Chapter Seventeen
Mal POV
"No," I said, crossing my arms.
"Mal"
"No"
"Mall" Evie said dragging out my name
I threw myself into my bed before rolling until my blanket surrounded me like a cocoon, "No."
I pushed my face into my bed before digging my nose into my pillow. Taking a deep breath I smiled and relaxed. It was King Ben's pillow. Ever since he found out I had nightmares he had stayed cuddling with me until I fell asleep most of the time and ended up with him falling asleep next to me because either one doesn't let him go or two just because he fell asleep before I did.
I thought back to the first time he had stayed the night with me right after he watched a couple of movies.
I had woken up suddenly with a spread around me filled with panic and anxiety. I just wanted to run away and scream. I wanted to just curl up into a ball and let everything go. I wanted to cry until I had no more tears to give. I felt like I was back there, back with him in the Isle. But instead of it being him who was hurting me, it was King Ben.
And that felt 1000 times worse.
It felt like my life was a joke. And when I woke up the panic was still surrounding me I looked at him and just saw how he hurt me. How I laughed when I cried. How he left me on the floor surrounded by my blood while he left with one the blondes after giving me a cruel smirk.
And when I saw him sitting next to me close enough to touch me. I couldn't hold it in. The fear took over. Did he only help me to break me over again? Are we even mates? Was this all a trick? Is he lying to me? Am I even safe?
I remember not being able to control my flinching when he tried to touch me.
"Mal" his face twisted with concern and worry.
"You-you hurt me" I uttered completely distraught. I blinked back my tears as I tried to look for a way out. He-He was blocking the door. I wouldn't be able to get out. I was going to be hurt again.
I heard him take in a deep sharp breath like he knew what I was talking about, "Mal-I what do you mean?"
Curled in a back lying away from him I stuttered out, "You hurt me like he did"
I felt him move closer, "Mal I would never hurt you" he moved a piece of my hair, "Mal look at me"
Shaking my head I let the silent tears fall, "No"
"Please princess" he spoke softly holding my face in his hands.
Slowing big fat tears blurring my vision I against myself found myself nodded and looked at him "You'd never hurt me?"
He exhaled sharply, his own tears blurred his vision as he wiped mine away, "I would never hurt you" he pulled me closer until I was sitting in his lap, he caressed my hair softly playing with it.
"Would you leave me for someone else?" I asked lifting my head
He let out a small growl tightening his grip on the waist, "you are mine like I am yours"
Standing up; he goes around the bed to lay me down covering me with the blanket, just as his grip on me loosened I held his hand begging him with my eyes to stay. He agreed and lay down next to me. My head directly on top of his beating heart snuggling onto his chest.
"You are mine to protect and mine to love," he said just as I was falling asleep. Letting out a small yawn my eyes get droopy.
"And I will never hurt you…." he kissed my head "not again."
I'm still not sure what he meant by that and I couldn't even ask him the next morning because he was gone. To a council meeting. So I went after him as soon as Evie and everyone else was preoccupied and when I got there I chickened out.
"Mal," Evie said again.
"Are you even listening to me?" she let out an exasperated sigh.
I felt a twitch of guilt for ignoring her and not wanting to leave. Evie wanted me and the other girls to have a girls day out. She recommended it after King Ben though I should have more interactions with other people, now that I'm not as afraid of men as I used to be. I still flinched and look down but it's more with people who look too big and tall. Since Halloween is also in 2 weeks he thought it would be best to get my costume and have everything prepared. I disagreed. But I didn't say anything, I knew King Ben was looking out for me. He just wanted the best for me.
Hearing a knock at the door I expected it to be the rest of the girls so they could convince me to go.
I closed my eyes.
Not happening, I am not going.
"Hi Evie" I opened my eyes.
King Ben.
I scrunch my nose.
Noooooo. I huffed on the inside while biting my cheek. He's going to make me get up.
"Hi Ben," Evie replied with what I assume was a smile on her face.
"Is Mal getting ready?"
"Uh no not really?" she poked my back with her finger making me jump. And let out a gasp in shock, "She is right here."
He let out a small chuckle. His feet shuffled closer to me and I felt the bed dip down.
"Princess, come on let's get you ready?"
"No" Turning my body I moved closer to him hugging his waist hiding my face on his back
I could feel him breathing in and out and it was peaceful. My eyes started to get droopy but before I knew it, somehow King Ben escaped my hold on him and pulled me into his lap, letting my face rest on his collarbone area. Letting out a yawn I hid my closer to his neck, my eyes lashed against his skin.
Standing up he walked over to my closet while holding me close, "Come on, do you want pants?" I nodded my head "Blue or black?"
I closed my eyes leaning closer to his neck smelling a comforting scent, I lifted two fingers, "Black?" I nodded my head.
I heard the hanger being moved and being put on my bed.
"What about the shirt?" he said, moving, holding me with one arm while moving the clothes with the other.
He pulled out the three shirts, one was a blue long sleeve, the second a loose grey shirt and the third was a thin sweatshirt that said 'L.L.E' in cursive I pointed to the second one and he laid it on the bed before sitting me down next to the clothes.
"Now get dressed and let Evie help you since your hand.." his voice trailed away as he held my hand, the one I injured when I first came here 2 weeks ago. It was healed. King Ben continued to caress it softly before placing a kiss on top and smiling.
His bright smiling eyes meet mine, "does it still hurt?"
"No," I said quietly moving my fingers around
He gave me a huge grin before clearing his throat and standing up, still smiling at me, "you should get ready you have a long day"
I pouted.
I didn't want to go!
He moved to leave the room but I held his hand, "I don't want to go"
He sighed before brushing my hair with his hand, "I know but no one in the castle will be able to watch you today and I don't want to leave you alone...Let's make a deal? Okay? Try to enjoy yourself for a few hours 2-3 ad if you still don't like it you can text me to come to pick you up okay?"
I reluctantly nodded my head.
"Great," he said, kissing me on my forehead.
"I'll see you before you leave okay?" I nodded and watched him leave.
I stayed sitting there for a few minutes before turning to look at Evie.
She clapped her hands smiling at me, "now let's get you in the shower"
I closed my eyes laying back down in bed, great.
"AHHHH" they shrieked jumping up and down.
Yeah they, Evie said that she didn't want to lose me at the mall so she invited Lonnie and Jane. Evie had made me take a shower and Lonnie while it was still pretty wet just put my hair into a braid, while Jane did my make up with Evie's help because I needed to look 'presentable'. After I was done which took longer than it should have, Evie, Lonnie, and Jane got ready. Before they started shrieking. Anyway then while they were getting ready, Evie got a notification that Prince Flynn son of Rapunzel and Euguene from Corona wanted her to design his outfit for the royal Winter Ball thus making me go completely defunct. I closed my eyes trying to calm down before looking around my room. My eyes stopped at the door before they went wide, Evie and the girls were near my bathroom. Maybe I could just go to the door and I don't know…leave! No, I can't do that! But they won't know. Without giving it another second thought I went to the door opening it carefully and walking out.
I looked around the hall, the red rug leading down the stairs into the entrance of the house and the family room.
"Wait" I heard Evie scream, "Where did Mal go?"
Shifting my eyes left and right panicking I opened the door in front of me before they opened my room door.
I leaned against the door to hear their footsteps leaving the hall to the staircase.
I signed.
I looked around. The walls we painted soft brown. The bed was the first thing I noticed and on top of the bed, a huge window filled the room. Some equipment for work out in the corner of the bed overseeing the garden and its glass windows. On the opposite side of it was a desk filled with papers and a few framed pictures with two frames mounted on the wall. One was of Queen Belle and King Adam but the second one was covered. I moved to the middle of the room.
Wow, it was huge. And I thought my room was big.
I moved around letting my finger graze against some of the furniture. I walked closer to the bed. It wasn't made yet and I looked at his dark blue sheets and pillow sheets. I took a closer look at the golden design on the pillow sheets.
Are those little crowns?
I smiled before pulling the pillow closer. It smelled like him.
Like King Ben.
So this was him room
It fits him.
I sat down on his bed before laying down. It felt like I was in a cocoon. It was warm and comforting. I pulled the pillow closer to my chest while using the other place to rest my head before letting out a yawn. Closing my eyes wouldn't hurt that much right.
Just a few minutes.
"Ahhhh"
It was the first thing I heard when I woke up.
At that moment a few I messed up.
Standing up I blinked a bit before looking around.
"Ooh, you cheeky little thing" turning to the voice I saw Mrs. Potts standing there with her hands on her hips, "what do you think you're doing? Everyone is looking for you", I gave her a confused look. "You're supposed to go shopping today to get your costume."
My eyes widened and I fell against the bed.
Oh, I forgot.
Uhhhh Bens going to get so mad at me.
I covered my face with the blanket,
Maybe I can pretend I was already ready to go.
"Mal," I heard Ben call my name out as soon as he walked in.
Or not.
I slowly raised my hand from the blanket, trying to gain a sense of comfort before getting yelled at.
I heard Ben let out a sign in relief, "there you are?! We've been looking for your Mal."
He scooped me from his bed onto his lap, "I was worried about you?"
I frowned, my eyebrows knitted together, "I'm sorry I was just closing my eyes and me accidentally…"
"I'm just happy that you are safe" he pulled me closer, resting his head on top of mine. We stayed together in that position for a few minutes before Ben pulled away, "Are you ready to go? The car is outside."
I pouted, feeling my stomach swirl around and feeling sick, "I guess..."
"Princess..I-thank you. I know it's hard for you but I promise you'll have fun," he said resting his hand onto my cheek making me look at him "and if you don't I'll steal you away from them. Okay?" I nodded my head smiling a bit when he whispered the last part.
"Great let's go", standing up he pulled me up with him but before we got out I stopped him, "yes Princess,"
I looked at his opening and closing my mouth before pushing through as I stared at his clothes, "I-Can I have your hoodie?"
He looked confused for a minute before moving to his closet, "which one? I have black, blue.."
"Blue," I said without hesitation. Pulling it down, he sanded it to me and held me by my waist as I tried to put it on. It was huge for me, at least a hand longer on the sleeve.
I continued to play with it as he walked us down into the car. Evie and the rest of the girls were waiting for us by the limo.
I continued to make them together as Ben talked to Evie, "The paparazzi shouldn't bother you. I told their bosses not to interfere with Mal today."
Evie nodded her head in understanding while the other girls got inside the car.
"Okay," Evie said before looking at me, "are you ready to go?"
I nodded my head looking down, before looking up to see Evie get into the car. I walked slowly to the car before I could make it far. Ben grabbed me by my hand and pulled me into his chest making me let out a gasp in surprise.
"I'll miss you.." he then put something into the pocket of his jacket, "it's your phone you forgot it in your room..if you get lost call Evie or me okay? And if you just want to talk to me..I'll answer okay?" I nodded my head into his chest. We stayed like that for a while before he pulled away and kissed my forehead letting me go in.
Once I got in and we started driving away I moved to turn to look at him. He was still standing there with his hands in his pockets waiting until we left out the Castle gates.
I closed my eyes letting the warm water relax my foot as my left was with a worker painting my toenails. I tried to relax but it felt so weird letting them touch my foot. I felt like they were judging me. And every so often I would hear whispers and feel stares on me before they disappeared. It was weird and it made me uncomfortable...I wanted to go to the Castle… but the girls said it would be nice bonding time, girl time as Evie called it.
I thought back about the last three hours when we arrived at the mall as Lonnie called it. It was huge. Tons of different stores in one place. Including food. It was amazing. And it would have stayed that way if I probably didn't go with Evie. for one reason. She made us go to every store. Every single store. It was terrible.
Halfway into the trip I just had Ben's hoodie over my head listening to music as we walked around. I thought Evie would have taken me to a costume store because Ben said we were but Evie said that was ridiculous because they were made that she would and could not wear that or even let me wear it. So instead Evie decided we would go to different stores to collect materials that she could use to make an outfit based on clothes already made. It was long and boring, mostly because Evie said she had a 'perfect' picture of what I should wear or everything needed to be just right.
And that took for-ever.
I spend my time occasionally I would text Ben with the games from the phone but usually, it was just me sending him pictures or annoyed little faces 'emojis' as he calls them. I wore a hoodie because when I would walk around without some people staring at me like I was a ghost, many people I would feel trying to get closer to me and take a picture but one of the guards would stop them before they would.
It was weird.
"Lady Mal" I looked down at the woman doing my nails, I gave her a questioning glance, "would you like gold and blue or green and purple?"
"Gold and purple," I said after a few moments of thinking about it, also shocked to see that they were calling me 'Lady'. I remember Ben telling me a few days ago but I didn't think it was that serious that everyone was going to be calling me that. It was so weird, especially because some would look at me and have tears in their eyes like….
The nail technician continued to do my nails painting my nails purple while adding the gold on top.
The girl and I stayed there for about an hour talking about our boyfriends...well they did it just l mostly because it felt like a weird topic to talk about. Once we were ready unlike the other stores we went to we didn't go to the cashier instead Evie put it in her tab a she goes every day to this salon so she created an account where they take out the money automatically. Evie, who had told the guards to drop our bags into the car and bring it closer, told all of us to wait outside for the limo, we all agreed since we were already done. But before we got out the owner of the salon came out and gave us all smoothies. Mine was a strawberry smoothie. It seemed to be that everyone around here already knew what I liked and what I didn't so I wasn't that confused, maybe it was Bens doing...
The store itself was already facing the street so we wouldn't be waiting for long.
I continued to sip on my drink looking down, smiling while doing a twirl as the girls admired their nails.
"They are so beautiful," Evie squealed, showing her nails to Lonnie and Jane.
They both nodded their heads, Jane nodded her head enthusiastic, "I know right"
"Totally worth the wait.," Lonie added agreeing.
I walked away from them to sit on a bench, tired of standing and needing to tie my shoelace. Bending down pulled my leg up before pushing the hoodie sleeves up and tying it carefully remembering how Ben did it last time he did it.
"Two bunny ears..cross them over.. under the loop and pull" I smiled when they turned outright.
I grabbed my drink and took another sip waiting for the car to show up while being on my phone texting Ben how we were leaving the mall. He replied with a smile and texted back saying that he had a surprise for me when I got back. A huge grin was on my face because I could stop it but before I could replay I heard the screeching of tires in front of us making me jump and wrinkle my nose. It was not a good sound, the car in front of us was black I began to panic. Who were they..they..I-I gripped my drink tighter. The girl immediately stopped their chatter to come to my side or stand in front of me. I opened my mouth to ask what was going on but the car in front of me opened and people with huge cameras, microphones and tv stuff came out. 20 people soon surrounded me.
"Lady Mal are you alright?"
"How's your relationship with King Ben?"
"When will he propose?"
"How do you feel about Princess Audrey and Prince Chad?"
"What are your next plans?"
"What's this scheme to get back with King Ben?"
"What happened to you in the Isle?"
"Are you going to forgive King Ben?"
"Are you and King Ben getting married?"
"Are you pregnant?"
"Is it true King Ben is thinking of bringing villains out of the ISle?"
"Was this all a plan to get your mother out?"
"Lady Mal.."
"Lady Mal"
"Lady Mal"
I took a step back, my knees hitting the bench. Making me let out a gasp and lower my head.
Who are these people?
Why were they here?
The flashes got closer, I tightened my hold on my smoothie.
Ben...I want Ben.
I felt everything closing in. the flashes go closer. The light, the sounds, the questions…
"Mal you're okay?"
"Everything is fine"
"The car will be here?"
"Lonnie call Ben"
The words just kept coming as I tried to breathe. Trying to focus on something. My hands began to tremble
"How do you feel seeing King Ben again?"
Again? Feel?
I lifted my head shocked with eyes wide but tried to take a step back.
Instead, I ended up falling back because of the bench landing on my butt with my arms scraped and my strawberry smoothie all over me. The pink substance seeking through the hoodie and leaving a sticking trail as it moved from my face to my neck.
I stayed on the floor not moving.
I didn't know what to do.
I brought the jacket closer to me and I wanted to disappear.
Evie and Jane came around and kneeled on the floor trying to get me to stand up but I just curled up. Lonnie was calling Ben and per Evie's instructions ran to go get the security guard.
The people surrounding me continued to flash their cameras, some even narrating what had just happened.
My breath got uneven.
Ben, I wanted Ben…
They began to get closer, some even putting their knees on the bench in front of me, continuing to take their pictures.
I swallowed my even breaths before trying to gain control.
"MAl"
"Mal…."
"Lady Mal..."
"Mal…."
"Lady Mal..."
My dragon began to growl softly but it was getting louder
I couldn't handle the voices... the questions.
"Mal do you hate King Ben"
I slammed my fist into the ground while the other was wrapped around my head as if it were protecting me from everyone.
Immediately like vines began to grow from the ground surrounding me forming a dome around me comfortable enough for me to lay down curled up. The vines didn't feel like they were closing in instead they reminded me of the rose bushes in the Castle the aroma itself was calming and no noise came through the dome.
I was fine.
Everything was fine.
I pulled the jacket closer, letting the tears drop, it turned into sobs before I knew it.
Ben help me...
It felt like it stayed like that forever and then suddenly I heard footsteps. Footsteps that seemed to be in a rush and it seemed to be like it was three distinctive people.
Two of the newly arrived people kneeled near the dome around me, that much I could tell. One but hands on the dome, it began to glow a beautiful gold with small specks of green. Soon the whole thing was done. I had since it started moving back into a sitting position moving as far as possible from where the hand was.
Once it opened I winced when the light hit me, it was too bright out.
I closed my eyes trying to adjust to the light before opening them once more. Squinting I saw Ben smiling softly at me holding his hand in front of him encouraging me to take it. I moved my closer to him before raising my right hand to his, the hoodie sleeve still covering my hand. Ben gently pulled me up, his back towards the people with the cameras letting his body hide me from them.
"Mal are you okay?"
I nodded my head, he pulled me closer to him moving the hood of the hoodie to cover my head. I wrinkled my nose in distaste when it hit me in the eye but Ben released a smile.
Looking to my right I saw Evie, Lonnie and Jane standing looking pale and shocked towards my left, moving my gaze I noticed two new people.
The woman was standing tall in a simple brown dress, looking at me with her green eyes and high cheekbones made it seem like she was disapproving, her long brown hair flowing free and what was most peculiar was that on the top of her head she had black horns, beautiful horns. Next to her stood a pale man. He had black hair with a greek styled robe around him, all different shades from grey to black. His grey eyes seemed to glow with its golden flecks.
They stood next to each other giving and feeding off each other's powerful aura not saying a word, yet it didn't bother me, unlike the people who had been surrounding me moments ago. They all seemed to cower in fear of them. The clicking of the cameras seemed to stop for a moment, many taking into account the three new people who arrived. Many of them turned pale like the girls or some even flinched and started to shake once seeing them.
Noticing my attention on the people standing a few feet from us along with everyone else, Ben used it to his advantage and walked me over to the car that pulled up assuming the one he was on just before coming here. Opening the door he told me to wait for him inside before kissing me on the forehead, walking away he occasionally looked back at me. I looked around the car, outside it was completely black you couldn't even see what was inside the car, inside the car had 6 seats, two for the driver and the passenger and four in the back. But the strange thing was that the seats were facing each other, two of the seats were joined that made it look like a couch with seatbelts while the other two were separated by an armrest that seemed to hold drinks and even had water bottles underneath like a mini-refrigerator. Moving closer to the armrest I saw a button and upon clicking it a small bin came out with different candies. With wide eyes, I took a couple maybe two...maybe twenty.
I grabbed some and put them in my hand as I looked out the window, Ben seemed to be having a serious talk with the woman and the male while the people with cameras had gained confidence and started to take pictures of them. Soon, Evie, Jane, and Lonnie walked over and talked with them too, Evie seemed angry and confused while Lonnie and Jane looked worried and a bit frightened. They continued to talk for a while but soon two guards, the ones that took us to the mall and were supposed to protect me, walked them over to the limo which we had arrived in. moving my gaze from them I turned back to Ben, he stood on top of the bench I had sat down at and was talking to the people with the cameras, he looked angry. His eyebrows were knitted together, his eyes seemed to have a faint glow, it looked like he wasn't going easy on them, soon he started to shout at them so loud I could make out some words,
"Never again-Mal will have privacy-and if I ever-you won't-"
"I told you all-I will hold a-you will never-"
I pressed my ear into the glass trying to hear something but I couldn't so instead I turned to look at him again. The woman and the male seemed to be intimidating Ben on his behave from the look of his face, and soon enough all the people with a camera held it in front of their chest. The woman with a snap of her fingers had the cameras gone, some looked scared while others looked angry but did not say a word. Not even a second later Ben came down from the bench with the woman and male following not far behind. The guard sitting in the passenger seat quickly came out of his seat and opened the door of the left for Ben and the woman while the driver opened the door of the right for the male. Coming inside Ben gave me a smile giving me a look when he saw the candy in my hand which I returned with blush and sheepish smile. Sitting down I gave the woman a smile first which she returned with a black look, and continued to look at me as if she was analyzing me. When I gave a smile to the male he returned it but it was a sad smile.
"Are you okay?" Ben asked, rubbing my knuckles with his thumb. I nodded my head smiling at him, "just a bit scared"
"Don't worry it won't happen again" Ben continued to rub my knuckles but his eyes wandered up and down my body making sure I was fine when he saw the stain in the hoodie he frowned "Mal what happened?"
Looking down at the stain I frowned, "Oh in the nail place they gave us smoothies and it fell on me when the people with the cameras showed up and started coming closing to me...I uh tripped over the bench and it fell over the hoodie" I frowned again, "I'll get you a new hoodie"
"Mal the hoodie doesn't matter..here take it off, it's probably sticky and wet" he turned to face me completely "here lift your arms" I did as I was told, and he helped me take it the hoodie, I shivered of the cold but ben immediately took off his jacket and put it on my shoulders. I smiled at him before he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. We stayed like that, looking at each other for a while before the male cleared his throat, Ben immediately back away and let out a nervous laugh as the male glared at him, the woman seemed to follow his example and give Ben a look too.
They both sat in front of us straight at Ben with disapproval and warning, I opened my mouth to ask them but before I could Ben cleared his throat introducing us, "Mal, this is Maleficent and Hades"
