Hello there! If you read this you are probably just as crazy about TMI as I am and just can't get enough of Heline. When I signed up for Fanfiction I wanted to write a story about Malec, because, let's be honest, who doesn't love them? What I admire about Cassandra Clare is the variety of characters she puts into her books and all of them are just as lovable as Magnus and Alec, but in the end I decided to write about Helen and Aline. I wanted to tell their story of how they met and fell in love during the course of TMI, because you won't read about that in the actual books. Their love however is something special, a story that needs to be told.
Please enjoy! Reviews and suggestions are appreciated!
Frustrated Aline shrugged out of the dress she was wearing and threw it carelessly on her bed. She crossed the room, opened the doors of the wardrobe once more and scanned for another dress. This was exactly why she hated parties. Everyone expected you to look nice and smile happily and make dull conversations with people you don't even like. Yes, they had all reason to celebrate with Valentine finally gone and the mystery about her fake cousin Sebastian Verlac cleared but this hadn't solved all their problems - at least not for Aline.
She shook her head vigorously trying to clear her mind and pulled out another dress, bright red. This would go well with her black hair and pale skin. A knock on the door caught Aline's attention.
"Come on in," she said and seconds after that a girl with fiery red curls popped into her room. She was wearing a beautiful silver dress that flattered her petite body.
"Are you ready to go?" Clary asked, raising an eyebrow. Aline noted, slipping into her shoes. "I am sorry about your cousin," Clary admitted.
"Me too," Aline replied sourly. "What Sebastian did to my cousin is unforgivable but now he is gone and we don't have to worry about him or Valentine anymore."
Clary nodded, her curls bouncing and opened the door a little bit further for Aline to exit. She grabbed her shoes and slipped in to them hastily.
As soon as they had left Aline's room they were greeted by Alec and Isabelle. Aline's eyes drifted over the siblings. Isabelle looked gorgeous, her jet black hair falling over her shoulder and her slender body wrapped in a gold satin dress. Alec on the other hand was dressed in regular black pants and a dark sweater. He didn't seem to bother what he was wearing obviously to Magnus' despair who had put on an elegant black suit and styled his hair in blue spikes matching Alec's eye color. He had cast his boyfriend a disapproving glance as he had walked out of his room. Clary giggled about Magnus' rolling his eyes on Alec.
Isabelle sighed and grabbed Aline by the arm. "Let's go or we will miss the celebrations!" She dragged Aline out of the house, Clary, Magnus and Alec following them on their heels.
It was a warm September night and people were already rushing through the streets of Alicante heading for the Angel Square. The air was filled with laughter and the smell of different spices.
This could have been a night of celebration in any city if it weren't for the werewolves, vampires and faeries that mingled with the crowd of Nephilim. Aline wasn't especially fond of them but as they were the ones who had saved them from getting killed during the Mortal War she guessed they owed them. It was the least thing for the Council to do to invite them to stay in Idris for the celebrations. Still Aline couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach about partying with Downworlders.
Once they reached the Angels Square the place was already crowded and almost all tables taken up. Light poured through the open gates of the Accord Hall out into the night.
"Hey, there is Simon. I am going to say hello." Clary called out and disappeared.
"I will get something to drink," Magnus said, taking Alec by the wrist and dragging him through the crowd. Isabelle turned to face Aline, her expression apologetic.
"It's fine. We'll see us later," Aline said. Isabelle grinned at her, turned on her heels and vanished. Well, apparently Aline was the only person who disliked parties. She turned around, eager to look for a place to sit down. These heels were killing her.
Pushing her way through she bumped into several people including a vampire that snarled at her viciously. Aline retracted, turning around and heading another way. Maybe she should just go for the Accords Hall. Surely her mother was in there talking to the Downworlder representatives. When she ran into what felt like the thousandths person she couldn't hold back an angry cry.
"Can't you watch where you're going?" she hissed.
"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Aline felt a soft hand on her shoulder and looked up. Blue-green eyes gleamed back at her. The face looking at her was unearthly beautiful, her skin pale and framed by white-gold curls. Her expression was tense, her eyebrows drawn together in concern.
"Are you okay?" she repeated worriedly and this was just when Aline notice that she had been starring at the other girl like an idiot. She straightened up, rubbing her sweaty hands on her dress and nodded fiercely. The other girl's hand still rested on her shoulder.
"You're Aline Penhallow, aren't you?" the blonde asked curiously. Again Aline nodded. She felt like a retard. She had to pull herself together but something about this girl made her forget all her manners.
"Yes, that's me," she finally said, her voice sounding rough and scratchy. "And you are?"
"Helen Blackthorn from the Los Angeles Institute."
Of course! Now Aline spotted the pointed ears that stuck out between the golden ringlets. She knew perfectly well who Helen was – the daughter of Andrew Blackthorn and a fairy. Technically she was part Downworlder.
"Can I get you something to drink? You look like you're going to throw up any minute," Helen said, her hand slightly stroking Aline's back. She was right, she did feel dizzy. Nausea overwhelmed her and the earth seemed to be spinning around her.
"Yeah, please." Aline accepted the offer. "I do feel kind of stranger."
Helen smiled at her contentedly and held her hand out so Aline could hold on to it. She reached out tentatively, twining her fingers with Helen's. The contact sent a pleasant tickle through Aline's hand and she was about to withdraw but Helen tightened her grip. Her lips curled into a smile that lit up her whole face. A shiver ran down Aline's spine and her heart jumped. Hypnotized by the other girl Aline followed her through the crowd.
Aline took a sip from the cup Helen had handed her. It smelled like roses and the warmth of it instantly spread out through her body reviving her from head to toe. She hummed satisfied, taking another sip.
"You already got some color back in your cheeks," Helen said sounding relieved. "I was really worried you would faint."
"I'm fine," Aline reassured her. "Thanks to that." She held up the cup.
"My pleasure." Helen was still smiling at her or maybe she was just one of those people who always had a smile on their face.
"I didn't see you before. When did you arrive?" Aline asked still nipping at her drink. Helen pushed back one of her curls, exposing her pointed ear.
"I arrived only this morning. When I heard about what was going on here it was already too late for me to do anything. I flew here anyway as representative of the Los Angeles Institute and to see if I could help with the injured." Helen's voice was full of concern and sympathy. "I am glad everything worked out so well regarding the... circumstances."
Aline tipped her head down not wanting to look at Helen. She didn't want to see the accusation in her expression as she had experienced in many faces the last few days. People had blamed her and her family for what Sebastian had done to the Nephilim. They accused them for bringing him into Idris so he could take down the demon towers for Valentine. Even the Lightwoods, who had been friends with her family for so long, had confronted them about Sebastian killing their youngest son Max.
Aline started at the touch of Helen's soft hand on her knee. She lifted her head hesitantly and her eyes crossed with Helen's.
"Look," Helen said. "I don't blame your family for what had happened, if that is what you are concerned about. On the contrary I feel sorry for you and your parents. You have been betrayed by someone you thought was your relative and now many Shadow hunters have a grudge on you which by the way is also understandable. We all make mistakes but they'll get over it and see that you had nothing to do with that."
Aline didn't know how to respond to that. Her chest tightened and she was unable to bring out the words so she only nodded. Helen patted Aline's knee lightly, still smiling.
"If you need someone to talk to let me know," Helen offered. Aline stared at her in disbelieve. No one except the Lightwood kids including Jace and Clary had been that sympathetic to her since Sebastian's betrayal. It was nice for a change. Aline managed a crooked smile.
"I will be staying in Idris a few more weeks probably, so if you ever feel like talking I am staying at the Blackthorn's house right down the street."
Again Aline nodded. Say something, she cursed herself. "Thanks" was all that came out of her.
"I better get going now. I have to talk to some people." Helen raised, her long green dress rustling like leaves during the process. She flashed Aline another of her brilliant smiles, waved goodbye and vanished.
Aline let out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding. This had been one of the weirdest conversations she'd ever had. Something about Helen had caught her off guard and made her act like a retard.
She emptied the cup, savoring every drop of the delicious tea Helen had given her, put it down on the table and stalked away once more trying to find her parents.