"- Father, please- "

"- From this moment forth, you are no longer a Lightwood." Robert ignored his son's cries, "I suggest you run… run away and never return."

Alec blindly stumbled away from his Father, running around him and out of the building.

There was no-one around to stop him.

There was a blood stain on the floor though.

Racing outside, he winced at the blinding sunlight, but didn't stop.

He needed to get out of New York.

….

"The loss of Alexander Gideon Lightwood is a terrible tragedy, to lose someone who had barely begun to live…"

Maryse was barely holding herself together, leaning against her husband as Isabelle and Jace clung to her. Other Shadowhunters all had their heads bowed in sorrow.

The tragedy had taken everyone by surprise.

"For us all, it is a deep and personal loss."

No-one thought about the lone figure on a bridge, staring up at the stars, a single tear running down his cheek.

…

"Momma! Look!"

Jocelyn Fairchild glanced over in the direction that her daughter was pointing, only to see a small boy slumped against the wall of a nearby alleyway.

He didn't look much older than her precious daughter.

"We need to help him!"

"Clary, wait!" Jocelyn raced after her daughter as the child ran over to the boy.

She couldn't let Clary out of her sight, not when she didn't know who was watching.

As she got closer however, even she could see that the boy was no threat.

He looked exhausted, dried tear tracks on his face.

"Alright." She whispered, looking around to see if anyone was looking for a child, only to see nothing, "We'll help, but he might have someone looking for him, okay?"

"Okay! Okay!"

….

Alec couldn't help but wince as he slowly came to, pushing himself into a seated position… or at least he tried to until he was pushed back down.

"Wait just a bit." A soothing female voice whispered, "Don't rush." A bottle was gently pushed into his hand, "Here, sip at this."

Alec obeyed her cautiously, not fully believing that it wasn't poisoned only to sigh in relief as it soothed his throat.

"There, that's better." The soothing voice whispered, "Are you okay?"

"I-I think so."

"Really?" A younger voice spoke up, making Alec flinch, "Because you nearly died."

"Clary!"

Opening his eyes, Alec frowned at the sight of the two people in front of him. A mother and her daughter if he were not mistaken.

"Thank you for your help." He whispered dully.

His experience of speaking to mundanes was limited, but he wasn't about to forget his manners. Slowly, he moved to his feet, only for the older woman to frown.

"Are you okay? Where are you going?"

Shrug.

He didn't miss the concerned look on her face.

"What's your name?"

"Alec… Alexander Light- "He stopped, remembering his Father's harsh words.

He wasn't a Lightwood anymore.

"Alec." He finished, missing the alarmed look on the woman's face, "Just…. Alec."

"… Where do you live, Alec?" The woman whispered.

"What does it matter." He muttered, "I can't go back."

"Why, what happened?" The girl, Clary, piped up again, only to pout at the stern look her mother shot her.

Alec just shook his head, indicating that he didn't want to talk about it.

"Is there anything we can do?" The woman whispered, "Is anyone going to be looking for you?"

Alec shook his head again, this time on the verge on tears.

The woman stared at him for a moment, before sighing wearily, "Alright… why don't we get you something to eat and figure out where to go from here?"

"Is he going to be my brother?"

"Sssh Clary."

…..

Jocelyn couldn't help but take Alec in after that.

Yes, he was a Lightwood, but he was also a scared child. She had no idea what had happened to make him run away, but he was a child.

He needed someone.

She'd kept her and Clary safe for years now, and she could do the same for Alec.