Distant Fires of Heaven (The Malevolent Sacrifices #1)

I Am Home Again

One Week and Four Days Later

"This dress? Or this dress?" Juliet stood in her bedroom holding a white dress to her body, then switched holding a yellow dress to her body.
"I like the white one." Rose said through the FaceTime camera.
It's July 16, one day until Juliet turns 18. Visitors had been popping in all day. The institute began to fill with family and close friends. The New York visitors were coming later, and currently Juliet was on FaceTime with Rose as Rose packed for the trip to LA and Idris.
After Juliet's birthday, everyone was going to Idris for the Family Ball that is hosted every year. The Blackthorns have gone since Juliet was 3, but for the past couple of years they haven't. Octavian finally convinced Julian to come this year, so now Juliet had her ball dress hung up in her closet.
Over the past week, Stephen and Juliet have FaceTimed every night. They planned to coordinate for the ball, and Juliet had found a necklace of thorns to let him wear for the ball, though she hadn't told him that yet. She wanted to surprise him.
Besides talking about ball, Juliet told him about the roses that have been popping up. The first rose she received when she came home wasn't the only one. More have taken refuge to laying outside Juliet's door.
Each had a note attached.
The army is ready.
This is the end of your race.
The end is near.
Notes such as those would be attached, and Juliet read Stephen each one.
He had been ready to portal to her instantly, she then reminding him she has Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn as parents, so she'll be okay if she couldn't defend herself- which isn't likely, Juliet is very skilled with her sword.
Stephen informed Jace and Clary of them, and Juliet did the same with her parents, because they believed this wasn't something to be hidden. With Jace as the consul, it was easier to confess to threats such as these- because he wouldn't just ignore them.
But other than ball or evil war notes, Juliet would fall asleep to Stephen reading to her. He would read her his "Stephen-if-ied" -as he calls it- version of Romeo and Juliet to her, always reminded her that Juliet is the sun.
This made her smile whenever he'd say it.
"Don't they both die at the end?" She had asked.
Stephen smiled through the camera at his notebook. "Yes. But everyone dies my Juliet. Only my name isn't Romeo, so we have that advantage not to kill our selves because our families hate each other. Obviously we don't have that problem." He said to her.
Then Stephen continued to read, and Juliet fell asleep to the sound of his voice, and she'd sleep peacefully knowing he was there with her through the phone camera.
Every morning she'd wake up and he'd still be asleep. Stephen wasn't an early riser, even though LA is behind NY by 3 hours, she still woke before him.
She'd just watch him sleep through the screen, watch his chest rise and fall slowly, and his notebook resting in his hand.

"Definitely the white one." Rose said again, looking at the white maxi dress Juliet held her hand. "Try it on, I want to see how it fits."
Juliet rolled her eyes and turned her phone away so she could change.
She slipped the white dress over her frame and turned her phone back around. Rose grinned. "You look hot."
Juliet laughed. "I love the subtlety."
Juliet turned and looked in the mirror, turning her body to capture all her angles.
This white dress had been a gift to her from Emma. Emma said she once wore it to a theatre show/party that she went to with Julian, Cristina and Mark.
The way the dress fit around Juliet gave her sharp curvature around her waist, and her breasts sat perfect and plump in the dress.
Juliet's never shown off her breasts, but with the way the dress fit, Juliet didn't have much of a choice.
"What should I accent with this?" She asked Rosemary.
"Definitely gold. Oh my god. Wear your Blackthorn cuff! You'll look like a Greek goddess. Juliet, wear the cuff!" Rose gasped and squealed.
Juliet plucked her cuff off her vanity table. "I really only wear it when I wear my gear." She said and then put it on her bicep.  "What do you think?" She asked Rose.
"Yes! Then a flower crown on top of your head, and a little gold necklace! You'll be perfect for tomorrow!" Rose smiled.
"I'm not exchanging my cello necklace for a gold necklace." Juliet scoffed.
"You and that necklace." Rose rolled her eyes, and Juliet remembered when Rose had held it within her palms.
Juliet felt some form of warmth crawl throughout her body whenever Juliet would touch her necklace then, and wondered what Rose had done to it.
She was about to ask when Rose cut her off abruptly. "I have to go! I promised Effy I'd help her pack her things! I'll see you tonight." Rose said and then they said their goodbyes.
Juliet changed out of her dress and back into the clothes was wearing previously.
She hung her dress back up and then made her way downstairs to the dining room where lunch was being served.
The entire room was filled with family members.
Aunty Drusilla, her husband Ash Morgernstern and their two kids, Arthur and Victoria. Both of them were half fey, and both had pointed ears.
Then Aunt Helen and Aline were sitting by them, with Uncle Mark and Kieran. Juliet spotted Uncle Ty with Uncle Tavvy, Kit standing by the two of them.
She continued to scan the room, seeing Cristina and her two kids sitting next to her. Her eldest daughter, Taina, was helping Angel, her youngest son.
Cristina and Emma had been pregnant at the same time with their youngest kids, so Angel and Livia were the same age.
Finally, the last of the guests Juliet had been looking for: The Carstairs.
Jem Carstairs is Juliet's music buddy. The two of them played for their families each Christmas, and they'd play whenever Jem would visit.
Tessa stood by his side, their hands linked together. She held a cup of tea in her free hand, ever so thanking Julian for making it for her.
Juliet caught sight of Emilia Carstairs, lounging in one of the dining chairs with her head on her hands. She looked absolutely bored, but Juliet always remembered Emilia being that way. She found no interests in social gatherings at all, and would much rather be in the training room. A girl with red hair and green eyes sat next to her, popping grapes into her mouth. She must be Arabella Fairchild, Clary's little sister.
Juliet wondered where Will was. Will Carstairs is the  oldest child between Tessa and Jem, and he and Juliet got along profoundly. She could remember the two of them building sandcastles on the beach, and he always being interested in her cello. He's the best extremely distant cousin she has, and he is super gentle with every single thing he does.
Only Will wasn't in here, but neither was Andrew, so Juliet imagined the two of them were doing whatever wherever. Will and Andrew also got along fairly well.
"Juju!" Said a cute little voice from behind her. Juliet spun around and seen little Liv looking up at her. Her big brown eyes shining like stars.
"Oh my little bug!" She knelt down and pulled Livia into her arms then picked her up. Liv is 5 and quite to big to hold, but nevertheless Juliet loved holding her.
She realized that the only person she hadn't seen was Calvin, because she already knew Andrew and Will were together.
"Where's Cal?" Juliet asked Liv.
She shrugged. "He didn't want to come down. I tried so hard to get him down here Juju. He yelled at me!" She gasped and shook her head. "Whatever. Can you get me some cheese and grapes?" She asked tilting her head.
Juliet set her down and grabbed her cheese and grapes in a small bowl. "Sit by Emilia. She looks like she could use a grape." Juliet encouraged and Liv made a determined face and set off towards Emilia.
She heard Liv offer Emilia a grape as Juliet left the room. With all the chatter going on, she doubted anyone noticed Juliet was in there to begin with.
She reached the door to Calvin's bedroom, knocking until he opened the door.
Calvin is as calm as the sea on a sunny day, but he masks a lot of the things he feels. He's also extremely fragile, hating violence and conflicts.
A part of Juliet already knew why Calvin was hiding before he even opened the door.
When he did the open the door though, he stood in pajama pants and a gray t-shirt. He had no shoes on. Music poured out into the hallway, soft acoustic music.
"Is that Bon Iver?" Juliet asked.
"Yeah. What's up?" Cal asked. His brown curls were in knots around his head. He had dark circles under his eyes. He hadn't even gotten ready for the day.
"What's up? I don't know Cal. You're up here in your pajamas, you yelled at Liv, and our family is downstairs. What's going on?" She asked him. "Is it Justin? Did something happen between you and Mom again?"
Calvin sighed and bit on his lip, a nervous habit of his. "I don't want to see her. I begged and begged for him to come over and she said no and no. I'm just so upset. How could she be so against him? He isn't his father! He's different, and if Mom would give him a chance she'd like him-" now Calvin broke down in tears.
Ever since Cal announced he was dating Justin Ashdown, Emma hadn't been so pleasant with it. Juliet remembered her conversation with Stephen about Romeo and Juliet. The Blackthorns and the Ashdowns definitely had a family feud, and Juliet hoped it wouldn't revolve in the deaths of Calvin and Justin.
Juliet liked him though. Whenever they'd go patrolling, they bring Justin along, and Justin is funny. He makes funny jokes and Calvin is right, he isn't like Cameron- who still holds grudges from past 'who dated who' type things.
"Hey, hey it's okay!" She pulled him into her arms so fast. She rubbed circles on his back, trying her best to soothe him. "She'll come around. I know she will."
Calvin pulled away and shook his head, completely doubtful of Emma ever being accepting of Justin Ashdown.
"No. No she won't. You should see the way she looks at me now, Juju. It's like I disgraced her." He sniffled and wiped his eyes.
"Cal you didn't disgrace her." Juliet murmured and ran her fingers through his curls. "Do you want me to talk to her?"
Cal closed his eyes and shook his head. "No. This isn't your fight Juliet. This is between me and Mom."
"Can you at least come downstairs?" She asked softly.
Then Cal closed his door in her face.