A/N: I'm back and I know how this is going to end. Be prepared.

~ Ty
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Chapter Thirty-One – The Curse.
Alec and Jace crouched down low, keeping to the shadows as best as they could in amongst all the rubble, trying to avoid detection from the Raum demons that had been left on ground. Each of them knew what they had to do to return to the Institute successful with both the book and Lynn Alder. Alec chewed nervously on the inside of his cheek, running over the plan again and again inside his head, checking for holes in their plan that could lead them to ruin as he followed behind Jace. He didn't even notice that Jace had stopped walking before he crashed into the back of him, instantly being shoved back by his Parabatai. "Alec! Focus!" Jace hushed, causing Alec to duck his head, his cheeks flushing pink, "Sorry." He whispered back, biting his bottom lip as he peered up through his fringe at the demons. Jace shook his head at his Parabatai, knowing that like per usual Alec was worrying over the plan in his head and checking for any possibilities that the plan could fail.

Jace peered over a large section of the collapsed ceiling, beckoning over his shoulder for Alec to join him as he stretched out on his stomach along the slab of concrete. "Right," Jace whispered as Alec laid down beside him, "I'm the diversion so I'm going to try and draw them away from the door so that you can sneak in behind them. Keep to the shadows and you shouldn't be spotted."
Alec rolled his eyes, "I don't like this."
"You never like anything." Jace muttered, shooting a lopsided grin at his Parabatai.
"That's because it's usually been planned by you." Alec teased, groaning when Jace slapped him around the back of the head. "My plans are good!" Jace stated, smirking as Alec rubbed the back of his head from pain. "Anyway, the minute I get in the demons' sights, you better run for that door and don't look back." Jace said, looking over at Alec to see him frowning. "Go!" Jace yelled, hurdling over the lump of rubble and drawing a Seraph blade free to name it, instantly drawing attention to himself just like he had planned. Alec shook his head but made for the door.

*****

Alec didn't like the plan at all. He didn't like the idea that Jace was running around this building right now with a pack of Raum demons on his tail and putting himself at risk whilst Alec snuck through the shadows like a thief. He knew the real reason that Jace was risking his own life at such odds, it was because he didn't think Alec was capable. The thought made Alec's insides bubble with anger, he was just as capable as he had been before everything went to ruins and he was going to show Jace just how capable he truly was. He ran forward through the open door as soon as he reached it, a blast of heat from the fire in the centre of the room hitting him as soon as he crossed over the threshold.

He glanced warily around the room, noticing the fire and the pentacle surrounding it as well as a Portal set on the far-left side of the room and a huge table that was buried under mountainous piles of ingredients. It was then that he noticed Lynn Alder, her back turned to him as she worked a thick heavy book hovering in the air beside her. Her thick blue hair spiralled down her back like waves, tangled over the top of a pair of elegant horns. She was clothed in a pair of black jeans with a faded and fraying hoodie and scuffed trainers which made Alec almost smile at the similarity they shared. He drew his bow from over his shoulder and hooked an arrow onto the taut string, hoping he wouldn't need to use it and that this could be solved through diplomacy. "There's no need to hide Shadowhunter." Lynn Alder spoke, her voice gentle and elegant but flowing with strength through the silent room. She turned around to face Alec, grinning at him softly, her green eyes illuminated by the flames of the fire.

Alec stepped warily into the room, his eyes not leaving Lynn Alder as she raised a pale hand and beckoned him over. "Come little Shadowhunter. You're perfectly safe." Alec's hands let go of his bow and arrows, the weaponry dropping to the floor behind him with a loud clatter against the concrete flooring. He kept moving towards her completely in a dreamlike state until he reached her side, her lips curling into a smile as she ran her raised hand through his dark hair. "Such beautiful eyes." She murmured, running her hand down the side of his face. Alec curled into her touch, his eyes glassy as he watched her elegant and methodical movements as she moved over to the table – almost like she was embodying the gentle crashing motions of the ocean – and picked up a sharp bejewelled knife, the light of the fire leaping up the shimmering blade. She spun to face him, her blue curled hair flying out behind her as she smiled. "Now little one. Let's summon our King."

*****

Jace groaned as he dispatched the last of the Raum demons, slumping to the floor as the demon disappeared in a cloud of black smoke and the sharp and bitter smell of sulphur. Black inky blood dripped down his blade onto the floor the Seraphic silver sizzling and warping into an unusable mess in his hand. Jace tossed the warped weapon aside, the glow disappearing instantly, being hidden by the shadows of the room. He straightened up, running a hand through his hair to push it back from his face as he staggered to his feet, trying to catch his breath. His eyes roamed around the shadows, making sure that no other demons had hidden themselves away in the nooks and crevices that the abandoned warehouse supplied as hiding places before making his way towards the doorway that Alec had gone through not too long ago.

As Jace got closer to the doorway the air changed, the atmosphere around him being charged with the static that usually came with strong dark magic, making the hairs on his arms stand on end. He peered around the edge of the doorframe, seeing Alec stood beside Lynn Alder, his bow and quiver of arrows left on the floor by the door as he stood in a trance, watching her every move with adoration and complete trust, even with the sharp blade in her right hand. "This isn't good." Jace muttered to himself as he stood watching for the perfect moment to strike.