~~ Caspian ~~

He wasn't entirely certain how long it had been since the night he'd lost everything – perhaps a few days, if he had to guess – but Caspian had drifted in and out of consciousness ever since. He'd woken up in the medics tent of the Unseelie Court, lying on his stomach. He wasn't sure who had dragged him there, but it made him sick with shame to even think about it. On instinct, his hand had crept to the side, reaching for a staff that was no longer there. They'd destroyed his staff along with his life, and it was gone for good.

Even his dagger, had disappeared. He supposed the medic faeries didn't want him using it in his state, and it was probably a good thing, after he'd swung out at them with it, before turning the blade towards himself. They'd stopped him though, and had swiftly and firmly taken it away from him.

He groaned as he came to again, opening his eyes slowly. The pain in his back was blinding and he hardly dared to breathe, let alone move too much. It felt wrong, so wrong to not have the familiar weight of his wings on his back, and he would have preferred to have lost an arm, than that.

No one offered a pain killing spell in the Unseelie – it was seen as weak, and a cop out. Pain was a lesson, and if you couldn't stand it, then you wouldn't survive for long in the Court. He wouldn't have asked for one, anyway. He'd never stoop that low.

A medic came along, tugging lightly on the bandage wrapped around his middle, before they slowly started to unwrap it. A sense of shame and humiliation shot through him, and all he could think, was that he didn't want anyone to see his back. He hated how weak he was, and he refused to accept their help.

"Don't touch it," he hissed, tensing, which caused the pain in his back to flare up even worse. When they ignored him, he growled low in his throat. "I said, don't touch it."

He reached out his arm to the side and grabbed their wrist in a tight grip, his nails digging in sharply as he tried to stop them. The medic pulled their arm away roughly, and signalled to a couple of other medics, who came over to restrain him, despite his thrashing and cursing. As they held him down, the medic continued to take the bandages off, and he gritted his teeth when they pulled them off, some of the blood that had stuck to his back, coming off with it. He couldn't see what they were doing, and he panicked for a moment, his breaths coming quicker.

He couldn't let them hold him down again. He couldn't. Helpless, he felt like he was back on the grass that night, and he cried out in pain as he imagined the blade coming down on his wings.

Then, he was drawn abruptly out of his memories when they started to clean the blood off his back, before applying some cool salve, and he exhaled loudly, both relieved and embarrassed. As much as he cursed, they wouldn't stop, and he felt like he might go insane from the pain. He felt like his brain might split open, and maybe that would be a good thing, because he wouldn't have to face the disappointment and shame of his parents. He hadn't seen them yet, and they'd probably prefer him dead, than like this.

Before he could even react to stop the healers, he felt some healing magic being applied just above his back, and it made his back tingle and itch, and he pressed his eyes closed for a moment, before he could embarrass himself any more.

When he finally relaxed a little, he felt the hands lift off him, and he drew in a sharp breath. "Who brought me here?" he asked harshly, loathe to hear the answer.

The medic paused, before answering simply with, "Your father."

He felt sick imagining the disgust his father must have felt, and he could have died from the humiliation. Staying silent, he focused on the medic's footsteps, trying to think of anything but that.

Then, the medic then came around near his head, and he tried to protest as they laid a hand on the side of his head. He didn't want to be thrown back into the nightmares again, and he struggled to stop them, desperate not go back there, to his worst memories. It was too late however, as the sleeping spell took effect, and his eyes rolled up, casting him once again into darkness.

~~ Kellan ~~

Kellan sparred with his brother in the training room, laughing as they both started to tire, their footwork becoming lazier and sloppier. They'd been training for most of the day though, so he thought they could be excused.

When his father finally called an end to their training, Kellan's chest glistened with sweat, and he pulled his shirt back on. Smiling, he clasped hands with his brother, happy with how they'd both fought. Although his brother was a year younger, he was larger and more muscly than him, while Kellan was slimmer, which was no surprise, when Kellan was the only one with some fae blood. It was unmistakable really, with Kellan's delicate fae features, and scarlet red hair, while his brother had darker brown hair. The one thing they had in common, was their hazel eyes. They were half-brothers, sharing the same Shadowhunter father, while Kellan's mother was a faerie from one of the Courts. He'd never met her, and he doubted he ever would, since she'd left him with his father to raise. He had another sibling, a younger sister, and he could just see her peek into the room as she watched, her brown pigtails swinging from side to side. She was still too young to train yet, and he glanced over at her with a fond smile, ruffling her hair as he walked past her, making her giggle.

Kellan was glad that they all got along so well. While others from the Clave might look at him with disdain, his family didn't treat him any differently, and he was grateful for that.

His favourite place to go besides the training room, was the greenhouse, and he made sure to visit there every day. His father had a fascination with birds, and had modified the greenhouse into a kind of bird aviary with mesh panels, and bird friendly plants. Kellan was delighted by them, loving animals and any kind of nature. He'd spent many hours pouring over books on birds, and studying what they liked to eat, as well as the different species.

Making his way into the greenhouse, he whistled back to one of the birds, a canary, when it greeted him with a sweet song. His father had collected many different species, and Kellan enjoyed interacting with them all. He reached out a hand, and a few of the birds flew onto his arm, perching there comfortably. Often, he ended up with some scratches on his arms from their claws, but he didn't mind too much, liking their company. Cheerily, he pulled some treats out of his pocket, feeding them.

Once he'd finished, he sat down on the stairs, and raised his free hand to the demon's tooth necklace that he wore around his neck absentmindedly. It was a reminder of his first Hunt, when he truly became a Shadowhunter, and he rarely took it off.

He laughed under his breath when one of the smaller birds perched on his head, pecking at some of the unruly curls there. "It's not a nest, I swear," he joked, reaching a hand up for it to fly onto. It adjusted itself, and he lowered his hand, down closer to his eyes, so he could see it. "What am I going to do with you, hey?"

Content, he sat like that for a while, observing the birds as they flew around the greenhouse. He knew that in a few years, he'd have to start thinking about travelling, and what he wanted to do in the future, but for now, he couldn't ever imagine leaving this Institute, his home.

Family had always been his first priority, and whether it be people or birds, he swore on his life that he'd never let them down.

~~ Aspen ~~

The day had been pleasant enough so far, despite having to spend it with Nyx. They'd spent time walking through the streets, and Nyx had bought him a few gifts, his favourite being a new cloak. His old one had become dirty, the edges frayed from all its use. In exchange, Aspen had chatted with him and followed his requests diligently, smiling sweetly.

However, when Nyx steered him into a tavern, in one of the shadier areas of the Towns, he grew a little more apprehensive. Sitting down at a table there, Nyx ordered them both drinks. "You know I don't like drinking that stuff," Aspen said, lowering his voice slightly. He'd never liked alcohol much, and he was such a lightweight that he became a little ridiculous after just one drink.

"It's my treat," Nyx said, leaning back in his chair comfortably as he studied him. "I hope you're not turning down my generosity," he added, in a warning tone.

Aspen swallowed, shaking his head. After an earlier incident, Aspen had promised Nyx a whole day of his time, and he couldn't go back on his word now. "Okay… just one then," he agreed, finally.

However, one quickly turned into two, as Nyx ordered another while he was talking, slipping some money over to him, under the table as a reward. Aspen tucked the notes into his pocket, gratefully. He could already feel the effects of the alcohol kicking in, making him more easy going and compliant, and he couldn't refuse the second drink, giggling slightly when he spilled some on the table, as he lifted it to his lips. Nyx looked extremely amused, his eyes focused intently on him.

"See, it's not so bad, right?" he said, languidly.

"It's strong," Aspen said, taking another sip. "Strong like my charms," he giggled, before wondering absentmindedly what he'd just said.

When he'd finished it, he stood up after Nyx, and Nyx linked arms with him, partly to lead him, and partly to keep him upright. "We're gonna have some fun tonight, kid," Nyx smiled, as he led him towards the back room of the tavern.

Aspen was a little too giddy to protest, and he glanced over at Nyx's friends as they joined them. "Here," one of them said, slipping Nyx something in a packet.

Nyx looked down at it, before reaching for Aspen's hand, and unfurling his fingers. "These are like heaven, I swear. Have a couple."

Aspen shook his head, slowly, trying to pull his hand away weakly. "No-" he said, and laughed. "I… I shouldn't take things like that. It isn't good."

"If I say it's good, then it is," Nyx whispered, his mouth stirring the hair near Aspen's ear.

When Aspen still didn't accept it, Nyx let go of his hand, instead taking two of the tablets into his own hand, and raising it to Aspen's mouth.

"You're gonna take these, and you're gonna swallow. Right? Because if you don't, it'll mean a lot of trouble for you and your friends, and I won't be so nice," Nyx hissed, pushing Aspen's mouth open, and placing the tablets inside, before Aspen finally swallowed.

"Good," Nyx crooned, stroking Aspen's hair for a moment. "You know I like it when you're good. These are some new faerie drugs. They come in tablet form, which is handy."

Aspen blinked and nodded, and the room seemed a little hazier than before. As Nyx and his friends slid into one of the booths of the tavern, Nyx turned to Aspen with a sly smile. "Kiss him," he commanded, nodding towards one of the faeries. They all watched expectantly, and Aspen moved over closer to the faerie, eager to please. Sitting on his lap, he draped his arms over his shoulders. Leaning forward, he kissed him, and he couldn't describe what he looked like, his face a blur, but he tasted like alcohol.

They kissed for a bit longer, before Nyx told him to kiss the next faerie. Trailing a hand down their cheek, Aspen couldn't help but feel like he was in a dream. He leaned in to kiss him, before he felt a little confused, when it all felt so wrong. "Cas, what-…" he started, a little disorientated, before he realised, 'oh, it couldn't be Cas,' when the faerie nibbled on his lower lip, before roughly opening his mouth, as he deepened the kiss and pushed his tongue down his throat.

It became harder to tell whether he was dreaming or awake, as the faerie drew him to his feet, pulling him over towards some faeries dancing in the corner.

"I… don't feel so well…" Aspen blinked, still tasting the bitter taste of the drink on his lips, and the room spun in a dizzying array of colours.

"You're fine, sweetheart," Nyx called out, in a soothing tone, watching from the side.

He nodded along, smiling on instinct as the faerie drew him closer, the music loud in his ears.

ooOoo

A light through the windows drew Aspen from his sleep, the throbbing of a dull headache consuming his thoughts. His hand dangled over the edge of the bed, and he sat up quickly, confused as he tried to remember how he'd gotten to the hotel. Getting up, he grabbed his shirt, which was hanging over a chair, and he winced at a slight pain in his side when he twisted. Glancing at his wrists, he frowned at the red marks encircling them, before pausing to stare into a mirror. There was a large bruise on his side, and he tried to wrack his brain, but he just couldn't remember how he'd gotten it. Leaning forward, he brushed some blood off his lower lip, before straightening. He then pulled his shirt over his head and wings, before feeling relieved when he found his sword and cloak tossed on the desk. If he'd lost those, he would have been very annoyed.

With his sword at his side, and his hood covering his hair, he felt a little more like himself. The pain and the bruises, he could ignore, and he glanced at the room one last time – at the messed-up sheets, and the pillows thrown on the floor, before he strolled out the door. The keys he'd found on the table swung in his fingers, and he tossed them over to the person at the reception desk of the hotel. He was almost tempted to ask them who he'd come in with, before he stopped himself, throwing them a flirtatious smile, instead. He wouldn't show them anything else.

Thinking he'd spent much too much time away from the Hunt, he then hurried back, trying to scrub the questions and the muddled thoughts about the previous night from his mind. Keeping in control of himself was important to him, and losing that, even for a night, was not a pleasant thought. Increasing his pace, he sighed, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

It was one night, and it didn't mean anything. When the headache was gone, he was sure he'd just forget about it.

Like he always did.