After sweet-talking her husband into a navy shirt instead of black, taking his mind off her excessive, yet minimal outfit, the group had left for the rave.
"All clear," Alec announced as he, Serena and Izzy appeared behind Jace and Clary who were waiting in line at the Hardtail club.
"S, do you think red is my colour?" Izzy asked as she flaunted Magnus's necklace around her neck, the red jewel going well with her silver Seelie outfit, the silver matching the silver of Serena's own dress.
"My dearest Isabelle, with a body like yours, everything is your colour," Serena smirked.
"Good point. Damn. I make this necklace look so good," Izzy pouted.
"Take it off. I'm certain Magnus won't want drool on his ruby when we make the exchange," Alec said as Clary continued to tug at the hem of her dress.
"You know I wouldn't be so sure. Most men like it when I admire their jewels," Izzy drawled seductively.
"Alec certainly enjoys it when I do," Serena smirked as Jace faux-gagged and Isabelle laughed as Alec pulled Serena to him, whispering something in her ear that made a lustful smile appear on her face.
"Enough of that!" Jace interrupted as he pulled his sister away from his parabatai.
"You're such a buzzkill," she whined at him.
"Izzy, please, just give the necklace to Jace," Alec asked, thoughts now back on their mission.
"You're such a buzzkill," she repeated and she and her parabatai laughed as they linked arms and strode into the club.
******************************************************************
"My darling Sparkles, how are you?" Serena mused as she stood behind a seated man.
A man who spun, his suit patterned and immaculate, eyes lined with makeup and hair gelled to perfection.
"Sweet little Serena. I'm well. How are you, my darling Angel? I'm flattered that you chose to dress like a warlock this evening. Gorgeous outfit by the way. I can't wait to rub it in Meliorn's face at the next Council meeting," he commented as he embraced her and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, Magnus. And I'm good. I've also brought some people for you to meet. "
She moved to Magnus's side so that he could see Clary and Jace behind her.
"This is my brother Jace Wayland, and our newest addition Cl-"
"Clary Fairchild. You've grown into a beautiful young woman," Magnus interrupted as his eyes scanned her up and down.
"Magnus Bane. So, you're the one who stole my memories," she sassed, disliking the warlock instantly.
"At your mother's request. She knew the risks," Magnus defended and Serena moved to stand between the two.
"Be a little more respectful. Magnus is risking the entire warlock community coming here. So, a little respect won't kill you. Understand?"
Clary nodded her head, feeling guilty as Serena turned back to Magnus.
"I shall leave you three to chat. Call me if you need me, but I hope you don't because I believe my husband owes me a dance."
Magnus smiled at her. "Of course. Thank you, Angel."
She bowed her head at the warlock and vanished into the crowd.
******************************************************************
"LOOK OUT!" someone yelled as Alec's arrow buried itself into the chest of a rogue Shadowhunter.
His lips were still smudged with his wife's lipstick as he moved to check the man's pulse.
"Magnus, you need to go!" Serena yelled to him as she ran over, pushing him towards the portal he'd created, black boa long gone.
"Magnus, wait! Clary yelled and the warlock stopped as she grabbed him. "You're my only hope."
"Valentine found us. I warned your mother this might happen," was Magnus' only reply before he, along with the portal, vanished.
"The area's secure. Looks like he's the only assassin," Izzy said as she reappeared.
"He has a circle rune on the base of his neck," Alec announced.
"They found us. It's not safe. We need to go now!" Serena urged as Alec took her hand and they and Izzy began to push through the fleeing crowd.
"Clary, we have to go!" Jace said to the girl still frozen as she gripped onto the table nearby.
The girl walked, but slowly, being the last one out as they went out a side door.
"Jace!" Izzy called, noticing Clary falling behind.
"Clary, we need to go," he reminded her.
"I'm catching my breath," she sassed, looking as if she was about to burst into tears or have a panic attack.
"This is just great!" Alec began as he let go of Serena. "We're no closer to the mortal cup and the girl didn't even get her memories back! This is fantastic -"
"Alec, the girl, her name is Clary. And I highly suggest that you keep your voice down," Jace said through gritted teeth, frustrated as the vein in his neck pulsed.
"Why?" Alec retorted, and Serena sighed. "Are you afraid that I'm going to upset her?! We have risked our lives again and again for this girl and what has that gotten us? Nothing!"
"Hey, I am right here!" Clary yelled, leaning on Isabelle. "I don't care about your damn jewellery. And I'm sorry that you're gonna look bad in front of your bosses ok? But my mother is still missing and my last chance at finding her just disappeared into thin air!" she yelled as she moved closer to Alec.
"ENOUGH!"
All eyes fell on Serena who couldn't take it anymore.
"Enough with all of you!" she yelled as she moved between them all.
She turned to Jace first. "You need to get your head out of your ass and think about your family first for two seconds instead of Valentine's daughter!"
Alec.
"You need to lighten up and stop being so damn pessimistic."
Clary.
"And you. You need to learn that we don't care about your mother. The reason why we're out here risking our lives for you is so we can get The Cup and stop Valentine from eliminating the entire Downworld and all of us who won't side with him! So, stop being so selfish, and see the bigger picture. There is more at stake here than your mother and your damn memories."
Silence washed over them as Serena took a deep breath and wiped the few stray tears that had streamed from her eyes as she yelled.
She hated yelling. Especially at her family.
She turned to Isabelle.
"Izzy, come here."
Already understanding what her parabatai needed, the Seelie-dressed Shadowhunter grasped hands with her sister as their eyes met, holding one of Serena's necklaces in her hand.
"What are they doing?" Clary asked Jace.
"Parabatai tracking," he answered.
"Of course they are," she said sarcastically.
Alec rolled his eyes as he sighed in annoyance. "Magnus gave my wife that necklace as a gift. Something she could track if he was ever in trouble, which he likely is if they found us here. And tracking a powerful warlock together is stronger than trying to do it alone."
Clary looked as if she was about to say something when the girls broke apart.
"We found him," Izzy announced and Serena drew her swords, not in the mood to talk to anyone right now.
"Let's move."