"This is ridiculous" Clary was saying indignantly, "they're just going to leave them to it? They're supposed to protect their people and instead they're just going to sit back and wait for their children to be killed?"
She was in the Herondale's house, where Jace and his sisters were listening to her stresses. Lucian was inside, trying to reason with his sister and brother-in-law over the decision they made in the meeting yesterday.
"What makes you think they'll be killed?" Jace asked, "you're the one whose always saying your brother's more competent than he's given credit for. My brother can certainly look after himself, and the others have extensive Shadowhunter training".
"But it's not the same-"
"Why? Because the most prodigal Shadowhunter of our generation hasn't gone with them to kill all the big bad demons that get in their way?"
This annoyed Clary more than she dared to admit, but before she could argue back one of Jace's sisters, Lucie, interrupted.
"If you're that bothered then why use Uncle Lucian to bargain with the adults? The ones who clearly don't want to help? You need to go after them yourself … and bring us with you!"
"That's not a bad id-"
"No" Jace said with finality, "it was hard enough for them to get out of the city; now they'll have increased the patrols to ensure no one else has the same idea. Also, you two aren't going anywhere"; he looked pointedly at his sisters.
"Fine then; why don't you two go after them while me and Lucie keep an eye on Aline for you" Ella suggested.
"Why would you need to keep an eye on Aline?"
"Duh. She was talking conspiratorially with the Lightwoods, you said yourself that Jon must've been telling the truth instead of joking, and that'll have something to do with this mission they've assigned themselves. Why didn't Aline go? Because the evil villain has a job for her to do here"
"That's-" Jace was lost for words, "clever. But we don't know if there is an evil villain and we don't know that Aline's bad, not really"
"You're just defending her because she's your ex" Lucie argued.
"What?!" Clary had never heard this before.
"We kissed once and all she said was 'thanks; that explains a lot'; it was ages ago, just before when she became friends with Helen Blackthorn".
"Still" said Lucie; "Clary's her friend, so neither of you would be seriously suspicious of her. If you're going after the others then we'll watch Aline and make sure she doesn't try anything".
"Unfortunately" replied Lucian, who had come out of the house's front door without them realising, "it's not going to be easy to leave Alicante now".
"I said that"
"Stephen says that there's going to be a permanent guard (twice the size of the usual patrols) stationed at every entrance to the city. They've also enlisted help from some of the neighbouring Downworlder groups that live on the outskirts of Idris, so if anyone does manage to get out of the city they'll be escorted back if found by the vampires, werewolves or odd warlock".
"Great"
"Which means it'll be even more impressive when we get you out of here" said Amatis, coming up behind her brother. Clary and the Herondales looked at her in shock, and Lucian had a satisfied smile on his face. "Me and your father have complete faith in William, and the others for that matter but we have no idea what sort of danger they've all gotten themselves into. Come, we've got a lot of planning to do".
They followed her into the house.
It was nearly dark by the time Aline reached the meeting place. She'd sent a message earlier in the day, asking him to come to the back of the Accords Hall (which was always empty at this time) and make sure she wasn't followed. She was told to ask someone she trusted to carry out this task, but Helen had had to leave before she was taken and Clary would never agree to something like this. Aline trusted no one else, so the next best thing was to ask someone who was desperate.
He was a recluse; he very rarely appeared in public and when he did it was met with sneers and disgust from the other citizens of Alicante. He wasn't much better. He hated his own people and had lived on the edge of the city's borders for as long as anyone could remember. He'd clearly done something terrible to be exiled (whether voluntarily or not) like that, but he was the only person left who was likely to help her with this task.
She looked around, hoping he would come but at the same time terrified of seeing him. She kept reminding herself that it would make Helen safe (not to mention the reasons that she hadn't told Helen) and this made her stronger and more determined to meet the man whose house they'd dared each other to knock on the door of when they were children.
"Aline Penhallow" someone whispered from the shadows. It was him, she knew it immediately, and turned around to face his figure in the darkness.
"Mr Starkweather"
"Ah I was wondering if you had any idea who you were dealing with. I assumed you must've underestimated who the recipient of your message was. I am not someone who likes to be dragged into the city by a young Shadowhunter of the brink of evening".
"I need your help". He laughed.
"Why would I help you?"
"Because you'll benefit from it more than anyone". This seemed to get his attention, and he finally stepped out of the shadows. His greying hair was covered in the hood of a long, dark cloak that looked black in the faded light of the evening sun. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at her expectantly.
"Go on"
"I know about you. You live on the outskirts of the city but are constantly watched. You're never allowed to leave, except I don't know why. You're trapped in Alicante but all you want is to just be able to leave for once. What do you know of the demon towers?"
"Everything. Including how to disable them" he smiled to himself.
"What if you were to do just that? And once the demons are in the city everyone will be distracted with fighting them. No one will notice the recluse missing from his house, and no one will be able to stop you from leaving".
He seemed to think about this silently for a while; "what do you get out of this?" he asked finally.
"The safety of someone I love very much" she hesitated; I'll need to tell him the whole truth if I want him to trust me, "and an antidote".
"An antidote?"
"The person I'm working for had me poisoned with something demonic; every time I carry out a task successfully they send me drungs to hold it off for a bit longer. Once they finally have what they want they've promised to cure it completely. But my life isn't important; I'm going this for someone whose life is in a danger if I don't obey".
"I'll do it, but on two conditions". Aline leaned forward to listen to his demands, "(1) help me find someone I've been looking for for a very long time, and (2) ensure that one of the demons I let in kills Valentine Morgenstern".