Leah Carstairs (Book #2)

The Fiery Trial

December, 2009

Months passed, but the hardships the Blackthorns had to face didn't reduce. Julian's face became gaunt and haggard day by day. The painful frustration that he had initially exhibited upon the idea of fathering his younger siblings, was no longer there.

It seemed as though he had given up fighting and had accepted his fate - allowed his own life to crush him from inside out.

Unlike Emma - who liked to beat the crap out of her problems and deal with hardships through violence and sass - Julian didn't try to escape from the difficulties in his life. He stood still and let his problems tear him from inside, and feed out of his youth and sanity, without protest.

A lot of letters were exchanged in between the Clave, the Institute and the City of Bones, and finally it was decided that Emma and Julian's Parabatai ritual would take place mid-winter 2009.

Upon a hasty last minute suggestion by Leah, Emma decided to invite Clary Fairchild - and her best friend Simon Lewis - to witness the ceremony. In fact, the decision was made at such an eleventh hour, the 2 didn't even have the time to personally call up Clary and Simon and inform them of their required presence.

"Seriously? Clary Fairchild? Out of all other people in this world, Clary Fairchild?!" Leah shook her head in annoyance.

"Come on, she's not that bad!" Emma insisted. "Besides, she herself plans on becoming Parabatai with Simon Lewis sooner or later, and I felt it would benefit her if she saw what a Fiery Trial looked like."

"Very thoughtful of you." Leah remarked sarcastically.

Emma dug her arms into the armholes of her coat, and winced momentarily due to the long, self-constructed scar on her arm. "Be careful!" Leah exclaimed.

Emma cautiously shrugged on her coat, and spoke, without meeting her sister's eye. "I still wish you would come with us. It's going to be lonely event without you."

"I can't. I have my share of responsibilities in LA."

"You will take care of the children, right?"

"It's the least I can do." Leah promised.

"Julian . . . is really worried about them." Emma sighed, picking up her gym bag.

No, Leah's ghost thought. For once, it's not them he is worried about. It is himself - his Parabatai and his future, that scares him.

***

The 2 met Simon and Clary just outside the gates of the Bone City. Clary looked delighted to see them (and, Julian noticed, appeared quite moved by the drastic change in the orphans, since the Dark War). Simon, though bereft of any memories of Emma and Julian, was friendly as well.

They asked her how the other kids were doing, back in LA. Julian answered in polite civility. Emma asked Simon how he himself was finding the Academy, and was briefly amused to hear that Simon sucked in most traits expected of Shadowhunters. And, that the Academy was one of the worst places he had ever been to - after Hotel Dumont.

Clary carefully inquired about Leah, and later, Emma - powerfully restraining a blush - asked how Jace was doing. Jem too made his presence in due time, and soon the whole party was led inside the Silent City's ghostly corridors.

Emma and Julian stood in a ring, in the centre of a vast circular room that nearly threatened to make you dizzy, while all other Silent Brothers covered the perimeter of the room.

A dazzling white fire started burning around the 2. Clary let out a shrill shudder, but said no more, as the Silent Brothers instructed Emma and Julian to recite the Parabatai Oath.

Leah's silent warning resonated in Julian's head - rendering him to hesitate. Emma appeared sure - eager, even - to become his Parabatai; her only motive was to stick with her childhood best friend, no matter where and what conditions they lived under. And Parabatai was the most agreeable solution to that.

Yet Julian found himself stressing at the eleventh hour, of whether it would ideally be good for him and Emma to be Parabatai. Afterall it was a lifetime deal - not one that could be bent and twisted at instances.

Clary, Simon and Emma stood waiting for him to begin. Even the Brothers silently nodded at him to commence the oath. There was a great claw clutching his throat for a few very long, strained seconds, giving him a last opportunity to consider his decision, before Julian spoke "Entreat me not to leave thee."

"Or return from following after thee." Emma completed.

"For whither thou goest, I will go. And where thou lodgest, I will lodge."

"Thy people shall be my people." Emma Carstairs sounded hopeful and confident.

"And thy God my God." Julian's heart sunk deeper.

"Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. The Angel do so to me, and more also, if aught . . ."

"Death part thee and me." Julian finished.

You may rune each other, the Silent Brothers ordered in unison. 

Emma and Julian brought forward their steles and carefully runed each other - Emma on her arm and Julian just below his collar bone. The runes shone of a divine golden colour - as if they were inked of sunlight; and they continued glowing while the Silent Brothers recited a traditional Latin Parabatai incantation.

Ultimately, they were pronounced as Parabatai; the fiery ring extinguished, and the 4 - along with Jem Carstairs - exited the City of Bones.

The 2 were greeted by a series of sentimental congratulations from Clary, Simon and Jem, once they were on human grounds again - which Emma received with flushed grace and Julian with curt civility.

On their way to Alicante on a traditional carriage, Clary excitedly told them about the party that awaited them in the City of Glass. And though, Jem, Julian and Emma were hardly in the mood for a party, Emma did think she would enjoy seeing Jace Herondale in Idris.

Almost as if Julian had read her mind, he whispered privately "Let me guess; the only reason you look mildly interested in the party, is because Jace is going to be there."

Emma snorted, and then etched on her friend's forearm - COME ON. ANYONE COULD DO WITH SOME GOOD FOOD AND DANCING, RIGHT NOW.

Julian merely shrugged. WELL, AT LEAST I WON'T BE GOING TO THE ACADEMY NOW, Emma reminded.

YOU'D HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET JACE IF YOU HAD ATTENDED THE ACADEMY, THOUGH.

Emma lightly slapped his arm. "Seriously, Jules?!"

Julian chuckled. NO, I WAS ONLY KIDDING. I'D RATHER YOU STAY IN LA, WITH US.

I WILL. WE'RE PARABATAI NOW. NOTHING CAN SEPARATE PARABATAI.

Yeah. Nothing, except the way I feel about you, Julian thought sadly.

A/N : HELOOOO!! Crap. Forgot an L in Hello. So, HELLOOOOO!! Waddup? I know it's been a lifetime since I last posted. But, I'm SORRY! Sorry for not posting, and sorry for forgetting the L in hello. But I hope you liked this chapter, because my heart is sure breaking coz they became Parabatai and are later going to fall in love. *cries* *dies*
But, Hasta la vista, for now! (Woah, I know Spanish).
~Lila