A/N: the song in this chapter is "No Rest for the Wicked" By Pattycake Productions on YouTube. They have AWESOME Disney content!
Chapter 10
In their time together over the next few weeks Hades used the small amount of magic they had access to and summoned his flames to have some fun. He taught Drac all he could and the teenager was surprised at how laid back the magic lessons were. All his life he'd imagined magic practice with his mother and thought about the harsh stares she'd put him and Mal under - like the stares she routinely used even in non-magic situations. He pictured the sibling rivalry bringing an evil grin to Mother's face while he and Mal bickered and tried to out match each other. There would be pressure to impress Mother and surpass his big sister. But with Hades most of the magic training was fun. They'd twiddle their fingers while watching Auradon news on the TV in the cave. Hades snapping his fingers to strike up the flames like a match. His father would insult the princes and princesses on the screen and laugh loudly, which echoed off the walls. Drac couldn't help but laugh too, Hades' insults were clever and, honestly, held a touch of truth.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away huh Snow White?" he chuckled as the princess hosted the opening of a new children's hospital.
"Curiosity killed the catfish Ari." he snarked as the red head being interviewed got distracted by something passing behind the camera.
"Belle's not so smart, she's the reason her village even found out about Beast in the first place." He commented sourly as he kicked his feet up as the former queen cut the ribbon.
While all the remarks were mean his father's perspective did highlight what Drac had discovered while in Auradon. A lot of the 'heroes' had forgotten that they too were flawed. Not just the villains. Like when Aziz pointed out that his dad had started off as a crook. Or when Queen Leah was bullying him and Mal. But was she suddenly painted a villain for harassing children? No. The whole thing was fraught with double standards. Drac half paid attention while he and his dad practiced. He'd gotten burned a couple of times which Hades tended to, shouting for Pain and Panic to bring him whatever he needed to treat the burn. But every time Drac felt stupid for it his dad patted his shoulder and complimented how much energy he'd been able to conjure. Even if he still lacked the equivalent control. The whole thing was a much different experience then studying with his mother.
By the end of the two weeks Hades was giving cheerful hoots and claps as he congratulated his son's accomplishments. Every time the words "That's my boy!" Came from his throat Drac couldn't help but compare how much sincerer it sounded from his dad.
He smirked, knowing his father had enjoyed their time together and passing down his knowledge. And now, with the time finally right - or so his dad said - Drac felt like he had the courage to make his first big move on the Isle. The utter faith Hades had in Drac filled him with such an ego boost he felt he could take down anyone - though his head stayed in control and kept that urge in check.
"Are you sure this plan is going to work?" he asked as he and Hades headed through the tunnels looking for the second entrance to Hades lair. The one chained and locked with the words Get Lost above it. Hades wanted to teach Drac every in and out to the tunnels that he knew. So if his son ever ran into trouble he'd be able to disappear at any moment.
"Of course." His dad replied with a confident smile. "It's been years since I've shown my face above ground. Once I cause some trouble it'll scare every villain on the Isle. And then you step in and promise protection. They'll be desperate and figure even if you can't deliver it'll be your neck on the line instead of theirs."
Drac shook his head, "Every villain for themselves."
"Just remember none of these people who are going to side with you are doing it for any loyalty to you. It's purely out of fear and survival instincts."
"You'd think with the us-versus-Auradon attitude most villains have we'd band together a bit more." Drac muttered sadly.
"Hey." Hades said stopping where he stood and turning to his son. He rested his hands on Drac's shoulders and looked him dead in the eye. "When push comes to shove you do what you gotta do, okay? You look out for yourself, only yourself. Because I'm not always going to be there."
Drac nodded, "I know dad." He said, he'd learned that lesson when he came back to the Isle alone without his mother, his sister or his crew.
Drac took a deep breath as he zipped up his patch covered leather jacket. He hadn't been wearing it much for two reasons. One, practicing with fire made him warm enough that he didn't need the extra layer. And second, it was a symbol, a too recognizable symbol on the surface. So he'd been wearing more hats to cover his hair and tattered grey hoodies his dad had in a dusty trunk. On the rare occasion he surfaced at all. Since he left his old clothes in Auradon Pain and Panic had snuck themselves into Bargain Castle and nabbed some of his old stuff. This jacket he had now did not have his mother's dragon on the back, it had no logo at all. It was the same deep purple as his old coat was but there was no zipper or chest pockets. Instead there were five buttons on leather straps that kept the jacket shut. Once he'd buttoned all of them he rolled his shoulders getting used to the look he hadn't seen in a while. It felt like a clean slate, like the green flames of his mother and the dragon decals removed left him free to make his own symbols to spook the Isle. Still nervous, he pulled out the more formal coat he'd worn to the coronation, inside the pocket was still the purple beanie. He slid it onto his head, fixing his hair in the front, and let it serve as a reminder of everything he'd been through in Auradon. Aziz had given him the hat after Audrey's bullying, he remembered how he'd stood up to her and let that feeling fill him up.
Knowing the plan he took another deep breath and headed out of his own little lair underground and wove his way through the now familiar tunnels.
"I feel like something in me's taking control." He sang to himself as his eyes flashed green, "A darker side of me that's heartless and cold. I'm wide awake, I'm hearing whispers in bed. My dreams are turning into nightmares instead."
His father walked in from another tunnel that branched off to his lair. He smirked wickedly at his son as they headed for the entrance.
"There's another part of me that I can't explain." Drac continued, "Was locked away but now I've loosened the chain."
He pulled the chain loose from the metal linked door, he grabbed one side and Hades grabbed the other as they pulled the gate open and walked out onto the streets of the Isle.
"I feel it comin its about to begin." Hades smirked at him again, "Maybe we remind them good guys don't always win."
"Nowhere to hide." They both chorused, "Your villainous side."
Smoke from nearby broken pipes and steam from the grates leading down into the sewers surrounded their feet and made the alley foggy. "We won't stop til we get enough. We don't cry cause we like it rough. Make your move, don't wanna call our bluff. There's no rest for the wicked!"
Drac was almost pulled back into memories of making the same moves with Jay and Carlos, matching a wicked melody as they parkoured down alleys and over rooftops. "We don't care if its wrong or right. You say no we'll put up a fight. We don't sleep cause we run the night there's no rest for the wicked!"
Then they split up, Hades turning down Woeful Way to go on his gleeful rampage while Drac headed for the border between Mal's turf and Uma's. While he walked he searched for someone, and when he heard her voice singing he smirked. Looking up he found the blonde in question strutting along the fire escape.
"I'm sick of people telling me what to be." CJ Hook sang. "But now my badder side is finally free. Not gonna fake it cause I'm taking them down. This queen was always meant for wearing a crown."
"I'm playing games but maybe you should beware." He sang getting her attention as she descended. "I write the rules and I don't always play fair."
"Better watch your step one wrong move and you could fall."
"We're gonna do things my way or we won't do things at all." He warned as she joined him walking down the alley.
"Nowhere to hide. Your villainous side. We won't stop til we get enough. We don't cry cause we like it rough." They punched the air in front of them like they were boxing an imaginary foe.
"Make your move, don't wanna call our bluff. There's no rest for the wicked!" They slapped hands together and pulled each other to opposite sides of the alley before continuing down the path.
"We don't care if its wrong or right. You say no we'll put up a fight." They both kicked over trashcans causing loud bangs and garbage to go flying everywhere.
"We don't sleep cause we run the night there's no rest for the wicked!"
Far away on her docks Uma, still basking in the victory she believed was close at hand for her, sang. "Your time is up. Because my moments here. I'm only gonna say this once. And make my message clear!
I've been underestimated. I be good at bad. Now I'm choosing what I have, does that make you mad? I've been livin in a dream now I'm wide awake. And I'm coming for the throne cause it's mine to take. Better watch your back."
"It's going down!" her pirates sang.
"Cause I might attack."
"Cause we run this town."
"I'm a lion in a cage and I can't be tamed. Now what's my name!"
"Uma!"
"Ohhh."
By now CJ and Drac had made it to the end of the alley. CJ immediately kicked over a vender's stand to her right and laughed evilly. Drac turned left and saw Woeful Way ignited in blue flames. Hades stepped out into the street as people fled from the sight of him. He spared a single glance at Drac, winked, then pivoted on his heel and returned down Woeful Way to his lair. Drac smiled, not smirked, and turned back to CJ as they jumped up on the abandoned tables.
"We won't stop til we get enough. We don't cry cause we like it rough make your move, don't wanna call our bluff, there's no rest for the wicked. We don't care if it's wrong or right, you say no we'll put up a fight." CJ pushed someone's shoulders so hard they fell backwards into a pile of trash bags. "We don't sleep cause we run the night, there's no rest for the wicked. Ohh you say no that's when we say go. Ohh there's no rest for the wicked! Ohh you say no that's when we say go. Ohh there's no rest for the wicked!"
CJ gave one final long laugh as the last of the Isle's most minor villains and henchmen fled the scene of the chaos. She turned to him and they high fived.
"Been a long time little dragon." She smiled. He grinned at her old nickname for him, he'd missed hearing her call him that. "You had me worried for a few weeks there. Rumors were flying about where you might be hiding."
"Kind of the point of hiding out." He shrugged. "Glad it worked."
She looked him up and down, a single brow quirking as she tried to see if he was hiding anything. He was, but he'd also been practicing his poker face. It was a critical time in his life, he couldn't have people figuring out his plans before he was ready. CJ was notorious for knowing him so well that she could figure out everything. But if Drac was going to excel on his own he needed to rise above that. Not that he couldn't let her in eventually, but having anyone who could figure you out was a missing link in armor that he couldn't afford.
Her eyes raised to his hair, most of it covered by the purple beanie he was wearing. CJ lifted her fingers and brushed through the bit sticking out the front with a smile. She lowered her arm and rested her elbow on his shoulder.
"I missed you." She said and he knew he was the only one on the Isle CJ revealed any positive emotions to.
"I missed you too." He told her honestly. If Auradon had taught him anything, it was to live in the moment, don't stress about the future because it always turned topsey turvey. So anything that involved drama – outside of his upcoming turf war with Uma – was banned from his mind. He turned and looked toward Woeful Way, then back at CJ. He tilted his head.
"Wanna come?"
She gave him another suspicious look, but with a mischievous grin, "What are you up to little dragon?"
"Come with me and you'll find out." He teased taking a step back toward the alley in flames. Shop owners were scrambling to put out the fires, luckily for them the Isle was so grungy that no one would tell the difference between the dirt and the singe marks. CJ followed him as he stepped into the first shop, the window broken out front and the two people inside beating out flames with torn curtains.
"Wow." He drawled leaning on the doorframe. CJ behind him with her hands on her hips, hands covering her twin daggers. "What a mess."
"You!" the shop keep exclaimed in shock. Like CJ had said no one had seen hide nor hair of Drac since his return so his sudden appearance would naturally be a shock. "What are you doing here?"
He grinned, "Looking to help my people."
"Your people?" the other filth covered man asked. "We were loyal to your mother not –"
"And if you're smart you'll be just as loyal to me."
"Why?" the first asked, "What can you give us?"
Of course everything on the Isle was about what was in it for you. Everyone only looked out for themselves. That was how you survived.
"What if I told you, that siding with me, put you under special protection?"
"What kind of protection can a child give us?" the second asked.
Drac couldn't help the ear to ear smirk on his face. He looked around at the damage, some wooden boards of the walls still glowing with blue embers. "Protection from Hades."
Even in his peripheral vision he saw CJ's eyes widen. He turned to her slightly and gave her a wink only she could see. The two shop owners looked to each other not knowing what to do.
As a deal sealer Drac lifted his hand and green flames danced in his palm. CJ's shock turned into wicked glee at his power. Because being her friend, his power was her power, and his higher standing meant her higher standing. And thanks to all the practice with his father, and the magic seeping in through the crack in the dome Drac could now light a green flame in his palm with ease.
"Think about it." He said dropping his hand as the flames went out, both the green ones in his palm and the blue ones still eating at the shop; before stepping out the door and heading to the next shop in shambles, it's awning still burning blue.
"Wait!" Came a shout from within. He turned and looked over his shoulder smirking.
"Yes?"
The two men looked back and forth from each other to Drac. Then one stepped forward.
"You'll. . . you'll put in a good word for us with your mother of course? Seeing as we stayed loyal to her blood when we could have turned elsewhere."
That was as good as a yes on the Isle.
"Of course pet." He responded, using one of his mother's favorite terms. Then he stepped outside and headed to the shop next door.
"Full of surprises." CJ said happily.
He grinned. "People who have nothing, have nothing to lose."
"And who taught you that little lesson?" She asked.
His smirk widened as he draped an arm across her shoulders, "Maybe one day I'll let you meet them."