Chapter Twelve
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.
Oh man, it's hard to believe things are heating up in the reading! :D Thank you all so much for your continued support!
Urmimala Hazra: Oh Maleficent needs to get smote! That's for certain! :D
InuKagLove22: I'm so glad you're liking the story!
Wrighting'GIRL3000: Thank you so much!
CrystalKaouri: I love that scene in Hercules too! Oh that's a good point—and something tells me it will be!
danifan3000: Seriously? How dumb are the goblins that they don't realize that they're buying back their own helmets?
Guest: Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
Sides of Me: Oh I love your guesses!
Marcus Emrys: I like to think they're using Atlantis tech. Or they just were hypocrites which honestly would that be too far off for them? In the books, the magical people need to get royal permission to practice their magic—but it makes no sense! Do you want Elsas only with different powers? Cause that's how you get blow ups!
Fangirlnerd001: Thank you so much! :D
midnight rose112358: Thank you so much! I'd like to think that since this was the christening of the crown prince of the kingdom, they should know about it since it'd be public record. Then again Audrey and Leah don't seem the type who'd pay attention to something that didn't involve them.
Tracie Adams: It might happen soon, I promise.
AmethystDragon14: Yay! *taps fingers along side you* yes good peoples, keep hating Freddy!
Isabelly Silva Sousa: Oh thank you! I can't wait to write the part about Ben and Mal's relationship!
billyandkimfan1994: Yeah they would be horrified that a library is locked.
medical ranger: Thank you so much!
twilightgirl587: Something tells me that she won't be happy to find out that she's become hyena chow! I can sympathize so much—people would ask me if I worked at my job when I was wearing the uniform and stocking the shelves!
lilyflower101: I wouldn't but that's just me.
SapphireKidTaeyeon: Oh thank you so much!
Guest: lol I love it! I also love Bobsheaux! I need to go rewatch his Descendants reviews! :D
CGB: Aww, I love the image of Chad with a golden retriever! Plus Estelle could use a furry friend! :D
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Mal shook her head as she unfurled the scroll. "Let's get this over with," she muttered.
Mal had to admit,
"Nope, can't do it," Mal shook her head.
"Come on! I did it!" Uma exclaimed.
"Uma, do you know how weird it is to read about yourself in the third person?!"
Ben couldn't help the small chuckle that slipped through his lips. A chuckle that Mal heard as her eyes locked on him.
"Just wait till you read next!" Mal told him. "If you ever show up in one of these, you'll see it's weird!"
she was nervous even if she would never say it out loud. This was her first time being an errand rat and if Maleficent were to find out she would probably blow her stack.
"Oh please, a bit of hard work never hurt anyone," Leah scoffed.
"When has your mother ever worked hard?" Phillip Sr. muttered to Aurora.
The very thought of her, Mal, being an errand rat would be bad enough but for Lord Hades? Mal didn't know why her birth giver seemed to utterly despise the God of the Dead but the mere mention of him or Persephone got Maleficent worked up to go on hour long rants. Nine times out of ten, Mal was able to get out of dodge before she was noticed.
"Oh that's good though," Alexandria said with a smile that Mal was able to get out of the way and not get noticed.
"Nine times out of ten though," Lucy muttered to Kitty who nodded.
The tenth time though….
Chip frowned and glanced over at Mal, who was looking at the scroll with a stony expression. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what the tenth time entailed.
Mal shook her head to clear her thoughts. It wouldn't do to go into Hook's territory distracted.
"With how terrified the Captain was of the Dragon, you would have been fine," Harry told her.
Even if Harry was part of her crew, that didn't mean everyone else was. After all, some of Hook's crew seemed to hang on Frollo's dad's every word, which could prove dangerous if they ever lost their fear of Maleficent.
And once Hadie, Celia, Uma, and Harry are off the Isle, they are free to do just that. Maleficent may not have her magic but she has enough in terms of minions to quash any rebellion that tries to over throw her, Mal thought.
Frollo didn't hold back on how he felt about those who practiced what he called 'witchcraft' after all, and with no magic to protect her, Mal knew she could be a target if Frollo and his ilk gained enough power.
"Well good thing you're in Auradon then," Akiho said with a smile that fooled no one. Ben rested a hand gently on Akiho's shoulder. He knew how much someone being accused of witchcraft bothered him, based on what happened with his aunt.
"Hey Mal," Harriet said with a smile as the younger girl walked into the shop, bringing Mal's thoughts back to the present. "How can I help you? If you're looking for Harry, he's off getting more fish for the Captain. If you're looking for the Captain, he's in a meeting with Smee. I doubt you'd be looking for CJ and I'm obviously right here."
"I see we're stating the obvious today Harriet," Harry chuckled.
"I'm surprised she's working the counter," Uma said. "Didn't you say your father called that 'man's work'?"
"How in the world could working the counter be too strenuous for a woman?!" Lonnie exclaimed.
Mal shook her head, wincing a bit at the movement as she'd been taught a lesson in respect from Maleficent the night before.
Hades' hands curled into fists and Persephone narrowed her eyes at the thought of Maleficent laying a finger on their daughter.
"I'm sorry, a lesson?" Demeter asked. "What sort of a lesson involves pain?"
"A lesson from Maleficent," Mal muttered and Demeter glared at the scroll.
"You know, I think Maleficent's in danger of being smote," Emir muttered to Akiho.
"Does it make me a bad person if I say 'good'?" Akiho muttered back to him.
"No, I'm here to pick up Lord Hades' weekly order actually."
"Oh," Harriet said, not commenting on the wince. To her credit, if she was surprised that Mal was picking up the order, it didn't show on her face. "It's in the back. Give me one minute and I'll grab it for you."
"That's the best part about Harriet," Harry said with a small smile. "She doesn't ask questions if she doesn't need to."
Mal nodded and the older girl ducked into the back, leaving Mal by herself. Not that she minded, the fish shop was small enough that no one could really sneak up on her.
Snow frowned at the thought of a five year old needing to be so aware of their surroundings that they'd note if a place was big enough for someone to sneak up on them. All a five year old should worry about were scraped knees and if their parents would let them have some candy before dinner.
Besides, if being the offspring of Maleficent held any benefits, it was that it was rare that anyone tried to mess with her.
Fred Frollo and his gang notwithstanding.
"His gang of what? Four?" Uma scoffed.
"Two actually," Mal said. "Strat didn't leave the crew until you took leadership and announced Harry was your First Mate. That was when we were seven and then Shayla left a year later. Remember? She left the same year—."
"The same year Sammy's mom died," Harry said softly.
"Right," Jay nodded. "And then Morgan followed a few years later."
I should meet up with Harry soon, Mal thought. If Frollo's getting as brazen as he was last week to chase me through the Isle, I should make sure my sword fighting's up to par. Especially since my eyes keep flashing like crazy. Maybe it's the Fae magic Maleficent keeps talking about.
"Anytime you need your butt kicked in sword fighting cap'n, just let me know and I'll be there," Harry promised.
"Harry, you haven't 'kicked my butt' as you put it since I was seven," Mal chuckled.
It would have to wait until her latest 'lesson' from Maleficent healed. It was Mal's fault though, she had called her Maleficent to her face instead of the preferred title of 'mother'.
"Rookie mistake," Uma shook her head.
"Hey, she's not my mother so why should I have called her by the title?" Mal shrugged.
No one should lay a hand on a child, Eric thought with a small frown. I…I know it doesn't do much good now but I wish I knew about Mal. I'd have petitioned for guardianship—she's Ariel's cousin after all.
It wasn't as bad as it could have been, only a bruised rib and arm this time and a night without dinner.
Ben wasn't sure he wanted to know how bad it could have been, if a bruised rib, arm and going without dinner was considered light.
Mal had skipped breakfast by her own choice; not wanting to be alone with Maleficent for longer than necessary in case Maleficent decided Mal needed to learn her lesson again.
Demeter glowered and turned to Hades.
"I couldn't do anything," he said as his mother-in-law opened her mouth. "What was I supposed to do, put Mal in even more risk with Maleficent? If you really want to be angry at someone, be angry at the God who put me on the Isle in the first place!"
"Well played," Persephone muttered as Demeter turned her glare onto Zeus.
"Thank you. Your mother's right though—I should have done something. Anything."
"You got Mal out of there before it could potentially get worse."
Truthfully, going without dinner was more of a kindness than anything else Maleficent could have given her—the selections they had gotten from this month's delivery were bad even for first pick standards.
"Oh my," David White sighed and shook his head. "We really need to look into what's going on there."
"Why? So your wife can scoop her competition?" Uma scoffed.
"How do you—?"
"We get two channels—one of which is news. We know Snow White's a reporter."
"A gossip reporter," Evie added softly. "Mother…mother likes to add that part if the subject comes up."
Besides, if Lord Hades was good to his word, Mal wouldn't have to worry about starvation as a punishment anymore.
"Never again," Hades promised. "You shouldn't have had to go through that."
"It's not your fault dad," Mal promised.
"I know," Hades told her, glaring at Beast.
"Here you go," Harriet said, breaking into Mal's thoughts as she came back around holding the order. "One weekly order of fish for the God of the Dead."
"I like her."
"She's not even here Hades!"
"Doesn't matter. She got my title right. Grown adults can't even do that and Harriet did it at eight," Hades said, nodding his head.
Mal took the order, holding back a wince as the act of lifting her arm caused pain to shoot through her rib.
Hades frowned and sighed softly to himself. He'd have wrapped Mal up in his arms if it wasn't for the fact that she was reading.
Well and the fact that they were surrounded by Auradonians—and Zeus.
She'd have to find a way to wrap it or something—maybe Harry would have some tips. He was always getting into 'trouble' with his dad.
Mal's eyes narrowed and Uma growled slightly as Jay's hands curled into fists at the thought. Something most of the AKs weren't slow to notice.
I need to get him out of there, Ben thought. If his dad's abusive, Harry might not have a month to last. I'll talk to Mal, see about getting him over here.
Or I could talk to Jay, Mal thought. He's always getting into scrapes, people catching him steal their stuff. Plus, since his dad's on Maleficent's team, it might get her off my back for a bit. Show her that I'm becoming like her, making my own team of minions from her team.
"I'm not your minion!" Jay chuckled. "I'm your First Mate!"
"The Dragon wouldn't be able to tell the difference," Mal shook her head.
The son of Jafar was also a year older than Mal, making him at least somewhat more knowledgeable on the issue.
"Ah, someone finally admits that I am older and therefore wiser," Jay smirked.
"No, I said you were somewhat more knowledgable on the issue of injuries," Mal snarked.
Could Mal trust him?
"With my life," Mal said and Jay gave her a big smile.
Are…are they dating? Or whatever they call dating on the Isle? Ben thought to himself and then shook his head slightly. It shouldn't matter to him if Mal was dating anyone. He had that damned contract.
That was up in the air. Like she had said, Jafar was in league with Maleficent which would always pose a huge risk.
"Mal, you okay?" Harriet asked and Mal realized she hadn't done as good of a job holding back the wince as she thought.
"I thought you said Harriet didn't ask questions?" Elle asked Harry.
"I said if she didn't need to," Harry stated. "Someone wincing on the Isle is notable. Mal wincing is something that would stand out."
"Yeah," Mal nodded. "Just slept wrong, that's all."
Harriet frowned but didn't push the issue. Mal did technically outrank her in the Isle Hierarchy after all, even though the purple haired girl was younger.
Mal shook her head. "At the time, Harriet outranked me. She was a Captain after all. Besides, now? We're equally ranked."
"That's within the crew," Jay said. "To Harriet, then, you were Maleficent's daughter. You vastly outranked her."
Mal shook her head. "It's fine Harriet, really. Besides, you know there's no rest for the wicked here."
"True," Harriet nodded, the frown still on her face. While she hadn't personally gotten any 'lessons' from her father, she had cleaned up Harry enough times to know how serious they can be.
Oh yeah, I'm definitely getting him out of there, Ben thought as he locked eyes with Emir and Akiho. One look on his friends' faces told Ben they were having the same thoughts he was.
"You should get going. Won't be good if you're late with Lord Hades' order. Plus you don't want that fish to go bad."
Mal nodded and left the shop, holding the order on her left side as to avoid jostling her rib. It also had the added bonus of avoiding any contact with the bruise on her arm.
A child shouldn't have to form strategies to avoid being in pain, Aurora thought with a frown as she noticed Mal seemed to be avoiding everyone's eyes as she read that.
What's it like to have a normal parent? Mal thought as she made her way back to Hades' restaurant, the thought coming unprompted to the front of her mind.
"Well past-me, you'll get to find out," Mal said, a small smile tugging at her lips. Such thoughts weren't as bad to think about now that she was with her mom and dad. "Mom's certainly normal enough for both her and dad."
"Hey!" Hades chuckled.
It was dangerous to have such thoughts as there was always the risk that the thoughts might accidentally get spoken out loud; there was no use complaining about their lot in life.
"Complaining doesn't get us anywhere after all," Hadie nodded.
Some kids managed to luck out though—like Uma. Even if she didn't have the best relationship with her mom, she could always go over to Dr. Faciller's for an escape into normalcy. Mal wouldn't begrudge her best friend her relationship with her father, but that didn't stop her from being the tiniest bit jealous. Mal would give anything to know who her father was, even if such thoughts made her weak.
"Wanting to know who your father is doesn't make you weak," Ariel said, her voice soft. She would have given anything for clearer memories of her mother after all.
"If it wasn't the Dragon's preferred level of evil, it was weakness," Mal shrugged.
"I mean, my sword's not currently in use, I could—."
"Phillip, we're not running Maleficent through with a sword!"
Celia looked at her sister. "You thought dad's was an escape to normalcy?"
"Compared to my mother?" Uma asked her.
"You may have a point there."
All Maleficent would ever say about her father, if she talked about him at all, was that he was weak and that he had given Mal up at the first chance he had. He walked away from both of them.
"Well she's half right there," Ashaki said. "Lord Hades walked away from her, not Mal."
Hades looked over at Persephone. "Have I said if I like her yet?"
"I don't know dear."
"Well just in case I haven't, I like her."
If he just walked away from both of us, chances are he's not still alive if he was as weak as Maleficent says he was, Mal thought. Maleficent would have made it next to impossible for him to get any food from the deliveries.
"Oh she tried," Hades smirked. "The first month or so after she stole you, she tried."
"How'd you get around it?" Mal asked.
"Didn't," Hades shrugged. "I started the restaurant and went to Hook for fish deliveries."
At least she had a parent who stayed, who had made the choice to stay even if calling Maleficent a parent was a stretch of the word's definition. Not like Harry, who's mom had died after CJ was born.
"Oh no!" Fairy Godmother gasped softly as her hand flew to her mouth. "I'm so—."
"I don't want it," Harry muttered. "Not from you or anyone else from Boreadon."
"Harry…" Mal said softly.
"I mean it Mal. They want to be sorry, that's fine, but sorry won't bring my mom back," Harry told her.
Mal sighed and locked eyes with Jay, tilting her head toward Harry. Jay nodded and wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. It was as much of a hug as they could afford being surrounded by 'enemies' as they were.
Though Milah wasn't the best mom, she still provided some stability for Harry and Harriet. She even managed to put a smile on the Captain's face a few times.
After Milah's death, though, Hook had basically foisted all parenting responsibilities on to Harriet. Well, with the exception of punishment.
Tears prickled in the corner of Snow's eyes and Cinderella quickly wiped away the ones that had started to run down her cheeks. If Harry hadn't wanted their apologies, chances were he didn't want to see their tears either.
Lonnie also had tears running down her cheeks and Mulan gently pulled her into her arms, the same way Shang had their son. They couldn't imagine…
Sometimes Mal couldn't believe Harry still idolized the man to the point that his goal in life was to get his hand chopped off so he'd need a hook. Not that it stopped him from carrying around a hook, mind you. He just didn't need it.
Okay, therapy is definitely going to be something for the next group. He wants to chop off his hand? Ben thought as Estelle walked over to Harry and rested his heads on the boy's leg.
"Hey boy," Ben heard the pirate whisper. "I'm…I'm okay. It's just hard hearing about that."
Before Mal knew it, she was at Hades' restaurant and she shook her head to clear it of any thoughts of her father or birth giver. Wouldn't do to have something show on her face and potentially give Lord Hades something over her.
"But…he's your father," Melody said, her voice soft as everyone's emotions were still raw from the previous paragraph.
Mal shrugged. "I didn't know that at the time."
She may have been five but Mal knew how the game was played. The second you let someone have something over you, you were finished—and there were plenty of people who would love to have something over Maleficent's daughter.
Mal sighed. She had to admit, the only good thing about Blueberry being in Boreadon with her was that she wouldn't be able to go around and spread this information throughout the Isle. To her crew, her reputation was intact.
"You're late," Hades said as Mal walked into to the kitchen, not looking up from the pantry.
"By two minutes!" Mal exclaimed as she looked at the clock. She hadn't been walking as fast as she normally did—that stupid rib of hers. If Maleficent ruined this deal for Mal, it would just be yet another way her birth giver had ruined her life.
Leah scoffed. Typical Isle brat, thinking only of herself. Never mind all the other lives Maleficent ruined!
Being an evil loon who decided the best course of action was to curse a baby when not invited to a party was the first way Maleficent had ruined her life but that went without saying.
"Can we start referring to Maleficent as an evil loon?" Akiho asked.
"Go right ahead," Mal shrugged and chuckled as Emir and Akiho grinned.
"Late is late," Hades told her, turning around to look at her. "Did Hook give you trouble? I know he's used to dealing with my other errand rat."
"From the sound of things, he sounds more likely to be used to Pain and Panic than he is Virgil," Evan pointed out.
"No," Mal told him. "Harriet was manning the counter. Hook was in a meeting with Smee so he doesn't even know I'm handling the delivery pickup now."
"I mean that'll likely change since Harriet might tell him," Rachel said, trying to sound positive.
"Harriet and the Captain don't really talk," Harry shrugged. Unless it's Harriet's inane once a month family dinners that she tries to force on us, he thought.
Hades frowned but didn't say anything as Mal put the order on the counter.
"I guess the deal's off," Mal muttered as she stepped back.
"Why would you say that?" Jay asked, turning to look at Mal. "Did your dad ever say you'd have to be on time for the deal to be in effect?"
"It's the Isle Jay. Anything good never lasts," Mal shrugged, not noticing the Auradonians frown at that.
"Why would that be the case?" Hades asked, taking the order and putting it in the fridge.
Mal raised an eyebrow. "I was late. You said it yourself, late is late."
"Don't question it Mal," Uma shook her head.
"Did I specify you had to be on time for the deal to still be in effect?" Hades asked, turning to look at Mal.
"Well no but—"
"Why are you pushing your luck?!" Harry groaned.
"You really think dad would just let me go hungry?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Hades told her. "I keep my deals Mal. You made the delivery, you and your gang get free meals here. Unless you want to change the terms of the deal?"
"If you said yes, I'll kill you right here and now," Uma promised.
"Well then it's a good thing I didn't," Mal chuckled.
Mal quickly shook her head, despite every bone in her body telling her to play it cool. She wasn't an idiot; this was free food they were talking about. Even if there was always the looming threat of an unseen catch.
"Actually Hades' deals are pretty clear cut," Meg said. "Hercules gives up his strength for a day, I go free. I get hurt, deal's off and Herc gets his strength back."
"It's Ursula's deals that have the unseen catch," Ariel sighed. After all, I'm sure there was probably a clause indicating she could interfere in that contract. If I didn't close my eyes and actually read the darn thing…
Hades smirked. "Go on and grab a seat, the place is pretty much dead right now. I'll whip you up something."
Hera couldn't help but smile slightly at that. It was strange, seeing Hades be so parental. But at the same time…it was nice.
Mal didn't need to be told twice, even if she was a little surprised at the offer. All she'd done was deliver one order to him. It wasn't as if they had a working relationship.
I wonder if he's trying to overthrow Maleficent as ruler of the Isle? Mal thought as she waited for the food. That might explain why he's being so nice, he wants to know Maleficent's weaknesses.
"Mal, if I wanted to overthrow Maleficent, I'd have done so years before you were born," Hades said with amusement in his voice.
"You don't want the power?" Zeus asked.
"Not if it means idiots are going to constantly coming up to me asking me to solve their problems," Hades stated.
Mal didn't want to be the one to tell Hades that Maleficent had practically no weaknesses or if she did, they weren't known to Mal. Maleficent didn't become ruler of the Isle by broadcasting things that could be used to take her down.
Tell me something I don't know, Evie thought with a small frown that quickly faded as she reminded herself about the potential for wrinkles.
That being said, Mal wasn't going to overlook free food—especially since she skipped breakfast and had dinner withheld from her.
Hades growled slightly at the thought of Mal going without food. If he happened to hear a small growl coming from Poseidon and Hercules as well, he didn't comment on it.
"Here you go," Hades said, bringing a plate of what she usually ordered. "Enjoy."
Mal nodded and dug in, eating ravenously as the meal continued to be the same quality as all of Lord Hades' dishes. Mal honestly didn't know how the God did it but she didn't particularly care. At this point, she'd eat some of the food from Boreadon if it meant getting something in her stomach.
"Were you talking from the delivery barges or from Boreadon proper?" Harry asked.
"Probably the barges but Boreadon proper probably wouldn't have been too bad either," Mal nodded.
Hades frowned from his spot in the kitchen as he cleaned up his work area. While he hadn't expected a fight over the food, he had at least expected a little resistance. Mal was the daughter of two very stubborn individuals after all.
"Yeah, stubborn is a good word to describe you and Aunt Steph," Uma nodded, giving Hades a cheeky grin.
Still, the pace Mal was eating…it was troubling to say the least. Maleficent got first pick of the food that was delivered to the Isle so it wasn't as if Mal was lacking in terms of access to food.
"Just because I had access to it doesn't mean I was given it," Mal stated.
"I still can't believe she'd do that," Jane shook her head. "I mean—."
"She's a villain," Mal said flatly. "What, did you think she'd turn over a new leaf just because she had a kid?"
"Slow down," Hades called as he walked over to her. "You eat any faster, you could bite your tongue off."
"Already turning on that parental side," Persephone smiled and kissed Hades' cheek.
Mal nodded and slowed down a bit. "Can't help it," she said. "Someone could come by and take it."
"In an empty restaurant?" Jane asked.
"You'd be surprised," Carlos told her, his voice soft. "You get food, you guard it with your life."
Hades looked around at the empty restaurant. "And who would that be? It wouldn't be me, I ate already."
Mal shrugged and Hades frowned as he noticed a purple mark on Mal's right arm as her sleeve seemed to rise up her arm.
"What was I wearing with sleeves that day?" Mal muttered to herself.
"Why does that even matter Mal?" Uma asked.
"Because I didn't have my jacket yet and most if not all of my shirts were short sleeved," Mal said with a shrug.
"Oh yeah!" Uma nodded.
"You guys aren't upset about Mal having a bruise?" Ben asked. Most of the Auradon Royals seemed furious at the idea that someone would hurt a child. That Maleficent would hurt her child…err would hurt Lady Persephone's child?
Speaking of the Goddess, she and Lord Hades were glaring daggers at the scroll. It was honestly impressive that it hadn't caught fire by that point.
The girls shrugged. "Why be upset about something that already happened?"
"Where'd you get that?" Hades asked, and Mal followed his gaze to her right arm.
"Bumped my arm on a doorknob," Mal muttered, pulling her sleeve back down.
Fairy Godmother shook her head. While physical abuse wasn't common in Auradon, in fact it was pretty much non existent, she still had to read a book on warning signs to look out for before she became headmistress. An excuse like that set off warning bells in her head.
It wasn't her best lie but she didn't particularly care. It's not like Lord Hades would notice. "Why do you care?"
Hades shook his head. It would be a cold day in his Underworld when he fell for a poor lie like that, especially from his daughter. "You want to try that one again?"
"Ooh Mal! Your dad's not going to fall for a bad lie like that!" Uma smirked.
"I don't have to answer to you," Mal said, standing up and giving Hades a glare.
"Technically you do," Kitty said. "While you didn't know he was your dad then, he does have you in a deal where you report to him."
"That was a fine loophole you just found," Hades nodded and then turned to Persephone. "I like her."
"We're going to end up with every royal kid of Auradon under our protection aren't we?" Persephone asked.
"Just the ones I like."
"I bumped my arm. End of story."
"Mal Bertha, you're going to tell me the truth!"
"Ooh the double name, right out the gate!" Kitty said, sounding impressed.
"Lord Hades might have just given himself away though," Lucy pointed out.
Hades didn't mean to use Mal's middle name, it honestly just slipped out. But his five year old daughter was not that great of a liar, even if she thought she was.
"Maybe not at five," Mal smirked.
"And if you're not talking to your dad," Uma teased, causing Mal to form a pale flush to her cheeks.
There was only one person, one entity, with the clout and the protection to dare to injure Maleficent's daughter. Unfortunately, that person was the Dragon herself and the thought of Maleficent laying a talon on Mal was enough to get Hades' blood boiling.
You're not the only one brother, Poseidon thought as his hands curled into fists. He didn't know his niece well but the thought of someone laying a hand on her!
"How'd you know that?" Mal asked, her eyes wide in shock, as she looked up at Hades. She hadn't told anyone her middle name, mainly because it was just too horrible.
"Really?" Emir asked. "My last name is 'Bobolonius'. You still think Bertha's that bad?"
"Yes," Mal said, her voice flat.
She hadn't expected anything prissy like 'Aurora' but couldn't Maleficent had given her something better than Bertha?
Aurora couldn't help the sad smile that pulled at her lips as she heard that. No child should hate their name that much.
"Honestly, Aurora is a fine name!" Leah scoffed. "It means 'the dawn'. Her father and I chose it because she filled our lives with sunshine."
All the VKs looked at each other and then back at Leah. "What's sun?"
"I feel like they're messing with Leah," Chip muttered to Ben. "And if that's the case, I approve wholeheartedly."
"Your mother told me," Hades said, thinking on his feet. It wasn't a lie—Maleficent had told him Mal's name when she was born. "I was there when you were born."
"Really?" Poseidon asked, looking at Hades. "And you thought the doorknob excuse was a bad lie?"
"You try thinking on the fly!" Hades rolled his eyes.
Mal shook her head. "You're lying," she said as she got up. Maleficent would never have allowed anyone other than Lady Tremaine as acting midwife into the room when she was vulnerable—and she especially would never allow Lord Hades anywhere near her or Mal after the birth.
Cinderella tilted her head as she heard her stepmother's name be used as the acting midwife but didn't interrupt. She could tell that this was a rather…emotional moment for Mal and it would be cruel if it were to get drawn out.
"Mal—"
"I gotta go," Mal said as she rushed out of the restaurant.
Mal stared directly at the scroll, avoiding eye contact with anyone. If one were to look closely at her face, they'd see a faint flush to her cheeks at the thought of running away from a problem. She didn't run. She fought.
If Lord Hades was going to lie right to her face, then Mal wasn't going to spend any more time than necessary there. She'd still be his errand rat but that was it.
She wasn't an idiot after all. Free food was free food, even if it was prepared by a liar.
"Plus you know the whole not knowing where the next meal's going to come from thing," Celia chimed in.
Hades watched as Mal left the restaurant, the front door slamming breaking the quiet of the empty front room.
Mal paused and looked over at her mom.
"Yes?" Persephone asked, noticing the look.
"I need a 'language pass' for this," Mal told her.
"Granted, only because I'm curious."
"Shit."
"Hades!" Persephone exclaimed.
"I thought I blew my chance at getting Mal back," Hades said.
Mal sighed. "There. I read. Never again."
"I'll read!" Hadie grinned.
"Didn't you already read?" Mal asked. "Let someone else go, storm cloud."
Jay chuckled. "I'll read then."