To say it was awkward would be an understatement as Maryse and Alec just looked at each other waiting for the other to speak up and potentially start the conversation. Maryse had opened her mouth many times but seemed to decide against what she was going to say, and Alec just sat there, he wasn't sure why Maryse wanted to talk to him and not his sister since Clary was a shadowhunter and Alec was only a warlock.

"How have you been?" Maryse said finally deciding on what she was planning to start with. Alec blinked; he hadn't been expecting that – from what he had heard about shadowhunters they weren't welcoming of warlocks or any downworlder.

"Um… fine I guess" Alec replied, not really sure on what he was meant to say. Maryse's eyes widened from realisation before saying.

"You have no idea who I am do you? Did Jocelyn never mention me?" Maryse asked feeling a little hurt that her own son didn't recognise her after all these years, yes, Maryse kept away to keep Alec out of the eyes of the Clave and she had hoped that one day she could finally see her baby again. She just never expected that Jocelyn wouldn't tell Alec about her.

"I'm sorry should she? My mom kept the whole shadowworld a secret from Clary and I" Alec responded, nearly missing when Maryse flinched when he said Jocelyn was his mother.

"Oh, I never expected Jocelyn to keep part of you heritage a secret when I asked her to take you with her, I wanted her to protect you not deceive you" Maryse said shocked, she couldn't believe that Jocelyn kept him away from the shadowworld, how the hell did he learn to use and control his magic and learn to glamour his warlock mark without being exposed to the shadowworld to learn these things.

"What do you mean you asked my mother to take me with her" Alec asked, this was all so confusing. Who was this woman.

"Alec, I'm your biological mother" Maryse confessed. Alec didn't want to believe it, how can this shadowhunter woman be his mother, his biological mother. Wasn't he a warlock, he could do magic, he couldn't have angelic blood, she couldn't be his real mother.

"What".

"You were born September 12, 1995 to Robert and me. When you were one and developed your warlock mark I asked Jocelyn to take you in. You're not just a warlock Alec but a Shadowhunter" Maryse confessed.

"Shadowhunter? I'm pretty sure I'm a warlock, how can I be a shadowhunter as well" Alec asked, giving Maryse an odd look. Where all shadowhunter cuckoo?

"It was never meant to happen like this. Long ago I made a mistake, I thought I knew it all and that I could change the world for the better, so I joined the circle and I helped plan the uprising. So, when Valentine came to me and said he wanted to better the next generation of circle members through injecting the unborn children. I didn't hesitate to off my own unborn child believing that if you were stronger then you could do great things. I regret that decision to this day, I do Alec. I asked Jocelyn to take you so that you were safe from the circle and the clave" Maryse explained and Alec felt his heart freeze and he just stared at his mother.

"You did what to me?" Alec's eyes widened in horror; he couldn't believe that his own mother allowed Valentine to experiment on her unborn child. He was only they way he was because of an experiment, he wasn't special at all – he was a freak.

"Alec listen I never expected…" Maryse started but Alec interrupted.

"No, I don't want to listen to anymore of your shit. You let someone experiment on me knowing full well it could have an effect then when I was born and you realised I was indeed half-warlock you threw me away like I was nothing" Alec shouted before storming out her office, he didn't want to be surrounded by what could have been his life with his actual family anymore. Alec could hardly hold back any tears as darted past his sister and out the institute doors, he didn't stop when he heard Clary call his name instead he opened a portal and disappeared through. The only thing which he could think of as he finally allowed himself to cry was.

'Magnus is going to hate me'.


Izzy stormed into her mother's office. Maryse was sat at her desk, her eyes were slightly red (not that Isabelle noticed) as she worked through some paperwork which was slowly piling up, not that she could fully concentrate on it. Her mind was constantly replying the conversation with Alec, she never expected for it to go so horrible wrong yet, she wasn't surprised that it did after all if she found out unexpectedly that before she was born she had been part of an experiment then she would be upset as well. She could only hope that she could repair their damaged relationship with time.

"What the hell did you say to Alec?" Izzy demanded glaring at her mother, she couldn't believe that her mother could say something so horrible that she could reduce Alec to near tears. Downworlders are just as important to shadowhunters, Izzy hated how they were always treated.

"The conversation with the warlock does not concern you Isabelle our main priority is finding Valentine and the mortal cup. That's an order" Maryse snapped, her eyes trained of her work.

"But…" Isabelle started but Maryse interrupted, she didn't have time to listen to Isabelle complaining.

"No Isabelle, you've already made a mess of this institute since I was away with all your unapproved missions so for once you will do what I say. You have your orders now see to it" Maryse snapped, Izzy didn't saying anything just walked out her office slamming the door behind her. Great it seems that all Maryse could do today was upset her children, shaking her head in an attempt to forget both her conversations with Izzy and Alec she turned back to her paperwork, it would keep her occupied for now.


Clary pounded on Magnus' door hoping that the warlock was in. This was the only place Clary could begin to think that Alec would go to when he was upset, they can't exactly go to their old home with the circle trying to find warlocks or her, hell Clary wasn't even sure whether Valentine did or didn't know about Alec or he could be at risk of being taken. She had just got her brother back; she didn't plan on losing him again.

"Biscuit, can I help you?" Magnus asked when he finally opened the front door.

"Is Alec here?" Clary asked, and she felt her heart drop when she saw the confused look appear on Magnus' face.

"No, Alexander left to meet you earlier. Why has something happened?" Magnus asked clearly getting worried for Alec's safety.

"Alec was with us at the institute earlier today and Maryse Lightwood turned up and ordered Alec to come with her about ten minutes later Alec came running out her office close to tears and opened a portal to get away, we have no idea where he is, and we can't track him. He's vanished" Clary explained.