Asher Lightwood

Blood Calls To Blood

"I should go check with Lydia to maybe get Scout set up early." I said. I left the office and went to find Lydia.

"Hey. How are you doing?" she asked me. "I'll be back to my old self in no time." I said.

"Ash. I wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. After I exposed your parents to Alec, I should've learned my lesson. Apparently I didn't." she said.

"Thank you. And thank you for not telling Alec." I said. "Well, I wasn't about to let Alec hurt Magnus and declare war with the warlocks, not to mention the entire Downworld." Lydia said.

"So I wanted to ask you something. Scout Ravenbrach is a transfer from the Honolulu Institute and was set to start here in a couple weeks, I was wondering if we could move her start date up to today?" I asked.

"I'm sure I can work something out. Have her come to my office." she said. "Thank you Lydia." I said.

"Ash, look. I know you must hate me for what's happening to your sister. But I hope that in time, you can forgive me and we can make this friendship work." Lydia said.

"I can't stop Alec from getting married. It's his life and I have no right to tell him what he can and can't do. But know this, if you ever hurt him... you can probably get an idea of what I'll do." I said, not wanting to get prosecuted for threatening a Clave official.

"Understood." she said. "I'll let Scout know to meet in your office." I said and walked away.

I went back into my room. "Hey. How is she?" she asked. "Jace is gone and he has the Cup. That was the one thing that could've gotten Izzy out of this. Either we move hell and Earth to find him and Clary and get them to return the Cup, or Izzy stands trial." I said.

"I'm so sorry, Ash." she said. "I should be the one apologizing. This entire day I've ditched you in a random place you don't know. I feel terrible." I said.

"You don't have to explain. It's okay." she said. "I talked to Lydia about you maybe starting your position here a little earlier, she's waiting for you in her office." I said.

"You didn't have to do that." Scout said. "I know, but I wanted to. Now if you wanna be on our team, I suggest you get outta here." I said. She smiled and went to Lydia's office.

I went back into the room where Alec and Izzy were. The Inquisitor arrived while I was talking to Scout.

"You know what? I'd rather be stripped of my runes and sent into exile than be part of this world! What kind of people sacrifice justice for law?!" Izzy asked.

"That's very noble of you, Izzy. But the high road's not gonna look so good when you're running for your life from a pack of demons with no Shadowhunter powers to protect you." Alec said.

"Jocelyn lived as a mundane." Izzy tried to argue. "You know Jocelyn had her runes and her weapons. You think demons won't find you?" I asked.

"You haven't exactly kept a low profile. You can't just let them convict you. You need an advocate." Alec said. Then the lightbulb went off in my head.

"Magnus! Magnus can be Izzy's defense!" I said. "Wait what?" Alec asked. "Think about it, Izzy's being prosecuted for trying to help a Downworlder, if she had a Downworlder as her defense attorney then the Clave would have to listen!" I said.

"You know, she does make a good point." Izzy said. "Then it's settled. Alec and I will go ask Magnus to represent Isabelle. Let's get going." I said to Alec.

"Hold on, a Downworlder can't defend a Shadowhunter in court." Alec said. "But a Shadowhunter accused of a crime can choose any advocate. Lydia knows about my relationship with the warlocks, so I'm out of the question. Magnus is the perfect person." I said.