Nevermore Academy's ballroom had never witnessed such a spectacle.
When two couples, vastly different in style yet eerily harmonious, stepped into the venue, the noisy music seemed to stutter for a moment.
The spotlights, as if possessing a will of their own, chased the two figures sharing the same face.
Victor-Grey and Wednesday looked like a Dark Lord and his Queen walking hand-in-hand out of legends.
The elegance of his plaid suit could barely suppress the restlessness and dominance bestowed by Riot. His hand on her waist declared a tyrannical possession.
And Wednesday, clad in "Whisper of the Night Raven," her pale face accentuated by extreme black, was cold as a frozen rose. She accepted his lead and the surrounding gazes of awe or fear as matter-of-course submission.
On the other side, Victor-White and Enid were like stars illuminating the dark night.
His white suit complemented the pearl-white halo of Serum. Every movement guiding Enid's twirls was gentle and considerate, his smile clear.
Enid's starry blue gown fluttered. Her eyes were filled with happiness almost spilling over, as if he were her exclusive, most perfect knight.
"Whoa." Enid spun under Victor-White's lead, unable to help but exclaim softly, "Do we seem... really a bit too eye-catching?"
Victor-White chuckled lightly, his voice gentle: "Just standard procedure."
Meanwhile, Victor-Grey was leading Wednesday through a somewhat forceful dip. One could almost hear the slight crack of his bones.
He lowered his head, close to her ear, his breath warm, carrying Riot-style, undisguised smugness:
"Look, they are watching us. They all know, you belong to..."
Wednesday's fingers silently pinched the inside of his arm, hard enough to turn his following words into a suppressed gasp.
Her voice was cold, audible only to him:
"Shut up and dance. Your arrogance is loud to my eyes."
Victor-Grey hissed in pain but chuckled low instead, tightening his arm around her.
The music at the ball reached its climax.
Victor-White and Enid's steps were fluid and elegant. The soft glow bestowed by Serum seemed to plate them with a warm filter.
Enid's starry blue hem fluttered; every turn scattered fine starlight. Her clear laughter rang like bells on the tip of Victor-White's heart—
The affection amplified by Serum made the tenderness in his eyes almost overflow.
"Victor," Enid panted slightly, her eyes shockingly bright under the lights, "I've never danced so well before!"
"It is your light guiding me, my Princess."
Victor-White's voice was low and sincere, leading her through a perfect backbend arc.
Serum rippled slightly at his neck, conveying silent approval and joy.
However, this picturesque scene was soon broken by restlessness from the other side.
The dance between Victor-Grey and Wednesday was more like a silent, powerful wrestling and taming.
Riot's traits made Victor-Grey's lead unquestionably dominant, his strides wide and full of aggression.
Wednesday's dark gown was like rolling night mist. She matched every step precisely.
Occasionally, she even used tiny, counter-joint force for silent counter-measures, her cold eyes seeming to say: "I allow you to lead, not control."
"This music is soft as a lullaby!"
Victor-Grey muttered dissatisfiedly. A wide spin almost threw Wednesday out, only to yank her back sharply the next second, forcing her tight against his chest.
"Let's have some real rhythm!"
The Riot symbiote on his head twisted restlessly. The grey-black substance seemed to emit a low hum only they could hear, like the beat of some war drum.
Wednesday's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she didn't object.
Her adaptability was extremely strong. Soon, their steps became sharper, carrying a Gothic, near-combat-like magnificent tension.
It was out of place with the surrounding soothing waltz, yet strangely self-contained, attracting all daring prying eyes.
---
In the shadows at the edge of the dance floor, Principal Larissa Weems leaned against a pillar, elegantly holding a glass of ice-blue drink.
Her deep gaze crossed the swaying crowd, landing on the two strikingly eye-catching, stylistically distinct couples sharing the same face in the center of the floor.
The corner of Madam Larissa's lips curled into an extremely faint arc mixing helplessness and indulgence. Gently swirling her glass, she sighed softly:
"It's good to be young."
She had been speculating earlier about what kind of storm her uniquely manic nephew would stir up with his choice of date.
Was it the dangerous Goth girl, Wednesday Addams, who matched his temperament?
Or the sunny little werewolf, Enid Sinclair, who could bring him some warmth and comfort?
She had deduced various possibilities and even prepared corresponding "contingency plans."
"Unexpectedly, I guessed wrong on both counts."
She chuckled lightly, shook her head, and brought the rim to her lips. The ice-blue liquid reflected her thoughtful eyes.
He chose neither.
He chose to solve this multiple-choice question in the most outrageous, most "Victor Black" way possible.
"However," she murmured to herself, her gaze sweeping over the two Victors making synchronized exaggerated expressions, a clear worry finally surfacing in her eyes,
"I hope this is temporary."
One Victor Black was already enough to overrun Nevermore Academy's security budget, endanger her hairline, and fill her tea time with explosion sounds and reports of cafeteria chocolate shortages.
"One more..."
She didn't continue.
She just tilted her head and downed the drink, as if needing the alcohol to extinguish the future vision in her mind that was enough to stop any educator's heart.
Two Victor Blacks?
That probably wouldn't be "stunning the venue," but "nuking" Nevermore.
Drip.
A sound so slight it was drowned by music.
A drop of viscous, bright red liquid landed precisely on the shoulder of Principal Larissa's expensive white velvet gown, blooming into a small, glaring stain.
Her movement froze abruptly. Slowly, she looked down at that smear of crimson. The stem of the glass in her fingers made a tiny cracking sound.
In the center of the dance floor, the two Victors performing synchronized exaggerated steps froze abruptly!
Without a shred of hesitation, without even exchanging a look—
Victor-White yanked off his pure white suit jacket violently, arm swinging up—
The soft fabric covered Enid's head and shoulders lightly yet rapidly like a cloud, enveloping her starry blue dress and stunned expression together.
Synchronized to the millisecond!
Victor-Grey's action was more aggressive. He almost rudely tore down the shoulder line of his plaid suit, arm expanding—
The jacket, carrying his body heat and Riot's residual restless aura, covered Wednesday tightly from head to toe like a flag, isolating her from the outside world.
The next second—
PSSSHHH—!!!!
An ear-piercing spraying sound tore through the melody of the ball!
The fire sprinklers on the ceiling spun madly, spraying not clear water, but massive amounts of viscous, glaringly red liquid frantically!
Like a torrential rain of blood pouring down!
Instantly, the magnificent dance floor turned into a disaster scene!
Screams, curses, and the noise of tables and chairs overturning replaced the music.
Students dressed to the nines fled in panic, trying to find cover, their expensive gowns and hairstyles dyed into a messy scarlet.
"My dress—!"
"What the hell is this?!"
"Blood! Is it blood?!"
Principal Larissa stood in place. Scarlet liquid flowed down her hair and cheeks; her expensive gown was completely ruined.
Her well-maintained hands clenched tight into fists, trembling slightly from extreme anger. The air pressure around her dropped frighteningly low.
In the darkness covered by the suit, Wednesday calmly extended a hand gloved in black mesh, precisely catching a few drops of falling red liquid.
She raised her wrist slightly, tongue tip licking quickly over her fingertip.
In those eyes usually calm as ancient wells, a trace of rare... anger from being insulted flashed.
She pulled the suit off her head, letting the red liquid slide down her pale cheeks. Her voice was cold enough to freeze the spewing red liquid:
"Red paint."
"These prankster bastards..." Her cold tone was dipped in undisguised disdain.
"Unwilling to even use decent pig blood."
Beside her, Enid also carefully pulled down the white suit. Her originally brilliant blonde hair and starry blue dress were now covered in sticky red.
Looking at the chaotic, screaming crowd and her ruined dress, her eyes reddened slightly, voice choking:
"How... how could they do this... this ball..."
The night she had looked forward to for so long, dancing with Victor whom she liked, was ruined just like that.
"They ruined the ball."
A soft but unusually clear voice sounded.
It was Serum.
The pearl-white symbiote was no longer docile but rippled as if slightly boiling, emitting a cold fury.
"I want to chop something right now."
Another raspy, violent voice followed closely. Grey-black Riot twisted hideously, spike-like structures growing explosively!
"Find them."
Serum's voice remained soft but carried unquestionable resolve.
"Make them pay."
Riot's voice roared in succession, full of desire for destruction.
Whommm—
Pitch-black, viscous symbiotic matter surged frantically from the two Victors' bodies instantly like boiling tar!
No longer elegant pearl-white scarves, nor restless grey crowns!
But complete coverage, wrapping, fusion!
Muscular shells expanded violently, maws with sharp teeth opened wide, giant white eyes lit up abruptly in the scarlet "blood rain" like locking onto prey!
Two massive, hideous, furious monsters synchronized their heads back in the center of the chaotic dance floor, emitting deafening, inhuman roars!
"ROAR—!!!" 2
The monsters were unleashed.
Principal Larissa looked at those two terrifying black figures. Her angry expression froze for an instant, but quickly recovered.
"It is time to teach those bastards a profound lesson." She murmured to herself.
Nevermore's motto: An eye for an eye, blood for blood.
Even if it was just cheap red paint.