Chain of Iron

Chapter Thirty-Eight

James woke up to someone shifting around in his bed beside him and something hit him in the leg. He groaned out and pried open his eyes; Cordelia was looking at him, seeming half awake herself.

"Sorry, James." She spoke groggily, closing her eyes.

He felt himself become more awake at the sight of her and blinked his eyes a few times, focusing on the sleeping figure of Cordelia. Her red hair was splayed out onto the pillow and her eyes were gently closed. There were no traces of stress or anything on her face and James thought that she looked the most peaceful he had ever seen. Cordelia had fallen back asleep and he could not help but tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. He had been feeling very strange towards Cordelia lately, as he had been before Grace had shown up in his room the day he had burned down the Blackthorn manor.

James got out of the bed, not seeing any point in trying to go back to sleep now that he was already awake. He began to get dressed for the day and reflected on the events of the day before at Lucie's party. He had been glad that she had enjoyed her party as he, his mother, father and Cordelia had been planning it for sometime. It had been Cordelia's idea to dress up as fictional characters and his father had loved the idea. James found that his family adored Cordelia and he felt glad even though they did not have a real marriage. Although, he was not sure who would not adore Cordelia.

James then thought of Matthew as he left his and Cordelia's bedroom; he had been very absent for much of the party. There seemed to be a slight change in Matthew, James had noticed, and it had started from the day he and Cordelia had interrupted Matthew with Asteria. James knew that Matthew only sought out Asteria when he was in need of a distraction and he could not help but wonder what it was that Matthew needed distracting from. James was shaken from his thoughts as he walked by his father's office and heard him speaking to someone. James walked in and saw his father sitting at his desk and speaking to Uncle Jem who was standing to the side of his desk.

"Jamie," His father started, looking surprised. "What are you doing awake so early?"

"Cordelia accidentally woke me up and I was unable to fall back asleep." James explained and then turned to the other person in the room. "Hello, Uncle Jem."

"James." Uncle Jem greeted, his voice appearing in James' mind.

James took a seat in front of his father's desk, wishing to be apart of the conversation. When James had been growing up, his father often had not allowed him to listen in on the Clave politics, saying that James did not need to worry about such things. Now that he was older, and married at that, James knew that his father could no longer tell him no.

"Jem and I were discussing how it was possible for the Khora demons to attack the Institute on the day of your wedding." Will started, looking at his son. "We have come to no such conclusion."

James bit his lip. He knew exactly how the demons had entered the Institute but he did not wish to tell his father and Uncle Jem. Telling his father would mean for Will to always be worried about James and he would insist on trying to help him. Although, James knew that his father could not help him - no one could. This was something that James needed to fix himself even though he had no clue as to how he could. But his father looked very distressed at the fact that he could not figure out why the demons had come and James hated to see his father look like that.

"I know how they were able to pass through the walls of the Institute." James declared.

His father's blue eyes widened. "What?"

James sighed and began to speak. "Belial is mother's father, as you know, and he is one of the Princes of Hell. I have had a few encounters with him in the recent weeks and every time he has asked me to join him and I have refused. I believe that he sent the demons to the Institute that evening as a way to threaten and scare me."