welcome to the land of bec writes.

Clar wasn't sure what he had expected—sounds of delight, maybe cheers. But instead there was only silence, broken by Jayce. "I guess I thought it was going to be bigger."

Clar looked at the Cup that was in his hand. It was about the size of an ordinary wine glass, just much heavier. He felt power thrumming through it. "It's a perfectly fine size," he said Indignantly. "Oh, it's big enough," she said Patronizingly, "I was just expecting . . . Something, like you know." She made a gesture with her hands, indicating around the size of a cat. "It's the Mortal Cup, Jayce, not the Mortal toilet bowl," said Isidore. "Can we go now?"

Dorothea had her head tilted to the side, her beady eyes very interested. "It's damaged!" she exclaimed. "How could that have happened?" "Damaged?" Clar looked at the Cup, it looked fine to him. "Let me see," said Dorothea, "I'll show you." she took a step towards Clar, holding her hand out. Clar didn't know why but he backed away. Then Jayce was between them, her hand on the sword at her waist, she was in protective mode now. like a Lion ready to pounce. "Not to be of offense," she said calmly, "but nobody but us touches the Cup."

Dorothea stared with the same blank look in her eyes. "Now, now," she said. "Let's not be hasty. Valentine would be very unhappy if something were to happen to the Cup." With a soft sliding sound, Jayce's sword came free from her waist. She held the point below Dorothea's chin. Her look was steady. "I do not know what this is about," she said. "But we're going."

Dorothea's eyes gleamed. "But of course, Shadowhunter," she said and backed up to the curtained wall. "Would you like to use my portal?" The point of Jayce's sword wavered as she stared in confusion for a moment. Then Clar saw her jaw clench. "Do not touch—"

Dorothea gave a chuckle, and quickly she jerked the curtain away. The portal behind the curtains was open. Clar heard Alec suck in her breath behind him. "What is that?" Clar had caught the slightest glimpse of what was visible through the door—red clouds rolling through with black lightening, and a horrifying dark shape running towards them—Jayce shouted for them to get down. She dropped to the floor, pulling Clar down with her. He looked up to see the running dark thing strike Dorothea, who screamed. Instead of knocking her down, the dark thing wrapped around her, the blackness seeping into her skin, Her shape stretching and reforming into something monstrous.

Beside him Jayce whispered something. Something like a sound of disbelief. Next to her, Alec in a choked voice said. "I thought you said there wasn't much demonic activity— you said the levels were low!" "They were!" Jayce growled. "Your level of low must be different than mine!" Alec yelled, as the thing that was once Dorothea howled, it was very misshapened.

Clar tore his eyes away as Jayce stood, yanking him up after her. Isidore and Alec stumbled to their feet, and gripped their weapons. Isidore's hand on his whip was trembling slightly.

"Move it!"  Jayce shoved Clar towards the apartment door. When he looked back over his shoulder, he saw a strom of clouds with a dark shape in it's center. The four of them burst out into the foyer, Isidore ahead of them. He raced to the front door, tried to open it, and turned with a strinken face. "It's resistant. She must have put a spell—"

Jayce cursed and fumbled in her jacket. "Where the hell is my Stele—" "I got it," Clar said, remembering bsje gave it to him earlier. As he reached for his pocket, there was a noise like an explosion. The floor shook under him. He stumbled, nearly falling, he caught at the banister for support. When he looked up, he saw there was now a hole separating the foyer and Dorothea's apartment, through which something was climbing out.

"Alec!" It was Jayce, who shouted: but Alec was standing in front of the hole white faced with a look of horror at the hole. Jayce swore, and ran up to grab her, dragging her back as the thing pulled it's way out of the hole and into the foyer.

Clar heard himself catch his breath. The creatures flesh was bruised-looking. Through the skin black bones stuck out, bones that looked a thousand years old. It's fingers were skeletal looking, it's arms covered in dripping black sores through which there was more black bone. It's face was skull, its eyes and nose caved in like holes. It brushed it's taloned fingers against the floor. It was at the least nine feet tall. Looking down at the four with empty eye sockets "Give me the Mortal Cup, and I will let you live," it breathed out.

Clar panicked and looked at the others. Isidore looked as if the sight of the thing hit him like a punch to the stomach. Alec wasn't moving. It was Jayce, always Jayce, who spoke up. "What are you?" she asked, her voice steady, but was more rattled than Clar had ever seen her.

The thing inclined it's head at them. "I am Abbadon. The demon of the abyss. Mine is the empty places between the worlds. I am the wind and the howling darkness. I am nothing like insects you call demons. You cannot hope to defeat me. Give the Cup to me or die." Isidore's hand trembled as he held his whip. "It's a Greater Demon," he said. "Jayce, we—"

"What about Dorothea?" Clar's voice came Out shrill, not intending to. "What happened to her?" The demons empty eyes regarded him. "She was nothing more than a vessel," it said. "She opened the portal and I took possession of her. He death was a swift one." It moved it's gaze to the Cup in Clar's hand. "Yours will not."

It started toward Clar. Jayce moved and blocked its way, her glittering sword in one hand, a seraph blade in the other. Alec was looking at her, her expression filled with horror. "By the Angel," Jayce said. Giving the demon a look up and down. "I knew Greater Demons were ugly, but no one warned me about the stench."

Abbadon opened its mouth and hissed at her. Inside was two rows of jagged sharp teeth. "I'm not too sure about howling darkness and wind stuff," Jayce went on. "Smells like a landfill to me. Are you perhaps from Staten Island?" The demon leaped at Jayce. Jayce whipped her blades up and outward with a frightening speed; both sank into the demon's chest. Howling, it struck out at her, knocking her aside like a cat batting a kitten aside. Jayce rolled and got back up on her feet, but Clar could see by the way she was holding her arm that she'd been injured.

That was enough to make Isidore dart forward and lash the demon with his whip. It struck the demon, a red weal appeared, blood dripping from it. The demon ignored Isidore and went toward Jayce. With her uninjured hand Jayce drew out another seraph blade. She whispered to it and it blazed up in bright light. She raised it as the demon came up in front of her; she looked so small in front of it, like a child in front of a giant. And she was grinning, even as the demon reached for her.

Isidore, screaming, lashed out at it with his whip, sparying blood across the floor— The demon struck, its razored hand slashing down at Jayce. Jayce staggered back, but wasn't harmed. Something had thrown itself between the demon and Jayce, a slim black shadow with a blazing blade in it's hand. Alec.

The demon shrieked— Alec's featherstaff had pierced it. Snarling it struck out again, its bone-talons catching Alec with a vicious blow that lifted her off her feet and threw her against the far wall. She struck it with a terrible crunch and slid to the floor. Isidore screamed his sister's name. She wasn't moving. Lowering his whip, he started to run to her. The demon turned, hit him with a blow that sent him to the ground. Coughing up blood, Isidore started to get back up; Abbadon knocked him down again, and this time he was still.

The demon was moving toward Clar. Jayce stood there frozen, staring at Alec's crumpled body like someone caught in a daze. Clar screamed as Abbadon got closer. He started to back up the stairs, stumbling up the broken steps, the stele in his hand burned. If only he had a weapon—

Isidore had pulled himself into a sitting position. He screamed at Jayce. Clar heard his own name in Isidore's screams and saw Jayce, blink as if slapped awake, spin toward him. She started to run. The demon was close enough no that Clar saw the sores on its skin. It reached for him. But there was Jayce knocking Abbadon's hand aside. She flung her seraph blade at the demon; it struck the creature's chest, right next to the other two blades that were already there.

The demon snarled as if the blades were simple just a annoyance. "Nephilim," it snarled. "I will take pleasure in killing you, in hearing your bones crunch just as your friend's did—" Jumping onto the banister, Jayce flung herself at Abbadon. The force from the jump knocked the demon backward; it staggered slightly, Jayce clung to it's back. She seized a seraph blade from its chest, sending a splatter of ichor, and brought it down, over and over again, into the demon's back.

Snarling Abbadon backed toward the wall. Jayce had to drop or be crushed. She fell to the floor, landing lightly, and raised her blade again. But Abbadon was too fast for her; its hand struck out, and knocked Jayce into the stairs. She went down, the demon's talons at her throat.

"Tell them to give the Cup to me," Abbadon snarled, talons just above Jayce's skin. "Tell them to give it to me and I'll let you live." Jayce swallowed. "Clar—" But he would never know what she was going to say. Cause at that moment the front door swung open. And for a moment all he saw was brightness. Then, blinking away the bright afterimage. Saw Simone standing in the doorway. Simone. He had forgotten that she was outside.

She saw him crouched on the stairs, her gazed moved past him to Abbadon and Jayce. She reached back over her shoulder. She had Alec's bow, he realized, the quiver was strapped to her back. She drew an arrow from it, fitted it to the string, and with expertise lifted the bow, as if she'd done that exact thing a hundred times. The arrow sprang free, it made a buzzing sound, as it shot above Abbadon and plunged toward the roof—

It shattered the skylight. Dirty glass fell like rain and through it streamed in sunlight, flooding the foyer with light. Abbadon screamed and staggered, shielding itself from the light.

Jayce brought a hand to her unharmed throat, staring in disbelief as the demon crumpled, to the floor howling. Clar expected it to burn up in flames, but instead it folded in on itself. Crumpling like burning paper, and after a minute it was gone, leaving only scorch marks.

——————

What Simone had done was impressive, but Jayce wasn't thinking about that, and couldn't care about it at the moment either. She needed to get to Alec. Alec was hurt because of her. She was struggling to get up, she had to get up, get to Alec.

Clar was there now helping her. "Jayce—" "I'm fine," she said, sitting up and wiping blood from her mouth. "Alec—" "Your Stele," he interrupted, reaching in his pocket. "Do you need to heal yourself?"

She looked at him, he looked worried. But she was holding herself back from lashing out at him. "I'm fine," she told him again, and pushed him aside, not very gently. She got to her feet, and staggered, nearly falling over, but all she could think about was if Alec was okay.

"Alec?" She limped across the foyer to her, who was still unconscious. Isidore was there with Alec's head cradled in his lap, stroking her hair, his dark eyes were shining, like he was on the verge of tears. Alec was breathing slowly, but she was breathing. She was covered in blood in many places and she looked very pale, her blue eyes an unnatural blue.

"Clar!" she yelled. "I need my stele." Alec looked bad, please she thought, please be okay. Alec grabbed her wrist, it left blood smears. "Did I. . .," she started and stopped to look at Clar for a moment. "Did I kill it?" She felt like she had been punched, what was she supposed to say? No? You did? But that would be a lie, she didn't want the last she said to Alec to be a lie. "You—" "Yes," said Clar. "It's dead."

Alec glanced at him and laughed. That made blood bubble up inside her mouth. Jayce pulled her free, and touched her fingers to either side of Alec's face. "Stop," she said. "Hold still, Just hold still." "Do what you must," whispered Alec, and closed her eyes. Isidore held his stele out to her. "Take it." She nodded, grabbed it, and drew the tip of the stele to the front of Alec's shirt. The material parted, cut open as if Jayce had used a knife. She yanked the shirt open, revealing her bra. Clar looked away. Jayce saw the injury, claw marks, each one red and oozing, This is bad she thought. She set her jaw, and set the stele to Alec's skin, moving it back and forth, drawing the runes she knew as well as the back of her hand.

But the runes weren't working, they were vanishing as quickly as she drew them. and what Jayce had feared most came true, she had Greater Demon poison in her. She threw the stele. "Damn it." "What's wrong?" asked Isidore in a shrill voice. "It cut her with its talons," she said. "She has Greater Demon poison in her. The marks can't work." She touched Alec's face again gently. "Alec," she said. "Can you hear me?" She didn't move. Please Alec she thought, move, don't you fucking dare die, you can't.

Isidore with his head over Alec's and arms around her. "Maybe," Clar whispered. "We could—" "Take her to a hospital." said Simone. And once again Jayce was holding herself back from lashing out. "I'll carry her to the van. There's a hospital down—" she started but Iz cut her off. "No. No hospitals," said Isidore. "We need to get her back to the Institute." "But—"

Jayce get it together, she thought, Alec needs you. "They don't know how to treat Greater Demon sounds at hospitals," Jayce said. "Ok. Let's get her to the the van."

There was a blanket in the back that Isidore used to drape across the backseat and they laid Alec down across, her head on sidore's lap. And Jayce crouched down on the floor beside Alec. Jayce felt the panic going through her veins, she looked at Simone and said. "Drive fast, mundane. drive like hell is following you." And she drove.

Alec was going to be okay, she has to be. She thought back to all the times Alec had protected her and kept her safe, why couldn't she had done the same for Alec. She was supposed to, they are parabatai, and fellow warriors. But the worst thing is, because she wasn't thinking about Alec first thing, no, when the demon attacked she thought of Clar, protect Clar her mind said. She wanted to punch herself, please she said for the hundredth time, let Alec be okay.

——————

Simone was driving fast, just as Jayce told her to do. Clar clutched his seat as Simone went across the bridge. He thought about the awful things he had said to Alec, the way she had thrown herself at Abbadon, and the look of victory on her face. When he turned his head now, he saw Jayce kneeling beside her friend as her blood seeped through the blanket. He thought of the little girl with the dead falcon. To love is to destroy.

He turned back around, he felt a lump In the back of his throat. he could see Isidore in the rearview mirror, wrapping the blanket around his sister's throat. He looked up and met Clar's eyes. "How much longer?" "Ten minutes, maybe. Simone's driving as fast she can." "I know," Isidore said. "Simone—what you did back there, that was amazing. You moved so fast. I wouldn't have thought a mundane could have thought of something like that." Simone seemed unfazed even by praise from someone so unexpected. "Shooting out the skylightt, you mean? I hit me after what you guys said about how demons can't stand direct sunlight. I was thinking about it a lot out in the car, so actually it took be a bit to act on. Don't feel bad," she added. "You can't even see the skylight unless you know that it's there."

I knew it was there, Clar thought. I should have done something. Even if I didn't have a bow, I could have thrown something or have told Jayce about it. He felt useless and stupid, and thickheaded. The truth was he was scared, too scared to think right. He felt shame surge up inside him. Jayce spoke at that moment. "It was a good idea," she said. Simone narrowed her eyes. "So, if you don't have a problem with telling me about that thing. where it came from?" "Madame Dorothea," said Clar. "It was her, kinda." "She was never exactly stunning, but I don't remember her looking like that." "She was possessed, I think," said Clar, trying to piece everything together in his head. "She wanted me to give her the Mortal Cup. Then oped the portal. . ."

"It was smart," said Jayce. "The demon possessed her, then hid itself mostly just outside the portal, where the sensor wouldn't pick it up. So we went in assuming to only fight a few Forsaken. But instead we were facing a Greater Demon. Abbadon—one of the ancient ones. Lord of the Fallen." "I guess the fallen one will have to stay that way from now on," said Simone, turning onto the street. "He isn't dead," said Isidore. "Nobody has really ever killed a Greater Demon. You have to kill them in their physical and ethereal forms for them to die. We just scared It off."

"Oh," said Simone looking disappointed. "What about Madame Dorothea—" He broke off, as Alec began to choke, her breath ragged. Jayce swore under her breath viciously. "Why are we not there yet?" "We are. I just would prefer not to crash into a wall." As Simone pulled carefully at the corner.

Clar saw Hodge at the Institute door with it opened. The van jerked as Jayce leaped out, reaching back to help lift Alec as if she weighed nothing, isidore helping Jayce carry her up the walk. The institute door slammed behind them.

Exhaustion washing over him, Clar looked to Simone. "I'm sorry about the blood. I don't know what you'll tell Erica." "Screw Erica," she said with conviction in her tone. "Are you okay?" "Not even a scratch. Everyone else got hurt, but I didn't." "That's their job, Clar," she said gently. "Fighting demons everyday, that's what they do. Not you."

"Yeah, and what do I do?" he asked, looking for an answer. "Exactly what do I do?" "You retrieved the cup," she said. "Right?" He gave a nod and tapped his jacket pocket. "Yeah." He saw relief wash over her. "I was almost afraid to ask," she said. "That's very good, isn't it?" "Yes, it is." he thought about his mom and sister, and his hand tightened on the cup. "I know it is."

-

Church was there to met him at the top of the stairs, yowling, he led him to the infirmary. The doors to the infimary were open, through them Clar could see Alec lying still on one of the white beds. Hodge bent over her; Isidore holding a tray in his hands.

Jayce wasn't with them. She wasn't with them because she was outside the infimary leaning against the wall, her bloody fists clenched at her sides. When Clar stopped in front of her, her eyes flew open, and he saw her pupils were so dilated that the gold was sallowed up.

"How's she doing?" he asked as gentle as he could. "She's lost a lot of blood, regular demon poisonings are common, but since it was a Greater Demon, Hodge doesn't know if the antidotes he usually uses will work."

He reached out to touch her. "Jayce—" She flinched away. "Don't." He sucked his breath in. "I never would have wished for anything to happen to Alec. I'm so, so sorry." She looked up at him as if seeing him there for the first time. "It isn't your fault," she said. "It's mine."

"Yours? Jayce, you can't think—" "Oh, but it is," she said, her voice so fragile. "Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa." "What does that mean?" "My fault," she said. "My own fault, my most grievous fault. It's latin." She brushed his hair out of his eyes, she didn't seem to be aware she was doing it.  "Part of the mass."

"I thought you didn't believe in religion." "I may not believe in sin," she said, "but I feel guilt. We Nephilim live by a code, and that code is not flexible. Honor, fault, penance, those are a very real to us, and they have nothing to do at all with religion and everything to do with who we are. This is who I am Clar," she said so desperately. "I am one of the Clave. It's in my blood and bones. So answer me this, if you are so sure this isn't my fault, why is it that when I first saw Abbadon, my first thought wasn't for my fellow warriors but for you?" She grabbed him by the shirt and gently brought his head down to press their foreheads together, her fists clenched so tightly in his shirt that her knuckles were white. "I knew—i knew—Alec wasn't acting like herself. I knew there was something wrong. But all I could think about was you. . ."

He felt her breath on him. He closed his eyes, letting the closeness of Jayce wash over him like a tide. "If she dies, it will be my fault, it will be like I killed her," she said. "I let my father die, and now I've killed the only sister I have ever had." "That isn't true," he whispered. "Yes, it is." They were so close that they could kiss. And still she held on so tight, as if nothing could reassure her of his realness.

"Clar," she said. "What's happening with me? What the hell is happening to me?" He searched his mind for some kind of answer— and heard someone clear their throat. He opened his eyes. There stood Hodge by the infimary door. "I have done can. she is sedated, in no pain but. . ." he shook his head. "I must go and contact the Silent Brothers at once. This is beyond my abilities."

Jayce drew away slowly. "How much time will it take for then to get here?" "I do not know," said Hodge, as he started walking down the corridor. "I'll send Hugo right away, but they come on their own time." "But this is—" Jayce was saying as she tried to keep up with Hodge, Clar had fallen behind and strained his ears to listen. "She could die, I mean." "She may." was all Hodge said.

The library was dark, Hodge walked over to the desk and turned to lamp on. "It's a shame," said Hodge, as he got some papar and a pen. "That you did now retrieve the Mortal Cup. It would bring Alec some peace and certainly—" "But I did retrieve it," said Clar. "Jayce, didn't you tell him?" "There wasn't time—i was carrying Alec up the stairs and. . ."

Hodge went still. "You have the Cup?" "Yes," Clar said, he pulled it out his pocket. "Right here." Hodge dropped the pen he was holding. "This is the Angel's Cup?" "Yes," said Jayce. "It was—"

"Don't mind that now," said Hodge. He set the paper down on the desk, and walked over to Jayce, he put his hands on her shoulders. "Jayce Wayland, have you any idea what you've done?" Jayce looked at Hodge, surprised. Jayce's hair had fallen into her eyes making her look very young, almost like a child. "I don't know what you mean," Jayce said.

Hodge hissed through his breath. "He would be so proud." "Who?" said Jayce astonished; she'd clearly never heard Hodge talk like this before. "Your father," Hodge said, and lifted his eyes to Hugo. "Hugin," he said, and the bird dived right for Clar's face, it's claws outstretched.

—

Clar heard Jayce shout his name, and then there was feathers and slashing beak and claws. He felt pain along his cheek and lifted his arms up to cover his face. He felt the Mortal Cup pulled from his hand. "No!" he cried, trying to grab it. Pain shot up his arm. And his knees went out from under him. He fell to the floor, his knees hitting hard on the floor. Claws scratched his forehead.

"Enough, Hugo," said Hodge quietly. The bird obediently stopped and spun away from Clar. He blinked blood out of his eyes, his face felt torn up. Hodge hadn't moved from where he was standing, he was holding the Mortal Cup. Hugo circling him.

And Jayce— Jayce lay on the floor at his feet as if she had fallen asleep. All he thought of was her at that moment. "Jayce!" Speaking hurt,  the pain from where Hugo had clawed him was agonizing and he tasted blood in his mouth. Jayce still wasn't moving. "She is not hurt," said Hodge. Clar started to get up, meaning to fling himself at Hodge —but instead he hit something invisible but hard. He was infuriated and slammed his fist against the whatever it was.

"Hodge!" he yelled. Kicking his foot out and almost hitting the invisible wall again. "Don't be a fool. When the Clave finds out—" "I'll be gone by the time they do," he said, as he kneeled over Jayce. "But—" he felt shocked, realization rushing through him. "You never told the Clave, did you? That's why you were acting strange. Because you wanted to Cup all for yourself." "No," he said. "Not for myself." Clar's throat was dry. "You work for Valentine," he whispered.

"I don't work for Valentine," said Hodge. He lified Jayce's hand and drew the engraved ring she always wore from it. He slipped it onto his own finger. "I am however one of his men, it is true." He twisted the ring on his finger three times. For a moment nothing happened; but then Clar heard what sounded like a door opening and turned to the library door. When he turned back the air around Hodge was shimmering, like the surface of a lake. The shimmering wall of air parted, and then a tall man was beside Hodge, as if a had appeared out of thin air.

"Starkweather," said the man. "I assume you have the Cup?" Hodge raised it without a word, he seemed paralyzed, Clar wasn't sure if it was with astonishment it feat. "Lord Valentine," said Hodge. "I wasn't expecting you so suddenly."

Valentine, did not look how Clar had expected, not sure what exactly he had expected though. He looked carved out of staue almost.

"I told you I would come through a portal," he said. "Did you not believe me?" "I did it's just— I was expecting Pangborn or Blackwell, not for to come yourself." "Do you really think I would send them to retrieve the Cup from you? I am not foolish. I know it's luring power." Valentine held out his hand, he had a ring similar to Jayce's, but his had stars around it. "Hand it to me."

But Hodge held onto it. "I want what you promised me first." "Do you not trust me Starkweather?" Valentine smiled. "I'll do what you asked for, a deal is a deal. Though I must say I was surprised by your message. I never thought you'd mind a life like this. You were never one for the battlefield." "You have no idea what it's like," Hodge said. "Being afraid all the time—"

"You're right. I do not." Valentine's voice sounded almost sorrowful, his eyes looked sorrowful as well, like he pitied Hodge. But there was also dislike. "If you do not intend to give me the Cup," he said. "You shouldn't have called me here."

"It is not easy to betray those who trust you." "Do you mean the Lightwoods, or their children?" "Both," said Hodge. "The Lightwoods." Vaelntine reached out, and touched the globe on the desk, tracing the outlines of the continents. "But what is you owe them? You were given the punishment that should have been theirs. If they didn't have such high connections they would have been cursed as well. But as it is, they get to walk free. And are able to go home."his voice as he said home trailed with all it's meaning. His fingers stopped on the globe, Clar assumed it was where Idris must be.

Hodge looked away. "They did what anyone would have done." "You wouldn't have done it. I wouldn't have done it. To leave a friend to suffer in my place? Surely it must bring some bitterness in you, Starkweather, to know they left you to suffer in their place, left the punishment to you. . ."

Hodge shook. "But it isn't the children's fault. They haven't done anything—" "I didn't know you to be fond of children," said Valentine, as if he was entertained by this. Hodge's breath rattled. "Jayce—" "You will not speak of Jayce." Valentine sounded angry for the first time. He glanced to where Jayce lay motionless on the floor. "She is bleeding," Valentine observed. "Why is that?"

Hodge held the Cup closer to himself. "It's not her own blood. She is unconscious, but not hurt." Valentine smiled pleasantly as he lifted his head. "I wonder," he said. "What she'll think about you when she wakes. Betrayal is ugly, but to betray a child—that is a double betrayal, wouldn't you say?" "You won't hurt her," Hodge whispered. "You promised you would not hurt her."

"I did not say that," said Valentine. "Come, Now." He walked away from the desk, toward Hodge, who flinched away. Clar could see the misery. "And what is it you would if I said I did plan on hurting her? Would you fight me? Keep me from getting the Cup? Even if you were to kill me, the Clave would never release of the curse. You'll hide here until you die, afraid. What would you trade to be free of that? To go home again?"

Clar couldn't bear to look at Hodge's face any longer. In a choked voice he said. "Say you won't hurt her, and I'll hand you the Cup." "No," said Valentine. "You'll give me the Cup anyway." He held his hand.

Hodge closed his eyes, his face looked pained, as if he wore being crushed under a significant weight. Then he swore, and held the Cup out to Valentine, with his hand shaking. "Thank you," Valentine said. He took it and looked at it thoughtfully. "I do think you've dented the rim."

Hodge said nothing. Valentine bent down and lifted Jayce into his arms, as he did Clar noticed he was a massive man, his torso like the trunk of an oak tree. Jayce, limp in his arms, looked like a child.

"She will be with her father soon enough," said Valentine, looking down at Jayce's face. "Where she belongs." Hodge gave a flinch. Valentine turned away and walked toward the shimmering air that he had come through. He must have left the portal open behind him, Clar realized. Looking at it was like looking at the sun.

Hodge reached out. "Wait!" He cried. "What about what you promised? You swore you would lift my curse". "True," said Valentine. He stopped, and looked hard at Hodge, who stepped back with a gasp, his hand flew to his chest, as if stabbed in the heart. Black fluid trickled down his fingers and onto the floor.

Hodge lifted his face to Valentine. "It's done?" he asked. "The curse—it is gone?" "Yes," said Valentine. "And may your bought freedom bring you happiness." And with that he stepped through the portal. And vanished, taking Jayce with him.

It was still slightly raining when Simone pulled up at the corner and honked at them twice. Clar's heart took a leap, a part of him was worried she wouldn't come. Jayce squinted through the rain and said something about how the van looked like a rotting banana, which wasn't wrong.

Simone honked again. Clar saw her through the blurry wet windows. with a sigh he pulled his hood up over his head. "Come on, let's go."

They splashed through the filthy puddles on the pavement.

Simone crawled into the back to open the door for them, revealing the torn and beaten up seats, that had springs sticking out.

Isidore's nose wrinkled. "Are these safe to sit on?" "It's safer than riding on the roof," said Simone in a pleasant tone. "Which is your other option." She nodded a greeting at Jayce and Alec, ignoring Clar entirely. "Hi." "Hi indeed," said Jayce, and lifted a bag that held their weapons. "Where can we put these?" Simone pointed to the back, where the girls usually kept their instruments, while Alec and Isidore climbed into the van and sat on the seats.

"Shotgun!" Clar announced as Jayce made her back around the side of the van. Alec grabbed for her bow strapped across her back. "Where?" "He means he wants to sit in the front seat," said Jayce, pushing wet hair behind her ear. "It's something mundanes say."

"That's a very nice bow," said Simone, with a nod towards Alec. Alec blinked water off her eyelashes. "Do you know anything about archery?" she asked, in a tone of doubt. "I did archery camp," said Simone. "Six years of it." The response for this was three blank stares and Clar giving a supportive smile, which Simone ignored as well. She looked up at the sky.

"We should get going before it starts raining again." The front seat was covered in chip wrappers and food crumbs. Clar brushed as much as he could off.  Simone put her foot to the pedal before he'd finished, and flung him back against the seat. "Ow," he said. "Sorry." She still didn't look at him.

Clar heard the soft talking of the others in the back, probably discussing battle plans and the best way to cut off a demons head with getting ichor on your new leather boots. There was nothing separating the others from the front of the van, Clar still felt the awkwardness between him and Simone.

"So what's up with the 'hi' thing?" he asked as Simone turned the car. "What 'hi' thing?" she replied. "The 'hi' thing that people do. How when you saw Jayce and Alec, you said 'hi' and they replied 'hi' back. Why not 'hello'?" "Hello is not badass," she informed him. "Real badasses are laconic."

"So you're saying the more badass you are, the less you say?" "Exactly." She nodded past him, he could see the east river. "That's why in the movies the badasses don't say a word, just nod. The nod means 'i am a badass, and I recognize that you are a badass as well,' but they don't say anything cause they are Wolverine and Magneto and it would mess up their vibe to explain it."

"I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about," said Jayce, from the back.

"Good," Clary said, and Simone gave him a small smile.

——————

When they got to Clar's house, the rain had stopped. Jayce, Alec, and Isidore, went to check the "demon activity levels" while they had Clar and Simone wait by the van.

Simone watched them as they went around the house. "Demon activity levels? Do demons like do workouts inside the house or something?" "No," Clar said and pushed his hood back. "The sensor tells them how powerful the demons are and if there are any demons around." Simone had an impressed look. "That's actually very helpful."

He looked at her. "About last night—" She held her hand up. "Don't. We don't need to talk about it. In fact I don't want to talk about it." "Let me say one thing," he spoke quickly. "I know when you said you loved me, my reply was not what you wanted." "True. I had always thought when I finally told someone 'I love you' they'd say 'I know' back, like in Starwars." "You're so geeky," said Clar, not able to help himself.

She gave him a glare. "Sorry," he said. "Look, Simone i—" "No," she said. "You look, Clar. Really look at me. Do you think you can do that?"

He looked at her. Looked at her brown eyes, her uneven eyebrows, her dark brown hair and shy smile and her hands graceful like a musician's that was all part of Simone, who was part of him. If he told the truth, could he really say that he'd never known she had loved him? Or that he had just never thought what he'd do about it if she did?

He sighed. "Seeing through glamour is easy. It's people that are difficult." "We see what we want to see," she said quietly. "Not Jayce," he said, thinking about those clear and emotionless eyes of her's. "Her more than anyone."

He gave a frown. "What—" "Okay," called Jayce's voice, interrupting their conversation. He turned to her. "We have checked it all, nothing. Very low activity. Most likely just Forsaken, and they probably won't bother us unless we bother them." "And if they do bother us," said Isidore, with a grin. "We'll take them down."

Alec pulled the bag out of the back of the van, dropping it onto the sidewalk. "You ready to kick some demon butt!" she announced. Jayce gave her a odd look. "Alec, are you ok?" "Fine." Not looking at her, Alec put her bow and arrows down in the back seat of the van and grabbed a wooden staff with two blades on the end. "This is much better." Isidore gave his sister a look of concern. "But your bow. . ." Alec cut him off. "I know what I am doing, Isidore."

The bow kay in the backseat, Simone reached a hand out to touch it, then drew back when she saw a group of young women pushing strollers down the street. They didn't notice the armed the three teenagers, standing by the van. "Why can I see you guys?" asked Simone. "What happened to your invincibility glamour?" "You can see us," said Jayce. "Because you know the truth of what you are looking at now." "Yeh," said Simone. "I suppose I do."

She fought a little when they insisted she stay back and wait with the van, Jayce told her the importance of needing getaway car by the curb and ready. "The sunlight is fatal for demons, but not to Forsaken. What if they come after us? What if the car were to get towed?"

The last Clar saw of Simone was her feet on the dash and going through Erica's CDs.

The moment they walked into the house the smell hit Clar, he couldn't quite describe it. it smelled like rotten eggs, bad meat and seaweed rotting in the hot sun. Isidore's nose wrinkled and Alec looked sick, but Jayce looked as if they were in a field of flowers and smelling the perfume of them. "There were demons here recently," she announced with a cold delight.

Clar with an anxious look, asked. "They aren't still here—" "Nope," she shook her head. "We would have picked it up on the sensor. Still." She jerked her chin towards Dorothea's door. "She may have questions to answer if the Clave finds out she has been dealing with demons." "I doubt the Clave will be happy to hear any of this," said Isidore. "Although, she'll probably fair better than us with this." "If we get the Cup they won't care," said Alec, looking around, her blue eyes taking in the foyer. "Especially if we take down a few Forsaken while we're at it." Jayce shook her head. "They are in the upper apartment. I guess that unless we try to get into the upper apartment, they won't bother us."

Isidore blew a strand of hair out of his face and frowned at Clar. "What you waiting for?" Involuntarily Clar glanced at Jayce, who gave him a sideways grin. Go on, her eyes said.

He walked across the foyer to Dorothea's door, gently stepping. The skylight was blackened with dirt and the entryway lightbulb was out,  the only light came from Jayce's witchlight. He reached the door and knocked lightly, and then again with more force.

The door swung open, light spilling out into the foyer. There stood Dorothea.

"Clar!" she exclaimed, and swept him into a hug. "Good God, boy," she said, shaking her head. "The last I saw of you, you disappeared through my portal. Where did you end up?" "Williamsburg," he said. Her eyebrows went up. "And yet they say there is no convenient pubic transportation here in Brooklyn."

She swung the door open all the way and gestured them inside. The place looked to be unchanged, everything the same as it was when Clar was here last: The same tarot cards and crystal ball on the table. He had the urge to grab the cards. Dorothea sat down in a armchair and stared at the Shadowhunters with Beady eyes. Scented candles burned on the table, which didn't do much for the smell that was in the entire house.

"I am assuming you still haven't found your mother and sister?" she asked Clar. He shook his head. "No. But I know who took them, now."

Dorothea darted her eyes towards Alec and Isidore, who were looking closely at the Hand of Fate on the wall. Jayce, looking unconcerned in the slightest in her role as bodyguard was lounging against a chair arm.

Satisfied that the none of her stuff was being destroyed, Dorothea looked back to Clar. "Was it by chance—" "Valentine," Clar confirmed. "Yes." She sighed. "I feared that," she sat back in her chair. "Do you know what he wants from her?" "I know that she was married to him—" "Love gone terribly wrong. The worst."

Jayce made a soft, almost inaudible noise at that—a chuckle. Dorothea pricked her ears at that. "What is so funny, girl?" "What do you know about it?" she said. "Love, I mean." "More than you may think," she said. "I read your tea leaves, little Shadowhunter, remember? Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?"

Clar thought back to that day, when Jayce seemed to not be paying much attention to Dorothea reading their tea leaves and him drawing the ace of cups, in fact he was almost sure Jayce was probably only half there until the name Valentine came up. But he remembered Madame Dorothea saying something about her falling in love with the wrong person, and he wondered if she even cared.

Jayce said. "Unfortunately, my one and only true love remains to be myself." Dorothea roared. "Well, at least," she said. "You don't need to worry about rejection, Jayce Wayland." "Not necessarily, I do turn myself down occasionally, to keep things interesting."

Dorothea roared again. Clar interrupted her. "You are probably wondering why we are here, Madame Dorothea." "I figured," said Dorothea, "That you enjoyed the pleasure of my company. Am I wrong?" "I don't have time for the pleasure of someone's company. I need to help my mom and sister, and to do that there is something I need."

"And that is?". "It is something called the Mortal Cup," Clar said. "Valentine thought that my mother had it. That is why he took her." Dorothea looked astonished. "The Cup of the Angel?" she said in disbelief. "Raziel's Cup, in which he mixed the blood of angels and of men and gave it to man to drink, and created the first Nephilim?" "That's the one," said Jayce with dryness in her voice.

"Why would he think she had it?" Dorothea demanded. "Why Jocelyn, of all people?" Realization started to dawn on he before Clar could say anything. "Because she was not Jocelyn Fray at all, yes of course," she said. "Back then she was Jocelyn Fairchild, his wife. Who everyone thought was dead. She took the Cup and fled, didn't she?"

Clar thought he saw something flick in her eyes but it was gone so fast that he thought he Imagined it.

"So," said Dorothea, "have you any idea what you're going to do now? Wherever she has hidden it, t can't be easy to find—that is if you even want to find it. Valentine could do horrible things with it." "I want to find it," said Clar. "We want—" Smoothly Jayce cut him off. "We know where it is," she said. "It is simply a matter of retrieving it."

Dorothea widened her eyes. "Then where is it?". "It's here," said Jayce, in such a smug tone that Alec and Isidore came over from the bookcase they were looking at to see what was happening. "Here? As in you have it on you?"

"Not exactly," said Jayce, who, Clar felt was enjoying herself in an appalling manner. "I mean you have it." "That isn't funny in the least," she said with such a sharp tone that Clar was worried everything had gone terribly wrong. Why does Jayce always have to antagonize everyone? "You do have it," said Clar quickly. "But you—"

Dorothea sat up from her chair to her full height and Looked down at them angrily. "You are mistaken," she said with ice in her voice. "In Imagining I have the Cup and in daring coming here and call me a liar."

Alec put her hand to the staff. "Uh, oh," she said under her breath.

Bafflely, Clar shook his head. "No," he said very quickly,  "I am not saying you're a liar, I swear. What I am saying is the Cup is here, just you never realized it." Madame Dorothea still looking at him coldly. "Explain," she said. "What I am saying is my mother hid it here," said Clar. "Years ago. But she never told you because it had nothing to do with you." "she gave it to you disguised," Jayce explained, "In the form of a gift."

Blanky Dorothea looked at her. Doesn't she realize? Clar thought,  he was puzzled. "The tarot cards," he said. "The card deck she painted for you."

Dorothea's gaze went to the cards on the table. "The cards?" Clar walked to the table and picked the deck up. He found the Ace of Cups and pulled it out, setting the rest of the cards back down. "Here," he said.

They all were looking at him, perfectly still. He slowly turned the card over and looked at his mother's artwork: the hand wrapped around the golden stem of the Mortal Cup.

"Jayce," he said. "I need your stele." She pressed it into his palm. He turned the card over and traced the runes that were painted on it— a twist there and line here, they meant something entirely different. When he turned the card back over, the picture had changed:;the fingers had released their grasp on the Cup, the hand seemed to be almost offering it to Clar as if saying, take it. He slid the stele into his pocket. And reached into the small square of the card. His hand wrapped around it and he pulled it out, and thought he heard small sighs before, the card that was now blank disappeared into ashes.

(tsc, the characters, and tmi belong to Cassandra Clare. It's similar to the original and some of the quotes are similar.)

Jayce went off to her bedroom, she thought about going to the training room and punching things till her hands were bloody but she decided to go to bed instead, not that she would probably be able to sleep. She threw on a blue pajama shirt. She felt stupid, how could she let a boy crack her like this? Her father warned her and she didn't listen. She knew how horrible she had been back there with Clar but all she could think was that if she hadn't been he would shatter her heart more. So instead of just walking away she had to break everything first.

Her self hatred was raging. And she hated the way he made her feel, the way he could see right through her, the way he made her want to dance around like an idiot, the way he made her nervous and blush. She wished she had gone to the training room to punch something instead. She got into bed, and layed there hoping maybe she'd pass out, but she doubted she would. Then she heard a knock at her door.

——————

After Simone had left, Clar fell down onto his bed, just laying there for a moment, and then picked his sketchbook up. He didn't draw in it, just hugged it to himself, craving the familiarity of it. He had thought about running after Simone but what would he say? What could he possible say that would make any of this better. He thought back to what Simone had told him only a bit ago. And thought of the hundred of times that of the times she had said jokes that Erica had made about them, about the conversations that were hushed when he came into the room. Jayce had seen it from the beginning. But he never took a minute that day when she said that people confessing their love to someone was amusing, especially when unrequited. But he knew what she meant now.

Had said to Simone just early that he only ever had loved four people in his life: his mother, Luke, Joan, and her. He wondered if you could really lose everyone you love in the span of a week. He wondered if you could survive something like that. But he also remembered those moments on the roof of the hotel with Jayce, he'd forgotten about his mother. Forgotten about Luke. Forgotten about Joan. Forgotten about Simone. And the worst part he had been happy in those moments. Perhaps he was being punished now for being happy while his mother and Joan were still missing.

Besides it's not like anything with Jayce actually had been real or meant anything, anyway. Jayce may be an exceptional kisser, but she doesn't care about him at all. She had told him as much.

He put his sketchpad into his lap. Simone was right; it was a great picture of Jayce, he'd caught the hard line of her mouth, Her strange vulnerable eyes.  The wings looked so real, like he could reach out and brushed his fingers across them they would be soft. He trailed his hand across the page, letting himself Imagine. . . He pulled his hand away fast, he stared at the sketch. His fingers touched not dry paper but soft feathers. He flashed his eyes at the runes he had drawn on the corner of the paper.  They were shining like they had when he had seen Jayce draw them with her stele.

His heart was beating a mile a minute. If a rune can bring a painting to life, maybe— Without taking his eyes off the drawing, he fumbled for his pencils, he flipped to a new, clean page and hastily started to draw the first thing he thought of. The coffee mug sitting next to his bed. Drawing from his memories of art class, he drew every detail of the mug. When he finished, it looked as exact as he could get it to. Driven by an instinct that was unfamiliar, he reached the cup and set it on top of the paper. Than carefully, he started to sketch the runes beside it.

——————

Jayce was still lying on her bed pretending to be asleep still, until the knocking on her door became too much for her. She hauled herself out of bed, and winched. As much as she had pretended to be fine up in the greenhouse, her whole body ached from the events of last night. She knew who it was before she opened the door. Perhaps Simone had been turned into a rat again. This time she could stay a damn rat forever, for all she, Jayce Wayland, could care.

He had his sketchpad clutched to his chest, his bright hair a mess. She leaned against the frame of her door, trying to ignore the rush of adrenaline the sight of him gave her. She wondered, not for the first time. Isidore used his looks like his whip, but Clar didn't realize how beautiful he was. Maybe that was the reason why.

She could of only one reason he was here, though it did not make sense after what she had said to him. Her father had taught her, words were weapons, and she had wanted to hurt Clar more than she had ever wanted to hurt anyone. To be factual, she wasn't sure she had ever wanted to hurt someone she had dated before. Usually she just wanted them, and then wanted them to leave her alone.

"Don't tell me," she said, making her words sound the way she knew he hated. "Simone has turned herself into a lizard and you want me to help you with it before Isidore puts her in a terrarium. Well, you'll have to wait till tomorrow. I am off duty." she pointed at herself—she was wearing blue pajamas with a hole in the sleeve, they belonged to Alec. "See, jammies." He seemed as if he hadn't really heard her.

"Jayce," he said. "This is very important." "Don't tell me," she said. "You have a drawing emergency. You need a nude model. Well, I am no mood. You could ask Hodge though," she added, as an afterthought. "I have heard he'll do anything for the—" "JAYCE!" he interrupted, his voice rising to a scream. "SHUT UP FOR A SECOND AND LISTEN TO ME FOR GODS SAKE WILL YOU?" She just blinked. He took a deep breath and looked down at her. His eyes uncertain.

An unfamiliar urge rushed through her: an urge to put her arms around him and say it was alright. She didn't though. In her experience, things were rarely ever all right. "Jayce," he said, so softly she had to lean closer to hear his words. "I think I may know where my mother the Mortal Cup. It's hidden inside a painting."

——————

"What?" said Jayce still staring at him as if he had told her he'd found one of the Silent Brothers singing karaoke in the library. "You mean she hid it behind a painting? All the paintings in your apartment torn from their frames." "I know," he glanced past her inside her bedroom. It appeared no one else was in there, he felt relieved. "Can I come in? I want show you something." She slouched back from the door. "If you insist."

He sat down on her bed, balencing his sketchpad on his knees. The clothes she had been wearing early were flung across her covers, but the rest of the room was as neat as a monk's chamber. There weren't any pictures on the walls, or posters. No photos of friends or family. The blankets were white and pulled tight and flat on the bed. Not a typical teenagers bedroom he thought, and wondered for a second why he analyzed her bedroom. "See," he said, and flipped to the page of the coffee mug he had drawn. "Look at this "

Jayce sat next to him, pushing her discarded clothes away. "It's a coffee mug." Hearing the irritation in his own voice. "I know it's a coffee mug." "I can't wait till you draw something very complicated like central park or a crab. You'll probably send me a singing voicemail." He ignored her. "Look. This is what I wanted to show you." He slide his hand over the drawing, and with a quick motion, reached into it the drawing. When drew his hand back a second later, there was the coffee mug, hanging from his fingers.he had Imagined Jayce would have jumped away, astonishment on her face and gasping something of the sort of "Egad!" But that didn't happen—he suspected, Jayce had probably seen much more strange things in her life, also because nobody said "egad" anymore.

Her eyes did widen though. "You did this?" He just nodded. "When exactly?" "Just a moment ago, in my bedroom, after—adter Simone left." She gave him a sharp glance, but didn't pry at it. "You used runes? What kind?" He shook his head, sliding his fingers up and down the page that was now blnak. "I don't know exactly. They just sort of came to my head and I drew them as I saw them." "We're they ones you saw in the gray book earlier?" "I don't know," he said shaking his head again. "I can't say I know exactly."

"No one ever showed you how to do it? Your mother?" "No. I've told you before, she always told me there was no such thing as magic—" "I bet she may have taught you," she interrupted. "And made you forget afterwards. Magnus did say that you would get your memories back slowly." "Maybe." "Of course," she got to her feet and started to pace, kinda like a cat. "I have never heard of a Shadowhunter having the ability to do something like this before. But it doesn't matter at the moment. You think your mother hid the Cup in a painting? Like you just did with the coffee cup?" He nodded. "But not one in the apartment."

"Where else then? In a gallery? That would mean it could—" "Not a painting at all, actually," he said. "In a card." She paused and turned to him. "A card?" "You remember that tarot deck Madame Dorothea has? The set my mother painted for her?" She nodded. "And remember when I drew the ace of Cups? And then later when I saw the statue of the Angel, the Cup looked familiar to me because my mother painted the Mortal Cup into Dorothea's tarot deck." Jayce was a step behind. "Because she knew it would be safe inside the wards, and a way to give it to Dorothea without telling her what it was or why she was giving her it to keep hidden." "Or that she had to at all. Dorothea never leaves or goes out, she would never give it away—" "And your mother could keep an eye on both it and Dorothea." Jayce sounded impressed. "Not bad, not bad at all."

"I suppose," he said trying to fight the waver out if his voice. "I wish she hadn't done such a good job at hiding it." "Why do you say that?" "What I mean is, if they had found it maybe they wouldn't have kidnapped her in the first place, maybe they would have left her alone. If it was just the Cup—" "No. They would have killed her," said Jayce. And he knew she was being truthful. "These men, are the same men who murdered my father. The only reason she may be alive still is because she hid it so well. So be glad she did."

——————

" I don't see how any of this has to do with us," Alec said, looking through her hair that had fallen into her eyes. Jayce had woken everyone else in the Institute up at the crack of dawn and dragged them all to the library, in her words to "talk battle strategies." Alec was still in her pajamas, Isidore in joggers and a black tank top. Hodge in his usual suit, was drinking coffee from a mug that had a chip in it. Jayce was the only one, her eyes bright, despite the bruises that were fading, looked awake. "I thought the Clave was searching for the Cup now." "It's just better if we get it ourselves," said Jayce said impatiently. "Me and Hodge talked about it and this is what we decided."

"Well, than," Isidore ran a hand through his hair. "I'm game." "I am not," said Alec. "Hodge said there are members of the Clave in the city looking for it right now. Give them the information and let them deal with it." "It isn't that simple," said Jayce. "It is, actually." Alec sat forward with a frown. "This has not a thing to do with us. it has everything to do with your addiction to danger." Jayce shook her in in exasperation. "I don't know why you're fighting me on this."

Because she doesn't want you hurt, Clar thought, and wondered how Jayce couldn't see what was going on with Alec. But he supposed he didn't have much room to talk, considering he missed it with Simone.

"Look, Dorothea does not trust the Clave. She hates them. But she does trust us." "She trusts me," said Clar. "I am not sure about you. I am not quite sure she likes you in the slightest." Jayce ignored him. "Come on, Alec. It will be fun. And think of glory if we were to be the ones to bring the Mortal Cup back to Idris! Our names will be forever remembered." "I do not care about the glory," said Alec, her gaze never leaving Jayce's face. "I care about not doing stupid shit."

"In this case, Jayce is right," said Hodge. "If the Clave were to go to Madame Dorothea's, she would flee with the Cup and would most likely never be found again. No, it's clear Jocelyn only wanted one person to be able to retrieve the Cup, and that person is Clar, and only Clar."

"Then why not let him go alone," said Alec. Even Isidore gave a little gasp at what Alec had said. Jayce, who was leaning forward with her hands on the back of a chair, stood up straight and gave Alec a cold look. Only Jayce, Clar thought could look cool in pajamas bottoms and an old tank top, she pulled it off none the less, probably through sheer will power. He really has started paying close attention to Jayce lately.

"If you're scared of a couple Forsaken, by all means stay home then," she said softly. Alec paled. "I am not scared," she said. "Good," said Jayce. "Then we don't have an issue here?" She looked around the room at everyone. "We are all in this together." Alec mumbled affirmative, and Isidore shook his head. "Yup," he said. "It sounds fun.". "I wouldn't say fun," said Clar. "But I'm in, obviously." "But, Clar," said Hodge quickly. "If you are worried about the dange6, you don't have to go. We can get word to the Clave—" "No," Clar said, surprising himself. "My mom wanted me to find the Cup. Not Valentine. And not the Clave, either." It was not the monsters she was hiding, Magna had said.

"If she really spent almost her entire life trying to keep Valentine away from it, this is the least I can do as her son." Hodge gave him a smile. "She probably knew you would say that." "Besides, don't worry," said Isidore. "You'll be okay. We can take down a couple of Forsaken. They are wild, but not so smart." "And easier to deal with than demons," said Jayce. "Not so tricky. Oh, also we're going to need a car," she added. "Preferably a big one." "Why?" Said Isidore. "We have never needed one before." "We've never had to worry about a precious object with us before. I don't want to take that around on L train," Jayce explained. "What about a taxi," said Isidore. "Or rental vans." Jayce shook her head. "I want an environment in which we can control. I don't want to deal with a taxi driver or rental companies when it's something this important."

"Don't you have a driver's license or perhaps a car?" Alec asked Clar, looking at him with veiled loathing. "Don't all mundanes have a license?". "Not when they are fifteen," Clar said crossly. "I was going to this year, but I haven't yet." "You're so useful." "Well, at least my friend has a driver's license," he shot back. "Simone's got one."

He regreted it the moment he said it. "Does she?" said Jayce with an aggravatingly thoughtful tone. "But she doesn't have a car," he added. "Does she drive her parent's car then?" Jayce asked. He sighed. "No. she usually drives Erica's van. To gigs and stuff. Erica sometimes let's her borrow it for other things. Like if she has a date." Jayce snorted. "She picks up dates in a van? No wonder she is such a hit." "It's a car," Clar said. "You're just angry that Simone has something you don't." "She has many things I don't have," said Jayce. "Like terrible posture, and a lack of coordination that is appalling."

"You know," Clar said. "Many psychologist say that hostility happens to tray just be sublimated sexual attraction." "Ah," said Jayce with blithe. "That may well explain why I so often find myself running into people who appear to not like me." "I like you," said Alec quickly. "That's because we share a sisterly bond," said Jayce, walking to the desk. She took the black phone and held it to Clar. "Call her." "Who?" Clar said, stalling. "Erica? She would never let me borrow the car." "Simone," said Jayce. "Call Simone and ask if she'll drive us to your house."

Clar with a last effort said. "Don't you know Shadowhunters who have cars? Any?" "In New York?" Jayce's grin faded. "Look, everyone is in Idris for the accords, and besides, they would insist on coming with us. This is the only option." He met her eyes for just a moment. There was challenge in them, but more than that, as if she was daring him to explain his reluctance.

Scowling he stalked over to the desk and snatched the phone from her grasp. He dialed Simone's number, it was as familiar to him as his own. He braced himself for his mother or sister to answer, but she picked it up on the second ring.

"Hello?" "Simone?" Nothing but silence for a moment. Jayce looked at him. He closed his eyes shut, pretending she wasn't there. "It's me," he said. "It's Clar." "I am aware of who it is," she said in an irritated tone. "I was sleeping, just so you know." "I know. It's really early. And I'm sorry." he said while nervously wrapping the phone cord around his finger. "Can I ask you for a favor."

There was silence again before she laughed in a tone of disbelief. "You're joking." "I'm not," he said. "We know where to find the Mortal Cup, and are prepared to go and get it. The only problem is, we need a car." She gave another laugh. "I'm sorry, are you saying your demon-slaying buds need to be driven to their next mission with the forces of evil by my mom?" "No. actually, I thought maybe you could borrow Erica's van?" "Clar, do you really think i—" "If we get the Mortal Cup, I'll be able to get my mom back. The Cup is the only reason Valentine has kept her and Joan alive." Simone whistled. "You really think it will be that easy to make a trade? I don't know about that, Clar."

"Me either. But I know it's a chance." "It's powerful, right? Like in D&D it's usually best not to mess with powerful objects until you know what they do exactly." "I'm not going to mess around with it. I'm going to use it to get my mom and sister back." "You're not making sense, Clar." "This isn't D&D," he half-yelled. ""This isn't some stupid game where the worst thing is you have to roll dice again. This is my mom and sister we're talking about, he may be torturing them. He could kill them. I'll do anything to get them back — like i did for you that night."

There was a pause. "You're right. I don't know anything about this, it's not my world. Where are we driving to? So I can tell Erica." "Do not bring her," he said. "I know," she replied, the patience wearing thin in her voice. "I'm not an idiot." "To my house. We're going to my house, that's where it is." "In your house? I thought it had a bunch of zombies in it." "They are Forsaken warriors. Not zombies. Besides, Jayce and the others can deal with them while I go and get the cup."

"Why you? Why do you have to get the cup?" she said alarmingly. "Because only I can," he said. "Pick us up at the corner as soon as you are able to." She muttered something he didn't hear. Then said. "Fine." He opened his eyes. "Thanks, Simone," he said. "You are—" She hung up.

—

"The dilemmas of power are the same each time," said Hodge. "What do you mean?" said Clar. He was sitting on the window seat in the library, Hodge in his chair at the desk with Hugo on the armrest.

After breakfast everyone went to prepare for the mission and Clar had been the back. It didn't surprise him, all he had to do was put on jeans and a shirt and brush his hair, while the others had to arm themselves. He had lost the dagger Jayce had given him so all he had that was a supernatural object was the witchlight stone.

"I was thinking about your Simone," said Hodge. "And about Alec and Jayce, as well as others." He glanced out the window. It was raining, the sky was gray. "How do they have anything to do with each other?" "Where there is unrequited feelings," said Hodge. "There is imbalance. Am imbalance that is easy to use against, but not a wise of course. And where there is love, there is also hate. They can coexist side by side." "Simone does not hate me." "She may grow to, in time, if she felt you were using her," said Hodge and held a hand up. "I know you don't intend to do that, and I'm some cases necessity out weighs nicety. It has me thinking about another."

"What do you mean?" "When your mother was young, she had a best friend, just as you do in Simone. They were like siblings. In fact people mistook them for brother and sister all the time. As they got older, it was clear to everyone around them that he loved her, but she didn't know or see it. She always said he was her 'friend." Clar stared at Hodge. "You mean Like?" "Yes," he said. "Lucian had always thought he and Jocelyn would be together. When she met Valentine and fell in love with him, he couldn't bear it. After they got married, he he left the Circle, he disappeared and let us all think he was dead.

"But—he never said—never even gave a hint at it," said Clar. "He could of told her, he could have—" "He knew what she would say," said Hodge, looking out the window at the rain. "Lucian was not the kind of man to delude himself. No, he was perfectly content with being by her side. Assuming maybe someday her feelings would change." "But if he loved her, why did he tell those men he didn't care what happened to her? Why did he not let them tell him where she was? Why not go after her?" "Like I said before, where there is love, there is also hate," said Hodge. "She hurt him greatly all that time ago. She turned away from him. And yet he was always faithful through the years, never blaming her or confronting her with his feelings. Perhaps he saw the opportunity to hurt her back."

"That's nothing like Luke, he would never." But Clar remembered how cold he had been on the phone, telling him whatever his mother had gotten herself into had nothing to do with him. He remembered the way he had looked at Valentine's men. That wasn't the Luke he had grown up with. That Luke would never want to hurt or punish his mother for not loving him back in the way he wanted. "But she did love him in her way," said Clar, speaking out loud without realizing it. "It just wasn't the way he loved her. Doesn't that still count for something?"

"Perhaps not for him." "What's going to happen after we retrieve the Cup?" he said. "How will we be able to reach Valentine and tell him we have it?" "Hugo will handle that." He shivered. "I am going to grab a jacket," he said and slipped off the window seat.

He went to his room and grabbed his green hoodie. When he returned to the library, everyone else was there: Hodge sitting at the desk as usual, Jayce in all black also usual, Isidore in all black gear and his whip curled around his arm, and Alec with her quiver of arrows strapped across her shoulder. Everyone but Hodge was covered in newly applied Runes, every inch of skin that was bare was inked with swirling patterns.

Jayce had her left sleeve, chin on her shoulder, and was frowning as she was drawing a mark on her upper arm. Alec looked at her. "You're ruining it," she said. "Let me." "I am left-handed," Jayce pointed out, but said it mildly and held her stele out to Alec. Alec appeared to be relieved as she took it, probably because she wasn't sure if she had been forgiven for her behavior early.

"It's a simple iratze," Jayce said as Alec her head over Jayce's arm, gently tracing the lines of the rune. Jayce winched a little as the stele slid over her skin, her fist tightening until her muscles stood out. "By the angel, Alec—" "I am trying to be gentle," said Alec. She let go of Jayce's arm, stepping back to admire her work. "All done." Jayce's fist unclenched, she lowered her arm. "Thank you." She seemed to sense Clar's presence at that moment, and glanced to him, gold eyes narrowing at him. "Clar."

"You look all ready," he said, as Alec, blushed suddenly, stepped away from Jayce and started messing with her arrows. "We are," said Jayce. "Do you still have that dagger I gave you?" "No. I lost it at the hotel, don't you remember?" "Oh, yeah." Jayce looked at him, and appeared to be pleased. "Almost killed a werewolf. I remember."

Isidore, who had been standing at the window, rolled his eyes. "I always forget that's what gets you all hot and bothered, Jayce. Boys killing stuff." "I like anyone killing stuff," she said equably. "Most of all me."

Clar gave am anxious look at the clock. "We should get downstairs. Simone will be here anytime now." Hodge stood up from his chair. "Angel watch over you all," he said.

(characters, tsc, and tmi belong to Cassandra Clare, it's also similar to the original)

After Hodge had fixed Jayce and Simone up, Jayce went off to shower and mysteriously disappeared. Isidore was sitting in his bedroom throwing knives at a target he had in there, when someone knocked on his door. He got up with a sigh, walked over and opened, there was his big sister, looking angry and upset, she tried her best to hide her emotions but so often they were written plain on her face.

"Can I come in?" she asked. He gestured her inside, it was often she did this, usually when Jayce made her upset, unfortunately Jayce made her upset quite often these days. "What's up?" he asked. "Jayce is nowhere to be found, I think she's avoiding us." "Of course she's avoiding us, we both have been picking arguments with her and you know when she gets into these moods, she doesn't like to argue with anyone, well not really."

"I did something stupid, and if she finds out she'll hate me." "Oh?" "I— I slammed Clar against a wall and may have threatened him." Isidore let out a whistle. "Why?" "He knows about me." "I know." "Wait, you knew that he knew?"

"Yeah, he figured it out but I made him promise not to tell anyone." "Well he did, he told me. I want him to leave, to go away and never come back." "Me too, but we're stuck with him for now," he said. "So do what I do my dear sister and throw knives at your walls while pretending it has the face of your arch enemy." "Why are you like this?" He shrugged

They sat in silence for some time. "Hey, Alec?" "Yeah?" "What do you think will happen with Clar when mom and dad get back?". "I don't know," said Alec. "I suppose if he asks for a place to stay, they would have to let him, since he's a Shadowhunter and it would be technically against the law to turn him away."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. So I guess we're stuck with him." "Yeah," she said bitterly. "Maybe he'll grow on us." "Maybe not." "Well, for now we gotta put up with him," he said. "I am tired, so unless you plan to sleep on my floor, cause I do not intend to share my bed, you should go to your own bed and try to sleep a little." "Yeah," she said half heartedly. "Give Jayce time, let her cool off from everything that happened." "You're probably right." "Of course I am," he said, and winked at her.

——————

Jayce opened the door, she took in the familiar smell of the plants, the smell of earth and the sweet smell of the flowers. She looked behind her and saw a look of awe on Clar's face. "Wow," he said, very slowly. "It's so... So beautiful at night." She grinned at him. "And we have it to ourselves. Alec and Iz don't dare coming here, they have allergies."

"What kind of flowers are these?" asked Clar, pointing at one of the shrubs. She shrugged and sat down. "I don't know. Do you think I pay attention in botany class? I am not going to be an archivist. I do not need to learn these things." she may have been slightly lying about not paying attention in botany class. "You just need to have all the knowledge of killing things?" She smiled at him again. "Exactly right," she said as she pulled a napkin wrapped sandwich out if the paper bag. "I also happen to make a badass cheese sandwich. Here ya go." She handed it to him. He smiled at her and sat down across from her.

Jayce pulled some apples, a chocolate bar that had nuts and fruit in it, and a bottle of water out of the bag as well. "Not bad," said Clar admiringly. She pulled her bone-handled knife out of her pocket, Alec had given it to her forever ago. She picked up one of the apples and started carving them into eighths. "It may not be birthday cake," she said, handing him slice. "But hopefully it is at least better than nothing at all.". "I was expecting nothing, so thank you." he said and took bite of the apple piece.

"Everyone should get something on their birthday," she said as she started peeling another apple. "Birthdays are special. My birthday was the one day of the year my father said I could do or have anything I wanted to." "Anything?" he asked with a laugh, his laugh was different from other's laughs. "What kind of anything are we talking here?"

"Well, when I was five, I asked if I could take a spaghetti bath.". "He said no, right?" "No, that's the thing. He let me, he said it wasn't expensive, if that was what I wanted? He had servants fill a bath with boiling water and spaghetti noodles, and after it cooled down enough. . ." she gave a shrug. "I took a bath in it."

"And how was that?'. "Very slippery.". "I am sure." He looked to be in thought for a moment. "Did you ask for anything else?". "Weapons, pretty much," she answered. "Which probably isn't a surprise. Books. I read many books on my own.'. "You didn't go to school?" They were heading to a topic she did not want to venture down. "No," she said slowly.

"But what about friends—" "I didn't have any," she said. "It didn't matter, it had always just been me and my father. He was all I ever needed.". "None at all?" She met his eyes with a steady look. "When I first met Alec," she said. "I was ten years old, that was the first time I'd ever met another person my age. She was the first friend I ever had."

He looked down now. He looked sad and sorry for her. "Don't feel sorry for me," she said. "He gave me the best training, the best education. He took me to see all kinds of places. London. Saints Petersburg. Egypt. We traveled a lot. I've barely left New York at all since he died.". "You're so lucky," Clar said. "I've never left New York. My mom wouldn't even let me go on field trips. I suppose I know why now, though.". "She was probably afraid you'd freak? And start seeing demons in museums?.". "Are there demons in museums?". "I was just kidding," she said and gave him a shurg. "If there were, I am sure someone would have mentioned it."

"I think she just didn't want me to be too far away from her. She changed after my dad died." Jayce raised her eyebrow at him. "Do you remember your father, at all?". "No. He died before I was born.". "You're lucky," she said, she could hear the loneliness in her own voice. "You don't have to miss him, I mean.". "Does it ever go away?" he asked. "Missing your father, I mean?" She didn't answer him, but no it didn't. "You thinking about your mother?". "No. I was thinking about Luke.". "That's not actually his name though," she said and took a bite of apple. "I have actually thought about him. His behavior just doesn't add—". "He's acting like a coward," said Clar bitterly. "You were there, you heard what he said. He won't go against Valentine. Not even if it's for my mother."

"I don't think that's exactly—" The bells started ringing. "Midnight," said Jayce, she set her knife down and got to her feet, she held her hand out to help him up. "Watch." She could feel Clar beside her, but she didn't look at him. She stared at the medianox flowers. She didn't know why she didn't look at him. She recalled the first she had ever saw the flowers bloom. Hodge had woken her, Alec and Iz up at midnight to watch them bloom. She was in the middle between Alec and Iz. The flowers usually only grew in Idris.

She remembered catching her breath at the surprise and beauty of the flower. Alec and Isidore had not had the same reaction, Alec had never been a night person and had fallen asleep against Isidore's shoulder. and Isidore lost interest after he found out it had no lethal uses. She worried perhaps, Clar would be the same: find them interesting, perhaps pleased. But not be enchanted by them.

She wanted him to feel the way she had about the flowers. But she couldn't say why exactly. Then she heard him say a soft "Oh!" As the flower bloomed, opening up, and shimmering with it's golden pollen. "Do the flowers bloom every night?" "Yes, but only at midnight."

She felt relief wash over her. And looked at him, his eyes shining, his fingers flexing unconsciously, they did this she had started to notice when he wished he had his sketchpad, when he wanted to capture an image. She wished she could see the world as he did: see the world as a canvas to be painted. And at the moments when he looks at her that way, as of he were taking her apart, piece by piece to be separated and painted. Almost an emotionless analysis of her — she caught herself on the verge of blushing. Such a strange feeling, so strange she almost didn't know it. Because, Jayce Wayland did not blush.

"Happy birthday, Clarus Fray," she said. He smiled at her. "I got something for you," she said and fumbled slightly reaching for her pocket, he didn't seem to notice though. She pressed the witchlight into his hand, and she was conscious of his hands, Artist hands, delicate but strong, he had calluses from holding paint brushes for hours, he had slight paint stains on his hands. And she wondered did his pulse speed up as well when they touched.

She supposed not, because he drew away quickly, looking at the runestone curiously. "You know when someone says they want a big rock they don't mean literally a big rock." That surprised a smile out of her. Which was odd in of itself, usually only Alec or Iz could surprise amusement out of her. She knew Clar had been brave since she first met him, going after Isidore into a closet unharmed like that took guts. But that he made her laugh was still a surprise.

"Very funny, my sarcastic friend. It's not a rock, exactly. Every Shadowhunter has a witchlight stone.". "Oh." He looked at it with a new curiousity in his eyes. He closed his hands around. "It will bring you light always, even among the darkest of worlds." That was what her father had told her when he had given her first witchlight runestone to her. What other worlds? She had asked, Her father only laughed though. There are more worlds a breath away this one than there were grains of sand on a beach, he had told her. She sometimes wondered about those other Jayces in those worlds, were they happy? Were they sad? Were they dead or alive? Was she by chance so different in one that she could be a boy? Would his name be Jace? And did they wonder about her? Were their parents alive?

Clar smiled again and made a joke about birthday presents. "thank you, it was nice for you to give me anything," he said. "Much better than a spaghetti bath.". "If you share that personal information with anyone, i may have to kill you." she said darkly. "Ok, well, when I was five, I wanted to go inside the clothes dryer and spin round and round," he said. "The only difference is, she said no.'. No"Probably because getting inside a dryer to spin around is very fatal," she pointed out. "But pasta is rarely fatal. Unless Isidore were to make it."

She saw the petals were shedding now. "Then when I was twelve, I wanted to get a tattoo" he said. A strand of hair fell into his eye and like the afternoon he had fallen asleep she wanted to push it away but fought the urge. "Well, usually most Shadowhunters get their first marks at twelve. Maybe it was just in your nature.". "Maybe. But I don't think many Shadowhunters want to get a tattoo of Dontello from teenage mutant ninja turtles on their left shoulder." He had that fond look on his face that he had when talking about something she couldn't quite understand but interested her. It sent a spark through her veins. A kind of fear, but what fear? That he would one day go back to the mundane world and leave her behind in her world of hunters and demons, battles and scars, and do it gratefully?

"You wanted to get a turtle on your shoulder?" He gave her a nod. "I wanted to cover this scar on my shoulder that I got from chicken pox." He pulled his shirt up to show her, there was a scar, it reminded her of something but she wasn't sure what. But she saw more than the scar, she saw the freckles that he had on his back, his shoulder blades. She took the moment to see his eyelashes that were a coppery color, his red curls like fire, the curve of his lips. Some kind of desire swept over her, one she had never felt before, she had desired people in a certain way before, but never in this way. Not in a way that cut through her like fire, and left an almost nervous tremble in her hands.

She looked away and shook her head slightly. "We should probably go back down stairs." He gave her a curious look, his green eyes on her like he could see through her. "Have you and Isidore ever dated?" Her heart still beating too fast. "Isidore?" she echoed. She thought, what does Isidore have to do with this? Why mention him? "Simone was curious," he said, and she disliked the way her name sounded as he spoke it. She had never felt this way before: never anything that could unnerve her like Clar did. She remembered that day back at the coffee shop when she wanted to lead him away into her world, away from the dark haired friend of his, lead him away into her world of shadows. She had a feeling even then he belonged where she did, not with mundanes who did not know the full truth of the world.

This boy right her and his green eyes that pinned her to the wall like a butterfly, was real, so very real. He pierced the distance she had put up so carefully to keep others away. "No, the answer is no. Maybe a time the thought crossed our minds but we're like siblings so it would be weird." "So you and him have never—" "Never," she said. "He hates me, you know." "No, he doesn't," she said, wanting to laugh like a sibling would, knowing their other sibling so well that you knew when they were frustrated. "You just make him nervous, he's always been the only boy in the crowd of our group, getting the attention and now he isn't." It was true, Isidore being the only son the Lightwoods had, was always adored and he got used to it.

"But why? He's so beautiful, and talented, what would I make him nervous about?" "You are too," she said automatically, it surprised herself. His face changed, but she couldn't read it. She had told people they were beautiful before but it was always calculated. This was not, this time she wanted to go to the training room and throw knife after knife at targets, wanted to kick and punch until she was exhausted and bloody. This boy making her this way.

He looked at her not saying anything. Ah, the training room it is. "We should go down stairs," she said again. "Okay." She couldn't read his voice either, she was usually good at reading people but her ability to do so has apparently deserted her and she doesn't know why.

They started to make their way out when she saw something flash a light and Clar backed up bumping into her slightly, he turned around to her and the next thing she knew she was throwing her arms around him to pull him down and kiss him, she was kissing him. She was shocked by herself, she didn't work this way, she always had control over her body. It was an instrument, like the piano. It didn't move without her permission, never. Here she was though, running her hands through his hair and kissing him hard, she ran her hands along his arms. He wrapped his arms around around her and leaned down a little, he ran a hand through her hair, then ran his hand down her back, he smelled like citrus, she tasted the apple on his lips, somewhere for a moment she lost herself. Understanding now why kisses were described the way they were in the books. She was slightly unsteady and she clung to him, he held her weight. She remembered the first time she saw the midnight flower, and thought it was something beautiful that belonged in the world.

She heard a rush of wind, and drew back from Clar, to see Hugo watching them. She still had her arms around him and they were still leaning on each other. His eyes were half closed still. "Don't freak, but I think someone is watching us," she whispered to him. "If Hugo is here that means Hodge is not far behind him. We need to go" He opened his eyes all the way, and looked amused. Shouldn't he be more flustered after that kiss? But he was just grinning. He wanted to know if Hodge had been spying on them and she assured him no, but she felt his laughter through their joined hands and didn't remember how that had happened.

They made their way downstairs. And as they did, hands still interlocked, she understood why people held hands, she had always thought it was something like saying this is mine. But it wasn't like that at all. It was speaking without using words and saying I want here with me and don't go. Suddenly she wanted him in her bedroom, not in that way — nobody she had ever been with had been in her bedroom. It was her safe space, it was special to her, her sanctuary. But she wanted Clar there. She wanted him to see her for who she really was, not the image she put on for the world. She wanted to lay in bed with him and just be snuggled up together. Wanted to watch him sleep and breathe softly. She wanted to see him and have him see her. So even when they got to his bedroom door, and he thanked her for the night again, she hadn't let go of his hand.

"Are you going to bed?" she asked. He looked down at her. "Aren't you tired?" She felt different now. "I have never been more awake." She stepped up on her tiptoes, pulling him down a bit to give a light brush of lips.

Then at that moment Simone flung the door open and came out into the hallway. Clar pulled away from Jayce hastily, and turned his head to the side looking at Simone. She felt a sharp pain, like ripping a bandage off. Simone was saying a bunch of angry words. And Jayce thought back to all the times that she'd been kissing someone in a club against the wall or in a alley behind a bar. And their significant other or the person who thought there was a chance staring at them like someone had ripped their heart out. Jayce had always felt sorry for them, but in a distant way, like in the plays when they were acting out a heartbreak scene.

But now as she looked at Simone she realized she would never have to wonder what it felt like again. Because the look of regret on Clar's face as he looked to Simone, made her realize Simone wasn't the one going to get her heart broken and shattered to pieces. It was Jayce.

Oh, Jayce what have you done now, she thought.

——————

Clar stared at Simone with regret, he knew what was going to happen, something else was going to blow up, and so much had blown up today. He was going to hurt and piss off more people and he had already done that in these last 24 hours as well, he wished he could disappear.

"What the fuck!" said Simone. "Simone! I— I mean I thought that you were—" "Sleeping?" she flushed with anger. "I was asleep, but then I woke up and you weren't there."

He didn't know what to say, he should have known something along the lines of this would happen. He wondered why he hadn't asked to go to Jayce's room, and the thought of that made him blush and want to kick himself more. But the worst part is that he hadn't thought of it because he had forgotten about Simone.

"I am sorry," he said, though not sure who he was apologizing to or for what.

He looked at Jayce from the corner of his eye and thought she looked angry for a moment but he looked again and she looked as she always did: composed, confident, easy, a little bored.

"In the future, Clarus," she said. "It may be a wise decision, to mention you already have someone in your bed, we could avoid situations such as this one.". "You asked her to bed?" asked Simone looking shocked. "Simply ridiculous, right?" said Jayce. "There's no way we could all have fit.". "I didn't ask her to bed," he snapped. "It was just kissing." "Just kissing?" said Jayce mockingly. "How quickly you dismiss our love.". "Jayce. . ."

He saw the malice in her eyes as she trailed off. "I'm sorry we woke you." "Me too," she said and went back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Jayce had a bland smile on her face. "Go after her and tell her how she's your special girl. Isn't that what you always do?". "Would you stop that," he said. "Stop being like this." She widened her smile. "Like what exactly?". "If you're upset, just say it. Don't act like nothing touches you. You seem like you never feel anything at all.". "Maybe," she said. "You should have thought of that before you kissed me." He couldn't believe she just said that. "I kissed you?" She looked at him with malice. "It wasn't that great for me either, don't worry," she said.

She walked off and Clar wanted to run after her, mostly to shake her and ask why she is like this. But he knew that would fill her with satisfaction, so he didn't, instead he went back into his room.

Simone was in the middle of his room, she looked to be lost. He heard Jayce's words replay nastily in his head. He stepped forward but stopped when. He saw what she was holding. His sketchpad, she had it opened to the drawing he had done of Jayce early.

"Nice drawing," she said. "All those art classes are paying off, I see." Usually Clar would be going off on someone who was looking at his sketchpad without his permission but it wasn't the time right now. "Look, Simone—" "I know how pathetic I look going off to sulk in your room," she interrupted as she threw the sketchpad on his bed. "But i needed to get my stuff."

"Are you going?" he asked "Yes. I've overstayed here. and besides, mundanes really don't belong here, anyway." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I wasn't planning on kissing her, ok? It just happened. I know how much you don't like her.". "That's where you're wrong," she said. "I don't like flat soda. I don't like traffic. I don't like terrible boy band pop. I don't like math. I hate Jayce. There's a difference, see?". "She saved your life, you know," he said but felt terrible for it, because she did it so she wouldn't get in trouble with the clave if either of them got killed.

"Slight details," she said dismissing it. "She's an ass, like those girls in highschool we always avoided, because they thought they were so much better than everyone else. I just thought you were better than actually hooking up with one of them."

Something about that made his temper rise. "Oh, yeah. You're sure on a high horse," he snapped at her. "Talking about going to ask the guy with the best abs to the fall fling." He mocked Erica's tone. Simone's mouth thinned. "So what if she's a jerk at times? It's not like you're my mother or sister, you don't need to like her. I've never liked anyone you dated, but at least I was nice enough to keep it to myself."

"This is different," she said. "How, Simone? How is this in any way different?". "Because I see how you look at her!" she yelled. "I never looked at anyone I dated like that! It was something to do while I waited—'. "For what? Waited for what exactly?" They had never fought like this, all their fights were always about who hate the last cookie or which anime character was better. But he didn't stop, and wanted to again kick himself. "For when Isidore came along? You're lecturing me on Jayce when you have been mooning over him like a foo!' he realized he yelled it.

"I was trying to make you jealous!" she yelled back. "Sometimes you are so stupid, Clar. you can't even see what's in front of you." He just stared, what did she mean by that? "Make me jealous? But why?" He saw the look on her face and realized that was the last thing he should have asked. Bitterly she said. "Because, I've been in love you for the last ten years. I thought maybe I should see if you felt the same. But I have my answer now."

She might as well have punched him. He searched for a response but couldn't find one. "Don't even try. There are no words for you to say," she said sharply. He watched her walk away not being able to move, as if he were paralyzed. What was he supposed to say "I love you, as well"? But he didn't. right? She paused at the door for a moment to say. "You want to know what else my mom said about you?" He shook his head, but either she didn't see it or ignored it. "She said you were going to break my heart."

She left, the door shut behind her, and Clar was alone with everything that had happened in such a short amount of time.

Everyone hates him, he thought. He wanted Joan to be here so bad, at least she wouldn't hate him.

He wasn't sure if he had screamed, if he had it would have been again for the hundredth time tonight. The motorcycle was flying, it felt like a rollercoaster almost, it also caused that weird feeling you get in your stomach when you ride one. He looked back at the roof and saw the vampires and werewolves. And looked away honestly if he ever saw that place again it would be way too soon. Jayce was screaming in delight. Clar tightened his arms around her. "My mother told me that if I ever rode a motorcycle with someone, she'd kill me." he called over the sound of the the wind and bike. "Not if she knew me," she called back with confidence. "I am excellent at driving." Clar remembered something suddenly. "Hey, I thought Alec said only some of these could fly?" "Only some can!" "So how did you know this one could?". "I had no idea if it could!" she shouted happily, she did something that the bike ride in the air.

"Look down!" she shouted. "It's so amazing!" Curiousity making him want to, even though he was still terrified, he looked down. They were a lot higher than he had originally thought. They were flying over the city, it was beautiful, in a terrifying way. Jayce tunred the bike towards the brooklyn bridge. "You okay?" she shouted. He didn't say anything, held on more tightly. He felt nauseous all of a sudden and was reminded of how high they were and how they could fall so far down, he shut his eyes. "Clar?" she yelled again. "Are you ok, Clar? He shook his head. Something scratched at him, he ignored it until it scratched again. He opened his eyes slightly, and saw it was Simone, her head out of Clar's jacket, tugging at it. "It's okay, Simone." he said, not wanting to look down. "It was just the bridge—" But she scratched him again, pointing her paw towards the waterfront, rising up on their left. Still dizzy he looked up and saw sunrise. "Yes, it's very pretty," he said, shutting his eyes again. "It's a beautiful sunrise.' Jayce went rigid. "Sunrise?" she yelled, and jerked the bike towards the waterline. Clar leaned as closely as he could without squashing Simone. "What's wrong with the sunrise?" "I told you back on the roof! These bikes run on demon energies!"

She pulled the bike on level with the river. Water splashed them. "When the sun comes up— The bike started to sputter. Jayce said a colorful amount of swear words, and slammed her hand into the accelerator. It lunged forward, jerked under them. Jayce was still swearing, one time in what sounded like french. Clar saw every rock and pebble that was under them as they cleared past the river and over the narrow bank. Below them was the highway, full of early morning traffic.

They barely cleared it, beyond was a parking lot. "Hold on tight, Clar, don't let—" The bike struck the asphalt of the parking lot, the front wheel hitting first. Then it struck a concrete barrier with a terrible force that it lifted him off the bike and threw him sideways, his grip breaking from Jayce. He curled up into a protective ball, hoping Simone wouldn't be crushed. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting up his arm. He flipped over onto his back, the wind knocked out of him. He reached for his pocket, but it was empty. He tried to call for Simone but the his breath was knocked out of him, He wheezed.

His entire body hurt, he rolled over. Dawn had come, he saw the remains of the bike turning into ash as the suns rays shined on it. And there was Jayce, getting to her feet painfully, she hurried to him, and slowed down a little when she got closer. Her jacket sleeve was torn and she had a long graze her arm that was bleeding. Her face was pale under her golden curls, that were now dirty from the events of last night. He wondered why she looked so pale and shocked. Was his leg was torn off, lying across the parking lot with a pool of blood?

He started to get up when there was a hand in his shoulder. "Clar?". "Simone!" She was kneeling down beside him, looking a little dirty and crumpled, her glasses were gone but she appeared to be unharmed otherwise. She reached out and touched his face. "Ow!". "Are you alright? You look good," she said, with a catch to her voice. "The most amazing thing that I've—". "That's because your glasses are gone," he said weakly, but Simone didn't give a smart response back, instead she threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. She was alright he thought, she's alright. "Clar," she said. "I didn't—i didn't think you—". "Come for you? Of course I did," he said. "Of course did." he said and put his arms around her. He stroked her back reassuringly.

He glanced back at Jayce for a moment, she was turning away as if the sun hurt her eyes, he wondered why.

——————

Joan was leaning against a wall in the training room that was in this dimension place, flipping a knife back and forth, she was very good with knives now. Her father wanted to talk with her, she may be more connected with her demon blood now, but that didn't change the fact she still hated the man's guts. She thought his goals were boring and that he was your typical villian, he didn't have any ideals that surprised her. Not to mention a shitty father, and sounds like he was a shitty husband.

"Still having trouble with your anger, I have heard," said Valentine. "Still having trouble finding a Cup, I have heard" she replied. He looked furious for a moment but composed himself. She loved how she could get under his skin. "All in good time," he said. "Yeh? And how much time is that?" "Very soon." She looked at him. "Are you sure it's soon enough?" He smiled a devilish grin. "Yes." She didn't like the grin, there was something he wasn't telling her. "Jonathena," he said. "Yes?" "You have completed much if your training, faster than I had thought," he said. "Soon enough we will be in Idris, and with we'll have your mother, brother, and Jayce." He took a minute before he spoke again. "I have been thinking, if Lucian does decide to make a move, and if he does somehow succeed in getting in my way, I'll need you to play spy for me. Clar will trust you, and believe you. I don't think things will go wrong but I want a backup plan." She was slightly more intrigued now. "Whatever, not like I have a choice in the matter." He stared at her. "Things will not be so boring soon enough, my daughter."

Yeah, soon enough you'll have an angel cup and some sword and be attacking god knows what. She just wanted Clar and her mom, make sure they are safe and do whatever she needed to do to keep them safe. This Jayce did intrigue her though. Valentine seemed to speak slightly softer about her.

She went back to training with Alan, learning how to take on ten people at once. Lilith had some kind of way to strengthen her demon blood, Joan had no idea how, but with Greater Demons you never really knew, she supposed.

——————

Hodge was enraged when they got back, Alec and Isidore in the back lurking behind him. When Clar and the girls came in limping, covered in blood and filthy, he had instantly gone into a lecture that would have made Clar's mom very proud. He also didn't forget the part of how they had lied about where they had gone to—Which apparently Jayce had or the part about never trusting Jayce again. Also bits about breaking the law and being thrown out of the clave, and bringing shame onto the Wayland name. After he calmed down slightly, he looked at Jayce with a glare. "You've endangered other people people with your actions. This time I will not let you shrug it off!" "I wasn't planning on it," said Jayce. "It's kinda hard to shurg anything off at the moment. My shoulder is dislocated." "If only physical pain was actually a deterrence for you," said Hodge furious. "But you'll just spend the next few days in the infirmary with Isidore and Alec caring to your every need. And you'll probably very much enjoy it."

Hodge had been partly right. Jayce and Simone had both ended up in the infirmary, but only Isidore was running around caring for their every need when Clar — who'd gone to clean up — came back a few hours later. Hodge had tended to the bruise on his arm, and almost half an hour in the shower gotten the asphalt that was stuck in his skin out. But he still ached all over. Alec was sitting on the windowsill and looking irritated, angry, maybe almost even sad all at the same time, scowled as the door shut behind him. "Oh. It's you." He ignored Alec. "Hodge says he's on his way and hopes you two can hang onto your slowly fading life forms until he is here," or something of that variation." "I do hope he hurries," said Jayce crossly, she was sitting up in one of the infirmary beds, still in her filthy clothes, the lace top she had worn to the party torn in some places, though he assumed Shadowhunters were used to ruining clothes. "Why? Are you in pain?" he asked. "Nope. I have a very high pain tolerance. But I do get very easily bored." she narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you remember how back in the hotel you promised that if we survived, you'd dress up in a nurse's outfit and give me a sponge bath?". "I think you misheard that," said Clar. "It was Simone who promised you that." Jayce looked over involuntarily to Simone, who gave her a wide smile. "As soon as I'm back to good health, beautiful." "I knew we should have left as a rat," said Jayce.

Clar laughed as he went over to Simone, who seemed uncomfortable surrounded by the many pillows Isidore had gotten for her. He sat down on the edge of her bed. "How do you feel?" "Like someone tried to grate me into cheese," she said, wincing as she moved her legs. "I broke a foot bone. It had swelled so much, Isidore had to cut my shoe off." "Glad he's taking such good care of you," he said with a little bit of acid in his tone. Simone leaned forward. "I want to have a talk with you." Clar nodded. "I'll be in my room. Come see me once Hodge gets you all fixed up, k?" "Yup." surprising him she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. It was a butterfly kiss, but as he pulled away, he knew he had blushed, probably, standing up, because everyone was staring at them.

On his way out to the hallway he touched his cheek, a kiss on the cheek didn't mean much of anything, but it was odd for Simone. Was she trying to make a point to someone? Clar never would understand the whole making someone else jealous thing that people did. And then there was Jayce, doing her wounded princess act.

"Clar!" He turned and to his surprise, there was Alec coming down the hall after him. They both stopped once she caught up to him. "I need to speak with you." Surprised again, he asked. "About what?" She hesitated for a moment. With her pale ivory skin she looked almost as striking as her brother, but unlike Isidore she did anything she could to downplay her looks and not be seen, her frayed sweaters and her bangs and blunt cut of her hair that fell over her shoulders that looked as if she cut it herself in the dark, was only part of it, she looked seriously uncomfortable in her own skin. "I think you should go. Go home, I mean," she said. He knew that Alec didn't like him but it still felt like she had slapped him. "Alec, I can't go home, it has forsaken and demons crawling around it, believe me nobody wants to go home more than me but i—" "You must have family somewhere that could take you in?" he thought she sounded desperate. "I don't have any family, and Hodge wants me to stay here," he said shortly.

"He can't possibly actually after everything you've done—" "Everything I've done?" "You almost got Jayce killed." "I almost— what are you talking about?" "Going after your friend like that—do you even know the danger you put her in? Do you know that—" "Her? Do you mean Jayce?" he cut her off.  "Just so you know it was all her idea. She asked Magna where to find the vampire. She went to that church to get weapons. If I didn't go with her, she would have gone without me.". "By the angel, you don't understand," said Alec. "You don't know her like I do. I know her. She thinks she has to save the world, and she would gladly die doing it. hell I think she wants to die, but that doesn't mean you need to help her along to do it." "I really don't understand you people," he said. "Jayce is a Shadowhunter. This is your job, you help and save people, you kill demons and put yourself in danger everyday. How is it that last night was different from any other time?"

He saw her self control break. "Because I wasn't there!" she yelled. "Usually I am there, covering her back, making sure no harm come to her, keeping her safe. But you are just a burden, a mundane." she said the word like it tasted bitter in her mouth. "No, that's where you're wrong," he said. "I am a Nephilim, just like you." Her mouth curled up. "Perhaps," she said. "But with no training whatsoever, nothing at all, you're not much use, are you? Your mother raised you mundane, raised you in a world where you didn't have to know about the evil and darkness, and that's where you belong. Not her making Jayce act like someone she isn't, like she isn't a Shadowhunter. Making her break her oath. Making her break the law and not care—"

"Here's a news flash," he snapped at her. "I don't make Jayce do anything. Jayce does what she wants. You should know that." She looked at him with disgust. "I always forget, that you mundanes are totally selfish, isn't that right? You don't care about all that she's done for you, what she has risked? This isn't just about her safety and almost getting killed. She could be kicked out of the Clave. She lost her father and mother already, do you want her to lose the only other family she has?"

Rage rose in Clar. Rage against Alec, for being a little right. rage against his mother for not telling him about what the world really was and what he really was, for not telling Joan as well, for bit preparing them for all of this, and being some angel warrior who Clar didn't know, someone she needed so desperately right now but was not there. Rage against the fact that his father had died before he was born. Against Simone for almost getting herself killed and doing dangerous things. Rage against Jayce for not caring about whether she lived it died. Against Luke for not being there.

"You're one to talk about being selfish," he hissed viciously and Alec took a step back. "You don't about anyone in this world but yourself, Alec Lightwood. No wonder you've never even killed a single demon, because you're so afraid." Alec looked stunned, as if he had slapped her. "Who— who told you that?" "Jayce did." She looked again as if she had been slapped. "She wouldn't have. She would never say that." "Well, she did. You can go on and on about honor and honestly and all that but we both know if you were really honest, you would admit this is all because you're in love with her. It doesn't actually have anything to do—" He hit hard against the wall, felt his head hit against it hard. Alec had thrown him against it, she was taller than him and had her Shadowhunter training. Alec with her face inches from his now. "Don't you dare," she whispered with rage. "Say anything like that ever again or I'll kill you. I swear I will." It hurt where she gripped his arms. She let go, pulling back quickly. She looked horrified, like she couldn't believe she had just done that. She spyn around with no words, and stumbled towards the infirmary like she was drunk. "Great, Clar" he thought now she definitely hates you.

——————

He should have gone to sleep, passed out with exhaustion, but sleep wouldn't come. So instead he pulled his sketchpad out of his backpack, he started to draw scribbles at first, he drew the hotel, empty streets with dim lampposts, a shadowy figure at the end of the lamppost. Raphaela all covered in blood. He drew Jayce on top of the roof of the hotel, ten stories high, as if the fall was more a challenge, as if she was invincible. Like in the the dreams he had, he drew her with wings like the ones on the statue on the bone city.

He drew Joan, him and Simone, as kids at Luke's farm sitting in a pile of leaves. Lastly, he tried to draw his mom. He had told Jayce that there was really no difference after he read the gray book, it was mostly true. But now when he thought back to the memories of his mom, he saw the scars that lined her shoulders like snowflakes.

It hurt knowing that it was all a lie. Everything about his childhood and mother was a lie. he slid his sketchpad under his pillow know, feeling more exhausted. A soft tap on his door knocked him out of his thoughts. "Come in." Simone came in, she was still her dirty clothes and looked rumpled. He scooted sideways, so she could be on the other side of the bed with him. Lying a bed with Simone was never odd, they grew up Sleeping over at each other's houses, building blanket forts with the help of Joan, she always helped them build it right so it wouldn't fall down on them. When she had learned how to read, she read to them to get them to sleep on those nights. When Clar and Simone were older they stayed up reading comics and manga.

"You found your glasses," he said. noticing a lens was cracked slightly. "They faired pretty well considering they were in my pocket. I'll have to write a nice not to my eye doctor." She sat down by him slowly. "So Hodge fixed you up?" She nodded. "I still feel terrible though." She looked at him very seriously, her brown eyes fixed on him. "Clar, the fact that you came to save me—that you risked all that—" He held up his hand. "No need," he said. "You'd do the same for me." "Well, of course," she said. "I just always thought that was the way with us. You know." He looked at her puzzled. "What?"

"What I mean is," she seemed surprised it wasn't obvious. "I have always needed you more than you needed me." "That isn't true," Clar said appalled. "But, it is," she said calmly, it was unnerving. "You have never really needed anyone, you've been so I independent, so. . . Contained in your own world inside your head. All you've ever really needed was your pencild, chalk, and imaginary worlds. Sometimes I would say the same thing over and over to you before you'd come back to reality and realize it. And you'd give silly smile you always did. And I knew you had forgotten about the real world, about me, but I was never upset. A little of your attention is better than anyone else's entire attention." He reached out for her hand but instead got her wrist. "In my life, I have only loved four people," he said. "My mom and Luke, Joan, and you. I have lost mom and Luke, and Joan, but not you. Don't you ever imagine that you don't mean enough to me, don't ever think that."

"My mom always says you only need three people for self-actualization," said Simone, voice light but it cracked slightly. "She says you seem pretty self-actualized." Clar smiled. "Does your mom have any other words of wisdom about me?" She gave him a crooked smile. "Yeah," she said. "But i'll never tell." "No fair.". "Life is not fair, Clarus," she said, jokingly. But there was a slight truth to that statement.

——————

Jayce was avoiding Alec and Iz cause they were both trying to pick an argument with her, and Alec would give Jayce one of her usual speeches about responsibility and caring about yourself. She wasn't really in the mood for any of that. So she went off to take a shower and finally after what felt like forever was clean, she threw on a pair of jeans and a plain grey t-shirt. Hodge had reminded her it was Clar's birthday, well almost. So she snuck food from the kitchen and decided she would bring him to the greenhouse to show him the midnight flowers, they were one of the most beautiful things Jayce has ever seen, she couldn't quite describe how beautiful they are.

She remembered the first time she had seen them, the glow of them, all the colors they radiated.  How when you saw them it was like time had stopped for just a moment. Jayce loved plants and even though many people would call it cliche for a girl to love flowers so much she didn't care, Jayce loved plants for their beauty.

She came up upon Clar's door, she held the paper bag that had the food in it behind her back. She knocked gently, he opened the door. There he was in jogger pants and a t-shirt, she looked at the freckles on the pale skin of his face and arms that she secretly thought were cute. He gave her a look up and then down.

"I didn't wake you up did I?" she asked curiously. "No," he said, stepping out into the hallway. "What makes you think that." "No reason." "I layed in bed almost a day," he said. "Aren't you tired though?" "Nope," she said. "Shadowhunters are always hard at work, almost no rest." "Uh huh," he said. "So why are you here, anyway?"

"Do you mean as in at your bedroom door or why am I here on earth, in this time. Do you mean what is my purpose here and what great things will I achieve?" He gave her that usual look he did, the one that said I know you're half joking and I am slightly amused but also slightly annoyed. She knew that look well, Alec gave her similar look at times, but Clar's was different in a way, it for one of the first times since she could remember left her not able to describe it exactly, like he could see through to why she was this way. "Imma go back to bed," he said.

He reached for the doorknob but she slid in front of him. "I am here," she said. "Because Hodge reminded me it's your birthday." He gave a sigh. "It's tomorrow, actually." "Why not start celebrating early," she said, and gave him a grin. He eyed her. "You're avoiding Isidore and Alec, aren't you?" She gave him a nod. "You caught me," she said, and added in a more serious tone. "They are trying to pick fights with me, and I am simply not in the mood." "Do they both have the same reason?' "I don't know." she glanced down the hall, as if she were trying to avoid eye contact with him. "Hodge, as well. Almost everyone wants to talk to me. But not you I suppose. I bet you don't want to talk." "You're right," he said, and for a moment he thought she might walk away, but he continued. "I want food, I am hungry."

She brought up the bag from behind her. "I sneaked food when Hodge wasn't paying attention." He grinned at her. "A picnic? Isn't it late for that? Isn't central park—" "Full of faeries. Yes, yes it is." "I was going to say muggers, actually," he said. "Though I pity the fool who would try and mug you.". "Ah, very wise of you, I commend for it," she said. "But I didn't mean central park. I was thinking the greenhouse." "Won't it be dark? It's night—" She smiled at him. "Come, I'll show you."

(tsc, tmi, and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare, this is again super similar to the original and some of the quotes are similar, it's also kinda slow)

Raphaela led them through corridors, some opened onto empty storage rooms, a ghostly kitchen, abandoned rooms, a deserted laundry room. Most the staircases that led up to the upstairs were gone, nothing much left of them. This baffled Clar, what did these vampires have against stairs?

They found a set of stairs that was still intact, hidden behind laundry. The maids that once worked here must have used them to carry laundry up and down the stairs before the days of elevators. There was thick layers of dust that made Clar cough.

"Shh," hissed Raphaela. "They'll hear you. We are very close to where they sleep." "How do you know that?" he whispered. "I can just feel it," she said. "Don't you?" He shook his head. He didn't feel anything, except being strangely cold.

The top of the stairs had a door, above it was painted the word "Lobby" but it was hardly recognizable now. Jayce went up to the door and pushed it open, it sparyed rust. Clar braced himself— But the room that was beyond was empty. They were in a foyer now, there had clearly once been a grand staircase that was now broken and torn apart, all that remained now was the upper steps.

His voice was dry. "What do the vampires have against stairs exactly?" "They don't have anything against them," said Jayce. "They just have no use for them." "It's their way of saying this is their place," said Raphaela.

Jayce glanced at her, she seemed a little suspicious of Raphaela. "Have you ever seen a vampire for real, Raphaela?" she asked. She looked at her. "I know what they look like, pale, thin, but strong. They move like cats and are Swift like serpents. They are beautiful and terrible, like this hotel here."

"You think it's beautiful?" asked Clar, a little surprised. "You can see it once was, years ago. Like an old woman who had been beautiful at a time, but had time take her beauty away. Imagine this staircase the it was once, the gas lamps lighting the way, like fireflies on a dark summer night, the balconies filled with many people. Not the way it is now, so—" "Dead?" said Jayce dryly. Raphaela looked like she was almost slightly startled, like Jayce had broken her out of a dream.

Clar turned to Jayce. "Where are they? The vampires?" "Probably up upstairs. They like to be high when they sleep, kinda like bats. And the sun is almost up." Clar and Raphaela both looked up at the same time, there wasn't anything above the burned frescoed ceiling. There was an archway on their left that led to more darkness. Raphaela glanced back down, Clar saw a scar at her throat, it was very white against her brown skin. He wondered how she had gotten that scar.

"I think we should go back to the stairs," whispered Clar. "It feels too open here." Jayce gave a nod. "Once we get there, you'll have to call for Simone and hope she'll hear you. You realize that right?" He wondered if Jayce could see the fear he felt. "I—" He was cut off by a terrible scream, he whirled around.  Raphaela wasn't there anymore, there weren't even marks in the dust where she may have gone. He reached for Jayce out of reflex, but she was already moving towards the archway at the far wall, she blended in with the shadows and he couldn't see her but followed the light of the witchlight she carried.

At the end of the archway was a ball-room. It was probably once elegantly beautiful, now like most of the hotel was broken and destroyed. There was a balcony that must have been beautiful as well once but now was covered in spiderwebs.

There was Raphaela standing in the middle of room. He ran to her, Jayce was right behind him moving cautiously. "Are you ok?" he asked out of breath. She nodded. "I thought I saw something, but it was nothing."

"We decided it would be best to head back to the stairs," said Jayce. "There doesn't appear to be anything on this floor." Raphaela nodded again. "That is probably best." She started towards the door, not looking behind her to see if they were following. She had only gotten a few steps and then Jayce said. "Hey, Raphaela?"

She turned, eyes widening, and Jayce threw her knife. Her reflexes were fast, but not fast enough to miss the knife. Jayce's blade struck it's target, it knocked her to the ground. Her blood looked black in the dim light.

"Jayce," hissed Clar, he couldn't believe she had just done tnat. He felt shock run through him. He knew she had said she disliked mundanes, but not even Jayce would— He turned to go to Raphaela, but Jayce shoved him away. And then she flung herself into the other girl and grabbed for her knife that was sticking out of Raphaela's chest. But she was faster. She seized the knife, but screamed when her hand touched the hilt that had a cross shape. It fell to the ground. Jayce had one hand fistex tightly in the material of Raphaela's shirt, and her seraph blade in the other hand, glowing brightly, so brightly it was almost hard to look.

Raphaela was laughing now. "You missed your target," she said, she grinned for the first time, and it showed her white incisors. "You didn't hit my heart." Jayce's grip tightened. "You moved at the last second," she said. "It was quite inconsiderate of you."

Raphaela frowned, and spat blood on the floor. Clar felt himself step back and realize in horror what was happening. "When exactly did you figure it out?" she demanded. "I figured it out back in the alley," said Jayce. "But I figured you'd get us inside, and turn on us. Because once we trespassed, we would be out of the protection of the convenat, and he fair game. But when you didn't i thought maybe I had gotten it wrong. But then saw the scar at your throat." she leaned back slightly but still her blade at Raphaela's throat. "The chain when I first saw it I thought it looked like one you'd hang a cross from. And you did once, didn't you, when you visited your family?"

Raphaela laughed. "Was that it? Just my scar?' "No. When you left the foyer, you didn't leave any footprints in the dust. That was when I knew." "It was not your brother your brother who went in and never came out," said Clar. "I was you, wasn't it?" "Both if you are very clever," she said. "But not clever enough. Look above you" She lifted her hand to point but Jayce knocked it away, her glance still on the other girl. "Clar, what do you see up there?" she asked.

He lift his head, dreading what he would see when he looked up there.  He thought back to what Raphaela had said earlier about how the balconies once looked. They were now surrounded with vampires, their fangs out and ready to attack.

Jayce didn't move or take her gaze off of Raphaela. "You called for them. Isn't that right?" Raphaela grinned again, blood still coming out of her wound. "And what does it matter if I did? There's too many of us for you to stop us, even for you, Wayland."

He saw how much control it was taking Jayce to not kill Raphaela, to not wipe the taunting grin off her face with death. She was breathing heavily. "Jayce," he said with as much warmth as he could muster in the moment. "Don't kill her." "And why not?" "I am thinking maybe, we can use her as a hostage." With her eyes wide she said. "A hostage?" "I know what I am doing, get her on her feet, and trust me." Jayce gave him a glance, shrugged and said. "Ok." More vampires were gathering, he felt a flash of fear. they were kinda screwed but not entirely.

"This is not funny at all," hissed Raphaela. "That is why no one is laughing their asses off," said Jayce, she hauled Raphaela up, and jammed her knife between the girls shoulders. "I can pierce your heart from behind just as from behind," she said. "I wouldn't make any sudden movement."

Clar turned his head to see the shapes coming towards them from the dark. "Stop," he said. "Or she'll stab the blade through Raphaela's heart." There were what sounded like murmurs of laughter. "Stop," he said again. Behind him Jayce did something to make Raphaela cry out with pain. A vampire swung his arm back to stop his companions. Clar recognized him from Magna's party, a blond boy he had seen there. "He means it," he said. "They're Shadowhunters."

Another vampire came out of the crowd to stand by the blond boy, a handsome chinese boy who had purple streaks through his hair. "These Shadowhunters are trespassing on out territory," he said. "The law doesn't protect them anymore more. I think we should kill them, after all they've killed many of us." "Which one of you is the mast of this clan?" asked Jayce flatly. "Have them step forward." The boy bared his fangs. "Don't use the clave language with on us, little Shadowhunter. You broke your own precious law coming in here. Your law can't protect you now.". "That's enough, Lillian," the blond boy said. "Our master is not currently here, he is traveling far away." "Someone must be standing in for him," observed Jayce.

No one answered. Raphaela is the one who leads us," said the blond vampire. "Jacob—" hissed Lilian in disapproval. "I say we make a trade," cut in Clar quickly. "You must have noticed that you brought too many people home with you from the party. One of them is my friend, her name is Simone." The vampire called Jacob raised his eyebrows. "You have a friend who is a vampire?". "No, she's not a vampire. And not a Shadowhunter, either," he added. Lillian's eyes narrowed. "She's an ordinary human girl.". "We didn't take any human girls from the party tonight. That would be against the law." "She got transformed into a rat. a small brown rat," he said and made a gesture with his hands. "One of you might have thought she was pet, or maybe . . ." his voice trailed off. They all looked at him as if he were insane. It was moments like these he missed Joan, she could give them one look and people would answer or leave him alone. He felt loss of hope go through him.

"Let me get this straight—" said Lillian but was cut off by Jacob. "Or gay," he said. Lillian glared at him, a glare of this is serious. He continued. "You want to trade Raphaela for a rat?" he asked. They all stared at him expressionless. In other circumstances he would have thought they had been baffled. He could feel that Jayce was standing behind him, hearing her rasp breathing. He wondered if she was racking her brain, trying to figure out why exactly she let him drag them here. He thought she was probably starting to hate him.

"You mean this rat?" Clar blinked. Another vampire, a thin black boy had pushed his way through the crowd. He had something in his hands, some brown that squirmed. "Simone?" Clar whispered. The rat squeaked and tried to get free from the boy's grip. He looked down at the rodent with distaste. "I say let them take her, bruh. She's bitten me like five times." Clar reached for her, wanting so badly to get her away from the vampires. But Lillian stepped in front of the boy before Clar could reach Simone. "Wait," Lillian said. "How can we be sure you won't take this rat and then kill Raphaela?" "We'll give you our word," said Clar instantly, he had expected them to laugh.

But nobody did. Raphaela swore something in spanish. Lillian looked over at Jayce with a curious look on his face. "Clar," she said. "Are you really sure this is such a—". "No promise, no deal," said Lillian immediately, catching the uncertainty in Jayce's tone. "Elliott, don't let the rat go." The boy tightened his grip on Simone, she sank her teeth into Elliott's hand. "Oh, man," he said sadly. "That hurts." Clar took that moment to turn to whisper to Jayce. "Just swear already! What could it possibly hurt? "Swearing for us is nothing like swearing for mundanes," she snapped angerily. "I will be bound to that oath." "Oh, yeh? And what would happen if you broke that oath?" "I wouldn't , that's the point—"

"Lillian is right," said the boy Jacob. "An oath is needed. Swear that no harm will come to Raphaela. Even after we give you the rat." "I won't hurt her," said Clar instantly. "No matter what happens." Lilian gave him a tolerant smile. "It is not you we are worried about." he shot a pointed look to Jayce. Who still had a tight grip on Raphaela, so tight her knuckles were white. There was sweat at her temple. She said. "Fine. I swear it." "Speak the oath," said Lillian with a swift tone. "Swear it on your Angel. Say the full thing." Jayce shook her head. "You first." Her words fell with silence, a ripple of murmurs went through the crowd. Jacob looked worried. Lillian said angrily "No way, Shadowhunter.". "We have your leader," Jayce had the knife to Raphaela's throat and dug it deep. "And you have what? A rat."

Simone still pinned in Elliott's hands, squeaking angrily. Clar longed to grab her but held himself back. "Jayce, please—" "Master?" said Lillian as he looked to Raphaela. With her head down, blood on her collar of her shirt. "A very precious rat," she said. "for you to make such an effort to come all this way. I do believe you will be the one to swear first, Nephilim."

Jayce tightened her grip more, Clar saw her arm muscles swell, her fingers white from her hard grip, the anger set in her jaw. "The rat is mundane," she said sharply. "If you kill her, you'll break the law—" "She is trespassing on out territory. Trespassers are not protected by the law, you are aware of—" "She didn't trespass at all," said Clar. "You brought her here." "Technicalities," said Raphaela, grinning him, even with a knife at her throat. "Besides. You think we don't hear things, we've heard the rumors of Valentine's return? The news has run through Downworld. And once he is back there will be no accords to uphold.

Jayce's head jerked up. "Where did you hear this?" "Everyone in Downworld knows. He paid a warlock to summon a pack of ravener demons a week ago. He has his forsaken looking for the Mortal Cup. And when he finds it there will no more fake peace between us and, there will be war. And no law will stop me from ripping your heart out, Nephilim—"

The words were enough for Clar. He dove to towards Simone, pushing Lillian aside, and grabbed her from Elliott. Simone ran up his arm, holding on tightly. "It's okay, now," he whispered. He knew It really wasn't. He went to run, but felt someone grab him by the shirt with, holding him. He tried to get free but the grip that held him was like iron. Simone clung to him as Clar fought to get free. "Let me go!" He yelled. He kicked out at the vampire boy. His booted foot connected hard, and he heard Lillian shout in pain. He swung his hand forward hitting Clar in the face, knocking him back.

He staggered back almost falling. He heard Jayce yell his name, he turned to her voice and saw she had let Raphaela go and was running to him. Clar tried to go to her, but Jacob gripped him hard by the shoulders, digging in deep painfully. He cried out a little. It was lost with the other shriecks in the room as Jayce, grabbing one of the vials from her jacket, flung the contents at her. He realized it was holy water. Jacob screamed in pain and released Clar. And Lillian called out his name and ran to him.

In the chaos of it all Clar felt someone seize his wrist, he tried to yank himself free of the grip. "Stop—you dummy—it's me." Jayce panted in his ear. "Oh!" he relaxed for a moment, but tensed again when he saw a familiar shape loom up behind Jayce. He cried out and Jayce quick with cat like movements duck and spun away from Raphaela's attack, her teeth bared. Her fangs ripping Jayce's jacket at the shoulder, snapping her fangs at her throat.

Clar tried to find the dagger Jayce had given to him— A small figure, leaped across the floor, between Clar's feet, and threw itself at Raphaela. Raphaela screamed. Simone hanging onto the vampires forearm, and sank her teeth into the flesh of it. Raphaela let Jayce go, falling backward, blood coming from her arm now. Jayce gaped her mouth open. "Holy f—" Raphaela regained her balence and tore the rat away from her arm and flung her across the floor.

Simone let out a squeak of pain and ran back to Clar. He bent and snatched her up, holding her tightly. "Simone, it's—" "We don't have time right now. Hold on to her," Jayce grabbed him by the arm. In her other hand she held her seraph blade. "Move." Pulling him along to the end of the crowd. The vampires were turning away from the light that radiated off her seraph blade.

"That's enough, stop standing around,!" hissed Raphaela. "Catch them and kill all three." They started coming towards them, swooping like bats. Jayce quickened get pace, heading towards the far end wall. Clar looked at her. "Why don't we stand back to back?" "Why would we do that?" "It works in the movies. When the characters are in this sort of situation they do it." He felt her shake and thought maybe for a minute she was scared but realized she was actually laughing. "You," she said. "You may be the most—". "May be the most what?" he demanded. As they continued to back up, avoiding the broken things that lay around. Jayce still held her seraph blade up, the light still keeping them back a little. Clar couldn't help but wonder how long this would keep them away.

"It's nothing," she said. "I use the word situation only when things get really bad." "Really bad? Are you trying to tell me this isn't really bad? What exactly are you waiting for then, a bomb to explode or—" He broke off with a scream as Lillian launched himself at Jayce, braving the light from the angel blade. Jayce grabbed her other blade from her belt and threw it at Lillian, causing a long gash along his arm.

There were so many of them, he thought as he curled his finger tightly around the hilt of the dagger Jayce had given him. He didn't know how to use it, he'd never hit anyone before, and definitely had never stabbed anyone. He even skipped the day they were teaching how to ward off muggers and rapists at his school. He was starting to pull the knife free when the windows exploded inward, shattered glass flying everywhere.

The vampires who were almost on Jayce and him, had looks of astonishment and terror. Through the shattered windows came a dozen maybe more, shapes, that looked like wolves. Growling at the vampires.

"Now you see, this," said Jayce. "This is what we call a situation." The werewolves snarled at the vampires, and the vampires still stunned backed away slightly. Raphaela was the only one who didn't and called out something in spanish that even Clar who didn't know much of it understood. The moon's children—werewolves. "I thought vampires and werewolves hated each other," Clar whispered to Jayce. "They do. They never come to each other's lairs. They aren't allowed to, the law forbids it," she sounded slightly Indignant. "Something must have happened. This is very bad." "Now it's bad? How can it be any worse than earlier?" "Cause, we're going to be in the middle of a war between them."

Raphaela screamed "HOW DARE YOU COME HERE?" The largest wolf gave a chuckle as he moved forward, with each step transforming back to human form it appeared. "We didn't come for a blood bath," he said. "We came for the boy." Raphaela looking angry and surprised at the same time. "Who exactly?" "The human boy." The werewolf pointed at Clar. Clar was shocked and confused. "You didn't say you knew werewolves," said Jayce sounding surprised. "That's cause I don't," he said. "Oh, this is bad," she said. "You've said that already." "It seemed to be worth repeating." "It really wasn't," he said and moved closer to her. "Jayce, everyone is looking at me." Everyone looked at him with astonishment. Raphaela looked back to the werewolves. "You can't have him," she said. "He trespassed, therefore he is ours now."

The werewolf chuckled again. "I was hoping you'd say that," he said. He launched at Raphaela. As he turned back into wolf form. And hit Raphaela, they begun to fight. All the vampires and werewolves started attacking each other. Jayce let out a whistle. "Man, Raphaela is having such a bad night." "And what about it?" said Clar having no sympathy. "So what's the plan here?" She looked around. They were trapped in a corner by the battle going on. No one was paying attention to them though. but Clar doubted that would last long. At that moment Simone jumped out of his hands and ran to a corner with drapes. "Simone, stop!" Jayce rasied her eyebrows quizzically. "What is she—" She grabbed his arm jerking him back. "Clar, don't go after her, she's a rat. She's fleeing, that's what they do."

He looked to her furiously. "She's not a rat. She's Simone. And you should be more grateful, she bit Raphaela for you." He yanked free of her strong grip on him and ran to Simone, who was pawing at the drapes, realizaing, she was trying to tell him something he pushed the away, behind them was a door. "A door," he said. "You genius." Jayce was right behind him. "A door, huh?Does it open?" He grabbed at the knob trying to turn it but it didn't budge. "I think it's locked ot stuck.' Jayce threw herself against. But again it didn't budge. She let out a swear word. "My shoulder will never be the same again, I expect you to nurse me back to health when we get out of here." "Would you just get it open," he said. "Well it may be easier if you helped," she said. "Believe me if I thought I would actually be of any use here I would, but I am not some strong goddess warrior like you," he replied. She looked past him, her eyes wide. "Uh, Clar—"

One of the wolves was coming for them. Clar let out a high pitched scream, not very manly he thought. Jayce threw herself against the door another time, cursing again. Clar grabbed the dagger and threw it at the wolf. He'd never thrown one before so he was surprised when it wobbly hit it's mark. It yelped in pain. But three more wolves were coming now. Clar let out another scream as Jayce hurled herself against the door Another time and it gave in. She was strong he thought. "Third time's the charm they say," she said while panting, while holding her shoulder. She ducked into the doorway. "Come on, Clar."

He went in after her and flung the door shut, As two bodies hut against it. He fumbled for the bolt but it was gone, torn away from Jayce breaking it. "Duck," she said, as she whipped her Stele out and drew a rune on the door. he looked at the rune and saw that it said: to hold against. "I lost your dagger," he said apologetically. "That happens," she said and put her Stele back in her pocket. The wolves were banging against the door. The rune will hold for now but not for long, we need to hurry."

He looked up and saw a set of narrow stairs, they looked unstable. "Ok," he nodded at Jayce. "You go first, graceful Shadowhunter." She looked like she would have grinned if not for how tired she was. "You know i like to be first. But," she added. "I don't think the stair will hold our weight." He wasn't sure of that himself. The steps creaked under their steps. Clar gripped the banister for balence but a piece broke off as he did, he let out a squeak as it did and Jayce gave an exhausted chuckle. She took his hand. "Steady now," she said, helping him. Simone made a snort like noise but Jayce didn't seem to hear it.

They stumbled up the stairs as quickly as they dared to go. Going landing after landing, he still didn't see any doors. When they reached the fourth turn of the spiraled stairs, they heard the door far down break in. "They broke it down," said Jayce in a grim tone. "I thought it would hold a little longer than that, damnit." "So, do we run now?' he said. "We run now," she said, and they started to run up the stairs, it Screeching under their quick steps. He could hear the thudding if the werewolves on the stairs a few landings down.

When they came to the sixth landing, they flung themselves into it, Clar gasped for breath, he managed to let out a weak cheer when he saw the door. A steel door, it looked heavy. It was propped open with and break. He didn't have time to wonder why, cause Jayce kicked it open and pushed him threw, following, and slammed it shut. He heard the lock click and thought thank God.

He looked up and saw the dim stars in the sky, disappearing as the dawn was coming. They were on the roof. "This must be how they come and go," she said, giving a glance back at the door. The dim light coming from dawn helped Clar see her properly, she looked strained and dirty. "They fly to get up here. But that doesn't help us."

"Maybe there's a fire escape or something?" he suggested. They looked along the edge of the roof for one. Clar hated heights, they always made his stomach turn. He saw a fire escape, it was barely hanging on and did not look safe at all. "Guess not," he said.

The door was vibrating now, someone turning the knob. Probably wouldn't hold much longer, he thought. Jayce had her face in her hands and was muttering to herself. "Think, Jayce, think—" Suddenly a shape formed in the back of Clar's mind. No, it was a rune, it looked like a pair of wings. "I got it," said Jayce. For a minute he thought she had read his mind. Her golden eyes bright. "I don't know why I didn't think of it before." She ran off to the far end of the roof, she stopped and looked back at him. "Are you coming, Clar?" He realized he was still standing dazed. He followed and saw she was pulling away a tarp. It came away, to reveal motorcycles.

"Motorcycles?" he said. Jayce went to the nearest one and swung a leg over it, she looked over her shoulder at Clar. "Hurry up anf get on." He just stared at her. "You've got to be kidding? Do you know how to drive this? Do you even have the keys for it?" "I do not need keys," she said with patience. "It is powered by demon energies. Now are you getting on, or would you like to get your own?" Clar slid on the back of the bike behind her. In the back of his brain a voice was yelling at him this is a terrible idea, Clar.

"Great," said Jayce. "Put your arms around me so you don't fall off." He did, and was once again reminded of how strong she was, he felt her abdomen muscles contract as she leaned over and drew a rune onto the ignition of the bike. Shadowhunters were very muscular he thought. He heard Simone squeak in his pocket. "Jayce!" he shouted. "What are you doing exactly?" She yelled back something about pushing in the choke! or something. "Well, hurry it up! The door is gonna—"

The roof door burst open, the wolves were pouring out of it, heading towards them. The vampires were out as well. He felt Jayce pull her arm back and the motorcycle go forward, making his stomach turn for the hundredth time or so for the night.  He grabbed onto Jayce tighter. The wolves leaped aside. Jayce shouted something but he couldn't hear what it was. They were heading towards the edge of the roof and he was once again thinking of what a bad idea this was, he wanted to close his eyes shut buy didn't. The motorcycle went over the edge of the roof and for a minute he thought we are gonna fall ten stories down.

——————

When they got back to the Institute, Alec went to change out of the clothes she had worn to Magna Bane's party. Was Magna really interested in her? Usually people were interested in Jayce, not Alec. But Alec could understand after all Jayce was a beautiful warrior, and her eyes being gold, which is rare, got her a lot of attention. Alec didn't mind being the shadow, or so she told herself.

She supposed maybe she was but it didn't matter, Alec could never be with a woman, even though she only saw women that way. She would go on to marry some man her parents would most likely pick for her and have children with him but be trapped in a loveless marriage, always wondering what it would be like to actually be with a woman and be loved by one. She knew she would never be fully happy, but she let herself Imagine what it could be like to date Magna, she was beautiful Alec thought, so beautiful. And her cat eyes were even more beautiful. she remembered when she had winked at her and said to call her, she knew how red her face on gone then.

(tsc and tmi belong to Cassandra Clare, and so do the characters, a lot of it is very similar to the original, especially the hotel Dumort part)

They were walking down the sidewalk, Jayce walking beside Clar, Alec and Isidore a few feet ahead of them. Clar pulled his backpack in front of him to get Simone out and check on her.

When he opened the bag, she wasn't in there. "Oh no!". "What?" asked Jayce. "Simone's gone.". "She must have fallen out, or jumped out," she said. "Hey, Alec! Iz!." Alec and Isidore looked behind them at Clar and Jayce. "We lost Simone! Me and Clar are gonna go back find her!" she shouted. Isidore nodded, Alec wss about to come back but Isidore dragged her along with him.

They went back to Magna's loft, Jayce rang the doorbell.

"Who dares disturb the Magnificent Magna Bane's sleep!?" she said. "It's me, the Shadowhunter from the party," said Jayce. "Oh! the one with blue eyes?" "No." "Oh, that one."

Jayce looked like one of those anime characters when they had a fake arrow go through them, Clar thought. He found it funny. Magna opened the door, and was leaning against the entryway.

"What do you want?" asked Magna. "Simone is gone," said Clar. "I think she may have jumped out of the bag when we were leaving.". "I didn't see any rat when I was cleaning up, my dear.". "Perhaps one of your guests took her then?" said Jayce.

Clar remembered that Vampire that bumped into him. "I think maybe a vampire took her when he bumped into me," he said. Jayce looked at him. "Where can we find the vampires that were at your party?" asked Jayce.

"And why would I want to piss off the vampires by telling you where they are?" said Magna. "Because this is Shadowhunter business and you could get in trouble," said Jayce, in that threatening tone. "Fine," said Magna with a sigh. "The Hotel Dumort is where you'll find them.". "Thank you," said Jayce, she put on a charming smile, tried to sound as sincere as possible. "Now goodnight, and don't come back or I'll turn you into a coatrack," she said.

As she closed the door, Clar thought he heard her mumble something like "Clucking Shadowhunters"

——————

"So," said Isidore. "Magna Bane likes you. I think you should try to get to know her.". "No. and she doesn't," said Alec. "Really? Why did she say call her then?" "She was just fun flirting, nothing serious." "Why can't you accept that someone is interested in you?" "You know why." "Alec..."

"Look, Iz, even if she were interested in me and I in her, it wouldn't matter. You know nothing could ever happen between us for several reasons." Iz sighed sadly. It was true, Magna Bane did say call her, but surely she didn't actually mean it, surely someone as pretty as her wasn't actually interested in Alec.

"I don't like that Jayce went off on her own," she said. "She'll be fine." "How do you know that?" "Cause she's Jayce," said Iz. "You know how strong and badass she is." "Yes, but..." "But what?" "She has Clar with her, I'm not trying to sound jealous or anything, it's just Clar doesn't have any experience fighting and I don't want him getting Jayce killed cause of his stubbornness," said Alec.

"I know, I have my own feelings about Clar, but Jayce is gonna make her own decisions and we can't always be there," he said. "Believe me, I want to be just as bad, to have her back." "I'm her parabatai, I am supposed to be there.". "I know, but you can't always be with her Alec, even if you are parabatai." "It's always been us three, Iz," she said quietly. "I know."

"I don't want Jayce getting herself killed for some boy," whispered Alec under her breath, so quietly she wondered if Iz even heard her.

They walked the rest of the way home.

——————

Jayce needed to get weapons before going to the vampires lair, so they went to the nearest church. There was always a place where the Nephilim have left weapons and other stuff, for when a fellow Nephilim needed it.

She was exhausted with having to help Clar with Simone, she didn't know why she was even bothering but she felt responsible for Clar, and he was going to go with it without her, she knew that, so might as well go with so he didn't get himself killed.

"So you said Nephilim just leave weapons in churches?" asked Clar. "Churches and other religious places. And the people who run these places, are the ones who pay and supply things to Shadowhunters often. They believe in demons and we kill them, so to thank us for our service they pay us and supply us with weapons when we need it, and let us hide weapons here. And sometimes Shadowhunters secretly hide weapons." she told him.

She looked at him, he seemed to be looking around at the church oddly. "I've never really been in a Church before.". "Why not?". "My mom was never the type of woman who believed in that stuff." He thought back she had always said there was no magic and that she never felt connected to any god so she couldn't believe. Though now he wondered if she was angry at some god that may exist. "She probably wanted to stay away from anything that had to do with the Shadow world even a little," she said. "Yeah, probably."

She knelt down where the compartment that had the weapons as nd holy water was, she pulled her Stele out and drew an open rune over it. She opened it and Clar jumped a little. "Jesus," he said. "He wouldn't fit in here," she said. "Do you believe?" he asked. "No," she answered. "But why not? If there's the Angel then there must be—". "A God?" "Yeah."

"I don't believe. but my father did," she told him. "He believed in a great almighty god. But the day he died I realized it wasn't that I didn't believe in god, I just thought if he is real, he doesn't care, and we are on our own." Clar stared at her a little shaken. "Oh," was all he said. She smiled at him, god doesn't care about her she thought to herself that day.

"Isn't the fact that it's right there, isn't that dangerous?" he said trying to change the subject, Maybe she supposed, by asking about the compartment. "Only Shadowhunters can open it, it requires an open Rune." "Oh," he said. Now lets go," she said.

——————

Joan was starting to grow tired of the waiting, the waiting for battle, the waiting for the hunt, the waiting for the kill. There was still a part of her that expected to be saved though she couldn't understand why she wanted to be saved.

These last couple months of her training have been intense. she felt connected with her demon blood now in a way she hadn't before, she understood the evil queens she used to read about now, why they loved the darkness, why they loved evil. Being evil was so much more fun, and you didn't have to feel remorse for the terrible things you did.

No wonder Lucifer chose to fall, and become the devil himself. Falling was so much more fun.

Joan couldn't completely remember the old her and how it felt to feel like she did before she was dragged away with Lilith, she sometimes fought something inside her that said what she was doing was wrong but she couldn't say it bothered her, she was now who she was always meant to be. She was meant to be this monster and villian.

Lilith was proud of her, her father was as well, he said he'd have a gift for her soon enough. That there was a girl who had not pleased him like she had, he said she would be welcome have a go at her and mess her up a little when he got his hands back on her. Apparently he had sent her away years ago after growing tired of her, apparently she was too weak and gentle to ever be of use to him, and apparently she was very breakable. The old Joan would have thought it was terrible to speak of a person like this but that Joan was very far away these days, perhaps she was even almost gone.

Her father said he'll have her back soon enough, and he'll have Clar as well to bring to her, he said they'll be a family. All she really cared about was Clar now, her brother who could always be great company and make her laugh. despite her loving her new self, she wanted him by her side, he could join with their father and they would have the world.

Or it would be fun to watch it burn. There was a voice saying that she didn't really want that, but didn't she?

——————

They got to the Hotel Dumort, Jayce looked at it, trying to see if there was a way to get in. Vampires had flying motorcycles, so they could fly to the roof and get in. They didn't have one though, which made things more complicated.

"The Hotel Dumort," she said. "Cute isn't it?" Clar gave her a look. "Du mort," he said. "Meaning, Of death." "Yes," she said.

"How can this be the hotel," he said. "All the windows are boarded up and the door's bricked up— oh," he realized as she gave him a look. "Right, they are vampires. How do they get inside then?" "They fly,". she said, and pointed to the roof. The hotel had clearly once been very elegant and beautiful, but now was not so elegant. "But we don't fly," Clar pointed out. "You're right, we break and enter," she said and smirked. She made her way down the street towards the hotel.

——————

Clar caught up to Jayce and followed closely behind. "Flying does sound more fun," he said. "Everything sounds more fun now." He wondered if she was serious. She had excitement about her, anticipation for the hunt that didn't seem to him like she was as unhappy as she claimed. She did say once she has killed more demons than anyone else her age. He supposed you didn't kill that many demons by hanging back from a fight

They walked down the alley, the wind blew trash in several directions. The streets were deserted, it was odd, usually there was at least someone on the streets of manhattan at 4 in the morning. Many of the streetlights were out, but there was one closets to the hotel that was on, casting it's yellow light across the pathway, to what had been the front door.

"Stay out of the light," said Jayce, as she pulled him away and towards her by his sleeve. "They may be watching from the windows. Also don't look up." But he had already looked up and could have sworn he saw someone move away from the window. "Come on." Jayce pulled him with her to blend in more with the shadows, closer to the hotel. It was odd having someone who was shorter than you drag you around like you were nothing, but she was strong he reminded himself.

He felt nervous chills go down his spine, the sounds of the city seemed very far away, all he could hear clearly was the crunch of trash under his shoes. He wished he could be like Shadowhunters and be soundless, maybe he could ask Jayce to teach him someday. They slipped around the corner of the hotel down an alley that had probably been for deliveries once. It was covered in garbage, empty bottles, trash bags, cardboard boxes, scattered things that Clar had thought were toothpicks, but when they got closer he realized that they were— "Bones," said Jayce with a flat tone. "Cat bones, rat bones, dog bones. Don't look to closely it's not pretty, going through a vampires trash that is."

"Well I guess we're in the right place," he said. Jayce glanced at him with a look of respect for a flicker of a moment. "Oh, we're in the right place," she said. "We just gotta find a way in."

There clearly use to be windows that were now bricked up, there wasn't a fire escape. "When this was a hotel," said Jayce. "This must have been where trucks made deliveries." Clar thought about the shops near his house in brooklyn, how they would get deliveries in the morning when he walked to school, they had delivery areas like this, had seen the owners open the metal doors that were set into the pavement outside the front. "I bet that the doors are in the ground. Under the garbage."

Jayce, a little behind him, nodded. "That's what I was thinking as well," she said with a sigh. "I suppose we need to move all this trash. We should start with the dumpster." she didn't look enthusiastic. "You'd rather fight a horde of demons, instead, wouldn't you?" "At least that wouldn't be covered in bugs and mold and angel knows what else. Well," she added thoughtfully. "I did track down this demon one time that was in the sewers under Grand Central—" "Stop," he said. "I am in no mood to hear about that right now." "That's gotta be the first time someone has said that to me," she mused. "Well, if you stick with me, it won't be the last time." Her mouth twitched. "This is hardly the time for pointless banter. We have lots of garbage to haul."

She walked over to the dumpster, grabbing one side. "You get the other side. We'll tip it," she said. "Won't that make too much noise," he argued. He walked over to the other side, and grabbed it. The smell made him want to gag. "We should push it."

"Look—," began Jayce, but a voice spoke out of the shadows. "Should you really be doing that?" it said. Clar was frozen in place, staring at the shadows, he panicked a little and wondered if it was just him but he looked to Jayce and saw she was frozen as well, and had a look of astonishment on her face. It was rare to see her look like that, even rarer that anyone snuck up on her. She reached for her belt as she stepped away from the dumpster. "Is someone there?" she said.

"Dios mío," said a female voice, it sounded amused, speaking softly in spanish. "You're not from around here, are you?" She stepped forward out of the shadows, a few years younger than Jayce, and probably six inches shorter than Clar. She was thin and had big dark eyes, and brown skin. She wore black slacks and a white dress shirt opened at the neck, a gold chain around her neck. "yeah, your might say that," said Jayce meticulously, her hand still on her belt where her seraph blades were.

"You should not be here," the girl said. "It's a very unsafe place." She must mean it's a bad neighborhood. He would have laughed in other circumstances. "We know," he said. "We're just lost." "And what," she gestured towards the dumpster. "Are you doing with that?" Clar was not good at lying on the spot, he needed time to come with a good one, he hoped Jayce was excellent at it. "We were trying to get into the hotel," she said. "We were thinking maybe there was a cellar entrance under this dumpster." She didn't just flat out say that? Did she?

She looked at them like she couldn't believe what she just heard. "Puta madre—and why would you be doing that?" Jayce gave an innocent shrug. "We thought it would be fun to do a prank. Have some fun, mess around," she said. "This place is haunted, it's bad luck," the girl said. She said several things in spanish Clar didn't understand, but assumed probably had to do with stupid kids. "Come with me, I'll show you to the subway." "We know where the subway is," said Jayce. "Claro. Of course you do, but if you walk with me no one mess with you. You don't want trouble from anyone around here," she said.

"That depends, we may want a little trouble," said Jayce. "How much are they paying you to keep people away?" The girl glanced back at Jayce. "Who do you mean? How much is who paying me?" "The vampires, who else?" said Jayce. "Are they paying you a lot? Or offering to make you one? Cause let me tell you eternal life is such a long time, especially when you can never see the sun again."

She looked at Jayce expressionless. "My name is Raphaela." "So you know what we're talking about The vampires? you know about them?" said Clar. Raphaela went on telling a story about a group of boys that were taken by the vampires here, one of them was her brother, she said she walks by here some nights. And how if you go in there you'll never come out.

"My friend is in there we came to save her," said Clar. "So I take it I can't warn you away?" said Raphaela. "No," said Jayce. "But don't worry about us, what happened to your friend won't happen to us." she pulled out one of her seraph blades from her belt and held it up to the light, the dim light shining on it, her eyes were shadowed. "I've killed plenty vampires, they can die."

She took a sharp breath and said something low in spanish. "I know what you are," she said. "I have heard stories about your kind, from the old Padre at St. Cecilia's. I thought they were just stories." "All the stories are true," said Clar quietly. She looked at Jayce her fists clenched. "I want to come with you," she said. "No way, absolutely not," said Jayce. "I can show you how to get in." Jayce looked a little tempted. "You can't come.". "Fine," said Raphaela.

She walked by them and kicked some trash away, there was a rusted metal grating there, she knelt down, grabbed the bars and lifted it away. "This is how my brother and his friends got in that night, it goes down to the basement, I believe." Jayce and Clar joined her by the grate. Clar held his breath not wanting to smell the garbage anymore. He glanced at Jayce who now had a thin smile on her face. She still had the seraph blade out, the witchlight that cast off it, gave her face a ghostly glow, it reminded him of when he and Simone were eleven and she held a flashlight up to her face telling ghost stories that Clar could never take seriously.

"Thanks," she said to Raphaela. "This will work just fine." She looked at them with a pale face. "You go in there and save your friend, do what I could not do for my brother," she said. Jayce put her Seraph Blade back in her belt, she looked at Clar. "Follow my lead," she said, and slid down through the grating in a gracefully smooth move, feet first. He expected a shout of agony, but he only heard the a soft thump of feet landing on the ground. "It's fine," she called up to Clar. "Jump down and I'll help you."

He looked to Raphaela. "Thank you for all the help." She said nothing, only held her hand out to help Clar, he used her strong grip to steady himself as he got into position to jump down, her hands were very cold. She let go of his hand as he dropped down. It only took a second or two of falling before he landed and Jayce was there helping him steady himself, he thought as a boy he shouldn't need this kind of help but he had never been that muscular, not like some of the boys in his school. She let go immediately after he was steady. "You ok?" "Fine."

Jayce put her Seraph Blade back out and lifted it, it lit up their surroundings. They were a small space with cracked concrete floors. Vines had begun to grow along the walls. A doorway without a door, lead to another room. He heard a loud thump behind him, he turned to it and saw Raphaela. She ha followed them through the grating. And grinned at them manically.

Jayce looked angered. "I thought I told you—" She held her hand up in a gesture that said shush. "I heard you," she said. "But what are you going to do about now? I can't get back up the way I came and you can't leave me for dead . . . Can you?" "I'm contemplating it," said Jayce, she looked tired, she had shadows under her eyes. Raphaela pointed. "That way, they are up the stairs. They stay on the higher floors." She went past them. Jayce looked after her shaking her head. "I am beginning to be tired of mundanes," she said.

(tsc, TMI and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare.)

They got a cab, Jayce was busy calling Alec and yelling at her to wake up and meet them at a restaurant called Taki's, Clar was too busy thinking about the name that he saw, Magna Bane. Who was this Magna Bane and why did they sign his brain?

"This Taki's place has great food!" said Jayce.

"I don't care about good food, I want to know what or who Magna Bane is."

"She's a warlock," said Jayce.

"How do you know that?"

"Cause only a warlock could put a block spell on your mind."

He looked out the window with a sigh. All this was exhausting.

-

They got to Taki's they waited for Alec who was only a few minutes away, and they went in and got a seat

"Who was that?" asked Clar. "At the door I mean."

"Who?" said Jayce. "You mean Clancy?"

"Yeah, he's a demon?"

"No, he's an Ifrit. they are warlocks but can't use magic," she said

Alec mumbled something.

He was looking at the menu, and a lot of it looked like Downworlder stuff.

"What is with this menu?" he asked

"Don't order any faerie food, it makes mundanes go a bit crazy," said Jayce. "And the next thing you know, you are running down the street naked with antlers on your head."

Clar looked at her

"Not," she said. "That I have ever done that."

"Uh huh."

Jayce went on talking, like she usually did, and Alec was staring at her with a look that Clar couldn't quite describe

Isidore and Simone came in at that moment

"There's this smoothie that is amazing," Isidore said.

Simone gave Clar a smile but he looked away, not wanting to meet her eyes.bhe didn't know exactly why he was upset with her.

"So what did you find out at the Bone City?" asked Isidore.

"We have a name," said Jayce. "Magna Bane."

"It's a start," said Alec.

"Magna Bane?" said Isidore. "I have an invitation to her party tonight."

"You do?" asked Alec

"Yup!"

"Well I guess we go to the party?" asked Jayce.

"Yeah!" said Isidore.

"Ugh, I hate parties," said Alec.

Clar could relate to her there. They continued to talk, Isidore took Simone to the park to show her something, Clar didn't go along, he was pretty sure of he did Isidore would find a way to get rid of him. Jayce, Alec, and Clar went back to the Institute.

——————

Isidore took Simone to the park to show her the faeries there, she was weird but Isidore could have some fun.

"You see them there," he said.

She squinted, trying to see what he was talking about.

"Whoa!" she said. "They are so pretty."

He gave her a charming smile, she smiled shyly back

"Here," he said, and grabbed her hand. "Get a closer look."

They looked at the pixie who was flying around the flower, they had blue hair and purple wings and wearing a pink dress.

Simone stars in amazement, the pixie reflecting in her glasses

"Do you want to kiss?" he asked

She swung her head towards him, and looked lost for words

"I..." she said. "I guess."

She was obviously nervous, girls and boys and others, were always nervous around him, though he was intimating.

He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her, a soft kiss that didn't mean anything.

——————

Jayce was in Clar's room, she was looking through his sketch book, he was a brilliant artist, all his pieces were so beautiful. Yes she was aware she shouldn't be Snooping in it but she could never help herself, it got her in trouble a lot.

"Is that my sketch book!" yelled Clar. "I don't let people look through that."

"Why not?" she said. "You're amazing, sometimes excellent."

He blushed a little

"Cause it's personal," he said. "Some people keep diaries, some journals. Me it's my sketch book."

She closed it.

"I'm tired," he said.

"If you want something to help you go to sleep," she said. "I could tell you a bedtime story."

He looked at her oddly

"Fine."

"Ok, lie down and close your eyes."

He layed down, she sat on the end if his bed

"Once upon a time," she started. "There was a little girl—"

"Was she a Shadowhunter girl?"

"Of course, yes."

"She lived in a manor house with her father. One day her father gave her a hunting falcon, he wanted her to tame it, she didn't like the falcon, it made her nervous. but she didn't want to disappoint her father, and wanted to make him happy. So she did her best, she spent everyday with it, and every day she had scratches on her hands that bled. she fed it and stroked it's wings, she finally got it to eat from her hand, she didn't care that it tore at her skin when it ate from her hand. She eventually taught it to fly circles around her and to stick it's beak in her hair and play with it, she knew her falcon loved her and she loved her falcon. So when she thought she was done and that she had tamed it, she went to show her father, thinking he would be proud and happy, but instead he was disappointed and angry. 'I told you to teach it to be obedient,' he said. 'Instead you taught it to love you.' he took the bird and broke it's neck. She cried for hours after her father left and after that day she never cried again. And she never forgot what she learn that day, that to love is to destroy and to be loved is the one to be destroyed."

"Jayce..." said Clar ever so softly. "That's not a bedtime story, that's a story about abuse."

"No. It's a story about a father trying to teach his daughter a lesson."

"No, it's a story to give children nightmares, to scare them into obedience," said Clar.

"Sometimes if you get runes too early they give you nightmares," she told him, and looked at him very thoughtfully.

"But if you don't learn to bend a little, you'll break into pieces," he said

"Not if you are strong enough."

"Jayce..." he never finished, he had been taken away by sleep.

She waited a few moments to make sure he was asleep, and brushed some hair out of his face. "Sleep well," she whispered softly.

And she left the room, to get ready for the party tonight.

——————

Joan was reading her book, like she always did these days. Demons were a great deal of trouble, and to think half a year ago she didn't even know about any of this stuff.

It was weird that half a year had passed but she didn't look different, well unless you counted the fact that she was more muscular now, and knew how to kill people now.

There were times when she was fighting demons for training that she enjoyed killing them so much it scared her, she was never the type who loved violence but she is starting to love it, almost crave it.

She heard a knock at her door, she walked to it and swung it open. There stood Lilith the woman who claimed to be her mother but wasn't, the woman who Joan called her mother so she wouldn't be punished for being disobedient.

"Hello, my dear," said Lilith.

"Mother."

"Your father said he is proud of how far you have come in such a short time."

"Did he."

Her father, you mean the insane guy who wants to kill people and has already killed people.

"You know," said Lilith. "There is only one problem."

"What's that?"

"You are still too caught up in your old life, still too kind and sweet." she said.

"I.."

"There is a way to perhaps make you less weak," she said.

"What's that?" she asked

"It would be to have you reach your full potential," said Lilith. "To reach deep into yourself and let the demon in you take hold."

"What? How would I even do that?"

"My daughter, you must let go of what makes you human."

Let go of what makes her human?

"I know you feel it, that need for destruction, the need for violence, the want for blood on your hands," she said. "I see it in your eyes, because that is the demon in you. All you have to do and embrace it."

Then a man walked into the room and whispered something in Lilith's ear.

"I see," she said.

What was it that he told her?

"We need to speed things up," she said. "Darling, come here."

Joan walked over to her, she took her by the arm and whispered some unknown words into Joans ear, she didn't recognize the language but it must have been demonic, she felt as if Lilith had poured some dark magic through her. she felt her lungs burn and herself lose control of her body, she fell to the ground and it was all black again, and when she would wake up, things would be different.

Everything was so different.

——————

Alec was dreading going to this party, she was lying around her room flipping through a demonology book

She heard a knock at her door, and walked over to open the door.

"Heya," said a familiar voice, her parabatai. "I brought this for you, I know you probably don't have anything too fancy to wear cause you don't like to dress up."

"You're right, I don't," she said. "So why would I want to now? I'll just wear what I usually wear everyday"

"Alec, we are going to Magna Bane's party, I have heard people call her the Queen of Fashion. Do you really want to go wearing a worn out sweater with holes in it?"

She gave her parabatai a long look

"How do you know people call Magna Bane that?"

"I hear things from the faeries."

"You really need to stop hanging out with the faeries," she said

"Why?"

"They get you into trouble."

"So," said Jayce. "I like trouble."

"Yeah, that's the problem," she told her parabatai.

Jayce grinned at her, that mischief grin that said I do what I want, so try and stop me

She let out a long sigh. "What do you got exactly?"

She held up a Blue silk tank top, that was v cut in the front, it had spaghetti straps and didn't leave much to the Imagination.

"I'm not wearing that!" she shouted not meaning to.

"Why not? It will totally bring out your eyes," said Jayce

"Because it's so low cut, you know I don't exactly have a small chest."

"So, what does showing off what you got have to do with anything?"

"Jayce, maybe you like to show people what you got. But I am not like that."

"I can get you dress shirt instead," she said. "But I don't have anything blue in a blouse or dress shirt."

Did she really put that much thought into this?

"Fine. I'll wear it, but I'll be wearing a jacket as well," she said.

"Ok! I'll let you get away with that," she said, and smiled up at her.

Honestly Jayce was impossible, but she was Alec's impossible.

——————

Clar had to borrow something nice from Isidore, the only problem was that Isidore had such nice shirts, he loved fashion apparently. He also thought it was probably strange for two boys to be getting ready together like this.

Clar hated parties, not just because of the people but because you had to dress up and figuring out what goes with what was frustrating, even as a boy you sometimes had to worry about clothes.

"I think this will work nice," said Isidore.

He held up a black dress shirt, that looked somewhat less flaunty. Thankfully Clar had his own black jeans, though he would look very much like a Shadowhunter. He wondered what Jayce was gonna wear, and then asked himself why he was wondering that?

"Come here," said Isidore. "I am gonna help you part your hair fancy."

Clar sighed, he hated dressing up.

"Hey, Isidore," he asked

"Yeah?"

"Is Alec a lesbian?"

Isidore jumped and flung the hairbrush across the room

"You can't tell anyone!" he shouted.

"Is there a rule against being gay?"

"Not exactly, but it's looked down upon and people will think you are the shame of the your family," said Isidore, he sounded sad and angry at the same time. "So you can't tell anyone, seriously."

"I won't."

Isidore relaxed a little, the Lightwoods may be a little stuck up but the way they cared about each other was something that has made Clar care about them a little, it reminded him of Joan, himself, and Simone.

He missed Joan, he missed his big sister being there to take on the people he didn't want to talk to, to be there when he felt like the odd one out, Joan who always reminded Simone to continue to be nerdy because that's who she is and she shouldn't let anyone take that away. He smiled at the memory. He just hoped that by whatever ever higher power there was that she was ok, and that he would get to see her again.

"Clar, are you going to stay zoned out," said Isidore, snapping him back into reality. "Or are you gonna come along so we can go to the party."

-

They headed down the hall to get the girls. Clar saw Jayce look up at the sound of their footsteps, she was wearing a black lace top that was cut into a v shape in the front, and black leather pants, she also wore her usual heeled black combat boots that gave her a couple more inches in height, and a jacket, her golden curls were pushed back behind her ear on one side, she was wearing sword earrings, black the Shadowhunter outfit.

Simone looked up as well and said "Why are you so dressed up?"

"It's a party, so I guess I should a little."

She gave him the look that said you hate dressing up

Jayce came up to him. "You look nice," she said, he felt himself blush. "And here's this."

She handed him a dagger

"I don't know how to use that," he said

"Don't worry about that, you'll be a natural."

-

When they got to Magna Bane's loft, Alec and Isidore rang the doorbell, a woman answered it, she wore a purple sequin suit over a slik dress top, the lower part of her black hair was dyed blue, she had on black eyeliner with a blend of purple and blue eyeshadows, she had blue glittery lipstick on. She was southeast asian, slim and taller than all of them. she had glitter sparkling along her skin that was bare. She must like glitter Clar thought.

"I don't remember inviting children of the Angel to my party," she said.

Isidore held up the invitation. "I have an invitation right here."

She looked at it, for a moment Clar thought maybe she would send them away anyway, but she moved out of the doorway with a sigh and said. "Come on up, just don't kill anyone while your here."

They all followed her up the stairs, when they got into her loft, Clar saw that there was glitter and streamers everywhere, there was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling over a dance floor. He looked around and saw the guests were Faeries, Vampires, and a few werewolves. Clar didn't know what to think, he hadn't thought they got along.

He looked to his side about to ask Jayce something and saw everyone was gone. Did they all just leave him?

"Do you like the party?" asked a voice from behind him.

He turned and saw it was Magna Bane. "It's nice," he said who is it for?"

"My cat," she said

"Where is your cat?"

"I don't know, he ran away."

"Oh," he said. "Do you think he'll come back?"

"Who can say."

A moment later Jayce was back by his side

"Where did you come from!" he asked

"Over there," she said, and pointed to the bar.

"Where are Simone and Isidore?"

"They are dancing."

He looked over to the dance floor, and saw that they were in fact dancing.

Alec was here now too, what was with Shadowhunters and popping up out of nowhere?

"How may I help you Nephilim?" asked Magna. "I'm not in trouble with the Clave am I?"

"No," said Jayce and Alec simultaneously.

"We are here to ask about if you ever put a memory block on Clar," said Jayce

"You signed my mind," said Clar.

"Yes and yes," said Magna. "Come to my bedroom and we can talk privately."

"Why?" he asked "Why did you sign my mind?"

"I was proud of the work I had done on you," she said. "So perfect. You would forget what you saw as you saw it. It was how she wanted it to be."

"Who?," he asked. "How who wanted it?"

"Your mother."

He flinched, Jayce and Alec looked at him with sympathetic looks.

"But why? Why would she want that?"

"I don't know, I just do what I get paid to do," she said.

"Was it only one time?" he asked

"Darling, I don't think you understand. When I first saw you for the first time, you were probably two years old. Your mother came to me and told me who she was and asked if I could block that part of your mind. I told her it may leave you damaged, but that there was another way. I could make you forget what you and you would never know, but that she would have to come back every two years to have it recast, because the spell would start fade," she told Clar.

"And she did?"

"I have seen you every two years since that day. You were the first Shadowhunter I watched grow up."

"Can you take the spell off?" he asked

"I can't."

"What?" Jayce sounded angered. "Why? The Clave requires you to do—"

"I do not like being told what to do, little Shadowhunter," said coldly.

Clar knew how much Jayce seemed to hate being called "little"

"You can't reverse it?" spoke Alec before Jayce could give a reply.

"Taking a spell off is much more complicated than putting one on," said Magna. "Besides, it's alright fading."

"I just want to be who I really am," said Clar. "I mean who I really am supposed to be."

Magna sighed and walked over to one of the book cases in her bedroom and pulled a book off the shelf. "This is called the Gray Book," she said, she opened it to a page and layed it on Clar's lap. "This rune will help you remember a little and see through glamour better. It contains every Rune the Angel gifted the Nephilim."

"But the book isn't gray. Why is it called the grey book?" he asked

"Really?" said Jayce sarcastically. He shot her a glare.

"It's just what it's called," said Alec, more symptomatically than anyone else.

Clar looked at the page, he saw, Remember. Sorrow. Thought. Strength. Protection. Grace.

Magna grabbed the book and said "That's enough for now. If you read too many at the same time you make your head ache."

"Usually, Nephilim children grow up learning one at a time," said Jayce. "I don't even know them all yet."

"Can you imagine that," said Magna.

"I still don't remember where the Mortal Cup is or anything about it," said Clar.

"Seriously!," shouted Magna. "This is what it's all about, the Cup? Look I've been inside your head, there's nothing about the Mortal Instruments in it."

"The Mortal Instruments? But—" he started

"The Angel gifted the first Nephilim. A Cup, a Sword and a Mirror. The Sword is with the Silent Brothers. The Cup and the Mirror were in Idris," said Magna.

"No one knows where or what the mirror is, nobody has known for a long time," said Alec.

"It's the Cup we want," said Jayce."Valentine is looking for it."

Magna looked tired. "And you want to find it first," she said. "Only fools would get between that man and what he wants."

"You don't seem surprised or shocked that Valentine is back," said Alec.

"Are you?" she said.

"So, you aren't going to help us find it?" asked Alec.

"Darling, I wouldn't even if I could," said Magna.

"But if we don't have the Cup—" started Alec

"You can't make more Shadowhunters? Not everyone finds that so tragic," she cut in. "Now that we're done here, I am getting back to my party before people eat or kill each other."

She led them out of the her room, and then came Isidore running up shouting hysterically. "Simone's a rat!" he yelled

"What?!" said Alec. "What did she do?"

"No, nothing. she's a rat."

"Your not making sense, Isidore," said Clar.

He took a deep breath. "We were hanging by the bar and there were drinks, she drank one and it turned her into a rat!" said Isidore.

"What!?"

Clar ran off to the bar, he got on his knees and looked under it.

"Simone?" he said. "It's Clar, it's ok."

Simone ran out from under the bar and into Clar's arms.

Jayce was chuckling beside Clar.

"Are you ok?" he asked as he held her.

Simone just looked with her rat eyes at Clar, how were you supposed to tell what rat eyes meant? It was Simone though so she would be ok.

Magna walked up and whistled. "Well I see perhaps someone was tricked into drinking something that was not meant for them," she said.

"Can you turn her back?" asked Clar

"There's no point, she'll turn back to normal in a few hours. And besides you couldn't afford me and I won't do it for free," said Magna.

Jayce chuckled again, he shot her a glare. Isidore didn't seem to care, Alec walked up to him and said put him in your backpack.

"Alright!," called Magna. "This has been enough partying for me, and to be quite frank you all are terrible and have ruined it. So off you go and byebye now."

Everyone started making there way out, a vampire bumped into Clar and he said "Excuse me, handsome."

"Alright Nephilim, time to go," said Magna. "Oh! But you blue eyes, you call me." she winked at Alec. Her ivory cheeks turned red, she seemed to have lost the ability to speak and move.

"Come on!" said Jayce, as she pushed Alec out the door, Isidore right behind her. she was laughing again always laughing.

Clar was almost out the door when Magna said to him. "Clar, one more thing. Remember that when your mother fled it wasn't the Downworlders or demons she was fleeing from. it was the Shadowhunters."

Clar nodded and ran out the door.

Clar dreamed one of a place that seemed out of a fairy tale, there was apparently a ball, it wasn't a ball room them but it was beautiful, there was a fountain with a mermaid, and there were people dancing everywhere. he turned his head and saw Simone at his shoulder, she said. "Do you find someone else more interesting?." suddenly they were dancing, He looked at her closely and realized she was beautiful. There were Alec and Isidore, holding hands like hansel and gretel, both in royal blue. "Welcome, welcome to the Glass City," said a voice that was not Simone's. He realized she was gone and he was now dancing with Jayce, she was in a slim cut dress that was slit with a v in the front, it was a amber gold, it went perfectly with her short golden curls shining in the light, her deep tawny beige skin and golden eyes, she was so beautiful, he wanted to paint her, darker and lighter shades of gold. He took another moment and stared at her. and as they were dancing he realized she was short, he knew but her personality always made her seem bigger than she was, now as they were dancing he realized, he suddenly felt a strange urge to want to protect or hold her tight. But instead he said "Where's Simone?"

she looked at him and replied. "This place is for those who are alive." her hands were cold, and felt different on Clar than Simone's had. He was very aware of them.

He looked closely at her. "What do you mean?"

She stood up on her tiptoes, leaned in, her lips against his ear. "Wake up, Clar," she whispered. "Wake up. Wake up."

-

He bolted up right, he was sweating, and someone held his wrists in an iron grip, he was going to pull away, then he realized who it was. "Jayce?"

"Yes." she was there on the edge his bed looking half awake, her hair messy and she had sleepy eyes.

"Let go of me," he said

"Sorry," she said and let go. "You almost hit me the second I called your name."

"I'm jumpy, I guess."

He looked around the room, by the way the light was coming in it looked to be dawn, it lit the dark room slightly.

"What time is it?"

"Five."

"in the morning?" he said. "Why are you waking me up?"

"What were you having a great dream or something?"

He thought back to it. "I don't remember."

She got up. "One of the Silent Brothers is here. Hodge said to get you up. Actually, he was going to wake you himself but I figured since it's 5 in the morning you would want something lovely to stare at."

"You mean you?"

"What else would I mean?" she said with a smirk.

"I didn't agree to see them."

"Do you want to know where your mother is," she said. "Or no?"

He sighed

"Listen, all you have to do is meet brother Jeremiah," she said. "Besides, he's funny for a guy who never talks."

"Hey, Jayce," he said

"Yeah?"

"You're short," he told her

She looked stunned. "What!?"

"I said your short," he repeated. "Also get out I got to change."

She went out, he laughed to himself, she looked so surprised by that.

After he got changed, Jayce led him to where the Silent Brother was, surprisingly she was fairly silent, he hoped he hadn't made her to upset.

"Listen about what I said about you being short I was just teasing."

"Huh?," she said. "Please you don't think you actually bothered me?"

He supposed even if he had upset her she wouldn't admit to it.

"Yeah, I guess not," he said.

"How tall are you anyway?" he asked. "Isidore and Alec are both really tall."

She turned her head to look at him. "I'm 5'4, not that it matters my size has nothing to do with what I can do."

"I suppose that's true," he said. "Though it's kinda cute."

"What?"

"I said it's kinda cute."

"I am not cute."

She glared at him, he actually found that kinda cute itself, but wondered when he started to think Jayce was cute, when did she start to amuse him more than annoy him?, he gave her a sweet smile at her to add to it.

She turned away and led him to the library.

And when he went in, there was a man in parchment like robes, he assumed that was the Silent Brother, he saw that Church the cat was pacing in circles looking nervous and muttering to himself

"What's with the cat? Why is he pacing?"

"The Silent Brothers make him nervous."

"I think they make everyone nervous."

--

The library was dark, which only made it all more creepy, Hodge got up from the desk and walked up to the Silent Brother

"This," said Hodge. "Is Clarus Fray, the boy I told you about." then Hodge turned to Clar. "Clar this is Brother Jeremiah of the Bone City."

"Hello," was all Clar said, he looked closely at Brother Jeremiah as he approached, he had runes carved into his face, his lips were stiched up, his eyes looked permanently shut. No wonder Jayce called them creepy he thought, he felt chills down his spine.

"I decided that you were right, Jayce. and sent word to the Silent City," said Hodge

"I usually am right," said Jayce.

Hodge ignored her. "However the memories are Clar's only he can decide if he wants to do this."

Clar didn't say anything, Madame Dorothea said he had a block in his mind and he wanted to know why.

"This is Jocelyn's son?," said Jeremiah.

"Yes," said Hodge.

"You knew my mother?" he asked.

"The Clave keeps records.of all Shadowhunters, Dead and Alive," said Brother Jeremiah.

"Well maybe you should find a better way of keep record, cause my mom isn't dead, maybe you would actually know who I'd dead and who isn't," said Clar.

"My father died, I don't need any other way to know that," said Jayce.

"Clarus Fray," said the voice in his head, it was like telepathy. "I am here to help you retrieve the memories that are locked in your head, we can learn much if you agree."

After more talking and discussing, Clar agreed, when Jeremiah was digging through his head, it felt like it would burst, it was painful, just cold and snow.

"That's enough," called Jayce. "It's hurting him now."

"Jayce," said Hodge.

"Look at his hands," she said

Brother Jeremiah had stopped. "The block is too strong for me to do anything here he needs to come to the Silent City, there my brothers can help me figure out what is causing this block."

He looked down seeing what Jayce meant, he had dug his finger nails into his palms and they were bleeding. so more mind stuff he thought.

"I'll go," he said. "To the Silent City, I want to find out what this is."

Jayce stared at him for a long moment.

"ok, I'll go with you," she said.

——————

"I don't like this Clar," said Alec, her and Iz were training.

"You don't like anyone new."

"I don't like change."

"Yeah, I mean Jayce is totally following him around like a Cat."

"That too, what is it with her and wanting to help this boy," said Alec irritated

"I don't know, but the way she looks at him when he isn't looking... I've never seen Jayce look at someone like that," said Isidore.

Alec was not the type who liked new people in the institute, she preferred things to stay the way they are, and this boy was trouble and she knew it, why couldn't Jayce see this?

"Do you the Silent Brothers will actually find anything?" she asked her brother

"Maybe, but maybe not. I find it strange though, this memory block thing, if he's a Shadowhunter like us, than why does he have so much trouble and why can't he remember this stuff?"

"I have no idea, and I don't like it."

"Yeah, you said that."

Alec got lost in thought, and was snapped out of it by Iz using his whip to pull her off her feet.

"Isidore," she hissed

"Hahaha, that's what you get for not paying attention."

She untangled the whip from her feet and went over and jumped onto her brother, they whistled and she gentle pounded her fists in onto his head, they both started laughing.

——————

Joan had been here for a few months now, she was much stronger she had to admit but it was torture, punishment if she messed up, she started acknowledging Lilith as her mother, she would be punished if she didn't for that as well.

Joan already knew how to fight so well now too, some instructer her "Father" picked out drilled stuff into her head everyday, she trained till her body collapsed. Lilith was slowly getting her to use her demon blood more and she could swear her eyes go black every now and then, she wondered how she got here, how things could change so fast. Now she went through cruel and intense training everyday, she sometimes felt she wouldn't live but she always did.

She still didn't know where Clar was, her mom was having god knows what done to her, Valentine came to check on her once, and told her shit about their family and his Circle and about how it all went down, how her mother had fled and left him, couldn't blame her, he's insane.

Apparently her mother had used the help of a warlock to make it seem like Joan was there at home during the uprising, an illusion magic, and her father didn't know until after he had burned the bones of a father and his child, so that everyone thought they were dead. Sick is all she thought, but she saw her mother in a different way now, and though she loved her, she wished she had prepared her and Clar for this, maybe Joan wouldn't be suffering so much if she had.

Joan couldn't sleep so she opened her book about demons and read that, I have this blood in me, i am a monster she thought.

——————

So they headed out and waited for Brother Jeremiah to come and get them, Clar was already feeling the weight of today on him, why does this all have to be so exhausting

"Why do we have to wait for Brother Jeremiah? Does he not want to be seen with Shadowhunters?" He asked

"The Silent Brothers are Shadowhunters," said Jayce. Looking as cool as ever, he was annoyed by this.

"So is he getting his car or something?"

Jayce gave him a grin. "You could say that."

"I'd feel better if Hodge were coming."

"I can protect," She said.

"It's not that I need to be protected," he replied. "I need someone who can help me think through this all."

He realized he hadn't messaged Simone

"Oh! Simone," he said

"No, I'm Jayce," Jayce said. "Simone is the one with the bad fashion sense and kinda looks a  chipmunk."

"Shut up, will you," he said. "I was going to call her before I went to bed."

Jayce held her arms up to the sky like it would spilt open and heaven would be there, she was awfully dramatic he thought. "With everything that's going on you are worried about Chipmunk?"

"Don't call her that, she doesn't look like that."

"You're right, I have seen some rather attractive chipmunks," she said. "She is more like a rat."

"She does not look—"

"She's probably at home mooning over Isidore. Just wait for him to get bored."

"Is he likely to get bored?"

"Yes," she said thoughtfully

Maybe Isidore wouldn't, maybe he would see how Simone was and they would start dating but the idea didn't feel right.

He realized he had zoned out while Jayce was talking to him and said "What?" Not so kindly

"If you want my attention so bad surely there are other ways," she said. "That are less embarrassing."

"Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt," he said.

"I can't help it , I use my rapier wit to hide my inner pain."

"Your pain will be outward if you don't get out of traffic," he said

"And here's our ride," Jayce said.

Brother Jeremiah took them to the Silent City in a carriage, though to the mundane it would look like a black car.

--

"So when I get this block out of my mind, glamours won't hurt so much to see through?" He asked

"Yup," she said.

She quotes a Blake quote at him, she loved poetry, she always thought it could describe the way you feel. He said something about a band

"I suppose though, you don't know much about music."

"Not except the occasional cries of the dead."

He gave her a look as if to say are you serious? But he didn't know how serious she was, Jayce had always been able to see ghosts and the cries they made were musical but sad.

"But I thought you knew Piano?"

"Nah, that was just me messing around," she told him. "My father insisted I learn to play at least one instrument, so I decided on the Piano." she had felt strangely drawn to the Piano when she was picking an instrument to learn.

"Your father sounds harsh."

"No, he wasn't at all," she said more sharply than intended. "He taught me everything I know about weapons and fighting, about demons, he taught me ancient languages and lore. He gave anything I wanted. books, weapons, horses, even a hunting falcon at a point."

Clar look to be deep in thought after that, she didn't know why she had even told him this, but it did feel nice to say.

"So you aren't going to tell Hodge about the men?" asked Clar

"no," she replied

"Why not?"

"Cause he'll know I'll want to kill Valentine."

"You want revenge for your father?"

"Not revenge, I want justice, to make it right. Killing ones fellow Shadowhunter is one of the worst crimes."

Eventually she went into explaining why it's wrong. "Downworlders aren't like demons because they are half human, they belong here, where as demons suck the life out of a world and leave it dry, there are many other worlds that have been destroyed by demons."

"There are other worlds?" he asked

"Yeah, in each one something is slightly different, for all we know I could be more attractive in one or I could even be a boy in one. I could be dead in one."

"So these other worlds are dead? Is that what you meant when you said that demons suck the life out?"

"Probably not all, there are most likely some that are still alive, but we have no way to get to them or to really know."

At that moment they were at the Silent City, they followed Brother Jeremiah down the steps, Clar was going on about grave yards and asking if Silent Brothers sleep, which she could only laugh at, he was odd she thought, curious, she liked it.

They saw the statue with the Mortal Cup and the Nephilim motto on it.

"And that is the motto of the Nephilim," she said.

"What does it mean?"

She gave him a grin. "Shadowhunters looking better in black than the widows of our of enemies since 1234."

"Jayce—"

"What it means," said Jeremiah. "The descent into hell is easy."

"Wow, that's so cheerful," said Clar.

They headed to the room where all the Silent Brothers gather for meetings, Jayce stood back as they told Clar to stand on the star and started going through his head.

After a moment of them going through his head, he fell to the floor, for the first time since she could remember a real sense of fear went through her.

She ran to him, and saw his arm was bleeding, she pulled her Stele out and placed the tip against his skin and drew an Iratze. helped him sit up.

"Here, let me," she said.

"Is the part like in the movies and books where you start ripping your clothes up to bandage me up?" he asked

"Geez, if you want me to rip my clothes off just ask," she said with a smirk.

She helped him up and helped him steady himself

"So did you find anything?" she asked.

"I have a name, I guess someone signed my mind," he said.

"What's the name?"

"Magna Bane."

She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.

"Ok, it's a start," she said.

"Let's go," she said. "I am sure we can find the way out on our own."

"No ," said Brother Jeremiah. "I will escort you out."

He led them out and after a bit they were outside, she looked up to the sky and said. "It's gonna rain."

"What?"

"I said it's gonna rain."

He looked up and frowned, it was cute, wait... Did she just say it was cute? No Jayce no, you aren't gonna think like this.

"Are we gonna take the carriage again," he asked looking at it tiredly.

"No," she said. "I hate them. let's get a cab."

(TSC, TMI, and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare, some of it is kinda similar to the original)

They went to the library, Hodge was looking for a book and eventually found what he was looking for, then he quoted

"I here by render unconditional obedience to the Circle and it's principles. . . . I will be ready to risk my life at any time for the Circle, in order to preserve the purity of the bloodlines of Idris, and for the mortal world with whose safety we are charged."

Jace made a face "What is that fr exactly?"

"The loyalty oath of the Circle of Raziel, about twenty so years ago," said Hodge tiredly.

"It's creepy," said Clar. "Sounds like a cult."

"They were a group of Shadowhunters, led by Valentine Morgenstern, they wanted to wipe out all Downworlders and make the world 'purer', they made a plan to wait for Downworlders to sign the accords. It is to be signed again every fifteen years, it was to keep the magic of it potent." He added this for Clar most likely. "They planned to slaughter all of them who came, unarmed and not prepared for a fight, it was a terrible act, they wanted to start a war between humans and Downworlders, they intended to win that war."

"The uprising," Jayce said, recognizing what Hodge was talking about now. "I didn't know that Valentine's followers had their own name."

"The name is not spoken of these days," Hodge said. "It brings the Clave great shame and embarrassment, they destroyed many documents on it as well."

"Why do we have a copy of it?" Asked Jayce

"Because," he said. "I had a hand in writing it."

Jayce looked up and said. "You were a part of the Circle."

"Indeed, many of us were," Hodge looked at Clar. "Clar's mother was as well."

Clar couldn't believe what he just heard. "What?"

"I said—"

"I heard what you said! My Mom would never be a part of some group that was so hateful."

"It wasn't—" Jayce began, and Hodge cut her off

"I don't think she really had a choice," Hodge said in pained words

"What do you mean?" Why didn't she have a choice?" He asked

"Because she was married to Valentine," said Hodge slowly.

——————

Joan, didn't know this man or why he was calling himself her father

"That's not possible, my father died before Clar was born and I was still too young to remember him," she said

"Is that what your mother told you?"

"Where am I?" She asked

"You're safe, Jonathena don't worry," he said with a smile that made her feel cold and not safe at all.

"That's funny, I don't feel safe and I have some strange man telling me I am his daughter."

"It's not your fault your mother never told you about me," he said. "After all she was good at keeping secrets."

Joan felt angry on her mother's account, she didn't like someone implying her mother was a liar.

"You are a Morgenstern, Jonathena, and now you are truly home and now you will be taught what it means to be a Morgenstern."

"What?"

"Come with me," he said

She followed not wanting to make the land mad

"You said I'm a Morgenstern? When my name is Fray," she told the man

"Another lie your mother told you," he said. "You were born Jonathena Morgenstern."

Her head was spinning, and she didn't know what to think, she couldn't trust this man

"And who are you?" She asked

"I am your father, Valentine Morgenstern."

Well that ruined Valentine's day for her, she wished she knew where Clar was, if she told him that he would laugh, her baby brother. she missed him and she didn't even know how long she has been gone.

He led her into a room where a women in what looked to be a very old dress sat, there was something about her that made an uneasy feeling come over Joan.

"Lady of Edom," the man Valentine said.

"Valentine," she said, her voice reminded Joan of evil queens, Joan always thought they were just women who we hurt deeply by the world but that didn't excuse their actions, and this women did not make Joan think that way about her.

"I have brought her as you can see."

"Yes, she is beautiful, isn't she?" The woman said

Joan felt creeped out

"Yes," he answered

"Come here, child," called the woman

Not wanting to make either angry she did as the woman asked and walked over to her, her gaze felt heavy and dark, Joan didn't know a better way to explain it

"My daughter," the woman said

Ok, these people are crazy, first the creepy evil man calls her his daughter and now this woman, there is no way she is her mother, her mother is Jocelyn Fray.

"I'm not your daughter," Joan said

"Oh but you are," the woman said. "I am the Greater demon Lilith, and my blood runs through your veins."

Joan felt like someone had hit her in the gut

"That's not possible, my mother is Jocelyn Fray and it's her blood that is in my veins," she said even though it felt weird to say it, cause who says 'This is my mother, her blood runs through my veins'

"Jonathena, sit down, I have a story to tell you," Valentine said

Again she did as he asked not wanting to anger him, she couldn't fight them off if she attacked her

——————

Clar and Jayce had stayed in silence for several moments before either of them said another word, Jayce could only imagine what was going through Clar's head, she was still processing it herself, and she couldn't look at Hodge quite the same

"So Valentine was married? But I thought—"

"No that's not possible, my mother wouldn't have married such a man, she had only ever been married to my father and had no ex husband!"

"Children—"

"I am not a child," Clar walked away from the desk where he had been sitting. "I don't want to hear anymore of this stroy."

Jayce didn't know what to say or do, this was all new information for her, Jayce saw several emotions go over Clar's face at once and could tell he was trying to figure something out in his head

"My mother would never . . ." Clar started but never finished

"Your mother left the Circle," Hodge started. "Many left, once people saw how intense Valentine's views were, and saw the things he made them do, people left, Lucian was the first to leave, it hurt Valentine deeply, they had been close. Them Michael Wayland. your father, Jayce."

She raised her eyebrows at him

"And some remained loyal, Pangborn. Blackwell. Me, and The Lightwoods—"

"The Lightwoods? Robert and Maryse?," She was shocked. "And you? When did you leave?"

"I never did, and neither did the Lightwoods," Hodge said. "We were too afraid of what Valentine would do, and so we stayed. After the uprising when the Clave had captured most of the Circle Members, and issued punishment upon them, they gave me and the Lightwoods leniency."

"Leniency?" Jayce gave a look and tried to make sure Hodge didn't see but he did

"You are thinking of the curse that keeps me here, you always thought it was demon or warlock getting revenge, but it was the clave," said Hodge.

"For being in the Circle?" She asked.

"For not leaving before the uprising when we should have."

"But the Lightwoods didn't get punished?" said Clar. "They did the same things but only you got punished?"

"The Lightwoods had sources that got them an easier punishment, they were exiled from their homeland to New York to run the Institute, they left when Alec was still a toddler," said Hodge.

"The law is hard, but it is the law," Jayce said

"Why didn't you tell me that my mother was married to Valentine. You knew her name—" Clar was saying but Hodge cut him off.

"I knew her when she went by Jocelyn Fairchild, and you made it seem like she had nothing to do with the shadow world, and perhaps I did not want to believe it. No would wish for Valentine to come back." Hodge said. "WhenI sent word to the Silent Brothers, I had no idea what news I would have to give them. When the Clave finds out Valentine may be back, and is looking for the cup, there will chaos, and it will mess with the accords."

"I'm sure Valentine would be filled with joy if that happened." Jayce said. "But why does he want the Cup so bad?"

"To build an army for himself, isn't that clear?" Hodge said

Jayce was processing this and was more than a little startled

"But how? That wouldn't—"

"It's Dinnertime!" Iz yelled at the doorway. "Sorry if I interrupted."

"By the angel," she said. "The hour of darkness has come."

Hodge looked like he was going to freak out

"I—I—I had a very filling snack, I couldn't possibly eat anything right now," said Hodge.

"Geesus, I threw the soup out and ordered Chinese food," said Iz.

"Great, I am starving," Jayce said

"I could maybe eat," said Hodge

"You two suck at lying, it will be the death of you one day," Iz said. "I know you don't enjoy my cooking—"

"So stop cooking for us," Jayce advised her brother reasonably. "Did you order mu shu pork? You know that's my favorite."

Iz looked up as if he was done with her

"Yes it is in the kitchen with the rest of the food," he said.

She made her way out of the room, but gave Iz a affectionate hit on the arm

——————

"What?" Joan said

"I said when you were in your mother's womb, I injected demon blood into you to make you stronger than any Shadowhunter, you were to be a great warrior, but your mother ran off with you, she made a plan to make sure I didn't know. I was going to make you strong and powerful," said Valentine

Joan thought, he is so much like the villians you see on tv that it made her want to cringe

"You're insane," she said. "I don't know you and you want me to actually believe that your my father, that this woman's blood was injected into me, and that I have demon blood in me? Do you realize how crazy that sounds?"

"I have no reason to lie to you," he said

"Than where's my mother? And brother?" She asked

At that he rose an eyebrow, did he not know about Clar and did Joan just put her brother in danger, or did he know about him and is just playing at something.

"Your mother is asleep in another room, though she is comatose," he said

"What did you do to her?" She said with as much venom as she could muster

"Nothing your mother did it to herself, in an attempt to keep me from getting the Mortal Cup," he said. "see I need it and she has hidden it, but she made sure I wouldn't be able to get that information out of her, so she put a spell on herself."

Joan's head felt like it would explain, this was too much

"Now tell her," said the woman who called herself Lilith

"Now my daughter to make up for lost time, I will send you with Lilith and there you will be instructed to be a Shadowhunter, and you will learn to use the demon blood in you," he said

He wasn't serious right? He didn't actually think she was going with this Lilith?

"No, I'm not," she said

"Oh, but you are my dear," said the woman. "We'll get the mother-daughter time we have lost."

She felt like she would be sick, she felt scared, and wanted her mom and brother but they weren't here, maybe Clar is safe and will find a way to help her, but it may end up to be to late.

"Now let's get you along," said Valentine. "Lilith's place has time that passes differently so a year in dimension could only be a day or a week in this world. But I have enchanted for you to not age even as time passes."

Wow he was serious and what is he talking about?

But before she knew it, Lilith had walked over and injected her with something and everything went black, again.

When she woke she was in a different place and she had already been learning, and her body hurt, her head pounded, it had apparently already been a week here, and she was already growing tired.

——————

They were sitting at a table eating, the food was good, Clar could see why they like it, they had also filled the others in on the whole story, except the Lightwoods and Hodge being in the Circle, so many secrets Clar thought.

"It's a little romantic don't you think?" Said Isidore. "He comes back and wants his love back, he'll do anything to get her back."

"Yeah, I am sure every girl wants a demon to come to her house and kidnap her as a 'i'm sorry please take me back gift'," said Alec, who had been sitting there looking annoyed as usual.

"It's not what I would do," said Jayce. "I send her flowers, and Chocolates, apology letters, then the demons, in that order."

Jayce sounded as if she knew how to win a girl over, though maybe it's because she was a girl, and you are thinking weirdly again Clar.

"He might have done all that," Iz said. "You never know."

Hodge looked like a disappointed teacher, but he was one though, so that made sense, wtf Clar why are you thinking like this?

"Isidore," Hodge started. "This is not romantic, he wants to kill all the Downworlders and have blood run down the streets of the Glass City."

"it's kinda hot," Isidore said. "The evil stuff, evil is hot."

Simone tried to make a menacing look at Isidore but caught Clar staring and stopped. "Why does Valentine want the Cup? And would he think Clar's mom has it?" She asked

"You said he could make an army with it," Clar said. "So you mean he could use it to make more Shadowhunters?"

"Yes," he answered

"So this Valentine could walk up to you on the street and be like 'hey drink this buddy' and make them a Shadowhunter? Just using a Cup?" Simone leaned forward in her chair. "Could it possibly work on me?"

Hodge gave her a long look and said "possibly," he said. "But the reason not many Mundanes are chosen is because it takes a special resilience and strength and lots of training, but Valentine wouldn't wait for that, he would use it on them and take the ones that survived and have them be his army."

Alec looked horrified, the look perfectly matched how Clar felt

"How do you know all this?" She asked

"Because," Hodge said "He said this was his plan, he said it was the only way to build the army that was needed to defend the world against demons."

"But it would be murder," Isidore said, he looked sick.

"He said Nephilim had sacrificed for a thousand years and protected them," Hodge said. "He said it was their turn to pay up with their own sacrifice."

"With their lives?" Jayce demanded, she looked angry and flushed. "That goes against everything we stand for, everything we are meant to do. Protect the helpless and keep safe. Safeguard humanity—"

Hodge pushed away his plate"Valentine was insane," Hodge said. "Brilliant, Smart, but insane. He only cared about killing demons and Downworlders, wanted to rid the world of everything he considered that was unpure. He would have sacrificed his own daughter for it all and wouldn't understand why others wouldn't do the same."

"He had a daughter?" asked Alec

"I meant figuratively," Hodge said, Clar could see the sweat dripping down his forehead, shaking a little as well. "He was assumed dead, along with his wife, it was assumed he burned himself to death rather than surrender to the clave."

"It seems we need to find Clar's mom and sister, of we find his mom, we find the Cup," said Jayce.

This sounded like a great idea to Clar, but Hodge looked at Jayce like she just asked if she could play with fire while there was a ring of gasoline around her. "No I won't allow it."

"Then what do we do?"

"Nothing, we leave it to skilled Shadowhunters," said Hodge

"I am a skilled Shadowhunter," Jayce said, waving her hand in a know way. "I am very experienced."

"I know, but you are still a child technically," Hodge said in a voice that sounded like a parent scolding their child.

Jayce gave a deep dark look of menacing and said "I am not a child."

"Jayce, Hodge is right," Alec said, she seemed to be not afraid if Jayce but afraid for her and what the consequences of her own actions will cause her. "Valentine sounds like a dangerous man, you are am incredible Shadowhunter but we need to leave this to the older Shadowhunters, it took an entire battle to bring him down."

"And he got back up," said Isidore. " Apparently anyway."

"But we're already here," Jayce said. "So why not just do it, and because of the accords and law no one else is. And if we don't do something—"

"We're going to do something," Hodge said. "I'll send a message to the Clave, they'll have a force here by morning."

"I still don't like it," Jayce said, and crossed her arms.

"You don't have to," Alec said. "What you have to do is keep your mouth shut and not do anything stupid."

"What about my mother and Sister?" Clar demanded. "Their just supposed to wait for some Clave representative to come, while he has them and is doing god knows what to them. They have them Pangborn and Blackwell said so, and they could be—"

He couldn't say it, he couldn't say "Torture" the thought of it was enough, he knew everyone else was thinking it too

"Hurting her?" Simone finished for him. "But Clar they also said she's unconscious, and waiting for her to wake up."

"I'd stay unconscious if I were her," said Isidore

"What about Joan?" Clar said

"I don't know about her," Simone answered. "But we both know Joan is tough, and is smart."

"I thought the Clave was supposed to keep people safe, shouldn't they already be here searching for her?"

"That would be easier," Alec snapped. "If we knew where to look, but we don't have that information."

"Oh, but we do," said Jayce.

"You do?," Clar said giving Jayce a confused look. "Where exactly?"

She leaned over and pressed her fingers to his forehead, he felt a slight blush

"Everything we need," Jayce said. "Is locked up in your head, under those pretty red curls."

He brought his hand up to his suddenly, like to protect it "I don't know—"

"What are you gonna do," Simone cut in sharply. "Cut his head open."

Jayce gave her a look. "No, we'll call the Silent Brothers, They can help him remember and retrieve his memories."

"But you hate the Silent Brothers," Isidore said.

"I don't hate them," Jayce said. "I am scared of them, there's a difference."

"I thought you said they were librarians," said Clar.

"They are librarians."

"Damn, did someone forget to return a book," Simone said jokingly.

Hodge went on to explain what Silent Brothers were, he told them they can read minds and all that, so Clar was gonna have someone read his mind, how they walk in the dark and are super powerful

"Jayce, is right," said Isidore. "The Silent Brothers are scary."

"And you want to give me to them?" Asked Clar

"I want them to help you," Jayce replied. "I'll be with you the whole time."

"I don't want anyone inside my head."

"But they'll—"

"That's enough," Simone snapped. "Leave him alone, if he doesn't want to do it, he doesn't have to."

Alec glared at her. "Why are you still here mundane?"

Simone ignored her. "I said leave Clar alone."

Jayce gave Simone a sweetly venomous look.

"Alec's right," she said. "The Institute is a place that takes Shadowhunters in. not mundanes, especially those who have overstayed their welcome."

Isidore got up, took Simone by the arm and escorted her out

"I am exhausted," Clar said. "Show to my room."

"You don't want to eat anymore?" Asked Jayce

"no, I'm not hungry."

Jayce took him to a room, and left down the hall. Clar felt gross and wanted a change of clothes but he was still in Isidores borrowed jeans and t-shirt, the jeans were a bit long, Isidore was not short at all, Clar was 5'11 and wasn't short but the Lightwoods were tall, realizing he was thinking about pointless things he fell face first onto the bed and went to sleep. As he drifted off he had a dream.

The characters and The Mortal Instruments belong to Cassandra Clare

Clar was walking towards the door to pandemonium, Joan and Simone were with him, they often went, his sister always insisted he interact with strangers, he never understood why, he had her and his best friend Simone, and Luke and Mom, wasn't that enough, not to mention he was so awkward.

He saw a blue haired girl, she was good looking and attractive, he noticed Joan caught him staring and she gave him a teasing look, he rolled his eyes at his sister.

______

Jayce was with Iz and Alec, they were hunting down a demon, she was walking beside Alec and just enjoying the silence, when she saw a boy with bright red hair and thought of the sunset, she never told people of how she viewed things, she would often compare them to nature and poems and what not, some didn't understand that and she didn't want people to know much about her or think she's weak. But the boy's hair was beautiful, and she had always liked red sunsets.

Alec caught her staring and mentioned it, Iz did as well

"Does someone have a crush?" Iz teased.

"No, I don't get crushes," Jayce said.

"Well you were staring at that boy," Alec answered in her shy way.

She sighed

Alec started saying something and it was wrong, she corrected her but the joke was ruined, she loved her parabatai but sometimes she didn't always understand how jokes worked.

"Alec look, it's... Never mind, the joke is ruined," she said

Alec looked at her funny, and brushed it off, she was glad Alec wasn't the type to pry, Jace hated talking about feelings and getting real with people, she preferred to fight demons and keep things light and sarcastic, she pulled out her seraph blade getting ready to hunt the demon Iz was luring to that closet.

______

Clar was dancing, so was Joan and Simone, unlike himself and Simone, Joan was a good dancer, she always had graceful moves, and good balance.

At that moment Clar saw a raven haired boy moving through the crowd, he was beautiful in a way that he couldn't explain, but his Artist eyes knew that he was beautiful.

He saw him go towards the blue haired girl he had saw earlier and talk to her, they appeared to be flirting, they headed to the maintenance closet, some people did things like that, Clar had never thought of himself ever doing that in public.

Then he saw a blonde girl with a raven haired girl walking towards the closet, they both had what looked like daggers or maybe swords. Clar felt panic, were they going to murder them?

"Clar, are you okay?" Asked Simone

Her and Joan were staring at him with concern.

"those people there, they are going to kill that girl and boy," Clar said

Joan looked at him like he had lost it and Simone with deep worry

"Clar, what in the devil are you talking about?" Said his sister

"Listen, do I ever make this stuff up?" He said

"No," Simone answered

"We need to get help," he told his best friend and sister

"Ok," said Simone

Her and Joan made their way through the crowd as Clar went after them, Joan was good at getting people to move out of the way. Clar had said he'd stay here but he couldn't wait for security.

He made his way to the maintenance closet and opened the door.

When he went in he saw that the raven haired boy had tied up the blue haired girl with what look like electric wire, and the blue haired girl said something about a Valentine, he had no idea what that was or why they were talking about a Valentine's on August.

The blonde girl said "Every time we catch one of you, you say Valentine is back, but let me tell you, Valentine is dead and has been for years."

"Jayce, just kill it already," said the raven haired girl

So the blonde's name was Jayce

"Alec and Iz say I talk too much, do you think I talk too much?" Jayce the blonde asked the demon.

Alec and Iz, which was which he wondered.

"Enough Jayce," the boy said

"Iz is right we don't need a lesson in demonology," said the other girl.

Ah, the boy is Iz and the other girl is Alec, strange he thought.

So Valentine was a someone.

The blonde lifted her blade and was about to kill the girl and Clar jumped out at that moment and yelled "Stop! You can't just kill someone!"

The blonde girl looked startled, all of them did.

"What's this?" Said Alec

"It's a boy," Jayce said with her composure back. "Your brother Iz is one, surely you've seen them before."

She walked towards Clar and looked at him, she had a wild wicked look he thought, something beautiful and terrifying, like she wasn't of this world. He wanted to paint her.

At that moment the demon got loose and attacked Jayce.

______

Jayce looked into this boy's eyes and the way he looked at her made her feel like she was transparent, like she was glass.

She would have stared longer if not for the fact that the demon had attacked her and she was slightly injured.

She fought it off after she wasn't shocked anymore, she never got distracted like this.

After they killed the demon, Iz had apparently had attacked the boy and Jayce told him to let the boy go, but she said it softly and gently and she hadn't used that voice in so long.

And this boy reminded her of home for a second, but he shouldn't have, she didn't know him and had no idea who he was, but he did and Jayce felt weird.

"You can see us?" Said Jayce, she knew she was stating the obvious.

"Of course I can see you," said the boy, like they had asked a stupid question.

"I'm gonna call the police," he said

"And tell them invisible people are chasing you," she said with her arrogance back in her voice.

"What?" He said

At that moment the brown haired girl with glasses walked in, she must be his friend

"Clar, what are you doing in here?" Asked the girl.

"I-" he looked like he didn't have any words.

So he figured out his friend can't see us she thought to herself.

"Nothing, nothing at all, I must have imagined something," he said

"Let's get you home, Joan is outside on the phone with your mom, she isn't happy," said his friend.

And they left, but he looked back at Jayce with regret.

(This is an au I am working on and hopefully you like, yes it's genderbent tmi but also good Jonathan or Joan, I know it's weird but I am not over them and idk why but I enjoy making content for them and I feel like in another universe these peeps exist.)

(tsc and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare and some of the quotes)

Jayce had to carry Clar the rest of the way to the Institute, he's lucky she is strong, though Jayce has become aware that he is taller than her.

When she got back to the Institute, Alec made a big deal about it and totally flipped, Jayce had put a rune on Clar and knew she would get stuff for it later but the thing is Clar took the rune just fine.

——————

When Clar woke, he looked around and saw he was in an infirmary type room

"Ah, he's alive," said a voice from another bed

Clar looked over to where the voice came from and saw it was the dark haired boy that was with Jayce and the dark haired girl, Isidore was his name Clar was sure.

"Where am I?"

"At the Institute, Jayce brought you here, we thought you might die," he said

"How long was asleep for?"

"A day, that's normal though with demon poison," Isidore said

Clar wanted to doubt the demon poison thing but after last night he didn't know what to think anymore, his mom and sister are gone, probably kidnapped and he's alone with strangers he doesn't even know.

"Hodge said for you to drink that there once you woke up," said Isidore. "After you drink that, there are clothes of mine there you can change into, I am gonna get Hodge."

Clar drank the drink which wasn't terrible, and got up to change

"Oh, and wash up you don't smell so great," Isidore told him as he was walking out of the room

He rolled his eyes, cleaned up a little and got changed, after he changed instead of waiting for Isidore to come back he decided to go off on his own

He walked down the halls, and heard music from a room, he went toward the room and saw Jayce sitting on the bench playing the piano, she was actually good

"Alec? Is that you?" Called Jayce

He walked more into view and said "No it's me."

"Oh, sleeping beauty is awake," she said. "I should have told Isidore about your habit of never staying put."

"Really?"

"Really what?" She said. "I'll take you to Hodge come on."

They walked out of the room and down another hall, this place had so many halls, it kinda looked like an old church though.

They made a turn and Jayce walked up to a door and opened it, she gestured for him to come in, when Clar walked in haw let his jaw drop a little, it was a library and there were so many books.

"A fellow reader," said the voice of a man sitting at the desk in the library.

"Yes," was all he said, still shocked at all the books and how old some of them looked.

"This Clar Fray," Jayce said.

"Nice to meet you," said Hodge and gave a smile

"Nice to meet you as well," he said.

*I heard you fought off a demon," Hodge said

"Not exactly," he replied

"Please, you don't actually believe he fought off a demon, he's just a mundane," said the raven haired girl called Alec from one of the chairs in the library. "He's just a kid from new jersey."

He didn't even notice her till now

"I'm from Brooklyn and I am not a kid!" Clar said. "And are you so stuck up and spoiled that you act like you are better than everyone else."

Alec looked shocked, Jayce let out a laugh

"It's not funny Jayce!" Alec hissed

"It's a little funny, besides it'll do you some good," she said.

"Enough," said Hodge, he seemed like a teacher scolding his class. "So, Jayce says you aren't a Mundane but you aren't a Downworlder either."

He looked to be thinking.

"She's a Shadowhunter," Jayce said.

And everyone looked at her, even Clar was surprised at that.

"How can you be sure?" Asked Hodge

"Because last night he got hurt by a demon and I put a rune on him," she said

Alec looked appalled

"Jayce Wayland! You know the law and what putting on rune on those who can't bear them will do, they'll go mad!" Said Hodge.

"yeah, I know but here's the thing, look," Jayce shower them where the bandage on Clar's arm was and took it off, to here was indeed and rune there but it was faded. "See he took it and it healed him."

Hodge looked shocked now and Alec slightly less shocked and more annoyed.

"Clar was your mother a Shadowhunter?" Asked Hodge

"What! No! My mother would never be someone like that, she doesn't even like books and shows with magic in them," he said

"Your father?" Asked Jayce

"He died before I was born," Clar answers

Jayce flinched

"Well it's possible he could have been a Shadowhunter," Alec added

Clar didn't know what to think and he felt lost, he should call Luke tell him what happened.

"Can I call someone I know?" He asked

"Of course," Hodge said

He showed him to a phone on the desk and he dialed Luke's number, it rang a few times and he picked up

"Hello," he said from the other end

"Luke, it's Clar."

"Clar! Are you okay?" He asked

"Yeah, do you know what happened to mom? She's gone Luke and so is Joan and—"

"Listen Clar, I am glad you are alright but whatever your mother has gotten herself into doesn't concern me," he said and hung up

Clar stood there in shock, Luke was never like that, why would he be so cold?

Clar felt his emotions getting to him and felt like crying, though he knew he would be judged for that, honestly why is he like this

"Jayce and Alec, leave, I want to talk to Clar alone," said Hodge

"Come on Jayce," said Alec grabbing Jayce's arm on the way out

"But I found him," Jayce was protesting

"It's not finders keepers Jayce," Alec said

And they were gone, Clar was alone with Hodge

"I don't usually get this emotional," Clar said

"It's alright, you've had a stressful couple of days," Hodge said

They talked over some things and Clar asked, "Can I go back home and get a few things?"

Hodge looked hesitant for a moment and said "Only if Jayce agrees to go with you."

He nodded

——————

Jayce so happened to agree to go with him, Clar thought she may have been a cat in another lifetime, she was so strange at times.

Now they were heading to Clar's apartment and Jayce was in all gear and had many weapons, Clar wondered if she had some hidden somewhere as well, she seems like the type to have them hidden in many places.

They were walking down the sidewalk and ar noticed some boys staring at Jayce and obviously making comments about her looks, she was glamoured now, and she obviously knew too which only made it more irritating

"Those boys are staring at you," he said

He noticed the girl in their group was also staring at Jayce similarly

"Of course they are, I am stunningly attractive," she said

"God, you're impossible," he said

She just laughed

He wondered what it was like to be that confident in yourself, and that arrogant, did she ever have any doubts? Or was she simply just like this and always sure?

Clar realized he was now analyzing her and wondered why she interested him so much, he had never be interested in people like her before usually her and Simone just avoided people like her, but somehow Clar felt at moments maybe there was more to her, and she did save his life.

"So you have a lot of weapons," he said

"Yes, yes I do," she replied

"I bet they are worth a lot, could probably fetch a good price on ebay," he said

"I don't know what or who this ebay is but do not go anywhere near my weapons or I will exact vengeance," she said

"Geez it was a joke, you act like they are you kids or something."

"I have a close relationship with my weapons, they make good friends," she said with that sarcasm

They talked and argued some more before they got to the apartment, honestly Clar doesn't know how he put up with her, he reminded himself he technically owed her

Before they went in Jayce pulled out her sensor and scanned the area, it was odd, all this Shadowhunter stuff

They went in and looked around, Clar went to his bedroom, the orange walls that were familiar, it's funny he thought that that one day can totally flip your world around

Jayce wasn't far behind him, they both heard something, and then there was a big guy weird zombie kinda looking guy, he was huge and Jayce yelled run

They got to the stairs but the thing was just as fast if not maybe a bit faster

"What is that!" Yelled Clar

"A forsaken!," Jayce replied

The forsaken caught up and Jayce swore under her breath, she pulled out one of her blades and called "Jophiel!."

The blade lit up and it was beautiful, Clar had to admit, and she was beautiful in that moment he thought, until she stumbled down the stairs with the thing and Clar may have let out a slight scream.

Clar ran over to Jayce, she was still alive

"Are you ok?" He asked

"Yeah, I broke my arm though."

"What do I do?"

"Watch," said Jayce, she pulled out her stele and drew on her arm, and Clar watched Jayce's arm heal. "We heal ourselves this way."

"Whoa," was all Clar said

She laughed and he glared at her

"I hope you are planning to clean that up, Shadowhunter," said a woman's voice

They both turned their heads in the direction of the voice

"Uhh..." Clar said

Jayce was just staring suspiciously

"How do you know about Shadowhunters?" Jayce asked.

"Jayce this is Madame Dorothea, She's the older lady that lives here as well," Clar told her.

"Oh, I know who you are Jayce Wayland," said Dorothea.

"She knows your name..." Clar said

"Yeah, can't say I like that," Jayce admitted

"Come in, we can talk," Dorothea said.

"There may be more forsaken," Jayce said. "So might as well go inside."

They went in.

——————

Jayce didn't trust this Dorothea at all, she claimed to be a witch but almost all who did were fake and liars, and there was something about her that didn't settle right with Jayce.

"I'll make some tea and bring some snacks," said Dorothea

Jayce was looking around, looking for anything unusual

"Why are you suspicious of everyone?" Asked Clar

"Not everyone just people that seem to be suspicious," she said. "Like say people who happen to know my name, who I didn't tell it to."

He sighed, he was good at that Jayce thought to herself

There was a bird hanging on a string from the ceiling, it made Jayce think back to when she was a child for a minute.

Dorothea came back into the room, Jayce sat down next to Clar, she noticed that it was early gray tea and cucumber sandwiches, she hated both, Bergamot was something she disliked so

"Earl gray tea, hmm, I dislike Bergamot very much," she said. "And cucumber I also dislike."

Clar looked at her weirdly

"What?" She asked

"Nothing it's just I didn'tt think 17 year old girls like you knew what Bergamot was," he said

There he went again "girls like you" like he knew her, like he knew anything about her

"You'd be surprised at all I know," she said

"So why did you come back child?" Dorothea asked Clar

"Do you know what happened to my mom? You were here that night right?" Clar sounded desperate

Jayce felt sympathy for him, she never felt like this for people really and it made her angry for some reason, at least she thinks it's anger.

Dorothea had Clar play with Cards and what not, Jayce wasn't really interested in that, but she listened in when she asked Clar to remember something and he couldn't and Dorothea said something about a memory block.

"I knew what Jocelyn was and she knew what I was, and I don't exactly know who took her," she said. "There was a name she told me to keep am ear out for, Valentine."

Jayce snapped back to full attention

Clar looked like he didn't know what she was talking about exactly

"What? Why would she want you to keep an ear out for his name?" Clar said

"Jocelyn was one of you in her past," said Dorothea. "She fled the Shadowhunter world after the uprising and disappeared trying to live life as a Mundane, trying to give her children a mundane life."

"Why didn't she tell me?" Clar asked

"She wanted to protect you and your sister, we had a deal, I keep an ear out for the name Valentine and she didn't say anything about my business and she did the occasional favors fore," Dorothea said

"So you're saying you do illegal stuff?" Jayce asked her

"And if I do Shadowhunter," she hissed

"Jayce stop," Clar said

"There's something you aren't telling us," Jayce said. "You let Downworlder criminals get away."

"You and kind would call them criminals, but maybe you should think out of the box a bit more, and see that your law is too harsh," said Dorothea.

"Sed lex dura lex," said Jayce. "The law is hard, but it is the law."

"The law is too hard Shadowhunter."

They argued more and Jayce went over to the strange curtain she saw earlier, and pulled it open "So than this is a portal," she said.

Dorothea looked angry she had figured it out

"This is how Downworlders escaped," Jayce said. "Through this portal."

"It's a five dimensional door," said Dorothea.

Clar got up and walked to it, he looked at it for a few moments, and

"That's why you mother wanted to live here so she could always escape if she needed to," said Jayce.

"Then why didn't she—" Clar broke off. "Cause of me, she wasn't going Without me."

Clar walked towards the portal

"I want to see where she would have gone," Clar said

Jayce had barely anytime to react

"Clar no!," She called

She grabbed his arm and they were falling through a portal, Usually there are the moments Jayce asks herself why she doesn't just leave people to their own doom?, but it was different with Clar.

(tsc and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare)

The next day Clar was laying around on the coach waiting for his mom and Luke to get home, his sister was sitting on the other side, they had a rule she gets a side and Clar gets a side, the stupid sibling things you did

He was still thinking about the girl, Jayce, there was something strange about her and her companions, Simone couldn't see them and it only made him find it more strange, was magic real?

Luke walked in with boxes and brought Clar back to reality

"Hey," Clar said

"Hey, Clar," said Luke

"What are the boxes for?" He asked

"Your mom wants to put some stuff away," he said.

"Can I ask you something?" Clar asked

"Sure, what is it?" Luke said

"If you saw something, someone no one else could see, what would you think?" He asked

"Clar you're am artist like your mother, you know that, it gives you the ability to see the beauty and the horror," Luke answered

And then his mom walked in

"Thank you, Luke, for the help and sorry it took me a bit, had to find a parking space," said Jocelyn, Clar's mother

People said Clar looked like a boy version of his mother, but her shade of red hair was slightly darker than Clar's,they both had the same green eyes, they both had freckles and the same face shape, but his mother was beautiful and he didn't see much of beauty in himself, not that society really let's boys be called beautiful.

His sister was beautiful but in a different way, she had very pale blonde hair, and she had green eyes but they were more of a forest green where Clar's and their mom's was more emerald green, she also had freckles though.

Mom and Luke were talking and Clar got stuck in his head again like he did so often

"Kids," their mother said.

Both Joan and Clar looked up at her, it was moments like these that they resembled each other.

"We're going to Luke's farm for a while."

"oh..." Joan said

"But I paid for art classes," Clar said

"I'll pay you back Clar," she told him

"Mom, no I want to go and besides I can get a job and stay here of you want to go–" he was saying

"Clar, no, it's final," She said. "We're going."

"Jocelyn, just tell the truth," Luke said

Tell them the truth what? Clar had no idea what he was talking about, were they in trouble somehow?

"No, Luke," said Jocelyn. "They are too young."

Joan looked bored with this, though to be fair she got bored with a lot of things.

The doorbell rang and there was Simone and Clar grabbed his bag and went with Simone to Erica's stupid poetry reading.

"I'm going with Simone to Java Jones, don't wait for me," he said more coldly than intended.

——————

Jayce was wondering about that boy she saw, and trying to figure out how he could possibly see them, her and Alec were training but she could do both, she was like that good at two things, good at many things.

"You look like your head is in the clouds today," Alec said

"Just thinking," said Jayce

"Wow, you actually thinking, that's new," Alec teased

"I know I have an incredible brain as well as elegant looks and amazing charm," she said

Alec just rolled her eyes

"You're thinking about that boy aren't you?" Alec said with some venom in her voice.

"How'd you know?" She asked

"Because I agree he's a danger now that he can see us."

"I asked Hodge if I could find him and figure how he can see us and he gave me permission, so I am gonna put gear on and do that," she said

"Do you want me to go with you?" Alec asked

"No, I think it's better if it's just me," Jayce told her parabatai

And she heard a mumbled something from her, not knowing what it was.

——————

Clar was finding the a place to sit, while Simone got them coffee, he needed to get away from his mom or he would say something he would regret.

Clar noticed a guy watching Simone and wondered if he liked her, although girls sometimes looked at Simone like that too.

He ended up asking Clar if Simone had a boyfriend or was seeing anyone, to which Clar said no, it did make him wonder himself now.

"They were all out of the nice cups," said Simone as she returned with their coffee

"Be careful, you're burning yourself," he said

"You'd be surprised Fray, it don't bother me," she said right before she yelped

Clar sighed

"hey, question," he asked.."why don't you have a boyfriend?"

Simone jumped

"What?" she said

"Just wondering, there are people at our school who are interested in you," he teased

"The reason I don't have a boyfriend is—"

Clar had stopped listening, there she was behind them laughing, and walking away.

"Clar?" Simone said. "Are you alright?"

It snapped Clar back to reality

"I'll be right back," he said as he was heading for the door.

When he got to outside, there she was leaning against the wall of the building, and acting like she was better

"Why were you laughing at us!?" Is all Clar could say. "You think you are so much better?"

He didn't know her so why did she make him so angry?

"I was laughing because people confessing their love to someone amuses me," she said

"What?" He said. "I don't know who you are or who you think you are but—"

"But, you're stunningly beautiful," she said with sarcasm and arrogance

She made his cheeks turn red with anger

"Wow you're something aren't you?" Was all he said

"Yes, I am many things," Jayce said

"Why are you following me? I really will call the police," Clar told her.

"And tell them 'oh police officer, you gotta help me, there's this invisible girl following me', hate to tell you but they can't see me," she said.

"I swear to—"

"Careful, don't use such language around a lady like myself," she interrupted

And stared at him with a strange look for a few moments

And said "You aren't a Mundane, but how can you see us?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about but you seem out of your mind."

"Let me see your right hand," she said

Did this girl seriously just ask that?

"Here see," she held out her left hand and there was a tattoo like thing there. "Usually they are on the right hand but I am left handed so mine is on my left," she said.

Clar didn't know why but he held his right hand out to her, and she looked at it

"Nothing," she said. "You are working out to be a conduit puzzle."

Then Clar's phone rang after she said that

"Take that, it's not like i am in a rush or anything," she said with sarcasm

"Hello," she said, it was his mom and all he heard was 'don't come home' and crashing and terrible noises

And then his mom was gone, the phone was hung up, he dropped his phone and it broke

"Are you ok?" Asked Jayce

"I need a phone," said Clar

And saw she had one on her belt and grabbed it, probably not the most proper thing to do but he needed it

"That's not a phone," she said

He pressed at it and noticed she was right but his brain wasn't thinking right and so he ran off towards home, the last thing he heard was her calling after him

"I can help!"

——————

When he got to their home everything was a wreck, and his Mom and Sister were nowhere to be found, he went down to his bedroom towards a noise he heard and stood in horror and shock at what he saw

There was some kind of creature there, talking about blood and crunching bones, Clar felt frozen in place, the thing came at him, he was fighting back, hitting it with what he could find around him, and then he remembered he had the phone thingy that Jayce had, he shoved it in the things mouth, but as he was running he felt pain in his neck and everything went black.

——————

When he woke up his head was aching, and he saw that Jayce was looking at him

"You're awake," she said

"Where am I?" He asked

And looked around, he was outside his apartment

"We need to get out of here," she said

"Why?"

"Those police officers are demons not actually police officers," said Jayce

Clar looked up and saw what she was talking about, and he saw a creature again, he tried to get up, Jayce was helping him up but the moment he got up he felt a rush of pain go through his head, and passed out again.

(sorry I know it's kinda the same scene all over again in the beginning but the next stuff will be different)

B99 belongs to it's rightful owners and tsc and the characters belong to Cassandra Clare.

Jace was walking up to his desk and he noticed Clary was very concentrated on her computer, he decided to flick a rubber band at her.

“What the hell Herondale,” she said

“Well I guess I got another score,” he said and winked

She rolled her eyes

"We have work to do," she said.

"Do we have a case?" He asked

"Yes, a electronic store was rubbed," said Clary.

"Well let's go partner," Jace said and winked

"I dislike you so much," she said

"You know you love me."

"No, not everyone loves you Herondale," she said and walked to the elevator.

She is in a mood today I see, maybe I should cheer her up, but I would look suspicious than.

______

Clary and Jace were sadly partners, she didn't enjoy it and he assumes she likes him, yeah whatever, he's beautiful but like whatever.

Her mom got a call from her abusive father and Clary has been worried about her mother and sisters and her step father, she wonders why that asshole can't just leave them alone, he took her big brother away so hasn't he done enough?

They pulled up to the electronic store and got out.

"They got hit pretty bad," Jace said

"Yeah," she answered

When they went in to ask the owner questions, Jace was messing with so many things, honestly why did he have to act like a child?

"Sorry about my partner," she said. "He doesn't know how to act like an adult."

"I know, I just prefer to have fun," Jace said

She rolled her eyes

"Do you by chance have any footage of the break in?" Clary asked the owner

"No, they knocked them all out," said the store owner.

"Oh Clary!," Called Jace

She went over to him

"Look," he said. "There's a camera in this duck."

He threw it at her as if it were toxic or something, he always got strange around ducks.

"You're right," she said.

______

They went through the footage and after a couple more days of work they found the bad guys and put them in jail

Jace wondered if they could improve their system of the way the handle certain suspects but not all of them wanted things to change. Jace wanted to make a difference though.

"We're getting a new Captain today," said Clary as she sat at her desk.

"I heard," he answered

"Why do you seem disappointed?," she asked.

"Cause our old Captain was good," he said

"What!, No he was terrible, and you only liked him cause he let you off the hook for many things," she said

He sighed

The elevator door opened then, and Jace was not prepared for who their new Captain was.

"Hello everyone, I am Alexander Lightwood, I am your new Captain," said Alec

And Jace knew him, his best friend, until they lost a little touch after Alec went to L.A. to do work in another place.

He looked over at Izzy who was just as shooketh as him, Alec is her big brother and it looks like he didn't tell her either.

Alec walked by to his new office, without even looking at Jace or Izzy

"Now," he said. "I want you all to get back to work."

"He's so cool," said Clary.

Magnus walked up and said "Did anyone else get the gay vibe?"

Magnus wasn't wrong, Alec was gay, he came out to Jace and Izzy back in highschool, they supported him and said if anyone said or did anything to him they would beat them up, Jace and Izzy were 15 then.

"J-Bear try not to look shocked," said Magnus

"Magnus, that's Alec," he said

"Oh damn, that piece of good looking was your best friend back in the academy?" Magnus said.

"Yeah, we were like brothers until he left to go to school somewhere else," Jace said

Izzy came over

"Jace, he didn't tell me either and I am so pissed, how could he just not tell me? I am his damn sister for crying out loud," said Izzy

She was quick to anger at times, but Jace understood her anger now.

"Oh damn, that's gonna make things awkward, won't Jacey?" Asked Simon

Simon is Clary's best friend and him and Jace hang out sometimes

"Simon, don't remind Jace," Izzy said

"Well if you are telling me to not then consider it done," said Simon

Jace was pretty sure he liked Izzy, but Izzy will probably never go for him.

"You knew him?" Asked Clary.

"Yeah," Jace said.

"Will it make it awkward to work with him?"

"Not unless he makes it that way, Clary." He told her

"Anyway, I am having dinner with my mom tonight so I am gonna head out," Jace said.

His shift was over.

"Your not gonna say hi?" Asked Izzy

"No if he wants to talk to me he'll message me, kinda a rule he has," said Jace

"Ok, well tell Céline I said hi," Izzy said

"Will do," he answered.

______

"So sunshine, how was work today?" Asked his mom

Céline was a photographer, and she arranged flowers for people as well, Jace grew up loving flowers and plants because of it.

"It was good, though Alec is our new Captain," he said

"Oh," was all his mom said

"He didn't tell me or Iz."

"That's strange," his mom said

"Yeh, did Maryse say anything to you?" He asked

"No, me and Maryse don't talk much since you kids graduated, I don't think she likes me very much," his mother said with that smile that said she was fine, but really she was upset.

"Nah, Maryse is just a tough woman, she doesn't like many people," he reassured his mom.

"Thank you sweetie, but you don't have to reassure me, I have you so I am fine," she said

It had always been him and his mom, ever since he can remember, his dad left them when he was 6, and he hasn't really seen him since, he also doesn't know what he did to make his dad want to leave.

"sunshine, what's wrong?" She asked

"Nothing, I was just thinking," he said

"Whenever you say that, it usually involves your father," his mom said

She knew him so well

"Yeah, I guess I still wonder why he left and why he has never tried to get into contact with me," he said

"Your father is a complicated man, and I loved him but he had some issues he needed to work out, your grandmother is a hard woman, I can't imagine being raised by her, let alone disappointing her which your father did when he married me," his mother said

"well I don't know why, because you are an amazing woman," he told his mom

"I love you, my son," she said

"I love you too mom," he told her.

______

When he got home that night he received a message from Alec, it said "Sorry I didn't tell you, it was complicated and I couldn't exactly say much, let's get coffee some time and talk about it."

I guess life is complicated, he thought to himself.

He texted Clary to make sure she got home alright

She said. "Yes, but why do you text me this every night?"

He told her, he was just being a gentleman, but really he couldn't say it's because he cared about her.

"hey Cece, what are ya doing," Stephen asked.

"reading, why ya asking?," Celine replied

"okay let's stop that," he said.

"are Mom and Dad not back still?" She asked

"nope, and Will has forbidden me from his little lab, my own brother forbade me," said Stephen dramatically.

"ah yes the rejection if younger siblings, come little brother, sit by me and I will give you wise advice," she said teasingly to her brother.

He snorted and said, " you wise?"

She thought about throwing a book at him but decided not to, it would hurt the book and instead threw the pillow she was sitting on at him.

"oof," he said

"are you two fighting again?" Their older sister Nora asked while coming into the library.

"no," they both said at the same time.

Nora gave them a suspicious look, Nora was half Faerie and half Shadowhunter, she had beautiful brown hair and pretty brown eyes, she was tall as well, her parents both died in the last war, after the cold peace was lifted they could finally have a kid together, her mother was a Shadowhunter and her father was one of the Seelie, Mom and Dad took her in when they heard a child had been orphaned, they were both worried that because she was half Faerie some Shadowhunters may not accept her, but mom and dad have raised her as their own and never made her feel as if she isn't their daughter, but they also keep her connected to her faerie heritage as well, something Celine has admired about her parents.

"Dad texted me, they'll be gone until late, so I gotta cook dinner and need your help, so come on my little siblings, we must cook," said Nora

"Where's Alex?" asked Celine

"taking a nap," said Nora as all three of them made their way to the kitchen.

Will and Tess were sitting at the table reading and being stuck together like they always have been since birth

"there's the brother who rejected me," said Steph jokingly

"I rejected you because you were playing with my stuff and I don't appreciate you playing with it, my things aren't toys, Steph. No matter if you think so or not," Will replied, with that strange matureness for a 13 year old to have.

Stephen just looked at him dramatically, he was such a drama queen

"I mean you can always watch him when he's doing experiments, Steph," said Tess, sweet as always.

"see Tess doesn't reject me," Stephen said

And Nora let out a long and annoyed sigh

"hey losers," Lottie said as she walked after she appeared to have been training, Lottie took her Shadowhunter training very serious and so did Celine, but Lottie always seemed to be more serious about it, Mom and Dad always said there will probably not be a big war ever again hopefully but Lottie didn't seem as convinced of that.

"Lottie, don't call us losers," said Nora, always the second mom

"I mean affectionately," she said with that angel smile of hers

"so when are Mom and Dad gonna be back?" Lottie asked.

"not till late, we'll probably all be asleep," Nora answered.

"they have been gone all the time lately," Lottie said

They all missed their parents when they had to be away for long, they were a very close family and it was hard to be apart, more so for Lottie, she and Dad always hung out, she was their fathers mini me, and Celine was a daddy's girl so it was hard for her too, it was something her and Lottie would stay up late talking about when their parents were gone and she would climb in bed with Celine, how their Dad always took the time for them and was patient and spent as much time as he could with them, their mom did too and they loved their parents for it.

"I'm gonna go check on Alexis," Celine announced.

"okay, Lottie can help me now that she's done training," Nora said.

And Lottie sighed but helped their older sister without complaint.

As Celine was making her way to her baby sister's bedroom she couldn't help but remember when Stephen was first born the memories were blurry but she could still remember, she had been a big sister many times since then but still the first time finding out is always special, she wasn't jealous her parents had told her, she couldn't wait actually.

As she walked into her baby sister's bedroom she saw that she was lying awake just staring at the ceiling, Celine often wondered if she saw ghosts already

"hey there sunshine, what you looking at?"

Alexis replied with a baby laughter, funny story about Alex is she was a surprise baby, Celine couldn't help but find it funny, and she was happy that her parents had one more, she was older and could be extremely involved this time, their parents were always worried and if it weren't for Uncle Simon and Aunt Izzy living very close to the Institute, Mom and Dad would have taken Alex with them most likely.

She was almost a year old now and was at that stage where she was doing all kinds of things.

"now my sweet one, we must go face our siblings in the kitchen— wait where's Jamie!, I totally forgot about her, sorry Alex we gotta go find her," Celine said.

"Cece, did you you yell my name just now," Jamie asked as she walked into the nursery

"oh, there you are, what have you been doing?" Celine asked her little sister

"I was drawing, I told Nora that earlier," she said

"well everyone is down in the kitchen, you wanna come and help me feed Alex a snack?" She asked

"yeah," answered Jamie.

They both went down to the kitchen, Alex as usual was make all kinds of noises at everything and Celine couldn't help but laugh a couple of times.

When they made it to the kitchen, Steph was hugging Will and Will was trying to get free, Tess was looking at them both with a worried look, Nora and Lottie were cooking and arguing about what spice they should use, now this was what family dinner was usually like .

"well kiddo looks like we gotta go through a battle," Celine said amused

"why are they the way they are?" asked Jamie

"you picked that up from uncle Alec didn't you?" She asked

"Uncle Alec knows what he's talking about," said Jamie. and they both laughed cause of the truth.

And once dinner was done and they all ate and did their own thing for a bit, they got the little kids ready for bed and put them to bed, and the older kids did as well shortly after, and when they all woke up tomorrow their parents should be back, Celine could hardly wait.

I wasn't sure if I was gonna post this but you know what, I am not the best writer but I did enjoy writing this and for some reason I want to post it now.

Céline was wandering around, thinking about a girl, she thought she would only ever love Stephen, but she knew he would never love her back like that, they had their son together and they were friends, but that is all they would ever be.

But there was someone else, Rosemary, when she first saw her she thou6she was beautiful, but she didn't know she was attracted to her, in fact Céline didn't know she liked girls like that at all, but whenever she thought of Rosemary, she blushed and her heart sped up, the last time her and Rosemary hung out, she wanted to play with her her and wondered what kissing her would feel like.

But again, Céline loved someone she couldn't have, Rosemary was married to a man named Johnny, he was abusive and an ass, Céline wanted to take Rosemary away but Rosemary had their baby 6 months ago, Jace was six now, Céline didn't know why but when she was looking for names she came across the name Jace and her and Stephen agreed to name him that, his middle name was after an ancestor, Jace William Herondale, her baby, Stephen had been killed in on a mission by Valentine, Céline knew it was him and it had broken her, Jace never knew his father but he left a letter, Céline had never opened it, she was waiting for Jace to be old enough, she only survived cause she caught on to what Valentine had been doing to Jace, and she kept it a secret, but she also knew Valentine wasn't really dead, and that sent chills down her spine.

But back to happier thoughts, It was nice to hold a baby again, Rosemary named her son Christopher and Céline loved the little baby boy, so did Jace, Céline would daydream about raising their boys together and being happy together, yeah she wasn't straight.

"Mangoes," Jace said

Céline looked over and saw someone was selling fresh mangoes, her Jace loved mangoes

"We'll get some, baby," she said

"Yay," he said, in his toddler voice that made Céline's heart feel so much love for him.

They got some, and went back home, she cut some up for Jace and he gladly ate them, and thanked her afterwards, also gave her a hug and a kiss, even tho she didn't have romantic love in her life she had all the love in this little boy that she would ever need.

______

Rosemary was lying awake, thinking about her again, lately she couldn't get Céline out of her head, she shouldn't be thinking about her like this, she was married, though she didn't love Johnny anymore, she thought she would love him forever but sometimes you fall out of love, right?

She remembered his reaction when she told him she was pregnant with Kit, he wasn't happy but he didn't get angry either, she didn't know what to think about his reaction, she hoped he loved their son, but she'd see Céline with him and she was so gentle and sweet and kind, and little Jace was too, and Rosemary thought, Johnny wasn't that way with Kit.

She felt tears fall down her face, she was so unhappy now, and she had to worry about the riders finding her, she met with Magnus Bane and he helped her with a spell that concealed her for a time but she had to have it recast on her ragularly, she didn't know how he had done but he did, she finally decided to listen to the Silent Brother who called himself Brother Zachariah, and he told her to see Magnus Bane, and somehow he did it, she could never repay him.

Johnny was out late in the Shadow Market , doing who knows what, and she wished Céline was here to lighten things, but Céline was in Paris and she was in Los Angeles, Céline would come visit from time to time, she said she wanted to let Jace experience travel a little, and she often came here for her job, she was a photographer and she was amazing and talented, Rosemary knew why people Hired her for photoshoots, Céline had left the Shadowhunter life and was now hiding in ways, she didn't keep it a secret and she said when Jace could understand she would tell him, because he would figure out anyway. but Rosemary wasn't sure if she should tell Kit when he grew up, but he would need to know so he would be safe.

______

Céline had put Jace to bed and decided to look at the mail, there was a letter from Maryse Lightwood, she had kept in touch with them, they weren't friends but she wanted to keep contact with someone, and Maryse did in a professional way, though she did notice Maryse would mention her kids from time to time now, Céline wished Jace could meet them, be around other kids more, he played with the downworld children here, but Céline had to be careful who he interacted with, he was so sweet and gentle with them, he didn't think any differently of them, and she thought if only we kept the thought process and innocence of kids, maybe we wouldn't be so cruel to Downworlders.

Maryse wrote in the letter that if Céline was interested she could come to the New York Institute for a while and their kids could meet, she would have to take up that offer and maybe invite Rosemary if she can get away from Johnny, but Rosemary probably wouldn't want to, Céline was still nervous around Robert Lightwood, and she knew people didn't look at her kindly, saying she stole Stephen from Amatis and that Jace shouldn't have been born, and if it were just her they were talking about she wouldn't care but not her baby, he is good, so so good.

She left in the night when she was 8 months pregnant, Valentine intended to kill her and she knew but she escaped and had hid herself well enough he didn't find her, she wondered what Imogen thought, she had never met her grandson but how could Céline face that woman, she would exile her and probably take Jace, she couldn't allow that.

She was exhausted mentally and emotionally

She also heard Jocelyn ran away, she wondered wherw she went, and even though she knows Jocelyn hates her, she hoped she was ok.

Céline decided to call it a night and get ready for bed, she checked in Jace one last time before she did, and climbed into her bed, letting sleep take her away.

-

She woke to the sound of Jace saying mommy, and opened her eyes

"Baby what's wrong?" She asked as she picked him up and put sat him on her bed

"I had a bad dream again," he said

"It's ok, by sweet boy," she said and rocked him in her arms

Jace often had dark dreams, she wasn't sure why but she did her best to comfort him when he did, and she would let him stay with her on the nights he had them, he snuggled up to her and went back to sleep, she also fell back to sleep with him in her arms, everything will be alright she told herself every night, he can find you she thought, he can't take Jace away from you. Maybe she should go to the New York Institute, maybe she would be safer there?

(hopefully you like, I had to do something, I am in love with this idea and wlw)

Thank you, I love writing dad Jace

This is long but worth it

"well buddy it's just me and you, mommy took your sisters to the store," Jace said to his 6 month old son. And he smiled at Jace, that sweet innocent smile that babies and kids have, the smile of them not yet knowing the hardships of life, Jace and Clary swore they would give their kids the best life they could and they would make it easier for them.

And one of Jace's favorite thing about being a dad is his kids smile at him with the smile of knowing exactly who he is, He's dada

Jace read many books about pregnancy when Clary was pregnant with their first baby and he knew Clary would get super emotional but so did he.

He let his son grap his finger and swing it around like babies do, it's funny how at one point in your life all you want is constant fighting and being a hero and then after all that all you wanted was a family and once you have that family there really isn't anything more important.

Clary and the kids were Jace's world now and they are a world he would protect and love until dies.

"you know I love you right bud," Jace said. Stephen squealed and blew raspberries at Jace "I'll take that as a yes," Jace said with the loving and gentle smile he had for the ones he loved, he kissed his son on the cheek

Jace stuck his tongue out at him, and Stephen giggled, Jace started laughing as well, this is why being a parent made him feel so fulfilled, those laughs your kids gave you when you were being silly

The way they trusted you and loved you without a second thought and in return you give them love and take care of them and make sure they know their trust is safe with you, Jace wouldn't be anything less to his kids, he would always make sure they knew he loved and supported them no matter what, and that they can always trust him.

"listen chickpea, you need to stop being so cute and getting bigger, I want to snuggle you forever," Jace told his son while tearing up cause Stephen was already six months and he doesn't know how it's already been six months since he came into the world and they added another precious light to their life.

When Jace and Clary found out they were having another kid they were both overjoyed, Jace got Clary to agree to a big family, after they had their first kid and Celine started getting bigger, Clary came to Jace with tears saying 'she's getting so big it's not fair' at first Jace thought Clary was hurting and his instincts were to take her into his arms but then he found why and he started crying 'i know it seems like yesterday she was a newborn'

And then they met Eleanora who's parents had been killed on a mission and they took her in, Jace and Clary made sure she knew that she was just as much their daughter as Celine was, Jace having an adopted family himself didn't hesitate taking her in, and then a year later Clary found out she was pregnant with their son

And now Jace was here married with the most amazing and beautiful wife he could ever ask for, who is also the best mom ever in his opinion, and with 3 amazing kids who he will give all the love he can to, he had to admit he was nervous, he knew how to be a dad to girls but not a son yet, sure Max and Rafe are boys but that's different, their his nephews, Jace now had a son and he knew he will teach him to be a good man, he will teach his children to be better then he has been and make sure that they know how proud he is of them no matter what.

Jace decided to take Stephen to the greenhouse, "see chickpea, all these plants are beautiful, they all have a purpose and they all are different," Jace was telling his son as he bent down by a Basil plant "see this you use to cook with to give good flavor, one day dada will make you something with it," Jace said beamingly.

"one day I will teach you how to do all kinds of things, but for now you need to stay little," Jace said as he tickled his son, and was given that adorable baby laugh in return.

"you know, you really are precious, and I swear I will be the best dada I can be to you and your sisters, mommy will too, she's great you know, she also loves to the moon and would do anything for you, and she is the strongest person I know," Jace told his son

"oh, and then there's your uncle Alec, he is amazing and he's making the world a better place for the babies like you, he is the truest person I know and he loves you very much, Alec is a very important person to me and he doesn't get enough recognition, but I know you will look up to him just like I do," he said with a fond smile "also if anyone ever hurts you, your aunt Izzy will fight them, she loves you so much as well and she is one of the most amazing women you will ever meet, tho I suppose I am biased, but most of all Izzy will protect you no matter what," Jace said as sat down with his son in his arms and looked him in the eyes, they were Clary's green eyes.

"and your uncle Magnus will teach you how to put eyeliner on some day, and I want you to know that no one else can show you how to do it better, he'll also give you glitter and you will probably make a mess but you'll have a lot of fun doing that, you get that from me, I like to cause trouble," he said teasingly "and your uncle Simon will get you into all kinds of Mundane movies and comic books and I have no idea what they are about, but I'll listen when you come to tell me about them," he said with a smile

"and then there's grandma Maryse, she is another amazing woman, your surrounded by amazing women, she'll sing to you and play with you and spoil you, she'll read to you and make sure you feel safe, she is my mom and she tried her best to make me feel safe, so I know she will for you too," he said as he was starting to tear up.

"and now we talk about Max and Rafe, your cousins, Max is gonna get you into trouble and Rafe will get you both out of it, and you all will have many stories to tell and you'll be close and always have each other's backs, and they love you so much as well."

"and there's Tessa and Jem they are beautiful people who are so kind and loving you wonder if they are real, you know if you ever need them they'll come with hesitation, and they love you, then we have Kit and Mina, Kit will always make sure you have cookies and Mina will play with you and give you bandages if you need one," he said and saw that Stephen was staring at him like he was listening "and there's aunt Emma, she's gonna spoil you along with your sisters, she calls you and your sisters super angel babies, and she will smoother you in kisses so you better watch out, but she is kind and badass and you'll love her."

"and aunt Lily will say she'll eat you cause your so cute but she won't really I promise, aunt Lily is another amazing woman, and she is a savage, trust me she'll teach you things, and there's aunt Maia, I was not so nice to her when we first met but I grew on her and I apologised, and she loves you, she says she doesn't know how I made such cute babies, but i have to admit your mama had a big part in that," he said with a laugh.

"oh and there's Aline and Helen, they'll love you as well, Aline is another badass and amazing woman and Helen is fierce and kind, Aline will also show you how to throw a good lunch but don't tell mama I told you that, and Helen will make your oatmeal with love," Jace said with fondness.

"and there's Mark and Cristina, they are in charge of the Downworlder-Shadowhunter alliance,and Mark will make you weird sandwiches but he makes them with love, and he'll give you strawberries, and Cristina will sing you to sleep with spanish lullabies, your surrounded by so many people who love you, and you'll grow up to know these amazing people," he said emotionally.

"ah, there's my boys," Clary said as she walked up to them. "What's dada telling you chickpea?" She said as she picked their son up and kissed his temple

"I was telling him he is surrounded by good people who will love him," he said

"yes, so many, sometimes I wonder if you'll even know what to do with it all," Clary said with a grateful and loving smile.

"dada! dada!," Called Cece and Nora, Jace saw them running up to him and they tackle hugged him.

"hey my girls," he said as he took them both in his arms and they told him about their visit to the store and Clary took Stephen to go feed him, cause he was now hungry.

Fatherhood was an adventure and it's a adventure he hoped to be on forever, "alright girls let's go get dinner ready while mama takes care of baby chickpea," he said to them.

And they went and made dinner and Jace would never know what he did to deserve this love he now had but he knew he would forever be grateful and make sure he gives as much love back.

Tagging @khaleesiofalicante cause I know you'll be emotions with me