in the end ~ d. malfoy

Chapter Forty-Nine

July 2016

THE NEXT MORNING, AN INCONSPICUOUS NECKLACE answers the question Maya's had for so long — the reason behind Clary's inexplicable visions.
'

It’s a Portal shard, ' Jace breathes, holding up the glimmering amethyst in the sunrise light, 'That’s why your mother made sure you had it.''
'All I know is what I saw, ' Clary sighs, rubbing her temples, 'My mother’s alive. She’s unconscious, but alive. Valentine said that it was either her or the cup, '
'That's certainly promising, ' Maya mutters under her breath; She rubs her arms, cursing the overly air-conditioned interior of the Institute.
'Where are they?' Alec questions, a hint of accusation in his tone.
'I don’t know — ' Clary starts.
'But you said you saw them, ' He demands, tone heated, 'Were there any identifying characteristics? Equipment, weapons, photographs?
'I-I don’t remember. It was awful.' She sighs, looking down. A pinch of guilt stings Maya as she watches Clary swallow, nervously, nails digging into the tender flesh of her palms.
Jace's tone is stern as he cuts off his parabatai, 'Alec, lighten up.'
' I’m trying to get something we can use out of this, ' Alec refuses to make eye contact with the blonde, instead continuing to demand information, 'Clary, what did you see, exactly?'
'Valentine has my mother! That’s all I saw!!' The redhead bursts out, frustrated.
'Emotions are nothing but a distraction, ' Alec huffs, disgusted, 'You’re ruled by them. We’re taught to control them, '
'And how's that working out for you?' Clary snaps. 
Maya's had enough of their bickering, 'Enough!' she proclaims, sternly pushing them apart.
'It is my job to protect the Institute, ' Alec snaps, ignoring her, 'If Valentine can see in, that’s a door I have to shut. Now… let me take a look at that thing.'
Jace reluctantly hands the necklace to Alec. The brunette inspects the amulet, turning it over in his hands, 'Now, it’s in the proper hands, ' He walks away.
'Hey!' Clary calls after him, the three of them on his tail, 'Alec! What are you doing?!'
'To put this somewhere safe,, ' He mutters, 'Where no one could be tempted to use it.'
Jace walks up to them, panting, 'We should use it. Alec, we should use it to get to Valentine, '
Alec rolls his eyes, 'If I were Valentine, I’d make sure you think that you could rescue Jocelyn. And then I’d lure Clary to me and leverage her life for the Cup.'
Maya sighs — as inconsiderate his tendencies are, Alec is right. This could very well be a trap set for them to walk into.
'I like Jace’s idea, ' Clary starts, as Alec crouches, tapping his rune on one of the training room floor; it slides away to leave a metal box, 'We saved Simon from the vampires that way.'
'Yeah… vampires. Bored, decadent, self-involved vampires, ' Alec stashes the necklace, eyes cold as he stands back up, turning around to face them, 'Valentine is a real threat, ' He scoffs, turning his gaze to Clary, 'He can’t be handled by a warlock and three-and-a-half Shadowhunters.'
'Four, ' Clary snaps, her gaze burning holes into his; Maya can feel the rage radiating off of her.
'Whatever, ' Alec rolls his eyes, breaking their standoff, sparing her one last contemptuous glance before walking away, 'Leave it there, '
Throughout the day, Magnus blows up her phone with messages, trying to convince her to come back home. That it's not safe at the Institute, that people could take advantage of her precarious position, that it would be much more rational for her to remain at his apartment while they figure out a plan. Maya maintains the same argument that she had with Nandini — it's too late for her to leave, she's too involved in the mission, backing out could tip over the fragile balance that contains all of her friend's lives. She's too important of a link, and now that the Downworld knows that Maya's working with the New York Institute, there's no guarantee that they won't see her as a traitor, try to seek revenge. If she leaves — they could lose everything they have. 
At least, that's what Maya tries to tell herself. 
Deep down, she knows that this is wrong. That she shouldn't be getting involved in something that doesn't concern her, that Isabelle and Jace are being selfish by dragging her into a mission that was supposed to be theirs. That she's built for coffee shops and carpal tunnel syndrome, not throwing knives and breaking into vampire lairs. But some small part of her finds this almost satisfying, the constant adrenaline running through her veins being a wake up call — that Maya's been living in a bubble all this time, and now it's time to burst it herself. 
Her insides constantly writhe in anxiety, hands cold with uncertainty, not knowing anymore what the future will bring. If Valentine truly is back, and his daughter is the very red-haired menace picking at her noodles across the Institute cafeteria table — Maya can't fathom how badly their worlds have turned upside down. 
'Are you okay?' She finally manages to say, putting down her forkful of vegetarian Caesar salad, not having the strength to force herself to eat anymore. 
Clary doesn't look up from her plate, 'What do you think?'
'Cut the crap, Fray, ' Maya rolls her eyes, 'It's weird to see you so . . . . demotivated, '
'Not the word I would use, ' Clary scoffs, looking out the window, 'I can't believe Alec, '
'He's right and you know it, ' Maya replies, sternly; Her tone softens, 'Alec was harsh, but he was telling the truth— that necklace is the perfect death trap. Who knows what could happen if it accidentally fell into the wrong hands?'
The redhead forcefully stabs a piece of pasta; Maya flinches at the clatter her fork makes on the plate, 'I’ll take the risk on my own, thanks, '
'That's exactly the problem, ' She interjects, pointing her fork at Clary, 'You're not alone anymore. You're part of a team — and with teamwork, comes patience, '
'I don't think patience is exactly going to get her out of Valentine's grasp sooner, ' Clary snaps, 'The longer we wait, the more time Valentine's around her and the more chances he has to — ' 
'He won't hurt her. The bastard's too conniving for that, ' Maya shakes her head, returning to picking on the remains of her salad, 'Not when she's the only link he has to you. Don't worry — ' She interjects, noticing the scared look on Clary's face, ' — we'll find her before anything bad happens. Jace's probably combing through some leads right now, '
'I just — ' Clary sighs, frustrated, 'I wish I knew what to do. All of this, it’s so new to me. I’ll do anything to save her.'
'You must care about her a lot, ' Maya mutters. 
'So, what's your mom like?' Clary clears her throat, awkwardly. 
Maya raises a confused eyebrow, 'What's with the sudden interest in my personal life?'
Clary snorts; it's clear that she wants to change the subject, 'Stop acting so modest. Out of everyone, I know the least about you. So spill,'
Maya rolls her eyes, a faint smile quirking the corner of her mouth; She decides to humor the redhead for a little bit, 'I don't know what you want me to say, ' She sighs, deeply, 'My mom's . . . . . complicated. She's kind, but doesn't show it. Acts strong, tough — people tend not to cross her because of how intimidating she looks. But she's fiercely loyal, surprisingly funny, really, really smart, just wants the best for everyone around her. She's strict, but I know that's just because she wants me to be safe. It's been just the two of us for a while and people tend to look down upon her for being a single mom, but I love her to death, so none of that really matters, '
'So you understand, then?' Clary's voice is soft, surprised as she stares at Maya, perplexed.
Maya's not surprised — she doesn't show emotion around people she doesn't trust. Nandini's always told her to keep her prized cards close to her chest — that emotions can be your downfall if your enemies find a way to manipulate them. But somehow, there's something innately good about Clary Fairchild that's earned her trust; a light that won't go out no matter how many times the Shadow world tries to snuffle it. 
If Valentine's daughter wanted to hurt them, Maya supposes, she would've done it by now. 
'I don't exactly agree with your methods, ' Maya sighs, finally, daring to make eye contact with the redhead, 'But yeah — I understand where you're coming from, '
'We have a problem, ' Izzy hisses as she suddenly sits down next to them, interrupting their conversation. She looks pretty in a tight, black lace dress, her raven-black hair spilling in gorgeous curls over her shoulders. But it's the pinched, harried expression on her face that makes Maya nervous. This sort of anxiety only happens when Izzy's around one person in particular. 
'Oh no, ' Maya moans, dread settling in her stomach, 'Please don't tell me—'
'Isabelle!' The familiar voice of Maryse Lightwood echoes from next to her, 'Dressed to impress, I see, ' Her sharp gaze flits to the empty hollow of her daughter's throat, where Magnus's amulet used to lay, 'And you’ve been playing with the family heirlooms.'
'Mom, ' Isabelle clears her throat, nervously playing with the hem of her dress, 'I didn't know you were coming . . .'
Maryse's tight ponytail makes her look even more stern and severe as she answers, 'Well, now you do ' Her cold eyes meet Maya's, the latter immediately standing up straighter as a way to feel less self conscious, 'And you, Maya. Does your mother know about what you've been up to all this time?'
'Un-unfortunately, ' Maya stutters, her usual confidence misplaced; there's something deeply authoritarian about Maryse Lightwood that always seems to throw her off balance. She brushes the nonexistent dust off of her velvet skater skirt — a wardrobe choice that this morning, seemed trendy and suave. But in front of the Institute's head, it makes Maya feel nothing but childish, 'She's not really happy . . . . but we don't really have a choice at this point, so . . . . '
'I see, ' Maryse nods, perfunctory. Something changes in her eyes at the mention of Nandini — for a split second, Maya can see a flicker of guilt in her otherwise-composed expression, 'Give her my regards, then, '
'Hi, ' Clary nervously offers Maryse her hand, clearly attempting to diffuse the rapidly-thickening tension in the room, 'I’m Clary Fray.'
'Clary Fairchild,' The older woman corrects, not accepting her gesture; She appraises the redhead for a few seconds, 'You look just like your mother. We know all about you in Idris.
'Idris?' Clary looks confused.
'The Shadowhunter homeland, ' Isabelle pipes in, quickly, ' If you think the Institute is well-hidden, wait until you see that place, ' She turns back to her mom, plastering on a polite smile, 'How’s Max? We all miss him, '
Maryse looks unaffected by her daughter's attempts to please, 'Robert’s picking him up at the Mumbai Institute, ' She brushes past them, 'Where is Jace? We have a situation that has to be handled now.'
'Well, ' Isabelle sighs; Although she tries to appear casual, Maya can sense the disappointment in her tone, 'That’s my mom.'
In other words — they're all screwed.
'Is your mom always like that?, ' Clary whispers to Izzy; The three of them watch from the sidelines as Jace and Alec spar in the training room, Maryse watching a few feet away, 'She didn’t even hug you.'
Isabelle brushes it off, 'Shadowhunters aren’t big huggers, '
As if on cue, Jace finishes up his training, smiling at the older woman as he wipes the sweat off of his brow, 'Maryse, hey! It’s great to see you, '  Much to Maya's surprise, she wraps him in a hug as he walks up to her, squeezing tight once before letting go, 'How’s everyone in Idris?' He looks around, confused, 'Where’s, uh… where’s Max?
'No Max, ' Isabelle mutters, looking at the ground, just low enough for Maya to hear, 'Just mom with her hair on fire.'
'I love how Shadowhunters share, ' Sarcasm drips from Clary's tone; Maya can't help but snort at how dry she sounds, 'A hidden brother, a secret country, and a private Portal,'
'Mother, ' Alec pushes his hair off his forehead, wrapping his mother in yet another hug; Isabelle looks at the ground, her slim shoulders tensing, 'Welcome back. We didn’t expect you.'
'You should be prepared, whether you expect me or not.' Maryse's tone is wry, warmer as they break apart.
'I am.' Alec immediately says, correcting himself, 'We are.'
She seems to notice the slight panic in her son's voice; Maryse changes the subject, sighing as she puts her hands on her hips, 'We’ll talk about the Institute later. Right now, we have a bigger problem. The Seelies have stopped communicating with the Clave and won’t explain why. My guess is they’re still upset we asked them to send scouts to look for Valentine, but no one in their realm will talk.'
'I have Seelie friends!' Isabelle instantly pipes up. 
'Yes, I know about your friends. Isabelle, ' Maryse's voice is patronizing as she addresses her daughter, 'We stay separate from the Downworld for good reasons. The wrong move, the wrong word… Do you think there is such a thing as harmless rebellion? Who knows what offends these creatures? Maybe you told him… them… something they shouldn’t know. Maybe you trod on one of their ridiculous customs without knowing it.'
'Excuse me?' Maya scoffs. Maryse's words feel like glass under her ribs, the prickling pain leaving an ugly taste in her mouth. She's never established a proper relationship with the Lightwood matriarch, but there's always been a bit of a rigid understanding between them. Maryse has never excluded her, treated her differently from her own children — until now, that is. 
'Wait, wait. I don’t understand, ' Jace scoffs, 'You’re laying all this on Izzy for having a friend in the Downworld?'
'When someone upsets the natural order, everything falls apart, ' The older woman states, plainly. 
'Natural order?' Maya laughs, the sound feeling hollow in her bones. Clary shoots her a look of pity, but it feels more like scorn as something shatters inside her chest.
'I can help!' Isabelle interrupts, 'I know how to talk to Seelies.'
'She’s right, ' Her brother concurs, trying to change the subject 'She can visit with Meliorn and see what he knows. I could go with her if you want.'
'I’d rather Jace goes along this time, ' Maryse shoots Clary a withering look, 'Alec, you stay with the Fairchild girl. I want her under control. She’s caused enough trouble already.'
'Maybe that’s because I wasn’t even a Shadowhunter until a few days ago!' Clary snaps, the anger bursting from her voice. Maya flinches from the violent tone of her voice.
'And what an exciting few days it has been, ' The irritation in the other woman's voice is palpable, 'The Clave counts on us Lightwoods to maintain order here.'
'You don’t need to tell me that, ' Alec interjects, quickly changing the subject; It's clear that he would rather opt out of the redhead's fist landing in his mother's face, 'If the mission is important to the Clave, I would prefer to be the one who goes with Isabelle, '
'You’re all so eager to do what you would prefer, ' Maryse laughs, the sound coming out hollow and humorless; Her voice suddenly loses it's jest, 'It’s time to face the truth. Life is not about what you want to do, it’s about what must be done. I have given you your assignments, now carry them out, ' She gestures to Izzy and Jace, both standing there awkwardly amidst the tense atmosphere, 'You and you, with me, now.'
The two of them scurry after the Lightwood matriarch like headless chickens, her tall pumps clicking along the marble floors of the Institute as she walks out of sight. The tense silence in the room thickens as Clary elbows Alec, her voice low and conspiratorial even though there's no one in the room other than the three of them, 'Well, that was a window into the weird. What did you do to piss off your mom?'
Alec's tone is drier than two-day-old Mcdonald's fries when he responds, 'I’d guess, for a start… all the unsanctioned missions on your behalf didn’t go over that big with the Clave.'
When Diana finally calls her phone after the chaos of last night, Maya can't find it in her heart to push her best friend away.
Standing up here on the Institute rooftop, it's easier in the afternoon light to tell that she made a very poor decision last night. Prolonging her conversation with Draco was a huge mistake. She'd thought with her heart, not her head, throwing out rationality in exchange for a few moments of peace and quiet. And it was effective, too; the fifteen-odd minutes that they talked have been the safest she's ever felt in the last few days. With him, it's like the world falls away, and they're the only two people in the universe. But the more questions he asked, the more Maya felt like she was being backed into a corner, and even though his heart was in the right place, hers felt like it was permanently lodged in her stomach. 
No one can find out about the mess that she's gotten herself into — especially someone that Maya cares about in a way that she's never felt before.
"I'm fine, okay?" She sighs into the phone; The New York sunset paints the sky above her, all soft peach and yellow against the harsh, dark lines of the city's skyscrapers, "Nothing happened, it was just Church being his clumsy self and knocking over one of my mom's glass vases, "
"I don't remember your mom owning any glass vases, " Diana mutters, suspiciously; Her tone grows accusing, "What's really going on, Maya?"
"Nothing—"
"Bullshit, " The Hufflepuff's tone is seething, though Maya can sense the underlying worry beneath the anger, "You're hiding something, I can tell, "
"I'm not doing anything of the sort — " 
"Are you on drugs?"
"What?!" Maya sputters, shocked, the phone nearly slipping from her grasp. 
"Y'know, dope, grass, Mary Jane. There's nothing wrong with smoking some green to take the edge off, " Diana's voice is unnervingly casual as she continues, "I've heard Firewhisky works as well, "
"You know I'm not interested in that stuff, Diana," Maya sighs. 
"What's so bloody important that you can't tell me, of all people?" 
"It's Institute drama alright?" Maya sighs. Part of her feels guilty for lying to her best friend, the one person who's been there for her despite everything. But her rationality knows that telling Diana will only make her want to get involved — and having her best friend Portal all the way back here when the Shadow World’s Voldemort's decided to make a comeback definitely constitutes as child endangerment, "I'll get sacked if I say anything,"
"Not even when your house is getting broken into?" 
"Nothing. Happened. Okay?" Maya growls, through gritted teeth, "Church was just being his usual clumsy self, and he's asleep in the Library right now, "
Diana's tone turns softer, "Maya . . . come on. The lying, evading questions — this isn't you. We're all worried. You haven't seemed like yourself lately, "
"Diana, drop it, " Maya sighs, out of exasperation; She's too tired to keep arguing any longer, rubbing her temples with one hand, "Even if something does happen, I'll be fine. You know I can handle myself exceptionally, "
"Yeah, I do" Diana laughs, softly, breaking the tense atmosphere between them, "I'm just scared right now, I guess. Everything's so uncertain outside, "
"Is everything okay at home?" Maya questions, concerned; There's a certain sadness to her best friend's voice that she rarely hears, "How're you all coping after . . . you know?"
"That's certainly a question for the ages, " Diana muses; Her jovial turn seeps into hollow, "Mum's drained over half of our wine cellar — sometimes I wonder if she's trying to drown herself in spirits. Draco locks himself in his room for most of the day — I don't know what he does in there, but I'm not going to question his coping mechanisms. We talk, sometimes, but it's not like it used to be, "
"And you?" Maya says; Her tone turns firm, "Please tell me you're taking care of yourself, Di,"
"If you mean putting on face masks to try and convince myself that my mental health isn't roasting in the flames of hell alongside Hitler then yes, I certainly am, " Diana sighs, her voice tinged with a kind of pain that makes Maya's heart twist, "I'm reading the books I got for last Christmas. Luna writes to me every week — it’s a sweet gesture, but I can tell she doesn't really know what to do. Mostly I just put on my headphones and try to use the Arctic Monkeys to forget the fact that our world is literally on fucking fire. But other than that, I'm perfectly chuffed as you can tell, "
"That — that's awful . . . " Maya sputters, "I'm so sorry, I wish I could be there with you, "
"It’s alright, Maya, " Diana sighs; her tone flattening, "Look, the best thing you can do for me is focus on yourself, alright? I don't want to have to portkey all the way to St. Jude's because you stabbed yourself in the ankle with a seraph blade, "
"Do you really think that low of me?!" Maya gasps, in mock-shock. 
"Obviously, " Diana snorts, "You couldn't hurt a fly if you wanted to, " She sighs, a resounding finality in her voice, "Look, I have to go down for supper, but promise me you'll stay out if trouble, okay?"
"I'll try, " Maya sighs, "Call me if you ever need anything, alright? Even if you just want to talk, I'll be there, "
"I know, " Diana laughs, "Love you, "
"Love you too, " The line cuts off. 
Maya exhales, sharply, tucking her phone back into the Barnes and Noble tote hanging off her shoulder. She folds her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling small and insignificant compared to the large expanse of the city around her. She sighs, leaning her head against the wall and closing her eyes. 
Nothing's going to be the same anymore. 
"A croissant for your thoughts?" Clary Fray's voice snaps Maya out of her self-pitying daze. She cracks open an eye to find the redhead standing next to her. The afternoon sunlight brings out the hints of gold in her hair and makes her pale skin shimmer with an ethereal glow. In one hand, she's holding one of Maya's favorite baked goods of all time — an almond & chocolate croissant from Pain, the modern French bakery near her house — and in the other, her usual Starbucks order, an iced matcha latte.
"Well this is certainly sweet, " Maya laughs, pleasantly surprised. She takes the croissant from the other girl's hand, biting in and immediately sighing in relief, the flakey, chocolatey, almond-liquor-infused goodness literally melting in her mouth. There's something about Pain's pastries that instantly brighten up your mood — her mother likes to joke that the chefs probably mix a smidge of cocaine into the butter. But even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter anyway — Maya supposes that croissants are a more socially acceptable addiction than snorting white powder up your nose, "What brought this on?"
"I saw that you were a little down after Maryse showed up, " Clary explains; there's a certain softness to her tone that Maya hasn't heard before — at least when the redhead interacts with her, "I felt bad about it, so I asked Izzy how to cheer you up, and she told me to 'just feed you', "
Maya snorts, nearly choking on her latte, "She's not wrong. Izzy tries to bribe me with food whenever I don't want to do something she likes, " A flicker of doubt crosses her mind, "You're not trying to do that ..... are you?"
An embarrassed flush breaks out on the redhead's creamy skin; Clary looks like she just got caught reaching into the cookie jar, "Well, not completely."
A flare of disappointment spikes in Maya's chest, mixed with the thinly veiled irritation that's been brewing the entire day. The matcha suddenly feels sickly sweet on her tongue. She turns to face Clary, the warmth slowly seeping from her tone, "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Look, you're not going to like this, " Clary immediately switches to defense mode, her emerald eyes flashing in panic, "But just listen to me before you snap, alright?"
Maya exhales, slowly, through gritted teeth. A part of her is extremely annoyed with the girl in front of her, frustrated at not even being able to have a moment of peace without some new vision or development in the mess that's currently hanging over the Institute like a dark cloud. But a small, rational sliver of her mind urges her to listen, at least hear Clary out before giving her the worst lecture of her life. She sighs, bitterly, choosing the second option, "Go on, then."
Clary takes a deep breath, "I think I know a way we can still find Valentine, "
Maya's eyebrows raise in disbelief, "What?"
The redhead continues, her tone becoming more confident as she talks, "My mother hid a lot from me. She made sure that I never knew anything about the Shadow world — your world. But there was something she did that always made me wonder whether she was hiding something . . . . something big, "
"What are you talking about?" Maya's eyes grow wide with intrigue, her suspicious pretense completely fading away.
"There was a box that she opened every year, " Clary sighs; her eyes grow slightly unfocused, clearly trying to remember something from her murky past, "She didn't think I knew about it — but every January, I'd see her sitting on her bed, crying. Mom never let me see what was inside it, but she always said it was my father's. It even had his initials — 'J.C' — on top, "
"But that doesn't make any sense, " Maya interjects, "Those aren't Valentine's initials, "
"I know, " Clary exhales, slowly, looking off into the distance, "For 18 years, she told me his name was Jonathan Clark, that he was a soldier who died at war before I was born. Clearly, she lied. But whatever was in that box clearly meant a lot to her. Maybe there’s something inside that could help us track him down, "
"Where's the box now?" Maya questions. 
"Still back at the loft," Clary answers, immediately. 
"And I presume you want me to come along with you to retrieve it?"
"That's the idea, yeah, " Clary looks slightly sheepish at the incredulous expression on Maya's face, nervously fiddling with the hem of her sky-blue tank top; She starts talking again before Maya can reply, "Look, I know you think this is risky, and dangerous, and possibly slightly insane, considering that Alec and Isabelle's parents are back in town. But I didn't know who else to tell. You seem like someone I can trust, "
"Since when?" Maya arches a suspicious eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. 
"Since you started giving a shit about checking on me, " Clary rolls her eyes, "I know it sounds like I'm trying to flatter you on purpose, but believe me — I'm not lying about this. I trust you, Maya. You're reliable, forgiving, and honest, even if you come off as a little rude sometimes. And I hope that you can extend that privilege to me as well. So, what do you say? Want to go break into my apartment to hunt down my absent, horrible father?"
Maya sighs, rubbing her temples. This is beyond mental — she knows that very well. It is utterly foolish to go sleuthing around Brooklyn with Valentine's daughter while some of the most feared Shadowhunters in the world are right under the Institute's roof. But at the same time, this could be their only lead, a break in the case that could accelerate their path to apprehending Valentine. A chance for this nightmare to be over — to not be constantly tossing and turning at night, wondering whose dead body will end up at their doorstep next. 
"Go get your Metro Card, " Maya finally says, feeling a small bit of pride in the triumphant grin that spreads across Clary's face, "We're going to Park Slope, "
"You'd think an Invisibility rune would give you the sense to silence your phone beforehand, " Maya mutters, rolling her eyes at the shrill tone blaring from deep inside Clary's bag. The two of them stand in front of the Brooklyn Academy of Art, a tall, garangutan structure made of white marble, radiating opulence and exclusivity as it towers over them in the gleaming afternoon sunlight. 
"Simon!" The redhead immediately answers, ignoring Maya's surly remarks, "Hey. I know I should have called you right back. I’m really sorry. Are you okay?'
The mundane's voice is oddly raspy when he answers, as though he's stuck in bed with a sore throat, "You know that thing when you think you’re catching a cold, but you never actually get sick?"
"Yeah, yeah I totally get it, " She brushes him off faster that Nandini with cat hair stuck to her black pants, "Um, can we talk later? Things are kind of insane right now."
"Insane how?" Simon's voice quickly changes from sickly to concerned, "Are you okay?"
"I… I kind of killed a demon and lost all my memories forever. So…, "
"You killed a what?!" The mundane chokes on his shock, "Okay, Clary, where are you?"
"I’m at the Brooklyn Academy, " She answers, quickly, "I’m on my way to—"
"Stop telling him!!" Maya hisses, elbowing her harshly; Clary shoots her a withering glare, "The last thing we need is another person screwing things up again.
"I’m on my way to the loft, " Clary ignores her, her imputency making Maya groan aloud, "There’s something there that I think could help me find my mother."
"Are you crazy?!" Simon snaps, finally the voice of reason, "That’s way too dangerous. You think nobody’s watching that place?"
"I’m fine, " Clary sighs; She turns to the side, giving Maya a quick glance, "I’m with Maya, "
"And those words are supposed to make me feel better?" Sarcasm drips from Simon's voice as he answers, "Yeah, no. I’m coming to help."
"No!!" Clary yells, Maya quickly swatting her arm as a few passerby look their way; Her voice lowers to a menacing growl, "Simon, you’ve been through enough already — "
"So have you, " The tone of his voice is final; Simon gives them directions before hanging up, "Meet me at the old shortcut, "
Clary groans as the call declines, putting her head in her hands. Maya runs a stressed hand through her hair, sighing as her fingers tug at the drying onyx tendrils. 
They've screwed themselves over, haven't they?
"Well, well, well . . . . " Clary freezes as Maya whirls around; Alec is glowering behind them, arms angrily crossed over his chest, "Interesting seeing you two out and about — after being specifically told not to go on any more unsactioned missions, "
Clary scoffs, giving him a scathing once-over 'Why do you always look so miserable?'
Alec rolls his eyes, jaw tensing in irritation, "I don't"
"You do, " Clary sighs; Her voice lowers, softening with sympathy, "It must be hard being in love with Jace when he’s straight and everything. "
Shock roots Maya to the spot, "Shut the fuck up." She hisses, glaring daggers at Clary.
Alec's face goes white, "E—excuse me? What?!"
"What’s the big deal?, " She scoffs, her tone lighthearted; Alec, on the other hand, looking as though he wants to sink into the ash concrete of the sidewalk and never emerge again, "I was there when that memory came out," Her mouth quirks in a teasing smirk, "Busted, no?"
The tall Lightwood looks scandalized, trying to compose his delicate features into an indifferent mask, "We’re parabatai."
"Alec, just say it, you’ll feel better, " Clary puts a gentle hand on his shoulder — her eyes are wide and soft, clearly trying to be accepting, "You’re in love with Jace."
He shakes her off, looking disgusted, "Forget it, " Alec's voice suddenly changes to a higher, childish pitch, pointing his finger accusingly at the redhead, "You know what? You’re in love with Jace."
"Oh, okay, middle school comebacks? Nice., " Clary scoffs, rolling her eyes, "Alec, we have a real problem to solve, okay? Come with us."
"Come with you?" Alec raises his eyebrows, tone incredulous, "The entire reason I followed you two out was to bring you back. What makes you think I'm going to join this wild goose chase?"
"Because we have a lead, " Maya interrupts the two of them before they can start bickering again, "A solid one, " She sighs, running an exasperated hand through her hair as she turns to Alec. 
He scoffs, looking at her with betrayal, "You're on her side now?"
"I'm on the side that wants to see Valentine dead and gone before he can hurt anyone I love, alright?!" Maya exclaims, struggling to keep her voice even; He senses the frustration in her tone, easing away a bit, "And if that means I have to break protocol and run around New York like a headless chicken, so be it, " She sighs, squinting her eyes as the suns rays decide to shift and hit her directly in the face, "Look, Alec, no one's forcing you to join us, but I'd appreciate it if you tagged along and not leave us to fend for ourselves. It's in your best interest to be able to call backup in case something goes wrong, "
Alec groans, burying his face in his hands. He emits a long, deep groan, sighing and giving the two of them a long, withering glare. But after a few moments, he begrudgingly grumbles, "This better be quick "
Clary leads them through a narrow, winding alleyway, her small, lithe frame surprisingly managing to be a few paces ahead of them the whole time. By the time they reach the apartment, Maya has a stitch in her side, pausing to lean against the wall and wheeze after climbing up around four flights of stairs. Alec on the other hand, hasn't even broken a sweat, making her look hilariously unfit as he picks at a stray thread on his pants, 
"Climbing a fire escape excites mundanes, "He mutters, glowering at a sweaty, exuberant Simon, "I’ll never understand these people."
Maya rolls her eyes at his petulance. Clary frowns at the brick on the opposite side, noticing pasteled runes and odd markings painted onto the wall, "I don’t remember it like this."
"They must've been cast by a warlock. A powerful one, " Maya mutters, glancing at the swirling, complicating patterns. Even from afar, she can feel the magic searing off of her skin, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. How did Clary not notice them before?
"Dot, " mutters the redhead, biting her lip.
"Some of these have been here for years, " Alec observes, his eyes tracing the rough, jagged edges of the markings.
"The only difference is now I can actually see them, " Clary concurs, folding her arms over her chest.
"What are those?" Simon mutters, as a flicker of doubt crosses the male Lightwood's face.
Alec looks astonished, "You can see the runes?"
"Yeah," Simon shrugs, gesturing towards the supposedly-invisible wall, "They're kind of hard to miss, "
"For a Shadowhunter. They should be invisible to most mundanes, " His eyes narrow, "When did you get the Sight?"
"I don’t know, " A hint of a smile appears on Simon's face, "But whoever drew these should take some lessons from Clary, " He nervously scratches the back of his head, the tips of his ears turning red, "Their, uh, work is pretty sloppy."
Clary reaches out, tracing a finger around a faded pink heart drawn around the words C.F + S.L.; Her face breaks into a soft smile, "This is from when Simon and I were engaged to be married."
"You were engaged?, " Alec scoffs, rolling his eyes, "I’m almost certain I don’t wanna hear this story—"
"We were eight years old, " Simon sighs, wistfully gazing off into the distance.
Clary's face suddenly falls at his words; it's clear that reminders of the past do nothing but pour salt into an already-burning wound, "That was a whole other world ago."
She busies herself by turning around, rattling the door handle in front of them in order to get it to unlock. But it soon becomes clear that her efforts are futile; the door refuses to budge.
Clary groans, her shoulder straining as she scrambles to get the door open, "There’s only one flaw in your plan here, Simon."
The brunet shrugs, his glasses slightly crooked as he steps in front of the redhead, 'Here, let me try."  He yanks the door open, sending it flying off it's hinge and slamming into the wall with such a clatter that Maya lets out an involuntary yelp at the sound. She stumbles directly into Alec, who saves her from tripping off the fire escape by grabbing the end of her hoodie. He raises an amused eyebrow at her, but Maya just shakes him off, a part of her internally facepalming at the sheer amount of times she's managed to make a fool of herself in the past few hours. 
Simon steps aside in a gentlemanly manner, "After you."  He bows, dramatically, leaving Clary staring at the gaping, torn-open hole previously covered by an emerald-green door. 
The redhead sighs, her hands clenched into tiny little fists at her sides. She lifts up a hand to brush some crimson strands away from her face, before finally breathing out a shaky, "Okay."
The four of them step through the doorway, Alec immediately coughing at the thick layer of dust that seems to have settled everywhere in the apartment. Maya sniffs, trying not to rub her watering eyes in fear of ruining her meticulously applied mascara from this morning. But it soon becomes clear that she doesn't need extra optical beautification to notice what can be seen right in front of her. 
What was once a home has been reduced to nothing but a mere shell used for kindling. Black marks stretch up the walls, the charred, ashy remnants of drywall insulation sitting on the floor next to shards of broken lightbulbs and bright strips of torn canvas. A familiar pang hits Maya in the chest as she recognizes the Ikea furniture and shelves scattered throughout the room, now barbecued until only the wooden bones of the minimalistic sofa remain. The decor is very similar to that of her own loft back in Inwood, and Maya wonders, idly, if Nandini would have done the same thing had she been put in Jocelyn Fairchild's place, erasing her own existence with flames in order to stop the ones crackling around her daughter. 
"Holy crap, Clary. " Simon's face is white with shock, "Who torched your loft?, " He scoffs, looking at Alec, clearly annoyed at the surprised look on the Shadowhunter's face, "Yeah, I can see this, too."
Clary walks over to the remnants of what looks like a coffee table. She swallows, picking up a worn photo frame that has a crack running directly across the glass. It's a black and white polaroid of a tall, vaguely handsome man in military uniform, and Maya quickly realizes that it must be of the Fairchild's father — or at least, the one created in Jocelyn's imagination.
"Hey, you okay?" Simon questions, noticing the redhead's fixation on the nostalgic object in her hand.
Clary's voice struggles not to crack as she whispers, not even daring to turn around and face her best friend, "There’s nothing left of me here."
"Of course there isn’t, " Alec interjects, matter-of-factly, "Your mother was trying to erase any trace that you existed. So that you couldn’t be tracked. She was protecting you."
The corner of the redhead's mouth turns up in dark amusement, "Let’s see how well that worked."
Alec frowns, clearly not understanding the tone at hand, "You’re alive aren’t you?"
An ominous creak resounds from the floorboards, breaking the silence in the room and making Maya jump once more. Simon stops directly in his tracks, a confused expression on his face. He carefully puts his foot down again, the same thump resounding from the ground once more. 
"What the hell are you doing?" Clary questions, defensively, turning around. 
Simon crouches to the floor in concentration, "These floorboards… they sound different in these two spots. Can’t you hear it?, " His hand presses down where his foot used to be, feeling around for the edge of the floorboard, "There’s something under here., " At his words, the plank comes clean off in his hands, leaving a hollow space in the ground where dark wood used to be. He smiles, triumphantly, "Another score for Brooklyn."
Alec pushes him aside brusquely, crouching down and sticking his arm inside the newly-opened cavern, "Out of the way."
Simon gets to his feet, an offended expression on his face as he glowers at the lanky Shadowhunter, "You’re welcome."
Alec's hands catch onto something solid. A flicker of pride passes his impassive face before he pulls out an ornate, worn-down chest, looking as though it's been hidden away for years, "Is this the box you remember?"
Clary's face lights up like never before, "Yes! She used to wait till she thought I was asleep and then take it out."
She pries open the box, fingers fumbling with the latch as her hands shake with anticipation. Inside lies one of the strangest collection of objects Maya has ever seen. A golden lock of hair sealed in a glass vial, an ornate ring with a sparkling azure gemstone fixed on one end and strangest of all, a burnt piece of crushed velvet, looking as though it's been torn from an expensive piece of upholstery. 
Clary's expression is crestfallen, voice cracking as she holds up the singed piece of cloth, "I don’t know what any of this is."
The violent sound of breaking glass smashes throughout the apartment, the powerful vibrations making terror revebrate through Maya's bones. She screams, dropping the contents of her purse and leaving them to scatter across the charred apartment floor. Rough voices sound from outside as Alec yanks an arrow from his quiver, hooking it onto his bow as he gives the three of them a tense look. 
"There’s someone here, " His voice hardens, "Get what you need. Do not move until I get back. We’ve been here too long."
Simon and Clary disappear the moment Maya turns her back to scoop up the spilled contents of her purse. 
No, actually, they don't just disappear. Once again, the two idiots wandered off and managed to get themselves into an even worse shit-show than before — kidnapping. Maya had registered the sound of a car door slamming in vain, her feet racing to the balcony only to watch the black van speed away as Alec lowered his bow. The two of them had shared a horrified look before deciding that it was time to give up their pride and call for backup. 
Maya really hopes that the Clave doesn't murder her for what she's about to do — if they even get back to the Institute in the first place, that is.
The four of them pace around in the neighboring alley, Jace's eyes brimming with frustration as he pulls down his sleeve, "Whoever took Clary and Simon must be holding them over a body of water. That’s why our Tracking rune won’t work."
"A-mazing, " Maya scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. There's no way Maryse is going to forgive them for losing Valentine's daughter and her bespectacled lackey. 
Suddenly, a vibrating sound ensues from the grey satchel in Isabelle's hand. The dark-haired beauty frowns, pulling out, to Maya's surprise and relief, the redhead's mobile, "Clary left her phone in her backpack."
As Maya secretly thanks the universe for throwing them yet another clue to follow, Jace grabs the device out of his sister's hands. Isabelle scoffs, but her disdain is brushed aside as he picks up the call, putting it on speaker so all of them can hear, "Hello?"
"Oh, I thought I’d never utter these words, but thank God it’s you!" Simon's hysterical voice blares at them through Clary's tinny speakers. "It’s me, Simon." He adds, as though his terrified tone isn't enough of an indicator.
"Where are you?!" Jace immediately interrogates, "Where’s Clary?"
"I don’t know., " Simon's voice is breathy and nervous as he stammers, "Some Chinese restaurant, I think? This cop Alaric arrested us, but it was a total fake-out. Him and his buddy, they took us… They took us to their hangout and then they told Clary that they’ll kill her if they don’t find the Cup, "
"Just calm down, all right?, " The blonde insists, "Tell us what you see."
"Okay, " Simon pauses, his breathing heavy as the sound of his shuffling echoes through the speakers, "Uh, we’re definitely on a pier. There’s a ton of water. Uh… I see lockers and… oh my God . . ., " He pauses for a second, a horrified silence hanging in the air, "I’m in some sort of torture chamber. There’s claw marks all over the wall."
Alaric . . . . Chinese restaurant . . . . claw marks . . . . the cup . . . they all suddenly interlock to form the bigger picture in Maya's head. There's only one group that would have the guts to pull something like this off. 
"Werewolves" Her and Izzy blurt out simultaneously.
Alec nods his head, following the same train of thought as them, "That’s possible."
Jace sighs, "Okay, Simon, you need to get more specific. Tell us what you see. Help us find you."
 Simon groans, "There’s nothing else that can help — wait!" His voice catches as the sound of rustling paper echoes in his periphery, "I’m at the Jade Wolf Chinese Restaurant on the pier at Greene street!" Simon's voice trails off in surprise for a second, "And they have really inexpensive cocktails, damn . . . "
"Simon! Focus!" Maya snaps, as Isabelle snickers under her breath.
Alec's eyes light up with an idea, "You need to create a diversion. Stall them!"
"How?!" The brunet scoffs, "All I have are clothes and a lighter."
"Start a fire, you idiot!" Jace scowls at the other end of the line, clearly frustrated at the mundane's reluctance to think for himself.
"That never works!" Simon protests, grumbling, "Have you ever seen an action movie?"
"We're on our way, " Jace sighs, before cutting the call short.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Maya mutters, as Isabelle flicks her wrist. Shuffling noises echo from the other side of the brick, the other girl's whip wrapping around the metal bars of a nearby air vent. 
"Of course it will, " The tall Shadowhunter replies, dismissively, "When's Gladys ever failed me?"
"I still can't believe that's what you named your whip, " Maya rolls her eyes. 
"You're one to talk, " Isabelle scoffs, "Who names their cat Chairman Meow?"
Maya immediately becomes defensive, "Don't insult him like that! I'll have you know that Church is a very distinguished gentleman when he wants to be," 
Isabelle rolls her eyes, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth, "Whatever you say, ". The whip glows as she yanks, hard, the vent falling away and taking a portion of the wall with it. Simon gapes at them in awe from the crack, stumbling through the opening as he runs out to face them. 
Isabelle sighs, snorting as she catches sight of him, "I’m getting seriously tired of saving your life."
"I am not!" Simon breathes at her in reverence, eyes not failing to shimmy down the sensuous curves of her lithe body.
Isabelle gives him a catlike grin before the sound of breaking glass fills Maya's hearing from the front of the restaurant. The two of them immediately lock eyes. Clary. 
"And that's our cue to run, " Maya breathes out, heart sprinting in her chest.
The three of them make a break for it, sprinting past the docks and skidding to a halt at the entrance. Alec's dark hair glistens in the neon lighting from the storefront as he helps an unharmed Clary to her feet, Jace not taking his eyes off her as he extracts his seraph blade from it's holster.
"Simon!" The redhead leaps from Alec's grasp as she wraps Simon's taller body in a tight hug, "Oh my god, you're safe!"
The brunet pulls back, quickly inspecting Clary's face for any injuries or bruises, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, " Clary brushes him off, gazing at him with something akin to the way you would look at a dear sibling, "I was so worried about you . . . . "
"I hate to break up this little reunion," Jace interrupts, looking a little resentful of Simon, "but we got a bunch of werewolves trying to kill us so maybe we should get going—"
"Wait, wait, the box. My backpack!" Clary exclaims, eyes widening in horror, "I think I left it at the loft!"
"No, we’ve got it, " Alec corrects her, a hint of a smirk appearing on his face, "I didn’t screw up everything."
"Let’s get outta here, then, " Simon sighs, stepping forwards.
Maya's blood runs cold as a sudden growling noise pierces the silence around them. Isabelle grabs the other boy's arm in warning, "Wait, Simon! Whatever you do, do not make any sudden moves."
One by one, huge, hulking wolves of all shapes and colors start to step out of the shadows, their teeth bared as their yellow eyes gleam predatorily at them. Maya shivers at the drool oozing from their lips. She shakily reaches for her knives, Izzy and Jace doing the same for their weapons as Simon and Clary shuffle closer to them, trembling in fear.
"We’re surrounded." Alec exhales, voice struggling to stay even, "Everyone, stay together."
"Believe me, I’m not going anywhere, " Simon whimpers, "I'd rather not get turned into shish-kabob for dinner"
The door of the restaurant flies open as yet another wolf walks out. This one is the biggest in size, huge in muscle and boasting a fluffy white coat. It's eyes are curious rather than outright malicious, but it's growl immediately turns menacing as it spots the three Shadowhunters huddled in the center. 
"Everyone get back!" Jace exclaims, as the wolf starts toward them. Clary tries to run in front of him, but Jace pulls her back just in time. Alec yanks Maya behind him as Isabelle catches grabs her hand, interlacing their fingers as she cracks her whip. Maya grabs a knife from her belt, hands shaking as she tries to steel herself for the bloody battle ahead.
It's now or never.
Suddenly, a sleek, black wolf attacks the leader, sinking long, sharp fangs into the white wolf's neck. The latter roars, immediately pouncing on the black wolf, and the two soon turn into a blur of muscle, fangs and teeth that Maya can barely bring herself to watch.
"He’s challenging the alpha, " Alec breathes out in shock.
"He’s helping us!" Clary exclaims, hopefully.
"Or just cutting in line to kill us, " Simon whimpers, ever the pessimist.
Just as soon as it started, the fight nips itself in the bud. The white wolf lays in a bloody heap on the ground, fur and bones cracking as it transforms into a large, lifeless man, green eyes lifeless as he sprawls out on the concrete, never to rise again. The black wolf shoots up in height, shapeshifting into a tall, African-american man with silver eyes and claw marks covering most of his body. 
"Oh my god . . . . " Clary breathes out in mingled shock and recognition, "Luke, "
The other wolves around them start howling, shifting back into their human form as they kneel in acceptance of their new leader. Luke merely looks resigned, the blood pooling around his wounds and staining his already-ripped shirt. 
"What is it? What’s happening?!" Clary demands, in confusion.
"When a werewolf kills the alpha leader, he becomes the new alpha, " Jace mutters, quietly, "Your friend Luke’s the leader of the pack now."
"Clary…" The man breathes out, hoarsely, shaking hands reaching for the redhead. She immediately reaches toward him in benevolence, but Jace holds her back, arms wrapping around her waist to pull her away.
"No, " snaps the blonde, firmly.
"Jace, it's okay!" Clary tries to reason with him. 
"I promised your mother I'd always protect you, " Luke sighs, hoarsely. His eyes roll back in his head, body swaying dangerously before crumpling to the ground in a bloody, scarred heap. 
"Luke!, " Clary screams, running toward him, "Oh, my God!"
"Hey!, " Alec snaps his fingers in front of Jace's face, "We need to get Clary back to the Institute and stay out of Downworlder business. This isn't good for us, Jace—"
"Why don’t you stay out of it?, " The blonde snaps, irritated, "I’m gonna help Clary."
Alec's tone is pleading, "We have to report back to our mother."
Jace's tone is dismissive as he turns away to focus his attention on Clary, "You and Isabelle can do that."
"Oh, fuck you!" Isabelle spits out, her tone laced with venom. Maya squeezes her hand, but she flinches away, leaving a pit of undeserved guilt inside the warlock's heart. 
"Luke . . . . " Simon breathes out, looking as though he's going to faint himself. Maya grabs his arm to steady him, the brunet leaning into her as she struggles to support his weight, "So much blood . . . . "
"His wounds are deep, " Jace mutters, kneeling on the ground beside Luke's body, "Only a warlock’s magic can cure an alpha’s bite, " His eyes flit to her, "Maya?"
"I can't, " She breathes out. Her blood feels like ice in her veins, heart beating too slow for the sheer speed of the situation escalating around her, "My magic isn't stable enough and I don't even know the proper spells — "
"We have to get him to Magnus, " Clary pleads, tears shimmering in her emerald eyes. 
Jace places a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Hey, that’s exactly what we’re gonna do."
"Clary, we have to go . . . . " Maya breathes out, shakily. Her voice doesn't sound like herself, coming out fragmented and wheezy, but it's the best she can do for now, "We need to get him to his car or somewhere safe . . . . "
Together, the three of them struggle to get Luke up to his feet, Jace taking the brunt of the older man's weight as he's the least injured out of all of them. Maya's sore muscles and bruises scream at her as she walks, but she forces herself to bear the pain, gritting her teeth as the sting evaporates through her body. 
"No, no — " Clary panics as Luke's eyes close once more, grabbing his face in her hands as she pleads with him, "Luke, stay with me, please.We’re getting you help, okay? Just, please, don’t leave me again. "
Her voice cracks on the last word, "I can’t have anyone else die because of me."
so um . . . . hi, i guess? it's been a minute since i've written on here, and i honestly wasn't expecting to write today, but surprise update go brr i guess. sorry if this chapter is disjointed, it's been sitting in here for a few months and i haven't proofread it all the way. this might be my last update before exams, it might not . . . . . we'll see how life goes. i'm dealing with a lot in my life right now so i would appreciate if you guys could be a little bit extra considerate <3
xoxo, disha