𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗦 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 [ ON HOLD ]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞

MARYSE Lightwood looks down from the balustrade above the training room, where Alec was teaching his cousin Hermione to shoot with arrows. His sister Isabelle was watching, holding their toddler brother Max in her lap. Jace, a ward that Maryse sees as a son of her own flesh and blood, was sitting next to them on the ground. He was toying with his seraph blade and looking seemingly bored. The trainer, Hodge Starkweather, was in the background and watching.

She clenches her hands around the iron and shakes her head. The heavy dark curls shake back and forth. Her eyes are ablaze. "No, she is too young. She has not even completed her training yet," she snarls at the group of people behind her. They were all members of the Clave, even including the current Consul.

"She is perfectly capable, Mrs Lightwood. She can continue her training during the vacations and she can use her current knowledge for good use," Liam Starkweather responds, his hands resting on his back. The Consul nods his head in agreement. "Our Shadowhunters in England need help. The magic of that school attracts more demons than they can defeat without getting noticed. They need a source from inside to defeat them."

"She's only a child," Robert adds, his thumb and finger brushing his chin. He did not want to send his niece away, the only thing he had left from his beloved sister Selena, whom died with her husband during a raid. He loves her like his own daughter and this was just suicidal. "She does not have all the knowledge she needs to defeat the most common demons!"

"When faced with dire situations, we can achieve much more than expected. Miss Carstairs shall do fine," the Consul promises, leaning into his chair with comfort. Maryse shakes her head. "She is still under our guardianship. If we say no, it will be a 'no'."

Liam Starkweather shakes his head. "Not if the Clave orders you to, which we certainly will if you continue to defy us.. Circle member," he spat. Liam approaches the balustrade to watch Hermione and Alec. He hisses into Maryse's ear. "For her sake, I hope she does not end up as pathetic as you and your bunch of traitors."

The woman glares at her fellow Shadowhunter. Yes, she had made mistakes in her youth. She had followed and trusted the wrong man. But her children did not decide that and should not be held accountable for her actions or that of her husband. Yet still.. they were bullied and tormented. Hated for something they had no influence over.

"Stay out of my way, mutt. This Institute is still under our control. You are a guest, act as such Starkweather," she snarls. Liam growls and was ready to respond, but the Consul stops him by a simple hand gesture. "We want to talk to the girl herself. Is it possible to call her here?"

Maryse didn't want to, but the hard look of the Consul makes her turn around and look over the balustrade. Hermione had just shot another rain of arrows, each one hitting bulls' eye. She claps, catching the attention of all the people in the training room. "That was excellent, my dear. Would you please come upstairs and join us? We have.. matters to address," she says with a darkened tone on the end.