BAD BLOOD // Raphael Santiago

Eleven: Dark Days

The institute was a full fuss when the trio stepped in. People were talking very loudly, running around aimlessly and computers screen were shifting from pictures and statistics to another quickly. The Institute was in total chaos.

Alec run up to meet Jace in the front hall.

"Jace where the hell have you been all night?" he started but then noticed Simon and Octavia standing behind him, corners of their mouths stained with dried blood.

"Bleeder's den," Octavia chimed in quickly. Jace attempted to get words out was pathetic. Octavia could almost feel his distress, because compared to Simon and Octavia, Jace was still half-human. His body and liver do not work as fast when it comes to filtering alcohol. Octavia and Simon were different, they couldn't feel a thing anymore. Even if they were longing to get the feeling of intoxication to last longer. But in reality, it passes, very quickly.

"Jace, are you drunk?" Alec breathed desperately like he was going to lose it at any minute. Jace avoided his stare, ashamed. Being the head of the New York Institute was a big responsibility and obviously, he had not experienced this kind of crisis before. He didn't need any extra worries, nobody deserved more to top the situation they were in.

Jace was trying to say something again but Alec didn't give him a chance to defend himself.

"Go sober up, now Jace. We don't have time for this."

"Alec I can..," as he finally got the words out, Alec shot him a nasty look to shut him up. He was not pleased, Jace was had not been that hammered for a long time.

"Go to sober up and come back when you're ready to work," Alec bossed sternly. His face didn't even flinch. He was clearly about to lose it but at least he still had even some grip with the Institute. Jace left them standing there, storming upstairs, punching a wall on his way.

Clary ran to hug Simon and let out a deep breath of relief seeing the vampire inside the Institute.

"Thank god you're okay, Clave raided Hunter's moon today and I thought they got you," she said.

"They arrested all Downworlders, Maya's in Idris."

Simon's eyes widened hearing Maya's name.

"She's innocent to all this," he claimed right away.

"Wait a minute, what?" Octavia said disturbing Simon's sentence. "Someone needs to tell me to know what's happening? Where's Magnus?" she continued turning her gaze towards Alec who was still standing there.

"He's gathering the warlocks to a safe place, he will be here soon for the emergency meeting with Raphael."

"So, you guys are allying with warlocks and vampires?"

"What about Luke? He would never ally with Seelie Queen, you know him, Alec," Clary pointed out raising her voice desperately. "He and Maya can't be part of this! Maya's arrested, and for nothing."

"Don't Clary," Alec snorted. "This is not the time or place, go back to work, Izzy's waiting for you." Octavia noticed the brunette in front of the big screens, looking extremely agitated.

"Simon, go with Clary," he added nodding Simon to follow the fierce redhead. "I think I need to clean up first," Simon mumbled quietly storming somewhere leaving the two standing in the hall.

"There is someone in my study waiting for you Octavia," Alec said way too formally. "Someone who wants answers to what's happening and why."

Octavia smirked, she had a strong hunch who it may be. There was no point in denying that when the crisis comes ashore, the captain must take concrete actions. Alec was definitely not the real captain of this ship. The New York Institute meant much more to someone Octavia used to know, and she of all people would not let this ship sink.