Escape From The Ruins Of The Isle: A Descendants Novel

Chapter 2: League of Villains (Prerevision)

"That is true." Mal laughs. "She is very protective. I'm still surprised you got a new dress approved by her."

Evie smiled "It just took a little bit of strategic begging. Something my mother taught me well."

She turned in her sketchbook to the two pages for Mal's new look. She showed her an elegant gown with a full skirt in a purple silk with a black velvet swirled design. The center was a magenta with a similar pattern quilted in. The ruffled edges of the gown and sleeves were bordered in an emerald ribbon. A matching large choker was made of the emerald ribbon and the magenta fabric.

"Evelyn! This is gorgeous!" Mal gasped using her friend's full name. "It's everything I've ever wanted!"

"Shhhh you haven't even seen your new hair piece yet." Evie tries to quiet her and everyone looks at them. Evie coaxes her best friend to look at the other page.

"My hair piece?" Mal asks quizzically before gasping. "E, you didn't!"

"Oh I did" Evie smirked showing off the top hat fascinator she made for her best friend that was also trimmed with the emerald ribbon with purple and magenta roses and had a long black lace veil off the back of it.

"It's perfect!" Mal squeaked.

"If you could stop moving, I can do your hair." Drizella says rolling her eyes. "Dizzy! Get me the purple hair pins! Now!"

An auburn haired girl a few years younger then ran over to the supply cupboard. Like the rest of the salon room, her dress and apron were covered in die splatters. She retrieved a container of pins and brought them right over to her mother.

"Here mother" Dizzy hands them to her before running over to give her brother Hans a hug. He looked just like his father, but he truly cared for his younger sister.

"Hey Dizzy" Hans smiled setting his sword in the umbrella stand before picking her up in a spin hug. "How are your designs going?"

"Good, want to see?" Dizzy asks with a big smile. Taking her big brother's hand.

"Of course, Dizzy. I always love to see what you are doing?" Hans smiled letting his sister lead him away. Her puffy skirt flouncing as he led her away.

Mal smiled as she watched this display of a sibling bond. It reminded her of her own with Fabian. Like Hans and Dizzy, those two were inseparable. In fact, any time she was bullied or ridiculed, the guilty party had to answer to Fabian and much like their mother..... He was never merciful.

"Hey Mal" a familiar sweet voice cut in. Mal turned to see her other best friend, Cosette. For once she was without her twin brother, Claude. A fact which Mal thanked whatever higher power there was in the world for.

"There is Cosette" Deliliah smiled pulling Cosette into the chair at the other side of Mal. Dizzy's elder sister looked very much like her mother, especially when she work teal and lime green as she was now. In fact, those were the colors of the two ragged scarves holding her pin curls out of her face. "Mal, how is Fabian?"

"He's good" Mal smiled at Delilah noticing Cosette stiffen. As much as her blonde bestie hated to admit it, she was head over heels for Mal's older brother. Mal turned to her best friend who was already in her red dress. Which Mal knew that she hated with a passion. "Hey Cosette, Evie should design you a new dress. Like she did for me!"

"Really?" Cosette blushed. "And get rid of this raggy thing."

"Of course." Evie smiled. "You're my bestie too. Plus I love design guinea pigs!"

"There" Drizella smiled at Mal turning her around to see her new updo. "There's your new hair."

"Woah, I look so grown up!" Mal marvels looking in the mirror.

"Now let's go get you changed!" Evie squealed taking Mal's hand and dragged her towards the dressing room that had been set aside for her.

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A short while later, Mal took a deep breath as she looked down the stairs to the center of the bottom layer of the old Amphitheater style throne room. Her mother's throne sat there ominously made of black marble and draped with green, purple and magenta fabrics nestled around the stone statue of Diablo.

Just as with every parent's , there were seats for every child of those on the throne. But in her case, it was two uncomfortable slabs of black marble. But it wasn't the seat itself that Mal feared. It was becoming like her mother. Cold, cruel and selfish. Not having an ounce of mercy. And that fact alone scared her deeply.

She stepped down past all the six layers of the council until she reaches the center. She takes a deep breath as she sits upon her slab. The room already full of villains and their children. A buzz of fear and excitement came over the crowd. But a hush soon fell over them as Maleficent descended the stairs just as Mal just had. But there was a different presence as well.

Mal hated League meetings because they were fully focused on her mother and her ways. And she had to watch exactly what she reacted to because everyone was watching her and her brother. And every other kid in that inner circle. They were like a pack of hyenas looking for any sign of weakness.