Chapter 4 Uncertainty

Clary's POV

It took Clary about a half hour before she realized that wandering aimlessly around the institute would not get her anything. So, she quickly made her way back to her room for a quick shower and a change of clothes, and then she was out the door in less than twenty minutes.

The November air was like ice against Clary's skin. She pulled her jacket tighter around her waist and buried her head in the hood; wishing she still had her heavy, winter jacket from the townhouse. It was still midmorning and many people were rushing around, either headed for work or late for work and trying to make up for lost time. Clary was no different, except she was not headed for work. She was headed for the person who just might be able to help her out of her predicament.

Jace's POV

"Do you have any leads on Sebastian yet?" Jace's voice was dry as he watched Myrse leisurely finish whatever it is that she had been writing and then she looked up at him. Her eyes looked tired and drained of energy, but Jace could see the spark in her blue eyes as she eyed him carefully. She knows something is wrong, Jace thought.

"Is something wrong?" Myrse asked; right on cue.

"It depends on your view of the problem." Jace spoke the words as if they were nothing, he had been taught to cover up his emotions and now he was a master at it. Myrse did not question him any further, although she did stare him down for a few more moments before she answered his question.

"I'm afraid not. We were probably right about our first theory that Sebastian staged the pictures to get out attention; however, there have not been any other sightings. Although if you really want to help, you can take Alec and the both of you can go to the Seelie Court and question them." Myrse finished; Jace felt sick. The last time he had visited the Seelie Court, he had ended up kissing Clary, which would not have been so bad if he had not thought she was his sister at the time; and in the end, he and Clary had broken Simon's heart. No one knew, but Jace did feel some responsibility for Simon becoming a vampire, it was part of the reason he had given Simon his blood. If only he would have known the trouble that his action would cause.

"What are the clave doing and silent brothers doing?" Jace asked; it would not hurt to be informed.

"As far as I know, all they've done is review the information. The silent brothers can't really do much with the given information and the clave is taking a vote on the subject in a few days." Myrse answered.

"So, nothing then." Jace asked, his voice was on edge. Sebastian could kill dozens within a few days, if he has not already; heck Sebastian could have his plan in motion in a few days, that is if he was ambitious as his father had been before him.

"That's the sad truth of it, the clave does not work that fast; neither does democracy. And thanks to the elections of the downworlder chairs, we have both." Myrse answered; she did not sound particularly upset, but the same edge in Jace's voice was in hers as well.

"Fine." There was no emotion in Jace's voice as he left to collect Alec.

Clary's POV

Clary reached Simon's door at exactly eleven o' three. She stood there on the stairs, contemplating what she was about to ask Simon to do for her. He was her best friend, he was the person she could talk to about anything and most importantly, he had an easy connection to Raphael. Yet, she still stood there waiting. Can I really risk my best friend's life like this? Clary thought, she pushed back her doubts and knocked. It doesn't hurt to talk about it, Clary concluded.

Simon answered the door and ushered her in. He had probably known she was on the other side of the door for quite some time; but he had the decency to wait for her to knock. Clary looked him up and down from head to toe, his hair was slightly disheveled, his clothes were wrinkled, and his coffee colored eyes had light, purple circles underneath them. Funny, I never thought of a vampires looking so normal.

"What's up?" Simon said as he let himself fall onto the couch, leaning back leisurely into the cream colored cushions. There were video games and comics spread out across the coffee table and floor and to Clary's mind, it looked like Simon had been having an anime powwow without her. Clary collapsed into the matching arm chair and spoke her words carefully.

"I need your help with something," Clary started, Simon raised her eyebrows. "I need you to help me get back at Raphael." It was the simplest way to start the conversation. In reality, she wanted to kill Raphael, but Clary knew that Simon would never help her with that, even if Simon hated Raphael himself.

"Get back at him how?" Simon avoided her gaze and looked aimlessly at the TV, which was currently frozen on a picture of an old Zelda game. Nintendo 64, Clary guessed. His face looked contemplative and concerned, perhaps he and Raphael were still having problems, Clary thought. It was the only reason Clary knew of that would explain Simon's expression.

"Just, I don't know, maybe we could come up with something together." Clary said, looking at Simon for ideas.

"Clary I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just can't." Simon's words were abrupt and caught Clary off guard; she had heard that tone from him very few times in her life. "Clary, I'm sorry, but Raphael and I, well our relationship is already not very good, and I can't risk making it worse. If he decides he wants me dead, I'll have the whole New York coven after me and that will be the end of it for me." Simon's words seemed sincere, so Clary let it pass. She had been so sure that Simon would help her, apparently she had been wrong. But Clary caught a flash of something in Simon's eyes before he looked away. She did not ask about it, but she raised her eyebrows, letting him know that she knew something was up.

"Okay, I'm sorry I asked." Clary said, she was prepared to leave, to head back to the institute and think up another plan for revenge, when Simon stopped her. At least someone wanted her around today.

"Clary, you don't have to go. We are still friends you know." Simon said; he looked up at her, his eyes seemed desperate.

"You look tired, Simon. Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep?" Clary asked; a concerned note in her voice.

"No. Well, I mean, yes I'm tired. It's a vampire thing, supposed to sleep during the day, active at night, not really my thing. I'm trying to force myself out of the schedule." Simon said; Clary sat back down. Maybe a few hours of normalcy were what she needed, and there was no one better than Simon to have "normal" time with. "So, I've been having trouble with this one level…"

Magnus's POV

Magnus was alone in his loft. He and Alec had been having trouble lately and it was tearing them apart. Magnus guessed he should not have been so hard on Alec; he was so young after all, eighteen compared to Magnus's centuries. Yet, it still bothered Magnus. So he had opted to stay in his loft when Alec was going on a treacherous journey into the fey realm.

The Chairman was Magnus's companion; and he was not very good company either. One could only do so much with a cat.

So when the doorbell rang, Magnus was half desperate for some kind of human, or close to human, company; despite the fact that he liked to play the role of expensive, solitary business man. He opened the door and no one was there. Damn kids, Magnus thought. Really? Ding dong ditch was not creative; there were versions of the game that had been around before doorbells were even invented.

Magnus was ready to slam the door when something on the floor caught his eye. It was a small white piece of paper, held down by a gray rock. Magnus looked from side to side, searching for the sender. When he found no one, he bent down at picked up the piece of paper and aimlessly tossed the rock down the stairs. He took the note inside, shut the door, and for a second he stood there.

It was not the first time Magnus had received a strange note from a stranger. There were many who wanted his help; yet, they were too scared to ask in person and generally favored the mysterious way of telling Magnus to meet him or her at some mysterious place at midnight or whatever with some empty threat of pain or death. Sometimes, it was both. Magnus sighed and unfolded the note.

If it were not for Magnus's tanned skin, he probably would have gone bone white. He held his breath as he read the note over and over again. Fear was not something he was used to, but there were some threats that one takes seriously.

In fine, delicate handwriting, there was a list of names scrawled across the crumpled piece of paper.

Luke's pack

Lightwoods

Magnus Bane

Daylighter

Jace Herondale

Jocelyn Fairchild

Raphael Santiago

Clarissa Fairchild

At the bottom there was one word and Magnus knew what this list was all about.

Victory.

Magnus sighed; just another person who wanted him dead.

Jace's POV

The Seelie court was dark, damp, and underground. All in all, it sucked. Jace tramped through the tunnels dragging Alec behind him. They had not bothered to wait for a fey to invite them in and Alec was busy ranting about how they would get in trouble and probably be forced into slavery for the rest of their lives.

"Shut it, Alec." Jace was sick and tired of people yelling at him today. And it was barely noon.

After many twists and turns they finally arrived at the room before the Seelie Queen's throne room. Unlike the last time, there was no dancing, no music, and no well, happiness about the place. It seemed almost structured; which, considering the fey's temperament, was odd.

Jace wasted no time; he marched right up to the throne room and yanked the door open, his gaze falling on a surprised looking queen.

"And what pleasure is it that brings you here, Jace Herondale?" She asked; she looked at him accusingly, like he had personally wronged her.

"So you knew the whole time!" Jace started, and then shook his head. "That's a conversation for another time."

"You mean I get to see you again? Oh, how lucky I am." The queen rolled her eyes.

"I thought you guys couldn't lie," Alec chimed in.

"Sarcasm, dear." The queen explained.

"Sarcasm is a type of lying," Alec muttered under his breathe, but Jace and the queen ignored him.

"Where's Sebastian?" Jace demanded.

"On this earth, I'm sure. If you want a more helpful answer you'll need to be more specific." The queen replied, dismissing his question with a wave of her hand. "I believe it would be best if you two made an appointment. I have an opening at two next Friday."

"Too bad, we're here now and we want answers." Jace said.

"Obviously." The queen's temperament was getting on Jace's nerves; he was ready to pin her against the wall to get some answers, but one quickly look at the guards and their swords told him that that would not be wise.

"Fine. Where can we find Sebastian on this earth, what is he planning, how is he planning it, and what do I and the rest of the clave need to do to stop him?" Jace asked.

"New York City would be my best guess as to where he would be. He's probably planning revenge, considering he takes after his father; as for the other two questions, I cannot help you there."

"What?" Jace asked, his voice rising. "I highly doubt that."

"Sebastian's revenge is personal; although, I cannot be sure how far his personal revenge goes. Why would he include me when my sister court, the Unseelie court, helped your dear friends Clary and Raphael execute their plan?" The queen asked; and to Jace's demise, she saw his jaw clench at the mention of Clary and Raphael. "So you know then?" The queen asked; she had a shark grin on her face.

"You know, that look is very un-lady like." Jace dodged her question, but the queen brought him right back to it.

"Do you ever wonder," The queen paused, probably for dramatic effect, "who she'll choose? Maybe the golden eyed angel who swept her off her feet or maybe the one that walks in darkness who will take her breathe away." The queen sounded thoughtful; Jace wanted to rip her head off. Alec stood there; obviously he was not up to date with current events.

"Shut up." The informality of Jace's words got a reaction from the guards, who raised their swords and moved in front of the queen, ready to defend her. Jace reached for his own sword, when a hand grabbed his. Alec's.

"Now is not the time to make new enemies when we already have so many." With those words, Jace realized how much Alec had truly grown up over the past few weeks. Jace lowered his hands to his sides and nodded at his parabati. "My apologies, your highness."

"Of course," the queen smiled delicately, waving at the guards to relax. "Now, any more questions?"

"No."

"Then you best be on your way." Jace turned and left, Ale trailing after him.