Chapter Text
It was a cloudy and dark day. The furious raindrops hit the window with the intensity of the storm that rose in the skies. Wednesday stood in front of the sill, enjoying the ferocious movement of the branches as the wind battered them.
It was a beautiful day to celebrate.
From her room, it was impossible to see the line of guests who were surely getting wet as they approached the mansion. Anyone would say that a party should not take place under such conditions, but they were the Addams, kings of Nevermore, the huge and dark city where it's convenient to go out by day and hide at night.
The princess spun on her feet, stopping in front of the mirror to adjust her black dress. The lingerie felt delicate under her pale hands. She had fallen in love with the dress the moment she looked at it. It was black, with an ancient look that sent a shiver down her spine the first time she saw it. It was the perfect dress for a funeral.
"Thing, scare away my suitors," she stated before turning to the door.
Wednesday Addams is allergic to two things:
- Colors
- Feelings
From a very young age, the dark-eyed, expressionless woman decided she would break the Addams' curse. What curse? The Addams have carried a terrible sentence for centuries: love to the point of madness. The legend establishes, and her father had reiterated it countlessly, that when an Addams falls in love, is capable of doing the unimaginable for her beloved.
Wednesday refused to fall prey to what she considered restrictive and exhausting. To love madly? Move the sky for a person? In her mind that was like putting a collar on a dog that wants to be free.
The young princess had refused to talk the many princes, counts, and kings who year after year visited the palace hoping to win her dead heart. Her parents knew about her techniques to escape said suitors, and they never forced her to listen to them. According to her father, she could run from love, but eventually, she would end up crashing head-on with that person who would make her heart vibrate.
Wednesday was convinced her heart died the night she was born. She was nothing more than a walking corpse, waiting for that day when death would notice its mistake and claim her. Wednesday is a silent, direct, and expressionless person. Her favorite activities included playing the cello, writing, and torturing her younger brother, Pugsley.
- Princess, the queen indicates you should go to the hall. They're going to make a toast in your honor.- Xavier Thorpe, her guard, entered the room after having knocked three times.
She had known Xavier for as long as she could remember. They grew up together. Wednesday found him bearable, but irritating. She prefers to collect corpses, and he to go out and play in the extensive garden. However, from time to time, their interests coincide. The important thing is Thorpe is tolerable. That made him the perfect guard.
- Come on. - she conceded, moving to the exit.
The main hall had not changed its gothic decoration, but the lighting had been altered. The area was usually only illuminated by dim chandeliers that created eerie shadows, now shimmered under the glowing light of the rarely used bright lamps.
In the center of the place, the furniture had been removed to create a dance area where several couples were already carried away by the music. Wednesday felt a twist in her stomach, hating the colorful dresses of the guests. She had told her father she should make an all-black rule in the invitation letter, but he was too kind to dictate.
- There's my little scorpion!
Wednesday knew it would be a long night when her father's voice echoed in her ears. She noticed he was accompanied by a young man with dark hair and an eternal smile. Addams would have rolled her eyes, but that would require for her to show some expression. She didn't want to change her countenance. Pugsley told her that when she stares at people, she scares them away. That's exactly her plan.
(...)
The brunette man was being hard to scare off. Wednesday tried looking at him without blinking, creepily twisting her fingers, calling out Thing. She even performed one of her creepiest dances. The young man kept offering her punches and talking about his kingdom. He was a prince, and although he hadn't inherited anything yet, he was convinced he would soon be king. The brunette assumed he was planning to commit patricide. She respects such boldness.
Tired of pretending she was listening, the princess looked for the occasion to elope, which was easy, considering she was adept at going unnoticed. She caught a bottle of white wine on the way and led her steps to a secluded area. She knew the Addams Manor like the back of her hand.
The sound of the music finally began to die down, the gossip faded, and she leaned her hands on a railing. Outside, the pale moon illuminated the garden. The rain had stopped, but the grass was still covered in a layer of moisture that made it glisten. She brought the bottle to her lips, enjoying the taste as it touched her palate.
Her birthday party is a little theater to keep the kingdom happy. They were one of the few days where neighboring kingdoms could visit Nevermore, pretending they were happy with the established alliances. The real party began when everyone left. Her parents allowed her to choose her gift. Spend the night in a coffin? Hunt some ferocious animal? Sword duel until blood is drawn?
Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the possibilities. She had to wait a few more hours. She would need more than one drink to endure such torture. She had taken two swallows from the bottle when she decided to return to her father. The princess turned around but was attacked from behind.
She felt the blow against the back of her neck before everything went dark.
Kidnapping on her birthday?
She would cross it off her list when she got the chance.
(...)
She woke up inside a dirty, filthy barn. Her hands were tied, leaning against a wooden wall that surely wouldn't withstand a storm. She looked around, trying to figure out her location.
- She woke up! - She heard a male voice. Then, a blond entered the barn.
She managed to see the moon behind him.
It was night?
Then, they were near the Addams mansion.
There was no way they had taken her far if the moon was still over the city.
- If you cooperate, we don't have to hurt you.- the man declared, approaching at a safe pace.
- If you leave now, you'll preserve your life.- she spoke unblinking.
- They warned me that threats are your forte. - he mocked, letting his head fall back.
Wednesday had been freed from the moment the man entered the barn. She had in her hand one of the metal clips she used to do her hair.
-I hope they have warned you of my precision and sadism.- argued the princess while stretching the metal hook with her right hand until it was disfigured.
- The ice princess was an apt description. I thought you'd be harder to capture given your...
Wednesday drove the hook through his neck with such force that she silenced him, the second hook jamming into his jaw. She waited a moment, just an instant, for the blood to paint a little on her hands before letting go.
- Maybe you should have read little letters about me. - the princess commented, passing over the man but not before leaning down to grab the dagger he was carrying.
It wasn't one of her family's daggers, but it would serve the use she planned to give it. Being kidnapped was exciting. Escaping from her kidnappers, leaving a lake of blood in her wake, was pleasurable. So, of course, she enjoyed sticking that dagger into the chest of the other three characters that stood between her and her escape and smiled every time she heard them scream.
The brunette had no idea where she was. The barn connected to a large house well guarded by guards. There was no point in facing a wave of thugs on her own. All she needed was to escape. She decided to do it silently, and although it took her several minutes to scale one of the walls to get out of it, she had made it. She was received by a vast, humid, and cold forest. Not sure of her location, the princess decided to move north.
Minutes passed, and the rain had decided to fall. Her hair was plastered to her face, her black dress became a weight, and she had no idea where her shoes had landed. The forest grew darker as time went by. Soon, she began to hear howling and movement in the bushes. She isn't afraid. Being in a creepy forest while her body fights not to die of hypothermia is on her list of things she wanted to do. However, although she wouldn't admit it, she craves to get to the castle. To reassure her family that she's well.
The brunette was planning to flop against the thick trunk of a tree when she finally saw smoke in the distance. She quickened her steps, stopping after noticing a sign announcing an inn was nearby. The princess did not have money. The most she could do was offer her dress in exchange for a night in a warm room, but then she would be forced to go around naked, and…she would rather die of hypothermia. The other option was to sneak into the place or threaten to kill the owner. This last option was the most tempting. Murder for a bed isn't far from the things she'll do willingly.
Wednesday entered the place, contemplating what she would do after. As soon as they saw her, the three commensals at a dining table and the man behind the worn wooden counter turned their gazes on her. Addams must have looked like a wet, grumpy cat. In the city of Nevermore, they have rarely seen her. They would not suspect she's the princess.
- I need...- she had barely parted her lips when the man behind the counter, who had a shaggy beard and bulging blue eyes, interrupted.
- We are full. - He declared, ending the conversation.
- The sign...
-FULL. - the man repeated.
Wednesday had decided that the world would be a better place if she killed this excuse of a person.
- Amore, you did come! - said a smitten voice.
Suddenly, an arm came to rest on her shoulders, making her turn her head.
To her right were a blonde woman with a huge smile and eyes so blue they could be an extension of heaven itself. The instant their gazes met, Wednesday hated everything about her. She hates the woman's colorful hair, wardrobe, and sparkling smile. The stranger had barely spoken, but the princess had already decided she wanted her as far from her person as possible. Addams was about to push the woman when the blonde who was a minute from becoming a corpse, spoke.
- She is...? You should have described her better, Sinclair! You didn't say she looked like out of the Dracula book...- the man joked.
Wednesday took his words as a compliment and only for the moment gave up on her plan (pulling out the nails of the stranger who had dared to touch her).
- She's my sweet cousin. The whole storm has fallen on you! You must be very tired. We'll go upstairs, Marcus. I'll come down for food later. - warned the blonde.
Wednesday knew her best option was to play along. If the colorful stranger planned to attack her, she could kill her in the chamber.
Sinclair, as the hotel owner called her, led the princess to the stairs without moving her arm from her shoulder. Only when they were in a silent, dark corridor, did the blonde seem ready to take her arm from her. Wednesday pushed her, pinning her against the wall and bringing her dagger to Sinclair's neck. The woman's eyes widened, her arms against the wall and palms open in surrender.
- I don't want to do anything to you. I was trying to help. - declared the blonde, almost trembling against the edge of the sword.
- Why? You don't know me
Sinclair smiled.
- Of course, you don't remember! I am Enid, the youngest daughter of the Sinclair clan. We attended your father's birthday two years ago. You are Wednesday Addams, the princess of Nevermore. - the blonde spoke.
The blonde knew who she is.
Clan Sinclair?
What did she know about that family?
Wednesday set her free.
- You're a wolf. The Sinclair clan is the smallest of the Nevermore clans. I don't remember seeing you at my father's party.
- They never introduced me. I'm the youngest daughter.- explained the blonde, shrugging her shoulders.
For the space of three seconds, Wednesday saw a certain sadness reflect in her blue eyes. It was so brief that if she had blinked, she would have missed it. Her mask was back immediately, a smile so bright the princess might have resorted to removing her eyes to escape such a rain of happiness.
- I need transportation to the Addams mansion. I've been abducted from my home approximately...could you provide me with the date and time?
- October 15th...
- I was unconscious for two days, I must admit my adductors aren't as useless as I imagined. Given the past time, my family must be planning their revenge right now. I'll need you to take me to the castle right away.
Wednesday tried to spin around, but the wolf stopped her by holding onto her arm. An icy look was enough for the blonde to give up such an aggravating action.
- Under this rain, it's impossible to move. Also, if they kidnapped you, they're still looking for you, and...wait, how did you escape?
- A hair clip and a lot of precision when finding the carotid artery.
Wednesday's response seemed to have traumatized Sinclair. A least, she had given her a small stroke because the wolf's face was pale and her eyes wide.
- Oh...so...you... a hair clip?
- I have two hair clips left holding my hairstyle. I could make a demonstration.
Sinclair shook her head before Addams could remove the pin from her hair.
- There's no need. As I said, we can't go out with this rain. I can offer you a place to sleep and take you to the mansion with the sun's rays.- the wolf offered with a smile.
- What's in it for you? - questioned the brunette, crossing her arms.
- The satisfaction of...
Wednesday's stare screamed she didn't believe her, so the blonde gave up on her lie.
- I escaped from my clan. I could use a place to go. I thought...if I return the princess, maybe your father will give me a job...
- You're weak. You would not serve as a guard. Maybe you could cook or wash the floors. I'll talk to my mom.
The blonde's eyes widened.
- Are you serious? Would you advocate for me?
The wolf had gotten so excited, she was jumping around. In that instant, Wednesday became aware she was not wearing the typical clothing women were forced to wear. Wednesday used her father's clothes from time to time, but she was a princess. Enid is just a village woman. Her brown pants and her shirt, which should be white, but suffered a colorful attack, could be the clothes of any of the employees who took care of the horses at Addams Castle.
- I would appreciate it if you refrain from screaming and emotions while you're in my presence.- asked the princess. - I'll need you to make sure the people who saw me don't reveal I'm here. I'll wait in your room.
- Of course, my key... - the blonde patted her pockets.
Wednesday held up the metal key that dangled from her forefinger.
- I took it about five minutes ago. You couldn't be our butler's apprentice. - announced the princess, starting to walk.