After lunch, Ethel began walking around the Institute, when she bumped into a certain werewolf; Luke. At first, she was happy to see a kind face, but then her mind reminded the half-Seelie girl of her conversation with Aldertree. So, now, she was hesitant. Was she supposed to trust the werewolf, or the Head of the Institute more? Honestly, she felt like maybe neither would be her first choice. "Hey... Detective Garroway. I didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah. I just came from a crime scene- a demon attack."
"With one dead human. I heard." That's what Alec, and a few others had left earlier to deal with. Although she wanted to be part of the investigation, Ethel understood that she just wasn't quite ready for it. "I didn't know you'd be working it. Anything you can tell me about it? Apparently, I am not allowed on missions just yet."
He chuckled and nodded. "That's probably for the best. Ummm... Basically there's a demon possessing people, and killings others... By creating a hole in their chest." Luke grimaced at her face expression, and tried to reassure her. "You'll get used to this level of crazy, I promise."
"And how can you tell if someone is possessed?"
"Well, its not always the same, but a common reaction is black eyes, and a distorted voice. Also greater strength, and other non-human abilities that are presented on the host."
Ethel furrowed her eyebrows, thinking about what she had just heard, and taking in the information. "Okay."
"You seem to be adjusting well here. How are you doing?" Luke questioned, as he scanned her face for any negative emotions, or a clue to what she was thinking. And he was coming out short.
Biting her, Ethel wondered it now it would be the right time to confront him about what she had learned. Granted, the information came from Aldertree, whom she had learnt to view in a bad light. Still, that didn't quite mean Luke was to be trusted either. "I still wonder if I'm going to wake up, and find that all of this was a dream. Or nightmare, really. But I had been feeling this way since before Amanda."
"It started when your mother died a few weeks back, didn't it?" He would be quick to receive a nod in response. With a small sigh, he tried to offer some help. "Look, if you ever need to talk, you can call me. I'll come to you, or we meet up somewhere. Alright?"
She could not quite ignore his kindness. Ever since she met him, Luke had seemed genuine, in away that Aldertree never did. In fact, there was just something about the detective that made her feel safe. Yet, there was a matter of his past. So, instead of thanking him for his offer, she went on to finally get some answers. "Can I ask you something?"
He blinked at the sudden change in her tone, but agreed. "Yeah, sure. Ask away."
Taking in a breath, she quickly vomited all her concerns about the werewolf in front of her. "Is it true that you used to be a Shadowhunter? That you were part of the Circle? And Valentine's paraba- parabi-?"
"Parabatai." He quickly interrupted with pursed lips. Well, he could not avoid this conversation now. "That was three questions."
"Right." The sort mumble was nearly imperceptible to the human ear, even worse so due to the large amount of Shadowhunters chatting around them. However, the werewolf heard her.
Rubbing his chin, Luke pondered over how to explain his life choices to her. If she had already heard rumours, or other people's opinion on him, he'd have to set the record straight. Otherwise, Ethel's own opinion on him would be solidified under a bad impression. "I was a born Shadowhunter. When I was young, Valentine and I became parabatais. This was before the Circle. He founded it, although, at first, it wasn't like it is now. All we wanted was to convince the Clave into making more Shadowhunters, due to our debilitating numbers. Then, it turned into a distaste, or hatred towards the Downworld. I still stayed, yes. But, when Jocelyn and I noticed he was going too far, we planned on betraying him."
"He found out?"
"No. His reasons to hate me were- different." He admitted as he thought of Jocelyn. His best friend. The woman he loved. The actual reason he had come to the Institute today. "He thought I was trying to take Jocelyn from him. So, he got me into a trap, where I was ambushed by werewolves. That's when I got scratched, and infected. I turned."
"Just so we're clear," She began, now knowing more to the story. "You wanted to leave the Circle before you turned into a werewolf?"
"Yes. But that doesn't excuse that I was, in fact, a member then." Luke then continued, his head hanging in shame. "I can't change the past. But, I assure you, I no longer think the way he does."
However, there was a lingering doubt still, that Ethel needed to resolve. But, his response wouldn't completely change things. She would remain sceptical despite what he answered. It would still help though. "Even if you were a Shadowhunter, rather than a werewolf?"
He nodded at her in full confidence. "Even then. But, you're right ask. Everyone you'll meet will be complicated. And you have to be careful who to trust in the Clave- and the rest of the Shadow World."
"Don't worry, I've got that part covered." That earned her a chuckle. "Thanks for telling me. Assuming you've spoken the truth."
"Right. I can lie, unlike you." And there there was, yet another comment related to her inability to lie. It greatly confused her why people kept on saying things like that. Was the Soul Sword meant to leave lingering effects on her? She didn't know. All the while, Luke himself wasn't aware of the turmoil going through her head. "And I don't expect you to trust me right away. I have to earn your trust."
Trying to not think of the worst, regarding the Soul Sword, Ethel speedily changed the subject. "So, did you come here to deliver information to the Clave about the demon attack, or was it something else?" That made Luke turn away for a moment, with red cheeks, which she was quick to spot. "Did you come for Mrs Fairchild?"
"She's a friend. I just wanted to check up on her." But that only earned him raised eyebrows and a teasing grin. "Oh, shut it."
Placing a hand over her heart, Ethel mocked in defence. "Me? I didn't even say anything."
"You don't need to."
"And neither do you." She stated, before pointing at his face. "It's written all over your face. You're a love-sick puppy. Puppy werewolf? How does that work."
He softly slapped her hand away and shook his head. "Well, if you don't need anything else-"
"I'll let you guys have a not so friendly meeting. Just promise you'll use protection." She teased as she was walking away with a smirk.
He tried to speak against her claims, but was too flustered to do so towards the young woman leaving his line of sight. "That's not- wha- I- Ethel!"
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Unfortunately for the half-Seelie turned newbie Shadowhunter, she would not be able to keep her smile too long. As she was walking in the halls again, she crashed against a gurney. When her eyes went to its contents, they widened like plates, while her face turned as white as a ghost. Quite possibly, she was paler than the mundane corpse before her. "Well, shit."
"Oh, hey, Ethel." Isabelle spoke from the other side of the gurney, as she was pushing it towards her destination. "Want to help me take the mundane to the lab?"
Shallowing, she nodded silently. What else was she supposed to say? Honestly, she had not seen too many dead people in her life- not until the cargo ship, anyway. "Ummm... Is this the guy that got killed by that demon?" His chest, just as described by Luke, had a large cavity. It had to be an instant death. No one could survive having their heart obliterated like that. "Is this normal for demon attacks?"
"Its him, yes. And no. The hole in the chest is a new one for me." She admitted with a shrug. "I feel for him, though. He had no chance against that demon."
"As it been found?" Ethel continued to ask, still pushing the gurney alongside the Lightwood.
Despite the hope on the newbie's eyes, Isabelle shook her head. "Not yet. Alec, Clary, and a few others are on it though. Hopefully, a forensics analysis will help us learn more before any other mundanes die."
"That makes sense," As with other human murder investigations, demon ones took a while. That's what she took out of Isabelle's response. And it, in fact, seemed reasonable. However, she had expected that with the existence of magic, they could expedite that process. "Who's going to cut into him."
To her surprise, the Lightwood replied quickly, without hesitation. "I am."
Before Ethel could comment on that, Lydia showed up by their side. "You're here, good. Take him down to the morgue. And call as soon as you identify what kind of demon we're looking for. Until Victor comes back from the trial, I'm running point on this one."
They got into the elevator, the two of them, plus the corpse on the gurney. After receiving a silent signal from Isabelle, Ethel would push the right button. However, before the blonde woman could leave, Isabelle stopped her from walking away. The elevator was now on pause, as they got into a new topic. "Lydia... Have you heard anything about Jace?
"I know you're worried, but I'm still waiting, just like you."
"Except I'm the one who put him there." She protested, still feeling guilty over it. "If I didn't make that deal with Aldertree–"
"Jace would've been torn apart by wolves, and Alec would be dead. You did what you had to do."
"She's right." Ethel replied after Lydia, catching both of their attention. "I may be knew at this, but I know common sense. You were in a tough position, and you still managed to save them both. Besides, the Soul-Sword will reveal the truth, right?"
Her rhetorical question would not be acknowledged, as Raj walked by. He commented on the dead with raised eyebrows. "Wow, that guy's heart is obliterated. And I thought I was having a rough weekend."
Shaking her head at him, Ethel couldn't help but spit out in anger. "Show some respect for the dead. He was still a person, with a family, and a soul."
"I'm just saying, I've been in his shoes before." He hadn't, not really. "Except my demon's name was Kathy."
"You know, you might wanna cut back on the smartass after getting manhandled by a warlock." Lydia retorted, too disliking the Shadowhunter. Then, she turned to Izzy for one last thing, before finally leaving. "Let me know if you find anything."
Once she was out of sight, Raj rolled his eyes. "Wow, who died and made her queen?"
"You keep shooting your mouth off, you're gonna end up like that corpse." Isabelle threatened before letting the elevator close.
As they moved to the lower levels, Ethel could swear she saw something unusual from the corner of her eye. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"Nothing." She muttered, trying to ignore the black smoke she thought she saw going into a pipe. Ethel could swear she had seen it, but maybe it was her paranoia. After all, she had yet to meet a real demon, and she was stuck in an elevator with a dead guy. With someone who had been killed by something she originally believed to be a myth.