Descendants: a wicked way

Wispers and warnings of lipstick

As Mal strutted out of the girls' bathroom, a smirk playing on her lips, she glanced at me with a glint in her eye. "Well, I got Jane to spill. If she can get Fairy Godmother to pull out her wand, 'I'm so there,'" she mocked, mimicking Jane's excitement.

I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions as I thought about the conversation I had just had. "Tora Dot told me to meet Gilm at the Enchanted Lake later," I admitted.

Mal rolled her eyes, her smirk faltering slightly. "Wow, all this stuff you said about no distractions, and now you're going on a date?"

I scowled, crossing my arms defensively. "I'm not distracted, unlike you and your little Bennyboo. And it's not a date. Why would I date the son of the person who helped kill my mother and told Dorothy to steal the ruby slippers from my aunt in the first place?"

Mal sighed, her expression softening slightly. "Why do you hold grudges for what happened with your parents?"

I leaned back against my locker, frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's the same with you and Audrey. It's hypocritical to say that when you do it too."

Before Mal could respond, I turned on my heel and walked away, done with the conversation. If we were back on the Isle, she'd have been tortured for talking to me like that—or burned at the stake, even. I sighed, the thought leaving a bitter taste in my mouth as I made my way to my dorm room.

When I entered, Tora was lounging on her bed, her legs kicking up and down as she updated the school's website, as usual. I ignored her for a moment, reaching under my bed to retrieve my worn-out red shoes. With a quick flick of my wrist, I transformed them back into the ruby slippers, slipping them on before changing into a dark green skirt and a red top. I sat at my vanity, beginning to do my makeup.

Tora's voice broke the silence. "Getting ready for your date with Gilm, hmm?" she teased without even looking up.

I flushed a little, denying it as I focused on applying my lipstick. "It's not a date."

"Sure," Tora said, finally looking up and walking over to stand behind me. She placed her hands on my shoulders, her touch surprisingly gentle. "You look beautiful."

I glanced back at her, the compliment making me smudge my lipstick. Tora chuckled and grabbed two lipsticks from the vanity—one red, one green.

"What are you—" I began, but she cut me off.

"Just trust me," she said, guiding me to close my eyes. A minute later, she instructed me to open them.

I stared at my reflection, surprised. Half of my lips were painted green, the other half red. Tora then took a black lipstick and carefully drew a small heart and a witch's hat on the corner of my mouth before filling them in.

"What do you think?" she asked, smiling—a real, genuine smile, not the usual half-smirk she often wore.

I couldn't help but smile back. "I love it," I admitted.

For a moment, the tension of the day somehow melted away But as I looked at my reflection, the weight of the upcoming meeting with Gilm settled back onto my shoulders. What did he want, and why did it make my heart flutter so nervously? I sighed, pushing the thought aside. Whatever it was, I'd be ready.