Game of Survival-Shadowhunters

Little Stunt

Echo stood with her body against Clary's door with her mind on alert. Echo couldn't shake that there was a secret between both Clary and Jace that they didn't want anybody else to know about. The Shadowdemon narrowed her eyes to try and hear what Clary and Jace were talking about, but it was difficult. The telepathy would go in and out. Echo was so distracted that she didn't noticed Isabelle's arrival until she touched Echo on the shoulder.

Echo gave a small intake of air and looked up at her sister-in-law.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Echo licked her lips before pushing off of the door, "Nothing." Echo kept her arms around herself as she walked away, but Isabelle was persistent.

The Shadowhunter gently took ahold of Echo's arm, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Echo shook her head and shrugged her shoulders as she let out a fake expression, "I'm fine, Iz. Really." Echo let out a smile as she pulled away from Isabelle and walked down the hall. She didn't have a destination; all she really wanted to do was walk. Echo, dressed in a simple black tank top, grey sweatpants and a grey sweater, walked the halls of the Institute.

There wasn't a purpose to her activity; she just needed to keep her mind and body active to keep from thinking about much of anything. Echo dragged her hand along the wall of the corridor and watched the way that her fingers left a small trail of red behind them. The mist was still fascinating to Echo; the mist was similar to the blue of the Seraph blade, but a little more haunting.

"Hey."

Echo flinched at the sudden shout. She turned around and saw Jace coming straight towards her with slight anger. Echo was confused; perhaps she had been caught listening to Clary and Jace's conversation. Jace came right up to Echo and didn't waste a breath.

"What was that yesterday?"

Echo was even more confused, "What? What was what?"

"At the Rite of Mourning," Jace was quick to answer.

Echo narrowed her eyes, "Jace, I'm not following."

The Shadowhunter let out a breath, "That little stunt you pulled? Because that was very classy."

Echo's mouth hung open, "My stunt?" Echo was appalled.

Jace swallowed, "Not everything needs to be about you."

Echo's eyes widened at the accusation, "You honestly think that I would take the attention away from the dead just so that I can be the center of it?" Echo scoffed, "I never took you for the accusatory type." Echo went to walk away, but Jace forcefully grabbed her arm to pull her back.

Jace looked down into Echo's red eyes, "Look, I don't know why you did it, but you ruined the ceremony. I hope you can fill the guilt."

Now, Echo was angry. She ripped her arm from Jace's grasp and let out a huff, "I ruined the ceremony? Do you honestly think that low of me?" Echo didn't wait for an answer, "I loved my mother. Do you really think that I would sabotage her funeral? Do you want to know the last thing I said to her? I told her that I didn't trust her enough to go anywhere with her, then I slammed the door in her face. That was my last memory of her and she died thinking I hated her!"

Echo took in a breath to slightly calm her words, but it was difficult. "When the souls of the dead rose, I felt every emotion and heard every thought that all four of those people experienced in their entire life. I'm sorry that I ruined the passing of the dead, but I didn't ask for this, Jace!" Echo spat his name with venom.

"I didn't ask to have these abilities and I am so sorry that they decided to deceive me when the souls were released. I am so sorry that I ruined the ceremony. Is that what you wanted to hear? That I am an attention seeker even in the worst of times? Well congratulations, Jace Wayland. I admit it. I seek the attention of others just so that I can be stared at and judged even more. I hope you are happy with my candor."

Echo's face was coated with angry tears as she told Jace her sarcastic truth. She quickly turned away in a huff but didn't have the will or the energy to teleport away from her supposed twin. As Echo walked away from Jace, she could feel the guilt and the shock eat away at him as he realized that he was wrong. Echo quickly walked away from the Shadowhunter with her heart still racing from her sudden anger. She couldn't believe that her own brother would accuse her of such a thing. It was heartbreaking to hear.

***

How Echo ended up standing in the middle of Aldertree's office, she honestly couldn't remember, but she was completely aware of the conversation. Echo held up the hand to Aldertree.

"Wait, hold on. Who are the Iron sisters?"

Aldertree let out a sigh, "The sisters create the weapons that you use in battle."

Echo crossed her arms and let a strained purse coat her lips, "Ah, you mean the ones that can kill me?"

Aldertree gave a strained nod, "I have already told Isabelle that you cannot go."

Echo narrowed her eyes at Isabelle, "And why was I considered for the mission again?"

Isabelle took a step forward, "Because you are Valentine's daughter and you can also get us there."

Echo gave a small scoff, "You just need me to get you there. I see." Echo licked her lips, "Even if I wanted to go. I don't know where the Citadel is."

"You're not going."

Echo had to admit that she agreed with Aldertree, "You will never hear me say this again, but I agree with Aldertree."

Isabelle let out a grunt, "Aldertree, I did as you asked, now do this one thing for me."

Echo narrowed her eyes at the pair suddenly curious about the prior exchange of information.

Aldertree let out a sigh, "I am uncertain if she can even enter into the Citadel. She may be to—" Aldertree's words suddenly tanked as he thought of a word to explain Echo.

Echo gave a scoff, "Demonic? That's what you wanted to say."

Aldertree pulled in a breath, "She may quite possibly be expelled from the Iron Sisters."

Isabelle shook her head, "I'm willing to take that chance. Are you?"

Isabelle looked to Echo, to which she received a shrug of her shoulders, "I mean, to go piss off a bunch of Shadowhunters? Sure, I'm in." Echo gave a smirk as Aldertree shook his head, "I will allow for her to accompany you on the mission, if and only if, we do not discuss her involvement."

Echo let her lip pout in sarcasm, "Oh, do you not trust me? Join the club."

Isabelle had a small smile on her face, "Let's go meet the Iron Sisters."