Hello, everyone!

Here's the next chapter. The song for this one is Let Love Bleed Red by Sleeping With Sirens ft. Aaron Marsh. It's a beautiful song!

Thank you for your reviews Intoxic, soul eater fan and mangaanima, themortalfangirl, , and Artista321. Now that is the most reviews a chapter has gotten and thank you so much for that! There are no words to explain how happy and grateful I am for your support! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own TMI or TID.

Enjoy!

Chapter 28

Alec was waiting impatiently to meet with his sister. He was sitting on the loveseat while Magnus was preparing the spell to summon Leviathan. According to Jem, he hadn't shown up after he dropped him at Lucifer's mansion. It was not likely for the Prince to be out of touch for so long. Also, Celeste was at the restaurant with Jem, so it was the perfect time for him to be there. But Alec didn't have the mind to care about Leviathan's whereabouts.

He was concerned and worried about his sister. He couldn't imagine what she must be going through. He didn't even want to think about what it would be like if he lost Magnus. He knew it was a great possibility. He wasn't about to fool himself. He was a realist. They were at war with one of the most powerful Princes of Hell. He was well aware that loss would be inevitable. He was prepared for it, but didn't wish for it, didn't embrace the idea of losing the one he loved the most. He remembered the panic in his heart when he had woken up without those cat-like eyes looking at him, without a warm body pressed against his own. He remembered the worry and terror that overwhelmed him when he found out Lucifer had kidnapped Magnus out of their own home. Somehow, he knew if Magnus died, his feelings would be nothing like that. They would be unimaginably worse. Then he had been in pieces. If Magnus died, he would have been shuttered into a gazillion atoms moving along in the universe, but never quite resting, not for a second.

He longed to talk to Izzy. He knew she would suppress whatever she was feeling until she could take it no more and exploded. He didn't want her to go through this alone. Maybe he couldn't understand, maybe he couldn't fathom what her soul was feeling – was she feeling incomplete? If so, did she get another chance in love or was this the end of the journey for her? – but he would be there for her, even if she wanted to scream, cry, fight. He would be there.

He decided to call Jace. He knew he'd probably be with Clary – she had lost a very important piece of the puzzle that made her who she is. Maybe he'd know something about Izzy, too. He got out his phone and dialed the number he knew by heart. It had barely rung once when Jace's voice sounded from the speaker "Alec?" He sounded puzzled. He had every right to. His parabatai didn't know about their escape from Hell. He was aware that phones were useless in that dimension, so it was expected of him to be confused.

"Yeah, I'm back." Alec answered his silent question.

"We'll be there in twenty minutes." Jace said and before Alec had the chance to protest or even say anything, the line went dead. Apparently he'd find out soon enough.

He glanced at Magnus who was almost done with the spell. The candles' flames were licking the ceiling and the warlock was standing out of the pentagram with his arms spread wide chanting the final words of the spell. This time Leviathan didn't show up in person. Alec watched as a shadow formed into Leviathan's body. It had Leviathan's body, but it wasn't really him. It was only his projection.

"I see you're back from Hell, though I doubt my dear brother freed you." He cut to the chase. His mind was filled with the events and discoveries of the day, he was in no mood for small talk.

"Lucifer didn't. Satan, though, was kind enough to offer his assistance." Magnus replied crossing his arms on his chest.

Leviathan thought the surprises were over for today, but as it seems he was wrong. Why would Satan help them escape if he wanted them captured in the first place? "Is that so? How considerate of him."

"He didn't tell you?" Alec asked.

"He must have forgotten to mention it." Leviathan said dismissively.

"Where are you?" Magnus asked narrowing his eyes at him.

"I have business I need to attend to. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go. I'll be with you as soon as I can."

After Leviathan left, Alec turned to his boyfriend and said "He's hiding something."

Magnus shrugged "Whatever it is we'll find out sooner or later. How are you?" He asked softly while taking a seat next to his Shadowhunter. Ever since they learned about Simon's death, Magnus had tried to get them back as soon as possible. He knew Alec was worried for his siblings and that it killed him he was not there to protect them, to give them a shoulder to cry on. He was waiting for them to be alone, so that he can ask him what he was feeling and Alec to have no reason to lie.

"I don't know. I'm worried about Izzy. I don't want her to lose herself in the pain. I wish there was something I could do to make it alright."

Magnus moved even closer to the Shadowhunter and touched his arm "She can get through this. Isabelle is tough, you know that."

Alec looked down at his fingers, nervously playing with the sleeve of his black sweater. "You know, ever since we were little I've always taken care of them. I woke them up in time for our training, I gave them breakfast, I reminded them to eat because there was no one else there to tell us so. I helped them with their studies, I listened when they were troubled about anything. I was always there, but now I feel useless."

"What about Hodge?" Magnus asked carefully.

"Hodge was either locked in the library or the greenhouse. He helped sometimes. He was the only parental figure we had, but I was the eldest brother. I was meant to take care of them when my parents were gone."

"You are not useless, Alexander." Magnus said firmly, but gently at the same time.

Alec scoffed. "Really? Because I sure feel like it."

Magnus entwined their hands together after gently nudging Alec's head towards him so that he had no choice but to look at him. "Listen to me, Alec. You are not useless. You are brave, and strong, and caring and everything good in the world. You have raised your siblings into brave independent people, when it was not your job to do so. You have protected them, regardless of the cost. You showed them the right way when they got lost and you'll do it again. You amaze me, Alexander. I could never have asked for a better partner in life than you. I believe in you."

"Thank you" Alec whispered with tears in his eyes, and kissed him. It wasn't a simple kiss of gratitude. It was the kind of kiss that lit up every fiber in their bodies, every cell awakened to their passionate embrace. It was the kind of kiss that made the butterflies in their stomachs flutter and explode with happiness and emotion and then come back to life again and again. It was the kind of kiss that left them breathless, not because there wasn't enough oxygen, but because they didn't feel like they needed it. All they needed was each other, the touch that set their bodies on fire, the kiss that made them long for more, the embrace that made them one. One person, one body, one soul.


"Did you know the Daylighter was going to die?" The Prince asked his brother, Satan. Leviathan had talked to Magnus when he had summoned him. He had tried to be brief. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that his own brother had almost ruined everything. If he hadn't caught him red-handed, he may never have found Satan's true intentions and the operation would have gone to shreds. Everything he had worked for would have been in vain. So, no, he didn't have the time or the nerves to deal with the warlock. Instead he had gone out, wandered around the Downworld, visiting one bar after the other. But the news travel fast there. Everyone had been talking about the Daylighter's death. Others had been talking about how he had been an abomination and had met the fate he deserved. Others were sorry for him and others simply didn't care. They only wondered who was stupid enough to do such an act. They weren't fools. It was well known he had been under the Clave's protection. Everyone knew that if they messed with him, they would face the Shadowhunters' wrath. Everyone was wondering who would pay the price.

Leviathan was aware that the vampire had been a part of their group and when he heard about his unfortunate end he knew it had been Lucifer's doing, it must have been. So, here he was questioning Satan about his knowledge regarding Lucifer's plans. He was being suspicious, but he couldn't help it.

"What?" Satan blinked. He knew of the Daylighter, he was – no, apparently had been – a friend of the Shadowhunters. That's as far as his knowledge of him went.

"Don't make me repeat myself. I know you heard me." Leviathan was being harsh, but he was seriously hoping Satan had nothing to do with this, because if he did, he wasn't sure he could forgive him.

Satan recoiled at his brother's harsh tone. "Yeah, I heard you and no, I didn't know anything about it. Lev, you must understand, Lucifer never shared his plans and if he had, I'd never keep such vital information from you. You know that, right?" He asked uncertainly. It killed him that his brother doubted him. It killed him to see Leviathan flinch every time he called him Lev ever since their fight. It was worse to know he had every right to do so.

Leviathan didn't know it. "Yes." He said into his brother's eyes. Well, he knew now.


Isabelle was in her bedroom, holding Simon's letter in her hands, reading it and crying again and again. This was the only place where she could mourn and grieve the love she lost, the love she wished she had, the love that would always be right next to her but she would never be able to reach it, to touch it, to hold it in her heart without it ripping her soul apart. In the confinements of this room she could let go. She could let herself feel. She could have her heart open.

But it was time now to put herself together. To close her heart off, push her emotions to the back of her mind. She is a Shadowhunter. She can't let her weaknesses show. She can't have any weaknesses. Loss is a part of their life. She had learned that lesson a long time ago. She was prepared for it, raised with this dark cloud hanging above her head. Loss is inevitable. She just had to deal with it, but not now. Now she was strong. Now she was fearless. Now she was an avenging fallen angel ridding the world of evil.

She had barely wiped the tears off her face when Jace came in her room after knocking lightly. "Alec is back."

That's all he said and she was immediately on her feet. "Let's go." If the situation was different she might have just gaped at him asking question after question – how, when, why. But now all she was thinking of was the chance to see her brother. The one she needed these past couple of days more than anything, the one who could understand her like no other. Alec was back. That's all she cared about.

They reached the "Riverside" fifteen minutes later. They went in the barbeque house and suddenly Isabelle felt as if the world had ceased to exist and she was the only survivor. Looking around, she realized Simon was not with her. She couldn't see him anywhere. It seemed the wards of this building were too strong for him to go through.

"Jace, Clary, Isabelle." Jem greeted them kindly. "I suppose you're here to see Alec and Magnus?" He was in his office showing Celeste around. Apparently she had a business major and she had offered to help him out. She said she needed to do something to get her mind off of the current situation. When Jem saw Jace nod in response he gestured to Celeste "Before you go, let me introduce you to our guest. Celeste, this is Jace Herondale, and Isabelle Lightwood."

"Nice to meet you" Jace was the first one to shake her hand and then his sister followed. After introductions were made, they all went upstairs with Izzy first in line.

When Izzy saw her brother, she rushed into his arms. He had seen her come in and he immediately got up and opened his arms for her just like he had done when they were little. She wrapped her arms around him and she felt better, even if she had just seen him. Her brother always made everything better. Just his presence, knowing he was there, it was enough for her. "Alec. You're back!"

"I am." Alec mumbled into her hair, with a small smile on his face. He pulled back and held her head still to look into her eyes as he asked her the question "How are you?"

"Hey Goldilocks, why don't we go and get you up-to-date with things?" Magnus asked wanting to let the siblings have some time alone to talk. Jace seemed to get the hint and nodded. "Jem, want to join us?"

"Sure." Jem shrugged and followed them downstairs with Celeste on his tail.

When they were all gone Izzy spoke "I'm fine." She said smiling but with tears in her eyes. She refused to cry.

Alec shook his head. "Don't. Don't lie to me Izzy. I know you're anything but fine. You know you can talk to me, right?"

Isabelle sighed, trying to hold her tears. She sat on the couch and felt Alec sit next to her. "He left me a letter." She almost whispered. She was afraid if she spoke in a higher volume, her voice would break. "He said Lucifer told him to kill Jace or he would" he voice finally broke "he would kill me. Simon died to save me, Alec. He died to save us." She said and let the tears fall. No matter how many times she read the letter, how many times she saw Simon's outline, sometimes it was hard for her to believe that he was truly gone. That he was dead, that she would never get to touch him, kiss him, just have a conversation with him. At those times, she felt completely and utterly alone. She felt broken.

Alec was speechless. He suspected the Prince had something to do with their friend's death, but his obsession with having Jace killed has gotten out of control. His parabatai was in danger. They were all in danger and were sitting ducks at this moment, making a step and then waiting an amount of time to take the next one. They had to act soon, or they'll be too late and so many lives will be lost. Now he had to comfort his sister. Then, they would take action immediately. He put his arms around her, and let her cry on his shoulder. He let her take out all the emotions she has been suppressing. "We'll stop him, I promise you. He did not die in vain. We'll help him find peace. I'll do whatever I have to to make sure of it." He said kissing her head.

Izzy just sat there, letting him hug her, knowing they both needed the closeness of the other. She sat there and recounted everything that had happen. How Simon died, how Jordan had brought him at the Institute's doorstep, who attended his funeral, she talked about how it was a beautiful ceremony where his band must have actually made their first amazing song. He told him what the song spoke of. He told him about the time when she went with Jordan at the apartment and found the letters stuck in a manga issue. He told him everything and he listened patiently without interrupting, squeezing her shoulders just to remind her that he was there. He didn't say anything even after she finished. He just held her and waited for her to fall asleep from exhaustion, just like it happened when she was little and she had had a bad dream. The only difference was that this was not a nightmare, it was real.


Maryse was sitting at the office in the Institute's library, when she got a call from a werewolf about a body found in an alleyway, which indicated that the person had definitely died due to supernatural causes. She didn't know where her kids were. She knew Alec was living with Magnus and she knew Jace and Isabelle had gone out and Clary was still mourning her friend's death, but she had no idea where they were. So, she had to check out that call herself. When she got at the crime scene, she found she knew who was the one killed in there. It was Maureen Brown, leader of the New York clan and she had a note attached to her body. She carefully picked it up and read it:

You're welcome. Prepare to lose.

Lucifer.

Maryse was confused. Lucifer, as in the Prince of Hell, Lucifer? What was he doing in the human world? And what did he want from the Shadowhunters?


So.. What is Maryse going to do now? What do you think? Will she find out the truth? Will she tell the Clave about the note? Leviathan is acting a little strange don't you think?

Regarding my fic 'All Of Me' apparently, it is not allowed to publish lyrics that I haven't written in it, so I had to delete them. But you can still read it as it is. Probably I'm going to have to delete the lyrics in 'Wherever You Will Go' as well. Anyway, I'm waiting for them to get back to me on that. If you don't know which stories I am talking about, check them out!

A little spoiler for the next chapter:

Jem shared a meaningful look with Magnus. Hearing about Lucifer's involvement was nothing new, but the extent of his obsession with killing Jace was shocking. There had to be a reason for that, probably something that had to do with the heavenly fire in his body, which Jace barely controlled. They had to look it up to know more, though. "It's not your fault."

Jace laughed without humor. "Isn't it though? He died because of me. He could have killed me. But instead he chose to go. If I was out of the picture, he would be alive. Clary would have her best friend and Izzy wouldn't be so heartbroken."

So, Jace blames himslef for Simon's death. Do you think he's right to do so?

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Thank you!