Maryse Lightwood. Mother of four. Head of the New York Institute. Wife of Robert Lightwood. One of the only Shadowhunter's whose soulmate found companionship elsewhere. She's not as ignorant as Robert would believe, nor is she as forgiving. But since Max was born, Maryse has done everything she can to hide all of Robert's flaws from her children.
Of course, this backfired. Izzy has spent most of her childhood idolising Robert for being the 'cool' parent, while Maryse was strict. Maryse had trusted soulmarks for years, had believed that when she found the one she would never be hurt. She was afraid her children would be hurt the same way. That they would meet their soulmates and get their heart broken.
The Clave didn't believe in divorce. The Clave believed in soulmates. And Maryse has spent her life doing what was best for The Clave. So, that's how she raised her children. To follow rules and live by routines and to be the best. Better than everyone else, because… because then they couldn't be ridiculed. They couldn't have the whispers and rumours. They would be beyond reproach in their character. Maryse believed she had done the right thing. That she had raise three strong, independent, honourable and resilient young adults.
Izzy will always be headstrong, opinionated and defiant against authority; Maryse was the same at her age. Izzy, as a child, had loved nothing more than to make people smile. She would laugh and pull faces and generally be an energetic presence in any room. Visiting envoys would be of two minds, some would pull faces and imply that she should be more minded in her ways, others would laugh with childlike freedom at her antics knowing she was happy. Maryse would never worry that Izzy would be heartbroken, her heart was as light as air, but not easily touched.
Jace had been so sullen and withdrawn when he came into their family. The smallest things would scare him, so he created this shell that hid his emotions from the world. Because of Alec and Izzy, he became more comfortable at the New York Institute. The three of them were soon friends and Maryse felt she had nothing to worry about. Alec was the older brother that Jace needed and Maryse could never be the mother he lost, she would just have to settle for the woman who would love him like his mother never got the chance to. His shell would guard his heart from anyone who tried to hurt him, his brave front would drive most away before they had the chance to anyway.
But, Alec she worried about. When Alec was a child he was a lot like Max. Inquisitive, resourceful, full of curiosity. Alec is the ultimate big brother, caring, protective and bendable to the will of his younger siblings. Her children will never know that they have never lied to Maryse, that she knew every time Alec took the fall for something someone else had done. Maryse didn't believe Alec to be a pushover, but she believed his heart lied on his sleeve. The walls she and the world see are just for show, one he'd crafted from seeing his family hiding who they are. Alec is the one she worried about, because in the end, Alec was her little boy and she never wanted the world to hurt him.
So, when she found him, a few weeks after his sixteenth birthday, hiding from the celebrations of the New Year, she worried what had happened to make her usually shy young man hide. Alec had never hidden at parties. When he knew he was in trouble, yes. When Izzy had an insane idea, yes. Why Jace wanted extra sparring session, the list was endless. But never a party.
"Alec," she asked. She moved further into her office, where he had taken refuge. "Alec, the party has barely begun, why are you hiding in here?" Maryse will never be known as someone warm and fuzzy, but she will always be known to care when something truly bothers her children.
"The party's too loud," Alec lied. His shoulders were slumped, appearing to read the large tome in his lap.
This was the first year that the New York Institute had held the New Year's Eve party since the uprising and it was filled with over two hundred Shadowhunters from all over the globe. Alec had never had so many people invade his home before, but that wasn't why he felt the need to escape, where no one should have found him.
This was the first time that Alec had come across so many male Shadowhunter his age. His crush on Jace also bothered him. He'd spent the first hour of the party watching as Jace flirted with every female he spoke to, reinforcing the fact that he was straight, and that Alec would never have his love. Jace and Izzy were social butterflies that spent all their time meeting new people, while Alec wanted to hide from them.
"There are quieter areas, you could join your father and I in the library. The Branwell's have brought their lovely daughter, Lydia, I'm sure you'll like her." Maryse's voice was calm, but firm.
Alec grimaced. He never understood why his parents thought parading women around would work. Maryse and Robert knew when their children were meant to meet their soulmates, so why introduce them to people they hoped would be their life partners two years earlier?
Maryse has always been an observant woman, she noticed Alec's grimace. "Alec, I know that your brother and sister don't wait for their soulmates to make them happy. They believe in them, but they won't let that stop them from enjoying life. I don't think you should either." Maryse wasn't blind or stupid, she knew where her son's eyes lingered, she knew that he wouldn't have the life that would make him truly happy.
"I know, Mum. Don't worry, I just wanted to enjoy the quiet for a while." Alec closed the tome, placed it on the table and stood. "I'd love to meet the Branwell's daughter." He straightened his tie and left the room.
'He will never be happy,' Maryse thought. The Clave has rules, and even if the law changed too many Shadowhunters would treat Alec cruely.
Maryse hoped that when Alec's soulmate arrived they would give him the happiness he deserves. She just feared that Alec would not be brave enough to take when the Angel gives him and that Alec would suffer her fate, of a love lost over the years until it creates its own mask.