[Perseus POV]
The circle blazed crimson. For a split second, it was beautiful — runes burning like fire against the stone floor. And then she collapsed.
"Wednesday!"
Her body crumpled inside the circle, limbs folding in a way too fragile, too human. I threw myself forward, ignoring the scorch of energy. She lay there, trembling, blood tears welling at the corners of her eyes, dripping down in scarlet rivers across her pale skin.
I caught her in my arms, holding her head falling against me. Her body shuddered with spasms. My chest clenched so tight I could hardly breathe.
"What the fuck is happening?" My words tore out raw, frantic. "Wednesday, what does this ritual do? Is this some kind of test? Do I need to prove my love to save you? Tell me what to do!"
And then I heard it.
A whisper.
Not hers.
Mine.
'She is dying.'
"No." I shook my head violently. "Impossible. And even if, then I'll save her. I'll…"
'Because she didn't love you.'
The words sliced deeper than any blade.
What does this even mean? And who decided that… the ritual.
Why did it work for her but not for me? Why wouldn't she love me?
'Because you would sacrifice the world for her. She wouldn't do the same for you.'
"That's a lie." My voice cracked, shattering the silence. She's… she's Wednesday Addams, she doesn't say it out loud, but she—she must have, at least once…
'The answer is right before your eyes'
I froze. My gaze fell to her.
Her eyelids fluttered weakly, pupils rolling back, lips trembling without sound. Her pale, symmetrical face, usually untouchable in its perfection, was streaked with crimson tears, thick as blood and glistening like rubies. Dark hair spilled across my arms in a broken halo. Her breathing came ragged, shallow, every gasp crushed beneath an invisible weight. And she convulsed, so violently my arms struggled to hold her.
Did you really never love me? Not even once?
Tears blurred my vision. I felt them carve hot trails down my cheeks, carrying the answer I already knew.
One fell, landing on her pristine white collar — staining it red.
I whispered, voice cracking with eerie calmness.
"So be it."
************
Author Note:
Another bonus chapter rescued from my trash bin. Too much? Understood the hidden meanings?
The next chapter will be posted in 2 days instead of tomorrow because I got too many suggestions and too much inspiration from readers, so I am heavily tweaking it.
And remember, from the very beginning in the synopsis I always said I would post three times a week!
It is just you… with your comments… your Powerstones, that made me lose sight of my true purpose and robbed me of both my chapter and my schedule.