Absolute Pandemonium

Chloe woke with a start, jumping to life out of her nightmares. She fingered the pendent strung round her neck, trying to jog her mind into common sense. There had been a table, a cold metal table, and doctors everywhere. Chloe had been fighting with them, screaming, trying to make them leave her alone. But they wouldn't. There were needles and machines, and liquid dripping everywhere.

Poked and prodded and tortured, she thought.

She sat up and looked around the small room. In the dark, Chloe could have believed she was back at home, but she knew better. She knew the door was locked firmly, knew that the chip in her arm was sending a signal to the scientists at Edison Group headquarters, and even when she was miles away at Lyle House, they knew where she was.

Slowly, Chloe got up and padded around her room. She hated it, hated the lies that masked her imprisonment. There was no escaping this fate. She would be trapped in this life forever, always the subject to be prodded and poked. Her and the rest of Appendix C. They were all experiments. All test subjects.

"Derek?" Chloe said softly against the wall. "Derek, can you hear me?"

There was a long pause, and Chloe was about to turn away when a tap on the wall signaled Derek's presence. He was there, listening, his attention turned on her.

"I'm scared, Derek. I'm scared of the Edison Group. I'm scared of Lyle House. I'm scared of what I am, and what I'm going to become."

"We're going to Pandemonium?" Isabelle was sitting in the library, reclining in a chair with a book balanced on her knee. It was hard to concentrate on a book, so any excuse to leave was welcomed. "What's going on there, mom?"

Alec, who was skimming a textbook, and Jace, who was in a window seat with a book of music, all turned their attention to Maryse. She made sure to keep her eyes trained on Isabelle, because Alec was very perceptive of emotions, and she just couldn't dare to face Jace as she spelled out his doom. Max, who was asleep in a chair, stirred when his mother spoke and tried to shake himself awake.

"Demon activity had been reported there, and I want you three to check it out." Maryse saw Alec's hesitation and clapped her hands. "Come on, up, up!"

Jace, who wanted nothing more than to push bad memories from his thoughts, jumped to the ready, tossing the book aside. There was the familiar manic light in his eyes he always got when he was excited. Isabelle took a moment to decide and then stood as well, stretching catlike. Alec was the one who remained seated, his eyes traveling slowly to Max, who was staring wide-eyed at his mother. Their eyes met and Max shook his head no, and Alec thought for a minute. Would his parents really sell Jace out?

"If we have to go," sighed Alec, rising as well. He'd just keep a very close eye on Jace, which was no different from what he normally did.

The three teenagers filed out to the weapon's room, Maryse tailing them. Max raced after the small party, not knowing what to do. This was it. Jace was going to be attacked and captured by Valentine, and no one could do anything about it. Unless…unless he told them all what he'd heard. But if he did that, the family was destroyed. Max watched Jace's back and wanted to cry out.

Twenty minutes later, Isabelle, Alec, and Jace were at the door, getting ready to leave. Max, who hadn't had the nerve to tell the truth, stood on the staircase and watched them. Maryse and Robert came and hugged them each with a warning to stay safe. Jace looked ready to move, not at all worried. Max couldn't bear it though; he bolted down the steps and pelted into Jace, hugging him tightly.

"You'll be back, right?"

Jace ruffled his hair and backed up with a smile. "Yeah sure, we'll have a midnight snack when I'm back."

And with that, the three of them were gone and Max was wishing he'd said something. Maryse, sensing a tension in Max she'd never seen, reached out and pulled him closer to her.

"Max, what's wrong?"

"I'm worried about them," he said guardedly. "With Valentine out there…"

"They'll be fine, I promise."

Out on the street, Jace, Alec, and Isabelle sauntered toward the club. They weren't really aware they were being followed, but Jace's neck kept tingling. Night was setting in quickly, the lights flickering on and the shadows growing. And in the shadows something was moving. A form was slipping from shadow to shadow, eyes pinned on the golden boy he was tracking. It would have been so easy right then to simply dive out and pull him into the shadows. But, he had his companions with him, and then, he'd have to deal with them, and that would take a few minutes, and Valentine had ordered that no shadowhunters die, and…well, it was just worth it to wait.

Pandemonium was thumping out music as the shadowhunters slunk in. Under the flashing lights and pounding music, they separated to seek out the demon. Alec was trying to keep an eye on Jace, but he lost him in the thronging crowds. The darkness was perfect for the demon, who was trailing Jace with red eyes. He smiled and his fangs slid out. Jace slouched against a wall and scanned the room.

So that's the angel boy? wondered the demon, moving forward. I'll make quick work of this boy.

It happened all too fast for anyone to stop. Jace, leaning in the shadows suddenly spotted a sinister figure which he marked at once as the demon. He glanced about and saw Isabelle dancing and Alec staring gloomily into a drink. He moved forward, tracking the stupid thing with a grin. The demon was actually leaving by the side door, right into the alley. How perfect. Jace loosed a dagger and waited until the demon was out the door before he followed.

There was perhaps a minute of perfect silence. Jace saw the brick wall of the building opposite him, saw the trash cans and sewers, and saw with a quick glance, the stars above. He breathed a deep breath and tightened his grip on the dagger. His eyes adjusted to the dark and he saw pair of something red glaring at him.

"What kinda brainless demon separates itself from a crowd-?"

The demon sprang forward, and Jace stumbled back in stark surprise. He blinked, confused, at what he was seeing, because it wasn't a demon, it was just wrong. It was a woman, tall and statuesque, with gleaming eyes that seemed to switch between red and brown. She saw Jace and smiled crookedly, enjoying his shock.

"Now I wouldn't know that, would I, Jace?" asked the woman, voice sharp and cold. She ran her eyes over his form, saw the blade in his hand, and locked in on it. "You might want to put that down, Jace; little boys shouldn't play with sharp objects. It's not safe."

"How could you!" bellowed Isabelle. "You're monsters, traitors. He was our family!"

Clary cringed at the words as she passed down the hall to the library. More shouts followed Isabelle's and a child's voice began to wail. Clary quickened her pace, suddenly anxious to see Jace.

"You don't understand," pleaded a voice. "We have no choice. If we hadn't agreed, Valentine would have destroyed us. As it is, we're just lucky the Clave doesn't know about this yet. We'll have to inform them in the morning, of course."

"No, mom!" And this time Clary marked the voice as Alec's. "We'll tell them the truth. You planned the whole thing with Valentine."

"If you reveal the truth and we're arrested, you and your siblings go to an orphanage," argued a man's voice. Clary eyes widened and she broke into a run for the library door. "It's the only way to keep the family together."

"You SOLD him to Valentine!" screeched Isabelle. "You SOLD Jace to Valentine so he'd leave you alone. Well, fine. You wanna be alone, you'll be alone. I'm leaving. I'm not staying in a house where my own parents would sacrifice a child cause they're afraid."

"Isabelle Lightwood!" And now Clary knew it was Robert who was talking. "You will do no such thing. If you try to leave, I will lock you in your room."

"Go to hell!" she snarled back and Clary heard footsteps on the carpet floor. The door banged open and Isabelle came running out, tears streaming down her face, her hair and clothes in ruins. She saw Clary and gave a cry. "Clary. Oh my god, Clary."

"Jace…?" Clary couldn't comprehend what she'd heard. Was Jace gone? "What happened to my brother?"

"Clary…I…" Isabelle was searching for words, more tears streaming down her face. "He's gone! Jace is gone!"

"W-what?"

"We were tracking a demon to Pandemonium, and while Alec and I killed it, Jace went out back." Out of the library poured the rest the Lightwoods, Maryse in the lead, tears leaking out of her eyes. "We followed him, but when we got out there, his weapons were lying on the ground, and there was blood, and his cell phone with a missed call!"

"Someone…took Jace?" Clary stared at Isabelle in confusion.

"We don't know, he's just gone!" Isabelle shrieked and covered her face. "It's my parents fault, they planned it with Valentine, they told us to go!"

Clary's shocked face roved to Maryse who was shaking, and Robert, who was gaping open-mouthed in horror. She clenched her fists together and prepared to leap at them. But Robert clapped a hand to his forehead and leaned against the wall in terror. Alec was white-faced, but when he saw his father, he blinked slowly and placed a hand on Isabelle's shoulder.

"How could you just give Jace-" Clary began, but Robert cut her off sharply.

"What do you mean, you killed the demon?" gasped Robert, staring wildly from Isabelle to Alec. "What do you mean?"

"I mean we killed it!" shrieked Isabelle, rounding on her father. "I personally drove the blade into its throat. When we realized Jace wasn't there, we went to look for him, didn't we Alec? That's when we found his things in the alley."

Clary was watching closely, the way Robert's eyes slowly found his wife's and their faces fell away, leaving a blank canvas before them all. Alec noted it too, and he placed his palms on Isabelle's shoulders, holding her down.

"But…that, that's not possible…" murmured Maryse, shaking her head. "He said…Valentine said…The demon was killed?"

"Mom," Alec said clearly, "what are you talking about?"

"Don't listen to her, Alec," spat Isabelle. "She's just trying to make us forgive her for selling Jace to Valentine."

Isabelle spun back on Clary, her eyes filled with tears. For once, Isabelle wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug Clary. Because they were sharing the same pain. Sharing the same betrayal.

"No, wait, Isabelle!" shouted Robert. "What your mother means is that Valentine told us a demon was going to capture Jace, but if you killed the demon, who took Jace?"

A tense silence filled the hall, a silence when all the people present looked from face to face, confusion setting in. Alec covered his face, and Isabelle reached out and caught Clary's hand. Max was pressing himself against the wall, his mind on Jace, the best shadowhunter he'd ever know.

"Maybe Valentine himself…?" Clary murmured weakly. "Is there anyway we can track Jace, Alec? Could Magnus find him?"

"I've already called him," Alec confirmed. "He'll be here in a few minutes."

"Clary, Max, Alec, and me will wait for Magnus downstairs," Isabelle snapped at her mother's open mouth. "And when he gets here, we will conduct the search. You two don't belong in this." With that, Isabelle marched off, her back straight as an ironing board.

Down in the lobby, the children waited with baited breath. Clary just sat on the steps, thinking of Jace, thinking of his smile, his scowl, his laugh, his groan, his golden eyes, and demanding lips. She never thought someone could get the better of Jace. Who had the strength to overpower Jace? She twisted her hands and wished she's cornered Jace early. Wished she'd told him how she felt for him.

Isabelle just couldn't get those last minutes out of her head. The adrenalin of the hunt, the blade in her hand, the demon withering under her blows. It was that coursing power she was addicted to. But when she's looked up, Jace was gone. Then, the empty alley, the desperation in her search, the blades, the phone, and blood on the walls. How could she just let Jace wander off?

Spinning the phone desperately in his hands, Alec could think only of Jace wandering off. He should have been watching Jace. He was oldest. Alec was responsible for Jace. Shouldn't have left him. If anything happened to Jace…Alec would never forgive himself.

And little Max, he could just stare at the wall. Jace was the best shadowhunter ever. No one was faster, stronger, smarter. Jace was a warrior. Who could fight better than him? What were they doing to Jace right now? Why hadn't he spoken up before Jace left for the club?

The elevator binged open, and Magnus Bane sauntered out, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He scrunched his nose in distaste at Clary and Isabelle, but sympathy entered his cat eyes when he spotted his Alec. He drifted over slowly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"So, the parents finally gave in?" Magnus thought a minute. "How could you really expect them to fight the seductions of Valentine? He wanted his son back, and he was going to get him."

"No," Clary said stiffly. "We don't think Valentine took Jace." She saw the faint narrowing of Magnus's eyes, but he just shrugged.

"The phone, Alec, I'll track Jace with it." Magnus stretched out a hand and caught the cell in his grip. He stomped off, muttering to the phone as he went.

There was about five minutes of waiting, of endless moments, where each of the children could only picture Jace as someone's prisoner. Jace hurt. Jace, if possible, scared. A different Jace, immature and terrorized. Then, Magnus reappeared, and his face was dark with not a trace of even the slightest humor.

"We have a serious problem," began Magnus. "A woman took Jace to some place called Lyle House-I have no clue what that is, by the way-she claims to have legal documents that make not only Jace, but Clary, property of the Edison group, Jace is even now being held under supervision, he's being tested and experimented on, and, here's the clincher, if Clary doesn't surrender herself in three days time, they're going to 'put Jace down'. Her exact words." Magnus paused, looking each of them in the eye. "I don't know who the Edison Group is, but it sounds like they've done some serious work on this. Any ideas?"

"How did you get all that information in one spell?" Isabelle asked breathlessly.

"I didn't," Magnus said simply, flipping Jace's phone open. "There's a message on the voicemail."

Chloe twisted the tablecloth in her hands as they discussed the Edison Group's latest move. In her peripheral view, Derek was staring shrewdly at her and thinking as quickly as he could of a way out. Tori and Simon were not far away, frowning. It just wasn't fair; it was like they could never get ahead in this fight.

"I don't understand," Chloe said, breaking the conversation. A few pairs of eyes met hers, all dark with annoyance or despair. "We were the only ones listed in appendix C. Who are Jace and Clary?"

"Two children," answered Derek, shaking his head tiredly. "Apparently their father signed legal guardianship of them over to the Edison Group if they helped him in his fight against what he called Downworlders. They were lost not long after birth. Now, it seems, the Edison Group is going to reclaim them."

Chloe curled her toes up. How was it possible that they had failed so horribly? Wasn't it enough to have her and he friends, did they have to have these two other children as well? "A brother and sister, the Edison's Group's prisoners."

Simon paced to the window and then turned about sharply. "No, not brother and sister. See, that the weird part about these two. Jace was raised by Clary's father, but he's not her brother. More like an adopted brother. Clary's mother ran off with her before she was born."

"What do they want with them, I wonder?" asked Derek slowly.

"The same the wanted with us, no doubt," answered Tori. "They're hunting those two down like dogs." She shuddered and had to press her hands firmly down on the table to stop the shaking.

"They already caught Jace, it seems," said Simon dismally, holding Jace's file in his hands. "Why else have this file all written out?"

"We should have known this was going to happen," Chloe said carefully. "And you said they already got Jace…?" Chloe glanced at Derek, because he must know, because he always had an answer, because he was Derek.

"Yes, cornered him." Derek stopped himself from glaring at Victoria. Chloe ducked her head. It just didn't make any sense. When did it end? When did the Edison Group stop ruining innocent lives? Stop hunting the free? She thought of Jace and Clary, probably two ordinary people who had no idea what was happening to them. Who were just simple kids living simple lives. She'd never wished this on anybody, and the idea that someone could be dragged into it was sickening.