𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 ━━ ISABELLE LIGHTWOOD

7

CLARY WAS STANDING IN front of a mirror in a room as Isabelle walked and sat on her bed. The redhead looked at Izzy, "so, um… you, Kade, Alec and Jace are… what, like, family?"

"Translation, you want to know if Jace and I are a thing." Isabelle said with a smirk.

Clary leaned against the wall, "Why would I care?"

"Because you do." Isabelle replied, "Don’t worry. In every way, he’s like my brother. We've known Kade since forever— literally. Mine and Alec's parents took Jace in when he was ten. We trained together. Learned to fight side by side. The boys are practically inseparable."

"So you and Kade are…" Clary trailed off, looking at Isabelle whose eyes widened before she instantly shook her head, "no, no, no. Kade and I aren't..."

"Oh," Clary mumbled, looking away, "A few days ago, all I had to worry about was getting into art school. And now…"

"Is this the part where I give you the pep talk about harnessing your inner Shadowhunter and accepting your true destiny?"

"Was that the pep talk?" Clary asked to which she chuckled, "Clary…"  Isabelle stood up up from the bed and ran her hand through Clary’s hair, "Remember, you were born to do this. No matter what has happened… this is who you are."

"Not exactly feeling that."

"Yet." Isabelle spoke up making Clary smile weakly at her, "Okay, but now we just have to find Dot."

"And track down and kill the most dangerous rogue Shadowhunter in history before he kills us all." Isabelle added making her chuckle,"You really know how to ruin a pep talk, don’t you?"

"Come on, let’s go. Oh, and Simon is kind of nerd-hot."

**

Izzy pushed a button and a shelf with weapons appears.

"Whoa." Clary's eyes widened as she stared at the weapons. Kade grabbed his blades as usual and placed them at his waistband, ignoring Izzy's eyes which were on him.

"No, Izzy." Jace hit Izzy’s hand when she was about to touch one of the swords, "Fifty bucks says he doesn’t approve this mission."

"A hundred and fifty bucks says he spoke with the Clave." Kade added making Isabelle chuckle.

"I don’t approve of this mission. I spoke with the Clave—" Alec was cut off by Isabelle and Kade who exchanged a look. He ignored them before continuing, "They’re sending Seelie scouts to search for Valentine, but they made it clear, the little girl does not leave the premises."

"Hey, my name is not “little girl”, okay?" Clary stepped foward, "I don’t care what that Clave thing or you want, I’m going to find Dot."

"Alec, this warlock could have the answers we need." Jace tried to resonate, "With Valentine’s people out there searching for Clary, she’s not safe outside alone."

"Jace has a point." Isabelle nodded while Kade crossed his arms and watched the scene unfold.

"Et tu, Izzy?" Alec asked looking at Isabelle who stayed quiet. He then flickered his gaze to Kade, expecting that at least he would be on his side. Kade sighed, running a hand through his hair, "look, she's gonna go anyway with or without us. And I'd rather be there if shit goes down."

Alec sighed before looking at Clary, "All right, since you have all the answers, where do you suggest we search?"

"We should start at Dot’s apartment in Greenpoint, and there’s this thrift store that she…" Clary touched her mother’s necklace and saw Dot running into the Pandemonium.

"What’s wrong?" Jace's tone was filled with concern, "What is it?"

"I, um… Weirdly, I think I know where Dot is." Clary replied.

"Great. I’ll drive." Everyone looked at Simon, "What? Unless you have, like, a Shadowhunter-mobile or something." He looked down, "You were kidding about the runes on the floor killing me… right?"

Isabelle chuckled, finding the mundane amusing while Kade and Jace patted each side of his cheek. "Possibly."

"Wait…" Simon's eyes widened, "am I gonna die?"

Kade glanced at him as they began walking away, "We'll just have to wait and see."