It was still early, the morning air outside was a pleasant mist and sitting in one of the rooms in the attic of the Institute she could see the dull blue of the world waking up from the window.

Livvy, Ty, and Kit sat around her in the few fold up chairs they had to bring to the attic to sit in. Uncle Arthur's study was still mostly intact after all these years. The desk with scholarly notes and books looked as if he had just left it, not even a speck of desk clouded the suspected Julian came up here to tidy things in respect to their late Uncle.

Julian had some complicated feelings towards him, Dru was pretty sure they all did. She knew he mostly felt guilty, but Dru felt guilty that none of them ever came to really love him in all the years they lived with him.

She was surprised that everyone was awake when she went in search of them to have this impromptu meeting. She guessed no one had been sleeping well lately.

They hadn't gotten a chance to talk yet, and she thought it was about time for them to discuss together everything that had happened. She didn't include anyone else in this, mostly because she thought it was right to have the conversation with just the people she started all of this with, with the exception of Jaime.

He couldn't be here because he didn't know Livvy's secret, she told herself as she kept getting caught up on the feeling that he was missing.

"Ash does have the Black Volume then," Ty added a note to his notebook.

Livvy stared down at the floor at the mention, but Kit looked at him with an intensity that Ty didn't notice.

Dru noticed that Kit no longer tried to hide his obvious staring or his feelings as he looked at her brother now, but somehow his face was wretched with even more pain than before.

She knew they had only been gone for a few days in Faerie but the way they interacted was so in contrast to when Dru saw them last it seemed like years must have passed for them too.

She rubbed her forehead trying to massage the stress away, just thinking about it was adding to her growing list of problems, and she had her own personal issues to be working out without constantly worrying about her brother's love life.

"And the Riders of Manann are back just as I thought my life expectancy might improve," the metal chair creaked as Kit leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

"And you're supposed to return and become the new Unseelie King," Dru felt a little bad at bringing it back up seeing as Kit winced at the mention. "Mark always said that once you have entered a deal with the Faey, they will eventually come to collect."

They sat there, a defeat that hadn't even happened yet laid heavy on them all. But if Dru learned anything this past year was that the longer they laid around wondering what would happen next the harder it was to actually do something. "Did you and Jaime find anything else out about Pandemonium?" She asked hopefully.

Kit's expression seemed suddenly guarded. Ty peered over his notebook to look at him, Livvy, almost mechanically, dragged her eyes from the floor.

Dru watched her sister with apprehension, there was obviously something wrong and she wasn't talking to anyone, not even Ty.

"I think the me from Thule is working with them somehow."

"Why would he?"

Livvy's movements broke free of her stiffness as she threw her arms around the back of the old loveseat she and Ty were sat in. "Okay, first thing's first, we need to come up with a new name for him. I'm not calling him Thule Kit every time he's mentioned."

"We can just call him Christopher, I guess?"

Kit looked irritated and then approving, "That will piss him off."

"Now that that's settled, continue telling us about Christopher's cool plan," Livvy said.

Kit glared, "It's not cool, he's just feeding them information to pit the other members against each other. I could do that too, it's not that hard."

"I don't think you have ever planned anything that clever," Ty questioned out of the blue.

Kit looked betrayed, and irritated. "I came up with it!"

Ty shrugged, "I'm just pointing out that if you could do that we could have replaced Barnabs a lot easier."

Dru was surprised at the sudden passive aggressiveness in his tone, it was very much unlike Ty. She also didn't think Ty even really believed that about Kit, even Livvy was looking at him quizzically.

"Thanks Ty, I see you're as tactful as ever," Kit snapped back.

Dru watched as Ty drew his knees up closer as an argument unfolded.

"Someone once said sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt," Ty answered in annoyance.

"And who said that?"

Ty shrugged, "I don't remember, someone."

"And what an impression they left," Kit continued his sarcasm anyway.

Ty stared determinedly at his book, picking up on the acidity of Kit's tone as he smiled smugly when he didn't reply.

Dru watched them with thinly veiled frustration, she had too much to deal with than to play moderator for whatever was going on between them.

After a moment of silence Ty started to say something back until Dru held out her hand cutting him off.

"No! That's enough from both of you!"

Ty frowned at her, "You shouldn't interrupt people, Dru."

"And you two shouldn't be fighting. It's not like either of you mean it anyway."

She stared them down waiting for them to challenge her.

Neither of them did. Livvy shook her head when Ty tried to say something to her.

"They're sort of having a lovers spat," Livvy said, and Dru was surprised when neither of them argued that.

But the whiteness of their faces as they turned away from each other had her worried.

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Ty left, claiming he had something important to do, and Livvy, of course, followed after him, leaving Dru and him alone.

He hesitated as he got up, a feeling a dejavu sweep through him as Dru stood alone to look out the window. She held her arms around her, and to Kit it looked like she was trying to contain something within herself.

He hovered behind her, not even sure if she realized that he was still here.

Finally, he asked, "Dru? Are you alright? You seem… different lately."

Dru's shoulders moved like she laughed but he couldn't hear it. "Do I? It's been over a year Kit, and I thought you were dead, both of you."

It was a pretty stupid thing for him to say, it was obvious how much she had grown even in a year by the way she seemed to charge around her, her shoulders looked heavy with a responsibility Kit didn't quite understand. "Yeah, I know," he just said.

She didn't turn to look at him, he got the feeling she wanted to be alone. Usually that was all the hint Kit needed to leave, he wasn't exactly comforting to be around. But he couldn't bring himself to leave her alone in this attic, especially because they had only been separated because she saved him.

"Look, I should have told you what happened, everything, about being the First Heir, and Ty-"

"You don't have to tell me about what happened with you and Ty anymore." She cut him off, sounding so tired it worried him.

"I- what?"

She turned her face away where he couldn't see her, hugging her arms even tighter. "You don't have to tell me, I have a pretty good idea now."

There was something in her voice that seemed familiar, he could almost see the face she must be making, and knew this wasn't about him and Ty anymore. "Did something happen?"

She stifled a sob, this time Kit could see her face reflected through the window. "I let someone down, and I don't think I'll ever get the chance to make it up to them. I can't change what happened and I hate that I can't even fix it."

Kit went to stand next to her and look at the window with her. Dark waters lapped the shore turning to crystals as it hit the sunlight.

"If you could see that person again, try to make amends with them, would you?" He asked, doing his best not to be probing.

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I mean I can't make up for what I did, and I think explaining things would make things worse."

"Okay," Kit thought about it, deciding he could try to be as candid with her as possible. He at least owed it to her to try. "You already know that when I left it was because I thought I didn't matter, and that's why I thought there was nothing I could do that would make Ty forgive me. But what you're telling me sounds like you disappointed them because you do matter, and that's completely different."

"I know that makes it worse," She groaned, looking completely miserable.

Kit remembered the little girl he taught to pick locks. How he realized how much he loved having a younger sibling to show off to, and how despite her hurt she was still all enthusiasm and determination. He had loved Ty, liked Livvy, but he cared about Dru, and he hated seeing a misery on her face she couldn't hide away.

Kit leaned on the window sill, still staring out at the ocean. "I don't think so. If they cared enough about you to let you hurt them, then I think they would welcome the chance for you to prove that they were right to think you were worth it."

She chuckled, "That sounds like something I heard once in a documentary about abuse victims."

Kit rolled his eyes at her, "Sure, or you could just take my heartfelt sentiment and make it creepy, that's cool too."

She laughed though, and it was good to see, glad that he didn't leave her alone after all.

She moved to lean on the window sill with him, and they watched as the light hit the water turning it into shining adamas.

"But you know," he said thoughtfully, "I never thought I would see the ocean from the L.A. institute again."

She smiled warmly, and he knew she was smiling for him.

"Come on, I want to show you something," She said.

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Ty was very appreciative when Magnus agreed to portal him to the New York Institute to speak to his husband at such a short notice. The New York Institute resembled even more of a church than his home in L.A.. Massive arches adorned the hallway, it's slim towering design made it resemble a Victorian restorational church even more so than his home institute..

"Thank you for doing this on short notice," Ty said to Magnus as they walked down one of the long corridors. It was really active with people Ty imagined were the local Enclave passing in and out with various paperwork.

Magnus brushed his hair back, there were long blue streaks amidst the hair he had spiked up.

"I don't think I am wrong in trusting that you wouldn't ask to waste Alec's time with something trivial during a time like this. Besides," his voice pitched lower. "I wanted to ask you how you and Kit were doing."

Ty was silent, Kit was the last thing he wanted to talk about. "He's still at the Institute if that's what you mean."

Magnus eyes looked him over before softly saying, "Not entirely," but didn't press any further.

Finally, they reached a door that must have been the room the Counsel was using as an office. Before they reached it, Magnus turned to look at him. "Before you enter I feel you should know that I have not told my husband about what you and Christopher had done."

Ty looked surprised, he hadn't really thought of that possibility. Magnus had acted as though he intended to keep it a secret, and Ty didn't question it. Only now did he realize how naive that might have been to expect someone to keep a secret like that from their spouse.

"Thank you," and Ty meant it.

"Don't thank me, it wasn't just for your sake, but Alec's as well. I know what kind of burden that would place on him if he knew, doing so would be asking him to betray his oath as Counsel to ignore your crime."

Magnus began to rapt on the door, leaving Ty to feel once again guilty at his inability to be able to forsee how his action had affected the people around him. The rings on his fingers must have given him a very distinctive knock because Alec immediately called, "Magnus? Come in."

Magnus opened the door for them, "Sorry darling, but it's actually someone else here to see you."

The room was tidy, even his desk was organized in neat piles. Something Ty thought was interesting was a painting of Alec himself leaning against the back wall in the corner half hidden under a sheet, as if the occupant could not decide if it should be placed on the wall or not.

Alec's state of dress was less tidy than his office, he wore a dark dress shirt with the tie undone around his neck, obvious wear and creases could be seen in the thin material, even his hair fell in his face, standing half hazardly to one side, Ty assumed, from running his fingers through it multiple times.

Upon seeing guests, Alec immediately straightened up and tried to fix his tie."Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone, it's been a long day already," he said before realizing who Ty was.

Magnus swept over, taking over Alec's job of retying his tie and planting a kiss in his messy hair. "I keep telling you, if you let me buy you the Ermenegildo you would never have to worry about looking anything less than stunning, not that you aren't already."

Alec wrinkled his nose. "I don't even believe that's a real word."

Ty didn't have the knowledge on the subject to correct either of them.

Alec's eyes fell on him. Ty caught a flash of pure blue, his heart clenched as he thought of Kit, moving his gaze closer to Alec's earlobe.

"You're Tiberius Blackthorn, aren't you? It's been awhile."

It was evident that while Magnus neglected to tell him about his past attempts at necromancy, he hadn't failed to tell them about his return. "I came to speak with you about things I should have discussed with you a year ago," Ty said.

"I'll be around when you're done, Tiberius," Magnus said, leaving Alec's side.

"I think Izzy's here along with Simon. I accidently let it slip that I missed dinner last night and now I think she's in the kitchen," Alec told Magnus.

Magnus let out a sigh, "I suppose I'll make sure your sister doesn't accidentally concoct something poisonous. I'm disappointed Semone hasn't been a responsible husband and called poison control on her yet."

"It's Simon, you know this. It's been years, I don't understand why you insist on calling him by the wrong name." Alec corrected

"We used to bond over that, you know," Magnus shook his head, giving Ty a wink to let him in on the joke.

"I have to be nice to him now, he married my sister. That was my wedding gift," Alec reminded Magnus as he waved his hand before leaving.

The door fell shut leaving them alone.

Alec turned his attention back to Ty. "Is this about the Mortal Instruments?"

Ty went to sit in front of his desk. "It is, I assume Luke must have told you what I informed him last before I left for Faerie."

"He did, he told the Council when you and your team went missing that you believed the Cohort upon finding a way to leave Idris, had stolen the Instruments, and that they had allied themselves with the Seelies. However, without evidence or even your reasoning for believing these things the Council could not vote on doing anything to act on that information, especially where the Seelie's were concerned. There are many reservations about opening an investigation and what that would do to the fragile trust we have after the Cold Peace, that is until your sister returned."

"Dru was able to corroborate what I said," Ty affirmed.

"Yes," Alec said, "she was able to supplement what your story was lacking with more details and motivations. But…" he paused.

"I don't understand," Ty said, "Dru was only gone a few months, why has there been such a delay in acting then?"

"Because we knew Ash's power to manipulate others even against their will, and without the Mortal Sword the council decided that her testimony couldn't be trusted."

Ty bowed his head, staring at the water marks on the wood of the desk. "I'm sorry, I should have trusted Luke when he asked me to. I should have brought the issue to you then."

He looked up, and made himself stare into Alec's blue eyes, and tried to imagine what Kit would say to him for what he was about to do next. "I'm willing to tell you what I wasn't before, if it can save lives."

Alec took a moment to react to that. "Luke said he thought you were trying to protect someone, but I promise I will do my best to protect them as your Counsel."

Ty nodded, remembering that Kit's cousin was Alec's parabatai, they were all more connected than they thought. The Cohort had wanted to divide them, Ty himself had witnessed even first hand the prejudices that ran rampant in the Clave that only served to break them apart.

He always hated lying, and he always hated being self conscious that he couldn't tell who he was supposed to trust and who he wasn't.

Ty closed his eyes. "I believe you, I think you're a good person and I'm tired of not trusting people."

"When I was younger I didn't see how much of my world was built on distrust, I didn't even trust myself or my parabatai. Eventually, I learned I was stronger when I leaned on other people, and I realized how many other kinds of people had been hurting because of that same distrust that I was taught. When I realized all of that I wanted to change the world as much as I could, I wanted the Clave to become the Institution I had believed it was supposed to be." Alec paused before continuing. "It's not perfect, but I think the Clave is becoming what it was always meant to be, something that everyone, not just Shadowhunters can trust."

Ty moved his hand to feel the rough texture of the underside of the desk, feeling the grain of the wood sticking out, and letting the sensation reign in his mind of the thoughts running through his head.

"The reason I couldn't say anything was because I was trying to protect Kit. I didn't feel it was my place to tell his secret but now people have died, and Kit might still be in danger and if I can't help him-" his voice broke as he thought of it. "Someone needs to know to help him."

Alec rested his elbows on the desk as he listened. "You're talking about Kit Herondale?"

"He's like Ash, he's not just the Lost Herondale, he's also from a line of Faeries known as the First Heir."

Alec's eyes widened. "The First Heir? The stories said the heir was killed."

Ty was relieved that Alec was familiar with the story so he wouldn't have to repeat everything. "No, she was smuggled out of Faerie to protect her from the Unseelie King who wanted her killed, and was lost. She married a Herondale and their line has been hunted for generations by the Riders. Now the Unseelies want him to succeed Kieran so they will have a chance to defeat Ash."

"Where is Kit now?" Alec asked.

Ty looked up in alarm. "You're not going to make him do it, are you? You won't force him to become King to get the Unseelies as allies."

"No, no that's not what I meant," he placated. "I just wanted to know if he was planning to. So, does this mean he has powers like Ash?"

"I don't know what he is planning on doing, but yes he does."

Alec sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Jace didn't tell me anything like this. He was… he was taking it pretty hard when he disappeared. He wanted Kit to feel like he could come to him with anything. He kept making it into his fault that Kit disappeared without a word to anyone."

"It's not his fault, it was my mission and my brother we were trying to save," Ty said a little confused.

Alec sighed again, "That's just how Jace copes. He can't handle anything until he's made it into his fault and punished himself for it."

Ty didn't quite understand that himself, but he did understand the pain of feeling responsible for someone else.

Alec straightened up again. "I promise I will not tell the Council this. I'm not sure what help this will be, but I'm glad you told me so I can help make the right decision going forward."

"There's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about," Ty said. "The mundanes that were kidnapped to drink from the Mortal Cup were buried in Angel Square." Alec made a face that Ty imagined must have been a mix between disgust and outrage. "When Alicante is reclaimed I want the bodies exhumed and sent to Warlocks like Catarina Loss with medical expertise to appropriately identify the bodies. I know all of their names and peculiars to help her properly identify them. When that is done I want them returned to their families."

Alec brought his hands to chin as he thought about it. "You know it's not typical for us to return those who failed the Ascension to the mundanes families, especially in circumstances like this."

"I know that, but I want it done." Ty's voice was firm. "I will petition it myself to the Council when the time comes."

"I'll make sure you are heard, when the time comes," Alec agreed.

Ty felt the burden being lifted from him at last. He had done what he could, he could not go back in time and do things differently, but he hoped he had started moving forward in the right direction.

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"Uh, Dru? I don't think we should be going into Ty's room," Kit hovered in the doorway as Dru let herself in, flicking on the lightswitch.

"It's fine," she said, "he's not here, and I really think there's something you should see."

Kit was filled with even more trepidation as he followed her inside. "In Ty's room?"

"Where else?" She rolled her eyes like that answered everything.

Kit looked around the room while Dru started to look through her brothers things. He had spent a lot of time in here back when he stayed here, it looked very much the same as it always did.

He noticed the Sherlock Holmes novels gathered onto his bedside end table, his stomach turned over in conflict.

"Ah! Here it is, I knew it!" Dru said triumphantly, pulling something out of the black notebook Ty always had with him.

Curiosity got the better of him as he went to look at what she was holding in her hands.

It looked like a thin card, handing it over to him Kit recognized it as a tarot card.

But what was really startling was his image depicted in the card.

His eyes were downcast, holding a jacket in his hands, his blonde hair sweeping his face, there was even a castle chess piece for Rook depicted on his shirt. At the top of the card was his name and at the bottom it said, 'The Wanderer'.

"I don't know what I'm looking at here, what is this?"

"Julian made it. He's made one for all of us, including Diana, Emma, Cristina, and Kieran. I knew he made one for you, I always suspected he had given it to Ty."

Kit was speechless, the others made since for Julian to make cards of in a deck with his family, but why him? "But why?" He sputtered.

Dru shook her head, smiling at him like he was an idiot. "Because you belonged there, with us, with Ty."

He was feeling overwhelmed, it was too hard for him to believe that the Blackthorns had really even noticed him there, let alone cared about him leaving. But Julian didn't hate him, he painted his likeness to place with his family, with Ty.

"Oh," she said as her fingers found another card that came loose from the notebook. "He gave him Livvy's card too."

Ty must have had this for years, and even after everything that had happened between them he kept it close by. Kit tried to imagine what it must have been like running into Kit again at the Academy after all those years, and how Kit had thought Ty had moved on without him all the while he had this card of him just in his suitcase.

He couldn't stop himself from wondering if Ty would still carry it with him after they were separated forever.

His fingers moved over the edges of the card, tracing all the detail that went to it, it must have taken hours to finish it. It was all surreal, the opposite of the nightmares Kit had always had where he disappeared and no one noticed. But in reality he did disappear, and people didn't just notice like Jem and Tessa, but they worried for him, grieved over him like Jace, and Clary, and maybe even the Blackthorns. For once he could believe it, all those insecurities he held onto seemed to wash away in that instant, and he could see them in a new light of how childish they had really been.

Suddenly, being back in the Institute no longer felt constricting or painful, he had finally been set free from his mistakes from everything he had wanted so badly that he told himself not to care about because he could never have it.

"Thank you, Dru. I can't tell you… this just… it means alot to me," he finally got out.

She grinned, "I figured you might start finally believing me if I showed you. You and Ty are the most stubborn people I've ever met."

Kit laughed, feeling lighter than he had ever felt. He looked back down at the card, imagining Julian painting it, seeing Ty pull it out of his notebook to look at, thinking back to the times Kit had watched the Blackthorns with envy, and once again the gratitude for the home Tessa and Jem gave him.

He thought he finally had an answer next time Jaime asked him if he was giving up .

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Livvy and Emma were gathering driftwood for the fire, Julian was coming back with marshmallows and hotdogs. A few feet down the beach she could see the fire roaring, heat waves distorted the air around it to make it look like a mirage in the sun. Helen and Aline decided to celebrate Ty, Kit's, and hers return, even though Ty was currently in New York and no one seemed to know where Kit was.

She was pretty sure he was still with Dru, something about that thought made her feel weird. She wondered if she had never died if she would be the one Kit would want to hang out with, and if Dru would come to her when she was upset.

In some ways four years didn't seem like that much time, but it was.

"Go ahead and put it on the fire," Helen said, as she returned with the driftwood.

She chucked the wood in, rubbing the dirt from her hands.

The sun beat down on her, and she rubbed the sweat from her brow. She watched her sister and her wife, enjoying the fact that her older sister was really back home. She was used to seeing her now, but it was different when she could also be apart of the family celebrations again.

"Oh, Livvy! I've been going through my things and I have some clothes you might like. Though they're not as cute as the things they used to wear, I think they will fit."

She smiled at her sister. "What about Aline? She spent time in Paris, I bet she has some rocking outfits."

Aline, in her very stylized looking bikini, long cardigan, and her dark hair was piled on top of her head paused, caught. "Uh wouldn't you know it, but I think I spilt coffee on them, every one of them. Y'know Paris and their bistros?"

Livvy laughed, "Nice cover up, but I don't think Helen would have fallen for you if you needed a bib every time you went on a date."

Helen, in her simple jeans and white t-shirt, just muttered to herself about how she had also lived in Paris, not that anyone had asked.

Julian and Emma came walking back, side by side. Emma swiped an uncooked hot dog from the package Julian was carrying and began to chomp on it, earning a disgusted look from Jules.

She winked at him, making him shake his head in disappointment but a blush was creeping its way into his face.

Cristina was trying to persuade Mark to drop the acorns he had miraculously found somewhere.

"I do not see why I can't put acorns on s'mores if I want to."

"Because, I know you are only trying to get attention," she lightly chastised him.

With sudden suaveness Livvy wasn't used to her sillier older brother to possess, he leaned in close to Cristina, his eye lingering on her lips. "Then perhaps you should give me your attention."

Cristina, cheeks turned red when she saw Livvy watching. "If you stop using your charms to disarm me, Mark Blackthorn."

Livvy looked away, smiling to herself.

Despite Ty not being here, she was feeling content, her heart was expanding with love for her family. Being together with them again filled her with a joy that she could't compare to anything else.

"Stand back!" Aline said proudly. She ripped off the paper of what looked like a brick and threw it into the fire. Immediately the flames started changing color, from green to purple and blue.

Livvy stopped, staring delightedly into the flames with everyone. They rose, turning into a seafoam green, she was reminded of the way the ocean looked illuminated by a witchlight. It turned into a deep blue again, she could see Helen and Aline in the flames, their silhouettes dancing in the light. It was the same color as Magnus magic when he fended off the werewolves from the Shadowmarket.

Suddenly, the flames looked like real magic, and the forms of her sister and her wife were no longer smiling, but twisted in agony.

Dark claws reared up in her vision.

Gasping, she took a step away from the fire, blinking away the image.

"Livvy?"

She turned to look at the beach but everything was different. There was a thick fog, and through it she could barely make out a ghoulish redlight. There was blood at her feet, mixed in the sand, the air felt like a slick poison in her throat as she tried to breath.

"Livvy!"

She whirled around looking for someone familiar and found Tavvy running up the beach towards her.

His beanie was askew, the wind pushed back his brown hair.

And then it came. Just like it had before.

A demon with long reptilian wings, and a beak opened wide to expose lines of razor sharp teeth emerged from the fog.

Tavvy didn't even turn around as it scooped him up, it's claws bearing into his shoulders as it took him away.

She collapsed to the ground, clutching her head. She closed her eyes tightly praying that when she opened them it would go away, it would go back to normal, this wasn't happening.

But it did happen, a voice said.

"Livia, baby! What is it, what's wrong?" She recognized Julian's voice calling to her.

When she opened her eyes she realized she had been screaming. Her brother's arms were around her, Helen and Aline were standing around her, Mark and Cristina closing the distance.

Tavvy was kneeling beside her.

She let out another sob and pulled her little brother into her arms, she didn't say anything, just crushed him into her.

I'm sorry! She wanted to say, but she knew that was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Her other sister's voice came.

She couldn't bear to look up at Dru now, not while she had fallen apart like this and had no explanation. It had all felt so real, she could fathom that it had happened, she wanted these visions burned from her memory.

"Livvy, let's go inside," Dru said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Go on, I'll check on you later," Julian said.

Livvy nodded weakly, but helped herself to her feet, trying to regain some of her dignity.

Dru locked her arms with hers and began marching her back to the institute.

Livvy shot a glance behind her shoulder to see Julian talking in a low voice with Helen and Mark. Her older sister had a hand around her mouth, Aline was putting out the spectacular fire she had just started, Mark was trying sooth Tavvy who was looking after her with clear distress.

The day was ruined.

She looked in front of her, staring at the glass doors.

The only thing she could think of to say was, "Please don't tell Ty."

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Livvy sat in front of her sisters vanity table, eating from a plate of cookies Julian had made for her while Dru placed fist fulls of makeup onto the table.

It had been an hour until Livvy finally felt like herself again, at least she was determined to seem fine.

"Do you even use that much makeup?" She asked through a mouthful of cookie.

"Not usually," Dru said, "Sometimes I just like to try things out for fun..Or.." She pulled out a small plastic bag that looked stuffed to the brim with halloween supplies like fake blood and white face paint. "Of course there's always this stuff!" She shook the bag proudly.

"I've been an actual ghost for the past four years, no thanks."

Dru snatched a cookie from her hand. "Not funny," she stuck her tongue out at her before shoving the cookie in her mouth.

"I'm going to start putting your hair up," She said.

Dru was actually pretty good at it, she had managed to pull half of her hair up into a thick bun. Her hair was thick enough to leave a layer loose which Dru curled somehow without even using an iron.

"Now for the makeup!" She sounded cheery but Livvy detected a note of falseness in her voice.

She tried not to sigh and give away her unhappiness. She had dreamed of getting her body back, but nothing was happening the way it was supposed to. She knew Ty would just tell her to give it more time, and maybe that was all it was, but as it was she felt like she was falling apart and dragging everyone down with her.

Besides, how much longer did they really have to wait on her?

"Whatever you do, don't move." Dru brandished a mascara stick right in front of her eyes.

She straightened her back, willing herself not to move as it looked like Dru was coming closer and closer to poking her eye out.

"Are you and Jaime dating now?" She regretted asking immediately as Dru's hand slipped. "Ouch!"

"Sorry! Sorry!" Her cheeks flared red as she picked up a wet cloth to dab at her eye with.

Livvy winced as she came near her eye a second time. "I was just asking so I would know if I'm supposed to be mean to him or not."

"Was that what that was before?" She paused rubbing at her eye.

"You seemed angry at him, which made me kind of angry." She tried giving her an apologetic smile. "Sorry?"

Dru sighed, picking the mascara back up. "We're not dating."

"But do you like him?" She pressed.

"It's not….Sometimes I feel like I need him more than he needs me. I don't think he would take me seriously, I feel like I would just end up feeling even more alone."

"But you're doing well, even on your own," Livvy encouraged. "I know none of this is what you imagined, you were always daydreaming, you were an even bigger romantic then I was. But just because it's not what you expected doesn't mean it's not what you want." She hoped she didn't sound hypocritical, she had no romantic experiences to speak of and here she was moping about how her own life turned out.

Dru capped the mascara, gathering the make up back in her bag. "I know that now, I do. It's just that things are more complicated than that."

"What's complicated?"

Dru bit her lip, before finally saying. "Ash. I know he's not the monster that everyone thinks he is, but I don't know how to convince everyone before it's too late."

Livvy stared in surprise, maybe her little sister's love life was more complicated than she gave it credit for. "So….are you dating him?"

Dru put her hands on her hips in frustration. "No! Not everything is about boys!"

"Wow, you really have grown up, Dru!" She giggled while her sister hit her with a makeup pad.

"It's not like that." She started. "It's just that.. it's hard to explain. I might just be imagining things, but I know I'm supposed to help him somehow."

Livvy was about to say something else when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

"Dru! You made me look like a zombie!"

"A hot zombie," Dru corrected, "you look like a dark princess."

Her sister had bleached out most of the color from her cheeks, except for the dark brown lipstick she painted her lips with. Her eyes had been lined thick with black eyeliner and eyeshadow. Her lashes looked dark and thick enough to catch flies.

"And when you complain I made you look like a clown, just remember you're a hot clown!" Livvy picked up the powder pad and threw it at her.

They started laughing when Livvy felt suddenly drained.

A sharp ringing hit her ears, it was just soft enough to be painful. She paused, trying to listen to the sound, the more she strained her ears the more she swore she could hear someone speaking.

"Livvy?" Dru had stopped, laughing her eyes filled with concern

"...What?"

"Are you okay?"

She shook her head, the ringing was still there, taking away her concentration. "I'm fine. Actually, I'm kind of tired," she said slowly, " I think I'm going to take a nap."

Dru looked hesitant before saying, "Alright, if that's what you want. You can take a nap in my room if it's easier."

Livvy nodded, making her way to the bed. "Thanks, Dru."

Slowly, she got up to leave, casting several worried glances in her direction that Livvy pretended not to notice.

She could hear her sister pause at the door, but after a moment she left.

Livvy took a deep breath, staring at the ceiling in the dark room, she thought about her twin.

It was so uneasy now to be away from him when she spent so long being aware of his every move, physically unable to leave him. But she knew he was doing his best to fix his mistakes, and to move forward. In a way, she felt like it was the first time he was really making an effort to move forward. Before when he put all of his energy into the Scholomance, he had cut himself away from his family. His guilt made him feel like he needed to punish himself, like that was the only way to pay for what he did.

It was miserable to watch him descend further into that lonely state, as much as he had grown, he still refused to let go. Now that he was finally breaking free of his past, Livvy refused to be the reason he remained chained to it.

She had to do her best too.

If she couldn't ignore the problem, then it was time that she faced it head on.

Not knowing what doors she was about to open, she closed her eyes, and welcomed everything in.

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Dru closed the door shut, her fingers still clasped around the door knob as she rested her forehead against the wood.

She was taking deep breaths trying to calm herself down.

Livvy had turned as white as a sheet so suddenly, even her eyes were unfocused like she couldn't hear her. What if she had started screaming again? What would she have done, call Julian?

It was terrifying to hear her screams cutting through the air of what had just been a sunny, promising day, only to find everyone crowded around her like she had collapsed.

It was too much like in the hall of accords, Julian was even cradling her like he did back then.

It had taken everything she had to convince to get closer and ask the question that hung on her lips, terrified she would find her dead.

Dru tried to fight the sobs in her throat, her breaths coming out short and fast as she lost control of herself. Ty wasn't around to figure out what was wrong, and she wanted to keep Julian from worrying anymore then he already was. He had fallen apart when she died, that alone had shook her entire world to watch, she couldn't watch it happen again.

But what was she supposed to do?

She had been doing her best to acclimate her sister, but her rebels weren't waiting, and they couldn't be expected to understand what was going on either.

Someone touched her shoulder. She knew it was Jaime without looking, the warmth he had was all his own, in her mind she couldn't mistake it as someone else's. There was something else about the way he always showed up, it was never when she thought she needed him but when she found it suddenly hard to have hope. He came back and chased away her darkest day dreams with a smile.

Remembering herself, instead of leaning into him, she pulled away, rubbing her eyes furiously.

"I didn't know you were here," she said, regretting how wobbling her words sounded.

"Dru, look at me. What happened?" He sounded genuinely concerned, she hated it. She could never tell with him what was real, his charm was always so convincing to her.

She wondered why she was the only one naive enough to fall for it. Cristina, Emma, Mia, none of them took him seriously, but she couldn't help it.

She turned to look at him without trying to hide the redness of her eyes. "Things have just been emotional lately, it's no big deal."

"Dru! You're not even trying to hide it," he laughed, making her grimace, "you know I don't believe that."

She turned her head away from him, not even caring if it looked like she was pouting. "Some things don't involve you, Jaime, no matter how much you want it too."

The laughter left his eyes as he looked at the door she had been leaning on.

"Is this about Livvy?"

"I told you, it's none of your-"

"Dru, listen, I know. I know about Livvy, I know about everything."

She whipped her head back around so sharply her neck ached in protest. "What?" Then, "who

told you…? Kit!"

Another strong emotion surged through her and the dam she had just built up to stop her tears broke.

Jaime grabbed her wrists as she started to wring her fists in frustration. "Don't be upset, it was kind of my fault," he tried to calm her down.

"I know it was!" She raged at him, trying to push her restrained wrists to pound on his chest. "It's always your fault!"

"You're crying again," he pointed out.

"Because I'm so angry!"

She was yelling but his voice was still gentle. "I know, I know."

Suddenly, he let her go to pull her into a tight embrace. He squeezed her, she could feel his face burying into her neck, her hair caught between them. "Dios, I am so sorry Dru. All the signs were there and I didn't even care to put them together. All this time...and I just pretended it had nothing to do with me, just like I was afraid of, I hurt you."

The tears were streaming hot down her cheeks, she reached up to pull on his collar, letting her nails scratch at his skin as she tried to hold him tighter.

And in the middle of the hall where anyone could walk in at any time, right in front of where her sister was sleeping, she broke down.

Everything was pouring out of her, she bawled like a child, all the anxiety, the fear, the guilt and grief from the past year tore itself from her body at last.

She didn't care anymore if it made her look childish, she needed him, and for once she wasn't going to pretend she didn't until he was gone again.

"I don't know what I'm doing!" She screamed at the world, "and I just keep making more mistakes, how am I supposed to live with that? I wanted to be strong, I wanted to matter, but I'm not, I don't!"

"No, you do matter, and you have the strongest heart of anyone I've ever known, Drusilla." he whispered in her ear, pulling back her hair that was sticking to her face.

She felt a shiver as he touched her. It was strange that t he use of her full name could sound so intimate.

"There's not a single person here who hasn't made mistakes they don't know they can live with." He smiled, his expression was so much more tender then Dru could have imagined.

"Even you?" Some of her old shyness crept in from the way he was looking at her, with exhilaration and fear that she could be his biggest mistake.

His smile widened half a fraction for a second in confirmation. "And I think I'm going to make even more. The burden doesn't have to be solely your's. You just need people to rely on, everyone does."

She pulled herself away from him. "And yet you never rely on anyone, you're always leaving everyone in the dark."

He closed his eyes, curled lashes feathered against his cheekbones, "not anymore, if you want it then I'll stay."

She stared in awe at what he was suggesting."No more side missions? You'll just stay..with me?"

He nodded, "no more side missions."

Dru thought about it, but what would he do? Jaime was used to doing things on his own, she knew he valued his freedom to be able to do things his own way without feeling like the Clave could monitor him. Besides, he couldn't help her with Livvy, or even with the rebels, really. Jaime was doing things that she couldn't right now because of her responsibilities.

"No," she said slowly, "I think we're a good team, even if we're working separately."

He looked instantly relieved, and she was relieved that she didn't make another mistake this time.

"I know you don't need me, but I promise no matter what, I'm always on your team."

He took a few steps back, she knew he was preparing to leave, that he was only here to get Kit and go on some mission. But this moment had been so surreal, and yet it felt like the realest thing she had ever experienced.

"And when you get back, if I decide that I need you to go on a date with me, you'll be on my team then?" She didn't know what made her say it, all the emotions and the talk with Livvy had gone to her head, she obviously wasn't thinking clearly.

His face went completely blank, his jaw falling slack.

"Forget it," she tried to take it back, "I don't know why I said that, it was stupid-"

She was doing her best not to look at him until he seized her by the shoulders, his lips meeting hers clumsily before hastily pulling away.

They stared stunned at each other. His brown eyes were searching hers, her lips were buzzing from the feel of his.

Her heart thundered in her ears.

She couldn't speak, Jaime Rosales had kissed her!

He coughed, she imagined he actually looked shy as his eyes shifted away from her. "It's a date then, but I think I should warn you that finger severing, murder traps from Saw are third date material."

A laugh bubbled up from her chest, surprising herself that he remembered her saying that. The anxiety and grief she had held onto was finally gone, replaced with a giddy happiness she couldn't remember feeling in a long time. She knew it wouldn't last forever, but she knew Jaime would always make her laugh.

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Ash walked through the cottage. It was dark besides the light beaming in from the windows, the only one home was Ash.

He gave the new piano that was just brought in an approving look as he passed it. It was sleek ivory, and though Ash didn't know much about instruments he thought the keys sang beautifully when touched.

He was excited to see Jace's face when he saw it.

It was just the kind of thing he needed to snap him out of his obsessions, maybe if he played or indulged in some of his previous hobbies he would come back to himself.

More than anything Ash wanted him to be happy, specifically happy with him.

He pushed open the french doors that lead to the seaside cliffs, and admired the ocean the spread before him. It was a sea in Faerie, traversing it could lead you anywhere, back in time, or even to a land of death.

There were very few stories of anyone who had successfully navigated the waters and returned, he wished he knew their names and why they had risked it.

The sky was a dark velvet with streaks of bright blue and vibrant purple. He waited to see the Wild Hunt but they didn't come.

The sea itself was interesting enough on its own, it's currents random. The waters were tame giving the illusion of turquoise glass one second before suddenly roiling in turmoil the next.

Faerie was not nearly as random as humans often believed it to be, often time responding to some will or magic that commanded it, Ash liked to believe sometimes that the waters changed according to its own temperament.

A large powerful force that couldn't make up its own mind of what it's identity should be.

Thinking of that reminded him of the book in his hand.

He held up his copy of the Codex Jace had recently given him.

At first he was not sure he wanted it, his father had used the Codex as a guide book on how to tourture his son, and it had done nothing but chase away the curiosity he had once had for his Shadowhunter lineage.

But this copy had once belonged to his aunt, Clary Fairchild. He didn't know how Jace came to possess it, but he was too touched that Jace was willing to offer such a thing to him. He had given up one of Clary's possessions to come to this world, the other he willingly gave to Ash.

All he had left of her was Heosphoros.

He opened up the book, flipping through the inked pages and scrawled handwriting clashing against fine print. He found himself inseparable from the book when Jace wasn't around after discovering that Clary, and even Jace, and her parabatai had written in it.

He found himself uncomfortably curious about them and their lives, and his desperation to be known by them was starting to sink into the words he wrote to them, next to conversations that had been had years ago.

He flipped it open to the first page to read the now familiar words of his aunt:

"Hey,

I don't know you. I can't guess who you might be. But I'm done with the Codex now, and I think it's time I pass it on.

Okay, I've written all over it. And...drawn all over it. But I think it's better than a fresh clean Codex, because I've corrected some stuff and added some things I think is more true, has less of the political stuff the Clave puts in to make themselves look good.

So this is yours now. Whoever you are. If you need to find this, you'll find it."

"No one could have guessed it would come into your hands."

Startled, Ash jumped, snapping the book shut.

Jace was standing right behind him, his eyebrows shot up as if he was almost amused at his reaction.

Sometimes he felt like that was the best Jace could feel things, as if he almost remembered how to feel.

But when he smiled at him, Ash believed he saw real warmth. He turned to give him all of his attention, searching his eyes for more of what he saw. Sometimes, the real Jace broke through, there was real love there somewhere, he had seen it, he believed in it.

"It belongs with you, just as she belongs with us. One day we will make her see that."

Ash didn't respond to that, whenever Jace talked about Clary he sounded eerily similar to Sebastian. But all he cared about was that Jace said 'us' instead of 'I' and was just relieved that he wasn't planning on leaving him just yet.

"I was just curious was all," he downplayed.

"I thought you might be," Jace sounded pleased. Ash was encouraged by this, and decided to reveal his surprise.

"I convinced my mother to bring you a piano today," he started excitedly. "Do you want to play? It's in the den, it's really magnificent!" Ash stopped talking when he noticed the surprise on Jace's face.

He looked reluctant to speak. "I...Ash, it's been so long since I played...and I was bound to Sebastian for so long, everything else became trivial." His face fell as Ash's did. "I don't remember how to play."

His shoulders slumped. "You don't need to apologize, it's not important anyway. I just thought it might be nice," he tried to be reassuring, but he couldn't keep his voice from sounding flat.

"Well, I still know how to fight at least, and you still need a trainer," Jace tried to cheer him up.

He just nodded his head in understanding. He wanted to train with Jace, he just also wanted him to learn to be something other than Sebastian's weapon.

Sometimes he wondered if they ever really escaped his father.

"I won't hurt you, I would never hurt you," Jace said softly, misunderstanding Ash's disappointment.

He knew Jace was telling him the truth, and that was why he loved him, after all this time Ash was beginning to understand that Jace might be the first person to truly love him, and not how he could use him.

"I know," he smiled at him.

He didn't really care about what Jace's plans were for the world, even if Jace wanted to give it to him like he promised. Honestly, he wouldn't mind if that time never came, and they spent their days training forever in this cottage. For the first time in his life he felt content, and even though he was still lonely when Jace was gone, he was happy.

"We can train, after I put up the book," he said, already jogging back to the cottage before a thought occurred to him.

"Jace?" He turned around to ask.

He tilted his head in questioning, frowning. "Remember, it's Janus now."

Ash just nodded, both of them knowing he wouldn't call him that. He was Jace, whether he remembered it right now or not. "I'm thinking of training with Phaesphoros, is that alright?"

His eyes flickered over Ash in consideration. "Phaesphoros, is a good weapon, I think it deserves to be reclaimed by someone worthy."

Ash smiled in agreement, putting any doubts about the sword his father had used away. He didn't want to bring up any more trauma by using the blade, yet at the same time he was conflicted about bringing any association between himself and Sebastian. But it was a piece of his identity he was struggling to reclaim. If Jace thought he was a worthy owner who could restore the sword's legacy, then that was exactly what he would do.

"It's what Clary had done for Heosphoros."

Ash halted for just a second before heading back to retrieve his sword.

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Ash glared at Janus as he watched him drum his fingers across the armrest of the staglamtie throne. His eyes were dark gold as they gazed somewhere far away, never noticing as Ash's resentment for him grew.

He had broken that one promise, the one thing Ash had ever truly held sacred.

Somehow he had drifted so far apart from him that he didn't even see how much he had hurt him.

"Sammael has said your powers are growing, that is good," Janus said.

"Yes, it's good for him, the sooner this power consumes me the sooner he can finally use me as a tool." He was realizing after his last talk with the demon that that was exactly what he was waiting for, and Ash's time was running out.

Janus frowned, but still he didn't look at him. "It won't consume you, even if you lose a part of yourself, you will survive, just as I have."

Ash stared at him incredulously. Is that what he wanted? For Ash to become as he was? Did he not resent Sebastian for what he did, yet he would let the same happen to him? "I never said I was willing to give a part of myself to him."

Janus turned his gaze on him, mild confusion on his face. "You were willing to go through the process for our ambition, weren't you?"

"For you, not him," Ash stressed, despite declaring he had given up on him he was still hoping to see recognition or regret in his eyes, but what he said next left him the coldest he had ever been.

"This is for me, Ash."

Everything came crashing down on top of him now, the lies he clung to for so long, unwilling to let go of because of his loneliness.

Janus had been just like the others, using him and his powers to get what they wanted.

Looking back at the boy in the cottage admiring the piano, hoping it could buy him love, he felt nothing but disgust for how easily manipulated he was. For convincing himself Janus was doing all of this for him.

"I see," he said, coldly, "then forgive me if I start doing things for myself," he got up to leave, the glittering rocks around them winking up at him. Crystal waters washed over his feet. The water was cold, leaving him shaking.

Janus actually looked hurt, it gave Ash pause.

"I know this isn't how you imagined it, Ash, but we knew sacrifices would have to be made if we wanted the world to recognize us. I still want that for you, when it's all over nothing can touch you or Clary again."

He examined his face, he hadn't changed much since Ash had first met him, but the move here had not been as good for him as he thought it would be. Instead of healing, he fixated on getting everything back and turned it into an obsession. He wished what he was saying was true, but now Ash was willing to see what he had always known in his heart. He loved Clary more than anything, but the way he intended to get her back would destroy her, she would hate him.

Why would Ash ever think that Janus' same corrupted reasoning wouldn't apply to him as well?

The anger he felt had diminished, and instead of seething with anger as he spoke, he instead just sounded sad. "I don't think you know how to protect anyone anymore, not me, and definitely not Clary."

The darkness in his eyes, the blankness of his expressions was so easy to see now that Ash had seen the real thing. Janus was nothing like the man he saw in the scrying glass.

He left Janus to sit in silence, turning his back and walked away.

After a few steps, he suddenly spoke.

"Ash, I'll be leaving again for awhile, when I come back you'll see I'm telling you the truth. It's almost over, if you can wait just a little bit longer."

He turned around to stare at him. How could it almost be over? What were they planning and why were they keeping it a secret from him?
Janus didn't say anymore, but his expression was serious.

"I've delivered the plans.." That was what he had seen Janus say in the scrying glass.

Realization dawned on him.

Spinning around without another word, Ash stormed out of the room, his mind running through his understanding of the revelation.

The plans Janus must have given to Sammael were his plans. Specifically, the ones he made some time ago for an invasion on the Institutes. Ash had dabbled with his father's infamous plan and tried to refit them into perfection.

It was something Ash was hoping to not have to use, that must have been why they took Ash's consent out of the equation.

Ash brushed past several of the gentry, only a few of them were naive enough to try to stop his rampage out of curiosity, but he dispersed them with an order to get out of his way.

This was until he ran across one Faey with faint pinkish skin lounging on one of the banisters and sharpening his sword.

His dark hair parted from his face as he lifted it up as he sensed his approach.

The usual sleepiness from his eyes was replaced with sharp intelligence when he read Ash's mood.

"My Prince?" Nealon asked.

Ash skittered to a halt, cursing his bad luck. He would realize that this wasn't just an ill tempered mood, and that something was truly amiss.

He considered him for a second before barking, "follow me."

Nealon jumped to obey before Ash even realized he made an order.

There was no time to correct his mistake for politeness sake, as they quickly moved through the palace until the doors to his room finally appeared.

"Guard the door!" He snapped again once they were inside.

Nealon jumped in front of it, unsheathing his sword. There was nothing but focus, a stark difference from his usual demeanor.

"My lord, what is the cause for your alarm?"

"They're planning to attack the institutes," Ash paced around his room.

Nealon's eyes narrowed, "The war is beginning in earnest then."

"Apparently," Ash said acidly.

"What institutes?"

"The focus will mostly be in North America. They will attack the Institutes in the outer states to choke off and surround the Institutes in the middle of the country, especially New York. That was the problem with my father's plan, it was too random and unfocused, it was a tactic to purge and scare but it wasn't sustainable. This new tactic, especially if they use the Mortal Cup to control demons to add to their forces, will allow them to permanently remove the Shadowhunters with the Cohort."

Nealon's dark eyes were darting as he worked out the urgency of what Ash was telling him.

"Why focus on New York?"

"Because Clary and the Lightwoods are there. I designed this as a theoretical plan for Jace-Janus. That is what the real goal is." Thinking about it now, Dru was part of the L.A. institute and also in danger because of a plan he had created.

All of it for someone he had lost long before he ever met him.

Dru was not like Janus, she cared for people and would bleed for those she loved. Still, she had used him as well. It was hard to reconcile in his heart, but he could not find it in himself to hate here for it. She had always made it clear her goal was to rescue her brother, if she had persuaded him that she would bled for him as well, then that too was his own fault because he had let her.

"This was your plan?"

Ash stopped pacing. "Yes, and that is why I know it will succeed." He had not agreed with what his father had done, nor did he enjoy the 'lessons' he gave him, but he did pay attention.

His mind was whirling as he struggled to come up with a solution to the consequences he had wrought, what he should do and if he could do anything at all?

Would he permit this to happen and remain silent as he had always done?

"Will you help me stop this?" Ash spun around to face Nealon

For a moment the room was eaten away by burning blackness invading his vision.. His heart throbbed louder. He had made a promise to himself that if he was to burn out he would raze the ground Sammael walked on first.

He gave him a measured look, and slowly nodded his head. "I have been waiting for the chance."
Ash made up his mind, he was done being the puppet the king.

"I will need you to deliver something," Ash left him at the door to pick up the codex on his desk. It hit him with sudden clarity about what he must do. If he could get a message to Dru she could warn the Shadowhunters.

He flipped open the codex, she knew how he had written in it, if she discovered the message inside she would know it was from him.

Trying to think of where she would look for a message, he turned to the page on parabatai and was surprised to find a message already written inside.

Ash, I don't know what to say.

I'm leaving, but I think you always knew that.

Maybe I don't know you like I think I do, maybe it's all in my head.

But I want you to know I'm fighting with you, even if I'm beside you.

I have Phaesphoros with me, and feel your heart beating with mine when I swing your blade.

You don't have to be lost if you just allow yourself to be found.

I promise when you're ready, I'll find you.

His hand shook as he held the quil he had poised to scrawl his message, ink dripped onto the page like tear drops as he re-read the message.

Could he believe what she had written?

She could have left him without speaking to him, she could have left without leaving this message, she didn't owe him anything. And despite the bitterness he felt at her leaving, he too was still reaching for her, wasn't he?

He shook himself from his thoughts, remembering Nealon waiting at the door. Regardless of how he felt, he took heart knowing she had found the exact page he had intended to write a message for her, he was certain she would discover his warning and understand the meaning behind his words.

Quickly, but carefully he chose his words before writing them down and handing the book to Nealon.

He looked puzzled as he pushed the book into his hands.

"Give this to Drusilla Blackthorn of the Los Angeles institute, no one else. It has to be her or the message will be useless, understood?"

His dark eyes flashed with just the hint of violence as he contemplated his mission at hand.

It made Ash question his typical attitude.

"I understand, I'll go immediately."

"Good, swiftly now before the entrances are closed," he added.

Ash watched him go, questioning the wisdom of not going himself, but it would be far too dangerous for him to show himself in the mundane world where anyone might recognize him, even with his powers he dared not risk it now, not when anything could be watching him.

As close as Janus' plans were to coming to fruition he knew that it wouldn't be long until Sammael finally showed his hand to grasp at what it was he has been after all along.

With all that in mind, he knew better then to think the Greater Demon would be so negligent as to forget to monitor his precious vessel.

It was almost time for him as well, the time, as Dru had put it, for him to finally make a choice that counted.

Even now, as he looked out at the prison he had dressed up as a King's chambers, with hellfire pounding through his veins, he wondered what he would choose.

Soooooo, Blackrose or Blackstar?

P.S. Hope you enjoyed this calm before the storm, and are looking forward for the storm.