Chapter One

Magnus Bane watched through the window as he saw the girl walk up to his door, it was late at night, probably past midnight. His boyfriend had stayed that day with him, and though he was fast asleep on the bed Magnus was wide-awake. There was a soft knock on his door, and he quietly left the bedroom and closed it's door behind him. The girl knocked once more, but this time more loudly. "Shhhh." He hissed as he opened the door.

The girl was young; probably around fourteen or fifteen, younger than he expected her to be. "Warlock Bane?" She was wearing a long raincoat which was obviously too big. It ran over her knees and the sleeves went past her wrist. The hood covered her face, but from the dark lines he saw running across her neck, he could tell what she was.

"What do you want, Shadowhunter?"

The girl stepped forward and raised her hood back, her dark brown hair was cut short and her green eyes twinkled as she held up a brown sack. "I have fae dust. I hope that would be enough payment?"

Bane smiled at her, though she was young she knew how to capture a warlock's attention, "That would depend on what you are hiring me for?" It wouldn't depend really; the amount of faerie dust she had in her hand would have been enough for anything.

Bane took the sack and let the girl in, and led her to the far side of his house away from his bedroom. He didn't want to disturb Alec. "My name is Reyla Nightshade, and-" she ran her finger from her collar bone down her body as she unzipped her raincoat, "I was hoping you could figure out my little problem?" Even though the house was dark he could make out her swelled belly from under her raincoat.

Bane cat eyes flickered, "I see…" He stepped forward, looking at her more closely, "You want an abortion?"

Reyla looked at him for a while, "I am too young to be a mother, but it is not the reason I am here…" She breathed in and put her hand on her stomach, "Warlock I am not supposed to be pregnant."

Bane rolled his eyes, "It's what they all say." He murmured.

Reyla looked at him hard, "Listen," her voice was as hard as a diamond. "I'm a virgin, and even more than that I don't even like boys." She motioned to her belly, "I hadn't bled for three months and I must say I was pretty happy. But then my belly started to get bigger and I- I just changed." She saw the doubt in Magnus's eyes, "I have a baby in here. I can feel it in me." She reached for the warlock's hand and put it on her stomach. As if on cue the child in her kicked out in three soft bumps.

Magnus's cat-like eyes sparkled, "And you never had-"

"No," Reyla shook her head. "I never even kissed a boy." She was telling the truth.

Excitement rose inside of the warlock and he took his hand off the girl's stomach. Finally something exciting… Suppressing the urge to smile he asked, "When did this happen? And how much time till you… pop?"

Reyla thought a while and said, "January I think, and I only have a matter of weeks." There was a sense of urgency in her voice.

Bane thought a while; he put both of his hands on the girl's stomach, and felt the child move again. It's a normal kid… He sensed, A normal Shadowhunter child… "Well from what I can tell, it's a girl. And she's yours." He took a deep breath and saw nothing but disappointment in Reyla's eyes.

The urgency in her voice rose, "Warlock I need you to find out how?" Her voice rose, "How did I get pregnant?" The urgency started to sound more like fear with her green eyes glistening with tears. "Warlock the moment I found out I was pregnant the demonic activity around me spiked ten fold. And it wasn't just demons, Bane, vampires, werewolves, even the fae have been following me. As if they are waiting for-"

"-you to pop." He finished. This was very very exciting.

Reyla nodded, "I don't feel safe anymore. I went to everyone, anyone I could find." Bane could see her shaking, "I don't know what it is…" She swallowed hard as she whispered, "I'm afraid."

Magnus's eyebrows knitted together,"Where are you staying?" The strength and determination the girl had reminded him of an old client of his…

Reyla shook her head, "No where at the moment, I was staying with a friend here in New York, but a demon attacked us and he died." A tear ran down her cheek, "I came to you because he said you were the High Warlock of Brooklyn and that you were powerful."

Bane started to feel pity for the girl, though this situation was something he seemed to be accustomed to. Being afraid of your own child… "You are welcome to stay here until you give birth." He said with certainty in his voice.

Reyla looked at Magnus as if he were glowing, "Thank you for your generosity, Magnus Bane."

Magnus nodded and felt the bulge of the fae dust in the pocket of his robe, "Your payment was generous enough, Reyla Nightshade."