The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses, #1)(68)

There was a hush. Alec took the opportunity to walk to the other end of the room and recover his arrows. While he was at it, he took every arrow he found in the targets. He had a feeling he might need them.

“Practice more, guys,” Aline suggested. “We’re going to the records room now.”

“Great,” said a voice from the back of the group. “Because I’d like to talk to Alexander Lightwood in private.”

Helen Blackthorn stepped away from the crowd and stood, her arms crossed, staring Alec down.

Aline froze. Alec’s first impulse was to run and jump out the window. Then he remembered how high above the ground they were.

Helen herded him into the records room, which jutted out from the side of the Institute so there were windows on all sides, and only one door. Aline followed them. She had gone entirely quiet and was being no help. Leon Verlac came too, giving Alec a little wave.

Helen stood in front of the only exit and said, “So, Alec. First you refuse to come to Rome to answer questions, then you hightail it out of Venice from the scene of a murder and head for Rome under your own steam.”

“Don’t forget all the property damage,” Alec said.

Helen did not look amused, though Aline smiled a little. “What do you know about the Crimson Hand?” Helen demanded. “Where is Magnus Bane? What happened in Venice?”

Helen was clearly about to level several more questions when Aline waved a hand in between them. “Excuse me.”

“What!” Helen seemed to notice her for the first time. Their eyes met.

“Hey,” said Aline.

There was a momentary pause.

“Hi,” said Helen.

More silence followed.

“Um, sorry,” said Alec. “I was too busy getting interrogated to make proper introductions. Helen Blackthorn, Aline Penhallow. Aline, this is Helen.”

“And I’m Leon,” said Leon. Aline did not even glance at him.

Helen kept staring at Aline. Alec wondered if his friendship with Aline would bring suspicion on her as well.

“Right,” Helen said at last. “Anyway, back to the questions.”

“I have a question too,” said Aline, and swallowed. “Who do you think you are, Helen Blackthorn, and why are you talking to my friend, a Shadowhunter and a recent hero of the war for Alicante, as if he’s a common criminal?”

“Because he’s being incredibly suspicious!” Helen snapped back.

“Alec is very honorable,” Aline said loyally. “He would never do anything suspicious.”

“He’s traveling with Magnus Bane, who is rumored to be the head of a cult responsible for the slaughter of many faeries and mundanes,” said Helen. “Our only lead was a former cult member called Mori Shu, and Mori Shu was found dead at a party that Magnus Bane and Alec were attending. Also at that party, the whole house fell down.”

“That does sound suspicious, when you put it like that,” Aline admitted.

Helen nodded.

“Nevertheless, there’s an explanation for everything,” said Aline.

“What is it?” Helen asked.

“Well, I don’t know,” said Aline. “But I’m sure there is one.”

Helen and Aline were glaring at each other. Helen, who was taller than Aline, looked down her nose at her. Aline’s eyes narrowed.

“Clearly, neither of you like me much,” said Helen. “I don’t care about that. What I care about is solving a murder and destroying a demonic cult, and for some reason, you are both standing in my way.”

“If Alec was doing something wrong,” Leon put in, “why would he save our lives in Paris?”

Aline darted a glance at Alec. “You saved their lives in Paris?” she said out of the corner of her mouth. Alec nodded. “Great job,” said Aline, and turned back to Helen. “Exactly. A fine point made by what’s-his-name.”

“Leon,” said Leon.

Aline paid no attention. She was entirely focused on Helen. “So your position is, Alec saved your life, is a war hero, but is also supporting an evil murderous cult?”

“I don’t think he’s evil,” said Helen. “I think he’s been seduced and taken in by the evil leader of a demonic cult.”

“Oh,” said Aline.

Her eyes had fallen away from Helen’s at the word “seduced.”

“Magnus has nothing to do with that cult,” Alec argued.

“While we were in Venice, I heard that Magnus Bane founded the cult,” said Helen. “Can you explain that?”

Alec was silent. Helen’s hard blue-green gaze softened.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I understand you trust Magnus Bane. I get it, I do. I trust Malcolm Fade and many others. I have no reason to distrust Downworlders, as you might well understand. But you have to see this looks bad.”

“Magnus didn’t do anything,” Alec said stubbornly.

“Really?” asked Helen. “And where is he, while you storm the Rome Institute on his behalf?”

“He’s back at the hotel,” said Alec. “He’s waiting for me.”

“Really?” Helen said. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Alec pulled out his phone. He called the hotel and asked to be put through to his room. He stood and waited as the phone rang, and rang, and nobody answered.