Okay, so I'm not a fan of the last chapter, so I decided to upload another one this weekend, enjoy!
Chapter 14
"Okay, we don't want this Anti-Heroes group to think we're onto them. If news gets out that the four of us are missing from school it will look suspicious. We need to go back but on our own terms. We can't let them know we know." Mal was telling the group as they planned Friday night on how to go back to the Isle the next day.
Jay nodded, "We need to lie low. We can leave Saturday after the game since everyone gets off campus privileges on the weekends. Then we come back Sunday night like everyone else and are here for class on Monday."
"Wait what about the dance?" Evie asked, "It's Castlecoming and I'm part of the royal committee. I have to make sure everything's set up correctly otherwise it might look like Wonderland threw up on everything."
Mal nodded, "People will notice if we're not there. Especially me." Since she'd started dating Ben Mal had been thrown into the spotlight more and more often. It was something she struggled with but knew the territory came with dating a king.
"Okay, so the game ends by five." Carlos said making the calculations in his head, "And the dance starts at six. We stay for an hour maybe, to make sure everyone notices that we were there. That doesn't leave us a whole lot of time to get out of here and to the Isle by midnight but it's doable."
"And this way you guys won't let down your team." Evie said.
"And Evie gets to set up with her committee." Jay said happily. As they hammered out the final details of their plan it really started to take shape. Jay would get the keys to the royal limo and Evie would take care of disguising her and Mal. Since she was making dresses for all the girls it would be easy to make a couple of duplicates so they could impersonate some princesses. The button to open the barrier was kept in the limo so, check, check and check. Everything was covered and by Saturday night their plan would be put into motion.
- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -
Drac spent the early morning hours pacing his and CJ's rooftop with his hands stuffed into his pockets. From above Diaval landed on his shoulder. It brought a small smile to the dragon boy's face as he pet the bird's head. Things were going well, he had to remind himself. Though his head felt like it was spinning. Your father helped you secure your side of the Isle. You have people who are now loyal to you, not your mother, not Mal, you. He'd even successfully made it into the good graces of the Sanderson Sisters, which was a feat even Maleficent, the Evil Queen or Ursula hadn't been able to accomplish.
There was this new group of Yen Sid's that Diego was keeping tabs on for him. The potential of what could result of the group worried Drac more then the group itself. But Diego was a good friend and Drac knew he could rely on him to report back everything Drac needed to know.
Aside from that, there had been little activity on Uma's side of the Isle, so he had one less thing to worry about at the moment.
But then why did he feel so dissatisfied? Like a piece of him was still missing?
The inner turmoil was confusing and that feeling alone was enough to make Drac angrily kick an empty can into the nearest brick wall. It caused a cat to jump and hiss. Diaval cawed at it but nothing more happened. Drac pet his bird to calm him before he flipped and vaulted and parkoured over the streets until he made it to one place he'd been worried to return to. The old lair. The hammock he'd been sleeping in the day his mother had announced they'd be going to Auradon was still there and just like on that morning he hopped his way down the fire escape until he landed in the street.
Taking a deep sigh he grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it at the 'Danger: Flying Rocks' sign. The secret door opened, it was something Drac had helped Carlos make. Carlos came up with the design and Drac helped him construct it. Slowly Drac headed up the metal stairs. But he paused before heading in. What if he had another meltdown like at Bargain Castle? What fi he wrecked the place? He didn't want to destroy anything else. Especially a place full of good memories.
Diaval flew in and Drac followed. He pushed aside the tarp that said 'Evil Lives!' in various colors of spray paint, some letters were purple and green, others were red and blue, some were black and white and others were yellow. Inside everything was just as they'd all left it. Mal's graffiti and portraits were still the same as the day she'd painted them. The tattered furniture was partially repaired thanks to Evie's sewing skills. Some pieces of broken tech Carlos had been working on sat next to things Jay had stolen to help his projects.
Drac headed over to his 'room' in the hideout. It was in the corner in what used to be a walk in closet. It was big enough for a bed and after Drac had torn the door out it made it look more like a cave which he enjoyed. He chuckled to himself, guess he always had a thing for living in caves he didn't know about. Go figure. Torn fabrics in purple and green hung from their corners taped to the ceiling along with some black mesh fabric that also covered the top half of the door diagonally.
Plopping down on the bed he stared at the ceiling. Written there in chalk were several dragon sketches he'd made when he was bored. Some of them had long worm-like bodies, others had spikes surrounding their heads like a lion's mane. One had horns like his mother. Their wings were various sizes like their tails. Drac sighed, against the black ceiling they looked like they were flying between dots of white stars.
Inspiration hit him and he rolled on his bed. Reaching an arm under he began to pat around looking for something. He had to be careful, for all he knew there could be rats living under there – and not the nice ones like Remy.
Then his fingers brushed what he was looking for, the sharp edge of a can, the rough texture of rust. He pulled out the coffee can and grabbed the colors sticks of chalk. Standing on his mattress he reached up and drew fire from two of the dragons open mouths. One dragon he made the fire green – of course. The other. . . he made electric blue. He used his fingers to brush and blur the edges making the fire look more realistic. When he was finished he just looked at his work. The two colors weren't found together much on the Isle. No villain he knew of had the combination. Uma's color of choice was teal, the Hook family wore red. Gaston's kids wore variations, Drac had seen Gil in yellow, like the vest Gaston had worn when he'd gone to propose to Belle. But Gil's brothers opted for more maroonish browns and blacks. Evie's color was of course blue but she detailed it with red. Jay used red and yellow, the DeVil's had a classic black and white, occasionally with spots. But electric blue and green? No one had that. Drac gave another dragon purple flames and the combination made him feel whole. Like that empty space he'd been feeling before was now filled with warmth.
He didn't ponder too deeply on why the feeling appeared. He pinned it on pride for his work. Even though something tugged in the back of his brain, which he ignored.
- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -
Their plan had worked perfectly. Jay and Carlos won their game. Evie got to dance at the Castlecoming and they'd gotten in the limo without any trouble and were on their way to the Isle until. . . Ben came home. They had to stop the royal limo for the carriage since both couldn't pass each other on the road. When they stopped Mal got out and Ben met her between the two vehicles.
"Mal?"
"I can explain." And she gave him the quick version of what had been going on. He mulled over it when she was finished but didn't seem upset.
"Okay."
"Okay?" she asked a bit stunned.
"So now you're all headed back to the Isle of the Lost?"
"You're not going to stop us?"
"No, I know you can watch out for yourself." Ben replied honestly, "Actually, I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to tell you what's been happening."
"More bad weather?" she asked. It wasn't just earthquakes that had been hitting some parts of Auradon, other cities had been getting terrible blizzards and thunderstorms.
Ben nodded, "There have been hurricanes down by the Bayou and giant sandstorms in Agrabah. But that's not all. I was just in Camelot Heights, Merlin had reported a strange creature threatening them."
"What kind of creature?"
Ben hesitated and bit his lip, "Mal, it was a purple dragon." He told her and her heart dropped into her stomach. "It came out of nowhere; a huge purple dragon with green eyes."
"What? No, you can't think. . . "
"I saw it and it looked just like her."
Mal crossed her arms, "But she's a little lizard. Tiny, helpless. I just checked on her the other day. And she doesn't have her scepter, she can't perform magic without it."
"Well if it wasn't her, there's only one other person it could be."
She looked back up at him with renewed horror. "Drac?"
Ben shrugged, "There's still the hole in the dome of the barrier. He could have changed, flown out, who knows."
"But Drac can't do that, neither can I. Our mother would have had to show us and without magic on the Isle it's impossible. And Drac wouldn't target Camelot. He's got no connection to it. If anything he'd come here or go for Philip and Aurora."
"I know what I saw." Ben insisted, "And I know it sounds crazy. But maybe while you're at the Isle you'll find something. This could all be part of a bigger scheme."
"Okay." She nodded.
"Good luck. And I'll see you on Monday."
He hugged her and she returned it. Then as she was heading back to the limo and he headed for the carriage she paused and turned back around.
"Ben!" he turned to her, "If you do catch the purple dragon. . . don't hurt it okay?"
He nodded, "You have my word."
- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -
Night had fallen on the Isle which meant for most it was time to head home and lock themselves inside or become a victim to a bigger badder villain. A lot of the parents on the Isle were still out along with some sidekicks and a few VK's who knew their parent's reputation was enough to protect them. The night wasn't scary to Drac anymore, thanks to his father's lessons and that small trickle of magic from the break in the dome. If Drac ran into any trouble all he had to do was light a green flame in his palm and his adversary would go running.
As he made his way around his turf leaving the hideout and heading back to his new lair, he came across an old poster of his mother plastered to one of the alley's walls. It had been graffitied of course and now had Mistress of Lizards written over her head while others had drawn things like a mustache and glasses over her face. Under her were the words Down with Mal, Up with Drac – the loyal heir.
Drac was unsure about how he felt about the graffiti. On one hand that was his mother's picture and if she were here no one would dare vandalize it. But on the other hand it showed how much popularity he had gained from the people of the Isle. Maleficent had been defeated, Mal was now a traitor and Drac, well, Drac was the one who not only came back – his decision or not – but he also had been the one to showcase his power after Hades' 'attacks' on the islanders.
Drac sighed and continued on his way circling back to the square, he figured he'd need a cup of poison toad coffee from the Slop Shop to keep him awake when he went to that meeting with Diego and Freddie anyway and it would allow him to kick his feet up in his new lair for a couple of hours before he had to go.
There were more goblins in the square then there used to be, ever since the embargo the fewer supply boats meant the fewer workers needed. Drac had helped settle their work schedules so none of them would be out of a job which had gained him even more favor with them. He'd also been able to use his new connections to bring over the goblins from the Isle of the Doomed telling them they'd paid their debt to his mother and didn't have to guard her old castle anymore. It wasn't just out of the goodness of his heart he did this, he had an ulterior motive. Bringing over more goblins meant he doubled his forces and had more loyal allies on his side.
Before he'd left his old hangout Diaval had flown onto his knee and dropped a letter to him. It was from CJ - Uma was recruiting, heavily. That was why she'd been so quiet on her side. He was glad he'd planned ahead and done everything he could to make people second guess joining Shrimpy. The thought of an army of goblins was sure to do the trick.
As he walked he noticed more people stared at him and whispered behind their hands. He wasn't sure why but it seemed something was happening on the Isle that was getting everyone riled up. Once he'd made it to the Slop Shop he heard a mocking voice call, "Well, well, it's our new fearless leader."
He turned to see a girl with dark frizzy hair and piercing grey eyes looking at him. She wore a tattered red dress with golden piping at the neckline. The bottom hem had become so soiled it looked like she'd torn it off and to compensate for the shorter length she'd decided to wear grey leggings underneath that were actually sewn together patches of fabric and leather.
"Ginny Gothel." Drac said with a smirk and a shake of his head. Ginny was his age and always had an attitude though Drac had actually come to enjoy her dry sense of humor so he knew when she was messing with him. "A little later then you're usually out isn't it?"
"Mom won't notice." She said with a shrug as he joined her at her small table. "Besides, I'm here to sell you something."
"I don't buy anything Ginny, I take it." He said then nodded at her food, "But that meal's on the house if what you have is worth it."
"I want free meals here for a month." She demanded crossing her arms and he smirked.
"Wow this must be good." He replied leaning back in his chair, "Did you find a fresh apple on the barge? Or do you have some pirate booty that Uma's going to miss?"
"I have information."
"Boring." He said rolling his eyes.
She smirked with wicked glee, "Oh you won't think so once you hear it." Then she leaned across the table, "I just saw your sister a couple blocks away."
Drac's smirk fell and he leaned forward as well, getting close to Ginny's face, "You're sure it was her?"
"Of course, she was with the others. Turns out the 'heroes of Auradon' are visiting their parents. And I thought you'd want to find Mal before she found you."
Drac thought about that for a long moment. If Mal was back and looking for him she probably had gone to Bargain Castle. Not that she'd find him there, but she had no idea about his new lair or his dealings with their father.
"Now about that pay. . . " Ginny piped up after he didn't say anything. He turned his green eyes to her but her smirk didn't waiver.
"I'll let the goblins know not to charge you." He stood, "Thanks Gothel."
He headed to the counter, grabbed a coffee and headed downstairs but it wasn't going to be the kick-your-feet-up relaxing couple hours he'd been hoping for.
- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -
Jay had hidden the limo when they made it to the Isle then their gang split up to search for their parents. If Evie's mirror couldn't tell them where Jafar, Cruella and the Evil Queen were then they'd just have to find them themselves. Mal was shocked when she made it home only to see Bargain Castle boarded up and she had to use some broken pipes lying around to pry the nailed wood from the doors. Inside the place was a mess and she assumed that after her mother left that the people of the Isle took the chance to loot it.
"Hello?" she called, "Drac?"
But there was no answer and no sign of her baby brother. She began to worry, as she walked through each room and saw it in shambles – right down to her mother's throne torn apart for its upholstery – she feared what the people of the Isle might have done to Drac. What Uma could have done to Drac if she got her tentacles on him. She could just picture Gil and Harry each holding Drac by an arm while Uma tortured him. Drac was no match for that kind of muscle and both of Uma's eels were more then a head taller then her brother. Mal's breathing quickened as she checked the rest of the house. Clearly the people had turned on Maleficent which meant her brother could be in danger. And if Uma didn't have him could this Anti-Heroes club have kidnapped him? Could that have been why they'd gotten messages saying to come back? Were they going to make her watch them do something terrible to her brother before her and her friends met the same end for their treason? She rushed upstairs heading to Drac's old room to see if she could find any clues but stopped dead in her tracks once she got there. It was a sight she hadn't been prepared to see.
The room was spotless, untouched, in the perfect order it had been in when she and Drac had left. In fact, it looked like maybe someone had tidied up after her brother, he certainly didn't keep his room this clean.
"Hello?" a new voice called, a feminine voice, "Is anyone in here?"
"Who is it?" Mal called back turning for the stairs as a girl made her way up them.
"Mal! You're really back!"
"Mad Maddy?" she asked.
"It's just Maddy now, but just as mad as ever. I saw that the door was open and thought it might be you, everyone's saying you guys are back. News travels fast on the Isle." She said smiling.
"I bet. Do you know what happened here?" she asked motioning to Drac's untouched room and the disaster that was the hall.
"Goblins mostly." Maddy answered, "They've had more time to loot since their work at the barges was cut down so much."
"No one touched my brother's room. Why?"
"Why would they?" Maddy asked looking confused. "No one wants their home burned to cinders. Now that there's a smidge of magic here thanks to that big crack in the dome Drac's been ruling your mom's side of the Isle."
Drac took over? So that was why his room was untouched. The Isle no longer feared Maleficent. They feared Drac. Mal felt an odd sense of pride in her baby brother but there was also fear. If Drac went from bad to worse what would he do when he saw her? On his turf?