A/N: Another quick chapter on events in the past. Also, sorry but I realised I only wrote about my characters again. :( :(

~~ Caspian ~~

Caspian's mood soured as he headed towards the meadow where his parents had organised for him to meet with her. Reluctant, he had to force himself to head there, instead of turning towards the more comforting thought of the training grounds.

Tiana Floret.

She waited there for him, sitting down on the grass, the wind blowing a strand of her long, auburn hair over her face. He supposed she'd be considered pretty, even by faerie standards, especially with her transparent purple wings. But that had never meant much to him, as he decided skill and intelligence were much more important in battles and survival.

"Caspian," she smiled, when she looked up and saw him, inclining her head in a fae-like gesture of respect. He came to a stop, and folded his arms, his expression closed off. She seemed like she was waiting for him to sit as well, and when he didn't, she stood up slowly. "I'm glad we could meet."

"We can speak plainly," he replied, after a pause. "I doubt I'm any more interested in this, than you are."

"We'd be a good pairing. With both of our bloodlines traced back to the archangel Camael, and both strengthened by a Greater demon, you know it's true," she said, resolutely, and she raised her chin a little.

He considered remaining silent, and as if he couldn't bear to look at her anymore, he glanced out at the meadow, instead. There were shadows cast on the grass, from the ancient Unseelie trees surrounding it. "Doesn't mean I have to like it," he muttered, finally.

"I brought you something," she continued, as if brushing his words away, and she pulled something out from underneath the folds of her cloak. He stiffened, his eyes flickering there on instinct, used to people pulling out weapons, not gifts. However, it was as she'd said, and she passed him a large leaf with a fae verse written on it in elegant writing. He took it reluctantly, only glancing at the words briefly, before he tucked it into his cloak.

"Listen-…" he started, before cutting himself off, as she walked around him in a circle, her eyes drawn to his wings. He straightened, his gaze following her carefully.

"Imagine what colour wings the little one would have," she said, her gaze meeting his eyes again. "With their parents having such beautiful ones. A mix of sky blue and a royal purple, perhaps."

"It hasn't been decided yet," he retorted, a hint of defensiveness in his words. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

Tilting her head to the side slightly, she gave a light laugh. "Our parents get along well, so I don't see why they won't agree."

This time, he did remain silent, his expression stony. Nothing had been decided for certain yet, and he refused to act like it was going to happen, when there was a chance it might not.

Staring at a nearby tree, his gaze shifted quickly at the rustle of the grass, as Tiana leaned forward to touch his cheek, resting her fingers there lightly. Immediately, he flinched back, grabbing her wrist as he pushed her hand away. "Don't," he snapped, unable to keep the frustration from his tone.

"You wouldn't want to hurt me," she said in a low tone, tugging at her wrist, when he tightened his grip, instinctively. "They wouldn't like that."

Exhaling sharply, he let go, before turning away, not in the mood for such a meeting.

"What does it take to earn your respect?" she sighed, and he could feel her gaze burning into his back.

Pausing, he glanced back at her. "If you wanted my respect, you'd fight me. I've hardly seen you fight." Gritting his teeth, his silver eyes slowly turned cold, like ice. "I never asked for this. I don't want this… Any of it."

Ignoring what she had left to say, her words fell away behind him as he started away, his footsteps harsh against the crisp grass in his haste. Reaching beneath his cloak, his fingers closed around the leaf and pulled it out.

Staring at it in his hand for a moment, he then let it go and watched as it fluttered to the ground, before continuing on.

~~ Finn and Jai ~~

After leaving his home and dropping out of school, Finn found himself drawn to the mystery of the Downworld Towns. He met Jai there, who was also a half-faerie, close to his own age, and they got on well. Often, Finn would come up with some bad ideas and drag Jai along, and that day was no exception.

As they sat in a bar and ordered a drink each with the last of their coins, Jai looked doubtful. "I still don't see how spending this is going to earn us money."

"Just trust me. I have my ideas," Finn merely grinned, taking a sip of his red lemonade.

It was a tavern where some of the wealthier Downworlders went, to gamble in the back rooms. Finn had already sussed it out, and decided he could make some money for them both. Nothing was honest about the Towns, so he didn't feel bad about his thoughts at all.

"There," Finn said, nodding his head towards a vampire with a couple of gold rings around his fingers. "He'd have a bit."

"Finn," Jai said, in a warning tone, although Finn just found it cute that he was worried. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Trust me," Finn repeated again, giving Jai a wink, before he walked over to sit beside the vampire.

"I've always admired vampires," Finn said, his eyes bright. "It must be hard being immortal, but never getting to see the sun."

They chatted for a time, Finn listening carefully and nodding along, all the while leaning closer.

"I've got to go. My friend is missing me," Finn said finally, leaning in to kiss his cheek, his hand sneaking forward as well, in and out of his pocket before the vampire could even notice.

Then, he headed back to Jai, looking pleased with himself as he quickly flashed the notes he'd pinched, before stashing them in his pocket.

"We've got to do this quickly, before they realise," Finn said, scanning the room for someone else.

"It's dangerous," Jai said, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Maybe we should just stick with that."

"Don't be silly. I've got this," Finn said, picking out another victim carefully.

This time, it was a faerie, and he couldn't tell where they kept their money, so he played along. "Do you have a coin, my lady? I'll show you a magic trick," he said, charmingly, a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he approached her. She obliged with a laugh, taking out her purse from a bag resting nearby. She pulled out a single coin, before resting her purse on the counter. Taking the coin with a bow, Finn performed his trick, making the coin disappear, before pulling it out from behind her ear.

"Ta da!" he grinned, endearingly, holding it up. Then, in a moment of pretend clumsiness as he tried to pass it to her, he let it slip from his fingers, to the ground. "Sorry," he exclaimed quickly, taking a step backwards, towards the counter, as she bent down to get the coin. While she was preoccupied with picking it up, he slipped the purse off the counter towards him, grabbing some money, before setting it back again.

"You can keep it, for your efforts," she laughed again as she straightened, passing him the coin, and he kissed her hand, before making his way back to Jai.

"See? It's easy. They won't even miss it," Finn whispered to Jai, his eyes focused on him. "Now, it's your turn."

"My turn?" Jai repeated, paling. "I won't be able to do it. I'm not even good at lying."

Finn smiled, shaking his head. "Just think of it as a game, not a lie. Here, you just talk to them, and I'll worry about getting the money, okay?" Without waiting for a response, he stood up again, taking Jai's hand, and pulling him towards the bar. "Just keep them talking and keep their attention. I know you can do that."

After Jai talked with some Downworlders about inconsequential things, and Finn had stolen some money from them, they then sat together in the walkway leading to the back rooms, counting the money. Splitting it evenly, despite Jai's protests that he'd done less work, Finn handed him his share, before tucking his own into his pocket. "See? Now we have enough money for food. And it didn't even take that long."

Jai rolled his eyes, before s smile broke through, and he carefully tucked the money away. "Thank you, Finn. It'll keep me going for a bit, at least."

As they moved to leave, Finn's gaze was drawn to the back rooms, to the sound of rolling dice, and a round of applause. His eyes lit up as he took a few steps closer until he stood in the doorway, watching the Downworlders gambling.

Jai tugged on his arm. "Come on, you said we can't stay here long, remember?"

Finn nodded absentmindedly, finally turning away to follow Jai, although the clink of the dice followed him a long time after he'd left the tavern.

~~ Steff ~~

Her brother Loki was out again that day, although Steff didn't dare ask where.

As her parents talked in low voices at the table while they ate dinner, Steff packed up the ingredients she'd used to make it, in the kitchen. She knew they were talking about the new visitors, from an Institute overseas – which one, she wasn't sure – but she didn't care to hear what they were planning. For there were always plans and schemes, and she wasn't interested in getting caught up in them, if she could avoid it. However, her curse from the demon often forced her to.

"Stephanie," her mother called, "Your father would like to speak to you." It wasn't a command, but her mother often talked like that, keeping her words pleasant. It was her father who wasn't fussed by such things.

Setting down a bowl she'd been about to put away, she swallowed, a little nervous as she walked over to join them.

"We need your help, Stephanie," her father said, standing up, and starting into the hallway. "Follow me."

Reluctantly, she followed him from the room, unable to do anything else. However, she walked slowly, feeling the curse gradually urge her on, to follow his command.

"Hurry up. They'll be here soon, and we need you to be ready," he said, not bothering to glance back at her.

Biting her lip, she walked faster, until she was right behind him, following him up the stairs. Realising where they were going, as they turned down the hallway towards the guest rooms, she felt her anxiety grow.

The guest room was clean and neatly set out, as she'd left it, and she stopped in the doorway when her father shifted a rug, and pulled up a trap doorway. It was hidden unless you knew it was there, and it led to a small space just under the floorboards.

"Please no, it's so dark and cramped," she begged, her heart hammering in her chest. "I hate it in there."

"It's only for the night, darling." Her mother's voice was soothing, but it did little to calm her nerves.

When she didn't move, her father narrowed his eyes. "Get in there, now, and you stay in there, until we tell you to come out."

Biting her lip, she moved forward, stopping at the trapdoor, and lowering herself into the small space carefully, drawing her knees to her chest.

Her father looked down at her, reaching for the trap door. "Listen and tell us anything they say that's of any importance. You know what we're looking for. And don't make a sound," he commanded. With that, he shut the door, plunging the small space into darkness. She listened to the rug shift back into place, and raised her eye to the small peephole, where she could just make out a tiny bit of light.

Their footsteps faded away as they left the room, and she took a deep breath. The wait would be a long one, she knew, and she couldn't let the dark and the silence get to her. Tightening her arms around her legs, she closed her eyes, hoping she'd be able to sleep to pass the time and escape the claustrophobic feeling.

She must have dozed off eventually, as she was jolted awake at the sound of the door swinging open. Moving her head, she positioned her eye near the hole again, listening carefully.

It was a young couple, she could make out from their voices, and she was sure they were the Heads of an Institute, by the way they talked about it.

They chatted about the London Institute, remarking on the hospitality, and the fact that both of the children seemed to be away. They talked about the Clave as well, and an upcoming meeting.

Then their voices lowered to a whisper, and she strained to hear them.

"We can't let them know about the investigation," the male Shadowhunter said, and he sounded anxious. "Otherwise questions will be raised about the death of that werewolf."

"Don't worry about that now. They think we're just visiting as a stopover… They won't suspect anything," the girl replied, and it sounded as if she was trying to convince both of them.

Listening carefully, her heart sank. She knew exactly what her father would do with the information, as blackmail was a particular talent of his. These were Shadowhunters they didn't even know, and they were about to be put into some difficult situations.

Suddenly, her stomach grumbled loudly, and she pressed a hand to it quickly, realising she hadn't eaten any dinner herself. Holding her breath, she listened for the voices, hoping they would dismiss the sound, if they'd indeed heard it.

There was a long moment of silence, before she heard them continue on, and she let out a breath in relief.

Eventually, the old bed gave a creak, as she heard them sit on the bed. There was another stranger sound and a low moan, and she wondered what it was for a moment, before she realised they must be kissing. Embarrassed to be listening to such an intimate moment, she quickly put her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. It had to be only… nine or so hours until it would be morning and she could get out, she told herself.

Shivering, she rubbed her arms with her hands, trying to adjust her position to a more comfortable one.

She just had to wait it out.

~~ Jagger ~~

Waiting in a dimly lit alley in the Downworld Towns, Jagger turned at every noise he heard, a little nervous to be kept waiting so long. He was used to the unsavoury parts of the Towns, of course, since his gang's base was there, but he didn't want to be caught if someone found out.

Eventually however, he could relax at the familiar sound of two sets of boots hitting the pavement and he turned to watch them.

"Where are they at?" Gunner asked, while the other gang member scanned the streets.

Jagger nodded towards a shady looking hotel at the end of the street. It was one that often turned its gaze away when certain activities happened there, so they didn't have to worry. Jagger wasn't sure whether it was because the gang paid them, or because they didn't care what happened there. Either way, it didn't really matter. "She'll be waiting at the usual hotel, at seven pm. Room fifteen," he said, handing them the second key.

"Thanks, Jagger," Gunner said, pulling some cash out of his pocket and handing it to him. "The usual $250. Then we'll give you the other $250 when we're done."

Jagger merely put the money in his pocket and nodded, preferring not to know the details. The five hundred dollars might have sounded like a lot, but faerie wings fetched a high price at the black-market auctions, and there was always enough to go around. If their gang sold enough wings, then they could be set up for life. It was a little ridiculous really, that people paid so much for them. They were a previous living appendage, which people stuck in their living rooms, or wherever else they felt like, and that struck him as a little gross.

"See you back at the hangout," Gunner said in farewell, giving a slight wave, and a knife glinted at his side, in the dim lighting. They always brought strong weapons that would cut through anything.

He pondered the pure faerie girl for a moment, in thought, as he turned away, tucking his hands in his pockets. After they took the faeries' wings, he never had contact with them again, and for good reason. He tried not to think too much about how they adjusted afterwards, but he'd always thought some faeries seemed stronger than others, and she seemed like one of the weaker ones. Pretty, but weak. It was a shame she had been given such nice wings, when she wasn't strong enough to keep them.

But if there was one thing he'd learnt in the Towns, it was that everything in life was for sale, and if you didn't profit from it, then someone else would.