"Are you sure about this, Dru?" Julian was re-reading the note Ash had left for her in the codex.

Julian, Dru, and Diana from Thule had gathered in Helen's office, along with Helen and Aline.

Livvy had slipped into the room in mid conversation, but no one said anything as she took a seat.

"This sounds more like he's threatening you," he looked at the words with a dark expression. His fingers were idly playing with the edges of the pages, it was setting her nerves on end.

She had given the book over to show her brother the message, but she didn't want him or anyone else rifling through the rest of the pages.

They were too personal to Ash, she didn't want strangers pouring over the words he wrote in confidence.

"I know it sounds like that, he was disguising the true message."

Helen leaned over Jules' shoulder, her finger trailing the lines he left for her. Dru felt another jolt and restrained the urge to snatch the book back.

The exact note he had left for her to find was left under her apology, and read as:

Trust is not always given to the deserving. But even the foundations as strong as brick and mortar can be wiped away by a midnight tide. And just as predictable as history repeating itself, the tide will come for every cottage. When that time comes I will see to it that friend or kin, will pay for their unfathomable betrayal.

She knew immediately he was trying to get her to recall their conversation about their homes by alluding to his cottage to warn her about her home. She could almost hear him whispering in her ear.

"The answer to both of those questions is, the color of unfathomable black lit up as pale blue by the moon, with crashing waves of white foam."

She tried to shake off the memory of that dimly lit restaurant, the sweet taste of chocolate on her lips and the light that danced in his eyes as he looked at her.

The feeling that some regrets could never be erased threatened to over take her.

"But what do cottages and midnight tides have to do with an attack?" Helen asked.

"It's from a conversation we had, we were talking about home, and the color of the sea..." Her voice trailed off, the heat rising to her cheeks as everyone turned to look at her. "I just know what he means," She mumbled.

Diana's eyes narrowed, Dru was sure that there would be no more convincing the other woman that she was unbiased in her campaign to lead the rebels against Ash.

"He's warning us of another attack like the one Sebastian did," she added hastily to the watching pairs of eyes.

"He's talking about an incoming tide, I think he's specifying which institutes may be attacked." Livvy spoke up. When she first entered the room she had a somber expression on her face Dru had been afraid to question, but now she looked alert and sharp as she met everyone's gaze. "There's another thing too, he mentions his friends and kin, but he only has one family member, Clary."

"So we can assume he means to attack the institutes along the coast, and specifically the New York Institute," Julian reaffirmed.

They all shared a dark look with one another as they realized they would be one of the institutes targeted.

A memory forced her to close her eyes as she recalled clutching to a twelve year old Emma as she watched in the foyer as her father, without humanity, or conscious, forced a woman who had been his children's tutor for years to her knees. Paralyzing terror rooted her in place when Sebastian Morgenstern forced her to drink from his infernal cup.

A sound she could still hear sometimes in the background of her nightmares, ripped itself from the woman's body, an exaltation of unimaginable pain as she writhed where her father forced her to kneel.

And then they brought Mark forward, his dagger laid at his feet, his body decorated with bruises and cuts. It would be the last time she would see him for years..

She took a deep breath to wrench herself back to the present and looked at her oldest brother across the room. His mismatched eyes were staring distantly at the desk, and she knew he was remembering the same thing.

With determined focus, she corrected, "Sammael and Janus are attacking, not Ash."

Helen gave her an apologetic look over Julian's shoulder, Livvy's hand came up to rest on her shoulders.

But Diana stepped forward, looking between her and Livvy with a hard expression. "That, as it may seem, does not mean we should let our guard down. This could easily be a trick. I suggest sending us from Thule to Faerie and attack the prince while he is weakest."

"No!" Dru protested angirly, "he sent us a warning he's on our side!"

She levelled her gaze with Dru, the look she gave her wasn't cold, but there was a new wall there that hadn't been there before.

Dru had found herself swept up with the rebels from Thule before she could even know what they expected from her. But she had done her best to deserve their trust, even as she was lying to them, even though she was guiding them away from their objective to protect their enemy. Because she knew it was the right thing to do, she believed that this day would come. But now all that good will was thrown away as she exposed herself in one last desperate plea for everyone to listen to her.

"He may be on our side," her attempted correction was a stinging insult to the trust that Dru had worked to build her. "He may be manipulating us just like he has manipulated everyone else, this could very well be a trap." She turned her gaze away from Dru to Livvy's, as if now that she was back, Dru could just be discarded.

She was burning with anger. She might not have been entirely honest with them, but how could she act like she didn't earn any trust from the time she had been leading them? She was the one who told everyone about Sammael, and the Cohort's coercion with demons that helped finally tip the council in favor of breaking their peace and stand against the Cohort.

She and Jaime had figured out what connections they were using to get ahold of adamas, and she was the one to help lead the operations for the rebels to ambush their contacts.

She had been the one to bring the idea to the Council that the Shadowhunters of Thule should be sent to train the conclaves on how to use firearms to put them on an even field.

And she had been the one to suggest sneaking a spy into the palace that delivered this warning. They had worked together for almost a year, and Dru had guided them with her knowledge of Ash and the insight she had gained to the Cohort's plans, and even acted as an ambassador for them to the Clave who was more than skeptical of them.

And yet they wouldn't trust her when it really mattered?

"Livia, have you healed well enough to lead us there? After our success of killing the Unseelie King, I know the others would follow you." Diana continued, already planning the mission without her.

Livvy looked stunned at being addressed so suddenly, but before either her or Dru could respond, Helen spoke up.

"Dru is right, we can't risk splitting up on the off chance this is a rouse. We need all Shadowhunters we can to fend off these attacks." Helen looked over at Dru and added firmly, "If she is this adamanent that Ash's warning is true, then I think we should believe her."

Mark also lended his voice. "I agree, Dru has the most understanding of the situation to make the judgment call. If she could not be impartial then I do not see how she could have possibly succeeded in rescuing me and Cristina from Faerie."

Diana just sighed, pressing her fingers into her temples. "No offense, but it is hard to believe this is an impartial evaluation when it comes from her siblings."

Finally, Livvy spoke, and to her credit she managed to sound calm and measured, like a leader. "Diana, this can wait for later. First we have to decide what we need to do right now, and how the Clave will respond as a whole."

But the older woman's voice was cold as she clenched her fist, the one that held the tattoo all of her comrades from Thule wore. "It's been made painfully clear that those of us from Thule are not a part of this Clave."

Dru wished their Diana was here, but she had gone into hiding with Gwyn when the Seelie's began to try to force them to join them. Diana had gone to help the leader of the Wild Hunt but also to try to persuade him to aid them when the time comes.

She wasn't usually a difficult person to work with, but she was harder, and used to living and accepting a much harsher reality, like most of the people from Thule. And after what they had suffered at the hands of Sebastian Morgenstern and the Jace who now goes by Janus, it felt impossible to convince them that Ash Morgenstern was not their enemy.

It felt like at times that many of them were just holding on to the idea that they needed to defeat Ash; not because he was there in Thule and complicite to his father's crimes, but because they needed to focus their anger at their displacement and their choked world on someone they could defeat. As if they defeated Ash and Janus, the last of their enemies, their world would be restored.

"And the Clave will never accept you if you run away for your own selfish mission," Dru said, through gritted teeth.

Diana looked affronted, but merely shook her head as if Dru was speaking above her understanding. She took a few long strides to the desk Julian was seated at.

"I can concede to discuss this later with the others. But in the meantime this codex looks to be a valuable source of information for understanding the enemy. We should all be able to look through this so we can all decide with equal knowledge." She bent over the desk, a hand reaching out to take the book that was still hanging open.

There was an immediate shift in the atmosphere as everyone internally sighed that the tension was over, that at least a reasonable solution had been proposed for now.

But as Diana reached down to pick up the book, her eyes scanning the page in front of her, Dru couldn't help but remember a flash of words scrawled on that same page.

"Jace told me it's better to not have a parabatai so as not to know the pain of losing one. I should believe that, I shouldn't be able to miss what I do not know.

Yet, I still feel as though I have lost."

Those painstakingly honest words echoed in her heart, words that she wouldn't allow strangers to pass around and judge.

She was across the room in one swift motion, practically leaping to the desk to rip the codex away from her before she could touch it.

"No, we can decide this later but you're going to do it without this," She seethed, trying to hold reign in her anger. Diana was someone she always perceived as so much bigger and stronger than her because of their years apart, and the fact that Diana had tutored her growing up. But none of those perceptions held up as she stared down the woman in anger, and realized how close in height they were.

She looked completely baffled by Dru's reaction. "Don't you realize that it makes you look like you're hiding something when you keep all of this information to yourself?"

"It's not information, it's a diary, a boy's diary, and you're not entitled to it!"

Diana finally went from exasperation to anger, she turned her body to fully face her and tried to take a step towards her when Julian, who had been silently contemplating everything, intervened.

He stood up sharply, the chair screeching behind him, he grabbed both of their shoulders. His grip was gentle, but Dru could tell that his grasp on Diana was less gentle.

It still amazed her how distant Julian could become, how he could treat Diana like she didn't wear the face of a dear friend.

"That's enough! It was given to Dru, it's up to her to decide what to do with it."

Diana looked shocked, "Julian, you know it's irresponsible for her to keep the information to herself."

"Maybe, but I doubt my sister would keep any information that could save lives."

Julian flashed her a meaningful look that she understood, conveying his dedication and trust in her.

She knew she was being selfish, but she couldn't ignore the wave of protectiveness that seized her forward. She knew an instant of doubt when Julian pulled them apart.

Did her selfishness really warrant his trust? But looking at him she knew it was more than that, she knew he would have done the same thing for her or any of their siblings if he had been in her situation.

Clutching the notebook closer to her heart, she made to leave the conference.

But something made her pause at the doorway. An overwhelming need to say something turned to say one last thing to Diana before she left. "I'm tired of all the distrust. It shouldn't be just my family that can believe in me. We are all allies in this, everytime it seems we open our circle to a new group we split off from another one. Downworlders, Faeries, Thule refugees, we won't ever win if we keep dividing ourselves."

With that she turned on her heel and walked away.

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There was an explosion somewhere behind him, rocking the stone floor underneath him that prompted him into action. Without wasting another thought about it, he pooled the light around him, knowing he had been discovered and letting himself be discovered by the Greater Demon, he teleported back to the foyer.

Just before the light blinked out of sight from the chamber he heard a mad roar.

"SEIZE HIM! BRING HIM TO ME NOW! FAIL AND YOU WILL KNOW NOTHING BUT BLOOD AND POISON!"

His bones shook underneath skin in sinewy muscle at the sound of the Greater Demon yelling after him. He was gasping, like a bucket of cold water had hit him when he found himself in the foyer.

The subjugates dutifully continued playing their music, even as the chaos around them increased. Their trance never broke as spells started shooting into the room.

Kit whipped his head around him hoping to spot Jaime, but there was no sign of him. When he turned his gaze to the staircase and bounded for it, he found himself rebounding backwards from the force of hitting an invisible barrier.

A Warlock wearing a long cloak that covered half his face, the rest being covered by a mask that looked eerily similar to The Phantom of The Operah's, was rounding the corner into the room. But before Kit could focus his attention on him, a vampire charged past him, gunning for Kit. Fangs and claws flashed as the light from the chandelier above swung back to illuminate him from the dark for half a second.

Caliburn grazed the edge of the sheath as it was released, letting out a warning of sharpness and death as Kit prepared to wield it. He ducked low to flank a vampire's left to avoid being hit by another spell, and a partially transformed werewolf racing towards him. he arched sword back in preparation for the collision when the came to the vampires side when he almost rushed past him.

In the back of his mind he noticed the shift in music as the violins suddenly picked up in an intensity, it sounded like violence itself as the room exploded into a chaotic struggle.

The vampire did not hesitate to go straight for his throat, Kit responded by moving his body with Caliburn in a downward arc, his nose practically touching the floor after slicing through the vampire's arm.

Blood was pouring through the empty sleeve, the vampire hissed in pain. Even Kit was surprised by his sword's sudden power. When spared a glance at the blade it seemed to hum with a dark energy that was almost visible.

Picking himself up, he ran trying to keep from staying in one place. He was weaving and dodging around downworlders and almost didn't notice that someone had almost hit him with acid, the liquid burned into the marble floor eating it away, leaving a crevice that Kit almost stumbled into.

He reeled back, noticing as he turned around, a dark fog descending upon the room.

Instinctively, he held his breath, afraid he was about to be suffocated by some kind of poisonous gas.

It settled in the room, obscuring everything, and yet the violins played on, changing to a slower suspenseful pace punctuated with sharp notes.

It was an unnecessary addition to the uncertainty he felt as he struggled to see any of his enemies in the room.

"Hellmist? Who in the nine hells decided to use hellmist!" Someone shouted through the smoke.

There was a lot of verbal agreement being shouted from the invisible crowd surrounding Kit.

Hellmist, he knew what that was. It was a spell that nullified the magic of everything besides the caster's.

A less than humbling sounding laugh rose above the complaints. "The rest of you can suffer in blood and poison for all that I care! I will take this prize for myself, I Am the one destined for greatness!"

Someone from the fog shouted back, "For the last time! Dial it back, Dracon!" The name was sneered like the name itself was a joke.

The sound of another scuffle broke out, Kit guessed that some of the Warlocks fellow members weren't too happy about his poor team spirit.

Normally, he would use the distraction to teleport himself somewhere else, but the Hellmist also nullified his magic as well, him and Tessa had tested it.

He was trapped.

Kit almost thought he saw a slim figure and the shape of a blade; its appearance as striking as lightning through the mist, followed by a muffled scream, that sounded like it was filtered through a gag rangout. "My fangs! You righteous bag of blood, you broke my fangs!" A vampire cried, before being silenced by a sickening crunch.

"Kit!" Jaime's voice rang out.

"Jaime-I'm over here!" He yelled back in relief, and then added, "Thanks for finally deciding to back me up! I was starting to wonder why you were even here!"

Pulling Caliburn back, he raced in the direction he remembered the staircase being. A Warlock appeared in his path, surprising them both. But he was able to knock the legs out from under him, barely breaking his momentum.

"This is my mission, remember? I just invited you along to be the getaway guy!" Jaime called somewhere near his right.

"Right, it's your mission which is why I'm the one who got us in here, and got pursued by the crazy cult, because this about you," he said acidly.

The werewolf from before was back fully transformed now. He shot out of the mist, catching him off guard. It was huge, and pitch black, looking very much like the werewolf in the disturbing Little Red Riding Hood tapestry. As it pounced for him, Kit could only block it's gnashing teeth from latching onto his shoulder by lifting up his sword to try to hold it back. But his reaction was too slow, so instead of sinking its teeth into his sword, it caught ahold of the hilt and Kit's knuckles along with it.

He couldn't stop the cry he let out as the wolf's teeth sank deep between his joints. Through half squinted eyes he saw the werewolf's eyes swirling with a strange darkness.

More of his skin was sheared as he grabbed the blade of the sword with his left hand, tightening his grasp around it, he stabbed the wolf where he hoped was his jugular.

It let go of his hand immediately with a whimper, then shook it's massive head, bracing it's shoulders to pounce again.

This time he was prepared when the wolf bounded for him a second time. Sidestepping the wolf, he grabbed onto a fist full of it's hair and pulled himself up on the back of the charging wolf.

At the feeling of the intruder on it's back, he bucked and swerved madly as it ran through the room in an attempt to shake him off.

Kit posed himself like he was riding a bull, and raised Caliburn like it was a cavalry charge. He slashed Pandemonium members as they ran past them, most of them caught off guard until Caliburn had already found them.

The werewolf pivoted sharply, almost throwing Kit off. As he looked in front of them he could make out the familiar shape of stairs. In front of them he noticed a black hole, and realized just before the werewolf did, that it was another hole in the floor eaten away by acid placed by some acid-spewing-happy Warlock.

The werewolf tried to skitter to a halt, it's claws scraping against the floor in an attempt to stop itself, but it was too late. The werewolf was pitched forward into the darkness below, Kit barely rolling off it's back in time to prevent himself from joining it.

Somehow as impossible as it seemed, he ended up rolling right to Jaime's feet, his body uncurling as he looked up at him.

Jaime just finished disarming a Faerie, slashing a crippling blow to her hands in two swift motions with Durendal, before looking down at Kit with surprised exasperation.

"¿Qué demonios estás haciendo?"

"Really, your concern is embarrassing. If you don't dial it back I might get the wrong impression," he remarked sarcastically, inferring his meaning from his unenthused tone, before trying to pull himself up.

But as he tried to push himself from the ground, a wave of fatigue washed over him. The room was suddenly spinning, his hand that the werewolf bit had turned completely numb.

"What are you doing? Get up and get us out of here!"

Kit tried to shake the grogginess from his head, and when he spoke he slurred from the effort, "Can't….No magic.."

Jaime thrusted Durendal at an enemy Kit couldn't see before casting another glance at him. "What is wrong with you now?"

His knuckles throbbed dully from the numbness as it spread to the rest of his body. The Warlock who casted the Hellmist, Dracon, must have casted a spell on the werewolf to make his fangs poisonous. He felt his heart jolt like it was a sensation separate from his own body at the realization that as long as the Hellmist lasted his body couldn't heal the poison either.

He licked his lips, struggling to pull out the words, "Poison," he managed to answer.

Jaime looked up at the ceiling like he was fed up with everything. "Do you have to be the center of attention on every mission we go on? Can't you resist the urge to be poisoned or faint just once?"

Kit put all of his strength in concentration to say back, "Next time I'll lie and say the cult had an open bar I got drunk at." Very slowly he pulled himself off the ground, almost collapsing into Jaime's back in his effort to stand up straight.

Durendal flashed like a streak of light to stab at someone advancing on them through the mist. Kit could tell he was about to say something else when they noticed the mist begin to thin.

Slowly, it began to dissipate from the room, their enemies becoming more clear around them. Kit could feel the effect instantly on his body. Power surged through him like a shock to his system. The numbness began to fade and his clarity sharpened as the mist disappeared.

As soon as he was able to grip his weapon again, he brought Caliburn up in a defensive position to prepare for an onslaught of attacks now that their adversaries could see them, and their magic had returned.

Kit was forced to dive away from Jaime when the mermaid he had seen earlier took her opportunity to advance, a whip lashing between them.

A shrill cry that was strangely melodic tried to lure them in. Kit rolled out even further away from her trying to prevent her from ensnaring him.

"Don't you dare let her put you under a trance! Jaime yelled at him from over his shoulder. "I give up on saving you if you can't stop being the damsel in distress for just one fight!"

The mermaid's voice became off kiltered as she regarded Jaime's words as an insult.

"You know what? This is why you don't have a parabatai! You really need to start practicing trust falls!" He jabbed back, dancing between the mermaids strikes, she was furious, especially now that she was being ignored. She probably didn't get much of that.

"Don't get me confused with Ty just because I kissed you that one time! I never agreed to be your prince charming or your retainer! So stop fainting."

For whatever reason his words seemed to incense her even more, probably because it made it sound like he would rather kiss Jaime then pay attention to her.

But her fury didn't last long however, because at the sound of hooves clopping against stone resounding from the other room, she ceased her attack in confusion. And for one heart stopping moment, Kit was afraid that Sammael had broken out of the summoning circle.

That is until the sound of many hooves became unmistakable as was the whiny of a horse.

He knew before his brain could even catch up with what his dread had already told him.

But that didn't make him prepared when the Riders of Mannan burst through the doorway, pushing the Downworlders out of their way with both sword and horse.

The blazing bronze warrior's likness to their kin in Lyonesse was unmistakable, and now that Kit had seen Sammael, and his light dusting of bronze and eyes and horns to match, their similarities were obvious. Kit recognized the Rider Eochaid who had onced almost killed him, turning his eagle-like face in his direction. With a twisted grin, he lifted his longsword and pointed it straight at Kit like he was sending a message, a message of death.

The Riders reacted to his command, acting as one as the tore through the chamber into the room.

Just as the Riders charged forward on command, a vampire took the opportunity to attack Kit from behind. Another werewolf pounced, Jaime lurched forward, keeping low to the ground to slash at the wolf's underbelly as he flew over him.

Kit caught the vampire by the collar and flipped him over his shoulder. The vampire rolled, landing in a crouch. He barely recognized Afumati through the snarl that twisted his features.

Blood lust flashed in his eyes.

Kit slashed at him, Afumati jumped back with perfect grace.

"Finally, I get my just vengeance, Sparrow. Who knew that suffering your child's game at pretending to be the con-man would turn out so profitable after all. I had my doubts you would deliver but I will make sure you come through on your promises now." It was a lofty speech delivered on a battlefield. Kit could have told him it wasn't a good idea but instead he listened and waited until an incoming Rider trampled him under her horses feet as she tried to reach Kit.

"There will be no escaping this time, half blooded brat!" She sneered, swiping her long sword down at his neck.

He arched his back to avoid it, the blade came so close to his face that the force of her strike blew back the hair from his face.

"Are you sure about that? Because from my experience whenever the bad guys say that, it's practically foreshadowing an epic escape." Kit recovered quickly, and as her sword swung over her shoulder completing it's arc, he levelled Caliburn and began cutting the legs from underneath the horse. He tried not to feel guilty about it, but his plan didn't work like he hoped.

Instead of tumbling down with her horse, she just poised herself to leap off her steed surrendering to its knees.

She raised her blade over her head, preparing to leap at him until something suddenly struck her in the back. The force knocked her off balance, and tumbled backwards, and as she did, Kit could see a knife sticking out of a chink in her armour.

A crackling of blue lightning caught his attention next, just before noticing what was unmistakably a portal winked out of existence.

Magnus Bane stood in the back of the room, casting blue lightning at the other spell casters. Alec wasn't far from him, standing on the raised platform behind the subjugates who were only concerned with continuing their concert, picking off downworlders with his bow.

Distress chased relief as he saw them. "Shit," he mumbled before calling a warning over his shoulder, "Jaime the Counsel is here!"

The whole point of doing this was because they didn't want to make their plans with the White Volume publicly known. Kit especially needed time alone with the book to look for anything that could help him break the curse.

Jaime's head whipped around, quickly finding them, swearing under his breath he repeated out loud like Kit didn't already warn him, "The Counsel is here! Damn it Kit!"

"What? How the hell is this supposed to be my fault?" he demanded in outrage.

"Because everything that has gone wrong in my day thus far is because of you!"

Kit practically turned around to argue with him, completely turning his back on violence behind him. "Maybe if you kept your damn ear piece in we would have been out of here by now!"

He snorted in contempt. "Maybe if you came up with a plan that didn't originate from a summer blockbuster we wouldn't be fighting cultists!"

Before Kit could snap something back he saw something that made his heart drop.

Ty was here, and he was fighting off a Faerie with a very familiar staff. His headphones were on, there was sweat plastered on his face, and advancing on him was a Rider.

Everything around him seemed to stop, the only thing he could see and the only important thing to him at that moment was halfway across the room from him.

He was running before his brain even sent the signal to his legs, running past vampires lashing out at him, dodging Faerie blades, and ducking under spells.

He single mindedly focused on getting to Ty.

The lights passing overhead put him in startling focus before casting him back in the dark, the swinging of the chandelure matching his frantic heartbeat.

He watched as Ty swung his staff around, hitting the Faerie in the chest. He recoiled back from the strange wood. Ty hooked the staff between the Faey's arms, both of his hands clasping his staff, grabbing the other end and pulled the sword from his grasp.

Once he was disarmed the staff struck out one last time, landing a debilitating blow to his head.

But the Rider was upon him now, swinging down from his sword, Ty barely had time to register his new opponent before he was on him.

He blocked the first few strikes, but the Rider was pushing him back with each blow, a cruel smile on his face as the Nephilim struggled against his advance.

Kit was halfway there but more and more enemies were pressing down on him as he tried to pass them by.

Forcing himself to just concentrate on Ty and the Rider alone, he took a deep breath, and with an eruption of light he closed the distance.

He was already going through with his next move before he had even teleported, determined not to waste any time. The Rider raised his sword high, but grabbed his arm from behind, jabbing Caliburn into the collar of his armour, piercing between his collarbone and shoulder.

The short haired Rider let out a yell, turning his face to see the blade in his shoulder.

Something strange happened as the blade came into contact with him. The dark aura that Kit saw before emanated and clinged from the blade to the Rider.

"That blade!" he gasped.

Before Kit could even pull his sword back, the Rider had already desperately grabbed the blade to pull it free.

Kit freed it from his hand, The Rider, one eye boggling through his mask as he looked from his wound back to Kit, taking a step back.

But Ty was there, and he didn't hesitate to fit one of his daggers into the crook of the Rider's elbow, right where the armor was left exposed.

He let out a yowl as if he were in pain, but when he plucked the knife from his arm and casted it aside, Kit could see no blood or evidence of a wound.

Kit and Ty prepared for an attack as the Rider casted his curling hair from his face, the half mask he wore shined with venomance in the passing light.

Just as they raised their weapons together, a force as powerful as a gust of wind from a hurricane blew between them, carrying the Rider away sending him flying to the far side of the room.

They watched him collide with a Faerie, sending the both of them spiraling backwards.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Magnus retracting his hand after the spell he had just sent their way.

But Kit's attention whipped back to Ty. "What are you doing here?"

Ty's eyes searched his face trying to understand the source of his harsh tone. "I saw you, with the staff, it showed me the danger you were in."

Kit didn't know he could do any of that with the staff, but he shook that thought out of his mind. "But how did you know to look for me?"

Automatically, he reached down to one of his pockets and searched for his half of the wreath when Ty caught his hand. A jolt went through him at the touch, there was certain kind of adrenaline inside him that could only be sparked by Ty. Because even though he had been in a heart pounding battle, nothing felt as startlingly real as the sensation of Ty's skin.

"It's fine, I've made sure already. Don't waste time, they're coming."

He immediately let go of him, his words dragged Kit's attention back to the ensuing conflict around him.

Jaime had been sparing with one Rider while trying to evade getting caught up with another, all the while trying to make his way to Magnus and Alec.

Many of the Pandemonium members were too scattered trying not to get in the Rider's way to avoid getting slaughtered in the process. Magnus and Alec were giving them most of their attention. The Riders themselves kept being halted in their advancement towards Kit by Magnus and Alec, and the accidental spells from the other Warlocks that missed their target when they moved in front of them.

"Come on, we need to group up!" Kit said, taking off with Ty in the direction of Magnus and Alec.

"That is what I was about to say," Ty agreed in an undertone as they sprinted.

They jumped over the crevice that was slowly eating away the floor together, taking a dive towards the Subjugates.

Jaime was getting closer, but the two Riders were still hounding him.

While Magnus tried his best to slow down the other Riders, Alec directed his attention to debilitating the Riders fighting Jaime to give him an opening.

Ty, knives still in hand, began throwing them at the Riders. His aim was excellent, finding his moving targets without even grazing Jaime.

Kit looked between the group of Riders and Jaime, he lifted his hand in front of him, but through gritted teeth he lowered it again. He couldn't risk using his powers to teleport someone like that. It was too risky as it was, and now that he knew where his powers came from he was even more reluctant to use them. He could accidently teleport the Riders closer, or send Jaime to the Void.

Magnus waved his hands in a complicated gesture, and when Jaime struck out with Durendal again a force field was created from the blade, cutting off their access to him. Jaime turned around and bolted for them. As the Riders turned to take a different approach, they found Ty's knives at their feet to halt their progress.

An arrow whized from Alec's bow, toppling a rider from his horse, Kit thought he saw a ring on Alec's finger glow as he released the arrow.

The Riders seized their reigns to watch their brethren fall, distracting themselves from the crumbling floor that gave way underneath them.

As Jaime reached them Magnus yelled, "Go! Kit take them and go!"

"What? We can't leave you here!" Kit yelled out. But Alec interjected.

"Backup is on the way, go where you're needed!" At their hesitation he added, "That's an order from your Counsel!"

Kit turned to Ty. "What does he mean 'where we are needed?" The adrenaline in his veins pressed him to be quick, reminding him that now was not the time to ask how Alec had learned of his powers.

Ty spared him a sideways glance as he watched anxiously for Jaime to get to them. "Magnus received a letter from Tessa and Jem, Christopher is there."

"Christopher, you mean the me from Thule?"

Ty's mouth twitched in annoyance. "A nickname doesn't work to clarify things if you refuse to use it."

But Kit didn't respond. The memory of Ty bloodied and bruised by hands that claimed to be his own, resurfaced itself unwillingly. The last thing he wanted to do was to bring Ty anywhere near him. But he didn't account for Tessa and Jem being at risk from him.

He would manipulate them, find some way to make their grief his gain. And then there was Will, who knows what he could be capable of doing to him.

He looked back at Ty, his eyes were hard and his mouth pulled into a thin line as he waited for his response, it was plain to see that he expected Kit to tell him he wouldn't bring him there.

But instead to both of their surprise he asked, "I don't want to ask this of you, but I need you. I need to make sure they're alright. Will you come?"

Ty looked astonished, and then a smile split across his face lighting Kit's heart aflame with guilt.

"You were never going to go alone."

He didn't even have time to reply to the cockness of his response as Jaime finally came to a halt in front of them.

He didn't even wait long enough to brief Jaime on the situation, just reached out and grabbed both of their shoulders.

Blocking out everything the best he could, he only focused on his destination.

He thought of the pond outside the manor with large koi fish he used to take Will out to feed. He remembered the training area Jem had made for him, and the manor Cirenworth itself. The old vines that grew on the stone, the glass observatory and Tessa's library. He could hear the sound of Jem's violin and the lullaby that his mother once sang to him as Tessa sung it. The collection of comic books and movies he shared with Will in his room, all came rushing back to him. The scattered millions of coloring books of Will's that he never bothered to color correctly, and the drawings he tried to replicate some of Kit's comics. Afternoon tea, and the alcohol cabinet he used to sneak into which they tried to "Kit proof" but it never worked. Morning workouts with Jem who was always more kind than what he deserved. Daydreaming at night with Tessa as they watched the stars and talked about stories together.

The light gathered around them, and just before the room disappeared, black clothed figures with runes sprawled on their arms broke open the door.

Jaime yelled in surprise as the light builded around them and started to blinded him. "Wha-?"

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Ash leaned over the tactical map in the room that his council usually discussed strategies. It was plain parchment with drawings of sigils or iconic features to represent every town and village, every mountain or river. Gold and black chess pieces battled each other on the page, awaiting for Ash to dictate the next move.

He waved his hand, and the images rearranged itself to match the current landscape, the chess pieces moving with them. This might be the most accurate map of Faerie. But it seldom made much difference when the landscape kept changing randomly on whim.

They had taken many of the Unseelie lands since the Unseelie Court abandoned their lands. But having to deploy forces to occupy those areas of unrest depleted the forces that could be used to fight.

Janus had taken a number of the Seelie warriors to the mundane world for his war path that Ash hoped he thought he didn't know about. It was mostly his gentry and guard left behind, but most of the army would be made up of the Cohort and the demons they now controlled.

It could be enough to end this war in its first battle. Ash just hoped he had supported the right side. Even if the Cohort did win, that would mean that Sammael would want to rush his own plans along, and the true battle would just be beginning, and if they lost the same was probably true. No doubt Sammael was only pretending to give Janus what he wanted when his real goal was to root out Kit Herondale.

One of the golden silk curtains that hung from the arches surrounding the room, ruffled.

He turned his head to see Nealon entering. He had his usual checked out expression like he just wondered in from his bed and not on a mission to the mundane world and back.

It had been weeks hearing nothing of the messenger he had entrusted the fate of Nephilim to. He eagerly stood up before trying to correct his anxious efforts by standing tall and still, letting the djinn to make his way to Ash before asking him anything.

When he did Ash pretended to sound nonchalant, "Well?" He drawled as if the answer he was asking was of no real consequence. It was an act that was likely unnecessary when Nealon had already seen Ash's feverish efforts to deliver a message to Dru.

Nealon bowed low, his eyes remaining closed when he lifted his head as if he might just fall asleep. "I successfully delivered the message to Drusilla Blackthorn. After reading the message she called for a meeting. I believe she understood the danger you warned of, but I did not wait and instead left immediately back to Faerie."

"Why didn't you stay?" He demanded to know.

Nealon opened one eye lazily, he appeared to be having a hard time opening them. "Only a day has passed in the mundane world but I feared much has passed here, and I desired to return while I could before the barriers were placed."

Ash couldn't stop sighing with relief that he had succeeded and time had not been lost, even more so that Dru had understood the message. Yet, still his heart snagged at the thought of her, how much time had passed for her? Was she older, did she move on with her life? He had enough evidence to believe that time had not changed as much between the two worlds, but there was that possibility that kept him asking that question to himself.

That question was burning him until he finally asked, "How… how is she?"

He cocked his head to the side considering his question. "The institute is very large, but despite her apparent young age it would seem the Nephilim there regard her highly. It did not occur to me that you two must have had an apparent relationship, until she said your name."

Ash wanted to know how she had spoken his name that made their connection so obvious, but he would never ask. He brushed off the part of him that longed for nothing more than to ask more questions, but instead decided to focus.

The Shadowhunters were now warned, they would have to do what they could to protect themselves, but that didn't mean Ash was done.

He nodded in acknowledgement of his answer before pressing forward. "Then I have another assignment for you."

Nealon blinked sleepily at the proclamation. "My Prince?"

"It is time to start defending ourselves. One way or another after this battle is decided, Sammael will begin his plans." He gripped his shirt where his heart beated sluggishly as the poison of the Black Volume spread through his veins. "I can feel it."

The djinn's black eyes sharpened at his tone, all signs of his usual weariness disappeared.

"I need you to search through the Gentry, our soldiers, and discover who is loyal to me. Once you do this bring me their names. It's time I reclaim this palace as mine."

His dark pony tail slid over his soldier as he bowed, the gold clip he wore matched the room around them. "I understand."

Before he could leave, Ash decided that if he could trust Nealon to act on his behalf then he could trust he would not take advantage of his gratitude. "This is a lot I ask of you, and I can not afford for you to fail. But I only ask you this because I trust you, and I have grown to distrust everyone else who has vined for a spot in my Court."

Nealon looked surprised at the sudden honesty, but then he smiled. As small as it was it would not have seemed anything to note, except Ash had seldom ever seen one on his face.

"I believe I'm not the only one you trust, you trusted Elsif even when everyone warned you not to, and you must trust Drusilla Blackthorn as well."

"That is still a drastically small number," Ash shook his head to dispel the the kind sentiment he was not used to.

There was hesitancy as Nealon stood instead of taking his leave. Finally he asked, "If I may ask, what do you intend to do with the Faey who proves less than loyal?"

Ash turned back around to look at the map, his hands held behind his back as he closely inspected the territory he had gained. "Then they are enemies of the Seelie Court and they will be treated as such." He looked at Nealon over his shoulder, speaking his next words harshly. "They are not just obstacles, they are threats and I will make sure before their end that they will understand I am their King."

A darkness had spread over his heart as he said it, an eclipse blackened his mind as his blood boiled mixed with the Black Volume's taint.

The other Faerie stilled, his eyes searching Ash's. He could practically see his own hard expression reflected in Nealon's eyes.

He wondered if he would confront him for his words, would he betray him if he decided like everyone else that he was not what they wanted.

The question filled him with anger, but he held it back choosing to divert the conversation. But his next question might have come off just as unsettling, but it was a question he needed answering.

He faced him fully again, his fingers playing with the ring on his finger. "One last thing, about the ring you gave me. Will it grant me any wish? "

Nealon took a long time to answer, making Ash wonder if he had already regretted his trust in him, and would just refuse to tell him.

"There is a limit for any magic, and forcing it to grant a wish that is beyond its power will invite stronger repercussions. When you finally find a wish that your heart knows no doubts about, it will be then the ring will open to you," Nealon had obviously become uncomfortable, but Ash was done diverting his attention to him as his thoughts retreated inwards.

There was so much he could wish for. How is it that his heart had yet to make one? Was it just the conflicting desires that battled with one another to become the most prominent? Or was the fault something deep inside, something that stirred heavier every day?

A wish his heart knew no doubt about, but how much longer would he even have a heart?

Ash closed his eyes, he could almost hear the whispers of that book reaching out to him, they threatened to hold him in a trance that would permanently erase him. It took all of his concentration to strain himself back awake again.

The tide was coming for him too. It rises above his head waiting to crash down on him and engulf him into its depth. Soon he would become trapped in that ocean, groping for his sense of self as he remained entombed in his own body. He had to act quickly if he wanted to have any choices left to him.

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Cirenworth was like a small castle hidden in the forest that claimed it. The vines lovingly wrapped around the hard stone, its ivy wrapping it like a blanket. The tree tops brushed against its pointed roof, blessing the manor with leaves that rested peacefully there.

They were standing in his training ground that Jem and Tessa had cleared from the garden. Even now, after years of unuse the shrubbery and grass did not encroach to where it wasn't welcome.

It was like a balance of compromise and love, something Kit associated very strongly with Jem and Tessa.

Night had fallen, and under the canopy of the trees the darkness was even more prominent. At least light from the windows spilled out to illuminate much of the manor.

"What's going on now!?" Jaime demanded to know.

Kit made a gesture for him to be quiet, then followed it up with a much ruder gesture to imply what would happen to him if he didn't. "The other me, Thule Kit." At Ty's disapproving expression, he added, "Christopher or whatever, is here."

Jaime's impatience grew. "And where are we exactly? I should mention this constitutes as

Kidnapping by the way."

"We're in Devon, where I lived with Jem and Tessa," Kit answered tersely.

Jaime's eyes widened at the implication, and thankfully, didn't ask anymore questions they didn't have time for.

Next to him Ty was practically vibrating. "It's my fault, I gave him the information and he extrapolated from it."

"It's not your fault Ty, not after what he did to you." He grabbed his hand, to Ty's shock. He jolted at the sensation, but he didn't pull away. Instead, his fingers closed around his palm, accepting his reassurance.

To have his hand in his again eased some of the anger he felt at the reminder of what Ty had endured.

Hastily, Kit wrote a rune on the stone of Cirenworth that allowed the wall to become transparent to their eyes, while adding a rune of enhanced hearing to his arm.

Tessa was standing at the little coffee table in the breakfast nook, Jem sitting in a chair beside her. He could see them clearly but all he could hear was dull and muffled, absorbed in the stone. A nervous hammering of his heart started once he saw them. Guilt and longing to be back with them shot through him. He had let them suffer and this was what happend, all because he couldn't bring himself to tell them what would happen to him. He didn't want to drag them into this, he didn't want the Riders to come down on their doors.

He didn't want to say goodbye.

Eventually, he tore his eyes from watching them to see the person sitting in the chair opposite of Jem.

It was, no doubt, his reflection from Thule. His hair was longer then Kit's was now. Blonde curls tickling his shoulders, his bangs swept to the side. He was wearing travel clothes, his posture was a forced casualness meant to hide his underlying apprehension, it was something Kit knew very well.

What exactly was he trying to pull off? There was no doubt his attire was completely purposeful.

There were no runes on him, but his right wrist bore a rough scar that looked to be swollen and irritated. When he looked at him closer he noticed the tension in his jaw, and the sweat on his brow.

But what really caught his attention was Will seated in his lap.

Tessa had a wary look like she wasn't completely comfortable.

Jem appeared to be treating Christopher with every kindness he didn't deserve, but his eyes often fled to look at Will.

Will himself was clinging to him, his little hands knotted in his shirt, his head resting on his collar bone. A hand had snaked around the back of Will's neck.

Rage overwhelmed him. This was his family he was putting in danger, that was his little brother he was using. These were the people who took him in willingly, who eased his fears and doubts, who helped him realize his goals and who he was. Just as they always claimed him, they were his, and he'd be damned if he let anything happen to them. this time he would be the one to protect them.

He remembered Jace telling him about how Sebastian had killed his little brother.

"He died holding this. I always wondered if he thought I would save him, me the best soldier that Nephilim had to offer and I wasn't even there"

He felt that same fierceness that he felt then when he thought of Will in danger. He wouldn't let the same thing happen to his brother. He would kill Christopher and burn everything that got in his way before he let that happen.

"I'm going to go in and create a distraction. You two sneak around to the side door that leads into the kitchen, and catch him from behind. Before anything else we have to get Will away from him," he gave the order urgently, an undercurrent of anger thrumming in his voice.

They both nodded, then started for the side of the manor. Ty didn't waste any words as he crept to get into position, but before his hand slid out of his, Ty gave him a tight squeeze.

Kit was grateful, he hated putting Ty in a situation to face Christopher again but he couldn't waste any time either. He had to trust him. He had to prove he trusted him.

Ty and even Jaime understood how dire the situation was.

He was suddenly hit in full force with the acknowledgement that they were no longer in training, they were Shadowhunters, and this was a mission.

He walked over to the front door, pulled out his stele to draw an unlocking rune, then taking a deep breath to steady his nerves he busted the door wide open.

Kit loomed in the doorway, catching Christopher's eyes and holding it with menace.

He was surprised at first, but it quickly returned to smugness.

"Kit!" Tessa gasped, hand over her mouth, tears spilled from her eyes at the sight of him.

Jem abruptly stood up from the table, accidently spilling his tea. Kit had never seen Jem so uncomposed as he was right now. His eyes were wild and searching, confusion plain on his face.

Kit was wracked with guilt. This was his fault, he had done this to them. He tried to tell himself it was to keep them safe by distancing himself, but it was his insecurity that made the decision. The idea that they would be better off without him, the fear that it never really mattered to them that he was there, all of their affections and promises aside.

He didn't feel any of that insecurity when he looked at the other him. Instead, he felt a complete absolution he had never felt before that this was his family, and if he had harmed them in any way he would make him suffer.

"The one and only, no matter what this guy tries to tell you, personally I wouldn't buy it." His words came out as cold as ice.

At the same time that Tessa and Jem made their way towards him, Christopher stood up, taking a step back still holding on to Will, who was now struggling slightly in his arms.

Tessa and Jem's attention was solely on him. There was too much going on for Kit to focus on one course of action, his mind split in several ways. The absolute relief and joy on Tessa and Jem's faces that he didn't deserve, Christopher standing back with a bewildered Will still in his arms, and then there was Ty and Jaime creeping silently into the room.

Too much was at stake in any direction.

Only Kit saw the glint of a dagger at first unveiled when Christopher shifted his coat to pull it out. Their eyes were fixed on eachother.

There was Will in his hand, or Jem and Tessa putting their backs to him.

A slow smile spread across his face as he looked at all of his possible targets.

Ty was the first one to strike, his eyes caught on the dagger in his hand before anyone else's. The steely determination on his face, told Kit he was determined to rectify his mistakes, as he launched himself forward, knife in hand.

The staff of Crann Bethadh hit the the lip of the doorway, catching Christopher's attention before Ty had closed the distance. his face changed from awe to rage, like he had some personal vendetta against him.

Kit's own rage was stoked seeing that look on his face directed against Ty. It would have been then that he moved if Christopher hadn't done what he did next.

He tossed Will to the side, practically throwing him away.

Instantly his power gathered around him and before Will even hit the ground, Kit caught him, skidding across the floor on his knees.

"Kit-cat?" Will asked in confusion.

"It's me kid, I'm sorry I left you for so long," he ruffled his little brother's hair. Will instantly wrapped his arms around him, burying his head in his gear and cried.

He didn't have time to focus on Will even if his mumbling in his chest were heartbreaking to hear. "I've got you Will, it's okay now, I'm here," he tried to whisper some comfort to him, and restrain himself from just hugging his brother tightly to him. But that was cut short when he lifted his head to see Christopher dive under Ty's feet, catching him off balance. Before Ty could switch positions, or react, a gun was pulled from somewhere. The gun went off right in front of him. Ty rocked backwards as if he himself had been shot, even with his headphones there was no blocking the sound of gunshot going off right in your ear. Christopher was quick to snatch the back of his sweater with how disorientated Ty was, hauling him up and maneuvered around him. Ty's knife disarmed, the dagger was being held to his throat, and the gun held next to his ear. All of this happened so suddenly Jaime didn't even have a chance to close the distance.

The bullet ricocheted, coming back to hit Jem in his shoulder blade, almost knocking him over.

Tessa, who was more acclimated to magic, and especially attuned to Kit's magic was the first one to catch on, spinning around to see the struggle behind her. But at the sound of her husbands cry, her attention was diverted again. She threw herself on her knees next to him, her hand reached up to press down on the wound.

Jem was weaponless and wounded, but Tessa raised her hand and from it a black fire sparked to life even as she tried to heal Jem.

"Christopher," she used his full name as if to scold him like a parent would, even though things had escalated much further than that. "release Tiberius, I won't ask again." Despite everything, Tessa's voice was firm, and had a finality to it that was threatening as she wielded her magic.

Kit looked between Ty and Jem, his voice tightening into a chokehold as the situation spiraled out of control.

Christopher smiled while Ty struggled in his grasp, turning his gaze on both Jem and Tessa he said, "Don't fight me, it's too hard for you when you are so confused and hurt."

Kit had no idea what he was talking about, or what he expected to happen. He glanced at Jaime hoping he would take the opportunity to leap into the action, but he was staring at his arm. It was festering what looked like long weaving veins bulging under his skin, his mouth was set in a taut line to control his pain. He noticed how far it weaved up his skin, reaching his shoulder and collarbone. Brief flickering concern made him wonder if that was typical or if it was getting worse.

He turned back to look at Tessa and Jem, but they became completely immobile like they fell under a spell. They had become stiff statues, their chests rested without taking a breath.

Will had been silent in shock, Kit had tried to shield him away from the gun, but he weaved his head around Kit's arm.

"Bàba! Māmā!" He cried out, freeing himself from Kit's grasp to run to them before he restrained him again.

Kit watched them mortified. "What did you do to them?" He demanded furiously.

Christopher shrugged mockingly, "You don't know? Why doesn't that surprise me?" He brought the dagger trailing Ty's neck leaving behind a slim cut. He struggled violently, but that just pushed the dagger further into his skin, the gun rested by his ear, threatening to go off and ruin his hearing. "You know we really shouldn't keep meeting like this, people will talk," he said to Ty. His face was too close to Ty's, his voice was a low threat underlining some strange hatred. But the way he was holding him, almost intimately with curiosity past the malice that made him almost lose it and blindly charge him, and rip his limbs from his body.

Kit was burning, his whole body was shaking, begging to kill him. "Every drop of his blood you spill, I'll make sure you bleed ten fold," he could barely control the anger from adding a tremor to his voice.

"And if you take a step closer or do your little trick, by the way bravo on that, real flashy job, I'll make sure you will be mopping up his blood for months."

He was seething, but looking at Ty, a stream of blood running down his neck and collar, it was wiped away by a desperation to do something.

He looked again for Jaime to step in where he couldn't, only to find he had vanished.

His whole body plunged into dark waters. How could he leave them? How could he let Ty be threatened and used like this? It was a betrayal that was beyond comprehension, unless the curse had done something to over power him. But even knowing that was a possibility his hatred for Christopher was lessened for just a second as he passed some of it on Jaime.

He was left alone to solve this problem, Ty with a dagger to his throat, Jaime missing, Jem and Tessa immoblie, and with Will tearing up and trying to fight against him.

"I've had a lot of time to think about you," Christopher whispered into Ty's ear. Kit wouldn't have even heard it if it wasn't for the enhanced hearing rune he had tried to use to spy on him. "Don't think I won't kill you just because I have his face. Actually, I think that would be pretty satisfying."

Ty was glaring, his eyes fixed somewhere on the floor, he didn't even look at Kit. Then, very quietly, he said, "I know very well what you are capable of."

Irrational anger flashed across his face. "Does that mean you're giving up then? I thought Nephilim were supposed to be great heroes," he mocked, but his anger didn't make sense.

"I'm done with this," he spat, "I've been waiting for a chance to kill you, and since no one seems too keen on saving you, I think I'll take the opportunity." He gripped him tight into a headlock before raising the dagger high.

Panic flooded through him, there was only one thing he could do. He raised his hand, light erupted from it, looking for a source to engulf.

Kit tried to focus on just Christopher, the anger on his face, the dagger in his hands.

But then Ty made an involuntary sound at the light, and the dagger flashing dangerously above him, and Kit knew his mistake before it even happened. He had never been able to look away from Ty.

Even when it mattered most.

When his gaze fell on him. The concentration on his face was just as beautiful, and as dangerous as he looked when Kit first saw him.

All thoughts of Ty, and his fear for him invaded his mind.

And just like he had always feared it would, it became his greatest downfall.

He thought he saw Ty lift his eyes to meet his, just before the flash took them away.

Just like that they vanished, Ty had vanished.

And he had no idea where to.

The spell on Jem and Tessa broke, they looked around the room, scooping up a crying Will.

He could hear them calling for him, asking him questions.

"Kit! Are you alright?"

"What happened? Where did they go?"

But Kit just silently sunk to his knees.

He stared numbly at the floor, all feeling had abandoned him. His mind seemed to stop in order to keep him from processing what he had just done.

Slowly, the anger and despair rose to the surface, trying to break him apart.

His fingers scraped at the stone floor, a tear hit the stone, his breathing echoed harshly in his head.

Tessa reached for him, "Kit… " She tried to place a hand on his hunched back.

The despair boiled over.

He took a single breath before bellowing out an anguished scream.

Stunned silence followed after over Cirenworth manor.