Chapter 2

Clary had to quicken her pace to keep up with Jace's power stride as he stormed through the darkened streets of New York. He'd barely stopped since they'd left the Institute near sunset, and if Clary had expected him to work out some of his tension, she was still waiting.

"Jace—"

He abruptly stepped onto the street and crossed through traffic, weaving effortlessly around the cars that would otherwise hit him. Clary darted after him.

"Jace, will you just stop for a second?" She grabbed his arm on the sidewalk to halt his momentum. He shrugged away from her, eyes hard.

"There's a demon out here that we need to find and kill."

Clary spread her arms helplessly. "There's always a demon. That's not what's really bothering you."

He shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Jace." She canted her head at him pointedly. "Please, talk to me. Ever since the angel—"

"Since I died," he cut in. "That's what happened, Clary. I died."

She stepped closer to him, tentatively reaching out to clasp his forearm. "But the angel brought you back. Jace, I know you're worried because the dead should stay dead, but do you really think the angel would have brought you back wrong? I don't."

He continued to shake his head. "You can't know that."

Clary squeezed his arm. "Hey, look at me." She waited for him to reluctantly meet her eyes. "I can know that. I am right here with you and you are still the same Jace I fell in love with. And Alec would know if something was different. But there's not. Just…" She trailed off as her voice thickened. "I've lost too many people, and getting you back is one miracle I'm not going to regret."

Jace averted his gaze, still looking uncertain, but before Clary could keep pushing, a scream rent the night. Jace bolted into action, taking off toward the sounds with Clary on his heels. The screams weren't coming from nearby; only their enhanced hearing runes allowed them to notice it.

They barreled down side streets, homing in on the agonized cries. Until the screams cut off.

Clary's heart hammered faster with dread as she followed Jace's lead, and they careened into an alley where they pulled up short at the sight of a man kneeling next to a mummified body. Both nephilim whipped out their seraph blades, the adamas flaring blue in the darkness as the runes activated.

The culprit leaped to his feet and threw his hands up. He was dressed in ripped jeans and an AC/DC t-shirt under a black leather jacket. "This isn't what it looks like," he said, gesturing to the corpse.

Clary raised her blade a fraction. "Oh really? It looks like you standing over a body." She eyed him up and down warily. He certainly didn't look like a demon, but Clary knew from experience that greater ones could take human form.

He kept his palms raised non threateningly. "Okay, okay, but I can explain. I heard screams and came to see what was happening. I found her like this, I swear."

Clary exchanged a look with Jace, but neither of them changed their aggressive stances.

"And you just decided to run toward a scene of someone getting murdered?" Jace said skeptically.

The guy lowered his hands an inch. "Isn't that what you did?"

Jace narrowed his eyes, but Clary was growing more uncertain.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

He seemed to take that as permission to put his arms down. "Nathaniel. I'm a warlock. Honestly, I just wanted to help."

Clary lowered her weapon, though Jace didn't.

"Did you see the demon that did this?" she asked.

Nathaniel blinked at her, then flicked a look at the body. "Demon?"

Jace's gaze sharpened. "Are you saying that's not what did this?"

"Well…" Nathaniel shifted nervously. "I saw what looked like a man. But he may have had…" His throat bobbed. "A warlock mark."

Clary's jaw slackened. A warlock did this? She looked at the body. Was this another wolf from Luke's pack? Were they being targeted? She pulled out her phone to call him.

While she was dialing, Jace pulled out his stele and activated one of his runes, then took a look around the alley.

"Luke," Clary said once the line picked up. "There's been another killing." She gave him their location, and then disconnected so he could check to make sure everyone from his pack was accounted for.

"There aren't any demon heat signatures," Jace announced after his initial survey. "Call Alec."

Clary was already pulling up his contact. He answered immediately and she filled him in on what they'd found, then hung up when he said he'd be right there. Then the three of them stood around tensely waiting.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for Alec and Izzy to arrive, and Luke was right behind them.

"You don't think this is a demon?" Alec asked without preamble.

Jace cocked his head toward Nathaniel. "This guy said he saw a warlock do it."

Nathaniel raised an index finger in protest. "Ah, I saw a man bending over the body, and I only got a glimpse of scaly hands before he ran off. I did not see him actually do the murder."

Alec's brow was furrowed as he took in the scene. "He didn't portal out?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "No. And I didn't think to give chase…I thought I might have been able to help the victim. Obviously, I was wrong."

Clary looked at Luke. "Is it someone from your pack?"

"Maia's doing a headcount right now," he replied, studying the body. After a moment, he shook his head. "I don't recognize the scent on the clothes."

Izzy crouched down next to the victim. "Well, I can tell you right now that it's not a werewolf. Those are vampire teeth."

Everyone took a step closer and leaned over to get a look at the mouth. Sure enough, there were tiny fangs protruding from the shriveled flesh.

"Why would a warlock want to kill other downworlders?" Jace asked Nathaniel, not without a trace of accusation.

The warlock shrugged defensively in return. "I have no idea." He paused. "But I'd like to help."

"That won't be necessary," Alec cut in. Clary could have rolled her eyes at his customary resistance to new people. Not that it hadn't been founded sometimes.

Alec lifted his gaze to Nathaniel. "But I'd appreciate it if you'd come back to the Institute with us to give a statement. Any details you can remember could be of help."

Nathaniel let out a derisive snort. "No offense, but I don't want this crime hung on me just because I'm the first warlock you came across in the vicinity."

"I'm not interested in pinning murders on anyone," Alec countered. "I'm interested in stopping a killer."

"Alec is the Head of the New York Institute," Luke interjected. "Because of him, shadowhunters and downworlders have been able to work together as allies and friends. He can be trusted."

Alec flicked the tiniest look of gratitude at him, and Clary smiled too.

Nathaniel shifted his weight before ducking his head. "Fine," he grudgingly acquiesced.

Alec turned to Izzy. "Take the body back to the Institute and do an autopsy. Maybe there's something to be found on this body if the killer was interrupted."

Isabelle nodded. "I should also call Raphael and let him know the victim was a vampire. He might be able to ID them."

Alec nodded.

"I'll get the pack to come and try picking up a scent from the scene," Luke added.

"And I'm going back on patrol," Jace spoke up.

Clary shot him an exasperated look, but he was already heading off into the night. Alec caught her eye and subtly nodded for her to follow.

Holding back a sigh, Clary hurried after Jace, feeling less like she was protecting the Downworld from a murderer and more like she was trying to protect Jace—from himself.

Luke stood in the alley where the vampire's body had been found, debating whether or not to transform into his wolf side. He'd been up and down this stretch and hadn't been able to pick up any scents other than those of the shadowhunters and warlock witness. And the unmistakable tang of magic. But even that didn't leave a trail for him to follow, and he was getting frustrated. He didn't like someone coming after his people.

Soft footfalls padded across the pavement as Maia joined him.

"All I'm able to get is angel blood and that warlock," she reported. "Is it possible that magic can conceal someone's scent from us?"

Luke's jaw was stiff as he pondered the mystery. "I'm not sure."

He'd prefer to ask Magnus, if the High Warlock had been available. But even so, Luke's gut was telling him that wasn't the case here. Something just didn't feel right. And when something didn't feel right, he followed his detective's instincts.

Roving his gaze around the street and surrounding buildings, Luke straightened when he spotted a bank ATM directly across the street from the alleyway. There was definitely something to be said for Shadow World resources, but sometimes it was best to take a more mundane approach.

"I'll come back in the morning and take a look at the bank's security footage," he told Maia.

She gave him a confused look. "Wouldn't a warlock killing downworlders be glamoured?"

"Maybe," Luke conceded. "But then again, they might be cocky and not think they need to bother."

Maia looked doubtful, but shrugged.

It wasn't like the wolves had anything solid to go on.

Alec and Isabelle held themselves a respectful distance away as Raphael stood next to the autopsy slab where the second victim was laid out.

"Her name was Lilah," the vampire leader said gravely.

"I'm sorry, Raphael," Izzy spoke up.

A muscle in the vampire's stoic jaw ticked as he looked their way. "What did this?"

"We're not sure," Alec replied. "Possibly a warlock."

"Why would a warlock kill a vampire?"

"We don't know," Isabelle said. "But this is the second victim that we know of. The first was a werewolf."

"What does Magnus think?" Raphael asked.

"Unfortunately, he's out of the country on important business," Alec said. "All we have to go on is another warlock's witness statement."

Raphael fell silent and returned his gaze to Lilah. "She was going out on a date, but she didn't tell anyone whom with. Not another vampire from the clan, that much I know."

Isabelle took a step forward and reached out a tentative hand to his elbow. "We'll find who did this."

Raphael's expression was guarded, but he gave a small nod at her promise. "If this was done by a warlock, then it might take another one to hunt him down."

Alec's mouth pressed into a thin line. He didn't want to have to put Magnus in that position…even though it was the High Warlock's responsibility to manage his own people.

"That Nathaniel guy did offer to help," Isabelle mentioned cautiously.

Alec's frown deepened. He didn't know Nathaniel, and therefore couldn't determine whether the warlock was trustworthy or not. But he also didn't want to interrupt Magnus's business, which was just as important to warlock affairs as catching this murderer was.

"Fine," he finally said. Nathaniel could help for now. At least until Magnus returned in a few days. Hopefully, though, they would catch the killer before then, and before more downworlders died.

Alec left Isabelle and Raphael in the lab and made his way to the chamber where the Downworld Cabinet meetings were held, which was where he'd had Nathaniel escorted to give his statement. Alec considered it 'neutral' ground within the Institute, but the detained warlock might not, especially since a guard had been left just outside the door.

Nathaniel was sitting at the large table, posture slightly slouched but still radiating tension.

Alec entered and came to stand on the opposite side of the table. "You said you were willing to help us stop this killer," he began. "Do you know of a way to track down or identify them?"

Nathaniel eyed him guardedly. "There might be a way to track them," he finally said. "I've heard of a spell that can do that, even without a clear identifier." He sighed. "But I don't have the books for that."

Alec chewed on his options. Magnus had lots of spell books. But allowing another warlock access to them…

"Give me a minute," he said, and turned away while he pulled out his phone and typed up a text message.

"I have a warlock named Nathaniel offering to help us with a tracking spell. But we might need to consult your books. Is that okay?"

Alec sent the message and then waited tensely as the minutes ticked by. He really did hate bothering Magnus like this.

His phone finally chimed with a return message. "I don't believe I know him, but you're welcome to use the loft. Just don't let anyone near the books in the study."

"Will do. Thanks."

Alec turned back to Nathaniel, who was watching him carefully. "I have a place with some spell books we can look at."

The warlock lifted an eyebrow. "The home of Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn?"

Alec wasn't surprised he had guessed that; their relationship certainly wasn't a secret. "Is that a problem?"

"Not at all. I'd heard the rumors. I'm just…surprised." He stood up. "Let's get to it."

Alec gestured for Nathaniel to head on out, and while he still had his phone in hand, sent a text to Luke asking how the search was going.

"Nowhere," was the reply. "But I have a lead I can follow up on in the morning."

"Ok. Nathaniel and I will be at Magnus's looking for a tracking spell. Keep me updated."

"You too."

Nathaniel stopped, and Alec almost bumped into him. "Everything okay?"

Alec stuffed his phone in his pocket. "Fine. Let's go." He took the lead, dismissing the escort with a nod as he led the way out of the Institute. Once outside the doors, and therefore the wards, he turned to Nathaniel. "Can you portal us there, or have you never been to Magnus's home?"

"I've never visited, but I know the street," the warlock replied, and with a snap of his fingers, a shimmering door opened up in space.

Alec stepped through first, thinking of home, and came out in the hallway outside the loft. Nathaniel came through behind him.

Alec pulled out his key and unlocked the door, feeling weird about inviting a stranger into the loft when Magnus wasn't there. But Magnus did see clients in his office, so it wasn't like it was unusual.

Alec immediately headed for the bookshelf where he knew the tomes on tracking spells were located. Nathaniel veered over toward another bookcase.

"Magnus has an impressive collection," he commented.

"Stay on task," Alec responded, pulling some volumes off the shelf and bringing them over to a glass coffee table.

"Right, sorry."

Nathaniel followed, and Alec handed him a book to start looking through, then opened one himself. But as he flipped through the pages, skimming for anything that sounded like they could use, nothing was jumping out. And some of the books were in demonic dialects that Alec couldn't read.

Nathaniel set down the book he'd been looking through. "Perhaps we should also look through these books for a spell that could cause what we saw with the victims."

Alec glanced up in surprise. "Why?"

"To track the magic use."

Alec frowned. That would required looking at darker magic. "That's not an avenue we need to explore until we've exhausted this one. And there's more books there." He nodded sharply to the stack on the table.

Nathaniel's cheek twitched, but then he shrugged. "Right." He picked up the next volume.

Alec eyed him for another moment before returning to his own research. But he was starting to wonder if it had been a bad idea bringing Nathaniel here. He could imagine the treasure trove Magnus's collection presented to other warlocks. They needed to find the spell they were looking for and get out.