Evie returned the girl’s up-and-down gaze. “Not mine,” she said coolly. “My mother and I hardly came into town. Actually, make that never.”
“Sorry, don’t you guys know each other?” Mal asked, to make up for the awkward silence that ensued. “Maddy, this is my friend Evie, and Evie, this is Maddy. We grew up together.”
“Yeah, Carlos told me,” Evie said.
“We liked to hex our dolls together,” said Maddy. She smiled sweetly at Carlos. “Hey, Mal, remember when we covered Hell Hall in fake spiders?” she asked. “Or were they real?”
“They were real and real dead,” said Mal, laughing at the memory. “It took forever to collect so many!”
Carlos squirmed in his seat. “Yeah, that was fun, not really,” he muttered.
“Carlos screamed so loud when he saw them, I thought he would wake up Cruella,” Maddy cackled, and put up her hand for a high five, which Mal slapped with gusto.
Mal and Maddy were still laughing over their past exploits, which Evie found highly annoying. They hadn’t returned to the island to gossip with old prank-mates. Plus, they shouldn’t be making fun of Carlos. Evie realized she wasn’t looking at Auradon Mal. This was Dragon-Hall Mal, the sneering, scary girl who used to stomp through the island with a scowl and a can of spray paint. Evie cleared her throat to get their attention. “So, Maddy, do you guys have any idea where my mom is? Or Carlos’s? We just went home and they were nowhere to be found.”
Maddy crumpled her napkin and pushed her bowl away just as a goblin came by and grumpily reminded them that there was no lingering at the tables.
“You really don’t know?” she asked coyly.
“No, we really don’t,” said Evie, who had had it with this girl’s snickering innuendo. Maddy was acting as if she knew a wicked secret and wouldn’t share.
“Do you know anything?” Mal asked Maddy.
Maddy shrugged. “No one knows anything about anything.” She continued to eat her pudding, a sly smile on her face.
Evie didn’t like the girl, but even if she did, she knew Maddy was lying. She knew something about where Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella de Vil had gone, that was for sure. Was she in cahoots with them and this Anti-Heroes club? Evie wouldn’t put it past her.
It was almost time to head over to the Anti-Heroes meeting, and Evie felt herself break out in a cold sweat, imagining what was in store for them. Evil Schemes was only a class taught at Dragon Hall, but Cruella de Vil, Evil Queen, and Jafar could spin an evil scheme in their sleep. They lived and breathed for malice and revenge. Who knew what kind of terrible surprise their parents had cooked up for their return?
Chad Charming wasn’t particularly happy to have been woken up at dawn on a Sunday, and was still complaining about it as Ben drove them down the Auradon Coast Highway that morning in the royal convertible. The handsome prince groused that he had been up late from Castlecoming festivities the night before, and what was so important that they had to leave this early?
“Really, old man, why on earth are we going to Charmington? Mom’s going to freak when we get there; you know she likes to have everything sparkling clean for a royal visit,” said Chad.
“I told you, I have an early meeting with the grand duke about the upcoming ball,” said Ben, who wasn’t about to tell Chad about the dragon menace just yet. “And you know the fastest way to get there.”
“Fine,” said Chad, leaning back in the passenger seat. “Keep on this lane and then exit at Belle’s Harbor, then we can take the back roads until you get to the Stately Chateau.”
Ben did as directed, glad that Charmington Cove wasn’t stuck in the past like Camelot, and he could actually drive his own car without the burden of the full royal entourage. If he could have taken his motorbike, he would have, but the sporty coupe was fun to drive too. Plus, he’d been meaning to talk to Chad about something.
“Hey, Chad,” he said. “What’s up between you and Jay lately? Have you been giving him a hard time?”
Chad snorted. “Those villain kids are getting big heads, don’t you think? Strutting around Auradon like they own it. Someone’s got to put them in their place.”
“Their place is in Auradon now,” said Ben angrily. “Look, man, they’re just trying to fit in. Give it a rest, will you?”
Chad squirmed in his seat but he nodded and said he would.
Ben relaxed his hold on the steering wheel, satisfied. As pompous a prince as Chad was, he wasn’t a complete jester.
They arrived at Charming Castle by noon. Chad hollered for his parents, but was told they were out running errands for the upcoming ball and wouldn’t be back till late.
While Chad went up to his room to get some more sleep, Ben met with the grand duke, who was in charge while the royals were away. The duke was polishing his monocle in his receiving room when Ben was announced. He bowed to Ben and offered him a seat on one of the tufted red velvet chairs across the large inlaid table.
“You got my message last night?” Ben asked. “I’m sorry for the rush.”
“Oh yes, Sire,” said the grand duke, his mustache quivering. “As you requested, I sent messengers throughout our kingdom to see if anyone else had encountered such a creature. My men are very thorough, and they understand this is just as high a priority as Operation Glass Slipper. According to your note, we are looking for any sign of a purple dragon, am I correct?” He cupped his mouth and whispered, “Like Maleficent?”
“Unconfirmed for now,” said Ben. “As far as we know, she remains safely locked away in the library.”