#ulrike.

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" we 'ave to do dis, ulrike. i know she's our girl, but we 'ave to dink about fern. " gwendoline's mouth is set in a firm line, her eyes hard as she stares over at her wife. she wasn't sure if ulrike was going to be able to handle this. hell, gwendoline couldn't even believe that this was happening, but it was and she would be damned if she lost another child. if ulrike couldn't handle this with her, she'd do it by herself. " ve vill nefer be able to see her again. she vill be gone. forefer. " ulrike's cheeks are wet and stained red. she'd been crying for the past three hours. she couldn't fathom actively sending her daughter, dead or not, off into the void. it was like she would die twice. " if ve could just reason vith her - remind her zat ve lofe her. she could stay vith us. it vould be like - like it nefer happened. " ulrike's words fell on gwendoline's deaf ears. she had seen enough only hours before. she saw the anger in eden willow's ghostly gaze. she'd seen the fire within her form. she may have been their daughter, but that wasn't all she was anymore. she was a malevolent spirit and, as far as gwen was concerned, there was no room for something like that in her house. " ulrike ! ded you naht see de same thin' dat i saw ? she started a fire ! ded you naht see de anger in 'er ? dat's our daughter, love, but dat's naht eden willow. she's a danger. " gwen's fingers twitched. she was about to send eden willow into the void whether ulrike was done speaking or not. it would be done. tonight.

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🔥 the florence family had returned home a couple of days after eden willow’s birthday. the whole family was in high spirits, full of life, laughter, and love. none of them could have guessed what would happen next.

it was a simple pot of mac n cheese that did it. some noodles, a packet of cheese dust, and a pot full of water was what altered the florence family lineup forever. neither gwendoline nor ulrike had ever experienced complete and utter devestation like they were about to. this pot of mac n cheese was the catalyst for the downfall of the florence family household — and the beginning of a generations long curse.

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“ an’ tha’s why ye don’ scare yer li’l brother, eden willow !! “

“ put ve also don’t need to kick our zister, do ve fern ?? “

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🖤 a rare moment for the florence family has unfolded on a nasty, rainy evening. the whole family sits in the living room by the warm fireplace. unbeknownst to them, the slow crawling trail of a ghastly haze of smoke enters in through their front door. something has happened — or is about to — that will change the florence family forever.

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over the course of a few weeks, ulrike had made several stops over to moonwood mill anytime she could find the chance. between trying to raise two kids and sell her art, time was not on her side. and yet, she managed.

she found a strange diary on her third trip, which led her to a list of ingredients that promised to rid her of the beast within. it wasn’t something that she wanted to do, or at least, she didn’t think she wanted to do it. the beast was a part of her and had been for a long time — who would she be without it ?

but, she had to do this for her family. they were the most important thing. and it was their faces that ran through her mind as she gulped her drink down and let the magic flow through her.

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“ thank you for watching the stars with me. “ ulrike gazed into gwen’s eyes, searching for a spark of something, anything. since their big talk, ulrike had spent the long weeks trying to find out all she could about the curse that had been laid upon her. she had studied moonwood mill until she wanted to pluck her eyes from her skull. she knew what she needed to do, but she just didn’t know where to start. but gazing up at the stars with the woman she loved for a couple of hours seemed like a good starting place.

“ thank you fer askin’ me, love. “ the husk of gwen’s voice was as thick as the humid springtime air around them. she smiles, a genuine smile, as she reaches up to brush her hand against ulrike’s face. “ i do love you, rik. “ she whispers, “ don’t forget that. “

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come on, skinny love

just last the year

pour a little salt

we were never here

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“ we’re needin’ta talk about this, rik. “ gwen’s accent is thick as irish moss, her tone is tinged with a brassy warning. they’d been meaning to sit down and have a good, long talk about the state of their relationship and ulrike’s … issue. but, between gwen’s full time job and ulrike’s … well, everything — plus, the two children, time just never seemed to be on their side.

“ i know. “ ulrike’s eyes are cast on the worn hardwood floor underneath her feet. the flames from the fire in the fireplace light up the tips of her boots a warm, orange color. “ i don’t know what you want me to say. you act as if this is all my fault — as if i meant to turn into this. “ ulrike’s brows push together, wrinkling her forehead. “ i’m not saying i wanted it. i’ve never said that. “

“ no, but ya didn’t try to stop it either, did’ya ? “ gwen turns to face her wife, eyes flashing in the light of the fire. “ we can’t go on like this, i’m afraid. eden is terrified of ya and i will not bring fern up in a home with a god forsaken werewolf ! “ gwen’s voice shakes, not from fear, but frustration and anger. “ you’re dangerous, rik. i love you to the moon, m’love, but i love our children more. “

the words stung, pinpricking ulrike’s heart with every syllable. she knew that gwen was right in every single way. of course the kids came first !! why wouldn’t they ?? but, there was something in gwen’s voice, something unspoken — a subtext that ulrike could pick up. this wasn’t just about the kids. “ have you fallen out of love, gwen ? “ ulrike finally looks over to meet gwendoline’s gaze.

gwen’s mouth pulls into a pucker as she stares hard at ulrike. “ you’re no’ the ulrike i fell in love with. she’s there somewhere — “ gwen gestures her arm up and down ulrike’s frame. “ — but there’s someone else, too. and i’m no’any good at sharin’. “