A Princess and A Zombie (A Z-O-M-B-I-E-S and Descendants AU)

Ch. 16

Aurelia stayed with Eliza that night. The events of the day had left her shaken, and the comfort of her friend's presence was exactly what she needed. Eliza's home was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold uncertainty that lingered in Aurelia's mind.

Eliza made them hot cocoa, and they sat on the couch, wrapped in blankets, the silence comfortable between them.

Finally, Aurelia spoke, her voice soft. "Eliza, what do you think they wanted? The stone they were talking about?"

Eliza sighed, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at her friend. "I honestly don't know, Ari. But it's clear that they think you have something they want. We need to be careful."

Aurelia nodded, her mind racing with questions. Who were those people? Why did they think she had a stone? And most importantly, what was this stone they were talking about?

As the night wore on, Aurelia found comfort in Eliza's unwavering support. They talked about everything and nothing, until the early hours of the morning, when exhaustion finally claimed them.

Aurelia slept fitfully, her dreams filled with shadows and whispers, the girl from the woods' angry face haunting her sleep.

The next morning, Aurelia awoke to the smell of pancakes. She dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, where Eliza was flipping pancakes.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Eliza grinned, serving a plate of pancakes to Aurelia.

"Morning," Aurelia mumbled, her thoughts still foggy from sleep.

They ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. After breakfast, Aurelia knew she had to leave. She had to face the world, face the questions and the uncertainty.

"I should get going," Aurelia said, standing up and hugging Eliza. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Anytime, Ari. You know you're always welcome here," Eliza replied, hugging her back.

As Aurelia stepped out of Eliza's house, she took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever lay ahead. She knew she had to be strong, for herself and for her friends.

With a newfound determination, Aurelia walked towards her own home, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She knew she wasn't alone, that she had friends who would stand by her side no matter what.

And as she walked, she realized that she had something else too. A spark of something new, a possibility that had never occurred to her before.

A possibility named Zed.

When Aurelia entered her home, she met the tired, worried eyes of Lumiere.

He stood quickly, "Where have you been? I was worried sick."

Realization dawned on Aurelia, so caught up in what had happened, she forgot to check in with Lumiere.

"Lumi, I'm so sorry." Aurelia's voice was filled with genuine regret as she approached Lumiere. She could see the worry etched on his face, and she knew she had unintentionally caused him distress.

"I should have called or texted. A lot happened at the football game, and I ended up staying at Eliza's afterward. I just... I didn't think."

Lumiere's stern expression softened as he sighed, "Ari, you know you can always tell me what's going on. I'm here for you, no matter what."

Aurelia nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for Lumiere's understanding and support. "I know, Lumi. I just... I didn't know how to explain it all. It was so overwhelming."

Lumiere stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug. "Hey, it's okay. You're home now, and you're safe. That's what matters."

As Aurelia returned the hug, she felt a sense of security enveloping her. Lumiere had always been a stable presence in her life, someone she could rely on.

After a moment, Lumiere pulled back, looking down at her with concern. "Now, will you tell me what happened?"

Aurelia took a deep breath, preparing to recount the events of the previous day. As she spoke, she saw various emotions play across Lumiere's face: confusion, concern, and anger.

When she finished, Lumiere was silent for a moment, processing everything she had told him.

Finally, he spoke, his voice steady. "Ari, we need to figure out what this stone is, and why they think you have it."

Aurelia nodded in agreement. "I know. I've been trying to think of anything that might be what they're looking for, but I'm coming up empty."

"We'll figure it out," Lumiere assured her. "We'll do some research, talk to people we trust, and get to the bottom of this."

As Aurelia looked up at Lumiere, she felt a renewed sense of determination. Together, with the support of her friends and Lumiere, she knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Thanks, Lumi," she whispered, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Lumiere smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You'll never have to find out, Ari. I'm always here for you."

As they stood there, Aurelia realized that no matter what the future held, she had a strong support system. She had friends and Lumiere, and maybe, just maybe, something more with Zed.

With that thought in her mind, Aurelia felt ready to face whatever came next, knowing she wasn't alone.

"One last thing," Lumiere said, gaining her attention, "when you didn't come home last night I called your brother."

All the color drained from her face.