Chapter 58 – The Wolf Awakens
The door slammed violently into the wall under an enormous impact.
Everyone inside the room flinched and turned toward the noise.
Tully snatched up the rapier beside him and lunged at Russell, eyes filled with murderous intent, aiming straight for his vitals without hesitation.
Russell didn't hold back.
He sidestepped, cast a Transfiguration Spell, and the rapier twisted midair into a hanging rope. The noose snapped around Tully's neck—
and its other end flew up, fastening itself to the chandelier with a Levitation Charm.
Tully was hoisted off the ground, kicking helplessly.
Before Dr. Schloss could reach for the gun, Russell blasted her across the room with a Depulso.
Fester didn't move.
He simply stood there, frozen—neither helping nor resisting.
Tully soon fell completely still.
Dr. Schloss lay unconscious on the floor.
Even so, Russell didn't relax.
He picked up the handgun first.
Just as he turned to disarm Fester—
A scarlet beam shot out of the shadows.
It slammed into his back.
"Stupefy."
Russell twisted his head weakly as darkness closed in.
He saw Dr. Schloss slowly standing up.
In her hand—
A wand.
She's… a witch?
That was Russell's final thought before collapsing.
---
"So close to disaster… and undone by a child's courage," she murmured, smiling without a shred of warmth.
She walked over, picked up Russell's wand and the handgun.
At first, she meant to kill him on the spot—
But after glancing at Morticia, she changed her mind.
This boy…
…was worth more alive.
Then she strode over and slapped Fester hard across the face.
"I'm very disappointed in you."
Fester said nothing, clutching his cheek and shrinking back.
"You deceived him," Morticia said quietly, then added firmly,
"He is Fester Addams. Not 'Gordon'. And you are not his mother."
Dr. Schloss's expression darkened.
"Shut up."
She turned her wand toward Russell's head.
"If you don't tell me where the vault is right now… this child dies."
Morticia's hands trembled.
"…All right. I'll tell you."
She recited the method of opening the vault from beginning to end.
"Did you memorize that, Gordon?" Dr. Schloss asked sweetly.
"Yes, Mom."
"Good. Then go and try it. I'll stay here and keep our guest company."
A few minutes passed.
Fester returned.
But there was no joy on his face.
Instead, he looked dejected.
"Well?" Dr. Schloss snapped, pressing her wand harder toward Russell.
"Did you find it?!"
"Yes, Mom."
Fester reached into his pocket…
and pulled out a handful of gold coins.
"Well done, Gordon."
Her face lit up with greed.
"Now then, Mrs. Addams… you're no longer useful to me."
"I'm not going to kill you—but to avoid inconvenience…"
Her wand rose.
"I'll erase your memory."
"Mom—don't!"
Fester finally stepped forward, voice shaking.
"Please… the Addams treated me like family. I don't want them to be hurt."
"Shut up, you useless piece of trash!"
Dr. Schloss shrieked.
"You idiot! You coward! Get out of my way! I never should have picked you up!"
Morticia could clearly see how much pain Fester was in.
Dr. Schloss saw it too.
Her expression changed instantly—softening into false tenderness.
"Gordon… I'm sorry," she said gently.
"I was just too anxious. Wait right here. Once I finish off Mrs. Addams, we'll go to the vault together. From then on, we'll live happily ever after."
A sweet, hollow smile curved her lips as she raised her wand once more toward Morticia.
"Obliviate."
"No!"
At that moment, Fester made his choice.
He leapt forward and threw his massive body in front of Morticia.
In her stunned gaze, he was blasted backward—
crashing into a bookcase as volumes rained down like a storm, burying him beneath an avalanche of paper and dust.
"Oh, Gordon… I don't need you anymore."
Dr. Schloss didn't even spare him a glance.
Compared to the vault's treasure, Fester was worthless to her now.
Just then, a book slipped from the shelf and hit the floor.
BOOM!
A violent explosion of sound filled the room, making everyone flinch.
"What was that?"
Dr. Schloss tapped her wand, and the book snapped shut instantly.
The noise died.
"Good. Now there are no more obstacles."
For the third time, she aimed her wand at Morticia.
"You're right," a voice said quietly behind her.
"There are none."
A chill raced down Dr. Schloss's spine.
She spun to cast a Shield Charm—but she was too late.
Ten claws ripped into her back.
She screamed in agony as her wand slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.
Barely able to turn her head, she saw what stood behind her.
A werewolf.
And in the beast's savage profile, she could still make out Russell's face.
---
The book's sudden boom had dragged Russell out of unconsciousness.
His entire body felt weak and heavy.
When he reached out and realized his wand and gun were gone, his heart sank.
I'm finished…
Then—
His fingers touched something in his inner pocket.
A small potion vial.
His safeguard.
A werewolf transformation potion—kept on his person in case something went wrong.
Biting the cork free, he swallowed the contents in one gulp, making not a sound.
A rich scent of cinnamon flooded his throat.
Power surged through his limbs.
So did a feral hunger.
Silver fur tore through his skin, spreading over his body.
Russell… became a werewolf.
---
Though gravely wounded, years in the underworld had taught Dr. Schloss one thing:
Without her wand, she was dead.
If she could reclaim it—
She might still live.
But Russell would not allow it.
The moment her wand hit the ground, he slammed his massive paw down—
Crack.
It snapped in two.
Russell did not hesitate.
Claws curled into a fist.
And he brought it crashing down onto her skull.