Hey E, just go to the library. Will text you if there is anything of interest here. Love, M.
Stuffing her phone back in her pocket, Mal focused on the situation in front of her. Rows and rows of bookshelves jutted up from the floor, resembling the lines of goblin armies her mother told her she used to have. The thought sent a slight jolt of pain through her heart, along with the guilt of her not even checking on her mother, instead allowing her to be kept in the museum, deeming it safer. Once again she wondered if she should work on a way to release her mother from her reptile prison, or keep her the way she was. There were benefits to both sides, well, the main benefit to bringing her back to normal was that she would have her mother back, which was a double edged sword at best. Still, if she was the one turned into a lizard, she hoped her mother would release her. Though it was probably more likely hell would freeze over.
Sighing, Mal jumped when she heard her phone ping. Fishing it out of her pocket, she used a spark of power to unlock it, not trusting the stupid passcode to be enough protection. Opening her message, she couldn't help but smile.
Hey M, I got the book and my mirror! We'll head to the library now so don't go anywhere my fellow blueberry princess! Love always, your sister, E.
Slipping her phones back in her pocket, Mal kept walking around, her eyes glowing acid green as she prepared her magic for any possible attacks.
"No sign-Ugh what the hell Lizard Head?" Uma screamed, ducking in time to avoid the angrily fizzing curse that Mal flung in her direction. "Really? Was that necessary?"
Mal shrugged sheepishly, an apology ghosting her lips. "I guess I was a little too prepared, huh?" she settled on, not feeling like apologising today- or ever.
Uma rolled her eyes, knowing how prickly her rival was. "Whatever, but if you could refrain from sending any other curses in my direction that would be great." Rolling her eyes, Uma strode off, her long braided hair swaying.
"No promises," Mal whispered, rolling her eyes.
Sighing, the blue- haired girl walked off, trying to keep a tighter lid on her magic. It took a while, but the three finally finished combing the library, meeting in the large foyer where the grand desk that masqueraded as a checkout counter sat.
"Any luck on finding Audrey or anything that could help us?" Ben asked, looking at the girls.
"Does it look like it, Beastie boy?" Uma said, raising a brow sardonically, keeping her arms crossed over her chest.
"I was just-"
"Shh!" Mal snapped, getting into position, her eyes glowing acid green. Uma came next to her, her shell glowing and her eyes taking on a turquoise hue. Ben grabbed his sword, getting into a defensive position.
"Relax M, it's just us." At her words, Mal immediately let go of the magic, with Uma following her lead.
Evie pushed the door open and strode in, swaying her hips. A soft smile resting on her lips, and her pale hands are written as she clutched the book in them like a lifeline.
"Why did ye announce us?" Harry asked, striding in with his usual unhinged girn.
"Coz Mal is paranoid, and I'd rather not have another curse thrown at me- no offence Mal." Jay answered, striding in with a cocky grin.
"Trust me Harry, Evie did you a favour." Uma said, shooting a dirty look at Mal who ignored her in favour of hugging her best friend.
"How are you doing?" Mal asked softly, moving aways slightly from the taller girl.
Evie shrugged non-committedly, though her eyes reflected her pain like one way mirrors. "I'm managing. Even did some shopping." she winked, holding up the book and hee mirror for Mal to see.
Mal grinned and pulled out her own spellbook, making Evie's soft smile beam full force. "Can anyone use yours or is there a spell on it?" Mal asked, knowing that the only reason her book wasn't bound more tightly was because it wasn't her mothers main book, just a basic one.
"Well, if ye count a' invisibility spell' an' Princess 'er needing tae use 'er blood tae open it, an invite for communal use, then aye , everyone can use it." Harry replied, Uma tucked under his arm.
Evie shot him a sharp look, though it cracked slightly when she saw the sight. Averting her eyes, she looked back at Mal, an apologetic smile on her pretty face. "Yes, only I can read it. And of course my mother. But look at it this way, at least Audrey can't read it then." Mal nodded, agreeing with that.
"So, what's the plan?" Jay asked, laying back on the desk casually like they were talking about a class assignment he didn't care about, not finding a megalomaniac, spell-happy princess.
"Well, I figured I could use my mirror to find out where she is, we can make a plan of attack and and on the way I'll read through more of my spells." Evie said calmly, her arm wrapped around Mal's waist.
"Sounds solid enough, do it E." Mal nodded, stepping back to give the girl some room.
Evie nodded and made her way to the seat behind the desk, sitting down in it. "This would be so much easier with carlos." she muttered, earning everyone's attention.
"Speaking of Carlos and his team, has anyone heard from them?" Mal asked, looking around the room.
"Nay, Jay tried tae call him, but he dinnae picked up." Harry said, shrugging.
Mal frowned, locking eyes with Jay and Evie. "E, can you locate Carlos first?" Mal said, earning a nod from Evie.
"Mirror Mirror in my hand, show me Carlos, and the rest of his...band." Evie said, racking her brain for an appropriate rhyme.
Jay and Mal hovered behind her, Jay's hot breath curling around her ear and sending tingles through her spine. Ben, Uma and Harry were in front of them, all their eyes locked on the mirror.
After a few moments of tense silence, the mirror stayed resolutely blank. Evie frowned and tried a few more rhymes, coming up empty.
"This isn't good." Ben said, obviously. "Evie,what reasons are there for your mirror to not work?"
Evie frowned, her hands slightly shaking as she picked up the mirror again. "The person must be… alive, and it won't pick them up if they are held in a place with extreme active magic, especially if it was used to block me."
There was a pregnant pause as the group tried to get their heads around the situation. "Oaky, so it is unlikely that they are dead. Carlos is too crafty for that and they have Celia." Mal said, taking charge, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"So it is likely that they are in a place with high magic, maybe Aubrey got them?" Uma finished, her brows furrowed.
"It is the only acceptable explanation. E, can you please try to locate Aubrey now?" Mal said, getting a nod from the girl.
"Mirror Mirror in my hand, help me find out wherever Aubrey is hiding, in this vast land." This time the mirror reacted, showing Aubrey standing on top of the tallest turret on the school, a trusted grin on her face. They watched until she looked right at the mirror, winked and blink out of existence.
"What the fuck-"
"Oh Jay, you know it's not nice to swear, especially in front of a princess." A mocking voice said, drawing their attention to where she stood on the upper level of the library, her staff in hand.
"Aubrey, we know you have Carlos and the others, give them back!" Mal demanded, walking over to the front of the group, her eyes alight with green flames.
"Oh, these friends?" Aubrey grinned impishly, transporting in front of the group. She held the staff out and cleared the light, allowing them to see the group as they pounded relentlessly on the crystal.
"Carlos," Evie breathed, coming over to look.
"Mal, Evie, Jay anyone! Get us out of here!" Carlos yelled, slamming his fists.
"You evil bitch!" Mal growed, thrusting her hand forward and sending a wave of green cursed fire at Audrey, who just smirked and blinked out of existence.
"Such a temper Mal, you should work on that." Aubrey cooed, back on her previous place.
"She's not the only one with a temper," Uma snarled, thrusting her hands forward and making the pipes rattle as they peeced the walls, sending sprays of hard water directly to Aubrey.
The girl sighed, as if this was all a massive inconvenience and blinked away, allowing the water to land at her feet. "You are all a bore. I was just coming to invite you to this fantastic event I have planned… but I think instead I'll just bring you with me."
"What.." Before Harry could finish his sentence, the group was frozen.
Evkie cried out internally, calling on her newly discovered magic for help. The glowing red and blue energy heeded her call, but fizzled out before she could do much more with it. Crying in despair, she internally screamed as she felt her body turn into energy and sucked into a source, likely the crystal.
Aubrey grinned when she looked down and saw the entire group captured in her crystal. It was vindication she justified, after all they took from her, this was what they deserved. Sighing happily she made her way over to the spell books and items that were dropped on the floor. Holding Evie's mirror, her spell book, Uma's necklace, the goddess amber and Mal's book, she felt the power in each, and took a moment to bask in it.
"You foolish girl, you better not get too attached to those items." Aubrey shook herself out of her daze, watching as Maleficent, still in reptile form, clambered out of her pocket and up the staff, resting comfortably on the stone that held her daughter.
"No Maleficent, I would never." Aubrey said deferentially, casting her eyes down.
"Good because you know what you need to do next."
"And you will break the unification and allow me control over my mother and father's kingdoms?" Aubrey checked, ignoring her gut instinct saying that this wasn't right.
"Of course, though I still don't know why you want that when you can control the entire kingdom." Aubrey remained silent, not wanting to give away all her cards. "Regardless, there are just a few things we need to take care of first…" Aubrey flashed them back up onto the top of the school, their eyes glued to the smog filled island.
"Breaking the barrier, and getting my body back."
So, I wasn't actually planning on this turning into a bigger story, but apparently it is now. I hope you enjoyed this update, and the direction I am taking this. Next chapter we will check in with the group, along with watching as Aubrey and Maleficent break the barrier, and see how they get her body back!
I did consider having that as a sequel and ending the story here, but I think I'll keep it as one big story.
Until next time, friends!
