Lydia spent time near the church, and she discovered there were many familiars of all kinds living there, and that they were comfortable shape-shifting between forms. While the church was magically glamored, she could see the beings moving into and outside of the building. Any Warlock or Witch could see through the spell but she admired the effort used to mask the building.
Some days had passed, and while having lunch near the church in a park nearby a dark haired lady walked up to her and plopped down near her, the movement was cat like but the witch in her wasn't alarmed, this was one confident woman. The female had long dark hair and was petite in build. She was dressed to kill in a tight leather outfit that hugged her frame, with stilettos. Lydia's inner Witch told her that it was a strong female familiar, and she knew to give her a wide amount of space. Looking at this female made her mind run wild with possibilities; this lady was an assassin or something else. She sort of laughed to herself, now she's making up stories all because a ghost told her to follow a cat.
"How long are you gonna just sit here and watch us?" The dark haired woman asked. There was no malice in her voice, she didn't seem phased, but by her tone she did want an answer that was clear.
"What? No, I'm just having lunch here under a tree," Lydia tried to play off that she didn't know what the woman was talking about.
"Pul- lease .. I can smell a lie anywhere. You've been sitting here for a few days and mostly when my brother is here. What do you want." The dark haired woman gave her a bored glare.
Lydia didn't realize she had let her guard down so much or maybe familiars were better with their senses than she remembered. Trying to recover, "I'm having lunch, I didn't know I disturbed you in anyway." She gave the woman a smile.
"Uh-huh" … the woman waited, she sniffed the air, paused for a moment and then finally relented in her resolve over the situation. This Witch didn't seem to be harmful, she had noticed that but she was going to be wary none the less. "I'm Isabelle Lightwood," she put her hand forward.
Lydia shook her hand and introduced herself. The pair looked at each other for what felt like too long and when Lydia thought she should say something, Isabelle asked what she was doing in the area.
The Witch didn't have a good enough story, she finally opted with having lunch. Isabelle didn't believe her and she knew it. They sat in silence for a few minutes. "Why are you following my brother? Don't lie to me, I'll know it." Isabelle gave her a look that meant you do anything wrong you would be dead.
Lydia didn't know what to say, she wasn't sure, was there more than one brother? Were they talking about the same guy, or was there another presence giving a misunderstanding, She then felt warmth and an embrace from John. She steadied herself, "I don't know what your talking about, I don't know your brother."
Isabelle gave a slight glare of disbelief, "you've been here when he is here for days, don't lie to me."
"I .." Lydia couldn't think of a reason, her mind went blank with the blunt question, fate, the orb, all of it abandoned her. She traveled all this way because of feeling to do something. It felt important but when trying to say it out loud the words were hard to form, it seemed odd. All she knew was it was important. Before Lydia could come up with anything, Isabelle interrupted her.
"No .. You're a witch .. why are you here." The dark haired female was in a defensive posture now, ready to act if needed. A familiar action, Lydia guessed the cat variety of their kind. All familiars acted differently depending on their animal form.
"I won't hurt you, I'm here to help in some way, its all I know. I AM a witch"… she felt comfortable telling the woman that, "I know that there is a reason I should be here and I'm trying to find out." Lydia didn't want to mention her orb of vague future information was a source of information, half the time she didn't know what it meant. How do you explain it to a stranger.
In an attempt at an explanation Lydia had to admit to Isabelle in regards to her brother she wasn't sure whom she meant. "I don't know him," she paused, Lydia was unclear how much information she should give then decided that maybe, this woman could help. "All I know is that a black familiar has found his Warlock, but hasn't made the bond. I think maybe, I'm here to help with that. I don't know if that is your brother but if it is, I'm want to help." Lydia gave a pleading smile in hopes of being believed.
Isabelle sniffed the air, and glared for a minute longer, she then told her that she could call her by her nickname Izzy. Lydia felt some magic around her but it wasn't invasive and she allowed it. She could block with her own spell but at this time maybe let the situation play out. What felt like longer than it really was, Isabelle nodded her head, and with an "okay" told Lydia to follow her inside the church. Lydia didn't know what was about to happen but she knew it was important.
Lydia followed into the building. Izzy also went over a short list of rules, since Lydia was a witch she would understand the need for secrecy of the place she was entering. Lydia acknowledged with a nod that she understood what Isabelle had stated. As they talked about the rest of the rules, they weren't very far into the building when a tall, dark haired male made his way through the main room, he commanded the space and those around paid attention. While she quickly learned at an early age that familiars instinctively knew to help Warlocks and Witches. Whether they knew it or not, they provided a guide for their plight or endeavors and if some where lucky found their partner.
Lydia noticed a male giving orders and those given their duties followed his direction immediately. She couldn't stop watching him. He was handsome and fascinating and for some reason she thought she had seen him before, she couldn't take her eyes away until Izzy grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the main room. The action from Izzy was enough to shake the stupor of him and then it clicked, that he was the familiar. He was the one to help and he didn't know it.
"It's him." Lydia gasped, he should be at that loft in Brooklyn instead of here was her first thought, then she realized she was being watched by Isabelle .. and the whole situation felt serene for her, she was in a church full of familiars. They could shape-shift and were warrior in demeanor. They were not quite feral but it was clear they've stayed clear of being with a magical partner, what a shame she thought. They're were more powerful with a Witch or Warlock. As that thought passed through her, the warmth of John passed through her, in a reassuring way as if to say, that maybe this was why she was here. She suspected there was more to it but before she could think any further, she heard a hiss.
Izzy growled softly, "what do you want with my brother."
"What? I don't want anything with him. He's …" Lydia fumbled, she didn't actually have a general idea only that she needed to find him. Before she could get another word out she was on the floor of the hallway they were standing in with a hand to her throat,"you don't touch him," Izzy was angry. "You need to be worthy and I don't know if you are ..." Izzy sniffed.
Lydia was gasping, "I know the Warlock he should be with," she rasped … "please, I think I'm here to help .. please Izzy …"
Isabelle smelled the truth from Lydia, she eased her hold on Lydia but didn't let her go. Izzy thought of her eldest brother, Alec had taken care of her and Jace, on his own when their parents were killed. Now that they were old enough, the siblings were far more protective of him. Every familiar had a Witch or Warlock, it just took time to find them, it was a natural progression but since the world had become complicated it was more difficult for the relationships to occur, their magic helped but only so much.
Izzy found her Warlock Simon and Jace had his Witch Clary. They found them much earlier, probably because Alec spent the time to know more magic than they did and teach them. He understood what needed to be done, made sure that things were the way they should be for them. Alec was still on the hunt.
Lydia coughed, Izzy looked down at the witch she had pinned, "what do you want with my brother."
"No-nothing", she tried to push Izzy off of her but was held steady. She could have used magic but thought better of it. There had to be a reason and she was going to see it through.
"Why are you here," Izzy could scent that there was no malice but couldn't understand the scent she was getting. It was of friendship and hope, not one of mating. Another scent was present as well but she wasn't sure what that was; the Witch feared her but was not antagonizing.
"I .. I … am a wi-itch" then she coughed before going on, "have an orb and it told me to help them," she wheezed, "your brother and a Warlock .." Lydia felt dizzy.
"Help who?" Izzy kept her grip and was curious, there was concern too, but that was for another day.
"The black cat with hazel eyes and Warlock Bane" .. she coughed, "they are meant to be, I know it. They haven't connected, they are circling each other, I know they need to meet. It's all I know," all of her words were in gasps, Izzy reared back and loosened her grip. She looked down at the Witch, her cat instincts told her to not trust but she felt it; an aura that surrounds mystical pairs.
"It's not you," Izzy knew it wouldn't be a Witch and was not surprised, she understood her brother but this female showing up in their life surprised her. It wasn't uncommon for forced pairings but they were trying to change that ideology. It's why they hid themselves, until the time was right. If that meant fighting for what you believe in, so be it.
"No, he is not mine but I'm drawn to him because ..." she sighed while rubbing her throat to ease the pain Izzy had caused, "he is a familiar and a powerful and noble one." Lydia didn't want to sound odd but there was no way around it, she knew deep down there was a purpose. "I know he needs to find his Warlock and if he does," a thought popped into her head, one that felt right,"he might be able to help me." Lydia gave Izzy a hopeful look. Isabelle stood up, and then offered her hand to Lydia. Once they were standing, they dusted themselves off and moved further into the church toward the main room. Izzy gave the blonde haired Witch a cursory view, her blue eyes were filled with hope and more.
"Alright, follow me." Izzy understood the hidden pain in the woman's eyes. "Let's meet my brother."