Chapter 3

Izzy was a hurricane. Scratch that, she was even more aggressive than a natural catastrophe. Her eyes were blazing as she punched Alec repetitively in the chest, spewing out questions and curses faster than Usain Bolt could run the 100 metre dash. It was too rapid for Alec to even comprehend them, much less answer.

Jace, Clary, and Simon stood behind her, evidently just as upset, with their arms crossed and a small frown on their faces. He knew he would have to face their wrath sooner or later.

When Izzy finally calmed down, she wiped away her angry tears and took one last punch. Alec winced although he didn't feel it, not that he'd tell that to his baby sister anytime soon.

"Seriously, though, you didn't think to tell us this vital piece of information? How could you not tell us such monumental...thing, you asshole?"

Hey eyes were still watery from the whole debacle, but she reached her arms out for a hug anyways. Alec complied, bringing his arms over her shoulders as she wrapped hers around his waist. She buried her head into his chest for a moment.

"Don't pull this shit again, alright?"

"Okay."

She let go of him and stepped back. Spotting Max next to her, she swooped him up in her arms, eliciting a high-pitched squeak out of the little boy.

"And why aren't you mad? You usually get very angry when we hide things from you."

"Well first, obviously you didn't know, so it wasn't just me. Also," the bespectacled boy turned to face Alec, "this has to do with that test I took a few years ago, right?"

"What?" Jace cut in accusingly.

His eyes were sharp, still furious at the situation.

"Actually-" Alec started to explain, but was cut off as quickly as he had begun.

Tap tap...tap...tap tap...tap…

Alec was quick to rush over and open the double doors to the stern face of Hodge.

"They're here. We leave as soon as possible."

Hodge proceeded to hop onstage.

"Okay, guys," his voice projected over the speaker system," please take a look at the screen. Your...guardian… will be listed first, with an underline, and your group members directly under. Please find your guardian as soon as possible."

Alec didn't need to glance at the listing to check his pre-memorised group.

As he waited for the rest of his group to converge, Alec fiddled with his sleeves, not wanting to face the murderous gaze Jace was stabbing him with. He took a deep breath.

"Look-"

"I can't fucking believe it."

The fiery red head stood with her arms crossed, one hip jutting out. Her entire being radiated defiance at that moment.

"Our 'guardian' is the perverted loser creep? The one who likes to watch people fuch and has no life?"

She was flanked by Ragnor and Magnus, both of whom seemed a mix of amused, disgusted, and bored. Magnus picked at his glittery blue nails, his shoulder against Ragnor who was raising one single thin eyebrow.

"Back off! You can fend for yourself if you really hate it that much!"

Although Alec was annoyed at Camille's words, he found Max's defense of him extremely endearing.

"Max, demons don't really exist. They're just trying to scare us or some shit. Would you like to explain what's really going on, dear brother? Or are you secretly not even remotely related to us?" Jace practically sneered at the term 'brother.' He was evidently still not over the whole situation.

"There's nothing to explain. Hodge said everything you need to know." Alec declared. He turned to Izzy.

"You believe me, right?"

Izzy gave an enthusiastic nod, but her scrunched up face clearly expressed what she really thought about the whole thing.

"Guys-"

"Lieutenant Lightwood?" Alec was interrupted, yet again, by an older lady in her thirties. Her resemblance of Luke, Clary's uncle/pseudo-father immediately identified her for the rest of the group.

"Amatis, good to see you. And please. Just Alec," Alec gave her a quick hug as the rest of the group looked on in confusion.

"Amatis? I thought you were in like Africa studying lions or something?" Clary looked very betrayed at that moment.

"Sorry dear. I would love to explain but it looks like we're heading out soon."

Amatis was right. The students were streaming out of the building in hordes. Once they reached the courtyard, right by the entrance to the school, Hodge stopped everyone.

"We will momentarily release the wards and you will all see the reality of the world we live in. Just remember not to panic, and in case of emergencies, look for either your guardian for guidance or another shadowhunter that bears the mark of Idris." He glanced around, as if confirming that the students were ready. Not that Alec thought he would've waited if he saw apprehension of hesitation anyways.

Hodge kneeled before the gates of the school that were now wide open. He took out his stele and started to decorate the dirt beneath him with black ink. A few seconds later, the process started.

It began in the center of what seemed like a clear blue sky. A square shard of bright blue broke off the illusion of a picturesque sky, revealing a fiery red beyond it. The first break in the beautiful facade seemed to set off the rest, as if they were dominoes. Cracks could be seen in the sky as shard by shard different hues of blue came raining down like diamond snow. Crimson reflected off azure in a dance of twinkling lights, creating a fleetingly elegant yet haunting image.

The school, Alec included, was revelling in the mesmerizing scene until a piercing shriek shattered the transient moment. Alec's training immediately kicked in; he pulled out his bow and took aim. His arrow hit his mark dead center, the demon inches away from gorging a poor boy's throat out.

It was dead silent for a moment, besides the boy's panting breathes and the gurgles as the shax demon made remnant twitches on the floor.

"And this, ladies and gentlemen," Hodge gestured towards the lumpy puddle of ebony ichor, "is why you need a guardian. Let's move out."

Alec hated the eyes that were glued to him, especially the ones belonging to the high schoolers. His own group wasn't helping; the heat of their stares could've set him on fire if not for the laws of physics.

"Um, we should get moving too."

"Is that all you're going to say?" Jace was incredulous, but he started following the crowd anyways. "I just saw my brother, who I thought was just a quiet and shy boy, shoot some creepy demon thing dead center in the head from one hundred yards away, and the only thing that comes out of your mouth is to shepherd us like a bunch of cows?"

"Actually shepherds herd sheep. Cowherds herd cows."

Jace threw up his hands in exasperation.

"That's not the fucking point!"

Alec fidgeted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the rest of the group. Amatis, Angels bless Amatis, took pity on him and directed whatever attention she could get on herself.

"Guys we really need to get going. No matter how talented a shadowhunter, it's almost impossible for just two to defend a group of six and somehow escape unharmed. Now come along before we all become demon bait."

When the group finally had their backs facing the two trained shadowhunters, Amatis gave him a pity-filled grimace, and Alec could do nothing but sigh and shrug, quickening his steps to catch up with the rest of the group.

Although the image of sullen and frightened backs heading into the red sunset should have seemed hopeful and magical, all Alec could see was the image of prisoners being marched into a slaughterhouse.

A/N: Once again, if you spot any mistakes and stuff, please comment. And I'm sorry for the delays and stuff, but I'll do my best to write faster! If you have any ideas of any sort, that would be great as well!