Hey Descendants!

Sorry to FC, we heard you, but both of us passed out last night.

Random note, Twisted is a massage therapist and Dark is a baker/decorator and both of our jobs,

kick our fucking asses. And we're both known for going til we drop.

On the plus side to that, it's Wednesday so we actually get to write!

So without further ado, please enjoy this next chapter.

If you guys are nice *cough reviews cough cough*, you'll probably get two more today.

-Twisted

Later that same week...

Hyades slowly opens the door to the hideout and slips in, hoping to avoid anyone until she could change. Evie was going to kill her for wearing only one outfit for over a week. She'd done her best to care for it, but it wasn't like she'd brought soap with her to her beach get away. And as much as she knew it was flameproof, she didn't want to test blasting it full force to clean it. She makes it to the area designated as her room and quickly starts changing clothes.

"Damn it Deez!?" Jay covers his eyes as he turns his back to her area. "Use the bathroom."

"I just needed to change before Evie saw me. Yeesh." Deez rolls her eyes, "It's not like you've never seen a topless girl."

"Yeah, but I don't want to see you topless." Jay scoffs.

"Then don't look!" She shouts back in exasperation as she finishes changing.

"She has a point." Mal snickers.

"Oh fuck you Mal," Jay grumbles as he rubs the back of his neck.

"Why are you so touchy?" Deez asks as she walks back around the screen, holding her old outfit in her hand.

"Because he's a baby." Mal pinches Jay's cheek, laughing as he swatted her hand away.

Jay rolls his eyes, "Ya just don't do that shit Deez-"

"No, you don't." She corrects as she starts looking for a bar of soap.

Jay's eye twitches. "True, because you shouldn't take off your clothes with people you aren't having sex with."

"Why not? I do it all the time?" She waves, "Where's the soap?"

Mal snickers at the look on Jay's face. "And Freddy thinks I'm a heathen? The rats have her running around naked."

"Soap? Please?" Hyades groans impatiently, "Before Evie kills me would be nice."

"It's under the sink in the kitchen." Mal rolls her eyes. "Glad to see your trip to the wilderness perked you up though." She juts her hip, placing one hand on it as she eyes Hyades suspiciously. "I told you could play that stupid game when you joined- Why didn't you play it sooner if this is what it does for you?"

"Just need to adjust my thinking," She admits as she searches the cabinet and pulls out the chunk of soap, "Sorry I've been difficult, didn't know I was." She hits the water on and starts scrubbing her shorts and halter top.

"Well, I have my shitty moments too, just ya know, leave before it gets like that again, will ya?" Mal rolls her eyes.

"What Mal is trying to say is that you should take care of your needs better and speak up when you need something." Jay crosses his arms.

"I know, got it," She tosses the soap on the edge of the sink, "I'm an idiot."

"No one's calling you an idiot." Jay rolls his eyes.

"Out loud at least."

Hyades points at Mal over her shoulder but doesn't look up from her chore.

Jay smacks Mal's shoulder. "Knock it off will ya, we just got her back to normal."

"Huh, guess you're right." Mal rolls her eyes. "You're not an idiot because of that… I can understand it being intimidating to talk to me… But I'm not a mind reader..."

"Look, I got caught up in trying to figure out who I was here, and I kind of lost myself because I didn't feel like I could just vanish on you with your mother watching so close, so yeah. I just needed time to figure out that it's okay to have fun being rotten to the core with you and it's okay to not be sure if that's who I am, or just who I have to be for now."

Mal looks away, "Is that what the fuck had you zoned out like a fucking zombie these last few weeks?"

Jay smacks her shoulder again, "What she means to say was she was worried about you, and doesn't know how to respond to such a sincere response so is sorry for being a bitch."

Hyades lets her head hang for a moment before she turns, "I am sorry. I'm still just…" She sighs, "getting adjusted… I guess. It's not anyone's fault, and I'm not mad or hurt or anything stupid like that. And I am glad to hang out with you all. You're still my fri- gang?"

"That's not something you need to apologize for." Jay shoots Mal a nasty look as if daring her to open her mouth again. "We know this has been rough for you. We're not blind. We just wished we knew sooner that some time alone would help so much."

"Me too…" Hyades shrugs as she turns back to her laundry.

The three turn immediately when Carlos slips into the hangout.

"Oh thank gods, not Evie." Hyades sighs in relief before she goes back to washing.

"Just the man I've been waiting for," Mal smirks.

"You uh...umm, you," Carlos shifts. "Wanted ta talk to me Mal-" He glances at her. "So…What'cha need?"

Mal smirks in amusement as she crosses her arms. "Jay…" She turns to glare at him. "If I ever find out you work behind my back again, there won't be an opportunity for a third time." She turns, eyes flashing at Carlos, "That goes for you too pup."

Carlos flinches. "I didn't-"

Mal holds up her hand, "Unless your next words are, I understand Mal, it won't ever happen again, I don't want to hear it."

Carlos sighs as he drops his eyes and shoves his hands into his jacket, "Yes Mal, it won't ever happen again."

"Because honestly if any of you ever leave me to follow that tard I will hunt you down myself, and make you wish you had never betrayed me."

Hyades finishes rinsing the soap from her clothes and wrings them out. Mal was leading to something with this, and it took everything in her not to turn at stare in excitement.

Mal takes a deep breath, "With that being said, I s'pose it's fucked I'm the only one who ended up with a sword- And as much as I am loathed to admit it, the blade is fucking excellent." She huffs.

"What are you saying Mal?" Hyades asks as she carefully lays her top and shorts out and starts steaming them dry.

Carlos studies Mal like she was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

"Mal… Are you serious?" Jay asks with a raised brow.

"Yeah. Just, fucking be more discreet. But I'm not patient enough to wait for a third strike. And remember they're still our fucking enemies."

Hyades squeals happily before she runs over and hugs Mal. Once she realizes what she's doing she backs up, her eyes wide, "Uh, sorry…"

Mal steps back with a look of surprise on her face, "Just…" She schools her features back to her cold expression. "Never do that again."

"Right." Hyades nods, but she saw how happy Mal had been for a split second, and found herself wondering if Mal had ever been hugged by anyone before. "Won't happen again."

"Well, why the fuck are you two still standing here?" Mal rolls her eyes. "Go find the stupid fucking freak and figure shit out. Make sure it can't be fucking seen, and for the love of E, don't get caught. Or you'll both be joining her in exile."

Hyades blinks for a moment before she smiles, "I have the perfect place in mind. No one will ever find us."

"Great. Don't let any goblins, ravens, or my mother's goons see you, obviously."

"We won't." Hyades quickly turns and grabs Carlos as she runs past him, "You're the best Mal." She calls over her shoulder before she rushes out the door with Carlos struggling to keep up.


"So… I find myself in a strange position…" Hyades shakes her head as they walk through the streets, "I've never had to hunt T down, he usually just shows up."

Carlos chuckles, "Just thought about that, huh?" He had been thinking about that since Mal had told them to track the older boy down. How the hell were they supposed to find a boy who went by the monikers 'ghost' and 'shadow'? Ugh. He was still excited, but the task ahead of them seemed daunting.

Hyades chuckles, "Yeah."

"I've been trying to think of places he could be… But…" He shrugs, "Anywhere, doesn't narrow it down much…" He rubs the back of his neck. Seriously though, he could be anywhere on the isle. It's not like he mapped it out or told them the quadrants he'd be in like he did for Hyades.

"Well, he wasn't at the hideout… I don't see why he'd be at the temple… Or at Mal's place…" Hyades purses her lips before she shrugs, "Three places down."

"Only about a hundred more to go." Carlos hangs his head. This was going to take forever, he just knew it.

"We could always venture near another territory and get in trouble, seems like that usually make him come running…"

Carlos snorts, "Yeah no thank you." The plan did carry some merit, as much as he didn't want to admit it. T was like forty-eight percent more likely to show up when one of them was in danger. He frowns, would the odds go up or down if there were two of them though? He didn't want to test that theory today or ever if he had any say in it. He'd be a guinea pig for a lot of things, but not for that.

"He said my scream is very distinct, I could try that." She breathes in deeply.

"Please don't." Carlos covers her mouth. "Discreet remember?" He reprimands her sternly. They'd barely gotten their club back. He didn't want to lose it this soon. He understood her excitement though. And his fear of Gil had dissipated with his embarrassment that he and Uma had taken care of him, while he'd been… Not present.

"I guess you're right…" She shrugs, "Being in a gang is hard." She chuckles lightly before she grabs Carlos by the wrist, "We could go back to the beach and see if anything is still there."

"That's a good point." Carlos grins, "Or at least a good place to start. Be good to know if we even have anything to use." He falls into step beside her, happy she'd finally gotten through whatever rut she'd been stuck in the last few weeks. He'd been so worried and so unsure of what to do to help her. But at the end of the day, this was Hyades they were talking about and much like her stamina, the girl always seemed to bounce back. He just wished he knew how to help her sooner.

"Hey, Carlos…" Hyades bites her bottom lip as she drops her grip on him.

"Sup?" He asks as he turns curiously towards her. Huh, that was weird. Had he done something wrong?

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Carlos asks with a frown.

"I know I wasn't myself, and I was so," She tilts her head back and forth, "out of it that I didn't notice what it was doing to everyone else."

"Hey man, I get it." Carlos quickly holds up his hands. "A lotta shit happened at once and that crap was overwhelming as hell. I don't think I'd be myself either… I'm just happy that you seem more like yourself is all."

"I know I scared you though, so, yeah, I'm sorry."

"Of course I was scared." He drops his head as his ears begin to burn, "I care about you…" His voice drops several octaves.

"I care about you too," Hyades admits with a smile.

"I know." He smiles at her. "But seriously, let's go make sure we have stuff to even use."

"Right." She grabs his wrist again and starts running again, her laughter chiming through the streets.

Carlos groans as he struggles to keep up with her.


Carlos frowns as he stares at the book club's empty hideout with sad eyes. "Well, no point in finding T now."

"I guess someone looted it." Hyades pouts before she drops to sit.

"But how the hell did they move the anvil too?" Carlos pouts.

"I guess the same way you guys got it down here."

"Gil?" Carlos frowns, as he walks into the driftwood hideaway.

Hyades half-smiles as she looks up, "Maybe he moved everything when... Things changed."

"When is our luck ever that good?" Carlos frowns. "It's been weeks since any of us have been out here."

"Speak for yourself." T jumps down to land by Hyades.

Hyades throws her hands in the air, "Yay!" She cheers in delight as she hugs T's legs.

T stiffens at the suddenness of the hug, "Sup with you two?" He pats her head. "Surprised to see you out, not vandalizing other people's shit."

"Mal said we could do book club again!" Hyades grins as she let's go of T and stands.

"Fucking seriously?" T's eyes widen in surprise.

Hyades tilts her head to the side as she stares at T, her eyes narrow slightly, but she doesn't say anything.

"Yeah I know, right?" Carlos grins. "I thought for sure when she didn't take that deal she was never going to let that happen again."

"Yeah, no fucking kidding." T chuckles as he rubs the back of his neck.

"She even okayed our blacksmith," Hyades adds.

"And what the fuck did you guys agree too for that bullshit?" T rolls his eyes.

"Agree to never hug her again." Hyades sighs, "Which was an oops anyway, I was just so excited."

"Ah. Sounds like my promise to the Kraken." T smiles at her. "Mal might have some warmth in that shriveled black heart of hers yet."

"So… Go tell him… I can't."

"Oh- About that. He's currently setting up the anvil in a new location." T laughs again, "He and Harry have a lot more free time now that I accidentally got them banned from helping the Kraken."

Carlos tilts his head to the side, "Were they going to try making swords themselves?"

"Not without Deez." T shrugs, "But I've been storing the metal, and smaller shit at a hideout, til D went and burned a fucking hole out of a cliffside." He rolls his eyes. "Which, can you make it bigger so Gil doesn't melt?"

"Oh, I guess we had the same idea." Hyades smiles, "And yeah, I can make it bigger."

"We're usually at least on the same chapter." T nods.

"Wait…" Carlos holds up his hands, "D, you melted rock?"

"She made magma." T chuckles at the look on Carlos' face. "It was cool as fuck to watch. Like metal but more like hardcore and shit."

"It's lava once it's above ground." Carlos automatically corrects as he stares at Hyades in awe.

"Ah, made lava then." T smiles correcting himself. "Either way cool as fuck."

"No, it's not cool… In fact, that's hotter than I thought you could burn…" Carlos admits slowly.

"Wicked then." T rolls his eyes.

"How long did you know I was there exactly?"

"Long enough." T shrugs.

Carlos turns to T, "How are you not dead?"

"A question I ask myself multiple times a day."

Carlos rolls his eyes, "I mean from the well." He narrows his eyes as he rubs the back of his neck thoughtfully.

"Oh, that…" T shrugs, "S'were I got the idea to piss her off."

Carlos waves the statement off, "No, I mean… You shouldn't have survived direct contact with that fire."

"I think we're on the same page." T frowns. "I know. It's where I got the idea to piss her off. I should have burnt up extra crispy that day."

"I don't understand." Hyades frowns, "Why were you pissing me off?"

T shrugs, "I mean, my flesh has yet to melt off my face and your white fire melts metal and rock in seconds. You put it together. We'll wait. It's a long walk- Sorry C."

Hyades blinks, "My fire… But it does burn-" She shakes her head, "But I've burned nearly everyone by accident before."

"Uh-huh… But-" T clears his throat. "I've seen you light things up, and them go much quicker."

"And I've killed people with it." She frowns as she follows after the boys.

"Huh." T blinks at Hyades. "And I've seen it, and should be, by all accounts, dead."

"But I…" Hyades' eyes widen, "I've never killed anyone I was scared of hurting. Not even the fucking coach."

Carlos frowns as he studies Hyades thoughtfully, before he turns back to T with wide eyes, "You used yourself as a guinea pig on a fucking theory?"

"I mean… Yeah… I didn't die, barely got hot. Just sweated a lot." T shrugs.

"You think I control it that much?"

"No." T deadpans.

"What he means to say, can't control it yet." Carlos grins.

"No, I have to be to some degree…" Hyades looks down at her hands, "Or I would have killed you all a long time ago."

"Oh then absolutely." T changes his response. "For sure. How do you think Gil can stand being near you when your melt metals so quickly."

"I guess I never thought of that once she started learning to control it." Carlos frowns. "But now that we're talking about it," He rubs his neck, "I don't know how I didn't figure it out sooner."

"Because we were all so happy I got any kind of control over it." Hyades grins, her voice rising slightly in her excitement, "But now that I can control the temperature and where it is on me, maybe I can also control what it burns…" Her eyes light up. Maybe even send it off me. Like when I light a fire…" Her eyes narrow as she slowly builds a small blue wisp of a flame in her palm.

Before T can open his mouth, Carlos jumps in. "On driftwood. That would be great to practice on. It's dry, so will tinder easily."

"But if she practices on one of us she'll learn quicker."

"I am not doing that." Hyades glares at T as the flame on her hand dies.

"Whatever." T rolls his eyes, "Just saying…" He shrugs, "It would probably speed up the process."

Carlos facepalms. "Can you not?"

"Not what?"

"Do that?" Carlos gestures between the two of them. "Stop offering to turn yourself into a guinea pig."

"Oh." T smiles, "Probably not."

"Good thing I have no problem saying no to you." Hyades grins.

"You two are so boring."

"Or maybe you're just fucking crazy." Carlos rolls his eyes.

"Once I can get it working on driftwood, I'll let you know."

"Deal." T grins.


"We be expectin' anyone?" Harry narrows his eyes as he cups his hand around his ear and listens in the direction of the path.

"T maybe?" Gil frowns as he stands up, and walks over to where Harry was standing.

"It don'nah be ah soundin' like T be alone." Harry pops his lips before he runs towards the voices

Gil's brows furrow together, as he follows behind Harry curiously. Who had T brought to their secret meeting spot? And why? He'd just had them move everything over here. It didn't sound like T.

"Yeah, I found it and hid here during our last game of hide and seek, it's safe C, just jump to me."

Carlos laughs nervously before he lets out a short yelp. "ASSHOLE!"

"You needed to get down." Comes T's unapologetic response. "It could have been worse."

"I wasn't going to let you fall C."

"Why are you glaring at me?" T questions in confusion.

"Because you scared him! Rude."

"What?! He wasn't moving."

"I'm right here."

"See, he's fine."

"Fuck you T." Carlos snaps. "And Deez, put me down please- This is embarrassing."

"Sorry!"

Harry turns to look at Gil, "Mate, it be ah soundin' like ya might be gettin' yer book club back." He grips the other boy's shoulders and shakes him excitedly.

Gil's grin nearly splits his face as he races to the boulders to greet the rest of the book club.

"Gil!" Hyades shouts in excitement before she jumps from the boulder.

"Deez! C!" Gil catches Hyade's with ease and starts swinging her around gleefully.

"Gil." Carlos grins down at the giant before he shoots a look at Harry and steps next to T.

"Aw, thanks for the trust man." T grins before he slings the smaller boy over his shoulder and jumps the rest of the way down.

"And what ah mistake that be pup." Harry chuckles.

T lowers Carlos to the ground.

"Yeah, no kidding." Carlos glares up at T.

Gil grins as he sets Deez on her feet, releasing her to run and hug Harry before he turns and hesitantly offers his hand to Carlos.

Carlos grins as he takes Gil's hand. "Happy to be working with you again… Didn't think that was gonna happen."

"Me either." Gil slowly admits with an easy grin as he rubs the back of his head with his free hand. He was just grateful the boy hadn't flinched. He felt awful for scaring him so badly the last time they'd seen each other.

"Promised you guys I'd bring some entertainment, eventually." T grins.

Harry chuckles as he stops spinning Deez and sets her down, "Aye, an what ah delivery ya be ah makin'."

Carlos can't help the smile on his lips when he sees the look on Deez's face before he turns to look at T suspiciously.

"Figured you'd appreciate it." T chuckles as he leans against a boulder.

"Why are you banned from the chip shop?" Hyades asks as Harry presses in on her side, his arm slung around her shoulders as he used her as a leaning pole.

"T not tell ya?" Gil turns to T with a frown.

She shakes her head.

"Why? What happened?" Carlos blurts out. "I thought you guys were like chained to that shop?"

Gil looks between T and Harry, hopefully. Unsure of how to respond.

"Oh yeah… The silence is thunderous…" Hyades glares at the three doing everything in their power not to look at her, "What the hell happened?"

"It wasn't a big deal." T shrugs, "But it is my fault."

"So you said earlier." Hyades narrows her eyes at T.

Harry walks behind T and slaps him upside the head. "T be gettin' himself drowned."

T rubs the back of his head as Hyades grows wide-eyed with fear.

"What?!" Carlos blurts.

Gil frowns as he walks over to Hyades when he notices the way she began to shake. Without warning, he pulls her to his chest, "It's alright Deez."

"Yeah, it's not like it stuck." T shrugs before he turns and punches Harry on the shoulder. "Dick."

Carlos quickly ducks away from the two of the more volatile members of the group, and over to Hyades and Gil.

"Aye," Harry rolls his eyes, "but ya be ah drawing it out so much she were'nah gonna be believin' anythin' but the truth."

"Huh…" T glances at Hyades before he shrugs. "Silence is an answer."

"Aye, but it be a shitty one. Especially when dealin' with the fire princess."

Gil frowns at the two before he turns with Deez, "Come on C, let's go see how best to set up."

"Sounds good." He quickly follows behind Gil.

"T said I should make the cave bigger." Hyades blinks up at Gil before she snuggles against his chest.

"If you think you're up for it, I can move the anvil." Gil presses a chaste kiss to the crown of his head. "But you can do it later if that would make you feel better."

"It's going to take time to cool." Hyades smiles, "So I should do it soon. We can work out here until it's ready for us to move everything back in."

"If you're sure," Carlos asks looking over her in concern.

"I was just startled," Hyades quickly assures them both, "he's the one who faced Uma's mother."

Gil's hold tightens around her. "Alright." He releases her as his eyes sweep over her in concern. "Let me clear it out first." He grins before he turns around and walks towards the cave. He was on cloud nine right now. He hadn't expected for book club to ever reunite. And he was thrilled Carlos seemed okay with him. It felt great getting back together. It felt right. He loved his family, he really did. More than anything, but the book club offered him something his family couldn't. Understanding that sometimes you can just enjoy silence together.

"I'll help." Carlos offers, with a grin.

Hyades smiles, "Me too." she runs up to fall in step with Gil.

The three work together to clear the cave, perfectly demonstrating what he missed the most… Comfortable silence. Interrupted occasionally by an angry shout from T or Harry as they continued to argue over near the boulders.

Sup chicks and maybe dicks,

So what did ya'll think of this chapter? Did it give you all the feels? Were you happy the book club is finally back together? Did you enjoy their reunion? It was definitely fun for us to write. Did we deliver on their reunion? What about poor Deez? Talk about PTSD am I right? Are you guys expecting D and T's reactions to the same situation to be so at odds? Or does it seem par for the course?

As for the previously offered songs that inspire our versions of Mal, sorry FC she was the first to respond, but we promise Harry will be next. We both agreed Miley Cyrus's song Mother's Daughter is our favorite when we get stuck. As for her writer, the song that always gets me in the mood for her mindset is also Simple Plan's I'm just a kid. Are there any songs you think of when you think of our Mal? We'd love to hear what makes you think of her too!

Thank you so much for all your love and support!

We really appreciate how much time some of you take to tell us your thoughts.

With much love and appreciation to you dedicated enough to come this far with us!

-Twisted