Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sweat, Tears and Seawater
Ben didn't have to time to brace himself before Uma opened her mouth to sing, falling under her spell with ease, a contented, almost adoring look resting across his features.
"There," Uma said with satisfaction. "That ought to do it."
Ben, a besotted look on his face, got down on one knee and began to pull the heavy golden ring off his finger. "Uma, would you do me the great honor of being my lady and joining me at Cotillion tonight by my side?"
Uma blinked down at the prince kneeling on his own carpet before her. She shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
Ben's face filled with a delighted smile, slipping the ring onto her right index finger where he pressed a kiss.
"Alright, I believe that's quite enough," Harry interrupted, pulling Ben back by the scruff of his shirt collar. He looked to his captain with a frown, but she just swung her hair over her shoulder with a casual flick of her wrist. Harry's frown deepened. "Now that we have a way in. We need a way to blend in."
"True," Uma agreed with a touch of concern making her brows scrunch together. She looked at her and Harry's tricorns, worn leathers, and scuffed up boots. She glanced at their siren with a deeper frown, the girl having worn the same outfit since they met – now patched, torn, and stained with seat salt. "We need to make an entrance."
"I can help with that," Ben said, eager to please his beloved lady.
"You do?" Uma's brow rose, skeptic. "At this late hour? Cotillion is only a few hours away."
"Of course! I know a number of places that will have something readymade." His brows furrowed in concern. "I'm sorry we don't have time to have something made special for you, but there are a few seamstresses in the castle who will be able to add a few personal touches and alterations."
Uma and Harry exchanged a baffled look. "You can do that?"
"Of course!" Ben was all too happy to impress his lady-love. "I'm the prince of Auradon. I would do anything for you, Uma."
Uma's brow rose, her lips pressing together in a mix of amusement and contemplation. "This could work out better than I hoped."
"Anything to make you happy," Ben agreed before kissing her on the cheek and rushing out the door in fevered excitement to arrange everything.
Watching Ben leave with wide-eyes, her fingers wandering to touch the skin where the prince had laid a kiss, Uma missed the look of hurt that flashed across Harry's face, the tick of muscles in his jaw at Ben's casual touches.
Distracted, both of them missed Addison watching the entire scene with no other expression but the slightest of pinches between her brows. She looked away at the kiss and the look on Harry's face, something flashing across her own. She shook her head to dispel it, turning away from them both to begin singing quietly to herself. "Oh, tell me more, boy. Sounds like a fantasy. Oh, what could go so wrong with a girl and a…" She trailed off with a hum, staring out the glass to watch the sun's light fade over Auradon and observe everyone below scrambling about to get ready for the big event that evening.
She didn't move but to watch beyond the windows, ignoring the terse words spoken between Uma and her first mate. Their voices became lost in memories that blended with fantasies, dreaming of dancing in a cool, dark place, with an enormous blue light glowing softly over everything. Cool hands took hers and placed them on firm shoulders. She slipped her hands around a cool neck, hair brushing softly against her skin as arms encircled her gently. She swayed dreamily with her partner, joining in on a song meant only for them as people they knew and loved danced happily around them. Everything twinkled in blue, gold and white, a warm feeling suffusing every vein in her body, unable and unwilling to stop the smile alighting on her lips. She brushed a hand through short, soft hair before those arms at her waist spun her gently out and back in again, pulling her close. Something moved through her, some emotion that propelled her closer, her eyes fluttering shut as a softly smiling mouth drew closer to hers. A puff of breath fell across her lips as she rose up on her toes to meet them. She felt a thrill of anticipation at their near touch, her heart singing in her chest, something precious and irreplaceable a living thing between them. Her eyes slid closed as their singing trailed off and she felt a heart beating against hers–
"Your turn, Starfish," a voice said from behind her, shattering the moment.
She blinked open eyes she hadn't realized were closed, her cheeks wet. The voice she heard wasn't the one that had been singing with her. She glanced behind her to see a boy in black pants, a white ruffled shirt and red leather jacket.
His brows furrowed in concern at the tear tracks on her cheeks. "Everything alright, Starfish?"
"Just a dream," she murmured to herself.
"What were you dreaming?" he asked, trying to pull her back, knowing she often wandered to places in her mind none of them could follow, something haunting her every waking and sleeping moments.
"Dancing," she said, the dream fading with every passing minute, and the beautiful feeling with it.
"Not quite a dream, Starfish." He smiled at her. "We're going to quite the to-do tonight." He watched her eyes light with excitement, the shadows chased away for the moment and felt relief settle in his chest.
"With dancing?" She asked with a gasp.
"Apparently that's what the fancy ones here do when they're celebrating," Harry told her with a grin. He pulled at his white cravat, more than a bit uncomfortable in the expensive clothes, though it was something new to feel so clean. "I've already got my fancy duds on, and Uma's gettin' herself fixed up. Little prince-y boy says you're up next."
She looked at him in confusion, feeling something was off. "Where's your hook?"
Harry grinned, opening his jacket to reveal the familiar implement tucked safely inside. "No worries, love. It's right here. Thought it might be a mite easier gettin' inside without brandishing it about at the start. Don't want to be givin' ourselves away now, do we?"
She smiled back at him, unconcerned, her gaze drifting toward the door as Ben entered with a young woman at his side, her arms full with something pale blue and shimmering.
"Your dress is ready!" Ben announced with a happy grin, pleased to have found something that would likely fit his lady's friend well.
Harry watched as something flashed across their siren's face, her breath hitching in her chest. "Something wrong, Starfish?"
"Blue," she murmured, flashes of her dream returning – the colors twinkling around her, the firm arms around her waist, the face so close to hers. She blinked rapidly and the memories dispelled.
"Is the color not to your liking?" Ben's face fell.
"I like many colors," she replied, a smile sliding back into place.
"Do you now?" Harry asked, nodding to Ben who instructed the woman to hang the dress up and arrange for a bath and hair stylist. "What'd be your favorites then?" He watched their little starfish as she slipped off the windowsill and moved over to the dress, brushing the gauzy material with cautious, wondering fingers.
One of her hands clenched in the dark blue, wrinkled and stained dress she was wearing. "Blue," she murmured, thinking of that soft, glowing light, and a warm embrace that held her tight. Her smile turned dreamy, not noticing the tears that welled or the one that spilled over. "And green," she whispered, beginning to sing quietly to herself. "Someday….We thought this could be ordinary…someday. We were going to be extraordinary…"
Harry frowned after her as the maid directed their starfish into an adjoining chamber to get ready for the ball. Their siren had always been more than a little touched in the head ever since they'd stumbled across her on the beach, singing into the wind. But she seemed to be retreating further and further inside, something agitating her, making her increasingly unstable.
He heard the door reopen and glanced toward the entrance, freezing at the image he saw there, all concerns about their siren vanishing for the moment.
His captain all but floated into the room, the long train of her aqua and gold dress trailing behind her. She shimmered as she walked, her dress and her earrings catching at the light, stunning him where he stood.
Uma grinned at the stupefied look on Harry's face. She knew she looked good. She looked like the ocean itself had been made into a dress – all teal, marine, and gilt. The tulle and mesh foaming like waves from her hips down. The seamstress who'd helped tuck it into fitting perfectly had even added a few miniature seashells here and there in a moment of inspiration once Uma had fastened her mother's golden shell necklace around her neck.
"Not bad, huh?" Uma asked with a grin, a pleased flush gracing her cheeks. "You clean up rather well yourself." She studied her first mate in approval and he gave an elegant bow before her after placing one hand upon his heart.
"No one will be able to keep their eyes off you," Harry admitted, still more than a little dazzled at his captain's transformation. "I may have to gouge a few eyes out." Uma laughed in appreciation and Harry grinned.
"Where's our siren?" Uma asked, glancing about the room, remembering that they weren't the only two there and frowning when she didn't see their other crewmate.
"She's getting ready," Harry informed her. A look of apprehension crossed his face and Uma frowned.
"What?"
"Are we sure we want to be bringing our starfish, Cap'n?"
"Is there a problem?" Uma placed her hands on her hips.
"She's…becoming a bit more unstable."
Uma made a tsking sound, her fingers drumming on her hips, drawing Harry's gaze there. She glanced toward the door, her lips pressing together with displeasure, missing the flush rising on Harry's cheeks. "You're not wrong. She went a little overboard at the wharf." She let out a frustrated huff of breath. "If she'd actually killed Ben…." She glanced back over at her first mate, brows furrowing as he looked away, his face coloring. She briefly wondered why but pushed it aside for more important matters. "We can't afford to leave her behind. It's just the three of us."
"Do we know what set her off, Cap'n?"
"No." She huffed in annoyance. She tapped her pointer finger against her hip in agitation.
"We don't want to be upsetting a merkin so close to the sea."
"Definitely not." She felt a sly grin slide across her face. "Unless it works to our advantage, of course." She met Harry's gaze. "Ben's going to introduce me as his lady after this whole," and here she rolled her eyes, "King-in-Waiting Ceremony thing. While I make my big entrance, you and our siren are going to slip into the audience. I want you to make sure nobody leaves until we can convince dearest Royal Papa and Mama to dissolve the barrier and get rid of everyone's bands or their precious baby boy stays ensorcelled."
"And Starfish?"
"We'll let her blend with the crowd – keep her in the shadows and away from anyone who might set her off. We don't want to tip our hand too soon."
"And what hand is that, Cap'n?"
"That if they still don't bow to our ransom that everyone on that ship will be our prisoner." She grinned, fingering the necklace around her throat. "Not only will we have complete control of their prince, but between the siren and my own sea magic we can spell everyone there, forcing them to bow to our demands. Leaving us will be their last regret."
Harry grinned back at his captain. "We ride with the tide!" He crowed and Uma cackled in laughter.
They huddled together, finalizing the details of their plan until the door opened once more and they both broke off their scheming to see who had entered. They stood together, stunned as their siren drifted into the room.
She was clean, free of dust, dirt, and saltwater for the first time in weeks, her skin glowing under the warm lights. Her white hair shone almost silver, styled into some kind of fancy loose arrangement with braids at the base of her neck, her pale blue dress falling just shy enough to show off silver heels tied with gossamer ribbons around her ankles.
"Well, hello, beautiful," Harry murmured with a gleam in his eye, missing the glare Uma shot his way. "Is our Starfish ready then?"
Uma snapped her fingers in front of Harry's face. "What's my name?" She demanded.
Harry looked her over with an appreciative grin. "Uma," he breathed, placing his hand over his heart.
She rolled her eyes in return, but couldn't help but feel mollified, a small smile sneaking across her lips.
"Is everyone ready?" They looked up to see Prince Ben standing in the doorway, dressed in a navy suit jacket with heavy gilded embroidery and shiny gold buttons. "If we don't leave now we'll be late."
Harry and Uma exchanged mischievous grins. "We wouldn't want that," Uma said.
"No indeed," Harry agreed.
Ben stepped forward eagerly to escort Uma out of the room, leaving Harry to shuffle their siren out behind them as she'd started to wander off, oblivious to the schemes and tension around her.
"Come, Starfish," he told her, careful not to come into direct contact with her.
"Are we going somewhere?" She asked, having already forgotten their conversation of an hour ago.
"We're going to a wee dance." Harry grinned down at her, guiding her after Uma and the bespelled prince.
"I want to dance," she answered dreamily, beginning to hum as she made her way down the carpeted hallway.
"Perhaps you will," Harry said, one eye on the wandering siren, the other on his captain to make sure the prince kept his hands to himself.
Mal fought to keep a smile on her face as she posed for the obligatory pictures with the press before she could board the ship waiting in the harbor.
"Yes," she answered, smile as bright as it was forced, hoping no one could notice how anxious she was. "This is a 4Hearts design by Evie." She gestured toward her friend who waited in line behind her. "Any questions about it can be directed to her. Thank you." She stepped forward and away from the flashing lights and calls for her name, Evie's melodic voice filling in after Mal's hasty departure and gushing about Dizzy's accessories, determined to give the younger girl room in the spotlight though she couldn't be present that night.
With a stuttering sigh Mal moved across the gangplank and stepped onto the deck bobbing subtly in the calm waves. She waited, shifting on her heels to be announced before she could make her way down the stairs to the main deck. She pasted a smile on her face, trying not to wince at the light focused on her until she hit the wooden deck and the light moved to highlight the next person being announced.
"Mal," Belle greeted warmly and Mal turned to see Ben's mother standing beside her, her husband at her side. "We're so glad you could make it."
"Of course," Mal replied, more than a little startled when Belle encompassed her in a brief but warm embrace. Belle smiled, taking in Mal's violet and black ensemble with a knowing look in her eye.
"You look beautiful," she told her and Mal couldn't help but respond with a smile that was genuine as she thanked the queen. She greeted King Adam before stepping out of the way for Evie and Doug behind her to observe everyone chattering around the wooden deck, feeling like she was going to throw up in nervous anticipation.
She spotted Carlos and Jane holding hands and talking to a beaming Fairy Godmother near the punch bowl. It helped settle a little bit of something inside to see Fairy Godmother accept Carlos so readily, the brief thought that maybe things were changing after all chasing through her mind.
The sound of laughter caught her attention and she turned to see Jay and Lonnie laughing at the antics of one of their ROAR team members, Chad and his conspicuous, fur-lined cape missing from the bunch.
Apparently, Audrey had gone for a full spa date to ready herself for Cotillion, but her car had broken down on the return trip so Chad had volunteered to pick her up. They were both going to miss the ceremony, but had hopes that they'd make it back in time for the celebration afterward. Evie, of course, had divulged all of this to her while styling Mal's hair, having gotten the message from Bree who'd gotten it from Bucky.
Mal scanned the crowd for the all too Human cousin, and bit back a wince to see the guy surrounded by his usual entourage, Bucky himself in a pale pink suit bedecked in an absurd number of sequins. His cohorts seemed to have toned the glam down (probably so as not to out sparkle their captain), though they all seemed to match in either pale pink or baby blue. Mal could only shake her head in exasperated amusement. It was most definitely not one of Evie's designs.
"One does not outshine their leader," a voice said at her side and Mal turned to share a grin with Willa.
"I don't think they'd dare," Mal answered. She eyed Willa's tasteful wine and metallic gray outfit, her tribal tattoos and piercings on full display. The wolves as a whole had politely but firmly rejected Evie's offers to design something for Cotillion, and yet they'd still shown up in style. "Nice," she commented.
"Likewise." Willa nodded toward Mal's gown.
Movement at the top of the stairs drew their attention and they turned to see the Zombies arrive as a group – no surprise there, though the Zombie chic seemed to be drawing murmured approval and Mal spotted Evie glowing with pleasure. Eliza in particular seemed to be grumbling about the attention though there was a tall-tale sign of pleasure gracing her cheeks, particularly when Wyatt slipped over in his bronze and black patterned vest and tie to proffer his arm. She accepted it with a self-conscious look but with minimal fuss, her friends grinning behind her back.
They heard a squeal of delight and saw Bree rush over in her cream-colored dress to greet Bonzo looking debonair in his gray, long-tailed coat. He promptly lifted her up and spun her in a circle, eliciting the first laughter out of her they'd all heard in weeks.
The sudden blare of trumpets caught everyone's attention and the crowd hushed as everyone moved to take their places. Another sound of trumpets called out before "Prince Benjamin" was announced, Ben walking out into the spotlight, looking dapper in his blue, gold and cream suit. Mal felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him, her cheeks warming as he grinned and waved as everyone cheered.
The audience quieted as Ben made his way unescorted down the stairs and to the raised platform across the deck where his parents waited to greet him. A benevolent Fairy Godmother stood just behind the altar, wand in hand as Ben moved to one knee before the trio.
The silence was thick with hopeful anticipation as Ben took his oath before the King and Queen of Auradon to uphold the faith of their people, the honor of his family, and swore to give his all for their kingdom.
Despite herself, Mal felt tears well in her eyes, her heart swelling with pride and love. No matter what came of them, she never doubted that Ben would always do his best for Auradon.
She felt a warm presence at her elbow and glanced over to see Evie holding onto her arm in support, her smile wide, and her eyes shimmering with tears too. They exchanged knowing smiles.
Doug, in his sand-colored suit beside Evie, dug out a handkerchief from somewhere in his jacket pocket and handed it to her. She gave him a watery chuckle, dabbing at her eyes before kissing his cheek. He flushed in shy joy, and Mal felt her lips pull up at one corner, happy for her friend.
She glanced at her other side where Willa still stood beside her. Wyatt stood next to his sister, Eliza in her gorgeous maroon, green and gold dress at his side. Wynter in her tan dress stood beside them, avidly watching the ceremony.
Mal remarked silently to herself that they had all arrived in their separate groups, but had somehow simply gravitated toward each other. Part of it was protection, part shared curiosity – they'd come for different reasons: to compare notes, to exclaim over fashion, to squeal in delight at seeing their date, to flirt, to distract one another, to support Ben…but they were all here. Together.
It was something none of them would have thought possible at the beginning of the school year. Except, perhaps, one. And her absence was felt keenly.
They all shared a look at some point. The same wondering, apprehensive look. Contemplating how to fix it, wondering if the pieces could ever be put back together. If the puzzle piece, the thread that wove them all together, could ever be set back into place again.
More than one glance darted to and away from Zed as the ceremony drew to a close. Mal couldn't see him from where she stood, but knew he was somewhere behind her, probably standing with Bonzo and Bree, maybe even Carlos or Jay.
She'd seen him arrive in his maroon and silver suit. The color had been surprisingly striking on him; receiving more than one admiring gaze though he'd been oblivious to it all. There was only ever one person on his mind. Even when he'd forgotten her.
Addison.
Mal bit her lip, her heartrate picking up at the thought of her supposed half-sister. How was she ever going to tell Zed, let alone Addison herself?
The sound of applause broke into Mal's thoughts and she began applauding with everyone a couple beats too late. Evie threw her a concerned look but Mal just gave her a weak smile in return, her heartrate increasing by the moment.
Ben turned toward the audience and everyone sank into a respectful bow or curtsy, even the werewolves, to the surprise of many. Ben grinned and bowed low in return before leaving the small stage and making his way across the deck in Mal's direction.
It was time.
As the first dance was announced Ben paused in front of Mal. She sank into a wobbly curtsy. Ben gave a perfunctory bow in return though his face creased in anxious concern. Rising from his bow he took a step toward her, his mouth tight.
"Mal, I wish I had time to explain." Before Ben could elaborate further, trumpets sounded and everyone turned toward the stairs as a spotlight shone at the top and a girl walked cautiously out into the light.
Murmurs of confusion sprang up all around them as Mal and her friends gaped in shock at the figure making her way down the stairs, her aquamarine and gold dress catching the light, her teal braids piled high on her head.
"Wha–?" Mal gasped on an intake of air, her stomach plummeting somewhere toward the seafloor as Ben rushed up the stairs to grasp Uma's hand, kiss the gold ring sitting on her finger, and escorted her the rest of the way down to the deck. Mal stared, unblinking, at Uma's approach, flummoxed as to how the other girl could be here, let alone resting her hand on Ben's arm as if she were his date.
She felt something sharp pierce her heart at the thought.
"Hi Mal," Uma began with a sheepish smile. "Bet you didn't expect to see me tonight." Her eyes twinkled with something like triumph for a moment before it vanished. "I know it's a little sudden, but, well," she slid her hand into Ben's with a girlish giggle and let him pull her close. "Ben really wanted me to be here tonight for his ceremony and all. And we hadn't found a time to tell you."
"You – but – what?" Mal's gaze darted between the two, too stunned to form a coherent sentence, thoughts chasing each other wildly in her head, her heart pounding in her ears. She felt something surge beneath her skin, her skin warming alarmingly.
"Something happened between us on my ship," Uma continued, chirping away in joy. "Some…connection. When I saw Ben fall toward the sea…I just—I realized I would've jumped in after him, you know? And well," she looked down at the wooden floor, sheepish. "I knew you two had broken up, so, it's nothing personal." She met Mal's eyes in earnest. "I just…" She grabbed Mal's hand and Mal flinched back at the icy touch, it felt like grasping the unforgiving bottom of the ocean where light ceased to exist. "Listen, Mal." She grinned. "I just really want to thank you. For everything." She stepped closer and embraced Mal in a hug that froze her to the bone.
Mal stood arrested on the spot, her arms raised in a defensive gesture she wasn't even aware she was making as she could only stare at Ben in shock, stunned disbelief and a howling grief rising up inside her. Her corset felt like it was strangling the life out of her. Uma released her with a quiet chuckle.
"You see, Mal," Ben said, all grateful eyes and beaming smiles. He stepped up beside Uma, placing his hand gently on her hip to draw her close. Mal thought she was going to throw up. "You were right. You knew we weren't meant to be together. That's why you never told me that you loved me. It's so Uma and I can be together."
No. She placed a hand on her stomach. She knew she was going to throw up. Her body was flushed, feverish, something clawing away at her from the inside.
Mal's mouth gaped open. "B…Be...," she tried, and failed to get his name out. To get anything out. But everything seemed to keep getting caught in her throat, running up against a knot there that made her eyes water every time she tried to speak. Every time she tried to breathe. She felt dizzy, sick – wrong.
It was wrong. All wrong.
Of course she loved Ben.
Of course she did! But now she was...
Ben gave the signal and a sweet, orchestral music began. He slid his arms around Uma, drawing her close as they began to dance in the middle of the deck, his smile lighting up his face.
Everyone else stepped back to give the dancing couple room, but Mal stood rooted to the spot as if turned to stone.
This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. This was all some nightmare that she was going to awaken from any moment.
Any moment now.
Oh gods. Why wasn't she waking up?
"Come on, Mal," Evie's soft voice spoke into her ear and she drew her best friend back, tucking her safely between her and Carlos as everyone continued to stare at the waltzing couple who seemed completely oblivious to the daggers and disbelief being thrown their way.
Willa stepped up beside Evie in a show of camaraderie with a tsk of her tongue. She tossed her long curls over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed as she watched the couple with their adoring smiles on the dance floor. "It reeks of low tide here," she said, disgust in her tone, not bothering to keep her voice down. She felt a flash of satisfaction a Uma's smile froze in place.
In a show of just how flabbergasted everyone was by Ben's sudden change of heart and Uma's appearance, King Adam signaled for the music to cease and approached his son, his wife at his side.
The Royal Family kept their voices down but it was clear an argument was taking place by the tense set of King Adam's shoulders and the look of irritation on Ben's face. Queen Belle's voice was a quiet, urgent murmur but her eyes kept darting to Mal's stricken form in concern.
Zed frowned at his teammate, flabbergasted as to what was going on as the newly crowned King-in-Waiting kept his fingers interlaced with the turquoise-haired girl who was causing such a stir.
"This is not good," Eliza murmured at his side, her eyes wide as she stared at the center dance floor. Her arms were tight around her messenger bag.
"What's going on?" Zed asked and heard the question echoed all across the deck, the mutterings drowned out by the rising argument between father and son.
"That's Uma, Zed," Eliza answered, staring at the young sea witch. She inhaled sharply. "And her band is missing." She began to curse colorfully but quietly in Zombie just under her breath.
"Such language," Wyatt muttered at her side with a smile though he too was watching the scene unfold before them with trepidation. "What're we going to do?"
"What can we do? Uma has her magic. Very few here do. Who's strong enough to go up against her?"
Zed shook his head. "There has to be something someone can do. Some distraction or—" Something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Some figure in the crowd that made his heart both skip a beat and beat faster all at once.
"Zedka?" Bonzo asked in concern, noting his friend's inattention.
"One second." Zed slipped away from his friends to investigate, trailing behind the petite figure with growing anticipation. He was so focused on his goal that he didn't notice the person in front of him until he bumped into them.
"Sorry, mate," a boy with dark brown hair and a devil-may-care grin stepped neatly in front of Zed causing them both to come to a full stop.
"No, I'm sorry," Zed apologized. "I wasn't paying attention. If you'll excuse me." He made to move around the other boy but the stranger shuffled in step with every one of Zed's movements. Zed finally took the time to look at him, noting the red leather coat and combat boats. Zed frowned. It wasn't exactly formal attire.
"Stay and enjoy the show, eh?" The other boy was saying with a gleam in his eyes. "I can guarantee it's going to be like nothing you've ever seen before."
Whispers sprouted up all around them before a quiet but sure voice said, "Of course I love you! Ben, I've always loved you." There was a gasp from everyone in attendance and both Zed and the boy turned to see Mal with her arms around Ben's neck, kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
"Oh fish hooks. That's not good," the boy in the leather jacket muttered.
"True love's kiss," someone nearby sighed. "Works every time."
Ben's faint, dazed question as Mal pulled back was drowned out by Uma's shriek of rage. The couple ignored the fuming girl as Mal continued to hold Ben close, his forehead resting on hers, her eyes closed as if to breathe in the moment as Ben stared down at her with love and relief in his eyes.
Zed felt a thrill of happiness for the two, knowing they'd been having their share of troubles lately though his own heart lurched at the sudden memory of Addison and their first almost-kiss in the Zombie Light Garden.
"Addison," he murmured, looking wildly about, not noticing that the other boy had slid away while he was distracted.
He saw that Uma had been cornered by the railing and the boy in red leather was drawing something wicked from an inside pocket as he advanced toward the young sea witch. Raising the object in his hand high, showing the crowd his hook and making them scatter, the boy turned to look over his shoulder just long enough to shout, "Now, Starfish!"
Zed's gaze darted in the direction the boy had shouted and his heart jumped in his throat to see a girl with silver-white hair and a beautiful shimmering blue ball gown sitting on the starboard rail, her heels peeking out beneath the frothy layers as she kicked her legs to a rhythm against the metal railing.
Everyone around her stumbled back with startled gasps as she smiled a dreamy smile, her eyes glowing a fantastic blue as she opened her mouth to begin singing.
Uma's voice could just be heard cackling over the shouts that ensued. "True love's kiss won't defeat this!"
"Addison," Zed breathed, already moving before he had conscious thought to do so as he worked to shove his way through the crowd of people as the boat beneath them began to rock. "Addison!" Zed called, fighting to get close.
"Zed!" He heard Eliza yell behind him. "No!"
He glanced back to see Eliza staring at him in horror, but Zed ignored the warning of his friend and pushed forward, knowing what he had to do. His gaze locked on Addison as the deck began bobbing from side to side more heavily, knocking people into each other with shrieks of surprise.
Zed stumbled, losing sight of her, and in that moment he felt it.
Snapping his gaze up Zed locked eyes with Addison and her singing trembled. She lost the next note as something flickered across her face. It was replaced in an instant by a look of pain and regret and longing so sharp it pierced Zed where he stood, and he watched, stunned as she squeezed her eyes shut, shaking it violently back and forth before turning herself around on the rail to face the sea and began to sing once more.
A whisper of warning, some chill note sounded in the air right before the boat lurched heavily to the side, knocking everyone to the ground with shouts and cries of surprise as all began to descend into chaos.
Zed's knees hit the deck with a force that made him wince. An icy breath of wind kissed the back of his neck followed by a splash of something wet. Zed looked up with everyone else to see a tempest roll in out of nowhere, the clouds boiling in the sky, the waves of the sea rising higher and higher in time to the mournful tune of the siren on the rail.
Uma clung to the cold metal railing beside her, cursing her dress. Every time she tried to stand she slipped on a piece of lace or tulle and it sent her right back down again. She glanced about the boat's deck with a grim smile. At least she wasn't the only one without sea legs.
She watched as everyone tumbled to and fro according to the tossing waves, everyone trying desperately to hold onto something so that they wouldn't get pitched overboard into the churning sea.
As the rain broke free of the bruised and angry clouds overhead she heard some girls in their pink and blue sequined dress suits screech about their hair.
Uma rolled her eyes. "You'd think they were afraid the water was going to make them melt." She turned her smirk toward her first mate who was hanging on with white knuckles to the bow's railing.
"Was this part of the plan then, Cap'n?" Harry gasped as a wave crested over the side, soaking them through. He and Uma sputtered in the salty water along with everyone else caught in the wave's wake.
"Shut it, Harry," Uma growled, shaking her head to dislodge the water droplets. "We'll be fine, even if the boat capsizes."
"I don't have your skills to survive in the sea." Harry reminded her with more than a touch of anxiety in his voice.
Uma looked over at her friend, her expression serious. "I wouldn't let you drown, Harry."
There was a long shared look between them broken only when the boat pitched deeply, throwing Harry against Uma and Uma into the railing with a hiss of pain. "Sea glass and coral!" Uma cursed, knowing it'd leave a bruise on her shoulder later. "She really is going to capsize this ship. And everyone on it." Uma looked toward their crewmate still perched on the starboard railing like a bird on a branch, singing her heart out. Uma listened quietly for a moment, letting the tune surround her. Her eyes narrowed. "Something's wrong."
"What's that, Cap'n?" Harry gasped as they pitched the other way and Uma's elbow hit him hard enough in the solar plexus that he couldn't breathe for a moment.
"I don't know," Uma snapped. "But something's upset our siren."
"I keep warning them…not to upset the mermaid, but no one listens," Harry concurred, trying to swipe his water-logged hair out of his face with only his forearm.
"What was that?" Uma asked with a distracted tone. "I wasn't listening."
"What's going on?" Lonnie cried as the boat pitched hard to the starboard side and she scrambled to remain standing. Her long brown locks were plastered to her face and neck, her coral lace dress soaked through.
"Somebody had to go and set Addison off," Eliza said, clinging to the railing beside her with one arm, the other held protectively around her messenger bag. "I swear, if that cheerleader gets my computer waterlogged—"
"You'll what?" Jay asked from several feet away where he too clung to the side, reaching for Lonnie. "Push her into the sea? Don't think that'll do much."
"Why'd you bring it in the first place?" Wyatt asked from beside her.
"I got a message from Ben saying to bring it to Cotillion," Eliza said. "Had I known at the time that he was under some crazy sea witch's spell I wouldn't have bothered."
"But you'd have still come anyways?" Wyatt grinned and Eliza sent him an unamused look that made his grin widen further. "I'm flattered."
"You—" Eliza cut off with a gasp as the boat pitched in the opposite direction and they hung on. Some weren't so lucky and went tumbling across the deck. Notably, one of the Aceys made a spectacular slide clear across the deck and was only stopped from passing under the rails and off the boat into the boiling sea by Wynter grabbing the girl's ankle on one side, Bonzo on the other.
"What do we do?" Jane asked, clinging to the rail, Carlos with his arms around her helping her to hold on. She gasped as the boat listed starboard again, a wave crashing up and over to swamp the deck. Everyone in its wake sputtered and gasped for air as the wave receded, thunder crashing loudly overhead.
"Open to suggestions," Eliza bit out through grit teeth.
"Mal," someone gasped and they turned to see Evie gaping at her friend. "What are you doing? Get back here!"
They watched as Mal began sliding and stumbling across the deck toward Addison who somehow remained perched easily on the railing as if she were sitting calmly on a park bench.
"Hey! Siren!" Mal yelled as she approached. "Is that all you got?"
Jay sucked in a breath through his teeth. "I thought the goal was to not upset her further."
"Yeah," Carlos agreed. "Screaming at her wouldn't be the plan I'd go with."
Mal let out a few choice words beneath her breath that were lost in the winds blowing off the sea when Addison didn't respond. "Hey, Starfish!"
They watched as Addison peeked over her shoulder to peer at Mal in puzzlement. Mal cursed under her breath again, but Harry let out a cackle of joy.
"You hear that, Captain? She only responds to our name."
"It's a miracle she's responding to anything," Uma muttered, eyeing the siren and dark faerie. Her eyes darted to the ocean behind her, calculating as Addison's momentary distraction dulled the raging tempest just the slightest bit. It wasn't much, but it might be enough…
"Enough, Addie," Mal said, pushing her damp hair out of her face. "Play time is over. It's time to come home."
"You," Addison replied, her eyes a brilliant blue. She'd stopped singing for the moment but the storm continued on. Her gaze darted past Mal to land on Ben who was sloshing his way over to Mal's side. Her smile warmed as she met Mal's gaze once more. "You did not throw it away."
Mal blinked, recalling the rather disastrous conversation that had taken place in her apartment only a few days ago. It felt like weeks. "No, I didn't. But you are."
The siren smiled benevolently, like she was humoring a favorite child. "What have I thrown away?"
"Us, Addie. You're throwing us away. Your family, your friends—all the people who care about you, who love you and want you to come home. I know you feel a little lost right now."
"A little?" Carlos muttered under his breath and Jane made a quiet noise of agreement.
"But I know how that feels," Mal continued. "Sometimes it's hard to find yourself, but I promise you, it's worth it in the end. It's—" she floundered for a moment, her mind racing. She started as chilled fingers interlaced with hers and she looked over to see a thoroughly drenched Ben standing at her side, giving her an encouraging smile.
"You have a family, Addie. One that wants you." She thought of their father for a brief moment, the regret in his eyes. "We know about your true parentage, Addison. We want you to come home. All of us – Evie, Eliza, Bree, Carlos, me…" she gestured at everyone on the boat, flinching as lightening streaked across the sky at the mention of Addison's parents. There were a few shrieks of surprise, followed mostly by anxious murmurs as everyone asked one another what Mal was talking about.
Ben squeezed Mal's hand in support and she pushed forward, watching as Addison appeared frozen on the rail, her breaths coming in short little gasps.
"Bucky and Audrey are your family, Addison. They're still your cousins, through your mother—the person you thought was your Aunt Steph. She's your birth mother."
There was a squawk of surprise from Bucky somewhere on the deck, but Mal kept her eyes trained on Addison, whose eyes had widened with the information.
"Your mother—Steph—she's gone now." Mal cringed at the delivery of that bit of news though it wasn't new information. "You might have lost her, but you do have a father, Addison. One who's alive and waiting to meet you."
Rain still fell in fits and starts, thunder rolling on, but the boat had ceased to rock quite so violently, bobbing side to side in a way that made the deck unsteady but was no longer threatening to capsize.
"He didn't know about you either," Mal continued. "He thought you'd been lost with your mother when she'd died. And…you have a sister, Addison. One who'd very much like to get to know you better, too." She bit her lip, bracing herself and felt Ben's hand at the small of her back in support. She leaned just the tiniest bit into it, soaking up his presence. He didn't ask how she knew all this or question what she was doing, he simply trusted her to know.
Addison was now staring at Mal, her body immobile except for the fingers that were clenched tight around the railing.
Eliza gave a small gasp at the sudden insight. "No way," she breathed, her gaze darting between Mal and Addison.
"What?" Wyatt murmured. "What is it?"
"Mal told us herself," Carlos confirmed and Jay nodded.
"How in Auradon was that concealed for so long?" Eliza asked, dumbfounded.
"I dunno, but I'm pretty sure it's a question Mal's been asking herself all night."
"Mal only found out tonight?"
"Yeeep," Jay said.
"Who is it?" Wyatt asked, brows scrunched in confusion.
Mal took a deep breath, bracing herself. "It's me. I'm your older sister, Addison."
Most jaws around the deck dropped, eyes going wide as they stared at the pair, wondering how they'd missed it.
"I knew it," Willa murmured, the smile on her lips both triumphant and apprehensive.
"You knew?" Bree asked, incredulous.
"Guessed," Willa admitted.
Bree shook her head, exchanging shocked looks with Bonzo. "Good guess," she mumbled. Bonzo agreed in a quiet rumble.
"Mal?" A trembling voice asked.
Their heads snapped back toward Addison on the opposite side of the deck before she gave a little whimper of pain, her hands up at her temples, her breathing becoming increasingly erratic. She cried out as if struck by something and a strong gust of wind knocked everyone back, Mal and Ben blown down to the ground.
There was a large snapping sound, followed by Addison's band emitting an angry buzz.
Suddenly Addison's spine straightened, her mouth forming a breathless "oh" before she relaxed like a puppet whose strings had been loosened.
She was still for only a moment before she sat back up, her eyes dreamy. Turning back to the sea she began to sing.
The boat shifted sharply to port and everyone screamed, scrambling to hold on to something.
Mal and Ben went tumbling and sliding across the deck, stopping only when Willa, Wynter and Lacey caught them.
"Thanks," Mal muttered, hissing and rubbing at her elbow where she's skinned it against the deck.
"Happy to help," Willa said with a wince as a wave splashed up and smacked them.
"I don't think Addison's too happy," Wynter commented, shaking her long hair out of her face, looking back at the siren with wide-eyes. She turned and glanced at the ocean behind her with trepidation. "I can swim, but I don't know if I can swim in that."
"You won't have to find out," Mal assured her, struggling to push to her feet.
"And how to you plan to accomplish that?" Lacey asked, screeching as the deck tilted, panic on her face. "If you couldn't reach her after all of that, nobody can."
Ben looked to where Mal's gaze had fastened halfway across the deck where a number of students and dignitaries had gathered and were clinging to the main staircase. He spotted what Mal had, his mouth turning into a grim smile. "I wouldn't say that," he assured Lacey.
The blonde opened her mouth to ask more, but was cut off as a wave crashed hard into the boat, causing it to list to the side and swamping the deck with more water. Everyone held on to railings, stairs, each other – anything solid enough to get a firm grip on as the siren sang on, kicking her legs absentmindedly against the side of the ship. Her grip on the rail was light, fearing nothing as she watched the dark gray clouds above her churn and crash, water from above mixing with the sea waters below. To all eyes she looked perfectly content, not a care in the world to trouble the mind or heart.
And it was in that exact moment that a sound—a name—rang out above the tumult.