Chapter 06: Keep on Believing

Isabelle wandered the halls of the Institute she was searching for Kali as she wanted to talk to her and be sure that she wouldn't be leaving her again. "Did you really mean it when you told us that you weren't going anywhere?" Isabelle questioned, she had found the older girl sitting in the library reading a book that she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Iz, if I didn't mean it I would have been long gone by now," Kali told her as she looked up from the book and placed it on her lap.

"So, you're actually sticking around? Not just for Jace? But for all of us?" Isabelle was curious, as to whether the older girl had ulterior motives.

"I'm staying because I want to. For everyone, and there's also nothing for me to help with – with those kids that you met before. They've all dealt with what they were given and in some cases will continue to do so," Kali paused as she looked at Isabelle and pulled the younger girl onto her lap, pushing the book out of her way. "Iz, I told you before neither of us are complete without the other. Much like Alec and Jace. You're my sister and that won't change ever,"

"Good, because I'd hate to permanently lose you. And I really don't like you being gone," Isabelle told her, pushing her hair from her face and smiling at her. "No one is as much fun to poke as you...plus Alex and Jace are always trying to out do each other,"

"Really now? Izzy, you've always liked to embellish the truth a little bit," Kali stuck her tongue out at her and poked her, she was a more relaxed shadow-hunter after everything she had seen. "You guys are pretty much my life, and always will be,"

"Think you can ever accept Simon and Clary?" Isabelle queried, looking her in the eyes as she spoke.

"We'll see. Jace seems to have a rather soft spot for Clary, and you...you seem to be rather taken by Simon," she smirked looking at her and then looking up as Clary and Jace walked into the library.

"Were you just talking about me?" Jace questioned, walking up to them.

"Maybe. I don't know, were we Iz?" Kali questioned tilting her head towards and closing her eyes as and casting her mind back to the past to see if she had missed anything. "Come here little brother," Kali smiled patting the seat beside her and pushing Isabelle to the other side.

Jace and Clary walked over to where Kali and Isabelle were sitting, they all knew that Magnus and Alec would join them with in moments after Magnus had gotten over his sister probing him. Kali made a swift motion with her hand and moved one of the other couches to opposite them and temporarily rearranged the library.

"What did you just do?" Clary questioned, Isabelle laughed and moved to the other couch.

"Don't worry, it's a temporary spell to rearrange the library – as soon as we leave it will rearrange itself back to normal," Kali replied as Jace sat next to her right as Magnus and Alec walked in still arguing.

"You had no right to ask her!" Magnus raised his voice at Alec as he spoke and then glared at Kali.

"She's your sister and she would have done it without me asking her!" Alec raised his voice equally as they headed towards their siblings.

"Stop it you pair. I constantly check you all, I can't help that." Kali stated pausing before she continued to speak. "You're family it's only natural for me...Clary you too will find that I do it to you,"

"See! I told you that she would have done it anyway. And what do you mean you do it to all of us?" Alec questioned turning his attention to the older girl as he sat on the couch next to Isabelle.

"When you see as much as what I've seen you'll understand," she smiled at him and then took their hands. "I can show you all if you like?"

Clary and Isabelle looked at her uncertainly, they didn't know whether they wanted to see more than what they had already seen during the Dark War. Magnus knew that Kali had seen a lot in the time that she had been alive more so than what Jace and Alec had seen and himself to some extent.

"Look you don't have to see things, the people that you met earlier this year they're the ones that I've helped and seen a multitude of different things," Kali paused briefly before she continued. "I've seen people go to hell and back and to be honest with you that was difficult, they're not the same when they return...they sell their souls in some cases,"

"You've seen people sell their souls?" Clary questioned, that was what had gotten her attention the most.

"Yes, and it is one of the saddest things that I have witnessed in a long time," Kali replied, thinking of the many times that she had seen the Winchester brothers sell their souls in order to save one another. "Alec are you sure you want to?"

Alec nodded, Magnus had told Kali that the younger man wanted to see what she had seen or at least some of the things that she had witnessed. Kali warned him that he may not like what she had seen, as sometimes not even she liked it. Isabelle had moved to sit with Clary and Jace on one of the other couches so as to not get in the way.

"Alec, hold onto Magnus – it will keep you grounded," Kali told him, Alec gave her a curious look. "I don't need to be kept grounded as I'm the one doing the casting," Kali closed her eyes briefly, before opening them and Alec noticed they had turned cat eye. "I still find it bizarre that Maryse is allowing Magnus to walk semi-freely within the walls of the Institute,"

"You're no alone," Magnus said as he took hold of Alec's arm so that when Kali cast the spell Alec wouldn't go mad. "Do it now, Alec close your eyes," Kali nodded and cast the spell sending visions of people that could be saved and ones that had sold their souls into Alec's head. As the visions flooded Alec's head he closed his eyes stumbling as some of the visions showed people on their knees looking up at the demons above them.

"What are you showing him?" Jace questioned, looking to his sister as he spoke and then at his parabatai.

"She's showing him people selling their souls, trading their souls," Magnus told him as Kali couldn't break contact with the particular spell until it was over. "She can't break early or it could harm Alec, and she refuses to do that,"

After a moment Kali ended the spell and grabbed hold of the younger boy pulling him into her arms as she knew the emotions that would be running through his head. Magnus stood looking between Alec and Kali almost hopelessly as Alec grasped for his hand grabbed it tightly.

"Why? How?" Alec stuttered into her shoulder he had all but buried his head trying to keep his emotions under control.

"To be honest with you, I've never known the answer to that and that's what scares me. Mundanes do stupid things all the time," Kali replied kissing the top of Alec's head and hugging him tightly. "Alec, if this gets too much for you, you have to tell either Magnus or myself, please don't let it destroy you,"

"You shouldn't have shown him everything," Jace said, looking to his parabatai and then at his sister.

"Jace, I didn't show him everything. You have seen and done more in your own lives than one should have to deal with at such a young age," Kali told him, still holding onto Alec who hadn't moved but was still grasping at Magnus' hand. "Alec take a deep breath, if this is too much for you Magnus can take it away"

Alec sat with his head resting on Kali's shoulder, trying to contain the emotions that were threatening to break free. He didn't know how she could keep her own under control with what she had witnessed. Magnus sat down beside Alec and took him into his own arms allowing Kali to stand up.

"Kali, what did you show him?" Jace queried, with Clary holding onto his hand.

"No, I'm not showing you and I'm not telling you either," Kali stated firmly before she pulled him over to her. "Jace, I can't some things will destroy you emotionally,"

"But you can show Alec? How is that fair?" Jace was getting annoyed at her now, she may have been his big sister but he felt that it was his job to protect her like he did the others.

"Jace, I can't explain it. Okay?" Kali looked to Alec and Magnus and could see that her older brother was having trouble with helping his boyfriend. "Magnus, here take my hand and do it," Magnus took hold of Kali's hand and pulled some of her strength into his body much like parabatai's did. "Izzy," Kali held her other hand out towards her.

"Isabelle, take her hand," Magnus spoke quietly as he his eyes flashed to their cat form. Isabelle did as she was told taking Kali's hand and watching as the older girl drew some of her strength.

"Alec, take a deep breath," Kali spoke quietly her eyes flashing briefly before she quickly withdrew her hands. "Stop, there's something coming,"

"Kali? What is it?" Jace questioned, watching as his sister moved to look out the window.

"I'm not entirely sure," Kali answered, looking out the window to see if there was anything visible coming. "Magnus, I know that you're weakened, but I need your help," Magnus nodded slowly moving away from Alec as he did so.

Alec slumped against the lounge closing his eyes as his family looked out the window both of them suddenly allowing their eyes to go to their natural cat-like state. Kali and Magnus' eyes went cat-like allowing them to see just a little bit further than what it would be if the shadowhunters used their vision runes. As they looked out the window they still couldn't quite work out what was coming but they knew it was something.