Shuddering involuntarily as she hustled towards town, Sophie recalled the thunderous expression on Yen Sid’s face when they found the belltower deserted and made a vow that she wouldn’t let him or Fairy Godmother down.
She would find the antiheroes. She had too!
Thinking it prudent to check every place, even as she assumed they were all at Pleasure Island, she peeked around a dilapidated old wall and squinted down a fog-shrouded alley before scurrying to the next intersection to repeat the process. But as she neared the entrance of the rebuilt evil carnival, her courage began to slip and she slid down against a grimy brick wall.
“Let me tell you something you can really trust,” she sang softly, closing her eyes to imagine King Ben coming to the Isle to regain his lost love; she hoped it would help her regain a heroic attitude, “Everybody’s got a wicked side—”
“Hmm, is that so?” a silky accented voice asked, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you being wicked.”
Her eyes flew open as she jumped to her feet. “Harry Hook?” she squeaked with a gulp, “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” he was incredulous, snorting as he reached out to brush her cheek with the back of his hook, “What am I doing here?” He leered, “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“Go away,” Her face was cherry red. Pushing his hook away with a nervous scowl, she tried to step backwards and bumped into the wall.
“Aww, don’t go.” he took a step closer, almost penning her against the bricks, “I was hoping you’d come have dinner with me tonight.”
“No! I said go away!”
But when he slid his hook around her wrist, she knew she didn’t have a choice.
*o*o*O*o*o*
The AK’s and their VK guardians raced through the streets of town, dashing towards Maleficent’s castle before the Isle really came to life at midnight.
“What’s that?” Audrey skidded to a stop when a fleeting shadow disappeared down a sidestreet, “I-I-I think we need better disguises…”
“Sorry, no one wears pink around here,” Freddie hissed, shoving her onward, “Shh, we’re almost there. Don’t blow it now.”
Pulling the dirty red scarf tighter around her head, the pretty princess pouted as she clung to Chad’s arm and Jay glared at Freddie.
“Don’t egg.” he growled, “We’re almost there.”
“Mind your team leader.” Ben whispered in Audrey’s ear, “We all promised.”
Chad pulled Audrey closer and the boys glared at each other, as if daring the other one to make the first move.
Then Ben turned away and a few minutes later they were at the castle door.
Doug was given the privilege of knocking.
*o*o*0*o*o*
“Oh, brother!” Mal muttered at the sound, her eyes flaming green as she washed dishes.
“Maybe it’s just Gil,” Evie suggested, shrugging as she wiped off the counters. Rolling her eyes, she added, “He probably wants to escort me through the streets before our big kiss.”
“Ha, I wish!” the purple-clad girl laughed, “Something is bound to ruin this great day and you know it!”
“Hey, maybe it’s Carlos and Jay!” the blue-clad girl’s eyes lit up, her voice hopeful.
“Hey, yeah!” Mal instantly brightened, “They probably would be getting here about now.”
“I hope so!” Evie gushed, tears suddenly spilling down her cheeks.
“Go see,” Mal urged, shooing her friend away, happily ceding the duty to give the blue-clad princess pleasure, “I’ll finish up here.”
As she bounded down the stairs Evie trembled with excitement. She didn’t even bother to hold back the tears that were now freely running down her face. Ripping the door open, she didn’t even consider that it was anyone other than the boys and barely stifled a shriek when she saw the little group outside.
“Hurry up and get in here!” she hissed, her eyes widening in horror as she grabbed Doug and practically threw him inside. Frantically gesturing at the others, she snapped, “Quick, quick, quick. What in the goblins—”
“What is this?” Mal demanded from the top of the stairs, looking thunderstruck. Her eyes blazed green like her mother, “Jay, Carlos, Freddie, get up here now. Antiheroes, close the curtains, lock the door, and guard! Everyone else, hide! This place is watched night and day!”
The boys came up slowly with heads hanging; seeing that kind of rage in their purple-clad leader’s eyes hurt worse than anything they’d ever known before. Freddie trudged up a step or two behind them, her conscious beginning to needle her about her part in the debocial. Evie came last of all. After giving Doug a look that made his heart sink, she hurried after her friends to find out what they had to say.
Standing in the middle of her bedroom, the purple-clad girl faced them down with her arms crossed over her chest and her lips firmly pressed together, silently waiting for them to speak.
Jay and Carlos spoke first, “We didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Really?” Mal exploded, “Is that all you’ve got—?”
“They’re right!” Freddie blurted out, ignoring their startled looks; she took sole responsibility, “This is on me.”
“Explain then.” Evie growled from behind, mournfully leaning her head against the doorframe.
“Really, it is.” Freddie repeated, turning briefly to acknowledge the blue-clad princess’ presence, “I think I egged them into it. I didn’t mean too, but I think I did.”
She went on to explain how the whole thing had gone down, making a point to emphasize that the boys might have been able to come alone, as they’d intended, if Jordon hadn’t wished them into her lamp. And maybe none of them would have been in the lamp in the first place if she’d put her foot down when they’d met Ben’s car at the gate.
“We can’t go to Yen Sid tonight.” Mal sighed, deciding not to lecture once the explanation was given. She began pacing back and forth, trying to relieve nervous energy, “Maybe tomorrow after school though.”
“It’s really hopping out there!” Jay changed the subject, thankful that she wasn’t going to slaughter them, “Almost like Halloween. What gives?”
“Coachman rebuilt Pleasure Island,” Mal dutifully explained, “with some help from Ursula’s old necklace, that is. I can’t believe you guys didn’t know. Tonight is opening night.”
“Say what?” Jay mouth gasped
“Cool!” Carlos’ eyes lit up.
“This place needs something fun.” Freddie agreed.
“Notwithstanding what Beast says…” Jay smirked.
“We get better TV too.” Mal couldn’t suppress a small smile.
“Cool!” Carlos repeated.
“What about getting Claudine to pass the word to Yen Sid when she goes to ring the bell in the morning?” Evie suggested, “No one will think anything of her being there early. Then maybe he can get a limo here and we can get ‘em out before people start their day.”
“Good thinking!” Mal nodded, her eyes lighting up.
“So, you’re thinking a slumber party, then?” Jay cocked an eyebrow.
She winced, “Do we have a choice?”
“Hey, I’m cool with it.” he shrugged, “but I don’t know what the AKs will say.”
“Do they get a say?” Mal asked.
“I could slip over to the Slop Shop after I kiss Gil.” Evie offered, “You guys must be starving.”
“You got that right!” Carlos muttered, “We haven’t had anything since breakfast.” Then both boys whirled around, “Wait, say what?”
Cracking a smile, the blue-clad princess slid into the room and took her place beside Mal. “It’s just a silly thing,” she explained, dismissively waving her hand, “He came by the Slop Shop while we were having breakfast this morning. Apparently, Uma wanted to know why I was back.” She shrugged, smiling again, “I told him I’d give him a kiss on the square at midnight if he told her that it wasn’t any of her business.”
“She also told him that she’d ride the ferris wheel with him tonight.” Mal smirked.
“And he bought it?” Jay snorted.
“Not a lot of there there in Gil.” Evie nodded.
“Ya got that right!” Carlos cracked up.
“Look, I know y’all are hungry,” Mal smiled sympathetically, returning to the topic at hand, “but I think it’ll be safer if no one goes out tonight. Uma’s crew has this place under siege. If we suddenly brought in a ton of food…”
“I don’t think the AK’s would like the Slop Shop’s fare anyways.” Jay grumbled, scowling at the prospect of an empty stomach.
“Uh, guys?” Yzla interrupted, timidly sticking her head through the doorway, “We’ve got a problem downstairs.”
“What is it?” Mal was calm.
“Gil is outside,” she answered, “He’s complaining up a storm about Evie lying to him. I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Must be almost midnight,” the blue-clad princess rolled her eyes, giving Mal a sorrowful look, “I have to go out. He’ll cause a scene if I don’t show.”
“Go.” Mal nodded.
Doug met her at the bottom of the stairs, looking frantic. “There’s a guy out there claiming that you promised to kiss him!” he cried, pointing at the door with angst in his eyes.
“Yeah, I know.” she answered, forgetting to remind him to be quiet. Her heart went out to him, “It’s Gaston’s youngest son, Gil.” She smiled encouragingly, “He was bothering us this morning so I told him I’d kiss him at midnight if he left us alone.” Leaning in, she gave him a long kiss, “It’s an Isle thing; I don’t expect you to understand. But, know this, Doug. I love you. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“Why’d you leave then?” He grabbed her arm, pleading.
“Later…” she touched his cheek then scanned the room to make sure everyone was hidden, “I’ve got to go. Hide.” Glancing at Yzla, who’d followed her back downstairs, she hissed, “Lock up the second I’m gone.”
“Gil,” she smacked his face hard with an open palm as she pulled the castle door shut, leaving a smarting handprint, “Shut up!” Grabbing his thick shoulders, she pulled his face inches from hers and gave him a vile look, “Villains might be a lot of things, but we are not liars!” She shoved him backwards, then smacked him again, leaving another bright red handprint on his other cheek, “I fully intended to show—now, let’s go!”
Spinning around, she stalked up the street ahead of him, leaving him to trudge along in her wake as he complained bitterly about her not riding in the rickshaw that he’d brought for her.
“Hey, Evie,” Uma suddenly stepped out of the gloom as the blue-clad princess stormed around a corner, “I was pretty disappointed with you this morning.”
“So?” The blue-clad princess’ progress came to a screeching halt.
“Oh, Evie, dear sweet Evie,” the green-clad girl’s voice was as smooth as her mother’s, “Don’t you know? I make it my business to know everything that happens around here.”
Evie held her ground, “I don’t recall owing you anything. Ever.”
Uma said nothing, waiting patiently until the blue-clad girl finally rolled her eyes.
“What do you want?”
“I was just wondering if you’d like to come have dinner with me and my crew?” Uma shrugged benignly.
“I already ate.” Evie frowned, brushing her long blue hair off her shoulder.
“How about desert?” Uma shrugged again.
“I’m not really into codfish ice cream.” Evie retorted, “What is this? You fishing for better recruits, or something?”
“Give me a break.” Uma’s eyes flashed with resentment for a moment.
Evie glanced over her shoulder to make sure the brown-clad boy was still there, “I have business with Gil.”
“Oh, I can wait for you.” the green-clad girl shrugged a third time, “I have no intention of stealing his thunder. I just thought Sophie would like a little company while I talk to her.”
Evie stiffened, “Sophie?”
With her heart racing, she forced herself to be calm as she pulled her compact out of her purse, feigning disinterest as she checked her makeup and nail polish. “Sorry…old habits, you know…I want to look my best when I kiss Gil.” She shrugged, finally returning the compact to her purse, “Sophie, you were saying Sophie…”
Uma tapped her foot on the sidewalk, irritation finally getting the best of her, “You know exactly who I’m talking about.”
“Aww, come on, Evie.” Harry suddenly stepped out of an empty shop, “Don’t play tough. You don’t wear it well.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his hook.
“I’ve changed styles,” she retorted, highly tempted to rip his hook out of his hand.
“No, no, no,” he shook his head, guessing her thoughts as he fitted his prized possession around her neck and backed her into the bricks, “Why don’t you just come with us? It’ll be fun…”
“What about him?” the blue-clad princess stalled, cutting her eyes towards Gil again. For a moment, she fleetingly wondered if he had it in him to step up and save her from his friends for the sake of a kiss.
“What about him?” Harry recalled her attention, bumping the point of his hook against her jaw, “Come along now.”