Me: Thank you to all who favored and followed! And thank you so much to all who reviewed- it really means so much to me to hear your kind words.
I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Disclaimer: Moriah is my OC, but I own nothing else!
Chapter 5: Day of Preparing
''Moriah Cèline Herondale, what do you think you're doing?''
Jocelyn hesitated in the archway to the kitchen, looking in at the scene playing out. Clary had been sitting at the counter with Isabelle, but just now paused to look at her daughter, who had decided to empty the kitchen cabinet and send boxes of cereals and cookies crashing to the floor.
''Why would you do this?'' Clary asked, going over and picking the mess up. Jocelyn heard Moriah reply with a whine.
''Maybe she didn't like the breakfast choices,'' Isabelle commented.
Clary stopped putting the food away and sat kneeling on the floor. She bent her head to catch Moriah's gaze. ''Is there something else you'd like?''
Jocelyn resisted flinching as Moriah reached out and touched her mother's face.
No, she scolded herself. She couldn't flinch, she couldn't be afraid. Moriah is not Jonathan. Moriah is not Jonathan. Or maybe she is… Maybe Maryse was right… In any case, I am not the same person I was.
Steeling her nerves, Jocelyn entered the kitchen, her shoes clicking on the tile and alerting her presence.
Both Clary and Isabelle looked surprised to see her. ''Mom,'' Clary said, more as a statement than a greeting. She got up off the floor and picked up Moriah. ''What are you doing here?''
''I came to see you.'' Jocelyn forced herself to walk further inside. ''I wanted to talk to you.''
''Oh.'' Clary bounced Moriah on her hip, more from nervousness than Moriah needing comfort. Moriah was staring at Jocelyn, her big, black eyes boring into Jocelyn's heart.
Isabelle's char scraped the floor as she got up. ''I'll just…'' she said, motioning to the exit. She looked at Clary. ''You want me to take Moriah?''
''I'd rather you didn't,'' Jocelyn spoke up, prying her eyes away from Moriah's. In a steadier voice, she added, ''I'd like to visit with her.''
Isabelle raised an eyebrow and looked to Clary, clearly checking if she was alright with this. It was only at Clary's shrug that she left, brushing past Jocelyn with indifference. Jocelyn knew Isabelle had been wary of Moriah at the start as well. Nevertheless, Isabelle always sided with her family. And Clary was her family.
For a moment Jocelyn and Clary stood in awkward silence. Moriah was still staring at Jocelyn, one of her hand's entangled in Clary's hair. Jocelyn sighed and went to sit in Isabelle's vacated seat. ''Clary.''
''Yes?'' Clary asked politely enough. But her body language was enough to show she was uneasy.
''Clary, I'm sorry for the things I said. For the things I implied. I will for fully admit to- to being afraid. Not of Moriah, but for you. And for Jace. I'm worried about this upcoming Inquest and how it will all play out. I'm sorry.'' Clary's mouth was set, and she had stopped swaying and stood still. Moriah had stopped watching Jocelyn and was now seeing how much of her mother's hair she could grasp in her little fist. ''I would never, ever say anything that would put your family in jeopardy at the Inquest. I need you to know that. I don't want to lose you, Clary. And I don't want to not be in your life. Please, forgive me.''
Moriah made another sound in her throat. Jocelyn watched Clary's fingers as they caressed her. Clary took a trembling breath. ''Forgive you for what?''
Jocelyn blinked. ''For-'' but Clary cut her off before she could finish.
''You come here, and you say how you're afraid for me and for Jace. But what about Moriah, mother? What about your granddaughter?'' The anger in Clary's tone was second only to the venom in it. ''Are you afraid of losing her? Because I am. That's the only scenario running through my head. What if the Clave take her away? What if I lose my baby? What then? I am not interested in the least about how you are afraid nor am I wondering what you will say at the Inquest. Growing up, you were my protecter. My mom who never, ever would let anything happen to me. I took for granted that at the Inquest you would be on my side. But now I see I was wrong. You might be on my side, but I need you to be on Moriah's side. Are you? Can you look me in the eye and tell me you are 100% on my daughter's side?''
''I won't let them take her away from you,'' Jocelyn stated.
''Why?''
'' 'Why'?''
''Yes, why? Because you love her? Because you love me? Because it's for the best? Why will you protect her?''
''Be- because she's family.''
''Like Jonathan was family? Like when you left him behind?''
Tears stung in Jocelyn's eyes. ''That's not fair.''
''No, it's not. But it's true, isn't it? You left him. You left him and you didn't care because you thought he wasn't human just like you think she isn't human but guess what? She is my daughter and I'll be damned if I lose her.''
''Clary!'' Clary didn't listen, but turned and marched out of the kitchen, leaving Jocelyn to sob at the counter.
…
Clary went to the library. She put Moriah down and let herself cry. She had never, ever spoken that way to her mother. She didn't even think the fight they had when Jonathan came back had been that bad.
She sat down on a chair, burying her face in her hands. God, she hated this. She hated fighting with her. She hated that the entire time in the kitchen all she could think about was what Jocelyn had said last week in the library.
A few minutes ticked by before Clary felt cold hands on her's. She looked up and saw Moriah, kneeling on the cushion beside her.
She gurgled in her throat, staring without blinking at Clary. Clary's heart ached looking at her. Her golden hair tumbling about her shoulders, her brown shorts with her too big Pokemon t-shirt Simon had insisted on buying her, and the faintest scar that ran from her ear to her chin that was the only blemish on her otherwise perfect face. And of course, those pools of obsidian that were her eyes. Clary loved her to bits. It was a love that made her insides tremble and made her want to hug her and never let go. She didn't understand how anyone could look at Moriah and not feel the same.
''Oh, baby girl,'' she said, swallowing the rest of her tears. ''What will we do?'' Moriah was interlocking her finger's in Clary's, but kept staring at her. She cocked her head to the side as Clary continued to speak. ''I just don't know.''
Clary picked her daughter up and drew her onto her lap, repositioning her so her back was leaning against her. ''I'm not going to lose you,'' Clary said in a whisper. Moriah continued to play with Clary's fingers. ''Jace and I would leave the Clave before that happened.''
And that was another worry on Clary's mind. What she said was true- she and Jace had discussed it at length. At length being Jace declaring this is what they would do when Clary hesitantly had mentioned the possibility of Moriah being taken from them. ''Without question,'' Jace had hissed when Clary had asked if he was sure. He had glanced at Moriah, asleep in their bed. '''We're not losing her again.''
We. It was a given with him, always them together. Clary loved it and yet was terrified. Jace, leaving the Clave? Jace, not being a Shadowhunter anymore? Jace, being stripped of his marks? Even if that didn't happen, even if they left before anyone knew of them going and she and Jace hunted illegally and secretly, they would still be sought after. The Clave knew of Moriah and they would hunt her like a demon which meant they would be hunted like demons. And what of Isabelle and Maryse and Robert and Alec and Max? They would be pitted against them, forced to chose between the Clave and Jace. Could Clary honestly ask him to do that?
Which left another possibility, the only one she had never discussed with anyone.
Her leaving on her own.
Disappearing, taking Moriah with her. They would still be hunted, but two people were easier to conceal in the Shadowworld than three. And after a while, she could make it look like they died. They would fade into the background and be forgotten about by the Clave. And if she did it before the Inquest, there was no way Jace could be implicated in any of it. The Clave would leave him alone, and he could keep being a Shadowhunter.
But it would crush him, hurt him, kill him to lose them both. He valued them over being a Shadowhunter, Clary knew that. But with the choices at hand, should he? Should he betray the life he always knew and loved just for her? Just for Moriah? As Moriah's father he should and he would but could Clary, as the person who loved him the most, could she ask that of him? Could she let him?
The despair threatened to overwhelm Clary. With a shuddering breath she pulled Moriah even closer to her, kissing the top of her head. The little girl finally dropped her hands and reached behind her for her face, cooing. Clary managed a chuckle as her cold finger tips found her lips. ''Oh, my baby girl.''
The library door opened again. Clary stiffened until she saw Isabelle peeking in. She was grinning. ''I have a wonderful idea for today.''
Clary raised an eyebrow. ''What do you mean?'' she asked, hoping her tears didn't show in her voice.
Isabelle continued to grin. She came out from behind the door and Clary saw in her twirling a credit card between her fingers.
…
''Oh, now THESE are perfect!''
Isabelle proudly showed Clary the pair of sneakers she found. Clary made a face. ''They're yellow.''
''They match her hair.''
Clary blinked. ''I have never thought about matching my shoes to my hair.'''
''Well, that is obvious.''
Clary instinctively looked down at her feet. She was sitting on a bench in the shoe store, watching nervously as Isabelle insisted on being the one to help get Moriah some nice clothes. Of course, there were a few old things of Isabelle's that Moriah had been wearing, but she was so small most of them she would have to grow into. ''Regardlessly, she doesn't need yellow sneakers. They probably aren't exactly 'nice' wear for the meeting anyway.''
Isabelle shrugged and put the shoes back. ''If you say so.''
She began shifting through the shelves again, her ears and eyes alert around her. It had taken some convincing on her part to get Clary to come shopping. Clary didn't do to well in any sort of crowd lately. Even now, with the store mostly empty, she looked on edge. She had Moriah's hand clasped tightly in her's. But at least it was something to get her mind off of Jocelyn.
Moriah sat next to her mother, her feet swinging slightly on the bench. It had been a week, Isabelle reflected, since she had been found. She wasn't so skittish anymore, and actually looked people in the eye instead of turning away from them. She still, however, never strayed far from either Clary or Jace. She was looking at Isabelle now, her black eyes darting curiously from her to all the shoes.
They had cast a glamour on her eyes so as not to alarm any Sighted Mundanes, but it wasn't strong enough to fool Isabelle. Even with Moriah's eyes glamoured, it didn't take away the blank expression on her face, nor the coldness of her skin. Nothing would, Isabelle knew. Nothing could.
She shook her head, silently scolding herself. Moriah still put her on edge, but it didn't matter. What mattered was she was safe and Clary and Jace loved her. That was all. Everything else was irrelevant. So shut up.
''Izzy?''
Isabelle snapped out of her thoughts. ''And these!'' She declared for another time. ''These will be perfect!'' She took the shoe box down and knelt on the floor. ''Perfect black flats. Simple and nice.''
Clary frowned. ''They're sparkly.''
''And?''
''Seems a little…unnecessary?''
Isabelle sighed. She began trying the shoes on Moriah who, after so many times, just let her without squirming. ''Moriah dear, if you ever had any fashion questions, please, do NOT ask your mother.''
Moriah blinked at her. Isabelle leaned back on her heels. ''Well? What do you think?''
Moriah kicked her feet. The lighting in the store made the glittery shoes shine even more. Her expression still blank, she looked to her mother again. Clary brushed a curl back from her face. ''You like them?''
''Of course she likes them,'' Isabelle answered for her. ''They fit, they will go with anything, they sparkle, and they are on sale. What's not to like?''
Clary gave an exasperated smile. ''Fine. We'll take them.''
''Excellent choice.'' Isabelle grinned, looking back at Moriah. The little girl just continued to stare.
''I have decided something.'' The girls all turned as Jace and Simon approached, hot pretzels and soft drinks in their hands. ''Malls,'' Jace continued. ''Have too much stuff.''
''Blasphemy,'' Simon and Isabelle said in unison.
''Also incorrect,'' Max interject, popping up from behind shoe rack where he had wandered off. ''I still have not seen this 'Game Stop' you people spoke of.'' He frowned at Clary and Simon. ''I am beginning to doubt it's existence.''
''Most people do,'' Clary reflected as she broke off a piece of pretzel for Moriah. ''Honestly, if I had a nickel for every rumor I've heard of Game Stop being closed, I could probably buy Game Stop.''
''And then perhaps trade it in for a fraction of what you paid for it,'' Simon added.
''True.''
''Well then.'' Isabelle gathered up the shoe box. ''Let's go.''
After paying, they made their way out of the store and walked along. ''Here we are, Max,'' Simon said, gesturing regally at the store front. ''I certainly hope this puts to rest your doubts.''
Max smiled with glee as he looked through the glass window. '' 'It doesn't even look real,' '' he quoted.
Simon turned with pride to Clary. ''A perfectly applicable quote.''
''We've done well, haven't we?''
''Okay,'' Isabelle said slowly, holding up a hand. ''I don't know how I feel about you two corrupting my brother.''
''Said the girl with the Batman comics,'' Jace muttered. Next to him, holding his hand, Moriah blinked at them all behind her hot pretzel.
''That was uncalled for.''
''No, it really wasn't.'' Simon opened the door wide. ''After you.''
Isabelle passed him, sticking her tongue out as she did so. Simon retuned the gesture.
''I'll just wait out here with her.'' She turned around and saw Clary and Jace still outside. She glanced around the store and noticed how crowded it was. Anger at herself flared up. Jace was no better in large groups than Clary. Nor, she imagined, would Moriah be.
They talked for a few more minutes and then to Isabelle's surprise, Clary entered the store. She came over. ''So, what are we looking for, Max?''
''Everything,'' Mac answered simply, immediately beginning to inspect the shelves.
Clary gave a smile, but Isabelle could see the tension in it. Her fists were clenched tight at her side to no doubt resist wringing them in front of her. Isabelle gently took her hand and pried it open, interlocking her fingers in her's for reassurance. ''So,'' she began. She frowned at a poster on the wall. ''What the hell is an Ocarina of Time?''
Clary laughed.
…
Jace watched the people walking past warily. He had Moriah on his lap, sitting with her at a small table not far from the store. He drummed his fingers on Moriah's arm lightly. She leaned back against him, still chewing on her hot pretzel.
''Oh, how adorable!''
Jace looked up in alarm as a woman approached him. He knew instinctively she fit a stereotype, though which one he couldn't say. Whichever one who didn't think it wasn't at all weird to come up and talk to people in malls without prompting.
She came closer, and Jace tightened his grip on Moriah. She bent down and peered into Moriah's face. ''Aren't you just the smallest little thing?''
Moriah stared at the woman before turning to look at Jace. Her blank expression didn't change, but her eyes said it all. What the fuck?
The woman tenderly flicked back one of Moriah's curls. Moriah stiffened and Jace held her tighter. ''Poor thing,'' the woman purred, looking at Moriah's cut on her face. Still smiling, she looked at Jace. ''Is she your little sister?''
''No,'' Jace said, too taken aback by the woman's manner to be sarcastic. ''She's my daughter.''
Surprise and embarrassment swept across the woman's face. ''My mistake,'' she apologized. ''You do look just alike!''
Jace gave a tense smile, silently willing the woman to leave. After again complementing Moriah's beauty, including her glamoured to be brown eyes, she did so. Moriah visibly relaxed when she was out of sight.
Tired of sitting, Jace stood up, adjusting Moriah to be on his hip. ''Rule #1,'' he said softly to her. ''Never interact with mundanes. They are annoying.''
Moriah gave a purr in her throat. Jace decided to take it as an agreement.
He walked away from the benches to a more quiet corner. He stood there with Moriah, waiting for the others. They were right outside a store front, and in the glass Jace could see his reflection. Of course the woman assumed Moriah was his sister. He was an unhealthy looking 17 year old holding an even more unhealthy looking 1-2 year old. She probably hoped she was his sister and not some idiot parent who was abusing his kid.
Crap, Jace thought, remembering how the woman had approached him. She probably talked to me because that is what she thought. Not wanting to risk coming across the woman and anyone else she might bring with her, Jace retreated further away from the sitting area.
Now he was annoyed. Irritation rose up in him, wiping away any previous enjoyment he had had. This happened far two often lately; one thing happened and ruined everything else for him.
In his arms, Moriah suddenly stiffened. She whined, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling herself closer to him. ''What is it? What's wrong?''
She turned away from him, her black eyes darting all around them. Her grip on his neck did not loosen. ''Moriah?''
And then he heard it. Voices coming from the crowd below. Hesitantly, Jace approached the balcony railing that looked down at the lower floor of the mall. Moriah whined in warning again, looking at him as if wondering what the hell he was thinking. ''Shh, it's okay.''
Jace looked down. His eyes scanned the crowd and his ears were pricked for those voices, one of which he knew. That horribly familiar voice.
''Yes, you are lovely, aren't you? Lovely, lovely abomination.''
Jace sat against the wall of his cell, anger coursing through him as he heard the fairy speak. He was speaking to his daughter. Holding his child. He couldn't hear Clary's cries anymore- they had moved her somewhere else, presumably to make her stop cursing at them. He didn't know where she was. He didn't know if she was still alive…
A sound rang out, unidentifiable but loud and hard. Jace curled in on himself, rocking back and forth. He couldn't bring himself to cover his ears though. He had to hear. He had to know what they were doing.
The fairy was speaking again. No, laughing. ''Perfect, horrible, damned, little creature.''
Another sound rang out, and this time Jace knew what it was. A cry, a scream. His baby.
Jace felt his breath catch in his throat. He put a hand on Moriah's head as she kept her face buried in his neck. She knew it too. Knew the voice and knew the face.
And there he was below them, getting a coffee. He was dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt and glamoured to look normal to mundanes, but Jace could see past it. He could see how his red hair had speaks of gold in it and how his eyes were too bright. He was speaking to two other people, no doubt also fairies. As they went on their way and passed under the balcony, Jace caught some of their conversation.
''Tonight is too soon,'' one of the fairies said. A girl, dark skin and hair.
''When should we?'' The other asked her. Her skin was tanned, and she had short hair and a piercing in her lip. ''The Inquest is going to happen soon.''
''We have to think this though,'' the other girl argued back. She turned to the red haired fairy. ''Well? Aster?''
''May has a point, Fern dear,'' Aster said with a carefree sigh. ''We are on a time crunch. There is no time like the present.''
''But-'' Fern began. Aster held up a hand.
''It will all work out. We'll get that mad girl to talk and come up with a plan.''
''Cause that worked out so well last time,'' May mumbled.
''And after I took your side and everything.''
Fern looked thoughtful. ''That's right. She bit you, didn't she?''
Aster waved aside the concern. ''Mad girl will tell us what she knows and we will go from there. We do it tonight.''
''And what do we do with her afterward?''
''The same thing she did with our friends when she helped them escape.'' Aster smiled widely. ''We kill her.''
The fairies walked out of sight. Jace felt Moriah's heart beat against his own. 'Mad girl'? 'Helped them escape'?He knew who they were talking about with undeniable certainty.
They have Celeste.
…
''Have I heard from Celeste?'' Jonathan repeated incredulously. He leaned against his kitchen counter, tapping his fingers against his phone. ''Have you met Celeste? Does she strike you as the type to inform others of her plans? Hell, does she strike you as the type to make plans?''
''Jonathan, be serious.'' Clary's tone was weary. ''Have you heard anything from her since Naranth?''
Her voice nearly caught on the word. Even saying the name of the place she and Jace spent weeks in hiding in fear was too hard. ''I saw her once to tell her Moriah was found,'' Jonathan answered.
''What did she say?''
'' 'That's good.' Then she asked me what I thought of the Loch Ness Monster.''
''She wants to prove the Loch Ness Monster's existence?''
''Don't be ridiculous, she would never out him like that. She just wants to know why he won't call her back.''
''I can never tell when your joking.''
''The problem isn't me joking it's Celeste joking. And she never is. She's far to scatter minded to follow through with any joke.''
Clary sighed. ''So that was the last time you saw her? You're sure?''
''Yeah. If she was in trouble I think she'd contact me. We are mind linked.''
''Jace sounds pretty sure that she's in trouble. He's positive those fairies were talking about her. Could you try contacting her?''
''I'll try.''
''Thanks. I'll talk to you later.''
''Bye, Clary.''
Jonathan hung up his phone. He placed it on the counter behind him, frowning. He could try contacting Celeste, but he doubted he'd have results. Celeste didn't bother with trivialities. If it wasn't some high pressure and urgent event she could come and engage in, she wasn't interested. Besides, if she was in trouble, why wouldn't she contact him?
Nevertheless, he told Clary he'd try and so he did. He closed his eyes and envisioned Celeste, vacant stare and all. He cast his thoughts out, calling and searching for her.
Celeste?
The only response he got was a sharp pain zipping though his head. This wasn't right. He pressed his hands against his forehead, keeping his eyes closed and stubbornly still trying. Celeste?
Not safe, he heard her say. The darkness cleared and he saw an old building. No, not old. New. Half built, maybe abandoned. A construction site.
Celeste was on the floor, getting to her knees from where she had been pushed. There was painted circle on the floor, and she was in the center of it. A Devil's Trap. Her braided hair was messy and her face looked even paler than usual. She wiped her mouth with her wrist and it came away red. ''Well, that wasn't very nice.''
Her tone was normal- vague and plain, devoid of any emotion other than mild inconvenience. She looked up at the person who had kicked her.
He fit the description of one of the fairies Clary had told him about. Red hair and green eyes. He sneered at Celeste, no doubt annoyed by her lack of intimidation by him. ''Tell me.''
He spoke so harshly spit got on Celeste. She made a face and slowly wiped her eye. ''Again with the lack of politeness, Aster.''
Jonathan knew from Clary the fairy's name was Aster, but because of Celeste's slight lisp, it came out as a not very complementary term. This could've been very unintentionally on Celeste's part, but nevertheless Aster looked enraged.
He grabbed a knife from his belt and got to his knees as well, grabbing Celeste and holding the weapon to her throat. ''I've been very patient,'' he hissed at her. ''But I am tired of going in circles.''
''Have you tried oblongs?'' Celeste asked curiously. ''They are a nice shape.''
Aster's eyes flashed. With a quick movement he slashed at Celeste's arm, leaving a good sized cut. The only indication of pain Celeste gave was a sharp inhale.
Aster glanced out the window. Afternoon light shone through the half finished building. He let out a laugh. ''You have until nightfall, my dear,'' he said. ''Nightfall, and then with or without your help my friends and I will take care of our little problem.''
''It will be without,'' Celeste informed him helpfully.
Jonathan expected another slash but Aster restrained himself. He got to his feet. ''Your choice.''
Celeste watched him leave. Then she turned to Jonathan. For the first time in a long time, her face actually showed emotion. She was scared. ''You can't let-''
With a start Jonathan opened his eyes. Somehow he had slid to the floor. He placed his palms on the kitchen tile, relishing in the coldness and using it to ground himself. His head was pounding.
Slowly, he reached back on the counter for his phone. He dialed. ''Clary? Yeah. You were right.''
…
Alec waited in the hall, opening and clenching his fists to help distract from the unease he felt. He was tired of feeling like this, this horrible knot that was in his stomach. It was similar to the feeling of when Clary and Jace had been missing for 6 months. And now, even though they were home, he still felt like this.
It's because of the Inquest. I'm worried about how it's going to turn out, he told himself. This was true, he knew. But he also knew he was worried about the outcome Clary and Jace were hoping for.
Shut up, he scolded himself. He didn't want the Clave to take Moriah. He didn't want her hurt.
But you don't want her here, do you?
Alec clenched his fists tighter until he felt his nails cut his palm.
He leaned against the wall, staring down a few paces at Jace's bedroom door. Earlier, Jace had called him and asked him to come with them to help find some girl that had helped them in Naranth. Celeste, he had said her name was. Apparently she was being held captive by some fairies, and as Celeste made her living by staying under the Clave's radar, they had to keep the hunt on the down low. As far as even their parents knew, this was just a routine hunt tonight.
Alec wasn't thrilled about the lying, but Jace had made it pretty clear not helping Celeste was not an option. ''Clary and I owe her,'' he had said.
Clary, Simon, and Isabelle were getting ready for the hunt now, and Jace was in his room with Moriah before joining them. Alec swallowed hard. It's not like I can't go in the room, he told himself. She's- she's not bad…
Before he could lose the nerve, Alec went and stood in the open doorway. He opened his mouth to speak, but froze as he looked inside.
Moriah was sitting on the bed and Jace was kneeling on the floor in front of her. He was speaking to her softly, but Alec couldn't make out the words. Romanian, he realized. He's speaking Romanian to her.
Jace flicked some of Moriah's hair over her shoulder. ''How does this always get so knotted?'' he asked her in English. Alec noticed the hair brush in his hands. ''It's like it's got a life of it's own.''
Moriah stared at Jace, and even Alec couldn't deny the gleam in her eyes. Despite her blank face, she was happy. And as she hadn't even looked at Alec yet, all her attention was on Jace. One week back and she knew being with Jace meant she didn't have to be on guard and look around the room in suspicion every moment. She felt safe.
And Jace…god, he looked at the little girl with a look Alec had never seen on his face before. It was a look of pure gentleness. He didn't even look at Clary like that.
''Okay,'' Jace was saying. ''You're going to stay here with Maryse and Robert.'' Moriah cocked her head to the side. ''You'll be fine, okay? They're good people. Clary and I will be back later.'' Moriah whined. ''We won't be long. I promise.''
He reached up a hand to stroke her cheek. Moriah grabbed it and held it close. It was then she saw Alec. She froze, stiffening up and any sign of a happy little girl was wiped from her eyes. She stared at him with that blank, black eyed gaze. Nothing but emptiness and echoes.
Jace followed her gaze. ''Hey,'' he said casually. His own expression had changed back into the Jace everyone knew, not the one who spoke softly and sweetly while he brushed his daughter's hair. Just regular Jace. ''Sorry, am I late?''
Alec felt like he was contributing to the lies as he did his best to hide his discomfort. ''We're almost ready,'' he said. Let's get out of here. Let's get away from her.
Shut up you asshole.
''Alright.'' Jace straightened up and, to Alec's dismay, picked Moriah up. ''I'm coming.''
With reluctance, Alec walked beside Jace and Moriah towards the weapons room. Alec tried quell the worry and discomfort in him but to no avail. He thought of what Magnus had said to him about Moriah. 'They love her, Alec. She might be a demon, she might be wrong. But she exists and is here. We have to do our part.'
He's my parabati, Alec reminded himself for the umpteenth time. He looked sideways at Jace. It is my duty to be on his side.
It's also your duty to protect him.
Moriah was looking over Jace's shoulder. She wasn't looking at Alec but just at the hallway in general. For some reason, that made Alec worry more. He tried not to look at her. She was so still in Jace's arms that if it weren't for the occasional slow blink, Alec would wonder if she was even alive.
''You okay?'' Jace asked suddenly.
''Yeah,'' Alec responded a little too quickly. You've lost a good 20 pounds and are holding your demon child and you are asking me that question?
''You seem…quiet.'' Jace said this as if it were the most suspicious thing in the world. ''You're not worried about the hunt, are you?''
''No.'' He paused. ''Well, actually, yeah. I mean, we don't really know what to expect from those fairies, do we? We don't know where they are, or where their holding- Celeste, was it?'' Jace nodded. ''-Where they are holding her. Nor what time exactly they plan to enact this 'plan' of their's, nor what this plan even entails so we essentially know nothing…''
Jace was looking at him with an amused expression. ''…You did that on purpose,'' Alec remarked.
''You work better when you're worried,'' Jace said teasingly. They reached the weapons room. Jace opened the door and entered.
Alec took a deep breath. Then I should be at my fucking best tonight.
He followed after Jace. Everyone was still there, looking more than ready. Clary's face lit up as Jace walked over to her with Moriah. ''Hey, little girl.'' Moriah reached for her.
''You want to take her to Maryse?'' Jace asked her.
''Uh, yeah,'' Clary said distractedly, looking at Moriah in her arms.
Alec went to grab more arrows. He heard Jace lower his voice to Clary. ''She'll be fine.''
''I know.''
''We won't be long.''
''I know that too.''
Alec risked a glance at them. Their expressions were of two people who looked as though they desperately wanted to believe the words they were speaking. A stab of sadness went through him. This is the first time they're leaving her alone since they found her.
What are they going to be like if they lose her?
Shut. Up.
Pressure on his foot snapped Alec out of his wonderings. ''Ow!'' He yelled. He glared at his sister. ''What was that for?''
''Oops.'' Isabelle gave him a look he didn't know how to interpret. Behind her, Clary walked out with Moriah.
''We have our weapons,'' Simon announced. He looked at Jace. ''You?''
''Two minutes,'' he responded, grabbing himself an assortment of knives.
''You wanna wait here for Clary? We have to go do something,'' Isabelle said.
Jace nodded. ''Yeah, sure.''
''Good.'' She grabbed Alec's arm.
''What-''
''Need you.'' With Simon behind them, Isabelle ushered Alec out.
''Ow! Nails!'' At the elevator, Isabelle let go and pushed him forward. Alec rubbed his arm. ''What was that for?''
''Knock it off!''
''Knock what off? My arm? I think you did that for me.''
''Your attitude.'' Isabelle shook her head. ''It's horribly apparent.''
''What is?''
''Your feelings about Moriah.''
Fear rose up in Alec. ''It is?'' he asked uncertainly.
''Oh, yeah,'' Simon interjected.
''You- you sure?''
''I would not hire you for an acting job, no.''
''Why do you hate her?'' Isabelle asked in a whisper.
''I don't hate her!''
''Alec, I have known you since you were two.''
''…should I bother mentioning how people don't start to form concrete memories until later in life?''
''You can't lie to me,'' Isabelle went on. ''You can't lie, period.''
''Except to Clary and Jace,'' Simon said thoughtfully. ''Because if they find out what you feel, they'll kill you. I mean, after they've recovered from you breaking their hearts.''
Alec felt sick. ''They- they haven't said anything, have they?''
Both Isabelle and Simon shook their heads. ''No. They don't notice much about other people unless it's threatening,'' Isabelle said sadly. ''I mean, they're not stupid. They probably think everyone is…''
She trailed off, not sure how to put into words what everyone felt about Moriah. ''Okay, what do you think?'' Alec asked. ''I mean, doesn't Moriah make you feel…'' He didn't even know how to describe it. The blank stare, the black eyes. Every time she stiffened when she saw someone who wasn't Jace or Clary, or how she clung to them and it made him flinch.
''She's different,'' Simon said weakly. ''One could argue bad different-''
''I-''
''-If they wanted me to kill them.'' Simon's gaze was like ice. ''Because different or not, she is my best friend's daughter, my parabati's daughter.''
Alec had to lean against the wall in weariness. ''You don't think I've been telling myself that?'' he asked. Anger and sadness burned inside him. How can the former mundane be a better parabati then me?
''Tell yourself more,'' Isabelle suggested. She looked down the hall in worry.
''It's not that simple.''
''Make it.'' She turned back to them. ''Here they come.''
Jace and Clary approached them. ''So…'' Jace spread his hands, and his happy to be hunting gleam came back into his eyes. ''Who's ready for some fun?''
…
Me: Thank you for reading! If you have time, please leave a review!
Happy Writing!
