The Dark Side of the World (TDA)

*Chapter 18*

When we reach my old house, runes covering the skin of the shadowhunters and me as well, we find it empty.

Relief fils everyone's faces, particularly James's. It seems that despite his assurances that we didn't need any help, he was still a bit worried. I don't blame him.

The house looks the same as always, no sign that anyone messed with it in any way. I take out the keys from my pocket and open the door carefully. James told me when I packed them that they weren't needed. Opening runes do the job just fine.

But I was opposed to the idea. It feels like I owe Mom her house untouched my the magic of the shadow world, like she intended. So I rummaged around in my laundry bin for the pants I was wearing the day I got here, and found the house keys.

I step inside and take my shoes off and put them on the mat. I turn and watch everyone else doing the same. Tess and Sophie look around the house in wonder, but James hardly glances at anything. I remember that he was here before.

"So," Tess says, hands on her hips and her sleeves rolled up like she's ready to paint something. "What are we doing first?"

"Well do demons have popped out at us yet, so that's a good sign." James says.

He takes the small object he called a sensor earlier, and presses a couple buttons. He waits a few moments, and then lets out a breath.

"The demonic levels are very low." he assures a nervous looking Tess and Sophie. Then, turning to me, he add "That means there's no demons in the area and there most likely hasn't been in a few days."

"So basically there's nothing to worry about?" I ask hopefully.

"Not quite." he frowns. "It means there's no demons to worry about. But there are still other things that cause trouble other then demons, unfortunately. So be careful."

Like I was going to do anything else. 

We split up, Tess and Sophie take the bottom level and James and I take the top. He takes each step carefully and gently, like he's worried about scaring off any demons. Personally, I don't really mind if we scare them off. 

He checks several places, the bedroom, my room, the bathroom and the little closet where Mom keeps cough medicine, me looking over his shoulder. I've never felt more useless.

Finally, when he seems about ready to leave, something catches his eye. The outline of what looks like the door of a safe, completely painted over and hidden usually by a large brown set of drawers. 

"What is that?" I ask.

James raises his eyebrows. "I though you'd know. You did live here, didn't you?"

I blush, realizing how stupid a question that was. How would he know?

James kneels beside it, pushing on the center of it carefully. He takes out his stele and presses it to the door. When he pulls back I see a rune etched onto it. It gleams bright red, but otherwise doesn't do anything. James swears under his breath.

But not nothing, happens. Just not what's supposed to happen. Instead, in the same of red as the rune, letters appear. James watches them carefully as they appear on the safe, burning away the white paint to revile the silver metal of the safe. 

Opus non vi corporis, sed vim mentis succedere. Pro iis tantum, cum alis, ut volare, the words say. 

A/N Please excuse my latin, yes that's what it's supposed to be. I've never learned the language or anything close to it. I'll admit I used google translate for this even though I know how bad it is for translating things like proper grammar and interesting word choices. Fun fact: I actually am by-lingual, just with French and English not Latin. It took me a long time to translate this, going back and forth trying to get it to actually say what I want it to say, but I could never get it exactly right. This could honestly say anything right now, and I wouldn't actually know. So if it does say something totally random or even mean or something, my apologies. Just skip over it and I'll say what it's supposed to say later. Anyways, on with the story! (Ps, if there's anyone who does know Latin and did read that, if you could tell me what that actually says and maybe even what I mean to say so I can correct it, that would be great!)