Second Star to the Right; Book 3 in Love is Weakness, (Carlos De Vil) Series

What Happened to Those Days?

The following day Carlos had told Raven that he needed to talk to Hartley. He needed closure.

Raven, although apprehensive, was accepting. She wouldn't stand in the way of the son of Cruella De Vil. He was still struggling to unravel his past and make peace with it.

Hartley had finally woken up from the effects of the Neverland herbs. She was released from the prison infirmary, with a few patched up electrical burns, and fresh stitches closing the flesh wound made by Raven's arrow. She was given the privilege of cleaning herself in the infirmary shower, before being led to her prison cell. Her fierce makeup had been scrubbed clean, revealing pale and youthful skin. She was now wearing black sweats, provided by the prison. Her hair was up in a simple high ponytail, away from her face. Fresh and clean, seemingly normal and pure. But, her blue jeweled eyes, contained a darkness that could not as easily be removed.

"Who... who's there? Let me out of here!" She demanded, hearing the squeak of the door.

Carlos stepped out of the shadows.

"Relax, Hart, it's just me." He assured her, carefully.

Hartley looked down at the ground, avoiding his face, her hands squeezing the bars of the cell.

"How's the arm?" He asked, referring to where Raven shot her with an arrow.

"I'll live." She muttered, nonchalant.

"You look...wow. Like you did when we were kids." He said, to the disgraced Princess.

"Did you come here just to gawk at me?" She snapped at him.

"No, it was just... an observation." He murmured, trying to keep her calm.

"Why are you here then? You won. Go have your happily ever after!" She spat, in her sickly-sweet voice.

"I really...don't know. I just wanted to tell you, that even though you don't care... I forgive you." Carlos expressed, sincerely.

"You're right, I don't care." She grumbled, looking down and away.

"You...you said, that you made a mistake back there. Are you sorry for what happened?" He asked.

"If I was sorry, I would never say it. It's just not something I'm capable of." Hartley replied, with a scoff. "Hades! What does that even mean, anyways?"

"Yeah, Villain. I get it. I never thought that forgiving you would be possible either, but here we are." He countered, with a shrug.

"Well, I hope that makes you feel all better! I'm a failure. I'm insane. And, I have nothing left." She muttered.

"We're all mad here...at least sometimes." Quipped Carlos.

"Cheshire used to say that... " She replied, with a small smile, not quite meeting her eyes.

"I remember you saying that too, when we were kids." He explained.

"What are you looking for here, Carlos?" Hartley challenged him.

He shrugged, and released a soft sigh.