Disclaimer: I do not own anything of The Moral Instruments series. Only this story.

Ch 2. Stop and Stare.

A ringing can be heard on the other line as he tightly grips the phone. His anxiety level is now through the roof; he must get in contact with somebody!

"Hello?"

"Izzy?"

"Alec!"

"Ow." Alec's ears strain as he takes on the barrage of screams from his sister. He had tried calling his Parabartai first, but Jace did not pick up. He didn't pick after the second attempt either, or third or fourth, or maybe even the fifth…

"Izzy, listen I tried calling Jace, but he didn't pick up. Do you know where he is?"

Alec had taken his sweet time all morning to get ready for the day. Strangely he didn't feel ashamed to be using Ragnor's stuff. The warlock had successfully put him at ease. He kept thinking back to their last encounter; when Alec was all hot and bothered. He remembered being pressed against the green warlock, the gentle way he leaned into Alec, and tasted his lips. Alec unconsciously brought a hand up to his mouth and touched his lips. It almost felt as if he could still feel Ragnor there. He had to shake his head, to rouse himself from his stupid thoughts.

"Magnus." Alec whispered. The mere breath of saying his former lovers name, chasing away any ideas of the white haired warlock, and replacing them with flashbacks of pain. His yellow-green eyed warlock was all Alec wanted. He would do anything to get The High Warlock of Brooklyn back. Anything.

Alec had finished bathing. He had come out of the showers smelling like a rich blend of deep cedar and green apple. Nothing like the sandalwood, he was used to at home. He cringed; comparing the two warlocks again, was beginning to hurt his head. He needed to get his stuff, and get out of there fast.

Putting on his pants, Alec walked to the closet where earlier he saw Ragnor grab a shirt. Seeing how Alec's shirt was long gone, he would have to borrow one of the High Warlock of London's. Sighing and mentally preparing himself, Alec opened the closet, expecting to find a glitter bonanza like Magnus's closet.

However, instead of finding a Mardi Gra parade, he found a tastefully organized group of clothes. While Ragnor had nowhere near the same taste in clothes of Alec's, he had a variety that Alec could tolerate. There were high quality suit jackets, blazers, formal dress shirts both long-sleeved and short, vests, and the best part were the pants. Not one pair was anywhere near outrageous; all the pants were either black, white, beige, dark blue or brown. He grabbed whatever shirt was nearest and went to call his sister.

This is where his predicament begins.

"Alec!" Izzy's frantic voice rings through Alec's ear.

"What?"

"Have you heard a word I've said?'

"Yeah, of course." No, of course he hadn't.

Alec could hear Izzy sighing on her end.

"I said that Jace went missing because of the fairies."

Fairies? Again, fairies were involved in screwing with his life.

"Why? What happened?" Alec rushed the words out, his fear for his Parabatai increasing by the second.

"Alec, listen." Isabelle said in a serious tone. "The Fae have attacked. "

Alec sucked in a breath, too stunned to even respond.

"All over the world. They have attacked the Clave." Izzy paused for a second before continuing. Making the next set of words, too hard for her to get out. "They have even attacked Alicante."

Alec didn't need to hear anymore. "I'm coming home," was all he said, hung up the phone, and ran out of the peaceful house.

It was time to get back to reality.

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"I don't see what all the fuss is about. It was just a bit of fun." The blonde haired boy grinned from the memories of his adventurous night.

"Jace, you put a tiara on your head, pranced around in a beluga whale costume, and shouted all night long about how you were the chicken of the sea." Alec shook his head. His Parabartai's lax nature about the attack was getting on his nerves.

Izzy and Alec had been acting like crazies looking for him, and retracing their steps from the previous night to see where Jace might be. They all had something happen to them last night, with the only exception being Isabelle. Apparently, Meliorn for all his seriousness, had still held some semblance of feelings towards Isabelle, and had guarded her throughout the night. She was the only one to make it home. Jace on the other hand had wound up all over London.

"Now there is no need to be ugly about it. I'm sure the beluga whales were honored to be represented by me." Jace seemed completely unfazed, by Alec's comment. In fact his strut grew cockier, as he walked toward the emergency Clave meeting.

They had specifically requested for Alec, but Jace was not about to let him go in alone. Whatever the Clave had up their sleeve they were going to deal with both of them.

"But you weren't the only one they attacked. Some of us got seriously hurt." Alec was thinking about a few number of Shadowhunters that had fairy tricks played on them, which resulted in being maimed.

Jace looked at Alec out of the corner of his eye; his suspicion finally getting the better of him.

"What happened to you anyway? You're being awfully quiet about it?"

Alec looked away, and used all his self control not to blush. However, internally he was going mad. His stomach had started forming into knots, his palms began sweating, and his heart was beating a mile a minute. There was no way he was going to tell Jace what happened last night. And if he wasn't going to tell Jace, he wasn't going to tell anybody.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No, nothing now drop it we have to get to the meeting."

They had finally made it up to the Gard. By now night had fallen, and the streets where completely empty. To travel around Alec had gone to the Silent Brothers for help. Though it was a bit unethical, Alec had wanted to get to Jace as quickly as he could; he knew full well what fairy drinks could make you do, but what he dreaded more were what fairy tricks could make you do. Luckily, Brother Zachariah had lent a helping hand; his devotion to protecting the Herondale line worked to Alec's advantage.

They had ultimately found Jace near the London docks. The Lightwoods were staying at their London vacation home; it had been in the family for several generations. It's crazy to think that on their first night there, all these events had taken place. With Brother Zachariah's help they had healed Jace back to his old ducking glassmole self, and had traveled safely to Alicante.

Upon entering the Gard, Alec and Jace were faced with their mom and dad, Consul Penhallow, Inquisitor Aldertree, and Luke. Where was everybody else? Alec and Jace traded looks about the whole situation; both knowing that something was not right.

Jace being the braver and more outspoken of the two is the one to speak up. "Where is everybody?"

Jia Penhallow is the one who responds; though she does not look happy to see Jace.

"Oh, it's you. I forget what name you go by boy, you've had so many. Is it still Morgenstern?" Jia snide remark does not go unnoticed, or unpunished.

"Consul." Mayrse is the one to reprimand her in a firm voice, and put her in her place. Her face clearly showing no indication that she is going to stand back and let the petty comment slide.

"We are all under duress, but above all we are Shadowhunters. And will not let such an incident affect us so much that we will begin turning on each other. Our behavior must be representative of the Clave we serve, more so for Shadowhunters with a title." With that unyielding statement, she finished it off with a hard stare; shaming Jia for her behavior. Jia being deliberately obtuse also stared back in her own scary way.

The room went still and silent. Everyone was looking from Jia to Mayrse; as if waiting to see a final show down.

Jace again is the one who found his voice. "I go by Jace Lightwood, now." Just a simple no nonsense statement; even Jace was affected by the firm scolding.

Jia was the first to break eye contact with Mayrse. She nodded as if accepting this information, and continued on.

"Well Shadowhunter Jace Lightwood, you were not invited-"

Before Jia could finish her statement, and Jace being the steadfast fool, interrupted her.

"I go everywhere my Parabartai goes." he had that dangerous look in his eye.

The one that told you he was ready to rumble, and was going to shove his way down your throat. It didn't matter if you were the Consul or the Angel Raziel himself; Jace was going to get his way. Jia also started getting hot-headed herself, and was about to respond in kind, but Alec thought now was a good moment to loudly clear his throat.

"AHEM." Again, everyone stopped what they were doing, and stared at Alec.

"Um. Maybe we should talk about why you wanted me here?" Alec was uncomfortable in his own skin; he was about to start fidgeting unless somebody talked, soon.

This time it was Aldertree who spoke up; apparently he thought that Jia had already spoken enough.

"Yes, Alec. That would be very good." Aldertree and his fake self attempted to smile kindly, but Alec could see through that.

"Well, as you know those awful Fae, have attacked our very being. To the point that Alicante is no longer safe!" Now Aldertree was getting very animated. "This is the second time this year that Alicante's wards have been broken through! We," he dramatically paused. "the Clave, have decided to take action!"

Alec had to use all his might not to roll his eyes, and keep a straight face. He was starting to agree with Jace.

"Inquisitor." Robert's deep baritone cut through his dramatics. "Get to the point."

"Oh, yes. Yes of course." He smiled again. "Well, Alec. The Clave has met, and decided that outside assistance should be sought out."

Alec nodded, to make it seem like he was listening.

"The Warlocks must be contracted. And you my boy have been chosen to be the official Shadowhunter Warlock Liaison."

Alec's eyes widened so much, that if they got any wider they would have bulged out of his head.

"What?!"

"Oh yes. A prominent Shadowhunter like yourself, we thought would be a good choice. You see we have been paying attention to your little speeches, and… it doesn't hurt that you already have deep connections with the Warlocks themselves."

Alec's anxiety spiked. Did they know what he did last night? Alec went through Aldertree's words again in his head, trying to process what they meant.

Alec looked up, and found Aldertree heading his way with intent.

"Yes, my dear boy. This is exciting news for you." He clapped Alec on the shoulder, trying to butter him up. "This title has been specially created. Soon we will have a Liaison for every Downworld group. This will help, strengthen our relation with them. For now, we must make Alicante a special dimensional location."

Dimensional? As in Dimensional magic? As is…

Alec didn't hear him come in. He only knew that it was him. The Warlock of the previous night. The Warlock that had guided him to safety. The one that had passionately made love to him in the night, and then provided the resources to get him home. The one Alec had been having a hard time letting go.

"Alexander, it's good to see you again."

Alec couldn't stop the stupid grin that appeared on his face. He could no longer deny that he had been yearning to see Ragnor Fell one more time, but couldn't imagine a situation in which that was possible. Alec turned to face the Warlock… and to say the least was surprised. Actually surprised is not a strong enough word; more like shocked beyond belief. Stupefied beyond all repair. Dazed and shaken to the core.

Because standing in the spot of the pleasantly smooth voice, stood none other than

Ragnor Fell and Magnus Bane.

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Author's Note:

Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, it has convinced me to outline a story for this well...story. Meaning, I will continue on; I don't know how long, not too long though 5-10 chapters. Somewhere around there.

Anyway, Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

PepperB