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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:41:37 GMT -8
Eli’s eyes opened slowly when he heard the faint sound of her blowing on something, he guessed she was warming her hands with her breathe before she began marking him, not wishing to jolt him with the touch of cold hands and he smiled at the thoughtfulness behind the small action. She’d told him to relax though as the seconds ticked by and he knew it would any moment now that she’d begin marking him, he was finding it rather difficult to do anything but breathe. But somehow, just before he felt her fingers and then palm press lightly into his skin, he managed to relax as best he could, telling himself not to think about how warm her hand felt pressed against his skin. He sucked in a small, hopefully unnoticable breath as his eyes slipped closed again and he bowed his head slightly. Trying to concentrate on his breathing and the blackness behind his eyes rather than the feel of her hands or her stele on his back.
He was used to receiving marks, whether he burned them into his flesh himself or had someone else do it, and so he was used to the first bite, a slight sting and spread of heat, of a stele when it touched his skin. It stung, but it was a bearable sting and he didn’t flinch as Audrina began drawing his first rune. What he wasn’t used to, was Audrina standing so close or her hands on his body and as a result his breathing had become even more shallow than before and his heart fluttered uncontrollably in his chest. It would be so easy to forget that she was only touching him now because he needed these runes and not because she wanted to. She’d never touch you like this otherwise, he reminded himself firmly and as much as that thought didn’t please him he knew it was true.
Eli felt her hand move suddenly, she had finished the first mark, and it smoothed its way up his back stopping at his left shoulder blade. The movement had been rather unexpected and he’d tensed for a second under her touch, but not unpleasantly, her hand leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. He bit down on his lips quickly, glad she couldn’t see his face, as he fought to keep from sighing under her touch. Audrina’s voice in his ear almost made him jump, her breath brushing against his ear, reminding him of how close she really was, thankfully he didn’t move. “You're not. It’s..fine,” He murmured softly, hearing some uncertainty in her voice about whether or not she was pressing too hard into his back with her stele. The time between the second and fourth rune she placed on him blurred and Eli had yet to become aware that she’d finished all four until she removed her hand from his back. He hadn’t realised either that he’d been concentrating more on the feeling of her hand against his back then on the burn of the stele until she removed both.
Slowly he turned so that he was facing her forgetting to reach for his shirt, he could put it back on now that she was done. He didn’t need to see the marks she’d placed on him, he trusted that she had done well and suspected they were probably better than marks he could draw. There was a hint of a smile on his lips as he looked across at her, a kind of thanks for placing his runes. It was now her turn to receive runes and that realisation, he could see, was dawning on the both of them now. Something in her gaze spoke of her uncertainty about being marked and trust that he wouldn’t butcher her flesh or take advantage of her whilst she was vulnerable under his hands. He wouldn’t do either of those things, he wouldn’t hurt her, he never wanted to hurt her.
He reached across to his draw as she spoke softly, indicating that he’d have to mark either her back or her abdomen. His fingers found her father’s stele and he pulled back, pushing the draw closed again, as Audrina began lifting the hem of her top. He caught sight of the creamy flesh at her abdomen and swallowed hard suddenly not so sure he could do this. “Alright,” He nodded and lightly cleared his throat before he reached up and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders so he could turn her around. “I’ll start with your back,” He said, his eyes now on the slender curve of her lower spine. Being reminded that she wanted the marks he placed to be discreet he realised she hadn’t said which marks she’d wanted, and seemed to be willing to let him choose which runes would suit best. She was giving him control, he knew, and it only made him all the more nervous. He had never seen Audrina hand over control of a situation, especially when it directly involved her, to anyone and had never thought she would hand it over so willingly to him. If he did this, if he didn’t stuff up, perhaps she would trust him with other things and that didn’t always try and turn a situation between them into something intimate or that his feelings for her weren’t just on the physical level.
Eli turned his thoughts to what runes he would draw into her skin as he rubbed his hands together to warm them as she had done for him. With a first rune in mind he crouched slightly, being a fair few inches taller than she was, holding his stele firmly between his fingers preparing to press it to her skin. “Here we go...Precision…” He stated quietly, letting her know he was about to draw his first rune and what rune he’d chosen. He only hoped he had picked the right ones for her. His fingers gently positioned themselves at her left side, indicating that that was where he’d mark her. He focused only on the spot, in the middle of her back next to her spine, between the hem of her top and the waistband of her leggings, where he’d be marking her not allowing his eyes to roam over her body as they had once done in the past. Eli brought the stele in his other hand to that very spot and pressed it gently into her skin, picturing the Precision rune in his mind and he carefully began to draw it.
“Stamina…” He spoke again once the first mark was done and he moved onto the next one, swapping sides. He kept his fingers at her side, though he hand pressed his palm all the way down against her skin, afraid if he touched too much of her flesh the control he was executing would slip completely away. He heard only the faintest sound of her breathing as he began to draw his second mark onto her back and almost stopped what he was doing, hoping this wasn’t too uncomfortable for her. Though stopping would only draw the process out and so he made sure, as his stele burned into her skin, that he didn’t press too hard.
“One more,” He said and but his tone held a question in it, could she handle just one more or were the two he’d drawn enough. When she didn’t protest he figured one more was okay, but looking at her back he noticed there was not space for the last mark he wanted to put on her. with his fingers still at her side, he only then laid his palm to her skin, however it was only to turn her around; the last rune would have to go somewhere on her abdomen. He looked up at her then, now that she had turned fully around, his eyes soft on hers before he dropped his gaze back down. The whole while his heart pounded in his chest and his pulse raced, but on the outside he seemed as cool as a cucumber, at least he hoped he did. “Fortitude.” He murmured and chose the next location of her last mark.
His stele went to the right side of her abdomen, far enough over that it was almost at her side, and again it was between the hem of her top and the waistband of her leggings. If she leant over for anything when they were back at the institute and her shirt happened to lift slightly the marks still wouldn’t be seen. Her father’s stele glowed a bright blue-white as it made contact with her skin and began drawing the Fortitude rune. The stele dimmed as it was pulled away and he’d finished the mark. “Done.” He smiled and straightened, tucking his stele into his back pocket, taking a step back so there was some space between them. He then turned and reached for his shirt, slipping his arms into the sleeves and pulling it on over his head. He did this both because he needed his shirt back on and to give her a moment of privacy, it had been the longest time he’d had his eyes on her bare skin and may have felt like he’d been invading her personal space.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:42:26 GMT -8
The touch of his hands on her shoulders, even for those brief seconds to turn her, sent jolts of electricity through her. She was further reminded that he wasn't just a Shadowhunter she was helping, that she was just doing this to get him to go away. She felt for him and with every touch she was reminded. She had kissed him only hours ago. Obviously he wasn't just 'some guy' anymore. She took a breath and nodded as he warned her he was about to start, seemingly giving her an opportunity to stop him beforehand if she so wished it. The realization that the burning was coming and how her relatively unmarked skin was about to be changed, she almost did stop him. Her body tensed before his hands pressed to her and she very nearly turned and backed away from him. You can't, you gave your word, he needs you a voice reminded and her eyes closed as a new resolve took over. She almost jumped as his fingers pressed gently to her left side indicating that was where he would be starting. Her eyes closed and her brows knit together before that familiar touch of a stele point found her skin and the burning began. A whimper tried to escape her, not from the pain because that was bearable in comparison to other things that had happened to, but more as a mourning of what this was what her life had come to. She'd spent so much time running away from being a Shadowhunter and now she was taking marks like one. She breathed deeply through her nose as her skin tingled into numbness as the stele moved in a pattern over her skin. Despite knowing it was a bad idea, she focused on his fingers on her skin, finding comfort in his touch when she wanted to scream for him to stop and forget this.
The marking was over before she knew it and he moved to the next, her head nodding once more in recognition before her focus turned to his touch once more. Remembering that this was for someone's life also kept her rooted into place every time she thought about stopping him. It was when he seemingly questioned her for a third that her attention was brought back to the matter at hand. "Go ahead," she said softly, her voice flat and devoid of emotion as she effectively wiped it from herself for a moment. She didn't want to hear her dismay or disappointment that would surely cause him to second guess his work. She trusted that it was perfect and would be effective in battle, another realization that he wasn't just anybody anymore. She had placed trust in his hands that he wouldn't mutilate her or try to take advantage of this situation. That was something for someone who was generally so closed off and declared that needed nor wanted anybody.
She felt his full palm press to her skin which jolted her from her thoughts as he turned her. Her breath caught as she realized he needed to mark her abdomen, having run out of space in the small amount of skin she had given him to work with. Her eyes averted as he spoke before pressing the stele to her skin one last time. The feel of him so intimately close at her front almost made her hand venture to him as though this were a moment to be shared. It stayed firmly at her side even though it wanted to travel to his hair, to press him against her like a lover. What is wrong with you?! her voice echoed in her head and her brows furrowed anew. Clearly she wasn't thinking straight in these moments. Though in her monologue with herself she hadn't even noticed him marking her and was surprised when he announced they were done. They seemed to step back at the same time, he to grab his shirt and her to break their contact. She didn't even try to find a mirror to see how he'd done. Instead she pulled the folds of her shirt down quickly and crossed her arms around herself in protection as though she had been violated. He had been careful and it wasn't his fault, but she couldn't keep the sadness from her eyes as she pointedly kept them away from him. The fact that she'd spent so much time running from what was in her blood and she had no choice in was almost depressing. She'd vowed to stay away from marks and yet she had just taken them on with little need to be coerced into it. She needed them to save Travis, which was the most dangerous part. She had done it for someone else and not for herself, otherwise she never would have.
She took another breath to calm the bundle of nerves threatening to unravel inside of her. She would get over it, they would fade as Eli said. But when they faded they turned into that silvery scar that would always remind her of what she'd done. Will you be alive long enough to worry about it? the voice mocked, reminding her of what she had to do when this was over. She got a grip on herself and finally brought her eyes to Eli, her arms falling away as she did so. "Thanks." She said emotionlessly as she watched his shirt fall back into place and hiding the marks she had put on him. "We should probably finish getting around. The armory is open for your use, I think there's some silver weapons somewhere in one of the cupboards or something." She offered to him, suddenly feeling the need for her own space. It was just a few marks, but to her it was a lifetime of fighting gone away in a few minutes. She had to be mentally ready when they did go out and at this moment she didn't think she was. If she wasn't in it all she would do was drag him down and they couldn't afford that. She wasn't about to let herself lose it in front of him as she tried to handle what had been done to her body. You'll get over it a voice pressed, but she ignored it. She need her time before meeting up with him again and battling for the life of his brother. Coming to terms with this wasn't something she felt appropriate in front of him. That was a whole nother side of her she wasn't eager to be sharing with him. Admitting she trusted him to mark her was one thing, but trusting him not to judge her as she possibly fell apart in front of him was something she couldn't do.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:42:46 GMT -8
Even as she thanked him for marking her, Eli saw something different in her eyes as she gazed back at him, a sorrow, and possibly regret for allowing him to go ahead with the marks. A rush of guilt flooded through him, and his heart constricted tightly. What have I done? He asked himself now, but it was far too late to take the marks back. He’d forced this on her, maybe forced was a little strong of a word, but if it hadn’t been for his own selfish need to reassure himself that she would be as protected as she could be tonight she wouldn’t have those marks now. Eli had known from the beginning that Audrina held a great distaste for Rune’s and marking herself with them; she shied away from embracing a shadowhunter life because it wasn’t the life she wanted for herself. He suddenly wanted to apologise for doing this to her, involving her like this in a task that should have been his own. However he had a feeling that apologising wouldn’t accomplish anything, and would only make her feel worse then she probably already felt.
He couldn’t apologise, but he could have found something else to say, remind her that the marks would fade over time; or maybe he should have told her how much it meant to him that she was risking everything for him by coming along to save his brother. Eli couldn’t find the words and only swallowed back the lump in his throat as Audrina went on to suggest that he could pay a visit to the armory and stock up as many silver weapons as he could. She wanted to be alone, he guessed, to have some space to herself. “Did you want me to bring anything back for you?” He asked when he finally found his voice again. When she only shook her head he gathered that she was satisfied enough with her own weapons. His hibben blades were lost to him for now, somewhere in the meat factory where’d they’d been stripped from his body when he’d been captured. He needed weapons and good ones, and he just hoped that he would see his blades again as they were a gift from his father when he’d officially become a shadowhunter.
“I won’t be long.” He told her as he made for the door, glancing briefly over his shoulder to look at her as he left, a part of him wanted to stay, hold her and tell her how sorry he was for putting those marks on her. He forced himself to continue all of the way through the door and shut it gently behind him before he jogged quickly away headed for the armory. They didn’t have much time left now before they had to meet with Luke, and before they did that they had to see Magnus. Eli stopped jogging and shoved his hands in his hair, he’d forgotten about seeing Magnus and realised he still hadn’t told Audrina about Hodge’s request either. Shit. He cursed and heaved a sigh, he would just have to spit it out when he came back from the armory. He knew she was going to be furious though, both at the idea of seeing Magnus after what he’d tried to do with her memories and for Eli’s not telling her about it sooner.
He arrived at the armory as quickly as he could and hurried inside, quickly scanning all the weapons available to him and picking out those which were made of silver and assumed would work best against Were’s. There was a pair of blades, nothing like his own blades but similar in style that he put amongst the other weapons he’d steadily been collecting off of the walls and out of cabinets. He also grabbed a weapons belt that he promptly strapped around his waist and filled with silver daggers, a longsword and throwing knives. He added a few extra bits and pieces that he thought he or Audrina could make use of and then headed out of the armory and back to his room where he’d left the blonde.
It was his room, but he stopped outside of the door anyway, knocking lightly to let Audrina know he had come back. When he heard her muffled call he slowly opened the door and stepped back inside, weapons in tow. “I brought you back a few things, if you wanted to use them.” He stated and pointed to some throwing knives and a dagger.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:43:15 GMT -8
Whether Eli sensed the feelings rolling through her or he genuinely agreed with their need to finish assembling she didn't know, but she was thankful he was giving her the time to deal with this on her own. At his question she simply shook her head, knowing she had her own silver pieces in her room when she had to grab them. She nodded absently before he left, announcing he wouldn't be long. At the soft click of his door she turned away and exhaled painfully. You're better than this. a voice tried to encourage her to stand tall, but she couldn't as she made for his bathroom. She stood before his mirror and raised her shirt again to see the mark he'd placed on her. It was perfect and would undoubtedly work for her, but seeing it only made her breathing pick up in pace before a single tear filtered out of her eye. The hem of her shirt dropped down as she wiped the liquid from her face before her hands gripped his sink. She was a Shadowhunter. There was no running from it anymore it would seem. She was just like them now. She wasn't sure how long she'd stood in that leaned position before she straightened and once more wiped the moisture from her eyes. She couldn't let him see this when he returned she reminded herself before she stepped from the bathroom and sat on the edge of his bed, not even thinking about it as she did so.
Her breathing was under control when he did finally return, knocking before opening the door. "Come in." She said softly as she appreciated the gesture even though this was his own room and he could come and go without knocking. Her eyes were downcast until he addressed her, announcing he'd brought her weapons even though she'd shook her head against his initial offer. She brought her grays up to him and let a faint smile cross her lips. "Thanks." She said simply before rising from the edge of the bed and taking them from him. She dutifully slipped the knives in her boots and slid the dagger in her belt for easy access should she need it. "You didn't have to do that. Maybe we'll get lucky and won't need them." She said, though she was sure they both knew that wasn't the truth. They were likely going to need every weapon they could get and then some. She'd barely made it out alive from three werewolves, what would a pack do to two of them? She tried not to think of it as she lifted back to her full height."I'm pretty sure Hodge already sent the others out, but we probably won't have much time before they get back unless they go out for a hunt tonight." She informed as her arms crossed around her middle, suddenly feeling a little cold and exposed.
Her eyes averted from his as she felt awkward standing in his room with him after all that had happened in the last few hours. She'd kissed him and let him mark her. It was obvious it wasn't just 'nothing' between them anymore. She couldn't keep lying and say she felt nothing for him. He wasn't stupid and had to know it wasn't as she swore it was. Her only saving grace was that he hadn't pushed it since she'd kissed him back. If anything he'd been giving her more space. Maybe he was just as confused as she was and also needed the space? That or he was just that intuitive about her now which was also mildly worrisome. He might figure out her plan if he was. He might realize she was doing this to distract him in the future. That's not the only reason. You want him happy she thought and sighed. "I should go get the rest of my gear on. Do you want me to meet you here...or is there something else you need before we go?" She asked rather suddenly, her senses picking up on something about him. There was a int of apprehension in his stance, his eyes, as she brought hers back to his once more. She shouldn't have asked and should just be on her way to get just that much more space, but it seemed she couldn't just let things go around him anymore. She was also becoming more intuitive about him.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:43:37 GMT -8
As Eli stepped back inside his room, his gaze went immediately to the blonde woman sitting on his bed and he had to force back a frown. Not that the sight of her sitting on his bed was a bad thing, he liked finding her in his room in fact. There was a sadness about her demeanor, he had sensed her sorrow after he’d placed the runes on her body before and had left for the armory at her request so she could have some time to adjust to the idea of them. Looking at her now he could still sense that despair and if they had more time maybe he would have taken his time getting the weapons he needed for tonight. It also wouldn’t be a good idea for her to know that he saw her regret for accepting the runes, he had a feeling her knowing he knew and felt guilty for being the one to coerce her into them would only make matters worse.
She had said he needn’t bring her anything back from the armory, but he’d felt it couldn’t hurt to bring a few things back that she could chose from, if she really didn’t want them then she didn’t have to take them. He smiled softly at her thanks and half-turned to close the door as she rose from the edge of the bed, turning back as she approached and he handed her the items he was holding. He merely shrugged at her words and adjusted his weapons belt to give himself something to do as she tucked the weapons he’d handed to her away on her person. He looked back towards her when she commented that maybe they’d get lucky and wouldn’t need the weapons they now had and knew it was only wishful thinking on her part, she knew as well as he did that they’d need everything that they could do get through tonight. “Maybe,” He replied.
“I think so, I haven’t run into any of them for hours now.” Eli nodded and agreed that they might not have much time left before they returned and should really get a move one. He suddenly felt unsure of himself standing there in front of her, especially when she closed herself off by folding her arms around her middle. He wanted to reassure her again that everything would be fine, that they’d get through this but how could he possibly know that for sure and his words wouldn’t mean all that much. Eli took in a shallow breath and stepped around Audrina headed for his nightstand, he’d tucked his stele into his back pocket of his jeans but the locating stone was still in his top draw. He was nodding as she said she should go and finish getting ready, but paused, his hand halfway to reaching for the top draw of his nightstand. He grimaced and was glad his back was to her then and she wouldn’t see it, though she’d probably notice the tension in his shoulders. You have to tell her. Now or never... Travis needs what Magnus has to offer. Whatever that was.
“I...ah, there is something. I forgot to mention it to you before…” Eli began, though he was still reluctant to tell her anything and gave himself a little more time to think of how exactly he should tell her about Magnus by opening his draw and pulling the stone out. He quickly tucked it into his other back pocket and slowly turned back around to face the blonde, though from the corner of his eye he saw the rest of his gear spread out on the end of his bed and in one stride he was there picking up the thick leather jacket that would offer more protection for his arms and chest. “Hodge asked that we go see him, it wasn’t my idea.” He continued as he shrugged the jacket on over his arms and zipped it up. He had been avoiding her gaze, but he couldn’t avoid it forever and so sucking up some courage he pinned his blue eyes on her grays. “We’re going to see Magnus Bane before we meet up with Luke. He has something that will help Travis.” He said simply, and his words were surprisingly steady when he said this whereas on the inside he was quivering slightly, he knew what Audrina’s temper was like, and she was probably the only person who had the ability to make him nervous with that temper of hers.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:43:54 GMT -8
Normally hearing Eli speak wasn’t something she entirely hated, but as her eyes rose and read the tension in his back coupled with his voice she knew whatever it was he had ‘forgot’ to mention it wasn’t going to be good. Her eyes narrowed instinctively as he seemed to refuse to meet her gaze, another sign that something was amiss. Whatever it was he knew she wouldn’t like it and that meant it had to be something she felt strongly about. What else could she feel more strongly about than the marks he’d already put on her? Her brows tensed as he spoke cryptically once more and a thought came to her head. "Who are we going to see?!" She asked as her voice strained, as in the back of her mind she had a pretty good idea as to who Eli was talking about. "Eli..." She said his name in almost a warning tone before he finally turned to look at her.
When he spoke she felt the breath in her lungs escape her at the mere mention of that name, everything that'd happened coming flooding back. "We most certainly are not." Her voice hissed over the air before she turned away from him with her hands balled into fists. She didn't think she could hate anything more than the vampires who'd turned her mother, but upon remembering what he had done to her, had tried to do, she was sure she reserved that hatred for the warlock now. Her back was turned to Eli as she fought against the urge to punch something, possibly even the Shadowhunter for even suggesting they speak with the one who'd nearly wiped her memories. Her jaw tensed as her pulse throbbed in her neck from the tension that ran through her at the thought of going to Magnus Bane for anything. She felt in that moment that Eli had finally asked too much of her. Or had he asked at all? He'd said 'we're going' as though the decision was finalized. At this thought she whirled around to glare right through him with iced over eyes.
She opened her mouth to say something, to scream at him, but nothing came. Instead she growled her frustration before turning away again and trying to focus her energy. She had to save it for tonight when she would need it. Expending it now would be foolish. But his brother. This is for his brother a voice whispered as her eyes closed. "You ask a lot of me," she said more calmly, though the bite in her tone was still there. She didn't know if she could go in there with a straight face and not try to kill the bastard for invading her mind. Her head tilted in an expression of boiling anger still before she took a breath and opened her eyes. Feeling herself under control again she finally turned back around.
"Let me get this very, very, clear here. I'm doing this because your brother needs all the help he can get and by the Angel I might just take that chance to sever that forsaken Warlocks head off once you get whatever it is you need from him. Don't you even think of trying to get in my way if I choose to do that. I have no problem with adding another body to the pile if you try to stop me." She threatened very seriously, her finger pointing at him as her eyes continued to glare through him. Fact of the matter was she knew she couldn't kill Eli if she tried, but her threats always sounded promising and she didn't want him stepping in her way if she did try to go after Magnus. "I'm going to finish getting ready. I'll be back in half an hour." She said, not waiting fora response from him before she was out his door, closing it rather roughly before her boots clicked loudly on the floor of the hall, indicating even further her annoyance and near irate feelings about this.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:44:46 GMT -8
He winced as though she had struck him as her voice hissed at him and she turned away, her hands balling into tight fists at her side. He almost wished she had hit him, it would have been better then hearing the icy tone in her next words; he’d known it would come, that she’d be furious over the idea of going to see the warlock and he wondered if he had of told her earlier would she still have reacted the same way? It was too late the turn back the clock now, an impossible feat anyway, and Eli resigned himself to taking the icy shards she threw at him. This version of Audrina was the one he’d been dreading the whole time he’d found out that Hodge had wanted them to pay a visit to Magnus, the cold hatred in her gaze - was it for him or for the warlock? He had no idea at this point.
He bowed his head, her back still turned on him and told himself to keep his cool, he deserved her curses and cold looks and only hoped that this wouldn’t have her backing out of tonights rescue mission. He looked up as she turned back towards him, his blue eyes looking sombre as he gazed back at her and he shifted his feet beneath him nervously. His features tightened as she told him, more calmly than expected, that he was asking a lot of her and he knew he was. “I know. I’m sorry, Audrina...I should have told you sooner, I just…” His words trailed off, she didn’t seem to be listening to what he had to say and he realised whatever he said would just be excuses anyway.
Eli sucked in a sharp breath as the blonde threatened to add his body to the pile along with Magnus’s if he tried standing in her way from severing the warlocks head if she so chose to do. In that moment, seeing how angry she was, he thought she just might be true to her word. He had a belt full of weapons to defend himself with but felt totally defenseless against her fierce gaze and the hurt he saw in it. The last thing he ever wanted was to hurt this woman, but he still managed to do so now. Would he ever say the right things to her, things that wouldn’t get her mad at him? Eli hoped one day he would.
He could only nod in understanding and swallowed back the hard lump that had formed in the back of his throat preventing words from forming. She was gone before he could say anything else, announcing she’d be back in half an hour and then they’d leave. He took a step back towards his bed, the backs of his legs hitting the mattress and he fell to a sitting position with a heavy sigh. His head fell forward into his hands and cursed himself viciously, the sound muffled by his hands, for not telling her about Magnus in a better way and earlier.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat on his bed like that with his head in his hands before he was pushing himself back into a standing position and striding into his bathroom. He splashed some cool water onto his face quickly before turning the tap off and stepping away from the sink. He was about to leave the bathroom and finish putting the rest of his armor on but something held him back and he stood staring at himself for a moment in the mirror. A hand went up to unzip the front of his jacket as he turned before it went to the hem of his shirt lifting it up as far as he could. It wasn’t the best view of the runes on his back, runes Audrina had put there and that he could already feel were taking effect. Even from this angle he could see how precise they were, perfectly executed and warmth flooded through him as he recalled her soft hands on his skin.
Sighing, he dropped his shirt back and re-zipped his jacket before exiting the bathroom to finish getting the rest of his gear on whilst he waited for Audrina’s return. Once he was fully geared up he reached for his phone and dialed Luke’s number to let the male know that they would be at the meeting place shortly and that they just had to make one quick stop along the way.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:45:05 GMT -8
It was all a blur as she assembled the rest of her gear, a touch leather jacket coming over her frame and Shadowhunter weapons strapping to her body. She was full of emotions that were fleeting and overwhelming. Anger, hate, pain, betrayal. All of them barraged her and almost made her lose it as she washed her face and began braiding her blonde and black hair away from her face in a sort of French braid pulling back from her hairline. It was that burning at her waist that reminded her why she was doing this and how much it might mean to Eli. He’d been unable to say a word as she threatened him, just as she had anticipated, and she realized then that she didn’t know what he felt about her going through with this despite what Magnus had tried to do to her. Considering he had threatened the warlock for invading her mind she would assume there was some gratitude somewhere. “Just get it over with.” She sighed as her fingers twisted the last knot and she left the bathroom. She made a few last moment adjustments before leaving her room, the runes Eli had given her giving off a warmth against her skin. It was a steady reminder that tonight she would need them and odds were something would go horribly wrong. She wanted to believe they could coerce the alpha into letting Travis go, but a snowball would fare better in hell in comparison to him actually letting the younger sibling leave. Having had time to herself for the last thirty minutes she was relatively more calm compared to earlier when Eli had told her what they had to do. It still boiled in her mind, however, and she was going to be tight lipped about it when she saw him again. Almost instinctually her hand went to a dagger at her belt, itching to bury it in the warlock’s chest in repayment. Her footfalls were considerably softer this time as she stopped by Eli’s door and found herself pausing. She had to take a few deep breaths before she could raise her hand to the wood and rap on it to signal her return. “It’s Audrina.” She called, then bit down on her lip in frustration. Who else would it be? The freaking tooth fairy? She rolled her eyes at herself as she shifted her weight from foot to foot impatiently. Regardless of the fact she didn’t want to be doing this she wanted to get going. Waiting for a fight was always more nerve wracking than going through with it. She wanted this business with Magnus to be over and done with quickly. Maybe she could get away with not even seeing him at all. It’d probably be a safer bet to wait by her bike than going up to his home. When the door finally creaked open she still had a hard look in her eyes, but it was significantly less scary in comparison to earlier. She was just ready to get this going and to get Travis out of the clutches of the alpha. “I thought you might want one of these. I do remember your complaining about it before.” She said in a near humored tone while pressing a sleek black helmet into Eli’s chest. It was obvious she thought of him, even when she’d been adamant she didn’t. She’d picked the helmet up one day before she had gone missing for 3 days, seeing it in a window and remembering how he’d wanted one when riding with her. He’d snuck through her barriers even back then and she hadn’t been none the wiser. “Well, let’s go before these runes lose their potency.” She pressed, having detached herself from emotions for the time being to better protect herself against a potential overload. When they reached the warlocks however, she could make no promises.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:45:30 GMT -8
With Luke prepared to meet them a block away from the meat factory where Travis was being held within the hour all Eli had to do was wait for Audrina’s return and they’d be on their way. It had only taken him half the time of the half an hour she’d said she would be back to finish getting ready. He’d made sure his weapons belt was tight and secure, that his boots were done up just as tight and that the armor on his shins and arms were also secure. Having so much armor on was usually considered a bit of overkill in his opinion, but he wasn’t going to risk not taking every precaution to get out of tonight alive and with all his limbs intact. Shadowhunter gear was light, but stronger than your ordinary armor and it was made so that even if you were geared up from head to toe it didn’t restrict your movements. The only thing was that it was hot to wear, and in the midst of action even on a winters night you’d still sweat. Sweating was a small price to pay for protection and one he was willing to pay.
The other half of his time was spent pacing his room waiting for Audrina’s return, he took this time to reflect on their plans and what he was going to say to the alpha in hopes of convincing him to let his brother go. He pushed thoughts of Audrina from his mind, although he desperately wanted to mull over those as well and come up with a way to make all of this up to her. He owed her big time, he couldn’t forget that and although she would say he didn’t owe her anything, Eli was still adamant that he was going to make this up to her somehow, she’d allowed runes to be put on her skin for him. Now was not the time to think of those things now though, it was time to focus.
Usually it wasn’t so hard for him to turn everything else off and just focus the battles ahead, become the fighter his father had trained him to be. He’d never trained him to fight against werewolves though, they were different from demons, seraph blades did nothing to them and it would take brute force to take one down. He hoped the training sessions he’d spent with Jace this last week would pay off tonight. A quick rap on his door and Audrina announcing she was there brought him out of his thoughts and he glanced towards the door before going to it and pulling it open. Audrina’s hard expression stared back at him and he almost grimaced again remembering how angry she’d been with him, although now she seemed a little more calm, though clearly she was still upset with him.
A gleaming black helmet was shoved into his chest and he caught it before she pulled her hand away, his eyes falling to the helmet and his brows quirked as he realised it was brand new. When had she gotten this, he wondered and then decided he didn’t want to know because it was probably when she’d run off for those three days. Still, she’d thought of him, even when she’d been running to get away from him. He almost smiled, but the look she gave him prevented him from doing so. “Thanks. Helmets save lives you know,” He said simply instead and tucked it under his arm as he stepped out from his room. It was time to go and there was no point lingering unnecessarily in his doorway.
“I think they’ve got a while yet.” Eli told her softly as they both headed away from his room and down the corridor. Their quick strides taking them to the entrance of the Institute in no time and then Eli was holding the door open for her so she could step through outside. “Let’s go then,” He said. indicating towards her bike quickly before he slipped on the helmet so she couldn’t see his expression and so he couldn’t see hers either through the dark visor as he spoke again. “Luke gave me Magnus’s address...if you need it…” He wasn’t to know whether or not she knew where the warlock lived and so he’d asked Luke for it so they’d know where they were going. He didn’t like the idea of visiting Magnus either, in fact if it wasn't under Hodge’s strict instructions that they visit the warlock Eli would never have suggested it to Audrina. What Magnus had tried to do in taking her memories still sent a flood of anger through him every time he remembered what he’d walked into that time Audrina was in the infirmary and how he’d almost been too late to stop him. The warlock didn't just have Audrina to worry about if he over stepped the bounds again.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:46:32 GMT -8
"I've heard that said before." Was all she said in concerns to the helmet before she was leading away toward the main doors of the Institute. The simple gesture of holding the door for her sent a flood of heat in her veins, though she managed to hide it from her expression so he wouldn't see. She remembered she wasn't to be encouraging him and that he had asked they go see Magnus Bane. At the mere thought she was bristling again, but that voice echoed in her mind again, reminding her that this was for Travis and nothing more. Eli clearly had no love loss for the warlock either and she felt he might not visit him if he could help it. He had to know how she would have felt about this, but for his brother it was worth the risk. She would have done the same for her sister and shouldn't be holding a grudge for it. Of course that was easier said than done considering how Magnus had elevated to a pedestal of hatred that would be hard to overcome.
As they rounded the corner of the Institute and caught sight of her bike in the falling sunlight she couldn’t help but cringe on approach. There were still splatters of blood across the chrome exhaust and wheel spokes, leftovers from her harrowing bike ride after being attacked by Weres. The only thing she could hope for at this point was that it wouldn’t eat away at the metal finish as they weren’t particularly something she wanted to replace. With a heavy sigh she got on her bike and tilted it off the stand before beckoning Eli on. It was as she felt his weight on the back that she stiffened slightly, remembering he would have to hold close to her, his hands wrapped around her middle. She’d been in far more intimate situations with him previously, but that was likely why she reacted this way now. “Don’t lose your grip. I want to make this god forsaken trip as quick as possible.” She said, giving him permission to hold onto her before starting her bike and getting the address from him. As he settled in against her body she took a sharp breath before focusing on the task at hand and rumbling the bike out of the alley to the highway beyond. The travel time to Magnus’ lavish flat was considerably short in comparison to how long it might have taken by a Clave coach. It was obvious she had little care for her own concern as she weaved through traffic at high velocity with Eli clutching her the whole way. She was barely stopping as they pulled up outside Magnus’ round door, her brakes screeching up the block to announce their arrival before they even rang the bell. She rolled the bike back to the kickstand before dismounting with Eli, turning to him and sighing heavily. “After careful consideration, I’m coming with you. I want to be there to cut his head off if he tries to pull the wool over your eyes.” She explained, pulling one of her long knives out in emphasis before stepping around the bike and banging loudly on the door, forgoing the bell. After a minute of incessant banging with the butt of her weapon the door finally opened and she nearly smacked Magnus in the face. The glitter she was used to seeing on him was nonexistent and he was dressed in a robe looking tired, though she held no sympathy for him as she moved past him without an invite. “Always barge in to a man’s house without asking? Evening to you, too.” She heard him say before she turned back and found a wall to press herself against with a good view to observe from. “You’re not a man and I’d say I can do whatever I want to you and this house after you invaded my mind. I could have your balls for that.” She glared as she began playing with the tip of the blade. “I didn’t want to…” He started but she dropped her weapon to point at him, effectively stopping whatever he had to say. “I’m not here for your half-baked excuses. This is about something you have for –him-. I’ll deal with you myself when I’m good and ready.” She promised before flicking her blade back and daring the warlock to press on. She wanted to spill his blood that much could be seen in her eyes, but the restraint she had in not doing so was also seen in the storm of her gray eyes. Blood would run tonight, that she was sure of, but for now it wasn’t going to be his. Him knowing that she might one day come for repayment was enough for her now.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:46:39 GMT -8
Eli hadn’t forgotten the part where he was supposed to hold onto her during the bike ride; how could he forget, it was the part he liked most about riding her bike with her. But he had been trying to forget how she felt in his arms when they were wrapped around her small waist; soft and warm against his chest, and even with the extra protective layer of clothes she had on tonight Eli suspected he’d still feel her warmth seep into him. It shouldn’t be something he was thinking about at the moment, not when they had such an important task ahead and he’d just spent the last half an hour getting his mind into the right headspace, but here he was waiting for her to get onto her bike first and the only thing he could think about was how she’d feel held against him.
He felt her stiffen as he lifted his leg over the back and settled into the seat, she knew what was coming next as well as he did but the difference was that he wasn’t sure if she wanted it as much as he did. He assumed not, this was Audrina after all, she shied away from any type of intimacy now matter how small. Even after the kiss they’d shared only hours before he couldn’t expect her to suddenly welcome his touch, though this time she was giving him permission to put his arms around her. “Speed freak,” He muttered, but he was smiling behind the helmet and she’d probably hear the amusement in his tone. Any thought of how she felt in his arms was immediately forgotten at the reminder that she drove this bike like a maniac and the only thing he’d be concentrating on was not falling off.
He gave her Magnus’s address and then they were taking off with a spurt of speed and he only just had time to lift his feet off the ground and wrap his arms around her waist. “By the Angel.” He cursed in surprise, but his words would go unheard over the roar of the bike and squeal of tires. He wasn’t quite sure if his heart was racing from being pressed so close to her or from the pace they were going on the bike. Eli was only thankful that Magnus didn’t live far away and they were pulling up on the curb out the front of his New York apartment in what seemed like a matter of minutes, though he reminded himself that this wouldn’t be the only trip on the bike they’d do tonight. “Is your sure,” He nodded, knowing not to argue with her and if she wanted to come inside to see Magnus with him then it was up to her.
Pulling the helmet off quickly once they were both off the bike he hung it on the handlebars and followed her brisk strides towards the warlocks apartment. She was bursting into the apartment as soon as the door was open and Eli couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head as he followed her inside much to Magnus’s dismay it seemed. “It’d be best if you didn’t say much, she’s pretty good with those knives you know.” Eli smirked sideways at the man as he walked in. He wanted to get this over and done with as quickly as possible, the longer they were in Magnus’s presence the more likely hood Audrina would stab him through the heart with that knife.
“Yes...I know why you’re here,” Magnus nodded, although he was unsure of if the two shadowhunters being here was now such a good idea. The warlock cut straight to the point, telling the two to wait in the hall while he retreated through to the apartments kitchen. Upon his return he held two flasks in his hand, holding them up so both Audrina and Eli could see them. “ For healing,” He indicated the flask in his left hand with a little shake and then did the same with the other. “And for strength,” He said and at Eli’s raised brow he sighed, almost wanting to roll his eyes. “Angelic runes don’t work on downworlders, your brother might have been a shadowhunter once but he’s not anymore. He’s a downworlder now and if the rumors of the pack he’s with are anything to go buy he’s going to be in pretty bad shape when you get to him,”
Hearing that word ‘downworlder’ from someone else, referring to his brother, was like being stabbed in the chest all over again. He’d accepted that Travis was no longer a shadowhunter, or at least he thought he had. Hearing Magnus call his brother a downworlder now made him wonder if he’d truly accepted it. His hands balled into fists at his sides for a moment before he was crossing them over his chest, hiding his curled fists under either arm. “So these potions will replicate a shadowhunters strength and healing?” Eli asked to clarify, although he suspected that was what they were meant to do and Magnus nodded to confirm him thoughts.
“Give the down-- give your brother the healing potion first, the strength potion will work better that way.” The warlock explained catching himself quickly, he’d been about to refer to Eli’s brother as ‘the downworlder’ before he’d thought better of it. He turned a wary eye on the blonde shadowhunter who’d remained silent so far and then turned his gaze back to Eli, jiggling the potions in his hands. “So do you want them or not?” He quirked a brow.
The dark haired shadowhunter eyed the potions in the warlocks hands again before he sighed and uncrossed his arms, taking a few reluctant steps forward so he could take the items from Magnus. He was reluctant to accept any help from the warlock after what he’d tried on Audrina, but right now he couldn’t afford to be prideful and they needed all the help they could.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:47:00 GMT -8
After the potion was handed off, Audrina didn't stick around. Instead she pointedly led them from Magnus' flat without a further word to the warlock. If she'd been around him much longer she probably would have been more apt to stab him than actually thank him, even though she was secretly grateful for his gift of downworld potions. She wouldn't admit it to Hodge, or even Eli, but she was thankful they had stopped considering the warlock was likely right about the shape Travis might be in when they did find him. This notion also led to her brows knitting more in worry as she mounted the bike and waited for Eli to do the same before taking off. If he was hurt like she suspected he would be it meant he may be of little use during their escape from the Were lair. She had slightly depended on him being able to help, but it seemed that thought would now be useless. She couldn't ask an injured man to help them. She bit down on her lip as she started the engine and took off from Magnus' apartment, Eli's grip holding firm around her waist.
They met up briefly with Luke after leaving the Warlock's and went over the plan one last time. He had been adamant in pointing out his pack would do what they could from the sidelines unless something went wrong to which she only stayed quiet during this. She wanted to tell him this wasn't his problem and what could happen if he got involved, but that wasn't her place to say so she kept it to herself, remaining aloof during the discussion. Technically this wasn't her business either, but she'd somewhat bullied her way into it. Eli knew he couldn't do this alone, he'd nearly been killed when he'd tried, and so throwing her hat in for support had been easy. She had expected a fight when she'd done it, but it seemed he would bend to her will when she was adamant enough. A part of her knew he didn't want to argue about it with her, a part of it was he knew he needed her, and she suspected on some level he thought it would be easier to keep an eye on her if she were close to him. She brought her attention back as she carefully moved her bike closer to a wall of an abandoned building a block from their target. She had been busying herself with the machine to distract and distance herself from what was to come, but she couldn't do that anymore.
Her fingers checked the braid that pulled at her hairline to ensure it was still tight so her hair wouldn't be flying in her face as she turned to Eli. She could read it all in his posture and especially his eyes when they found hers. They both knew how badly this could go, but oddly enough she was feeling a sort of calm despite this. She was over concerning herself with the details of how she could die tonight or how Travis might not get out. All that was left to go in and get him, worrying about the possibilities was a distraction she couldn't afford. "Everything tucked away?" She asked softly as she stepped up closer to him for the first time since they'd left the Institute. She'd pointedly put up a barrier in that time to get her thoughts together, but now they had to be a team, be cohesive. She swallowed the small lump that had been forming as her eyes stayed with his. She could feel the soft thrum of heat from his runes he'd carefully placed on her, a reminder of their current bond. "We'll get him. Don't worry about the possibilities. Just remember that we -will- get him. You ready?" She said, he hand having gone out to grab his arm in reassurance. Her determination reflected in her eyes as she held his, willing it to flow over him in turn. They could do this.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:47:21 GMT -8
The only thanks Magnus got from Eli was a curt nod before Audrina was leading them both back out of the Warlock’s home. She didn’t want to be there any longer than was necessary and neither did he. They needed to meet up with Luke as soon as possible and get their plans underway. Eli tucked the potions in his front jacket pockets as they left the apartment so they were easy to get to when he needed them. He didn’t say a word to Audrina as they made their way back to her bike and he was putting his helmet back on as she fired up the engine. Eli’s thoughts were still on what Magnus had said about Travis no longer being a Shadowhunter, that he was a Downworlder now and runes would no longer work on him. Travis’s existing runes would have burned away once he was turned, the only reminder he had of his ex-shadowhunter life were the faint silvery scars of the runes that had since faded.
He couldn’t help the feeling of guilt that came over him as he thought of his brother now being a Werewolf, a downworlder, and wondered if he’d always feel this guilt. He hadn’t gotten to Travis in time, hadn’t been there to save him from the rogue pack that had turned him and had been the one to allow Travis to adventure off on his own in the first place. Some big brother he’d been, Eli thought as he got onto the bike and let out a heavy sigh that was muffled by the helmet he wore and the roar of the Ducati’s engine. Any thought of his guilt were soon pushed away as Audrina shot off from the curb the moment his arms were around her to signify that he was properly on the bike.
They met Luke two blocks away from the meat factory where Travis was being held, the abandoned warehouse served as a nice hiding spot for them to go over the plans as a group so everyone knew what was happening and no mistakes would be made. Eli noticed that Audrina was keeping awfully quiet, only nodding occasionally to indicate that she was listening and understood. “There will be a distraction at the front gate, hopefully that will draw their attention there and give you both a chance to sneak in and find Travis.” Luke explained after he’d pointed on a map whereabouts they should sneak in from. Eli only nodded at this, he was curious about what the distraction would be but it was unnecessary for him to know so he didn’t ask, and he trusted the downworlder. He’d realised over these past few weeks that he’d been conversing with Luke about getting Travis free, that not all downworlders were indecent or untrustworthy.
“My pack and I will be watching you both and Travis from a distance, if we feel that you need our assistance we won’t hesitate to jump into the fight.” Luke was saying as Eli checked his weapons belt to make sure it was still properly secured around his waist and that he had everything he needed. The dark haired shadowhunter glanced up and his gaze flickered briefly to Audrina’s before going back to Luke’s. “Hopefully that won’t be necessary,” Eli said but smiled appreciatively towards Luke for the help he offered. “We’d best get going, get this over with as quickly as possible. Give us five minutes to get to the entry point before using the distraction.” He added and at Luke’s nod the two shadowhunters made their way out of the warehouse.
One last trip on the bike brought them a block away from the meat factory and they were both hopping off, Audrina wheeling the machine close to the wall of the alley they’d pulled up in. Their eyes met and held, both sharing the same feeling in them. This could all go terribly wrong and they both knew it, but they’d come this far now and there was no backing down. As much as Eli had wanted to talk Audrina out of coming along with him to rescue his brother, he was suddenly glad that she was here with him. Without her here he was sure he wouldn’t be quite so calm or reassured. “Yep. All ready,” He nodded with a small smile as she stepped closer to put her hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. Eli laid his other hand over hers and squeezed gently before he dropped his hand and inclined his head in the direction of the meat factory. “We should go,” He said softly before he began walking out of the alley with Audrina by his side.
The sun had set well and truly by now as they exited the alley and made their way towards the meat factory, staying on the outskirts until they reached the entry point. The light that came from the building they’d soon infiltrate, as they drew nearer, was enough to help them see where they were going. “Stay low,” Eli told the blonde following close beside him, although he knew she didn’t need to be told and was already crouched in the shadows with him. Now all they had to do was wait for Luke’s distraction at the front gates and then they could sneak in and find his brother. “Keep close to me, Audrina.” Eli had turned his gaze to her as he said this. “We stay together, alright?” He continued and hoped that she would agree, it was something they hadn’t discussed and it had only just come to mind now with minutes to spare before they were in the thick of it all.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:47:38 GMT -8
Her hand fell away from him and with it her expression went from comforting to stone hard determination. Like a switch she had flipped to being battle ready in her mind. Continually they had both expressed their hopes that blood wouldn’t be spilt and that they wouldn’t need Luke, but she wasn’t going in playing stupid. She was expecting to fight and in that sense she was somewhat prepared for it should it actually occur. She was evaluating what the second in command had told her as she moved along the wall with Eli before they were crouched down beside each other. She could hear his even breathing as they both stared out over the target and she managed not to snap at him for ordering her around like she didn’t know what she was doing. She wasn’t in the mood to argue and was almost sure he said what he did out of habit and nothing more. Her expression was set until she heard Eli speak softly in her ear. Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned her head toward him to see him. She heard it in his voice and had to blink her eyes a few times before offering a nod to him. “The same goes to you.” She said softly back to him, a twinge of emotion slipping out with her voice before she looked away at the first sounds of the front gate rattling. She didn’t need to be told what to do as this part of the plan had been discussed several times to ensure this at least went smoothly. She wasn’t waiting for Eli’s signal of movement before she rose up and started to dash across the open area for their point of entry. Her attention was for that and her surroundings alone, no amount of it spared to see what was going on at the front gate. She practically slid across the cracked pavement and weeds as they reached the fence, her hand going for her stele before she even stopped. “You go first, I’ve got your back.” She said hurriedly as her stele began searing through the chain link fence around the building. It only took a matter of seconds before she was pulling the metal aside for Eli to slip through, suddenly thankful she had donned gloves before leaving the Institute. Her muscles flexed against the leather of her jacket as she held the fencing before slipping through herself. She kept pace with Eli, keeping as low to the ground as she could in the process. They covered the ground in little time, coming up to a window leading to the basement below. As Eli worked to pry it open, Audrina turned her back to him and looked around the yard for any Weres who might spot them. “Wait,” She said, half turning her head to him as something occurred to her. “Use the stone, he might not be in there. Just prick your finger and run the blood over it. I think it grows warm when you’re pointed in the right direction.” She offered, not able to remember exactly what the witch had said. She hoped it was a heat sensor instead of one that transmitted light; they’d be spotted easily if it was the latter. She heard him rustling in his jacket for the object she’d given her blood for when she felt a sudden burning in her throat. She stopped breathing for a second as she took in the metallic smell of his blood, a sign he’d done as she’d said. That off feeling had returned and her head began aching as though to inform her of something being wrong. Not now she almost pleaded in her mind at the memory of hallucinations and the headaches that’d nearly left her in tears at some points. They couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong and especially not for her to get incapacitated from a headache and an overwhelming feeling of something not right She allowed a breath through her nose and the feelings passed. “Anything?” She asked over her shoulder with her voice a little hoarse as her eyes scanned the area for anyone about. She could still hear the distraction going on at the front gate and wondered how much longer they had. If the stone didn’t work or if they couldn’t figure it out they would have to duck in the window just to get out of sight before Luke stepped away. Not once had she thought that the stone might not work, but now she was concerned as Eli was quiet. The draught had worked without an issue and she had assumed the same for the stone she had given blood for. She swallowed hard and waited for something from Eli.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:48:01 GMT -8
Eli didn’t plan on leaving Audrina’s side tonight for even a second, there was no way he was letting her out of his sight. But even he knew that things didn’t always go to plan and things happened, though he was determined to keep her in his sights no matter what. A ghost of a smile formed at the corners of his mouth as she spoke, agreeing that she would keep close and that the same went for him. He thought he heard a hint of emotion in her words and if it was any other time he might have taken a second to analyse what it could mean. Right now they were preparing to infiltrate the rogue pack’s hang out and he didn’t have time for that so he let it go. Instead his eyes scanned the area in front of them, making sure there were no Were’s about or none looking in their direction. He signaled for Audrina to follow him, taking to the shadows and avoiding the lights as they dashed across the field towards the high fence surrounding the factory.
The distraction was underway, he heard bits of the commotion as he crouched down outside the part of the fence that would be their entry point. He was unaware of what the distraction would be, the only thing he was concerned about was whether it would work long enough to get them inside the fences undetected. His heart hammered in his chest as the adrenaline built up the closer they came to crossing that line of no return. Once they were on the other side of the fence there was no turning back, not without what they’d come for anyway. Eli shifted aside so that Audrina could crouch down next to him and nodded at her instructions, he had no qualms for them to share the role of leader, they were a team and they had to work as one, and he wasn’t so pigheaded to risk all that by arguing with her about who gave the orders.
The moment Audrina had sheared away part of the fence and was holding it open for him, Eli crawled through and waited for her on the other side, keeping watch on their surroundings to make sure they hadn’t been spotted. He wasn’t sure how long the distraction at the front gates would last and they had to cover as much ground as they could before it was over. So as soon as Audrina slipped through the fence after him, he was signalling for her to follow him once more, again staying out of the light emitting from the factory buildings. They came to an underground basement, Eli quickly dusted away the dirt and leaves that lay on top of the door to peer through the small window in it. Of course he couldn’t see anything inside, but it had been worth a try. He was trying to pry the door open when he heard Audrina whispering beside him, he stopped what he was doing and turned his attention to what she was saying.
He didn’t argue with her suggestion since she was probably right, Travis wouldn’t be in the first building they came to that would be too easy. Eli slipped his hand into one of his pockets in the front of his jacket and searched for the stone, once he felt its smooth surface he pulled it out and held it in his palm. He remembered what Audrina had said about the stone when she’d given it to him even as she said as much now and was already reaching for his weapons belt to extract his dagger. Eli pricked his finger with it, ignoring the small sting it made as blood bubbled to the surface. With his bloodied finger he smeared the red substance over the stone and then wiped the remaining blood on the back of his jeans as they both waited in anticipation of what the stone would do.
He stared at the stone, willing it to work as it sat in his palm looking like a stone smeared with blood and nothing else. “ Come on,” He whispered urgently and closed his eyes, his mind filling with thoughts of his brother and how much he wanted to find him. His attention on the stone and finding his brother he didn’t see Audrina’s expression change, didn’t see the sudden onset of worry on her features or see her rub her temple with signs of a headache. He was about to shake his head at Audrina question of if he felt anything from the stone, when it began to grow warm in his palm and his eyes opened to stare at it. It was only the faintest hint of warmth emitting from the stone and upon a gut feeling Eli lifted the stone in his palm in front of him and pointed it towards another set of buildings he could see.
The stone became warmer in his hand as he pointed it away from the basement and it could only mean, if the stone was working properly, that Travis was somewhere in the direction he was pointing now. “It’s working. It’s getting warmer when I point in that direction,” Eli answered and with the dagger in his other hand he pointed it towards the building across from them quickly before he slipped the dagger back into his belt. “Let’s go. They’re still all at the front gate, but I don’t know for how much longer.” He said and half stood preparing to bolt across to the next building. His gaze scanned the area in front of him and upon finding a path that wasn’t so out in the open he again signalled for Audrina to follow. He continued to hold the stone out in front of him a little now recognising the growing warmth as them getting closer to where his brother was being held.
Eli stopped at the building the stone had led them too and pressed his back to it, glancing over at the blonde who came up beside him. “He’s in this building, the stones almost burning my hand, he must be in here.” Eli informed her before he smiled, pleased that so far things were working out and once again grateful of Audrina’s help. Knowing they only had a short time left before the patrols started again, Eli tore his gaze from Audrina and peered around the side of the building, his eyes scanning for an entry point and also if any Weres were about. “It’s clear.” He whispered as he tucked the stone away back into his pocket and replaced it with his stele. He would need the instrument to unlock the door he now knew Travis was behind, but before he stepped around the corner he looked back at Audrina. “You can come in with me, but it might be better if one of us keeps watch outside the door. I would...but Travis knows me…” He explained softly, he knew it meant leaving her outside whilst he was inside and it left an uncomfortable feeling in his chest but he wasn’t sure how Travis would react if Audrina went to retrieve him, he’d want to see a familiar face.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:48:35 GMT -8
Audrina remained quiet as the stone began working and Eli excitedly lead them in the direction the stone was warmest towards. She was glad that the object actually worked, or appeared to, but that nagging feeling in her mind wasn't going away. Her reaction to when he'd pricked his finger and let the blood smear over the stone made her uneasy. She couldn't chalk it up to being hungry or tired as she'd eaten well and slept plenty over the last few days. There was no reason for her to feel the way she did when she'd been able to smell his blood on the air. She got this overwhelming feeling that something was happening to her and she couldn't exactly control it. She took a sharp breath and was shook from her thoughts as they stopped by another small building. Eli assured her that his brother was inside, that the stone was burning to the touch in response. She nodded to him, still not trusting her voice to hold steady if she spoke to him. She watched as he tucked the stone away and chose his entry point. The appearance of her fathers stele shook her further from her concern as she remembered what was at stake currently.
"Go in, I'll stand watch. We should have a few minutes more, then we'll have to find the alpha as stealthily as we can." She informed, sending him on his way as that new concern pricked in her mind. She could only hope Travis knew where the leader was seeing as they couldn't find him with the seeking stone. She also had to hope he was in a particularly giving mood, though she sincerely doubted that much. He'd been ruthless with Eli and she had no doubt he would be just the same again especially when he learned that they wanted to remove Travis from the pack. She tossed her head in gesture to get him moving before turning her back on him and the entry, eyes scanning the area for werewolves. The commotion out front had seemingly stopped and no doubt patrols would start anew. She suddenly feared they might be able to smell the blood Eli had smeared on the stone, but she remembered they hadn't left a trail. Once Eli slipped inside she slid closer to the wall, willing herself to be part of the shadows. All was quiet for a time and she saw no sign of patrolling Weres nor did she hear anything from the inside. In the silence her mind turned to the disturbing feeling once more. Things had been happening to her and around her ever since she'd been in the fight with the Weres days ago. She couldn't chalk it up to exhaustion anymore. Her instincts were never wrong and they were buzzing with distress now. She feared suddenly that maybe she'd been infected, but Isabelle had assured her it'd just been a deep scratch containing no transformative properties. If she wasn't infected what else could it be? It was there just at the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't seem to get it out.
In her distracted state she nearly missed the Were coming her way. She stopped breathing and pressed harder to the wall in an attempt to become a part of the darkness. One of her gloved hands came around to tap a finger against Eli's point of entry in warning before the Were angled toward her. She forced herself to take a breath before she was slinking away from the door and more to the side, out of the Weres direct path of sight. Her eyes stayed with the Were and this only seemed to alert him. As he came closer she saw it was one of the ones from the bar and her blood froze. Her heart hammered in her chest when he stopped as though he heard something. When his eyes came over to her she prayed she had melted into the shadows, but it seemed she hadn't done so successfully. "You...You're the bitch..." He started, but she'd already launched herself from her position. She barreled into the Were with force, though it was barely enough to knock him to the ground. He quickly turned the momentum on her, flipping her off him and slamming her back first into the ground. "You poisoned Jarek!" He hissed before his hands left her arms and started for her throat. She managed to wriggle one hand free from under him and grab a silver blade at her side. As he came down on her the blade stabbed through his chest and out the other side. He gasped loudly in her ear followed by one more 'bitch', then he went limp. His weight crashed down on her making her cough, then gasp for air. She felt the strength rune begin to flare to life as she pushed back against the body and finally toppled it off her.
She pulled the blade free and grimaced at the blood smeared across her before she was dashing toward where Eli had entered the small building to find Travis. She banged on the entry frantically, worried that someone would notice when the Were didn't complete a full round. "Eli! We have to go!" She pleaded through the door before she sheathed her weapon and began wiping the blood from her jacket. The red substance stained her fingers that stuck out from her gloves, almost making her sob. She'd never killed a Were before, having only handled demons and vampires. She could handle goo and dust, but blood. That burning almost started again, but when the scent of Were blood came to her nose she almost started to gag. "Eli," she whispered to herself as though it would bring him.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:48:57 GMT -8
Eli's plans on keeping Audrina in his sights were already failing, he realised unhappily as it was agreed that she would keep watch outside the door to the building Travis was in. He'd suggested one of them keep watch, and it was a good suggestion for the most part. One of them needed to keep an eye out to make sure they weren't spotted too soon, but he wished it didn't have to be Audrina. There was no point on dwelling on the issue, he knew the blonde shadowhunter was more then capable of keeping watch and letting him know if trouble was coming and he'd be as quick as he could be. With a nod Eli slipped around to the other side of the building, keeping close to the wall and found the door. He knew it would be locked but tried it anyway. A split second later he had pressed his stele to the door and was drawing an opening rune; a few quick flicks of his hand and it was done, he heard the lock give way in the door and went to open it. He paused just before he turned the handle to glance over his shoulder at the woman beside him. "I won't be long," He assured and at least hoped he wouldn't be long, he had no idea if just Travis was behind this door or if anyone else was with him.
He took a breath and slowly opened the door, slipping inside as quietly as he could. There was a single light on in the middle of the room, illuminating the centre but keeping the rest of the room in shadow. Eli didn't need the light to tell him that Travis wasn't in this room though, and let out a curse under his breath. He was turning back to go out the way he'd come in when he glimpsed another door to his right which was hard to see in a room which lacked good lighting. Quickly, Eli hurried over to the door and tried the handle, it was unlocked already and he was pushing it open. The shadowhunter cautiously stepped inside the room that was completely black and held no light at all. "Travis?" Eli whispered as he reached inside another pocket of his jacket and produced his witchlight. There was no answer to his call, but there was no need, unlike the room before he knew Travis was in this one. Eli allowed the witchlight to emit a soft glow, just enough to see a few feet in front of him.
He found Travis sitting in a far corner of the room, knees up to his chest, his head back against the wall with his eyes closed as if he were sleeping. "Travis." Eli said his brother's name again to get his attention as he closed the distance between them with a few quick strides and knelt in front of the other male. Now that he was directly in front of his brother and with the help of the witchlight he could see the bruises on his face, some old and fading, others put there recently. He had a bruises around his eyes, both cheeks and along his jaw, his lip was split on both sides and there was a deep gash above his left eyebrow. Eli could only see what was exposed to him, but he suspected there were more bruises and gashes else where. Werewolves might heal faster then mundanes but it wasn't instant and without proper nourishment he guessed it could slow the process as well. His brother looked like he hadn't been fed in days, weeks even, and seeing him like this made Eli's blood boil before it turned to ice as there was no response from Travis and he pressed two fingers to the pulse point at his throat.
"Travis...hey...open your eyes...." Eli encouraged softly once he felt the faintest thrum of his brothers pulse and a felt a rush of relief wash over him, although it was short lived given the state Travis was in. "It's Elijah, Travis, your brother. I'm here, open your eyes. I have something that will help," Eli spoke now in a urgent whisper, he didn't have time to gently cox his brother back into consciousness. Audrina was out keeping watch on her own and they wouldn't have long before the patrols started back up again and they were discovered. With urgency in mind Eli slapped his brother, not hard, a few times on the cheek to get his attention and was rewarded by the flutter of his eye lids before both eyes opened. "Eli-jah?" Travis said between a choking cough as their eyes met and recognition flooded into Travis's green orbs.
"The one and only," Eli chuckled although he wasn't feeling very amused and reached into his front jacket pocket to produce the two vials of potion Magnus had given him. His withlight now sat beside his feet giving him use of both hands and he uncorked the healing potion, remembering Magnus had said to heal his brother first before strengthening him. "Hey - no, keep those eyes open. Drink this." Eli instructed and tapped Travis's cheek again with his hand as the male's eyes began to close once more. He knew time was running out and with that thought he grabbed hold of Travis's jaw as firmly as he could without adding more bruises to the mix and coaxed his mouth open lifting the vial of potion to his lips. "Drink," He urged and wanted to hug his brother when he complied and with his help downed the first vial.
Eli was already preparing the second vial for Travis's consumption when he heard a commotion starting outside. "Shit." He cursed and pressed the second vial to his brothers mouth, he hesitated though before allowing Travis to drink it wondering if there was a certain amount of time that had to be waited out before the second potion was drunk or if it didn't matter. I don't have time, Audrina's out there. Please work... He thought and didn't wait any longer before he tilted the potion and let it pour into his brother's mouth. Travis coughed and spluttered, the liquid going down too fast but Eli only tossed the vial aside and stood up, taking his brother's hand to pull him up at the same time. "Sorry little brother, we can't wait around to see if they work we have to go -Now." Eli explained and said the last part a little more urgently when he heard a few loud thuds and then Audrina's voice calling from outside the other room.
Snatching up his witchlight before he shifted one of Travis's arms around his shoulders, Eli walked them as quickly as he could out of the room they were in and into the next room where he now heard Audrina's voice coming from the other side more clearly. He hoped the potions would take affect soon and Travis could walk himself, it make it all the more difficult if he had to support his weight the whole time. Eli reached the door he'd come through originally and pulled it open quickly to see, to his relief, Audrina standing still intact on the other-side. Though there was blood on her hands and something in her expression that worried him. Was the blood hers? Shifting his brother off of him so he could lean the male against the door frame he went to her and reached for her bloodied hands quickly turning them over in his in search of any cuts. "Not yours," He sighed when he couldn't find any and was about to ask her what happened when his eyes landed on the dead Were nearby. The distraction at the gate was obviously over with and patrols were starting again.
Travis coughed drawing Eli's attention back to him and he reluctantly lowered Audrina's hands to her side and stepped away from her back to his brother. "Can you walk on your own now do you think?" He asked Travis who looked considerably better then he had, the old bruises nearly faded completely and the more recent ones starting too. The cut on his lips were barely visible and Travis looked like he was more conscious then when Eli had found him. "Good." Eli nodded at Travis's own nod and reached to his weapons belt to pull out a spare dagger he'd put there for his brothers use and handed it over. "Travis, Audrina. Audrina, Travis," He introduced quickly as an afterthought and waved a hand between them briefly. "Patrols have started again, we have to find somewhere to lay low for minute until Travis fully recovers." Eli was speaking to Audrina now to see what her thoughts on laying low for a few extra minutes before they went looking for the Alpha.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:49:35 GMT -8
She’d grown cold in the time it took for Eli to emerge from the other side, cold and distracted enough not to notice him until he was taking her hands in his. She jumped slightly and took in a sharp breath until he said something. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her eyes came up and a flood of relief ran through her. She’d never frozen like that before and it was somewhat disturbing to think about. She had to be in the game or their chances of getting out of here alive with Travis were slim. She took another breath to calm herself as he introduced them both. She scanned the younger sibling quickly before nodding to him in acknowledgement. She couldn’t tell in this light how alike they looked and didn’t take the time to try. She had to get her mind back to the mission at hand or they’d be sitting ducks. “I’m good with that,” she started in response to Eli suggesting they take a minute. She was in serious need of a regrouping and though she wouldn’t admit it, she wanted to be close to Eli. The scare caused from killing the Were was jostling her and she needed some sort of human contact to get herself back. “We need to hide that body. They’ll notice he’s missing, but maybe they’ll think he went for a smoke break or something.” She offered as her voice got under control thankfully. She was shaken but she didn’t need Eli to know it. He had his worse for wear brother to worry about and she didn’t need to be added onto that. She averted her gaze a moment before turning and making to drag the dead Were into the building they had just emerged from. Touching him alone made her feel uneasy again, her mind seemingly fragile at the moment though she tried shoving it aside. She was a Shadowhunter and they weren’t afraid of anything. The Were had tried to kill her and she’d done him in to protect herself. It had to be done. You took a life, a life that is not so different from you. Blood ran in his veins… a voice mocked and her brows furrowed in determination. Now was not the time to be getting squeamish and losing ones backbone. She needed that most of all now and she remembered this as she grabbed hold of the Weres legs. She looked up as assistance was offered her and the body was lifted from the ground to hide it behind the door to the small out building Travis had been in. She lowered the legs to the ground inside, somehow not willing herself to just drop the body as though it'd been nobody. The Were had tried to kill her, but she still had a soul when it came to things such as this. She turned to Eli once the body was left on the ground. "I noticed a small storm shelter in the ground on the way over here. I doubt any of them use it, the door lock was pretty rusted. We could take a minute there to regroup." She offered, her eyes dilating slightly with the emotions flooding through her. She wanted this to be over and done with, but they still had to speak with the alpha even though she doubted that would end even remotely well. Maybe Travis knew something they didn't and they could actually get through to the male. Considering his appearance, however, she wasn't expecting much from him. He had obviously been battered rather brutally, that much apparent even as the potions Magnus had given started to take effect. She had no doubt he would help where he could, but with how much control the alpha had over him still made her question how much of that he could actually offer. “Just stick close to me and I’ll get us in the clear for a while.” She stated before exiting the building once more. Her eyes scanned the area to search out any more Weres lurking about, but didn’t see any. Regardless her hand stayed at her hip where her silver blade was sheathed in case she needed quick access. You could say she was a bit jumpy since killing the Were who’d seemingly come out of nowhere. Her nerves were on edge, fraying at the edges for multiple reasons, and she needed this reprieve almost as much as Travis. “Let’s go.” She whispered almost inaudibly before starting across the yard, trying to keep low and not move too fast for Eli and his brother. The whole time her heart pounded wildly in her chest and her throat ran dry as she nearly imagined Werewolves coming out of the shadows several times. It seemed like an eternity before she was crouching over the door of the storm shelter and removing her hand from the blade she’d kept it so carefully by. Her fingers closed around her stele, staining the faint purple glow with blood, once more making a panic begin to rise up in her chest. She fought it back down and hovered protectively over the instrument to keep the glow from escaping to someone’s view. She etched a rune of opening into the door of the shelter and instantly the lock unclasped from its rusted home. She quickly hid her stele away once more and opened one of the doors, holding her breath all the while. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she started down the stairs without a light, afraid it would escape into the outside and alert someone of their presence. Only when she was a good distance down did her witchlight come out. She took a breath when a small room illuminated and there was nobody in sight. Given the amount of dust that had collected she was sure the Weres either didn’t know about the place or just didn’t care about it to begin with. Nobody had been down here probably since before the Weres took over the factory. “You can lie down on the bed for a minute to recover, I’ll stand watch.” She said to both Eli and his brother after she turned away from the small room containing a twin bed and a decent amount of food and water stores after setting her witchlight on a small table. As the Shadowhunter and his brother slid past her she pressed her back to the wall and turned her attention toward the top of the stairs, arms folding over her chest. After a moment one of her hands slid back out from the fold and she looked at the red staining her hand, the blood that had spilled from the Were as he’d died. She shouldn’t be bothered. Shadowhunters were born to fight, to kill, and this should be no different. But it was in her mind. Seeing real blood, something that looked like her own, made her feel ill. When she killed demons or vampires she wasn’t bothered. They turned to dust or goo before disappearing, they didn’t bleed and leave a body behind. Her eyes turned away again as her breathing almost got away from her and nearly urged her into despair. There’s no time for this, get a grip she thought in her head as her eyes lifted once more to the stairs.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:50:44 GMT -8
Something was off with Audrina, Eli could sense it, she seemed shaken and a little unfocused and he suspected it had something to do with her killing the Were. He had never thought to ask her if she’d ever had to kill anything other than vampires or demons and cursed himself silently for not asking her. He might have been able to prepare her for what it was like to kill something that bled the same as any human would and would leave a body behind. Eli had killed a few Weres in his time, not many, but enough to know that they were very different from Demons and Vampires. His father had prepared him for such kills though, had said the first would always be the hardest but it was a necessary evil. It was either kill or be killed, it didn’t matter if you were facing off with a demon, vampire or werewolf. Though he had stayed away from going after werewolfs or other downworlders as much as possible, sticking to mostly demons.
It took everything he had not to go to her and tell her how sorry he was for not realising she was unprepared for this. But Travis’s gaze was on them both and as the potions began to take their desired effect he was paying more and more attention to his surroundings. It wouldn’t be hard for his brother to guess that something was between Audrina and him, especially if he went to her now and offered her comfort. She may not even appreciate the offer anyway, not whilst his brother was there watching them. Besides they had to concentrate on the rest of the task, they had found Travis but they now needed to find the alpha. But first they needed to get rid of the dead downworlder lying bear their feet.
The dark haired shadowhunter immediately moved to pick the lifeless form of the Were Audrina had killed under the arms as she took his feet. They moved the body back inside the building he and Travis had emerged from and as Audrina gently lowered his feet to the floor, Eli did the same for the top half of the body. Once they’d lowered the body to the ground and exited the building, shutting the door behind them Audrina was suggesting a location for all of them to take refuge in to regroup. Before Eli could say anything, it was Travis who spoke first, finally managing to find his voice. “Good idea. I think I know the one you mentioned and I don’t think it’s ever been used.” He explained and nodded as the blonde said for them to follow her there.
Eli kept speed with his brother as they followed Audrina to the storm cellar, keeping low and making sure Travis did so too. As they moved his eyes scanned the area double checking that they hadn’t been seen and as they stopped by the cellar door he turned his back to the other two so he could keep watch as Audrina opened the door with a rune. Travis nudged him once the door was opened and Audrina was already descending the stairs, Eli nodded for Travis to go in before him and then followed once his brother did as instructed. He closed the door behind them, taking another quick glance into the darkness to make sure they hadn’t been followed. He was halfway down the steps when Audrina allowed her witchlight to light the room below and as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs he took a quick look around. Twin bed on the far side of one wall, cupboards and shelves stocked with canned food and water and it looked like no one had used the cellar in years.
Eli nodded as Audrina said she would keep watch whilst he attended to his brother, and led the other male over to the twin bed so they could both sit on it. He and Travis spoke in hushed voices for a minute before Eli rose from the bed and went to one of the supply cupboards. He rifled through them for a bit before he found some torn pieces of cloth and bottled water. Taking two bottles of water from the shelves he tossed one to Travis who caught it without difficulty, a sign that he was recovering pretty quickly thanks to the potions from Magnus and his new found Werewolf healing abilities. He took the other bottle of water and the large piece of torn cloth over to Audrina was was staring dead ahead up the stairs watching for any signs of someone trying to enter.
Eli stepped around the blonde so he was standing half in front of her, half beside her and opened the bottled water. He didn’t say anything as he poured the water over the cloth he held in his other hand, once it was soaked through he set the bottle aside on the near step and lifted his blue eyes to Audrina’s face and found her grey ones as he reached out gently to take one of her hands. He held it firmly so she couldn’t pull it from his grasp and his eyes held firmly on hers, silently telling her not to bother pulling away because he wasn’t about to let her. Eli moved the cloth to her bloodied hand and slowly began to wipe away the red stains. “I’m sorry,” He finally said in a soft murmur so his words could only be heard by her. “I should have guessed you’d never killed a Were before, they’re more human than other downworlders...I should have prepared you for it…” He sighed as he continued wiping away the blood on her hands.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:51:24 GMT -8
You killed a living being continued to echo in her mind as her eyes were set on the stairs without really seeing them. She was seeing the rage in the Were’s eyes as he’d come at her and feeling his warm blood spilling onto her when her silver blade pierced his heart. She took in a sharp breath as it felt remarkably real to her before all the sensations fluttered away when Eli half stepped in front of her line of vision. In her distraction she hadn’t even hear him approach or hear the cap of the water bottle snap before he was pouring the liquid over a cloth. Her eyes followed his hands before tentatively looking up to his eyes, her barriers wavering as he pierced her with those blue eyes. She couldn’t tell if he could actually see the turmoil broiling inside her, but she felt a shock run through her as his hand took hold of hers. The muscles in her wrist on down tensed and she instinctively tried to pull away to no avail. The moment he felt her begin to pull his grip tightened and he held her there. Normally she would rip away from him still, but her thoughts from a moment ago had their effect, leaving her almost weakened and unable to fight against him. When she felt the wet cloth run over her hand her eyes dropped quickly before flitting back to his, realizing what he was doing and that he had obviously noticed that something was wrong. The fact that he had taken it upon himself to wipe her hands made it apparent that he also knew it was the blood bothering her. The fact he was able to read her made her nervous and almost unable to hold his gaze. As he apologized her jaw slackened slightly in surprise before her brows furrowed and she recovered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You shouldn’t apologize for something that doesn’t concern you. I just don’t like blood.” She whispered in return, voice taking on an edge before her hand was clean and he took the other to work away the stains on her skin. She let him, though on the inside she wanted to pull away and run. It was a near intimate moment again, something they couldn’t afford. It also shed light on just how much he read her, how much he watched her, and it was almost uncomfortable. They’d never be something and yet he continued to do these things for her and ignite things she tried to cast out. Her eyes left his and returned to the stairs as she didn’t resist him while he cleaned her hands. She hadn’t wholly lied to him. She didn’t like blood; the fact that she had killed someone and caused them to bleed on her was the majority of the issue however. Blood reminded her of vampires which in turn reminded her of how they’d drained her mother completely before her own eyes. When blood was spilt, it never came in small amounts for her. It came in pools and there was a 50/50 chance it was her own blood that would fill buckets. “They’re clean, you can stop now.” She said in an emotionless tone before removing her hand from him forcibly. She knew she had to work with him and adding this tension wasn’t something either of them needed, but she was finding herself being knocked off balance. She’d been aware that he could break through her walls and had glimpsed parts of her nobody else had, but she hadn’t known just how well he was beginning to read her. He would be able to sense when she would go after her mother if this continued, and he would undoubtedly stop her before she did it. They could be a team but space had to be made or he would prevent the one thing she had been fighting to do since she’d been left alone. She couldn’t let him stop her and that was all she could think about as she moved away from him and toward his brother who seemed to have been trying hard not to pay attention to them, though she doubted he had succeeded. The last thing she needed was to hear his brother telling her to stop pushing Eli out and let him try to make things right for her. That was what Jace had been trying to say since he’d noticed how they’d looked at each other, just not in so many words. She stopped in front of the Were, trying to relax her stance so she didn’t come off as aggressive while trying to get her mood back under control. If Eli had been able to sense her discomfort she had no doubt his brother could sense her anger with his heightened senses. Fooling them both would be a task and require more concentration. “Do you know where the alpha might be, or how many guard he could have around him this time of night?” She tried asking Travis in the lightest of voices, remembering what he’d looked like when she’d first seen him and what he must have been through. She might be frustrated with herself for letting Eli be able to see things and sense her mood shifts, but that was no reason to take it out on his brother. Their concern now was to find the alpha and persuade him to let Travis go and hopefully let them leave with their lives. It was a big challenge and she hoped the younger brother could offer insight as well as some good news for once. She wasn’t keen on waltzing up to the alpha with a hundred guards about. She hoped he was confident enough in his own abilities that he only needed his second and himself for protection. If he was half as arrogant as Jarek had been that night she felt he would be without guards wherever he was currently held up in. She also hoped the second in command wouldn’t remember her if he was lurking about near his alpha. The last thing she wanted to encounter was their plan shambling because of her and a draught that didn’t work properly. A lot of things were riding on hope alone and it made her more nervous. There were too many equations to this with too many outcomes. Her earlier hopes of grab and run were gone and replaced with more realistic thoughts. She’d already had to kill tonight while just getting Travis out of confinement. Facing down the alpha with a request he most likely would not consider could hardly end any better. “He’s not likely going to consider trading you for not speaking with the council about his behavior is he?” She added, her tone turning dark as she said it, already knowing the answer. She would still try, but felt it was going to come down to something else. She refused to let a beaten attitude filter into her eyes, however, as she looked at the younger brother. She was now seeing the family resemblance and it made her chest hurt. She wouldn’t leave here without him, she’d made that promise to Eli and she let it reflect in her eyes now. They may not know each other, but she was already feeling how much she might give to get him out of this life. She would have given anything to be free of a Shadowhunters life, something forced upon her, and it was making her feel for Travis even though his affliction was wildly different. They were both forced into lives they never wanted and she felt the responsibility to give him an opportunity to have something better.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:52:15 GMT -8
...something that doesn’t concern you. His jaw tightened at those words and he felt that familiar spark of frustration that was always reserved for Audrina and her moods. He only nodded once and continued to wipe the remains of the red stains from her hand, determined to finish the task he’d started whether she liked it or not. He knew though, despite her displeasure for his cleaning the blood from her hands, from his touch, that she could have pulled away from him if she really wanted to and that knowledge stilled the frustration from bubbling to the surface in that moment. Eli dropped his eyes from hers so he wouldn’t lose himself in them and admittedly, it was hard to look in those cold depths at times. He concentrated on wiping her hands clean, perhaps taking a little longer than necessary to finish the job.
He bit back a sigh when she announced her hands were clean enough and pulled them from his and his jaw tightened once more at the emotionless tone in her tone. Killing that Were had affected her more then she was letting on, more than she was letting on to him anyway and he only wanted to help her through it. But it was apparent she wasn’t going to let him and as she turned her back to him and walked away he remained by the stairs, they couldn’t argue over it now and not in front of his brother. If they weren’t in such a critical situation, and if they didn’t have an audience, he would have pressed her further to let him help her through her first near human kill. He was stubborn like that, and she knew it, but he suspected she also knew he wouldn’t want to have the discussion in front of his brother either.
Eli tossed the dirtied cloth aside and with the remains of the water he poured over his hands to rinse them off of any blood that might have transferred onto them. His gaze moved to the bed where Travis sat trying to look anywhere but directly at Audrina as she stood in front of him looking like a pillar of authority as she asked her question. He tried not to chuckle at the thought that it wasn’t just him that could squirm under those piercing grey orbs. Audrina had left her post at the foot of the stairs and so Eli replaced it, leaning his back against the wall so he could watch the entrance but also see the other two. Travis might be his brother, but he had never babied the other male and figured after what he’d been through he could handle himself pretty well, at least thanks to the potions they’d given him. He’d sensed something different about Travis this time around, the first time he hadn’t had been too relieved to finally find him alive to notice, but there was something different about him. Like he’d grown up overnight - been forced to grow up, Eli corrected himself and tore his gaze from them back to the stairs, though he kept an ear open to listen to their discussion.
Travis glanced up at the blonde shadowhunter now standing in front of him, but not directly, his green eyes were focussed somewhere just beyond her head. He’d sat up properly as she’d walked over, no longer feeling the aches and pains he’d felt earlier. Whatever Eli had given him it was working and he’d strengthened enough to trigger the natural healing abilities werewolves had. He hadn’t had much opportunity to grasp what being a Were meant and what abilities they had, though some of them came naturally without any need to practice. His stay here hadn’t exactly been the most hospitable one and the others had much rather beat him every chance they got for any little thing than actually teach him about what he was -what they had turned him into. “I haven’t had the privilege of being in Maddox’s presence for very long,” Travis answered in a biting tone, though it was directed at someone else and not the shadowhunter in front of him. “I do know that he’s using a small office at the front of the factory as his headquarters, every time I’ve been there he’s only had himself and two others inside with him.” He finished, knowing it wasn’t much but hoped it was a little helpful.
The younger Ashdown snickered and shook his head at Audrina’s next comment and he too wished it would be that easy. “Doubtful. He thinks he is untouchable to the Enclave and even the Clave themselves. His pack is the largest wolf pack I’ve ever seen or read about.” Travis sighed and rubbed tiredly at his eyes as he racked his brain for something more helpful to offer. “Half of them have gone to Idris, they portaled there this morning.” It was Eli’s voice that interrupted before Travis had a chance to say anything further and his gaze averted to his brother, who he still couldn’t believe was really here now, trying to save him. A brother he’d thought he’d never see again, a brother he had let down more than he had ever cared to acknowledge. “I’ve been locked in that room for the last three days, I didn’t know. But that takes Maddox’s numbers down quite a bit considering twenty or so of them were killed last week.” Travis said.
“We’re still outnumbered either way. We need to get to the alpha, preferably undetected, he’s the only one that can let you leave here Trav.” Eli pointed out and a look of understanding crossed between the brothers, along with something else, something Eli hoped only Travis would witness. The look said ‘I’ll kill him if I have to’. Though killing the alpha would only bring trouble from the Clave and Hodge had warned them against it, but if that was the only way to ensure his brother got out of here alive then he’d take whatever punishment the Clave threw at him, even if it meant being stripped of his marks.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:52:45 GMT -8
She almost sighed heavily as her fears were confirmed multiple times by Travis, though it was hardly his fault. He wasn’t on the in and therefor wouldn’t really know much about Maddox’ habits, though he was confident in telling her he likely wouldn’t trade him for silence. She had guessed as much simply based on Jarek’s attitude. That much cockiness had to have been filtered down and Travis only confirmed that Maddox was overbearingly confident in his own abilities. He would probably laugh at them before proceeding in trying to kill them. In turn they would have to defend themselves and regardless of their status as Shadowhunters, the numbers were not good. They could claim they had to defend themselves to the Clave, but all they would see was their violation of the Accords by trespassing on known Were territory. She’d severed a hole in their fence. When it came down to the fight, for it would be ‘when’ not ‘if’, and if the alpha were killed by one of their hands they would be locked away forever. Her eyes left Travis and bored a hole in the floor. They were in deep, in more ways than she had even begun to consider beforehand. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but this was becoming more and more impossible.
When Eli’s voice chimed in her eyes finally came up and to him. Hearing that strength in his voice and seeing it in his eyes returned hers to her. As frustrated as she’d been with him, and herself, moments ago it dissipated as she remembered how they would need each other tonight if they were to survive. “If you can lead us, we’ll get through to Maddox. There are other ways to persuade if he’s not afraid of the Clave.” She assured him, though to be honest she wasn’t quite sure what that persuasion could be. She was suddenly wishing she had bargained for more from the witch. Something, anything to convince Maddox to take the deal and release Travis. But she hadn't been thinking when she'd gone to the witch and and had only left with two things. It seemed all her bad decisions were beginning to sneak up on her at the most inopportune times. No point in dwelling on what she couldn't change, but it still irked her that she could have found a way around all of this. "Have you become attuned to the guard rotation? It would help us in sneaking past them on the way to Maddox." She asked when she turned her attention back to Travis, her stance softening again as she remembered he hadn't been privy to her mood swings like Eli and might get defensive due to her slightly aggressive stance.
She was feeling like she was pressing him too hard for things after what he'd been through, but unfortunately they didn't have the time to beat around the bush. And to be honest she had never really been one to do that in the first place. She hated wasting breath, hence why she had hardly spoken at all before Eli came along and got under her skin like nobody else had. A part of her wondered if he sensed things between her and his brother, if he thought they were something but his brother didn't share it with him. You're not anything and now isn't the time to think about it she chastised, though she couldn't help but recall how Eli had taken hold of her hands moments ago. His touch was soft and yet firm in the same instance. He was gentle with her while telling her she couldn't pull away from him, not this time. She averted her eyes for a moment to blink the thoughts away. She was in the middle of a Were compound and shouldn't be thinking of Eli like that. He was her companion in the way of battle and nothing more. This was for his brother so she could ultimately get what she needed, Eli distracted long enough to slip away and fulfill something he would stand in the way of if he knew.
"Anything you can remember would be of help. The less hiccups we run into along the way the better." She added in the most fluid voice she could manage. She was mildly afraid of slaying another Were. It wasn't just the killing aspect of it that bothered her. Something very unnerving had happened when that Were's blood had spilled onto her and she'd smelled it. She hadn't even had it close to her nose and she had been able to define that metallic smell. It'd made her throat tighten until an underlying smell had come through, something that wholly defined the blood as that of a werewolf. Never had she reacted this way around blood before and it was sending those warning flags up again. Something had been wrong since she'd returned to the Institute and she still couldn't figure it out. All she did know was that blood may possibly have something to do with it. And if more was spilled this night, what would happen to her? Would she freeze up? Would she fail Eli in being his ally? I will not fail she thought with determination before her eyes were coming back to Travis.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:53:29 GMT -8
Travis knew he wouldn’t have all the answers his brother and Audrina wanted, he had no easy way of getting an audience with Maddox. They were going to need the element of surprise which meant sneaking around the Were guards without being seen and hopefully catching the alpha off guard, unprepared for a fight. He suspected that they both knew that already anyway and saying so wouldn’t achieve much. Travis sighed and nodded at the blonde shadowhunters reassurance before his eyes travelled to his brother and he saw the unspoken words in the males gaze. He tore his gaze from Eli’s intense blue orbs and dropped his eyes to his lap a moment, processing the emotions he felt knowing his brother was willing to go to such length to ensure his freedom. There was a mixture of love, gratitude, guilt and worry that he would be the reason they would all be killed. If he hadn’t been so stupid, so naive in thinking it would be safe to seek refuge with these downworlders they all wouldn’t be in this situation now.
He’d been so sure that the mention of the Clave, that he was under their orders, would be all he needed to convince the pack to offer him aid. He had no idea they were a rogue pack, working against the Accords and that any mention of the Clave was fruitless. As a result he was now part of this pack, he was a Werewolf, a Downworlder and his good shadowhunter name had been torn to shreds and his world turned upside down.The place he called home would never be home again along with Idris itself. “I can get us to Maddox. Now that I’m a W- Now that I’m one of them I can sense when another is near.” Travis offered, pulling himself from his train of thought and looking from Audrina then to his brother, he didn’t have time to dwell on those things. “When we’re close to Maddox, I’ll know.” He added and didn’t miss the frown on Eli’s lips.
“Alright. We’ll do what we’ve been doing, keeping to the shadows and the outer buildings as much as possible. Travis, you can take lead, we’ll follow you and keep an eye on the rear.” Eli nodded taking direction again and pushed off the wall by the stairs to move back over to the shelves on the far wall. He grabbed a new bottle of water and set the empty one down, uncapping the lid so he could drink from it quickly before he turned back to the other two. “This is for you, you might need it.” Eli said as he removed one of the two weapons belts he had around his waist, it was adorned with more daggers and throwing knives. Travis stood and took the belt from him gratefully before belting it around his own belt, he looked up at Eli suddenly as though just remembering something. “When you were hanging from that meat hook like a side of beef, Maddox had your weapons stripped from you, the knives father gave you.” The younger Ashdown half smirked, knowing Eli wouldn’t like the reminder, but he’d always liked riling him up in whatever situation and brothers would be brothers.
“Yeah thanks for that. He’s probably using them for himself then, is he?” Eli shook his head with a frown. The thought of the alpha using his favorite knives set his blood on fire and sick feeling in his gut, they were the last thing his father had given him before he died and they were supposed to be for his use only. If you hadn’t been so careless, you’d still have them. “Nope. They’re locked up in one of the storage rooms, he didn’t like the shadowhunter runes on them.” Travis explained and his brow quirked in a silent question before he was answering it. “Yes, I know which one. It’s on the way to Maddox’s office.”
“We don’t have time, and there’s a chance we’ll get caught trying to retrieve them. I’ll make do.” Eli said with a small shake of his head and patted the long sword at his side and the small dagger next to it. As much as he wanted those knives back, there was too much risk of them getting caught. His eyes moved to Audrina briefly; he had more important things to think about other than gaining back some of his stolen property, there were bigger priorities he had at the moment. “Ready?” He asked the two of them though his gaze lingered on the woman standing by the bed, she had to be ready, he wasn’t about to send them back out into it if she wasn’t.
“Let’s go find the alpha.” Travis nodded.
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Post by Yunalesca on Oct 10, 2015 2:53:58 GMT -8
Her brows furrowed slightly as Travis spoke, hearing him speak with almost a sense of shame making something in her chest constrict. He thought of himself as less than human. Thought of himself like how so many Shadowhunters would think of him. She wanted to say it was wrong, that he was still a person, but didn’t feel it was her place. Who was she to tell him anything? She couldn’t even embrace herself, how could she tell someone else to? So she kept her mouth shut as he spoke and instead tried to think of something else to persuade Maddox with. Her eyes had flicked away in the process, but they returned to Eli when he spoke and handed the weapons over to his brother. Her eyes followed the blades as they transferred hands, the glint off the weapons clearly showing they were made of silver. Silver could kill his brother now if he weren’t careful, but she felt that Were’s had better reflexes than Shadowhunters. Downworlders were more powerful and maybe that was why Shadowhunters hated them so much. They felt threatened and so created a hysteria about it. She could almost feel history unraveling before her eyes before she snapped out of it. They were discussing Eli’s weapons that he’d lost, and more importantly their significance to him. Her breath caught in her throat as she thought of what it must have felt like losing them. His life was beginning to piece together before her. She was beginning to understand he’d lost everything and his brother was all that was left. She looked at him with new eyes as the brothers spoke, imagining what she would feel if she’d lost one of her parents stele’s. Her fathers’ could very well be shattered tonight in battle, but oddly enough she found herself at peace. The loss would hurt, but the instrument was being put to use after years of lying in a box. It was the way he would want it and she found she was okay with it. Regardless it meant more than Eli probably knew for her to hand it over to him, to entrust him with something of her own. She was brought from her thoughts again as Eli addressed her, not even realizing she had physically stepped back from them as well as mentally while they spoke. “I’m ready.” She said softly as she locked her thoughts away for another time when she would be able to evaluate them better. If there will be another time she thought and brushed it away as well. They would come out of this alive. She had to keep thinking positively or they would fail. Negative thoughts piled up and eventually pulled one under. She should know, she’d lived in her own personal hell for long enough to acknowledge that. She did expect to take up the rear as they started filing out of the storm shelter, thinking the brothers would want to stay close to each other, but it seemed Eli had other plans. She was stuck in the middle with Eli pulling up the end. Clearly he’d noticed she’d been bothered after slaying the Were and was putting her in a safer predicament, though she wasn’t sure there was a safe place to be other than out of here. Regardless of her feelings she didn’t say anything as they snuck around edges of buildings toward where the alpha was held. Several times along the way she felt herself stop breathing as Travis stopped them and she willed herself to melt into the shadows. Everytime they moved forward after that her breathing grew shallow and a tingling sensation ran over her. Somethings wrong echoed in her mind even as she tried to block it out. They would make it out of here alive with Travis. She had to focus on this. She stopped just behind Travis again as he pulled up short in front of a door. He turned and looked back at them, drawing them close for him to whisper. “Back door, always locked,” he said quietly and Audrina stepped around him, her stele coming out without a statement. She hovered over her glowing stele as a rune of opening was etched into the steel. She could feel someone’s breath on her neck, alerting her that they too were trying to keep the light from shining out. Based on the breaths alone she knew it was Eli and almost shuddered as she finished the rune. She shouldn’t be able to tell it was him and she shouldn’t feel a hint of excitement in her stomach at the thought of his breath on her neck. The thoughts left her as the rune faded on the door, indicating they were free to enter. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, her stele being hidden away in her pants and a long blade coming out in its place. She wasn’t taking any chances of something jumping out at her and not be armed.
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 10, 2015 2:54:34 GMT -8
Audrina’s soft announcement that she was ready to go was barely convincing, at least to Eli’s ears and he almost hesitated, an excuse for them to stay down in the cellar a bit longer coming to mind briefly before he pushed it aside. She’d said she was ready and he needed to believe she was. In a way he guessed none of them were ready for what was to come and delaying the inevitable would only be like pulling a band aid off slowly when it should be done quickly. “Alright, let’s go.” He nodded and a quick glance at Travis told him that his brother had recovered almost completely and he could see a gleam of determination in his eyes. Eli sucked in a small breath, there was no changing either of their minds now, and indicated for Travis to take the lead.
The younger Ashdown did so without a moments hesitation and lead them up the stairs with Eli following behind and Audrina taking up the rear. He wasn’t sure what he expected when they emerged from the cellar, he’d thought maybe they’d come out surrounded by wolves which was why he’d made sure Audrina came out last. But he wasn’t expecting it to be so quiet, eerily so and he almost shivered. Travis had said he could sense when other Weres were near but that didn’t stop Eli’s eyes darting everywhere looking for any signs of one as he held the cellar door open so Audrina could step out. Once the blonde had fully emerged from the cellar he carefully closed the door behind her quietly and nodded for Travis to keep going and they’d follow.
He almost smirked at the look Audrina gave him when she realised that he wanted her to follow behind Travis and he’d stay at the back, and she’d know it was so he could keep an eye on both his brother and her, and that he knew just how shaken she had been after killing that Were. He had made a promise that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her, that he would be there to protect her. Though he was realising that it also meant emotionally as well as physically, he wanted to make sure she felt safe, at least as safe as one could feel in a compound full of rogue werewolves. Eli retrieved a small silver dagger from his weapons belt and followed his brothers lead.
Several times Travis lifted a hand to them, signalling for them to stop and stay hidden and both Eli and Audrina followed his silent instructions. Each time they stopped, he held his breath, his grip on the dagger handle tightening. He kept close to Audrina and a few times he also heard her suck in a small breath. His fingers itched to take her hand, offer some reassurance that he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her, that it would all be alright. His hand remained at his side however the whole time.
When they finally came to the building that the alpha was in, he heard his brother whisper that it was locked. Audrina had her stele out before he could reach for his and was moving towards the door Travis had indicated. Knowing that a stele emitted a glow of light when it was in use, Eli quickly came up beside her, as close as he could so that his body blocked out most of the glow from the opening rune she was drawing with her stele. His arm brushed hers and his breath hitched, even now, in the midst of battle that was inevitably coming, being that close to her affected him.
Eli was distracted by their nearness and before he could stop her, she had opened the door and was stepping inside. He had no idea what would be on the other side and she should have waited, but it was too late now, she was already through and all he could do was follow her inside as quickly as possible. There was no one on the other side of the door but that didn’t slow his racing heart because he heard murmured voices coming from another room off to the side. He felt Travis come up beside him and heard the soft click of the door as it closed, a hand came to his shoulder and he turned to look at his brother as the male lifted a finger to his lips and nodded to the room the voices were coming from. It was hard to tell but he was guessing that there were three people in that other room, normally three against three would make it an even fight, but in this case it wouldn’t.
Eli reached for Audrina’s arm before she could move any further into the room and pulled her back beside him and hoped that she would stay there. He unsheathed one of his swords and saw Travis do the same before his brother was nodding towards the other room again. Call it intuition or the bond of siblings, but he knew what his brother was planning. If they stormed the room they might catch whoever was there by surprise and they could have the upper hand. Travis went first, but not by Eli’s choice and he would have shouted for Travis to stop if it wouldn’t alert Maddox to their presence. Instead he went after Travis and waved for Audrina to follow, he’d just reached the door as Travis placed his hand around the handle and was twisting it open.
The two brothers burst into the room, weapons drawn and shouting. Travis had one Were cornered, the silver blade of his dagger at their throat. The second Were charged towards Eli, but stopped abruptly as the shadowhunter swung his sword, slicing at the Were’s chest. “Move any closer and I’ll make sure it’s deeper next time.” Eli warned icily and from the corner of his eye he saw Maddox standing from behind a desk. There was no mistaking the brute of a man and the sneer on his lips. Quickly Eli glanced behind him to check where Audrina was and upon spotting her behind him he jerked his head towards the door they’d come through. “Shut the door and make sure it’s locked.” He instructed lightly, purposely not using her name in case the Clave ever became involved in this, he wanted to keep her out at least that if he could.
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