''What?! How?!'' said Alec in frustration.
''The security cameras were disabled and the staff in the surveillance room got dosed with some kind of paralyzing gas.'' explained the guard. Alec tried to gain some useful information when Maryse Lightwood out of nowhere fiercely walked up to the scene.
"Mother-'' Alec tried to explain to Maryse what happened but got cut off.
She sighed and didn't sound happy. ''I heard. How can this happen? Nobody can just come in here and...'' She made a face like she just saw a dead rat. ''... take things.''
The security guard switched his attention to Maryse. ''We tend to believe it was an inside job. There are no signs of forced entrances.''
Maryse tone changed to frustration and disbelieve. ''That is just fantastic. Of course we have traitors in our midst.'' She told the security to put the whole institute on lock down. The guard obeyed her orders and walked off. Maryse switched her attention to her children who knew what was coming next.
''Robert and I are busy running this institute, attending countless meetings and taking care of your little brother...'' She paused trying not to snap. The disappointment in her voice was inescapable. ''...All I expect of the three of you, is to make sure this institute does not burn down... and here I stand, in flames and all.''
Izzy was the first to step to her mother. She was ready to put up a fight with her mother. ''We work hard everyday, just as much as you do. This could not be foreseen!''
Marys chuckled and shook her head. ''Couldn't be foreseen?!'' she repeated. ''First you kill our only source of useful information and then you let it's body be taken away right under your noses.'' She looked for the nearest thing to lean against, than continued. '' I expect better of you, all three of you. I have a meeting in Idris with Robert and the counsel. I'm going to pretend everything is okay while you fix this mess.''
This time Jace stepped up. ''Sorry, I can't.'' he said determined.
Maryse turned her head slowly and looked at him with an angry-like look in her eyes waiting for some kind of phenomenal explanation.
''Clary is missing and I got to find her!'' he said. Maryse took a breath of air and tried to remain calm.
''Of course she is.'' said Maryse sarcastic. ''There can't go a day past without that carrot getting herself in trouble.''
''Please I have to find her.'' Clary was all Jace could think about at this moment. Rastor's dead body wasn't nearly as important to him.
''Fine. I know you will look for her regardless.'' Maryse knew Jace and she also knew it was futile to try to convince him otherwise.
''Thanks mom but Alec has to come with me, I need someone who I can trust.''
''What about Rastor'' asked Maryse.
Finally Alec stepped to his mother. ''I'm going with Jace.'' He turned his head to Izzy. ''I'm sure Izzy can take care of it, she is one of the best we got.'' Isabelle looked down and tried to suppress her smile.
Maryse sighed again. ''If that is what you want. ME and your father will be back in two days. I await that everything will be running smoothly at our arrival.'' she said with strictest tone possible.
''We got this'' said Izzy.
Without saying anything Maryse turned around and stormed off. Izzy did too but before she could get away Alec grabbed her arm.
''You can do this Izzy. We believe in you.''
''Thanks big brother. Good luck and get her back.'' Alec nodded and the three went on their way.
Magnus was sitting on his couch browsing through his phone when he heard a gentle knock on the door. A smile appeared on his face. He recognized that all familiar knock. He opened the door with a great swing and saw Alec adjusting his hair. Alec quickly took his hand out of his hair and walked in.
''Hey, I wasn't sure if you'd be home still.''
''I won't leave in another 30 minutes. Any luck in finding Clary?''
''No luck there. They found her stele south of here, Jace is looking there. I'm supposed to be looking around her cellphone a couple of streets away.'' This time Alec sounded worried even tho he did not like Clary that much. ''Have you heard anything?''
''I asked around but nobody has seen anything, I'm sorry Alexander.'' Magnus put his arm around Alec in attempt to comfort him.
''I was hoping you heard something. I guess I have to go again, see you tonight?''
''Or I can come with you. We will find her together and then tonight you and I could-'' But before Magnus could finish Alec's phone rang.
''Jace?" asked Alec. ''Yes, I am on my way-'' Where?'' I will and hang in there we will find her.''
''What is it?'' asked Magnus.
''There is a new location where Clary could have been. Jace has found something at the location of the stele but he wants me to check this new area out too.''
'' Il go check there.'' said Magnus.
"Really? That would be great Magnus.'' Alec gave him a big kiss on his lips.
''If this is how you thank me now ,I can not wait how you will thank me when I find Clary.'' said Magnus with sparkles in his eyes.
Alec smiled and grabbed Magnus his arm. ''Lets go, we have a Shadowhunter to find.''
It was getting dark and Alec had not found any traces of Clary. Jace was still looking and Magnus too. Alec had scanned the entire area but he did not find anything useful. He walked back to the location of her phone. It was laying between some thrash. He grabbed the phone and tried to unlock it, however it required a password that only she could know. Alec was about to give up hope when he saw something that caught his attention. An unusual sign was scraped on one of the side-allays. It looked a Shadowhunter rune, Alec wasn't sure since it was very small and not entirely accurate. He walked towards the wall to see the sign up close. It was one of the signs that Clary had recently learned. A piece of brick was lying next to the wall. It had to be her. Alec walked trough the dark allay way which led to a small dock. It looked like a dead end but straight across the water was another dock. Alec took an abandoned fishing boat and sailed across the water. He looked around but saw only old buildings. Clary had to be here somewhere he thought to himself. Alec was ready to grab his bow and arrows when his phone rang. It was Magnus.
''Hey Alexander, have you found anything because I haven't and I heard Jace didn't either.'' asked Magnus.
''I think I have but I'm not sure yet.''
''Be careful darling we can't have two Shadowhunters missing.'' Magnus sounded slightly worried.
''I will don't you worry about me.'' said Alec tensely. ''I still want to thank you for helping me.''
''Does this mean I still get my big thank you when you get home.'' Magnus tried to relieve some tension.
'' Sure. See you later.'' Alec hung up the phone and called Izzy.
''Izzy, I need you to look something up for me.''
''What do you need Alec.'' asked Izzy with curiosity.
''Can you look up the locations were Clary could have been.''
''Sure one second.'' He heared Izzy's heels clacking trough the phone. ''I have send you the information to your phone. What did you find Alec?'' asked Izzy.
''Can you draw a line that connects these locations with her phone as destination.'' said Alec determined.
''It looks like a possible route but it does not really make sense for her to walk this path. It leads to water.'' Izzy was not sure were Alec was going with this.
''Look on the other side of the water.''
''There is not much. A park some old unused buildi-. Great work big brother.''
''How is it going with you and the Rastor problem?'' asked Alec.
''Not that great, we don't have much to work with.'' said Izzy disappointed.
''You can do it Iz-.'' Alec stopped talking when he heard voices. The voices slowly faded, it to be them.
''Alec are you there? Hello?'' asked Izzy.
''I think I know were she is'' said Alec. I text you my location.
''Don't do anything Alec stay put till back up arrives.'' commanded Isabelle.
''I know what I'm doing.'' said Alec and he hung up the phone. Guards were guarding the perimeter. But to his luck he saw some old stairs leading up one of the old buildings. He saw the talking guards and followed them from above. A couple of blocks later they stopped. Alec climbed down from a rain pipe and hid behind some bushes. He overheard them talking.
''I don't want to upset him.'' said of of them. He could not hear the other one mumbling his words.
"I know. Don't worry she is not going anywhere tied up.'' then he slammed the big metal box behind him.
Alec was not sure what to do. Izzy told him to wait for back up but he could not just ignore this situation. He walked around to get a better view. There were only two guards outside, probably more inside. If he had to free Clary he had to be quiet. He found the perfect place close to the guards. He drew his bow and aimed. For a moment he doubted. An arrow flew trough the air and hit one of the guards who fell down. The other one looked around confused. Then Alec shot him down too. He ran to the metal box and opened it. Clary looked up and saw Alec standing there.
''Alec!'' she whispered loudly.
He ran up to her and cut the ropes. She massaged her wrists who were red and painful.
''follow me.'' said Alec. He looked around and heard voices in the distance. Definitely more than two guards. Soon the would reach them and see the dead guards.
''Look!'' said clary pointing at a well leading to the sewers. They lifted the lid and jumped down. Angry voices could be heard in the distance. They started running the way Alec walked on the surface.
''What happened?'' asked Alec.
''I saw them moving a body, I think it was dead. Said Clary. ''I called Jace that I had found something. Next moment I got ambushed.''
''Are you hurt.'' asked Alec while examining Clary.
''Besides my wrists I'm fine.'' Still massaging her wrists. '' So you found my clues?''
''We all found something but I saw the sign u drew. Not that accurate.'' he said teasingly.
Clary tilted her head. ''Well you try and draw something while being held hostage.''
Alec heard the sound of water nearby. They walked around the corner and saw a lid but no ladder to help them up.
''We have to get out here.'' said Alec pointing up. He helped Cley get up there and she managed to lift the lid. She crawled up and looked around.
''I don't see anybody yet. Give me your arm.'' Alec grabbed her hand. He then tried to lift himself up from the edges of the lid when he saw something in the corner of his eye. He felt hands grabbing him and pulling him down. He was too late. A bunch of the followers surrounded him. He tried to hold on but he was not strong enough to free himself from that many people pulling him down. Slowly he started slipping back. Clary panicked and grabbed his jacket but it was futile.
''Alec! Alec hold on! Alec!'' shouted Clary.
''Run!'' yelled Alec.
''I can't leave you behind!''
''Go!'' shouted Alec at the moment he lost his grip. The last thing he saw was clary running away before he felt something hard bang against his head that turned everything black.