonnie. “Mom used to talk to me and my other body about it all the time when we were kids before Dad knew he was half-immortal.” Holly’s Uncle Roczen, Uncle Weston, and Aunt Tora were all there too, muttering excitedly and stuffing their faces full of concession stand foods.
Wilma and Drac, who was sporting a dark umbrella that day to avoid direct contact with the sun, were now squishing past other people in the stands to reach them all. Their arms were loaded down with snacks as well.
“I’m so excited!” Abigail said as though she had never been to a Romp-A-Roo game in her life. She was bouncing in her seat.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” a voice suddenly boomed through the stadium, and the crowd cheered wildly. “Allow me to first introduce our safety witches for the day…”
Monica felt Bonnie poke her in the back, and she turned around, predicting her question. “The safety witches are in charge of catching the players if they fall from one of the podiums.”
“Ah,” Bonnie said, satisfied with Monica’s answer.
A bunch of professional witches came whooshing between the podiums, and the crowd cheered for them. The announcer gave the names of the referees as well. “Now, let’s give it up for our very own Norbury Nymphs!” There was great cheering all around as one player at a time appeared by magic at the top of the yellow podiums, starting first with Oldar, who did a backflip for good measure. The announcer gave each player’s stats, getting the crowd pumped up as he did so. This was the Romp-A-Roo finals, after all.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to welcome the visiting team, the Wysteria Werewolves!” The crowd lost it. There was a lot of love for the team despite being in Norbury, the team having made quite a reputation for itself in being the most diverse team in the league. “Up first, warlock and team captain, Deimus! Playing second podium, Brian the mortal—a first ever in professional Romp-A-Roo, and one of the team’s latest additions! Third green, Bolt the werewolf. Fourth green, Urrgah the troll, another first in Romp-A-Roo history, ladies and gentlemen. Urrgah joined this season alongside the mortal, Brian. On the blue podiums, we’ve got selkie Clowdia—another first in Romp-A-Roo along with the league’s first female dwarf, Trixie, then the werewolf Ida, and the witch Rosemary! Finally, the team’s goalie and third werewolf, Gale!” The crowd cheered. “Please allow for a pause while the referees cast a magic suspension spell!”
Monica felt Bonnie poke her again, and she explained that a magic suspension spell was used to make sure no players had any sort of advantage over one another outside of physical prowess and skill for the game. This too seemed to be a satisfactory answer, and Bonnie went back to enjoying the start of the event.
As Monica expected, this was one of the most exciting games she had ever witnessed. The Norbury Nymphs, though they had sprung into action to help them aboard the ship during the crisis with Morgan Le Fay, were not about to allow themselves to be beat by the underdogs in the league. The Werewolves had brought their A-game that day. Monica could see Coach Joanne-Jo flittering up and down the field shouting commands at her team as they went flying back and forth across the field chasing the Romp-A-Roo ball.
It was an even match, and even two hours into play, it was still anybody’s game. Neither team had gotten ahead by more than two points for more than five minutes. It was a rough and brutal play, but there was clearly mutual respect between the teams. Oldar even gave Deimus a thumbs-up for a good block that resulted in some praise from the announcer who called this the “most respectable finals match I’ve ever seen, though no less exhilarating!”
Monica could see that both teams were growing exhausted. The game was dragging on, and neither team was relenting. Krulin and Gale, the goalies, both seemed incredibly out of breath. Monica could never recall a game in which the goalies had had to move around as much as these two had. “Come on, Werewolves!” Monica yelped when the score was 17-19, Nymphs leading.
“If the Nymphs score another point, they’ll win,” Isaac said sorrowfully to George, who was leaning over to ask them all questions about the game.
The next move was an impressive though highly illegal one. Urrgah had reached for the ball to try to get it from one of the Nymphs, but the player hadn’t let go. Urrgah, not the brightest fellow on the team, had thrown the ball anyway, sending both the Nymph warlock and the ball flying back toward the end of the field. This was, of course, a foul. Monica began to bite her nails. The warlock he had thrown was none other than Oldar, and he was definitely one of the better foul shots on the team.
“Come on, Gale!” Mona screeched. “Don’t let him score on you!”
Gale looked nervous; she looked exhausted. If she let that ball pass, the game was over. Oldar smiled, like he thought the victory was already in-hand. The ball went flying, and Monica bit her bottom lip from the suspense. Gale snatched the ball out of the air and used the momentum from the throw to spin herself completely around and launch it right back at him. It beamed Oldar right in the face, and he fell flat on his back, hard. Monica spotted Krulin all the way across the field, and she could swear he was gushing in his state of impressed wonder.
The medical wizards flew out onto the field to check Oldar over as he did not jump up right away. The game was paused, and he hobbled for a second but assured them he was fine. He smiled a bloody smile at Gale and shook his head. “Sorry!” she called, though Monica was sure that Gale had been waiting to show off that move for a while.
“I should have caught it!” Oldar called back, and the crowd ate up the friendly banter.
Play continued, and Trixie performed her impressive launch to center field and tossed the ball to Clowdia in midair. Clowdia tossed
to Brian, who tossed to Urrgah, who scored. 18-19, Nymphs. The ball was back in play. Krulin blocked a shot and tossed the ball to Udali, who came face to face with Bolt on one of the yellow podiums. She kneed him in the shin, and he happily elbowed her in the stomach when he went down and was able to wrestle the ball from her.
“No chivalry in Romp-A-Roo, I see,” Bonnie said.
“Not on the yellow podiums, there’s not,” Monica said. “It’s like a welcomed mosh pit if you get on the center field like that. Fouls are hardly ever called on the yellow podiums.”
“So, avoid the yellow podiums unless you want to get punched?” Jonathan asked.
“Definitely,” Mona said.
“Werewolves score!” the announcer called. “Very impressive pass by Rosemary to Clowdia, and what an impressive throw from that yellow podium!”
The game was tied. The ball traveled all over the field in such rapid succession that Monica had a hard time keeping up with where it was. The ball seemed to pass through the hands of every player before it got to Brian, who launched himself from the center yellow podium onto the opposing team’s side. Evidently not having expected the mortal to use the launch pad at all, they had left green podiums unattended. It was just Brian and Krulin. Krulin looked confident, but his confidence was his downfall. Brian dropped the ball, let it bounce once into the air, and kicked it hard. It flew right past Krulin.
“The mortal scored! The mortal scored the winning goal! Wysteria Werewolves win! They win!” the announcer screamed.
Monica also screamed excitedly. The crowd rushed the field below the podiums, but Monica stayed put. She watched with great amusement as the Wysteria team converged at one of the center yellow podiums and screamed and hugged one another. Deimus was near tears, as was Coach Joanne-Jo. “Now for this,” Mona whispered, and Monica glanced over to see her pointing a wand in her direction.
“Huh?” Mona asked as her sister zapped her.
When she blinked and opened her eyes, Monica found herself standing on the podium with the team. They had formed a circle, and there was Brian. “So,” he began. “Not really sure how this works in your world, but we mortals like to give rings.” He knelt in front of her and opened a small ring-box, and Monica covered her mouth in surprise. “Monica, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought possible. Every day with you is pure magic, and it’s just beautiful. You make me so happy, Monica Montoya. Please, will you marry me?”
Monica was certain she was going to cry if she waited too long to answer. She screeched “Yes!” and then cried anyways. Urrgah clapped loudly and threw them both up on his shoulders. Brian laughed and leaned over, giving Monica a quick kiss before Urrgah could drop them with his enthusiastic clapping.
15
Eight months later…
Monica stared at herself in the mirror. She had on a white gown, and her sister Mona was currently fussing over her veil. It was hard to believe that this day had finally come. The wedding. Attempting to create an ambiance that incorporated both mortal and mystic traditions had been a struggle, but she was confident they had managed to pull it off. Mona had made a face when Monica had told her she planned to wear a traditional mortal wedding gown—the enormous and gawdy white dresses made Mona cringe—but now that her sister was actually wearing one, Mona seemed to have had quite a change of heart. In fact, if her twin told her one more time how beautiful she looked, Monica was going to wonder if she was overcompensating.
Monica turned around, and she could see Mona was actually getting a bit emotional. “You look so beautiful,” Mona said, dabbing her eyes. The bridesmaid dresses were quite mystical in style. Black and lacey, making Mona look like what Brian had referred to as a gothic Tinkerbell—a reference that had gone over Monica’s head a few weeks ago, resulting in an evening of binge-watching various Disney films from Brian’s childhood.
Also dressed in gothic Tinkerbell chic was Holly, and she too was getting watery-eyed. “So pretty!” Holly said. “I can’t believe how pretty you are!”
“I can’t believe Brian’s parents actually came,” Monica said under her breath. They had gotten reveal licenses for them only a month before, and the news that their future daughter-in-law was a witch and that a wedding would be taking place in a mystical world known as Wysteria had nearly killed them. Not to mention Monica hadn’t even met them yet due to the distance they lived from Bankstown, so it had all been quite dramatic.
“They’re mingling, believe it or not,” Holly said. “I saw Brian’s parents talking with Urrgah earlier, and it was quite entertaining. I think his dad finds him pretty amusing.”
“Do they know Brian is a famous Romp-A-Roo player yet?” Mona asked.
“Are you kidding? Urrgah has been talking their ear off about the poster they were on together since they walked in the building,” Holly said, and Monica giggled.
The bridal room they were hiding out in was an enormous ladies’ powder room with mirrors wrapped in golden frames. A wedding at Bran Castle was usually near-impossible to book, but as the castle was owned by Uncle Drac, they had gotten bumped to first on the list. Monica was beyond herself with excitement. There was a knock on the door, but before any of them could open it, Abigail came twirling in. She was wearing the cutest dress Monica had ever seen; she and Mona had picked it out together with much careful consideration. It was her junior bridesmaid dress—mostly white like Monica’s bridal gown, though it was cut similar to the bridesmaid dresses, short and choppy at the hem.
“You look so beautiful!” Abigail exclaimed, prancing up to her. Lenore, Mona’s raven familiar, swooshed into the room through the open door right behind Abigail, eventually landing on Mona’s outstretched arm.
“Guests all in place?” Mona asked.
“Sure thing,” Lenore responded.
Monica felt incredibly nervous. The clock was ticking down. At last, her Uncle Drac arrived, and he got quite teary-eyed as well. “Oh, my girls! So beautiful,” he said, kissing Mona and then taking Monica into a ridiculously tight vampire-hug that caused Mona to fuss at him about wrinkles. “I am so honored,” he said, wiping his eyes. “Zat you asked me to give you avay!”
“Of course, Uncle Drac,” Monica said and kissed his cheek.
Aunt Wilma poked her head in. “I need the rest of the bridesmaids to come with me! Time to… Oh, Monica, I’m not even going to look at you, or I’ll start boohooing before we even get out there… Come on now. Bridesmaids, Abigail, you too!” They each gave Monica one last look before scurrying after Aunt Wilma.
Uncle Drac hooked arms with Monica, patting her hand. “I vish your parents could have been here, my girl,” he said.
“I know. Me too,” Monica said, smiling. “But I’m glad you’re here, Uncle Drac.”
“Vould not have missed it for zhe world,” he responded, and they headed out of the powder room.
They came to two large doors that would lead out into the courtyard, and she gripped her uncle’s arm anxiously. She could hear lovely music playing on the other side. The doors opened, and up ahead, she could see her friends lined up at the end of the aisle. Mona, her maid of honor, along with Holly and Abigail. Brian stood at the end of the aisle, looking back at her, positively beaming. Beside him was Isaac, his best man, along with Deimus and Urrgah. Urrgah looked absolutely out of place in his suit, but he had promised to wear it for Brian. Monica imagined it would be torn to shreds by the time they got to the reception, but she appreciated his effort nevertheless.
As Uncle Drac walked her down the aisle, she could see everyone looking at her. Wysteria Werewolves made up a good bit of the crowd along with local mortals and mystics she had come to know, including much of Holly’s family, whom she had become quite close with. There were distant relatives as well as a number of new friends she had made over the past two years such as the centaurs and onocentaurs she had befriended. But she was hardly focused on any of them. She couldn’t take her eyes off Brian, who was staring at her with the widest grin she had
ever seen.
Her Uncle Drac gave her away, and he sat down next to her Aunt Wilma, borrowing a handkerchief from her to get himself through the rest of the evening. Before the ceremony could even commence, Brian cut off the officiant. “Monica, before we get started, I have something I want to say to Abs,” he said, turning to Abigail. He reached his hand out to her, and she giggled and came over to him as he knelt. “You are a little monster, but I love you for it,” he said to her. “And I just wanted to tell you that I am so happy that I get to be your dad. I am excited to become a family today, and I know you and I got off to a rocky start, but this is going to be one amazing adventure. I can’t wait for the three of us to take this on together.”
Abigail smiled at him. “Don’t go getting all emotional on me, Dad,” she said, and Monica felt herself tearing up.
Brian took Monica by the hands. “I love you,” he said. “My life changed forever, and for the better, the moment you walked into it.”
“I love you too,” she said. “And, honestly, Brian, you’re the one who brings magic to my life. It’s not the other way around.”
He laughed, and the officiant cleared his throat. “Can we maybe get going here, kiddos?” the old, crotchety goblin asked.
Monica and Brian laughed slightly as the proceedings went on. They kissed, the crowd cheered, and someone released a bunch of bats that caused Brian’s mother to screech in surprise until someone explained that it was intentional and not an error of some kind. They were still getting used to the whole mystical thing.