Ariel pushed her sword into her belt so that the hilt was at the right angle. She then tucked her stele and a few extra seraph blades into the smaller loops. When she came out into hall she saw Alec and Jace taking turns scrawling runes on each other's backs and arms. Isabelle came out as she finished braiding her long hair and flipping it over her shoulder. Clary came sprinting up the steps, "Is everyone ready?" All the shadowhunters nodded as they headed for the stairs. Isabelle quickly wrapped her whip around her wrist.
Ariel hurried over to the sanctuary as the others piled in the SUV. The vampire girl came out into the cool night air. In the moonlight she seemed extra pale and scrawny. "Are you ready?" The girl looked at Ariel with large eyes. Ariel thought she might be trembling a bit. She knew vampires didn't get cold so she assumed it was nerves. "We're going to help you," Ariel spoke reassuringly as the girl climbed into the back seat. She nodded as Ariel pulled the door shut.
They once again parked a few hills away from the manor. When they topped the last of hill they looked at the manor. "Is that the one you were talking about?" Jace asked turning to look at the vampire girl. "Wait…where did she go?"
The others turned to look passed Ariel where the girl had been standing only seconds ago. They all started to scan the area around them but could see her anywhere. "Maybe she ran away cause she was afraid?" Clary spoke as she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, if she did run away, I guess that means it must be the right place.
When the hunters neared the bottom of the hill Isabelle froze and grabbed a hold of her necklace. The amulet was pulsing red flashes. "I think we have company," Isabelle spoke with a little uneasiness as she let her whip slowly unravel from her wrist.
The other hunters readied their weapons as they stared into the black hillside. "I can see something," Alec said as he focused on a point about half way up the hill. The others looked to see what he was pointing to. It almost looked like a huge hole had opened up in the side of the hill.
Suddenly a familiar stench filled the air. "Demons," Jace growled out, "Lots of them." As the shadowhunters watched, all along the next ridge of the hill pairs of red dots began to appear.
"I think they knew we were coming," Alec spoke in a whisper as he readied an arrow in his bow. More eyes of other colors began to appear.
Soon the hunters were swarmed by demons of all shapes and sizes. Ariel hacked at the small bat like demons that flew around her as she backed up against a tree.
"Watch out!" called Clary. Ariel looked toward Clary who was pointing up. The girl lifted her head right as she heard a growl. Above her was a large cat. It had bright purple eyes and sleek black fur at almost looked like oil. When it opened its mouth to hiss a green gas like substance came out. The leaves that the gas touched shriveled instantly. Ariel ducked away to avoid the gas, suddenly cried out when she felt the searing pain in her shoulder. One of the bat demons clung to her as it sank its fangs into her. She instinctively grabbed it and through it as hard as she could.
Ariel jerked her head up when she heard the cat demon screech. She felt instant relief when she saw an arrow protruding out of its neck as it tumbled from the branch and turned into a pool of bubbling oil. She glanced to her left to see Alec who was already moving farther up the hill. She continued to attempt to do the same as the demons kept coming.
After a long while they finally seemed to have all past. Ariel glanced around to see where the other shadowhunters were. She spotted Clary and Alec near the entrance to the opening of the hill. Isabelle was several yard past the opening wildly slashing at a hoard of dog like demons with snake tails. She was about to head to aid her when she saw Alec and Clary head in that direction. She was sure the three of them could handle the demons so it was time to find Jace.
Ariel looked around but couldn't see Jace anywhere so she climbed the rock nearby and quickly drew a sight rune on her upper arm. As her already superior sight sharpened she looked both up and down the hill.
After scanning the hillside for a long while Ariel finally spotted Jace. He was on the ground with an enormous demon pushing its clawed foot down against his chest. He was pushing with all his might as he tried to fend off the mouth with razor sharp teeth that were chomping at the sword wedged in the back of its jaw.
Ariel rushed forward and was almost to him when she felt the air being pushed out her lungs. She flew sideways as a large bird demon flew into her. She slashed at her attacker and sliced through it but not before it could sink its large talons into her side. She gripped her side and gasped as she watched the demon fold into itself. She used a nearby tree to steady herself as she staggered in Jace's direction.
All that was left of the demon was a pool of ichor but Jace still lay on the ground. Ariel looked around as she hurried over to him. She knelt down next to him and could see two large puncture wounds on his shoulders from where the beast's claws had dug into his skin to keep him pinned in place.
"Jace, Jace," she called as she pulled out her stele. His eyes fluttered open as his body seized in pain. His hand went down to clutch near his weapons belt. When Ariel put her hand near his he winced and let out a low groan.
Ariel gasped when she carefully pulled back the edge of his jacket. Blood and ichor oozed from his chest. "Hold on," she said as she peeled his hand back as she began to draw an iratze.
As she was almost finished with the rune on his torso, she jerked her head up. She could hear screeches and through the tree she could see a new surge of demons pouring out of the hole in the hill. She knew they would be upon they in only a matter of minutes.
While still holding her stele in her right hand she used her left to pull something else from her belt. She held the object over her head as she straddled Jace's body trying hard not to touch his wounds. From what Jace could make out its shape was similar to a stele.
"You can't make a sound," she whispered as she learned down low to his body and touched a button. The tip of the object began to grow a soft green. Ariel closed her eyes as she lightly rested her head near his still throbbing shoulder.
Jace could feel the ground tremble underneath him. Jace managed to turn his head ever so slightly as he saw another wave of demons headed for them. He opened his mouth as if to say something but he only managed a small moan before Ariel's hand clamped over his mouth. "Shhh, they'll hear you," she whispered, as her eyes pleaded with Jace to just trust her. When he managed to nod slightly she released his mouth. His eyes were soon focused on the on slot of demons quickly approaching but to his utter amazement they all seemed to simply go around them as if they didn't exist.
Jace's attention was pulled back to Ariel when he felt the familiar sting of a stele. With her left hand still held over her head holding onto the strange object she used her right hand to draw finish the iratze she had started on the wound of his chest. He finally allowed his body to relax some as the last demon disappeared past the row of trees. He closed his eyes waiting for the still intense pain to subside.
When Ariel finished an iratze on his left shoulder she collapsed on top him her own ragged breath matching his. She felt unconsciousness over taking her as she couldn't seem to find the strength to get up. Her eyes closed as she felt her stele drop from her hand.
Sorry this chapter is a little short. This was the best breaking point I thought and the next chapter will be longer. Let me know what you think.