What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare

Lady Midnight

Prologue: Roses fall

"Sorry again about the portal boys. I'll be sure to have a discussion with Malcom Fade about his less than intelligent portal positions next time." Arthur Blackthorn still carried a hint of his British accent from his time in the London Conclave. Only the thought of making a good first impression kept Jamie from shouting at the Warlock for landing him and the Ravenscar boy into a pond.

"I thought Warlocks were supposed to be good at portal travel." Jaime said. Arthur shrugged a small shoulder. His cane clacked against the pavement as he walked. Jaime was not expecting Arthur to look as he did, with his round face and spectacles. Running an institute meant you had to be strong, had to protect the young as his father had always said. Not small and limping.

"Malcom is well worth all the money we pay him. I'm sure your trip into that pond was simply a prank on his part." Arthur said. "Besides the pond sprites seemed to like you fine."

Jaime shuddered at the thought of their slippery hands touching his chest. "I suppose you get what you pay for." Jaime sighed. "How far away are we from the institute? Christina keeps asking."

Jaime's phone buzzed again. Another message from Christina.

WHERE ARE YOU?

I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO MEET EMMA AND JULES :)

The Ravenscar boy peered over at Jaime's phone. 'Silas', Arthur had said his name was when he came through the portal after him. Jaime imagined he would have been handsome if it weren't for the sickly state of his eyes. Huge purple bags laid beneath eyes the colour of rotted apple. Dirty blonde hair hung limply off his head like tendrils looking for water.

"Not too far now boys. I thought it might be nice to take the scenic route so I could show you the sights of Los Angeles."

"The scenic route led me into a pond." Silas said dryly. "What kind of Warlock portals you into a pond? My duffle bag is soaked." As if to emphasize his point, Silas shook the soggy bag. Jaime was lucky, with his fast reflexes he was able to throw his bag into dry land before falling into the pond.

"The kind who is cheap." Arthur smirked. Jaime laughed a little; he could see why Christina liked this man. With his height Jaime towered over Arthur and Silas. They were both small however where Arthur was a skinny as a rake, Silas was muscular as if trying to make up for his small stature.

Jaime watched the seafront of Santa Monica. Women and men sunbathed until they became as red as lobsters; others were learning to surf on the sand. A small child with an ice cream ran past them laughing, with an older girl in a leopard print bikini running after him giggling. His sister Jaime assumed. They reminded Jaime of him and Christina at that age in the Mexico City institute. Although they were cousins they played like siblings and fought just as hard.

"Do you have any siblings?" He asked Silas. He paled just a little Jaime thought before colour returned to his cheeks.

"I had one. An older sister, she died during the dark war."

Jaime lowered his head respectively. Many of the nephilim had lost family members during the battle with Sebastian and his endarkened army. The Rosales were lucky; none of their family was killed during the battle. Jaime was tasked with watching Christina whilst their parents had gone to fight. He felt pride being the one to look after her, that they would trust him with such an important thing as her.

Before Jaime could give his apologies Arthur interrupted. "I'm sorry to hear that, my brother died as well. He was the bravest man I had ever known and fought until the end. When he died I took over the institute here." Arthur stopped moving and leaned out on a railing.

The surf was rolling in; a handsome red-haired life guard was talking to two girls from his chair. He seemed to enjoy the attention Jaime thought. Mentally Jaime was humming the jaws theme tune.

"You two will like it in Los Angeles. I didn't like it at first; believe it or not I missed the London rain but it grew on me." Arthur said. He took a deep breath breathing in the salty sea air. "The one thing I don't miss though are the worms, worms give me the creeps, never known why."

Silas cast him a sceptical look but continued to watch the swimmers. "Worms." He muttered.

A scream pierced out cutting the silence between them like a knife. Jaime ran as fast as he could to the alleyway where it had emerged. A small dark place covered with happy meal wrappers and broken beer bottles. In the centre was a woman dressed in green and red leather, her face was covered by shadows. Below her was a dead body.

She hissed at Jaime and ran. Jaime took out his crossbow in a swift motion and fired. The bolt hit her shoulder blade and she tumbled. A lime green liquid seeped from her red leather jacket. Jaime ran after her around the corner. He looked down the street. She was gone. A few mundane's looked at him strangely but most ignored him. Jaime's ragged breathing was loud in his ears.

"JAIME!" Arthur called. Jaime looked a last desperate time for the woman but she was gone. Jaime walked back to the alleyway. In his hand Arthur held a slim sword that had come from his cane. Silas held a woodcutters axe, he poked the dead body with the side of it.

Silas suddenly jumped back and started gagging. He stumbled away from the body and to the wall leaning on it holding his mouth. Jaime got closer and saw what he had gagged at. The body was a female faerie with milk white skin with green veins like sap from a tree. Her blond hair had a green tint to it but was now stained with blood.

Her heart was ripped out and in the hole where it once beat was a small sapling just starting to grow.

So that was my first chapter :) What did you think? Tell me if you would like me to continue, Thanks!