Smokescreen 》Alec Lightwood

1.

Running

That's all she seemed to be good at lately. Running from the law, running from demons.

Running from her family.

Her boots hit the pavement as she ran. She knew they had seen her, she just hoped they hadn't gotten a good look at her face. If they had, well..

It wasn't good.

Dark hair flying behind her she threw herself into an alleyway, drawing an opening rune against the top brick in the right hand corner, praying she wasn't late.

A door seemed to materialise out of the bricks as she extended her hand and pulled hard on the door. She could hear the men's voices getting nearer.

She pulled the door shut quickly, placing a locking rune against the cracked paint. She let out a sigh of relief as it faded. She was safe.

A small laugh sounded behind her.

She whirled around, cursing as she caught sight of the cat eyes and smirk gracing the mans face.

'Cutting it close, aren't you? 'He smirked.

She rolled her eyes. 'Hello to you too Magnus.' She pushed herself off of the door and walked past him.

'Did you get what I asked?' Magnus questioned as he watched her walk around his lair.

She threw the bulky package to him, pulling it from inside her jacket. She raised an eyebrow at him as he grinned gleefully at whatever it contained.

'Do I even want to know?' She questioned.

'Probably not.' He shrugged with smirk.

She laughed as she pulled off her leather jacket, Magnus tucking the package away behind her.

'Who were you running from?' Magnus asked as he grabbed two glasses out of a cabinet, walking to the kitchen, filling them to the top with a dark red wine.

She sighed, walking over to the counter. 'Circle members.'

Magnus raised an eyebrow disapprovingly. 'Adelaide...'

'I know Magnus.'

'If they catch you..'

'They won't.'

Adelaide accepted the glass from Magnus who watched her over the rim of the glass. 'That's the second time this week Adelaide'

She nodded, sipping the sweet drink. 'They're getting brave. Taking any shadowhunter they deem suitable off of the streets.'

Adelaide downed the remainder of her glass in one go, Magnus watching in amusement.

'I believe its time to move on then.' Adelaide grinned at the wicked gleam in Magnus' eyes. Every few weeks Magnus would relocate his home.

'Where to this time?' She questioned.

'Oh, I don't know. An abandoned warehouse perhaps?' Adelaide knew that's precisely what any passer by would see should they glance at the building.

Adelaide threw herself onto the couch as Magnus did his thing. She stayed silent as Magnus turned to her, disappointed in her lack of reaction.

'What's wrong sunshine?' He asked as he lifted up her feet so he could sit on his couch.

Adelaide ignored the look he gave her as she place her feet back across his lap. 'It's already been a year Magnus.' She sighed heavily closing her eyes.

'You could always go back.' Magnus shrugged, watching her reaction.

Adelaide didn't react except for a tightening in her jaw that let Magnus know it wasn't an option.

After a tense moment she sighed. 'They think I'm dead.'

Magnus nodded at her words. 'Dead or taken, missing or a runaway.. Such a scandal.' He looked at her mockingly.

'They'd hate me if they knew the truth Magnus, they all would.' Adelaide sat up, tracing the runes on her arm unconsciously.

'Oh I'm not sure about that.' A strange tone entered Magnus' voice causing Adelaide to look up at him.

Her eyes narrowed. 'What aren't you telling me?'

Magnus just shrugged and stood up again, headed towards the door. 'I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later.'

*****

Magnus entered his home much later that night, a cloud of cigarette smoke and the scent of alcohol following him. His eyes quickly found the girl right where he'd left her, her face tense even in sleep.

He took off his jacket and threw it carelessly across the counter top, watching the young shadowhunter he'd come to care for.

She'd shown up on his doorstep one night, how she had found him he didn't know, and demanded he help her hide.

Never one to deny a pretty face or the promise of a large payment he allowed her into his home.

That night had been draining for the both of them. He could still see the raw pain in her eyes as she'd begged him to help her severe her parabatai bond. And in the early hours of that morning her screaming had echoed around his home, bouncing off of the walls.

If Magnus was going to be honest with himself it was the one service he had ever regretted doing, for that night she lost not only the only family she'd ever known,

She lost a part of herself along the way.