Rise of the Isle of the Lost (Descendants 3)

“Great!” said Jay, clapping his hands together. “Let’s go!”

“But we have to be really careful that we don’t get caught,” said Mal, as they hurried out of the cafeteria together.

Jay shook his head. “Come on, it’s me! Just a few months ago I was the best thief on the Isle of the Lost. And did I ever get caught?”

They all had to admit the answer was no.

Jay almost felt nostalgic as they made their way down to Belle’s Harbor that night. Getting past the guards stationed at the entrance to the royal marina was easy. They had done enough slinking and scurrying around in the shadows on the Isle of the Lost that they were experts in hugging walls, crouching, and scampering when someone was looking the other way. They ran down the gravel path toward the water, coming to a stop right at the gate before the dock.

“It’s locked,” said Mal, tugging on the handle.

“Not a problem,” said Jay with a smile, as he held up his trusty pin. He was enjoying being able to indulge in his old bad habits once more. But as much as he twisted and turned and shook the pin inside the lock, it wouldn’t open. “Huh,” he said. “That’s never happened before.” He removed his beanie in frustration.

“Let’s just climb over it,” said Jay, already scampering up the iron mesh. The rest of them tried to do the same, but the gate was too tall, and the steel cut painfully into the palms of their hands. Even Jay had to quit halfway up the gate.

Carlos slid down with a yelp, and Evie almost twisted her ankle trying to get a foothold.

“This isn’t going to work,” said Mal, trying to stop the bleeding on her knuckles.

Jay kicked at a pebble, frustrated.

Mal looked around to make sure there was no one around. “Step aside, I’ll just spell it open.” She removed her mother’s trusty spell book from her pack and paged to the right incantation.

“Toad’s breath and vampire’s tickle, open up this door a little!”

The gate swung open an inch, and Mal smiled.

“Nice work,” said Jay, pushing the door open. “After you, ladies.”

Evie looked concerned as she stepped through the gate. “Mal, you’re really using that spell book more than you should.”

“I’ll stop after today, I promise,” said Mal, as Jay and Carlos followed after them and ran ahead to check out the different kinds of boats.

“Which one do we want?” asked Jay, as there were sailing and motor vessels of all kinds. He rubbed his hands in glee at all there was for the taking. There were cabin cruisers, sleek sailing catamarans, fishing trawlers complete with outriggers, and even a hydroplane.

“I don’t know, just something that will get us there fast,” said Mal.

“How about this one?” asked Jay, whistling at the sight of the crowning glory of the royal collection, a fancy two-hundred-foot yacht complete with a helicopter pad on the top deck.

“We’re not taking that,” said Mal.

“Why not?” Jay asked, annoyed. He was already picturing himself in the captain’s seat, and he would bet there was a sweet royal Jacuzzi up there.

“It’s the royal yacht,” said Mal. “It’s saved for only special occasions. Ben would kill us.”

“Fine,” he said, sulking.

“Hey guys, how about this one?” Carlos called from farther down the dock.

They rounded the corner and found Carlos grinning from a sleek black speedboat with the royal insignia on the side. BEAST’S FURY was carved in gold on the stern.

“It looks fast,” said Jay, hopping on.

“Faster than a pirate ship, hopefully,” said Mal. “Uma cannot have that trident. Who knows what she’d want for it!”

“She’ll want to get off the island for sure,” said Evie.

“And we cannot have her rampaging around Auradon,” said Mal. “Think of the trouble she’d stir up.”