A/N! Hello, sorry for the delay!
This week has been weird, my mum was in hospital twice and one of my friends was admitted also, so I've been a little stressed aha.
4+ Comments and 5+ Votes for the next chapter :)

ALSO - Huge thank you to devinemoves who made me four gorgeous covers for smokescreen, one of which I'm using now :) Go and check out her covers book if you're interested in seeing the other 3 covers or requesting one of your own! :)

*NOT EDITED*
It's 1am and I'm tired af, sorry for any mistakes!

*****

Adelaide waited impatiently for Raphael to tell the other two shadowhunters what she had already guessed. The vampire walked over, looking uncharacteristically serious as he faced them.

'I'll bring you the rest of Camille's things, but speaking to her is out of the question.' Raphael's tone was firm.

Adelaide rolled her eyes at Raphael's answer, and Simon noticed, shooting her a curious look behind the elder vampires back.

'Her things? This isn't the kind of book she would have just left sitting around.' Clary protested indignantly.

'I'm sorry,' Raphael's words sounded genuine, 'but that's the best I can do.'

'We're supposed to be allies-' Clary started, sounding almost wounded.

'And we are.' Raphael confirmed. 'But Shadowhunters have no business interfering with the night children's affairs. You may look to the clave for justice but the vampires look to me. Camille stays where she is.'

Adelaide grudgingly admitted to herself that Raphael had a point.

'You're making a huge mistake.' Clary's words rang with an unspoken warning, the vulnerability from before leaving her voice immediately.

Raphael simply smirked at the red head, clearly amused by her suddenly bold attitude.

'Clary, back off.' Adelaide's words were sharp, sensing the building tension in the room as the surrounding vampires began inching forward, looking for a reason to attack.

'What? Adelaide we need that book!' Clary frowned at her sister.

'Clary...'

Clary caught the look in Adelaide's eyes and stepped back away from Raphael, looking cross all the while.

Adelaide sauntered over to Simon, sending him a brilliant smile as she latched herself onto his arm, ignoring his confused expression and the slight jump that he gave as they made contact.

'You don't mind if I borrow this one, do you?' Adelaide raised an eyebrow at Raphael, her hand tightening on Simon's arm.

The look on Raphael's face told her that yes, he did mind, but instead of saying so, his words conveyed the exact opposite. 'Fine.' He shrugged. 'But Adelaide, don't do anything stupid.' Raphael's voice lowered as he spoke, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

'Me? Stupid? Never. Besides, we're just taking him for a walk.' Adelaide rolled her eyes playfully.

'Huh?' Simon looked awfully confused, as did both Clary and Isabelle.

'C'mon you three, lets leave the big bad vampire to his brooding and self loathing.'

Adelaide didn't miss the sharp hiss that echoed around the room as she guided her three companions out.

*****

'Okay, will someone please tell me why I'm here?' Simon broke the tense silence once the group was safely away from the vampire-infested hotel.

'I'm wondering that myself.' Isabelle admitted. 'Adelaide?'

'We need that book-' Adelaide started.

'Then why didn't you- Sorry.' Clary's expression turned sheepish at the amused look Adelaide gave her.

'Raphael had no intention of doing anything you asked from the moment we arrived. Vampire's aren't the most loyal creatures at the best of times, and Raphael can't afford for his people to think he's weak.' Adelaide explained. 'Even if you offered him all the blood in the world, he'd refuse. The truce you called.' Adelaide looked at Clary. 'Not everyone is so keen on the idea.'

'It's true.' Simon spoke up. 'Some of the vampires are angry at Raphael's decision. If he'd let you talk to Camille-'

'He'd look weak in front of the rest of them. Unfit to lead and - ' Clary realised.

'- They'd see him as the clave's puppet.' Isabelle finished morosely.

'Then what are we supposed to do?' Clary asked desperately. 'Adelaide?'

Adelaide's mouth was tensed into a thin line. 'We'll have to sneak Camille out. Break into the hotel.'

'What? Are you crazy! Raphael will kill you, you don't know where you're going-' Simon sounded concerned.

Adelaide grimaced. 'You're right. We don't. But you do.'

Simon's expression went blank for a second.

'You want me to...'

'Just point us in the right direction. That's all.'

Simon sighed. 'Fine. But if Raphael-'

'I can handle Raphael.' Adelaide assured him. 'Trust me.'

'Okay.' Simon agreed. 'When are we going?'

'I-'

Adelaide's phone rang shrilly, making Simon cover his ears.

'Adelaide.' Adelaide didn't even have a chance to say hello as she answered the call. 'Have you talked to Camille yet?'

'No, not yet. Raphael's being difficult.' Adelaide frowned. 'Have you found Jace?'

'No. I'm not far away though, I know he's here somewhere.'

Adelaide sighed. 'Find him, and please don't let him do anything stupid.'

'I won't.' Alec agreed easily. 'Talk to Camille, and call me when you're done, okay?'

'Okay. Alec, once you find him, don't let Jace out of your sight whatever you do.' Adelaide bit out gently.

'I know.' Alec's voice softened. 'Don't worry Addy, I won't let him-'

There was a sharp whoosh of air and the sound of shouting in the distance. Adelaide heard Alec's breathing quicken slightly.

'Alec, what's-'

'Jace! Jace, no! Adelaide I have to – Jace!'

Alec's panicked voice was cut off as the call ended.

Adelaide lowered the phone from her ear, trying to quash the fear blooming in her chest. She schooled her expression into a carefully neutral one as she turned and faced the others.

'Everything okay?' Clary questioned curiously.

'Yeah. Just Alec checking in.' Adelaide lied, not missing the disapproving look Simon sent her, having easily heard her conversation with Alec, and the sudden conclusion of it.

'Of course.' Isabelle rolled her eyes, though her lips tilted up in a smile. 'How are we going to do this then?'

'You'll have to sneak one of us in. Probably Clary because she's smaller. Take her straight to Camille.' Adelaide spoke directly to Simon.

'How am I supposed to sneak in, I'm kinda easy to spot.' Clary pointed to her fiery hair.

Simon looked thoughtful. 'Caskets. There are some unclaimed ones lying around. We can use those.'

'Brilliant. Just don't get caught, and we'll be fine.'

'What about us?' Isabelle frowned at Adelaide.

'We have to keep Raphael distracted long enough for him to not notice Clary and Simon.'

A wicked grin formed on Isabelle's lips. 'I love being the distraction.'

'Don't I know it.' Adelaide laughed. 'Alright, Clary you'll need to stay by the back entrance until Raphael see's that I've bought Simon back.' Clary nodded.

'Alright.' Adelaide sighed. 'Let's go wake the dead.'

*****

Jace either couldn't hear Alec or he was simply ignoring him as Alec continually yelled at him to stop as he got closer and closer to his Parabatai, able to see the familiar man facing him.

Alec practically saw red as he spotted Hodge but he forced himself to think straight. The breath left his chest as Hodge raised his weapon of choice – a chakram – ready to throw.

If there was one thing Alec had always admired about Hodge it was his inability to miss a stationary target. Moving targets were a lot more difficult to hit, but still nine times out of ten the throwing weapon never failed to meet it's mark. A stationary target – well – Hodge never missed a single shot.

But even as Alec watched, Jace overpowered their teacher until Hodge was vulnerable, back against the cold cement.

For a moment, Alec thought Jace was simply going to disarm him, but the moment didn't last long as Jace let out an angry snarl, slicing his seraph blade cross in a clean, and practiced movement.

Jace had disarmed the man, but in doing so he'd also removed Hodge's dominant throwing hand.

Hodge let out a scream of pain as the limb detached, staring up at Jace expectantly. Jace stared at his mentor, his expression twisting again as he raised the seraph blade to deliver a fatal blow-

-Right as Alec launched himself at his Parabatai, knocking the both of them to the ground.

Jace immediately began struggling, but Alec used all his strength to hold him down. 'It's over!' Alec yelled.

'It's not over!' Jace spat angrily. 'He's a traitor, he deserves to pay!'

'You nearly killed him!' Alec forced Jace down again, his hand tightening on Jace's jacket.

'Maybe I should have killed him. He sided with Valentine, Alec. The clave let him go once before and look where that got us.'

Jace had a point, but Alec would never admit it.

'What are you gonna do?' Alec asked lowly, unable to admit to himself that the crazed look in Jace's eyes was frightening him slightly. 'You gonna kill every ex circle member, even our parents?'

'Robert and Maryse aren't my parents.' Jace's voice was surprisingly even, despite the murderous expression in his eyes.

'You said it yourself, they raised you, they are your parents!' Desperation crept into Alec's voice. Adelaide had been right about Jace's reaction to Hodge. He could almost physically see Jace's mind working, warping and twisting him into something else.

Jace almost seemed to deflate, and Alec backed off slightly, patting Jace lightly. 'Just calm down.' He breathed.

'There's a dungeon in Idris with your name written all over it.' Alec was vaguely aware that Luke had arrived soon after he had, and was now staring at Hodge with satisfaction.

Alec threw one more glance over his shoulder at Jace as he stood up, walking a few metres before he crouched down beside the man he once respected, pulling out his stele and roughly carving a new rune into Hodge's skin, ignoring the screams that tore from his lips.

Alec's eyes flicked up to Jace, who was frowning at the ground beside him. Alec had always trusted Jace, but in that moment Alec wasn't so sure the Jace he was looking at was the Jace he had grown up with.

Something had changed.

Jace had changed.

'You were smart, not bringing her here.' Hodge panted, the distinct smell of blood and new runes filling the air.

Alec forced himself to not look at Hodge. 'I don't know what you mean.'

'Yes you do.' Hodge breathed. 'You've always taken care of her, looked out for her, made sure she was safe, why would now be any different.'

Alec tried to ignore him.

'You love her.' Hodge laughed, sounding slightly hysterical.

'Shut up.' Alec spat, aware of Luke's eyes on him.

'You don't have to admit it for it to be true.' Hodge, let out a yell as Alec's stele slipped slightly.

'I don't have to tell you anything about my life.' Alec reminded Hodge harshly. 'You have no place in our lives anymore.'

Hodge continued as though Alec hadn't spoken. 'I pity you Alec. I really, truly do.'

'Don't pity Alec; pity yourself. You're going away for a long, long time, Starkweather.' Luke's deep voice interrupted Hodge's speech for a second, but Hodge kept his eyes on Alec, not acknowledging Luke's existence.

'I pity you because you love Adelaide. Emotions cloud judgement Alec, you know that, and yet you let yourself be distracted by a girl.'

'Be quiet.' Alec grit out through clenched teeth.

'Your love for her will kill you Alec. She's Valentine's daughter.'

'That doesn't mean anything.' Alec shot back nastily.

'Doesn't it? Jace and Adelaide are more like their Father than you're willing to admit. I know you've seen it. You saw it just now, with Jace, and you've seen it in Adelaide with her desire to succeed, her ability to be deceitful even to those she loves...'

Alec knew Hodge was referring to Adelaide's missing year, and he tried not to let the desperate man's words affect him, but it was true, Alec knew both Jace and Adelaide had some similar traits to Valentine.

But there were also differences.

'... He'll come for them. For both of them, and then he'll come for Clary and Jocelyn.' Hodge's eyes travelled to Luke, who had tensed up during the interaction, 'and there will be nothing either of you can do about it.'

'I thought I told you to shut up.' Alec shoved Hodge hard, hard enough that his former mentor's head hit the ground hard enough to knock him out. And even if it were only for a few minutes, it was a welcome reprieve for the two shadowhunters and the werewolf.

Alec's fingers itched to reach for his phone, to dial the familiar number and listen to Adelaide's voice flow through the phone into his ears, but Alec knew if he called while she was in the Hotel DuMort, he could compromise her whole assignment, and he couldn't live with himself if she, or Isabelle and Clary, were hurt because he wanted to hear her voice.

Alec closed his eyes and for the first time in his life, he wished that he and Adelaide could be normal – mundane – enough that something as simple as a phone call didn't have the potential to end up being life threatening.

In that moment he didn't want to deal with traitorous teachers, former circle members, neurotic best friends, smug looking vampires and unhinged fathers. He wanted to call the girl he loved and talk to her – really talk to her for more than a few stolen moments.

But Alec and Adelaide weren't mundane, they were shadowhunters, and in their world, feelings like the ones Alec held for Adelaide were dangerous.

Alec sighed, Hodge's words echoing around his head. 

'Your love for her will kill you, Alec.'