Chapter 04
Alec and Agatha found Jace sitting on the floor of the institute, where Jace told them that Clary wasn't his sister and that Agatha had been right. Jace knew that was what she was thinking back when Valentine told them who he was. Agatha wrapped her arms tightly around both of them before the three stood up and went their separate ways.
"Jace, trust me like you always have," Agatha whispered after him as she and Alec headed to his room to talk about Magnus. "Alec, I'm sorry,"
"I know Aggie,"
The following day, Alec and Agatha were sitting on Isabelle's bed with Agatha pulling her close to her while Alec comforted her and told her that no one knew about what was happening with her. Agatha sat with her keeping her calm as she told Alec that he needed to go as there had been another demon attack. Alec went to visit Magnus to find out what he knew about them. Jace admitted to Clary that he wasn't her brother, neither of them knew how to react to what he was saying. Hours later and Jace had called Alec and Agatha on to roof top.
"Jace?" Agatha questioned, before Alec finished the sentence.
"Are you okay?" Jace didn't answer instead wrapped his arms around both of them almost burying his head in their shoulders.
"Hey," Agatha rubbed Jace's back as they both realised what he had done. "It's going to b okay, I promise,"
Magnus, Jace and Alec tried to contain Azazel as they believed that he had their sister. "Azazel! Stop!" Agatha screamed waving her hands and forcing him to stop what he was doing and looking at Clary, Jace, Alec and Magnus lying on the floor. Agatha had been hiding out of sight with Clary before Clary had face Azazel. Agatha looked between Magnus and Valentine and noticed that something wasn't quite right. "Alec...something isn't right,"
"Not now Aggie," Alec dismissed Agatha watching as she walked away from him, and towards the library.
Jace helped Clary up and together the two of them walked inside the Institute. The next morning they were faced with Inquisitor Herondale still in the institute due to Valentine being there. Agatha had spent the morning talking to her – she had missed it. She had also gone to 'Valentine' to speak with him.
'I know big brother, I'll work something out,' Agatha was quite as she spoke before she went back up to the ops room and found Isabelle had returned. "Izzy," Agatha and Clary wrapped their arms around Isabelle.
"Alec, I'm sorry I just needed time," Isabelle said before she walked away from him as he didn't want Sebastian Verlac – a new arrival at the institute who had been helping her – to help.
"Alexander," Magnus spoke to Alec before Agatha turned up to stop Alec from beating him to a pulp.
"Alec, it's Magnus look in his eyes," Agatha told him, before Alec pulled her out of the room and then slammed the door shut behind them. Agatha walked to the library while Alec ran into Jace who had been training with Clary in the court-yard.
"Go find Aggie, tell her exactly what you told me, she'll know what to do," Jace told Alec, he wanted his sister to help their best-friend he knew exactly what he needed.
"How will Aggie know?" Alec questioned, even though he knew deep down that Agatha knew everything she could possibly know. "Also she's in the library," Alec told him before she was face to face with both of them.
"Yes, boys? You believe me now?" Agatha questioned, running a hand over her face before they decided to walk down to the lower levels of the Institute. "Jace...you need to go find Magnus now,"
"Inquisitor Herondale, stop. That's Magnus Bane, and I can prove it," Agatha said, she knew that once the older lady saw the birthmark that she and her brother shared. "Tell me, how old was I when you first met me?"
"You were three years old, it was the same day that you met Alexander," Magnus said as Imogen insisted that he be gagged.
"Grandmother, stop please. He's telling the truth. I was three years old and I wanted a big brother and was teleported straight to Magnus," Agatha told her, pulling the sleeve of her jacket down to reveal an angel shaped birthmark on her shoulder. "Jace has the same one..." Agatha muttered the last part as Valentine and Jace appeared behind the glass wall. "Grandmother, please!"
'You were right Alec,' Jace told his parabatai who ran straight back into the room and grabbed hold of Imogen's hand and the older lady walked out to Valentine and Jace in holographic form. Imogen listened to Valentine talking about Jace being her grandson.
Alec, Sebastian, Clary and Agatha walked Valentine to Magnus' apartment and then stayed out of sight while Valentine walked into the apartment and the door was shut behind them. Agatha and Alec watched the interactions of Sebastian and Clary.
"Jace, she's our grandmother, the reason that I've never fully been thrown from the institute," Agatha wrapped her arms tightly around Jace and kissed his cheek holding him close.
"You knew?" Jace turned to face his sister and looked her in the eyes. "Why didn't you tell me, and don't give me the bullshit about making promises and shit,"
"Jace...I didn't know how to tell you. She didn't know, not until Valentine told her," Agatha took a deep breath and returned the kiss on her cheek. "I told you I would always, always look after you,"
"I know," Jace looked at her and then at Inquisitor Herondale who was looking between both of her grandchildren.
The following day a down-worlder had been found mutilated outside the Hunters Moon. Imogen had requested that Luke be brought into the Institute. Imogen had also announced that Jace would be taking over as head of the Institute once she returned to Idris.
"Magnus, its not his fault. You can blame my grandmother. But please don't blame Alec," Agatha sighed as she walked over to her brother and wrapped her arms around him. "He loves you," Agatha had followed Alec to the apartment and wondered why Alec hadn't just asked for a strand of her own hair. "Magnus,"
"Agatha, you're one of them," Magnus said almost instantly regretting what he had said. "But you're also a part of me," Magnus pulled her closer to him.
"Magnus I didn't know he was going to do it to you," Agatha told him, before she told him that she had to return to the Institute as she realised something was going on. Agatha closed her eyes and sent herself there in time to hear what Imogen was suggesting. "Grandmother, you are not chipping me or Magnus, you always know where I am and you always have," Agatha insisted, she couldn't let herself or Magnus be tagged it wasn't right. "Jace, Alec please don't let her do it,"
"Inquisitor Herondale, Agatha always lets us know where she is and what she's doing. Maybe not by Shadowhunter ways," Alec said almost instantly regretting what he had said. "She will never let harm come to anyone,"
"Grandmother, please – I told you exactly what I was doing and when it was happening, you knew what I was from day one," Agatha looked Imogen in the eyes as she spoke before she turned away from her and started to walk away. "If you want me I'll be at Magnus', its where I feel the safest,"
"Agatha, I have no plans on ever putting a chip inside of you," Imogen put her hand on Agatha's shoulder and pulled the young Shadowhunter towards her. "You are my granddaughter,"
"Then why is Raj and some of the other Nephilim so intent on putting a chip inside me," Agatha questioned as Alec and Jace stepped away from her as did Imogen, knowing that Agatha going a little fiery when she was annoyed.
"Aggie, take a deep breath," Jace stepped forward again, he knew his sister. "Aggie, it's okay," he stepped closer to her putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Jace, you don't know that," Agatha told him, taking a deep breath as she looked at him and and then back at Imogen. "And either do you," Agatha retorted, before her eyes rested on Imogen. "Grandmother, please," Agatha said it again as Jace wrapped his arms around her tighter.
A mere hour later and Clary was standing in front of Jace when Maia was walked into the institute after being blamed for the death of a shadowhunter. Clary heard what Jace had done to her and was close to slapping him before Agatha took her hand and sent a purple spark to her finger tip. Clary looked at her and then at Imogen.
"Clary, it isn't worth it," Agatha told her calmly as she looked between the women and then at her brother. "Jace," Clary walked away from them watching as Maia was taken to the lower levels of the institute.
"Aggie, what do I do?" Jace questioned, running a hand over his face and then through his hair as they walked away from their grandmother after being told that she was returning to Idris.
"You know what you need to do," Agatha told him, and motioned towards Alec who was standing in the ops room talking to Isabelle.
A week later and Alec was in charge of the Institute at the request of Jace who had decided that he was better at being a soldier rather than a leader. Alec was a leader and had knew ideas of how to bring them together. Alec had decided that they needed to unite the down-world and the nephilim. He also sent Clary and Jace on a mission to the Seelie Court to talk to the Seelie Queen. Not knowing that Simon had tagged along, while Agatha sat alone in the library tracking her families moves.
'Alec, something's wrong...I can feel it, I don't know what it is,' Agatha told him, as she searched for what was happening in the Institute and for that she needed total silence. 'Aunt Maryse, interrupt Luke, please,' It was no use, neither of them was listening to her so she had to reach further. 'Uncle Luke! Stop you do this and it will all end badly please trust me,'
"Agatha?" Alec picked up his phone and looked at it seeing a barrage of text messages.
"Alec, some one is trying to do something to the institute," Agatha arrived in the meeting room as Sebastian was pulling Alec aside. "Alec?"
"Come with me Aggie, Sebastian," Alec motioned for her to follow him and then three of them walked down to where Valentine was being held. The three of them found Luke standing over Valentine.
"Luke,"
Was all Agatha said before she turned away from him and let Alec and Sebastian put the handcuffs on him before they started to question him. Agatha felt Jace and Clary returning and felt something off between the two of them so she went to investigate.
"Jace? Clary?" Agatha questioned, both of them not answering her so Agatha did the only thing she could think of and grabbed hold of Jace's arm. "Jace?"
"Not now Aggie," Jace muttered pulling his arm away from her.
"When you're ready to talk come find me," Agatha sighed, sending herself to Magnus' where she always went when she needed somewhere to hide.
Days later and Alec had organised for Valentine to be sent to Idris. Sending Isabelle and Jace to take him there, Agatha was still visiting with Magnus she needed to stay with him whether he wanted her to or not.
"Magnus," Agatha wrapped her arms around her brother as Alec arrived. "Alec, sit your ass down"
"When I was in Valentine's body I was tortured...it brought back memories I had buried," Magnus told Alec, it was something that Agatha knew about him but Alec hadn't known.
"There is nothing ugly about you, I love you all of you," Alec said as Agatha moved slightly away but found herself in the middle of his hug. "That includes you Aggie,"
"And I love you," Magnus kissed him wrapping his arms around Alec tightly and then around Agatha.
Soon enough they were in the lower levels of the Institute and Magnus was creating a portal to Idris, to send Isabelle and Jace there. Magnus sent the team there and was left with Agatha and Alec standing on either side of him. At Idris they discovered that Valentine had not made it through with them. The Clave was less than impressed with them for not bringing him to them.
Robert arrived back at the Institute as Envoy to the Clave much like Lydia had mere months earlier. Alec was less than impressed to see his father, after the discovery from their mother that he had been cheating on her. Jace and Clary had ideas of their own to search for Valentine. Agatha kept to her room until Alec raced to her.
"Aggie, it's Jace," Alec and Isabelle raced to Agatha's bedroom and found her meditating a foot off the ground, their bursting into the bedroom startled her causing her to crash to the floor.
"What about Jace?" Agatha asked from the floor as she looked up at Alec and Isabelle.
"He's in trouble, Idris...that's where dad said that he and Clary went," Alec spoke quickly to Agatha as Isabelle looked between the two of them.
"Let me guess, you want me to create a portal? And how the hell did they get there any way?" Agatha questioned, raising her eyebrow as she stood up. "Give me a minute to get dressed and then I'll go with Izzy,"
"I need you here," Alec told her, almost hating that he was splitting up his best-friend and his sister. "You're the only one I trust to do it,"
"Alexander, how did they get to Idris in the first place?" Agatha questioned, she very confused at to how the two of them had gotten there. "Where exactly are they?"
"Father said they were at Lake Lynn," Alec told her, she was the one person that he trusted quite possibly more than Magnus.
"Stay here, I'll portal Izzy there but then I need to speak with Magnus," Agatha paused for a second, before she continued to talk. "Tell me how did they get there?"
"I think Clary did something," Alec answered looking at Agatha as she raised her eyebrow at him. "Created a portal, there was portal shards in one of the libraries,"
"Izzy, go!" Agatha created the portal to Idris, as they had gotten the approval from the Clave to do so. Isabelle nodded and walked through the portal and found herself standing behind Jace.
Moments later and they were receiving word that Isabelle had located Jace and Clary and that they were both safe and on their way to the cabin. Not long later and the three of them had returned to the Institute, Jace and Clary had joined Alec in his office where he admitted to them that the Clave didn't have the Soul Sword. Agatha walked passed stopping briefly outside the door to listen to what Alec had to say to them before she continued and walked up to the roof top where Isabelle was training and arguing with Max.
"Why do I have to do this?" Max questioned defiantly as he looked directly up at his sister and then at Agatha. "Aggie?"
"Hey, don't look at me...I'm on your side kiddo," Agatha smiled at him and then looked at Isabelle. "Iz, I'm sorry – you know he's ready and I realise that yes he almost died but so did you on your first mission," Agatha paused taking a deep breath before she continued. "Izzy, I'm sorry,"
Max and Agatha watched as Isabelle stomped off heading towards Alec where she berated her older brother for allowing them to be sending Max on his first mission. Alec rebuffed Isabelle by telling her that when they got their runes the same thing happened with them. He even recounted the first mission that he and Jace went on where they needed Agatha's help.
Meanwhile Luke had received a fire-message from his sister Cleophas telling him that the Clave didn't have the Soul Sword and that it was in Valentine's possession. He arrived at Magnus' apartment and told him as much. Magnus then went to the Institute passing his sister in the process, the look on his face told her everything that she was afraid of.
"I'm sorry Magnus," Alec told him listening to the man rant before Magnus walked out and straight past Agatha who didn't seem him leave.
Agatha walked into Alec's office and saw that he was sitting by himself, which was strange as she had seen Magnus walk in minutes earlier. She stood before him, grabbing his face and looking in his eyes.
"Alec? What is it, what happened?" Agatha crouched down in front of her best-friend.
"The Clave...they don't have the Soul Sword," Alec told her, almost regretting the words coming out of his mouth before he found Agatha hugging him. "I told Magnus, he hates me,"
"He could never ever hurt you, and he knows that you wouldn't mean it," Agatha kept her arms wrapped around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "And even more I know that you wouldn't hurt me,"
"I'm sorry Aggie," Alec kissed the side of her head before he pushed her away. Agatha took that as her sign to walk away and go to her room.
Around an hour later and Agatha was sitting in her room, at the opposite end of the Institute when she heard Isabelle scream for someone to get a Medic. Agatha jumped up and ran to Isabelle, Isabelle pushed her away, she wanted her but she didn't want her at the same time. Isabelle looked at Agatha, as the medic's came in and picked up her younger brother. While they stood in the infirmary Agatha pulled Isabelle close to her and called her brother, Alec had been calling him to no avail.
A/N: If you want to see more of Max's storyline see chapter 6 of "Light Up The Sky"