ornery

Wednesday, Reena, and Thing were going through the books in the library, attempting to find the one in Wednesday's vision. 

"I keep seeing that same purple book." Wednesday watched as Thing went through the books. "The cover was darker. More like a day-old contusion. Keep looking."

Reena, who was across the room, held up a book. "This one?"

"Too dark."

Ms. Thornhill came down the stairs. "I don't usually find students in here looking for actual books. Most sneak in to make out."

"We accidentally walked in on two vampires fanging," Wednesday told the woman. "I can't unsee that."

"I'm gonna need to douse my brain in a bucket of bleach to get the image out of my head," Reena agreed.

"Is there something I can help you find?" Ms. Thornhill offered.

Wednesday showed her the picture. "Have you seen this before? It's a watermark from a book we're looking for."

"I think it's the symbol to an old student society. Um... The Nightshades."

"That's a nice name," Reena noted.

"Like the deadly flower," Wednesday noticed. "Color me intrigued.

"I was told they disbanded years ago," Ms. Thornhill let her down.

"Any idea why?"

"Sorry," the woman apologized. "I was very impressed with your answers in class today."

"My mother is a carnivorous plant aficionado. I assume I get my red thumb from her."

"Are you and your mother close?"

"Like two inmates sentenced to life on the same cell block."

Reena took a seat. "I wish my mother and I were that close."

Ms. Thornhill smiled. "I know it can't be easy... showing up mid-semester. I've been here a year and a half, and I still feel like an outsider."

"Because you're the only normie on the staff?" Wednesday assumed. "Enid told me."

"To tell you the truth, I've never really fit in anywhere. Too odd for the normies, not odd enough for the outcasts. I thought Nevermore would be different, but there's still a handful of teachers who will barely acknowledge me. I act as if I don't care if people dislike me. 

"Deep down... I secretly enjoy it," Wednesday admitted.

"Never lose that, Wednesday."

"Lose what?"

Ms. Thornhill sighed. "The ability to not let others define you. It's a gift. 

"Doesn't always feel that way."

"The most interesting plants grow in the shade."

Ms. Thornhill paused before she left. "And if you ever need anyone to talk to, the door to the conservatory is always open."

Reena shook her head after the woman left. "That was weirdly personal."

* * *

Reena's not sure how, but Wednesday got her to agree to search Xavier's room while he was in the shower for the purple book. The two girls, and Thing, hid in the shadows of Xavier's room until he got back and went into the bathroom

Wednesday stepped out first. "That purple book has got to be around here somewhere. Start investigating."

"This feels a little illegal, but when have I cared about the law?" Reena started going through the different shelves, Thing took the bookcase, and Wednesday was looking under Rowan's bed with a blacklight.

Wednesday found a mask hidden in the floor under Rowan's bed. "Rowan's full of surprises."

"I thought he was just some loser with no friends," Reena shared. Someone knocked on the door, so the two girls dropped to the floor and got under Xavier's bed. 

He came out of the bathroom and opened the door, Bianca appearing on the other side. "You're not supposed to be up here."

Bianca got dragged inside. "Good to see you too."

"How'd you get past the Housemaster? Use your siren powers?"

"Not while wearing this." She held up her necklace. "Would it kill you to not think the worst of me for once?

"What do you want, Bianca?"

"To see how you're doing. I'm sorry about Rowan. I know you guys used to be close."

"Since when did you give a damn about Rowan?"

"You were the one afraid he'd do something to Wednesday. Isn't that why you've been following her and Reena like an eager-eyed puppy? Or is there something more? Seriously, what do you see in them? You have a thing for tragic goth girls with funeral-parlor fashion sense or ones that break every rule in the book?"

Xavier walked over to his desk, leaning on it. "Maybe it's because they haven't tried to manipulate me."

Bianca rolled her eyes. "I make one mistake, and you can't forgive me. They treat you like crap, you can't get enough."

"Why are you fixated on Wednesday and Reena? 

"Because they think they're better than everyone else. I can't wait to crush Ophelia Hall tomorrow and watch their werewolf roommate crumble. It's gonna be a Poe Cup finale to remember."

"I hate to think what you've got planned."

"My game's already started. I like to win. Is that so wrong?"

Xavier shook his head. "And you wonder why I broke up with you."

"You used to love my killer instinct," Bianca brought up. "We were good together, Xavier."

"Were we? Is that just how you wanted me to feel?" Xavier shot back.

"Trust me, Wednesday Addams and Reena Mohan are not the girls of your dreams. They're the stuff of your nightmares," Bianca promised before leaving. 

Once Wednesday and Reena were able to slip through Xavier's window, they hurried back to their room. As they went threw the window, they heard Enid sobbing.

Enid got up quickly. "Where have you been? I'm literally having a heart attack right now. Yoko and Elanor are in the infirmary!"

"What happened?" Wednesday asked.

"How are they both in the infirmary?" Reena added.

"Garlic bread incident at dinner. They had a major allergic reaction," Enid informed them. "They're out of the Poe Cup. I'm down a team member and I don't have a co-pilot."

"It wasn't an accident," Wednesday corrected. "Bianca's behind it."

"How do you know?"

"Doesn't matter. You, Reena, and I are going to take her down tomorrow."

"Wait. You're joining the Black Cats? You're willing to do that? For me?"

Reena raised an eyebrow. "Wednesday, did you just volunteer me?"

"I did," Wednesday confirmed. "I want to humiliate Bianca so badly that the bitter taste of defeat burns in her throat."

Reena smiled. "I'll do this just to see that."

"Yeah, but mostly you're doing it because we're friends, right?" Enid tried.

"Tell me how she keeps winning," Wednesday demanded.

"It's a real brain cramp. The past two years, no other boat has made it across and back without sinking."

"Sounds like sabotage."

"There are no rules in the Poe Cup, and she is a siren, which makes her master of the water."

"Then we just need to beat her at her own game."

"We're gonna sink that bitch's boat," Reena claimed.