mark of the moon child

The Institute

They stood, hand in hand, her head tilted all the way back in front of the biggest and tallest wood doors she'd ever seen. She looked back down when he spoke.

"You're going to feel a little burn."

"What?" Her hand shot straight to her mark as she felt it warm up. Locks along the length of the doors began to click and slide. Jay pressed his hand to the door and it began to swing open slowly.

"Woah." Was all Elle could say when she saw what she was walking into. An incredible hallway with endless archways stood before her. People walked the hall, coming in and out of rooms attached to it. A few people stopped to see who was coming in and began to whisper. Elle nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Jay smirked and pulled her in.

As they walked down the hallway Elle jumped and looked back when she heard the doors close. She noticed more and more people began to whisper and watch them as they walked in further.

"Are you sure it's okay that I'm here? Everyone's staring."

"It's not everyday we get someone new here."

"But they keep looking at you, too. Like you brought in some lost puppy." One girl looked at Jay, then moved her critical eyes over Elle. "I should go." Elle stopped to turn back but Jay tightened his grip on her hand.

"Elle, you're safe here." He could see the discomfort on her face as she shifted and kept her gaze down. "Have you always cared about what other people think of you?" She looked back up at him.

"I wasn't exactly the most popular at parties. Not that I went to parties." Elle mumbled the last part. She remembered once being invited at an overnight birthday party. She'd had to call her mom in the middle of the night when she'd scared 9 other girls awake with her screams. Finding good friends after that hadn't been easy. She thought of Mia, how worried she must be. She always felt at home with her.

"Don't worry about them. Come on, I'll show you to your room." They turned into a mahogany staircase and walked up what felt like an endless amount of stairs then turned down a hallway lit by sconces. She relaxed, seeing that the hallway was empty. Half way down Jay turned to face a door. He moved his hand over the space above the door handle. A symbol appeared in a bright blue light. He brought Elle's hand to the handle and held it there. Elle watched as the symbol flashed and disappeared. "It's all yours."

Elle turned the handle and entered a room with a large four-poster bed and a matching mahogany dresser. She could see a bathroom to her left and a large window with a small window seat looking onto the city. She could spot the ocean not so far away.

"Are you sure I can stay here tonight? They won't mind?"

"Who's they?" Jay said as he leaned against the door jam, hands in his pockets.

"I don't know. The people who run this place?"

"Only Nephilim can walk through the front door. If you can walk through, then this is your home." Elle stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. "I'll come back in the morning. Try to sleep." Jay closed the door behind him, hoping she would. "It's rude to eavesdrop." He said as he began walking towards the staircase again. Noah appeared behind him from another room.

"This is why you were called to London? A girl?"

"Why did you follow me here, Noah?" Jay asked as they made their way up another floor.

"I wanted to make sure you weren't getting yourself into trouble. What's so special about her?"

"Why do you say there's something special?" Jay asked, avoiding the question entirely.

"She must be if the Headhunters called you about her. Who is she?"

"Her name is Elle." Jay opened the door to his own room, not-so-coincidentally located right above Elle's room. Noah followed him in.

"Jay, who is she to you?"

"I ran into her while chasing a demon. She didn't know she was Nephilim."

"And you helped her?"

"As the chivalrous gentleman I am." Jay smiled and bowed in front of his brother.

"Uh-huh." Noah crossed his arms as Jay stood up straight again. "I saw you at the beach." Jay's smile fell. He took a step towards his brother.

"You're following me, Noah?" Jay didn't like being treated as a trainee or a child.

"The fact that you couldn't feel me there tells me I was right to." Noah said, stepping towards Jay. They stood only a few inches away from each other now. Jay took a deep breath and stepped away and to his dresser to take out some grey sweat pants and a white tshirt. "Jay I've never seen you like this before."

"Like what?"

"So enthralled with a girl."

"As I told the Headhunters, what I do is my business. I'd expect at least you to respect that." Jay changed his shirt, then his sweatpants.

"There's something about her-"

"Again, my business. Say hello to Mummy and Daddy dearest when you get back to London." He threw his clothing on his bed and turned back to face his brother again.

"You haven't spoken to them in a while." Noah knew he wouldn't get any further, at least tonight.

"I've been busy."

"Clearly." Noah sighed when Jay's jaw twitched. "You know they just want the best for us."

"I'm sure." Jay said curtly "You can give them my regards if that would make you feel better. You know the way out." Noah sighed and left the room, closing the door behind him. 

◦◌☾ ❂◌◦

Shorter chapter but next one has some action in it... hope you like it! :)