protector or destroyer. (shadow hunter fanfic)

surprise

Magnus and Alec sat opposite each other, Clary next to Alec and Jace next to Magnus. Izzy on Jace's right, Simon next to her opposite Jocelyn and Luke. Maryse sat next to Simon and Robert next to Luke. They all wore smart but casual clothes. "so Maryse where is this mysterious person that is supposed to be here. Or is he or she not coming?"

"no, I assure you Jocelyn she will be coming. Alec can you go see where she is."

"of course, mother." Alec stood up gracefully and left the room just as the topic turned into what shoes Clary was wearing. He was glad his mother asked him so he could get away from that. He arrived at Ria's door and knocked lightly the door swung open and he stepped inside. The room was dark and only lit by the fireplace. A ghostly figure stood their back-facing Alec. They stood motionless. "Ria." No answer. "Ria. You ok?" he reached out and he was surprised to find her skin cold. He slowly turned her around. "Ria." Again, no answer. Her eyes glued to the flames. "Astria."

"what." Her head sprang towards him. Her face was shadowed but he could see the tiredness in her eyes. "what time is it?"

"your late." He quickly turned around and he could hear Ria hurrying to catch up with him.

"sorry."

"no, it is ok I was happy to find I would have to come get you. Got me away from the chat about clary's shoes, where they were from, blah, blah blah."

"really. Alec, I thought you would love talking about fashion seen as you are a fashion god." Ria said sarcasm dripping from every word.

"oh yes I love fashion."

"I can tell, by your changes of coloured jumpers in different styles."

"ah yes." Alec said flipping imaginary hair back.

"flipping your long hair back."

"yes."

"you looked like Isabel."

He laughed and replied "ah yes because I am this amazing person who loves to whip people. What about you, Clary." He said turning towards Ria.

"oh yes Isabel I do agree that your whip is very... uh excellent. But I am better at fighting. On guard." Ria said as she pretended to fight while Alec weakly whip her as they turned into the dining room laughing.

He turned around to find everyone staring and Clary and Isabel staring ice daggers at them. Jocelyn and Luke nowhere to be seen. "oh shit." He murmured.

"do you think it is too late to run." She murmured back.

"come you two, sit." Maryse announced. They sat down Alec back in his place and Ria squeezed in between Maryse and Simon. "they will be back in a moment. Stop fidgeting. They will remember."

"you sure." Ria looked into Maryse's calm eyes for reassurance.

"well, it is hard not too when it was your fault, we got into so much trouble."

"hey! We were having adventures."

"yeah. Yeah." She said waving her hand.

"if my memory does me any good but you were the one that always agreed with me and Val."

"yes, well we were young and stupid."

"Luke, stop worrying I'm fine." A voice said coming into the room. A woman with fire for hair, with a man, hair so brown it looked like dirt. They came in together the man was clearly fussing over the woman who was very clearly pregnant. Her bump only just showing.

"Jo." Ria whispered.

"yes Ria." It was Jonathon's voice. She ignored him and got up.

"Jo." She said a lot louder and more clearly. The woman looked up and they linked eyes. Ria could feel the memories past through her just as she did with Maryse and Robert. Happy, sad, angry all the emotions washing over you into them. "jo?"

"Astria." The woman and the man said together both smiling.

"Jocelyn." Ria ran up toward them and gave her a hug. Being very careful.

"how? How are you here? Why?"

"I know I'm supposed to be dead. I'm surprised you didn't tell her Lu." Ria turned and hugged him.

"tell me what?" Jocelyn's face scrunched up in confusion.

"I joined Lu's pack when he found me."

"but you're not."

"no but I was helping out the pack when you were doing your thing in the circle."

"what!"

"I knew you guys were doing so and I never told you guys because you all idolised Val. So, when I left to go to the pack and then I heard what happened with Lu. I stayed with them scared you would do the same to me."

"do?"

"we all knew Val, but I knew him very well. He was like an open book to me."

"you always were able to read him. So, when I turned and joined the pack, I found Ria."

"you knew this whole time Luke." They turned towards Maryse. "and you never told us."

"I couldn't-

"I made him make a blood oath. With a warlock."

"so much trouble you went through to keep us from knowing why?"

"yes, I would like to know this too." Magnus chipped in.

"I kept it a secret because I got word of Val's plans and Johnathon." She said. In the corner of her eyes she could see Jonathon lingering. His gaze on her but his eyes unfocused and calm.

"you knew of Sebastian?" Izzy spoke.

"yes-

"how?"

"I met him down at the creek and we became friends. He was so young maybe five or six, but I sensed demonic energy in him but as I grew to know him, I found so evilness. Then I found out that he was Val's son and I disappeared forever. I was scared that Johnathon had told his father of me. So, I disappeared."