As Jace's adrenaline began to wear off the more painful his injuries were. "Take your shirt off" Alec ordered as he removed his stele from his belt. "There are easier ways to get my clothes off" Jace replied he meant it to be humor filled but his voice was empty of emotion, Alec moved his stele across the wounds on Jace's back. First he felt the burn of the black marks being scrolled onto his skin, then the healing rune began to take effect quickly fading. After a moment Jace felt no pain from his injuries. "Broken?" Jace questioned his parabatai again, looking at his arm. "Dislocated, we need to get back to the Institute" Alec said standing up. Still favoring his left arm.

"Ah, BY THE ANGEL, Jace Wayland!" Alec proclaimed as Jace relocated his shoulder. "Stop being a baby! It's gotta be done." Jace said little sympathy lining his voice.

"We need to find Magnus" Jace said he was both tired and annoyed, his dirty clothes and dirt covered face had been lost to the shower, Isabelle sat across from he and Alec, she had met them at the door concerned with their injuries and angry they had left her behind. Alec winced as his sister etched an iratez (healing rune) into his right shoulder. "Why?" Alec questioned. "clearly he knows something we don't" Jace's voice was lined with irritation. "He's having a party." Isabelle smiled. Alec scowled as he sat back in his chair "I hate his parties." Isabelle met Jace's gaze. "Well, I want to go, don't you Jace?" She questioned. "No." Alec said with finality in his voice. "Just because you're the oldest doesn't mean you're in charge!" Isabelle replied. "except it does." Alec said seriously. "We'll probably find out more tomorrow than we would tonight anyway." Added Jace tiredly. "Whatever." Isabelle growled as she headed back to her room. Alec groaned placing his hand over his eyes "when does mom get back?" He asked "what's it matter she's just as bad when your mom is here" Jace replied "yeah but I don't have to deal with her."

Alec stopped at max's door, quietly he pushed it open, the moonlight reflected on his peaceful face, his glasses askew, a comic book crumpled at his side. Alec smiled at the innocence of his youngest sibling wishing he could stay like that. Alec gently removed his glasses and placed them on his nightstand then pulled the covers over his brother. "Goodnight Max" he whispered as he shut the door behind himself.

The next day, as planned the trio readied to head to Magnus' apartment. Jace hit the buzzer a moment later Magnus' tired voice answered. "Who summons the high warlock so early?" Jace glanced to his friends before replying. "It's Jace, Jace Wayland." Magnus sounded thoughtful. "Hmm... Come in, shadowhunter." Magnus was waiting, standing with the door pulled open. "Come in." Magnus said, "nice to see you Isabelle" Magnus added as she passed the threshold, he regarded Alec with a look of displeasure "Alexander." He commented as he made his way to the living room. "Magnus." Alec replied matching his look but his tone was harder than the warlock's. "I suppose you know why I'm here." Jace said, sitting down on Magnus's red couch. "I'm sure." Magnus said joining Jace on the couch. "Tell me." Jace's voice was mostly curious. "Not with them." Magnus said pointing to the Lightwoods. Alec unhitched himself from the wall. "You know, whatever you say, he's gonna tell us" he said looking from the warlock to his parabatai. "That's him, not me." Magnus said shining his sparkling nails on his silk robe. "Wait outside." Jace said, Isabelle moved toward the door, Alec moving sluggishly behind her.

"They're gone." Jace said, Magnus thought he had a thing for pointing out the obvious. "I hear you have a thing for getting yourself into trouble, sometimes getting caught with the wrong people." Magnus arched his eyebrows. "Sometimes." Jace admitted with a sarcastic smile. "There are rumors about you flowing through downworld." Magnus said

"I don't play with downworlders." Jace's reply was quick. "No, of course not. But someone is looking for you, there's a reward for finding you." Magnus stood and moved toward the door. "The person who is looking claims he can remove curses." Magnus finished. "So I should look for someone who needs a curse removed?" Jace asked joining Magnus. "You have to start somewhere." Magnus answered. "Thank you." Jace replied reaching for the doorknob, Magnus placed his hand on Jace's, causing the shadowhunter to meet his eyes. "Don't trust everyone, think about the people that are close to you." Magnus' tone was a warning one. "The Lightwoods are my family." Jace said. "I wasn't talking about the Lightwoods." Magnus replied.