Hi Guys here is the next chapter of Connected Hearts for you. As always a MASSIVE MASSIVE MASSIVE THANK YOU to my AMAZING WONDERFUL beta xez2003 this chapter wouldn't be HALF the chapter it is without you! And of course THANK YOU to every one of you for your reads, reviews, follows and fav's. Well I think that is all so without further ado take away chapter 7!
DISCLAMER: I DO NOT OWN DECENDANTS ALL RIGHTS GO TO DISNEY ANY DIOLOGE YOU RECONISE BELONGS TO DISNEY I OWN NOTHING!
You may also notice that some content of this chapter comes from the Isle of the Lost books this content belongs to Melissa De La Cruz I DO NOT own it and ALL rights go to her I make ABSOLUTELY NO profit off ANYTHING IT IS NOT MINE!
Before Jay could even blink, Mal had leapt on her feet and rushed forward, dangerously holding one of her daggers against his throat. "Jay, if you value your life, you will not say anything to anyone about what you just saw. Do you understand?!" she snarled, her eyes glowing green to show just how serious she was with this threat. At that moment, it didn't matter to her that Jay was part of her gang.
Jay nodded slowly not daring to speak, careful to avoid the edge of the blade still close to his windpipe. He gulped, his eyes wide with fear as he waited for Mal's response. After years by her side and having seen with his own eyes what happened to anyone who had ever dared to cross her, he knew perfectly well that it was not wise to test her. He was sure she meant every word of the threat.
"Good." She snapped, putting the dagger away before she stepped a few meters back near Ben. "Why are you here anyway?" she asked him.
"I-I came to tell you both that Ben's father is back. All the village is talking about it. Apparently he is living in one of the old shacks at the edge of the town." Jay stuttered, finding his voice again.
"We know. We just had a run in with him." Mal said squeezing Ben's hand in comfort while looking at Jay straight in the eye, daring him to say anything.
"Don't worry Mal. I promise to keep your secret. After all I value my life but…just be careful" Jay warned. "You know what happened to the last couple who tried to love on the Isle."
Mal nodded before turning to Ben. "Ben. With your father now living on the main land, I don't think it's safe for you to be here by yourself anymore. After this spring break is over, I think it's time for you to start coming to Dragon Hall with us. You have been here for nearly a year now and it will also be the perfect occasion to get to know the other VKs."
"Ok." Ben said happily.
"But" she paused, with a slight frown. "I think I have thought of a way to draw away any suspicions of us being outed as a couple but I don't think you're going to like it. I think once we get to school we need to put on an act by being friendly with the other students."
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2 Weeks Later
Ben looked curiously around him, following Mal and Jay as they entered Dragon Hall. Mal had told him all about the school and how it was located in a former mausoleum but he still did not expect to find a broken-down graveyard littered with tombstones as its front lawn. After leaving Dr Facilier's office, who was the school's headmaster, the trio walked down the hall to Wickedness Class, their first lesson of the day. Ben watched intrigued as frightened students scrambled away letting them pass as they walked through the corridors.
Mal suddenly stopped, rolling her eyes, as she heard a female voice call out her name and she turned around to face her.
"Hey Mal!" Ginny Gothel grinned from her spot across the hall and quickly walked up to them.
"Hi Ginny." Mal replied in an annoyed voice. She was really not interested in making any conversation with her at that moment as she was sure that Ginny's only intention was to suck up to her, as she always did in an effort to stay in her good books.
"Did you-" Ginny started but cut herself off when she noticed Ben.
"Oh hello there! You must be new around here because I would certainly remember seeing you." Ginny said stepping towards him, holding out her hand to him. "I'm Ginny."
"Hi. I am Ben and yeah it's my first day here at Dragon Hall." Ben smiled back after stealing a small side glance in Mal's direction.
"Well Ben." She replied with a coy smile "If you ever need anything just let me know. I'd be happy to help you out." Ginny was too engrossed in her conversation with Ben to notice that Mal's eyes had momentarily flashed a bright shade of green as she witnessed her flirt with him.
"That would be nice. Thanks." Ben smiled.
"Come on boys. Class is about to start." Mal snapped as she barged pass Ginny into the classroom. She slammed her books onto her desk but realized her mistake almost immediately as she suddenly became aware that all the eyes of the room had turned to look at her. She recovered quickly and instantly shouted. "What are you all looking at?!" Everyone immediately turned to look away and back down at their own books, fearing for their lives. She took a deep breath to calm herself, as she remembered that this was all her idea and that they had to mingle with the other students in order to avoid them being outed as a couple. Come on Mal. You can do this. She tried to reason with herself. It was just innocent small talk. There is nothing to be jealous about. She doesn't mean anything to Ben. But unfortunately the rest of the day did not turn out to be any better and instead proved to be a real test for Mal's self-control as she stoically watched Harriet Hook and Mad Maddie throw themselves at him too. She just couldn't wait for the day to be over.
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Later that afternoon, Ben silently followed Mal as they climbed up the stairs to the hideout. She had barely uttered a word as they walked back from Dragon Hall and he could tell that something was amiss. He was about to ask her what was the matter as soon as they entered the front door but Mal quickly turned around and grabbed him by the collar. Taken by surprise, he did not resist as she pushed him roughly against the wall, kissing the breath out of him as she let out all the pent up frustration and tension she had accumulated throughout the day.
"Not that…I am complaining…but what was that…for?" Ben asked panting a little while later, when they finally broke away from each other, to get air.
"That" Mal said, her eyes flashing an intense green "Was because I just couldn't stand having to watch another girl flirt with you!" she growled. "I've always been the feared Queen around here and no one has ever dared to touch anything that belonged to me. And now I can't tell everyone that you are mine and that they have to stay away from you."
"Mal listen to me." Ben reassured her as he gently cupped her cheek in his hand. "You have nothing to be jealous about. I was only talking back to them because that was the plan we had discussed. We have to be careful not to be caught. I know it must have been hard for you to watch but I promise you that those other girls mean nothing. You are all that matters to me."
"Really?' she asked in a small voice.
"Yes really and I think I have just the right thing to prove it to you. Wait here." he smiled as he left to go to his room. He returned a little while later with a small wrapped package.
"I was going to wait till your sixteenth birthday next month to give it to you but I think you need this now." he said gently as he handed it to her.
Mal opened the package slowly and gasped speechless at its content. It was a purple and green colored dragon necklace with a medium sized pinkish-purple gemstone being held between its front paws. Of course half of the gemstone was missing as expected from any object found on the Isle but to Mal the necklace was simply perfect.
"And you should be really proud of me." He chuckled trying to break the silence that had fallen in the room. "It's the first time I've ever managed to swipe something from the market place without getting caught."
Mal just stared at the necklace in her hands overwhelmed as this was the first real gift she had ever received from anyone in her life. A sense of happiness that she had never felt before in her life just took over and Mal couldn't stop the tear that trailed down her cheek as she looked up to face Ben. "I love you." She whispered as she turned to embrace him tightly.
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2 Months Later
It was the first Saturday of the month which meant that the Auradon shipment was due to arrive later on that morning. Mal, together with Ben and Jay, made her way towards the docks to collect their share of the food haul. She was hoping not to make any unpleasant meetings that morning. Unfortunately her prayers had not been answered.
"Hey Mal!" Harry grinned as he came over to greet her. Ever since Mal had flirted with him, that time when she had wanted to push Ben away from her all those months ago, Harry had not missed an occasion to come speak to her in an attempt to somehow woo her.
"Hey Harry" Mal smiled back, shooting a subtle apologetic look in Ben's direction.
Ben felt his blood start to boil at the sight of Harry talking to Mal. He wanted nothing more than to grab him by the throat and punch the living daylights out of him. He subconsciously took a step forward, only to be stopped by Jay, who gripped his arm. "Ben. Why don't we go grab our food? I'm sure Mal will come join us at the hideout as soon as she is done." He said. The tension around them could be sliced through with a knife and Jay knew he had to take Ben away from there before he could make a scene and risk exposing his feelings towards Mal out in the open.
Mal finally managed to get rid of Harry a little while later, as soon as Uma snappishly called him back over to her. She guessed that Uma was not very happy with the attention that her first mate was giving her. Not that Mal cared about Harry…Uma would actually do her a big favor if she kept him away from her. Mal arrived at the hideout to find a worried Jay waiting for her on the outside steps.
"I think you better get in there and talk to him before things really get out of hand." Jay said, indicating Ben's bedroom.
Mal knocked gently on the door but opened it a few moments later when Ben did not answer her. She gasped as she looked around the room which was in a complete mess. The few items of furniture in the room like his bed and the nearby drawer were overturned while pieces of the broken mirror where scattered all throughout the floor. Ben himself was huddled on the floor in the furthest right-hand corner, his face buried in his knees.
"Benny?" she asked gently as his head snapped up at the sound of her voice. He quickly bolted upwards and the next thing she knew Ben's lips where crashing into hers in a passionate kiss, as he pulled her closer.
Mal responded immediately and pulled him even closer, kissing him harder. She instantly understood what must have been going through his head, having felt the same sense of jealousy every time she had to witness girl after girl flirt with him, powerless to stop them. She certainly did not consider Ben to be an object which she possessed. But Ben was the first real nice thing that had ever happened to her in her life, and having been born to the despair and gloom of the Isle, she was terrified that it would be taken all away from her any second.
Mal slowed down to gentler kisses, before finally breaking apart, a smile plastered on her face. "Feeling better?" she asked, panting slightly, as she continued to hold him close.
Ben gripped her shoulders and bent his head towards her until their foreheads touched. "I can't lose you Mal. I am so scared that what my father said will eventually happen one day. I have already lost my mother. You're the only other person apart from her who has ever cared for me. I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me." he confessed in soft whisper.
Mal pulled back and cupped his face in her hands understandingly. "Ben, Harry is not going to take me away from you. I promise. He can flirt with me all he likes but he doesn't matter. You are the only one that matters to me." She reassured him, bringing her lips to his again.
When they broke apart a while later, Ben started chuckling quietly in embarrassment as he gingerly rubbed his head. "I am really sorry for the mess in the hideout." He apologized as he surveyed the damage across the room.
Mal shushed him, placing a finger on his lips. "Well your strength is one of the reasons why I originally chose you to become part of my gang. Just next time make sure you unleash your anger not here but when we are on Shrimpy's boat." She laughed as they turned around to start cleaning up the place.
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"Hey guys did you hear the news? There is a new girl joining the school today." Jay asked as he joined Mal and Ben as they walked to Dragon Hall the next day.
"Really. Who?" Ben asked curious.
"Rumor has it that she is a real princess too." Jay said.
"That can't be true Jay. There are no princesses on the Isle and most definitely not one who would have the courage to show her face around here." Mal growled, as she shook her head furiously before storming away.
"What was that all about?" Ben asked concerned.
Jay went silent for a moment before speaking. "Well if my suspicions are correct, this princess everyone is talking about is the Evil Queen's daughter, Evie. Did Mal ever mention her at all?" he asked. Jay continued as Ben shook his head in a negative. "Apparently the Evil Queen threw a lavish birthday party for Evie when she had turned six but Mal had not been invited. Some say that the invitation just got lost in the delivery but the most persistent rumors say that the Evil Queen did not invite Mal on purpose in order to spite Maleficent. As you can imagine, things did not end well once Maleficent found out and Evie and her Evil Queen have been banished from the Isle ever since."
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Evie smiled smugly as all the eyes of the room were on her as she settled into the best seat in the classroom. She really had been worried for nothing, she thought as she mused about how her mother had been right after all in telling her that Maleficent had likely forgotten all about them, and that it was finally safe to leave the castle after ten long years.
"Ahem" she suddenly heard as she looked up. Her eyes made contact with a purple haired green eyed girl who was openly glaring at her.
She instantly recognized the girl in front of her, as a shiver ran through her spine. She decided to play dumb, silently praying that Maleficent's daughter did not remember her. "Hi. I'm Evie." she smiled.
"And I'm the person who will be kicking your butt all the way back to your castle, if you don't move out of my seat in the next five seconds, princess!" Mal growled as she stared at the girl menacingly.
"Oh! Is this your seat?" Evie asked innocently.
"Look blue. If you want to test me just continue sitting there." she snarled as her green eyes briefly started glowing.
Evie instantly stood up, having finally understood why all the students had been looking at her when she had sit down. She scurried away to the back of the classroom, where she found an empty desk hidden behind a column.
"Phew!" she muttered trembling, as she turned to look at the white haired boy sitting next to her.
"Yeah. It's best to just stay out of Mal's way." he muttered.
"So it really is who I think she is?" she asked.
"Yes she is but don't worry too much. Just make sure to stay out of her way and everything should be fine." He suggested before returning his attention back to the device in his hand.
"I'm Evie, by the way. What is your name?" she asked.
"Carlos De Vil. We met once at your birthday party. It's nice to see you again." he said smiling.
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Ben and Jay caught up with Mal as class ended and together they headed to their next common class which was Evil Schemes, taught by Lady Tremaine. Ben and Jay exchanged a nervous glance between them as they noticed from Mal's current scowling face that her mood had taken a nasty turn. No words where needed as they both guessed that Mal had met the daughter of the Evil Queen. Ben wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms to comfort her but they were in public so any gentle act towards her would draw suspicions. As he was thinking of what he could do or say, Jay asked. "Mal! Why not throw a party of your own instead of sulking about one that happened ten years ago?"
Mal remained silent for a moment, before she suddenly smirked. "You know what Jay. You are absolutely right. I am going to have a party…after all there is lots to celebrate."
Ben looked at Mal perplexed, instinctively feeling that something was amiss. "Mal are you sure about this?"
"Positive Ben. It is going to be one hell of a party, especially for the new comer." Mal replied, subconsciously avoiding Ben's gaze, knowing deep down that Ben would not approve of what she had in mind. She spotted Evie and Carlos walking ahead, happily chatting away between them.
"Hey Carlos." She called out to him.
"Y-Yes Mal?" he stuttered as he turned to greet her, jumping as he recognized her terrifying voice.
"Your Mom's away this weekend right?" she asked.
"Y-Yes?" he replied.
"Perfect. Get everything ready. Party at Hell Hall this weekend!"
"What?!" Carlos cried incredulously. "I can't have a party. I have-"
Mal just gave him a stern look and he nodded in acceptance. "Spread the news. I want everyone to be present. It is going to be the party of the year."
"There's a party?" Evie asked, who was next to them chatting with Ben who had introduced himself to her in the meantime. "I haven't been to a party in such a long time."
"Oh what a pity. This is a very exclusive party and I'm afraid you did not get an invitation." Mal mock pouted before she walked away with a triumphant smile. Ben gave Evie one last side glance before hurrying to follow Mal into the classroom, fully intending to ask her what was going on.
Ben reached the Evil Schemes classroom just in time for the beginning of class. He frowned in annoyance as he had to wait till the end of class to speak to Mal as Lady Tremaine had already started explaining all about the annual class project which the whole class had to prepare for, which was Crafting the Ultimate Evil Scheme.
As the class went on and Mal thought about the year-long scheme she had to come up with, she suddenly realized that excluding Evie from the party had been the wrong move. If Evie was at the party she could finally have the opportunity to get her revenge. She smirked as an idea started to form in her head.
Class finally finished and the students began to slowly clear the classroom. When only a few students were left Ben turned to ask Mal about her party and her previous encounter with Evie, clearly worried about her. "Mal is everything okay? Why don't we go somewhere private so you can tell me all about this last minute idea of a party and what happened with Evie before class. Why didn't you invite her?"
"Don't worry Ben. Everything is absolutely fine. In fact...hang on." She replied, quickly turning to look at the classroom door to avoid his piercing gaze.
"Evie! Wait!" she called.
Evie gulped as she turned to look at Mal with fearful eyes. "Um...you need something?"
"Yeah well. I was only kidding earlier. Of course you are invited to my party." Mal said. Ben smiled as he witnessed the exchange.
"You sure you want me to come?" Evie asked incredulously.
"Yes of course. I wouldn't want you to miss it for the world." Mal replied.
"I won't. Don't worry!" she smiled happily before re-joining Carlos a few metres away.
Mal smiled with a mischievous grin as she watched Evie walk away. She turned in Ben's direction. "You see. Nothing to worry about. Now let's go! I have a party to throw!"
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Later that night
Ben and Mal stood in the doorway of Hell Hall as all eyes fell on them. It seemed everybody was waiting for Mal to get the party started.
"Hey Carlos. Am I late?" she asked.
"Not at all. Come in." he said.
"Toad's-blood shots for everyone!" declared Mal, signalling the start of the real party. Ben looked around in amazement and a little excitement as this was the first party he had attended in his life. There was a large Chandelier Swing in the middle of the room which a number of guests where already fighting about while what appeared to be a series dance-off was currently going on, Jay right in the middle of it, as a band played a loud tune. There were also all sorts of party snacks like stinky cheese and withered grapes, deviled eggs and wings and a rather large stock of spicy cider.
"Come on. Let's go!" Ben told her as he walked towards the band, eager to jump in the middle of the dance floor. Mal followed him, hiding the sudden urge to smile at his excitement. She usually hated parties. Just like her mother, she hated the sights and sounds of laughter and fun. But that was before she met Ben and now she was secretly looking forward to spend this evening with Ben where for a change they could be carefree teenagers. And if nothing got in the way of what she had planned for Evie, this evening would be perfect.
Mal left the Ben on the dance floor to get herself a spicy cider and bumped into Jay. "Where's Princess Blueberry?" she asked.
"Evie? No one has seen her." he replied.
"She has to come. The whole point of this party is to finally have my revenge against her!" she snapped angrily. Mal suddenly perked up as she spotted Evie about to knock on the front door through a window. She turned and headed towards a familiar door. Carlos paled as he noticed Mal moving towards the door leading to Cruella's fur closet while Mal smirked with anticipation as she knew from experience that Cruella's storage room was not for the faint hearted and therefore the perfect place to exact her revenge.
"Who wants to go first? New Game! Seven Minutes in Heaven! And you've never played Seven Minutes if you haven't played it in a De Vil closet." Mal shouted getting everyone's attention. All the girls around the room giddily approach the door, wondering with whom they would end up inside.
"She does." Jay said, showing off a blue cape he had just swiped off Evie.
"I do?" Evie asked confused as she joined them.
"Evie! So happy you could come. Of course you want to take part!" Mal said leading her to the opened door.
"But don't I get to go in with a boy?" she asked.
"Did I say Seven Minutes in Heaven? Oh sorry…I meant Seven minutes in Hell." Mal smirked before shoving her inside. The door automatically locked, the only way to be opened was from the outside. Everyone scattered away in fear as they all realized that Mal did not want anyone to help the princess who could be now heard screaming to be let out.
"Mal you can't leave her in there. You know what there is inside!" Carlos exclaimed, thinking about the mess he will have to clean up afterwards.
"You want her out. Just go get her yourself." Mal smirked before quickly opening the door and pushing him inside too.
Mal looked around the party with a glint in her eyes and a satisfied expression as her evil scheme had finally worked. Now that this was settled it was time to get back to Ben and enjoy the rest of the party but as she scanned the rest of the room he was nowhere to be found.
"Jay. Did you see Ben?" Mal asked.
"I saw him leave through the front door while you were doing your prank on Evie." he replied.
Mal quickly turned to leave, hoping to catch up with him. He must not have gotten too far, she thought. "Ben! Wait up!" she called as she spotted him a few meters away walking down the now deserted alleyway leading to their hideout. Ben stopped and turned to look at her with a scowled expression.
"What happened? Why did you leave the party without telling me?" she asked concerned.
"You lied to me!" he exclaimed angrily. "What was that all about?"
"What?"
"Why did you throw Evie in that closet? You told me everything was fine between you when I asked you about her and this whole idea of a party just out of the blue. I thought you just wanted to have a good time for once away from your mother. Guess I was wrong." He said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Ben I told you what happened between us. She-" she tried to explain.
"She didn't invite you to her sixth birthday party. Yes I know." he sighed.
"Exactly she needed to pay for that-" she replied.
"Mal. That was over ten years ago. You can't still keep a grudge about that after all this time. What you did was something Maleficent would have done and I know you're better than that. And what's worse is that you kept it all a secret from me when I specifically asked you. All I wanted was to help you deal with it. You should have come to me." he retorted with a hurt expression.
Mal looked down in shame as she processed what Ben had just told her. He was right. She had acted out of spite, just like her mother thought her. Instead she should have turned to Ben to help her deal with the situation. It was just that this specific birthday party was a sore spot for Mal not only for not having been invited but most importantly because it painfully reminded Mal of her own relationship with her mother.
"I'm sorry." Mal whispered in a quiet voice as she turned to look up at Ben with suspiciously bright eyes. "Forgive me Ben. I should have opened up to you in the first place about it instead of doing that stupid prank. It is just that seeing Evie again reminded me of all the pain and jealously I had felt that day looking at them enjoying themselves. Not only had I not been invited to the party but Evie was lucky enough to have a mother who at least cared for her enough to organize a birthday party for her and invite the whole Isle. I would have killed anything to have my mother ever care for me that way."
Ben's expression softened as he brought up a hand to cup Mal's cheek. "Of course I forgive you, Mal. We knew from the start that our relationship was something new for both of us and that there were going to be situations which were going to be difficult to handle. But remember what I told you that day in the hideout. We will deal with them together. Your mother may not care enough for you to throw you a birthday party but remember that I love you and that I will always be by your side."
She nodded in acceptance before embracing him tightly.
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Meanwhile, Evie let out a scream as something snapped at her feet as she tried to move around the storage which was shrouded in total darkness. Luckily for her, she was joined a few moments later by Carlos and together they made it out of Cruella's closet safely as they cautiously avoided all the traps scattered around the place to protect Cruella's furs. They walked around until they arrived into a dressing room which was situated at the back of the closet and which served as a bedroom for Carlos.
"You sleep there?" she whispered, seeing a blanket under the dressing table.
"Yeah." he whispered ashamed.
"Are you still working on that device I saw in class this morning?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yes. You want to see it?" he asked.
Evie followed Carlos to his tree house, which served as his lab, all the while making conversation. After seeing how poorly Carlos was treated by his mother and remembering her loneliness after being stuck in her castle for ten years, Evie offered him some of her old pillows and blankets in an attempt to become friends. They entered and Evie gasped as she looked around Carlos's secret lab.
"I want to punch a hole in the dome to get other TV channels. I am sure that this machine will now work as I think I finally got the battery to hold." Carlos explained.
He punched a few buttons and pulled a switch and a powerful electric blast suddenly burst out of the device punching a hole into the ceiling and the now exposed sky. This surprised them both and send them flying back against the wall. As they recovered, they noticed that the television set nearby suddenly came to life and its screen started flashing and switching between many different shows. But their joy was short lived as Carlos's device gave out and everything went dead again.
Just as the two villain kids suspected, Carlos's device had really blasted a hole straight through the dome. Even if it was just for a few moments, before it sealed itself back up, magic had passed through. But unbeknownst to them, that magic had awakened more than just a few television channel. In the far away Forbidden Forest, once home to the great Maleficent, the ground briefly shook as her Sceptre came to life, its jewel glowing a bright green. A black raven croaked and shock its wings from the stone debris of his old prison as it freed itself before taking flight in search of his old mistress…
Dun dun dun! Diablo is free! Things are heating up! I hope you guys liked this chapter. Review? Pretty please?