In the Eyes

Sixteen

Sixteen

*~*~*~*

"We need to come up with a plan, a way to get you out of here." Alec said, refusing to accept what was happening like I had.

"And what are you suggesting?" I sighed as I watched him pace around the room, a determined look on his face. "It's not as though I can just walk out of here, Alec."

"All I know is, we gotta get you out of here." He shook his head. "All right, who do we know in Idris?"

"The only people who care are Mom and Dad." I said as I sat back down on the couch. "And even that's questionable. But they're under suspicion themselves, right?"

"Uh, what about Lydia and Joseph?" He suggested.

"Lydia? Joseph?" I raised a brow at him.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Why do you keep going there?" I shook my head at him. "They're prosecuting me. You said they had no choice."

"They don't." He insisted.

"Everyone has a choice, Alec." I recalled what Magnus had told Clary when she had rescued the young warlock, Zoe, from Circle members. "I made mine. Let me just get through this without losing my self-respect."

"Look, I know you don't want to believe this, but Lydia and Joseph said they would help if we can give them a way to do it." He told me. "Maybe I can get them to delay the trail."

"Why?" I scoffed. "So I can sit here, playing computer solitaire, while they find something else to blame me for? Or blame Isabelle for? I'm just a scapegoat for the Clave, Alec. They want the Cup."

"So let me buy some time to find it." He shrugged. "Hey, Jace and Clary-"

"Disappeared through a door to God knows where." I finished for him, remembering what he had told me had happened after he'd tracked Jace through their bond. "You said they're lost forever. And so is the Cup."

"What if I was wrong?" He suggested. "I can't find Jace because I weakened our bond, but that doesn't mean he can't be found, or that he can't find us. We need more time."

"You're grasping at straws now?" I shook my head.

"Cecile, listen." He insisted as he knelt down in front of me, not letting it go. "I'm your brother. I know I haven't been acting like one since you came back, but I am. Please, let me help you for once."

*~*~*~*

"You know what? I'd rather be stripped of my runes and sent into exile than be part of this world." I shook my head after Alec had informed me of everything that was going on, how my trial was to start tonight. "What kind of people sacrifice justice for law?"

"That's very noble, Cecile." Alec sighed. "But the high road's not gonna look so great when you're running for your life from a pack of demons with no Shadowhunter powers to protect you."

"I lived like a mundane once, with Jocelyn." I reminded him.

"You still had your runes and her weapons." He pointed out. "You think the demons won't find you? They have before, what's stopping them from doing so a second time? You can't just let them convict you. You need an advocate."

"Well, if you're not going to let me do this my way, I guess you're right." I gave in, agreeing with him. "And I know just who I want to advocate for me."

"Who?" He asked.

"You're really not going to like this." I smirked.

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