CHAPTER IX
Iratze
Minutes passed without either of us ceasing to laugh and soon we were unable to breathe from laughing. My stomach was it agony and tears rolled still down my cheeks, overflowing from my eyes as a result of the absurdity of the day and my tumult of emotions. But it felt good to laugh. I read a long time ago in a book that you can choose to despair at the world or laugh at it and, for now, laughing was the best option. We were both still in fits of laughter when Julian poked his head through the door, wary of interruption. Then -at seeing our occupation- he pushed the door wide open and strode in, frowning in confusion at our state of laughter. Embarrassment flooded through my veins and brought the laughter to an coughed end and I wiped the tears from my eyes.
Oh, God.
I forgot I was wearing make-up. I must look as much of a mess outwardly as I feel inside. Newly named Ekain was still laughing as Julian reached the foot of my bed.
"Everything...okay?" he asked puzzled at our display.
"Erm... yeah" I answer, "Do you... erm... Can I use your bathroom?"
"Oh" he smiles, "Of course, down the hall, first door on the left in the left-hand hallway"
I uncurl myself and gradually lift my limbs from the bed, muscles aching in protest. Stretching out and readjusting my clothes, I head for the door, my shoes echoing on the stone flooring.
The door squeaks as I push it open, revealing a long stone hallway hung with ornate tapestries, depicting scenes of Angels and Demons, and a long rouge rug lay beneath my feet, covering the stone. A I walked in the direction Julian told me, I examined the tapestries, fascinated by their beauty and awe. One caught my eye just as I turned the corner into the left hallway. This one was clearly made more recently and embroidered a scene that I recognised from the stories I'd read. There was a girl with flaming red hair -much like mine- kneeled before a towering Angel who looked down on her from above a shining silver lake. I couldn't stop myself from reaching out to lightly brush the heavy fabric with my hand.
It really was all true.
Strange that it took seeing the tapestry for my mind to finally accept the truth, to truly believe. The scene depicted before me in the tapestry was of Clarissa Morgernstern -or Fray- as she defeated her father Valentine as he summoned the Angel Raziel. In my daydreams I would imagine that I was Clary -I had the hair and the height for it- and that soon I would be whisked away into a world of Warlocks and Angels. I flushed in embarrassment at the thought now, knowing it was all true and wondered at myself for wishing it. Well, wish granted, I was now in a world of Shadows and I didn't know what to make of it. True, I had always wanted it, always wanted a way out of my mundane world of reality which, by no other words, sucked really. But now that I was in this world, of Shadowhunters, Warlocks, Angels, everything I wondered how I had never thought of how confusing, complicated and difficult my life would get if I did find out that all of these fictional characters, this fictional world was real.
Just who was Cassandra Clare?
The thought stayed with me as I eventually found the bathroom, thrumming through my brain. When I finally braved looking in the mirror I almost didn't recognise myself. My hair was a tangled mess behind my back and smudged black eyeliner and mascara was smeared all over my red-veined eyes and down my cheeks. I was truly a mess. My clothes actually weren't that bad, other than the stains of black, demon ichor just visible on the black fabric and -as I already knew- the fake runes I had applied were flaking, all except one. The real one.
I found myself touching the iratze again, feeling just how real it was and I realised it had done its job. I felt better, better than I had in a long time actually. From constant stress I had a lowered immune system, so I was perpetually in a state of slight illness. Never truly feeling good. But now, my limbs felt light and sprightly, my head wasn't pounding from the headaches I generally woke up with. I took a deep breath in and felt oxygen fill my lungs.
"Woah" I breathed, filling energy pulse through my body.
But there was no use denying that I was a mess, in no presentable state. I debated it, then went to ask if there was a shower I could use, when I heard a hard knock sound from the wooden door.
"Hey, can I come in?" it was Emma. I was surprised that she actually asked but I saw no reason to keep her out, so I walked over and opened the door. She had changed clothes into more casual attire. Black Jeans and a cyan blue hooded jacket. And it appeared that she had showered as her hair was damp and pulled back into a long braid, still dripping, down her back. In her arms she held a folded towel and some other pieces of folded fabric underneath that I couldn't make out from under the towel.
"You look like a mess" she said. God, this girl.
"Thanks," I reply sarcastically,"I hadn't noticed"
"Well, here" she shoved the pile of fabric into my arms, I stumble and almost drop it, "Follow me"
She turns around and begins to march with intent in the opposite direction. I deliberate for a moment and then hurry to follow her through the unknown halls. I try to make note of the direction in which we're going so I can find my way back, but after a few corridors I forget and give up on the endeavour. We walk past ornate mirrors, stained glass windows and even more tapestries. Doors and doors sat closed on each side of the hallways, leading to unknown rooms and new places that twigged at my curiosity. I wondered if there were any more people here. I knew that Julian had many younger siblings but I hadn't seen hide nor hair of them, of anybody other than myself, Ekain, Julian and Emma. Come to think of it, according to City of Heavenly Fire, Emma and Julian and the rest of his siblings were going to stay at the Los Angeles Institute weren't they? Yes, I remembered specifically that Julian's Uncle Arthur was going to take over as Head. So, what are they doing here? While I was thinking this, I didn't realise that I had slowed down and was staring off blindly into space. Snapping out of it, I jogged to catch up with Emma, cursing at myself for being so absent-minded. Eventually, she pauses for a moment outside a door before pushing it open and walking inside. I hesitate then, as she turns around to me holding the door open and giving me a what are you doing look, follow her inside. The room is large and square, a double bed centring it and definitely lived it. The bed was sloppily made and there were items shoved hastily under the bed. I knew it was her bedroom when I saw her short sword -Cortana- hung in a brace above the bed. After I walked it, looking around my new surroundings, Emma shut the door.
"Through that door" she began, nodding towards the door to the right of the bed, "Use the shower. You can use my soap and conditioner and in that pile you're holding there are some clothes that should fit"
I was startled by her thoughtfulness, up until now she had been all fire and sarcasm.
"...Thank you" I breathed, grateful but still surprised.
"Yeah well you've had a long night. And I can't stand to look at you, God, go clean yourself, imp"
She just couldn't stand being nice, could she? Though I could then tell that she was the type who may be overtly argumentative and sarcasm, but is actually kind-like me, in a way, but I was always too scared to be rude to anyone. I smirked to myself but said nothing, not wanting to push it, and walked to the door. As I reached it, I smiled at her in thanks before opening the door and stepping inside, sighing in relief at the blissful prospect of a shower.
