23rd August, 2016, Back at 408 Wallingford House, Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Constance was in the kitchen whilst Nick was upstairs freshening up.
When he came back downstairs his mother pulled him aside "Nick, there's something important that I've been meaning to talk to you about" She took a deep breath "It's about your father".
Nick stiffened at the mention of his father. His mother would always skirt around the subject when it came to his biologically father.
When Nick turned Eighteen his mother whilst in a drunken stupor had unintentionally blurted out the truth about father and his heritage as a Demigod. Nick had felt so betrayed as he had gained the sight a few weeks before his eighteen birthday. Nick genuinely thought that he was going mad. He saw demons wearing human disguises and angels riddled with scars. Nick was so afraid of being locked up in a mental institute. That he never told anyone and started taking anti-psychotics in secret. But, it only got worse when one day he started hearing a voice in his head that wasn't his own. It turns out that it was his father, Hades, who had been attempting to get into contact him. At one point he even considered suicide. So, that night, Nick booked a one-way ticket to London to get as far away from his deceitful mother and abusive step-father as possible. The next morning he was gone leaving behind a note on the kitchen table. It wasn't until a year later that he reached out to his sister and re-established contact with his mother as well after he found out that she had left his step-father and seemed to be moving forward with her life.
"Mom as important as I'm sure this conversation is. Could you reschedule and save it for tomorrow over breakfast? I have a feeling that this talk is going to be a real mood killer".
Constance exhaled deeply as she closes her eyes momentarily and then sighs "Okay, but promise me we'll talk first thing tomorrow morning".
"I promise" He reassured his mother.
"I love you, Nicky".
"Love you too, mum" He replied.
Forty Minutes Later
It was starting to get late outside as the street lamps began to automatically switch themselves on.
He lit up a cigarette and as he inhaled, the glow from the other end of it matched the sunset before him.
Eventually the dimming sun was tucked away. The clouds floated by in soft cotton like puffs of pink and the sky became darker. Nick flicked his cigarette on to the ground and entered the antique store, Greenpoint Antiquities.
"Guess, who's back in town".
"Nicky!" Dot came around from the counter and pulled him into a warm hug "I've missed you, it hasn't been the same since you've been gone. How was London?".
"It has been an enlightening experience to say the least" He replied giving nothing away.
"I don't remember you being so cryptic" Dot retorted with a small smile.
Nick ran his hand over the tarot cards and lifted up the Reversed Death Tarot Card.
"Death is a card of transformation and new life, and typically shows a need to start completely over by letting go of the past. Death reversed typically reflects that you are on the verge of major change, but for some reason, you are resisting making that change.
"I think we both know what that major change is. I'm almost twenty-one. I should have already been awakened by now. I've resisted the change thus further because I've always wanted a normal life and if I were awakened as an unclaimed demigod. I would have to give that up, but now I'm starting to look at the bigger picture of what I have to gain. The truth is, I'm afraid of my own power. What I fear the most is power with impunity. I fear abuse of power and the abuse of power. I don't want to become like him, Dot".
She placed a hand on his arm "Listen to me, Nicky. You are not Richard. You're not a bad person, you're a very good person who bad things have happened to. He was a monster. You're not. Do you know what my mother told me when I was little? That it matters not what someone is born, But what they grow to be. In my opinion, the best people to have power are the ones who don't want it. I know that one day you will make a great mediator" Dot reassured.
Nick opened his mouth when Simon came in through the door.
"Hey, Dot".
Dot let her hand drop and turned to Simon "Hello Simon,".
"I'll see you, later Dot. Thanks for the pep talk".
"Any time, Nicky" She replied and watched him leave with Simon.
When they got upstairs
it's not like we're headed off on some epic journey".
At that moment before Luke can respond Simon butted in "But you are! See, we are going to Lombardi's to celebrate your birthday after our gig".
"You should come back here after. The city's not that safe right now".
"Ah, thanks, Mom, but we're set.
"Yeah, we will take a rain check. Wait do I smell chicken cacciatore?".
"Simon, your gig".
"Oh, you're singing?" Luke asked sounding surprised.
"Yes, big gig".
Nick grins and interjects "And by big, he means not so".
Luke chuckles "Be careful, Nicky. And look yourself and Clary".
"Don't worry big guy, little red is in safe hands".
"Breakfast, you and me, tomorrow. Promise?"
"Yep".
"Mom uh, Mom? Mom, you have to let me go. I'm biologically and legally an adult".
"Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of".
"Shall we?" Clary jumped up onto Simon's back.
"Yes".
Nick grabbed the paint spray "Good choice, big guy. We'll be sure to put these to go use".
"Nicky, I meant what I said. Don't think that I will let you off the hook if I find you out on the streets vandalising" He warned.
Nick raised a single eyebrow and smirked in response "Would I?" He then turned to Jocelyn with an unimpressed look on his face "So, when are you going to tell little red the truth? You're not protecting her, Jocelyn. Do you think that it's wise leaving it to the last minute? You've left her unprepared and as you've said yourself the city isn't safe" He rebuked her "I know that you think that you're protecting her by deceiving her. But, Clary is no longer a child. The longer you hide the truth from her. The more she will come to resent you for doing it. Telling lies to protect someone you love only destroys them in the end. Take it from someone who knows".
"I know that is why I'm going to tell her tomorrow first thing at breakfast. Please, Nicky let me be the one to tell her. She needs to hear it from me" She resigned.
Nick nodded and sighed heavily "I promise that little red will not find out the truth from my lips, but I cannot promise that she won't find out elsewhere. Whatever protections you've placed on Clary, to block her sight. They're wearing off. All it would take is for Clary to see through the layers of reality and find out about the Shadow World. Fortunately, for Shadowhunters it takes some training I hope for your sake and Clary's that she doesn't have to find out the truth the hard-way like I did" And with that said he left to catch up with Simon and Clary.