Chapter One
I'm tying my combat boots' laces when Maya bursts into my room. "Nate's here!" She pants before falling on my bed.
My eyebrows fly up. "So you didn't ask him out for a tour around the city last time he visited?"
Of course, I knew she'd been lying to me when she said that. The Parabatai connection makes sure there are almost no secrets between us. It's embarrassing sometimes…
"No. I freaked out and called off at the last minute." Maya says, gesturing with her hands while talking, a clear sign that she's a nervous wreck.
"Maya. You're perfect, in and out. You should make a move. Nothing will go wrong." I say. "And if anything goes wrong, blame it on our mundane half." I'm trying to lighten the mood, but her frown only goes deeper.
"Yeah, but when I get this nervous about doing something, it's usually because something bad is about to happen. You of all people know that."
I nod. That's my Parabatai's sixth sense. Now, please don't mistake her personality from this first encounter. She's only like this around Nate. Otherwise, our roles are reversed. I'm usually the insecure and nervous one, she the bold and confident one. We complete each other in that way…or she completes me, but hey! I'm a good archer in battle, and that's what matters!
"Maya." I start, and the way her lips turn down, she already knows what I'm about to. "If you're not comfortable enough, then you don't have to do this. You should go out with a person who you can be yourself around."
"I know. But Kate, c'mon! You've seen him shirtless!"
I sigh. She has a point.
"I can ask him to come with us for a tour around town. And then when you're comfortable enough, you can start working your charm on him."
Maya snorts. "Yeah, my charm seems to work on everyone except for him."
"That's cause you're not working it around him."
"You know what … I'll just ask Lynn for advice."
"Hey! That's offensive!" I yell.
"Sorry. She's just…you know…more experienced."
"Ouch!" I say, placing my hand over my heart theatrically. "Whatever. As long as she can get you with Nate-"
"Kate! Maya! What are you doing, chatting at a moment like this?!" Pure evil's voice fills the room. I bite my tongue and start working on my other foot.
"Sorry, mom. We'll be there in a second." Maya responds as she runs out to go finish getting ready in her room.
I look up to be met with my aunt's glare. "You're the oldest. You should at least be a little more responsible."
"I'm sorry." I say. "It won't happen again."
When she leaves, I go out to meet Maya leaves hers in the hall, and we make our to the staircase. We take them two at a time, risking breaking our necks for the thousand time before hitting the landing. As we turn into the hallway, we're met with the head of the institute.
"Morning, Aunt Sophia." Maya says easily.
"Mom." I say and almost wince at how awkward it sounded. Mom nods as she gives us the smallest of smiles.
We finally turn into the main hall, where Nate stands in his usual straight pose, with two other Shadowhunters behind him. The redheaded girl's called Eliza, and the blonde one Rick. There was this weird incident last night at the edge of the woods. We caught demon activity on our radars and Maya and I were sent to investigate. We encountered five Drevak demons. We took out four of them and captured one of them alive for investigation, because Drevak demons since those are usually used for spying. The head of the institute sent a fire message reporting to the clave, and they sent Nate, Rick and Eliza this morning so that the five of us could investigate. We greet each other, Maya's nervousness clear in the air as she greets Nate, before we set on our way.
It's a sunny day in the busy city of Toronto. Glamoured, we take the 15 mins walk leading to the edge of the forest. When we arrive, Maya and I lead them to the exact spot where we found those Drevak demons. In the sunlight, the ichor we left behind is much more visible, coating the grass and the few tree branches that got stained in the process of killing them.
"Here's where we found them." I say. "Five's quite suspicious. They had either just appeared, or they were waiting here for their master after finishing their job."
"Okay," Rick, our eldest, says. "Let's split into groups and search the forest. See if there's any clue we can find. For all we know, this can just be a coincidence. Kate and Maya, you two take the east side. Nate and Eliza, go west. I'll take the northern side. We meet here in an hour."
We nod and take off.
"I hate that he had to pair him with her." Maya complains.
"Well, we're Parabatai, and live in the same place, and they're both from Idris, so…it's kinda obvious that he'd put you and me instead of you and him on the same team." I say.
"They know each other. She's probably already made her move. I have no chance with him." She says, pouting.
I sigh, focusing back on my task. The forest seems unbothered, with the smell of damp leaves and the sound of roaches and birds. I check my sensor every once in a while, but there's no sign of demonic activity nearby.
"You know, I should've just gone out with Jake. I mean, I can't believe I kept wasting my time on someone whose probably got the entire female population of Idris after him." Maya continues.
"Um, Maya? I don't about the others, but…Nate's not all that hot. Just saying. You've got more of a chance with him than you let on to yourself. And Jake's a mundane, which doesn't really work nicely if you intend on keeping him away from the Shadow World, which, I highly doubt is possible after a couple of dates."
"Yeah."
"And besides, I caught Eliot staring at you more than once. That guy is obviously into you. And in my opinion, he's hot."
"Ugh, Kate, no." Maya says. "Not Eliot. He's …"
"He's?"
Maya's quiet for a moment before she replies. "He talks too much. Compliments himself too much. He's just not my type."
"He only does that when he's around you."
"Yeah, that doesn't change anything."
I let out an exasperate groan, which sounds louder in the quiet of the forest. "Please, go consult Lynn. I'm not offended anymore. Just don't give me a front row seat to your love life problems, because, even as your Parabatai, I have no interest in trying to understand them."
Maya laughs. "Sorry. I guess I went overboard."
"Shhh! You hear that?"
There's a rustling sound. Maya and I both go quiet as we turn toward the giant bush, which is shaking strangely. I slowly take my bow in my hands and prepare an arrow, pulling back, just as Maya pulls out her seraph blade. We slowly move toward the bush. When we're just a few feet away, the bush stops moving.
Suddenly, a Rahab demon jumps out in front of us. It slashes at us with its tail, and we both jump back in time before it comes into contact with one of us. I shoot an arrow and it hits it, slowing it back enough for Maya to take advantage and pierce its heart with her seraph blade. The demon dissolves before it knows what hit it.
Maya wipes her blade on the grass, while I check the perimeter surrounding the bush. "I don't understand" I say. "There was no sign of demonic activity on the sensor when I checked it about a minute ago."
Maya looks back at me, biting on her lower lip. "Which means it only just appeared."
I nod. We take another tour to check the forest, but we find nothing. When we meet up with the others later, we tell them about it. Rick thinks for a while. "Nothing makes sense yet. The Institute will have to assign patrol on the forest perimeter. See what's going on."
We head back to institute. Rick and the others portal back to Idris, while Maya and I report to my mother. When we're finished, she dismisses us to start assigning Shadowhunters to patrol the forest. Once we're outside the office, I turn to Maya. "Training room?"
"You don't need to ask me twice." Maya replies with a grin.
We're on our way down the hallway that leads to the training room when we almost run into Nick. He gives us his signature salute as he passes us. Our eye contact never lingers. Just as if I were nothing other than his girlfriend's cousin. I push the emotions back down and keep my expression blank.
At the training room, I pick up two long wooden swords, pass one to Maya and take position. We face each other, and after we do the mental countdown (which, thanks to being Parabatai, we match perfectly), we move. Only then do I let the thoughts resurface. Because when I'm in the training room, or when I'm fighting demons, I can finally burn them away.
Nick's face takes place in my mind as I block Maya's first blow with my sword, pushing with enough force to make her stumble back. She gains position and attacks again, and this time, I duck, swiping my leg in an arc but she jumps back.
Nick and I first met at a bookstore. He told me he wanted to get his mother a book for her birthday but didn't know what to choose from the many titles available. I started trying to determine his mother's reading genre, and in the end, we found a book that matched her preferences. He asked me what school I went to, and I told him that I was home-schooled. He asked for my number, but I told him I had strict parents.
This time, I attack, and our wooden swords clash together. I can't help but match Maya's smirk. She turns around and our swords slide together before parting. I attack again, and the sound of wood clatter echoes in the vast room.
Two days later, I found Nick leaning against a tree, not so far from the institute. He walked up to me and asked if I wanted to grab a drink with him. He looked at me in a way no one ever did before. Like I was interesting. And so, I accepted his invitation.
Our swords collide again, and this time, I duck and slam my shoulder into her abdomen. We both go down to the ground, and our laughter fills the place. Maya pushes me off her and gets to her feet. She throws her sword and cracks her knuckles. I rise and throw away my own sword.
We went to the library first so I could return my books. Then, we went to this small coffee shop. Nick insisted to pay for my smoothie, and then we went and had our drinks in the park, sitting on the grass. He started talking about random stuff, but everything coming out of his mouth sounded interesting. I didn't have many friends, except for the lightwoods, but those almost counted like family.
Maya and I move at the same time. She throws a punch and I duck, swiping my leg in an arc. This time I'm fast enough, and Maya falls on her back before jumping to her feet again. I throw a punch but she turns around at the last second, and I stumble when my fist doesn't hit its target. Maya takes the chance to kick me from behind, and I go sprawling on my stomach. I stand up and face her again. So we're playing rough now…
I was fifteen back then. So was Nick. It's been 3 years now…
I tap into my Heightened Speed Rune, reaching Maya and throwing a punch. She's fast enough to lean back, and I miss her by inches. She kicks and I block her leg with both my hands.
One year since he and Lynn started dating …
Maya swipes her leg underneath mine, and I don't have the time to brace myself when I hit the floor hard on my back. The wind is knocked out of me and I see stars. I also feel the tears burn my eyes.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah." I say, taking her hand and sitting back. "I just got a little distracted."
"Clearly." She says and I feel wetness beneath my nose. I put my fingers there and they come bloody. My head hurts like hell from the impact.
"Here." Maya says, drawing an Iratze on the side of my neck. The relief is instant. A rune drawn by a Parabatai is stronger than a regular one. Maya and I tend to draw them for each other, especially Iratzes so we can heal faster in combat.
"I think that's enough for today." Maya says, helping me up to my feet. We start down the hallway, meaning to go to the staircase, but as we pass the great hall, a familiar silhouette catches my attention. I turn and find Alec standing there, arms crossed, smiling at me.
"Alec!" I run up to him but stop before reaching him. "Wait, I was training, so I'm all sweaty…"
"Come here." He says, picking me off my feet like I weighted nothing. "Missed me?"
I laugh in his embrace before he sets me down.
"Hey Alec." Maya says, coming up behind me. "Been a while."
"Yeah. Sorry, had a lot to take care of." He says.
Just then, Lynn and Nick walk into the hall, hand in hand.
"Hey lovebirds." He says, earning an eyeroll from Lynn. "So I was thinking, wanna grab something at Taki's?"
"Only if we get to watch a movie afterwards." Maya says.
"Got it. You two get ready then." He says, addressing Maya and me.
We run upstairs and part so each one can go to her room. Once in the shower, I strip and turn on the cold water, relishing in the feeling of it on my skin. I'm still smiling at the thought of Alec visiting when this really weird thought hits me…
Did I get butterflies at the sight of Alec?
A.N: Okay, so I'm a big fan of both the books and series. The movie too, if only they'd made more of them. I've always had this huge unexplainable crush on Alec, and I've always wanted to write a fanfic about him. Matthew Daddario portraying him hasn't made things easier for the fangirl in me. I hope this won't upset any Malec fans out there …
*runs and takes shelter behind desk*
Enjoy!