Chapter Song - All American Nightmare

Maryse had to watch her friend’s daughter grow up without a mother, learning the ways of the Shadowhunters through her own daughter and son. Echo looked just like her mother. Every move, every smile, Echo had it all. Her sea green eyes reflected her father though, through and through.

Maryse sighed, rubbing her forehead as she watched yet another spar between Echo and Isabelle. Echo would easily bend Isabelle’s arm behind her back and flip her over her shoulder, only to be yanked down by Isabelle and shoved to the side.

There was a certain beauty in seeing Melanie again in her daughter, but sometimes all it brought back was pain.

I’m sorry, sweetie. Maryse thought, walking slowly away from the window.

---

The Institute is a massive building of stone and glass, displaying its beauty to generations of shadowhunters and more to come. With its tall columns of marble and massive stairways, training rooms, and every type of weapon stored away, you'd think I would be right at home.

You're right.

I stalked the halls, loosening my belt so it slung lower on my hips. Wiping the blood off of my cheek, I rounded a corner to face the glassway. A two hundred foot stretch of pure windows on one side, it gave a great opportunity for a view of the sun, which at the moment was setting. It sent a warm glow over everything, and yet, there were still shadows in the deepest corners.

One of them moved.

I reacted instantly, my fingers grabbing a dagger and spinning on my heel to face the thing behind me. I relaxed, recognizing the slender figure walking towards me.

“Where have you been all day?” Isabelle asked, her tanktop strap sliding off her shoulder as she rested her hand on her hip.

“Shopping.” I spat blood on the floor.

Isabelle sniffed. “With mundanes, I suppose.”

“What is it with you and mundanes?” I threw an arm over her shoulder and started walking, dragging her along slowly.

She gave a faint smile and fluffed her perfectly straight hair. “They don’t deserve my slightest thought. Let’s move on, shall we?”

“Okay then.” My mouth flattened out as I chewed on my bottom lip.

“So, what really happened today, Addie?” Isabelle adjusted her spaghetti strap and glanced my direction.

“It’s Adler, sugar. And it was a Shax demon this time.” A loud explosion caught my attention and I spun towards it, noticing smoke pouring out from underneath the kitchen door. “Isabelle!”
She shook my arm off and ran towards the door, pointing a finger in my direction. “You saw nothing.”

I put my hands up, stepping backwards. “I saw nothing.” Shaking my head, I managed to tug my hair out of its braid and shake the mess of black curls free. A golden haired boy rounded the corner and stopped, noticing the smoke and me watching with my arms crossed.

He looked back and forth between me and the door, a smile slowly spreading its way across his face. “Did she-?”

I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. “I saw nothing. Sorry Jace.”

“That’s too bad.” He drawled, coming to stand behind me. “She couldn’t even cook for the rats in the alley.”

Isabelle kicked the kitchen door open and tossed a burnt potholder at Jace. “I heard that, you bastard!” I ducked, and the blackened cloth smacked him in the chest.

Another boy came running down the hall, his blue eyes wide. “I heard a - oh...” He stopped. “Izzy, what have you done?” He stared at her with barely controlled frustration.

This's my home, alright. I thought.

Notes