Serene's view

Even though I saw it coming, I feel sick and shocked, filled with more dread and horror than my thoughts can bear.

"T-that's..." I say faintly, backing away. My hands clutch at my head, refusing to believe what I'm seeing. The frozen shadows drip to the floor, gathering around my feet and swirling lazily.

"Do not back away from me, girl!" Maleficent commands, her tiny body swelling with anger. I'm suddenly rooted to the ground, whether by my own fear or her power, I can't tell.

"You're not in danger here any more than you were two minutes ago, Serene." Pitch assures me. "Maleficent isn't going to hurt you."

I swallow through my dry throat. "I-I'm sorry. I j-just..."

"No doubt my traitorous daughter and her friends have told you all sorts of lies about me." Maleficent hisses angrily.

I say nothing. Even though Maleficent is tiny, green-and-purple, and has the highest, most annoying voice I've ever heard, I can feel the darkness radiating off of her in liberal amounts. She too is wrapped in a protective shield, this time of shimmering green magic that holds strong against her power.

"See what I'm reduced to?" Maleficent snaps. "A stupid little thing nobody even realizes exists anymore?"

"B-but nobody even knows where you are." I say. "It's one of the biggest mysteries in Auradon history. Nobody knew where you went after Mal took you to the Isle."

"I escaped from her." Maleficent says proudly. "When poor little princey got himself captured, my goody-goody daughter left her luggage in her apartment. It was a task getting out without anyone seeing me, but once I did, I went straight to Pitch. He's been hiding me ever since."

Maleficent crawls up Pitch's arm, perching comfortably on his shoulder. "De Vil, you have more potential that you even know. What you lack is training. You have fantastic control, but a little too much. How often has your mother worked with you?"

"Um..." I lick my lips nervously, lowering my hands to hug my stomach tightly. "N-not often. She m-mostly worked with my s-sister."

Pitch rolls his eyes. "Heroes. Pathetic. Child, when your mother did work with you, how did she teach it to you?"

"Well... it was all about acceptance." I relax slowly. This is familiar territory. "I have a darkness inside me, and there's nothing I can do to change that. I can't let it control me. I have to know my limits, set my own rules for it."

Blake whistles, examining his nails. "I'm surprised you're as powerful as you are, the way she held you back like that."

"What do you mean?"

Maleficent scoffs. "Child, that isn't how your powers work."

"How would you know anything about my powers?" I snap.

"There's the spirit." Pitch says happily. "And she knows because your powers are similar to ours, Blake and I, and she helped him train since he was old enough to toddle. We're all dark forces in here. But the key to unlocking our true selves isn't rules, or boundaries, It's about letting it in."

"But that's dangerous!" I argue, but Pitch just shakes his head.

"You think that because your parents told you that. Serene." He kneels down in front of me, taking my hand with his frigid one. "You should never have to put rules on who you are. Take charge! Be who you are, not the you others think that you should be."

I swallow again, nodding slightly. Pitch lets go of me and stands, looking at Maleficent on his shoulder. "Do you think we should try it?"

Maleficent's little lizard head tilted to one side, considering me. "Not tonight. Go home, girl. Come back same time next week."

A relief so sudden washes over me so that my knees nearly collapse. "I'm done for tonight?"

"Yes."

My inner student coming out, I hesitate before asking, "Is there anything I should do between now and then?"

Maleficent only laughs as Blake waves his hand, unlocking the door and taking my wrist, leading me out. "I think I'm going to like this girl."

_____________________________

Hope everyone's having a good day! For those of you who hadn't seen---if you read "Ellie's Flame", I'm sure you remember my attempt at writing a song for Ellie, "Happily Ever After". Well, I recorded it, and posted it in "Ellie's Flame" in the chapter Happily Ever After. so if you're interested, go give it a listen. 

Also, for those of you who also hadn't seen THIS---I finally casted Danielle's character. Saoirse Ronan.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee.