The Found Herondale

Chapter 32

Chapter 32
Eleanor's POV

I grab my cloak as soon as Olive leaves.

The guilt is racking through my brain.
I slip a sleeping gag into my pocket and head over to where Kahlen was sitting down.

I make a silent portal appear, and slip the gag around Kahlen's unsuspecting mouth.
She protests, before slumping into unconsciousness.

I send the both of us through the portal before anyone else can realise it.

~

We land under the Santa Monica bridge.

I put my fingerprint in, and it opens quickly.
I walk through, setting Kahlen on her bed before anyone else could realise that she had disappeared.

The other helper, Megan from New York, she's here with the same purpose as me.
We both can give subtle head nods or mouth words.

Her blonde hair runs down her back as I walk into the living room.

"Hey co-leader," I say formally, waiting to be dismissed.
"At ease, Blackthorn," She replies, and I relax.

I set my cloak down on the couch.
I sign to Meg, "Did you have to betray them too?"

Meg signs back, "Just my clan. Airy might never forgive me. But Rox understands."
I nod.
"Once they figure out what I did at the L.A institute, I'll be an outcast."

Meg snorts,
"That's what being a vampire does to you, shadowhunter."
I chuckle.

The rest of the littles start to awaken.
I worry for Kahlen.

Meg signs to me, "This will work, we're going to take down Addison's number one, ok?"
I nod.

My facade immediately slips back on as one of the young children walks in.
Her name is Maria, I think.
We found her near the Buenos Aires Institute.

"Buenos Dias, Maria," I say.
"Buenos Dias, Eleanor," She replies. 

Megan converses with her in Spanish.
I sigh, pulling out my phone.

Several texts litter my screen.
Mainly Dad, Mom, and my cousins.

Strings of guilt go through me.
They'll never forgive me.
Ever.

More young ones walkout.
I recognise a few.

Dani, around 5, hug-tackles me.
"Eleanor!"

I smile, hugging her back.

She runs off to play with her sisters.
Emi and Sadie. They all are little sweethearts.

I block everyone's numbers and delete the messages app.
It's easier this way.

"Eleanor!" The head leader calls.
Crap.
Zir back early.

Nobody knows who ze are.
We only call zir 'Leader, cloaked one, ma'am.'

I head into the office space.

"Yes, Leader?" I ask.
Ze turns to see me.
"Ah, Eleanor Blackthorn."

I flinch involuntarily.
I didn't realise how much that would affect me.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your escape from that retched Institute and your horrible family."
I laugh.
"Thank you, Leader. I couldn't wait to get out of there."

Ze smile.
"Keep up the good work, Lieutenant. You're dismissed."

I walk out.
What on earth have I done?