Mundanes bustle loudly past, people and cars alike. I stare out over the railing at the lights of New York, I've always known I was meant to make a home here, even if I wasn't originally from New York.
I break my gaze from the skyline as my phone rings with a text from Alec. He want's me to get back to the Institute. I pull out my stele and draw the agility and speed rune, smiling at how perfect they are, before I run towards home.
-/-
I rush into the infirmary, seeing Alec sitting on the edge of a medical bed with Robert bandaging up his arm.
"Are you okay? What happened here? The training room is messed up." I spill out.
Alec looks up at me. "There was an attack. A Forsaken broke in and Hodge and I killed it."
I sit down next to him. "That's a nasty gash on your arm." I motion for Robert to move away. "Since I was training to be a medic at one point, I shall make sure you don't die." I say sarcastically.
He rolls his eyes. "I believe you failed most of your tests, anyways if Izzy finds out I lost an arm and it was your fault, she'd murder you."
I grab a disinfecting salve off the medication shelf. "Please, I passed at least three of the ten tests."
"Okay, whatever."
-/-
We stand back and watch Magnus fortify the wards around the Institute.
"Wards solid now, nothing will get through?" Robert clarifies.
Magnus turns around offended. "Even my magic has limits." He walks a couple of steps and we follow. "The wards won't hold of that Forsaken attack. But, my protections will slow them down."
"Extra time is priceless." Robert says.
Magnus gives him a funny look. "Oh, say that after you get my bill."
Robert walks past Magnus. "Lydia will take care of that." He leaves Alec and I alone with Magnus.
"A Forsaken wound often needs a little warlock TOC. May I? Free of charge." Magnus steps up to Alec.
He moves back. "It's okay, I'm fine."
"If anything were to happen to you I-"
Alec interrupts him. "Magnus, I'm good. Elliot checked it. I got-"
"To go? Of course. You're a busy man, and I should find this Lydia person, payment upfront is just smart business. Where might I find her?" He asks slyly.
"I haven't seen her, but if I do I'll send her your way." Alec walks away leaving Magnus and me alone.
I grab his arm to stop him from walking away. "Can we talk?"
"What's up pumpkin?"
I look at my shoes. "So, I guess I'm the new Keeper of the Keys."
"I have heard that circulating around the Downworld. What of it?"
I look up at him. "Could you teach me to control it? I keep having these moments where something will take over me and I can't stop it."
He smiles. "Of course, come to my loft anytime and we can start."
"Thanks Magnus, by the way, you and Alec would be really cute together." I laugh walking away, leaving him standing there blushing.
-/-
"She calls Meliorn in and arrests him and then acts like it's all out of her hands." Izzy yells pacing her room.
"It was the Clave that gave the order Iz, not Lydia." I try and console her.
She stops pacing and faces me. "Are you sure about that?"
"Why don't we go find Alec and ask him?"
She pulls me off her bed and down the hall. "Fine. Let's go."
We find Alec in the training room, holding his arm against him. Before we can say anything Jace walks up the steps and stands with us.
"Hey, you alright?"
Alec looks like he's getting frustrated with everyone asking him that. "I'm fine." He mumbles.
"I just spoke to Robert and Maryse, they're being sent back to Idris." Jace says.
"What?" Izzy asks confused.
"Yeah."
She looks at Alec. "Another order from Lydia?" He shrugs.
"Who's Lydia?" Jace wonders.
"She's in charge of the Institute." I mutter from behind them.
Jace looks at me with surprise. "She's what?"
"Temporarily." Alec says tiredly.
Izzy just gets angrier. "And now she's told the Clave that mom and dad aren't doing their job?"
"Maybe they aren't." Alec says loudly. "The Institute was under their control when the Forsaken got in."
"What're you talking about?"
"Mom and dad were members of the Circle."
Izzy, Jace and I stare at Alec in shock. "What?"
"They don't have circle runes." Izzy reasons.
"That's because they made a deal with the Clave prior to the uprising. In exchange for their cooperation they were pardoned." He explains.
Izzy steps back. "You're questioning their loyalty."
"Valentine is back. The Circle is rising, they're under suspicion."
Jace and I cross our arms. "No way. Robert and Maryse took Elliot and I in. They raised us as their own. I know what kind of people they are."
"Are you sure?" Alec steps towards Jace. "They lied to us. For years they've been telling us how to act, that we have to uphold the Lightwood name while they're the ones who tarnished it. They're hypocrites."
I move next to Alec. "It's kind of true Jace."
Lydia walks in, breaking up the sibling war that was just started. "You must be Jace Wayland. " She pushes me aside to stand in front of Alec. "Lydia Branwell, you're quite the legend back in Idris." She holds out her hand for him to shake it.
He doesn't. "Don't believe everything you hear."
"Did you tell them?" She asks Alec.
I stand next to Jace. "Tell us what?"
"Lydia and I are engaged." He says deadpan.
I keep my face neutral for Lydia, but I know my siblings can see right through it. "Well, I hope you have a happy marriage." Sarcasm drips from my words like melted caramel. "Lydia."
I turn on my heel, not bothering to listen to what Izzy and Jace think about it. Alec made a stupid choice, getting engaged to Lydia. And I won't have any part in it.
-/-
Izzy POV
The monitor turns to a video of guards pushing Meliorn onto the couch. Elliot stands behind him, holding the flat edge of a seraph blade to the back of his neck.
"This is insane. We have to put a stop to this." I blurt out; surprised that Elliot is guarding him.
Alec stands next to me. "Yeah well, enjoy portalling back to Idris with mom and dad."
"You realize Meliorn is here because of me." I tell him.
Jace leans against the desk behind us both. "Alec's right. There's nothing we can do to stop this interrogation."
"You're on Alec's side now?" I say snidely.
"We swore to protect each other, of course he's on my side." Alec says factually.
"Not picking sides, Jace Wayland is Switzerland." He says peering over my shoulder at the monitor. "But clearly, Elliot Black is not. Since she volunteered to guard him."
I know we're all thinking the same thing. Elliot hates Lydia, so why is she in the interrogation room by choice?
-/-
Elliot's POV
I hold a seraph blade to Meliorn's back as we march him down the halls of the Institute and into the Ops centre. I flinch when I hear Izzy. "Where are you taking him?" She demands.
"To a holding cell, the guard unit will transport him to the Silent Brothers." Lydia responds.
That's all I hear before we reach the end of the hallway and stop at the elevator to the subbasement. I tried to convince Lydia to keep him here after the interrogation, knowing that Isabelle would never forgive me, or listen to why I volunteered for the guard unit. I wanted to protect Meliorn; after all, I am one of his people. I volunteered to keep as much punishment out of his way as possible.
-/-
The night is cold, and I shiver beneath my leather jacket. I know that Jace and Izzy are going to come and try to stop this. I have tried my best to keep Meliorn safe, but if they show up and want a fight, I will have to fight against my family.
We turn the corner, getting closer and closer to the Downworld entrance to the City of Bones. Alec is the only person in front of me, and he glances back, giving me a grim smile.
As the guard nears the entrance we hear wolves growling above us. We all turn to look; I make sure not to let go of Meliorn.
"This could be a trap." Alec warns. "Secure the perimeter. Do it now." He tells the rest of the guard. "Elliot, get the prisoner to the entrance."
I nod and continue walking, not knowing what Jace and Izzy have planned.
"We'll take Meliorn inside." Alec says. "Stay here." He tells the other tow guards behind me. "Nobody gets through."
We leave the guard behind and walk Meliorn down the corridor in front of the entrance. As I glance behind us, there's nobody there. "Not to late to turn back." Meliorn says smirking.
"Be quiet." Alec says before I can reply. "I won't tell you again."
We enter a door in the abandoned building housing the Downworld entrance and Alec uses his stele to reveal the opening. Before we get to the entrance Clary jumps out of the shadows.
"Alec, Elliot."
We both turn to look at her, my glance lasting longer than Alec's, before turning and facing Jace, who stepped in front of the door.
"You told me you were taking Clary back to the Institute." Alec steps forward. "You lied to me."
"I did what needed to be done."
Clary jogs past us to stand next to Jace, I move Meliorn back. "Alec the Clave has gone too far. You have to see that, please Just let Meliorn go."
"I have my orders, and Elliot has hers." He says.
She shakes her head. "I don't care about your damn orders, who cares about orders!"
"You see? That's how little you know about being a Shadowhunter. You couldn't possibly understand-"
"It's you that doesn't understand Alec, not this time." Jace interrupts.
While they're talking I start to walk with Meliorn towards the door, but Clary blocks my path.
"Move Clary." I say levelly.
She activates her seraph blade. "I'm really sorry."
Before I can move she bolts forward knocking Meliorn out of my grip and putting me on my ass. She runs forward and takes Meliorn out of the building. I push myself onto my feet and walk towards Jace and Alec, they've started fighting, not sparring, fighting. Alec finally pins Jace and holds a dagger to his throat.
"Alec!" I yell.
Jace says something to him and Alec get's off Jace. Jace stands up. "Come with me, we'll fight Valentine the right way, together."
"If we do that, we'll be considered traitors like mom and dad." He says solemnly.
"I'm begging you, my parabatai, my brother, please Alec come with me."
There's a weighted silence before Alec speaks. "No."
Jace turns and walks quickly out of the building. Alec doesn't get up from the floor.
I wait to be sure Jace is gone. "I'm sorry Alec. I shouldn't have let her drop me."
He looks up at me. I hold my hand down to help him up and he takes it. "It's not just your fault. It's mine too."
We walk out of the building silently, and walk back to the Institute.
