When Trouble Strikes

[Zaryn]

She felt some relief when he opened the door, only to be assaulted by uncertainty. She may as well stick to the facts. "Glad you're awake. I got tapped for patrol on The Royal Mile tonight since the other one is a bit too...disturbed by what happened. They wanted me to take someone...I thought I'd ask you." She looked around down the hall, no one in sight. He didn't need to be worried about her, but it was nice all the same. Being in full gear, she thought it may be obvious why she was there, but she guessed not.


The chains around her waist clinked together as she shifted, her arms crossing over her chest. "It's alright if you don't want to go. I'm not too worried about going on my own. I just thought I might as well make the effort since it was asked of me." She held up a hand. "It's alright if you don't want to go though, don't feel pressured or anything. Zedanya shifted a bit of loose hair behind her ear. God why was she bad with talking to people?

 

[nvsc123]

She wanted to go with Hector? But why? The two had met only a few hours ago. Surely she had closer friends. Well, maybe he had some, bur he had to remind himself not everyone was living his life. He felt guilty for a second. But then he was surprised again. Why him? Why was he going now when he had just given hope? He sighed. "Fine. Are you leaving now?"


If they were, he needed to get dressed in a more suitable way. He'd have to get his gear and weapons. And then what else? Maybe he shouldn't really think about this much. He was stressing himself out. And really, he had to also be mentally prepared for this. If he wasn't, then he'd mess everything up.

 

[Zaryn]

The girl looked at her watch and nodded. "If you're coming, as soon as you're ready. There's no one else right now..." Not that she knew of course. Zedanya didn't have friends and he was the only person she thought she could even ask. Then again, she started having second thoughts. Why should he come? It's not like he knew her. He'd been friendly once, it didn't mean that he was always like that. She took a step back from the door, trying to hide the uncertainty from her face.


"If you do want to come, meet me downstairs in front of the Institute in 10. Basic gear, nothing too outlandish." With that, she turned away and began heading down the stairs, not looking back behind her as she walked.

 

[nvsc123]

There was no time to waste. So after Zedanya walked away, Hector closed the door and went to get his gear. There was a bit of dust on a few of his items from the lack of use. Was there something wrong with him? Was that why he wasn't asked to go on missions? Was he too happy around people? Did he not appear serious? Well, if they knew him well, he wasn't all that happy. He was too self-conscious sometimes. He might smile, but on the inside, he's dead. His parents weren't even proud of him. Maybe they'd get happy that he's polite and kind, but they're never happy with his progress. He closed his eyes for a second before he went to change.


He found himself ready after a bit. After putting his last weapon hidden in his boots, he went downstairs to meet Zedanya. She looked so prepared and confident. He wished he could feel like that. Well, he cold pretend to be. After all, he was an excellent liar when it came to pretending to be alright. "I'm here!" he said.

 

[Zaryn]

Zedanya stared up into the sky, hands in her pockets. It was a cool night, it had rained earlier in the day, but soon after had turned to clear skies. The stars were bright and the moon was hiding behind the Castle off the Mile. She hoped when they passed it she would be able to get a glimpse of it. The moon was her favorite to see. There was no need for her to look at her watch; she'd been counting the seconds since she got down here to keep herself from thinking to hard on social things. She much preferred to hide on her own and get things done. Five minutes later, she wondered if he was going to come at all, but then heard footstep behind her. Zedanya turned and gave him a light wave. "Hey. Thanks for coming. I wasn't sure if you would, it being so last minute." She'd wanted to give him a choice where she had none.


With that she began walking to the front gate, wanting to get out and onto the roads as quickly as possible. They'd just have to do the rounds, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary before they could come back. Their part of Edinburgh wasn't the hotbed of hellish nonsense that others cities had. It was a bit surprising, but she supposed it was the way of the Scots. After all, they got over the in-fighting eventually. There were just little barbs thrown around by clans, nothing serious nowadays.

 

[nvsc123]

He smiled at her. She was so worried he wouldn't show up. That was a first to him, but that didn't mean he didn't like it. He liked feeling needed for once. But what truly felt amazing was stepping out of the institute for once for reasons other than visiting his family. It was truly nice to step out into the world like this. Sure, there were so many reasons to be wary and scared, but he felt fine. His insecure nature was left behind right as he headed to the gates. Maybe not completely left behind, but most of it was.


"So, what to do first?" Honestly, he had no idea what he was doing at the moment. All he knew was that he was accompanying her. He just wanted to know what was going on.

 

[Zaryn]

"We're just going to make the rounds. We basically just go to each end of the Mile. It's normally quiet since it's such a populated area, but sometimes St.Giles Cathedral gets some activity, moreso in the older parts. It's not been as active since they did the upgrades and repairs. We may as well check up on Mary King's Close while we're at it. Though.." She gave a slight shudder, more acting of amusement than real fear. "That place is creepy enough in the daytime. Have you ever been on one of those tours? Jeez. Mundanes are weird on what they fixate on."


Making thier way through the gates, she led them down a few streets before crossing the bridge to get over to the Royal Mile itself. As expected around this time of night, people were congregating around the bars and there were a few ghost tours about. Zedanya pointed them out. "We shouldn't get too close to them, but keep an eye out. Sometimes the ghosts of the area like to give them a scare. It's frowned upon, but there's not much we can really do, y'know?"

 

[nvsc123]

Hector laughed at Zedanya's first comment about the place. But he didn't reply to her question, which wasn't really meant to be answered. Even if it was, he wasn't going to say anything. He already felt sorry for himself. He just wanted to feel confident for once. So he just nodded at what she said. Listening to her wasn't all that hard. She spoke in a way that got him hooked at what she said. With others, he'd zone out. He's not a very focused person unless he wants to be one.


"So you've done this before?" he asked. She seemed to have a few experience in this. Or at least knowledge. Or maybe she just went here once for other reasons. Either way, she knew what she was doing. He like that about her, too. He was a fairly organized person, but he wasn't so organized. But Zedanya seemed smart. He hoped that was the case, anyway.

 

[Zaryn]

Zedanya nodded her head once. "Yes, once you're here long enough they drag you into patrolling. I normally do this route unless something else is going on. Sometimes we mix it up, but to be honest, I like things the way they are. Besides, smaller crowds are much easier for me to deal with" She scratched the back of her head with a gloved hand. It was true, she enjoyed routine. She knew what to expect and learned just how to stay out of everyone elses' way. She didn't want to be a pest, no matter how many times others assured her she wasn't. She felt the safest alone; knowing your own mind is one thing, the unknown of another persons' head was terrifying.


They turned onto the mile itself. "Let's go left first, then back right to St.Giles. We should miss the tours stop at the hangman point then." Zedanya had grown up in Edinburgh, yet due to her parents being from America she was used to their accents, causing her own to be a strangely bastardized version of both. They had been visiting family here when the attack happened. The woman shook off her train of thought and forced a smile onto her face. It was time to work, no need to think of those things. Her eyes began scanning the smaller crowds as they walked, a few people nodding to her as they made eye contact.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector nodded at what she said. This seemed simple enough. Well, it should stay simple unless some big trouble strikes up. Those were the worst to happen. They're not expected, and solving the problem isn't always so easy. He just hoped that no such thing would happen. But wishing for that would be a bit too hopeful. Being shadowhunters means always finding trouble.


This was why he was always aware of his surroundings. Even in the institute, his weapons were always ready and his eyes would pick up every details they could. When trouble strikes, he wants to always be ready. And he had a feeling that trouble will strike.

 

[Zaryn]

As the two walked through the slowly darkening streets, she could feel a slight shiver go through her, leaving a weight behind. She frowned and whispered to the other, calmly so as not to draw any attention to themselves. "Hey. It could be nothing, but I feel like we're being watched." Normally the most she'd see was a few fae or a solitary vampire wandering around at night. They weren't breaking any rules as this was a neutral zone, so she never had to talk to them; but this felt different.


Her eyes wandered about the area, no one seemed to have noticed them from the bar crowds outside, nothing too big or blatantly obvious. "You see anything Hector?" She asked quietly, forcing her shoulders to relax, shoving her hands in her pockets as if it were cold.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector looked around subtly. He didn't know what he saw, but he did feel something dangerous. And maybe there were being watched as Zedanya said. Still, he had a bad feeling about this. But he guessed this was why they were here. To deal with trouble. They were trained fo be strong and ... kind of fearless.


He shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Though everything seems creepy tonight. Is it always like this?" he asked with an equally quiet tone, though he looked concerned when he turned to see her.

 

[Zaryn]

She shook her head. "No, it's not." Zedanya let out a sigh and nudged his shoulder, noting him to turn around. "Maybe it's all in our head. After what happened today, I think everything is a little off, y'know?" She looked at the other and tried to give him a small smile, but her heart just wasn't in it. When they began heading back up to the other side of Mile, the feeling of being watched seemed to grow. It seemed that the closer they got to St.Giles, the heavier she felt. Eventually it wasn't just a feeling, it was physical. She looked around at some of the bars to see people falling asleep at the tables. Her eyes widened and she looked to Hector. "Please tell me you feel that too." Her voice was pleading, she'd never felt anything like this before. It was like a Miasma.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector felt for his weapon until he found the hilt of his blade. He nodded. "I feel that, too," he whispered out. At that moment, he realized, yes, they were being followed. She was right. He should've believed her. But he was thankful he actually felt this. He stayed close to her, his eyes wary as he looked around once again.


But then he looked at Zedanya. She seemed so nervous. He was nervous, too. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't. But her, she seemed extra nervous. "It's alright," he told her. Maybe it wasn't completely alright, but he was confident in her and himself. They can defend themselves if a threat was out there, which he didn't doubt. "We can do this. We can fight. Whatever is out there, we can deal with it."

 

[Zaryn]

"Come on. It feels like it's coming from the cathedral. It's putting the mundanes to sleep, be careful. Pinch yourself, do whatever you need to. We have to stay awake." She warned him, uncomfortable with the onset weariness her body was feeling. Whatever this was, it felt too strong for the run of the mill downworlder. It had to be a stronger practitioner to affect s many people.


His words caught her by surprise, her eyes flicking over to him. Zedanya gave him a grin and a nod. "You're right. Let's do this." She wanted nothing more than to get back to the relative safety of the Institute, but knew there was work to be done. Two shadowhunters versus the unknown. What could possibly go wrong? The woman was grateful the full moon had been a few days back. It meant that it probably wasn't the work of any shifters or weres. That was a small blessing in itself. Too many teeth.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector nodded, shaking his head as a start. He didn't want to sleep during his job. That thought made him laugh. Didn't mundanes do this a lot? Sleep during their jobs? And maybe he shouldn't laugh. It would take energy from him. The less the energy, the more likely he'll sleep. "Sorry," he said, meaning by that the laugh.


Right now, they needed to know who did this. How? Why? But maybe it would be easier to find the person behind this before anything else. It would spare them a lot. "What should we do now?" he asked. She was the one that knew all about this place. She was the one that should lead.

 

[Zaryn]

Zedanya looked at him worriedly when he laughed. Just what was going through that ones head? "We need to see where it's the thickest. Unfortunately that means heading over to St.Giles. That place is weird enough in the day time. I hate going in at night." The huge cathedral was in sight in most of Edinburgh, but it's hulking towers and glimmering stained glass stood tall above them. That was her first thought at the very least. As they walked the miasma got stronger, almost too strong for Zedanya to walk through. She could feel her muscles arguing against her, calling her to sleep. "Be....careful." She yawned out, quickly biting down on her lip to keep awake.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector blinked and shook his head. He should try something better, so he pinched himself, which made him open his eyes a bit wider. He looked at Zedanya just to check on her. She seemed right about to sleep. For the sake of this mission, or patrol, he held her by her shoulder and kept her standing up. "Come on. We can do it." He did this even with this struggle to stay awake.


He didn't want to fail at the first thing he was ever sent out to do. Actually, he wasn't sent here. She was. He was just a partner she chose. They wouldn't care if he failed or now. But they'd care for her. So he had to do it for Zedanya. He had to move forward. Just when his legs were about to give in, he found himself standing a bit straighter, more determined to do this than ever. His legs were no longer wobbly. Maybe his eyes were droopy but determination kept him standing.

 

[Zaryn]

His hand on her brought a bit of the real world back to her, her eyes widening in a bit more alertness. They kept walking right until they got to the doors of the cathedral. Zedanya had led them to a side entrance not normally known of. Now that everyone was asleep, she didn't assume the mundanes would see them. They walked up the steps to the door. It was a slow process, but they were getting through it. "Ready or not." She muttered under her breath. The moment her hand touched the door, the miasma was gone.


Of course Zedanya had been straining so much that the minute the pressure was gone she basically was launched forward by her own momentum, slamming into the door. "Jesu-ow." She cracked her jaw, rubbing it as she looked at the other to see how he'd been affected. "All right?"

 

[nvsc123]

Hector was thankful that he didn't feel like sleeping anymore, but seeing Zedanya slam through the door made him open his mouth and blink. He was trying to understand what was happening and he froze, astonished, but then he approached her. He just wanted to check if she was alright. As long as she didn't hurt her nose and break any bone in her face, he was going to feel better.


"Are you asking if I'm alright?" He laughed. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He had to move his head a bit to see her face from different angles. He would've also touched her face and examined it, but he didn't know if she liked people touching her or not. He didn't want her to be uncomfortable around him.

 

[Zaryn]

Her face was flushing from embarrassment the more he examined her. Eventually she waved her hand and shook her head. "I'm fine. Just didn't realize how hard I was having to work to move forward before." She said quietly as she shook her body out, ignoring the pain in her jaw. Nothing broken, just sore. She'd have to watch it over the next few days, but otherwise she wasn't worried.


The door now open, she looked around the room. No one was in it, but clearly their presence had been noticed. "Let's take a look around." She whispered to him, her hands moving toward the chains around her waist. Zedanya didn't head anything in the hall ahead, so she carefully opened the door and took a look out.

 

[nvsc123]

Hector just smiled at the other girl but shrugged everything off. He really needed to focus. With just as much care, Hector looked around and asked quietly, "Now what do we do?"


(Sorry. I have not much to add.)

 

[Zaryn]

She sighed, this really was his first time out. "Well, we're going to go through the cathedral. You see anything strange, let me know. If we don't see anything, we go home and report what happened. But the fact that the miasma disappated the minute we got here is a good sign that something is actually going on." Zedanya led their way down the hall and out toward the main room. She popped open the door quietly and looked through the slit. Hearing and seeing nothing, she opened the door fully and took a step inside.


It was a grand room, clearly where they had Mass and other religious meetings. There were rows upon rows of pews, all leading up to a massive alter with several crosses and a decorative podium. Zedanya motioned for him to follow her, slowly making their way down the aisle toward the front of the room. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but she still stuck to what they had just come from.