＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Raising Hell

NIGHTMARES. At night Arya's defences, we're left susceptible and her mind was allowed to take over. It didn't leave her time to block out all of the horrible thoughts which haunted her thoughts during the day—and she loathed that. All of her thoughts and feelings which she strived to block away came flooding in like a tidal surge and she couldn't end them. Her thoughts were teased with impressions of her parents and her past—it weighed down on her like stones on her shoulders until she was awakened.

She flailed in her bed, rolling in every direction as her dreams consumed and filled her body with dread and trauma. Her sheets crumpled around her and her fists clasped on them until her knuckles turned white and her nails almost tore through them. It was like she was clutching onto a raft in the middle of the ocean so the water which was her imagination didn't drown her.

✧

"He's found us, Connor. We have to leave. Now." The youthful image of her mother materialized in her mind. She was flinging aspects into backpacks and placing them by the entrance which her father had just arrived through. "They're after us." She warned the man with tears hazing her vision.

Arya couldn't see her parents but she could hear them. She knew this wasn't a dream, it wasn't fiction but it did afflict her thoughts often. This has already happened. It was a recollection.

"Then we need to leave. Now." Her father conceded, clasping a few of the bags either on his shoulder or around his wrist. Arya's mother nodded and the two parents shared a devoted look but they didn't know that it would be one of the last they could give.

Before either had the chance to flee their tragic ends, Valentine and two of his men stormed the door down with a loud bang—blowing it off its hinges. Wood splintered across the room and the impact caused glasses to shatter and the loud thump awoke young Arya from her slumbering state. She stepped to the door sheepishly and peered around the corner.

Little did she know her mind would permanently be plagued with the image she was about to discern.

The image of a seraph blade slivering against the neck of both her parents—bringing them to their untimely ends. But forever the image had stuck and scared her—even further so when the man who did such an act, made abrupt eye contact with the young child as if she was his subsequent fatality.

✧

Arya awoke astonished. The pictures still stuck in her mind and she struggled to use the palm of her hand to rub the images from her perception. She was ice cold and chilled to the bone by what she had just recalled—even if it had been for the millionth time. She snatched her sheets further around her in an endeavour to attain some warmth. A pitiful sob escaped her lips—for some reason she felt so immoral for letting the vision back into her mind. She felt so weak and it frustrated her.

The shadow hunter sighed and jerked her jumper on before heading over to the door down the hall from her. She slowly opened the door and saw Izzy awake with a little lamp on beside her. She looked up when Arya entered the room and gave a pitiful smile at the girl, pulling back her blankets so there was a place for Arya to lay.

She smiled great-fully and crawled in beside her. Izzy didn't speak—she didn't need to—the glossy look of Arya's eyes and her hands clasping around her to gain some warmth told her enough like it usually did. She was awoken by the uneasy feeling in her gut and understood immediately, that it must have been Arya.

The brown-haired girl lay down on the cushion and Izzy draped an arm around her while she trembled beneath the covers. "Same as usual?" She asked sympathetically and Arya nodded. The bond between the two was more than one of a sibling, it was like they were the same person. They loved each other with their entire hearts--totally and completely.

✧

It felt as if they had only slept for a moment before Jace came jogging into the bedroom and woke the two girls—him also appreciating why Arya would be there. They both groggily, sleepily and reluctantly stirred awake and got prepared before trudging down to the main floor for a meeting with the additional shadow hunters and Hodge.

Once they arrived down there they were clued into the fact that Simon had stormed out of the building after having a minor freak out, Clary had gotten a lead on the mortal cup and they were now in the inquiry of Magnus Bane—believing he was the warlock who had snatched Clary's memories.

Arya slumped in a chair with her chin rested on her tucked up knees beside Alec to the left at the table, Jace was stood behind her with a soothing hand on her shoulder, Izzy was sat on the table to the right of Alec and Clary was the same to the left of Arya. Everyone could automatically tell by the bags beneath Arya's eyes and the fuzzy black jacket—instead of her leather one—that it had been one of those nights again.

"Magnus Bane," Hodge announced once he had arrived and took his place beside the screens which were showing images of the warlock throughout his long life so far. "He's over three hundred years old. And, as you can see, he's not exactly shied away from the pleasures of every century." He explained while he showed photos and footage of him sat with multiple women, enjoying drinks at many parties throughout the years. "His tastes are both exquisite...and quite excessive." He added while he did so.

"He looks like the Downworld's David Guetta." Clary joked, unimpressed. "Guetta's already a Downworlder. Vampire? Ever seen him in the daylight?" Izzy joked in return and Arya chuckled a little but wasn't really in the mood to join in.

"Can you tow focus?" Alec complained and Arya chuckled at his frustration with the pair. "This is not a joke." He mumbled—turning back to the screen.

"Someone needs to get slayed." Izzy joked again. "Yeh, by Arya," Clary added and the two girls giggled while Arya was practically shivering in her chair. She hated the cold feeling she had for hours after her nightmares. It was like it was a constant cold sweat. "Alec's right. Now, Magnus is one of the most powerful warlocks I've ever known. He has a deep mistrust of Shadow hunters." Hodge scolded and Izzy finally remained silent, but still shared concerned glances with her brother about the girl beside him, Jace too.

"Well, then why did he help my mom removed my memories? Isn't she a shadow hunter?" Clary asked confused how her mother could have possibly been the exception. "Yes, one of the best." Hodge complimented. "But 'help' Might not be the most accurate word. Now, did Magnus provide a service for Jocelyn? Perhaps. But more than likely, your mother paid Magnus handsomely for his magic." He told her truthfully.

"Warlocks usually require payment before they help anyone with anything," Jace added, taking the vacant seat besides Arya. "Word for the Clave is that most of the warlocks have gone into hiding since Valentine began hunting them," Alec informed them and even the man's horrid name sent a chill through Arya's bones. "Valentine must be searching for the warlock, where did Jocelyn—" He started but the burning in his neck meant he had to take a moment to ease the increasing pain of his rune.

"Hodge, your rune." Clary pointed out pitifully. "You okay?" Arya asked sympathetically and the man nodded in response—returning the sympathetic look since he too could tell that Arya had barely slept that night and when she had, it had been a nightmare. "So how do we find Magnus?" Clary sighed after a moment.

"We don't. Magnus finds us." Jace told her bluntly and they all nodded in agreement. "We'll set up a meeting, somewhere protected. Lure him out of hiding." He suggested.

"And I know exactly where we do it." Izzy grinned, taking the iPad from Hodge and placing an invitation up on the screen where Magnus' image had just been.

"A downworlder rave. Nice Izzy." Jace approved and the raven-haired girl beamed. "And where'd you get that?" Alec inquired. "During my surveillance of the down world. From what I hear, Magnus likes to party." Izzy sighed but she was right. He was known for it.

"He'll never go for it. Not with Valentine trying to kill him." Alec turned it down. "Of course he will. He'll blend in. Hide in plain sight." Jace differed. "I don't know, it seems—" Clary sighed unsure about how well the plan would go. "Trust me." The raven-haired shadow hunter pleaded. "If Magnus is coming out of hiding, he's going to one of the biggest parties of the year." She ensured.

"Never underestimate Magnus' hedonism."
Hodge deadpanned and Izzy groaned. "Or his greed." He added with a grin which made them all interested.

He leads them over to the training area where there was a black square on the floor with a rune in the centre. Hodge activated the rune and lifted the tile off of the floor, revealing a silver necklace with a ruby looking gem in the centre. It must have been of some importance for it to be well hidden.

Arya was trying to focus as hard as she could. It wasn't that she was exhausted but she was distracted. The shudder in her body was making her lose focus and the impressions repeating in her head was like torment. She was grateful that the nightmares didn't happen every night—but on the nights that they did. They hit her hard. Alec had noticed straight away too. He always noticed when things were off with the girl. So while they were stood at the back of the group he wrapped his arm around her to give her a steadying rub on her arm but he decided not to move his arm and kept it there—hoping it would provide the girl with some solace or warmth which would make her feel better.

Hodge then lifted the necklace from its undercover place on the floor and held it up for them all to see. The lights from around the room caught the gem in the middle making it appear to be shining and because of the dark metal, it brought out the redness of the jewel. "Is that real?" Izzy asked in awe of the piece of jewellery. "A four-karat, unheated Burmese ruby." He informed them. "And this necklace has special meaning to Magnus Bane as it was a gift from him to his then-lover, Camille Belcourt." He elaborated.

"What, Camille and Magnus were lovers?" Clary asked wide-eyed. "Warlock gets around," Arya murmured and she saw Jace—who had finally seen the pair with Alec's arm around her—smirk at her remark. "Magnus bought it in 1857 for the price of his London townhouse. Now, the jewel is enchanted by a spell that alerts the wearer to the presence of demons." He continued to explain its importance while Izzy reached forwards and appreciated it again.

"Magnus has long to reunite with this necklace. The offer is to him. He might just take the bait." Hodge proposed and he was right. This did improve their chance of getting to see this warlock. "I'll send Magnus a fire message to arrange the meeting. We have to get to Magnus before Valentine does." Jace added before walking away to send the message.

✧

Izzy and Arya headed straight back to her room after the meeting so they could pick out their outfits for the rave. Izzy was leaning towards a silver sequinned dress and Arya had no clue. But since she was now feeling slightly better—she decided to get back to focusing on the mission and that required an outfit. She had brought two dresses to Izzy. A black corset mini dress and a red silk mini dress.

"I think the black one is more you," Izzy smirked and by that she meant most revealing. "But I think the red one might draw more attention to you." She sighed, looking between the two outfits. "But is attention something I'm going to want while we're trying to avoid detection?" Arya pointed out and Izzy nodded. "Then Black." She said finally. "But I don't have the right shoes to go with the black." Arya sighed. "I do." Isabel smiled and quickly ran over to her closet and pulled out a pair of black heeled boots and Arya nodded in agreement.

"Jace said you wanted to see me." They heard Clary tell them from the doorway. The pair smiled when they saw her. "That's right." Izzy grinned while Arya went behind the room separator to change into her dress and boots. "What're you wearing to the Downworlder party tonight?" She asked placing her sequin dress on the back of her wardrobe door. "I don't know. I was just thinking about wearing this." She shrugged, standing there in jeans and a green t-shirt while Arya walked out in a mini dress and boots. "I don't think so." She disagreed, pulling at her dress so it sat right.

"No Downworlder would be caught dead in that," Izzy told her bluntly and Clary looked down at her clothes with a frown as if to say she didn't know what was wrong with them. "Plus, it's a party, not a poetry slam." Arya chimed in.

"Well, I don't have any party clothes with me, so..." Clary told her, hoping she didn't have to dress up. "So, you'll have to wear ours." Izzy grinned, picking up the puffy pink sequin dress which Arya had refused to wear. "hmm?" Izzy sighed, inspecting how she thought the dress would look while Arya stared at it in disgust.

"You realise, one of these days you're gonna have to tell me where and when." She sighed, making the right choice and putting the dress down on the bed instead of her body. "Where and when what?" Arya asked, adding some silver jewellery to go with her outfit while Izzy shimmied around with a fluffy black scarf thing.

"Where you get your spending money and...when are you letting me go to a store." She sighed. "Clary..." Arya huffed, pulling a navy blue dress from Izzy's closet and holding it up to the girl. "Okay, that dress is way too tight." Clary denied and Arya cocked her head to the side. "It stretches." She grinned, passing it to the girl and then nodding towards the divider so she could get changed. "Put it on." Izzy also told her.

"Uh, fine." The redhead gave in when she realised that neither girl was going to let up unless she did. "Try these," Izzy added, passing her a pair of blue heels to go with it.

"I don't know, guys, I think I'm more of a jeans and T-shirt kinda girl," Clary complained while she struggled to pull the dress on like she thought she would. But when she walked out it fit perfectly and she looked ready to fight some demons. "You're so lucky to have such a flat chest. We could never wear that without a bra." Isabel deadpanned and Clary looked down at her chest slightly offended.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Someone's looking badass." Jace complimented as he walked into the room as saw Clary stood in one of the girl's dresses. "Oh, thanks." She smiled—flustered. "She cleans up well." Arya complimented, walking over to the pair. "Alec's going to be distracted tonight," Jace smirked once he saw Arya dressed up also. "Your so annoying." She mumbled and he just smirked—already aware of how much Alec was going to stare at the girl during the mission.

"Speaking of, we're going to see Alec. He never knows what to wear to these parties either. And I'm sure he's going to want to see Arya looking like this." Izzy grinned, pulling the girl out of the room in search of her brother—leaving Jace and Clary to stand and Gaze at each other.

✧

Arya and Izzy strolled into the central floor of the institute where they sighted Alec running his arrows. Izzy walked over to her brother while Arya walked over to the weapons valet to retrieve her naginata and test the blades while Izzy spoke to Alec—mostly about her.

"Pick a weapon." Alec snapped at his younger sister when she picked up one of his arrows and started toying with it. "I suggest your whip." He added, jerking the arrow from her grasp and placing it with the others on the table. "What's wrong with you?" She frowned.

"Nothing." Alec shrugged.

"We're going to a Downworlder's rave. You should be a little more excited." She argued, grabbing a seraph blade from the second weapons valet. "It's a mission, not a party." Alec scolded and Izzy rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, whatever." She huffed. "Before Clary got here, every day was the same. Go on a mission, kill demons. Go on a mission, kill demons. At least now things are interesting." She argued.

"Interesting?" Her brother scoffed. "Valentine is alive and actively seeking the cup. He threatens our entire world. And we're helping his daughter. Who by the way we have no reason to trust. And who showed up out of nowhere. On top of that, we're gonna end up overpaying some warlock who may or may not have the information we need. So, no, Izzy...I don't find it interesting." He ranted while Izzy stood there silent.

"Woah." She breathed out when she saw and heard how stressed her brother was. "Feel better now?" She scoffed. "No, I don't." Alec sighed and Isabel grinned at him. "Okay, maybe a little," Ha admitted and Izzy laughed at him a little. "Do you feel better now?" She smirked, using her finger to turn his head in the direction of Arya who was checking that her weapon opened and closed properly. His sister noticed the way his jaw suddenly clenched and a smirk wormed its way onto his face—causing her to grin also. But once he noticed Izzy smirking he shrugged and brushed it off like it hadn't just happened.

"You can't keep bottling things up, Alec." Isabel sighed. "It's only a matter of time before they explode." She warned. "And not the fun kind of explode." She added.

"Alright let's go." Alec huffed, glancing at the brown-haired shadow hunter. "And we're not going for the music." He added, walking towards Arya instead so he could tell her they were leaving.

✧

Arya, Alec and Izzy had gone off to search the perimeter for any of Valentine's men or possible threats while Clary and Jace went to the line where they were supposed to enter. Arya had officially blocked all thoughts of her nightmares from her mind and she was fully concentrating on the mission again now.

"Doesn't Arya look hot tonight?" Izzy complimented and Arya rolled her eyes, knowing what the girl was trying to do. "Alec? She does right." The raven-haired girl continued to press once neither of them commented. "Well, Arya, how do you think Alec looks tonight?" Izzy asked again when nobody joined in on her teasing and the pair carried on ignoring her while they searched the perimeter. "Do you mind, Izzy?" Arya huffed, pushing her stele back into her pocket after activating her stamina rune.

"Not really." The girl huffed and Alec and Arya could have practically cheered once they'd scouted the whole way around the building and could reunite with Jace and Clary and escape Izzy's questions and comments.

"All clear," Alec told them bluntly, joining the queue beside Arya while Izzy stood beside Clary. "Do you think reds my colour?" She asked, looking down at Magnus' necklace hanging around her neck.

"Iz, with a body like yours, everything's your colour." Clary encouraged and Izzy turned to Arya for her assurance too. "You look stunning Izzy." She