Author's note: I really struggled with this chapter for some reason. I couldn't quite get it the way I wanted. Sigh. Sorry :-(

Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments, it all belongs to Cassandra Clare.

***July 2008. New York, New York***

"Are you sure you're ready for this, Clary?" Isabelle asked as she stuffed more daggers into her boots. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I mean, there might not even be a demon when we get there. Who knows if the tip was even any good?" she hedges. "She'll be fine. She has the best trainer, you know. By the angel, I hope there are at least a few demons or forsaken or something. I feel like I haven't had a good kill in weeks!" Jace grins while he finishes applying runes to Alec's shoulder blade. "Just remember to stay alert and always have a weapon ready, Clary. But, know that I've always got your back as well." Alec murmured gently. Once they had all finished loading up on weapons and applying runes, they left the institute without looking back. They wove in and out of the clueless mundanes of the city until they reached entrance to what remained of a previously popular local bar. It had shut down a few months ago after a fire broke out and the damage was too extensive to repair. Jace made a complicated hand signal, and the group dispersed, each facing a different direction. Alec and Isabelle went left, while Clary and Jace went right. The soft glow of witchlight was the only illumination in the building. Everything was charred black and the smell of smoke and rot lingered. The silence was deafening. Jace's sensor wasn't picking up any activity, so he motioned for Clary to check inside the women's restroom while he scoured the men's for any evidence of recent demon activity. She nodded her agreement and carefully crept into the abandoned room.

Clary slowly inspected the stalls one by one. When she reached the handicap stall at the end, she found a completely empty stall with a sandy black substance scattered on the floor in some sort of pattern. She couldn't tell what it was, so she kicked at it with the toe of her boot. Only then did she realize her mistake. The sand-like substance had been strewn in the shape of a pentagram and she had disturbed its border. She turned around to call for Jace, when she was suddenly struck in the face. The force of the blow knocked her backwards, causing her to smash her head on the porcelain base of the toilet. Her vision swam as she tried to regain her balance. She could just make out a dark, looming figure in front of her. The demon had snarling rows of razor-sharp teeth where its eyes should have been. As she recoiled in horror, a low hissing sound focused her attention onto what appeared to be tentacle-like limbs. Upon further inspection, she realized they were snakes; dozens of thick black and white striped snakes protruding from the bulbous body in front of her. "Iaoth" Clary cried as she began swinging her seraph blade wildly. Furious, spitting reptilian heads struck the floor and as they bounced, they began rapidly expanding into full bulging beasts just like the first. Suddenly, she was surrounded. Clary screamed for Jace over the wave of hissing. She dropped her witchlight and began pulling daggers out of her belt with both hands and flinging them at the quickly advancing demon's. She struck one in the eyeless socket and was pleased to note that it let out a piercing wail and folded in on itself. However, two more advanced and flung their serpentine limbs at her. Clary cried out as dozens of needle-like teeth tore into her skin. The door burst open and the last thing Clary saw before losing consciousness was a cloud of gold and black cutting through the room.

Jace charged through the door with seraph blades blazing in both hands. He was shocked to find over half-dozen Shentaka demons crowded into the previously uninhabited bathroom. He made quick work of the demons closest to him by cleaving them in half from behind while avoiding the venomous appendages. Isabelle and Alec slammed into the room behind him. Alec immediately began firing arrows at the orbits of the demons as Isabelle flicked her whip to decapitate the others. The three worked together like a well-oiled machine and dispatched of the Shentakas in a matter of minutes. Jace flew to Clary's bloody and lifeless body on the floor. "Isabelle, help me with iratzes. There is too much venom entering her blood stream way too quickly to control. Alec, call Magnus and have him meet us at the institute. Now!" he ordered as he began etching the rune into her bare skin. Izzy dashed to her other side and began her work. A minute later, Alec shot back into the room huffing for breath, "Magnus said she is going to need more healing than he can manage. He said she needs the Silent Brothers. I've already called Mom and she is summoning them to the institute as we speak. Magnus is making a portal so we can get her back to the Institute. Put as many iratzes on her as you can to slow the venom. Hurry! We've got to get her moved to the portal!" Jace and Izzy worked furiously to cover her skin with the healing runes. Once they were finished, Jace gently gathered Clary's limp and bloated body into his arms and ran as fast as he could towards the entrance. Magnus was waiting with an open portal. Jace didn't even hesitate as he hurdled directly through the opening.

Jace laid her softly on the bed in the infirmary. "Ok everyone, back up. I'll do what I can until the Brothers get here." The warlock sighed heavily as blue sparks shot from his fingers. He continued to pour over her until Brother Zachariah and Brother Enoch glided soundlessly into the room. "I am to understand that Clarissa was bitten by several Shentaka demons?" Brother Enoch's voice echoed through the room. "Yes, we've tried several iratzes. Magnus has been trying to siphon the poison from her blood, but there is just too much. We can't stop it." Isabelle cried. "Leave us now." He commanded.

They filed out of the room and walked slowly towards Isabelle's room. "I'm going to call Simon. He should be here." Isabelle muttered, rubbing her forehead with one hand and dialing with the other. Jace slid slowly down the wall. Alec sat on the edge of Izzy's bed. Magnus paced the room. "How in the hell could you three leave her alone like that? She has only been training for a few months! This was her first real assignment. She should have been behind all of you watching and only getting involved if absolutely necessary. I just don't understand how you all could be so damn stupid. I expected better of you!" Magnus exploded. Alec dropped his head in shame. Jace looked up with blankness in his eyes, "Mea Culpa. Mea maxima culpa." He groaned. "Don't, Jace. It wasn't your fault. Isabelle and I were just as responsible for her as you were…" he interjected. "No, Alec. I let my cockiness get in the way. I should have never let her go into that room alone just because the sensor didn't register any activity. I was so focused on impressing and encouraging her that I failed to protect her." he admitted painfully. "Yeah, okay, you fucked up Jace, you should never rely solely on the senor; there are too many loopholes. But, like I said, I could say the same. I failed her by not teaching her about Shentaka demons and how to properly kill them without causing proliferation, despite the fact that they are exceedingly rare and a sighting hasn't been noted in over sixty years. Isabelle failed her by not giving her enough rune protection. Mom can be blamed for never hiring a full time tutor for her. Hell, Magnus can be blamed for letting her move into the Institute. Jace, placing blame is ridiculous and gets us nowhere." Alec shot Magnus a sharp look. "Simon is on his way. Mom said they are still working on her, but they think she'll pull through." Isabelle added hesitantly. Without another word, Jace left the room. Isabelle made to follow him, but Alec stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, "Don't. He needs some time. I'll check on him in a bit."

Jace tried to lose himself in the music as his fingers desperately flew over the piano keys. He tried to stop thinking about how discolored and disfigured Clary had looked as he had set her upon the mattress. He tried to avoid thinking about Clary's imminent death and how he would survive it. He tried to ingrain the phrase his mother use to repeat over and over to him as a little boy, "To love is to destroy." This was his fault. If he had never let himself fall for Clary, this would have never happened. Suddenly, the realization slammed into him harder than any demon army could have. He was absolutely, one hundred percent in love with Clary Fray, and his love had destroyed her. He had destroyed her. Abruptly, it was like his lungs had frozen and he couldn't get any oxygen at the same time the walls began closing in on him. He began gasping for air as he struggled to blink away the sudden darkness clouding his vision. Out of nowhere, there was a cold, thin-fingered hand resting calmly on his shoulder. "Clarissa will make a full recovery in a few days' time, Jonathan. She is resting comfortably now." Brother Zachariah's voice resonated through Jace's skull, clearing away the panic. "You will never speak of this conversation to anyone, as this is not the way of the Silent Brother's, but the Carstairs owe the Herondales, and so I will speak candidly. It is obvious to me that you love the girl, and no one left on this earth, with the exception of Tessa Gray, understands the love of Herondale men better than I do. There is something very special about the way Herondale men love. When they find the one, it is very sudden and all consuming. There is never any doubt about who they are meant to be with. This has been the case with the Herondale men for over 150 years, and probably hundreds of years before then. Even your father was this way, and I have no doubt that it is the same for you as well. It is a blessing, Jonathan Herondale, do not fear it. I also encourage you to seek out Tessa Gray, if you want to learn more about the Herondales." And with that, Brother Zachariah floated out as silently as he had entered. Jace felt stunned. His frozen brain couldn't even begin to process what had just happened. Instead, he focused on one simple fact; Clary was going to be okay. He let out a breath he hadn't even realized he had been holding.

Maryse wouldn't allow anyone to visit Clary until late the next afternoon, stating Clary needed to rest. She still had not regained consciousness. The three young Shadowhunters, as well as Simon and Magnus, took turns watching over their ailing friend. Isabelle softly brushed her hair and wet her dry lips. Alec read to her. Simon brought his laptop, so they could watch anime together. Magnus filled her in on all the latest downworld gossip. Jace curled up next to her on the tiny bed and gently wrapped his arms around her. He whispered sweetly into her ear about how sorry he was, how proud of her he was, and how he couldn't wait for her to open her sparkling green eyes. He fell asleep to the comforting sound of her steady breathing. Nobody dared move him. The next morning, he was awoken by the tender caress of fingers down his face. He was beyond surprised when he opened his eyes to find Clary staring affectionately back at him. Jace opened his mouth to ask her how she was feeling, but the sudden rush of emotion was so intense, it overwhelmed him. What actually spilled out of his mouth was, "By the angel, Clary! Don't scare me like that. I thought I had lost you, and…I- I love you, okay? I love you so fucking much, and I don't ever want to feel like that again, do you hear me?" he grabbed her face and crushed his lips to hers. When Clary pulled away a few seconds later, she just stared at him with the oddest look on her face. "Really, Jace? That's how you choose to tell me that you love me? God, you are still a giant dick!" she grinned. Jace's mouth popped open. He hadn't even realized what he had admitted out loud. He desperately tried to think of a way to backtrack, but before he could get the words out, Clary added "And by the way? I love you too."