Scumpa Mea

It had been 6 years since that fateful encounter between the Prince of Darkness known as Vlad Dracul and the adorably acerbic Wednesday Addams (His opinion, no one else.)

It took Vlad years in order to deconstruct the magic that he used to seal himself. It had become intricately linked with the environment around him.

It was as though his lifeforce had become tied to the land in which he had been sealed.

After meeting Wednesday and beginning to walk down the path of stabilizing his mind, it had taken him a few years to reconcile everything that made him who he was, when he was not completely focused on the seal. He organized his first life. Cataloging and sequencing his memories in order from birth to death. Then, he did it again for his second life, from birth to death to rebirth to constant bloodshed to his long sleep.

After organizing his mind and feeling a semblance of sanity, despite how just about every part of him had the desire to punch through his shield and crypt in order to hunt down all those descended from those who broke their oath to him and eradicate their bloodlines, he was able to quell that bloodlust in favor of speaking to the young Wednesday Addams and taking it slow. Choosing to instead absorb the energy, slowly, back into his body in an attempt to heal his long crumbled divine physique, that never had the chance due to his lifeforce contained partially outside of his body, not allowing it to nourish his form, which maintained a constant state of decay, instead of recovery.

However, one silver lining is that, due to the fact that people decided to bury their dead in the area surrounding his resting ground and his literal lifeforce feeding off the land, he was passively gaining an understanding of life, death, and souls, that he never had in the seventeen years of his life and the few years of his time as the progenitor.

While his body was severely weakened, the way in which he could manipulate energy, which he called magic, had gained a level of understanding that, from what he could view of the world from the minds he scanned that passed through his radius, had reached a level that could contend allow him to walk unchallenged amongst the common-wealth.

In fact, based on what he saw from the few who had an actual understanding of those they called "outcasts", there were not any that could contend with his once mighty, long dead father, let alone him and his new understanding of himself and his abilities that still have not reached their "metaphorical" limits.

{I'm not sure whose twisted idea it was, to put hundreds of adolescents in underfunded schools, run by people whose dreams were crushed years ago, but I admire the sadism.} He heard Wednesday speak through the connection in their minds.

He could feel her annoyance, along with the slight pleasure she derived from the ants who scattered as she walked. He knew that her tether was growing tighter and tighter, closer to snapping, the longer she stayed in that school surrounded by the mundane and unremarkable.

He had heard and felt her grow into the young woman that she was, speaking to her on and off for years, whenever he had to put his mind to rest in order to comprehend an aspect of whatever he absorbed that he could not grasp nor control or contain.

He knew that in order to fully absorb the shield that bound him, he would need to make it all a part of himself. And though he did not inform Wednesday, he knew that it would be quite soon that he would walk free through the world once again delivering her a surprise that would no doubt force her to show a stunned expression on her stiff face. It would make his century.

Anger. Rage.

{What happened Wednesday?} Vlad asked. He could feel the familiar intent flooding through his mind from hers as she once again decided on taking action.

{Pugsley was placed in a locker.} She responded in a clipped monotone.

{Any chance you take a few deep breaths before making a move?} He asked, suppressing the chuckle that threatened to emerge.

He knew she could not feel his humor derived from her lack of forethought.

He had made certain over the years to never allow his feelings to influence her, but it did not matter.

He watched as she formed her personality and put up her own metaphorical shields that would protect her from ever being hurt, once again.

He knew only he had the privilege to know the true Wednesday.

The Wednesday that felt more than any other, and just wanted to be her own person.

Wednesday was truly a caring person to all who fell under her protection, no matter what she showed on the outside.

He found it to be incredibly adorable, though he would never tell her that.

He knew she would not accept it.

She was convinced that he was a spirit wandering the Earth, haunting her with his dark charm and unknown beauty. Though, he would prove her wrong. He would soon enough drown her upon his return in all that she thought she did not require, when he was not hunting remnants of his past.

"Hmmm." A deep moan escaped his dry throat as he felt his body responding more than ever. Regaining functionality. He sensed Wednesday having a vision.

She had recently begun to get them, however he refused to allow himself to view them, just as he, since he met her all those years ago, refused to peer into her mind beyond what she herself showed him.

He felt it end.

{Are you okay?} He asked.

Wednesday: {Yes. At least now I have a target. Pugsley was once again incredibly unhelpful with his whining. I do not know how he will survive without me here.}

Vlad: {Planning on getting kicked out of another school?}

Wednesday: {I do not believe I have much of a choice. My decision is made. The consequences are not in my hands.}

Vlad: {You could go for subtlety.} He informed, holding no actual delusions that she would listen.

Wednesday, for all of her lack of interest in gaining attention, certainly did not shy away from it. She was truly indulgent in her dramatics.

Wednesday: {It's too late, I have already thought out the perfect plan.}

Vlad could sense the sadistic satisfaction that she found pleasure in, as she thought about whatever plan she had decided on.

He learned long ago that as long as it did not harm her, it is better to not ask about her plans, and instead to just wait until she "bragged" or as she puts it "educated" him about her actions.

He would never tell her, but he was already perfectly aware of what her most likeliest plan would be.

He knew she had recently acquired some piranha, and based on Pugsley's recent interactions, the bully would likely be involved with the swim team, therefore it was not difficult to deduce her choice of action. What he also would not tell her was that, despite her best efforts to convince him otherwise, he knew she had no real desire for the piranha to kill her targets. If she did, she would not make such a spectacle of her actions...or maybe she would. She does sometimes surprise.

Vlad: {Well, you have fun with that. I will have to say farewell for a short time, o adorable one. I am afraid that I require rest once again.}

Vlad could feel irritation as well as contentment underneath at the words of compliment that he had bestowed upon her. Then, he could feel sadness at the end of his statement. He did not enjoy leaving her alone. In fact, it caused him great amounts of annoyance, however if he wanted to prove to her that he was more than a beautiful voice in her brilliant mind, he would need to either project his image to her, which he would not do for several reasons, one of which being it would prove very little, or he would need to do what he was about to attempt to do, fully consolidate his lifeforce back into his body and rejoin the world of the living.

Wednesday: {How long will you be gone this time?}

He could hardly discern the melancholy produced from her question that went deeper than her usual sardonic tone. He was certain only he could truly tell the difference. Perhaps her mother. He believed that beauty saw more than she let on. Only her intense desire to connect with the young Wednesday kept her from being able to see the girl completely. All in all, a pretty good mother if he had his say.

Vlad: {Will you miss me greatly?}

Vlad could not help himself from smirking, in his mind, at his pitiful attempts to flirt with the half-dead beauty. Reborn after the ritual at seventeen into a state of immortality, falling two maybe three years later, sleeping for hundreds of years, and spending six years of his life sealed in a shield, in a coffin, in a crypt, surrounded by a weaker shield made of his lifeforce that flowed off the shield surrounding his body.

Originally, when the young Wednesday entered his life, he saw her as an adorable girl, however she grew older, but he stayed constant, and eventually, he could not help but see the beautiful young woman that she was becoming. Soon she would be the age that he was when he turned (She is turning 17 soon, one year older than she was at this point in the show). He was certain he would be out long before then. He felt he had to be. His instincts were screaming at him that she would need him soon. Their connection through the psychic link was getting stronger. He could feel the spirits connected through her bloodline growing restless. Warning of danger that he could perceive, but she could not.

Wednesday; {I will.}

Vlad paused. Smirk suspended in his mind like a canvas. As he said, Wednesday can surprise him.

He decided to not tease her as he usually would. He could tell their relationship was reaching a point where his voice was just not enough for the unclear atmosphere that sometimes spread between them.

Vlad: {Then I will not keep you waiting long. See you soon, Wednesday.}

Only he knew how literal that statement was. He would see her soon and she would finally see him.

Wednesday: {We will see.}

He could sense the insecurity through their link. He knew that she had issues trusting the true value others saw in her. She doubted her family's intentions. She never had friends she acknowledged, outside of the scorpion that she lost. And she doubted him. She doubted that he would not one day be lost to her as her scorpion was. She attempted to keep her walls strong. Every time she spent long periods without feeling the connection the link bought, she would always convince herself even if he did not come back, she would be fine. He knew this could not go on. She required assurance and while he refused to show her his bloody past without him there to hold her or to feel his broiling emotions, tempered through the chaos that was his mind not long ago, as long as he was no more than a voice in her mind. However, the least he could do was show her that he was real and powerful enough that no one could take him from her, for as long as she would have him.

He kept the connection active. Allowing her to feel his silent presence in her mind. He was waiting.

Then, he felt it.

A mixture of sadness and satisfaction, along with a powerful will. A will so powerful that it was forcibly attempting to push forth as much satisfaction as possible with whatever she was seeing in order to suppress the sadness of his departure.

He knew she was watching the results of her revenge.

Vlad: {Good job, scumpa mea.}

Vlad sensed she could only barely discern the last part, however, for the first time, he allowed her to feel his emotions, along with his words, for a brief moment.

Wednesday: {Wait.}

And then silence.

The connection was severed.

Vlad seriously underwent the process once again, focusing the entirety of his senses, pulling his surroundings into himself. This time, for the last time. He would make it so.