Hey guys!
In this chapter, we have a little flashback, as a look into Rose's relationship with her old friend Hodge, who I really liked in this series, even if he did work with Valentine.
I hope it meets your expectations!
Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare is the author and owner of TMI, and therefore its handsome characters *cough* Jace *cough*.
"Where the hell am I?" I groaned, wandering aimlessly through the Institute's hallways. I saw multiple paintings of the Angel Raziel, but none of which were anywhere near my intended destination: Ethan's room. I wanted to see if he was okay, but it didn't help that I couldn't seem to get through this building to save my life. I passed a set of double doors, and my curiosity got the best of me. I stepped through the doors, and what stood before me took my breath away.
This was obviously the library, every wall lined with an endless amount of books. I had always been a reader, and this was absolutely incredible in my opinion.
I didn't notice the person standing behind me until they spoke up.
"Pretty breathtaking, isn't it?" They asked, and I whirled around. The man standing behind me was older, probably around my parent's age, and he was wearing a neat gray suit, with glasses perched on his nose. He was smiling warmly at me, and I nodded in agreement.
"You must be Hodge," I noted, and he nodded, still smiling.
"That I am, and you must be Rose, the new Shadowhunter. I'm guessing by your excited expression that you're a fan of books?" He continued, and I nodded sheepishly.
"Yes, I'm a big reader, it's an indulgence," I admitted, and Hodge's smile brightened.
"I feel the same way. I believe you and I will get along just fine." He promised, and I grinned.
"You're nice, Hodge. The only other person I've had a decent, meaningful conversation with is Jace." I muttered, and he smiled fondly.
"Yes, beneath that tough exterior, Jonathan is a wonderful boy." He agreed, "But you will find the whole Lightwood family is a nice bunch."
"Oh, I'm not arguing with that. I just have spent so much time putting on fake smiles with others, I've gotten quite tired of it." I explained, and he seemed to understand what I was coming from.
"Well, if you ever need a place to come and let out your feelings," Hodge motioned around the library, "I feel an area with books is the perfect place to do that."
"Well that's a relief, but I don't let out my feelings anymore." I admitted, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Why's that?"
I shrugged. I had no idea why I was saying all of these things to a stranger, but Hodge seemed to understand, seemed to be a nice person. "I guess it's just not useful. Whimpering doesn't replace my parent's voice, crying doesn't bring them back," I breathed in deeply, and Hodge thought over this.
"Well they say that pain is weakness exiting the body," He continued, "And I feel the same about crying. I believe that it is grief exiting the body."
"That's a very wise thought, Hodge." I approved, and he smiled slightly.
"They come along every so often."
"Well thank you, Hodge," I started walking towards the door, "For making me feel better."
He nodded. "If you ever need me, Rose, I will be right here."
"Rose? Rose, wake up," A voice hissed, effectively ending my dream. I sat up, gasping, to see Ethan staring at me expectantly.
"What do you want, you little gnome?" I growled, and he rolled his eyes.
"I'm hearing voices from the library, I'm pretty sure it's about to go down with Jace and Maryse," He whispered, and I glanced at the clock.
"It's the middle of the night," I reminded him, and he shrugged.
"I call it as I see it."
"Ugh, I have a plan, let's just go," I muttered, slipping on my black robe and slippers. We slipped into the hallway, and Ethan walked up to Liam's room, opening the door and going inside.
"So much for privacy," I mumbled under my breath, and I heard a large thud. I walked through the door, to find that Ethan was on the floor next to Liam's bed.
"What in the world…" I wondered, and Liam got up, staring at Ethan in shock.
"By the Angel, child, give me some warning before you start jumping right next to my damned head! Perhaps I won't hit you next time!" He hissed, and I couldn't help it. I started laughing.
Ethan glared at me as Liam helped him up. "It's not funny, Rose."
"On the contrary, it is quite funny."
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is."
"You can kiss my-"
"Does anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Liam asked impatiently, and I looked up at him.
"Ethan here wants to go eavesdrop on Maryse and Jace's argument, so eavesdrop we shall." I explained, and I grabbed their arms, pulling them towards the staircase that leads to the third level.
"This isn't the direction to the library," Ethan pointed out.
"Shut up!" I hissed.
I edged through the hallway, until I reached a room that I knew must be directly above the library. I shoved the door open, ushering the two boys inside before I shut it again.
"So what are we doing?" Liam whispered, and I sat down on the floor of the empty bedroom.
"Magnus told me a story once, about how he knew a friend that used this one rune to spy on conversations. I think we should give it a try," I explained, and Liam (who was grumbling about the idea of Magnus getting along with Shadowhunters) and Ethan formed a triangle, sitting across from me. I drew the rune between us, and it disappeared, forming what looked like a triangle of glass, but it shimmered slightly.
"We can hear them, but they can't hear us," I whispered, and they nodded.
What was going on below us contained three people, Maryse, Jace, and a woman with icy blonde hair and a gray cloak who I didn't recognize, but Liam seemed to. He took in a quick, sharp breath, and Ethan and I looked up in confusion.
"That's Inquisitor Herondale, I met her once in Idris. Horrible woman," He shuddered, and I looked back down.
"You may look like an angel, Jonathan Morgenstern, but I know exactly what you are," The Inquisitor was saying, and Ethan glanced at me, eyes wide. What he said about "it's about to go down" seemed accurate.
"He's just a boy," Maryse defended, and while it made perfect sense that Maryse was defending her son, who she loved, Jace seemed… confused. She wasn't meeting his gaze, either.
"What are they talking about?" Ethan asked as the Inquisitor talked.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good." Liam mentioned, and I nodded in agreement.
"I'm sending you to the prisons of the Silent City. After a night there I suspect you'll be a great deal more cooperative." The Inquisitor snapped, and the three of us gasped in unison.
"The hell she will," I growled through my teeth, and Ethan started to grab my stele, but it swiped across the glass before he caught it.
"No Ethan, the rune!" I hissed, but it was too late. The glass shuddered, and Liam cursed as the three of us fell through the floor, landing on the ground in the library with a thud, the air escaping my lungs. Ethan had landed on top of me, and I shoved him to the side.
"What in the Angel's name-"
"Kids, are you alright?" Maryse, helped us up, and I nodded. My head hurt, and I was starting to ache all over. That was the last time I was eavesdropping at one in the morning, that's for sure.
Maryse looked concerned. The Inquisitor, on the other hand, did not seem concerned, but angry? Hell yeah.
"What is going on here, Maryse?" She growled, and I turned to her. I glanced at Ethan and Liam, before we stepped away quickly.
"I honestly have no idea, Imogen-"
"What? No idea that your arrogant, coddled children can't keep their noses out of business that has nothing to do with them? I must say, you are proving yourself quite unworthy-"
"I'd just like to point out, that the homely Australian is not part of the Lightwood family, but is just staying here as a guest." Jace said smoothly, and I glared at him.
"That's enough about this. Do you have anything to say to me, Jonathan?" Inquisitor Herondale asked, and the gleam in her eyes made me shiver.
"Very wise," She commented at his silence.
"Well then I guess I'm not. If you think you're going to send him to the Silent City, then you have another thing coming, you little-"
"Rose!" Maryse warned, and Liam pulled me backwards, placing a hand over my mouth.
"Don't argue with her, she's a very high level of authority. You can't win," Liam whispered rapidly, and I sighed in frustration.
"It seems that someone has just as much of a fiery temper as Jonathan here," You would think "fiery temper" was a compliment, but from the Inquisitor it was just offensive, "Perhaps I should send you down to the Silent City as well!"
Ethan looked like he was about to make an angry protest, and Liam reached out with his free arm to hold him back as well. "That will not be necessary, Inquisitor Herondale," Liam said hurriedly, "Rose was just acting out of concern for her brother's wellbeing, she meant no disrespect."
The Inquisitor smiled, but it showed no humor and no affection. "I suggest you do not tell me what is necessary and what is not necessary, Mr. Darkstrider."
And with that, the Inquisitor took Jace away, leaving me, Liam, Ethan, and one fuming Maryse alone in the library. It was times like this that I really missed Hodge.
"What in the hell did you think you were doing?" Maryse scolded, and I looked around. Liam was currently keeping me at his side, his arm wrapped around my waist, while he held his other arm out to keep Ethan at bay. Poor Liam, playing referee.
"Maryse, I-"
"I'm not finished yet! And on top of eavesdropping, falling through the floor, and interrupting an important conversation, you start picking a fight with the Inquisitor? I mean out of all the things, Rose Marie Nightlock…" Maryse was pacing back and forth, and I flinched as she turned her piercing gaze at me.
"I'm sorry, Maryse. It was completely my idea, I take full responsibility for my juvenile actions," I said quietly, and she sighed.
"I suggest you go back to bed, guys," She said quietly, and I ushered the boys out the door, before I turned to glare at her.
"Oh and Maryse," I started, and she turned to look at me.
"You want to talk about of all the things to have done, as you let your own son get taken away to the underground prisons of the Silent City," I reminded her coldly, and guilt flickered in her eyes, before she smoothed her expression carefully.
"Jace is not my son, he is Valentine's," She corrected, not meeting my eyes, and I gasped quietly, before turning on my heel and sprinting after Liam and Ethan.
"Thanks, Rose, for taking the blame." Ethan said, and I whacked him on the arm as I matched my stride with theirs.
"Ouch! What the hell?" Ethan rubbed his sore arm, and Liam raised an eyebrow.
"That is for talking me into this mess!" I hissed, and he rolled his eyes.
"You were the one with the brilliant idea to spy on them from the floor above them!"
"And you were the idiot who messed up the rune and allowed us to fall through the floor!"
"Alright, ladies, back to your corners," Liam said smoothly, and I groaned.
"I swear by the Angel, it's like trying to deal with two young boys."
"Now I object to that," Liam protested, "I am all man. I can't speak for munchkin over there."
Ethan gave him a threatening look, and I rolled my eyes.
"Goodnight, boys," I groaned impatiently, and they muttered their parting words before walking away. I slipped into my room, where I crawled under the covers, going straight to sleep.
When I woke up an hour or so later, the memories from just a little while ago came to mind. Jace.
I sprung out of bed, pulled on a pair of jeans, a loose black tank top, and high heel boots that Isabelle said was "the only news-worthy item in the whole damned closet".
After brushing the tangles out of my hair, brushing my teeth, and putting on my makeup and jewelry, I decided I was presentable. Sure it was around three in the morning, but Isabelle probably would find out very soon, and the Angel only knows what kind of damage she would cause to the Institute in a fit of anger.
When I got out of my room, I was immediately greeted by Liam being dragged down the hallway by Ethan, and he gave me a pleading look when he saw me.
"What the hell are you doing up at three in the morning, Nightlock?" I laughed.
"Iz just realized Jace is gone. I kind of was hoping she would kick ass, but instead we are having a pity party in her room and moping over the fact that there's nothing we can do." Ethan explained, and I shrugged. I had nothing better to do at three in the morning, now, did I?
I followed them to Isabelle's room, where Alec and Izzy were already sitting on the bed. They smiled in welcoming, and I rolled my eyes. There were two chairs in her room, so Ethan took one, me and Liam taking the other.
"So how did you two find out?" I asked curiously, and Alec sighed.
"Mom told us. Why? How did you guys find out?" He asked, and Liam and I glanced at each other.
"We may or may not have been spying on them," Liam explained.
"And we may or may not have interrupted them by falling through the floor and landing two feet away from them." I added, and Isabelle's eyes widened.
"Kick ass!" She approved, and I high-fived her enthusiastically.
"I'm glad you two find pissing off the Inquisitor amusing," Alec muttered, and I glared at him.
"She had it coming."
"Maybe so, but she could have locked you down there with Jace, and she wouldn't have lost one bit of sleep over it."
"I kind of got that feeling from her, yeah."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "So are we going to get him out?" He asked quietly, though he knew it was useless.
"No kid, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do," Liam admitted, and we were silent until we heard footsteps coming from the hallway. By the looks on everyone's faces, no one knew who it was. Isabelle swung the door open, and a second later Clary walked in.
I glanced up in surprise. "Hey, Clary, what's wrong?"
She smiled when she saw me. "Hey, Rose. What do you mean what's wrong? Jace is in jail!" She pointed out, and I sighed. Here we go.
Alec gave Isabelle a meaningful look. "Oh come on Alec, I thought she should know. I didn't think she'd come racing up here!"
Clary took a seat in front of Isabelle's cluttered vanity table, seeing as we were running out of room. As Isabelle and Alec tried to explain the situation to her, Ethan was moving his family ring around his finger absentmindedly, and Liam was twirling a strand of my hair in a bored motion. Glad to know these two were such help.
I actually tuned into the conversation when an outraged Clary asked, "What's wrong with you people? Why aren't you more upset?"
I decided to speak up. "Clary, do you really think we would be here sitting on our asses if there was something we could do? If you think you're the only person here who cares about Jace, then think again." I growled, "Jace mouthed off to the Inquisitor, and he got bit in the ass for it. There's nothing else for us to do," I coughed slightly after the angry outburst, but I mean, really? It was three in the morning girl, for crying out loud. Watch your mouth.
Liam's arm, which was around my waist, tightened slightly in warning. I was starting to feel bad about what I had said, but not much.
"You're right, I'm sorry." Clary muttered, "But this Inquisitor threw Jace in jail just because he talked badly to her?"
As Isabelle and Alec started in an argument with her that contained comparisons between Jace and a mundane soldier, Ethan just looked flat out entertained.
"Glad you're enjoying this," Liam whispered, amused.
"Hey, I've got nothing better to do than observe." Ethan reminded him, and he rolled his eyes. We weren't exactly following the conversation, until I heard a rattling noise, and I looked down to see beads were rolling across the floor, most likely from the pillow that Alec was holding.
"Can we go to the Silent City and see him?" Clary asked, and the idea sent a shiver down my spine. As much as I wanted to check on Jace, I did not want to go down to a place as terrifying as the cells in the Silent City.
A minute later we heard a knock at the door, and I stood up, opening it to reveal Max at the door.
"What's wrong, kid?" I asked, "I thought you were asleep."
"Hey Rose," He greeted, "I was in the weapon's room. But there were noises coming from the library. I think someone may be trying to contact the Institute."
I shut the door behind him, and he looked at Clary in curiosity. "Who's that?"
"That's Clary," Alec explained, "She's Jace's sister."
Max seemed surprised at the fact that Jace had a sister, but Alec was more focused on the fact that someone was trying to contact the Institute.
Isabelle and Alec left to go to the library, and I immediately got the feeling that whatever information they were about to receive, it wasn't good.
"We'll be right back," I announced quietly, and I dragged Liam out the door, running down the hallway and into my room.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Liam asked in confusion as I grabbed my stele and my family dagger off of my nightstand.
"I think we are going to need these very soon," I explained, and he nodded, not questioning my judgment.
When we got back to Isabelle's room, Ethan was standing outside the door, while Isabelle was arguing with Max about something that involved going to the Silent City.
I immediately looked at Ethan, before shifting my gaze to Isabelle. She nodded in understanding, and in one quick movement, she pulled Clary out the door, I practically threw Ethan inside, and I slammed the door shut. I heard an angry yell, and the door shuddered as someone threw themselves against it. If it were just Max in there it would be okay, but Ethan was technically a trained Shadowhunter. He would be difficult to contain.
"Big sisters until the end," Isabelle groaned, and between me and Liam pressing our backs against the door, she was able to draw a Locking rune with Clary's stele. We rushed down the hallway, with me towing Clary by the arm in an effort to help her match Izzy's pace, and Isabelle explained the situation to us.
"The message was from the Silent Brothers, there's been an attack. That's all it said," She huffed breathlessly, and my eyes widened.
"I've never seen the Silent Brothers ask for help before," I gasped, and she nodded in agreement.
When we reached the library, Alec was standing outside the door, who immediately started helping Isabelle draw Marks up and down her arms.
Liam helped me draw a Strength rune on my back, and I glanced at Clary. Alec had suggested she go home, and she looked at me, pleading for understanding. "I want to go with you."
"You sound like Max and Ethan," Isabelle muttered.
Alec argued with Clary, and it was when he called her a liability that I felt guilty. I had also thought that Clary was useless at one point, even though I was slowly realizing she was far from it, even if she wasn't a warrior.
"Let her come," I said quietly, and Alec looked at me, wide-eyed.
"Come again?"
"Clary is a big girl," I said smoothly as I traced runes on Liam's arms with my stele, "She knows how to stay alive. Besides, she'll never learn to be a Shadowhunter if we lock her up like our little brothers."
Isabelle nodded in agreement, while Alec muttered something under his breath. Clary smiled gratefully at me, and I waved her towards me.
"Hold out your hand," I ordered, "And prepared to get inked up."
How was it?
Let me know!
I love you all, my fantastic readers!
- EasyIsTheDescent