28 days left

“Channy, aren’t you going to eat?” Rebecca looked at her worriedly. Laressa had just informed Pablo, Rebecca and Marissa about Ares’ visit the previous night, and if possible, Chantelle was taking the news even worse. Rebecca had rushed over immediately. Chantelle’s normally bright face was pale and she picked at her food wordlessly. She had hoped the others would be merciful enough to leave her alone, but the former Head of the Institute didn’t seem to take the hint.

“No.”

“But it’s a SoySalad, your favourite. Food is not easy to find these days—“

Chantelle stood up, chair scratching against the floor (the sound that Pablo despised). “Food? Is that all you’re worried about? Ares is going to live a bloody insane dystopian life for the rest of this damned eternity and you’re worried about food?” She snapped.

“But it doesn’t mean you have to suffer with him, Chantelle.” Rebecca was surprised at Chantelle’s choice of words, for the girl was normally polite.

She leaned across the table flexibly, eyes glinting with rage. “Suffer? I don’t? You sound as though there is no bloody hope left in this world, and he’s gone, but compadre let me tell you that if I don’t get him out of that stinking place, I will suffer for the rest of my life and he suffers for eternity. Don’t act as though Ares is gone. In this 29 days I’ll get him out no matter what I do, got it?” With that, she stormed off.

“I’ll go after her.” Offered Laressa. Her plate was half-empty, and everyone except Rebecca knew it wasn’t that she ate, but that she offered her food to the cat, Adonis.

“Oh dear, I do hope Chantelle doesn’t act like that at the Council meeting later.” Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose, saying it to no one in particular.

“Chantelle will be fine, mom.” Comforted Marissa, but she didn’t believe it herself. She knew perfectly how it felt to lose a parabatai, but her parabatai had died. What Chantelle was going through now was a million times worse, and Marissa left Chantelle mostly alone, which was what she wanted when her own parabatai died.

***

Usually, Shadowhunters that have yet to take their trials were not welcome to such meetings, but it was needed for the Younghunters to come as witnesses (though they barely witnessed anything but Ares’ ghastly appearance last night). The Mortal Sword was necessary. The Mortal Sword was a gift from Raziel, and it had the ability to make whoever held it tell nothing but the truth.

“May we all come to attention.” The Consul boomed. It wasn’t a question, but a command. “Today we will take the testimonies of witnesses of Ares Herondale’s death, as well as his close friends and battle partners, to possibly decipher the cause of his suicide. Inquisitor, please.”

The Inquisitor was a fearless woman, someone that Chantelle greatly admired (that is, if she didn’t have a role to play in the Consul’s ploy). She had jet black hair running down her back, but was tied neatly today. She was none other than Zachary and Andre’s mother, Inquisitor Blackthorn. However, Inquisitor Blackthorn was a fair woman, dedicated to her job. She was downright loyal, and never listened to anyone when making decisions. She never accepted bribery or haggles, which made her a perfect choice for the role of the Inquisitor. Like Chantelle, she was picked to accept such a role when she was young. Whereas Chantelle was meant to be a future Consul, being the Chosen Nephilim, Inquisitor Blackthorn was so fair in her choices and justice-seeking the Consul picked her to be Inquisitor when she grew up, himself. Never once did her loyalty to the Clave and her ability to make only fair decisions waver.

“Ares Herondale has allegedly committed suicide yesterday. There were a total of 3 witnesses to his death. Ares Herondale is the officially known last Herondale of this generation, not counting those Herondales reported missing, and it would have been unwise to do such a thing. If it is decided that Ares Herondale did commit such an act, the Herondale bloodline, which is already removed from the Shadowhunter bloodline system, will be tarnished heavily and be considered of removal from the board of Shadowhunter family trees. Additionally, no words of ‘frater, ave atque vale’ will be said as mourning of Ares Herondale, and he will not be buried in the Silent City if his body is someday found. If it is decided that he did not commit such an act, he will be mourned like the other warriors who have died in battle honourably, and a full search will be conducted to find his body, and bury it in the Silent City. There will also be a full search to possibly find the missing Herondales, the search long-forgotten. Consul Whitelaw, may you step up and receive the Mortal Sword.”

The Consul did so, and if he was displeased at being questioned, he didn’t show it. The Inquisitor was merely following the law and requirements. “Consul Whitelaw, where have you seen Ares Herondale commit suicide?”

“At the canal near Woodshire drive, Los Angeles, a mile south of the demolished Disneyland site. Ares Herondale had bent over the railings. Just as me and my fellow companions saw it, we tried to stop him, but our efforts were futile. He had already jumped down.”

“And why was there no body found?”

“I… I don’t know. The body was gone. We checked and it vanished without a trace, though there were sightings of blood.”

Chantelle immediately stood up, unable to control it anymore. “The Consul is lying!” This caused gasps, astonished gasps that the future Consul was so impolite and naïve, but Chantelle didn’t care about them. She only cared about saving Ares Herondale and restoring his and his bloodline’s pride.

“Chantelle Carstairs, you must know whoever holds the Mortal Sword cannot lie.” The Inquisitor seemed indifferent to Chantelle’s rude interruption.

“But he is! I saw Ares just last night.” This she agreed sounded naïve, and she thought it was careless of her to act so foolishly without waiting for her turn. This would do nothing but gain disrespect for her, and she strongly needed to pull up her act and make up for that sudden moment of vulnerability, when the words tumbled out of her mouth. “I’m sorry.” She added as an afterthought.

The Inquisitor showed rare expression at this. She raised her eyebrows just a little, not that she didn’t believe Chantelle, but neither did she dismiss this as a lie to save the girl’s parabatai, like what the other Council members did. She seemed open to such a thought, if the Mortal Sword proved Chantelle was telling the truth. “Is that so? We shall discuss that when it reaches your turn, Chantelle Carstairs.” Chantelle sat down, a little relieved that at least Inquisitor Blackthorn was open to such an idea.

The Inquisitor turned back to the Consul. “And how do you know he committed suicide? Could he have fallen?”

“I may not know Ares very well, but I always heard he was a god. That he took down more opponents in his life than his father, and I knew his father. And falling wouldn’t be falling over the rails. Besides, if he really was the god as I hear he is, why would he fall down the railings? Don’t you find that absurd?”

“You have a point.” Inquisitor agreed as he asked more questions that was answered with lies, but he could not lie with the Mortal Sword. Maybe he got some immunisation thing from a warlock, but those were rumors. Chantelle always assumed those were fake, and now she knew she had forgotten her first explanation of Shadowhunters from Marissa—all the stories are true. But people were used to hearing lies, for the world is a complex and corrupted one, how can one remember to think straightforward and easily?

“Chantelle Carstairs, Head of the Young Shadowhunters, in-charge of the Shadowhunters who have yet to take the Shadow Trials, please rise and take the Mortal Sword.” The Inquisitor said as I rose, chin high.

“Chantelle Carstairs, Head of the—“

“It’s just Chantelle—“

“It’s the law—“

“Please, it sounds hideous and—“

“WILL YOU LET ME FINISH A SENTENCE?” The Inquisitor said. Chantelle sank back. I have gotten myself lesser respect, Chantelle thought.

“Of course. My apologies, Inquisitor Blackthorn.” Chantelle cast a glance back at her friends, and sure enough their looks told her she should be more respectful—a nice way of saying she should shut up. She needed to be, for in her group of friends, she was the wise and respected speaker, while they were the troublemakers.

“Chantelle Carstairs, where were you when this happened to Ares Herondale?”

“In the Institute’s library.”

“And did you feel the ‘cord’ that bonded you to your parabatai ‘snapped off’?”

“No. It just ached—a lot, much worse.”

The Inquisitor narrowed her eyes. “They say weird things happen to you if your parabatai committed suicide.”

Well, this certainly wasn’t working in favor of Chantelle, so she decided to speak herself. “But there was a weird voice in my mind, and… my parabatai rune casted something. It was Ares Herondale.” She didn’t expect people to react very well with this, she expected confusion and commotion, but instead they laughed. They laughed at Chantelle.

“It’s true!” Protested Zachary as he stood up and walked to where Chantelle stood, annoyed his friend was being made a laughing-stock.

“Zachary Blackthorn.” Acknowledged the Inquisitor, and people started to whisper. Zachary always had good hearing, so he heard all they said.

He’s the Inquisitor’s son.

Do you think she’ll have mercy on him?

Gossip was common, especially in politics these days. He ignored it and raised his chin defiantly. “Yes, Inquisitor Blackthorn.” And the two Blackthorns stared at each other defiantly.

“Zachariah Blackthorn, you will wait for your turn.” If possible, she was fiercer with Zachary, and scarier. “So, you’re saying Ares visited you?” The question was directed at Chantelle.

“Yes, Inquisitor.”

“And how did he look like?”

“He looked like… a ghost. Except he wasn’t. He was pale and you could pass through him easily, but after that we figured a way to actually touch him.”

“All the witnesses of this, leave the room.”

“What? Why?” Laressa stood.

“So I can confirm you all have the same testimonies. Perhaps you all discussed this beforehand, but such measures are needed. Is there a problem? Because if there is, all your testimonies need not be counted.”

Laressa, Andre and Zachary looked at each other. The Younghunters could tell a lot from each other’s expressions, and they came to a conclusion to leave by exchanging looks. A Shadowhunter led them out of the building. The Inquisitor turned back to Chantelle. “And did he tell you anything?” She prompted, and Chantelle described everything. After, the Inquisitor looked disbelieving but still open to the idea, however reluctant. This was the job of Inquisitors.

“Chantelle, how do I put this nicely? This could be what you assumed, since you could be… deranged.” Ouch. That wasn’t put nicely at all.

“What? Are you sending me to a mental institute? I’m not! And Consul Whitelaw, with all due respect, I strongly suspect he is lying.”

“I will consider this. You may leave now, Chantelle Carstairs, and Laressa Lightwood shall be summoned in for her testimony.”

***

The Younghunters met on the way back to Los Angeles. And they met Marissa. Marissa knew they wanted the final verdict.

“Unfortunately, because of the Mortal Sword, the Council took the vote and it was in the Consul’s favor. You all will be sent… for mental check-ups.”

Andre laughed harshly at this as Zachary cursed the Council.

“So they believe the dear Consul and not us?” Chantelle said dryly.

“They think your statement is ‘ludicrous’, ‘foolish and unproven words from young children.’ They will probably take your statement more seriously if you pass the test and pass your Shadow Trials.”

“You believe us, right?” Laressa asked.

“Of course. You lot are the people I’ve grown up with.”

“Was the vote close?”

“Not exactly, but at least some voted in your favor, as their loyalty to you.” This of course, set off a round of groaning, but Chantelle was indifferent.

“Okay, so here’s the plan.” Chantelle says.

Zachary looked at her. “That’s fast.”

“Warlock magic could possibly make the Consul lie with the Mortal Sword. We are going to enlist Magnus Bane’s help. If we gather enough evidence, I will make my statement with Marissa and Pablo after I pass my Shadow Trials.” She didn’t bother to say she might not pass, she knew leaders with plans had to be confident. “If that fails, I have to violently wrestle for power and be Consul by the 27th day. By then, we have to set out to save Ares from Hell, however we’re going to do that.”

Andre’s eyes suddenly sparkled with an idea. “I hear Magnus Bane has a party tomorrow. All of high-class Los Angeles Downworld will be there. Let’s go and spy to see if anyone knows about this, and enlist his help.”

Laressa’s eyes lit up at the word ‘party’, but Marissa looked doubtful. “Well, best to give it a shot anyway.”

“Great. We set off tomorrow.”