PJackbooklover37 的部落格

賽巴斯欽的手緊緊攫著櫃臺的邊沿。「我不 . . . 」

強納森的笑容擴大，然後反轉他的右手以顯示手背上的那個 Voyance 印符。賽巴斯欽鬆了一口氣，並因一場愉快的識別而堆滿笑容：就好像任何闇影獵人都是同伴和潛在的朋友。

「你也是在前往伊德瑞斯的途中嗎？」強納森問道，非常專業，彷彿他跟政委會有定期接觸。他對全世界表現出一副要保護無辜的樣子，尤其在賽巴斯欽面前。他永遠不會對此感到厭倦。

「是的。」 賽巴斯欽回應道。「代表巴黎學院。還有，我是賽巴斯欽 維拉可。」

「啊，維拉可。一個傑出、古老的家族。」強納森接受了他的手，並堅定地搖了搖它。「安德魯 布萊克凡。」他輕鬆地說。「原本是洛杉磯學院的，但我最近一直在羅馬學習。我想我會經由陸路去阿利坎特，去看看風景。」

他研究過布萊克凡了，一個大家族，他知道他們和維拉可家的人已有十年沒待在同一個城市了。他肯定他以化名回答問題時絕對不會遇上任何困難：他從來沒有碰上問題。他的真實姓名是強納森，但他從來沒有特別覺得跟它有聯繫：也許是因為他一直知道那不是專屬他的名稱。

另一個強納森，在附近長大，住在一所跟他的差不多的房子中，被父親探訪。爸爸的小天使。

「好久沒見過另一個闇影獵人了。」賽巴斯欽繼續道－ 他一直在說話，但強納森已經忘了要注意他。「在這兒碰上你挺稀奇的。我的幸運日。」

「肯定是。」強納森咕噥道。「但當然，也不是完全偶爾的。有一隻 Eluthied 惡魔在這頭留連的報告，我猜你也聽說過了吧？」

賽巴斯欽微笑，又灌下杯中最後一口酒，把酒杯放在櫃檯上。「在我們宰了那東西後，我們真該喝一杯慶祝一下。」

強納森點點頭，盡量讓自己看起來在專注搜尋房中的惡魔。他們肩並肩站着，像兄弟戰士一段。這容易得幾乎讓覺得無聊：他要做的只是出現，賽巴斯欽 維拉可就像只自行把脖子推向刀鋒的綿羊般貼上來了。哪有人會這麼容易/相信/其他人呀？這麼急切想成為陌生人的朋友？

他從來沒有與人友善相處過。當然，他從來沒被給予這種機會：他父親把他跟另一個強納森隔開了。一個小孩身上流有惡魔的血，另一個有天使的血：把兩個小男孩一手養大，再看看哪個小孩能讓爸感到自豪。

另一個孩子在小時候失敗被送走了，強納森只知道這麼多。他則通過了父新給他訂的每個考驗。也許他通過得太好了，太完美了，面對孤僻的密室和那些野獸，那些鞭子和狩獵，還是未受影響。強納森能在父親眼中看出端倪來，不是哀痛就是懷疑。

不過他有什麼讓人哀痛之處？他有什麼值得懷疑？難度強納森不是個十全十美的戰士嗎？難道他不是他父親原意要塑造的一切嗎？

Sebastian’s hand tightened on the edge of the bar. “I don’t . . .”

Jonathan smiled wider and turned his right hand over to show the Voyance rune on the back of it. The breath went out of Sebastian in relief and he beamed with delighted recognition: as if any Shadowhunter was a comrade and a potential friend.

“Are you on your way to Idris, too?” Jonathan asked, very professional, as if he was in regular touch with the Clave. Protecting the innocent, he projected to the world and Sebastian in particular. Can’t get enough of that!

“I am,” Sebastian replied. “Representing the Paris Institute. I’m Sebastian Verlac, by the way.”

“Ah, a Verlac. A fine old family.” Jonathan accepted his hand, and shook it firmly. “Andrew Blackthorn,” he said easily. “The Los Angeles Institute, originally, but I’ve been studying in Rome. I thought I’d come overland to Alicante. See the sights.”

He’d researched the Blackthorns, a large family, and knew they and the Verlacs had not been in the same city for ten years. He was certain he would have no problem answering to an assumed name: he never did. His real name was Jonathan, but he had never felt particularly attached to it: perhaps because he had always known that it was not his name alone.

The other Jonathan, being raised not so far away, in a house just like his, visited by his father. Daddy’s little angel.

“Haven’t seen another Shadowhunter in ages,” Sebastian continued — he had been talking, but Jonathan had forgotten to pay attention to him. “Funny to run into you here. My lucky day.”

“Must be,” Jonathan murmured. “Though not entirely chance, of course. The reports of a Eluthied demon lurking about this place, I assume you’ve heard them as well?”

Sebastian smiled and took a last swallow from his glass, setting it down on the bar. “After we kill the thing, we should have a celebratory drink.”

Jonathan nodded, and tried to look as if he was very focused on searching the room for demons. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder, like brother warriors. It was so easy it was almost boring: all he’d had to do was show up, and here was Sebastian Verlac like a lamb pushing its throat on a blade. Who trusted other people like that? Wanted to be their friend so easily?

He had never played nicely with others. Of course, he had not ever been given the opportunity: his father had kept him and the other Jonathan apart. A child with demon blood and a child with angel blood: raise both boys as yours and see who makes daddy proud.

The other boy had failed a test when he was younger, and been sent away. Jonathan knew that much. He had passed every test their father had ever set for him. Maybe he had passed them all a little too well, too flawlessly, unfazed by the isolation chamber and the animals, the whip or the hunt. Jonathan had discerned a shadow in Father’s eyes now and then, one that was either grief or doubt.

Though what did he have to be grieved over? Why should he doubt? Was Jonathan not the perfect warrior? Was he not everything his father had created him to be?