Meanwhile, in an isolated corner of the multiverse, in the dungeons of The Bright One's stronghold.
Very well, let's do this.
Ready when you are, variant of mine.
Wednesday cast one last glance at the ethereal and only partially materialized form of Wednesday Tuesday Addams, Agent A, her counterpart from another universe killed in combat against The Bright One.
The deceased adult Addams seemed to look the same as she had in her last minutes of life: the suit, the glasses, the loose hair... but there was no mark of injury or damage and she didn't look particularly creepy for a ghost, which Wednesday found slightly underwhelming.
Agent A let out a small laugh.
I can sense your disappointment you know. Next time I manifest as a specter I'll try to look a little more cadaverous and with chains.
It would certainly give the whole thing more panache, Wednesday thought, directing her words through the bond between them, But let's cut the chitchat and get down to business.
Agent A nodded, taking a few steps forward to stand by the cell door. It was curious to see her walking when technically what she was doing was gliding or floating, but she continued to mimic the movements made in life out of pure instinct. The ghostly Addams reached out and brushed against the door, as if tentatively. The spectral form of her limb merged seamlessly with the solidity of the barrier, passing through it.
Well, it seems our captor didn't count on having ghosts among her prisoners. I don't sense any kind of magical or spiritual barrier that could slow me down.
So you can...
Yes. And I think that would be no problem. But if you feel the slightest discomfort through our bond...
I'll cut it off clean.
Gee, I was expecting a little more reticence, but yeah, that's just it.
No time to be reticent, thought Wednesday, Let's get out of here.
Agent A nodded, and with a final stride and a brief sound similar to the static of an old radio, she walked through the door, through it as if it wasn't there. The specter found herself in the hallway, facing the outside of the cell door and with the row of the rest of the cells to one side and the other. Although more than a corridor it was a walkway. She could see on the other side how instead of a wall with more cells, what was there was an empty open space leaving in sight the huge pyramid made up of cylinders where other Wednesdays suffered a fate worse than death.
Agent A shook her head, deciding not to waste time. She turned back to the door and focused her attention on the half-hidden panel she had observed through Wednesday's eyes when they had been locked up. She brought her hand closer and concentrated. She felt a strange, cold tingling, as if her limb was waking up after being asleep, and sensed, if only for an instant, the temperature and humidity that permeated the air in the area.
She placed her hand on the panel, keeping her concentration, focusing on that sensation. She did not have to go through it as with the door. This was something much more complicated, at least for a ghost with only a few hours of existence.
She pressed.
The panel lit up for a second, and then the door swung open with a hiss of compressed air, leaving Wednesday open to take one last step and put her feet back outside.
Excellent work, she thought.
Thank you. It's been... I think it's tired me out a little more than I expected.
Agent A began to lose her shape little by little, becoming more transparent.
If you don't mind I think I'll go back to resting inside of you.
Of course, thought the young Addams, observing her surroundings. She frowned thoughtfully as she surveyed the rest of the cells.
I think I know what our next step should be, she thought, Let's open as many as possible before we are detected.
Ah, strength in numbers.
It's the most rational option, we alone cannot...
But her thoughts and any hope of forging a plan at that moment were cut short when the silence of the place was interrupted by a monstrous, inhuman shriek that nevertheless sounded horrifyingly familiar, reminding Wednesday of a night in the woods around Nevermore two years earlier.
Wednesday turned and could see it clearly. Emerging from the shadows, its bulbous eyes glowing with a whitish light, was a Shadow Hyde, staring at her as it emitted that screech. Soon, all around it, out of the shadows, others began to materialize. Where there was one there were soon half a dozen. And more kept appearing, from both ends of the corridor, joining their hideous voices to the alarm call.
They would not allow a runaway to wander merrily along on her own.
Wednesday could hear pounding on the door of one of the nearby cells and a voice much like her own shouting, "Run!"
So that's what she did, dashing off in the direction with the least concentration of enemies and sharpening all her senses to the max. The hallway was dark, dimly lit, but she was still an Addams and the darkness was an old acquaintance. A Shadow Hyde leapt in front of her extending a disproportionate arm that Wednesday dodged by stepping to the side as she spun on herself, continuing her run.
Arms and claws emerged from the shadows, trying to grab her, trip her, slow her down, but the young Addams girl kept running fully focused, her whole being on alert. Knocks and shouts of encouragement echoed from the cells. Glimpses of pale faces and dark eyes peered through the small openings in the doors, watching one of their kind attempt the impossible.
As she ran, Wednesday noticed that the corridor seemed to curve in on itself, like part of a huge circumference, and it was ascending.
At one point, she could see ledges high above, like terraces or balconies on an upper level from which shone the clear white light of the other rooms of the fortress. Undoubtedly, an access point that could take her out of the area of imprisonment.
She had to find a way up there.
The problem was that, despite her agility and excellent physical shape, she could feel the growing tension and effort wearing down her muscles. Her body was also not yet fully recovered from the previous combat. It was something almost imperceptible but each step would cost more than the previous one and there would come a time when the adrenaline that moved her would not be enough. That thought crossed her mind when she was forced to duck suddenly to avoid a claw that could have decapitated her.
The Shadow Hyde ran after her, like a tide of living shadows. They screamed, howled and roared. There was fury and frustration in those sounds, but also a sick, jubilant joy. They were enjoying the hunt.
And those not running after her appeared out of nowhere, materializing in the shadows before her and to her sides, with surprise attacks. If exhaustion didn't defeat her first it would be a twisted fortune that did.
Agent A's voice echoed in her head again, less tired than before.
I must apologize.
This is not the time for sentimentality, Wednesday thought.
I told you I had no intention of possessing your body, and I feel like a hypocrite.
What do you mean...?
Wednesday felt a tingling sensation spreading throughout her limbs, followed by a jolt of electricity that shook her entire body for a second, making her stagger. Just then a Shadow Hyde materialized before her, emerging from the shadows on the ground, its mouth open in a not yet fully formed head resembling a jagged maw ready to engulf her. Out of pure reflex, Wednesday jumped over it.
A leap that was twice as high and long as she would have normally managed.
At the very moment her muscles tensed, the young Addams girl felt that tingling in her body again and found herself propelled up and forward as if there was ten times less gravity than moments ago, passing over not only the Shadow Hyde that just appeared right in front of her but over two others that followed.
As soon as she hit the ground again she continued her run, as her mind whirled over what had happened. She noticed right away that she was also running much, much faster than before, with greater agility in each and every one of her movements.
Agent A? Is this your doing?
Adding my training and skills to yours. Technically not possession. Only partial.
Under the circumstances I find myself more grateful than dismayed.
Can't talk much. Lots of concentration. Keeping you… whole. Enhance body, without breaking.
Oh, that sounded deliciously intriguing. Wednesday tried to contain a shiver of masochistic excitement. The idea of wielding so much power that your own flesh could tear apart and your own bones could break because of your actions was...
Very enjoyable. But not the time!
Swallowing a small dose of embarrassment, Wednesday focused on continuing to run. Her gaze was once again directed upward, to the ledges and windows that led to the top of the fortress. With her current ability to move...
Wednesday made a ninety-degree turn, in the direction of the wall where the cells were located. As she did so, the Shadow Hyde just behind her and the one that had just materialized to intercept her crashed into each other, causing those running behind to stumble. Wednesday ignored the roars of frustrated indignation.
The Addams jumped, propping one foot on the wall to give herself extra momentum. Wednesday rose vertically as she extended her arms, reaching just high enough to cling to the edges of one of the ledges on the upper level. As soon as she did so, she used her arms to pull herself up and found herself in the air again, somersaulting before landing on the surface of the small balcony. With just a quick glance around to make sure there were no immediate dangers, she stepped through the doorway that led her into what looked like a maintenance room, with pristine white walls except for those sections where pipes and metal tubes emanating traces of liquid and steam seemed to emerge randomly.
It was still far from the upper rooms. But she was in no hurry to confront The Bright One yet, even with her new abilities. After all, her situation was temporary, and she didn't think Agent A could maintain that power-up much longer.
Right. If there are no immediate enemies... I'll stop for a moment. Save strength for later.
Wednesday felt as if her arms and legs were suddenly twice as heavy. She hadn't realized how natural it had felt to have that extra power. Deciding not to let herself be carried away by lamentations, the Addams began to walk cautiously toward the other door of the room. Opening it slightly, she could see another hallway, this one bright and well-lit, but narrower. There was no sign of any Shadow Hyde nearby, but she could hear the frustrated roars from the lower level approaching. Nothing would stop them from climbing...
Without another word, Wednesday slipped out of the room and began to walk down the hallway, hoping that she could find a weapon or something that could be used for such a purpose even in an improvised fashion.
She was not very fortunate in that regard.
Wednesday couldn't tell how much time had passed, but since her frantic escape from the dungeons time seemed to have dilated. She lost track of time, never stopping and always attentive to her surroundings, and to the ever increasing murmur of a growing number of Shadow Hydes that seemed to be filling the entire place. She forced herself onward, higher and higher, making use of every stairway, platform, or exterior ledge she could take advantage of.
The area she was in now looked more like the first room/dining room she had regained consciousness in. The floor, ceiling and walls were an almost luminous white and of a pearly material impossible to determine. In the distance of the hallway, where it curved, she could see the movement of shadows on the walls and the howling of the beasts. Looking for a way to sneak out without having to retrace part of her path, Wednesday noticed a door slightly different from the others: dark, old wood contrasting with the surroundings in a very striking way.
Partly out of necessity and partly out of a curiosity that she herself would admit was almost as pathological as so many of her other manias, Wednesday opened the door and entered the room, hoping to find a temporary hiding place. She hurried in and closed the door behind her, freezing as her mind finally took in what her eyes were perceiving.
It's our room, she thought.
Indeed, the place was a replica of her room at Nevermore. But distorted, disproportionate and almost sterile in its emptiness. Too wide, too long, with Wednesday's side a light gray and Enid's side a pristine white. The beds were not really beds at all but rather glass sculptures imitating the shape of bedsteads. And the rounding window was at least three times as large and purely white, without the duality of color characteristic of their stay at Nevermore, letting in the glows of light from outside and cutting out the human silhouette sitting next to it.
The Bright One turned to look at Wednesday, and smiled wistfully.
"Hi," she said, "I was wondering if you were coming here. I was hoping you would before I had to go looking for you."
Wednesday tensed every muscle in her body and felt with silent gratitude the little electric shock that denoted that Agent A was lending her gifts to her again. But she didn't say a word, something The Bright One took as an invitation to keep talking.
"Ah, back to the silent treatment I see," she continued, standing up and giving a couple of mock appreciative claps, "I must hand it to you. I don't know how you've circumvented cell security, but it will mean being able to devote hours of study from my personal time. We're going to be spending a lot of private moments alone, you and I."
"I'd sooner swallow an infusion of flesh-eating bacteria."
"Wednesday, Wednesday... We both know something like that would be enjoyable for you, don't deny it. And the truth is, I'm genuinely curious to know how you did it," she said, with an almost honeyed tone in her voice, "I'm becoming more and more convinced that you'll be a vital ingredient to my purpose."
With a flash of white light, the mask materialized over The Bright One's face, "I long to be able to touch you, deeply. Now, please don't resist. Or do, I never say no to some exercise..."
The Bright One took a step forward.
Wednesday braced herself for the attack.
And in the split second that would otherwise have seen the demented woman in armor move with breakneck speed and the young Addams girl barely trying to stop her, something different happened.
The air between them flickered. A flash of intense, blinding green light caused the two combatants to look away for a few seconds, followed by the sound of something solid falling on the floor. And suddenly, the sound of a voice that to Wednesday felt like the sweetest of melodies.
"Whew! No kidding, kind of turns your stomach a little."
When her vision cleared, Wednesday could see an unmistakable blonde female figure directly in front of herself, her back to her. Across the room, in front of the glass window, The Bright One watched with visible surprise in her body language.
"What the... How did you...?"
The newly arrived Enid didn't respond, turning to look at Wednesday, her face lighting up at the sight of her, holding her hands to her mouth to stifle a sob of elation.
"WEDS!! It worked?! It worked!!"
"Enid...?"
Wednesday immediately noticed something was different. Enid was slightly taller than usual, there was a different gleam in her eyes although she was still looking at her with the same usual warmth...
And her body...
Wednesday swallowed saliva at the sudden rush of hormones and endorphins.
Enid was wearing a tight black suit with an almost metallic sheen, something that looked like a sort of armor but clung to her body like a second skin leaving little to the imagination when it came to enhancing her attractive physique and an obviously much more prominent musculature than before. The suit was not entirely black, though: lines of neon pink marked the juncture points between the limbs and various pieces of the outfit. Wednesday noticed that except for the absence of cat ears and whiskers it looked like a high-tech version of their costumes from the first Poe Cup they participated in together.
All in all, it was a very flattering look for the she-wolf. If Enid were to mumble a single syllable in French at that instant Wednesday would lose all capacity for reasoning...
Unfortunately, any attempt at a reunion was interrupted by The Bright One's indignant cry of disbelief, "HOW HAVE YOU...!?"
Enid turned to the white-armored madwoman with the same irritated expression one would expect to see on someone talking to a child in a tantrum.
"Weds. Stand behind me and cover your ears."
Wednesday obeyed. There was something in Enid's voice that screamed at all her instincts to heed.
The Bright One took a step forward, one of her hands beginning to emit a pale glow as flames of white fire began to form in her palm.
Enid took a breath.
The Bright One took a second step. Unhurried, absolutely sure of herself, knowing she was unstoppable.
Enid howled.
Though to call it a howl would be an underestimation. The sound, almost deafening, was accompanied by a shockwave that disturbed the air visible before her. Like a shockwave of air and solidified sound from a concentrated explosion.
The energy shot through the room obliterating everything in front of Enid, ramming into The Bright One and taking her by surprise. The villainess suddenly found herself in mid-air, feeling as if she had been struck by a giant fist. She flew backwards, at increasing speed until she broke through the huge circular window and fell into the void outside, fading into the distance.
It all happened in just nine seconds. And when it was over, Enid didn't look tired at all, as if doing it hadn't taken the slightest effort. Wednesday could only stare at her in growing amazement. Enid had never been able to do anything like this before and the questions began to surface in her mind...
"Enid... mia lupa... What was th...?"
But she couldn't finish her question. As soon as Enid heard her voice, the werewolf basically pounced on Wednesday. The Addams found her words cut off as her lips were caught by the lycanthrope's in a deep, hungry, eager kiss. She noticed Enid's hands holding her tightly but painlessly, with exquisite firmness. She felt the warmth of her body next to hers and felt no surprise at how much she had longed for her she-wolf. The kiss gave way to others, on the lips, jaw and neck, with Enid murmuring unintelligible things and emitting quiet growls and whimpers of pure need. To be fair, Wednesday's reaction was not much different.
They finally stopped, catching their breath, and with their foreheads resting on each other's, staring into each other's eyes. Dark eyes bathing in the light of eyes as blue as the summer sky, tinged with a faint golden hue.
At that still longing gaze, Wednesday knew instinctively what was the question to ask, though she was a little afraid of the answer.
"Il mio sole... How long has it been for you?"
Enid smiled. A smile charged with love and joy but also with a hint of resigned sadness.
"Six months, my love. It has taken me six months to be able to come back to you," Enid answered, "I had to gather an army, you see."
NOTES
The left side of the collage is a fanart/sketch of The Bright One by invertcolor on Tumblr. The right side is a fanart of Wednesday by bonetrussle, also on Tumblr.
I can't help thinking that this chapter is a little sloppier than it should have been, but it was either deal with the cold that has afflicted me the last few days and write it, or postpone it longer. And I didn't want to leave you waiting any longer now that we're about to enter the final stretch, so… I hope it works ^^
And having said that… Enid and Weds are back together.
LET'S
FUCKING
GOOOO!!!
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