CHAPTER 16
Freaky Feedback
Limousines were pulling up in front of the Museum of Unnatural History. Cameras were flashing. Well-dressed dignitaries in their best bandages and gowns were walking up the red carpet that led into the main hall. A huge banner with the comet on it was strung from pillar to pillar. The crowd outside the museum was all dressed up in comet gear and carrying comet signs.
Inside, Elle Eedee was working her turntable, playing a classy mix of ancient Egyptian music. The ghouls in their ball gowns strode in time to the beat, past the crowds, and into the gala.
“Totes fierce!” Clawdeen whispered to Frankie.
“Can you believe this?” said Draculaura to Catty.
“A fright to remember!” sighed Operetta.
Just after the ghouls arrived, a fanfare announced the guests of honor—Madame Ptolemy and her son, Seth. Seth tripped on the carpet coming in, and his mother shook her head. She nodded at Elle as she passed. “Very good. That’s the kind of music we want to hear this evening. None of that other stuff. Isn’t that right, Seth?”
“Yes, Mother,” agreed Seth.
Elle plastered a smile on her face, trying to be polite.
The De Niles arrived, waving their hands at the crowd. Cleo held her head high even though her heart was breaking. Ramses and Nefera were just behind her, whispering.
“I presume there will be a Promise Ceremony later tonight with the Ptolemy boy?” asked Ramses.
“Of course, Father,” smiled Nefera, reassuringly. “I’ve got Cleo exactly where I want her…”
Inside the rotunda, silk banners advertised the night of the comet. Well-dressed guests mingled beside exhibits about ancient Egypt. Spotlights picked out celebrities, and waiters passed by carrying trays of drinks. Up on the balcony was a small stage with a microphone. For a moment, the whole museum was plunged into total darkness and then across the domed ceiling flashed a spectacular light show. It was like being in a planetarium or even out in space.
Madame Ptolemy took the stage. “Hurtling through space, brimming with magical energy, the great comet only graces us with its mystical presence once every thirteen hundred years. And tonight, it visits us once more.”
The ceiling projection showed the comet burning brightly above the pyramids. A line of mummies in profile began walking across the sky. In the middle of them was an otherworldly being, a kind of star child.
“Our ancestors believed the great comet was a gift from the others above,” explained Madame Ptolemy. The star child shone alone on the ceiling. “A mysterious race of beings that live beyond the stars. Why did they send the comet? Is it a message? A peace offering? A warning? We don’t know. But we do know that any promise made under the magic light of the comet cannot be broken.”
The image of the star child dissolved and was replaced by a pair of mummies holding hands. A stream of light shone down on them from above.
Triumphantly, Madame Ptolemy continued, “And so we created the Promise Ceremony, where our children would commit to be together, forever joining their families to create powerful dynasties. Whatever is spoken in the presence of the comet will be for all time. And when the ceremony is complete, the comet leaves. But we have something to remind us that she’ll be back again someday.”
The light show revealed the comet in space and a small piece of it breaking off and plummeting to the earth. It crashed into the sands of ancient Egypt. Behind Madame Ptolemy, a black obelisk began to rise. Embedded in its pinnacle was the crystal itself. It glittered on the top of the shiny tower.
“This is the comet crystal,” proclaimed Madame Ptolemy. “A piece of the great comet itself unveiled before you, the public, for the first time.”
The crowd marveled at its shiny beauty.
“There it is!”
“I can’t believe it!”
“Amazing!”
“On behalf of the Ptolemy family, allow me to welcome you to the night of the comet and invite you to join me on the roof at midnight to observe the comet fly directly above us!”
The lights in the rotunda came back on. Elle fired up her turntable. The crowd began mingling. The ghouls whispered to one another about all the beautiful dresses the royals were wearing.
Madame Ptolemy left the podium and cornered Ramses behind a pillar. “I assume this will be a traditional betrothal between my son and your daughter.”
Ramses smiled nervously. “Absolutely, Madame Ptolemy. Your Ptolemy-ness. Ma’am.” He dabbed his forehead with a loose bandage and slipped away to find Nefera. He caught her eyes from across the rotunda. She nodded at him reassuringly.
The ghouls were chatting in a corner about Cleo. They couldn’t believe Deuce had broken up with her.
“He broke up with her for no reason?” questioned Clawdeen. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Right?” Draculaura agreed. “They were like Romeo and Ghouliet or that pea and that other pea that were in a pod together.”
Cleo was off by herself, studying the comet crystal up close.
Frankie was watching her fiend closely from across the room. “Something doesn’t seem right,” she agreed.
Nefera approached her sister and led her over to the edge of the balcony to look down at all the guests. “Oh. My. Ra. You must be so sick and tired of hearing about Seth tonight,” she said to Cleo.
“Seth Ptolemy?” Cleo was confused. No one had said anything to her.
Nefera pretended to be surprised. “You seriously haven’t heard? Everybody’s talking about it. But if you haven’t heard, I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“What?” Cleo was curious despite herself.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” said Nefera, acting like she was about to walk away. “Pretty silly actually.”
“Nefera!” Cleo grabbed her by the arm.
Nefera grinned. She had her sister right where she wanted her. “Far be it from me to go fluttering around like a scarab spreading gossip, but everyone wants you and Seth to perform a Promise Ceremony under the comet tonight.”
Cleo took a sharp inhale of breath. “A Promise Ceremony? Me and Seth?”
Nefera acted disinterested. “See, I told you it was silly. They are all wrapped up in the idea of the De Niles and the Ptolemys joining their families and creating the most powerful super dynasty, like ever. You’ve got to admit, that would be historic.”
Cleo bit her lip, thinking.
“You’d be rich,” Nefera said softly. “You’d be powerful. And it’s what everybody wants.”
Cleo gazed at the Egyptian dignitaries, at her family, at her friends. Was this really what was best? “Everybody wants me to do this?”
Nefera laughed. “Crazy, right? It would never happen. I mean you’ve already got Deuce…” Nefera paused, noticing Cleo’s eyes welling up with tears again. “Anyway, forget I said anything.”
Frankie saw Cleo looking over toward them, but she couldn’t get her attention. A waiter approached the ghouls carrying a tray of snacks.
“Can I interest you ladies in some gore d’oeuvres?” she asked.
“Luna?” Operetta recognized the moth at once.
“Hey, ghouls!” said Luna. “I’m working the party. I know, it’s not really acting, but, hey, I get to wear a neat costume.”
Frankie was impressed. “You made it from a slice of pizza on the streets to the fanciest gala in all of Boo York. At this rate, you’re going to find yourself singing on Bloodway in no time.”
Luna smiled. “Ooh, try the King Tutankrab rolls. They are to die for.”
Operetta hushed the ghouls. Elle was up at the podium!
“Okay, mummies and gentlemen,” the DJ called out. “Make sure those bandages are wrapped up good and tight because Elle Eedee is here to make you move!” She started dancing like a robot and laughed. “It’s literally the only dance I can do!”
Behind her, the comet crystal on its obelisk started to pulse with rhythmic light. Elle stared at it, mesmerized, drifting into a trance again. She buzzed and pulsed and instead of music, the room was filled with ear-splitting feedback.
“It’s happening again!” said Frankie.
The ghouls pushed their way through a sea of people and made their way up to the balcony. They took Elle by the shoulders and guided her out of the party.
What was happening to her?
And what did it have to do with the comet?
Back at Monster High, Abbey and Ghoulia studied the screen. Nothing was working. The comet was still going to crash into Boo York at midnight!