After the events of today I want nothing more than to sit in bed and listen to music, although working out would be good too. There's nothing more helpful after a rough day than throwing punches at something that won't fight back. So I change into a pair of back leggings and a distressed white tank top. I know it might be cold in the New York streets so I pull on a pale yellow hoodie. I slip out the front doors of the Institute and start my run.

I jog down the streets of New York heading towards central park. I pull my phone out my my pocket and dial Norah. After three rings she picks up.

"Hello?"

I smile. "Norah, come running with me. I'm in central park."

"Why? It's so far away?"

I stop jogging and lean against a tree. "Just meet me. You've got five before I take off again."

"Oh, alright."

I hang up the phone and watch my breath cloud in front of my face and watch other people walk past. I wonder what they're all thinking about. What kind of day each of them has had, and what brought them to the park today.

Norah interrupts my thoughts with a small shove against my shoulder. "Alright, I'm here. Let's go."

We both run down the paths in central park, not talking, just enjoying each other's company. Norah knows me well enough that she doesn't push me into talking. I know her well enough that I know when to pry. It's why we work so well together.

-/-

"During the attack on the City of Bones, Jace Wayland fought bravely. And thus the Clave and their wisdom has exonerated him from all crimes. And the chief physician in Idris reports that Lydia Branwells condition continues to improve" Aldertree tells us stoically.

"Out of the infirmary in record time. Looking good." Jace tells Izzy. I roll my eyes at his comment.

She shrugs. "I always look good." They both smile. "Why isn't Alec here?" She asks out loud.

"He needs some space."

"We face a new threat, Valentine has the Mortal Cup and now possesses the Soul Sword." Aldertree's eyes burn into me. "Two of the three Mortal Instruments." A small voice inside my head yells 'Four! There are four.' But I squish it down and don't think anything about it.

"Our mission now is to find out what he plans to do with them and when."

I stop listening and slowly stride out of the ops centre. If Aldertree wants to blame me for Valentine getting the Sword then he can find me and tell me himself.

-/-

I lean against Alec's doorway and watch him pace around his room. "Come train with me, it's been so long."

He looks at me with a blank stare and shrugs. "I'm trying to avoid Clary."

"I know, but wasting away in your room until you die will not do anyone any good." I gesture out the door. "Let's get a move on."

He follows me down the hallway and into the training room. There is nobody there thankfully so we can talk and work out. I grab two bo-staffs off the rack and throw one at him. He catches it and stares at it strangely. "What?"

He positions himself in a defense stance and turns to face me. "I haven't used a staff in what feels like forever."

"I know." I smile. "I thought it would be good to shake things up a bit."

I swing the staff down against my hip assuming an aggressive stance, and slowly shuffle towards him. "You need to talk to her." I bring my staff down against his with a satisfying crack.

"I don't know what to say to her." He twirls the staff so mine is caught and pushes me backwards. "I killed her mother."

I smack him in the small of his back and then behind his knees. "You were possessed by a demon, you had no control of your actions."

Alec brings his staff above his head to block my down-swing. "And yet I still cannot face her." He turns around to look at me. "What do I do Eli?"

I hold the bo-staff and put my hand on my hip. "You go make sure that she is okay, and that she isn't going to make any stupid mistakes."

Alec nods and stands up. "Okay." He hands me his bo-staff and grimaces. "I'm going to go."

I wave as he walks away. "Just remember big brother, you had no control, and now you do."

-/-

I open my phone and scroll down to Magnus's contact. I call him hoping he will pick up. It rings three times before he answers it.

"Well hello pumpkin, long time no talk. But I have a feeling that this isn't a social call."

"I'm sorry Magnus, but it isn't. I have a feeling that Alec is not doing what he told me he would be doing."

"Do you think he's here?"

"I hope he is, so you can talk to him. He's beating himself up over what happened to Jocelyn."

"I'll talk to him about it pumpkin. Have no fear, Magnus is here."

I smile into the phone even though Magnus can't see it. "Thank you."

"Don't worry my dear, I'll take care of him."

-/-

Before I even knock on Magnus's door it opens, just like always. I slowly walk into his apartment and sit down in a chair. "I take it Alec's left?"

Magnus wonders out of a room and mixes us a drink. "Yes, he just left to talk to Clary."

"Thanks again, I couldn't get through to him. I'm glad you did though." I take the martini from Magnus. "Cheers."

I twirl my fingers and produce a string of purple smoke and sparks, Magnus watching me intently.

"Is there something wrong pumpkin?" He asks gently.

I look up at him with tears in my eyes. "I'm going to have to watch them all die, every single one."

He sits down next to me and holds my hand in his own. "This may not be a comfort, but you won't have to watch me die, not for a very, very long time."

"How do you do it?"

He grimaces. "You never really do, I'm sorry to say. There's no way, unless you distance yourself from each of them."

"I couldn't do that to them." I shake my head. Leaning against his shoulder.

He brushes my hair. "We will figure this out Elliot. But it is still a long way off yet. I do not think Jace or Alec or Isabelle have any plans to die in the near future."

"Maybe not, but we don't control fate."