Wednesday and Enid left their room in silence after making sure that Woe and Friday had understood their instructions: they would not leave the room to explore on their own and would not leave Thing's side under any circumstances. The old dismembered hand seemed to have overcome its brief bout of a nervous breakdown and had begun to talk with Wednesday's two multiversal counterparts.
It had been an interesting conversation. Woe merely nodded curtly with narrowed eyes under a deep frown, irritated at being treated like a child but at the same time intelligent and mature enough to understand that the situation called for caution. Friday for her part had nodded enthusiastically and had even asked Enid's permission to play with the stuffed toys that adorned her side of the room.
Wednesday couldn't help a small smirk. It seemed that Enid had been fooled by Friday's exuberant and cheerful disposition and had forgotten how Addams children played with their toys.
It was not yet late at night, but even with a relaxed curfew due to the holiday schedule, the chances of running into the few students still present or any of the teachers were slimmer than usual. The young couple allowed themselves to walk briskly but calmly in the direction of the entrance that would lead them to the secret Nightshades chamber, letting their footsteps echo through the empty corridors of Nevermore.
"Okay, I have to ask," Enid said, breaking the silence, "Why the Nightshade's library and not the Academy's?"
"Knowledge of the multiverse is scarce," replied Wednesday, "In the realm of science it is still a theory. The realm of magic offers more substantial but equally fragmentary information. And Nevermore's library, open to the student body, would never feature a book that allowed tinkering with primordial forces of the universe at that level, even for magical studies classes."
"I guess it makes sense, you don't want a brat accidentally erasing someone from existence," noted the lycanthrope.
"It certainly wouldn't be good for the Academy's image."
"So the Nightshades... Do you really think we'll find anything?"
Wednesday pursed her lips slightly, almost imperceptibly, "I can't say for sure. The collection of texts and manuscripts contributed by members of past generations is very rich. Certainly more complete and varied than the contributions of current members."
Enid let out a giggle, "I'm sure future generations of vampires will be grateful for Yoko's arcane knowledge of how to make mojitos."
“Indeed," Wednesday said with a slight hint of derision, "But the real possibility even going through the most reliable texts is that there's no guarantee that we'll find anything concrete. If that were to fail we would have to resort to the materials used by the faculty, and I would like to leave that as a last resort.”
"That reminds me...maybe we should talk this over with Principal Barker," Enid suggested.
Wednesday turned her head to look at her girlfriend so sharply that a snapping sound could almost be heard in her neckbones.
The blonde werewolf held up her hands in a conciliatory gesture, "I know, I know! I know how you feel," she said, "But we can't have those two locked in our room indefinitely, and if this situation gets complicated or drags on beyond the spring break... Well, I think we'd better save ourselves some trouble, as a precaution."
Wednesday kept her impenetrable gaze fixed on Enid for a few moments, but the she-wolf did not back down. Finally the Addams looked forward again and bowed her head slightly.
"You're right," she said, "As much as I hate to admit it, it might be useful to rely on the goodwill of the most direct authority figure over us. We'll talk with him tomorrow morning."
"The thought churns your stomach, doesn't it?"
"How well you know me."
Enid leaned over and planted a light kiss on Wednesday's cheek. The shadow of a scant blush marked the Addams' face for an instant before suddenly disappearing.
After two years, Enid Sinclair had learned to "read" her girlfriend remarkably well. Oh, Wednesday still surprised her from time to time, and the level of extravagance of the Addamses and their family traditions seemed to have no clear boundaries. But the young werewolf could boast that she was one of the few people in the whole world capable of interpreting the meaning of Wednesday Addams' usually inscrutable face.
That's why she noticed how the hint of a smile that had begun to form almost invisibly on Wednesday's lips after the kiss on her cheek was cut off short, replaced by a slightly more shadowed look than usual and a tension in her jaw that seemed to signal... guilt?
Before reaching the stairs that would allow them to descend to the quad, Enid gently nudged the other girl's shoulder.
"What's the problem gnawing at your thoughts?"
Wednesday looked at her, "Other than the obvious one waiting in our dorm room, nothing special. I don't know what you mean."
"Wednesday," Enid said. There was nothing authoritative or admonitory in her tone of voice, but it caused the Addams to stop short in her walk and scowl slightly.
"I... I owe you an apology."
Enid couldn't hide the surprise on her face, "What, why?"
Wednesday breathed in before speaking again, "Today was supposed to be a special day. A special night. Our first night on spring break. A dinner on the balcony, a late night serenade, Thing leaving for a midnight stroll, and us alone to..."
"Oh, Wednesday," whispered Enid.
"I know you had expectations for today," continued the Addams in a low monotone of voice that Enid knew to see as the mask to hide vulnerability that it was, "For something special. And I've messed it up."
Enid stood in front of her girlfriend and placed her hands gently on Wednesday's shoulders.
"Weds... Wednesday, look at me."
Wednesday Addams looked up and the radiant brightness of Enid's smile almost blinded her eyes with exquisite pain.
"Wednesday, none of this situation is your fault."
"Enid, we have two counterparts of mine from another dimension in our room. I know I've been accused of being self-centered in the past, and with reason, but I don't think it's up to my ego to think that something like this is no coincidence. I must be the reason somehow.”
"Whether you are or not, it has not been by any voluntary act of yours," Enid replied, "You may blame yourself for many things, Wednesday Addams, but there is no way I intend to let you bear undeserved guilt."
"When did my knucklehead wolf become such a wise person?" whispered Wednesday.
Enid smiled again, softly.
"Look. You didn't mess anything up today. We’ll find time for each other when we figure this out, ma petite calamité.”
Wednesday took a sharp intake of breath, her eyes widened with the expression of a predator that has just sniffed out its prey.
“Enid… that’s French.”
The she-wolf's smile turned mischievous.
"Oui?"
“You know what French does to me, Enid.”
“Yeah, and you can bet your perky ass I’ve been learning vocabulary just to use in on you. Precisely to get this reaction.”
Their gazes were fixed on each other. Their faces began to draw closer. The blush had returned to Wednesday's cheeks with a vengeance, imbuing her pale face with more color than she ever had before. Their lips came closer and for an instant all their senses were fixed on the warmth emanating from each other.
And suddenly, Wednesday recoiled with a jolt. As if she had suddenly come out of a trance.
"No. I'm sorry, Enid...," she started to say before interrupting herself to catch her breath, "As much as I want this, and believe me I do, this is not the time or the place. We have work to do."
Enid looked at her with a wistful gaze and a resigned smile.
“Aw… you’re right Weds. I’m sorry, I should…”
Then, abruptly and without warning, Wednesday rushed forward and pressed her lips to Enid's in a passionate kiss, at the same time grabbing the blonde lycanthrope by the neck firmly but gently. The kiss, deep and hungry, ended as abruptly as it began, with Enid emitting a whimper as Wednesday buried her face in her neck as she continued to sensually caress her throat, while pressing against the she-wolf’s body with her own. Finally, the Addam’s lips came to Enid’s ear with a whisper after leaving a trail of kisses on her neck.
“But when this is all over and I get you alone with me, I shall devour you in ways that will make you howl on a moonless night, mia cara lupa.”
Wednesday separated from Enid as quickly as she moved closer. She began to walk away, descending the stairs, gesturing to follow her.
“Let’s go, we don’t have more time to waste”, she said as she snapped her fingers, “Chop-chop!”
Enid held back another whimper, leaning with one hand on the corridor wall. Her face was flushed, her pupils dilated, and from between her half-open lips two well-formed wolfish fangs peeked out.
“Ye… yes...”, said the werewolf in a quivering voice, “As son as my legs stop shaking… Holy shit.”
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