A/N: The wait, dear friends, is finally over: the first chapter of book 2 is here! It took a lot of brainstorming, but it's here, as promised and requested! In this continuation of Change of Faith, we will see our favorite characters face new challenges in family, life, and love! The struggle between good and evil continue as Jocelyn evades the Clave, Valentine gets heat for her past crimes, Jonathan discovers a terrible truth, Simon sees the inner workings of the Shadowhunters, and Clary is tempted by darkness.
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I do not own the world of the shadowhunters, nor its characters. I own this storyline and its events.
Chapter One
The room was circular, huge and tiered, decorated in gem-toned velvets and satins trimmed by dark wood and golden tassels. Rows upon rows of deep-seated chairs lined the tiered floors, facing a stage in the center with two chairs behind a podium of dark cherry wood, polished to an almost diamond-like gleam.
Simon, sitting near the middle of the room in an aisle seat, thought the place was somewhere between a stadium and a theater, and couldn't decide which it resembled most. His eyes wandered as the room filled with shadowhunters-until Jonathan Morgenstern sat beside him.
"You okay?" The blonde asked, crossing his legs awkwardly before sighing and letting them sit naturally. "You look stressed."
Simon shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
"Me either."
Simon hadn't checked a mirror that morning, so he couldn't be sure, but he felt like the bags under his eyes were deeper than before. For Jonathan, it was definitely true. The circles of sleepless nights stood out starkly against the silver tones of his skin like they were painted there. Still, his hair was styled and his clothes were clean-Simon couldn't say the same, having been wearing the same jeans for the last week. The t-shirt was borrowed from Jace the morning before and was already looking questionable, while his hair hadn't been more than finger-combed since they'd all trained at the Institute two weeks ago.
Before either of them could say anything more, three black-clad figures filed into their row and sat, leaving a single seat between them and Jonathan.
"This should be interesting," Jace smirked stiffly at them, leaning back and slouching in his chair. "We just saw Valentine in the hall having a heart-to-heart with the Inquisitor. Looked like pleasantries were being exchanged in the most delicate fashion."
Jonathan rolled his eyes, as did Isabelle on Jace's other side with Alec, who was distractedly looking around.
"Everyone here is tense," Izzy sighed, touching Jace on the shoulder with one pointed fingernail. "Try not to make a mess we'll have to clean later."
He looked offended. "I would never-"
"Make it harder for our friends than it already is," she finished for him with a sharp look. After a second, she leaned forward and flashed a smile at Jonathan and Simon. "I'm sure it's all going to be fine"
Simon wasn't feeling confident in the girls' words, but he nodded and tried to give her a convinced smile.
Shadowhunters continued to file into the room, taking a few moments to chat with someone before moving on to find seats. It was mostly adults, but there were a few teenagers here and there, much to Simon's surprise. He and his friends had been allowed into this meeting because it was a decisive hearing about a matter they were close to. He couldn't imagine why other teens wer there as well. Maybe it was public? He didn't really know much about that kind of stuff. The world of Shadowhunters was still very new to him.
A woman walked down the center of the room toward the stage and podium, leaving quiet whispers in her wake. She wore flowing grey robes over what looked like a tailored pant-suit. Simon watched as she passed, and caught a glimpse of her face: Inquisitor Herondale. Though she looked stern and sharp, Simon knew she had a kind eye and warm heart. She'd calmed him many times over the past weeks and had spoken with him privately to ease his mind, give him something else to think about since he wasn't allowed to go looking. It was actually hard to believe that many Shadowhunters didn't like her, thought her to be both too strict and too.
Valentine took his seat beside Jonathan only seconds before the Inquisitor began speaking, leaving no room for them to greet the man.
Thank you all for coming," the Inquisitor said in her strong, carrying voice, not seeming to be looking at anyone in particular. "It had been a tense few weeks for all of us, I know, so I thank you for your patience and cooperation. I've just come from the Counsil room where we held a closed hearing regarding the situation at hand, which I'm sure you're all aware of." She paused. "Since the disappearance of Clarissa Morgenstern three weeks ago, we've put all of our resources into finding her. Jocelyn Fairchild has evaded capture since her escape, and is believed to have kidnapped her daughter once again. The last time Jocelyn kidnapped Clarissa, she stole her memories and identity, forcing her into a mundane life. In the early days that they were missing, Jocelyn told her daughter every detail of the illegal and inhumane experiments that she performed on Shadowhunter and mundane children, pre- and post-partum over nearly two decades. Since our people brought the girl back into our ranks, we've learned of these countless atrocities, as our Downworlder allies assisted in regaining Clarissa's memories. As you know, the mundane experimentees have not been approached by us, and will not unless their lives and our existence becomes endangered, as there is no way for us to know how...successful Jocelyn was on her...subjects." She paused again to clear her throat. The room was completely silent. "This hearing is to clarify the information we've been given, and come to a consensus about our next moves, or whether we will be leaving this matter to the Angel."
Immediately, a man rose on the far side of the room from Simon. "The girl and her mother have been completely untraceable since their disappearance three weeks ago. Fairchild managed to escape our hold undetected, and is believed to be using demon magic, correct?"
"You've got it right, Thaddeus Darkmorn."
"So then," he continued after a careful moment. "Would it be correct to say that they are to be considered dangerous and at large?"
Valentine tensed, but before he could protest, a woman jumped to her feet-Simon recognized Terra Chance near the exit. "You don't mean to insinuate that the girl is involved, do you? She's only a child!"
"Wasn't she the one who convinced us to not pursue the woman until more information was known? She could be in league with her!" Another voice piped up.
"Who is to say her memory was ever truly anything but completely in tact? Who better to assist in finding experimental people than, say, a lost child looking for her mother?"
"She's been under our wings for months! The traitor!"
"But she's only a girl! What harm could a girl do? Not even old enough to be in this sort of meeting from the beginning."
"And why would Jocelyn not take both of her children? Obviously the girl was more willing to help with her twisted work."
Jonathan half-shot to his feet, but his father reached out to pull him down. Simon gave them an incredulous look, and saw Valentine give a small shake of his head. It was well known among them that Clary was Jonathan's biggest soft-spot, and the fact that their mother had only taken her was something that killed him from the beginning. Not knowing why she hadn't wanted him was another shot to the heart.
This is not going well, Simon thought, groaning quietly. It didn't get better until the end when Valentine finally stood and spoke, but by then, Simon was completely tuned out. He sorted his expression into one of stern interest, but he couldn't stop thinking about Clary. He knew she wasn't evil like her mother-no way! But she was out there somewhere, in her mothers clutches, probably in some dark hole somewhere being tortured like last time. They didn't talk about it, of course, but he'd had many a word with Jonathan on the matter. If there was one thing of which he was completely certain, it was that Jocelyn was mercilous, even when it came to her own children. She would stop at nothing for what she wanted, even if it meant torturing her children.
There was little more back and forth before everyone dispersed for a decisive intermission. Simon followed Jonathan out into the hall, aware that the Lightwoods were right behind him, and through a maze until they broke into the cool air of a large courtyard. Although tall trees around the yard blocked the view, Simon was pretty sure the building was built around the place. There was a fountain in the center, circled by benches and large potted roses. Jonathan led them to the benches and they all sat, silently, waiting for someone else to be the first to speak. To Simon's surprise, it was Jace, looking straight at Jonathan.
"You know it doesn't matter what they say, right? We'll find her anyway." He shrugged in that ultra-casual way he had, like he didn't even care that he was literally suggesting they brake the Law. "It just means having less help."
Alec rolled his eyes. "You mean no help. It'll be us and Valentine, against Jocelyn and whatever she has on her side, against the Clave and the Law."
"You make it sounds so hard."
Isabelle smacked his arm, not lightly. "The last time this happened, it took four years, and the Clave didn't think Jocelyn was a threat. If they think both of them are, they'll either let them come to us, or they'll move to attack."
"Wait, what?" Simon blinked hard several times. "Attack? What do you mean?"
"You don't know?" Alec asked, bewildered.
"We didn't really have time to talk about it," Jonathan muttered, looking pained. He sighed before turning toward Simon. "The meeting isn't just to decide whether they'll continue looking for Clary. It's to decide the plan of action for Jocelyn—whether or not we're in danger from her. If they decide that she's evil enough, basically, the search will continue. But it won't be a rescue." He paused. "It'll be a hunt."
