***********SEBASTIAN POV************
We all rushed out of the forest to see...Nothing.
All we saw was a empty space, and you can tell that they left in a hurry because there were empty buckets and sheets flying in the wind. I got out of my fighting stance to walk around. There were nearly nothing here. I saw a ragged doll on the ground. I picked it up and looked at it. It was covered in grime and dirt and mud. Seelie did this. She somehow told them and they just left. They probably left weeks ago. How could this be. They were supposed to be here. Clarissa was suppose to be here. The Resistance is suppose to be here. Oblivious to their stupid little perfect world around them. This was suppose to be my victory. My victory against the ragtag team of bandits. The nice, sudden, cold breeze blew white sheets around me, looking like ghosts ready to take me away to the underworld. The rustled of the trees and the dead leaves on the forest floor. I couldn't wrap my mind over this. My brain couldn't concentrate on the probably that has arisen. Seelie must have lied to me. But some things don't add up quite right. But the only thing I know is that Seelie was the one who was suppose to lead me to the Resistance, but didn't.
I whirled around. My men were looking around, lifting up buckets and sheets, and looking around in the woods saw nothing. Lilith looks equally as livid as me. My vision zeroed on Seelie. She looked white and scared.
I walked towards her with deliberate steps. She shook and shrunk back against a tree.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" I screamed at her.
"I-i-i-i don't-t k-know, my-y-y Ki-ng." She stuttered.
"YOU DON"T KNOW. EVERYBODY IS GONE!" I boomed.
"Maybe they were following the deer. We do do that, your highness." She prompted.
I couldn't help it. I grabbed her by the hair. She screamed in pain.
"I don't think that happened. I think that you somehow told them i was coming and they decided to leave. But what i don't know is why you would come and tell them. Maybe you grown soft." I tightened my grip on her hair. She screamed again.
"Sebastian?" Lilith spoke.
"WHAT" I yelled at her.
"Isn't your sister The One?" She asked.
"WHAT DOES THAT HAS TO DO WITH ANYTHING!" I screamed.
"Well if it IS true. Then maybe she saw us coming. She could have envisioned all of this happening and she probably told everyone while this rodent was coming to us to tell." She reasoned.
I took a deep breath and settled myself. Maybe she was right and Clarissa did tell. I felt my blood pumping in my veins as I steadied myself. I looked at Seelie crying on the ground, also there was a little streak of blood running down on her forehead. I pulled her close to me, she cried out. I looked at her with total disgust.
"Lilith better be right about this. If not. I will have your head on a stake and your body burned" I promised.
I threw her on the ground as she cried softly. I saw all my men staring at me or Seelie weeping on the floor.
"GET BACK ON YOUR FUCKING HORSES AND LET'S GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE AND FIND THEM!" I boomed.
Some men gently helped Seelie up and on her horse. I yelled at them to get a move on. We quickly got on our respected horses and we rode farther and farther without knowing where to ride. I soon realized that it was stupid to just ride around without a general direction as to where they are.
We stopped an hour later by a river. Some of the men were tending to Seelie's wounds. I narrowed my eyes and headed over to them. Seelie saw before the other men did. She jumped up and hid behind the men.
"I'm gonna let you live, Seelie, but under one condition. You have to tell me where they're going." I said with fury.
She had tears on her face as she hid behind a guard,"Y-y-your highness. I have the slightest idea where they're going. Please I have been honest with you ever since I came and talked to you."
I raked my hands through my hair and took a deep breath. I felt like pulling all of my hair strand by strand from my head. This is getting me nowhere. Just when I thought that I was finally gonna get there. I end up 3 steps behind. They're probably half way across the forest by now. Even if Seelie misguided me with or without her knowledge they left was puzzling. Something isn't adding up.
I looked back at her," Something isn't adding up. I want you to be honest with me. Why did you actually leave?"
I saw Lilith turn to look at her as I narrowed my eyes. I saw her swallow nervously.
"I left because I tried to kill the Princess. She had ruined my life and she stole the love of my life. The Resistance was gonna kick me out anyways so I just left on my own, but I wanted to tell you about them and where they were. I honestly did not know that they would leave, honestly, your highness." Then she broke down and started crying again. These cries sounded heart-wretching and sad. While the cries from when I was pulling her hair were full of terror.
"Mm pity the fool who knows no shame." Lilith muttered, looking at her nails.
I sighed and started pacing back and forth. I have to think of something. Seelie doesn't know where they're heading and I don't have the slightest clue either. I can't follow them cause I don't know where the fuck they are. They didn't seem to be leading any tracks. NO footprints, NO horse tracks. Also, I didn't bring no hounds because I knew I didn't need them cause they were right at my fingerprints. Right in the palm of my hands. Think, Sebastian, think. Your fucking smarter than all of the Resistance combined.
That's when it hit me.
I remember when I was going on my tour around Idris with my father. We had stopped in the south for food and some rest. We came across an inn and a woman named Madame Dorothea. She always had a weird vibe to her and it made me not want to be near her. Father had told me that she some sort of witch. Who read cards and oracles. Some people would say that she had magical powers. Magical powers that only The One, The One Kissed by Angels is only suppose to possess. Father also implied that she worshiped the devil.
She seems like the perfect person to know the exact destination where they were going.
"We have our heading." I commented.
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*******CLARY POV*******
We finally got to our destination in early morning. The sun just peeked above the mountain top with a beautiful golden color that amplified the mountain's peak. It was absolutely gorgeous. The golden sun glow reminded me of Jace. Even though he was arrogant, conceited, and just overall a big fool. He had a good soul and an even bigger heart to the core.
Everyone cheered and crashed down on the ground to thankfully rest. We've been walking for about 5 hours with little rests here and there, but overall we mostly walked. On our whole trip we saw no danger. No bears, or wolves, or anything that will want to rip our faces off. I'm happy that we didn't come across any of those things but it seems odd that nothing came at us. But what I am glad about is that we did NOT see Sebastian or Seelie.
The clearing that Luke and Mother chose was similar to the one we just left behind. The trees made an oval shape around a clearing. There was a river trickling right beside it, covered by berry bushes. The trees here look older than the ones back at the other camp. These look ancient and full of stories that they've seen and heard throughout the years. The bark was crusted and peeling off. The skin under the bark was white with little dots on it. The dots look like tiny beetles sleeping on. I wonder what's the story behind them.
I was too busy in my own mind that I didn't see Jace's face right in front of me. I jumped roughly on Chestnut. She neighed and trotted a little bit. I controlled her until she calm down enough to stop moving all together. I looked at Jace. The week fro our old camp to our new camp to its wear and tear on him. He had bags under his eyes, his hair tossed messily, and frown lines around his lips, and a 5 o'clock shadow and his clothes all rumpled up.
"Are you feeling well, Jace?" I leaned down from my horse and gently rub the back of my hand over his cheek. It felt soft yet coarse because of his 5 o'clock shadow.
He smiled up at me, and took my hand and kissed it softly," I am fine, Clary. I was just worried. You were staring into space for a minute." He spoke softly looking at me with concerned eyes.
I giggled," I am fine as well. I was just wondering about the trees over here." I pointed all around us," They're really fascinating."
He chuckled," Well come here and I'll tell you." He winked.
My face went red as a tomato immediately as he grabbed me by the waist and easily picked me up off Chestnut and set me down on the ground in front of him. My legs felt wobbly from sitting on Chestnut for so long and being so close to Jace.
"So, umm, what's the story about the trees?" I asked curiously.
"Well, they're called the Fae Oaks." He said.
"Fae Oaks?" I repeated,"Well why do they call them that?"
"Well legend has it that these types of trees used to hold thousands of faerie's who lived in there and ruled the forests and the lakes and rivers and anything that in the forest belongs to the forest. They used to have feast that would last days and parties that would last for nights." He told.
He sounded like a storyteller when he spoke of the trees and the faeries. His voice took on a soothing melody that would make anyone go to sleep in seconds. I looked at the trees and could almost sense the faerie's presence everywhere around me.
"That's amazing!" I commented.
"There's more to the story but we have to set camp now." He gestured.
"Fine."
I went to Chestnut to take my tent off of her so she could rest. Jace got to Chestnut first.
"Jaaaccce!" I whined and stomped like a little girl.
"Sorry, Princess but your not gonna lift a finger in my presence." He winked and walked to the middle of the camp where people were already setting their tents up. He put mine right dead in the middle of it. Probably to "Protect me".
I walked up to Jace," Jace, I know your worried about me, but I can do something as simple as build a tent." I put my hands on my hips in defiance.
He sighs, still putting up the tent," I know your not a little doll Clary, but I saw the look on your face when we were coming here. You looked so broken when you thought that Sebastian was gonna find us. I just want to make you sure you don't have to do much."
My voice died out as I actually heard what he said. He sounded so sincere and sad. Did I really look like that? Do I look broken? I touched my face softly as Jace continued to build the tent. I crouched down next to Jace.
"Can I at least help?'' I smiled at him.
He eyes lit up like a firefly as a huge smile spread across his face," Sure. If you can keep up. Okay, here's what you do..."
***********TIME JUMP************
We all sat down in a circle around a bonfire near the center of the camp. The bonfire was about 10 feet from my tent. The tents were made from wool skins and bladder pouches from animals. Gross right? But the bladder pouches were water resistant and the wool skins kept the cold nights away. That's why almost all of our blankets were made of wool skins.
We ate amazing stew that Aline and the other girls made. Everybody complimented their cooking skills profusely. They weren't wrong. It was amazing stew. Jace and the guys seem to think so. Jace ate about 5 bowls. Simon, Alec were being modest and ate about 2 bowls, but you can tell they wanted way more than that. Jon went all out as he kept eating bowl after bowl. Most of the girls ate from 1 to 2 bowls, but I was so hungry that I became full after my third bowl.
Then something extraordinary happened.
When the camp was sitting around talking, playing, or just anything really. I was talking to Simon about his relationship with Isabelle. He blushed a lot. When something lit up right in my face. I nearly screamed as I tried to scramble away from the light. But the stupid thing seems to be following me around.
"Simon! Get that thing away from me." I exclaimed.
By now everyone in the camp was looking at me almost about to cry trying to get away from this monstrosity.
"You don't know what that is?" Simon said astonishingly.
I was about to answer him when the light flew right in my face again. I screamed, got up and ran behind Jon. He looked at me curiously and lovingly.
"Of course I don't know what it is. If I did do you think I'd be running away from it?" I snapped at him.
"Wow,you're really sheltered, biscuit." Magnus inquired.
I glared at his yellow cat eyes behind Jon.
"Do you know what it is Jon?" I asked softly.
"It's called a firefly, Clary. There just bugs that lit up at night." He explained.
My eyes widened,"Bugs that lit up?" I said.
Two more lights or fireflies came out of nowhere. I squeaked and tried to move away from them, but Jon stopped me and pushed me forward a little bit.
"Jon!" I cried.
"Clary, it's alright. They're not gonna hurt you. See?" He held up his hands up and cupped the little firefly in his hands. It landed on his hands softly and flew away. He showed me his hand. It was still intact.
"Your not hurt?" I asked.
He chuckled,"No of course not."
More fireflies became visible as they slowly flew around. The kids started playing around with them. Jumping up to try and catch them.
"They won't hurt, Clary." Jon said.
Another one came in front of me. I slowly cupped the little creature in my hands. The little creature sat gently on my hands, crawling around in my hands, still lighting up. I giggled. I felt its little feet walk across my hands.
"See it's alright.'' He whispered as if he didn't want to disturb me and the firefly.
I smiled as I stared at the tiny firefly in my hands. Its like glowed a pretty soft shade of blue. It gave off a warm glow in my hands. I focus on the firefly. It crawled to the tip of my index finger. More fireflies came and sat in my hands. Soon enough my whole hands were covered in fireflies. Then... as if by instinct I thought... Fly!
The fireflies quickly took off and flew around me. I sat there astonished as the tiny creatures flew in circles around me. They obeyed me? It couldn't be a coincidence that all of the fireflies at the same time took flight. I decided to try another command. I held out my hands and thought... Come!
More fireflies quickly came and landed everywhere on me. On my hands,arms, shoulders, legs, face, everywhere they landed. I must look like a big glow bug.
"Woah! What are you doing?" Jon said mystified.
"I-i don't know. I just thought come and they came?" I laughed.
"Wow. Well try another one.'' Jace said walking up.
Everyone started looking and talking excitedly.
"Okay, umm, circle." I said uncertainly.
They quickly jumped off of me and flew in front of me to make a perfect circle. The people clapped and looked in awed.
"Try something else!" Simon exclaimed.
I moved my hand out in front of them. I moved my hand to the left. The creatures followed suit. I moved right and they did the same. I moved my hands in a circle around me. They followed again in a beautiful array of glowing blue.
"Oh my gosh. Clary, you can control them." Luke chimed in.
"You think." I laughed as I wiped my hands upwards. they expanded and contrasts...then all of a sudden birds came down and followed suit.
The birds cawed and followed my hands movements exactly. I gasped and dropped my hands. The spell was broken and the birds flew away and the fireflies flew their own way.
"I can control animals." I said out loud, looking at my hands.
THERE IT IS YOU GUYS
THE NEXT CHAPTER
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