...Step, Kei
...Leap, Ayato, the two brothers
...Pace, Jack
...Stride, Silver, the leaders
Right behind me, Skye is waiting, waiting for me to be who she deserves, strong. To go through the portal.
Push...And I'm through, followed by her.
In the stages of limbo I can't see anything, it's all one clouded abstract painting, with a eclipse of light at the end, guiding me. It's like travelling back in time, its been 18 years for me, 5 for them. I may not have aged, but i have changed. My hair's darker, being a LunaThorn means I don't get my hair lightened by the sun all that much, it is kinda in the name though. My face, it's more defined, crisper, harsher. My clothes, I don't wear casual clothes much, only at the institute back home, out here on missions, I don't trust being unprepared.
I need to get my head together, battle speak. Use the correct names, Blaze not Ayato, Moon for Kei, Leader goes by Thorn, Second is Luna, And my daughter, Wisp. I should... probably remember to respond to Dusk.
I was asked if we wanted to go in cloaked, i said yes so the whole situation was not to overwhelming, Wisp agreed with that decision. I suppose you could say it is also a tradition of the LunaThorns. We do like our grand entrances if i say so myself.
Well, i guess it's time to see what happens then.
Crackle, we're here.
Blaze and Moon come in the grand entrance from the sides, check the surroundings for any issues. Sharply followed by the nearby gazes of those nearby in the institute. Maryse is there to meet us along with the rest of the institute, although i doubt that she knows i am here. We never tell our clients much, they're not worth the trouble.
Luna comes from the rear strengthening the formation, and being the leader he is, Thorn parades himself at the front. Moments after earning the strangers gazes he takes a bow, the kind that's just for show waving his hand to his chest. He really is a child enjoying the attention making toys of the weak. Although his signature smirk is pretty awesome i have to admit.
Wisp and I Drop from the ceiling and stand on the support beams. I have to say I feel quite powerful up here, i can see why Wisp spends so much time here, you feel powerful, i think with a smirk that she clearly saw, letting out an innocent unheard giggle.
"I think it's safe to say they know we are hear." Thorn; to their view, a heavenly armed assassin in a dark cloak says to himself. We really are causing a scene. He looks around to check we are all in formation before taking a few steps forward clapping his feet each time to emphasise our dominant presence. They need to recognise we are not on equal ground.
"Welcome to the New York Institute, we are grateful that you replied to our call for assistance with the demons." Maryse says as an act of formality with an iron voice. I have to admire her guts, half the other shadowhunters are sweating with unease if I'm not mistaken.
"Hhehe" i hear moon laugh abruptly. Like lightening i cover my mouth with my hand and start hitting my head. In my panic i totally forgot we took insights wing that allows us to communicate with telepathy for the next month.
This is why i hate these pills, I'm terrible at controlling when i send group messages. Once i even group shared "i wonder why ants don't have hair", i never thought that was apparently fascinating enough to me to tell everyone. Moreover, Jack was in the middle of a seductive mission and ended up spitting a drink all over a greater demon. That's a fun memory I'd rather forget.
"Dusk, could you please stop trying to make me have a fit with your life memories in the middle of our introduction" Everyone singles me out with a humiliating stare.
"Shit" well that's pretty much all i can say.
"Fire, such language should not be used in the presence of clients" Ayato chimes for the sole purpose of poking fun. Not that i mind, this familiar scene is making me more comfortable in this... demanding environment. I can see him, those golden eyes, piercing me from the corner of my eye. I suppose shouting shit probably caught everyone's attention.
Sky places her hand on mine, comforts me, like the raft i need to float. I really do love her.
Well then, on with the introductions...
"I am Thorn, the leader of the LunaThorns, we will defeat the demons for you. Provide us with rooms, food to cook with and pay us. That's all we ask and your demon problems will be solved." He's not usually this harsh, but i suppose my past here means he is a little spiteful in regard for my feelings.
Maryse, poor woman is a little taken aback, not that i have too much sentiment for anyone here anymore. I care for the LunaThorns and them alone. Honestly, if they asked me to be evil, i would follow them, that's how much this wonderful group of people mean to me.
While Maryse attempts to lay out rules like 'don't kill anyone', and 'keep explicit actions outside'. That one was followed by smirks. I can say everyone here has their moments with that kind of thing. The only other significant rule was one we set, 'no one in the training room from 5am to 11am', that gives us 6 hours in the morning to train, not ideal, but good enough.
"These are the institutes strongest fighters, and i am hoping that they can learn some skills from you. I am willing to give extra time in the training room if you use it to teach them"
"If you double the payment, we're not cheap" Jack closes
"Very well" gobsmacked, that's my expression, 'well done jack' i sarcastically send to the group. I have to say though we never thought they would add a cent to the amount they are already paying us.
"This is Isabelle Lightwood, my daughter, my son Alec Lightwood and adopted son Jace Herondale"
The three of them step forward i can see them clearly for the first time, each of us has our gazes fixed on them. Izzy's long hair is braided to one side, emitting a warrior feel, but her presence is weak, i suppose everyone of theirs is, they can't do what we do. They are weaker, the tables have turned from what they used to be. I can take down each of them without even trying, that's what it is to be a LunaThorn. What that golden glance did to me.
Alec is in the middle, hands turned to fists with Magnus stood behind him. Not sure why he is in the institute but it is not my problem. Alec looks stronger, physically. His arms are broader yet still lean enough for an archer, his hair is darker, darker than i remember. There is something strange, his general gaze, it's less forgiving, more like the Alec i met when i was a mundane, i hope that wasn't my fault too much.
Finally, the blond. Skylar already has her gaze fixed on him, analysing him. His eyes radiance ever present causing my body to shiver with hairs standing on their ends. His inquisitive view, how foolish of me to think i could ignore him in my time here, all i am doing now is searching for every possible emergency exit that there is. he hasn't changed much by appearance, still tall and muscular, he has a few more runes but no scars. Unlike me, from a mission five years ago in our time space, i was captured and got myself some nice slash marks on my back and front waist. Bye bye bikinis, well, without a glamour rune.
When that trauma was over we were shown to our rooms, Wisp is old enough to have her own room on missions now, so it is strange without her here. But, the new day awaits me, tomorrow, I will have to train like crazy for the mission, avoid Jace and everyone else who could find out it is me, and solve their entire demon problem. What could go wrong?