Lonely lupine - A Wenclair story of revenge, anger and love

Chapter 1: Days of Normality

The Nevermore Academy rose against the overcast morning sky like a dark silhouette carved out of stone and shadow. The school’s spires and towers clawed at the heavens, shrouded in an ever-present mist that clung to the ancient structure, as if afraid to let go. To the casual observer, the academy seemed like a place frozen in time—a remnant of an older, darker era. But to those who lived within its walls, it was a place of strange routine, a blend of the mundane and the mysterious.

Enid Sinclair tightened her scarf around her neck as she bounded down the grand staircase in the East Wing, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls with a liveliness that contrasted sharply with the gothic gloom of Nevermore. Her platinum-blonde hair bounced as she walked, adding a pop of color to the otherwise dim hallways. She flashed a bright smile at the few students she passed, but most of them quickly looked away. Even after a semester, Enid’s radiant energy had yet to fully blend in with the brooding atmosphere of the academy.

As she made her way to the common room, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. She’d arranged to meet her best friend, Wednesday Addams, for their morning study session. They’d fallen into this habit after the strange and dangerous events of the previous semester. It had become a cherished ritual, a way for both girls to start their day together—a grounding moment in a school that felt anything but stable.

Despite their wildly different personalities, Enid and Wednesday had formed an unbreakable bond. Where Enid was bubbly and outgoing, Wednesday was reserved and mysterious, draped in her signature black attire and perpetually sporting a solemn expression. Somehow, though, they balanced each other, an unlikely yet perfect pairing forged in the fires of shared adventure.

As Enid entered the common room, she found Wednesday seated by the tall, arched window, gazing out over the mist-shrouded grounds. She approached quietly, watching her friend’s profile. Wednesday’s pale skin and dark, braided hair stood out starkly against the dreary sky beyond the window. She looked almost like a painting—serene, composed, yet with a faint hint of something dangerous beneath the surface.

“Hey, gloomy girl,” Enid greeted, flopping down beside her. “Already brooding over the mysteries of the universe?”

Wednesday turned to her with a slight arch of her eyebrow, the closest she usually came to showing surprise. “I was contemplating the fog,” she replied in her soft, deliberate tone. “It’s unusually thick today. It’s almost as though it’s trying to hide something.”

Enid chuckled, nudging her with an elbow. “Maybe it’s just a regular, foggy day? Not everything has to be dark and ominous, you know.”

“Things are rarely what they appear, Enid,” Wednesday replied, her gaze drifting back to the misty expanse outside. “Especially here.”

Enid shrugged, pulling out her history textbook. “Well, as much as I love a good mystery, we’ve got that history test coming up, and I for one don’t plan on failing it. Let’s get to work.”

Wednesday sighed, her expression hovering somewhere between exasperation and amusement. “Studying is a waste of time when you have a photographic memory. I simply allow the information to settle in my mind, like dust on an ancient artifact.”

Enid rolled her eyes. “Alright, Ms. Encyclopedia. Then maybe you can enlighten me while I cram?”

They settled into a comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional flipping of pages. Wednesday would occasionally murmur a fact or correction as Enid stumbled over her notes, her voice low and steady, almost hypnotic. It was one of the things Enid appreciated most about their friendship—the quiet moments, the way Wednesday’s presence had a grounding effect on her.