Colliding Hearts #Wattys2017

Chapter 14- The Man

"I thought you said I couldn't get food." Emerson teased as she paused from eating her Waffle Ding.

It was four deep fried waffle bites that were shoved onto a long wooden stick, with powdered sugar sprinkled on top and your fruit of choice was also placed on the stick; Emerson's choice had been two strawberries on the bottom and four blue berries on top. It was a delicious treat that she had seen being passed to different people who had ordered it from a street vendor not long after they had left her and Magnus's apartment.

"Just be happy." Alec sighed as he kept a watchful eye for any threat.

It wasn't everyday he walked around the streets where the mundanes could see him and even with his new found toleration for them, he still didn't like them seeing him. Emerson stayed in step with him, her having stopped asking for food after he bought her the weird treats she had wanted.

"Happy is a state of mind, last I checked my mind is a little jumbled right now from the stress of having my mom die in my arms to moving in with a high warlock, to finding out not only do I have a twin, a birth mother and a step father but I'm not even a normal Shadowhunter like my blood family. So being happy is a little difficult, do you think Magnus could make these?" Emerson changed from complaining to talking about food. She hated talking about her problems and feelings so she easily transitioned back to talking about food. Alec, who sensed her sudden change only nodded at her blunt response.

"I'm sure," Alec started to say just as his eyes caught sight of something he had been hoping he wouldn't see, at least not with Emerson.

Just up ahead, ducking into an alley with a defenseless mundane girl was the target they were suppose to be going after tonight. It was shape shifting demon, and Alec was surprised it hadn't changed it's appearance since they took surveillance of it last night.

The demon had taken the appearance of a well dressed man who carried himself. That must have been why he was able to so easily lure the mundane girl into an alley all alone. Alec groaned and looked to see Emerson already staring up at him, chewing the last of her blueberries.

"You going to take care of that?" Emerson questioned in a simple tone. She had seen the flickering image of the true form of the demon. It had made her want to run the other way but she felt worried for the girl. Alec frowned as he gave her a stern look.

"You seen it?" Alec pressed as he gripped her elbow and lead her further down the street and towards the opposite alley of where the demon and girl had went.

Alec knew the demon liked to talk but he still wasn't certain of what he should do. He couldn't just go off after it and leave Emerson. He didn't have his bow and arrow so it wasn't like he could launch a long range attack. He only had one seraph blade tucked into the waistband of his jeans and hidden with his jacket.

"The demon that keeps flicking between it and a man? Hard to miss, I'm not going to have to fight am I?" Emerson questioned with a suspicious tone as she eyed him. He backed up, staring at her in shock as worry pooled in his chest.

"No." He spoke in a stern tone, shaking his head as if what she asked was insane. But he paused as he processed her entire answer, she could see it's true form flickering? Could it be an ability of The Anahera?

"I don't think she's going to make it." Emerson spoke in a worried tone, pulling Alec from his thoughts. His eyes scanned the streets just as a loud piercing scream filled the air. Alec gripped Emerson's shoulders and pushed her against the wall.

"Do not move until I come and get you." He ordered, pulling a stele from his jacket pocket and activated the cloaking rune.

He paused for a moment before handing her the stele and pulled out his blade. The blade appeared and startling Emerson as a blue blade appeared out of thin air. She tightened her grip on the silver pencil looking object. Her heart was starting to race as she realized that Alec was about to leave and fight some demon on his own. Emerson briefly recalled Magnus describing Alec as being the cautious one which made her even more worried about what it was he was planning.