''So we just need to blow the whistle … and we're there? At the Unseelie Court?''

Livvy was sitting on top of the table, where she usually was to be found seated, but this time instead of hovering over Tiberius's head and looking at the laptop's screen, she was curiosuly observing the little golden whistle, which Emma and Mark got from Gwyn. They told them what had happened while the two of them were outside and summed up the conversation they had.

''Not exactly.'' Emma corrected her. ''More like they'll come and collect us. That's what he said.''

Everybody was around the table, skeptically observing the faerie object, only Livvy daring to sit close to it and watch it with curious eyes.

''That's all they came for?'' Diego asked and looked at Emma and Mark as if he didn't believe them. ''The three of them? For that tiny whistle?''

''Now that you mention it they did whip my ass before going...'' Emma turned to him and smiled.

''Don't start it!'' Cristina raised her hands. She genuinely looked tired from everything she was hearing, she certainly did not want to hear more than the needed, especially a possible fight between two of their best fighters.

''That is all they came for.'' Mark had the courtesy to answer the question before another round of cat and dog fight could form itself. ''Just to rely the messege that we'll need the help of the King anytime soon and he himself would like to meet the Blackthorns and Emma.''

''Was there any emphasis on the names? Like Blackthorns and Emma only?'' Livvy asked. ''Cause that would mean Diego, Cristina and Diana can't come with us.''

''Wow now sister!'' Emma turned her head to Livvy and looked at her as if she was looking at someone knew. ''Who said we are going? Who said we are keeping this infernal thing in the house?''

''Emma's right.'' Julian said and rested his hands on the table while looking at the whistle. ''We can't trust them. Remember the case when Clary and Simon used the faerie rings and the Queen knew everything they were talking about and that's how she could rely the whole information to Sebastian. We don't know what this thing could do. We don't know who the Faeries are siding with. If we are going there, we'd be going blindfolded and we better be expecting a fight or worse.''

''Hold on!'' Cristina raised her voice. ''Why do you sound like you're considering it?''

Everybody turned their heads to Julian, waiting for an explanation.

''It's inevitable. Once you get a 'gift' from the Faeries, the King himself, you are bound to use it. Call it a trap, call it a decoy, call it whatever you want, but we do need answers and we do have hella lot of question the Clave or any other Shadowhunter won't answer us.''

There was a short silence and a synchronized exhalation, irritated clicking of the lips of a few, all in defeat. It was a fair point they got served.

''So history repeats itself more or less. The Fearies are back in the game.'' Emma said while looking at the whistle.

''How so?'' Dru asked her.

''They'd ask for help, we'd also need help, we will agree upon something and work together, then one side will break the promise or straight up won't keep it like the Seelie Queen did and if she is told to be better than the King I don't even want to know how bad the King must be in comparison because that Seelie Queen was straight up little nasty who-''

''She was bad we get it!'' Julian interrupted her passionate speech and gave Emma a sign with his head towards Dru and Tavvy. She cleaned her throat and apologized for the language.

''So now that we know that we can't trust them, we'd be the ones to not play by the rules.'' Cristina suggested.

''It can't be that easy. We are over thinking everything right now.'' Julian rubbed his eyes in annoyance. He looked tired and his T-shirt had paint stains on it. They seemed fresh and Emma was glad that he was still able to find his peace more or less in drawing things. She hoped it wasn't her, lying in a pool of her own blood. She really hoped he wasn't that mad at her.

''What else did they say?'' Diego asked and looked again at Emma and Mark.

They looked at each other and then back at the others.

''That was it.'' Emma said.

''Really? Can I believe that?'' Diego looked at her skeptical and with his fair share of distrust.

''Yes, Inspector Rosales. Can I trust you though? What is your deal anyways? How long are you planning on staying here and spying on us?''

''Guys!'' Cristina cried in pain and shut her eyes close. ''Please don't! We have bigger problems to concentrate on!''

''I doubt that. Why do I get the feeling that the bigger problems are always the diversion of the smaller, vital and most important ones?''

''Guys!'' Cristina said louder.

''You seem to have trust issues.'' Diego told Emma, while ignoring the others and their pleas and reactions just as Emma did.

''You would too if a long term friend you shared meals with, had over your house, took care of some stuff for you and generally acted like an angel and someone you could count on turned out to be the bloody murderer of your parents, who by the way died in vain and as guinea pigs, and then played it cool as if nothing happened and then tried to kill an innocent child just so that he can have his dead girlfriend back!''

For a moment everybody took in a breath and held it in for a while. It was such a chilling silence that Emma even felt cold after what she'd said. She was out of her mind to speak like that in front of that audience, she knew it, but sometimes saying thing out loud maybe could help teach some people their place.

Julian was avoiding her eyes, and for a good reason everybody else's eyes as well. Dru had one hand on Tavvy protectively as if he was in an immediate danger and Livvy and Ty stayed the way they were, just a little bit more shocked and flustered by Emma's words.

Cristina's face was one full of concern, pain and sympathy, while Diego's look softened after looking into Emma's eyes, which were full with rage and pain.

Mark stayed still and after a while, he as well sat on the table, on the other end opposite of Livvy with his hands crossed, where he had a good visual and could keep Emma in sight.

''What I am saying is that I can't trust someone who comes from a totally new and different place of the Shadow world, while refusing to share any of the information they have access to. One time getting stabbed in the back like this is way more than enough for me to lose my trust in most people.'' Emma explained and after calming down she sat in one of the chairs by the window.

''And when I say there was nothing else said, then it is true. Is Iarlath asking about my back and condition a vital infromation to the topic? I think it's a pure mocking ploy to get me out of control so that I can cut his tree ass into pieces and cause more trouble. That is all.'' She conclued while looking at everyone, whose mood was already destroyed after her mentioning Malcom and his deeds. They all had tired and sullen expressions on their faces and all eyes were directed at the floor or ceiling. In the end everybody knew Malcom and even loved. The only difference was that Emma's love turned to hate faster than her swinging Cortana.

''Let's just call it a day.'' Julian broke the silence.

''What about the whistle?'' Livvy asked and pointed to it with her index finger. Julian sighed as he himself didn't have the slightes idea of what he was to do with the object.

''Can I step on it?'' Emma asked from the window, which she was looking through. But instead of outside, she looked at the reflexion of the others. Jualin who looked and probably felt hopless and lost. Mark who stayed silent. Cristina who was constantly worried about her being. Dru and Tavvy who looked afraid. Ty who only looked at the whistle and avoided all eye contact. Livvy who was trying to cheer up the situation. They looked like a picture, a picture with it's figures moving and breathing against the glass Emma was looking them at. A picture that looked anything but happy.

''NO!'' Everybody exclaimed at the same time. Everybody with a different intonation. Some very tired, others very fast and worried. Emma smiled and turned to them.

''So now we know we keep it.'' She told them and once again smiled. ''Where? It has to be somewhere safe.''

It seemed to her that the moment she changed her tone to a lighter one, more cheerful and reassuring one Dru and Tavyy didn't look so tense now. She was sorry to them that hey had to witness and hear all this from her, but also gad she had some influence on their moods and was able to cheer them up.

''I'll put in the library in one of the boxes.'' Julian said and proceeded to take the whistle from the table.

''Okay, let's eat something I am starving.'' Livvy announced and stretched herself like a cat.

''I'll make something.'' Cristina suggested.

''I'll help!'' Livvy said and both of them got out the room.

''I'll be in my room.'' Ty said and left as soon as he could. Emma had the feeling he won't be in his room. He'd be trying to talk to Kit, like he did every day.

''I want to sleep.'' Tavvy said and rubbed his eyes.

''How about I put you to sleep?'' Emma suggested. Tavvy looked at her precariously and looked at Julian as well. She wanted to take some of the work off Julian's shoulders. She wanted to help him more. And since she was a disaster in the kitchen, she had already had some experience in taking care of Tavvy when he was little. Even saved his life. ''If you want.'' She added sensing that things were going more toward a 'no'.

''Can Mark come as well?'' Tavvy asked and looked at Emma. She turned around to look at him and he looked ready to sleep himself. It looked like she'd be putting two kids to sleep. What else she did notice was the way Julian's shoulders tensed by the mention of Mark's name. He was not keen on the idea of having both Emma and Mark putting Ty to sleep.

''Okay.'' She said and let Tavvy lead the way to his room. Before leaving with Mark she asked Dru if she needed anything, but by her crappy excuse, she seemed like she was going to go after Perfect Diego and stalk him. That was fine with her, at least Emma wouldn't worry about him staying alone with Cristina and having things his way.

After everybody left she stayed behind, alone with Julian.

''Do you need anything?'' She asked him and Julian shook his head no.

''I am going shopping tomorrow. I need new stuff, do you?'' Julian shook his head no again.

Emma bit her lip and nodded then left the room and headed to Tavvy's room where Mark was already waiting, not sure of what to do.

Tavvy still had his tent up, full of pillows and blankets inside, with lights and books and stuffed animals. He got inside and Emma and Mark positioned themselves on each side of the tent's entrance.

''So which book do you want to read?'' Emma asked while Tavvy was adjusting his position.

''None. I want to hear a real story!''

Emma made a grimace bacause all real stories she had to tell were a bloody and messy hell and most certainly not a goodnight story. Not something you'd have sweet dreams of, a pure nightmare which was actually very true. She looked at Mark and saw he had the exact same expression as she did and laughed. None of them had a good story for someone as innocent and pure to the world as Tavvy, who sadly soon enough would get his fair share of blood on his hands.

''Why are you laughing?'' He turned around and laid down on his tummy.

''We don't really have a suitable story for you. Not a real one at least.'' Emma told him apologetically and ruffled his hair.

''Then can I ask questions?''

''Sure.''

''Do you like Mark?''

Emma was fine with the question stuff until that came up. She didn't consider Tavvy asking question like that, more did she believe she'd be forced to lie to the youngest and most honest Balckthorn of all. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want to lose his trust. It's not that she didn't like Mark, she did in fact a lot, they did have a lot in common, but she knew where Tavvy was heading. Even though he was young, his eyes also caught up fast on things.

''Yes.'' She told him and felt the temperature rising since she felt Mark's eyes on her and she was currently looking into Tavvy's ones which seemed to be able to look through a lie. It was a test and she was pinned by two Blackthorns.

''Why?''

''What kind of questions are those? Are you the Inquisitor? Go to sleep.'' Mark stepped in and playfully pushed Tavvy's head into the pillow. Tavvy and Mark both laughed while Emma felt the regret in her decision about putting Tavvy to sleep.

''Mark do you like Emma?''

''Yes.''

''Why?''

Instead of answering Mark pushed Tavvy's head once again on the pillow.

''Why are you asking?'' Mark asked.

''I am interested.''

''Why? Do we look like we like each other?''

''Yes.''

''Really? We do?'' Mark was surprised by the answer and turned to Emma. ''We do!'' He repeated the answer to her and she felt her cheeks getting warmer. He looked so surprised and happy about it, and his smile didn't help much. He looked cheerful and as happy as a kid.

''Do you have anything against it?'' Mark asked Tavvy while playing with one of his stuffed animals.

''No, I am glad.'' He giggled.

''And why is that?''

While Mark was curiosuly asking questions Emma felt like burying herself hundred feet under the ground.

''Because if you marry then Emma will also be a Blackthorn and nobody will ever try to separate us because we will be a big family sharing the same name.''

Emma forgot for a moment or two how to breath and how to blink, but she was sure her face was going to win against a tomato in a competition of who was more red. Her immediate reaction was to bury her own face in the multiple pillows which were spread on the floor and in the tent where Tavvy was and cover her head with blankets.

''Stop it!'' She said with muffled voice, embarassed and that probably was the most girlsih tone to ever make it's way out of her mouth.

Mark himself stood frozen and in shock after hearing what Tavvy told him.

They both haven't thought that far in the future, simply because there was no future for them as a couple. Not unless they really needed to play the game until it's end.

Emma got up with all the blankets on her head and tried to make her way out of the room.

''I am going! You can manage without me!'' She told Mark while searching for the door.

''Why is she leaving like that?'' Tavvy asked quietly and a bit anxious.

''She likes me that much that she is embarrased and can't even look me in the eye.'' Mark told him and they both giggled.

''I heard that!'' She told them both and after hitting her head a few times, she finally manged to get out of the room and into the hallway where she manged to scare Dru because of all the balnekts on her which made her look like she came out of a horror movie.