Alec moved his stele over the stash of ash, in response, it's glow confirmed his suspicions. A demon of low rank was killed here, only the lowest leave such clear evidence of their ever existence. "Good job Izzy..."

Alec took out of his pocket a napkin, he needed some of that dust to prove Iris Rose did indeed kidnapped a demon, which would explain her persistent appearances on areas of high demon ratio. "...How are you going to get away from this one?"

But how is the nephilim going to prove what Iris did with that demon? The people she had hurt, murdered.

Alec bit the inside of his cheek, Madzie is all the evidence they really need. But her safety is not guaranteed, the Clave won't stop the protocol just because she is a child. They might even doubt that considering that some downworlders are much older than they look.

For now, the best evidence he could get was Iris herself, if she did crack and mention Madzie, Alec just had to make it seem that the little girl ran away when Iris was fending off the shadow hunters off her lair. In the meantime he has to take Madzie somewhere safe, sheltered.

The high warlock of Brooklyn perhaps?

Magnus Bane is known to take care of his people in need. Alec had never met such person but he has heard of his dislike over the nephilim kind. Alec wasn't surprised, most downworlders did not appreciate his kind one bit, considering a shadow hunter's intrusive nature.

Maybe a warlock of close relation to their leader? Someone who wouldn't send him flying off the seventy eighth floor.

Alec didn't know any but Underhill might...

With hesitation, knowing it's a touchy subject, Alec took out his phone. "..."

Other than his bloody palm, his phone was in shambles, probably having crushed it when he landed here with his ribcage. Which arose new questions, where is Mattias? The backup? What happened to him, how is he suddenly in the basement?

His brain seems to be distorted by his fall, his thoughts in shambles.

Alec kept quiet, trying to hear what was happening above, he couldn't hear anything, deathly quiet.

Alec felt his head burning due to overload. First of all, how did he manage to even get here? The ceiling was unscratched, no hole he fell through to land here...

'It doesn't make sense...' He is certain he felt like falling, his phone being evidence of his clumsy landing.

Among all, are all the victims dead? Did Iris get dispose of them when they didn't give her the desirable results? Are there more children like Madzie? If so, where? What does she do with them? Does Iris have more than one lair? Wouldn't that be too risky?

Alec felt his stomach turn, the room smelled of blood and rotten flesh. This room alone must be evidence of the atrocities that took place here.

Alec couldn't think of anything worth saying, these women fell upon the hand of the wicked. He couldn't apologise enough to have arrived so late. He had no words worth their suffering.

With a shaky breath he moved over the open door, the staircase stained, old. Every step making an awful sound, unsure if they could hold his weight. Reaching the surface, Alec could finally hear some noise.

They were fighting, he could tell by the rugged breaths, the yelps and the sounds of things breaking...

Iris kept yapping about her dislike upon the angel roaches and how she will kill every single one that dares to step in her house. The snarky comments of Izzy put Alec in a state of relief, his sister is okay.

The hunter remained hidden, having moved his bow from his back forward to his grasp. He moved stealthily, from cover to cover, reaching the chaos step by step. When he had somewhat of a clear view Alec frowned.

Alongside Izzy, who was fending off the fireballs with her enchanted whip, stood the carrot head.

Clary Fairchild...

"You have to be kidding me." Alec huffed. He kept his gaze running upon the scene, searching for any openings, any traps.

Madzie was nowhere to be found, did Iris teleport her away? Alec cursed inside his head, did he miss his chance to save Madzie?

If only he had teleported with her to the basement... Did he teleport? Did Madzie save him? Or was it Iris that wanted to send Alec below, to get devoured by her captive demon? It wasn't like Iris knew the fate of her demon till now.
No it doesn't make sense...
she would not teleport a shadow hunter fully armed at her precious possession. Alec shook his head, he couldn't figure this one out.

Just when Alec was about to step in, a certain blond was send flying towards his hiding spot.

Jace Herondale...

Jace immediately tried to stand, to go back to the battlefield, but Alec took a strong grasp of the back of his jacket, pulling him his way. "Where have you been?"

This was the backup? Jace who was late and the red head that doesn't even know how to swing her blade properly? She looked like a toddler learning to use a spoon.

"Alec!" Jace half yelled, a smile spreading across his face, delighted.

Alec remained stern, he will chastise his parabatai later. "Where is the rest of the backup?"

"Shouldn't you know of that?" Jace asked, running his stele over some runes, his mood having improved, becoming all giddy for some reason.

Just like a child in the playground who saw his playmate after a while.

"... Aren't you the backup?" Alec asked, concerned and confused. What is happening right now?

"No no... I... Big story short, I am here since noon." Jace exhaled, a smile still resting on his face.

"What?" Alec questioned, irritated. "... What were you doing here? The mission wasn't announced until later."

"Yep." Was all Jace could come up with, glancing over to Izzy and Clary, trying to land a hit at Iris. "Big story we both don't have the time to analyse... I'm happy you're okay, I felt some weird stuff-"

Alec signed, another thing to deal with later. And just when he thought all surprises were over, another person came sliding their way, this time being no other than Brad Jenkins. "You are late to the party Lightwood." He judged.

"What are you doing here?! I dismissed you!" Alec hissed, dragging him in their hideout as well. Brad accepted such treatment, moving on to rumble. "Ye ye, you know something? I feel like you criticised me unnecessarily, just because we are rivals you can't act out..."

Alec glared at such annoying presence, "An order is an order."

"Well, look at our situation. You need me, so let me roll with the flow." Brad awkwardly smiled, not liking one bit to have to persuade his rival to let him do his job.

Alec signed, what a child. "How did you even get in?"

"While you and your narrowed team of two discussed the plan, I headed to the rooftop and entered through the door... Piece of cake." Brad shrugged, as if it were the most obvious and reasonable answer.

Alec wanted to bang his head on the wall, how can Brad be so blandly simple minded? No wonder Iris was waiting for them, team A and solo B made quite the appearance. The hunter soothed his head, rubbing his forehead. Indeed, the day where his heart will beat in appeasement was far, so far in fact, he doubted he will manage to live over fifty. 

"Go, distract her while I find an opening." Alec ordered them away, Jace nodded, taking a hold of Brad and running straight towards the warlock. Alec restrained himself at such sight, for both desperation and laughter, foolish they were. 

Watching carefully, Alec could see Iris having both her fists infused with magic. Her left hand was in duty of attack, she only lifted it to sue away his comrades. While the other remained still, hidden, her fingers oddly spread. 

"... There you go." Alec spoke lowly, lifting his bow and arrow in predatory position. The reason Mattias, the backup, hasn't managed a breakthrough is because of Iris' barrier around the building.

For her to activate it means she is alert of his comrads outside, trying to break in. Iris is a powerful warlock, it would be imposible to make a breakthrough with just runes, they needed something stronger.

Alec knew they didn't have the essentials, he needed to make an opening for them.  

Iris Rose wasn't complitely undefeatable though. She was struggling to keep up with the shadow hunters on the inside, it will be a loosing game on her part if the rest manage to walk in her lair. Alec squinted at his target, it would harm but not kill her, they needed her alive.

She wasn't teleporting oddly enough, if she wanted to vanish she could easily snap her fingers and walk through a portal, escape. She would have already done so if she desired such, something is stopping her, something too important to leave behind. Alec could only imagine, the building itself spoke of her crimes, what else can be hiding among those walls?

He let go of the nocking point of his bow, letting his arrow fly towards his target. Iris let out a blood curling scream at the sharp pain going through her palm, as if the blood within her veins was suddenly boiling, spreading a paralyzing agony throughout her entire body. 

"You filthy rats!" She cussed, pressing her back at a near by wall, standing became hard, her vision playing games on her. Alec moved smoothly yet quickly, another arrow ready to be shot in case she acts out. "What the hell did you inject me with?!" She screamed, fuming at the sudden restrain on her body, her magic felt weak, unable to summon it for long or at all.

The door swang open, windows broke as multiple shadow hunters forced their way through in units. "I'm sorry for the delay, there was a barrier-"

"Mattias, I understand." Alec reassured him, the speed the backup came through after the fall of the magical barrier was excellent, next time they should be more prepared in case of such. Maybe some crystals from Idris is a must when dealing with warlocks.

Mattias nodded, seemingly still agitated, ashamed for his failure. "Yes."

Alec turned his attention towards the stumbling warlock, she was struggling greatly. Her hatred and pained pride not allowing her to sit still, trying to stand helplessly while spouting out her fury, Alec didn't like how things had turned out.

"Iris Rose, you were firstly to be taken in custody for suspicion of questionable acts towards-"

"Hell with your laws! If you think that is enough to sedate me you are fooled! I am a warlock of many years, if you think I will kneel upon your kind, set behind bars of laws of your creation... Since when have the nephilim become the gods of the Downworld?" Iris spat, slowly merging to the floor breathlessly.

Tired of shouting without any acceptable response the warlock stopped talking, trying to catch her breath. Only her piercing gaze represented her murderous intent.

"As I was saying," Alec begun with slight repulsion, "You are to stand in Idris below the Clave, they will decide upon your fate."

Iris' reactions came and went, the fright and horror a glimpse while the deep loathing and rage burned strongly. "We will see about that..." she slithered out with a hoarse laugh, her body slowly melting as if made out of a candle wax. Alec took a step back, his brows knitted together.

Again his back got the creeps, his shoulders ached, something was wrong, something within him was telling him to hide, to run. Alec had learned to hear his instincts the past days, immediately taking action. "Everyone get out now!"

Some followed him blindly while other remained in place confused, searching for the new threat. Jace grabbed Clary and Izzy, making his way out, trying to anyways, Izzy insisted to stay by her brother's side while Clary struglled to keep up. Brad remained standing alongside Mattias, both surprised by the sudden order, yet alert, ready to fend off the enemy.

"Relax Lightwood-" Brad had begun but stopped when he toke note of a dragon fly coming out of the witch's mouth. It landed on the sofa, gracefully before causing an explosion that threw off any of close proximity.

A fire had started.

Shadow hunters started running, crawling outside as more dragon flies made their way out of the dead vessel. "If this shit isn't black magic I don't know what is!" Brad yelled, pushing people out of his way.

Mattias went to assist his comrades that had lost their footing, leading them outside with a few others daring to assist in such danger. Some were hit, burn marks already forming, the building was on fire, black smoke blocked the exits, they all had to go before the house swallowed them whole.

"Jace!" Alec shouted with all his might, the building was crumbling, ready to be consumed by flames, to vanish.

Iris Rose managed to escape, to take everything with her. Alec Lightwood had never witnessed such trick, never have anticipated such move. His arrow had a poison that not only paralyzed the target but restricted their strength as well, was it even magic that resulted to all these? If not, then what?

"Alec!" Jace yelled back, searching for him.

Alec headed towards his parabatai, explosions still going off in the background. "Tell them to search, try to find Iris Rose, she mustn't be too far." With her magic restricted, she must be near.

"What about you?" Jace protested, denying to abandon his parabatai.

"I have something I need to check... Meet me, you and Izzy, at the meeting spot, the alleyway we had agreed on." Alec spoke loudly, hoping he can get through to jace despite the explosive horror, the fire that was spreading.

Jace hesitated but nodded, "If you die I will never forgive you!"

Alec didn't waist another second, running up the stairs, he tried to make his way back to where he once stood previously, where he had met Madzie. Reaching her room the nephilim tried to force his way through, this time the door was sealed, locked. Alec tried multiple times to break through, alas, the door wouldn't budge. "Madzie!" The hunter called out, banging at the door. 

If she isn't in there she must have been taken by Iris, for now, Alec wished that than the little girl burning alive. "Madzie?!" He cried out, unable to let go. A child shouldn't be going through such suffering, it's not a matter of discussion, Alec will make sure to check every room if need be. "Madzie are you in here?!" 

Alec struggled to breath, the smoke finally catching up to him, blocking his lungs... Is he going to pass out?

The hallway grew suddenly quiet, darker... colder. 

Alec's gaze was stuck at the unyielding door, paralysed. He could no longer feel his body, nor the warmness of the flames, the hasrhness of the smoke. 'Of all times... Now I am having an episode?'

Alec wanted to cry, frustrated, scared... The thing chose him to die. 

He took a deep breath, he will die not knowing why. 

Alec let out several coughs, suffocating on his own blood. He could see droplets falling down his chin, his vision limited. 

A numbing sensation spread from the back of his head, pulling him by the hair. Alec let out a shaky breath, the thing was behind him, forcing his body to act upon his command. Infront of the shadow hunter something started to glow, ancient words travelled from side to side, the door was chained by such magic. 

The nephilim's heart spead rapidly, thumping painfully agaist his chest. To his horror, Alec could see his own hand move on it's own, drawing a foreign rune. "..." 

Alec tried to speak, beg to let the girl live. Iris wouldn't have locked the door if there wasn't something-

The enchanted chains fell, disapearing, defeated by the unknown rune. Alec frowned as he slowly regained access of his body. Did the thing just helped him? 

Alec moved on as if nothing had happened, how long will he have to pretend like nothing is going on? He felt the exhustion on his body and mind, the only thing giving him the strenght to move on the little girl on floor, crawled up, accepting her tragic fate. 

Alec kneeled beside her, taking her into his arms. "Eveything will be okay from now on... I will make sure of it."