Chapter 1: Poisoned Apple Martinis
This evening was going to be perfect. Evie had planned every little detail, from the little dragon confetti to the smoking green cocktails. It wasn't every day your best friend turned twenty-one and she wanted Mal to have the time of her life tonight. Ben had helped Evie put the guest list together and arrange transportation for everyone, while Doug had helped with the decorations. Though since Magic was slowly becoming more accepted Evie was able to get most of the grand ballroom decorated with a few flicks of her fingers. Being the daughter of an evil witch came in handy every once in a while.
Evie retreated to her room in the South Wing, being King Ben's advisor came with a few perks. A closet three times the size of her bedroom was one of them. She had planned her outfit meticulously. Her royal blue dress hit midthigh, it hugged all her curves with a lovely keyhole opening on her back. The short, capped sleeves were covered in golden studs that screamed royalty. The gold studded shoes had enough heels to show off her defined calves. One of Dizzy's tiaras decorated her blue locks as she pulled her curls into a loose side ponytail. Sapphire eyeliner accented her eyes, and her lips were painted a violent shade of red.
"Evie?"
"One more minute!" She called out to Doug as he lightly knocked on her closet door. As a final touch, she dusted a shimmering gold dust onto her cheeks and collar bones. With a little twirl, she stepped out into Doug's awaiting arms.
"You are the fairest of them all." He accented his compliment with a soft peck on the lips and looped her arm through his. "Shall we?"
"We shall."
Mal gasped in awe at the grand ballroom. It was decked out in full party fashion. Everything was in her colors, a swirl of purples and greens. Banners and streamers, strobe lights and table clothes, cocktails and a giant cake that stood taller than Mal with a dragon climbing up the side. There was a DJ in one of the balconies and the whole left side of the ballroom was a bar with numerous bartenders just waiting to serve. Evie had promised a night to remember and Mal knew she would deliver. This wasn't just her 21st birthday, it also marked the fact that she was finally old enough to be a bride. Though Princes became King's at the age of sixteen, they were not able until both them and their intended until they were both twenty-one. The thought was exciting and terrifying all at once.
The party was in full swing while Ben led her down the stairs. Everyone paused and began cheering for her, with screams of "Happy Birthday!". Jay and Lonnie hugged her both tightly, while Freddie and Jordan waived from their perch at the bar. Jane and Carlos were dancing closest to the back wall engrossed in each other. Several of the dwarves' kids, including Doug, were dancing in the middle of the floor while Evie surveyed from beside the cake. Mal raised her eyebrows and nodded to her best friend, whom immediately rushed over. Evie and Mal stumbled as they collided in a hug laughing.
"How is it you out do yourself with every new event?"
"Because I love spoiling you!" Evie laughed loudly as she squeezed Ben's hand in greeting. "Your fiancé is mine for the next hour or so, Bye!" They all chuckled while Evie led Mal to the bar for a poisoned apple martini. Mal struggled to keep up in her stilettos, and her purple dress flounced around her. A drink was thrust into her hand while Evie ordered one for herself.
Evie watched Mal closely while she looked over the room. She had recently let her grow longer, and her cheeks were tinged pink with blush. Lips painted purple sipped the sweet martini, taking note that even though there were several friends from the Isle it was mostly Auradonians that filled the room. A smile graced her face turning back to Evie. "It's perfect Evie, nothing could make this better."
The next hour was filled with dancing, and laughing, and drinking. A slower song had started and Mal was enveloped in Ben's arms. Doug was nowhere to be seen so Evie went back to the bar, the poisoned apple martinis were addicting and she felt a little wobbly already. She took a small sip when she felt a hand on her back, turning her smile quickly dropped when it was none other than Chad Charming.
"Evie, Evie, EVIE! You look good enough to eat!" Chad was slurring slightly as he balanced his hand on the bar next to her drink. Evie pulled back slightly, the bar was crowded and there wasn't much room for her to maneuver.
"Ever the charmer you are. Did Audrey break up with you again?" Evie looked around once more trying to find an escape route. Chad shifted and handed her her drink back. He grinned widely as she downed it in one gulp, tasting slightly bitter on her tongue. It must be the company. She pushed past Chad with a shrug and she stumbled down the steps to the dance floor.
"Catch you later Evie!"
Her shoes were gone, though she wasn't sure how or when but she was grateful as the hallway floor kept shifting underneath of her. Evie didn't feel right after that last martini, or maybe it was Chad, or the fact that Ben had told her Doug was puking in the men's room. All she knew is she desperately wanted to lay in her bed, maybe this spinning would stop. Her legs felt heavier with each step as she faced the final obstacle between her and her wonderfully soft bed. She stumbled, her dress rising up slightly. Evie righted herself and then her dress. When she stumbled a second time she felt someone lift her up and carry her. "Jay?"
There was no answer and Evie could not find the strength to open her eyes. She couldn't decide if the gentle bouncing was soothing or if it was going to make her hurl. How much time had passed when she was dumped on a bed she had no idea. The covers did not feel like hers, they were rough and the bed was smaller than hers. Where am I? Evie's eyes flew up in a panic but she couldn't move or speak. The room was darker and she could see the outline of a tall person at her feet. He suddenly descended on her. Blond hair, sour breath. He assaulted her mouth roughly, kissing her so hard their teeth clanked against each other.
"I always wanted to have the fairest" The words were muttered in her ear and she tried to shrink from that voice. But she couldn't move, she felt like she was going to be sick as large hands pawed at her breasts. This isn't happening. Her eyes closed tight as she shook her head trying to get away from him, her arms swatted at him but there was no strength behind her strikes. She was weak, she was terrified but no matter how hard she tried she could not push this solid body from her.
"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful…." It was his mantra as he roughly pushed up her dress and ripped her underwear. His hand touched her and she cried. Why was he doing this? Her sobs were not loud enough to drown out his words whispered in her ear. "You are so beautiful…I deserve to have the fairest of them all…I knew you wanted me…" Chad His voice ignited the familiarity in her brain. She tried to push at him but he was stronger than her. Her vision clouded with tears as he roughly flipped her over. His hand was wound in her hair pressing her face into the bed. She could hardly breathe and with each scream he pressed down harder as she felt him kick her legs open. Evie thrashed wildly as he penetrated her. The pain was excruciating as he slammed into her moaning louder and louder. The harder she fought the harder he pounded into her, she began to panic. Her nose and face were pressed so tightly into the cover she couldn't breathe. Her lungs burned as she blacked out.
With one final thrust Chad finished. His body spasmed and it felt like all the alcohol he had drank hit him at once. With a groan, he pulled out and pushed Evie off the bed. Pulling his pants up he nudged her with his foot. He knew she had wanted him, every beautiful girl wanted him. He sat heavily on the bed trying to decide if he was going to wake her up or just throw her outside. Chad grabbed the waste basket next to the bed and after several minutes of puking he felt better. Completely forgetting about the girl crumpled on his floor he stumbled back to the party.
Pain was the first thing Evie was aware of. She ached between her legs, and her arm was twisted underneath her. She righted herself, bringing her up onto all fours. Her eyes were squeezed tight trying to block out what she remembered. Wishing it weren't true. This was Auradon, people didn't do things like this here. Chad raped me. The anger flared in her chest, she had never felt something as strong and powerful. She let it consume her, it was better than feeling the pain. Evie staggered to her feet, the alcohol still making her wobbly. After a deep breath, her eyes snapped open and she stormed out of the room towards the grand ballroom.
They felt Evie before they saw her. The music cut out and everyone stopped mid step turning towards the grand stair case. Magic crackled around her like midnight blue lightning. No one had ever seen her this way and Mal was too terrified to move towards her. She knew Evie was a witch but she had never thought her to be a powerful one until that moment. Her magic was alive, and frightening, distracting Mal from Evie's wild hair that was partially pulled out of her ponytail. Her red lipstick was smeared on her cheek and eyeliner and mascara trailed down her face with heavy tears. Evie's beautiful dress was ripped at the hem and her shoes were missing. Evie looked around wildly until she found someone in the crowd. They parted for her, too scared to touch the witch's magic.
Evie found Chad at the edge of the dance floor, his eyes as wide as saucers. As she approached her magic crackled around them pushing the crowd back from them. Without a word Evie plunged her hand into his chest and ripped his heart out. Screams erupted around her as his body collapsed, as others grabbed her the black heart bounced from her hand landing at Ben's feet. She did not see him, all she saw was the body on the floor. Mal was pulling on Ben's arm trying to get his attention while Carlos and Jay tried to get to Evie. But the guards had materialized out of nowhere and they looked to their king for instruction.
"Take her back to the Isle."
Mal screamed incoherently as they dragged Evie away, who seemed to not realize what was happening. Ben was holding Mal back as she desperately tried to reach her friend. Ben guided her to a chair as she sobbed, trying to piece together what happened.
"Please Ben, there's been a mistake! That's Evie, Ben! That's our Evie!" Jay and Carlos held each of Mal's hands as she begged Ben. They were all in shock, stunned. But Ben's face was hard. It was not easy for him to give the command but there was no justification for cold blooded murder. He loved Evie, well thought he loved Evie but he never thought her capable of murder. Ben glanced towards Chad's body on the ground. There was no blood, there wasn't even a hole. But there was a heart lying not far, red and blackened. Ben had heard that witches and wizards could rip out your heart, your soul. It wasn't the actual heart but it was your life force. The purer the heart the brighter it was supposed to shine, but from here Chad's looked very dark. It must just be the lighting. "Ben, please." Mal sobbed again.
"She killed him Mal. She committed murder in front of hundreds of people, she has to go back to the Isle. There is no other option, I'm sorry." Ben tried to say it as gently as he could but she still yanked herself away from him and ran towards the doors. With a nod a few of the guards blocked her path, her eyes flashed bright green as she changed direction and stormed to the South Wing.
The rest of the night for Evie was a blur. They had thrown her in the back of the limo, and sped off, barely activating the magical bridge in time. The next thing she knew she was watching the barrier close behind the limo as she sat on the ground in the snow. She did not feel the cold, she felt quite numb. She refused to relive the night, focusing so hard on not remembering she did not hear the footsteps crunching towards her in the snow.
"Well, well, well. Lookie who we have here." Evie startled, her head whipping around so fast that everything was a blur. And then the martini's decided to come back up. She retched into the snow until there was nothing left in her stomach. "That was disgusting." Uma knelt down next to Evie. Evie turned her head slightly making eye contact with her for a brief moment. "Had a bad night, Princess?"
There was a chorus of laughter that sent panic through Evie. Those still on the Isle of the Lost were not fans of hers, well mostly of Mal's. Many of the villains and their kids knew who Evie was but when she was six years old her and her mother were banished for ten years, and shortly after that she was shipped off to Auradon, so most of them did not know much about her except she ran with Mal. Guilty by association. Evie had no energy left, she just knelt there in the snow, surrounded by poisoned apple martinis. She realized the only place she had to go was her mother's castle but that was miles from here, and her mother would kick her out if she saw her in such a state. Maybe freezing in the snow wouldn't be half bad, the tears began flowing.
"You have no idea" Evie whispered. Something in the tone of her voice, the hopelessness that could clearly by heard struck a chord with Uma. The VK in front of her was broken, through and through. There was no sport in it, and besides if Evie was here that meant she meant nothing to Mal anymore. Uma glanced back at Gil and he just shrugged, Gil was evil in a henchman kind of way. He'd follow orders but he hardly went out of his way to carry out evil plots. It had been years since Uma had last seen Mal and her VK's, but even Uma wouldn't leave someone out in the snow in this state.
The winter had been a harsh one this year on the Isle, their ship had been frozen at the dock for a month and when the wind picked up, the chill would steal your breath. And this sad blue girl in front of her had no shoes, her makeup was everywhere, her hair a mess, and her dress was barely there.
"Welcome back to the Isle, lost one." Uma draped her coat around Evie and she clutched it automatically. It smelled salty and fishy, as if Evie were standing in the docks. Uma nodded to Gil, and he stepped forward reaching down to pick up Evie. No one expected the shrill cry of terror, or Evie scrambling backward.
Harry took in the scene quickly, something had happened to the princess. As she moved backwards her dress rode up and Harry spotted blood on her inner thigh. He grabbed Gil roughly shaking his head at him. Gil was lost and had his hands up trying to show that he had meant no harm. "Uma, you're going to have to get her." Harry knew she understood and saw what Harry had seen as she grabbed her coat off the ground and moved slowly towards the girl. Uma was whispering something as she set her teal coat around Evie once more. It was a slow process, coaxing Evie to stand and walk. Harry continued to pull Gil backwards to give the girls plenty of room. It was a quiet walk back to the docks, the crunching of the snow beneath their feet drowned out Evie's sobs and Uma's whispers.
Most of the crew had moved into homes or apartments inland once Winter had moved in, Uma had found them a house that overlooked the docks. It had taken some work to seal it up against the bitter cold but Gil and Harry were quite handy as it turns out. It was a cozy house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen and a large sitting room with a bay window facing their ship. Uma unlocked the back door and Evie sighed heavily when warm air rushed out to meet her. Her feet hurt and her body ached and all she wanted to do was shower. She knew she should be wary of Uma, Harry and Gil. But she really didn't think anything worse could happen to her at this point. She squeezed her eyes tight as the tears came tumbling down again. The door was closed carefully behind Harry as Uma steered her towards the stairs.
"There should be some hot water, enough for a bath at least. I'll give you some of Harry's clothes, you're too tall for mine." Harry nodded that he understood while Uma opened the bathroom door and sat Evie down on the toilet. She cranked the faucet all the way to hot and stopped up the tub. "I'm not going to ask you what happened, I don't think you could tell me. I will say that no matter the past until you get back on your feet old rivalries are on hold."
"Why are you helping me Uma? You hate me."
"No. I hated Mal, you just chose the wrong side." Harry stepped in slowly and placed a pair of pants and a long sleeve shirt next to Evie. "Take a bath, warm up. We'll be downstairs." Uma pushed Harry back and closed the door behind them leaving Evie all alone. The water was steaming up the bathroom, the warmth looked inviting. Evie peeled her dress off and threw her bra on top of Harry's clothes. She put one foot in and almost screamed, the water felt ridiculously hot against her frozen toes. She grit her teeth and climbed in. Once the tub was full and the water starting to run cold she turned the faucet off, held her breath and submerged her whole body under the water relishing in the burning heat.
Evie was left alone with her thoughts as the water surrounded her. She wasn't sure what to feel. Anger? Pain? Sorrow? It all crashed in on her at once as her lungs began to burn with the need of air. Gasping she sat up and inhaled the steamy air. How had her life turned upside down so much that she had landed herself back on the Isle, in Uma's bathtub of all places?