A/N: Sorry. This is a bit of a longer chapter than usual I think. I'm making up for the fact that I meant to post this yesterday but literally fell asleep while writing it. ^^; Also, the first Malec should be next chapter. It was supposed to be this chaoter but stuff happened and the word count was too much. I had to stop it before it got any longer. I'll edit this tomorrow.

Chapter summary: In which Clary needs some reasurrance, Simon and the police get some answers, and more bad news for everyone.

Morning, Afternoon, and Worry

Clary woke up in an strange position on the floor. Oddly enough, even though she was sprawled the way she was, she didn't feel uncomfortable. Completely opposite in fact. She felt very comfortable and safe. Had she fallen out of the hammock during the night?

A shadow moved across her face and she looked up to see the hammock hanging empty and limp by the window. Her brow furrowed and she carefully unwound her legs from her curled position only to hear someone sigh by her ear. She froze and lifted her gaze to see Magnus slumped in the corner of the room with Clary all but in his lap. His face was devoid of makeup and dark circles emphasized his eyes in an unflattering way. He looked absolutely exhausted.

Clary was confused. How had she ended up here? Why was Magnus holding her? Did something happen? Why couldn't she remember? Had she been asleep for the whole thing?

She tried hard to focus on something dancing tantalizingly at the edges of her consciousness. It was right there. Somehow, Clary knew if she could just catch that fleeting thought, then she'd remember. It was so close.

Monsters! Fear. Pain. Mom!

"I don't want this."

"She won't be a child forever Jocelyn."

Smoky blue, flickering, pulling.

Covering.

Ripping.

Blue.

Mom!

"Mom!"

"Clary!"

Her gaze was suddenly filled with worried gold -feline eyes, blue pulling- and she flinched away. The golden gaze Clary now recognized as belonging to Magnus vanished, replaced by hurt, glamoured brown. She fought back the bought of guilt from her uncle's reaction and leaned against his shoulder in apology.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, running a hand through her mess ginger curls.

She shook her head. "No," she admitted. "What's happening to me?" She sat up and stared at Magnus. "What... How did I get here?"

Magnus cast his eyes around his bedroom before returning to Clary's face. "You had a night terror last night," he said. "Do you remember anything?"

Clary thought back to what had triggered the deluge of images, thoughts, voices, and sensations from earlier but found it difficult to grasp anything. Her mind resisted her efforts to remember almost as if it was aware of something she wasn't.

"Just...snatches of colors," she said, trying to sort through what her mind could remember without panicking. "Something pulling. Blue." She felt the telltale panic begin to rise and stopped digging. "Nothing else."

Magnus sighed and looked away.

"Why?" Clary asked, watching her uncle closely. "Is it important?"

Magnus shrugged unconvincingly. "It depends," he said. "Shall we?" he said, quickly changing the subject and beginning to stand.

Shifting so Magnus could stand and stretch. She chuckled when she heard several gratifying pops from Magnus' back. She stood herself and rolled her shoulders, wincing from the few pops she got. There weren't many but they were intense. She also had a crick in her neck from the way it had been propped up on her uncle's chest for who knew how long.

Speaking of, she hurried over to her messenger bag and began digging through it. She had plugged her phone in to the wall outlet under the window and left her phone sitting just under the flap of her bag. Sure enough, there it sat fully charged. She unplugged it and was greeted by a lock screen filled with texts, a couple missed calls, and at least one voicemail from Simon.

"Want pancakes or are you alright with ordering out?" Magnus called from his bathroom where he was getting ready for the day.

Clary only half heard him, too focused on reading through the numerous texts with growing horror. "Wha-what?" she answered distractedly.

Magnus leaned over so his head poked out of the bathroom to see Clary focused on her phone. Curious, he closed his eyeshadow case and walked over to her. "Clary?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

Clary licked her lips before standing up and facing her uncle. "The cops visited Simon last night," she said, handing her phone to Magnus to read through. "They think he can help with your missing persons case. He's not taking it very well. They asked him to come in to the station to give a statement today."

Magnus scoffed but took the offered phone and read though the texts. The fact he had forgotten to cast a glamour over the place before he'd left was something that bothered him. He'd been so distracted that he'd clean forgot to do what Dot managed to do under much more intense circumstances.

Judging from Simon's texts, Luke wasn't in charge of his case. That was a relief for now at least. A female detective by the name of Beckett was spearheading the case. It wasn't a name Magnus was familiar with but it was worth knowing just in case. The earlier texts were frantic and confused and hurt but they steadily evolved into facts and rambling. Apparently Ms. Lewis still wasn't a fan of Magnus' magnificent self. Some people just had no taste.

"I'll look into it," he said, handing Clary back her phone. "I'm planning on contacting a friend who may be able to take my people under her protection. Also," he added with a sly grin, "I may have a date tonight. Interested in joining me?"

"A date?" Clary repeated flatly. "Now? With who?"

"Oh no one," Magnus said, eyeing his fingernails thoughtfully. He would have to change their color to match today's outfit. "Just a Shadowhunter who may or may not be able to shed some light on this situation. So I ask again." He lifted his gaze and was pleased to see Clary's moss green eyes narrowed in interest. "Care to join me?"

Clary crossed her arms and considered the offer. She swept her gaze up and down Magnus' body and sniffed. "Not if you don't put on something decent," she teased.

Magnus waved away her words. "Everyone's a critic," he said with a dramatic sigh. "I'll snag you something to wear so you'll blend in-"

"Why do I need to 'blend in'?" Clary asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Because we're meeting at a rave," Magnus said, making his way back to the bathroom to finish applying his makeup. Clary followed so he didn't have to raise his voice to be heard. "It's a Downworlder rave so we won't stand out. We can get in, take care of business, and get out with very little resistance." He paused to study the line of black along his lower eyelid. "Since it's a Downworlder rave, we'll know if more Shadowhunters from either the Institute or the Circle show up."

"How?" Clary asked, sitting on the counter and kicking her feet.

"Because Downworlders don't particularly like Shadowhunters," Magnus said slowly as he applied another line of eyeliner under his other eye. "If more than a handful of Shadowhunters arrive, word spreads and the guests either leave or make things difficult for them."

Clary dropped her gaze and stilled her legs. "Elias said I was different," she said. Magnus stopped what he was doing to listen as she continued. "He said I wasn't a 'racist prick.' Are all Shadowhunters racist pricks?" she asked, biting her lip.

Magnus heaved a sigh and placed a hand on his niece's knee. "It's never a matter of all or none," he said. "It's a matter of some and more. Were all Germans Nazis?" Clary shook her head. "No, they weren't," he agreed. "But when you think of a Nazi, you think of Hitler or some stereotypical German from that era, right?" Clary flushed and nodded. "It's something we're trained to do, it's not who we are."

He set his makeup down and lifted his other hand to tilt Clary's face so they could look at each other. He smiled gently. "Not all Germans were Nazis, not all Shadowhunters are racist. But there are enough racist Shadowhunters that many Downworlders assume they're all racist. Although, again, it's mostly a matter of association. If a Downworlder only meets one Shadowhunter and that Shadowhunter is racist, then that Downworlder's perspective of Shadowhunters is less than stellar."

He ran his fingers through Clary's hair, clucking when he found knots. He reached for his spare brush and scooted his niece around so he could reach her hair behind her head.

"Elias has a personal reason for hating Shadowhunters," he said as he carefully brushed the knots out of Clary's hair and began weaving it into a messy braid. "Before you were born, there was an Uprising. A group of Shadowhunters calling themselves the Circle broke off from the Clave and began killing Downworlders for no reason other than they saw us to be beneath them."

"Your mother escaped that madness as soon as she could," Magnus continued. "I helped Jocelyn keep you safe so she could establish herself in obscurity among the Mundanes. Elias...wasn't so lucky." Magnus set the brush aside and focused on braiding. "The Circle murdered his wife. He didn't take it well. I was able to stop him from doing something stupid but he still holds no love for Shadowhunters."

As Clary sat quietly and listened to her uncle speak, the gravity of the situation began to finally sink in. "I'm a Shadowhunter," she said softly.

"But you aren't a racist," Magnus said, tying off the braid and stepping in front of Clary. He pulled her into an embrace and held her. "No one is born evil or racist. They're taught to be racist. It's a choice. You were taught to accept change and welcome differences as something to be proud of. Mundanes make up for their inability to comprehend the Shadow World by accepting almost everyone who chooses to hide among them as their own. It's not perfect, but in a way Mundanes are much further along than many Shadowhunters as far as acceptance is concerned."

He pushed Clary away so he could meet her eyes seriously. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Promise me you won't degrade yourself because some stuck up prick judges you," he said, placing a kiss on Clary's head. "Instead, prove them wrong and rub it in their snot nosed faces. Make them eat their prejudices for breakfast. I wouldn't find a dash of fabulous amiss either," he added playfully.

He counted the soft laughter from his niece a small victory. "Look," he said. "Let's go get food then calm your friend Simon down. He's going to need one hell of a pep talk before giving a statement to the police this afternoon." Clary smiled and nodded. "Don't forget we have an appointment at a rave tonight," he added with a wink, tweaking his niece's nose teasingly.

She swiped his hand away. "I'm cooking," she said, hopping off the counter. "I need something to do."

Magnus watched her go and felt an odd mix of emotions in his stomach. Pride, worry, love, and fear twisted into a knot even he wasn't sure he could untangle. He was proud of the young woman Clary had grown up to be. He worried for her safety and sanity. He loved her as the niece he could never have and he feared her reaction when she found out the truth of what he'd done to her mind.

Shaking his head, he finished applying his makeup and made his way out to the living area of his loft. Mats, blankets, and sleeping bags littered the floor. Quite simply, Magnus did not have enough beds for everyone so the warlocks in his Lair improvised. Warlocks were good at improvising. He scanned the stirring crowd and found Elias in the kitchenette watching Clary cook from a safe distance.

"Elias," he called just loud enough to be heard. The other warlock turned to him and Magnus made his way over, stepping around sleeping warlocks as he went. "I have to handle a couple things today before meeting that Shadowhunter this evening," he said.

"You're going?!" Elias said, glaring at Magnus in disbelief.

Magnus held up a hand to forestall Elias' inevitable rant. "If the jewel is what I think it is, than it could be useful beyond its sentimental value," he said.

"Why?" Elias demanded.

"It's enchanted," Magnus explained patiently. "It pulses when demons are nearby. That could be useful considering recent events, don't you think?"

Elias hunched in on himself. "You think demons will get involved in this?" he asked, hoping Magnus would say otherwise.

"I don't doubt it," Magnus said wearily. "I haven't been able to contact Ragnor since this whole madness began," he admitted with a quick glance in Clary's direction. "It's possible he's gone into hiding and the last thing he needs is for his cover to be blown by one of us blundering in asking for help." He tapped a ringed finger on the island countertop distractedly. "I was hoping he could take the warlocks in, get them out of New York. Now it seems that option's no longer available."

"What about Catarina?" Elias asked. "Is she coming?"

Magnus winced and shook his head, forehead creased with worry. "No," he said. "She's elected to stay at the hospital as long as she can."

"She'll constantly be surrounded by patients and other doctors," Elias said, placing a hand on Magnus' arm, stilling his nervous fingers. "As long as she's in public, she should be fine."

"She still needs to sleep," Magnus fretted.

"You seriously think doctors and nurses don't just drop asleep in the most random places on and off shift in the hospital?" Elias asked with a small amused smirk. "She should be fine. Besides, the chances of the Circle trying to kill her in a place like that are low. It would be too difficult. She'd be too easily missed. Not to mention the security, people everywhere..." He gripped Magnus' hand harder. "She'll be fine."

Magnus nodded reluctantly. "Then what do you suggest we do?" he asked, glancing at the warlocks just beginning to wake up.

"Well they can't all stay here forever," Elias said. "It's painting a target on your head."

"As if it wasn't there already," Magnus said snidely. He immediately regretted the quip when he saw Elias' reaction. He patted his friend's arm in apology. "I could ask Tessa but I'm not sure she'd appreciate a sudden influx of warlocks to the Spiral Labyrinth."

"Might as well. We need more shields anyway," Elias said with a shrug.

They were interrupted by the clatter of a plate piled high with pancakes planting itself firmly on the counter by their arms startling both of them. The warlocks glanced up at Clary who lifted her eyebrow at them, lips pursed. "You two worry like a couple of old bitties," she said. "Take a break and eat. I'll text Simon to set up a meet," she said to Magnus. "Any suggestions?"

Magnus shrugged. "Surprise me," he said. "Just be sure to at least try to keep us off the radar," he teased. "I am missing after all."

Clary rolled her eyes and poked him as she began to stir the mix and pour it onto the pan to make more pancakes, typing away on her phone with her free hand.

"Careful biscuit," Magnus said, drawing Clary's eye. "Wouldn't want to ruin that phone. I love the competition for fairest of them all." He grinned and winked.

Clary gave him a flat stare, activated Siri and, without breaking her gaze from Magnus, asked, "Siri, who is the fairest of them all?"

"Clary, you are fair 'tis true but..." the Apple A.I. began. "No, you are the fairest of them all," is finished.

Clary snapped her fingers and swung her hips at her uncle defiantly. "Good answer," she chirped, tucking her phone and bejeweled phone in her pocket.

"Burn," Elias said, huffing a laugh. He quickly bit his lip and made his escape before Magnus could glower at him.

Simon felt horrible. He hadn't meant to yell at his mom like that. He was still beating himself up over that. He loved his mom. He knew she tried her hardest to make ends meet for himself and his sister Rebecca and he loved her with all his heart. She was his mom for crying out loud. But it hurt every time she insulted something he liked.

She had been hesitant about his befriending Clary in the beginning but she'd warmed up to Clary over time. Magnus she had never warmed up to. She tolerated him for Simon's sake but she made it very clear she didn't approve of him. She'd stopped trying to keep Simon away from Magnus because he had never said or done anything that bothered her to the extreme. He was just different. That made her uncomfortable.

But Simon had seen Magnus in his natural habitat and enjoyed the eccentric man. Seriously though, when did he get the chance to watch a full grown man bash a piñata like a kid? Never until he met Magnus. The guy had become an uncle and father figure to Simon without him even realizing it.

Now come to find out Magnus was actually a warlock who could use blue fire magic stuff and someone was out to get him and Clary? And the police, or at least Mr. Luke was involved? What? Don't get him started on that Detective Beckett lady. Simon still wasn't sure what to make of her yet. She seemed nice. But then again so did Luke.

He groaned and dropped his head in his hands. This was just too much to take in all at once. He had to be at the precinct to give his statement soon, but here he sat at a small café he'd never heard of before waiting for his up till now missing best friend and uncle to show and give him some much needed advice. He could feel the gazes of several patrons in the café on his back and tried to still his nervous fidgeting. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.

He pulled out his phone hoping he'd received another text from Clary but still nothing. He checked the time and slumped so his head thunked dully on the table. It had barely been three minutes since he'd arrived and it already felt like forever. This was utterly miserable.

"Simon!"

Simon immediately sat up and zeroed in on, "Clary!" He jumped up and embraced his best friend as tightly as he could. She leaned into the hug and Simon finally felt a part if him relax.

Movement behind Clary caught his attention and he smiled slightly when he recognized Magnus. Magnus wore a simple long sleeved black silk shirt along with his usual necklaces and rings. His fingernails were also painted black and the colored highlights he preferred were noticeably absent from his hair. Magnus' pants were also black with a darker black stripe down the outer seams. Was there such a thing as a darker black? Apparently.

Simon let Clary step back but didn't let go of her hand. He stepped forward and gave Magnus a side hug. A moment later, they all slipped in the back booth Simon had chosen. It was as far from a direct line of sight from the street as possible just as Magnus had requested.

"Okay look," Simon said, taking the initiative and talking first. "I know I can't know some things, but I have to ask what the hell is going on here? I mean like, are you okay? What happened to your place? Both of your places? I mean, what's going on? I-"

"Simon," Clary said, leaning forward and gripping Simon's hand, holding it comfortingly. "Slow down. I don't understand everything that's going on. Neither of us do," he said, glancing at Magnus before returning her gaze to Simon.

"But we can guess," Magnus finished. He cast a wary glance around them, pressing his lips together in disapproval. "There are more Downworlders here then I thought there'd be at this time of day," he muttered uncomfortably.

"Downworlders? What?"

"People like Magnus," Clary said. "Warlocks, Seelies, vampires, were-"

"Vampires?" Simon gasped, quickly lowering his voice and hunching over so he all but leaned on the table. "Vampires?" he repeated quieter. "They're real?"

"Very much so," Magnus said. "Although it would certainly help speed things up if you would stop interrupting." He gave Simon a look and the Mundane blushed and sat back.

Clary nudged Magnus in the side earning a wince from the warlock which she studiously ignored. "Someone, someones broke into my house and Magnus' place and tried to kill us," she said. She held up a hand to stop Simon from speaking and forged onwards. "Or kidnap us or I don't know. That's not important right now. All you need to know is that they took my mom."

"Jocelyn?" Simon gasped. "She's gone? What about Dot?"

Magnus grimaced which wasn't a good sign in Simon's book.

"We don't know where she is," Clary said reluctantly.

"Hopefully safe in hiding," Magnus said.

"But you don't think she is," Simon said slowly.

Magnus didn't need to say anything. The answer was already clear. Neither Clary nor Magnus knew where Dot was, but they both suspected she'd been captured too.

"Simon," Clary said, taking hold of Simon's hand once more and tugging him to get his full attention. "I know this is difficult but I need you to understand something," she said seriously. "Do not trust Luke. He betrayed us. Don't tell him anything. As far as he or the police know, you haven't heard from or seen either of us."

Simon gulped but nodded. "I'll delete our texts," he said nodding, "and our call history. You might want to turn off your phone for a bit too," he said.

"Why?" Clary asked.

"Because I can track you using the Find Friends app and I can't delete that from my phone," Simon said. "It's one of those preloaded things."

"So that's how you've been tracking us," Magnus murmured.

Simon shrugged awkwardly. "I was worried about Clary," he said shyly. He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "These people who took your mom, who are they? Do you know?"

"They're Shadowhunters," Clary said. "Long story but they're this race of Nephilim who-"

"Nephilim?" Simon repeated in disbelief. "As in angels and demons?"

"They aren't exactly what most Mundanes think," Magnus said. "They are very real but they aren't the fluffy babies with wings you Mundanes so often find adorable. They're powerful. The same goes for demons which are also very real. Shadowhunters exist to hunt demons and protect the Downworlders and Mundanes from their less than friendly machinations."

"Remember that night at Pandemonium-"

"Which I own by the way," Magnus said.

"-when you thought I was talking to air?" Clary finished, throwing Magnus an exasperated glower for interrupting her.

Simon flushed. "Yeah," he muttered. "Sorry about that by the way. I thought you were high or someone had slipped something in your drink or whatever." He sat up straighter when he realized what Magnus had said. "Wait, you own Pandemonium?"

Clary waved the admission aside. "Nevermind that, look the important thing is I was talking to someone. You just couldn't see them because you don't have the Sight."

"The what?"

"The Sight," Magnus said. "It's something that allows Mundanes to see past glamours and the like."

"Anyway," Clary said quickly, "I saw that guy and the people he was with kill a bunch of people in Pandemonium."

Simon nodded slowly. "Right," he said, obviously not sure what to make of this. "So yeah, okay, I'll run with this for a bit. This whole Shadowhunter Nephilim thing," he said, waving a hand vaguely, "what does that have to do with Clary and her mom?"

"I'm a Shadowhunter," Clary said, her voice calm and even. She rolled up her shirt sleeve revealing the rune on her arm.

"Geez, Clary, where'd you get that tattoo?" Simon asked, stunned.

"It's not a tattoo," Clary said, pulling her sleeve down and glancing around furtively. "It's a rune. Shadowhunters use runes for lots of things."

"Like what?"

"Speed, night vision, stamina, heat, nourishment, healing," Magnus listed. He shrugged. "It's an extensive list that can and does literally fill a book."

"What does that rune do?" Simon asked, pointing to where Clary's rune was hidden.

"It prevents her from being tracked by Shaodwhunter magic," Magnus said. "The Circle wants something that neither of us know where it is but they seem to think we do." He shifted positions, crossing his legs in annoyance. "They're hunting Clary and the warlocks. We've gone into hiding. It's either that or die and quite frankly I like being alive. Death is ever so unpleasant." He plucked absently at his silver spiral ear clip.

"But that doesn't make any sense," Simon said. "Why would they want to kill you if they think you have something they want? Wouldn't they just capture you and torture you for the information or whatever? Not that I want that to happen," he said quickly. "I just, it makes the most sense."

"It is probably what they want to do," Magnus said. "But since we'll be killed whether we talk or not, you understand why it's not much of a choice."

"Ah, yeah, that would be a problem," Simon muttered awkwardly.

Clary sighed, wishing she could give her best friend better news. "Hey," she said, "we'll be okay. Just stay safe and don't tell the police anything about us, okay?"

Simon nodded. "I won't," he promised. "I didn't mean to call Luke before. I just- it was habit you know and then I saw Magnus' place and-"

"It's okay," Clary said.

"I have a question about that," Magnus said, speaking up suddenly. "What do you know about this person investigating my case?"

"Detective Beckett?" Simon asked. "Well, um, she's nice I guess. I mean, I didn't talk to her much 'cause I was too surprised by the fact she was even there at all. I was kind of hoping they'd let the matter drop." He snapped his fingers. "There was this guy with her. He didn't look like a cop, if you know what I mean."

"Husband?" Magnus asked. "Lover?"

"I...don't think so," Simon said. "It seemed...professional. But again, we didn't talk long so I don't really know."

Magnus nodded but said nothing else. He tapped the screen of Clary's phone and stiffened when he saw the time. "We need to go," he said. "Clary and I will be out tonight," he said to Simon. "Don't try to track us."

"Where are you going?" Simon asked, standing up to join Clary and Magnus.

"Nowhere a Mundane like you should go," Magnus said.

"Then why's Clary going?" Simon asked defiantly, crossing his arms.

Magnus rolled his eyes. "Because it could help us find out what's going on and she's involved."

"I've also made him swear not leave my sight," Clary said primly, tossing her braided hair over her shoulder and flashing Magnus a superior look. The warlock merely rolled his eyes tolerantly. "I'll tell you what I can as soon as I can," she said seriously. "But you have to promise not to tell Luke or the cops anything."

Simon hesitated then nodded. "I promise," he said. He watched his best friend and uncle in all but blood walk away. "Be safe," he called.

Clary turned and waved, a smile on her face. Then she stepped out the door of the café with Magnus and vanished around a corner. Simon sat back down in his booth and brooded. He'd promised to wait a full ten minutes before leaving to keep some distance between him and Clary. The time passed so slowly it was almost physically painful.

When the ten minute mark finally came, he grabbed his bag and hurried out of the café as quickly as he could. He looked down both sides of the street before jaywalking to the other side and began his trek to the police station.

"Still think the kid's clean?" Esposito asked, lowering the camera and turning to his friend.

Ryan gave his partner a flat stare and lowered the binoculars shaking his head. "This complicates things," he said with a huff. "If this Magnus guy isn't really missing, then why's the kid being so secretive about it?"

"Unless he's involved," Esposito offered, starting the car's engine and pulling out of their parking spot. "A pretty girl and a guy he respects asking for help?" He shrugged and pulled into traffic. "I mean, look at Castle. If Beckett asked him to jump, he'd ask how high. Ten bucks says that happened here."

Ryan waved in agreement. "Then what about the apartment?" he pressed. "What kind of tool could have cut up that door like that and singed the wood? Unless there's some power tool out there that does that that you know of, I'm coming up empty."

Esposito sighed and shook his head. "Okay so it doesn't completely add up, I'll give you that," he admitted reluctantly. "But that doesn't change the fact that the kid is involved and I'll bet you it's cause of that girl." He groaned. "Pretty girls man."

"They'll be the death of us," Ryan moaned.

They drove in silence before Ryan perked up when his phone rang. "Detective Ryan," he said. He suddenly sat up, snapping his fingers to get his partner's attention. "Right, right. Got it. On our way there now," he said before hanging up.

"What is it?" Esposito asked.

"Another report of a break-in," Ryan said, tucking his phone in his pocket. "It's the Fray place," he said seriously, "and there's blood this time."

Esposito shook his head flipped the siren and lights on. "Damn. This just keeps getting better and better," he muttered before stepping on the gas and speeding through traffic to get to the newest addition to their growing number of crime scenes.

Magnus didn't feel it until he stepped out of Taki's Café. But when he finally did feel it, it was like a punch to the gut. He just knew. It was an instinctive knowledge that flooded his senses, tugging his magic then releasing it entirely. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to settle himself before summoning a Portal in the alley nearby. The glamour he cast would hide him, Clary, and the Portal from anyone without the Sight but he had to stay focused to maintain it.

When they emerged back in his Lair, he patted Clary's shoulder and brushed briskly past her ignoring the odd look she shot at his back. He grabbed Elias' arm and all but dragged him into his study, closing and locking the door behind him.

"Hello to you too," Elias said, surreptitiously rubbing his arm where Magnus had grabbed it. His demeanor shifted when he took in Magnus' lack of composure. "What is it?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Magnus took a deep breath, pulling himself up so he stood at his full height. Elias was taller than Magnus by several inches but Magnus had a way of appearing taller than he was. Right now, even standing tall, Magnus seemed smaller, unsure. It wasn't something Elias liked. What Magnus said next wasn't something Elias particularly liked either.

"Dot is dead."