In the Eyes

Eight

Eight

*~*~*~*

"Why does it look like you just saw a ghost?" I asked Isabelle when I found her standing by the elevators, Clary right by her side.

"Mom's here." She informed me. Those two words alone were enough to make me freeze where I stood, knots forming in my stomach at the mere thought of my mother.

"Is your mom always like that?" Clary raised a brow at Isabelle. "She didn't even hug you."

"Shadowhunters aren't big huggers." Isabelle chuckled, though I could see right through it as she turned back to me, concern shining in her dark eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Do you think it'd be possible for me to hide in my room until she leaves?" I wondered aloud, having no interest in facing my mother after two years of hiding and letting everyone believe that I was dead. Facing Alec and Isabelle was one thing, but our parents were a whole other matter-- One that I wasn't ready for. "Or I could leave? Find somewhere to hide out?"

"I'm sure Magnus would love to have you," Isabelle teased.

"Not the time for jokes." I shook my head as she looped her arm through my own, practically dragging me down the hall while Clary followed along on her other side. The only thing that seemed to consume me in that moment was a sense of dread. Something that only worsened when we reached the training room where Jace had been training alone. I hardly saw him though, my gaze locking onto the back of the woman watching him. Her long raven hair pulled up in a tight ponytail as she wore a knee length dark dress, giving her a professional and stern look.

Mom.

"Maryse." Jace smiled once he finished, noticing the woman for the first time as he set his dagger down and walked over to hug her. Without even glancing the redhead's way, I could practically hear the questions building up in Clary's mind about what our mother would show such affection to Jace but not to Isabelle. "Hey. It's great to see you. How's everyone in Idris? Where's, uh... where's Max?"

"No Max," Isabelle cut in as she and Clary walked over to join their conversation while I stood back, preferring to just watch. "Just Mom with her hair on fire."

"I love how Shadowhunters share," Clary chimed in. "A hidden brother, a secret country, and a private Portal."

"Mother." Alec got her attention as he stepped into the room, hugging her just as Jace had. At the simple gesture I could see a look of pain in Isabelle's eyes, silently telling me that she was bothered by the fact that our mother hugged Jace and Alec, but not her. Just another way in which some things never changed. "Welcome back. We didn't expect you."

"You should be prepared, whether you expect me or not." Mom told him, her voice hard.

"I am," Alec assured her. "We are."

"We'll talk about the Institute later. Right now, we have a bigger problem." Mom informed everyone as she began to walk around them. As she did so I could see her dark eyes flicker in my direction, but her expression gave nothing away, showing no sign of even recognizing my presence. "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 reminded her.

"Yes, I know about your friends." Mom nodded with a certain level of distaste clear as day in her voice. "Isabelle, we stay separate from the Downworld for good reasons. The wrong move, the wrong word... Do you think there is such a thing as a 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."