Clary continued to be in this daze, making Simon begin to worry and Jace to start and look concerned as well. It radiated off them, and it was quite annoying to Isaac, who playing with the ends of his scarf and biting his lip nervously. All of them, in their own ways, cared for the redhead.

"Clary, come on. We gotta go," Simon muttered, breaking Clary out of her catatonic state.

The Fray girl looked to the boy on her right side in guilt, turning to the blonde Shadowhunter on the left. "Simon, I think Jace can help us."

"Actually, Clary, Jace, along with his friends, are the only ones that can help us," Isaac interjected.

"Shut up, Isaac! You kept this world from me as well," Clary snapped, staring with fury at the curly haired blonde. He raised his hands up to surrender, but didn't say anything else. He couldn't tell her anything more, she had to figure out this world for herself, and he couldn't interfere.

Jocelyn had instructed him to sit back and help, and that's what he would do.

"What?" Simon sounded offended more than anything, that his best friend would choose a stranger over him.

"Come on," Clary tugged at his arm, pulling into the Institute, Isaac following them and Jace leading the group.

"How do we know this Mick Jagger-looking guy is even gonna try..." Simon spewed out an implausible reason to make Clary turn back with him, making Isaac laugh, "Please, kid, is that the worst insult that you have? I thought I taught you better."

"Mundane, we do not have the time," Jace ignored Isaac, something that happens more than the curly haired boy liked. Being ignored was not his favorite pass time.

They entered the abandoned church, at least that's what it looked like to Simon. To the rest, it looked like the normal place with Shadowhunters going about their business. Simon gasped at the sight of Jace runing himself, making Isaac let out a low chuckle.

"I know. Trust Me," Clary comforted her friend, wanting to ease him more into this. Isaac stayed silent, not liking the fact that the redhead was slightly mad at him.

"He's, like, burning himself." Jace sighed as Isaac rolled his eyes at the Lewis boy's comment. He really wanted to slash Simon's throat with his claws, but refrained from doing so.

"Buddy, what's going on, man?" Simon asked when Jace grabbed his arm. "I'm not your type, man. I don't even..."

"You really aren't," Isaac muttered under his breath, glad that no one else was a werewolf so that they couldn't hear him. It was times like these he was glad that he was the only supernatural-like creature around.

"Where are we? What the hell?" Simon stammered, "Clary, is there a war going on that I don't know about?"

"There is now," Jace clarified, walking down the hallway to his friends, uninterested in standing next to the mundane anymore. Isaac stayed a little longer, to see what would happen. 

"I think my mom's at the center of it," Clary added, her and Isaac leaving Simon as well. He went to stand by Jace, who sent him a small smirk. Even though that hadn't known each other for very long, they had been getting along like they had known each other forever, and Isaac was glad to have him as a sort of friend.

Isaac wanted to add the fact that there had been for longer than either of them were alive, but kept that comment to himself. He didn't want to give Clary another reason to hold a grudge against him, Isaac was only trying to protect her. To help.

"You coming?" Jace asked Simon, who still stood at the end of the hallway, looking at the place in awe. Isaac couldn't blame him, the Institute was breathtaking, and no one could deny that.

"Yeah," Simon breathed, moving his legs to meet up with them, "What is this place? There's a lot of gear in here. What'd they do, rob a tech shop?"

No one answered him. No one wanted to. Maybe Clary did, but she didn't have the answers for the questions, but the two blondes didn't want to satisfy his needs; neither liking the mundane.

"So this cold-blooded killer is gonna help us?" Simon directed the question to Clary, knowing that she was the only one who would give him the time of day.

"He's not a killer. He's protecting us," Clary defended Jace, although she had no reason to. Isaac laughed, it became clear to him that she was starting to like Jace, even if she didn't want to admit it.

"Specifically, you. It's sort of our thing." Jace added, not helping the situation at hand. Isaac and Jace high-fived once seeing the reaction on Simon's face, both thinking it quite funny.

"Your thing? You guys have a thing?" Jealously leaked out his voice so that everyone could hear, and Isaac wanted to burst out laughing from it. He was a little red and the vein on his forehead was starting to stand out, and Isaac was loving it.

Clary looked at Jace in annoyance. "He means a Shadowhunter thing. That's what they do, protecting humans from demons."

"Because humans are defenseless little creatures who can't defend themselves in any way," Isaac added, smiling innocently at the two friends.

"Demons, right," Simon laughed, "That makes perfect sense, 'cause there are demons running all around New York."

"That is the first correct thing you've said all day," Jace continued to touch the panel in front of them, slightly ignoring Simon who was glaring a little at him.

There was a beep and a red dot appeared on the holographic map. "NYPD," they heard and the camera went to outside the building. Isaac's eyes widened the smallest bit, he had never seen something like this, and he found it quite intriguing, but said nothing about his interest.

"Won't they find us," Clary glanced up at Jace. She smelt of the tiniest bit of fear, and Isaac sympathized for her.

"No," Jace answered with a small shrug, "Our wards will deter them."

The officers outside still hadn't left yet, but neither Isaac nor Jace were concerned, but that much could not be said for the other two. "Police," Isaac heard them call again, thinking that someone would walk out of the building.

"And the NYPD will do their typical Mundie thing for a few hours and then the area will be clear," Jace finished just as the Lightwoods' walked over.

"What's going on?" The oldest, Alec, asked. "Why is there a mundane in the Institute."

Alec looked angry at the fact that Simon was here, and Jace sighed. "A Circle member followed him to get to Clary."

"A Circle rune, just like the guys that took my mother," Clary added, looking serious.

Isaac rolled his eyes slightly, but one seemed to notice. "Jocelyn knew they were coming for a while now; it was no surprise when they did. She just wished that she had more time to explain."

"What exactly is a Circle member and why are they trying to kill us?" Simon looked around confused, causing Isaac to scoff, "They're not after you, Lewis, they're after Clary and any Shadowhunter who stands in their way."

"All we know is...a long time ago the Circle led a revolt," Jace explained, "A lot of Shadowhunters got killed...including my father."

Isaac wanted to feel something for Jace, but he couldn't. His father, well, adopted father, was never too keen of him, and it only got worse once his adoptive mother died. He had always been more physical at showing disappointment, but then her death happened, and it became abusive.

"And since the revolt we've forbidden to even hear about the Circle," Alec finished off what Jace was saying, not being kind.

"But, how is that even possible?" Clary questioned them, "It's your history."

Alec scoffed at the redhead, "Says the girl who didn't know she was a Shadowhunter?" Isaac lowered his head, feeling guilty that he never told her about her being a Shadowhunter. He wanted to tell her countless times, but knew it was better for Jocelyn to be the one to explain to her what she really was, and he knew that.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," Clary started to get angry, "And now the only person who knows the truth of missing, unless Isaac knows more, so I don't care about your rules or what's forbidden, I'm...There's got to be someone out there who can tell us why they've taken my mother."

All eyes turned to Isaac, who whistled softly and didn't look them in the eyes. Clary hit his chest lightly, bringing him back to the conversation. "Well...I mean, do know why they've taken her,"

They all looked at him expectantly, "But I can't tell you." He finished the last part quickly, but they heard him clear as day.

"What do you mean you can't tell us, Isaac?" Clary asked, her voice shaking, "My mother is missing!"

"And I know that," he tried to calm her down, "but Jocelyn said that I couldn't tell you anything, I have to let you figure it out on your own."

Clary rolled her eyes at his statement, and Alec huffed. "There is someone else," Jace slowly said, "You coming?"

"Yeah," Clary, along with the others (including Simon) began to follow Jace before the blonde Shadowhunter stopped the mundane.

"No, no, no. Not you," he pushed Simon backwards, but Isaac could tell that his force was light. It was no secret that Simon wasn't the strongest human in world, and this just added to it.

"Hey, we're a package deal," Clary defended him, scooting closer to prove her point.

"Yeah," Simon stood up for himself, causing Isaac to grin. He loved it when the Lewis boy thought he could act tough.

"There are runes all over the training room floor that would kill your Mundie boyfriend," Jace stated, but Isaac knew it was a lie. While he knew that runes were fatal to mundanes, it was only if the mark came in contact with their skin.

But Isaac didn't object, he too wanted to get rid of Simon.

"He's not my...." Clary said at the same time Simon said, "I'm not, like..."

"We're, uh, just friends," Simon said gloomily to Jace, obviously wanting to be more to Clary.

"Best friends," Clary corrected, looking happy with the answer. Isaac knew that in Clary's heart, Simon would always be her best friend, nothing else. But he also knew that Simon wouldn't always be satisfied with being her friend, one day the Lewis would want her to his girlfriend or his nothing; but he hoped that that day wouldn't come soon.

"Yeah, and I'm tough. I can handle runes. So, uh, bring on the runes," Isaac rolled his eyes, "What exactly are runes?"

Just then, Isabelle Lightwood herself came walking over with her signature smirk, "They give Shadowhunters our demon-fighting powers."

"So hot," Isaac could have sworn he saw drool coming Simon's mouth, but this only added to the fact that he thought Isabelle was only a heartbreaker. Simon cleared his throat, "The rune."

Isabelle chuckled at the compliment and misfortune of Simon, "Don't worry, Clary. I'll watch over the best friend. In fact, I was about to make breakfast.

Alec took an inhale of breath, "On second thought, the runes might be less lethal."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Isabelle sighed, "Please excuse my brother's lack of manners. This is Alec," she motioned to the tall raven haired boy, "and I'm Isabelle."

"Lewis. Simon, Simon Lewis," he rambled, "Two first names. Am I still talking?"

The Lightwood girl giggled at Simon, but Isaac rolled his eyes. Isabelle didn't want a relationship, and she probably never would.

Jace looked at Clary, "See? Best friend's safe and sound here."

Clary still didn't fully believe him, thinking about Simon's safety. "Jace, it anything happens to him..."

"Go on, I'll be fine. I think," Simon chuckled as he said the last part, glad to be able to spend more time with the goddess in front of him. Isaac was bouncing his legs, ready to move whenever it was necessary.

"Where are we going?" Clary asked, wanting to know where she would be led.

"Training room," Jace then turned to Simon, "Hey, uh...don't eat the food. Dangerous."

Clary was already moving, but she didn't fully know where she was going, and neither did Isaac. Even though he had spent the last few days here, he still didn't know where everything was, but he hoped he would soon.

"Yeah, I'm coming," Jace answered. And with that, they were off.

•••

They approached the training room only to see one man with blonde hair practicing. Isaac and Clary had no clue as to who the man was, but Isaac didn't say anything.

"Who is that guy?" Clary asked Jace, talking about the man.

"That's Hodge Starkweather, our weapons trainer," he then added, "And, more important for us, a former Circle member. After the uprising, Hodge repented and he was sent to live and work here to make amends. But he's forbidden to ever leave the Institute."

There was grunting from the man, the weapon he had went to floor as the three stepped into view. A gasp was heard from Hodge, "Jocelyn."

Isaac was fully aware of the fact that Clary and young Jocelyn looked very similar, but hearing the name slip off of the man's tongue as if he had seen a ghost brought new light to that.

"Uh, I'm Clary," the redhead corrected him, "Uh, Jocelyn Fray is my mother."

"Well, she was Jocelyn Fairchild when I knew her," Hodge let out a breath, "And she was one of my best friends."

"She's been kidnapped....by someone named Valentine and his men," Clary began to inform him, hoping that he would be able to tell them something of use.

"By the Circle, Hodge," Jace told the older man.

He looked bewildered, like he had just seen a ghost. "But that's impossible. Valentine's dead and the Circle died with him."

"Not really since he faked his death and went into hiding," Isaac shrugged, "It kinda reminds me of Harry Potter and how Voldemort waited so many years before returning to power."

Isaac finally noticed that Hodge was chocking, the Circle rune burning bright as it happened. He took a step back, not knowing how to react.

"What's happening?" Clary looked wide-eyed, and Isaac didn't like what he saw. Hurting people, or causing them to get hurt, was never what Isaac wanted; he was more into helping them.

"I swore a vow never to speak of what we did." Hodge explained. "This is the Clave's way of making sure I keep that vow."

"We can't torture him, Jace," Clary stated, not wanting someone to torture themselves so they could have information, "Is there anyone else we can ask?"

Isaac began to rethink his own vow of silence. He didn't want to see another man hurt because of him, because of what he had promised himself and Jocelyn, but he couldn't break it. "She has to figure it out on her own," Jocelyn's voice echoed in his head.

"If the Circle really is back...and they've taken Jocelyn...our leader...our leader of the Circle was Valentine Morgenstern...." Through all it, Hodge continued to squirm in pain writhe under the pressure. "We thought he wanted to protect humans, like all Shadowhunters. But we never realized the lengths which Valentine was willing to go...the people he was willing to sacrifice."

Hodge inhaled sharply, and Clary could only watch in horror. Isaac wished he could react like that, but he knew of worse things. He knew of werewolves willing to kill their pack for power, he knew of spirits willing to turn bad to get revenge, he knew of misfortune to teenagers making them kill for satisfaction that they won, he knew of death.

"Most of humanity would die if we carried out Valentine's plan," Hodge finished, finding himself sitting on the floor, clinging to the table.

"But I...I still don't understand," Clary stuttered, "How does my mother relate to any of this?"

Hodge sighed and looked down, "Jocelyn was a member of the Circle as well."

"No," she stuttered, "I can't believe it. My mother, she..."

"The important thing is that Jocelyn left the Circle," he tried to lighten the mood he had set, "And so none of this even matters, because Valentine died in a fire years ago."

The fire. Jocelyn had vaguely mentioned the fire of Clary's first home, but she had starting sobbing as she tried to tell him. Isaac remembered something about Justin...no, Jake...Johnny. She had told him something about 'Johnny', whoever that was.

Hodge groaned and Clary went to his side. "Hodge. Hodge. I'm sorry, but we can't ask you to do this."

"Clary, we don't have a choice. If Isaac won't fess up, our only option is him," Jace sent a glare towards Isaac before sighing, "You understand that, Hodge, right?"

"Jace...is right," Hodge panted out, "Valentine nearly destroyed the Shadow World and humanity along with it. If he'd gotten the Cup..."

"Wait a minute," Clary stopped him, "My mother told me she hid something from someone. If it's this Cup..."

"Clary," Jace was still holding onto Hodge, "the Mortal Cup is the most important object in the Shadow World. "Whoever possesses it can create more Shadowhunters,"

"And in the wrong hands...control demons," Hodge's breathes were short and haggard, "If Jocelyn hid the Cup from Valentine, then she's in more danger than you can possibly imagine."

The rune seared and Isaac watched him with fear, the last time he had seen something like these was in Beacon Hills; Aiden's death. The blood he was spitting up and gash in his stomach, lying dead in Ethan's arms as Lydia cried into Stiles and the rest of them emotionless. The gang had just lost Allison, and now Aiden was gone; and Ethan would leave.

Clary looked over to Isaac in a moment of weakness, seeing the curly haired blonde almost in tears. She had never seen him like this before, well, the only other time was when she asked him to tell her about his friends and family in Beacon Hills.

"I-I have to go," Isaac sputtered out, practically running out of the room. It was too much, he had let himself believe he was strong for too long, and seeing that was too much. Everything reminded him of what he used to call 'home', everything placed more guilt inside of him and all the laughter (though small) made him think of his old pack.

And it was just too much.