Raising Hell

7. The One Where I Lose Consciousness... Again

"You should activate your invisibility rune," I say as we slow to catch our breath. We are far enough away to make finding us difficult, though Alec will probably be able to track us easily. "I don't want to deal with your neighbors recognizing you."

Clary nods. "Good point." She pulls out her stele and traces over the invisibility rune. "Let's keep going."

We continue down the street at a walking pace this time. I pull my hood over my head and tip my head down. The last thing we need is to come across a Circle member who recognizes me, not that anyone would after I changed my appearance so drastically. We make it all the way to the Brooklyn Academy of Art before we stop. Clary stares up at the building with a sad expression.

"Do you think you'll go back?" I ask her, fully aware that it would appear as though I'm talking to no one. "You know, after finding your mom. Do you think you could go back to the way your life used to be?"

Clary doesn't look away from the building as she shakes her head. "I don't know. Being a Shadowhunter is what I was meant to be. I don't think I could go back, even if I wanted to."

Clary's phone starts ringing from her bag, causing both of us to jump. She quickly digs through her bag trying to find it. People all around us begin checking their own phones and I resist the urge to laugh.

"What's the point of an Invisibility rune if you don't silence your phone?" Alec says from behind us, causing us to jump. "That was childish, sneaking out like that."

"Jesus, Alec!" I yell, earning a few stares from bystanders. "Did you think we were just going to stand around all day and wait for permission? We don't have that kind of time."

Clary finds her phone and answers it. She takes a few steps away from Alec and I. "Simon, hey. I know I should have called you right back. I'm really sorry. Are you okay?"

My eyes involuntarily shoot to Clary. Though I just saw him this morning, I felt relieved to know that he was still okay. In times like this, you can never be too careful.

"You shouldn't have snuck away like that," Alec whispers to me. "You know what kind of danger we're in."

"I also know that this box could give us a lead on Valentine. It was a calculated risk," I whisper back. "Besides, the only reason you care is because you could get in trouble with your mom if you let Clary out of your sight."

"That's not why I was worried," he snaps back.

I turn towards him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Then why were you worried?"

He doesn't respond. Instead, he walks over to Clary. "Hang up. That's it, we have to go. Right now."

"Leave her alone, Alec." I place myself between the two of them.

Alec glares down at me. "You two are going to get yourselves killed."

"I'm on my way to the loft," Clary tells Simon, ignoring Alec's request to end the call. "There's something there that I think could help me find my mother."

"Then, so be it," I respond to Alec.

Alec scoffs. "You're impossible."

"I prefer the term stubborn or headstrong," I say with a sarcastic smile.

Clary hands up the phone and Alec looks over at her. "Let's go." He begins leading the way towards the loft.

"Why do you look so miserable?" Clary asks him.

He stops and turns to look at her. "I don't."

"You do," Clary counters. "It must be hard being in love with—"