War of Hearts

Chapter 12

Val's POV

I smiled down at Madzie as we walked around the streets of New York. We were looking at apartments, so I could move out of the Institute and have Madzie around without having to send Icy glares at others all day, rather than the few hours we would be at the Institute whenever I had to be there.

As an hour passed Alec joined us and we finally found an apartment that was when Alec told me Valentine was acting weird. We were currently walking back to the Institute. "Imogen wants you to come in and see if you can figure out why since you've spent the last few days with him."

"Watch Madzie for me?" I asked. He nodded and I stepped into the elevator and headed down to the cells where Imogen was waiting for me.

"He continues to say he's Magnus Bane. I thought you'd be able to see if he's telling the truth since you've said in the past that you're great at reading people." Imogen said when I stood next to her.

"In the last three days he didn't show emotion. Could be telling the truth." I tell her as I watch Valentine bang on the glass. "I'm gonna go check on Magnus, see if I can get a read on him." She nods and I quickly leave. I stop when I see a blonde Shadowhunter standing with my family and Izzy back. "Hey, Luce, have you heard from Magnus since last night?"

"No." She looked at me. "Why?"

"Because Valentine is down in the cells and saying he is Magnus. I'm about to head over and see if I can get a read on him." I told my parabatai as Madzie ran up to me. I picked up the girl. "You gotta stay here with Alec a little longer, kiddo." I told her as she started playing with my hands as the shadows appeared. She nodded and ran over to Alec after I placed her back on the ground who picked her up.

"Well has he shown any emotion since you were dishing out your anger?" Lucy asked.

"Only smiling when he managed to get a rise out of me." I tell her. "Other than that, only when we activated the Agony rune." I sighed only to realize the blonde was still there. I raised a brow at him before it hit me as to why everyone else was gathered right here. "Any news on Azazel?" I asked, turning to look at Alec who was smiling down at Madzie. While I pulled Izzy into a hug. "You ever leave like that again and I will kick your ass." I whispered.

"His attacks go as far south as the Meatpacking District, then the trail runs cold." He replied when he figured out I was talking to him. I then looked over at the younger Lightwood.

"So, what have you been doing Izzy?" I asked her. From where I was standing I could see that she looked better than the day before and wasn't as pale, shivering, and sweating out her addiction.

"Looking for Azazel." Izzy said before she looked back at the blonde next to her. "Sebastian saved my life when Azazel came after me." I looked back at the blonde and nearly smiled as I saw through the glamour that clung to him. I sent him a questioning look silently asking if the real Sebastian was alive. He nodded, which was barely noticeable to the others.

"At least we know someone was out there looking after our sister." I told Lucy who laughed. "Sorry but I gotta go. Preferably before Imogen sends her guards up to get me back down to the cells. Thank you for saving Izzy, Sebastian." I tell him. I hold out my hand. "Val Morgenstern."

"The second great warrior in the flesh. Your reputation precedes you." Sebastian said.

"I'll believe that when I see it." I say with a laugh. "And now I need to make myself scarce. Madzie behave." I tell the small child still in Alec's arms. I quickly leave the Institute and head off to Magnus's. When I was halfway there I sent him a text telling him I was on my way. I walked in when I got there and saw Magnus and Azazel. "You know I may just be a Shadowhunter, but even I know how well to read people. And now I can't fucking hit you." I aimed toward my father who was in the high warlock's body. "They'll figure it out eventually. And the second you're back in your cell... You'll really wish you were dead." I say with a smirk before I started to walk out only to turn around and quickly notch an arrow and aimed it at Azazel. I smirked. "See you in hell." I said before he realized what I was about to do. I released the arrow and my smirk turned into a smile as he disappeared completely. "Did I forget to mention I did my research early this morning before anyone woke up?" I aimed the question at my dad. He looked scared. "Who are Jace's biological parents?" I asked him, wanting answers. He shrugged. "Your choice." I said before I left the apartment and went back to the Institute.