Scars of her Blood • Shadowhunters

Chapter 42: The original Source

Half an hour later, Celia raised her hand and knocked on the front door of the small town house outside of Trenton, New Jersey. It took a moment until there was any movement in the house. Ophelia would likely be incredibly nervous right now. A curtain in a dark window was moved a slight bit. Celia did not look up on purpose. A few seconds later, the door opened very slowly with a creaking sound.

"Cinco por plata?", Ophelia asked quietly from the dark hallway behind the door.

"Seis para oro.", Celia answered the code phrase. Ophelia let out a breath of relief and opened the door completely, flicking on the lights in the hallway as well.

"I just had to make sure, I'm sorry."

"That's okay. That's what these phrases are for", Celia smiled lightly and stepped into the hallway, Benicio following after her.

"Hi Benni...", Ophelia breathed and went to hug him. Benicio flinched when she wrapped her arms around him and Ophelia recoiled immediately.

"Is everything alright?", she asked. Benicio nodded:
"Just got stabbed yesterday..."

Ophelia eyes widened.

"Maybe you could heal it up a little?", Celia suggested. She still felt extremely bad about what had happened and there was probably no other Warlock she would trust with healing Benicio aside from Ophelia. But Ophelia bit her lip instead of an answer and walked down the hallway into the living room.

"You guys want tea or something?", she asked. Benicio and Celia exchanged a look. Something was off about Ophelia today, but neither of them could put their finger on it what was wrong.

They followed her into the living room.

"Are you alright?", Celia asked. Ophelia nodded rapidly:
"Yeah, sure. Just a bit jumpy, since the Circle is back and all.", she turned to face them again, "so, tea or not?"

Celia sighed and sat down on the couch:

"Sure."

Ophelia nodded and disappeared into the adjacent kitchen. Celia heard how she turned on the kettle and then rummaged through the cupboards to take out some cups and tea leaves. Celia frowned and exchanged another look with Benicio. Ophelia had never liked cooking with magic, but a pot of tea? Even she would normally do that with a snap of her fingers.

Benicio finally sat down too, opposite of Celia. Each one of his movements was extremely stiff.

"Are you alright?", Celia asked. She did not like it when she felt how Benni's heart was beating faster when he looked at Ophelia. The two of them did not have a healthy relationship. If one could even call it a relationship. Benicio did not even answer Celia, he was so lost in thought.

"Benni!", she snarled. His head whipped around, he starred at her as if she had just woken him from a deep sleep.

"Are you alright?", Celia repeated, sounding slightly annoyed. He had a thing for Ophelia and it made him inattentive and slow. Weak.

"I'm fine...", Benicio finally answered, "it's just that last time I was here, we, uhm – never mind.", he stopped himself from continuing. Celia rolled her eyes:
"Yeah, I get it... No need to go into details."

Ophelia walked back into the living room, a tray with a three steaming cups of tea in her hands. She placed it down on the low table in between the couches and sat down next to Benicio:

"It is still really hot, please be careful.", Ophelia carefully placed her hands around one of the cups and pulled her legs to her body, "so. Why are you here? You usually don't come here unless something is up."