A tall boy had the point of his gun pressed to Alec's back, turning his veins to ice. He had moved to Alec as soon as Magnus had spoken,his movements swift and decisive. He'd heard Magnus inhaled sharply, like he could already hear the sound of a gun firing.
"I don't believe it." The girl said, her arms crossed over her chest.
He didn't think the girl would believe him.
Damn, he should have lied, but then Jace would have been shot.
"Ma'am what makes you think so?" Magnus said, and Alec sensed he was stalling for time.
She let out a laugh, harsh and bitter.
He didn't dare turn his head to look at the boy who's gun was firmly pressed against his back. Then the boy accompanying the girl spoke up, his voice was familiar.
He still didn't turn his head, to confirm his suspicions.
"Gunner, Matt, take them back to the rest of the group please. Take the blonde as well."
Alec and Magnus hadn't been back for hours. Isabelle was getting the strong sensation something had gone wrong, which only grew stronger every moment she didn't see Magnus and Alec emerge through the trees. She started panicking when the sun slipped beneath the horizon, and she still hadn't seen the faces of Alec and Magnus. She trudged over to the fire pit, grabbing two knives from the pile. That left only 2. She prayed she would find her missing companions and get back before more trouble. She didn't want the group practically weaponless.
She let a small cry of surprise escape her lips, and she turned to see what had touched her He smiled at her, the moon casting shadows across his face. She didn't smile back, only looked away.
"Are you abandoning us?" Simon asked, not without bitterness.
"What?" She asked, disbelief plain in her tone.
"Like Alec, and Magnus." Simon said.
She hadn't thought of it that way. But why would Alec accompany someone he hardly knew?
"I'm going to find them." She stated, with more confidence than she felt.
"Then I'm coming with you." Simon said. His expression was set in stone, hard and determined. She could probably say things to convince him not to come, but she actually felt better having him there, a companion to watch her back. She handed him one of the weapons, and they walked side by side into the darkness.
The ropes binding Magnus's hands together were unpleasant against his wrists, the rough material tearing at his skin. He looked to Alec, who was beside him, similar ropes tying his hands together. He appeared to be deep in thought, and his eyes were trained on the tall boy, who was now tending the fire with unsteady shaking hands. The boy had piercing green eyes, and curly dark hair. Magnus wasn't sure of what was so intrigueing.
"I've seen him before." Alec whispered, still transfixed on the boy.
"Really?" Magnus whispered back, not seeing why it would even matter.
"What's his name? Um,...G...G-Gabriel!" Alec sat up straight in his seat, but slumped back against the tree. The tall boy jerked his head to the side, his green eyes blazing.
"I think it was gunner." Magnus said under his breath. The boy was advancing on Alec, who was smiling slightly. He knelt down next to Alec and whispered something. Alec said something back, his voice louder than a whisper.
"Hello cousin."Alec said, under his breath. Gunner/Gabriel curled his hands into fists at his sides, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"hi." He finally said.
"So, Gunner, do they know your a nephew of the famous Robert Lightwood?" Alec said, his expression carefully blank. This boy was related to Alec!
"No." Gunner said slowly.
Magnus heard footsteps behind him, and turned his head to see the girl from earlier, annoyance clear in her expression.
"What's going on here, Gunner?" She asked.
"Maia,-
"Oh we know each other. Big happy family really." Alec said, with a slight smile. Alec looked angry, a cool anger Magnus was familiar with.
"Gunner?" Maia asked, alarm evident in her eyes.
"Nothing." Gunner said.
"He's my cousin, Gabriel Lightwood." Alec said. Gabriel froze, now completely motionless.
"Lightwood? Cousin?" Maia turned, pulling a silver sword from her belt.
"No!" Gabriel cried. His hand was already gripping a sword, which he pointed in the direction of Maia.
"You didn't think this would have been good information!" Maia shouted furiously.
"I don't see why it matters." Gabriel responded.
"I trusted you!" She said accusingly, jabbing Gabriel with her sword. The fabric of his jacket tore, and blood seeped through the cloth. He saw Gabriel's jaw tighten.
"I'm no different!" He cried, blocking another one of her blows.
"You lied!" Maia screeched.
"Because I knew you would have never trusted me." Gabriel said quietly.
Maia stopped dead, her sword poised to cut Gabriel. Her eyes were drained of the angry fire, and her expression turned from furious to horrified. She dropped the sword immediately, falling to her knees. Gabriel braced himself against a tree, glaring murderously at Alec, who looked indifferent.
'I'm sorry Gunne-Gabriel." Maia said. She had buried her head in her hands.
"I-Gabriel started.
"I'm a monster." She whispered, looking from her calloused hands to Gabriel's now bleeding didn't move.
"So you were a society member?" Maia asked despairingly.
Gabriel nodded, looking rather breathless.
"How long ago?" She asked, her voice small.
"A year and a half." Gabriel said loudly. Maia's shoulders relaxed.
"I don't remember seeing you guys in the resistance building." Magnus said.
Maia turned to him, her expression a little surprised.
"We weren't." She said slowly.
"Then why are you claiming to be a part of the resistance?" Magnus he was confused.
"We were planning to be." Maia said, her expression now unreadable. He sighed, leaning back on the tree.
And now there wasn't a resistance to go back to.