Chapter 4

"Well, Dad. It seems like we have a bit of a situation here," Aurea started. Jace raised his eyebrows at the sight of the boy bound in rope.

"That's an understatement. That's a mundane tied up in-" Jace paused, "Was he bitten?"

Ted nodded grimly and explained the whole situation once more. Jace nodded his head, not alarmed. After the incident with the heavenly fire, nothing really surprised Jace anymore.

"But the question is, Mr Herondale, bitten by who..." Ted continued.

"Or by what," A voice called out from the doorway. It was Magnus Bane and all his glitter. Magnus had headed back to the Institute almost immediately after he recalled why the black swirls looked familiar. They didn't just look familiar. They felt familiar.

The boy sat in the middle of the room. Everyone talked as if he weren't there. It was beginning to annoy him. The boy had begun to recall somethings, his name included. There had also been a strange voice in his head. It whispered Cassiel. That's your name. He made a loud but muffled sound. Aurea reached out carefully and removed the cloth.

"I have a name, you know." He said, irritably.

"Well then, pray tell. Go ahead and enlighten us!" Magnus replied, his cat like eyes narrowing at the boy. It was hard to trust the boy, since his rabid state might relapse at any moment.

The boy shifted uncomfortably under Magnus' gaze and muttered, "Cassiel."

"Magnus, do you know what's wrong with the b-, I mean Cassiel?" Jace probed further. Magnus shrugged and removed his glittery coat.

"I have a theory, but why not let the Silent Brothers examine him?"

Jace nodded. Aurea glanced at Owen. He had been awfully quiet the whole time. Owen stood rigidly by Cassiel's side, almost like a statue.

Cassiel grunted, "Uh, I'm a little starved right now..." And paused when he saw the look on everyone's face. "I mean, I'm hungry for a burger. You guys have food right?"

Owen went to the kitchen to grab some food from the refrigerator. Aurea accompanied him since he didn't know where the kitchen was yet. After all, his tour had been interrupted by the unexpected incident of Cassiel.

"Are you feeling okay? You've been really quiet."

"Sorry, I was thinking about the meaning behind Cassiel's name. Do you know what it means?" Owen replied. Aurea shrugged. She hadn't exactly paid attention in lessons that involved memory work.

"It's the name of an Archangel. Cassiel means unity of God. It's been bothering me that Cassiel seems all too calm about everything. A mundane who has the urge to bite someone develops gold claws! If I were a mundane, that would have scared the hell out of me."

It did strike Aurea as odd, but he was probably still in a state of shock. Aurea didn't know or understand how mundanes reacted to things. Still, it would be wise to be cautious around Cassiel until the Silent Brothers determined what was wrong with him.

Owen decided to change the topic as he opened the refrigerator, "Christmas time is going to be unusually crowded here eh?"

That took the frown off Aurea's face. She smiled and replied, "Yeah, I guess so. I suppose I'll add your present to the pile that I have to get. Name it, what do you want?"

Owen's heart did a somersault. He could give her his present without feeling awkward after all. "I'm a simple man, just wrap it nicely."

Aurea shook her head in disapproval and tsked, "More like superficial." He laughed.

"Fine by me, I'll probably get you a severed finger or something. What colour wrapping do you favor? I need to beautify it." Owen laughed even harder.

It was easy to talk to Aurea, despite their almost nonexistent conversation history. Her easy smiles and humour drew him towards her.

"Blue," Owen replied, "I like blue."

Everyone had gathered. Jem and Tessa stood by the fireplace. The visit to the New York Institute was becoming less and less festive. Christmas would be forgotten, given the current circumstances.

Cassiel ate hungrily, wolfing down the sandwiches like he had been starved. He wasn't exactly clear whether he had in fact been starved, given that he didn't remember much. The voice in his head had stopped talking to him.

May I examine you? I will need to go inside your head to view your memories. The memories may have been repressed from trauma.

A different voice spoke. It was eerie, for the voice spoke without emotion. Cassiel whirled around, surprised. There was a hooded figure at the door.

"Brother Enoch, welcome. Thank you for taking time to come to the Institute to check on the boy," The golden man whom bore resemblance to the golden girl spoke first. It seemed like everyone in the room had heard the voice in their mind.

Brother Enoch moved towards him. He heard no footsteps. Cassiel shrinked back a little, intimidated. What had he meant by go inside your head?

Owen stood by Aurea and Ted, who appeared unnerved by the arrival of the silent brother.

Fear me not, boy. Are you ready?

"What are you going to do in my head?" Cassiel tried to keep his voice from trembling. The figure before him was like a ghost.

I am not a ghost. I am a Silent Brother. I will do nothing but look into your memories. Do not fear. It will be quick. Are you ready?

Cassiel nodded. There was a sharp pain. He saw some images of a dusty baren area and a lot of darkness around and then, nothing. The images suddenly stopped coming.

Brother Enoch took a step back. There is something dark in the boy. I was able to catch a glimpse of a dusty baren area. There is a powerful force that is guarding his memories. I cannot tell more.

The adults in the room glanced at Magnus and Clary. Magnus shrugged, "It wasn't me."

Simon and Isabelle returned their gaze to the silent brother, waiting for him to continue.

Someone more powerful than Magnus Bane. It is not the work of a warlock.

Cassiel had no idea what was going on. He stared blankly ahead. Aurea frowned while Jace looked pale. The room grew awfully silent.

Finally, Alec spoke, "That sounds strangely familiar. It couldn't be..."