Chapter 7
He could feel something holding his arms in place, like a snake coiled around its prey. One hand was placed over his wrist emitting the snakelike sensation, while the other hand rested on his injured side. Having been dubbed as one of the most attractive people on the Isle, Harry had a sinking feeling of what was going to happen before it happened. However, Harry's eyes still widened in shock when the uncomfortable space between Audrey closed into nothingness. Some part of him believed she wouldn't do it, no matter how hard she tried, she would always be one of them. A princess of Auradon. This was crossing a line, a line that an AK would only cross to save their realm. A VK, on the other hand, they would do it just because they could. He felt... violated, he was always supposed to be the dominant partner. This act of invasion caused him immense distress, so he did the one thing to remove the intruder. He bit down.
Audrey yelped in pain, removing herself from his personal space. The action was not expected, and quite frankly, it was humiliating. Her embarrassment quickly turned into anger and Harry's facial expression showed her his new concern. The effect of the kiss was still lingering, and for some odd reason, that only made her crave it more. She was a sucker for wanting stuff that she could not have. She enjoyed the challenge. Those who fell into her lap willingly were nothing less than a bore, and they actually annoyed her more than anything. Maybe that's why she locked Chad in the pantry, his very presence irked her. Ben had listened to her most of the time; and quite frankly she only liked him when she was younger because she thought that was her destiny. When he grew up and started forming his own opinions, that's when she actually started to have feelings, then Mal appeared. So she went home to reassess her priorities, reassert her dominance, only to return to take things she knew was taboo. It invigorated her. He invigorated her. A pirate, the lowest of the low, thieves among men, descendant of swashbuckling trash, cursed to live out their lives in shame on the Isle. "That was real dirty of you, have you never been taught how to kiss a girl properly?"
Harry forced a smirk to cross his face despite the mounting fear. "Ah cannae say that ah ha'e ever bin successfully assaulted lik' that... 'twas a reflex lassie." The only comfort he had at the moment was his momentary freedom from restriction. He tried to act nonchalant around the deranged Queen, moving slowly yet discreetly across the floor. He noticed that the eerie glow of Maleficent's staff was gone, this was only chance of escaping. The vines were gone, and Audrey seemed somewhat distracted with what had just happened.
A short silence enveloped the space of the cell, the two staring at each other with completely different thoughts in their head. Suddenly, Harry charged straight at Audrey, ducking so that his shoulder was pinned up against her abdomen. His momentum gave him the edge and he successfully threw her onto the bed but it came with harsh repercussions. Harry's breath got caught in his throat when the stabbing sensation came back in full force, causing him to trip. It sent him reeling to the ground, his head smacking against the headpost before it connected to the wooden floorboards. Black spots danced across his vision before it was replaced with the grinning figure of the pink princess. Harry groaned in exasperation when he felt the snakelike coil wrap around his arms once again. He was at her mercy.
"Bite me again, and you'll regret it." Audrey warned politely, her knee slightly pushing into his injured side. A forced hiss escaped his lips and Audrey took that opportunity to resume her fantasy. Harry closed his eyes, refusing her anymore satisfaction than she was currently had. Her mouth was invading and distracting, however the constant pressure on his side reminded him to stay in line. Eventually, Harry slowly started to return the kiss because he hated being manhandled. It turned... aggressive, a battle for power that he was winning despite his condition. A sharp pain pierced through his combative demeanor, her knee pressing into his side again causing him to lose his composure and his breath. His eyes opened only to find a sadistic look in her eyes. Harry struggled to get his breath, but Audrey wouldn't let him. His body started wiggling from underneath her but it only resulted in pain. He pleaded with his eyes... begged with growing fear... then drifted into unconsciousness...
Despite the Isle being a place that houses her sworn enemies, they definitely stole all of the handsome genes from Auradon. Even with the cut that Harry had obtained from hitting his head on the headpost, he still looked like a model. Harry... Jay... Gil... had they been born in Auradon, maybe she wouldn't have lashed out like she did when she lost Ben to Mal. In her defense, there weren't many options to choose from outside of Ben. Their personalities were too easy to overpower, they would have folded to her every demand. Not the Isle kids. Caressing Harry's cheek with her hand, she was startled out of her thoughts when she heard the door downstairs burst open. They were here. Without hesitation, Audrey waved the staff to cast a transportation spell, disappearing into the dark Auradonian forest.
When they burst through the door, the whole group surveyed the area with a quick glance. Jay rushed up the stairs, followed closely by Uma and Gil while everyone else searched the lower floor for any clues of Audrey. The relief that flooded through Uma's veins was unrivaled when she saw Harry. She kneeled next to her first mate in an instant; taking a quick assessment of his injuries, she noted the dried blood from a cut he sustained on his head. Moving his shirt up slightly, she saw a huge ugly bruise on his abdomen. She tapped the side of his face lightly. "Harry?"
He didn't respond at first, the slight rise and fall of his chest the only indication that he hadn't slipped from Auradon into Hades fallen world. Uma fought the tear she had, determined not to show emotion. But despite all of that, Gil noticed the sudden change in her demeanor and made to make an end of it. Reaching underneath Harry's armpits, Gil hauled him into a sitting position before slapping him on the back a few times. Both Uma and Jay were startled by the action but the effect worked. Harry started coughing vehemently, his face contorted into a painful expression. Unbeknownst to Gil, he had inadvertently struck Harry's injured ribs.
"Aghh... feckin' goon!" Harry cursed in Scottish slang, his vision still blurry from the lack of oxygen. Usually, Uma would address his undesirable language, but for now, she was just grateful he was alive and settled for a one sided hug instead. Jay and Gil helped Harry to his feet much to his chagrin. Harry insisted that he could walk on his own, but he still kept close to Gil in the event that he lost his balance.
"We found Harry, but she's not upstairs." Jay announced rushing back down the stairs with the Sea Three in tow. There was a mixture of celebration and anger.
Harry limped his way towards the door, his main goal being to escape his confinement. He was a few steps away from the door when a sharp incessant knocking sounded from behind a closed door. The noise was a little uncomfortable so he kept his distance, in the event it was an enemy, he wasn't exactly in peak condition for a fight. Ben took a quick peak inside before immediately unbarring the door.
"Chad?" Ben was a little surprised at the condition Chad seemed to be in. He seemed... scared, like he had been beaten senseless, yet he couldn't see any clear physical damage done to him unlike Harry.
"I want my mommy." Chad was huddled in a ball, his body visibly shaking. A small smile formed on Harry's face at the young prince's state, it appeared that Audrey treated her friends worse than her enemies. Ben went in to help him up but the sudden movement caused him to lash out aggressively. "No!"
"It's okay." Ben ignored Chad's initial reaction and went to help him up a second time. "What happened, buddy?"
Chad glanced around anxiously, his eyes roaming for the woman who had confined him into such a small space. But all he found was Mal and her gang staring at him incredulously. He might have been embarrassed if his happiness wasn't overpowering his will to keep his image. "Hmm." He straightened up once he realized that the threat was not there and that the person who had been attempting to calm him down all this time was the King. "Ben. Ben!" He gripped his jacket like it was a lifeline, not really noticing how close they actually were. There was something different about him, he seemed more mature. Was it... that beard?! "Your face." Chad couldn't help but touch it, his hands smoothing over Ben's beard before returning his attention to the group. "She's gone? Huh?" That's when he felt a breeze... His face quickly shifted in the direction of the door, his eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas. "The door is open. I'm free. Freedom! Ohhh! Freedom!"
And just like that, he was gone. A small grin broke out on Harry's face, he couldn't have said it better. The door was open, he was free. Despite his injuries, he ended up chuckling at the whole spectacle. Audrey wouldn't get away with it, there was too much at stake. Freedom. Freedom from the Isle. He could almost taste victory... almost.
Congrats! You finished Queen of Mean! Thanks for all of the support and reviews! I just realized after watching Descendants 3 for the umpteenth time that Gil wasn't actually at the hut where Audrey was... but uh... we're just gonna ignore that. The plot demands, ya kno'...