Calling All Shadowhunters (TMI Roleplay)

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgentstern

Lucy tripped over something and sprawled forward, landing awkwardly on her stomach. She groaned and pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Great start Lucy." She muttered to herself and got to her feet. She turned to see what she had tripped over and shuddered when she saw it was a crumbled gravestone.

She pulled out the map and consulted it. Locally it was the middle of the night, but back in New York it was just after noon so she wondered if it would be better to try and sleep until morning or not. Eventually she decided not, wanting to get started as soon as possible.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

Lucy collapsed face down onto a grungy bed in an even grungier Italian motel. After a day of fruitless searching she had given up and found a cheap place to spend the night. She grimaced at the mildewy smell emanating from the sheets and turned onto her back.

Pulling our her phone and turning it on she wondered why she had even brought it. She supposed it was more of a security thing than anything else. This way if something happened she could call someone and tell them what had happened to her, though she wondered if she should have bothered. Ben had called five times and left a dozen text messages, as had Heather, London, and even Sara. She sighed and was about to put it down when it vibrated in her hand. It was Ben.

After debating for a moment she answered it, "hey." She said, biting her lip. There was silence on the other end and she wondered if he had hung up, but she heard breathing so she knew that wasn't the case. "Hey? You disappear, leaving only a note and all you have to say is hey?" He demanded, sounding more upset than angry.

She didn't answer and he finally took a deep breath before asking, "where are you?" She licked her lips, deciding she wouldn't get more specific than the country. "Italy." He made a choked noise "You're in Italy?!" She made an Mhmmm-hmm noise and pressed her lips together.

"Lucy why are you doing this?" Ben pleaded and her heart broke a little, "I'm so sorry, I never meant to put you through this." She whispered. "Then why leave at all? Or better yet why didn't you take me with you?" He fired at her, and she knew he must be bewildered.

Lucy clenched her free hand into a fist, "we need my parents to help us and I didn't bring you with me because I want you safe!" "Did you ever stop to think that I want the same of you!" She hadn't realized they were yelling until the sudden silence seemed to press into her.

"Where are you in Italy?" He finally asked, breaking the silence. She closed her eyes, "I'm not going to tell you Ben because you'll only follow me and wind up getting yourself killed." She said, feeling slightly defeated. "You're damn right I'm going to follow you Lucy! And just because I'm not a shadowhunter doesn't mean I'm some fragile mundane." He said coolly.

"I know that." She said softly. "Do you?" He replied, just as softly. She flinched a little and changed the subject, "how's Heather?" She heard him sigh before answering, "she's falling apart. One minute she seems fine then the next she's fighting back tears and shutting her self up in her room."

Lucy frowned, that didn't seem like Heather. "And right before you left she had this weird scent on her, it seemed familiar but I couldn't place it." Her frown deepened until something clicked into place. "Ben how did she react after you told her I left?" He seemed to think about it for a moment, "well she seemed like she was in denial. Why?"

She swore, that was definitely not like Heather. "I think she's been talking to Jason." He made a sound in the back of his throat which was barely picked up by the phone's mic.

"How do you know?" He asked and she shook her head before remembering he couldn't see her. "The Heather I know would throw a chair, or at least be mildly pissed at me. Jason is the only person I know who can mess with her head that much. And you said she had a weird scent on her. Is it possible that scent was Jason's? I know this is all a big leap and by the Angel I pray I am wrong but.... What if I'm right?"

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"You made it."

I didn't uncross my arms, but remained where I was, leaning against the side of one of the buildings that sheltered the dingy alleyway. The screeching of cats and the slap of footsteps against the pavement echoed down into the dark crevice where I stood - the only light hanging by a grotty steel extension, flickering uncertainly like the last wisps of a flame.

"I'm surprised," Jason admitted as he came over, the black hood of his jacket thrown over his head, obscuring his tangled locks. A healing rune gleamed at his collarbone, and two on the skin of his knuckles. "I thought you wouldn't show."

"I'm here aren't I?" My expression was cool. I'd made it that way, hoping to make it clear that even though I had agreed to meet with him - sneaking out of the Institute through my bedroom window - I was in no way insinuating that there was anything going on between us. It was hard enough being around him as it was.

"You are." Green eyes travelled the length of me, from my black tank dress down to my tights and combat boots.

"Finished ogling?" I snapped at him, shooting him an iron hot glare.
"Not really." A ghost of a smile flickered across his mouth.

If glares could kill, buddy... I sighed and waved a hand, feigning boredom. "Well, if we're finished-"

"No, wait, Heather - please." Jason turned serious. A hand shot out to touch my shoulder, but pulled back at the last minute - probably because he'd seen my own hand reaching for my knife. "Be reasonable."
"You're the one not being reasonable," I shot back. Real mature, Heath.

Jason's eyes narrowed and he took another step towards me. I took one back; realising as I did that he had me trapped against the side of the building. There was nowhere to go except through him.

"I am being reasonable," he murmured, leaning a hand against the brickwork beside my shoulder. "I want nothing more than to stare at you, breath you in." I bit down hard on my lip. Control, Heather. "I want to be unreasonable, Heath. I want so, so badly to kiss that sexy frown off your face." Jason's brow furrowed, mouth twisting as if he was in pain. "But I'm being reasonable. I'm asking you to listen to me and nothing else."

I swallowed hard and said, "Well. You'd better start talking."
"Alright then." He removed his hand, moving back - giving me room to breath. I pushed myself off the wall and tossed my head. His lips twitched in amusement at the gesture. "We'll go over the plan on the way over to my father's," he said. "But remember - most of it you'll have to come up with on your own."

"Why?" I asked.
"Because." He gave an uncomfortable shrug. "If worse comes to worse, my father has control over me. I don't want to betray you..." He trailed off - but I knew what he wasn't saying.

Again. Betray you again.

[Melissa]

Ben

Ben hung up after talking to Lucy for almost an hour, she had sounded exhausted when she said goodnight. He hated that she was under so much stress but he also hated that she had left in the first place. He could've helped her, watched her back and made sure she didn't get in over her head.

It was too late for that now though and he wanted to find Heather to make sure Lucy was wrong. Because if she was right and Heather was meeting with Jason he wasn't sure what that would mean.

Ben went to Heather's room and knocked softly. There was no answer so he knocked again, louder this time. Again there was no answer to he opened the door. "Heather?" He called. A breeze drifted through the room from the open window and Ben stiffened, she's not here. he thought and went to the open window.

He looked around and hopped through the window, landing on the edge of the roof. I can smell which way she went. He thought as he walked along the edge of the roof. He followed the scent, knowing he had to find Heather before she did something that couldn't be undone.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Did you know that in the Shetland and Orkney islands, trolls are called trows?"

Heather blew out an exasperated breath. "No. But now I do know...another piece of useless information that will fail to help me in life," she added under her breath, tugging her jacket closer around her.

Jason continued on. "Did you know that there was this warlock in Wales that had nine lives - for real? His warlock mark was a pair of silvery whiskers."
"Fascinating."
"And five years ago, this group of werewolves went on a California road trip-"

"Jason." Heather stopped walking; turning to face him. "What does any of this have to do with us heading towards an extremely dangerous situation?"

Jason shrugged. "I thought it would lighten the mood."
"I didn't ask to play Downworlder Trivial Pursuit!" Heather shot at him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Okay, okay." He grimaced. "Someone's grumpy."
"Do you want me to stab you in the unmentionables?"

Jason's eyebrows shot up into his hair. "Ah...no."

"Then for the love of demon babies everywhere, shut. Up."

[Claire]

London Wayland

I hesitate at Woolsey's door, then knock. There's a faint shuffling then the door swings open.
"London. My my, I never expected to see you here" Woolsey stared at me.
"I need to talk" I said simply.

He nodded and then gestured me inside, closing the door behind us.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Welcome, Miss Lovelace. Again."

Grey eyes twinkled in merriment as Jason's parabati executed a short bow in my direction. He'd answered the mansion door wearing loose fitting black pants and a black dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his hair damp and curling slightly at the nape of his neck. He gave a genuine smile when he saw Jason standing behind me.

"Is my father here, Lucas?" Jason asked, walking through the door. I followed slowly, still trying to suppress the feeling that said, Run while you can. That, and the memory of the Bible story about the lion's den.

I was greeted with the same cool marble interior I'd seen around the rest of the mansion. I hadn't had the privilege before to get a proper look at the entrance hall - with its dramatic, sweeping staircase, chandelier and marble statues of angels that lined the walls, it was far creepier than a mausoleum.

"No." Lucas closed the door behind us and fell into step beside me as we followed Jason into a large room off the entrance hall. It's walls were a deep crimson, the wallpaper showcasing delicate gold edging - matching the gold finishings on the furniture. "He's left on business, but should be back before dinner."

Jason threw himself into a leather armchair, propping his long legs up on an ottoman. "Thank the Angel," he replied, blowing out a harsh breath and letting his head loll back, closing his eyes.

I stood uncertainly in the middle of the room, my hands flying up to fiddle with a loose strand of hair that had escaped its braid. One of Jason's eyelids cracked open to regard me intensely - far too intensely than what made me comfortable. "Heather, stop that. Sit."

I shot him a glare. "I'm not a dog."
"You don't say," was his lazy response. He waved a hand towards the empty couch across from him."Sit."
"No."
His mouth curled up at the corners. "Couch not good enough, eh? You could always sit on my lap...!"

I shook my head in exasperation.

Lucas regarded us with an amused air. "This is all very entertaining, Jason, but why have you brought Miss Lovelace here?" His grey eyes were flat and serious as he sat in an armchair beside Jason. "It is not safe for her."

"I know." Jason's eyes met mine. I broke contact first, shifting my gaze to the marble fireplace - devoid of any fire, lying cold and empty at the far wall of the room. "There was no other way."

"Are you alright with this?" Lucas asked me, brow furrowing in concern.

I bit my lip. "There's no other way," I said in reply, borrowing Jason's own words. That was the truth of the matter. It wasn't pretty, but it was the truth - maybe not all of it, but still.

[Claire]

London Wayland

I follow Woolsey into his parlour and he gestures for me to take a seat next to the fire, then sits across from me.

"So what brings you here my dear?" Woolsey asks.

I sigh "I was hoping you may have information about a shadowhunter who is missing from my institute. Has been for some time actually"

"Which shadowhunter would that be?"

"Kyle Branwell. Last I heard, Magnus said he was being held by the Clave, but I've spoken to them since then and they have no word on him"

"This is your fiance?"

I nod.

"The one that's been missing, all the while Xavier, your ex lover is now back on the scene... Interesting" a smirk appears on his face.

I groan inwardly. Of course Woolsey knew. He was a were too, and he knew almost everything. I wondered just how far this news had spread.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Jason gave what seemed to be the tenth sigh in the past two minutes, glancing over at the clock above the mantelpiece.

"This is worse than a Hitchcock movie," he exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair, mussing it. "The suspense is killing me!"
Lucas shot his parabati an unsympathetic look. "Is this really the time for exaggerating, Jason?"

Jason seemed to consider this. "You can die from suspense. I recall this fascinating tale about a Downworlder whose warlock mark was a pair of magnificent whiskers, so they assumed he had nine lives-"

"Let me guess," I cut in, rolling my eyes. "'Curiosity killed the cat'?"

Jason grinned. "No. An intense combination of suspense, two vials of strong poison and curiosity killed the Downworlder."

"Fascinating," Lucas murmured, twisting a silver ring around and around one of his slim fingers.
"It is, isn't it?" Jason agreed happily. "And so very, very fitting to our current situation."

"If your father slips me poison," I told him, "I will be sure to haunt your ass for the rest of your miserable existence."
"Aren't you Little Miss Sunshine?" Jason replied dryly. "And my father is way above using poison. If he wanted to kill you, he'd do it outright and probably give you a twenty minute speech before hand on the perks of villainism"

"That isn't a word," Lucas told him patiently. Lucas seemed to have quite a lot of patience when it came to Jason.
Jason frowned. "Well I want it to be."

"Poor you," I sighed. "It must be horrid to realise that you can't always get what you want when you want it."

Jason sent me a look that made me wish I hadn't said anything to begin with. Not a look of hatred, or anger - but a speculative glance, that I felt from my head to my toes. "Oh I can deal with not getting what I want," he replied slowly. "But I'll fight until I get what I need; what I can't live without."

"No need, Jason." I smirked. "Oxygen is always available."

"As are Magnums," Lucas piped up, smiling at Jason, who scowled darkly at me from across the room. "And Cornettos."
"Ice-cream and oxygen," Jason said. "You consider these my core requirements?"

"And hair gel," I added.
Lucas clapped his hands together. "Got it! Meatlovers pizza."
"Don't forget mirrors."
"Good one," Lucas said to me, nodding.

"Thanks, man," Jason said to Lucas. "Thanks a lot. Encourage her further - go ahead. Like she needs it."

[Claire]

London Wayland

"Xavier has a new woman. You should know that better than I do." I say softly.

"Ah so you saw her?"

I nod.

"Well from my point of view, it's all very clear. You fiance is missing, and you've been spending all your spare time with Xavier. Xavier's new 'woman' is at home, yet he's spending every second with you"

That's what I was afraid Woolsey would say.

"Just help me find Kyle. Please" I whisper

"I haven't anything on the Branwell boy, but I will look into it for you" he says "In the meantime, I suggest you and Xavier sort your issues out"

I rise from my chair "Thanks" I say softly.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Let's play a game. We'll call it Guess Where? because Guess Who? - besides having gone the way of UNO cards and The Brady Bunch re-runs - wouldn't do my situation justice.

Let's begin! The objective is to 'guess where' I am at this particular moment in time. And since I'm alone I'll play with the wall opposite me.

Wall: Uh...are you in a house?
Me: No. Mansion under the ownership of evil villains don't get to be termed 'homes' or 'houses'. You know - 'home is where the heart is' and all that.
Wall: Are you in a room?
Me: If it can be called that.
Wall: Are you in the bathroom?
Me: No. And now that you mention it it'd be really nice to fix this place up with one of those.
Wall: Can I get a hint?
Me: Aren't you part of this room anyway? Gosh, you're mental.
Wall: Says the girl talking to a wall.
Me: Shut up.

Let me provide you with the answer.

I. Was. In. A. Cell.

As a matter of fact, I was in the same cell I'd been thrown into previously when I was abducted originally. When I'd agreed to Jason's stupid foolhardy idiotic thoughtless plan, I'd at least thought I would have better accommodations this time around.

But apparently Jason hadn't mentioned the crucial little fact to his father that he was having guests (a.k.a me). And so Jonathan Morgenstern - miffed at having things run by someone other than himself - had ordered me to be 'temporarily housed' in a cell. A dank, dirty cell.

Like an animal. So much for hospitality.

Jason had sent me a sympathetic wince once his father had stalked from the room - before Jonathan's men had shoved me roughly out of the door - but he hadn't moved to by defence. Not that I expected him to, I reminded myself. He can't act openly against his father.

But a small part of me had hoped he would have. That he would have proved me wrong.

[Claire]

London Wayland

"We have a problem" Carter says, approaching me the minute I walk back into the Institute's doors.

I groan "Don't we always?"

"Yes. That's what makes our lives exciting"

I raise my eyebrows at him "What is it Carter?"

"Heather is gone. Ben went looking for her, he says he can follow her trail, and has gone to talk to Xavier about backup"

I groan again " By the Angel"

Heather's missing, Xavier was coming back. Was everything going to continue to fall apart while she was in charge of the Institute? The Clave wouldn't look too kindly on these ongoing failures.

"There's more..." Carter started.

I throw up my hands in defeat "What else could there possibly be?"

"Lucy is in Italy"

"WHAT?!" I shout.

When were things going to go back to normal? Or relatively normal at least.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"I brought you some sustenance," came a voice through the darkness. I lifted my head in time to see Lucas slip through the door at the end of the room - a tray in one hand as he crossed the room. Standing on the other side of the bars he peered into the cell, where I lay on the 'bed', staring up at the ceiling.

"Sustenance?" I snuck a look at him from the corner of my eye. "Who even says that anymore?"

Lucas tilted his head, seeming to consider this. "Well apart from the obvious, being myself, most of those who have grown up in - or have indeed been apart of the educational system in - Idris, have acquired a certain level of sophistication when it comes to the English language. But," he continued, giving me a wry look, "Food is indeed food despite what word we use to represent it."

He set the tray down, sliding it across to my side. "Here you are," he said into the silence between us. "Chubs' finest."
"Chubs?" My curiosity overode my stubbornness.

Lucas nodded, cracking a smile. "Indeed. Jason gave him the nickname." I rolled my eyes. What a surprise. "Chubs is our chef. And a very good one, too."
I turned my face away, stubbornness returning to the front lines. "Well, I'm not hungry."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Really? Almost nine hours in a cell without food or water and you're not hungry in the slightest? You are indeed a medical miracle, Miss Lovelace."

"Heather, Sir Galahad." I rolled onto my side. "The name is Heather."
"And mine is Lucas," he replied, looking amused. "No 'sir' graces my name."
"No 'miss' graces mine."

"Touche." Lucas bowed his head. "It is wonderful to make your acquaintance, Heather."

A laugh escaped my lips. "We've already met! And we're - well, I'm - in a cell. This is hardly the time to be staging elaborate introductions, don't you think?" Lucas shrugged lightly. "And why are you being so nice to me anyway?" I asked him, sitting up and shifting so I was sitting on the edge of the 'bed', feet touching the floor as I faced him.

"Why wouldn't I be?" was his frank reply. Grey eyes glowed through the shadowy light, unwavering. "You've done nothing to offend me, nor have you displayed any signs of malevolence that I know of."
"But Jonathan Morgenstern hates me."

"Jason's father is allowed to have his opinions," Lucas said softly. "I like to form my own."

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Well?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to eat that, or I am going to have to make Chubs miserable? The last time someone refused his food, he sulked for days. Made the most horrible custard too - overdid the cinnamon."

Rolling my eyes at his theatrics, I grabbed the tray off the floor and sat down on the shelf-like bed - picking up the sandwich and taking a bite. "Happy?" I asked him, though it came out more like Hrrppy?

Lucas ducked his head, though not before I caught sight of his lips curling upwards into a grin. "Exceedingly so," he replied, turning away from the bars and walking towards the door.

Looking over his shoulder at me, his brows lowered. "Don't fret, Heather," he said softly into the darkness. "Dum vita est spes est." Then he slipped through the open door - shutting it securely behind him.

While there's life, there's hope, huh? I thought, turning his words over in my head. Sighing, I picked up the sandwich, eyeing it miserably. Hope isn't going to get me out of this mess.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

Lucy groaned, her body felt as though it had been hit by a bus full of sumo wrestlers. Though she supposed feeling sore was better than being dead, which by all means she should be. Not many people could go toe to toe with a greater demon and live to tell the tale. She should've known not to trust that sketchy vampire, he had obviously had an agenda and her falling right into his trap was a rookie mistake.

She had been so psyched to finally get a lead though she hadn't stopped to think that maybe it was a little too good to be true. She stretched out on the questionable motel bed, her eyes tearing up in pain as she shifted her legs. There was a huge gash on her leg which even an iratze couldn't heal completely. She had bandaged it and determined that there wasn't any poison so she would have to wait until it healed enough for her to walk again before she went looking for anymore leads.

Lucy hadn't known what to expect when she came to Italy, she had never thought finding her parents was going to be easy but she hadn't really thought about how hard it might be either. The Clave had been looking for them for years, she didn't know why she thought she could find them in a matter of days. She sighed and a pang of loneliness went through her chest. She wished Ben were there, she missed him. A lot more than she would have thought possible since she had only known him a short time.

[Hallie]

Sorry I thought this would be a cool spin to the story.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

(Great idea!)

[Melissa]

(Magnus shouldn't know where Jace and Clary are.... My character is their daughter and is currently searching for them)

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

(True - @Hallie you need to read over the story, maybe, and see what's going on? Mel's character is searching for Jace and Clary at the moment.)

[Hallie]

Oops sorry. So sorry. I guess I had forgotten everything because I haven't been on nits page in awhile.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Hmm..."

Jonathan Morgenstern tapped an almost skeletal finger against his pale cheek as he circled the chair I was strapped into with the movements of a panther.

A hungry, egotistical, blood-thirsty panther with the fashion sense of a musical theatre performer.

"Increase the intensity this time," he ordered the Shadowhunter lackey to my left, the one who had the pleasure of holding a blow torch. Yes, a blow torch. The kind of device you probably don't want to be on the receiving end of. Like I was.

Sucks to me, doesn't it?

"By how much, sir?" the lackey replied in his gravelly voice, lowering his goggles back over his eyes and hefting the torch up.
"Increase the flow of gas and open the valve a bit more. We want the flow to be faster and hotter. Also, I think you are using the wrong tip for the job. We need something more concentrated."

Jonathan Morgenstern's gaze swept over me, probably taking in my shaking limbs, beaded with sweat, and the hard line of my jaw as I bit down hard on my lip. No way are you breaking me, you bastard, I tried to communicate through my glare.

A low whirring noise caused my whole body to tense up - my eyes fixing their gaze on the low ceiling, not daring to look at the stream of blue flames that was getting closer and closer to my right upperarm...and the rune.

When Jason had stressed his father's interest in 'testing' the rune, I should have known that wouldn't entail him taking photos and drawing up graphs. No. Jonathan Morgenstern's idea of a test was to have his lackey direct an extremely hot - and excruciatingly painful - blow torch flame at my rune for short intervals of time.

But those three, four minutes felt like eons. The heat burned into my skin, drawing unintelligible sounds from my mouth, crawling up my throat as I gasped for air, wanting to scream but not wanting to see Jonathan's smirk of satisfaction.

No screams. No tears. No weakness. No one had ever broken me in my whole life, and they wouldn't start now.

"Let's begin again," Jonathan murmured, eyes meeting mine. "And this time, no Healing Rune afterwards. Let's see what this rune can really do."

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Broken.

I'd endured a lot in my seventeen years of existence. Controlling parents, sibling rivalry, death, more death, meddling warlocks, meddling Shadowhunters, betrayal, more betrayal and petty theft.

And even after all that - even then, I hadn't been broken. Not truly. Not ever. I'd clung to that small fire...hope. Hope was all I had. Hope for a better future. Hope for victory at last. Hope for love.

Hope for me and for the Shadowhunters who were the only family I had.

Broken. I stared blankly at the grubby floor, head lolling forwards in exhaustion. Broken. Numb all over, except for my rune - burning through my skin like molten fire - I couldn't rid myself of that feeling. Of that horrid truth.

Broken. I was broken. I had nothing left to give.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Jason. All I could remember was Jonathan's cruel eyes, the glint of light across goggle lens', searing heat and a wave of blue flames licking my skin.

Chained in my cell, I knelt by the iron bars...gaze moving to the Shadowhunters guarding the cellar door, their backs pressed to the wall. So hospitable, I thought, a smirk flickering across my dry lips. All armed and dangerous. All for a small, defenceless, beaten girl.

Beaten, not broken.

I refused to give in. To give up. Either freedom would find me, or I would free myself. Resting my forehead against the cool iron, I closed my eyes.

And waited.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

Lucy ran a hand through her hair, frustrated at yet another dead end. It seemed like any lead she could find was nothing but a ploy. She had one last place to check out today before giving up. Her parents may not be dead but they didn't want to be found, not even by her.

She walked into the shop of a warlock who was a known acquaintance of Magnus Bane, or at least known to her. Magnus would probably turn her into a rodent if he knew how much she had snooped around his stuff when she first came to New York. This guy was her last chance, she couldn't afford to skip out on her friends any longer. Plus she had to go bail Heather out again, even if the other girl didn't want it. Lucy was not leaving her friend in the clutches of him.

She kicked the door open, not bothering to try and jiggle the lock or even use a rune on it. She was so far past careful at this point she was bordering on reckless. "W-what are you doing?!" A small man stammered from behind a large desk. She walked up to it and slammed her hands down on it. "Are you Mettias Crow?" she demanded, ignoring his question. Instantly his demeanor changed and he seemed to grow in his seat. His hair became inky black feathers, his warlock mark for sure, and he was no longer the small, intimidated man he had been. "What is it that a shadowhunter wants with me?" He asked in a surprisingly deep voice.

Lucy swallowed, nervous all of a sudden. Maybe she had been to rash in barging into the home of a warlock after all. But she was here for her parents and could deal with an angry warlock to get to them.... She hoped. "I'm here because I want to know where my parents are." She said, not backing down though she felt a lot more timid now. He regarded her coolly. "I know what you want shadowhunter but why should I help you after you so rudely disrespected me?" She chewed her lip and took a step back.

Lucy licked her lips nervously, niceties were never her strong suit. She would much rather answer things with her fists. "I- I'm sorry. I should not have busted your door in." She said, still biting her lip. The warlock eyed her, his face betraying nothing before finally nodding. "Very well, but only because I am indebted to your parents Lucinda." She was startled but nodded hesitantly, her body humming with the possibility that she was going to finally see her parents again after so long.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Jonathan Morgenstern shot a frustrated glance at the Shadowhunter behind me, delicate strands of his white hair falling into his fathomless eyes.

"Full strength, Matthias," he growled, digging his perfectly manicured fingers into the plush armrest of his throne-like seat. "I believe I said full strength, not some half-assed attempt that would make a lamashtu demon cry for shame."

"Sorry, sir." Matthias' thick, gloved hand circled my neck once more. "Should I hold on for longer this time?"

Jonathan's eyes narrowed as they met my defiant glare. "Perhaps. But don't forget to cut off all air. That is most important."

"Charming," I spat out, voice hoarse from hours of having Matthias methodically strangle me at Jonathan's convenience. "Do you drown puppies, too?"

Matthias' grip tightened, his fingers digging into my neck - eliciting a loud gasp from me, as I fought to breathe. Bastard. Jonathan simply brought his hands together, watching me over his arched fingers as if we were on opposite sides of a tea table, discussing politics and whatnot.

"Definitely longer, Matthias," he finally said, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe then she'll lose the ability to talk back. One can only hope."

Screw you, I thought viciously, wishing - that for just that moment in time - the horrid man could read minds. Just you wait. Soon enough, you'll be the one with a lack of oxygen. Permanently.

But all thoughts - vengeful and otherwise - came to an abrupt halt as Matthias applied full pressure on my neck, his fingers encircling it in a deathly vice-like grip.

My head swam. I struggled against the bonds, even though I knew from experience that it was pointless. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to breathe through my nose...only to have Jonathan click his fingers and for a gag to be tied on.

Pox. My chest tightened, my lungs screaming for air as I fought to dislodge Matthias' grip. Just...maybe if I...no...come on, Heather...argh! I'd never felt so utterly helpless. My heart beat grew louder and louder in my ears, picking up pace as the seconds ticked past.

"Tighter, Matthias." Jonathan's voice broke through the haze covering my mind. "Tighter."

As the pressure intensified, my anger flared. Bright and hot - boiling closer and closer to the surface. A tugging sensation occurred deep inside and the rune on my exposed upper arm began to tingle.

No! I thought desperately. No...no!

I couldn't let Jonathan have what he wanted. This...this is what he wanted.

"Tighter!"

His excitement didn't escape my notice. I'd rather have slipped into unconsciousness than have aided in Jonathan Morgenstern's experiments further. But there was no stopping the rune.

"Tighter, Matthias. Just a little bit-"
"Aaaaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhh!"

Matthias' scream pierced the air as my rune burned with a searing heat...the heat enveloping me from head to toe, as if my body were being engulfed by a fiery wave. The pressure around my neck disappeared, and I opened my weary eyes to see Matthias run from the room.

His hand a blackened mess.

Gasping for breath, shaking uncontrollably, I slumped in my chair, chains clanking together. Jonathan didn't move. He didn't speak. He just watched me with a serene look plastered onto his pale face...black eyes emotionless, uncaring.

"Interesting." When he spoke it was barely a whisper. "Very, very interesting."

Never had two words been more terrifying.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

Mettias lead Lucy to an old wooden door, telling her to never refer to him as anything other than 'Crow' if she had to refer to him at all. She shivered in response after nodding silently. She regretted busting down his door now, he was much more menacing than Magnus had ever been though Magnus didn't make a habit of being menacing in any case.

She shook her head to dispel the thoughts of warlocks and focused on the door. It was covered in intricate runes and under it, through the crack between it and the floor she could see a soft blue glow.

Crow stepped back and gestured to the door. "Think of your parents and you will be taken to where you want to be Lucinda, those are the instructions I was given should you have ever turned up upon my doorstep." Lucy swallowed and nodded, she looked at the door and wondered if it was like the outer dimensional apartment.

She took a deep breath and reached for the dull brass knob, turning it slowly as she thought of the last time she had seen her mom and dad. She stepped into the soft glow and the door shut behind her as she stepped through it.

When she opened her eyes she was in a small space that looked like the inside of a cabin. She looked around, afraid to breathe. A woman looked up from where she was flipping through a sketch book and Lucy's lips trembled. "Mom?" She croaked, beginning to cry. The woman's eyes widened and she stood. "Jace!" She called as she hurried to Lucy. A man appeared from another room, his light hair sticking up at odd angles, as though he had been asleep. "What is it Clary?" He asked then froze when he saw Lucy, who was crying hard and reaching for her mother who had closed the distance and wrapped her in a hug.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Ashes rain down from a stormy sky, catching on my lashes and clinging to my clothes.

Liam stands beside me, his hair shining like gold against the slate-coloured haze around us. "It's coming," he murmurs, staring off into the distance.

I turn, raising my hand so that it rests on his shoulder. "What's coming?" I ask. "Liam?" But he doesn't answer. He simply stands there, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his worn jeans.

Frustrated, I follow his gaze with my eyes. Far off, where the charcoal sky meets the rolling fog, I can just make out a shadowy figure. "Who's that?" I whisper, filled with fear. A deep, unnatural fear that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Liam blinks suddenly, the motion sending the ashes that had settled along his eyelashes scattering across his sculptured cheekbones like freckles.

"You must go," Liam says, turning to gaze down at me, his blue eyes staring deep into my soul. "Run, Feather. Run and don't look back."

"She's not moving!"

Jason.

The ashes faded, as did Liam...his warning ringing in my ears as I cautiously cracked one eyelid open.

"Does she need another rune?"

Lucas. He appeared suddenly, towering over me. Glancing down - and noticing that I was indeed breathing - he gave me a slight smile and a nod of his head before saying, "So kind of you to join us in the land of living, Miss Lovelace."

Arms wrapped around me, drawing me against a warm mass. On closer inspection, I realised that it was Jason's chest and he was either relieved that his father hadn't killed me...or was experimenting with death by affection.

"By the Angel," he breathed against my hair. "You're okay. You're okay."

I didn't know whether he was telling me, or trying to convince himself.

"Yep. I'm alive." I managed to raise an eyebrow - a difficult feat considering just how exhausted I felt. "Miss me?"

Lucas knelt down beside us, drawing my attention to the fact that I was draped over Jason's lap. Great. I tried to sit up, but Jason wouldn't allow it. He froze me with a glare. "You're hurt," he said, holding me in place.

"Way to state the obvious, Einstein," I muttered.

Lucas' lips twitched. "You have been in a state of deep unconsciousness for almost a day," he informed me gravely. "Although your rune seems to possess...superhuman qualities, it seems that it does draw some of its energy from your person."

Cool fingers skimmed over the skin of my neck. Although they were gentle, I flinched - the memory of Jonathan's experiments too fresh in my mind.

"I'll kill him." Jason let his fingers fall from my neck, his jaw tight. He drew in a shaky breath. "She's....hell, Lucas, look at these bruises!" His hand moved to my neck again, but I slapped it away.

"I applied a Healing rune," Lucas said calmly. "They should disappear soon. You need to calm yourself, Jason. You have a meeting with your father, soon."
Jason's eyes flashed. "Well, he can stick his meeting up his-"

"Jason," I murmured, closing my eyes as a wave of fatigue hit me hard. "Stop. Lucas...Lucas is right. Go. I'll be fine."

"I'm not leaving you!"
"You've done it before."

A sharp intake of breath followed my words. I felt a pang of guilt which I was quick to dismiss. His fault. Not mine. "Go," I repeated, opening my eyes and meeting his. "Just go."

Jason didn't say anything in reply. He simply scooped me up in his arms, carrying me over to an opulent bed which I assumed was his. We must have been in his rooms, for I noted several swords lining the walls that I recalled seeing on him back at the Institute.

Sliding me beneath the covers, he let out a heavy sigh, turning to Lucas who stood a few feet away - casually leaning against a dark mahogany desk. "Can you-?"

Lucas seemed to know what he was asking. Must be a parabati thing. "Of course." He drew out the chair by the desk and settled into it. "I will watch her."

I opened my mouth to insist that I didn't need a watchdog...but sleep snatched away the words from my lips and I sunk into a dreamless slumber.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

Lucy's heart fluttered in anxiety as she waited for her parents to get ready to go to New York. It hadn't taken her much to convince them that they were needed once she mentioned that she had been taken by her uncle.

Her eyes followed them around the small cabin whenever they passed by her, her eyes starved of the sight of them. She had so much she wanted to ask them and so much she just wanted to tell them. About her life after they left her and about boys. She would be able to talk about boys with her mom!

Lucy shook her head, now was not the time to think about that. She needed to get back to New York and help Heather, that came first. She could talk to her parents later. She just hoped that once Jonathan was defeated her parents would stay with her, whether that was in New York or in Idris. She didn't care, she had finally found them!

~A few hours later~

Lucy walked with her arm through her mom's as they walked up to the doors of the Institute. She bit her lip and wondered how mad Ben was with her.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Checkmate."

Grinding my teeth together, I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning back in my chair. "Again?" I raised an eyebrow at Lucas. "Seriously?"

"Checkmate, Miss Lovelace."

I squinted at the board, shooting a look of loathing at Lucas' white queen. "But...how?" was all I could say, stumped by what would now be his seventh victory. "Why?"

Lucas seemed to be biting back a smile. "I assure you, my methods were perfectly legal, and my reasons fairly benign."
"Which translated into English means...?"
"I beat you fair and square and I'm sorry you keep losing."

"Right." Stupid Shadowhunters. I mean, I was one too, but you had to admit that as a race we could be awfully pretentious at times. "And I'll have you know," I added, narrowing my eyes at him, "that I am not losing. I happen to be letting you win."

Jason's parabati didn't take the bait. In fact, he never seemed to be anything but calm and cool. It was aggravating, to be honest.

"Of course you are," he replied, in a tone that clearly said Whatever makes you happy. "Well...another match?"

I let out a groan. "God no! Please!"
His grey eyes contained an amusement glint. "Are you certain?"
"Yes!"
"Well," he said, getting to his feet and stretching in a single fluid motion, "we can do something else...unless it involves leaving Jason's rooms."

Curious, I gave him a look, clearly wishing for him to elaborate further. He sighed. "Jason's esteemed father may not - as it happens - have been entirely made aware that you have had a change of scenery in the past twenty-four hours."

"Wait." I had stopped listening at 'made aware'. "What do you mean he doesn't know? I thought he knew everything. Isn't he like, I don't know, the Eye of Sauron?"

Lucas' brow furrowed in confusion. "What is this Eye of Sauron?"
"Lord of the Rings?"
"Is it a historical tome, then?"
"Ah...no. It's a novel. A book...for, you know, reading. For entertainment."
"Ah."
"So, you were saying...?"

He pulled a face that clearly communicated that he found the topic unpleasant. "Jason's father trusts him. As such, he doesn't check up on him as much as he would."
"What does that have to do with not knowing where I am?"
"Well...Jason is in charge of you."
"And?"

He shifted, looking extremely uncomfortable. "His father - and the others here - clearly view you as Jason's...well, his property."

My vision burned red. "Excuse me?!"
"Oh no." Lucas winced. "He knew you wouldn't take this well."
"Oh I'm taking it so, so well." I gave a slightly shaky laugh, running a hand through my hair. "Who wouldn't?!"

Lucas eyed me uncertainly. "If you say so."
"I mean who wouldn't want to be Jason Morgenstern's property?!"

Lucas grimaced. "Uh-"
"I'm just so honoured that that miserable piece of-"
"Miss Lovelace-"
"-backstabbing jerk would even think of such a stupid, utterly stupid-"
"Miss Lovelace?"
"-out of all the moronic things to even say about me-"
"Miss Lovelace."

I looked up from my rant, to find Lucas staring at me, wide-eyed. "What?" I asked, still fuming. He gestured behind me. I turned. "Ah."

Jason stood in the doorway.

Pox.

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

The reunion when Lucy walked in the door of the Institute was probably the most awkward she would ever have. It wasn't that everyone was shocked by her parents being there, nor was it that most of them hadn't even known she was gone. No it was mostly because of Ben.

The werewolf had come running once he heard she was back and swung her around before planting the hottest kiss she had ever received on her. Right in front of her parents. If she had doubted her parents loved her that was gone once she noticed her father's expression. He looked as if he was ready to kill Ben and hang his wolf pelt up in the cabin.

Lucky for him London wanted to talk with her parents and update them on what had happened over the last near decade.

"I- w- I didn't mean-" Ben stammered, unsure of what to say. Lucy blushed. "Um, it's fine. I don't think that was the best way of meeting my parents but....." She said and shrugged, still red. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, have you heard anything about Heather?" He shook his head. "I tried following her scent but it disappeared after leading me half way around the city."

She nodded and hoped Heather would be okay. And what she was thinking, leaving the way she had. She bumped Ben's shoulder with her own. "I don't think that was any worse than when Sarah caught us in her room." She teased, making him flush.

London came out of the study and asked them to join the meeting since they might have more information she didn't know. Jace glared at Ben when they walked in while Clary looked like she wanted to laugh. Both of them grew serious very quickly though.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Jason...wasn't in the best of moods.

Why? Beats me. I mean, it's not like he just discovered that a bunch of dreadful, brainwashed Shadowhunters and Jonathan Morgenstern ('The Eye of Sauron' as I will now refer to him as) all thought that he was someone's property.

Didn't the idea of women as property die out with Princess Leia from Star Wars and her metallic two-piece?

I was not his property. Hell, I wasn't his anything. And it was about time he got that through his well chiseled perfect gorgeous thick head.

"So, sir," I drawled as he led me down another dank and gloomy corridor. "Would you like your tea with two sugars or three?"

Jason shot me a dark look over his shoulder. "Drop it."

"Would you like your boots shined? Bed made? Nails buffed?"
"You're not going to drop this, are you?"

I let out a sigh. "Oh, I'm sorry, sir. If you want your property to be silent, then I guess I should obey...after all, I am simply a lowly woman of little means-"

Jason stopped walking, causing me to collide with his back. Turning around, he eyed me - frustration evident by his tense shoulders and the tightened corners of his mouth.

"I get it, okay?" He made an exasperated hand gesture. "You're angry. You hate me. You hate life. Your world is an endless chasm of pain and despair. And you have got the right to feel that way. But do you have to exert that right every single second?"

"I'm sorry." I feigned confusion. "Am I being ungrateful? Because god forbid that I don't bow down and kiss your feet every time you enter the room! This is all your fault!"

"My fault?!" Jason was up in my face, so close that I could feel his breath on my cheek. "I'm not the one who's refusing to do what my father wants!"

"You'd love that wouldn't you?!" I shouted, poking him in the chest, hard. "You'd love for me to just give your father everything he wants! To be his slave, as well as yours!"
"You stupid idiot!" he yelled back, taking me by the shoulders and shaking me slightly. "I'm trying to protect you!"
"Great job, by the way - the bruises around my neck say hi!"

"You should have just-" He broke off, letting out a groan. "Bloody hell, Heather!"
"You're such an arse!" I felt that I needed to say that out loud. Many, many times. "An absolute-"

"Charming." Jason smirked down at me. "You're super sexy when you're angry, Heath."
I huffed, tucking a strand of my hair behind one ear. "Oh, you-"
"See?" His smirk broadened. "Very sexy."

That's it. I raised my hand to slap - or punch - him square in the face, but he ducked, moving in close and locking my arms against his chest. "Now, now." He waggled his eyebrows. "If you wanted to wrestle, Heath, you should have just said so."

I made a noise of disgust in the back of my throat. "Dream on."
"Oh, I will."
"You're a pig."
"Ah huh."
"A real piece of work."
"So you said."
"Let me go."
"I don't want to."

Suddenly tears welled in my eyes and I had to blink quickly to keep them at bay. "Please," I whispered, closing my eyes. "Just...just let me go."

There was a pause. Then I felt his grip on my arms relax, and I tugged free, putting some much needed space between us.

"Come on." Jason didn't even glance at me. "Dad wants to talk to you, and we can't be late."

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

After the meeting they weren't really any closer to coming up with a plan but Lucy did remember to mention Heather's rune to her mother who looked rattled at the mention of it. "We have to get her away from Sebastian." She had murmured and looked at Jace pointedly.

Ben and Lucy were currently in the training room while the 'adults' came up with a plan to find Sebastian and Heather as soon as possible. No one mention Jason's name, all of his things were gone otherwise they would try to find him by using something of importance to him.

"I wonder how Heather is doing..... I hope she's okay." She said softly, hanging from the training bars. He looked over at her, "stop thinking about it too much Luce. We can't do anything for her now and worrying isn't going to help." She nodded though still looked worried. "So, explain to me your family situation." He said when they lapsed into awkward silence.

She smiled a little. "Yeah it is kind of confusing. My real parents are Jace and Clary Lightwood."
"I though you said your dad was on the Council or something?"
"Yeah, technically he's my step dad or maybe my guardian? I don't know, he's in charge of me since my parents have been declared dead. He was friends with my dad before they went into hiding."
"Okay, what about your last name? It's different from your step dad isn't it?"
"Yeah but that's not all that uncommon. For families which have died out, unrelated children will be given their name to keep up the illusion that shadowhunters don't die out completely. At least that's what I've been told."

Ben nodded though she could tell that this was all a little much for him to take in all at once. "Anyway, that's my family situation. It feels kind of good to talk about it freely you know? For so long I couldn't because well, you know." He nodded and smiled at her as she jumped down from the bars. He wrapped his arm around her waist, making her blush. "So since your parents already know about us do you want to tell them or just let what happened earlier speak for itself?" He asked, making her blush even more.

"After this is over I'll tell them, I think my dad needs a little time to cool down. I haven't seen them since I was a little kid. I don't think it's wise to bring up my boyfriend right off the bat." She put her hands on his shoulders, happy to be with him again and glad he wasn't mad after she left him the way she had.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

Mary had a McMillan TAC-50, a McMillan TAC-50, a McMillan TAC-50. Mary had a McMillan TAC-50 whose barrel was filled with bullets.

"Miss Lovelace?" Jonathan Morgenstern raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

I'm constructing a parody of a children's nursery rhyme and wishing that I had my hands on at least a couple of a shuriken so that I could end your miserable life and make the world a better place.

"Lovely décor," I opted to say instead, waving a hand about. "Very classic contemporary chic. Did you have a Feng Shui consultant in? I can practically feel the positive energy."

Jason visibly grimaced from his place standing behind his father's chair. Jonathan, however, remained fairly stoic in his expression.

"No," he replied. "I find that anyone can achieve a fair amount of positive energy if they simply try hard enough. It's all a result of self-assersion and self-dependance, really."

"Oh, so DIY?" I nodded, lifting my shoulders slightly as I shifted in my seat. I was bound once again to a chair facing the Morgenstern men, which did little to alleviate the pain in my limbs. "You seem like the artsy type."

"Everything is art if you look at it in the right light," replied Jonathan smoothly. "Even runes. Even Shadowhunters. We are simply art created by a higher power, Miss Lovelace."
"You're certainly a Jackson Pollock."
The corners of his mouth tightened briefly. "And you are a Boticelli, then, Miss Lovelace?"

"Certainly not. I'm no piece of art - I'm not a piece of property," I added for Jason's benefit. "I'm a person. In case you hadn't noticed."
"Oh, I have noticed."

Jonathan smiled, and it was a ghastly thing to behold. A smile that radiated such malevolence framed by a face that was far too angelic to belong to such an evil man. Except for the eyes, which reflected clearly the depths of his blackened soul.

"Therefore I shall be using more personable means of finding out what I wish to know. All people have flaws - everyone has an Achilles' heel. The question is, Miss Lovelace...what is yours?"

[Melissa]

Lucy Morgenstern

"I still don't understand why she went back with them...." I said as I attacked an unfortunate straw dummy and worked out the kinks that had appeared between my shoulder blades. "Her thing for Jason doesn't cloud her judgement that much does it? I mean I didn't think it effected her judgement at all but why else would she willingly go with them?" I let out a very ladylike grunt as sand exploded in all directions.

Ben shrugged from where he was standing off to the side, inspecting the weapons table. "I don't know Luce. Maybe it has something to do with that mysterious rune? Maybe she thought she could take Jason and got in over her head? With Heather it could be a lot of reasons and we won't know for sure until we talk to her."

I sighed and swiped the sand away. "Yeah, you're right. I wish we were in on the loop with the rest of them." He looked up from the weapons and set aside the knife he was holding.

"We'll figure it out and get Heather back." He said reassuringly, his voice getting deeper and making me shiver slightly in response. I blushed at my own response to just his voice and nodded jerkily.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Have I made myself clear, Miss Lovelace?"

I had no words left to say. Nothing would come out - not a sound.

My broken shell of a heart lay within me like a leaden anchor upon my chest, forcing the air out of my lungs. Tears trickled silently down my pale cheeks.

This isn't happening. This isn't happening. This can't be happening.

But it was. And I was filled with a gut-wrenching horror that shot like icy fire through my veins, bringing me to my knees.

"I will leave you to your thoughts." His voice bounced off of the stone walls of the cell. "Tomorrow, we will talk again. And I have a feeling you will be more obliging now that we've come to...an understanding."

Jonathan Morgenstern had done what he'd set out to do. He'd found my Achilles' heel.

And he'd shot an arrow right through it...dead centre.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Heather Lovelace:

"Yn dod yn ôl i mi fy cariad," a voice whispered through the darkness.

The soft touch of lips against my forehead woke me fully from sleep. I was lying on a soft bed...Jason's bed. And speaking of the devil, I glanced up to see him sitting on the edge of the bed watching me, his gaze soft.

"What....?" I shook my head, sitting up on my elbows. The movement made my poor muscles scream, and I quickly lay back down. "I wasn't here. I was-"

"I moved you here," Jason said in a low voice. "Well, technically Lucas and I did."
"You shouldn't have done that."
He rolled his eyes. "If you prefer lying on a cold, hard floor, then I'd be more than happy to take you back."

Lying there, fragments of memory were slowly coming back to me. And with each piece that clicked into place, the dread flowing into me grew steadily. Please tell me that was a nightmare. By the Angel, I hope that wasn't real. Frantic, I sat up, ignoring the way my head spun from the effort, and tugged down my shirt to expose my rune.

"If you wanted to undress-" Jason began, sounding amused.

"Stop." My tone was so icy that he immediately complied. I craned my neck to see the full rune...and my heart sank into my stomach. A long, deep cut lay just beneath it. My breath caught.

"Tell me."

Jonathan's tone was urgent, but his face was a mask of stone as he held the knife to my arm. "I am giving you one last chance, Miss Lovelace. One. Last. Chance."

"I don't know!" I struggled weakly against the bonds, aching all over. I was tired...so, so tired. "I don't know...I swear!"

He brought his face close to mine. "I find that sometimes the best way to help someone remember something important, is to give them something to aim for. A goal...incentive. I have you in the palm of my hand, Miss Lovelace."

I gasped as he drew the knife across the skin just below my rune. Hot blood poured forth, dripping down my arm. "It's a fact of life," he continued, as if we were two people chatting over tea. "I always get what I want in the end. Now. Tell me how you got the rune - tell me its secrets and this'll all be over."

Raising my head, I looked him straight in the eye. "Go. Screw. Yourself." I practically spat the words out. "You'll never...get what you want."

"Oh, I beg to differ." He turned to one of his goons. "Bring him in."

Turning back to me, Jonathan Morgenstern gave a ghastly smile. "This is just about to get interesting, Miss Lovelace. Very interesting indeed."

I raised a trembling hand to my lips. No. No, no, no, no, no. The trembling seemed to spread from my hands, across my body. I dropped back onto the bed and closed my eyes as they began to fill with tears.

"What are - Heather?" Jason sounded shocked. "Heather!"

Soon his arms encircled me, drawing me close to his chest as he lay down beside me. I couldn't stop shaking. "Heath," he murmured into my hair. "What's wrong? Tell me, love."

But I couldn't tell him.

Partially because I couldn't find my voice. Partially because if I said the words out loud, they'd be real - and I couldn't let them be real.

But ultimately because he wouldn't believe me. Some things were too impossible to be true. And this...this was one of those things.