𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᏘᏊᏘKᏋ, ᏘRIᎦᏋ ᎧR ᏰᏋ FᎧRᏋᏤᏋR FᏘLLᏋᏁ

"Why don't you stick to matters and questions that are not above your pay grade, Sebastian?" Izzy and Clary were surprised by the harshness in her voice. It was more than usual. "The location of the Mortal Mirror, as well as the answer to your question, is on a strictly need-to-know basis, and you do not need to know."

"Is there a reason why you're always so rude and hostile to me, Alyssa?" Sebastian asked, an almost unnoticeable nervous tone in his voice. Barely there, but Alyssa heard it.

"Yes. I don't like you and I don't know you. You just showed up out of nowhere and suddenly expect us to trust you.
I asked around snd no one at your previous Institute knew why you left or that you had even left."

"Antonio also just showed up at the Institute, and you seem to like and trust him just fine." Sebastian defended.

"The difference is, I already knew Antonio, and he was my friend before he moved here. Unlike you, he was transferred through the proper channels. You, on the other hand..."

"Alright, enough." Alec said loudly, interrupting them. "We've got bigger issues to worry about here than your dislike of each other."

"Jonathan went after Elliot and Dot to get the Mirror. Now that he knows we have it, he's going to come back for it." Clary said.

She was stunned by how bluntly and easily the woman she used to think was her older sister, admitted her dislike of the British Shadowhunter.

Izzy was just as stunned, not understanding the woman she considered a sister's hostility towards Sebastian at all.

"Agreed. Report back with any possible scenarios by which Jonathan and Valentine could attempt a breach."

"Got it." Antonio said, eyeing Alyssa as she glared at Sebastian.

"Okay." Jace replied, then he, Antonio, Clary, and Sebastian walked away, leaving Izzy, Alec, and Alyssa behind.

"Iz, could you give us a minute? I need to talk to Alec." Alyssa said, giving the female Lightwood a small smile that the girl returned before she left them.

"Alyssa, look. I'm sorry about the whole Soul-Sword thing. I shouldn't have kept it a secret from you or anyone for that matter, and I..."

"Alec, it's okay. I understand why you did what you did. You were between a rock and a hard place."

"No, I wasn't. I made a poor judgment and took the easy way out."

"Alec. It's fine, big brother." Alyssa said, making Alec perk up at her affectionate name for him. "I forgive you and I know with time, Magnus will too."

"Thank you." He said, smiling.

"You're welcome." She said, smiling back. "But that's not why I wanted to talk to you alone." The smile was gone, replaced by a serious look.

"What is it?"

Alyssa looked around. "Come on." She gestured for him to follow her. She led him to the office, closing the door behind them. "Listen, about those possible scenarios, I have one."

"Tell me."

"I think Jonathan has already infiltrated the Institute and has been posing as one of the Shadowhunters here," Alyssa revealed.

"What? That's not possible."

"It is, Alec."

"Okay, and who do you suspect?" Alyssa gave him a look.

"I think you and I know whom I suspect."

"Sebastian?"

"Yeah. Look, I know it sounds crazy, but..."