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in the air. The Chupakabra’s wings beat quickly, like a hummingbird’s, and in a moment the trio had rushed out the window and into the dusk.

5
L ITTLE D IRTY B IRDIES’ F EET
    T he horizon tilted. “Do not fear, my friends,” said Pearl, pressing Falcon’s and Megan’s hands tightly. “I am sworn to protect you.”
    Pearl did not need to worry about Falcon or Megan, however. They felt no fear, only exhilaration, as they soared above the earth. Below them were the five towers of the castle, the long wall that surrounded it, and beyond this, dozens of other academic buildings and well-manicured green lawns. In the distance was the ocean, the sunlight twinkling on the waves. Megan looked over at Falcon, her mouth open in amazement and wonder. For once the expression of grief seemed to have left her face.
    Pearl swept down to the ground. Before them was an open door that led to a large institutional cafeteria. Pearl let go of Falcon’s and Megan’s hands.
    â€œWe have arrived upon the ground,” said Pearl. “Our flight is at an end.”
    Falcon exhaled sharply. “Wow,” he said. “That was great.”
    â€œThe speed!” said Megan. “And—the wind!”
    â€œI am pleased that you enjoy the adventure of flight,” said Pearl. “We shall fly together again—we three! But now, let us enter the chamber of dining. Surely more discoveries await us.”
    Falcon, however, was reluctant to go inside, and for a moment he stood there in a state of exaltation. He felt the wind rushing through his fingers, the air pounding in his lungs. He looked up at the sky in wonder.
    â€œFalcon,” called Megan. “Come on. ”
    The room was filled with other creatures about their age, most of them moving in a long line toward what appeared to be a kitchen. There were cafeteria tables arranged in rows throughout the large, ugly room, and a few of the Academy’s students were gathered at these, eating their dinners. The student body, to say the least, did not look very much like Cold River Middle School’s. There were young zombies with glazed expressions, carrying plastic trays piled high with french fries. There were two Frankensteins with bolts in their necks, wearing T-shirts that read, respectively, I’M WITH STUPID and STUPID’S WITH ME . There was a mummy, whose top and bottom halves were wrapped up in gauze bandages; hermidriff was bare, exposing a tight, muscular stomach. A pair of minotaurs wore New England Patriots T-shirts.
    â€œWhere’s Max?” said Falcon.
    â€œThis Max,” said Pearl. “Who is this Max?”
    â€œHe’s our friend,” said Megan, and Falcon raised his eyebrow.
    â€œYeah,” said Falcon, scanning the room. “You’d recognize Max—he’s huge. Mrs. Redflint said he was a Sasquatch.”
    â€œAmong the bigfeet,” said Pearl, “all things are in abundance.”
    Falcon looked over at one table, where a half dozen gorgeous girls were all sitting in a row. At first he didn’t see what kind of creatures they were; they all looked human enough. Then, in unison, they smiled. Each of the girls had braces. And giant vampire fangs.
    Megan, Falcon, and Pearl joined the line that led toward the stainless-steel kitchen. An obese creature stood behind the counter. She looked like a giant iguana standing up on two legs. She was wearing a white chef’s apron and holding a nasty, dented spatula. A fly buzzed around her head. For a moment she followed the flight of the fly with her eyes. Then a three-foot-long tongue shot out of her mouth, snagged the fly, and disappeared just as quickly back into her mouth.
    â€œAck,” said Pearl, her eyes wide. “This is not the place for me.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t eat a student,” said Falcon. He looked suspiciously at the cafeteria lady. “Would you?”
    The cafeteria lady narrowed her