Chapter 10

"I remember when I met your mother, Ayne. I was working in the Seelie Court planning the balls that were held for the King. I never dealt with him directly, we avoided each other, but instead I dealt with your mother. She had been doing Clave work for a year or so, and had been living in the King's Court for a few months. There had been rumors they were having an affair, but they weren't, not yet. I met her, and let me tell you, she looked precisely like you. She must have been almost thirty though, but I can see so much of you in her. She was a live wire, always eyes darting around the room, her body always moving. She had walked into the hall, dressed in her gear, her silver hair hanging down her back like a sheet of metal. She had walked right up to me and asked, "Are you Zeus," when I told her I was, she nodded and told me to follow her. She was intimidating even for me, an ancient faerie. But after some time she loosened up. She told me she had become close with the King, and he trusted her to deal with all his personal affairs, like planning his parties. She had found it so amusing, I could tell then that she cared for your father.

"We became very close after we worked together for a few events, and I remember for many months there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't see her. She was very exclusive, and didn't invite people's affection easily, but she was far from being against holding the company of a Downworlder like myself. This was even before the Accords had been changed by Fin's grandfather, and Downworlders were seen as just above a demon to a Shadowhunter."

Fin grandfather a little at the mention of his grandfather. Ayne was confused though about what the Accords were…She decided she would ask Fin later.

"After about a year of her and I being friends, she told me she was in love with the King. I was shocked but happy for her, happy she had found something she actually cared about. You see, your mother was a very quiet woman, she kept to herself, and like I said exclusive. The King hardly deserved someone like Madeleine, but still I was happy for her. I left the Court for I had enough money to be unemployed, and I moved to New York and opened the Deity. It was only a few months later that Madeleine contacted me and told me she and Theus had gotten married secretly, and they were in one of his estates celebrating. She had asked me to come see her, but I couldn't stand Theus, so I made a few excuses and got out of it. I knew in her voice she was so happy and in love, that I thought it was okay, their relationship. But rumors started and the Unseelie Court was appalled that their King would marry a Shadowhunter, and I knew then that their marriage would have to end. Two years later, after I only spoke over phone with her, I got a call from her, and she said she had had to leave. She had cried to me about how much she hated him, how terrible he was to her. She had wanted to get out of the Court for months, but she was scared the Clave wouldn't give her work. You see she had worked for the Clave trying to settle territory agreements for a year, and after that she just stayed there... for Theus. She felt like if she left she had no where to go, but if she stayed he would only hurt her. But that wasn't why she was so scared, she was scared because she was pregnant. When Madeleine told me all this, I told her to come to me, and I would help her, find her a place to stay. And so she did, the next day she was here, in the Deity, living with me upstairs in my apartment. She was already showing signs of the pregnancy, her stomach bulging slightly. She said that Theus knew she was pregnant, and that Madeleine had said when she left, not to follow and to never come looking for the baby. She had said that her child would have nothing to do with him or the Court.

"Though Theus may have been a terrible man, he loved your mother, and so he respected her wishes." Zeus sighed, and leaned back, his eyes watching Ayne thoughfully. "She lived with me through the entire pregnancy. She knew that the Clave would frown upon her child, and how she had breeded with a faerie, so she waited until after you were born before she returned to the Clave. She was worried at one point something would be wrong with you, since cross breeds like you never really occurred….But then you were born, and you were the prettiest baby I had ever seen. The Clave took her back happily, not even concerned about where she had disappeared to for nearly 4 years. She was assigned to deal with the Valentine business by the Inquisitor Herondale. It was serious business what she was working with. She had known your grandmother, Fin, very well. She had told me about how Jocelyn had come to her many years before about what would happen if Valentine were to find her. Madeleine hated Valentine, you see, and the entire Circle. I remember when she told me about your grandmother, and how terrible Valentine was, and how she shouldn't have married him. When Madeleine had run into you, she knew she had to help your mother, despite her predicament with you, Ayne. She still lived with me, though she was planning on moving in with her cousin Sara. Sara and Rohen knew about you, though Sara didn't know you were Theus's child as well. Madeleine had told Rohen and asked him to take her if anything where to happen to her. She told him to never let the Fair Folk have you, for she hated them for their terrible and cruel ways. The only faerie he like was me, her closest friend. She knew she was putting her life in danger by being involved with Valentine and saving Jocelyn, but she couldn't help it. She wanted to go against Valentine, and Jocelyn had been one of her few friends in her life."

"It was in the late summer, only a short time before Fin, your parents were married, and Ayne, you were already born, that Madeleine agreed to go to Idris with Fin's parents to help save Jocelyn and with the Mortal War. She was at the portal when Valentine had sent a group of Forsaken to stall their departure and possibly kill Fin's mother. But instead Madeleine was killed, her throat slit. Just like that, my one and only friend was dead, and I was left with a month old baby girl to take care of. Madeleine had told me to give you to Sara, and they took you happily. Sara was devastated by your mother's death, and Rohen was already packing to move into Idris where the fae wouldn't find you. Sara never knew about you, but she loved you so much she didn't care where they went or lived. I remember when they went through the Portal. Your hair was already growing in a little, and I nearly fell when I noticed it was silver. Your eyes were the colour of your father's but it didn't bother me as much as I expected. They are so beautiful. Rohen had shook my hand and Sara had hugged me desperately. I told them I would always nearby, watching over you. And then they had left. I visited once, but Rohen had turned me away, he told me they had left the Clave and wanted to raise you without Shadowhunter influence. It seemed that Madeleine's death had hurt them so much they didn't believe in the ways of the Nephilim anymore. I remember you were just a toddler…You must have been two or three. You a miniature Madeleine. Your hair was so silver and beautiful. Just looking at you made me miss my friend. Sara had swept you up and carried you away like she didn't want me near you. It hurt to see her so scared of me. But I left like they asked, and I have never seen you since. Rohen had asked me to not come looking for them, despite what Madeleine had asked me to do. I kept track of you though, I made sure you were safe. I tried to keep my promise to your mother as best I knew how."

"I remember that day." Ayne whispered, thinking of the Silent Brothers reviving the hidden memory. "I remember you standing there, watching me. You looked so sad."

Zeus sighed, "I was. I missed you, and your mother. It hadn't been the same after she died. I still ran the Deity, but my apartment felt so empty without a crying baby and an emotional woman. But life has went on from then, and I have waited for the day I would see you again. You are beautiful, like your mother. You sound like Sara though, and you hold yourself like her. Sara is wonderful woman, she seemed to have raised you well."

"Yeah she did well with me, not so much my brother, and I guess I have wait and see how Cornellia turns out. She is only 8." Ayne laughed, but it was shaky. She hadn't expected Zeus to know her mother so well…

"Ah she had her own children." Zeus smiled, it was almost too white. "That makes me happy, she was so suited to motherhood."

Ayne nodded in agreement, "Do you think the Seelie court is after me?"

"I would assume as much, yes." He nodded, "But I don't believe your father is gone. He would never die that modestly. I suspect when he does go, it will be extravagant."

Fin nodded and looked to Ayne sadly. "We were attacked by Korrok demons last night, do you think that the attacks will continue?"

"Yes, in different forms… It would be safest for her if you keep an eye on her, and explain the situation to your parents." Ayne was shocked at Zeus's words…that he was trying to protect her though he didn't know her.

"Why are you being to understanding?" She asked, speaking out on her curiostities.

"Because, I loved your mother more then anything else on this earth. More then I have loved any of my playmates, like Magnus, more then my Court, more then my family, more then myself. I would do anything to protect the thing that she would have loved just as equally." Zeus sighed, and his words were more matter-of-factly then she had expected, but the pain and grief was there on his face.

"Thank you." She whispered, touched by how much he cared for the mother she never knew.

"I would never have expected a faerie, such as yourself, show such compassion…" Fin spoke quietly. "If we were to need any further information, would it be wrong to call on you?" He asked, his voice softer now, and his eyes sad. It was strange how his pain hurt Ayne as well, just where her heart was.

"Only if it is for Madeleine's daughter." He cautioned, clearly worried about being involved with the Clave more then he wanted.

"Yes, only for Ayne." Fin nodded, and looked at her for the first time. His perfect face made Ayne almost freeze, and the desire stirred inside her again.

"Now as touching as this was, this reunion," Zeus snapped, his gloomy mood vanishing, and he stood, "I would love to go mingle with the mortals at my club. You would be surprised at how gullible they are."

He winked and began strolling towards the door.

Fin's face snapped toward Eaden—still frozen with Max standing protectly next to her—and then he was running after Zeus. "Wait a second, what about Eaden? We aren't going to sit and wait around for her to unfreeze in a room full of faerie stink."

Zeus whirled around and his face was furious. "You have quite a bit of nerve for a boy who just came into my club, and threatened with lies about the Clave coming after me if I didn't admit that I knew who the girl was. If I were in your place, I wouldn't be vomiting words out of my mouth like there would be no punishment for them. I know plenty more warlocks than you do, and I can bet that a dozen of them are here and more then willing to cast a sweet spell to stop your perfectly sculpted mouth from moving for the rest of your life." His speech was said fervently and his tall lanky figure was leaned forward and down slightly to stare eerily into Fin's face. Ayne saw that his hands were shaking ever so slightly. "And the girl can stay here with me, and you and your hunk of chocolate can scurry back to Manhattan to play guard for Ayne. Either Magnus Bane can come get her, or she can leave when she unfreezes."

"I'm so sorry to disappoint you but I will not be leaving without my cousin." Fin said fiercely, ignoring all his threats and nasty words.

"Call Magnus then, I want you to leave as soon as possible." Suddenly he was smiling and shakes were gone. His smile was wicked and yet longing, like he hoped that Fin would give in.

"I'd be delighted." Fin mutter sarcastically and turned to Ayne, unwillingly. "I need to borrow your phone."

Ayne blushed, as he reached towards her, his hand skimming her wrist. He hadn't met her eyes yet completely and it hurt her. Was he embarrassed to have kissed her? The thought made Ayne's eyes prick with tears.

"Sure, but why?" Ayne asked and pulled out her phone, handing it to him reluctantly. Fin snatched the phone up and his fingers were instantly flying across the keypad, only pausing to press send twice. He seemed to ignore her question and simply handed the phone back to her. His eyes slid over hers and back to Zeus, who looked smug again, with that touch longing again.

Fin's face was slowly curling up into a nasty black smile. And then a huge crack sounded throughout the room, like a firecracker being set off. Standing where the crack had come from was two young men, one in a black suit with black hair and startlingly blue eyes stood tense and full with worry as he peered towards Eaden's frozen form. The other man, much taller and thin like Zeus with cat eyes and spiky black sparkling hair, who wore navy silk suit and glitter cascading down the sleeves was glaring at Zeus with so much hate it looked like it could physically burn him.

"Zeus." The man's voice growled, and he walked over towards them, not bothering to glance at Fin—who was clearly enjoying himself—and Ayne.

"Magnus, darling, its been too long. I see you haven't change a bit! Though that wouldn't be so shocking, you always were a conceded pig." Zeus grinned, stepping into a more casual pose.

"Not long enough for me…I thought I made it quite plain that if you ever so much as spoke my name ever again I would send you into a demon realm?" Magnus snarled. His cat eyes were trained only on Zeus.

The other man had walked over to Eaden, and was touching her face lightly, tears welling in his eyes. The scene was confusing as she watching his look to Magnus with the same desire she was sure was there in her eyes as well when she looked at Fin.

Zeus chuckled, "Oh, but how could I forget?"

"Then why in gods name would you ever think about freezing my daughter into a popsicle for 9 hours?" Magnus asked, his voice almost pleasant suddenly.

"Because I couldn't help myself, revenge is too tempting. I must say it took me longer to get over you more then anyone else." Zeus sighed, as if him admitting this weakened him.

"Well look at me? I'm irresistible." Magnus muttered and looked back to the other man, and then to Eaden.

Ayne suddenly understood the men's presence, they were Eaden's parents. She knew vaguely that Magnus was her father, but the other man must have been her other father as well. She remembered their conversation earlier about how she was born from a spell book.

"Like I said, conceded pig." Zeus laughed humorlessly and his white eyes flitted to Alec. "I see your taste has change quite dramatically. You were always the one complaining about mortals and here you are married to a once-was and raising another. I'd say that's a bit of a hypocritical move."

"That was three hundred years ago. I have said the exact same thing about faeries." And then Magnus smiled hugely, and watched as Zeus's breath caught and his chin flinched up. "Now, I am going to unfreeze my daughter and take her home. I am feeling a little merciful tonight and don't feel like ruining another demon's night by sending something as vile as you into their realm."

Fin laughed and walked away towards Eaden and the man and Max. "But if you ever do anything to harm my family again, I will kill you. No magic, but with my bare hands."

His words send a shiver down Ayne's back and she felt pain set in as she thought of Zeus—the only man who had told her the truth, and had promised to protect her in a way—being killed.

Magnus snapped his fingers, blue sparks flying around his fingers subtly. Only a moment later, Eaden gasped and her body came to life again.

"What the hell?" She shouted and looked around the room. "What happened to me? Where is Zeus? We have to talk to him! Fin why are you in here? Woah!" She said as he spotted the man she didn't know and started, "DAD!"

"Long story short you drank something nasty." Fin said, his voice near laughter. "And you missed all the fun. We can explain that later though."

Eaden gaped openly at the people around her, but seemed inclined to not push him for information. Her huge blues eyes matched the man's who stood next to her, almost hovering in front of her. They seemed to hold the same shocked and confused expression.

"Wonderful! Magnus you just keep getting better and better with your gifts as the years go by!" Zeus exclaimed, glaring at Eaden and the man who was her other father. "But to be honest, I really don't enjoy any of your company, so I would sincerely appreciate it if you left."

A charged and intense silence passed between the small group of people as Magnus and Zeus glared at each other. Magnus's eyes were fierce with hate but Zeus was harder to read.

"Stay away from these children." Magnus warned, and turned to Eaden, Fin, and the man and gestured towards the door. Not waiting for a reaction, he stocked out of the room, brushing by Zeus without another look.

Ayne panicked for a moment as Eaden and the man walked by her, that she wouldn't be able to have her other questions answered. It was only when she felt Fin's body hovering behind hers that she thought she mind buy herself a few more minutes with Zeus.

Eaden's other father turned around expectantly at Fin, "Aren't you coming?" the man asked, his voice deep but soft. He sounded very solem and gentle compared to Magnus.

"Just wait for us outside the club Alec." Fin said sternly, and came to stand beside Ayne. Alec, the man's name it seemed, nodded, ignoring his tone and left.

It was strange how quickly the tension faded and Zeus's face crumpled with hurt. Ayne watched as he strolled to the bar of the large room and poured himself an electric blue drink and gulped it down.

"If I was born before Fin's parents even met, how am only 17?" Ayne asked, the question spilling from her lips. She hadn't realized she was curious about what she asked until the words were out fo her mouth.

"I assume it must be because you are only partially immortal." Zeus whispered, pouring the blue drink into the glass again.

"Partially immortal? But—" Ayne started, but Zeus interrupted her.

"Your mother was mortal and I assume that affected your growth. When Madeleine was alive you didn't grow for the first few months, and then you started to grow very slowly. We were concerned, but then I figured it must have been because you were only have immortal. But after 20 years and the rate you were growing at when I last saw you… I was expecting you to be younger looking, but maybe your growth rate increased to normal as time went on. In any case you look about 18 now, not 20. That's a good thing." Zeus explained, his voice sad.

Ayne's mind whirled and her eyes gaped, "I am actually 20 years old?"

"Not really…you were born 20 years ago, but your body only has developed so much… Don't let it upset you, no one has to know." He smiled slightly, still looking upset.

"Do Sara and Rohen know?" Ayne asked, though she felt she knew the answer.

"Of course, they have been around you since you were young… I imagine they made you think you were the age you are because then they could keep your identity a secret longer…" He muttered.

Ayne nodded, and looked to Fin who seemed curiously listening. There was another silence as Ayne thought about what to ask, but just before she could say anything Fin cut her off.

"Is there anything else we should know about Ayne? Anything that could be different about her, despite her slowed aging?" Fin asked, and his green eyes raked over her body as he spoke.

Zeus was gulping down another drink when he noticed the look Fin was giving her, and then he really smiled, no longer sad. "Half faerie, half Shadowhunter? I would say yes, most definitely. I never got to see if there was anything there since I honored what I promised Rohen, but I expect that since she descants from faerie royalty and pure blood Nephilim she must be special. Is there any reason you ask?" Zeus grinned wickedly.

"Faeries can be deceptive, mischievous, like my father always says, they find out what you want and give it to you, but make you wish you had never wanted in the first place." Fin half snarled, and Ayne shivered at the new fierceness of his words. She hadn't seen him speak so harshly. "I just wanted to know if it was a gift Ayne possessed, or if it was just mere inheritance."

Ayne flinched as Fin's words stung her, and her eyes pricked slightly. The flush that came following his insult made her turn her face in shame.

Zeus looked incredulously at Fin as if the words he had just spoken had not left his mouth.

"How can you—" Zeus began but he fell silent when Fin bowed his head and began walking towards the closed curtains.

Ayne looked at him, still hurt and then back to Zeus. "I hope to see you again."

"As do I." Zeus whispered, his white eyes falling on Ayne sadly. He bowed his head, and turned back to the bar and started sipping right from the bottle he had been pouring the blue drink from.

Ayne watched him for a moment longer, wishing she could sit all night speaking to him about her mother, but her instincts pulled her towards where Fin was.

She sighed and followed him out the curtains, leaving Zeus behind.

Once they were outside the club, Fin began walking in he direction they had come, not even bothering to look behind him to see if Ayne was following. She noticed he was twiddling his fingers across the key board of his cell phone, and then suddenly Ayne's sadness dissipated and anger so severe flashed through her body.

"What the hell is the matter with you Fin?" Ayne nearly cried, her voice sounding much less fierce as she had hoped.

Fin paused and turned around to face her, his face a mask of defiance. "I don't know what you mean?"

"You act like you care about me, like you are here to help me! And then you say all these things to me, about my dancing, about me, and you kiss me like that….Then you go and say I'm deceitful, mischievous? Weren't you the one telling me the other night that the blood inside me didn't mean I was bad? Yet you paint me as the worst thing imaginable. What have I ever done to you?"Ayne shouted, her heels clicking as she stepped closer and closer to Fin's body, until she was inches away from her face, shaking with anger.

Fin's chin jutted higher, and he crossed his arms arrogantly in front of him. "I thought you were different. Special. You are a nice girl, but then I realized you are a faerie, a royal faerie. I have seen enough to know that they couldn't care for Shadowhunters. I know you don't really care about us, about the Institute." His face saddened then, and his next words were shaky. "You—you are just like other faeries."

Ayne's grimacing face fell at his last words, the anger receding. She stepped back, tears entering her eyes. "I found out about what I was only two days ago. Up until then I was completely human, I never thought otherwise. Two days doesn't change someone's lifetime of humanity. I am not what you think, and I would never hurt people intentionally. So you are wrong—so, so wrong Fin," his name burned her throat as she said it, "Because I do care," she whispered, and she backed away, lowering her eyes from Fin's.

There was a charged silence between the two of them as Fin looked at her sadly, and while Ayne put all her concentration into not letting her angry tears fall.

A man cleared his throat and they whipped around to find Magnus, Alec, Max and Eaden standing awkwardly in the alley beside them.

"What did you ask him about?" Eaden asked, her eyes flickering between the two of them as they stood too far away from each other to appear normal.

Fin frowned, "Well we asked about how she hadn't aged at a normal rate over the past 20 years, seeing as how she was born before my parents even were married. Apparently she is partially immortal….but he thinks she ages normally now." He said, muttering. Ayne noticed how he hadn't used her name or directly looked at her now. His shoulders were tense and she noticed his hands were every so slightly fisted.

Eaden nodded, "what else?" she asked.

"That's it." Ayne whispered, her voice still shaking. She didn't think they needed to know about Fin's little rant about my cruel ways.

Fin's fists tightened, and that confused her.

"Eaden, I know you enjoy knowing everything, but I would really truly adore you even more then I already do if you would just let me handle all of this for tonight." Magnus muttered, strolling up towards Ayne, a grin beginning to stretch across his face. "Firstly can I say that I love that gown. Louis….mmm." His cat eyes shined and then he held our a glittering hand, "I never got to be introduced but I'm Magnus Bane. This is my partner Alec Lightwood." He gestured to the handsome man standing protectively next to Eaden, and he simple inclined his head.

I smiled slightly, "Thank you. And it's a pleasure to meet you, formally. I am Ayne Roselyn—Roseleaf—Bellefleur?" Ayne stopped herself. "I'm sorry, I don't know what name I should go by."

Max stepped forward suddenly; Ayne had barely noticed his presence, "Go by whatever name you feel comfortable with. You were raised as Roselyn, so if you see that fit, simply keep calling yourself what you always have. Nothing has changed in you, just a knew truth."

Fin glared at Max, but he studiously ignored him and smiled at Ayne. Ayne thought he had a such a pleasant face, it was hard not to feel comforted by his words. "Ayne Roselyn it is then." She nodded, but continued to look into Max's soft eyes. He was smiling at her gently. It was strange how quickly Max had warmed to her… Their first meeting was border line rude, with him barely looking at her, and now he was the only one bold enough to comfort her.

"I do have a question, Magnus" An unfamiliar voice said, and Ayne looked over to realize that it was Alec who was speaking. He has a very muted voice, and she wondered how Eaden had gotten so much of Magnus and so little of Alec, aside from her frightening eyes.

"Yes, my dear?" Magnus's eyes glittered with affection as he turned to his husband.

"As a half breed, do you think that the same characteristics that apply to warlocks apply and half faeries apply to her? I have heard of half faeries that are products of mundane and faeries, but never faerie and Shadowhunter." Alec asked, his eyebrow's furrowing with concern.

"Oh that is a good question! I imagine since warlocks are product of two completely different species, that is why they are the way they are, but with Ayne, Shadowhunter and faeries seem to be more alike then demons and humans or human and faeries. In their genetic and blood make up, anyways." Magnus explained.

"Because they both share angel blood?" Fin asked, looking at Magnus curiously.

"Yes. So we obviously will have to wait and see deeper into the future, if she has the same…restrictions as us warlocks, but I suspect she does not." Magnus sighed, and looked at Alec again, "Happy?"

"Not precisely. It was just something I thought would help us try to understand more about what she is. Whether she resembles a Downworlder or if she is closer to a Shadowhunter." Alec said, and his bright eyes were staring at Ayne intensely.

"What do you mean, restrictions?" Ayne asked. It was the way that Magnus had said it that concerned her.

"Half breeds are like…golden doodles, the dog. They are a cross between two different animals, and in turn are sterile. They cannot have children. Warlocks and half faeries typically have the same ailment." Magnus's voice was guarded, as if he was worried his words would upset me.

"But you had Eaden?" I argued, trying not to accept what he was saying.

"I am the product of a spell book Ayne. The book of White created me, so really my father didn't make me from himself, if you know what I mean." She blushed, and looked back and forth between her fathers.

"You are still our blood, darling." Magnus smiled proudly. "Thank god Clary found that book or you wouldn't be here."

Ayne realized that her worry over being infertile was going to be ignored for the time being, their confusion over what she really was, was the thing they were most concentrated on.

"I am so very curious about what she is capable of." Alec said, and smiled in encouragement when Ayne looked worried.

"Zeus said she would be powerful, because she carried so much angel blood inside her." Fin said. Ayne avoided his face completely.

Magnus grinned, "And Zeus is always right."

"This is all very amazing and wonderful, but I would appreciate understanding what happened more in detail and I am sure Ayne would like to go home." Eaden mumbled.

Ayne nodded, and shivered as a cold breeze blew past her.

"Let's get you home sweet pea." Magnus smiled softly, and held out a hand. Everyone moved towards him, placing a hand gently on his body.

Ayne took it, and suddenly they disappeared.

Wow it has been way too long! Here are two more chapters!

REVIEW! READ!