Colliding Hearts #Wattys2017

Chapter 41- Not Our Time

Emerson's heart pounded in her ears, sweat glistened on her forehead, as strands of her hair stuck to her neck. She brushed the bangs from her forehead and let out an annoyed puff of air as her green eyes darted along the sidewalk. Her stomach twisted with worry and her thoughts were muddled, as if she couldn't focus on one thought. Worry and fear had filled her, prompting her to wake from a restful sleep.

She had searched for Alec but after finding everyone was asleep and Jace was refusing to speak to her, she left. She had grabbed Alec's leather jacket and a pair of her orange converse and left in her pajamas. She didn't care for the cold air or for how rash her actions had been, her mark burned and she was worried so she simply did what she always done, followed her instincts.

She had somehow ended up lost with the morning sun rising and her legs aching from how long she had been walking. She cursed herself for not at least bringing her phone with her. She had no clue where she was and she had taken so many turns and walked down so many different streets it was nearly impossible for her to retrace her steps.

She came to a stop as she realized the alley she was currently near, it had been the one she and Clary had been ambushed in and had ran down trying to run from the demons. She grimaced at the memory of the pain she had endured and she wondered how it was that of all places she had ended up here. She rubbed her eyes with the sleeve, the jacket being so large on her and the more she thought about the jacket, the lonelier she and worried she began to feel.

"It's a strange thing, the bond the mark creates." A smooth voice filled her ears, sounding from behind her.

She turned and saw a young man with golden blonde hair that was reached the nape of his neck and bangs that were parted to the sides. His skin was ivory and he had a few days of growth on his face as his eyes were a dark ocean blue that seemed to flicker with black hues. He was dressed in a black button down shirt, black dress pants and black dress shoes.

He wore a golden waist coat and his hands were tucked into the pockets, a lazy look was in his gaze. Emerson could feel that there was something both powerful and familiar about his presence. She narrowed her eyes as she stuffed her hands in the jacket pockets, her left hand tightly griped her stele, thankful that she had at least thought to grab it instead of her phone.

"You always were paranoid of everything when he wasn't around, then again we all were, and its funny isn't it? Powerful beings such as ourselves being reduced to paranoid children when our guardians are not around, I suppose it's what our father wanted, then again unlike our younger siblings we never gave much thought to our father's reasoning. We didn't have too, it was such simpler times, when the world was so young and mankind was just finding their legs, when the Shadow World was the only world." The man spoke.

His voice washed over Emerson in a calming tone, there was a certain coldness about his tone but it seemed to not take away from the calmness. She found it comforting, despite the confusion his words caused though if she were being honest she wasn't full of much confusion and she wondered if it was due to Rhamiel.

"It has been a very long time my sister, you as beautiful as ever." The man spoke and Emerson, without a second thought nodded her head as her mouth opened and words fell from her lips.

"Kenelm, the Enochain Angel of Death, I thought you were all gone, Emily, Gerlinde was looking for all of you. She said the guardians were waking up." Rhamiel spoke she didn't like taking over the other part of her soul but she knew in order for her to find their Guardian she would have to take full control. Kenelm simply nodded as he walked forward and together they continued walking down the street.

"Gerlinde was correct though I'm afraid we won't be able to meet with our guardians for some time. When you and Ambriel returned to the basic form a war broke out I'm sure you're aware, the war of Heaven as it's been called. Father requested that we go into hiding and remain separated from our guardians until the Grail was located." Kenelm spoke, he was grateful to be speaking with Rhamiel, though he would love to have spoken more with Emerson, he knew for the time being that would have proven to be pointless, especially since Rhamiel had sent out a silent message letting all know that Emerson and Alec had decided to live as normal Shadowhunters.

"The Grail? Why do I have a feeling you're not speaking of the Mortal Cup, I thought Ambriel, Wyvrs, Yueng and I hid it long ago." Rhamiel commented as more mundanes began to enter the sidewalk, the sun now high in the sky and it seemed another normal day in the mundane world.

"That Grail and you should know better than anyone that the Grail can only be hidden for so long. In the matter of your dear Ambriel I'm afraid our old friend Satran has him, it would seem we were not the only ones to hear your wakening." Kenelm spoke as the pair came to a stop in front of a bus station.

"If Satran has Alec then he may be looking for the Grail." Rhamiel spoke in annoyance as she could feel Emerson asking what that meant for Alec.

"Remind me again why we can't meet our guardians or one another for that matter?" Rhamiel questioned as a greyhound bus pulled up and the doors slid open. Emerson was now fighting for control and Rhamiel knew she only had a few more seconds before she would lose total control and risk Emerson keeping Kenelm from his mission.

"It not yet our time to return, it is best to let Emerson and Alec go on this journey, let them rediscover one another, after all we knew this day would come, though I do highly suggest letting Emerson find Alec, there's no telling to what lengths Satran will go to to get what he wants. Until our time my sister, go in heavenly peace." He spoke the final words in their native tongue and Rhamiel smiled warmly, repeating the words back to him as he stepped onto the bus and the doors closed and the bus drove off. She waited, mentally trying to get Emerson to stop fighting, to give her enough time to locate their guardian.

'Will we find Alec in time?"' Emerson questioned and Rhamiel sighed, her gaze moving upwards to the clear blue sky.

"You will, Kenelm was right, Ambriel and I need to let you and Alec live, after all, and it's what was written. All you need to do is find Alec, learn about the Grail, find it and keep it safe. I'm afraid your adventure for you and your newly formed friends and family has only begun." Rhamiel replied as she began running off in the direction her mark led her in. In time the pair would be able to track the other using their mark.

Rhamiel had brought them back to the institute, shouting for the others that Alec was missing and was in trouble. She quickly took her stele and in a rash moment carved the coordinates to his location before she fainted. Jace had caught Emerson just before she had hit the ground, Izzy had instantly gone to the weapons rack with Simon at her heels and the couple began grabbing weapons. Clary crouched next to Jace who has eased Emerson onto the floor just as Maryse and Jocelyn appeared, worry in the older woman's eyes.

"Why isn't she waking up? Who would take Alec?" Clary questioned in worry as Jace shook his head, guilt consuming him. He should have stopped Alec from leaving or at the very least went with Emerson when she came to him.

"I don't know, we'll take her to the infirmary and then head out, she carved coordinates on the wall." Jace replied as he went to lift Emerson in his arms but he moved back as she shot up gasping.

Her eyes were wide and her head spun from being forcibly taken over by the other part of her soul. The conversation with Kenelm and Rhamiel filtered through her mind but all thought screeched to a stop as she felt as if her energy was being drained and her eyes rolled back and she collapsed once more. Jace caught her and suddenly the room seemed slight darker than before and no one knew why.