The Oldest Morgenstern (An Alec Lightwood Love Story)

Chapter 1: Returning Home

Pandora's POV

I looked down at the city that I had called home for the last 18 years of my life. I knew my father was going to release his demons on the city, but I didn't expect to see the smoke rising from the damage they had caused. I looked to the woman who had abandoned me when I was barely 2 and my brother when he was only a year old. When she caught me looking, I glared at her before grabbing my bow. I jumped from the hill and landed on my feet gracefully. I knew I had scared my birth mother when I jumped but I shook it off and ran towards my home. My father didn't even know I was planning on coming home in time for the war. I smirked as I notched an arrow upon passing through the wards. Even without my enhanced abilities from my blood I was shocked to see the carnage that surrounded me. I walked slowly but surely towards the Penhallow's hoping that they were safe when I caught a glimpse of the elder hunters that were killed by the demons. I knew my birth mother and Magnus and Sylvia -when they made it to Idris- would make their way through the city and head to the Accords Hall. I took the shortcut through an alley that would get me to the Penhallow's faster when I spotted a demon with Isabelle in its grasp. I looked closer and saw that she didn't even have her whip on her. Jonathan waited until those who weren't at the numerous meetings to be weaponless. I thought to myself. I aimed my bow at the demon and exhaled before firing the arrow. I smirked as it hit its intended target. Once the demon was gone for good, I turned to Isabelle. "You'd think that as much as you have your whip on you in New York you'd keep it on you in Idris." I say with a faint smile as I stop walking in front of her.

"Panda." Izzy said before throwing her arms around me. "I thought you weren't coming back to Idris until---"

"She's here. Magnus, Sylvia, and I finally got her to wake up two days ago. Come on let's go back to the Penhallow's and get everyone else before we go to the Accords Hall." I say to her. We walked toward the house that I hoped contained my brother. "Can you go and check the other rooms Iz? I'll go get Max." I ask her. She nods and heads into the kitchen as I begin to make my way through the living room. I wasn't even halfway into the room when I saw the small body of a boy. "Dammit." I whispered quietly as I made my way over to the youngest Lightwood child. I checked for a pulse and was disappointed when I found none.

'Not his time. Let the gift flow through you young Morningstar.' I heard a faint whisper in my head. I let my instincts take over and moved my hands to hover over the boy's chest and was amazed as the color returned to Max's face. I didn't move my hands away until I saw his chest rising and falling. I moved to get up to check the rest of the rooms when I heard a thump coming from the kitchen. I unsheathed one of my knives when I reached the closed kitchen door. I pushed it open slowly and was unsurprised when I saw my brother standing over an unconscious Isabelle.

"Way to be subtle Jonathan." I say and watch as he freezes in place. "You need to get out of Alicante and head back to the cabin brother dearest. And you can try and play it off that you're Sebastian Verlac but you and I both know that you're not him." I turn away from him as he runs past me and out the kitchen. I sheathed my knife when I heard the front door close and walked to Izzy hoping I'd be able to wake her. After a few hopeless efforts of waking her I heard the door open once more and the familiar footsteps of the eldest Lightwood child. "You can drop your bow Alec. There's no danger." I said loud enough for him to hear. I turned to face the doorway where I knew he was already standing. "She's been knocked out and Max was dead." I said making sure I exaggerated the was, so he'd know I used my gift to bring his brother back. He nodded slowly before making his way over to his sister. He picked her up easily as we both walked into the living room so I could get Max. Before I picked him up off the ground a toy caught my eyes. It was the little toy soldier that I had given Jace before he left Idris 7 years ago. I picked it up and placed it in Max's hands knowing how much it meant to him. I then picked Max up and met Alec at the door. Alec and I walked in silence towards the Accords Hall. There wasn't any more danger as I would've been able to feel if demons were close to us at all. I was unsurprised to see the doors to the Hall open as others were walking inside. As we moved out of the shadows every Shadowhunter that was once a part of my father's circle turned and gasped at the realization of who I was. The whispers began and only got worse when Robert and Maryse Lightwood- and eventually Jace and my baby sister- joined Alec and I. I handed Max to Maryse as I knew something was coming. Clary looked at me before I offered her a smile. I looked around before pulling her into a hug. I was done trying to run from the family that I had left. I knew Jocelyn was in the shadows somewhere watching. I didn't care. I pulled away from the hug as "Sebastian" joined us. I ignored him and turned toward the doors. I caught a shimmer of a projection and quickly cast a glare at my brother. Before my father had a chance to walk inside, I chose that moment to say something about the whispers.