CHAPTER FOUR

Magick was an interesting thing, once you were aware you could do certain things, more things, the easier it became. Malefic had always known that she could perform little pieces of Borne Magick. Theoretically she knew that stray magick from her Death Magick aligned core had allowed her to access small bouts of Borne Magick and theoretically she would have been correct. That is of course if she only had a death magickally aligned core. With both Death and Borne Magick cores, it meant that she didn't just have access to one and bouts of the other.

She had both.

And with that knowledge she realised that she had been holding herself back. Those changes of wardrobe didn't just have to be to the same fabrics as it would've been had it been stray magick. She could've transfigured Pugsley's cotton shirt in bugs if she had so pleased. But she hadn't.

The mind was a powerful force, a force that even those in the subcategory (a subcategory of Borne (and sometimes Hedge) Magick) of Mind Magicks could never truly master. Her thoughts had hindered her. Her beliefs of her own magick had held her back by building a wall.

That wall had broken.

And so in a homey little alley between a quaint little second hand book shop and an astrology based store Malefic was able to cast a glamour onto Lurch. It wasn't anything too fancy, had she had time to explore she was sure she would have created something better but it hid the fact that Lurch was an undead being.

Malefic hadn't wanted to, neither had her family but she had to.* Had to make it seem as if his skin wasn't that waxy gray colour and instead a soft gold. Had to hide his stitching and old injuries from death and instead make it as smooth as a baby's bottom. Had to hide that unnaturalness of his eyes and hide them with sparkly blue ones that seemed so filled with life.

Because Lurch was family and Addams' wouldn't let their family get attacked, even if the spells thrown couldn't harm him. It was a matter of principal and justified weariness. Because just because light oriented spells couldn't cause any damage there was that lingering feeling of 'what if'.

And so the glamour was placed on.

The family left the small alleyway with lips pressed into thin lines and dark thoughts on their mind. Malefic was certain she heard Wednesday mutter something about starting witch burnings again if it meant that Monica was one of those witches, she didn't disagree in the slightest.

Of course Gomez, ever the optimist, was the first to break out of this stupor. "Ma Petite Mort would you like to get a companion to accompany you to your school?"

Morticia figured out what he was referring to half a second before Malefic did. "Gomez, she all ready has an owl."

"Ah but Tish, a child can never have too many companions. Perhaps we could get Pugsley a rat as well, he's been needing a new lab assistant!" If assistant meant experiment then Gomez hit the right word right in the nose.

Morticia didn't protest any further, only led them into a purple marble pet's emporium that Granny commented would be a magnificent place to sacrifice a baby to Lady Magick, oh what a hoot that old woman was.

Speaking of hoots, the emporium was filled with owls. There were cats and toads as well but they didn't seem to be having nearly as much fun in the emporium as the birds were, in fact if Malefic wasn't mistaken the eagle owl in the corner was a eating what looked to be a small black cat. Lovely.

"Can I help you?" A tired voice asked.

Malefic looked at the employee that sat at the front desk. She was pleased to note that despite not wearing robes he was wearing proper witch garbs. While dragonhide boots and overalls wouldn't be all too appropriate in a formal setting they were perfect for an emporium that was animal based. His name tag read:

'Well met! My name is:

OLLIE WALLIWITZ

And I'm happy to help!'

He certainly didn't look happy. If anything he looked tired, the dark bags under his eyes told her that much. But he was offering to help them which, to be fair, is more than Malefic would've done.

Gomez started speaking to him which Malefic took as the go ahead to start looking around because once Gomez starts speaking to someone he found remotely interesting he wouldn't stop speaking to them. And once he stopped speaking to them, he continued to speak about them. It was one of the less endearing things that Malefic had picked up about her father.

She found herself drawn to a discreet corner of the emporium, what drew her toward it she didn't know but the sight of hissing snakes made her suspect that it had something to do with a certain horcrux residing within her.

"Approach me, be at ease large prey! You will make a fine sacrifice!" She looked to the loud snake, it was speaking that odd language that she had yet to identify. The snake was definitely large, it looked as if it could crush a car with its size should it so please. Dark purple and varying shades of green decorated its body and at the top of its head there was a shape that looked very much like a skull. After taking a moment to consider her options Malefic approached the snake.

"Yes! Yes!" The snake all but sang.

"What is your name?" She asked it, her tongue curling in that familiar manner when she spoke the odd language.

The snake looked startled then its yellow eyes seemed to start gleaming with a delight she had seen on Granny's face when she had put poison into the family's food. "I am Doctor Facilier young speaker, might I have your name?"*

He uncurled his tail and held as if it were a hand that was waiting for something to be placed on it. "You most certainly cannot have it," she told him. "You may call me Hel."

The name had significance to her and she often fell back onto it when she had to use a name that wasn't her own. "Oh yes, you are a clever one," Facilier crooned in delight. "Tell me Hel, have you heard of my namesake?"

A smirk lifted onto Malefic's face. "I have, I am an heir to his - or is it more accurate to say your? - house."

She willed for her Ladyship ring to flash from the Addams' house crest to the leopard shaped talisman with cards behind it that was the Facilier house crest.

"I should have known, you have that smell to you and your intelligence-" He made a sound that she labeled as a contented sigh "-I am glad that my house has fallen into the hands of someone who seems to have a least the smallest bout of potential. Of course I would rather it be me but Lady Magick has a cruel way of punishment and I was reincarnated as a snake of all things."

Just as Malefic had assumed, he had all the signs that pointed to remembered reincarnation and his ramblings had just confirmed her theory.

"Tell me Hel, what are your plans? World domination? Line theft of some sort? Perhaps taking over the tri-state area?"

"Currently I don't have any plans," she informed him.

Facilier let out a discontented hiss. "Well that just won't do, take me out of this damned cage Hel and allow me to be your guide to greatness."

A tempting offer however Malefic wasn't one to be manipulated by pretty words. "How does this benefit you doctor? If the stories are true then you wouldn't do this out of the kindness of your heart."

"Perhaps a little too smart," Facilier mused raising his head a little higher. "Your words ring true Lady Hel, this is not just about you. However I do believe it would be beneficial to the both of us for you to take me with you. I would ensure that the Facilier line gets the respect it deserves, ensuring that you raise yourself to be a proper Dark Lady and you get protection and undying loyalty from you reincarnated ancestor."

Malefic had admittedly been swayed, not because she was interested but because no matter how much she wished to deny it she found herself amused by the reptile. Without any further hestitation she reached into the snake habitat and allowed Facilier to slither his way around her neck as if he were a scarf.

"Ma Petite Mort!" Gomez exclaimed in joy approaching his daughter with Ollie Walliwitz following behind looking just as tired as before. Around Malefic's neck Facilier let out a choked noise that she elected to ignore for the time being. "I see you have chosen a companion! A marvelous specimen! May I hold him?"

"I will gut you," Facilier hissed, "and feed your innards to Hades' cerberus!"

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be a wise decision Father, he does not seem to like you very much," Malefic told him bluntly.

"Of course I do not like him! To use the noble language of Frenchmen in such a public manner, have he no shame?"* Facilier spat. Ah, that was what the choking noise was about.

Gomez was not offended by her words, instead he let out a joyous laugh and told Facilier that he admired his honesty.

"I admire your tongue, maybe my shadow could rip it out for you," Facilier grumbled.

"Malefic." She looked to where her sister had called her. Wednesday wasn't looking at her but rather was maintaining eye contact with the snowy owl that was situated on one of the beams that supported the roof, despite this however Malefic knew that Wednesday wanted her to go stand beside her.

"Do behave," Malefic told Facilier offhandedly as she placed him into her father's arms and approached her sister.

Once she stood firmly beside the older girl the owl broke eye contact and flew to land on Malefic's shoulder and -

Oh.

That was odd. A magick surrounded the snowy owl, a pressing one that Malefic knew wasn't normal. Had she never interacted with a magickal owl before she would have assumed it was some sort of Owl Magick* that she didn't understand but Malefic's first encounter with an owl had happened just that very morning. Goetic, even after he had been altered by her Death Magick, hadn't had such an aura surrounding him.

This owl felt like light. Like she was the bane of all things dark. Like the opposite of Malefic's Death Magick. This owl felt like Life.

And yet, the owl sat on her shoulder and stared at her with an intensity that wasn't hatred for the oppositeness of their magick, it was more like the look one would give things they had been looking for but couldn't remember why they had been looking for it.

"Hello," Malefic said, pushing just tad bit of the familiar black magick to her fingertips and stroking the top of the owl's head. The owl crooned as if delighted by the magick that she was being exposed to. It was curious for one with the feeling of Life itself to enjoy the touch of Death.

Wednesday watched the interaction with well hidden interest, she had felt the almost oppressing feeling of magick from the owl and knew it was vital that she inform Malefic about it. She knew that it was a silent command from the owl when the thought about informing Malefic occurred to her but she didn't fight it. She was curious. And watching Malefic interact with what felt to be her opposite only made her more so.

"Father," Malefic said still stroking the owl. "I would like to take the owl as well."

"Splendid!" His words sounded almost choked causing both his daughters to look at him. Malefic wished she could say she was surprised to see Facilier attempting to choke her father but she wasn't. Catching sight of their gazes Gomez thought it appropriate to comment, "He gives delightful hugs!"

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LAST EDITED: 01/10/2022

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* The Addams' are always happy to embrace their differentness, to ask them to hide the looks of one of their own understandably does not make them happy.

* This is Dr Facilier from Princess and the Frog.

* Facilier is French-speaking and most definitely understands what the euphemism means and is understandably scandalized.

* Owl Magick isn't a thing.