With Mary’s pick-locking skills, they were able to open the cell doors, letting everyone out. All the while, she explained how she got an SOS text from Zed last night. She brought it to Hunter’s attention, and they left that moment to travel all the way there. Lana asked about the force field and Mary told her they didn’t encounter any force field.
“Unbelievable,” Councilman Faulkner said with a hint of agitation. “I can’t believe I wasted my time trying to help you lot when I could’ve been informing the Alpha King about everything at this moment.”
“Clary,” Lana said almost to herself. “We need to figure out where they could have gone.”
Lana sent her people to search for any vlues of Clary’s whereabouts while Isaiah got Mary to track Zed’s phone, which was found in the library on the floor. It was strange that it would’ve been left here but it was the first clue to finding Zira and Arias.
They searched the entire library, especially the areas where Zira’s and Arias's scents were the strongest. By the state of the bookshelves and books on the floor, Isaiah could tell there was a fight there. He tried his best not to picture Zira being hurt as he continued his search. Not finding any clues, Isaiah walked back to the front and sat at the table where Councilman Faulkner was there reading a book until Lana and Percy came in. Councilman Faulkner stared at Percy, thinking his face was very familiar.
“Nothing, Clary covered her tracks pretty good,” Lana said, joining Isaiah at the table.
“THey took the book too,” Percy said while turning to Isaiah. “Alpha Isaiah, you said after you were shocked, you heard a woman's voice talking to the person who put you to sleep?” Isaiah nodded. “It makes sense now. Clary uses electricity and Malachi can do the same thing as me.”
“I just don’t understand why. What would she need with the book and Zira and Arias?”
Isaiah ran his frustrated hands through his hair and down his face. They had more questions than answers and they were getting nowhere. When he leaned forward, he noticed something lying on the floor underneath the table.
“What is that,” he asked, picking up the piece of paper. There was blood in the corner and after a quick sniff, he realized it was Zira. “Zira.”
Lana and Percy examined the document. “It’s from the book,” Percy said. “They got it open.”
“They opened it,” Councilman Faulkner gasped. “She actually did it.”
“I don’t understand this. What does it say,” Isaiah asked, laying the page on the table.
Lana and Percy inspected the symbols. “Not sure what language this is,” Lana said.
“It looks very old,” Percy said, studying the symbols.
“Hmm,” Lana thought out loud. “I wonder if there’s anyone in this group of people who could possibly be just as old as this book.”
Lana slowly turned her gaze to Councilman Faulkner, who noticed only a few seconds later, she was talking about him. Everyone was looking and waiting for his input. He stood up from the chair in a dignified manner.
“Hmph, I’m only responding out of curiosity,” he sneered at Lana, who only smiled in return. Councilman Faulkner took the page and looked over it. Minutes ticked by as they waited with bated breath for his analysis. After about five minutes, Councilman Faulkner placed the page on the table.
“I can’t read it,” he simply said.
Everyone threw their hands up, clearly frustrated by the waste of time. Councilman Faulkner waited for everyone to be quiet.
“As I was saying, I can’t read it, but I do know it’s pixie language.”
“Pixie,” Lana pondered. “Wait, I have books here on the pixie language.” Lana ran and found the book she needed. She placed it side by side with the page to compare the notes. “This makes no sense. None of these symbols are in this book. What’s the point of having this book?”
Lana threw the book across the room before running to pick it up and dust it off. Everyone in the room seemed to be on edge now. They were getting nowhere.
“Geez, this is more depressing than the dungeon party,” Hunter said.
“Hunter,” Isaiah warned.
Mary picked up the page and examined it. “If Zira left this then there’s a reason. She’s probably pointing to something important.” Mary walked up to Isaiah. “Alpha, just look. Why would she show you a page that has pixie language?”
Isaiah took the page from her and walked about the room. He pinched his eyes together trying to get rid of the tension in his face. Why would she leave this page? What is the point of this? Isaiah wondered. Then something occurred to him.
“Can Clary read pixie,” he asked Lana.
“No,” Lana said, “at least not to my knowledge but now I’m not sure if I know Clary at all.”
“Zira wouldn’t be able to read this either. She would most likely go to someone who can,” Isaiah said, and with a surge of newfound hope, he walked out of the library with everyone following behind. He walked outside to confirm the kind of transportation they used.
“Lana, is there any other way Clary would be able to get around?”
Lana shook her head. “No, we only have cars.
“And the jet we flew in?”
“Belongs to the Alpha King,” Councilman Faulkner said. “Only a few selected individuals have access and only when it's available.”
“Besides, where would she go? Clary hasn’t been out of this pack since I started it. I doubt she knows of a pixie that could translate this.”
“She might not,” Isaiah said. “But Zira does. She took them to the Ancient Walkers Pack which is about ten or so hours away. If we can use that private jet, we can probably catch up with them faster.”
Lana nodded. “I’ll contact the Alpha King right away. Get your crew ready to go in ten.”
Everyone went back inside to prepare as Isaiah pulled Hunter off to the side. Looking at Hunter’s face, Isaiah knew Hunter knew what this was going to be about. Isaiah was about to speak when Hunter cut him off.
“Please don’t send me back home,” Hunter begged.
“What? I was-”
“I know that look, Isaiah, and don’t tell me you’re doing it to protect me. You said that last time and look what happened.”
“Which is why I need someone there I can trust to fill in for me. You know that. It’s the reason you’re my Beta.”
“Jace loves the whole interim Alpha title. Besides, I think this is the perfect time for a vacation.”
“Hunter, you have a kid to take care of,” Isaiah reminded him.
“Junior is fine. One smile from that little gremlin and he practically gets whatever he wants,” Hunter grumbled. “And before you say it, Ashlee could use some alone time, you know.”
“She kicked you out of the room, didn’t she?”
“One,” Hunter yelled. “Just one little compliment to one of the warriors and she thinks I’m stepping out on her. Says I don’t love her as I did before. It's ridiculous.”
"So, you want to run away?"
"No, I just need to be me, you know. Like, remember the me before her."
Isaiah knew time wasn’t on their side, but he felt a bit empathetic for his friend. “You do remember what happened the last time she felt this way?”
Hunter sighed and looked a bit sullen. “Yeah, Junior.” There was a brief pause before Hunter shook his head and smiled. “So, what do you say? One last ride before I’m fully domesticated?”
Isaiah shook his head, knowing it was a bad idea, but he couldn’t help but smile and hold out his hand. “I doubt this will be our last, but let’s do it.”
Hunter grabbed it and shook it with enthusiasm. “Yes! H.I. is back in business,” he said, running off.
“I’m not calling us that,” Isaiah yelled after him. Before he could follow, Councilman Faulkner blocked his way. “Councilman Faulkner?”
“I want you to be wary, Alpha Isaiah.” Isaiah gave him a curious look and he continued. “That book needs to be in the right hands and most people in your party won’t agree.”
“Why,” Isaiah asked. “What do you know about the book?”
“I know the person who created it used it and it nearly wiped out the entire existence of white wolves,” Councilman Faulkner said. “That kind of power needs to be checked and given to the right people.”
“And who are the right people, Councilman Faulkner,” Isaiah asked, knowing what his answer would be. “You? The Elders? Or the Alpha King?”
“Why not? We are here to preserve and protect all species of werewolves.”
“Right, like how you tried to preserve and protect Zira,” Isaiah said tersely.
Councilman Faulkner couldn’t quite hide his shock from Isaiah's brashness but simply nodded his head. “I see your point and I’ll leave you with this. Prepare yourself for a heartbreak. You know firsthand what a powerful book can do to a person you love. The question is, will you be able to do what you have to, to keep everyone else safe?”
Councilman Faulkner walked away as Isaiah stood there in shock. Isaiah instantly thought about Alaia. Her obsession with the grimoire and power became her undoing. There was no way in hell he was going to let that happen to Zira.