The Climb
I reach for the next ledge and breathe deeply to steady my erratic heartbeat. John, already ahead of me, looks down. "You okay there?" "Excellent", I reassure him, "Just wishing I brought flatter boots. These boots ain't made for climbing!" I sing. He stalls to let me catch up. We stand still for a moment and view the world below. Taxis line the streets like armies of yellow ants marching into a deadly battle. Pointed roves of buildings look like needles- deadly sharp, casualty causing spikes standing upright. A tawny hawk swoops, twists and turns near us before coming to rest on a ridge, perching proud. Its feathers ruffle in the light breeze and his intelligent eye twinkles in the setting sun. "Stunning" John exclaims as he winds a lock of my auburn hair around his finger. Grinning, I stare intently at him. His body seems to glow, outlined in the soft light from the sun. Motionless he seems like an ornate statue, angelic like, carved from polished marble. We stay, beaming like idiots until the cool breeze reminds us it's nearly nightfall. The bane of Aaron's life after paperwork is Shadowhunters returning late from missions. "Come on." I whisper, "Let's keep moving!" A playful glint spreads through John's eyes as he hauls himself up to the next foothold. "Last one up does the paperwork" he cries, as he takes like a bullet from a gun. "Jerk" I laugh, propelling myself upwards. I continue on my struggling pace and try to accept the inevitable: I will be doing the paperwork again. I groan and stretch my hand above my head, my foot leaving the concrete. I meet with air and slip, losing my grip, a scream caught in my throat. A hand grabs my wrist and I glance up, panicking. I feel myself falling and I start to struggle, helpless. I'm going to plummet towards the ground and die. "Lucinda. Calm down" John pleads. As I stare into his eyes my will strengthens. I'm not going to die. John wouldn't let that happen. My heartbeat regulates and a sense of tranquillity washes over me. "Are you calm?" John begins. "Yes I am. Where do I put my feet?" I question. "There's a little shelf just at your hip. On three you try get your foot balanced on it. Alright?" he responds. "Okay. One…two…" I count. "Three!" As I reach the ledge John tugs me up and onto the roof. I tumble, falling onto John cushioning my landing. He hugs me tightly. "Are you badly hurt?" "I'm fine" I declare, kissing him. The temperature drops as night begins to fall. I stand and drag John with me. The stars have begun to emerge and glimmer, like thousands of shining eyes observing from black canvas. The moon, a silvery orb, illuminates our way to the rusty door leading into Headquarters. I giggle as I think of Aaron, fuming in his dusty office, metaphorical steam rushing form his ears. John squints at me, worried I've lost my mind, "Care to elaborate?" "Just picturing Aaron's mood!" I explain as I yank open the door and stride down the coiling stairs.
"I really don't see the need for me to do all the paperwork" I begin. "You're a woman!" John offers. "Wrong era, sweetie!" I laugh as he pushes open the heavy, baroque doors into the main Headquarters hall. It's full of frantic Shadowhunters, seizing sharpened blades and crossbows, dressed in black fighting gear. I walk towards Amanda in the centre of the hall. "What's going on?" I ask. "Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence" a sarcastic voice booms from behind us. "Aaron" I bow reverently as I turn, drawing John with me. "What's happening?" John inquires. "Battle stations, kiddos! Follow me" he answers and marches down varnished hallways to his office. As we enter he hands me a stack of brightly coloured paper. I sigh quietly as John sniggers at me. I strike him in the arm. He goes to retaliate when Aaron speaks. "Enough. You will do your field report and it will be left on my desk for review within the hour. Understood?" he orders, running his weathered hands through his coal-black hair. I nod and turn to leave. "I'm not finished Lucinda. After you have completed said paperwork you will join your comrades in the search for the newly established demon lair. It's here somewhere, right under our noses. We must exterminate the vermin immediately." Aaron states. Beside me John stiffens and I glance at him quizzically. He drops his head and offers no other explanation. Oblivious to our exchange Aaron continues on his instructions. "These will help you to locate the nest" he reveals, rifling through his desk drawer. He hands us grenade shaped devices which John quickly snatches out of his hand before I can properly see them. "Thank you sir" he stays formally, "May we be excused?" "Yes but remember to actually use those demon-tracking devices. They are very powerful and extremely useful. They'll cut this search time in half and we'll all be home for tea!" Aaron chuckles. Dipping his head, John storms out the door and I follow slowly.
"What was that all about?" I ask sharply. "What?" John demands, stopping his pacing momentarily. "Your little outburst. Aaron's not going to forget that" I reply. "He forgot to mention the ramifications of using these things" John sneers, waving the trackers agitatedly in the air. I snatch my tracker from John's hand, finger hovering over the on button. "Don't switch it on" he pleads. "Why? What will happen?" I ask gently. "Sure. It'll locate the demon den. Whoop-dee-do! It also sends out rays that the demons can sense. The leaders can track you down as you track them." He explains. I gasp, shocked. He walks to me and places his hands on either side of my face. "I can't ever have you in harm's way. I couldn't bear it if anything bad happened to you" he elucidates. "Sorry to spoil the mood but I'm a Shadowhunter. It's my job to be in harm's way" I joke. "I'm serious" he says. "Okay. I won't turn it on" I promise, caressing his face, "I'll go write the stupid field report and change. I'll meet you here in fifteen minutes." I walk to the carpeted stairs. "Fine. Thank you" John sighs, starting to pace again. I wonder what has gotten him so worried. I trudge up the stairs and towards my bedroom. Exhaling, I push in the wooden door. The scent of jasmine lingers in the air. I go to my brown desk and fill in the tedious, banal questions about our excursion. After I finish I quickly change into fighting trousers and flat boots. I strap a knife holster around my thigh and slip an extra knife into my boot. I fasten my russet weapons belt around my waist and don my leather demon-resistant jacket. Jogging down the steps I mentally count to a hundred to calm myself. I leave the paperwork on Aaron's desk and re-join John. After grabbing the rest of our equipment we go outside.