Monster War by Dean Lorey

SWORD?”
    Violet, tired and alone, gave her answer.

C HAPTER E LEVEN A R ELUCTANT R EUNION
    D eep inside the Nightmare Academy, the Headmaster’s study was quiet and still. A small, bird-like Snark nibbled away at a wooden railing. Suddenly, it looked up, alarmed, as a fiery portal burst open in the centre of the room, filling it with light and heat. Tabitha Greenstreet rushed through, followed by Rex, who carried the Headmaster in his strong arms.
    “Place me on the couch, Mr Henderson,” she commanded, gesturing to a worn bamboo sofa covered in a dark, wine-coloured fabric.
    “I can bring you up to your bed if you’d be more comfor—”
    “The couch ,” she repeated sternly, “will be just fine.”
    Rex gently set the Headmaster down, careful not to aggravate her wounds. “You hungry? You need anythingfrom the galley? Biscuits or something?”
    She shook her head. “What I need is for you to check on my students and make sure they are safe from the wrath of those infernal Elemental Golems.”
    “Right away,” Tabitha said with a nod. “But let me portal you somewhere else while we do it. The Nightmare Division will be looking for you here. We’re still in exile, you know.”
    The Headmaster waved away her concern. “The day I start worrying about Director Drake’s insane ‘orders’ is the day I resign as Headmaster.” She sighed wearily. “I only wish I knew how Mr Benjamin and his friends were faring…”
    “Tabby and I can go check up on ’em,” Rex said. “Maybe we can give ’em a hand. We’d love to do it.”
    “I know you would, Rexford. But unfortunately, the threat they are facing is from something dying inside themselves - something precious and irreplaceable. It is not from a monster we can slay.”
    And that was when they heard the voice - so deep and loud that the entire tree shook with its thunder.
    “YOUNG MR BENJAMIN! Come out here, boy! Come and talk to your old friend!”
    Rex and Tabitha glanced at each other.
    “Can’t be…” the cowboy said.
    They raced to the balcony off the Headmaster’s study and looked out on to the beach beyond the great tree. Something was standing there near the crashing waves, something huge and monstrous.
    “Pinch?” Rex asked, staring in dismay. “That you?”
    The gigantic antlike creature nodded. His enormous legs, as thick as the Academy’s lower branches, were dug into the white sand beneath him like pilings supporting a pier. “Yes, it is me. Surprised?”
    “A little. I mean, you were never the most attractive son-of-a-gun on the planet, but now you’re takin’ ugly to a whole new level.”
    “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Rexford. I happen to think I’m quite the catch. That is, if you could catch me - which you can’t. No mere human can any more. Certainly not these fools, although they tried.”
    Pinch opened his massive fists, allowing the corpses of several Banishers to tumble to the soft sand like rag dolls.
    Rex grimaced - even after the deaths he’d dealt in his life, he still hated to see it. “Where did they come from?”
    “The Netherforge. I went there to look for our mutual friend, Charlie Benjamin, but unfortunately, he was not present.”
    That’s probably because he’s still in the Chamber of Ancient Weapons , Rex thought darkly, trying to get the sword.
    “Well, it’s a dang shame you didn’t get to meet up with him,” the cowboy replied. “Anything I can help you with? Or did you come here just to reminisce about the good old days?”
    “I wasn’t aware there were any.” Pinch stepped forward. “I thought, perhaps, that Charlie Benjamin might be here with you.”
    “Sorry, Pinch. Ain’t seen him. Hey, have you tried calling Directory Ant-sistance? Maybe they could help.”
    “ Ant -sistance? Is that an ant joke?”
    “Yeah, but you ain’t laughing, so I guess it wasn’t a very good one.”
    Pinch took another step forward. “You will either bring young Mr Benjamin here to me or I