Resurrection (Shadowhunter Series: Vessels of Raziel)

Chapter 2: The Sun, the Moon, and the Truth

Three things can not be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. -Buddha

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Despite the fact that it was pouring rain, Ian was walking in the middle of the street next to his parabatai, Nathan. The weather reminded him of when they had lived in London, England, and Ian could almost imagine that they were there. Their hair was soaking wet, along with their clothing, but umbrellas were impractical for the job they were on. Rumors had been circling about the increase of demonic activity in the area, and being some of the only Shadowhunters with a permanent residence in Seattle, the brothers-in-arms had taken up the job.

The road they were on was empty and unpaved, heading towards a small wooded area. Ian looked around him, thoughts of curiosity running through his head.

"Speak up, mate, you're mumbling." Nathan said suddenly, his accent ringing out into the night, and Ian laughed with a shake of his head, some of his dark hair falling into his eyes.

"I wasn't meanin' to say any of that out loud, but what are demons doing so far away from the city?" Ian's voice was clear despite the rain, and he saw Nathan shrug out of the corner of his eye.

"Bloody hell if I know, but do we know what kind they are?" Ian looked over to his best friend, meeting his eyes, which was something Ian had always been fascinated with. Nathan's eyes were two different colors; one was green while the other was horizontally split between green and blue, the condition called sectoral heterochromia.

"Raveners from what Damien was told," Ian pulled Nathan to the side of the road as a car sped past, then they slowly made their way back to the middle. "I just hope that holds true."

"Why did we accept this mission anyways? I was in the middle of my book, it was just getting to the good part." Ian nearly laughed at how grumpy his brother sounded, but stopped suddenly as they reached the end of the street.

There was a house that sat up a sloped driveway, and Ian felt his heart speed up as he took the entire scene in. Runes and wards were spray painted all over the outside of the house, and a fire raged through a side window with an explosion.

"Only warlock fires can withstand rain like this." Nathan's head snapped to the open doorway as the familiar sound of a demon pierced the night. With a nod, the two boys sprinted for the house, bursting inside behind a Ravener. Ian saw a feminine figure in the dark, facing a petrified boy, and he reached for his seraph blade as the scorpion-like demon rolled over onto its feet.

"Gadreel." Ian whispered as he heard Nathan mutter the name, "Samandriel." At that, the blades lit up with a holy fire, giving a pastel blue tint to their faces.

"Scarlette, no!" The boy the girl had been talking to shouted, and the girl spun around as the demon lunged its tail at her. Ian went to move, but Nathan beat him to it, slicing his blade through the demon's back. Ian smiled with pride as the demon disintegrated and folded in on itself.

"Nice one, Nate." Ian high fived Nathan, vaguely registering the girl being spun again. He turned his head as he felt a light nudge on his arm, and looked at Nathan, whose eyes were swirling with a mix of confusion and shock.

"She's a Shadowhunter." Ian followed Nathan's gaze as the girl took a step back, stumbling over herself. Ian's veins froze over as he recognized the figure of a cursive 'z' on the back of her neck. A blocking rune, he thought to himself. He saw her legs buckle, and quick as a flash, Ian caught her with an arm under her back.