War of Hearts

Chapter 9

Val's POV

Alec, Lucy, and I were standing on the balcony overlooking the city as Magnus joined us. Neither of the twins wanted to let me out of their sight just like Jace wouldn't let Clary out of his.

"How many Downworlders do you think live in New York?" Alec asked.

"I don't know, but they're not all your responsibility." Magnus told him.

"Val is." Alec said.

"I can take care of myself, Alexander." I snap as I walk back into the loft. I was on edge. Had been since I first used the shadows to catch Alec from falling to his death.

"Val..." I looked up from my spot on the couch only to see Alec. "It was the magic. I would never, never---" He started already knowing why I was acting the way I was.

"Magic can't create fears, Alec, only bring them out."

"Valkyrie---" I flinched at my first name.

"Don't. I've got enough to worry about if my own father gets that Sword activated. Just... just promise me you'll tell me if things ever get that bad." I tell him. Before he can answer the front door opens and Clary and Jace rush in, causing Magnus and Lucy to walk inside from the balcony.

"Don't you people have phones?" Magnus asked. "At least Alec and Val have the sense to let me know when they are coming over."

"We need your help." Jace said. I followed my brother's line of sight and noticed Clary's extremely burned hand. Magnus tried using his magic to heal her but it wasn't working.

"La Chair Brûlée."

"I'm guessing that's not a dessert."

"It's French." I say from my spot. "Means burned flesh. Jace should've recognized the word."

"It's an old blood oath spell." Magnus further explained.

"It must be Iris. She did say that you owed her a favor." Lucy said from her spot next to me.

"At Max's party she said I have to find Madzie." Clary said.

"Then we better start looking. I can get rid of the pain, with Val's help, but that's about it. I'm afraid once the magic reaches your heart..." Magnus broke off.

"Why do you need my help?" I asked.

"Shadows have a sense of coldness. It can soothe the burning." Magnus told me. I nodded and Clary walked over to me.

"I don't know how it works though..." I said.

"Most of the time abilities are instinctual." Magnus tells me. "You just need to concentrate on when you used it the very first time."

I nod and wrap both my hands around Clary's burned one and thought of the first time I had seen my twin after 10 years just a few weeks ago, when I talked to him a week ago, and last night when I let my instincts take over and caught Alec before Magnus pulled him back over the ledge. I let out a shaky breath as the shadows wrapped around my hands and Clary's. She let out a sigh and I smirked. "It won't keep it at bay, but it bought you some time." I tell her as I pull my hands back and watch the shadows dance over my fingertips before I clear my mind of Jonathan and watch them retreat. "Alec, Lucy, and I will head back to the Institute. You should go see Luke. He's back." I tell the other two. "We'll see if we can find out where Madzie was last seen. Jace after you drop Clary off with Luke, check Iris's brownstone. See if you can find any clues there." Jace nods at the orders only after Alec agrees. Both of them leave and the three of us turn to Magnus. "Can you open a Portal, pretty please?" I asked the warlock. He nodded and quickly opened the Portal and the four of us walked through. I groaned when I saw Aldertree before I realized something. "Be right back."