Eva's POV

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. I looked at Raphael who seemed equally surprised. Then he smiled.

"That must be Simon," he got up. I followed him downstairs to the front door.

"Could you answer it?" Raphael looked at me as he went off in a different direction.

"Sure," I yawned and opened the door. It was Clary and Simon. The last time I had seen the girl, Magnus was kneeling over her, muttering something about her energy level being dangerously low.

I was glad to see her up and looking healthy.

"Sup," I leaned on the doorway as the two visitors recovered from their surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Simon asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Am I not invited here?"

"What? I mean, this is house meant for the vampires-" Simon flushed.

"I don't appreciate how you're talking to my girl," Raphael appeared next to me. He was holding a glass bottle of blood.

"How did you know he was hungry?" Clary looked at him in surprise. He didn't answer her as he tossed the bottle to Simon who caught it, but fumbled and nearly dropped it.

"Now get out," Raphael closed the door. I looked at him, raising my eyebrows.

"That was harsh," I remarked.

He gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I just can't handle that boy."

I nodded, understanding. I knew that Raphael wanted to go out and do things that vampires couldn't do. He had told me how he wished he could go and enjoy the sunlight with me. Being around a vampire who had that ability must be hard for him.

To my surprise, he started laughing.

"What's wrong?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"I drugged the blood," he sighed and grinned at me. "that should be giving interesting results."

"Raphael!" I couldn't help, but grin as well. I wondered how Clary was going to react when she finds out that she had to take care of a drunk vampire.

"When's your dinner appointment?" I asked him suddenly.

He paused. "Around now," he sighed. "I'll go get dressed." He gave me a quick peck on the lips before disappearing. I waited at the hallway, leaning on the wall.

An image flashed in my mind. Raphael, he was unconscious, but I couldn't see where he was or who was with him.

"Are you okay?" Raphael appeared at the front door, surprising me. I blinked and nodded.

"Do you have to go to this dinner?" I asked as we left the house.

"I'm pretty sure that if I miss it, then Nightshade will have to take my place," Raphael sighed. "Why? You seem pretty upset these days. And now that you're hardly letting me out of your sight…"

"I just-" I shook my head. I couldn't tell him. But I couldn't lie to him either. "I just don't feel comfortable without you."

"Aw, you're so sweet," Raphael teased me. I blushed and glared at the road. He obviously didn't feel the same dread and anxiousness as me. But then again, people usually don't expect it when they die.

"Isabelleee," Simon shouted.

"Uh oh," as we turned around the corner, we could see Simon and Clary standing in front of the Inquisitor's house. The window opened and Isabelle's head popped out.

"Simon?" she sounded surprised. More windows opened and I could see Helen and Aline watching them.

"I love you," Simon's words slurred together, but he was grinning like a crazy person.

"Simon," Clary said in surprise.

Raphael started laughing, but I quickly pushed him past the commotion before they could see us.

"Take your clothes," I could hear Isabelle say.

Take your clothes?

"That was funny," Raphael sighed as the commotion died down behind us.

"It must have been embarrassing for them," I said sympathetically. "You better watch out. They might come back for revenge."

"I'll be fine," Raphael said confidently.

We walked to the house in comfortable silence. The night was cool and calm. It was hard to believe that we had just been in a battle a few hours ago.

"Do you think we'll get through this?" I asked Raphael. "This whole Sebastian problem. I mean, Magnus had a dream that blood ran down the streets of New York. That isn't a good sign is it?"

"Maybe it just means that vampires will have a large supply of blood," Raphael suggested. I glared at him and he tried again. "Or maybe… I suppose it can't mean a good thing."

"But do you think we'll get through this?" I persisted. "Will we make it out alive?"

Raphael looked at me wearily. "You're the one with the power to look into the future. Did you see something?"

I blinked. I had seen something. But that was only of him. Him dying.

"No," I lied. "I can't see anything now." It was half true. I couldn't see anything else except for Raphael dying. The future was like a dark path in front of me, ready to devour me in it's unknown and mysterious ways. I was beginning to understand how the others felt when they didn't know a thing about the future and what was going to happen.

"Well," Raphael looked up at the sky. "I think we'll win. Good guys always have a thing of winning with their own underdog ways."

"Underdog?" I raised an eyebrow at his peculiar vocabulary. "That's one way to put it."

"There are lots of ways to put it, love," he smiled down at me.

I glared at him. "Whatever," I muttered.

"I'll try to get out as soon as I can," Raphael promised me before going inside the house.

"I'll be waiting," I bit my lip as he disappeared. The dread in me was growing by each second. I prayed that he would be safe. Magnus would be there, right? They'll protect each other. Luke and Jocelyn was also there. Raphael would be fine…

I could see the lights coming out of the curtained windows. There weren't any sounds of laughter or loud chatter. I suppose that the Downworlders were too tense for that.

"Eva?" it was Alec.

I turned to look at him. He was blowing on his hands, rubbing them together.

"Yeah?" I faced him.

"Um," he looked surprised. "do you want to go back inside? We haven't seen you that much today."

"Oh," I was taken off guard. "um, sure." I followed him to the Inquisitor's house. I hoped that Raphael would be fine.

"Finally you're here," Isabelle said sarcastically as we entered the house.

"Missed me?" I smiled and plonked down on one of the sofas.

The fire was strong, sending its heat everywhere in the living room. I was comforted by the warmth and cozy feeling in the atmosphere. It would have been better if Raphael was here with me.

"Where's Raphael?" Isabelle asked. She was lying on the couch, her legs dangling off the end.

"At the Downworlders' dinner," I sighed and stretched out on my couch as well. It smelt slightly musty.

"Aw, poor you," Isabelle said.

"Poor me," I played along.

"And you, Alec," Isabelle added.

"Shut up," her brother didn't sound amused. He was sitting properly on his sofa, reading one of the books from the shelves.

"Somebody's cranky," Isabelle muttered though she didn't sound annoyed or hurt at his curt reply.

I smiled as the siblings started bickering. The familiar feeling of intruding came back. I wondered if Jace and I could ever be like them. It certainly didn't look like it with Sebastian busying us. For all I knew, one of us could die before we ever bonded or did anything like that.

"Eva, do you want anything?" Isabelle asked. "Coffee? Chocolate? Cookies?"

"No thank you," I replied.

"Being in Alicante is kinda boring," she declared. "There's nothing much to do here."

"You're just picky," Alec told her. "I feel perfectly entertained."

"Who reads books?" Isabelle exclaimed.

"I do," Alec frowned.

"Lame,"

"Hey," he looked at her indignantly. "they're actually interesting and they can widen your knowledge."

"Yeah, yeah," Isabelle rolled her eyes.

I wanted to join in the conversation. I wanted to say that I wouldn't mind reading books. In fact I would love to. But I didn't want to say that I couldn't read. Isabelle and Alec could talk, read, and write in several demon languages including some normal languages.

I only spoke English. A bit embarrassing if you compare my knowledge to theirs.

"Eva, are you sleeping?" Isabelle's softened.

"No," I replied.

"Oh, you're really quiet." she remarked.

"Am I?" I smiled slightly though I wasn't sure if it was a happy one or a sad one.

I wondered what Raphael was doing right now. I hoped that he was safe. I didn't know why I was feeling so anxious and worried. He was so close to me unlike yesterday.

"Raphael?" I called as I ran through the streets. It was dark and empty. I couldn't see anyone. I was alone. The thought terrorized me. Where was Raphael? Why wasn't he here?

"Raphael," I screamed and ran faster.

Sebastian laughed. It seemed like he was everywhere. So typical in the movies, I couldn't help but think.

I looked around, trying to spot him. "What do you want?" I demanded. "Where's Raphael? What did you do with him?"

Sebastian laughed again, making me hate him even more.

"Don't worry," he said. "he's safe with me. Unless someone angers me…" his voice became dark.

"Bring him back," I glared around me.

"Don't worry," he soothed me. "I will give him back, but only if they give me what I want."

"What do you want? And who's they?"

"Just wait," his voice started fading.

Dramatic effect, I noticed. "Wait," I began, but everything disappeared.

This wasn't a dream, I realized.

I looked at the clock groggily. It was one AM. I looked around. I was in the living room with Alec and Isabelle. Alec was still reading the book about demons and Great Demons. Isabelle was sleeping on the sofa, she looked agitated. Every now and then she would stir and mumble something that sounded like 'stupid Simon'.

"Hey," my voice was hoarse and scratchy. I got up, alarmed, remembering my vision. "Hey," I spoke louder than I had intended.

Isabelle snapped awake. "What?"

Alec frowned and looked at me. "What's wrong?"

I was too tired to focus on my words. I only knew that it was 1 AM and someone wasn't here. Raphael- that snapped me out of my daze. I stood up, my legs buckling.

"Uh," I struggled to find my words through my panic. "Have they come back?"

Isabelle looked at me in confusion while Alec shook his head.

"I don't think so," he also sounded worried.

"No, no," I muttered to myself and I started to the door.

"Eva?" Isabelle asked.

"He's gone," I told them. "I'm sure Sebastian took him."

"You mean Raphael?" Isabelle followed me. "Did you have a vision?"

"Is Magnus okay?" Alec was also up.

"I- I don't know," I burst out of the house. I ran to Raphael's house. The door was unlocked. I searched the house, frantically. It was empty.

"Raphael," I shouted, but I knew there would be no answer. I had a vision that he was gone. And I had made such a big ruckus he would have come by now if he was here.

I had an idea. I knew where Jia was. I could ask her to call him. Maybe he was still in the dinner place.

I ran to her house and knocked on her door, harder and faster than a normal person would do, basically I was hitting it.

The door opened, revealing a sleepy looking woman.

"Eva?" she mumbled.

"Are they back, the Downworlders?" I demanded.

She blinked. "I think so, they should be."

That wasn't good enough. "Can you call them?" I pleaded. "Raphael isn't at his house and he isn't answering me. Please call them?"

Jia sighed and went inside the house. I followed her, not caring if she hadn't invited me. I watched her, anxiously, as she started calling.

"Yeah, this is Jia." the woman sighed. "Call back when you're done with the dinner." She set down the phone. "Happy?" she looked at me wearily.

I bit my lip. I wasn't happy at all and I had a good mind to tell her that, but I refrained. "Uh,thanks I guess."

"Well, you can stay here and answer the call," Jia studied me for a moment before going upstairs.

I felt grateful to her as I sat down, near the phone. I hoped that Raphael was okay. If he was gone… how could I save him? I wouldn't know where he would be. And then he would die…

I wasn't sure how long I waited. It was morning though. The sun was streaming through the windows, warming my aching bones.

"Did they call?" Jia asked. She was dressed up and she looked more fresh than the last time I had seen her.

I shook my head in response to her question. I was beside myself with worry.

Jia frowned and called again. No response.

"This is bad," she muttered. "I'll have to go there myself."

I followed her, wordlessly. It felt unreal. I couldn't believe that this was happening. But as we surveyed the dining room, my heart sank. The food was still on the table, half eaten. Some glasses were broken, wine stained the tablecloth, and I could see a face mark on the table cloth.

"They're gone," Jia groaned. She cursed under her breath. "I'll have to call a meeting." She left the house, calling some other people.

I took one last look at the room and left as well. It was all crashing down on me. He really was gone. Sebastian really had Raphael and now he could easily kill him…

Tears pricked my eyes. I wasn't sure where I was going. I didn't care if I was crying in front of everyone.

"Eva?" it was Alec. How come he could always find me?

I glared at him, not bothering to hide my tears. He stopped, taken aback.

"What's wrong?"

"They're gone," I croaked. "Raphael's gone. And so is Magnus." I could see his face whiten.

"Sebastian?" that was all he could say. I didn't answer and I walked past him. I could see the Inquisitor's house. I headed there. I needed some time alone.

All my fault, I thought miserably. If only I had heeded my thoughts and stopped him from going. I could have saved him… Now I might not ever see him again.

I ran inside the house, hoping that I wouldn't meet anyone the way. Thankfully I didn't and I managed to lock myself in my room with no one seeing me.

Raphael, please stay alive, please…

There was a knock on the door.

"Eva?" it was Isabelle.

I had forgotten that it was her room as well. "Yeah?" I cleared my throat and wiped my face.

"We're going to the meeting," she sounded hesitant.

"Yeah, I'll come," I had to see what they were going to do. If they were going to send search parties, then I had to go as well.

The walk was silent and Isabelle stayed close to me, giving me reassuring pats on the back every now and then. I was glad that none of them were trying to strike up a conversation or anything. I didn't feel like talking or listening to them talking.

We reached the Council room. It was filled with arguments and shoutings. The loss had been a big blow to us obviously. i had also heard that Sebastian had sent a message, saying something like 'I have come'. Honestly, he was a bit too dramatic to my liking.

"Guys," Simon called us over. We went to them. Clary looked disturbed and Jace was holding her hand. "Sebastian visited Clary last night."

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Isabelle asked. I looked at the redhead sharply. No wonder she looked so disturbed. Jace too.

"I'm fine," Clary sighed. She was obviously hiding something.

"And where were you guys?" Alec asked.

"I was sleeping," Simon said sheepishly. Isabelle rolled her eyes at that.

"Did you hear what happened last night?" Alec nodded.

"I'm sorry about Magnus," Jace said. "And Raphael." he added. He stopped short when he saw me. I avoided his eyes and looked at Alec who was obviously distressed.

"What would Sebastian want with them?" he was asking.

"I'm thinking that he'd want them for leverage," Jace said. I could still feel his eyes on me. I wished he wouldn't do that. I didn't appreciate anyone staring at me right now.

"Yeah," Clary agreed. I bit my lip and looked around. Everyone seemed pretty upset. I didn't think they would be that upset over the Downworlders' kidnapping.

"Let's start," Jia spoke through the microphone.

"Come on," Jace led us to one of the first rows of benches and we sat down. Jace beckoned me to sit next to him, but I pretended to not see as I sat next to Alec at the end of the bench.

I heard Jace sigh and to my surprise, he went over and squeezed between me and Alec.

"Sup little sister," he whispered as Jia began. Already there were people shouting at her.

"What is it," I kept my eyes on Jia.

"Are you okay?" Jace asked.

"Do you think I should be?" I couldn't help the hostility in my voice.

He looked taken aback at that. "I'm sure Raphael is safe," he told me.

"You don't know anything," I snapped. Surprise crossed his face. I regretted it and I was about to apologize when he spoke.

"Do you know something?" he asked warily.

I looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You seem pretty sure that's he in trouble. I'm guessing this is about what the Queen told you." he said. My eyes widened. "I knew it." he sighed and leaned back on his seat, tilting his head towards the ceiling. "She's sly and cunning. Don't believe her."

"She can't lie," I reminded him.

"But she can confuse and trick," he pointed out.

"It doesn't matter," I looked down at my hands. I had bitten my nails down too much. "I've been getting the visions as well. I know it's true."

"What's true?"

I bit my lip and didn't say anything.

"He wants revenge," a man was arguing. "After he lost against the London Institute and the Iron Sisters."

"Eva, you can tell me," Jace whispered urgently. I shook my head. "Please,"

"No," I whispered back. "it's personal."

"I know," he hesitated. "but I'm your brother."

That hit me. I sighed and looked at him. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," at the look on my face, he changed it. "Fine, at least what the Queen said to you."

I spoke slowly and quietly. "She told me he was going to die."

"Die?" Jace echoed. "Are you sure?"

"Jace," I couldn't bear to be talking about it. Especially to someone else. "I even had visions about it. I know it's true."

He stared at me, not speaking. Then finally he said, "I'm sorry."

Somehow that made it seem worse. Like it was really happening. Raphael really was going to die…

I blinked back the tears again, but it was too late. I cursed and wiped them away quickly. I felt Jace put an arm around my shoulders as he pulled me closer to him.

Suddenly there were cries and a shout.

I looked up and saw Jia being held with a knife at her throat by an Endarkened. I stood up quickly. How did he get here?

"Mom," Aline screamed, starting forward to help the woman. She was held back by Helen.

"Let her go," Kadir said calmly though his face was white.

"No," the Endarkened smiled. "Not until Sebastian get's what he wants. And right now, that's Jace and Clarissa."

I felt Jace brush past me as he started to go, but I stopped him. He looked at me in surprise.

"Why should we?" another woman demanded. "we never trade our own kind."

"We have the DownWorlders' as hostages." the Endarkened said calmly. "We can easily kill them if you don't bring us Jace and Clarissa."

"I'll go," Jace said, breaking free from my grip.

"Jace," Alec stopped him as well.

"Can't we have a few days to think?" Robert asked.

"Why should we give you that?" the Endarkened looked at him in scorn.

There was a tense silence. It was broken when an arrow flew at the man and embedded into his chest. Alec had shot that.

The Endarkened screamed and let go of Jia. She scrambled away, coughing.

Jace bolted to the dais where the Endarkened was, but Alec tackled him to the ground. I saw them disappear as they tumbled down the stairs. I winced.

"You will pay," the Endarkened wailed as he was enveloped in flames. We watched in horror as he burned to death. When the fire disappeared, all that was left was ashes.

Everyone was dismissed except for some of the senior Shadowhunters, Jia, Maryse, Robert, Clary, Isabelle, Simon, and I. We were discussing about what to do with Sebastian's deal. Jace and Alec were being treated after their nasty fall.

"But we can't do that," Maryse was saying.

I wasn't paying much attention. I could only think about Raphael. If we refused to give Clary and Jace, then I was sure that this was how Raphael was going to die. But I couldn't just tell the others to give up Clary and Jace… I didn't want that myself.

"You're here," Isabelle said.

I looked up and saw Alec and Jace come inside. They looked pretty okay considering their fall.

"So wassup?" Jace asked as he sat down.

I looked back at the table. If only I could just go and search for Raphael myself. And actually find him. I thought back to what the Queen had told me.

"If you choose to save Raphael, the price could be," the Queen looked me over with lazy eyes. "yes, it could be that-"

"Eva?" Jace interrupted my thoughts. "what do you think?"

"About what?" I asked tiredly.

"I should go right?"

"If you want,"

"Eva," Isabelle gasped.

"Only if you bring me as well," I finished.

"No," Jace immediately said.

"What if we just go into hiding?" Clary suggested.

"He'd still kill the Downworlders," I said harshly. "Clary and Jace go. They'll tell us where he is and we'll attack. It's not like he wants to kill them or anything."

Before anyone could answer, there was a knock on the door. A young man came in.

"Amalric is dead," he said in his musical british voice.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but the others looked pretty upset about that. I wondered who Amalric was.

"That is quite sad," Jia sighed. "his family will be notified." She looked at us. "You kids can go now."

I gladly got up and left. I needed to think about something.