Goddess • Ben Beast

8

On a sunny Friday at auradon prep (did it ever rain?), Remedial Goodness 101 was a bit different.

"Children, excuse me. Um, as you know, uh, this Sunday is family day here at Auradon Prep. And because your parents can't be here due to, uh, distance,"

Persephone audibly scoffed, Mal sent her sister a warning look.

She'd been kissing up to FG since day one.

"-we've arranged for a special treat."

FG continued, gesturing to the small screen in front of the chalk board.

The VK's crowded around, as their parents faces appeared, and their headmistress stepped off to the side.

Persephone hung back, crossing her arms irritably. The last thing she needed right now was to be reminded of their plans, and Mals looming success.

Auradon wasn't ideal, but it was a hell of a lot better than the isle. Once she'd graduated she could leave and go anywhere, maybe even track down her father's family.

"I don't see anything, nor do I hear.- Is it... is it... is... -Press enter. -Can I please see a remote? Is this thing on? Ugh, It's broken. Ugh! I hate electronic equip... Oh!"

Apparently the villains had managed to make it work, and their eyes lit up at the sight of their children. If only FG knew the real reason why.

Persephone covered her ears with her headphones, and sat back down at her desk, trying to stifle the raging mixed emotions in her chest.

Their conversation didn't last long, Mal seemed to switch the screen off prematurely, and FG looked pitying.

The VKs wandered out of the classroom, Persephone included.

Brushing past Mal and her crew, and not bothering to acknowledge them, she hiked towards the edge of campus. She needed to be alone. Not that she really ever wasn't, but she needed silence, and a lack of teenage hormones around her.

She walked for what felt like forever, until her book bag started to get heavy, and she came upon the edge of the lake.

There was a beautiful stone pavilion set just into the water, it was old, and crumbling, but it was perfect.

Sitting at the edge, she slipped her boots and socks off, and dipped her feet into the sparkling, cool water.

Instantly she felt different, like something washed over her. Her hands tingled, and she felt strangely lighter, like she'd been carrying something she didn't know about. She instantly thought of what Ben had told her just a few days before. The lake washes off enchantments.

Was it possible she'd just been freed of a spell she wasn't aware of? And if so, what was it?

Her emotions were still raging like a wildfire, so she retrieved her notebook from her bag, and started writing through her feelings.

A million thoughts in my head
Should I let my heart keep listening?
'Cause up 'til now I've walked the line
Nothing lost but something missing
I can't decide what's wrong, what's right
Which way should I go?
If only I knew what my heart was telling me
Don't know what I'm feeling-

Her words fizzled out.

They were literally, incinerated.

One second her pen and book were in her hands, the next they'd spontaneously combusted into ashes.

Panic seized Persephone.

What, the actual fuck?

Persephone was at a complete loss. She had no idea what was happening, or what to do about it.

And these new, strange, occurrences only added to her emotional stress.

The dorm was empty that night, Mal and Evie were out (probably plotting the end of the world), so Persephone sat on her bed, scouring books for curses involving fire.

Twirling a lock of her hair in stress, she turned the page of a book titled curses through the ages.

She nearly fell out of her patterned pink bed, when a sharp knock sounded at the door.

Tossing her sheets over the collection of books, she scrambled to the door, tripping over Evie's heaps of materials on her way.

Ben was on the other side of the door, smiling brightly.

"Hey, are the other girls in?"

"Uh, no just me. I think Evie said something about more fabric."

She said opening the door wider, and motioning to the blue haired girls stockpile of sewing supplies.

Ben chuckled, stepping inside.

"I was just coming by to ask about your call today, with your parents. Sorry we can't do more but... you know..."

Persephone crossed her arms and shrugged.

"Yeah I'm not bothered much. I let Mals crew talk to their parents, I'm not interested in seeing my mom."

Ben seemed shocked.

"Oh, I-I guess we're not all as close with our parents huh."

She smiled sardonically.

"Yeah. Mums first priority is her evil plans, and how we fit into them. Mal still tries, but I gave up pleasing her years ago."

He nodded like that tracked, but his face showed an unasked question.

Persephone raised a brow, motioning for him to spit it out.

"Well, what about your dad?"

Her jaw flexed, and her hand subconsciously shot to the crystal around her neck.

"Nah, he's never been around, I've only met him once."

Ben's face showed pity, it made her stomach turn. What was it with her constantly bearing her soul to him? Anyone else she would've told to mind their business.

"Well hey, if you want you can stick with me Sunday so you're not alone, you don't seem as close to the others."

She was taken aback at that. Did Ben actually want her around? Or did he just pity her loneliness? Either way that sounded much less awkward than standing around.

"Oh, I might take you up on that. Thanks."

Ben smiled, and as he went to leave she suddenly remembered the events of her day. Weird how being around him had made it fade away.

She thought about asking him about it, but she couldn't force the words out, it was hard to trust anyone enough with this.

So he left, and Persephone wondered when this rollercoaster would end.

😜