A/N: Put away the seraph blades and electrum whips! It's been a month since I updated this story, I know! I started typing this chapter up right after I updated last time but I got about 200 words in then got stuck! And with school and all, I've just been so busy that I haven't had time to sit and think about this chapter until now! I spent about 4 hours sitting here focusing on this and I finally got it done! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 14
The night had been fairly calm but when the morning arrived, the Shadowhunters of the New York Institute were just a little anxious.
"So there will be members of the Clave staying here?" Jace asked Alec for the sixth time that morning.
"I've told you that a million times already Jace. Stop asking," Alec replied, growing impatient with Jace's constant questions.
"It's just... going to be strange and awkward. I mean, I'm glad they know about what's going on and I'm glad they are willing to help us but it will be a little strange having other Shadowhunters here. It's been just us for so long and we don't even know who these people are that will be staying with us," Jace said.
"It won't be that strange Jace. All active Shadowhunters are a part of the Clave. It's not like these guys are spies or some highly respected, judgemental member of the Clave. If it will make things any less 'strange and awkward' for you, we know at least one person," Alec said, turning around, no longer in the mood to hear more of Jace's constant questions and mumbling.
"Who?" Jace asked as he Parabatai began walking away.
"You'll see..." Alec said.
Jace frowned at his Parabatai's retreating form and sat down on the overstuffed red armchair that had been sitting by the fireplace in the library for as long as he could remember.
He hadn't been seated long when the creaking sound of the front door echoed through the halls of the institute.
Jace rose from the armchair and walked out of the library, deciding, for once, to show some respect to the Shadowhunters who had come to his aid. Jace wasn't the type of person who thought he needed help – he believed he could conquer things on his own – but the fact that these Shadowhunters had come to his aid when he truly needed it made him decided to show some respect.
Jace soon appeared in the foyer of the institute and saw the crowd of Shadowhunters standing there, being greeted by Maryse and Alec.
Maryse had only recently heard about the faerie incidents as Jace hadn't wanted to worry her. When he realized that he needed help though, she had been informed and word had then been sent to Idris.
Jace heard a chuckle come from Alec and as he approached the group of Shadowhunters, he realized why.
Beside Alec stood Aline Penhallow, an old friend of Jace, Alec and Isabelle.
Aline was laughing slightly, which was nice to see, Jace thought. Aline hadn't had much contact with the New York Shadowhunters since the Dark War but when she did make contact, she never sounded very happy, considering her girlfriend – Helen Blackthorn –had been sent off to Wrangel Island to study the wards indefinitely because she was half-faerie. The Clave would further investigate the matter at a later date but until the investigation was concluded and a decision agreed upon, Helen was to stay studying the wards.
Aline had promised to follow Helen to Wrangel Island and she had, only to find herself being brought back to Idris a few days later. The Clave didn't trust the faeries after their involvement in the Dark War and they had already lost far too many Shadowhunters to risk the life of another.
"It's good to see you smiling, Aline," Jace said, walking up to the dark-haired girl and wrapping an arm around her shoulders for a brief moment.
"And it's good to see you alive. What did you do to the faeries to make them want to kill you?" Aline asked as Maryse and Alec began showing the other Shadowhunters to the rooms they would be staying in.
"I'd rather not talk about that right now..." Jace mumbled. He knew that the other Shadowhunters would eventually find out but he wasn't quite ready to tell them yet and he wasn't exactly ready to experience Aline's reaction.
Jace watched Aline as she gave him a frown, obviously wanting to know what had gone on between Jace and the faeries. She shrugged it off after a moment and Jace led her to the room she would be staying in while she was at the institute.
-o-O-o-
Two days had passed since the other Shadowhunters had arrived at the New York Institute and things had slipped into a normal routine again.
Alec didn't feel as if things were strange and awkward. Sure, he found it a little odd to have so many people in the institute, but it wasn't strange. Institutes were sanctuaries for Shadowhunters and they were constantly being encouraged to travel. This was the way an institute should be.
He smiled politely as he passed one of the Shadowhunters in the hall – a girl probably no older than he was with dark red hair. She gave him a nod in return but said nothing as she continued walking.
Alec continued to make his way through the institute halls and he stopped by Clary's room to see how she was. "How are you feeling Clary?" he asked, leaning against the door frame.
Clary, who was sitting in the centre of the double bed with her sketch book perched upon her lap, looked up when Alec spoke.
"Fine, thank you Alec," she replied with a smile. "Just trying to figure out how I want to design the nursery for our little girl," she continued, gently placing a hand over her stomach.
Alec gave a small nod. He wasn't too good with that sort of stuff. "I'm assuming you've got multiple ideas."
"Yes. That's the problem. I like one thing and then another idea shows up and it's just so hard to figure out what would be best. I'll need to talk to Jace about it. Hopefully he will be able to help me make a decision..."
Alec had walked over to the bed and glanced down at Clary's sketch book. "Writing on the wall?"
"Pictures too. I've seen a lot of people do that sort of thing and I think it's really sweet. Just a little something special in the room to make it unique, you know?"
"Magnus's idea of unique is changing his living room every other day," Alec stated.
"I know... and that's why I don't want his help. If it was anything else, I would probably ask him for his opinion but when it comes to decorating, he would probably tell me the more glitter, the better and then he'd want to change things every day. I'd more than likely end up with something from Blue Ivy's room or something."
"Blue Ivy?" Alec asked.
"Beyonce's daughter," Clary replied.
"And who is Beyonce?"
"She's a singer," Clary replied, rolling her eyes.
Alec was about to speak again when sudden shouts could be heard down the hall. Alec moved away from Clary's bed and walked out into the hall, hearing Clary follow a few seconds later.
He walked in the direction of the shouting and as he rounded the corner, he found about half the Shadowhunters in the institute where standing in a group and many of them were raising their voices. They were all talking over one another and it was making it difficult to hear what was actually being said.
"What's going on?" Alec asked over the noise.
The Shadowhunters continued to argue – or whatever it is they were doing – for a moment longer until they finally became quiet, realizing that Alec had appeared. Maryse wasn't far behind.
Alec found a gap in the group of Shadowhunters and he found himself staring at Jace who, much to Alec's surprise, looked slightly frightened.
"Jace, what's going on?" Alec asked.
"I was talking to Isabelle about what's been going on lately because I just needed to talk and I couldn't find you... someone overheard and now they're all acting stupid."
"I'd watch what you say. We're here to help you," one of the Shadowhunters said. He appeared to be one of the eldest in the group.
"What in the name of Raziel would cause you to kill the Seelie Queen? It's not a surprise the faeries are coming after you," a female Shadowhunter said.
"Surely Consul Penhallow would've mentioned this if she knew about it. Obviously, this detail was known by you," the older man said, turning his steely gaze on Alec. "Why didn't you mention it when you addressed us all at the Clave meeting?"
Alec couldn't find the words to say and the older man gave him a curt look before returning his attention to Jace and the group of Shadowhunters that surrounded him.
"I'm sure Consul Penhallow will wish to talk to him," the man said, pointing a finger at Jace. He was clearly taking charge of the situation. "We'll organize something have him sent of Idris as soon as possible to speak with Jia."
Two of the Shadowhunters that had been standing in the group, listening intently to the older man, stepped forward and each placed a hand on Jace's upper arms before they led him away, no doubt so something could be organized to get him to Idris.
"You can't be serious about all of this," Alec said, finally speaking again.
"We are," the older man said. "This detail reveals much more than what we knew and new action will need to be taken. It makes this situation much more dangerous than we believed it was before."
With that being said, the crowd of Shadowhunters dispersed, each Shadowhunter going off to do something else and, no doubt, hoping to calm down after the new revelation.
After a moment, the only people left standing in the hall were Alec, Isabelle, Maryse and Aline.
Aline approached the Lightwoods carefully. "I know Jace wouldn't have killed the Seelie Queen without a reason. The others seem to believe he may be losing his mind or trying to separate himself from the Clave. They seem to fear he is becoming more like... like Valentine. I don't believe that though. I'll talk to my mother and although I can't promise anything, I'm sure she'll be willing to listen to Jace's side of the story. You guys are like family and my mother wouldn't just punish Jace without listening to what he has to say," she said before turning and walking back down the hall.
Alec watched her and he hoped that Aline was right. He hoped Jia would listen to Jace and he hoped that Jace would be free of punishment.
-o-O-o-
Magnus knew of the faerie situation and he knew just how bad it was. He still wasn't all too fond of Jace, but if anything were to happen to Jace, he knew it would upset Alec – his handsome blue-eyed boyfriend.
He didn't want to see Alec hurt and he was going to do all he could to help out with the situation.
It had been a while since the faerie situation started and Magnus decided that it was time to call in some more help from someone he knew would be there in an instant if it meant protecting friends or family.
He had received word on what was currently going on at the institute and he knew that Jace was being sent off to Idris to be questioned by Jia Penhallow – the consul. He wouldn't be surprised if Robert Lightwood – the inquisitor – had something to say as well.
Magnus picked up his phone of the kitchen table and scrolled through his contacts until he came across the one he wanted.
Without a second thought, he pressed call and lifted the phone to his ear.
A/N: Alright, who do you guys think Magnus is calling? If you can guess correctly, you will get a sneak peek of the next chapter! (So long as you have an account that is, I can't really send sneak peeks to guest reviewers. Sorry guys!)
On another note, WE REACHED 100 REVIEWS! You guys are amazing! Keep the reviews coming!
Finally, please check out City of Broken Heroes! It's a collaboration story that is published on TrueAngelofMusic1's profile and it is really good! The authors are very talented and would love your support! I have mentioned this a few times, I know but still... the story is set after CoHF and although the characters are all OC's, they are well constructed OC's that are easy to fall in love with.
A basic summary of the story is the faeries have attacked the Shadowhunters and Downworlders of Anchorage and there are few survivors. The children have been sent to various places around the world and City of Broken Heroes follows the group that was sent to the Boston Institute. The fey never meant for there to be survivors and the children must ban together to keep safe but danger will always follow them.
I am working on this story with the other authors and in a few chapters, my chapter will be up. I'm not sure how long it will be (hopefully not long) but do check out the story! It is quite god so far!
Alright. This author's note has been long enough. Review please!