A/N: I'm terrible I know, but I did say that updating would be patchy and please don't be mad at me because here's chapter 7. I was busy with school and I had a terrible bout of writer's block, but fear not, the inspiration is back at full force.

Chapter 7

Meanwhile, in the infirmary

"So? Are you going to tell us what business you have with the Mortal Cup" asked Clary, looking at Rufaro.

"Well-", Rufaro started, but was interrupted when Alec entered with a far off look on his face as he sat on Maxwell's bed. There was a hint of a smile on his face. The others looked at him as if he had grown a second head whilst Rufaro was inwardly jumping up and down at the fast progress his charge and her destined were making. Things were truly looking up, now if only they could take care of this greater demon threat that was looming over Max's head.

"What are you so happy about?" Jace asked suspiciously with a scowl set on his face. Alec had been acting strangely since that girl arrived yesterday, he was doing things that were just out of character for him and he should know, Alec is his friend.

"Why would you ask that?" Alec countered with his own question.

"You were smiling" Jace pointed a finger at him accusingly, "Just now, you were smiling. What happened?"

"Nothing happened. We walked to Hodge, she went in to talk to him and I'm getting her in two hours" Alec said rather mechanically, "Is that all?" he asked sassily.

Jace looked at Alec incredulously, stupefied even as he answered, "No! That is not all, in fact it is just the tip of the iceberg", Jace's voice began to rise as he continued, "It has been only hours since this girl has arrived and you are acting strangely, what is wrong with you?" he ended up shouting. The others looked on uneasily, not sure whether to interfere or not. They too had noticed Alec's strange behaviour with the girl, hadn't he been interested in men before this girl arrived. It seems as though she had caused a stir far bier than Clary did when she entered the scene.

Alec gave Jace a glacial stare as he slowly inched towards him, "What we talked about is none of your business", he said coldly as he leaned into Jae's personal space, "She will be the one to tell you, that is if she wants to. And as for what is wrong with me, I am Perfectly fine" he said as he stepped back, "Do any of you have question you want to ask?" he said pleasantly as he turned to the others.

"I would like to have a word with you" Rufaro sad smoothly as he stepped forward, "Privately, if you will" he finished as he looked at Alec straight in the eyes. Alec nodded his consent as he turned to leave Rufaro not far behind him.

When they were out of the infirmary, Isabelle turned to Jace, her left eye twitching as a sign of anger, "What the HELL was that about?" she asked lowly.

"What was what?" Jace asked incredulously with a raised voice, he still could not believe that Alec had acted that way with him.

"The mini interrogation you just staged now genius, what else would I be talking about?"

"Well your brother's strange behaviour for one" Jae said with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

A muscle ticked in Isabelle's jaw as looked at Jace murderously. "I have noticed, but you know as well as I do that if you try to force it out of him, you won't get anything. How stupid could you be?"

"Well sorry if I want to get to the bottom of this" He said sulkily, which was rather unbecoming of him, but Isabelle could be very scary when she wanted to. Simon and Clary were as quiet as church mice all this time these arguments were happening, neither knew what to do so they just kept out of it and observed. "I want to know what caused this drastic change in him" he finished looking at the doors leading out of the infirmary with a calculating look on his face.

"Oh no you don't" Isabelle said when she followed his line of sight, "You will let them talk privately, there's clearly something up here and Alec will tell us if we are in any danger from our 2 visitors, and so will Hodge. He is my brother, and I trust him not to put us in harm's way.

Outside the infirmary

Alec felt a tingle run over his body as Rufaro waved a hand in a circular motion. "What was that?" he asked wearily.

"That is meant to keep this conversation private" Rufaro said calmly, "I assume Lady Maxwell has told what she is?" he continued, it wasn't really a question, he knew she had told him.

"Yes, she did" Alec answered carefully

"Then I will tell you what I am" he said seriously, "I am an angel, Lady Maxwell's guard. She is in grave danger, and I assume by that confused look she did not tell you that."

Alec's jaw tightened at the thought of Maxwell in danger, "No, she didn't divulge that piece of information."

"Well then I guess she left that task to me" Rufaro said gravely, "The Greater Demon Abbadon is looking for her and the Mortal Cup" he added plainly, better the ripping-off-the-band aid method than dragging the explanation right.

At that, Alec leaned heavily against wall, it was a lot to take in. First he finds out that Maxwell is an Ascended Nephilim, now he finds out that Rufaro is actually an angel and that Maxwell is being hunted by one of the worst Greater Demons in existence. 'It seems like it's going to be a long day and it hasn't even started yet' Alec thought to himself as he looked down at his watch to see that it was barely past 8 o'clock in the morning. He was very concerned about this new threat, a Greater Demon no less, add to that he was feeling very protective towards Maxwell and he was still confused about his feelings for Jace and now Maxwell shows up and these new and intense feelings are bubbling inside him, this was really going to be a very long and tiring day indeed.

Rufaro felt sorry for Alec, this is going to be a monumental trial for him if he was prepared to be with Lexia. 'I wonder if she told him her real name yet' Rufaro wondered to himself as he observed Alec's face for his reaction to these news.

Alec steeled his jaw as he asked Rufaro a question in a deadly calm voice, "What does he want with her, and please do not leave anything out".

"Of cause" Rufaro said seriously.

Cliff-hanger and short chapter I know and I'm so sorry for the late update, so this chapter is meant to tantalise your reading taste buds, again, so sorry for leaving you hanging.