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"This image." Wednesday's eyes narrowed. "I've seen it before."
She reached for her own phone, unlocking it with her signature stare. She scrolled right back to the beginning of the messages from her stalker, holding the phone up to show Xavier that her suspicions were completely correct. The photo of her and Xavier at the Weathervane mirrored on both of their phones - which also mirrored one another, given that Xavier bought her hers.
"You don't think that-"
"Your Father is my stalker." Wednesday stated, her tone bland.
Xavier felt his knees grow weak, his eyes narrowing at the very thought of that being true.
"But he's got his own shit to deal with." He frowned. "He's never been interested in my life, or what I do with it."
"I thought he paid for your therapy."
Xavier found himself scoffing.
"For very selfish reasons, yeah." He raised his eyebrows, trying to remain calm. "I told you - he wants to keep his troubled son out of the tabloids."
"How unfeeling."
Xavier looked away, letting the small smile that was on his face drop. He was used to being pushed to the side by his Father, but this felt like crossing a boundary that he didn't know he would have to put down.
"Why do you think my Father would send me this?" He asked. "Why would he want me to know that he has someone watching me?"
Wednesday glared at him, wanting to say something callous about her not knowing his Father and having no hopes of understanding, but his face was like that of a wounded deer's. He was hurt by this, she could tell. Usually, empathy wasn't something that Wednesday was particularly talented at. This was fresh for her.
She said nothing.
"We should sleep." She murmured, moving towards Rowan's old bed. It had been made, she noticed. Xavier had delicately placed a black blanket on top of the black duvet cover.
"Er - yeah." He said, scratching the back of his neck. He sat back down on his own bed and crossed his legs, tying his hair into a bun.
"What time do these dreams come to you?" She asked, pulling the duvet over herself and crossing her arms. Her movement was rigid, and Xavier was doing his best not to stare.
"Er - random times." He said. "I've never taken much notice before."
Wednesday rolled her eyes, which Xavier saw.
"Look, Wednesday, I didn't know they were significant until the other night." He said. "I didn't know anything about your Raven thing until Bianca mentioned it."
Wednesday sat back up, her spine cracking because of the speed of the movement.
"Bianca?" She asked. "What has Bianca got to do with this?"
Xavier felt his jaw lock, his heart racing as the panic set in. There was no way in Hell that Bianca would betray him to his own Father. She knew what it was like to have a parent that cares more for money (and fame) than their own child.
"She's the one that told me about your - your Raven status."
Wednesday pushed her legs over the side of the bed, turning towards the taller boy.
"And you didn't think that was worth mentioning?"
"I've been a little distracted." He threw his hands up. "Jesus, Wednesday, I can't know everything."
"You can." She said, her tone harsh. "And you do - you just omitted to mention it."
"Look-"
"No, Xavier, you listen." She folded her arms, standing up. "Whatever is going on is bigger than us." She snapped in a way that Wednesday Addams usually wouldn't. "I don't understand what is happening - or what it means and I don't like that."
Xavier bit his lip, his eyes welling slightly. He was doing his best.
"You have to trust me." She said.
It was at that point that Xavier lost his temper, his voice hoarse as he stood up, towering over her.
"Me trust you?" He coughed at the absurdity. "Wednesday, I do trust you." He said. "I have trusted you since the very first step you took into this school." He growled. "I have always felt like I can trust you and now - now I know why but you don't trust me. You don't trust anyone."
Wednesday faltered, knowing he was speaking some home truths.
"These dreams that I've been having aren't anything new - I've had them all my life. And Bianca knew that." He said, no hint of any emotion in his voice now. "I'd wake up in the middle of the night and feel this urge to paint a Raven. It was overwhelming - I couldn't think of anything else." He continued. "She'd always ask me what it meant and I couldn't answer her."
Wednesday placed her hand on Xavier's chest, making him stop in his tracks. He shut up immediately, melting into the touch.
"I'm sorry." She blinked.
"Wha - what?"
"Don't make me say it again." Her voice was small. "I shouldn't have accused you of not trusting me."
Xavier felt his face flush.
"And I do trust you." She said, the words spilling from her mouth faster than her heart was racing.
Xavier looked down at her hand, which was still frozen on his chest. He knew his heart was pounding beneath it, and he knew Wednesday would be enjoying the sensation under her touch. He lifted his own hand, resting it on top of hers.
"I don't know why I trust you." She said. "But something is telling me I should."
Xavier closed the gap between them, taking a step closer to Wednesday so that their bodies were inches apart. Wednesday didn't move, her body and mind frozen as she looked up into his eyes.
"Kindred spirits." He said, as if it was nothing.
"We should speak to Bianca." Wednesday stepped backwards, dropping her hand from Xavier's chest now. Xavier let out a breath, nodding.
"But it's midnight." He said.
The light suddenly drained from the room as Wednesday fell backwards, her eyes wide. It was another vision. She glanced around the room, sitting up in a trance.
'The Raven - she fell.' Xavier's eyes were alert, his voice shaking as he spoke to Bianca. Wednesday looked around and recognised that she was standing in Bianca's room. She could smell the familiar scent of Divina's perfume. 'Her wings were cut.'
'You'll have to tell her. You can't keep this from her.' Bianca had said in return. Xavier sobbed into her arms, his throat dry as he coughed over the dream.
'But - but the last time I had a dream about her - I - I painted that picture of her and she lost it with me. I can't tell her - I can't tell her I've dreamt of her since I was a child.' He sobbed.
And with that, Wednesday woke up.
"What was that?" Xavier brushed the hair from Wednesday's pale face, feeling that she had a cold sweat forming on her forehead. His finger was gentle against her skin. "You didn't touch anything, how did you have a vision?"
"I don't know." Wednesday glared straight at him, her breath shaking. "Bianca wanted you to tell me about the dreams."
"Er - yeah." Xavier swallowed. "Why is that important?"
"She's the one that's messaging your Father." Wednesday stood up, grabbing her coat and wrapping it around herself. She walked towards the door, her drive surprising Xavier.
"Woah - woah." Xavier reached for her but missed, unable to stop her quick enough. "That vision knocked you out - we should-"
"They always do." Wednesday cut in.
"No - no." He pointed at her nose. "This is different."
She was bleeding from her nose, the crimson of her blood contrasting against her pale skin. She fell back slightly, leaning against the door frame.
"These visions - I've told you - they're not to be trusted." He stammered, yearning to hold her tight. "This isn't normal."
"My life is never ordinary." Wednesday said, bluntly. "We have to confront Bianca."
Xavier felt unable to argue. He followed her out of the door, his feet barely able to keep up with Wednesday as she stormed ahead. He was learning that once Wednesday Addams got something in her mind, she would burst into it.
Xavier was sceptical though, these visions could only mean one thing; his Father really was involved in all of this somehow.
***
At Bianca's door, Xavier felt his chest beginning to throw tighter, his eye sight blurring slightly through the anxiety. He wanted this all to be done terrible nightmare that he would wake up from eventually, there was no way Bianca would betray him to his Father. They may have split up but she was always there for him whenever his Father was being his usual self: whenever he neglected his own son for fame.
"I don't think this is a good idea." He tried to grab Wednesday's attention but failed, watching as she knocked on the door. "What if the Hall Master finds us out here?"
"Stop worrying." Wednesday said, her voice montone as usual. Stop worrying, Xavier scoffed. Like it was that easy to just switch off his anxiety. He stepped back, not wanting to anger Wednesday but arguing with her. The door sent open to show Divina stood there, her eyes small as she tried to adjust to the lack of lighting.
"Wednesday?" She coughed, her pale skin glowing in the moonlight.
"Where is Bianca?" She demanded without changing her usual voice.
"Asleep."
"Wake her up."
"What? No. Xavier, what is going on?"
Xavier's facial expression was a pained one, his eyes averting down to the floor so he didn't have to look at the vampire.
"We need to speak to her. It's urgent."
"Okay." Divina stepped to the side, letting Wednesday storm into the room. Bianca was sleeping, just as she had said she was.
"Wake her." Wednesday glared at Divina, her voice cold. Xavier shot her a warning glance, telling her without saying anything that she was being too harsh. "Please." She mellowed.
Bianca sat up, her eyes opening wide as she sat up. It mirrored the way Wednesday awoke from her visions. Xavier took a step back, not wanting to be involved in this whole situation. He couldn't imagine anywhere worse to be.
"Xavier, is everything okay?" Bianca drew him back into the situation, making him want to dart the other direction. He looked to Wednesday, who was glaring at him expectantly.
When Xavier didn't say anything, Wednesday stepped in front of him.
"Darren Thorpe." She said, simply.
"Your Father?" She looked back to Xavier, confused.
"Yes." Wednesday said. "You've been stalking me and sending the photos to Xavier's Father. Why?" She crossed her arms.
"Wednesday-" Xavier faltered, knowing what it was like to be on the accused end of Wednesday's wrath.
"What?" Bianca laughed. "You can't be serious."
"I saw you." She gritted her teeth. "I saw you in my vision - you needed Xavier to know I was his Raven."
Xavier shuddered at the wording of that.
"Why did you need him to tell me about this? Was it a warning?"
"Xavier, what is going on?" Bianca ignored Wednesday, which made her frown.
"Someone has been stalking Wednesday."
"I know, you told me."
Wednesday spun on her heel, slowly, her eyes narrowing as the words processed in her mind. What was he thinking speaking to someone about this? Sure, Bianca was starting to understand Wednesday but to trust her with something like this - that wasn't okay.
"I didn't tell you about that." Xavier swallowed his panic. Wednesday shook her head, slowly. It was a patronising shake, he knew. "Wednesday, I didn't tell her about that."
"Yes, you did. Yesterday. In here." Bianca's neck was almost snapping. "After your panic attack."
Xavier blinked. He didn't. Sure, he was never in his right mind after a panic attack but he knew he didn't mention that. He wouldn't. It may have set off the panic attack but he didn't mention the stalking to anyone.
Wednesday was conflicted.
"How did you know about the messages?" He asked. Bianca let out a small laugh, unsure of what to say.
"You told me."
"No, I didn't." He put his foot down. Wednesday believed him. He looked and sounded sincere. "Wednesday's right - you have been messaging my Dad."
"This is ridiculous." Bianca rolled her eyes. "I don't have to listen to this." She snapped, her voice a mix of hurt and anger. "I've done everything to help you with your soul searching bullshit." She folded her arms. "And you repay me by accusing me of going behind your back?"
Wednesday could feel Xavier's heart aching in his chest, her fingers twitching as if she was playing a song on her cello.
"You two are made for each other." She laughed. "You're both as bad as each other."
Wednesday grabbed hold of Xavier's hand, trying to steady his emotions. He collapsed into the hold, following Wednesday out of the door and back to his room.
"I told you we shouldn't have done this tonight." He dropped her hand, his body barely able to control his emotions now. "This is all getting too much."
Wednesday nodded.
"At least we know now." She said, no emotion in her voice.
"It's not that simple." Xavier erupted, his eyes welling with tears as he tried to compose himself. Wednesday had never seen anyone shake so much as he held back the tears. She could feel a twinge in her heart. "Wednesday - people have feelings and - and I don't think you understand what this means."
"It means the two people you loved more than anything have been working against you." She said, tilting her head.
Xavier let out an exasperated breath, scoffing at the simple way in which she said that.
"It hurts." He was crying properly now - his cheeks flushing with tears.
Wednesday felt her eyes begin to prick with tears, pressing her hand to her eye. She didn't feel sad herself, but she had an urge to fidget.
Then, Wednesday collapsed in pain - her head aching. She screamed, her nose bleeding heavily onto the wooden floor. Xavier raced to catch her in his arms, but missed. He scooped her up into his arms, holding her as he sobbed. He tried to think of what to do, his throat drying. His body was curled over her body, feeling how cold and stiff she was beneath his hold. Her nose was gushing with blood.
"Wednesday?" He cried. "Oh my - shit."
He raced out of the room and up the corridor to Wednesday and Enid's shared room, bursting into it to find Ajax and Enid sleeping in Enid's bed. Thing jumped out of Wednesday's bed.
"What happened?" Enid rushed to Xavier's side, waking Ajax too.
"I don't know - she just collapsed." He stammered. "This isn't a vision." He said. Thing tapped Wednesday face as Ajax raced off for help. Enid was sobbing, her eyes bright red and puffy.
"Xavier-" Wednesday murmured, her hand clutching hold of Xavier's. She opened her eyes, turning to face him. "-please don't be upset."
Xavier froze where he was sat. Enid glanced at him, her eyes wide as the panic hit.
"She's connected to your emotions." Enid's mouth fell agape at the realisation.
"That's - that's not possible." Xavier shuddered, his neck cracking.
Except, it was possible.
"This is her sign." Enid said. "Oh my God - she's a sentiment spirit."
Xavier would have laughed at the absurdity of the idea that Wednesday was sentimental about anything, let alone him, if he hadn't seen this before. He pushed backwards, his head aching at the reality of the situation.
Wednesday Addams, the girl that seemingly felt no emotion, was connected to him emotionally.
***