No real notes, other than a quick shout out to readers of my other fics (particularly Ghost in the Code, Once Upon a Time in Everlie and Why Does No One Read the Manual?): New chapters are on the way by Monday. I promise! Maybe a bit more...

And yes I am aware of what this chapter title idiom means.

Onward!

*UL*

Nobody told Roger and Anita Radcliffe a bloody thing. They learned the same way most of the kingdom did of soon-to-be-King Ben's first royal decree. And the news shocked the hell out of them for a few different reasons.

Anita couldn't believe that Cruella had a child. Not because she couldn't find someone as twisted as her on that accursed island. But because she knew for a fact that a severe illness as a child had rendered her once good friend unable to carry a child to term. She spent five years searching for a remedy but ultimately gave up. Cruella claimed to have realized a brat would only hold her back anyhow and threw herself into making her fortune. The incident with the puppies made her realize just how badly a toll the whole ordeal took on her mind. Her body aging so fast so young, losing the ability to ever have a child and seeing just how happy she could have been (as she and Roger were despite their circumstances at the time) drove the woman positively mad. The day she found out about the Island Solution, Anita was positively heart broken and petitioned to have her sentence changed. Cruella needed mental help, not to be locked away and forgotten like that. Of course her reputation preceded her and the pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

Roger was surprised there were children at all on the island. He berated himself for being so naive but the very thought of the worst threats Auradon had ever seen spawning was revolting. What maniac would lie down with that wretched woman?! With any of those monsters? The answer of course being another monster. So when he pressed to know more about the child after Maleficent's failed return, he was horrified to know the most wicked voodoo man to ever live had something to do with it. Even though the guy had been dead for six years before Carlos came into the world.

So he had to see him. Roger had to see just what kind of demon Cruella DeVil had birthed and their foolhardy prince has unleashed into the world. Black magic was obviously what created him so what else could he be? The need to see for himself was just too strong to ignore. He told his dear wife he needed a quick trip to get the creative juices flowing again then off he went.

Mr. Radcliffe came to the school about a week and a half later to find a tiny, shy and apparently very sad child sitting near the forest edge petting a small dog dozing in his lap. The boy looked positively harmless, adorable really, sitting there showing affection to the same type of animal he thought his mother would have taught him to be cruel to. He might have approached him if not for the rather intimidating young arabian boy who came up to Carlos half dressed in tourney gear not minute after he arrived.

"Babyboy, it's okay to talk to me. You know that right?" To prove his point, his eyes flashed red. This must be Jafar's son.

Outstanding. At least he felt a little less silly for freaking out and hiding in this bush now. A type of bush he was quite allergic to mind you. That kid probably didn't need magic (which he obviously had) to break the fortysomething songwriter in two. Now all he had to do was NOT sneeze...dear lord were the hives already starting!

/It gets stronger everyday./ The small boy created words in the air with a hand wave, then looked away. The awe Radcliffe felt somewhat distracted him from his body trying to tell him to get away from this infernal plant.

"We both do baby. My powers make me immune, Fairy Godmother thinks it's because we're together." A large hand gently caught the deVil boy's chin to turn him to face the one speaking. And their lips met in a chaste kiss. "...I miss your sweet voice."

Oh. Oh dear. Babyboy wasn't a nickname, rather a pet name; they were dating. Well that's certainly...well. Roger wasn't sure what made him more uncomfortable: who their parents were, the obvious age/size gap or the idea of two young boys romantically involved period. In any case, the thought of being discovered now made him feel like a creepy old man spying on two lovebirds sharing a tender moment. And more afraid either might do something nasty to him should they notice.

"...I'm scared Jay." Carlos whimpered. "I'm hearing these whispers in the back of my mind telling me to do awful things. I'm going crazy just like my mom!" Faint wisps of green fog came from the boy's mouth and surrounded his lover's head but dissipated into harmless vapor.

"Oh, Babyboy." Jay pulled him into his lap, the dog now sitting in the grass beside the pair nosing Carlos' leg. "You're not going crazy. That old prune said the spirits your pops made deals with would try to tempt you too. THAT'S what you hear but you don't have to pay them any attention. They'll get bored and leave you be."

"But what if she's wrong? What if they posses me or something?! What if-?" Cruella's son looked to be having a panic attack.

"Shhhh. Drink some water before you hyperventilate." Jay dug a squirt bottle out of his duffel bag only to blink as it vanished from his hand. Just as quickly Carlos went limp in his arms, the bottle rolling towards the dog. It sniffed the container, drew it's ears back and growled.

"Grrr..."

"Chillax Dude, you know I wouldn't hurt him. He's just asleep. The thing he hasn't done in like 4 days?" he smiled, then raised his voice. "The spy in the bushes is a totally separate deal."

"Oh, bother! I don't mean any harm. Um, this isn't what it looks like!" Nervously he popped up, wiping his leaking nose on a well used handkerchief and scratching his neck vigorously.

"Strange guy hiding in a bush. Mouth breathing and watching a little boy and his dog all alone. Yep that sounds legit." Brown eyes flashed alarm red again. "You got 30 seconds to explain."

"I, uh, my name is Roger Radcliffe. I used to know his mother. We, my wife and I, just learned she had a son and we were concerned is all."

"That he'd come after your mutts like his batty mom?" The air suddenly felt quite heavy and the blonde found himself gasping for breath his lungs fought to draw in.

"...actually we were worried that her old school chum might not have been the most nurturing of caretakers. That young Carlos might need guardians of a fashion. We're were more worried for him that about him. We tried to get her sent to a psychiatric hospital instead of the Isle all those years ago." There was some falsehood in there about exactly who was concerned with what but hopefully he managed to sell the mostly true statements.

Jay stood up with his drugged boyfriend in his arms. Giving Radcliffe the once over, he started to walk away. Roger drew in a deep relieved breath now that oxygen no longer seemed elusive.

"Feh, you goody goodies can't lie your way out of a paper bag. There's less pedo ways to check in on someone." Jay chuckled. "Not sure if Babyboy will wanna talk to you but if you want the chance, hope you got vacay time. No idea how strong E made that potion."

Thank god. All that panic for nothing. The boy had been messing with him. With a bit less fear weighing on him, Roger followed the pair back to the school.

The walk through the common areas brought them in close contact with several other students. Some congratulating Jay for another victory as team captain. One boy reminded him of a test, telling him he better pass it or the coach might bench him. A few girls had even coyly tried to ask him out.

That really stood out as a red flag. Not a soul acknowledged the grown man following him. Those young ladies didn't even notice the tiny boy curled up in the arms of his boyfriend whom they were flirting with. They couldn't really be so crass- oh dear.

"From the way you're breathing I take it you've noticed." Jay didn't even turn around. "Fairy Godmother says I excel in shaping others' perception of the world around them. Which is pretty much a less threatening way of saying I rock at mind fucking. Nobody sees you, they just automatically walk around you. And all I'm carrying is my equipment bag. Neat huh?"

"W-why? Why do this?" The older man's dread only grew once he realized his legs wouldn't stop moving.

"Because we're going to the office. I did pass remedial goodness last semester after all. Figured giving you a chance to come clean about why you were really so interested in seeing my babyboy was less outright evil than my first instinct. Which was to make you take that gun out of your waistband and blow your own fucking head off."

*UL*

"So, stab myself in the head or rip off my own twig and berries. Are those seriously my only options?" Hades deadpanned.

"I would have summed it up a bit more eloquently but pretty much. You are 100% screwed no matter how you look at it buddy. The only difference between facing the music and my plan is one doesn't turn you into a lightening bolt scorch mark. So you'll be a little...impotent for a bit but isn't that worth getting your revenge?" Mirage smirked. "Getting out of this dump?"

"What guarantee do I have that you won't skip out once you get what you want? That you'll keep that little bitch hidden away once I lend you my magic?"

"Well, you know I'm involved. There's nothing to stop you from revealing the details of our agreement. Powerful as I am I'm betting your pantheon could turn me onto a crispy kitty. Even with your meager borrowed assets."

Ooo...right in the ole ego. Even she knew the banishment had reduced the Mighty Lord of the Underworld to a shadow of his former self. Hinting that she was already stronger than him without his assistance didn't help.

"Fine. But who could you possibly resurrect with enough mojo to take on all the forces of good?"

"Oh only two. Once this storm starts brewing, the others will practically fall into our hands. You can only fight your true nature for so long. " She cackled. "Now, I hope you've brushed your teeth in the last decade."

The necessary act of sealing the deal with a kiss happened to be equally nauseating for both parties. In that Persephone could take some comfort as she desperately tried to think of something to stop the madness to come.

*UL*

Whoa, poor Carlos already has to deal with creepy voices in his head and the inability to control what his voice does to people. But...was Roger really gonna try and kill him? Harsh much? At least Jay was there to save the day in a surprisingly tactful and non violent way. And was honest enough to admit that wasn't his first choice of action.

I know you guys have guessed one of the people Mirage wants to bring back, but what of the other? And who was she talking about falling into their hands? I can tell you now it's not exactly who you think.

Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Reviews are like hugs! Sirensoundwave out!