The Found Herondale

Chapter 15

Chapter 15
Raleigh's POV

"Where are we going?" I ask, trying not to arouse suspicion. 
"Berwick Street," Anna says, dropping a wink. "In Soho."

"Soho," Cordelia breathes.

We watch as the carriage rolls down a dark, narrow street.
There are many stalls set up on the pavement while seeing a tea shop and then the Blue Posts pub.

"Here," Anna says, and the carriage stops.
She hops out, whispers in a hushed tone to Matthew, then walks down the street.

Cordelia and Matthew start babbling and I use the Sight rune on my hand to watch Anna carefully.
She goes into an outcove in a place down the street farther, talks to a mysterious person, then comes back over. 

"Do stop babbling rot, Matthew," She said. "Now come along, the three of you, they're expecting us."
We walk the short way down the alley before a door rises up in front of us.
It shimmers in the side of an old wall, one that mundanes couldn't see.

Inside was a narrow hallway whose walls were heavy red cloth tapestries hanging from ceiling to floor, obscuring whatever was behind them.
At the end of the hall was another door, also painted red.

"When this place is not home to the salon, it is a gaming house," Matthew whispered to Cordelia and I as we approached the door. "There is even a trapdoor in the roof so that if they are raided by the police, the gamesters can escape over the Eaves."

The door was flung open, and a man with white hair is lounging there.

I realise that it is Malcolm Fade. I grip the knife at my belt while he talks to Anna.
He allows us to pass, but before Cordelia and I can get through, he says;

"There is no Blackthorn blood in your family, is there?"
"No-none, I don't think," Cordelia says, surprised.

He glances at me and I shake my head, saying no.
But I'm the only other person standing there that knows the true meaning of those words.
"Good."

He ushered us in, and my jaw drops at the utter beauty of the salon, along with the number of Downworlders that are mingling too.
Vampires stalked by proudly, and werewolves prowled around.

I turn and look, while Cordelia says something about a nude picnic, making Anna and I chuckle.

A woman with dark black hair bears down on us, in a red crimson outfit.
"Champagne?" She asks, and as soon as the vampire's teeth slide down her lip, I make a low noise, realising it is Lily.

Anna and Matthew watch me suspiciously while taking the drinks.
Matthew downs his drink in one gulp, as I drink mine slowly.

I see Cordelia chuckle, and I smile along.
Matthew watches us before asking Cordelia a question.

I glance around the room, scanning to see if I know people already.
Cordelia coughs, and I realise he had asked me a question.

"You and Cordelia don't seemed afraid," He says. "Most girls are." 
Cordelia says, "I don't frighten easily."
I nod.
"I don't either. After I saved Will a couple of months ago, I haven't been frightened easily since."

Matthew's eyes narrow at me as if he's trying to search my soul.

"But Uncle Will says that story all the time. It happened during his teenage years-"
Anna is interrupted by Malcolm Fade again, and we all stop talking.
Lily walks away.

"Hypatia wishes to see you," He says. "She has a friend visiting from out of town who has requested to meet you."
Anna gives a curling smile.
"And this friend is visiting from where?"

"The seaside," Malcolm says. "Do come, you know how Hypatia gets."
Anna winks at the three of us before walking down the hallway with Malcolm.

A few minutes later, I see Lily waving at us.

"That is Anna's signal," Matthew says. "We must go."
Cordelia looks at me with an uneasy expression.
"Go where?"

"Into the heart of it all." I say, stealing Matthew's next line, throwing a smirk at him. 
He watches me with a bright green eyes before continuing.
"Brace yourselves. Warlocks can be as tricky as faeries if they set their minds to it.

We walk into the room that Anna, Malcolm and Hypatia are in.
The room is like a golden grotto, the whole place gleaming. 
Malcolm Fade smiles.

"Welcome, little Shadowhunters. Few of your kind ever see the inner chambers of Hypatia Vex."

I try not to snort, but a tiny giggle escapes my lips.
Everyone glances at me oddly, but we all advance to greet Hypatia.
I make my eyes wander, but I pause at a mermaid who is perched on Anna's lap.

"Arabella," Anna says in a crooning voice. "Why don't you explain your presence to the Shadowhunters?"
"I have not been on land in many years," Arabella says, swishing her blue-green hair to the side. "Since the accords were formed, to be exact."

Anna runs her hands through her hair and tiny fish are in it.
I blink, fascinated.
Anna mutters seducing words, and Arabella hops up to get more drinks.
Her gait is odd, but you can't expect too much from a mermaid.

I sit and watch as Cordelia explains herself to Hypatia.
Hypatia and Malcolm both look amused, and then her eyes turn to me.

"Why did you accompany Mr Fairchild, and Miss Carstairs here today, Miss...?"
"Herondale," I add.
Hypatia blinks.
"Herondale, you say? Wow that is an interesting tale."

I nod.
"It is indeed and that is a story for the future, but I'm afraid Cordelia has something better to say than I could ever."
Hypatia turns, and Cordelia has Cortana pointed at Arabella. Matthew pales significantly.

"She intended to poison you, and Mr Fade," Cordelia says. "I recognised the flower."
Anna snarls, up and out of her chair with a dagger in her hand, making sure Arabella didn't end her life.
Malcolm takes a bell from Hypatia, and rings it, while Hypatia talks down to Arabella.

A blue-skinned faerie appears.
"You rang, mistress?"
Hypatia nods thanks to Malcolm, before saying,
"Hyacinth. Have the guards take this mermaid and put her in the whispering room. We'll take her down to the Spiral Labyrinth later."

Hyacinth nods, before seeing me.
"Ah, Miss Raleigh, well met. It's been a while since Benedict's, hasn't it?"
I nod.
"It has, you have been well, I presume?"

"As well as I can. You haven't aged a day in thirty years."
Hyacinth winks, and I smirk back before two trolls enter and escort Arabella from the room.

I see the rest of the room watching me.
I shrug, allowing them to continue.

"Anna is right," Malcolm says. "A debt is a debt. What is it you wish for help with, Nephilim?" 
Matthew explains the story to the group, then they start bickering about Will and Tessa.

I grip my hands on the chair so I don't say anything. 
"I detest when Shadowhunters make sense," Hypatia sighs. "Ragnor Fell is back in London. He'll understand." 

"It does seem like a place to start," Matthew says. "How do we find him?"
"I will send him an urgent message, he'll find you."
Hypatia sinks back into her chair.
"Now go, I find myself wary of angels."

The four of us make our way back to the main salon, then to Berwick Street.

Cordelia takes a big gulp of the night air, as Hyacinth comes out.
"Raleigh!" She called, before coming over and handing me a velvet wrapped bundle. "Fade wished for you to have this. He is very grateful. Why is he grateful?"

Anna waves at her.
"I'll tell you in a moment."
Anna follows Hyacinth and I give Matthew the bundle.

Matthew whistles as he reveals fine faerie blades.

"I told you earlier!" Anna calls as we get to the carriage. "I never do court dull girls."