Don’t Look Back

by RiotGrrrl15

Summary:

After Wednesday’s semester at Nevermore, she never went back. Her career in writing has been an overwhelming success, but a certain werewolf refuses to leave her dreams and memories alone. When Eugene calls to invite her to their 10 year reunion, she reluctantly accepts.

CW: Angst, domestic abuse, cheating, jealousy. I was gonna give this a sad or unsatisfying ending because I’m a sicko who likes those, but you needy little gremlins talked me out of it, so. There will be a happy ending.

Chapter 1: Stir

A large, meaty Venus flytrap sat proudly in the window of Wednesday Addams’ New York City apartment. Her jaw closed slowly around a wriggling beetle as her doting owner fed her with chopsticks.

A phone rang. Wednesday sighed in frustration and set the bowl of insects down. Her agent had strict instruction never to call her after 5 PM. Either someone somehow got a hold of her telephone number, or Heather was in for a scolding.

An unknown number displayed across the screen. Wednesday stared at the device like it was a ticking bomb. She let it go to voicemail. Within thirty seconds, a notification displayed on her screen that a message had been left. With untrusting skepticism, she played the message.

“Hey! I don’t know if this is the right number, it took me forever to get but uhm, it’s Eugene! Eugene Ottinger? If this is Wednesday’s phone. If it’s not, just ignore this. Well anyway, yeah, call me back!”

She played the message twice. The man’s voice was so much lower than the last time she’d heard it a decade ago, and had a completely different timbre. More confident and smooth. Deciding she didn’t want to deal with this now, Wednesday threw her phone on the couch and moved to the kitchen for a drink. She didn’t imbibe often, but she had an extensive collection of wines and scotch that had been given to her over the years.

Hearing that name stirred something old and ugly in her stomach. Wednesday rarely thought back on the four short months she spent at Nevermore. It was a traumatic and turbulent period of her life, one she had decided to leave in the past and opt for homeschooling to complete her high school education. It didn’t hinder her application to Columbia University where she majored in creative writing, which ended up being unnecessary as she was published by the time she was 18. (She beat her literary hero and nemesis, Mary Shelly, by just shy of a month.)

Her YA mystery series had been an unprecedented success, one that helped her launch into adult horror. Her works were abstract and macabre, drawing in millions of morbidly curious readers. As an author, her identity was just short of a mystery to the world. She preferred seclusion and privacy, only ever speaking with her frazzled, enthusiastic agent, and she refused to do book signings or events.

Her life was comfortable. Her apartment was discrete but opulent, and she appreciated the staff. She spoke with her family at least once a month, and was close enough to visit for holidays. Beyond her writing, she maintained her hobbies in cello playing and caring for carnivorous plants. She didn’t need to look back. Sharks die if they stop moving.

As she slowly sipped at a glass of Merlot, she fought off intrusive memories of her semester at Nevermore. The star of her memories was a blond, bubbly werewolf. Most days she was able to keep a tight lid on the memory, but Enid invaded her dreams from time to time. She took another sip.

“Ugh,” she huffed out loud after fifteen minutes of fighting with her subconscious. She stomped over to her black leather couch and snatched up her phone, dialing the number back.

“Hello?” She still wasn’t convinced this man’s voice belonged to her old classmate.

“If this is a prank I will have you assassinated.”

“Wednesday!!” The voice laughed. “Oh my god. You haven’t changed.”

“Tell me who gave you this number immediately.”

“Um…so, please don’t kill her but, your agent Heather gave it to me.”

“I won’t kill her. I will only fire her. And maybe burn her house down.”

“It’s only because this is really important!” He whined apologetically. Maybe this was Eugene after all. “There’s gonna be a reunion at Nevermore and I really really want you to come with me.”

Wednesday was silent.

“You there?”

“Yes.”

“Will you come with me? It’s this weekend! Is that too last minute? It took me forever to find you.”

“Why would I go to a reunion for a school I attended for one semester?”

“Dude, everyone loved you when you were there! You were like, the highlight of our whole high school experience. I bet no one’s forgotten you.”

“I have forgotten everyone. I have no interest in going.”

“Did you forget me?” His voice was sad and small.

She hesitated. “Well, no. You are the one exception.”

“You never called.”

“I don’t have a phone.”

“You’re literally talking to me on the phone right now.”

She rolled her eyes. “The answer is no. Goodbye.”

“Wait wait wait! Don’t hang up!”

She moved her thumb to end the call, but paused.

“Enid Sinclair will be there.”

A tight knot tied in Wednesday’s throat. “So?”

“So, she was your roomie! Your bestie. She’d be so happy to see you.”

A long, heavy pause. “No.” Wednesday hung up the phone and shut it off. She tossed the device back on the couch and stomped into the bathroom, peeling off her shirt and turning the shower on.

Flashing images of colorful stuffed animals and fairy lights stuttered behind her eye lids. She squeezed them shut, clenched her fists, willed the memories to stop as she let ice cold water pelt the back of her neck.

That night offered little sleep. The seer tossed and turned, wrestling off old guilt and trauma. When she was six years old, she cried for Nero and swore to never cry again. And when she was sixteen, she let people into her life. A boy that tried to kill her, a therapist who was mauled to death, a mother figure that caused it all. She vowed to never get that close to someone again. It was a sum loss in the end.

But she could still hear that grating, peppy voice in her head. She’d hoped that after a few years without it, she’d forget the sound. She’d forget the way Enid smelled, the way her hands moved when she talked. Eventually she’d be unable to recall what her face looked like. But, without her permission and against her earnest efforts, her brain insisted on holding onto every little detail.

Around 4:00 AM, she folded to the torture. She slinked into her living room and curled up on the couch, turning on her phone. She had three text messages from Eugene, begging her to reconsider. With shaky fingertips, she replied. “Fine. Text me your address and my driver and I will pick you up on the way.”

Chapter 2: Pull

Notes:

In case any of y’all missed it, I have decided to give this a happy ending 🙄 I’m such a people-pleaser.

Eugene’s home was almost exactly how Wednesday pictured it. He’d found a reasonable patch of land in Southern Vermont and made a self-sustaining home for himself. Acres of crops, beehives, orchards, and livestock surrounded a humble homestead. Wednesday’s driver struggled over dips and bumps in the dirt road winding up his to his home.

A tall, gangly boy burst through the door before the car was in park. He wore a thick knit sweater with patterns of various fruits wrapped around the chest. Wednesday suppressed a smile at the tangle of pitch black hair and thick rimmed glasses. He’d changed drastically, but this was definitely Eugene.

The driver popped the trunk, allowing the boy to toss his small suitcase in before he pulled open the door and slid in beside his old friend.

“Wednesday!!” He made fists, resisting pulling her into a hug. “Oh my god, this is wild.” He smiled wide and bright. His teeth were straight now, his face was angled, he even wore a modest mustache.

“You look different,” was all she could manage.

“Hah! Is that a good thing?” He ran a hand through his hair.

“It isn’t good or bad. You just look different.”

“You look…the same.” The light in Eugene’s eyes refused to relent. Wednesday wondered what he was so happy about. She stayed silent as the driver pulled out and away.

“You still rockin’ the braids, huh? Or did you just do those for the reunion?”

Wednesday furrowed her brow in confusion. “Why would I braid my hair just for some asinine, meaningless social event?”

He laughed fondly. “Good point.”

Wednesday looked down at herself. She wore a pair of platform Doc Martens, black cargo joggers, and an oversized black T-shirt over a white long-sleeved shirt. Her nails were blunt and black, her hair tied in her signature braids. She felt suddenly self-conscious. Had she really not changed at all? Had everyone else changed? Would they think she was stunted or stuck in the past?

“You excited to see Enid?”

She was pulled from her thoughts. “What?”

“Enid! She’s already in Burlington, I saw on on her insta.”

“Burlington?”

“Oh, yeah. The reunion’s at a Hilton.”

“I assumed it was at Nevermore. Pull up the address and give it to my driver.”

“Nah, reunions are usually at hotels and like, event halls. I texted you all this, dork. Did you not reserve a room?”

She stared at him, annoyed. “I’ll text my agent, she’ll get me a room.”

Eugene sat back in his set. “You alright, old buddy? You seem tense.”

She looked out the window. “I am just… not looking forward to this.”

He nodded. “Yeah, this kind of thing was never really your scene. I really appreciate you coming with me though. I wanna see everyone, and for everyone to see like, how successful I am. But after you left, I never really… made other friends. I don’t know.”

She looked at him. “That sounds ideal. Peaceful.”

“Maybe for you. I hated it. But I made some really good friends in college. Did you?”

She scoffed. “No.”

Eugene shifted awkwardly. “So like, what have you been up to? For the last… ten years, hah.”

“Writing,” she deadpanned.

“Yeah!! Dude I saw your name in a Barnes & Noble window and totally geeked out. You’re like, actually famous.”

She shrugged.

“But I mean like, other than being a best-selling author or whatever. Do you live alone? You still play cello?”

“Yes and yes,” she offered the bare minimum.

Eugene’s face slowly fell. “What’s going on with you?”

Wednesday sighed. “I don’t want to be doing this.”

“Then why did you agree to come?”

She ground her teeth. “I… wanted to see you. I feel bad for disappearing the way I did.”

“Yeah, how come you never called?”

“I try to keep Nevermore behind me. But I suppose I didn’t need to pack you away in that box.”

He paused. “I’ll take that as an apology and forgive you.” He offered a patient smile. “I know it was like, super traumatic. What happened. Makes sense you’d want to just forget about it.”

She met his eyes for a moment. She tried to conjure all the guilt she’d carried into her pupils, hoping he’d see it and she wouldn’t have to say more. The dumb, empathetic smile on his face told her that he didn’t.

“I saw hives on your property.”

“Yes!” Eugene reached between his ankles for a small red backpack and started unzipping it. “I actually you brought you some honey.” He produced a small jar and handed it to the girl. She took it, rolling it over in her hand and inspecting the label.

“I do a lot more than honey nowadays. I’m a local farmer, almost completely self-sustained at this point. But the bees will always be my favorite.”

She gave him a small, minimal smile. “That is good to hear. How are your mothers?”

Eugene loosened. “They’re good, really good. Thanks for remembering them.”

Wednesday kept her eyes glued to the honey. She’d use it on her fruit when she got home. Local honey was always far superior, and Eugene’s was the best she’d ever had.

“Why do you keep dodging my questions about Enid?”

Wednesday placed the honey in a cup holder and looked at the driver’s GPS. “How long until we’re there?”

Eugene put his hand over his face. “Like that! What’s that about?”

She glared at him. “Why do you keep asking about her?”

“She was your best friend. She missed you so much when you left. Dude, first semester junior year, all the joy just… sucked out of her. It was really sad.”

Wednesday bit the inside of her cheek.

“Not to guilt trip you! I just mean, you meant a lot to her. I’m sure she isn’t mad, she never seemed mad about it. I just think she’ll be really excited to see you.”

Wednesday fidgeted with the button on one of her pockets.

“…so, how do you feel about seeing her?” He bowed his head and spoke gently. She felt patronized.

“Indifferent.”

*****

 

The hotel wore a gaudy banner over its front doors, proudly announcing the Nevermore class reunion. Cars pulled into the crowded lot, groups of people hugged and squealed and laughed under the awning. Wednesday regretted her decision.

“Oh my god look!! That’s Kent and Divina!” Eugene pressed his finger against the glass. Wednesday followed and found the twins climbing out of a cab. Kent’s hair had gotten longer, Divina’s shorter. They wore different outfits but their color palettes matched.

“I wonder if they remember me.”

“Dude I told you, everyone remembers you.” The car stilled and Eugene flew out the door. Wednesday took two deep breaths before steeling herself and dragging herself out of the vehicle.

The pair of old friends found the front desk and checked in, handing their luggage to an attendant to have it brought up. The sounds of gabbing and chittering crowds were already grating on Wednesday’s ear drums.

“Holy. Shit. Wednesday Addams??”

Wednesday slowly turned around and saw Bianca Barclay, clad in a gorgeous green evening gown, towering over her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Neither can I,” Wednesday deadpanned.

“Well how the hell are you? You get a drink yet?” Bianca turned, gesturing toward a set of open double doors. Wednesday searched around for Eugene and found him on the other side of the lobby talking to some girl.

“I haven’t.”

She let the siren lead her into a large conference hall. Some hundred people gathered in clusters around the space, laughing and hugging and throwing back plastic cups of wine. Tables were set around the room, there was a bar in one corner, the lights were dim. Whoever had decorated the place clearly had a lot of fun shopping at Spirit Halloween.

“What have you been up to, Addams? I heard you’re like, a published author now,” Bianca spoke cooly and she nursed a cup of wine.

“Yes. That is what I’ve been up to.” Wednesday chose water.

“Well like… what else?” Bianca cocked an eyebrow.

“Nothing, really.”

Bianca smiled suspiciously. “Alright then, keep your secrets.”

A figure suddenly hurled toward the pair, crashing into Bianca’s side. Wednesday recognized her as Enid’s friend, but couldn’t remember her name.

“Yoko, oh my GOD!” Bianca wrapped her arms around the vampire’s shoulders, nearly spilling wine on her neat, black suit. “It’s so good to see you! Oh what the fuck, you’re such a bitch for not aging.”

Yoko laughed lightly. “Hush. You look perfect.” She stole a glance at Wednesday, double-taking. “Holy shit,” she pulled her sunglasses up. “Wednesday fuckin’ Addams.”

“It’s Friday.”

“What?”

“My middle name.”

Yoko’s face broke into a smile and she wrapped the smaller girl in a hug. Wednesday tensed and pushed against the offending arms around her.

“Where the hell have you been? Dude you disappeared. Does Enid know you’re here?” Wednesday looked around anxiously. “I haven’t seen her yet.”

“ENID!” Yoko called over a crowd of heads and waved her hand.

Wednesday’s heart pounded in her chest. She could hear her pulse in her eardrums. Her hands shook, her breath hitched, her stomach knotted. If she turned and ran now, she could get out before Enid pushed her way through the tight crowd of old friends.

But then she was there, and Wednesday felt her heart explode.

Enid’s hair was brown now, a sweet and hazelnut tone. She wore it shorter. Her dress was a horrendous burst of pink and yellow. Chunky jewelry decorated her wrists and neck. None of it registered. Not the mix of shock and relief on her face, not the rainbow delicately decorating her nails, not the heartbreaking blue of her eyes. The only thing Wednesday could see were the three thin scars trailing across her face.

Before a flashback could get its foot in the door, Enid’s voice chipped through the haze like an ice pick. “Wednesday.”

“Enid.” The crowd fell away. All sound stopped. Wednesday was 16 again, limping toward the forest edge. And then a tall, warm body was enveloping hers. Arms pulled around her back, a hand splayed out between her shoulder blades.

Enid whispered, sending chills down Wednesday’s spine. “Fuck, I can’t believe you’re here.” But she wasn’t. She was in the forest, covered in blood, weak and tired and letting herself be held for the first and only time.

Chapter 3: Panic

“Where’d you go?”

Enid and Wednesday stood in a darkened corner, away from the mob of classmates. Enid had tugged her friend away from the crowd, sensing her anxiety. She had always been good at that.

“I homeschooled,” Wednesday answered, eyes locked on the mass of people.

“No I mean, when I hugged you just now.” Enid stood almost six inches above her in her heels. Wednesday could feel her body heat even from a foot away. She felt undeserving of the sense of security the presence provided.

“I didn’t go anywhere. I am standing right here.”

Enid looked down empathetically. She reached a hesitant hand out and cupped the shorter girl’s shoulder. “It must be hard. Being here.”

Wednesday scoffed. “There are many things I’d rather be doing. But this isn’t hard.”

“Look at me.”

Wednesday looked up, disturbed by her body’s inclination to obey the werewolf’s voice against her own defenses.

“I know that year was scary. And traumatic. I get why you ran away.”

“It was fifteen weeks. Not a year.”

Enid paused. “I’m really happy to see you.” Her eyes welled. “I missed you so much.”

Wednesday looked away. “Don’t you want to go… mingle with your friends?”

“No,” Enid’s hand stayed put, now pressing soft strokes into the girl’s shoulder with her thumb. “I see them all the time. I wanna stay here with you.”

Wednesday looked at the hand on her shoulder and wondered why it didn’t burn and sting like all other human touch did. Two golden bands wrapped around the girl’s ring finger. One held a modest diamond. Wednesday swallowed down the thick, black tar of jealousy that boiled in her gut.

“Hey babe, who’d ya find?”

Wednesday couldn’t control the sharp, incredulous laugh that barked from her throat when she saw Ajax Petropelous slink up behind her old roommate. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth. The boy’s face had matured, but still wore a knit beanie and very little muscle. His brow screwed in disapproval as recognition set it. “Oh, hey. Wow, I super didn’t expect you to be here.”

Wednesday looked at Enid and spoke like Ajax wasn’t there. “You married him?” The gorgon flinched back in offense, Enid bit her lip and looked back at him. Without offering any time to respond, Wednesday turned and walked away. She ignored Enid’s calls behind her and disappeared into the warm crowd. She moved briskly between bodies and eventually found a door the lead to a side lot.

The heavy door slammed shut behind her and her lungs seized. She suddenly felt like she was drowning, like she’d been kicked square in the chest. A panic attack pulled her underwater and wrapped its tentacles around her throat. She shook, wrapping her arms around herself, refusing to let tears form.

“Wednesday?” A man’s voice caused her to flinch. She looked up and saw a tall man in a leather jacket. He was working on the last centimeter of a cigarette. “Holy shit, Wednesday Addams!”

She took a step back as he approached.

“What, you don’t remember me? Xavier Thorpe. Come on, I’m not that forgettable am I?”

She blinked hard. The boy had shaved his head, and wore neatly trimmed facial hair. His body was littered with tattoos.

“You okay dude?” He looked the girl over. “You havin’ a panic attack?”

She shook her head defensively.

“Oh okay. Well, I was. ‘S why I’m out here.” He shrugged and pulled another cigarette from his pocket. “It’s like only some of us got fucked up by everything that happened. Everyone else seems to be having a blast.”

She let Xavier ramble on. His voice sounded like it was underwater. He offered her a cigarette, she refused with a glare.

“I’m surprised you came.”

“I wanted to see Enid.” Wednesday shocked herself with her own honesty. “To make sure she was okay, I suppose.”

“Oh yeah, she’s doing real good,” he nodded. “I was the best man in their wedding actually.”

Another kick to the chest.

“When?”

“Oh that was like right after high school. Before he went to college.”

“She didn’t go?” Her voice came out like gravel.

“Nah she went, she just took a year off first.”

A hundred questions clamored in her head, shoving each other out of the way to be first in line.

“What did she study?”

“Education. She’s an art teacher for like, little kids or something.”

Wednesday bit her tongue.

“Do you wanna maybe get outta here? We could go break into my mini bar.”

She stared at him in disgust. “I don’t know why I’m surprised that you’re making an advance after ten years of no contact. While I am in this state, no less.”

He laughed kindly and stroked his beard. “Oh my god, no, shit I’m sorry. You missed that whole arc, right. No, I’m gay.”

She squinted at him.

“I think my crush on you was like, aesthetic envy. Hence…” he extended a leg, showing off a pair of Oxford Docs, the same pair she used to have. “Your style is still goals.”

She loosened slowly. “Oh. Well.” She ground her teeth. “I am still going to decline your offer. I want to be alone.”

He nodded respectfully. “Aight, that’s cool. Hey, I hope you feel better.” He smiled, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and turned to go back inside.

*****

Wednesday sat in her hotel bed with her back against the frame. She’d texted Eugene, insisting that he stay and enjoy his evening. It seemed like he was reconnecting with an old flame and she didn’t want to intrude. The quiet was a salve on her sore eardrums. Old memories played on every screen in her frontal lobe. Her consciousness had almost entirely dissociated out of her body, existing neck-deep in the past. She pulled her laptop out of her bag and tried to write.

She wondered if Enid treasured her rings more than her scars. They were less permanent. There were fewer of them. She let her mind take a detour to fantasize about nail guns and internal organs.

Ajax didn’t leave. He stayed at Nevermore. So he won. Wednesday shut her eyes. Enid wasn’t a prize to win, not an object. Self-disgust was a familiar feeling, it almost provided comfort.

Someone knocked on her door. She let out an automatic, immediate “No.”

“Please?” It was Enid’s voice. Wednesday swallowed hard and moved to open the door. Enid stood in the hall wearing an off-white crew neck sweater, grey sweatpants, and a pitiful expression. “Can I come in?”

Wednesday stepped back and opened the door further. “You’re not a vampire.”

Enid offered an amused exhale and bashfully entered the room. Wednesday let the heavy door shut.

“You changed your clothes.”

“You’re allergic.” Without warning, Enid wrapped her arms around Wednesday’s waist and pulled her in and rested her chin on the smaller girl’s shoulder. Wednesday put her hands up in surprises before reluctantly letting them settle on the werewolf’s shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” Enid muttered into cloth. “Can I just do this for a minute?”

Wednesday consented with a small nod. She took a steady breath in, letting the girl’s scent flood her brain and stir up more memories. The silt and sand at the bottom of her memory bank had been disrupted with a large stone, and she dreaded the months it would take for it all to settle back down to the sea floor. She let her fists close around gathered sweatshirt. Her eyes fell shut.

“I missed you. I missed you so much, Wednesday,” Enid’s voice cracked. She finally pulled back, rubbing her eye with the back of her forearm.

Wednesday stared. “Where is Ajax?”

Enid bit into her lip. Her eyes shone like a kicked dog. “He got too high with Xavier and passed out.”

“Charming.”

Enid sighed. “It’s complicated.”

Wednesday’s nervous system flared. “Does he treat you well?”

Enid took in a shaky breath, her eyes now red and wet. “Uhm,” she looked to the side and tilted her head. Wednesday felt an entire bloodline’s worth of spite. She imagined an axe spitting flecks of glowing shrapnel against a grindstone.

“I will kill him. Tonight.”

Enid held the girl’s waist with shaking hands. “No, no,” she begged urgently. “It’s… a lot of it is my fault. Jesus Christ, me comin’ in here and trauma dumping on you.” She offered a dark chuckle. “Can we like, sit and talk and stuff?”

Wednesday stood stock still. She had fourteen ideas for how to end Ajax’s life, and was busy ranking them by risk of mess. A hand cupped the corner of her jaw, tilting her face up to meet blue eyes and tear-stained cheeks. The grip on Enid’s sweater tightened.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” Wednesday whispered, her body betraying the sentiment as it pressed into Enid’s.

“Where were you?” Enid’s eyes shuttered back and forth between Wednesday’s, like they’d somehow hold the answer.

“I needed to get away.” Guilt. Self-disgust. Shame. Familiar, comforting.

“From me?”

The girl’s words were a match struck against stone, tossed into the kindling beneath Wednesday’s feet. She pressed forward and pushed her mouth against Enid’s. The arms around her waist tightened, Enid’s lips parted with a gasp. She shut her eyes tight, squeezing tears out, and she fell hard into the kiss.

Wednesday’s hands released the girl’s sweatshirt and moved up to cup the back of her head. She whined as fanged teeth bit lightly at her lower lip.

“Enid,” she panted, threading fingers through short, soft hair. The wolf’s mouth moved to kiss at the smaller girl’s neck. Wednesday cringed in pain. “You were better off without me.”

Enid let out an angry growl and pushed the raven back against the wall. She cried harder now and nuzzled her nose into addictive scent. “How could you say that,” her voice was frayed. “I needed you.”

Wednesday’s blood boiled, her chest caved in. “I’m sorry.”

Enid leaned back up to press another kiss to the girl’s swollen lips. It was devastating, urgent, a decade overdue. Wednesday’s hands moved on their own accord. They slid down to the hem of Enid’s sweatshirt and ran light fingertips over the heat of soft skin. Enid flinched.

“Oh,” the taller girl pulled back an inch. Wednesday stared up in shock.

“That was too far,” she admitted, grateful that her self-hatred was already maxed out.

“No,” Enid shook her head and pressed a soft, reassuring kiss to the corner of Wednesday’s mouth. “It’s just, I’m like… self-conscious. About my body.”

Wednesday searched the girl’s face. “You are flawless.”

Enid smiled gratefully and slid a hand over her own stomach. “Thank you. It’s just I like, you know,” she shrugged, desperate to sound casual. “I had a C-section, so.”

The third kick was enough to break every rib in Wednesday’s chest.

“You have a child.”

Enid pursed her lips. “Oh, uhm, yeah.”

Wednesday stared. “With Ajax.”

Enid shrank and leaned away. “Yes.” She looked to the far wall and then back to Wednesday, eyes wide like she’d just woken up in a strange room. “Wow. Shit.”

The shorter girl continued to stare, burnt and cracked like pottery after a house fire. “You should go.”

Enid stepped back and took a long inhale, humiliation burning the tips of her ears. “Yeah, yeah. I… okay.” She pulled on the handle of the hotel door and slipped through it like a sheet of paper. She was gone.

Wednesday stood with her back to the wall. She counted seconds with the ticking wall clock until she lost count, and then started again.

 

The water in the hotel bathroom wouldn’t get as cold as her shower at home. It wasn’t enough to numb her spinal cord. The soap did nothing to remove the stench of Enid’s peach perfume. She cranked the faucet the other way, hoping steam and boiling water would burn Enid’s fingerprints off her neck and jaw. But it all failed; she was cursed to lay awake through the black, silent night, drowning in the void Enid left behind.

Chapter 4: Torture

Wednesday watched out the window as Eugene stared at her. Minutes passed in silence as they made their way out of Burlington.

“You at least have to tell me who gave you that,” he pointed rudely at a small, purple spot on her neck.

“Hair curler,” she barked sarcastically.

He hummed curiously, ignoring her mood. “Oh, was it Yoko? I can see little pin-pricks where her teeth would have been! Oh my god it was totally Yoko wasn’t it??”

She turned to glare black fireballs at him. “Shut up. I would appreciate if we could take this car ride in silence.”

He smirked and fidgeted. “Yeah that’s not gonna happen.”

She crossed her arms and slunk back in her seat like an annoyed child.

“Can I at least tell you about my night?” Eugene raised a scandalous eyebrow. Wednesday stared ahead.

“Okay so,” he turned his body to better face her. “There was this girl that transferred in our Senior year, Ava.” He said her name like it was a payer. “She was always so bubbly and sweet, and really intelligent. I had the biggest crush on her but she had a boyfriend back in Michigan and they were doing the long distance thing. Well anyway, she was there last night and we got talking and…” he balled his fists up and squealed, “she’s SINGLE now!” He sighed dreamily. “We didn’t really do anything, but honestly it was more romantic that we just talked all night. She’s gonna fly out to visit me in a couple months.”

Wednesday took in every fifth word. A part of her felt guilty for not paying any attention, but her thick guilt from the prior night didn’t leave much room in her chest for more. When the boy paused, she figured he was waiting for some response.

“That sounds nice, Eugene,” she guessed.

“Right?? And she has two cats, they’re sooo cute, here she sent me a picture…”

Trees rushed by like film outside the car window. Eugene monologued about a girl. The driver kept his eyes steady on the road. Wednesday felt herself rotting from the inside out.

Eugene stared expectantly again, not getting a response this time. He gave his old friend a few minutes of quiet before starting a new conversation, putting on an unconvincing air of off-handedness.

“Enid looked sad at the breakfast.” His attempt at getting her attention succeeded. She stared at him like if he didn’t say more words in the next three seconds, he’d be strangled. “You missed the breakfast. I saw Enid, she looked really down. Her and Ajax were bickering about something. Did you get to talk to her last night?”

Wednesday continued to stare. She should have kept Enid in her room. She should have stolen her away, disposed of the gorgon, built a new life for her somewhere far away. She should have gone to breakfast.

More regret gurgled in her throat. Her mind went fuzzy. She strained through the only words she could manage to croak out, “Do you have her telephone number?”

 

*****

Wednesday curled into the leftmost corner of her couch, knees drawn up to her chest. A fireplace crackled delicately, providing the only light in the room. She worked slowly on a glass of wine and held her phone with one shaky hand.

This was going to consume her and she knew it. She recognized the distinct sensation of a new hyper-fixation. It felt itchy and hot and unpleasant. She knew the only salve for the itch was indulgence. It felt selfish, wrenching herself back into someone’s life after abandoning them for so long, but that was a character trait Wednesday had long since accepted about herself. She hadn’t slept in two days, and her self control had finally clocked out. After six drafts and nearly two hours of rumination, Wednesday finally sent the text.

W: Enid,

I have never believed in the power of a verbal apology. Forgiveness should be sought only with corrective action and behavior. However, I understand that many people appreciate the sentiment. I want to apologize for leaving Nevermore the way I did. The experience was traumatic, I chose to bury it away. I should have come back for you. If there is ever anything I can do to redeem myself, you now have my telephone number.

Regards,
Wednesday Addams

 

Wednesday tossed her phone to the far side of the couch and sighed heavily. She ran a hand over her face and took a swig of wine. She knew there was no chance of getting a text back. Enid likely hated her even more after her pathetic display two nights prior. The way she disappeared for ten years, only to come crawling back into Enid’s life like an infestation of termites gnawing on the foundation she’d built. How had they ended up kissing like that? Wednesday figured she must have manipulated the situation. Disgusting. Her phone buzzed.

E: Hey, shit.
E: I’m really glad you texted me
E: You don’t have to apologize for leaving Nevermore. It just made me sad that you didn’t keep in touch.

E: Also you text like an email and it’s cute.

 

Wednesday stared at the screen. “Cute”? She swallowed hard and turned her body to extend her legs across the couch, her back against the arm.

 

W: I didn’t want to infect your life any more than I already had.

E: Oof. We need to work on this self-hatred bit.
E: Anyway, we don’t need to harp on the past. I’m honestly just really glad we’re talking right now

E: Are you okay? After the reunion?

W: I haven’t slept.

E: Me neither.

W: Regret is something I battle with daily. It has grown tenfold. I should have come back, if only to protect you from that pig.

E: Wednesday, please
E: Don’t talk about him like that
E: I know you care about me but, I care about him.

W: Why?

E: What? I mean, he’s my husband
E: He’s helped me a lot and he makes me laugh, and he’s a good dad to Mary

 

Wednesday wouldn’t make it much longer without combusting. She stood abruptly and stomped over to the fireplace to turn it off. She snatched up her phone and moved to the bathroom, roughly stripping herself of her clothes while cold water filled the tub. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Pathetic.

She hissed and tensed as she lowered herself into the cool water. Her burnt nerves slowly soothed. Everything about this was a mistake. She shouldn’t have gone to that reunion, she shouldn’t have gotten Enid’s number, she shouldn’t be texting her. It all felt hopeless and frustrating, like she’d spilt black ink everywhere and was only worsening the mess by trying to clean it up.

Fantasies of torturing Ajax in creative ways played on a loop on the back of her head like therapy. It kept a corner of her calm and sated enough. She closed her eyes and tried not to imagine Enid curled up on a soft couch with Ajax, laughing, stealing kisses, a giddy child on her lap. A bolt of jealousy shot through her spine and she felt grateful she was in the bath. The cold mitigated some of the burning.

She let the water slowly drain from the tub, feeling every new inch of air on her skin as it cooled the drops of water that clung to her. She sat in the empty tub now, shaking from the cold and the emotional pain, and she reached to the lip of the tub for her phone. Four new texts.

E: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get defensive
E: You’re just being protective. I always liked that about you.

E: I guess I’m probably in denial. There’s a lot of stuff that’s fucked up between us. But everything is harder when you have a kid, I can’t just up and leave. And I don’t want people to think it’s 100% his fault.

E: I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m dumping all this on you. How’s your night going?

W: It is going as well as it can. You should sleep, it is late and you probably need to be up early.

E: Oh, I’m 3 hours behind you, I’m okay
E: How’d you know I get up early?

W: Xavier told me you’re a teacher.

E: Oh you ran into Xav?

W: Yes.

E: That’s cool, he didn’t mention that.
E: But yeah I get up at like 5 am. I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in years. You get used to it though
E: I imagine you can sleep as late as you want ‘cause you work for yourself, yeah?

W: I keep myself on a very strict schedule. I assume you’re aware of my career, then.

E: Of course
E: I have every book.

W: You do?

E: Yeah
E: Is that weird?

W: No.

E: It’s always made me feel like we were still in contact
E: Because I knew you were still alive at least. And well enough to write. Sometimes when I read your work I can hear your typewriter clacking away in the corner
E: Do you still use a typewriter?

W: Yes, I do.

E: I love that
E: Your third book in the Viper series is my favorite. I had almost given up hope that you missed me or even remembered me until I read that one.

W: Lyra.

E: Mhm. It was pretty on the nose, giving Viper a bubbly werewolf bestie.

W: I’m embarrassed. I never thought you’d read those.

E: Don’t be embarrassed, please
E: I loved it. It was like a secret note just for me

E: I liked knowing you were still thinking of me.

W: I never stopped.

Notes:

As always, comments and kudos are SO appreciated!! Is this shit too sad so far?

Chapter 5: Wait

Wednesday’s schedule was sacred, steady, it held no room for exception. It hadn’t been amended in years. This was the kind of control that kept her halfway sane. Her apartment building offered a gym, and her neighbors knew not to use the space between 5:00 and 6:00 AM unless they wanted to exercise under an intimidating and uncomfortable glare. The corner coffee shop knew to expect her at exactly 7:00 AM, they’d have her quad ready at the counter. Mornings were for research and contemplation, afternoons for lunch and cemetery strolls if it was raining, and her evenings belonged to her typewriter. Or, they did until she got her hands on Enid’s phone number.

Enid got home from work around 2:30 PM, and Ajax left for his evening shift as a bodyguard at 4. Wednesday audibly laughed when she learned what his profession was, imagining the weak and stringy boy trying to guard anything, but Enid explained it was a popular profession for gorgons. She supposed it made sense. And he wasn’t guarding anything precious, just rows of file cabinets and storage.

So from 7 to midnight every weekday in Eastern time, Wednesday got to talk to the woman who had completely commandeered her brain and ruined her writing schedule. They very rarely spoke on the phone, since Enid was watching her child. The few times they spoke were shy and breathy and brief, and always interrupted by a squealing and giggling toddler. During one such call, Enid was laughing and wrestling with the baby. “Sweetie, no no no!! Mommy’s on the phone!”

Wednesday heard the phone thump and rustle. There was a tiny voice pressed too close to the receiver.

“Hullo?”

Wednesday smiled. She couldn’t help it. “Hello.”

“Uhmmm who is this”

“My name is Wednesday. What is yours?”

“Uhm, Mary! I’m three!” Enid called after the girl, who was now breathing and laughing like she was running away.

“Is your mother chasing you?”

“Yeah!”

“I bet you’re faster than her.”

“I AM!”

Something melted in Wednesday’s heart as she listened to Enid’s laugh in the background. The phone was wrestled away from the child, and she told Wednesday she’d text her before hanging up.

Wednesday hated children. Germy, slimy, loud little things. There should have been no reason for her heart to swell like this. Maybe it was the way Enid’s laugh sounded so light and pure, maybe it was just an admiration for Enid’s nurturing nature. She wouldn’t dig too far. It wasn’t like she even needed an answer; what did it matter if she could picture a life with a child or not?

E: Jesus, I’m sorry 😅 She’s a terror.

W: I approve of her methods.

E: Yeah. She’s like my best friend. She’s a tiny me, but like, cooler.

W: Is she a wolf or a gorgon?

E: A wolf. She looks just like me.

Enid Sinclair sent an attachment

W: She does.

E: She’s got Ajax’s eyes, but my everything else. My little cub.

W: You look so happy in this photo. May I save it?

E: Of course you can, silly.
E: You can save any pictures I send you

W: Thank you.

E: When she asked your name, did you give it to her?

W: Yes.

E: Damnit. I hope she forgets. She has literally no filter, I can imagine Ajax coming home and her being like “I talked to Wednesday today!”

W: Why would that be a problem? Does he not want me interacting with her?

E: Oh, well like
E: He doesn’t know we talk

W: Why not?

E: He would get upset.

W: Why?

E: It’s complicated.

W: Please, Enid.

E: After you left, I was kind of like, really depressed. Not trying to guilt trip you, that’s just what it was. And Ajax and I fought about it a lot. He accused me of being in love with you. He’s just a really jealous and insecure person. So I had to stop being sad about it cause it made him really upset
E: If he knew we had reconnected he’d be really mad. He was furious at the reunion, just because I talked to you

W: If only he knew.

E: Please don’t

W: I’m trying to decide if I like being your secret or not.

E: Which are you leaning toward?

W: Too early to say. If I’m your secret, that means there’s something to hide. And that there’s something worth hiding.
W: If Ajax was jealous, maybe there was something to be jealous of.

E: There was.

W: I know I should have come back, or tried to contact you. But why didn’t you contact me?

E: I tried
E: I bullied Xavier until he gave me your number for that phone he bought you
E: I still Google you like once a year to see if you’ve finally caved and gotten on socials
E: I guess I could have tried harder but it didn’t seem like you wanted to be found

W: I disposed of that phone the day I got home. It was a liability, I had a stalker.

E: What??

W: Nothing ever came of it. Maybe just a prank. It wasn’t worth the risk anyway.

E: Well
E: Wtf
E: When Xavier finally gave me your number he said “I don’t know why you didn’t just ask Ajax for it”. Apparently Ajax asked Xav for it like the day you left.

W: Ajax just keeps winning more and more points.

E: I mean I don’t know that it was him. He probably wouldn’t do something like that.

W: You make excuses for him a lot.

E: Please be gentle with me? I know our relationship is ugly. Yoko comes at me all the time for it, says he’s abusive and I need to pick up and leave. But it isn’t that easy. I’ve made a whole life with him here. Things got really, really bad for me with my family after I wolfed out. And you were gone and everyone was fucking dead and Tyler was on the loose and Ajax was the only one I had. I know that he’s made himself indispensable. I know that’s a tactic or whatever but unfortunately it worked and here I am.

W: You’re asking me to stand idly by and watch without comment while he abuses you?

W: That isn’t fair.

W: Enid?

*****

 

When she couldn’t sleep, Wednesday rode the subway back and forth. She normally hated the train, too many people, too much color and odor, the seats were always sticky. But after a certain hour, it got quiet enough to be meditative. She let the vehicle rock her back and forth on her feet while she gripped the grab rail. The sound of metal on the tracks felt good on her brain. Her real mission was to one day intercept some kind of an assault. She never concealed less than three weapons on her at any time, and a potential attacker wouldn’t think much of her five foot frame. Just an unassuming, petite girl in braids. She craved violence, the crunch of bone, the smattering of blood. She wasn’t lucky enough tonight.

She stared at an empty seat and imagined Enid sitting in it. She’d be wearing a pink windbreaker. She’d be crocheting. Ajax would approach her, grab her arm violently, giving Wednesday enough reason to come up from behind and slit his throat. Maybe the pocket mace would come first. She imagined the sensation of his skin yielding to the tip of the blade, how it might feel similar to peeling a banana. A sudden, urgent inspiration overtook her and she pulled out her phone to take a note.

As the loose skeleton of a new short story was taking form in Wednesday’s notes app, she got a text. It couldn’t be Enid, it was almost 2:00 AM.

E: Hey. I’m sorry.

W: Why are you awake?

E: Can’t sleep. Why are you?

W: I am on a train.

E: What? Why?

W: I’m waiting for someone to do something stupid.

E:…Are you drunk?

W: No.

E: Are you being safe?

W: Rarely.

E: Will you please go home?

W: Fine. I have a story idea I need transcribe quickly before I lose it, so that’s probably for the best.

E: What’s the story?

W: It would offend you.

E: Okay
E: I’m sorry.

W: Why do you apologize so much?

E: Idk
E: I know it’s hard to just watch me be in pain
E: But I don’t want to lose you

W: You won’t. I am right here.

E: But like… why?
E: I have nothing to offer

W: You do. You bring me comfort. And I enjoy talking to you.

E: I like it too

W: What does he do to hurt you?

E: Please don’t ask me that. It’ll just make you mad

W: Just imagining the possibilities has me as angry as I can get. It won’t make matters worse to know.

E: It’s just verbal
E: He just puts me down a lot, like my intelligence
E: And he’s really jealous and controlling, he doesn’t like when I hang out with people I guess
E: It’s hard because he’s such a good dad. I almost wish he wasn’t, it’d be easier to leave
E: He’s just like, slowly whittled away at my self esteem idk
E: And he won’t touch me anymore
E: That’s TMI I’m sorry

Wednesday stood frozen, her grip on the rail and her phone squeezed tight as she stared at the screen. Enid said it was just verbal? If Ajax laid a finger on Enid, she could snap him like a handful of twigs. He could never damage her in any tangible way. Enid’s exterior was firm and impenetrable, it was her insides that were vulnerable to harm. Her sense of belonging, her need for approval, her precarious self esteem. By burrowing into her psyche and stripping it away slice by slice, Ajax had managed to deal the most amount of damage. “Just verbal.” Wednesday scoffed incredulously.

W: I want to see you again.

E: I don’t know how that would work, Willa

W: I’ll think of something. I need to see you.

E: I need to see you too

W: My agent is constantly pestering me about book tours. California is a popular destination.

E: I don’t know. That makes me nervous

W: I won’t let anyone hurt you, Enid. Not again.

E: You gotta stop beating yourself up about leaving.
E: Will you really come visit?

W: Yes. I’m calling my agent now.

E: Omg it’s like 3 AM there lol

W: I don’t care.

Chapter 6: Reveal

The subway car came to a screeching halt. The doors hissed open and Wednesday stepped out onto the platform. She looked down when she felt the earth give way beneath her feet. She found black dirt. A violent roar tore through the air and she looked up. A thick, dark forest surrounded her. She looked over her shoulder and saw the train speeding away between the trees. Something slammed into a nearby tree and she gasped in horror. Her knife was missing from her coat pocket. This wasn’t her leather coat, either. Where was her coat? She looked down with shaking hands and saw black and grey stripes. Her old uniform.

Another roar snapped her head back up. A large wolf tumbled across the ground at her feet.

“Enid!” She ran toward the wolf and collapsed to her knees, resting her hands gently into thick, yellow fur. The beast looked up with pained, betrayed eyes. She snarled weakly. She was bleeding, claw marks left bloody gashes all over her body.

A hyde leapt from between the trees and knocked Wednesday out of the way with the back of its arm. It straddled Enid and started slashing into her, the sound of its jagged claws tearing into fur while the smaller beast cried out in pain. Wednesday was frozen, she willed her body to move, willed her voice to scream but it was all stuck. Paralyzed, useless. The Hyde looked over its shoulder with a cruel grin. It had Ajax’s face.

Wednesday woke with a blood-curdling scream. She sat straight up in bed, her breath heaving and labored. She sobbed into the dark and ran a hand over her soaked brow. With great effort, she slowed her breath to a steady pace. She pulled at her night shirt, it was soaked through and stuck to her upper body. She gingerly rolled out of bed and tiptoed into the bathroom for a cold shower.

Once she had cooled down, she fixed herself a drink and curled up at her typewriter. She had been drinking a lot more often these days. In two weeks, she’d get to see Enid. Too many days, too long to wait. Her fingers struck the metal keys of her favorite instrument.

It had taken a decade to do, but Wednesday Addams had found a way to calcify her trauma, to cast it in amber in a way that allowed her to contain and control it, while drawing on it for creativity like an inkwell. Edgar Allen Poe, Roy Orbison, Judy Garland. She knew there was a way to turn pain into art, to spin it like wool into thread and use it to embroider beautiful patterns.

Heather once told her that it was a valid inspiration, but that she took it too far and needed to consider therapy. Wednesday told her never to offer her input on the subject again.

She wrote out the events of her nightmare, it might make a good short story. Maybe she could flush out her recent nightmares into a novel about a werewolf. In her story, the wolf wouldn’t be a victim. She would get revenge and it would be delicious.

*****

“Jesus Christ.” Heather put a hand over her mouth and shook her head as she looked down at a spread of loose papers. “Wednesday… I don’t ask this often, and your writing is really morbid so you know I’m seriously worried when I ask: Are you good?”

Wednesday sat back in her chair and took a lazy sip of her coffee. The low hum of polite clientele buzzed in the air of the small cafe. “Why do you ask?”

“Well fuck, I donno, this whole tooth scene was pretty intense,” the girl sifted through the papers, pointing indiscriminately at passages with wild eyes. “Some real weird shit going on with a pregnant lady, that was… hard to read, but I gotta say the worst is this scene where the main girl fucking autopsies herself and rearranges her own organs.”

Wednesday stared blankly. “How is any of that worse than my last novel? A critic said it made Saw look ‘cute’.”

Heather opened and closed her mouth, dumbfounded. She ran a hand through her dyed, cropped hair, and pressed her glasses up on the bridge of her freckled nose. “I think it’s more like, the emotion? Where this is coming from. I mean, I love it. Ray is gonna love it. And your readers will eat it up. I’m just wondering what’s got you feeling so… I don’t know. It’s giving me a lot of self-hatred and disgust.”

Wednesday stared suspiciously. “If you secretly obtained an LCSW and are attempting to give me guerrilla therapy…”

“You’ll pull all my teeth out and make a creepy gay necklace, yeah, I get it.” Heather shuddered.

Wednesday blinked. “Why did you say gay?”

“Because I’m… still allowed to in New York?”

“What gave you the idea that the main character is gay?”

Heather pursed her lips to keep herself from laughing and gathered up the pages, shaking them for emphasis. “Oh, I don’t know. The yearning, the pining, you gave her short hair and tattoos. You gave her a complicated relationship with her mother, who at one point wants to take her to…” she looked down at a page and laughed, “‘werewolf conversion therapy.’ I mean, the gays are gonna love it. I can’t wait to get an ARC for my girlfriend, she loves this kind of thing.”

Wednesday snatched the pages back. “What kind of thing?” Heather cowered slightly. “Just…like… homoerotic horror?” Wednesday closed her eyes in irritation.

“You know what, let’s circle back to all that,” Heather pivoted in a peppy tone. She pulled out a slim laptop from her leather bag and opened it on the table. “So. Tour.”

“Tour,” Wednesday sighed.

“Wanna tell me why you’re suddenly cool with being seen in the light of day?”

Wednesday gestured around her, toward the window. “I am currently in public. In the light of day, no less. Why are you being so difficult today?”

“Because you’re totally hiding a long-distance girlfriend from me and you guys are gonna uhaul together and adopt three dogs and leave me behind and I’ll have to work for someone less cool.”

“What a charming theory. You are wrong.”

“Okay well…” Heather clicked through a few windows on her computer. “Let me know when you guys are getting married ‘cause I know this woodworker that can make you the cutest cutting board. She can engrave your names in it and everything.”

Wednesday sat silently fuming.

“Plus I’ve always wanted to go to a California wedding.” She looked up expectantly at Wednesday. “Unless you’re gonna have it here.”

Wednesday’s eyes bugged, panicked. “What do you know about California?”

“HAH! I knew it!” Heather pointed a finger in the infuriated girl’s face. “It’s the last stop on your weirdly short tour, following three stops on the East Coast. Also you wanted a hotel booked there for three nights instead of one. This is a weak mystery coming from the chick who wrote the Viper series.”

Wednesday grit her teeth. “You are being wildly unprofessional.”

“Oh please, you love me,” Heather waved a hand casually. “I’ll stop picking on you for now. Here, I lined out your itinerary. Most of the events are horror panels, but you’re doing Viper in Philly for a YA thing.”

“Ugh.”

“No I know, but it pays three times what the others do.”

“I don’t like talking about those.”

“Listen, I know you’re embarrassed because it was early work. But kids love these books, Wednesday. You’ve given a voice to an insanely underrepresented demographic. I can’t wait to read them to my own kids one day.”

“Your children will be exposed to some dark material.”

Heather scoffed. “Well yeah, it’s me.” She scrolled on the laptop. “I got us separate rooms obviously, but then in San Fran, we’re staying at different hotels.”

“Why?”

Heather waggled her eyebrows. Wednesday tightened hers. “Stop that.” The waggling intensified. “STOP.”

“Okay okay! I’m sorry.”

Wednesday’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Without thinking, she pulled it out.

E: How’s your day been?

W: Fine. And yours?

E: It’s okay. Mary’s teething BAD.

W: Second teething.

E: What? Yeah. How’d you know that?

W: Oh. Just casual research.
W: Get her a stick of rawhide.

E: What?? Ew. That’s like, for dogs.

W: It’s very effective for baby werewolves. The community looks down on it, since it’s normally retailed in pet stores. Swallow your pride, you’ll be glad you did.

E: Okay, thank you. That’s really sweet.
E: I hope Ajax goes for it. He gets really weird about werewolf stuff. I think he kinda wishes she was a gorgon.

W: Poor Ajax.

Heather coughed, grabbing Wednesday’s attention. She stuffed her phone into her pocket.

“Soooo… who taught you to text, grandpa? Was it maybe… a Californian werewolf?”

Wednesday’s nose burned with rage. She gathered her draft and stood from the table as Heather put out apologetic hands. “Wait no, no I’m sorry! It’s just… write what ya know, right?” She burst back into laughter as Wednesday stormed away.

“Wait, wait!! At least give me a copy to give to my… girlfriend… aaaaand she’s gone.”

Chapter 7: Imprint

Wednesday sat nervously at her desk and opened her laptop. Ajax had plans with his friend tonight, and Enid had asked if Wednesday wanted to video chat for a while. She’d never video chatted with anyone and didn’t know what to expect. A pile of rejected outfits lay discarded on her bed after she’d spent an embarrassing about of time deciding what to wear. A plain button-up shirt was eventually chosen; half was black, half was white. She wore a chunky chain around her neck.

Her laptop started making a strange sound. She panicked, looked around the screen, and found a notification with Enid’s name on it. She foud two buttons, green and red, and decided the former was more likely the best option. And then Enid’s soft, perfect face filled her screen.

“Hey!”

Wednesday looked around the screen, squinting.

“Oh my god you’re so cute. This is worse than FaceTiming with my mom.”

Wednesday scowled and leaned back, crossing her arms. She saw a small window in the corner reflecting her own image. “Why can I also see myself?”

Enid laughed. “I donno, it’s just how it works.”

Wednesday stared at the thumbnail. “That is incredibly distracting. I want to look at your face, not mine.”

“Just minimize it, dummy.”

“If I try to do that, I’m sure I’ll somehow break the software.” She reached for the stationary in her drawer and pulled out a sticky note. She stuck the paper on the computer screen, hiding her own image.

“What’d you just do?”

“Put a sticky note on the screen.”

“You’re weird as shit.”

“You enjoy it.”

They stared nervously at each other through glass and three thousand miles.

“I really like seeing you,” Enid rested her face in her hand. “I’m excited for next weekend.”

“I look forward to it,” Wednesday tried to keep her anticipation contained.

“I told Ajax.”

Wednesday’s eyes widened, she tensed in fear. “What?”

“Yeah. He was actually pretty cool with it. I just told him you were gonna be in town for the book tour and he asked if you wanted to come to dinner.”

Wednesday’s fists tightened. She hated the idea of seeing that man, of being in the same room as him. She hated that he’d agreed to this, winning points with Enid. She hated the appreciative smile on Enid’s face, it was for Ajax and Ajax didn’t deserve a smile that sweet.

“Excellent.”

“I know it’ll be weird or whatever but… this way we don’t have to sneak around and hide. I’d really like it if we could all get along and be friends.”

The word seared through Wednesday’s shoulder like a flaming arrow.

“Friends. Of course.”

Enid looked sympathetic. “He’s been better,” she whispered. “I think he can feel me pulling away, and he’s trying to make it up to me.”

“How wonderful.” She’d cancel the tour. She’d throw her phone and laptop into a river. She could move to another country, somewhere remote. This was all a mistake, this was so fucking stupid. A tiny blur smashed into Enid’s body like a meteor.

“Baby no,” a wriggling and giggling Mary squirmed around in her arms. “I said fifteen minutes. Did you finish your coloring?”

Mary pressed a small hand against Enid’s face. “No!” She turned to Enid’s phone and flashed a huge, toothy grin. “Who’s that lady!”

“This is Wednesday,” Enid wrapped her arms around the baby and pointed at the screen. Mary gasped dramatically.

“WOOOOW!” She put her hand out and touched the camera. “You’re sooo pretty!”

Wednesday bit into her cheek to keep from smiling. “Thank you.”

“You look like a princess bad guy.”

Enid laughed. “Hunny, that’s not nice.”

“It’s a lovely compliment,” Wednesday interjected. “Actually,” she leaned forward, “I am a princess bad guy.”

Mary gasped and leaned back into her mother. “A scary one?”

“Yes.”

Mary’s fearful expression slowly turned into a curious smile. Enid kissed the top of her head. “She loves Disney villains.”

“Good taste,” Wednesday nodded in approval. “Which is your favorite?”

Mary looked up at Enid with a smile, then back to the camera. “Cruella!! You look like her.”

Wednesday thread her fingers together cooly. “I’m not familiar with her.”

“She’s from 101 Dalmatians,” Enid explained patiently. “She’s very fashionable. And she makes coats out of little pups like YOU!” She tickled the toddler, who screamed in delight.

Wednesday’s heart had melted all the way through now, it was dripping down between her ribs and into the pit of her stomach.

“Sweetie, please go play and give Mommy just five more minutes with her friend? Please?”

Mary pouted, her eyes welled with tears.

“It’s alright if she stays,” Wednesday offered.

“Wednesday said it’s alright,” Mary parroted.

“Oh god, you two gonna gang up on me?”

“Mhm!” Mary nodded, pleased, in sync with Wednesday’s “Absolutely.”

Mary looked at the phone. “We can play dress-up tomorrow?”

Wednesday tilted her head. Enid translated, “She wants you to come over. Hunny, Wednesday is gonna join us for dinner next weekend! But it’s a grown-ups dinner, okay? She’s not your playdate.”

Mary pouted at the camera. “Can’t we have both? We can do a little play date??”

Wednesday looked adoringly at the screen and winked. Mary smiled, little fangs glinting in view.

*****

Heather was a malicious traitor. Wednesday’s flight was tomorrow and she needed a suitcase. Heather had “family plans” all day, so she couldn’t go out and purchase one for her. It all had to be an elaborate, evil scheme to force Wednesday to brave the chaotic horrors of a department store. She gripped the handle of her shopping cart til her knuckles whitened like angry teeth. Groups of shoppers emitted strange odor and chatter. Fucking Heather. Traitor.

The aisles were poorly labeled and numerous. She wondered if she’d tripped on a pile of bathing suits and clothes hangers, broken her neck, and was now in some Beetlejuice-esque waiting room for the recently deceased. The aisle she found herself in was particularly nauseating. Colors burned her eyes, they seemed to flash like strobes. An aisle for children.

Oh. A little onesie hung on a tiny plastic hanger. It was black, with a skeleton print on it. Halloween wouldn’t be for another two months, the store must have been getting ready early. She lifted the garment and turned it over. What size was Mary? She couldn’t ask Enid, it would ruin the surprise. She grabbed a handful of four different sizes and threw them in the cart. A few feet down the row sat a display of toys. Little toy monsters, coloring books, a book about a spider. Wednesday looked around to see if anyone was watching before snatching up half a dozen items.

She found some kind of science toy, it was a small plastic container with little magnified lenses scattered over the surface. A habitat for captive bugs. She tossed it in the cart. Wednesday moved as if she was a paid shopper who deeply hated her job. A voice in her head repeated in rapid succession, this is a terrible idea this is a terrible idea this is a TERRIBLE idea.

What was the plan? She was already sickly attached to a woman she couldn’t have. Now she planned to get attached to a tiny, innocent human? And what if the child got attached to her too, before Ajax exploded and forbade either of them from ever talking to Wednesday again? It was sick and selfish and dangerous and those little tiny black converse were too cute to pass up. She’d need two suitcases.

Chapter 8: Connect

Heather won some favor back by not asking Wednesday about the small, black luggage she shoved the trunk. They stayed mostly silent as the driver took them East. Heather read a thick horror anthology and Wednesday worked slowly on her laptop. There were still days before she’d get to see Enid, and she wanted these book events to go as quickly as possible. Her heart pounded.

Boston wasn’t much different than NYC, except it was smaller and the streets made no sense. As the driver pulled into a parking garage, Wednesday spotted a line weaving across the sidewalk, spanning farther than she could see.

“Some kind of concert maybe?” The driver speculated.

“No way,” Heather smiled. “That’s for our girl here. See, they’re all holding books.” Wednesday’s eyes widened in panic. “Turn around. I don’t want to go.”

Heather laughed. “Hush. We’re doing this. You deserve to see how much people love you.”

 

Wednesday sat at the front of a large open space in the corner of the bookstore. She perched nervously on a folding chair, hands crossed over her lap. Heather sat on one side, the shop owner on the other. Hundreds of people crammed into the small space, practically on top of each other. There was a crowd outside pressing their faces to the glass. She felt like a wounded turtle in an aquarium. The blur of faces stared in anticipation. Some of them leaked with tears.

A short reading from Wednesday’s newest novel had the crowd gasping and crying. She shuffled anxiously in her seat. The shop owner buried the lower half of his face in a large hand, stared at the floor, listened with intimidating intensity. When the passage was done, Wednesday stared up at the crowd.

“So that’ll be in stores on October 15th,” Heather spoke excitedly into her microphone. The crowd erupted in applause.

“Phenomenal,” the owner spoke, dumbfounded. “I am always left speechless by your work. The way you weave horror into such poetic prose is transcendent.” Wednesday ignored the compliment.

“Alright folks, we’re gonna open the floor up to questions now,” Heather chirped in her signature peppy tone. Wednesday stared at her, feeling betrayed again. She hadn’t agreed to this.

“Hi, uhm, I’m Molly,” a soft voice spoke. Wednesday looked up to watch the girl. She was young, she wore overalls over a black sweater. “I just wanna ask, uhm, what’s your biggest piece of advice for a writer just starting out?”

Wednesday closed her eyes impatiently. “Set aside time to write,” she answered plainly. “Start with an hour a day. No exceptions.”

The girl paused. “Okay, thank you!!”

An older man stood. “What do you draw on for inspiration? The plots of your novels are so fantastical and extreme, how do you manage to ‘write what you know’?”

She pondered the question. “The events of my stories are inconsequential. They can be exchanged for almost any other plot. The real meat of my work is the visceral and physiological experience of emotion. For example, if you suffer from panic attacks, write about what that feels like in your body. You can set up characters and props around yourself to fit the story. A scene about being chased by a malevolent specter can be inspired by your experience at a post office.” The man nodded, satisfied.

The crowd’s questions weren’t entirely asinine. Wednesday actually found herself enjoying the attention. Heather had made it very clear that there was to be absolutely no photography at the venue, and the attendees respected that wish. If all panels were like this, Wednesday could see herself getting used to it.

The evening ended with a line of patrons waiting for autographed books. Wednesday signed with an elegant “W.A.” She ignored most of the compliments and small talk, until a teenaged girl approached. She held a tower of every book Wednesday had ever written, and hid behind the stack bashfully. She wore all black, her eyes painted with heavy makeup. As she set the books down, Wednesday noticed thin scarring on the girl’s wrists.

“Hey,” the girl gave a small wave. Her eyes welled up.

Wednesday looked up. “Hello.”

“I’m Eloise.”

“I’m Wednesday.”

The girl laughed nervously, pulling her sleeves down over her hands. “I know. You’re like, my hero. You can just sign one of these, I know there’s tons of people in line. I just wanted to show off that I own all your books.”

Wednesday stared for a moment before pulling a book off the top of the stack. “Nonsense,” she spoke under her breath. One by one, she signed each book.

“Your books help me a lot,” Eloise’s voice cracked.

Wednesday furrowed her brow. “They do?”

“Yeah, oh my god. Totally. They were kind of like, the only thing that was there for me when I was going through a hard time. The way you describe depression and trauma is so relatable. But it’s not corny, it’s not like, ‘oh everything is gonna be okay! Buck up!’ It’s more like, ‘the world is dark and disgusting and terrible but… there’s beauty in that.’ I donno.” She trailed off self-consciously and let her bangs hide her face.

Wednesday finished up the last book and pushed the stack toward the girl. “The world is dark, disgusting and terrible.” She whispered like it was an ancient secret. “The beauty is in the art we make out of that. Understood?”

The girl paused in awe before nodding. “Thank you,” she mouthed before scuttling away, holding the stack like it was her own child. Wednesday usually resisted emotions like pride and contentment, but let a patch of it bloom in her chest.

 

By the end of the line, Wednesday was exhausted. She huffed and sat back and the very last patron approached.

“Sup Addams?”

Without looking up, Wednesday held out her hand, waiting for a book to sign. Instead, a cold hand grabbed hers and shook it. She looked up, horrified, and saw Yoko Tanaka standing with an amused smirk on her face.

“Yoko?”

“That’s me!”

“What’re you doing here?” Wednesday took her hand back.

“I live in Cambridge. Thought I’d pop by.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes. “Well. Hello and goodbye. This evening has been excruciating.”

“No way,” Yoko shook her head. “We’re going for a drink.”

“We are absolutely not.”

“Yes we absolutely are. We need to talk about Enid.”

*****

Yoko leaned over the small bar table and took a sip of her drink. It was thick and red, and held an olive garnish.

“Is that blood?” Wednesday asked, clutching a double of gin.

“Yup,” Yoko winked. “There’s a few bars out here that serve it.”

“Is that was brought you a Cambridge?” Wednesday forced small talk, anything to avoid the subject that hung over them like fog.

“That’s part of it, place has a decent vamp scene. I mostly came out here for the poly population. And there’s pockets of Japanese communities. It’s kind of perfect.”

Wednesday sipped her drink.

“So you’re gonna see Enid this weekend.”

“I am.”

“Ajax is gonna flip.”

“I don’t care.” Wednesday tensed her fists.

Yoko sighed sympathetically. “I assume you know he’s a fucking dirtbag piece of shit?”

“I’ve known that since he stood her up ten years ago.”

Yoko nodded. “Honestly same. But yeah he’s gotten way worse. I’ve had to watch it all this time. It’s fucking agonizing.”

“Why have you never intervened?” Wednesday’s rage flowered at the idea of someone standing idly by when they could have done something to stop the abuse.

“It’s not that easy, babe. Abuse is complicated. I can’t just call the cops on him. I’ve got no proof, and she’d never talk to me again. Any time I really go off about it, she ignores me for weeks at a time. A few years back, she texted me that he was screaming at her about something and I called the local cops for a wellness check. Nothing came of it, and she blocked me for almost a year. She knows that what he’s doing is wrong. But he’s got his gangly hands around her throat. The best we can do is support her unconditionally.”

Wednesday swallowed. “That isn’t fair.”

“No, no it isn’t.” Yoko sighed. “It isn’t fair to anyone involved. Not to the kid, not to us. Especially not to Enid. But it’s what I gotta do to stay in her life. I know this is fucking painful, and you probably wanna kill him just as much as I do. But that would ruin Enid, it would take Mary’s dad away, she’d never forgive us. Life just doesn’t work that way.”

“I wish I could steal her away. I could buy her a new home, help change her name. I would do anything for her.”

“Wow, you’re down bad.” Yoko tipped her glass to gulp down the last sip of her drink. “I’ve had the same fantasy though. I always tell her to just fly her ass out here to live with me. I’m Mary’s godmother, I could take care of them. She’s just too brainwashed. It’s all so messy.”

“I could also take care of them.”

“Oh I know, lover boy. That kind of worries me too, though. I wouldn’t want her to just jump from Ajax to you. She needs to know she can stand on her own two feet without a romantic partner. She’s just always craved affection and approval. I blame it all on her bitch of a mother.”

“Esther,” Wednesday recalled. “Is she still around?”

“Oh yeah. And she looooves Ajax. Enid’s truly trapped from all sides.” Yoko rested her face in her hand. “Listen. The best thing you can do is just be there for her. Find the balance between being Ajax‘s biggest fan, and talking mad shit about him. You can’t swing too hard in either direction. And when you really, really wanna kill him, you just hit me up and we can commiserate.”

Wednesday looked into her empty glass. “That sounds awful.”

“It is. She’ll break free one day, I know it. I can feel her getting closer to the breaking point, especially since the reunion. She complains about him more, makes less excuses. It’s a good sign. We just need to be patient.”

Wednesday gestured to the bartender for another drink. Yoko eyed her judgmentally. “You’re really going hard on those.”

Wednesday glared and changed the subject. “Ajax was the one who invited me to dinner.”

“Scary,” Yoko mused. “I wonder what that’s about. He probably wants to keep his eyes on you, make sure you don’t end up with your tongue down his wife’s throat.” Wednesday choked on her drink.

“Oh please,” Yoko laughed. “She tells me everything.”

Wednesday’s cheeks burned. “It was an accident.”

“She liked it,” Yoko grinned. “She’s always had the hots for you, Addams. Oh my god, don’t look so shocked. You couldn’t tell?”

Wednesday shook her head dumbly.

“Yeah. She’s always carried a torch for you. I mean, she named her fucking kid after you.”

“What?”

“Yeah, Mary. Mary Shelly’s your favorite author, right?”

Chapter 9: Meet

Enid’s house was robin’s egg blue. Bright grass wrapped around it, toys cluttered the yard. The home was settled into a hill that dipped down into a backyard, and a small porch hung off the back of the house. Wednesday’s driver pulled into the gravel driveway, the tires crunched over stone. Wednesday’s blood crunched in her veins.

Hartford and Philly had gone by in a blur. The only thing Wednesday would remember were the texts she’d gotten from Enid, wishing her luck, bidding her goodnight. The obsession was all-consuming. Heather had teased her the entire flight to LAX, but Wednesday didn’t have the energy to fight back. She just needed to get to Enid and figure it out from there.

The front door swung open as Wednesday unbuckled her seat belt. A tiny human came barreling out into the yard, shortly followed by Enid, who wore a mustard yellow shirt and a pair of high waisted jeans. Adorable.

Wednesday stepped out of the car and her leg was immediately assaulted by Mary’s embrace. She giggled uncontrollably as she clung to Wednesday’s pants.

“Hello,” Wednesday held her arms up and looked down at her little attacker. Mary flashed a toothy grin. “Wednesday!!”

“She’s been a little fireball all day,” Enid walked over slowly, her arms crossed. “She was very excited to meet you.”

Mary pulled back and grabbed one of Wednesday’s hands with both of hers. “You come,” she tugged hard.

“Where are we going?” Wednesday asked patiently.

“You have to see!” Mary grunted and she pulled Wednesday’s stiff arm, her whole body leaning back in her effort.

“Sweetie, let Wednesday get settled,” Enid chided.

“That’s alright,” Wednesday closed the car door. “I want to see.”

Enid flashed her an adoring smile. Mary lead her to a corner of the yard. A little plastic slide sat in the grass. Mary climbed to the top of the slide, watching Wednesday’s face expectantly. Wednesday turned to look at Enid. She looked so beautiful in the sun.

“YOU HAVE TO WATCH!” Mary squealed, earning Wednesday’s undivided attention. “I apologize. Let’s see it.”

Mary pushed forward to slip down the small slide. She landed with a thud and put her arms up in victory. Wednesday raised her eyebrows and offered an impressed nod. “Well done.”

Mary beamed with pride. “Okay, your turn,” she grabbed Wednesday’s hand.

“Oh, no, I’m too big.”

“Barely,” Enid huffed with a smile. Wednesday shot her a glare. “You can play more on your slide later, baby. Don’t you wanna show Wednesday your room?”

Mary gasped in excitement and darted back into the house. Enid approached Wednesday hesitantly. “Thank you for coming early,” her voice rang just above a whisper. “Mary wouldn’t shut up about you.”

Wednesday cocked an eyebrow. “So Mary’s the reason you’re sneaking me over a day before our our dinner plans?”

Enid looked Wednesday in the eye before lunging forward, wrapping the smaller girl up in a crushing hug. She wasn’t shy about inhaling deep as she nuzzled her nose into Wednesday’s neck.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Enid whispered against the shell of Wednesday’s ear, sending a high wattage of electricity through her nervous system. Wednesday reached around Enid’s waist and held tight. “Me too.”

“Come ON!” Mary stood in the doorway, now inexplicably wearing a plastic crown and a black tutu. Wednesday cracked a smile. “We have to obey. She’s royalty.”

*****

 

Enid’s home was humble and sweet. Every room was painted a different color, every corner was decorated with art and plants. Mary spent a full hour giving Wednesday a tour of her playroom. Enid tried to cut the tour short multiple times, only to be scolded for her rudeness by both Mary and Wednesday. When Enid left to make drinks for herself and her guest, she came back to the playroom to find Wednesday sitting as still as a doll in Mary’s little chair while her face was decorated with tiny stickers.

“Oh baby no—“

“Let her,” Wednesday said firmly. “You mustn’t interrupt an artist while she works.”

Mary’s face screwed with concentration while she chose a spot for the next sticker. “Yeah Mommy, I’m a ARTIST.” She placed a final sticker and stood back to survey her work. She handed Wednesday a small, plastic mirror.

“I look breathtaking,” she approved sincerely as she appraised her reflection. “I may hire you as a makeup artist for my next tour.” Mary clapped with glee.

Wednesday slowly peeled at the stickers. “However, I need to remove these.” She looked down at Mary with the expression of a camp counselor gearing up to tell a ghost story. “I am allergic to color.”

Mary looked up, wide-eyed. “What happens to you?”

“Thaaaat’s enough of that,” Enid stepped in, scooping Mary up into her arms. “Let’s go have some dinner, yeah?”

*****

 

Wednesday sat at the dining room table, kitty-corner to Mary. Enid worked in the kitchen, filling plates with food. Wednesday stared blankly at the toddler, who stared back with her eyes as wide as they would go. Mary’s little fists shook, her eyes twitched, and she blinked.

“I win.”

“UGH!” Mary slammed her fist on the table. “Go again!”

“Best of seven, then?”

Enid rounded the corner with two steaming plates. “Mary baby, you’re never gonna beat her.” She set one plate in front of the child and another at her own seat. “She can go like, five minutes without blinking.” She returned to the kitchen.

“Teach me how,” Mary demanded.

“To be honest, I don’t know how I do it,” Wednesday shrugged. “I have always been able to. I’m sure you could improve with practice.”

Mary looked down thoughtfully before noticing the food in front of her. She grabbed her small fork and jabbed a chunk of meat. Enid returned with a bowl and placed it in front of Wednesday.

“Enid, this looks beautiful.” She admired the salad in front of her. Goat cheese, walnuts, strawberries. “You didn’t have to go through this trouble.”

Enid sat and picked up her silverware. “I remembered you liking that salad,” she said casually. “And I assumed you still don’t eat meat.”

“I don’t. This is perfect.” She stabbed at a forkful of food and brought it to her mouth. Better than a five-star restaurant.

“You don’t have meat??” Mary spoke through a mouthful of food.

“Baby, manners.”

Mary stuck her tongue out at her mother, earning a threatening Mom glare. Wednesday’s brow knotted in concern. “Is that not culturally acceptable behavior for werewolves?”

Enid turned her glare to Wednesday. “We don’t eat like wolves at this table.”

Mary swallowed her food. “Daddy doesn’t like it.”

In an instant, Wednesday’s appetite was gone. She wondered if she was sitting in Ajax’s usual seat. She imagined him scolding his wife and child for acting within their nature. A gentle hand found her knee and she flinched. Enid looked at her with begging eyes.

“I see,” she muttered before forcing herself to take another bite.

“Are you a outcats?” Mary asked.

“An outcast?” Wednesday stabbed at a piece of arugula.

“Outcats. Out…cats,” Mary struggled.

“I am.”

“What kinda?”

“I am a seer,” Wednesday leaned in. “I have psychic visions when I touch certain objects or people.”

Mary stared in awe. “Show me show me!!” She reached out her arm. Wednesday slowly rested her hand on the child with performative suspense. As soon as she made contact, she shot her head back and stiffened. She was relieved that a real vision didn’t hit; any dark omen about this precious baby would have torn her to shreds. But she committed to she show. Mary squealed in delighted terror at the display.

“My god,” Wednesday whispered. Enid suppressed a chuckle, trying hard to keep a straight face.

“What?? What is it?” Mary wiggled in her seat.

“I saw… you. Sitting over there on the rug. Surrounded by… presents.” She rubbed her temples. “It looks like… toys? Books maybe?”

Mary cocked her head. “My birthday when I’m 4?”

Wednesday shook her head. “No, no it looks to be sooner.” She squinted. “I think this might happen… tomorrow.”

Mary screamed. “PRESENTS!!”

Enid looked down and smiled. “You didn’t have to get her anything.”

“Yes she did!” Mary declared before happily continuing her meal. For a few perfect, blissful seconds, Wednesday let herself pretend this was her family.

Chapter 10: Buzz

After dinner, Wednesday cleaned up in the kitchen while Enid took Mary for a bath. Mary was allowed twenty minutes of television before it was time to tuck her in for bed. The toddler teetered dangerously on the edge of a tantrum when she found out Wednesday wouldn’t be there when she woke up, but a bedtime story was enough to bribe her out of a meltdown. Mary chose a picture book about a baby werewolf, and Wednesday bit her tongue when the child explained that the story was one “Daddy never wanted to read.” Enid stood adoringly in the doorway as Wednesday’s voice lulled Mary to sleep. They shut the door gently and moved to the living room with glasses of wine.

“You’re so good with her,” Enid spoke softly, sitting only inches from Wednesday on the couch. “It’s adorable.”

Wednesday took a long sip of her wine, finishing it off before leaning over the coffee table to pour another glass. She felt Enid’s eyes on her back and her skin burned. “It is easier than I anticipated,” she leaned back. “Your child is extremely intelligent and she has incredible conversational skills for her age. Her curiosity will be a great academic asset. Though none of that surprises me considering whose genes she inherited.”

Enid tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and blushed the compliment away. “Yeah, she’s amazing. I love her so much.”

Wednesday looked at the clock. “You’re certain Ajax won’t be home for another few hours?”

Enid swallowed hard. “I’m sure. He doesn’t get off ‘til midnight, and he goes for drinks with his coworkers on Fridays. We have like, all night.” She rested her elbow on the back of the couch behind Wednesday’s head.

“I don’t want to see him tomorrow,” Wednesday looked down at her feet. “I wish we could just do this again.”

“Me too,” Enid whispered. “I wish we could do this like, everyday.”

Wednesday took another long sip. The warm buzz of red wine swam in her head. “You have no idea.”

“I do,” Enid leaned forward an inch. “Wednesday. I really don’t wanna hurt you,” her speech was slightly slurred. “But I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.”

Wednesday looked up to meet her gaze. Their mouths hovered only inches apart, alcohol-laced breath passing between each other. “I can’t either. It haunts me. I can still feel the ridges of your teeth on the tip of my tongue. I could map out your mouth from memory.”

Enid shuddered and shifted forward. “We shouldn’t kiss again though, right?” she whispered.

“We should absolutely not kiss,” Wednesday concurred, staring down at Enid’s parted lips. A hand reached up to cup under her chin and her mouth was pulled forward to close the space. Enid’s mouth tasted like wine and need. They inhaled in unison, very slowly acclimating to the sensation.

Wednesday moved first. She pressed a long, languid kiss into Enid’s mouth, offering a tiny whimper when she felt teeth tug on her lip. “Fuck,” Enid breathed, bringing her other hand around to grip the back of the smaller girl’s head. Her tongue slipped over Wednesday’s, possessively claiming her mouth.

“Enid,” Wednesday begged, reaching up to settle her hands on the werewolf’s waist. They ebbed and flowed in perfect unison, pushing and pulling at each other. They breathed, hushed and heavy, drowning in heat and the heady buzz of Merlot. Enid pushed forward to lay Wednesday back on the couch and climbed into her lap. Wednesday let herself sink into the cushions. She wished Enid could crush her like a witch in Salem. She wished she could die here. This kiss would end, and nothing would ever feel this good again. There was no point in living past this moment. Warm, needy hands ran over her neck and chest. Enid rocked gently, grinding down into Wednesday’s lap.

Wednesday boldly reached up to grab Enid’s hips and lifted her own thigh. Enid whimpered pathetically into Wednesday’s mouth. “Oh my god,” she whispered, her hands nervously sliding under the hem of Wednesday’s button-up shirt. They slid over warm, pale skin as the shorter girl shivered and arched her back. “You feel so good,” Enid’s voice came out strained and mourning.

“Enid, wait. Are you crying?” Wednesday held the wolf’s face in both hands, pulling her back. Enid’s blue eyes watered. “No,” she breathed. “Don’t stop kissing me, please.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Enid’s voice cracked. “I’ve always wanted this. I want you.”

Wednesday looked up. She felt like a filthy peasant standing at the foot of a golden idol. “You don’t want me.”

Enid cocked an eyebrow and grabbed Wednesday’s hand. “I don’t?” She sighed and pulled Wednesday’s fingers down between her thighs, guiding them over her crotch through the denim.

“Feel that,” she moaned quietly, rolling her hips forward.

Wednesday ran her fingertips over the warm, damp material. She swallowed a moan and trembled. She pet up and down with her fingers, slowly exploring the molten heat. Enid burrowed her face into Wednesday’s collarbone, letting out labored breaths. Her mouth found Wednesday’s neck and she sucked and nipped at it, careful not to leave a mark. Wednesday tilted her head, baring her throat to the wolf, and looked across the room. She saw a framed photo on the TV table and her body went rigid. The photo showed Enid and Ajax on their wedding day. Enid looked like an angel. Ajax looked like a parasite.

“Enid stop,” she pulled her hand away from the girl’s jeans. Enid sat up quickly. “Are you okay?”

Wednesday stared up at her. “No,” she answered bluntly. “This is agonizing. Tasting something I cannot have.”

Enid rolled off the shorter girl’s frame, nearly falling to the floor. “Fuck. Okay, I’m sorry.”

Wednesday stood from the couch and straightened her shirt. She looked down at Enid. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Enid slurred. “I shouldn’t have had anything to drink.”

The wine. That was the only reason Enid had touched her like that. Another stupid mistake. Another disgusting accident. Wednesday swallowed down bile. “It was my fault,” she moved to the door and pulled on her boots.

Enid sat on the couch, her arms shamefully folded over her front. “Can we talk?”

“We’re inebriated,” Wednesday said. “We can talk later.” She started for the door. Enid stood. “Wait— will you… still come tomorrow? To dinner?”

Wednesday held the door knob and stared at Enid. “I will. For Mary. And then I’m going home.” It was a lie. New York wasn’t her home.

Chapter 11: Flay

The San Francisco show turned out the largest crowd yet. It all felt like some fever dream. Heather continually prodded Wednesday, asking her if she was alright, only to be shooed away. The events of the night prior had rung Wednesday dry and ragged. She hadn’t slept a wink. Her organs twisted in knots, her fingertips burned. She barely texted Enid all day, only to confirm the time for dinner.

When she arrived back at Enid’s house, she saw Mary sitting in the grass. Enid and Ajax sat in lawn chairs, bathing in the late evening sun while Enid sipped on a lemonade and Ajax held her hand possessively. Wednesday stepped out of the car and Mary squealed.

“Wednesday, Wednesday!!” She tottered over with her hands cupped together. She lifted her palms. “Look who I got!”

Wednesday looked down fondly. A small spider crawled around on the toddler’s pale skin. “Isn’t he so cuuuute?” Mary held the heels of her palms close to her chest, looking down at her new friend adoringly.

Ajax stood, imposing. “What is it?” He stepped over and looked in Mary’s hand. “Oh, ew! Mary, no.” He grabbed her wrist and squished the bug with the pad of his thumb. Something shattered. “Why would you do that?” Wednesday looked up at him, scowling fearlessly.

He shot her a disgusted glare. “Because bugs carry disease and I don’t want my kid touching them?” Mary slowly broke into a pathetic cry.

Enid stood, panicked by how quickly things had escalated. “Ajax sweetie, can we… go inside for a second? I just need help with dinner.” She wrapped her arms around one of his and pulled him toward the house. He kept his eyes on Wednesday for a long second before relenting and moving into the house with his wife.

Wednesday looked down at the crying girl. She squatted to meet eye level. “Let me see,” she took Mary’s tiny hand in her own to assess the damage. The spider’s corpse was black jelly. Its legs poked out in scattered directions, the way Nero’s had.

“It’s okay,” she pet the back of Mary’s head. “Death is a part of life. It is a beautiful thing. But it is also alright to mourn.”

Mary looked up, sniffling. Wednesday reached down and pulled up a small tuft of grass from the lawn. She dug her fingertips into the soil, disregarding her manicure.

“Here,” she pointed to the hole. “Lay his body there.”

Mary hesitated while Wednesday patiently watched. She scraped up the remains of the spider’s body on one finger and pressed it into the dirt.

“Now we bury him,” Wednesday explained, “by putting dirt on top. Would you like to try, or do you need me to do it?”

Mary sniffled, her breath calming. She grabbed a tiny fist full of loose dirt and filled the hole, patting it down with the flat of her hand. She looked to Wednesday for approval.

“Well done,” Wednesday stood, moving to the car’s trunk. “Do you feel better?”

“Mhm,” Mary nodded.

“I’m glad,” Wednesday pulled her small suitcase from the car before tapping on the window, signaling to her driver that she was all set. “You did a good job.”

Mary wiped her hands on her little dress. “Are presents in there??” She stared at the suitcase with wide eyes. Wednesday smirked.

“Wednesday?” Enid appeared in the doorway and waved her in. “Oh Mary, you’re filthy.” Mary ran inside, pushing past her mother. Enid looked up at Wednesday, trying to give some meaningful look, but Wednesday kept her eyes ahead.

*****

 

Wednesday sat in an armchair in the living room and pulled her bag up on her lap. Mary was seated on the floor, Enid worked in the kitchen, and Ajax had gone back out to the front lawn with a beer.

“You ready for your gifts, niña?” Wednesday whispered, slowly unzipping the bag. Mary nodded excitedly. “Si!”

Wednesday raised her brow, impressed. “How do you know that word?”

“Dora,” Mary sighed like it was obvious. She reached out her hands, opening and closing them impatiently.

Wednesday pulled out one gift at a time, letting the child shriek with excitement. Enid rounded the corner to find her daughter sitting in the middle of the floor, a ring of toys around her. Mary had the plastic bug habitat in her hands. She held it up to Wednesday. “Can my next spider live in here?”

“Absolutely,” Wednesday leaned over with her elbows braced on her knees. “But not for long. He’ll want to go back outside once you’ve finished playing.”

Mary nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Enid pressed her hand to her chest. “Wednesday,” her voice cracked. “This is so sweet. Thank you.”

Wednesday looked up into heartbroken eyes. “What size is she? I got her an outfit but wasn’t sure about the fit.”

“She’s a 3T.”

“Oh. Look at this,” Wednesday pulled the four garments out of her bag. “3T is the smallest one I got. So she’ll have backups when she grows.”

Mary grabbed the onsie. “SKELINGTON!!” She shook the cloth. Enid wiped a stray tear from her eye. “Shit, you really nailed her style.”

Mary looked at Wednesday with wide eyes and a scandalized smile. She whispered, “Mommy said shit.”

Wednesday’s face broke. It was impossible to swallow down her smile in front of this hilarious little human. “She did.”

Ajax pushed his way into the house. He swung slightly with the buzz of his beer. “The hell is all that?” He looked down at the mess.

“Presents!” Mary held up a book. Ajax glared at Wednesday. “How nice. Did you say thank you?” His tone was sicky sweet.

“Thank you Wednesday,” Mary wrapped herself around Wednesday’s leg. Enid and Ajax shared tense, intimidating eye contact. Enid straightened her spine. “Dinner’s ready.”

 

Enid served plates of spaghetti, leaving the meatballs off Wednesday’s helping. The sauce was divine, it had some kind of spice Wednesday had never found in a red sauce. It made sense for Enid to be this good at cooking; she was an artist.

“So why are you in town again?” Ajax hadn’t taken a bite. He stared angrily across the table.

“Book tour,” Wednesday answered flatly.

“Mm. What’s the book about?”

She stared up at him. “It is a collection of short stories surrounding body horror and how it interacts with the human psyche and memory.”

“Jesus,” he sighed judgmentally. “I don’t know what I expected.”

“Horror can be a cathartic catalyst for emotional breakthrough and the processing of trauma.” She didn’t change the inflection of her voice when speaking with Mary, but she’d be happy to talk to Ajax like he was a child.

“…Right,” he took a sip of his beer. Enid looked nervously between them.

“I like scary stories,” Mary chimed in. “They’re fun.”

“Don’t chew with your mouth open,” Ajax barked, a little too firm.

“Wednesday said it’s okay for werewolves!” Mary shouted, her face twisting in anger. Her tiny fangs extended into the meatball in her mouth.

Ajax looked to Wednesday, then Enid. “When did she say that?” His voice raised loud.

Mary froze up with the tension in the room. “No yelling!” She snapped at her father. His eyes burned with rage. He reached out and grabbed the child’s jaw. “I said, don’t talk with food in your mouth.”

Wednesday instinctively stood from the table, knocking her chair out behind her and brandishing her fork like a weapon. Enid’s claws and fangs shot out and a low roar rumbled in her chest. “Ajax,” Enid seethed. “Take your hand off her now.”

Mary’s eyes widened in panic as she wrestled against the gorgon’s strong grip. She bit down into the flesh of his hand, fangs and all. He pulled back before she loosened her jaw, causing his skin to tear away. Wednesday looked at Mary’s dark eyes and remembered the moment Enid first wolfed out in the woods. A cocktail of terror, shock, and fierce courage.

Ajax shouted in pain. “We’re getting those fucking fangs removed,” he hissed, holding his bleeding hand in a tight grip. He looked at his child like she was a rabid raccoon he’d caught plundering his garbage.

Enid’s nails scraped into the wood of the table. She breathed heavily, desperately trying to convince the beast in her chest to stay hidden from her terrified, crying baby. Ajax stood from the table, the feet of his chair screeched. With a disgusted look at Enid, he stormed down the hall and slammed a door shut.

Enid ran around the table to scoop Mary up. She bounced her, hushing her and petting through her hair until her crying calmed. “He’s never put a hand on her like that,” Enid asserted. “I need to go talk to him. Can you stay with her?”

Wednesday slowly lowered her fork back to the table. She could go into that room herself. It wouldn’t take much to end him, even with her bare hands. A sharp crack of the neck, hands around his throat, she could find a lamp cable and strangle him with it. If she brought the fork it would be even easier. Just one jab to his carotid would be enough. But then Mary was looking at her with sad eyes and grabby hands. She nodded.

Enid moved to the living room with Wednesday shortly behind and set Mary down on the rug. “Just give Mommy a few minutes okay?” She knelt down, Mary nodded. “That wasn’t okay, what Daddy did. That’s never going to happen again. Okay?” Another small nod.

Enid gave Wednesday a pained, knowing frown and rushed down the hall. A door slammed, muffled yells immediately started hurling back and forth between Enid and Ajax. Mary looked up at Wednesday with a silent pout.

Wednesday sat in the arm chair and looked down at the baby. Her heart broke. She wondered how often this happened. “Will you show me the Dalmatian movie?”

Mary’s face flickered quickly to excitement. She clambered over to the coffee table and grabbed the remote, shoving it in Wednesday’s lap.

“Oh… I don’t know how to use this,” Wednesday turned the remote over in her hand. Mary grabbed the arm of the chair and Wednesday’s knee to hoist herself up into her lap. She immediately sank her full weight into Wednesday’s front, earning a startled “oof!”

“It’s like this,” Mary grabbed the remote with both hands and began clumsily navigating through TV screens until she found Disney+.

Wednesday cringed against the physical contact, her body went stiff and rigid. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. Slowly, she shifted her right arm to better accommodate the child’s weight. She anchored her hand under Mary’s knee and the movie started to play. Mary gently set the remote on the arm of the chair and rested her head into Wednesday’s collarbone.

It took a full twenty minutes for Wednesday to relax her body, and as she did, Mary’s weight felt heavier. The child gripped her shirt with one tiny fist, she had curled herself into a little ball, and her eyes never left the screen. The shouting in the other room took a ten minute break before starting up again full force. Mary flinched and tensed. Wednesday wrapped her arms around the girl tighter now, her free hand came around to pull her into a protective embrace.

“It’s okay,” she muttered calmly. “I’ve got you.”

Mary seemed to believe her, because her body went limp at the words. She nuzzled her face into Wednesday’s shirt. Wednesday brought her right hand up to cover Mary’s ear and block it from the fight down the hall. She gently pet the girl’s blond locks.

The movie was almost over by the time a door opened in the hall. Mary had fallen asleep in Wednesday’s arms and was snoring lightly against her shirt. Ajax came storming into the room. Wednesday tightened her grip and glared up at him.

He stared back in disbelief, opened his mouth to say something, but only scoffed. He angrily grabbed his keys, stuffed his feet into a pair of sneakers, and left through the front door. Mary didn’t stir.

Enid emerged from the hall a few minutes later, her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were wet. Her cheeks… there was a red streak slashed across the left side of her face. Wednesday’s organs vibrated with rage, her blood turned acidic. She didn’t move in fear of waking the child.

Enid gave her an understanding look, it was almost apologetic. She gathered a plushy blanket from the end of the sofa and unfolded it. “I’m sorry,” she whispered as she lay the blanket over Wednesday and Mary. She gave her child a kiss on the head. “He’ll be gone all day tomorrow,” she spoke as quietly as possible. “I told him I want a divorce, he didn’t take it well. He’s going to stay with his mom tonight.”

Wednesday grit her teeth and gave a sharp nod. Enid cried softly. She curled up on the couch and let out a ragged breath. Wednesday looked at her.

“I don’t wanna sleep in that bed,” Enid explained. “If he comes back…”

“I’ll flay him alive,” Wednesday spoke full volume. Mary shuffled against her. “You’re both safe with me,” she rubbed Mary’s back. “You’re safe.”

Notes:

Check out this incredible fanart by Ryz_Eizy !!

https://twitter.com/Ryz_Eizy/status/1657785157234073602?s=20

Chapter 12: Rest

Wednesday woke to a warm weight shifting on her chest. She opened her eyes to find a grumbling Mary, still curled up in her lap and tucked under a blanket. Mary lifted her head and looked around.

Wednesday waited for Mary to gather her bearings. The child patted her own stomach. “Breakfast.” Wednesday nodded. She looked back to see Enid sleeping soundly on the sofa.

“Mommy’s sleeping,” Mary whispered. “She does big sleeps when she’s sad.”

Wednesday rubbed the child’s back. Images of Ajax’s hand grabbing Mary’s face flashed through her head. The streak on Enid’s cheek had left a bruise. She didn’t care if Enid never spoke to her again, she was going to kill that man.

A small hand tugged at the collar of her shirt. She looked at Mary with a soft expression and her focus shifted away from murder. She stood, holding Mary in her arms. She carried the girl to the kitchen. Mary clung like a monkey as Wednesday shifted her onto one hip, using her free hand to open the fridge.

“What should we have for breakfast, little wolf?”

Mary pointed to a plastic package of bacon. Wednesday pulled it from the fridge and set it on the counter.

“And juice,” Mary pointed, Wednesday grabbed a bottle of grape juice. She opened cabinets with Mary’s direction to find a glass for her. She reached for a glass and Mary shook her head, pointing to a plastic cup on the bottom row.

“Of course,” Wednesday reached for the plastic cup. “Is there a lid for this?”

Mary shook her head. “No. I don’t spill.”

Wednesday sat her down on the countertop while she poured juice and fried the bacon. Mary wanted to get down, to go play in her room, but Wednesday wouldn’t let her leave her sight. She entertained the child by asking questions about Disney movies and bugs.

 

The pair sat quietly at the kitchen table. Wednesday scowled down at a mug of drip coffee she’d made for herself. Disgusting swill. Idiot Ajax. If she were lucky enough to have Enid as her wife, their home would be outfitted with a full espresso bar.

Mary sat across her, struggling with her plastic set of silverware. She looked up at Wednesday with a frustrated pout. “You have to cut it.”

Wednesday leaned forward. “No.” She took the silverware away, setting it next to her. “I want you to eat the way that feels right. No rules. Can you do that?”

Mary’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “No trouble?”

“You will not get in trouble.”

Mary hesitantly grabbed a slice of bacon in her little fist. Wednesday nodded encouragingly. With pointed fangs, Mary bit into the meat.

“Good,” Wednesday sipped her coffee. “Isn’t that better?”

Mary nodded enthusiastically before shoving the rest of the slice into her mouth. “It’s tasty!”

 

After breakfast, Wednesday followed Mary into the playroom. She perched in a chair, stiff as a guard dog while Mary played quietly. Wednesday opened her phone and found Yoko’s number in her contacts.

W: You need to come to San Fransisco as soon as possible. Ajax hit Enid last night. She told him she wants a divorce. I know she would want you here.

Y: Is Mary okay

W: Yes. She is here with me, she wasn’t harmed. Ajax grabbed her face but she bit him.

Y: Good pup
Y: Okay. Can I bring Bianca? She can always calm Enid down.

W: I don’t see why not.

Y: Avengers assemble
Y: Where’s the fuckhead?

W: At his mother’s.

Y: Okay. We gotta get the nugget out of there before he comes back. Have Enid call her sister-in-law Penny, she’ll come get Mary

W: Okay.

Y: Are you alright?

W: I am fine.

Y: Sounds fake but okay
Y: I just feel like that was probably really hard to see
Y: What did you even do?

W: When he grabbed Mary, I was useless. I stood brandishing a fork like an idiot. I froze.
W: I didn’t see him hit Enid. He was gone by the time I saw the mark on her face. I don’t know that I would have been able to control myself if I had witnessed it.

Y: That’s a lot of self control dude
Y: I’m proud of you

W: Don’t say that. I should have euthanized him the second he put his hand on the child.

Y: Ok well if you had that you’d be in prison so
Y: You did good. You’re there for her emotionally, that’s the important thing
Y: And you’re there for the nugget

W: I don’t see how I’m helping at all. But I appreciate the sentiment.

Y: No problem.
Y: So, I should be there at like, 6ish. Gonna take the jet.

W: You have a private jet?

Y: … Do you not?

 

Mary toddled over to Wednesday and rested her cheek on her knee.

“What’s wrong, niña?” Wednesday pet her head. She’d made more physical contact with Mary than she had with anyone in ten years. It didn’t burn. Maybe that was genetic.

“Where’s Daddy?”

Wednesday tensed. She panicked, grabbing at loose threads on her tongue, trying to find the best way to explain this to a child. But Mary looked up and whispered, “He’s scary. Not fun scary.”

Wednesday’s eyes welled against her self control. She cupped the baby’s face and looked at her with stern eyes. “He isn’t going to hurt you ever again. I am here. Understood?”

Mary cried quietly. “You dress like a bad guy but you’re a good guy.”

Wednesday swiped a tear with the pad of her thumb. “Let’s go wake your mother.”

 

Enid was slow to wake. She turned over on the couch and scooped Mary up into her arms. Wednesday stood stiff and anxious. “Yoko is on her way.”

Enid’s heavy eyelids slowly pried open. “What?”

“Yoko is coming, she’s bringing Bianca. She said you should call someone named Penny.”

Enid looked at Mary with a heartbroken frown. “My baby,” she whispered, burying her face in the girl’s hair. She wept. Mary patted her shoulder. “It’s okay Mommy. Wednesday’s a good guy.”

Enid sobbed harder. “She is, baby. She’s like a knight in shining armor, huh?” She pulled back, wiping her face with the sleeve of her sweater. “Do you want to go play with Luke today?”

Mary sat up with a wide smile. “YEAH! Can I bring new toys?” Enid smiled and nodded through thick tears. “Why don’t you go gather up your things, okay? It might be a sleepover.”

Mary bolted out of the room and Enid sat up. “Thank god for her,” she let out a tired sigh. “My sister-in-law Penny. She’s not with my brother anymore but we’re really close. Mary’s cousin Luke is like, her best friend.”

Wednesday nodded. Enid wasn’t resisting the help. A razor thin ray of hope penetrated her dread before she could shoo it away.

 

Enid helped Mary pack an overnight bag and Penny was at her door in less than an hour. Wednesday gave them privacy while Enid tearfully explained to Penny what had happened. The woman was warm and sweet, she hugged Enid tight. As Wednesday watched Mary wave from the car window, she felt a fishhook tearing in her chest. Enid must have been able to tell, because she laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“She’s okay,” she promised. “Penny’s amazing. It’s much better if Mary’s not here today.”

The women stood awkwardly. Enid broke the silence. “Are you okay?”

“Absolutely not,” Wednesday deadpanned. “It is taking every shred of willpower I can fake to keep myself from hunting him down and snapping his neck.”

Enid stared, her eyes wet again. Wednesday couldn’t read her expression. She let out a huff as she was pulled into a hug.

“Thank you,” Enid cried. “For being here and helping me. I want this to be over.”

Wednesday hugged back. “Good,” she tried to sound soothing. “That is the first step. I am so proud of you, Enid.”

The taller girl pulled back and held Wednesday’s face with both hands. She leaned down and pressed a bruising kiss to Wednesday’s mouth.

“Mm,” Wednesday grabbed Enid’s wrists and pulled her away. Enid searched her face in panic. “Not today,” Wednesday whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I want it. I just don’t feel good about where it’s coming from.”

Enid nodded, never letting go of Wednesday’s face. “I’m still so fucking tired. Can we like… cuddle? Til Yoko and Bianca get here?”

Wednesday gave a small nod and reached up to hold Enid’s hand. She moved to the couch and sat. “Come here,” she leaned against the arm of the sofa and spread her legs, motioning for Enid to lay on her. Enid followed, laying on her stomach to drape across the shorter girl. Wednesday wrapped one arm around her back and used the other to pet Enid’s hair. She gave her a chaste kiss on the crown of her head.

Enid closed her eyes and buried a fist into Wednesday’s hoodie. “You’ll keep me safe, right?” She muttered sleepily.

“Yes.”

“Do you have weapons and stuff in case he shows up?”

Wednesday loved the idea of Ajax arriving before Yoko and Bianca did. She wanted the sole honor of taking his life. “No. But I don’t need any.”

Enid relaxed her body. “What, you don’t hide knives in your boots anymore?”

“I do. Just not while I’m around the baby.”

Enid fell asleep while Wednesday stared at the door, never blinking.

Chapter 13: Shatter

A knock at the door made Wednesday’s entire body flinch. Enid woke with a gasp and looked around.

“Is that him?” Wednesday’s muscles geared up for violence.

“No,” Enid ran a hand through her hair. “That’s gotta be Yoko. Ajax wouldn’t knock.” She stood and started toward the door, but Wednesday beat her to it. She swung the door open and sighed when she found Yoko and Bianca standing on the front stoop.

“Hey Addams,” Bianca smiled and cocked her head. “You just wake up?”

Enid pushed forward to wrap Yoko into a tight hug. “Get your butt in here. And don’t pick on Wednesday.”

Yoko and Enid moved to the kitchen, laughing and talking over each other. Wednesday stared at Bianca. “How could you tell?”

Bianca gave her a once-over. “You’ve got werewolf drool all over your hoodie.”

 

The four women made themselves comfortable in the living room. Wednesday took the armchair while the other three sat on the couch. Yoko rubbed comforting patterns into Enid’s back while she cried.

“I’m so sorry guys,” she sobbed with her face in her hands. “I’m so, so sorry you’ve had to watch this for so long.”

Bianca leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Don’t you dare apologize to us. You are the victim here. You did absolutely nothing wrong.”

Yoko nodded. “You’re doing the best thing. I hate that it had to get physical before you realized, but I’m so relieved that you’re finally done.”

Enid hiccuped. Yoko added, “You are done, right? When he gets back, you’re gonna tell him to fuck off.”

Enid nodded furiously. “Oh, no, it’s over. I don’t even care that he hit me, but I’m never letting that man anywhere near my child ever again.”

“He’s a shit dad anyway,” Yoko added.

Enid rubbed her eyes. “I know. I guess I always thought he was good because he watches her all day while I’m at work, he makes her lunch, he reads to her and plays with her. But I don’t know, I’ve just been noticing stuff lately. Like, he hates that she’s a werewolf. Just like he hates that I’m a werewolf. And he’s always discouraging her from stuff he doesn’t like.”

“Mmm,” Bianca hummed. “I get that. What a piece of shit. That little angel deserves unconditional love. And she needs to learn about who she is. I’m sure your mother will be thrilled. I know she used to hate the way Ajax tried to like, de-wolf you.”

“I know. She warned me about that. But when Ajax and I started dating, I didn’t care. I was so ashamed after I wolfed out the way I did, it was almost nice to be discouraged from it. But ever since we had Mary, she’s like, his number one fan. Maybe it’s an act to keep things civil, or maybe she just gave up. I donno.”

“Would you be able to go stay with her for a while after you talk to Ajax?” Yoko asked gently. “I’m sure the whole divorce and custody process are gonna suck.”

“No,” Wednesday finally spoke up. “You’ll come back to New York with me.”

Bianca rose her eyebrows. “Damn Addams, there ya go.”

Enid cracked an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Wednesday. But I won’t be able to leave the state until the custody stuff is sorted out. I’ve looked this all up,” she trailed off quietly. “To be honest, I’ve been thinking about this for a few months. I just needed the final push I guess.”

“Then I will rent a condo here,” Wednesday pressed. “Or buy one.”

Yoko stifled a laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and sang into it, “U-Haaaaul.”

“Hypocrite,” Enid jabbed back.

Yoko gasped in offense. “What does that mean?”

Enid rolled her eyes. “You wanna tell me how you managed to pick Bianca up from her place in Miami and still make it here in under six hours?”

Yoko and Bianca exchanged a look. “She was… visiting. Boston is beautiful this time of year.”

Enid burst out in an unexpected laugh, and Bianca and Yoko followed suit. They wrestled with each other, all elbows and playful slaps. Wednesday’s heart swelled at the way Enid’s laugh could still sound so pure under such dreadful circumstances.

“Wait, wait,” Bianca caught her breath. “Yoko, get the thing.”

“Oh!” Yoko slapped her knees and stood up, moving to her bag. She pulled a small glass vial from its pocket.

“What’s that?” Enid asked.

“It’s a spell. Sort of like, reverse vampire magic. You know how we need to be invited in to cross a threshold? This’ll make it so no one can enter the house without being invited.” She opened the front door, uncorked the bottle of grey dust, and poured it on the front step.

“That’s insanely cool. Shit, you could sell that,” Enid said.

“Eh,” Yoko shrugged. “It only works for like, 24 hours. And it’s a bitch to make.” She shut the door and plopped back onto the couch.

The women talked for hours, laughing and crying and hugging. Wednesday mostly observed, soaking in every word, but offered the occasional comment. Enid gushed about how good Wednesday was with Mary, and a light blush burned over the bridge of her nose. There was something deeply potent in the air, a sort of divine energy that strung the women together with strands of vulnerability and strength. Wednesday had never experienced anything like it.

The warm buzz of chatter cracked in half at the sound of keys jingling in the doorknob. They all tensed and fell silent, staring at the door. It swung open. Ajax stood, pressing himself into an invisible wall, his face furiously distorted.

“Enid, what the FUCK.” He slammed his fist on the barrier. “What’s wrong with the door?” He looked around the living room. “Oh, cool. You’re having a fucking girl’s night. Where’s Mary?”

Enid stood with shaky legs and approached him, leaving a yard of distance. She clasped her hands together and looked at her friends for strength before turning back to her husband. “Ajax,” her voice broke immediately. “I meant what I said last night. I want a divorce. And I’m taking Mary.”

Ajax looked around in confusion. “What the fuck kind of joke is this?”

“It’s not a joke,” Enid asserted. “You hit me. And you hurt Mary. I wanted to talk about it more tonight but I can see you’re already really angry, so… maybe you should go, and we can talk once we’ve both calmed down.”

“Go? Go where?” He pounded into the barrier with this fist again. Wednesday moved to stand behind Enid. Yoko and Bianca followed. “This is my fucking house!” He was screaming now, his face was red. “LET ME IN!”

Ajax rammed his entire body against the invisible barrier and the women jumped back a foot. He bounced off the wall and fell back on the stoop. He looked up, fury twisting in his eyes. Without another word, he stood and ran to the side of the house.

“Where’s he going?” Bianca asked, panicked.

“To the back door,” Enid turned and bolted into the dining room. Wednesday was close behind. She slipped into the kitchen and drew a butcher’s knife from the knife block. She turned it over in her hand, looking down at her own reflection in the steel. When she returned to the dining room, Ajax was at the sliding door. Enid had locked it. Yoko and Bianca stood beside her, all visibly shaken and upset. Yoko was screaming obscenities at him through the glass.

Ajax struggled with the handle before conceding. He ran down the wooden steps of the porch. Bianca watched him from the window. “Fuck. He’s getting a rock. Is that spell gonna work on this door?”

Yoko grabbed Enid’s arm. “I don’t know.”

Wednesday felt a strange calm. She wasn’t afraid of any of this. She even hoped Ajax would get inside. She silently begged for any excuse to slice into gorgon flesh. Ajax had a death wish if he wanted to go four-on-one with a group of powerful outcasts.

Ajax returned and threw the rock into the glass. The door shattered to pieces and he pushed his way through.

“Fuck,” Bianca screamed, jumping back. He stood in the dining room now, breath heaving with rage.

“You all need to get the FUCK out of my house and let me talk to my GODDAMN WIFE!” He screamed with all his breath.

Enid’s claws extended. She stepped toward him. “Ajax,” she growled. “You’re gonna get hurt. Please, please leave.”

He looked between the women, confusion and anger hitching in his throat.

“This… this isn’t legal,” he panted. “You can’t just take my kid away from me. You can’t just kick me out of my own house.”

“Yes she can, you fucking prick,” Yoko hissed. Bianca grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back. She reached up to yank her amulet off, but Enid held out a hand to stop her. “We don’t need that. I need this to be real.”

Enid took a calming breath despite the hazy terror in the room. “We can work out the legal stuff later. Please, just go.”

Ajax shook his head and laughed. “Do you honestly think you’d win custody?”

Enid’s body went rigid. Her breath was ragged and shallow. Bianca and Yoko watched, teetering on the precarious edge of action.

“I own this house,” Ajax sneered. “I make twice as much as you do. No judge would let you take my daughter.”

Enid growled low in her gut. Wednesday watched her carefully, still brandishing the knife, ready to lunge at any second. Ajax leaned in. “And I know you’ve been cheating on me, you stupid fucking whore. You’re not as smart as you think you are. So go ahead, take me to court. I’ll seek full custody. And I’ll win.”

Enid’s hand shot out and wrapped around Ajax’s throat. Her razor sharp claws dug into the flesh and thin ribbons of blood leaked out. Ajax swung his leg back and brought a steel-toed boot up to kick Enid hard in the gut. A sharp cracking sound made bile sting in the back of Wednesday’s throat. Enid shrieked in pain, doubling over and releasing Ajax’s neck. Wednesday lunged forward toward him. She could already taste his blood. His eyes locked on her and he reached up for his beanie.

“WEDNESDAY!” Bianca screamed as Ajax pulled his hat back. With lightening reflex, Wednesday closed her eyes and lifted the knife. The shining blade caught Ajax’s eye, and his own reflection stared back at him in the steel. Wednesday heard a crackling sound rip through the air and she slowly opened her eyes to look at Ajax’s feet. Stone.

“Holy shit,” Yoko panted heavily. Enid recovered from the blow and looked up to gawk at Ajax’s frozen body. She clutched at her abdomen and winced in pain. She looked at Wednesday with wet, pained eyes.

All rationale and control left Wednesday’s body on her next exhale. She rushed toward the gorgon and wrapped her hands around his arm, grunting in effort to snap it off.

“Woah woah woah!!” Yoko barreled forward and hooked her arms through Wednesday’s, pulling her back.

Wednesday screamed. She didn’t know where it came from, she didn’t even realize it was her who made the sound. She wanted him dead, this wasn’t enough. She’d break off every limb and grind them down into a fine dust. She’d watch in awe as the particles slowly turned to squishy sinew.

Her body relaxed and her screaming quieted as she watched Enid straighten her spin and wrap her arms around Ajax’s waist.

“Enid?” Bianca took a cautious step forward. Enid lifted the stone as easily as if it were made of styrofoam. With dazed, catatonic steps, she carried him out on the porch and looked over the edge at the story-high drop. Wednesday struggled against Yoko’s grip, but it didn’t loosen.

“I know, hun,” Yoko spoke softly. “We both want to. But she‘s earned this.”

Everything was silent and the earth stood still as Enid tossed Ajax’s frozen form off the railing of the porch. The silence shattered into pieces with him. Enid held the railing and looked down. Yoko, Bianca, and Wednesday all stood still and held their breath. If anyone moved, this would be real. Ajax would be dead, laying in pieces on the lawn. They’d have to figure out what to do with his body, how to cover this up. What to tell Mary. So instead they opted for disbelief and let themselves sink into this perfect dream.

Chapter 14: Savor

Notes:

Hey y’all! I wanna start by saying thank you SO MUCH for all the comments yesterday! Y’all really made my day. We finally got rid of Ajax 😈

I was made aware of a plot hole that I wanna clear up regarding Esther’s stance on Ajax: So, she used to not like him cause he was always discouraging of Enid’s werewolf side. But ever since they had Mary, she’s totally sucked up to him, likely to keep things civil so she can spend time with her granddaughter. I edited some of the dialogue in yesterday’s chapter to make that more clear.

Anyway, thank you all SO MUCH for coming along with me on this journey. I love writing this story so, so much, and I’ve got lots more twists and turns planned.

Enjoy!

“Guys?” Enid finally broke the quiet haze. Yoko was the first to move. She walked over to stand beside her friend and looked over the edge.

“Shit.”

Wednesday followed with Bianca close behind. They stood in a row and gazed down in shock at the dozen broken pieces of Ajax’s stone body.

Wednesday flinched when she heard Enid take in a sharp, long breath. Enid covered her mouth and sobbed. Bianca ran a hand over her back as she knelt down, gripping the wooden slats of the railing.

Yoko nudged Wednesday to get her attention. “Come on,” she nodded toward the stairs. “Let’s go clean up. Bianca’s better at this than us.”

Competitive jealousy burned in Wednesday’s wrists, but she knew Yoko was right. She knew everything about disposing of a corpse, and nothing about comforting a freshly made widow.

Yoko and Wednesday descended the stairs as Enid cried loudly into Bianca’s comforting embrace. When they reached the pile of cracked stone, a cruel smile crept over Wednesday’s face.

Yoko noticed. “I know,” she whispered, looking up at the other two women to see if they could hear. “I kinda wanna like… dance on his corpse. But, you know. That’d probably be in bad taste.”

Wednesday’s eyes shone. “I wanted to be the one to do it.”

“I feel that,” Yoko looked down at the rubble. “I really wanted to have a Big Little Lies moment. But this is better.”

They stared at the pieces. The moon cast a glowing shadow over the stone. Yoko made a choking sound in the back of her throat, leaned forward, and spat. Wednesday looked at her, surprised.

“What? They’re not looking.”

Wednesday looked up at the porch. Enid’s face was buried in Bianca’s chest, and the siren was singing softly and petting her back. She looked back down, inhaled, and spat.

“Alright. I’m thinking we go to the shed and see what tools we can use to grind this up, then throw the bits in a bag and go bury them in the woods.”

Wednesday nodded. As she was looking up at the backyard shed, her heart sputtered at a set of blue and red lights flashing against the lawn.

“Or that works too,” Yoko shrugged.

“What?” Wednesday hissed. “That could be the police. We need to move quickly.”

“Oh that’s absolutely the cops,” Yoko took a step backwards toward the steps. “They’ll clean it up for us.”

Wednesday gave her a bewildered look.

“Don’t worry, we got Bianca.”

*****

 

“So lemme get this straight.” A pink faced police officer stood in the center of Enid’s living room, his stance wide in a sort of desperate attempt at intimidation. “Your husband was leaning off the railing, he opened his phone to take a selfie, and his hat fell off?”

Enid sat curled in a ball in the armchair, a blanket wrapped tightly around her as she shook.

“That’s right,” Yoko asserted with her arms crossed.

“So he stoned himself with his phone, and at that exact moment he fell over the railing.”

“Yup.”

The cop squinted and wrote something down in a tiny notebook. “Why did your neighbor report screaming?”

“I saw the whole thing,” Enid choked, never looking up at the man. “I screamed.”

“So then, why’s the sliding door broken?” He gestured toward the door with his pen.

Wednesday’s fists tightened. The cop wasn’t buying any of this. She knew most of the cops in outcast neighborhoods were seers, and even if he wasn’t one, their story was flimsy and full of holes.

“She punched the door,” Bianca cooed. “Poor thing was hysterical.”

Had Enid punched the door? That sounded right. Two inconsistent images of breaking glass stood side by side in Wednesday’s brain, fighting each other for a spot in the permanent archives of her memory.

“Oh, I see,” the officer suddenly looked sympathetic.

“He fell. It was an accident,” Bianca continued. Her voice was soothing and silken. Wednesday clung firmly to her memory as Bianca’s song tried to rewrite it. She didn’t ever want to lose that perfect moment. Her willpower wouldn’t allow it, but it seemed to be working on the cop.

“An accident,” the officer repeated. “Such a tragedy.” He turned to Enid with an earnest look. “Gosh, Miss. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Enid curled into herself tighter and winced. The officer put his hands on his hips and sighed as he looked around the house. “Wait, why’s there a knife on the dining room table?” His eyebrows pinched and he started slowly walking toward the table.

“That’s from dinner,” Bianca said.

“Oh,” he stopped walking and looked back at the women. “That makes sense. I don’t know why I even noticed it.” He shrugged and shook his head. “Been a long night.”

“So are we done here?” Yoko asked. “My friend is in shock and we’d really appreciate some privacy.”

The officer nodded obediently. “Yes, of course. Ladies, I’m so sorry for the questioning. The coroners will be out of the yard for about an hour, they’ll take his remains to this morgue,” he pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Enid. “They’ll take good care of him. They deal specifically in supernatural bodies.”

Enid took it with a numb expression.

The officer stood awkwardly for a moment before giving a polite nod and leaving out the front door.

“Fuck,” Enid whispered as soon as the door shut.

“Yeah,” Yoko moved to sit on the arm of the chair.

“Thanks Bianca,” Enid looked up.

“Oh, baby. Of course.”

Yoko rubbed Enid’s back. “What do you need right now, hunny?”

Enid stared ahead. “Mary.”

“It’s past midnight, hun. And they’re… cleaning up. Outside.”

Enid nodded stiffly. “The fuck am I gonna tell her?”

Bianca gave a sympathetic frown. “We can figure that out tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Enid sighed. “Maybe it’s better to have a dead dad than an abusive one.”

Yoko and Bianca looked at each other in shocked worry. Enid looked back and forth between them. “Guys, I’m okay.”

“I know, hunny,” Yoko leaned into a side hug. “I just think maybe you’re in shock right now.”

“No,” Enid pulled away. “I’m not. I know none of this is gonna be easy, but I’m okay. I feel relieved.”

Wednesday was trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest. Watching Enid lose control like that was likely the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She could feel the intoxicating rush of murder in her fingertips. She could feel the heady, hazy thrill of revenge on a subatomic level. Socially, she knew she was supposed to act solemn and sad in a moment like this. Enid had cried so loud on the porch. But seeing Enid now, eyes clear and lucid, Wednesday wondered if the cries had been some cathartic release after years of abuse. Maybe it was a physiological reaction, some aftermath of too much adrenaline. Enid was looking at her now. Something dangerous brewed in her eyes.

“I am also relieved,” Wednesday finally spoke. “He deserved that. You did well.”

Bianca looked and at her and shook her head. Wednesday knew that look. It said, “what you’re doing right now is not socially acceptable.” But she didn’t care about Bianca’s expression, she cared about Enid’s. And Enid’s was some overlapping of adoration, possession, and lust.

Yoko shrugged. “I mean, she’s not wrong.” Bianca’s stern glare turned on her. “What?? If we don’t have to pretend we’re sad, I’m not gonna.”

“It’s really okay,” Enid offered. “You don’t have to pretend. We’ll probably have to do enough of that as his funeral.”

A funeral. For Ajax. Wednesday bit back a smile.

“Well, shit. I’m glad you feel okay. But just know that it’s okay to feel sad, too. You’ll shift between a lot of emotions, grief is weird,” Bianca spoke gently. “So just know that whatever you’re feeling is okay. And we’re here for you.”

“What she said,” Yoko tacked on. She was doing a terrible job of keeping a cap on her excitement. Her foot bounced and her mouth smirked like she was in line for a party.

“Can we like… go to bed?” Enid pulled the blanket off and sat up, groaning in pain.

“Absolutely,” Yoko said. “Your rib gonna be okay?”

Enid looked down. “Oh, totally. It’s broken, but it’ll be fine in be morning.”

Bianca let out an amused puff of air. “Fuckin’ werewolves. Bet you never have any medical bills.” Enid let out a laugh too carefree and airy for a woman who’d just murdered her husband.

“Where you want me sleepin’?” Yoko grabbed her suitcase.

“Take my bed,” Enid stood up. “Wednesday and I will sleep downstairs. Bianca, you can take the couch if you want.”

Yoko and Bianca shared a look.

“I’m kidding. Jesus, you guys are obvious.”

Yoko grabbed Bianca’s hand and lead her down the hall. She called over her shoulder, “So are you, dork. I know there’s only one bed down there.”

Chapter 15: Stroke

Notes:

The incredible Ryz_Eizy made some adorable fanart for chapter 11, go see!! I have never been so flattered. I literally set this as my lock screen. https://twitter.com/Ryz_Eizy/status/1657785157234073602?s=20

You have all been so kind and supportive of my work. I love you all :’)

Alright, that’s enough from me… ENJOY!

Wednesday clutched the wooden railing leading down into Enid’s half-finished basement. It felt like her body was trying to float away. Enid walked closely ahead, looking back to check on her.

“This couch pulls out,” Enid explained, crossing the room. The basement was open and dim. One half looked to be a laundry and workshop area while the other half was more furnished. There was a nice rug on the floor, a sofa, and a disorganized mess of art supplies. Two easels were set up, dozens of canvases leaned in the corners. Wednesday froze as she looked up at the wall. It was covered from floor to ceiling with art.

Enid’s art was all oil and acrylic. Most of it fell somewhere between abstract and impressionist. Smudges of color wove together in beautiful harmony.

“Oh, yeah,” Enid laughed. “Sorry. That’s embarrassing.”

“What is?” Wednesday stood in awe.

“All this old shit. This was from when I was trying to like, make it as an artist. I don’t come down here much so I haven’t had the chance to take it down.”

“Enid. It’s beautiful.”

“No it’s not. Abstract art is lazy.” Enid sat on the couch.

“Who told you that?” Wednesday turned to look at her. Her voice was sharp and offended.

Enid shrank. “Ajax.”

Wednesday looked back at the art and felt small under the enormous task of undoing Ajax’s years of abuse and manipulation. “It isn’t lazy. I can clearly see that each stroke is intentional. There is expert composition to be found in each of these pieces. And the color palettes you choose evoke emotion.”

“That’s what I was going for actually,” Enid admitted sheepishly. “It’s cliché, but the point was to be kind of like a Rorschach test I guess? Like whatever you see in the painting tells you something about yourself.”

Wednesday stared. She pointed at a piece. “A rainy Sunday morning.” Another. “The sticky sweetness of honey in your tea. This one feels like waiting in a hospital. And this one is the feeling you get when you watch someone beautiful, but they don’t know you’re looking at them.”

Enid blushed hard. “Shit,” she whispered. “Your words are pretty.”

They looked at each other. Enid looked tired and disheveled and perfect.

“I need a shower,” Enid mumbled. “Will you help me?”

Wednesday managed a small nod. Enid stood and moved to the other half of the basement. She gathered up a towel and a few pieces of clothing from a laundry bin and nodded toward a small door.

“We put a bathroom in here forever ago. The whole space was gonna be my art studio.”

“I will rent you a proper studio space,” Wednesday offered automatically.

Enid gave her a small smile and she pushed open the bathroom door. “You don’t have to do that. I haven’t painted in forever.”

She would, though. She’d buy Enid a mansion if she wanted one. A whole floor dedicated to her art. A whole wing for Mary. It was in her nature to get ahead of herself.

“I promise I’m not, like, trying anything,” Enid explained softly as she started the water. “I just really wanna wash the night off me and I can’t move very well. Will you help me out of my shirt?”

Wednesday tensed. She stepped forward and hesitantly gripped the hem of Enid’s shirt. “Can you lift your arms?”

“Just this one,” Enid groaned in pain as she moved. Wednesday slipped the shirt up over her head and down her bad arm.

“Let me see,” Wednesday held Enid’s shoulder and gently turned her. A dark, angry bruise the size of her hand bloomed over Enid’s ribcage. The rage came back tenfold, but was quickly cooled by the memory of Ajax’s shattered corpse. She wished she had taken a photograph of it.

Enid reached behind her back with her good arm to unclasp her bra. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I promise it’ll be fine. There might be some bruising, but the bone will be totally healed in a couple hours.” She let her bra fall forward and Wednesday looked away.

Enid struggled out of her pants. She got them to her knees before puffing in frustration. “Will you help?”

Wednesday blushed furiously and knelt down, commanding her eyes to behave. She gripped the waistband of Enid’s jeans and tugged them the rest of the way off. Her knuckles grazed over impossibly soft skin. A knot formed in her throat. She made the deadly mistake of looking up, her eyes fell on scarring and stretch marks.

“Ew, don’t look,” Enid snaked a self-conscious arm over her stomach. Wednesday reflexively reached up to pull her arm out of the way.

“No,” Wednesday whispered. She stared like an awestruck art student in a museum. Stretch marks blossomed from Enid’s waistline and traveled in uneven lines up the curvature of her stomach. At the tip of each mark, her skin was pink. They looked like fireworks traveling up into the sky, just about to burst.

Enid shook nervously and whined from the vulnerability, but let herself be inspected like this. Wednesday trailed a light fingertip over the long cesarean scar, the battle mark that had ushered Mary into the world. “This is even prettier than the scars on your face.”

Enid covered her eyes in the palms of her hands. “Stop, you’re gonna make me blush.”

“I won’t. You are ashamed of these marks. You need to know how beautiful they are.” Wednesday wanted to stay here forever, on her knees.

Enid parted her fingers to peek down at the girl. “It’s kinda corny. Whenever I love someone hard enough, I end up with scars.”

Wednesday wasn’t going to acknowledge that. She felt relieved when Enid didn’t either. She cleared her throat and stood. Dizziness pushed on her brain. She turned around as Enid shimmied out of her panties and stepped into the shower.

Wednesday took a step back and leaned against the glass door of the shower. She crossed her arms and straightened her back like a security guard. The sound of water pounding against the porcelain floor felt like a brain cleanse.

“Did Bianca’s song work on you?” Enid asked.

“No,” Wednesday turned her head to be heard, but didn’t dare to look. “It almost did, but I fought it.”

Enid hummed. “I let it mostly work. Is that bad?”

“Probably not.”

“I mean, I know what happened. But now I have these vivid images of it being an accident. I think it’ll make it easier to pretend.”

“That is understandable.” Wednesday stared ahead. This was too much to balance. The heat of violence still lingering in her chest, the curse claiming her veins, the naked goddess bathing mere feet from her.

“Why did you fight it?” Enid asked after a long pause.

“It was beautiful. I never want to forget.”

Enid was silent. After a few minutes, she turned the water off and slid open the door.

“Will you hand me that towel?”

Wednesday grabbed the towel and extended her arm blindly behind her. “I’ll go pull out the couch.”

 

Something between dread and excitement brewed in Wednesday’s throat as she made up the guest bed. She knew she wouldn’t sleep tonight. It would be such suffocating torture, sharing a bed with Enid.

“Aww,” Enid rounded the corner, her hair wet, drowning in an oversized white nightshirt. “This reminds me of our Nevermore days.”

Wednesday sat on the end of the mattress. The school’s name flicked a switch in her head. Tyler’s face contorting in sly victory. Kimbott’s obituary. Weems, foaming at the mouth.

“Here,” Enid’s voice snapped her back. It always did. Wednesday caught a pile of clothes that were thrown at her: a black crew neck sweatshirt and black sleep shorts.

“They’ll be big on you, but I’m sure you don’t wanna sleep in leather.” Enid sat gingerly on the bed and leaned back, groaning in pain.

“Avert your eyes,” Wednesday grumbled. She stood and changed into Enid’s clothes. It felt more intimate than it had any right to be.

“C’mere,” Enid whispered, holding her arms out. Wednesday swallowed hard and clicked off the standing lamp. Light from the half moon poured in through a small window. She crawled into the bed and let herself settle on Enid’s good arm. She kept a respectful distance, but soon Enid was shuffling forward to press herself against Wednesday’s cool body.

They lay in silence. Crickets and cicadas chirped in the woods out back. Wednesday trailed her eyes along the paintings on the wall. This would make a perfect tomb.

“Wednesday,” Enid whispered, turning her head. Wednesday looked at her, their faces settling too close.

“Will you stay?” Enid’s eyes shined.

“Yes.”

“Like, for a long time? After the funeral or whatever happens next?”

Wednesday searched Enid’s eyes. “Of course. I will do whatever is necessary to be close to you. I can easily relocate.”

A tear streaked over the bridge of Enid’s nose. “Should I feel guilty for holding you like this when my husband literally just died?” There was humor and pain in her voice. Wednesday shook her head. “Okay, good. ‘Cause I don’t.”

Wednesday’s eyes flickered down to Enid’s mouth. She lingered for too long. Her heart screamed.

Enid reached up and cupped her face. “I wanna kiss you really bad.”

Wednesday reached up and held her wrist. “Then why don’t you?”

“You said not today.”

Wednesday boldly shifted forward. “It is past midnight.”

Enid leaned through the inch separating their mouths. She kissed Wednesday soft and quiet. Her mouth moved slow, deliberate, like her brush strokes. Evoking emotion.

“Why did you look at me that way tonight?” Enid breathed between kisses.

“Like what?” Wednesday moved her hand from Enid’s wrist to her neck, gently holding the side of it and leaning up on her elbow.

“Like you wanted to fuck me.”

Wednesday burned. She didn’t deserve this. Unworthy. Enid was grieving. This was wrong. Her gut wrenched. She lost control of her words.

“Watching you kill him was… attractive.”

Enid rose her eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“Yes,” Wednesday cringed at her own candidness. “You defended yourself and protected your child. I find vengeance to be erotic in a way. And death… stirs something in me.”

Enid wrapped her hand around the back of Wednesday’s neck. The other hand came up to bunch up in the black crew neck. “You’re so weird.” She smiled like she was holding a secret. Wednesday leaned down to kiss the smile.

Wednesday knew she should feel guilty. She should feel sadness or fear. She should be politely holding a door open for a new trauma to make its home in her brain. But instead, she let out a hot breath and gently rolled onto Enid’s good side. Instead, she pressed her tongue into Enid’s mouth and moaned. She was going to hell anyway.

A warm hand slid up under Wednesday’s sweatshirt and she gasped. Enid pulled away and looked her in the eye. “Is this okay?”

This was the most ‘okay’ thing that had ever happened. “Yes.” Enid’s hand slid slowly up until it hesitantly gripped Wednesday’s breast.

“Woah,” Enid’s eyes widened. “Soft.”

Wednesday smirked at the innocence of it. She arched her back down into the touch, encouraging Enid to take more. She kissed her hard now, still leaning all her weight on one side to keep from hurting Enid.

They sunk into the mattress, all sound disappearing around them into a vacuum. They kissed and licked and bit at lips, necks, chests. Wednesday decided she must have lost her life at Ajax’s hand, and the gods had given her an hour of heaven before she’d spent the rest of her eternity in hell.

When Enid’s fingers found the heat between her legs, Wednesday mustered the self control to pull away. “Not tonight,” she whispered, hating herself. Tomorrow would be long, Enid needed sleep. And she wanted to do this under better circumstances. She wanted Enid to have more time to change her mind, to sober up from the intoxication of adrenaline and wrath.

Enid whimpered in protest, but her eyes gave away how tired she’d gotten through it all. She curled in toward Wednesday, gesturing for the smaller girl to turn around. Wednesday scooted back, reluctantly letting herself be held by the wolf. She’d wake to a lucid Enid, an Enid who didn’t want her anymore. She’d wake and Yoko and Bianca would take over from here. Or she’d wake in a firey pit of lava, ready for her first day of eternal torment. But for now, she’d let herself sleep.

Chapter 16: Regroup

Dawn brought more clarity than Wednesday wanted. She woke with her head on Enid’s chest. The rise and fall of her sternum felt like rhythmic waves lapping at the side of a boat. Wednesday felt like if she moved, she’d drown. Which was probably for the best. She sat up.

Enid grumbled something unintelligible and reached blindly. “Five more minutes.”

Wednesday looked down at the sleeping wolf. She could slip out now before Enid was fully awake. She could be on a plane back to NYC in the next hour.

Enid’s eyes opened slowly. She smiled. “Wow.”

Wednesday stiffened. “What?”

“You’re pretty.”

“You are still asleep.” Wednesday scowled.

“I’m not!” Enid sat up with a sigh. “I’m awake.” She lifted her shirt over her stomach and inspected her bruise. It had shrank to the size of a fist. She poked at it and looked up with an excited smile. “Bone’s all fixed!”

“That is incredible,” Wednesday mused academically. “I knew werewolves had accelerated immune systems, but I didn’t know how far that went.”

“It’s ‘cause of the type of wolf I am,” Enid shrugged, dropping her shirt and laying back down. “I have a weird genetic thing that makes all my werewolf stuff extra potent. Like my strength and healing and all that. I also have this insane self-control that makes it so I don’t have to wolf out on full moons if I don’t want. That’s why I never did until that fight with Tyler.”

Wednesday nodded curiously and let her continue.

“It’s super rare or whatever. But I’m so disconnected from my wolf, I don’t really think about it.”

“Why are you disconnected?” Wednesday felt offended at the idea of Enid betraying such a beautiful beast.

Enid shrugged. “Ajax, I guess. And trauma. After you left, the furs were all over me. They all wanted me as like, the leader of their packs. My mom wanted to pull me out of Nevermore to come home and lead our family pack. Ajax got really jealous, a lot of wolves were trying to court me and shit. But like, they didn’t realize how traumatizing that night was for me. I’ve only wolfed out a few times since.”

It was Wednesday’s fault. Enid saved her life that night, and she was rewarded with abandonment. It was no wonder she wanted to burn that half of herself away like dead brush.

“What’s wrong?” Enid sat back up.

“I ruined you,” Wednesday stated plainly.

“Oh my god,” Enid stifled a laugh and rolled her eyes. “When are you gonna stop punishing yourself? You didn’t ruin me. You saved me. And you’re here now, that’s all I care about.”

A rude knock startled them both. Yoko’s voice boomed through the wood. “Put some clothes on, lovebirds! Bianca made pancakes!”

*****

 

Enid ate like a starved raccoon. Yoko and Bianca watched, impressed, and Wednesday gazed adoringly.

“What?” Enid asked, looking up, mouth full of food.

“You hungry, bud?” Yoko took a sip of coffee.

“Fucking starved.” Enid jabbed at a pancake like it had insulted her.

“How are you feeling this morning? Did you sleep okay?” Bianca asked.

Enid nodded enthusiastically. “I actually feel really good. I’m anxious about calling everyone with the news, and I’m scared to tell Mary. But I feel like, I donno.” She looked around the room. “I feel like I just woke up from a ten-year coma. Like I just washed up on shore or something.”

Bianca smiled and started on her own food. “I’m so glad. I can help with the phone calls later too, if you want.”

Enid nodded. “I also wanna get the fuck out of this house like, ASAP. I don’t wanna be here. I know the change is gonna upset Mary, but we can’t live under this roof.”

Wednesday rushed to respond. “I will get in touch with my realtor. We’ll find a new place for you to stay. And I’ll put you up in a hotel in the meantime.”

Yoko snorted. “Damn. Daddy’s got it covered.” Bianca kicked her under the table.

Enid ignored the comment to smile at Wednesday. “You really don’t have to do all that.”

“Nonsense,” Wednesday snapped. She picked at a bit of pancake.

“Oh, EW!” Enid squirmed like she’d found a worm in her food. She stared at the back of her left hand in disgust. With a sharp tug, she wrenched her wedding rings off. “Don’t need these anymore.”

“Woah woah,” Bianca reached out her hand. “Hang onto them. It’ll be weird if you’re not wearing them at the funeral.”

Enid stared at the offending jewelry. “Fine. But can we do something dramatic with them after? Like… throw them into the ocean or like, into a volcano, Lord of the Rings style?”

Yoko beamed. “I love that plan.”

Enid nodded. “So, who should I call first?” She looked between Yoko and Bianca.

“I donno. Probably his mom,” Bianca offered.

Wednesday stood, coffee in hand. “I have calls to make as well. Do you mind if I take them downstairs?”

Yoko gave her a thumbs up. “Yeah dude, we’ll take care of the messy emotional shit. You go do sugar daddy stuff.”

Wednesday looked at Enid. “Why does she keep calling me that?”

Bianca covered her mouth. Enid blushed. “Don’t worry about it.”

*****

 

Wednesday called her accountant, her realtor, her agent. She told Heather most of the truth, only omitting the murder. Heather agreed to fly back to NYC and pack up a list of Wednesday’s things to have them shipped to California.

Within the hour, she’d booked two rooms at a five-star hotel, liquidated a small portion of a mutual fund, and connected with a local realtor that hers had recommended. She was committed to setting Enid and Mary up for a life of comfort and safety, hopefully before Enid realized what a terrible mistake this all was. She wouldn’t fight when asked to leave. She’d board a plane and never return. But for some unfathomable reason, Enid seemed to want her around, and Wednesday didn’t have the willpower to decline.

Enid’s calls took much longer. Wednesday stayed in the basement; this wasn’t her area of expertise. The devastating sound of Enid’s cries reverberated through the floor. Wednesday tried to distract herself by getting lost in Enid’s art. She fell in love with one particular piece. It was slashed with a deep blue and black, while haphazard splatters of pale lavender invaded the space. It reminded her of the way Enid had clawed her way into Wednesday’s life back in high school. She’d hang this one above her mantle, if Enid would let her.

*****

 

After Enid’s calls, the four women gathered in the living room. Enid’s face was pink from crying. She sipped on a cup of tea while she brought Wednesday up to speed.

“My mom was really upset and asked a million questions,” her voice cracked. “It was really scary. And Penny was so shocked, she didn’t say anything for like two minutes. But…” she sobbed. “Ajax’s mom. Oh my god,” she pressed her hand over her mouth. Bianca rested her head on her shoulder. Enid cried, the other women patiently waited.

“She uhm,” Enid rubbed her face, collecting herself. “She wants to organize the funeral. Which is a really good thing. I didn’t want to. They’re gonna have it in his hometown up in Washington.”

“That’s kind of a good thing, yeah?” Yoko offered gently.

“Oh it’s such a relief,” Enid’s eyes welled with more tears. “Now all I have to do is show up. I’m just sad ‘cause it’s like, that’s a mother burying her son.” She broke into more tears, pulling her knees up and burying her face in them.

After a few more minutes of this, Enid sat up and took a deep breath. “Okay,” she calmed herself. “I’m okay.”

“What you wanna do, hun?” Yoko asked.

“I wanna pack, get Mary, and get out of this house.”

“The hotel is booked,” Wednesday said. “We can check in at any time.”

Enid nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

“I’ll get us one too,” Yoko nodded toward Bianca. “We’ll stick around ‘til the funeral.”

“I’m so lucky,” Enid sighed. “I love you guys.” Her eyes landed on Wednesday, who tensed and looked away. Yoko noticed and smirked. “We love you too.”

Chapter 17: Process

By the time the sun was setting, Enid and Wednesday were checked into their hotel. It was far beyond Enid’s expectations, which was made clear by the way she gawked around the lobby. Mary was nestled in her arms, clinging tight. They hadn’t told her about her father yet, but she had been upset all day. She could tell something was wrong when Penny got off the phone. Fear had her tiny body shaking.

Wednesday helped Enid and Mary settle into their room. Enid gasped as she walked in. “Holy heck.”

Mary finally let Enid put her down. “Wooooow,” she explored slowly. “What’s this place??”

“It’s a very, very expensive hotel room, baby.”

Mary started curiously opening drawers. Enid set her bags in the corner and started unpacking.

“The TV is HUGE!” Mary pointed at the television on the wall. Enid laughed. “It is, huh? Maybe we can watch a movie tonight. And get some room service. You hungry, sweetie?”

Mary nodded. “Hungry!!”

 

The room had a small kitchenette in one corner. Wednesday, Enid and Mary sat at the table and ate their meals. Mary dug wildly into a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Enid gingerly lifted a forkful of steak to her mouth, watching her child and biting her tongue.

Mary looked at her. “Mommy! We can eat like wolves, okay?” She grabbed a handful of pasta and stuffed it in her mouth.

Wednesday gave her an apologetic look. “I told her she could eat how she likes.”

Enid looked down at her steak, thinking.

“I apologize for stepping on your toes. That was inappropriate,” Wednesday muttered.

“You stepped on Mommy’s toes?” Mary asked. “Ouch.”

“No baby,” Enid looked up. “It’s just a saying.“

Wednesday sat uncomfortably. What made her think she could parent this child? Who was she to give permission or guidance on anything? More on the path of destruction and rot.

Suddenly, Enid grabbed the steak with her bare hand. She looked at Mary with a devilish smile and let her fangs extend.

“YEAH!” Mary cheered, hands coated in cheese. Enid let a low growl rumble in her throat before she bit down into the rare steak. She ripped through it effortlessly, pulling her head back and tearing through the meat. She chewed twice, thrice, and then swallowed.

Enid sat back and sighed. It was almost post-coital, the look on her face. “God, that actually feels really good.” She chomped into the meat again, looking up to give Wednesday an appreciative wink.

Wednesday ate in contented silence, marveling at the show of two wild wolves eating their meals the way they were meant to.

 

After dinner, Enid gave Wednesday a dark look. “Mary, baby. We gotta talk about something.”

Mary looked up. “Yeah. Everyone is sad today.”

Enid looked at her child empathetically. She stood from the table and picked Mary up, bringing her to the end of the bed.

“Should I go?” Wednesday stood.

“NO!” Mary shouted. “You stay.”

“Is that okay?” Enid asked. Wednesday nodded hesitantly.

“Mary,” Enid positioned her on her lap, facing her. “Daddy had a really bad accident.” Her eyes welled. “I know you don’t know what this is, and you’re too small to understand, but… he’s gone now, for good.”

Mary squinted. “Like dead?”

Enid swallowed. “Yeah hunny. Like dead.”

“Oh,” Mary pouted. “So we don’t have to have him anymore?”

Enid tilted her head. “What’s that, baby?”

“No more yelling,” Mary explained. “And we can just have Wednesday?”

Enid stuttered. “Uhm. Yeah, she’s gonna stay with us for a while.”

“Okay,” Mary nodded. “I’m sorry, Mommy,” she leaned in to press the side of her face into Enid’s chest.

“Oh darling. Why are you sorry?” Enid cried.

“You’re sad.”

“Yeah, Mommy’s sad.”

“Wednesday said it’s ok to be sad if someone gets dead. Will we bury him like Spider?”

Mary looked at Wednesday. “Uhm, yeah hunny. Probably.”

Mary leaned back. “Okay.” She broke into a soft cry. Enid held and rocked her. Wednesday looked up from where she was staring at the floor. Mary’s little pink face looked back at her. She reached out a tiny hand.

Wednesday stood, stiffly walked over to the edge of the bed, and gently sat next to Enid. Mary climbed out of her mother’s lap and plopped into Wednesday’s.

“Can we watch the big TV?” Mary asked.

“I don’t know, little wolf. Ask your mother.” Wednesday brushed her hand through Mary’s hair.

“Mommy?”

Enid nodded through more tears. “Of course, baby.” She leaned back on the frame of the bed and grabbed a remote of the nightstand. She flicked through channels until a children’s show came on.

Wednesday deposited Mary onto the bed and stood. “Would you like me to stay longer?”

Enid looked up with pleading eyes. “If that’s okay. Will you stay all night?”

Wednesday looked around the room. “Of course.” She walked to the other side of the bed and climbed onto it. Mary clumsily positioned herself to be sandwiched between the two women, her eyes glued to the screen.

They sat in comfortable quiet while the TV played. Wednesday turned to Enid and spoke over Mary’s head. “This cannot be good for her development.”

Enid looked back. “I mean… I know. But plenty of kids lose parents, right? She’s gonna be okay, I think.”

Wednesday furrowed her brow. “Of course she will be okay. I meant the television program.” She looked back at the screen. “This is positively mind-numbing.”

Enid offered a dark scoff. “Yeah. It is.” She paused. “But you think she’s okay? I mean, I read online that kids younger than six can’t even comprehend death.”

Wednesday looked down. Mary’s entire attention was on the screen. “She likely can’t. But she will adapt well. She will have an amazing life.”

Mary nuzzled harder into Wednesday’s side.

 

By 8:30, Mary was yawning. “When do we go home?” She asked her mother.

Enid looked down, pained. “We’re gonna sleep here for a few days, baby. But I brought all your cozies, see?” She left the bed to retrieve a worn stuffed bear, a little flannel blanket, and a few books.

Mary started crying again. “Noooo, I wanna be home!”

Enid climbed back into bed. “I know, sweetie. This is hard, huh? But it’s so cozy here. And we have our knight to protect us.”

Mary looked up at Wednesday with angry tears. “You have to do the story.”

Wednesday nodded dutifully. “Of course.” She let Enid hand her a book. She cracked it open to the first page while Enid tucked the bear and blankie in with her child. Wednesday looked at the bear. He was green, an eye was intentionally missing, and there were patches all over his body.

“What is your bear’s name?” Wednesday asked, hoping to mitigate the tears.

“Frank,” Mary grumbled. “He’s a frankenbear.”

Enid smiled. “What do we say with Frank?”

Mary crossed her arms and pouted.

“C’mon, you don’t wanna show Wednesday? She loves frankenbears.”

Mary sighed and sat up, holding the bear. “Okay, it goes like this,” she looked at Wednesday, ensuring she had her undivided attention.

“IT’S ALIVE!!!” Mary shook the bear violently. “IT’S…. ALIIIIIIIVE!”

The warmth and adoration in Wednesday’s ribcage boiled over in her throat. She let out a loud, carefree laugh. Enid looked at her, awestruck, like she was watching the sunrise for the first time.

Mary giggled uncontrollably and wrestled with Wednesday’s arm.

“Olé!” Wednesday cheered for the girl. “Bravo, pequeño lobo.”

Mary looked up with a toothy grin. “Teach me!”

“Teach you Spanish?” Wednesday smiled. “I thought your friend Dora already taught you, no?”

Enid chuckled.

“Dora’s not real, silly,” Mary found this extremely amusing.

“It’s a TV show,” Enid explained, smiling ear to ear.

“Well that won’t do,” Wednesday said in a stern voice. “Don’t worry, niña. I’ll teach you.”

Wednesday settled back down into the bed and read Mary a story about a creepy carrot. It seemed to work on Enid too; she was lulled to sleep almost instantly. She draped a protective arm around her child and pulled her in close. Wednesday read the story twice to be sure before turning out the light. She settled into bed on her back and closed her eyes. She hated herself for feeling so whole. She didn’t belong here, with this family. She was a parasite, an intruder. A fraud. She ground her teeth and considered getting up for an ice shower. But then a tiny hand reached out and grasped her sleeve in a firm fist. Wednesday looked over at the calm, sleeping faces of the two most important people in the world. Maybe she’d let herself surrender to her greedy heart for one more night.

Chapter 18: Trust

Notes:

I don’t have any social media to drop links to, but if anyone wants to stop by and say hi, my discord is RiotGrrrl ! I’m always looking for more Wenclair friends!

More INCREDIBLE fanart by Ryz_Eizy https://twitter.com/Ryz_Eizy/status/1659201500479098883

Wednesday spent the following morning sitting up in bed with Mary in her lap and cartoons on the TV. Breakfast was brought up, and the smell of coffee and bacon woke Enid from her deep sleep.

While Enid ate, she scrolled through her phone. “Yoko and Bianca are gonna come by,” she said. “Bianca’s gonna help me do insurance and legal phone calls and stuff. Do you think you could go with Yoko? She’s gonna take Mary shopping.”

Wednesday finished the last sip of her espresso and leaned back. “I feel I’d be more equipped to handle legal proceedings than embark on a shopping trip.”

Enid spoke, continuing to tap on her phone. “I know, but Mary’s totally attached to you. She loves Yoko, but I want her to have one of us. Please?” She looked up now. Wednesday was completely powerless to that pout.

“Fine,” Wednesday relented. “What are we shopping for?”

“I’ll text you a list. Mostly stuff for Mary. There’s snacks I want her to have, and like, baby wipes and stuff. And Mary needs to go to the park. There’s a werewolf playground in North Beach.”

“Alright. Would you like me to hire a team of movers to pack up the house? We can have it on the market by the end of the week.”

Enid scrunched up her face. “Oh, I can’t afford movers. I mean, the insurance will give me a good chunk, but that won’t come in for a while.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes to the side. Mary shifted in her lap. She leaned down and regarded the child. “Niña, will you please tell your mother to stop worrying about money?”

Mary spoke, never pulling her eyes from the screen. “Mommy, no worrying ‘bout money.”

Wednesday gave her a quick peck on the top of the head. “Tell her Wednesday has lots of money.”

“Wednesday has LOTS of money,” Mary parroted.

Enid blushed hard. “I just feel weird accepting it, I guess.”

A knock at the door got Mary’s attention. “Who’s that?”

Enid stood. “Oh Mary, hunny, you’re gonna be so excited!” She grinned wide. She opened the door and Yoko came barreling in.

“WHERE’S MY LITTLE PUP?” Yoko yelled loud, looking around the room and pretending not to see the toddler hurtling toward her.

“AUNTIE YOKOOO” She screeched, jumping to wrap herself around the vampire’s leg. Yoko leaned down and lifted the child, holding her in a big hug.

Yoko leaned back to get a good look at her little niece. “Alright, let’s see ‘em.” Mary opened her mouth wide and let her fangs extend.

“Oh my GOODNESS,” Yoko gawked. “Look at these fangs! They’re almost as big as mine!”

Wednesday’s heart warmed despite the jealousy in her throat. Mary needed more influence like this, an adult that would encourage and cultivate her werewolf blood.

Bianca sheepishly approached, giving Mary a small wave. “Hey there, kiddo! You probably don’t remember me, huh?”

Mary shook her head.

“You were just a tiny baby the last time I saw you. You’ve gotten so big!” Bianca rested her hand on the small of Yoko’s back. Mary nodded, warming up to the stranger. “Yeah, I’m three.”

Yoko nuzzled her nose into Mary’s cheek. “You excited for a day out with Auntie Yoko and Wednesday?”

“YEAH!” Mary threw her little fists in the air.

*****

 

Yoko and Wednesday sat on a park bench under a black umbrella. The sun beat down relentlessly, to the women’s dismay.

“We look like lesbian goth moms who kidnapped a wolf,” Yoko joked. The park was large and wooded. A dozen little werewolves ran around, climbing the equipment and play-growling at each other. Mary fit right in; she chased down two little boys with a delighted laugh.

“This is unbearable,” Wednesday muttered. Her eardrums burned under the pressure of laughing and screaming children.

“Yeahhh, I know. It’s a lot. Gonna have to get used to it, Mama.”

Wednesday sneered. “What does that mean?”

Yoko shrugged. “Just that you’re Mary’s new stepmum and no one knows it yet. Except maybe Mary.”

Wednesday tensed. “No,” she spat. “I would make a terrible parent. I would never subject an innocent child to my rearing.”

Yoko shook her head. “Damn, Enid wasn’t kidding about the self-loathing. You could be a vampire with that level of brooding and contempt.”

Wednesday started to feel panicked. She wanted this family so badly; the Addams curse beat in her veins without mercy. But she didn’t deserve it, she wasn’t fit for this. She felt nauseous.

“What’s it gonna take for you to see that you’re like, really good for Enid and Mary?”

“A lobotomy and a large helping of delusion,” Wednesday snapped back.

“Lemme tell you something,” Yoko leaned forward. “Gonna dish out some hard truths here. I know you think that by beating yourself up, you’re protecting her. You’re doing her a favor. ‘I’m not good enough for you. You deserve better than me. I’m leaving for your own good.’ Sound familiar?”

Wednesday furrowed her brow.

“Lemme ask you something. Do you think Enid is stupid?”

“What? No.” Wednesday recoiled in offense.

“Do you trust her judgement?”

“Yes.”

“You trust her in general?”

“More than anyone I know.”

Yoko nodded. “And she’s into you.”

Wednesday pondered it. “She seems to be, for whatever reason.”

“So?” Yoko gave a look, waiting for Wednesday to realize something obvious. “If she’s decided that she wants you, and that you’re worth being in her life… what, you think she’s lying? Or making a bad judgement call?”

Gears lurched in Wednesday’s brain. “She wouldn’t lie.”

“No, she wouldn’t. And you just saw first-hand how protective of Mary she is. Ajax put his hands on her once and she literally fucking killed him. Why would she let you be around her baby if you weren’t good?”

More lurching, more churning. Sparks flying in Wednesday’s machinery. She shrugged.

“No, don’t ignore my ancient lesbian wisdom, you dumbass. If she likes you and wants you around, and you want to be here, you need to trust her and respect her enough to make her own decisions. You don’t get to decide if you’re good enough for her. That’s her call.”

“You were the one who said you wanted Enid to take a break between Ajax and her next partner. That she needed to learn to stand on her own two feet,” Wednesday said, anger lacing her words like poison.

Yoko let out a sigh. “Yeah, no, I did say that. I donno, maybe I was projecting. ‘Cause I literally just got out of a really hard relationship and now here I am with Bianca. I mean, I really do want Enid to like, see that she’s okay on her own, but.” She struggled to find words. “You can still take it slow, you know? Just hang around, be there for her, spend time with the pup.” She looked out at the park and watched Mary shoot down a plastic slide. “Plus, the kid’s already attached to you. Can’t go running off now.”

Wednesday watched along. “She isn’t. Not like she is with you.”

Yoko barked out a laugh. “You keep sitting on that pity pot, you’re gonna get a ring around your ass.”

Wednesday tilted her head.

Yoko scoffed. “Dude. I’m her godmother, I would literally die for that child. But I have zero motherly instinct. The thing I love about being the fun aunt is that I get to buy her presents, fill her up with sugar, and drop her back home. You on the other hand, you’ve got the magic touch. You’re there for the scary shit, the temper tantrums, bed time. Stuff like that.”

Wednesday worried her lip in thought. She hated that Yoko was making sense. She was chipping at her guard, picking at the shield she held against this kind of intimacy.

Her ears rang at the sound of Mary’s cry. She looked up and saw the girl sitting in the wood chips, holding her knee. Without thought, she bolted up and rushed over to her. Yoko followed behind.

“Mary, what happened?” Wednesday knelt down over the crying toddler. Mary lifted her hands and revealed her knee. The skin was intact, but looked red. It would likely leave a bruise.

Yoko knelt with them. “Oh, poor pup. Did you fall on your knee?”

Mary nodded through hysterical tears. Yoko scooped her up under her arms and pulled her into a hug. “You want me to kiss it better?”

Mary shook her head indignantly and reached out for Wednesday.

“You want Wednesday to do it?”

Another nod.

Wednesday reached out to scoop up the baby and went stiff. Uncharted territory made her feel useless and weak. But Mary was crying so hard, she was in such distress, something ancient and inherent was trying to claw its way out of Wednesday’s chest.

“It’s okay, little wolf.” She brushed the dirt and splintered wood off Mary’s knee. “You’re a tough girl.”

Mary shook her head again. “You gotta kiss it,” she pouted. Her crying slowed in Wednesday’s arms, but she still shook with fear.

Wednesday took a deep breath, cringed at herself, and leaned down to press a quick kiss to Mary’s little knee. The crying stopped immediately

“Do you feel better?” Wednesday asked.

Mary stood and brushed herself off.

“Mhm,” she nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay. I go play now.” She turned and bolted back to her friends.

Wednesday sighed and bushed her bangs out of her face. She could feel Yoko’s shit-eating grin beaming at her.

“What?” She looked up, scowling at the vampire.

Yoko shook her head. “Nothing.”

Chapter 19: Want

Summary:

I’m very happy to announce that I’ve got an awesome new beta reader!! This fic will now be beta read and edited by adorasbuttcheek.

Notes:

Hey folks, I have a change in scheduling I need to announce. I will be taking the weekend off to work on backlogging chapters, and will resume posting on Monday morning. From there, I will be updating each of my fics every other day on alternating days. (Don't Look Back on Monday, Milk and Honey on Tuesday, etc.) I know this is disappointing but I don't want to burn myself out, I want to be able to continue bringing content to this incredible fandom.

Thank you all so much for your patience!

The following days passed at a steady, domestic tempo. Wednesday spent nearly every moment with Enid and Mary, sharing meals, watching television, venturing out to explore the city. Bianca helped Enid through paperwork and phone calls, while Yoko continued to dole out wisdom to Wednesday in their moments alone. Which weren’t often; Mary was entirely attached now, clinging constantly to Wednesday like a little barnacle.

Enid’s moods shifted and swung erratically, but never peaked. There were plenty of tears, but they bracketed fits of laughter and contentment. She seemed overwhelmed, which was to be expected. She worried mostly for her child and for Ajax’s mourning mother. Guilt, thankfully, never made its way into the rotation.

His funeral was only a day away now. The four women had plane tickets, and Mary wouldn’t stop babbling with excitement about her very first flight. Yoko concocted some nefarious plan to get Wednesday and Enid alone that night. She offered to take Mary to dinner and a movie, and Bianca promised to take the baby swimming in the hotel pool. Mary couldn’t wait to get swimming lessons from a “real life mermaid.”

 

Wednesday stood stiff before the bathroom mirror. She surveyed herself with a judgmental stare. She wore a sleek, modern suit, one she’d worn to her book shows. This wasn’t a date, or it shouldn’t be one. There had to be some rule about taking a woman to dinner the night before her husband’s funeral. The concept of death and dirt were adjacent to romance for Wednesday, but she knew that wasn’t the standard.

She leaned in with her palms on the sink and stared into the blacks of her eyes. She saw loathing there, and a deep pool of pity. She tried to hold Yoko’s words in her fists, but some of them leaked out between her fingers. If Enid wanted this, Wednesday was supposed to trust and believe that. It was a constant battle waged day and night, neither side ever dropping their weapons. She was exhausted from it all.

A shy knock tapped at the door. Wednesday blinked away her doubt and opened it.

“Oh.” Her jaw tensed.

“Is it too much?” Enid stood in the doorway, clad in a flowy floor-length skirt and an adorable blouse. The pallet was woodsy and sweet, and accessorized with dangling bracelets and a crystal hung around her neck. “Yoko got it for me.”

Wednesday swallowed, speechless, rapt. “You look… stunning.”

Enid smiled confidently and took a step in. Wednesday felt suffocated under the woman’s height and perfume. She felt positively hunted, and was tempted to bare her neck in offering. Hands came up to cup her jaw and she tilted her head up in obedience.

“You look handsome,” Enid purred, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the shorter girl’s lips. She lingered, teasing, cruel. Wednesday’s hands stayed by her side. Her willpower was being scraped from the bottom of the barrel.

Enid leaned back, still holding Wednesday’s face, appraising it with reverence. “You ready to go?”

Wednesday nodded, not trusting herself to speak through the knot in her throat. She moved from the bathroom to the door and panicked when she felt a soft hand slip into her own.

Enid was perfectly content to hold Wednesday’s hand down the hall and into the elevator. “I’ve fantasized about this forever,” she whispered as the elevator doors closed.

Wednesday stared at the digital display, watching the numbers descend as a sort of meditation. “About what?”

“Our first date,” Enid hummed and leaned closer, nuzzling her nose into the side of Wednesday’s head.

Wednesday wanted to scream. Not worthy, not deserving, she hadn’t earned this, she couldn’t do this. “This is a date?”

Enid laughed and squeezed her hand. “Yes, dork. This is a date. I’m into you, you’re into me. You’re gonna buy me dinner and take me back to our room. And your emo overthinking isn’t gonna get in the way.”

The doors slid open and Wednesday’s protective walls slid shut. She felt defensive and anxious now, itching to run.

“This place looks amazing,” Enid sang as if nothing was out of place. She dragged a stiff and resistant Wednesday across the lobby to the hotel’s restaurant. “I didn’t recognize half the stuff on the menu, but I know they have a beef thing, so. I’m in.”

The pair checked in with the hostess and were guided to a candlelit table. The restaurant was crowded, but respectfully quiet. Wednesday immediately snatched the wine menu up and scanned it for something that would round out the rough edges of her nerves.

Enid reached over and gently closed the menu. “Please not tonight?” She flashed worried, pleading eyes. “I don’t wanna be judgey or anything. I just… noticed that you do that a lot.”

Wednesday pried the menu back open. “I do what a lot?”

Enid frowned. “Drink.”

Wednesday huffed. “It hardly affects me.”

Enid conceded and opened her own menu. A well dressed waiter approached their table and welcomed them politely before reading off the specials menu. Enid ordered a water, her eyes darting over to Wednesday with something like worry or disappointment.

Wednesday swallowed hard and looked down at her menu. Her fingers shook, her stomach knotted. She looked up at Enid’s sweet face, all painted pretty with colorful makeup. She snapped the menu shut. “Water is fine,” she spoke through gritted teeth and handed the menu to the man without looking at him.

As the waiter walked away, Enid slid her hand across the table and gripped Wednesday’s. She shook it slightly to get the girl to look up. “Thank you,” she said, leaning in. “I appreciate that.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes to the side. “It isn’t a problem.”

Pleased, Enid sat back in her seat and scanned the menu. “I’m gonna have to get this beef,” she pointed at the page. “I don’t know what all this other fancy stuff is, but it looks delicious.”

Wednesday pulled back Enid’s menu to read it. “Carpaccio means it’s raw,” she explained. “Black truffle is a spore, it will add a rich umami to the dish. Shallot is similar to onion. And gremolata is a green sauce made with parsley and garlic.”

Enid raised her eyebrows, impressed, before processing what Wednesday had explained. “Wait. Spores? Ew.”

Wednesday smirked and looked at her own menu. “Black truffle is delicious. And exceptionally difficult to harvest. It is a delicacy, you’ll like it.”

Enid rested her chin on her hand and pouted. “I’m kind of embarrassed. I swear I’m a good cook, I wonder why I don’t know any of this stuff.”

Wednesday furrowed her brow. “Maybe because Ajax never bothered to take you for a proper date.” Her eyes darted up, immediately regretting her jab. “That was inappropriate.”

Enid laughed and leaned forward. “No it wasn’t. It was cute.” She looked down shyly. “I like how you get competitive about him.”

Wednesday clenched her jaw. “Why?”

Enid looked back up. “It’s kinda hot. But also hilarious because he could literally never beat you at anything.”

Wednesday looked across the table, locked in heady eye contact. The waiter came by with water and the tension snapped.

Enid ordered her meal with confidence, despite mispronouncing its name, and Wednesday followed suit. She shifted awkwardly as he walked away.

“So,” Enid started, taking a sip of her water. “Are you nervous for tomorrow?”

Wednesday mirrored the action. The water felt cool and relieving on her tongue. “No,” she stated plainly. “I look forward to it, if anything.”

Enid hid a smile. “You promise you’ll be cool though, right? You won’t be like, celebrating and cheering.”

Wednesday stared. “When have you ever seen me do that?”

“Okay, fair. You know what I mean though. Just try not to make it obvious that you’re thrilled that he’s dead.”

“I will reiterate: when have I ever?”

Enid shook her head. “Right. Honestly, Yoko’s probably the one I should be giving this lecture to.”

Wednesday nodded.

“She told me you guys talked.”

“What?” Anger simmered in Wednesday’s neck.

“About how you don’t think you’re good enough for me.” Enid rested her elbows on the table, boldly staring Wednesday down. “Why do you think that?”

Wednesday shut her eyes for a second. “Where to begin?”

Enid scoffed. “I know we’ve got a load of trauma between the two of us. And I know you struggle with feeling worthy. So I figured it might be worth it to be clear about what I want.” She reached out for Wednesday’s cold, shaky hand again. “Wednesday,” she stared with purpose and clarity at the girl. “I want to be with you. Like for real. I wanna be a couple. I wanna like, go on dates and make out and stuff. I wanna spend time with Mary and you, it always kind of… feels like a little family when we do that. I donno. Do you want that?”

Wednesday’s sanity sat on a set of precariously fragile stilts. The scaffolding cracked and buckled under the weight of the question, sending everything plummeting down into murky mud. The many pieces of her inner voice shouted over each other and pulled at the question like cloth, tearing it and fighting over the scraps. Wednesday had caught her oblivious prey in a bear trap and was trying to decide if she’d sink her teeth in or set the girl free. And she was starving.

But then Yoko’s advice elbowed its way into the fray. Enid was no prey. She was no innocent victim. She was intelligent and self-preserving enough to know what she was asking for. Wednesday begged herself to trust the woman across the table, the woman staring through her pupils and straight into her brain. She could see it all, Wednesday wasn’t as good at hiding as she thought she was.

“Wednesday?” Enid tilted her head, gently coaxing an answer out. She stroked the back of Wednesday’s hand with her thumb to tug the girl back into reality.

Wednesday nodded dumbly. “Yes,” she finally said. “I want that.”

Chapter 20: Surrender

Summary:

Beta read/edited by the incredible adorasbuttcheek 🖤

A feeling of inferiority and doubt sat in the marrow of Wednesday’s bones. It saturated her insides for the remainder of her meal with Enid. It didn’t leave during their ride up the elevator. It didn’t stay in the hallway when they tumbled into the hotel room, mouths melting together in a heated and uncoordinated kiss. The door closed with a deep thud and Enid reached blindly for the lock.

“Enid,” Wednesday breathed, hands tangled in the mess of the taller girl’s feathery, hazelnut hair. Enid pulled her mouth away for long enough to stare threateningly into Wednesday’s eyes. The red stain of her lipstick smudged across her lower lip, accenting perfectly the heated blush over the bridge of her nose. She looked ravenous.

“Please,” Enid whispered back, hands glued to Wednesday’s hips under the coat of her suit. She started stepping back slowly toward the bed, dragging her weakened prey along.

Wednesday sighed in defeat when she felt warm, soft lips coax her sensitive jugular. Enid sat slowly on the edge of the bed and grabbed greedily at the backs of Wednesday's thighs, pulling her down roughly into her lap. She leaned back up to greet Wednesday’s mouth with her own, her tongue diving into wet heat. Wednesday groaned and winced at the tight grip on her ribs. Enid reached up to the lapels of Wednesday’s jacket and pulled it back before discarding it on the floor. Her hands fumbled at the top button of her dress shirt.

“You don’t want this,” Wednesday’s doubt huffed.

Enid growled back at it. “Stop telling me what I want.” She worked past the second button of Wednesday’s shirt, then the third, revealing a simple and black bra. “Tell me what you want.”

Wednesday bit into her tongue and shifted in Enid’s lap. “I want you to be happy. And safe.” Her voice quivered.

“I am,” Enid pressed. “I’ve never been this happy. And I’ve never felt so safe.” Her mouth moved in languid drags over Wednesday’s chest and collarbones. “Tell me what you want tonight.”

Wednesday screwed her eyes shut and tried to fight the bubbling anxiety in her gut. She tried to remember everything Yoko said at the park, everything Enid said at dinner. “I want you.”

Enid hummed triumphantly and pulled at the last button. She slid her hands against cool, pale skin, pushing the shirt open and staring eagerly at Wednesday’s exposed torso and chest. “You have me,” Enid said, distant, distracted. Her thumb came up to graze at the scar above Wednesday’s hip. “Let yourself have me.”

For a split second, and for the first time in her life, Wednesday prayed. She prayed to whatever dark force was pulling at the strings in her life, whatever malicious spirit was responsible for the self-hatred she cradled in her chest. She prayed for it to leave her be, she prayed for it to drain from her bones and leave enough room for this beam of light to fill her up. She wanted to be filled, she wanted Enid’s sunshine and honey to overflow from her, trickling down her fingertips.

Maybe the prayer was answered, or maybe Wednesday’s mind went numb from the sensation of sharpened fangs on her throat. With a new determination, Wednesday let her dress shirt fall from her back as she pushed Enid down into the bed. She helped her move up the mattress, holding the brunette’s flushed face in both hands as she settled her down onto the plush pillow. She straddled the taller girl’s hips and dipped down to kiss her. It was a pleading kiss, one that begged for forgiveness. She tried to say everything with her tongue, without words, just prodding and biting and choked whimpers. Enid seemed to know the language; her hands came up to hold Wednesday’s wrists in a loose grip.

“It’s okay,” Enid hummed. Wednesday cringed and resisted the reassurance, but it left a long crack in her anxiety. It was melting now, falling away, surrendering.

Enid sat up slightly and pulled at the hem of her own shirt. “Will you help me out of this?”

Wednesday nodded dumbly and sat up with her. She reached for the soft fabric of Enid’s blouse and tugged it up and off. Before she could talk herself out of it, she doubled down and reached to the clasp of Enid’s bra. She undid the clasp quickly before tugging the article away.

“Fuck,” Enid gasped, laying back and letting her exposed chest rise with her breath. Wednesday stared down. Most of her attention was eaten up by those beautiful scars, but the sight of Enid’s heaving and flushed chest added to the heated coil in her stomach. Excellent composition, like her art. A masterpiece. She let brave hands reach down to slide up Enid’s stomach and over her ribs before she leaned back down into another needy kiss. Enid reached up and held the back of Wednesday’s head as she chewed lightly on her lower lip.

“You can touch me,” Enid whispered, using her free hand to guide Wednesday’s up higher on her body. Wednesday obeyed, gasping at the firmness she felt under her fingertips. She pinched lightly at Enid’s nipple, pulling on it experimentally before cupping her breast in earnest. As Enid’s breathy moaning and biting urged her on, Wednesday massaged at the girl’s chest.

“Can we…” Enid broke the kiss to hook her thumbs into the hem of her skirt. “Is this too much?”

Wednesday stalled for a second before shaking her head. “No. This is okay.” She leaned to the side and let Enid pull her skirt down and off. Wednesday lay on her side and raked her eyes up Enid’s bare body, then down again. She looked like the kind of goddess that men lost their sanity over. She looked like a warrior that could have entire nations falling to their knees. She looked deadly like this, like she could too effortlessly devour or be devoured.

Wednesday’s staring went on for too long. Enid blushed and covered her face with both hands. “God. The way you look at me makes me feel so pretty.”

Wednesday’s eyes snapped up to Enid’s. “Pretty?” She hissed through gritted teeth. She rolled back on top of the taller girl, planting her hands on either side of her head. “Rain clouds are pretty. Rose stems are pretty.” She shook her head. The word offended her, it stabbed into her like an insult. “Enid. That word belongs nowhere near you. It is undeserving.”

Enid reached up and cupped Wednesday’s face in her hands. “You’re so corny,” she smirked. “What would you call me, then?”

Wednesday’s eyes darted around Enid’s face. She took in every dip and curve, the cerulean of her eyes, the quirk of her lip. “There isn’t a word befitting enough.”

“Then show me,” Enid teased, biting down on her own smug grin. She raised her chest, making a show of pressing her nude chest against Wednesday’s. She reached up and around to help Wednesday discard her bra, and moaned in relief at the sensation of their chests molding flush together. Wednesday buried her face in the crook of Enid’s neck and lapped slowly at her sensitive skin.

“Shit,” Enid hissed. “I’m so sensitive there.”

Wednesday ignored her and bit down. She ground Enid’s skin between her front teeth, pulling back slightly at it. Enid’s breath was fast and labored, her pulse was pounding under Wednesday’s tongue. A rare jolt of confidence shot through the raven’s veins. She let her hands roam up and down the wolf, grabbing at her hips, digging her nails in wherever it felt right.

“I’ve never done this before,” Enid whispered, her tone pivoting into something vulnerable and serious.

Wednesday leaned up and ceased her ministrations. “Done what?”

“Had sex with a girl.” Enid looked perfect like this. Open and raw and eager.

“That’s okay,” Wednesday tried for a reassuring timbre. “I will guide you through it.” She started slowly dragging her thigh up between Enid’s legs, but was stopped by a confused expression.

“Wait,” Enid narrowed her eyes. “Have you?”

“Yes.”

Enid blinked.

“Why do you look shocked?”

Enid stuttered. “Oh, I donno. I guess I just assumed.” The air in the room suddenly felt dry.

“Does that bother you?” Wednesday’s anxiety slowly opened the door, peeking back in and itching to join.

“No,” Enid spoke like her words tasted funny. “Have you like, had girlfriends?”

Wednesday furrowed her brow. “Of course not.”

Enid laughed nervously. “You say that like it’s obvious.”

Wednesday was missing something and she knew it. The panic was making its home in her pelvis now. She sat up and crossed her arms defensively over her bare chest. “I have had sex with a small handful of women. I find it to be an effective release. It is at least healthier than most methods of self-harm. But I have never been in a relationship. You are the only person I’ve ever met that I felt was worthy of my time and affection.”

Enid’s expression slowly shifted. “Really?”

Wednesday nodded. She stared at the headboard. She felt naked enough; eye contact would tear her apart.

“Come here,” Enid whispered after a deafening pause.

Wednesday forced her eyes to meet Enid’s. The woman looked peaceful now. There was some kind of adoration in the curve of her smile.

“Are you upset?” Wednesday’s walls stayed up. “This is a confusing reaction.”

Enid shook her head and leaned up, wrapping her hands around Wednesday’s waist. “I’m sorry. No, I’m not upset. Not at all. Just, the thought of you being with another girl freaked me out. Not that I have much of a leg to stand on. That’s super hypocritical.” She nuzzled her nose into Wednesday’s chest. “But I’m selfishly really glad that you’ve never had a girlfriend. I wanna be your first.”

Wednesday slowly, painfully pulled her arms away from her chest. She thread her fingers into Enid’s hair and tried to let herself melt again. “I… want you to be my only,” she managed, despite herself.

Enid planted a slow kiss into Wednesday’s sternum. “Yeah,” she hummed, her voice vibrating against Wednesday’s skin. “I want that too.” She looked up and ran a light hand down the smaller girl’s back.

They looked at each other for one meaningful moment before slipping back into a needy kiss. Enid leaned back, bringing the raven with her, and her labored breath and heady whispers quickly returned. Wednesday moved her mouth to Enid’s neck again, massaging it firmly with her mouth.

“I kinda like it, actually,” Enid whined. “That you know what you’re doing.”

Wednesday growled quietly into Enid’s pulse point. Enid dragged a clawed hand lightly over Wednesday’s shoulder blade and pressed her mouth to the shell of her ear.

“Will you teach me? Please?”

Notes:

UPDATE 5/24

I know this is like, the worst possible timing, and I’ve left you all on a cliff hanger, but I’ve been sick and ended up in the hospital last night so I wasn’t able to get the next chapter ready. It should be up in a few days. Thank you for being patient with me.

Chapter 21: Heal

Notes:

Hey folks!

Thank you so much for being patient with me this week. I’m feeling much, much better.

I’m sorry to cut the chapter cap so short, but this story feels done. I’ve said everything I want to say with it. And you’ve all been so gracious and observant in receiving it. I appreciate every single comment and every single reader so, so much.

There will be an epilogue soon, I’m not sure when. But I really hope you all enjoy this chapter. It kind of healed something in me.

Thanks to adorasbuttcheek for being such an awesome beta reader, editor, and just a cool person and friend to me.

Something confident elbowed its way through the last cobwebs of Wednesday’s doubt. She gazed down, now floating a few feet above herself, at the exposed woman beneath her. She felt her soul astral project out of the room, up into the cosmos, before hurtling down at light speed into her body at Enid’s repeated plea. Her skeleton shifted, she took a slow and intentional breath through her nose. And with one final bite into her tongue, she slid her hand down past the scarred map of Enid’s stomach and gently cupped the warmth she found between Enid’s legs.

“Oh my god,” Enid let her eyes fall shut and she anchored herself by gripping at Wednesday’s shoulders. Her legs parted at their own will, and Wednesday eagerly accepted the invitation. Her eyes stayed glued to the wolf’s flushed face as she let the tip of her index finger travel slowly up the girl’s slit. She felt warm, even warm enough to thaw Wednesday‘s insides.

“How is that?” Wednesday asked, none of her new confidence found in the tone of her voice.

Enid nodded and moved a hand to the back of Wednesday’s neck. “Good. That’s…” Wednesday slid up again, adding more pressure, “…really good.”

Wednesday shifted her weight to the side to straddle a firm and soft thigh. She braced herself with an elbow next to Enid’s head and studied the anatomy at her fingertips. Slow, gentle pets slid up and through Enid’s lips. The taller girl lifted her pelvis slightly, chasing the pressure and stimulation.

Wednesday wished she was drunk. This was the first time she’d ever had sex with less than five drinks in her system. It all felt raw and bright and wrong. She couldn’t feel herself in her own body. But then Enid’s eyes opened and dragged Wednesday into a chaotic, cataclysmic sea of swirling blue. Gold flecks pricked at the edges of her irises like foil. The slow and hitched tempo of her breath gave Wednesday enough assurance to keep petting until her fingertips leaned into Enid’s clit.

“Oh,” Enid gasped and tightened her grip on the shorter girl’s neck. “There, please.”

Wednesday let a smirk pull at her mouth. “What… here?” She ground an experimental circle into Enid’s thrumming clit.

“Please,” Enid nodded and sunk further into the bed. It was a shy and self conscious gesture, but her pelvis still bucked and asked for more. Wednesday started a gentle pace, circling and pressing at Enid’s clit.

The reaction was melting Wednesday’s loathing. It was a slow and diligent process, chipping through her armor, but she had finally ceased her stubborn resistance to it. Her hand sped up and she leaned into the crook of Enid’s neck to suckle on her pulse point.

“Fuck,” Enid hissed through her teeth and brought a hand around to claw carefully and Wednesday’s back. She nuzzled her nose into the smaller girl’s shoulder, exposing and offering up her throat like she didn’t need it to breathe. “Wednesday…”

Enid lifted her thigh and rested her knee into Wednesday’s ribs, closing her legs around the steady and cold hand at her groin. Wednesday sped her petting and bit harshly into the tendon in Enid’s neck. She pressed the firm tip of her tongue against the muscle and massaged it back and forth in her mouth.

Enid moaned heavily and consistently now, her voice pitching up with every exhale. Her body tensed up and stilled, she pressed her forehead into the crook of Wednesday’s neck. Her body shook violently, uncoordinated, and a euphoric cry rumbled out her throat before she went completely limp.

Wednesday slowed her hand and leaned up. “Did…”

Enid covered her face with both hands. Her cheeks were a deep pink and perspiration fogged up the bridge of her nose. “Jesus, I’m so sorry.”

Wednesday let herself smile. “That was fast.”

“It’s been a while,” Enid huffed in playful defense. “Don’t tease me.”

Wednesday sat up and ran her hands over Enid’s chest and torso. “That was beautiful.”

Enid pulled a hand away to look up at the girl in her lap. “I’ve actually never like… I mean I’ve cum on my own before, but no one else has ever made me cum.”

Competitive ego flooded through Wednesday’s veins. She felt a sudden hunger in her gut. “Is that right?”

Enid nodded bashfully. Wednesday looked down at her for a few considering seconds before abruptly dismounting Enid’s lap. She crawled backwards on the bed to crouch between Enid’s legs.

“Oh, you don’t have to…” Enid sat up on her elbows, her face knotted with an embarrassed concern.

“Let me.” Wednesday’s voice came out dark and demanding, enough to immediately shut Enid up. She bent down and hooked the taller girl’s thighs up under her arms and planted a grounding kiss into the scar on her stomach.

Enid complied hesitantly and let herself lay back on the pillow. Her hands wrung into the sheets at her sides and a choppy breath stuttered in her mouth.

Wednesday kissed Enid’s hip, then the other. She kissed the soft skin where the girl’s thigh met her stomach. She kissed up and down the insides of plush thighs. Enid twitched and whimpered at the contact, but fought to keep still.

She felt something slowly healing inside her. The confidence derived from touching a woman this beautiful was almost enough to make her feel worthy of the opportunity. Her fingertips curled and pressed into Enid’s thighs, and she felt the girl’s legs close slightly around her head. She felt whole here, safe. Purposed.

The scent was enough to take the edge off of Wednesday’s sobriety. She felt light-headed from arousal and thirst. Her mouth slowly made its way over Enid’s mons, and she reveled in the soft moan it caused. A clawed hand came up to hold the back of Wednesday’s head, another in a string of gestures that injected confidence into the raven’s veins.

Wednesday looked up at the perfect body she was being offered. Her eyes dragged down from Enid’s begging eyes, between her breasts, over her stomach, and into the pink and glistening slick between her legs. She moved one hand from Enid’s thigh to hover over the heat, and with two fingers, spread the girl apart.

“You are so devastatingly beautiful,” Wednesday whispered just loud enough for Enid to hear her over her small gasps and moans. Wednesday studied her like a flower, or like a night sky. She ran the tip of her index finger up and down again, stopping to prod at Enid’s core.

Another sharp tug at the back of her head was enough to break the control she was clinging onto. She brought her mouth close and pulled Enid’s clit into an open-mouthed kiss. It was slow and tender, she massaged the bud with the tip of her tongue. Her eyes shut out of instinct, a way to enhance her sense of taste.

Wednesday sucked gently before letting her tongue explore. She licked slowly, savoring it all. The fingertip at Enid’s entrance continued to press and tease as her tongue sped up.

“Wednesday,” Enid moaned. “Oh my god that’s too good…”

Shards and scraps of Wednesday’s sanity seemed to pull together slowly like magnets. They melded together into one whole piece, something glowing soldering them together with ease. She felt absolutely healed. And that fear of this ending didn’t show its face, because she knew somehow that she’d have Enid forever.

Her mouth work diligently between Enid’s thighs now, and she let her finger slip inside. Enid moaned and arched and cried like she was possessed. It was beautiful and chaotic. Wednesday wondered if she deserved to be an audience for this, but only until the muscle around her finger started to clench. She quickly added another finger and pumped, curling up to press mercilessly into Enid’s slick core.

When Enid came again, and her thighs were clamped around Wednesday’s head, and slick leaked out onto the girl’s cool, pale hands, all the soldering had solidified. Wednesday smiled with her mouth still buried in soft warmth. She closed her eyes and let the heat thaw her face, and her hand slowed only long enough to let Enid recover.

“Holy… shit,” Enid fought to catch her breath and rubbed her forehead with the back of her arm, and gasped in delight when when Wednesday’s fingers plunged in again.

 

Despite Wednesday’s perfectionism and competitive nature, she eventually lost count. Enid insisted on returning the favor, but Wednesday promised she’d have a chance soon. Tonight, she wanted to focus on making Enid feel the way she’d always deserved to feel. And she wanted to focus on the repair in her chest.

They lay empty and panting and warn, the lights long off and the sun just starting to creep over the horizon. Enid held Wednesday like her arms were the only thing keeping the girl’s body together. And Wednesday rested her head on the woman’s chest, listening to her heartbeat, finally feeling deserving of such a beautiful song.

Chapter 22: Epilogue

Notes:

Hey folks!

I deeply regret to inform y’all that I have officially run out of juice. This last two months have been unbelievable. The feedback I’ve gotten, my awesome little fanbase, the friends I’ve made. Man, this fandom is the best I’ve ever been a part of. I won’t be posting anymore, at least not for a while. I got nothing left in the tank.

I’ve had this epilogue in my head since chapter 2, and I’m so excited for y’all to read it. I really hope it does my story justice.

Thank you for letting me hang here, thank you for reading, thank you for everything.

A sharp autumn wind pushed its way through changing trees. The sky was an inky black tonight, but blades of moonlight stabbed through spindly branches down onto a cabin porch. Wednesday Addams sat in a rocking bench, bundled in a hand-knit black sweater, and sipped on a warm mug of tea. Her peaceful sleepiness was comedically foiled by the hyperactive, fidgety child seated next to her.

“Is that her??” Mary asked, her head turning quickly to the side to look deep into the wood.

Wednesday took a sip of her drink. “No, mija. That’s just an owl. If it’s her, you’ll know.”

Mary deflated where she sat. “Ugh,” she whined. “This is booooring.”

Wednesday cracked a smile. “I told you there would be a lot of waiting. Why don’t you just go on to bed and I’ll wake you when she comes?”

“Because I don’t wanna miss it again!!” Mary huffed and pressed the heels of her hands into the wooden bench.

“So be it,” Wednesday relented. “She may be a while. Sometimes she doesn’t come back at all.”

Mary shivered against the cold and pulled her hands into the sleeves of her puffy jacket. A crocheted scarf kept her neck and chin safe from the wind.

Hours passed quietly, only interrupted by the occasional cricket or rustling of leaves. Wednesday silently admired Mary’s focus. The child stared into the wooded darkness, eyes wide, but slowly wearing as the time passed.

Mary’s head eventually lolled to the side, resting heavily into Wednesday’s shoulder. It was hours past her bedtime, and Wednesday was tempted to carry her inside and try again next month. But only a minute passed before a familiar snarl ripped through the trees.

“Mija,” Wednesday whispered and nudged the girl with her shoulder. Mary’s eyes shot open and she sat up, prone, mouth agape with excitement and fright. A proud smile beamed on Wednesday’s face, and she wrapped a comforting arm around the child.

A pale, billowing wolf slowly emerged from the shade of the woods. She held a small deer carcass in her jaw, blood stained her chest and snout. Her paws took careful, ginger steps toward the cabin.

“Mon loup,” Wednesday cooed at the beast. She stood, keeping a firm grip on Mary’s hand, and stepped toward Enid. Mary followed close behind, hiding behind Wednesday’s small frame. “What have you brought us?”

Enid let her jaw go slack and the corpse tumbled to the dirt floor. She licked the blood from her maw with a large, slobbering tongue. The beast leaned down and nudged at the deer with her nose.

“Beautiful,” Wednesday praised. “It looks delicious. Thank you, cara mia.”

Enid sat on her haunches and let her tail wag, beating it into the dirt.

Mary gathered enough courage to peak from behind Wednesday’s back. Enid looked down at her and sniffed the air excitedly before dropping down on her front legs to lay like a playful puppy. Her ears flattened against her head and she whined.

“Go say hi,” Wednesday whispered, turning to move herself out of the way. She watched with a melting heart and the child took careful steps toward her mother.

“…Mommy?” Mary’s voice cracked as she held out a nervous hand.

Enid lifted her head and pushed her nose into the child’s palm. She wagged her tail and panted, letting out joyful yips. Mary laughed at the wet nose in her hand.

“She’s like a big dog!” Mary smiled, looking at Wednesday.

“She is, isn’t she?” Wednesday crouched down to pet Enid’s back. “I told you she wasn’t scary.”

Mary delighted in petting the large beast, and was met with licks and barks. She asked Wednesday if she could ride the wolf like a horse, and was disappointed by the firm “absolutely not.”

Wednesday looked on adoringly at her little family. She never dreamed she’d achieve any modicum of happiness, let alone this blissful heaven she’d stumbled into. The night felt perfect, complete, whole. Love was no longer a stranger in her chest, but it still felt overwhelming and strained. She bit back old traces of that undeserving feeling before neatly folding it back up and locking it back in its box.

A twig snapped in the woods, and Enid’s pupils shrank instantly. She stood tall on all fours, her ears twitching toward the sound, and she barreled back into the darkness. Mary watched her mother rip back through the trees with awe.

“Wow.”

“Indeed.”

The pair stood by the forest edge for a few moments before turning to go inside.

“What do we do with the dead deer, Mama?” Mary asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“I’ll go back out and retrieve it once you’re asleep,” Wednesday explained. “I’ll bring it out back and butcher it.”

Mary’s eyes widened. “Can I help? Or watch?”

Wednesday narrowed her eyes and bit her tongue. She pulled off her boots and stretched her back.

“Honestly, there isn’t much I’d love more than to teach you how to clean and cut a carcass. But if I do that without your mother’s permission, she’ll kill me.”

Mary sighed as she pulled off her coat. “Jessie gets to help her dad butcher his prey after full moons.

Wednesday took the coat and hung it on the rack. “Well, Jessie’s older than you. And different parents have different rules.”

“Can we sleep at the fire tonight? Please?”

Wednesday looked down at the girl and debated with herself. “Fine. But only because I’ll be up all night anyway.”

 

Mary curled herself into a little ball on the couch, her head in Wednesday’s lap. A thick wool blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon. Their living room was large but cozy. Taxidermy decorated the home, a marriage between Addams aesthetic and Sinclair prey. A fire roared in the fire place.

Wednesday felt forever grateful to her realtor for finding them such a perfect home in the woods of Vermont. She was close enough to home to visit for the holidays, and only an hour from Eugene. They could visit Bianca and Yoko in Boston without having to take a plane. And the small town boasted a decent population of werewolves, enough for Enid to run a humble daycare out of the back of their home, while also providing enough solitude to allow Enid to run free during full moons.

Mary started snoring messily and Wednesday combed a hand through her soft hair. She hummed lightly at the child and rested her own eyes. She liked to stay up all night on full moons, long enough to see Enid come home, but the sleeping child in her lap and the crackling of the fire was enough to lull her to sleep.

 

The sun was barely sneaking over the hilly horizon when Wednesday woke. She heard the front door creak carefully open, and heard a shuffling at the coat rack. Enid rounded the corner, hair wild and messy, and she had wrapped herself in a plaid robe.

“Morning,” Enid smiled hazily.

Wednesday gazed at her, whispering to keep from waking Mary. “Good morning.”

“I’m gonna shower, okay?”

Wednesday hummed in affirmation and let her eyes fall shut again. Mary stirred. “Bed.”

“You want your bed?” Wednesday asked. Mary nodded with her eyes shut.

Wednesday stood and scooped the child, blanket and all, into her arms. She brought Mary into her room and carefully deposited her into the cushy bed. The room was bright, exploding with colorful and macabre decor. She gave the child a quick kiss on the head before leaving and closing the door.

She moved to her own room and slid into bed, between black silk sheets. Her body was sore from sleeping sitting up, but the ache felt deserved and achieved. She teetered on the brink of sleep, but was dragged back when she felt a warm body press into hers.

“Enid,” she whispered, reaching out to wrap her arms around a toned abdomen.

“No, you sleep,” Enid whispered, pulling the sheets up over Wednesday’s shoulders.

“Mary wants to help me butcher the deer,” Wednesday mumbled.

Enid scoffed and shook her head. “Willa, she’s eight.”

Wednesday opened her eyes. “So? My father showed me how to skin an animal when I was four.”

Enid blinked. “I mean… yeah, I guess so. I doubt it’ll freak her out,” she shuffled closer to Wednesday, sinking into the warm bed. “She’s an Addams, after all.”

Wednesday’s chest seized. “She…”

Enid planted a slow, sweet kiss to Wednesday’s mouth. “Do you want her to be? Like… legally?”

Wednesday’s eyes stung. “Yes.”

Enid rubbed the pad of her thumb over Wednesday’s cheek. “We’ll look into it then, yeah?”

Wednesday nodded, swallowing the knot in her throat. “Would you like to be, too?”

Enid cocked her head. “To be what?”

“An Addams.”

“Oh,” Enid took a deep, shaky breath. Her eyes welled and her cheeks flushed. She moved to pull Wednesday into another slow, warm kiss. “I would, yeah,” she whispered. “I do.”