"Oh so you know who you're dealing with."

Jace heard a high pitched singsongy voice purr at him in an almost mocking way. He cocked his head to the side, "And so what if I do?"

"Oh well, I guess I've had enough stares for one day to make up for the fact that I can't see your eyes. I really do with I could see you're eyes though. They must be very pretty."

"I'm here because I'm looking for a book. Not casual conversation or ambiguous compliments," Jace said evenly.

"Oh. What book?"

Jace described it to her the way Kurai had done for him.

"Ooh so you're a mage. And a summoner to be more specific. Intriguing. I haven't had a mage come to my shop in quite some time. Now I really want to see your eyes. They must be intense."

"I'm not showing you my eyes so get over it," Jace snapped.

"Too bad you're so rude," her voice made Jace picture her as pouting. He sighed, "Can I please have the book?"

"Sure," she shoved a book across the counter at him.

"That's not it," Jace said evenly.

"You can't see it."

"It's too wide to be the book I'm looking for," Jace said.

"Oh and how can you tell?"

"The amount of space it takes up," Jace shrugged.

"You're quite spatially aware for someone that decided to cover his eyes in an effort to avoid being charmed."

"It comes with the territory," Jace flicked his ears at her.

"Alright. Fine. This one."

"That's not it either."

"Oh really?"

"Hm-hm," Jace nodded, "Can we stop playing games? I'm tired of it. I want the book. I didn't come here to play 'Let's See if He'll Take off the blindfold so I can See His Eyes' alright."

"Ugh, fine," she sounded irritated, "At least take your blindfold off once?"

"No."

"Next time you come by?"

"I'm not coming back."

"Why not?"

"I don't feel like it."

"You don't like me is what you're really saying."

"I'd just say that being blind just for the sake of getting a book is way too much effort to put into something this simple," Jace shrugged, "and you're being difficult isn't helping."

"I'll give you the book if you take off the blindfold and let me see your eyes."

Jace gritted his teeth.

"I promise I won't charm you. Just let me look."

Jace shook his head, "No."

"Why not?"

"I don't believe you."

"But I'm being completely honest."

She does sound sincere. Jace admitted to himself. But just because she sounds sincere doesn't mean she is. "No."

"Then you aren't getting the book."

Jace bit his lower lip, "Why is it so important that you see my eyes if you don't want to charm me then?"

"To confirm a hunch."

"What kind of hunch?" Jace cocked his head to the side.

"I'll tell you after I've confirmed it or not."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, I have to confirm it first."

"But-"

"Let me see your eyes," she kneeled down behind the counter.

"No."

"Then you don't get the book nor do you get to know what my hunch is."

Jace gritted his teeth, "No. I'm not going to show you my eyes. I don't trust you."

"Then you're wasting your time here."

"I'm not leaving until I get the book."

"Then you're not leaving until you show me your eyes."

"No."

Jace-

No. I don't trust her.

Here. I'll confirm whether or not she will charm you and interfere if she does alright? You need the book.

Jace bit his lower lip.

"Show me your eyes and I'll give you this book," she rose back up and set the book he wanted on the counter beside her. He could reach it but not fast enough to get it before she would pull it out of his reach.

Jace gritted his teeth, "Fine. But only for a moment."

"Okay."

She won't charm you.

Jace took off the black piece of cloth and opened his eyes. The room was incredibly bright, causing him to squint for a moment. He blinked and opened his eyes to their normal width.

"Oh, so you are..."

"I'm what?" Jace snapped.

"It's best you find out for yourself." She shoved the book across the counter at him.

"You said you'd tell me!" Jace insisted.

"Fine. Fine. I know who your parents are."

"What?" Jace stared at her in shock, "My...parents?"

She nodded, "However I cannot tell you. There must be a very good reason why they've kept it secret from you. However I will tell you that you've met them already."

"I...have?" Jace stared down at the counter without seeing it. His mind spun. I've already met them? But who are they then? His eyes widened as the taste of blood rose in the back of his throat, "They-they aren't dead are they?"

"No," she shook her head. Her golden blond hair was long and elaborately styled. Her emerald eyes somewhat reminded him of Vadanya but they were deeper and much gentler. She smiled, "Name's Sylva by the way. Nice to meet you."

"Hmm," Jace didn't entirely hear her.

Jace. That should probably wait at least until you get out of the shop and have some time truly to yourself.

Jace sighed, "See ya."

"You look down," Onyx noted as Jace entered the dorm building. Everyone of the male students he didn't entirely hate and could name were gathered down there.

"Cat Ears! You're back!"

"Hmm," Jace ignored them and walked up the stairs. At least they are dead I guess. But it's not fair. Why did my life turn out the way it did if I actually had parents? Why was I a lab rat with no other purpose than to run tests and participate in sick studies? Why?

You're going to want to clear your head when you decide to do the summoning ritual.

Jace sighed, "Yeah." He pushed the thoughts away and opened the door to his room. "Oh yeah. I have to put up the curtains," his voice was emotionless and flat. He stared dully at the curtains sitting on his bed. He sighed and attached them to the ceiling. He left a note on Ral's PS3 that said he was going to be out that night and left through the window.

Chandra stood on the roof of the girl's dorm building. She looked around. A suffocating stillness hung in the air. She saw storm clouds rolling towards them over the mountains. The city was close enough to the mountains that they were visible but far enough away that they didn't entirely block the horizon. She dropped into a balanced crouch and watched Jace flit across the courtyard and past the gate. Good. Now that he's gone I don't have to worry about any questions. She went back down into the building. She hurried down the many floors of the building while expertly avoiding teachers and the single security guard. She darted across the courtyard and into the city. The side streets were dark and relatively quiet. The occasional car hurried past her but otherwise there was nothing. Chandra slid down into an alley and along a wide concrete fence. She followed the fence down to it's end and jumped down to the alley beyond it. At the end of the alley was her destination. A small bookstore that was known for it's informative texts on magical beings and magic in general.

"Well it looks as though I have another visitor. Hello Crimson Phoenix," the Faerie greeted her sweetly.

"Hey, do you have a book on espers?"

"Espers? Hmm. I might. What'd you bring for me?"

Chandra rolled her eyes. She pushed a small piece of paper across the counter.

"Ooh," a smirk spread across her face, "Alright. I'll see what I've got." She turned to a computer that was an archive of every book the faerie had to her name, "I have two books on espers."

"Can I have both?" Chandra scowled at the doubtful look the woman gave her, "For double the deal?"

She paused to think before nodding, "Alright. Both books for double."

Chandra nodded, "Deal?" she held out her hand for the faerie to shake.

She took Chandra's hand, "Deal." She turned and disappeared into the deeper portion of the bookstore where she stored the magical portion of the inventory. Chandra took the books and left with a final nod, "Give me two days."

"Of course."

Dammit. Of course I'd have to get her double. It pays to deal with faeries. At least her being an alchemist made coming to an agreement easy. I just have to get her two vials of some mystical lizard's blood, and four Midnight flowers. You know. Only the rarest alchemical ingredients known to the alchemists of this world. Chandra growled in frustration.

"Phoenix. What's up?" Shadow said as the perturbed redhead walked into the hotel. It was the middle of the night which wasn't necessarily uncommon but it meant she had snuck out of her dorm and Eclipse will probably have a few choice words for her. Of course that was if Elspeth didn't get to her first. Elspeth was very considerate but could be very terrifying. Shadow didn't bother trying to convince herself the knight wasn't one of the scariest people she'd met.

"I need to vials of 'mystical lizard blood' and four Midnight flowers," Phoenix sighed.

"What kind of 'mystical lizard blood'?"

"The rare alchemical ingredient kind," Phoenix snapped, "I don't know."

"O...kay?" Shadow sighed, "Go to Dawn then."