"You're the Head of the Institute." I placed my palms on Alec's desk in his office, "Can't you demand to know what happened with Clary? You have the authority to do so-"

"I've tried- multiple times." Alec replies back to me in exhausted of how pushy I was being, "The Council is freezing me out."

I sigh a little, "I'm sorry-"

"I know you're worried." Alec cut me off, putting a hand over mine, "It's okay."

Then there was a slight knock on the opened door, revealing Magnus, "Sorry to interrupt-"

"Magnus." I looked at him, noticing right away how tired he looked, "Looks like someone needs a coffee-"

"Oh, no- thank you." Magnus softly waves me off with a small smile, walking further, "I already had six."

I blinked, "Six?-"

"Yes, six-" Magnus confirmed, "But, more importantly- I was up all night researching the dark magic that Lilith has been using on Jace- and I may have found a way to free him."

"What?" My eyes light up.

Alec stood up straight, "How?"

Magnus' expression softened at my reaction, inhaling, "Based on your descriptions, it seems Lilith has Jace locked in some kind of a mental cage, and the only solution is breaking that cage by blasting Jace with enough magic to eviscerate her presence."

Alec stares at him in question, "Do you have the power to do that?"

"No, but- I will." Magnus said, "In the Book of the White, I found a synthesis spell that'll allow me to temporarily channel the magic of other warlocks."

I also stared, "How many warlocks?"

"I'll need at least about a dozen to match Lilith's strength." Magnus explained, "I'll have to call in some favors, but this should work."

"There's just one tiny catch." Magnus then adds in hesitantly, "We'll need the High Warlock's permission to organize something on this scale."

"Well, that shouldn't be a problem-" I slowly stood on my tippy toes, reaching up and slinging my arm around Alec, "My- very powerful Head of the Institute boyfriend and I, will talk to him."

Magnus gave Alec a look, lightly smiling at me, before turning and leaving the room without any question, closing the door behind him.

"What?" I fell to my normal height, my arm falling to my side, "Was it something I said?"

"Yeah, actually." Alec looked down at me, a small smile forming on his lips as he slipped his hands into my back pockets, facing me, "Because- the Heads of the Institute will be talking to Lorenzo."

"The Heads?-" I questioned at his emphasis, staring at him in confusion, "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean-" Alec pulled me into him by the advantage of having his hands in my back pockets, "You and I."

My hands touched his chest at the sudden movement, "Wait, you're not saying-"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Alec grinned lightly at me, staring at right into my eyes.

"What? Alec, you can't be saying that-" I lightly hit his shoulder playfully, shaking my head at him.

"But, I've already said it-" Alec's eyes lingered with mine, "I made the announcement at the briefing this morning when you were sleeping- I wanted it to be a surprise-"

"Alec, are you kidding me right now?" My eyes widen when it finally hit me, "You can't make me Head with you-"

Alec looks at me, "But, I already have-"

"Well, take it back!" I blurted out.

"Why?" Alec softly laughed at my reaction, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear, "Zee, I want to be in charge with you by my side."

I hesitantly shook my head at my grinning boyfriend, "Alec, that isn't a good idea-"

"Why not?" Alec asked, "Everyone around here already takes orders from you- and your leadership skills make you- completely qualified for the position-"

"Maybe because I'm Valentine Morgenstern's daughter?" I looked between his eyes, "I don't think anyone would want a Morgenstern to run an Institute-"

"You're a Young, Zee." Alec reminded me, his words making my heart leap, "And you'll be a Lightwood one day-"

I dragged his name, "Alec-"

"Zee, you defeated Valentine- you're praised for saving all Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike." Alec gave me an innocent smile, not budging or changing his mind, "I'm appointing you."

I stare at him, accepting the fact that he wasn't going to go with anything else, lightly grabbing his face with my hands, "Okay."

"Okay." Alec smiles lightly and leans his forehead into mine, pressing his lips into mine.

-

"Lilith, Queen of Edom, here in New York City?" Lorenzo said when he had gathered all the information Alec and I had told him, "That's a terrifying prospect."

"It is indeed." Alec nodded, stood with his hands behind his back, "My Institute is hunting her as we speak, but- she's proven rather elusive."

"More tea?" I picked up the brew pot.

"Yes, please." Lorenzo held out his tea cup out, smiling lightly, "Té rojo is my favorite."

I gave him a soft, fake smile, pouring more into his cup, setting the pot down, standing back up.

"Lilith has taken a lieutenant using some form of mind control." Alec sat across from Lorenzo, "A Shadowhunter."

I slip my hands into my back pockets, stood next to where he sat, "Our goal is to break him free, so that he can tell us everything about her plans, her location and her weaknesses-"

Alec finished my sentence, "But- this will require a great deal of magic."

Lorenzo looks between the both of us, "You want my warlocks to confront this lieutenant?"

"No, only one." My voice went low, as I sat on Alec's leg, folding my hands together, staring right at Lorenzo, "Magnus Bane."

Lorenzo's face almost immediately hardened at the mention of Magnus' name.

"Magnus has found a spell that allows him to channel the magic of other warlocks." I went in depth, looking between his eyes in an intimidating manner, "He'll be the only one in danger."

Alec held my waist one hand, the other hand on my thigh, "Of course, we would never move forward without your blessing."

Lorenzo set down his tea, standing up, "The Shadowhunters have a duty to fight demons, but the warlocks do not."

"By helping you, we risk making an enemy of a Queen of Hell." Lorenzo took a few steps, then faced us, "Lilith isn't even a threat to us."

"Oh, don't tell me you forgot already-" I got up, walking over to him, "Wasn't she the one that corrupted the ley lines? Endangering warlocks all over the city?"

Lorenzo cockily smiles down at me, a look of pride upon his face, "That issue was resolved."

"Yes," Alec's chuckle was fake as he walked over, slipping his hand into my back pocket when he came next to me, his voice lowering as he stared at Lorenzo with a solid, intimidating look, almost threatening, "And while you gladly took the credit, we all know who really purified those ley lines."

Alec's next words made a wide smirk fall upon my lips as I looked up at him, "Maybe- your people deserve to know the truth too."

My eyes slowly trailed to Lorenzo, as his hard look had fallen, "Not very good leadership skills, Lorenzo- I think I just might let something slip."

"We risked our Institute helping the warlocks." Alec was straight with him, taking ahold of the conversation, "If you have any honour, you'll return the favor."

"El honor es en el acto." Lorenzo was resilient, clearing his throat and giving us both a smile, "I will speak to my people about this at once."

-

"This is an emergency." I heard a familiar voice when I walked through the halls, "I need to speak with Zee Young- or Isabelle Lightwood-"

"Zee!" My head snapped toward the sound of my name, seeing a familiar face, "I'm Simon's Praetor, Jordan- I need to speak with you."

"It's okay." I held my hand out for the two men to let go of him, gesturing my head for him to follow him.

Jordan did, following behind me quickly, "So, do you remember that vampire Heidi?"

"The charming blonde who attacked Iz at the Hunter's Moon?" I crossed my arms, recalling what Isabelle has told me, looking up at him, "What about her?"

Jordan nodded in confirmation, "She escaped from the Praetor Lupus last night."

"What?" I blinked, "How could you let that happen?"

"I didn't let this happen!" Jordan was defensive, "She was being escorted by three Praetors when somehow she broke free and- she killed them all."

"I think she has Simon." Jordan added in, "I left home to grab some blood for him, and when I got back, there was broken glass everywhere and no Simon."

"You're supposed to protect him, Jordan!" I snipped at him, "That's your job-"

"Look, I just really want to find him." Jordan cut me off, handing me one of Simon's sweaters from his backpack, "Okay, I can't find his scent anywhere around town, his phone's off- and I was thinking maybe you could use Shadowhunter tracking."

-

"No!" Elaine's screams echoed across the house as I ran in with Isabelle and Jordan, "No, Simon- please stop!"

"Simon?" I rushed into the living room, my heart dropping at the sight of Elaine tied up and Simon feeding on Becky, "Simon, stop!"

"Simon!" Isabelle came by my side, "Simon!"

Simon slowly pulled away from Becky, blood dripping from the wound he had punctured into her.

"Give her to me." I held my arms out for her unconscious body, "Come on, Simon-"

Simon slowly dropped her into my arms, a horrified look on his face at what he had done, as I set her on the couch, checking her pulse, "She's still breathing-"

Isabelle came to my side, aiding Becky as well, "Thank the Angel-"

Jordan untied Elaine for the chair quickly, freeing her, "She's going to be okay, ma'am."

Suddenly, Elaine grabbed a butter knife from the dinner table and pointed it toward Simon, screaming at the top of her lungs, "You get away from her!"

"Whoa, whoa!-" I guarded Simon almost right away as he backed away, terrified that his mother was on the other end.

"Don't you touch her!" Elaine was crying so hard that her hand shook, "You hurt her again and it will be the last thing you ever do, I swear to God!"

"You stay away from her- you stay away from this family!" Elaine sobbed as she threatened him, "I swear to God, I will kill you!"

Simon's voice shook, "Mom-"

"You are not my son!" Elaine cut him off with a loud scream, "You're a monster."

My heart broke for Simon.

"Get out!" She screamed at him, "Get out!"

And he did.

-

"Simon, I'm so sorry-" I exhaled deeply when I stood out by him with Isabelle, feeling sympathy towards my teary eyed friend.

"I can't imagine what you're going through." Isabelle said after me, "After what Heidi did-"

Simon cuts her off, "What I did."

"Simon, this isn't your fault." I argued, staring at him, "Heidi manipulated and tortured you-"

A tear fell from Simon's eye, shaking his head at me, "But- I'm the one who fed on my own sister."

"Becky will be okay." I assured him, stepping closer, "All she needs is a transfusion."

"I tried to live a normal life, but- there's nothing normal about me anymore." More tears fell from Simon's eyes, "The way my mom looked at me-"

"She was right." Simon quietly said, looking down in shame, "I'm a monster."

"No, you're not." Isabelle places a hand on his shoulder, "You're a good man, Simon Lewis."

Right then and there, my phone buzzed in my back pocket, as I pulled it out, my eyes scanning the screen, "I'm sorry- I have to go-"

Isabelle slowly nodded toward me, engulfing Simon into a hug, guilty filling within me as I left them.

But I knew Isabelle would take good care of him.

-

"Hey-" I walked over to Magnus onto his balcony, "Are you okay?"

Magnus swallows, "It's been a day."

"Yeah, no kidding." I sigh lightly and covered my face, leaning against the edge. "We have no leads on Lilith or Jace, no word on Clary, Simon is having a midlife crisis-"

My listing came to a stop, "Is something burning?"

"It's me." Magnus admits quietly, "Things got a little bit heated during my talk with Lorenzo-"

I looked at him, "And?-"

Magnus swallows hard and looks down, "I'm afraid the warlocks are not an option."

"So- that's it then?" My heart dropped to the deepest part of my stomach, "Jace is trapped in his own personal hell, and we can't get him out-"

"He asked me to kill him, and I was too selfish to listen-" I covered my mouth for a moment, small tears burning in my eyes, pain that I didn't put him out of his misery, mixed with pain that I couldn't do it even if I was forced to, "He asked Alec- and he couldn't do it either-"

Magnus looks at me, "Oh, biscuit, stop-"

"No, I have to tell Alec." My voice lowered, running a hand through my hair stressfully, then start walking back inside, "He's going to be the one that kills Jace- he wouldn't let anyone else- god, Alec's gonna kill Jace-"

Magnus called out after me, "There's still a way for me to obtain enough power to cure him."

"What?" I spun and faced him, tears streaming down my cheeks, "What is it?-"

Magnus swallows hard, "My father."

My breathing stopped, "Asmodeus."

authors note:

hi !!!

i've been writing for eight hourssksks , i got so many chapters done today ahaha

it's literally 5 am, oof-

but , ah you guys don't know how excited i am for the next chapter ! i've been waiting so long to write that chapter sksksksk

also zalec is literally goals ??

thank you so much for 61k !!

go read metanoia !!

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