-Rose POV-

Dimitri and I paused in our routine workout after school and our heads snapped in the direction of on odd whooshing sound, almost like space was being pushed apart. Three men and an injured girl came tumbling though an energy-like doorway that appeared off to the side in the gym.

Instantly we were both tense, but it seemed that the new arrivals hadn't even noticed us yet. It seems like the element of surprise would be on our side. As I was about to lunge for the blonde guy, Dimitri pulled me back and shushed me to stay quiet for now.

"Magnus!" A black hair boy with blue eyes cried. His looks reminded me of Christian. The oddest looking man I have ever seen knelt down next to the boy who was holding the girl that looked like him. Her eyes were closed and she was limp. I guessed that they were siblings.

They began talking in hushed voices, even my hearing couldn't pick it up. The black haired boy picked up the girls arms and began drawing something – no burning something – into her arm. The blonde haired boy was pacing around with his head in his hands. "Goddammit!" he growled, the veins of his arms popping out for a moment in his anger. He whipped around and glared at Magnus, "I have to go back. Now."

Magnus shook his head, "Jace-" he began, but was cut off by Jace's low angry voice.

"No. I need to go back and get Clary. I am not. Leaving. Her. There." He enunciated each word. His fists still clenched tightly.

"We all understand that you love her, but it's way too dangerous for anyone to go back. She still has Luke and her mother with her. And Luke has his entire pack behind him. The Accords are stronger than ever thanks to Clary. She accomplished more than any other Shadowhunter ever has. She will be protected." Magnus tried calming Jace down, but I got the feeling that Jace didn't calm down.

Magnus continued to talk. "Not to mention Isabelle is down for the count right now and the iratze doesn't seem to be helping much." He paused. "Alec, how is she?"

Alec looked up from Isabelle. "A little better. I'll give her another iratze in a few minutes." His attention turned back to the unconscious girl. "And Magnus? I think Jace is right." He seemed a little nervous speaking up to him. "I know you want to protect me – us – but there is a war raging in the heart of Alicante and we need to be there. There already aren't as many of us as there used to be." His eyes stayed on Isabelle the entire time. He pulled Isabelle's arm towards him again and began drawing, what I now knew as an iratze, again.

Magnus sighed.

I felt Dimitri's lips in my hair by my ear, "I don't think they're hostile towards us, Rose." He pulled me back a little further just in case. "And what's a Shadowhunter?" he asked almost to himself. I shrugged in response.

Jace's eyes narrowed on Magnus, "Back on point. Clary may be protected, but what if someone isn't there when she needs it most. She wasn't raised as a Shadowhunter, Magnus. She has had minimal training. I should be there." He took a step towards Magnus. "Bring me back."

Magnus seemed to be waging an inner war. "Fine. But I'm not throwing you back in the line of fire until everyone here can hold their own."

"I don't mean to interrupt your soap opera, but who the hell are you guys? Why are you at the Vampire Academy? You're obviously not vampires." I said striding forward in a slight hostile approach.