Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Instruments or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1: Lost

The steps in front of her were cement, with a rusted, metal trimming. She could feel their cold surface underneath her thin ballet slippers. Clary climbed slowly, he must be here.

After Lilith's death, Clary had promised Jace that she'd be right back. But after greeting her mother, Luke and the Clave members had asked to see the roof. She'd brought them up, only to find that Jace and Sebastian's body had disappeared. Isabelle was convinced that Jace had taken Sebastian's body to dispose of it in a proper way. (Which she considers a the landfill outside of Idris). Clary wasn't so sure, no one had seen him in days. The others didn't understand, they hadn't seen him when he was possessed. Only Simon had, and he'd been puking half the time. This was it, the last place to look. The last bit of hope, slipping away with every step.

The door had a faded rectangle, where someone's name had once been. She could see the words, as they'd once been. Fray. She gulped as she opened the door, first just a little, then she swung it open, eyes widening. Reflexively, she took a step back. Then another. Because there in the doorway to her old apartment was not Jace. No, this was much worse. Smiling down at her was… Sebastian.


Magnus's hand was warm in Alec's hand. He laughed as Magnus began to skip, pulling Alec into a slow jog. Then he instantly was consumed by a cloud of guilt. Here he was enjoying himself when his brother was missing. Magnus looked at him understandingly, and Isabelle… damn it, he'd forgotten Izzy and Simon walking just feet behind them. Self consciously, he stopped short and listened to her babble about her "Jace Theroy."

"I told you like a thousand times, Is, he'd have said something. And he'd be back by now." Alec said patiently.

"I believe it's a thousand and two now." Simon joked, and Isabelle scowled at him. Alec couldn't help notice that his sister and Simon were holding hands.

"But maybe Jace didn't take Sebastian. Maybe some of Lilith's living followers did." He suggested.

"Once she died, they wouldn't have been loyal to her anymore." Magnus pointed out.

"If someone is possessed for a long time, isn't possible that even after they die they are still loyal. Since they've never known anything else." Simon countered.

"I'm sure Jace will come home as son as he can get it together." Magnus's words reassured Alec, and even Izzy looked less tense.

Especially since a second later she dropped Simons hand and patted her stomach. "Dim Sum anyone? I starved." Simon nodded, through Alec knew he wasn't hungry. Not for Dim Sum anyway.

"Sorry sis. We have tickets to Wicked." Alec indicated Magnus and himself.

"Have you ever seen the Wizard of Oz?" Simon asked.

"The what?" Isabelle raised an eye brow.

"It's a movie, Is, and I watched it with Magnus." Alec said.

"Fine, come on Simon. Let's go." As Alec watched, Izzy grabbed hold of the back of Simon's jacket and dragged him in the opposite direction.