"Fuck! Fuck!" I yelled each time I punched the wall in front of me.
It was 11.30. p.m. of my nineteenth birthday. After another half an hour I would be banished from Idris and world of Shadowhunters forever. Just because I reacted according to my instincts and not to my sense. I hated myself every time I thought of that, the way I had refused Levi's good intentions and even Jace's offer of friendship. No, I had let my anger with the Clave overwhelm me. And now I had no hope. There was no way I would find another person to be my parabatai in time. Almost everybody were at home now, sleeping or telling stories or whatever else they might be doing. I stood alone in almost complete darkness and the only source of weak light was the moon above my head. It was far from being full, so I saw very little around me, but that was enough to see the wall I was punching.
"Damn the Clave and its stupid laws!" I cursed, sometimes in my thoughts, sometimes out loud. This time it was out loud and somebody heard it.
"We obviously think the same."
Suddenly, a human figure stepped out of the shadows. I could see him well enough to guess he was a guy even without the sound of his voice. But, I got better sight of him when he got closer. He was taller than me, but I could see hard muscles under his shirt, proof that he was training a lot. His hair was blond, but lighter than Jace's. His skin was pale, a perfect contrast to the blackness of his eyes. He looked at me with amusement, like we were two children sharing a secret about some mischief.
"Who are you?"I asked carefully. It didn't happen often that somebody wasn't happy with the Clave's laws, at least not out loud.
"Someone with the same problem as you." he answered with a cunning smile on his face. "I need a parabatai. And I have little time to find one."
I became suspicious immediately. I could hear in his voice that he had somehow found out about my problem. And his offer of resolving my problem surely wasn't for free.
"You know, you need to match me in a fight if you want me to accept you." I smiled sweetly, determined not to show how nervous I was. This guy's eyes gave me unpleasant goose bumps. "I'll accept you only if you're good enough."
He laughed like he had never heard a funnier joke.
"I think you can't afford yourself to bargain, Samantha." he said and I shivered, though I could have noticed even before that he obviously knew who I was. "But, if you insist, I'll fight you, right here, right now. If we're both pleased with the result, we'll become each other's parabatai. Deal?"
My mind warned me not to trust him. His black eyes were not to be trusted.
But, if I want to remain among Shadowhunters, I need him. I need a parabatai. And if he's good enough, why not? I assured myself. Let's see how he fights first.
"Deal." I nodded.
He pulled a Seraph blade out of his pocket.
"I've heard of you, Samantha." he used my full name again. "Idris' best Shadowhunter. Determined to kill every demon in this world."
"Is that something bad?" I asked while grabbing my Seraph blade. "And stop calling me my full name. I'm Sam."
He grinned.
"As you wish, Sam."
I noticed he had avoided answering my question about killing demons. But, I had no time to think about that because the fight was about to start. There was no doubt about that because his blade was already crossing with mine.
He attacked me ruthlessly, as if I was a demon. His blade was trying to find a weak spot in my defence and nearly did it few times. I didn't have time for anything besides almost desperate moves that saved my head. I couldn't even think about counterattacks.
My fatigue was one of the reasons he was so better than me, but another one were his brilliant skills. He moved swiftly, like a predator hunting its prey. I could feel my pulse increasing, my breath becoming heavier, but he looked like he has just woken up from a long sleep, full of energy. In few minutes he overpowered me completely and I had to admit he was superior in this fight. But, I didn't stop resisting until he knocked the Seraph blade out of my hand.
I heard a noise when it had fell on the ground. I looked into my opponent's black eyes and nodded.
"I'm impressed really." I followed movements of his Seraph blade closely, not completely sure the fight was over for him. "Who are you? If you're from Idris, I'm surprised we didn't meet until now."
He moved his Seraph blade away from me and put it in the pocket of his coat. I couldn't see what he wore beneath the coat, but I guessed it wasn't Shadowhunters' gear; otherwise he would probably put the blade there.
My curiosity about this guy increased even more. He fought brilliantly, but didn't wear Shadowhunters' gear. I didn't see him in Idris until now. And he had something in his eyes that made me scared and excited in the same time, like bungee-jumping or a jump with a parachute. He was dangerous, but he also promised an adventure beyond my dreams.
His black eyes shone under the moonlight as his eyes watched mine. He came one step closer to me.
"Am I good enough to become your parabatai?" he ignored my questions like I had never asked them.
But, I could play the game as well.
"Am I good enough to become yours?"
He laughed in amusement.
"Of course you are, Sam." he stretched his hand out. "Of course you are."
There was more in his words than just conformation of our deal. He spoke of something I didn't count with. And I didn't feel very comfortable standing with him in the darkness, so I moved away from him and forced myself to sound confidently.
"Let's go to the Clave then." I turned around, starting to walk toward Hall of the Accords.
"I'm right behind you." I heard his whisper in my ear.
I didn't like my personal space being invaded. I turned towards him once again, wanting to sound dangerously, even though I had been beaten just few minutes ago.
"Tell me your name." I demanded, trying to hold myself back and not attack him. I had to remember he was my only hope, but I didn't want to become parabatai to somebody I knew absolutely nothing about.
"Easy, Sam." he smiled. "I promise to tell you everything, but I just want you to answer one my question first."
I stared at his eyes and nodded, although I didn't believe them. But, I had no choice and once again I was too curious.
"Ask then." I crossed my hands over my chest. "But fast."
"Okay." the smile suddenly left his face. "Will you accept me as a parabatai, no matter what you might found out about me later?"
His question caught me off guard. I shrugged my shoulders.
"I guess I will. That's my only chance to remain among Shadowhunters. If you're one, I see no reason why I wouldn't accept you."
He laughed again. But, this time it was almost a sad laugh. Sadness didn't get completely into his black eyes, but it was the first sight of something different than sarcasm or mocking in them.
"I have to admit you appreciate Shadowhunters and their laws more than they deserve. And you have abilities that surpass their laws."
"What that has to do with me not accepting you?" I was confused by his words. My opinion on the Clave's laws wasn't the best, but I had never thought about going against them. But, this guy obviously did.
"If I tell you my name, you'll have two options, Sam. And you'll break the Clave's laws no matter which one you'll pick."
I didn't like him being so mysterious. I wanted the truth, no matter what it contained.
"I'll think of something, don't worry. Tell me your name."
He sighed, like he had done everything he could against my stubbornness. Then he said it.
"Jonathan Morgenstern."