I'm back with another chapter! Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 2

Magnus walked towards the institute with an enormous hangover which didn't help the situation at all. He was starting to see all the other high-ranked downworlders in New York and groaned when he saw one specific vampire. Camille, the New York clan leader. (remember, Raphael isn't leader yet. Alec is twelve.)

"Maggie!" Camille waved at him, grinning a fake smile.

Magnus kept on walking. Her high pitched squealing did no good for his headache.

"Magnus!" Camille screeched and she ran to catch up with him. "Didn't you hear me?"

"I was impossible not to hear you, Camille." Magnus said in a monotone voice.

Camille pouted. "Oh no. Are you in a mood because you have no soulmate?"

"I have a soulmate." Magnus snapped before whispering under his breath. "I think."

Camille flipped her golden hair and huffed. "Well, take a page out of my book. Soulmates mean nothing." She looked at the name on her wrist. "I have waited centuries for this guy and he still hasn't turned up. So I have stopped waiting and started acting like he doesn't exist. It's making me sooo much happier."

Magnus ignored her, just stared straight ahead and carried on walking.

"Magnus? Are you even listening?" Camille whined.

"Maybe that works for you, Camille." Magnus whispered. "But I'm prepared to wait for the right one. Even if it takes centuries."

"It has taken centuries!" Camille snapped.

"Then It'll be worth the wait."

*

Alec stood in front of his full - length mirror, staring at his reflection. For the Indico, it was traditional for the twelve year olds to wear their fighting gear. Alec hated his fighting gear. He couldn't wear his comfortable, old jumpers. No. He had to wear uncomfortable black jeans, a plain black t-shirt and a leather jacket. Guess what colour? Black. He strapped on his thigh holster and groaned. He hated that thing too.

There was a knock on his door. "Yes?" He called. Izzy opened the door.

"It's time." She whispered. Alec sighed and walked towards her.

"Do I look okay?" He asked nervously.

"You look perfect." Izzy grinned and turned to walk away. "Wait!" She spun back round again and ruffled Alec's ebony hair, messing it up. "Now you're perfect."

Alec laughed at his sister and put his arm round her shoulders. Izzy managed to make him laugh even when he thought it was impossible.

They walked in silence to the hall, Jace joining them along the way. When they got to the doors, they stopped. "This is where we leave you." Izzy said, almost sadly. Alec hugged her and she nearly ran into the hall.

"Good luck, mate." Jace patted his back and walked in after their sister.

Alec just stood their for a minute, scared stiff, before he spun on his heels and walked towards the back doors. There he found the other twelve years olds all standing in a line. He joined the back of it. That was when he realised that was a big mistake. Becasue standing infront of him was Lydia Branwell.

"Alec!" She squeeled, spinning round to hug him. Alec had known that Lydia liked him for a while now but he had always tried to avoid the subject.

"Hi, Lydia." Alec said with fake enthusiasm. Finally, she released him with a grin on her face.

"I'm so exited." She said breathlessly. "I get to find out who my soulmate is!" Alec knew she hoped it was him. "Why aren't you exited?"

Alec shrugged. "I guess I'm more nervous."

"There's no need to be nervous, Alec!" Lydia exlaimed. "It's a good thing!"

"Children!" Maryse Lightwood called from the door. "We're ready for you."

Lydia smiled at him one more time before following the people infront of her to enter the hall. Alec had no choice but to do the same.

*

Magnus sat in his seat next to the other high warlocks. The hall was split into two sides, shadowhunter and downworlder. There were rows and rows of seats with an aisle in the middle seperating the two sides. At the front was a stage, standing on it was a very proud Robert Lightwood.

How he hated the Lightwoods. Magnus that heard that their eldest son was going to have his soulmate revealed today. That should be interesting.

Suddenly, the double doors opened with a bang and the children walked slowly in. They were all in their fighting gear and walking in perfect synchronisation. It was kind of creepy.

The kids all stood tall and proud, their faces serious. All except one. At the back of a line was a boy with a messy mop of black hair. He had his head down, so Magnus couldn't see his face, and was slouched. He clearly didn't want to be there.

The children kept on walking until they stood in their line by a wall. A wall that was, of Course, on the shadowhunters' side. Magnus strained to see the boy but it was impossoble through the crowd of seated Nephilim.

*

Alec stood in the line, leaning against the wall. His hands were shaking and he willed them to stop. They didn't so instead, he hid them behind his back. His dad said his usual spiel about soulmates and the angel before he started calling out names.

Alec tried to block them all out, calming himself down. It was exactly the same for each person anyway. It got boring after a while.

"Lydia Branwell!" Called his dad. Lydia squeeled and practically ran up to the stage. Alec watched intently, terrified that his name would turn up on her wrist.

Alec watched as his dad drew the soulmate rune on Lydia. His breath caught in his throat. White light burst out of Lydia's rune and illuminated her face. A shadowhunter soulmate.

When the light faded, Alec knew the rune had transformed into a name. The only question was who's? Robert grabbed Lydia's wrist and called out. "John Monteverde!"

Alec let out the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Thank goodness. Lydia visibly deflated at the name not being Alec's and walked to her seat without the usual skip in her step. Alec couldn't help but feel a little bad.

That was when he realised there were only a few people left and so far, no one had a downworld soulmate. Alec shouldn't have been surprised, it was very rare. And yet...

"Alexander Lightwood!" His dad called and Alec froze. No. No no no! Alec forced himself to start walking up to the stage. Forced himself to look calm. He stood before his father and Robet smiled at him. Alec couldn't smile back.

Robert took his son's wrist and drew the rune. Alec felt like everything had frozen. That split second waiting to see what was going to happen was the longest he had ever endured. If only it had lasted longer. Black smoke started emanating from the rune, twisting and turning upwards. There was a series of gasps and that was when it started.

The pain. It was more intense than anything Alec had felt. It spread from the rune, feeling like fire in his vains. He screamed and crumpled to the ground. The pain just got worse. The black smoke kept on coming until it enveloped Alec like a blanket.

All he could see was black and he knew, from watching previous years, that he would be invisable to the others. Completely covered by the smoke. He screamed out one more time as the pain seemed to increase in a burst.

Then it was gone. The smoke started to fade away and Alec was visable again, gasping and kneeling on the floor. His soulmate was a downworlder. A downworlder! He had tarnished the family name! Loss all respect! There was only one worry left. Was it a man? Alec couldn't bring himself to look.

Instead he stood up and stared at his father. The look on his face was of shock and pure disgust. He grabbed his son's wrist forcefully and Alec winced in pain. Alec didn't think his father's face could have got any worse. But he was wrong. It suddenly turned into hatred and fury. Robert dropped Alec's wrist like it was on fire and stared at the crowd.

"Magnus Bane!" He called. The room erupted into whispers and Alec stood there in shock. His soulmate was a man. A male downworlder! Both the things he had dreaded had come true. He looked out at the crowd, keeping his face emotionless. They were all whispering and pointing at him. He saw Izzy and Jace staring at him with sympathy in thier eyes but he could tell they were just as shocked. He saw his mother in tears.

Alec was supposed to sit down with the others now but he couldn't. Not with them all acting like this. Instead, Alec stood up straighter and walked almost robot-like to the double doors. He ignored Izzy calling out his name "Alec!" and opened both doors at the same time, hearing them crash shut behind him.

*

"Magnus Bane!" He called.

Magnus froze. Magnus Bane? Did he say Magnus Bane? All downworlders turned to look at him but he ignored them, staring at Alexander Lightwood. His soulmate. His soulmate was a Lightworm!

Of all horrible families it had to be the Lightwoods. And it had to be the eldest son if Robert and Maryse! He watched as Alexander turned to face them all.

His face was stone and as white a sheet. His black hair was sticking in random places and that was when Magnus realised that this was the slouching boy. A self-conscious Lightwood! Magnus thought he would never see the day. Green eyed monsters.

Except Alexander's eyes weren't green. They were the most stunning blue. They sparkled while the rest of his face was emotionless. They were the most beautiful things Magnus had ever seen. Huh. Black hair, blue eyes. Pale, tall. He was perfect. But Magnus doubted that he could ever like a Lightwood, let alone love one.

Alexander had started walking now but he didn't stop like Magnus expected him to. No. He carried on walking to the doors. "Alec!" He heard a girl called. So he liked to be called Alec did he? Interesting. Magnus prefered Alexander.

It hit him suddenly, like a bolt of lightning. This was Alexander. His soulmate. Who cared what his surname was? Without thinking, Magnus got up and ran after the boy. Ran after his soulmate.

Well, that was unintentionally long! Hope you guys enjoyed it and please review. Xx

Alec will age throughout the next couple of chapters so, don't worry, he won't be 12 forever!