Author's Note: These characters belong to Cassandra Clare. I'm only borrowing them. This is the prologue to my story Stricken. Be sure to read the AN at the bottom as well.

Prologue

Jonathan's POV

I know what it's like to die. I felt the darkness pulling me under, just as the weight of my clothing had pulled me toward the bottom of the river. I felt the burning pain, and the cool water brought me no relief. I felt the emptiness at it drew me forward, and for the first time I felt fear.

Just when I almost drowned-not in water, but in terror-I felt the beginning of my rebirth. I felt as the fear was slowly replaced by hatred, and the firery pain replaced by the burning need for revenge, and the darkness became light as I was drawn by an undeniable force up toward the surface.

Jace's intent had been to kill me, and being stabbed in the heart should have ended me, but all it had done was facilitate my rebirth. What was left of my humanity had died that day, and for that I can feel gratitude. My humanity had made me weak. Now I will never feel weakness again.

My thoughts turned to Isabelle Lightwood. She still has no idea what I'd done to her. It's hard to believe how stupid they all are. Did she really think I would have left her alive if it hadn't served my purposes? Killing the brat Max had been fun, but what I had done to her had truly been a pleasure.

I had been biding my time and preparing. Now the time had come. Isabelle would soon be mine. When her usefulness is at an end, I will kill her, but not before allowing the others to know where she is. I will wait for them to come, and then I will kill them all.

My father had his agenda; His grand purpose. I can see now how empty and futile it all was. He had made me to be the secret weapon in his personal holy war. How ironic, I was now the weapon that would bring about the end of not only Downworlders, but Nephilim as well.

Smiling to myself, I thought once again of Isabelle Lightwood. I was looking forward to reacquainting myself with her. The changes will have begun to take place. I couldn't wait to see their results first hand. A new war had begun, and Isabelle would be the first casualty.

Author's Note: This is a story based on one question. Why did Jonathan leave Isabelle alive. As different scenarios ran through my weirdly wired brain, I kept wanting to write this story as a possible answer to that question.

While this story will have it's lighter moments (especially between Clary-Jace and Magnus-Alec) it is going to be very dark at times and is based on what I think happened in the time after Max was killed, while Isabelle is knocked out. Everything resulting from those few moments is the basis for this story. Please review and let me know what you think. Be constructive; this is my first multi-chapter story.