Chapter 13: The Threads Unravel
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Clary's POV
The chill of the Silent City seeped into Clary's bones as she followed Jace through the narrow, torch-lit corridors. The oppressive silence of the place unsettled her, and she couldn't help but shiver despite the warmth of her jacket. She had no idea what to expect from the Silent Brothers, but the thought of them reaching into her mind made her stomach twist.
"Are you okay?" Jace's voice cut through the stillness.
She nodded, though her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I'll be fine."
"They're not going to hurt you," he said, his golden eyes watching her closely. "It's… weird, but the Silent Brothers are the best at what they do. If there's a block in your mind, they'll find it."
"That's comforting," she muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Jace smirked but didn't say more, his attention shifting as they entered a large chamber. The room was lined with ancient runes carved into the stone walls, their faint glow illuminating the eerie figures standing at the center.
The Silent Brothers.
They moved without sound, their long robes brushing against the floor. Their scarred faces and eyeless gazes sent a shiver down Clary's spine. One of them stepped forward, a voice echoing in her mind despite his lack of speech.
"Clarissa Fairchild. You seek answers."
She swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes."
The Silent Brother turned his empty gaze toward Jace. "Step back. This process is not for your eyes."
Jace hesitated, his jaw tightening, but a sharp look from the Brother made him comply. Clary watched him retreat, his hand resting on the hilt of his seraph blade as if he could protect her from whatever was about to happen.
"Do not fear," the Silent Brother said to her. "We will not harm you. But we must delve into your mind to uncover the truth."
Clary nodded, her heart pounding as she stepped forward. The Silent Brother raised a hand, his long, scarred fingers pressing gently against her temple.
And then the flood came.
Images flashed through her mind—fragmented, blurry, but familiar. Faces she didn't recognize, places that felt both foreign and intimate. The Shadow World was there, hidden behind a wall she hadn't known existed.
"A powerful block," the Silent Brother intoned. "Placed by the High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. To protect you, but also to shield the Shadow World from you."
"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"The answer lies in your past. To unlock it fully would bring danger. We can weaken the block, but only Magnus Bane can remove it entirely."
The pressure in her mind eased, and the Brother stepped back. "Magnus Bane," Clary murmured. "I need to find him."
Jace moved to her side, his golden eyes searching hers. "What did they say?"
She looked at him, her resolve hardening. "We need to find Magnus Bane. He's the only one who can give me the answers I need."
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Orion's POV
The streets of Brooklyn were quieter than usual as Orion walked, his hands stuffed into his pockets. The cold evening air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind churned with everything that had happened since arriving at the Institute. The revelations about his parents, his growing connection to Clary and the others, and his abilities—it was all too much.
He needed space, time to think.
As he wandered the city, a faint prickle at the back of his mind made him pause. His instincts—his mother's instincts, he realized—warned him of danger. He tensed, his gray eyes scanning the area.
And then he saw them.
The monsters were emerging from the shadows, their grotesque forms illuminated by the flickering streetlights. There were three of them—hulking, wolf-like creatures with glowing yellow eyes and jagged teeth. They growled low, their claws scraping against the pavement as they advanced.
Orion tightened his grip on the watch strapped to his wrist, ready to transform it into the shield he had glimpsed in his visions. Before he could act, a voice called out from the shadows.
"Get down!"
Orion dropped to the ground as an arrow whizzed past his head, striking one of the monsters in the chest. The creature howled, stumbling back as the arrow dissolved into golden light.
Orion turned to see a group of four people emerging from the darkness. At the front was a tall, blond boy with a confident smirk, a sword glowing faintly in his hand. Beside him stood a girl with electric-blue eyes and raven-black hair, a silver circlet on her head. A satyr followed close behind, clutching a reed pipe, while a girl with stormy gray eyes and a Yankees cap brought up the rear, her expression sharp and focused.
The monsters turned their attention to the newcomers, growling as they prepared to attack.
"Thalia, flank left!" the blond boy shouted, raising his sword. "Annabeth, cover me!"
Orion didn't need an invitation. He darted forward, his watch transforming into a gleaming shield just in time to block a swipe from one of the monsters. The impact sent a shockwave through his arm, but he held firm.
The black-haired girl—Thalia, he guessed—moved with lightning speed, her spear crackling with electricity as she drove it into another monster. Annabeth, the gray-eyed girl, wielded a dagger with precision, her movements calculated and efficient.
Orion shifted his weight, slamming his shield into the monster in front of him. The creature staggered back, giving him enough room to pull the necklace from around his neck. It transformed in an instant, the spear fitting perfectly into his hand.
The fight was chaotic, a blur of claws, teeth, and glowing weapons. Orion's instincts kicked in, his movements fluid as he fought alongside the strangers. His mother's power stirred within him, and he focused on the monsters, willing the air around them to thicken. The pressure dropped, and the creatures faltered, their movements sluggish as if an invisible weight pressed down on them.
One by one, the monsters fell, their bodies dissolving into ash. The street was silent again, save for the group's heavy breathing.
The blond boy sheathed his sword, turning to Orion with a curious expression. "Not bad for a newbie," he said. "Who are you?"
Orion straightened, his gray eyes meeting the boy's. "Orion. And you?"
"Luke Castellan," the boy said, offering a faint smile. He gestured to the others. "That's Thalia, Annabeth, and Grover."
Thalia crossed her arms, her electric-blue eyes narrowing. "You're not a demigod, are you? You don't feel like one."
"I'm… something else," Orion admitted.
Annabeth studied him, her sharp gaze calculating. "You fight well. Better than most demigods I've seen."
"I've had practice," Orion said simply.
Luke tilted his head, his expression turning thoughtful. "Well, Orion, you've got talent. But you're not one of us, and we've got somewhere to be."
Orion nodded, sensing the unspoken tension between them. "Long Island?" he guessed.
Thalia's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't respond.
"Good luck," Orion said, stepping back.
"You too," Luke said, though his tone was guarded.
The group disappeared into the shadows, leaving Orion alone once more. He stared after them for a moment before turning away, his mind swirling with questions.
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Clary's POV
Back at the Institute, Clary sat in her room, staring at the box on her bed. The Silent Brothers' words echoed in her mind. Magnus Bane. The name felt both foreign and familiar, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he held the key to everything she didn't know.
Her thoughts turned to Orion, wondering where he had gone. She hadn't known him long, but something about him felt… steady. Like he was someone she could trust, even when everything else felt uncertain.
She sighed, pushing the thoughts aside. They needed answers, and she wouldn't stop until she got them.
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