Aria was ready. Jeans, check. Badass leather jacket, check. Hair in a ponytail, check. Sapphire-diamond ring, check. Aviators, check. Gloves, check. Boots, check. Knives in belt, check. Finally, she decided to add a thick coating if red lipstick to give her a reason to smile. She opened the window wide, and jumped onto the grass outside. In the yard, was a black motorcycle. Aria smiled and clasped one of the helmets over a silver rod attached to the seat. The other, she wore. She pulled up the stand with her foot and dragged it around the block, where no one would see or hear her. She then flicked her leg over the seat and turned on the ignition with the key around her neck. From the moment she saw the key, she knew what it was. Pressing the accelerator with her thumb, the bike lurched and surged forward. Her hair flapped in the wind, her gloves gripped the handles.

After ten minutes, she took a right turn onto Sivetta street. She parked the cycle outside Kelly's house. In her peripheral vision, she saw a 18 year old boy gazing in awe at her motorcycle. She grasped her helmet and yanked it off. The boy's eyes flicked to her, his mouth dropped open. She winked at him teasingly, and he shut the curtains quickly in embarrassment. Aria turned her focus back to Kelly's house just in time to see a girl running at top speed onto the road.

Her hair was light brown and blowing in the wind. Her brown eyes were filled with panic. And in her hand, was a silver sceptre looking thing and a duffel bag. Aria approached her warily and when Kelly caught sight of her she yelped. She caught Aria's arms and said, "Run. Run far. There's something in there." Aria looked at her with sang-froid and said gently,

"I know, Kelly Silverstaff." Kelly's head snapped towards her.

"WHAT? I saw my name on here and I...am I adopted?" she asked. Aria hung her head and nodded glumly.

"You are Nephilim. You are Nephilim. Half- angel, half-human. I need to take you away from the demon. But I need to kill it too. No time to explain. Hide behind the motorcycle." Aria instructed. Kelly looked like she was going to disagree, but she walked towards the motorcycle.

"Last I saw, it was in my bedroom." Aria nodded and pulled out one of the knives from her belt. Aria ran to the house and flung open the door. She knew Kelly's family was on holiday, but Kelly had had to stay for exams. The inside of Kelly's house was wrecked. Glass and porcelain were smashed across the ground, cupboards left open. Water and sickly sweet smelling white paste trailed across the kitchen tiles and into the hall. Aria pulled a piece of glass from the ground and dropped it into the paste where it sizzled the glass like acid. The glass was glass no more. Careful not to touch the paste, she walked next to it where it lead to Kelly's bedroom. Kelly's bedspread was strewn onto the ground with what looked like haste. Her dressers were open and empty, save for a couple of socks. In the corner was a trapdoor, with an open case in it that looked as if the sceptre she was holding could have fit snuggly into it. And most unmissable was the winged white creature that looked like a bit of a bird. As she stared at it in shock, it pooped on Kelly's desk and flew towards Aria with a shriek. It raked its claws along Aria's neck, leaving a deep mark on it. Aria stabbed the knife directly at it and it jumped back, but not before it entered its abdomen.

Turning wildly to charge back at Aria with open claws, she hacked of its head and ran out. She clutched her neck wound, which was bleeding wildly and cursed herself for not bringing bandages. She walked out of the front door and waved Kelly over. "You got any Band-Aids?" Kelly eyed her wound and nodded mutely. Kelly stepped into the kitchen carefully and opened one of the draws to pull out a bottle of antiseptic and a box of large Band-Aids. She got out a piece of cotton wool and began to dab at the marks on Aria's neck. Aria sucked in her breath harshly and clenched her fists. Kelly put Band-Aids on her neck and they walked back outside. "You know how to drive a motorcycle?" Kelly shook her head. "What?!"

"I can try! You are not even allowed to drive in a car yet, let alone drive a motorcycle on your own. Let me have a go? How do you even know how to drive?" Kelly argued. Aria shook her head insistently.

"I would drive my grandfather's motorcycle around our acreage. I love these things." Aria handed Kelly a helmet and hopped onto it. Kelly hesitantly sat behind her and asked,

"Where do I put my hands?" Aria rolled her eyes and gestured around her waist. Kelly hugged Aria's back and she zoomed off.

When they reached the institute, Aria was feeling woozy. Kelly claimed the motorcycle ride had made her feel ill, but Aria was used to it by now. So she ignored it. She walked into the Institute and Isabelle came running towards them. "You're back! Where were you? Oh," Isabelle looked at Kelly, "You are going to die. I'm serious. Someone will murder you. Mundanes aren't allowed in here." Aria opened her mouth, about to say something, when Alec and Jace walked in. Jace stared at Keely and then at Aria and Alec ran to Aria and grasped her arms .

"Aria! Thank the Angel you are back! The Clave has accused you of killing your moth...," Alec broke off. "WHY DID YOU BRING A BLOODY MUNDIE INTO THE INSTITUTE?"

"She's not a Mundane Alec. She's your assignment," Aria said, beads of sweat running down her forehead. "Oh, God. I'm feeling really sick." Aria ran out of the room. Kelly stood awkwardly in the hall, the inched towards the door Aria had just ran through. When Kelly's eyes met Jace's, their eyes locked. Kelly flushed rouge, and power-walked after Aria.