++++++ Sorry about the update gap. Life got in the way.

I hope you enjoy.

I do not own ++++++

Seven

"Drinking before five? My, my, something bad must have happened to you this afternoon,' Magnus teased as he found Esme at the bar pouring herself a whisky.

"My mother is certifiable!" Esme snapped.

"Ah," Magnus frowned, "better make that a double." He took the decanter from her hands and added more to her glass. "How is dear Gwendoline?"

"Oh she remarried," Esme shrugged, "and has TWO greater demons as body guards." She pointed to the black book sitting on the table. "The Verbis Diablo-my mother wears a bonding mark on her body-that's the mark."

Magnus scrunched his face up. "Why did you bring that thing here? Horrible book. I don't even know why you have it in the first place."

"Magnus I know I've asked you this question before but what do you know about me?" she inquired. "You know something, it's written on your face every time I ask you about myself."

Magnus frowned. "Esme, I promise you I know nothing. I'm doing this as a favour to Jocelyn. It also helps the downworlders to have a shadowhunter like you on their side."

She pressed her lips together, not believing anything he said for a second. Esme drank the whole glass and poured herself another. "Whatever is going on…my mother wants the cup for her new husband-my father." She drank the second glass but didn't pour herself another. "I wonder how much trouble I'll cop for going to the Silent City?"

"Probably a lot," Magnus replied. He threw a napkin over the top of the Verbis Diablo so he couldn't see it. "There. Much better. Now-why would you want to see Silent Brothers?" he inquired.

She shrugged. "I don't know. There has to be something inside my mind that knows what my mother wants…" Esme stopped mid-sentence and sighed. "I really need to be focusing on the Mortal Cup-is Valentine gets it before the Clave do-we're all screwed. Majorly."

"So after all these years, you'll risk yourself by working with the Clave?" Magnus asked her. "How…noble isn't the world. Foolish. Stupid. Moronic. You will be going back to the Institute?" That question was followed by a smirk with a twinkle in his yellow eyes.

Esme frowned. "Magnus Bane what are you up to?"

"Can you deliver something for me?" The warlock crossed the room and came back with an envelope addressed to Alexander Lightwood, written in a delicate cursive script. "I would be forever in your debt."

Esme snatched the envelope. "You're already in my debt, Bane. But yes I'll take it." She grabbed the book and the napkin and slipped them under her arm as she sauntered away to her room. Unlike the rest of Magnus' place, Esme's room was covered in books and weapons and clothes-it was a typical shadowhunter teenagers room. She put the items in her arms down and went to change. She put on a pair of black jeans with ankle booties, a red t-shirt underneath a black three quarter vest, pulling her hair up in a bun, Esme went to her weapons rack and put on a quiver before arming herself to the teeth.

"You look like you're heading into battle," Magnus teased when Esme came back out. "Don't forget the letter," he grinned.

Esme raised an eyebrow. "Like I'll forget you're getting the hots over a shadowhunter let alone a Lightwood. Don't wait up, Magnus."

"I never do," he replied. "You could be bleeding in a ditch somewhere and I'd be the last person to know."

She rolled her eyes as she drew the invisibility rune in her stomach. Esme put her stele back into her jeans pocket and left the room.

-XXX-

Not expecting the Institute to let her inside, Esme was bold enough to try and let herself in. The huge double doors sprung open in a matter of seconds letting her inside. As she closed the doors behind her, she heard footsteps coming down the corridor and turned to see Jace with his head in a book.

"What are you doing here?" Jace frowned, coming across Esme in the foyer as she closed the door.

"The Institute let me in," Esme grinned.

"Weird," Jace muttered. "At least the building likes you-that's a plus."

"Fuck you, Wayland," Esme frowned. "I'm on an errand for Magnus-where's Alec's room?"

"What does Magnus want with Alec?" Jace asked her. "He's probably with Gabriella fishing for a kiss. They're supposed to marry soon."

"I noticed," Esme frowned, "you seem to enjoy making fun of them because of it?"

A wicked smile formed on Jace's face. "How did you guess?"

"You've a little evil on your face," Esme replied. "Now-Alec?"

"He's in the training room with Izzy and the rest," Jace answered. "I was just heading that way. Gabby thought it would be a good idea to show Clary some basics and everyone decided to join in. I'll take you."

"You're not worried about the exile being here?" Esme asked him.

"Nope," Jace replied. "Besides Gabby's eviler than you. Now that her parabatai is here she's relaxed a little though."

As the two of them walked, she was in awe of the fact that the Institute had actually let her inside. At least the building didn't think she was evil. It was becoming an occurring theme the days. They came to the training room and Jace waltzed in like life could only truly begin now that he was there.

"Jace!" Clary grinned, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Hi Esme!" she practically bounced over to them. "What are you doing here?"

"Dropping something off for the High Warlock," Esme answered. She looked around Clary to the blonde and the brunette on the training mat and bit her lip. Parabatai's were so enchanting to watch. Esme herself was just days away from becoming parabatai's with her best friend Alice Whitestar when she was exiled. She sighed and walked to Alec who was watching Clary and Jace with distain all over his face. "Alec, Isabelle. Afternoon."

"Hey, Esme!" Isabelle grinned. "It's good to see you again. What are you doing here?"

"Delivering a letter," Esme grinned. "For Alec." She took the letter out of her vest and gave it to the confused shadowhunter. "And I have some intelligence to share with you all once you're done training."

Isabelle sighed. "Boring. I'd rather sit here and watch Eric."

Esme raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Eric Whiteblood," Alec frowned, "he's Gabriella's parabatai."

"And also the son of the best shadowhunter in the history of shadowhunters," Esme muttered. "His family practically runs the Clave."

"Gabriella and Eric have been best friends since they were children," Alec frowned. "They became parabatai in secret with the support of his mother. Naturally Eric's father was furious but they had done it."

Isabelle laughed. "Since when did you become such a gossip?" she asked her brother.

"Shut up, Izzy," Alec scowled. He kicked off the wall and let loose a whistle loud enough to catch everyone's attention. "Esme wants to talk."

Gabriella and Eric went to get a drink and came over. "How are you?"

"Fine," Esme answered. "Didn't tell them?" she asked her.

"Tell us what?" Jace asked as Gabriella shook her head.

"Esme and I killed two greater demons this afternoon," Gabriella confessed. She looked to her parabatai. I just got so distracted with you getting her Eric that I simply forgot to mention it."

Her parabatai laughed. "Of course. Who's this?"

"Esme Ravenscar," Gabriella introduced, "this is Eric Whiteblood. Eric, this is Esme."

"Didn't you used to be Nighthallow?" Eric asked, not looking particularly fussed at her history. "So what have you got for us Esme?"

"The Verbis Diablo," she answered, producing the book. "Basically the demonic version of the bible and the Greybook. It led me back to my mother and to another party in play for the Mortal Cup."