Timeless Legacy

Feelings

Elina walked down the tower steps, her vision blurred by the silent tears streaming down her face. Each step felt heavier than the last as she tried to make sense of her emotions. The rejection stung deeply, cutting through the layers of her usual confidence. She had truly believed that Maddox felt the same way—after all, they had shared so many moments together that felt special, even magical. But now, those memories seemed tainted, and she couldn't understand what had gone wrong.

Why didn't he feel the same? Had she misread the signs? Every glance, every smile, every quiet conversation under the stars—she thought they meant something. She thought he felt something.

Elina stepped out of the school, the warm sunlight contrasting with the cold emptiness she felt inside. The bustling sounds of Auradon Prep were muffled, as if the world around her had faded into the background, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She found herself walking aimlessly, her feet carrying her far from the tower, far from the place where her heart had been broken.

What Elina didn't know, what she couldn't possibly understand, was that her feelings were not entirely her own. She had been under a love spell, something subtle yet powerful, influencing her emotions and clouding her judgment. The intensity of her affection for Maddox, the certainty that he must feel the same—these weren't entirely natural, but she had no idea. All she knew was that the pain was real, and it was overwhelming.

She wished she could stop the tears, wished she could just forget the way his rejection had made her feel. But the hurt was too fresh, too real. It was like a storm raging inside her, and she had no shelter from it. She kept replaying Maddox's words in her mind, trying to find some hidden meaning, some clue that would make it all make sense. But there was nothing—just the stark reality that he didn't feel the same way.

Elina screamed loudly, startled and drenched as cold water splashed over her, soaking her from head to toe. Her makeup, already smudged from her tears, now streamed down her face in streaks of black and blue, like paint running down a canvas. For a moment, she stood there in shock, frozen by the sudden, unexpected assault.

Slowly, she looked up, her vision blurred by both the water and her tears, to see who was responsible. Standing in front of her, holding an empty water bottle, was Ben. His face was a mixture of determination and concern, but Elina could only focus on the fact that he had just drenched her without warning.

"Ben, what the fuck?" she managed to splutter, her voice a mix of anger and confusion. The cold water had jolted her out of her spiraling thoughts, but it did nothing to soothe the hurt she felt inside.

Ben lowered the bottle, his expression softening slightly. "Elina, I'm sorry, but I had to do this," he said, his voice steady yet laced with urgency. "You're under a love spell. I needed to break it before it caused any more damage."

Elina blinked, her mind struggling to process his words. "A... a love spell?" she repeated, her voice barely more than a whisper. The idea seemed absurd, yet something in the way Ben spoke made her hesitate.

Ben nodded, taking a cautious step closer. "I found out after Mal's and mine date that something was off—something about how I was acting, including you. I had the water from the Enchanted Lake... It breaks spells." He paused, looking at her with a mix of worry and hope. "I had to try, Elina. I couldn't let you go on like this, not when your feelings weren't really your own."

Elina stood there, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. A love spell? It sounded impossible, but as the cold water dripped from her hair and clothes, she began to feel a strange clarity, like a fog lifting from her mind. The intense emotions she'd felt for Maddox, the overwhelming certainty that he was the one—suddenly, it all seemed less certain, less real.

Even now that the spell was lifted, Elina could feel something lingering in her heart for Maddox. It was different now—less intense, but still there, confusing her. She couldn't tell if it was real or just the remnants of what the spell had made her feel. The realization hit her like a truck, and she looked at Ben helplessly, her voice barely a whisper as she murmured, "Oh God, poor Maddox."

She thought back to how she had acted, how overwhelming her feelings must have seemed to Maddox. The intensity of her emotions, driven by the spell, probably scared him off. And now, without the spell's influence, she wasn't even sure what her true feelings were—or what he might feel for her.

But as she stood there, drenched and vulnerable, another realization slowly dawned on her. Even without the spell's interference, she knew she felt something for the young prince standing before her. Ben had shown her nothing but kindness, understanding, and unwavering support, even when she was caught up in her whirlwind of emotions. There was something there, a connection that she couldn't deny, and it was different from what she felt for Maddox—deeper, steadier, and perhaps even more real.

Ben watched her closely, his expression softening as he saw the conflict in her eyes. Without saying a word, he stepped forward and pulled her into a comforting hug. He could feel her tension slowly easing as she relaxed into his embrace, her head resting against his chest.

For a moment, Ben just held her, trying to ignore the pang of jealousy that tugged at his heart when she mentioned Maddox. He didn't want to think about anyone else—just her. The girl who had captured his thoughts even when he was supposed to be thinking of someone else. Elina had almost broken through the love spell on her own, simply because of how much she had affected him.

As she relaxed in his arms, Ben whispered softly, "It's going to be okay, Elina. We'll figure this out together."

Elina nodded, though her thoughts were still a whirlwind of confusion and regret. She didn't know what the future held for her feelings toward Maddox or the growing emotions she had for Ben. But in that moment, wrapped in Ben's arms, she felt a sense of comfort and safety that she hadn't expected. For now, that was enough.

Elina looked up at Ben, wiping the smeared makeup from her face with the back of her hand. "I'm going back to my dorm," she said quietly, and he nodded in understanding. She needed to confront Mal about what had happened—it was becoming obvious that her friends had played a part in this, and she needed answers.

As she turned to leave, Ben gently caught her hand, causing her to look back at him with a questioning gaze. "Can we meet tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes searching hers with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Elina offered him a soft smile, appreciating the kindness and warmth he had shown her. "Sure," she replied, her voice calm but tinged with the remnants of the emotional whirlwind she had just been through. With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Ben behind to watch her retreating figure.

As Ben stood there, lost in thought, he suddenly heard the sound of someone tumbling down the stairs from the school entry. Alarmed, he rushed over to see Maddox lying on the ground, clearly having tripped or stumbled. Ben quickly helped him up, concern etched on his face. "You okay, man?" he asked, genuinely worried.

Maddox looked at him skeptically, brushing himself off. "Sure," he replied tersely, not wanting to engage in conversation. There was something about Ben that made him uneasy, something that had been gnawing at him ever since the prince had taken such a sudden interest in Elina.

Sensing Maddox's discomfort, Ben's expression shifted slightly. As Maddox started to walk away, Ben's voice followed him, laced with a confidence that bordered on mockery. "You don't need to worry about Elina anymore," he said, his tone carrying an edge that was hard to miss. Maddox paused, turning slightly to listen. "I broke the love spell for her, so don't worry about her proclaiming her love anymore."

The sarcastic smile on Ben's face might have seemed innocent to most, but Maddox could see the fierce intensity behind it. It was clear that Ben wasn't just delivering information—there was a deeper, possessive undertone in his words that sent a chill down Maddox's spine.

Maddox didn't respond, just nodded slowly and watched as Ben walked away, the prince's confidence radiating with every step. A sense of unease settled over Maddox. He knew he had to keep his eyes open, not just for Elina's sake, but for his own. Something about Ben didn't sit right with him, and Maddox couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.

What are your theories about Ben?