A/N: Here's a chapter I wrote today. One part is in the past, two are in the present. :)

~~ Steff ~~

Sitting at a table at the back of a tavern in the Towns, Steff sipped on her drink, before setting it down again. She had come to observe and look for any other potential Downworlders to talk to for her writing, but she found herself distracted. After talking to Luca, she had spent some time looking through books at the Institute on Kasha demons, curious enough to learn more about them. She'd read through her notes from their conversation many times as well, attempting multiple times to write it up in a way that did justice to the story. Nothing quite seemed good enough, though.

Caught up in her thoughts, she absentmindedly sketched a drawing with her pencil, on the corner of her page. She couldn't imagine being raised by a demon. He had claimed that he was never treated poorly, however. Often, he made her question things that had seemed so black and white before. She certainly hadn't had many pleasant experiences with demons, and she had only known them to be malicious, expect for perhaps Aaron. Some of Luca's mannerisms and remarks made sense now, for he would have had a very different upbringing. Of course, she had not been shown much gentleness or compassion, but she'd had her books to teach her such things. Luca, she realised, would not have had such opportunities.

Kasha demons seemed to be very rare, mostly only appearing in Japan. Mundanes seemed to have their own superstitions and stories around them – that they were once ordinary house cats. Such fears gave rise to superstitious traditions such as cutting a cat's tail short in order to prevent it from learning magic, which was a strange thought.

"Refill?" A voice asked, drawing her from her thoughts. It was the ifrit who worked there, and he nodded towards her drink. She considered, before shaking her head.

"Oh… No thank you," she answered, a little embarrassed to be caught out like that. Dressed in some casual clothes and her cloak, with her Runes and weapons hidden, Steff hoped that she was inconspicuous enough. With any luck, they might have thought she was a mundane with the Sight, a Warlock with her Mark hidden, or something else of the like.

As the ifrit continued on to the next table, she sighed, knowing that the night wouldn't be a very productive one, lost in her thoughts as she was. She still hadn't managed to find any other Downworlder to interview, as yet. Glancing around the tavern briefly, she then looked down at the rough sketch her hand had been drawing, inhaling in surprise.

It was of a fox mask – the one that Luca often wore, which after some research, she had found out was referred to as a kitsune mask.

She certainly was more distracted than she should have been.

~~ Savannah ~~

Savannah had made many mistakes in the past, but she had always learnt from them.

One such time was many years ago, when she had been trying to glean information from a half-faerie involved in a notorious gang in the Downworld Towns. She'd spent weeks trying to get on his good side, and flirting with him, although she'd always put a stop to things before they could get too far. She liked to tease, rather than give everything at once. It made them grow closer to her, and be more willing to share when the time did come. He was not bad to look at, with his faerie blood softening his features, and his hair a pale blonde which curled over his forehead.

The gang had been angering a number of other species in the Towns, as they had been stealing land and harming Downworlders who got in their way. They thought they could take over and make the rules, and that was certainly not going to happen. While her contact was one of the more lowly foot soldiers, she hoped to learn the identities of the ones in charge, and what their future plans might be. He seemed gullible enough, and charmed by her looks and exoticness.

She'd agreed to go to a hotel room with him that night, deciding she probably would sleep with him this time, and see what she could glean. The mistake she'd made was letting him book and organise the room. Walking with him up the steps to the top level, she glanced back at him with a slightly seductive smile, and he returned her smile, although a little more nervously. She'd made sure to bring protection – she didn't trust guys enough with that kind of thing. After considering, she had dismissed his nervousness, at the fact that he was going to sleep with a Shadowhunter. Many were both intimidated and excited by such a prospect. She liked that she was just a little taller than him, and the steps gave her added height as she walked ahead of him.

Once she reached the room number that he'd told her, he passed her the keys, and she opened the lock, finding the room was dark when she pushed the door open, tucking the keys back in her pocket. Reaching to flick the lights on, she only had seconds to react once her eyes adjusted. There were two others in the room, and she instantly grew on edge, having a bad feeling about it. Reacting on instinct, she slammed the door back on the half-fae she'd come with, hearing him grunt in pain when it connected with him. The other two came for her, and she guessed one was an ifrit, by his long, forked tongue, and the other, another half-fae. The half-fae had a dagger in his hand, and he thrust it towards her. She dodged out of the way, the dagger digging into the wood of the door. Moving further into the room to give herself more space, she drew her seraph blade, naming it and watching as it lit up quickly, as if eager to taste some blood. She narrowed her eyes, watching the ifrit advance towards her. She could see a hint of fear in his eyes, as his tongue darted out of his mouth to taste the air. He gripped a knife in his hand, and she laughed as he came at her. Did these untrained Downworlders really believe they could beat her? The very thought was ridiculous.

Her seraph blade countered the knife with ease, and she cut his arm, causing him to cry out in pain and drop it. Clutching his arm where there was a deep gash, he backed away from her. The second half-fae had managed to pull his dagger out of the door, and he threw it at her when she drew closer. It only managed to just graze her arm, when her blade moved to deflect it. Darting forward, she cut his leg. "You bitch," he cried out, falling to the ground. The faerie she'd come with – Dan – forced the door open, trying to run, and she pulled out a throwing dagger, hurling it towards him. It caught on the fabric of his shirt, pinning him to the door. As he desperately pulled it away, she moved forward and grabbed his shirt, holding a blade to his throat for a long moment, before pulling him away from the doorway. He was a coward, not moving towards her again.

"You can't run away from me that easily," she said in a low tone, a glint of anger in her eyes. Pointing her blade towards them, she nodded towards the other side of the room. "Get away from the door. I won't ask you again."

The two still standing scampered back, and she smiled, taking the time to let her gaze flick around the room. It paused on the bed, looking at the assortment of things there. They had rope to tie her up, as well as duct tape and some other… toys for them to use. She had no doubt that they all would have had a turn with her. Walking over to the long string of rope, she cut it so that it could be used for multiple people.

"Get on the ground," she commanded, watching as they followed her words reluctantly, joining the faerie already there. Walking over to them slowly, she worked on tying each of their hands, giving any who resisted another cut or kick, before checking them for weapons. It wouldn't be any fun if they got free too quickly. "How about I leave you for the housekeeping to find?" she remarked in amusement, watching fear flicker in their expressions. Cutting off some duct tape, she put it over their mouths. However, she paused at Dan before she put it on, giving him a less than reassuring smile. Bending down to his level, she leaned forward and kissed him roughly, pulling his phone out of his pocket as she did so. He made a sound in surprise, not resisting. Drawing it out, she then bit down on his lip painfully, enough to cut through skin, draw blood and make him cry out. He struggled, and she only let go when she was ready, drawing back. "Savannah, I'm sorry," he gasped, "They made me-…"

"Oh, shut up," she said, putting the duct tape over his mouth, and she could taste his blood in her own. "You had a choice, and you chose incorrectly." She tucked his phone into his pocket, knowing she could get some names and information from it.

Walking back over to the bed, she looked over the items there. She bet they would have got off on it. Picking up a bottle of alcohol from the table nearby, she opened the lid, before walking back to them. Pouring the contents over them, she watched as they flinched when they liquid touched them. "Was this expensive? I'd hope not."

Pulling the duct tape off the other half-fae, she forced his mouth open with her other hand, before pouring some of the alcohol down his throat. He spluttered, unable to swallow it quickly enough, and she let him choke on it for a long moment, before she eventually tossed the bottle aside, putting the duct tape back over his mouth.

She was tempted to do more, but she decided not to waste more time on them. Her expression was icy as she studied them. "Next time you decide to tie a girl up and have some fun with her, I'll kill you. Do you understand me?"

When they made no sound, she leaned down, towards the ifrit. "I said, do you understand me?"

Quickly, they nodded, all straining to make a sound. How pathetic, she thought to herself, straightening. Glancing at them one last time, she scanned their injuries, before heading to the door. The injuries wouldn't kill them, if they were found in the morning, but they would damn well hurt. Plus they'd leave a scar, with any luck.

Slipping outside, she closed the door behind her, fishing the keys out of her pocket and leaving them on the ground.

After that, she knew to always book the hotel rooms herself.

~~ Kellan, Grace and Zach ~~

"But… I remember."

Those were the words that had changed everything. Laying together in the bed like old times, Kellan glanced over at his siblings. They'd spent hours talking and catching up, and he felt more conflicted than ever. He was doing his best to be the 'old' Kellan, the one they knew. The Hunt Kellan was different and more hesitant. But he thought they deserved to talk to their brother. Grace had grown up so much and was fearless and reckless and beautiful. Zach was more reserved, and Kellan doubted that he had quite processed everything, just yet. He'd always had more trouble letting his emotions show.

The tears had dried up, and they simply delighted in each other's company, catching up on lost time. Zach was engaged, and Kellan had asked about the girl and what she was like. He couldn't be happier for his brother, glad that he had found someone. Grace, however, worried him. She had certainly not moved on, and she'd dedicated all of her time trying to get him back.

"What is the Seelie Court like?" Grace asked eagerly, drawing him from his thoughts. Her eyes were alight and inquisitive, and he couldn't help but smile.

"It is beautiful, unlike anything you could ever imagine," Kellan remarked, after pausing for a moment to think. "I wish you could see it. I've seen fields and caves and valleys and the most delightful flowers and creatures." He hadn't noticed, but his smile had turned a little wistful as he talked. "They value manners, nature and music, although their hierarchy can be a bit stifling and I don't fully understand it, yet."

"It sounds really nice," Grace said, tucking some hair behind her ear as she watched him. "And the Hunt? How is it there?" she asked, a bit more reluctantly, he sensed.

Kellan wasn't sure how to best describe it. "It's rougher and more honest. It's a funny mix of faeries from different places, and I am a bit of an oddity. But Gwyn is good to us, and he made me a supervisor. They have become a kind of family, I suppose."

Grace leaned forward, a hint of mischievousness in her gaze. "And? Have you met anyone special?"

Kellan couldn't help but blush, averting his gaze as his thoughts went to Ethos.

"You have," she said, grinning, and Zach looked happy as well. "What's their name?"

Zach nodded. "Tell us about them," he added, looking like he was listening intently.

"I have found what it means to love someone, I think," Kellan said finally, swallowing. "It is forbidden, for he is a Seelie. His name is Ethos, and he is kind and wise and gentle. I only wish that you could meet him, although I know that is impossible. In any case, I don't know if he feels the same way about me."

"But can't someone from the Seelie join the Hunt?" Grace pressed, eagerly.

"It's not that simple," Kellan replied, shaking his head, finding they did not quite understand the complexities. "He is loyal to the Seelie, and he would not want to leave. He wouldn't exactly fit in at the Hunt, either. And besides… like I said, I do not know if he even likes me in that way." While Ethos had kissed him, Kellan did not yet know what it meant, and he had not admitted to the same feelings that Kellan had expressed.

"I don't know how anyone couldn't like you," Zach said, adjusting to get a little more comfortable. "I don't doubt that he would enjoy your company."

"I wish we could meet him," Grace sighed, sounding disappointed. "Maybe he will come to the Downworld Towns sometime?"

"Maybe," was all Kellan replied, although he doubted it. He decided to change the subject, hoping to cool the blush remaining on his cheeks. Looking over at Zach, he rested a hand over Zach's old parabatai Rune, where he knew the red Rune now was. "I don't want you to feel any guilt over my death," he said, his tone turning serious. "I was glad to be able to give my life for yours, so that you may live on."

Zach bit his lip, looking ashamed. "I shouldn't have let it happen. You're my parabatai, brother, and best friend. I should have done better."

"It's not your fault. I don't hold any ill feelings towards you," Kellan replied, feeling his words were a little too faerie-like, although he hoped that Zach would understand them, all the same. "I sense that you've been holding onto it, and I don't want that for you. Especially not when you're getting married soon."

Zach swallowed, holding his hand over his face for a moment as he tried to get in emotions in check. Kellan squeezed his arm for a moment, reassuringly, before drawing his hand back.

It was hard, but he knew that Zach had to deal with it on his own, if he was to move on. Kellan knew that he couldn't always be there for him. "I have missed you both I think, without realising," he remarked. "Subconsciously, maybe."

"We've missed you too. So, so much." Grace hugged him, as best as she could while laying down, sounding a little nervous. "Promise you won't leave us again."

Kellan did not speak, knowing that he couldn't make them a promise that he wouldn't be able to keep. "I care about you both, but that is all I can promise for now," he said, brushing a hand against her arm, lightly. "Please don't forget that."

Grace seemed to accept that for now, although he didn't doubt it was because she thought she could fix everything. He knew she would have a hard time accepting otherwise.

"All I can say is that I want to catch up with you both. I can give you whatever time I have left here," he said softly, glancing between them both. Drawing the conversation back to more normal things, before anything else could be said, he couldn't help a feeling of nostalgia. There was such a sense of familiarity, that it almost hurt.

They talked for long into the morning, until Grace fell asleep, Zach following soon afterwards. Kellan then stared at the ceiling for a long time, listening to them both breathing beside him. He did not know what would happen, but he did not want them harmed. He only hoped that he would be able to convince the Hunt that.

Old memories and fond feelings were hard to ignore, and he could not help but be lulled into a peaceful sleep. Hoping, at least, that he would be able to deal with things later.