Hey guys! Sorry it's been a bit since I've updated. I was on vacation, went to Warped Tour, then back to work so I've been a little busy. Plus I've been working on my Sherlock fic Reasons. But I promised a new chapter and viola! Anyway enjoy and as always, please review :D

_Chapter 4

"ALLY I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU DON'T WAKE UP I'M GOING TO SET YOU ON FIRE IN THAT BED!" I groaned, covering my ears with my pillow. Jaqi had been yelling at me for the past ten minutes and I was trying hard to block her out. "ALLY I KNOW YOU HEAR ME, EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME!"

"THE HELL DO YOU WANT?!" I heard laughter when I finally answered her.

"You have to wake up. People want you. Mayrse and Robert. Oh and the warlock guy is here." I rise from the bed like a flash. That particular group can only mean one thing. They want to talk about Jaqi.

"Alright, I'll be out in a minute." Inside, I am panicking. Have they discovered anything? I'd only been asleep maybe an hour, it's not even two. Something must of happened. As I dress, I try to calm myself. "It's probably nothing, they just want to discuss details, just like Xavier said." I'm whispering to myself and I know that's weird but I'm scared.

Then there's the added fact of the warlock Magnus being there. I didn't like the feeling he gave me and I was strongly suspecting that he had a closer relation to this group of people than just monetary for his services. I just couldn't figure out what. Is it possible he was an illegitimate child from someone in the family? That was possible I suppose, but he didn't look like anyone I had seen around the institute and even I thought the idea was a little far-fetched.

Who cares about the warlock Ally? Your sister is in danger! Well so much for distracting myself. Dressed and admittedly armed I make my way out of the little bedroom, surprised when Jaqi is nowhere to be seen. I've no idea where I'm supposed to meet Mayrse, Robert, and Magnus so I decide to go stand in the entry hall until someone finds me. It seems like the best idea. But as soon as I'm in the hallway I hear quiet voices and I freeze. It is not generally in my nature to eavesdrop but the voices are so hushed I feel like I just have to know what they're talking about.

I follow the whispers until I reach the end of the corridor and take a small peek around the corner, hiding the rest of my body. There, in the middle of the hallway stand Alec and Magnus. Why would the boy be talking to the warlock? Going against my better judgement I take out my steele and carve the rune for enhanced hearing into my flesh. Instantly the quite garble forms into words as I lean back against the wall, unseen.

"Why didn't you text me? LA is a dangerous place and you were gone for two days." That was Alec and he doesn't sound very happy.

"I am way too old for you to be worrying so much about me you know." Why would he be worrying about the warlock?

"That's not the point Magnus!" I almost smile. Alec sounds like Jaqi when she's denied something. All pouty.

"If you're trying to say you miss me, there's a much easier way to do it than this painful conversation." Magnus's voice has gone soft with a touch of amusement that is leaving me absolutely bewildered. I'm not following any of this conversation. It's quiet for a moment and I'm about to leave when Alec speaks up again.

"I missed you... idiot." There's silence again and the curiosity is just killing me so I turn slightly and peak around the corner.

Oh. Oh.

The warlock has his arms around Alec and they're kissing against the wall. I feel blood rush into my face and a squeak escapes me before I'm able to stop myself. Magnus' eyes snap open and meet mine although Alec hasn't seemed to notice me. The warlock winks and I do the only thing I can think of.

I run.

This meeting is the most awkward thing I've ever attended and it hasn't even started yet. I'm standing with Mayrse and Robert in the dining hall and we're waiting on Magnus.

"I don't understand what's keeping him." Robert's voice is dark and displeased. I feel the blood rush into my face again and turn away from him. I wonder if he and Mayrse know about their son's... relations with the warlock. Suddenly the person of interest strides in, not bothering to wipe the cat-that-got-the-canary grin off his face. He winks at me again and I turn away from him. I don't even know how to begin to think about this man. True, I care not if he's in a relationship with the Lightwood's son. That doesn't bother me. I'm more weirded out by the fact that this guy is the twisted warlock love child of Ke$ha and Lady Gaga. To each their own I suppose.

"Alyssa, how lovely to see you again. Not that it's been so long since our last meet at the portal." He's teasing me and I don't know whether I want to me mad or just laugh.

"Ally, please." He opens his mouth and I'm waiting for something unbearably dry and/or witty to sprout out but he's cut off.

"Magnus, please we have no time for foolishness. This is a serious matter concerning this girl's sister." Mayrse is frowning at the warlock and he waves his hand at her without speaking. "Anyway we should get the main issue out of the way first. Ally, whatever missions you may be sent on here you are, under no exemption, allowed to take them with your sister." Instantly I protest.

"I have to be with her. I have to watch out for her, I'm the only one who knows exactly where her strengths and weaknesses lie." Mayrse is nodding.

"We're aware of that and that's exactly why this rule is being placed. We do not intend to put your sister in any potentially fatal situation, but we need to see how she reacts when someone she doesn't trust implicitly is working with her. When -if- she finds herself backed into a corner, if anything suspicions will happen that will give us any knowledge about which greater demon is tied to her spirit." I scowl. This woman can word it as prettily as she likes but I know what she's saying.

"So you want to back the wolf into a corner and see if it'll bite?" I see a smirk on Magnus' face but ignore it. "You know there's no way I'll allow that. I swear I'll take my sister out of here right now greater demon be damned." Magnus sighs.

"Oh but you can't." I stare at him.

"What do you mean?" He inspects his nails again (purple I notice, does he change them that often?) and looks bored.

"One of those 'finer details' we mentioned." He's even put his own air quotes around finer details. "I cast a spell on Jaqi that basically ties her to the ground the institute is on unless either Mayrse, Robert, or I am with her." At this point I'm shaking.

"This is bullshit! You've imprisoned my sister and plan on poking her with a stick until she lashes out! That's insane, that's barbaric! That's -"

"The only option we have." The unexpected comment from Robert stops me short. He actually looks like he empathizes with me on these points. "I'm not going to sugar coat this for you Ally. Yes, we're backing your sister into a corner. Because it's only when her human body fails that the demon that has attached itself to her spirit will rear it's head. It will not let it's vessel be fatally harmed, of that I am absolutely sure." This does little to pacify me.

"So basically you're saying that instead of letting me protect my baby sister, you're handing the job to a demon and hoping for the best."

"I have a, admittedly small, amount of experience with demons here." I roll my eyes at Magnus. "But I can assure you Robert is right. Demons are relatively possessive with their targets and won't even relinquish weaker ones unless at risk of their own demise. But when one is in control, even partially, over a strong and advanced fighter, like your sister, it will stop at nothing to protect the body." The warlock actually seems serious.

"Fine, whatever. It's obvious I have no choice in this matter anyway but I swear," I swivel around and point at Mayrse and Robert. "If I lose my sister because of an error on your behalf, if my mother loses a child because you messed up somewhere along the way, you will have much bigger problems than a greater demon."

I turn and walk away.