***Alec's POV***

"Daniel slow down! Tell me again what happened?"

The two were standing out on the balcony together, speaking in hushed tones. Daniel had arrived at Alec and Magnus's home frantic, his hair ruffled and face flushed. Alec had thankfully been up to get a drink of water, so he was able to open the door without waking up his husband. Magnus had been way too stressed lately and he was sleeping peacefully now. Alec had no intention on waking him. But if Daniel doesn't calm down that might not work out.

"Sara has Armando Alec. That's all you need to know," Daniel said. His blue eyes were glowing slightly, out of fear or sheer panic it was hard to tell.

"Okay. Do we know where they are?"

Daniel shook his head. "No. We've never known where the Dark Order was hiding even after all these years. No matter how hard we've looked in the past they've remained hidden."

Alec hummed. It felt odd to think about his daughter being hidden with those monsters. But she's one of them now Alec, you need to accept it. But some part of him refused to do so. Thinking anything bad of his children made him feel sick on the inside. It physically pained him. His wings shuddered behind him as he remembered that blood curdling smile and the way those red eyes gleamed with their dangerous promise. Something would have to be done about Sara soon. She was going to pose a real threat soon.

If she hasn't already. Just how many Shadowhunters has she corrupted? And how many more will there be? Is there a cure to this madness? From what he heard there wasn't. And what about Mark Blackthorn? Helen's twin was still missing in action, but it didn't take much thought to know where he had to be. He could only hope that the half fey half Shadowhunter hadn't been made to drink out of the infernal cup.

"Then it doesn't sound like we can do anything yet. They'll have to come to us," Alec said.

The cold breeze blew over them, ghosting over his pale skin. Alec hardly felt the chill thanks to his powers, but his wings were still ruffled. Stars glittered in the sky like a dreamy wonderland. He looked at them, imagining what they would look like from close up. Technically he could probably go find out if he really wanted to. I might've even witnessed them all being made. It felt weird to think about just how old he really was. I'm ancient but I don't feel it. Maybe his age would become more apparent once his memory returned. It was hard to tell.

Daniel's wings twitched. "I know, I just wish there was more we could do. Every moment Armando is with them is just another opportunity for them to kill him."

Alec nodded. "I know, but I doubt they'll do anything to him."

"And why would you think that?" Daniel asked.

He was surprised it wasn't obvious to Daniel. He must be too worried to even think clearly. He certainly looks it. "Because Sara knows you care about him. She's probably using him to get to you."

Daniel swallowed down a heavy lump in his throat. "I guess you have a point. I just . . ."

"I know you're worried." We all are.

***Time Skip/ Harry's POV***

He sat beside Pippa, squeezing her limp hand in his own. She had woken up a little over two hours ago, restless and in pain. Harry had checked her over before giving her even more medicine to help her fall back asleep. The sky was clear now as opposed to the rain they'd been having recently. Bandages covered the expanse of the broken wing. Or maybe broken was the wrong word for it. Mangled might be more precise. Either way it would still heal, but time would have to mend what holy energy could only speed along. A part of him was disappointed he couldn't do more, but this was all he had. After little to no sleep the past two days, he was running on enough fumes as it was. The heavenly fire burning at his core kept him stable.

"How is she doing?" Clary asked.

She had remained with Harry throughout the day, helping whenever she could. He appreciated the gesture, but sometimes he would have preferred to be left alone to his thoughts. Pippa's kindjals were leaned up against the bed frame, basking in the afternoon light. Speaking of swords, there was another in the room. Harry had purposefully continued to avert his gaze from it, but like a shark swimming in the ocean it could not be avoided forever.

"She's okay considering what's she's been through."

Clary nodded. "It must be hard, having your siblings go through such turmoil. I tried—"

"I know exactly what you said to Daniel, and to be honest I find it unnecessary," Harry said. Cutting the Fairchild woman off was a risky play, something he knew well enough from personal experience with Pippa. They listen to their hearts truly, however I worry what kind of recklessness comes from their stubbornness. Perhaps he should envy their bull-headedness. At the very least they were always heard. He on the other hand . . .

"I only said the truth. Daniel should've done something, ANYTHING, to protect Pippa. If he tried, maybe things wouldn't have escalated." Clary reasoned.

"Or maybe there would be even greater damage to work through. What if's get us nowhere Clary, and besides, I doubt Daniel's shortcomings are what your really worried about."

The redhead frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Harry sighed. Re-examining Pippa's wounds would have to wait until later when he wasn't so preoccupied. "I understand after losing your mother, father, and brother you felt as though all your family was gone. I can only imagine how lonely you felt and how that loneliness turned to jubilation when Pippa — your direct ancestor — came into the picture. Finally you had a blood relative again."

Clary's eyes widened. "I-I . . ." She seemed at a loss for words. So I was right.

"It's okay to be protective of your family. I feel the same way about mine, but that doesn't mean you can get angry at someone else just because they didn't do what you hoped they would. Anger  is a dangerous road. It leads to hate, and hate leads to destruction. You mustn't hold grudges over what's in the past. Learn to let things go."

"But aren't you angry at him too? Don't you wish Pippa wasn't like this?" Clary asked. Her hands moved frantically at her sides, like the gesture was the last chance to win him over.

"Of course I wish she wasn't, but wishing won't get us anywhere Clary."

Her eyes suddenly darkened, distant with a memory. "This hasn't always been the case."

He tilted his head. "I presume you're talking about the wish to Raziel?"

"Yes. I know there's about a million other things it could've been used for, but when I cradled Jace's dead body in my arms," Clary sniffled. "there was no other choice to be made. Just what does Heaven think now of the world being overrun by fallen angels? Will they do anything?"

Harry felt his stomach clenching. He had been wondering the same thing. What could he say to make her feel better when his own doubts bubbled just below the surface. Pippa would want you to reassure her . . . So would she . . . Time may have passed but old habits still died hard. Even if she was apart of the threat they were facing, Harry would still think of Sara in a good light. It was how his brain was wired ever since he was born. Changing a complex system was never easy, least of all when it was internal. And then there was the matter of what he had talked about with Pippa just before everything went to hell.

Flashback . . .

"You can't be serious Pippa."

"Of course I'm serious, don't you see this is the only way."

"No, there has to be something else. I won't believe otherwise."

They were standing together, just him and Pippa. A beam of light drifted around his fingertips, pliant to his will. The Heavenly Fire burned within.

"Then you're a fool. There's one option to make him fight. Daniel needs incentive and you know it. Otherwise he—"

"Otherwise he won't fight Sara. I know. But I don't like this Pippa. This is wrong." Harry held his ground. Pippa was not going to change his mind like so many times before.

Pippa shook her head, as though dismayed by his firmness. "This is my decision Harry, nor yours. I'm the only one willing to act now, and this is the only way we can do this."

"B-but what about me? I-I can do it." His voice wavered, grasping at straws.

Pippa sighed, blinking slowly. "You and I both know you don't have it in you to fight Sara. You're strong little brother, the most unpredictable of us all, but you lack control. The Heavenly Fire burning in you is impossible to tame in our current state." Both of them knew she was right. "And besides, I'll need you to prepare for the aftermath. I'll need you to make the weapon."

"I . . . are you sure this is the only way?" He could see the sword in her hands, brimming with untapped power. It was one of his favorite swords, made to cut through anything just like Cortana and Durendal.

"Yes. I am certain."

"Okay." There was nothing more to be said. The matter was closed.

Flashback end . . .

"Harry? Are you listening to me?" Clary's questioning broke him out of his imaginations.

"I am. Sorry, I was just lost in thought."

"What were you thinking about?" She asked. Gosh, she's too nosy for her own good sometimes.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Anyways, I must get going, there's something I have to do. Can you stay here to watch Pippa?"

"Sure, but what do you need to do?" Clary asked.

Harry was at the door. He turned his head slightly so she could see his expression, the slight turn of his lips. Joyuese swung from his hand, itching to be used in battle. The metal seemed to be singing in his grip, pleased to be so close to its creator.

"Something that's going to fix things. I don't know what Heaven will do, or if they'll aid us at all, but I know what I must do and what will solve our problems." I hope.

Clary smiled. "Good luck."

"Thanks. Oh, and Clary." Harry couldn't leave without saying this.

"What?"

"Contact Alec. Tell him we'll need all hands on deck this evening. If we're going to fight we'll need all the help we can get."