Disclaimer: Based off of the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare.

Chapter 3

The Darkness had spread into night time and I got home as soon as the sun fell away into the horizon. I opened the front door and lumbered onto one of the sofas.

"Why did you go running off like that?" My mom said as she left the adjoining kitchen, "I thought something was wrong!"

"Nothing was wrong, I told you I just jogging," I didn't want to be bothered anymore since I had so much to puzzle through.

"Dinner will be ready in twenty," she said as I climbed up stairs into my room. I shut the door behind me and ran to my laptop and opened it up. it wasn't new or anything so it took a minute to boot up, and I popped up a search engine.

"Clave," I whispered aloud as I typed in the exact words, I scrolled and only found websites links and pictures for some sort of wooden instrument. I spent a few more minutes scrolling but I didn't find anything that seemed like it could have been a reason for Ebony leaving town, like a notorious mafia or gang. Next I wrote fae court.

This search seemed to be a lot more lucrative, and also more confusing. I clicked on one of the first links, which lead to wikipedia, and read out loud one of the lines, "…also known as the Seelie Court… fairies!?"

Okay that didn't seem anymore likely, but then the memory of my counterfeit interaction with a vampire. Was it possible that- no, no. Of course it wasn't possible. If there was even the smallest chance that vampires and fairies existed humanity would have found them by now. After all, the internet existed and hidden cameras were everywhere. Most likely it was some sort of gang, on the page it said that it was a part of Irish and Scottish folklore. Maybe it was a Scottish or Irish gang that was prideful of their culture's mythology. I read through a few more articles, and typed in Gangs and Seelie court but I couldn't find anything that traced back to Greaton, let alone California.

"Harley! Downstairs!" My mom yelled. I got up and shut the lid of my laptop.

"Coming!" I trotted down the stairs and spun into the kitchen, sitting in the dining area in our kitchen. I set down our plates, utensils and food.

"How was your day?" My mom asked, I hadn't had a proper family dinner with her for a while since I was usually with Ebony and she was usually at work.

"Same old, same old," I muttered while shoveling pasta into my mouth.

"Really? I noticed that you seemed a bit down earlier," I looked at my mom and thought about telling her the truth. I never really discussed personal issues with her and we our conversations were usually brief unless they involved shouting or sarcasm. Maybe it was because I was feeling sentimental, or maybe I did need to talk to someone, so I cracked.

"Ebony is moving away," I said, and cleared my throat to get rid of the lump those words had formed. That seemed to get a reaction from her, she put down her fork and looked at me.

"You're kidding me? Why is she moving?" She inquired, "I thought you two were joined at the hip."

"She's moving to be with her grandma, in Colorado I think," I responded while avoiding her gaze, "actually, she already moved."

That seemed to get her full attention, "she moved away? Already? That, quickly? Something must have been very wrong then."

I was taken back by her intent gaze and the concern in her voice, "yeah just today, we said goodbye over coffee."

Even though it wasn't entirely true, she said goodbye over coffee and I was still left shell-shocked while leading my own amateur investigation.

"That's interesting, very interesting," she muttered to herself, "did you find out earlier?"

"No, she just told me today," I fumed, realizing how angry I actually was at Ebony.

"Wow, well I'm sure you'll still talk like you did with your old friends," she reassured me. I hadn't told her that the contact that I held with my old friends was slowly dwindling. I was about to say, yeah maybe not, but she was already of her chair, plastic wrapping her barely-touched pasta.

"I need to go back to the office for a little bit," she said while she grabbing a coat hanging from one of the pegs in the living room, "go to sleep early! You barely got any sleep last night."

With two loud clicks, the front door opened and closed leaving me inside to fester in my own anger and confusion.

The next day I woke up in relief, it was saturday and I had no school. I went downstairs and sure enough my mom wasn't there, or in her room. So I decided to do some good old fashion snooping.

I made a mental list of all the places Ebony would have left a trail or at least some unintenitonal answers. The first place I checked was at the coffee shop, Wilde's, which we frequented. I talked to the owner whom we were friendly with.

"Ebony moved away? I wasn't aware, do tell her I give my best," Greg Maroon said, he was the owner of Wilde's and always gave off the vibe of a well meaning professor. He was closer to Ebony than he was with me, but apparently not close enough to know that she was moving away. Next I went to the only concert venue in town, The Vibe, and I talked to some of the people who worked the bar, whom I had seen Ebony talk to before. Merriam, who I'd seen at Ebony's house every once in while, gave a similar response.

"I can't say that I knew, it must have been pretty urgent if she had to leave with such short notice," Merriam said while chewing on her bottom lip, "are you sure she said that she was moving, maybe she'll just be gone for a while."

"No, I'm positive she said that she was moving," I responded, "Merriam, do you know if there is any reason why she'd need to move, like was she in some kind of trouble?"

Merriam absently moved her hands through her waist length brown hair, "no, she was really thrifty and I don't think she was in any debt either. I can't see her getting into that kind of thing."

I furrowed my brows, "have you heard of the Clave or the Seelie Court?"

I pulled out a couple names from the back of my head trying to see if that sparked any recognition.

"No, I really don't think she got tangled up in any trouble. Have you tried calling her?" I had tried calling her, twice, but each time I got her answering machine.

"Yeah, I'll try that. Thanks for your time!" I waved at her while walking out the door, I didn't think I would get any useful information out of her.

"Anytime, hey and feel free to stop by for a concert for free. Ebony bought two tickets for one coming up next week but seeing as she moved away, you can take them."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said, even though I had no intention of attending a concert alone.

My last stop was at record store, where me and Ebony had met.

I had went back to her house and had found almost all her things missing, along with my bracelet. The only items that remained in her house seemed to be the large furniture like couches, a t.v., and a mattress bed. I couldn't do a thorough investigation since her door was locked (for once) and I had to commence my snooping exclusively by peering through windows. I also had visited her nextdoor neighbors and one other coffee shop but no one knew anything. An idea had occurred to me to check her blog which she posted on for work but her column hadn't been updated for nearly a week.

The record store had one of those annoying doormats which tweeted when you stepped on it. It was set up as I had remembered it. I didn't really go in here much since the internet provided most the music I needed. I didn't even think Ebony went in here much. I was about to walk out until a voice said.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" I turned to the register which was off in a dark corner. Behind it was a tall man, he looked a little older than me. He was cute in a off the beaten track sort of way. He was skinny and had a head of wavy brown hair. I stayed rooted to my spot not because of my animal instincts telling me that this was a viable mate, no, it was because he seemed distinctly familiar. I had seen Ebony talking to him before. He had been at a concert before and had approached her. He whispered something into her ear and I remember Ebony saying that we should leave early to hit another party that was happening at someones house. When I asked about him she had just said that he was a random guy. He also fit the height and build of the guy I had seen leaving Ebony's house.

"Yes actually, I was here looking for some music," I said while walking toward the register, "some stuff for me and my friend."

"What were you looking for exactly?" He asked me, I thought of the first band and album that came into my head.

"Nirvana's Bleach, Please," I said, I followed him as he moved from behind the counter to one of the C.D. racks.

"C.D.'s right?" He asked me nonchalantly. I nodded. His height was definitely right. He also walked in the same way that the other guy did.

"I actually wanted to get something for my friend as a going away present," I said casually, "you know Ebony right?"

The guy's back stiffened but he continued to rifle through the C.D.'s.

"Yeah I know her," he said, "are you here because she told you to be here?"

"Yes, I'm her really good friend and I wanted to get her a gift before she left," I said while sweating a little. I should have come in with a more solid story, I was beginning to see holes in mine left and right. He spun around with the black and white C.D. case in his hands.

"Here you go, I have that gift, that Ebony wanted delivered to you I think. Right?"

"Right," I said back even though I had no idea what he was talking about. He went behind the counter and pulled out a manila envelope. I glanced up at his name tag which had "Jefferson" written on it in sharpie.

"This should be it and make sure you open it soon. And $12.99, for the C.D." I handed him a twenty and he gave my change along with the envelope.

"Bye," he said and I waved back at him.

I ran with the envelope in my hand and kept running until I reached the local park about five blocks away. The park was empty except for a few teenagers sitting in the middle of one of the basketball courts. I moved to one of the benches that were partially covered by greenery and sat down to open the envelope. I pulled out the one sheet of paper that was folded inside it. I thought that was it until I felt something else at the bottom of the envelope. I reached in and felt a small pouch. I pulled it out and saw that it was a dark blue color, I opened it carefully and found one tiny gem in it. I gasped and turned my attention to the paper held in my other hand.

The paper was dense and had an odd texture, almost feathery. The text was hand written in purple ink that shimmered oddly in the late afternoon sun. I then mumbled out loud what was written on the paper.

"The following names need to have their memories erased in regard to any contact that they have had with downworlders…"

That by itself was confusing, downworlders? Memories erased? I had no idea what it meant and what Ebony had to do with it but it seemed the more the mystery I unraveled the more there was to discover.

"Topeka Mumford," that was one of her neighbors.

"Sharon and Miles Turner," I was pretty sure that they were her other next door neighbors.

"Jefferson Barker," I paused as I read that name, Jefferson was the cashiers name.

"Arnold Coldwater," I had no idea who he was.

"Merriam Rodes," I almost paused in shock until my eyes slid to the last name.

"Harley Sivea,"