Prologue: In the dead of night

In a world ruled by blood and metal, the lives of royals were considered to be like the fabric of the universe. Each thread a song or story of great deeds with high consequences, mistakes resulting in streams and looms of wisdom. Although, what many seemed to forget about the brave, courageous, intelligent and diligent leaders of the Shadow Kingdoms, was the threads frayed and burned with the poison of corruption which men and women mistake for justice.

Lady Jocelyn Morgenstern had experienced such poison and was thinking about all it had destroyed her family as she paced continuously in front of the fire in her room, while messages she had written burned at her feet. She prayed to the Angel that her friend had received them otherwise their plan was all for nothing, her hand stroking the dishevelled red locks of her daughter who whimpered in her sleep.

"It's alright baby girl," she whispered as she smoothed out the stained sheets on her bed, avoiding moving her daughter too much. "I'll get you out of here, don't worry. It'll all be fine." Jocelyn remembered the day she had discovered she was pregnant with her second child. How the doctor had congratulated her with the news, how her husbands eyes gleamed at the thought of a second son, how her hands came to rest on the small, unknown bump, how she knew that she had to protect the life of this child against the man she thought was her love even if it killed her. How she had failed in her goal and was making every effort to change what had become her habits of forgiveness.

She had written recently to the same friend in the hope that she would forgive her for her mistakes and help her right this wrong. She had received a reply almost immediately, but there was no sign of her now and Jocelyn was startled by the thought that maybe Madeline hadn't forgiven her as she originally thought.

The door behind her opened and she turned, her relief rising – only to be dashed at the sight of one of Valentine's servants. He had fired their first staff and hired - or rather procured - men and women to watch her and report back to him in his absence, beginning as far back as she could recall with the birth of their first born and how her "duty" to him had been fulfilled. Or at least the end of her complete obedience in the lie he called their marriage.

"Are you alright, my lady?" Katherine asked, her gaze drifting from her panic stricken face to her hand smoothing what appeared to her as an empty bed

Traitor, Jocelyn thought, but then again, the girl was only human which made it that much easier to hide Clary with a strong glamour.

"Everything is fine, Katherine, you may leave." Jocelyn said harshly, letting her hand drop, standing as tall as she could manage. Her posture reminiscent of her old life as the women she was born to be, no the shell she had become.

Katherine's eyes narrowed as she looked more closely at Jocelyn, "You know His Lordship would be very angry to find you ill under my care. Have you taken some-" and promptly fainted mid-sentence in a swirl of blue sparks.

"What – "

"My, my, dear sweet Princess. Are you surprised to see me?" a voice called out from the shadows of her door. It was dripped in sarcasm and the familiar all knowingness of –

"Magnus Bane." Jocelyn exhaled and sank into relief on her bed. Behind him came her dear friend Madeline, silver hair pulled back and a seraph blade at the ready. Behind her the familiar shadow of a man trailed slowly into the room leaving Jocelyn even more faint at the sight of him.

"Luke – I thought you were – Valentine said – " She stuttered.

"No," Magnus said, "I think that's the shock of the risen dead appearing in front of you. Now you," pointing at Luke, "go move this thing into the closet and make sure she can't make a sound if she wakes up. And you," pointing at Madeline, "Mark the room." Finally he turned to Jocelyn, who watched the small shower of blue sparks as he twisted his hands expertly. "I think it's time to finally get you and your precious girl out of this prison."

The events that took place next were a blur to Jocelyn.