𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐄

𝐢. 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

New York, 2013

"Are you sure you don't wanna come tonight? I know a guy who might be your type. Lean, mysterious and hot. And he has a motorbike. I mean like honestly, who drives a motorbike these days? He's a bit pale for my taste, kind of an Edward Cullen type if you ask me but he's sweet enough What do you think?"
No I don't want to date a vampire, thank you

Anatolia Bane sat opposite her best friend, Alia Zayed. She had no idea what had gotten her to befriend a Mundie, and of all of them Alia. Not that she wasn't nice enough, it was just her constant need to couple her up with everyone.

"No Alia, sorry. I've got more important things to do than waste hours of my life in a club. You know me, I've always got something"

"Something? You don't even have a TV! Ana, if there's one thing you are wasting your life with, it's locking yourself up constantly.

"Alia-"

"Besides, no one stays young forever. We all age. And one day, when your eighty years old with wrinkles all over your face and you'll be wishing you'd have come!"

if you even knew half of it

Ana had no idea of what to say. Alia was right, but on the other hand she knew had good reasons to lock herself up- distance herself from who she was. It had been over 100 years now and Ana hadn't heard anything from her other part. The Downworld.

"Look, I know you've had a hard past and all that but you can't push life away forever. You are very ready to face the truth. And whatever happens, I'm here to help you through it all." Alia smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Thanks Al" Ana smiled. Maybe, maybe she should try again. Give it a second chance.

The door opened from behind them. All the hairs on Ana's neck stood up. Downworlders.

"Alia, you have to go. Now." she said urgently. Alia looked at her, confused.

"Ana? Is this some kind of joke?"

"No, it's not! Just leave and I'll be at that party. and meet the hot guy with the bike. But please just leave. I'm sorry. It's not safe"

She looked at her best friend imploringly and Alia sighed and stood up.

"But you're paying! And you are going to be there!"

Ana nodded frantically and ushered Alia out of the café. She turned. 2 warlocks. Both had any marks glamoured but Ana knew that they were there.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly.

The older of the two smirked at his companion.

"Anatolia Bane. It is brave of you trying to save your little mundane but I'm afraid that she might have a bit of a rough night if you don't come with us. Immediately."

"Who sent you?"

"Who do you think sent us?"

They were laughing again. Ana closed her eyes. She felt herself losing control of her glamour, but she didn't care. The laughter of the two warlocks was drowned out by one name ringing in her ears. A name she had hoped to never hear again.

Magnus Bane