Finding out that there's a monster in the woods that killed a Nevermore student was a shock to the system. Some people had a harder time coming to terms with the revelation than others.
"A monster?"
"Yes. It killed Rowan right in front of me."
"A monster!"
"Enid, she's told us about a hundred times that it was a monster. How many more times do you need to hear it?"
"How are you so casual about finding out there's a monster lurking in the woods right next to our school?"
"We literally go to a school for monsters, freaks and outcasts. What exactly were you expecting?"
What was even more shocking, was the claimed 'murder victim' showing up on the doorstep of Nevermore looking completely unharmed. Most students thought that this obviously disproved Wednesday's 'monster-in-the-woods' theory, believing she had been lying for attention or some other unknown reason. Persephone knew better. Wednesday doesn't have to lie to get attention. She attracts it wherever she goes.
"So you believe my sister?" Hades questions her as they eat lunch together outside. They had their backs leaning against the trunk of a sturdy tree, their legs spread out in front of them.
"Yes, I do. Do you believe her?" Persephone responds.
"Of course I do. My sister is many things, but a liar is not one of them." Hades didn't really know or care who Rowan was, but he always loves a mystery. And a dead guy not being dead, what could get more mysterious than that?
"But I don't understand why Rowan tried to kill Wednesday." Persephone mutters, leaning her head back against the tree. Wednesday had confessed to Persephone that Rowan used his telekinesis to cause the gargoyle to fall. "Or how he's still alive."
"I don't care, he won't be alive much longer." Hades responds darkly, eyes glowering as he remembered how Rowan almost killed Persephone. He didn't deserve to live after putting her life in danger. He had already planned numerous ways to slowly torture and kill him to make sure he endured the most excrutiating pain.
Persephone smiles weakly at him. "If you kill him now, we won't be able to know how he's still alive." Hades groans, infuriated that his murder plans were now on hold. But Persephone had a point. The whole situation is confusing. How can someone be brutally killed by a monster, then be completely fine the next morning? Hades sighs, trying to think of any similar cases of people rising from the dead.
"My Uncle Fester was electrocuted in the bathtub by his wife on their honeymoon." He recalled suddenly, memories flooding back to him.
Persephone burst out laughing at the bizarre comment. "She sounds fun."
"Yeah, she would've fit right in with the family if she wasn't just after our money." Persephone admired how close the Addams family are. They may be a bit creepy and kooky, but they're a more functional family than most. "But my point is, I've never heard of anyone actually dying and then coming back to life. And Wednesday described the attack graphically. There was definitely no way he could have survived it."
"And yet, somehow, he has." Persephone sighs, her head dropping to Hades' shoulder. "Solving mysteries is harder than it seems. It's frustrating." Hades places a delicate kiss on the top of her head.
"Wednesday is stubborn. She won't give up until she's figured it out." He reassures. Persephone's fingers brush against his, fiddling with the rings he is wearing to keep her mind occupied. They sit in a comfortable silence, basking in the peace they feel together. Just the sounds of the gentle breeze flowing through the trees and the calming thumps of their own heartbeats. All is quie-
"Persephone!"
All is peacef-
"Persephone!"
All is seren-
"Persephone!"
"There goes my relaxing afternoon." Persephone mumbles, lifting her head up. She hoped that by ignoring the person, it would make them go away. Alas, no such luck. Enid's head pops into view.
"There you are! I was calling you!" She exclaims, approaching the previously relaxed duo.
"Were you really? I did not notice." Persephone replied sarcastically. She was sure even the monster in the woods had heard Enid's incessant screaming.
"You're helping us paint the boat." Enid declares, grabbing Persephone's hand and dragging her away.
"I- I am?" Persephone never agreed to this. She looks at the boy left behind. "A little help here, Mr. God of the Underworld." She calls out, trying to pull her hand away from Enid's tight grip. She is no match for the strength of a werewolf.
"Nah, I'm good." Hades reclines even more, crossing his arms with a smirk on his face. Persephone narrows her eyes at his betrayal as he gives her a cheeky wave. She longed to throw something at him... A book... A chair... Herself...
◇ ◇ ◇
"Ladies, come on! Let's work on those teeth." Enid bosses, leaning over Yoko's shoulder. "More scowl. This kitty is taking no prisoners. If Bianca Barclay wins again this year, I will literally scratch my own eyes out!" Persephone rolls her eyes at her friend's dramatics. She had hidden herself away on the other side of the boat, ducking down to escape Enid's wrath. Despite not actually taking part in the Poe Cup, Persephone was still coerced into helping.
"I would pay money to see that." Wednesday comments, appearing behind Enid with Hades at her side. Enid spins around with a smile on her face and skips to stand in front of Wednesday. Hades' eyes roam to try and find his girl.
"Howdy, roomie! I'm so glad you decided to stay."
"I thought you wanted your room back."
"Full disclosure, I like living in a group and Thing gives a killer neck massage. It's a win-win." Enid replies. Being a pack animal means that Enid doesn't like to be alone, so she's thrilled to have another person in the room. Even if Wednesday can be cold and emotionally unavailable.
"He's also very good for gossiping." Persephone pops up from her terrible hiding spot. Hades' face softens from its usual glare as he sees her. She has paint all the way up her forearms and even some flecks on her face. Persephone notices their questioning glances at her chaotic attire. "I may have made a tiny bit of a mess." She admits bashfully.
"I can see that." Enid's eyes scan her paint-covered face with an unimpressed gleam before plastering on an encouraging smile. "A for effort. So... why the change of heart?" Enid asks Wednesday, changing the topic.
"I refuse to play the role of a pawn in someone else's corrupt game." Her arms remain folded across her chest, face not giving anything away. Persephone makes her way to stand next to Hades, wanting to watch this interaction. She knows that Enid doesn't believe Wednesday.
"You mean Rowan?"
"I witnessed his murder, Enid."
"It's just, we all saw him this morning. Very much, like, not dead." Enid attempts to reason.
"I know. Which leads me to believe I've been losing my mind."
"Ooh. Is it as fun as we imagined?" Hades asks excitedly.
"No. Not even close." Hades' shoulders sag in disappointment. "You're Nevermore's gossip queen. What's Rowan's story?"
"Other than being a weird loner... Uh... No offense." Nobody was quite sure who she was referring to in the group.
"None taken." All three replied. Wednesday was quite emotionless in her response, Hades looking slightly offended (he certainly didn't think he was weird... the loner part was partially correct) and Persephone was confused. She hadn't thought she was a loner but she has realised that the only people she could really call friends were her roommate, her roommate's crush and her other roommate's brother.
Enid hesitates for a second, not expecting all three to respond, but quickly carries on, "Xavier Thorpe's his roommate. You know, if you had a cellphone, you could just text him and ask him." She turns to look at the boat, only to spot something that she desperately wanted to fix. "Yoko. Come on! Flare those whiskers. The Poe Cup droops for no one." She then remembers Persephone, who has been slacking while they were conversing. "Persephone! Back to work!"
Persephone groans in annoyance. She really was not good at anything artistic. Hades chuckles at her dismay, making her turn her fierce glare to him. She reached one paint-covered hand and smeared it over his cheek. Now it was her turn to laugh as his mouth fell open in shock. The disbelief quickly turned into a threatening smirk as Hades grabbed a paint brush. Persephone curses under her breath as she races off with Hades chasing after her.
"No! We'll never get the boat finished for the Poe Cup if you two mess about!" Enid's shouts fell on deaf ears as Hades and Persephone were in a world of their own.
"What is the Poe Cup anyway?" Wednesday asks, turning her attention away from her brother's laughter (a sound she used to only hear once in a blue moon but now seems to hear everyday).
"Only my entire reason for living right now! Part canoe race, part foot chase, no rules." Enid enthusiastically explains. "Each dorm has to pick an Edgar Allan Poe short story for inspiration. You could grab a brush. Miss Thornhill's just ordered pizza. Want to take a stab at being social? Your brother is certainly getting in the spirit." They turn to their attention to Hades who is now covered in paint and has managed to draw whiskers on Persephone's face. That gives Enid an idea for their Poe Cup costume.
"I do like stabbing. The social part, not so much. Besides, it'll cut into my writing time."
"No worries. Just as long as you're lakeside cheering us to victory on race day." Wednesday's face remains unimpressed by this suggestion. "Or you can just glare uncomfortably. Whatever works for you." A wink completes Enid's sentence. A shriek grabs their attention as they look over to see Persephone flung over Hades' shoulder, his hands wrapped securely around her waist. Enid awes at the pair. "They look happy."
Wednesday considers her words and focuses on her brother's face. She has never seen him so carefree and euphoric before. She realises then and there, that Hades looks at Persephone like their father looks at their mother. "Yes, they do."