𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐄

𝐱𝐢𝐯. 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

Alia was livid. She stormed down the halls of the Institute, ignoring Julian calling after her. If he knew what had made her so angry.

No one can help you here, Nephilim

The warlocks' words still echoed in her ears. Alia just couldn't believe what he had told her- how in the world had the high warlock of New York not been able to bring forth her memories? Lucius had insisted that it probably had had something to do with her former life, but since they had become parabatai not so long ago, she wasn't so sure if he was telling the truth.

Alia stopped in front of a door to a room that looked empty. When she opened it, she was surprised to see a red-haired woman sobbing on a chair inside. The room was plain with faded containment runes around the edges. A brass table stood in the middle with two chairs on opposite sides.

"This was an interrogation room once," the woman said, wiping tears out of her eyes. They were bright green.

Alia stepped inside, a little unsure of herself. She hadn't met many Shadowhunters in her time, but she could differentiate which ones were more powerful than others. This woman definitely was one of the more powerful ones. She beckoned Alia to come so she sat down next to her.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Alia Starkweather"
"Clary Fairchild"

Alia stared. She couldn't believe who she was seeing. Lucius never talked about her, but of course she had been taught about Clary Fairchild and the Dark Wars.

"But shouldn't you be in Idris getting married or something?" she burst out. She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. Obviously, something had gone wrong, or they wouldn't be sitting here now.

Clary smiled sadly. "Sometimes, life doesn't go as planned. Like now."

Alia just stared. She didn't like staring, but she just couldn't help herself. Here one of the most famous and powerful Shadowhunters in history was sitting on an abandoned room, mascara running down her face.

"I was going to get married to the love of my life, Jace Herondale. I had no problems, nothing. And then-" Her voice broke.

Alia felt anxiety creep up her spine and settle on the back of her neck. She wasn't good with these kinds of things. She felt helpless, awkward. But apparently, Clary didn't want comfort. She took a deep shaky breath, and started speaking again:

"I suppose things with me and Jace haven't really been very stable- like ever. First, we were siblings, then we weren't. And then there was the war. Now we have peace, but I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. Well, it wasn't good for us. It didn't start escalating 'till about a year ago, maybe more. When-" She took another shaky breath but the next words she spoke were full of loathing. "Lucius Herondale," she spat.

"Lucius?" Alia asked incredulously. Clary looked at her. "You know him?"

"He's my- well, never mind. It's not important."

Her green eyes flashed. "No, tell me: who is Lucius Herondale to you?"

Her stare was piercing.

"He's my parabatai. I was found in the New York Institute a year ago. I have no memory of my life before that. Lucius helped me cope with my amnesia and coached me in being a Shadowhunter. He was the one who made my ascension possible. I-"

Clary cut her off. "When exactly were you found?"

"The second of October, why?"

Her eyes gleamed again. Alia shifted uncomfortably again. Suddenly she wasn't so sure she liked Clary anymore. She had a sort of- well, slightly unhinged aura surrounding her.

"I appreciate the things Lucius did for you, but it doesn't seem like he's told you the truth. Know this about him: Lucius always portrayed himself as an innocent bystander, but I assure you: he is not- he never was. He will lie, cheat, and do anything in his power to keep himself distanced from any sort of trouble, even when he should be in the centre of it."
The world spun. Alia gasped. The only thing she wanted now was to go.

She got up and backed away slowly. Clary was laughing quietly.
"Before you go, I should give you something." Alia flinched as the older woman came towards her. She pulled up Alia's sleeve and held up her Stele. Before Alia could do anything, she felt it against her skin, retracing one of her runes.

Alia pulled her wrist away. She looked up at Clary who was smiling.

She looked down at her wrist and suddenly remembered something she had been taught about Clary Fairchild- she had the ability to create new runes or enhance old ones.

The rune on her left wrist burned slightly as Alia stared at it.

It was a Mnesymone- a memory rune