Another day passed in the town of Jericho, and Alex and Dean still hadn't found anything useful. The only good news remained that none of the students at Nevermore Academy were infected with the Darkness. The next day, Alex even secretly attended Marilyn Thornhill's class — to do so, he had to take the form of an ordinary black cat so as not to attract attention. In that shape, hiding was child's play.
He settled on the greenhouse windowsill, from where he had an excellent view of the ongoing lesson. That's when Alex noticed faint traces of Darkness on Marilyn's body. It wasn't enough to confirm whether she had a shard of Amara's power or whether she had simply been infected when Amara was released. But one thing he recognized immediately: Marilyn played her role perfectly. A friendly biology teacher, a normie in a school of outcasts… No one would ever suspect that she was the one behind the murders and the one controlling the monster that killed on her command.
Alex lazily watched as Wednesday once again got into a verbal argument with Bianca, even calling her a "queen bee." While the girls argued over the answer to the teacher's question, Alex shifted his gaze to Enid, who was sitting next to Yoko. Enid watched her friend's argument with genuine interest. And as if sensing his stare, Enid sharply turned her head… only to see a black cat sprawled on the windowsill.
To avoid giving himself away, Alex calmly blinked like any lazy cat and closed his eyes. The color of his irises remained unchanged in any form — which was exactly why he had to pretend to be asleep. Only when Enid looked away did he open his eyes again and quietly yawn.
When the lesson ended, Alex jumped down from the windowsill and sat nearby, his tail swaying side to side. A bit of curiosity struck him: how would Enid react if she approached? She was a werewolf, after all… and probably not a fan of feline creatures.
His doubts vanished quickly. Enid walked over, crouched, and tried to pet him, glowing with delight. Alex did the only correct thing he should've done the first time — he turned around and bolted with lightning speed, leaving the stunned wolf-girl behind. Climbing up a nearby tree, he decided to follow Wednesday to see what she would do next.
Wednesday returned to the girls' dormitory. Alex stopped — it would be disrespectful to enter even in cat form. So instead, he went to observe Enid, who was busy preparing the boat with her team for the upcoming Poe Cup race. Settling on a tree branch, Alex lazily flicked his tail while watching the group.
Naturally, Enid noticed the black cat again. The girls on her team, noticing her interest, also tried to lure the creature with various snacks. Alex stared at them with an empty feline expression, having no idea what they were holding, but he certainly wasn't planning to try any of it. After several attempts, the girls gave up, though they continued sneaking glances at the cat.
On the horizon, Wednesday appeared, walking briskly toward Enid. Alex grew more interested, sitting up straighter, his tail signaling attention.
"I need to go back to the woods. But Weems is watching me like a vulture over a corpse," Wednesday said, glancing around.
"And I'm supposed to cover for you? While you investigate a crime scene that doesn't exist? Why not ask Alex or his partner? By the way, have you seen them today?" Enid asked.
"No, " Wednesday replied coldly. " Isn't it you who texts him late into the night and giggles like an idiot?"
"Sorry, but I still can't help. I'm busy," Enid said with a smile.
"I'm going to the beekeeping club after lunch. I need you to distract Weems," Wednesday said, slightly insistent.
"Sorry, but still no. I'm busy. And… I'm really afraid of bees. Ask Thing… Oh wait, you can't. You upset him," Enid replied, not missing the chance to tease her.
"How did I upset him? He's the one who failed to keep track of Rowan," Wednesday said flatly.
"We talked for an hour yesterday while doing each other's nails. And he opened up to me. You don't see him as a person at all," Enid said, as if Wednesday were the villain in this dialogue.
"What person? He's just… a hand," Wednesday said sincerely, with genuine bewilderment.
"Wednesday, he's your family. And he does a lot for you. If you apologize, I'll think about helping," Enid said calmly as she continued painting the boat for the competition.
"Then let's make a deal, " Wednesday said, instantly shifting to negotiation." I'll apologize to Thing. And if that's not enough… I'll invite Alex to go with you to the beekeeping club."
Enid, who had been painting the boat, suddenly froze after Wednesday's words and looked at her with distrust. Even Alex, sitting on the nearest branch, perked up his ears in surprise, wondering when he had become part of a bargain. But he had to admit one thing: Wednesday really knew how to negotiate. She would make an excellent demon — the kind that offers people exactly what they need in exchange for what she wants.
Even the girls watching the broadcast from other worlds stared at their screens in surprise, waiting to see how the conversation would unfold — and whether their husband had really just been used as part of a deal. They laughed when they saw Alex's shocked "cat face," full of pure confusion.
Wednesday, meanwhile, remained calm. Guessing Enid's feelings for Alex wasn't difficult — otherwise she wouldn't be texting him late into the night. Reading people's weaknesses was something Wednesday excelled at far more than most.
"And how are you planning to do that?" Enid asked, struggling to hold back a smile.
"That's my problem. So… do we have a deal?" Wednesday replied calmly.
"Have I told you how glad I am that you're my roommate?" Enid tried to hug her, but Wednesday immediately raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't. Everyone gets what they need," she said, keeping her friend at a safe distance.
Up in the tree, Alex snorted with laughter, then easily jumped down — landing right on the boat beside the girls. Before they could comprehend what happened, he had already leapt onto the ground and dashed away, leaving Enid surprised and Wednesday thoughtful. A black cat… he reminded her a little too much of someone.
After sealing the deal with Enid, Wednesday headed back to the dorms — to make peace with Thing and find a way to contact Alex and Dean to summon them to Nevermore. But that was no longer necessary.
Alex dove into the forest, returned to his usual form, and immediately texted Dean to drive to the academy. When Dean asked, "What did you find out?", Alex answered briefly: there was a chance to use Wednesday's abilities — her visions of the past and future. That was convincing enough for Dean.
Alex waited for him at the gates. Half an hour later, the black Impala rolled up to the entrance. Dean stepped out in his usual casual clothes and approached Alex, who was calmly finishing his cigarette by the wall.
"And what did you manage to find out? Aside from the fact that we can use your pale girlfriend's powers?" Dean asked, leaning against the wall beside him.
"Not much. I discreetly observed the biology class taught by Miss Thornhill. She's the only normie in the whole academy. So I decided that makes her the weirdest one here," Alex said, exhaling smoke.
"And how'd you pull that off? Pretend to be a student? No offense, but with your looks it's hard to stay unnoticed," Dean snorted, giving him an obvious once-over.
"No. I used transformation magic. A black cat in a place like this isn't surprising," Alex said with a cheerful smile.
"Oh, right. How could I forget you're the boy who lived. Wanna show me the scar on your forehead? And your magic wand?" Dean asked dryly, giving him a deadpan stare.
Alex placed his hands on Dean's shoulders, putting on the most serious face he could manage.
"Dude, you're great, but sorry — you're not my type. I believe one day you'll find a guy who shares your interests."
"Fuck you, idiot," Dean grumbled, shrugging his hands off.
Alex burst into laughter, and Dean chuckled as well, shaking his head. Of course, Alex didn't miss the chance to tease him again — Dean even raised a hand like he was about to smack him on the back of the head. After laughing it off, they headed into Nevermore to find Wednesday.
On the way, Alex warned Dean to keep quiet about the fact that he had been roaming the school in the form of a cat, eavesdropping on the students. Dean just made the "zip your lips" gesture and nodded.
They met Wednesday in the corridor — she noticed them, and a strange expression flashed across her face, as if she were carefully choosing her words so as not to reveal her plans by accident. Coming closer, she got straight to the point and explained what she intended to do. Alex and Dean immediately agreed.
Following Wednesday, they headed to the bee club. When they reached the barn, Dean tensed up — the hum of bees and dozens of hives were clearly not on his list of favorite sounds. Alex and Wednesday, however, walked calmly, while Dean moved as if he were stepping through a minefield.
A few minutes later, Enid arrived. She also tried to move carefully and silently put on her protective suit, deciding it was better to be safe than sorry. Meanwhile, Alex was inspecting the room with beekeeping tools. For a moment, he even considered starting an apiary in Orario. But he quickly dismissed the idea: neither he nor the girls in his family would ever want to deal with bees.
Enid stayed close to him, as if his presence could magically keep all the bees away — even despite the protective suit. Wednesday explained what needed to be done, but Enid only nodded quickly, clearly regretting agreeing to help. Even near Alex, she looked tense.
Wednesday squinted slightly and approached Eugene, who was preparing the tools.
"Speak out of turn, and I'll kill you," she said calmly, giving him an icy stare.
"Snitches get stung. Hive law," Eugene replied seriously, then nodded meaningfully. "And yes… I'm really glad. It's the first time so many girls are in my barn. Well… if you don't count the bees."
"I'm impressed," Wednesday muttered, her tone barely laced with sarcasm.
Eugene turned his gaze to Enid:
"I've always liked werewolves."
"The chance that Enid would be interested in you is less than zero," Wednesday said calmly.
"She's right, kid," Dean added, patting him on the shoulder. "Next to Alex, you don't stand a chance. Look at how she flutters around him."
Eugene blinked in astonishment and looked back at Wednesday. Wednesday herself didn't want to admit it, but purely aesthetically, and judging only by appearance, Alex drew the attention of girls without even saying a word. Eugene followed Alex's gaze — Alex was examining the tools with interest, while Enid clutched the edge of his clothing as if expecting an inevitable bee attack.
Dean patted Eugene on the shoulder once more and, together with Wednesday, left the barn, heading into the forest toward the site of Rowan's attack. Eugene sighed heavily — even he had to admit that Alex's appearance was truly striking, and his smile was disarmingly charming.
He approached Alex and Enid, smiling as he clearly tried to start a conversation:
"Did you know that in ancient times, honey was used to heal wounds, and also in rituals? They say Cleopatra even took honey baths — that's why her skin glowed."
"Allow me to correct you a bit, my new friend Eugene," Alex said, nodding. "Cleopatra didn't bathe in pure honey. It was the milk of seven hundred donkeys mixed with honey. She kept an entire herd just for that. And honey is a versatile thing. It's used in cooking and a bunch of other things. Meat cooked in it becomes tender and gets a special flavor."
"You know so much…" Eugene smiled wider. "Do you want to see how I extract honey from the hives?"
"Of course, Chum. I was just going to ask if you could sell me some honey. I want to make a honey cake," Alex said, smiling and nodding.
"I can give you a jar of honey for free. You don't have to pay. I hardly ever use it anyway," Eugene replied with a friendly smile.
"No, any work should be rewarded. So… shall we go? Show us how it all works. Enid, do you want to watch?" Alex patted Eugene on the shoulder and turned to the girl.
Enid stood frozen like a statue while bees buzzed around her.
"I'm scared I'll get stung…" she whispered, gripping Alex's hand tighter.
"The main thing is not to panic," Eugene said. "Bees can sense fear. But don't worry, I have a smoker, and I know how to use it well. Want to see?"
Alex nodded, showing he was still interested in watching the process, while Enid wished she could be anywhere else but here — surrounded by buzzing bees. Even Alex's presence made the situation only half bearable.
He smiled, took Enid's hand to calm her, and gently led her out of the barn. She realized he was holding her hand only once they were outside. A hundred thoughts flashed through her mind, and she instinctively squeezed his fingers tighter, as if afraid he would let go.
Unfortunately, her emotions got the better of her again — her claws extended, piercing through the protective suit and lightly scratching Alex's skin. He didn't even notice.
While Alex continued holding her hand and watching the honey extraction, he asked Eugene questions, and Eugene enthusiastically answered, backing up his words with scientific facts. Alex occasionally added a few of his own, and the two quickly found a common language, talking with genuine interest. Enid did her best to relax, hoping she hadn't hurt Alex.
Meanwhile, Dean and Wednesday walked through the forest toward the place where Rowan had attacked her. Wednesday hoped to trigger a vision that would provide answers to at least some questions.
Suddenly, they heard barking. Dean quickly pushed Wednesday behind a tree to hide her. That touch triggered the vision.
Dean noticed Sheriff Donovan, who was searching the forest with a dog, and approached him — to explain that he was also participating in the search. While Dean distracted the sheriff and sent him in another direction, Wednesday saw fragments of the recent event. She saw a dark alley. Alex. Dean.
A man talking about a certain King named Crowley… and that he would be glad to get their bodies. Then — Dean killing that man. The phrase about how "now demons need to be exorcised, not killed." Then — the forest. Alex and Dean bury the body under a tree.
When she came to, she saw Dean watching her closely.
"And what did you see? In your visions?" he asked calmly.
"How you killed the man who wanted to take your body to some King," Wednesday said, seizing the chance to get answers.
"Ah, that…" Dean sighed. "That was a demon. Yes, yes, demons exist. Honestly, they're nothing special. And that King — even worse. Better forget what you saw. If you go poking around there, it won't end well. Crowley doesn't care if you're a teenager or a child — if you get in his way, he'll kill you. Or torture you. Or both. And he'll get what he wants. Now, let's go."
His tone was serious and firm — the kind of tone not meant to intimidate, but to warn.
Wednesday frowned but didn't argue. By nature, she would have gladly done the opposite… but her instincts told her to gather more information first.
They didn't notice Tyler watching them from behind a distant tree. He had been following Wednesday on Laurel Gates' orders — to ensure nothing happened to her before the ritual.
Finally, they reached the site of the attack. Wednesday noticed Rowan's broken glasses and touched them. A new vision struck immediately.
She saw Rowan arguing with Xavier about him "taking something." She saw Rowan slam Xavier against a wall. She saw him trying to drop a gargoyle on her. Then — a book with a black cover and a flower, from which he tore out the very page with the drawing.
When the vision ended, she almost fell — but Dean held her hand.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Seems like I saw a clue," Wednesday replied, standing up.
"About the monster?" Dean asked.
"About the book. Rowan tore the drawing right from it. We need to find this book in the library. Maybe it'll tell us why the monster appeared in the forest," Wednesday said, realizing they needed to return and search for the book from her vision.
She turned and headed back to the academy.
"Well, at least something," Dean muttered and followed her.
Dean just shook his head — he still couldn't figure out how Wednesday's mind worked, and even less how Alex managed to understand what she was thinking. Returning to Nevermore, Dean and Wednesday saw Eugene enthusiastically talking about bees while Alex listened, occasionally nodding and asking questions. In one hand, he held a fresh jar of honey, and with the other — still clenched — Enid held his hand.
Wednesday instantly realized that she couldn't say anything in front of Eugene and Enid, and only said briefly that she needed to go to the library. Without adding another word, she left.
Alex watched her go, surprised, then turned to Dean, who was wearing a blank expression as if he knew absolutely nothing. Understanding it would be better to discuss everything in a more suitable place, Alex waited until Enid took off her protective suit, said goodbye to Eugene — who looked as if he had finally found a true friend after a long time — and escorted Enid back to her group. After that, he and Dean left the school grounds, got into the Impala, and drove off.
"Your pale girlfriend saw in her visions how we killed a demon," Dean began, hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.
"Not the most pleasant news… Hope she doesn't go poking around," Alex sighed heavily.
"Yeah, I hope so too. I still don't like that she's helping us track the monster, but we don't have a choice — her visions could be useful," Dean said, tapping his finger on the steering wheel.
"Did she see anything else? Or did you come back empty-handed?" Alex asked, tossing a candy into his mouth so Dean wouldn't complain about smoking in the car for once.
"She said something about a book and a library. Do you know what that could mean? You've dealt with someone with a similar gift before," Dean said, glancing at his friend.
"Maybe… There could be a book at the school where predictions or something like that were recorded," Alex replied, pretending to ponder.
"Why do you think that?" Dean asked with genuine curiosity, looking at Alex.
"There were definitely other seers who studied at Nevermore. They could have kept a shared journal. But I'm not sure. If such a book exists, it definitely wouldn't be lying on a regular library shelf. Most likely, it's in a secret library — Nevermore has existed for over three hundred years," Alex said, lightly tapping his finger on the car door.
Dean nodded, hoping Wednesday was smart enough to find that secret library. He had no idea she would discover it very quickly.
While Alex and Dean were returning to the hotel, Wednesday was already digging through books, trying to find the black book with the belladonna flower illustration she had seen in her vision. She sifted through dozens of volumes, scanned every shelf, but found nothing — until she got a hint from Marilyn Thornhill. She mentioned that the belladonna symbol was connected to an old society at Nevermore named after the plant. Curious, Wednesday tried to learn more, but Thornhill only said that the society had long since disbanded.
Realizing she had hit another dead end, Wednesday decided to sneak into the room where Rowan had previously lived, hoping he might have hidden the book there. When it got dark, she entered the room while Xavier was away. Turning on a UV lamp, she began searching every corner and discovered a secret compartment under the bed. There was no book — only an owl mask and a black cloak.
Realizing what this meant, Wednesday was already about to leave when she heard a knock at the door — and instantly hid under Xavier's bed. A second later, Xavier himself entered the room and went to open the door, behind which stood Bianca.
While Wednesday eavesdropped on the conversation between Xavier and Bianca — Bianca insisting that Wednesday was "not his level," and Xavier trying to explain that he just wanted to protect Wednesday from Alex, whom he now considered a monster threatening him — Alex was busy trying to calm Enid by sending her encouraging messages.
It had all started literally half an hour ago. Alex and Dean had ordered dinner to their room and turned on some anime — because no one would judge for watching anime if no one found out — when suddenly Alex's phone started blowing up with notifications. Picking it up, Alex saw dozens of messages from Enid. She was writing that it was all over, that she couldn't win the race, and that Yoko had accidentally poisoned herself by eating garlic bread at dinner.
Feeling genuine sympathy for Enid, Alex tried to comfort her, suggesting all kinds of solutions — from "accidentally" breaking the competitors' arms to kidnapping all the rivals. Enid rejected each option, considering them too extreme. But even Dean supported the kidnapping idea, reasoning that there was nothing wrong with it: kidnap a couple of students, keep them for a day, then release them — what's the harm?
Alex even called Enid to console her, but all he could hear through the line were her sobs and attempts to force out a few words. She was in terrible shape: she had been preparing for the race for so long, and everything fell apart at the last moment. And being kind, she didn't even blame Yoko — no one could have predicted an allergic reaction.
While Enid cried into the phone, the window in their room suddenly swung open, and Wednesday slipped in quietly, just having escaped from Xavier's room.
"Where have you been?! I could have a heart attack! Yoko's in the med bay!" Enid exclaimed, jumping from the bed and tossing the phone so that Alex could still hear her voice.
"What's wrong with her?" Wednesday asked calmly, looking at her friend.
"She ate garlic bread. She's having a severe allergic reaction. She won't be able to participate in the Po Cup, and I don't have a second pilot!" Enid paced around the room, trying to pull herself together.
"This wasn't an accident. Bianca set this up," Wednesday said in a steady voice.
"How do you know that?" Alex's voice came from the phone.
Hearing him, Wednesday turned toward the bed and looked questioningly at Enid. Enid rushed back, grabbed the phone, and showed her the screen. On it was Alex's face, sitting against the hotel wall. Seeing Wednesday, he waved at her with the cigarette between his fingers, smiling.
"Since we know who's responsible, I suggest we respond in kind. Tie Bianca up and toss her into one of Eugene's hives — let's see if she can become a real bee queen," Alex said, blowing smoke out through his nose.
"I agree. That way we'll test her status," Wednesday replied just as calmly.
"No, no, and absolutely not!" Enid threw up her hands. "We can't do that! It's wrong! Why would you even think of doing something like that?!"
"And what's so wrong about it?" Wednesday remarked coldly. "We're using the same methods as our opponent. Strike the enemy with their own weapon."
"Completely agree," Alex added. "She started it. And if you don't want to be involved, just pretend you don't know anything. I'm good at kidnapping people without being noticed."
"Then we'll do it differently," Wednesday said, looking straight at Enid. "We'll show her everything tomorrow."
"What? You want to join the Black Cats? For me?" Enid took a step toward her friend, trying to make sure she heard correctly.
"I want to humiliate Bianca so thoroughly that the taste of defeat haunts her for years," Wednesday said in an icy voice that sent shivers down Enid's spine.
"Then I'll help too. No witnesses, no crime," Alex noted with a smile.
"Thank you… but the real motive is helping me win the race. Right?" Enid asked, looking at both Wednesday and Alex on the phone.
Alex nodded seriously: he wasn't angry — he just wanted to help. Wednesday, however, dodged the question skillfully, turning away and taking off her backpack. Then she began asking Enid why Bianca won every year, and together they started planning how to defeat and humiliate their rival.
Alex said goodbye and promised to come watch the race tomorrow. Putting away his phone, he returned to the room.
"So, did you calm down your werewolf girlfriend?" Dean asked, lying on the bed.
"Something like that. We're going to watch the boat race tomorrow," Alex said, taking off his coat.
"Great. As if we've got nothing better to do," Dean grumbled.
"We haven't found a single trace of the monster in all these days. We really don't have anything to do. It's almost like a paid vacation… with a monster that knows how to hide," Alex said, changing into his sleep clothes.
"If you say so…" Dean replied lazily.
Alex gave Dean a brief glance, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep almost instantly. He knew Enid wouldn't text or call again tonight — which meant no one would interrupt his rest.
When morning came, Alex and Dean had breakfast and got ready to drive to Nevermore. Alex slipped a small gift for Enid into his backpack — he was sure her team would win thanks to Wednesday.
When they got out of the Impala, Alex jokingly put on a black cap with cat ears. He even offered one to Dean, but Dean flatly refused. Alex didn't care who was looking or what they thought.
The upcoming Po Cup race in Nevermore had caused quite a stir. Students and teachers were already gathered on the shore, actively preparing for the boat races.
Scanning the crowd, Alex quickly spotted Enid near a tent — she was already in her black cat costume, with neatly drawn whiskers on her cheeks. He decided to go say hi, while Dean went to find a spot from which he could watch quietly. Alex was right: it was best to treat this as a paid vacation combined with monster hunting.
Enid noticed Alex first. Seeing the cat ears on his cap, her face lit up with a bright smile, and she ran toward him.
"You actually came to cheer for me!" she said excitedly.
"I promised. And you were so upset yesterday," Alex replied, gently brushing his hand through her hair.
"That cap really suits you," Enid giggled.
"And that costume suits you. By the way, where's Wednesday?" Alex asked, removing his hand.
"She's in the tent, changing," Enid said happily.
Alex nodded. Just then, Wednesday stepped out of the tent — her expression so cold that even her usual face seemed almost friendly in comparison. She turned her head, saw Alex smiling, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
Enid immediately bounced over to her friend and began enthusiastically admiring her costume. Wednesday, meanwhile, felt a cocktail of extremely unpleasant emotions: irritation, anger, embarrassment — and a strong urge to hit someone.
Alex stepped closer, quickly scanning her from head to toe.
"Not a word," Wednesday warned in an icy tone, looking him in the eyes.
"I was just going to say this is cute. Even if you're looking at me like you're planning to strangle me in my sleep," Alex smiled.
"I would do it while you're awake. To see your expression," she replied coldly.
"Well, if you want hugs, just say so. Why hint at it so subtly?" Alex said, barely holding back laughter.
"I'd sooner have my hands chopped off than hug you or anyone else," Wednesday said in an icy voice.
"Ah! You've broken my black little heart! How am I supposed to live now?" Alex dramatically clutched his chest, letting a mock tear fall.
But Wednesday didn't even blink at his theatrical display. Enid, for a moment, believed him — but seeing her friend's reaction, she only smiled awkwardly.
Alex straightened up, brushed away his "tear," and smiled at both of them.
Wishing the girls good luck, he walked off — before Wednesday could call him a loser for trusting in luck.
Finding Dean in the crowd, Alex approached, pulling popcorn from his bag — to make watching a group of teenagers racing boats more entertaining.
Director Weems noticed Alex and Dean but pretended they didn't exist. Eugene, spotting Alex, came closer — to watch the race together.
To be continued…
(So, I figured I'd skip the plot events I didn't find interesting. The boat race will be briefly mentioned, and then we'll move on to the world of the Pelegrims, and then the Raven Ball. I had some things planned for this ball. But I won't say what exactly. It's just not interesting. Hehehe. Let's just say something happens during the ball that makes Alex and Dean dread Jericho for a while longer. After all, how could I pass up the chance for Alex to meet Wednesday's parents and scold Enid's mother for pressuring her daughter into turning into a werewolf? Mothers like that should be hit over the head with a stick.)
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