You're The One That's Changed (2nd book in the Letter's From The Shadow World)

Parabatai Updates

Alec's POV
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I am looking at my desk waiting for Izzy's monthly update from wherever they are. My mom had named me head of the Institute two weeks ago before they left for Idris.
As usual the only ones waiting here for the update is Magnus, Aline, Simon, and I. Jace or Adele hasn't read or listened to one being read since the first one when we found out that Clary was slipping into depression. Izzy had pushed her hard enough that she was now the best shadowhunter of our generation, but her depression hadn't improved at all. It seemed each time the updates were worse when talking about Clary, which was usually most of the letter and a few sentences about Izzy herself.
I'm about to get up when the letter appears on my desk. I quickly open it and read it aloud,

"Alec and the other inhabitants of the New York City Institute~
Clary has stopped hunting all together now. She is hardly eating, and has slipped in her training. I fear that the tablets are no longer working. Her moods do not change when she takes them, and the warlock has now had to start coming to the Institute for the weekly visits.
I am scared for her. She barely eats anything now and has lost a lot of weight. She refuses to eat much, maybe a small amount of cereal and water or half a sandwich. I have refused to play Scotch Vodka since day one, but every morning she has asked for it. For two years, and my resolve is starting to slip. She is in pain, and so am I. I don't know what to do. There is nothing left for her. She clings to what little life she has left for me. I know she would have been dead long ago if I were not her parabatai.
It hurts to see my sister suffer like this, Alec, and I can not help her more than holding her hand and supporting her when she is weak. She has nearly stopped talking too. She no longer draws, just stares out at the city skyline.
I must go now. Brother Zachariah is here to see her. He has visited nearly as frequently as the warlock. I will send another update in two weeks.
~I love you all
Isabelle Lightwood."

I finish and set the letter in the drawer with the others. I look up as the library door violently swings open to reveal a furious Jace Herondale and a pouting Adele Starkly.
"Why didn't you tell me she was so bad?" Jace asks as he walks over to my desk.
"Jace, you said not to talk about it with you. You didn't want to hear about any of it. Clary's depression isn't that worse from last month, but she has nearly stopped eati-" I am cut off as Jace says, "I heard the whole thing, Alec. Why haven't they come back? We can help them."
"Gabriela and Jordan have been helping them as much as possible. Along with this mysterious warlock and Brother Zachariah. We will get another update in two weeks. Mark your calendar. Iz never misses an update." I say standing up.
"Has... has SHE sent anything?" Jace asks in a low voice.
"No, Clary hasn't. She has stopped drawing completely. She's not going to send a letter if she's not drawing." I say as everyone disperses and Jace, Magnus, and I all walk up to the training room.

---
Izzy's POV
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I send the fire message as Brother Zachariah and Tessa walk in. Clary is still laying in bed staring up at the ceiling clutching to my hand for dear life.
"Clary, Tessa and Jem are here." I whisper as they come to her bedside.
"How long has it been since she has eaten?" I hear Jem ask in my head.
"Yesterday morning. She has refused to talk, write, draw, walk, or eat." I say staring in despair at my parabatai.
"She hasn't said anything since last week. Not even for the two year anniversary of us being parabatai." I add.
"Isabelle, you haven't slept all night. Go lay down. We will be here for most of the day. Have you sent the update to the New York Institute?" Tessa asks as she sits down on the edge of Clary's bed. I nod my head and stand up.
"Clary, I'm going to go lie down and take a nap. Tessa and Jem will stay until I wake up. Don't leave me." I say pulling my hand free of hers.
I walk over in to my bedroom and lie down. I set an alarm for my usual three hours of sleep, and quickly fall asleep...

---
Clary's POV
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Isabelle pulls her hand free of mine, and goes to lie down. She hasn't been sleeping much, just a few hours at a time. I was causing my sister much strife, and I didn't want to. Though, I knew I couldn't leave her.
The tablets didn't help me anymore. They had stopped working three months ago, but I took them for the sake of Izzy's sanity.
"How are you feeling today, Clary?" A voice I had come to recognize as Jem's echoes through my head.
"The usual." I think back.
He nods and tells Tessa.
"Why are you not talking?" He asks.
"I don't like it. It makes me feel vulnerable. Like I'll slip up and destroy what little I have left, killing my parabatai in the process." I think back to Jem.
He relays this to Tessa and she says, "Clary, you need to be taking your tablets. You are getting worse."
"James, tell her that they stopped working three months ago, but I take them for Isabelle's sanity." I think at Jem.
He nods and relays this to Tessa. Immediately her face is plastered with a look of pity and sympathy.
"Stop that." I think towards Jem.
He tells Tessa and she immediately looks out my bedroom window.
"Will you eat something? I'm sure your parabatai would appreciate it if you ate something such as an apple." Tessa says pulling an apple out of thin air.
I nod, and take the apple from her. When I open my mouth it feels dry and nasty. I take a bite of the apple, and the juice floods through my mouth.
I quickly finish the apple and throw the core with precision across the room and having it land in a trash can on the desk.
"Better?" Tessa asks and I nod as I move to sit up.
I swing my bare feet over the edge of my bed, and Jem helps me stand. I walk over to the window sill and sit down on it. I stare out at the skyline and watch the River Thames in the distances. It is a silver thread running through London. Shining bright even in the darkest of times.
I look over at Tessa and Jem as I stand, and pad in to Izzy's room. I walk over to a sleeping Isabelle and take her phone off her bedside table. I turn her alarm off and walk back into my room. I close the door, and walk back over to the window.
I watch the silver thread and open my mouth to speak...

---
Jace's POV
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I walk side by side with Alec down out of the training room. Magnus had left hours earlier. We had talked about trivial things. None as important as what was buzzing through my head.
I had thought that Isabelle was over reacting in her first letter two years ago, but now I think she was right. Clary was depressed. I couldn't see her depressed. I could see her sad or crying, but never depressed. I figured she was happy wherever she was, but I was obviously wrong. I had thought I couldn't function without her, and that was true. I was only dating Adele for the fact that she was the closest thing I had to Clary. Boy was I wrong when I thought Clary was fine. She was hurt and in pain, and I had caused it...
I'm pulled out of my thoughts as Alec asks, "Are you alright? You zoned out."
"I'm fine. Just lost in thought... do the girls drink anymore, you think?" I ask as we head towards the library.
"No they don't. Isabelle won't let Clary drink, so she doesn't drink either. At all." Alec replies as we push through the doors of the library.
"Yeah, do you think that they'll come back for Simon's ascension?" I ask.
"Izzy, maybe. Clary, no. If Iz does come it will be only for the day though." He tells me as we stare at the fireplace.
"Can... can I read the other letters?"
"You shouldn't, but okay. There are 24 of them. Sit down and I'll bring them to you." Alec says walking to his desk.
I do as I'm told as Alec walks back over to me with a stack of letters in his hand.
"Here. Be careful with them." Alec says setting them down in front of me, and sitting down across from me at the table.
I nod my head as I start to read...

---
Clary's POV
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I watch the silver thread and open my mouth to speak...
"I'm going hunting. I'll go on a patrol to the thread and back. It won't last long."
I rune myself and pull on my gear as Tessa desperately tries to stop me.
I pull on my weapons belt, and Jem opens the door for me to go. I nod my head, and walk out.
When I go into the dining room to grab a muffin I'm met with gasps and stares.
"Yeah, guys, I know. I'm back from the dead. Jordan, Gabriela, let's go. Patrol. Iz is asleep." I say walking out.
About twenty minutes later a still shocked Jordan and Gabriela join me at the gates of the Institute ready for patrol...