Chapter 8 – Harry's Betrayal
Hayden groans as he blinks slowly to clear his badly blurred vision, tied to a chair with his hands behind his back, held within what looks to be a small storage room. Two figures are stood nearby, their muffled voices reaching his ears. He can't make out what they're saying, not at first, and it takes a second before his vision slips into focus just as his hearing becomes clear.
"This is still crazy. You didn't know he was lying, Uma." Harry argues with Uma.
She's dressed in a very nice-looking blue dress, layered at the bottom half as if flowing with the waves of the sea itself. It suits her, really suits her, and she looks beautiful. Harry is a rather strange sight if Hayden's honest. He wears a pair of black leather jeans and a white button-down shirt with a long red jacket over it, drifting down to his legs, rather like a coat. It's like a fancier version of what he usually wears. His hook is strapped to his waist, clearly visible with his hands on his waist pushing back the jacket just enough to show the hook.
Uma rolls her eyes at him. "Of course, he was lying. You just couldn't see it as you were all lovestruck."
"I am not lovestruck." Harry growls. "Sure, he's really hot, but that's all. I'm trying to get in his pants but commitment?" He shivers. "Do I look like the kinda guy who does that?"
"Doesn't mean you don't want him." She raises an eyebrow, daring him to deny it.
Hayden feels pain shoot though the back of his head, a headache inevitable in the near future. "Then why bother go along with it if you knew he was lying?" Harry asks, taking the topic back a bit to get it away from his newfound affection for the prince.
"Because Hayden was right." She growls in frustration. "I want to live free without that stupid barrier, Harry. Ben needs to lower it willingly."
"And that's why you spelled him?" Harry asks, crossing his arms, hiding his hook in the process.
"Well, he wouldn't have done it otherwise. It's the only way we can be free, Harry." She insists and he gives up arguing with her, at least on that bit.
"You didn't have to hit him so hard. I swore I heard his skull crack from the whack you gave him." Harry says, wincing at the memory.
"He is a God. They're strong. Had to make sure he went out in one blow." Uma shrugs off.
"Technically, I'm a Demigod." Hayden corrects and they both look over at him, not realising he was awake until now. "What happened?" He asks, honestly blank after walking through the isle with them, intending on taking them to dad in hopes of him helping sort out the whole mess. It would seem the Fates had other plans.
"I think you hit him too hard, Uma." Harry sighs, watching the boy as if somehow trying to read his mind.
Uma doesn't retort to that or answer Hayden's question. It's then he notices someone missing. "Where's Cerbie?" He asks worriedly then becomes angry, becoming louder with ever passing second as he threatens, "If you hurt her, I swear I will throw you into the pits of Tartarus faster than you can…"
The rest is cut off when Harry puts a hand over his mouth as he sits right on his lap. "Hey, calm down, princey." He smiles at the boy. "Not that I don't like seeing you all worked up like that, we don't need that kind of noise right now. Alright?" He waits and Hayden lets out a sigh before nodding. The hand is removed.
"Where is she?" He repeats, anger still in his voice.
"Not here but safe. Honest." Harry vows and Hayden, for some reason, believes him.
"The mutt kept trying to bite us so left her back on the isle after we jumped through the barrier with you." Uma scowls at the thought of the pup.
"Funny how I don't remember that." Hayden says sarcastically with anger in his tone, glaring at the girl.
"Well, you were a wee bit unconscious at the time, so…" Harry trails off, slinging one arm over his shoulder, resting his hand on the back of the chair right beside Hayden's head. The other rests comfortable on his lap, watching Hayden with a small smile.
"Where are we?" Hayden asks, leaning his head around Harry over to look at Uma, a difficult feat when the boy's body is blocking most of his vision and when there's rope tied around his chest, holding him against the chair. He tries to subtly use his powers, the barrier no longer dampening them but frowns when he can't break free. If anything, the ropes tighten painfully against his wrists until he stops fighting, the ropes loosening slightly so it's not cutting off his blood supply any more.
"Struggling, are we?" Uma smirks knowingly.
"We're outside the barrier so…magic?" Hayden deadpans, not up for playing her guessing game.
Uma smirks at him. "How else are we supposed to get you to stay in one place? Knowing you, you'd just try and snap Ben out of it."
"A love spell then." Hayden guesses.
Harry chuckles. "Ooo, he's smart too." He runs a hand down the boy's chest seductively.
"I will fry you." Hayden threatens, glaring at the boy.
"Exciting." Harry grins madly and Uma whistles. Like an obedient dog, Harry gets off Hayden's lap to follow her out the room, but not before stealing one more kiss. He chuckles when Hayden bites his bottom lip, too annoyed to flirt and not realising that it's turning him on all the more. Licking the blood from his lip, he gags the boy so he can't call for help and whispers, "I'll be back soon for you. Don't worry, I'll save you a dance." He winks and they leave the room, Uma checking her makeup one final time, smiling at herself in the mirror she swiped from Hayden. Harry stands behind her and looks back at the door where Hayden's behind held behind, frowning.
"Harry, if you're that desperate then I still have some of that love potion left. He'd not even try to fight you then and run for it to tell the others." Uma suggests with a smirk.
"Not happening." Harry growls, turning back to her in anger.
"Why not? You only want him as a lover right? What's the problem? You could just give him the anti-love potion after you're done with him." She asks, already knowing the answer.
"Ready to go, my love?" Ben calls as he sees them, smiling lovingly at her. He offers his arm, and she accepts it.
"Yes. Let's go, my king." She smiles and lets him lead her away.
Harry looks back at the door one final time before sighing and walking away. He can't use a love potion on Hayden. It's no fun if there's no fight, no challenge, to win him over. Part of him, a tiny temptation within him wants to, wants to use the potion and have his way with the boy, but it's instantly squashed by the rest of him that knows love potions are wrong. He'd never admit it out loud, but he just knows it's wrong, just wrong. It's not even real. Where's the fun in that? Certainly not at the bottom of the potion, that's for sure.
Silently, he follows after the pair and stops when they do, stood a few steps behind, watching as Ben smiles lovingly at Uma, giving her a brief kiss. Her eyes look over at Harry with a smirk as she kisses Ben but is clearly just acting. They break apart a second later and Ben walks on ahead, trumpets announcing his arrival to the cotillion party. A few seconds past before Uma turns to Harry expectantly. He puts on a smile, just thinking of how much better it'll be when it's all over. They'll all be free and can sail the seas to their hearts' content. He offers his arm, and she wraps her hand around it, allowing him to lead her. They can hear the gasps of shock and the whispers that follow as the reveal themselves to everyone.
Mal looks shocked most of all as they appear, confused and looks hopeful as she sees Harry there, hoping he's the one Uma's here with. However, her heart practically breaks when Harry walks Uma down the stairs and Ben meets them at the bottom, holding out his hand for her. She takes it with a warm smile and kisses her hand where a golden ring now lays. She giggles and Harry backs away to give them some space. Ben approaches Mal with Uma, but Harry pays them no mind, his thoughts lingering back to a certain prince tied up onboard. He hears music playing but that only makes his emotions stir more, not looking at anyone but instead staring into the empty air.
A voice snaps him back to attention, Mal and her friends mid-way up the stairs, about to leave the party. "Lumiere, unveil the gift! They need to see it!" A girl, Jane, desperately pleads.
Lumiere then declares, "And now for the unveiling of King Ben's masterpiece, designed especially for his lady!" Trumpets sound and a stained-glass image is revealed of Ben and Mal. People gasp in awe and Ben moves away from Uma, staring at the image as if something strong within him is fighting against the effects of the spell.
"Cover that back up!" Uma orders angrily, people gasping at her sudden shift of mood.
"I will not!" Lumiere denies.
Uma giggles nervously and then turns to Ben. "Why don't you tell everyone the present you have for me, Ben?"
"I have an announcement." Ben calls, using his kingly voice. "Uma will be joining the court tonight as my lady." He declares, taking her hand.
"Son." Beast tries.
"Not now dad!" Ben roars then shivers as if fighting something.
Harry moves quickly over to Uma and whispers in her ear. "May I suggest that we abort mission? It's too risky without our crew to back us up or without the wand."
"Shut up, Harry." She growls under her breath, putting on a smile for everyone, trying to nudge him away without making it too obvious and he shakes his head as he backs away.
"So, as my gift to her, I am bringing down the barrier once and for all." Ben finishes, not noticing the interaction between the two unlike everyone else who most certainly did. Everyone gasps in horror at Ben's words and he then holds out his hand. "Fairy Godmother, bring down the barrier."
"I most certainly will not." She refuses.
"I am your king!" He reminds with unnatural anger.
"Obey him." Uma orders.
"Uma, abort." Harry whispers, not loud enough for anyone else to hear them yet.
"Shut up, Harry. Maybe I should put your little friend under it too. He always distracts you after all." Uma says and everyone's shocked by her threat though not sure what it means.
Harry gaze hardens on her. "What's happened to you? We stick up for our own, Uma."
"Well you should have remembered that and stuck with the plan." She growls back.
"It's not my fault your plan stinks." He then raises his voice purposely, so they all hear what he says next. "I told you'd they figure out that you spelled Ben. It's too obvious. I told you it wouldn't work and now look at what's happened." He reveals, not having this after she threatened Hayden, though still in denial at having feelings for the boy.
"Harry!" Uma cries in horror.
Outraged cries sound from around him. "What?! You spelled him?!" The old king Beast growls out in anger at Uma.
"You spelled me?" Ben asks in disbelief, backing away from Uma in shock.
"Yes, she did. Now, if you don't mind, I have a boy to untie upstairs." Harry confirms and then runs back upstairs, hoping Hayden won't be too mad at him for what he's done.