She was walking through the streets of Alicante. It was a sunny day, but it was cold. She started to shiver from the strong wind that was hauling through the streets. When she entered a big marketplace, she stopped. On the other end of the place, there was Jace. And beside him Alec and Magnus. They looked at her. She started to feel uncomfortable. What was happening? Suddenly the back of her hand started to burn like fire. She looked down and her new rune looked just like the shadowhunter runes from before – red and sore. No – not again. The next thing she felt, was a seraph blade in her hand, but it wasn't silvery, it was black. She didn't want to hold it. It felt evil. But it was as if her body was controlled by an outer force and she gripped the blade even harder. She was so very much afraid. Jace, Alec and Magnus came towards her. Their faces looked grave – even hostile. She wanted to say their names, Jace's name, but her lips were sealed. What the fuck happened?
In this moment Jace called "Get her!" and he lifted his blade to attack. Panic rose inside her. Why did this happen? No! No! She didn't want it. Jace! Stop it. I am not evil!
He attacked and in the moment his blade got to her throat –
"Sue! Wake up!", she heard him say and suddenly Jace's face was right in front of her, his hands on her shoulders. She wanted to get away from him, but he held her down. Her throat burned. She must have been screaming. It had been a dream. Just a dream. Her eyes locked with his and her hands found his shoulders. She just wanted him to be near and she pulled him down into an embrace. She shook uncontrollably and started to sob.
"I am not evil… I am not…", she sobbed under her breath. Jace made her look into his eyes again.
"What are you talking about? Of course, you are not evil. You are one of the best people I know. Whatever you've dreamt, Sue: It was just a dream."
He held her for a while after that and rubbed his hands over her sides. Her heart rate slowed down. Eventually, he made an attempt to get up, but she took his hand.
"Please, would you mind… I mean… do you want to…", she stuttered and didn't look into his eyes.
"I can stay if you like.", he just said and she nodded, relieved. He turned off the lamp on the nightstand again. She lifted her bedsheet and with a smooth movement, he laid beside her. His body was as warm as she remembered from last night. But the feeling was different. Last night they had just fallen asleep out of exhaustion (and not just from having sex). Now it was even more intimate, although there was nothing sexual coming from it. Well, at least not as last night. He had wrapped his arms around her back, and she felt so secure. Nevertheless, In her mind the thoughts spiralled. It had felt so real. The evil inside her. And she wondered, if this has been an intuition from her inner self. The one, she wanted to explore. Maybe she shouldn't do that. Maybe what she could find, would be terrifying. Maybe-
"You are not sleeping.", Jace observed and she turned her head to his. She couldn't quite see his face, because only the moon was shining its light through the window. But she felt in his voice, that he was worried.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She hesitated for a moment.
"I am not sure. It was just horrible. I was in Alicante. And I was evil. And you –"
She needed to take a deep breath.
"I feel too shocked. I just want to get some sleep, but I just don't know how to stop these silly thoughts. It's an issue I have since – well forever."
He chuckled again and his grip on her tightened.
"Just close your eyes."
"I've tried this…", she stated, but still closed her eyes. She could feel his soft breath on her shoulder. The hair on her skin stood up. Then she could feel his hand on her arm, caressing it. And he thought she could sleep while he was doing this? Then she felt his lips on hers. She was too surprised to move. He started to give her kisses on her cheeks, her eyes and her brow.
"Everything's alright. I will take care of you. You don't need to worry."
With this he caressed her hair and laid beside her again. Sue knew he was right. When you are with Jace Wayland, you don't need to worry. She felt her shoulders relaxing even more and a few moments later, she was vast asleep.
Of course, they overslept in the morning. Sue still wanted to go to work, but when she woke up with a jolt, Jace had already called her boss and said she didn't feel well. Far from the truth, she thought, when she got ready in the bathroom. She had slept very well. To be honest, the night before she had slept quite good as well, but tonight she had felt more secure than ever. Her boss would probably fire her for the number of sick days. She needed to talk to him tomorrow.
They headed to Magnus' and Alec's place right away. Jace thought that she wanted to try the rune asap. Which would have been true yesterday. Today, she wasn't as convinced anymore. What if every additional rune would make her darker? To the extent that Jace and the others would start to hate her or even fight her? She grew quieter the closer they got to Magnus' and Alec's apartment. She looked at the pavement and that is when she noticed a flyer laying there.
"Look.", she just said to Jace as she grabbed it and held it between them to read.
It was a pink flyer with a lot of glitter on it, which said "You are invited". Sue wanted to read more, but Jace just took the flyer out of her hand. He sighed.
"One of Magnus' parties for one of his cats."
"Well, let me read it!", she commanded and wanted to snatch it back from him, but he held it high above his head. He started to grin, which made her mad. Oh, he thought of himself to be so smart.
"Be nice, little girl.", he ordered. That was it.
With a restraint outcry, she pushed him back and in the same time, hooked her food behind his legs. Jace stumbled backwards but was quick balancing himself.
"I am not falling for this a second time.", he said grinning and handed her the flyer. She snorted and snatched it from him.
"Celebrate with us the first birthday of our newest family member Purrcy Jackson."
She looked at Jace in disbelief. He just shrugged.
"I told you, that this is a party for his cat. He always needs excuses for throwing a party. This will probably be all about Greek gods. I know Magnus."
"Oh yes, this sounds exactly like Magnus.", Sue agreed.
"There will be Greek statues and Greek men!", Magnus exclaimed and whirled his hands through the air. Blue sparkles traced the way his hands had gone.
"When will this party take place?", Jace asked casually as he was helping himself to a drink in the open kitchen.
"Next Saturday. You two will be there, right?", he asked, but didn't really pay attention to their answer. It was clear, that he insisted on their presence.
"Of course.", Sue answered cautiously. She wasn't quite sure, if she wanted to go. She was afraid something bad could happen… after this dream.
"Very well! After we have clarified this, let's head to more important topics. The book and the Rune."
He turned to Sue and looked at her closely. She couldn't hold his gaze.
"Sue? What's wrong?", he said immediately. She wanted to explain herself but couldn't.
"She had a bad dream last night.", Jace said from the kitchen. He came over to her and just stood beside her.
"A dream? What kind of dream?", Magnus asked as he clicked in warlock mode and came to her as well. His hands found their way to her temple.
"May I?", he asked, and she nodded. He had done this before, when he tried to find out what had happened in her past, but the last time it didn't work. She closed her eyes and his fingers touched the sides of her head. She could feel the electric magic coming from them. Without her doing, images of the dream from last night flashed before her eyes and she knew that Magnus would see the images too in this moment. The second time seeing this dream was as bad as before. She felt helpless and vulnerable. Her breath was beginning to become unsteady. In this moment she felt Jace taking her hand and she squeezed his hand firmly. After a while Magnus let out a sharp breath and Sue opened her eyes to see his shaken face.
"What?", she asked alarmed. For a moment, Magnus needed to collect himself.
"This wasn't a normal dream, Sue. This was some kind of magic. Someone wanted you to see this. There are traces of dark magic on your soul."
"How is this even possible?", Jace asked surprised. Magnus elaborated.
"When a Nephilim is born, he or she is protected with spells. Just as yours had to be redone, Jace, after what happened at the lake. We do not know yet, what exactly Sue is, but I fear she is not protected of these kind of attacks."
"Can you do the ritual?" Jace seemed determined. Sue couldn't react. She was too shocked and overwhelmed by this. She wasn't sure to believe this. It had felt so real. That she was evil.
"No. The Silent Brothers are the only ones who can do it. And even if I could. This is a ritual meant for Nephilim. Sue – we don't know what Sue really is. It could hurt her."
Jace let out an annoyed growl. His hand never left hers. Magnus addressed Sue again.
"The rune, Sue. Maybe this will help you. Most of the runes for Nephilims are protection runes. Chances are high that this is one, too. Maybe it will protect you from attacks like these. Additionally, I will have a look in my books. Maybe I will find some kind of spell I could cast. A spell which is working on mundis as well and wouldn't hurt you."
Sue wasn't convinced. This dream had been too real. And every time she looked at Jace now, she saw the hostile look in her dream. She sighed deeply.
"I am not sure, Magnus. Maybe the dark magic comes from using the first rune."
"If you do not feel like using it, then I am the last one to tell you to do it.", Magnus said. Jace squeezed her hand again.
"I wasn't convinced from the beginning.", he agreed.
Sue was kind of relieved, that she didn't have to try it now. But another thought came to her mind.
"Maybe if I would know more about this. About what I am. I really need this whole book.", she concluded.
"Jace said you have an idea.", she added, speaking to Magnus. Magnus nodded.
"I have. But it's risky. I am not sure if we can pull it right now. Look-", he paused a moment and then his hands drew a magical sketch of some kind of underground building.
"This is the underground of the headquarters of the Silent Brothers. Normally the Nephilim go through an entrance at the graveyard, but I know from a few decades back, that there is another entrance. A secret one for vanishing and entering the cells. Some innocent and not so innocent captives used this to escape the clave in the past."
"Wow. I didn't know that.", Jace said surprised.
"And I didn't tell you before, because I wasn't sure how much obligation you will have to the clave, but Sue's case made it very clear, that this is more important than the clave."
In this moment Sue looked from Magnus to Jace, who seemed to be taken aback. He looked intensely at Sue.
"Yes, the past few years and especially the last weeks changed that."
Sue gave him a small smile.
"I know, my dear young shadowhunter. There is only one problem we have now."
"And that is?", Sue asked and turned again to Magnus.
"We need to get from the cells to the library. And that implies breaking the protection of the cells."
"That's never been done before.", Jace said in disbelief.
"That's exactly the point.", Magnus just said and added: "But let's not lose hope. First things first. You are coming to the party, right?"