The Isle of the Lost was a strange reflection of those existing on it. No one was stupid enough to say anyone lived on the Isle; at best they survived but, for most, it was just existing. Just like the Isle itself. Dark water fought even darker stone. If it was making any progress in its war, no one knew. Buildings made of anything available—driftwood and grass for the lesser members of society, stone for those more deserving—lined the Isle's shores and clustered at its heart a few miles inland. Spread across the rest of it were sparse grazing grounds for goats and scrawny harvests of potatoes, apples, beans, and turnips or forests thick as thieves and deeper than the grave. And there were enough graves dug into the dirt for a villain to be proud of.
It was the perfect home for villains.
It was her home.
Head high, shoulders back, Mal strode down the middle of a dirt street so packed down it could be stone. Stalls filled with wilting turnips, thin attempts at leather, jewelry made from polished rocks, fish scales, and scraps from the supply drops lined the street while Dr. Facilier's bar stood as proud as the man himself at the corner, a banner advertising tarot readings. Several blocks over, Lady Tremaine's brothel rose against the sky and, like the bar, was always busy no matter what time it was. In the distance behind them was her mother's palace, stone so black that it easily could've been taken straight from the fae's heart itself.
A flick of her head moved a strand of hair as purple as royalty from her grey eyes. People slunk and creeped out of her way and she sneered at anyone who didn't move fast enough for her liking. It'd taken years for her to build her own reputation and establish her territory, but now that they were hers, she wasn't about to give it up.
Jay ambled along on her right, hands in his pockets, vest displaying the build of his body and leaving little to the imagination. A lot of them had experienced his body first hand, including her. And damn what an experience. Catching the jealous glares from several of the other women on the street, Mal smirked. While they'd gotten a chance with Jay too, he always came back to her and Evie. Which made a lot of the men jealous. Jay had what they wanted: a damn good body and neither she nor Evie turned him down like they did pretty much everyone else.
Just off to her left was Evie, the princess batting her lashes as the men practically drooled over themselves. With her sapphire blue hair hanging in gentle waves down to her waist combined with her form fitting jacket and short skirt only the dead were safe from her charm. How she could walk in those heels, Mal would never know, but she'd learned that even the princess's fashion could be deadly. Watching a man take a stiletto through the eye had warmed Mal to the shoes, though she would never be caught dead in them.
"Mal," Carlos said, voice low. Carlos was always at the back or center of the group. All three of them were incredibly protective of their pup, and what many didn't know was he was just as protective of them. He had sharp eyes that were always on the lookout for trouble and quick fingers skilled with knives and locks. He'd saved them from trouble quite a few times with all three traits. Bringing her back to the matter at hand,Mal's attention drifted to him as he moved from behind Evie to her side. His dark brown eyes focused further down the street and when she followed his gaze she frowned.
Standing in the shadows of an alley was Uma and her first and second mates: Harry and Gil. The other woman was lounging against a wall, playing with one of her turquoise dreadlocks, while Harry held Gil in a headlock. They were too far for Mal to hear what he was saying, but it wasn't important. They were in her territory.
"Looks like the shrimp and her guppies decided to test their land legs," Mal called, her smile mocking as she crossed her arms and rested her weight on one hip. "What are you doing here, Uma?"
With a harsh laugh, Uma stepped into the street, the two men following her. Harry toyed with his hooked knife, pale blue eyes glittering. Gil stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged a kind of greeting even as his captain tilted her head.
"Things were slow at the piers," Uma replied, crossing her arms. "So we decided to check out the market."
Mal's eyes narrowed. The pirates knew full well they weren't welcome here. Not without something to trade or on the last day of the week when the fishermen under Ursula came to sell and trade. And she didn't see any fish or mussels and she was certain it wasn't Saturday. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jay's jaw work. He'd noticed too. So had the others. Carlos disappeared from her side, silent as a last breath while Evie took his place.
"And it couldn't wait until the end of the week?" Mal asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Ask Evie," Harry laughed. "She must kno' how important it is to look ya best."
Red lips curved into a smile as Evie sashayed a step closer. "Especially when you get put into a nice wooden bed and under the ground," she cooed.
With a hiss, he lunged forward. Metal met metal. His knife screeched against Evie's dagger. Pirate and princess locked eyes, took a step apart. Then clashed again. That was good enough for Mal. They'd already invaded her territory. That alone was enough to send them back licking new wounds.
Drawing her dagger from the sheathe hidden in her jacket, Mal darted forward, eyes blazing green. Uma met her, cutlass drawn. Gil and Jay went barehanded, a battle of strength. It was a dance they'd danced a million times before. Not that it made it any easier, less dangerous, or less exhilarating.
People scattered, running to get out of the way and find a safe place to hide. Or a safe place to watch from. Good. Let them watch. A few of them were getting too bold in her opinion.
A slash that could've taken her eye if she hadn't stepped back sheared off a few strands of hair, returning her attention to the threat in front of her. In retaliation, Mal struck out, drawing a line of blood down Uma's hand. There was a flash of black and white before Harry yelped in pain. Carlos retreated back into the shadows, blood slick on his knife.
"Fuckin' de Vil rat!" Harry cursed, favoring his left shoulder.
There wasn't time to laugh. Uma was moving. A thrust. Mal slid to the side. She lunged, but Uma spun, her still outstretched cutlass slicing through the air. Mal ducked and Uma once again put distance between them.
Jay had a cut on his lip, blood dripping from his chin. Gil sported a black eye. The pirate's fist curled into Jay's vest, yanked him close. His other fist was pulled back for a punch. A knife flew from an alley, sinking into Gil's arm. With a shout he let Jay go, pulling the knife from his arm, checking the blade in case it was coated with one of Evie's poisons . Jay took the opening. Two steps closed the distance and a fist to the stomach sent Gil to the ground. As Gil gasped for air, Jay grabbed Carlos's knife. Resting a foot between Gil's shoulders, Jay smirked.
Near silent curses spewing from her lips, Uma raised her hands, cutlass held point to the ground. "Whatever," she huffed. "The shit they sell up here isn't worth looking at. Gil. Harry. We're leaving." Her gaze locked with Mal's.
Head tilted, Mal took her time before gesturing at Evie and Jay, bored. Gil scrambled to his feet as Jay released him and Harry stuck his knife through his belt. When Uma glared at Evie, holding out a hand, Evie held out a hand to Jay for Carlos's knife. After looking it over, she shook her head and Uma's shoulders relaxed a little. Apparently Evie hadn't reapplied any poisons to the knife.
Blue eyes icy, Harry spit to the side with a vicious curse before he retreated with his crew. Trusting Carlos to track them and ensure they left, Mal sheathed her own dagger and turned to check the others. Evie was untouched, not a single hair out of place. Only a faint flush coloring her cheeks betrayed the fact that she had just fought against the craziest pirate. Jay's lip was definitely split and there were bruises already blooming on his arms, but when he caught her looking at her, he just shrugged. Since she'd long since taught him that hiding injuries would only result in her fury, Mal didn't question him. If he couldn't fight right, she needed to know. Lying put the rest of them in danger.
Gradually people returned to the streets, resuming whatever the hell they were doing before the fight broke out. Some of them lingered, watching them, studying them, and Mal snarled, eyes flashing green. They scattered. .
Minutes later Carlos joined them. Like her, he studied the rest of them, wordless, cataloguing every injury, concern tightening his expression. Only once he was satisfied none of them were seriously injured did he relax. Though he did move a little closer to Evie than necessary when she offered him his knife back and Evie brushed her fingers against his as he took it.
"Let's go," Evie smiled as Carlos sheathed his knife. "I want to see if Anastasia still has that new leather."
Jay rolled his eyes, but he grinned. "Come on, guys. If it's sold before we get there, we'll hear about it for the next week."
With a faint smirk, Mal watched as Evie hooked an arm through Carlos's with a huff. "If you don't want a new vest then I'll just make a new jacket for Carlos. Let's go, Los." Smile small but amused, Carlos followed Evie's pull.
Following behind them, Mal and Jay kept an eye out for any more potential threats. Any stupid challenges to their authority and power. They'd just kicked pirate ass, but there were always idiots. The little shop run by Lady Tremaine's twin daughters was in view when Mal first heard it. A gruff breath. Heavy footsteps.
Before she could react something slammed into the back of her head. And the world fell away into nothingness.