In The Name of Love / Xavier Thorpe

06

"Look at that!" She gasped, staring at the rose gold mist that casted a warm glow on both their faces as it flowed around them happily. It came from their hands and was almost enticing them to sway to a beat that began to play only in their ears.

"Are you doing this?" Xavier softly asked as he looked down at Hecate in wonder, watching her smile warmly at the rose gold mist that enveloped them.

"No." She replied in naught but a whisper, however, she looked up at him and smiled a little bit more brightly. "Let's...dance?"

"You want to dance?" 

"Yes!" Hecate grabbed Xavier's hand, which triggered more mist to appear and swirl around them. As they were sucked into their own world, Xavier found himself dancing and swaying to a song he'd never heard of but when he looked at how happy Hecate seemed to be he couldn't help but feel it as worth it.

This girl, this incredible girl, had him tied around her finger in a week.

As their feet moved in sync and as though they had been dancing partners for years, Hecate looked up at Xavier. She had no idea how he managed it, but he had her wrapped around his finger. She would happily take a bullet for him, and she doesn't do that lightly.

But there was a mystery. Where did the mist come from and why now?

As the beat seemed to fade from their ears and minds, they slowed their dance until they were just softly panting and staring at each other, lost in the colours of their irises. A sea of blue and a forest of green.

"You're a good dancer, Catie."

"Perhaps i just had a good partner." Hecate said with a smile as she nudged his arm and began giggling. The girl then let go of Xavier's hand and practically skipped away from him, leaving him to miss the warmth and softness of her touch and presence.

"You don't know where you're going!"

~~

"What is this place, Xavi?" Hecate asked as she looked around, her hand tightly gripping his as her mind was on edge. The woods that surrounded them whispered to her, told her of secrets she couldn't comprehend.

"It's my place." He answered, glancing at the unnerved girl as the two friends approached a shed that was almost in the middle of the woods. Well, it felt like it. "Weems let me set up my art studio here after i cleared the place out."

"Well, i suppose it's at least getting used." Hecate mumbled with a slight shrug before Xavier gently tugged her hand towards the door. The two entered the shed and Hecate's eyes widened. Around the walls were dimly lit lanterns and canvases that had wonderful art sprawled across them. But one stuck out to her. "Oh, my-" she breathed out, her hand gently raising itself towards the painting.

In front of Hecate was a painting of her. Her hand was outstretched as she sat on the bed in her dorm; the wolf Xavier had drawn and brought to life was running up her arm and her face looked like it was holding pure joy as she stared at the little wolf-pup.

"You did this?" She whispered as she turned her head to look at Xavier who looked bashful with his red tinted cheeks and worried expression. "It's beautiful, Xavier."

"You think?"

"You could make a career of this one day." Hecate told him honestly as her eyes trailed back to the painting of her. She wasn't weirded out - like some may be - of him painting her. She was truly impressed by his skill in the art world.

"I was afraid you wouldn't like it." He said with a soft chuckle, but she shook her head and smiled to herself.

"How could i not like it?" She asked him, not looking at him. "You got my good side." The two laughed together before the sound of the room faded into silence. With a sigh, Hecate turned and walked towards her friend, a sad smile on her face as she came to a stop. "I used to paint. Quite well, in fact."

"Why'd you stop?" He asked her, tilting his head a little to look her in her eyes as she stood beside him, taking in the shed he had made into his art studio.

"Because-" as Hecate was about to answer, her brows furrowed as a picture caught her attention. She slowly gravitated towards it and saw an outline of a creature she couldn't identify. "Because i wasn't dull and glum enough." She said slowly, her eyes not tearing themselves away from the un-complete painting Xavier had.

"Why do you insist on painting colours, my little sunflower?" Morticia Addams asked her nine-year-old daughter, Hecate, as she walked into the girl's room.

"Because they're pretty, Mother." The girl's tone wasn't monotoned and sad like the others' were. Hecate Addams was a soft soul with a gentle and kind heart. Her tone was bubbly and that was something the other Addams' didn't like.

On the canvas in front of Hecate was an array of flowers. All of which were ranging from roses to daisies to sunflowers and to chrysanthemums. The colours were an array of whites, reds, yellows and oranges.

"Why don't you paint Mommy a wilting rose? That's prettier than...those awful colourful flowers..."

"They call me their "little sunflower"," Hecate used her index and middle fingers on her left and right hand to quote her parents, "but yet...they never liked it when i drew them. They acted disgusted." Hecate finally tore her eyes from the unfinished painting and faced her friend, a pout on her face. "I was never good enough for them. It was always Wednesday."

"You're good enough for me, Hecate. You're good enough for anyone. In fact-" Xavier cut himself off as he opened his arms, inviting Hecate in for a hug to try and give her some comfort. The girl gladly obliged and soon, as her head was pressed against his chest, she felt a hand softly run its fingers through her silky golden hair. "-you're better than everyone else."

"Thank you, Xavi." She mumbled, tightening her grip around her friend once more. Never had she been more thankful her parents decided to move her into Nevermore Academy.

~~

As Hecate walked throughout the halls on her own, her white nightgown brushing her legs with each light-footed step she'd make, she was unaware of the hateful eyes that watched her.

Xavier's zip up hoodie was loosely hanging off her shoulders as her fingers fiddled with the cuff of the sleeves showed off her slight anxiety as she walked alone. She was glancing over her shoulder, the feeling of being watched was overwhelming her slowly.

Ever since the incident with the poor black cat turning up on her doorstep of her dorm, she had been afraid of being alone. She didn't know who was watching her and she didn't know who she'd made an enemy with. She hated the unknown.

"Little ball of sunshine isn't so warm anymore, huh?" Turning around at the sound of someone's sneering voice, Hecate came face to face with Bianca. The girl was glaring daggers at Hecate.

"Bianca?" Hecate called out to the girl, her fear being slightly spiked as she realised she was alone in this empty corridor. The stone walls could almost cave in on her, but it would still give a more merciful death than what Bianca would have in store for her.

"Xavier's mine." The siren sneered to which made Hecate frown.

"He isn't-"

"If you so much as make a move towards him... " Hecate watched as a blade slipped out from the sleeve of Bianca's blue uniform. "-i will make your life here a living hell." As Bianca closed in on Hecate, the girl heard distant calls of her name. The voice sounded like Enid, but Hecate couldn't see the girl in sight.

"Enid?" She whispered before turning away from Bianca and slowly began jogging away from said siren. "Enid!"

"Hecate!"

"Enid!" Hecate screamed as she sat upright, cool beads of sweat rolling down her face as she felt a little dazed.

"Hattie, are you okay?" Enid asked softly as she sat on the edge of the bed, gently rubbing circles onto the blonde's back.

"Y-Yeah, fine. Just a... nightmare."

~~

a/n

Hey, how was chapter six? please comment and vote xoxo
* Also, sorry this chapter wasn't as long. I figured this was a good place to stop it :)