[4] Phoenix | Descendants 3

EIGHTEEN: Her Great Return

Tension lingered in the air of Evie's house, no one daring to make a move. Maleficent had succeeded where others had failed, turned what every villain only dreamed of doing into a reality. The great Mistress of All Evil was back and free once again in Auradon, with all of her magic and tools necessary for her to get her long-awaited revenge.

"What did you do with Audrey?" Ben spoke up, Mal outstretching her arm to make sure he stayed behind her.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about her right now, Little Beast," replied the villain. "Not when there's still so much evil to be done and lives to ruin."

"You need to leave, Maleficent," Hector ordered as he took a brave step forward.

"Now, why would I do that when things are finally getting exciting?" Her eyes then fell to the dark fairy, who stood with a rather stoic expression on her face. "There's more, isn't there, Mal? Why don't you go on?"

Uma looked from Maleficent to Mal. "What is she talking about?"

"Evil Queen's spell books, Jafar's Cobra Staff, Cruella de Vil's car," answered the young dark fairy, never taking her eyes off her mother. "They're all missing from the museum, remember?"

"That has nothing to do with her," stated Evie.

"Oh, it has everything to do with her," corrected Mal, a wicked smile appearing on her mother's face so the young girl knew she was on the right track. "They were working together on the Isle for the past two years, and now their stuff is missing. My mother would have no use for items that used to belong to those three ... but they themselves would. All they would have to do is take them back."

Evie's heart managed to drop even further. "Please don't tell me what I think you're telling me."

"My mother isn't alone. She's working together with our parents, they're the evil that's going to destroy Auradon and Olympus."

"That's a nasty little girl," Maleficent said with a laugh. "I knew you would figure it out."

"No," Evie breathed out. She reached out behind her for support, finding Helena's hand and giving it a squeeze. "No way, this cannot be happening."

"Oh, this is so happening, little Evie," Maleficent replied with a flare of her dress. Staring at the disapproving looks on the children's face, she flung her arms dramatically, "Well, didn't you all miss me?"

"That's certainly one way to put it," replied the daughter of Hades.

"Ah, Helena," the villainess said whimsically, her attention still on the Greek girl. "I must say that I'm going to enjoy getting rid of you."

"Like hell you will," replied the daughter of Hades, darkness swirling around her fist as she balled up her fingers.

"Oh, we found a way to deal with you already." Maleficent only laughed at the shock and confusion on Helena's face at her words. "Don't worry, dear, you'll find out soon enough."

Carlos looked from Mal's mother and then back to Helena. He and the daughter of Hades might not be on the best of terms right now, but that didn't mean that he wanted something bad to happen to her. "What did you do?"

"And why do you care?" The moment Maleficent's eyes landed on him, Carlos found himself taking a step back instinctively.

"Just answer the question, Maleficent," interjected Harry, which caused the villainess to laugh.

Maleficent turned once again to the daughter of Hades, gesturing to Harry and Carlos. "Do you enjoy having both of them worship at your altar?" Helena rolled her eyes, not about to give into the villain's tactics. "But just between us girls, who do you choose?"