Searching for Safety

Chapter 13

 I woke up as someone gently shook my shoulder, opening my eyes and sitting up slowly. I looked around at the car and noticed only Ryder was beside me.

"Where'd everyone go?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Inside, Clary and Alec were getting hungry so we stoped to get some food and use the bathrooms." He said unbuckling me. I nodded still sleepy and opened my door. He walked next to me as we went into the truck stop, so close our arms kept brushing against each other.

"Sleeping Beauty has awoken! Did we miss true love's kiss or did you just shake her?" Clary asked teasingly as we reached the table they were sitting at. My face flushed a bright pink and I rubbed my arm looking down as I chuckled lightly.

"And if you did miss it?" Ryder countered, "Would you be jealous it wasn't you?" Izzy and Ryder laughed as Clary rolled her eyes. I started to sit down, but Alec pulled the chair away.

"Get some food, you need to eat." He said, not looking up from his food in front of him. His face was blank and he seemed to be zoning out.

"I'm not hungry." I said quietly. He stood and and grabbed my wrist, pulling me so I'd follow him away from the table.

"You need to eat. You're going to need as much energy as possible if something happens, and to prove to Magnus that you're who you say you are." He said lowly. I looked down, I could hear the uneasiness in his voice, he didn't want to see Magnus.

"Alec I... I'm sorry. I can tell you don't want to see him again. I just need to talk to him, to get some answers." I said softly, he scoffed and shook his head, dropping my wrist.

"Good fucking luck getting anything from that asshole. If you would listen when people talk you'd realize that this whole trip is nothing but a waste of time. For all of us. Just so you can fail to get answers from some jackass that doesn't want to see you, who doesn't care that you exist." He hissed. My breath caught in the back of throat as the harshness sunk in. I felt my eyes start to water and I ran to the bathroom, locking myself in a stall. I started crying, then sobbing. Everything was just going so wrong, my mom, my school, my friends, my life. It was all going to shit and I didn't know what to do. I heard the bathroom door open and close but I didn't care, I just kept crying until my eyes went dry, and then I just sat there shaking. I couldn't even go home, I didn't have one anymore.

"You know, one's scent is intensified when they cry." A deep, low voice said. I froze. The sound of the door locking echoed through the room and I took a shaky breath, knowing he could smell my fear.

"Why don't you come on out so I can properly introduce myself." He said, a smirk evident in his voice. I opened the stall door and walked to the sinks, keeping a safe distance between us.

"There you are. You know, even after crying for so long, you still look quite attractive. I can see why Ryder's interested," He said eyeing me over. "I'm Chase." He said holding his hand out for a hand shake.

"I know. I've heard quite a bit about you." I said keeping my eyes on his, looking for a sign that he might attack.

"Yes I'm sure you have, they do know me quite well. And yet, here you are, all alone, extremely venerable, and completely unprotected." He said, his voice getting lower with each pause. I glanced at the door for half a second, trying to figure out how to escape.

"Who says I need protected?" I asked, hoping to stall him. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled lowly.

"Why else would they've whisked you away so quickly yesterday?" He challenged. I shrugged casually.

"I wasn't aware of the danger yesterday, but today I am." I said straightening my stance. I was focusing on getting Alec to hear my thoughts, hoping it would work.

"Oh, and that's all you needed to be able to fend me off? I'm a bit offended." He said mockingly. I rolled my eyes.

"You're quite full of yourself, aren't you? Would it make you feel better to know that they showed me how to use my powers as well?" I asked, taking a half step forward. His smirk faltered slightly, my fake confidence was becoming more convincing.

"Oh they did? Then why are you all the way out here?" He asked, the smirk returning.

"An important meeting you could say. A family reunion of sorts, not that it's any of your business." I said, not missing a beat. He started to glare at me, and as cool and collected as I was pretending to be, I was screaming for help in my head.

"I don't think you fully understand the position you're in here, little girl, I am-"

"Little girl!? I'm the little girl? Not the one who sneaks around, hunting only people weaker than you, and still waiting until they're alone? I'm the little one, even though I'm beyond new to this world and still I'm standing here, hours away from my home, in front of the guy who wants to kill me, standing my ground, mouthing off even. 'Little girl,' how fucking dare you." I shouted. He'd struck a nerve, but my sudden outburst had caught him off guard and he stepped back, giving me enough room to unlock the door and run out of the bathroom as fast as I could. I collided with Alec and we both fell.

"Alec, Elaina, are you guys okay?" Ryder asked jogging over. I quickly stood and spun around to face the bathroom, but Chase wasn't there anymore. I took a deep breath and turned back to face Ryder, who was helping Alec up.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Ryder asked. I started walking and grabbed his arm, pulling him to follow me back outside and to the car. I got in, slamming the door as I did, and started reading the first book Alec gave me as I tried to fight the tears that were threatening to fall again.

"Elaina? Are you okay?" Ryder asked sitting next to me. I shook my head.

"Ask Alec." I mumbled venomously. We sat in silence as we waited for Clary, Izzy, and Alec to come out. I didn't bother looking up from my book when they got in and Alec started driving again. I didn't realize it was night until I was halfway through with the second book, when Ryder's head leaned on my shoulder. I looked at him surprised for a second before noticing he was asleep. I smiled slightly and put my arm around him so I could push his hair out of his face, but I started just playing with his hair instead. I closed my book and put it in my lap, then I kissed Ryder's forehead and leaned my head gently on his. I cracked my window slightly and fell asleep, drifting through a warm and calming, dreamless sleep.