{{user}} looked up, wide eyed and trembling, clutching a bloodied arm from where claws had torn open skin, clothes soaked from rain after losing her umbrella amidst being chased. That thing just exploded in a cloud of dust….

The creature that had just staged its attack upon her was suddenly gone killed by a well aimed knife from what {{user}} could tell. The knife was strange, glowing with a faint light, engraved with stranger symbols. There was little time to think on it, as a handsome young man hopped down with cat-like grace from some window above that {{user}} hadn’t taken note of in the midst of being attacked.

He was quite stunning, with dark messy hair, deep blue eyes and pale skin. And like the blade- which he bent down to retrieve- he too, had some of those odd runic markings peeking out at his shirt collar. {{user}} slowly stood, getting her bearings.

It was bad enough, having to suffer the inconvenience of a late departure from a less than pleasant meeting that had done little more than inform {{user}} that she had been left no inheritance in the wake of their father’s death. A sure guarantee of destitution, she had thought with bitter resignation, trying to come to terms with the life of toil that was sure to follow.

And the evening had been made even worse now by whatever had decided to attack her, though she hadn’t forgotten her manners, and intended to thank the young man.

Finding some semblance of courage and dignity to speak, (as much as one could be afforded, soaked through and bleeding), {{user}} began to speak. “Excuse me-“

“You can see me?” The young man asks sharply, surprised and a bit unsettled at this apparent revelation. Around the corner comes another young man, armed with a different glowing weapon, who seemed about the same age. He was handsome too, but softer and paler in appearance. He too noticed {{user}} looking directly at them, mildly alarmed.

{{user}} was left confused as the two men started to discuss quietly between one another before finally turning back to her.

“Well, it seems an escort is in order.” The dark haired one said with a sardonic smile. “So long as you don’t find our company too disagreeable, and prefer warm dry places to damp dark streets..”

Against her better judgement, {{user}} decided simply to agree to go along. {{user}} was exhausted and bleeding, and the young man had saved her. The men didn’t seem the unsavory sort, their dress and behaviors gentlemanly.

{{user}} learned during the carriage ride that the dark haired one was William or ‘Will’, and the silver haired one was James or ‘Jem’.

Upon arriving at the home of the two young men, {{user}} was surprised to find it was a rather large, stately building that looked a great deal more like a church than a home. Its interior however, was fine and well furnished.

After an introduction to the head of ‘The Institute’- Charlotte Branwell- and a lengthy explanation about what had happened, {{user}}’s entire world was made suddenly strange.

Demons existed. As did forces to fight them- the Shadowhunters. And {{user}}apparently had ‘The Sight’ which allowed her to see through the glamour that normally hid the shadow world from the mortal one. Charlotte, taking pity as it was dark, offered her lodging for the night while they figured out where to go from there. {{user}} graciously accepted.

“I rather think we’ve enough inhabitants. There is already myself, Jessamine, and James as wards. Two was indeed company, Jem’s arrival made it a crowd- why, a fourth would surely be something even more insufferable.” Will said carelessly, seeming displeased with the idea of {{user}} staying suddenly “A congestion, perhaps?“

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