Chapter 10: Knowledge and new friends
Hours later the group of Parabatai returned to the institute, their heads hanging low. Izzy was running up to them as they walked in but draw up short as she sees them. Running up next to her came Xander and Ruthie. Seeing their face they all went ghost white.
“What happened?” Ruthie asked?
“We failed…” Angelique sighs. Jace and Mekyle punch the wall they were each standing next to. This made Clary jump a little. Alec walked over and placed his hand on Jace’s shoulder.
“Hurting yourself is not going to do us any good. We need to find the Prince of hell and send him back,” Alec says.
“Or kill him!” Simon snaps
“We will make this right. We are Shadowhunters,” Izzy says, offering them all a warm smile.
“Plus we got a leg up on Sinara now,” Ruthie says with a bright smile.
Jace worlds around and glares at her. This makes Ruthie cringe back, losing her smiles. “A leg up! A leg up! How the hell is letting a prince of hell free into our world a Damn leg up newbie!”
Xander steps in front of Ruthie and right into Jace’s face. “I respect that you're our institute head and I know you could most likely kill me six ways from Sunday but I won’t let any member of my squad be talked to like that!”
Jace’s face goes red and he balls up his fist and starts to swing at the young Shadowhunter when faster than anyone could blink Alec has grabbed Jace by the arms and was halling him back. Jace was fighting Alec the whole way. Xander however did not move from in front of his teammate.
Clary quickly got into Jace’s face and glared at him. “Jace knock it off. They were not there they don’t know what happened plus let’s see what this leg up Ruthie is talking about really is.”
Jace goes limp in Alec’s arms, his face Softening. Clary turns and looks at Xander and Ruthie. “Ok guys, what is this leg up you are talking about?”
Ruthie gives out a little squeak and steps out from behind Xander. “Is he going to yell at me again?”
“No honey it’s ok now,” Clary says with a soft voice.
“We have one of the gatekeeper here.” Ruthie slowly replied.
“What?” Simon spoke up and moved in front of Jace, Alec, and Clary.
“We made a trip to the Shadow Market and Learned. That an old friend of mine is one of the gatekeepers.” Izzy explained.
“You know a really old Shadowhunter?” Mekyle asks, raising an eyebrow.
“No, she is a downworlder.” She replays
“Huh,” the group of Parabatai all looked very dumbfounded.
Izzy leads them to the infirmary with Xander and Ruthie at each side of her. Cassandra was laying in one of the beds, her right arm was wrapped in bandages. She slowly set up her eyes flicking yellow like a dog.
“Guys this is Cassandra Willows she is a warlock,” Izzy says and points to Cass.
“Sup guys great place you got here,” Cass says with a cheerful voice. Ruthie walks over and looks at the bandages and shakes her head and starts unwrapping the bandages and points to Xander then to the cabinet that has the clean new bandages. “Sorry, Doc the wound started itching.”
“You're healing fast and all but I want you to keep this clean and wrapped,” Ruthie orders her as Xander hands her the new bandages. Ruthie starts wrapping Cass’s arm again.
“Push little thing ant she?” Cass says with a giggle.
“You have no idea.” Xander, Mekyle and Angelique say in unison.
Alec walks over to Cass and puts his hand out. “Hello, Cassandra, I am Alec Bane-Lightwood, Console of the Clave.” Cass blinked and shocked his hand with a look of duda I know who you are. “We understand you are one of the Gatekeepers. What gate do you look over and where is it?”
This made Cass go white and her eyes darted around the room mental mapping a way out of the room. Right as she was about to throw the blanket off and head for the exit. Xander lad a hand on her shoulder and smiles at her.
“Trust us Cass, we want to keep all the Gates safe.” He says and ameetly Cass softens and looks back at Alec.
“I guard over the gate of Gluttony.” Cass answers but was cut off by Simon before she could finish
“The Gate of what?” Simon asks
“The Gate of Gluttony you know like the sin,” Cass states coldly looking at Simon. “You do know what the 9 circles of hell are, don’t you?” Everyone turns to Simon and he just stands there looking confused.
“You mean like the Anime?” He asks.
“No you nerd the Book!” Jace snaps.
“It’s the same thing,” Simon mutters.
“The gate here in New York is Limbo. Seeing as New York was the place where other countries came to the U.S. Hersheypark of Pennsylvania sits the Gate of Gluttony.” Cass says, laying one of her hands on top of Xander’s.
“Why there?” Angelique asks
“Most sites of the gates have some ties to what gate is belt there. Gluttony is simple with a theme park.” Cass answers, trying to sit up on the side of the bad. Xander held his hand out to her and she smiled and blushed, taking his hand. “I will take you to the gate. If this Sinara wants to open my gate she has got one hell of a fight on her hands.”
“We can’t all go,” Alec says
“And why not?” Izzy asks.
“We need to keep A group of Shadowhunters here so that New York stays safe” Alec explains
“He is right, we can’t leave New York unprotected,” Clary adds.
As the group tried to decide who was going and who was staying. A ring from the Institute doorbell came. Jace, Alec, Clary, and Angelique break away to go answer the door. Standing at the door when Jace opened it was Bat the local werewolf clans secant in command. Alec gave him a very odd look. “Bat what are you doing here?”
“Is Maia here?” He barks out.
“Huh?” Jace says
“Are all you Shadowhunter stuped or death? Where is Maia” Bat snaps out his eyes glowing yellow.
“Stand down Lykin. Don’t make me put you down!” Jace yells out moving into Bat’s personal space.
“Like to see you try. No one to stop me this time blondy.” Bat growls low in his through.
Before Alec could move in between the two men Angelique was already there pushing them apart. In a very Com and even voice, she speaks to them “ok guys this is not the time and remember we are at peace here. Bat, Maia is not here, she has not been here. Jace, he is only worried about this alpha.”
Bat looks down at the small hand that was on his chest pushing him away from Jace and he starts to chuckle. “Your one brave little girl.”
“She is right though. Bat you have not heard from Maia?” Alec asks.
Bat steps away and ruffles Angelique’s hair. “No she was sent to meet with you and the other members of the Alliance and she never came back.”
“That was weeks ago,” Alec says in shock and a tinge of panic in his voice.
“I know after a few days I thought it was odd but it’s Maia and she does as she wants. After all, she is the Alpha. But after a week it’s not normal.” Bat explains.
“We need to look into this.” Angelique states.
“Ok, I want you to put together a team and look into this Angelique.” Alec orders.
“Me?!?!?” Angelique shouts.
“Yes you, I need to stay here and deal with clave business and the rest will be going with Cass,” Alec says.
“Xander should lead then,” Angelique says.
“There is no way he is not going to go with Cass,” Clay says.
“Oh, you got that too.” Jace chimes in clary smiles and nods.
“This is your mission Angelique as order by your Console.” Alec orders again. This time Angelique just nods. Bat looks at Alec and Angelique. “Bat return to the pack and Angelique will come to you with her team,” Alec adds.
“Ok see you soon Shadowhunter,” Bat says and bonds down the steers.
All the Shadowhunters and Magnus, who had portaled to the institute a few minutes ago now sit around a huge round table in the war room. Alec leads the meeting deciding who is going on what mission and agreeing with the Shadowhunters Angelique picked to take on hers.
Angelique chose Mekyle and Ruthie for her mission Simon and Izzy were picked by Alec to back them up. This leaves Jace, Clary, Xander, and Cass going to the gate.
“We have one more idam we need to deal with,” Alec announces.
“We do?” Simon asks puzzled.
“Yes the names of are Young Shadowhunters,”
“Oh yes, the last name ceremony.” Magnus snickers. Alec shouts him a living eye roll.
“Anyway Xander, Angelique and Mekyle have you chosen your Shadowhunter name?”
Xander stands up. “I have out of respect and honor for my Headmaster and her amazing Daughter. I like to become a Fairchild.” He looks over at Clary and she gives him a small nod.
Alec smiles seeing this. “So be it, welcome Xander Fairchild.” Xander smiles and sits back down. “Angelique, Mekyle, have you?”
“Yes I would like Waterheart.” Angelique says standing up. Mekyle jumps up next to her.
“This was not an easy choice for me but if you would allow. I like to be Mekyle WolfScar.”
Alec gives them a soft smile. “Welcome Angelique WaterHeart and Mekyle WolfScar.”
With the teams assigned they split up and head off to get what gear that they would need and even a little sleep if they could before heading off. This gave the couples some time to be alone leaving the Newbies and Cass to find something to pass their time with if they don’t want to sleep.
Angelique and Ruthie decided they would sleep in the same room for the night so they could talk about the mission and some boys they liked back at the academy. Mekyle was not going to sleep at all so he headed up to the Training Room to punch the bag a little and work on his dagger throws. This left Xander alone with Cass.
Xander leads Cass to the common room where the TV was playing Ghosthunters on the Discovery channel. “I know now that I am a Shadowhunter. I have been rewatching them and the Taps crow came really close a few times to finding a real ghost. I wonder if one of them is related to the Herondales?” Xander says.
“I am a bit shocked to see a TV at all in an Institute,” Cass replies.
“Ya most are still old-fashioned but Clary and Simon need their Anime, is what i got told,” Xander explained.
“Oh man, I love me some Death Note.” Cass giggled.
“You have the cutest laugh, Hold on did you say you like Death Note,” Xander says looking a little flushed. Cass just smiles and winks at him as Xander turns a bright red.