CHAPTER FIFTEEN
(act i)
NEAR DEATHS, HYDE'S, MURDER AND JAIL CELLS
'If You Don't Woe Me By Now'
As we attended the funeral for one Mayor Walker, I couldn't help but think about the monster standing innocently among us. I couldn't help but think, well played, well played indeed. Wednesday and I were so close, and the killer was watching us.
Everyone sported black clothes, and Wednesday and I stood shoulder to shoulder with Xavier and Dorian behind us, with black umbrellas shielding us from the rain.
We watched silently as everyone left and placed roses on the casket, then Wednesday stared off into the forest at a covered figure. We watched as the figure dashed off into the woods making Wednesday make chase. I sighed at the boys as they watched us with furrowed brows, "I'll be back," I said quickly as I rushed off after Wednesday,
Running after Wednesday was a habit now, one I wasn't liking. When I got there, I saw a familiar person and Wednesday smiling the biggest smile I'd seen for a while.
"Still as sharp as ever, my pig-tailed protégé." He said with a smirk.
"Uncle Fester!" we called out in sync, smiling. We haven't seen him in so long.
We returned to the school, and Wednesday asked, "How long have you been stalking us?"Fester chortled and answered, "Just blew into town this morning and was hit by a wave of nostalgia."
"Dad said you didn't go to Nevermore," I said, confused, while Fester said, "I didn't. Your dad got all the brains. But I used to drop in on him. Usually from the ceiling with a dagger clutched between my teeth. Just to keep him on his toes."
"Of course," Wednesday said as I nodded to his sage-like words.
"He filled me in on what's been going on. Monsters, murder, mayhem. What fun! I told him I had a job in Boston, but I'd be checking up on you." Fester spoke with his usual chortle and mannerisms.
"What kind of job?" I asked excitedly. Fester was the adventurous one in the family, always on an elaborate plan where mischief was key.
He looked down at me with a knowing smile, "The kind that means I need somewhere to lay low for a couple days." He answered as we walked up to a familiar spot, Eugene's precious bee spot. "This place belongs to a friend."
"You've actually made a friend. That poor kid will be going home in a body bag."
I shared a glance with Wednesday while Fester tried eating some bees, "Oh! I like a hideout that comes with snacks."
"Those bees are hibernating. They're practically Eugene's children." Wednesday told him, but he ignored her and tried going back, and Wednesday yelled and gave him the AddamsglareTM, "That means do not eat them!"
"You know, when you give me that death stare of disapproval, you remind me of your mother. Speaking of scary things, you know what kind of monster you're dealing with?"
"We haven't been able to identify it," I told him, annoyed and disappointed in myself. Wednesday gave him a drawing of it, "You need to stop stealing from my boyfriend," I told her with a huff.
"It's called a Hyde." He answered, giving the drawing back to Wednesday and looked at me, "You have a boyfriend? You got one wrapped around your finger that quickly? It's only been a few weeks!"
I huffed, pushing a stray piece of hair away, "Of course I have. Two, actually," I told him with a smug smirk.
Wednesday ignored us and asked, "Like Jekyll and Hyde?" referring back to the monster.
"I love Jekyll and Hyde! One of the best pieces of literature besides Dorian Gray." I said, nodding and saw Wednesday's raised eyebrow, "In my opinion, of course," I said softly.
"Mm-hmm. In '83, during my vacay at the Zurich Institute for the Criminally Insane. Where I got my first lobotomy. But you know lobotomies. They're like tattoos. Can't just get one. Tell me about the Hyde. Ah. Olga Malacova. Jeez. She had it all. Beauty, brains, and a penchant for necrophilia...Olga was a concert pianist, until one night she transformed in the middle of a Chopin sonata. Massacred a dozen audience members. And three music critics." Fester explained, laughing in between his story.
"What triggered her? Or did she just change on her own?" Wednesday questioned quickly.Fester shrugged and said, "No idea. I only saw her in group electroshock therapy."
I turned to Wednesday and said, "There's never been any mention of Hyde's in any outcast book."
Wednesday nodded and mumbled, "And Nevermore is reputed for having the best collection."
"You try Nathaniel Faulkner's diary? Mmm! Before he founded Nevermore, Faulkner travelled the world, cataloguing every outcast community." Fester informed us.
"How do you know this?" I asked suspiciously with narrowed eyes.
"You think your parents can't keep their hands off each other now, oy vey. I showed up unannounced one night in Gomez's dorm room. Let's just say I wasn't interrupting a pillow fight." Fester explained with a chortle, and we rolled our eyes.
"Uncle Fester. The diary, where is it? Nightshades Library." Wednesday asked, annoyed.
"Your dad parked me there and said I should settle in for a long stretch. And that's when I found this nifty little safe. I was hoping for a stash of cash or jewels, but instead, I found a diary." Fester explained, and we nodded in thought.
"We'll sneak into the Nightshades Library tonight. In the meantime, lay low. We will disown you if you are discovered and collect the reward tied to your capture." Wednesday told us, and we both nodded.
"I'd expect nothing less." Fester said with a chortle and turned around as we walked out and closed the door.
Wednesday came back and told him, "Leave the bees alone." He put his hands up and walked away from the bees.
_______
After the funeral and giving Uncle Fester a place to lay low, I decided to visit my boys. I needed to do something else. I feel like I was becoming too overbearing, just being with them every day. Bianca was busy with homework, and I had finished mine, so I had nothing important.
I walked into Xavier's room, where Dorian had set up shop permanently since Rowan was gone. It was good seeing them interact with each other. They were so cute and rather different.
Dorian was intelligent, introverted and loved just being with us in that moment and reading. Being a vampire and living a longer life had made him curious to do things. He had a different sense of time than we did.
Xavier was artistic, creative and social. He craved peace but was an extrovert, and he loved being with friends and having that human connection.
They were both caring, charming and quiet boys, something I loved about them. They were the popular boys at school but didn't care about it, and Dorian was oblivious to it.
After knocking, I walked into the room and called out, "Hey, it's Solomon."
"Bathroom," a muffled voice called. I furrowed my brows and walked into the bathroom.
They were both naked in the massive bathtub,with Xavier's father being a large donor to the school, he got the biggest and best room the school had to offer. The only time he was grateful that his father was who he was.
"Come on in, we're just relaxing after the shit show this week has been," Xavier said with a smile as he sunk deeper into the bubbled water.
The scent of vanilla and coconut filled the dim room. There were a few candles spread out. It looked and felt really calm.
I quickly stripped down and sunk in with a sigh, "God, I really needed this. Wednesday has been going hard on her quest of the Hyde."
"Hyde?" Dorian asked as he poured handfuls of water down my back, making me lean into him more.
"That's what the monster is called. Like Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, it is human and becomes a monster with a click of its fingers. It also has a master, which means two people out here are killing people," I informed them quietly.
"We'll find them both then," Xavier said as he gave me a foot rub. They really did like to spoil me.
I opened an eye up, looking at Xavier with a soft smile, "Thanks, mia cara."
"Of course, baby," he said, moving his skilled hands up my legs with a soft smirk. "Anything for you," he finished as he reached my thigh.
Dorian's hand started exploring my body, squeezing my boobs here and there as he littered soft kisses down my neck to my collarbone.
"Nothing like a funeral to get you going," I muttered as my head laid on Dorian's shoulder with closed eyes relishing in their hands on me. I ground my hips slowly on Dorian's hardening cock.
Taking a bath naked with these two wasn't the smart thing to do.
Dorian smirked against my collarbone, biting harder while Xavier chuckled lightly, flicking his thumb over my clit rapidly.
After getting stretched out in every best possible way and as relaxed as possible, we got out of the bath. I stretched out my body like a cat; hearing a pop, I sighed while Dorian cleaned my thighs up with a cloth.
"So about that painting...." Dorian asked innocently, looking up at Xavier with a smirk that screamed, 'I'm up to no good.' I rolled my eyes at his question, dried myself off, and went to the toilet.
"Tomorrow night we can do it. I'll get the studio set up, we can get some food and make it a date!" Xavier said as he wrapped a towel around his waist while Dorian pulled the dirty water.
How quickly do those, too, change after doing something like that.
I wasn't feeling like writing smut, so I cut it off abruptly lol, sorry
_______
After meeting Uncle Fester and retrieving the diary with Thing's help, we realized that there was not one person/it trying to kill us but two. With Xavier and Dorian out of the limelight as suspects despite Wednesday's feelings about them, she begrudgingly agreed. If it did turn out to be them, I knew Wednesday would hold it over my head for years with that dumb smug smile of hers. I was not ready to see it so soon.
We made it back to our shared dormitory with Enid nowhere in sight, luckily. We didn't need to drag her back into it.
We read the diary and researched the monster now known as a Hyde, with Fester adding in his cents now and then. We stopped researching and talking when we heard a knock at the door. We shared a glance, and I hid the book and other incriminating pieces while Wednesday called them in, thinking and hoping it was Enid.
To our disappointment and annoyance, it was the nosy house mother, Marilyn Thornhill. The red-haired woman sighed in relief and walked in, letting herself in and bringing in the dirt with her ugly red water boots.
"I didn't mean to startle you." She began, stopping, and I turned, thinking she saw Fester, but he was gone. "you didn't," I said, giving her an annoyed look. I didn't like her at all.
"Enid has requested to room with Yoko for the rest of the school year." The woman told us lightly and nodded at Wednesday's surprised look.
"When there's a falling out, I like to get both girls' perspectives on what happened. You two seemed as thick as thieves." Miss Thornhill smiled softly.
With a huff, Wednesday's dark eyes looked to the ground, and she said, "Ultimately, thieves turn on each other. I've seen it with my own eyes."
"There is a different sense of honour among thieves," I reminded her, but she ignored me, too worked up with her feelings.
"Deflect all you want, but you and I know you care about Enid. And you have to admit she managed to bring out a spark of warmth in you." The redhead said and chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Wednesday's face and reassured her, "Oh, don't worry. Just a tiny spark." She pinched her thumb and index finger together with an amused smile.
"Barely perceptible to the average eye, but... I noticed. Part of the dorm experience is making friends with people that you wouldn't normally connect with. And those friendships often turn into lifelong bonds." She finished speaking with a smile.
Wednesday rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and spat out, "I would rather buy a rope." "Is it really so difficult for you to admit that you made a friend, and now that she's gone you might actually miss her?" Miss Thornhill asked with a shake of her head.
"I'll survive. I have Solomon, I always have." Wednesday told her with a dead look on her face. "Well, if that's your decision, I'll submit the forms to Principal Weems." The read head woman smiled before leaving quietly.
I ignored Wednesday's exasperated sigh and called out to Uncle Fester, focusing back on the drawing.
_____
After hanging out with Bianca and the other sirens, I returned to the dorm. I had no idea where Wednesday was.
I opened the door with a creek and was met with papers scattered on the floor and furniture everywhere. "What the seven hells?" I muttered aloud, walking around. The room was a total mess.
"Castamere! Thing! If you had another party, I'd kill you both," I called out to the seemingly empty and messy room.
"Wednesday? Sister!" I yelled out around the room, thinking the worst. Then something red caught my eye. The beam on my side of the room was covered in a red substance.
I walked closer to it, touched it, and rubbed the substance between my thumb and index finger. "Blood," I muttered.
I scanned the scene and crouched down, seeing the bloodied knife. I picked it up and examined it, the scene didn't have enough blood to seem life-threatening for Wednesday, but for Thing or Castamere, it was too much.
I dropped it with narrowed eyes and pulled open our shared closet, trying to find a body or something. All I got was just paper and clothes scattered around.
Then I heard footsteps and pulled out a dagger from my thigh and went to throw it when I heard Wednesday talk, "Sol? Where have you been" she questioned.
I sighed in relief, "You okay?" I asked, walking over to examine her. "Just walked in and saw all this. What happened? Did someone get hurt? Where's Castamere?" I rambled quickly. I was really worried.
Wednesday put her hands on my upper arms to calm me down. "Thing was stabbed and left on the beam. I'm not sure who did it," Wednesday answered, looking around the room.
"He okay?" I questioned, and Wednesday nodded and answered, "He's okay, just needed a zap. Help me clean this up?"
I nodded, and we got to work cleaning our room up.
_______
The next morning, I woke up, and Wednesday was already gone, probably on another lead. I sluggishly got up, took a shower and got dressed.
Last night Wednesday had informed me of her ever-growing suspicions of Xavier, but I culled them as soon as they arose. She was scraping at loose threads, there wasn't a DNA match, so I don't know why she thought it was him.
If it was a teenager, it definitely would be Tyler. He gave off unstable vibes, especially now I knew he couldn't handle rejection.
After a quick meeting with Principal Weems and her admitting she knew about the monster being a Hyde and again covering up her school's dark deeds. Wednesday and I headed to the cafeteria to get lunch, but Bianca stood in our way and said, "Come with me."
We followed her to the Nightshade Library and saw Lucas, the Mayor's son.
"I have information about Mayor Walker's murder." He said, handing over some papers, "Printed these off my dad's computer. Seems he was trying to track down someone. Laurel Gates? Looks like he started right after Outreach Day."
"Must have recognized her there." I commented, looking down at the papers.
"According to British police, Laurel was presumed drowned, but nobody was ever recovered." Lucas informed us, and we nodded at the information.
Wednesday flicked the page and said, "The Gates mansion was purchased a year ago by a 90-year-old candy heiress. She then mysteriously died and gave all of her belongings to her caregiver, Teresa L. Glau. It's an anagram for Laurel Gates."
"Laurel secretly buys her old house and then comes back to Jericho as someone else. Why?" Bianca asks, confused.
Wednesday looked at her and answered, "Revenge on all the people she blames for her family's misfortunes. Your father. The coroner. My parents. Most of all, Nevermore."
Bianca's eyes flicker back and forth, and she asks, "How does the monster fit into all of this?"
"The monster is a Hyde. It's doing Laurel's bidding. She controls it." I told her with a shrug, and Lucas's eyes widened, and he asked, "You know who Laurel is, don't you?"
We don't answer, but we smirk wide enough to give an answer.
_______
Wednesday and I had our money on Dr. Kinbott being the former Gate heiress, Laurel Gates. I had doubts, it seemed too easy, too in our face for Kinbott, but she did give off weird vibes. Everyone in this town did. They were all hiding things.
We walked into the familiar counsellor room, and Kinbott looked surprised at our appearance and said, "Wednesday, we don't have an appointment scheduled today. I'm surprised you're here Solomon, after the fourth time running away, I thought you wouldn't ever come back, especially with the family weekend fiasco".
I glared at her, and Wednesday said, "I wanted to return something." She pulled out the music box from the mansion and gave it to her, "I found it in your old childhood room."
Kinbott furrowed her brows and opened the box. It played its tune, and Wednesday bluntly said, "I know you're Laurel Gates, and you've come back to Jericho to seek your revenge. And so did Mayor Walker, so you had to kill him. Who better to slide in and out of the hospital undetected than a psychiatrist under the guise of visiting another patient?"
Wednesday went straight for the throat like always. She makes me so proud.
Kinbott scoffed and shook her head in disbelief, "You're not actually accusing me of murdering the mayor?" she asked like the very notion was ridiculous.
I scrutinized her and saw real disbelief and confusion. She was either a very good liar or didn't do it.
Curiouser and curiouser.
I kept quiet and just observed her and the office with barely concealed disgust, "The roses you left in Eugene's room were your mistake. They're the same variety I found near your childhood bed." Wednesday said, basically calling her dumb for such an amateur mistake.
Kinbott shook her head and said, "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
Wednesday ignored her and said, "There's only one reason an overqualified psychiatrist like yourself would settle in the inconsequential backwater that is Jericho. It allowed you to crawl through the troubled, young minds of outcasts until you found one that you can manipulate to exact your revenge."
Kinbott scoffed and started walking away, "You know what? I don't have time to deal with your delusional fantasies. I have a patient emergency."
I narrowed my eyes at the dig to my twin. Wednesday might see this as her running away from the truth, but I could see she was scared and needed to do something.
"Who? Xavier? I know all about the secret sessions you've been holding in your car. I also found the cave where you've been holding sessions to unlock his Hyde." Wednesday said with a smug smile.
"You are so out of line." Kinbott said, annoyed, but Wednesday continued, "Do you know how violently unpredictable a Hyde can be? It was your plan to commit Xavier before he could turn on you too."
Kinbott sighed and got her phone out, "Wednesday, you need help. More help than I can give you."
Wednesday rolled her eyes and asked, "Who you calling? Xavier?"
"Judge Reynolds. I'm going to recommend you stay in a juvenile psychiatric facility." Kinbott answered, annoyed.
Wednesday and I both scoffed, "Oh, please. You and I both know I'd be running that place in a week." Wednesday said as we started walking out. Wednesday left the antique box on the table and said, "Time's up, Laurel."
I looked back, didn't see a reaction, and turned back to Wednesday.
"It's not her," I said truthfully. She didn't scream murderer or Hyde Master.
"We'll see," was Wednesday said as we walked off.
_____
An hour later, Wednesday and I sat next to Larissa as we waited for the news of Dr. Kinbott. She was attacked by the Hyde when we left.
Sheriff Galpin then walked out and informed us, "She's gone. Dr. Kinbot's dead."
I sighed out an annoyed huff while Wednesday mumbled to herself.
Wednesday and I had split ways once again. I met up with Dorian and Xavier for a chat and headed to his art studio. Xavier finally agreed to do a painting of us. Wednesday was off reconciling with Enid, apparently.
We all walked in giggling about ... when I noticed Wednesday sitting and turned the light on.
"Wednesday?" we questioned and looked at each other. Dorian let out an annoyed sigh, yet again interrupted by his painting.
"What are you going here?" I questioned, walking over to her, and she stood up, mumbled a 'sorry' to me, and walked over to Xavier. I raised a brow, very confused.
She passed the knife to him and said, "You left that in my room. Actually, you left it in Thing. How long have you been seeing Kinbott?"
I sent a furious look to Wednesday, "Are you serious right now, Wednesday. Xavier Is not the Hyde," I told her, walking over to them.
Wednesday didn't look at me; she just stared at my curly-haired boyfriend and finally spoke. "My father thinks that my mental health is a PR problem that he needs to manage. He wanted to keep his troubled son out of the tabloids. I wasn't in your room. Believe me or don't believe me, I don't care." He sighed at her passing the knife back to her.
Wednesday narrowed her eyes at his response, walked over to a covered painting, and pulled it down, showcasing a painting of Kinbott with a clawed face. "Your painting's been improving. I enjoy this one in particular. Feels like you really lived it."
"Enough, sister," I told her sternly; she might think she had the power, but I was the oldest and the more trained one, and I wouldn't let even her accuse my beloved.
"He's the Hyde! I have proof," she said, trying to justify her accusation. Xavier and I huffed and silently told her to get onto it.
She approached his desk and pulled out a few objects, "Why is Rowan's inhaler in your shed? Or Eugene's glasses?"
"Whoa, whoa. I didn't put it them," Xavier said with wide eyes, putting his hands up.
"Or these stalker images you took of Solomon and me?"
"No. I..." Xavier trailed off, looking at Dorian and me with pleading eyes.
"Don't forget your latest addition. Knott's necklace." Wednesday kept going on and finally finished.
"Somebody planted that stuff! Guys come on!" He yelled out, with tears in his eyes as he noticed the red and blue blare hue within the distance.
Dorian and I stood by his side as he panicked. "It's okay darling," I told him as the police barged in with their guns in hand.
Freeze! Down on your knees." Sheriff Galpin yelled out to Xavier, who got down, "Cuff him." Sheriff called another cop who followed his order.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed." He narrated with a pleased smile on his face. Dorian and I stayed huddled together, confused and scared of what was happening to Xavier.
He turned to Wednesday and said, "Appreciate the help, Addams."
"You! You framed me! I'm being set up. I shoulda let Rowan kill you." Xavier called out to Wednesday, and at this moment, I agreed with him.
Dorian and I left to follow Xavier, but not before glaring at Wednesday, "I can't believe you Wednesday," I said, my last piece.
_______
Dorian and I returned from the police department saying our 'goodbyes' and whatnot. He was doing okay. Just confused about why Wednesday would do this. He was innocent and knew that, so he would return home safely by our side soon.
I was packing my things up to stay a few nights with Dorian. I just couldn't be near Wednesday right now. Then the door barged open, and I saw a huffing Wednesday hunched over.
I rolled my eyes. Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.
"It's Tyler! The Hyde is Tyler!" she yelled at me, out of breath.
"I told you Wednesday!" I told her, helping her sit down and thought of Xavier in that cell alone. "I need to go tell Dorian," I mumbled, running out.
______
One more chapter folks and we are done! Hopefully next act/season I can expand more on Solomon's relationships because I feel like it's really only the script stuff/interactions. I might go back and add some stuff in.
vote and comment x
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