On The Isle of the Lost

"Sorry, honey, I'll see you when you get there." Geovanna Gothel told Sid Stabbington. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, making sure her red lipstick didn't leave a stain. "Promise."

Sid left her with a goodbye hug. She scoffed and rolled her eyes when he was gone. The big brute was always such a softy. She felt hands around her waist and turned around quickly. Patrick Stabbington was behind her. He didn't see her interaction with his cousin, thankfully.

"Hey, sweetie." Geo said.

"So, I hear you got accepted to go to Auradon." Patrick said with a smile. "When are we leaving?"

I'm going to strangle Reggie. Then he might keep his mouth shut. She thought.

"I'm so sorry, Patrick," Geo said. She willed tears to form in her eyes and collapsed into his arms. "I asked five times if you could come with me, but they said no. They said you were too dangerous." She hadn't really asked at all. But Patrick would love to think that all of Auradon somehow feared him. "I can't do this alone. I won't go. Not without you."

Patrick held her tightly. "It's okay. If anyone can break the dome, it's you. You have to go to Auradon."

Geo looked up at him. "Really?"

"Yes. I'll see you when I'm free." He said with a wink.

Geo smiled at him. "I'll make sure you do." Patrick let go of her and she kissed him on the cheek. "Promise."

When he left her alone, she stopped all the shuddering and heavy breathing and wiped the tears away. I hate crying. She thought. She was finally able to continue the long walk back to her mother's tower. The limo was scheduled to come soon and hopefully she could get her bags before her mom came back from her appointment at Curl Up & Dye. She slipped into the door and noiselessly climbed all the way up to her room. The top of the tower was painted red to cover up Rapunzel's paintings and Geo shared the space with all six of her sisters. Garnet was asleep so she tiptoed to her corner and shouldered her bags, almost wishing she'd asked Patrick to help her. She also grabbed a list she'd taped to the bottom of her desk and checked it one last time. Fourteen names on it, eleven of them crossed out and three with check marks next to them. Nobody had better make her regret her choice in bringing them. She'd degraded herself enough by begging King Ben to give them a "chance at redemption," and she wouldn't tolerate mistakes.

She was in the foyer, ready to leave, when a curtain was opened and her mother was revealed to be inside the previously dark room.

"Mother, I was just on my way to the hair salon to talk to you." Geo lied.

"Don't call me by my first name." Mother Gothel didn't seem convinced, given that Geo had been caught redhanded. "It'll only be four of you in Auradon. How well did that work out last time?"

"It'll be different now." Ginny said. "I have the perfect people with me and a perfect plan."

"That's debatable. You should've chose the Stabbington brothers."

"They're bumbling fools. I chose Shen Yu. The only thing that makes him an idiot is being in love with me."

"You don't want your muscle to be smart. Then you have to worry about controlling them."

"I can control Shen." Just to get under her mom's skin, she said, "Look at me, I'm irresistible."

Mother Gothel scowled. Geo had known her mom was envious of her beauty since she'd turned thirteen. She'd always been a better looking, younger version of Mother Gothel, with curlier black hair that didn't need to be dyed and none of the wrinkles. "Madam Mim's daughters would've been a better decision than Reginald Hart."

"They're too smart. I don't feel like having them turn into lions and maul me. When he has his magic, the fact that Reggie's so dumb will minimize the threat he can pose to me. And his tarot cards have helped me out too many times to ignore. Do you have a problem with Madeline going?"

"Just get out." Mother Gothel said, closing the curtain so that the room descended back into darkness. From her where she was standing in the darkness she said, "And don't bother coming back if you fail."

Geo left with a smirk on her face. Her mom couldn't deny that Madame Medusa's daughter was perfect. She was the best thief on the Isle. Geo made it to the road where she'd told everyone to gather. The limo would be here in five minutes.

"Geo," Reggie said. He had pale skin, black hair and deep red eyes. He might've looked threatening if he wasn't so completely scrawny. Or if he could button his shirts right. Geovanna thought. "I've been waiting here for an hour."

"You came at the time I told you?" Geo asked with surprise. "You were early."

"But I was on time." Reggie said.

"Which is early for you, so I gave you the wrong time." Geo said.

"Not this time." Reggie grinned broadly. "I'm not missing my chance to get out of here."

"Do you have your cards?"

"You bet."

"All of them?"

"Every single deck my mom gave me. Tarot, classic cards, a couple to play games in case we get bored-"

"Cool. Madeline, do you have everything you need?" Geo asked.

Maddie nodded silently. Geo could tell. The pins in the bun Maddie's red hair was rolled into weren't just accessories. They were lockpicks.

"And the things we don't need seen are hidden, right?"

She nodded again, tapping her suitcase.

Shen finally arrived. He was tall and muscular with dark brown eyes and short black hair. He went straight to Geovanna's side and tried to kiss her cheek, but she ducked out of the way.

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous." Geo lied. She actually had four "boyfriends" that had gathered to see her off. None of them came closer than a few yards away, but they couldn't know about each other.

"Everything will be fine." Shen told her with a smile. "I'm here."

The limo finally rolled down the street, sparing her from having to force a matching smile. The driver stepped outside and opened the doors for them.

"Can you take this for me, sweetie?" Geo asked Shen. He took her bag and put it in the trunk as she entered the vehicle. When they were all inside and the doors were closed, Geo rolled up the partition.

"Auradon is so not ready for us." Reggie said, practically bouncing in his seat.

"No, it isn't." Geo said, a wicked smile cut across her face.