By the time Carlos limped back to the cafeteria most of the food was gone and everyone was hyper on sugar, even GodMother was flailing around happily on the dancefloor.
Carlos looked around, words wanting to burst from his mouth, he was itching to tell Jay what had just happened but he couldn't see the Arabian anywhere.
"what's wrong little buddy?" Al approached him, a soda stain on his uniform.
"have you see Jay?" Carlos asked.
As if he heard his name Jay appeared, breathing heavy and flushed red, "where did you go?" he breathed, clearly worried.
Carlos smiled and gestured for Jay to follow him so they could find somewhere quiet; the science lab was glowing under the tank light and a huge explanation took up the whole board.
"what's the matter?" Jay asked once again, he had asked every minute since leaving the cafeteria.
Pulling himself onto one of the stools Carlos placed the thick wedge of documents onto the table, "my mother's lawyer was just here." The young De Vil finally said.
Jay fell into the chair next to him, confusion etching his handsome face, "your mother's lawyer?"
"he told me I own everything now." Carlos flicked through the papers, "the house, the clothes, the jewels, whatever's left in the bank, it's all mine."
Jay let out a strange laugh, "all yours?"
Carlos nodded, "thing is, I don't want it." He sighed, "any of it and now I have to go back to Hell Hall to sort it all out." The young De Vil laid his head on the cool table.
The Arabian ruffled his hair kindly, "I'll come help."
"you don't think I should keep any of it?" Carlos mumbled softly, looking up at Jay through his lashes.
Jay pulled a face, scrunching his nose up tightly, "of course not!" he exclaimed.
Carlos smiled, that's what he loved about Jay, he was always on his side; even if he had spent a couple of years putting him in lockers.
"we'll all come help clear it out, this weekend." Jay said standing.
"but, this weekend?" Carlos spluttered, "that's too soon."
Jay frowned but softened when he saw the worry line between Carlos's eyebrows, "if we get it sorted now, then we won't have to worry about it later. I'll be there the whole time too."
Carlos half fell off the stool and hugged Jay tightly with one arm, he still didn't want to go back to Hell Hall but if Jay and his friends were with him them maybe he could get through it.
The Tourney game had taken place on a Wednesday so there was stll two days till the weekend and Carlos spent two days worrying about what he would actually find in Hell Hall.
President Beast had insisted on sending them with several bodyguards but Be had managed to convince his dad that they would be fine, especially with Jay by their side, but Belle managed to wade herself into the trip.
On Friday night Carlos didn't sleep, he spent the night tossing and turning, disturbing Buddy the whole night, so ended up in the kitchen eating his nerves away with ice cream.
"gunna be sick?" Ben called through the bathroom door.
Granted eating four huge tubs of chocolate, marshmallow and caramel ice cream wasn't Carlos's best idea but now the sickness in his stomach was squashing down the nerves.
Carlos nursed a tall glass of water while everyone else ate breakfast.
"has that lawyer been in contact again?" Beast asked over the top of his newspaper.
"who was it again?" Belle chimed in.
The young De Vil swallowed his water, "Skellington, and I haven't heard from him since." He muttered.
Beast frowned, putting his paper down, "The Jack Skellington was your mother's lawyer? He's a genius, greatest in our class."
"not always dear." Belle said, sipping her coffee, "Skellington became a lawyer right out of Auradon Prep, got very successful very quickly, set up Hallow Law but somewhere along the line he suddenly decided to try his hand at fashion design and guess that's where he met your mother." She told them.
"but, he still a lawyer now." Ben mentioned.
Belle pulled a face, "things got ugly fast, Jack wasn't made for fashion."
"thank you very much Mrs Beast." Said a voice from the door.
Spinning around Skellington stood tall and dark in the doorway but is pale face was twisted into an amused smile, "I've come to collect Mr De Vil, since he his underage I am legally obliged to accompany him."
Belle immediately jumped up, "I'm accompany them."
Skellington raised a thin eyebrow, "them?"
"my friends are coming too, three of them are meeting us there." Carlos finally managed to stand without his stomach aching, "is that okay?" he asked uneasily.
Without a word Skellington nodded and left the room; Belle, Ben and Carlos quickly followed.
Outside was a long, jet black limo, a pretty red haired woman was holding open the door, her dress was patchwork and she had white scars on her skin but she smiled very kindly at them.
"this is Sally, my assistant." Skellington told them, "and my wife." He added with a small smile.
There weren't any luxuries in the back of Hallow Law's lino but at least there was room enough of Carlos's cast; the limo quickly passed the part of the road where Cruella had crashed, there was still police tape up.
South Auradon looked the same as the main state but there wasn't the same energy, it all appeared slightly dull and almost angry.
As Carlos struggled out of the limo he finally saw Hell Hall again; the gates rusted, the weeds overgrown and several windows had been smashed.
"morning!" Jay shouted as he, Mal and Evie came down the sidewalk.
Jay slipped his arm around Carlos, giving him instant comfort.
"go back to the office my dearest friend." Skellington said to Sally before straightening his tie and approaching the front door with the key.
Carlos took a deep breath and led the way; the first thing that the young De Vil noticed was the smell he had never noticed before, it was stale.
Hell Hall was a mess, mould was growing through the wall paper and most things had been smashed; Cruella must have been in a terrible temper before she came to collect her son.
"where do we start?" Mal broke the silence.
Carlos propped his crutch against the wall, Skellington had already taken a seat in the drawing room, and he glared at the two ornate wardrobe on either side of the stairs.
"the furs, let's get rid of the furs." Carlos said firmly, he hated those furs and he would take great pleasure in getting shot of them.