By the time they heard sirens drawing closer, their group had done a second search of the building; Bria and Evie covering the outside of the building this time too. Meghan reminded Bria of her security cameras and they were pulling up the footage from that morning as three vehicles pulled up outside. Ben stepped out from one with ten or so guards exiting from all the vehicles.

"Evie," He breathed out a sigh as he saw her. His steps hesitated on the sidewalk, taking half a step back to survey the damage.

"Was this Mal? Or the person who attacked her?"

"We don't know yet. But if I have to venture a guess it was Mal. The burns at least,"

Ben took a breath, "She doesn't use her magic lightly," He ran a hand over the length of metal that used to be the door.

"I know. For her to do this… at the place she works no less,"

"It was bad," Ben finished, "Where is she? Does she need medical attention?"

Evie didn't answer right away, but her expression must have said enough.

"No…"

"I don't know where she is. There's no sign of her here,"

"The person who attacked? Maleficent's spectre?"

Evie shook her head, "They were long gone by the time I was here,"

"Evie!" Bria called from inside.

She looked back and gestured to Ben, "Come on," He followed with one of his guards.

Bria had pulled up the footage. The camera outside showed the fog rolling in over the road and against the front wall. It was thick, but they could see a figure stepping into frame, moving towards the doors. She switched to an inside view, as the glass was shattered and one person stepped through the broken frame.

"That's definitely the scepter," Evie said.

There was a heavy silence as they watched the fight unfold. Bria combed through the footage from other cameras to get the full story of what happened. After Mal had blasted the persons outside they'd come back inside searching for her. When she pulled up the footage from the storeroom they saw Mal teleport away.

"Okay, so we know they didn't get Mal," Celia said.

"But where did she go?" Ben asked.

"Teleporting is tricky. It works best if you're familiar with the place you're trying to go. But you also need a focus," Evie said.

"When she sent us, she used my ring," Bria said, holding up her left hand.

"Your wedding ring?"

"Yeah,"

"So she was aiming to send you to Meghan. The studio just happened to be where she was. She probably knew it was most likely where Meg was,"

"What happens if a teleport doesn't work?" Ben asked.

"Most often, nothing. The person stays where they are. But there is a chance of being teleported to a random place,"

"So you're saying Mal could be anywhere," Dizzy said.

"I'm saying if she'd gotten away safely she would have contacted one of us by now,"

"Evie, you've found Mal before. Back when she was off the grid travelling, you used..."

"A locator spell," Evie finished together with Dizzy. She pulled Dizzy to her, kissing her forehead, "Dizzy you're a genius. I'll need to something of hers and a map,"

"Okay, we have a way forward to find Mal. The guy with the scepter. Where do they go when they leave?" Ben asked.

Bria found that footage for him, pulling up the clip of the three people teleporting away from just outside the building in a burst of fog.

"That gives us nothing either," He groaned.

"Sire," One of the guards stepped up, "We've barricaded the area. There's been no civilian tempering with the scene beyond these ladies. The CSI team should be able to find untampered evidence,"

"Thank you, Matthews," Ben said, a little dismissive, "Something… something doesn't feel right about this,"

"You're right. This place is too quiet. You're here with your men, but regular cops haven't shown up yet," Evie said, "No fire department either. Someone had to call. Mal's fireball would have caught attention," Even as she said the words Evie started to understand what was wrong with her own logic. Her mind flashed the first clip Bria had pulled up, of the figures approaching in the fog. "Ben, the other buildings,"

He seemed to understand what she was getting at. He turned to his guard, "Split into teams and search every neighbouring building,"

The guard nodded, rushing off at once. It didn't take long before his men returned reporting the occupants of the closest buildings were all unconscious. Ben's face went pale. "Okay, Okay," He paced on the spot, "Call EMTs. Search everyone for ID and contact next of kin. If they don't have ID's on them look for some way to identify them. This area's commercial. Look for payrolls, shift schedules. We need to find these people's love ones as soon as possible,"

"At once sire,"

"Can you make that footage available to my people?" Ben asked Bria, "Hopefully we can get a clearer image of who did this,"

"Of course, your majesty,"

"Now, I need to think next moves," Ben said, pacing again, "Everyone under a curse is a priority. And there's finding Mal… I need to assess the damage before making a statement. Should I release a limited report now or wait until we know more,"

"Ben," Evie pulled him away from everyone, "Take a breath,"

"How can I? Everything that's happening,"

"Take a breath," Evie said, putting her hands his shoulders. He listened this time, filling his lungs.

"Thanks. I needed that,"

"We're going find the staff,"

"We have no leads. The cameras at the museum were tapered with. And if even if we get anything from here-"

"Hey, no. We have a lead. Mal. After taking the staff the first thing they did was go after Mal. That's no coincidence," Evie said, "When we find her she can tell us more. Maybe she saw their face," She swallowed her own fear. Dizzy was right, she'd found Mal once when she was hundreds of miles away. She just needed to treat this time the same way. Mal was out there, somewhere, waiting for her.

"Right. Finding Mal. How can I help?"

"I'll need a detailed map. I have one of Auradon, but having one of the city might be more useful here,"

"Okay, I can get that," He nodded.

Evie's phone rang just then. "It's Carlos. I asked him to get some things at my place. I can tell him what I need for the locator spell," She said as she answered, "Hey C, are you at my place yet? I need you to get a few more things,"

"Evie, listen, Mal's here,"

"She is?" Relief flooded through her, "Kick her for not calling anyone,"

"Evie, she's not conscious,"

Her vision tunnelled, "What?" Her voice broke as she spoke.

"Jay and I have tried everything to wake her,"

"No. No. That's impossible," It felt like she'd been dosed in cold water. Her skin chilled and everything dulled. Sounds. Colours.

"Evie,"

"Carlos try waking her again,"

"We've tried," His voice was so soft and kind.

"Try again!"

"We can't,"

"It- It can't be a sleeping curse,"

"We can't wake her. What else could it be?"

"Sleeping curses don't work on Mal,"

"Maleficent's curse didn't work on Mal," Carlos said, his voice a low timber to keep Evie calm.

"But it's Maleficent's staff. It didn't work before, so why… why now?" Was it her voice trembling like that?

"Hey, it's okay. We know how to wake her. You just need to kiss her,"

Evie closed her eyes. She could feel her pulse in her temples.

"Evie?"

"Right. Easy enough. Keep her safe, I'll be there as soon as I can," She hung up, acutely aware everyone was looking at her.

"They found Mal?" Dizzy asked.

"Yeah," Evie managed to keep her voice steady, "She's home. That must be where she teleported to, but… but,"

"But she's under a sleeping curse?" Celia finished.

Evie nodded.

"Then you need to go to her," Dizzy said, "What are we standing around for?"

"I need to go," Evie repeated. She took a breath, then another to focus herself. "Both of you are coming with me," She said to Dizzy and Celia, "I don't trust you to get yourselves home," Right, this was something she could do. Focus on others. Take care of others.

"Evie, call me as soon as she's up and ready to talk about what happened?" Ben said.

"Oh, of course," Evie nodded.

"I'm driving," Dizzy declared, taking Evie's keys as she got them out. Evie went to protest, but as she opened her mouth she could feel the tension like a hot iron in the back of her neck. Evie knew what Dizzy was doing. She always had a talent for reading people, but working with Evie she'd come to understand Evie's signs of stress better anyone besides Mal. She'd also learnt when to take Evie's responsibilities from her. She knew how much to take without stepping into something Evie would want to do herself. Things like organizing the party favours for a '4 Hearts' event on her own or offering to drive when Evie's mind was weighed down with a million other things. Or rather when her mind was weighed down by one very loud thing.

"Thank you for your help," Ben said to Bria and Meghan, "I can arrange an escort home for you if you want one,"

Bria and Meghan looked at each other. There was a war that passed between them in a moment.

"I want to make sure Mal's okay," Bria said.

"I know love, but she has people to look after her,"

"She risked herself for us. I'd be under a sleeping curse right now or worse if not for her,"

"I know that. But there'll be time later to thank her,"

"Isa is going to be fine without us for a few more hours,"

Meghan bit her bottom lip.

"If you're that worried go without me,"

"Three of your employees are under sleeping curses right now and there's someone with an evil staff on the loose. I'm not letting you out of my sights,"

"Would you feel better if Isa was with your mom instead of just the sitter?"

"Yes,"

"Call her and I promise as soon as I see Mal awake I'll take you to our daughter,"

"Okay. I can live with that,"

Bria nodded, looking to Evie, "My car's here. Go we'll meet you there,"

"Let's go wake your princess," Dizzy said, giving Evie a comforting smile.

Dizzy hopped behind the driver's seat and Evie got in on the other side. Ben saw them off, holding the door open for Celia, unable to forgo his manners even in a time of crisis.

"I have a question?" Celia spoke up a few minutes into the drive, "Why did you think sleeping spells don't work on Mal?"

"It's a bit of story,"

"We have nothing to do until we get there," Celia said.

Evie sighed, "Well, I'm sure you know Celia, sometimes magic leaks in through the barrier. Never enough to do anything with it, but still enough to feel it,"

"Duh. I couldn't have made a shadow pact without magic,"

"A shadow what?" Dizzy asked.

"Shadow pact. For shadow magic. I'm guessing it's not on the approved magic course,"

"Did that hurt? It sounds like something that would hurt?"

"No. Like my dad would let me do something that could hurt me," Celia rolled her eyes.

"Maleficent spent years collecting any wisp of magic she could, storing it in the staff. Some of the goblins rebelled against her and stole her scepter. Maleficent tasked Mal with getting it back and Mal asked Jay, Carlos and me to help her. What we didn't know was the staff had a protective curse on it. First-person who wasn't Maleficent to touch would fall under a sleeping curse. The goblins knew and didn't touch it directly when they stole it. Mal also knew about the curse and when I almost touched the staff she grabbed it before I could. We'd only just become friends at that point but she did that for me. Mal fell under the curse, but woke a few minutes later like she'd taken a nap,"

"The curse was probably weakened because of the barrier," Celia said.

"Maybe… but Maleficent wasn't one for empty threats. If she said the staff could cast a sleeping curse, I believe it could,"

"So Mal can say she woke from two sleeping curses. Not even Sleeping Beauty can say that," Dizzy said.

"Don't say that to Mal. I don't think she'll find it as assuming as you do,"

"But I have to get the satisfaction of calling her Sleeping Beauty once,"

"She'll hate that,"

"I know! That's why I have to do it," Dizzy chuckled, "Alright I won't. I just want it known how much I'm enjoying the big bad dragon is the one who needs to be awoken by the princess,"

"The irony isn't lost on me either," Evie said, but her voice sounded hollow.

"You okay?" Celia asked.

Evie could feel the muscles on her back constrict. If Celia picked up on her distress there was no doubt that Dizzy had.

"Hey," Dizzy said, "I'm worried about Mal. But she's going to be okay. True love's kiss. Works every time,"

"Right," Evie knew how to fake a smile so she was sure her smile was enough to reassure Dizzy and Celia.

True love's kiss, works every time. Evie believed that. She truly did. She would believe even if her childhood hadn't been full with every story ending in a magical kiss. Even if she hadn't met several couples who got their happy ending because true love's kiss she'd believe in it.

Evie believed because she saw it first-hand. When Uma's spell was broken. By Mal kissing Ben. Mal had true love. She walked away from it because love wasn't enough to hold together a relationship that started with deception and was being crushed from the outside by a perfect façade.

Mal had loved Ben once. Now she loved Evie. But did magic know that? Did it care? There was no story about the divorcee who was saved with true love. No hero who found true love twice. No story of the princess who woke the princess from eternal slumber.

Loving Mal had become second nature. As easy as breathing. Yet will all effort of swimming against a current. She didn't just love Mal. She wanted to stay in love with her. She chose Mal and she never wanted to stop choosing her.

She remembered Mal's question from a couple nights prior. 'Is love enough?' Was it? Then she'd been focused on comforting Mal, but the question had scared her. Scared Mal was saying she didn't love her enough. Now, she felt like she understood what Mal had really been asking. Was love really all you needed for the happy ending?

The people on the Isle... The Villains. Their parents. For some of them, for a vast number of them they had carefully organized plans. Powerful magic that had taken years of mastery. Their intentions were wrong obviously, but was love the only thing that led to their defeat? An emotion. It made a good story. Made the heroes seem like the destined victors because evil would never win. Was that really all it was?

Was love enough?

"Evie," Dizzy said, "We're here,"

Right. The existential thoughts would have to wait.

Jay appeared in the door as they pulled into the driveway. "We found her in the studio," he said, "We tried everything we could to wake her,"

"Why'd you go up to the tower?"

"No, not in her studio. In yours,"

"Mine?"

"Yeah. Passed out in the middle of the room. We moved her to the sofa when we couldn't wake her,"

Evie stopped in the entryway to their living room. Carlos was sitting on the floor next to Mal who they'd laid out on the sofa. If not for the pained look of concern on Carlos' face the scene would look like any other day in their home. Evie coming home to find Mal dozing on the couch after she'd tried to wait up. The edges of Evie's world fell away as she stepped closer. Carlos shifted back, allowing Evie to take the spot next to Mal.

She knelt, brushing Mal's faintly curling hair away from her face. She fingers came away damp.

"Why is she wet?" Evie looked between Jay and Carlos.

Cheeks red, Jay raised his hand, "I threw a jug of water on her," He said sheepishly.

Celia chuckled but Dizzy elbowed her.

"Evie, aren't you going to wake her?" Carlos asked.

"Right," Her gaze returned to Mal, "I…"

Dizzy coughed, "Let's giving them some space,"

"What? Why?" Jay asked. Dizzy glared at him, kicking him towards the hall.

"Because this is a private moment,"

"Since when? Literally everyone who's ever had true love's kiss brags about it like it's their biggest accomplishment. Haven't you heard Cinderella talk about it?"

"Cinderella has FOMO because Aurora and Snow had kisses and all she had was a shoe that fit on her foot," Dizzy pushed him out of the room.

Amused, Celia followed, "You've met Cinderella?" She asked.

"Briefly. It was no family reunion worth talking about,"

Carlos squeezed Evie's shoulder before he left the room too. Evie could hear their voices growing further away, muffled to the point she couldn't make out the words anymore.

She placed her hand over Mal's, letting the warmth comfort her. "It's just a kiss," She reminded herself, "And… if it doesn't work there are other options. Other magic out there that can break curses. I can find it if I have too. Or I could ask Ben… It would break my heart to see Ben wake you but a broken heart is better than life without my heart,"

For a beat, she just stared at Mal.

"Just a kiss,"

She brushed her hair behind one ear as she leant down. Her lips trembled against Mal's. After a moment she pulled back, holding her breath. Mal was still. So still. Then a soft sigh parted her lips. Unfocused eyes found Evie's. Relief overflowed in Evie, her eyes filling with tears.

"E?" Mal's head raised a fraction.

"Yeah," She tried to keep her voice steady and failed miserably.

"Oh, good it worked," Mal sighed again, letting her head drop back.

Evie dropped her head onto Mal's chest, "Don't ever do that to me again,"

"What happened?" She asked nonchalantly.

"You were under a sleeping curse!" Evie snapped her head up to look at her.

Mal blinked twice at that, looking at Evie. She pushed herself so she was leaning against the armrest, "Was I?" She brushed away the tears from Evie's cheeks with the back of her fingers.

Evie hit her legs, a little frustrated at Mal's cavalier attitude, "I've been worried sick for hours. If the boys didn't find you-"

"Wait, hours?" Mal's brows furrowed, "The teleport didn't take me to you?"

"No, you came home. The boys found you in my studio,"

"Oh. I used the jacket you gave me as the focus. The teleport must have locked onto the place you made it," She tensed suddenly, "Wait if that teleport didn't go where I wanted it. E, I used the spell to teleport Bria and the others,"

"I know. To send them to Meg. They landed right where you wanted to, give or take a few feet. Bria and Meg are coming here to check you're okay. They should be here any moment,"

A relieved breath fell from Mal's lips, "Are they're all okay?"

"Kat and Carver are under the curse too," Evie answered truthfully.

"Carver too?"

"He fell asleep after you teleported them," She hit Mal's thigh again, "Why didn't you go with them?"

"I knew who they were there for me. I thought I could get the scepter and end all this,"

"It was reckless and stupid,"

"I know. I thought since it was mother's I could control it," A shadow fell over Mal's face, "It didn't respond to me,"

"We'll find them,"

"How long was I out? What did I miss?"

"Maybe two hours," Evie said checking her watch, "Bria called me when you sent them away and we went to Sixth Circle,"

"You went back there?"

"No one was there by the time we got there. But we found more people under the sleeping curse in the nearby buildings,"

Mal sucked in a sharp breath, "How many?"

"I don't know. We left Ben there,"

"Ben. I need to tell him," She tried to sit up but winced.

"Hey, take it easy,"

"There were three people,"

"We know, we watched the security footage,"

"Did you see the two without the staff were wearing gas masks?"

Evie drew back, "We didn't. Gas masks can filter out the sleeping fog,"

"I assume,"

"And the one with the scepter, did you see a face?"

Mal shook her head, "They were wearing a mask. Some kind of animal. A lion. Maybe a bear? It was like white porcelain," She groaned rubbing her hand across her forehead.

"Are you hurt?" Evie cupped her cheek, her eyes dart across Mal's face, looking for any signs injury.

"I don't think so. Maybe a little bruised," She sighed, leaning into Evie's hand, "Really, I feel drained. Teleport spells are no joke. They take it out of you,"

"I'll check if Jay still has any of his awful energy drinks hidden in our pantry," She stood about to move away, but Mal held onto her. Mal pulled her onto the edge of the sofa with her. Tracing the line of Evie's jaw with a feather-light touch, Mal closed the distance between them. A brush of their lips. Soft. Slow. Savouring the moment.

"I'm sorry," Mal whispered, as she give a languid nuzzle of her nose to Evie's, "There's been a lot to process. I haven't properly addressed that you woke from a sleeping curse," She dipped her head into another kiss.

"I couldn't leave you asleep. It's your turn to do the dishes,"

Mal laughed, pressing a kiss to Evie's cheek, to her jaw, to her neck.

With a wistful sigh Evie wrapped her hands around Mal's shoulders, "Don't you ever scare me like that again. I will kill you," It was meant to be teasing but Mal could hear the weight behind it. She understood the depth of how worried Evie had been.

"Yes, ma'am," She softly kissed her lips. "You know what this means don't you? You. Love. Me," She said, a bit of a lyrical tone to her voice.

"Are you now realizing that?" Evie smiled, "And it means the love is mutual,"

"It's very mutual, Princess,"

"Mhmm, I think now you're the princess. I'm the one who woke you after all,"

"Oh, don't even go down that road,"

"Were you the damsel in distress. It feels like you were the damsel in distress,"

"No. I was asleep. I got myself out of the distress,"

"Yeah, but I woke you. And I certainly wasn't the one in distress,"

"You're going to be the one in distress if you don't stop," Mal warned, kissing Evie through the laughter.

A bit of breather chapter before things get intense again. Thought I'd let Mal, Evie and you enjoy the moment before everything started to explode. Thank you for reading. Yell at me in the comments.

Nardragon- until the next page.