A/N 3+ Comments and Votes for the next chapter! :)
IM SO EXCITED TO WRITE THE NEXT PART AHH!
*NOT EDITED*

*****

Adelaide was ignoring the eyes burning into her.

Everywhere she went she could feel the judgmental stares, the unspoken accusations and the hostility coming off of those who were supposed to be her comrades. No one would directly meet her eyes and more often than not, when she entered a room all conversations would cease, a sure fire way to tell that you were the topic of conversation. It seemed that the only person who treated her exactly the same way as they had before the whole mess had begun over a year ago - was Isabelle.

And that was how Adelaide found herself involved in wedding planning.

Isabelle, free from the accusatory stares of the members of the clave had thrown herself into planning Lydia and Alec's wedding without a second thought and surprisingly, Lydia had allowed her to have as much freedom as she desired. Isabelle believed that her accepting behaviour was due to the wedding being about alliances rather than love, but Adelaide was almost certain that it was because Lydia's first wedding, with her true love, would always be the marriage Lydia thought about when the word wedding was mentioned.

Adelaide stared at the assortment of flowers, the different colour schemes, materials and colour combinations laid out on the table. Isabelle was planning everything for the couple; she had even chosen Lydia's dress. So far, the only thing Adelaide had been helpful in doing was tentatively choosing a hairstyle for Lydia, who had smiled gently at her as she squeezed her arm in thanks.

Adelaide had decided that she didn't like weddings at all.

Adelaide was walking behind Isabelle as the girl ordered two women around, chirping happily about lilies and rose petals as Adelaide walked quietly behind. Adelaide growled angrily as she was shoved out of the way by a brunette girl who immediately went to Isabelle's side, holding out two contrasting fabrics.

'Isabelle, which colour do you like better? It's for the curtains adorning the wedding tent.'

Isabelle smiled dreamily at the fabric. 'Cobalt blue, it's elegant, masculine, very Alec.' Isabelle looked over her shoulder at Adelaide who quickly plastered a smile on her face as she nodded in what she hoped looked like approval.

'How are we supposed to get any work done with all this going on?'

Jace pushed past Isabelle and Adelaide, his shoulders tense and his expression annoyed. Adelaide hadn't been able to talk to him since Magnus had dropped the brother bomb on both Alec and Adelaide, and every time she caught sight of him alone she'd blink and then he'd disappear.

Jace was avoiding her.

'We haven't had a wedding here in years!' Isabelle complained as she followed Jace, Adelaide curiously following them both, happy to be free of wedding talk for a few minutes. 'People are allowed to be excited.'

'We need to focus. Have you narrowed down the list of warlocks more powerful than Magnus Bane?'

Isabelle sighed as she left the wedding talk for a second. 'I've got it down to twenty. But it's going to be hard to figure out who cast that spell on Jocelyn.'

'I don't care how tough it is, we've gotta find him. Back at Renwick's, I let Valentine go. I won't make that mistake again.' Jace's voice was hard as he stared at the list of Warlock's Isabelle had put together. 'We've gotta wake up Jocelyn incase she heard anything about his plan.'

'Have you spoken to Alec?' Isabelle asked curiously.

'He's probably busy, what with wedding plans and all.'

Adelaide snickered at Jace's retort and she saw him cast an amused glance at her. It was only visible on his face for a second, but it was there. Adelaide felt the tension in her chest lessen a fraction.

'I don't need to talk to anyone. Let's just stick to the mission, okay?' The hard expression was back in place as Jace walked off.

'Hey Iz, I'll be back okay?'

Isabelle sighed. 'Fine. I'll be with the flowers!'

Adelaide hurried after Jace, grabbing his arm. 'Jace-'

'I don't wanna talk Adelaide. What part of that don't you get?'

Adelaide scoffed. 'You might not want to talk, but I guarantee you need to so c'mon. Out with it.'

Jace stared down at Adelaide who stared at him, a cocky smirk that matched his own plastered across her face as she watched his resolve crumble.

'I don't know what to say. To you, to Isabelle, to Clary.'

Adelaide's expression softened. 'You don't have to say anything. The situation with Clary is... delicate to say the least. But with Isabelle, and with me, you're still just Jace, you're the same person you've always been.' Adelaide reassured her friend.

Jace sighed. 'I just- the whole thing with Clary is – it's wrong, it's so wrong in so many ways.' Jace ran a hand through his hair. 'What the hell is wrong with me?'

Adelaide tugged his hands away from his hair. 'Hey, stop. You can't blame yourself for this. You did nothing wrong and none of this is anyone's fault but Valentines. The man is a monster, Jace. He loves mind games; he's manipulative and sneaky. Take it from me, if your worrying about something he's said, some idea or thought he's put into your head – then you're letting him win.'

'I can't even look at her.' Jace admitted.

'That's okay too Jace. It's gonna take time, things can't just go back to the way they were.' Adelaide smiled sadly. 'Trust me, I'd know.'

Jace gave Adelaide a lopsided smile. 'I know you know.' Amusement crept into his expression. 'Little sister.'

Adelaide promptly slapped his arm, sensing that Jace didn't want to talk about it anymore. 'Uh uh, no way. You don't get to start speaking down to me Jace.'

Adelaide started walking away and Jace didn't hesitate as he followed her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders familiarly. 'Well I mean, technically I'm older than you.' Jace grinned, feeling slightly better now that he knew Adelaide didn't feel weird about their relationship.

Adelaide reached a hand up and messed his hair. 'Older doesn't mean better.' She poked her tongue out at him childishly and he laughed.

The siblings knew that things weren't okay by any means. Everything they'd known, or thought they knew, had been turned around, upside down and inside out for good measure. Adelaide could see the tightness in Jace's eyes, see the despair and anger that flicked across his features every now and then, and just as she could read him, Jace could see the confusion and the hurt in her own eyes. But despite it, as the both of them walked through the halls of their home, it was apparent that even before they'd known about their blood ties, before Valentine had revealed their secrets, that they were more than just friends.

They were family.

*****

Alec stared warily at Clary as Luke left the room.

'How is she?' Alec gestured awkwardly to Jocelyn who still lay in her magic induced coma, looking peaceful as she floated.

'The same, I guess.' Clary frowned, but seemed to stand up taller as she looked up at the one shadowhunter who hadn't liked her from the moment they'd met.

Alec could see Clary mentally preparing herself to speak, so he waited.

'Alec, I know you and I don't always see eye to eye on things, actually we never see eye to eye on anything, but I do want to thank you for everything you've done to get my mum back.' Clary's words were sincere and Alec could tell.

'Actually I – I should thank you.' Alec admitted. 'I don't know what would have happened to Isabelle after the trial if you hadn't returned the cup. You saved my sister, so thank you.'

Clary breathed in, amusement sparking in her expression. 'Yeah, my whole world turned upside down, but um, you and I thanking each other,' Clary laughed slightly. 'That's too much.'

Alec couldn't help but laugh lightly along with her. 'Yeah.'

Clary looked around in confusion as Alec's phone beeped. 'Magnus needs to speak with me. He might have some information about how to wake your mother up or stop Valentine. It's important.'

Clary nodded as Alec left.

*****

Magnus watched as Alec became increasingly annoyed with his questions and Magnus took his obvious annoyance as a sign that his plan was working.

'I'm a shadowhunter. This is about family, and tradition and honour.'

'Honour? Where's the honour in living a lie? What about love? Even shadowhunters fall in love Alec.' Magnus raised an eyebrow at the scowling brunette. 'Just tell me you're in love with Lydia, and I'll stop questioning your decisions.'

Alec sighed, his fists tensing by his sides. 'I don't know. Why do you keep pushing? You-you're confusing me,' Alec admitted.

'Confusion is part of it. That's how you know there's something there. Emotions are never black and white, Alec. They're more like symptoms.' A wicked gleam entered Magnus eyes as he circled the taller male.

'You lose your breath every time they enter a room.'

Alec suddenly found himself short of breath and as he fought to control is, Magnus spoke again.

'Your heart beats faster when they walk by.'

On cue, Alec's heart rate accelerated as he rubbed at his chest to ease some of the discomfort.

'Your skin tingles when they stand close enough to feel their breath. I know you've felt it Alec.'

'You're doing this to me. Stop it.' Alec snapped impatiently, ignoring the shivers that crawled down his spine. 'You don't have any clue what I feel so back off.'

'You can't keep denying what you feel Alec, or you'll end up hurting the people you care about, along with yourself.'

'I don't know what you mean.' Alec denied, crossing his arms.

Magnus snapped his fingers and suddenly a wispy translucent figure appeared in front of Alec, and it took him a second to realise why it was so familiar and why his heart seemed to jump into his throat.

'Don't. Stop it. I have to do what's right for me.' Alec growled as he finally turned around, storming away from the warlock as the image disappeared.

'You have a choice to make Alec! I hope for your sake that you choose the right one!' Magnus called as he watched the brunette walk away.

Alec muttered to himself under his breath angrily. How dare anyone try to tell him what was best for him and how he felt. Alec knew what he had to do and he was hell bent on doing it, not for himself but for his family. He refused to let Magnus Bane come in between the safety of those he cared about. Not even Magnus' magic tricks were enough to sway him, not this time.

But even as the thought entered his mind, the wispy, magic induced image of Adelaide wearing gold and smiling radiantly up at him, was etching itself permanently into his brain.

*****

'We'll talk to Ragnor, then Portal him back to the Institute before anyone knows we're gone.'

Adelaide found herself walking towards the area that Magnus had assured them was Ragnor Fell's house, with a tense looking Clary and Jace leading them.

'So, brother and sister, huh?'

Adelaide shot Magnus a look but he simply smirked at her.

'I don't wanna talk about it.' Jace snapped angrily.

'What, so we're just gonna be work buddies now? All about the mission, and totally ignore the huge bomb that just dropped on us?' Clary asked sounding just as annoyed as Jace.

'Yeah, sounds like a plan.' Jace sighed as he glanced at Clary. 'What do you want me to say, Clary? That I was attracted to my sister?'

'Point of fact, brother and sisters are often attracted to each other. I once knew this one couple in ancient Egypt-'

'Not helping Magnus.'

Adelaide rolled her eyes at the conversation, sighing impatiently. 'We have to hurry before anyone realises I'm gone. I'm still under investigation remember.'

Magnus narrowed his eyes at her. 'Which is why I warned you not to come.'

Adelaide scoffed. 'You try dealing with Isabelle's wedding planning all day and see how long it takes you to look for an escape.'

Adelaide missed the look Magnus shot her.

'Maybe this will all make sense when we wake up Jocelyn.' Magnus began speaking to Clary and Jace again. 'Since she is Adelaide and Jace's mother as well, perhaps-'

Jace stopped suddenly, getting up in Magnus' face. 'Don't say that again. Maryse is our mother. At best, Jocelyn is the woman who abandoned us.'

'Hey, that's not true! My mother would never abandon either of you.' Clary frowned. 'She thought you were dead.'

'Or maybe she just didn't want us.' Jace caught Adelaide's look and he sighed. 'Don't act like you haven't thought it.'

Adelaide couldn't deny it and she shot Clary an apologetic look.

'You don't know her like I do.' Clary looked sad.

'Yeah, that's right, we don't.' Jace snapped as the tension between Jace and Clary rose again.

Adelaide sighed as she started walking, 'Hurry up. We don't have all day.'

*****

'Your eyes give you away every time old friend.'

Adelaide glanced at Magnus as he spoke. Jace was on her right and Magnus was on her left and all three of them were unable to be seen by Clary, who looked at Ragnor as though he were insane as he snapped a reply back at Magnus.

'Yes I know I need to work on not moving my eyes I don't need you to remind me!'

Adelaide snickered at the look on Clary's face. 'She looks terrified.'

'My friends, Jace Wayland, Adelaide Renhallow and Magnus Bane. They were with me but I lost them in the fire.'

'Enough with the games Ragnor, we're on a tight schedule here.' Magnus rolled his eyes at the theatrics though Adelaide didn't think Magnus was one to talk.

'Let me do this my way!' Ragnor snapped at Magnus, making Clary jump and look around wildly, not seeing anyone else in sight. 'Your friends, are they true?'

'Magnus says he's known you for centuries. He sent you a fire message.' Clary answered hesitantly.

'I've had enough of this - this act.' Jace looked annoyed.

'It is not an act! It is not an act it is essential!' Ragnor snapped at Jace and it appeared that Clary had had enough.

'Okay, what is your deal? My friends are missing and if you can't help me then I'll find someone who can.' She crossed her arms, looking impatient.

'What is it worth to you?' Ragnor asked curiously.

'No, Clary don't do it.' Adelaide groaned and Ragnor shot her a warning look but didn't speak.

'You find my friends and wake my mother – I'll give you anything.' Clary admitted and Adelaide cursed.

'That's what I wanted to hear!' Ragnor grinned as he snapped his fingers, watching in amusement as Clary realised they hadn't been alone in the room.

Adelaide immediately stood up, disregarding the conversation as she stretched her legs, walking around curiously, studying the collection of odd-looking items that Ragnor had collected. Her eyes were quickly drawn to a mirror that she glanced into; only it wasn't her reflection looking back.

Alec stared back at her, looking more carefree than she'd seen him since they were children, when they would run around the institute like crazy with Isabelle trying to catch up behind them. His eyes were alight with emotion and the smile on his face made Adelaide's heart hammer against her chest.

Adelaide blinked and the image was gone, but the feelings it had evoked had not.

'What do we do if we can't find the book?' Clary's voice pulled Adelaide out of her reverie.

'We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.' Jace assured her.

'It's a bit drab isn't it?' Magnus looked around the room in distaste, watching Adelaide's dazed face come towards them as she walked away from the mirror that he knew all too well. Magnus was almost certain he knew what Adelaide had seen and he fought to keep the smirk off of his face.

Suddenly there was a scream and the group watched on in shock as a demon attacked Ragnor, who fell off of the balcony with a thump.

'Ragnor!' Magnus called, worry lacing his voice.

'Shax demon.' Jace hissed.

'Creature took me by surprise.' Ragnor choked out as Magnus' hands glowed blue, the colour of healing.

'How could a shax demon get through Ragnor's wards?'

'Must have followed us, jumped through when the fire wall reset.'

'Be still, my dear little cabbage. Your wounds are deep. Hold on, please.'

Adelaide watched as Magnus tried in vain to save his friend, who was gasping and choking violently before his breath cut off suddenly and the warlock stilled.

'No, no, no.' Adelaide immediately wrapped her arm around Magnus, who looked distraught as he stared at his fallen friend.

'Magnus, I'm so sorry.' Adelaide whispered, thoughts of flowers and weddings and unspoken feelings disappearing from her mind immediately as she looked at her friend. 

'For centuries this man knew me better than anyone.' Magnus whispered.

'We have to leave, now-'

Jace and Clary began to argue by Adelaide blocked it out as she watched her friend come apart, the sorrow and grief breaking through the strong façade he was putting up in front of Jace and Clary.

'Shut up.' Adelaide snapped at Jace and Clary who looked at her in surprise. 'Get back to the institute. Magnus and I will sort out what needs to be brought back.-'

'Adelaide-' Clary tried.

'Go. Let me take care of my friend.' Magnus' voice was quiet but still rang with authority. After a slight hesitation, Jace and Clary disappeared through the glowing portal that appeared at Magnus' command.

Adelaide hugged Magnus tighter as he wound his arms around her. And just as he had done for her from the moment they'd met, Adelaide became his strength as she held him together, making sure he didn't fall to pieces.

As Adelaide tried to console her grieving friend, she promised herself that whoever within the institute walls had sold them out to Valentine was going to regret what they had done. Ragnor had tried to help them at the price of his own life and now Magnus was the one suffering the consequences of that decision as he watched one of his oldest friends die in his arms. Adelaide vowed to find the person who'd indirectly caused this and then she would make their final moments a living hell.

Because one way or another - someone way going to pay.