Detained [2] 《SHADOWHUNTERS》

Chapter Ten

Despite being worn out from the battle in the City of Bones, Andina and Jace raced into the Institute with Victor Aldertree hot on their heels. Valentine had claimed there was a demon sent to the building to distract everyone from what had been occurring underground, and all either Shadowhunter cared about was making sure the Institute was secure and their people were safe.

The building itself was almost deserted, and the few Nephilim that they did pass by seemed to be working on something important. Of course, that hadn't stopped them from gazing warily at the Waylands, even after Aldertree's assurance that the two were no longer criminals.

"What happened here?" Andy muttered, unused to the eerie silence as they cut through mission control. She followed her brother's lead, knowing he would most likely lead them to Alec, as he often did. Parabatai were like magnets that always knew where the opposite pole was residing.

"Multiple cases of demonic possession," Aldertree explained. "That's what Valentine must have meant when he told you of a distraction. After we brought a body in for the autopsy, the demon used the vents to navigate the building. We've lost many soldiers tonight."

Something heavy hung in the air that Andy now identified as death. Her heart leapt into her throat with fear as she thought of her friends. If Izzy or Alec had been hurt, she didn't think she'd be able to live with herself. Now that she thought about it, she was starting to feel that same sense of responsibility with Clary, too.

She and Aldertree continued to follow behind as they neared one of the larger training rooms where Andy had first met the eldest Lightwood. At the time, many years ago, she had told him off for teasing her brother and it had sparked a rivalry between the pair that didn't end until she was seventeen. The memory would have made her laugh had her heart not been clenched in worry, rounding the corner and hoping against hope to find her siblings smiling.

That was not what she found.

The mix of the dark wooden posts and the green and blue tiled windows made the room seem much larger and unique than it truly was. There was a small leather seat against one of the wooden posts, and Andy watched Clary shakily lower herself onto it. The redhead was staring off with glassy eyes into space, clearly needing comforting. In seconds, Jace was moving to go over, but just as he started, Simon shoved passed him. The vampire let Clary fall into his arms without another word.

Averting her eyes from the discomfort her brother was trying to keep stifled, Andy looked to the center of the room. Alec sat on the decorated wooden floor, cradling something in his arms. As soon as Andy noticed it was Isabelle, she too shoved past her brother and fell to the ground beside them.

Alec was reactivating the iratze that was runed on Izzy's forearm with his stele. He glanced at Andy briefly and then back to his sister, before seeming to realize who he had actually just seen in front of him and giving her a look of disbelief. He was going to speak, probably to greet her or ask how she was there, but he stopped when he felt a hand grasp his shoulder.

Looking up, he found Jace leaning down beside him and relaxed visibly at finally having his parabatai next to him again. While they embraced, Andy turned her attention to Isabelle and grasped the hand she had draped over Alec's leg. The girl's chocolate eyes cracked open slightly and she gave Andy a weak smile.

"Let's get you to the infirmary," Andy said softly, letting her thumb dance across Izzy's knuckles to comfort her. Andy met the guys' gazes before moving to stand up. Like a perfectly functioning machine, her brother followed and they both helped Alec bring Isabelle to her feet. She was incredibly shaky and weak, so Alec picked her up in his arms.

Andy was going to follow him to the infirmary, but she noticed Jace paused and followed her brother's gaze to Simon and Clary. They were embracing tightly, and while it seemed the redhead definitely needed it, Andina could tell it made her brother uneasy.