Alec bounded through the halls of the institute as fast as he could, wanting to get this information out as quickly as possible. He had called Isabelle on his way home, demanding she call a meeting that consisted of him, herself, Jace, Simon, Clary and Magnus Bane. He didn't tell her the details, there was no time for that, he only told her it was about Casey and that he was urgent. He couldn't risk telling his parents or any member of the Clave in that sense purely because he couldn't trust anyone, expect those whom he knew cared about Casey. Turning the final corner, he spotted his sister standing alone in the middle of the room."Where are the others?" He hissed, his eyes darting around this room. Silently, Isabelle stepped towards her brother and harshly grabbed his elbow, tugging him downwards.

"You might want to lower your voice." She advised, arching an eyebrow. "These are dangerous times, you should know better than to expect me to host a meeting about the Clave's most wanted in the middle of the institute. We're all meeting at Magnus Bane's apartment. We are immensely lucky he likes Casey. He's a hard man to get a hold of."

"Casey has that effect on people." He grinned momentarily, before an imagine of the present day Casey flashed into his mind. "Let's go."

---

"This had better be important Alexander." Magnus cooed as he flung himself down on a plush royal blue chair. "I do so hate house guests when I'm so unprepared."

"This is unprepared?" Simon chuckled, pointing as the extravagant platter of food that sat in the middle of the room on a luxurious glass table. "I would've loved that cheese and cracker combo too." He pouted. "Ah yes, apologises I don't have any O Neg on hand Mr Lewis." Magnus replied, using magic to stir his drink.

"Could we maybe get back to the topic of my brother please?" Clary sighed, her head in her hands, while Jace stood by fighting the urge to comfort her.

"Right yes of course. Alexander, if you would be so kind." Magnus smiled, gesturing to Alec. Leaning forward, Alec rested his elbows on his knees and began to speak. "I saw Casey today."

"You what?" Clary exclaimed, jumping out of her chair. Magnus merely waved his hand and the redhead was seated once more. "Manners." He chastised, before turning back to Alec as Clary scowled. "I saw Casey today." Alec repeated, sighing. "But he was so different. It was like he was being controlled."

"Controlled?" Magnus repeated, deep in thought at what could be the cause. "Go on."

"I tried to tell him that he had a choice, he could come home. That he had a choice to not kill Hodge. He argued he didn't and when I tried to get him to explain what he meant he started screaming and clutching his head. And then he just stopped."

"What do you mean he just stopped?" Jace inquired from across the room, his facial expression a mixture of confusion and pain.

"Exactly what I just said." Alec hissed, becoming self aware of his anger when Isabelle placed a hand on his shoulder. "It was like someone hit a reset button."

"Did Casey by any chance have an amulet on him?" Magnus drawled, rising from his chair slowly. Alec's brows furrowed as he watched the warlock sauntered to the window and stared out onto the street, a troubled look upon his face. "Yeah." Alec said hesitantly, confusion appearing to be a shared emotion within the room. "How did you know that?"

All eyes were on Magnus Bane as he turned to face the shadowhunters - and single vampire - that sat before him. Suddenly all trace of humour and lightheartedness was wiped from his expression, instead being replaced with worry and a hint of fear. "I think I know what we're dealing with. And it's not good."

--

Casey had stayed out of his father's sight for a while after returning from his encounter with Alec. His mind was in turmoil, and with the mental fog he was experiencing at a constant he found himself almost unable to figure out what was happening. So in hopes of easing the strain he threw himself into his training - much to his father's approval - all the while listening to the whispers that laced the corridors. Whispers of one of the Iron Sisters and of an Angel. None of it really mattered to Casey, he knew better now than to challenge his father on any front. The backlash wasn't worth it. Still, he enjoyed being in the know. Knowledge was power after all.

Casey was once again mulling over the events that occurred within Central Park. He remembered speaking to Alec about Valentine. Then there was the deafening ringing in his ears, and the pain - dear God the pain was excruciating. But then there was peace almost as if Casey had been lulled to sleep. How very strange indeed. His thoughts however were disrupted when he heard someone entering the room. Turning on his heel Casey swung a blade forward, preparing to lunge for whoever threatened him, but instead he was greeted by a small child. The little girl peered up at the knife wielding boy and merely let out the softest giggle.

Cocking his head to the side Casey crouched down as the child walked to him. "Hello." He greeted. "What are you doing in a place like this?"

"Nana." was her reply. She turned to look back at the door, as if she was expecting someone to be listening. It was then that Casey spied a warlock mark on the side of her neck - a set of gills. Sighing, Casey stood. "Were you told that if you helped the man he would find your Nana?" 

The small girl nodded, her eyes locked on Casey. Strangely, Casey felt a wave of sadness. As if this wasn't right. But he was taught to trust his father. But what had his father done do earn the trust? Casey's brain was on overload, and he gritted his teeth trying to tune out the noise. "I'm Casey, what's your name?"

"Madzie." She smiled in response. "Well Madzie, how about you and I go and visit Valentine, yeah? See if we can get you home with your Nana a little sooner." Madzie nodded enthusiastically as Casey reached down to lift the child. "Is it okay if I lift you? This place can be a little scary sometimes and it will be a little easier if I can hold you."

"I'll protect you." Madzie nodded, misinterpreting Casey's words. Chuckling, Casey lifted the little girl and sat her on his hip. "Thank you Madzie." This time Madzie didn't reply, she just softly touched the side of Casey's burned face. "You must be very brave." She mumbled softly, referring to the scars. "I'm not sure I am any more Madzie. But I'm trying."

--

"Casey." Valentine bellowed, running down yet another corridor in search of his son. "Where are you?" He growled. "Why such anger Father?" Came Casey's voice from the bottom of the hall. Valentine was filled with relief as his eyes locked on the warlock in his sons arms. Feigning a smile, Valentine threw his arms out and laughed. "No anger intended son! I was just looking for little Madzie there. I'm going to take her out of some hot chocolate. So if you just let her down, we'll be on our way."

Casey curled his top lip at his father, clutching the child tighter. "Uh no. If you insist I will go too." Casey watched his father's facial expression tighten as annoyance flickered onto his face. "I don't think that will be necessary Casey." Valentine laughed, to which Casey responded by flashing his eyes at his father. It was somewhat of a party trick to Casey, but he was very much aware of how unnerving his father and his men found it. 

He had found out he could do it for the first time when he accidentally dropped his toothbrush and toothpaste had splattered everywhere. A niche thing to get annoyed at but it was one of those mornings and for some reason that had been Casey's tipping point. The interesting part though was when Casey had stood back up to face the mirror again and found his pupils were now bright red with a thick black ring around them. Startled, Casey had blinked again and his eyes had returned to their pale colour once again. It took a few weeks to be able to change his eyes on command and while he found it mildly amusing, he pushed back the part of his mind that often liked to remind him that this was just another physical manifestation of the darkness within him. 

"Wouldn't you like that Madzie?" Casey cooed as Madzie grinned from ear to ear. Turning back to his father, Casey smirked. "Let's go then Father."

--

"Dear Lord this child can drink some amount of hot chocolate." Casey grumbled as he carried yet another cup to Madzie, this one now topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. The whole encounter of being in this cafe was rather awkward as it consisted of Madzie being clueless as to what was happening, while Casey shot dagger at his father. He knew this wasn't right but every time he tried to voice his concerns to his father that ringing noise came again. The one that warned Casey of the pain he would experience if he pushed it further, because he was a good soldier. And good soldiers do as they're told. 

"Casey."

The dark haired boy looked up from the hot chocolate he was holding to see Jace sitting at the table beside his father. Cautiously, Casey approached him, sliding into the chair next to Madzie one again. Silently, Casey handed the hot chocolate to the young girl who immediately began sipping it. "Be careful Madzie. It's hot." Casey warned, his eyes still on Jace.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, gripping his seraph blade that lay within his coat. "At ease Casey." Valentine sang, chuffed at his sons obedience. "Your brother has come to make a deal with us."

"A deal?" Casey echoed, ignoring the pain that was so evident in Jace's eyes at seeing once more how Valentine had torn him down. "Get on with it then."

"I'm here to give you an ultimatum. I'll let Clary die if I have to, but you need her alive." Jace spoke to Valentine, trying to ignore the burning stare of Casey. "You're bluffing." Valentine retorted. " You couldn't kill your falcon when you were a boy, and you can't kill your sister now."

"That's a fair point." Casey grumbled, toying with one of his curls. His father merely rolled his eyes, while Jace stared in disbelief at how detached his best friend had become. Sighing in sadness, he continued to turn his attention back to Valentine and continue his proposal. " I have demon blood. If you destroy the Downworld, I go with it. I'm just trying to save myself. It's your choice, but I'm not gonna ask you again. Either Madzie comes with me, or your angel dies."

"You have demon blood." Casey snorted. "Try being me sonny boy. You have it easy."

"Casey, if you don't have anything of value to say I would prepare you didn't speak at all." Valentine groaned massaging his forehead.

"Yes father. Of course father." Casey responded, his whole demeanour changing. Jace's eyes widened in shock at how obedient the once stubborn and independent man had become. "However if I may, it could benefit us to have Clary alive. It would be such a waste of potential."

"Yes Casey." Valentine mused. "You may actually be right son." Jace cringed at the referral to Casey as 'son' hating the term, but all the same he was grateful that Casey may have just saved Clary's life. The sad part though was that he wasn't quite sure if Casey actually cared whether his little sister did actually live or die.