Clary reached out to Jocelyn's lifeless body and cut of a lock of her hair.

"What are you doing?"

Clary spun around, her eyes meeting Madeline. "Nothing." She responded, but the Lightwood wasn't budging on the issue. "Hey. What is that for?" She asked.

Clary sighed, "I went to see a warlock in Park Slope. Her name's Iris Rouse and she–" Madi cut her off, "Please Fray, please tell me you're not thinking about doing what I think–"

"I can bring my mom back, Madi. Mine and Jace's Mum." The newer Shadowhunter insisted. Madi shook her head, "No you can't, Clary." Clary shook her head, "She wasn't supposed to die, Madi. It was a mistake. A freak demon attack. I... I want more time with her."

"I'm sure Jace does too... but you never know what you're gonna get back. There are always risks. You could very well conjure a demon in Jocelyn's form." Madeline explained. Clary frowned, "You said could... she could also come back the same, right?" She asked. Madi sighed, "Look, I know you want her back. But you have to trust me, Clary. You don't bring people back from the dead."

☠︎︎

Clary, Alec and Malia reached Iris' house, silence amongst them. The Lightwood reached out to knock on the door, and a moment passed before Leigh, a visibly pregnant lady, opened the door. "Are you here to see Dr. Rouse?" Leigh asked. Clary nodded, "Yes. Um... I, I think she's expecting me. My name's Clary."

Iris, who could see Clary from further down the hall piped up, "I was indeed expecting you. I only wondered when. And I see you brought another guest. Your boyfriend?" She asked, approaching the door.

"No!" Clary and Alec both blurted, visibly weirded out by that statement, which caused Malia to laugh. Iris then looked to the Bane, "Your boyfriend?" She asked.

Malia sent a slight smirk to Alec, who still seemed disgusted. "Please stop talking." He said to Iris, which caused Malia to laugh more.

"Well, whatever you are, leave your weapon outside. Any warlock worth a damn can see through Shadowhunter glamour with ease. Oh, don't worry. It'll be safe in the alcove." Iris said, before Alec's bow and arrow appeared, deglamourised. The trio stepped into the house, as Alec placed his bow and arrows down.

Iris faced Clary, "Did you bring your mother's..."

"Uh, her hair. Yes."

"Perfect. Nurse Leigh will help you with the paperwork." Iris chirped. Alec looked at Iris, confusedly, "Uh, paperwork?" The warlock nodded, "Yeah, just a simple pin prick to draw blood for the oath. For the favor we talked about."

"A blood oath? Mhm I don't think so." Malia declared before Alec asked, "Well, I– I don't know about any favor." Iris shrugged, "Oh, that was the deal we made."

Clary faced Malia and Alec, who both seemed unhappy with this idea. "Guys. It's fine. I wanna do this." She insisted.

"Delightful. Follow me. Your friends can wait here for you in the waiting room." Iris insisted. "Yeah, that's not happening." Malia said, quickly linking her arm through Clary's. Clary looked at the Bane, surprised. "No, we're not leaving her side." Alec ordered.

"Oh, then I can't do this." Iris said before she looked to Clary. "Their energy is too turbulent. I need calm, and they are not calm."

"Okay, I'm gonna need to see some credentials. Show me your warlock mark." Malia ordered, taking a step forward as her cat eyes shining brightly, threateningly. "Dear, if a lady has concealed her mark, assume it's for good reason." Iris said to Malia, but the shorter warlock didn't budge.

"Guys, it's okay. I'll be fine. Really." Clary informed them, as Malia took a step back, her warlock mark fading away. Clary then followed Iris upstairs.

Alec and Malia sat down, both still unsure about this. "I swear if that bitch does anything to Clary—" Malia blurted, as Alec faced her, clearly thinking the same. "Malia, there's a child nearby ssh." The Lightwood shushed her, as Madzie was standing by the stairs.

The Bane looked up, putting on a smile, "Hello Madzie." She said. "This is a nice place. Where are all your toys?" Alec asked, confusedly. Madzie pointed up. On her neck, Alec noticed the warlock mark, it was previously hidden by Madzie's scarf. "Cool gills."

A baby cried in the distance and Madzie suddenly goes up the stairs, leaving the Lightwood and the Bane alone.

After a few silent moments, Malia spoke up. "Something about this place is just so creepy." Malia confessed, before looking to Alec, who smirked slightly. "What are you smirking at?" She demanded. "Just.. thinking about how obvious it is that you seem to care a lot for Clary." He said, as Malia rolled her eyes, "Don't you start." She huffed.

"Hey.. I don't think it's bad. Clary would be a good influence on you." Alec confessed casually, as Malia stayed quiet. Eventually she spoke up.

"I can't love her.."

Alec looked confused, "Why not?" He asked. Malia opened her mouth to explain but Alec quickly piped up with, "If you're worried about what Magnus thinks.. he won't care. He is literally dating another guy." He explained, referring to himself. "It's not that... Magnus wouldn't care. We're both freewheeling bisexuals." Malia replied.

Alec chuckled, before he got up, coming to the conclusion that Malia wasn't going to say anymore about the issue. "Cmon, let's look for Clary. This is taking way too long." He suggested. Malia got to her feet, and headed towards the staircase.

☠︎︎

Alec knocked on Leigh's door. She came out, looking between the pair that stood before her. "Shh. There's babies sleeping."

"We're looking for Clary." Alec said, as Leigh just looked confused, "Who?"

"I came here with her. You met her. Where is she?" Alec ordered, as Malia frowned, confused by this.

Leigh then took Malia and Alec to Iris' living quarters on the 3rd floor. There was no one there anymore.

"Where is she? What have you done with her?" Malia hissed angrily, as she and Alec were waiting for answers. "Cmon. Talk to me." Alec ordered. "I don't wanna get Iris in trouble." Leigh said.

"Nobody's gonna get in trouble. I promise. Was that your baby?" Alec asked. Leigh nodded, "One of them, I think. She takes our memories. I just remember little bits at a time."

"What the fuck.." Malia blurted, confused by this entire ordeal. "Wait, there's... there's more of you?" Alec asked in surprise as Leigh nodded. "The women come and go. The babies are placed in homes where they're cared for. Nurtured."

Malia looked down at her bracelet, which flashed brighlty. The compass span, as the arrow was pointing towards the staircase. Without another thought, she followed it, racing down the stairs.

"Please, try to remember. Where did she take Clary?" Alec asked before he went to turn to Malia, to realise that she was gone.

☠︎︎

Madi, Izzy and Jace reached Iris' house at last. "You take upstairs. Madi take this floor. I'll take the lower level." Jace ordered as the Lightwood girls nodded, "On it." They both said. With that, the trio went separate ways, with their weapons drawn.

☠︎︎

Clary pulled one of the chains from the ceiling and attacked the demon. "Stay back!" She ordered, before looking down at her bracelet, hoping that Malia got the message.

Clary suddenly pictured a rune. Confusedly, she drew it on her hand while the demon got ready to attack. "Clary?!" Malia called out, racing into the room. "Malia, look out!" Clary responded before a beam of light shone out of the Fray's hand and destroyed the demon.

With the demon gone, Malia raced over to Clary. "What the hell was that?" She asked, shocked and surprised but also relieved that Clary was okay. Clary looked down at her hand in complete surprise, "I... I don't know. I... I saw this vision of a rune and– and so I drew it." She confessed.

"You just shot sunlight out of your hand." Malia stated, "I knew you had strong potential.. but that was honestly so incredible." She confessed before she took Clary's hand to examine the rune, but it was gone. "Where is the rune?" She asked. "I don't know. It's gone." Clary blurted, just as surprised as the Bane.

Jace, Madi, Alec and Izzy rushed in suddenly, Alec breathing out a sigh of relief. "There you are." He said.

"Are you girls okay?" Isabelle asked worriedly as both Clary and Malia nodded. "Yeah. I'm, I'm fine."