𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᎽᎧU ᏘRᏋ ᏁᎧT ᎽᎧUR ᎧᏊᏁ

"Oh, screw it." She muttered, making her decision and turned to enter the building. But a voice called to her and stopped her.

"Alyssa?" She turned to see Clary, Alec, and Sebastian walking towards her. Seeing the look on Alec's face, Alyssa deduced that something was wrong. She then noticed someone else behind them.

"Please tell me what the hell is going on before I lose my temper and kill him?" Alyssa gritted out, her eyes glowing with anger, seeing Valentine.

"Lyssa, wait. That's not Valentine." Alec said.

"And I'm not werewolf-demon Shadowhunter."

"Being normal and just like everyone else is boring, biscuit." 'Valentine' began to say, making Alyssa frown in confusion. As he continued to speak, realization dawned on her.

"Being different is much more fun. You want to know why? Being different from everyone else is what sets you apart from everyone and makes you stand out. It's what makes you unique and irreplaceable.

Don't try to be like everyone else so that you fit in. Be yourself so that you can stand out."

Alyssa recognized that as something Magnus had once said to her when she'd questioned her being the only one of her kind and why she couldn't be like everyone else.

"Magnus? Wha..." Another realization hit her. "Azazel used a body-switching spell on you and Valentine, didn't he? And you're all here because the bastard wants his body back and made some kind of deal with Imogen, which to be honest is the only reason why she'd let Magnus in Valentine's body out of the cell for it to happen."

"Well, you catch on fast." Sebastian said but was ignored.

"Just out of curiosity, who did Valentine use as a bargaining chip?" When they stared at her, she rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, it's not too hard to predict that psycho or that woman in such situations. They're predictably unpredictable and other times unpredictably predictable.

So who was it? The Consul or another high-ranking member of the Clave? I need to know so I know just how much of my time I'd be wasting or profitably using."

"Her grandson." Alec said vaguely, making Alyssa frown.

"Grandson? Wait, Magnus, you and Dad told me Imogen was the last of the Herondale after her son, his wife, and kid died, so how...?"

"It's Jace, Alyssa. And he said if I'm not there within the hour, Jace dies." Magnus said.

Alyssa's blood ran cold, and her expression fell when she heard this. Without another word, she turned and walked inside the building, with the others following right behind her.

"One of these days, I am going to strangle Jace for blocking me out at the times when he needs to let me in the most." Alyssa muttered.

"Don't be so hard on him, Alyssa. I'm sure he thought he was trying to protect you. He really cares about you and..." Sebastian was saying, not noticing the signs that the others were giving him to stop talking.

"Magnus, do you think the secret passage I use to your apartment might be warded off too if Valentine has learned to put up wards?" Alyssa asked, coming to a stop and ignoring Sebastian.

"Even if it wasn't, biscuit, I would advise you not to use it. If Valentine sees you, he could kill both you and Jace. It's too risky." Magnus said. Alyssa looked at him, blinking, then turned to walk again.

"It is so weird hearing that form of endearment coming out of his mouth. I think I might get nightmares." This drew a chuckle from Magnus and a small smile from the other three.