Time skip to after the events of Descendents 3
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~Mal's POV~

After the festivities were over and the sun had gone down, I sat on my bed in my own room at the castle. Most of the time I lived here, but sometimes I would sleep at Evie's place if I wanted to.

I was drawing the crowd of villains mixing in with the Auradon people as the barrier dropped and the bridge was permanently set in place.

It was everything I could ever wish for, except for one. I had searched through the crowd over and over again, but I couldn't find those others.

Those other children of Hades.

I'd seen practically everyone else I could remember, and even a few that I didn't. I'd even saw Dad for a few moments.

But not my siblings. Where in Hades were they?

They couldn't be- no. I would not think like that.

I slammed my sketchbook shut and put it back on my desk, which was already starting to overflow with papers. Sheesh, I was only engaged to the king, not even married yet! And to top it all off, the press was again surrounding me every time I stepped outside the castle, or even went onto my balcony overlooking the palace gardens.

The point is, the pressure and the expectations of being soon-to-be royalty were starting to get to me. As if they weren't already earlier.

There was a knock at my door. "M?" a familiar voice called out.

"E? Come in," I said, folding a paper and putting it away inside a file.

The door opened and my best friend stepped in, still in her midnight blue dress from earlier, when the barrier had come down. I'd changed out of mine to a lavender-colored nightgown.

"There are some people who need to see you. Like, right now," she said.

"What? Who?"

"I don't know their names, but I think you know them."

"Can I at least change first?"

"You better," she said, going to my closet and pulled out a purple and black full-length formal dress. Of course, it was one of Evie's many creations.

"Really, E? Are they like foreign ambassadors or something?"

"No, but they're expecting something like this," she handed me the dress.

I sighed and went to the bathroom to change. When I came out, Evie handed me a black leather choker necklace. She'd gotten it for me as a birthday present and it reminded me so much of my old home on the Isle.

She also handed me a few bracelets and rings to wear along with my engagement one.

"I still don't understand why all this," I said, looking in the mirror at my reflection.

"You will soon," Evie grabbed a few palettes of makeup and brushes. She quickly did my makeup then, according to her, I was ready.

"Why couldn't they wait until tomorrow? I'm sleepy and it's like ten o'clock at night," I complained.

"Don't give me that face," she crossed her arms stubbornly. "And put the pout away."

I did as she said.

"Trust me, if you were them you wouldn't want to wait either. They practically busted down the doors to see you."

"Is Ben there?" I asked.

"Most likely. After all, they are his-" she cut herself off.

"His what?"

"Nothing, M."

"Obviously something, E."

"Well, you'll see," she walked out of the door. I followed and together we went down to one of the private meeting rooms that the council often used. I heard lots of noise from inside.

Evie opened the door and walked in, me right behind her.

Eight people sat talking at a long table in the center of the room. Three of them were Jay, Carlos, and Ben. The others had their backs to me, so I couldn't see their faces, but telling from their clothes there was no doubt they were from the Isle.

I sat down between Ben and Evie and looked up at their faces. Then I almost fell out of my chair.

"Malie. Long time no see," Thanatos said.

"It has been," Madison agreed, in her seat right next to him.

"Mal, this is Penny, Maze, and Charlotte." Thanatos said, going down the line.

"Our... siblings?" I asked. They all did look alike.

"All children of Hades," Madison confirmed.

"Sheesh," I murmured. "How many times did mom-"

"But not all children of Maleficent," Thanatos added.

"Then children of who?" Evie asked.

"Charlotte and Penny are Maleficent's offspring, and we don't know the identity of Maze's mother." Madison said.

"So Hades cheated on Maleficent?" Jay inquired.

"Many times," Penny said, her blue eyes blazing.

"Let's... discuss that later," I interrupted.

"Good idea M," Evie muttered.

Charlotte and Maze sat silently, studying each of us intently. I couldn't help but look away from their faces, even if they were my sister and half-sisters.

"Mal? Something wrong?" Jay asked quietly.

"No," I said.

"It's just us in here," Evie persisted. "Your family and closest friends."

I stood. "It's late. We should all get some sleep."

"I agree," Carlos also stood.

Jay, Evie, and Ben also stood.

"We can give you guys spare guest rooms until you get settled in," Ben offered.

"Thanks Benjamin," Madison said.

"Call me Ben." he insisted.

Madison gave him a once-over. "Nah, I'll call you Benjamin."

"Never really cared for that name," Ben muttered.

Madison gave him an evil smirk. "Okay, Benjamin."

I grabbed Ben's wrist before he could do something stupid like punch my sister. "Ben! Why are you getting so riled up about this?"

He shrugged.

I glared at Madison. "Stop looking to pick a fight."

"Fine... for tonight. No promises afterwards," she said, her evil smirk still on her face.

"Shut the f*** up, Maddie," Thanatos muttered.

"I heard that!" Madison shouted at the same time I said "Language!"

"Jay, Carlos, Evie, could you show them to the extra rooms?" Ben asked.

"Of course," Evie said, walking to the door.

"Now, all of you behave, or-" Jay started, but was cut off by Evie shoving his shoulder.

"This way," Carlos said, opening the door. They all left, until it was just Ben and me left. I turned to leave.

"Mal?" my fiancé's voice called.

I turned back around. "Yeah?"

"Could we maybe... talk in private?"

"Um... sure."

Word count: 1079

(Hm... maybe some Bal in the next chapter?)