She remembered the enormous hall, the towering marble pillars, the blazing torches. Torches, she realized now, were burning with heavenly fire. Shadows danced over the polished floors and walls, but no shapes were distinguishable. She was aware of the floor beneath her feet, but she felt as if she were floating. It was surreal to be present, but feel as if you are an apparition or a translucent ghost.
You call upon me again.
That soothing voice she remembered so vividly in her mind. Deep like a cello.
Eva stood her ground, squaring her shoulders and bracing herself for a presence she began to feel all around her. It made her shiver and her skin pucker with gooseflesh. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She parted her lips, but no words left her. She couldn't speak.
Heaven has no use for the language of mankind.
Eva understood immediately. I come with a message for you, Raziel.
From behind a towering pillar emerged the form of a man, ageless but indescribably beautiful. He wore light armor of gold, his arms bare and lined with silvery rivers of runes Eva couldn't read or recognize. He was glowing with a steady halo that outlined every inch of him, from his full head of gold and silver locks to his featureless golden eyes. His glorious wings were tucked into his back, each feather adorned with an open eye that fluttered with each step he took.
You are bold to believe you can do the work of angels, he said. Eva couldn't stop staring into his eyes: no whites and no pupils. Just pure golden light and energy and fire.
Valentine Morgenstern wants to summon you using the Mortal Instruments, Eva said. He wants to wish for the destruction of Downworlders and to make Nephilim the superior race. That can't be what you envisioned for the world when you created Shadowhunters.
Raziel was a head taller than her, but Eva was overwhelmed by his presence. She felt as if she was suffocating, despite realizing that she was not breathing. Whatever this place was—Heaven, perhaps, or some in-between dimension—did not require the language of mankind or oxygen.
Valentine Morgenstern is a hideous blot against the race of Nephilim. It is shameful to see that Jonathan Shadowhunter's descendants have spiraled into humanity's flaws of greed and pride.
We're human, Eva said. I'm sure you and the angels have a difficult time understanding that.
We do not understand many things that mankind deem necessary.
That's why Jesus was born—to bridge the gap between mankind and Heaven. To mediate between the worlds.
And Jesus was executed. He said this bitterly. And He forbid any interaction between Heaven and mankind henceforth. Hope for compassion and redemption were lost the moment they turned against Him.
And yet, you created the Nephilim afterwards so there must be some compassion left.
Raziel squared his shoulders at her challenge. Eva continued furiously, You created us, and I'm here to tell you Valentine Morgenstern wants to destroy what you created.
I disobeyed Him to create the Nephilim. Had Jonathan Shadowhunter not been true of heart, I would be ruling Hell alongside Asmodeus and Sammael. Raziel's wings flared. But He forgave my disobedience—the Nephilim would protect the world from demonic influence, but we were still not to intervene.
Eva's stomach dropped at the information. The Nephilim were not made in God's image, nor were they planned. They were created out of the disobedience of one archangel who risked his livelihood and status out of compassion for Jonathan Shadowhunter's wish for humankind. Eva never would've guessed angels had a rebellious streak—they're more human than they let on.
And then there's me, she continued. Gabriel carried the message of my existence here, didn't he?
We have been watching, but we cannot intervene.
Then there's nothing you can do?
Raziel closed his eyes thoughtfully. His magnificent wings rustled behind him as he pondered her question. She was astonished he was even giving it thought.
Your existence has been discussed at length, and He has not spoken against it, Raziel began. You are not of Heaven, but you are not of Earth. Like the Children of Lilith, you walk a solitary path. You belong to neither world, but can reside in either.
The fey most likely inherited their riddles and half-truths from their angel brethren, Eva thought in amusement.
If you won't help us, at least tell me what to do, Eva pleaded. The Nephilim are my people, and they are your blood too. I don't want to see them destroyed, and I don't think it's in Heaven's interest to see Hell get the upper hand.
The ghost of a smirk paraded his lips. Are you threatening an archangel of Heaven?
It seems to be the only way you understand my predicament.
Your link to Heaven is through Ithuriel. You need to speak to him.
Valentine still has him.
Raziel raised his arm towards her and spread out his fingers, urging her to take his hand. Like Michaelangelo's The Creation of Adam, their fingertips barely touched before a flash of images erupted behind Eva's eyes.
She recognized it as Idris with its sprawling green fields and cerulean blue skies. A countryside manor appeared in her vision, and then the entryway, and then the hallway, and then the dusty library, and then the cellar, and then…
The ancestral home of the Waylands, Raziel said, his arm now resting at his side. That is where your father is.
Thank you, Raziel, Eva said, bowing her head in respect. Hopefully we'll see each other again.
Again, Raziel gave her a smirk. A gentler one; one of compassion, or perhaps acknowledgement. We shall.
It was like waking up from a sudden sleep. Eva gasped for air, her lungs burning as if she'd been holding her breath underwater for too long. Had she really not been breathing?
She was in the weapons room. Her seraph blade was in her hand, dull and unlit with the Angel's power. The sun beaming through the high windows hadn't changed much, telling her the conversation with Raziel didn't take too long.
Sliding the blade into her belt, she rushed for the doors and pushed them open. Raphael and Hodge were standing in the hallway, their eyes wide in astonishment.
"How long was I in there?" Eva asked.
"A few minutes," Hodge said. "Did you speak to the Angel?"
Eva nodded. "The Angels are forbidden to intervene in our affairs because of God's mandate after Jesus was killed, but I'm not of Heaven and I'm not of Earth—"
"So you can do as you like," Raphael finished for her, smirking at the thought. "So what's the plan?"
"You seem uncharacteristically eager," Hodge pointed out.
"Valentine wants to destroy Downworlders. He earned his place on my list of undesirables."
"First we need to gather the vampires, the werewolves, and any warlocks available and get them to Idris," Eva said. Raphael's face immediately contorted to one of disgust while Hodge raised his eyebrows quizzically at the thought of vampires and werewolves working together. "Valentine wants to raise the Angel and destroy everyone that turns against him, so we need to unite."
Raphael scoffed. "Easier said than done."
"I can't believe I agree with Raphael," Hodge said. "For one, the Clave will never agree to that."
"That's where I come in," Eva jabbed her thumb into her chest. "Ithuriel is in the Wayland Manor in Idris. If I can release him, he can help me convince the Clave and the Downworlders to work together against Valentine."
"An angel with a vengeance," Raphael shrugged. "It could work."
"It's our only chance." Eva turned to Hodge. "Do you know where the Wayland Manor is?"
"They were my neighbors," Hodge nodded. "Their house wasn't too far from where mine used to be."
Eva turned to Raphael. "Can you gather your vampires?"
"I can't guarantee you that," he shook his head. "The politics of the Night Children is complicated, Eva. I've kept you out of it, but I can't just order them all to Idris to fight in a war that doesn't concern us—at least not entirely. I need to hold a vote, and hear what they want in exchange."
"You're right," Eva sighed softly. "Can you try to convince them, at least?"
"I don't think I'll hold much sway, considering I'm biased," Raphael said with a smirk. "But I'll try. Focus on the werewolves—they're more stubborn than us."
When Raphael left the Institute, Hodge pointed out both groups are equally stubborn when it comes to working together.
"When push comes to shove, they'll work together," Hodge said in hindsight. "It isn't the first time dangerous circumstances have brought the Shadow World together."
Eva nodded. "Let's just hope the Clave budges too—we're all stubborn."
Hodge watched her as she pulled out her phone and began texting Ragnor, asking him if he'd be willing to open a Portal to Idris. She left out details on purpose; she's certain he'll have a fit if she mentions New York's Downworld was going through the Portal.
When Eva sent the message, she told Hodge about the truth behind the creation of the Nephilim: how Raziel disobeyed God's order to never intervene in mankind's affairs and helped Jonathan Shadowhunter and his companions. Raziel would've been the Tenth Prince of Hell had God not forgiven him. Jonathan Shadowhunter's bravery and good heart gave God a sliver of hope for humankind again.
"I'm starting to believe not all the stories are true," Hodge said playfully as they walked out of the Institute. He returned to a healthy weight quickly, as all Shadowhunters naturally do, and the grey in his hair was already bleeding through the black dye. It was strange seeing him armed to the teeth with his chakrams, daggers, a seraph blade and two steles, and even stranger to see him armed and in his sharp tweed suit. Eva couldn't help but wonder how he'd look in full battle gear.
"Let's take a taxi to Chinatown," Eva said. "Hopefully we can get through to the werewolves."
As Hodge flagged down a vacant taxi, Eva's phone began to buzz in her pocket. She was a bit surprised when she read the caller ID and answered, "Hey, Ragnor. I know it's sudden—"
"I can't." He cut her off, but was not mean-spirited. He seemed out of breath, like he'd been running uphill. "I understand what's going on; Magnus told me. But I can't."
"Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine," he said. "Tell Raphael I'll be fine."
"What—"
"Just tell him I'm fine."
The line cut off. Eva tried calling him again, but the call immediately went to voicemail. Pushing that odd encounter aside, she pushed her phone into her pocket and jogged towards the taxi Hodge had flagged.
When Eva and Hodge arrived at the Jade Wolf in Chinatown, they were greeted by Maia Roberts, Luke Garroway's second in the pack.
"Luke got in touch," she said with a broad grin. "He wants us to save your butts in Idris."
"And we wholeheartedly appreciate it," Eva laughed. "How many werewolves have you gathered so far?"
"He told us to contact anyone in the area—we already sent out messages—and Luke's getting in touch with the werewolves in Brocelind Forest and around Idris."
"Good. Any idea how you're going to get to Idris?"
"None whatsoever," Maia admitted meekly. "Luke told us Clary used some Shadowhunter rune to transport them to Idris. He told me they landed in a lake."
"There's no such thing as a Portal rune," Hodge pointed out.
"Not in the Gray Book," Eva said. The image of the rune flashed behind her eyes again and made her shiver. "But it exists. I think I might be able to replicate it."
Maia and Hodge eyed her incredulously. Eva pulled her stele out of her belt and twirled it a few times between her fingers as she closed her eyes. Realizing she's never been to Brocelind Forest, she reached out with her free hand.
"Hodge, give me your hand," she said. He took it without question as she added, "Picture Brocelind Forest in your head as vividly as possible."
It was easy to use their joined hands as a link into his mind. She saw Hodge's memories of Brocelind Forest, saw him gathering ingredients and fresh herbs for his tisanes and cooking. Using that vision, she pressed her stele against an empty wall in the Jade Wolf's main office and carved the same rune Clary had used in the Institute.
With a flourish here and a flourish there, a doorway yawned open. A cool breeze swept through them, bringing in the smell of forest soil and fresh leaves. Just beyond was a clearing in Brocelind Forest, big enough to house the pack and then some.
"Well, that solves most of our problems," Maia said jokingly before turning to hurry down the hallway. "Time to head out, everyone!"
