Max's eyes widened.
"Well, you could see that coming from miles away," he remarked.
"So you're fine with it?" I asked.
"Well, duh," Max replied, wrapping his arms around my lower body. "You're my big brother. You're the one I got to first when I have nightmares. I don't care if you're gay. I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered. "And I'm kind of in a relationship with Magnus. It's weird, but we should be going on a date soon. I was kind of sneaking away from everyone else to make out with him."
Max giggled. "Alec!"
"I know." I picked Max up. It had been getting harder as time went on, especially now, as Max, all of ten years old, was starting to get taller. But for now, I could hold him in my arms and just spend some time with me.
"Does Izzy know you're gay?" Max asked.
"Yeah, once I figured out two years ago, I told her. I didn't know how you would react, or if you even knew what the word gay meant."
"Well, I know now, and I don't mind. You do you, big brother. And if you like Magnus, date him."
"Thanks for the advice," I said, setting Max down. "You know, I wonder if the Shadowhunters are going to teach us to use weapons today."
"I don't know," Max said as we walked down the corridor. "Maybe?"
"We'll see. Hey, where's Isabelle?"
"She's with Clary," Max explained. "They kinda like each other, but they also don't like each other. Clary is super-suspicious of us because of our powers."
"But doesn't Clary like Jace, and he has similar powers."
"Well, she is dating Jace, and she's known Jace ever since she was young. So she trusts him, but not us, because we're new."
"Okay, that makes a bit more sense. Layla actually asked me if I was a spy for Valentine at one point, but I think she's fine with me now. I hope."
We managed to find the room where everyone else was. Strangely enough, it was just the teenagers, Jace, Layla, and Clary. Oh, and Isabelle, who was smiling wickedly once I walked into the room. She must have put the pieces together.
"Are we doing anything interesting today?" Max asked.
"No," Jace said. "We're going to the library, and then you can read anything you want. Look, we're trying to create lesson plans out of nothing, because the adults don't want to touch you guys."
"I wouldn't kill them," I muttered under my breath. Then, louder, I asked, "We have no clue what's going on. It would help if they would explain it better instead of leaving it up to kids. No offense, Jace."
"I guess none taken," Jace replied. "And, yeah, I totally understand. I wish my parents would help out, but they're scared to death of you. Although my parents are a little creeped out by Magnus, and he helps them all the time."
"Whatever," Isabelle said. "Where's the library? And are there any books on the mating habits of w-"
"That's nice, Izzy," I interrupted, knowing what she was going to say next. "That's very nice. Let's just go there now."
"I can lead the way!" Layla volunteered, grabbing onto my hand. That girl was clingy, I could tell you that. "Come on, Alec, I have a book you'd like to read. It's on the wedding traditions of Shadowhunters. I think it's cool."
I let go of her hand, backing away just a little. "That's also nice."
We walked to the library, and I tried to stay away from Layla as much as I could. She kept making goo-goo eyes at me. It was kind of cute, but I would have much preferred if it was Magnus, Magnus was couldn't keep his eyes, his hands off me. I shook my head slightly, trying to stop thinking of that beautiful warlock who I wanted so badly.
The Institute's library was amazing, with several different levels. I had thought my high school's library had been jaw-dropping, but this was jaw-dislocating. I wanted to read every book there, see what I could learn about this world I had no idea existed. Although, honestly, I kept expecting the books to be shelved by magical pixies or something.
One of the books caught my eye. It was simple one, an old journal, bound in leather, with a red velvet bookmark sticking out of, right at the end. It looked like someone had tried to stuff tons of papers in it, photos and letters, to keep a record of everything.
I took it down from the shelf. No one had touched it for years, so it was covered in dust. I wiped off the cover, and in small, neat handwriting it said: Stephen Herondale's Journal.
Intrigued, I opened the journal, and a photo fell out. I picked it up, and saw a group of people in it. And there, next to some guy with white blond hair, were my parents. They looked actually happy, rather than depressed and angry, like they did now. My mother actually had her arm slung around my father, and although neither of them were smiling, their eyes looked happy. I'd never seen them that happy.
I looked over the other people. I saw a younger version of Jocelyn, both of Jace's parents, and Hodge. This must have been the Circle, Valentine's organization. And the man standing next to Jocelyn must have been . . .
"Valentine," I said. But I knew him. I didn't know him as Valentine, but I knew him as someone else. Someone who had been a fixture in my young life.
I knew him as Uncle Vince. And he was supposed to be dead.