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Many say that bad luck comes in threes. Whenever Wednesday thought of the number three she attributed exactly this to it. It was the way troubles always fell in order, landing on her lap like a cacophony of unwanted events.
Always, without fail, in threes.
However, the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras suggested something far brighter. That all numbers had significant meanings, and three was perhaps the greatest of them all.
Often these ancient meanings differed from those today. From his view three was the perfect number. It was the number of wisdom, harmony, and understanding. Three was also the number of time, past, present, life, or death, and as such, it was the number of the divine.
Three.
Yoko sat on Enid’s bed for the third night that week. Wednesday was not surprised to see the vampire in their room, after all, she was her girlfriend’s best friend, but the frequent nature of her visits did raise suspicion.
Especially considering that tonight Enid was not even in. She was away at swim practice.
“You seem to be awfully comfortable here as of late,” Wednesday said, turning to the vampire from her typewriter.
Yoko frowned, tossing a ball into the air and catching it effortlessly with her lightning-fast reflexes. “Do you want me to leave?”
Frowning, Wednesday tensed. There was no guidebook on how to handle your soulmate’s friend. She assumed Yoko was part of the Enid package but had never had to deal with the girl. Normally Enid was there, acting as a buffer and holding the conversations whilst Wednesday was left to brood silently.
Brooding silently certainly would not suffice here.
“No. It is simply an observation.”
“What is?”
“Something is wrong. Whilst you are far from peppy on a good day, you seem to have lost the little you had. You traipse around as if someone had kicked your puppy, you are residing in this room instead of your own persistently, and yesterday you failed a potion so severely that Eugene now has a third and fourth ear.”
“He said that his hearing is awesome now and that he wants to keep them,” Yoko argued.
“Regardless of Eugene’s attachment to his enhanced senses you still brewed it incorrectly. Never once, since I have arrived here, have you done such.”
Yoko stared at her, though her eyes were hidden by the usual black shades.
If Wednesday was correct a tear fell, dripping down her cheek, though Yoko wiped it away with speed.
“If I am in the way I can leave.”
“You are not in the way, though your choice to run from your emotions is intriguing. Then again Edward was the same in Twilight, with the running away from things that is.”
“Twilight is a mockery of vampires. It’s the most harmful trope-ridden shit to grace the screens of humans in centuries.”
“Worse than Dracula?” Wednesday rose a brow.
“Dracula was an abomination of a portrayal tainted by people's own ignorance and hatred towards multiple marginalised groups. Both were ridiculous and largely fuelled by propaganda and insane beliefs.”
“So why are you here?”
Yoko swallowed so thickly that her throat bobbed, and the sound filled the still air between them. “Divina broke up with me.”
“Divina broke up with you?” Wednesday was taken aback, her usual stone and schooled features crumbled to visible confusion. The pair were in love, inseparable. In fact, parting them was such a chore that teachers eventually moved their timetables to share more classes together.
“People break up. Not all of us are lucky enough to get a soulmate,” Yoko snapped, quickly apologising after for her tone when Wednesday recoiled an inch.
Wednesday understood it though- she could not understand. Enid had been her only girlfriend and they were fated soulmates who never split. The moons would simply not allow it. They were cut from the same fated cloth, made to align in every way shape and form. They balanced one another effortlessly and rarely argued. When arguments did arise, both worked to solve them.
“Why did she break up with you? I thought the two of you were… happy.”
Yoko sighed, fingers twirling Enid’s pink knit jumper between them. “She met another girl, Ava, during break. At the resort her parents dragged her to.”
“Were they… intimate before your parting?” The thought of mentioning kissing made Wednesday want to vomit. Ghastly.
Yoko snorted at the phrasing, lightening the air between them slightly. “She didn’t cheat physically. Emotionally… they’ve been texting more than friendly things for a while.”
“Would you like to borrow my knives or poisons? Or you’re welcome to use Thing’s assassin services- he is incredibly discreet. I once had him take out a mailman who failed to deliver my tarot cards for two weeks in a row.”
“Weird, Addams. Weird. Surprisingly no, murder is not my go-to as a resolution for getting my ass dumped.”
Sighing she stood from the typewriter, aligned a new piece of paper, and stacked what she had written today neatly. “Each to their own. Should you change your mind, do let me know.”
Then there was the glaringly obvious matter that hung in the air between them. Yoko and Divina were roommates.
“Have you consulted Principle Weems regarding a new room? I am presuming you wish to not be suffocated by her eternal presence.”
Shaking her head Yoko gnawed on her lip until it bled, her fangs extending as she licked the blood from it. “I can’t. Divina was my fifth roommate; I didn’t get on with the others. Weems always said that was the last time they were changing my room arrangements and that if it didn’t work, I’m out.”
“Could Divina ask to relocate?”
“No, the girl is being an ass and ‘likes the window view’ or some shit.”
Well, that was quite the conundrum. There were a few options: they could move Yoko into one of the secret rooms, though transporting all her things across the school may draw suspicion. She could sleep in the shed should she not require a bed. Or… Wednesday chewed her cheek. She was particular and sharing her space with Enid posed enough troubles as was. Then again something tugged within her, something similar to when she saw Enid in despair.
Wednesday wouldn’t dare to label it as sympathy- that was ghastly and unacceptable. Alas, it was close to such. “You can stay here if you wish. I share a bed with Enid most nights anyway, it gets cold in here and she runs awfully warm.”
Yoko’s jaw dropped open. “I can stay here?”
“Temporarily. Until we find a suitable alternative of course.”
They sat in an odd silence for minutes as both digested the change.
“I should get my things at some point.”
“I can gather them with Thing during class if you do not wish to see her.”
“You would face Weems wrath over missing a lesson to help me?” Yoko sounded surprised as she looked Wednesday up and down as if trying to figure out if she had an ulterior motive that involved some kind of death.
“You are Enid’s closest friend. Should I not offer she would likely chew my ear off regarding the matter. Far be it for me to upset my mate, lest she turn. The next full moon is near, it is best not to anger her. Wolves are irritable under the light of it, like petulant children.”
Yoko nodded. “Okay. Thank you. Do we hug or some shit?”
“No.” Wednesday walked to her side of the room to create distance, she wasn’t one for intimacy.
That had been one month ago.
They fell into a routine after her things had been moved, and new room rules had been set. No blood bags near the cello, the window was covered by a drape during the day to mute the uncomfortable sunlight, and numerous other rules had been written down also.
Wednesday expected issues, as she always found with others when forced into their space. However, surprisingly, there were none. None at least that made her angry.
There were however issues that made her feel something else, an emotion she struggled to find the pulse or meaning of. It started when Yoko’s nightmares began. Apparently, she had them since she was young but they faded during the time she was with Divina.
Nightmares of a time when humans had tormented her, bullies who she thought were friends. Ones that after she disclosed that she was a vampire, researched thoroughly the best way to harm her kind. They had arrived at their next park meet-up armed with rosaries, garlic, and stakes among other things. Though they hadn’t caught her it was beside the point. They were fully prepared to kill her, and Yoko had run for two days out of fear that they would.
She admitted this during one panic attack that led to Enid rocking her in her arms until she calmed, and as Wednesday warmed some blood up in a mug of hot chocolate and lifted it to Yoko’s lips. The mixture always seemed to soothe her, and the smell helped when she panicked.
“We have an issue,” Wednesday said as Enid worked on her biology homework.
The pink gel pen dangled out of her mouth as her face scrunched in concentration. “An issue?” She murmured though the pen in her mouth muffled the words.
Wednesday plucked the pen from Enid’s lips. “Yoko.”
Enid sighed, rubbing her temple. “Yeah, she’s totes not okay, last night was worse than usual. It’s like each night it-”
“Worsens,” Wednesday finished. “Did she visit the therapist the school suggested?”
“Twice a week. The issue is therapy causes you to dig up so much- she’ll likely find it harder before things get better.”
“I am not sure what else we can do,” Wednesday said, rubbing her temple. “We keep hot chocolate at the ready, spare sunglasses are in the drawer, and we tried a coffin. We cannot keep waking up at three a.m. and watching reruns of truly heinous teen flicks to soothe her.”
“H2O is not heinous. It is art.”
“It is riddled with plot holes and false mermaid lore.”
“I don’t know what else we could do. You’re not suggesting we kick her out, are you?”
“Do you really believe me to be that impersonal?” Wednesday looked at her mate’s wry face. “Do not answer that. Lest we get into another argument.” She eyed their room. “Yoko said she slept better with Divina, did she not?”
“You’re suggesting we get them back together?”
“No,” Wednesday scoffed. “Yoko deserved far better than that girl’s treatment of her. I am suggesting perhaps it would be in our best interest to move the beds to the centre of the room. So that they make one big one.”
“One big bed?”
“We could hardly fit three people in ours. It would be like dead sardines confined to the afterlife being packed into a can. Despicable.”
“One big bed,” Enid repeated.
“Do you have any other suggestions? Because I most miss my sleep.”
One big bed.
They move them together and it does help. The three of them have a week of silence and peaceful sleep, both in their respective beds. Though joined the gap between them all feels vast, and Wednesday is unsure why she grows to disdain it.
It becomes like a void; one she stares at during the night with bleak anticipation.
Sure enough, the void becomes an issue. Yoko’s nightmares begin to stir again after the week's end.
She awoke to Yoko’s chest heaving as tears fall down her cheeks. Vampires only slept a few hours each night but even that became impossible for her.
“You’re okay,” Wednesday said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she tries to wake Enid.
However, one downside to Enid’s being a wolf was that on the rare occasion that she dreamt of chasing rabbits, it was nigh impossible to wake her. Her legs twitched as did her nose, and it was adorable if not totally inconvenient right now as Yoko sat panicking.
Wednesday did not do this part. The physical contact she knew she required. She did not do hugs with anyone but Enid. However, something in her relented as she awkwardly wrapped her arms around her.
The feeling of Wednesday’s arms around her was enough to shock Yoko out of her thoughts. It was alien, this sensation of cold rigid arms around her that held her like one would broken glass. They cradled her awkwardly, yet the comfort they brought Yoko was immense.
Wednesday yawned as she pulled away. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, though as they slipped under their respective covers her eyes remained open and trained on the cobwebbed ceiling above.
With a sigh she reached for Yoko’s hand under the sheets, tugging her in a gesture to move closer.
“What?”
“Please do not make this even more painful than it already is. Do you wish to be held or not?”
Yoko stared at her with trepidation and worry she could not place. Eventually, she caved, moving closer to Wednesday and resting her head on her chest. Wednesday was used to being the little spoon so it felt odd brushing her fingers through Yoko’s hair until the vampire fell asleep.
It felt obscure- mostly because the feeling in her chest felt worryingly familiar.
Enid awoke the next morning. She reached her hand out to Wednesday with her eyes shut but opened them when Wednesday felt different to usual. Colder.
As her eyes peeled open, she realised it was not Wednesday her hand rested on but Yoko. Yoko who was spooning Wednesday at the same time that Enid was, the small girl wedged between them sleeping happily.
She feared Wednesday waking up to this. Wednesday would be horrified, disturbed, angered and-
“Go back to sleep my sweet,” Wednesday muttered to Enid. “I am hoping Yoko will get another hour's rest. She’s been so tired as of late.”
Too shocked to reply, Enid let it be. Whilst she felt completely at ease with it all she was speechless to find that Wednesday was not complaining about the additional cuddles. Wednesday was often so adamantly anti-contact with anyone but herself.
Again, things change.
Each night at some point as they sleep, Yoko rolls closer or Wednesday reaches for her if she grows restless in her sleep.
They end up, every single morning, waking as three entangled bodies.
An arm looped over a waist and two sets of breath fell against her as Wednesday awoke. It was calming, even more so than when she simply snuggled with Enid. Wednesday felt even, safe, and dare she admit- cozy. She lay wedged there between the two with a smile threatening to break out across her face.
Where Enid ran hot Yoko ran cold, the pair balancing her out each night with the idyllic sleep temperature.
Wednesday wondered how long it would take for the other two to click on.
She woke one morning to something new and gasped. “Yoko, are you serious?” Wednesday asked as she shook her.
When Yoko blinked her eyes awake, it was to the sight of her fangs buried in Wednesday’s shoulder. Yoko appeared visibly shocked as she removed them and sat up. Wednesday was in no pain, but the girl had been drinking from her like a to-go Capri Sun as she slept. Truly far from ideal.
“I’m sorry, I never drink in my sleep. Especially not-”
Enid’s nose twitched as she sat up, alerted by their voices. She stared at the pair, running her thumb along the fang marks on Wednesday’s shoulder. The fang marks rested directly over the ones Enid had left when she had marked her as her mate.
“You bit her?” The wolf was visibly irked, something Yoko sensed as she stood and held out her hands in a truce gesture.
“I was sleeping. I didn’t mean to.”
“Wednesday, are you feeling feint?” Enid asked, anger pulsing through the wolf.
“Calm,” Wednesday instructed, resting a hand against her cheek. “Yoko, come back to bed. It’s far too early to be rising. I feel fine.”
“I-”
“She-”
“Both of you cut it out. Come back to bed, darling.”
The two girls froze, and Yoko’s eyes widened as she stared at Enid.
“Did you just-” Enid started.
“For intelligent people, the two of you are vastly lacking in inference. We’re mates.”
“What?”
“The three of us are mates,” Wednesday clarified. “Obviously. Have either of you read a single book on soulmate history? It was our homework last year.”
Yoko and Enid stared at each other with eyebrows raised to the ceiling above.
“Are you coming to bed or not?” Wednesday asked. “I’m tired and Enid is running awfully hot this morning.”
Yoko moved, on account of wishing to cool her soulmate as she draped an arm around both her and Enid.
“How do we explain this to my parents?” Enid rasped. “They’re kinda traditional. You know… ONE mate. They’ll pull the whole ‘they’re called your soul mate, not your soul mates.’”
“You don’t have to speak of me,” Yoko suggested, though it pained all three of them to hear it.
“Pythagoras,” Wednesday yawned. “Three traditionally symbolises balance. They can either take it or leave it, but three is traditional even if they choose to disagree.”
“You don’t have to tell them,” Yoko said.
“No, Wednesday is right. You are our mate; they will accept it or find a new pack member.”
Wednesday groaned as they continued to speak, nuzzling into Yoko’s neck as she tugged Enid’s hand tighter around her. “Sleep. It’s too early for conversation.”