The Haunted High Series Boxed Set

by Cheree Alsop

  I couldn’t help laughing. “That sounds desperate.”

  “Finn,” Vicken said in the tone that let me know he was on his last fragment of patience. “Put the phone on speaker and take it with you. I might not be there, but I’m going to participate in this meeting.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” I began.

  Vicken cut me off. “This isn’t negotiable. I’m a part of the team. I’m breathing—”

  “Barely,” Kiyah said.

  “And I’m going to attend the meeting in whatever capacity I can,” Vicken concluded, ignoring the werewolf.

  “Fine,” I replied. It was easier to agree than wind up with another half hour of arguing with the vampire. I could only imagine how the anger was impeding his healing. With any luck, the cellphone would lose reception in the basement and it would be a moot point.

  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I ended up setting the phone in the middle of the thick wooden table that took up one end of the dark training room. Mercer eyed the phone, but his stony expression didn’t let me know how he felt about it.

  Alden, on the other hand, appeared tickled to have Vicken attend in any form.

  “They told me what happened!” Alden said. “When I woke you up, I had no idea you’d go chasing after Finn. That was incredible!”

  “Yeah, well, nearly dying didn’t feel so incredible,” Vicken grumbled.

  “You’re a hero,” the Grim gushed. “That was so brave!”

  I fought back a grin at the thought of Vicken getting shot the moment he pulled me from the car. I was sure somewhere in the back of his angry mind he was grateful I had left that part out.

  “Whatever,” Vicken said. “Let’s begin this meeting.”

  “Yes,” Headmistress Wrengold agreed from her seat at the top of the table. Her white gloved hands were crossed in front of her, appearing far out of place in the dark, dungeon-like basement. “This is a bit unusual, Finn. Why did you call us all here?”

  I looked around at my team members, Professor Briggs, Mercer, and the Headmistress. Uncle Conrad sat next to Mercer looking entirely uncomfortable at the situation in which he found himself. Because he was the reason the gate had been opened in the first place, it was fitting to have him there. But after all he had been through, I was reluctant to involve him, or any of them, for that matter. My next words were going to ask a lot of everyone who sat around the table. I cleared my throat and said, “I don’t think we should destroy Chutka’s heart.”

  “What!” Lyris said in surprise.

  “Why not?” Brack asked, confusion clear in his deep voice. “Chutka is bad.”

  “That’s a stupid idea,” Vicken shouted from the phone.

  “Take it easy,” Kiyah told him.

  Arguing escalated around the table. I fought back the urge to quiet them with a shout. Everyone deserved to have their voice heard. I had to make them understand. If they didn’t, our trouble was just beginning.

  Only Professor Briggs sat quietly at the opposite end of the table from the Headmistress. The head of his cane hung from the table as a reminder of the damage Chutka’s subordinates had already done.

  “Why?”

  The professor’s quiet voice was a stark contrast to the heated arguing. The vampires were busy siding with Vicken, no surprise there. Lark had slipped her tiny hand into Brack’s huge one for reassurance. The big warlock patted it comfortingly, but didn’t look at all pleased by my words. Dara was arguing with Lyris about my decision, and Alden, Mercer, and the Headmistress appeared to be in the middle of a discussion about my sanity. Uncle Conrad’s gaze was on the table. He refused to participate in any of the conversations or even look at me. It made me hurt to see him so filled with guilt at the situation in which he had placed us.

  “Why?” Professor Briggs repeated just loud enough to catch the others’ attention.

  Even Vicken stopped talking. Everyone’s focus turned to me.

  I put my hands on the table. “Because Chutka isn’t going to stop trying to come here.”

  “But if we destroy his heart, he can’t get through,” Lyris said.

  “Maybe not right now,” I replied. “But he’ll never stop looking for ways.”

  “But if we trap him there, the school will be safe,” Alden said.

  “But for how long?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” the Grim replied.

  I looked at each of them in turn. “Do you really think Chutka will give up if we destroy a few pieces of his heart?” I shook my head. “He wants this too badly.”

  “But if we destroy the pieces, he’ll be out of options,” the Headmistress said with a hint of hope in her voice.

  I shook my head. “He may be weaker, but he’ll never give up.” I rose and looked at Uncle Conrad until he met my gaze. “How long until another angry student starts to meddle in dark magic?” When Conrad looked away, I turned my attention to the others at the table. “How long until someone here, either this current generation, or a generation years from now, gets fed up with the way monsters are treated in this world? How long until someone decides they’ve had enough and starts looking for the kind of power they need to make a difference?”

  “Is that what Conrad was doing?” Alden asked in surprise.

  I nodded. “It was a simple enough desire,” I told my friend. “You’ve seen the way werewolves are treated. It wasn’t much different back then.” I glanced at my uncle. “It’s not easy being part animal. Believe me. I know. But nobody else who hasn’t been there could possibly understand.” My hands clenched into fists. “Chutka thrives on unrest, on the need to make a change, on the want for enough power to make a difference. He’s clever, and we need to remember that. Shutting him out right now isn’t protecting our future or the future of our children.”

  Dara touched my hand. My fingers relaxed when hers interlocked with my own. I took a calming breath and told them my plan. “We’re going to bring Chutka the Shambler to Haunted High.”

  “That is the stupidest plan you’ve come up with yet, Finn,” Vicken said, his voice tinny over the phone’s speaker.

  “Thanks,” I replied drily. “I try.”

  At least nobody was arguing. I had apparently stunned them to the point that everyone simply looked at each other and then me in amazement. I took advantage of the silence.

  “Chutka is planning to destroy this world beginning with the people I love.”

  I looked down at Dara. She squeezed my hand. “How do you know?” she asked quietly.

  “I saw it,” I said. I was unable to suppress the shudder that ran down my spine. “Just before we killed the Darkest Warlock, I saw his memories. I saw Chutka give him the piece of his heart to tempt Conrad. I saw the Wiccan Enforcer and the Demon Knight locked in some sort of room. I saw millions of demons waiting to come to our world.”

  I let out a breath, then said, “And I heard Chutka’s voice just before the Warlock died. He promised that he would come for those I love and destroy everything I care about.” Dara’s hand trembled slightly in mine. I tightened my hold on her fingers. “And he’s coming. It might not be today or tomorrow, but he will find a way to breach the gate.” I looked at my friends and teachers. “And I would rather it be now when we’re prepared to deal with him rather than some time in the future when students have forgotten the threat demons pose or they have forgotten how to face them.”

  Silence filled the room. At least they weren’t arguing against me. I could see the fear my words caused. The thought of Chutka the Shambler threatening the Academy once more made the Headmistress’ face pale. Even Mercer appeared shaken out of his usual stalwart expression to the point that I caught the smallest hint of surprise in his gaze. Briggs gave one shallow nod which lessened the fear I held that they would tell me I was imaging things. At least the professor knew the threat would never leave until we banished it once and for all.

  “Finn, I hate to say you’re right, but you’re right,” Vicken said over the phone.
/>   I couldn’t hide the surprise that filled me. “Did you just agree with me?” I asked him.

  “Don’t get used to it,” Vicken replied.

  Headmistress Wrengold laced her fingers in front of her. “I suppose you have a plan?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “And I’m sure Vicken will like it.”

  The snort of derision that came from the phone said otherwise.

  I gestured to the three boxes Mercer had placed on the table. They looked innocent enough. The ironwood of which they were made kept the power of Chutka’s heart from affecting those at the table. I didn’t want to think about how strong they would be if allowed to join back together.

  “We’re going to use Chutka’s heart pieces to bring him here, and then give him his heart back,” I said.

  Vicken sputtered.

  “You just spit your blood everywhere,” Kiyah said with a note of disgust. “Stop drinking while Finn is telling you his horrible idea!”

  “At least wait until I’m finished,” I said. I looked at Dara. “Do you have the moonstone Madam Opal gave us?”

  She nodded. “It’s locked in Professor Brigg’s room.”

  “Good,” I replied. “We’re going to bind the pieces of Chutka’s heart with the moonstone before we give it back to him. My hope is that after it’s in his chest, if we expose him to moonlight, the stone will overpower him and destroy him the way it destroyed the Darkest Warlock.”

  Mercer set his scarred hand on the table. “Let me get this straight,” he said, his gravelly voice grating against my ears. “We bind the heart to the moonstone, summon Chutka here, give him his heart back, and hope that after he returns to full power the moonstone will destroy him? It sounds a little weak.”

  “It is,” I admitted. “That’s why we need the whole school.”

  Mercer’s eyebrows actually rose. I had never seen that before.

  “Hear me out,” I said before anyone could argue. “We know Chutka’s not coming alone. You should see the number of demons we trapped in Lark’s home in the city.”

  “What?” Professor Briggs interrupted. “You trapped demons in the city?”

  I cringed inwardly. “I think we forgot to mention that.”

  Vicken gave a wry chuckle over the phone.

  “It’s alright,” Lark said. “They’re comfortable. There’s plenty of boxes.”

  Dara nodded. “They’re good boxes, so don’t worry.”

  Lark shot her a beaming smile.

  “Why are we talking about boxes?” the Headmistress asked.

  I lifted a hand. “Don’t worry about the boxes. What’s important is that the demons are trapped there and can’t get out. The barrier Brack and Lyris created will hopefully last until we defeat Chutka.”

  “In which case, what happens to the demons?” Jean asked.

  I met the blue-haired vampire’s gaze. “I’m not sure. I’ve never defeated a demon prince before. But I’m hoping they’ll vanish or something.”

  “Poof,” Lark said with a giggle.

  Brack grinned at her. “Poof,” he agreed in his deep voice.

  Professor Briggs shook his head. “There are too many unknowns here. It’s too dangerous to involve the students. We need to send them home.”

  “No!”

  Everyone stared at the phone.

  Vicken spoke again, his voice fueled by anger. “No, Professor. Now is the time to end this. We’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to stop Chutka’s followers. If we have a chance to cut off the head of the snake, we have to take it.” He paused for a moment and I could hear his heavy breathing.

  “Easy,” Kiyah whispered. “Just take it easy.”

  When Vicken spoke again, his voice was quieter and his words weak as though his outburst had taken a lot out of him. “If we don’t succeed, we risk endangering the school, but if we don’t try, the entire world is already doomed.”

  Chapter Nine

  I sat down without speaking. The silence that filled the room this time was charged. Inwardly, I was grateful that Vicken was fighting the battle at my side. I held my breath, hoping the others would agree. I felt my tension ease and glanced at Dara. She gave me a small smile. I pushed gratitude toward her and her smile widened.

  “We need to give the students the option,” the Headmistress said. “They need to know the danger they will be facing, and be able to leave if they feel it is too much for them.”

  “That sounds fair,” Professor Briggs replied. “But if they choose to go home, they shouldn’t be allowed to return.”

  I stared at the professor and saw everyone else do the same.

  “Why?” the Headmistress asked in a level voice.

  Professor Briggs met my gaze. “If Finn has taught us one thing at this Academy, it’s that a pack doesn’t have to be made up of only werewolves or only vampires, or witches, or Grims, or whatever. Monsters need each other.” His sat up in his chair and winced slightly at some unseen pain. “When this team freed monsters from the Mythic Labs, it started a ripple.” He gave me a slight smile that pulled on the thick scar that marked his cheek. “You didn’t know that, did you, Finn?”

  I shook my head.

  The professor nodded. “Well, it did. Monsters are banning together to protect their families. There is strength in numbers and safety in combining forces with those whose skills are different than our own.” He waved a hand to indicate the world outside the Academy. “There are networks forming, meetings taking place, and tough conversations like this one occurring in which the attendees realize they can’t survive on their own. Monsters are outnumbered and being different will always be a reason to be feared.”

  He opened his scarred hand. “But not here.” His words were strong and filled with warmth. “At Haunted High, we are learning to trust each other. We are finding the value of friendship with those who are different. When I was a student here—” He paused and met Conrad’s gaze. “When we were students here, nobody strayed outside of their own groups. Witches didn’t converse with vampires. Warlocks stayed away from empaths, and everyone avoided the scary, unpredictable, instinct-driven werewolves.” He winked at me. “But thanks to Finn, we’re learning to be less afraid and more open to these differences. The students are growing in ways we struggled with. They’re strong, and they’re better able to deal with something like Chutka the Shambler. Thanks to Finn, I think we can handle it.”

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

  “That’s giving Finn a bit too much credit,” Vicken said with a grunt.

  The professor turned his attention to the phone. “This coming from his best friend who happens to be a vampire. Tell me, Vicken, how many friends did you have before Finn arrived who weren’t vampires?”

  The silence that followed made the professor smile in triumph.

  “Alright, your point is made,” the Headmistress said. “But I don’t agree with telling the students who leave that they can’t return. The Remus Academy for Integral Education was created by my husband as a place of refuge for all students. They deserve to feel protected here. If they choose to go home until it’s safe to return, we can’t blame them. They are children, after all.”

  “Something we tend to forget,” Mercer said gruffly.

  Professor Briggs was silent for a moment with his eyes on the table. It was easy to see that it wasn’t the table top but memories he watched with his distant gaze. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet. “Students deserve to feel safe. That’s why we chose to become professors.” He looked at the Headmistress. “You’re right, Fanny. They should have a choice. And I won’t stand in the way of their return. I’ll encourage the other professors to do the same.”

  “Thank you,” she replied.

  “Then it’s settled?” Vicken asked from the phone.

  The Headmistress gave a nod that was filled with the weight of all she had just learned. “It’s settled. We will assemble the students so that I can address their concerns. In the meantime, Professo
r Briggs, Mercer, and I will begin research into how to bind the heart to the moonstone. We’ll teach the spell to the other professors.” She looked at the students in turn. “Lyris, Brack, you will train the witch and warlock students on the shielding chants. Conrad, you need to brush up on those spells you used to unlock the gate in the first place.” Conrad nodded wordlessly. “The rest of you will begin demon combat training under Finn. Please notify Mercer if you need the imitation flame for practice.”

  The thought of touching demon fire again, even the imitation flame Mercer kept in the box in the corner, made my hand throb. Though the skin had finally healed, I wasn’t eager to expose myself to it again.

  “What can I do?” Vicken asked.

  The vampire’s voice sounded small and frustrated coming from the phone.

  A true smile touched the Headmistress’ lips. “Vicken, you get back here as soon as you are healthy. We miss your charming personality.”

  Laughter followed the Headmistress’ words.

  “You should,” Vicken replied with a huff. “I know you miss me.”

  I picked up the phone.

  “We do,” I told him honestly. “I can’t imagine facing Chutka without you. Get better and get back here. There’s a war coming.”

  “I’ll be there,” Vicken promised.

  I hung up the phone.

  “Well,” I said. “Time to see what kind of warriors werewolves make.”

  “Don’t you know?” Lark asked.

  I shook my head. “I have no idea. I’ve personally just been pretending to be a werewolf up to this point. You should see these guys. They’re the real deal.”

  “Pretending,” Brack said. He grinned and repeated it. “Pretending to be a werewolf.” He started to laugh his deep, rolling, echoing belly laugh. It was so contagious everyone in the basement caught on. Dara leaned her head on my shoulder as she laughed and even Mercer gave a grunt that could have passed for laughter from the sweep.

  When Brack finally stopped, he patted me on the shoulder with a beefy hand. “You’re funny for a werewolf, Finn.”

  I grinned up at him. “Thanks, Brack. You’re funny for a warlock.”