I

The clash of two worlds

London, England

April, 1878

Before that blonde girl had appeared in that dark alley, Jem Carstairs thought that he'd seen nearly everything that both the Mundane and the Shadow worlds had to offer.

After all, he was a Nephilim. Thus, his battles with demons and his daily encounters with a wide variety of creatures had given him an extremely valid reason to claim that he had seen and experienced things that most humans could only imagine, if they could imagine them at all. However, even in his world, a woman who seemed to materialize out of thin air was a phenomenon entirely unheard of.

Prior to that, his night had been relatively normal. And by normal he meant just another night of his parabatai wandering the dark streets of London, trying to investigate and dragging Jem along with him.

Since that night a few days ago when they had discovered that mundane girl murdered in an alley with a knife marked with the Ouroboros symbol, Will had been wandering some of the seedier parts of the city looking for information about the murder. That evening was supposed to be like any other, but it had gone awry when he got separated from Will and lost him in the dark and labyrinthine streets of London after an intense encounter with a Scorpios demon. He couldn't pinpoint exactly when he got separated from the black-haired man, because by the time he realized it, the aforementioned parabatai was nowhere in sight.

After a few minutes of searching, he realized that Will was not in the vicinity. Since this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, he already knew that he wouldn't be able to find his parabatai unless he wanted to be found, so Jem resigned himself to the prospect of returning to the Institute on his own.

Like an invisible ghost to the eyes of the few mundanes who were in the streets of London at that hour, he made his way back. Scanning the alleys and lanes, his silver eyes searched for any sign of a demon, but found none. Then, as he was only a few blocks from the Institute, he heard it, just behind him. A high-pitched shriek, unmistakably female in tone and enough to send shivers down his spine, followed by a flash of golden light that would have blinded him had he been looking.

His reflexes snapped him into a defensive posture. He swiftly turned, his cane ready for an incoming attack from behind. Yet, to his perplexity, nothing happened.

In the silence of the dimly lit alley, there was nothing but a woman.

A young, shaky blonde woman was standing in front of him, her posture faltering before she collapsed to the floor with a small whimper.

Internally, a torrent of Will's favored expletives surged through Jem's thoughts, but he restrained himself from speaking any of them since he was in the presence of a lady. Instead, he pressed his lips together and eyed her cautiously, torn between the instinct to rush to her aid, since he was a gentleman and she clearly needed help, and the growing suspicion that something was amiss.

There was, indeed, something unmistakably odd about the girl, and it wasn't just her unexpected appearance in a golden light. Jem studied her carefully for a few brief seconds that seemed eternal, noting the strangeness of her clothing and what appeared to be armor. It was a very curious one, and if Jem had to make a guess, he would say it was Greek, which intrigued him and stirred further questions. Additionally, there was a gleaming golden knife in her right hand, which set off alarm bells in his mind.

Overall, Jem's instincts urged him to remain on guard.

However, as a new whimper escaped her lips, followed by what sounded like an ancient Greek curse, Jem's hesitance dissipated. He moved toward her, an innate desire to assist overpowering his caution.

"Excuse me, are you alright, Miss?" the silver-haired man asked when he was a few steps away, approaching until he stopped next to her and knelt down by her side.

The girl's eyes were shut tightly and blood was running down the side of her face. It was evident she had suffered a severe head injury, which alarmed him even more. Without thinking, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and brought it close to the girl, intending to place it on her head, but just then she blinked, bringing startlingly fierce gray eyes to him, causing his hand to stop in mid-movement.

The glare the blonde gave his hand revealed a flicker of suspicion that momentarily darkened her young features. Her piercing gray gaze made Jem feel an uncharacteristic sense of vulnerability. In that instant, any notion that she was an ordinary mundane vanished into thin air. Her demeanor spoke volumes —it was the keen scrutiny of a seasoned warrior, meticulously dissecting potential threats. At that moment, Jem realized that if she wanted to stab him with the knife she still held in her hand, she could easily do so since he was within her reach.

In spite of the uneasiness between them, a wave of compassion washed over Jem at the sight of the blood trickling down her temple. His instinct to help her was more powerful than before, and with deliberate and slow movements, he held out the handkerchief, making sure his actions were completely non-threatening.

"Here, let me help you, Miss" Jem offered gently, his voice softened with concern. He kept a respectable distance, aware that she was frightened. The lady hesitated for a split second, her gray eyes flickering between the offered handkerchief and Jem's face, then she blinked and her expression softened slightly. Slowly, she raised her free hand to accept the handkerchief and then brought it to her face to wipe away the blood that was trickling down her skin. Although still cautious, her demeanor wasn't that of someone who would try to murder him, which made Jem feel a little more relaxed.

A small, gentle, friendly smile curved Jem's lips. He was about to ask again if she was all right, but the girl interrupted him as she finally answered his previous question.

"I'm... I'm fine," she replied, her accent bearing a hint of something peculiar, both familiar and unfamiliar to the young Shadowhunter. It tugged at the edge of his consciousness, a distant familiarity that eluded clear recognition—perhaps an American accent? Drawing a deep breath, she turned her wary gaze toward the darkened street and inquired softly, "Where am I? And you are...?"

Jem observed the young woman's disorientation with empathy and sympathy.

"You are in London, Miss," he began, his voice calm and reassuring. Every syllable was chosen carefully, trying to offer some comfort amidst the confusion. "This is an alley near the Institute," he added, offering a brief explanation before continuing. "My name is James Carstairs, although most call me Jem."

The woman's furrowed brows reflected her evident confusion, and Jem's heart sank in his chest. She was clearly some kind of warrior, but her lack of recognition about the Institute hinted that she wasn't affiliated with the Shadow World—neither a Downworlder nor a Shadowhunter. Who, then, was she?

"Institute?" She repeated with a frown, as if trying to fit the pieces of a puzzle together. Her eyes roamed the dark alley for a brief moment before focusing back on the silver-haired man with an uncanny intensity.

"Yes," Jem replied softly, sensing her unease and choosing to tread cautiously. This wasn't the moment for probing questions, not with her evident distress, the injuries she bore, and the glint of a weapon in her possession. "You are safe here. May I inquire about your name?"

The woman's hesitancy at his question was palpable. She paused, studying him carefully, as if considering the wisdom of giving him that information. Eventually, she relented.

"My name is Annabeth Chase."

The name had no particular significance to the Shadowhunter, but that was unsurprising. He had already deduced that she was not a part of his world.

"Miss Chase," Jem started with a calm tone, not wanting to add to her confusion and obvious distress, though a gleam of curiosity flashed in his eyes. "Do you recall anything about how you got here?"

She blinked at Jem's question, her expression momentarily clouded with confusion. He pondered whether it was wise to pursue additional details, given her delicate condition.

"I... We were on Olympus," she answered, frowning and her voice trailing off uncertainly. Jem frowned. He knew mythology, as all Shadowhunters should, but to hear that... The name Olympus was a place of myth and legend, a realm that was supposed to be inaccessible to mere mortals. The girl seemed to be in a state of severe disorientation if she was talking about that, or perhaps there was a deeper force at work, beyond his comprehension.

"Luke, he... Oh, my gods!" The girl's sudden outburst startled Jem. Her gray eyes widened and a mix of emotions —fear, anger, and something else that was difficult to pinpoint— flickered within them.

"Miss, please, you're injured," Jem urged, his words tinged with concern as he saw her attempt to stand up. He noticed that she was still bleeding and tried to draw her attention to it. However, she seemed entirely absorbed in her own distress.

"No, no, no" she muttered urgently. "I have to go back. Percy needs me, he needs to understand." She seemed unaware of Jem's presence as she tried to stand, only to fail.

Blurred vision caused her to sway like a marionette with cut strings, and unconsciousness overtook her seconds later. Jem acted quickly, cursing under his breath as he reached out to keep her from falling. With a protective arm wrapped around her, he supported her gently, keeping a safe distance despite her inert state. Although she posed no threat now, Jem remained cautious as he scanned the area for any signs of danger, even though there seemed to be none.

As Jem held the unconscious woman in his arms, a wave of uncertainty washed over him. He could not leave her in the alley, but it was out of the question to take her to a mundane doctor. However, the Institute was a sanctuary, even for mundanes in dire need, so...

Making up his mind, he secured the knife she had been holding and tucked it safely into his belt. He then gently lifted her with cautious hands, and surprisingly found that she was lighter than he had anticipated, making it easier to carry her. With a determined nod, he adjusted his grip to ensure her comfort and stability before setting off towards the Institute, jogging at a fast but cautious pace, careful not to jostle her too much in fear of aggravating her injuries. Along the way, he silently prayed to the angel Raziel, hoping that her condition wouldn't worsen. His main concern was getting her safely to the Institute where Charlotte could provide the necessary aid.

The journey to the Institute seemed endless, even though it was just a short distance away. His relief was palpable when the familiar outline of the Institute materialized in front of him. He reassured himself that just a few more steps were needed. Before he could fully grasp the relief, he arrived at the doors and rushed inside with the unconscious woman in his arms. In his hurry, he collided head-on with his parabatai, who was returning at the same time.

William looked at Jem in surprise, watching Jem with a quizzical expression as his eyes darted between Jem's face and the unconscious young woman nestled in his arms.

"I left you alone for an hour and you brought a woman?" Wil's voice contained a hint of jest, but his concern was evident as he stepped aside to allow Jem to cross the threshold and enter the Institute.

Jem's breathing was rapid and labored after his sprint.

"Will, we don't have time for explanations," he urged, dismissing his parabatai's teasing. He ignored the raised eyebrow from Will, who gave him a brief, scrutinizing, and suspicious glance —a response that puzzled Jem. Before he could interject with probing questions or sardonic remarks, Jem hurriedly intervened, "Please look for Charlotte. The girl is seriously hurt."

Will's expression changed when he realized the urgency of the situation. Without a word, he turned on his heel and hurried down the corridor to find Charlotte. Meanwhile, Jem headed towards the nearest unoccupied room with the sole focus of ensuring the blonde woman received the urgent care she required.

"Don't you worry, Miss Chase," Jem whispered softly to the woman in his arms as he found an empty room. He walked inside and gently placed her on the bed, making sure she was comfortable before moving away to keep a silent watch until Charlotte or Sophie came. His eyes remained steadily fixed on her face, even when the sound of approaching footsteps signaled someone's imminent arrival. As Charlotte finally entered the room, Jem's voice was barely audible as he assured the unconscious woman, "You're going to be all right, I promise."

As if she had heard him, a small, painful sounding sigh escaped the blonde's lips.

Charlotte assessed the situation swiftly, her eyes scanning the injured woman's condition with practiced precision. Her expression remained composed, but the concern in her eyes betrayed the gravity of the situation.

"Jem, I'll need you to give us some space," Charlotte said gently, her voice carrying an air of authority softened by empathy. "Sophie will assist me. You've done well bringing her here."

Jem hesitated for a moment, his hesitation evident, but soon Sophie appeared and promptly ushered him out, unceremoniously shutting the door behind him. He sighed softly, accepting the situation, and instinctively made his way to his room. Realizing that he would have to wait for information about the girl's condition, he determined it was better to change out of his bloodied clothes in the meantime. The comfort of his bedroom beckoned, not too far away, so he strolled toward it at a leisurely pace.

Along the way, his parabatai joined him, and as they walked together to Jem's room, Will accompanied him in uncharacteristic silence, his demeanor filled with obvious curiosity as he watched Jem closely. Once inside the room and the door closed behind them, Will finally broke the silence with a question.

"Where did you find her?" he asked, arching an inquisitive eyebrow.

"In a nearby alley," Jem replied with a slight furrow on his brow as he recollected the events. There were numerous unanswered questions in his mind, but he knew he'd have to wait until the girl woke up, if she ever did. He let out a sigh and walked towards his wardrobe, with the intention of taking off his blood-soaked uniform, ignoring Will's presence. He removed the soiled shirt and replaced it with a fresh one, while constantly sensing Will's stubborn stare fixed on his back.

Anticipating Will's inevitable questioning, Jem rapidly provided an explanation in an attempt to avoid further scrutiny.

"She just... appeared out of nowhere in the street. Had a nasty head wound. She seemed completely disoriented and then suddenly collapsed."

He put on a tie and jacket, feeling more composed after changing clothes. When he turned around, he saw Will comfortably sitting in a chair beside the bed, with a relaxed posture, stretched out legs, and arms folded behind his head, giving off an air of nonchalance.

For a few awkward moments, Will directed his striking blue eyes at Jem in a way that made the latter slightly uneasy, but he tried his best not to show it. After a lingering silence, a mischievous grin tugged at the corners of Will's lips. He shot a look at Jem, a playful mix of mischief and teasing on his face that instantly sent a pang of apprehension down the silver-haired man's spine.

"I cannot decide whether to feel impressed or disappointed," Will taunted, with a tone full of playful mockery, "that you, out of all people, were the first to bring a woman here."

Jem was caught off guard by the unexpected comment, and he almost choked on his breath.

"William!"

"What? Don't worry, I'm still very proud of you," his parabatai replied cheekily, and Jem retaliated by grabbing a nearby pillow and playfully threw it at the blue-eyed man, who could only manage a laugh before a knock on the door diverted their attention. Rushing to open it, Jem was met with Charlotte's serious expression.

The weight of Charlotte's gaze caused Jem to feel concerned. Had something happened to miss Chase?

"She's stable and asleep," Charlotte quickly reassured him, sensing his concern. He instantly felt relieved. He stepped aside to allow the older woman entry to the room, as she continued speaking. "She has more injuries than just the one on her head, but we think she's going to recover."

Jem couldn't help but smile softly with relief, his voice gentle as he responded.

"That's a relief. I suppose you want to know everything now, don't you?" At her brief nod, he began to recount the sequence of events —how he had found her, how she had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and her ramblings about Olympus. He didn't tell them about the knife, though, which he still had in his belt. He was not certain of the reason. It was just the way she had clung to it that made it hard for him to reveal it. He was planning to give it back when she woke up.

Will and Charlotte exchanged glances at his tale, with a variety of emotions playing across their faces like shifting clouds. Charlotte's face showed surprise, with lines etched on her forehead and a mixture of disbelief and guarded doubt in her eyes. Will's typically self-assured expression displayed signs of unease and a perceptible edge of apprehension.

When he finished, his audience remained silent for what seemed like an eternity to the silver-haired boy. While he understood that his tale might appear implausible, it was the truth, and he could only have faith in their belief.

Ultimately, it was Charlotte who moved. Rising from her seat, she smoothed her skirt and spoke deliberately, leaving no room for argument:

"You will not breathe a word of this to anyone. We will question her as soon as she's awake to find out where she came from. For the time being, you must keep this between us. No one beyond these walls should know about this. We'll say she's a mundane with the Sight you stumbled upon, who was injured in the streets. Nothing more."

"But we cannot be certain that she even has the Sight," Jem countered, obviously worried about the consequences of this lie if the blonde did not have the ability.

Charlotte offered a slightly tense smile before quietly adding, "She saw you, did she not? And if what you are saying is true, then something peculiar is going on. I have a feeling she does belong to our world, in one way or another."

Jem let out a short sigh and simply nodded, maintaining his serious and calm demeanor.

"Well, then she will be our lovely little secret," Will quipped amusedly, lounging in his chair like a lazy cat.

"William!" his parabatai scolded him, giving him a disapproving look. The blue-eyed man simply laughed.

As the woman left the room, she couldn't resist a resigned smile at the antics of one of her charges.