Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

Reed sipped his coffee as he looked appreciatively at his most expensive spend till date, a Bombardier Global 8000 Private Jet while dozens of people moved like they were on a timer around him, engineers, techs, analysts, pilots, all doing their part so he could do his, which made him smile even from his seat.

Most people were under the impression Ghost was one person, no he was a result of countless analysis done by researchers, he used information gotten from people specifically trained to be spies, and his tech was a whole other thing that depended on other people. He was proud of his team and that was why he had no doubt that he would be up in the air before eight sharp, bound for Hoia-Baciu.

That was the place he was going to find Web, whose real name was Ava, according to her profile she had sleek red hair and had extra abilities that were a result of an incident when she was somehow merged with a spirit beast, it was all very vague like all things concerning spirit but he was sure she was terrifyingly powerful now, which made his mission feel all the more dangerous.

Yet the warmth of the coffee couldn't quite drown the chill in his chest, because his mind kept circling back to the blood-red ring in his pocket.

It was Raven's source of protection he had found out this morning, Lilith was a protective demoness Queen especially with those with her bloodline, and witches and warlocks could travel to the demonic plane, Lilith herself had given her this demonic artefact to hide her and her magic from those with ill intentions and to summon a weak projection of Lilith herself which would could exist in the earth plane for some minute before the veil ejected her.

It was basically her life that she handed to him all without hesitation, he hadn't even asked she had simply read his mind and acted accordingly, he felt beyond grateful.

'He had to return' he clenched his fist, if not for anything then because of Raven, it hadn't taken her five minutes to forgive him for ghosting her for five years for goodness sake, which other guy could claim to have such a girl?

He knew no one had ever entered deep and came out of this forest but he would, he swore to himself this mission would be just like the others, another feather in his hat.

"I'll make it work," Reed said internally, hands clenched.

"Everything's set, sir." Jasmine's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He turned slightly and found her walking up with her usual confident gait, her black hair tied back neatly, smooth dark skin glowing faintly under the hangar lights, tall, slender, curves in all the right places, a face that always reminded him why men stared when she entered a room, she wasn't shy about it either, she knew she had the kind of beauty that trended online without effort, but what he liked most was the professionalism she carried with it.

She had a tablet in her hand, "The jet is prepped, fuelled, loaded. Your suit has been updated with the upgrades to match the environment in Romania. The borders have been cleared for you to enter." She paused for effect, then added, "Though it was a bit tricky with the vampires in charge."

Reed scoffed at that, shaking his head as he leaned back in the seat. "I can't believe the House of Black had to actually ask permission. Since when do we let other people know when we are coming to get a mission done?"

"Since the Equalist tension started boiling over." Jasmine smiled faintly as she scrolled something on the tablet. "We both know the House of Black has influence everywhere, but Romania is their stronghold, and a lot of vampires have been going missing, the Apostles stationed their and the Shadowhunters have been doing their best to curb it but it's a slow process and there is another S class going in apart from you. If another S-Class hunter just walked in without clearance… they might see it as ….overstepping our lane."

He sipped his coffee again and let out a short breath through his nose. She was right, even if he didn't like admitting it. "Still doesn't sit right with me. We never used to ask. Now it's like every step comes with politics."

"That's the world right now." Jasmine looked at him, her eyes flickering just slightly. "And maybe if you actually remembered to call or text in the last two weeks, you'd know just how tense things have been outside New York."

Reed sighed as he lowered the cup. "…Here we go"

"Yes I'm starting." She tilted her head, lips curving. "You forgot all about me the second you landed in New York. You used to check in Reed, even a text but suddenly it's silence for two weeks and from what has been going around it's because of some hot new chick you came here for"

He smirked at that and set the coffee down. "Jealousy isn't a good look for you my darling Jasmine, what happened to 'all we have is a professional relationship' even when we literally end up fucking before every mission."

"I'm not jealous!" She snorted. "I told you before, it was part of the job description when I applied as your PA. I agreed to it because you're hot and a legend… nothing more. I just thought as a friend I wouldn't be so….forgettable" she muttered the last part out.

Reed smirked faintly but his thoughts dug deeper than his expression showed. Jasmine feared commitment, not because of him, but because she had lost too many people already, people she let close. She especially avoided the idea of commitment with him, because he was always walking into missions that could get him killed, like this one.

"You say that," Reed muttered, "but you don't sound very professional right now."

"Maybe I just don't like being ignored." Jasmine folded her arms. "So tell me… about this Mia that made you leave LA and all the girls I usually make schedules for. Who is she? And when are you really coming back? Don't give me the same line you gave your Handler."

Reed stayed quiet for a moment, eyes drifting back toward the jet. She could read him too well. "…I told Alaric three months. But the truth is… I want to apply to be moved here permanently."

The words slipped out before he could filter them, and in his mind Raven and Mia's faces both flashed.

Jasmine caught the look in his eyes immediately, and her lips pressed together. "Guess she must have some really good p*ssy to be able to….oh is that her? Or another of your sides?"

Mia came rushing in, her hair wild from running, eyes blazing with something he couldn't place until her arms slammed into him and her lips pressed hard against his.

For one moment everything froze, the world, his thoughts, all of it shattered as if a shackle had been ripped away, and the only thing left was the heat of her kiss, the taste of her lips, the desperate way she clung to him as though she was terrified he'd vanish. His heart pounded as it unleashed everything he had been holding back.

"You're such a big idiot." When Mia finally pulled away, her breath hitched as she whispered, "You act like you don't like me yet you grab my ass the moment I'm on you"

Reed blinked at her and realized his hands had automatically gone to her ass in muscle memory, he gave it a little squeeze as if fearing they weren't real.

"Later my dad was right behind me" She whispered before dropping.

Reed quickly arranged his pants, he didn't know why his body was so responsive to this girl, was it the forbidden allure of their could-be relationship, or was she simply that attractive to him? All he knew was he had placed her in this sexual pedestal that pushed buttons she had no right to push considering his history with women.

Mia leaned close, whispering so only he could hear, "We'll talk later… when you come back alive."

She then finally registered Jasmine, the two women sized themselves up before turning their heads elsewhere….without even a nod of acknowledgement.

Women.

Hale arrived soon after his face unreadable at first until he gave Reed a slow, approving nod. Reed instantly understood. He and Mia had probably spoken about him yesterday. And Hale had accepted their relationship.

A heavy weight immediately left his chest, and a smile appeared on his face.

Jason was there too, the annoying grin missing for once as he simply raised a hand in salute.

"I'll be sure to protect your mentee well, Hunter Reed"

Reed looked at him and nodded then turned to Hale.

"Thank you," Hale said quietly as he reached Reed and pulled him into a hug, a strong clap on the back. "Thank you once again… for doing this."

Reed returned the gesture, the weight of Hale's sincerity not lost on him.

Jasmine cleared her throat politely and bowed her head slightly, addressing Hale and Jason with the crisp professionalism expected of her. "Hunter Hale. Hunter Jason. It's an honor."

Both men gave curt acknowledgements, though Jason's gaze moved knowingly between her and Reed.

"Alright everyone, my flight is ready let's not keep an S-class waiting in the middle of a creepy forest now, that'd just be bad manners considering she had somehow survived for a month."

He said the last part looking at Jason who just shrugged like it was a given she would be alive, he had to really go through her file again to see why she was S-class or why she was considered immortal.

Reed stood straighter, taking in the different eyes on him, then he started forward with Jasmine at his side, talking as he walked to his private jet.

"Everyone's acting like I'm not coming back," Reed chuckled to Jasmine who replied with a sly smile.

"They forget who you are Sir" She grinned.