I felt someone grabbing my shoulder.
"Sam! Where have you been?! I thought you were dead!"
I turned around and looked at Levi. He had dirt and scratches all over his face and hands, but he was still alive. One Seraph blade shone like a firefly in his hands, covered in black blood of demons. His forehead was sweating and his breath was fast, but except for fatigue I could see no serious injuries on him.
I was relieved. I had lost the sight of him during the fight and I had slowly started to panic when the fight had been over and he had been nowhere around. But, when I saw my best friend safe and sound, I could finally laugh again.
"You have so little confidence in me, Levi? I'm truly disappointed."
His fist punched my shoulder lightly while Levi rolled his eyes.
"You made me worry so much and now you are even laughing at me. How come you are my best friend, I'll never know."
I smiled, knowing he wouldn't hold my words against me.
"Where's Eric? He's a poor parabatai if he left you wandering through battle all by yourself."
"He's looking for his family." Levi said with sorrow in his voice.
His parabatai's house was very close to the entrance to Idris. That meant their house was one among first to having been attacked by the army of demons. There was a chance they hadn't managed to escape.
I had no answer to that. For a few seconds we stood in silence and then Levi spoke again.
"How many demons have you slaughtered, Sam?" features of his face relaxed again.
"I stopped counting at about fifty, but I have slaughtered at least as three times as much." I joined him in smiling. "I suppose it's more than you and Eric have slaughtered together."
"I wouldn't count on that." he said. "We killed a whole bunch of them."
"I'm still better than both of you." I crossed my arms over my chest like a spoiled child.
Levi raised his hands up, surrendering.
"I admit that." he smiled for a second, but then became serious again. "But, Sam, in times like these, I'm glad I have a parabatai. I know someone watches over me and I'm even more focused on battle because I know it's not just my life in my hands. Neither Eric nor I are perfect Shadowhunters, but having a parabatai helps. You should reduce your expectations, Sam. What you're looking for ..."
"I have one more day." I interrupted him. "I will never give up shadowhunting. If I don't find someone by tomorrow midnight, I'll accept anyone. But, that person will have tough trainings with me after that until I'm satisfied."
"I doubt anyone will agree to be your parabatai if you continue to think like that." Levi whispered like he couldn't hold those words back, but I still heard him.
His words made me angry at once.
"That's not really your problem, is it?" I growled. "I'm the best Shadowhunter in Idris and you know it and so does everyone else. I'll find a parabatai without your interfering."
A second after I had spat out those words at him, I knew I had made a mistake. Levi was my best friend and I had pushed him away. I had almost no friends at all but him. And now I had hurt him, making an even bigger loner of myself.
"Sorry, Levi. I didn't ..."
"You didn't mean it, did you?" now he was the one interrupting me. "But, you did, Sam. You are so angry with the Clave and their law and you fight it by pushing people away, not allowing anyone to try to become your parabatai. But, you push me back too, because I'm obeying the law, because I have a parabatai. Somewhere in your head, I'm a traitor."
"That's not true ..." I started, but Levi didn't allow me to finish.
"I'm sorry, Sam, but it is. I can see it in your behaviour. You're not the same as before."
I had no answer. It was the truth that I despised the Clave's law about having a parabatai, but I had never considered that Levi had betrayed me in any way. But, he obviously got tired of me and my loneliness. He wasn't like that.
But, I didn't want to lose him.
"Okay, you're right about the law. I hate it really much." I said, not looking away from him for a moment. "But, I'll have to have a parabatai tomorrow. I'll find one, I promise. But, that doesn't change the fact that you are and you'll always be my best friend, Levi. If I stop resisting the Clave's law, will we be best friends like before?"
He sighed.
"You don't understand, do you?" his voice sounded sadly. "I care for you, Sam. That's why I'm telling you that you must have some other friends beside me, like I have others beside you. You're my best friend, but not the only friend. And I know that you have no true friends but me. And what if I get killed? Who will be your friend then?"
His words hurt me. Loneliness didn't sound so bad in my head, but from his mouth it sounded more badly than army full of demons. Not to mention that world without Levi seemed like the worst nightmare. Without his jokes and tales I would have already left Idris a long time ago.
"You won't get killed. Eric will protect you." I whispered, feeling tears appearing in corners of my eyes.
Levi shook his head.
"You can't know that. Maybe in some other fight we'll both get killed. And you'll be left alone, Sam, because I know you'll survive any fight. You are the best Shadowhunter I have ever met." he didn't smile, but familiar spark came back into his eyes.
Once again, I was speechless. Not waiting for me, he continued.
"But, you need friends, Sam. And a parabatai as well."
I nodded. Even though I didn't like his words so much, I had to admit he was right.
"Okay, I'll try. You'll meet my parabatai tomorrow. I promise I'll try to befriend him or her." I said.
"I'm glad to hear that, Sam." Levi smiled with approval. "And because of your promise I'm going to help you."
I raised my eyebrows.
"How?"
"I've heard of some guy who came from New York Institute. Rumour has it he's the best Shadowhunter there, that nobody can beat him in hand-to-hand fight. You should meet him."
I smiled at Levi. We were finally speaking in the same language again.
"I would love to. Where can I find him? What's his name?"
Levi pointed at some group of people that were talking. I followed his gaze.
"The blond guy over there. His name is Jace Lightwood."