Hey guys, as you may have noticed I took down the original chapter eight and put this (decidedly better) one up instead. I hope you enjoy, if you have any suggestions or praise or negatives, please leave some comments!
The walk back is slow, despite the fact that its only a few blocks, and tiring. With every step I cant help but imagine little cogs and levers in my legs moving to account for my movement. Step, Spin, whirrr, click and repeat. I feel with every step as if my joints are rusting, creaking and rubbing uncomfortably. Surely this is all in my mind, but once you learn something as grave as your entire being is a lie, you are effected by it. And truth be told, I'm terrified as to what awaits me back at the institute. They will declare me an abomination and kick me as I walk in the door. I'm despicable. A power crazy man's machine. I'm not even accounting for the fact that my skin isn't even mine. I'm honestly trying to forget that. in my concentration I stumble, only to be caught by Simon.
"You all right?"
"Yeah, just having an existential crisis." I reply.
"Oh, I'm like an expert on those. I've had several. When I first learned about the Shadow World, became a vampire, stopped becoming a vampire and forgot everything, when Magnus and Isabelle re-told me about the shadow world... and so forth."
"And I thought mine was bad." I look down, my problems are miniscule compared to Simon's, hell, he can't even remember several years of his life.
We finish the journey in silence, me imagining the creak of my metal joints all the way back.
Simon and I walk in to Jace. Great, just what I needed.
"I see you found our tin friend, eh Simon?"
"Looks like you looked very hard." Simon spits back.
"Hey, I tried, but my methods only work on the living." Jace says with as much vemon as he can muster.
I just walk away, too tired for a fight, and do not doubt that I wanted one. I walk down the long, dark corridor, searching fruitlessly for my room. Eventually I just give up, sleeping on the hard floor is all I deserve. I make myself as comfortable as you could on a stone floor, in the corner and slowly drift to a dreamless sleep...
From which I'm awoken by a gentle nudge. I immediatly sit up, expecting a knife to my throat, but I'm met with a gentle hand on my shoulder, steadying me.
"Why are you out here?" Jem asks.
"I couldn't find my room. I'm sory if I disturbed you" I start to stand.
"You've done anything but. I couldn't sleep so I was out roaming the halls and I saw you."
"Thanks Jem. But honestly I just want to be left alone." I say as kindly as I can.
"If that is what you want, just know, despite everyone's reaction to your... condition, you aren't alone." He says and walks away.
I drift off to sleep again, except I'm met with a dream this time.
I see a man in the distance, walking toward me. As he get closer I notice he is about the same age as Jem, maybe a little older, with black hair and crystal blue eyes. He continues walking towards me and I feel as if I know him. I want to yell to him, ask him who he is, but I can't speak. All of a sudden he seems to glitch to six feet in front of me.
"Hello Xandria." he says. I, of course, remain silent.
"You've got a hell of a lot of...well... hell coming for you, and you need to be ready. Whether it be the clave, Mortmain or even what seems to be yourself, you need to be ready." despite the serious tone, I see the left corner of his mouth tip up.
"Besides you have one of the best souls around. Well one of them is at least." he poses with his fist under his chin, looking like a knight boasting over a beast he's killed.
"Its time for you to wake up now, but I'll have you know that all your questions will be answered in time." He turns to walk away and in an after thought says "Give James and Tes my love."
before he turns again, I mouth "Who are you?"
"The name's William Herondale." then he walks away, into the dark.
I'm not sure when I can update next but I hope this tides you over, hope you continue reading this in the future,
Sheep
