Angels of Light

Darkness

When Izzy walked into the hospital wing of the institute, after attending another meeting about what had happened with the faeries only three hours prior, she was surprised to see her brother Alec seated in a chair beside their father. Robert slept peacefully, his missing leg healed and bandaged. Isabelle was thankful for clary. If her fathers leg had become infected, he would've surely died. Izzy wasn't sure she would've been able to handle that after what happened to Max.
She looked at Alec in the chair. He wore a sweater with holes in it, as per usual. His pale skin did nothing to mask the purple bags under his eyes. He seemed taller; his long legs sprawled out in front of him. The sound of Izzy's high heeled shoes alerted Alec to her presence; He straightened up in his chair and gave his sister a half hearted smile.
"Hey, Iz. How're you?" He asked, holding a hand out to her. She took it, wrapping both hands around his,  and sitting on their fathers bed, facing Alec. She looked down at his hands intently, instead of answering. Alec had the same scarred hands that all shadowhunters had, but to Izzy's delight, there was a ring on one of his fingers. A thin, plain silver band on his left hand. Magnus. It had been six months since Alec had become engaged to the warlock Magnus Bane. Izzy was proud of her brother. He had finally embraced himself and his sexuality. And by doing so, he became happier. Lighter.

"I'm alright," Izzy said, removing her hands from his and looking down at their father. She sighed as she looked at the stump.

"He's not going to like having only one leg," Alec observed. He was right. Robert liked to be perfect. The perfect shadowhunter; the perfect man. That's why he'd given Alec such a hard time about being gay. That's why Izzy could hardly stand him. She felt guilty now for the anger that she harboured towards her father as he lay there in the bed. Losing a leg didn't change the things he'd done, though.

"No. But he'll live. That's more than can be said for Max," Isabelle said harshly. Alec winced at her tone but didn't say anything.
"I can't believe the faeries did that--actually, yes I can. I just don't know why they did," She sighed. Alec looked at her, studying her face.

"You heard what that faerie woman said, she truly thinks it's Nephilim killing their people," Alec's voice was sad.

"But no shadowhunter would do that! She must be only part fey like Meliorn was so that she could lie," it seemed like the only logical answer to Izzy. There was no shadowhunter that would do what the faeries were claiming, and the fey had been upset by the laws that were put in place after the Dark War.

"I knew her," said a deep voice, coming from behind Isabelle. It was Magnus. He wore sparkly pants and a plain shirt with a feathered tux jacket. Isabelle raised an eyebrow at Magnus and he continued. "I knew her, and she was definitely full faerie. Her name was Lila." Magnus moved to stand beside Alec, taking his fiancé's hand in his. He brushed his thumb gently across Alec's hand. Isabelle felt as though she were looking in on a distinctly personal moment. Magnus was comforting her brother, and she couldn't help but wish Simon were there to comfort her, even though she'd told him to wait outside.

"Guess that solves that. She genuinely thought that it was a Shadowhunter who had attacked her," Alec agreed.
Izzy sighed. This was not good. Not good at all. If they fey thought that shadowhunters were killing their people, and kidnapping their Queen, then this was just the first attack. She was sure that there would be more.
Magnus cleared his throat.

"So, is dinner still on for tonight because I've just picked up a charming outfit for Alec, and I'd hate it to go to waste." Alec made a face, surely dreading whatever it was Magnus had picked out for him.
Isabelle had almost forgot about the dinner. She and Simon were meant to be telling all their friends their big news. Today hardly seemed like the right time now.

"I don't know...dads lost his leg, the conclave is a mess..." Isabelle said, covering her face with her hands. She had been so looking forward to this. Looking forward to the look on their faces. She'd bought a dress just for the occasion. It was meant to be her and Simons night. It didn't feel that way anymore.

"There will be more darkness after this, Isabelle, might as well enjoy the light while it lasts," Magnus said, and his voice was grave. Isabelle met his gaze and was almost shocked; his eyes were hard and steady as if he was certain that there would be a great evil coming. And nothing could stop it.

"Magnus is right, Izzy. Maybe we all need tonight. To forget," Alec said. She looked at her brother and his eyes were pleading. To forget. There were so many things Isabelle had spent the last five years trying to forget, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. She was haunted every night by the face of her little brother. His voice Calling out for her, frightened, right before he was killed.

"Okay. I guess you're right. Taki's at nine. Don't be late, or dad won't be the only one without a leg," she said, trying to make a joke, but she didn't laugh and Alec's small smile didn't reach his eyes.
There will be more darkness after this, Magnus had said, and Isabelle didn't doubt it at all.