Chapter 7
She arrived in the front hallway. Ben walked out of the office, and just stared at her for a moment. Then she ran into his arms. He just held her tightly. Evie, happened to be heading to the kitchen, when she spotted them and before she thought she screamed. "MAL!" Everyone came running. She was enveloped in a huge hug. Once they let her go, Ben dragged her into his office, Mal thought,' here it comes, he is going to yell at me, break up with me.' But no instead he showed her the rose she left the ring on. It still bloomed, even though it had been placed there 9 week prior. Ben removed the ring and placed it back onto Mal's left hand. As soon as the ring slid back into its rightful place on her left hand, the rose promptly withered and died. They just watched it happen. Ben made her sit down. "Spill it." Jay barked, as they had followed the couple in, to keep the calm between them. When nothing came that needed to be calmed, they wanted information.
"I thought if I left he would follow me. I had no idea I was still wearing an enchantment. I had no idea, he might not be able to find me. I was chocking you Ben, I couldn't let it happen again. To him, to Jay, Evie, any of you. I wasn't safe to be around, and if the only way I could stay was to wear an enchantment, what good was I?"
"You were wanted and needed." Belle said. "I understand where you thought you were right Mal, but only for your own good. You…you only thought of yourself. It was rather selfish of you." She scolded, and Mal knew she deserved it.
"You are right. And I was wrong. I am sorry. I am sorry I made you worry, I am sorry I made you ill Ben. I am sorry I spent our first summer away from you all. But I am not sorry for trying to protect those I love in the only way I thought was best." She could no longer look at their faces all filled with, not anger, but disappointment, a look Mal knew all too well.
"We love you Mal, that's why we wanted you safe." Adam added.
"Yeah, I get that, and I know I was wrong. I am very used to taking care of myself. I have never had to worry about anyone else's feelings, and I just had no idea." She was in tears at this point. Ben hugged her tightly.
"I am so sorry you had that past, but please, you're here now, and we, all of us, are a team. Got it?"
"I do." Mal said trying to look away, but Ben held her face still to look her in the eyes.
"Good, now what do we know other than who it is and that he escaped."
"He is a voodoo witch doctor. He may be able change his appearance, he will hide in the shadows and can get the dead to talk to him. He knew I left, and he will know I am back. He will know I am on to him and that I can't be touched. We need to keep an eye on my enchantments, and once we go back to school, we will need to keep an eye on anyone new. He may be able to disguise himself as someone else."
"Could he be here now?"
"No, but his shadows are most likely here." Evie added. "Mirror mirror can you show me where Dr. F is right now?" She waited, and they saw a man in the shadows, but he wasn't near the castle, he was in a town somewhere. They weren't sure who he was after, then Ben figured it out. "He's going after Tiana and her family." Adam quickly called them and warned them he was off the isle. They sent their guards out. They missed him.