Thorn and Ember

·. 𝒱𝑒𝒾𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝒱𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ·.

THE GRAND HALL was adorned with shimmering silver and gold, the kind of opulence that made the air feel heavy with expectation. Belle and Beast's wedding was the talk of the kingdom, and as the grand hall of the castle filled with nobles and dignitaries, the atmosphere was one of excitement and grandeur. A steady hum of chatter and the clinking of glasses filled the air, blending with the elegant strains of music performed by a live orchestra.

Maleficent, dressed in an elegantly flowing gown that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, stood near one of the tall windows. Her gaze swept over the room, but her usual poise was marred by a frown that tugged at the corners of her lips. Beside her, Hades appeared more relaxed, though the tension in his eyes betrayed his awareness of Maleficent's discontent. 

Their friends were scattered around the room. Eve, looking regal in her own dark attire, was deep in conversation with Cruella, who was dressed in her trademark fur-lined coat despite the heat of the room. Zeus and Poseidon, sporting their usual imposing presence, were engaged in a casual conversation, their eyes occasionally darting to Maleficent and Hades. 

"You'd think they'd at least offer us a bit of respect," Maleficent muttered, her gaze fixed on the crowd. "It's as if they want us to be invisible." 

Hades cast a sidelong glance at her. "It's just a wedding, Mal. You're letting this get under your skin more than it should." 

Maleficent's eyes flashed. "It's not just a wedding. They're using it as a pretext to push us aside. Did you hear what they're planning?" 

Hades arched an eyebrow. "Planning? What are you talking about?" 

"Over there," Maleficent said, nodding towards a group of wedding planners huddled in a corner. "They're discussing something about isolating all the villains on a remote island with a magical barrier." 

Hades frowned, his expression darkening. "That's ridiculous. Why would they do that?" 

Maleficent's anger bubbled over. "To ensure their precious wedding goes off without a hitch, free from any 'troublemakers' like us. They think they can just shove us away." 

"Calm down," Hades said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Let's not jump to conclusions. It might not be as bad as it sounds." 

Maleficent's lips tightened. "How can you be so calm about this? They're making it clear we don't belong here. And you're just standing by?"

Hades took a deep breath. "I'm trying to keep a level head. Overreacting won't help." 

Their argument was interrupted as Eve and Cruella approached, their expressions bemused. "What's all this about a magical barrier?" Eve asked, her tone laced with curiosity. 

Maleficent glared at Eve, her frustration evident. "They're planning to isolate us. They're treating us like we're some sort of threat." 

Cruella raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit melodramatic? It's just a wedding. They probably just want everything to go smoothly." 

Maleficent's eyes narrowed. "Smoothly, meaning without us. They want to pretend we're not here." 

Zeus and Poseidon joined the group, drawn by the rising tension. "What's going on?" Zeus asked, his voice carrying an edge of concern. 

Hades glanced at them, trying to maintain his composure. "Maleficent's upset because she overheard something about isolating villains." 

Poseidon exchanged a look with Zeus, both of them clearly troubled. "That doesn't sound right," Poseidon said. "Why would they do that?" 

"Exactly!" Maleficent snapped. "Why indeed? It's like they're trying to erase us from their world." 

The group fell silent, the gravity of the situation sinking in. The music from the orchestra continued to play softly in the background, an ironic contrast to the tension in the room. 

Hades placed a hand on Maleficent's arm. "Let's talk about this privately. We can figure out a plan." 

Maleficent pulled away, her frustration boiling over. "Figure out a plan? We should be confronting them, not hiding away and letting them dictate terms!" 

Hades' patience was wearing thin. "Confronting them won't solve anything. We need to think strategically." 

Maleficent's eyes flashed with anger. "Strategically? They're treating us like we're expendable, and you want to play it safe?" 

Hades sighed heavily. "I'm trying to protect us from making a situation worse. Losing our temper won't help."

The argument grew heated as Maleficent and Hades retreated to a more secluded area of the castle, away from the guests and the buzz of the wedding. The private alcove was dimly lit, the soft glow of candlelight casting shadows on the walls. 

Maleficent paced back and forth, her agitation palpable. "You don't understand how personal this is for me. It's not just about the wedding; it's about being pushed aside, treated like I don't matter." 

Hades leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "I do understand. But reacting with anger isn't going to change anything. We need to be smart about this." 

"Smart?" Maleficent snapped. "You think staying silent and passive is smart? They're getting away with it, and we're letting them." 

Hades' voice was firm. "I'm not saying we should do nothing. I'm saying we need to choose our battles carefully. We can't afford to act recklessly." 

Maleficent stopped pacing and faced him, her eyes blazing. "Recklessly? So now it's reckless to stand up for ourselves? You're not the one being excluded, Hades. It's easy for you to be calm when you're not the one being shoved aside. Right now you're saying you don't care, and it won't be that bad and in a couple years you'll be fighting to get out of that island!"

Hades' expression hardened. "It's not about being calm. It's about keeping our heads clear so we can deal with this effectively. I'm trying to protect us both, not just react emotionally." 

Maleficent's face flushed with anger. "You think I'm not trying to protect us? I'm angry because I care. Because I don't want to be pushed aside and forgotten. And you're dismissing my feelings!" 

Hades' frustration boiled over. "I'm not dismissing your feelings! I'm trying to find a way to handle this without making things worse. But you're too caught up in your anger to see that." 

Their argument reached a fever pitch, with both of them hurling accusations and frustrations at each other. The intensity of their emotions was evident, their voices echoing off the stone walls of the alcove.

Maleficent's breathing was heavy as she stormed away to a corner of the room, her back to Hades. "I can't believe you're just standing by, letting them do this to us." 

Hades' voice was strained as he tried to keep his composure. "I'm standing by because I don't want to make things worse. I want to find a way to address this without causing more harm." 

Maleficent turned around, her eyes filled with hurt and frustration. "Maybe you're just too afraid to take a stand. I'm not going to let them walk all over us, even if it means getting angry." 

Hades ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I'm not afraid. I'm trying to be practical. But if you want to keep shouting and blaming me, fine. I'll let you." 

Maleficent's shoulders slumped as she turned away, her anger giving way to a deep sense of despair. "I don't know if I can keep doing this. Everything just feels so out of control." 

Hades' voice softened slightly, though his frustration was still apparent. "We're in this together, Maleficent. I'm trying to find a way to fix things, but we need to be on the same page." 

The argument left both of them feeling emotionally drained, their once-solid relationship now strained by their conflicting approaches to the crisis.

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-I hate this chapterr omlll💔