Chapter 16: A Play In The Dark
"The spirit world was a little more difficult to navigate than I assumed. It took longer than I thought to return." He told Wednesday, as he watched her unbind her hands that were tied behind her back.
The hood only just removed from her head, after her ill-conceived kidnapping at the hands of amateurs.
She did not respond. He knew, she knew, only she could see him, at the moment.
So, she focused instead on her would be kidnappers and their ridiculous excuse for a secret society made up of individuals who treated it like a a social club for parties and drinking. He knew they did not know their history.
In the week before Wednesday arrived, he had worked his way through just about every inch of the academy. Taking note of things of interest. The history of their secret society being one of them.
Wednesday's ancestors' secret creation in order to combat her demons.
He figured it was another piece to the puzzle that Wednesday would have to place, however she refused to acknowledge the half-assed secret society of amateurs, with good reason.
Bianca Barclay, Xavier Thorpe, the fully deceased Rowan, all members and none of them individuals that she would interact with, if not necessary. If the room of the secret society, where they currently were, did not have books that could only be found in its confines.
One of those books was tucked into Wednesday's bag. No doubt it contained a clue of some kind.
The farcical debacle of a kidnapping had ended. Wednesday was prepared to be on her way, however Drac decided to teach the rookies how to truly be marvelously mysterious.
As Wednesday stood from the chair and took a step forward prepared to leave, Dracul called forth the darkness and the shadows. The room was shrouded in black in the blink of an eye. No light able to be perceived. No sound capable of being heard.
He moved forward and took hold of Wednesday's hand, who had just reached the stairs, dispelling the dark from her senses.
She looked to him, breathing heavily, her eyes vivid and alive. The fear, anticipation, and comfort, all present in her usually expressionless visage. She loved the dark as much as he did.
"That is how one plays with the dark." He said with a wide smile on his face, that she reciprocated with her own. Her mind too erratic to maintain her usual near-dead image. She seemed exhilarated.
He pulled the shadows back into himself, illuminating the shaded room, once again.
The teens were sprawled out all over the room.
Some crawling, others crouched or curled with their heads in their hands. None seemed capable of withstanding sensory depravation. At least he left them their sense of touch, otherwise he was not sure how they would react. He reached out and mentally stimulated their neural synapses in order to get their minds working properly, or as properly as they could. None of them were exactly top of the class, except one, Bianca, but her emotional control was too erratic. Too much dependence on a necklace and not enough confidence in oneself.
They regained their composure and looked at each other.
They saw the fear in each others eyes and the confusion.
He led himself up the stairs, hand still holding Wednesday's. She did not make a move to let go, so he would not either. He kept them shrouded, as they exited the underground secret room.
They walked in silence through the school. No longer holding hands.
He followed behind her, his hands behind his back, quite pleased with himself.
Eventually, they came to her room, where she proceeded to go to her desk, sit, and take out the swiped book from her bag.
She placed it in front of her and opened it to a page with a drawing. A drawing that paired with the one she had of herself surrounded by flames at the school. The other half of the picture showed her standing opposite a pilgrim.
She leaned back against the seat, unconsciously edging closer to where Drac stood behind her.
"What do you think it means?" She asked him, as she sat with her back straight, waiting for his reply.
"I think," he began, "that Rowan and his mother were both insane."
She turned her head slightly. "Explain?" She asked/demanded in that way that only those with a certain amount of self-confidence can manage.
He leaned forward and placed his hand onto the pages, then turned his head to look at her.
"What do you see?" He asked her.
She stared at the pictures for a few moments.
"I see me, confirming one of my worst fears. That I'm going to be responsible for something terrible, and not good terrible, like Ivan, but bad terrible." She stated, never once taking her eyes off the picture.
He smiled at her assessment., despite her narrow view.
"Then, I would have to forgive Rowan and his mother for their insanity and chalk it up to them not seeing you, just as you seem to not see yourself clearly." She looked to him, daring him to go on, as he eyed the drawings. "I see Wednesday Addams, doing exactly what she has always been ought to do. Standing tall in the face of chaos." He looked to her, her eyes still on him.
"Leave doubt to the ignorant and uninformed. You...and I...need only believe in whatever path we have chosen to walk. As we go forward, those who are worthy will stand by our side, and those who are not will fall along the way, in one form or another. You follow your heart. Your heart follows what is right, what is just, and does not run from," he turned back to the pictures, "the misguided."
He looked back at her. "Follow your path. Let your heart lead. And when it is all done, know that I will be there, stalking you all the way." He grinned and gave a small laugh.
She looked into his eyes, attempting to find the truth or lies in his words.
He could see when she settled on one by the slight nob of the head that she gave in acknowledgement. No other comment provided.
He laughed again, just because, she's funny.
He moved back, their eyes never leaving one another. Then he winked once, faded into black, presence gone.
She took her eyes from where he had been previously. Focused her sight back on the pictures, and showed a small smile of her own. Her only thought, 'then I hope you can keep up.'
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