"Berlin. No survivors. Bangkok. No survivors. Moscow. No survivors. Los Angeles —"

There were survivors in Los Angeles. Children, as Maryse said. They were in Idris now. Attacks, several in the course of two nights, on six Institutes. They weren't sure yet how the Institutes were breached. Isabelle was staring at the table in front of her while the discussion of the Conclave, led by her mother, rattled on around her. Nearly all the Shadowhunters in New York were in this room, the library at the Institute, but only a few of them were talking. "Sebastian," said Clary's mother. "Cut to the point, Maryse. My son. You wouldn't have called me here if he wasn't responsible. Would you?"

Luke, as usual, moved to make peace. "Maryse? Is Sebastian responsible?"

Maryse took a deep breath. "Yes, yes he was. And he had the Endarkened with him."

"Of course it's Sebastian," Isabelle said finally raising her head. Her face, she guessed, was a mask of hatred and rage. Her voice was bitter. She had several reasons for that. "He said he was coming; well, now he's come."

Her mother sighed. "We assumed he'd attack Idris. That was what all the intelligence indicated. Not Institutes."

"So he did the thing you didn't expect," said Jace. "He always does the thing you don't expect. Maybe the Clave should plan for that." Jace's voice dropped. "I told you. I told you he'd want more soldiers."

"Jace," said Maryse. "You're not helping."

"I wasn't trying to."

"I would have thought he'd attack here first," said Alec. "Given what Jace was saying before, and it's true — everyone he loves or hates is here."

"He doesn't love anyone," Jocelyn snapped.

"Mom, stop," Clary said, with a sense of urgency. "So what are we supposed to do? Fortify the Institute? Hide?"

"Let me guess," said Jace, his voice dripping sarcasm. "The Clave's called for a Council. Another meeting."

"The Clave has called for immediate evacuation," said Maryse, and at that, everyone went silent, even Jace. Isabelle felt like her heart fell in er chest. "All Institutes are to empty out. All Conclaves must return to Alicante. The wards around Idris will be doubled after tomorrow. No one will be able to come in or get out."

Isabelle swallowed. "When do we leave New York?"

Maryse straightened up. Some of her usual imperious air was back, her mouth a thin line, her jaw set with determination. "Go and pack," she said. "We leave tonight."

-----

Some hours later, there was a shimmering Portal just outside the Institute. Most of the Shadownhunters were already gone, but the Lightwoods, as guardians of the Institute, would be the last ones through.

And Isabelle, in her cloak of heavy, velvety black material that buckled across the chest, was standing apart from the others, looking towards the street. She'd asked Flick to come. Just for a moment. Just for a goodbye.

[ooc: NFB, to be continued in the comments. And off to the final book we go! Taken with editing from Cassandra Clare's City of Heavenly Fire.]