Distractions

Thirty-One: Communication

"We have obligations," Everest reminded him.

"Obligations." He scoffed. "Aldertree wanted me gone and I'm gone."

Everest didn't bother pointing out that this wasn't exactly what she thought Aldertree meant. It wouldn't do any good. "So you got demoted. So what? You'll work your way back up."

"You don't understand."

"Then tell me," she said firmly. "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad." Jace was silent. "So what? You're just ignoring your job? Ignoring everyone, including your family and friends, so that you can fuck some random girl in my boyfriend's guest room? Do you know how fucking sad that is?"

Jace scoffed. "I don't need a reminder of how pathetic my life is, Everest." He stood up and gestured at the door. "You know what? You should leave. We don't want you getting benched when you've only just entered the field."

The silence was stifling.

"This isn't you," she said softly after a moment. She walked away without another word.

"I'm going to seriously hurt him before the week is done," she announced as she and Alec left the apartment.

"I know the feeling," Alec said, bumping her arm. "Trust me when I say that it doesn't go away."

"So reassuring," she said, laughing a little.

The two met up with Clary just outside the Institute.

"Hey Clary," Everest greeted, still relatively cautious of using the nickname she had for her sister. She wasn't sure if it would be well received or not after she killed their mom.

"Hey Ev," Clary greeted, a small smile on her face. "Hey Alec."

"Little girl." Alec's tone was blank but there was a smile in his eyes and Everest let out another laugh.

"Any idea what this is about?" Clary asked as they walked into the Institute.

"Hear a big storm's moving in. Always increases demon activity," Alec explained.

"And Jace is..."

"Not here," Everest interrupted. She really did not have the mental capacity to explain whatever was going on with Jace, or what she knew at least.

"He's totally shut me out," Clary said. "He's not answering my texts. I don't understand what's going on."

"Me either," Alec said and Everest brushed her hand against his in comfort. "Come on."

They walked into the Ops Center to see Izzy standing in front of a holographic screen, gripping her wrist tightly. Everest went to stand beside her and placed her hand over Izzy's. The other girl leaned her head on Everest's for a moment before straightening to attention.

"What'd we miss?" Alec asked.

Oh no. Everest knew that look. Whenever Izzy got that look where her lips parted and upturned at the same time and her eyebrows were starting to knit together, nothing good was going to follow. A glance at Alec told her that he knew it too, and a glance at Clary told her that she was starting to figure it out.

"Let's see. The Citadel was breached. Magdalena is dead. Cleophas is missing."

Everest knew it.

"Shit."

"Oh, my god. Valentine?" Clary sounded resigned.

"Who else could it be?" Izzy sighed. "Aldertree's heading to Idris to meet with the Council."

"I'll go check with ops," Alec said and then walked away.

Everest and Izzy went to walk away, Everest wasn't quite sure where she was going to go but she was sure she'd figure it out, but Clary's voice stopped them.