Chapter 7
A/N: Hopefully I can start getting chapters out faster. I've been working on a few projects for graduate school and I'm starting to write three other fanfictions for different fandoms, which will hopefully be up soon. I'll be taking less classes the next few semesters so hopefully I'll have more time for this story soon.
To say that dinner was awkward would be an understatement. A clear line has been drawn between Mal and Hadley. Evie and Jay sitting by Mal without a second thought. Carlos, however, kept looking between the sisters. Conflicted as to where his loyalties lie. Mal is his current leader has been for the last year. Carlos and Hadley had their duo act for a few years before the daughter of Hades and Maleficent formed the Kindly Ones. There were rumors of the Kindly Ones being allies with the Wharf Rats, which Mal reacted poorly to. If that were true, they would have control over most of the Isle. The Core Four sat at their own table, all of the other students giving them a wide berth. Hadley, on the other hand, was surrounded by the other royal kids. Elyse, Ben, Audrey, Herkie, Aziz, and Chad all using this as a chance to learn about life on the Isle. Audrey and Chad just looking for proof that the VKs are all just like their parents. "You don't think that Hadley q
is trying to turn royals against us, do you? She is royalty after all," Evie asks. Watching as Hadley tries to answer the barrage of questions.
"She wouldn't. She's a VK first, royal second. Hadley is loyal, she won't jeopardize the chance for other Isle kids to come over," Mal says confidently, knowing that her sister is an Isle kid through and through. If anything, Hadley is working on getting Malice over and away from their mother. "Let's just eat and get out of here." With one last look to her sister, Mal looks away and eats her food.
Hadley wasn't exactly comfortable with all the questions, especially the ones from Chad and Audrey. While Ben, Aziz, Herkie, and Elyse are genuinely curious about life on the Isle, Chad and Audrey are just looking for the bad. "Have you or the others ever kill anyone? It will not surprise me if Jay has, that guy seems to like hurting people," Chad asks. Ignoring the glare from Ben, who wasn't exactly up for this interrogation in the first place.
"What? Of course not! Yeah, we may be rough around the edges, but so was Aladdin. I'm sure as hell that you would never ask him that," Hadley snaps, shocked that a so-called Charming would ask something like that. She gets up from her seat and storms off. Not realizing that her dark blue hoodie slid off her shoulder, exposing dark veins on her skin. Giving the royalty at her table pause as they watch the darkness spread. Turning the surrounding skin, a ghostly white. Elyse jumps up and runs after the demigoddess, quickly gaining ground on the shorter girl. She puts a hand on Hadley's shoulder, a thin coat of ice spreads from her fingertips. Lightly covering the entirety of Hadley. Steam begins to lift off Hadley's skin, a soft sizzling sound lasting a few seconds accompanying it. White skin begins to turn back to the natural porcelain hue, dark veins beginning to return to a faint blue.
"Let's get out of here," Elyse whispers to her roommate. Putting an arm around the shorter girl's shoulder, subtly moving the hoodie back into place. Hadley nods slightly, not fighting it when she is led back to the cafeteria and back to the dorm. Hadley tucking herself into Elyse's side as they walk.
Ben, Herkie, Chad, Audrey, and Aziz weren't the only ones watching this interaction. Evie and Mal were looking at Hadley when the jacket slipped. "Mal, I don't think we have as much time as you thought," Evie comments. Thanks to her homeschooling, Evie is quite knowledgeable about poisons. From what she can see, waiting won't make much of a difference. True Love may be Hadley's only hope.
Mal nods as she watches Elyse lead Hadley away. "Ice Princess can only hold off the inevitable for so long. Kitchen, 8 pm. I have a plan," she whispers before getting up and following her sister. Taking off at a run the second the cafeteria door closed behind her. Hadley and Elyse not too far ahead. "Elyse! I need to talk to you!"
Hadley groans as she hears Mal's voice. "Would it be wrong to run and not look back? Ice the floor and we can easily get away," she whispers to her roommate. Being completely serious. Despite Mal apologizing for not treating Hadley as a sister, Hadley continues to see red whenever she sees her older sister.
"I'll meet you at our room. Start getting clothes ready to pack. We'll leave at first light," Elyse whispers to Hadley. Grazing her lips against the side of Hadley's head before lightly pushing her towards the dorms. "I can handle Mal," the princess assures her friend. Hadley glances towards Mal before hesitantly nodding. Looking down to hide her blush with her bright blue hair. With a quick turn on her heel, she continues the trek down the oak halls with her hands in her pockets. Once Hadley is out of earshot, Elyse turns towards Mal. Warm blue eyes turn to an icy blizzard as the two girls make eye contact. "What do you want?" the princess asks. Curling a strand of her platinum blonde hair around one finger as her other is crossed across her torso and tapping her elbow. Like the rest of the Auradonian students, Elyse is dressed far more preppy than the VKs. Her clothing being closer to the blues and patterns of Arendale than the garish blue and yellow of Auradon City.
"Take care of my sister. Try to find a cure. Hadley is far too stubborn to let a little bit of poison take her out," Mal says, trying to not sound like she cares too much. She has a reputation to uphold after all.
"She is in good hands. Just keep out of the way," Elyse states before turning back towards where Hadley walked off, quickly following Hadley as ice forms beneath her feet, Cracking whenever her feet leaves the ground.