Echo let out a gasp when she realized that she was no longer in the place where she fell asleep. She pushed herself up in her bed to find herself in her room at the Institute with a guest sitting in the chair across the room. The blond in the chair slowly turned his head from the stained glass window to Echo. Echo's black mane of hair was in wild curls and her eyes shone with a fiery glow.
Echo looked at the blond, "I'm not dreaming am I?"
Sebastian gently shook his head, "No you're not, dear sister."
Echo heard the slight warning in his voice and could see how daunting he could really be. Echo swallowed, "How did I get here?"
Sebastian slowly stood from the chair, "Jace. He took the tracker out, by the way."
Echo immediately put her fingers against her neck and could no longer feel the slight bump on her neck. "What happened last night?"
Sebastian came up to the foot of her bed, "What do you remember?"
"We talked before I fell asleep at your apartment."
"You passed out." Sebastian corrected her, "You had an episode after we talked and you passed out. I called Jace and he brought you here."
"What kind of episode?" Echo spoke the question with hesitation.
Sebastian shifted his weight from one foot to the other as if trying to avoid answering the question, "I watched you shift."
Echo's eyes went slightly wide, "Did I hurt you?" Her words were rushed.
Sebastian shook his head, "Nothing an Iratze can't fix."
Echo was disappointed by the answer and her actions but figured she shouldn't dwell on it.
She let out a breath and ran her hands across her face before she pushed the blankets off of her. She stood up, noticing she was in the clothes she wore the night before and walked up to Sebastian. Both siblings looked into each other's eyes before Echo pushed herself into Sebastian's chest again.
"I'm not going to let them find out." Echo pulled from the hug, "Ever."
Sebastian held his breath, "I thought you would have reacted differently."
Echo pulled away, "What?"
"I didn't know how you would have reacted to the information."
Echo let out a breath and shook her head, "I won't turn you in. I promised that last night. I've been looking for you since I remembered I even had a twin. But when I heard you were alive? I was so hopeful that I would find you. The moment I knew it was you, I couldn't believe it."
There was a moment of silence before Echo had a question in her mind, "Are you like me? Do you have...abilities?"
Sebastian gently shook his head, "No. I don't know how you got your abilities. But it certainly wasn't from birth."
The word stroke a memory from Echo. She remembered how she had seen Jocelyn when she was a new mother, looking down at her twin children.
"Jocelyn, she...I'm sorry she left you in Idris."
Echo noticed that she had hit a soft spot in Sebastian. His eyes let out a painful flash and Echo bit her lip. There were no more words exchanged amongst them. Sebastian let out a small smile before he pulled Echo's head into his shoulder as he kissed her forehead. Echo embraced the moment between them before Sebastian slid out of her room. Echo watched the door close behind him and couldn't help but feel how Sebastian shifted from being her brother to putting on a mask. The bond that Echo could feel between them was clear and strong.
"Echo?" There was a slight knock on her door as she heard Alec's voice.
Echo moved into action to get on some new clothes, "Yeah?"
The door slowly opened and Alec poked his head in, "Hey."
"Hey." Echo could feel the awkwardness between them and she hated it, "Don't be awkward, okay? The more distant you are, the worse it is."
Alec leaned against the doorframe, "Right. I'm sorry. I have just been so focused on the attacks. I was going to come talk to you last night, but Sebastian said you fell asleep at his place."
Echo pulled out a set of clothing, "Yeah. Herondale kicked me out so I slept there."
Alec dropped his head, "I'm sorry about that."
Echo shook her head, "It's fine."
Alec noticed that Echo didn't emit her anger and he finally felt that he could have a conversation with her. The Shadowhunter glanced behind him before he fully stepped into Echo's room and shut the door.
Echo slowed her movement at the odd action.
"So, I wanted to talk about the other night." When we woke up in bed.
Echo shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it." Echo's words weren't sharp as usual, but low. She ducked behind her dressing canvas as Alec spoke.
"I know you don't, but we need to. I haven't regained my memory, but maybe you have?"
Echo had redressed in black pants and a maroon top and threw her other clothes onto her dresser as she stepped out.
"No, I haven't."
Alec kept his voice soft, "I know that it is hard for you to talk about but—"
Echo shook her head, "Alec," Her voice was a breath, "When you left that morning," Echo shifted her words, "Before that night, I had never been with anyone."
Alec noticed her words, "Echo, I don't think—"
"We did. We may not remember it, but some actions leave scars."
Alec's eyes went wide at the word, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Echo shook her head, "No, you didn't. I promise."
"Then what is it?"
Echo licked her lips, "I just...I haven't felt right since I woke up that morning. Something feels off."
Alec was confused, "How?"
"I don't know. I feel sick."
There was a moment of silence before Echo pulled in a breath and looked up at Alec, "Don't you have a speech to announce? You should probably go gather everybody." Echo reached behind Alec and pulled the door open, "I'll be out in a few, okay?" Echo's voice hadn't shifted any higher than a sad tone. The shift in mood gave Echo whiplash.
Alec let out a sigh but nodded, "Okay." Alec slowly left Echo's room.
When Echo was alone, she let out a sigh. She placed her head in her hands for a moment before she finally pulled on some shoes and walked to the center of the Institute where she saw Alec up on the steps and Sebastian close to the back of the group.
Echo came up beside Sebastian and the two gave only a single glance at each other before they put their focus on Alec. The man in charge waited for another few moments until he knew everybody stood before him.
"We've lost seven of our own, but we can't allow a single, radical Seelie to define the entire Downworld, any more than we can allow Valentine to define all Shadowhunters. So, to restore unity with our allies, I will be hosting regular Cabinet meetings here with the Downworld leaders of New York."
There was a slight mummer around Echo, but it was a lot busier than meets the eye. Echo's attention locked on a couple in front of her. She tilted her head and listened to their side conversation.
"I'm all for unity. But does he have to bring them here?" A girl with dark hair and glasses leaned towards a guy with equally dark hair.
"What do you expect? He's married to a Demon and dating a Warlock."
The girl scoffed, "Still can't believe Alec Lightwood is in charge."
"Just wait. In a week it'll be someone else."
Echo grit her teeth and took a step towards the Shadowhunters. She put herself between them and Isabelle with a wicked smile on her face.
"That Demon that you are talking about is me. Care to say anything else to my face?"
The duo gave off an awkward emotion and Echo let her expression dropped into haunting emotionless, "Show some respect." Echo spit out her words to the Shadowhunters and they were quick to turn their attention back to Alec.
"Please, let's make the Downworlders feel welcome." Alec finished his speech as Echo took a step back with her arms across her chest. She still had anger radiating from her body as the Shadowhunter's dispersed. Echo and Sebastian gave each other a glance before they split ways. Echo let out a breath and walked up to Alec as he paused in front of Jace and Clary.
"Look at you. In charge for a week, you're already shaking things up." Echo could feel Alec's nervousness. "I think this Cabinet thing is a good idea."
"Yeah, I'm not sure everyone agrees." Alec gave a quick smile to Echo and Isabelle as they walked up.
"All the more reason to do it. How can I help?" Echo furrowed her brows at her sister's enthusiasm.
"Actually, I need you, Jace and Echo for a mission. You're going to the Seelie Court."
Almost immediately Echo could feel the anticipation of the mission details.
Clary let out a confused breath; "Where is that?"
"The nearest entrance is in Central Park." Everybody looked to Isabelle, "But it's in another realm. Where the Seelie Queen lives."
Echo's back straightened slightly at the sound of another realm. It sounded intriguing.
"I requested an audience with her to discuss Kaelie's crimes. But she said she'll only meet with Valentine's experiments."
Echo let out an audible huff and shook her head, "No."
Clary shook her head as well, "Charming nickname."
Alec looked at Echo, "Please." I know you are worried about other things, but I need you.
Again Echo shook her head, "No."
Ec.
"So, you think the Seelie Queen is responsible for Kaelie's attacks?" Clary interrupted the couple's telepathic communication.
Alec broke his gaze with Echo, "That's what I want you to find out."
"It would make sense." Jace finally spoke, "Those murders weren't exactly Kaelie's style."
"How did you know Kaelie?"
Echo let out a scoff at Clary's question and Jace was quick to give her a glare.
"Book club."
Clary didn't believe it, "You read?"
Echo could feel Jace's embarrassment, "Yeah. Why does everybody find that so hard to believe?"
Echo let out a soft smirk before Alec spoke, "Look. Focus. We need to find out if she's complicit. An entire faction could be turning against us."
"That shouldn't be too hard, right?" Echo was beginning to get annoyed with Clary's voice. "Seelies can't lie."
Jace let out a breath, "Technically yes, but after hundreds of years of practice, they can expertly manipulate the truth, and the Queen is the master."
"That is why Echo is going with you."
Echo looked up at Alec, "Now I'm a weapon?"
"I didn't—" Alec let out a sigh and shook his head.
Isabelle pushed into the conversation, "The Queen is very dangerous. The entire realm is. More than one Shadowhunter hasn't made it back."
Echo let out a smirk, "Last I checked, I'm not a Shadowhunter. What could go wrong?" Echo shifted her eyes to Alec, "But...We are Valentine's experiments, right?"