Chapter 7

Fin led them down the halls, barely able to speak from the shock that she hadn't snatched her hand away when he had taken it. She had the softest hands, and wonderfully warm, not hot like his always were, but a gentle warmth. She had long elegant hands, that in other circumstances would have been strange on a girl but with Ayne, it suited her elegant long appearance.

They immerged from the church only to find a delicate carriage waiting for them, with a cloaked man sitting, holding the reigns.

"I thought you said there would be carriages?" Ayne asked, looking at the carriage confused, her soft voice was gentler then usual. Fin noticed though that she had not yet withdrew her hand from his.

"It is a carriage, it has a glamour. If you focus on it, and try to almost look through it, you'll see what it is really is." Fin said, and pulled her toward the carriage.

"Oh!" Ayne said, and her lavender eyes were wide with shock, and then slowly she smiled in wonder. "That's spectacular! Like something out of Cinderella!"

Fin frowned, "Cinda—what?"

Ayne laughed quietly and climbed into the carriage, sitting down reluctantly. "Mundane faerie tale of sorts. Ignore me."

Fin looked at and shook his head in annoyance, "I can hardly ignore someone like you."

Ayne's smile disappeared and her face reddened. They looked at each other for a moment before their charged silence became to much, and Ayne looked away.

Fin hadn't noticed that they had begun to move.

"Where exactly are we going?" Ayne asked suddenly.

"To the Silent City. It's a city where the Silent Brothers live. Its also where the Clave or Nephilim seek help, where we burry some of our dead, or where someone goes on trial on the Mortal Sword." When Fin saw Ayne's face crumple in confusion Fin explained. "I guess I should just give you a history lesson so you will understand?"

Ayne nodded, embarrassed.

Fin sighed, "Thousands of years ago, a man named Jonathon Shadowhunter went and summoned an angel, the angel Raziel, in our home country Idris, and asked for him to grant him a gift that would help him in his quest to rid the demons that scattered the world. Raziel rose from a Lake holding a cup, where he mixed his and the man's blood, giving Jonathon it to drink, and a sword, the Mortal Sword. Those—the cup and the sword—are two of the Mortal Instruments. The third is the a 'mirror' or the Lake—Lake Lyn—where Raziel rose from. After Jonathon drank the blood, he got powers and basically was able to read the language of heaven, like the runes, and so he learnt how to kill demons. His powers were passed onto his children, and his children's children and so on. Creating Shadowhunters. After some time, a secret society was created to run the Shadowhunters in the Shadow world called the Clave, sort of like a military service. The Silent Brothers are very high in the military service, but unlike soldiers they are like priests or monks, that reside in the battle of the mind, like I mentioned before. The Silent Brothers keep the Mortal Sword and when a Shadowhunter has been naughty they can bring them to the Silent Brothers and the sword will show them whether the Shadowhunter is lieing. It is a seldom practice though because they Sword's purity is questionable after it was converted to evil sanctity, by a man named Valentine Morgenstern. I think you must have heard the name, your mother mentioned him yesterday He sought to make the Shadow world clean and free of half breeds like Downworlders—faeries, vampires, warlocks and werewolves—but he failed in his quest. He summoned Raziel, trying to get the angel to grant his wishes, but his child had tricked him, and made him think he could be the one in charge of the summoning, little did he know that the girl had changed the rune configuration to be under her rule. And so Raziel only did her bidding and killed Valentine, knowing he would only bring destruction to the Clave. You sort of know the rest of it."

Ayne gaped at him. "How do you know so much?"

Fin laughed, "It is a big deal in our history."

"But I mean, that stuff about the Valentine man, that's a lot of detail."

"Well I guess I probably know more about that, considering that my mother was the girl who changed the rune configuration." Fin shrugged, this was knowledge all Shadowhunters knew. "That, and she was his daughter."

"Your—your mother—you are Valentine's grandson?" Ayne asked, a strange admiration appearing on her face.

"Yes, in fact my father was raised by Valentine, and for a summer, after my mother found out about her heritage, they thought that they were brother and sister." Fin laughed again, it had been a terrible time for his parents but he found the story amusing.

"Wow. And to think I come from all that history." Ayne mumbled, shaking her head in astonishment.

"It was all quite boring up until Valentine came along, let me tell you. Many people fled when he came along, your parents included."

Ayne sighed, "Unfortunately. This is all so interesting, I wish they had had the guts to hang around."

"They were thinking of you, and how they could keep you safe." Fin whispered, looking deep into Ayne's eyes.

The carriage lurched to a stop, and Ayne started.

"Oh, we're here," Fin said, and looked around the cemetery they sat in. He hopped down from the carriage and helped Ayne as she glided down.

She shivered as his arms slid down her waist. For a moment Fin thought it was from his touch, and he almost smiled, but then he noticed she was staring in fright ahead of them.

Fin frowned and turned to see the lurking hooded figure standing watching them.

As beautiful as the half breed may be to look at, Finnigan Lightwood, it is no reason to keep the Silent Brother's waiting. A monotone voice spoke clearly in his head.

"Well lead on ahead then, if you're in such a rush." Fin snapped, shaking himself as if to rid the lingering word from his mind. It was unnerving how easily he could break into Fin's conscience and see that he was looking at Ayne. Which he realized suddenly, was with an affection he had never expressed towards anyone.

"What are—" Ayne almost asked as she walked beside Fin, but stopped suddenly, gasping. "Who is saying that?'

Fin smiled darkly at her. "I told you they conquer the mind."

"You mean, that—that dude, he is speaking to me in my head?" Ayne whispered. Fin tugged her gently when he noticed the figure waiting far ahead of them.

"Yes, now come on." He snapped again, not wanting to keep the Brother waiting.

They walked on ahead, up to the man's side, only to find another lurking figure standing on the other side, with Eaden and Max standing impatiently.

Max looked calm as usual, and very pleased that he seemed to be unafraid, but Eaden was visibly shaking. She had always complained about the Silent Brother's and how much she hoped she would never have to meet one of them. And now she was in the midst of too.

"See Eady, that's what you get for complaing." Fin smirked at Eaden, as she shot daggers at him with her bright eyes.

Before we enter the Silent City, you must guarentee that you will behave appropriately in the presence of the Brother Yui. He is unwell, and if we are to search into girl's mind and origins, there will have to be a tremendence amount of focus. Will you give the Brother's this focus? The hooded figure asked. At first Fin thought he was only speaking to him, but when he noticed Eaden go tense, Ayne freeze, and even Max's eyes were wide, he knew they he was speaking to all four of them.

Eaden simply nodded, but Max stood straight. "As any Nephilim would."

In other times, this would something Max would saying jokingly, and Fin would have laughed. But now, it seemed that all Fin and Eaden could do was nod in agreement, though Fin felt a slit anger rise in him that a Silent Brother would have to ask them to show respect as if they were imbicils.

And what say you, Ayne Roseleaf? Asked the other Brother who stood beside Eaden. Fin looked at Ayne and saw her flinch at her Shadowhunter name, and Fin touched her arm in comfort.

"I just want to know who my parents are." She whispered, and seemed to relax at Fin's touch.

The hooded figures nodded, and began to walk again.

Though Fin, Eaden, and Max had never met the Silent Brother's they had been inside the Silent City before. They had never been in through the guest enterance, and were shocked as they watched the statue of Raziel split and open to reveal a winding stone staircase, leading deep underground.

Ayne seemed to be to shocked to make a comment on the scenery, though she clearly admired it.

Fin knew it was a beautiful but frightening city, with it's dark marble halls, and sinister looking statues.

He noticed that Ayne started twice as they walked toward where the Silent Brothers gathered in council.. He guessed that one of the Brother's were speaking to her, possibly explaining what would happened to her. Fin knew already from his parent's experience that she would be placed inside the Star in the room and they would invade her mind and confer amongst themselves to find out who she was.

He was shocked to find himself worry that it would be too much for her and that she might faint, like Clary had when they had tried to get the memory spell from her mind. He gazed over at her, and noticed she was staring around herself in awe, and was hugging herself coldly. Eaden looked at Fin's guiding arm and pointedly gave him a knowing smile.

Fin dropped his hand. "Are you cold?"

Ayne shivered and rubbed her arms, "Yeah, its freezing down here."

Fin shrugged off his sweater and handed it to her generously, she smiled and slipped it over her head. "Thank you."

We have arrived. The Brother's voices said.

They looked around an saw the other brother's hooded, and sitting around them in the giant council room. They were standing in the Star.

The Brother's walked away, taking their seats around them. It seemed that the Brothers blended in together, and looked identical, with their dark brown cloaks plummeting around them.

One of the Brothers, the one in the centre, lifted his arms to reveal thick black runes covering every surface of his skin, and slid off the hood.

Ayne and Eaden gasped as the face of the Brother was revealed. His eyes seemed to have been sewed shut with red runes just under each eyelid. His mouth seemed to be melted together, and it looked as thought there had never been a mouth there in the beginning. And his skin—probably once youthful and bright—was now a gaunt grey. Fin had expected but couldn't help but feel slightly shaken from the haunting looking man.

So this is the infamous Ayne Roseleaf? She is quite like her mother, quite like her indeed. And apparently completely unaware of how great she is. A shame, that. The Silent Brother, Brother Yui, Fin thought, was very dull sounding. He seemed to be sick sounding even in his thoughts, which made the thoughts in Fin's mind depress sadly.

"Yes, this is her. She was raised in the mundane world." Fin said quietly and looked at Ayne. She seemed to be staring intently at one of the Brothers sitting to the left of her. She seemed shocked. "Is there something that we are not supposed to be informed about? Because my parents told me that this would be an open meeting.."

Ayne's eyes blinked and she looked back to Brother Yui, almost painfully.

Yes, it seems that our Brother Ridus, has already aquired some information about the girl. Brother Yui said.

"And that is?" Fin snapped impatiently.

She has the blood of ancient ancestry, from both Nephilim and the Fair Folk. The Bellefleur family are nothing but pure. They hail from very high military officers. And her father's heritage is anything but of majestic origins.

"Majestic? What does that mean?" Fin asked.

Ayne is the child of an old family. The Brothers are not sure how close to the monarchy they are, but we can sense it in her blood. The strength, and the potency. Brother Yui looked at Ayne and nodded.

"But what I don't get it how she hasn't had the Sight until now…" said a husky voice, Max.

We must search into the depths of her mind to find the reason. Was all the Brother said.

Fin frowned, he knew from his mother's experience that it was an awful experience, and had even caused her pain. He didn't want Ayne to hurt, he realized suddenly.

"Look into my mind?" Ayne whispered, and looked to Fin desperately. Fin's hand glided to her without a thought and rubbed up her arm.

"It'll be fine," he said, thought his voice didn't sound so certain.

"If you're wrong, your going to have to make it up to me." She whispered, but it wasn't in a way Fin had expected. Instead of her usual soft intensity, it was seductive.

Fin's eyes widened, and he felt his face go up in a smirk, and he stepped back, inclining his head to Brother Yui.

He looked at Ayne as she smiled at Fin playfully and then braced herself for the mental torment she was sure she would soon endure.

Fin was astounded at how beautiful she took to this new life.

Ayne felt as her mind seemed to clear and be full and invaded all at the same time. She felt her connection to Fin, Eadan, and Max fade, and all the Brother's press into her taking their places inside her head.

It was silent for a moment, and Ayne was only looking at Brother Yui with a sick fascination, and then suddenly with a gasp, the images in her head began.

The first thing she saw was her mother Sara standing behind her father, and she sensed her parents were tense. She saw a man standing in their door way in velvet silver clothes, and she realized with a start that the man's eyes were white and pupilless. He was considerably shorter then Rohen, but she could tell he was very lean like her, and fair, just like her. She heard the man speaking, almost begging Rohen, and then Rohen shouted, and pointed for the man to leave. Then just as he turned to leave his eyes landed on Ayne, and Sara gasped running towards her. "Sweety, its late! What are you doing up!" She asked frantically, and Ayne realized that she was much younger, only a toddler, and that this moment was a memory and had been long forgotten.

Then another memory flooded her mind, and she was sitting in her room in New York. The bay window was no longer white, and covered in plush blankets and floating shelves filled with books. They were blank, and the entire room was empty, and windows outside were being pelted with rain. Ayne remembered this day instantly; the day she had moved into her new house, Vince had only been 7 and her only 8. She heard as a door was knocked on, and then she heard as Rohen slammed his door and ran down the stairs. "Get out! This is our home, we no longer live with a Shadowhunter Conclave, we have left the Clave. We live in a mundane world, we intend to raise our children free of your Downworlder tricks, and the Shadowhunter violence," Rohen said angrily. "And how do you intend to do that when you are a great Shadowhunter yourself, and your adopted daughter the child of the Unseelie Court? King Theus wants her child back, despite his wife and his agreement," and seething harsh voice spoke, dragging their s out too long. "I respect what Madeleine told me in confidence, and what she asked me to do, and that was to protect her daughter from being destroyed by violence and evil. And she is no longer Madeleine's daughter, or Theus' daughter, she is mine, she is my child, I raised her. And I will never giver her up." Rohen spoke with a fierce passion. There was a short silence before the snake like voice spoke again, "Very well." And then the door banged. Ayne walked towards the door, and peaked her head out to see her father sitting on the stairs, shaking. "Daddy? Is everything alright?" she whispered, and saw her father whip around. "Yes Ayne, go unpack," his voice rarely ever shook, and she saw quickly that tears were in his eyes. She knew though that she had to return upstairs, and she did.

Another image went into her eyes, and she saw as she stumbled out of a car, drunk as a skunk, with Ben steadying her. "Jesus Ayne, why do you always drink so much at Western, we weren't even in VIP…" Ben mumbled, and she dragged her feet up to her front door. "They make such good pornstars, you don't even know!" she giggled, and snorted, and then tripped on her own feet. Ben didn't grab her fast enough, and came down with her, and sat on the stairs. "My felt hurt," She moaned, and started to lazily take them off. "Here," Ben whispered, and bent down to undo them. "Shank you, my dearest husband" Ayne laughed, and let her face fall back and look at the bright night. She then looked over and saw the man in silver from her other emmory, standing beside a tree, watching her with intense sadness. Ayne felt her face rumbled in confusion at the strange looking man, and then the door swung open above them. "Ayne? What are you doing home so late?" She heard her father whisper angrily, and she turned to see him in his pajamas, stomping downt he stairs. "Rohen, she was gonna stay at Quinn's but she is way to drunk, honestly, I think she may be sick.." Ben admitted unhappily. "I'm sorry, I should have taken better care of her." Rohen sighed, and looked her Ayne, "It's alright, I'm happy you brought her home where she can sleep in her own bed. Thanks Ben, I really app—"and he cut off, and was looking over across the street. "Daddykins! Are you looking at the weird ass medival faerie too!" Ayne shouted, and felt her stomach turn, and then she was doubling over, and threw up all over the stairs. Everything went black then, and the next thing she knew she was being ran up the stairs and into her bathroom. "Jonathon, I know this is a terrible thing to ask, but I need to know that Ayne won't be harmed by me putting the forgetting rune on her… I have to know it wont hurt her with her Unseelie blood.."Rohen whispered, as he sat next to Ayne as she lay unconscious on her bathroom floor. "I don't see why it would, we all know that the Shadowhunter blood will overpower her faerie blood. The Angel blood overpowers the Demon blood, just like how light over powers dark." Spoke a deep and lovely voice, that was already familiar. Not only did it sound like Fin, but it sounded like Jace. And then Ayne realized, that it was, and that Jace's name must have been short for Jonathon.. "So you believe she will be unharmed?" Rohen demanded. "Yes of course, is everything alright Rohen? I haven't seen heard from you for almost ten years now. Did something happen with Ayne? Did she see a faerie or something?" Jace asked, worried. "Yes, it was Theus. He was watching her from outside our house, she is drunk back from a club…she is nearly 18 now… but I mean he standing there, watching her. It is shocking how much the same they are in their presence. They watch people the same way, and it is frightening. I cant stand the thought of him getting his hands on her…making her become the next queen…and Sara doesn't know, Madeleine said she couldn't know." Rohen whispered, his voice shaking again. There was a sigh from the other side of the line, "You know after what happened to my wife makes me completely against erasing memories, but in this instance, I think it would be safer for her. Theus is dangerous, and I would hide my daughter from him just as you are. I respect what you are doing, and I will not hold it against you. If anything happens you are free to contact me." Jace said respectfully. He seemed to speak more casually, with her father, like they knew eachother well. "I am not of the Shadow world any longer. I cant ask you for more. Thank you, Jonathon. Vale." He said suddenly, in another language. "Vale." Jace said, and then the phone clicked off.

Ayne felt as her body teetered out of balance, and she realized her mind ached and her body was piercing with pain. The images disappeared suddenly of her father's forlorn face, and then when her mind emptied, she fell to the ground exhausted…

"What the hell did you do to her?' Eaden snapped, and Ayne heard as he feet clicked across the floor towards her. Ayne opened her eyes to Eaden and Max standing over her, facing the Brothers. And then there was Fin, crouching over her, his face a mix of amusement and worry.

This is grave knew, Shadowhunters. Brother's Yui's voice said. Fin's amusement crumpled away and his head whipped around.

"Grave news? What is it? Is something wrong with Ayne?" Fin's voice almost yelled, and she felt as his hand pulled her into a proper sitting position.

Ayne felt, despite all that was going on, a sense of yearning and nervousness from Fins saying her name.

There was a short silence, as Fin stood, and Ayne slowly got to her feet. Her body was shivering from what she had seen in her head.

Ayne, has had the forgetting rune put on her more then once, ever since the first time when she saw the King of the Unseelie court outside her New York town house.

"The King? King Theus? Why?' Fin asked, looking at Max anxiously.

Because King Theus is her father.

Fin gasped, as did Eaden and Max. "Her father? Are you serious? Madeleine Bellefleur had a child with the ancient Unseelie King?"

He was her husband for the time she moved into the Faerie courts for work. The Brothers had heard that the King had married, and though we had once looked into it, no knowledge of who the woman was, was acquired. It has been revealed that Madeleine Bellefleur was the woman we had searched for. From Ayne's hidden memories, it seems that Madeleine and Theus has made an agreement to sepereate and that Ayne would not be raised by Theus is anything were to happen to Madeleine, and instead to her close family Sara Bellefleur. She had just married Rohen Roseleaf…and as far as we can understand, Rohen knew about Ayne's royal blood line, and had kept Madeleine's secret from his wife. They had already decided to live away from the Shadhowhunting world, and when it seemed that their inherited daughter would be in danger, Rohen convinced his wife to leave Idris. They moved to Chicago, and then New York. It seems Theus returned to Rohen trying to find out what had happened to Madeleine again, and then had sent one of his Court to get Ayne back when she moved into New York. It seems the King has been watching his daughter throughout her life on the side lines. When Rohen found that out, he called your father, Fin Lightwood, to make sure that his daughter's faeire blood would not affect the forgetting rune. Ever since then, any time he knew she would see the King, he drew the rune again. Do you not remember seeing the man Ayne Roseleaf?

Ayne cleared her throat, and realized tears were about to spill over her eyes. "I remember when the man came to my house when I was a toddler, though only vaguely. But I haven't seen him since. When we moved to New York, and the other man, I thought they were talking about my birth parents, I didn't listen too closely. But now…I wish I had."

It seems we have the infamous unknown heir of the Unseelie Court in our midst. Said Brother Yui.

Eaden gasped, "The unknown heir? Do you mean that she is seriously the princess?"

Ayne's eyes widened, a princess was something she had joked about being once in her life, never had she ever thought she would become one.

More then a simple princess. She is technically able to take over the throne now. Brother Yui's voice spoke almost with some emotion, annoyance maybe.

"How!" Ayne asked, confused. This couldn't be happening.

Your father has disappeared. He is gone from the Court. Leaving you, the heir, the Unseelie Court throne.

Ayne felt her body sway at the sick Shadowhunter's words. She was a faerie monarch? Two days ago she didn't even believe in God! A sinking feeling crept up slowly as she thought of something..

"My, apparent power, is that something someone would want from me? What would happen if there were no heir to the throne?" Ayne whispered, looking at the Brothers, already knowing what they would say.

Without a leader, the Unseelie court would unfurl into a chaotic place with ungoverned Downworlders, and the Seelie Court is obliged to keep the Fair Folk in order. IN other words, the Unseelie Court would be absorbed into the Seelie Court until another heir could be produced, and if that were impossible, then the Unseelie would be no longer. It has only happened once in their history, and it resulted in one of the biggest Downworlder battles. The battle of—

"Willow Kind." Eaden whispered. "By the Angel, Fin, that explains what the man the other night said to you, about the Faerie Courts searching, they must be searching for an heir!"

If the Brother had been able to turn down his invisible mouth, he would have been frowning. Despite his shut eyes, he looked unimpressed.

The Seelie may be mischievous and conniving, but they would never attempt to over throw the Unseelie. The fae do no usually turn against their own kind. The voice spoke in her head only slightly deprived of the monotonous tone.

"Why then would be have been attacked by Korrok demons, the day after I encountered the newly discovered Unseelie Court heir? That seems terrible coincidental, do you not agree?" Fin said, his voice seething and angry. Ayne saw a flash in his green eyes that was clearly the violent Shadowhunter side she had not yet witnessed.

Korrok demons? They aren't the usual attack demon. The Fair Folk wouldn't send a demon, they have creatures of their own to use at their disposal, said Brother Yui. He seemed to sigh and shift slightly in his seat.

"I thought you said that the Fair Fold don't turn against their own kind?" Fin asked, smiling arrogantly.

If you want to test your knowledge on the Fair Folk, you may go and find one, and see what they have to say, until then, the Silent City can do nothing for you further. Another voice spoke, and it emerged from a chair above them, and descended, their cloak covering his most-likely scarred face. We must ask you to leave now, the Brotherhood has work to attend to.

Eaden rolled her eyes, and grabbed Max's hand, and started walking away.

Ayne waiting for Fin as he stood looking at the Brother, and then shivered.

"Fin? Should we go?" She asked, looking uneasily at the Brothers.

"Yeah, let's get out of here, we have to tell my parents." Fin said, and rushed past her, and after Eaden and Max.

Ayne looked back to see Brother Yui being helped down from his seat, and walked out another room she had not seen.

Something she remembered suddenly then, from the Brother's words made her blanch in concern. She hadn't thought much of it before, but now she wasn't so sure.

Before they had even reached into her mind, and realized who she truly was, he had said you are everything your father hoped you would be.

Well here is another Chapter!

I hope you like it, and there is some INTENSE stuff coming, I know all you readers will adore :)

I don't have enough to post two this week, and my exams are coming up so I may not post until after next week, BUT, then I will be done school and I will be able to post new chapters all the time!

Enjoy!

-MW