Chapter 4

Zane sat stiffly in the high-backed wooden chair, his fingers drumming idly against the armrest. Across from him, Alaric—the man he assumed to be the leader of this entire establishment—listened in silence as Leo, the guy who had knocked him unconscious when he had entered the world recounted the events of the botched mission.

The room itself was grand and covered in runes, Zane knew they meant different things but didn't know what, he really needed to learn more about them as they seemed important.

Yet none of it compared to the overwhelming weight of Alaric's presence.

Zane had been in the company of reasonably strong men before, generals, warlords, even a few saints back on his Earth, but this was different. Alaric didn't move, didn't speak, yet it felt as if the very air in the room bowed to his existence. Even breathing near him seemed like a very stressful chore.

He was a middle-aged man, perhaps in his late forties, with streaks of silver cutting through his dark hair. A neatly trimmed beard framed his sharp, angular face, his piercing green eyes locking onto Leo with an intensity that made even the brash Shadowhunter fidget. Unlike the younger fighters, Alaric's runes were bolder, perhaps they grew stronger with age or experience? Once again Zane didn't know.

He was starting to realise he didn't know a lot of things. 

Leo continued his explanation, though his usual arrogance had been dulled in the presence of his superior.

"…and so, when we had finally cornered the warlock, the idiot drops from the sky like a damn meteor creating an oddly timed distraction while breaking our wards that were keeping her from vanishing," Leo muttered bitterly, shooting a glare at Zane. "She heals him, disappears, and we're left with nothing. We lost our only lead, wasted our resources, and now we're back to square one."

Alaric listened without interruption, his expression unreadable. When Leo finally fell silent, the leader turned his gaze onto Zane, the weight of it nearly making him flinch.

For a long, excruciating moment, he simply studied him. Then, in a voice that was deep and measured, he spoke.

"Did you cause the escape on purpose?"

Zane straightened. "No. I didn't even know what was happening when I landed there."

Alaric nodded slightly, as if expecting the answer. "Do you understand the situation you put us in?"

Zane exhaled through his nose. "Yes. You were trying to capture Lilith to track down the Royal Demon, and I ruined it."

"Good." Alaric leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "Then, tell me young man… are you willing to help us fix this?"

Zane narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean....sir?"

It seemed fitting to add sir when talking to a man who looked like he could kill him with a toothpick.

The older man tilted his head slightly. "Are you willing to become a Shadowhunter?"

Leo immediately turned to him, eyes wide. "Sir, you can't be serious."

Alaric ignored him, his focus still on Zane. "The ritual is not kind. It will break you before it makes you. Many do not survive but since you can see runes then at least you deserve the opportunity to try."

"Even if he does succeed, he's reckless, undisciplined—" Leo started, but Alaric silenced him with a single glance.

"If not, your memories will be erased, and you'll be dropped somewhere far from here to live out your days however you see fit."

Zane considered the offer. He could leave, sure. Try to survive in a world he still barely understood. Or he could take the risk and actually become something more. But he had come here to complete a trial. And these people were offering him strength and power to complete it.

"I want to do it," he said firmly.

Alaric studied him for a moment before leaning back. "Why?"

Zane hesitated. He could have gone with the usual answers—justice, protecting the innocent, fighting for what's right—but none of them would be completely honest.

He inhaled deeply before speaking. "Back on my Earth, I was an orphan. As long as I could remember, I had to fight to survive. I stole to keep my sister fed. When I got older, I joined the military because it was the only way to provide for her since i didn't have any special skills or an education. But no matter what I did, I was always weak. Just another soldier in a war that never really ended. I lived knowing that at any moment, something stronger—some beast, some war—could wipe me out, and I'd have no say in it." He clenched his fists. "I don't want to be weak anymore. I don't want to be at the mercy of something bigger than me. I want to control my life. My fate. And if becoming a Shadowhunter is the way to do that, then I'll take the risk."

Silence filled the room.

Alaric nodded slightly, his gaze unreadable. Zane felt like he was being weighed, measured.

Then, without warning, he added, "And, well… I really enjoy killing things, too."

The words left his mouth before he could think better of it.

Leo groaned, running a hand down his face. "Great. He's a damn psychopath."

Zane blinked. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that. I mean, I don't just kill random people or anything. I just—ugh, never mind."

For the first time since entering the room, Alaric's lips twitched.

Then, he let out a deep, booming laugh.

It was so unexpected that even Leo looked stunned.

Alaric stood, shaking his head. "Leo, prepare the ritual."

Leo scowled but didn't argue. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when he screws everything up."

Alaric ignored him and turned toward the door. "Mia."

A moment later, the blonde Shadowhunter stepped into the room. She was still dressed in the leather the clung to her figure, arms crossed as she regarded Zane with her usual indifferent expression.

Alaric gestured toward Zane. "Prepare him for the ritual."

She glanced at Zane, then back at Alaric. "You're serious?"

Alaric nodded. "He's made his choice."

Mia exhaled, shaking her head slightly. "Fine. Try not to die, newbie."

Zane smirked. "No promises."

As she led him out of the room, he felt Alaric's gaze on his back, like an unspoken challenge.

Survive, and prove yourself worthy.

Zane had no intention of doing anything less.