“Come along, my dear.” Dr. Facilier half pushed, half dragged Uma through the doors and down the hall, “All I need is that necklace of yours. Then we’ll all be in Auradon quicker than you can say boo. My friends on the other side—”
“Get away from me, you creep!” the green-clad girl snapped, withering viciously, “You’re not touching mom’s necklace.”
“Uma, Uma,” the old witch doctor’s voice was like honey, “I don’t intend any harm. Come on, you know that.”
“This necklace is mine!” she retorted, “I’ll never let you touch it!”
“Uma, Uma…” he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “Let’s make a deal. You like making deals, don’t you? I’ve got the sweetest one in town.”
“I make deals on my own terms.” she bristled.
“Takes one to know one!” he answered briskly, “You’re a little sea urchin and you won’t amount to anything unless you learn to seize the right opportunity. I’m knocking on your door.”
“Dad!” Freddie’s voice was sharp from behind, “Leave her alone!”
The headmaster turned to see his two daughters stalking them.
“I said,” Freddie’s voice was a low growl, “leave her alone!”
“Ho, ho, now you need my daughters to defend you?” he snickered at his hostage, “I didn’t realize Serpent Prep suffered to teach such weaklings.”
Dr. Facilier cracked up, taking advantage of his green-clad captive’s hot temper and his daughters’ natural prejudice against him. He could practically see the smoke coming out of their ears as his hand slipped down to the seashell necklace.
“Hey!” Uma gasped as he ripped it off her shoulders.
But that was all they heard from the green-clad girl. In the twinkling of an eye, she and the headmaster were gone.
“Goblins!” Celia shrieked, her eyes wide, “Dad just used magic!”
“Hush!” Freddie clamped his hand over her mouth, looking around like a fugitive, “He probably took her to the shop. We gotta get the others.” They dashed to Yen Sid’s room and pounded on his door.
“Mal, help! Mal! Evie! Jay! Carlos! Help! You guys, help!”
“Freddie?” the purple-clad girl answered the door, “What in the—”
“Dad’s got Uma!” Freddie’s eyes were wide as saucers, “He stole her necklace!”
“What?” Speeding into the hallway, Mal slammed the door, “How—“
“I-I don’t know-” Freddie shook her head, tearing up, “We just saw ’em in the hall. Dad was dragging her down here. When we confronted him, he grabbed her necklace and they were gone.” She breathlessly said the word, “Magic.”
The purple-clad girl’s jaw dropped; if ole Dr. F. was using magic, it might shake everyone else out of their lethargy. Ursula’s old seashell wasn’t’ strong enough to break the barrier by itself, but what would happen if Hades added his ember to the mix? What if Evil Queen used her old spellbook? Madam Mim? Who else had a magical object? She was just glad that Jafar’s staff and her mom’s scepter were in Auradon’s museum!
“M,” Evie slid through the door, looking anxious, “What gives?”
“Dad kidnapped Uma and used her magic to teleport out of here.” Freddie spoke before Mal could stop her.
The color drained from the blue-clad princess’ face, “What? No!”
“We gotta get ’em back, E.” Mal looked grim, “Uma and the necklace.” She bit her lip hard, “Tell the others. Uma’s crew, not the anti-heroes. Do it as quietly as possible. We can’t disturb this meeting…”
“What about Hadie’s little revelation?”
“I’ll deal with it later.” Mal shrugged, tears glistening in her eyes, “Hurry, E.”
She was gone only a few minutes, but the purple-clad girl didn’t doubt for a moment that her best friend could handle this delicate assignment without raising suspensions or resentment. She was correct.
“Snakes!” Jay used his dad’s favorite curse word, “You really think ole Dr. F. would—”
“I don’t put anything past him.” Mal hissed, her eyes glowing green. She couldn’t look at Uma’s crew, fearful of exciting them, and was glad they remained silent and stoic for once, “I mean, Madam Mim did it once…our parents tried to do it.”
“This is a bad deal, guys…” Carlos gritted his teeth nervously, “What’s the plan?”
“I think we can assume he knows we’re coming.” Evie reminded them.
“He might have used that darn seashell to seal off his shop.” Mal added, “I should be able to tap in though. Mom’s magic is stronger.” She smiled slightly, “So is dad’s.”
“Good ole Maleficent and Hades.” Carlos crackled.
“Yeah…” Mal rolled her eyes, a finger on her lips, “Shhh…come on.”
*o*o*0*o*o*
Yen Sid had done his best to conceal his fears as Evie had, one by one, spoken to her friends and Uma’s crew and they left the room. It was obvious that something was amiss but he knew he’d never get a straight answer under these conditions.
“What’s happened, Yen Sid?” King Ben spoke for the anxious council on the other side of the screen.
“This meeting is dismissed.” the Sorcerer spoke to the antiheroes first, his expression grave, “Thank you all for what you’ve done this past few days. We’ll talk later.”
“But—” Claudine jumped up.
“Peace, Claudine!” he looked pained, “We’ll speak later.”
*o*o*0*o*o*
“We gotta hurry.” Mal led the combined gang as they dashed down long hall, “I feel sooo stupid right now. This wouldn’t have happened if—”
“Neither would the last twenty-four hours…” Evie’s whisper was a hiss, deliberately ignoring the pirates as best she could, “It’s for the best, Mal. We’ll handle it now. It’s important to renew our friendship. Didn’t you see the look on Belle and Fairy Godmother’s face? Beast too…”
“And the TV channels!” Carlos whispered, smirking.
“Well, all I have to say is if Dr. F. hurts her…” Harry’s eyes were dark as they pushed through the doors, “The deal is off..”
“Isn’t that for Uma to decide?” Gil cautioned, “She’s our captain.”
“She’s not here.” the black-clad boy growled slightly, “I’m in charge until we get her back…and if we don’t …” He raised his hook, “There’ll be no peace for Auradon…ever!”
Mal’s eyes blazed green, but Evie caught her arm, “Don’t.” She caught everyone with a vile look, “Guys, we’re on the same side now. Stop fighting. We have bigger fish to fry. Got it?”
“Hey, wait up, sis!” Hadie suddenly called out, leading the anti-heroes as they caught up, “What’s going on?”
Mal spun around, aghast, “I oughta ask you the same thing…bro.”
“Yen Sid sent us out.” he shrugged, “It was pretty obvious something’s up when you guys left.”
“What did he tell—” the purple-clad girl gulped, eyes wide.
“Nothing.” Claudine answered, “At least not while we were there. I don’t know what he’s saying now.”
“I’ll go hang by the door.” Celia volunteered, “Check you guys in a little while…” She ran a few steps, then turned back, “Get her back guys…”
“Oh, we will…” Harry affirmed.
*o*o*0*o*o*
“Yen Sid,” Beast looked something between concerned and outright angry, “Why did you ask the anti-heroes to leave?”
“Why didn’t you just ask Evie?” Fairy Godmother added, “I have no doubt—”
“Ah, but I’m afraid I do, Fairy Godmother.” the Sorcerer bowed his head. “Evie is a wonderful girl, yes, but I believe she would protect her friends here first.”
“I don’t believe that at all, Yen Sid!” Fairy Godmother was on her feet, coming to the blue-clad princess’ defense, “Evie would never lie. Never! All you had to do was ask her. I-I would have myself, but I thought it best to let you handle it since you’re with them.”
“I know Evie would not enjoy lying, Fairy Godmother.” the Soverer countered gently, “but something is very wrong and I believe, since she didn’t come to me right away, that her hands are tied…” He smiled slightly, “Don’t worry though. My anti-heroes won’t just stand around. I didn’t tell them to but I have no doubt they’ve already figured out what has happened and will be able to report back shortly.”