Secret in the Heart ||Descendants|| (♡Ben)

4

The classroom was filled with a tense silence as Fairy Godmother posed another question. "If someone hands you a crying baby, do you A, curse it? B, lock it in a tower? C, give it a bottle? Or D, carve out its heart?" she asked, her tone as unwavering as her gaze. The villain kids were currently enduring remedial goodness 101, a class designed specifically for them after they failed to capture the Fairy Godmother's wand the previous evening. They were now resigned to attending school, and this was their punishment.

The students sat at their desks in the brightly lit classroom. Evie and Mal shared one desk, while Carlos, Jay, and Kara occupied another nearby. Kara had been absorbed in a book she'd brought from their dorm. The book, The Hobbit, features a hobbit named Bilbo and his quest with thirteen dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf to reclaim the mountain Erebor and its treasure. The book had intrigued her with its summary and the dragon on its cover.

Evie's hand shot up in response to the question. "Evie," Fairy Godmother acknowledged, nodding toward her. "What was the second option?"

Evie hesitated, then said, "Oh, okay. Anyone else?" she asked, scanning the room.

When no one else raised their hand, Fairy Godmother's gaze fell on Kara. "Kara?"

Without looking up from her book, Kara said, "C, give it a bottle."

"Correct. Again," Fairy Godmother responded, clearly pleased with the answer. "You are on fire, girl," Carlos said, his tone one of admiration. Kara glanced at him and smiled.

"Let me tell you my secret. Just pick the one that doesn't sound like any fun," Kara said with a grin.

"Ah," Carlos said, understanding dawning on him. "That makes so much sense."

Evie nodded in agreement. Jay, however, looked perplexed. "What, gorgeous, couldn't figure that out yourself?" Kara teased him.

Jay laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, I see. Beauty but no brains. What a shame," Kara said with a smirk. They locked eyes, initially bristling at each other, but soon the tension broke, and both burst into laughter.

Fairy Godmother cleared her throat loudly, regaining their attention. Just then, a girl in a light blue dress, adorned with a matching headband and bow, approached Fairy Godmother. She cast nervous glances over her shoulder at the villain kids as she walked.

"Hello, dear one," Fairy Godmother greeted her warmly.

"Hi," the girl replied softly.

"You need to sign off on early dismissal for the coronation," the girl said, handing Fairy Godmother a clipboard and pen. She eyed the villain kids with evident anxiety.

Kara nudged Carlos and Jay, subtly indicating the girl.

"Everyone here remembers my daughter, Jane?" Fairy Godmother said, her voice cheerful.

"Mom, no!" Jane responded in a panicked tone. Jay and Kara exchanged amused glances.

"It's okay. Jane, this is everyone," Fairy Godmother continued, handing back the clipboard and pen as she turned Jane to face the others. Jane looked visibly frightened. Fairy Godmother gave her a gentle push forward.

"Hi," Jane said nervously, her voice barely above a whisper. The villain kids simply stared at her in silence.

"That's okay, don't mind me, as you were," Jane said quickly, hurrying towards the door. She squealed as she maneuvered between the desks.

"Well, hello, Jane," Kara said softly, an evil smirk curling her lips. She and Jay exchanged a quick fist bump, acknowledging their shared amusement.

Fairy Godmother cleared her throat again. "Let's continue," she said firmly. She pointed her stick dramatically at the board. "You find a vial of poison! Do you A, put it in the king's wine? B, paint it on an apple? Or C, turn it over to the proper authorities?"