Page 59 of A Mastery of Monsters

I compare the house in front of me to the address Violet sent me. She texted yesterday to invite me to her Halloween party for candidates, partners, and a few other society people. She’d invited Corey and Virgil too, who confirmed that they would be coming. Thankfully, Caden isn’t invited.

I feel like I missed the memo where every Learners’ student casually has access to my contact details. I wouldn’t be here at all if not for the mention of Corey and Virgil.

In the past week since Dad’s heart attack, I’ve been visiting him at his apartment regularly between classes.

Bailey stocked him up with a variety of soups and curries that Grandma taught her to make with what she termed “heart-healthy modifications.” Technically, Grandma taught them both to make them, but Dad’s never cooked a single Trinidadian dish for us.

Mom does randomly have a fantastic jerk chicken recipe even though she’s not Jamaican.

I’ve been so focused on Dad’s recovery that if not for the pumpkin-themed decorations staring me in the face, I might have forgotten about Halloween. I half expected that society students wouldn’t celebrate it. But I guess they don’t see it as culturally specific enough to avoid.

I walk up the stone steps to the gray brick townhouse that has flickering orange and black lights on the outside, seven different pumpkins on the stoop, and a wooden sign over the door that declares, ENTER, IF YOU DARE…

When I push open the door, I jump as a sudden loud cackling rings out. Sounds of talking drift from the living room accompanied by some sort of electronic version of the Monster Mash.

A bored teenage boy with floppy bangs in a black hoodie is slouched in the entryway on a chair. “Shoes off,” he says. “There’s candy if you want. Living room to the left.”

Based on the family photo by the entryway, this is Violet’s brother. I take a fun-sized pack of Swedish Fish and Fuzzy Peaches while I take off my shoes.

He looks me up and down. “Violet said you almost kicked Caden’s ass at the first test.”

I raise my brow.

Before I can answer, Violet comes around the corner in a long black gown. “Matt! You’re supposed to tell me when people come in.”

“I was going to,” he says.

She gestures to me. “We’re all over here.”

I follow Violet down the hallway into a living room. It’s cozy. The couch is a big sectional that looks pillow-soft, and there are matching armchairs. On the TV, the Halloween Baking Championship is playing while people chat and mill around.

I recognize some of the other candidates. I’ve only ever talked to Violet and Bryce, but most of the others have been friendly enough.

“Everyone,” Violet says as I follow her in.

“This is August. She’s partnered with Virgil, who’s over there.

” She points him out, though I spotted him the instant we walked in.

Everyone pauses to wave at me, and I wave back.

It’s strange to party with people I’m competing with, but they don’t see any problem with it.

Virgil is wearing suspenders with neon straps over a striped T-shirt and has changed out his usual glasses for ones with red frames. Corey, meanwhile, has dressed up as rollerblading Barbie with a pink unitard and neon green fanny pack.

I slide over to them, ignoring the muscles of Virgil’s arms, which are usually hidden by button-ups and sweaters. “You guys didn’t want to use the multipurpose Victorian/Pirate costumes?”

Corey shrugs. “Since we had the opportunity to go to a party of more than two people, we decided to branch out.”

I nod and gesture to Virgil. “Who are you supposed to be?”

“Urkel.”

I stare at him blankly, and he sighs.

Corey says, “I didn’t get it either.”

I swallow, building up to it. I can’t not say anything about how shit went down that night at the club.

“It’s okay—” Corey starts.

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry. Like, actually. Obviously, we are friends. You’re a great friend. Amazing, honestly. And I was an asshole.” I glance at Virgil. “To you too. Sorry.”

She beams. “Apology accepted. And I’m sorry for saying you don’t care about people. I know that’s not true.”

Virgil, however, scowls. Corey nudges him. He sighs. “I guess I’m also sorry for not considering how hard it is dealing with everything that comes with the candidacy. And the extra crap, like Caden. I’m used to Learners’ bullshit, but you aren’t.”

I straighten. “Thanks.”

“Group hug!” Corey announces.

“No,” I say. She pouts a bit but accepts it.

“You didn’t mind the hug before.” Virgil tilts his head to the side.

How. Dare. He.

Corey looks between the two of us. “You hugged? Without me?!”

“What’s going on with this journal you mentioned?” I ask her, smoothly changing the topic.

She lets out a long, dramatic sigh, effectively distracted.

“I got this rare book dealer guy to talk to me, and the book he has looks like the other journals, so I buy it. But once I get it home to examine it, I realize the binding is too new. I thought that maybe he’d rebound it?

But, like, the paper and the ink weren’t right either.

And I know it because I know books. TLDR, he doesn’t want to give me a refund, and I’m right back where I started. ”

“Shit. I’m sorry. But, like, isn’t this whole thing kind of unnecessary? You’re good at researching, and you shouldn’t have to impress Henry before he lets you into his little club.”

She hunches her shoulders.

“That’s what I said,” Virgil adds, crossing his arms over his chest. Which, of course, makes the muscles bulge. He has to know he’s doing it, right? He can’t be that oblivious.

When both of them look expectantly at me, I realize I missed what he said when I was ogling his biceps.

A tiny smile starts to peel onto Corey’s face, which I ignore. I say, “Sorry, couldn’t hear over the music. What did you say?”

Virgil shakes his head. “I said, she should just ask Henry to be involved. It’s not like he said she had to do this to get into the Mastery group. It’s self-inflicted.”

Violet claps her hands at the front of the room. “We’re playing a game!” Half the room groans. “It’s gonna be fun! I have cards with famous horror characters and people on them. Don’t look at yours! Just stick it on your forehead—”

“With spit?” Bryce calls out. He’s wearing a onesie with a skeleton design drawn on.

“Not with spit! It’ll naturally adhere to the oils on your face—”

“Gross!”

And here I thought Bryce was just a nice, quiet guy.

But it looks like he has a sense of humor.

One that Violet is used to, because she plows on.

“Go find someone and say facts about the person on their head so they can guess who it is. If they get it right, you take their card. Person with the most cards at the end gets a prize.”

“What is it?” Bryce asks.

She rolls her eyes. “You’ll know if you win.”

“Booooooo!”

Ignoring him, Violet goes around the room handing out cards. Corey sticks hers on her head. “I have to win,” she mutters, leaving us to find someone.

“Is she competitive?” I ask.

Virgil nods. “Yup. I stopped playing board games with her when we were sixteen. Too intense.” He meets my eyes. “You’re, like, super beautiful.”

I choke on air. “What?!”

He points at the card on my forehead. “The person.”

“That’s a shit clue!”

“I don’t know!”

Corey cheers from across the room. This girl already has multiple cards in her hands. I look at Virgil’s card, which declares that he’s Vincent Price. “I think you have a mustache. And you might also be dead?”

“I don’t think we’re good at this?”

I snort laugh, and Virgil smiles and leans against the wall. “How’s your dad?”

“Great. He’s getting a bunch of home-cooked meals from Bailey. And the college gave him some paid leave.” I swallow. “We good?”

“Yeah. Also, I kind of don’t have anyone else.”

“Facts.” I shove my hands in my jeans pockets.

I settled on the solid costume of being the color black.

“I don’t have anyone else either.” Riley has decided not to respond to my texts or calls, and I don’t want to join this magic QBSS faction, so we’re at a stalemate.

Plus, I need this. I need to win. I push a breath out. “I saw Jules.”

Virgil’s jaw drops. “What?!”

I tug at the shirt tucked into my jeans.

“Riley had a lead, so we followed it. And a monster appeared. I saw him transform back. It was Jules.” Even if me and Riley aren’t cool right now, I figure the magic stuff is supposed to be need-to-know.

I trust Virgil with the truth about Jules, but Riley’s secrets aren’t mine to tell.

“When?” he asks.

“Like, a week and a half ago.”

Virgil looks around the room and bites his lip. “Maybe we should go somewhere…?” He glances at Corey, who’s grilling Bryce. “Let’s leave her to it.”

The two of us ditch the cards on our foreheads and walk into the entryway, where Matt is still at the door, now giving out candy to some trick-or-treaters. “Hey, is there another room you don’t mind us being in?” Virgil asks him.

Matt looks between the two of us. “Dude. That’s bold.”

“Not for that!” Virgil splutters. “We have to take a phone call.”

“Oh.” Matt’s face drops. He jerks his thumb to a door across the hall. “You can go in Violet’s nerd palace.”

Violet’s nerd palace is a small library that may have originally been a large closet. Half the shelves are filled with anime figurines.

Virgil says, “Jules was the monster at Big Sandy Bay?”

“No, that’s another one. Jules was different. Kind of… uh, bearlike, I guess.”

Virgil sinks into one of the plush armchairs, and I take the one across. “Two. Two . Obviously unregistered, and one is Jules. Bitten, I assume?”

“Actually, I was thinking maybe spontaneously born? It seems like it was a slow process, and bitten monsters turn or die right away.”

“That’s true, and a better theory. And this is why you asked me if one Master could bond to two monsters?” I nod. He attempts to look me in the eye, but I shift my gaze away. “And you didn’t tell us any of this because…?”