In Ben's Office
Geo, Shen, Maddie and Reggie were led to to the king's office by Lumiere and invited to take their seats on the comfy, brown, leather couches.
"Don't screw this up." Geovanna whispered as the golden-haired servant left the room in order to greet Ben. The king entered the room, still in his school uniform, with a warm smile on his face.
Geo stood up as soon as he entered, gesturing for everyone else to follow her lead as she curtsied deeply. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and said, "It's an honor to be allowed to speak with you, your Majesty."
"Geovanna Gothel, right?" Ben guessed. "Please, call me Ben."
She gave him her signature simper. "Yes. I'm flattered you knew."
"Of course. So, you would be...Madeline Medusa?" Ben guessed, looking at Maddie.
She simply nodded and Geo stealthily elbowed her in the stomach. Then, Maddie curtsied as Geo had before and said, "Yes, you're Majesty."
"Shen Yu?" Ben looked to Shen.
"Yes." He said. When Geo looked at him out of the corner of her eye, he inclined his head and ground out, "Your Majesty."
"And that would make you Reginald Hart, right?" Ben asked Reggie.
Reggie bowed gracefully, lowering his head as he said, "Yes, your Majesty."
Oh, right, Geovanna thought, He is a prince.
Ben sat down and Reggie did the same. The rest of the group followed, sitting down on the couch across from his armchair.
"I heard that you guys were having reservations about coming here." Ben said with concern. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel more at place?"
"It's just that we're having a hard time adjusting." Geo said, her face quickly contorting with worry. "All our lives we were taught to scheme, and covet, and seek power. Right?"
Shen, Reggie and Maddie all agreed.
"But here we have to take classes about goodness." Geo said. "People smile when you pass them on the street. It's just...we're not meant to be here?"
"I understand that you feel out of place, but it gets easier." Ben said encouragingly. "Mal, Carlos, Evie, Freddie, Dizzy. They didn't feel at home here immediately, but they've adjusted to life in Auradon. Trust me, it just takes time."
"But they had things to offer." Geo said, spacing out her blinks in order to dry her eyes out. It always made summoning tears easier, along with making her eyes water so it looked like she was fighting them. "Evie's a fashion designer, Jay's a tourney star, and Dizzie's given everyone makeovers. Mal saved the entire country. Twice. But what can...what can any of us offer?" That's when she finally let the tears fall, turning her face away so that it looked like she was ashamed to lose control in such a setting. Maddie gave her a handkerchief and Shen patted her back. Geo absolutely despised physical contact, but...for the plan she told herself.
"I...I'm sorry." Ben said. "Do you need a second?"
Geo willed the tears to stop and wiped her face, still breathing heavily. "No, I'm fine. I'm so sorry for...for crying, and wasting your time, and-" She brought the tears back.
"No." Ben said. "It's completely fine. I'm always here for those who need me."
Geo smiled at him, turning the tears back off.
"You guys are more than your upbringing." Ben said. "What do you enjoy? Something completely unrelated to what your parents taught you?"
"Ooo, I like chess. Oh, and cooking, and-" Reggie stopped when Geovanna looked at him. Her expression wasn't malicious, but her eyes had a way of showing her true feelings when she wanted them to. The gray became as steely as her dagger.
"That's good." Ben said with a smile. "You could help in the cafeteria if you want. And we have a chess club. Doug is your welcome buddy, and he's the president. I'm sure he'd be thrilled if you join."
Reggie nodded silently and glanced at Geo warily. He knew it was rude not to respond verbally-especially to royalty-but he didn't want to dig his grave any deeper.
"I-"Geo gave a rattled breath"-I like planning things. Like parties and things like that."
"We have an event planning committee on campus." Ben said excitedly. "And, coincidentally, we've got an opening we've been scrambling to fill after three members had to drop out for the year."
"Oh?" Geo asked, feigning surprise. "Why'd they do that?"
"It's weird." Ben said with a frown. "They accidentally had sushi that wasn't prepared right. They got really sick and had to be sent home."
"How awful!" That I didn't have time to do something worse. She thought. "But I would like to join if it's possible."
"It most definitely is. I'm sure they'll be happy to have the help."
Geo grinned. Step one: complete.
Evie's Perspective in November
Evie and Mal had decided to skip today's field trip in order to do some studying for an exam in their Advanced Manners and Mathematics class.
"Giving an exam right before the break is honestly the evilest thing I can imagine." Mal said as she wrote out her flash cards.
"Totally." Evie said with a chuckle as she observed the way to properly drink tea with one hand and write out an algebra problem with the other. "I don't know any curse that can cause this much suffering."
"Which is why I'm going on a snack break." Mal said as she stood up. "Want something?"
"No, I'm fine." Evie said.
"That was a test." Mal said over her shoulder as she left the room. "It's 'No, but thank you for your consideration.'"
Evie sighed and added that to her notes. She felt a draft and looked at the window. It was supposed to be closed, but it was wide open. She sighed even heavier than before, "Vivianne?"
"Aw, I was trying to scare you." Vivianne said from behind her.
Evie turned around in her chair. "I have too much work to do right now-"
"I have information for you."
"What is it now?"
"You know the field trip that everyone went on today? To the treasury."
"Yeah. It was a great idea, we've never went there before. The museum was starting to get boring."
"Well, do you know whose idea it was?"
"Geovanna Gothel's. She's had a lot of fun ideas."
"Well, I overheard her telling one of her friends to take close note of the entrances and exits."
"Maybe it was in case of an emergency. You know us VKs can be...cautious."
Are you that foolish? Wes asked in her mind.
"Oh, no, not you again." Evie said with exasperation.
"Or, they're planning something bad." Vivianne said.
"Call me gullible if you want, but I've been in their position before. When I first got here, I hated how suspicious everyone was around me. Back then it might have been warranted, but people are still watching my every move out of fear that I'm gonna do something wrong. It's not a good feeling and I won't be that person for them."
"Well, they're up to something. I can feel it-or smell it-in their nervousness."
Evie looked up at the ceiling. "What are you telling me for?"
"Because whatever they're up to could put you and Wes in danger. This is usually the part where Wes comes up with a plan or something and tells me what to do next."
I vote we stage an accident that endangers the students and frame them for it. Wes said. Get them sent back to the Isle before they pose a threat.
"I refuse to do that." Evie said. "I'm not hurting or framing anyone."
"Whatever he said, I'll do it." Vivianne said. "Then your conscience can be clear."
"No, you won't." Evie said, the seashell glowing faintly as she gave the order. "Just...watch them. But don't let them know you're doing it. If you see anything funny, let me know."
"As you wish, master." She spat the last word out like she wanted to say something a little more coarse. She then exited the room through the sill-open window.
So much power at your fingertips and you just waste it. Wes said.
"Not abusing it isn't wasting it." Evie said.
Are you scared of what you are? Is that why you're rejecting your heritage? The gifts you have?
"Just stop talking."
Or are you scared of what you can do? You're bottling up your gifts, and that never works out well. Ever wonder just who it is you'll hurt when they finally-
"SHUT UP!" The seashell glowed as she yelled it. The entire room erupted in royal blue flames. Evie started counting. 1. Inhale. 2. Exhale. 3. Inhale. And nothing happened. Her heart was still racing. The fire still burned as the smoke detectors went off. "How do I stop them?" Evie asked Wes.
I thought you wanted me to shut up. Wes said in her mind.
"Please." Evie pleaded.
...Just say tempus and imagine the oxygen in the air being drawn away from the fire until it dies. Wes instructed.
"Tempus." Evie said. The flames were extinguished in a second.
Those anger management exercises really seem to be working. Wes said, his laughter somehow ringing in Evie's head. Wonder what would've happened if anyone else had been in here.
It was hard to describe, but, despite being inside her head, she felt like he had one of his evil smirks plastered on his face.