1. Pompeii
1. Pompeii
Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek, gazing nervously at where he was sat at the table. His parents were talking to each other, tense, and Clary was playing with her food, completely unaware of the heavy atmosphere.
His father looked as composed as ever, while his mother looked like she was on the verge of tears. Her eyes were glossy, but her chin was held up, defiantly. “Mum?” inquired the boy, staring at her.
It had been almost a week since his dad had come back to live with them. Before his mother, Clary and him had left, his father had seemed crazy and dangerous to be around, but now, it was like his sanity had returned.
He looked down at Sebastian when he heard his voice, and a strange look passed on his face. His mother didn’t say anything, as Valentine Morgenstern took his bracelet off his wrist and put it on Sebastian’s. the boy lit up at that. He had always loved the bracelet that his father, his mother and their friends always wore, but had never had the courage to ask for one himself.
This caught Clary’s attention. She frowned at Sebastian and held out her small hand. “I want it!” she whined, and her mother’s chuckle sounded a little like a sob.
Jocelyn Morgenstern took off her own bracelet and handed it to the little red head.
Valentine smiled at her. “You are just like your mom, aren’t you?” he asked her, and Clary smiled, all smile teeth and flushed cheeks at the almost praise. Her father eyed the food, that lay untouched on her plate and nudged it in her direction. “Come on, eat something, Clarissa.” The girl puffed her cheeks, and Sebastian looked down at her with superiority. He was three years older than his three years old sister, and he felt like it mattered a lot.
Suddenly a howl rang from outside, a sound that made Sebastian and Clary shut their ears. Jocelyn’s whole body gave a spasm, while Valentine tensed. The man took a deep breath and took out his seraph blade and put it on the table. He smiled at Clary. “Clarissa, why don’t you and Sebastian go upstairs? Me and your mum need to talk about something quickly.” He told her and the girl beamed.
She jumped off her chair and reached out with her hand to grab Sebastian. “Come on, Sebby!” she called, grabbing him and forcing him up.
Sebastian followed her up, slightly annoyed, and they closed themselves in their parents’ bedroom. Clary immediately started rummaging through her mother’s stuff, much to Sebastian’s dismay. “Clary!” he hissed, but inched closer to where she was playing with her mother’s jewels. There were two beautiful rings inside, both with the M of Morgenstern written on top.
One was on a chain, ready to be worn at a neck, and the other was obviously Valentine’s. Clary put the first one on her throat, and handed the second to her brother, eyes shining. “We are Miss and Mister Morgenstern, the princess and prince of Idris.” She informed him, and despite himself, he laughed.
He was still laughing when the whole house shook with and a scream pierced the silence. It wasn’t a human sound. More like the demons from the movies that Sebastian watched with Aline Penhallow, his friend. Clary’s eyes went wide, and she stood frozen, staring at her brother in terror.
Sebastian’s heart was hammering in his chest, but he pushed away the terror. He needed to go and check on his parents. He picked Clary up, and put her down in the small wardrobe with a reassuring smile. “I’m going to check what happened. Don’t move.” He made her promise, and she nodded. She was a Shadowhunter, after all.
The platinum haired boy, creaked the door opened and stepped outside. The sound of a fight came from downstairs. He inched down the stairs, and peeked from behind a corner in a kitchen.
There was a group of men in the room, fighting against his mom, his dad and Uncle Lucian. Sebastian knew them. They were his father’s friend. Then why…?
He saw his mum’s eyes fall on him and the way the widened, just before she pierced the heart of one of the demons in the room. They were tall and human shaped, but they had a yellowish skin and no eyes. They had several mouths all over their bodies, and a small cavity that Sebastian guessed was the nose.
He saw a man with black hair and a pair of starling grey eyes: Hodge Starkweather. Sebastian stared, unable to move, as the man, with a twist almost impossible for him, sank his dagger into Valentine’s body.
His father didn’t scream, and neither did his mother, but Lucian Graymark did, hauling himself at Hodge and knocking him out, as his mother stabbed the last demon standing. She didn’t stop to look at her husband, but ran out of the room, grabbing Sebastian’s hand as she did so.
“Mum? What about dad? Is dad all right?” his voice shook as he asked his mother the questions.
Jocelyn didn’t answer, just pushed him inside the bedroom. “Clary? Clarissa!” called the woman, and a second later the girl tumbled out of the wardrobe where her brother hid her. She didn’t say a word, her body shaking but her face clean of tears.
Her mother didn’t waste any time as she Valentine’s wardrobe and pulled out two twin bags from them. “Seb, hold these, please.” Instructed her mother, moving methodically. A loud noise resounded from the inferior level, but Jocelyn didn’t stop. She moved faster.
She pushed the wardrobe, revealing what looked exactly like a portal from behind it. Only then she paused. She looked at her kids and smiled at both. “Do you want to go on an adventure? Dad will get there soon.” She smiled at Sebastian. “Lucian probably already healed him with an iratze.” She shook her head, looking fond. “That’s what we get for playing with demons.”
Clary visibly relaxed, but Sebastian didn’t. his mother looked tense, and she didn’t seem sincere. She pulled them both in a bone crashing hug. “Ragnor Fell. We need to go to Ragnor Fell.” She told them, kissing both of them on the foreheads.
Another crash sounded, and their mother hugged them again. When she parted from them, she had tears in her eyes. Sebastian felt cold in his stomach, as she put Clary’s hand in his. “Ragnor Fell. Or a warlock. Just… a warlock.” She looked at the rings on them and smiled. “Us Morgensterns… we are brave.” She confided, as the door bursted open and Lucian and another demon fell inside. Hodge was right behind them his dagger in his hand.
He threw the dagger at Jocelyn, but with cat reflexes, Lucian deflected it. Clary’s lip started quivering and Sebastian looked at his mother, feeling helpless. She kissed their foreheads again. Clary looked at her. “Are you not coming with us?” she asked, and Jocelyn flinched. Clary wasn’t stupid.
“I’ll be right back.” She promised, and then she pushed them both inside the portal. The last thing they saw before falling was their mother, tears running down her face, as she destroyed the portal. And then nothing.
Sebastian fell hard, on his back, and Clary fell on top of him, her hand still on his. Her face was tear stained now, and she was looking at Sebastian with fear and sadness. “Mum? What happened to mum? What happened to her, Sebby?” she asked, and Sebastian forced himself not to cry.
He needed to be strong. For Clary, for his little sister. “She’ll come, soon. Her and dad.” His voice cracked at the mention of his father, but she didn’t seem to notice. Sebastian let go of the bags and of her hand in favour of wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her forehead, as her body shook with sobs. “We are Morgensterns, Clarissa. And we are on an adventure. It’ll be okay.” He promised.
Only then he looked around him, trying to figure out where they were. It was Ragnor Fell’s workroom. He knew, because he remembered that him and his mother had been there before, and he had listened as her and him had talked in hushed tone about something called the ‘Uprising’.
But the man was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a cat, perched up on one of the sofas of the living room, staring at them unblinking. Sebastian cleared his throat. “Ragnor Fell?” he inquired, aloud. “Mister Warlock?”
At the words, someone appeared at the doorway. Someone who wasn’t Ragnor Fell. Someone with spiked and gelled up hair, and a ridiculous outfit on him. He wore more make-up than Aunt Fairchild. His eyes were slit like a cat’s and his mouth was set in a thin line.
“Who asks?” asked the man. His accent wasn’t like the ones Sebastian was used to, unlike any of the Idris’ accents.
Sebastian frowned, and moved his sister behind him, getting ready to fight. “You are not Ragnor Fell.” He told him, and Clary stared at the man with her huge green eyes. She didn’t look scared, but she stood behind him.
The man stared at their eyes, so similar in their sea green and so stubborn and fierce. Understanding dawned on his face. “You are Jocelyn Morgenstern’s children.” He said, and Sebastian frowned. The man smiled. “Hi. I’m Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn and dear Ragnor Fell’s old friend.” He explained, bowing at them.
Sebastian looked at him, distrusting. “Where is he? And how can you prove what you say?” he asked, and the man grinned at him.
He threw a picture at him. The picture was of Magnus and Ragnor standing next to each other, the first with a pair of huge sun glasses on and the other with a scowl on his face. Magnus’ smile was dazzling. “And as for where is Ragnor… I wish I knew. He fled.”
The last bit of hope fell from Sebastian’s heart. They were alone. His parents and Lucian were probably already dead. Ragnor was gone.
And then Clary laughed. Sebastian whipped his head, and saw her sitting on the floor with the picture in her hand. The cat from before was purring at her feet. She smiled at her brother, bright and hopeful. “Look at Mister Magnus. He looks very silly.” She announced, and the warlock smiled at that.
Sebastian smiled back at her. They were Morgenstern: they didn’t cry. They shone, brighter than stars.
Magnus moved towards them. “Allow me to help. I owe Jocelyn and Valentine my life, and this is the least I can do.” He asked, serious.
Sebastian didn’t have a choice. He didn’t have anyone else beside Clary anymore. They only had each other. And if Clary was okay with him, then so was he.
He touched the bracelet on his wrist.
Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.
If I cannot reach Heaven, I will raise hell.
Sebastian nodded.