Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments series or any of its characters.
Alec stood in the kitchen, leaning back against the counter. A hot cup of tea rested in his palms as the morning sun began to shine through the windows. Footsteps padded down the hallway, followed by the sound of a cat's prancing paws. An angry looking warlock appeared in the doorway, his dark hair flopping over his eyes.
"Oh," he grumbled, "It's just you."
The flutter of love that had filled Alec's heart faded at the sight of his ex-boyfriend. "Good morning to you too," he muttered.
Magnus grabbed a can of cat food, popped it open, and dumped it into Chairman Meow's dish. "I hope that you understand that I am still not getting back together with you."
Alec glanced up from his tea. "Why did you help me in the first place?"
"I felt sorry for Meredith," he paused before adding, "And just because we broke up doesn't mean that I want you to die."
Alec was quiet before putting his mug down. "Okay. I'll wake Mere and we'll get out of your hair." As he walked out, Magnus called after him.
"And don't expect me to help you in the future."
A small figure was curled atop the bed sheets where Alec had left her when he had grown restless. Her halo of blonde hair was spread across the pillows, so light that it almost blended in with the white of the bed dressings. A gentle smile played with her lips as she dreamed behind her closed eyelids. Alec knelt at the bedside, just in front of her. "Hey," he whispered, lightly shaking her side, "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty."
Her eyes fluttered before opening. She grinned wider and grabbed his hand in hers. "Hi," She said sleepily.
He placed a soft peck on her forehead. "We need to get back to the Institute," he said quietly. She sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eye. The sweatshirt that Magnus had given her (which happened to be Alec's) swallowed her small frame. When she climbed off of the bed, it fell at about her mid-thigh, and the sleeves hung loose over her hands.
"Can't I just go back to Clary's?" she protested.
Alec looked at her with clear concern in his face. "I'm sorry, but you have to go. You will have to return at some point, so why not make it now?"
She stared up at him as he stood, her eyes sad. Alec remembered that it had taken a while to get used to those black eyes. They were such a distinctive feature that brought about a stark contrast against her pale skin and light hair. Although they were black, her irises didn't blend in with her pupils. Against the whites of her eyes, however, they were prominent and eye-catching.
"But Mayrse-"
"I won't let Mayrse get to you," he defended her, hatred filling his voice at the thought of his mother.
She nodded weakly, her expression softening. Her hands began to absently braid her blonde hair, readying herself to leave.
Luke Garroway paced the length of the library, internally debating which of the issues that they currently faced was more pressing. "So, you're telling me that you have absolutely no idea where your children are?" He questioned Mayrse angrily.
"I know that they are somewhere in the city," she replied, looking up at him.
His hands covered his face in attempt to hide his frustration. When he had woken up this morning, he had found a small piece of paper on the kitchen counter written in Meredith's curly cursive script. "Thanks for everything. Off to fulfill duties elsewhere," was all that it said. Logically, Luke assumed that she had returned home to the Institute, but when he had arrived to speak with Mayrse about Valentine Morgenstern, Meredith was nowhere to be found, nor with Alec.
"They'll find their way home eventually," Mayrse shrugged.
Luke's anger was beginning to escape, "They could be injured! I don't know if you fully understand what is out there right now. Sebastian could be lurking anywhere. Demons roam the streets after nightfall!"
Just as Luke finished his argument, there was a noise outside the library. The elevator had just arrived.
Within seconds, the oak door flew open. "They're back!" Clary called.
At that, Luke perked up. He found himself in the foyer in a few large strides, where he saw Meredith and Alec, who was leaning on his sister for support as he appeared to be limping. From behind Luke, Jace rushed forward. "By the Angel," he swore, "where the hell have you guys been?"
"Magnus's," Alec said in a voice of distaste.
Meredith retold the events of the previous night, letting go of the personal details of her dream, but purposefully leaving out the part where he was in love with her. All the while, he clung to her side. The pain of his injuries had returned, waking from the dull ache that they had receded to.
"What the Hell were you even doing out so late, Alec?" Jace demanded.
Everything went silent. He shifted his weight and spoke the first excuse that came to mind, "I just… had to get out. I couldn't sleep."
Somehow, despite how pathetic Alec was at lying, everyone seemed to buy it. "Come on, you need to get some rest, and I don't think that another Iratze would be a bad idea either," Meredith sighed. He nodded and they began to walk. Out of the corner of his eye, Alec could see Jace edge forward, clearly wanting to help, but unable to because of the Heavenly Fire in his veins.
Jocelyn stood beside Luke, watching the pair make their way across the room. Watching Meredith with the newly learned information of the previous day made her realize the resemblance she shared with her father. With white blonde hair and black eyes, they looked exactly the same, but Meredith carried herself in a way that was starkly different.
"Now we can discuss why I'm really here," Luke said to Mayrse, turning back into the library.
Alec slouched forward on the edge of the infirmary bed. Meredith walked in, having just changed out of Alec's sweatshirt into her usual gear. Her Stele was balanced delicately between her thumb and forefinger, "Where do you want it?" she asked, referencing Alec's Iratze.
"My back?" He suggested, to which she nodded. Carefully, he pulled up his shirt, exposing his scarred and scratched back. He felt her cold hands press against his bare skin and straightened his spine slightly. The Stele burned against his flesh, but it was a pain that he had grown accustomed to over the years. With each sweeping stroke, the healing rune took form and he began to feel sudden relief from his injuries.
"Is that any better?" She asked, peering around his shoulder. He nodded, a lopsided grin forming on his lips. Her gaze moved from his eyes down to his mouth, and her hand crept up his spine and around his neck. Slowly, she leaned in and fell into his kiss.
He rocked back under her weight and fell onto the bed. His tongue slid beyond her lips and teased at her mouth. Carefully, he rolled to his side, covering her body with his own, exerting his dominance. She giggled slightly, introducing her tongue to him. But then the sound of a booming voice interrupted.
Her muscles tensed. Simultaneously, they pushed away from one another, making a quick second of panicked eye contact.
Despite the panic that it had cause, the voice continued down the hallway. It was Luke, speaking to someone else. "She says that she doesn't think a trip to Alicante is necessary," he was saying, "even thought this ordeal could effect Meredith's residency at the Institute. The Clave won't want another tie to the Morgenstern family in New York."
Alec and Meredith met eyes again as Jocelyn replied. "Her family is here, though. They wouldn't take her away, would they?"
"It's likely. When the Clave is at stake, they won't want to take any chances. They'll find it even more suspicious if Mayrse refuses to cooperate."
As the voices faded with distance, Meredith stood. Her face glowed with anger. "I'll be right back," she fumed, pacing towards the door. Alec watched as she left, not wanting her to go. After she disappeared from his sight, he rose and followed.
"Why is it that you find such pleasure in the pain and torture of your children?"
Mayrse looked up from her glass of wine as Meredith's words cut through the silence. "Now, dear, what makes you think that?"
Meredith shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe it is the fact that you partake in it so often," she sighed, unsheathing her knife while completely unaware of the fact that Alexander Lightwood was ducked behind a bookshelf, listening.
"Perhaps they were right. You are far to sensitive to be a real Shadowhunter," her mother retorted.
She plunged her knife into the desk. "Excuse me?"
Mayrse grinned, "Being a Shadowhunter takes a kind of strength in which you lack."
Meredith sighed, ignoring the compete irrelevance of the statement. "We are going to Idris, whether you like it or not." The anger boiled hotter inside of her.
"Good luck getting the Clave to approve, with my husband as the Inquisitor."
"Oh, he with be rather eager for us to prove that you cheated on him. With Valentine."
That statement struck Mayrse. Enraged, she yanked the knife from the mahogany desk. In one motion, she launching it toward Meredith.
A scream pierced the air as the blade sailed across the room. Mayrse had barely missed, having not trained in so long. The knife had impaled itself in the wall behind Meredith. In an instant, she was pinned against the case, her mother pursuing her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a slight movement in her vision. "Alec!" she shouted, gasping for breath.
He stared, horrified. Everything had seemed to slow down. His breath caught in his chest. He had to do something, but he didn't know what.
Meredith emitted another ear-splitting shriek. Within seconds, the library doors snapped open. A stream of people flooded into the room.
"Mayrse!" Luke growled. Mrs. Lightwood scowled, no more than an inch from her daughter's face. Her breath reeked of red wine. "Let her go!"
She grasped the knife that was lodged in the wall, "Say that you won't go," she demanded in a low voice.
Meredith shook her head defiantly.
"Say it," Mayrse snarled, pulling the knife free, "because it would be a pity if I had to destroy such a pretty face." The flat of the blade brushed against Mere's face. The tip punctured her lip and slashed across her chin.
Then Luke pounced, claws extended. A firm gripped yanked at Meredith's arm. Jace pulled her away to safety. In the commotion, she caught a glimpse of Clary, who cowered in the doorway.
"Drop the knife," Jace ordered. To his surprise, Mayrse listened. The clang of the blade on the wooden floor echoed into the sudden silence of the library.
Alec's hand shook in horror at the scene that had just unfolded before his eyes. Meredith stood not but a foot away from him, clearly shaken up.
"Come on, Mere," Clary urged, tugged at her older sister's wrist. Alec watched as the two of them rushed out, a stream of blood dripping from Meredith's face.
I'd greatly appreciate it if you would give me a little review! It doesn't have to be much, just a little feedback. :)