Another chapter! And the next one's already written!
IridescentxPetals: I did hear about the parabatai! I was so happy- and it just seems fitting that they can have this ultimate friendship connection and share the new life they've come into (wow that sounded cheesy... but I have no shame!).
Emie14: Thanks! And here it is...
Isabelle sat on the bed and looked around. The hot pink walls were interesting, sure, but she couldn't help wishing for her own black and silver ones. She traced her fingers over the whip coiled around her wrist. Surely there'd be some demons in this make-believe world that she could go and kill to work off some steam?
She got up and paced to the window. Drawing aside the black curtains that hung down from silver poles, she looked down onto the street. There was no one on it except for a lone cat that looked a little like Church.
Isabelle groaned. She couldn't help making comparisons to everything at the Institute, and the only thing it was doing was making her more homesick. Even the sight of handcuffs dangling from the curtains didn't make her smile.
She threw on her gear, grabbed a few seraph blades and a Sensor and hoped to Raziel that fake Alec was still asleep with Magnus. She couldn't deal with anyone right now. Crossing the kitchen, she opened the door roughly and slammed it behind her, setting a few trinkets in Magnus' apartment tinkling.
The alley stunk of rotting eggs and garbage.
Demons- and by the reeking smell, more than one.
Isabelle listened to the careful clicking of her Sensor. It was picking up trace activity, so they must've left here not long ago.
Deep down, she knew that this was stupid. She didn't go hunting without Alec and Jace, and she was rash and impulsive- without Alec to look out for her, she was practically toast.
But none of that mattered right now. She wanted to get lost in the physical demands of fighting, in the battle euphoria. Anger was bubbling at the demon that had trapped them here in the first place, and she couldn't go and start trying to kill demon Simon. It still wore his face, and she wouldn't be able to murder the dumb thing.
Her fury was encouraging her to run without caution, to attract the demons by yelling and yelling, but her training screamed at her that doing so would be suicide. She half sighed, half groaned.
Isabelle prowled across the alley, sticking to the shadows and walking silently. Nothing sounded except for the slow clicking of her Sensor, echoing in the empty lane. Broken glass sparkled as the moon came out from behind a cloud. Her boots crunched the glass softly, splintering them into fine, iridescent pieces. It was beautiful, she thought absently. But if you were to touch the pieces and get it embedded in your skin- well, nothing conveyed the impression more that beauty could be dangerous. Except for Jace.
The clicking picked up, indicating she was closer to the demons. Her adrenaline started to kick in, running through her whole body and lighting every nerve until it felt like she had a million electric volts inside her body, waiting to be unleashed. This was the part she hated the most- the waiting. In the minutes before the battle, when she wasn't doing anything, she wanted to launch into action more than anything.
Something moved in her peripheral vision, and she didn't hesitate to spin and flick her whip at it, causing a loud shriek. Suddenly, the small alleyway was alive with the cacophony of battle- fast swishes and calls and screeches. It was horrifying when the demons started talking to each other- it sounded like breaking plates or shattering wood. But Isabelle hardly noticed it. Her whip darted back and forth, decapitating heads and inflicting well-deserved wounds. How many people have you trapped in a fake world? She thought at a demon with a particularly nasty tongue. She brought it down with one swipe. No more fun for you now.
She fought hard, everything rushing away except for the tentacles laced with poison flying at her. She had her whip in one hand and a seraph blade in another, the glow dimming with every demon she finished. With a cry, she launched it at a Behemoth- the ugly thing was a sickly pale blue, with a huge mouth lined with rows and rows of teeth.
Almost as soon as it was gone, another rushed to take its place. Isabelle could feel herself tiring just a little, and that was dangerous in itself. She should probably clear a path and get out of here, but nothing was waiting for her when she got out of here. That alone was enough to make her attack with renewed force.
A green scaled demon went down, and then an Eidolon. Isabelle estimated that she'd killed at least five by now, and the numbers were diminishing greatly.
"That's enough." A familiar voice called from behind her. She faltered, long enough for a demon to try and get a sting in. She quickly severed the stinger, a ghastly black ichor pouring from where it fell on the floor.
"I said, that's enough!" Blue sparks crackled from beside her where Magnus had obviously fought to her side. The sounds of fighting fell away as the three remaining demons backed off a little, intimidated. Isabelle felt her heart pounding from the combat and from the setup. She'd never been in this situation before- a warlock by her side that could command demons with as little as a bit of blue fire and some harsh words.
"You know who my father is. Do you wish to anger him?" The demons eased back another few steps. "That's right, leave. Go on home to Pandemonium, and complain to your little friends that I stopped you from getting some Shadowhunter meat."
Isabelle let out a cry of outrage. She could have handled it herself. Magnus shot her a warning glance.
The last demon gave her a dark look that sent shivers up and down her spine. It was a look that promised revenge.
If she got hurt- or even died- in this strange place, would the effects carry onto the real world?
"What if you just don't get hurt, Isabelle? That sounds like a good idea to me." Magnus said, glancing meaningfully down at her arm.
Did she say that aloud?
She was distracted from the though by something trickling down her hand. She looked down to see ichor burns covering her palm.
"It doesn't even hurt." She snapped. Yet. She added silently. "Why did you come anyway? I had it under control."
"I have no doubt in your abilities. And as fun as it was watching demons get their butts kicked, I have better things to do." He gestured impatiently for her to follow. With a huff, she walked after him, flicking venom from her whip.
"You can't FIND Jace? I thought you said you had his location a few days ago!"
Magnus sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Isabelle, let go of your whip. I've got his approximate location, and I have a plan, if you just calm down long enough to hear it."
Isabelle uncurled her fingers from around her whip reluctantly. How was it possible that after all of this, there were still more problems. She was sick of plans. Action was the best way to go. With an annoyed flip of her hand, she took a sip of her coffee.
Magnus continued, uncaring of her state. "I can't go in and find him, but you and your little gang probably can."
Isabelle leaned forward. "Let's do it."
So now the only things left is to get them all in one place and transport them to wherever Jace is! How on earth are they going to escape the demon?