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

Ch. 42

There was a knock on her bedroom door. She didn't answer, assuming it was Lumiere or one of the castle staff checking in on her. But the voice that called out to her was unexpected.

"Aurelia? It's Carlos."

Aurelia's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. She knew it would come to this eventually, he was her best friend.

As much as she loved Eliza, no one would ever out rank Carlos. He was there for her when she felt most alone in the world.

She wasn't sure if she was ready to face him, or anyone from Auradon. But a part of her longed for the familiarity of her friend's presence.

"Go away!" Aurelia's voice was filled with frustration as she called out. She didn't want to see anyone right now, not when her heart was still raw from being separated from Zed and her life in Seabrook.

Carlos, however, was not easily deterred. He was far too stubborn for that. He knew how much his friend was hurting and was determined to be there for her.

He spoke through the closed door with a gentle but determined tone. "Aurelia, I understand that you're upset, but please, you have to eat."

Aurelia's voice wavered, "I'm not hungry."

Carlos sighed softly on the other side of the door, clearly worried about his friend's well-being. "I get that you're hurting, but starving yourself won't make things better."

Aurelia remained silent for a moment, conflicted between her desire for solitude and her friend's concern. She finally relented with a defeated tone, "Fine, leave it outside the door."

Carlos didn't immediately respond, knowing that getting her to eat was just the first step. He wanted to be there for her, to offer comfort and support during this difficult time.

"Aurelia," he began, his voice filled with empathy, "I know this is hard-"

She scoffed, her anger getting the best of her, she tore her door open. Carlos could almost see the anger radiating off of her."How would you know how I feel? You and Jane just got engaged, you never having to worry about being trapped on the Isle or listen to your mother's deception again! You're free to do whatever you want Carlos! And I'm trapped here!"

Carlos took a step back, surprised by the intensity of Aurelia's anger. He knew she was hurting, but her outburst caught him off guard.

"I'm sorry, Aurelia," Carlos said, his voice calm despite her anger. "I didn't mean to upset you. I can't fully understand what you're going through, but I want to help in any way I can."

Aurelia's anger began to subside, replaced by a sense of guilt for lashing out at her friend. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, looking down at the floor.

"I know you're just trying to help, Carlos. It's just... everything feels so overwhelming right now. I miss Seabrook, I miss Zed, and being here in Auradon... it's like a gilded cage."

Carlos nodded in understanding. He had heard similar sentiments from other VKs who had made the transition from the Isle to Auradon. It was a difficult adjustment, even under the best of circumstances.

"I can't imagine how hard this must be for you," Carlos said sincerely.

"No, you can't," She looked away from him, "Everyone here has everything they want."

Carlos approached Aurelia and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know it might seem that way, but trust me, even in a place like Auradon, people have their own struggles and challenges."

Aurelia turned to look at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "I just want to go back, Carlos. Back to Seabrook, back to Zed."

Carlos gave her a reassuring smile. "We're going to figure this out, Aurelia. You're not alone in this. Ben, Mal, and the rest of us are here to support you."

She shook her head, "If Ben really supported me, I wouldn't be here."

Carlos understood the complexity of Aurelia's situation, torn between her love for Zed and knowing this was for her saftey. He knew that Ben's decision wasn't easy for her to accept, but he also believed that her brother was genuinely concerned for her well-being.

"Ben has a duty as king," Carlos said softly, "and sometimes that means making difficult decisions. But he loves you, Aurelia. He wouldn't have done this if he didn't believe it was the best course of action."

Aurelia sighed, her frustration evident. "I know he's trying to protect me, but it feels like he's taking away everything that matters to me."

Carlos nodded sympathetically. "I can only imagine how tough this is for you. But remember, sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good.

"You sound like my brother,"

Carlos chuckled softly. "Well, your brother is a wise and caring person. Maybe it's because he cares about you so much that he's making these tough decisions."

"They aren't his decision to make!" She argued.

Carlos understood the depth of Aurelia's frustration and her desire for agency over her own life. He knew that the situation was complicated, and her feelings were entirely valid.

"I hear you, A," Carlos said, his voice filled with empathy. "It's your life, and you should have a say in it."

"Yet, I don't." She rebutted, turning and walking away from the door. Carlos followed behind her, closely.

Carlos continued to walk with Aurelia, his presence a silent show of support. He knew that there were no easy answers to the challenges she was facing, but he was determined to be there for her every step of the way.

As they walked, Aurelia's thoughts turned back to Zed. She couldn't shake the feeling of longing that consumed her, the ache in her heart growing stronger with each passing day.

"I miss him so much, Carlos," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like a part of me is missing."

Carlos nodded, understanding the depth of her feelings. Jay had told him how happy she was with Zed in Seabrook. He knew her well, when she loved she loved with everything she had.

"This may not be forever," He tried to comfort her.

"But what if it is? What if we never catch Damian? I can't expect him to wait for me forever, Carlos."

Carlos placed a comforting hand on Aurelia's shoulder as they continued to walk. He could see the pain in her eyes, and he wished he had a solution to offer that would ease her suffering.

"I can't promise you that everything will work out exactly as you hope," Carlos said gently. "But we'll do everything we can to catch Damian and bring you back to Seabrook. And Zed... I'm sure he cares about you just as much as you care about him. Love has a way of enduring, even in the face of challenges."

Aurelia appreciated Carlos's words of comfort, but the uncertainty of her situation still weighed heavily on her. She knew that her love for Zed was real and deep, and the thought of losing him was agonizing.

"I just don't want to lose him, Carlos. He made me feel like I belonged somewhere."