Author's note: Hey guys ! Welcome back !

I hope you like the last chapter because I had a lot of fun writing it. I always enjoy Ben and Audrey's confrontation and try to make them feel like real exes.

Today's chapter is also one that I really liked because we get to see the others VKs. This chapter is sort of a transition.

Anyways, enjoy !

Chapter 17 - On edge

Evie was trying to have fun. But she was clearly not in the mood to party.

Tonight, she was stunning, dressed in a long black dress - made out of a corset and tons of tulles and ribbons. Her hair with blue highlights was gelled back for a "wet" effect and she had on a full-face of make-up - with bright red lips and smokey eyes. She could have looked like a model - straight out of a Vogue cover - if it was not for her expression, ruining everything.

She had been being trying to suppress her worry all night but nothing could calm her down. She had being asked to dance, offered drinks and had politely accepted every time - but as time passed the boys courting her seemed more and more boring. Finally, she got tired of pretending and left the ball room for a walk in the castle's court. Along the night she had lost Jay, Carlos and the others but she did not attempt to reunite with them. The last time she saw the boys they were having fun and she didn't wanted to be the killjoy of the group. Especially not for the new kids who deserved a memorable first ball.

So, she stepped out alone, in the night - particularly cold for the month of september. She should have thought of bringing a jacket, but it was too late now. Evie had taken out her phone to try to call Mal's number when she noticed a familiar silhouette sitting on a bench, not far from her. Silently, she approached and asked:

"Can I join you ?"

Ben jumped a little bit. Apparently, she had interrupted him in a deep reflection. He took his jacket off of the place next to him and nodded. She sat down and let a little moment of silence pass before finally saying:

"I don't think Mal left. Something happened to her."

Ben did not answer. The crown that was supposed to be on his head was lying on his lap and he was distractedly playing with it.

"You know, she was really excited about your engagement" added Evie. "She couldn't stop talking about it."

The boy looked at her with hope in his eyes.

"Really ? I keep thinking that maybe I missed something or… I did something wrong. When it comes to her, I always feel like I mess things up."

Evie shortly pressed his hand with hers and said with a laugh.

"Trust me, you're the best boyfriend - fiancé - Mal could ever dream of. And she knows it. She would never leave you like that on your coronation day. Something happened."

Ben sighed and nodded. But after a while, he said:

"I don't know if that's supposed to reassure me or worry me. First my dad. Then, her."

Evie gulped with difficulty. She did not know what to say, because she shared Ben's worry. Something was wrong. Somebody was using to dark magic - and for now, it looked like that person was trying to take out Ben's loved ones.

"Do you think someone would have a reason to try to hurt you ? Revenge, jealousy ? The crown, maybe ?"

Ben bit his lip. Who could want to hurt him? Why? Who could want revenge on him ? Only one answer came to his mind. And although he refused to believe it, he whispered:

"Uma…"

Evie did not say it out loud but she disagreed. Uma wanted to hurt Mal. She did not care about King Adam. And what about the stolen rose ? Nothing in these cases seemed to make sense. No red line, no correlation, nothing.

At this moment, Carlos and the four new VKs appeared on the other side of the court. It was already one in the morning - so they were officially monday and had class in less than eight hours. It was time to head back to the dorms. Evie stood up and Ben followed her, putting his crown back on his head.

"I'll escort you to your floor" he said with a friendly smile

And they joined the little group waiting for them.

But, as they expected silence and calm to reign over the dorms at this hour, they were all deeply surprised when they reached the VK floor and heard yelling. Guards were not on the stairs landing - as they were supposed to - but were trying to break up a fight between Harry and Jay. Or least, what looked like a fight.

The pirate had his hand on Jay's collar and was pressing him against a wall. His face was red, his accent stronger than even. His voice was broken from so much screaming and cracked at every fluctuation. Without thinking, Carlos jumped to help the guards and Gil trying to pull Harry away from Jafar's son.

"WHERE IS SHE !" he was yelling

Finally, the men forced him to let go off Jay, who put his hand on his knees - trying to catch his breath. With anger in his voice, he shouted:

"What the fuck man ? What's your problem?"

"Where is SHE ?! Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about ! You've been keeping an eye on me since I got here, so where is SHE!"

Gil pulled his brother back and pushed him in corner.

"Stop, Harry ! Whatever you're talking about, he had nothing to do with it. He was with me all night, okay ?"

"But SHE is missing !" yelled the pirate "She's gone !"

Sweat was dripping on his forehead and Gil looked uncomfortable.

"Who is missing ?" interrupted Evie

"Are you talking about Mal?" added Ben, completely lost

Harry gave them a suspicious look. Then, slowly, his breath calmed down. He stopped shaking and trying to escape Gil's grip. He had a weird expression on his face, as if he was battling with himself. But then, he looked away and cleared his throat.

"Yes" he finally said - calmly "I was talking about Mal. I'm… worried for her."

But, he put his focus back on Gil, looking at his almost-brother right in the eyes and added:

"She was there this morning, and now she gone."

The days that followed Mal's disappearance were weird. Tense. Everybody was on edge. If people had tried to keep their heads up after King Beast's transformation, this time worry and fear was spreading across the campus like a virus. Of course, the VK squad was the most affected. Evie kept trying, every hour, to reach Mal on her phone but always ended up leaving a voicemail. Ben was burying his pain in work, overwhelmed and overloaded by his new responsibilities as King. Dizzie and Celia's enthuisasm for their new life in Auradon Prep had fallen back flat. In order to give Evie, Jay and Carlos the space they needed, the two girls had taken on the charge of taking care of the twins. After the incident between Jay and Harry, the two pirates had closed off to others. They spent most of their days locked up in their room and it was not rare to hear Harry's voice through the door, as he frequently got angry. Gil was worried for Uma too. Just like Mal, she wasn't answering her phone. Jay shared the general bad mood. The incident with Harry had revived his resentment against pirates and he had stopped hanging out with Gil. When he was not in class, he was at the gym - boxing a sand bag or training his sword. After the robbery, the curse and Mal's disappearance, he felt powerless and he hated it. And finally, Carlos - in a vain attempt to escape reality - spent the less time he could at the VK dorm, bottling up his worries and his stress, running away from his friends.

Today, however, Carlos had a good reason to stay out after class. Sitting on a bench under an orange tree, he checked the hour on his phone and sighed, unconsciously. A week and a half ago, his biggest worry was to find the perfect birthday present for Jane. Now, there were guards continuously patrolling through the campus and one of his best friends was missing.

"I hope I didn't make you wait too long" said a girly voice behind him

By reflex, Carlos smiled to his ears and turned around. Jane was wearing a light blue dress with a denim jacket and her hair were tied up in a half-up half-down. As always, with was the embodiment of cuteness.

"Of course not !" he said, hands behind his back.

The - officially 17 years old - girl sat next to him and smacked him on the cheek. And Carlos smiled again.

"I'm sorry we couldn't do a party like you wanted to this year…" he whispered

But she shook her head.

"It's okay" she said "We all have a lot of things to think about, it's just not the right timing."

"You know what ? When everything goes back to normal, and everything ends up being fine - because it will - I will throw you the best late birthday party E-VER" he promised"

She laughed and agreed with a nod. So, as he had planned, Carlos sung the first two lines of "happy birthday to you" and handed her the gift he was hiding behind his back. A little red box. Jane took it in her hand and carefully opened it. Inside, lied a beautiful necklace - made out of silver - spelling out in cursive letters "Jarlos". Already, the boy was blushing and explaining himself:

"I made it with my 3D printer. Its - uh - our names put together. Because… we're together, you know. I mean, we're a couple."

She laughed. He always got nervous around her, and to be honest, it was adorable.

"No, I get it" she said "Cause, Jane and Carlos make Jarlos."

"I could have gone with Cane" he then said "Oh my god… Do you prefer Cane ? You do? If you prefer Cane, I can just go remake it. It's cool."

There it was. He was panicking. Jane stopped him, placing a hand on his arm.

"No !" she said with strength "Carlos, it's perfect."

So, she turned around and put all of her hair on one side, waiting for him to attach the necklace around her neck. He did, and took the opportunity to pull her closer - her back against his chest - and wrapped his arms around her. His head resting on her shoulder he sighed, and the girl lifted a hand to play with his hair. She knew what he was thinking about.

"Everything is going to end up being fine" she whispered "Just like you said."

"But what if it doesn't ?"

A heavy silence fell on them. What if the guards didn't find Mal? What if she was really gone? Forever. Their sadness would never end. Already, Carlos was thinking of something else, but he put his worries to the side. Now was not the time to think about this. Jane turned around to stare at him, and with a steady voice she said:

"It will."

On wednesday, Audrey came to Ben's office to apologize. She looked miserable. Her eyes were red. An apparent lack of sleep had drawn dark circles under her eyes. She seemed stressed, tense, always on edge. A single noise could make her jump. She was always looking around her with a suspicious look, as if she was scared somebody was watching or following her. Ben had no choice but apologize too for what he had said to her the night of the coronation. He was in a bad mood at the time, and he had taken out his frustration on her. He shouldn't have lost his cool like that.

He accepted her reassuring words, and so, she came back everyday to see how he was doing and try to cheer him up. When she was in front of him, Audrey was calm, sweet, caring. Ben was grateful to have her around. It seemed like they were finally able to put their fights behind them and talk to each other like normal persons. Like friends. And to be honest, right now, he needed all of the support he could have.

However, when he was nowhere to be seen, Audrey appeared totally different. Bitter, mean, unstable. She would get in quarrels with almost every student who crossed her way. She acted weird, and everytime someone tried to ask her about it, she snapped. Yelled. Pushed people away. Even Chad - son of Cinderella who had a hopeless crush on Audrey since middle school - was avoiding her. Usually, he always tried to find ways and excuses to spent time with her. But Audrey was meaner and drier than ever, and even he got tired of her mood swings. She was alone. With noone to hang out with, to open up to or to laugh with. Ben was the only one talking to her now. And so, when she was not with him, Audrey was locked up her room. Or at least, that's what it looked like.

In reality, the girl spent the majority of her time outside of the campus. Right after school, she would run back to the dorm, get in her room, lock the door twice and - with a spell that she now knew by heart - teleport. She teleported to place far away - at least a four hour drive from Auradon Prep. A little house, in the middle of a forest, with only three rooms and a crib laying in a corner. Before this year, Audrey had only came here once - when her mom had wanted to show her where she grew up. The place was almost in ruins. Nobody came here anymore. And that's exactly why Audrey had made it her headquarters. She was sure that no one would find the rose and the spellbook, here.

So, usually, after sliding a little plate of food under the door of the locked room, she spent her nights reading through the spellbook and memorizing spells. Now, all of her fingers were entirely blue. It was not itching anymore - it hurted. So Audrey was trying to find a spell to cure herself - and also to cure the King. Her plan was working, and with a little patience - she knew she would get Ben. He only needed a little help forgetting Mal. But if Audrey cured his father, he would realize that she was able to do for him anything Mal could. And even better than her. When did Mal actually used her magic to do something good? Never. Audrey would save the King and Ben would be so happy, so grateful - he would fall right back in love with her.

The only problem was, Audrey could not find any curing spell in that stupid spellbook. And her patience was growing short. One night, she got angry and threw the old book across the room. She started crying, upset and mad at the entire universe. Her mood swings were more and more frequent, and the consent pain in her hand did not help at all. When she cried, she would cry for hours. When she got mad, she could not calm down before having smashed everything within her reach.

That's what she was doing, smashing plates, glasses and kicking furniture when she noticed something. The heel of her left boot had gotten stuck between two parquet boards, and one of them had gotten out of its hole. There was something under it. A huge book, with a black cover. Its title was written in golden letter.

"Maleficent, or the real story of Sleeping Beauty"