A/N: When I was thinking about my recent chapters, I realised they've all been from my characters' point of view. I decided to change that in this chapter, and just write about your characters! Just some short pieces on some different characters. Sorry in advance if I've gotten things wrong in any of these…

~~ Blake ~~

The room was silent, save for Lily's slow and even breaths as she slept. Laying facing her, Blake watched her, unable to sleep. Her hair fell across her face, her breaths stirring it slightly. He couldn't deny that he was fascinated by her features. They were so un-fae like, softer without the usual sharp angles and perfect, elegant features of the faeries. Exotic perhaps, or at least to him, and he had never found himself so enticed. Sometimes, it seemed like she was a mysterious puzzle that he may never solve. While he hated it when she teased him, there was a part of him that would never admit that he enjoyed it too. He enjoyed the banter and how she would give back as good as she was given. They tangled and jibed and sometimes his breath grew short as he tried to keep up with her as she was so good at distracting him.

He felt out of place everywhere, and the Institute was no different. But there was Lily, and she had somehow ensnared his thoughts, making him a little more reckless. Part of him longed for an acceptance that he'd never had. Not with his family, or with the Unseelie. Part of him recoiled as well, unused to being close to anyone. It felt wrong letting himself be vulnerable in front of someone else – to even sleep beside them. It took an effort to open up about anything, especially himself. With Lily however, it was possible, and there was a relief to the thought that someone else might understand him. She somehow drew the words out of him, even if they were not nice or pleasant. But they were there, instead of skirted around like how faeries usually liked to speak.

Blake didn't dare move much, not wanting to wake her. The only time she looked peaceful was when she slept, a glint and a careful playfulness to her eyes usually present when she was awake. She reminded him of an angel sometimes in looks, with the cunning of a demon. It somehow drew him to her. Unable to help it, he moved his head a little closer to hers; close enough that their breaths mingled, his arm still curved around her. She was like his anchor to the mortal world. Without her, he would have nowhere to go, for the Unseelie would not want him back, and the mortal world was a confusing mess of technology and mundanes and sayings that he didn't understand. He did not know how he would go navigating it alone.

Tracing her features one last time, as if to make the most of the rare opportunity, he then closed his eyes. The bed felt strange, staying firm under his frame. But it was becoming more familiar, and the feel of Lily in his arms was reassuring in the midst of the unknown.

~~ Luca ~~

Sometimes, there were voices in Luca's head at night. They were from demons or spirits, or a mixture of both. They called out to him, or to someone else, and he tried hard to drown them out, but they haunted him, even when he drew the pillow over his ears.

"Death to mortals."

"Save her, you have to save her-…"

"Why can't I go home?"

"I shouldn't be here. I can't have-…"

His canines bit his lower lip a little too hard, drawing blood, and he sat up, opening his eyes. "Be quiet!" he commanded sharply, aloud, and finally, the voices ceased as he pushed them from his mind. The silence was suddenly deafening, and he exhaled in relief, wiping the blood away on his hand. Sometimes those he hosted overstayed their welcome, wisps of their remains left in his mind. He tried hard to ignore them, for they had no real control over him, and he would never let them. It was worse when he was tired, or he'd had a long day. He let his guard down a little, and they would feast on it, revelling in his attention.

Standing up, his fingers grazed the strange mark on his jaw, under his ear, feeling almost bare without his mask. Then, he picked up the jade cigarette holder from beside his bed, and a lighter. His apartment in the Towns had a balcony connected to his bedroom, and he slid the door open, walking out into the night. Moving to lean against the railing, he gazed out, raising the cigarette holder to his lips and using the lighter before he inhaled, a little calmer by the familiar motions.

Watching the lights of the Towns, he gave a slight laugh. What was power without a little risk? He had been given a useful gift, and he would certainly make the most of it, regardless of the mildly annoying side effects. Those he could handle without complaint.

~~ Ethos ~~

After meeting Kellan, Ethos still felt like his motions were a little frozen with shock. While some of the other Seelie sat near the faeries playing instruments to listen – Zen was undoubtedly there with them – Ethos kept to the outskirts, feeling the need to sit down. Sitting on a fallen tree log carefully, so as to not ruin his cloak, he stared out into the distance. He still couldn't quite believe it.

If Kellan had been removed from him before, he was now even more so. The Queen's blood ran through his veins, and he was on a level so high, that Ethos felt he could not even glance up at him without breaking the rules. Faeries with such blood as his did not associate with the likes of him. It was taboo, and Ethos should have not been his guide in the first place. He felt almost ashamed for how casually he had acted. Would the Queen be unhappy with how Ethos had addressed him? Would Kellan one day look down on him? There were too many questions, and for once he did not have the answers, and he could not remain as calm and serene as usual. He felt foolish to have not guessed at Kellan's importance earlier, especially when the Queen had spent so much time in Kellan's company. Had he conveniently ignored this thought?

He could still picture Kellan's clear disappointment. Ethos had not been able to look past things, like Kellan had wanted. But how could he, when it was how he had acted his entire existence? The rules were engrained in his nature and his blood, like a stamp that would not rub off. Still, he felt guilty, finding the thought that he couldn't please him unpleasant.

He was not entirely sure why he felt so disappointed himself. Why did it matter so much that Kellan be similar to him? There was an uncomfortable pressure in his chest that he couldn't quite name. Deciding it was best if he went back to his duties before someone questioned where he was, he stood up slowly, straightening. Fiddling with his rings for a moment, he then ran a hand through his hair, before starting over to the camping areas.

No matter the turmoil in his mind, he refused to appear anything but unruffled.

~~ Connor ~~

Connor had taken a Portal to get to the entrance of the Scholomance. It was an impressive and imposing looking place – a castle with towers and corridors carved into the side of a mountain. He had been there a few times previously, so he did not pay the appearance much attention this time, as he strode through the entrance and inside. Making his way to the front desk, he ignored the slight sense of déjà vu. His application would go better than last time – it had to.

The Shadowhunter women sitting at the desk looked up as he approached, a flash of recognition in her eyes. "Have you been here before?" she asked.

"Yes, but I'm here to submit a new application," Connor replied quickly, holding out the written application he'd prepared. He'd started it from scratch, as if the old one had been unlucky.

Reaching out and accepting it, she gave a nod, flicking through the pages. "The next Centurion intake trials begin in a month," she replied, briskly. "You will be notified about when they will want to see you."

"Thank you," Connor replied, swallowing, before he turned away, starting back to the doors. He was already an embarrassment to his family, having failed once, and he couldn't fail again. Not if he didn't want to be a joke; a failed Shadowhunter. Shadowhunting was always something that he had been alright at. It had been a stupid reason that he'd failed the entry the first time, in his opinion, but he had to keep it together if he wanted to change that. If he got into the Scholomance, then at least his parents would get off his back, and he might actually achieve something. Those thoughts were enough to make him act, despite his indifference at the thought of attending.

He did not want to be the Shadowhunter that everyone pitied, and treated as if he might break at any moment. This was the only way he knew how to change that.