Author's Note: All of the main characters in this story are of my own creation. Occasionally, you may catch a glimpse of Jace or Clary, but other than that this story will be entirely about the adventures of Loren and Aera. Also, please review my story when you finish reading it even if you do not like it. All criticism is welcome, although I ask that you please refrain from cursing. Thank you!
It was Midsummer Night's Eve, which meant that it was the night of the Shadowhunter's Ball- basically prom for all of the Shadowhunters who didn't go to school or didn't want to attend their school's dance. And this year, like last year and the year before and even the year before that, Loren Stillwater was without a date.
He pretended he didn't care, acted like it didn't hurt when he watched his friends dance with their dates, but deep down inside, his heart was screaming in pain.
To distract himself, he people-watched from his vantage point at the tables set adjacent to the dance floor. Loren saw Jace Lightwood, star pupil of the New York City conclave, whirl his girlfriend Clarrisa Morgenstern gracefully underneath the disco ball that turned ponderously above their heads, all the while throwing off sparks of light. Not too far from then, Isabelle Lightwood and Simon Lewis were gazing deeply into each others' eyes, turning in a small circle to music only they could hear. That couple represented a strange pairing- a Shadowhunter and a Downworlder, a vamp, to be precise. But the rules about mingling with the Downworlders were relaxed for the dance, especially since the oldest Shadowhunter present was 25. The older adults of their community were supposed to be kept in the dark about the time, location, and even very existence of this event, though Loren suspected that many just chose to turn a blind eye to the proceedings. Casting his gaze around, the young Shadowhunter saw fey, werewolves, and vampires all, not to mention occasional warlock.
In the shadowed corners of the room, his eyes caught sight of movement and he instinctively tense, his right hand reaching for his stele and a dagger that he had hidden deep in his tuxedo's pocket. Almost instantly, though, he relaxed, realizing that it was only the security detail that was guarding the party from outside attacks and also to put a quick stop to any fight that might erupt.
Only those who either had no hope for a date or did not care to dance volunteered for sentry duty. Looking back, Loren regretfully thought that he should have chosen that, rather than embarrass himself by sitting alone at the tables while everyone else danced.
"Still dateless?" demanded a well-muscled man with disheveled dark brown hair as he collapsed, breathless, in the chair across from Loren, his forehead damp with sweat.
But Loren was not listening- his attention had been captured by one of the security personnel. She looked to be somewhere between 16 and 20, close enough for his own age for him to be instantly interested. Her hair was a strange combination of night black and bright silver and was pulled back in a tight braid that reached to her thighs. Loren's eyes immediately went to her face, or at least what he could see of it through the shadows where she was standing. Her features were razor angles sharp, from her curving eyebrows that swept upward like wings above slanted eyes too bright of a cobalt blue to look natural, at least on a human. Her figure was lean, but not so thin as to be without feminine curves; she was also very tall. The intense black of her gear complimented the pale tone of her skin- instead of making her look washed out or sickly, she seemed to almost glow. Except where she was covered up with bold runes, that is, which almost looked to devour the exposed skin of her arms, chest, and even neck.
"That's Aera Starfall," the man, Loren's best friend, Kavan Nightwine, said when he saw who his younger companion was gazing at so intently. At 25 years old, Kavan was the oldest of the Shadowhunters to be in attendance of the dance.
"I've never seen her before," Loren murmured in reply.
Kavan gave a half shrug and shook his head. "She likes to keep to herself, because she can't talk and she doesn't want to struggle with communicating with others. Plus, she spends the weekends and about half of her weekdays with her mother's remaining family in the Virginia countryside."
Loren was surprised; he had never heard of a Shadowhunter with a disability like that. "Can't she get her voice fixed…"
"It's not broken, dude," his friend interrupted. "She chose to lose it."
"Chose?" Loren echoed questioningly.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I said. Aera's parents were Shadowhunters and her older sister had was in training, when they were attacked at their home by something. No one knows what it was- only Aera saw what happened and survived. Her mom, dad, older sister, and younger twin brothers were killed." Kavan winced slightly, his eyes gazing off into the distance and filled with memories. "They were slaughtered, brutally torn apart and mutilated."
When Kavan paused, Loren put in breathlessly, "And Aera?"
"She was injured, very severely. She hung between life and death for days, and when she finally awoke, she couldn't talk. Using signs and writing down her experience on paper, she told us that she had taken a vow of silence until she could get revenge for the death of her family," Kavan finished gravely, looking the most solemn that Loren had ever seen him.
"Aera looks like a faery," Loren said after a long pause.
"My parents said that she has faery blood in her family- her siblings all looked fey-touched too, as did her father. Her mother, though, I've seen pictures of her. She had classic Scandinavian looks. Pale blonde hair, intense blue eyes, the whole lot."
As if she could hear them talking about her, Aera Starfall moved from the shadows toward the young men. It was only then that Loren saw the twin swords, curved from hilt to tip that rested on her back, and the daggers she had strapped to her forearms.
She met Loren's brown eyes with her feverish blue ones, then vanished back into the shadows as quickly as she had appeared. "Wow," Loren finally managed.
"Wow, indeed," Kavan replied, unable to keep the undercurrent of amusement that he felt out of his words. "You would make a good couple- if you can ever get close enough to talk to her." With a laugh, Kavan patted Loren on the back and stood in one smooth motion, moving back onto the dance floor as he wrapped his arm around the thin waist of his date.
Loren sighed. Kavan had made Aera sound as if she was too good for him, almost as if his friend had been daring him to go over to the young woman. So he stood, catching Kavan's eye as he motioned over to the corner that Aera had been standing in with a serendipitous motion of one hand. A pleased smile and a nod of encouragement from Kavan was what Loren got in reply; it was enough to bolster his confidence and give him the final push he need. With slightly trembling knees, he quickly strode to where he had last seen her standing, ready to take a chance at rejection for the first time in his life.
