Chapter Text
Idris, 10 years ago
The lights were blinding and the music was deafening. Laughters bounced all around the room and some people were already spinning on the dance-floor. Alec knew that Jace wouldn't like it. At all. Jace was a bubble of energy shaped like a boy, but he responded better to silence and calm than overwhelming noises. Alec didn't mind : he actually liked the attention, for once. It wasn't everyday every adult in the vicinity congratulated you and patted you on the head. He was already twelve, but he still liked being treated like a little kid sometimes, especially since past August and his baby brother's birth. His parents didn't have much time for him now. He himself had been very busy learning his runes and his history of the Shadow World. Starting tomorrow, he'll even learn how to be a proper Shadowhunter! Tonight was his first night of fun in a long time, and he probably wouldn't have another like that before Izzy's ceremony.
Jace had tensed next to him as they entered the living room and still hadn't relaxed. The Lightwood had a larger house than the Herondales, so they were the one who organised the party. It felt a bit strange, seeing the large, usually aesthetically minimalistic empty room, but that was a nice kind of strange. Jace would probably be nervous until he saw his parents, though. He was such a mommy's boy. Alec snickered.
As he expected, Jace started grinning the second his mom's blond curls were to be seen. She stood out of the crowd with her small height. Her head stood at most people's chest and shoulders and contrasted with their black shirts. Céline Herondale all but jumped towards them, crushing them in a hug with a strength her frame wouldn't let one suspect. They both shrieked and pretended to fight her hug and to be to old to be held by a mother anyway.
-My boys, she smiled. I'm so proud of you! You're growing up so fast!
She was beaming with joy, and the sight made Alec's heart warm up. She turned to him, and fake-whispered in a conspiratory voice:
-A little someone is looking for you. She said to “find her at the usual place”.
He left Jace with his mom after thanking her profusely, and went to find Izzy. He hadn't seen Isabelle at all that day, and he was a bit scared that she would be angry at him for that. In the past few years, they had become a unit, linked by a bond that he didn't get to share with anyone, not even Jace. It came from sharing beds to fill the void left when their parents stayed to work all night, and secret codes in form of small taps on their hands behind their backs and under tables. Jace was his Parabatai now, but Izzy was his confident. He crossed the room, stopping every couple of steps to thank people congratulating him. He couldn't help but smile, his cheeks hurting a bit now.
Izzy was behind the long black leather couch, of course, as always. It was their hidden spot, their shelter in the house. They had lived many adventures there, exploring caves, fighting pirates and hunting demons. Now that they were entering puberty, there was just enough room for both of them to sit there, their faces were a few inches away. At least, they didn't need to speak loudly to hear each other.
- How are you ? Did it hurt, Izzy asked right away.
-Nah, Alec answered because he was tough.
He then took a second to think about his answer more carefully. He didn't like lying to his sister, and the sore patches on his skin were reminders of the ceremony:
-Well, maybe a bit...
-Which one was the worse?
Izzy had a weird fascination for stuff that hurt and bled. Their dad said that'd make her a great scientist one day. Alec said she'd make a good serial killer. He hoped their father was a bit more right than him.
-The Parabatai one.
Alec still couldn't believe his soul was now linked to Jace's forever. They couldn't be brothers in blood, but they'd be brothers in arms now. Izzy nodded.
-I don't want that one anyway.
Izzy didn't like the idea of someone feeling her feelings and thinking her thoughts, Alec remembered. They had talked about it so many times and Izzy said she might get all the runes in the world on her one day, but she didn't want the Parabatai one except if she had no other choice. Alec didn't really get why but she had always told him it wasn't important if he didn't understand. Alec liked knowing that Jace was just a rune away now, that he could call him for help at any moment.
-I can't wait to get my first rune!
Izzy was only ten and she had just started her learning, so she would have to wait for a while. But maybe not as long as Alec who had to wait for Jace too.
-I'll have my first one here, she said holding up her left wrist, so I can see it all the time.
-And then we can go hunting demons together, Alec nodded excitedly.
Izzy didn't take the time to answer, as silence had suddenly fallen behind the couch. They exchanged a frown, surprised. The party surely couldn't be over yet. Izzy, took his hand. He could feel the shift in the atmosphere too ; something just wasn't right. He vaguely heard voices from afar, then the sound of broken glass, much closer. He jumped, startled. Izzy let go of his hand to muffle a scream. They had to move. Now.
They quickly extracted themselves from behind the couch, to see the room had turned a mess and various adults had started running, pushing and fighting. A man fell unconscious on the floor near Alec. He could see a round rune he didn't know on his neck.
-The Circle's here, he heard someone that sounded a lot like his father exclaim.
Alec had grown up with stories of the horrible things the Circle did. They kidnapped young Shadowhunters to grow their army. They were after magical items that could grow their powers. They threw their disobeying members to Downworlders. A rumor even said that they were trying to kill the Angels themselves. Alec didn't want to believe it. He really didn't, but he couldn't help all of those images piling in his head. He swallowed around a scream when a hand caught his arm. Part of him was able to stay somewhat calm because he recognized Jace's presence right away. But another part was past the point of screaming. His terror was blinding and deafening.
The next few seconds happened in a blur of movement and cries. Maybe Alec was crying. Jace was gripping at his hand and it hurt but it was a welcome pain, a constant sensation that kept him in touch with reality. The only other thingA lec could feel was Jace's own fear next to his. And also, deeper, maybe even scarier, the ocean of calm that was slowly coming into his brother's mind. Jace had told him once that fighting helped him control his emotions. That maybe one day he could teach Alec. At that moment Alec didn't know if he wanted this overpowering detachment for himself.
Jace led Alec through the house. Someone waved at them, and took them into Alec's room. His ears buzzed. There was a sound of a commotion, something that made a wall tremble, and a scream.
-Izzy, Alec exclaimed as he came back to his senses. I have to go find Izzy.
-I'll take care of her, the young woman that got them in said. But you have to get to safety now, I promise I'll get her out next.
He was about to protest but Jace pulled at his hand. Protesting would make them all lose a precious time. A time that could be used to save Izzy. Alec held back on Jace's hand, the woman drew a circle in the air, and they both stepped into the light.