A/N: Next chapter will have more drama, I pinkie swear. Although I have say, I'm extremely proud of myself, I've never written this much in a week- unless it's homework.

I'm pretty forgetful, so I'm doing this just once more: I relinquish all rights to the characters and origins of the idea to the respectful authors of Percy Jackson and The mortal instruments.

Chapter 4

Alec's POV

Magnus leaned against a lamp pole, his shadowed expression brightening when he caught sight of us. "Chairman Meow," he cried out in delight, but when he tried to take the cat out of my hands it scratched him.

"Bad kitty." Jace was laughing, his golden eyes sparkling with humour. I scowled at him, not finding it funny, while worriedly checking out Magnus's hand. The three lined scratches on his arm were superficial and even though I knew it'd heal in no time, I couldn't help feeling concerned.

"Does it hurt?"

"Alec, I'm the High Warlock of Brooklyn, I've been alive for centuries, been in millions of battles, I've kidnapped and tortured. So believe me when I say, I do not flinch from cat scratches."

I winced at the word torture, when Magnus had gone missing I'd been mad with worry, in fact I would have happily helped Jace run Sebastian through with a sword- actually, I would have done that anyway.

Clary looked up from her phone. "Jace, I've got to go, my mum is worried and I don't want her to send Luke after me."

Jace kicked a stone over as we walked away from Percy's house. "Don't know why, Sebastian is gone."

Clary blushed. "Yeah, that's not what she's worried about."

I looked around the street, uninterested in the conversation. The streets were a little crowded and people were starting to stare. "We should probably duck behind that alley and go invisible; even though it's dark we still look pretty suspicious."

We did, the familiar marks of the glamour rune covering my forearm. The alley was just as disgusting as the ones I'd visited today but we continued down it because there was a shortcut nearby. As we were walking, I couldn't help but wonder what things were going to be like now that our lives were no longer in danger- well not constantly anyway. I dreaded the future, my biggest fear was that I'd grow old and Magnus would leave, this fear had led to some irrational decisions. I still can't believe I'd listen to Magnus's ex, Camille, and even considered her proposition to make him mortal. Magnus and I had broken up briefly after that and as a result; I was miserable, he was miserable and even Chairman Meow was miserable.

"So what is she worried about?" Jace asked, interrupting my musings.

"Well, er that... it doesn't matter."

"Spit it out Clarissa Fray."

"She's worried that, if left alone long enough, you and I might do what other teenagers do in the same situation."

Magnus having subdued Chairman Meow was holding him under one arm, the glitter in his hair reflecting the colours of our surroundings. "A reasonable fear but please refrain from more sharing. What you do in your spare time is your business."

Clary's face was now almost as red as her hair. Jace grinned, the corner of his mouth lifting up into a familiar smirk. "I never ask what happens when you and Alec have a 'sleep over.'" I scowled at Jace, unable to prevent my cheeks from heating.

"And if you want to still be able to grow hair," replied Magnus menacingly, "you wouldn't."

Jace glared at Magnus. "Does this crabbiness come with old age or were you just born with it?"

"So are you attending the Clave feast next week?" Clary asked quickly, clearly trying to diffuse the tension.

"You mean the one thrown to show that the Clave are now 'friends' to the downworlders. Even after what they did to the faeries?"

Jace looked at him thoughtfully. "You really didn't approve the Claves decision. You don't think the faeries should be banned from carrying weapons. " It was a statement.

Magnus sighed. "What's the point? You humans make the same mistakes over and over again. I think it's because your lives are so short that you don't have time to learn from them. The faeries have long memories and are well versed in the art of revenge. One day reckoning will come."

I thought about that, the Clave weren't always right, not even my father- and he was the Inquisitor. We as a race thought we were better, better than mundanes, better than downworlders, better than everything- ironically it was one of the few traits we shared with mundanes.

"At least when that day comes we'd have something to do, killing the average low level demon is quickly losing its appeal."

"You're a soldier without a war to fight," Clary replied solemnly, but ruined the effect with an ill timed laugh.

"Nah, there are always demons to kill but that's just a waste of my skills."

I rolled my eyes, I'd have taken offense, but after over seven years of being Jace's parabatai I was used to his ego. And even I had to admit, the demons we've been killing lately have been no competition.

We were five minutes away from the Institute; it was now completely dark except for the glow of streetlamps and houses. Luckily, we weren't near any main streets, so weren't besieged by a constant stream of people- this was New York, after all.

"We should go clubbing tomorrow," Jace said casually, "I would have suggested we go today but we wasted our time looking for Magnus's stupid cat." I blinked, confused. "Heard about this new club that might have hordes of demons that gather every week- doing god knows what, the club is possibly even run by them, bet we can find an adversary worth our time."

That sounded interesting. "Does my mum know?"

"We faced Sebastian on our own; we do not need to tell your mum everything we do." I imagined my mum's calm, cold demeanour, the flash of anger in her eyes, and shuddered.

"We'll have to tell her," Clary said quickly, her face going a little pale.

In the silence that followed, I heard what sounded like footsteps, footsteps that weren't ours. I turned, but saw nothing except a hungry cat that was scavenging bins for food. But the houses on the street cast dense shadows and the trees, though sparse, were so big, that it was possible for someone or something, to hide.

"I think we're being followed," I whispered. We all stood to attention, our ears concentrating on the night sounds. There was the hoot of an owl and the hiss of a cat- most likely the one who'd been scavenging bins. Then there was a shuffling type of noise.

"Demon?" Clary mouthed. We were still walking; not wanting our quarry to know that we were on to it. The shuffling sound wasn't very loud, but as shadowhunters, we had better hearing than mundanes and were used to paying attention to our surroundings, demons didn't always come announced with a huge 'bang.'

I motioned for us to walk into an empty alley way covered in debris- they were coming up too frequently tonight. The alley only had one exit, the way we'd come in, and on the other side was a dead end. Once inside, we slowed our steps so whoever was shuffling could catch up, when it was close enough Jace signalled for him and I to turn and give chase, while Clary and Magnus- who had hid behind a bin close to the exit, stood up to block it. I assumed that Chairman Meow still hid behind the bin.

Jace, being faster than normal shadowhunters due to the excess angel blood, was ahead of me. Our quarry, what I could see of it- it was pretty dark -was humanoid and clothed. 'It' ran off, as soon as it realised we were giving chase, towards the only exit. Which was currently blocked by Magnus, who was armed with his usual blue sparks, and Clary, who held Heosphoros- her shortsword-firmly in her right hand.

"Stop," I yelled, already regretting leaving my bow and arrows at Magnus's. Jace pulled out a sword from his belt and tossed me a thin dagger. "We've got you surrounded."

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"*-*".willingwriter