Whispers--Shadowhunters(2)

XII

Chapter Tweleve--Bitter Feelings.

''Let me get this straight,'' Alec started once Izzy, against her better judgement, told him about her suspcions on Clary, ''You think Clary, since she's still mourning Joceyln--'' his breath hitched at the name and his heart, for the millionth time, filled up with guilt. Raw and powerful guilt. Why wouldn't it? He was the reason behind Jocelyn Fairchild's untimely and brutual demise.

Izzy's eyes softened.  ''Alec--''

''I am okay.'' he lied and, not for the first time, was amazed at how easily lying came to him now.

''Alec, seriously--''

''Izzy, I am fine, okay? Don't worry about me, and, for heaven's sake, stop spying on Clary.''

Izzy sighed. She knew he wouldn't agree with her. Jace and Ian still might have, but this was Alec. It was obvious he was not going to agree with her on this. ''Alec, look, I know this is breaching of privacy--''

''Yes, yes it is Izzy. I am so glad you realized that. Now, can you stop it?''

She wished she could. ''Alec--''

''No!'' Alec snapped, not understanding why Izzy was hellbent on spying on Clary. ''Izzy, she just lost her mom, okay? She's overwhelmed with emotions right now. Let her be. Don't keep tabs on her. And do not keep tabs on Liv either.''

Izzy frowned. Liv. Where was she? Did she knew about Clary acting all weird and secretive? 

''Izzy?'' 

''Yeah?'' she focused back on her brother. ''What?''

''Are you listening?'' Alec asked warily.

''Yes. And no.''

Alec sighed and ran his hand through his hair. This whole situation was a mess. Jace and Ian were god knows where--he had looked for them in the whole damn institute, but hadn't seen either of the two anywhere--Liv was....he didn't know where she was either, and Izzy was being weirdly stubborn about keeping tabs on Clary.

Am I  extremly sleep deprived? he thought to himself.

''Just listen, okay?'' Izzy said as she saw his unconvinced expression. ''Look, I don't wanna spy on her, okay? I wouldn't spy on her, Alec, if I didn't feel that she was behaving weirdly. You didn't see her, I did. I saw how she stammered and how her hands shook and how she bit her lip, which she only does when she is nervous. A habit she and Liv share.''

''She's behaving weird because she's--''

''Overwhelemed with Jocelyn's death?'' Izzy guessed, ''I know, I know. And you know what happenes when someone gets overwhelemed with emotions?''

Alec frowned. Of course he knew what happened when people got overwhelmed with emotions. How could he not? There was a whole mantra for it that had been drilled in their heads since their childhood:emotions cloud judgement.

A sudden chil ran up his spine. ''You think......''

''Clary, an extremely distraughted and emotional Clary, might be about to do something very dangerous.'' Izzy spoke aloud what they both were thinking.

Angels above.

''Alec--''

''Just this time.'' he uttered. He didn't want to do this, but if Izzy's thinking was right--it probably was--then they had to stop Clary from doing whatever she was thinking of doing. ''Just this one time, Izzy. You get it? I am gonna go distract Clary and you check the monitor. If everything's normal, we drop this here. But if something suspcious pops up, you tell me. Or Liv. Or Jace. If they ever pick up their phones, that is.''