Together • ALEC LIGHTWOOD {book 2}

•18•

"So we continue to scan for venom and heat signatures. Try and narrow down the host before it strikes again." Alec says as Lydia pulls up a hologram of the Institute.

"Alec, you check the living quarters." Lydia says and turns to Alisha, Izzy and Clary. "You three take the utility tunnels." They all nod and walk off.

"I'll stay with you." Raj offers and Lydia frowns.

"Day just keeps getting better." She says sarcastically and watches everyone walk away.

A liquid drops from a grate above the three shadowhunters. Alisha takes her seraph blade out, ready to attack anything who attacks them.

"Demon ichor." Clary tells the girls beside her.

"It must've come through here after the kill upstairs." Izzy says and then looks at Clary. "So Idris, huh? I thought you were a New York City girl, tried-and-true."

"Wow, does the Institute have, like, a Twitter feed?" Clary asks as they explore the tunnels further.

"You live in this place long enough, you know everything." Isabelle states.

"Whoah, wait what?" Alisha questions, still not knowing about Idris. Both girls turn to the Lotova with sad expressions.

"You didn't know." Izzy finally says, guilt filling her.

"Mom wants me to move to Idris with her." Clary says and Alisha frowns. "She wants you and your brothers to come too."

"What?" Alisha says quietly. "What are you gonna do?"

"Actually, I'm still trying to figure it all out. Is there a rune for letting you be in two places at once?" She jokes making Izzy laugh slightly. Alishas frown stays on her face. Idris?

"I wish." Izzy says, still keeping an eye on Alisha, checking she's okay. She places a hand on her left arm and offers her a small smile.

"My mom really wants me to go with her. And we went through so much to get her back, but I just... I don't know." Clary sighs, looking down.

"At least you have a mom who wants to be with you. Who thinks you're smart and wonderful–" Izzy begins.

"Yeah, who erased my memories and lied to me about having a brother." Clary finishes.

"I'm not saying she hasn't done some pretty screwed up things. But all moms do. So maybe you should be glad you have one who wants to try and make things right." Isabelle says making them all stop in their tracks.

"Wait. You think I should go?" Clary asks but Izzy shakes her head.

"Of course not. No one in Idris is gonna teach you how to fight in five-inch heels. Come on. We've got a demon to hunt." Alisha smirks at the girl whose going to be her parabatai.

"If you're trying to make up for your incompetence, don't bother. I'm not in a making-up mood." Lydia says to Raj as they search a hallway. A black smoke, the demon, makes its way into Raj, successfully possessing him in the process.

"Wow. No wonder Alec ditched you for a werewolf." Raj croaks out and immediately, Lydia realised he's possessed. She takes out her blade and tries to stab Raj but she misses.

"You want a piece of this? Come get it!" She shouts and Raj claws with his hand into Lydia's chest trying to get her heart out. She punches and hits Raj a couple of times but he fixes himself. Then he grabs Lydia when she runs forward and breaks her arm.

"Lydia!" Alec shouts, coming round the corner. He gets his bow ready and shoots. It hits Raj's leg forcing the demon to leave Raj's body and the cloud disappears into a hole. Alec quickly runs to Lydia.

"You're okay." He says.

In the City of Bones, Jace is being brought into another room with the Soul-Sword for his trial. A silent brother, Jeremiah, steps forwards.

"You stand before the sword, accused of treason against the Clave, as well as the murder of two Downworlders." Two Silent Brothers hand the Sword to Jace. "Be thee innocent or guilty, may the truth free thy soul."

"Have you anything to say before we start?" Aldertree asks as he looks at Jace.

"Facilis descensus Averno." Jace says making Aldertree smirk slightly.

"'The descent into Hell is easy.'" He translates. "I'm glad you believe in our sacred Clave motto."

"Alec and I use it to remind each other we can't be broken." Jace says to the man in front of him.