Distant Fires of Heaven (The Malevolent Sacrifices #1)

Alexandra

Just follow what Julian instructed. Effy told herself.
She looked out past the branches she hid in, seeing Ethan stand by Stephen, who looked slightly ruffled with his hair.
She could feel the press of the blade she held in her hand. The metal of the hilt bit her skin, for it was colder than hell outside.
The night sky sparkled with stars, and as Effy gazed at them, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring for her.
No more worrying about how to handle Lexa, or how to handle Leviathan. It seemed like a burden would be lifted off of her shoulders.
Ariel's death could finally be avenged.
Her sister would die tonight. It would all be over.
"Elle." Said a voice beside her. She jumped out of her skin, gasping as she saw Andrew perched beside her on the branch. "Did I scare you?" There was a slight grin on his mouth.
"Yes you jerk." She muttered. "What are you doing up here?" She gripped the branch tightly, feeling the bark dig up under her skin.
She remembered the last time she was alone with Andrew, remembering the feel of his mouth and the heartbreak that had left his lips.
Under the moonlight, his blonde hair looked almost silver, his blue eyes even bluer.
"I'm not needed down on the ground. So I decided to take up this branch next to you and wait." Andrew said. Effy didn't reply, she only watched the ground below her.
There was a clearing in Brocelind that Adaon instructed for Lexa to meet him. The Unseelie king stood in the center of the field, his hands fixed tightly together as if he were trying to squeeze the blood out of his fingers. Around him his knights stood dressed in thick bark armor, their heads held up high and arrogant. Each held a sword and each sword was aimed down to the earth. Only one quick swipe and these swords would be ready to shed blood.
Effy didn't see the rest of their shadowhunter group, but she could feel their presence. In the tree next to hers sat Emilia, Victoria and Taina. Each of them armed to the teeth.
"I'll bite if I have too." Victoria said to Effy earlier as they marched to the clearing. Victoria Morgenstern is quite the confident girl, an amazing warrior no doubt. Effy knew she'd really take a bite out of her enemy if need be.
On the ground she knew Stephen would be, Ethan flanking his side as parabatai should. She wasn't sure where everyone else had been stationed, but she knew they were somewhere around.
"It sucks Juliet couldn't be out here tonight. I'm sure she's back at the manor brooding." Andrew sighed. Effy peaked a glance at him. He looked sad. She wondered if he actually felt sad she couldn't fight tonight.
"But I'm sure you'll fight for her. Kill a few demons for her." Effy said encouragingly.
"Of course I will, although it's not the same. Whenever we would go patrolling, she kills so quickly and her and I always work good together. Yeah, we both have parabatai but as siblings, there's something more dangerous. It's like we have a stronger tie, because I know if I was hurt she'd blow up. She's like our father in that way. I'm more like our mom. I'm feisty and I get hurt without thinking about the consequences. Juliet and I balance each other." Andrew said.
"Ya know Calvin is also your sibling?" Effy said. Although she knew that Calvin never went patrolling, never took much interest in killing things.
But Andrew grinned. "He is. But my bond with him is different. He's my parabatai because I just knew he'd be fit for it. We were 13 when we decided to be parabatai. I didn't want him to be my warrior partner as traditional shadowhunters have it. I wanted him to my brother beyond brotherhood. He's half of my heart. I don't need him to fight better, I need him so I can breathe, keep myself in check. He's the only one whose ever been able to keep me calm." He spoke softly, in a voice that Elle hasn't heard since she and him spent time together in the LA institute.
She smiled as he talked about Calvin, hearing the way his voice changed tones into something gentle. Talking of parabatai always did this, bringing out a gentle side to a shadowhunter. Effy's heard her parents speak this way about there's.
Effy's done it when speaking about Ariel. She blinked and looked down at her feet.
"Ariel was always calm." She said softly. "She was such a soft girl. She was pure, and whenever she smiled it was like dreaming, because I have never seen someone smile to beautifully. Having Ariel in my life was a dream, and as dreams go, it ended for me." Effy mumbled. Andrew took his hand and placed it on her shoulder. She shuttered under his touch, but did not back away.
"You are doing right by her." He whispered. "She'd be proud to see you right here. Although I didn't know her well, I remember the way she looked at you during ball. There was a tenderness in her gaze that can't be replicated. You'll have your dream back. You'll be able to dream again."
Effy felt a tear slide down her cheek. She turned to look at him. "I'm sorry I broke your heart." She said. "I'm sorry I led you on. You didn't deserve that. You're so good, Andrew. So, so good."
Andrew blinked, clearly taken back by her words. He hadn't expected her to speak about it. Quite frankly, neither had she.
"Elle." He said hoarsely. "I didn't want you to leave." He took a deep breath. "I wish you hadn't left me in my room." He moved his hand from her shoulder, brushing the bone of her jawline. She felt another tear.
"It was for the best." She sighed. "We don't belong together. Besides, I know someone will love you much more than I ever could." She thought of Ethan then, standing beside Stephen on the ground. She felt her heart twist in her body. She wanted to be with him, feel the warmth of Ethan's body.
"I know." He said calmly. "That there is someone out there for me." He brushed her cheek with his thumb. "A part of me just wishes it could have been you." He pressed his lips to her cheek. Andrew pulled away then. "I'll see you on the battlefield." He smiled softly.
Effy watched as he climbed down from the tree, she didn't see him as he hid somewhere else.
Another person she couldn't keep an eye on.
She turned back towards where she could see Adaon, watching as he conversed with one of his knights.
In the distance, she could barely make out shadows. Quickly, she grabbed her stele and drew on a farsighted rune.
Then she saw them all. She saw Lexa walking, her black hair swaying on her head like some walking goddess. Some goddess she was. Effy felt herself snort.
Next to her, standing with perfect posture as he walked, was Leviathan. One of the princes of hell. A monster.
She remembered that night at the ball. How he came in and saw her. She shuttered. She could still feel his grip on her throat, like some stain that would never come off her skin.
I am here to start my war. He had said.
Leviathan being here would not be good. It'll be harder to kill Lexa. In fact, Effy felt her confidence fall to the floor.
Plans are about to change. Things were about to be a whole lot more dangerous.