25th / 26th August, 2016 The Pandemonium Nightclub
As the Shadowhunters along with Simon and Nick head to Pandemonium Nightclub.
Clary suddenly gets another vision of Dot.
"Dot!" She shouts and takes off running down an alleyway.
"Clary" Shouted Nick.
Clary ignored him and continued her frantic search for Dot.
"Clary! Clary, stop! Where are you going?" Jace said and grabbed onto the crook of her elbow to stop her.
"Two men, Circle members... the same ones who came to my house, who took my mom. They have Dot. They're gonna hurt her or kill her. We have to stop them!".
Clary broke away and began running again as she entered the nightclub to find the Circle members and Dot gone. "No. She was just trying to help me. Now, she's gone".
"Clary, I'm sorry" Simon tried to comfort her.
"You don't understand. Dot's like my big sister".
Nick nodded "Dot is family, we'll get her back, little red. Just like we're going to get Jocelyn back. If they wanted her dead they would have just killed her. They wanted her for a reason. Perhaps for information. As long as Dot doesn't give it to them they will keep her alive" He reassured.
"It's not safe here. We have to go back to the Institute right now" Alec said firmly.
"So, what now? We can't just give up. What about my memories? They can't just be gone?".
Jace suggested "There is another option".
"Don't even..." Said Isabelle pointing her finger at Jace
"Absolutely not".
"I'm not afraid of the Silent Brothers".
"Who are the Silent Brothers?"
"They're Shadowhunters with superior powers" Said Jace
"Who possess the ability to recover memories" Isabelle told Clary
"A process that can also kill you, so there's that" Added Alec.
Simon told Alec "Your bedside manner is abysmal".
"We've broken at least 18 Clave rules and now you want to go to the City of Bones? There's no way. I won't allow it" He told his parabatai.
"This isn't our choice to make. This is Clary's decision".
"It's not much of a choice at all, Jace" Nick said.
"You can't ask her to do this. She doesn't know what she's facing. She's not prepared" Isabelle sided with Alec on this one.
"If anyone can tell me another way to recover my memories and still get the answers we need, I'm listening".
Everyone remained silent as Clary looked to each one of them.
"That settles it".
"See? I told you she's one of us" Jace smiled in approval.
Nick turned to Alec and Isabelle "This is a bad idea and it is going to get my little sister killed".
"She's made her choice" Isabelle said, "I just hope for her sake it's the right one".
When they reached the City of Bones
"Yeah, this place isn't creepy. Not at all".
Isabelle chuckles "Don't tell me you're afraid" She said teasingly.
Simon scoffs "Are you kidding me? I was born afraid... which sounded a lot better in my head".
"Let's check it out" Alec tells Jace.
"Wait here a minute. I wanna see if it's safe".
"Why are we doing this? We don't even know these people" Simon questions Clary uneasy about the whole situation.
"Hey. If something goes wrong... if something happens to her, that's on us. You know that, don't you?" Warns Alec.
"Yeah. And you know exactly what'd happen if Valentine gets the Cup before we do. She's lost everything, Alec. I know exactly what that feels like. And what's your problem with her, anyway? Your family always used to welcome strays".
"You were never a stray".
"The point is, nothing's changed. We're in this fight together. There's just... one more of us. Not to mention Nick. Whom you don't seem to have a problem with".
"And what is that suppose to mean?" Alec said defensively.
"I know you've accepted him as one of us".
"Nick might as well be one of us. You know what he is and what he has risked by making us privy to certain information. He trusts us with his life. And now we're jeopardizing his life for a Shadowhunter we know next to nothing about who knows little to nothing about our ways and thinks herself above the rules" He argued.
"So, does Nick" Jace retaliated.
Clary sighs "I just wish my mom had trusted me enough to tell me about all this".
Simon looked at her in disbelief and shook his head perplexed.
"What is it? What's wrong?".
"How are you not ultra freaked out by all of this?".
"I guess I just always felt like there was something missing. Some void I couldn't quite explain. Things are finally starting to make sense. But none of it's gonna matter unless I get my mom back".
"Then let's do that".
"Clary. Come on, it's all clear. Let's go" Jace calls her over.
As Jace and Clary walked together.
Jace explained what awaited Clary "You have to understand, the Silent Brothers aren't like us".
"They lack your charm and superior people skills?".
"Yeah, most people do. Brothers communicate without using words, using just their thoughts".
"That doesn't sound so bad" She said in an attempt to reassure herself.
"Don't let their silence fool you. They'll hold the Soul-Sword to your head, and with its blade, carve the truth from your mind. If you're not strong enough, you will die" Jace said in all seriousness.
"I take it back. That sounds level ten bad".
"Clary, you should know, the pain will be excruciating. You don't have to..."
"I'll do anything. Walk through fire, battle demons, whatever it takes. I have to get my mom back. I can't... I won't lose her" She said with conviction.
"You won't. We won't".
When they reached the entrance Clary sighs "I can do this".
"Yeah, you can. You're Clary freakin' Fray. You can do anything" Reassures Simon.
Nick clasped two hands down on Clary's shoulder "Clary, you are stronger than you know, smarter than you think, braver than you believe" He said strongly.
"I don't know where I would be without you, Nicky" She said as tears brimmed in her eyes.
Nick pulled her into a tight hug and squeezed his eyes shut as a lone tear trailed down his face "You can do this, Clarissa Fray because I believe in you".
Clary stroked the back of his head as Nick pulled back "I love you,".
"I love you, too Nicky," She turned to Jace and nodded unable to speak.
Simon went to take the lead when Jace put his arm out to stop him from going any further "All right, hold up".
"Surprise, surprise. No mundanes allowed, just like in the training room, right? Wrong! I've seen every horror movie ever made and the funny best friend who gets left behind... dead man".
Isabelle laughs.
"You're not that funny. But by all means, go ahead" Dares Jace.
As Simon moves to enter Jace speaks up again "Of course, the minute you enter, you'll die".
Simon turned around "Problem is, now I don't trust you".
"Then trust me. I'm your big brother and sister. He was lying before. But he isn't now. Try it and I will be forced to intervene and trust me, Simon you don't want that" He warned.
The three Shadowhunters looked at each other confused when Nick referred himself as Simon's brother and sister.
"Like you could stop me" Simon scoffed.
Alec smirked amused and raised an eyebrow "This should be good. The rune energy in the City of Bones will kill any mundane who dares to enter, so, please...do feel free to try".
Isabelle sighs "The Brothers creep me out. I'll mind the mundane".
Alec rolled his eyes "Your sacrifice is noted, Izzy".
"Talk about sacrifice. I'm missing a financial analysis class".
"I can't be here anymore, so, Jace, I'm gonna mind the perimeter" Alec says fed up with the whole situation.
Nick perks up "I'll go-" He makes a gesture to follow Alec "Help Alec mind the perimeter".
Isabelle giggles and shakes her head as she leads Simon away.
A while later
Clary comes back out with Jace looking traumatized.
Nick rushed over "Clarissa?".
"What happened? What did you find out?" Questioned Alec.
"Valentine is Clary's father".
Nick frowns and holds Clary in his arms "Oh Clary, I'm so sorry".
"Wait a minute. You're telling me this girl shows up out of nowhere and she's Valentine's daughter? Did it occur to you that she might be a spy? This might be part of her plan?".
"That's enough, Alec. I've known Clary since high school. Trust me, she isn't a spy".
"Do you think I planned for my mom to get kidnapped? Or... or for Dot to be taken? Or to have a giant sword dangle over my head and find out that my father is one of the most dangerous people in the world? Really?" Clary said angrily.
It was then she noticed that Simon was not among them. Her breath trembled "Where's Simon?".
Suddenly Isabelle appeared with no Simon in sight "Where's Simon?" Asked Clary.
"I told him to stay in the van. I've searched everywhere" Isabelle sighs.
"He's gone? You were supposed to protect him".
"Damn it! I knew we shouldn't have brought him with us" Nick said firmly "We need to find him. Simon has no way of defending himself".
Clary and Nick took off in search of Simon.
"Ugh, these mundanes are killing me" Said Jace as he followed them over to the van.
Clary was panting "Simon? No. Simon!".
"Is that the mundane's name? I'm afraid Simon's coming with us" Announced Raphael as the other vampire dangled Simon upside down.
"No! No, he's not a part of this" Clary went to go after Simon, but was stopped by Jace.
"And it'll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him" Threatened Jace.
"Careful. We'd be violating the Accords" Said Alec.
"I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right. The Night Children have broken no laws. We're negotiating. The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup. And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people" He said with a flare for the dramatics.
"Before you go, know this if Simon dies, whilst in your care. I will hold you, personally accountable. That mundane as you call him. Is my little brother in everything, but blood. Do not test me, underlings. It would not be wise not to make an enemy of me. I may not be much of a threat now, but one day I will be" He bellowed after Raphael in a commanding, controlled tone of voice. "Remember who your allies are!".
"Clary!" Shouted Simon as his voice echoed in the distance.
"Simon... No!".
"They won't kill him" Nick reassured "The last thing the night children will want to do is make an enemy of me".
Isabelle nodded in agreement "Nicky is right. Simon is safe for now. If nothing else it will at least buy us some time".
