Shadows Awakened by Endless Yearning
Author's note: Finally, the first chapter of my first fanfic in years is here! It took a while, here it is. I have no idea how long it will be, but let's enjoy the process! (More information in the notes from the fanfic on ao3)
꧁ Read on ao3 ꧂
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰:
༺ Chapter 1
༺ Chapter 2
༺ Chapter 3
༺ Chapter 4 -> 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜...
━━━━━━━━━━━━༺༻━━━━━━━━━━━━
Summary: Even after countless years, the deepest secrets—those we deem entombed in our soul's innermost abyss—can resurface in the direst straits. Once unveiled, they shatter worlds and alter fates in a heartbeat. And sometimes, a ghost from the past can be to blame, igniting the embers believed forever cold.
For a woman like Larissa Weems, Nevermore's unyielding principal—precise in what she revealed or concealed, her strength forged in control, silence being her impenetrable armor, enduring life's tempests without a drop staining her soul—one exquisite crack sufficed for her darkest secret to overflow. A fracture of dusky allure.
And though she is not alone—with a shadow guardian being her closest, safest haven, willing to do anything for her even at great personal cost, even surrender their life—she must confront the chaos unleashed by that divine crack of the shadows.
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Chapter 1
“This search is going to be the end of me,” confessed Larissa with a sigh as she leaned back in her office chair. “And the school year has only just begun.”
Only a month had passed since the beginning of the school year, and there was already a problem: the botany teacher, Mr. Edwards, had not shown up at the academy. Larissa had received an email from the teacher himself at the beginning of the school year informing her that due to an urgent personal matter he had to stay in his country, so it would not be possible for him to return during this year. So Larissa had to get to work during that month, in addition to fulfilling her other duties as principal of the academy, searching for a substitute botany teacher for the year.
It wasn't an easy task. In fact, it was exhausting. Many candidates had been interviewed, but none were worthy of the position—or at least not in a place like this. Nevermore demanded discipline, respect, and, above all, discretion regarding what happened behind closed doors.
"You, more than anyone, know how this works, Larissa. We must be patient."
Larissa looked at the woman standing beside her. Upright posture, slightly shorter than her and almost the same age, she wore a crisp white button-up shirt with an open collar, showing some cleavage. Over it, a fitted black corset or waistcoat, buttoned in the front, with a decorative chain hanging on one side. A dark pinstripe suit, including tailored trousers and a matching jacket, along with some black stiletto heels. Her long brown hair, streaked with blond hues, cascaded in waves down to the middle of her back, along with a long fringe that always hid her right eye (in fact, Larissa couldn't remember ever having seen that eye since they'd known each other). Only her other eye, a hazel-green, was visible—watching her with mischief—as her dark red lips curved into a sly smile and one eyebrow arched.
At least she was lucky enough to have the invaluable help of her colleague and good friend Zeline, who had become her greatest support over the past few years. The two had met when they started working at Nevermore — Larissa as a teacher of Dark Creatures and Outcasts, and Zeline as a teacher of Dark Arts. Over time, they became inseparable.
After a few years working there, the position of principal became vacant, since the previous one, Mr. Willow, had suffered health problems during his last year and had no choice but to retire early. That is why the higher-ups had to urgently find someone to whom they could bequeath the position, and Larissa's name was the first to be put forward, for her great work not only in her field, but in many other duties in which she had helped and supported. She didn't hesitate for even a second and accepted without objection. For Larissa, it was an honor to take up the mantle, and she promised to watch over and protect the academy at all costs— even if it meant giving her life for it.
Some time later, the position of vice-principal faced the same situation, and this time Larissa was part of the decision— placing, of course, Zeline's name on the table as a possible candidate. After several meetings, she finally got her way, although her friend wasn't entirely convinced when she heard the news, admitting that she didn't see herself capable of taking on such an important responsibility. But over time, she proved to be a great ally in the mandate, fulfilling her role and carrying out her duties with naturalness, confidence and ease.
"But please, never make me principal. This is as far as I ever intend to go. I don't want to find myself drowning in paperwork, attending more boring meetings than necessary, or dealing with certain dramas. I have a life outside these walls, my dear” she used to say whenever she saw Larissa locked away in her office, working nonstop—with that mischievous smile that so perfectly defined her.
Since then, they have both worked side by side to preserve the long-standing legacy of this academy, and all its members— both teachers and students— praised their work and held them in high respect.
Larissa watched her, tilting her head to one side and raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on Zeline, don't play the responsible woman role now. I know you agree with me. Having to organize multiple interviews for a teaching position at an academy like this is a daunting task. Not anyone is qualified," she reminded her. After all, the second person who could truly understand the importance of this choice was her, since they had both always looked after the safety of this school.
Larissa's remark drew a mischievous laugh from the woman.
“I’ll admit, it's hard to stand these...odd characters walking through that door. They look like they've stepped right out of some ‘normie’ sitcom. What did the last one say? "I live by and for plants. Plants are life". Something tells me the ones he's growing at home are rather... special plants", she said while trying to hold back laughter. “Besides, at least I know how to keep up appearances with class, my dear. Not like someone I know…”.
This time, It was Larissa the one who ended up laughing.
"Save that argument for someone else, darling. You can try to fool others. But I know you far too well, Zeline. For you, all of this is pure theater, acting the whole time".
"Yes, but it's worth it just to see that face of yours—looking like you're about to smash your head against the desk, completely unhinged"— she replied, finally bursting into laughter.
Larissa looked at her, trying to appear serious this time, but the corner of her lips betrayed a small smile she couldn't hide.
“You can be really insufferable sometimes, you know that?”.
"And yet here I am— because that's what you wanted. After all, you're the one who forced me to become vice-principal. You know you'd be twice as bored without me. Admit it, you can't live without me".
She couldn't deny that. If it weren't for having her by her side, this job would be much heavier for her —though that didn't mean she didn't love her job.
Larissa let out a sigh of resignation. "What I have to put up with..." she muttered to herself, though the smile never left her face.
—
In a world that, since time immemorial, has been divided in two—the world of ordinary people, known as "normies"; and the world of those who possess special and unique abilities, the "outcasts"—places like Nevermore hold especial importance.
Nevermore is an academy built for all those who do not fit into the "normie" world. A sanctuary where students learn the vast knowledge of this world— where they learn to control, develop and train their powers without having to hide, sharing this experience alongside others like themselves.
But for a woman like Larissa Weems, this academy is so much more. It's a home. It's family. It's protection. Because its students are boys and girls with exceptional abilities, born to improve and change the world. Moreover, she was someone who believed that the possibility of closing the gap between “normies” and “outcasts” was growing closer, and she did her best to strengthen the bonds between them— always with caution.
She was the principal of the academy, and she took the safety of each and every one of them very seriously, always looking out for their well-being.
After all, this had also been her home years ago, when she was still too young and inexperienced with her powers and the world around her. Nevermore had turned her into the strong, intelligent, and independent woman she was today, and she intended no less for her students.
For that very reason, what should have been a simple search for a substitute teacher turns into a meticulous yet tedious task.
“Please tell me we're done for today” said Larissa, looking at Zeline with a pleading expression.
“Let me check the list…” she replied while flipping through the planner. “Hmm… how strange…”.
“Is something wrong?”.
“It seems there's actually one last candidate today. A woman, more precisely” she said, frowning as she read through her planner.
Larissa sighed, exhausted.
“Why am I not surprised… and what is it that you find so strange?”
Zeline fell silent for a few seconds, without lifting her eyes from the sheet where the candidates' names were written.
“Her last name. It sounds familiar".
Larissa looked at her, intrigued. It was rare for anything to surprise or puzzle her friend.
“Her last name? What is it?”
Zeline finally looked up at her.
“Addams”.
There was a long silence—the kind that hides truths and stirs up old memories.
“Larissa?”.
Larissa didn't answer. She didn't react. She seemed to have fallen into some kind of trance—into shock.
“Do you know her?”.
Morticia Addams. How could she ever forget that name? How could she ever forget an old acquaintance —a woman with whom she had once shared not only a room in this very place years ago, but countless experiences? It could only be her.
“Larissa!”
Suddenly, Larissa snapped out of her trance, blinking several times, and looked at Zeline, who was looking at her with concern.
“What's wrong with you? It was like your mind had gone somewhere else. Are you okay?” she asked, worried.
“Y-Yes, yes. I'm sorry".
Zeline set her planner down on Larissa's desk and placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her.
“The moment her last name was mentioned, your face changed. You even look paler. What's wrong?”.
“Good morning".
A serene, gentle voice. The kind that enchants and captivates you without meaning to. That sweet yet velvety tone—recognizable from miles away.
Both of them turned their heads to see where that voice was coming from.
Larissa held her breath for a moment. Only a faint thread of sound escaped her lips as she pronounced her name.
“Morticia…”.
