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CHAPTER 15 – Storm

"I fail to see how that involves Joanna," Patricia said. "We must track him down–"

"But that is where Joanna comes in," Remington said, his confidence returning. "We have strong reason to believe the rogue boy is in her school, and has been for a while, posing under a false name. With the training she has had, Joanna is prepared to go back to school and seek him out."

Joanna stared at Remington, meeting his gaze and straightening her back. She was strong and trained and her mentor had confidence in her to do this. She'd killed two demons last night. She was Nephilim. She would do her part. She ignored tightness in her chest – she would protect her friends from the killer in their midst. Nothing else mattered. Don't think about seeing them again, don't think about how you didn't say goodbye to Kirsten, don't think about how you broke Alex's heart–

"What?" Asher exclaimed, pushing off the wall. "You're sending her now? She's only been training for a month! This guy killed his father. Don't you think he's dangerous? We agreed that she would go when she was ready–"

"And it is you, Asher, who has been telling me of the extraordinary progress Joanna has been making–" Remington began.

"You said yourself I was ready!" Joanna exclaimed indignantly to Asher, feeling hurt. Asher frowned angrily, opening his mouth to respond, but Patricia's voice cut through the air, silencing him.

"You'll be her backup, Asher. It will be easier for Joanna because she's already registered at the school and integrated into the school community. We'll discuss more of this in detail later." her tone was final, and ASher shut his mouth, looking away. Then Patricia looked at Joanna, her expression changing into a challenging smile. "Let's see how far you've gotten in this training," she said. Joanna grinned.

"Prepare yourself, Mom. I'm not helpless anymore."

"Very good, honey," Patricia said, smiling. "I'm so proud of you." Joanna slowly eased of her defensive stance, dropping her arms to her sides. She was panting slightly, wiping away the light sweat that had broken out on her forehead.

"Thanks Mom," she said as she caught her breath and grinned. "Not so bad yourself." Her mother laughed. They'd been sparring in the training room and Patricia had been testing Joanna's skills. Jo had been slightly nervous to spar with her mom, but everything else had quickly fallen away as it always did when she was fighting. Her mother was incredibly fast and strong, and Joanna had the annoying feeling she'd held back, which only motivated Jo to do better.

"Asher trained you well," Patricia mused, her mouth turning down slightly.

"Yeah, he did," Joanna said emphatically as they walked across the training room, heading for the door. That was a good thing, wasn't it? So why did her mother seem unhappy? "What's wrong, Mom?"

"Did Asher tell you why he was here?" Patricia asked her suddenly.

"He said he was having trouble at school," Jo replied. "And his mom sent him here to stay with his uncle for a while." Patricia's expression didn't change; Jo was confused. "Was that not the truth?"

"Everyone is entitled to their secrets, Joanna," her mother said. "But some secrets are bigger than others."

"What do you mean?" Joanna asked, her stomach feeling strange. "Did Asher lie to me? Mom?" Her mother stopped in front of the door and looked at her, taking her all in without replying.

"You've grown up into a beautiful young woman, Joanna," she said, pulling Joanna in for a hug. "And I'm so happy I can share this part of my life with you now."

"Me too, Mom," Jo replied sincerely, returning the hug. "But what–"

"I have to finish some paperwork, so I'll see you later, okay honey?" Patricia said, letting Joanna go. Her mother smiled at her, but somehow the smile was inexplicably sad. Joanna opened her mouth to ask about Asher but the words wouldn't come.

And then her mother was gone.

Joanna easily navigated the rough path down the steep slope through the trees. She could hear the ocean pounding against the shore, the breeze carrying the faint smell of salt. Through a break in the trees Joanna could see clouds were gathering on the horizon, dark grey and heavy with rain. And there was Asher, standing all alone on the beach at the bottom of a tumble of rocks. Frowning, Jo plunged into the forest again, taking off down the path at a run. She slowed as the roots and dirt turned to sand, the winding forest path opening up into the expanse of the shoreline.

"Asher," she called hesitantly as she neared him. He was facing the sea, watching the rough water. He didn't reply, but she saw the tightness in his shoulders and knew that he'd heard her. She walked forward until she was beside him and they stood together for a moment. She glanced at his profile, but his expression was impassive.

"Asher?" she began tentatively. He didn't answer right away.

"Climbing these rocks is good training," he finally said, turning to put a hand on the damp stone, hoisting himself up. Joanna blinked in surprise and quickly began climbing up after him, feeling she had no other choice but to follow. He led her up ever-higher, far above the crashing ocean waves. Then he disappeared over a rock and a moment later Joanna joined him, pulling herself up over the edge.

The ledge had just enough space for them to sit side by side, shoulders brushing. From there they watched the gathering storm over the water.

"My mom married a mundane," Asher suddenly said, keeping his gaze forward. There was a beat of silence.

"But Shadowhunters can't–" Joanna began in confusion, even after taking a moment to process what he'd said.

"No, they can't. But she did, and she left the Clave to do it," he said. Joanna stayed quiet this time, and he looked at her. She was trapped by the anguish in his grey eyes. "She gave me a choice, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't follow her. This life is all I know; I could never be anything else."

"She left you," Jo whispered.

"Yeah," he said bitterly, his gaze turning steely and looking out to the ocean again. "She said one day when I knew love I would understand why she did it. I told her not to contact me ever again."

She opened her mouth to say I'm so sorry, but it wouldn't come. What comfort was that? She swallowed hard, but couldn't stop herself from asking.

"And your dad?"

"Died in battle," he replied. "When I was seven." Oh god. But Asher wasn't done; he finished explaining briskly. "So that's why I was having issues at school. People started asking questions about my mom. There's only so long you can hide something like that. It was humiliating." Of course, when you were schooled at an Institute, people would notice if a Shadowhunter suddenly ran off with a mundane, and that wasn't exactly behaviour that was smiled upon. But Joanna could see the pain in his eyes along with the shame and betrayal. He had lost both his parents.

"Asher," she started softly, but he was looking away again.

"You are ready," he said abruptly. "I was just worried."

"Oh," she replied softly, feeling warm suddenly. She hadn't realized how much Asher's support meant to her.

"I've got your back," he continued, looking back down at her with a half-smile, the pain in his eyes now undetectable. She knew it was still there, something he would always carry with him, but she smiled back. The word flashed through her head again: parabatai.

But the moment stretched, their eyes locked. She was frozen as he reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair blown by the wind away from her face. The roiling dark storm clouds were above them now, the ocean crashing against the rocks below and sending up a salty spray. Asher cupped her face with his hand and leaned in. Her eyes slipped closed as his mouth met hers.

The kiss was everything she'd dreamed.

And then thunder cracked across the dark sky just as the first few drops of rain fell. Asher pulled away slowly and her breath left her in a soft sigh as she opened her eyes, their faces still only inches away. Thunder boomed again, and there was a flash as lightning slashed across the sky, reaching toward the sea with blinding spindly fingers. The ocean was tossed with white-crested waves as the wind picked up speed. Asher glanced up and Joanna leaned back.

"C'mon," he said, taking her hand as they stood. "Follow me." She glanced behind her at the rising storm as they quickly scaled the rocks. They hit the path running just as the sky opened up and drenched them with pouring, driving rain. Lightning lit up the sky and thunder echoed. "Hurry!" Asher shouted, taking her hand. his palm was fever-hot against hers. They ran together, side by side, and burst into the Institute, slamming the solid oak doors shut behind them.

They were both soaked and panting. Jo let her back hit the door and slid down to sit on the ground; Asher was bent over with his hands on his knees. Both of them dripped on the stone floor. After a moment Asher straightened and Joanna looked up at him. As soon as their eyes met, neither of them could stop the laughter.

It slowly died away a moment later, and Asher held a hand out to help her up. Jo took it and got to her feet, but he didn't let go once she was standing. Her mind was strangely blank, no thought processing, but her cheeks felt warm and her mouth curved into a shy smile. Every other part of life, past, present, and future, was a million miles away as they walked down the aisle and into through the back doors of the church.

Foreboding thunder shook the building and just as the door closed behind them, lightning lighting up the stained glass window of the rising Angel with a glaring white flash.