Our Fate IV ➰Shadowhunters➰

➰Chapter X➰

This time, she wasn't at the usual golden lake, but instead, at a somewhat deserted clear in an unknown forest, surrounded by nothing she could recognize. There, right before her, a fire, burning hot like the sun, was the only source of light she could see in the distance. What really startled her was the chorus of sirens that sprung from the fire, luring her to walk closer, even as fear nearly made it impossible for her to move. 

"Who are you?" she spoke, although she barely able to hear the sound of her own voice. "Are you the reason I got this mark? What do you want from me?"

➰➰➰

"So I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I think I've found the ritual Christopher intended to do with Andrea's blood," Magnus started, effectively ruining any possibility that they would be able to have a calm breakfast after that. "The bad news, is that it isn't for anything good."

"Can't we ever have a normal breakfast like normal people?" Jace complained briefly, but seemed to be ignored.

"What's it for?" Alec questioned curiously.

"The ritual I found is a type of necromancy ritual, that is, a ritual intended to raise the dead. But the only connection I could find for them to specifically look for Andrea has to do with both her Mark and the fact that she has the Sight."

"What is this specific ritual for?" Isabelle further asked.

"The ritual starts by having a warlock look for a potential sacrifice through a special Tracking incantation. Said victim would then be Marked so that they could be identified and sacrificed for the ritual," Magnus explained, then gave them all a wary look before continuing. "At first glance, it doesn't sound all that troubling."

"Maybe by your standards, but by mine, human sacrifices sound especially troubling," Clary commented with a sarcastic snort.

"The part that draws my attention is the fact that this ritual is performed to bring back demonic beings. And the fact that the symbol chosen to mark Andrea is an Angelic Power rune..."

"You don't think they're trying to resuscitate Jonathan Morgenstern, do you?" Clary asked uneasily. "I mean... that's impossible. I saw him burning in Heavenly Fire. It destroyed him."

"It's not exactly impossible," Jace said, with a sigh. "The Heavenly Fire would've destroyed everything demonic in him, but he wasn't entirely demonic, was he? We just assumed most of him was, so it would've been impossible to salvage any part of him."

"But what would the salvageable part of him be, anyway?" Simon asked.

"That's what we need to figure out. There must be a reason the Seelie Queen and her son have an interest in resurrecting Jonathan," Alec stated, to which no one argued. "And we have to keep Andrea safe until we know what they're planning."

"I may have a contact or two that could help us with that," Magnus added, sighing tiredly. "Although I do feel that we should be asking Maryse about her input in this situation."

"No. I don't want to bother her. She's had such a tough year, especially with the Luke thing..." Alec started, but Isabelle shook her head.

"Magnus is right, Alec. Mom probably will have a better idea about this, she's way more experienced. I could go check on her later today," she said, as Clary nodded.

"Good idea. I'll go with you," Magnus said, with a smile. "I do enjoy visiting my mother-in-law anyway."

"I was thinking about going to the Citadel later today," Clary said, earning surprised looks from everyone. "Not to vow myself as a sister, at least not for now. But maybe I can get some intel on what they know about the necromancy ritual, and what an Angelic Power rune does in one."