❪ ✹ ❫              chapter three
goodbye, dreadful isle ౨ৎ

UNEDITED

AS THEY APPROACHED bargain castle, the air turned colder, sharper, like a blade pressing against their skin. even layered in mismatched jackets and patched clothes, the unnatural chill seemed to creep through, wrapping around their bones. the path leading up to the infamous castle was treacherous, uneven with jagged rocks jutting out from the earth like broken shards. the dirt beneath their feet was blackened and cracked, as though scorched by magic long forgotten.

twisted vines, blackened and brittle as though burned by cursed flames, coiled around the castle's foundation like serpents, their thorny tendrils gripping the stone with a cruel, unrelenting hold. they seemed to writhe ever so faintly, as if breathing, as if aware of the visitors who dared tread closer.

bargain castle rose before them, an ominous specter against the ashen sky. its crooked spires jutted upward like jagged claws, scraping at the heavens with a desperation that mirrored the despair within its walls. the air around it was heavy, thick with the weight of broken promises and unholy pacts, its shadow casting long fingers that seemed to reach for their very souls.

here, where whispers of treachery lingered in every corner, deals were bartered, trust was a weapon, and innocence was the steepest price of all.

"god, i hate this place." carlos muttered, shoving his hands deeper into his patched pockets. his wild, untamed hair whipped around his face, and he glared up at the looming structure. "it always feels like the castle's staring at me."

"because it probably is." mal replied coolly, her voice cutting through the eerie quiet. she didn't hesitate as she led them forward, her steps firm.

jay, who had been silently scanning the area, adjusted his worn scarf. "i thought you said you'd never come back here, mal."

"i did." she admitted, her voice void of emotion. "but not like i had much of a choice."

samira's emerald eyes darted around, her posture tense. "lovely place she's got here. nothing says 'welcome home' like a haunted death trap." her tone was acidic, and the disdain in her voice was impossible to miss.

"careful, samira." carlos hissed lowly. "she might hear you."

"let her. i don't fucking care." the lion girl snapped, crossing her arms. "not like she hasn't already made her opinion of me clear."

mal shot a glance back at her, her violet-blue eyes narrowing. "don't start, sam. not here."

the group fell silent as they stepped closer to the castle gates, the air growing thicker with each step. the door loomed ahead, massive and splintered, the edges decorated with crude carvings of dragons and fae sigils. mal stopped in front of it, her expression unreadable as she placed her hand against the cold, warped wood.

this had been her home once, if it could even be called that. a place where she learned to be sharp and cruel, to hide her vulnerability behind a wall of fire and teeth. now, returning to bargain castle felt less like coming home and more like walking into a trap she'd barely escaped from.

"ready?" hadrien's voice came from behind her, low and teasing, but there was an edge of concern to it.

"never." mal muttered, her lips twisting into a bitter smirk. without another word, she pushed the heavy door open, leading her reluctant crew into the shadows of her former home.

the heavy wooden doors groaned on their rusted hinges as mal pushed them open, the sound echoing ominously through the cavernous entrance hall. the air inside was even colder than outside, tinged with the acrid scent of ash and decay. faint light seeped through cracks in the walls and high, jagged windows, casting long shadows that danced across the stone floor.

"does she ever clean this place?" evie muttered, brushing her pale fingers over a layer of grime on a nearby column. her lips curled in distaste as she flicked the dust away.

"if you call this cleaning." carlos added, nodding toward a massive, broken chandelier that hung precariously from the ceiling, its chains creaking under its weight. "then sure."

hadrien grinned, his dark eyes sparkling. "charming as ever, isn't it? feels like home already."

samira's emerald eyes scanned the room, her expression sharp and wary. "if this was home, i'd disown myself." she muttered, her voice low enough that only jay, walking beside her, could hear.

jay smirked but didn't reply, his snake-like eyes darting to the far end of the hall, where a staircase spiraled upward into darkness. "so, where's the mistress of evil?"

"upstair." mal said simply, her voice steady but clipped. she led the way, her boots striking against the stone floor with deliberate, measured steps.

as they climbed the winding staircase, the air seemed to grow heavier. the walls were lined with faded tapestries depicting dragons and battles, though the fabric was so worn and tattered that most of the images were unrecognizable. the torches mounted on the walls flickered weakly, as if they, too, were reluctant to stay lit in this place.

"i don't get why she summoned all of us." samira said, breaking the silence. her voice was tense, her irritation barely masked. "she never does anything without a reason. so what's her angle this time?"

"you don't have to come, sam." mal shot back, not bothering to look over her shoulder.

"oh, believe me, i wouldn't be here if i had a choice." said female retorted, her eyes narrowing. "but unlike some people, i don't have mommy issues to work through."

hadrien let out a low whistle, glancing sideways at his half-sister. "ouch. ten points for samira, sister. your move."

mal stopped abruptly at the top of the stairs, spinning on her heel to face the group. her eyes flashed a dangerous green, but her voice remained steady. "if you'd rather leave, samira, no one's stopping you."

the tension in the air was dangerous as the two locked eyes, but before samira could respond, a low, familiar voice cut through the silence.

"how touching." maleficent's voice drifted down the corridor, cold and smooth as ice. "a family reunion, and yet, you're still bickering like children."

the group turned toward the source of the voice, and maleficent stepped into the dim light at the end of the corridor. her presence was terrifying, her tall frame draped in a flowing black cloak that seemed to shift and ripple as if alive. her sharp, angular features were framed by her signature horns, and her piercing purple eyes swept over the group with a mix of amusement and disdain.

"mother." mal said evenly, though her fists clenched at her sides.

"malvina." maleficent purred, her voice a silken thread of venom that seemed to coil around the room. her piercing gaze swept over the group, sharp as daggers, pausing pointedly on samira. her lips curled, though it wasn't quite a smile — it was something darker, something cruel. "and the rest of your . . . entourage."

her eyes bore into samira's emerald ones, the tension crackling like distant thunder. maleficent's sneer deepened, her tone dripping disdain. "i see you've inherited your father's penchant for lurking in shadows. how fitting." she wrinkled her nose as though the mere presence of the scarred girl offended her.

said girl's jaw tightened, her body rigid, green eyes narrowing into slits of defiance. "better than throwing tantrums when people don't grovel at my feet." she snapped, her voice low and lethal.

maleficent's expression darkened, and the very air seemed to thicken. the torches lining the stone walls flickered wildly, their flames dimming to an eerie green hue. she stepped closer, her towering presence casting an elongated shadow that seemed to consume the room. "watch your tongue, child." she hissed, her voice like the crack of a whip. "your father was a pathetic creature who clung to scraps of power until it devoured him. you should be grateful i even allow you to stand in my presence."

scar's daughter's fists curled so tightly that her knuckles turned white, the jagged scars on her dark skin seeming to gleam ominously in the sickly light. her voice came out low, trembling with controlled rage. "and you should be grateful i haven't wiped that smug look off your face."

before the brewing storm could erupt, mal stepped forward, her body a tense barrier between them. her eyes, now a glowing green, flickered with irritation, but her tone remained calm, sharp with authority. "enough," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "what did you want from us, mother?"

maleficent's eyes lingered on samira, a predator sizing up its prey, before she straightened with an almost imperceptible smirk. "how charming." she drawled, her gaze finally pulling away. "but you're right, malvina. we have business to discuss."

she turned her back on samira as if dismissing her entirely and strode to the center of the room. the green glow of her staff flared, casting elongated shadows across the crumbling walls.

"you are all going to auradon prep." maleficent's voice rang through the chamber, sharp and clear, each syllable carving itself into the ancient stone walls. it echoed ominously, lingering in the cold, stale air like a spell cast with no counter.

a heavy silence fell over the room, thick with disbelief and unease. the group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and defiance.

hadrien was the first to break the tension, letting out a dry laugh as he leaned against the wall with an exaggerated smirk. "excuse me?" he drawled, dark eyes glinting with challenge. "we're going where now?"

the adult fey's lips curled into a razor-sharp smile, her purple eyes glinting like shards of glass. "auradon prep." she repeated, her voice dripping with mockery. "the land of sunshine, flowers, and simpering fools who call themselves rulers. in their infinite wisdom — or lack thereof — they've decided to extend a . . . charitable hand to the isle." her tone twisted the word "charitable" into a sneer.

mal's arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stepped forward, her violet-blue eyes burning with defiance. "yeah, no," she said, her voice cold. "thanks, but no thanks. i'll pass on the royal invite."

maleficent's sharp laugh cut through the air, a sound devoid of humor. "it seems you misunderstood me, child." she took a deliberate step closer, the dark train of her gown sweeping the floor behind her. the room seemed to contract, her presence filling every corner like a storm ready to break. "this wasn't a suggestion. you will be going, whether you like it or not."

the tension between mother and daughter crackled like fire, neither willing to back down. mal held her ground, her green glare locked on maleficent's own piercing green eyes.

"and why exactly would we do that?" hadrien cut in, his voice sharp as a blade, devoid of any humour.

maleficent's gaze flicked to him with a look of disdain, her tone turning venomous. "because it's the perfect opportunity for you all to prove your worth. you'll go to auradon, earn their trust, and then you'll bring me what i desire."

mal's jaw tightened, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. "let me guess." she spat, her voice low but laced with venom. "the fairy godmother's magic wand?"

her mother's smirk deepened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "you always were clever, my darling."

the room fell into another tense silence, the weight of her words pressing down on the group like a suffocating fog.

"and what if we say no?" evie asked cautiously, her voice quiet but steady, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line.

maleficent's gaze snapped to her, sharp and unyielding. "then you'll wish you hadn't." she stepped forward, her staff striking the floor with a resounding crack. the green light at its tip flared, casting jagged shadows across the walls.

"this is your chance to prove yourselves," the mistress of evil continued, her voice smooth but dangerous. "to escape the filth of the isle and become something greater. but if you fail—" her gaze lingered on each of them in turn, her meaning unmistakable.

mal's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging crescents into her palms as she fought to control the storm brewing inside her. her mother's words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike, slicing through the thin thread of defiance she clung to. as much as she loathed to admit it, the promise of leaving the isle — of something beyond the grime and shadows — lit a flicker of something dangerously close to hope in her chest.

"fine." she hissed, her voice low but sharp, like the crack of a whip. "we'll go." mal's venomous glare locked onto her mother's unyielding smirk, the hatred between them almost tangible.

"fine." hadrien echoed mockingly, stepping forward with an exaggerated flourish. "except, wait a second — i don't remember volunteering for grand theft magic wand." his dark eyes glinted with defiance, a smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned casually against the crumbling wall.

maleficent turned her sharp gaze on him, her piercing eyes narrowing in irritation. "silence, boy. you'll do as you're told, or you'll find yourself even lower than the shadows you crawl in."

"enough, both of you!" mal snapped, her frustration boiling over. she shot her half-brother a warning glance before turning back to her mother. "we'll go." she repeated, her voice steady despite the trembling in her fists. "if it gets us off this cursed rock. that's all we care about."

"good girl." maleficent purred mockingly, stepping closer. with a condescending smile, she reached out and patted mal's head, as if she were a pet who had just obeyed a command. mal flinched away from the touch, her glowing green eyes narrowing.

the adult fey examined her hand with thinly veiled disgust before flicking her fingers as if brushing away dirt. "you leave tomorrow." she continued, her tone all business. "a limo will collect you at midday. you'll dress the part, play the part, and when the moment is right, you'll strike. bring me the wand, and don't disappoint me."

her cloak billowed behind her as she spun on her heel, melting into the shadows without a second glance. her departure left the air colder, heavier, as though her presence had stolen the last remnants of warmth from the room.

the group stood in uneasy silence, the weight of her command settling over them like chains.

"well." hadrien said at last, his voice deliberately light, cutting through the tension like a dull knife. "that went about as expected. so, who's excited for school?"

"shut up, hadrien." the purple haired female muttered, though the spark of amusement in his tone tugged at the corner of her lips despite her simmering anger.

samira let out a low growl, pacing a few steps before whirling around to glare at the others. "this is a death sentence." she spat, her eyes blazing. "walking into auradon? into their traps? that bitch doesn't care if we come back alive, as long as she gets her precious wand."

"she's right." carlos murmured, his claws flexing nervously. his hair cast shadows across his face in the flickering green light of the torches. "this doesn't feel like a mission. it feels like a setup."

"maybe it is." mal admitted, her voice softer now but no less resolute. her glowing eyes flicked to each of them in turn. "but it's a chance to leave this place. and if we're careful, if we're smart, maybe we can do this on our terms."

evie, always the strategist, stepped forward with her chin raised, her ruby-red lips curving into a determined smile. "if we're going, we're doing it my way. first order of business — cleaning all of you up. if we're stepping into auradon, we're not walking in like a pack of rabid wolves. we're going to make an impression."

"so we're your dress-up dolls now?" jay asked, one brow raised in reluctant amusement.

"exactly." the bluenette said, flashing him a sly grin.

mal sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "this is going to be a nightmare."

"better than staying here." carlos muttered, his gaze flicking toward the darkened hallway where maleficent had vanished, leaving behind an evident sense of menace.

outside, the wind howled, carrying with it the scent of ash and decay. somewhere deep within bargain castle, a faint, ominous sound echoed — a crack of laughter, low and cold, like the toll of a warning bell. mal turned toward the exit, her jaw tightening.

one thought echoed relentlessly in mal's mind, a whisper threaded with defiance and fragile hope, as she and the rotten emerged from the suffocating shadows of bargain castle.

goodbye, dreadful isle.

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

NALANI SPEAKS  !

—  three chapters in one day? your welcome. like i said, ooc personalities because maleficent didn't feel 'evil' enough to me in descendants. so uh yeah hence the personality change!! as a bonus, enjoy the meme below < 333

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