Valentine Morgestern

Valentine Morgenstern Part 2

A few weeks passed and I turned eighteen. I found myself more and more tempted by Valentine's offer to join The Circle or maybe even just attend a meeting but I decided I'd let him come to me and request my presence once more. Opportunity arose in an after school gym class. Valentine often assisted at those. I stood opposite the target and threw knives at it, watching as the sunk in before closing my eyes and throwing them again. As I listened I heard the thunk, thunk, clink as one knife struck another.

A single clap broke my focus. "You're talented," a familiar voice said admiringly.

"I try," I said with a smile but a blush floated to my cheeks highlighting my joy at his compliment.

"Would you reconsider my offer to join The Circle?" Valentine asked as he raised one eyebrow.

"I suppose I could come to one meeting," I said softly. I'd gotten exactly what I wanted, he asked me to reconsider joining The Circle. I don't know why but I was curious to see what everyone spoke of in hushed whispers. Maryse thought he was wonderful and Robert thought he had a point. Obviously he had something to offer when Lucian was interested, Lucian was wise enough not to get mixed up in something if it was beyond his depth.

"Wonderful, we meet tonight at eleven in the abandoned training room," Valentine murmured. It was almost like he was confessing a secret, one but a privileged few were a part of.

I nodded, his dark black eyes seemed to hold something of a secret in them. He was gorgeously handsome. Everyone I knew fawned over his looks. He was intelligent and had been known to correct the teachers. However there was something dark about him, something I knew I did not like. He smirked at me and turned off towards far end of the gym. I carried on throwing the knives. Lucian made his way over to me and began throwing knives.

"Jocelyn, I saw you talking to Valentine," he said in hushed tones.

"So?" I said.

"So, I feel like you're going to join the circle," Lucian replied. He threw another knife and it hit the dead centre of the target, something Lucian struggled with three months before. Something he'd struggled with before he joined the circle.

"When did you get so good?" I teased as I threw another knife but it missed hitting the wood above. I frowned.

"Valentine helped me, he actually asked me to become his parabati," Lucian confessed. I dropped the knife I was holding and looked at him in shock. Why didn't he tell me sooner?

"What did you say?" I asked, stumbling over my words.

"I said yes," Lucian replied.

"When?" I asked.

"Just a few minutes ago," Lucian said.

I nodded. He hadn't been hiding anything from me.

"At least you'll be getting a skilled parabati. I'll never have to worry about never seeing you again," I smiled at the thought, Lucian would be safe forevermore.

Lucian nodded and smiled at me. We trained for a little longer before turning to change and walk home. I threw my green coat with the brass buttons on and pulled the wide hood up over my head to stop my hair getting wet. My red hair became unruly when damp so it was best to keep it covered. Lucian was leant against the wall waiting on me.

"C'mon Jocelyn!" He called whilst he laughed. Lucian was handsome when he smiled, it softened his features and made his eyes glitter.

I grinned and hurried towards him. We jogged most of the way to mine bursting through the door in fits of giggles. Dinner was being served at the table and I fell into my seat and dug in. That evening flew by and soon I was tiptoeing out at half ten to reach the abandoned training room.

I crept into the room at five to eleven and noticed the sheer numbers of The Circle. There were more here than I'd imagined. At least thirty Shadowhunters. I made my way towards Lucian and he leant against the wall. He slung his arm over my shoulder and I rested my head against him.

Valentine stepped out before us and he grinned, his eyes scanned the room and he nodded towards some.

"Welcome! Tonight as we gather once more, we recall our primary aims, together we will revolutionise the Clave and prune the weak Shadowhunters from it. We will use the mortal cup to great more of the greater race, the finer race, the superior race. The race of Raziel! The race of the Nephilim. The corruption of the Clave has led to the mingling with Downworlders and it was those very Downworlders who killed my father. The Clave believes us to be obedient to serving mundanes. However I ask you, "How can we serve mundanes if they know nothing about us?" Why shouldn't the mundanes know there is a force as mighty as the Nephilim protecting them? We protect them from demons and what thanks to we get? None! They don't know we exist! We should be free to walk tall and proud in image of Raziel. I propose that we demand that the Clave begin to make more mundanes Shadowhunters and make all privy to the secrets of the shadow world. Why not create more Shadowhunters to make more of our elite race? Why must we keep all this power for ourselves? Selfishly we hoard the secrets of the shadow world. Why should we not share them with all?" Valentine's voice rose to a shout and there were people clapping and cheering, calling agreements. With a single look he silenced them. "Tonight, I propose we each take an oath, one of loyalty to each other and The Circle for now we are complete. Who wishes to take the oath first?" Valentine enquired.

Lucian stepped forward, "I will."

"Lucian repeat after me, "I hereby render unconditional obedience to The Circle and its principles... I will be ready to risk my life at any time for The Circle, in order to preserve the purity of the bloodlines of Idris, and for the mortal world with whose safety we are charged." Valentine murmured.

"Luke and I will also take the oath of parabati tonight," Valentine declared.

They made their pledge and soon most had made their oath to the circle. I stepped forward and made mine having been enthralled and persuaded to join.

"I hereby render unconditional obedience to the Circle and its principles... I will be ready to risk my life at any time for the Circle, in order to preserve the purity of the bloodlines of Idris, and for the mortal world with whose safety we are charged." I pledged my loyalty.

We were leaving not long before one. Valentine touched my arm lightly on my way out the door. Even that very slight touch sent shivers down my spine and made my heart flutter.

"Jocelyn," he said. The way he said my name made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

"Yes?" I replied. I couldn't help but stop.

"Would you want to, maybe go out?" Valentine asked.

I nodded in delight. He leant down and I tilted my head up. He pressed his lips to mine in a second of an electrifying bliss. My heart side up and he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. I seemed to fit perfectly into his arms. I ran my hands across his back and his hands slid down onto my ass as he deepened the kiss. I memorised how he tasted and the feel of his lips against mine, never wanting to forget it incase it never happened again. When we broke apart I felt myself thrumming with excitement and my stomach doing flips.

"I've always wanted to do that," he said gently as he brushed a strand of hair from my face.

I giggled pathetically in response. I felt his warm palm cup my cheek and I let myself just enjoy it. My skin tingled beneath his touch. My cheeks were probably a flaming red but I didn't care. My red hair meant that my face just lit up like a tomato. I smiled softly at him and I saw his gorgeous lips curve to smile back at me. His deep black eyes gazed into mine and I swore I was seeing a side of him that no one else had ever seen. I swore I'd seen the gentler side of Valentine.

"Care to accompany me on Saturday to the ball?" Valentine asked.

The thing about Alicante was we were a little trapped in the past and hosted a school ball almost monthly as a way to socialise. I'd heard mundanes went to something called a nightclub.

"Yes, I'd love to," I replied.

Valentine grinned and I smiled back. He looked delighted and inside I was just about dancing with excitement and wrestling it so it wouldn't show.