Keiko Yagami's Story

Mia

The doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of the first guests. Sprinting to the front door, Mia made it there in less than a second. She grinned, revealing her shiny kanines. Motioning for the guests to enter, she shut the door behind them.

Soon enough, the house was full of people. Downworlders stood in every available space in the house; on the floors, stairs, tables. Wings and pale skin and warlock marks drew the eye. Everyone moved to the music, seemingly connected by the notes in that moment. The sight was empowering and creepy at the same time, giving Mia a headache. The final knock on the door startled her, something that didn’t usually happen. She hadn’t heard their approaching footsteps. Must be the guests of honor.

Opening the door, she stared at a pair of Shadowhunters. They were both cloaked in black, barely visible against the night sky. Inviting them in, Mia casted a wink across the room. In the corner stood the werewolf girl, who nodded in response. The Nephilim stood awkwardly in the entry until a warlock took both of their coats.

Mia had anticipated their cautiousness. Sure, the “problems” the Downworlders had gotten into lately had all Nephilim on edge. Though from what she had heard, most of them had eased, not too concerned any longer as there was nothing more to handle. Still, Mia was determined to crack her guests, get them to also relax.

Soon enough, both Shadowhunters were drunk. All she had to do was act offended that they had not bothered to try her beer, and both of them downed a cup. Immediately Mia could see that the drink was taking its toll on them. One sip in and they craved another. One of the warlocks had given the beer that effect - she didn’t bother to care which. The Nephilim almost drank an entire keg on their own before staggering out of the door.

She had heard that sneaking up on Shadowhunters was near impossible what with their heightened senses and reflexes. As it turns out, alcohol greatly diminishes those abilities. The Nephilim hadn’t heard Mia as she walked behind them down the path. She followed them quite a bit, curious. The two staggered, tripping over their own toes. Uncoordinated Shadowhunters? Unheard of.

It even surprised Mia when she struck them each on the temple. Neither Nephilim attempted to stop her or even acknowledge her presense. Their eyes fluttered shut and they each fell to the concrete. Mia frowned at the unconscious bodies at her feet, upset that it was so easy. She had expected a fight, was excited about it even. Sadly, there wasn’t any time to wake them up to fight. Sighing, Mia lifted the small Shadowhunter into her arms, motioning for the werewolf to grab the other.

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Leigh

Aunt Callida stood in the Silent City, shifting uncomfortably from the scrutiny of the Silent Brothers. Their scarred faces and hollowed eyes still made her shiver, though looking away would only make her seem weak. She did not want her last moments as a Shadowhunter to be remembered as weak and afraid.

“Callida Pennwater: You stand in front of the Brothers to receive punishment for your crime.” An eery, rough voice spoke in her mind. Like any other person, Callida never liked being in the presence of a Silent Brother. She seemed to feel them invading her mind, scraping through her thoughts, reliving her memories. Painful memories, terrifying memories; none that she wanted to visit again. Still, she bit back the urge to talk back to the Brothers; she didn’t want her sentencing to be any worse.

Squaring her shoulders, she spoke in her mind. “I hardly think it is a crime. I found the one I love. Just because he is a mundane - “ Callida was cut off mid sentence. A searing pain erupted in the back of her head. It felt as it a fire sparked in her mind. The flames licked every vein in her body, every muscle, every tendon. The fire burned her skin, making its way up her arms, legs, neck. Her knees buckled and her back arched, but she still had enough willpower to remain standing. She watched in horror as the black marks on her skin burned away, leaving her arms bare. The same happened to all of the runes on her body were striped, leaving Callida broken and ashamed. . .


Leigh groaned, still half in the dream. She watched, terrified, as her aunt was turned into a mundane before her eyes. The fire blazed behind her eyelids, threatening to burn her too. The red flames seemed to lick the sides of her mind, as if taking away her knowledge of the shadow world. No! She couldn’t be a mundane. . .

Desperately, she tried prying her eyes open, wanting to escape the flames. As hard as she tried though, her eyes remained stubbornly shut. Leigh mentally attempted to pry her eyelids open. In a panic, she lifted her hands to forcefully open her eyes. Her arms didn’t move. A numbness encased all her limbs, restricting them. Her body hadn’t reacted to her command. She didn’t feel, but rather sensed her limbs at her sides. The sensation was unnerving, making her heart race.
Leigh mentally sighed; at least she could still feel her heart.

Vaguely, last night replayed in her mind. She went back, trying to gain some kind of knowledge about her current situation. The memories became blurrier and blurrier as the night went on. Wings and webbed feet and fangs and furry ears flashed by, not creating a sliver of recognition. Faces replayed, all smiling, encouraging. . .what? A vampire with a red cup, a werewolf in the corner, Shinta with a beer-

Shinta! Where was he? Was he here too? Wherever here was. She prayed that the drug hadn’t taken as much of a toll on him as it had on her. He had to be awake to save them both. They had both gone to the party together in hopes to regain their former alliance with the Downworlders of the city. Of course, Leigh wasn’t too comfortable about going unarmed to a party without any other Shadowhunters. Apparently, the plan hadn’t gone as well as they had hoped. With one more struggle for control over her body, Leigh sighed, waiting for whatever to happen next.

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Seeing a small bunny land on his lap he laughed and picked it up by the scruff of its neck. His features being more feline he licked his lips. "Kei-Chan, I can eat you.. you're so tiny and I'm so big." He dropped her on the table as the worries of stress and problems seemed to have disappeared. Leaning back he sighed and looked around.

The warlocks and some vampires had followed Draco to his place. Just to add onto partying. "This isn't fun... Kei-Chan, I could loose my seat on the Council." He ran his fingers through his thick, soft hair. He had no idea what to do, mostly at a loss of words. Getting up from his comfy Dark Burgandy chair, he paced around the room wondering what he could do.

"Kei-Chan, let us go have a drink or something... but let me see that pretty face of yours... in your bunny form I just want to eat you." He chuckled and flicked his tail ever so slightly. "Do not forget, I am part feline" Skin would tighten and thicken as spots would form on his skin and fur spread over his whole body. When he finished shifting he was pure muscle of the Amur Leopard. Pouncing up on the table, he licked his massive maw once more, as a wide smile was on his face. His tail flicking in excitement.

He surrounded her with one massive paw, before shifting back and laughing with her bunny form in his hands. "Now about that dinner date eh?"

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