I couldn't stop shaking.

My entire body was trembling and aching in pain, every inch of my body was covered in bruises.

I had thrown my Seelie ring across the room ages ago and the sun peering through my window was giving me a better view of the pillow I had next to me on the floor to muffle my screams.

My eyes were watery but I didn't let the tears fall— crying was weak. It expresses that the other person won and they didn't— I'm not weak and they didn't win. I can hold up my own. I could endure my punishments for my own reckless decisions.

I had to stop making reckless decisions.

I was a solider— I was on a mission.

I had to stop getting sidetracked and making last minute decisions that could jeopardize my father's plans. I took out good assets to save a child and now he had to work with second ranks— they were supposed to kill Magnus but I killed them all.

I shakily reached for my stele and sat up with a wince. I leaned back against the frame of the bed and squeezed my eyes shut at the pain. I hovered my stele over my Iratze and activating it.

I opened my eyes and caught sight of myself in the full mirror a few feet away from me. I was in a pair of shorts and a tank top so I could see all the damage on my skin. I went for my Iratze again and watched as a few bruises faded slowly in another group.

I did it a few more times until I heard muffled voices through my door. Quickly, I tossed my stele on my nightstand and my pillow back onto my bed. I hid the Seelie ring and threw on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve right as I walked closer to my door so the voices became more clear.

"He said my name." I heard Clary's voice through the wood. "He said he wants Zee and the Cup for my mother."

I swung open my door right as Alec joined them in the hall. In unison, we both questioned Jace and Clary who stood at his door just a few doors down from mine. "Who said that?"

Alec and I glanced at each other and then back at Clary. She turned to look at us. "Valentine— he's with my mother."

"And he can speak to you through that necklace?" Alec was eyeing the purple shard when I exited my room and walked over to them. "Here, in the Institute?"

"It's like when I saw Dot." Clary said shakily.

"That's a portal shard." I stared at the jewelry and then looked at her. "He told you he wanted me?"

"He knows you betrayed him." Clary told me with tears in her eyes. "He wants you back."

Another step in the plan.

"Oh no." I pretended to look panicked and ran my hands through my messy hair. "Oh, god— he's coming for me. He's going to hurt me."

"Wow— hey, hey," Jace grabbed my shoulders and I tried not to wince because of the few bruises left that I didn't get a chance to heal because of them. "He won't get to you."

"Jace, you don't understand." I quickened my breathing and pretended to go further into panic. "I can take down a few Circle members but he taught me everything I know— I can't defend myself against him—"

Alec had a sour look on his face.

He knew I was faking it.

"Zee, hey— listen to me." Jace pushed my hair out of my face and held my head in his hands. "I won't let him take you. Okay? I'm here— we're going to protect you. Don't worry, okay?"

Pushover.

I shake my head. "Jace-"

"You are safe with us." Jace assured me comfortingly. "We won't let him hurt you."

But they weren't safe with me.

Alec made a face. "Speak for yourself."

"Alec." Jace snips at him and Alec rolled his eyes. "He can't hurt you— okay?"

He didn't need to.

My mother excelled in that department.

They were both equally as bad when it came to the torture but my father was more hands on than he was with a simple torture rune. They both got creative in their own ways and I don't think there was anything I hadn't felt the pain of yet.

"Where are they?" Alec's voice brought me out of my thoughts and back into reality. He was looking down at Clary and I slipped back from Jace with a nod, crossing my arms over my chest.

Clary sniffles. "I don't know."

"But— you said you saw them." Alec narrowed his eyes at her. "Were there any identifying characteristics? Equipment, weapons, photographs?"

"I don't remember." Clary snipped at him and her eyes watered again. "It was awful."

I leaned back against the wall, staring at her in shock. "Wow, you're really not a useful asset."

"Alright." Jace shot me a look and then looks at the nuisance. "Alec, lighten up."

"I'm trying to get something we can use out of this." Alec deadpanned and looked at her again. "Clary, what did you see, exactly?"

"Valentine has my mother— that's what I saw." Clary snapped at him with a tear rolling down her cheek. "My mother's alive, she's unconscious, but she's alive. That's all I know."

I stared in nothing but pure and utter amusement at the girl who claimed to be my younger sister. "Do you ever stop crying?"

"Emotions are nothing but a distraction." Alec said to her. "You're ruled by them— we're taught to control them."

Clary scoffed at the both of us and ran a hand through her hair. "And how is that working out for ya?"

"It is my job to protect the Institute." Alec had enough and was stern with them— his voice was low and demanding. "If Valentine can see in, that's a door I have to shut."

"Well," I muttered under my breath. "You're not doing a very good job at that now, are you?"

Alec's eyes snapped to me. His eyes were burning and I smirked at him— it wasn't smart but there was nothing wrong with indulging just a little for amusement. The fire in his eyes was entertaining— I didn't know someone could hate someone that much.

But then again, I hated him just as much.

"Let me take a look at that thing." Alec held out his large hand for Jace to hand him the necklace. Once he does, he backs out of the room easily. "Now, it's in the proper hands."

"Hey!" Clary gasped and looked back at Jace immediately for assistance. I rolled my eyes and chased after Alec before the pair of them decided it was smart to follow after me.

"Oh— come on, Chass! Don't be like that." I chased after him quickly and skidded to a stop in front of him. "We could work together! Make a master plan— take down the big bad. Doesn't that sound fun to you?"

"Not at all." Alec glared down at me and lowered his voice. "And I'm starting to think he's not the big bad I should be worried about right now."

"By the Angel! I'm wounded." I clutched at my heart and pretended to be faint. "You have absolutely no faith in me at all, do you?"

He shakes his head once. "Not a drop."

"Good then." I sighed deeply and dropped the act. "I guess you won't be surprised when I do this—"

"Do what-?" Alec cut himself off when I snatched the necklace out of his hand and bolted back towards the living quarters. "You—!"

I laughed in triumph until I heard his fast footsteps behind me, followed by Jace and Clary's— oh my god, he was actually chasing me.

I took a sharp turn down the hall and broke into a sprint, dodging anyone that was in my way and trying to make it to my room. I tossed a glance over my shoulder when I didn't hear his quick footsteps and skidded to an abrupt stop when he was suddenly in front of me— cutting me off in the middle of the hall.

Alec snatched the necklace from me and I snatched it back, turning on my heel to toss it towards Jace but when the necklace touched the air, Alec caught it over my head.

I forgot how freakishly tall he was.

Alec was making a beeline towards the training room now and now I was the one chasing him. His footsteps were fast and he was quickening his pace but I leaped onto his back. He stopped walking abruptly and leaned backwards to try and shake me off. I clung to him tightly when I felt myself slip and grabbed a fist full of his hair, pulling his head back.

He let out a groan and I reached over his shoulder, snatching the necklace back. I let go of him and landed on the ground, escaping back into the halls. I didn't make it far because my front collided into the wall and a gasp escaped my lips out of surprise. One of his hands was firm against my back from pressing me against it and the other fished the necklace out of my hand.

"You!" I turned on my heel and was hot on his heels. "You broke my boobs-"

Alec stopped on the floor of the training room and knelt down. "You broke my head."

"Who cares about your head?" I stopped next to him and stared down at him. "These are more important— who fondles your head during sex?"

"My head is where all the knowledge is. How else is am I going to pleasure a woman without everything in here?" Alec touched his temple and then pulled out his stele, opening up a safe in the ground so that he could put the necklace in it.

I scoffed and placed my hands on my sides. "Right, because there's a universe where you could ever please a woman."

"There is." Alec clicks his tongue but keeps his attention on the necklace. "This one."

I grimace. "That's completely bull-"

"Alec— what are you doing?" Jace and Clary finally caught up to us and cut my sentence off, the both of them slightly out of breath from chasing us all throughout the Institute. "We should use the necklace to get to Valentine."

"If I were Valentine, I'd make you think that you could rescue Jocelyn." Alec waved his stele over the rune and shut the safe into the ground again. "And then I'd lure Clary to me and leverage her life for the Cup and— her."

"That's ridiculous." My jaw dropped lightly at his words in an offended manor. "My father is much more intelligent than that."

"I like Jace's idea." Clary chipped in to side with Jace. "We saved Simon from the vampires that way."

"Yeah— vampires." Alec stood up to his feet and towered over all three of us. "Bored, decadent, self-involved vampires— Valentine is a real threat. He can't be handled by three-and-a-half Shadowhunters."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I think you forgot the most important asset in your arsenal."

"Did I?" Alec took a step towards me and narrowed his eyes. His voice was low enough for just me. "I'm onto you."

I smiled at him just to piss him off and was satisfied when I saw the burning in his eyes. "Good luck."

-

I watched in satisfaction when all the blades I flung towards the target board hit my desired spots one by one. I had dropped my leather jacket on the bench and was spending my time in the training room— it was so hard to find anything entertaining between the walls of this Institute.

I heard footsteps but chose to ignore them, roundhouse kicking and aiming another one of my knives toward the target— bullseye, again.

Then I felt their stares on me.

I looked to my right with a blade in my hand, my eyes locking with a very intimidating woman— who stood by Isabelle and Clary.

"Is this normal for you people?" I looked down at Isabelle. "Just to watch and stare— it's freaky."

"We're admiring." Isabelle insisted and gestured to the woman who was practically glaring at me. "Zee— this is my mother, Maryse."

"Ah." I sheathed my blade and hopped down the two steps. "Zee Morgenstern."

"I know who you are." Maryse snipped at me. "You've been quite the talk in Idris."

"Have I?" I placed my hands onto my hips with a quirk of my lip. "Am I famous yet?"

"Maryse." Jace suddenly jogged over to us before Maryse could reply and threw his arms around her. "Hey, it's great to see you. How's everyone in Idris— where's Max?"

"No Max." Isabelle pursed her lips and looked away. "Just Mom with her hair on fire."

"I love how Shadowhunters share." Clary eyed Jace. "A hidden brother, and a secret country, and a private Portal."

I looked at Jace when he pulled away from Maryse. "Jace, how could you forget you were obligated to tell her all about your life just because she doesn't know how to shut up about hers?"

"Mother." Alec walked over to us and greeted his mother. "Welcome back— we didn't expect you."

Maryse kisses his cheek in a motherly way and I stared at them for a moment. "You should be prepared, whether you expect me or not."

"I am." Alec stood tall. "We are."

"We'll talk about the Institute later— right now, we have a bigger problem." Maryse put her hands behind her back. "The Seelies have stopped communicating with the Clave and won't explain why— my guess is they're still upset we asked them to send scouts to look for Valentine, but no one in their realm will talk."

"I have Seelie friends." Isabelle suddenly said.

"Yes, I know about your friends." Maryse stopped in front of her. "Isabelle, we stay separate from the Downworld for good reasons. The wrong move, the wrong word— do you think there is such a thing as harmless rebellion? Who knows what offends these creatures? Maybe you told him— them— something they shouldn't know. Maybe you trod on one of their ridiculous customs without knowing it."

Isabelle's eyes were watering and her body was stiff while her mother's words sank in.

I pursed my lips and stood still for a moment.

Then, I got between Isabelle and Maryse, crossing my arms over my chest. "Maybe— you should just back off. Ever thought about that?"

"Excuse me?" Maryse glared down at me.

"She's a grown woman." I stared at her blankly. "She can choose who she wants to spend her time with— they're not just creatures, they're part Angel just like us. And their customs aren't ridiculous."

For once, I wasn't completely acting.

"You disgust me." Maryse said to me and I smiled at her. "Do you not know any sense of order at all? Any sense of the right direction?"

I blinked a few times, unfazed. "Do you not know any sense of knowing when to shut the—"

A hand slapped over my mouth before I could finish that sentence and my eyes narrowed at Alec when I realized it was his hand.

"Wait, wait— I don't understand." Jace interjected. "You're laying all this on Izzy for having a friend in the Downworld?"

Maryse fixed her glare on him instead. "When someone upsets the natural order, everything falls apart."

"Natural order?" Clary repeated with a confused look. "What are you saying?"

"I can help." Isabelle said to her mother with a shaky voice. "I know how to talk to Seelies."

"She's right." Alec sides with her and I forcefully ripped his hand from my mouth. "She can visit with Meliorn and see what he knows. I could go with her if you want."

"I'd rather Jace goes along this time." Maryse inhaled in through her nose. "Alec, you stay with  Miss Morgenstern. I want her under control."

I scoffed. "Excuse me?"

"You're disobedient." Maryse narrowed her eyes at me. "And reckless. If you truly mean to defeat your father and want to earn your place here, it's best in your interest to act like it. Even if your place is the lowest of low."

My fists clenched at my sides.

I would come for her first.

"Mother." Alec quietly said and his eyes were glued to her. He didn't say anything else but there was something in his tone that made Maryse fix him with a glare as well.

"What?" She snapped at him and whatever Alec was about to say vanished right there. "She is a Morgenstern and she will be treated as such."

I bit my tongue.

"The Fairchild girl will stay with you too." Maryse said. "She needs to be supervised as well— the Clave counts on us Lightwoods to maintain order here."

"You don't need to tell me that." Alec said to her. "If the mission is important to the Clave, I would prefer to be the one who goes with Isabelle."

"You're all so eager to do what you would prefer— it's time to face the truth. Life is not about what you want to do, it's about what must be done." Maryse scoffed and pointed at Jace and Isabelle. "I have given you your assignments, now carry them out. You and you, with me, now."

When Jace and Isabelle followed Maryse, I fixed a glare on Alec. "Your mom's a real bitch."

Alec opened his mouth to speak but I turned on my heel and stormed back over to my knives.

-

"The nerve of that woman!" I was seething, my arms crossed over my chest while I walked with Jace through the Ops Center. "My place is the lowest of low? Because I'm a Morgenstern? I swear, if I wasn't surrounded by all of her children I would have punched her right in the nose."

"I'm sorry." Jace hopped up the steps with me. "She doesn't have a filter most of the time."

"Sounds like someone else we know." Alec's voice sounded from behind us and we both turned around to see him looking directly at me.

I turned and fixed a death glare on him within seconds. "Just because I didn't punch your mother, doesn't mean I won't punch you. Would you prefer your nose or your jaw?"

"Can you even reach?" Alec retorted quickly.

"Oh my god— Jace!" I spun around and pointed. "Switch assignments with him, please. I refuse to spend a whole day with this insufferable nuisance."

Jace shrugged lightly and looked up at Alec. "If there's a diplomatic mission, you should go."

"Nope." Alec shook his head once. "This time I'm actually gonna obey orders, and babysit your girlfriend."

"Do you see what I mean?" I gestured to Alec. "I will not survive. Let's chain him to Isabelle—"

Jace begins. "He's made up his mind."

"You didn't even try!" I argued.

Jace put his hands on my shoulders. "Once he puts his mind to something, there's no steering him off that course."

"That's just a fancy way of saying he's stubborn." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Jace."

"Promise me you'll keep an eye on Clary." Jace squeezed my shoulders comfortingly. "And— we should talk when I get back."

"No can do." I shook my head almost immediately. "Talk about what?"

"What else?" Alec's voice tore into my head and reminded me of his presence. "He wants to talk about that Greater Demon professing his deep rooted, undying love for you. Am I wrong?"

"That's not what happened and that's not what it was." Jace quickly snaps his head at Alec to shoot him a glare and then his head snaps back towards me. "But— yeah."

"We don't need to talk." I blinked and stared at him. "I'm not losing sleep over it."

Jace stammers for a moment and even Alec looks shocked that Jace seemed to be caught off guard. "I was worried you might think—"

"I don't." I cut him off. "Really, it's no big deal— I honestly forgot about it. Are we done here?"

"Uh— good." Jace nodded once and his face cemented back to the easy going, relaxed expression he always has on.

Alec watched Jace walk away in amusement. "You're ruthless."

I snicker. "One of most awed talents."

-

"Fine! I'll humor you." I said to Clary in exasperation, tightening the hair tie in my hair just slightly that held my half up hairdo. "Lightwood, grab a bo."

"You sure?" Alec walked towards the bo staffs. "I don't want you to cause a scene when you cry because I knocked you on your ass."

"Oh?" I leaned back and shot him a nasty glare. "I'd never cry because nor over you."

Alec tossed me a staff and I caught it easily. I spun the staff in my hand and Clary sat down on a bench, watching Alec and I bicker.

"First lesson." I began circling and Alec mimicked my actions. "No matter how much bigger or taller your opponent is, they're most likely empty headed idiots that can't think quick on their feet. Much like Lightwood—"

"Or your opponent could be much like her." Alec seethed through his teeth. "Short, irritating, arrogant, doesn't know how to shut up—"

"Oh come on, Lightwood." I groaned and threw my head back in fake hurt. "At least mine was accurate!"

Clary questioned. "Okay, but— if I actually get into a fight with someone like you?"

"There's no one like me— I'm way too talented for anyone to be an exact mirror of me." I shook my head at her. "And if you get into a fight with me, redhead— you're dead."

Alec rolled his eyes at my words and shook his head. "And you said arrogant was inaccurate."

"It's not accurate because I'm simply just stating facts." I swung my bo and hit his stick with force. "Am I wrong?"

Alec scoffed and swung his bo for my feet but I leaped in the air and dodged his blow. I spun when I landed on my feet and slammed my foot against his jaw. I came back for another round but he dropped his bo and caught my ankle, flipping me backwards. I lost grip of my bo and flipped back, landing on both hands and feet to save my fall.

"When in combat, the main goal is to outsmart your enemy." I grunted through my teeth and glared at Alec. "Trick them."

"Of course that's your way to win a fight." Alec remarked. "Is there really nothing but deception coursing through your blood?"

I clenched my jaw and threw myself at him. The both of us had ditched our bo staff's completely and we were just sparring naturally.

But I got the upper hand and his back slammed into the ground. I grabbed my staff and put it flat against his neck, straddling his lap to keep held down. "Sucks to suck, Chass."

A gasp escaped my lips when his leg wrapped my thigh from behind, flipping me back off him. My front hit the ground and he grabbed the staff I dropped, his knee to my back and the staff to my neck. "I bet it does."

I growled and turned to pin him back when Clary intercepted us. "Alright, alright! You're supposed to be teaching me, remember? Not trying to one up each other—"

"Whatever." Alec pushed himself up and the both of us stood back up, dusting ourselves off. "What else do you want to see if you're so interested?"

"Uhm," Clary hesitantly looked at me and rubbed the back of her neck. "Your knife throwing's cool— I've always wanted to see how you do that."

Alec stared at her. "Are you serious?"

Clary nodded and nervously smiled.

"Huh— I don't particularly like you, redhead, but I will accept the compliment." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Sure, I'll show you. Although, it's always more fun with a target that can live and breathe."

"That's not gonna happen." Alec deadpans.

"Chass, I'm not asking for an animal or anything— simply just a person." I dramatically sighed and walked over to the gear. "I'm not a monster or anything."

"Are you sure?" Alec retorts quickly. "Cause I'd say you have some terrifying qualities."

"What?" I grabbed a few knives and leaned back against the table with a smirk spread across my lips. "Are you scared of me, Chass?"

Alec grimaced at me. "No."

"Really?" I pushed myself off and gestured to the target. "Prove it."

Alec scoffed. "No way."

"Scared?" I challenged and smiled when he glared directly at me, while Clary looked between us during the verbal exchange.

I smiled even wider when Alec was tied up to the wide target in the middle of the training room and I was a few feet away from him with Clary, next to a table of knives that I was about to throw at him.

My god, this was going to be fun.

I held the knife tight in my hand and launched it forwards, the blade digging into the wood between Alec's thighs. Alec's head whipped up to me and I smiled. "That's for letting your mom be so hard on Iz earlier, you big brute."

"Izzy was out of bounds." Alec argued with me. "The law is hard but it's the law— even I forget that sometimes."

"That's hard to believe." I picked up another blade. "Although, now I see where you get your prejudices from. Ridiculous, that woman."

Clary looked up at Alec. "So, you're just gonna let her send Jace out instead of you?"

"If I screw up, I expect to be punished." Alec grunts when I shot a knife towards his head and got a strand of his hair against the blade. "I'm supposed to be a leader."

"You're not a good one." I commented.

"You know what a leader does, Alec?" Clary suddenly had courage. "Makes decisions. You need to find Valentine and stop him— I need to find Valentine and help save my mother."

"Honestly, you have a lot of faith in yourself." I looked down at my blades to pick another one. "You can't go up against Valentine Morgenstern— you're no match for him, redhead."

"What do you think?" Alec narrowed his eyes. "Do you think we haven't been trying to find your mother?"

"Of course you have." Clary sighed. "But I know you can color outside the lines— you're just not letting yourself think that way."

"Oh, yeah?" Alec challenged. "What's the big thought I'm not thinking?"

"We can still find Valentine." Clary looked at me. "I might know a way."

My eyes narrow. "How?"

"My mother hid a lot from me, but I did see one thing— there's a box." Clary watched me flip my knife a few times. "She didn't think I knew about it, but— she opened it once a year and cried."

I stared blankly. "That's dramatic."

"Why?" Alec questioned.

"It belonged to my father." Clary answered easily. "Had his initials, JC, on top."

"I don't know if it's just me," I began and threw a knife at the target, the blade landing right under Alec's bicep. "But— I'm pretty sure Jalentine Corgenstern isn't his name."

Alec rolls his eyes. "Why JC?"

"Because for 18 years, she told me his name was Jonathan Clark— that was a lie." Clary told us. "But, whatever was in that box meant a lot to her, maybe there's something inside that could help us track him."

I had to destroy it.

"Where can we find this box?" I questioned.

Clary inhales. "I think it's still back at the loft."

"Let's go get it." I set down my knife and grabbed my leather jacket from the bench, slipping it on.

"Absolutely not." Alec disapproved immediately. "Not without permission."

"Ah— see, I was so sure you were gonna say that." I barely threw a glance in his direction while I geared up quickly. "What a shame it is that you're tied up— maybe you could've actually stopped us."

"Morgenstern, I'm warning you." Alec's voice was low but demanding. "If you step foot out of the Institute, I'll—"

I picked up the knife I set down earlier and threw it in his direction, watching the knife graze his cheek and dig into the board right by his head.

That shut him up.

"You'll what?" I walked over to him and pushed myself to my tippy toes so that I could be closer to his face. I gripped the knife at the side of his head and brought my voice down to a whisper. "If I were you, Lightwood— I'd be scared of me."

Then I pulled the blade out from the board, turning on the heel and nodded towards Clary, exiting the training room while Alec shouted after me.

-

"Clarissa." I had my arms crossed, staring at her with the most disappointed look I had ever mustered when her phone started to blare loudly. "What's the point of an Invisibility rune if you don't silence your phone?"

"Funny, I was about to ask the same question." Alec's voice sounded from behind me and I rolled my eyes when I felt his presence inches away from me. "Among others like— why the hell did you run out with her and why did you think it was safe? I mean— she's an assassin."

"That could easily kill you so I'd watch it, nuisance." I turned to look at him and I swore I could hear his jaw lock in place when he clenched it so tightly. "Took you a while to find us."

"That was childish, running out like that." Alec scoffed to himself and shook his head in disbelief. "Except— what should I expect from someone like you?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "Someone like me?"

"Disobedient, dangerous, unruly—" Alec began to list off while Clary answered her phone and greeted Simon. "The list goes on really."

"Does it?" I challenged and dropped my arms to my sides. "I think you forgot all my good qualities."

"You have good qualities?" Alec looked down at me, amused. "I didn't think there was any correlation between you and the word good—"

"I'm at the Brooklyn Academy." Alec and I suddenly became aware of Clary's voice and her words when we caught her telling Simon where we were. "I'm on my way to the loft."

Shockingly enough, Alec and I's heads snap towards her and we leave our bickering behind to snip at her in unison. "Hang up."

"No, Simon, you've been through enough already— Simon!" Clary looked down at her phone to see that the call had ended. She then looked at Alec and I's menacing stares. "So— Simon's coming."

"You're kidding." I stared at her and when she smiled innocently, I huffed and threw my arms up. "I'm tired of babysitting."

Alec warns when Clary started to lead the way. "This better be quick."

-

"Hey, you." Clary ran up to Simon and threw her arms around him. "Thanks for being here."

"You don't need to do this alone." Simon hugged her back tightly and his voice was quiet and sincere. "It's not who we are."

I chime in and placed my hands on both my hips. "In case you haven't noticed, mundie— she wasn't alone."

"We need to move." Alec cuts in.

Clary pulls away from her hug with Simon and points ahead of her, putting a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, my mom's loft is just across the alley."

"All right, well, we have to be careful." Alec warns. "There are eyes all over this place and everybody in the Shadow World's looking for you."

"I mean, I guarantee you, no one's gonna find this shortcut." Simon assured and gestured behind him. "I used to take it back in middle school to see Clary. You might know the Shadow World, but trust me— I know Brooklyn."

I rolled my eyes and pretended to gag when he turned his back to us. Then, to all of our surprise, he leaped over the cement wall with ease and rushed over to the fire escape.

"Have you been doing parkour or something?" Clary questioned while we followed him up to the loft. "You've gotten a lot better at this."

Simon throws a smile in her direction. "I was just gonna say the same thing about you."

"Climbing a fire escape excites mundanes." Alec muttered and pulled himself onto the higher platform after me. "I'll never understand these people."

"Whoa!" Clary's eyes were wide and examining the colorful runes all across the brick walls of her loft. "I don't remember it like this."

Alec was the one to answer her. "These are runes and wards of protection cast by a warlock."

"Dot." Clary exhaled slowly in realization.

"These are old." I ran my finger along the line of one. "Some of these have been here for years."

Clary kept looking around at them. "The only difference is now I can actually see them."

"Yo, Clary." Simon suddenly called, fixing his glasses. "What are all these tags?"

This caught my attention immediately and my head snapped up. "You can see the runes?"

"Yeah, kind of hard to miss." Simon chuckled.

"For a Shadowhunter." Alec wore the same confused and suspicious expression on his face. "They should be invisible to most mundanes."

I stare. "When did you get the Sight?"

"I don't know." Simon laughed nervously and gestured. "But, whoever drew these should take some lessons from Clary— their, uh, work is pretty sloppy."

Bullshit.

"This is from when Simon and I were engaged to be married." Clary was staring fondly at a drawn heart on the wall with their initials between them lines. "We were eight years old."

I cross my arms and leaned back against the wall. "Did I?"

"Did you what?" Clary looked up at me.

I blink at her. "Did I ask?"

"That was a whole other world ago." Clary huffed at me and then tried to open the door to her loft. The door clattered but didn't budge no matter how hard she pulled. "There's only one flaw in your plan here, Simon."

"Here, let me try." Simon walked over and grabbed the door knob in a tight grip. He pulled back, prying it open so hard that a piece of wood snapped off the door frame and fell onto the ground. "After you."

I blinked, staring at the mundane in a new light. "That makes no sense."

Ignoring me, Simon quickly rushed into the loft and glanced around. "Holy crap, Clary— who torched your loft?"

I stared at him blankly.

"Yeah, I can see this, too." Simon remarked when he caught my gaze. His eyes flickered to a lost looking Clary. "Hey— you okay?"

Clary was quiet as she looked at her burnt room. "There's nothing left of me here."

"Of course, there isn't." Alec deadpanned. "Your mother was trying to erase any trace that you existed so that you couldn't be tracked— she was protecting you."

She did a decent job.

But she couldn't protect her from me.

I skimmed around the room and stopped when there was an odd creaking under my foot. I looked down and leaned my weight on one foot then the other. I raised my right foot and slammed down on the weak floorboard, lifting my foot back up before the hole took me under. I looked up to find the three of them staring at me and I simply gesture. "Voila."

"Hey, out of the way." Alec walked over to me.

I roll my eyes, crossed my arms over my chest and moved over while he knelt down by the hole. "You're welcome."

"There's something down here." Alec reached down and felt around before pulling out a wooden box. "Is this the box you remember?"

"Yeah." Clary was staring at it with familiarity. "She used to wait till she thought I was asleep and then take it out."

"Open it." I stared at the box, my fists clenching under my arms out of impatience. I watched as Clary took the box and opened it up, revealing a pair of blue baby booties and other items.

Nothing that would help them locate where my parents were located. Nothing for them to ambush the plans or find Jocelyn.

Clary picked up the booties and was stammering. "I don't know what any of this is."

"Unbelievable." I threw my hands up with a huff. "I can't believe I wasted over an hour coming to your stupid loft for you to have no lead whatsoever."

Then, there was a loud crash and suddenly we were all very alert. My hands were already on my kindjals and Alec was already pulling out his bow. "There's someone here."

"I am going to kill you the moment I get back, Clary Fray." The threat seethed through my teeth with ease and I was already moving, jumping over the fire escape and landing on the ground with my kindjals out. A body landed next to me and my jaw clenched when I caught the glimpse of his bow. "I don't need your help."

"I'm not helping you." Alec snipped at me and shot me a look that screamed he was in disgust I thought he would ever help me in anything. "I wouldn't die for you."

"Right— because you only ever fight for yourself." I clicked my tongue and shrugged one shoulder. "I wouldn't die for you either."

Then our conversation came to a quick stop when the bushes rustled next to us. The rustling sounded all around us, heaving thuds hitting the ground. Alec and I remained on guard.

Then a dark haired wolf leaped over our heads and ran down the alleyway. In our line of vision, we could see Clary and Simon being shoved into a black car and it was then we both realized.

It was a distraction.

And we just fell for it.

-

"Do you always break things when you're angry?" I watched as Alec threw a vase at the wall and it shattered into pieces. My eyes remained on my wall for a few moments before they reverted back to Alec, his jaw clenched and his arms flexing. "Because this is giving me a headache— maybe you should try meditation. Or yoga?"

Alec responds by throwing a box against the wall by my head. I muttered a bastard under my breath right as Isabelle and Jace rush into the loft. "Where is she? Where's Clary?"

Alec froze and looked at him. "She's gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Jace pressed.

I pushed myself off the wall I was leaning against. "What the hell do you think gone means?"

"She and Simon got arrested when I-" Alec began to say, gesturing with his hands when he spoke.

I cut him off. "I'm here too."

"And it—" Alec gestured to me.

I correct him. "She, a human being-"

"—were securing the fire escape." Alec finished. "I got distracted."

Jace's voice went stern and his body was stiff. "The mundane was here?"

"Yeah, something about Brooklyn and shortcuts." I shrug. "Why— jealous?"

Isabelle's eyes were wide. "Simon's gone, too?"

"It was an unmarked car." Alec swallowed hard. "I don't know where they took her."

"What did you do, Alec?" Jace seethed before grabbing one of Clary's drawing off the torched dressed and leaving the room.

-

"Damn it." Jace huffed and dropped his arms to his sides, clutching the drawing tightly in his fist. "She's not showing up— we need to parabatai track."

I watched Alec walk over to Jace while I was seated on a step next to Clary's backpack. Isabelle was leaning against the railing and looking through her phone to find information and I just sat there, flipping my own phone in my hands to pass the time.

"Alec, concentrate." Jace suddenly snapped at him after a few minutes of them trying to track Clary. "Alec!"

"I'm doing it." Alec shot back at him and pulled away. "She's not showing up."

"Just like I thought." Isabelle suddenly voiced. "She wasn't arrested."

"Of course she wasn't." I shot her a look.

Jace abruptly turned on Alec and charged toward him, giving him a good shove back, catching all of our attention. "It was your job to look after her."

"I did my best, Jace." Alec clenched his fists at his sides and kept his gaze onto the ground.

Jace raised his voice at him. "Then maybe your mother was right, and your best is just isn't good enough—"

"Jace!" Isabelle shouted at him in disapproval.

"Are you so blinded by your feelings for Clary, you've lost sight of us?" Alec took a step forward. He gestured to me. "Clary snuck out with her. I went after her— to protect her. I did nothing you haven't done a thousand times before."

"Yes, you did." Jace narrowed his eyes up at him. "You lost her."

While Alec and Jace continued to bicker, a phone rang in Clary's backpack. I looked at it and dug through it, fishing it out and hitting answer. "Bonjour."

"Oh, thank god it's you." Simon's rushed voice sounded on the other line and I smirked to myself. "It's me, Simon."

"Hi, Simon." I emphasized loud and clear to catch everyone's attention. "Nice job— point for Brooklyn."

Jace grabbed the phone out of my hand when I handed it over to him and turned it onto speaker. "Where are you? Where's Clary?"

"I don't know." Simon stammered. "Some Chinese restaurant, I think?"

"You're at a Chinese restaurant?" My face twisted. "Are you kidding me?"

"This cop Alaric arrested us, but it was a total fake-out." Simon was rambling on and on. "Him and his buddy, they took us to their hangout and then they told Clary that they'll kill her if they don't find the Cup."

"Just calm down, all right?" Jace cut him off before he could continue rambling and wasting more time. "Tell us what you see."

"Okay— uh, we're definitely on a pier." Simon stammered and shuffled around. "There's a ton of water. I see lockers and I'm in some sort of torture chamber— there's claw marks all over the wall."

Isabelle looks up. "Werewolves."

"Okay, Simon, you need to get more specific." Jace continued. "Tell us what you see— help us find you."

"There's nothing else that can help— wait, hold on!" Simon dropped a few things and ruffled around one of the lockers before the sound of crinkling paper sounded the line. "I'm at the Jade Wolf Chinese Restaurant on the pier at Greene St— and they have really inexpensive cocktails."

I looked up the address easily in my search engine and then clicked on their website, skimming over the page. "Wow, they have a really good menu. Orange chicken, Kung Pao chicken, Honey Sesame chicken, Mu Shu Pork— and they really do have inexpensive cocktails. Oh— coffee and tea too, what's a chai tea latte? Can we order pick up after we rescue them?"

Jace looked at me amused— almost like he wanted to burst out laughing. "Really?"

"Yeah— I've never had a chai tea latte before." I shrug and caught the look Alec was narrowing me with. "Okay, okay— hey, mundie— you need to create a diversion."

"How?" Simon questioned immediately. "All I have are clothes and a lighter."

Jace answers. "Start a fire, Simon."

"That never works!" Simon was exasperated. "Have you ever seen an action movie?"

"We're on our way." Jace then hangs up.

-

"Where are you taking me?" I could hear Clary struggle while I got up on top the big storage unit that Clary was once locked in after a leg up from Jace. I walked over to the edge and watched a tall man carry Clary over his shoulder. "Luke!"

"Someplace safe." He was telling her. "These people aren't messing around— they will kill you."

"Put her down!" Jace was shouting and kicking— Luke, in the shin and making him drop Clary. Alec caught her quickly and then Jace shouts when Luke balanced himself. "Zee!"

I leaped off the unit and grabbed onto Luke's shoulders, swinging myself around him and locking my legs around his neck. I threw myself to the ground and held myself up with my arms before using all my strength to flip him to the ground with the grip I had on his neck. I pushed myself back and landed on my legs, spinning and colliding my foot into his face when he pushed himself onto his knees— knocking him out.

"Nice." Jace looked at me with wide eyes— clearly impressed. "Where did you learn that?"

Alec rolled his eyes. "Where do you think?"

"Forget that— we need to find Simon!" Clary was already shrieking at us and running in the other direction. I rolled my eyes and chased after her with Alec and Jace, watching as she gasped and rushed over to Simon when he came running in our direction with Isabelle. "Simon! I was so worried."

"Clary!" Simon hugged her tightly when they met and I took a look at our surroundings, taking in the fact that we were right in front of the Jade Wolf. "Are you okay?"

"Break it up— you guys have been separated for not even a few hours, it's really not that serious— and we really have to get going." I took another glance and hovered my hands over my kindjals. "We're completely out in the open on their territory and right now, we're their targets— let's go."

"Wait, wait, the box." Clary pulled back from Simon in panic and looked at Alec and I. "My backpack— I think I left it at the loft."

"No, we've got it." Alec shook his head and muttered. "I didn't screw up everything."

Simon nods. "Let's get out of here, then."

"Wait, Simon!" Isabelle grabbed his arm and stopped him before he could walk any further, freezing in her spot. "Whatever you do, do not make any fast moves."

Low growling sounded from every corner and we all huddled together. Clary and Simon were between us while Isabelle, Jace, Alec and I covered them, watching as bright eyes peered at us from every shadow. We pulled out our weapons, looking around and trying to find an opening but we were completely surrounded.

"We're surrounded." Alec voiced after a second.

I kept my eyes on the door of the Jade Wolf. "Thank you for stating the obvious."

Then, the door snapped open and out came a bigger, more intimidating wolf out of all the others. Jace's eyes widen and he was shouting. "Everyone, get back, that's the alpha leader!"

"You scared, Jace?" I thought out loud, tightening my grip on my kindjals. "You know, whoever kills the alpha leader becomes the new alpha of the pack— you think that counts for a Shadowhunter?"

"You're going to go head to head with the alpha?" Alec looked at me in amusement. "That's ridiculous. That thing's three times the size of you."

"My dad's taught me how to skin an animal before." I kept my eyes on the alpha who was slowly nearing. "Not that I ever have— but, there's a first time for everything."

"You'll get yourself killed." Jace argued and kept close to me. "You can't one on one a werewolf."

"Sure I can." I lowered my eyes and locked eyes with the mutt. "I've got the big bad wolf."

"Zee, no!" Jace was shouting in slight panic when I ditched their little huddle and walked forward. The alpha started to charge for me and I watched his paws as he propelled himself into the air with his mouth wide open to chew my head off.

I threw myself to the ground and slid, slicing slits in its front paws before propping myself on a folded leg with the other outstretched. My palm rested on the ground in front of me, the grip on my kindjal remaining with just my thumb and pointer finger.

The alpha landed with a growl and a hiss, spinning around to face me again. It charged toward me again despite its bloody paws but this time didn't leap in the air and just came straight for me with his jaw wide, showcasing his sharp teeth.

When he was mere inches from me, I flung myself sideways into the air and came around, landing on its back. I dug both my kindjals into its sides and the wolf roared loudly in pain. I cringed slightly but I pulled the blades out and rolled off his back, landing back into the ground.

I swallowed hard when I heard all the growls of his pack and his angry roar towards me while his blood was streaming down his black fur. He leaped towards me again and I heard Isabelle and Clary scream out of panic while I held one blade up in defense and the other to stab the wolf right through the head.

But the wolf never came.

Another wolf flew through the air and tackled the alpha away from me with a loud roar. They fell behind the dumpster and the sound of slashing, cries of pain and vicious attacking echoed through the night.

My eyes were glued onto the two wolves behind the dumpster before I felt something attach to my arm. My head snapped into the direction towards it and I realized a second too late it was Isabelle's whip because she tugged on it hard, sending me flying towards them and landing on the ground in front of them.

"If you ever do that again, I will kill you myself!" Isabelle pulled me off the ground after I grunted and threw my arms around me in protection, despite the fact I was slightly stained in the wolf's blood and holding a tight grip on my kindjals.

A look of annoyance was sheeted on my face and I felt odd with her arms around me— she was hugging me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd ever been hugged by someone.

Or if I had ever been.

Then the fighting had stopped and we were all staring at the dead body of what was once the alpha. Slash wounds on his hands and deep wounds on his sides were present from me, and the rest of the scratches were there from the other wolf that had challenged him.

And that wolf was Luke.

He stepped out from behind the dumpster, wounded and breathing shallowly. Every wolf around us slowly started to shape shift back to their original form and kneel one by one.

"What is it?" Clary looked around at this with wide eyes. "What's happening?"

"When a werewolf kills the alpha leader, he becomes the new alpha." Jace explained to her despite the fact I had said something about this a few moments ago. "Your friend Luke's the leader of the pack now."

"What?" I was outraged, pointing my bloody kindjal at this— Luke, still trapped in Isabelle's arms. "Hey— I weakened him up for you!"

A weak laugh escaped Luke's lips and his eyes fluttered. They then rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed right in front of us, Simon and Clary rushing to go catch him before he hit the ground. "Luke!"

Alec stopped Jace from going over to them while Isabelle let go of me. "Hey— we need to get Clary back to the Institute and stay out of Downworlder business."

"Why don't you stay out of it?" Jace snips at him. "I'm going to help Clary."

Alec's face twisted in anger. "We have to report back to our mother. She'll expect to see both her and, it— when we return."

"You and Isabelle can do that." Jace shot back. "I'll be fine on my own— Zee, you coming?"

I paused for a second and then looked up at Alec, my voice falling into a taunting whisper. "Oh— Mummy Dearest is about to be so upset with you."

His expression hardened and I walked over to Luke, Clary and Simon. I took a quick glance at his bloody wounds and inhaled through my nose. "His wounds are deep."

"Only a warlock's magic can cure an alpha's bite." Jace came to my side within seconds. "We have to get him to Magnus."

"A trip to Magnus?" I put my kindjals away and exhale. "This should be fun."

authors note:

HIIIIII

i am in fact not dead

i am so sorry for the late update babes, i have had such a HECTIC past few weeks it has been absolutely nuts. i got covid and then i had work and then i had family issues and school and had no motivation and omg i was literally drowning in stress but it's okay ! because i drank coffee and an energy drink to get this update out hahahahah

WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY SOME OF THESE SCENES ARE KINDA WILD, ITS CAUSE I WAS SUPER ENERGETIC AND NOW IM CRASHING

anyways, alec being tied to the target board HAHAHAHAHAH idek why i thought of that but it's actually so funny

anyway zalec were very funny with their bickering in their chapter so that's a plus i'd think. I MEAN ALL THEY DO IS ARGUE AND MESS WITH EACH OTHER

zee and alec chasing each other around the institute for the portal shard necklace HAHAHAH

zee completely dismissing jace </3 poor guy. it's okay because brotp

zee looking at the menu for the jade wolf while clary and simon were abducted SLSKSKF

zee literally throwing down with a wolf ?? stan

but anyway, thank you for 2k !!!

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