Authors Note:

It's getting good now! Let me know what you all think and have a great week! See you all next Tuesday! :)


Chapter Seven

Alec POV:

I was woken up in the middle of the night by my phone. I blindly reached out to grab it and answered.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Alec, get back to the institute immediately." I heard Izzy say.

"What's going on?" I asked, more alert now.

"Jonathan." She said. "He struck again."

"Where?" I asked.

"LA Institute." She said. "Several dead."

"I'll be right there." I said as I hung up and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" I heard Magnus say in a very groggy voice.

"Jonathan struck again." I said as I got dressed.

"Is everything okay?" Magnus asked as he sat up.

"Not sure. But he's closer than before. He went after the LA Institute, and several are dead. That's all the information I have right now." I explained. "I have to go."

"Be careful Alexander." He said and I leaned over the bed and pressed my lips to his.

"Aren't I always?" I asked when I broke apart and I looked into his cat eyes.

"I just like reminding you that you have someone to come home to now." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"I never forget." I said. Magnus snapped his fingers and a portal appeared. "You're the best." I said as I grabbed my Stele. He gave me one last smile before I stepped through and landed in the Institute. I had no idea where I was going, but I figured maybe I should check the training room first. I walked in and there stood everyone.

"Finally." Izzy said and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You called me 10 minutes ago." I said. "I thought this was quick."

"We're leaving for the LA Institute." She said and I nodded.

"Anyone we know dead?" I asked.

"Emma Carstairs parents were among the casualties, along with Arthur Blackthorn." Izzy said.

"What could Jonathan possibly get from killing them?" I asked as we geared up.

"Who knows." Izzy said. "Maybe they were revenge killings. They helped us in the first war, and he wanted to get back at them."

"I want to know his end goal." I said. "I want to know why he hasn't gone deep into hiding so that we never find him."

"He's twisted." Izzy simply said. "He probably wants Clary back, and in the mean time, he's taking out those who fought against him in the war."

"Did anyone call Jace?" I asked.

"What do you think?" Izzy asked. "If he knew, he'd be here, and he needs to be with Clary."

"Right." I said. "Dumb question, I just don't like fighting without him."

"This isn't going to be a fight. We're going to assess the damage, and bring all the kids back to this institute. They have no leader, and the little ones will be safer here." Izzy said and I nodded.

"Good luck guys." I heard from behind and when I turned around, there stood Simon. He looked out of place in the institute still, but he was probably just freaked out.

"Thanks Simon." Izzy said as she walked over to him and gave him a hug. Than something hit me.

"Why don't you come with us?" I asked and Izzy and him both looked at me.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Simon asked.

"Yea, he isn't a shadowhunter yet." Izzy chimed in.

"You said it yourself, this won't come to a fight." I reminded her. "It'll be good exposure for him. To see other institutes."

"I mean, I'm not opposed, but it's up to Simon." Izzy said as she looked at him.

"I'll go." He said and Izzy got the biggest smile on her face.

"Okay." I said. "Just stay close." I said and he nodded.

We portaled to the LA Institute and everything was a mess. Paintings were ruined, glass was shattered, and people looked terrified. We made our way into the meeting area where we spotted Helen Blackthorn. I made my way over to her and put my hand on her shoulder and she turned around and sighed.

"Oh thank the angel." She said as she pulled me into a hug.

"How are you holding up?" I asked.

"Everything is in chaos." She said. "Emma is completely out of it, and all she wants is blood. Julian is trying to look after the kids for me, but he's worried about Emma, and normally I have Mark with me, but since he died it's been just me trying to take care of the kids and I'm losing my mind." She started to break down and I pulled her into me.

"You have Izzy and me now, and Simon isn't a shadowhunter yet, but I'm sure he can take over looking out for the kids so that Julian isn't trying to look after them, and Emma all together." I said and she pulled away and looked at me.

"That would be really nice." She said and I smiled.

"Simon, go take over babysitting duties from Julian." I said and he nodded.

"He's in the training room." Helen added. Simon nodded again and made his way through the institute.

"So, what can we do to help?" Izzy asked.

"Right now, it would just be really helpful to calm Emma down, and convince her to leave. Everyone is going to stay with other family members or going to other institutes, so really all that's left is gathering the bodies of those we lost, and leaving." Helen said.

"Why don't you go get all of your things, and your siblings things, and get ready. Leave calming Emma down to Julian, and Izzy and I will take care of the bodies." I said and she nodded.

"Thank you guys. I don't know what I'd do without you coming out here." She said and Izzy and I both nodded and she left. We went to go find the bodies and when we got there, they were mutilated.

"By the angel." Izzy said as we looked at the three bodies.

"He isn't messing around this time." I said and Izzy shook her head.

"If this is what he's doing to these random people, imagine what he wants to do to Clary." She said.

"Don't even think about that." I said. "Nothing is happening to Clary." I said.

"I'm just saying. He tore off Arthur Blackthorn's chest." Izzy said as I looked back at the body. She was right, his chest skin was mauled.

"Does that look like something a shadowhunter can do?" I asked Iz and she made her way over to him to inspect the wounds.

"These are werewolf marks." Izzy said.

"By the angel. He's recruiting downworlders?" I asked.

"Seems like it. But why? Doesn't he hate the downworld?" Izzy asked.

"According to Clary he does. But he could have had to use exigent means in accomplishing his mission. He doesn't have that big of an army anymore. He needs anyone he can get." I said.

"That means the entire rogue downworld could be helping him." Izzy said. "Vampires, faeries, werewolves, warlocks, demons, hell even mundanes with the sight." She said. "It could literally be anyone."

"I know." I said. "This makes it even harder."

"This isn't going to be like the first war is it?" Izzy asked.

"No." I said. "This is going to be worse. Much much worse."


Sneak Peak for Chapter Eight:

"Deep down I know you're right." I said. "But I can't help but want to go out there and get revenge for Clary."

"It's the shadowhunter in you." He said. "It makes sense, but you're going to be a father soon. You need to think about more than just yourself and Clary now. You have a child to protect."

"This couldn't be worse." I said as I sat down. "We have been through enough, why can't we catch a break?" I asked.