Echo shook her head, "I don't understand. This whole thing with Clary means that Valentine wants to destroy the Downworld, but why would he even consider opening the City of Dark? It doesn't make sense. And if I am capable of destroying the Soul-Sword, wouldn't that mean that without it, he can't use it to open the City of Dark?" Echo shook her head. "So what does Valentine want? A world with no demons or a world full of them?"
Alec shook his head, "I don't know, but all I know is that this information needs to stay quiet. It's enough that Clary has angel blood."
Echo's body suddenly got tense at the statement. She pushed away from Alec and walked out of the apartment and onto the street. Alec suddenly regretted what he had said. He let out a sigh, quickly grabbed the Seraph blade and followed his wife.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." Alec had caught up to her.
Echo was frustrated; "Okay, what did you mean?"
"I meant that the past few days have been rough. We are all on edge and a little frazzled on what to do next."
Echo let out a breath and licked her lips. The Shadowdemon didn't say a word, but she didn't need to. The silence was broken by Alec's phone.
Alec answered the call while Echo teleported a few feet in front of him. Echo looked back at Alec as he slowed his walked as he talked. Echo glanced around the Brooklyn apartments that she was walking past. She knew exactly where she was. She had walked the streets of Brooklyn so many times. She glanced up at the brick buildings and saw the decay of the rock. The old brick was somewhat soothing to Echo; it let her know that there were many things in the world that were strong and sturdy, unlike her. Echo ran her hand through her hair as she heard her name.
Alec came up to her, "Magnus knows where Izzy is. Can you take us to the loft?"
Echo glanced down at Alec's slightly extended hand before she nodded. She pulled in a breath as she gripped his hand and transported them into Magnus' loft. Echo opened her eyes and saw Magnus turn around to look at them from the balcony. The Warlock never got to say a word before Alec spoke.
"You said you know where Izzy is?"
Magnus pulled in a breath and walked past them as he answered, "Well, not exactly."
Alec's tone changed from when he was talking to Echo, "You know, I expect this from Aldertree, but not from you."
Magnus paused his steps as Alec coaxed him, "What's going on? And why do I seem to be the last person to know?" Alec's sentence was added in his glance at Echo, who was clearly in Magnus' head.
Magnus glanced at Echo before he turned to face Alec; he was still hesitant to speak. Echo shrugged her shoulders, "It comes from you or me."
Magnus let out his breath and revealed his truth, "A couple of days ago, I saw Isabelle trying to buy Yin Fen from a certain reprobate Warlock at the Hunter's Moon."
Alec kept his voice even, "You sure it was her?"
Magnus let out a sigh as he nodded, "I asked her what she was doing, but she told me that she was undercover."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Alec allowed himself to become angry.
"She's an excellent liar." Magnus tried to defend himself, "It wasn't until this evening that I put it all together." Magnus was looking down in thought, "Something Meliorn said at the Downworld meeting." Magnus looked up at both Echo and Alec, "I think she's getting her fix straight from the source."
Alec took a step forward, "Where is she?" His words were slow.
Magnus let out another hesitant breath; he was protecting the vampire that he took in. Echo looked up at Alec, "She's with Raphael."
Alec's body suddenly got tense as he heard the whereabouts of his sister. Alec looked up at Magnus, "Did you know about this?"
Magnus quickly shook his head, "No, of course not. I would have told you if I had known your sister was in danger."
"Where is Raphael located?"
The Warlock swallowed, "The Penthouse in the Hotel DuMort."
Alec let out a huff, "Echo, take us there."
Magnus took a step forward as Echo took Alec's hand, "What are you going to do?"
"What I have to." And they were gone.
Echo landed the two of them in the hallway of the hotel and she let go of Alec's hand, "Penthouse three." Alec was quick to take his footing in the direction of the Vampire. When they both approached the appropriate room, Alec didn't wait a moment. He pushed the door open and when the Vampire guard shouted at them, he threw his fist and knocked him out.
Alec kept his stride in motion as he further entered the penthouse where Isabelle and Raphael were located. The moment that Alec got within reach of the Vampire, he put a fist into his jaw. Raphael fell off of the back of the couch and onto his back.
"Alec?" Echo looked over at Isabelle and she shook her head. The Shadowhunter was as high as a college student at Coachella.
Raphael got up onto his feet as Alec threatened him, "You stay the hell away from her."
Echo came up to Isabelle, but she tried to push her away.
"You don't understand. It was Aldertree who got her addicted to Yin Fen."
Echo put a hand on Isabelle's arm as she tried to push her away. Both Alec and Echo looked up at Raphael; of course Echo knew this information.
"What?"
Raphael pulled in a breath, "It's the truth. I was only trying to help."
"By drinking her blood?"
Echo glanced down at Isabelle and saw the unmistakable Vampire's wound on her wrist. Isabelle pushed at her as Alec attacked Raphael. Raphael was quick to defend himself. He kicked at Alec's knees and he dropped to the floor.
"It may have started with the blood, but it's more complicated than that, all right? I care about her. " Raphael's words were quick and Echo could feel exactly what Raphael was feeling.
Echo glanced down at Isabelle, who was in her arms. Isabelle had no idea.
"What did you say?" Alec didn't want to believe it.
"I," Raphael looked over at Isabelle, "I have feelings for her."
Isabelle let out a breath before she spoke with her words slightly forced, "Raphael, let him go."
In the moment of silence, Alec gained the upper hand on Raphael. The two were in a fight again and Echo was trying to get Isabelle out of the penthouse.
"No! Stop it!" Isabelle weakly fought against Echo, "Alec, stop! This is my fault!" Echo pulled at Isabelle as she tried to get over the back of the couch. From beyond the girls, Alec was punching at Raphael's face repeatedly. Isabelle struggled against Echo until she was distracted. Both Echo and Isabelle looked over at Magnus who ran into the room with his hand out. The orange glow coming from the Warlock's hand stopped Alec's fist in mid-air.
"Alec, stop!" Magnus pulled back and Alec went flying from Raphael.
Isabelle finally stopped struggling against Echo and the Shadowdemon released her grip. Alec was quick to hop up onto his feet and confront Magnus.
"This is my family! If you had told me about the Yin Fen, none of this would have happened."
Magnus was guilty as well as sad, "I didn't know."
"You knew enough. We're leaving."
Alec pushed around Magnus and grabbed Isabelle, who was halfway off of the back of the couch.
Isabelle quickly stumbled through Alec's steady stride. Echo let out a sigh before she quickly followed them out of the penthouse. Isabelle struggled against Alec the entire way out of the building and through the alley.
"Let go of me, Alec. I'm staying! Alec, let go!" Isabelle weakly pushed at Alec's chest and Echo now could feel the shift of emotion. Alec was scared for his sister.
"Izzy, come on!"
Isabelle let her voice show just how addicted she was, "I know you think you're trying to make things right, but you're not. Raphael's been there for me when I needed him."
Alec was confused by her words; "Needed him? Look at yourself."
Isabelle's voice rose, "He saved my life."
Both Alec and Echo were confused, "You didn't even notice when something was wrong."
Alec tried to get Isabelle to elaborate, "Saved your life? What are you talking ab—"
"I'm not your baby sister anymore, Alec. Just go! I don't need yours or Echo's help."
Alec's eyebrows furrowed in concern, "Izzy, please."
Isabelle was set on her decision, "I said go."
Echo looked at Isabelle from head to toe and noticed that her right hand was shaking. Echo hadn't noticed the shaking before, but now that she was aware of it, she could feel her own hand twitching. Echo glanced down at her hand and it moved in the same manner as her sister-in-law. Echo finally understood the odd experiences she had had when she was at the Ceremony.
Alec looked at his sister for a moment before he spoke, "Fine." He slowly walked past Isabelle and Echo shook her head, "Seriously?"
Alec looked back, "Come on, Ec."
Echo clenched her teeth. She glanced from Alec to Isabelle before Isabelle told her to leave via telepathy. Echo let out a concerned breath before she followed Alec out of the alley. The two were both experiencing different emotions, but Echo could feel Alec's clearly.
"You're just going to leave her?"
Alec kept walking, "She's right. She isn't a little girl anymore. She can make her own decisions, no matter how wrong they are."
Echo shook her head, "You don't really believe that?"
Alec didn't answer her question as they walked. Echo glanced up at Alec with a side-glance but he kept his face forward with a defiant expression. He still cared for Izzy deeply, but he feared that she was too deep into her addiction for him to help her.