A/N: Boredom and not wanting to do my government homework has me writing another chapter for you guys. Hope you're happy.
The Mortal Cup
I was walking back toward my room when I heard Clary scream, "JACE! JUST SHUT UP FOR A SECOND AND LISTEN, WILL YOU?" I looked around the corner, completely confused. Clary was standing in Jace's doorway with her hair loose from its braids. Jace was leaning against the door frame in his raggedy blue pajamas. He looked shocked she had yelled at him.
I got a little closer and heard Clary say something about the Mortal Cup being inside of a painting. My jaw dropped as Jace closed the door behind them. I ran to Sammra's room. She was sitting on her bed with the door open when I got there.
"Hi, Amy." She said waving her tail at me. "What did Nero want?" I closed the door behind me and told her what had happened. She shook her head. "That dick, kissing you and then just leaving without explanation."
I shook my head in response. "That's not important." I didn't tell her it made me cry. "What is important is that Clary knows where the Mortal Cup is."
Sammra shot off her bed. "Nero can wait, let's hear what's going on." We ran back to Jace's room.
Sammra cast a spell to increase our hearing and we settled outside the door to listen.
"No one taught you how to do this?" Jace asked. I imagined him pacing the room. "Your mother for instance?"
Clary said, "No, I told you my mother said there was no such thing as magic-"
"I bet she did teach you," Jace cut in. "And made you forget afterwards. Magnus did say your memories would come back slowly." Clary said something we didn't catch. "It's probably illeagal to use those runes without a license. Do you think your mom did the same thing with the Cup?"
"But not one of the paintings in our apartment." She replied.
Jace paused. "Where else? A gallery? It could be anywhere."
"Not a painting at all." Clary said. "A card." Jace's response was lost on me. "You remember the tarot deck of Madame Dorothea's? The one my mom painted for her? You know how I drew the Ace of Cups and later I saw the statue of the Angel? I knew the cup looked familiar to me. It was the cup my mom painted onto the tarot card."
"She left it with a Control so that it would be safe." Jace said in awe. "She didn't have to tell her why she had to keep it hidden."
Clary was excited, "Madame Dorothea never goes out so she would never have given it to anyone."
"And your mother was in place to keep an eye on it and her." He sounded impressed.
"I guess so." Clary sounded like she was going to cry. "I wish she hadn't been so good at hiding it." I again missed Jace's response. "They might have left her alone if all they wanted was the Cup."
I heard the mattress squeak, "They would have killed her." Jace said. "These are the men that killed my father. The only reason she may still be alive is because they can't find it. Be glad she hid it so well."
Sammra's eyes were wide and her mouth was hanging open. I noticed that she had fangs. I grabbed her hand and we ran down the hall back to my room. I closed the door behind us and paced my floor. "Hidden in a painting…"
Sammra suddenly became concerned. "Why are you so worried about where it is?"
I stopped and berated myself. "I'm a Shadowhunter," I quickly told her, "We all wonder where our three treasures are and if they're safe." My usual cover. She eyed me, I don't think she believed me. I grabbed my stele off my nightstand and placed my daggers in my shoes. "Let's go find Nero."
She nodded slowly, "Stupid puppy." I tried not to laugh. We went to her room and collected her bag and the few weapons she had allowed me stash. "I don't see why Shadowhunters need so many weapons on them at all times."
I dragged her down the hall and shook my head impatiently. "In case of emergency I guess." I said as we stepped into the elevator. It took a few minutes to get far enough away from the Institute for my comfort. I heaved a sigh of relief and glanced around.
Sammra's ears were perked up and she was as still as an animal on alert for danger. "I sense my puppy."
I did a full turn, looking for any sign of the lone Shadowhunter. My eyes fell on a bloody seraph blade. I bent down and picked up the blade by its handle. I stood and held it in the light. The blood was too dark to be human but it wasn't demon either. "Downworlder blood?"
Sammra eyed the blade. She used her finger to get some blood off it. She sniffed it and her ears twitched. "Not warlock." She tasted it. "Nor vampire."
I looked at her, "You know what vampire blood tastes like?"
She shrugged, "It lacks that metallic tang of most bloods."
I just shook my head. "Okay then." I said. I lit my witch light and followed the path of werewolf blood down an alley. "This totally isn't storybook horror." I said sarcastically.
Sammra grabbed my arm lightly as she followed behind me. I could feel her shaking. I took her hand in my empty one and squeezed it reassuringly. We walked quietly toward the street in front of us. It was empty and the blood had stopped. I cursed quietly and looked around.
Behind me, Sammra gasped and darted away. I turned to see a girl standing over someone on the sidewalk. I darted after Sammra and faced the girl.
She had dark skin and hair. Her hair was pulled up into a braid and she looked scared. "Who are you?" She asked. Her voice sounded young.
I held up one of my seraph blades and eyes went wide. "What are you doing here?" I asked her with a barely hidden fury.
She pointed at the body on the ground. "Saving that one's life." I turned and dropped to my knees beside Sammra. She was listening to Nero's heart to see if he was still alive. "He thought he could take on the entire pack and challenged the men."
I stood and faced her. "Why?"
She shrugged. "He said something about proving himself without help." She glanced around. "Luke could probably tell you more."
I blinked. "He attacked my uncle's pack…" I glanced down at him. "Stupid boy. Who are you?"
She looked at me curiously. "Maia." I nodded. "Luke is your uncle?"
"Yes." I said.
She took out her phone and made a call. I ignored her and turned to Sammra and Nero. He was groaning. She looked worried. I took out my stele and drew iratzes where they were needed most.
Nero opened his eyes. Sammra smacked his chest. "Stupid pup!" She exclaimed. "What did you do?"
"I can answer that." A familiar voice said from behind us. I rocked back on my heels and turned. Luke stood in front of Maia and looked down at us. "He is usually under Magnus' protection and he came into one the Downworlder bars and said he wanted to prove that he could take care of himself."
Nero spat some blood out of his mouth and scowled up at Luke. "I can too."
Luke smirked. "Yeah, that's why the only reason you're alive is because Maia stepped in and stopped the boys from tearing your limbs off for challenging me."
My jaw dropped. "You challenged a werewolf alpha in front of his pack?" He shrugged and I smacked his shoulder. He winced. "Uncle? Is he going to become a werewolf?" I had noticed several bite marks.
Luke shrugged and helped me to my feet. "No idea, Amy." He said and hugged me. "He can join us if he wants but that's up to him if he turns." I rubbed my temple as Luke and Maia left.
Sammra was helping Nero to his feet. I walked past them and pushed Nero back down. Sammra snorted and proceeded to help him back up. He pushed her away and I felt his glare on my back.
"What the hell was that about?" He snapped.
I spun back around. "You are one of the stupidest boys I have ever met!" I raged at him. "How dare you challenge Luke!"
"He's a fucking werewolf!" He yelled right back. "I'm a Shadowhunter! I am better!"
I stomped up to him and pushed him, hard. He fell back on his ass. "You are no better than a stupid demon." I seethed. I turned and darted into the shadows.
