Detained [2] 《SHADOWHUNTERS》

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Andy had decided she needed to learn a few new languages, because she didn't have nearly enough ways to say "I told you so". Despite all their precautions, extra weapons, and journey straight from the New York Institute to Alicante, Valentine had escaped. Again.

Alec really didn't need to be told that he had made a mistake, he was blaming himself enough already. That didn't stop Andy from following her brother around like hawk and glaring at his parabatai every time he met her eyes.

"Any word from Magnus and Luke?" Clary asked Alec, cutting the tension between the five Shadowhunters that stood around a projection of the Institute's computer system.

"No. The Downworld Cabinet has been holding secluded meetings with the Seelie Court."

"Well, that's not good," Jace voiced the obvious.

"You think anything good happens in the Seelie Court?" Clary questioned, giving him a look that held something more. 

None of them had time for something more, though. "The Clave isn't gonna let this go unpunished." Alec continued. He was bitter and brooding. "The Inquisitor sent an envoy to assess the situation. Chances are they'll be the ones replacing me as Head of the Institute." 

Andy bit back the comment right before it left her, like you don't deserve it. She wasn't going to hit him that low. His eyes revealed his wishes to take back the last day and start over. 

Izzy was quick to help her brother take the responsibility. "Not if we can recapture Valentine."  The cogs of her mind were already twisting, trying to figure out what to do next. "Sebastian and all available personnel are already searching. We already know Duncan managed to hijack the portal." 

Jace crossed his arms, thinking. "If he was Luke's accomplice, he could have been orchestrating the secret transfer all along."

Andy's head cocked to the side, considering it. It was possible, that Valentine had made an ally on the inside before he was imprisoned. But Duncan, of all people... she was beginning to wonder who else they couldn't trust in their own home. "He's always six steps ahead of us," she muttered angrily.

"Listen, I appreciate the effort," Alec broke in. "But Valentine escaped on my watch. I deserve to take the heat for it."

"This isn't your fault, it's mine," Izzy argued. "I was the one in charge of the transfer team."

"Hey, we both were," Jace shouldered the blame. Andy frowned at them all. If they had all been there, then they should have known better. They should've taken the prisoner themselves. But she didn't say what they were all waiting to hear, because she hadn't even been there. 

Alec had lied to Izzy and Jace that he needed her for something else, here at the Institute. Truthfully, he barely trusted her to be in the same room as Valentine without plunging a blade into his chest. Not with the way she held herself back the night before, stiff and dangerous.

"Look, Alec, you've been a good leader. You can't just let Imogen fire you over something you didn't do," Jace argued heatedly. 

"Alec will do as he's ordered." A brisk voice interrupted them, gaining all of their attention quickly. Robert Lightwood stood near the entrance to mission control, causing the four kids he had raised to go rigid. They had done a lot of questionable things in the past few weeks without a thought spared towards strict parents that actually cared about them.

Robert's gaze was harsh and disciplinary, hands in the pockets of his tailored three-piece suit. "Dad?" Izzy asked, taken aback by his sudden arrival.

"What are you doing here?" Alec stumbled. They were all stunned. Robert was supposed to be staying in Idris.

"I'm the Clave's envoy," he explained, only shocking them further. His eyes settled onto his eldest son. "We need to talk."