Hi guys! Back at it again with another 2:30 am chapter, but this time not after a whole month! *Hides sheepishly behind laptop screen.*

So many new reviewers! Let's get right to it then, shall we?

Nyehhhhh: Welcome to the story and thank you for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Hopefully you didn't have to wait too long for this one. :)

Royal One: Welcome to the story and thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying my story so much and think I'm doing such a great job. I hope you will continue to follow along and enjoy!

GotNoName123: Hi, welcome to the story and thank you for the review. Yes, King Adam certainly is a piece of work isn't he? Don't worry, he's not a total asshole…except for when he is. ;) I hope you'll continue to enjoy my story!

power214063: I'd say don't worry, but if I did I feel like I'd be creating false hope while also simultaneously spoiling the chapter. So I guess I'm just going to have to be *that person* and be evil and say keep reading!

bookgirl111: Hey, haven't heard from you in a while, it's good to see you're still following along! As to your confusion, yes there was a time skip; we will see what happened in that scene at a later time. Probably a bit of poor writing on my part for not making that clear. Sorry for the frustration, but I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy. :)

danifan3000: Haha, I'm glad to see you're so passionate about the Beast, even if it's in hatred. ;) Yeah, I always felt like he just had this negative attitude about him in the movie (Descendants, I mean) that was just never really addressed and more glossed over once everyone got their happy endings at the end of the movie. So I really wanted to highlight his asshole-ness...plus I'm kind of going for the slightly darker/grittier/realistic portrayal of the beauty/beast situation so...yeah. He's a giant asshole.

Anyway, despite that I hope you will continue to follow along and enjoy! :)

Guest 1: Haha, yeah I don't waste any time creating drama! ;) Glad to have you back and all caught up. Hopefully you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Guest 2: Don't worry, we'll get the reactions in this chapter, lol. Well, some of them. The rest will be a bit more spread out but we will get to them! :) I hope you'll continue to follow along for the ride!

CrazyWill71: Hi welcome to the story and thank you so much for leaving a review! I'm glad you're enjoying this story so much and think that it's so realistic. That's what I was trying to go for so I'm glad to hear you think I'm succeeding! I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! :)

CheshireCat19: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying this story so much and I hope you will continue to follow along and enjoy!

BlackWidowAndCapRule: I'm glad you're liking the drama! ;) There's plenty more of it in this chapter. Hopefully it came soon enough for you, and that you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Jazz: He is definitely not being a prime example here, is he? But I hope you'll continue to enjoy regardless, and I can't wait to hear what you think.

tradingtruthsforlies: Ooh, I like your username! It's very Loki-esque. :) And yes, the king us very anger inducing, not the least of which to do with his own issues with anger, haha. Thank you for the kind words as well, I'm glad you're enjoying this so much and I hope you'll continue to enjoy.

Kitty Kat Vixen: It's good to hear from you again! I love long reviews, even if it's hard to respond to them fully sometimes, lol so no worries, keep 'em coming!

I definitely expected some kind of WTF response, which may have, I'll admit, spurred my decision in part... ;) But it was also, honestly, an attempt at character development and highlighting how just because he's the/a King now, Adam still has a lot of work to do before he fully shakes his beastly ways. Plus (and you'll see it more in this chapter too) I was also trying to emphasize his beastliness/anger issues for the sake of both realism, and in keeping with the slightly darker take I've got going along with tossing my own personal headcanons and opinions on Beauty and the Beast out there.

And yes, we will definitely get a reconciliation with Aziz, Jay and Carlos, don't worry. (Props though if you can guess who initiates it ;)) And I'm glad you're liking my take on Aziz and Nikhil (you were soo so close! Just one letter!) There will definitely be more of them as well. In this chapter, even.

Whew, getting there. (Might just PM you to finish the last bit of the conversation and just focus on the story for sake of word count, lol)
I 100% am obsessed with this ship, I mean just the LOOKS he gives her! I can't, I really can't. Although someone also recently turned me on to the idea of Uma/Harry/Gil, and now I can't get the thought out of my head of that either. I agree though, there's definitely alot of complicated backgrounds and I look forward to digging them up and exploring them all with a healthy added dose of angst thrown in because that's just what I do! ;)

And yes, with Cinderella! I mean, all of it, really because, as you said, with all the crap the Disney Princes/Princesses go through (and at surprisingly young ages! Look it up they're not even out of their teens!) it's a wonder we don't have more side effects. Love Disney, always will, but at least for this story I'm going all out and really digging in hard and poking at all the mental sore spots!

Anyway, I will shoot you a PM to further discuss, and in the mean time I hope you enjoy this latest mess my brain has cooked up! :)

Kevin4baconhugs: On my mobile and my phone actually had your name saved into it! Sorry, thought that was just hilariously awesome. I'm happy to hear how much you like my story, especially with all the angst I throw out there, haha. It really means alot that you think so highly of my writing and I hope you will continue to read and enjoy! :)

Gracfully: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter so much, even if the Beast was being a jerk. Don't worry, we will get some better reactions from everyone, it was just in the moment, no one really knew how to react. But we will definitely get some more positive stuff in there, and I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy.

HeirOftheHowlingWolves: Haha, yeah he did, and he's not done yet! It's good to hear from you again, I'm glad to see you're still following along and especially that youre enjoying how I'm portraying Cinderella. I was hesitantto really dig in and 'go there,' but it seems to be working well so I'mma keep doing it! :) I hope you'llcontinue to read and enjoy!

Guest 3: Hi, thank you for the review. I do plan on including Evie more in this story, though in regards to your concern I've actually already answered it in full detail in a previous Author's Note; (specifically, the first Author's Note on Chapter 18- I'm really just asking to leave pt. 2.) Hopefully that will help, and that you'll continue to read and enjoy.

VanillaAshes: Hello and welcome to the story! I'm so glad to see you're enjoying this so much and how I'm portraying everything. (Although so please feel free to let me know what it is you're not enjoying so much, just so I can get a better idea of what's not working; constrictive criticism and all that good stuff.)

And there's a couple more much more detailed flashbacks in here for you full of D2 characters and everyone's favorite mentally unstable pirate! ;) And I will definitely ring you for ides if my muse fails me, I appreciate your offer. And don't worry I haven't forgotten about my shipping promisies, lol, but it is going to be a little slower of a burn, and of course, with my own little twist on things. ;) I hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy!

memories of rain: Welcome to the story and thank you for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it, even with all the frustrations and drama. And yes, spot on guess, haha. Chad did take Carlos to Aziz, though what happened with that confrontation will be revealed later on. I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy. :)

Nina: Yeah, he really isn't anyone's favorite right now, to be honest. And normally I'd say there's two sides to everything, but at the moment, King Adam's other side is really just being a dick, lol. Regardless, I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Jewelz:1642: Thank you for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter so much, and that you thought the panic attacks were so realistic and accurate. There's definitely alot going down, and I'm excited to see what you think of what comes next. ;)

Fire and Ice 01: Hahahah, everyone is hating the Beast and I'm equal parts amused as crap and also a little nervous because I don't know now if what you'll read will just make everyone hate him more or actually feel something. Well, eitherway, I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Tiredandlazy: Haha, and here's me, literally checking every day just waiting for your review! ;)

Lol, yep, I'm totally evil like that and I will gladly take both your hate and your love.

Agreed, Dude talking just really really threw me off, and not in a confused way either more like, why is this necessary, it's not necessary you had something going and then you just made it a children's movie and wwwhhyyy?!

Um, but also like uh...uh...what? I just don't...what? *sits down and dramtically contemplates in just what other ways my entire life is a lie*

And yes! Success! Haha, you bet I made you like Chad! Don't worry, I have no intentions of having Kropp be any less of a dill-weed, so it's all good, lol. But yeah, I'm really glad I actually made you feel for and like Chad, and especially with Cinderella's scenes.

In regards to itty-bitty bit Mal and momma Maleficent. I just...that the Mistress of All Evil is a mother at all is what really interested me about Descendants and I really wanted to drag out what that might be like. So like, here she is this proud, otherworldly and all powerful creature suddenly stripped of all of that and the only thing she has left is this child of hers. So she's going to pour her (nonexistent) heart and soul into making sure this kid turns out right- turns out better, because (again) it's all she has left. So she's gonna be tough and she's gonna be cruel and if that's what it takes then that's what it takes!

Also not gonna lie, totally choked on my laughter at the shirt pun, lol. As for the to beast, well you wouldn't be the first reviewer to declare your undying hatred of him! Though I love the sass 'leave the tantrums to Mal, she does them better!' Dying. Dead. Don't worry though, there's no cliffhanger this time... *intentionally leaves the silence hanging just to drag out that 'oh no' feeling.*

Haha, I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! :)

Guest 4: Haha, maybe because that might be exactly what happened? ;)

Shots and Giggles: Hey, it's good to hear from you. :) Yeah, Muse has definitely been my muse for the last couple chapters, lol! And yes, Panic!s videos really are just weird fun, but then the ones that do connect with the songs connect in such strange but profound ways you just sit there like 'woah. Ok then.'

Yeah, just a tad. I actually just bought the first book finally, though I've been reading it sparingly for fear of having all my preconceived head canons shattered, lol. But yes, I did hear and was aware about that! So what had happened was the kiss between Harry and Gil (again, canon in the book(s)) was an ad-libbed moment that the director and the actors themselves came up with. Don't know if they'd read the source or heard about the canon and ran with it, but it was ad-lib but shot and filmed and then later scrapped. Now, we don't know for sure if it was scrapped specifically due to censoring *note the heavy skepticism of that* but yeah, was still bummed to hear they did that.

But was definitely glad about some of the character development they did, especially with regards to Ben, who despite being Princess Ben, DiD, haha; still matured alot from D1. And now that you mention it, I could totally see Lonnie being the School of Secrets girl too. Plus I mean, look at her parents. Need I say more?

In regards to the pirate crew; I just love the idea of it (of them) and the dynamic between the characters so well. I loved Gil too, but a HUGE pet peeve of mine is the whole 'cute but not bright people made to be even more idiotic and demeaning to be funny,' so I had mixed feelings about their portrayal of him. Which really just means that I have free reign in my fanfiction to craft him into something more real while still staying true to the heart of the character they were trying to make, and you bet I had fun with that! ;)

I am going to PM you because I definitely want to continue this thread, but I don't want to take up so much space. But please don't take that to mean I want you write shorter reviews! I love long reviews because it means I've done something so good that people actually want to rant and talk about it. So keep it coming, and keep an eye out for a responding rant from me. ;)

I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!

Excellentsunny101: Hi, welcome to the story and thank you for leaving a review! Here is another chapter for you, andI hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy!

Guest 5: Your wish is my command! Hopefully this update was soon enough for you and that you'll continue to read and enjoy. :)

Malifacter0605-XxKINDSOULSxX: Don't worry, the next chapter is here! Hopefully the suspense wasn't too terrible and that you'll continue to follow along and enjoy!

EvietoyourMal: Welcome to the story and thank you for leaving a review! I'm so glad you're enjoying it so much. I agree, there would definitely be alot of regression of the VKs and their progress, and that's definitely something that will be brought up in this chapter and in the next couple chapters as everyone tries to figure out what to do. But don't worry, I won't leave you hanging for long! Here's the new chapter and I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Author's Note 1:

Ok guys, we've reached the notes portion. Just a friendly reminder to **read the Author's Notes!** The Author's Notes are your friend and will give you important info and just might save your life so please? You don't have to read all the reviews responses, in fact I say every chapter you can skip those. But please, please don't skip the Author's Notes!

Author's Note 2:

That being said here's that important info I was telling you about that you can find here. A heads up that the last two flashbacks in this chapter are chronological and are the same event(s) from different perspectives and at different times, as well as these:

* * *Warnings and Triggers * * *

This chapter contains the usual, crude language and some rude humor, but also deals with some heavy and serious topics like death in regards to child abuse and neglect; anger issues and (implied) domestic violence; some mild gang violence; mentions and implications of child molestation and assault; as well as issues dealing with mental health, including mentions of panic attacks, some mild vomiting and mentions of blood, as well as implied and mentioned self harm, as well as thoughts of self harm.

It sounds like a lot, and it is, but I also wanted to make it all clear up front so you could be prepared which is also why these notes are important. The mentions of self harm depicted here come from personal experience, as I've mentioned in a past note, so some discretion is advised.

* * * Warnings and Triggers * * *

But don't let that stop you all from enjoying the chapter! I swear my list makes it seem worse than it is, but again, having had experience with some of these issues being addressed in this fic, and just keeping with awareness of mental health in general, I just want to make sure everyone knows what they're getting in to, and to be kind and aware yourselves.

Ok? Ok.

Now go and enjoy the chapter! I look forward to hearing what you think!

- Raven

(Also, if you couldn't tell from the chapter title, I've been listening to alot of Radiohead while writing this one. I make no apologies.)

Ben

Ben sits in numb silence in the conference room of the infirmary wing, his parents' words bombarding him relentlessly from both sides. They echo more like a hollow buzzing in his ears, not quite sound but registering all the same; bristling cold on one end and burning hot on the other.

"You can't do this!"

His mother's voice is urgent, but low enough that it doesn't carry through the walls. His father paces a furious and apathetic circle around her, his jaw grit tightly together while his lips pull back in a grimace that reminds Ben, terrifyingly, of a wolf snarling at its prey.

"I am the king, I have more than enough jurisdiction to-"

"This is Ben's decree…"

"Auradon is my kingdom! And I will not have those villains here a second longer!"

"So what…you'll just throw them out like we did their parents? And what about Mal? You'd really…"

"After that attack? Yes, I really would."

Ben sucks a quiet breath, the hopelessness of getting his father to see reason sinking in deep. His mother lifts her chin to level his father with a severe look, momentarily pausing his furious rampage.

"Then you'd be no different than the very villains you despise so much. They are children, Adam! How can you possibly…?"

"It is not your decision to make…."

"That's true," she counters smoothly. "And it is not yours, either. You relinquished control of this over to Ben, therefore…"

"I'm not going to discuss this any further. I am still the king, and as long as that holds true, it is not your place to question the decisions I make!"

Whoa.

Ben's head snaps up sharply, his eyes flickering between the forms of his parents. Subconsciously he realizes that he'd tucked himself a little harder against the wall, and he straightens quickly, frowning at the strange ideas his mind tries to impress on him. His father towers over his mother, the strange snarling grimace far more apparent now. His breathing is harsh and comes out in a vicious growl that sends painful chills down Ben's spine.

It occurs to him, in that moment, that just because his father was human, didn't necessarily mean he wasn't still a beast somewhere underneath. Ben's eyes stray unbidden down to his father's hands, with are curved into loose, but powerful fists and that tremble slightly with each angry breath.

"Ben," his mother says suddenly, startling him from his terrified reverie. "Why don't you go find your friends?"

Her voice is deadly calm, devoid of inflection, and when she says nothing more, Ben lifts his eyes to see that she is staring calmly into his father's furious face. Her own eyes are sorrowful, but determined, and not at all horrified like Ben expects them to be. He casts another look at his father to see that his hands are no longer trembling, a strange sort of stillness in them, almost like a calculated preparation for…something.

Ben draws a tight breath of his own, and shakes his head slowly, taking a half step away from the wall. "I don't think…"

"Now, Benjamin," his mother says, and he knows better than to argue with that.

He swallows stiffly and crosses to the door, wanting to look back but not daring for fear of what he might see. He hates himself, cursing his cowardice and half debating whether he should storm back into the room and demand for calm and an explanation, but then the door clicks firmly behind him, and Ben finds himself resolutely locked out.

He hesitates a moment, holding his breath and listening desperately at the door, not quite knowing what it is he's dreading to hear. There's nothing for a moment, then his mother's voice starts up again, softer than before. He can't make out what she's saying, but her tone is heavy and dark, yielding for nothing, and he decides he doesn't want to be there any longer and breaks into a run down the hall.

Ben is met halfway by Chad, who is followed closely by Audrey, Jane, Lonnie and Doug, their faces flushed and frantic.

"Ben, there you are," Chad gasps, and Audrey instantly slips past the other boy to wrap Ben up in a quick but solid hug.

"We've been looking everywhere," she says to his chest, then pulls away, her eyes serious as she looks up at him. "What…Ben you're shaking."

He realizes belatedly that he is, but he shakes his head hard and bites his lip. "It's nothing." He manages the lie quite well, considering, and he forces himself to stay calm. He wasn't going to lose control of himself like his father had just done. "What is it?"

"Emergency meeting in the library," Chad says, his grey eyes like steel. "Now."

"Wait," Ben tries to protest weakly, remembering the last time he'd been pulled aside suddenly like this. "Can…can you explain what's going on?"

Chad exchanges a glance with Audrey, of all people, and his girlfriend gives a minute shake of her head. Chad's eyes flicker with something too fast for Ben to interpret, but then the other boy shakes his head as well.

"No," he says, without hesitation. "Library, come on."

Ben has no real choice but to follow, and there's nothing but the sound of their collective feet hitting the tile and the harsh, off beat synchronization of breath. They reach the library sooner than Ben had expected, and Lonnie stops and holds the door open for all of them, offering Ben a tight, fleeting smile as he slips past her. The librarian doesn't even look up at them as they enter, simply hisses: "SHHH!" before returning to her stack of books to rearrange on the shelves.

Their previous circle of chairs and cushions is set up once again, though not entirely empty as two figures sit enfolded in each other on the narrow sofa. They seamlessly slide into a more casual position as Ben and the others approach, though Ben notices that Nikhil makes it a point to keep one arm linked firmly in Aziz's.

"Good, you guys are here," Chad murmurs as he tugs a chair away from the loop to sit in it. "I wasn't sure if…"

"We're here," Aziz says shortly, cutting him off. "So tell us what this is about."

"Right," Chad says, dropping abruptly into his chair and eyeing his roommate warily. "Are you still pissed that I…?"

"Extremely," Aziz deadpans, not even blinking. "Why are we here?"

"I called this emergency meeting to talk about…about the VKs," Chad says slowly, and Ben blinks dully at him, not quite understanding.

"I thought you didn't…," he begins, then stops and shakes his head. "It doesn't matter either way. Guys, my dad is…."

"Hang on," Chad cuts across him. "It does matter, but I wanted to meet because I just-"

"My dad is sending the VKs back to the Isle."

That seems to get a suitable reaction. Jane jerks sharply with a gasp, her eyes widening; Lonnie grimaces knowingly and shakes her head; while Aziz stiffens on the sofa, Nikki's arm tightening just a little further around him. Doug is quiet, but he looks vaguely troubled by the idea. Chad gapes a moment, just as stunned, before shaking his head slowly.

"No," he murmurs quietly, his jaw sharp as he grits his teeth. "Wait…no, he can't do that."

Ben is surprised by the denial in Chad's voice, and he tries to meet Audrey's eyes for some kind of explanation, but she, too, is focused on the other boy.

"I…there's not really anything to say, Chad," Ben says softly, his own denial and sadness darkening his tone and lowering his voice. "My dad's made his decision, and there's no turning him from that."

"Well we have to make him turn," Chad snaps jerkily, before lifting his eyes quickly, his expression instantly softening into something more subdued. "Sorry, sorry," he mutters, closing his eyes and hissing between his teeth. "Fuck this is…hard."

"They can't go back to the Isle," Jane cuts in, eyeing Chad cautiously before focusing intently on Ben. "They just got here…it hasn't even been a week and…and what about giving them a chance?"

"You're not saying anything different than what I want, guys," Ben offers weakly, sinking further into his chair. "I don't know how I'm going to make him see that."

"Well you're going to have to make him see," Lonnie says sternly, leaning forward in her seat to glare at him. "I mean, who knows what we'd be sending them back to?"

Chad raises his hand slowly, his lips twitching in bitter mockery of a smile. "I have an idea," he drawls, his voice tight. "It's not a good idea."

"Anything is better than nothing," Doug tries, but Ben has a horrible suspicion that that's not what Chad meant.

"I ran into Carlos in the hall on the way here," Chad says, his eyes flickering briefly towards Aziz and back again. "Originally, I was going to yell at him for what happened in the garden, and I did, a bit. But then I realized everything about de Vil was just…too familiar."

Ben furrows his brow, and this time when he turns his head he does catch Audrey's eye, though she seems just as unsure as he did.

"Something else happened in the garden?" Ben presses carefully, but even as he asks, it suddenly comes back to him; remembering seeing Aziz and Nikki storming away looking upset….

"Thanks for bringing it up again Chad," Aziz growls sarcastically, his frown more an aggressive pout. "I was trying to suppress that and pretend it never existed, but so much for that."

Nikki flicks his boyfriend's ear in disapproval, and Aziz winces before scooting a little ways down the couch and out of range.

"What happened?" Ben asks wearily, too drained and tired of the roundabout conversation.

"Turns out the VKs don't like same-sex relationships, or the people who engage in those relationships," Chad explains quickly. "Some things were said. We'll leave it at that."

Aziz gives a brief, grateful nod, but he's still far too sullen, though Ben doesn't quite blame his attitude now.

"Oh," he says quietly, disconcerted. He would never have guessed that….

"Yeah," Chad says briefly. "Anyway, point is I ran into Carlos and I noticed…there were some things that reminded me of…of my mom."

Oh. Ben straightens, and fixes his friend with a concerned look. He tries to find the right words, and though his heart feels for the obvious pain Chad is in, his head and stomach revolt at the implications.

"It was just...too surreal." Chad shakes his head, but it's far from amazement. "And I don't think we should do anything until we get to the bottom of what things are like over there. Really like, not just what they tell us in history class."

"Agreed," Lonnie says instantly, straightening in her chair, though Ben notices a certain edge to her posture that he doesn't want to think into.

Aziz and Nikki are both silent, but they nod when Ben glances their way, troubled expressions on their faces.

"If we can present proof," Doug says carefully. "Definite proof that sending the VKs back to the Isle would be more dangerous than keeping them here, and convince the counsel of the facts, then there is a chance."

"The council?" Ben repeats, suddenly nervous.

He'd always hated going before the council for anything. They made him feel like he was just a little kid playing at being a wise, grown ruler. It wasn't even anything they said, really; just his own doubts. But he'd had a hard enough time convincing them to support his decree, and now, the thought of trying to convince them of something as delicate and volatile as this…suffice to say Ben wasn't fond of the idea.

"Yes, Ben," Doug confirms patiently. "If there's going to be any hope, we need to convince the council. Sure your dad's the King and his word is law, but even the council gets a say in his decrees. It's part of what makes Auradon the United Kingdoms and not just the typical medieval tyranny scenario."

"Ok, but how exactly did you guys plan on figuring this out the first time?" Chad asks, and though his voice tries to convey sarcasm, Ben can hear the undercurrent of emotion. "I mean, what…were you just going to go up to them and ask?"

"It was…something along those lines," Ben admits ruefully, though when Chad fixes him with a look he realizes just how terrible the idea would have been.

"Right," Chad says, and his voice is even more tightly clipped and sarcastic. "I can guarantee you that if it's anything like what I'm thinking then the whole 'tell me how terrible your life is' approach really isn't going to fly."

Ben winces, and feels a horrible pang of déjà vu as he recalls the last time they'd broached this subject with Chad. It wasn't something he wanted to repeat.

"Well how would you suggest going about it, then?" Doug fires back, when Ben remains silent. "Because right now we don't have a lot of time to be delicate."

"Whatever we decide, we need to do it now," Chad declares, though Ben can feel his hesitation.

Audrey is too quiet, her lips pressed tightly with worry and her eyes flickering with conflict. Ben reaches over and threads his fingers through hers, and she starts slightly, looking up at him with surprise.

"You ok?" he murmurs, though he's aware that with their current location everyone can hear. "You're really quiet."

She blinks, and it's almost like she's just realizing that she was part of a conversation. She nods at him, but Ben can see the reluctance in her eyes, and he squeezes her hand a little tighter.

"Audrey?" he presses gently, and he watches as she makes a decision, sitting up straighter in her chair and gazing resolutely around at all of them.

"I think we should be careful," she says, and the severity with which she says this catches Ben off guard. "I know that terrible things have happened, and probably will keep happening, but I don't think we can afford to rush into this."

"I…Audrey…" Ben tries to protest, but she presses her lips tighter together and he tapers off weakly.

"I know you always want to see the best of people and of the situation," she says without quite looking at him. "But the VKs have already proved that they can be dangerous, and as much as I want to believe that Auradon is the best place for them, I think we need to be really, really careful with how we handle this."

On the sofa, Aziz and Nikki wear pensive expressions, though Ben notices that Doug, Lonnie and even Jane seem to be seriously considering Audrey's words. It shocks and terrifies him, remembering his dad's own furious statements and wondering if this is really where things were going to end.

"That being said," Audrey continues suddenly, and Ben feels her fingers twitch tighter around his. "I think if there really is something more going on that we can't see, the best approach is to go at it from different sides."

"Jane and I can keep doing research here," Doug offers. "She's had some more personal experience with Carlos, and we can bounce ideas off of what we find."

"I'll take Mal," Lonnie says instantly, her tone willing, but also brokering no arguments.

"Are you sure?" Ben tries anyway, suddenly feeling out of control of everything. "My dad said…"

Lonnie scoffs sharply, her eyes sparking intently. "Please," she says dismissively, and crosses her arms in a gesture that reminds Ben strangely of Jay.

"Ok," he says slowly, dragging the word out to more than its two syllables. "Aziz? Nikki?"

"I think, for the time being, it's best we stay out of this," Nikki says delicately, each word carefully pronounced.

"Too hard to be impartial or in any way unattached," Aziz finishes, slightly less delicately, though Ben does note the flicker of regret that flashes across the other boy's face before disappearing.

"I guess that just leaves…I'll go talk with the rest of the VKs and see what I can find out," Ben decides, though he feels decidedly less sure than the others felt.

"I'm coming too," Chad says quickly, and so intensely that it takes Ben a moment to register the words apart from the emotion.

He's distracted by Lonnie, who snorts and mutters something under her breath. Judging by the sharp disapproving look Doug shoots her, Ben can pretty much guess as to what was said. He focuses on Chad, who was halfway out of his chair and still fixing Ben with a focused look.

"You want to come with me, to talk to the VKs," Ben repeats slowly, just to be sure. "You. And the VKs."

"Are we going or not?" Chad snaps impatiently, and Ben stands from his seat as well, skeptical but also vaguely relieved that someone else was going to do this with him. Even if that someone else was Chad.

"Audrey?" Chad says, and Ben instantly turns to her, horrified at himself. How could he have forgotten…? Why was Chad the one who…?

"I'm…," she stops short of saying 'fine' or 'ok,' and the knowing look that passes between her and Chad fills Ben with a horrible, twisting feeling in his stomach. "I'm going to see if I can talk to my parents," Audrey finishes, and before Ben can adequately begin to compose a proper response to that particular Pandora's box, Chad had already whispered luck and Audrey was already on her way to the door.

"Yeah," Ben murmurs dazedly. "Ok."

"We'll meet everyone back here before dinner then," Chad is saying, though Ben barely hears. He's still trying to determine what the twisting, sinking feeling is in his gut, and whether or not he should be concerned. It isn't until they're halfway to the dorms that Ben figures it out. It's jealousy.

Carlos

One time, when he was about two years old, Cruella had argued with the dark-haired man that always came to visit them. He couldn't remember all of it; he'd been too busy hiding under the stained mattress, terrified of his mother's wrath. But he remembered it had been about him, somehow, and that after the man had left, Cruella had dragged him out from under the mattress and said that the two of them were going for a drive. The 'drive' had turned out to involve the closed in shed that counted as the garage; the running car with Cruella and Carlos firmly secured inside; and, as far as Carlos could remember, about an hour and forty-five minutes.

More specifically, it had only been an hour and forty-five minutes that Carlos was aware of. He'd cried himself sick after twenty minutes, and after about another thirty his body had started to shut down on him. The only thing he could remember vividly about the event was an image of Cruella, strapped into the front seat, holding the stuffed Dalmatian to her chest and crooning lullabies.

When he was four (because of course, they had survived that, somehow) Cruella had decided in a sudden fit of rage that she hated Carlos' freckles and that they had to come off. The only suitable option for this had been to throw him in the giant wooden tumbler used to clean her fur coats, because 'if it can clean my beautiful furs it can certainly clean the puppy's spots.' It hadn't.

The last (read: most recent) time she'd tried to kill him, he'd been about seven, and sometimes Carlos liked to be generous and say that it had been an accident.

Now, the only thing going through Carlos' head was how creative would Cruella be this time coming up with a new way to kill him. The nightmares of being locked in the fur closet again drown out everything else in the room; half-colored in sketches of blood and pain and bitter, ashy cigarettes that burned patterns into his skin. No one was going to know where she buried his body…would she even bury him? Oh Hades, she was definitely going to turn him into a coat!

Carlos' stomach heaves as he remembers all those times she tried to force him to skin something for her on the Isle. His mind conjures up the only just-forgotten memories and before he's even fully aware of his body's actions he's vomiting up the pastry he'd had from Jay's food stash that morning.

"Breathe, Carlos, that's it," a voice says suddenly from right above him. He tries to flinch away but there's no directions, nothing existing he doesn't exist anymore. Is he already dead? He must be…this is what Cruella always promised him death felt like.

"Just breathe Carlos," the voice says again, and he's acutely aware of pressure on his back. He chokes, suppressing another heave and desperately throwing himself backwards and away from the violating presence.

"…going to be ok…"

"…not…hurt you…."

"'Los?"

"Carlos!"

He grits his jaw around his tongue and bites down as hard as he can. Then, when his body cringes back in instinctive protest, bites down harder until he tastes copper. It almost makes him want to throw up again, but he shuts his eyes tight against the world and buries his head in his arms, grinding his teeth together in a desperate attempt to stay grounded. If he could just focus on this pain…ignore the fact that he couldn't breathe and just…stay focused….

"Carlos, please."

Evie's voice, he realizes sluggishly. Evie's hands that were reaching through the dark for him. He gags on his next breath, his body refusing to let the air reach his lungs and he heaves violently, sobbing in desperate attempts to stay alive.

"It's going to be ok," Evie murmurs, her hands retreating, her voice seeming to echo from down a long cavern. "We're going to be ok, Carlos. All of us. No one is going to hurt you."

"Sshe's go-go-go-go-going to kill mmme," Carlos coughs out, the air suddenly hitting his lungs in a sharp and violent spasm of breath. "She's going to k-ill me."

"She'll have to go through us first," Evie promises fiercely, and Carlos shakes his head hard even though he knows in the back of his mind that she won't see it.

"Sshe wi-will," he declares, just as fierce, if not muted. "She'll go ttthhrough and then she-she-she…."

"Carlos, listen to me."

Evie's voice is instantly captivating, that kind of intensity that forces your attention. Despite the blood and tears that fill Carlos' mouth and threaten to drown him again, despite the panic, he finds himself stifling his heaving breaths and focusing on Evie.

"Cruella is not going to get her hands on you." She says it like it's fact, like she's already made sure of it and is simply telling him so he knows. "She is not going to kill you. She won't even look at you if you don't want her to. We'll make sure of it."

His mouth is still full of blood and his body is cramping from folding in on itself, but his lungs aren't malfunctioning and Carlos finds himself slowly inching forward. Evie's eyes light with relief, and her fingers are gentle as they comb through his hair before suddenly seizing on a white lock and tugging.

"Ow!" Carlos whimpers, ducking out of her reach and grimacing at the suddenly stern glare she fixes at him.

"Don't scare me like that again," she says sharply, before melting and pulling him into what's as close to a hug as they get on the Isle. "Now come on, let's get you cleaned up and then we can strategize. Jay's come up with an idea to maximize our rations and scavenging system so by the time we get back, we'll have enough Auradon treats to last us a month."

He feels his lips tugging back into a weak attempt at a smile, but he's sure the effect is ruined somewhat by the blood still staining his mouth. It's starting to wear at him again, and he sprints into the bathroom before Evie can say anything else, bending blindly over the sink and spitting sharply until he can't taste it anymore. Then he fumbles for the faucet, eyes still clenched tightly shut. His hands cup the water and he rinses out his mouth, wincing as the water hits his cut tongue.

Only once his mouth is clear can he fully breathe again, and Carlos opens his eyes, watching as the water runs diluted pink down the drain. He blinks at himself in the mirror, not quite recognizing the figure he saw. His hair was still the same, sort of; it seemed almost darker at the roots than it had been before, the white blonde fade more noticeable. He wasn't as pale (panic attack not withstanding). He could actually suck his cheeks in to make them go hollow now, instead of the painful, normal hollow he'd been used to.

He didn't want to go back to the Isle. Not just because his mother was there. He had really started to like it in Auradon…even if it had only been seven days. He liked how clean everything was, and how bright. Mal might claim to hate all of the colors, but he had caught her staring in awe at everything when they'd first arrived too. Carlos had felt like he could maybe be…happy. For once. To have it all snatched away again…to be sent back to that darkness and pain after experiencing a life that was worth something…that was true evil.

He grimaced, baring his teeth and twisting his face into his fiercest mask. But his eyes weren't dark and cold anymore. Despite the vicious snarl, they sparked brightly with an energy that they had never possessed back on the Isle. He dropped his mask, staring pensively into the eyes of the looking-glass Carlos. Slowly, he loosened his jaw, relaxing the muscles in his face and forcing his brow to stop furrowing. This was better, he mused, but still not quite right. His eyes were too full of…life, for neutral. He almost didn't want to, but he forced his muscles to comply, shifting and contorting his cheeks and lips until they pulled upwards into what could be taken for a smile.

It fit much better with the fullness in his eyes, if only marginally so. Carlos thought about Jane, laughing at all his faces but still able to see him beneath them all. Her promise that he would fit in here at Auradon, that there was something good that he could do with his skills. His memories caused his heart to lift further, his eyes brightening. This time when he smiled, it fit almost perfectly.

As he left the bathroom, Carlos silently promised that no matter what happened, he wouldn't let himself forget how to do that.

Mal

"Now remember, Mal," her mother was saying, in that tight tone of voice that meant 'this is important' and 'listen to me.' "Magic isn't something to take lightly. This is very serious, and very dangerous."

Like me, Mal thought viciously, her hands twisting under the table. I'm a dragon, and what are you? Just a little shrimp.

"Magic isn't yours. You do not use magic; magic uses you."

How about I show you just how powerful I am? Mal thought, fighting against the sneer that wanted to curl her lips, focusing on the motion of her fingers instead, imagining flames in her palms. You wouldn't look so smug then.

"I can only teach you the basics; it's up to you to make something of yourself and earn your full name," her mother intoned severely. "Now, when you harness your magic- and that's all it really is for now; you are the vessel- it might only manifest itself in little sparks at first. But then it will lead to so much more, if you're truly willing to learn and- Are you listening to me?"

Mal stiffened at the sudden spike in her mother's tone, her eyes flickering up to meet furious green.

"Yes," she whispered, instantly darting her eyes away while she still could.

"What was I saying?" Maleficent demanded, and Mal straightened, instantly reciting.

"You said that magic isn't something to be used, it's harnessed. I'm the vessel for the power, and I might not make more than sparks at first, but once I learn more…" she finished with a wicked smile, feeling her own eyes light with green as she imagined what she'd do to that muddy little shrimp.

"That's my little dragon," her mother hissed with that fierce pride she so rarely showed now. "Someday, the two of us will…"

"Mama," Mal interrupted, and despite the sudden glare Maleficent threw her in response, she found herself plunging ahead. "Do you love me?"

Maleficent went entirely still, her eyes suddenly a much brighter green. "You are eight years old, Mal. Haven't I told you that you're too old for such babyish names?" She said slowly, her voice devoid of emotion. "Now, then. The barrier won't allow for much in terms of expressing your magic, which is why if you ever get off of this rock, the transition will be painful. But I know…"

"Mother," Mal said, too sharp. Too urgent. "Do you love me."

'At least my mother loves me.' The shrimp had screamed in her face, laughing despite the blood that tangled with the seaweed in her hair. 'Yours wouldn't know what love was even if she cut out her heart and gave it to you.'

And sure, it had been twisting the fairytales, and yes, Mal had made her scream in other ways for that comment; but the words had been like ice as they slid down Mal's back, and even though the moment had long past, the chill they left behind stuck with her.

Mal watched as the green left her mother's eyes, her arms lowering from the dramatic pose they had been in. Mal grit her jaw in determination and lifted her head to continue staring at her mother as she slowly drew closer to the table.

"Where did you get such a foolish idea from?" Maleficent murmured, and though her tone was disguised as thoughtful, Mal could detect the danger just underneath. "Really, Mal?"

She tried not to blink, to not feel as though she had swallowed one of Jay's poisons. Seeing as she had done just that a few weeks ago, the comparison here wasn't all that dissimilar. There was that same acid burning in her throat, the fire as it hit her stomach. The lurching, wrenching feeling in her gut as her insides tried to tear themselves apart. And then, the slow, debilitating calm that came over everything as her body went into shock…

Maleficent turned away with a sharp snarl of disgust. "I thought I raised you better than that. This isn't Auradon."

"But do you love me?" Mal demanded, feeling the tears well up in spite of herself. She had to say yes. She had to say of course I love you, even if this is the Isle and there's no true way to show positive feelings without danger. You're my little dragon. My daughter. Of course….

"Love is for fairytales, Mal."

At least my mother loves me.

Mal decided that she was going to kill the shrimp next time.

Evie

Evie eyed the tear in the collar of Carlos' shirt with a practiced wariness. The boy in question sat beside her, attempting to shrink into the cushions on the bed. If it weren't for the fact that he was still clearly shaken about going back to the Isle, or the strange, half-dazed look he'd had on his face when he'd finally exited the bathroom, Evie probably would have torn his head off for daring to ruin the fabric. As it was, she simply sighed sharply and clicked her tongue, frowning as she ran her fingers along the edges to feel for a seam.

"How did you even manage this?" She asks the tuft of white hair, which shivers before disappearing further into the cushions.

"Can it be fi-fixed?" The bed sheets ask her, and Evie sighs again, shaking her head.

"Well, I can fix it, of course," she says haughtily, pinching the tear between her fingers in one hand, while rummaging for some pins in her sewing bag with the other. "I just can't believe you weren't more careful."

"Nnot my fault." The pillow mumbles mournfully, and Evie scoffs before hissing in pain, withdrawing her hand from her sewing bag and shaking it out with a wince.

"You-you-you-you ok?" The mattress dips as Carlos shuffles himself to peek up at her, and Evie nods, rolling her eyes at his concern.

"Just pricked my finger," she replies with faux-cheer. "A couple more pricks and maybe a Prince will show up and save me from the Isle. And by me…I mean us, duh."

She laughs quickly, but the dull throb in her finger from the needle is still there, and she clenches her fingers into a fist, trying to ignore the heavy throb that echoes in her chest; the dull, phantom stinging in her arms that builds with the throbbing in her heart, the longing ache for something more. She tries to shove those thoughts aside, but the ache is still there, and she purses her lips, pressing the edge of her nail into the imprint left by the needle. The slight increase in dull, throbbing pain is marginally better, but not enough to make that hollow feeling go away entirely, and she's just started a sickening debate with herself about whether she could really afford to…

"E?" Jay's voice snaps her back to reality, and she looks up to find him staring at her closely, a heavy, knowing look on his face. It annoys her instantly, and she shoves the sewing bag away, folding Carlos' shirt into a delicate square.

"I'm fine, Jay," she glares at him pointedly, ignoring the tiny part of her that knew she was far from it. "It's just a pinprick; not like a spinning wheel or something."

"Would you prefer a spinning wheel?" Jay counters slowly, and Evie is very much aware of the sudden shift of subtext; knows exactly what he's trying to do.

"No," she says, enunciating the word as firmly as she can with just one syllable.

He eyes her warily, and Evie feels her face twist into a scowl in spite of the crease it causes between her eyebrows. She's just about to let him know just what she thinks of his hyper-sensitive concern when footsteps sound outside their door, followed immediately by a hesitant knock.

Carlos shoots up from the bed, the pillows and blankets sprawling awkwardly onto the floor. "Sssomeone's at the d-door," he says, his eyes wide.

"Thank you Carlos," Evie snaps tightly. "We couldn't tell from the obvious knocking."

She regrets her tone instantly, as Carlos shrinks away from her with the crestfallen look of a kicked dog. The comparison is a little on the nose, but she feels bad about it all the same.

"I didn't mean…" she begins, but Jay is already at the door, one hand on the knob and the other extended to keep Carlos in place beside him.

"What do you want Ben?" Jay all but snarls, and Evie lifts an eyebrow at him in surprise.

"How…how'd you know it was me?" Ben's voice comes uncertainly through the door, and Jay snorts, turning the handle.

"Well it was either you or…." His words fall short as the door opens fully, and Carlos yelps and darts back towards the bed, while Evie stands quickly.

"What. Is. He. Doing. Here." Jay says, pronouncing each word in dangerously clear syllables.

Chad Charming stands between Ben and the open doorway, and though he had borne an expression of vague disinterest, it morphs into something tight and heavy when his eyes meet Carlos.' The emotion; whatever it was, quickly dissolves into disgust, and Evie finds her head spinning from trying to keep up with the sudden shift.

"Don't ask me," the blond boy drawls with a sneer. "Ben's the one who decided he wanted back up."

Something is happening with this conversation, Evie pointedly tells her brain, a small thrill going through her. Something is happening with this conversation and it's important and no one is going to say what they truly mean and we need to analyze and pick apart everything. She takes a small step closer to Jay, steadying Carlos with a look before turning back to Ben.

"You might as well come in," she says, bringing up all that heavy aching and longing into her voice and pushing it out into the air. "We were just packing."

Success. Ben flinches, his face twisting with a grimace. Chad makes a tight lipped scoffing sound and strolls easily through the door, completely ignoring the death threats Jay was sending his way.

"I can't say Auradon won't be improved with you no longer causing chaos, de Vil," he drawls, and if Evie is surprised at the focused way he seems to be addressing Carlos specifically, she doesn't show it.

Instead she picks apart Chad's words, and thinks hard about the soft little skip the other boy's voice had done when he had said 'de Vil.' Like he was going to call Carlos something else, but had decided on that at the last possible second where thought becomes speech. If she didn't know any better, she would have said it sounded like regret. But this was Chad, and she did know better, so she dismissed it.

"At least do us all a favor," Jay growls to Ben, while still glaring murderously at Chad. "And don't start saying things like 'sorry' and shit."

Ben looks so stunned and lost, Evie almost feels bad about it. She finds herself instead regretting her interest in him. Not that it wasn't still there, of course; but in this moment at least, he's so child-like in his hurt that it's hard to take him seriously. He fidgets with his hands, twisting something-a ring, she assumes- on his finger, and looks around at them all with miserable eyes.

"Listen, guys," he begins, and Jay groans in disgust, shoving roughly past Chad and snatching up a stray vest from the floor. "I know that my Dad said, but I just want you to know that I don't think of you that way, and that there is still a place in Auradon for you."

"That's up for debate," Chad mutters, folding his arms and backing himself against the doorframe and out of Jay's reach.

Evie wouldn't have thought much of the comment, except Ben instantly shoots the other boy a frustrated look, and she starts reading into his tone more. It was snarky, but not quite mean-spirited. More like he was stating an unpleasant fact, and Ben's look seemed to at least confirm that there was something more to this visit than a simple 'make the VKs feel better.' That was obvious enough, given Chad's presence, but just why was he here? And why did he keep looking at Carlos?

"Ben," Evie decides, cutting across Jay's furious move towards the other blond prince. "We appreciate your coming to try and make things better, and always helping us out. But as you said, the King made a decree, and we're technically still his people…so we have no choice but to…."

"But that's just it!" Ben bursts out, startling her. It seems to startle Chad, too, as the other boy blinks, and in that moment, Evie can see something genuine underneath. But as Ben continues to speak, it's lost again beneath indifference. "You guys are still his people, and he's already failed you once. It's not going to happen again, and we do have a say in this."

"We do?" Jay challenges, though Evie can hear the undercurrent of doubt in his voice that means he's actually hopeful.

Carlos shifts a little closer to her, and though he's still silent, Evie knows he's hanging on every word.

"My father is the King, but we have a Council for a reason," Ben explains, and he's lost some of that pitiful child-ness about him. "His decree will still have to pass through them, along with any evidence stating why it's better for you in Auradon."

Evie pauses, her thoughts flying rapidly. She knows exactly what he's getting at, and suddenly she's not sure if this is a good idea. She glances to Carlos, to see that he's edged just a bit closer, almost level with her now, and that the open hope on his face is not something she wants to see go away. Even Jay has lost his harsh edge and is more in neutral skepticism territory. Neither of them had heard what she had, which was the part where Ben said 'present evidence.'

"And just how," Evie says slowly, trying to convey the gravity to her boys while remaining diplomatic for Ben's sake. "Is being in Auradon better? What evidence would you have us show this council?" A thought hits her, and she loses some of her solemnity in the realization. "Who is the council composed of?"

"My parents, for one," Chad puts in from the door. "Pretty much every one of your parents' hero counterparts, along with you know, the King and Queen."

"Thank you. Chad." Ben's face is pinched, and Chad's lips quirk with a smile that seems too ironic to be genuine.

"Always happy to help."

"So we're fucked either way," Jay says, understanding at least that much. Carlos seems to sink beside her, though when Evie spares him a glance she's surprised to see that he looks more thoughtful than crushed.

"You're not…screwed," Ben says, hesitating over the word but saying it all the same. Jay snorts, but Evie silences him with a glare. "Guys, this is really serious. I know it seems…."

"Oh no," Jay cuts hims off, feigning shock. "Wait, this is really serious? I wouldn't have even guessed since it's our lives at stake here. Wow."

"Jay," Evie barks, and the other boy shoots her a dirty look of his own, but falls silent again.

Ben blinks a moment, and Evie waits for him to catch up and yell at Jay for his attitude. But instead, when he makes the connection, it's to something else entirely.

"Your lives?"

"Shit," Jay mutters under his breath. Evie sighs and rolls her eyes upwards, though nothing from there had ever helped any of them before.

"Contrary to what you might believe," she says heavily. "It's a lot harder over there than just not having quite enough food."

"Can't be that hard," Chad says in an undertone. "I mean, you're all here, aren't you?"

If it had been said with just a touch more sarcasm, Evie would have almost taken offence. As it was, Chad's voice was too low, and his eyes too intent with something like concern for her to manage more than simple irritation.

"You ha-ha-ha-have no id…ea," Carlos whispers, speaking up for the first time.

Jay glowers at Chad, before straightening suddenly, his expression and voice carefully composed. "Let's play a game," he says decisively, his words directed at Ben though he continued to glare at Chad. "What's the worst thing you can possibly think of? No, better yet…what's the worst thing that you're ever done or had done to you?"

Evie resigns herself to the fact that she's lost this conversation, and silently curses Jay the missed opportunity. Ben doesn't seem to understand, his expression slack with confusion, but Chad swallows, lifting a careful brow and leaning his weight forward.

"Ever as in…at any point in our lives? And it is 'our' lives, yeah?"

"Yeah." Jay's confirmation was like a slap, and Chad nods once before puckering his lips in exaggerated thought.

"I guess….I guess the worst thing I've ever done was when I was about nine or ten," he murmurs slowly. "And I snuck into the private room where my father kept his crown and royal robes and tried them on to see what it would feel like. I ended up tearing an inch long gash in the robe and losing a gem out of the crown." His cheeks flickered into a fond, yet bitter grin, though the expression didn't last long. "I wasn't allowed to play in the castle unsupervised after that."

"Really?" Jay says, and the darkness in his voice makes even Evie shiver. "That's the worst you've got? Not, I don't know…almost killing me and Carlos?"

Chad shrugs a shoulder, though it's could have been a wince if his expression had been more apologetic. "The villains always die in the end anyway, don't they?"

"Chad!" Ben cries, horrified, and the other boy's eyes narrow ever so slightly in a concealed grimace.

Eve bites her lip when Jay flinches imperceptibly, his hands clenching into shaking fists at his sides. "When I was nine," he says softly, in deadly calm tones. "I slit the throat of a shopkeeper who tried to cheat me out of a deal."

Ben makes a choking sound, and Chad loses color, though his jaw remains a firm line.

"You…you killed someone?" Ben croaks weakly, his eyes mystified. "When you were nine?"

"I mean, to be fair, I did try to steal the silverware when he wasn't looking," Jay continues with a nonchalant shrug. "That was when he drew a sword, and that point, I really had no choice."

"No, of course not," Ben mutters, but there's something void in his eyes, like he's imagining a nine year old Jay covered in someone else's blood.

"What about you, 'los?" Jay quips, his eyes glinting darkly.

Carlos makes an unconcerned face; exaggerating his pout as he lifts his brows, before he signs; bringing his left hand up with his palm facing Jay, he touches his ring finger to his thumb. [Seven.]

"Seven?" Jay repeats, pretending to contemplate a moment before turning to face Ben. "Yeah, how about it Ben? What was the worst thing that you did or had happen to you when you were seven?"

Ben shakes his head, his mouth pressed tightly together. Evie wonders if it's because he's suddenly realizing the true gravity of this game, or if nothing bad had ever happened to him; if he was truly as perfect of a prince as he appeared. Chad, on the other hand, loses just a bit more color, his lips parting as though to speak. She's the only who catches it, however, as he grits his jaw just as tightly as Ben.

Jay makes a 'tch' sound and shakes his head, turning to Carlos. "Carlos?" he says, but then he mouths so only they can see: "You don't have to."

Carlos shakes his head minutely and then signs quickly; holding his hands out with palms up; pulling them back towards himself while bending his hands into claw shapes; then bringing his right hand up with palm facing him and index finger extended; bringing his left index finger; palm down, to touch the tip of his right.

[Want to.]

Despite his assurance, Evie can see Carlos brace himself slightly as he starts to speak. She finds herself tensing as well, waiting for the inevitable slip up.

"W-wh-when I was sseven," he murmurs shakily. "Crrr…" he cuts himself off with a sharp grimace, glancing over at Evie pleadingly.

She sighs, grimacing herself, but takes over. "When Carlos was seven, Cruella tried to kill him by throwing him in her coat closet. Which, wouldn't have been such a bad thing if the closet wasn't four by six feet and covered with bear traps."

She keeps her voice monotone, her words clipped and blunt. Despite this, Jay's expression twitches, and Carlos shuffles anxiously, his fingers curling around his dog tail.

"You mmmake it sound wo-worse," he accuses with a glower, though the effect is minimal as Ben seems to stagger slightly, and even Chad has lost his snarky indifference; both boys pale and disbelieving.

"Worse?" Chad mumbles, and Ben glances briefly to him before looking at Carlos in horror.

"How is what she said not…" He cuts himself off and shakes his head, as though realizing that he doesn't want to know, but Carlos answers anyway, his brows lifted in earnest.

"N-no," he says carefully. "No see, that time wasn't on pur-pu-pur-purpose."

There's a stomach clenching moment of silence where neither Ben or Chad seem to remember how to breathe, and Evie knows what it is they're caught up on. 'That time.'

"I don't even know what Mal was doing at seven," Jay muses aloud, breaking the silence. "E?"

That Evie doesn't even flinch at being handed this particular timeframe- and for Mal- was a feat of itself, and should be recognized as such. As it is, she play along and pretends to think a moment, before answering in a clipped sort of upbeat tone.

"Probably her usual terrorizing of the villagers," she guesses with a brief, wry grin. "Slowly laying claim to her domain."

Never mind the fact that only the year before, Mal's rivalry towards Evie had resulted in both Evie and her mother being banished to the other side of the Isle.

"I bet the fucking wharf rats are all over our territory now," Jay scowls, crossing his arms furiously. "If the pirates haven't gotten to it first."

"Please," Evie sighs, grateful for the departure from that thread. She hadn't held any bitter feelings towards Mal over her banishment for years, but the subject was still a touchy one, for both girls. "Knowing Uma she probably seized control the second Mal was off the Island."

"Uh, yeah, not to burst the moment or anything," Chad cuts in, and some of the sneer is back in his voice. "But what the fu…"

"I can't believe…." Ben interrupts, his eyes wide and stricken. "I can't believe my Dad would have allowed any of that to happen intentionally. He wouldn't have ever said what he did if he knew…."

"Knew what?" Jay snaps, jaw tight with anger. "That an island full of the worst of the worst all crammed together with no escape wouldn't somehow blow up in everyone's faces?"

"But that's just…wrong." It comes out like a whimper, and Chad gives Ben a quick, pitying sort of look.

"Do you really think the council would listen to this, though?" he says. "Even if we get them to listen, they're not going to take the word of a bunch of villain's kids over the King of Auradon."

"And there's the pessimism we were missing," Evie murmurs, though inside, she knows he's right.

It was a noble idea, but when you were going up against the Isle of the Lost, noble didn't even make it past the magic barrier.

Beast

It starts as something cold and restless in his gut. It twists and writhes; tightens and hardens until it's unrecognizable. He can feel it before it happens: the hot tingling on the back of his neck and down his spine; his fingers twitching and curling dangerously, and the part of him that was still aware of the shift clings desperately for something to block it (anger is normal but this is not and he needs to control this he is human he is not a beast) but even then, it's too late.

The anger comes roaring forward, tearing through his body with all the ferocity of an enraged lion. He crosses the room in tight, quick strides, and lashes out at the first thing he can get his hands on. He doesn't know what it is, only that it makes a satisfying crunch when he flings it at the wall. It's nowhere near enough, but it clears some of the pounding in his head, and he turns sharply and lashes out again, the surging, screaming fury the only thing that exists.

There's no need for a transformation here; in his mind, the beast is still there, clawing at the walls, roaring his anguish for all to hear. Letting him out is a one way option, and so the best Adam can hope for is simply this; using his hands to tear apart as much as he can as hard as he can. There are no consequences; only the roaring in his head and the steadily increasing ache in his fingers- in his soul- that means it's almost run his course.

He almost surrenders to that ache, not wanting to come back to himself, to look and see what destruction he has wrought. But with nothing left to break, the beast slinks back towards its cage, growling traitorously and promising more. His surroundings trickle back into his awareness, and just as suddenly as he feels his heartbeat again, he hears another; high and frantic sounding, like a frightened bird. The beast kicks its heels in suddenly, whirling with a vicious snarl to what it knows on instinct is prey blood more! But Adam is still aware, and his eyes see what the beast did not.

"Belle."

The name is a hoarse breath of air in the suddenly cold stillness of the room, and Adam casts his eyes around in silent dismay. The room…could have been worse, he supposes, but he still grimaces at the destruction. The soft leather of the conference chairs are ripped and bleeding foam cushion through the fabric. He flinches at the comparison the beast makes; the thoughts of tearing through skin so easily, meat and blood pouring through where his claws had raked. The wood of the chairs themselves is cracked, a few chairs broken and splintered entirely, collapsed onto their sides in the throes of death.

He wrenches himself away from the darkness of his thoughts, and forces his eyes up to meet Belle's. He doesn't dare examine her too closely, terrified of what he might see- of what the beast had done to her. But her eyes are cold, her expression closed off despite the fact that he can still hear her heart racing.

"I hope you're satisfied," she says, and her tone is harsh and distant. "The dwarves took months to make us those chairs."

He doesn't want to find amusement in it, but he clings to fleeting feeling in his chest anyway, if only to further banish the horrors from his mind. He wants to apologize, but he still hasn't looked at her yet; doesn't want to know what he's apologizing for.

"Belle," he says instead, taking a pleading step forward.

And if he hadn't wanted to look before, he's forced to now; her reaction more than answer enough. She tenses, and shifts her weight back, a warning springing up into her eyes and flying from the edge of her tongue.

"Don't."

He stops instantly, forcing his reaching hands to be still at his sides. He would have stopped breathing, gladly, but she's talking again, and he thinks it might be rude if he interrupted her by dying.

"I don't want to hear explanations, Adam," she says, and he would flinch again at her voice if he weren't still terrified of moving (of being a threat to her. Again.) "What you've done to those children is unacceptable, and nothing you could say will change my mind from that."

He realizes, with a paralyzing surge of relief (and no small amount of irritation) that she is referring to the villain children. He sighs, but his lingering anger makes it a heavier and harsher sound than it needs to be.

"What would you have me do then, Belle?" he demands lowly. "Simply allow the very villain who attacked me to remain loose in Auradon with no consequence?"

Her lips purse, her eyes narrowing. He can hear her heartbeat level out in the brief moment of contemplation, and the relief surges a little stronger until she speaks again.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit, Adam," she says, and though he can see the way her cheeks twitch, her tone is entirely mirthless.

"How am I exaggerating…?"

"You know how you are when you're angry."

She cuts across his impassioned demand with little ceremony, and no room for argument. Not that he could have, with the way the air suddenly leaves his lungs. His eyes finally finally catch on to what he had resolutely been refusing to let them see- Belle is shaking. His wife is shaking and it's because of him.

(And anger is normal but this is not and he needs to stop doing this he needs to stop doing this now he is human he is not a beast)

Jay

It was Tuesday, and Jay was late. He darted through the alleyways, avoiding taking the direct route through the market. Odds were slim that Mal would be at home at the castle anyway, but it would also mean less of a risk of being seen by any unwanted eyes. The hideout was on the very edge of the village, just straddling the border between the wharf and the docks. It was a source of contention amongst all the gangs, because the one who held the docks, held the food and anything else that Auradon sent over. Sure, there were Auradonian guards with each drop to make sure the items reached the markets, but what was a bag or two of soggy bread snagged by a child?

Jay knew better than to hope of ever taking the docks, not with Uma and her pirates claiming the place, but Mal's hideout was the next best thing; close enough to the docks to scavenge and yet still being untouchable by being on the mainland, if only by three-quarters. None of that would really matter though unless he got there, and he was already two weeks overdue for meeting Mal. Never mind that it hadn't been him so much as his father's deal for his life that had caused the delay. Mal wouldn't forgive him for delaying any further.

Which was how Jay found himself sneaking around the edge of the docks, holding his breath and doing everything he could to stay as low to the ground as possible. It wasn't an ideal shortcut, but if he made it through the drain pipe at the far side, he'd be right near the hideout and then…

"Hi."

He shot upright, knife in hand even as his heart leapt into his throat. Jay fought not to grimace at the shaggy-haired boy in front of him, very much aware of the not-so-casual way the youth's fingers curled around the hilt his sword.

"Hi," Jay offered back tersely, darting a quick glance over his shoulder. The rest of the dock was clear, so where had this idiot come from?

"You're not supposed to be here," the boy said, and though his voice sounded vague, there was a very real threat underlying the way he eyed Jay's dull colored vest and compared it to his own bright yellow one.

"No," Jay agreed cautiously, taking a careful step to the left. "No, I'm not, so if I could just…."

"I don't think Uma would like it if she found out a mainlander had been in her territory," the boy said, frowning dangerously at Jay. "I'm not sure I should let you go."

"Gil," Jay hissed desperately. "Please."

There wasn't enough sun this far into the docks, but Jay still could have sworn he saw a glint as the other boy slowly drew his sword. It would have been more menacing if done by anyone else, but the way Gil did it, it was more like he was mentally reminding himself that swords are sharp and he had to be careful using it.

"No mainlanders on the docks," Gil said, just as slowly and carefully as he'd drawn his sword. "That's the rule, and Harry says everyone knows it, so if anyone is here that shouldn't be, it's their own fault what happens to them."

Jay groans, tugging his knife free from his belt and adjusting his grip so the blade faced his own body and not Gil's. "Yeah but you know me," he tried, edging another step to the left.

Gil matched his step perfectly, and Jay cursed himself for ever thinking the kid was as idiotic as he appeared.

"I do know you Jay," he said, and though he grinned at the idea, he didn't sheath his sword. "Maybe that will help Uma not be so mad."

"I doubt it," Jay grumbled, trying another quick step. But Gil matched that one as well, the smile fading slowly from his face.

"You're right," he said. "It won't."

Then he lunged, and Jay sucked a sharp breath, twisting his body around the blade and flinging up his own knife to counter. Gil easily parried the attack and swung again, aiming low towards Jay's hip. Jay didn't understand what he was trying to do, so instead of blocking with his knife, he tried for another lunge of his own. Gil jerked his head sharply to the side, missing the blow that would have blinded him by mere inches, and at the same moment, Jay felt something give and heard a high, metallic cling! chink! ding! that could only mean one thing.

"Oh shit," he hissed, ducking his head and ramming his shoulder sharply into Gil's chin. The other boy staggered, and it was just distraction enough that Jay could spare a hasty second to stoop, his fingers scrabbling desperately along the cobbles for his lost treasures. His bag must have come undone, he thought frantically, dark eyes scanning for the tiny silver teapot he'd snagged earlier that morning. Damn it, where…?

He's pulled rather viciously from his search by a hand, long fingers tangling in his hair and jerking up at the roots. He let out a strangled yell in spite of himself, and is all set to swing a fist backwards when a cold voice stops him abruptly.

"Well, now. Wha' do we have here?"

The voice is soft but strongly syllabled; all long vowels and hushed 'h's. The kind of voice that sent chills down your spine, and it only depended on what mood he was in which kind of shivering you would be doing.

"Harry."

Gil said the name with something like joy, though it was muffled by the hand he'd pressed tightly over his mouth. The hand in Jay's hair didn't loosen, but shifted slightly as its owner leant forward.

"Le' me see, mate," he demanded of Gil, who lowered his hand with some reluctance to reveal his split lip, the beginnings of a bruise already starting to show along his jaw where Jay had rammed him with his shoulder.

Harry stiffened with a Cat-like hiss, and Jay went very still, not daring to breathe.

"Ye hurt Gil," Harry growled in Jay's ear, all disapproval and scowls. "Nobody hurts Gil."

"I'm fine, though, Harry," Gil assured quickly, fumbling to sheath his sword and still keep his lip from bleeding. "Besides, he was already leaving."

"Was 'e now?"

Jay shuddered at the way Harry's voice dropped, dulcet tones that promised nothing but violence. He tried to comfort himself on the fact that at least the other boy hadn't drawn his sword or anything yet, but then he heard the sickening sshrk! of grating metal, and felt something cool and curved on his cheek.

"And jest wha' was a filthy mainlander doin' in our turf, eh?"

"Oh, well he was trying to get back to the mainland," Gil helpfully supplied, smiling in what he probably thought was a reassuring way. "But I stopped him. Not bad, right Harry?"

"Nah, mate," Harry agreed. "No' bad at all."

Mal

Mal had had it with waiting for Jay, and was currently doing the one thing she swore to herself she would never do. She was going to talk to Jafar. The sleazy vizier-turned-salesman was the last person whose company she would have sought out, but it had been two weeks since she'd last seen Jay, and it was Tuesday and almost noon. She was going to have her partner back or someone was going to die.

She'd only been to Jay's father's house once, and it hadn't been for long, but she'd memorized the route from the Bargain Castle to the Merchant's Square, and it wasn't hard to work out Jafar's shop from all the others; it being the only one decorated in garish shades of red and dull yellows and oranges that made Mal think of hot sun reflecting off white sand. Not that she would have ever seen such a thing herself, with the Isle being drenched in near perpetual grey and clouds. But it was what she thought of anyway.

She paused just long enough outside of the door to draw her knife, fingering the edge of the blade as she gripped the hilt tightly. Then she shoved aside the curtain with little ceremony, summoning all the authority she held as daughter of the ruler of the Isle into her voice.

"Jafar."

A small bell chimed at the back of the shop and there he was, stooping and bowing as he shuffled forward, seeming only half aware of his surroundings.

"Yes, of course," he murmured smoothly, still not looking at her. "What can I help…."

She knew right away when he noticed her because his words dropped off with a distinct, unpleasant noise, and when she glanced at him it was to catch a sneer curling his lips.

"What do you want, brat?" he growled dismissively at her, and Mal cocked a hip, placing a stern hand on it and glaring right back.

"I want your son," she said lowly. "He hasn't shown in two weeks and I'm sure you're aware of the deal you made with my mother. I can't learn if he's nowhere to be found."

Jafar muttered something in Arabic under his breath, and though Mal didn't know what it was, she could infer that it was some kind of insult. Despite the less than warm reception, she noted a hint of something heavy- almost guilty- in his eyes as he glowered at her.

"I haven't seen him either," he muttered sourly, shuffling away to arrange a shelf. "Two weeks ago, I made an exchange with a certain mahrab…a sort of dealer, if you will."

Mal's eyes narrowed, honing in on the inflection in the way Jafar said the foreign word; the disdain and yet, again, that grieved sort of guilt; an anxiousness and disgust in his eyes as they dart away from hers.

"A trafficker, you mean," she hissed, and Jafar stiffened defensively, but said nothing.

"Where is he now?" Mal demanded, taking a step forward and fingering the blade of her knife once more. "How do I know Jay isn't dead in a gutter somewhere? Two weeks?"

She forced her tone to remain level despite the way her stomach and mind revolted at the idea of Jay in such a position. "Maybe I'll tell my mother about this after all. I can't imagine she would be pleased at finding out how you've gone back on your deal with her to strike up another one with someone else. I wonder…"

Her words were stopped abruptly by a blow across her face, the force of it snapping her head to the side. She gripped her knife a little tighter as she shot Jafar a murderous look, only to receive another blow and a hissed curse in Arabic in response.

"You little bitch," he snarled, in English this time, and she idly wondered if what he had called her in Arabic had been worse.

It had certainly been longer, though she realized that now wasn't the time to ponder over insults so much as decide if she really wanted to fight with Jafar right now. After dodging a third blow, she decided she didn't, not if Jay was still missing in action. She complained internally, but sheathed her knife and lowered her eyes, dropping her hostile posture into something more submissive.

"I just want to know where Jay is," she repeated slowly, though this time she made sure her voice held no malice, and kept her hands open and calm at her sides.

"The deal wasn't meant to extend this long," Jafar finally grumbled, but whether he was referring to his deal with the trafficker or the one he'd made with Maleficent, Mal didn't know. "If he's not still…he would mostly likely just continue with what he planned with you. I haven't seen him, clearly," Jafar gestured emphatically towards his bare shelves.

"I'll make sure to remind him of that if I see him," Mal muttered, but she was already checked out of the conversation. It hadn't gotten her nowhere except to more frustration, though if Jafar was telling the truth about Jay's own commitment to teaching her, then the only place he could be was the hideout.

Mal was gone from Jafar's shop before the man had finished complaining about his stock, and only once she was tucked safely into an alcove and out of the street did she cup her stinging cheek. "Asshole," she grumbled, wincing at the shallow cut from the man's ring.

The market was in full swing by the time she reached it, though everyone stayed well out of her way with one well placed, green eyed glare. She smirked to herself, and managed the trek to the hide out with no trouble. Which is what made her arrival at the hideout that much more disappointing when she discovered it empty. She snarled in disgust and leant over the railing, peering through the gaps between buildings and debated whether she dare go to her mother for help, when a sudden voice from down below jarred her from her brooding.

"Hey Mal."

She straightened, and frowned down to see a familiar head of dirty blond hair tucked beneath a light blue cap; a bright yellow vest with far too many buckles to be functional.

"Gil," she called back warily, shifting her weight so her casual lean was more defensive.

"Uma sent me to get you," the boy said, smiling at her despite the hand that moved with clear intent towards the sword at his belt.

"Did she now?" Mal questioned disinterestedly, though her mind was racing, and she didn't like the connections it was making.

"You're not gonna make me climb all those stairs, are you?" Gil asked, frowning worriedly at the thought. "Cuz she's been waiting a while and I don't think…."

"What's really going on here Gil?" Mal demanded, letting her eyes light with her frustration. Gil's expression shifted suddenly into serious, his eyes dark as his frown deepened.

"We have Jay. And you know what happens to mainlanders who trespass into Uma's territory."

"I'll be right down."

Gil was silent as they walked through the narrow alleyways dividing the docks from the rest of the Island, though the various buckles and snaps on his clothing clicked and jingled obnoxiously, grating on Mal's already fraught nerves.

"So," she finally said, if only to break the silence. "What sort of mood is your boyfriend in today?" She made sure to put every bit of her disgust and hatred for Uma into the term, and Gil gave her a confused look out of the corner of his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Harry," Mal growled, rolling her eyes. Gil's mouth opening into an 'oh' shape, before suddenly snapping shut as she frowned at her again.

"Harry's not my boyfriend," he said slowly, then he blinked, as though realizing something himself. "Is he?"

Mal stifled a groan of frustration and tried to pick up the pace, but Gil had already stopped in the middle of the alley and was frowning at the space between the cobbles.

"I mean, I guess I could always ask him," he murmured to himself, and Mal grimaced, shaking her head sharply.

"I don't think that would end well for you," she snapped harshly, and Gil blinked at the stones, pouting his lip in thought.

"Probably not," he mumbled, still more to himself than her. "Maybe…."

He didn't finish the thought, instead snapping his head up quickly and shuffling back to her side, his jaw resolutely clenched. Mal didn't want to think of what ideas he might have come up with, but decided for her own sanity not to question him further. The pungent, salty stench of the ocean was starting to wash over them, and she watched as something tense and coiled in Gil's body loosened, a soft relief filling his eyes, and she realized just how uncomfortable he truly had been on the 'mainland.'

She didn't have much time to analyze the thought as Gil whistled sharply between his teeth, and a small cohort of pirates materialized from nowhere and surrounded her, escorting them the rest of the way up onto the mangled pirate ship.

"Gil," Mal warned, but the other boy was no longer focused on her, instead scanning the steadily growing pirate horde with warm, but hard brown eyes.

"Harry was smiling when he woke up today," he informed her finally. "If that helps answer your question."

"Sonofabitch," Mal hissed sharply, just as a low, throaty chuckle rang out from the back of the pirate crew.

"I'd say it's good to see you, Mal but…I try to be as honest as possible to set an example for my crew."

"Afternoon to you, Shrimpy," Mal fired back, and Uma slipped from between two pirates with a furious baring of her teeth.

"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you," the smaller girl threatened, sword in hand. "Your little pal Jay might not appreciate any more bruising."

"Where is he?" Mal snapped, lunging forward. It was too revealing, and Uma knew it too. The other girl leapt easily out of range, though it wasn't really necessary as Gil instantly placed a hand on Mal's shoulder; a quick, but firm squeeze all the warning she needed.

"Harry's making him comfortable," Uma murmured huskily, and Mal felt the fire light in her eyes even before she'd finished speaking.

"Give. Him. Back," she demanded lowly, but Uma made a face, her eyes wide.

"You know I can't do that," the other girl said, and Mal was almost grateful for Gil's hand on her shoulder, if only to keep her from killing his 'captain' in front of him. "Not without consequences; not just like that!"

"I swear…"

"Swear what?" Uma challenged, whipping her head around so viciously her hair snapped in a wave across her face. "We set the terms and you agreed to them. No mainlanders on the docks!"

"Newsflash, Uma," Mal snarled, shaking off Gil's hand and prowling forward. "We're on an island. Everyone here is a 'mainlander'; even you. So don't try and give me some 'ocean born' bullshit when you can't even reach the water!"

She knew right away she'd gone too far, even before Uma's eyes hardened. If Gil's eyes were warm in their brownness, Uma's were the very coal they sparked from.

"Gil," Uma said, her voice sharp and crackling with hatred. "If you'd be so kind."

Mal felt her right leg buckle from under her, and she was falling heavily before she even felt the pain of the blow. She caught herself before the wooden deck could, but then pain hit her and she clamped her lips tightly around a scream.

"Sorry," Gil whispered mournfully, and Mal hit the deck hard, her jaw aching as she clenched it even tighter.

"Sorry," he mumbled again, his next blow catching her just below the ribs.

Mal scrambled for purchase and finally got her arms under her, shoving herself up to her feet just in time to avoid another blow. She whirled to face Gil with both fists raised defensively, and found that he'd nearly copied her stance, though his weight was more forward; one arm already cocked for another blow. His eyes met hers briefly, and she hated how horribly guilty and pained he looked, even as he swung forward with all his might.

"That's enough Gil," Uma's voice said from somewhere far away.

Mal blinked hard as Gil came into focus, the other boy practically slumping with relief as he lowered his fists, his hands far more gentle as they shoved Mal back into a more upright position and casually remained around her arms until she was steady.

"'m really sorry," he murmured again in her ear, which only further solidified her own guilt for pushing Uma too far, along with the fact that Gil really was just too…good…for the Isle.

"What do you want, Uma?" Mal snapped, though her previous hostility had (mostly) been knocked out of her.

Uma sauntered slowly across the deck towards her, a poisonous sort of half-smile on her face.

"What do I want?" The other girl repeated, that throaty laugh bubbling up in her throat, a dark gleam in her eyes. "Everything."