Heller heller. Another chapter finished. Two in a day. I do hope all are enjoying this. Remember Review are food. And like I said before if there is something you think you'd like to see happen or just have some general feed back then by all means PM me. Also if you haven't figured out by now this is based after CoLS. So if you haven't read that then... . I've totally spoiled a LOT of stuff. but eh. I thought about renaming the story. Let me know what you think. 3 D.I.

Chapter 4

It had been over an hour since he had been whisked into the dark tunnel. Bored he inspected the walls. Veins of mica glittered through the rough-hewn stone. A curtain on one end was made of what he thought was long woven hair in various colors, when a breeze blew through the cramped space he could catch hints at the different shampoos. The curtain at the other end was more grotesque. It was made of bugs. Bright shiny beetles who hard shells were like jewels buzzed in the tapestry of their prison. He didn't want to go go near it after he found out what it was made of. He remembered what Isabelle had told him one time when he asked her why she wore such high shoes if the made her feet cramp at the end of the night. 'Beauty is pain.'' she had told him. Now that he thought about it that described the fair folkk in a nutshell. Painfully cruel beings wrapped up in beauty. \\

Jace was pulled from his thoughts as the buzzing picked up and Meliorn stepped through the bug curtain with a aggitated bored expression. Jace nodded trying to remember that he needed to be careful and also placating to these creatures.
"Well met Meliorn"

:Well met Jace Herondale. Follow me. Her Magesty is entertaining a guest, and is only seeing you out of courtesy for the Clave. And as you know we fair folk are quite hospitable."

Jace clenched his jaw trying to both not correct hsi last name and to hold back a smart retort. It wouldn't do to get kicked out before he could see the Queen. So he nodded and followed Meliorn into the chamers.

The Queen sat upon a dias underneath a stucture that was like a gazebo of sorts. Thick branches and roots woven intricately with flowering vines made up the roof, and it was being held up by fairies. At first one might have thought they were statues but some had wings that fluttered every now and again. And all their eyes were trained on him. The floor was covered in soft moss making up a carpet and there were fountains that spewed liquids of different colors. Smaller statuesque creatures stood with braziers held above their heads that cast a soft glow about the room. And as Jace let his eyes continue to drift he was caught off guart as his eyes reached the ceiling. It looked like a million stars that flickered in and out. He let out a breath and focused back on the Queen only barely letting his gaze fall to the cloaked figure that was facing away from him on the steps near the dias.

"Jace Herondale. What does the Clave wish from the fair folk now?"

"Pardon me you excellency but I do not represent the Clave in this. I have come for a personal matter."

"The Seelie Court is not a place in which you can so cavalier about visiting. I do not need to entertain your personal whims."

"You are correct your Majesty. But I believe just as the rumors boast of your beauty that your gracious hospitality is unprecedented."

The Queen smirked as she studied her nails.

"You have a pretty tongue Jace Herondale. Very well, I will hear you out. But I make no promises to aid you."

He nodded meeting the steady gaze of the Queen and willed himself to stay calm and collected. He felt so out of sorts and knowing who he was dealing with, he needed his wits about him.

"Clary has been poisoned by Jonathan Morganstern. We have tried to track her but haven't been able to find her. That is until today. She was last seen near the park and since this is central to your domain. I was wondering if you know why she is in the city and where she may have gone to? Where she and Jonathan are hiding."

the Queen reguarded him with a steely gaze her eyes slightly narrowed in consideration. Finally she shifted in her seat sitting straight up and then crossing her legs and sighed.

"The Nephilim are so repetitive. I was approached by Clarissa Morganstern when you were off gallivanting with Jonathan and will tell you the same thing I told her. I do not wish to fuel his Ire. Not without some payment worth my while."

"Name it."

She laughed then, a sound like bells that reverberated off the walls of the cavernous chamber.

"Do not be hasty Jace Herondale least you find yourself making promises you can't keep. And that would be most unfortuneate, don't you think?"

Gritting his teeth he took a steadying breath.

"Pleasse forgive me. I am curious about what you wish my lady."

The Queen smiled pleased and then her gaze cut to the cloaked guest and nodded.

"Very well, what I want isn't beyond you. Rather trivial really. I will take a lock of your hair Jace Herondale."

Hid eyes narrows as his mind recalled the memory of when they were in Prague at the Junk store. His other self telling Clary how a magician could work magics on her with a lock of hair. This was a gamble as with all dealings with the fair folk were. But this was also important and if anyone knew where Clary was, it would be the Seelie Queen.

"My lady before I make a decision, what information can you tell me in which I am seeking?"

He wanted to make sure that he was going to risk his well-being for the right information. It wouldn't do to be tricked.

"I can tell you why she was in the city, what she did and where she went."

He nodded. It was better than nothing and if he found out where she had disappeared to then there was a chance of getting her back. Even if he had to doing it with her kicking and screaming.

He pulled a small dagger from his weapons belt and sheared a lock from the base of his neck and held it out to Meliorn. Who then walked up to the dias and to Jace's surprise deposited it in the dainty hand of the Queens guest, who was now standing. The sound of laughter echoed through the room that made the blood in his veins run cold and froze him in place. He would know that laugh anywhere. The cloaked figure reached up and carefully lifted and removed the hood. Her luminous red hair was up in a messy bun held in place with small knife like sticks much like the ones that Isabelle favored. And when she turned around he couldn't help but let his eyes pursue her slight frame.

She wore a white off the shoulder shirt with sleeves that were tight to her mid-forearm. Cinched around her waist was a leather corset of sorts. She wore her tight shadowhunter pants and boots along with her weapons belt. Which held a few throwing knives and two matching daggers they looked to be the length of hsi elbow to fingertip.

"Clary?"

"Why do people keep saying my name like they don't know what it is? You'd think that people would know who it was they were addressing."

"Clary why?"

"You know Jace for someone who is usually really with it with it comes to words you really are rather redundant at the moment"

She yawned bored. His gaze flickered to the Queen whose eyes reflected amusement.

"You tricked me."

Clary spoke before the Queen could answer much to her irritation . Jace could see it in her eyes but she made no move to punish the girl. She just sat quietly.

"you of all people should know Jace that the fair folk do not lie. You've told me this time and time again. And she didn't lie. I'm right here. This is where I went. and I'll tell you what I did. But let me answer your previous question first. Simply put my eyes were opened. at the ceremony. That night Jonathan raised our lady Lillith. And I would have stayed with Jonathan if everyone hadn't crowed me all of a sudden. I tried to kill you, but I should have known you don't die easily."

She gave him a rather dry look and rolled her eyes.

"kill me? "

"I felt you to be, what was that phrase you used? Oh yes. Collateral damage."

He winced. He remembered saying that about Max. And he also remembered her chewing his head off for it, but now she was throwing the words back in his face in regards to him as if his life didnt' matter to her anymore. As he stood there he could feel his heart breaking. the tiny fissures creeping along the beating muscle threatening to cause it to shatter in his now aching chest.

"you can't meant that Clary.."

His voice almost pleading.

"Oh but I do. You see. If the others succeeded in getting you back and severing the bond between you and my brother, then I felt you were the only one that could stop him. I had to ..tie up loose ends as they say. unfortunately I didn't know the side effects of using the blade Simon and the others got from Raziel. Now you're a human glow stick."

Gesturing flippantly to his body. Then gave him a pointed look.

"You know what a glow stick is right?"

He was about to answer but she cut him off with a dismissive wave.

"Ill tell you. It's a piece of plastic that has some chemicals inside that is separated by a piece of glass. And when you mix the chemicals together they create a another chemical that glows. Thing is about glow sticks they only work after they've been broken."

She smirked. He just stared at her pain and disbelief clear in his golden eyes. Finally he spoke his voice hoarse.

"Are you .. Your not ever coming back are you? Don't you..."

He broke off unable to say the words. afraid of what he would hear. but continued on anyway because he wasnt sure if he would ever get the chance to do so again.

"Don't you love me?"

"Not really. I mean, I remember the feeling but when I think of you now all I see is a waste of strength and ability. A weak excuse for someone who was raised by my father. A boy so caught up in the lies of a governing body that has done nothing but make his life a living hell and yet he cowers in the face of their hypocrisy. How could I ever love such a weak man?"

His mouth fell open and his eyes glittered.

"Who are you?"

"I know exactly who I am. Clarissa Adele Morganstern. Which is more than I can say for you. Tell me who are you today? Hmm? Jace lightwood? Herondale?"

She smirked.

"Wayland? Now I miss him. There was a man who saw what he wanted and went after it."

She winked at him teasingly as she continued. And despite his heart breaking in his chest he couldn't help but feel a jolt run through him at her playful demeanor, cruel as ti was.

"What about Simon? Dont' you think you're hurting him? And Isabelle? Did you know you almost killed Alec?"

His tone was a bit incredulous but he just couldnt' help it. This was his Clary. The girl who cared about everyone and she just seemed like she couldnt' be bothered right now.

"Simon?"

she scoffed.

"Simon is weak. He has his head in the clouds dreaming of a humanity that he can't fully embrace while sucking down the blood of farm animals. He can't accept what he truly is and mark or not he will always be an outsider no matter who he surrounds himself with and eventually he will be alone with only his wasted dreams to keep him company. And as for Alec, he tried to kill my brother. I protected him."

He couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. she looked like her, was her voice but the words...the words were cold and heartless. Bitter like the bile that was slowly rising in the back of his throat.

"And Izzy?"

She giggled then, her face lighting up.

"Oh don't worry about Izzy. I'm sure if there weren't otherwise occupied she would send her reguards."

A cold fear swept over him.

"What did you do Clary? Where is Izzy?"

"She's with Jonathan silly. They are getting to know each other. I really do think we are all going to be great friends. In fact she and I are going to go shopping later. "

She grinned.

"Thats if she isn't too tired. She has a walk-in closet now that I just know she'll want to fill up and Jonathan will give us a hefty allowance to do so. But you know that."

Pulling out her phone she checked the time casually and then pulled up the hood to her cloak once more, and turned to the Queen.

"I apologize my lady if I have perchance offended your hospitality by engaging in such petty discussions with your other guest. I hope that we can come together again and I might rectify such an atrocity. Perhaps I will bring my brother with me. I know he would be so grateful if you honored him with your presence. As your beauty is a gift to mere gaze upon if nothing else."

She bowed low to which the nodded her head. Jace was a little speechless. She must have practiced her ability to kiss ass.N Not to mention she obviously got a healthy dose of confidence and lost the filter on her mouth. She had no qualms about telling him how she felt. When she stood again she cast a wink over her shoulder and then turned away vanishing on the spot. Taking with her the pieces of his broken heart, his hopes for their joined future and a lock of his hair. Not only that...they had Izzy as well.
Fuck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~