Kit was sweating, and not just because of the sweltering fire, he was hunched over. They had found an alcove they could hide under. The Shadowhunter was very insistent that the presence of angels was not, in fact, a good thing. Something Kit had learned a long time ago.
He had gone and made himself a makeshift pot to boil the food over the fire. Meanwhile, the Shadowhunter had insisted he find the ingredients for their meal, obviously because he assumed Kit was too ignorant to tell what was poison. But also because he was determined to prevent Kit from killing one of the animals running around.
He had almost managed to kill a strange boar looking thing with tusks like a walrus on both its forehead and snout. Until he was completely disarmed somehow by the damn Nephilim. Kit suspected they would starve to death soon if they couldn't get out of here all because someone decided protein wasn't important.
But the real reason he was sweating was because of the 'garden' itself. There was something wrong with this place, he could sense it as soon as they got here. It didn't take too long for the glamour to be peeled away. There was an oppressive presence to the place that made it harder and harder to trudge on. This place was no garden; it was a pit of hopelessness. The soil underneath them seemed to rumble, the plants that once looked lush and beautiful that were now revealed to be maneaters.
He was pretty convinced that it was more likely they had found themselves trapped in a game of Jumanji than in the garden of Edan.
The heat here was becoming insufferable. This place was trying to make him lethargic and complacent until he wasted away here. His agitation was growing until he finally returned.
Kit saw the top of his black hair before he parted the spanish moss hanging from the top of the alcove. He was still wearing that torn up sweater with an armful of some sort of plant. It was irritating to see the wonder on his face still as he turned to look at his surroundings as if he could not see the horrors that Kit did. And maybe he didn't, maybe it had something to do with his own strange powers.
He had only found out about them through Pandemonium, and even that had been vague. From what he could tell, his ancestor was imbued with powers and the Prince of Hell Sammael coveted it for his own use. And now the final fight for whatever he wanted from him was beginning.
It was right around that decision that Kit decided he should find a way to raize Pandemonium to the ground before it could get in his way.
"I have found some roots and tuber, which often have protein," he offered as he entered the camp.
Kit practically sighed as he took them from him and began to prepare them. When he was still in Thule anything with protein that wasn't a cockroach or a half-eaten corpse of something was rare. To have actual animals around and deciding to make do without meat was almost painful.
By the time he was done he had already prepared himself a bowl and started sipping. However, the Shadowhunter just narrowed his eyes at the stew, like he expected it to be poisoned or something.
"If you don't eat what we have now then we're going to have to start killing all your little woodland friends," Kit told him. He watched his face frown, the firelight highlighting his face.
It would be easy, he thought, to mistake him as one of the Fair Folk. He looked just elegant, with his high cheekbones, and delicate jawline.
To stare at him was like being caught in an enchantment. Which is why Kit quickly removed his gaze as Ty finally got up to get himself food.
It was almost amusing to watch him wrinkle his nose as he smelled it, hesitating to taste it. When he finally raised the bowl to his lips he looked up in surprise. "This is pretty good."
Kit smiled smugly, "I know. If I can make a half-decent meal from decades-old twinkies and an expired can of soup, I can make a gourmet worthy meal from fresh food. Sometimes I think if I had a normal life I would have been a chef."
He frowned again. "In a normal life, you're a Shadowhunter. And I have once seen you explode a poptart in the microwave."
Kit let out a loud sigh, telling himself not to ask about the poptart. "I meant a mundane life. This is a SYFY channel original in everyone else's eyes. Don't you ever wonder what it would be like, what you would be like if you were a mundane?"
His long lashes feathered against his cheekbones, almost obscuring his grey eyes. "No, this is my life. There's no point wondering about other scenarios when I haven't even finished this life yet."
Kit snorted. Of course, he hadn't considered it. He had been born into privilege, what else could he have wanted that he didn't get? "You say that like you can have everything if you just believe hard enough."
"Not because I believe, but because I won't give up." He lifted his head to watch the stars above them, his eyes glistening like the stars that shined above them. When he smiled Kit couldn't look away. Looking at him caused something like hope to burst in his chest, something he didn't know he could feel.
Even the apathy that had been pressing down all around him seemed to lighten its grip.
And then he promptly shook away the delusion. "If anything's possible then I guess you have to admit that your Kit is just a bad day in hell away from being me."
There, that did it. The smile was wiped clean from his face replaced with a grimace instead.
He pressed it even further. "I mean, no matter how noble he acts he was once just like me. That potential is still there, so can you really say we are any different? That only one of us is worthy of everything he's gotten?" He just meant to hurt him but as he kept going his bitterness swelled until he no longer knew who he was talking to, Ty or himself.
Sitting there seething alone, he didn't notice at first Ty standing up.
He turned to watch as he slowly walked out of the camp.
"H-Hey! Where do you think you're going?" But he didn't even bother to give him a air around him turned to a biting cold as he watched him disappear into the night, not even a trace left as Kit was left to sit alone.
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According to Tessa, Ragnor was the world's leading expert on dimensional magic or something like that. And since Kit's magic turned out to be dimensional related he was the one who had been called. So Kit was stuck listening to him lecture just like he had never left the academy to begin with. He slumped in his seat, arms crossed as he listened.
"It is likely that where your magic is pulled from is where those you teleport without a focus would be placed. But your magic's origin is decidedly unusual, and without an understanding of where it came from we can't determine anything for certain." Ragnor was saying.
Kit hated to be the one to mention it but he did. "According to the cult, my powers come from the Void."
Ragnor scratched his chin, thinking. "It was also given to you with the magic of the Fae."
"Which they may or may not have demon ancestry." Kit reminded. "Not to mention those same spells apparently can also be replicated with the Black Volume."
"I never would have thought they had a purpose such as this," Tessa said, sitting on one of the armchairs. She was holding a book in her lap but Kit didn't think she was reading it, her eyes were fixated in place no doubt thinking about the 'club' that tried to use them both.
Ragnor shook his head. "We were all too eager to believe they were gone. Many of us immortals had at one point been involved with someone taken in by them. Even Magnus had fraternized with them back in the day."
"Only because he was dating Camile, remember?" Tessa corrected, but Ragnor just waved away her reasoning.
"As it appears, we can only guess that they are in Faerie or possibly the Void."
The room stiffened, waiting on Kit's response.
His voice was raspy from strain and overuse. Yelling wouldn't solve anything but he sure as hell gave it his best shot. "There are other people with demon magic, someone has to have experienced something like this. I can't be the only person to have powers like this."
Ragnor hesitated, shooting Tessa a glance. "There was one other who experienced some similarities. But it is hardly comparable, the powers of the First Heir are unprecedented."
Kit hunched over, gripping his hands tightly together. "You can't tell me to just wait here and hope he comes back."
"Kit we will-" Tessa began as she rose from her chair but Ragnor clasped her shoulder to stop her.
"Allow me to talk to him alone, as a favor to me," Ragnor said, as if Kit wasn't sitting right there. Kit would have pointed it out if it wasn't for his steadily climbing temper.
Tessa looked to Kit, "If that is what you all want."
He nodded, keeping his jaw clenched to prevent him from adding a biting remark.
She sighed. "It's about time we need to start getting ready anyway." And with that she left with Jem to prepare for battle.
Ragnor turned his full attention on him, a sour look on his face as he stared down at him. But then he did something Kit was not expecting.
With a deep breath he pulled one of the lounge chairs around to face Kit and sat down, meeting him at eye level. "Why did you never come back with Ty to talk with me?"
All the fire building inside him left. "I meant to. But that was the day we went to Faerie, none of us thought we would be gone a whole year."
There was pity in his eyes, and this time Kit couldn't argue he didn't deserve it.
"It's too late isn't it?"
Kit couldn't stand meeting his eyes. He gritted his as he admitted, "It always was. It started the first day he came to the Academy."
He could hear Ragnor's breath still as they both remembered the chandelure almost crushing them both. It had been so obvious but everyone just ignored it, no one wanted to believe it, especially Kit.
"Let me guess, Magnus has given you some temporary protection I presume?"
Gently, Kit pulled out his half of the wreath, feeling the dried leaves and soft petals turning hard at the edges. He held it in his hands where Ragnor could see, Kit's eyes hung on them with a new terrible revelation.
Slowly, it was dying. The edges of the white petals turned brown curling inwards as the wreath prepared to shrivel up. A few petals fell from his touch, falling to the floor with the weight of an anchor in his heart.
The precious time he had left with him was falling away in his hands and the minutes he lost were given to someone else. Someone with his face and his voice who could kill the person Kit would die to see. His hand shook as he held the wreath in his hands, the tightening of his throat worsened until he couldn't breathe.
Ragnor placed his hand atop of Kit's still gripping the wreath. "Trust in Tiberius, he has done the impossible before."
Kit looked up at his comforting tone hoping to find some hope he could grab a hold of.
Ragnor cracked a slight smile. "He's befriended you after all."
Kit took the wreath back, discarding Ragnor's hand to push it back in his pouch. "Yeah, well I don't think that's going to work this time."
"You think the Christopher from Thule will put his life in danger?" Ragnor asked the obvious.
"You think I'm exaggerating?" Kit spat. "He's tried it more then once, he's obsessed with trying to hurt him. I just don't.."
"Understand it?" Ragnor interrupted. "But don't you? You may be two different people but at one point you were almost one. There are many self made monsters in this world but I have never met one that could ever rid themselves of the core of what they once were."
He couldn't bring himself to admit that maybe he was right. What kind of person did that make him if he could understand what was pushing him? It would mean he accepted he was exactly that kind of person he had always been afraid he was. He wanted to believe once he was just as heartless just as capable of anything like his father, but that was because he didn't want to let himself be vulnerable or to care. He was afraid of loving someone to find out that nobody could love him back. Once he was rejected he would be broken forever, his heart would never stop bleeding for what it couldn't have.
But that wasn't true. Jem taught him that he could take that love and turn it into a new protection, even if he wasn't loved back, he didn't have to keep feeding that bitterness until it ate him alive.
But the other him never learned all those things. He was still desperately trying to prove he was untouchable, as cold and monstrous as he had to be.
Ty was the threat to his facade.
And just like he had ran in fear from the Blackthorns, Christopher would try to cut down the threat. Because if he couldn't run then all there was left to do was fight.
"But make no mistake," Ragnor said as he stood up. "That does not make you the same person. You accepted change, to your life, to yourself, and your world view. Your choice is not reflected in his."
Jem and Tessa came back into the room. Jem wearing gear, and Tessa using her own magical enchantments as a ward.
"Ready to go Ragnor?"
Ragnor tsked, "there are other Institutes that require protection besides NY. I think I'll offer them aid, if they are smart enough to accept it."
Kit sat where he was listening to them preparing for battle. He could stay here like he wanted, and probably never reach Ty, or he could fight alongside them.
When he thought of Ty now he couldn't help but be reminded of his cousin who was probably going out of his mind trying to prevent what had happened to Ty from happening to Clary. It was another decision to make, he was figuring it out that he would always have to keep proving himself, there would never be just one defining moment like in the movies.
Ragnor was watching him as if he was waiting on him. He suspected Ragnor had mentioned all of that just to make it harder to say no, but it worked.
"Kit?" Jem asked as he picked himself off the chair.
"Sorry to hold you up, but I need a minute to get ready." He wasn't looking at them directly, but he thought he saw them share a knowing look.
"You're going to join the fight? Are you sure?" Jem's voice was as gentle as ever but Kit knew a leading question when he heard one.
Kit picked up Caliban that was laid next to his chair. Feeling his hands grip around the sword gave him a new avenue to vent. Adrenaline began to coarse through him, which had a strangely calming effect on him. A Shadowhunter's natural state was battle, and at least for now he wasn't about to refute that.
"I'm sure as hell not going to sit here while everyone else gets their chance to push the Cohorts proverbial daisies."
"He sounds too bloodthirsty," Ragnor said, his usual distaste for him rekindled. "I told you this one was a lost cause." He turned to Tessa and Jem.
"Don't worry Kit, Ragnor finds at least one pupil to pretend to disdain in every class." Jem patted him on the back.
"I assure you my distaste for this showboating little gremlin is real. But I will admit that I've developed somewhat of an aversion for Christopher's." Ragnor looked at Kit like he was a particularly dangerous explosive.
"That's a very particular phobia I suggest you work out with a therapist," Kit said before turning to Tessa and Jem. "The most I ever did was cause a little revolt against the teachers, it's not like I blew up anything."
Ragnor shuddered. "Not yet." He said darkly before snapping a portal in existence.
Kit watched the portal as the surface smoothed into an image of New York. It felt strange after everything that had happened to be heading for New York instead of Los Angeles but it was equally as strange to find Tessa and Jem by his side instead of Ty once again.
But this time he was determined that the family he had found here could rely on him.
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Ty was crouched alongside Christopher in some tall shrubbery as they ventured as close to an angel guarding the eastern gate as they dared. They found the creek running through the Garden and followed it from the center to the grate made into the wall it passed through to merge with the sea.
Ty peered through the bushes at the scorched earth surrounding the golden creature. It didn't look like the depiction of angels Ty grew up with. It gave off a heavenly glow that naturally reminded him of adamas, in some ways it looked human, and others it didn't. It appeared to have two extra arms and wings. It was hunched over the ground with its wing obscuring most of its face from them. The wings moved like that of a hummingbirds back and forth, making Ty's vision of it distorted and blurred.
"I don't suppose they'll see your presence as an unexpected but welcome family reunion?"
"Despite the gifts given to us, angels are intolerant to mortals, especially those who interfere. The cherubs were placed here to prevent anyone entering the garden again, they won't like that we're trespassing." Ty pointed out.
"That thing is a cherub?" Christopher muttered. "How did that get on a valentine card?"
He didn't answer, still focusing on what was in front of him.
As he watched the angel's face and eye became suddenly visible from it's long tangled hair. But it was on the side of its face, at it's cheekbone to be exact. It's large eyes gazed down on the rockey earth under it, a tear trailed down it's face as bright as heavenly fire, and when it touched the earth it sparked the ground starting another small fire.
Ty was astonished. "It's crying."
Christopher leaned in next to him, sending uncomfortable sparks through Ty.
As bright as hellfire, he thought.
"What does it mean for us if this place can make an angel cry?" He didn't look to Ty as he asked the question just stared at the angel for an answer.
"Come on, we shouldn't wait for it to find us." Ty started backing away, tugging on his sleeve.
He caught himself just as Christopher turned to look at him.
It was a bizarre look he stared at him with, and after a long moment of trying to decipher one another did he brush Ty away, yanking his sleeve out of his grasp.
Ty didn't take offense, it was his fault for acting familiar with a stranger. He knew better, he just wished he understood why he kept making the same mistake then. His thoughts automatically drifted towards Livvy and the predicament he left her in.
He recoiled at the thought. Reaching out to grab a fuzzy leaf from a small plant at his feet-he thought he could recall it being referred to as 'rabbit ear leaves'. His fingers played with the new texture, concentrating his mind on the sensation until he could regain his focus, leaving all thoughts of his sister behind.
At least as far behind as Livvy ever got in his thoughts.
They made their way back up the creek when Ty decided to take a break. There was nothing suspicious around and he was parched, the inside of his mouth felt like sand. Since the stew last night that Christopher had gotten from rain water he hadn't drank anything.
"Keep looking out, I need to get some water." Ty said, about to push himself through another batch of thick bushes to get to the riverbed.
Christopher raised an eyebrow. "Has anyone told you you have trust issues? And not the typical kind."
"I've been accused of both." Ty sighed, feeling exhausted from the conversation. He didn't wait to hear his response, if there was one, and began making his way to the water.
Soon enough he was out of earshot, and just as he found the creek he saw that he wasn't alone.
A strange looking squirrel with stripes running along its sides and tiny antlers on its head was bouncing up and down along the bank as it watched something float away.
Ty took a step closer without the squirrel noticing and saw what he must have been after. It was a small red berry bobbing in and out of the current circling around rocks, brightly colored fish lunged at it with gaping mouths. The squirrel risked trying to edge it's way on a rock to get closer until another fish, twice its size, whipped out of the water almost knocking the squirrel in the creek.
Tentatively, Ty started taking small steps to get closer, hoping not to surprise the squirrel as he came near. Finally he made it to the bank without the squirrel noticing, still sitting upstream from him.
The berry swirled around the rock, almost moving out of it's reach until a fish nudged it free, sending it spinning towards him. Quickly, he plunged his hand into the water and plucked it out.
The squirrel definitely noticed him now, staring up at him with large dark eyes.
"This was what you wanted?" Ty was careful to modulate his voice to keep it low.
The squirrel jumped from its hind legs to all fours, prepared to run if he got any closer.
Ty suspected as much. Leaning down he slowly pushed the berry away from him and towards the squirrel, leaving it there for him to take.
His tail swished back and forth and with one quick movement it snatched up the berry and scuttled away into the bush.
When turned back to the rushing stream he could see his reflection smiling back at him.
Inspecting the water he let his hand dip into it, feeling the crystal clear waters brush against him. The touch itself felt revigiorizing but Ty knew the dangers of Faerie drinks. He examined the fish nipping at the bottom of the creek, by all accounts they seemed perfectly normal save for the dullness of their scales. Ty's greatest concern however was that he couldn't afford not to take the chance, dehydration was a rapid killer and already he could tell the effects were already starting to take a toll on him.
After a moment of deliberation he decided he needed to try to conserve his strength, even if that meant taking a dangerous gamble. He pooled a small amount of water in the palm of his hands, holding it to his lips as it trickled through his fingers. It tasted just as it should, water with enriched taste of minerals and trace hints of dirt. He took a bigger gulp only for the water to turn sweet in his mouth.
It was too late to spit it out, the effects of the residue of magic were already starting to take effect.
Everything changed the moment he tasted it. He was no longer staring at a picturesque view. The sky changed from beautifully vibrant to dull shades with harsh violent lines of red. The plants had their own razor edges, some he could see were coated in blood, he saw vines snake out and strike at something in the distance, a giant yellow flower turned into a gaping maw as it swiveled around looking for prey. All around him he could hear the terrible sounds of animals screaming in pain and the gutteral noises of feasting predators.
Ty remained paralyized on his knees as he listened to sounds distorting all around him, a new threat revealing itself in the environment itself.
At the sound of something crashing through the bush behind him, Ty managed to will himself to turn around, desperately grasping at one of the knives on his belt.
It was Kit, he looked exactly the same as he always did, there was no trick or enchantment placed on him. Ty blinked slowly, remembering this wasn't his Kit at all, and the revelation was as fitting as the world he fell into and devoid of any comfort.
"What? What is it?" He asked, sharply looking around.
"The water it-" Ty flinched at what sounded like something tearing through flesh somewhere nearby.
Christopher's eyes darted in the same direction. "So you finally saw through the glamour."
Ty tried to blink away the reality in front of him. "Glamour? You mean you've always seen this?"
"Yeah, I thought you were insane at first by that look of wonder on your face, but it never slipped so I figured you just couldn't see it."
"Then why didn't you warn me?"
He shrugged. "I figured it would give me an advantage."
Ty looked back down at his hands, the water didn't enchant him, instead it revealed this place for what it was. He looked past his fingers where the water slipped through to the clear waters quickly shifting fast. This time he looked more closely at the fish feeding from the river bed. There were clumps they were nibbling from that he at first assumed were rocks. He plunged his arm in, grabbing at one of the soft lumps. It felt withered and malleable in his hands and when he held it up to examine it he knew what it was. It was clearly a deteriorating fig, the bottom of the creek was filled with them.
Ty stared at the fruit in his hand, his eyes trailing up the river where he could see a tall tree.
"The fruit of knowledge," he whispered in disbelief.
Christopher bent over him. "Does this mean you're cursed now like Adam and Eve?"
Ty was sure it wasn't sincere but it did bring up legitimate concerns. He considered this for a moment before answering. "Not from this."
He saw Christopher's head whip back around to look at him, but Ty was standing up measuring the distance they were from the tree and the one looming over the entire garden.
Christopher came to stand next to him, a smile spreading across his face. "Angels may not like small talk but they love casting judgment, don't they?"
Ty glanced his way, his eyes focused on the freckles across his nose. He was trying to sound impressive, Ty had seen him give him that look enough times to know by now. And everytime it never failed to take his breath away, but it never before was his breath carried away with piercing needles. "What are you suggesting?"
He rolled his eyes, "What I'm saying is maybe we can trick them into bargaining with us. All we have to do is get their attention."
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Livvy carefully walked across the old creaking floorboards of the attic. It was cleaner than she expected it to be after years of disuse. There were no cobwebs or layers of dust like she had imagined, not that she remembered much of what this place looked like before. She and Ty never came up here much, but the busts on roman kings and the old tomes of Roman and Greek mythology would be what she expected from her father's old study. She moved slowly through an area of her childhood home that was absent from her memories but still captivated her with it's nostalgia.
Her movements felt mechanical as she picked her way through the old papers on the desk, the heavy breathing in her head cushioning her mind. She found a notebook brushed clean of dirt with her father's initials A.B. engraved in the leather binding.
Opening the notebook she found that it was written in a mixture of Latin and English. She couldn't understand the Latin but that wasn't really an obstacle at first as it was used only for key phrases or quotes. But as she read further it began to be intermixed with the English at random.
The heavy breathing picked up in pace trying to carry away the words and their meanings away from her.
The text gradually lost meaning until she found a page with sketches of underground prisons and caves, the only words written on the page were:
"As Theseus and Pirithous were trapped in the underworld, only Pirthous remained for eternity.
His brother left but I still remain. Andrew I have never left."
The breathing became a deafening choir in her mind, the words almost lost in the sound.
She re-read it several times until she understood who the true owner of the notebook was. Arthur Blackthorn, not Andrew Blackthorn, not her father but her uncle.
The door opened behind her, someone coughed as they breathed in the stale air. Livvy dropped the book when she saw him, the choir finally fell silent setting her focus free.
"Livvy-! Oh, you're actually here, that's a relief." Cameran began before becoming confused. "Why are you in the attic?"
Livvy shrugged, not really sure why she decided to come up here either. "I guess I'm not sure I'm ready for what happens next," she decided. Everything was feeling more solid like her reality had sharpened now.
He relaxed, smiling like he was trying to find some humour to cling to, some lightness left somewhere. "Yeah, I guess we're pretty terrible Shadowhunters." He looked up to the ceiling, letting his shoulder fall to rest on the door frame. When his gaze fell back to her she felt something like butterflies set loose in her stomach. Not the kind of anxiousness or apprehension that makes you scared to move. But like looking at her brought out that lightness he was looking for. It was ruined when she started to ask herself if it was really her own feelings she was experiencing now or someone elses.
She would never be sure when it came to Cameron. The other Livia would never allow her to forget because she never would.
His blue eyes were soft as he said, "but that's the thing, Shadowhunters are meant to fight demons not ourselves. This isn't the same feeling before a battle that we are used to, this is the fear that you might be wrong, that all of this is the fault of our mistakes."
"Shadowhunters were never taught that they could be wrong," Livvy added somberly. He was exactly right and she had to act like a leader to people that she didn't even know. It became too obvious that she couldn't just take over for the other Livvy and expect to fill her place. When she was flooded with her memories it was like looking at herself through a cracked mirror. They were once the same but they would never be again.
She could never hope to be her, and she was starting to realize that she didn't want to be either.
"I might have to fight my sister, or I might have to watch someone kill her. And I don't know what the right thing for me to do is."
Livvy crossed the floor to him, as she remembered the Ashdowns that grew up beside her. "I couldn't imagine that. I don't think I couldn't even stand on the battlefield against my siblings no matter what they did." The thought was sobering, she didn't want to kill people obviously, but it was so much easier for her with everyone she cared about fighting alongside her than it was for other Shadowhunters who had to make a choice.
Cam smiled just a fraction, a spark of laughter in his eyes. "You didn't even like my sister. You can admit it, I know better than anyone how hard she can be to like."
She bit her lip. "Welllll, no I really don't." She let the words hang there before deciding to be more honest. "I hated her actually because of how she treated Ty, and I don't think that could change. And honestly maybe I did want bad things to happen to her, but I don't actually want her dead, I wouldn't kill her either."
He let out a long breath he must have been holding. "I'm really sorry how she treated your brother. Ty always seemed genuinely nice, and nicer to Paige than she deserved. I'm also sorry I didn't step in more as her older brother to keep her in line."
"It's not me you should apologize to," she said stiffly before softening. "Besides, I doubt you not anyone has been able to stop her from spouting horrible things when they came into her head."
His smile faded with his concern. "Is that what you're waiting for? Ty to return?"
She looked down at her feet. It was true, she didn't want to go into battle without Ty, he was her parabatai rune or not, and he should be with her to fight for their home. But somehow how she was disappointed that he noticed, reminding her that she would be one half of her twin to him. "I guess it's that obvious, huh?"
He hesitated next to her, his hand falling to his side. "I know I might not have the right to talk about this. But I know the thought that you could lose him again would be terrifying, I'm sure he feels the same."
Livvy felt her heart drop, remembering he wasn't talking to her, at least he didn't think he was. But his words couldn't help remind her of her own death. The chaos and screaming, her eyes were only fixated on Julian when she felt the sharp pain. It was just shocking at first, she couldn't register what happened. Absently she remembered asking Ty for a rune, and that was it, and then she was dead. Chills ran up and down her spine, she could hear her brother chanting in the silence of the room, the words that brought her back to this living plane.
Could he let her go this time if something happened? What if he was never strong enough to live without her?
A small gasp escaped her as she tried to break away from her thoughts. He tried to reach a hand to her, but she stepped away. "You're right, you don't have the right."
She watched again as his hand fell back to his sides.
"I..I'm sorry."
She tried to move past the awkwardness physically pushing herself to the door. "I think it's time we go to that meeting."
This time he did stop her, placing a light hand on her shoulder. "Actually, you need to talk to your sister first."
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It didn't take too long afterwards to find Dru. She looked shaken when she finally found her little sister but more resolute than she had ever seen her.
Dru walked over to them, Livvy could imagine the light in her eyes taken away only leaving behind dark shadows. She felt like throwing her arms around her sister when she was finally in reaching distance. The girl she was seeing didn't exist, but the guilt that would have been hers felt real.
She didn't even see Jaime behind her at first. He was hovering just in the background, he looked just like the memory of Dru the other Livvy was holding onto. The darkness in his eyes hollowed him out completely. There was nothing left that resembled Jaime Rosales.
"Livvy," she breathed in relief, "I need to talk to you before we go anywhere."
Livvy heard her, she knew it was important but she couldn't help noticing that Jaime was back but not Kit…
"Where's Ty? He should have been back hours ago," she looked to each of them, noticing a grimace spreading on Jaime's face, and Dru swallowing something back.
"He's...he was accidentally teleported somewhere else with the other Kit-Christopher." She whispered.
Livvy froze. "I don't...but where is he? He has to be somewhere?" Her voice rose in desperation.
"We don't know yet, but Kit will find him. We have to believe that for now," Dru tried to encircle her in a hug, but the heat she was radiating with now kept her back.
Anger bursted through her from some unknown corner of herself. "Kit? You want me to leave my brother to Kit Rook?" She seethed.
Dru looked taken aback. Her eyes darted across her face before slowly correcting her. "Kit Herondale, remember? He hasn't been Kit Rook in a long time."
Livvy was about to push her aside and find a way to go after him herself. She was on the verge of opening her mouth to remind her of the atrocities he had done before catching herself. "But..But isn't he trapped with Christopher then?"
This time Dru grabbed her shoulders, her grip was both firm and comforting. It was strange to think how much taller her little sister was, Livvy had to look up to her.
"I know you want to go after him, but there's nothing anyone can do right now besides Kit, and I need you with me. The Rebels won't listen to me without you, they could die and get us killed if they don't stay! Please Livvy, I know you don't want to leave Ty but he's not alone he has Kit, but this time I need you." She pleaded, her eyes were almost brimming with tears.
Dru always was a cry baby, Livvy thought to herself. And if she was being honest she probably never was there for her enough. Still, she felt her own tears sting her the back of her eyes.
No matter what Dru thought she was saying the truth was Livvy wasn't needed anymore.
She looked to the glass case covering a painting, she could see the shadows of her reflection but knew by now every scar on this face and the story of they got there.
She was right.
Ty had Kit and though it would never be the same he had grown up strong enough to move on without her. The person Dru needed right now wasn't her at all, it was the other her that had gained the Rebels' trust, lead them through a dangerous world to a new life, and needed her guidance now more than ever to find their place in this world.
She swallowed back her tears, giving her sister a determined smile. "I'm here. Let's do this together."
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The New York Institute was like an angry hive that had been knocked around a few times with a stick. Shadowhunters were running back and forth, grabbing weapons, getting orders, and adding last minute addition to their gears. Kit even saw one guy run by with an armful of weapons booking it down the hall attempting to bring the armoury to them.
They heard Jace shouting orders for everyone to get to their battlestations before they saw him.
"Cover the road with it!" He yelled at one passerby before catching another one. "Did you secure the water?"
Tessa was the one to draw his attention. Walking up beside him she said, "where do you need me?"
"Tessa," Jace acknowledged before seeing Jem and then Kit. "I didn't expect you here."
Kit knew where he thought he would be. "I'm just making sure Taki's doesn't get steam rolled out here. I don't know where else I'm supposed to get mermaid tear's tea but I'm pretty sure getting it straight from the source would be illegal." Kit shrugged, looking away from his older cousin.
Jace was giving him an intense look he was trying to avoid. "What about Ty?"
It was like a cold breeze had blown through the room, and everyone's discomfort was almost painful.
Kit stiffened, before meeting his cousin's eyes. "Let's just focus on making sure nothing happens to Clary."
Jace looked surprised at first, then he looked out at the busy institute placing a hand on Kit's shoulder. "Thank you," was all he said but Kit could feel the gratitude, and he was grateful that Jace didn't ask anything else.
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Pretty soon everyone scattered to do what they could to help. As head of the Institute and the Counsel's parabatai Jace didn't exactly have time to hang around his little cousin. Jem went to find the Silent Brothers examining the wards around the institute. Tessa went to find Magnus to help put up protective barriers around the area they were intending to use as a sick bay to tend to the injured.
Kit wandered through the halls, unsure what he should do with himself in the meantime. He wasn't particularly close with anyone here and he didn't have a special skill to lend, at least not one that would actually help anyone. He could see the sun dying over the skyscrapers from the windows as he walked past the paned glass. All he wanted to do was get this fight over with, he wanted to be in the middle of it already where he could let the frenzy of fighting take him over so he couldn't think about Ty anymore.
Every second he was left doing nothing was another precious minute he couldn't replace and time he couldn't afford losing to get back to him. He found himself walking towards the entrance to place himself at the front lines. He was useless to Ty. He probably couldn't make much of a difference here either. The only thing he could do was try to take the hits from someone else and mow down as many enemies he could.
He heard voices as he rounded a corner and found himself in a bit of an awkward situation.
Clary Fairchild was drawing a rune on her parabatai's arm talking to him about runes. "Do you think when I give you runes they're extra extra strength?" She asked Simon.
"If you could already draw extra strength runes then you wouldn't need me...wait a minute.." He paused with a frown.
Clary quickly changed the subject, "I think you have enough weapons in your hair, Isabelle."
A woman snorted past where Kit could see.
"There is no such thing as too many accessories, therefore there is no such thing as too many weapons."
Simon pretended to glare at his parabatai. "How dare you insult my beautiful wife who is lovingly going to get us takeout."
Isabelle finally sauntered into view, tossing her long hair over her shoulders, her hips swaying to one side as she stopped to frown at her husband.
She looked like she was doing a well practiced walk down a catwalk, and with her long legs and her sensual looks Kit had no problem imagining her on one. Just looking at the two of them it was hard to imagine them as a couple, but when they looked at each other it was a different story.
Kit had to wonder at whatever Simon said to Isabelle that made her fall in love with him.
It made him think back trying to figure out whatever he did that made Ty like him to begin with. But the only thing he could ever recall him doing was acting like a dork that was trying way too hard.
"If you wanted food you should have just eaten the sandwich I gave you," she huffed.
Simon shook his head somberly. "There may be a day when takeout fails, when I forsake my body but it is not this day."
Isabelle and Clary looked at him in disappointment.
The corner of Kit's mouth twitched. "Maybe saving the heroic speeches for the battle instead of wasting them on your empty stomach would be a better idea," he couldn't help but say.
Everyone turned to look at him, and felt even more awkward about just standing here.
Clary immediately stood up to hug him, and pretty soon they were all crowding around him.
Kit was starting to feel like a small animal being trapped in a corner with all the hugging lately.
"Thank God Kit." Clary said. "I know Jace said you were back but…" She bit her lip, probably wanting to ask him questions she couldn't in front of everyone else. "Is it really okay for you to be here?"
"Is it okay for you to be here?" He said back.
She gave a small smile back that told him everything he needed to know. This fight was about them, so no matter what anyone said they were going to be there. He gave her a conspiratorial smile back.
"Let me at least draw your runes for you," she offered, pulling out her stele.
Kit appreciated it, letting her take his arm as she got to work.
Suddenly, Isabelle was right in front of him examining him with an inspecting look.
Her hair was tied back elaborately with a fancy clip and decorative chopsticks to hold it in place, and he knew each piece could double as a weapon. Thick iron earrings hung from her earlobes just above her jawline, her whip was wrapped around her arm.
Her face was too close to his, he could practically count her eyelashes.
"Uhm!" He choked.
His reaction didn't surprise her, her red lips curled just slightly before pulling away. "It's been a long time since I last saw you, when did you become such a babe?"
Kit felt the heat rise to his face, choking off his air supply. He knew Isabelle was trying to throw him off now, but still when someone like Isabelle Lightwood calls you a babe you don't just shrug it off.
Even if her husband was standing right there.
Simon walked up, his arms crossed as he looked Kit up a down with a look of contempt. "Look at him, he's betrayed me. I thought you were different, Kit, I thought you were on team Dungeons and Dragons with me."
Isabelle looked at him proudly. "He's on team 'Killer Looks' now," she winked. Simon looked ashamed for him, Clary rolled her eyes still drawing more runes on him. In fact she was drawing so many runes Kit was afraid he was going to overdose on heavenly power.
"Hey, just because my looks can slay doesn't mean I've never haggled with a goblin to get an original copy of the Star Wars Christmas Special. But we are not calling ourselves team Dungeons and Dragons," he added.
Simon started to shake his head, "I've lost him-Wait you did? From a Goblin?"
"Yes, I did." Kit said darkly.
"Anywaaay!" Isabelle loudly interrupted. "Have you gotten yourself a girlfriend yet? Boyfriend?"
"Would it be cliche if I said it was complicated?"
Both Clary and Simon subconsciously nodded that it would be, but they weren't going to press.
Isabelle just sighed, throwing her hands up in the air, "boring," and then walked off.
It was always a bit unnerving to hangout with Jace's family, not that he didn't like them, he did. But he had also grown up hearing their names as these legendary heroes or something, and it's not like he had ever gotten very close with them. He still felt like an outsider most of the time around them, but it always took him by surprise how comfortable being around them was when he actually gave it a shot. Next time Chairman Meow had a birthday party he resolved to go to it.
A high pitch screech cut through the banter. It rang through the halls and the night sky signalling the end.
They all lept to their feet with a seconds pause, all of them darting for the exit.
Kit ran with them at first before getting an idea and slowing down, letting the group get in front of him.
In an instant he left them behind, if they looked back to see where he had gone he would never know.
He reappeared on one of the small arched roofs of the Institute just behind a gargoyle. Rain poured down over his head making the stone wings slippery to hold onto. It was the ugliest looking gargoyle he had ever seen, which was why it had stuck out in his mind, but it also had a pretty good view of the courtyard. He peered over its shoulder to take a look at the groups closing rank on the ground. The wards were still holding, an army of demons lurked just past it, flapping their wings and snapping their jaws. Archers fanned out behind the ranks shooting down as many as they could. The demons obscured most of the front line, members of the Cohort and the Faerie allies hid behind them. From this vantage point he could see almost everyone but with the rain pouring down in the dark it was too hard for him to distinguish who was who for the most part.
He scanned around the Institute to find a few hooded figures clustered together raising their arms in the air.
It must have been the Silent Brother's strengthening the wards, but as Kit watched it became clear they were too far away from the ward to do anything. He could see the outline of the forcefield around them, and nothing they did seemed to move it or change it in anyway. Then he saw a faint outline circling around them change and spark.
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the statue. It was a glamour he realized, they were being tricked.
He started searching around the building until he saw someone else sneaking around the corner. A vision rune on his arm sizzled and burned out as he strained to see a person dressed in all black gear.
He took a second to breath, gathering the light within him. He had made himself believe that it was light he was reaching for, but now it felt like it was a crack in the seal he was tearing open inch by inch. He tried to summon the absolutism he found in the House of The Dark when he was faced against the Morrigan but now her warnings were clearer than ever. Whatever triumph he thought he had won had been a lie.
This power was a trap, but he would use it anyway.
A heartbeat later he was behind the figure racing towards the warded boundary.
Kit threw a dagger from his belt hitting the back of his knee.
He skidded forward, wrenching the dagger from his knee he threw it back at Kit. He flashed him a look of anger and impatience as he turned back, not letting his leg slow him towards his destination.
Kit had to weave to the side to miss the dagger, but he was gaining ground fast. He could see the barrier shimmer like a warning as the Shadowhunter limped manically towards it.
Kit dived, trying to knock him to the side, but they hit the barrier on their side and instead of falling through it rebounded them backwards.
They hit the grass hard, his head hitting with a loud thud. He tried to pull himself up, his vision was blurry when he looked back at the ward but now there was a strange coating of blood splattered on the typically invisible forcefield.
Blood coated his mouth, the body underneath him stirred as he tried to focus his vision on the blood that was turning an alarming bright red.
He saw the sparks at the same time he heard Jem calling his name from somewhere in the distance.
The blood turned to searing cracks that broke apart in a shattering explosion.
Yellow and orange lights spinning into an angry red mass hungrily hurled itself into the opening air until his eyes saw nothing but fire and then nothing at all as an overwhelming heat engulfed him.
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"All you have to do is steal it, you don't have to eat it." Kit trudged through the forest forcing Ty to follow behind him. He had wanted to find somewhere safe to discuss things but Kit insisted that doing it his way would mean it could be over anytime he wanted.
"Last time a fruit was taken the human race was cursed," he stubbornly argued.
Kit rolled his eyes, this guy was a broken record. "That's why you're not going to eat it."
"And you want me to do this because you don't mind what happens to me." His voice was so flat as he said it Kit couldn't tell if that bothered him or not.
"Why, I thought Shadowhunters were supposed to protect the helpless and yet you would ask me to do it?" He mocked, but Ty took it seriously.
"No, of course not, I just don't believe you think this plan will work."
Kit had to smile despite it all, this was probably the most easily manipulated Shadowhunter to ever exist, and that's without the added bonus of looking like the person he was hopelessly in love with. A darkness tickled the back of his mind at the thought, some irritation he couldn't pinpoint down.
Green eyes encircled by a ring of gold stared back at him in that dark corner. He felt their pressure as the memory of Zen refused to be laid to rest. It was irritating to be reminded of him, he had gotten rid of him because he had to. He refused to cooperate when things got serious, it would get them both killed and Kit didn't sign up for that, but if Zen wanted to run that risk he wasn't about to stop him. The last time he had seen him Kit had made him out as a scapegoat when Pandemonium would eventually start looking for him. From what he heard he was already dead.
It had been frustrating, if Zen was going to get himself in over his head with Kit then he should have committed, but because he held back Kit had to be the one to make the decision. Just thinking about it made him angry and he had no idea why this Shadowhunter was making him think of this to begin with.
His hands found the locket in his pocket, and immediately he found his anger seep into a new purpose. The boy behind him was still trying to do to him what he did to his Kit.
He wouldn't let that happen, he would kill him before that.
"What do you think the fruit of life is?" He looked up at the tree that towered over the whole garden, the destination they were heading towards. "It could have the secret to life, philosophically, or physically. Maybe it can even create life."
He spun around dangling the locket he had taken from him a year ago in his hand. He watched as his eyes turned wide, his grey eyes the same color as the silver chain he dangled in front of himt.
Kit grinned. "Wouldn't you want to know if you could bring her back?"
Out of the reactions he was expecting, audibly gasping and pulling out his staff as if to ward him off was not one of them.
He tilted his head, watching him with growing curiosity.
"How did you...how did you know.." He started babbling.
"What, that she was dead? It doesn't take genius to figure out you probably weren't carrying around a photo of yourself unless it belonged to someone who probably died. And the L.A. shadow market isn't exactly shy on their opinions of the Blackthorns." He stopped short, getting close to revealing how interested he had been to discover who Tiberius Blackthorn was. The one thing he did find out was that he had a twin that died in a freak accident, but plenty of people and Kit had to agree, thought it sounded like the Clave had been responsible.
"Livvy," his voice was deep and rich as he said the name with a shudder. The way he spoke it would make you think it was an invocation. "She was my twin."
His face broke with fresh grief that caught Kit off guard.
Mentally shaking himself out of it, he dug his heels in deeper. "Don't you want to find out what the Tree of Life is? If it could bring her back from death?" He urged him.
The grief slid off his face as he looked up to the angry sky above them. "No, because both of us would have to pay the price for it." He uttered in little more than a whisper, "nothing is for free."
Kit paused in confusion and then turned angry. "So you're trying to tell me not even your twin is worth it? You have the chance in front of you to save her and you won't even consider it? That's heartless even for a Shadowhunter."
Ty's hands clutched into his fists, his jawline set, Kit knew he was getting to him.
"I guess if you care so little then you don't really need this," Kit turned to throw the locket as far away into the brush that he could.
"No!' Ty called out but it was too late to stop him as he watched him throw his arm as hard as he could. He bolted forward but it was helpless, giving up after only a few feet.
He stood just feet in front of Kit breathing hard in anger.
Kit was feeling pretty pleased with himself until Ty turned around to set him with a look of fathomless hatred, turning his victory into something that felt more like a failure.
He had wanted him to hate him, After all, Kit didn't want anything to do with him. He needed Tiberius Blackthorn to know that he at least hated him. But the look of incomprehensible anger he was giving him now did nothing but make him want to shrink away.
The sound of something charging it's way through the forest made them both jump. The earth was shaking around them, Kit could see bushes and small trees being mowed down as something came closer.
Kit stumbled with a weapon as a giant boar crashed its way through to them. It was huge, a few feet taller than him, pure white, the fur around its head hung heavy like a mane. It had two pairs of tusks, two large ones on the side of its face and then a pair of long tusks meant to embowel it's enemies protruding from its snout.
He was standing right in front of it, he could feel the beast make eye contact with him. Smaller fake eyes dotted around it's large white eye staring straight down at him. It let out a roar that held a screech of rage.
His hands fumbled for his gun first but he only had one shot left, and looking at this monster's gigantic mass he doubted one shout would save him. His only other option was a knife that didn't look like it could clip the things toes nevermind it's skin.
The boar lowered its head, kicking one of its legs back preparing to charge as he struggled to pull out his gun. As soon as he tried to take a step back, it charged.
His fingers around the trigger slipped, the ground at his feet seemed to crumble. All he could see for a moment was the white of the boar's tusks bearing down on him when a pair of arms wrapped around him.
Hands were pressing on his back to guide him as he was spun away from the boar. Ty was there pressing him close to him, his face turned determinedly at the thing in front of him, and strangely Kit found himself clinging to him.
Then he was thrown to the side, by the time he looked back Ty had thrown knives into the boar's eyes. The thing reared its tusks in anger, giving Ty the opportunity to grab a hold of one and in one fluid motion slung himself on top of the boar.
The boar shook its head wildly, taking off in another charge, but Ty just grabbed its tusks and steered it into a collection of trees. They disappeared in a tumble of dirt and leaves crashing down as the boar slammed hard into the bark.
Kit found himself running to the wreckage the gun still held in his hand. The boar had completely collapsed, but the dust kept him from finding Ty until finally he emerged.
He hopped off the backside of the creature, stumbling just a little as one of his hands pressed against his headphones. He glanced somewhere near Kit's feet looking sick from the encounter.
Kit couldn't do anything but stare, his mind scrambling to try to find an explanation for what happened just now. The confusion was almost enough to make him angry if he could even bring himself to believe what just happened.
"You-!" He started in disbelief. "I threw it! Remember? I just threw your stupid necklace and you're not going to see it again!" He broke down in outrage. "And I'm still the one with a gun, I could kill you right now and you know I don't give a damn about you!"
The corner of Ty's mouth twitched in irritation as he regarded him like a toddler throwing a tantrum. "You said yourself, Shadowhunters are supposed to protect the helpless."
Kit made a noise of indignation before his jaw dropped open. "You-You realize I hate you and you're actually trying to sell me that spiel?!"
He removed his headphones, shaking out his dark hair.
Kit hated that he still couldn't look away from him.
"I don't need your gratitude to do my job." His eyes were back, and Kit felt something inside himself jump when they raked over him. A brief look of concern crossed over his features before his face became stone.
Kit just stood there, his temper slowly sizzling out, slowly feeling like he had let something very important go.
Ty turned his back on him to scout out the area. Kit couldn't do anything but look at the gun shaking in his hands. He couldn't begin to understand Tiberius Blackthorn, but nothing had prepared him for meeting someone like him. It felt like he was changing everything, and no matter how much Kit wanted to push back here he was holding a still loaded gun afraid to pull the trigger for the first time in his life.
His other hand pulled the cold metal of the locket he hid away back out. He couldn't even throw away this useless trinket.
Why was he still holding back?
Sorry guys, just a little tired. I know the pacing of this is a bit weird but trust me we are getting much closer to the final act, not that I can say how many more chapters it will technically be to get there but the majority of the story is behind us now.