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'' What is it? You seem nervous. Don't you think we will be able to retrieve it?'' Jace asked Will, confidence oozing from the former. '' It's not like it was Raziel the 'Keeper of Secrets' who had it. I have a good feeling about this.'' he added. 'And Alec's blessing.' he thought, without actually saying it. The prayer Alec had sent him right after the hunt was his, and his only.
Snorting, the dark haired angel immediately took an air of nonchalance. '' Oh no, I have a good feeling about it too. It's just – Ah, never mind.'' Will said, smirking at the younger Herondale. Although, his blue eyes told a different story, as he kept sending looking around.
'' Come on, I know another blue-eyed angel who couldn't lie to me. So spill.'' Jace said, trying for a friendlier approach. Will simply sent him an annoyed glare before he continued to glance at his surrounding, though less subtly.
'' It's just that the back-up I had... He should have made contact with Alec and returned by now.'' He sighed, and went away. He didn't like to talk about his worries, especially not if they were concerning that person. It was probably a family trait, but Jace was annoying when he wanted to know something. Even more when Clary wasn't around to distract him. But they needed Clary to study the high level runes, as she seemed proficient with them. A couple of days since she is in heaven and already she is mastering all those commonly known. It surprised all, as she was a Fairchild and they weren't that prone to master runes, but then no one knew who her father was.
It was fortunate enough, since they would need those superior runes to retrieve the Mortal Cup from Ithuriel...
He was still sleeping, the angel Magnus had healed, but I wasn't lowering my guard. I had no intention whatsoever to hurt him, but it didn't mean he didn't. In a way, I was still the angel's enemy. Sitting by the side of the bed, elbows on my knees and hand joined in front of me, I was observing him, he didn't look like he was dying anymore. His previous grey skin gained more colour – the shade though a bit pale, was healthier – and he appeared more relaxed. Now that I was looking, the oddest trait about him was his hair. They looked dark at first, but I could see they had silver at the end of it. And with time, the silver only seemed to fade.
But all that musing over the stranger's appearance was too keep me from thinking too much about the information I just had. If the lady – Jocelyn – was right, Jace, Isabelle and Max were in danger.
'''He' is... Clary's father... The 'Morning Star'.''
'' The 'Morning Star'? You mean Lucifer?'' I had asked in disbelief.
'' No.'' She had said, a dark look on her face. '' His angelic descendant... His angelic lineage continued after Lucifer had fallen...''
There had been a second of silence. I didn't like where this was going. '' But aren't the sins of a Father also the sins of the Son? Shouldn't his descendant have followed?''
She had laughed, cynically before she had answered the way a mother answered to a child when he was saying something silly. '' Did every single Lightwood fell when you did? The Fairchild certainly didn't. If one cast itself off heaven willingly, without trial, would its family follow? The Morgenstern family lives, and so does Valentine...''
Her words, it'd been like someone poured a bucket of ice cold water over me, as images of Max, an angel and a Lightwood, had assaulted my mind.
'She is right'.
'I have to protect them.'
'I have to go to Great-Britain.'
'I have to do something to help them.'
'I have to get them out of heaven.'
'I have to seek Jonathan Shadowhunter.'
My mind was a storm, and I was lost in it. As a myriad of questions fell over me like heavy rain, worry thundered me to do something. Thousand of thoughts assailed me, yet in the midst of the chaos, only two were really begging for my attention. To protect my siblings and to search Jonathan. Intertwined, as the two thoughts kept dancing in my mind, I couldn't help but feel like they were somehow linked. The rebellion had started with one, but mine with the other. But after the hunt, what told me Jonathan was still alive and -
I jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. Looking forward, I saw golden cat eyes looking at me with affection and concern. And all my thoughts dissolved, just like I was melting under his gaze. I focused on him and I felt calmer, from my slowing breathing, which I hadn't noticed was so frantic,.to my fast heart beat, which stayed fast but no more because of the anxiety. He smiled tenderly at me, noticing my change in demeanour, and softly asked:
'' What is going on in that pretty head of yours, my dear?''
'' I think... I'll go to Britain. Today.''
Magnus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. '' Why? And do you have a more precise destination than 'Britain'? It's a big country, you know that right?''
'' Oh... No I didn't know.'' I said, biting my bottom lip. 'That would complicate things.'
'' Don't worry about it, my clueless angel, it's not that big, we'll manage somehow. But tell me, why you want to go there? Is it about your siblings and that Valentine angel?'' He said after giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
I nodded with a small smile. ''Remember, yesterday Max had said that he had wanted to go there because that is where Shadowhunter was said to be seen. I think I have to meet -'' I was interrupted by groans that came from the bed. I got up as soon as I heard them, positioning myself between the angel and Magnus. I knew it was a bit ridiculously overprotective, as the angel was still recovering from his injuries and Magnus was a powerful warlock, but matters of the heart knew no rationality.
The angel opened his eyes, which were a stunning bright silver, like the end of his hair, and looked at us. ''... Tòngkǔ... What h-happened... to me?'' he weakly asked.
'' You tried to save a... mundane from Valentine but were attacked by him. Do you remember?'' I said, hesitating on calling Jocelyn a mundane. She had told me what happened but didn't want to see the angel. ''The less angels knew about her, the better for Clary.'' she had said.
'' Yes, I do... I-Is that lady alright? What was Valentine doing there? Oh no, if he saw me, which he obviously did, he might endanger Will, I have to prevent him, I have to -'' said the agitated angel, starting to push himself up.
'' Hey, hey. Don't strain yourself, you are still recovering. Don't worry the mundane is alright. Now lie back down, there isn't much you can accomplish in that state.'' I told him, a hand on his chest to restrain him. I was slightly surprised that he actually listened, Jace and Izzy were more prone to recklessness and always took way much more convincing on my part. One time I even had to secretly apply a rune to sedate Jace, who didn't want to retreat and let me heal his punctured lung and broken ribs, because he wanted to be the one who killed the demon. It felt good to know that that angel was reasonable and had some sense.
'' You lost a lot of blood, had all of your ribs broken and some organs weren't even working anymore. I am surprised you are still alive, let alone awake.'' said Magnus, his voice soothing. I sent him a grateful stare before returning my attention to the angel. He was panting a bit due to his outburst, but his voice gained some strength.
'' I am a Carstairs – James is my name – and Carstairs are quite resilient. Are you the one who healed me? Thank you.'' He said, turning his gaze toward Magnus, a grateful smile on his lips.
'' Don't thank me just yet.'' he said and sited on the bed beside James, his expression serious. '' You lost something precious that I can't repair.''
'' W-what is it?'' he asked, turning serious himself. He was probably aching everywhere and hadn't noticed yet. I felt empathy toward him, I had been through that too.
'' Valentine has ripped your wings.'' I said. It was better if we cut to the chase, anticipation being the worst. He was exhausted, but he had to know, it wasn't fair to keep it from him.
James paled, but said nothing. Hi eyes were unfocused at first, then he closed them. He took a deep breath and placed his left hand over his chest, right where his heart was. He reopened his eyes and smiled.
'' You are wrong. I did not lose what was truly precious for me.'' he said and I understood completely what he meant. Almost sub-consciously, I reached for my left arm.
'' Do you mind me asking who you are?'' He careful looked at me – taking in my appearance – and his gentle smile grew. '' Are you the Herondale boy? You look so much like William...''
An image of the black haired angel I had shot in the hand yesterday flashed in my mind. From the way he kept speaking about him, I had a feeling that I should never tell him how I had encountered Will. '' No, I am a Lightwood. Alec Lightwood.'' I waited for his reaction, but seeing him simply nod, I turned to Magnus. '' That's Magnus Bane, my boyfriend.'' Maybe it was a bit possessive of me to specify that detail right in the introduction, but from the smile I received from Magnus, I didn't regret saying it.
'' Ah, you are the Lightwood who started it all.'' he sigh, recognition in his eyes. I winced at that, but Max did tell me others had followed. '' I followed Will and Max here to be sure that if Will didn't manage to bring you all to heaven, you would still be alive... But as you can see, I have been side-tracked. I am glad to see you are alright, it means Will-''
'' It means Will didn't do anything. He actually hadn't said a word, I spoke the whole time. I took the whole blame so my siblings could live.'' I said, my voice turning cold. I felt Magnus take my hand, and I squeezed his. I knew he didn't like what I did, but it was the truth.
'' And yet you are all alive correct? Perhaps that was the only way, to let you talk. Imagine what would have happened if he tried to defend the others?'' he asked, still calm. His grey eyes reflected the undeniable trust he had in Will.
''... It wouldn't have looked genuine. Ithuriel would have been suspicious.'' I reluctantly admitted.
'' Seeing as I failed to be there for you, would you mind telling me how you survived?'' his voice losing the vigour it had. As Magnus had said, it was quite surprising that he stayed awake that long.
'' A mundane, Simon, took the blow for me.'' I answered. I knew that even through exhaustion, guilt was a heavy feeling to bear. He felt bad about not being there and I only wanted to reassure him. I don't know why, but he reminded me a bit of... me.
'' What? I-Is he alright? How did he know you were there? What-'' James asked, eyes wide with remorse. Looks like I wasn't really good at that comforting thing.
'' I am fine.'' said Simon while entering the room. '' Hum, Izzy had texted me to join her in Central Park, as she had wanted to stalk Alec and see what it was that he was hiding... So yeah, I was in the surroundings when I saw all those lights. Well you know what happened next I supposed.'' he rambled, looking at me. James frowned, still confused about the lack of injury on Simon.
'' It was with the Mortal Sword.'' I precised.
'' The Mortal Sword?'' he asked, smiling. I nodded. '' Then it's happening... Listen well, Alec, because I'll faint of exhaustion in not long. I need you to go at France, Germany and Switzerland's common border. There are three rivers joining together forming a lake... Jonathan Shadowhunter is there. Bring him the Sword. Bring it to him and the rebellion can be achieved... We'll be free... from those harsh rules.'' he said, his voice sounding distant and his dark grey eyes unfocussed.
'' But isn't he in Great-Britain?'' I asked confused.
'' That is what we wanted others to believe... Cadair Idris... But only two person knew his real location.'' he whispered, fighting against drowsiness.
'' Will and you.'' I guessed. He nodded and, with a sigh, he lost consciousness.
'' Looks like you have a destination now.'' Magnus said once we were in the hall. He sounded like he wanted to be happy for me while the project didn't please him.
'' If I can trust what he said.'' I said a bit bitterly. I didn't like not knowing what were my choices and the implications they ensued. I knew I would go to that lake James talked about – there were some feelings that you couldn't just deny – but going there blindly just because someone told me would be foolish.
'' What do you mean 'if you can trust him'? Isn't he an angel? Like, your kind?''asked a confuse Simon.
'' Exactly.'' said Jocelyn and I, at the same time. Then Jocelyn simply pressed her lips tighter together and said nothing, while I continued: '' It's angels that tried to kill me because I lied to protect my siblings. It's angels that we escaped when we fell. It's an angel that ripped James' wings. .It's current angels that can't feel the 'empathy' we developed. And it's angels that I am supposed to fight... or so I think. I don't know anymore...'' I said, my voice softening. '' I-I don't even know what kind of war I am they are all talking about.'' I stopped there, losing myself in my mind again. 'What should I do?' my thought kept repeating. How unhelpful.
'' Start with what you know, darling.'' said Magnus taking my hand. I jumped, snapping out of my mind.
'' What?''
'' You don't know what is going to happen, but what is it that you know now?'' he calmly repeated.
I thought about it for some moment. '' I know that... I don't want to return to heaven. I am sure that my siblings don't want to stay there either. I know that I love you and want to try us.'' I sent him a smile and he pressed my hands more firmly. '' I know that I started to feel and act for my loved ones when Jonathan spoke... I think I know what I want to do.''
'' And what is it?'' he asked, forcing me to say it. I was grateful for his support.
'' If there is a rebellion happening, I want to join. I am going to the lake, where Jonathan Shadowhunter is. But I have one request.'' I stated. Simon and Magnus sent me a confused glance. I only looked at Magnus though.
'' Will you come with me?''
P.S.: Theoretically everyone is from TMI. With the exception of Will, but Herondales... when aren't they the exception? So I didn't lie lilypotter72 ;)
Next chapter is called 'Call out my name' and it's one of my favourite with 'Burn with me'. It will be posted on June the 7th... probably.