- Los Angeles -

"What do you mean? That's not possible!" Amelia stared at Grayson, who was sitting on the edge of her bed. "Where did you get that from?"

He shrugged. "Clary just called. She said there had been talk about Shadowhunters entering the Faerie without permission. She says some fairies must have seen you and reported it to the Seelie Queen."

Amelia bit her lip, lifted her hand and rubbed her forehead. "How much do they know? Do they know it's us? Do they know -"

"I don't know," Grayson interrupted her. "I just told you everything I know."

Amelia crossed her arms in front of her chest and started pacing up and down in front of her bed. That was the worst case ever. If there was one thing that never should have happened - this was it. The fact that the fairies knew about their trips to Faerie, that they even might know something, could put the whole plan in danger. Even thinking about that made Amelia feel sick.

Grayson observed her intently, before he said, "You're not gonna stop, are you?"

"Course not!" Amelia shook her head. "As long as they just think there's someone entering Faerie, as long as they don't have any proof that someone actually does and that that someone is us -"

"Amy," Grayson said and she looked at him. "What?"

"I know you don't want to hear it, but this is turning into complete madness." Grayson grimaced. "You're obsessed with that plan. You are not thinking straight."

Amelia stopped in front of her brother and he sighed. "I'm not stupid, okay? I know that I can't stop you from doing that. I can't stop you from risking your life for Mark. But you have to know that it's not only your life you're risking."

His words made Amelia shiver. Of course, she knew that he was right, but until now she had forced herself not to think about that. But now that Grayson had spoken the words aloud, they hung between them like the sword of the Angel, ready to crash down and destroy everything in its way.

Grayson looked up to Amelia and said quietly, "Think about the others. They are risking their lives - at least they should have a say in this."

Amelia nodded, raised her hand and rubbed her forehead. Her head was aching from too little sleep and her mind was swirling from all the latest information.

"Okay. Here's what we're gonna do. We'll have a meeting - Emma, Jules, Clary, Jace, you and I. We will talk about it and if all of you agree that it's too dangerous I will accept the decision."

Grayson stared at her in complete disbelief and Amelia dropped both her arms. "What? Is it that weird that I am able to come to a reasonable decision?"

"To be honest - yeah." Grayson raised his eyebrows. "I mean, I was prepared to talk you out of whatever you wanted to do. I've prepared a speech, starting with appealing to your sense of responsibility and ending with a threat to inform Dad about what you're doing." His voice got dramatic. "I was prepared for everything- but not for that! I'm - I'm shocked."

"Stop it," Amelia interrupted him. "Otherwise I will rethink my decision."

Grayson grinned and she bit her lip. "There's a catch."

"By the Angel! I knew it!" Grayson rolled his eyes and Amelia said hastily, "It's not that bad, Grays. Trust me."

"What is it?" Grayson demanded to know, but she shook her head. "I'm telling you when the others are here. Tell them we'll meet in the library as soon as Clary and Jace can make it."

He stood up and went to the door.

"Grays?"

He stopped, turned around and looked at Amelia. She tried to smile, but it was a sad one. "Thanks again."

He frowned and said, "Throughout the last weeks you've thanked me more than in all the years before added together."

Amelia's smile widened. "Well, lately I have more reason for thanking you."

"You're a menace, Amy!" Grayson smiled too and Amelia shrugged her shoulders. "Runs in the family, I guess."

Grayson sighed. "Yeah, obviously." He placed his hand on the doorknob. "Go to bed, Amy. You look tired." With that, he left her room.

Amelia sank to her bed, took a deep breath and tried to sort her thoughts. She had been lying to her brother about the catch. Of course, there would be one - for she would never accept the decision not to look for Mark anymore - but she had no idea what it would be.

Grayson was right - she was indeed very tired, but there was no time to sleep. She had to come up with a new plan, one that would be good enough to convince the others to continue with the search. Amelia knew that she would need help, so she stood up again and left her room.

- Faerie -

The bark of the tree was warm and rough under his skin. Somehow, it was as if he could feel the life pulsating beneath his fingertips while he let them sweep gently across the wood. That was not the only thing that had changed since Mark had come to Faerie. Lately he seemed to be able to hear better - he was able to tell which animal was moving through the thicket just by listening to the cracks it made. His sight had gotten better as well and he could run much faster now; it was almost like using Runes.

Mark looked at his arms, where the lines of the Runes were still visible; dark black against his pale skin, a reminder of the life he once had used to live, but that now seemed to be too far-gone. He had never really paid any attention to the Runes as long as he had been in Los Angeles or in Idris. To him they had been normal, a part of his life. But now they were special, separating him from the other hunters visually. It was almost ironic - in Idris the Runes had made him part of a society, here in Faerie they separated him.

Mark's gaze fell on the scars on his wrists and a shiver ran through his body. He could still remember how it had felt to feel his life slowly dripping out of his body. He remembered how dizzy he had felt, how scared and - relieved. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was thankful that Kieran had saved him that night, but still there was a part of him that longed for redemption, a part that was so afraid of having to spend the rest of his life here, that death still seemed like the better opportunity. Mark swallowed hard and tried to banish the thought from his mind. He had not come here to think about death.

He opened his eyes again and stared at the tree. He had been so sure it was the right one, but now he began to doubt it. Mark turned his head and let his gaze wander across the other trees around the lake. Maybe he and Kieran had been a little bit more south, closer to the hills. Mark frowned and moved toward a little group of trees some feet away.

What am I doing here, he thought. Chasing something because of a dream?

Mark stopped and looked across the lake, whose water was now calm and sparkling in the light of the sun, that was about to rise. It looked peaceful, not as terrifying as in his nightmare, where the waves had swallowed him, dragging him to the ground. The memory of the dream was so vivid, it made Mark shiver from the cold water, although he was not even touching it. But as frightening as the dream might have been - it had made him believe again. Believe that he was not lost completely, that there was still someone looking for him.

Of course, he knew that it was just a small hope, based on a weird sign in a tree and a strange dream that had been haunting him for days. But yet he wanted to hold on to this tiny spark of hope - for it was all he had. Mark felt that this was his last chance; if the sign proved itself to be nothing, to be useless; he would loose the last thing linking him to his old life.

It has to work, Mark thought desperately. Please, let it mean something. Please.

After a few steps he reached the trees. Their branches were full of green leaves, softly shaken by the warm wind. Mark moved closer and examined the bark of the first one - no sign. He felt his confidence sinking. Suddenly he felt stupid, naïve - sneaking away from the others in the middle of the night for nothing. What would he tell them when he returned? He bet they would be suspicious - Gwyn surely would be.

Mark sighed and turned to the next tree. Luckily, he had brought his bow, so he could hunt a deer or maybe some rabbits and tell the others that was the reason why he had left.

The bark looked weird, old and grey. Again, Mark placed his hand on the wood and closed his eyes. All in a sudden, he felt a prickle rushing through his fingers. He opened his eyes and narrowed them, but there was nothing - only some cracks in the bark. Mark moved his fingers and again he felt the prickle, this time more intense. Carefully he wiped away the moss that covered the tree and held his breath when he saw the softly curved lines and the cross. His heart was jumping in his chest as relief rushed through his body.

Mark forced himself to calm down - just finding the sign was no reason to be that excited. He let his fingertips swipe across the thorns and suddenly he had to think of Helen, Jules, Ty, Livvy, Dru and Tavvy. He could see their faces and for a second he felt home. But as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone. Mark gasped breathlessly. His gaze fell on the cross. For some strange reason looking at it caused a warm feeling in his chest - if only he had known what it meant.

Mark placed his hand on the sign and closed his eyes, silently praying to the Angel.

Please, let me remember. I know that it must mean something. Help me remember.

Mark pressed his eyes together more tightly, trying to force his mind to work. Just when he was about to give up he saw the face of a girl. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen; her face was small and her hair long and black; her lips curled into a little smile, showing dimples on both of her cheeks. Her eyes were green like emeralds and Mark knew that it had been those eyes he had seen in his dream.

A warm feeling was spreading through his whole body, making his knees weak and his hands shiver. With every part of his body, Mark could feel that he loved the girl and that she loved him.

His eyes still closed, he dug his fingers deeper into the bark of the tree, as if he could intensify her picture. He tried to remember her name, but all he could see was the cross.

Mark felt his throat tighten. He leaned forward and placed his forehead against the tree. He could still see the girl and the fact that he somehow had forgotten her name was driving him insane.

"I know you," he whispered hoarsely. "I can see you. And I know you."

For some seconds everything around him seemed to vanish; he did no longer hear the wind, the water, or the other sounds of the trees and everything else - there was just the girl.

"Mia."

The name was dripping from his lips like clear water after a long drought, bringing relief and hope. It felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, as if he was finally breaking free from the waves that had been holding him down for so long. The fog that had been clouding his mind was suddenly gone, revealing his memories. Mark remembered Mia, remembered kissing and holding her, and how good it had felt to be around her. It made his heart ache with desire.

Mark felt the tears behind his closed eyelids, but he did not care. It was so relieving to finally feel something other than loneliness and pain. Again and again he whispered her name, as if to ensure that he would never forget it again. Slowly he sank to his knees, his eyes still closed, afraid that if he opened them Mia's face would be gone.

Now he knew why there was a cross - because it was Mia's name. Underneath his tears, Mark was smiling. She was so clever, hiding her message for him within this picture. It made him love her even more. Slowly Mia's face began to fade and with a sigh Mark opened his eyes to look at the sign again. He had to leave her a message as well, letting her know that he had found her sign and understood what she wanted to tell him. He tried hard to think about something he could carve into the tree as a response, but he did not know what that could be.

In fact, there was only one thing he could leave here.

He rose to his feet, pulled one of the arrows out of the quiver and started carving something into the bark. When he was finished, Mark drew one step back and looked at his message. It were only three words.

I am here.

- Los Angeles -

The tension in the room was almost palpable. Everyone knew how serious and desperate the situation was. Clary and Jace had arrived as soon as possible, and Emma and Jules were also in the library. Clary had told them everything she knew, which in fact had not been that much. But fact was that the Seelie Queen had asked whether there were Shadowhunters entering Faerie, for there had been traces.

Amelia frowned. "Do you think they are talking about the signs?"

Clary shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I believe that maybe we have been seen by someone. If the signs had been discovered, the fairies would have asked about them too."

"Anyway - they've become suspicious," Jace said hastily. "And believe me - the last thing we want is a suspicious horde of fairies at our backs."

Emma looked at him and asked, "What do we do now? I mean, we are not going to stop, are we?"

Amelia stared at the young girl. She felt incredibly thankful for Emma's words, thankful that it was not herself again insisting on continuing the search. Emma was so young, but already so unbelievably strong and brave and Amelia was grateful that Emma Carstairs was part of her team.

Grayson, who was standing beside one of the huge book rags, sighed. "We have to consider some things. First, how dangerous is it for us to get caught? Second, is the danger we put ourselves into really worth it?" He looked at his sister. "I'm not saying Mark's not worth it. Never would I do that and I hope you know that I would do anything to bring him back home."

Amelia nodded. She knew Grayson was not lying and she could understand his concerns. He raised his eyebrows and said, "I'm just asking if all we have done until know has brought us any good. And if the answer's no, then we should rethink our plans. That's what I'm saying."

"Until now we haven't had any success," Jace remarked, looking at Amelia. "I know you don't want to hear it, but I think Grayson is right. It's too dangerous at the moment. They are alarmed. And it's not only our lives we risk, it's Mark's as well."

Amelia knew that Jace was right. "I- I agree." Speaking the words felt weird, like a betrayal, and yet they had to be said. "I agree that it's too dangerous at the moment. But as soon as the situation has calmed down we will return to Faerie and check on our signs." She turned her head to Grayson. "In the meantime we can work on other plans. But I will return to Faerie. That's my catch."

"Well - I was prepared for something worse," Grayson countered and Amelia smiled, when Julian spoke.

"Do we have another plan? I mean, we keep on talking about the fact that we need something new, something else. But no one's managed to come up with something yet."

"Well, actually I have."

All heads turned to Amelia again and she shrugged her shoulders. "It's not a plan yet, but maybe an option. I've been talking to Ty and I think he has something we can work with. But it might take some time and some help."

No one spoke, everyone just stared at Amelia. Finally, Grayson cleared his throat. "So we agree on not returning to Faerie until it is safe again?"

Although everything inside her refused to agree, Amelia forced herself to nod.

Grayson sighed quietly and asked, "What is it that Ty has got?"

- Faerie -

Mark could not bring himself to leave the tree. For what seemed like hours, he had been sitting on one of the rocks without taking his gaze away from the sign. For a long time he had not been feeling so close to home like he did in this moment. For the first time since he had come to Faerie he felt hope. Now he knew that he had been right all the time, that his family was looking for him.

The thought made him feel warm and safe.

Mark stood up and placed his hand on the tree one last time. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I swear I will return. I swear I will never forget you again, just like you have not forgotten me."

For some moments he let his hand rest on the sign, before he turned around, knowing that his loved ones would soon return to bring him back home.