My Enemy's Enemy
The warlock flew above the burning city lights. Like a shadow, lost in the dark clouds above. The moon was barely visible against the blotted sky. No stars shone this night. Not this night. It was better that way. Even though no mundane could see her anyway she liked that she was invisible to those who could. She concentrated on the beat of her wings. She tried hard not to think of the events that had taken place earlier. Another wrong name, another failure, another dead end.
She spotted her landing point. She loved the way the city lights-the stars that shone from below-stopped dead in their tracks, succumbing to the vast black expanse of water. But she could hardly see clearly now with the tears forming in her eyes. It was pathetic of her, crying like this. Shaking her head as if to shake off the emotions, she closed her large, bat-like wings slightly and felt her body tilt downward.
The rush of wind caused her long, electric-blue hair to whip around her face. She watched the ground rush up to meet her. When she was close enough to the earth, she spread her wings wide. They caught the air successfully. Then they buckled, letting her fall the last two metres. Landing nimbly on her feet, she stretched her wings to their limit. It had been a long flight and getting tackled by vampires didn't help either. Closing her wings she looked far into the water. She breathed in the salty air, home.
Then something caught her attention. The sound of beating wings, large wings. No other warlock would dare enter her territory. So it had to be...
"Damn these stupid demons to hell!" she yelled, a sword materialized in her hand. Her grip on the handle was so tight it looked as if her knuckles would burst from the skin. Taking flight once more, she headed in the direction of the sound.
Sure enough, three demons were flying eastward toward the ocean. The three creatures however, were injured. Black blood oozed from deep gashes in their flanks. One of them, the leader no doubt, was carrying something in his talons. A human. What on Earth would a demon want a human for? Food would have been eaten by now. Demons would never have hostages. This was beyond peculiar, but it didn't stop the warlock from charging strait toward the three oversized bats.
"You dare trespass?" the warlock spoke in the demon tongue.
"We were only passing. We mean no harm," wheezed one of the demons.
"I let no one pass!" the warlock raised her sword above her head and struck the demon closest to her. It screeched out in pain.
She barely got out of the way as one of its claws struck out at her. She swopped under it, stabbing its underside. It clawed out blindly once more before falling into the black waters below. However another demon slashed successfully at her arm, causing her to recoil in pain. Hissing through her teeth she parried another blow to her chest. The demon lost no time; it opened its jaws wide and struck out to bite her. She drove the blade into its open mouth. Before she could take her blade out, it fell toward the Earth.
"You stupid warlock!" the leader spat. For the first time, the warlock noticed that it wasn't carrying a human but a Nephilim. The demon let go of his grip on the body and charged toward her. She wasted no time, diving under the demon and avoiding the attack, she caught hold of the Shadowhunter. To her relief he still had a pulse. Holding on tightly to his arm she made her wings work overtime to carry the heavy load.
She didn't however pay attention to the demon behind her. It bit down on her leg, making her cry out in pain and shock. She kicked out at it, causing it to fly away. Her wings faltered and she lost a few meters before they started beating again. She was unarmed and losing both blood and altitude. This better be worth it Nephilim she thought savagely. Making her wings beat faster; she tried desperately to get away from the dangerous waters below. A wheezing sound could be heard from above. It was, the warlock identified, the demons laughter.
"A Downworlder saving a Shadowhunter! Now this is new!" it laughed again.
A slight glow emanated from the horizon. Sunrise would soon be upon them. All she needed was a bit more time. Just a bit more time before the demon turned to ashes and disappeared.
"I'm not the only one keeping him alive. You seemed reluctant to kill a Nephilim as well," that made the demon shut up. It flew down to her level, giving her a murderous sneer.
"I have my reasons Child of Lilith. You however dare show compassion to those who want you dead."
"Nephilim hunt demons, not Downworlders," the warlock struggled with her load.
"Do you think the fact that you are not a demon will stop them from hunting you? They hate anyone that does not share their blood. Even mundanes are treated with little respect," the demon hissed.
"Well, at least you will never be killed by one," the warlock smiled slightly as the demon writhed in pain as the sun's rays enveloped it.
Grunting in pain, the warlock willed herself to fly to shore. Her wings burned with the pain of beating so hard. She had never carried such a heavy weight, and her loss of blood weakened her. As soon as the Nephilim's feet could touch the sand she dropped him, collapsing on the sand as well. Her wings covered her and as she flexed to move them, she gave out another grunt of pain.
"Must have strained something," she mumbled pushing herself to a sitting position, "Now let's see how my healing skills fare."
She dragged herself over to where the Nephilim lay, making sure not to put pressure on her leg. She mumbled a spell under her breath and her hands glowed with bright blue flames as she slowly passed her hovering hand across his body. The spell that let her see through the boy's body showed her that he had a couple of cracked ribs and a hit to the head.
Pressing her hand lightly on where the cracked ribs were, the flames surrounding her hands sparked and flared. A crack was heard as the ribs snapped back into place, causing the boys eyes to widen with pain.
"Great," the warlock mumbled. The boy tried to get up but the warlock simply pushed him back down again.
"You have a concussion, let me fix it and then you can get up. Meanwhile try to stay still or you'll hurt yourself," she commanded him. Putting her hands at his temples she furrowed her eyebrows in concentration. After a few minutes she relaxed and let him go.
"Done," she said, turning her attention back to her leg which was now climbing the pain meter. The Nephilim jumped to his feet, checking himself for weapons. Finally finding a dagger he pointed it at the Downworlder.
"Where am I? Who are you? How did I get here? What where you doing to me what sort of spell -"
"You are at a beach. I'm a warlock. Two demons carried you here. I was trying to heal you," she cut him off her attention still on her leg, not even caring for the dagger pointed at her throat.
"What happened to the demons? Where are my weapons? Why are you healing me? Do I know you?" the Nephilim's voice was panicked.
"I killed the demons. Your weapons probably fell when they carried you away and I'm healing you because my enemy's enemy is my friend," she looked at the dagger then at the boy, "I think."
The Nephilim had messy ebony-black hair which was sticking out at everywhere. He had a flawless face with deep sky-blue eyes that to bored into her.
"But you're a Downworlder, what quarrel could you have with demons?"
"Do you honestly believe that just because you Nephilim are the only ones hired to defend the world from demons means you're the only one they bother? Demons are a plague upon every race, not just the human and Shadowhunter population," the warlock held the Shadowhunters' gaze concentrating on not screaming for the demon poison had started to take effect.
"How can I trust your word?" he said narrowing his eyes and putting his dagger away.
"You don't have to. I'm not going to be seeing you again so there really is nothing to trust. You can go off on your way now." She said attempting to get up, only to hiss in pain and collapse again.
"Shit!" she swore getting ready to try again, only to see the torn look on the Nephilim's face, "Look, how about you help me up and then leave. That way you can pay me back for the spell and say that you technically didn't help a Downworlder?" she suggested, reading his mind.
He took cautious steps close to her, then kneeling down, put her arm over his shoulder. She pulled her leathery wings back so as to avoid bumping into him. He jumped out of the way in alarm, causing the warlock to fall on her leg.
"Crap!" she howled in pain, "Never mind, Nephilim! Demons would be better help than you!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"So you would side with them?" the boy said, clenching his fists.
"I don't know Shadowhunter. Would you side with the same creatures that poisoned you?" her eyes were still closed but her hands were covered with blue flames that were now spreading to her leg.
"You were bitten?" the Nephilim said appalled, taking a good look at the warlocks wound.
"Saving your life! Of all the useless, ungrateful... Hey! What do you think you're doing boy?!"
"Repaying the favour," he said picking her off the ground in both hands and carrying her toward the city.
"Are you insane?! I don't need your stinking help! Let go of me!" the warlock thrashed out, "Ow! Shit!" she yelled, thrashing out with a demon-bitten leg wasn't the best idea.
"Stay still or you'll hurt yourself," it was the Nephilim's turn to say the words now, "I'm risking everything saving your life, stop making it harder for me."
"Saving my- I don't need a Shadowhunter's help, so save your reputation and my dignity and put me down!" she yelled pressing her wings out and forcing him to let go. He fell with her on top of him, her wings spread wide. She cried out in pain.
"What are you, insane?! You'll get yourself killed!" he shouted at her attempting to get up but being blocked by her large leather-like appendages.
"Fine, fine! Just be quick about it. It's spreading fast and I didn't even get to complete the slowing spell," the warlock almost whimpered, obediently drawing in her wings.
***
"Alexander Midwinter, are you completely out of your mind! What on Earth are you doing?!" Alex's mother screamed getting out of the way so he could pass. The figure in his arms jerked from side to side, the poison had already taken affect. She had passed out halfway to the Institute and was drenched in sweat.
"Mum I'll explain later but right now I need to get her to some sort of bed. Can you get the demon medicine?" he said pushing past her and getting the warlock to the sickbed careful of her wings.
"What the heck is going- Is that a Downworlder?! Alex what-"
"Not now Marcus! Mum where is that medicine?" Alex called over his shoulder.
"A Downworlder? In here?" Charles popped his head through the doorway.
"Marcus, get Charles out of here and if you find James keep him away too. Mum!"
"You better have a good story for this Alexander!" his mother came in with all the different herbs and concoctions, "Get out Alex, let me work."
"But I-"
"OUT!" she yelled.
"I'm going, I'm going!" he mumbled walking out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Three impatient boys were waiting for him on the other side of the door. What have I gotten myself into? He thought.
"Okay Alex, you have a lot of explaining to do." Marcus narrowed his eyes at him.
"Look, the Downworlder saved my life. What was I suppose to do? Just leave her?" Alex said plumping down into a chair. Carrying the warlock all the way to the Institute was hard work.
"Wait, back up, she saved your life?" James exclaimed.
"Yes. First those three demons came out of nowhere while I was on my way to the Institute. I tried to fight them of but I got hit over the head and blacked out. Then all of a sudden I wake up on the beach and see a warlock standing over me and healing me!"
"So your saying a Downworlder saved your life? Sounds shifty to me," said Charles.
"No, you don't understand she was bitten. I had to get her here or the poison would have killed her."
"Still sounds fishy," mumbled Charles.
"So what is she? A warlock?" James asked.
"Looked like it. After all, how many other Downworlders can do magic?" Marcus walked over to where Alex was sitting and leaned on the back of the chair, "Are you sure this isn't some sort of conspiracy?"
"She almost died. I'll give her the credit of trusting her," Alex responded.
"What has happened to the world? Downworlders saving Shadowhunters and then the Shadowhunters repaying the favour. Tisk, tisk..." Charles shook his head in a disapproving matter, "So that's why you were gone for such a long time? You were attacked?"
"Yes, those demons really knew what they were doing. They got me cornered in an alley. Hey, is there any food left?" Alex got up and headed toward the kitchen.
"Didn't you say she found you at the beach?" said James following close behind.
"Um...Yes, she said the demons were carrying me away. I guess they took me from the alley to the beach- Wait a minute!" Alex stopped dead in his tracks.
"You gullible idiot! Don't you ever notice anything?" Marcus shouted. Alex raced to the sickroom with James, Marcus and Charles hot on his heels. Alex slammed the door open.
"Mum! Where is the-" Alex was cut off.
"Haven't I told you a million times not to bother me while I'm busy? Get out!" Lavender yelled grounding some herbs.
The warlock lay still on the bed; she would have looked just like any other mundane if it was not for the coal-black wings. She had a pale face that was partly covered with electric-blue hair and was wearing ripped jeans that where stained with blood and a torn gray shirt. Unlike most warlocks there was no overload of glitter or long colourful robes that hurt your eyes just looking at them.
"Mum, there something we've got to tell you, the warlock-" Marcus trailed off seeing the figure on the bed, "That's the warlock! She looks like a mundane, well, excluding the bat trait."
"Boys, if you don't get out this instant I'll have you hanging by your ears over a pot of boiling oil before you can say another word. Understood?" the boys' mother said calmly applying the ointment to the wound.
"Let's go," Alex said, pushing Marcus back. He shut the door hastily and whipped around wide-eyed. That was the warlock that had saved his life? He hadn't got a good look at her at the beach but now she looked so... human.
"What happed? You guys looked like you just saw a ghost!" Charles exclaimed shaking Alex by the shoulders.
"Are you sure that's a warlock? It looked more like a mundane to me," Marcus turned to Alex.
"Search me!" Alex said holding his hands up in defeat.
"You're saying the warlock looked like a mundane? I'm not following..." Charles trailed off letting go of his elder brother.
"I think I better get some sleep. I'm wasted," Alex pushed his way past the small group, his hand on his forehead.
"But-" Charles went to chase after him only to be stopped by James.
"He's exhausted, let him rest," James interrupted him.
"Fine," the youngest mumbled.
Okay, that's the first chapter. Hope you like it! Review before you leave please.
~Phoenix Neptune~