Warnings: emotional manipulation, sex trafficking and physical abuse.
Ben winced as his father exploded. As soon as the last name slipped out of his m
outh, his dad roared, practically making the entire room vibrate. Even his usually level-headed mother was glaring, her war face slipping on in place of her usually calm expression. Adam's chest was heaving and his grip on the ancient desk was making the wood splinter, bowing under the pressure. His blue eyes inflamed, shifting into his bestial form. Ben glanced at his mother, seeing her back was ramrod straight and her lip curled. Her eyebrows frowned and her jaw was clenched, no longer able to send calming vibes.
"Look, I know you both hate him-"
"Hate him? I loathe him with every fibre of my being!" Adma roared, his body shaking as he refused his shift. "He hurt your mother, tried to force him to marry him. He tried to have her father killed! He tried to murder your grandfather and then me, and you think my feelings can be simmered down to simple hatred?" He roared, his voice deep and animalistic. "I loathe him with every fibre of my being, I would rip him to shreds if I had the chance. It was why Ariel, with her newly learnt sea witch powers, caught him instead of me." he growled, trying to calm down his temper while seeing red.
"Trust me dad, I would help you tear him to pieces. I hate him forever hurting you and mum. But Gil, his son, didn't do it. I deliberately chose him as his other sons, both names Gaston shared his views. Gil still has some of his father's characteristics and needs redemption, but he won't try to hurt either of you." Ben pleaded; her eyes wide as he beseeched his parents.
As per usual, it was Belle who reacted, her sensibilities melting away her anger like the sun does ice. "I assume you chose him because it would look bad if we asked the other royals to be alright with this if we didn't have to deal with it as well?" she asked, looking at her son while she tried to tame the remaining anger.
"Yea mum, that's exactly why." Ben said, tension seeping out of his body as he realised his mother understood.
"We will not be housing him. We will say that any royal affected by their parents will not need to house that villain's offspring. I will not give the son of that vile man in our home, and I think it would be hazardous to his health if he were here as well," she added, flicking her eyes to her still steaming husband.
"I dislike this, I loathe this. However, if this is what you want to do, I will support you," Adam said, his voice strained as he fought with his temper. "However, you will be the one to do the talking, make the arrangements and will take responsibility if it goes badly. Your mother and I will look over your arrangements before they go forward, but otherwise, this is all yours, much like Chad had when he did his shoes for the homeless program," Adam warned, clenching, and unclenching his fist.
"Of course, father. Could you please send for the council? The school year starts in 3 weeks," Ben said, making his father stiffly nod.
"I suggest you go make plans now, or perhaps talk to Prince Everette and Prince Chad." Belle said, giving him a pointed look.
It took Ben a moment, but he understood his dad needed time alone with Belle to process. Him being there will just keep his temper flaring because as much as he loved him, it was his idea. With a nod and a farewell, he turned on his heel and slid out the door, shutting it carefully behind him, mouthing thank you to his mother.
Evie hated Thursdays.
Well, to be honest, she hated all days but especially Thursdays. She could hear her mother talking to her other 'royals' down in the parlour, one of the few rooms she was tasked with cleaning. No one else saw the rest of their decrypt castle, everything was a pantomime. Keep the room people see clean, and the rest doesn't matter. Evie sighed as she focused on the feather, pulling out the feathered pieces until the ends remained. She pulled it up to her face, checking it could apply an even coat.
"That'll be a decent eyeliner brush," she muttered, putting it to the side so she could carry on.
She pulled out a thin stick she had found during her walk through the woods. She pulled out her bowl of homemade glue. She had made it earlier, using some resin she got from one of the evil trees and ground charcoal to temper it. Humming quietly, she put a little on her finger and slathered it on the end of the stick, before gently applying bits of feather to the end. It wasn't perfect, but the kingdoms refused to send brushes as they thought it could be a weapon. She made do, trying to make this one thick enough to apply eyeshadow with, knowing that was what her mother needed.
Once satisfied, she turned around to one of her pets, or familiar, she was gorgeous and never failed to make Evie's heart warm. Kyra was a beautiful panther, her black fur having a slight blue sheen in the sunlight. Her gorgeous blue eyes glowed in the light, looking like two pools of hellfire. Currently, the cat was stretched out on Evie's bed, her fellow familiar Tynan, a beautiful raven with feathers of similar properties to her fur resting at the top of the canopy.
"What do you think, Ky and Ty?" Evie asked, holding the two brushes up for them to see. "Do you think they will pass the inspection?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light.
The two animals just looked at her, slight sympathy in their gaze. Evie sighed, wishing she could understand them "maybe if I ever get off this stupid island, I might be able to," she muttered, beginning on another brush, adding some fur from Kyra into the mixture.
Eventually, Tynan flew back down to her, perching on her shoulders. Evie smiled and stroked his feathers, marvelling at how soft they were. The Raven rubbed his feathered head against her cheek like a cat, and Evie sighed happily, revelling in the bird's affection. Eventually, Kyra got up as well, curling up around Evie and winding her tail around her arm. Evie smiled and stroked the soft fur, marvelling at the muscles hiding under her fur.
"Evie, your mother requires you," a haughty voice demanded, throwing her door open in a show of disrespect.
"Narissa, tell my mother I will be down in a moment, I will just ensure my appearance is satisfactory," Evie said calmly, keeping her face clear of expression.
"I'm not a messenger bird," the old Queen hissed, glaring at Evie.
"No, you are my mother's third in command," Evie said, standing up and mimicking the way her mother always stood. Kyra positioned herself slightly in front of her, and Tynan pointed his sharp gaze at the intruder, feeling the tension in the air.
It took a while, but eventually, the old Queen's posture shifted, becoming more submissive. "I shall do that. Lady Nadine wanted to invite you to our mansion tomorrow if you'd like to join us for tea," she said, her jaw tense.
Evie looked at her nails, her features clear of emotion. She looked up at her, her head slightly tilted. "I shall see if I am free. I suggest you ask my mother if she would find it appropriate," she said levelly, already turning around to saunter to her mirror.
"I shall do that, perhaps see you tomorrow, Princess," she said, trying to hide the venom in the word princess.
It was a bit of a sore spot with the old Queens. Her mother ruled them and stripped them of the title queen. They were all duchesses and their children lords and ladies, which left a bitter taste in their mouths. Though considering Queen Ingrid had an uncanny connection with the dark forest, the only place on the island that anything grew, no one was foolish enough to push their luck.
She took her rave, not bothering to shut the door out of spite. Evie rolled her eyes and reapplied the lipstick she made of berry juice and tree sap. Luckily, her homemade mascara hadn't run down her face, and she cast a longing look at the imported stuff, knowing she wouldn't be allowed to use it unless she went out. Evie checked her curls and once satisfied left the room, Kyra and Tynan following her.
She quickly made her way down the stairs; Kyra's tail around her waist to ensure she didn't fall in the gloom. She followed the familiar route, finding her mother waving off her two lieutenants, the ex-Queen Jadis of Narnia, and the ex-Queen Narissa of Andalasia. She waited patiently at the door, her back straight just like she was taught. Jadis nodded at her respectfully as she passed, not wanting Ingrid to rage at her for not respecting her daughter. Narissa covered her glower quickly and gave a small bow and nod as she passed, before quickly standing up and leaving the castle, her temper trailing behind her.
"Come inside already, Revenna, standing around like that is unladylike," Queen Ingrid, commonly known as the Evil Queen, demanded, making Evie and her companions walk in as fast as they dared.
"Did you make my brushes," she asked, her tone laced with warning.
"Yes mother, they are drying in my chambers, I shall place them on your vanity when they are ready," Evie said, making sure her voice held the proper reverence.
"Fine. Now my little Evilette your mother is in a pickle and she needs your help. You wouldn't want to let me down, would you? Not after everything I have ever done for you. Including wrecking my body to push you out," she said, growling at the reminder of the stretch marks she now possessed.
"Of course, not mother, I am so lucky to have you, I will do whatever you need," Evie said, bowing her head.
"Perfect. This is why you are the poisoned apple of my eyes," Ingrid said, moulding her face into some semblance of soft.
Evie smiled, feeling the warmth in her chest. She was so lucky to have her mother; she had done so much for her, including risking her own beauty. Evie only lives to please her mother, and upon hearing her mother's words immediately felt the caustic guilt eat at her heart, remembering her words earlier. How could she ever even think of leaving her mother? She was indebted to her.
"I have heard from my informants that Narissa has been talking to Judge Frollo, hoping to get some information to use to bring us down." she said, her voice like poison. Evie gasped, racing to her mother and kneeling. She took hold of her mother's hand and gazed adoringly into her eyes, which made the Evil Queen smirk inside.
"That is horrible, what can we do? Are we getting rid of her?" Evie asked, looking up at her mother.
"No, my little poisoned apple. We need her unfortunately. This all resides on you, my darling. Remember how you helped me out a week ago, when Jafar and Clayton were getting too talkative? Trying to weasel their way in?" she said, looking at Evie.
Evie swallowed the whimper. She could still feel their hands on her, their mouth sucking on her skin, careful to not leave any marks that could last. She could feel their hot rancid breath on her face, suffocating her and stifling her ability to think. She could still hear their pants and groan, how they showered her with comments about how tight she was and how she was such a good girl. These thoughts starred in her nightmares, twisting her dreams into something garish. She could never tell her mother anything, she owed her too much. Her mother loved her and if she thought it would damage her chances with a prince, she wouldn't let this happen. She trusted her mother more than anything. She was her mother, her inspiration, and her god all in one, and she was so grateful to be her daughter.
"Of course, mother, would you like me to entertain him again?" Evie said tactfully, swallowing the voice that bagged her mother to say no.
"Would you mind, darling? I would do it myself, but you were requested. It would help me so much, darling," Ingrid said, choosing the perfect words to pull on her daughter's heartstrings. "Besides, men like women who are capable, darling, think of this as part of your training to be the perfect princess,"
"Of course, mother. I won't let you down. When shall it be happening, and does he have any particular choices of clothing I need to organize?" Evie asked, her tone demure.
"I shall lay something out for you darling, you are such a good girl, my darling poison. In the meantime, I suggest you do some more ballet. You have a fat roll forming," The Queen said, keeping her tone pitying.
The effect was immediate. Evie gasped and blushed, trying to hide her form with her long hair. "Of course, mother, I will do that. Also, could you please give my meal to Kyra, I'm not hungry," she said, ignoring the way her stomach gave a small rumble in protest.
The queen pretended not to hear it and smiled at her daughter, pretending to be proud. "Of course, darling. I think that is best. I shall prepare your outfit and come fetch you when you need to prepare." The Evil queen said, and Evie nodded, getting to her feet.
"Just think of this as an opportunity. I am giving you a chance to be more powerful, to have more sway. You should thank me," Ingrid said, giving her daughter a stern look.
"Of course, mother, thank you very much, you are always so kind to me," Evie said, smiling before leaving, Kyra at her feet and Tynan flying above her.
The Queen watched her daughter go, a smirk on her face as she patted her Raven, their beady eyes following her daughter as evil plans swarmed her mind.
Uma spluttered, trying to pull the vice-like grip off her neck. Her vision was murky like she was deep underwater, and she had kicked up sand, dampening her vision. Her mother sneered as she looked at her daughter, releasing her so she slumped on the floor. Uma gasped and braced herself on the floor, trying to draw in much-needed oxygen. She could feel the welts on her neck, the pain searing her nervous system.
"You are pitiful, insignificant fool. How did you fuck that one up, even you can't be that stupid!" Ursula shrieked, glaring daggers at the cold before her. "All you had to do was collect the fish from the pirates, but no, you came back with nothing!"
Uma gulped, her body shaking. She tried to speak, but she felt like her that was bruised, the words becoming caught like she had swallowed a fishing net. "I'm sorry mother, but the pirates said they didn't catch anything-" Uma stopped with a thick tentacle smacked her face, the power in the limb sending her flying into the rickety chairs, scattering them like a sick game of ten-pin bowling.
"I don't need your excuses, I need fish. How can I make Fish and Chips when I don't have fish?" she asked rhetorically, glaring at her daughter who quivered under her mother's gaze.
"You are a pathetic, spineless piece of kelp." Ursula snarled, her tentacles dancing around her as they reacted to her temper. "I suppose it is time Ursula takes the matter into her own tentacles. Stay here and clean up this mess, we have customers to serve. Or we would if you had fish! You can't make things from nothing you know" Ursula snarled, pulling on the ring she was given so she could turn back into a human.
Technology fueled it, causing a physiological reaction in her body. Uma didn't know how it did it or care really, but since the sea territory was so small the stuck-up fish shit Ariel requested so her mother would 'be more comfortable'. Whatever, she was just lording her wish over her mother, a constant reminder of the wish that ended her mother's freedom.
Uma sighed as her mother walked out the room, looking like her form as Vanessa, just older. She sighed and pushed herself to her feet, beginning to clear up the mess. Her throat hurt, but she pushed it aside, focusing on her task. It wasn't like it was the first time that happened, and it certainly wouldn't be the last, not with Ursula's temper.
All I can say is Ursula and Ingrid are awful humans. Abuse in any form is never okay, and I really hope this didn't trigger anyone. We got to hear a bit more about the soul mate bond, just reaffirming what we already know. Ingrid is very manipulative, and Evie genuinely thinks her mother loves her. At least she has her pets. Next chapter will shed some light on the rest of the groups home life and the meeting of the council will occur. I can't wait until they get to Auradon. So many ideas planned!
I hope everyone is staying safe in this crazy time, and hope you tune in next time!
TBP