Chapter 24

Derek was shocked hearing this,while Alexander knew he suspected Kate too at first.But it seems the lose of Shadowhunter status hit her hard and she seem to question the beliefs of her father,since it was the things that led her to losing her status.

The interesting she started a relationship with Derek mostly keep her mind out of everything relating to Shadowhunters,but soon led to falling in love with him.

This was really shocking to hear for Derek,who questioned"Then,who did it?"

Alexander taking sip of his drink replied"That would be Gerard Argent,Kate's father it seems he didn't like the idea of his daughter In a relationship with a werewolf,but he was smart enough to not show it and manipulated Kate to getting enough information out of her about the Hales."

Alexander was also suprised when Chris told him about this,after all his father went into hiding after the fire which only confirmed he some how had hand in it and Kate also told Chris about how their father talked to her about meeting the Hales to talk about their relationship, how they talked about Hale family and this confirmed Chris own theory that their father manipulated Kate to get information about the Hales.

Derek was eyes glowed golden eyes which was of a Beta,while Laura also showed her red eyes of Alpha as Alexander calmed them down and said"You guys settle down for now,we will deal with Gerard when we find him again."

Alexander was now visiting his students Sebastien,Jace,Alec, Isabelle and with them was a his new students Lydia Branwell, she was beautiful blonde with blue eyes.

Lydia was related to Jocelyn Fairchild and her ancestor, Henry Branwell was the one who whoe contributed to the creation of the Portal.

They were all training hard and progressing greatly with different weapons.

Alexander nodded and Isabelle stepped out onto the mat and Alec met her. The two nodded to each other and assumed their stances.

Alexander said"Go."

Alec came right at Isabelle with a series of aggressive strokes: slash, butt, slash. No finesse, no attempt to feint or draw Isabelle out.

Flicking aside the initial sally, Isabelle pivoted and tapped Alec the back of the knee, just as he was putting his weight down to reset and defend. He went down, springing back up.

Isabelle squared up, Alec came at her again, and Isabelle set him down again, this time with a little hook sweep inside the ankle.

Alec raised his hands in surrender saying"I am no match for her."

Isabella smirked hearing this,while Alexander gestured Lydia to enter as she took her stance and both sides knew each othe welll because they are best friends.

Lydia started probing, trying to get a sense of how she could provoke Isabelle into a rash attack.

Isabelle decided to take her out fast as she stepped hard ahead and to Lydia'a right, but as

Lydia shifted her weight to anticipate a strike from that direction, Isabelle had already swapped the hanbō to her left and trying to slip it under Lydia'a guard.

But didn't work as Lydia dodged it and both sides went against each other giving it their all,the bout goes with each taking turns strike, block, strike, dodge.But it soon ended with tie and both of them were panting.

This time it was Jace and Sebastian,both of them have huge rivalry with Sebastian winning majority of it.

Sebastian stepped to his side of the mat and

Jace squared up to him.

They closed and Jace threw a first strike, a formal move to start the fight.Sebastian blocked it and came back overhand, loose and easy, thinking they were still in the early formalities.

But Jace caught the end of his hanbō and cracked Sebastian hard in the ribs under his stick arm causing him to grunt in pain

That plot was certainly thickening as Alexander said"One-zero,"

While Jace was still gloating a little, Sebastian, flicked a sideways swing over his dropped guard and popped Jace on the left shoulder before he could block. Just like that, Jace'a gloating turned to a venomous stare now.

Jace twirled his hanbō, reversed his grip and once again went on full offensive.

But Sebastian saw a opening and went with a straight thrust into Jace'a gut.As Jace whoofed out air and doubled over, but Sebastian, wasn't done.He kicked his legs out from under him and as he went down, Sebastian fell with him into a crouch, winding up for a blow to the face that would have broken Jace'a nose. At the last moment, Sebastian held back... and stopped few inches away from Jace's face.

Alexander spoke up"Sebastian please don't let your emotions get thr best of you."

The next point would decide the fight.Sebastian

got up and Jace hopped to his feet, fully on guard.

For Jace who had decisive edges in reach and strength, but he could hardly touch Sebastian.

Together they covered every inch of the mat, hanbōs snapping into each other and tearing through the spaces vacated by the opponent's ankle or shoulder an instant before.

Every fall became a rolling spring into a defensive posture, every parry became a strike, every advance met its perfect countering retreat.

They struck and parried and dodged, and it was a... not a game. It was like fighting yourself.

Alexander spoke up"That's enough."

This made Sebastien and Jace stop,everyone soon lined up as Alexander spoke up"We will be going on your first mission."

This brought some excitment among the group,while Alexander added"Listen up, this is your first mission, so follow my orders clearly."

Everyone nodded, but some of them had other ideas.