บท 19: Curious
If one were to let Vlad tell it, he would say that sweeping the town and academy took more time than he thought, however if one looked closely, and could see through the mist, they would see the swirl of bats constantly going back and forth, left and right, with seemingly no purpose.
However, there was a purpose.
To have fun.
Since awakening, Vlad had only ever really had fun, when he was interacting with Wednesday.
There was not a single point that he truly felt "free" when he was not in her presence.
Perhaps, that is why, instead of being there, he ended up taking far longer than necessary, and had to spread his senses miles in order to locate her presence, once the link was dimmed.
He found her. Huddled up. In the rain, in some burned down shed looking structure. The link could not connect, because she was not in her body. She was pulled into a vision. A deep one. An intense one.
He had the thought of stepping into the vision. Seeing what she saw. Helping her along the way, however he did not, for the very same reason he had not already solved her mysteries for her.
Wednesday had potential. Great potential. Visions were only one aspect of her bloodline. A bloodline that had ancient roots and deep ties in spirit magic.
If he had not been buried and comprehended his own understanding of the soul, he might require her assistance. Not as she was now, but as she could be in the future. Though, he still might take it, when she grew stronger.
His body reformed. The bats merging to become his physical form, once again.
He channeled his ability to manipulate clouds and opened the area around her curled up form, preventing the rain from dropping on her. Then, he sat down beside her, and pulled her into his embrace. Waiting.
Thing came and joined him and her in their dry spot, climbing up onto his shoulder. It seemed they would be waiting together.
Luckily, she did not keep them waiting long.
She woke with a start. Her breaths erratic, though quickly calmed down.
She leaned back into him, though she did not turn around.
He could feel her body relax.
"I saw her. The girl in my visions." She spoke to them. "Her name is Goody Addams. I believe she was my ancestor from 400 years ago." She finished the last part, turning her face to look at him and Thing.
He only looked at her. She was telling him nothing new. He had already found record of Goody. It was not difficult to recognize her when he saw her.
So, he just gave her a thumbs up.
She looked annoyed for a moment. No doubt recognizing that she had yet to say anything that he did not already know. Then, her annoyance slowly shifted and a different look surfaced on her face, as she looked away from his eyes, her head slightly lowered. If he did not know better, he would think she were shy.
She looked back at him, her eyes took on their usual half-dead sharpness that displayed single-minded focus. "When you said, in the quad, after Enid asked you why you were here. You said you were here for me. She was talking about your being in the quad. You were talking about your being in the school. Am I right?" She spoke, her voice steady, as they stared into each others eyes. He could see that she already knew the answer. He liked that. In the past, she would question him about schemes, plots, or even her parents orchestrating their meeting from the very beginning in the graveyard. However, it was not the beginning.
WEDNESDAY POV
Wednesday did not do self-worth. It was not that she did not value herself, it was that she did not understand why people saw value in others. She did not understand why people saw value in her. However, she did understand one thing quite clearly. Vlad was hers. He has been and always will be the voice in her head, and the one that knew her better than anyone else. After all, she had spent years with her emotions bared to him. She could hide no feeling.
Now that she thought about it, he had not really changed since showing up as Dracul. He still barged into her life, as if he did not understand boundaries. Truly, a worthy stalker.
She could see the happiness in his glowing golden eyes. He was not hiding it. Probably due to her not doubting his intentions.
He never let her feel his emotions in the past, but that did not mean that she could not still discern many things from their interactions. One of the things she noticed, rather early, was the fact that something had happened to him. Something that made it difficult for him to trust, completely. To be vulnerable. Probably betrayal. She could tell how much trust meant to him. So, since he was her only friend. She gave it to him. Now, it was too late to go back. Only forward. That is why, when she learned who he was, she could only accept the fact that he was there for her.
"The last sleep-state that I had to enter," he began. "It was the one where I was going to attempt to break free, and rejoin the land of the living. I thought that it would take a long while, however I proved to be more determined than I originally assumed. Though, it did result in the complete desolation of the surrounding area. All traces of what was once there, gone."
She watched him as he spoke. She wondered how she never noticed so many of the things that she was now seeing.
There was no guard around him. It felt like, if she had a knife in her hand and decided to stab him, he would do nothing. Just accept her blade and continue speaking. He looked exposed. Open. Perhaps, that's one of the main reasons that she was so comfortable around him, when she knew him as Dracul. He never once seemed to be guarded against her. He never, even for a second, seemed put off or uncomfortable around her. She found it incredibly unnerving, however it also reminded her of her family. The insufferable fools did not know there own good and never once guarded themselves against her. No matter what she did, they accepted. He felt the same.
Her eyes watched his mouth move, as he described his grand return to the world. The storm he caused and the liberties he took with his pilfering. She did not realize that she was staring at his mouth, until he finished speaking and a smile spread across that mouth that seemed a little too smug.
"Enraptured? Enamored? Curious?" He spoke the words in a teasing manner. Now that she knew who he was, no matter how teasing his behavior, she believed that there was more seriousness behind the playfulness than she had accounted for. After all, the one time he did let her feel his emotions, for that brief moment before his final sleep state, she felt a rush of emotions that, even with her mind, it took her hours to fully comprehend.
She knew Vlad saw her as something more than just his confidant or his protégé, from the lessons he taught her. She knew the voice in her head held several feelings that she wanted to address, however the time was never right. And now, that very voice, with those very feelings, was holding her for a far greater time than she realized, and was asking her if she was curious.
She had to admit, she was.
Wednesday is decisive. When she has a goal to accomplish, she executes, like the killer she is. Single-minded focus had seen her through most of her life. That is why, when the question was asked, and her answer was formed, she immediately decided to go forward.
She looked at the smiling lips. They were inviting and intimidating. Like a honey trap, waiting for it victim to get close, so it could devour it before it could run away. Or at least, that's how the lips seemed to her. However, she was never one to let fear rule her actions. Not when she had a curiosity to bury.
Her eyes rose from his lips to his eyes. She saw him comprehend something in her eyes, the second she looked up. He went to speak, but she did not let him. She had her knife poised, so she struck out.
The moment their lips touched, whatever cognitive reasoning and decisive actions led to the moment were forgotten.
She had never believed in meditation. It was never necessary. She could focus her mind on a single point with no need for deep breaths or sitting in silence. However, if she had meditated, then she might have been able to regain access to her mind, after it completely shut down.
She felt like she was drowning. Like she was being buried and sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss. The problem was, she liked the dark.
However, many seconds later, she pulled back.
Her breaths coming fast. She was certain she was beginning to sweat. She should not have done that.
She looked at her stalker. His eyes were unfocused. Dazed. She felt a sense of accomplishment at that. At least she was not the only one affected in some way. Though, his disarray cleared up in the blink of an eye. Literally, she blinked and his eyes were once again honed on her. His expression was one that she could not discern.
She tapped into the link that connected their minds. It felt....strong. Stronger than ever.
She could feel him through the link. She could physically feel him in a way that she could not before. Like his presence was connected to her.
Wednesday: {That is for pulling one over on me.} She spoke through their link, matter-of-factly.
Then, she got herself up.
Before she could straighten completely, she saw Vlad already standing straight. She had not even seen him move. Which begged the question, how fast was he.
She remembered the attack that was directed towards him when he sat on the balcony.
One second he was sitting there and the next, the balcony was gone and he was in the air.
She knew Dracul was strong. She could feel that. However, now that she knew him as Vlad, as well as Dracul, she knew that if she wanted to know the truth of his existence. All she need to do was ask.
However, there was something more important to do first.
Wednesday, walked quickly and grabbed her bag from the ground.
Thing had climbed from Vlad's shoulder into her bag.
So, she had nothing more to accomplish there. She had already struck her target.
Which is why, she chose to quickly walk, not run, very quickly out of the old meeting house.
When one accomplishes one goal, it is important to take stock of the situation and confirm ones findings. Therefore, she had to get away. That was the only reason for her speedy exit.
However, before she could run away to regather herself, a hand pulled her back.
She looked up at Vlad to question his purpose in stopping her, however before she could, she saw his finger pointed in the direction she was about to go.
She followed the finger and there, beyond the burnt walls of the burnt wood, she saw the beast. It was looking at them. Then, turned and started running. It was fast.
She took off after it. Half her focus on the beast that she would hunt and the other on the presence that she could feel behind her. She should be focused on her target. She had a mystery to solve and a monster to unmask. However, focusing on one thing appeared slightly impossible.
That is why, when she reached the location she had seen the beast disappear from, she could only follow footprints. They were animalistic...until they were not. Human. They became human.
She turned her head to the presence behind her. She saw no surprise on his face. He already knew. Of course. She would never admit it, but his ability to move unnoticed was one that she greatly desired. Then, it would be her who caught him off guard.
Wait, she already did catch him off-guard.
Once again, in the span of only a few minutes, she felt a sense of accomplishment at her action.
She felt that, based on what she had seen of him, throwing him off his game was not a small feat. Yet, she had done it. That was almost, almost, as good as her first kiss.
At least the monster was good for one thing. She no longer felt the urge to quickly walk away from Vlad. Chasing her prey had calmed her mind. Hunting a beast was something that she could understand. A feeling she could comprehend. Now, what to do about the one who made her have the urge to walk quickly?
WEDNESDAY POV END
'Sneaky little vixen.' Was the only thought that went through Vlad's mind as he looked down at her face that went from annoyed to satisfied in the span of a few seconds.
He knew she was thinking about how she had caused him to fall into a daze.
However, what she did not know, was the reason behind his dazed state.
When her lips touched his, a reaction began. One that nearly pulled her very spirit from her body and sent her into the depths of a vision that would give her far more insights into his past than he wanted her too see, at the moment. He knew she would not judge him for his actions. However, things had escalated quickly. She took the initiative that he wanted to take, though he was going to wait for her birthday. She was too quick with her blade and he could not parry.
He would get her back. He would twist and turn and wring her dry in every way that he knew she could handle. He would make her regret taking her first kiss from his lips without even considering the romantic prep work that went into making a moment special. Just you wait, Wednesday Addams. Just you wai...an insect has arrived.
.
.
.
(Author note: Being very, very good-looking, even if I can't turn left, can leave one with more to do than many would understand. Therefore, I've gone and put this one out, but haven't yet proofread. I'll go back over it, eventually.)
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