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Wednesday Addams stood like a statue in the rain. She had been so for the last hour, completely unmoving. A fact that had apparently garnered the notice of a few other students who had been making a pathetic attempt to be subtle in their observation from a window, a few of Yoko’s vampire friends it seemed. They appeared to be waiting to see how long she could remain so utterly still. Far longer than these adolescent vampires, that’s for certain. With the start of the new semester looming the rest of the student body had already returned to the academy, all bar one. Bianca was late.
The siren was supposed to be arriving the evening before but had texted Wednesday to let her know she would be running late because of something with her mother. Bianca had been cagey about her family, not that Wednesday would pry into something like that, all the Addams knew was that a deal had been made between the siren and her mother. A deal the siren apparently would prefer to make with the devil himself rather than her own maker. Whatever it was it had taken up the entire summer break, any offers from the little seer to visit the Addams manor were gently rejected, citing that she didn’t want to ask her mother for any favours. Wednesday hadn’t met the older woman, she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. She did not tolerate threats to those she cared for. She cared for Bianca. It would be bad form to stab her paramour’s mother on first meeting.
Her left eyebrow twitched as her highly trained ears picked up the sound of tires on the gravel drive of the school. Finally. A silver town car rolled slowly through the front gates as black eyes followed its progress intently. Curious, Bianca had originally planned to get an Uber from Burlington Station. As the rear passenger door opened Wednesday stepped forward to greet her girlfriend who had an odd mixture of relief and aggravation painted over her beautiful features. That aggravation softened as she realised the tiny goth had obviously waited out in the rain just to greet her, but quickly hardened as they both heard the door on the other side of the car open as well.
Wednesday watched as a woman with some resemblance to her paramour walked predatorily around the vehicle, eyes clearly taking in the lack of space between the two girls.
“And who might this be Brandy Jane? A … friend perhaps?” the older siren purred. While the two had some similarities in facial structure, it would seem that Bianca may take more after her father. Either way, the tension in Bianca’s body and the use of a name that did not respect her beloved’s self-identification had Wednesday slipping a blade into her palm.
Bianca seemed to shake herself before straightening her spine and turning sharply to her mother. “My girlfriend. Wednesday Addams. Wednesday, my mother; Gabrielle” The elder smiled like a shark scenting blood in the water, her eyes flashing in recognition at Wednesday’s last name.
“A pleasure. Bianca didn’t mention she’d traded up from the Thorpe boy.” Despite the smirking jab at Bianca, Wednesday’s face remained impassive as she rather pointedly ignored the outstretched hand from Gabrielle. While it was true an Addams was a far better choice in partner than Xavier, that didn’t mean Wednesday would tolerate this woman questioning the validity of their relationship. As excruciating as it was to admit, Wednesday was her father’s daughter. Despite her distain for the whole affair of romance, the family curse had not spared her. What was an Addams to do but embrace the challenge, and Bianca was the best kind of challenge. A mystery she never seemed to fully solve even as she cherished each new discovery. For Wednesday who saw all the world as a competition, survival of the fittest; the battle of wits she endured with Bianca in and out of class never failed to get her blood pumping. The dance they wove together was almost primal in its intensity and yet Bianca soothed her tormented soul like nothing else.
“It’s not a trade mother. Xavier and I didn’t work romantically, Wednesday and I do. Not that it’s any of your business.” Bianca said tersely as she moved around her mother to collect her case from the trunk. She hadn’t brought much with her to Morning Song, hadn’t wanted to give any indication of an extended stay. Just as she hoped to cut her mother’s time here short now as well.
“Oh of course not dear. Though why you would hide your little friend from your mother, I just don’t know.” Gabrielle sighed dramatically, to an outsider it might seem like a weary and concerned parent addressing a difficult teen. Wednesday though, could clearly make out the gleeful look in her eye as she kept her gaze fixed on the Addams. This was a look Wednesday had seen before and knew well. The Addams family wealth had only ever grown as each generation added to it, her father having been fortunate in his investments had continued this trend. Often as the first-born child she was subject to the covetous nature of those who wished to weasel their way into the lauded Addams family vault.
Bianca whipped around, dropping the case next to Wednesday to face her mother once more. “Enough, this is the end Gabrielle. I held up my end of the deal so now you walk away and stay the hell away from me.” All pretence dropped away as the older siren slowly stepped forward to meet her daughter in this power struggle. The veil of civility was lifted, leaving only two predators circling each other, looking for any sign of weakness. In the past Bianca would have backed down, but with her mother’s song fading and her own only growing stronger, the balance had shifted. Something that Gabrielle clearly recognised if the aggressive lean forward she made was anything to go by, before Wednesday suddenly stepped up beside the two.
The Addams let her own mask slip as the elder turned to meet her gaze once more, the unnerving glee mixed with the ice-cold focus of a true predator revealed as she locked on to this threat to her beloved. With the way Gabrielle drew back it was obvious she had finally seen past the dollar signs she had obviously overlaid onto Wednesday, recognising that while she was no siren, vampire, werewolf or other innate hunter. She was very much an apex predator.
Bianca huffed, picked up her case once more and turned towards the school her hand automatically reaching for Wednesday’s. Even as she went to follow her siren, the Addams saw Gabrielle reach out once more. Twisting her body to intercept before she could grab Bianca’s elbow, Wednesday snatched the woman’s wrist instead. As she did however, she felt that electric crackle up her spine, snapping her backwards as her eyes rolled up into a vision.
Wednesday opened her eyes to an obnoxiously brutalist modern office where an older man with a chiselled but handsome face sat at the desk looking over documents. She didn’t know what it was but she instantly disliked him. She leaned forwards to catch a glimpse of the documents, something to do with ownership of a brand? Or property, maybe a company? Morning Song.
What she did see immediately was that all the documents listed Bianca’s mother as the signatory. Interesting.
Behind her the door opened and the woman in question walked in. The man stood, a practiced smile stretching across his face. “My love, were you able to persuade Brandy Jane to reconsider?” He had a velvety voice, something soothing and well-practiced in his speech patterns that did nothing to lower Wednesday’s hackles.
“No, she remains obstinate as ever. Though she seems to have set her sights higher, she’s dating the heiress of a very wealthy outcast family. Irritating that she hid it from me until now.” Came the almost petulant response as the older siren moved into the man’s space. “Something for down the road perhaps, once things have settled with the authorities”
Something dark twitched behind his eyes but his smile remained as he guided the siren over to the couch sitting by the floor to ceiling windows. Wednesday was glad it was dark outside, from the looks of it this place would be glaringly bright in the daylight. Some kind of resort? Perhaps one of those nausea inducing normie tourist traps.
“Have a drink with me love. Its been stressful these past months.” Wednesday had to give it to him, he was slick in how discreetly he dosed the siren’s liquor when he handed over the cut crystal glass. If she hadn’t spent her entire life learning to identify various poisons and intoxicants, and their delivery she never would have seen. The siren certainly didn’t.
Wednesday watched impassively, counting the seconds since consumption and cataloguing symptoms to identify the poison as they made small talk.
Gabrielle cleared her throat a few times, rubbing at her neck. It wasn’t long before she started wheezing, her husband watching with a smirk as the dawning realisation appeared on her face. Swiftly followed by rage.
“It’s nothing personal Gabrielle. I’ve just decided this venture has run its course, much like your siren song.” The arrogant normie sipped his own un-spiked glass, “You’re still helpful to me though. All the loose threads now tie back to you.”
Wednesday awoke in Bianca’s arms right after watching Gabrielle choke her last breath, even she could admit it was disconcerting to then see the same woman peering down at her curiously from a few feet away. The seer quickly righted herself, not enjoying the vulnerability in front of an enemy.
Bianca reached out to cup her face, turning dark eyes to meet her own piercing blue. She didn’t ask if the smaller girl was alright, neither of them wanting to show anymore weakness, as she ushered Wednesday towards the school entrance once more. With no more acknowledgement of her girlfriend’s mother, the Addams took the case from her siren and carried it up the steps to hold the door open, prompting a low chuckle at the way Wednesday mirrored her father’s mannerisms in this moment for her beloved.
The two teenagers finally stepped out of the rain, making Bianca realise how much the little goth looked like a drowned cat in this moment, a giggle creeping up her throat.
“Come on, let’s go get changed” pulling Wednesday after her Bianca led them both to her own dorm, knowing Davina would likely be wherever Yoko was elsewhere. Dropping her case unceremoniously she led her girlfriend to the bathroom, pulling out a towel as she went. “You shower first. I have a feeling your dramatic ass was stood out there for way too long”, the siren smirked as Wednesday rolled her eyes and took the towel without complaint.
“I’ll find you some clothes” she promised as she left the Addams alone, closing the door gently. She would definitely be asking about the vision but her first priority was making sure Wednesday was alright. Not to mention, she knew it was disorientating for the raven when she first came back from her visions. It was always a good idea to let Wednesday unjumble her thoughts before interrogating her, she had once described it as; electro-shock therapy without the satisfying afterburn. What ever that meant, she’d said it with consternation so Bianca assumed it wasn’t enjoyable.
The siren absentmindedly dug out a pair of dark grey sweatpants and a Navy hoody from the trunk by her bed, she didn’t have much in black but hoped the muted colours wouldn’t be jarring to Wednesday. Cracking the door, she slipped the pile of clothes onto the counter and left without a word. She didn’t have to wait long, unlike her roommate Wednesday was efficient as usual so Bianca was soon graced with the adorable sight of her tiny girlfriend walking out of the bathroom in her clothes. She had needed to roll the arms and legs up several times over just so her hands and feet were free as the clothes were far too big for her slight frame.
Wednesday rolled her eyes as Bianca cooed but didn’t resist being pulled in for hug. “You should shower too, you were out there long enough”, the Addams pushed her taller girlfriend towards the bathroom while gesturing to her admittedly damp clothing.
“You’ll be here?” the siren asked, unable to completely hide her insecurity but was met with a calm nod. Not wanting to keep her raven waiting and also being curious about what the Addams had seen, she wasted no time in hopping in the shower. The vision had happened when she touched her mother so Bianca was fairly certain it would involve the older siren somehow. She just hoped that whatever scam she was cooking up wouldn’t involve her.
While her beloved was in the bathroom, Wednesday settled on the bed against the headboard. She contemplated how to tell her siren what she had seen, as concerned as she was for Bianca’s mental state at this revelation, Wednesday knew she wouldn’t keep it from her. Not out of any desire to save Gabrielle but knowing the decision was completely Bianca’s to make in what to do. Whatever her choice, Wednesday would support her love.
The seer glanced up and found herself uncharacteristically distracted as Bianca stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. Everything about the siren drew her in, not exactly because of her physical beauty, a vision though she was, but because she was Bianca. Its like the siren was made to ensnare Wednesday with her very soul, or perhaps it was the other way around. That Wednesday was made in her sharp-edged form specifically to wrap around Bianca Barclay as the exception that she was.
The siren in question chuckled, using Wednesday’s distraction to slip close and push her jaw closed with one long finger. Her eyes sparkled with mischief watching the witchling come as close to blushing as she ever did. “Cat got your tongue sweet thing?” Wednesday swore her little black heart skipped a beat, treasonous organ.
Clearing her throat and staring at the ceiling as she forced herself to remain on track, Wednesday addressed the hyde in the room. “My vision. It was about your mother.”
“I figured”, Bianca sighed as she settled next to her. “You grabbed her wrist and you dropped so it stood to reason.”
“It… was a vision of Gabrielle’s near future. It’s going to put you in a difficult position. Leave you with an unfortunate decision.” Wednesday said slowly, tentatively reaching to hold the siren’s hand.
Bianca tilted her head in askance, on one hand she dreaded the smaller outcast’s next words. On the other she felt a stirring of warmth in her heart knowing she could trust Wednesday to respect her autonomy, to tell her the truth and let her decide what to do with it.
“When your mother returns to your stepfather, he will kill her”, Wednesday ignored the hissed breath beside her, knowing she needed to get it all out. “Whatever scheme they’re involved in, he’s forged a paper trail that leads only to her. It was hard to read what was on the desk, something called Morning song?”
“It’s a cult marketed as a”, here Bianca rolled her eyes and made air quotes angrily, “self-help community” Wednesday couldn’t hold back a snigger as Bianca scoffed. “More like her and Gideon use her siren song to help themselves to their victim’s bank accounts. Problem is, her song is drying up. It’s why she wanted me to come back.” The last part was said so quietly that if Wednesday hadn’t been sitting so close, she would have missed it. The guilt at what Bianca had spent summer helping her mother do crept up again, she had traded those people’s well being for her own freedom.
“I assume your mother has some severe allergy because he spiked her drink with something that induced anaphylaxis fairly rapidly.” While she couldn’t meet her love’s eyes she held her hand as tightly as she could, hoping to ground the siren as she processed this emotional bomb.
“He’s going to kill her.” Bianca stared sightlessly at the opposite wall. She always knew Gideon was a snake but she never expected him to go this far. Honestly, she would have thought her mother more likely to pull something like this. She was fairly certain the woman had disposed of Bianca’s father after all, that realisation being what had driven her to flee for Nevermore in the first place. For a moment Bianca let the darkness inside whisper, she could just let it play out.
“You could do nothing” that quiet voice said the part she could hardly bare to acknowledge, something she was strangely grateful for. Of course, Wednesday Addams would never judge her for her darkness. Not like others did. “The problem is that he asked about you when she first arrived, I’d be concerned that with Gabrielle out of the way he might have designs on you. Loathe though I am to defend that woman, she may be the lesser of two evils.”
“That’s a scary thought”, the siren mused. “I think you might be right though, better the devil you know.”
Wednesday turned to cup her cheek, finally meeting her gaze. “I would advise warning her, let her deal with him and put her in your debt at the same time.” Bianca nodded slowly before Wednesday followed the statement with, “I would also like to contact my parents about this. My family could be very helpful in redirecting any backlash away from you and onto more… deserving targets. Especially Tio Fester, this is right up his alley.” They both chuckled, Wednesday having told many stories of her (in Bianca’s humble opinion) batshit-crazy uncle.
“Okay”, Bianca shook herself and started rummaging for her phone. “I’d better call her before she gets to the airport”. Taking a deep breath and straightening her spine as if her mother would be able to see her, she dialled.
“Well this is unexpected. Have you reconsidered Brandy Jane?” came the arrogant purr when the woman picked up.
“Not for a second. I’m just doing you one last favour so do remember to hold up your end of our deal”, the younger siren put as much ice as she could into her voice, “I’m sure you figured out already that Wednesday is a seer”.
“Yes, powerful witch blood on both sides with that one. I take it her vision was about me” Bianca couldn’t be certain but she thought she could hear a hint of fear in her voice. The arrogance somewhat tempered.
“When you return Gideon plans to poison you, he’s already forged a paper trail to pin all your schemes with Morning Song onto you alone. He’ll make it seem like an allergic reaction and give the feds their outcast villain while he heads for a country without extradition” The silence from the other end of the line was near deafening.
“Μαλάκας!” The rage fuelled Greek curse made Bianca flinch involuntarily, grateful the elder siren couldn’t see her. After a moment her mother quietly hissed “What do you want for this?”.
Steeling her heart at the pang she felt knowing that her mother would never allow a relationship where warning her mother about her impending assassination wasn’t seen as anything more than a bargaining chip. Having seen how Wednesday’s family behaved she knew how fucked up their relationship really was. “Like I said, I want you to uphold your end of the deal. You leave me alone, none of your schemes and plots involve me, Nevermore or Jericho.”
There was once again a long pause on the other end of the line before, “Fine.”
One word. One word before the call went dead. One word to indicate the complete removal of her mother from her life. Bianca felt numb, so many emotions were brewing under the surface. Like the ocean right before a storm. Relief. Exhilaration. Grief. Abandonment.
She slowly turned back towards the bed where Wednesday waited, a surprisingly open and soft expression on her face. Bianca staggered towards the bed and into the petite Latina’s arms, tugging Wednesday against her until she was almost using her as an oversized teddy bear. Clutched against the siren, Wednesday rested her chin on the taller girl’s head as she ran her hands up and down her siren’s back.
“No matter what, you’ll always have me. You can be an Addams instead.”