The inside of the institute was actually even prettier than the outside, even the furniture looked fancier. The London Shadowhunters had been surprised by Simon, but the head of the institute, a small slender woman, had invited them inside non the least and had promised safety for all. Everyone except for a girl with a scar across her cheek, who introduced herself as Sophie, had rushed to get changed while Alec's group was lead to the dining room. They were seated and reassured that they would soon be joined by the London Shadowhunters. Alec was at the head of the table, Jace on his right and Isabell on his left, Clary and Simon on either side of his siblings. None of them knew what to say, especially since they didn't want to be overheard , but eventually the Vampire couldn't hold it anymore and he blurted out his thoughts.

"This is so cool ! We are actually in the past." His smile was radiant as he looked at all of them. Alec rolled his eyes and turned his head to look at the main door. The rest started to comment too, from variations of excitement to worry to simple confusion. Alec let his mind wonder, and immediately the vision of 2 cat eyes filled his head. It was bizarre since he had just seen him that morning, yet Alec already missed Magnus. The idea that they might be stuck in the past was eating Alec alive, to think that he would lose the most important person in his life was unbearable. And try as he might he could not forget the words that Magnus had spoken that morning, about him leaving and it feeling more like a memory rather than a dream. The demon had obviously been responsible for bringing them to the past, which meant that it would also have the ability to send them back. It had to have that power. Because if it didn't, if Alec had truly lost Magnus, well then there was nothing more to life. Alec looked up as he heard soft footsteps approaching the room. He quickly tapped the table to get everyone else to stop talking and he watched as a slim girl with soft brown hair and bright grey eyes walked into the room. She seemed surprised to be the first one back and she looked back towards the door as if wishing she could go out and come back later, but she shook her head and walked towards the nearest chair, taking a seat and offering them a shy smile. Clary was the first to smile back and she turned her body so as to be facing her.

"I am terribly sorry for asking, but are you and your friend not uncomfortable ?' The girl asked looking from Clary to Isabell and after a moment where the New Yorkers were utterly confused they realized that she meant their clothing. The girls were still wearing their gear, the materiel hugging their bodies as opposed to the long puffy dress the other girl was wearing. Isabell burst out laughing, her voice bouncing off the walls.

"By the angel, you should see what we normally wear, it would probably give you a heart attack. "Isabell was still laughing as Alec kicked her under the table.

"What my sister is trying to say is that they had no time to properly dress and they apologize for any trouble that might cause."

The girl blushed and murmured something along the lines of it being perfectly understandable, but she kept her head down and didn't look up until the silver guy walked in. Alec stiffened as he walked towards them but there was such gentleness in his face and in the way he held himself that Alec immediately relaxed. He seemed frail and he only offered them a smile as he sat down next to the girl, giving her a look full of love.

"Forgive me for my hasty entrance earlier today, when I heard all the commotion I feared the ladies might be in danger. " His voice was soft and musical and it held the same gentleness that its owner did. It was obvious that he was joking but the girl laughed and pushed him softly. Before anything else could be said the boy who greeted Alec walked in. He looked glum and the only thing emanating from him was hostility, he looked at silver and the girl and sat on the opposite side of the boy. He seemed to look at them for a second longer before he turned to Alec.

" It is obvious that you don't have manners since you dared to awake us at such an ungodly time. "

"Will." The black haired shadowhunter, Will, turned and shut his mouth after meeting Silver eyes.

"Well obviously it must be in the air since I haven't even heard a proper introduction from you ." Jace said, a taunting tone in his voice and a wicked grin across his face. Alec looked at him for a second longer trying to show his disapproval but Jace remained looking stubbornly at WIll. WIll looked at him and laughed, tossing his head back and grabbing the table as if he needed the extra support.

"Feisty aren't you. " He winked at Jace as he said this but it only made Jace's grin widened. "My name is William Herondale, blonde." That wiped the smile off of Jace's face and they all looked at Will as if he had grown another head.

"Your a Herondale ? " Isabell asked, her eyes full of disbelief and what appeared to be the beginning of a mischievous delight.

"Isn't that what I said ?" Will looked slightly uncomfterble and he looked to his fellow companions as if seeking reinforcement but they seemed as bewildered as he did. Isabell turned to look at Clary and they burst out laughing at the same time. Will sent them a reproachful look but he was interrupted by the entrance of the remaining Shadowhunters, a small woman and a taller if slightly absent men by her said. The woman sat at the head of the table as the man sat to her side. She regarded her guest and waved at Sophie who had been standing by a smaller door with a plate filled with cups. Sophie gave a cup to everyone and Alec took one sip of it before realising that it wasn't coffee. He made a face and put the cup down, looking up to meet everyone's eyes.

" Your arrival has been quite surprising and needless to say we were rather unprepared for visitors, although most of that can be accounted by the late hour. We will be pleased to have guest reside with us," she paused and seemed to sit straither " however your sudden appearance, your clothing and even your name has caused me to develop some suspicion towards you. Based on that I will have to ask you to explain yourselves." She sent a challenging look at Alec, who was obviously being identified as the leader of their group, almost as if she expected to be mocked for asking for more information.

"Of course, I can understand how we might come as quite a shock. As I had mentioned earlier, my name is Alexander Lightwood and we are from the New York Institute. Our family has been residing in that institute for quite a while now, mostly me and my siblings since my parents are often away on clave business. We had received news that a Demon was spotted. We prepared for battle, which might explain our attire, and we headed out. However upon arriving we realized that the demon that was spotted was in fact a Greater Demon. During the fight he used demonic magic and he somewhat drained us of our angelic power and he teleported us. Next thing we know we are stranded in a place that is obviously not our home. "

Alec finished his explanation, the other shadowhunters looking curious but tentative to say anything.

"If afraid that doesn't explain everything." The woman said looking curiously at Alec.

"You can ask me anything." Alec answered with the same tone the woman had used.

"You might be from New York yet I doubt even Americans dress as you do, or am I mistaken Tessa ?" At this she turned to the brunette who shook her head.

"No, not everyone dresses as we do. It's all my sisters fault, you see she designs clothing that makes fighting easier. The clothes we are wearing were designed and produced by her in an attempt to provide more mobility while fighting."

"Do you mean that the woman fight as well ?"

"Yes, they are as strong and brave as any of the man . Besides they, like any of us, are shadowhunters and they have every right to help protect mundanes." The woman and the girl named Tessa blushed and the man looked at Alec as if he were crazy.

"What about your family name then? We are familiar with the Lightwood family, and they are to the best of our knowledge the last with that last name. "

"My parents committed acts that went against the Clave and they were punished for it. Ever since our family has denied our existence. "

"Then the last thing I am concerned about is the vampire. " Before Alec could react, Isabell had shot to her feet.

"This vampire as you called him has a name, he is not to blame for his circumstances. Downworlders are as worthy as any of you, and I would advise that you speak more carefully next time you want to address one of us. We have been to hell and back, literally, and we have earned the right to be respected. All of us. " Alec stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her back into her chair.

"We meet Simon when he was still a mundane and after some unfortunate events he got turned. He is a dear friend to all of us, and he has proved on more than one occasion that he can be trusted. "

"In truth I only meant to ask what he would be consuming while he stays at the Institute, I meant no offense." She looked at Simon and Isabell as she said this.

The New Yorkers hadn't thought of that, and if anything were to happen any of them would have offered their blood to Simon, but that didn't seem like something they should say in front of others.

"We will need to contact a Warlock and arrange something. " At the mention of a warlock Alec winced, his head once again filled with images of Magnus.

"My name is Charlotte Branwell, this is my husband Henry Branwell. This gentleman is William Herondale, the other one is James Carstairs and the lady is Theresa Gray. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Sophie walked in once again, her arms filled with plates. She sat down some sort of soup in front of Alec, who said a small thank you before picking up his spoon. The soup was amazing and he concentrated on eating, trying in vain to get a glittery smile out of his head.