My mom pulled up her camera. "Smile!" I flashed a grin looking right above the camera. As the camera flashed I tried to hold back the tears. Not from emotion - okay, only slightly - but this wasn't the first time I had left home to go to a new institute. This time though, I knew it was going to be much longer. My mother sighed as if she was thinking the same thing.

We were never close like my father and I but at the same time, there was still that mother-daughter bond that we shared. I let go of my dad and my sister's shoulders. My sister was fourteen and she was already so independent. "Don't worry, Lyssa, I can take care of myself." She said when she saw the look I was giving her. "I'm not going anywhere," she put her hand on my shoulder. "I'll still be here when you come back for Christmas." She was so grown up sometimes, I was always amazed by her.

The lady on the intercom called for the Portland, Oregon flight - That it left in 20 minutes. I turned to my father, who was close to tears. He was always so emotional. Except when he was training us. All of a sudden he enveloped me in a bear hug, holding on till I barely had any breath left.

"It's all right, Papa," I tried to be reassuring, but I could hear the slight tremor in my voice. "I'll be okay, you trained me well. I couldn't have had a better coach." I smiled, trying to seem strong enough for this.

He sniffled and stood back up. "I know you'll be just fine," he paused, sniffling again. "But it wouldn't hurt to call every now and again."

I smiled up at my giant of a father. The most intimidating man you'll ever see; at the same time though, once you get to know him, he's the cuddliest teddy bear. Except when he's training me. Then he pushes me past my limit. But I push right back.

"The last call for the Seattle, Washington flight," the lady on the intercom announced. "Please proceed to terminal nine." The kindness in her voice sounded forced.

I was finally going out on my own for the first time. I was a little young, but I was one of the top five in a group of 84 other Shadowhunters in my year. The other four were parabatai to each other. Samuel to Simon, and Marissa to Blake, so it was a teeny bit unfair. But apparently, they needed someone without a parabatai. I don't know why. They were more powerful than I am. By themselves and together.

But who cares? I know I don't, this gives me a chance to prove myself to my father, my mother, the Clave, and everyone who ever doubted me. They all assume that because my father was the head of the Institute that I always got off easy. If anything, he was harder on me because of it. They also gave me a hard time about everything because I was a girl. Most of the people residing in our institute that were around my age were guys. It was a little annoying because half of them were like an annoying older brother, and the other half was basically f*ckboys.

I said my last goodbyes and walked through the terminal, my runes carefully covered and carefully covering the few weapons I had brought with me. However, I was still very nervous about the whole ordeal. What if they did catch me? What if they took me to one of those mundane prisons? I wouldn't be able to get out without my stele.

Who am I kidding? I'll be fiiiiiiiine. I had my plane-pass because I was a "minor" to the mundanes, so I needed a pass that explained that I had permission to go to Salem. I don't know why though. Most mundane teenagers run away and get on a plane and leave anyway. But the clave wants to do things as legally as possible so I have to do it.

God, this plane ride is sooo looooong. I've been listening to Spotify for about two and a half hours now. Note to self: don't take a three-hour plane ride from Wisconsin to Oregon. I was currently listening to "Carry you" by Ruelle. She was one of my favourite artists. They were kind of a combination of all types of music. Not literally but it feels that way. She had a way of singing what I was feeling.

When I finally landed, I texted my mom to let her know I landed safely. She can be one of those moms that is just sooo worried about everything.

She told me before I left that there would be someone from the Institute coming to get me. She didn't know who it was. But when I was coming down the stairs of the terminal, there was this reeeeally hot guy, holding a sign with my last name on it. He looked only a couple years older than me. His skin was a dark tan - for a Shadowhunter anyway - and his hair was just kind of a plain brown. Like I couldn't compare it to anything. It was just a brown. Like... Tree bark, I guess? Like an oak tree? I don't know. But, even from here, I could see his eyes. Beautifully blue. Like sapphires. He was a bit taller than me, so he was probably like 5'7". I'm on the "average side of the height scale" but I always feel short.

He had this feeling about him. Kind of an elegant feeling. I didn't really know how to describe it. Soft and gentle. But the way his body was built said otherwise.

It wasn't that he was super huge and muscular, but it was more like lean but you could see the arm muscles poking and formed to his medium size t-shirt.

I gave him a look like, "Do I know you? Do you know me?" But before I could say anything, "Miss Treewinter?" His voice was taught with some emotion that I couldn't place because it sounded like he was trying to suppress it. All I did was nod, and he nodded in response. "My name is Skye Morningfall. I am from the Salem Institute."