"I'm fine, Audrey," Mal reassured for the umpteenth time since Harriet started patching up her back in the guest bedroom of the Tremaine mansion. "Like I told you before, this is nothing compared to what I used to receive. Frollo would target me because of my father."

"What did Hades do to him?"

"Nothing," Harriet answered for the fairy, applying the salve on the wounds before carefully applying the bandages to the sensitive skin. "Frollo only believes in one god, which is THE God. He refuses to acknowledge that there are other beings. If someone were to just mention any other beings for just a brief second, they would be whipped at least five times, sometimes more."

"I would be whipped every other day because my father is a Greek god," Mal recalled bitterly. "When I would stay with Dad for a while, I would be whipped every day. We realized after the first few times, so I stopped staying over at his place. It wasn't what I wanted, but I had no other choice."

"Why has no one stopped it?" Audrey wondered, shaking her head in irritation. "That 'punishment' is so cruel."

"People have tried, but too many teachers are behind it," Mal argued with a small shrug, or at least the best one she could while she laid on her stomach. "It was created when most of the kids started middle school. A group of us thought we could end it by volunteering for each other, but we ended up getting hit a few extra times for it. Some kids transferred to Serpent Prep because of it."

"Only one person is exempt from being whipped," Harriet informed, but then she quickly added, "Well . . . she's the only one exempt because of her family status."

"Who?"

"Evie," Mal revealed, like it was the most logical answer. "She was castle-schooled most of her life until she attended Dragon Hall her freshman year. She and another student got in trouble, but only the other student was punished. Frollo deemed Evie exempt from ever being whipped since she is a princess."

"Who else is exempt?" Audrey wondered. "You implied there was someone else."

"Ginny Gothel is the other exception," Harriet answered with a disgruntle sigh. "Rumor has it, she started sleeping with some of the teachers, male and female, during the beginning of freshman year so she could pass their classes. Those teachers have denied the accusations, but considering a certain someone"—the pirate pointed to herself—"walked in while Frollo banged Ginny against a wall—her eyes rolled back and tongue sticking out like a bitch in heat—it's safe to say that the rumors are true and that 'someone' was whipped for interrupting them."

Pressing the last of the bandages onto the fairy's back, Harriet clapped her hands in satisfaction. "Alright!" She cheered, packing up the medical supplies. "You are good to go! After you drink some nectar, the wounds should be moderately healed." Harriet grinned mischievously as she wagged her eyebrows naughtily. "If I were you, I would use this as an excuse to be the dominant tonight. Who knows? Maybe Ben will like being the submissive one."

Mal scoffed as she finally sat up, pulling her shirt down in the process. "Someone's acting a little more promiscuous than usual," the fairy teased. "Did you and Anthony almost get caught at school again so you couldn't finish?"

"He promised me a new toy tonight to make it up to me," Harriet agreed with a careless shrug to hide her eagerness. "This is the night Lady Tremaine visits Drizella for a few hours, so we planned on leaving the restaurant a little bit early to have some extra time together. I hope you don't mind taking Audrey back to the mansion."

Audrey scrunched up her nose in disgust and confusion. "What restaurant and why are we going there?"

"Ursula's Fish and Chips," Harriet clarified. "We're going to introduce you to my brother and his friends. Anthony and I try to go to the restaurant during the school week to tutor one of his friends and help with his homework since he has difficulty learning. He attended Dragon Hall until his brothers purposeful made him get whipped for something he didn't do. He left home, transferred to Serpent Prep, and has been living off and on with everyone and anyone on the dock side of the Isle."

"I think you will get along well with those three," Mal commented, hoping it would make the teen happy to go. "My dad likes to visit the restaurant every other day so he can get free meals thanks to him being a family member. We can officially introduce you to him."

Much to Audrey's surprise, the Isle actually had a somewhat decent restaurant. Sure, it wasn't the best establishment she's ever been to, but it was a lot better than what she thought it would be. In all honesty, the only thing she didn't care for was the over-the-top pirate theme.

"Uma," Anthony called out as the group of four sat at the bar next to the kitchen, "three teas and two nectars; one for your cousin and one for your uncle since he'll be joining us."

Emerging from the employees only area, a dark-skinned teenage girl with natural turquoise hair came out with a platter of the requested drinks. "Three teas and two nectars," Uma repeated dully, setting the drinks in front of the customers and at an empty spot next to Mal. "What did you do to need this?"

"I volunteered for Jade," Mal answered nonchalantly, as though it was a daily occurrence. "Lady Tremaine told me she's whipped daily, so I thought I would give her a break. Jay and I are hoping to get her off the Isle when the month is up." Downing the drink like it was a shot, the fairy unintentionally slammed the glass onto the table in satisfaction. "Tastes better the more I drink it," she commented. "Too bad too much would kill."

"When you come back, I need a restock of it," Uma requested, taking the now empty glass. "Between Mom, Uncle, and myself, we go through more than we thought."

"Need any ambrosia?"

"They have enough to get through until the next shipment," Uma denied with a shrug. "I prefer nectar."

"Where are the boys?" Harriet wondered between sips. "Are they running another errand for the restaurant?"

"Gil offered to fish so the troublemaker can have some 'fresh' food instead of the normal, spoiled Isle food," Uma explained, though it sounded more like a complaint. "Harry went with him so there would be enough for all of us."

Adverting her gaze, the sea witch glared at the 'visitor', examining her from head to toe. "So, you're the bitch that was picking on the four new transfers," Uma assumed with a disapproving headshake. "At least now we know Auradon doesn't tolerate bullies."

"Uma," Mal warned lightly, "at least try to watch your language."

"Why should I?" Uma challenged, eyebrows raised. "She ain't a princess."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Audrey shouted in frustration. "Just because I don't have a royal status here doesn't mean I'm not a princess somewhere else!"

Unsurprisingly, the sea witch scoffed at the proclamation. "If only Evie could have thought of a comeback like that before you ruined her chances of fitting in Auradon," Uma retorted bitterly. "Instead, she became a black sheep because you are a selfish, cold-hearted—"

"Umie," interrupted a deep, concerning voice that approached the group. "What have I told you about your words? If you talk too much like a pirate, people will forget you are a descendant of the gods, or are royalty as well."

Rolling her eyes, Uma grumbled, "Sorry, Uncle Hades."

Taking a moment to kiss his daughter's forehead, a man dressed in black leather sat next to Mal. Audrey couldn't keep her eyes off his massive blue mohawk as he took a sip of his godly drink, thinking it was sooo much larger in person than on the television screen.

Placing his half full glass on the bar table, Hades adverted his attention to the girl sitting next to his daughter. "You look just as beautiful as Beasty," Hades complimented sincerely. "How is your mother? I haven't heard from her since your arrival; she usually writes every day."

"That's more than she talks to me," Audrey retorted bitterly. "I was surprised she came to see me yesterday before I left. Usually I only hear from her once a month."

"But at least you live in the same kingdom as your mother," Harriet reminded, trying to appease the situation. "That reminds me, Harry and I need to take a picture in a couple days for Mom. We'll have to figure out a new name to send it under; Mom says her mother is starting to become suspicious."

"Why not let Mal or Jay deliver it?" Audrey suggested, going along with the subject change for now. "In fact, Mal can deliver it under the guise of an invitation to hers and Ben's engagement party."

Uma raised an amused eyebrow, seemingly impressed by the proposition. "Now we know you aren't that much of a dumbass."

"Uma," Hades scolded, now glaring at his great-niece. "She is my god-daughter's daughter. Show some respect. At this rate, you'll never be invited to Auradon again."

"That's fine with me," Uma boasted arrogantly. "Harry and I are not leaving the Isle without Gil."

"Why do you think so highly of that person?" Audrey wondered, as she was genuinely curious. "Who even is this 'Gil'?"

Harriet motioned toward the entrance of the restaurant. "He's Gil."

Turning in her seat, an inaudible gasp escaped Audrey's lips—

Rethinking her perspective about the Isle.