Heyy people! So I'm back! Hallelujah! AWESOME OR WHAT? Hahaha, well without further ado, the next chapter, hope it's up to standard :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments haha
Chapter 2
The next morning, it was still raining. How wonderful, Seraphina thought as she awoke to the sound of the rain pattering against the bay window in her room, casting shadows lazily across the burgundy room.
She curled her knees up to her chest under the blankets and watched the rather depressing rain for a bit. After a bit of wallowing in her little sorrow, she got out of bed and got changed into a comfortable grey sweater and black jeans and boots. Being a seventeen year old Shadowhunter meant a variety of dark and gloomy clothes. Greys, blacks, dark blues and what not. But she did have a few pieces that she rarely wore, her neon shirts and shorts. For when she went to rave and electronic dance music festivals. At least when she used to go for them. Rarely nowadays. Since becoming a Shadowhunter and losing her parents,
It had been a fun life until then really.
Seraphina slipped a small blade into each of her boots and grabbed her cell phone and earbuds before pacing quickly out of the room down to the kitchen which she found empty except for Ruby and Felix.
"The others?" She asked out of curiosity as she sat down across from Felix at the breakfast bar. Who knew Institutes had little breakfast bars?
"Derek's out with Simon and Dad on a patrol. Mum and Izzy and Cass had to leave for Idris. Some important mission of sorts. Toni's jus not up yet, he tends to sleep in because he stays up late drawing." Ruby said, not looking up from her cereal. Who knew sixteen-year-olds could be so engrossed by cereal.
Felix had an apple in one hand and a book in the other. Bookworm. Sera nodded and walked to the fridge and pulled out a banana and some peanut butter.
Who kept peanut butter in the fridge?!
She sat down peeled the banana, broke it apart and dipped it into the not so soft peanut butter.
Felix momentarily looked up from his book with a dark arched eyebrow.
"What?" Sera asked him. "Nothing, just that, the only other person who actually eats like that is-"
"Me." A voice interrupted. All three Shadowhunters looked up and found that Toni had finally arrived. His black hair was a mess, his eyes half lidded and his clothes put together messily. A rumpled black long-sleeved shirt and dark purple chinos. He was also barefooted. "What took you so long?" Ruby asked. Toni rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned, reminding Seraphina faintly of a cat.
"Was up last night sketching. Charcoal on canvas can be tiring." Toni breathed tiredly, snatching a piece of banana before sticking it in the peanut butter an eating it. "Where's my dad?" Toni asked through a mouthful of food. "Probably with your father at his place?" Felix suggested, dark eyes returning to his book, biting his apple absentmindedly. Toni nodded.
"So, as our newest member, would you care to explore the streets of Manhattan with me?" Toni asked. Sera stared at him strangely. "I thought we weren't supposed to leave?" She asked, puzzled. "That's at night. We can go out but we have to be back by seven at night or else we'll have to have one of our parents or family with us." Ruby answered. Sera nodded. She'd originally intended to hide in the greenhouse, she'd been told there was one, and read for the rest of the day, undisturbed.
But hey, when a cute guy asks you out why turn down the offer you know?
"Sure I guess, just let me grab my stele and we'll be good." Sera finally decided and got to her feet, tossing the banana peel into the trash can. "No need, I've got mine. And don't forget, I've got magic." Toni smiled, raising one of his hands, silver sparks flying around. Sera smiled softly and nodded as they headed out.
Toni was still in his awful clothing, although he put on some decent black wingtips before leaving. Did Magnus not pass on his fashion sense to his son?
"What no weapons?" Sera teased lightly once they set foot outside the Institute. It was still raining lightly and the sky was overcast, blocking out at the sun. "I've got my magic and I rely more on that then any weapon." Toni replied coolly, hands tucked inside his pockets. Sera nodded subtly, staring ahead. "So where to?" She asked. "I'm gonna take you to Taki's. It's awesome. All our parents went there when they were younger. The food's not bad and you can be yourself mostly because sometimes you meet some Downworlders." He replied, leading Seraphina to the subway as they made their way to the diner.
They walked in and instantly saw some people. Lily, the vampire clan's leader was with Elliot in her booth and she raised her glass of what appeared to be a Bloody Mary, with literal blood, in greeting to Toni. He nodded in response.
Further along sat a werewolf with a light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was devouring a hamburger and his companion, who appeared to be a mundane, simply stared at him in disgust.
Toni slipped into a corner booth and Sera slipped in across from here. "I'm guessing you're a regular here." Sera said matter-of-factly. Toni nodded as a waitress, a faerie, approached them with menus. Toni spoke quickly to the waitress, declining the menu and Sera simply stared at it.
Chocolate covered ants?
Raw mutton?
Blood sausages?
She shuddered and ordered a black coffee. Toni arched a delicate eyebrow and chuckled.
"First timer's always get a shock." He grinned. A dazzling grin that was sure to win any girl's heart. Not to mention the icy eyes and the dark hair. He reminded Sera of Jace in a way. Same charm and nice looks. He was like Alec in the way that he preferred functional clothes to clothes that looked good. He resembled Clary in the way they both loved to draw. He was like Magnus because of smile and his cat-like-ness.
Was that even a word?
Their order's came and they talked.
They talked about their likes.
Their dislikes.
Their lives.
Their hobbies.
Their dreams.
Etcetera.
Toni was careful to avoid the topic of family and Sera could sense it so she finally blurted it out. "You know, you don't have to hide your curiosity about my family." Toni paused in the middle of eating his devilish chocolate cake.
"You don't have to share anything if you don't want to." He said softly, looking at her through half lidded eyes. She stared down at her coffee.
"My parents were the kind that were strict and kind at the same time. They had their rules but they knew when to let me break them. I studied hard in my time at Idris before properly joining the Institute back home. Attacks were so rare then. I used to be free to go and hang with friends of mine who were warlocks and faeries and vampires and werewolves. They were all there. We would hang out and go to Zoukout every year. An annual rave festival. I still remember watching Nicky Romero mixing his tracks and Skrillex crowd surfing. It had been a great experience.
"My werewolf friend Robin loved to DJ too. She'd mix up tracks and we have our own little parties. I missed that a lot when the Uprising came and we'd had to go Idris. After that things weren't the same. Tensions were high. Robin's pack never let her near Shadowhunters. My vampire friend Darren never met us again and even the warlocks came around for business only. Nothing was friendly ever again. And then the demon attacks happened..." Seraphina trailed off. Her hand wrapped around her mug as she stared out into the raining New York streets. She felt something tug at her hand and she looked down to see that Toni had taken her hand in his.
He was smiling grimly at her and he squeezed her hand gently.
"We are dust and shadows." Was all he whispered and on that day as two seemingly normal teenagers held that moment in a simple diner, darkness watched from below. A son of Lucifer had risen and he was about to strike. And yet, in the midst of tragedy and loss, two people find the time to simply take in the little things in life.
Two people start to fall in love.