Thorn and Ember

·. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒩𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝐵𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓇 ·.

The air in the grand hall of Merlin Academy buzzed with tension. Whispers spread quickly, carrying the announcement that would change everything: Beast and Belle were officially planning to banish the villains to an isolated island, encased in a magical barrier that no one could escape. It was meant to be permanent, a decision that left no room for mercy or negotiation. 

Maleficent stood by the window, her expression unreadable, watching the world outside as if she could find some sort of escape from what was about to happen. Her thoughts were distant, tangled with frustration and anger. Hades was nearby, casually leaning against the doorframe, his face a mask of indifference, though Maleficent knew him well enough to notice the tension beneath. 

Their friends, Eve, Cruella, Zeus, and Poseidon, sat around the room, their usual lighthearted banter muted by the weight of the announcement. 

"You heard them, didn't you?" Maleficent finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Hades sighed, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward her. "Yeah, I heard them. The magical barrier. . . banishment. They're really going through with it." 

Maleficent clenched her fists. "It's ridiculous. As if locking us away on some cursed island will solve their problems." 

Cruella leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the table. "You know Beast. He's all about order and control. This is the only way he knows how to deal with us." 

Zeus shot her a look, his brows furrowed. "But what about all the others? There are so many villains from different realms. How can they even control all of them?" 

Poseidon shrugged. "They don't care. As long as they can contain the most powerful among us, they think they've won." 

Maleficent's eyes flicked toward Hades, her gaze softening momentarily. "And what are we supposed to do? Just. . . go along with it?"

Hades met her stare, his usual smirk absent. "We make it work. That's what we do. We've survived worse, haven't we?" 

Her lips curved slightly, though there was no humor in it. "Yeah. We have." 

The group exchanged glances, the reality of their situation sinking in. There was no escaping what was coming. 

"One last night," Eve finally spoke, her voice cutting through the silence. "We should at least enjoy ourselves before the banishment. Drinks, maybe? Just to forget about it for a while." 

Maleficent nodded slowly. "Why not? One last night of fun before everything changes." 

As they prepared to leave, Maleficent's gaze lingered on the boxes scattered around the room, filled with the remnants of their lives at Merlin Academy. It was strange to think that by this time tomorrow, they would be on that island, trapped. 

·.༄࿔

The dimly lit bar buzzed with activity, laughter, and the sound of clinking glasses. The group found a secluded corner, far enough away from the prying eyes of others. Drinks flowed freely, and for a moment, the weight of their looming banishment seemed to fade. 

Maleficent had lost count of how many drinks she'd had. Her usual cool demeanor began to unravel as the alcohol took effect. Her laughter became louder, her movements more carefree, and her words, well, they spilled out without much filter. 

Hades watched her, his eyes following her every move. She was a force of nature, even now, and he couldn't help but be drawn to her, even as the inevitable loomed over them.