There is a moment of complete clarity before you die, it's both beautiful and heart-breaking. In that one moment, everything becomes clear, you know exactly what, how, when, why, where; that's the beautiful part. The heart breaking part is the moment that follows, the realisation and acknowledgement of every moment you've ever wasted. I'd wasted a lot. Another thing they don't tell you about dying, mostly, it's not painful. There is this initial pain, but as long as you stay still after that, the adrenaline, shock, it just becomes numb, it's uncomfortable, but numb.
There was steely determination in her eyes as she darted down the street, she'd managed to slip under everyone's radar, she needed to do this, for herself, she needed to stop other people getting hurt because of her.
Sebastian was back, he was killing innocents, shadow hunters, anyone. It was all for her, he wanted her attention, to draw her out and she knew it. She was playing right into his hand, she had no other choice, Isabelle, Alec, Jace, they all wanted to protect her but it was about time she protected them. She picked up the pace, fueled by adrenaline, she knew she only had a certain amount of time before they realised she was gone and where she was going.
The cool evening breeze was refreshing on her flushed, slightly sticky skin, she breathed deep and hard, remembering her training, if she was going to go fast and long, she needed to pace her breathing. Luckily she was kitted out in her gear, all black, she'd opted for some tight fitted black pants, obviously dotted with various pockets full of shadow hunter essential. To complement them she'd chosen a tight dark grey vest, covered by a loose black, t-shirt crop, he tied in a braid, thumping her back as she ran. She'd made sure to stock her belt with weapons before she'd "gone to the training room to blow off some steam" making sure everyone knew she "just needed to be alone for a bit".
Out of the city, she finally made it to the courtyard, the sun was setting and the beautiful archaic building was lit by the surrounding lights, it looked like a stage out of a play. The lights in the gardens were already on full force, beginning to cast dancing shadows on the lawns, extending into the sunset. The beautiful flower beds were flourishing, the beauty of spring. Here her attire did her no favors, against the violent pink sky, the yellow, red, blue flower beds and the luscious green grass, she stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a beautiful night, the air was warm and the breeze infrequent, it was the perfect night for a stroll here and yet it was eerily quiet. That's when she noticed, there were no birds, no bees, no flies, no rabbits, deer or any sign of life at all. They must have known what she now definitely knew, he was here.
Her body switched to full alert and she began to wander around the side of the building, towards the courtyard round back. Sure enough, there he was. Stood cocky and so self-assured at the back of the building, leaning, almost nonchalantly against a stone pillar, staring at the sunset. Clary stilled her footsteps when she was directly in front of him, only a few feet aware, almost in the centre of the courtyard, he didn't even turn his head to look at her. She took in her surroundings as quickly and as best she could. Square courtyard, 4 pillars, each in a corner, stone flower beds, 4 exits, each next to a pillar, no people, no demons, no back up. Just him and her.
When he said nothing, she plucked up the courage to call him out, even if it was with false bravado; here, alone she was scared for the first time in a long time, something felt off, wrong, it was in the air.
"You got my attention, no what do you want?"
Very slowly he turned his head to her, his eyes were black and pierced through her as he caught her gaze. She remembered a time when they were green, never sparkling green, full of life, like the grass, but at least they were green.
"My dear sister, I've missed you." He was smirking and his words practically dripped with venom.
Clary didn't falter, she held his gaze, he wasn't going to scare her anymore.
"Enough, I haven't come here for idle chatter. Just tell me what you want." She was mimicking how she thought Isabelle would handle this situation, imagining her tone and replicating it. Isabelle was strong, confident, she wasn't scared of anything and that's who Clary needed to be right now.
"Oh, isn't that a question! What do I want?" He remarked with fake excitement and heavy sarcasm as he pushed off from the pillar. Clary's mind clicked into alert and her feet shuffled ever so slightly into a more firm stance.
"I want you, my dear sister. I want you to join me, want us to continue the family name! Finish the legend that our father started..."
"I would never-" she interrupted him but he quickly cut her off.
"I know, I know, little miss angel." The word angel was laden with disgust and utter contempt.
He walked as he talked, stopping when he was stood only a foot from her, mimicking her stance.
"And that's the problem, if I can't have you. I'll have to make sure no one can, I can't have you scurrying round with those rats, disgracing our family name! And I certainly won't have you continuing the family linage with some filthy, pretty boy shadow hunter." His face had screwed up into a disgusted pout, as if he was sucking on a lemon and smelling manure all at once.
Clary's face was flushed with anger, embarrassment and adrenaline. She knew they were going to be dealing blows, she was waiting for the signs. Now more than ever she couldn't forget her training.
"Tell me sister, have you already let him disgrace you? How much of an angel are you really?" He was scoffing, laughing at her as he tilted his head, to look more innocent.
Clary's blood boiled. "How dare you! I haven't come here to discuss my virginity with you, you sick little boy. You're not my brother, I have no family but the shadow hunters who took me in!"
That's when she saw it, his hand involuntarily twitched, it clenched and unclenched, and that was the sign she was waiting for. She ducked her head and darted to the side just in time, missing the blow he has intended to be delivered to her face. She shot forward, fast as lightening and kicked him firmly in the chest. As he stumbled back, a fleeting window of emotion on his face, shock, she pulled her knife from her belt and took a few choice steps back, her stance ready, he breathing even and a steely look of determination still painted across her face.
She had settled barely a second though, before he drew his sword and lunged at her.
So I am not so hot stuff with the proof reading, any mistakes, my apologies! Feedback is always helpful!
