Blackest Hearts

The Glass Portal

Charlie sat up with a groan, his back ached, his head pounded, his brain felt fuzzy it was all a huge mob of pain. Cole woke up next and rolled over smacking his head against the wall. 

"I hate Jenna." he groaned. 

"Good morning peasants, how did you sleep?" Jenna asked cheerfully walking into the living room. 

"How do you expect i slept, i had to sleep on the floor!" Cole snapped flying up from their blanket fort. 

"You should have slept on the couches then." Jenna countered with a frown.

"we couldn't, apperanlty Rex and Regina sleep on them." Charlie growled. 

"Well, whatever, get dressed we are going out." Jenna stated. 

"What time is it?" Charlie asked.

"early enough for us to sneak out without Max noticing. now let's go, we have to go to the institute." she ordered. 

Charlie and Cole hopped to their feet. Jenna was already dressed in her gear and she nodded happily seeing that they were finally up. Cole and Charlie changed quickly and slipped out the door. Rex watched him with his wolf eyes but stayed silent. 

They walked down the streets towards the institute. the few people that were outside payed them no attention. 

"What are we going to do when we get there? they probably have shadowhunters on the perimeter scouting for demon activity." Cole stated. 

"Or they are not." Charlie stated as they neared the insitute.

Nobody was there. Jenna opened the doors and let them inside. the blood was still in the process of getting cleaned up and Charlie grimaced feeling a twinge of pain, guilt and sadness. the message was still there. 

Cole patted Charlie on the shoulder in comfort and walked to the computers. 

"I'm going to look around. i'm going to see if there are any clues that the others might have missed." Jenna said softly. 

charlie nodded and she dissapppeared. 

"this is so weird." Cole stated. 

Charlie turned and walked over to him looking over the codes that were flashing across the screen. 

"What's wrong?" Charlie asked. 

"According to these records no one walked in or out of the institute they just appeared." Cole answered. 

"Hey guys you need to check this out." Jenna said running into the room. 

Both boys followed her up the stairs and into the library. scattered across the circular rug and black marble was shards of glass. Charlie bent down and picked up a piece examining it closer.

"Let me see." Cole stated reaching out for it. 

Charlie handed it to him and picked up another shard. 

"It looks like shards of a portal." he stated 

"That's impossible though, the records state that there were no portals created during the time of their estimated murder." Cole replied. 

"What if the thing was here before?" Jenna asked.

"No, we would have noticed. our parents would have noticed." Cole answered her. 

"Could it be a loose demon that we kept here for examining?' Charlie asked.

"No, the last one was shipped out two weeks ago, besides demons can't write." Cole answered. 

"Not by themselves no. but perhaps the demon wasn't acting alone."

the three of them spun around to see Max standing in the door way. he smiled at them and walked over to them, looking at the mess on the ground. 

"Only a few shadowhunters know how to make these kinds of portals." he mumbled.

"When did you get here? How did you get in here!" Jenna snapped.

"Through the front door, you did leave it open and i have been following you three when you thought you were 'sneaking out'. next time do try and be quieter." he answered. 

"you said only a few." Charlie said.. 

"Yes, old families that have secrets like these know how to do them. and of course skilled warlocks or very powerful feay." he answered. 

"We should tell the Clave." Charlie said. 

"I bet they already know, the thing we need to do is find the people who created this portal and why." Cole answered.

"I don't care why, i just want to run my ax through their neck." Jenna hissed. 

"Now now my dear, calm yourself, no one is getting decapitated today. i said that i would look after the three of you and so while you are in my care you will follow me." Max instructed. 

"And  if i say no?" Jenna questioned.

"Then i will have to force you to come which isn't as fun as it sounds for either of us." he answered. 

"Try it then. right here and now, because i am not going anywhere with you." Jenna stated folding her arms in front of her and leaning to one side.

Charlie smiled a little at her stubbornness. Cole rolled his eyes but watched Max who seemed a little worried. the look passed and he smiled lifting his hands up and closing his eyes. they all waited for a moment, nothing happened. Max grimaced and tried again but once again nothing worked. 

"i think i felt something!" Jenna exclaimed. 

Max looked up proud.

"Oh wait it was just my leg hurting from standing here waiting for you to work your magic." she replied. 

Cole stuffeled a laugh, Charlie grinned and Jenna sent Max a look of victory. he glared back at her.

"like i said before i am not going anywhere with you. now if you mind i'm going to find my parent's murderers." Jenna answered pushing past Max. 

Cole and Charlie followed after her. 

"Since it seems like i can't stop you i will just go along with you." Max said running up to them.