Distractions - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

She scrambled for her phone, grabbing at the grass around it instead a few times before she managed to pick up the device in her shock. There was no way. Why was she calling? Why after all this time? It was impossible. It was ridiculous. She hadn't had any contact with anyone since leaving. Why was she calling Everest? Why was she calling with a number Everest didn't know? Why now? Did she know what just happened? But how would she know?
"Everest? Are you still there?"
"What the fuck?" she demanded, words harsh and scratching her throat. Thankfully she was far enough away from Alec and Magnus that they couldn't hear her. She didn't know what she would do if they heard her speaking so angrily. It wouldn't be a fun explanation and she wasn't sure she was up for it just then.
The caller sighed. "I know you're angry, Everest. But please, let me explain myself."
"What is there to explain? You left New York because your family found you and you didn't want to be subjected to that life again. You shipped yourself off to a random country where you proceeded to not talk to anyone in any way for nearly two months. Two months, Roslyn! And everyone was mad at me for being kidnapped for a month." She scoffed, gripped her upper arm tightly. "Oh, and your brother is alive and bought a coffee maker for me so I didn't commit murder while I was kidnapped because he works for my father. Did I miss anything?" Her scathing words dripped with sarcasm. She could practically hear the other girl's wince. She couldn't bring herself to care all that much at the moment.
"No, you didn't," Roslyn said, reluctantly. "I do like the part where you drop that your father is alive and apparently an assassin, or at least works with one," she snarked.
Everest's head flew back in exasperation, the crown of her head grazing the wall painfully. She ignored it. "Well that's what you miss out on when you disappear for two months."
"And it's also what happens when Gino and you are part of a world that I wasn't, isn't it?"
She froze. How did Roslyn know about the ShadowWorld?
"What are you talking about?" she asked, a beat too slow.
"I'm talking about Valentine Morgenstern raising metaphorical hell against the Downworld." Everest's grip got tighter. "I'm talking about you being able to fight and take down two Circle members on your own with skill, not luck."
"Who's Valentine?" she tried, hoping that her friend had just heard these things through rumors. But she knew that rumors didn't travel that fast, not even in the ShadowWorld. Besides, how would she have heard the rumors in the first place? ShadowWorld rumors didn't reach the mundane world, at least they weren't supposed to.
Roslyn scoffed with bitter amusement, previous reluctance turning into harshness and defensiveness. "I'm talking about our best friend being a Seelie, about your brothers being vampires, your uncle being a werewolf, your boyfriend being a warlock. I'm talking about you and your twin sister being Shadowhunters."
It was then and there that Everest gave up pretending that she didn't know what Roslyn was talking about.
"How the hell do you know about that?" she demanded.
She could hear the smirk, just like she always could when it came to Roslyn. "Because I'm part of that world."
Everest froze. What? How? Since when? Questions raced through her mind faster than she could grasp onto them. Her breathing got more erratic by the second and it was only the feeling of the wall on her back and her fingers around her arm that kept her from slipping into panic.
"What?" she finally managed to get out.
"I'm a vampire," Roslyn revealed without any theatrics or verbal embellishments. There wasn't even an audibly sarcastic jazz hand.
"What?"
"You know, you'd think you would be more used to getting news like this by now," Roslyn mused. "It's a recent development. It happened the day after I called you. I was checking out of my motel and was attacked. I got turned within three days."
Everest groaned as she did her best not to spiral into pure rage. "Okay, fine. Let's say you are a vampire and all that jazz. How do you know about how I fought just now?"
"I liked the move you did where you kicked their hands and got them to drop their blades. It was pretty cool," Roslyn said instead of answering. "I also liked the way we spun and slashed at that last guy in unison."
"Excuse me? You? That was you?" Everest said in a shrill voice with wide eyes and tense posture.
"Don't sound so surprised. That's the sort of thing I was trained for."
"Why were you here? Of all places? Being here was the worst place you could have been."
"Because I heard you Shadowhunters needed backup."
"We had backup."
"Fine you caught me." Roslyn made an exaggerated sigh. "I wanted to see you. It's been so long and I've missed you. I wanted to see how you were doing."
Everest wanted to say that she missed Roslyn too, that she loved her and wanted to catch up in person. Because she did. She did want to spend time with her and catch up. But the anger and betrayal that had been simmering in her box of negativities since her last call with Roslyn didn't let her.
"So? You could have called. You could have left a note, or even said 'sorry' or something in the last call we had. Why did you choose a major battle to show up? Just because you missed me?" Everest scoffed. "Sure. Real fucking likely. It had nothing at all to do with Cyprus's body that was carted off to be burned?"
Roslyn was silent.
"That's what I thought," Everest spat, all the anger in her—both at Roslyn and not—boiled to the surface and filled her words with as much venom as possible.
"Everest—"
"No. I can't do this right now. I just fought in a major battle, I watched people I love die, I'm tired and sore, and I just want to go to bed. Kindly fuck off."
With that, she hung up.
Everest fumed silently for a few minutes before trying to call Gino. He needed to know that Roslyn called her, even if she had already called him before calling Everest. He didn't pick up.
She huffed angrily and took off in search of Meliorn. She had seen him earlier, so hopefully he was still at the Institute. (She didn't dare think of the possibility of either of them being dead. It wasn't possible. They were too strong to be dead. She couldn't handle them dying.) She met no resistance as she stormed through the Institute and made it to the front courtyard. She managed to take a route with clear pathways between the crowds of Shadowhunters. No one called out to her. No one demanded answers. No one stopped her.
She found him talking to other Seelie knights out front. She stalked up to him, trying to calm her temper just enough to talk calmly. He wasn't the one she was mad at. He didn't deserve her temper.
When Meliorn saw her, he raised his eyebrows and stepped forward to meet her.
"Yes, Everest?"
"Where's Gino?" she asked, hands balled into fists at her side.
"I don't know. Likely at his apartment. Why?" His expression was full of curiosity and, if she wasn't mistaken, a vague concern.
"Something came up. I need to talk to him but he's not answering the phone and I don't think I'm allowed to leave the Institute grounds until this disaster clears up."
He inclined his head then turned to the Seelies he had previously been talking to. "Can one of you go fetch my brother? It's urgent."
The one on the left nodded and disappeared behind a tree.
"Are you...alright?" Meliorn asked, sounding hesitant.
She nodded stiffly. "I got knocked to the ground by a white light, my father is a mass murderer, and my friend just called after two months. I'm great."
He chuckled lowly with a curious expression but didn't get a chance to respond before the Seelie from before arrived with Gino. He thanked the Seelie and hurried over to Everest, worry plain on his face.
"Are you okay? What happened? Are Clary, Simon, Izzy, and the rest of them okay? What's wrong? Why are you so angry?" he asked hurriedly with his hands on Everest's shoulders, looking between Everest and Meliorn. "Mel, what happened to her? One minute you're telling me to stay inside and not go near the Institute and the next I'm getting told by Arion that you need me at the death building immediately. What's going on?"
Everest took a deep breath. "Roslyn is alive-ish."
"Ish? What's the ish?"
"She's a vampire apparently." Gino sucked in a sharp breath but let her continue. "She was here at the fight too. She was fighting Circle members when I found her. I didn't know it was her. She just called me. She was basically only back in New York because Cyprus was working for Valentine and he was fighting here."
"She killed him." It wasn't a question. Things were rarely a question when it came to Cyprus Fallis.
She nodded anyway. Gino exhaled slowly in an attempt to keep his calm, but Everest could see him losing the battle with his rage by the second.
"Fuck!" he snapped after a minute. "How dare she? Not a word for months, and then she shows up out of nowhere with no apology, no explanation on where she's been, if she's okay, nothing. Just the news that she's a vampire now and that she fought in the most historic battle of the last eighteen years just to get revenge. Damnit!"
They fumed together, each ranting about how awful of a thing Roslyn did, and how much trouble she was going to be in when they saw her next. Whenever that was. Out of the corner of her eye, Everest saw Meliorn gesture someone over but she didn't see who. She didn't care.
"The next time I see her, she's dead," she said forcefully, shrugging in a way that was both angry and uncaring.
"She's dead," Gino agreed with fire in his eyes that Everest hadn't seen since she and Amir broke up. She couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for Roslyn, not when she could feel that same fire burning through her veins.
"Hey guys," Izzy said.
Izzy stepped close enough that she was practically between the two of them. Meliorn did the same thing on Everest and Gino's other side. If she had to bet, she'd bet that two Seelies were behind Everest and Gino so they couldn't run. She knew what they were doing. They were boxing them in so that they had to listen and stay put. Izzy and Meliorn put a hand on Everest and Gino's shoulders to keep them further in place. Everest couldn't help but notice that Izzy was still paler than she should be and her neck glistened slightly with sweat.
"No," the two of them said together.
"Look, Sunny, Gino. You have to calm down. Murdering Roslyn won't fix this. Murder isn't the answer."
"It's the question," Everest said, the memes surrounding the very line she said filling her head instantly.
"The answer is yes," Gino added.
"No," Meliorn said exasperatedly.
"Yes," the two replied in unison.
Izzy sighed. "If Meliorn and I buy you food, will you calm down and not murder anyone?"
Everest looked at Gino with raised eyebrows. He responded by narrowing his eyes.
"Is there coffee included?" she asked.
The blue haired Seelie sighed. "Coffee too, yes."
Gino's lips quirked into a half smile, one eyebrow raising. Everest wiggled her ears. They nodded together.
"We agree," Gino said.
"Oh thank the Angel," Izzy muttered.
Meliorn shot her a look Everest couldn't decipher. "Let's go."
Izzy and Meliorn guided Everest and Gino off the Institute's property and into the rest of New York. As they joined the main crowd, Meliorn handed her a familiar grey trench coat.
"So you don't attract attention by being covered in blood," he offered in explanation.
She gaped at him, hugging the soft material close. "Thank you," she said, shock overpowering her anger.
He just shrugged.
Everest eagerly put the coat on, marveling at the amount of pockets it had and how soft it was. "It's my size! You got me my own cloak trench coat in my size?"
He smirked.
"Damn, girl." Izzy whistled lowly. "Just a few months of knowing Meliorn and he's getting you something. It took me longer than that to get a gift."
"It's been a lot of years, actually, that I've known Meliorn," Everest revealed.
Izzy gaped for a minute then burst out laughing. "Jace was right. You really need to make that presentation on who you knew from the ShadowWorld as a kid. I need to see all of them."
Everest shrugged, though internally she made a note to finally figure that slideshow out. Jace had mentioned it forever ago and it should probably get done soon.
Meliorn and Izzy led the two into a quaint diner decorated like the seventies. It was cute. Everest took a moment to twirl in her trench coat and had Gino record it so she could see it billow like a cloak. They ordered their favorite breakfast foods and ate in relative silence that was only broken when Meliorn or Izzy told them to calm down if they got too murdery again.
Everest and Gino shared a look when Meliorn and Izzy were talking quietly about the Clave or something.
"You get the feeling we're being babysat?" he whispered.
She nodded. "I mean, kinda glad we're not stuck cleaning the Institute and stuff, but it feels like we're being babysat by your old neighbors. You know, that sappy young couple?"
His face scrunched up in disgust. "They're exactly like those two."
"Blegh."
"What's blegh?" Izzy asked, a smile on her face as she dipped a strawberry in marzipan.
Everest looked at Gino again and they nodded. "Exactly like them."
They laughed quietly as the other two sighed.
"At least they're not about to go on a murdering spree."
"I'd almost prefer that."
...
The next morning, at an ungodly hour of the day, Everest stumbled into the Institute with her large mauve mug full of coffee and Alec, who was far more awake than she was.
"Morning sleepy heads," Izzy teased, eyeing Alec's day old clothes and the plain black jeans and oversized button up that Everest was wearing. She was more than aware that Everest kept a pair of emergency jeans in her bag when she stayed over at people's houses.
"Shut up, Iz," Alec said, rolling his eyes but he was smiling too.
"I will make you eat the food you cook, Isabelle Lightwood," Everest threatened, pointing a finger, which had a dinosaur bandaid on it, at her friend. She couldn't help but notice the shakiness of Izzy's hands as she shoved them in her pockets. "And not even the good ish food. The food that not even the dumpster rats eat."
Izzy rolled her eyes but disappeared around a corner with a smirk nonetheless, leaving Alec and Everest in the Ops Center.
"I love her, I do, but it's so early," Everest said, burying her face in Alec's side.
He chuckled lightly. "It's Izzy for you. I think the Inquisitor is waiting."
Everest groaned and tilted her head up for a kiss. Alec granted her a quick kiss and then she was heading towards the cells of the Institute.
"Oh and Alec?" she called, turning around. He was already facing her. "Make sure Izzy's got someone by her side as much as possible. I don't want her going through this alone."
When Everest was on her way to Magnus's the day before, after a morning of a shaky Izzy and Meliorn keeping her and Gino from hunting Roslyn, Raphael had called her. He explained everything. He explained Izzy's addiction to yin fen and later vampire venom, his part in that, and how she could help Izzy through withdrawal. Everest had yelled a lot, then apologized, then fumed silently the rest of the way to Magnus's.
Alec smiled reassuringly. "I will, don't worry."
"Thanks. Love you."
"Love you too, Darling," he said, causing some of the tension to fall from her shoulders as she walked to the cells. She loved being able to say "I love you" freely. It made her so happy.
She walked down the dark hallway lit only by a circular ring of light in the ceiling as she shrugged on the leather jacket she had previously draped over her arm. It made her feel more powerful and more equipped to deal with uptight Clave officials. Clary and Jace were already there.
"Sorry I'm late," Everest said, channeling as much Maryse "Take No Shit From Aldertree" Lightwood as possible when Inquisitor Herondale stopped talking. Maryse may be iffy in her books, but she had to admit, the woman knew how to stand up for herself. "I was finishing up some work when I got the call."
"What were you doing that was more important than being here?" Jace asked with raised eyebrows and a 'how dare you leave me alone with this disaster' look.
Everest decidedly ignored Clary's suggestive smirk. She also knew what Everest's emergency jeans looked like. "The kind of work that involves more emails than demons you've dealt with."
Jace scoffed but Everest turned to the Inquisitor, determined to not make an immediate enemy out of yet another Clave official. Shooting someone and being assumed to be aiding the most wanted man in the ShadowWorld didn't exactly get her on anyone's good side.
She held out the hand that wasn't holding her coffee to the older woman, who radiated power in a way that left her both awed and utterly terrified. "Morning, Inquisitor Herondale. It's nice to meet you, I'm—"
The woman shook her hand with a slight hesitation, but interjected nonetheless. "Everest Morgenstern, yes. I've heard quite a bit about you."
"My name is Everest Fairchild, ma'am," Everest corrected with the same smile she used to placate irate parents. Clary and Jace's eyes widened and both of their expressions screamed "Abort! Abort! No! Stop!" Everest kept going. "My last name, if it is to be changed from the one I've known my whole life, is Fairchild. I would rather not associate myself, even in something as simple yet powerful as my name, with the man currently held in the cell behind you."
The Inquisitor retracted her hand and regarded Everest with an expression of mild interest and, if Everest wasn't losing her mind to lack of sleep, vague approval.
"It's good to meet you at last, Miss Fairchild," she said, the faintest trace of a smirk on her lips. She turned to Clary and Jace, expression blank and stony once more. "The rune your sister drew to deactivate the sword ended up damaging it in the process. It's been sent to the Iron Sisters to be purified. You're Valentine's children. Tell me what you know."
Everest wondered what she had just walked in on and if she would have been better off staying in bed with Magnus. Yes, she decided, seeing Clary's expression sharpen. Yes I would have.
"Nothing," Clary insisted. "Haven't we proven ourselves? Valentine attacked the Institute. We captured him."
Everest felt her chest twist with both pride and second-hand embarrassment for her sister. Jace's eye twitched. Good, at least she wasn't the only one who knew it was a bad idea to argue with the woman in front of them, as proud as she was that Clary was standing up for herself. Lydia was different, she was around their age and had some respect for them all. Aldertree was different too, he was just awful and kinda creepy. But neither of them had the power of Imogen Herondale. The Inquisitor radiated power, the kind of power that would make even the rudest lawyers step out of her way on New York streets. She wasn't the kind of woman you want to mess with.
"At what cost? By taking matters into your own hands, you've planted the seeds for rebellion in the Downworld. The Accords will be near impossible to maintain now."
Inquisitor Herondale started walking to the elevators, but she turned around to face the three of them just before entering. Everest didn't miss the way that she was angled more towards Clary and Jace despite Everest being right next to them. She wondered why that was. "Fall in line or you'll end up like Aldertree, in Idris facing reprimand."
She walked into the elevators with her head held high, short curls not moving an inch. Everest was almost impressed.
"Well, as fun as this was, I have to go," Everest said with a shrug once she was sure the coast would be clear.
"Where are you going?" Clary asked, still wound up tighter than a toy car. Jace watched her with pursed lips.
"To run some errands," she said. She smiled sweetly, watching Clary's eyes narrow and Jace's expression turn wary. "Don't worry. I'll bring you two back some treats."
"Don't you dare Everest," Clary said in a stern tone.
Everest just kept smiling.
"Why? What's she going to do?" Jace demanded, looking more freaked out than he ever had when in the same room as Simon.
"You don't want to know," her twin said, never taking her eyes off Everest.
"I'll bring you back some treats," she repeated, taking another step towards the elevator.
"No you're not! Don't you dare Everest Dawn!"
She just kept on smiling, despite her sister's shouts and her brother's (no matter the lack of blood relation, he was always going to be her brother) confusion.
Trigger Warnings: Addiction, withdrawal, implied/mentioned overdose
Her smile dropped as she entered Izzy's room. Her best friend was clutching her damp bed sheets like a lifeline as she shook violently. Her breaths were shuddering and her skin glistened with sweat. Everest never wanted to see anyone like this again, not after Eloise. She never wanted to see anyone go through withdrawal again, but especially not her best friend who was her sister in more ways than one.
"Hey Dusk," she said as she sat down beside Izzy on the bed. She rolled her over to her other side so she wouldn't fall off the bed. Her face was pale and clammy. Everest gently moved her hair off of her face before it dried with the sweat. "What can I do to help?"
"I just need to sweat it out," Izzy gasped, voice trembling.
Everest's heart shattered into a million pieces seeing her friend like this. She had hardly survived seeing her high school friend like this in Junior year. But somehow it was different when it was Izzy. Somehow it was worse. Maybe it was that she had known her longer, or that they were going to be Parabatai. She didn't know. But she did know that she needed to do whatever it took to help her friend.
"Would a pep talk help?"
Izzy groaned but opened her eyes slightly. Everest took it for confirmation. She cleared her throat authoritatively.
"You're going to get through this. You're a strong, beautiful, independent young woman and you can do anything you set your mind to. I've seen you fight everything from demons and Circle members, to your mom and bigots. In what world will something like this take you down? Not this one, that's for sure." She smiled at Izzy, trying not to let any sadness shine through. Her friend wouldn't like that. "Hon, you are so strong, stronger than I think you realize. You always say how you're not as strong as people think you are, but you're stronger. You can beat this, I know you can. You have me and Alec by your side no matter what. I love you, Dusk, so much."
Izzy smiled faintly. "I love you too, Sunny." She squeezed Everest's hand weakly for a second. "Now go run your errands."
Everest gasped dramatically, hoping to lighten the mood. "What? How'd you know I have errands to run?"
"Your keys make a lot of noise."
Everest laughed quietly as she looked down at the lanyard that held her keys, keychains, and random bracelets and trinkets she'd collected over the years. "I guess they do." She pressed a kiss to her friend's forehead and stood up. "I'll be back before you know it, okay?"
Izzy sent her a weak smile, still shaking violently, and Everest returned it.
Trigger warnings over
Everest hurried out of the Institute and to the subway. The ride wasn't too terribly long, and she spent it on her phone texting Harper about LEGO kits.
She hurried through the grocery store, grabbing Skittles, creamer, blueberry muffin box mixes (she had little patience to make them from scratch these days), reusable rubber straws since hers kept disappearing, bobby pins, hair ties, a prepackaged tiramisu, a few other snacks, and two very spicy lollipops for Jace and Clary. She sent a picture of her basket to the group chat she had with the two of them.
Skittles:
*Sent an image*
Got your treats
Spaghetti:
???
Strawberry:
DON'T TRUST HER JACE
Skittles:
Ignore her. She's being dramatic
Strawberry:
Dramatic? YOU are calling ME dramatic?
*Scoffs*
You're ridiculous
Spaghetti:
I don't wanna know
Everest grinned at the messages as she went through self checkout. She hated going through normal checkout lines. The cashiers making small talk, the lines, the slow bagging people, ugh. It made her skin crawl.
She was just leaving the store when her phone chimed. She groaned. She made a new group chat so that she could complain to them all at once because she was feeling a bit petty.
Bang Bang:
Guys.
I literally just got groceries.
Slice Slice:
Not our fault
Growl Growl:
You can put them in my car when you get here
Bang Bang:
Thanks Luke
Growl Growl:
Just remember to get them this time
Bang Bang:
I forgot ONE TIME and you hold it against me forever
Stab Stab:
Try twelve times
Bang Bang:
NOT THE POINT CLARISSA ADELLE
Woosh Woosh:
You have awful timing
Stab Stab:
You really do
Bang Bang:
Shut up
Everest checked the location of the mission and she frowned. She'd never heard of Heslodge Bar before. Luckily, the bar was only a five minute walk from where she was so she got there relatively quick, once she pulled it up on her maps app and stopped going the completely wrong direction at least.
When she got there, multiple police cars were there already, but she found Luke's easily enough. It was the only one with a green and black bracelet on the dash. She stashed her bags in the back seat, though she kept her coffee, and slipped into an alleyway to glamour herself. She slipped inside behind an older police officer with salt and pepper hair.
Trigger warnings: Mass death (off page), bodies/corpses
The bar, which had obviously been very high class and aesthetically pleasing before the attack, was absolutely disgusting. Its patrons were slumped over the bar and table, even more of them had collapsed on the ground. Many were bleeding from their ears. Beside each body was thick grained white sand that had spilled out from their mouths. Police officers milled around, taking notes and investigating the scene. Her friends were by the bar, all of them in work mode.
She waved to Luke as she entered and offered her coffee to him once she spotted the tiredness in his eyes.
He took a grateful sip—since Luke helped raise her, it had destroyed most boundaries around sharing drinks and silverware fairly quickly—and then handed it back. She went to stand beside Jace, who was leaning against a dark wooden table. Clary and Alec were crouching next to a body.
"What's this sand on the floor?" Alec asked as he moved the body's head back and forth.
"It looks like a demon attack," Clary said.
"I've never seen a demon cause this kind of hemorrhaging," Jace rebutted.
"Is there any security footage?" Everest asked.
Luke shook his head in disappointment as he looked around. "Nothing in the bar. Maybe CCTV caught something outside on the street."
"What kind of bar doesn't have security cameras?" Clary looked absolutely perplexed. Everest felt the same.
"Apparently this one," Jace said.
"We should get them back to the Institute," Alec said as he and Clary stood up.
Clary looked distinctly uncomfortable in the bar now that she was at a better vantage point to see the carnage around them. Everest bumped her shoulder gently. She forgot that Clary hadn't grown up walking New York at night, or watching cop shows with Luke and Simon. A few months in the ShadowWorld wouldn't give her the kind of exposure that would make her less uncomfortable in these situations. Clary gave her a small smile.
Trigger warnings over
"That's a good idea," Luke agreed.
"The blonde lady is staring at you," Everest said, gesturing to the woman standing by the doors. "Do you need me to save you from her?"
Luke gave her a grateful look. "Yes please."
Everest passed her coffee to Alec, the one she hoped was least likely one to drink it all, handed her MetroCard to Luke, who knew what to do from the many times of them pulling this stunt, and slipped outside with another officer. She ducked into the same alleyway as before to deglamour herself and then stepped back onto the street just as the blonde lady started walking towards the door. She wasn't as close as Everest had initially thought.
"Excuse me, officers?" she said in a sweet voice as she approached the two officers by the doors. Luckily they both knew who she was. Hopefully this wouldn't be too difficult.
"Hey, kid," Officer Miller said. "What brings you to this part of town?"
"I was on my way to run errands and I realized that Luke has my MetroCard. I saw his car here and I was wondering if I could go ask him for it?" Hopefully they hadn't seen the groceries in the back of his car since she was pretty sure they had just gotten there.
Officer Miller and Officer Torres looked torn.
"Look kid, you're not supposed to be involved in crime scenes," Officer Torres said. She pouted slightly. "But...since you're Luke's kid, I'll let you go in. But just to get your MetroCard. Don't touch anything inside, got it?"
She nodded and smiled sweetly at him. "Thanks, you're a lifesaver."
He smiled and gestured for her to go inside.
She slipped into the bar just as the blonde got to Luke.
"Detective Garroway? Who are you talking to?" she asked.
Jace looked like he wanted to laugh.
Luke held up his phone. "Just dictating some notes while they're still fresh. Something you should start doing."
He caught Everest's eye and she winked. He raised his eyebrows slightly.
"That's a good idea—"
Everest cut off the woman. "I don't mean to interrupt you," she said in the same tone she had talked to the Inquisitor with, "but I need to talk to Luke."
"Who are you?" the woman asked, tilting her head curiously, suspiciously.
"Ollie, this is Everest, my niece," Luke said, wrapping an arm around Everest and pulling her into his side in a way that said 'Please don't piss Ollie off'.
Everest smiled at Ollie. "Nice to meet you."
Ollie smiled back, slightly less suspicious. "Oh, you're the girl in the picture on Luke's desk."
"What picture?" Everest asked, giving Luke a wary look. She really hoped it wasn't the picture she thought it was.
"You're lying on the floor of some kind of restaurant surrounded by paper and takeout boxes."
Everest groaned. "Really Luke? Really?"
Luke shrugged innocently, though his smile was anything but innocent. "What can I say? I like the picture."
She huffed but remembered her mini mission. "Anyway. Luke, you have my MetroCard and I need to run errands."
"You mean besides the ones you stashed in my car?"
"Yes besides those."
Luke rolled his eyes fondly but pulled the card from his pocket. "I'll see you later, Kiddo. Don't get into any trouble."
"Sure, sure," she called over her shoulder.
Just before she left the bar, she heard Luke ask Ollie to pull the car around and she resisted the urge to throw her hands up in victory. That would both blow her cover and likely make her lose her MetroCard.
She waved to Officers Miller and Torres and grabbed her bags from Luke's car before Ollie got to it. She walked a bit down the street before turning into an alley and glamouring herself again. She waited for Clary, Alec, and Jace to head her way.
"I got things for people," she said in a sing-song voice just to make Clary and Jace wary.
"No," Clary immediately said.
"Just try it," Everest said as she passed Clary and Jace their spicy lollipops. "I have something for you too, Love, but it can't be eaten on the go and I don't have a fork anyway."
Alec smiled and gave her back her coffee, taking two of the three bags. "That's alright. I can't wait to see what it is."
She smiled back. "Stop being so freaked out and eat the damn lollipops," she said impatiently, turning back to the other two.
They gave her suspicious looks but put them in their mouths at the same time. Jace's eyes watered and his face turned bright red in seconds. He threw the candy in a nearby trash can from a restaurant and started spitting and wiping his tongue with the baby wipe Everest handed him. Clary's reaction was far more subdued since she had somewhat of a spice tolerance, mostly from Simon and Everest sneaking hot sauce and wasabi into her food since they were kids. She grimaced, wrapped the candy back up in its wrapper, threw it away, and accepted a baby wipe before aggressively scrubbing her tongue. Everest wondered if they knew that they were baby wipes, not just napkins. Maybe they just didn't care?
"Why was it spicy?" Jace cried as Everest and Alec laughed mercilessly. Jace glared at the baby wipe like it was the demon they were hunting. "Why does it taste like coconut?"
Everest wiped tears from her eyes as she leaned on Alec for support. "Oh, that was the best reaction I've gotten in a while." She laughed for another moment before calming down enough to explain. "That was a spicy lollipop, Jace. And then I gave you a baby wipe."
"Well I know that! But why was it spicy?"
"Because it was made that way."
"But why did they make it spicy?"
"Because they could."
"But why—you know what? No. I don't wanna know."
Everest and Alec doubled over laughing once more. Jace huffed and started walking faster.
"You're all dead to me!" he called back.
Clary joined their laughter.
...
Trigger warning: Weapons, fighting (training spars)
Everest and Alec danced around each other, steps light and breathing heavy. Their blades glinted in the training room lights as they spared. Alec attacked without warning, but Everest parried, stopping his longsword inches from her face. She pushed back so that their blades were no longer clashing. It was almost comical to her, fighting with a sword just over half her height when Alec's sword looked perfectly proportional to him.
"How're you doing over there, Ms. I-Can-Fight-With-A-Massive-Sword? Is your sword a bit heavy?" Alec teased.
"Why? Wanting to know if you'll have to carry me to bed after this?" Everest winked as she brought her crusader sword down in an arc.
Alec spun out of the way and Everest advanced. Their swords clashed loudly but the two grinned as they pushed and pressured the other to back up, to let go. Neither did. Alec stepped forward diagonally, forcing Everest to step back. She lunged suddenly, hoping to catch him off guard, but he parried it. She went to pull her sword away, but he brought his sword up vertically and somehow wrapped it around hers before she could. He jerked his sword away, taking hers with it.
"Point for me," he said cheekily. "Does this mean I get a kiss?"
She rolled her eyes as she kicked the sword away so she wouldn't trip on it and pulled out two Scottish Dirks from their scabbards. "If you win. We're tied, remember. I won the first fight."
Alec tossed his sword to the side and grabbed two short swords from the table with a grin. "Guess I better win then."
Everest didn't know how long the third fight went on before she gained the advantage. She had pressed Alec into a corner and knocked one of his blades from his hand.
"Love, just admit that I'm going to win," she said in a low tone, not dissimilarly to how she had said those exact words during their hand to hand fight.
"Not a chance."
"Your loss."
She leaned forward and kneed him in the stomach. He doubled over and she pushed him back into the wall. She leaned close to him, a smirk on her lips.
"I win," she whispered, eyes darting to the dagger pressed against his neck and back up to his face.
Something cold pressed against the side of her neck and she glanced down to see his shortsword resting on her neck.
"It's a tie Darling," he whispered back.
"No it's not." She pressed her other blade against his spleen and his lips parted in surprise. "I win."
He laughed softly and raised his hands in surrender. "You win," he agreed.
She moved her blades away and stepped back. A playful smile danced on her lips as she grabbed her sword and put them back on the weapons rack. Alec's arms wrapped around her and she tilted her head back to look at him.
Trigger warnings over
"Yes?" she asked innocently.
"Don't you want your prize?" he asked, leaning down.
She pretended to think for a moment. "Hmm, maybe later."
His jaw dropped as she put away his weapons, which he had brought over and set on the table for the time being.
She pecked his cheek, then twirled out of his arms and grabbed her phone on the way out of the training room. "There'll be a surprise waiting for you in your room once you're less sweaty," she said.
He hurried after her.
After a quick shower, Everest walked into Alec's room with her hands behind her back. Alec was lying on his bed in sweats and a t-shirt, looking relaxed as can be. He looked up when she entered, and patted the space next to him. She smiled as she sat next to him.
"Whatcha got there?" he asked, propping himself up on his elbow.
Her smile grew as she held out the tiramisu and a fork. "I told you I picked up a treat for you."
His eyes lit up and he took it eagerly. He sighed happily as he took a bite. "One, you're such a tease," he said, pointing the fork at her. "Two, it was so worth it."
Everest laughed and settled beside him, her legs on top of his and her head resting on the pillow she propped up.
After a few minutes of quiet while Alec ate, Everest spoke. "Is there any reason you can think of that the Inquisitor would like me more than Jace and Clary?"
"Uhh, Clary probably, Jace maybe. Why?"
Everest made a noncommittal noise. "Ehh, she just acted like she liked me just barely better than them earlier. It was weird. And it was after I corrected her too."
Alec stilled. "You corrected Imogen Herondale, the Inquisitor?" he said in a higher voice than normal.
"Just about my name," she hurried to explain, just so that he didn't think the worst. "She called me Everest Morgenstern and I told her that if my last name had to be changed from Fray, then it would be to Fairchild. I also told her that I don't want to share a name with Valentine and she looked at me funny. It was like she respected me as a person."
Alec made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded faintly distressed. She looked up at him, worried, only to see him holding back laughter.
"What?"
That did it for him. He burst out in chuckles. "I'm sorry." He didn't sound particularly sorry. "It's just hilarious to me that out of every Clave official you've met, it's the Inquisitor of all people that chooses to like you. And when the Inquisitor decides she doesn't hate you, you think that something terrible has happened."
Everest snorted. "Okay, it is a little funny," she admitted.
"Are you going to try to get her wrapped around your thumb?" Alec asked, resting his head on top of hers. She trailed her fingers around his knee in random swirls.
She shrugged. "Maybe. I might also just try to have her not hate me, if nothing else."
He chuckled again. "That's probably a safe choice."
...
"Who's the best guard cat ever? Oh yes it's you. Yes you are," Everest cooed at Church, who was cradled in her arms, purring as he rubbed against her hand.
"I don't know what you did, but you're the only one he likes."
Everest and Alec looked up to see Roxanne and Circe in the hallway, watching them with smiles.
"What do you mean?" Everest asked, scratching Church's chin.
"He'll either run away or fight whoever is trying to pet him. The only reason he goes to other apartments is to beg for food, even though I know he gets fed by Magnus. But he never lets anyone touch him except for you," Roxanne explained.
"Everest found him," Alec offered. "So maybe that's why?"
Circe hummed quietly. "Maybe. Well, we'll see you later. We've got to pick up some extra food since my brother-in-law and his husband are stopping by for a while. We'll see you later."
Everest and Alec bid goodbye to the couple and went up the rest of the way to Magnus's apartment. Magnus was standing in the living room with the curtains drawn and numerous lamps lit so that it was light enough to see. Everest took a moment to admire the spider web ear cuff on Magnus's ear and distantly recalled a dangling spider earring set she had from a cosplay.
"Hey," they both greeted.
Everest let Church down to roam the apartment when he started squirming. Alec passed her back her mauve mug he had carried for her since she found Church.
"You two must be reading my mind. I was about to call," Magnus said in greeting, giving both of them a kiss.
"There's a Greater Demon on the loose," Alec said. Magnus's face fell and he grew wary. Everest knew the feeling all too well. "And we need your help. It's been leaving this on its victims."
He handed Magnus a small bag of the sand from the bar. Magnus held it up to the light, flicking the bag a few times so the sand shifted.
"Oh dear. This sand, it's from Duduael."
"Which is a...dimension of Hell?" Alec said, sounding only slightly unsure.
Everest's eyes widened in the same way they did when Izzy told her about her relationship before Meliorn. It wasn't in shock, rather in disbelief.
"The worst dimension. Did you find this on their face?"
Everest nodded, watching carefully as Magnus's face crumpled in confusion and he turned away, muttering to himself.
"How did he get loose? He's been shackled for centuries."
"Who, Magnus?" she pressed.
"The demon who taught man the weapons of war. A Greater Demon. Azazel. One of the Princes of Hell." There was a bitterness in Magnus's words as he spat the title like it had personally offended him. She wondered if it had.
"Right, a real prince," Alec said, sounding frustrated at the situation. "Why is it so dark in here?"
Alec moved to the curtains to draw them back and allow the rapidly setting sun to reach the apartment once more. Everest stayed by Magnus's side, offering him her coffee. He shook his head with a smile.
A faint rush of wind flew past Everest and she whirled, startled, with one hand pulled back and the other cradling her coffee to her chest. It was Raphael. The dark apartment made more sense now.
She looked at Magnus in confusion. Why was Raphael here? She loved Raphael, she did, but he and Alec weren't exactly on friendly terms at the moment. Magnus looked away guiltily. She looked at Raphael instead. He looked like he would rather be anywhere but there, as if standing in the apartment was causing him pain. Her grip on her coffee tightened. Why did he look so much paler than usual? Why were his eyes shadowed so darkly? Why did he look so tired?
"Hello Alec. Hello Escritora," Raphael said softly.
Trigger warnings: Mentions of addiction, mentions of withdrawal, mentions of relapse
"What is he doing here?" Alec demanded, though his words weren't angry so much as wary. His words weren't harsh enough for Magnus to think he was being blamed, but were harsh enough for Raphael to know exactly what Alec thought of him.
"Raphael has something important to tell you," Magnus explained, not unlike how Everest's mom and parental figures had talked to her when something bad happened.
"Nothing he says matters to me," Alec said sharply.
Raphael inclined his head to the side in a way that said he didn't blame Alec. "Your sister's in trouble," Raphael said anyway.
"You're damn right she is. She's suffering withdrawal back at the Institute because of you." Alec took a step closer. Neither Magnus nor Everest tried to intervene.
Everest's eyes narrowed. There was something in Raphael's eyes that made her pause. His eyes, usually lively and mischievous, were dull and blank. They were dead, truly dead. Something wasn't right.
"What happened?" Everest asked, keeping her gaze on her brother.
"She just came by the DuMort, begging for a bite," Raphael revealed.
Everest inhaled sharply and her free hand pressed into her thigh. Alec blinked slowly.
"What?" That single word held so much anger and fear that Everest wondered if he was going to hit Raphael.
"I didn't touch her. You have my word." Raphael looked at Everest properly for the first time and she nodded. She believed him. He knew what she would do to him if he had bit Izzy. "But there are plenty of vampires more than eager for a bite."
Guilt and frustration slammed into Everest full force but she pushed it away when she saw Alec storming towards the doors. She caught his arm and Magnus grabbed his other.
"It's not your fault," Magnus said, louder than any of them had been speaking before. "We'll find her, don't worry."
Raphael held out a piece of paper to Alec. "Here's the address of the closest den. There's a good chance she's there."
Trigger warnings over
Alec took it with a harsh motion. "Let's go."
Alec marched towards the doors and with a sigh, Magnus followed.
"You coming?" the warlock called back when Everest didn't move.
"Give me a second."
He nodded in response and kept walking.
Everest faced Raphael with as blank of an expression as she could muster up. His dead eyes brightened for a moment before he registered her expression. "One, fuck you. I love you, but fucking really Raphael?" He flinched slightly. "Two, are you visiting Rosa this Sunday?" He nodded timidly. "I'll meet you there. Until then, don't do anything stupid or I will tell Rosa."
"I won't," he promised softly, even as he cringed at the threat. Despite the woman's old age, she had no hesitation in taking a shoe to his backside.
She nodded sharply and turned on her heel to join her boyfriends in the hunt for Izzy Lightwood.
The sun had long since set by the time they reached the vampire den. Alec had stayed several paces in front of Everest and Magnus the entire walk, leaving the other two to walk in silence only broken by Everest's occasional warnings of "Watch out for the wonky sidewalk piece" or "watch out for the beer bottle shards".
Trigger warnings: bodies/corpses
Upon reaching the den, they found several bodies in the alley behind the building. Magnus and Alec crouched by bodies and Everest scanned the alley for any sign of Izzy.
"Azazel did this," Alec said.
She caught sight of something glinting silver and she approached, steps forceful on the cracked cement. Barrel fires burned around her and despite their familiarity, did not offer any warmth or comfort.
She was right. She didn't want to be right, not this time. Not when it meant what it did. She crouched down and picked up the offending object, holding it up for Alec and Magnus to see.
"Izzy's necklace."
Alec took it and tilted it so that he could see it better in the flickering light of the flames. "It's broken."
"Where is she?" Everest demanded, even as she turned her head away to hide the way she knew her eyes were glossy.
Trigger warnings over
...
"I don't get it. I thought Izzy had the flu. Why would she leave the Institute?" Clary asked.
Everest, Clary, Alec, and Jace were gathered at what had been dubbed The War Table a while back as Everest and Alec filled the other two in on the situation with Izzy.
"I don't know. But if he's hurt her..." Alec trailed off, shaking his head.
"Hey. She could have escaped. We don't even know if he has her," Jace said, voice steady in a way that made her sure he was trying his best to not freak out as well.
"She hasn't called. And she's not answering her phone. But she's still alive. I know it. It's just...he's got her." Everest huffed and ran a hand through her hair roughly. Clary set a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
She glanced at the footage of Azazel leaving the bar from earlier for the millionth time that day. Like every other time she had watched it, frustration raced through her.
"What does he want?" Clary asked.
"Question of the day, Ritz," Everest muttered bitterly.
"I don't know, but we should inform the Inquisitor, okay?" Jace's hands were on his hips and she couldn't help but compare him to a comic book superhero that was desperately failing to hide his superhero side from his human friends.
"She's in a meeting with the Alicante council," Clary told them.
"I don't understand. Why Izzy? What does a Greater Demon want with her?" Alec's hands gripped the table tight and she couldn't help the sorrow and regret that filled her. Earlier that day, they had been laughing and training and having a great time when they should have been there for Izzy. She slid a hand out from her pocket and placed it on top of his. He glanced at their hands briefly but went back to scanning the information that had filled the screen.
"I'm not sure. But I think I know who we can ask."
Everest looked at Jace and shook her head. No. No way. Not happening. They were not going to go pay a visit to Valentine.
They were in Valentine's cell. Because of course they were.
Valentine was shackled to a chair, dried blood caked onto his temple and lip. His exposed skin was covered in bruises and Everest could see several cuts on his neck and face. Yet he still smirked at the three of them as if he knew the secrets of the universe that no one else did.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but it's so nice to see the three of you," he said in his stupid drawl. Everest wanted to punch him so bad.
"Azazel wouldn't leave Duduael on his own. Someone broke him out. Someone with access to the Mortal Cup," Clary said, arms crossed authoritatively across her stomach.
"Circle members. They released a Greater Demon to break you out of here," Jace said blankly.
Valentine looked at Jace like he was an idiot. "I thought I raised you to have common sense." Everest hated that she had the urge to snicker. "If a Greater Demon wanted to free me, how would I still be here, having this inane conversation with you three? I want to banish demon filth from this realm."
And just like that, any amusement she might have had was gone.
"If that's true, then tell your followers to give back the cup. We can force Azazel to give us Izzy," Everest snapped, stepping closer to Valentine and leaning over him the same way that Theo would when someone got too close to her and Roslyn at The Jade Wolf. Surprisingly, Valentine flinched slightly.
"I don't know where the Mortal Cup is," Valentine repeated for the fifth time in ten minutes.
"If you're lying, so help the Angel..." Jace snarled.
Valentine leaned forward to look Jace and Everest in the eyes while Clary looked away, frustrated. "If you two were smart, you'd use me as bait. The only way to control a Greater Demon is with the Mortal Cup. Azazel would do anything to destroy it. So summon him with Everest's warlock boy toy, and tell him I have the cup. Offer him a trade, me for Isabelle."
This was sounding far too similar to Everest's first week in the ShadowWorld for her liking. Everyone wanted the Cup, everyone was trying to trade people for objects and other people. She was sick of it. She just wanted Izzy back.
"That could work," Clary mused. "Once we get Izzy, I can take him out with my sunlight rune."
"This is a trap," Everest said, throwing her hands up.
"What makes you think we can trust him?" Jace added. He began pacing. Everest wondered if he knew that the Lightwood siblings did the exact same thing when they were stressed.
"I'm not sure I would trust me either, if I were you, but the longer Azazel has Isabelle, the greater chance she dies."
Everest hated it when Valentine had a point.
"Guys, we don't have a choice." Clary turned to Valentine with a glare. "This better not be a trap. Your life's on the line, too. And I won't make any promises to stop Everest if it's a trap."
Valentine shifted as much as he could so that he could lean to the side to face Clary. "Clarissa, I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my daughter."
Everest scoffed. That had never stopped him before.
Clary seemed to be having a similar thought. "Why would that stop you? Everest is your daughter too. Jace is your son. You've hurt them plenty."
Everest inhaled sharply and looked at Jace. He was already looking at her with a far too familiar expression on his face. It was full of internal conflict and silent screams of 'Don't you dare say anything'.
Valentine smirked at Jace and it was even creepier from the corner of her eye. "You didn't tell her."
"Tell us what?" Clary demanded.
Everest looked away from Clary's pressuring gaze, instead looking at the ceiling, half hoping it would collapse just so she could get out of this conversation.
"You told Everest, though, didn't you?" Valentine's smirk grew to a smile and Everest grimaced. "You must still have feelings for Clary, then, huh? Isn't that a pickle?"
"Shut up," Everest groaned.
"Not another word," Jace hissed. Everest could see his aggressive pointing even though she wasn't properly looking at him.
"What is he talking about?" Clary asked, slowly and cautiously.
"You wanna do the honors or shall I?" Valentine asked smugly.
Trigger warnings: One-sided fighting
Everest's head whipped around when she heard the echoing crack of Jace's fist connecting with Valentine's face.
"I said shut up!" he roared.
Clary gasped as Valentine spat on the floor. Jace's fists were still balled tightly at his sides and his breathing was harsh despite him being nowhere close to breaking a sweat. Clary looked moments away from jumping between the two of them. Everest just wanted them all to shut up so they could find Izzy.
"It's rude to keep a girl waiting, Jace."
"Shut up," Everest said sharply.
"Jace, what is going on?" When Jace didn't answer, Clary turned to Everest. "Everest, just tell me."
Everest raised her hands in surrender and backed up a step or two. This was on Jace.
Most of the anger left Jace then, leaving his shoulders sagging and hair disheveled as he ran a hand through it. He sighed. Everest closed her eyes. She knew what was coming next. She didn't want to see Clary's reaction. Hearing it would already be enough. "Valentine's not my father. I'm not your brother, Clary."
"And Everest doesn't just have angel blood," Valentine added with far too much smugness in his voice.
Clary gasped violently. Jace's steps stopped with a thunderous stomp. Everest lunged forward and her fist arced through the air before she could think twice.