Detained [2] 《SHADOWHUNTERS》

Chapter Thirteen

Alec had never seen so much anxiety in Jace's eyes. But that evening, as he stood in the Sanctuary clad in white and struggling to contain his own massive amounts of guilt, he could tell that his brother would have rather dug his own grave than be standing there in that moment.

What was worse was the way Jace's golden eyes kept darting to the doorway as people strolled in. The clock was ticking closer and closer to the time that the ceremony would start, and yet the one person who was there for him through everything had yet to show themselves.

Alec shut his eyes for a moment and prayed to whatever higher power there was that Andina was just struggling with a wardrobe malfunction, or fighting to control her emotions before striding into the room and meeting her siblings. She had to be just outside of that door, she had to be.

And yet, the seconds ticked by and the old clock's minute hand moved ever closer to the approaching hour mark. Jace's gaze was flickering to the door like wild fire now, hands fumbling at the cuffs of his jacket in lo of a stele. It was almost time for the living to take their places next to the dead.

Alec could feel the unease that his parabatai was struggling with. Tapping Izzy's shoulder lightly to let her know he was okay, he weaved through the crowd of Shadowhunters and approached Jace. As soon as the blond noticed the movement, he cast his questioning gaze on Alec.

"She's not coming, is she?" Jace asked as if he already knew the answer, a frown of disbelief playing on his lips.

Alec shrugged, wanting to play with his hair to ease his own nerves but knowing that if he messed it up, he'd face Izzy's wrath as she tried to fix it. He wanted so badly to be able to tell his brother that Andy was going to be there, that there was no way Andina would let Jace go through this alone.

But Alec also knew Andina, and he knew that sometimes she wasn't capable of being the emotional glue that held everyone together. Sometimes she wasn't capable of holding herself together. And sometimes, when she found herself facing situations that she believed would make her break, she avoided them entirely to save her heart the stress.

Alec also could have told this to his parabatai, but he wouldn't. These were things he knew about Andy by observing her for years, things her brother never picked up on and things she certainly never wanted him to pick up on. So instead, Alec said, "I don't know," with a solemn expression as he too followed Jace's eyes to the doorway once more.

It opened, and their eyes drank in the sight. Clary, a girl who should have never known the act of wearing white to a funeral, slipped past the threshold and cast her gaze on Jace. Alec found his spot next to Izzy once again, allowing Jace to go to the sister that he now had to be there for.

The clock ticked on. The ceremony began. Names were spoken, tears were choked back and some fell forward. And the entire time, Alec kept looking to the door as if Andina would walk in late, head held high and striding towards her siblings to give them all of the comfort they so desperately needed.

But she didn't. And Jace had never been more disappointed.

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Andina was training.

That's what she told herself when she tied up her hair and wrapped up her hands an hour ago. And it's what she told herself as she attacked a punching bag for the fiftieth time, ignoring the pain in her knuckles that told her her form was off.

The sounds of her blows smacking against the abused vinyl was music to her ears. Her mind was clear of everything but her attacks. Punch. Kick. Punch punch punch. Punch. Kick. Take a breather. Kick.