The Found Herondale

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Olive's POV

I speak with Ahren, in my true form.
It feels good to be in it again, with my long blue hair.
Oh, how I missed it.

They look miserable, and I feel bad for them.
I cannot believe that someone took Kahlen.

"Do you have any clues?" I ask, tapping my boot on the dirt floor of the market.
Ahren nods, and they pull out a piece of paper that has locations on it.
"I've starred the main ones, but I got this voicemail after she was taken."

"Hello, Mx Sanderson. I am one of Addison's assistants, and I require the compass you have in your possession. We have taken your daughter as leverage, and so if we don't receive our compass by September 8th, she won't exist. The drop-off location is at the Santa Monica Pier, see you then."

My jaw drops.
"Oh my-"

Ahren nods sadly.

"I have a plan. First, we secretly stalk out the location before the 8th."
They nod again.
"Then we can try and kidnap the assistant, and use them to get Kahlen back."

"That sounds good," Ahren says. "Let's go."
I nod.

They go and grab their bag of personal belongings, closing the booth with a trick that Hypatia taught them, probably.

"Ready?" I ask.
I pull out the ponytail and my blue hair tumbles out, the tips ending right above my ass.
I run my hands through its silky texture, smiling.

"You look good," Ahren adds as they walk back over.
"Thanks," I reply. "It feels like me."
"It suits you, Siphon."

I laugh, and the two of us walk down the main area of the market.
I see Eleanor gawking at me, and I chuckle.
I knew that she would follow me. Now she probably knows that I was telling the truth.

Ahren sees Eleanor and tenses.

"Don't worry," I say, purposely loud enough for Eleanor to hear as we pass. "It's just the Nephilim. I'm much stronger and we'll be fine."
I see her face tense and fall in my peripheral.

I wave my hands, smiling big and laughing as my magic works, my skin turning translucent as the blue sparks appear.

A portal appears in front of us.
"Ready?" I ask, and Ahren nods.

The two of us step in and leave the market.

***

We land in Santa Monica, under the pier.
Ahren blinks, adjusting their eyesight, and looks around.

"We need disguises," I mutter, scanning the beach for the signs of Campbell.
"Disguises?" Ahren asks, turning to face me, with an incredulous life on their face.
I nod and turn myself back into Kylie Bridgestock.

I toy with my brown braid, making a disgusted face.
Ahren gives me a look that says 'don't you dare.'
I shrug, waving my hands dramatically.

Their features sharpen and change, giving it a more fierce look.
I make their black hair more curly, letting it hang near their temple, and black clothes appear.
I add weapons, boots, and just enough runes to not overwhelm their body.

"Done!" I say, adding a little glitter to their hair teasingly.
"I feel so odd," they reply, running their hands over themself awkwardly.
I laugh.

"Now you're more disguised and approachable to trick the assistant."
Ahren scowls.
"And your new name is Azriel Wentworth," I add.
"Azriel?" They ask. "What type of name is that?"

"It's a shadowsinger fae warrior in an adult fantasy series," I reply.
Ahren makes a lightbulb moment face as if recognising the series.
"But what's with Wentworth?"
"It's an old family name, another Shadowhunter named Rosamund Wentworth."

I lead them down the beach and look around.
"Any ideas?"

Ahren shakes their head.
"I have a thing that might help, but it isn't an idea."
I shrug, giving them the go-ahead.

They pull out a device.
"This is like a 3D holographic thing and I can press a button on it on my phone, and it will be like we're here, feeling and seeing, but we can be anywhere."

"Whoa- that's incredible."
They nod.
"So we can hide it here and check-in?"
They nod again.

"Great!" I exclaim. "We can go back to the Institute now."
Ahren looks at me, confused.
"Why not the market?"

"I need to keep my cover-up."
I begin walking down the beach.
"They need to still believe that I am a Shadowhunter."

Ahren rushes after me, and I create another portal.
The two of us step into the portal, and we're off the beach.

~

We land at the walkway near the Institute, carefully setting up the way so the wards won't be alarmed.
I summon a box of Nightshade's pizza and offer them a slice.
"You want one?"

Ahren nods, taking one from me.
"You know this could have addictive substances in it, right?"
I nod.
"Yup. But it looks like we went out for pizza, instead of sneaking and seeming suspicious.

Ahren eats the pizza and we both reach the front door.
They open it easily, and I chuckle.
My magic is amazing.

I walk into the kitchen, where Ty and Kit sit, bickering.
Ahren puts the pizza box on the counter, making the two of them turn to look.

"Do I know you?" Ty asks.
I nod.
"I thought Emma told you about me."
Ty blinks, his mind not clicking.

"I'm Kylie Bridgestock, and this is my cousin, Azriel Wentworth."
"Ohhh," Ty says, nodding.

He stands, grabbing a slice of pizza.
"I remember reading about your families when Jules and Emma went to Blackthorn Hall back in 2014. Do you know about your ancestors, Rosamund Wentworth and Ariadne Bridgestock?"
I nod, and Ahren picks up, nodding too.

Kit watches the three of us.
"Have fun," he says. "We're just discussing the Blackthorn Mendoza-Kingson family."

Ahren smiles, and I lead us out.
We head up to my room and walk-in.
I summon a spare blow-up mattress on the floor as they hop on my bed.

I sit down.
Not even a second later, the door to my room opens.
Ahren jumps.

John stands in the doorway, with an all-too cocky bastard Eleanor.
"I knew you weren't who you said you were!"