New World

14 | Shadow Market Pt.3

"I told you to stay away from the Shadow Market, Rook," said Barnabas when the Shadowhunters had left the tent. "Is there a reason you didn't listen? Lack of respect for me, or just a lack of respect for Downworlders overall?"

A crowd had begun to gather, a curious mixture of vampires, grinning werewolves, and wary-looking warlocks. Lila looked around at them all and wanted to go back to the Institute immediately.

"You told me to stay out of the Los Angeles Market," said Kit, "not every Shadow Market in the world. You don't have that power and reach, Hale, and it's up to the owner of this Market to decide if I stay or if I go."

"That would be me." It was Hypatia, her smooth face expressionless.

"I thought you were the co-runner?" said Kit.

"Good enough. And watch your impertinence. I don't appreciate being lied to, child. Neither do I appreciate you bringing three Nephilim here with you."

The crowd gasped. Kit winced internally. This was not going their way.

"They don't support the Cold Peace," Kit said.

"Did they vote against it?" asked a warlock with a ring of spikes growing from around her throat.

"We were ten years old," said Livvy. "We were too young."

"Children," hissed the man standing behind the counter of caged faeries. It was hard to tell if he said the word with surprise, contempt, or hunger.

"Oh, he didn't just bring Nephilim with him," said Barnabas, with his snakelike grin. "He is one. A Shadowhunter spy."

"What do we do?" Ty whispered. They were now pressed so tightly together that Kit couldn't move his arms, pinned between Ty and Livvy, Lila on the end on his right.

"Get your weapons," said Kit. "And get ready to figure out how to run."

To the triplets' credit, none gave so much as an intake of breath. Their hands moved quickly at the periphery of Kit's vision. Livvy grabbed her sword, Ty's hand went to his weapons belt ready to grab one, and Lila took a dagger from her belt immediately.

"That's a lie," he said. "My father is Johnny Rook."

"And your mother?" said the deep voice of Shade, behind them. A crowd had gathered behind him, too; they couldn't run that way.

Lila glanced around as Kit talked. She noticed there was no way to leave the market; they were surrounded.

"I don't know," said Kit, between his teeth. To his surprise, Hypatia raised her eyebrows, as if she knew something he didn't. "And it doesn't matter—we didn't come here to harm you or spy on you. We needed a warlock's help."

"But Nephilim have their own pet warlocks, willing to betray Downworld as they grub for money in the pockets of the Clave. Though after what all of you did to Malcolm . . ." Said Barnabas.

"Malcolm?" Hypatia stood up straight. "These are Blackthorns? The ones responsible for his death?"

"He only died halfway," Ty said. "He came back as a sort of sea demon, for a while. He's dead now, obviously," he added, as if realizing that he had somehow said something he shouldn't.

"This is why Sherlock Holmes lets Watson do the talking," Kit said to him in a hissing whisper.

"Holmes never lets Watson do the talking," Ty snapped. "Watson is backup."

"You've read Sherlock Holmes?" Lila asked, momentarily distracted. Kit sent her a look.

"I'm not backup," said Kit, and drew a knife from his pocket. He heard the werewolves laugh, mocking the dagger which looked slightly small in hand, but it didn't bother him. "Like I said," he told them. "We came here to peacefully speak to a warlock and leave. I've grown up in Shadow Markets. I bear them no ill will, and neither do my companions. But if you attack us, we will fight back. And then there will be others, other Nephilim, who will come to avenge us. And for what? What good will it do?"