Chapter Thirty Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is owned by either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Well this is it, the start of the end. We've got only ten chapters to go until we close the book on Choosing Love. Gods it's hard to believe—it feels like just yesterday I was writing the first chapter honestly! Oh and to answer the questions before they come—yes, there will be a sequel!
Also, this is going to probably be the last time we visit the Isle this story considering everything that's about to happen.
As always, thank you so much for your continued support!
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Of course I'm going to have the Bal proposal! :D And yep, our puppy in a human's body would do anything for his Mal! Just like our dragon would do anything for her Ben!
Urmimala Hazra: Oh Freddy's got something planned that's for sure…
shortanamx: I think people are going to be surprised for sure!
Guest: Oh thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it!
Katie2001: I've always held the belief that Ben would be one of those boyfriends who would ask permission even if the concept of needing permission is a little silly. Not to mention he's dealing with two Gods. Best not to anger them! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the chapter!
danifan3000: I can certainly say that is not out of the realm of possibility…. :D
AliceCullen3: Oh thank you!
Sorceress of Magic: I'm so glad you liked it! :D
Marcus Emrys: Yeah I just thought it'd be a good idea to play into the other aspects of Hades that aren't seen as much. Plus I like the idea of Mal having a gem that was picked by her dad.
twilightgirl587: Huh, now I know! Thank you :D Sorry, I don't mean to—it's just it's at this point that I end up getting a backlog because I know exactly how the upcoming chapters are going to go. Early in the writing process it takes a bit longer. But I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! :D
Hope you all enjoy! Let me know what you think! :D
Claudine made her way back to the Haven, frowning slightly as she brushed a bit of hair out of her eyes. It had been many days since the madness at the delivery barge and she hadn't seen hide nor hair of her brother.
At first, Claudine hadn't minded. It was less pressure to get Henry to commit to a fling when Fred wasn't glaring at her whenever she came back with bad news. But they were going on day ten and no sight of Fred...
If it was anyone else, Claudine would think he was simply trying to avoid being caught by the Rats. After all, the whole Isle knew by now that Ryan's sister had been caught in that mess. Not to mention the fact that Fred's disappearance was casting a negative light on the Angels as a whole.
Some of the gang less girls were even accusing the Angels of leading the poor girl to her death! Which...wasn't exactly something that was new for their gang. There was a reason why they were only the second ranked gang on the Isle, no matter how hard they tried to take the number one spot from the Rats. Not only did the Rats have more people on their side but since they also put the younger VKs under their protection when they could, they garnered good will from even the kids who didn't have gangs.
Ginny Gothel had taken to glaring at the Angel girls whenever they saw each other. Rather brave considering Ginny had no gang and was reliant on the practice of flings for food to survive. Though, if Fred cut her off, Zevon was always an option...or she could go just go to the Rats. Even in mourning, the Rats would have just handed her the food.
But Fred would be basking in the chaos he created not hiding from it, Claudine thought as she entered the Haven. After all, with Henry distracted and concerned for Ryan, this would be the ultimate opportunity for us to move in on their territory. God I hate the fact that I'm thinking even remotely like him.
"Shayla, have you seen Fred?" Claudine asked one of the other girls as she walked into the main area of the Haven.
"I haven't seen his Holiness for a few days," Shayla told her and Claudine resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She'd forgotten about the title Fred was trying to get the other Angels to use. Thankfully, being second in command, Claudine was exempt from such things. Or rather, she made herself exempt.
What was Fred going to do? Kick his own sister out of the gang?
"Locklyn? Strat? Morgan? What about you?"
"Claudine, you're his sister," Strat stated, rolling his eyes slightly. "If you haven't seen him, chances are we haven't seen him either. He's probably with whoever's his next fling of the month, celebrating the fact that the Rats are a mad house right now."
"I know! Did you hear how Ryan screamed? God, how weak is he?" Locklyn cackled as Shayla whacked Strat over the head. Everyone knew that Fred had finally picked her to go a second month for a fling and it was the only thing Shayla had bothered talking about. Thankfully, Claudine noticed that Morgan at least looked uncomfortable with the topic.
At least one of them remembers their roots, she thought with an inward sigh. To this day, Claudine had no idea how her brother had been able to persuade the former Rats to leave their crew and their food security for him. Well...she had one idea but it wasn't exactly something she liked to think about.
"Oh yes, let's celebrate the fact that a fourteen year old boy found his sister's body and had a negative reaction to that," Claudine said, rolling her eyes. "If that'd been you with Lacey, Locklyn?"
"Please, Lacey's Gia's shadow," Locklyn shook her head. "Besides, my sisters are all weak. They're trying to get Gaston to acknowledge them. The Angels are the only acknowledgment I need."
Keep telling yourself that, Claudine thought. Locklyn might talk tough but Claudine knew that if Gaston actually broke down and admitted he had daughters and that Locklyn was one of them, the red haired girl would drop the Angels like a day old loaf of bread.
"We should probably look for Fred," Morgan said softly. "If he's in trouble, he could use us."
And if he's wounded, we should find him before he becomes hyena chow, Claudine thought with an inward frown. There was no love lost between her and her brother, and if he truly had caused the death of that young girl Claudine would probably have to write him off...but he was still her brother. Even if he wouldn't do the same for her, she wasn't going to let him die if she could help it.
"Locklyn, you stay here," Claudine ordered, slipping into her role as second in command. Locklyn was hopeless with a dagger anyway, her strength was first aid. Especially now that Brooke was stashed away in her safe house. "Morgan, Strat, Shayla, go out and search for Fred. Stay in our territory though. We don't exactly have the resources to have a face off with the Rats right now."
"And what about you?" Shayla scoffed.
"I'm going to go and check in with my source. He can go into areas where we can't after all," Claudine stated. Henry might know more about what's going on anyway. If Fred actually...the whole mess at the docks would have been perfect for Fred to use to escape the Isle. But he would have sent word somehow that he'd gotten off. Or even found a way to send for us.
Only a fool would try to confront Mal without backup. And her brother was many things but a fool he was not. So it stood to reason that he was somewhere on this Isle. He had to be—and they needed to find him before the Rats did.
If he truly was behind the death of that young girl, of Ryan's sister...Ryan would be out for blood. And Claudine would understand but she wouldn't just stand by while they murdered her brother.
Would she fight all that hard to protect Fred? Probably not. But at least then Fred would die in a fight. It'd be self defense for the Rats and no one would go after Henry in retaliation.
"What are you all just standing around for?!" Claudine barked as she realized that the other Angels were still in the Haven. "Go!"
She held out her hand and grabbed Morgan's arm as the other Angels walked out of the Haven.
"He doesn't know where Brooke is, does he?" Claudine asked in a low voice as soon as she was sure that the other Angels were out of earshot. That would be the one place Fred might have gone where the other Angels wouldn't know where he was. But it would be a good hiding place for him...and probably the nightmare of the youngest Angel.
"If he does, he never found out from me," Morgan promised. "I'm surprised Locklyn didn't ask about her, considering they joined together."
"She's got the brains of her father and the ego of her mother," Claudine scoffed, letting go of Morgan's arm.
"...do you really think Henry might have some idea as to where Fred is?" Morgan asked in a soft voice. Claudine sighed. Of all the Angels, Morgan was the only one Claudine even remotely trusted. Well one of two really but she didn't interact with Brooke enough to tell her about what Fred had planned.
Plus, she was too young to hear about that sort of thing. The no flings until fifteen rule the Rats had was something that Claudine personally agreed with. Even if Fred did not.
"Even if he doesn't, he should at least know we have no idea where our leader is," Claudine told her. "He'll be able to keep an eye out for him better than we can. Fifteen is more than six after all. He can give me any reports or possible sitings when we meet up."
"How's that going by the way? Trying to get Henry to break his 'no flings' pact?"
Claudine sighed. "It's not. He's more stubborn than a mule!"
Even though she hated it, she couldn't tell any of the Angels the truth about her relationship with Henry. If Fred were to find out...Henry would probably earn a one way ticket off the Isle. But there'd be no coming back. Not for him. Not if Fred has his way about it.
Henry may have his skills with a sword but Fred was more likely to play dirty. It was safer if all the Rats knew was that she was trying to seduce Henry for Fred.
"I could have told you that," Morgan said with a small smile. "If he's anything like he was back when I was with the Rats...but even the most stubborn guy can get worn down. He's still a guy after all. He's got needs, and that need is almost a basic instinct really according to Fred. Just under the need for food and sleep."
"Yeah," Claudine nodded with a small sigh. "Well, I should go. Last thing I need is for Fred to come back here and find out I didn't try to get Henry into bed."
Morgan gave her a small smile before running out of the Haven to catch up to the others. Claudine shook her head before grabbing a couple of her daggers just to be on the safe side. If one of the Rats who wasn't Henry found her...chances were they'd try to take her out because of what Fred did to Ryan's sister.
An eye for an eye and all that noise.
Never mind the fact that Henry's basically made me off limits in face offs and would probably kill any Rat who even caused me to have a paper cut , Claudine thought as she made her way down the familiar streets to Dragon Hall. Fred had been pleased when he heard about that development. To him, even though it was slow going, it meant that she was doing what she'd said she was doing.
Fred need never know that Henry had basically made her off limits for two years, doing his best to disarm her before another Rat could. It was another rule Mal's gang had that the other gangs didn't. You don't hit an unarmed person. They're no threat to you after all.
Though, to be fair, the other gangs don't have as great of access to food. A weaker person isn't going to go after a stronger one, she thought as she climbed the stairs to the bell tower. Claudine couldn't help but hope Henry was still in there; having just left only half an hour ago herself.
"Henry?"
"Claudine?" Henry whispered and Claudine felt her heart soar. He hadn't left. "What's wrong?"
Claudine sighed as she walked into the room toward him. "We haven't seen Fred in a few days. Not since the melee at the docks. You haven't...?"
"Trust me Claudine, if we'd seen Freddy, you'd know," Henry told her and Claudine could hear a bit of a growl to his voice. There would always be a feud between the Rats and the Angels but now it was almost cemented due to Ryan's sister.
"How's Ryan doing?" Claudine asked, sitting down on the decrepit mattress. "I'm sure...after everything, he's got to be going through a rough time."
Henry sighed and sat down next to her. "There was a time, about a week after we found Kristy's body...I was worried I was going to wake up and..."
"I get it," Claudine said gently, softly rubbing his back.
"He's like a brother to me," he whispered. "And I couldn't do anything. This wasn't an enemy we could take out with swords. I couldn't just reach out and bring his sister back, and I couldn't get him interested in anything like he had been in the past. So I wrote to Mal."
"Was she able to do anything?"
"She did something. She, the new guy, and Ry went over to Lord Hades' and when they came back...he wasn't magically better but there was a small spark back in Ryan's eyes. Now though he's determined to get his training underway. Derek made a joke the other day that Ryan's trying to best me in terms of how many hours he trains."
"Didn't you say your crew once said you train for eighteen hours a day?"
"Yep."
Claudine sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Ryan was clearly trying to get ready for something. But what? And why hadn't he told Henry? The only thing she could think of was the fact that maybe he didn't want the crew to think him weak? After all if Locklyn was mocking Ryan for falling apart, it was possible others on the Isle were doing the same thing.
"There's a rumor around the Isle that Fred's involved in that poor girl's death somehow," she said, breaking the silence.
"I'm not surprised, especially since we haven't seen hide or hair of him for over a week," Henry muttered, holding her close to him. "Dustin, Jake, and Nick think he's off having a fling to celebrate hitting us with Kristy's death. Even if he didn't swing the sword himself, the fact that he's missing makes them think he's responsible somehow."
"You don't?"
"Freddy's a sick bastard, and it's entirely possible he's responsible for Kristy's death, but isn't Shayla his fling of the month? He doesn't usually stop flings early unless they really displease him in someway."
Or they're far too young for that sort of thing but that was more my doing than his, Claudine thought thinking about Brooke. But all that would do would make Henry angry.
"So you really have no idea where he is?"
"I promise Claudine. If we had seen him, even in our territory, I'd have told you," Henry said, gently rubbing her back. "We had to chase Zevon out of our territory a few times, but not Freddy. Which...is a little alarming now that I think about it. I almost want to write to Mal but I know she's got that big dance thing coming up."
"Has she said anything about it?"
"Apparently it'll be televised so we can watch if we really want," Henry sighed. "I know this is going to sound really Boreadony and I'm sorry about that...but there's a part of me that wishes we could have a night together like that."
"Don't be sorry," Claudine said gently. "Even if it sounds 'boreadony' I think it's sweet. Besides, we're here alone. Who's going to find out what you said? The bells?"
"Well I mean, they do like to ring loudly," Henry chuckled.
"Take it from me, they're good secret keepers," Claudine told him, gently kissing his cheek and running her hand through his hair. "Do people ever think you and Locklyn are siblings? Because of your red hair?"
"No, thank Gods," Henry shook his head. "Though I'm sure Gaston would be thrilled at the idea of a son roaming the Isle. A son other than the Gaston twins and Gil I mean."
"What does he have against women anyway?"
"To quote Harry, the man's an idiot," Henry shrugged. "Who knows what runs through his head?"
Claudine couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her lips, a giggle that caused Henry to smile as he heard it. Even if he didn't know what sun felt like, he knew Claudine was his taste of it.
"...you should apply to get off the Isle," he said softly and Claudine looked over at him in shock.
"I'm not leaving you," she told him. "The applications have already been sent in and I'm not taking a spot for a younger kid. We're both what? Seventeen? The younger kids are still innocent, they still have a life to live. If anything Ryan or CJ should have my spot. Or Brooke! Or didn't you say Sammy Smee had twin brothers?"
"Squeaky and Squirmy," Henry nodded. "I'm pretty sure Mal's doing whatever she can to make sure they make it off the Isle but they'll be terrified without Sammy."
"From what you've told me about Mal, she'll make sure they're put at ease," Claudine said, brushing some of Henry's red hair out of his eyes. "I don't care how much of a prissy princess I sound like Henry, I'm not leaving the Isle without you. I love you."
She froze as she realized what she just said. Love. Such a word was forbidden on the Isle, having been the undoing of many a parent. But there was no denying the fact that she did love him. She felt safe in his arms and had more joy in just talking with him than she did when they kissed.
That wasn't to say that she didn't get any enjoyment out of their kisses. But the days where they spent their hours just holding each other close and talking about the day to day activities of their gangs were the memories that brought her joy whenever the Isle tried to beat her down.
"I'm...I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over—."
"I love you too," Henry told her, his blue eyes shining with some sort of emotion that Claudine couldn't place. "No matter what, I will always love you Claudine. I've loved you since the first time I set eyes on you...which is why I want you to promise me. You will find a way off this Isle."
"Henry—."
"Claudine, if your brother finds out what we just told each other, he'll know that you've been lying to him about trying to get me to break my no fling rule," Henry said softly. "I can promise you shelter in the Rats but the only place where you'd be safest would be in Auradon."
"Not if Fred's currently across the bridge," Claudine whispered as the thought entered her mind.
"What makes you think he is?"
Claudine sighed. "Henry, Fred...Fred's been planning to escape the Isle. I know the likelihood of that happening is slim mainly because the Rats patrol the docks and that's really the only way off the Isle that isn't death. But..."
"But?"
"I don't know. Ever since the King's coronation, he's been like a hyena with a bone with his plan to get off of the Isle and to get to Auradon. The only reason why I think he hasn't gotten off yet is because he'd have sent for at least Shayla."
"You really think Freddy wouldn't jump at the chance for new fling opportunities? You know he turns his nose up at what he considers to be Zevon's sloppy seconds right?"
"I do. The more important question is how do you know that?"
Henry chuckled. "While I may not have flings, the other guys in the crew have a bunch of them. They know which girls have had flings with Freddy and which ones have had flings with Zevon."
"Fred and Zevon have had their rivalry almost as long as the Rats and the Angels," Claudine said softly, shaking her head. "If it wasn't for the fact that Zevon likes to use potions, I honestly think they might team up."
"And on that terrifying note, are we really spending our limited time together talking about Zevon and Freddy and their flings?" Henry asked with a small chuckle as he leaned down on the mattress. Claudine smiled as he pulled her close and connected their lips with a tender kiss.
It was one of the things she truly loved about him. The fact that, despite being a hardened pirate of the Isle of the Lost, he was as gentle and tender as if he was a boy that had grown up in Auradon. Maybe it was because he had never been with a girl the way most of the other guys on the Isle had, maybe it was just his nature.
Whatever the reason, Claudine was glad he was the way that he was.
Gently pulling up his shirt and tossing it to the side, Claudine reached down and tugged slightly at the waistband of his pants.
"Claudine...?"
"I'm not saying we need to go all the way," she murmured in his ear. "And not if you're not ready but you've had such a stressful few weeks. What with Ryan and Fred and I'm sure keeping us a secret hasn't been easy for you. Let me help you relax for a bit. I promise. This isn't for Fred or for me. Just for you."
"But...I don't know how...I won't be able to repay..."
"You don't need to Henry," she cooed, trailing kisses down his chest and abdomen. "But like I said, if you're not ready, we can just kiss. Or even just cuddle. I'm not going to force you."
The only reason she even knew about this sort of thing was because of the five times she'd walked in on Fred and his fling of the month. You'd think after time one she'd learn to knock but then you'd also think Fred would stop doing that sort of thing in the common area of the Haven!
"If...if you're sure..." Henry said softly. He knew in his heart that this wasn't a fling, that he would be with Claudine until he died if he was able. But there was just something so...he didn't like the idea of doing something like that right now. Not while Freddy was missing. Not while Ryan was grieving.
Claudine gave him a sad smile and rested her head on his chest. "And this is just one of the reasons why I love you," she said softly, as if she could sense what he was thinking about. "But if you're not comfortable with it, then I'm not comfortable with it."
Henry smiled and kissed the top of her head, holding her close. Both Rat and Angel sighed contently, happy to spend a few more stolen hours together in their little slice of paradise.