Valentine quickly escapes his very torn apart ship and hid himself in a local hotel. Not that they know he's there, he's very good at hiding who he is. He did have to think about an excuse on why he was soaking wet, and has a huge sword strapped on his back however. But he ended up not even needing his background story because he never even had encountered anyone. Now, he strips himself of his clothing, in exchange for a much drier pair.
His head hits the pillow of the run down hotel, and he begins the laugh at himself. Isn't this what criminals are supposed to in, in the eyes of those who cannot see shadow hunters. Hide in a run down motel until it's safe to come out? When the cops are all gone, and he hides his weapons inside the hotel? He looks at his sword, and shakes his head. Yeah, like he would ever try to hide one of the mortal instruments. No, he will keep it on him, in complete plain sight. At least, it would be in plain sight if they found him.
But, apparently, it wasn't that hard to do. After all, more that Jace was able to find him, everyone else was able to as well. Which he didn't think would be a problem. Even when he saw Clary and Jace teamed up against him, he wasn't worried. He wasn't worried when Jace threw the stele her way. "But I should have been," he thought with a growl.
He knew that Clary could create seals and runes. What he underestimated was how much natural talent she had for creating them. "Or, for how much power she truly had." He mused on that thought as he slung his arms back to create cushion for his head. But, he was sure victory was his. It had to be his: Clary had predicted it.
He smiled at the biblical mention that Clary unknowingly drew. "God had numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end; thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting." He chuckled at that thought: The clave have been weight and found wanting. They are no longer, or ever have been, the right group to lead the shadow hunters. His grin widened when Clary argued what it meant. "It means open!"
And that it did, he soon found out as water rushed over him so quickly that he barely had time to strap on the sword and leave on demon back. She was outstanding, and here he was thinking it was Jace that was going to help him put an end to their miserable empire. No, it is no obvious to him that his daughter will be the one that will destroy and take. And she will do it without even meaning to.