Forgetting the Past

Chapter Three: Returning to New York

After breakfast, Clary and Jace put on their clothes for the day. They decided to head into Alicante to pay Simon and Izzy a visit, but when they stepped outside, a fire message appeared. Clary snatched it from where it fluttered about in the air.
Pinning it to the front porch railing, she unfolded the thick paper and read what it said aloud.
"Dear Clary and Jace,
Here at the Institute we've detected an alarming amount of demonic activity nearby. We can tell it's serious, but what we know is too vague to ask the Clave for backup. Although this is dangerous, we need help from anybody who can come. Portal here as soon as you can.
Jocelyn"
She reread the note silently, and then turned to Jace. "We need to go," she said firmly.
"Clary, maybe you should stay here. You're not in the best condition for fighting-" he began, but she cut him off.
"No, Jace! This is my family were talking about! I'm going just as much as you are."
He sighed and nodded. "Okay. If I can't talk you out of it, I suppose you are."
"We'll need to put on gear," Clary said, indicating the casual clothes they were wearing.
Several minutes, lots of black leather, and two weapons belts later, they met on the porch once again. Clary drew out her stele, and turned to the front wall of the manor. Jace stood close by as she traced a portal rune onto the surface, and when she completed it, watched the portal form.
She stepped back, and Jace quickly took her hand. They locked eyes for a moment, and then stepped through the doorway.

They hit the front yard of the New York Institute, and broke apart as the force dropped them on the ground. Both instinctively rolled to absorb the impact, landing in separate crouching positions. Clary brushed the dirt from her gear and rose to walk toward the front door. Jace was ahead of her, and they climbed the stairs together. Placing his hands on the door, Jace began to ask the holy place's entry.
"In the name of the Angel, I-"
Suddenly the door flung open, revealing Isabelle, a slim, tall figure with a long mane of inky hair. "Jace! Clary!" She exclaimed, rushing to embrace them. After exchanging greetings, she lead them inside and called for the elevator.
"By the Angel, I missed this place," Clary breathed as she gazed up and around. The dimly lit foyer was grand and yet eerie, with an atmosphere of darkness that intrigued her. The familiar clang of Jace dragging the metal elevator gate open made her smile faintly.
They went up the elevator and took the corridor toward the library. Noticing the absence of the Institute's cat, Clary asked; "Does Brother Zachariah still have Church?"
Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Yes. And for all I care, he can keep him. That cat never liked anyone, but he loves Brother Z. I can't blame him- he's one hot Bro."
"Izzy!" Clary shouted, socking her in the shoulder.
"Hey! I won't lie!" Isabelle said, shoving Clary back playfully. She was smiling genuinely now; when she turned back to look at Jace she saw that he was, too.
Isabelle flung open the doors of the library, revealing the small meeting that went on inside.
Chairs had been dragged into a lopsided circle, where Jocelyn, Luke, Mayrse, Alec, and Magnus were gathered. Alec and Isabelle's mother paced restlessly in her pointed-toe heels, while the other adults argued loudly.
"We have to investigate!" Jocelyn yelled.
"But we need to remember how dangerous-" Alec began in a cautious voice, but leapt to his feet at the sight of his parabatai. "Jace!" He exclaimed, striding over to him. They shared a brief man-hug, complete with pats on the back, and drew away.
Jocelyn rushed over to Clary, with Luke trailing behind, and both gave their daughter a hug. "I missed you," her mother said, pushing back Clary's wild, red hair.
"I missed you, too, mom," Clary returned, feeling like a child but being happy nonetheless. She looked around, but, unsurprisingly, didn't see her best vampire friend. "Where's Simon?"
"He stayed at our house, since he can't exactly come to the Institute. But if we go out to investigate, he insisted on coming with us."
"Okay," Clary answered, glad that he was safe.
"How come you guys didn't tell us you were coming?" Jace asked Izzy and Alec.
"There wasn't time; we got fire messages this morning at the same time you did," he explained.
"When we're done making small talk," Magnus joined in irritably, "can we address the mounting demon problem?"
"I agree with the warlock," Mayrse interjected tightly. "We need a solution."
"First," Clary said, "I would like to know what the hell is going on."
Mayrse motioned for them to join her by a map of the city that was pinned to the wall. Clary knew that city like the back of her hand.
She pointed to a splotch of black, like ink seeping into the paper. "This indicates extreme levels of demonic activity. The map won't show small invasions- that's why they have to be reported- but it will show the worst ones. When there's a large demon summoning, Greater Demons; they will show up here. From what we can tell, this is going on in an abandoned subway tunnel."
"If we know where it is, why haven't we done anything yet?" Clary asked.
Magnus spread his sequin-clad arms wide. "You're looking at it, biscuit."
"So, you're telling me we haven't done anything except for gather a few people and argue about what to do next?" She asked incredulously.
"Whatever it is, it's extremely dangerous," Alec said again. "We need to be sure before we try anything."
"Well, we can't just sit here," Luke reasoned. "That's for sure. Whatever it is, its a huge threat to the nearby Shadowhunters and mundanes."
"It's not any summoning that I know about," Magnus said. "I'm the High Warlock of Brooklyn; if there's a demon being summoned, I wasn't told about it like I should have been."
"Well, what do we do?" Clary asked.
"We have to investigate," Jace said. "But we'll need to be cautious."
"Of course," Jocelyn confirmed.
"I can provide some protection," Magnus offered.
"And so can I," Luke put in. "But we'll need to be well armed."
"Okay, everyone," Mayrse announced, "go and get weapons. We'll meet back here in fifteen minutes."