Strife | Fated Four: Book 5

Chapter Three

*Clarissa*

The five of us hurried back to the lake house. We all preferred to be safely behind Nyx's protective barrier before Eris discovered that the shield was gone.

We entered the living room and Nemesis placed the shield on the floor.

"So we stole the shield," Avalon stated.

"That's good, it means Eris can't turn anyone else to stone," Rosalie replied. I tuned them out as I felt my head start to pound. What was happening to me?

I sank down on to the couch and held my head. I was starting to feel a little light headed.

"Clary, you okay?" Davina asked, probably sensing my discomfort.

"It's just a headache. I'll be fine, Davina," I assured her. Avalon and Rosalie turned their attention to me.

"Are you sure?" Avalon asked, "Because you look kind of pale, Clary."

"How do you feel?" Rosalie asked, her healer instinct kicking in.

"Exhausted," I admitted.

"Have you been sleeping?" she asked.

"My sleep hasn't been great lately," I admitted.

"It's Arrow isn't it?" Avalon asked, "You miss him."

That was certainly part of it, but there was something else. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew there was more to my condition than my longing for Arrow.

"Yeah," I replied, unsure if that was truly the case.

Maybe that was it. Maybe I really was just missing Arrow's body next to mine in our bed at night. Maybe I was missing snuggling up to his body and using his chest as pillow whenever I wanted. Maybe I was missing his kisses and the feeling of his arms around me.

"You don't sound so sure," Avalon noted.

"Maybe you should talk to your Mom, Clary," Rosalie suggested, "She might be able to help you figure out what's going on. Maybe it's got something to do with your powers."

I shrugged.

"Maybe," I replied, "I'll talk to her after the sun goes down. In the mean time, we need to figure out what to do with the shield."

"We shouldn't take it to Olympus," Rosalie stated.

"Why?" Davina asked, "Olympus has a secure armoury."

"I agree Rose," I replied before turning to Davina, "The shield was stolen from that armoury. We can't risk it being stolen again, not after all the damage it's caused and the risk Nemesis took to steal it."

"So then, what are we going to do with it?" Davina asked.

"Let's lock it in the vault," Avalon suggested.

"Good idea, Avalon," I agreed. 

Nemesis took the shield and locked it in the vault.

When she returned, the five of us spent the rest of the day in the backyard, training. Trying to get stronger, so that we could defeat Eris and Hemera.