Lissa Graymark

"Are you sure it's a good idea for you to leave-" I was asking Simon on the phone as I weaved my way through the institute halls.

"Lils…" he was trying to reassure me, "…look I'll be fine, okay."

"If you're sure…" I, on the other hand, was completely doubtful.

"Yes I am," he, however, had complete faith in himself.

"I'll come and check up on you soon, okay?" I'm a worrier, sue me.

"Okay… Bye."

"Princess-" someone immediately called my attention when I hung up the phone.

"Yes?" I replied absentmindedly as I went through the list of names of people that had sent text messages in the last 12 hours that I didn't reply to.

24 messages from Jay.

11 missed calls for Jay.

I should probably call him back-

"Sebastian Verlac," I looked up at the sound of my new friend's name, "-is on his way to your office."

"Oh right, yes…" I mumbled quietly as I tried to mentally reorganise my day to try and find time for my boyfriend. Is he still my boyfriend? I waved a hand at the shadowhunter, "Lead the way."

As we rounded the corner, we almost ran into the person I wanted to talk to.

"Lissa!"

"Jace," I gasped, startled at his quick appearance, "I was just looking for you!"

"You were?" that seemed to shock him.

"Yes, I wanted to talk about-"

Apparently luck wasn't on my side today, "Princess, your meeting-"

"Right," I sighed dejectedly as I looked back at my boyfriend? "Talk to you later?"

He just smiled weakly in return as he nodded in agreement.

The shadowhunter didn't even wait for a response, leading me back to my office.

When we got there, Sebastian was already there.

"Hey," I greeted him with a wave as I made my way to the couches, "Thanks again for doing this."

"No problem," he said with a devlish smile, "Here…" he handed me the familiar concoction.

"Ugh… Thanks." Without another word, I downed the contents of the small vial, quickly wincing as it made it's way down my throat, "So what are we doing today?"

An hour later, I was exhausted from the training session Sebastian put me through.

"I think that's all I can do today," I panted as I felt the pounding in my head increase to unbearable levels.

"You've made a lot of progress," he reassured me as he handed me a bottle of water.

"Yeah, well…" I gulped the water down, happy at its soothing capabilities, "It doesn't always feel that way."

"You're getting there, your majesty. A little more of a push and you'll be back to where you were."

I nodded, determined to be able to get my powers. I can't be the vulnerable one. I'm supposed to protect them. Those shadowhunters Kaelie slaughtered were under my watch. I failed them. The least I could do is suffer a few migraines every day so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

"Another session tomorrow?" I asked him tiredly as we made our way out of my office, heading towards Ops to join the others.

"Of course," he said, nodding in agreement.

I spaced out at the sound of Izzy's voice, "I hate the Seelie Queen."

"I have to talk to Alec quickly," I nodded absentmindedly as I waved him off, listening intently to Izzy and Jace.

"Look, I'm not a huge fan either," You and me, both. "But like her or not, Seelie magic doesn't lie."

Wait. He can't possibly be talking about their kiss?

"What happened at the Seelie Court, it was real. I felt it." I think my heart shattered at that confession. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I fought with myself to move away but it was as if I was frozen in time, forever stuck with the feeling of my heart breaking into a million pieces. "I know Clary did too." I couldn't even put in the effort to wipe the tears from my face.

"Whoa, slow down," was her amused response.

Are you on their side too, Iz?

"Izzy, I can't just erase my feelings."

I was a fool to think you ever lost your feelings for her.

"Do Clary and Simon a favour. Don't go there, Jace." At least there's that. "You have your own girlfriend to think about-"

They had walked too far away for me to hear the tail end of their conversation.

I should have walked away as soon as I heard their voices. If I had, maybe I wouldn't be here, crying over a boy who probably never loved me.

I wish I had longer to compose myself but I had a meeting to go to. Every thought, every movement just made we want to break down all over again.

I drew a glamour rune, allowing the mess I made of myself, momentarily disappear.

I wiped my face clean of any emotion and strode out of the alcove, heading straight to the table where others were standing. I headed straight past the duo I overheard and moved to stand between Sebastian and Alec. I held my hand out and my tablet was immediately given to me.

I ignored everyone, choosing to focus on the contents of the screen in front of me, humming a random song as to look busy.

"I see that the request that we put forward to have Valentine moved to the Gard in Idris has been approved by The Clave," I spoke after I stalled for long enough.

"You told them about the assassination attempt?" my least favourite person in the room spoke up. I held back from flinching, not wanting him to know what I overheard.

"No. I explained to them that moving Valentine out of the city is the best way to restore relations with the Downworld," Alec answered for me, "I left Luke out of it."

"It is the right decision," I nodded along with Sebastian's words as I continued to keep my focus on the tablet which didn't actually hold a lot of information.

"But we have not given up on finding who orchestrated the hit on Valentine."

"I actually have a few leads on that," Sebastian immediately told Alec before looking down at me, "I'll get a report in by end of the day."

"Great," I tried to use my most optimistic voice. He took that as a dismissal as he bowed his head, grabbing the tablet on the table (his I assume) and heading away.

I turned to the only other female in our group, keeping my focus away from the boy standing beside her, "Izzy, you'll be leading the transfer mission." I ignored Alec's sharp look of shock as I continued, "Jace, you will assist."

"We need to remove Valentine's Circle Rune," I could see her bite her lip as she tried to stop herself from smiling in glee at the prospect of being a mission lead.

If I didn't hear that conversation, I would probably find it funny and smile back at her. I nodded along though, "The new wards in Idris won't let him pass with it on"

"Jace," I hope I didn't flinch, "-do you want the honours?"

"Thought you'd never ask," he smirked at her.

I hate that I love that stupid smirk.

I watched Izzy walking away, wishing that was me right now.

"Tell me that I'm making the right call," Alec's worried tone broke through my thoughts, "'Cause between you and me, I'm just not sure I'm good at this."

I patted his shoulders, smiling gently up at him, "You're doing an amazing job."

I gave him a tired smile as I nodded in goodbye before turning to walk away.

"Wait," a voice suddenly interjected, "Lis. You okay?"

I nodded frantically, wanting to get out of the situation faster, "Of course yeah."

"Can we talk soon?"

"Princess, you have a message from-" a voice interrupted us once again.

This time, I was thankful for their quick intervention. I hope I didn't sigh in relief in front of him.

"Oh thank you," I told the man before turning to look at Jace briefly, "I'm sorry Jace."

Ring. Ring.

"Hello," I immediately picked up the phone, not even looking to see who was calling, "Alicia Graymark speaking."

"Can I crash at yours again?" a rushed whisper spoke through the phone.

"Si?" I asked, only to get muffled sobbing in return. I pulled the phone away from my ear slightly and checked the caller ID. "Yes," I responded once I saw his name, "Of course you can." I paused slightly as I quickly ran over my schedule in my head, "Si, do you need me to come over now, I can be there in minutes."

"Ahhh," I heard a hiccup from his end, "Maybe not now… Later?"

"Yes, of course," I nodded despite knowing he couldn't see me, "I'll see you soon, Si."

"See you soon, Lils."

"I Iove you Si. I hope you know that," I reassured my heartbroken friend.

"Love you too Lils."

With that, I heard the dial tone as he hung up on me.

At least there's someone out there who knows what I feel. At least he got closure out of it, though.

"Go ahead, Jace." I'm doing better if I'm not flinching at the mere sound of his name, "It's not gonna stop me."

I slowed to a stop outside Valentine's cell, watching the confrontation between ex-father and son.

They best release this out of their systems now before the devil incarnate head's off to the Gard.

"It's not some rune that makes us who we are," Valentine was continuing to say, "It's our blood. And yours, my boy, is exceptional," he finished off with a hint of awe in his tone.

"Because you experimented on me," the blonde snapped, "On my mother. Why? Why her?"

How I wish I could be there by your side, holding your hand, soothing all the worries away.

"Sweet Celine. She wanted a child so desperately," the devil informed us, "When she and Stephen learned that she was pregnant again, with you, she was terrified that she was gonna lose her baby. So she came to me, asking for help."

"And I'm sure you were so happy to oblige."

"The injections I gave your mother, laced with Ithuriel's pure angel blood made you strong," he said matter-of-factly, "After her tragic death, after I pulled you from her womb, barely alive, I raised you to use that blood. I taught you..."

"You taught me not to feel," maybe I should be there so he doesn't lunge at the prisoner? Then again, this is Valentine we're talking about… Jace still has a lot of anger in his system so I'll leave them be, "You taught me that 'to love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be the one destroyed.'"

"And you've proven how right I've been all along," the man spat his words out, looking at his ex-son up and down in disgust, "Look at you. Your love for Clary, it will be your downfall."

Don't cry. Don't cry. You're about to face the devil so don't you dare cry!

"Don't you dare bring her into this!"

"She is as much a part of this as you are," and this interrogation is now over…

I schooled my features before calmly walking into the cell, "Shall we get a move on?" I immediately said, ignoring the tension in the room, "I have other things to do."

"And here is the Princess, herself…" he leant forward, a ghost of a smirk on his lips, "How's it feel knowing I am right?"

I ignored his voice, instead nodding to the other shadowhunters in the room, "Let's begin."

"Valentine's Circle rune has been removed…" I was immediately told after three swift knocks on the door. I barely had time to look up before Izzy continued, "…and I've assembled my team."

"Good," I shared a look with Alec who was sat opposite me at my desk before turning to his sister, "I'll feel a lot better when he's out of the Institute."

"Have you secured Magnus for the transfer?" she asked me.

"I think-" Alec began answering for me, catching me by surprise as we walked out of my office back towards Ops, "-we should consider using a different warlock. Catarina Loss lives in..."

"We're talking about portalling the Clave's Most Wanted into Idris," I cut him off, "There's not many Warlocks with that clearance."

"Besides, I want the best," Izzy interjected with a wink in my direction. I looked away, not comfortable knowing she had that conversation with Jace and didn't talk to me about it, "And that's Magnus."

"Look, Magnus isn't exactly..." I turned to my left only to see his hand floundering in the air, "…in a great place right now." Izzy and I leaned closer slightly to hear his whispered words, "He hasn't been sleeping."

I raised my eyebrows in concern as I turned my full attention to him, "What's wrong?"

He visibly sighed, his whole body sagging slightly, "I don't know. He says nothing's wrong. But I can tell he's not alright."

"You know, some people find it hard to ask for help," Izzy inputted helpfully. "If Magnus is hurting, don't let him push you away."

"Thank you for the advice," he stopped moving, turning towards us, "but I know Magnus. He needs his space."

Seeing his steely resolve, I nodded hesitantly before turning to Izzy, "We can use a different warlock."

"There you are," a voice called to us.

I turned to see Sebastian's approaching figure, "Any update on the mole?" I asked him, hoping to break the tension between the siblings.

"Yeah," he panted. Huh. He must have ran over here as soon as he found out the details, "Whoever it was is a clever one. Left absolutely no trace." I raised one eyebrow in concern at his words, "But I've been auditing personnel files. I've found a few Shadowhunters who have a personal stake in wanting Valentine dead. Family members killed, relatives lost to the Circle. All with enough access and clearance to pull it off."

I nodded in understanding, "Send me the list when you're done." From the corner of my eye, I saw Izzy begin to beam as she saw something in the distance. I ignored her in favour of turning to Alec, "We'll review the files as soon as I get them-"

"By the angel-" I was cut off by issues exclamation as she walked off.

"Aline-" Alec also left my side as he too caught sight of the figure.

"In the flesh," she held her arms out in greeting which Izzy was all to happy about jumping in to.

I slowly joined their side alongside Sebastian as the trio continued their happy reunion.

"It's been years," Alec continued but he didn't hug her, not being the hugging type unless if it was for a select group of people.

"What are you doing here?" Izzy asked as she practically vibrated by my side in excitement.

"I would've given you both a heads up but I didn't want to spook my dear cousin," Oh. That Aline. I remember seeing her name in Sebastian's files when Alec and I were reviewing him. "Who disappears for half a year only to show up here." I watched as the blonde tense as the black-haired women approached him like a predator, "Come here, you gorgeous Englishman."

And just like that, the tension was gone. A hug sure does wonders.

"It's good to see you, Aline," he said into the hug.

I looked to the side as someone bowed at their approach.

I nodded, letting them approach with a small tablet. My keen eyes caught sight of another report.

I nudged Alec's side, showing him the screen's contents.

"Sorry," he spoke for us as I nodded at the shadowhunter to lead us back towards my office, "Excuse us."

An hour into this report, I was still sat at my desk, twiddling my pen as I thought about who to best send out the mission I was still trying to craft. Alec, the traitor, had already left to deal with other institute business.

Ring.

Before the phone could even reach a second ring, I had already picked it up to answer it.

"Can we meet up?" a voice immediately greeted me.

"Of course," I practically jumped up in relief at an excuse to get out.

"Princess," one of my guards asked me when I stepped out of my office, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going on a quick walk," I informed them in a matter of factly voice, the only thing betraying my lie was the slight elevation in my heartbeat, "I'll be back soon."

It didn't take me long to sneak out of the institute and head to my old apartment.

I guess those unsanctioned missions did teach me something.

"Hey Si," I greeted the couch potato as I hung up my leather jacket, "What happened?"

"Clary and I broke up," he told me from his awkward position on the couch. His head was hanging off the couch as his legs were hooked against the back of the piece of furniture. I would tell him to stop because all the blood would rush to his head but a) he's heartbroken and b) he's a vampire so I think he'd probably enjoy it. If he would even feel it at all.

"What?" I immediately flew to his side, hugging him straight away.

Surprisingly he didn't break down into tears straight away. It wasn't until we broke apart and he started to explain what happened that I saw the first sign of sadness in his features.

"She just kept saying that it didn't mean anything…" he finally spoke, breaking our silence.

I remained silent, letting him spill his emotions out without any interruptions. "Kept saying that she had to do it to save my life. I. I uh-" his voice broke as tears started to form in his eyes, "I said that the Seelie Queen made her reveal who you desired most and that it wasn't me. It was Jace." I flinched at both the name and his sniff as the tears began to fall, "I asked her to look me in the eye and tell me she didn't have any feelings for him but…" he turned to me with the most broken look, "…she couldn't. She kep-" I resisted the urge to pull him closer as he began to stutter, "-kept -kept saying that she loved me bu- but she never did. We both know that she-"

"Si-" I tried to stop him. "She does love you-"

"Just not the way I love her. You know that."

I opened and closed my mouth as I tried to form a response. When we were younger the two had always been close. I always thought that when we grew up that they would eventually grow up and get married. But then we were re-introduced to the shadow world and everything got messed up.

We met Jace or at least I remet him. We both fell in love with the same man, breaking both our sisterly bond and several hearts at the same time.

But I know he's right…

She loves Jace.

And Jace loves…

"I told her tha-" I was broken from my thoughts by the sound of Simon's voice, "-that there's something between her and Jace and the- then I said that it's enough for me to know that kissing her and trying to be more than friends was a big mistake."

I felt something break in me at his confession.

"Oh Si," I said consolingly, hugging him close, "It's not a mistake, you know that."

"That's not even it," he broke away from my hug as he began to frantically pace around the room, "I was heartbroken-" he looked around the room as if waiting for someone to jump out, "I went with this vamp to this den and he convinced me to drink some plasma-"

"Si-"

He cut me off, hurrying his words and he zoomed to my side, "-and from this girl and now she's- she's dead." He suddenly stilled before coming to an idea, "I need to go to Raphael's." He stopped before turning to me with a request, "Will you come with me?"

"Of course," I startled, not expecting this sudden change in emotions, "I'll go. But Si-" I reached out, stopping him from leaving the apartment, "I can sort it out for you… Just say the word and I can-"

"No. No-" he shook his head, placing a hand on my shoulder, "-this is a vampire's problem. My problem…" he nodded resolutely, "I'll sort it out."

I nodded slowly, trying to work through everything that happened in the past 30 or so seconds, "Okay."

I followed him out of the apartment, grabbing my car keys on the way out.

"Will you stay in the car?" he asked me when we got to our location.

Did you ask me to come to be your personal taxi driver? Sure, I guess…

"Are you sure?" I double-checked though, "I can always go with you."

He ignored me, slamming the car door as he got out.

Okay. Rude. Plasma sure doesn't agree with him.

I grabbed my stele, drawing enhanced sight and hearing runes on my arm when I caught sight of Simon's flailing limbs in the distance.

"Why is this happening to me?" he was screaming, "I'm a good guy. I'm an organ donor." Oh Simon… "I was an organ donor. - Do we still give organs as..."

"-Simon," I could practically see Raf roll his eyes from here, "Get a hold of yourself."

"What do I do, turn myself in?"

Now I couldn't help but roll my eyes at this. He's been asking the Princess of the shadowhunters, his main adversary, for help. Does he really think I'm gonna let someone arrest him?

"No. What happens if you go hungry in prison?" I came back to the conversation when I heard the elder vampire's voice.

"Can I- Can I stay here and lay low?" Simon started to beg my other friend, "Can you help me out?"

"Yeah," Raf surprised me by nodding in agreement, "Yeah, I can help you out. But I'm going to need something in return." That sounds more like him…

"What do you want? Anything. Anything." I stopped myself from storming out of the car, hating the sound of desperation that left my best friend's mouth.

"Tell me how you became a Daylighter."

I froze at that request.

I know that Simon hates Jace right now but would he betray him? I doubt it, it isn't in his character.

"I- I told you…" his stuttering voice broke me out of my thoughts, "I don't know."

"I don't believe you. And if you can't help me..." I shook my head at the selfish thoughts. "I can't help you."

I jumped slightly when Simon suddenly reappeared in the passenger seat.

"Let's go," when I went to open my mouth he simply cut me off, "Now."

I simply followed orders, immediately starting the car and pulling out of the spot he had me drop him off earlier. I began aimlessly driving through the streets of New York, not really having a destination in mind.

"Can you drop me off here?" a voice suddenly piped up.

"Here?" I spun around to look at him in confusion, "Simon why-?"

"Just stop the car," he cut me off.

I braked suddenly, flinching slightly at the cacophony of car horns that sounded from behind me.

"Si- Simon!" I called after the vampire that sped away from me.

Not again…

I shook my head in slight annoyance at being left so suddenly before quickly grabbing my phone and shooting a text in Luke's direction.

I then got out of the car before jogging in the direction I saw my friend head in. I stopped short when I almost ran into a vamp, wolf and hunter. What an odd combination of people.

"What are you all doing here?" I asked in confusion.

"Trying to track down a murderer," the vampire answered me as I scooted my way around the group.

"Stay out of it," Luke was saying as I looked around the alley we were in.

"This is vampire business," Raf was saying, "I can take care of him myself."

"I can't let you do that," Luke cut him off.

"Leave Simon alone," I flinched at the sound of my sister's screech.

"I'm not talking about the Daylighter. Quinn killed the girl," I sighed as I approached a nearby door.

"Let's go," I heard the redhead's voice as I headed on ahead of them.

I stepped into an odd world. There were a lot of half-naked people in this room. Some male, some female. Some I think were vampires and some were human.

A flash of gold caught my eye as a vampire burst into millions of golden particles in the centre of the room.

I stepped cautiously in that direction, not wanting to draw too much attention to myself.

"Simon!" I heard my sister's yell as I took a look at my surroundings in disgust.

"I didn't kill that girl," he announced with a slight sob as he dropped the stake in revulsion. I turned at the sound of his voice, only to see he was directing that comment at me.

"We know," Clary said from somewhere behind me.

I ignored her, choosing to step towards him so I could grab his arm, "Are you okay?"

The next thing I knew, I was rushed into a hug, crushed between the best friend's bony arms.

"No," he whispered into my hair softly as I placed my arms around him. "Not really."

"Go wait outside," I told him, pulling away slightly so I could pass him my car keys. He nodded jerkily, completely ignoring everyone else who came for him and flashing outside.

As soon as the vulnerable vampire was gone from the vicinity, I turned to the other vamps still lingering in the room.

"You're all still here? Get out," I said, jerking my head in the direction of the doors.

I don't know if they were in shock or completely unfazed because no one moved.

"No?" I asked them rhetorically as I felt my powers spark underneath my skin, "I said…" I stomped my feet, causing the building to shake, "GET OUT!"

I smirked at the sight of the vampires closest to me being blown away as others began to flee. "If I even hear about another club like this open in New York, none of you will survive to see your next drink of blood!" The rest are gone before I even finished my threat.

"You're just like your mother," I heard Luke say, snapping me out of my mood.

I glanced briefly at my hands in shock as the signs of electricity disappeared from sight.

"Scary as fuck," Raf agreed as I walked up to the group.

"You got this right?" I patted my uncle's shoulder as I walked past towards the exit.

"I'm glad that you came back for me," Simon's voice greeted me as I got into the driver's seat.

"Of course I did," I scoffed lightly as I looked back down at my hands.

How is this possible? I could barely move anything with my mind this morning and now I can level a whole building? Something isn't right… I should probably ask Seb about it when I get back to the institute.

"Can you bring me to the institute?" the best friend asked me as my thoughts continued to rage on.

"You ready to talk to Clary?" I asked him in a daze as I started the engine of the car.

"I finally think so…"

"Good," I nodded with a smile as I started to drive us back, my thoughts still in disarray as we drove in silence.

As soon as we got to the institute, Simon and I headed in different directions, him to Clary and me to get changed so I could send Valentine off.

It didn't take me long to change and slowly head down to the cells.

Jace and Izzy were already there, approaching me with Valentine in chains between them.

"Valentine Morgenstern," I said, bringing his attention to me as I felt Alec and Magnus join my sides, "-by order of the Clave, you are hereby remanded to the Gard in Idris."

I kept my eyes on him as Magnus was given the order to open the portal by Izzy.

"I may be in a cell," the man gave us a look of disgust, "-but at least I'll be in Alicante..." a look of revulsion passed over his face as he looked at the warlock by my side, "…where the air doesn't reek of Downworlders."

"Get him out of here," I sighed as I nodded at the others.

I shared a look with Jace as he walked past, leading the way with Izzy through the portal.

Maybe we'll find time to talk tomorrow.