Bloodlines: An Alec and Magnus (Malec) Fanfiction

Chapter 5

"So, we need to start assessing the damage in the evacuated institutes." I say. "How many of them are there?"

"LA, Marseilles, Paris, Shanghai, London, Tokyo, Milan and Delhi." Jace says, counting them off on his fingers. "So, eight."

"Where do you want to start?" Isabelle asks.

"LA." I answer instantly.

"Why?" Jace replies.

"I promised the Blackthorn kids I would, so they can go and fetch their cat."

"Okay, well we need to team together, then. Much as I hate to say it, we can't do this alone." Izzy says and fetches a pen and paper. She's swinging her long legs, the skin pale and marked with runes, rhythmically bumping her heels against the leg of the table she sits on.

In her swirly messy, swirling handwriting, she prints a list of the institutes to visit with a little star next to the word 'LA'.

"So, this team, then; me, you two, Magnus." she says, writing the names down. "Clary and Simon."

"Simon?" Jace sighs. "But he has the coordination of a door stop."

I grin as Izzy kicks a long leg out, her pointy-toed heel boot connecting with Jace's shin, making him yell in pain.

"Who else?" Izzy asks.

"Helen Blackthorn?" I suggest. "She could probably call Aline if needs be, and she could get Mark too?"

Izzy nods, writing this down. "Sounds good."

"Alec, bad news." Izzy says. "Helen can't get hold of Aline and she says Mark is on business with her father. Helen says she's in though."

"Damn." I curse, in frustration and cast an apologetic glance at Izzy. "We can't do this with only a few people. I suppose we could ask the others if anyone would want to help?"

"Yeah, I guess. I would have preferred someone we know, would've been easier to fight with them, you know?"

I nod. "Yeah, let's ask around."

"I volunteer. I will help you." A familiar, accented voice says.

I turn and look at Josiane, who smiles slyly.

"Thank you, but I'm sure we'll manage." I say coolly.

"You said you needed more people, that you cannot do this with a few people. I'm offering my services, and you cannot afford to turn down my offer."

I scowl, giving her a glare like acid. "Fine. We leave at midday."

"By the Angel."

My hand rests on the knob of the front door to the Los Angeles Institute. I was expecting the place to be a little messed up, but this – this is completely destroyed. The Blackthorns will be distraught. All across the huge entrance, the signs of ruination are clear; upturned tables, shattered windows, fallen furniture, cracked marble floor, wallpaper hanging off the walls in long strips. The distinctive crunch of broken glass echoes our footsteps, breaking the shocked silence, and doing nothing to ease us into inevitable conversation. I climb over a felled grandfather clock gently and drop onto the first step of the main staircase. My feet find the uneven surface of splintered wood and shards of broken mirror. I stamp a foot firmly on the stair above me, and though it creaks ominously, it doesn't break. I suppose we'll have to risk it with the stairs, since there doesn't seem another way onto the floor above.