The Darkest Love Maleficent X Hades

25 The magic book pt2

With a final laugh, Uliana slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the empty room as we made our way out into the storm. The rain hit us like icy needles as we stepped outside, but none of us slowed down. The cold wind whipped around us, soaking our clothes and plastering our hair to our faces, but all I could think about was the weight of the book in Uliana's arms.

As we hurried through the rain-soaked grounds, a sense of unease still gnawed at me. This had been too easy. Something wasn't right.

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time skip

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Hades POV

The storm outside rages on, relentless and unforgiving. Rain pelts the windows of Maleficent and Uliana's dorm room, the glass panes rattling with every gust of wind. We're all crammed inside, dripping wet, and the damp air clings to our skin. Our soaked clothes stick to us uncomfortably, but the chill in the room is more from the tension than from the cold. Thunder grumbles in the distance, an ominous sound that feels all too fitting for the night we've had.

"Was my howl good?" Morgie asks eagerly, his eyes wide with hope. His voice cuts through the air, his excitement palpable, but no one seems in the mood to indulge him. Uliana is too busy glaring at Maleficent, and the rest of us are preoccupied with our own thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing down on us like the storm outside.

At the desk, Maleficent sits hunched over the infamous cookbook, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. A faint glow emanates from her small spellbook, open beside her, and she mutters incantations under her breath. She's trying to break whatever enchantment locks the book shut, but so far, nothing has worked. I don't fully understand magic, never have, but watching her like this, so focused and intense, is mesmerizing. The dim light of the spellbook casts a soft glow on her face, highlighting the sharp angles of her features, and I find myself captivated by her in a way that makes everything else fade into the background.

"You did... amazing," James finally mumbles, though his voice is unusually quiet. His bravado disappears whenever Morgie is around, leaving him fumbling and awkward in the face of his obvious crush. It's almost hilarious how his cockiness crumbles into shy nervousness, especially when Morgie beams at him in response.

"Thanks!" Morgie replies, his grin wide and genuine. Both of them turn pink in the cheeks, exchanging shy glances before looking away. They're so hopelessly lost in each other, and I can't help but think about how I'm not much different when it comes to Maleficent.

"So, little miss know-it-all, have you found anything yet?" Uliana's voice cuts through the moment, laced with sarcasm. Her irritation is palpable, and it starts to grate on me. I know she's frustrated, but snapping at Maleficent isn't going to help. I understand Uliana isn't the nicest person to anyone, and patience isn't her strong suit, but this is not the time for that kind of attitude.

I stand up and cross the room to where Maleficent is seated, placing a hand on her shoulder in a small gesture of support. She glances at me, offering a soft smile before turning her attention back to the book. "Mmmh, no spell I've tried so far has worked. It must be a permanent one..." she murmurs, her brow furrowed in thought.

Uliana rolls her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms. "Maybe that's because there is no spell!" she snaps, her voice sharp.

"There is a spell!" Maleficent shoots back, standing up from the chair with an intensity that shocks everyone, especially Uliana. I can't help but grin as Maleficent holds her ground. She's a force when she's like this, and it's exhilarating to watch her assert herself.

"Merlin put a magical lock on it so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands," Maleficent continues, glaring at Uliana. "And as far as Merlin's concerned, everyone in this room is 'the wrong hands.'"

Uliana's jaw tightens, clearly irritated but unable to argue with the logic. "So, what's your genius plan, Sherlock?" she sneers.

"I was getting to that if you'd let me speak!" Maleficent snaps back, her voice cutting through the tension. I feel a swell of pride at the way she's standing her ground.

"We need someone good, someone pure, to open it," she explains, her voice now calm and measured as she addresses the group. "And I know just the right person."

"Who?" Morgie asks, tilting his head curiously.

"Ella," Maleficent replies confidently.

Uliana scoffs, clearly unimpressed. "Ella? She's her best friend and probably her only friend. There's no way she'll—"

"If you weren't so busy playing the self-appointed leader," Maleficent cuts her off, her eyes flashing with defiance, "you would've noticed how often Ella looks annoyed with her. There's tension between them, trust me. And even if she won't do it on her own, I've studied some magic that might... persuade her."

Uliana huffs, rolling her eyes but clearly conceding. "Ugh, fine. We'll deal with it tomorrow. You all can go."

With that, she dismisses us, clearly done with the conversation. Me, Morgie, and James exchange glances and begin making our way to the door. "Bye, Uli! Bye, Mali!" the boys call over their shoulders as we leave.

Before heading out, I gently grab Maleficent's hand, pulling her into the hallway for a moment. The storm still rages outside, but here, it's quieter, the dim light casting soft shadows on the walls.

"You were incredible in there," I say, my voice soft but filled with admiration. She looks up at me, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What can I say? She's been driving me insane, and she had it coming."

I grin, leaning in closer. "She absolutely deserved it. And don't ever stop being like that with people, especially with her. It drives me crazy in the best way."

Her smile deepens, and I see a faint blush rise on her cheeks. Without a word, she leans in, and our lips meet in a kiss that is anything but soft. It's rough, urgent, and full of desire, like we've both been holding back for too long. Her hands grip the front of my jacket, pulling me closer as I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her against me. Her lips are soft but demanding, and the taste of rain lingers between us as the kiss deepens.

There's an urgency to it, a hunger that makes my pulse quicken. I slide my hand up, tangling my fingers in her damp hair as I press her gently against the wall. Her breath hitches, and I feel the warmth of her skin beneath my palms as the world narrows down to just this moment, just us.

She kisses me like she has something to prove, like she wants to erase every doubt, every frustration. And I let her, losing myself in the feel of her lips, the heat of her body against mine. The intensity between us is electric, raw, and it leaves me breathless. When we finally pull apart, both of us are panting, her cheeks flushed, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss. She smiles, that mischievous glint still in her eyes, and I can't help but smile back.

"Night, beauty," I murmur, my voice still rough from the heat between us.

"Night," she replies softly, her voice barely a whisper as she slips back into the room, leaving me standing there, my heart still racing.

As I walk back to where the boys are waiting, I can still feel the heat of the kiss lingering on my lips. "Night, beauty, hahaha," James mocks as I approach, and Morgie joins in with a laugh. "Zip it," I mutter, playfully smacking them both on the back of the head. But even as I laugh with them, my thoughts are still back in that hallway, with her.