13Hey guys, BlackRose999 here! Just wanted to say hey and thanks for checking out my new story! I do wanna warn you ahead of time that this story is rated M for a REASON. It will have BDSM themes and some trigger warnings too. It will mainly revolve around Mal and Harry's relationship on and off the Isle and how something that is VERY wrong for others can be very right for certain people. I'm also debating whether to put polyamory into this story for certain characters or not, I'm not entirely sure, more on that later.
But anyway, enjoy the story and don't forget to R&R!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DESCENDANTS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO IT. Unfortunately, the only thing I own is this story.
Love Ya!
Chapter One: The New Year
MAL
For the umpteenth time that week, Mal found herself sitting on the hidden beach beside Auradon Prep staring out to sea. She gazed blankly in the only direction she knew HE was staring back from, The Isle. Her tears had long since dried and with the sun beginning to set she knew she couldn't stay much longer, she'd already been out since noon… Evie would start getting nervous by now. Her appearance had changed over the last year, her bangs had evened out with the rest of her wavy waist-length hair and had finally settled on a gentle rose-gold color that it didn't seem to want to change from.
While she no longer tried to project the famed and unanimously hated "Pretty-Princess" look from her 2nd year in Auradon, she also couldn't revert back into her comfortable "Isle Rat" style that made everyone fear her and blessedly keep their fucking distance. She couldn't do that while being Ben's Lady… She had to be poised and polite and approachable at all times if she wanted to be the future Queen of Auradon. God, why did she want to be Queen again? Why did she want to be his Lady? She originally hadn't really cared about being his Lady, she just wanted to be with him because she cared about him and eventually realized she loved him… She did love him. Didn't she? Mal wasn't sure anymore, she and Ben had been growing more and more apart over the years and it had gotten to the point where they barely spoke to each other outside of Social Affairs. And she hated it, she hated how superficial and fake their relationship had become.
Her finger had been bare of his ring for months now, she hadn't even bothered to replace it with a costume ring or use magic to cover it with an illusion, and so far even with eagle-eyed paparazzi hounding him about how his relationship with her is faring, Ben remained oblivious to her discontentment.
She had silently been agonizing over the loss of the only thing that kept her mind from straying back to the one thing she craved more than anything else on the planet, something far stronger than alcohol or drugs, something with ice-blue eyes and arms thicker than the masts they helped build. She stood and made her way down the beach toward the sea, stripping down to her underthings and gasping at the coldness of the water. Her eyes glowed their signature vibrant green as she reached for her magic, letting it wrap her in a bubble of air as she imagined it hardening around her like a hollow ball of clear wax.
When she was sure it was ready and that the spell had worked, she slipped under the icy surface of the water and out of sight.
EVIE
Royal-Blue painted nails ghosted over the fabric of her latest creation as her mind wandered, while Doug went over accounting she had time to do a product check and make sure her newest fashion line was in superb condition before she allowed her friends to showcase it for made-to-order. Unlike the other kids from the Isle, Evie wasn't unaware of the sudden changes of the daughter of Maleficient. While she was in fact concerned for her friend, she was also acutely aware of the fact that not only did Mal greatly dislike any kind of breach in her privacy, she was known for lashing out when threatened with too much "mothering" too quickly.
The changes were subtle at first, she'd started hiding in their room more and more often or simply going on "walks" by herself. But then it became very apparent that something was very wrong was her, Mal had been different these last few months... when she thought no one was looking at her, a tear or two would slip silently down her perfect cheek before being whisked away and replaced with a mask of blissful serenity. It seemed like she couldn't contain her tears anymore, and lately, she'd caught her coming out of the forest at dusk with tear-stained cheeks and frigid skin. Perhaps it had something to do with Ben's absences? His 'Kingly Duties' often required him to be in other countries or in other towns and often without the ability of Mal accompanying him... Could it be as simple as her missing him?
"Evie!"
Doug's shout snapped her back into reality with surprising force, the sudden loss of her daydreaming almost causing her to topple over a mannequin containing Audrey's next Cotillion ballgown, a gown that was going to cost thousands. His hands were on her upper arm before she even had time to register that he'd moved from her desk, worry and fear so evident on his face it made her want to retch. On the Isle, such emotion would be met with absolute hate and pain.
She and Mal had learned that the hard way at a very young age.
"What in Hades is wrong with you!? You scared the daylights out of me!"
The rebuke seemed to shock him, and belatedly she realized she'd used a mixture of Auradon and Isle-speak to curse at him without breaking Fairy Godmother's rules.
"I was trying to get your attention for twenty minutes, Jay came by and said he needed to talk to you while you were… in your head. He said it was about Mal."
The fact that it was about Mal seemed to get her attention, sadness covered her features like a blanket before she had the ability to mask it. Doug might be young and in some cases naive, but he was no fool.
"E? Talk to me… Tell me what's going on with you lately. What's got you all wired like a bowstring ready to snap?"
Evie opened her mouth to answer with a lie or maybe even a half-truth, and was met with an annoyed look and quickly closed it with a blush and a small smile, after four years of being together Doug had learned her mannerisms so well he could tell when she was about to lie.
"The truth Evie. Nothing less."
She sighed and nodded, then sat him down and tentatively told him what she could about Mal, the Isle, and what the New Year might hold.
BEN
After Cotillion Ben's life had taken a massive turn toward learning more of Royal Behavior and less toward learning about normal life and regular academics, he rarely spent more than two or three days home in Auradon and even less of that time was spent with his friends. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd hung out with the VK's like a normal kid, or when the last time he'd gone out on a date with Mal was. Currently, he was looking at a bill to bring in four more VK's from the Isle of the Lost like he promised Mal and Evie he would do, he needed to make sure the wording was perfect so it couldn't be argued or removed by future King's. He wanted to bring in a constant string of four kids a year, two boys and two girls, and open up a permanent wing at Auradon Prep for them where they can feel safe and comfortable while also being under watchful care.
So far he had the first four picked out.
Gil, Son of Gaston.
Harry, Son of Captain Hook.
Dizzy, Daughter of Drizella Tremaine.
And Uma, Daughter of The Sea Witch Ursula.
Tomorrow morning he'd send out the bill and allow the VK's to give the new students a tour of the school unattended, knowing that they had a good knowledge of how to handle the newest faces of Auradon Prep. Mal shouldn't have any problem dealing with people she'd grown up with on the Isle, right? He needed to have five kids be the first to arrive to establish a base group of kids, with Mal and the other VK's already here, the five new arrivals would make nine total housed VK's and make them able for Royal funding and sanctioned activities.
As he looked over the bill his mind drifted over to his girlfriend, his heart aching over how much he missed her.
Maybe he should do something nice for her as an apology for not being there with her lately?
A basket of fresh strawberries and a bouquet of purple roses?
A smile spread across his face as he thought of gifts he could give her that could help mend the wedge that his status had driven between them, and as he thought it over an idea popped into his head. Quickly standing and making his way over to his Collection of Rings, he scanned them and found the one he was looking for. A ring he had found with Audrey's help that was perfect for Mal's engagement ring, smiling to himself he quickly put it back in it's elevated case and went back to his desk.
Not at all noticing the familiar golden class ring that sat beside his Father's in the Family Case.
Morning came and for the first time he was able to see all four of his friends before he had to head out to Aladdin's Castle for another meeting about a new trade agreement, Jay and Carlos were the first ones awake since their athletic requirements required them to take early morning runs and be up for practices, and the first thing he noticed was that Jay had cut his hair over the summer.
His usual long wavy hair had been trimmed to a more manageable medium length that was styled to the left side of his face in natural half-curls, the shortness of his hair now allowed people to see that his ears were pierced with twin studs on either ear. He wore black ripped skinny jeans and a dark brown leather jacket over an auburn muscle tank despite the relatively cool September air, black hiking boots and a dual-tiered necklace with a miniature golden scimitar and lamp completed his look.
Carlos still looked much like he had the year before, his snowy tapered hair was still an unkempt mess he regularly ran his fingers through to get it to lay flat the way he liked it. He wore a dark blue tee that clung to his chest and similar-looking jeans to Jay's but in a lighter color and a silver chain was attached to his belt loops on his left side, black sneakers covered his feet and a grass-green quilted panel-vest jacket covered his arms against the cool air. The two of them were bantering back and forth and holding back light yawns when he strolled up to them, and as he approached they quieted and nodded at him in acknowledgment.
"Hi Ben, where have you been lately dude? No one's seen you in days."
"I've been in freaking Mamoreal for the last few days… holy crap I've never seen so much white. That woman's entire color scheme for her castle was silver and white. A little gold here and there but that's it… On the bright side, I got to meet Champion Alice and her husband."
"You were in Mirana of Mamoreal's castle?!"
Ben turned to meet the awestruck face of Evie and the equally disgusted look on Mal's.
"Omigod I LOVE her gowns! Do you think she'd be willing to meet and share some tips?"
Mal sighed and rested a gloved hand on her forehead in annoyance, the early morning light glinting off some of her costume jewelry. As Evie spouted off an endless tirade of how much she adored Mirana's style and outfit choices, Ben got a chance to get his first glimpse of how Mal since the summer break. She wore a cherry red silk tank top under a thick black leather jacket with quilted patterns on the arms and black leather pants with double pockets, her feet were clad in black leather stiletto 'bootie' heels with open toes.
Around her neck was a gold necklace with a peridot necklace the same color of her eyes when they glow with magic, the same necklace he had made for her as an apology for 'Going beast on her'. Her vibrant rose-colored hair had been left loose and free-flowing down her back and her makeup had been kept simple, yet natural. Mascara and eyeliner were used on her eyes while dark red lipstick coated her plump lips, dark purple nail polish with mini black dragons decorated her nails.
"E, you wanna tone down the volume or am I gonna have to find the mute button?"
The light sarcasm made everyone smile, lately, it had seemed like they were all taking their moods from Mal, if she was angry or tense so were the rest of the VK's. He didn't really understand why other than the fact that she was their leader on the Isle and that they had a level of respect/loyalty for her that even his own people didn't have for him, they'd called her 'Queen of the Isle' several times and until now he'd always thought it was a false title.
"Sorry Mal... I got a little excited."
"That was a little?"
Evie blushed and retorted back at the teasing Mal, trying to ignore the two chortling boys beside them who were supposed to have had her back and helped her out. His watch began beeping to warn him of the nearing deadline, pulling him back into "Royal Ben Mode".
"Sorry guys but I've gotta get back, the limo should be here any minute, it contains the four new VK's from the Isle. Harry Hook, Gil Gaston, Dizzy Tremaine, and unfortunately Uma. I'm sorry Mal my father told me if I didn't bring her here he'd have her killed… And I know even though you don't like her, you wouldn't want her dead."
Mal stared at Ben in shock, not only was her worst enemy coming here, but so was someone she had been craving to see again since Ben had been kidnapped. She needed to get a handle on herself, she needed to put the cap back on her emotions before she blew up and she needed to do it really fucking quick. Luckily Evie could read Mal like a book even if Ben couldn't, she quickly stepped forward and began reassuring him that it would be fine and that they could handle it. She requested they take the first day off to allow them to adjust to the new surroundings and new people, which he happily accepted and sent a notice to Fairy Godmother so she wouldn't panic when none of her VK's showed up to class.
Still oblivious to Mal's internal war with herself, he gave her a quick kiss then headed toward his limo that was parked in the driveway, leaving the three VK's to deal with his mess of a situation and a steadily crumbling Queen of the Isle.
