There was an aura that surrounded the Institute, one of Nephilim and its presence was accepted as a long standing gift from the Angels. Warlock Randall didn't want to be here and was aware of the possibility, he was in over his head. He should have not made this deal with shadowhunters. He thought it best if he gets his meeting over quickly with Aldertree.
Aldertree glanced at Raj before he glared at Warlock Randall, "Alexander Lightwood is dead, you are certain." Aldertree wasn't sure, he had a bad feeling since they attacked Lightwood, and he really wanted to see a lifeless body to assure himself.
"Yes, as certain as I can be. The magic the demon used was different but it felt right. You saw the same thing I did, the boy disintegrated into the air of the pentagram." Warlock Randall was getting annoyed with all this repeated and double checking of facts. If he was honest with himself, he wasn't really paying close attention to the demon as he was casting a spell to coincide with magic around the pentagram.
Raj added, "Izzy doesn't remember Alec, but when I asked her, she told me that I was the second person to ask her about her siblings. She informed me that Underhill had stopped by to ask about her family and then she demanded to know what was going on."
"You didn't mention Alec's name to her?" His heart jolted at the thought of his plans going awry. "What did you tell her?" Aldertree was irritated, he wanted to be thorough and was starting to think he choose his allies poorly.
Raj rolled his eyes, "I didn't say Alec's name. I told her we were working on a new schedule and possibly switching positions around."
"She accepted that?" Aldertree knew Isabelle Lightwood was smart, and he didn't need her suspicious of him and start snooping around.
"Not at first but I told her I was merely doing my job of checking on personnel for the reasons of re-organization." Raj was confident in his mannerisms around her and wasn't worried.
"Look, you seem to have this covered, I need to go." Warlock Randall had enough of this pointless meeting.
"No, Underhill may be a problem. We need you take his memories, no loose ends." Aldertree's tone meant they were far from done.
"He may not have any memories of the Lightwood boy, send him away to wherever you people send shadowhunters. I'm done with this." Warlock Randall was fed up.
"You will do what we need or you'll find yourself in a cell." Aldertree nodded at Raj, who got behind Warlock Randall and cuffed his hands.
##
When Luke finally returned to the loft with Simon in tow, he explained to the group that all of downworld leaders did not remember Alec. It was how they didn't know him or heard of him and the blank expressions that made Luke realize that the young man in Magnus' loft was a victim of foul play, and that meant it wasn't good for the downworld. He insisted on going with Alec and Underhill to help and Simon's vampire abilities may come in handy.
Magnus and Catarina stayed behind to cast the spell from the roof of the loft. They prepared a pentagram to boost the coin's magic to help the spell and waited for Alec to text Magnus to begin the cast once they were inside the Institute.
Alec Lightwood, Underhill, Luke and Simon entered the New York Institute near the basement. It wasn't used as much and most likely not watched by security. Alec thought it best if they used lesser known passage ways of the Institute. They could get inside unnoticed. It would be best to surprise Aldertree and his companions. While his Mother wanted to come along, he told her stay at the loft. She did help her son with ideas of how to get around without being seen. There were things Heads of Institutes knew about the places they have run.
When they got to a darkened corridor close to the Ops Center, Alec sent a text to Magnus so that the warlocks could cast the spell. He wanted the shadowhunters to not pay attention to them and they wouldn't if they remembered Alec and they wouldn't give Luke or Simon a hard time because of being with him. No one would alert Aldertree because they would recognize the Head of the Institute Alec Lightwood. He waited for Magnus to text back that it was done.
The Institute was hit with a bright wave of blue and gold that went into the building at the speed of light when the wave hit the power core, the colors combined and the following blast of a green wave flew out of the building covering all of New York. Magnus watched the magical wave cover the area and then dissipate. He waited a few seconds before sending a text to Alexander. He looked at Catarina, "So, do you know Alec?"
Catarina shook her head and then stared at Magnus in relief, "yes, I do know who he is, he's your man."
Magnus sent his text to Alec and turned to his friend,"I'm going to the Institute, I want to help Alec." Magnus needed to make sure his shadowhunter would be alright and that meant all the firepower of the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Catarina smiled at him, gestured for him create a portal and go. She had a daughter at home that needed her.
##
Alec's phone buzzed, he checked the text. He looked at Luke and Simon to see if they recognized him. Both men blinked a couple of times, as if it would clear their heads. Luke looked at Alec and gripped his hand, "it's good to see you and know its you."
Simon looked at his companions in awe, "okay, that was really like a Doctor Strange type moment."
Alec stopped himself from rolling his eyes, he hadn't a clue as to what Simon was talking about and thought it best to not ask. "Okay, let's go." They walked through the Ops Center with no one paying any attention to them. Alec went to the weapons locker first to get a blade and his signature weapon. He was certain he didn't need his bow, but it was as much a part of him as his runes.
He told Underhill to do a quick security check while he went to his room to get dressed. Storming the office in pajamas wasn't exactly something he wanted to do. They met Alec at his room and then made their way to the office of the Head of the New York Institute. The goal was to be as inconspicuous as possible and not give Aldertree or Raj any warning, the element of surprise was on their side and he planned on using it.
##
Warlock Randall felt the magic course through the building and out again. He knew he would have to escape somehow. This wasn't good, and he was certain something bad was about to happen.
Raj and Aldertree forced the warlock into a chair until they decided what they would do with him. While going through whatever final details they needed to take care of, the door to the office opened and Alexander Lightwood walked into his office with Underhill, Luke and Simon behind him.
Aldertree looked at Alec and kept surprise from his face, "Alec, we were waiting for you."
"No, no you weren't. Surprised?" Alec and Underhill had a blade in their hands ready for a fight and waited to see if Aldertree or Raj would attack them.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Aldertree slowly made his way to the sitting warlock. He knew if he was to escape this situation it would be with the warlock's help.
"Don't you? You summoned a demon and cast a spell on New York to gain control of the Institute. I know everything you've done." Alec glared at Aldertree daring him to deny his words.
"You can't prove any of that, its just gossip." Aldertree was trying to stall the Lightwood male.
"And I've told you before the Clave loves gossip. You will be investigated." Alec moved closer to Aldertree.
Raj made a run at Alec only to be grabbed by Underhill and thrown to the ground, he forced Raj's arms behind him and held him down with his legs. He didn't want to harm him, but he wasn't letting him anywhere near his boss.
Simon used his vamp speed to knock Aldertree to the ground and quickly controlled him with his strength. He recognized the stele in the back pocket, and he was well aware how shadowhunters used this item. It may look like a pen but it was a weapon, he flicked it away easily.
Luke was impressed with both Underhill and Simon's quickness in containing the two men. Alec took the handcuffs that Luke handed him to cuff Aldertree, then he and Simon picked him up. Underhill kept his hold on Raj, while the shadowhunter struggled, he wouldn't be free of him. Alec went to his desk to get another pair of cuffs for the wayward shadowhunter.
"Take them to the cells, I'll have Magnus portal them to the Clave in the morning." Alec was glad this situation was over and he could get back to his life. This was one day he never wanted to repeat.
Magnus was already in the doorway, smiling at his lover. "I can do that now if you want."
"No, I have to file a report first and make sure the guard is there to take them into custody. It can wait 'til morning." Alec wanted to go home and reconnect with Magnus properly.
Underhill called for more security to help escort the traitors to the cells.
"What about the warlock?" Underhill wasn't sure what was to be done with him.
Magnus answered for Alec, "keep him in the cell, I'll contact the Warlock Council and see what they would like to do with him." Magnus glared at the errant warlock who was so foolish to get caught up in this scheme.
Alec started to walk to his desk but Magnus reached out for his arm and held him back, "it will be there in the morning, let's go home."