The Isle. Just after the shooting.

Jay watched the limos and SUVs screech out of the square, as if they were being chased by the Mistress of Evil herself. When Mal didn't emerge from one of the vehicles to give him a sign, he jogged across the empty space and up the stairs to Dragon Hall. Evie was standing there, her arms folded and her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

She was worried.

Mal might be their leader, but Evie was their mother figure. And Evie could worry like an Auradonian Mother Hen if given the chance.

Using his elbow to nudge her in the side, Jay broke her from her thoughts, laughing "You ready for Cruella duty?"

And just like that, Evie was back to normal. Rolling her eyes, she gave him a shove of her own. "Oh fuck off, Jay."

Of course Carlos had won their little bet. And now she and Jay had a week each of tending to his mother. It would be hell. Sighing, Evie glanced back after the Guard vehicles. They'd be approaching the barrier now. The bridge was heavily guarded. She hoped no one was stupid enough to attempt to make a break for it. "I really thought she'd cave first. Especially after that bar fight with Uma last week. We won, but damn, if I had someone to climb into bed with and kiss it better I really would have."

Jay just laughed again. He wondered how Mal would react when she realised they knew. That he and Carlos had known for about six months, but Evie had probably known from the beginning.

Mal thought she was so subtle. That they hadn't noticed her disappearing acts. Or the changes - the way she'd been genuinely happier, less likely to snap on people who irritated her, she was even fighting with her mother less. And that was before they factored in the 'exiled Auradon banker' who was only ever seen with her, and bore more than a passing resemblance to the future King.

Their parents were still clueless, too self absorbed to think that she could be doing something for herself. Their minions were too scared to question where she disappeared off to. But they were her family. They noticed. They cared.

They had been getting ready to contact the Palace themselves if things had gone on much longer.

Whatever had happened six weeks ago, Mal had been heartbroken. Not that she'd let them know that, of course. But she'd been crankier. Meaner. More volatile and destructive than they'd ever seen her. Harry Hook had tried to flirt with her and she'd almost given him a need for his hook.

This war with the minor gangs had been a welcome distraction. Until Mal and Uma had ditched the swords mid battle and gotten into a catfight over Uma's belief Mal was sleeping with Harry.

Harry grabbing Uma around the middle and dragging her away while Jay and Carlos restrained Mal had not been anyone's finest hour.

"Instead she had to settle for you and your chemistry set like the rest of us." Jay watched as the barrier opened in the distance. The urge to follow was great, but he had to trust that Mal knew what she was doing. That she wouldn't just leave them here. He was briefly thankful that Evie's healing creams worked so quickly. Things may have gone very differently if Mal had walked in to meet the Prince with a four day old bruise along her jaw and hand prints around her throat, "What do you think spooked them?"

"Every Guard got a message at the same time, the one I assume is Prince Ben's bodyguard got a call." Evie responded instantly, of course she'd been watching. It had been like watching people scatter when Maleficent left her lair. That one pebble in the pond, and everyone was running. Evie had never seen Auradon Guards move so fast. "I feel like we need to go inside and turn on a news channel, but I have no idea how to spin this for the horned one."

Before Jay could answer, maniacal laughter echoed from inside Dragon Hall. It made their blood run cold, and one of the sidekicks walking through the square dropped the pot he was carrying.

Nothing good ever followed that sound.

Nodding, they turned and headed back into the house. Once inside, Maleficent's glee echoed off every surface, assaulting them before they were even close to the drawing room. Maleficent's errand rat was cowering in a doorway. Jay jerked his head back towards the door, dismissing him with a look.

The fewer potential victims the better.

"You screeched?" Jay drawled as they entered the room, before promptly stopping at the sight that met them.

Maleficent was running around the room, throwing books off the shelves and pulling magical items out of the safe. She was darting around, spectre held aloft, head thrown back in laughter.

It was terrifying. The old witch hadn't been this active in years.

"Did Mal breach the barrier?" she asked, the excitement clear.

"Yes." Evie answered, her tone guarded. She kept her gaze trained somewhere over Maleficent's shoulder. Close enough to appear interested but without giving the fairy the opportunity to make eye contact.

"Oh that's my girl!" Maleficent cackled, although there was no pride in the words. "Not quite my level, I duped a king of course. But Benjamin is above Stefan in the pecking order now."

Maleficent paused for a moment, turning her attention to Jay and Evie. She stared at them evenly for a moment, and Jay knew they wouldn't dare to breathe until she looked away. Jay started running through next week's training schedule, anything to keep his face blank. "Evie, you are in charge until Mal returns. Ready the troops! Prepare to invade! Gird your loins people, our revenge begins today!"

Maleficent snapped her orders like a general, lifting her sceptre into the air as if victory was already assured. EQ crowed happily from the sofa, clapping giddily at something on the screen.

Jay tried to make sense of what was playing out on the television, but Evie turned on her heel and stalked out of the room. He had no choice but to follow her.

Evie made a beeline for the War Room - a room off the main hallway where they kept their armour and a selection of weapons. Dragon Hall was the base of operations, the loft was their safe space.

Reaching into the closet for her tunic and cape, Evie spoke as she prepared, "There was an assassination attempt on the King - that's what my mom was watching. We have to assume the Prince has been taken into protective custody."

Jay heard the words she wouldn't say in Dragon Hall, where there were eyes and ears everywhere. Mal is probably in defence mode. We won't hear from her until he's secured.

"So what do we do?" Jay reached for his own armour, zipping the vest over his T-shirt.

"Exactly as she told us to." Evie took a deep breath, looking resolute as she pulled her gloves on. No one wanted the villains in power less than the VKs. Things were already bad enough without giving them morepower. "You find Carlos and start putting everyone on standby. I'm going to the mineshaft."

"Hades? Why?" Jay hissed, looking over his shoulder as if Maleficent would appear at the mere mention of her rival's name. The bad blood between the two was well known, although no one quite knew the origin. Rumour had it they'd been involved before the Isle.

Their gang had no affiliation or allegiance with Hades. Hades had no ties within the Isle at all. He just stomped around growling at people who got too close.

"You think I want to go to war without the most powerful being in Auradon on my side?" Evie fixed Jay with a look that would make any other man wilt.

She said the words. They made sense. It was a valid argument. There was no trace of a lie in her expression.

So why didn't he believe her.