Prologue

Early October, 1989

Stephen Herondale slipped quietly into his daughter's room. It was well past midnight and as predicted his four year old daughter was sound asleep. She had her teddy bear in a headlock and she was smiling. Stephen hated to wake his daughter up from her peaceful sleep but they had to go. He had to take her away from Alicante, away from Idris and more importantly, he had to get her away from Valentine. Stephen sat on the edge of Alex's bed and placed a comforting hand on her cheek. "Alex, sweetheart, you've got to wake up." The small girl's eyes fluttered opened.

"Daddy? What's wrong? Why are you here? Mommy said that you weren't going to live here anymore."

"She was right and I will explain everything a little later, I promise. However, right now we have to go. You and I are going on a trip; we are going away for a little while."

"Just you and me? What about Mommy?" Alex asked sitting up staring intently at her father with her big blue eyes.

"Mommy will be okay, it's you I'm worried about, and again I will explain everything a little later. Come on Darling; let me help you get dressed." Alex nodded and got out of bed. Her father helped her into a dress and put on her shoes. She yawned as her father picked her up and put her on his hip. "Darling, I know you are tired and I am so sorry. I know you don't understand this right now, I am doing this to protect you." Alex laid her head on her father's shoulder as Stephen closed his eyes for a moment and held his daughter tightly. "This is all my fault."

Alex lifted her head up and put her small hand on her father's face. "It's okay Daddy." Stephen couldn't help but smile and kissed her forehead. He carried her down the stairs to the kitchen where Amatis was waiting, with a small duffle bag.

"Mommy! Daddy is taking me on a trip." Alex said once again lifting her small head off her father's shoulder.

"I know sweetie. I want you to be on your best behavior. Okay." Alex nodded. "I'm going to miss you darling."

"I'll miss you too, Mommy. I love you mommy."

"I love you too, Allie." Amatis replied. "Stephen can't you tell me where you are taking her. I want to make sure she will be safe." Amatis gave her estranged husband a pleading look. Stephen sighed and set Alex down in a chair at the kitchen table. He turn back and placed one hand on Amatis' face and the other on her waist.

"You know why I can't. If he finds out that you know, he will torture you until you break and then he would kill you for being weak. And if you don't break he will kill you out of spite. He has already threatened Alex and I don't want to take any chances with you. He said he had plans for her and I don't trust him not to hurt her. Trust me Amatis, she will be safe, I swear to you." Stephen stared into her soft blue eyes. He couldn't stop himself, he leaned in and gave her quick kiss. "I am so sorry, Amatis I truly am."

"I know, but the both of you should go." Amatis said kindly. Stephen nodded and picked up Alex from where he deposited her. "You ready to go Allie?" Alex nodded.

"Bye Mommy!"

"Goodbye sweetheart. I will see you soon." Amatis replied. "Be careful, Stephen." Two pairs of identical blue eyes stared back at her.

"I will." Stephen replied as he flipped the hood of his jacket up and left the house. He slipped silently through the mostly deserted streets of Alicante. He managed to go completely unseen at the gates of the city. He glanced at Alex, who was once again sound asleep on his shoulder. Once he was well out of sight of the guard towers, Stephen saw a man in the distance.

"Ragnor Fell." Stephen said with distain as he approached his green-skinned former teacher from the Academy

"Stephen Herondale." His voice matching Stephen's disgust. I received your fire message and I have to admit I was surprised considering your outspoken hatred for my kind."

"And yet you are here." Stephen replied, slightly condescending.

"You are paying me enough to put my distaste for the circle aside." Ragnor replied.

"I am paying you for your silence. No one can know about us meeting or that you opened a temporary portal for me."

"And why do you need me to open a portal? Is there not a permanent portal in the Gard available for all the Nephilim?"

"No one can know that I am leaving Idris and no one can know where I am taking my daughter. Valentine would know the second I used the portal in the Gard. He has threatened my daughter's safety and I don't trust him not to act on those threats. I have to protect her."

"Yet you remain at his side." Ragnor scoffed

"Matters are complicated. I assure you my support is not as strong as it once was. He lost that the moment he threatened my child, but I am more detrimental to him and his plans at his right hand than I am outside The Circle." Stephen confessed. He didn't know why he was telling this warlock this, but there was something oddly trustworthy about the green man.

"Threatening a child is the most despicable thing someone could possibly do." Ragnor commented. His face displayed nothing but disgust.

"He knew that it was the only way he could get me to do what he wanted. Little did he know it was also the only way to turn me against him." Stephen admitted.

"I was still not sure that I would help you when I came to meet you tonight, but now I am." He made eye contact with Stephen displaying a silent understanding between the two of them. Ragnor turned his back to the two Nephilim and began to work. Within minutes, a glowing blue portal appear before them. The sudden light awoke Alex from her slumber, she lifted her head up, and her eyes widened in awe. Stephen chuckled realizing that it was the first time that the little girl saw a portal.

"Wow, Daddy what is that?" Alex asked.

"It is a portal sweetheart; it will take you wherever you want to go. We are going to use it to go on our little trip."

"Oh." Alex gave her father a worried look.

"Don't worry Allie. It is completely safe. Don't you trust me?" Alex nodded.

Alex turned her attention to Ragnor, "Are you a warlock?"

"Yes, I am."

"I like your horns." Alex said sweetly and gave Ragnor a genuine smile. Ragnor couldn't help but grin back. This small girl gave him an odd sense of hope for the future.

Ragnor turned his attention to Stephen, "If you are going to go, you should go now. The portal won't last much longer. Stephen nodded, he handed Ragnor the money that he promised. He gave Ragnor his thanks before he stepped through the portal holding his daughter as tightly as he possible could.

A moment later, Stephen landed in a crouch in front of a white cathedral. The weather was decidedly warmer than it had been. "Where are we Daddy?" Alex asked wide awake now staring at the sunset.

"We are in a city called New Orleans." Stephen replied as he began to look for the street he needed.

"Why are we here?" Alex asked.

"Because Daddy trusted the wrong people and now you may be in danger."

"Is that why you aren't going to live with Mommy and I anymore?"

"Yes, it is not because I don't love you and your mother, it is because I love the both of you too much, so I have to protect you both." The pain and guilt he was feeling was clear in the tone of his voice and on his face.

"I love you too, Daddy." Alex replied. Stephen gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek and continued down the narrow streets of the French Quarter. He soon came across a building that to the mundane eye looked abandoned, but Stephen knew better. Before him was a church, smaller than the main cathedral, but still sizable and grand. This church was the current home of the New Orleans Institute that was run by his childhood friend and her husband. He rang the bell and then a moment later the door flew open.

"Stephen, finally. Come in come in!" Katie Vidrine said ushering him inside.

"I'm alright considering the mess I've gotten myself in." Stephen replied. "Thank you again Katie for doing this, for taking Alex."

"It is not a problem at all Stephen." Katie replied give Alex a sweet smile.

"Mark, thank you as well for allowing this." Stephen said to Mark Vidrine who walked up to him and Katie followed by a small boy with the same brown hair and ice blue eyes as his father.

"And this is Alexandra, but she prefers to be called Alex." Stephen replied smiling at his daughter.

"She is gorgeous and quiet." Katie commented as Alex stared at the strange woman intently.

"She is just shy at first. She will be talking your ears off in a day or two." Stephen laughed as he set his daughter on her feet. He crouched down to her height. "Alex, this is Mrs. Katie and Mr. Mark. They run the Institute here in New Orleans. You are going to stay here with them for a while, Okay?" Alex nodded her head in response. "You are going to be safe here, sweetheart, but I want you to be on your best behavior, Alex. I will come and visit you when I can and hopefully I can bring you home soon."

"I'm going to miss you Daddy." It was clear on her face that she didn't quite understand what was happening.

"I'm going to miss you too sweetie. Daddy should go now, before anyone notices."

"I love you Daddy." Alex replied hugging her father.

"I love you too Allie, never forget that, no matter what. Goodbye for now." Stephen said giving Alex one last squeeze before leaving his only child in the protection of the New Orleans Institute.

"Come on Alex, let me show you your bedroom." Katie said taking Alex's small hand in hers once Stephen had left. Alex took it and Katie led Alex up the stairs to the bedroom wing of the Institute. James followed closely behind, curious of this new child in his home.

Katie showed Alex her bedroom and left the girl to get settled. However, James remained behind, staring curiously at the small girl behind him. "My mom says you're from Idris." James said once his mother left.

"I am." Alex replied.

"That's cool. I'm James and I'm five." James stuck out his hand for Alex to shake.

"Alex and I'm four, but I'm turning five soon!" Alex replied shaking his outstretched hand.

"Do you like the Ninja Turtles? I taped the latest episode."

"I don't know what that is." Alex admitted.

"You don't? Well come with me! I'll show you." James replied dragging Alex with him into the bedroom across the hall. Alex laughed already liking her new home, even if it was just temporary.