Not Just a Mundane//An Alec Lightwood Story

- 13 -

Alec was throwing things around Clary's room in frustration as I stood in the doorway, helpless. Jace and Izzy rushed in, Izzy coming straight to me while Jace approached Alec.

"Where is she? Where's Clary?" Jace demanded, his eyes scanning the chaos.

"She's gone," Alec replied, his voice strained.

"What do you mean, gone?" Izzy asked, concern etched across her features.

"She and Simon got arrested while we were securing the fire escape. We got distracted," I informed them, watching Jace's jaw clench tightly.

"The mundane was here?" Jace asked bitterly, his gaze shifting to me.

"Simon? He's gone, too?" Izzy's voice trembled as I nodded in affirmation.

"It was an unmarked car. I don't know where they took her," Alec said, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements.

"What did you do, Alec?" Jace questioned, anger simmering just below the surface.

"He didn't do anything! We were watching over Clary, heard something break, and went to investigate. We thought they'd be safe," I defended, stepping closer to Alec, who looked defeated.

Jace looked between us, breathing heavily. He grabbed something of Clary's and stormed out, while Izzy grabbed her backpack, leaving Alec and me alone.

"It'll be fine. We'll find her," I reassured him, though uncertainty lingered in my voice.

"How do you know?" he asked, doubt clouding his eyes.

"I just know. Trust me. Now let's go join them," I urged, exiting the room.

We made our way downstairs, where Izzy was pacing while Jace attempted to track Clary using one of her drawings.

"Damn it. She's not showing up. We need to parabatai track," Jace muttered, glancing at Alec.

Alec moved closer, and Jace took his stele, highlighting the parabatai rune on Alec's hand. They faced each other, the glow forming around their hands, but Jace scoffed when it didn't work.

"Alec, concentrate," Jace instructed, his frustration palpable.

"Jace is really angry at him," I said to Izzy, who nodded in agreement.

"I think Jace is starting to care for Clary, and Alec doesn't like it," she observed, glancing at the two before focusing back on her phone.

"Is it because of their parabatai bond?" I wondered aloud.

"No. I think Alec feels like we're wasting our time, and Clary keeps running into trouble," Izzy replied.

"Exactly what Maryse said," I recalled.

"Yep," Izzy confirmed.

"Alec!" Jace scolded, his voice rising.

"I'm doing it! She's not showing up!" Alec snapped back as I walked over to him.

"Just what I thought. She wasn't arrested," Izzy said suddenly, glancing at her phone as it chimed.

"It was your job to look after her," Jace hissed, rushing over to Alec.

"We did our best, Jace," I retorted, glaring at him.

"Maybe your mother was right, and your best just isn't good enough," he argued, his gaze piercing through Alec.

"Jace!" Izzy shouted, stepping between them.

"Hey!" I hollered, anger boiling over at Jace for ganging up on Alec.