"We are all the angel's children," stated Jace a bit annoyed.
"I mean in the literal sense."
"That's a myth."
"Really?" said Will raising an eyebrow. "Then how would you explain the mark on her wrist?"
"All of the readers have them," said Alec.
Will rolled his eyes. "You Lightwoods think you're always right."
"I can say the same thing about the Herondales," Isabelle snapped.
Before a fight could break loose Magnus chimed in, "Now, now children. Let's all relax and help our dear friend Lucy."
Will continued with his explanation. "Legend says the angel Raziel only came to Earth once a thousand years ago to create the Nephilim race. However that is completely untrue and it's proven by Lucy standing before us." The boy's blue eyes rested easily on the girl. "Three hundred years after-"
"Wait!" Magnus blurted out. "Before we get into the story everyone sit. I'll have Archer grab us all a spot of tea."
The cousins giggled to each other as everyone took a seat around the small wooden coffee table.
"My god, they're as insane as Henry," Will said under his breath.
"Oh I know. We hear about his psychotic science experiments all the time," Ramona said with her hands crossed in her lap.
Magnus came back into the room followed by the butler, Archer, carrying a tray of tea and delicious looking cookies.
"Yea cookies!" exclaimed Angelina. "I'm starving."
"I couldn't agree more cousin." Together they grabbed three cookies each.
"Huh. Seems we need another chair," said Magnus examining the two couches, the loveseat, and the armchair taken. With a snap of his fingers a big, purple, fluffy chair appeared behind him.
Warlock, Lucy concluded. She peered at Jace sitting next to her on the overstuffed couch and asked with her eyes to confirm her thoughts. He simply nodded his head.
"Go ahead Will," said Magnus finally settled into his chair.
"As I was saying," Will said gaining the attention of all the shadowhunters in the room. "Three hundred years after the Nephilim race was created a civil war broke out between us. A shadowhunter by the name of Arlington Morgenstern, wanted the Nephilim to expose themselves to the mundanes so they could join the fight against demons. If you ask me they should have known he was evil by his terrible name. I mean come on, Arlington? Anyway the Clave wouldn't stand for it. The whole reason for our existence is to keep our secrets hidden from the mundanes so we can take care of the demon problem."
"Outraged, Arlington took it upon himself to create an army of his own. He teamed forsaken and demons together through a spell which was cast by one of the original warlocks. Forsaken are mundanes who have been marked with angel runes that cause mutations in their skin and drive the human to a point of insanity they will do anything for their creator. They are exceedingly strong, so as you can imagine Arlington's army wreaked havoc on most of Idris. Idris," Will said staring at Lucy, "is our home country."
She nodded and waited for him to continue.
"When the Clave heard of his coming towards the capital, Alicante, they called on all of the shadowhunters to prepare for battle. The children were commanded to be hidden in the level below the Angel Hall building while their parents fought. When Arlington's army arrived at dawn the shadowhunters fought courageously but were no match."
"They surrendered to Arlington who became a sort of dictator if you will. He tore the Clave a part limb from limb, and I mean that literally as well as metaphorically."
Lucy shuddered, causing Jace to move closer to her.
"After ten or so years of his vicious rule and no improvement, Raziel became so furious that he came down to Earth disguised as a shadowhunter determined to stop Arlington. However not knowing that his powers were weakened during his descent from Heaven he tried to take on Arlington's army by himself."
"He failed but was nursed back to health by a poor shadowhunter woman. Raziel fell in love with the woman and together they had a child. They named their daughter Rosaline who, being the daughter of an angel, inherited all of his angelic powers and then some."
"Raziel taught her how to harness and control her powers for good only. She became so powerful that Raziel knew Arlington's rule would be gone forever. Together father and daughter went against the unstoppable army. After hours of gruesome battle Arlington's army fell."
"Having accomplished his main goal, Raziel had the choice of either staying on Earth and live with his family or return to Heaven. He chose Heaven for it was where he truly belonged so he could watch over the Nephilim. His wife and child were of course disappointed but they let him go, knowing he was right."
"Before he left he gave Rosaline a necklace with a silver pendant of two angel wings and the mortal cup, which is what's marked on Lucy's wrist. This necklace gave Rosaline the power to call upon her father whenever she pleased."
"She later got married and had a family of her own. Like her father, she too had a daughter. Rosaline died when she was forty-five. No one knows the cause for sure how and there have been rumors saying her husband figured out a way. He tried to use the necklace but it wouldn't work for him."
"Thinking it was useless he gave it to his daughter as a way to remember her mother. Low and behold it worked for her. Turns out the necklace only works for Raziel's direct bloodline. It got passed down through the years until it was lost during the early 1600's."
"In order to overcome their loss, Raziel marks a child every three generations with the necklace's pendant giving that child not only the power of the necklace, but the power of the angel himself."
Will's steady blue eyes met Lucy's terrified green ones. He gave her a slight smile that somehow seemed to calm her. "Lucy, you are one of the chosen ones. Raziel has marked you with his bloodline crest. You have his power."
A giant lump formed in the back of her throat. She literally had to gulp it down.
"Well," said Jace, "that explains why you could kill the greater demon with a melted down seraph blade."
"You killed a greater demon by yourself?" asked Alec and Isabelle at the same time.
"Damn girl you're strong," Angelina said amazed.
"No crap Sherlock. She's a direct descendent of the angel," Ramona stated rolling her eyes at her cousin.
"And to think the Clave wanted us to get the necklace. They said you had it," Jace said pointing at his ancestor. "Now I think they meant to just get Lucy."
"It's a highly debatable situation," Will said while rubbing his chin.
"You have it, don't you?"
"Have what Lucy?"
"The necklace."
"Of course I do. I've been assigned the protector of it as well as Magnus. Speaking of which, why does the lovely Clave need it?"
"War has broken out yet again. A descendent of Arlington has continued with his thought process except he doesn't want the mundanes to know. Valentine Morgenstern wants to destroy all of downworld; ridding the Earth of all demon influence. And the Clave-"
Magnus spoke interrupting Jace, "Believes that by using the necklace to call on the angel they can defeat this Valentine."
"Correct," said Alec.
"Also they want it so they can hide it somewhere else incase Valentine finds out where it is," Ramona added.
Realization bore down on Lucy like a freight train. "They're going to use me to activate it and then have me fight against Valentine."
"Sadistic bastards," said Will angrily. "Sending a sixteen year old to solve their problems."
"What do we do?" Lucy asked.
"Hide you," said Jace.
"How? You can't escape the Clave. They'll find her in a heartbeat and then probably kill her for treason," Alec said horrified.
"What choice do we have Alec?" Jace's voice rose in volume. "She can't face Valentine and his army alone."
"But she can. She has the angel's power. His army shouldn't even be a match for her," Angelina stated.
"I won't allow it."
"Why don't we ask her," Magnus suggested.
Lucy was tracing the outline of the pendent on her wrist. They sat staring at her for a solid five minutes before she finally answered.
"I want the necklace Will. I'm going to face the Clave. They can teach me how to use my power." She turned to Jace knowing he was furious. "This war could be the possible end of shadowhunters. If Valentine wins he will definitely follow in Arlington's footsteps. Do you want all of that bloodshed knowing you could have helped stop it?"
Jace opened his mouth to protest. Lucy cut him off before he could even get a syllable out. "Plus I have you guys to help me; not to mention the angel."
"It's a good idea if I do say so myself. If you guys ever need help you could always bring Magnus and I with you," Will said grinning.
"I still don't like it but if you're willing then let's do this," Jace said exhausted.
Lucy smiled and turned to Will. "The necklace," she said holding a hand out for him to give it to her.
Will disappeared for a brief moment then came back with a silver box. He opened it revealing the necklace. It took all of Lucy's willpower not to reach out and grab it.
"Move your hair," Will said as he took the necklace out of the box and stood behind Lucy.
She did as she was told and Will fastened the chain around her neck. As soon as he let go a sudden energy coursed through Lucy's entire being. She felt so uncontrollably happy she wanted to dance and sing and laugh but she had to contain herself.
"I suppose you should be on your way then," said Magnus glumly.
"Thank you for everything," Lucy said hugging Will and Magnus. "I'm sure we will be seeing you soon."
"I hope so. That tea mixed with those cookies makes an excellent mix," Angelina said dreamily.
"Agreed!" Ramona exclaimed. "Can we take some for the road?"
"Of course," Magnus obliged. "Now everyone stand over there please and you will be back to 2011 before you know it."
"Please don't make this as bad as it was coming here," Alec pleaded. "I don't think I can handle it."
"Relax. It will be a fantastic ride. After all I am a high warlock," announced Magnus proudly. "Good bye everyone."
They said good bye back and with a snap of Magnus's fingers the crew was back in the library.
