Chapter Eight

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything and everyone else is either owned by Disney or the Greek Myths.

Thank you all so much for your continued support, I can't believe how close we are to 100 reviews!

Hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter out before the New Year but if I don't, hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas if you celebrate it and may 2021 be a whole lot better than 2020 was!

Please enjoy-and let me know what you think! :D

Hadie couldn't help but smile as he sat down at the table next to Alexandria Charming, one of his new friends since arriving in Auradon. He had been working at a different table but had gladly changed tables to be able to work with his friend. Also it worked to make sure he was still following the first rule of the Isle: never be alone.

He may have been fairly sheltered on the Isle, what with being Mal's brother and Uma's cousin, but even he knew the rules of the Isle. The crew had trained him, CJ, and the other younger members on the rules whenever they got.

It had been annoying but if it was a choice between annoying and potentially deadly, Hadie would pick annoying every chance he got. Besides, the quizzes got easier after Harriet wrote the rules down and made small booklets for them to study. They were some of the few books they had on the Isle that were relatively new, all in all there were probably about twenty books in total but maybe five were still usable.

Though the sorry state of the other fifteen could be blamed on morons like the Gaston twins and even a few of their own. Not all of the Warf Rats liked reading as a way to pass the time. However, with the never-ending turf war between the Rats and the Angels, Hadie couldn't exactly blame them.

You wouldn't win in a face off against an Angel by quoting from a book while they were wielding a dagger.

It pays to be friends with CJ, he thought. There was no way Mal would have given me any of that information. Her constant quest to keep me innocent I suppose. Never mind the fact that I did have to live on the Isle too.

"You okay?" Alexandria asked, looking at him and bringing him back to the conversation at hand. "No offense but you're not your usual chatty self. I know it's the library but you can still talk you know."

"I'm fine," Hadie said with a small shrug. "I was…I was just thinking about the Isle."

"Oh," Alexandria said and they were quiet for a bit as they worked. Before long though Alexandria broke the silence. "What's it like? The Isle I mean? I tried asking Kitty, Lucy and Chad about it before you all arrived but Chad wouldn't answer and I feel like the answer Kitty and Lucy gave were just sanitized versions."

"The curse of being the younger sibling huh? They're always trying to keep the world bright and shiny for you?"

"Oh Gods, yes! Someone who knows my pain!" Alexandria chuckled as she shook her head. "We should form a club. You, me, Phillip Jr., Ashaki, Melody, and Neal White. I'm sure there are other younger siblings around here we could invited to join too."

"That'd be fun," Hadie grinned, brushing a bit of his blue hair out of his eyes. "It'd be like our own pirate crew. You'd be captain of course."

"Why not you? I thought guys were captain." Alexandria said, tilting her head a little in confusion as she brushed a bit of her long blonde hair out of her face.

Hadie rolled his eyes. "Mal and Uma were co-captains back on the Isle. In fact, I don't think they ever stopped considering Jay and Harry still call them 'captains'. Harry's older sister Harriet is the captain of her crew, and I think Red Jessica of the Rose would have words with you if she was still alive."

Unfortunately, not even Mal could keep that sort of information from him. When people had their souls enter the Underworld. Came with the territory, his father being who he was. He was sure Mal was the same way even if she never mentioned it.

"Okay okay," Alexandria said as she shook her head once more, the hair she'd just brushed out of her face falling back into her eyes. "So, what? You'd be my first mate?"

"Gladly," Hadie grinned, happy that the slightly morbid subject of death had been changed to one he was more than happy to talk about. Ironic, considering his father was the God of the Dead. "I can ask Harry how to be a decent one. Besides, you're a Princess. It wouldn't be right for you not to be in charge."

"Hadie, you're the son of two Gods. If we're going by rank as to determine who's in charge of our hypothetical club, it should be you then."

Hadie shook his head. "I'm not the leading type. That's Mal's role after all. Like I said, she and Uma lead the crew back on the Isle. Harry was first mate and Jay was right under him."

Alexandria nodded, chewing a bit on her pen as she thought for a moment. It hadn't escaped her knowledge that Hadie hadn't answered her question about what the Isle was like. It wasn't as if he wouldn't know, as he had lived on the Isle his whole life. It really could only mean one thing; that the Isle was the type of place you had to experience rather than describe.

"Well, well, well, isn't this cute? Honestly Alexandria, I thought you'd have better standards as to who your boyfriend was. I mean, I know he can only move upwards but you have your rank to think about."

Alexandria rolled her eyes and turned to face Audrey who was accompanied by a couple of her lackeys. "One, he's not my boyfriend and two, don't you have something better to do? Like break my brother's heart for the fiftieth time?"

"Your brother knows where my feelings lie," Audrey said, waving her hand in front of her face as if shooing a bothersome bug. "Whats more it's not really any of your business what my plans with him are now is it?"

"You stuck your nose in my business, only fair I get to do the same with yours." Alexandria shrugged, turning back to resume work on the essay in front of her.

"Oh Alex, sweet little Alex," Audrey said shaking her head as a couple of her cronies tittered in amusement. Hadie was honestly reminded of some of the brainless wonders back on the Isle. What were their names? Mal and Uma loved to rant about them almost as much as they ranted about Evie...oh that's right! Maddy, Quinn and Morgan. Half of Zevon's gang and one of Freddy's Angels. No wait…if they survived the Isle then they had to have something in their heads. The jury was out on whether the same could be said for Audrey's cronies.

"It's clear you still don't understand how hierarchies work," Audrey said, pulling Hadie's attention back onto the conversation rather than spend his brain power trying to determine if the other girls had brains of their own or if they operated on a pure hive mind. "You see, as someone who is first in line for their throne, I'm well within my right to inquire about your business. A Queen has to know about her subjects after all. But you, little miss…what was it again?"

"Fourth in line," Alexandria muttered, looking like she would rather be dragged over rocks than have this conversation.

Audrey smirked as her two yes-women once again giggled in cruel amusement. "That's right, you're fourth in line for your throne. Well then, my business just isn't any concern of yours."

Throughout the entire exchange, Hadie had been telling himself not to get involved. Mal could deal with Audrey if it turned nasty. But seeing Alexandria upset like she was…he couldn't hold his tongue any longer.

"That doesn't seem fair," Hadie said, raising an eyebrow as both royals looked over at him. "So what, you can just interfere in the business of anyone lower ranked than you?"

"Glad to see someone gets it," Audrey nodded.

Hadie smirked a little. "So why won't you leave Mal alone? Considering she's the daughter of a God, I'd think that would be higher on the ranking scale than a mere princess. Oh, no offense Alex."

"None taken," Alexandria said with a small smile. Normally she hated it when people who weren't related to her shortened her name like that but she was fine with Hadie doing that. Especially since he was in the process of taking down Audrey.

Audrey rolled her eyes but was preventing from speaking as a familiar voice entered the fray.

"Step away from my brother Audrey," Mal snapped as she walked up to the three of them, her eyes narrowed in such a way that would have spelled trouble to anyone with half a brain. "Gods, you know, going up to Ben is one thing. But you can't leave well enough alone now can you?"

"It's a library and I saw someone I knew Mal. Not my fault she was sitting next to your half brother," Audrey said, faking an innocent tone in her voice.

"And I've told you about ten times to stay away from my sisters while we're on our break Audrey," Chad said as he too entered into the conversation. Good thing too, as Mal looked ready to either hit Audrey with a fireball or just haul off and slug her. "Unless this is your way of saying you want to get back together?"

Audrey rolled her eyes. "Chad, I told you about fifty times. I belong with Ben. You were just a way to bounce back while he recovered from whatever spell Mal had him under."

"Audrey. Ben. Can't. Be. Spelled," Mal said, going slow as if to make sure she heard every word. "You were betrothed to the guy and you don't know that? Hell, even if you personally didn't know that, it has to be a matter of public record! It's only the christening of the Crown Prince we're talking about—plus one of the fairies who your mother considers an aunt was the one to give the gift!"

"If anyone could spell Ben, Mal, I bet it'd be you. Daughter of Hades and Maleficent after all," Audrey scoffed, her lackeys murmuring in agreement. "Chad, I'll see you at lunch."

With that, she turned around and stormed off. Mal rolled her eyes as she saw Chad staring after Audrey rather forlornly. If Mal was being generous, she'd say Chad looked almost like a kicked puppy.

"Geez, Charming Jr., get better taste in women," Mal scoffed. She'd have felt sorry for him if he hadn't strung Evie along and made her do his homework. Back then, the only one who could mess with Evie was Mal. Now though? Evie was under her protection. No one was messing with the blue haired VK, not even Mal. "She said to your face that she only saw you as a rebound and you still want her?"

Chad shrugged slightly before turning to his sister. "Alex, you okay?"

"I'm fine Chad," Alexandria nodded. "She didn't do anything, just spewed some nonsense about rankings and how she could poke her nose in my business but I couldn't do the same because I'm fourth in line for the Charmington throne."

"Besides, we were fine even if you two didn't step in," Hadie added.

"What makes you say that little bro?"

"Because Uma and Harry were about two shelves to the right of us," Hadie said, pointing at them. "It's a shame, they've lived on the Isle yet they can't sneak up on people."

"How in the world did you know we were there?" Uma asked as she stepped out from behind the bookshelf.

"You're the only person in Auradon with teal hair and Harry breathes so loudly, I could have hit him with a fireball in the dark," Hadie said, rolling his eyes. "Plus I heard him whisper that all the girls in this school are ravishing."

"Uma, control your first mate," Mal sighed as she shook her head.

"Gladly," Uma nodded as she whacked Harry over the head.

"What? I can't even notice when a girl is good looking anymore?!"

"Not around Hadie!" Mal and Uma snapped in unison.

Hadie rolled his eyes. "You guys do know I'm eleven, not three right? I can handle Harry saying girls are good looking."

Alexandria chuckled softly before looking at Chad. "And I thought you, Kitty and Lucy were overprotective."

"It's the role of an older sibling," Chad said with a nod. "I'm going to go then. Alex, you're sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure Chad," Alexandria nodded. "Don't worry, I won't write to mom and dad with a different story."

"When's the last time you wrote to mom or dad?"

"Fine, I won't call mom and dad with a different story. Happy?"

"Insanely," Chad nodded before walking off. Alexandria rolled her eyes.

"Brothers," she muttered. "Can't live with 'em, they'll drive you insane if you try."

Harry chuckled. "Now, now, Charmette, don't lump all us brothers in with yours."

"Harry, you once tried to run Freddy boy through with your sword because he made a comment about CJ," Uma stated.

"The runt was thirteen at the time and considering what Freddy boy is like, I was well within my right to try to run him through! If Jay, Derek and Jake hadn't held me back, I would have!"

"We don't murder people Harry!"

"Making sure Freddy never saw the light of day again is more like a public service Uma!"

"Since when do we preform 'public services' on the Isle?"

"Guys, I hate to be that person but this is the library," Mal sighed. "If you're going to stay here, you're going to keep your voice down."

"Thank you Mal!" Hadie nodded. "Come on guys, I don't want to get kicked out of here! Again."

"Again? Meaning you've been kicked out of the library already?" Mal asked.

"Harry tried to start a sparring lesson with a ruler last week," Hadie shrugged. Alexandria blinked in surprise at how he was acting like that sort of behavior was normal.

And yet, from what she'd seen, it probably was.

Uma sighed and shook her head, leaning over to ruffle Hadie's hair. "Fine you little bookworm. I'll behave. But only because you're my cousin."

"Gee, thanks," Hadie muttered as he tried to straighten his hair back out.

Harry chuckled. "Now that we know the little Lord is safe, shall we go and get some sparring practice in, cap'n?"

"Why that sounds lovely Harry. Mali, you in?"

"As much fun as that sounds you guys, I did just spar Uma today and I do have some homework I'd like to get done before lunch."

"Nope, you're coming with us. You need a dose of the Isle and stat."

"Cap'n's right Mal. I mean, you're already missing your jacket. You stay here in Boreadon without us for much longer and you'll be wearing a dress all the time and changing your hair!"

"There's nothing wrong with dresses," Alexandria spoke up as she brushed some lint from the skirt of her baby blue dress. "Though I do admit, they'd look weird on Mal. It'd be if my sister Kitty wore dresses all the time. Now if it were Lucy, that'd be a different story."

"Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"You're rambling," Hadie told her. "But Harry's right Mal. Where is your jacket? You normally never take it off."

"As I told Uma earlier when she asked back at our dorm, I got hot. It happens a lot around here," Mal shrugged, trying to ignore the feeling of goosebumps forming on her skin. Even with the heated buildings, the cold from the outside still seeped into her bones. It didn't help that the library was oddly enough the coldest building in Auradon Prep.

Mal didn't know why that was, she didn't know how that was but she would go to her grave stating that it was the coldest building on campus. Well…if Gods had graves. Or Fae for that matter.

No, bad thoughts. Remember you're trying to distance yourself from Maleficent. You won't get people to stop making comparisons between you and Maleficent if you're doing it yourself, Mal thought.

"Well I'll let you guys get back to work," Mal said with a small nod of her head. "Uma, Harry, don't kill each other sparring."

"Mal, you wound us!"

Mal rolled her eyes and walked off. Uma watched as her cousin turned the corner and then, as soon as she was satisfied that Mal was out of earshot, turned to Harry and Hadie.

"Look, either I'm crazy or Mal's changed," she said.

"Well why can't it be both?" Hadie asked and then quickly dodged a whack on the head from his older cousin. "You're right though Uma. Mal loves her jacket, she's always had it on since I can remember."

"You don't think something happened to it?"

"Like what? A sleeve ripped or something?"

"Maybe she tore a stitch in it when she threw that dagger at Audrey?"

"Maybe it was getting a bit tight?" Alexandria offered and the other three jumped a smidge, forgetting the youngest Charming was still there. "I mean, Mal's still plenty lean but from what my sisters told me, the original VKs were very lean when they got here. A change in diet…"

"Mal could have just spelled her jacket to be bigger, or asked mom for a new one," Hadie pointed out. "Also weren't you here when Mal, Jay and the others arrived?"

"Yeah but Chad and Kitty interacted with them more. That was actually probably the first time I'd interacted with Mal."

"Ah. But going back to the topic at hand, what's going on with Mal?"

"You could try talking to her?"

Uma shook her head. "Tried that. Speaking of talking, though, Hadie? Your mind link? Does Mal have you on mute too?"

"I thought it was just me," Hadie said, sounding a bit relieved.

"Mind link—?"

"The Olympians have an ability where they can communicate mentally to each other," Hadie explained to a confused looking Alexandria. "Since it's not 'evil' so to speak, the barrier can't stop it. I was able to communicate with Mal using it when I was back on the Isle and she was here."

"Same," Uma nodded. "But for the past month, Mal's had me on mute. I'm tempted to ask Aunt Steph and Uncle Hades if they've been on mute too but that would just worry them."

"Have you tried talking to the other Olympian children?" Alexandria suggested. "Like Elle or Macaria? Wouldn't they be able to communicate through this mental link too, since Elle's Poseidon's great-granddaughter and Macaria is Zeus' granddaughter?"

Uma sighed. As much as she really did not want to talk to her cousins on this side of the barrier, there might not be much of a choice. If something was going on with Mal's mental link, those brainless Olympians and Atlanticans might know something Uma didn't.

The joys of living in Auradon and having full access to their abilities. Not for the first time in her life did Uma curse the fact she'd been born under the magical barrier.

But Uma would swallow her pride and talk to them if it meant at least one mystery could be solved. If one of the brainless wonders could access Mal's mental link, then that meant that her cousin had her on mute.

And if that was the case, then Uma would have no choice but to get Aunt Steph involved. Because that meant that something was going on with Mal, something she didn't want Uma to know about.

Mali, you'd better hope Jerkules' or Princess Sushi's kids can't access your mental link. Otherwise, it's a nonstop call to your mom.

"So…are you guys going to go spar or just stand over our table in an awkward silence?" Hadie asked, looking at his cousin and her first mate.

Uma shook her head slightly, her cousin's words pulling her out of her thoughts and back to the situation at hand.

"Ah! Right you are, my young Lordling," Harry nodded.

Hadie rolled his eyes. "You've been calling me that since I was three Harry! You outrank me!"

"You're a God. I'm a Pirate."

"You're first mate. I'm just crew."

"And I'm just a fourth in line Princess who'd like to get this essay done," Alexandria spoke up.

Uma chuckled. "So sorry to bother you, Princess. Hadie, we'll be in the gym if you need us. Actually, it's been a while since you've sparred. Come round after you're done here, I'll see where you're at."

"Oh joy, getting my ass handed to me by either Harry or Jay will be the highlight of my day," Hadie rolled his eyes.

"Hey now," Uma chided. "I could always get Gil to spar you."

"Humiliating defeat versus an easy win? I'll take defeat, I almost beat Jay last time."

Uma chuckled and leaned over to ruffle Hadie's hair again, Hadie squawking with discontent. "Charmette, Hadie. You two take care now."

"Bye Uma," Hadie said, running his hand through his hair as if to straighten it back out. Uma and Harry smirked as they walked out of the library.

"Where to Cap'n?" Harry asked as they entered the hallway. "Gym for sparring?"

"No Harry," Uma sighed. "I need to have a talk with some Olympians. I could ignore Mal changing slightly before because it's Boreadon. We're from the Isle, adapting is in our blood. But Mal's going without her jacket. I can't turn a blind eye to that."

"Where you go I go Uma," Harry nodded. "Especially with Princess Brat roaming the halls."

"You just don't want to risk seeing Gil in the gym by yourself do you?" Uma teased as the two of them walked off in search of her elusive extended relations.