Mal liked to think she was a creative girl, maybe not as creative as Evie, but still more creative than most people. She was talented at art, able to make pictures that stirred emotions deep inside the marrow of your soul. She could wield a spray can like it was an extension of her body and could juggle multiple plans in her mind at once, without them spilling over and infecting each other. Despite her high opinion of her abilities, never, not once, during their entire stressful day did she ever consider the possibility that she would find Chad, tied up and shivering like an abandoned puppy at the bottom of a closet. All the while her boyfriend tried to coax him out in his most soothing voice.
She shot Uma an incredulous look, trying to wrap her mind around the strange turn of events. Uma just shrugged, seemingly also stumped. Both girls turned back to the scene in front of them, letting it unfurl how it will, giving their minds time to catch up with what their eyes were seeing.
"I want my mummy," he choked out, undistilled fear in his eyes.
It took everything in Uma and Mal to not snort at that because really, who says that? Rolling their eyes and choking back their chuckles they listened back in, seeing that Ben had coaxed him out and had taken off the restraints, leaving him looking around like a fearful meerkat for any threat. Seeing that his mystery threat was gone, he grabbed Ben by the collar, making the king stumble as the frightened boy desperately began to touch his face, as if needing tangible proof that he was real.
"Ben, Ben is that you?" He asked, his tone slightly wild, his eyes unfocused as they gazed at Ben..
"Yea buddy, it's me, what happened bud?" he asked, gently prying his hands off himself while keeping a watchful eye on the shaking boy.
He didn't reply, just jerkily looked around the room, his posture tensed and his eyes feral. "She's not here? I'm free?" he whispered, scared that if he spoke too loud she would appear and take it all away. "I'm free! Mummy, I'm free!" he screamed, sprinting away from Ben, and out the door, pushing the girls on the floor in his haste to escape.
Uma and Mal just continue to stare after him, their mouth slightly slacken as they processed everything. Mal was still discombobulated when she spied Ben's hand reaching out to help her up, which she took and let him help her to the feet, before he did the same for Uma.
"Did he just…" Mal trailed off, pointing out the door with a quizzical expression etched onto her features.
"Talk about a mummy's boy," Uma snarked, drawing Mal's attention to her.
The two girls just looked at each other, the corners of their mouths twitching. Eventually, they both dissolved into hysterical wicked laughter, clutching their stomachs and bracing themselves on their knees as they wheezed. Ben tried to fight it, but soon he was cracking up with the two girls, all three mulling over the entertaining events that had unfolded the past two minutes.
"I have never, ever, heard a grown ass man, or any man begging for their mummy," Mal choked out, her voice laced with mirth.
"Man that was just sad, and Evie had a thing for that priss?" Uma asked, when she was able to catch her breath.
"That was back when she was convinced she needed a prince, god am I glad she has given that up," Mal replied, her expression sobering as she remembered the shattered expression on the blue haired girl's face when the kiss failed.
She had never seen her look so utterly broken and considering her life before coming here, that is saying something.
Don't worry Mal, we'll help her, we just need to get this bitch first," Uma said, recognising the expression on the other girl's face.
"Reckon we should roast her or drown her?" Mal asked, a conniving spark in her eyes.
Uma returned the expression, her lips curving upwards at the thought of violence. "Why not both?" she replied, smirking as she joined Mal. Ben just watched as the two girls walked out the room, plotting various inhumane ways to deal with the princess, or as she liked to call herself, the queen of mean.
Ben just sighed, resigning himself to the fact that he may have to deal with a bloodbath. He knew- hoped- Mal was joking, but considering Evie's pain he wasn't as sure as usual. "Better get the lawyers ready," he sighed, before jogging after the two cackling girls.
Carlos likes to think he was a patient guy, afterall, he had to spend hours meticulously brushing his mother's furs and dealing with Jay and Mal's ridiculous plotting growing up. Hell, he even dealt with Evie when she went into what the rest of the Core Four called, Evie-Vain-Mode, so surely this was manageable too. Unfortunately for the technical genius, he had just come across the Achilles Heel to his usually extensive patience: Celia.
"And then I said to her, it's not like I choose the cards, you do, so if you should be mad at anyone-"
"Celia, please, for all that is wicked, shut up," Carlos groaned, finally losing his temper at the girls prattling.
"Well, tell me how you really feel, why don't you," she sassed, crossing her arms and huffing, the shadows flaring slightly in response to her mood.
Internally, Carlos groaned. Why, oh why did he have to be stuck with Celia? He hated long winded stories, they drove him nuts. Especially about unscientific things like magic and tarot. She may as well have been speaking Atlantian for all he understood. Evie should have been here, she loved this kind of stuff, and had a way with people to make them be quiet by making them think it was their own idea. But alas, she wasn't here and he was, so he had to come up with something fast if he didn't want his own shadow to eat him or something for pissing off Facilier's youngest daughter.
"Celia, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed and I don't do well with chatter when I'm nervous. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he said, hoping it was enough to patch over any ill will she felt towards him, at least for the meantime.
She just looked at him, her face unreadable. Carlos shifted his eyes away, not comfortable staring in the black holes that had taken over her eyes. He looked back when he heard her snigger, his eyebrows in his hairline as he tried to figure out what on earth was so damn funny. "God, you are such a Boredonian now, live a little Carlos, that was a pathetic insult," she snickered, making Carlos groan at her reply.
Sometimes, he really was an idiot.
"Shut up Celia, you are-" he trailed off mid sentence when he heard the door knob creek, immediately tensing his body in response.
Celia maneuvered the shadows around themselves, darkening them so they were like thick tar that obscured them from view.
They both hushed, their hearts beating like an out of time drum. Carlos didn't know when he grasped Celia's hand and pushed her behind him, all he knew is that she needed to stay there, and he would make sure she stayed safe. Adrenaline poured through his system, heightened his hearing and made his body tesen at every click of the door handle. He held his breath as the door opened, muscles pulled tight like a spring. He looked straight forward, his eyes glued to the turning doorknob. He felt Celia shaking behind him, her nervousness slipping into her magic and making the shadows restless.
Just as he felt like he was going to combust with energy, the door opened. He reacted on impulse and sprinted out, tacking the person to the floor. "Celia, now!" he shouted, making the voodoo witch cast her shadows onto them, one becoming tangible and pulling Carlos off the person and the other holding the other figure down, as if it was made of iron. Blinded by instinct, Carlos curled his fists the way Jay had taught him and punched the person in the head, making them slump motionlessly to the floor.
"Carlos!" he heard a horrified gasp, looking up to see Jane stepping in, her foot triggering the hidden wire.
"Jane ,look out!" He called, but it was too late. She screamed as she was turned upside down and suspended in the air, the loop wrapping around her leg like a vengeful snake.
She screamed, trying desperately to keep her dress from falling down, but the layers of tulle blinded her. "Get me down, Carlos!" she screamed, a furious blush coating her cheeks due to her indecency. .
Carlos unfroze and ran over, apologising profusely as he worked the wire free. "I'm so sorry Jane, that was for Audrey and- wait," he paused, but quickly kept going once she sent him a furious look. He got the wire off and caught her, helping her onto her feet, and making he sigh in relief that she was no longer dangling precariously in the air. "Where is dude and why are you here?" he asked, his brows scrunched together as he tried to work out what was going on. "And who's that?" he asked, turning around to point at the hidden wiggling body under the shadows
Celia waved her hand and the shadows peeled off, showing the gasping Gil underneath. "Man, that wasn't nice, it was so dark!" he called, and Carlos just blinked owlishly at him, still comprehending that the person they caught was an ally, not Audrey.
"Where's Dude?" Carlos asked frantically, looking around the room to get a glimpse of his faithful dog.
"He was right behind us," Jane said worriedly, ignoring the slight irritation she felt at Carlos for not inquiring about her wellbeing before looking for Dude, and for the rude way he asked why they had come here.
Celia used her magic to help Gil up, who thanked her happily, not holding the attack against her. He was used to spontaneous attacks growing up with his family. Noticing Carlos looking around curiously, he walked over, poking his head in between Carlos and Jane, making the girl scream at his unexpected closeness. "Whatcha looking for? Is it a penguin, I love penguins." He prattled excitedly, and Carlos just turned his head to him, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.
"No, not a penguin, we are looking for Dude, you know, my dog?" Carlos said slowly, still baffled by the randomness of Gil's statement.
"Oh that fluffy lil guy, he was right behind us," Gil said, drawing out the word ooh as if he had an earth shattering revelation.
"Maybe he is being a guard dog, let's have a look," Jane said, trying to sooth Carlos's obviously frazzled nerves.
Just as Carlos went to agree, Dude came bounding in, calm and relaxed like he was going for a stroll. "Dude, there you are boy, I was worried!" Carlos said, getting down to scratch Dude behind the ear.
"Sorry Carlos, I thought I heard a noise and went to check it out." He said, pressing against Carlos's hand.
"What did you hear boy?" Carlos asked, trusting Dude's impeccable hearing.
"Sounded like a chick, but I didn't go see because I heard the noise here," he explained and Carlos shared a worried look with the others.
"We should go check it out, might be the she-devil," Celia said casually, getting a weird look from Jane and Dude.
She rolled her eyes, pinning it down to their Auradonian upbringing. "Well come on dog. Show us where you heard it," she said, sighing impatiently.
"Do you even have enough magic?" Carlos asked, looking at her worriedly. "As much as I hate to admit it, without Mal or Uma we don't have much of a chance if you aren't a full strength," Carlos said, sending Jane an apologetic look when she gently smacked him on his shoulder for discounting her, but internally she agreed, without a wand she was useless.
"I'll be fine, dog-boy," Celia dismissed him, rolling her eyes at his concern. "Dude, show us where you heard it and hopefully we can get the villain wannabe so we can go get some more cake," she said, strutting out without another word.
Sighing, Carlos got up and pulled Jane into his side, indicating for Gil and Doug to go on. It took Gil a moment but he caught on, walking out with Dude following. Carlos turned to Jane and smiled shyly, holding both her hands in his. "Are you okay and is your mum?" He asked, showing his concern with his eyes.
Jane melted at his expression and gently nodded, touched at his sincerity. "We are both okay, mum is turned to stone though, so the sooner we get Audrey the better," she said, determination setting in her eyes as she spoke.
"Well come on then, we better hurry," Carlos said, releasing one of her hands but keeping the other so he could tug her down the corridor.
Nodding, she followed him, the duo catching up to the others in record speed.
I'm cutting this one in two, because while I could have continued this scene I'd have ended up with like 6000 words which isn't needed at all. I apologise for the lack of Evie and the boys, but they will be playing a big role next chapter. I had a lot of fun writing Chad, he is such a baby and it is brilliant haha. I hope you enjoyed the characterisation and the dynamics I showed, especially Jane and Carlos, they are just adorable.
I'm expecting about 4-5 more chapters for this story and I'm considering writing a sequel. Otherwise I might just do an epilogue so it depends if you guys would be interested in the longer version or not. I've also got another 3 Descendants stories buzzing around my brain, but have strictly forbidden myself from writing them until this one is done, then I can consider taking on another project.
Anyway, let me know which you'd prefer and I hope everyone enjoyed and is having a good night\day wherever you are!
TBP.