After Larissa and Aleksander's parents had left, the room settled into an easy quiet. Sunlight spilled through the arched window, glancing off paint jars and half-finished canvases spread across Xavier's desk.
Aleksander leaned back on his chair. "So," he asked, "how are your powers coming along?"
Xavier let out a small, helpless laugh. "Better. I can handle smaller creations—birds, sketches, that sort of thing. But larger pieces?" He shook his head. "They still have a mind of their own."
Aleksander nodded. "Progress is still progress."
They talked for a few minutes—about classes, teachers, the weirdness that still haunted Nevermore.Then, a faint rustle came from the corner.
Xavier frowned. "Uh… you hear that?"
Aleksander sighed softly. "Yeah." He raised a hand and with a faint shimmer, the air rippled, revealing Stitch sitting cross-legged on the floor, tail twitching.
Xavier shot up from his seat. "Jesus—what the hell is that?"
Aleksander remained perfectly calm. "A friend. Don't worry—he's mostly harmless."
"Mostly?" Xavier echoed, narrowing his eyes.Stitch blinked up at him, then grinned, sharp teeth gleaming. "Hi! Stitch good. Usually."
Xavier stared."...Usually?"
Aleksander ignored the exchange, turning to Stitch. "You're staying here for a while. I'm going to check if Wednesday's arrived. Do not go outside until I come back."
Stitch's ears drooped as he plastered on an innocent smile. "Okay, okay. Stitch stay. Promise."
Aleksander still looked unconvinced. "Xavier, keep an eye on him, will you?"
Xavier scoffed. "Absolutely not."
"Come on," Aleksander pressed, grabbing his jacket. "Just a couple of minutes. What's the worst that could happen?"
Xavier gave him a flat look. "Famous last words."
Stitch giggled from the floor. "He right."
Aleksander sighed and headed for the door, leaving behind one reluctant artist and one grinning blue alien.
The door had barely clicked shut before the room fell into uneasy silence.Xavier glanced toward Stitch, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes gleaming with that unmistakable "bad idea" look.
"Don't," Xavier warned, pointing a paintbrush at him.
Stitch's grin only widened. "Stitch bored."
"You promised to stay put," Xavier muttered, taking a step forward.
"Promise… flexible," Stitch said, hopping off the bed and skittering toward the window.
"Wait—don't you dare—"Too late. With one quick motion, Stitch popped the latch, flipped the window open, and squeezed through, his laugh echoing down the stone wall outside."
Unbelievable," Xavier groaned, rushing to the window in time to see a blur of blue fur disappear across the courtyard. "Aleksander's going to owe me so much for this."
As Aleksander stepped outside, he closed his eyes, letting the ambient magic around Nevermore hum through him. In seconds, he locked onto a familiar magnetic pull—Wednesday's distinct magical signature.
A sharp whoosh cut through the air. The spot where he stood imploded inward, rippling like water folding over itself.
WHOOMPH!
He reappeared in room in Ophelia Hall dormitory, the surrounding air shimmered before settling, leaving him standing steady amid the wind.
Enid shrieked and instinctively extended her rainbow-tipped claws. "What the hell!?"
She had been setting up her side of the room through the open skylight and now stood frozen, staring at the stranger who had just materialized above.
Aleksander raised his hands quickly. "Easy! I'm a friend—I mean no harm."Wednesday didn't flinch. She merely turned her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "He's with me."
Enid blinked. "Okay, wait—you know this guy? He just appeared out of thin air!""Yes," Wednesday replied flatly. "He tends to do that."
Enid hesitated, then offered a nervous laugh. "Right… cool. I'm Enid Sinclair—I am her new roommate."
Aleksander stepped closer, offering Enid a polite nod. "Aleksander Morozova. I'm new as well—Caliban Hall."
"Oh, another newbie!" Enid's nervousness melted into her natural enthusiasm. "Welcome to Nevermore, both of you! It's… a lot to take in."
Aleksander glanced between the two, the sharp contrast between Enid's pastel brightness and Wednesday's ominous stillness unmistakable. "That's one way to describe it."
After a beat, Enid tilted her head. "So what are you exactly? A Vanisher? Because one second you weren't here and the next—poof!"
Aleksander shook his head. "No, not a Vanisher."
Enid continued."Then how did you—"
"He teleported," Wednesday interrupted, her voice dry as winter air.Enid's eyes widened. "Teleport? That's actually awesome."
Wednesday turned toward her new roommate with a faint frown. "You'll rethink that once he uses it to invade your personal space."
Aleksander let a trace of amusement show. "I'll try to give advance notice next time."
"Please do," Wednesday said evenly.
Aleksander spoke up, breaking the moment. "So, can someone show us around?"
Enid's eyes lit up with excitement. "I was just about to—Wednesday, you can join us!"
Aleksander nodded, and Enid led the way out. Before stepping fully out, Aleksander cast a cloaking spell, rendering himself invisible to keep a low profile in the girls' dormitory.
Enid suddenly gasped. "Wait—where'd he go?!"
Wednesday crossed her arms, unfazed. "He probably cloaked himself. We're in the girls' dorm, so if anyone saw him, it wouldn't be good."
Enid nodded, steadying herself, and began guiding them through Nevermore's halls. Her introduction was enthusiastic, touching on the dormitory's gothic architecture, the strange mix of outcasts at the academy, and the various cliques—vampires, werewolves, gorgons.
Aleksander listened attentively, absorbing every detail.Suddenly, Wednesday cut in bluntly, "You can save the sanitized sales pitch."
Enid blinked in confusion.
"I don't plan on staying here long," Wednesday added flatly.
"Why not?" Enid asked, surprised.
"Because this was my parents' idea." Wednesday's gaze shifted to a photograph of Morticia with the fencing squad. "Oh, look. There's my mother smirking at me. They've been looking for any excuse to send me here. It's part of their nefarious yet completely obvious plan."
Enid's curiosity sparked. "Okay, I'll bite—what plan?"
"To turn me into a version of themselves."
Aleksander, who had been quietly observing, muttered, "She's totally paranoid about that."
Enid, with her enhanced hearing, almost laughed but held it in.
Wednesday's sharp eyes caught the mockery, and she shot Aleksander a glare.He smirked back. "Come on, I know you dislike this place. But we have an interesting mystery on our hands."
Wednesday nodded, her expression unreadable.Enid looked confused. "What mystery?"
Aleksander replied, "We'll tell you once you show us the rest of the place."Curious, Enid pressed on eagerly. "In that case, maybe you can clear something up. There's a rumor swirling—you killed a kid at your old school, and your parents pulled strings to get you off."
Wednesday deadpanned, "Actually, it was two kids, but who's counting?"
She turned and headed through the doors, leaving a stunned silence behind.Aleksander quickly added with a grin, "Don't worry—they survived. The piranhas only bit their asses."
Enid's eyes went wide."Piranhas?"
Aleksander shrugged. "She had very valid reasons."Enid nodded slowly, still processing but clearly amused.