The Rise Of The Morningstar (Eng. Version)

Chapter 79 - Patience and Trust

Chapter 79 – Patience and Trust

--- 2 days before the start of the war. ---

The world smelled of rain and sweat. I hated the mix because it usually meant my father forced us to practice in the rain. There was nothing worse than feeling the dripping, cooling rain on your face, catching on your eyebrows and rolling down your cheeks while you burned with heat under your gear and wanted to get out of your skin. Sometimes, when he was having a merciful day, we were allowed to practice in the basement instead. Of course, he didn't have very many of those days.

Unlike last time, I didn't lose consciousness as Jace carried me through the dark alleys of Alicante. Strange, I thought to myself, eyes wide open and staring at the cloudy sky as if it would rip my soul away from me at any second. If we hadn't actually been in Heaven for hours, it shouldn't be so dark. Maybe it was the storm, maybe the angels were punishing us, maybe my brain was completely fucked.

The fact was, I felt every step Jace took in my limbs, no matter how well he tried to cushion me. Not that I cared much. My body was so drenched, chilled, and weakened that I could barely perceive it. Thick raindrops burst on my face, pelted down on me like tiny projectiles, rolling down the corners of my eyes as if I were shedding rivers of tears. Over and over, I had to blink to clear the water from my lashes. This would have been the perfect opportunity to cry without anyone noticing. But I didn't feel like crying. Thank goodness.

Jace slid to a stop in front of the Basilias' gates, and I felt us both sway under the slickness. Like a ship caught in a fierce storm at sea, lurching from one wave to the next. He was in a hurry, and it made him careless.

"Watch out!" Alec called from a few meters behind us as Jace tried to regain his balance.

"I've got you," Jace muttered. In the effort not to slip, his arms automatically tightened around me.

My head rested on his shoulder, and I wanted desperately to lean forward and bury my nose in his neck. Away from this place. But I lacked the strength. And my jaw was still burning.

Alec passed us, his black, rain-drenched hair flashing past us. He pressed against the wide winged doors to open them for Jace, who had no free hands. A step over the threshold, and the downpour abruptly stopped. The ancient walls of the Basilias provided us shelter, enclosing us in all directions. For the first time, this place I had long feared because of the Brotherhood seemed like a safe haven. A broken, relieved sigh escaped my scratchy throat.

Jace's adrenaline-widened eyes immediately locked onto me, and the bubble of my trance burst like one of the many raindrops outside the door, scattering into many droplets that briefly clouded my mind. As they cleared, any trace of helplessness vanished from Jace's honey-colored irises, distracted as he looked up.

There was a commotion outside the gate. Alec muttered something and then raised his voice, obviously annoyed. Although he tried to hide it under a hint of diplomacy. "Leave them alone, Adam. I think you've done enough damage."

"I'm not going." Adam had to stand a few steps away from us because the rain muffled his words. "You don't know what happened. I wanted to help her! Besides–"

"I'm taking Clary upstairs," Jace said to his Parabatai. "Make sure he doesn't enter this damn building. He won't come near Clary again, not even within ten meters."

As I lay in Jace's arms, facing only halfway towards the doors, his chest obscured my blurred field of vision. Alec didn't respond immediately, but Jace must have received some sign of understanding because his feet shifted under us, breaking their stiffness.

Today was a strange day. Even aside from being in Heaven, it seemed that every time someone wanted to act in my presence today, something came up to interrupt. This time was no exception to that rule.