10/10/2017- 4,312

Chapter 2

You Don't Know

June 20, 2007(Present)

Today was the best type of day.

The lazy ones.

A song about a heart-breaker boy woke me up,

I should have left you,

the moment I saw that stupid smile,

I am deluded to stay dress rolled up to my waist,

but you had me-

"FUUUCK," annoying, a mundane gift from Adam's cousin in Paris, the radio was blaring in my ears, "fuck," I rolled slamming my hand on it. Failing to destroy the little demon. Still the breaking dawn came with a mighty brilliance through my windows, "double fuck."

The sunrays are a catalyst to the end of my sleep. The little light dancers waltzed and salsas skipped through the window-pane and tip-toed up the wooden floor to where I took residence during the better part of the night. The cascade cast a rude awakening into my darkened room; a cocoon from the world and found me wrapped and tangled in warm sheets my head snuggled against a fluffed pillow. Deep sleep was evading quickly, and my drowsy mind starting to catch up.

"Wake up Sera," Amatis woke me up, the early-bird Queen.

The gears sluggishly turning and popping into place, and I cracked one eye open.

I mumbled into my pillow, "I rise with the day, another day closer to my grave," it was a warlock lucky saying, and father woke me with it before I even knew what it meant, "so brave the day, for to be led astray, is demon's play." Let's be honest they have fucked up sayings in demon culture. My father was no different than any warlock bastard in that retrospect.

"Sera I am serious!"

"Okay, I heard you the first time, I am awake," I leaned up, stretching.

First things first, start with training and endurance. I woke like this every day.

Half-awake I stood up, putting on my pearl earrings, wiping my tired eyes, and reaching my arms up towards the ceiling so I could get a good stretch in. I did a hundred push-ups, and another hundred crutches. I didn't feel sick which a surprise was. I had an insistent fever the past week, vomiting, vomiting, vomiting, blah, and I regularly washed my mouth out with strong peppermint. It felt good to have a change for one morning. The mist of the morn was receding and so was the sleepiness of my dreamworld.

Dark eyes, strong waist, strong thrust, waiting all weak-

I entered complete awareness and my heart quickened sending me into frenzy. There is no training today. No training, meant no work, and that was something I could be very happy about, "yay Sunday," I loved this day of the week.

"Amatis! Make me breakfast pretty please," I yelled as I searched through my closet, in a glowing mood.

She never answered to my commands, but the sound of plates and pans clanking was answer enough.

I skipped the shower.

I wet my face, winced at a pimple on my cheek, pulled my hair back, hated the color of my hair and promised myself to dye it soon, lined my eyes with a bit of charcoal eyeliner, took some off because it was too much, and then put on my lucky gold bracelet. I fitted my black Shadowhunter gear with a couple hard tugs, which was getting too small since I feel I had grown at least an inch since last year, and not in the tall sense.

"I am so fat," I grabbed my mid-section, it was bloated and ugly, "fuck when is my period-"

"It is ready Sera! Hurry! We have a long day today."

"Okay, okay, I am coming."

I went to my wooden chest in front of my bed.

I opened it and searched with an accomplished practice. I pushed the female products, and my wooden bow away. This needed to be cleaned out.

I found my adamas stele under my writings of battle tactics. It was familiar in my hand and I examined the etched angel wings and symbols of healing on it, strapping it on to my left calf like a pistol. My witchlight was broken so I left it in the corner of my room; another project for another day. At the end of my routine I strapped my seraph blade, Duma; which was named after the angel prince of dreams. Ironically in this situation I felt like I was truly dreaming, days like these never happened.

The Celebration of Saint Peter was today, and Alicante was abuzz with its own preparation- and it was Sundy, most importantly it was Sunday.

Every Shadowhunter pf all ages would be distracted with decorating and preparing for the festival in the town square in front of the Hall of Accords. The church bells tolled thrice marking the hour, and it seemed that all of Alicante was preparing for the Saint Peter's feast. Celebrations were spread far and thin during the year so these were precious days, especially since it meant a day of rest for all Shadowhunters.

I was thankful for the rest, but mischief was what I was hoping to have today.

Yes, plenty of mischief, and maybe a few make-out sessions with my secret mundane boyfriend, "if only that was true," I laughed.

Without making too much noise, I exited my room, left Amatis in the kitchen, and stole two pies from the pantry securing them in a carrying pack, and edged out the front door wincing as the bright light blinded my eyes. At least she was distracted enough to not see me. She really had to pay attention when she was cooking.

"Finally," I took a big breath of Idris air, "it's going to be a good day."

Let's put it really simple, the city of Alicante is beautiful. I live in the homeland of the Shadowhunters known as Idris, and its one inhabiting city; Alicante. The city really did the homeland justice even if there was only one. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cinnamon, strawberries, and when you were near the bakery downtown it smelled of chocolate and freshly made croissants.

I softly closed the front door, balancing the cold pies on my palm, and then inhaled the spicy-sweet morning air.

It was a lovely place to live. There was a lot of green around here. It was in-between, around, and on staked stone houses making it look as if Alicante had never been built, but grown up from the earth itself.

I could just imagine, On The First Day God commanded the earth to bring forth Alicante, before cities were even conceived in man's mind. There was a timeless beauty of it, and vibrant feeling of nature and safety of being kept hidden from demons and the outer mundane world.

We people of Alicante were ever so thankful for Wards placed on the city, separating the splendors so only the good Nephilium could see it. In reality it was just a way to keep everyone out, as if they were second class unworthy of tainting such beauty.

Alicante was surely a sight to see in one's lifetime. Every cobbled street was etched in my memory. Everyone deserved to see it at least once in their lifetime. At night the cobbled sidewalks were lighted by romantic street lights burning the same homely feeling.

As a child born and raised in Alicante the sights were normality.

Too bad I had not have enjoyed those days even more while I had them.

"Leaving without your breakfast?" My grin turned to a frown.

"Happy Saint Peter's Day, Mentor," I had not left as quietly as I thought.

"I thought you were going to join me this morning," she said shielding her eyes from the sun, "instead of running off with that Ravenkey boy."

"Sadly he is taken," I shoved a fake sword into my chest, hoping she would not notice my nervousness for today.

My mentor, Amatis Greymark and my official guardian eyed me carefully from the front door I had just come through.

She scrunched her lips, "What are you up to?" She thought I was up to trouble. I smiled innocently at her, and this just confirmed it.

"Nothing."

"Ragnor told me not to trust a word you say," she advised me, of course he would, "you are not going to jeopardize my trust again, right Fell?"

"Of course not Mother Mentor," she hated the name, even if I felt it suited her, "your trust is precious to me."

"Sure it is."

We both shared more than a residence.

After a private meeting, the Clave saw fit to give me a "Nephilium" parent, and so we were stuck together. I had fought, kicked, wanted to stay with my father, but they still let him visit, and I was not too far. I stopped rebelling after a year.

"Its' just I know you would be busy today," I had hoped she would, "I wanted to stay out of your way."

"I am not busy, today we have it off," she narrowed her eyes, "and I am surprised you did not remember that. You do enjoy your off days."

I held the pies to my abdomen impatient as ever, "Are you surprised? I sometimes surprise myself too. I heard it's healthy to do at least one spontaneous thing a day, or life loses it meaning, and you can eventually grow dull, and die."

"I don't think that is how the saying goes," she made a face at my childishness, her eyes went lower then my face. Well hell, she paid too much attention to me anyways, "What are the pies for?"

"Uuugghhhh….it is for Aline Penhallow," in her face, I mentally added. It sounded like a question, and she knew it.

"Seraphina," her tone was reprimanding.

"Amatis," I countered.

"Don't call me that," she rebuked, and I shrugged, "Mother Mentor?"

"Not that either."

"Yes, Mam," she growled out to remain calm.

"Seraphina, just- come back early today. Instead of taking those pies to the Penhallow girl, take them to the town square I came from there earlier this morning. They are going to need all the baked goods they can get."

"I might not be home until late," I said, adding on, if it was okay with her.

"Just be home safe, Ragnor placed you in my care, and as such you have to…,"

"Yeah yeah, Do everything you say, I know," Amatis was like a repeating recorder.

"That's just it, you don't know," she was keeping me, her almighty power of jurisdiction, I never hated the Clave than in this moment, she had no buisness telling me, "following orders is only the beginning of your teachings, keeping yourself safe, and not being reckless is one of your major flaws. You have many, but that is one of the biggest ones. Recklessness doesn't do anything but get someone and possibly the whole team killed."

"Gee, thanks all the medals in my room are just my recklessness, I guess," she knew right were to punch didn't she, but I was bloody good with comebacks.

"I never said you weren't talented. Talent is not going to save you in the real world Sera. You don't know what it is like, the problem is-"

"Then what is the problem, Mom?" Her eyes twitched, and I regretted saying that.

She breathed out slowly, "How can you keep others safe when you cannot even protect yourself? Saying you know doesn't mean you know. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, but watch as your mistakes stare you in the eye and the guilt… just listen carefully. When people assume, they put themselves and everyone they care about in mortal danger."

"Assume makes an ass out of you and me," I added.

She seemed tired, "Your naivety will never help you Sera. For the Shadowhunter way of life you have to be equipped for danger that lies around any corner."

"Well, when and if I get to the corner I will fret then," I felt cheeky today, and buoyant like I could fly. No one was going to ruin that.

She shook her head sadly and I giggled at her expression.

She made to leave, but remembered something, "Are those pies cold? If they are, reheat them at the bakery before you take them in. I won't have anyone complaining that my pies are cold."

"I don't know Mentor Graymark, men sometimes cannot handle my pies," I winked at her, and she looked disgusted. She hated when I joked like that.

"Stop playing, and take the pies before the morning is already over. By the way, the girl with the big dreadlocks and piercing you know the one that is always on Basilica Street,"

"Sasha Elkentree?"

"That one, she was asking around for you."

That was weird, Adam and Rachel were my possy, well mostly Adam, no one really associated with me, unless you count Aline, which I don't, "Okay maybe I will catch her into town, and for the record I'm not playing, I'm just pure mischief."

"Well tell me when Mischief wants some training because we start bright and early tomorrow. No staying up too late!" She shut the door on that final note.

I was already wincing at the work-out she probably had ready for me tomorrow.

"Damn mentors and their authority complex!"

I was already down the street, when my angry mumbling stopped. I turned a left and kept going down, eventually all streets ended up at the Hall of Accords, eventually being the key word. The Hall of Accords was where everything happened, and festivals were a specialty.

The pies Amatis made smelled delicious, and had my favorite cherry innards. Amatis Herondale, or Amatis Graymark as she had changed her name after her divorce, was my Mentor and more recently my guardian. She had been my Mentor since I was eleven years old, but I still lived with my father then. I had moved in with her when I turned thirteen and that was when my real training began.

Amatis had a troubled past.

Since she was left by her first husband Steven-or was it Sam Herondale, anyways whenever anyone even breathed a mention of him she would swell like a tomato, and yell at you until her vein throbbed in her forehead. Just ask Aline, she did it, and you don't see her coming over here do you?

"Hey Aline, you look gorgeous today," I called out, winking her into submission, and she ignored me.

"Ladies and Gents," I chuckled at her stoic faced friends.

Usual day.

Her friends giggled as I left, but they did not know me. No one really knows someone, I mean truly knows someone until you have lived with them. No one knew that Amatis cried every night weeping for her husband that left her and things that could never be said, things never fixed. That my father could not sleep because his nightmares were crueler than being a bachelor holed in a broken down house.

Separation sucks, but Dying is even worse.

Amatis lost her husband, yes, many years ago, but it was still hard for her.

When others forgive you for joining the Circle; joining the infamous Valentine Morgenstern's Circle for and going against the Clave, it isn't enough. She never did join, it was the man she loved. The Clave forgave her for her ex-husband's affiliations, and people never brought it up anymore. Sometimes it doesn't matter if people forgive you for the past. What matters is can you forgive yourself?

"Sera!"

I turned around, "Sera slow down!" Well there he is.

"Well if it isn't the most handsome thing to walk this earth," I greeted him with a side-hug, my other was occupied with the luscious pies, "good thing too, you should have heard the things Amatis told me today, damn she is so bossy-"

"We have a problem," my dark-haired Adam cut me short, his face rich with emotion and concern.

"I have pie," I giggled I was doing that a lot today.

"I'm being serious."

"I'm being Adam, who is kind of acting like a brat."

His mouth hanged open, and I found it funny, "Are you kidding me right now? Well then as a brat, I shouldn't tell you that Sasha Elkentree saw Amatis, and was trying to warn her, but she said she was busy and went back home."

I took a whiff of the pies, "I heard about that already, I think she borrowed something from me," delicious pies. I could get a couple of slices before I offered them up to be slaughtered by hungry Shadowhunters, "or maybe I took something from her, I can't remember."

He escalated from there, "Yeah, how about I heard something really stupid rumor about you, a dangerous rumor, have you been keeping things from me Sera? Yeah you did—" he did not give me the benefit of the doubt.

I leaned the pies on my hip, letting him rant it out, "Because then that would be easier than the alternative. You wouldn't guess what I did find, running around like a chicken without his head, and YOU" I pointed at myself, "Yes you, walking like a crazy person like-nothing-is-wrong. Which-it-most-certainly-is-"

He talk really fast when he is angry, "Wait, wait, Adam, I can't understand you when you talk like that, what are you saying?"

"It's Aline. She found out about what you did last Sunday, she followed you, she saw you with him," he gasped out.

"What?" I shrieked, not liking this.

"What, What she says, of course this was going to happen, what do you think would happen when you are meeting a mundane right outside the outskirts of…."

I close his mouth with my empty hand, "shut it, you know he isn't a mundane." I stare around the street that is almost empty, "what if someone heard you! No one is supposed to know." I whispered screamed at him.

"It doesn't matter," his words sent shiver through my back; "Aline already started telling people."

Wait, what? Did I hear him right?

My breathing quickened and I pulled on my ponytail, "Who? What? They are all lies, no one would believe her."

"They know, Sera. The Clave knows."

"The Clave knows," I repeat, "The Clave knows."

"Yeah they know, and you're in big trouble. Telling mundanes about this place, how stupid can you be. You have done many stupid things before but this is just suicidal. I mean what were you thinking!"

"For the last time he isn't a mundane alright so stop calling him that. The Clave knows? They know. Oh, god the Clave knows. Are you sure the Clave knows?"

"Yes, why do you keep repeating it?" He stares into my eyes, "I didn't break you or something."

"This isn't funny Adam. THAT BITCH! I CAN'T BELIEVE HER!" He jumps back at my outburst. I scare myself too, I hardly blow my fuse, "Maybe if I confront her, and tell others the truth," but Adam already was shaking his head.

"It has already happened," he said, and my eyes widened, "The Clave already sent a search party in the vicinity you meet with him, and she told them the field you meet on every Sunday. I don't know how she knows, but she knows. She was bragging how they are searching for you as well, and that is when I came looking for you."

I was found out.

There was no hope against the Clave. They were the ruling party that interpreted and executed The Law enforced on the Nephilium, Downworlders, and Mundanes, and when the rules are broken you can tell from my reaction it isn't good.

Oh geez, the Clave knows, "I think I'm going to be sick." Adam looks worried maybe he thinks I will spew the contents on him, and he is such a clean freak I can't help but want to do it now.

"Then don't do it on me," he takes a few steps back, "do it over here," he turns me around.

"I won't," I mummer, but I would if I could.

The Clave presides over the Shadow World so to say, and kept everything in order with an iron fist. Picture Stalin, but actually liked, and less ruthless, well maybe they aren't like Stalin but in my mind they are. They are the basic hed-hanchos of the world, and I was sick with their authority. Who died and made them gods?

"I have to go to my father's," I passed the pies over to Adam my hands were shaking, "take these to the square, and don't come looking for me. I will be with dad. He needs to know what is happening, and that I might not see him for a while."

"What are you going to do Sera? What if they catch you," his face turned darker, "I won't let them hurt you!"

I reached up on my tippy-toes patting his head, "Shush there Papa Bear! You know you're my best friend right? I would have had you as my Man of Honor even if you didn't want it."

He pushed my hand away, "No I wouldn't. Not even if you made me Inquisitor. What would Rachel say if she caught me with a dress on? I mean come on."

"She would say 'It all made sense, no wonder you never put out'," he smacked my shoulder and I yelped.

"Don't talk about Rachel like that. She is a lady."

"Gee protective boyfriend, down boy, she is going to get the hots when she sees you all protective," any girl would be lucky to have Adam, and to be loved by him too. I tried to give him my most unselfish smile, imagining that one day I too would be able to walk hand in hand with Jonathan, "maybe she will notice you more now,' I grinned evilly, "and stop thinking of humping that boy in our second class."

"Who, who is the fucker!" I laughed at him, he is so gullible sometimes.

"That's Not funny Sera," oh it was so funny, especially when things were going to shit, "how can you be joking at a time like this."

"Hah you believed me! At least you will remember me that way," this was so damn depressing, "No seriously, you would have been my Man of Honor like in the movie. I would have made you wear a dress, maybe a little make-up, and you could have held my dress as I peed."

"I do not recall that. Sera, In Raziel's name, you saw that movie once in France and now it is all you talk about."

I took his face in my hands which was hard since he is so damn tall.

"What are you doing?"

"Your forehead is so big," I made the hand symbol for peace and started at the forehead, "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I bless you my son and say farewell."

"Stop doing that, you're weirding me out," he still let me do it, and that meant he had so much patience. He could teach Jon a thing or two.

"I know," I winced because I didn't, I didn't know a lot of things, "But just in case," I hugged him tightly around the waist while he perfectly balanced the pies in his hand. It was the Shadowhunter skills I tell you, plus he was so damn tall. I mean 6'5 is too tall for my 5'8.

I gave him the anaconda squeeze and he patted my head, true friendship.

"Take care, Seraphina Fell."

"Take care, Adam Ravenkey."

I jogged briskly away taking the long way out of Alicante, towards the southernmost border. I crossed to a different street, and I was proud to say I didn't look back.

After I left the city limits, dark eyes, and his smell of citrus could not save me.

"Fuck today," how had it got so bad?

"It's your fault Jonathan," I wrapped my hand around my wrist, around his birthday present for me, and became a blubbering mess, and I couldn't take the image of Adam crying, or the impossible Jonathan, because if I did then I would never be able to do what I was going to do. Hopefully it was not too late. If I kept at this pace, and sprinted the last mile then I would make it ten minutes tops. It would seem I was getting some training in today, but I didn't mind the work-out burn on my muscles, because it was the farthest from my mind.

I tripped once on a large rock, and cursed the forming bruise on my knee, "why do you hate me God?"

He did not answer.

Like I ever expected him to answer me...

I quickly reapplied the iratze for speed on my left arm feeling my muscles jitter with the reinforced stamina to keep going. I wiped the rest of my tears away steeling myself.

I better get there before it's too late, because if I didn't then Aline Penhallow would never survive to see her next Saint Peter's Festival.

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