two girls nodded in support.

"I'm sorry...but that's the best I can do."

"We're supposed to be allies." Clary pointed out.

"And we are." He 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." He said with finality.

"You're making a huge mistake." Clary insisted.

✧

If anyone thought that the upper lair of the hotel DuMort was creepy, it had nothing on the basement. Even with the littered vampires who could quite possibly tear their throats apart in a second, it seemed to be a more appealing setting.

The only source of light were two small windows which were smashed and didn't actually lead to the outside, as well as a few small dusty and old candles which seemed to be only a few moments away from burning down to their wick.

"So these are all Camille's things?" Arya asked as she circled the table of items that were miscellaneously placed between them.

"All I could find," Raphael assured uncertainly. "But she had hideouts all over the city." He admitted.

"Interesting." Arya huffed, ironically looking at a rather boring glass cylinder with a few patterns on it and a small splatter of ink on the inside.

"I thought you were looking for a spellbook." The vampire pointed out since she didn't look like she was exactly succeeding in her task.

"We are." Arya hummed, placing the item down nonchalantly and looking around for the others.

" 'we' Where are your friends?" He asked, walking closer towards the brunette who couldn't help but remember the way she used to feel when he would be near her. But also hadn't taken her mind off of the fact that she hoped Alec was safe.

Arya looked up at him through her eyelashes. She was supposed to be the distraction while Clary, Izzy and Simon snuck in to see Camille—of free her if absolutely necessary.

"Did you really think this stall tactic was going to work? I must admit, with a pretty face like yours, I could've been captivated for hours. But you clearly don't see us like we used to be." He hummed, although he inwardly wished that she denied his claim that they were completely done.

"No, I didn't think it would work." The brunette admitted, placing down the item in her hand and turning to the Vamp. "But I can't deny that I wished my charms still worked on you." She flirted although it didn't feel right doing so.

"Typical Arya, only ever works out what she wants once she doesn't have it. Is that what you did to Alec?" He asked with a smirk, fully aware he was rilling her up. And as much as he wanted to stop what he was sure would be happening upstairs, he also couldn't deny that he would much rather be with her. Teasing her to no end.

"You don't know anything about me and Alec." She scoffed, her hand discreetly making its way to the seraph blade in her back pocket. She wasn't going to use it on him, but it was a method of distraction.

"I know, but I do know about you." He said, just as the blade revealed its self to her. She was mid-swing when the man arrived behind her, stopping the blade with his grip on her hand. "I know your secrets." He whispered into her ear as he maintained his hold from behind her. "I know your desires." He continued. "I know you much more than Alec does." He added and with that Arya forcefully swung her elbow back to right hook him in the jaw. Maybe that practice with Clary benefited her too.

She successfully hit him, but before she got much else to say, he had already sped up the stairs to go and find the others. She had been somewhat successful.

✧

She was stupid. Raphael may have misjudged her for being weak, easily gullible and manipulated. But she wasn't any of those things. She proved that when her task of distracting turned to one of saving when she kicked a human-sized hole in the stone wall of the vampire's lair. You could have said it was luck or accuracy but either way, it shot a direct line of sunlight between where Clary, Isabel and Simon stood with Camille and where Raphael and his posse stood opposite them—ready to exile Simon and potentially kill the other two shadow hunters.

"Seriously, guys?" She grumbled, walking through the hole in the wall to survey the scene in front of her. She followed the path of light and stood opposite the group of vampires, safely protected by the blinding ray of light that could turn all of them to ash in one wrong move. "Typical Raphael, always overestimating how well he really knows me." She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest while he glared at her.

"Adios," Isabel added with a sly wave before they all left the vampires trapped behind the light. The group followed the tunnels which lead beneath the city. None of them wanted to risk their only lead or Simon in the sunlight.

"I think I'd have been better off just staying in the coffin." Camille sighed, with a scowl as she walked between the group, Arya and Isabel in front with Simon and Clary behind, completely surrounding her in case she made for an escape.

"But you didn't, we got you out. Now tell us where the book is, or sunlight will be the last thing you see." Arya turned and smirked at the vampire who glared at her.

"Patients my dear—" The woman tried to coax but none of them had time for her games.

"Enough with the bullshit, Camille. Just because we got you out, doesn't me we won't kill you too." She snapped at her, stopping her before she annoyed her even further.

"There's still one more thing I require of, um..." She said pointing towards the Vampire behind her with a sly grin.

"Simon." He grumbled.

"A Writ of Transmutation." She demanded and everyone except Arya and Isabel frowned.

"What the hell is that?" Simon asked, more than likely worried that it meant she wanted a fingernail or a pint of his blood like people did in the horror movies he watched.

"A document stating you asked her to turn you into a vampire," Isabel revealed while her Parabatai nodded.

"Signed and sealed in your blood, of course." She added and Arya rolled her eyes at the exchange.

"Haven't you had enough of my blood?" The fledgling grumbled, his fists turning white from how hard they were clenched at his sides.

"Never." Camille taunted and everyone continued to watch her wearily. "And I definitely don't want the Clave to falsely accuse me of killing mundanes." She expanded harshly.

"You want Simon to pardon you?" Clary asked, expressing with her tone of voice how outrageous they all thought her request was. "No way." She already answered on his behalf. "You killed Simon. The least we could do is return the favour." Clary implied, holding the seraph blade dangerously close to the Vampires neck—yet Camille didn't even falter.

"And yet...the second I go up in smoke, so does any hope of you finding your precious book." Camille snarled and Clary got closer with the blade before she was stopped by Simons's hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay." He assured her calmly, even if the request was going to impact him.

"So where do we get this document? I can't imagine anyone would want to be friends with you." Arya scoffed and the vamp turned to her with an icy glare.

"I know a guy." She smirked and they all allowed her to take the lead through the tunnels.

✧

"So, Magnus, how long has it been? One hundred? One hundred fifty years?" Camille asked as she sauntered into Magnus apartment as if it were her own. Arya sent the Warlock an apologetic look upon entering for the behaviour of the vamp—especially since she was bothering him on their behalf—even if it was for something she wanted. It would ultimately result in their benefit.

"One hundred and thirty-eight. Oddly, I haven't missed you." He huffed in response.

"Of course you have, my love." She insisted and the look on Magnus's face could have been interpreted that she was correct. But that was quickly cut short by Clary who did them all a favour in shortening the pair's exchange.

"Alright, you two can catch up later. Right now, we need to find the Book of the White." She interrupted.

"And you will, but not without payment. You of all people should understand that." She smirked, turning to Magnus who tilted his head to the side at her comment.

"Of course. And what is it you require?" He questioned—wanting the exchange to be over equally as fast as the others.

"A clean slate." She stated vaguely.

"She wants a Writ of Turning-Me-Into-A-Vampire." Simon snapped.

"And we need you to draft it," Arya explained.

"Hmm. I thought I was done with you." Magnus sighed, staring right into Camille's eyes. And even from the way they were looking at each other—everyone could tell they must have had some kind of a past.

"We'll never be done with each other." She chuckled.

"I'm gonna call for backup," Isabel mumbled to her parabatai who nodded—just as insurance.

"Simon can I talk to you for a minute." Clary excused herself and Simon, leaving Arya awkwardly standing in a room with the two people who clearly had some sort of connection in the past while Magnus drafted the contract. Oh, how she wished Alec was okay. They had learned once before to never feel like they had succeeded too early. They learned that with the cup, with Arya's attack with the Shax demons, especially when Valentine returned and Arya just hoped that this wasn't one of those situations.

She listened to the pair's exchange and felt sickened by the underlying passion. It was truly a disgusting array of affection. And when Camille slammed Magnus lips against her own Arya groaned out in frustration.

"Can we just get this over and done with. The pair of you can reminisce on the past, present and future when we have the book of the white." She grumbled, snatching the contract Magnus had formed from off the table and folding it into her pocket for later—once they had gotten the book.

The brunette heard two pairs of footsteps walk into the room and turned to see her Parabatai and Alec. An instant feeling of relief washed over her and him—while a smirk at her comment towards the Vampire and the Warlock lingered on his lips.

The raven-haired boy walked straight over to her and pulled her into a short hug, his eyes roaming her entire body once they pulled away to check that no harm had been sustained.

"Told you I'd be careful." She assured and he rolled his eyes at her playfully.

"Can never be too sure with you." He muttered, wrapping an arm around her waist as he started his own questioning with the pair.  "Where's the book?"

"It's complicated." Magnus was excused—feeling both happy and jealous that Arya and Alec seemed to have become something.

"Clearly," Arya mumbled and Camille sent her a brief death stare.

"I have it." She announced with a smirk.

"And she's graciously offered it in exchange for her freedom," Arya revealed, returning the death stare.

"We don't negotiate with prisoners," Alec said with finality.

"Prisoner. I beg to disagree. You see, I'm your only chance at saving the world. You need me." She told them tauntingly—while Magnus made subtly motions with his fingers to imitate that she was crazy to the brunette closely fixed to Alec's side.

"You certainly have a type don't you, Magnus," Camille smirked, eyeing Arya up from head to toe while Alec glared at her and Magnus too. "She's cute. Too bad she's not yours. But, hey, maybe it won't last between them—especially if I kill her first." She grinned tauntingly as Alec stood in front of her protectively.

"Try anything... you won't last." Isabel threatened, from the other side of the girl than her brother.

"I'd say she'd be a tasty little angel snack." She smirked and Arya scoffed.

"We don't have time for this. Either hurry this exchange up and give us the book, or I'll do worse than trap you in a coffin, I'll turn you into a pile of dust and you'll cease to exist." Arya smirked and Camille's dropped.

"Where's Clary?" Alec asked and Magnus pointed to the bedroom behind him silently. The raven-haired shadow hunter lead himself and the
brunette to the room—there was no chance he was leaving her with Camille and Magnus.

"Alec, did you find Hodge?" Clary immediately asked once they walked into the room where she and Simon were sitting on the bed.

"Yeah, but Valentine has the cup." He revealed and Clary, Arya and Simons eyes widened.

"What?" Clary asked panicked. "We're too late." She sighed. "Where's Jace, is he okay?" She asked, noticing he either hadn't made himself known yet—which wasn't like him at all—or he wasn't there.

"He went after Valentine by himself. It's like he's totally lost it. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen." Alec explained and Arya ran a stressed hand through her hair.

"We need to find Jace." Clary insisted. "He's in a dark place. We don't know what he's gonna do." She stressed, ready to run past the pair and out into the streets of New York for a manhunt.

"Luke's out looking for him." Alec insisted, stopping her before she had a chance to do anything stupid also. "Jace wants us to stay on mission. That means we have to find the book."

"He's right." Arya agreed.

"Yeah, we have to wake up your mom." Simon also agreed.

"It's our only way to stop Valentine." Clary realised with a sigh just as Camille walked in, snatching the page for Simon to sign from Arya's pocket swiftly and unfolding it in front of Simon.

"Take us to the apartment, give us the book, then you can have your pardon." Simon denied and the woman frowned, turning to look between Arya, Alec and Clary who all gave her the same smirk.

She turned back to Simon but never the less agreed. "I wouldn't have it any other way." She said but it was a blatant lie.

"Good."

✧

The group of presently seven took Simons van to get to Camille's upper side apartment. Herself and the Fledgling hid underneath a blanket in the back to stop the sunlight from turning them to ash while Arya stuck firmly to Alec's side as per his request and Isabel kept a close eye on the way Magnus was looking at Arya and what Camille was doing in the back while Clary drove.

But once they arrived, upon seeing the front of the building it was an instinct that it was an upper-class real estate location and that didn't change upon entering. Even the elevator they took to get to the floor Camille owned was intricately decorated with wooden carvings into the wall. But no matter how beautiful it looked, the elevator was cramped and everyone could say they were happy to escape the confined space.

"Wow, you've got a lot of books," Alec stated, pointing out the obvious hundreds of thousands that must have resided on each wall.

"I've got a lot of time on my hands." She sighed, swiftly being greeted by someone she had no doubt sired into being so attentive. "Welcome home, Madame Belcourt." He greeted and she grinned.

"This place creeps me out," Arya mumbled.

"Yeah." Alec agreed.

"You don't say." Isabel inputted.

"Let's check the perimeter," Arya suggested and Magnus pointed at her with a long sharp nail on his hand.

"Good idea. If I know Camille, she'll have a trick or three up her sleeve." He grumbled and Alec eyes him wearily before pulling his almost-girlfriend-ish with him to check the areas around them.

The pair barely spoke, just happy to be in one another's company, great full that both had stayed safe on their missions.

"Hey, so, I know this isn't the best time to do this, but I can't help but think how relieved I was when I saw you were okay today and if I don't do it now then I'll come up with a million reasons why I shouldn't do it." Alec rambled and Arya looked up at him, waiting for what he was going to say next, the words that were on the tip of his tongue. "Well, I know that we haven't been on an official date yet but we've been in this weird stage where we live each other and didn't tell each other and then another weird stage where we both know but still haven't done anything about it and I don't like the weird stages when I already know what I want. So can we leave the weird stage so that I know that we're actually...you know?" He tried to explain and Arya was sure she understood what he was asking.

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend while we scope around the perimeter for Valentine?" She smirked and he nodded with a breathy chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah that's exactly what I'm doing."

"Yes." She smiled and he smiled too.

"Great."

"Good."

"I won't kiss you right now, but only because I can see Isabel signalling us so I think maybe we should go?" Arya pointed out and the situation quickly changed from special to scary in a matter of seconds.

"You go, I'm gonna stay and hold them off." He assured her and she wasn't convinced.

"Alec, please can we not do this again—" She stressed but Alec gave her a loving but stern look. "Just be safe, okay? This isn't a couple of demons, this is Valentine." She said sternly and he smirked at how much she cared for a second—he knew he wasn't alone in that.

"Promise." He grinned, mimicking her from this morning. He didn't waste a second before he connected their lips momentarily before they had to go their separate ways again.

She followed Isabel into the room and found herself with Clary and Simon also. Clary had a large book in her hand and since its colour fit accordingly she assumed it was the book of the white. "You found it." She breathed a sigh of relief but it was instantly retracted when in place of the doorway appeared a purple portal and outstripped Valentine and a few of his followers.

"Clarissa." He welcomed, his eyes on his daughter from the second he arrived. "So good to see you again." He smiled—a scarily sinister one. It told them a thousand words. It told them he already had a plan in mind, it told them he was confident it would work, it told them that he wasn't scared I'm the slightest because he was sure he would win, sure he would succeed this time. It was the smirk of impending victory. "Where's your brother?" He questioned.

"You think I'd tell you?" She scowled at him.

"Stay away from her!" Simon shouted the closer he got to the group of four. The closer he got to Clary.

He was no match for Valentine however and was easily pushed off, the man's seraph blade swung back and was ready to kill the downworlder without a second thought. Arya was quick to intercept him however and slammed her own sword against his own to block his swing for Simon.

"Your Legacy's, constantly getting in the way. Your parents were the same. That's why I slit their throats." He snapped and Arya couldn't deny that the chill he sent through her bones threw her off. Her nightmares from the night before had become something of the past throughout the day. But now they were all creeping up on her again. "fifteen years later and you're still interfering. Maybe we should stop that permanently." He smirked evilly and forcefully slammed his foot into her chest, sending her flying back into one of his followers who quickly restrained her arms so she couldn't defend herself.

The man didn't waste a second before he pulled his self back again to kill the Legacy girl this time, but it was Isabel who stepped in this time instead. Her whip made its way around his wrist but he pulled against it and instead threw Isabel to the floor.

"Stop!" Jace