Into The Shadows • Shadowhunters

• Chapter Five •

The girls laughed. "She sounds more like a friend than a mom." Isabelle smiled.

"She's both." Clary answered.

Smiling, Isabelle took her hand, pulling her up. "Walk with us. Tell me everything about her." She said as they walked ahead of Allison and Aaliyah.

"Great, she's coming with us.." Allison muttered again as she followed them alongside Aaliyah.

Walking towards the elevators, the four girls paused when they saw the doors to the Institute open.

A woman walked in, wearing a black dress with a black jacket over, black heels and her dark black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. She had a stern look on her face as she walked closer to the four girls.

Clary noticed Isabelle has tensed up at the woman's presence, Aaliyah turned her gaze to the floor and Allison stayed quiet.

What she also noticed was the similarities that this woman shared with the dark haired twins.

"Isabelle." The woman greeted and looked the younger woman up and down. "Dressed to impress I see." She commented. "And playing with the family heirlooms."

Clary decided to break the obvious introduced herself. "Clary Fairchild, you look just like your mother." The woman noted, cutting the red head off before she could continue further with her introduction.

"How is Max? We all miss him?" Aaliyah spoke up for the first time.

"Little brother, cute but clingy." Isabelle grinned.

"Robert is picking him up at the Mumbai Institute." The woman answered. "Where is Jace? We have a situation that has to be handled now." She said pushing past Isabelle and Clary and walked past Allison and Aaliyah.

Clary watched the woman walk off in shock.

"That's my Mom." Isabelle said. She looked at Clary, giving a slight smile before following Allison and Aaliyah who were behind her mother to the training area.

Upon arrival the girls found the woman watching Jace as he practiced.

"Is your Mom always like that?" Clary whispered to Isabelle. "She didn't even hug you."

Isabelle gave the red head a small smile. "Shadowhunters aren't big huggers."

Jace, feeling presences in the room with him, turned and smiled seeing the familiar woman who he hadn't seen in a while. "Maryse."

He got up and walked to her as she opened her arms for a hug, a smile gracing her features. "It's good to see you." The blonde male said, hugging her.

Clary watched the two converse and looked at Isabelle and Aaliyah with sympathy.

"Mother." Alec stepped into the room. "Welcome back." He walked over, hugging Maryse.

"We weren't expecting you." He added, kissing her cheek.

"You should be prepared, whether you expect me or not." Maryse said sternly, stepping back after greeting her son.