Alec could feel his heart beat getting unhealthily fast. He could feel adrenaline rushing though his body. This was wrong. Just incredibly wrong. How could a Downworlder be here at a children's book club? He remembered joking about it earlier. Suddenly the idea didn't seem funny at all anymore. He tried to focus on what he had learned during training but at the moment his mind was just blank. He didn't even carry any weapons. What was he supposed to do?
Only then did he realize that the warlock was not gazing at him anymore. He had turned around and walked into one of the aisles with books. Alec could feel himself relax a little bit.
He knew he had two options: Either pretend he hadn't seen anything and focus on the club meeting or follow the warlock. Now, it was clear what his mother would do to him if she ever found out that he had spied after a Downworlder without any adult supervision.
Suddenly Alec had the burning desire to act against his mother's rules and behave like a normal irresponsible kid for once in his life. He was always the one sticking to the rules. His mother never had to remind him of any possible danger. She only ever had to remind Izzy about it: Don't put your hand on the stovetop! Don't play with matches! Don't draw irazes on your sleeping brother for practice!
And although his mother had reminded them that it was vital to follow these rules for their own safety, nothing had ever really happened. Sure they had to buy new curtains for Isabelle's room after the incident with the matchbox, and of course he hadn't been particularly pleased when his sister had found out that there was a more realistic and hands-on approach for practicing runes. But in the end nobody had actually gotten hurt. Why shouldn't he do something dumb and childish just ones? After all, the warlock hadn't even recognised that he was a Shadowhunter. He was a mere kid. The Downworlder would surly not even pay any attention to him. Also warlocks were usually not dangerous for Shadowhunter, were they? Not since the Accords at least.
His fear forgotten and taking a deep breath, Alec silently followed the warlock. He wondered what a warlock would want in a library full of books written by mortals. He surly didn't need any of the books in here. Alec just couldn't picture a Downworlder in a human environment it just seemed weird. Also the books in here were most likely not about warlocks, vampires or werewolves. Not the real ones at least. He had however seen a lot of the fictional stuff about Downworlders. It was ridiculous what some people thought supernatural creatures were like. His sister loved to read those novels. She'd always run to him when she'd found a particular funny passage. He had however the feeling that she only did that to have a legitimate reason for reading them, so nobody made fun of her if they ever found out she was actually enjoying the novels. She might have had their parents fooled but certainly not Alec. He didn't like the books at all. Most of the time they were either cheesy romances or gruesome massacres. Those seemed to be the only two options. Also, Izzy was getting far too fond of vampire love stories.
He suddenly realised that the warlock had stopped in front of a bookshelf that looked rather old. The man began to search for a book while Alec hid behind a shelf. The warlock hadn't noticed him so far, he realised with glee. Now that he was intently watching the Downworlder in front of him Alec studied the warlocks appearance. He wore a huge black cloak that basically covered his whole body. Alec wondered why anybody would wear a cloak in summer. It was much too hot for that. Probably he didn't want to be recognized? Though the unusual piece of clothing certainly achieved the opposite effect. Alec now saw that he had a very interesting skin colour, which was not easy to describe. It was sort of brownish and looked really attractive. Attractive? Where exactly were his thoughts going? Alec wondered whether those supernatural romance novels his sister read were affecting him for some reason. He really had to stop were his thoughts were heading and focus on the task at hand.
The warlock seemed ignorant to his observer, Alec noticed relieved. He was still looking for a book and his hands were gliding along the spines of the books while his cat eyes searched hastily for something. Alec couldn't help but feel a shudder go through him when watching the long elegant finger caress the inanimate objects. Alec wondered what was wrong with him that he thought about a warlock in that way. Probably he was getting a cold. That had to be it. His mind was getting confused because me was in need of medicine. Or a psychologist a vicious voice in his head suggested.
Not liking at all where his wayward thoughts went Alec tried to concentrate on the warlock. His gaze dropped to the floor when he suddenly saw a flash of turquoise. The Shadowhunter belatedly realized that the subject of his observations was wearing turquoise slippers. And fluffy ones at that, not those you could wear outside of your own home. Alec didn't even have time to wonder why somebody would wear those, when all of a sudden the bookshelf in front of the warlock made a creaking noise and swung to the side, giving way to a staircase leading down into darkness.
"So, can I help you little Shadowhunter or do you want to stand there with your mouth open for much longer?"
The warlock looked expectantly and grinning like a Cheshire cat at the boy in front of him.