𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᎽᎧU ᏘRᏋ ᏁᎧT ᎽᎧUR ᎧᏊᏁ

The Institute - Ops Center

Jace and Alec were walking and talking about Azazel and his whereabouts. Alyssa was with them too, but she was silent. Jace had begged her to stay back at the apartment, but she'd refused, saying she needed to do something.

"Looks like Azazel's headed south. We've just recovered four dead mundanes with his signature MO." Alec said.

"Okay, let's go." Jace agreed.
The two were stopped in their tracks by the Inquisitor, who looked less than pleased.

"To catch a Greater Demon you summoned to the Institute, defying all protocol and common sense?" She said.

"Don't put this all on Jace. I had a part in this too." Alec said, trying to take some of the heat off Jace.

"Look, if you want to bench one of your best fighters with a Greater Demon on the loose, I'm happy to oblige." Jace said.

"No. First we vanquish Azazel. Then I'll decide what to do with you." Imogen said, then looked towards Alyssa who was still silent and was staring at the ground. "Nothing to say this time, Miss Fairchild?" Jace tensed, ready to speak up for his wife but it wasn't needed.

"I believe I said all that I would have had to say to you yesterday in the basement. I don't like to make a habit of repeating myself, especially when it just falls on deaf ears." Alyssa said softly but firmly, looking up at the Inquisitor.

Imogen stared at her for a while before walking away from the trio. Jace looked to Alec and nodded to him.

"Go. We'll catch up." Alec looked at the couple for a moment, then nodded before walking away. Jace turned to Alyssa. "Hey, you alright?"

"I'm fine, Jace, now stop worrying. Come on, we have a demon to catch." With Alyssa leading the way, the two joined Clary and Alec in the main area, at one of the tables. Alyssa pulled up a holographic map of the city.

"Azazel's attacks go as far south as the Meatpacking District, and then the trail goes cold." Alec said.

"It's no use just tracking dead bodies. With his ability to dematerialize, he could be anywhere." Jace said.

"Besides, he's just toying with you, leaving a fake trail. He's not stupid," Alyssa added as Alec closed the hologram. Just then Izzy and a blond guy walked over to the four of them.

"Maybe we can help." Izzy said.

"Izzy." Clary said, relief tinging her voice as she hugged the dark-haired beauty. "We've been so worried about you. Where have you been?" The redhead asked, releasing Izzy from the hug. Izzy and Alec shared a look before she replied to Clary.

"Looking for Azazel." Alyssa hugged her next, eyeing the guy she'd walked in with. There was something off about him.

"And who is this?" Alyssa asked, gesturing towards the blond Izzy came in with after releasing the female Lightwood from the hug.

"This is Sebastian Verlac from the London Institute. When the demon came after me, he saved my life." Izzy introduced.

"Oh, I simply lent a hand." Sebastian said modestly. Alyssa couldn't help but want to be away from him.

"Sebastian's an expert on all things Azazel." Izzy said.

"When I studied abroad at the Paris Institute, I specialized in Greater Demons." Sebastian put in. Alec held out his hand, a grateful look on his face and Jace's face.

"Thanks for saving my sister. I'm Alec." Sebastian took his hand and shook it.

"Hey. Yeah, thank you. I'm Jace." Jace said, also extending his hand, which Sebastian took and shook.