"Clar, try and stay calm," Nyah said to her sister gently, but she wasn't hearing it.
"I'm not going to stay calm, Ny!" she shouted back. "Our mom is missing, Demons apparently exist, and we're getting help from a guy who is sometimes invisible to some people! How are you so calm right now!"
"Because mom told me to," Nyah answered, and that was the truth. "She told me not to worry and to stay calm. So that's what I have to do."
Jace caught that and something clicked. "Of course." Shadowhunter twins of the same gender just didn't exist, so there had to be another explanation for them and he believed he figured it out.
Nyah looked at him with a 'don't say it' face before noticing the glass bottle in his hand. "Wait, what's that?"
Jace held the bottle out for both girls to get a better look at. "Nothing good." Looking to Nyah, he asked, "Do you have any idea where she got this?" There was no point in asking Clary since it was abundantly clear Nyah knew far more than her...sister.
Nyah honestly had no idea. "I've never seen that bottle before." She rubbed her arms and let out a deep exhale. "I'm sorry, but I have to find Luke. Mom told me to give him a message and I have to do it."
"I'm coming with you," Clary answered and went out with her sister with the guys following.
The group ran through the pouring rain down to Luke's shop and when they arrived, it was locked up. Nyah shook the grates out of frustration while Clary looked to the street.
"It's so weird," Clary commented, "his truck's here."
Nyah was starting to feel like she couldn't breathe, just like any other time she went too long without doing something Jocelyn told her to do. "We...have...to find...Luke."
Jace went over to Nyah and placed a hand on her back as he looked at her. "Are you alright?"
Nyah kept taking deep breaths as she faced him. "I have...to do...what I'm told."
Jace had heard stories about what he suspected Nyah to be and understood what she was saying. "We'll find him."
Clary went over to Nyah and took her hand. "Come on, let's check downstairs." She thought Nyah was just finally having a panic attack or something. She had no idea there was far more to it.
Nyah nodded and took Clary's hand before going down the stairs beside the building.
Simon tried to follow but Jace stopped him. "You wait here."
"Who made you the boss?" Simon shot back.
"Simon, it's okay," Clary assured him. "Just let us know if anyone comes."
Jace followed after the girls and noticed how Nyah's steps became more sluggish. If she didn't do what she was told and soon then she might not make it.
Clary was noticing this too as they walked. "Nyah, what's happening with you? I've never seen you like this." She was really starting to worry about her sister.
"We find Luke and I'll be okay." All she had to do was deliver a simple message and then she'd be well. "Let's keep going."
Clary had to do something to take her mind off the worrying so she said, "I can't believe in all years we've known Luke that we've never been down here."
"I'm just glad mom never told me to stay out of the basement or else I'd really be in trouble." Nyah laughed then coughed and had to lean against the wall for support.
Jace went over to Nyah and picked her in his arms. "I got you."
Nyah normally wouldn't have let anyone carry her like this but she was too weak to protest.
"Nyah, you should go to the hospital. You shouldn't be getting sick like this!" Clary saw the darkening circles around Nyah's eyes and the paleness coming to her skin. It looked like she was dying. "Nyah, please."
"She doesn't need a hospital," Jace interjected as he walked past Clary with Nyah in his arms. "She already told you - she needs to see Luke."
Clary followed after them but stopped when they passed a padded room that looked like it'd been clawed up by some sort of animal. There was also a timed lock on it as well. "What...?" Clary didn't have time to figure that out because Jace was bringing Nyah upstairs.
"Don't tell Clary," Nyah whispered, knowing that he'd probably get what she was saying. "It's not time, yet."
"I won't," he quietly swore, then smirked a little, "Gemini." They stopped at the head of the stairs because of voices being heard. "Can you stand?" he whispered and when Nyah weakly nodded, he carefully set her down on her feet.
Clary was right there to be support for her sister and they carefully made their way towards the voices. It sounded like someone was violently interrogating Luke about Jocelyn and the Cup.
Jace stood with the girls behind a bookcase and tapped his Stele, making it glow, before pressing it into the row of books. The books started to ripple like water before turning clear so they could see right through. He didn't like the looks of this so-called interrogation. "We need to go. These men work for Valentine."
"We can't go," Clary retorted. "We have to help him and Nyah needs to talk to him. You know that."
Jace looked over at Nyah and gave in. "Hold this." He gave Clary the Stele to hold as Nyah braced herself against the bookcase for support.
Nyah's was starting to feel like the room was spinning but she could hear what Luke was saying to Valentine's men.
Luke put up a very convincing act. "I couldn't care less. I have spent years cozying up to that woman and her brats for the Mortal Cup. Pangborn, listen to me. I want to be the one to give her to Valentine."
Even with the spinning, Nyah could see Clary's reaction as she stepped away from the bookcase. "Clary...it's not..." She tried to step towards her sister but started falling back instead and accidentally knocked over a vase. The vase made a loud crashing sound when it hit the floor.
All eyes shot to her as she stood there, weakly. Luke saw how she looked and instantly felt worry. "Nyah?" He then saw Clary rush to her side and felt even more worried,
Clary, listen!"
"Run!" Jace shouted at them as he attacked one of the men.
"Go," Nyah said to Clary, "Run." When Clary ran off, Nyah said as quickly as she could, "Luke...Valentine...is alive. He - He found mom." With that said, Nyah was instantly rejuvenated as if nothing ever happened. Just in time, too, because one of the men charged towards her. Nyah reacted by grabbing a nearby candlestick and hittning him over the head with it before running after Clary.
Nyah ran outside and found a Demon Cop trying to go after Clary. "Stay away from her!" she shouted before charging towards the Demon Cop, tackling it to the ground.
Simon had no idea what was going on. "Nyah?"
The Demon Cop threw Nyah off him and got to his feet only to be impaled by Jace's Seraph Blade. Jace saw another Demon getting out of the police car so he instinctively threw Nyah the Blade when she jumped to her feet.
Nyah caught it with ease and whipped around to drive the Blade through the other Demon Cop. After killing the Demon, she pulled the Blade out and breathed heavily.
"You two just killed two cops!" Simon shouted. He had no idea what the hell was happening.
Jace took his Blade from Nyah with an impressed look on his face before answering Simon, "They weren't cops. Let's go!"
The group ran down the alleyway before Clary dropped to the ground. Now she was the one feeling like she was having a panic attack.
Nyah stopped and went right over to her sister. "We can't stay here, Clar. They'll find us."
"How...How could Luke say those things? How...how can you do what you do? What aren't you telling me?!" Clary was sick of being lied to and needed to know.
Nyah answered the questions in the order that they came in. "Luke didn't mean what he said, Clary. He was trying to throw those guys off his trail. You have to believe that. I was born to do this, Clary. And I still can't tell you what I haven't been able to. Not yet."
Jace's words of not trusting anyone popped into Clary's head in that moment and suddenly she felt like she couldn't trust Nyah. "No...no! I don't believe you, Nyah! You've done nothing but lie to me!" Clary quickly stood and started to walk off.
Nyah instantly blocked her path and put her hands on Clary's shoulders to stop her. "I need you to trust me, Clary! I am your sister and I will protect you with my life. You have to believe that. Opposite and Mirror, remember?"
Clary remembered that saying when they were little. They always called themselves The Opposite and The Mirror – perfect reflections of each other. At least they were when they were young. At some point Nyah's hair started to darken and they weren't so identical anymore, but that didn't matter – They were sisters no matter what.
Clary sniffled back her tears. "Okay...okay." She hugged Nyah tight and still wished that she'd be able to tell her what secrets were being kept. Clary needed to know, especially with everything else that's happened.
Jace went over to the sisters at that moment. "We have to go."
"There you guys are!" Simon called out as he ran towards them. "I thought you were right behind me. Thought I lost you."
Looking to Jace, Nyah said, "Lead the way."
Simon couldn't believe this. "He just got you to kill a cop!"
"They weren't cops," Nyah retorted as they walked. "Besides, there's only one person who can make me do anything I don't want to do, and that is not Jace." She didn't realize it yet, but she was able to give more and more information about what she was supposed to keep secret. Why? Because Clary was learning more and more with every passing moment and thus, it wasn't really a secret anymore.
Jace led them to the Institute. It looked like an abandoned building to the Mundane eye. Because of this, Simon said, "What is this dump?"
"It's not a dump," Clary answered to which Nyah added in, "You just can't see it."
Simon could when Jace led them inside. "Whoa," he said in awe as he looked around. "You guys got Quasimodo hiding out in here, too?"
Jace ignored the Mundane and said, "We'll be safe here."
Nyah took a couple steps forward and let out a breath of peace. It was a strange feeling to her – feeling like she belonged. Soon another strange feeling overwhelmed her, this time it was a bad one. Nyah felt weak and almost fell to the floor but Jace caught her before she did.
"Nyah!" Clary called out and rushed to her side as Jace eased her to the floor. "What's happening?! I thought Luke fixed her!"
Jace ripped open Nyah's torn sleeve and found the cause. "It's a Demon bite."
"Jace, do something!" Simon pleaded because Nyah looked like she was going downhill fast.
Nyah wasn't worried because she knew she'd be fine. "Is this the part of the story where you start tearing off pieces of your shirt to bind my wounds?"
Jace simply replied with, "If you wanted me to take my clothes off, you should have just asked."
Nyah smiled then looked at Clary. "Don't worry. You can't get rid of me that easily." Suddenly the room started spinning and her eyes rolled in the back of her head.
Jace pulled out his Stele and pressed it into Nyah's wound just as she was going unconscious.
Nyah woke up the next morning with a groan because her head was killing her. "Ugh, you should have let me die. I wouldn't feel like I have a hangover right now."
"That's not funny," Clary said to her sister, seriously. Of course, she didn't understand what Nyah meant by that comment.
"You're awake," Simon smiled as he walked over to her bed in the infirmary.
Nyah sat up with a groan then saw the mark on her arm. Her fingers gently traced over it.
Clary figured she must be wondering what it was so she said, "It's a – ..."
"Rune," Nyah finished for her. "I never thought I'd ever have one."
"They have one for everything!" Simon added in excitedly. "They make you invisible and visible, strong, and they heal."
"I would have been fine without it," Nyah answered as she tried sitting up straighter.
"Well, we weren't about to risk that," Jace interjected as he joined them.
Nyah smiled. "Just don't go trying to Rune Simon, no matter how he might annoy you."
"Wait, why?" Simon asked, not knowing that part.
"Mundanes won't survive it. And you, my friend, are a Mundane." Nyah was shocked when she was able to say that so easily and laughed happily. "I can talk about it! Oh my god I can talk about it!"
Clary was happy for her sister even though she didn't understand. Simon on the other hand just looked at her like she was insane.
A young woman, Izzy, walked into the Infirmary and dropped a couple outfits on the bed for the sisters. "Here. See if these fit. It's not every day we get guests in here. Especially not girls."
Clary pulled the screen in front of them so they could changed and when they sisters looked at each other, they let out a chuckle. They both were wearing black pants but where Clary's leather jacket was black and her shirt was red, Nyah's leather jacket was red and her shirt was black.
Nyah held out her fist for a bump. "Opposite."
Clary held her fist out the same, "Mirror." After fist bumping they made an explosion sound.
Alec walked into the Infirmary saying, "Hodge is ready for them. He wants to see them alone in the Library."
"Who's Hodge?" The sisters asked in unison as they pushed the screen away.
"He's in charge of the Institute," Alec replied, looking at them like he was annoyed.
"Okay then," Nyah said as she placed her hands on the back of her hips. "Let's do this."
Jace led the sisters to their rooms as he gave them a bit of a history lesson. "Hundreds of Shadowhunters used to seek asylum here. But, as you can see, we're the only ones. Without the Mortal Cup, we're a dying breed."
Now that they knew where they'd be staying, he continued on towards the library. "Either your born of a Shadowhunter, or you have to drink from the Mortal Cup."
Nyah listened to what Jace was saying but she kept looking back to the one she heard referred to as Alec who was following them. He didn't seem too keen on them being there and honestly, he was kinda freaking her out.
While the others went on ahead, Nyah stood in front of a painting of an Angel spilling its blood into a Cup for warriors to drink. Her head tilted to the side a little as she looked at it because it seemed oddly familiar to her.
Nyah was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Alec say, "You coming?" She nodded and walked through the doorway, only to pause when Alec spoke again.
"Long way from Brooklyn, isn't it?" With firmness and warning to his tone, he added, "Stay away from Jace," before walking away.
Nyah's brows shot up as high as they could go before drawing out, "Ohhhh-kay," and catching up with Clary.
"There you are," Jace said to Nyah as she joined them outside the Library.
Nyah waved her hands over herself. "Here I am."
Clary looked to the Library's doors before asking, "What are we to expect from him?"
"You may find Hodge a little eccentric," Jace replied. "But don't worry, he's one of the greatest Shadowhunters that's ever lived." Looking to Nyah he assured, "You'll be fine."
Nyah scoffed a chuckle at that and when Jace opened the door, she followed Clary inside. When sight before them unfolded, Nyah gasped, "It's better than the Beast's" There were books from floor to ceiling, spiral staircases, Runes placed all over, and a many other stunning aspects.
Clary, while she thought this Library was cool, wasn't as awed as her sister. "You and your books."
Nyah just smiled at her sister before descending the staircase so they could look at everything that was there. What caught their eye the most was the golden door beneath the stairs but they didn't investigate and went looking at items in the display cases instead.
While they were doing this, Alec crossed his arms as he stood next to Jace. "Don't you think it's a bit risky to invite to complete strangers into the heart of the Institute? Especially twins like them, since you and I both know they don't exist among Shadowhunters."
"No, we can trust them." Jace's eyes were locked on Nyah as added in, "Nyah's a Gemini."
Alec felt his blood start to boil upon hearing that. "She's an abomination, then."
"Hardly," Jace answered, not taking his eyes off her.
Alec wasn't pleased with this but moved on. "And what about their Mundane friend?"
Jace didn't have a good answer for that. "Well, that was impulsive."
"When you're impulsive, things go badly," Alec pointed out.
Jace smiled down at Nyah when she looked up at him – something Alec noticed.
"Just be careful," Alec warned, "the Rune to fix a broken heart is the most painful one. You shouldn't allow yourself to get involved with a Gemini, anyway."
Jace crossed his arms and turned to Alec. "They'll be out of here in a day, I promise."
Somehow, Alec doubted that but didn't say another word about it and left the Library with Jace so the sisters could speak with Hodge.
Nyah and Clary stood in front of a photo album and found a whole bunch of picture of their mother with a man they didn't recognize. Not even Nyah knew who it was. Yeah, she may know a lot but there's just as much about Jocelyn that she didn't know.
When Clary flipped the page, it showed a photograph of Jocelyn, the mystery man, and Luke. They couldn't look at it much because they heard a man's voice say, "She was one of the best." The sisters simultaneously looked up when the silver-haired man spoke.
"But I don't understand why..." Clary started to say but he cut her off.
"Yesterday you were just a normal girl. Today you feel as though your whole world has been turned upside down." Hodge walked down the spiral staircase and over to the sisters. "Now, tell me, which of you is the older one?"
Clary lifted her hand a little, "Me, but only by a few minutes."
Hodge nodded in a knowing way, but didn't speak further on that. "Of course. Now, there's only one thing you need to know – All the stories you were told as a little girl, ones about the monsters and the nightmares, the Gemini...they are all true."
"Gemini?" Clary asked, looking between Hodge and Nyah. "Why does that sound familiar? And I don't just mean the Zodiac sign."
Nyah didn't want to tell Clary, not yet, but for some reason she felt like it was time. "I wrote about them once."
"Oh, that's right," Clary nodded. "You made up a myth about a girl who had magic used upon her to make a double of her who would be a bodyguard or something. I remember mom getting mad about it and throwing it away." She was starting to put two and two together. "Wait a minute...Are you saying that Nyah's story was real?"
"It's not a story," Hodge explained, clasping his hands behind his back. "It's her history. You see, identical twins do not exist among Shadowhunters."
"Mr Hodge, Sir, please." Nyah was not ready for this.
Clary felt like her head was spinning. "But we're twins...how...what are you saying?"
"Nyah is your sister, yes, that is how it works, but she is not your twin." Hodge stepped closer to Nyah with his Stele in hand.
Nyah pulled down her shirt a little and tapped the spot on her chest.
Hodge waved his Stele over the spot to reveal her 'II' Gemini Mark. Once that was done, Nyah looked at Clary to say, "I'm your Gemini."
Clary backed up a little bit. "Oh my god...this was what you couldn't tell me?"
"Mom wouldn't let me but something must have changed because I don't feel the side effects of disobeying her." Nyah felt tears welling in her eyes. "Do you hate me?"
Clary ran to her sister and hugged her tight. "I could never hate you."
Nyah let out a breath of relief and hugged Clary back.
Hodge clasped his hands together. "Good. Now that Clary knows your link will be even stronger. Fascinating. I have never seen a Gemini in the flesh before and never will again. You are a rare breed, you know? Gemini can only be created every so many centuries."
Clary gave Nyah another squeeze before saying, "I want to hear more about this, though."
Nyah nodded as she pulled back. "Of course." With a sharp exhale, she turned to Hodge. "What else do we need to know?"
Hodge gestured for the girls to follow him and led them to the Angel statue near the window. "Story goes, the Crusaders summoned an Angel, the Angel Raziel. Raziel poured his blood into the Cup and those who drank from it became half Angel, half human." Turning to Nyah, he added, "Raziel was also the first being to ever have a Gemini created from them. But that is a tale for another time." Getting back to the story, he continued, "The half Angel, half humans became Shadowhunters. As did their children, and their children's children. Being of immense power, strong enough to restore balance and protect the world in a war against evil. A war that can never be won, but must always be fought."
Hodge walked around the statute as he continued. "Demon don't kill easily. Whereas we, we remained all too mortal. With the exception of your sister."
Clary looked at Nyah in question, then back to Hodge.
"Nyah is immortal," he explained. "Being a Gemini of Shadowhunter blood, she has attained immortality."
Clary scoffed in an 'oh my god' way as she looked at Nyah. "So that's why you said to just let you die. Because you knew you'd come back."
Nyah nodded, "Yeah, pretty much. I'm amazed how well you're taking this."
"The link is strong between you," Hodge explained. "Clary has accepted this because a part of her has always known."
Clary smiled at her sister before saying to Hodge, "I don't understand. Why didn't they use the Cup to make more Shadowhunters?"
"Valentine's exact words," Hodge replied. "The Clave, the keepers of the Cup, they were afraid of using its power. They knew that hardly anyone who drank from it survived. Valentine Morgenstern drew a circle of friends together, young, idealistic Shadowhunters, to help him steal the Mortal Cup from the Clave. But he didn't want to protect humanity. He believed there had to be an evolution of Shadowhunters, something more powerful. He wanted all Shadowhunters to bear the power of the Gemini and more. He began experimenting, using the Mortal Cup. He learned how to summon Demons. He even injected himself with Demon blood so he could control them. He wanted to rule." Hodge took a breath. "Your mother, to prevent that, stole the Cup from him, and vanished into thin air."
"But if she's the only one who knows where the Cup is, then..." Clary was cut off by Hodge.
"Maybe she isn't." Hodge walked over to the girls. "Maybe she told someone else. Someone who doesn't know that they know, or someone who was told to forget that they do."
Clary and Nyah looked at each other, both wondering if one or both them knew. Their attention both shot towards the door when it opened and Jace entered.
Jace looked over at Nyah before letting out a sigh as he turned to Hodge. "The Silent Brothers are ready for them."
End Part 2
