5

The two of them were sitting in a cafe and looking through a stack of newspapers and magazines they had bought.

— I don't even know who wrote such articles, psychos or just people with a rich imagination. "A crowd of girls with wings flew out of the woods.—Jack chuckled.

— What?—Clarissa clutched a piece of newspaper in her hand.— What did you just say?—

— Girls with wings.— despite the fact that Jack Cassidy had a hearty breakfast, he was eating a pie now. But Clarissa 's fright makes his appetite gone.

— Burning crows. I know them, believe me, this is not nonsense and not a fantasy. I was one of them.—Clarissa called the waiter and ordered

cola.

Even head ached from fear.

— Give me your laptop, Jack.—Clary took the flashcard pendant from her neck, connected it to her laptop, and entered the password.—Here... Look...—She turned the laptop towards Jack.— Just look at the text document I opened, and don't touch the other files.—

The pendant in the form of a pentagram with the sigil of Lucifer was for Clarissa an analogue of the book of magic.

Jack looked at the title and slowly scrolled through the document.

— They are... That is, you too, killed people at rituals? Burned them?—Cassidy tried to keep his voice down.

— Yes, by the power of the gaze...—Clarissa suddenly smiled strangely.— It was fun... Until my brother almost died because of my colleagues. Then I left and got into trouble... Brooklyn.—

— Do you have a brother? You haven't talked about it before.—Jack wrote something down in his notebook.

— There was one... Oh, yes, I had a brother. And what? I don't like to talk about myself a lot. You don't even know five percent about me.

If I knew, I wouldn't even want to see it. I'm dirtier than a gutter... And my brother... Stunningly handsome older brother...

Father Julian Fallen, his incomparably beautiful eyes of a little fawn... Everyone fell in love with him.— for one can of cola the next one went.—When I was in the witch coven, oh... It was... I don't remember anything at all about that time. And... I don't know, what shall we do...—

Clarissa glanced at someone, but Jack didn't have time to understand who.

— Will you go to Brooke's?—Cassidy asked.

— I don't know... I don't like going to him. But maybe... Come on, Jack...—Clary threw the money on the table and ran.

— And now I have to collect everything?—Cassidy said angrily.

**

Brooklyn Mercury clutched his chest and shouted out loud.

A strong pain pierced his heart when he painted the walls of the Eterna Tartarus cell with crayons. For a while he still tried not to stop drawing, but then the blue chalk fell to the floor and split.

— Mercury, medicines!— the orderly froze behind the glass door.

Brooklyn gasped for air, looking at his painting.

The orderly opened his teeth with special forceps, but Mercury waved his hands:

— No, no, no!—he tossed the forceps into the corner of the cell.— Give me an hour! I need an hour to finish everything... —

The uniformed man picked up the forceps from the floor.

— Miss Fallen gave the order... Okay, just take a break for lunch...—

— Go away!—Brooklyn shouted madly.

***

— I remember this girl, her name is Julie. She wanted to be one of us, but you have to be born a witch... However, somewhere

she got the magic...—Clarissa whispered animatedly.— And how could a mortal live so long? If there's a Brook involved, I'll fucking kill him!—

— He can cut a hundred or a thousand people and then go to a club or watch TV... When you married him, was he the same?—Jack grabbed Clary's shoulder.— Hide! —

— How long will you chase me?— the girl they were following approached them from the other side of the house.— Clarissa! Well, you're still alive! —

— Julie Morales! I was wondering if it was you... Until the last I could not understand...—Clary said.

— Well, well! She couldn't understand! And I was the stupidest, at first I tried to become one of you, now I do not know how to get rid of you all!—Julie screamed crazily.— Don't get in my way! —

— Wait, Julie!—Clarissa ran after the girl, but she was stopped by what Julie was holding in her fist and now threw in Clary's face.

The witch screamed, the powder burned harder than the acid, it melted the skin.

— Clary, let's go!—Jack grabbed the vampire witch by the shoulders.— Send us to a motel!—

Clary waved her hand and smoke enveloped them.

***

— ... So, are you okay now?—Jack Cassidy splashed more water in Clarissa's face.

— Buy me a motorcycle helmet and I'll go alone later. And you will find out what it was like in the forest. Maybe traces of magic

they will be found and we will at least understand what kind of magic it is...—Clary ran a hand over her face.— And with Julie, I will act as before...—

Clarissa Fallen looked at herself in the mirror.

It seems that with donor blood it turned out to be faster than with some incomprehensible healing potion ...

— And if she throws something at you again?—Jack asked, pausing at the entrance.

Clary smiled.

— That's what I need a helmet for...—

— Are you really all right?—Joel asked, coming into view ten minutes after Jack left.

— It's okay. I've sent Jack off and I'm going to Julie's by myself.—Clary set the bottles of the quintessence elixir on the table.

— I won't need it, but don't come with me, you might be scared to death...—

Meeting a tired look, Clary realized what she had said.

— I'm sorry...—the witch smiled.— You can come with me, probably ... —

***

Brooklyn Mercury sat against the wall and looked at his creation.

Tears stung his eyes, and pills made his head foggy.

There were thirteen women in blue robes painted on the wall, the fourteenth was in the center and Brooklyn Mercury was ready

swear on my own life that it's Clarissa...

— Clary... When I get angry, I can't control myself. I wish I could help you...—he sighed.

A tray with a very good dinner and a large glass of warm blood were waiting for him.

When the drowsy state after the medicine went away, he grabbed a glass and emptied it in two sips.

He didn't want to eat human food yet...

***

Clarissa entered the house where Julie Morales had previously disappeared.

— Julie!— she called.— Julie, where are you? —

A kick in the face knocked her down, but the witch immediately jumped to her feet.

—Are you crazy, Julie?—Clary spat blood on the floor. Swinging, she punched the girl in the face with her fist and grabbed her by the hair.— Why did you run away?—

— Because I don't want to see you, stupid bitches!—Julie screamed.

— They'll get you anyway, and if you don't tell me why you're running away from them, I'll point you out to them myself!—Fallen shouted,

overpowering Julie's scream.

The vampire witch's fingers squeezed her opponent's throat.

— What do you want to hear?—Morales croaked in her last breath.

— That's it. That's better. I want to hear everything!—Clarissa let go of her hands and they both fell to the floor.

Clarissa, despite her oddities and abilities, was sweating profusely.

— They're gathering strength. Those whom they rejected, or those who rejected them, they throw into the fire. You obviously remember him...— Julie coughed and rubbed her throat.— The flame...—

— A flame that always burns...—Clary interrupted.

— If you extinguish it, then all the witches will die... I found out by accident, so keep in mind.—Julie stood up and took out two

bottles of beer from the refrigerator.

— I'm not going to die. I basically can't die. I don't know if I'm lucky...—Clary took a sip of beer. From this, the fatigue seemed to be removed by hand.

— Why would that be? Did God kiss you on the forehead?—Julie sat down next to him.

— Bit me in the neck. My husband . Alpha vampire. With a bouquet of strangeness.—Clarissa pointed to the scar on her collarbone.— A little deep...—

— Yes, not a weak kiss... I thought you didn't care about men...—Julie stood up and looked out the window.— I don't know about yours

my husband, but mine has arrived! Come out through the fire escape, we'll meet at the cafe in the evening, and then we'll go to a safe place!—

Clary went to the door. Before she came out, Julie asked her:

— And your husband is handsome?—

— He's a real nightmare!—Clary laughed, running away.

***

When Clarissa returned, she was met by an impossibly angry Jack.

— How many times do I get caught?—he asked.

— I must have deceived you many times. It's time you got used to it.—Clary tried to smile.

— But it makes me angrier and angrier... And, what did you agree to?—Cassidy turned his back on her and began to rummage in the

packages.

— It was easier to discuss everything without you, and Julie told me something that we can now start from...— Clarissa caught up with him.— Jack... You shouldn't be offended by me. You know that yourself! I'm unbearable.—

— And when I get used to what it is... What a bitch you are...—Jack smiled.

Clarissa laughed.

— Do you think it's easier to put up with you and your oddities?—the witch asked.

They both laughed.

— We'll wait for Julie and I'll try to get her to talk... And she's afraid of you because of the sign of the angels ... —

***

Morales came only in the late afternoon.

— Will it be possible to wait out the night at your place? My husband and I want to get out of here as soon as possible, but this can only be done in the morning.—She said as she sat down at the table next to Clarissa.— And who is this? Is this your husband? —

— No. — Clary shook her head.— This is my partner in the case.—

— Jack Cassidy.—Jack sat down next to her.— Now you won't run away from us or throw all sorts of scary powders?—

— There is no choice, so I won't run away.—Julie said.— So can we stay with you? It's just that my husband is waiting in the car, terrifyingly

scared.—

— I'll go, and you take your husband, Clary will show you where... —

***

Logan Engelfort was afraid, and Jack and Clary immediately felt that he had encountered the supernatural for the first time.

Maybe he has already seen something, but insignificant.

If there was something scarier, he wouldn't be here.

— Is there only one room?—Julie asked.

— Hmm... Well, it's a cheap motel. It's good that at least there is a bathroom here. It's bad that there is no refrigerator.—Clarissa answered her.

— Are you hungry?—

— We have everything with us.—Julie said.

Clarissa stared out the window without a single word for a long time, probably about half an hour.

— You're weird after all.—Julie said into the silence.

Logan, despite his large size, shuddered.

— Why am I weird?—Clary asked.

— And what, is the main feature of any witch a virtue?—Julie asked her.

— I don't know. I don't even know who I am. Somewhere a vampire, somewhere a witch, and yet... Maybe I'll soon be related to moths. I love danger and always running towards it.—Clarissa saw Joel waving at her in the distance.—I need to go out for a few minutes.—

— Are you sure?J—ack looked at her intently.

— I'll be right back.—

Leaving the motel room, Clary quickly ran in the direction where Joel disappeared.

— Well?— going behind the house, she asked.

—I saw three witches. Two are rummaging through your Julie's apartment, and one just set me on fire...—redhead breathed out.— Until now It hurts, although I don't understand why I still feel pain?—

— You are...—Clary reached for his clothes, but her fingers, as before, went through.— Lift up your shirt, I can't do this...—

Gabriel held up his dirty T-shirt.

Sometimes he wanted to tear off this shirt so badly.

He looked the same as he had been since he was killed.

— It's the same...—Clarissa looked in surprise and even a little horror at the shining seal in his place where there was a trace of a curve

wounds on the heart.— Joel... You are my guardian! —

— And... what?—Gabriel looked at her in bewilderment.

— I don't know much about this area of arcane magic, but when a witch has a guardian spirit, she becomes much more stronger...—Clarissa smiled.

— Then I will do everything to make you stronger!—Joel stopped abruptly and turned around.— Witches... They're close...—

— Where exactly? I want to look for them. If they don't want to attack, I'll be the first to add fuel to the fire!—Clary said.

— And Jack... I think he sees me...—Joel shuddered.— There he is...—

— Jack, were you really following me?—Clarissa turned angrily.

— Really... Am I hallucinating or am I really seeing Joel?—Jack asked in surprise.—Clary, when are you going to stop hiding everything?—

— I don't know... It's a habit that's been with me for years. Don't trust anyone, because no one will ever trust you...—Clarissa shrugged her shoulders.

— Hmm... When I start thinking about what a reptile you are, it's hard to believe that you can be human. But this is what confirms that you are human... Probably, the phrase "I'm glad to see you, Joel..." will not fit here — on the last sentence the intonation changed to tragic.

— I'm glad of that, too.—Joel said.— Just don't scold Clary, Jack, I only came to her this morning.—

— Hah, what a childish spontaneity! You're so protective of her, even though you don't know what Clarissa can be and how much she's done in her life. Although even I do not know that...—Jack smiled.— Joel, will you come in?—

— Home? To you? Does it make sense? I don't need to rest. The need for food also disappeared...—Joel said.

— Don't you want at least a normal environment? Believe me, I'm sorry and if there was such an opportunity, I would help...—

Joel followed anyway. He really wanted a normal life...

***

The situation became tense when Joel entered the motel room.

— Is that a ghost?—Julie asked in a whisper.

— Where? I don't see anyone but your friends.—Logan answered her.

— Oh, honey... I often forget about such a small thing that you only human after all...—Morales sighed.

— Claire...—Joel called the witch.— This man has a line above his head. What does it mean?—

— Are there numbers on the line or something like that?—Clary covered her mouth a little with her hand so that it wouldn't be clear what they were talking about.

— Yes. This is a combination of three dozen sticks and five... Well, it's closer to crosses, I think...—Joel rubbed his eyes. The red-haired ghost's eyes itched, even though he didn't need glasses anymore.—Clary, my eyes hurt.—

— Don't look at him, you're losing energy.—Clarissa ordered softly.— If people like you look at people, they spend energy to study them! —

— Hmmm... I'll know...—Gabriel said.

Meanwhile, Clary stepped aside and beckoned to Julie Morales.

— How old is your Logan?—she asked.

— Thirty-five should be fulfilled. And what?—Morales looked at Clarissa intently.

— He's going to die soon. His line has stopped. This was noticed by my charming ghost.—Clarissa said.

She saw how Julie's eyes were red, how broken and depressed she looked.

Julie Morales didn't talk to anyone for the rest of the night. She stroked Logan's sleeping hair and stared into the void.

— You shouldn't have blurted that out to her.—Cassidy said, turning on the TV.

— And what? She is nothing to me, and they are all mortal. It's going to happen someday anyway.—Clarissa said without emotion.— Joel, sit next to me. Shall we read a book or watch TV with Jack?—

For some reason, at this moment, Jack had a clear and painful thought that something was wrong with Clary... Something died in her...