Welcome back to the third part! I've been trying to step up my writing lately. I've noticed how sloppy it's been.
In a gasp of air, Mal lunged forward in a panic, cold sweat and shaky hands accompanied her and she tried to coax herself out of the nightmare. She pushed her purple locks out of her face, anxiously looking about her pitch black room with only the moonlight to comfort her. The nightmares haven't seized since that night in the castle. It is as if the scene can't stop playing over and over again in her mind.
She's tried to find some kind of remedy to subdue them, looking through her mother's spell books and potions. She knew they wouldn't work on the Isle but they could at least lead to some kind of clue. Mal calmed her breathing, placing a hand on her heart and felt it's accelerated rhythm.
Mal recalled the time when she just a little girl having childish nightmares, not unlike the one she just had, and desperately searching for some form of comfort. She remembered going to her mother in a time of need, and finding out what a grave mistake it was. Since that encounter, Mal had made a habit of sneaking away to find Evie. She knew that Evie would always be there to comfort her and calm her down.
Ironic how that witch was now the cause of these god forsaken dreams. Mal pulled the covers off of her and quietly made her way over to the window. It was covered by a moth-eaten curtain and the glass was cracked in certain places. She looked on over the Isle that never sleeps. Lights were still on and she could even hear conflicts happening in the streets.
She tried to make sense of the nightmare, it was an all too familiar routine she got herself into. She first assessed that it meant she was weak and small, stupid for letting someone like Evie steal her throne. Then, after thinking about it, the dream was a sign that she must take her revenge. That throne belongs to her but only if she has the will to take it from that bitch. Nothing can stop her from achieving her revenge.
Mal leaned her head against the window frame, a hard shadow casting across her face. As much as she let the rage and hatred run through her, she never considered how hurt she really was. Her heart beat against her chest like someone was squeezing it slowly, waiting for agony to completely engulf her. If this is what it felt like to be weak, then she would never let weakness get the better of her again. She will be stronger than anyone. She will never have to feel this way again.
There was a castle built about three years ago in the old witches school. Maleficent wanted to upgrade her living space so she had her minions begin working on the project. It took about six months to finish the fierce and structurally unsound castle that was tall enough to look over the whole Isle and see Auradon across the water. Maleficent was going to use this height advantage to find a way to break the magic barrier. In six more months Maleficent tried and tried and every time she failed. She grew obsessed with the project; neglecting the people of the Isle and her own daughter. But what else is new? While Maleficent worked, Mal ruled the Isle with the title of Queen bestowed upon her by her mother. Mal never knew what she did to deserve a title like that, perhaps her mother truly was going mad after so much time on this dreadful Isle.
The castle was impressive, nothing compared to the strong standing structures in Auradon, but by Isle standards it was a marvel. It loomed over the Isle on a far southwestern corner, as far away from Auradon as possible. It was build to the edge of a cliff that fell down all the way to the crashing waves of the sea. From the right vantage point, one could she the supply ships riding into the harbor and even get a glance at what they were carrying. From the balcony one could also see several landmarks, Dragon Hall, The Castle Across the Way, and even Bargain Castle near town square. Where Maleficent and her daughter reside now.
The castle was intimidating and, even if it didn't look very sturdy, it has yet to break or collapse. The inside was particular and hard not to look at. Strange paintings lined the walls of villainous triumph and tragedy, wondrous artifacts from all over the Isle were on stands and in broken cases, the carpets were all sorts of colors ranging from black to green to red and any other ugly color you could think of. Some of the windows only had a few cracks, while others barely had frames. One could hardly imagine what it was like when the temperature dropped. Luckily that never happened on the Isle. It was all so mismatched and thrown together. At least that's what most thought when they walked through.
Within the halls of this rather expansive castle, a small girl was being led through by some of the castle's servants. She curiously looked at the strange decorations that were dotted around as she sauntered behind the servants, being cautious enough encase of some kind of ambush were to occur. Eventually, after a very boring venture, the servants brought the small girl to a large wooden door. In fact, the door was beautiful. Sure some of the wood was rotted near the edges and yes there were cracks and splinters everywhere, but the carving and color was breathtaking compared to every other boring door she's seen in her life. Maleficent must have had it custom made when the castle was built, that or she bribed a hefty price to the supply boat captains. The servants each grabbed a hold on either of the brass handles and pushed the door open for the small girl.
The wood creaked and ached as it dragged across the stone floor, there was already a mark in the stone after years of use, they opened up to a large room with three stone pillars on either side and black flags that hung between them. Tall windows could be seen behind them that let in some light but not enough to brighten the whole room. The dust danced in the light and it shot straight down to the carpet on the floor that ran all the way to a small set of stairs. They didn't go up very far but they did come up to met a remarkable throne made of iron and padded with a fine red leather. Above the throne hung a flag that used to be purple but spray painted over with a royal blue. In the throne sat, draped in a patchy but beautiful blue dress, the queen herself. There was a bronze colored crown atop her head that was bend and dented but still... it was a fucking crown for god's sake.
The girl was ushered forward towards the throne and she reluctantly obliged. She looked up with a frown on her face.
"Evie." She said with a slight twitch of her lips.
"Uma." The queen responded calmly.
Uma looked about the throne room a bit more carefully while nodding her head, "quite a nice set up you got yourself here. Though I suppose that happens when you're, you know, Queen of the whole goddamn Isle."
Evie shrugged a bit with a small hint of smugness on her face. Uma now noticed that beside the throne stood the famous inventor and lieutenant of the Isle, Carlos de Vil with his hands held together like some kind of steward.
"So," Uma spoke again, "why'd you bring me here? I thought you hated me."
"I do believe you're thinking of my predecessor," Evie stated, "I brought you here to propose an alliance."
"An alliance?" The words felt weird on her tongue as she spoke with distaste, "what are you? From Auradon?"
"Uma, we have a common enemy," Evie explained, not once wavering from her perfect posture, "it is best that we unite to neutralize her."
"Who? Mal? She can't do anything anymore, not since you kicked her off that throne and planted your ass there." Uma said while gesturing to the throne.
"Come now, Uma, you and I both know Mal wouldn't give up so easily."
"You're paranoid, no one's seen a whiff of her since she was overthrown." Uma detested with sass.
Carlos unconsciously tightened his grip on the bruised hand he was attempting to cover up. His jaw ached and arms stung just at the mention of her name.
"Well then you know she's planning something," Evie explained to her, "I know Mal and I know that she will not stop while she is still free to roam the Isle."
"How do I know I should even trust you?" Uma questioned putting a hand on her hip. "for all I know this is just a trap you'll lure me into. No thanks, I'm out."
Then Carlos leaned over next to his queen's ear, Evie turned her head towards him to hear him better, and he whispered something to her so quietly that even Uma couldn't understand it from about five feet away. He stood up straight again with poise and Evie looked at Uma with the smallest smirk on her face.
"It has come to my understanding that your... fish shop, is it? It is under disrepair and more gang activity than usual, is that correct?"
Uma looked at her with surprise slowly growing on her face, "how do you know that?"
"I can provide you with the proper repairs and protection if you accept my offer," Evie said graciously, "if not, I will leave you and your shop to rot in the dirt."
Uma thought for a minute, not once breaking her gaze with Evie, and frowned. She always hated the idea of a queen. Perhaps that's just because she wasn't one but that didn't matter. Everyone in a position of power can't help but use that power to manipulate those beneath them. Those they are supposed to protect. Uma was over the moon when she heard the news of Mal being overthrown, but she never considered the one to take her place would end up the same. Though she could stand to benefit from this... alliance of sorts. It was true that business has been slow at the restaurant, really only her crew hung around there anymore, and her mother liked to take her frustrations out in... violent manners. Uma casually put a hand over her arm at the thought. She took a deep breath.
"I'll have to think about your offer." She concluded.
"Of course, take all the time you need," Evie said sympathetically, "I will have Jay show you out."
Out of the darkness, Jay stepped forward behind Uma, arms crossed and jaw clenched.
"Good day your majesty." Uma joked as she mocked a bow. Evie's expression did not change and Jay gestured to the door. Uma turned and followed Jay out of the throne room and the servants closed the door behind them. A small glint of hope danced in Evie's eye.
"What are you thinking?" Carlos asked with a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Oh nothing, it's just that I'm sure Mal won't be happy when she hears of this alliance." She told him as her index finger ran along the edge of her bottom lip.
Carlos unceremoniously placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort, "I assure that I will do everything in my power to prevent that from happening."
Instead of listening to his promise, Evie noticed his black and blue hand on her shoulder, "Carlos, oh my god!" she gasped.
"What? Oh that? It's nothing, just a little souvenir I got from our dear friend, Mal." He explained.
Evie gently picked up his hand to examine it closer, with the kindness of a mother she caressed the bruises, "Jay told me she didn't hurt you that bad."
"That's because I told him to say that, now would you stop worrying, I'm fine." Carlos said, slightly embarrassed but the compassion was refreshing.
"I am so sorry, Carlos, if I'd known this could happen I would have never sent you on that mission." Evie almost looked like she was tearing up.
"Please, I'm fine, the nurses said it should heal in about three months." He told her.
"Three months?" She spoke with disbelief, her eyebrows raised.
"I've had worse and you know that, remember when we would jump from roof to roof late into the night and I would always fall and sprain my ankle?" Carlos said to her.
Evie still wasn't convinced. Perhaps she was so worked up because she was partly to blame for the injury, or maybe because she knew who did it.
"Just..." she hesitated, "promise me you'll be more careful next time you go out."
"C'mon, you know I can't promise that-"
"Please!"
Carlos was a bit shocked at her outburst, he never thought she would care so much, but none the less he complied, "Alright, I'll try," he emphasized, "to be more careful. But if it gets in the way of my work then I can't promise anything."
Evie was content with the compromise, she nodded and let go of his hand.
"Though I can promise you," He clenched his other hand in a fist, "I won't let that she-devil get away with this."
Evie cracked a smile, "that's a promise I can approve of," then the smile grew dark and wicked, "a promise I can approve of, indeed."
Uma followed Jay through the many hallways in the castle. Strangely enough, there were no other servants to be seen. One could guess there needed to be a lot of help on hand to make this place run, and yet, no one was around. It was just Uma and Jay, all alone, walking through the eerie halls.
"So... how much do you get paid being the Queen's-" Uma was quickly cut off in her sentence when Jay turned back to pin her to the nearest wall with his forearm to her chest.
A sudden huff of air escaped her lips as she suddenly hit the wall with great force. Anger and rage grew in her body as she tried to push herself towards him, but she was much to small to overpower him.
"What's your game here, Uma?" Jay spoke with hatred through his teeth, there was no room for games.
"Get the hell off of me!" Uma shouted as she continued to try and push him off of her.
"I know you met with her, at your smelly fish shop, what the fuck are you planning!?" There was not rhyme or reason in his eyes, only fury.
"I don't even know what you're talking about!" She screamed, still trying to fight him off.
"You're really gonna make me say her name, aren't you?" Jay spat, "Mal! You met with Mal a few nights ago, I saw you."
"What?" Uma still couldn't recall.
Jay, impatient as ever, put his fist up ready to punch, "you want this to get ugly?"
"Okay! Okay! Yes, you're right! Mal showed up at the fish shop one night after everyone had left, but nothing happened, I just told her to go to hell and set Harry to scare her off." Uma confessed, no longer trying to break free of Jay.
"What's your game? Why show up here if you'd already aligned yourself with Mal?" Jay asked suspiciously.
"What is with you guys and alliances, holy shit, I feel like I'm living in Auradon! What, is King Ben gonna march through those doors next?" She said while catching her breath, "I already told you, idiot, nothing happened."
"You're a damned liar," he spoke bitterly, "I saw what happened... whatever it was, I saw it!"
"Saw what?"
"You and Mal..." he didn't want to say it out loud, "you know, kissing!"
Come on, Uma, you know I would never do anything to hurt you.
The memory of Mal in her shop loomed over her like a ghost. Her eyes widened in shock and embarrassment, she tried to play it cool though, "that was nothing more than emotional manipulation."
"Emot-what?"
"Mal was obviously trying to use my feelings to manipulate me into joining her," she said, "but I won't let that happen. I'd rather fling myself off a cliff than work with that big nosed fairy."
"So... you're not a spy sent here to destroy us?" Jay asked, slowly removing his grip on her.
"Trust me, if I was, this whole place would be floating in the sea by now." She shoved him off with frustration.
Jay looked away from her in embarrassment, "S-sorry about the whole... threatening you thing."
"Whatever." She dusted herself off and began walking down the hall again like nothing happened.
Truthfully though, she was trying to hide her face. She hasn't been able to stop thinking about that night Mal came into her shop. She didn't want to appear weak in front of Jay, but she knew her face would reveal her. She didn't know what this feeling was, was it love? Hatred? Remorse?
I know you've always wanted to restart our little fling from a while ago. What's stopping you?
That demon fairy would be the death of her someday. She hated her. She hated the way she acted like she owned everything. She hated she way she would flaunt about her mother's status almost constantly. She hated the way she walked, dressed, and fought. She hated the way Mal could pull her in again, and again. Didn't matter how many times Uma would tell her to fuck off, she always came back. And somehow, Uma couldn't resist it. Those days where Mal would either be brave or stupid enough to saunter through those saloon doors, Uma always treasured them. It could be because one time she gave Mal food poisoning in the alley behind the shop. It could also be because that is when they had their first kiss. Either way, Mal left an imprint on her like no one else. That is what she hated most about her.
So go on then, kiss me, Uma.