Descendants 1

Chapter Five

A black stretch limo – seriously out of place in our crummy town – sat outside Mom's tenement. Villagers were gawking.  Jay, Evie, and Carlos were practically bouncing with excitement.

"Ugh," the Evil Queen muttered, wrinkling her nose. "Smells like common folk."

A driver in a sharp gray suit and sunglasses emerged, loaded our bags – Jay's carpetbag, Evie's suitcase and sewing machine (seriously?), and Carlos's giant black trash bag – into the trunk. Jay even managed to swipe the crown-shaped hood ornament before hopping in with Evie and Carlos. I handed the driver my bag, he slammed the trunk shut, and I took one last look up at the balcony. Mom gave me that "I'm watching you" look. I nodded back.

Then I got in.

The driver shut the door and muttered into a lapel mike, "The jackals have landed."

Mom and the others waved goodbye as the limo pulled away.  The villagers just stared.

Inside, the limo was…insane.  Buttons, gadgets, colored lights, every kind of candy imaginable, even a mini-fridge! Jay immediately ripped open the fridge. Evie and Carlos went nuts with the sound system and the candy.  They were pressing every button they could find.

Evie poked me with a makeup brush. "You're looking a little washed out."

"Ew, stop," I said, batting her away. "I'm plotting."

"Well, it's not very attractive," she said, crunching on a blue rock candy.

Carlos was stuffing his face with a peanut butter cup.  "Oh! These! It's salty like nuts but sweet like… I don't know what!"

"Let me see," Jay said, and Carlos actually opened his mouth to show him the half-eaten candy.  Jay took one and popped it in his mouth.

I clicked a remote, and the screen separating us from the driver slid open.

"Look!" Evie gasped, pointing.

We stared ahead at a ruined bridge, an impenetrable barrier, and…nothing but ocean. We were about to be driven straight into the water!  We all screamed. Carlos jumped on Jay, Evie clung to me.  We were terrified.

The driver pushed a button on his visor.  The limo hit the bridge, smashed through the barrier…and we didn't plunge into the sea.  A magnificent bridge appeared beneath us!  We were all so embarrassed by our panic. Jay peeled Carlos off him.

"What just happened?" Carlos asked, still shaken.

"It must be magic!" Evie breathed.

I tapped the wall behind the driver, holding up the remote. "Hey! Did this little button just open the magic barrier?"

"Nope," he said, pointing to the remote on his visor. "This one opens the magic barrier."  He gestured to the remote in my hand. "That one opens my garage. And this one…" He pushed a button, and the screen slid shut.

"Nasty. I like that guy," I said, grinning.

The limo crossed the bridge, which kept extending behind us, leaving no way back.  We were committed.  The driver pulled up in front of a sign that made my stomach churn:

WELCOME TO AURADON PREP.
GOODNESS DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER.

Ugh.  Just ugh.