CHAPTER 8

BAD SCARE DAY

And that’s reason number one hundred and four why pyramids are superior to castles. Reason number one hundred and five—”

Clawdeen yawned, interrupting Cleo.

The ghouls had gone exploring to the kitchens to find snacks and were returning to the royal chambers when they heard sobbing. They flung open the door, but no one was there. The cries were coming from the closet.

Sitting on a pile of shoes and scarves was Draculaura.

At the sight of her friend so upset, Robecca felt like her heart might break.

“What’s wrong?” asked Clawdeen.

Draculaura wiped away her tears. “Nothing,” she tried to say. But it was no good. She couldn’t keep a secret from her beasties. She started sobbing again. “Except that I’m not the real queen!”

The ghouls looked at each other, confused.

“But… the Vampire’s Heart,” Robecca said. “At Monster High when you touched it, it glowed. You’re the queen.”

Draculaura heaved with sobs as she tried to explain. “Lord Stoker faked it!” she wailed. “The real one is gone. And Stoker chose me to be the queen because I’m just a nobody who will do whatever he says.”

Cleo noticed a pretty little dress in the closet. “You still get all of these clothes, though, right?” The other ghouls glared at her. “I mean, being a fake queen is still better than not being royal at all.”

Clawdeen sat down next to Draculaura. “Never thought I’d say this, but Cleo has a point: The vampires have been without a queen for a long time. You’d still be helping.”

“No!” wailed Draculaura. “He wants me to make vampires rule over all other monsters! We won’t be allowed to be friends with anyone but vampires.”

“That’s horrible!” said Clawdeen.

A thought occurred to Robecca. “Wait, if you’re not the queen, then who is?”

Draculaura’s mouth fell open. She hadn’t thought about that. She wiped her eyes on the hem of a nearby skirt. “Only the Vampire’s Heart knows, and it’s been missing for…” She stopped, realizing something. “Wait! Maybe this is how I can help! How I can finally do something important to make a difference to my people! If I find the Heart, I find the queen! And she can put a stop to Stoker!”

“Yes!”

“Fright on, ghoul!”

“As long as you get to keep some shoes,” said Cleo.

Draculaura’s plan lifted her mood. There was only one problem. “Though, uh, how am I going to do that?”

Robecca had been having such strange feelings since she’d arrived at the castle—a tingling feeling, a warm glow inside. She didn’t think it was just being with her friends. It was something else. “I have a strong feeling that there are clues here in the castle, but where?”

Draculaura knew at once. “Stoker’s study! He went batty when he thought I was going through his stuff. I’ll distract him while you all sneak in and search it.”

“Great idea!” said Clawdeen, always ready for adventure. “Time to kick some bat!”

After a few minutes of hurried planning, Draculaura went searching for Lord Stoker. She bounced toward him in the hall with a mischievous smile on her face. “Hello, Stokey!” she chirped.

“It’s Lord Stoker, my… queen.” He sighed irritably. “Have you made your decision?”

“I have!” Draculaura was trying to be as simple as Lord Stoker thought she was. “I was hoping to go over some questions about the whole being queen part… thing.” She batted her eyelashes.

Lord Stoker rolled his eyes. He didn’t like having visitors in his castle. “Ask if you must, but make it quick. You have an appointment with important vampbassadors.”

“Oooh,” squealed Draculaura. “This won’t take… uh… too long.” She winked at Clawdeen, Robecca, and Cleo as they sneaked by.

Draculaura explained to Lord Stoker that she wanted to learn how to wave properly. She dragged him into the throne room, which was across the castle from his study. “Okay, just look,” she said, dragging out each word. “Should I wave with my left arm? Or with my right arm?”

Lord Stoker was impatient. “It does not matter.”

“Okay, okay!” bubbled Draculaura. “Then I’ll do right. How does that look?” She pranced up to the throne, practicing waves. “Now, do you want me to wave from the elbow or the wrist? Because I was thinking I could do a fun combination of jazz hands.…”

Lord Stoker threw up his hands in frustration. “Wave however you please! We have no time for this. I must present a queen to the vampbassadors. Let us go!”

Lord Stoker turned on his heel to exit the throne room.

“Okay,” drawled Draculaura with careful calculation. “I guess I don’t have to be that convincing of a queen for the vampbassadors. Who cares if they think I look fake?”

Lord Stoker slowly turned around to face Draculaura. Across the long expanse of the throne room, he glared at her. Was she threatening him? But no, she couldn’t be. She wasn’t clever enough. “Ah. I suppose a little more preparation could not hurt,” he said.

Draculaura grinned. “Oh, great! That will be fangtastic! Okay, let’s pick out a coronation outfit. I like pink. It’s my favorite color—what’s yours?”