｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

｡･:*:･ﾟ★"You know I'm happy to give you another lesson in castration if you're worried your impeccable skills have been tarnished with disuse."*:･ﾟ☆

Lillian

"She used to date our resident tortured artist, Xavier Thorpe." Enid carries on, not noticing my grin. "But they broke up at the beginning of the semester. Reason unknown."

Because he was worried she was using him, that he was no more than a pawn in her little power games. They were the king and queen of the school after all. The elitist couple. Not that I would ever tell that to Xavier, he hates any references to his father.

"Fascinating." Wednesday states.

"I know, right?" Enid cannot take a hint. "My vlog is, like, the number one source for Nevermore gossip."

I watch in amused silence as Xavier scans the courtyard in periodic waves as he has been doing since we arrived. He knows I'm here.

He's here, see.

I see now, thank you.

"Yo, Enid!" I pause at the boy's voice, my attention dragging away from my old friend to new newcomer who appears to be a gorgon. "You're not going to believe the dirt I heard about your new roommate."

Which one I wonder. Xavier has gone back to painting but I see him glance down at the book - sketchbook - resting on a stool beside him. He traces his hand down the page and I catch a glimpse of smile as he watches whatever he just animated.

"She's a firedrake."

Dracona, arsehole.

"She burns the flesh from people's bones, totally roasted that kid she murdered." He's so eager and clearly desperate to please Enid with the new gossip, but I carefully watch the way a snake dips down from under his beanie. "And the other one, she eats human flesh. Totally chowed down on the kid she killed. You better watch your back."

So should he, considering he only has eyes for Enid and is blinded to Wednesday and I's presence. Enid quickly steps to the side and smothers my smile at the sight of the gorgon boy's horror when he catches sight of Wednesday.

"Quite the contrary." She declares and I'm grateful she has taken over the situation. "I actually fillet the bodies of my victims, and then feed them to my dragon sister."

Bitch.

"Ajax, this is my new roommate, Wednesday and her sister lili-ian-ith."

"Lilith Drake." I answer for her, reaching a hand out to shake Ajax's hand. "But you can call me Lillian."

He swallows heavily and awkwardly reaches forward to shake my hand, I ignore the trembles in favour of giving him a sweet smile. That only seems to shock him more as he glance between Enid and I in surprise.

"Whoa." he exclaims, looking my sister up and down. "You're in black and white. Like a living instagram filter."

"Ignore him." Enid interrupts, clearly fearing for his life.

He's spotted you. The sprite giggles and my gaze immediately darts to Xavier.

His hair is tied back in a bun and I wonder if he's still using the bobbles and elastic bands I gave him when we were younger. I give him a little smile, hoping things haven't changed between us.

Xavier puts down the paintbrush in his hands, turning to his sketchbook and my smile slowly drops. Things aren't the same then. The non communication thing got to us.

I continue to stare at him, seeing how his gaze continues to dart to me from the corner of his eye. I've upset him. He pauses suddenly, brushing a hand over the sketchbook again and that's all the familiarity of my friend I can take.

Fire flares from the torches lining the courtyard causing Enid and Ajax jump away from the wall in shock. Some of the other students marvel in surprise at the sudden flare that dims down again. I don't care. My attention is fixed on the artist who stares at the flaming paintbrushes in the pot beside him.

Xavier whips around, glaring at me as I smirk back at him. He breaks off suddenly with a chuckle, shaking his head as he continues to laugh lightly. What the hell? I frown, glaring at his back as he just packs away his stuff, still chuckling away to himself.

"Sorry, Lillian." Enid rushes out, glancing between me and the flaming torches as she puts two and two together. "Ignore him. Gorgons spend way too much time getting stoned."

I ignore them, continuing to glare at my ex best friend's back.

"He's cute but clueless." Enid seemingly regrets the word when she glances at Wednesday, a little seed of doubt in her mind. Oh don't tell me 'power puff' girl has got a crush.

"It's a small school. There wasn't much online about you two." How surprising, I know there is a load about me on the dark networks. Evidently, despite their outcast name they still use normie tech. "You should really get on Insta, Snapchat and TikTok."

"I find social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation." Wednesday states and I roll my eyes, must she always be so tedious.

Thankfully she walks off and I take one last look at Xavier who's facing me once more. He stares at me impassively before looking down at the sketchbook in his hand and smiling.

What the hell did he see?

I hear a small fluttering by my shoulder and I look down to see a small dragon, no bigger than my palm, made of pure glittering graphite. A sad smile flickers across my face when the dragon breathes a wave of black fire against my neck before drifting away into ash on a dead breeze.

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"Have you seen that boy of yours?" Mother teases with a soft simile and I can't stop the blush despite my current irritation with the Thorpe boy.

"He's not my boy." I mumble, looking down at my shoes to avoid Morticia's gaze.

Soft fingers gently tilt up my chin and I allow Morticia to bring my head back up to her level. A soft frown adorns her face, worry shining in her eyes.

"Mon feu, tell mama what's wrong." She whispers, voice deceptively calm. "You know I'm happy to give you another lesson in castration if you're worried your impeccable skills have been tarnished with disuse."

I chuckle at her words, smiling up at her through surprisingly tearful eyes.

"I'm going to miss you." I whisper and she takes in a sharp breath, her own eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"I will miss you too, my fire. But do not think this gets you out of the conversation." She reprimands lightly. "What was his name again? Xavier?"

"That Thorpe boy?" We whip around to Gomez who has suddenly appeared at Morticia's side with a protective glare. "Because I don't like that boy, mind readers are never trust worthy."

"He's not a mind reader." I roll my eyes.

"And this doesn't concern you dear." Tish says to Gomez sweetly. "We're having a girls talk."

He makes a noise of understanding, quickly nodding as he drifts back to Pugsley and Lurch's side. Mother and I share a quick look of mutual humour at his protective nature.

"I thought the two of you were friends." Mum whispers to me. "Thick as thieves as I remember."

"Yes, well, thieves turn on each other." I grumble, glancing away again.

"I recall you spending most of last year here." I freeze at Morticia's words. "Oh don't pretend, Lilith. I'm your mo-... I have raised you for a long time, I know all your tricks. Including all the times you ran away from those boarding schools we sent you to when you and Wednesday were separated."

Ah yes, mother and father's great plan to get us settled into a school by separating us for a year. Our last expulsion was actually the first time we were together again.

"How did you meet Xavier?" She murmurs.

"We were at his godmother's funeral when I was 10." I answer, seeing no point in lying to her. "It was maybe a year after I joined you, he and I talked. He was the one who encouraged me to get to know you all."

She smiles and nods. "He sounds like a good friend."

"Not my friend anymore." I snap, getting irritated by this conversation.

She sighs. "New beginning my love, try to start with a clean slate."

There's a moment of silence as she ponders her next words.

"Now, I'll tell your mother that you have settled in well when I see her at the tower of fire." Morticia fusses with my dress collar, smoothing out the wrinkles as worry and heartbreak shines in her eyes. "I'll be joining Gomez here on one of his crusades, he thinks he has a lead on an egg for your 16th."

I sigh, "When will he give up?"

"He loves you." Mother soothes, seeing the hurt in my eyes. "He knows how much it bothers you and we both know he would do anything to make his girls happy."

I nod hesitantly, choosing to concede since I know Gomez won't give up. Where Morticia feels she has to be distant from me so as not to upset Wednesday, Gomez feels as though he has to constantly prove his love to me.

"And..." I hesitate. "What of.. Mother. What are in the trunks she sent?"

Morticia sighs. "Three tasks no doubt, your right of passage to complete during your twilight phase. You know she sticks to the old ways. They will be suitably challenging of course, but I'm sure she will have ulterior motives for whatever she wants you to make, find or slay."

"That's what worried me."

"She wants what is best for your people." Mother reminds me, "You are the next heir to your people throne-"

"One of the heirs, there are three of us. The last descendants of the Dracaenae, the Queens of the Dracona."

"Don't fight it Lili- "

"Look at you, my little Deathtrap." Gomez coos and I turn to see Wednesday walking towards us in her black uniform. "Seeing you in this uniform brings back so many terrible memories. Doesn't it Tish"

"Yes." She murmurs, smiling down at me lovingly and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before moving past me to the dark little goth I call sister. "Why don't you boys wait in the car?"

It's not a question but a command.

"Wednesday and I need a moment."

Pugsley steps forward and grasps his sister in a tight hug,.

"Pugsley," I wince at Wednesday's tone, expecting the worst. "Your soft and weak. You'll never survive without us. I give you two months, tops."

"I'm going to miss you, too, sis." Pugsley murmurs, and I give Wednesday a sharp look.

She sighs and nods to Pugsley with a soft smile that he can't see is forced. I smile at how quickly the young boy brightens up, a flicker of relief sparking in his eyes. Pugsley turns to me and quickly embraces me in a hug and allows me to scent mark the back of his neck as I nuzzle into him.

He always loved my affections.

"I'm going to miss you Pugs." I whisper into his neck, carding a hand through his hair as I straighten up. "You keep yourself safe and I've left you one of my knives on your bed. Keep it safe and sharp for me."

He nods, looking like an eager soldier given a mission.

I pause, seeing that light and knowing his need for purpose. I may have set up a little hunt for him, a game of sorts.

"I have a little task for you," I whisper as Morticia talks with Wednesday.

"Anything."

I smile, "In my room, there's a tank containing a rare black mamba snake." he gasps in delight, "She was twisted by magic in an attempt to replicate a dragon, she has small wings on her back. I need you to take care of her, she's very sick right now."

His desperate nods and beaming smile has me giggling. Oh how adorable my brother is. Too bad he doesn't know that dear Cetea is there to keep him safe for me. She's a spoiled creature and will lavish under his care, happy to play the invalid. So long as she's willing to strike when there's a threat I don't mind if she enjoys herself.

"Oh, Lilith," Morticia calls and I turn to where she stands by a sulking Wednesday. "I got something for you."

I walk over to her, eyeing the necklace she holds up as I wave goodbye to Pugsley when I see him wave from the car. It looks like- an A? Or a pentagram?

"A demonic symbol for your name sake, mother of Demons." her husky voice lilts, a small smirk dancing on her lips as she flips the pentagram drawn in an italic style down to show what looks similar to an 'A'. "And an A.... for Addams."

I can hear her hesitance to claim me as she glances at Wednesday but my sister only has eyes for me as she turns her back to our mother. She gives me a soft smile and a nod, taking the necklace from my hands and gesturing for me to turn around. I grin, spinning on my heels.

Wednesday gently reaches around my neck, doing her best not to touch me but when she clasps the necklace at the back of my neck she pauses and quickly rubs her wrist along the back of my neck. I hold back my squeal at her scent marking, eager to have her viewing me as family even as something twists inside me at her marking my neck. For some reason it feels different this time, too intimate.

"Lurch, the crystal ball please." Morticia calls with a hand wave, explaining that they can't call us for the first week while we settle in but she promises to call next Sunday.

I wince, smiling sadly at Morticia as she gently brushes an arm down Wednesday's arm in goodbye only to have her daughter flinch away and give her a reproachful look. My sister looks on in confusion as Morticia and I share a brief hug before she gives us one last smile and walks back to the car.

"You okay, Nessie?" I murmur as we watch the car leave.

"Perfectly morbid, sister."

A/N: What do you think happened between Xavier and Lillian?