𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑬𝑻𝑹𝑨𝒀𝑨𝑳

ᏘᏊᏘKᏋ, ᏘRIᎦᏋ ᎧR ᏰᏋ FᎧRᏋᏤᏋR FᏘLLᏋᏁ

"Not yet. I don't have enough proof to back my theories. Right now, you need to focus on Max. Okay?" Izzy wanted to push, but she was right.

"Okay."

"Good, let's get back to the infirmary." Izzy nodded and they both left the kitchen.

Not long after they got there, after receiving an update from Maryse and Robert and the Silent Brother, Enoch, Izzy received a message from Clary, so she left to meet her.

"Where's Jace? We've hardly seen him since we arrived." Maryse asked Alyssa. They were all waiting outside the infirmary. Just then, Alyssa's phone buzzed with a message.

"Speak of the devil, he just texted me. He's headed to the sub-levels to help guard the Mirror in case Jonathan shows up." Alyssa said with a sigh. "I just want this nightmare to be over."

"So do I." Maryse said, hugging the girl to her side.

At that moment, Alec showed up with Magnus, just as Izzy returned. After a conversation with his parents, Magnus entered the infirmary with Brother Enoch.

Moments later, Magnus and Brother Enoch exited the infirmary. The Lightwoods and Alyssa stood up and walked over to them.

"His injuries are too severe. Max's only hope for recovery lies with Brother Enoch." Magnus informed them.

"There's got to be something. Anything." Alec said in denial.

"Brother Enoch." Maryse said, giving the Silent Brother the go-ahead to proceed. The Silent Brother was about to enter the room but Alec stopped him.

"No." Maryse walked forward and grabbed him by the arms.

"Alec, I know you're scared. We all are. But if Max is going to have any chance, we need to let Brother Enoch do this. Now." She told him, then gestured for Brother Enoch to go on.

The Silent Brother went back into the room, the door closing behind him. The family went to sit down again, or at least Izzy, Robert, and Alyssa did. Alec remained where he was, while Maryse paced. Magnus took Alec's hand to comfort him, but after a few moments, he moved to sit with Robert.

Not long after, Alyssa received two message alerts. One was from Clary, asking for her help to carry out a plan, and the other, to her confusion, was from Alec.

"Alec, where's your phone?" She asked, looking up at him.

Alec frowned, wondering why she was asking. "I have it right here," he said, looking at her. "Why?"

Alyssa just smiled at him slightly and shook her head. "Don't worry about it." She said. "I'm going to help Clary with something. You stay here. Let me know if anything changes." She walked out of the hallway, brushing past Magnus but not before placing a hand of comfort on his shoulder.

Ops Center

Sebastian had just stepped off the elevator to see the entire ops center crawling with Shadowhunters in guard uniforms.

He tried to avoid them, but then found Clary standing in an archway not too far from the entrance, testing Shadowhunters who wanted to leave. He approached her, not noticing that Alyssa was standing by the doors doing the same, giving those who'd passed Clary's test clearance.

"Has the lockdown been called off?" He asked the redhead.

"If you can prove you're not Jonathan." Clary said. Sebastian was thrown.

"Sorry, what?" He said, with a nervous chuckle. Alyssa at the entrance smirked at this.

"We figured out a way to blow his cover. Jace remembered reading in Valentine's journals that Jonathan can't tolerate electrum." Clary said conspiratorially.