Our Fate IV ➰Shadowhunters➰

➰Chapter XVI➰

Max walked into the room, practically dragging his feet toward the see-through wall. He hadn't seen her ever since she got arrested, and seeing her now, reminded him of why he didn't want to, either.

She looked terrible. Her long, platinum hair was messy and loose. She hung her head down, letting herself only be held by the handcuffs that pinned her to the wall behind her, and Max knew enough about the Clave's methods for interrogation to know that she had probably not eaten anything since her arrest. Seeing her like this made his stomach churn. He hated to admit it, but Andrea had been right about him and Mina. Regardless of whatever she had done, he still cared very much for her, and he still wanted to believe that she had a good reason for doing what she did.

Alec placed his hand on his brother's shoulder to show his support. "I got the clearance for interrogation."

"Good. Now all that's left is seeing if she's willing to talk to you," Max noted.

"Actually... I was thinking that maybe it'd be best if you and Walt interrogated her, together. Given your history," Alec said, taking Max by surprise. He wasn't expecting to see Mina again, let alone, to be the one interrogating her. "She's more likely to talk to the both of you."

Max nodded. "I understand."

"Just remember, Andrea's life may be on the line."

That was enough for Max to lead Walt into the chamber, which hadn't changed much in size ever since the days it held the fearsome Jonathan Morgenstern. Mina glanced up to meet their gaze pretty much immediately, showing little more emotion other than the cold smile she drew on her face.

"Woah. You must be really desperate," Mina said, her smirk both familiar yet so strange to Max. "I'm guessing you didn't find the Mundane at her house?"

"What does Christopher want with Andrea, Mina?" Walt was the first to speak to her. Even though he'd never say it out loud, Max was thankful. He didn't know what to say to her just yet. "Why does he seem to specifically want her?"

"Beats me. I suggested he take any other Mundane, but he insisted that it needed to be her," Mina shrugged. "I guess it was a way to get back at Leah Rollins somehow. Targeting one of the few people from her past, before she even knew about the Shadow World. Another option is..."

"What?" Max snapped back, growing tired of her riddles and circles around the truth. "What reason could he possibly have to want Andrea, instead of literally any other Mundane in the world?"

"Christopher Morgenstern is many things, but a fool is not one of them. He knows that it was you, Max, that his father failed to kill all those years ago. One could say he is trying to finish the job."

"But he took Andrea, not Max," Walt frowned in confusion.

"But he knows everything. He's got a way with people's feelings, it's strange, yet, impressive," Mina said, making both boys look at her with utter confusion. "Don't act like you haven't realized the unfortunate predicament we all find ourselves in. We all know how I feel for Max. Also, we know how he feels for Andrea, and how she feels for Walter. And Walter..."

"You think he's trying to get back at Max for surviving Jonathan's attack all those years ago?"

"It set off a whole chain of events that led up to Jonathan's demise. Although I don't think hurting Max is his main target, I do think he knows better than to underestimate him, like his father did."

"If that's true, who knows how much time Andrea has left."

"Where can we find him, Mina?" Max questioned, staring into her icy eyes. "Where does he have Andrea?"