Sweet Little Serena (Rewrite)

One Hell Of An Announcement

They understood that Clary had lost her brother, that she'd been forced to kill so that thousands didn't die as they got in his way, but still, the members of the New York Institute couldn't help but be relieved that the threat was finally neutralised. They were free. There was no Valentine to destroy the Downworld. There was no Jonathan to destroy the Shadowhunters. There was no Lilith to bring them back. There was no wish to be used. In short, they were truly free of the worst threats known to the Shadow World.

Alec couldn't help but bring his wife into a hug but as he held her safely in his arms, both Jace and Izzy couldn't help but notice that, that hug seemed different. Something just seemed off with them. However, they couldn't say anything about it now, not with their massive celebratory party only a few hours away. If anything, Jonathan's death just gave them another reason to celebrate now that there was no longer a dark cloud of destruction looming over their happiness.

Clary and Jace had been excused from any preparations as Clary took some time to just deal with losing Jonathan for good. Serena and Alec had been more than happy for her to miss out on the party if she needed to but she insisted that she would come and that she would be ok, especially with Jace at her side. So, when 7 pm rolled around, the couple made their way to the large ballroom section of the Institute that was being used for their party and Clary was really glad she didn't miss it.

Magnus and Lorenzo had done a spectacularly flawless job of executing the vision that Serena and Alec had for their party. Candles floated high near the stone ceiling and frozen fireworks were the centerpieces of some of the tables as they shimmered. The tables were black satin which contrasted nicely with the red, orange, and gold decorations. The napkins were ruby red with gold cutlery and plates and crystal glasses that seemed to have flames trapped in them. But the highlight of it all was the dress that Magnus had designed for Serena. That dress was black and floor-length with spaghetti straps and Magnus had printed their chosen shades of red and orange on it so it looked like she was wrapped in living flames. There was a small circular cutout on her midriff that bared some of her runes and was lined with a gold chain that matched her hair which fell down her back in beachy waves. She looked absolutely beautiful.

Alec was dressed in a simple black suit with a pocket square that looked like actual fire that was flickering in his pocket. And as he stood next to his wife they looked undeniably powerful.

Everyone else was formally dressed as the invitation had requested and everyone was there. Magnus, and Lorenzo, obviously. Luke was there talking with Maryse who couldn't wipe the smile off her face. A mortal Raphael was conversing with some of the delegates from the New York clan who were hanging onto his words of wisdom. Robert was hanging with Max who was obsessed with Maia and the werewolves until Isabelle and Simon showed up and he got straight to making sure that the Daylighter was worthy of his sister. Aline Penhallow and Helen Blackthorn were conversing with Imogen who hadn't hesitated to respond to the invite especially when Serena said that she had something important to discuss with her grandmother.

Everyone was mingling and feasting on the finger food trays that were floating around along with the drink trays that were magically refilled when Alec called for attention. He stood in the back of the hall next to his wife as he tapped on a crystal glass with a golden spoon that was probably made out of actual gold knowing Magnus and Lorenzo. He set the tools down on a tray that floated past as everyone turned to them.

"Thank you all for being here today," Alec called out into the silence. "Serena and I have put together this party for the people we love, not just to celebrate recent accomplishment and the defeat of a demon that wreaked havoc on the Institutes of the Shadow World. We haven't exactly been honest with all of you." The room was awash with murmurs before Alec's voice called out again. "We have something to tell you all, all the people important to us, which is the true reason we've gathered you all here today."