Return to the Isle of the Lost (9 page)

Mal considered this. “You know, you might be right.”

T
he biggest barrier—literally and figuratively—in their plan to return to the Isle of the Lost was the invisible dome that covered the island. There was no way in or out of the island without the king’s permission. Of course, it would have been easy enough to ask for Ben’s help, except he was out of town. Also Mal didn’t want the king to have to answer to his councillors and his subjects if they learned he’d allowed four villain kids to return to the Isle of the Lost now that the borders were guarded more rigorously than ever after Maleficent’s attack. The recent embargo meant most of the goblin barges that brought in supplies and leftovers to the Isle had been blocked, and the few that were allowed through were being monitored very closely.

Hence Jay had decided on stealing the royal limousine for their escape. The only problem was how to get hold of the car without being caught.

Luckily, the one person who could help him had already issued an invitation. Jordan had asked him to stop by her lamp that afternoon. She was recording a new episode of her popular online show and planned to interview him as one of Auradon’s Top Tourney players in the lead-up to the Castlecoming game that weekend.

Jay followed her directions to the lamp, which was kept on a special shelf in the residence halls. Jordan’s lamp was smaller than her father’s, made of rose gold with delicate filigree carvings all over its surface. Jay wondered if he should pick it up and decided not to. Instead he called down into the lamp’s spout. “Hello in there! Jordan?”

“Just rub the front and you’ll pop in,” he heard Jordan yell from inside. “No need to shout! I can hear you loud and clear!”

He did as told and soon found himself comfortably seated on a pink velvet footstool across from a small octagonal coffee table. Green columns painted with gold swirls circled the spacious room, and heavy blue curtains draped dramatically from the ceiling. A striking purple-and-gold Oriental rug was centered on the floor, and peacock feathers were arranged in vases all around. “Neat,” he said. “It’s bigger than it looks.”

“Thanks, I like my space,” said Jordan, who was seated across from him on a purple footstool.

“Is it annoying that this is all the magic you can use at school?” Jay asked, picking up one of the many stuffed pillows.

“Not really,” said Jordan. “I’m actually glad for the restrictions. Magic can be wildly unpredictable, so even though it’s fun, it’s nice to have a break from it sometimes.”

“So no more granting wishes, huh?” he teased.

“Not today, anyway,” she said cheerfully. “Ready for your interview?”

“Hit me,” Jay said.

Jordan snapped her fingers and the lights went on. “Welcome to
TourneyCenter
!” she said, smiling into the camera. “Today we have Jay, a star player on Auradon’s Knights! Jay, so glad you could join us!”

“Great to be here, Jordan.”

“Are you excited about the upcoming game? Do you think the team is ready to win the tournament?” she asked.

“Very excited, and I think we’re more than ready.”

“The Lost Boys have a killer defense; how do you think the Knights will succeed?”

“The way we always do: we run hard, we dodge the cannons, we make the goals.”

“You’re confident.”

“I am, I know our team.”

“What about the rumors that King Ben won’t be back in time to play the game? We’ve heard he left earlier this week on some secret official business,” Jordan said keenly. “Can you tell us anything about that?”

“I can’t speak to the rumors, but I know Ben wouldn’t want to let us down. I hope he makes it back in time, but if not, we’ll carry on.”

“I’m sure you will,” she said, rifling through her index cards for the next question. She smiled back up at the camera. “One of the things we like to do on
TourneyCenter
is to get to know our players better. Can you tell us a little about yourself?”

“Well, I’m Jay, son of Jafar. I grew up on the Isle of the Lost, but I think everyone knows that by now.”

“That’s right, you’re one of the so-called villain kids. When did you move here?” she asked.

Jay perked up at the question. “At the start of the school year. A big old limousine picked us up and dropped us off at Auradon Prep’s front door.”

“How fancy,” said Jordan, leaning forward with a smile.

“Sure was. The amount of candy they have in the back of that thing, I’ve got to tell you, Jordan, I wish I had the keys to that limo in my pocket right now,” he said, rubbing his stomach.

“Jay! You know the rules!” Jordan said, looking worried. “You can’t say the word
wish
in my lamp. Otherwise…Check your pocket for the keys. You’ll have to return…” She trailed off as the entire room went topsy-turvy, and the two of them were thrown across the lamp like rag dolls.

“Must have been another earthquake,” said Jordan, struggling to right herself and her footstool. Lamps had crashed, pillows and peacock feathers were scattered everywhere. “They’re so annoying! Every time one hits, my lamp falls on the floor. When you leave would you mind putting it back on the shelf?”

“Not at all,” said Jay with a smile, noticing she had forgotten all about the limousine keys. He felt guilty for deliberately deceiving Jordan, and tricking her into using her magic. But since it was for a good cause, maybe that was okay? The villain kids were just trying to protect Auradon from harm. He’d have to ask Fairy Godmother about it next time in Remedial Goodness class.

Jordan wrapped up the interview and thanked him for stopping by.

As Jay walked back toward campus, the keys to the royal limousine jingled in his pocket.

S
aturday morning dawned bright and early, and Mal woke up with the sun. She’d been unable to sleep the night before, thinking about the day to come. Tonight they would return to the Isle of the Lost to confront this sinister Anti-Heroes organization most likely headed up by the biggest villains in the land.
We can do this; we have to,
she thought to herself, but a small, worried part of her was anxious just the same.

“I’m terrified too,” Evie said, when she saw the look on Mal’s face as they got ready for the day. “But like you said, we can handle it.”

“I think Jay said that.”

“Yes, but we all know you’re the one who’s going to make it happen,” Evie said confidently. “And if you don’t, well, at least your lip gloss won’t fade.” She handed Mal a jar full of a purple tint. “You know what my mom always says, beauty is as beauty is.”

Mal smiled at Evie and Evie smiled at Mal. It was wonderful to have supportive friends, especially when they were good at conjuring up cosmetics. Mal carefully applied the gloss, liking the way it matched her purple varsity jacket. She told Evie she’d meet her at the game and headed over to the library to check on Maleficent one last time before they left.

Her mother was curled around a rock. She looked so tiny and helpless that it was hard to imagine how she could have anything to do with the mischief that was going down on the Isle. “If there’s anything you want to say to me, if you can change back, you should let me know, Mom,” she told the tiny lizard.

But Maleficent just kept sleeping on her warm rock.

“Fine,” said Mal. “I’ll see you when I get back.”

She left the library and walked to breakfast. The entire campus was festooned with balloons and banners, a lively feeling in the air as students walked around with their parents. She saw Audrey with her mother, Aurora, poring over the class pictures that hung in the hallways. Doug was taking a family of dwarfs on a prospective students’ tour. “This is where we have choir practice. I’m sure your kids will love singing in it,” Mal overheard him say proudly.

For a brief moment, Mal wished she could be one of those kids showing off the school to their parents, but Maleficent had never even once attended a villain–teacher conference back at Dragon Hall, and it was futile to think she would find anything to admire about Auradon Prep.

But she didn’t have time to worry about feeling out of place on Castlecoming day. Friendly students mobbed her, eager to introduce her to their parents.

“Come meet my parents!” said Lonnie, introducing her to Mulan and Li Shang.

“Mother, this is Mal! I told you all about her!” said Allie, who pulled Alice away from admiring the students’ artwork displayed on the walls.

Mal shook so many hands and smiled so much her dimples were starting to hurt. People in Auradon were so nice, it was a little exhausting. She wished Ben were back already. He was still out of town, and he’d let her know he was sorry, but he wouldn’t make it back in time for the tourney game or the dance after all. Mal was surprised to find that she was actually quite disappointed about it, but at least she and Evie would still have fun. Mal would never admit it out loud, but dancing with her friends was nearly as good as going on a date with the King of Auradon.

“Mal, over here!” Evie called from the other end of the hall. Mal joined her side and they walked together to the tourney stadium. The band was already playing the Auradon fight song as they found their seats.

Evie handed her a piece of white silk.

“What’s this for?” Mal asked, noticing that everyone else in the nearby crowd had one. The stands on the Auradon side were full of people holding the white silk streamers, waving them gaily about.

“To cheer on our knights, duh,” replied Evie, waving hers.

Mal inspected it closely. “Hankies?”

“It’s what ladies used to wave at their knights, you know, back when they had real tourneys, with horses. They used to call it ‘waving their colors.’ Don’t you remember? We learned it in class.”

The Royal History of Auradon, Mal recalled now. She waved her white hankie, though really, this practice probably should have stayed behind in the Middle Ages. The crowd cheered when the Auradon Knights took the field; Mal and Evie hooted loudly when Jay and Carlos were introduced.

Carlos waved, smiling behind his helmet, and Jay gave them a thumbs-up. Chad was nowhere in the starting lineup and pouted from the bench.

The game was a close one. Without Ben to help Jay with the tourney plays, the Lost Boys nearly defeated the Knights on their home turf, but in the end Jay set up Carlos for the winning score, and the stands exploded in celebration.

“I’m glad we decided to stay for the game,” Mal told Evie. “Jay was right, we needed to be here.”

The girls went back to their rooms to change into their dresses for the dance. “Remember, we’re only staying for a little bit, then we leave and change into Lonnie’s and Audrey’s gowns, and meet the boys in the parking lot,” said Mal as she fluffed up her lavender skirts in the mirror. The dress had just enough volume without being fussy, and the dark leather cap sleeves were embellished with tiny black crystals, which meant they shimmered in the light but didn’t look princessy.

“Right,” said Evie, sounding doubtful.

“Evie!” Mal said. “What’s the matter? This is the plan.”

“But let’s not go so soon, okay? Can’t we have a little fun at least?” she wheedled, until Mal had to agree. “I promised Doug we’d dance the Heigh-Ho Slide.”

“Does he know about our plan?” Mal asked. She hadn’t forbidden the group to tell anyone, but had assumed they wouldn’t.

“No, I didn’t tell him. I don’t want him to have to lie for me.” Evie straightened her tiara and took a deep breath. “Plus, I don’t want him to worry. As far as he’ll know, I’ll be leaving the dance with a bad stomachache and then I’ll be in my room with the flu all weekend like we agreed.”

“I’m sorry we have to go so soon,” said Mal. “I know how much you love dances. You really do look like—”

“The Fairest?” asked Evie with a cheeky grin.

“Let’s just say every princess at that dance is definitely safe from a huntsman tonight,” said Mal.

“Okay, let’s do this,” said Evie. They linked arms and headed out the door.

The ballroom was festooned with so many balloons that it was hard to see the top of the ceiling. Gold bunting and blue ribbons hung everywhere.

“It’s perfect.” Evie sighed.

“That is a whole lot of balloons,” Mal said.