Stretching Limbs

"Ahhh." A rare breath of satisfaction sounded out through the cemetery announcing the presence of one of the few people to ever genuinely display a smile of pure bliss at a location famously known for its solemnity.

"La la la la la." Vlad sounded out. His mouth opened wide, flexing his throat, attempting to loosen the stiffness that had set in after hundreds of years of inactivity.

He stretched his body in every way that came to his mind. His crumpled rags falling off his body to be scattered as dust, upon hitting the ground.

His body cracking and snapping as his bones, joints, and muscles settled back into their loose positions.

"Finally." Vlad took in his surroundings with his own eyes for the first time in forever, rather than using someone else's.

He saw how the once grassy and uniformed burial grounds had become desperate and dead, without a speck of life flowing along the ground. Grass, trees, he looked up, even the sky, all grey.

Originally, he sought to avoid this sight. If he took it slowly he could have reabsorbed his lifeforce back into himself, however, as soon as he heard Wednesday asking him to wait, he knew he could keep her waiting no longer.

The tombstones, crypts, caskets in the ground, and even the skeletons inside them, all were on the verge of becoming dust. In the span of a week, a level of decay was introduced that can only be achieved over the span of hundreds of years.

Everything was dead, but he was alive, once again.

He stretched his senses, merging his mind with his environment. The wind, moisture in the air, even the light and shadows, he could sense everything they touched, processing all the information being fed to him.

"Wednesday Addams." He spoke out. Saying her name out loud for the first time. "Where are you?"

He took one more deep breath, then looked to the grey sky.

With his head held high and a small smile on his face, Vlad raised one leg, set it down, and sunk into the shadows beneath his feet. Immediately after, the grey sky turned black. A storm purely destructive in purpose swept the area where he just stood. When the storm was done, all traces of Vlad Dracul's presence were erased.

Several miles away, in a heavily populated city, Vlad appeared, emerging from the shadows behind a building.

He proceeded to walk forward, into the light of day, wearing nothing but the suit in which he was born, however, despite the near unimaginable levels of perfection on display, no one seemed to notice.

Not one person acknowledge his presence.

Vlad walked into a clothing store that he recognized to sell quality goods. As he looked around, he knew the first thing he needed to do was to acquire resources.

Stealing was beneath him. It was the action of those who could not compete in a certain area. Economic wealth.

A true Prince falls short in no regard.

If he steals, its because he wants, not because it is a need.

However, beggars can't be choosers, so he swiped himself an outfit, betraying no shame upon his face.

Just a quality pair of black slacks, a black buttoned-down shirt, and black dress shoes.

He took the clothes in his arms and exited the boutique, scanning the minds of those around him, constantly gathering information and confirming if anyone, no matter how unlikely, was able to see through the mist in which he surrounded himself.

He went to the nearest 5-star hotel, traveling through the shadows in the grey plane, to appear in the penthouse suite, where he took a shower, brushed his teeth, and got dressed.

"Now then," he said out, flopping back on the bed. "Mmm, even with the near constant aches and pains, this bed is still comfortable. It's been both too long and incredibly short at the same time. Reliving ones memories, experiencing those experiences from every aspect of ones past can make them seem near and far all in one. As if it were just yesterday that I wrote my first fanfiction or swung my first sword."

Vlad stared at the ceiling, allowing himself to sink into the soft mattress and enjoy the relative comfort.

"Style is everything. If I'm going to appear before Wednesday in the flesh, it has to be in an incredibly impactful way. Making an impression is one of the cardinal rules of being a Prince."

"Though, now that I'm truly out, it does beg the question of how I should allow her to get to know me. Letting her know who I have been to her will automatically allow me to stay close to her, but it would also result in predispositions and knowing her, presumptions. I'll take it slow. I would like her to get to know every part of me and not simply accept me, just because I was the one who walked with her all this time. That would be a disservice to us both. But wait...What if she does not even like my face? Pfttt, hahahahaha!" Vlad held his aching stomach, basking in his incredible humor.

Vlad closed his eyes, his lips smoothed from the smile into a straight line, and concentrated on his psyche.

He reached out. Touching that familiar connection that had become so predominately important to him, calling out to his precious one.

{Vlad?} She questioned immediately.

{Hello, Wednesday.} He responded feeling cheeky at the happiness and relief that he could feel her exuding in the moment they were once again linked.

{You said that you were going to sleep once again. That was a week ago. Is something wrong?} She spoke quicker than usual. Probably adjusting her mind to her mission mode as he liked to call it, whenever she found a problem to solve and charged full steam ahead.

{No Wednesday, nothing is wrong. This sleep was simply shorter than the rest. I am sorry to have worried you.}

{I was not worried. Only curious about the change. Nothing more.} She spoke, once again returning to here nearly monotone timbre that he had grown so familiar to hearing in his mind.

He could not wait to hear how she sounded in person.

The voice in a person's head is always different from that which is produced from their vocal cords and breathing patters.

He was sure it would still be monotonous, however he was certain it would have its own charm, just as her mind's voice possessed its own.

They were silent for a moment.

{Well, how did it all turn out? Any deaths?}

{Expelled, as you suspected. Though, unfortunately, everyone survived. My parents used their nefarious means to get the charges dropped, however they are now using this as an excuse to finally send me to Nevermore Academy. At last, their masterplan can commence. Though,, I have been unable to see through them as of yet, I am sure that this latest torture of theirs will not turn out the way they hope. I will survive.} Wednesday finished her passionate (to him) monologue. Her confidence restored, as she knew how to speak on this subject.

He could feel her vitriol and youthfulness exploding through the psychic link. Gai-sensei would be proud, despite the lack of well-fitted green that he was certain she would never wear.

{Sounds like you've got it all under control. When do you begin at your new school?} Vlad asked, not allowing the anticipation to slip through their link. He just had the beginnings of an idea.

{I'll be discarded there at the beginning of next week. Why? Are you going to give me words of encouragement? Perhaps send a gift that will aid in my escape?} Wednesday asked. Her tone dripping with sarcasm. Perhaps he would send a gift indeed.

{Would you like me to whip you with encouraging words? That is not your particular brand of masochism.} Vlad could feel himself growing interested at the thought of whipping Wednesday, however he knew that, while she would definitely enjoy it, no matter how mature she believed herself to be, she was far too green and it was far too soon to introduce her to the ways of exploring ones fetishes, because while he may have been a young otaku, he was also an incredibly handsome athlete, who, in his own opinion, learned the ways of the flesh far too soon in his first and second lives. Like fresh into becoming a teenager too soon. Thus, is the burden of being better looking and more charming than literally everyone else. *Sigh* only he understood the weight he carries. All wanted to get it., but only he had it.

{Try me.} Wednesday responded almost instantly, causing Vlad to blink once out of surprise.

He felt no lust through the link, so he was sure her mind did not follow the same path as his own. Though, with that realization, he closed off his perception to her emotions. Now that he was free, it no longer felt like a necessity.

Now, he would operate the mental link as more of an instant message, instead of as his crutch, since he was now able to appear before her. A desperation for closeness that existed within him that he did not actually recognize until that moment had caused him to essentially latch onto her emotions in order to feel that humanity. To him, she felt far more human than anyone he had ever sensed.

He had always had the capacity to sense emotions, however it wasn't until her that he could feel them so deeply. Now that he was free, he acknowledged the need for her to have her privacy.

{I believe in you. I believe that no matter what your dastardly progenitors have planned with their nefarious minds, you, the most brilliant and resilient of them all will definitely stand on top in the end and all secrets will be laid bare before you. There is nothing that you cannot accomplish, Wednesday Addams.} Vlad waited for a moment. It took only a single second for him to question his decision to no longer perceive her emotions. He believed he knew her incredibly well, better than anyone, but that did not mean that he knew all of her mind. He made certain to never peer beyond what she spoke or showed him, after that first time when the link was established. For all he knew, she could have lied on several occasions and he would not have truly known, if it did not cause guilt. He knows how much she enjoys getting one over on those she cares about.

{That was encouraging and each word was incredibly painful. But, in a good way.}

He smiled at her deadpan.

{So, in a few days, you will have a new battle ground. Have you done your research?}

This was something he taught her long ago. Only the one with the answers, can control the questions. If you do not know your situation, how can you dominate it effectively.

While he tried to refrain as much as he could from influencing her growth with his opinions in any way that would cause her to lose sight of who she believed she should be, he never once refrained from offering his ideas, but only when it did not alter her original direction she was already walking to accomplish her goal and mostly only after it was asked. Though, it rarely was. Wednesday likes to solve her own problems.

(I have done as much as I can. Nevermore is not exactly open to the public. It is a school for outcasts. I was unable to contact any alumni to question them and other than accolades acquired by my mother in her time there, it seems that they have hidden anything that can give me too much information on the place. Perhaps they believe that it will limit my options to set up my escape before arrival. And. As often is the way, my mother has executed a well done job of burying her secrets.} Wednesday informed him.

While he agreed that her mother could be more forthcoming, over the years, based on what he had seen, they were simply two individuals, who were far too similar. Wednesday's greatest woe is that she could see the many similarities, however she has convinced herself that it is due to her mother attempting to get her to follow in her footsteps. Footsteps that she refused to step into. Wednesday says she will never love and marry. She will never settle down. She will be nothing like her mother. He would prove her wrong, simply by staying out of the way. She can talk as much as she wants, but she cannot lie to her heart. He could feel her love for her mother and he found her denial to be amusing to say the least. He had always had a soft spot for tsundere-like individuals in the past.

{Well, it sounds like waiting will be your game. Do you know the location of the school?}

{Yes.} She responded.

{Tell me about it.} He requested. This was required information for him and the easiest way to get it.

{Jericho, Vermont, North, America. A small town, heavily influenced by pilgrims. The school sits separate from the town, however I am sure that in order for the two to coexist, they must have a sort of cooperative relationship.} Wednesday gave her concise report.

{Before gathering more information, that sounds like your likeliest avenue for escape. Connect with a student or local with the means of transportation and barter passage to a bus or train station, in the guise of going to the town, that can lead you where you want to go. However, you might need to book a ticket on the earliest departure, no matter where it goes. If you are caught idling around a station, you could be sent back.}

{My thoughts exactly. Based on what I know, that seems to be the best way. It has been a while since I visited your crypt. Perhaps that can be my first stop.} She said.

{Hmm, perhaps.} Was the only response he gave.

He knew that this conversation was quite unnecessary. As if he would relegate her to the need to rely on bartering with strangers to make her way. Especially since he now knew where he, in fact, would be attending school.

{Do you disagree.} She asked, voice sounding genuinely curious.

{No. If it comes to it, you will always have a place near me.} Though, for the time being, she would not know just how near, they would be.

"Well, that gives me one week to set up my new stomping grounds." Vlad spoke out as he began to formulate his infiltration strategy, as well as his reemergence into the world.

Open your arms Nevermore Academy.

Dracul has a new domain.