Here's the epilogue! It has a bitter-sweet ending that I hope you enjoy!


Clary walked through the Institute aimlessly. The past several days had been chaotic. Robert and Maryse had gone to Idris as soon as possible to explain to the Clave what had happened. However, they did not want to leave the kids alone, especially since Jonathon and Valentine were back, so Clary, along with Luke and Jocelyn, were staying at the Institute.

Even if the Lightwoods wouldn't have asked, Jocelyn would have insisted that they stay there. She felt much safer behind the locked gate surrounding the Institute and before Robert and Maryse left, they put even more protective barriers up.

Clary didn't know where she was going. She wanted to talk to someone, but she had no idea who. Jocelyn stayed locked up in her room, and only let Luke in. Clary was hurt when Jocelyn refused to let her in until Luke said that she was trying to deal with everything that had happened and that she'd be back to her normal self eventually. Clary decided she would let her mom have some space. Alec had gone into hardcore training mode. Clary had tried practicing with him, but when he almost killed her three times in less than five minutes, she backed off. Clary wished she could call Simon but he was already dealing with so much that she didn't want to bother him. Finally, Clary stopped in front of a door. Hesitantly, she knocked.

"Come in." The voice from inside called.

Clary opened the door and carefully made her way across the minefield that was Izzy's floor and plopped down on the bed. Isabelle had been sitting at her vanity table, touching up her already perfect makeup, but she moved to sit down on the bed next to Clary.

Isabelle took one look at Clary- her swollen red eyes, tear-streaked face, and trembling lip- and pulled her into her lap. Clary broke down and sat there for a while, sobbing. Her tears soaked through Izzy's shirt and in the back of her mind, Clary felt bad for ruining it. When Clary ran out of tears, she sat there sniffling and shaking while Isabelle stroked her hair, trying to sooth her.

After about fifteen more minutes of this, Izzy pulled back and looked at Clary. "Do you want to talk honey?"

Clary stared back up at Isabelle. How in the world she be able to explain how she felt. About how many emotions were racing through her and threatening to overwhelm her. "I…it's just…. I should have…. I just miss him so much." Clary finished lamely. One look into Izzy's eyes and Clary saw that the girl was in just as much pain as she was.

"I know Clary. We all miss him. But there's nothing we can do right now. We just have to believe that everything will get better. And it will, eventually."

"I just thought that after the Ironworks party that Jace was back to normal. He was certainly acting like his old self."

Izzy nodded. "There's nothing that you could have done Clary. What happened that night is in the past, so let's put it behind us."

Suddenly, Clary remembered something that Lilith had said. Maybe there was a little hope. It wouldn't fix all their problems, but it would lighten the mood. It would help cheer everyone up.

"Iz, Lilith kept repeating something that night."

Isabelle sighed. "Did you not hear what I just said? Clary, what are you doing?"

Clary had jumped up from the bed and began pacing the room. "Balance. Lilith kept saying that she had to bring Jonathon back from the dead because Jace was brought back. A life from the light and a life from the dark."

"So? Are you trying to make a point Clary? Because I don't follow you."

Clary turned towards Isabelle. "Valentine's alive. A life from the dark." Clary sighed at Isabelle's look of confusion. "Don't you see it Izzy? We're unbalanced! We need to bring back someone from the light."

Realization began to dawn on Isabelle and then she jumped up and grabbed Clary's arm. "Clary! Can you-?

Clary nodded. "Yes Iz, I can."


Clary, Isabelle, and Magnus sat cross-legged on Izzy's now clean floor. They decided to call Magnus since everyone else was busy and Simon couldn't come into the Institute. Clary drew the runes and everyone spilt a little of their blood onto the ritual. Within minutes, a body was beginning to form on the ground. Clary couldn't help to think about how she had done the same thing with Valentine and she shuddered.

The person had completely formed and Isabelle grabbed the boy and yanked him onto her lap before he could process what was going on.

"Izzy?" The boy asked, pushing his glasses back and rubbing his eyes.

"Yes Max, it's me! By the Angel, I've missed you!" Izzy cried and squeezed Max tightly. It took a few minutes of persuasion from Magnus and Clary for Isabelle to release Max so they could greet him. Clary hugged Max and Magnus patted his head, messing up his hair.

As they walked through the halls of the Institute, Clary could feel the difference in the atmosphere. It was no longer hopeless and despairing, but happy and carefree. Max chattered as he skipped down the hallway, putting a smile on the others' faces.

"C'mon Izzy!" Max complained. "Hurry up!" Isabelle had refused to let go of Max's hand and apparently her pace was to slow for Max's taste.

They eventually made it to the training room. Alec had his back to them and he was viciously stabbing a dummy.

"Alec!" Izzy called. "Come here!"

Alec didn't look up. "Go away Isabelle. I'm busy."

"Alec?"

Alec slowly turned at Max's voice. After seeing him, Alec just stood there for a moment with his jaw hanging open. Then he dropped his seraph blade and sprinted over. He didn't stop, but instead scooped Max up into his arms and swung him around. Max laughed and hugged Alec back. Alec set Max down and flashed Clary a brilliant smile. "Thank you." He whispered.

Then they heard Max utter the words they were all dreading. The question that they had no idea how to answer. "Where's Jace?"


Ah the end of the story. *Tears well up* I had a lot of fun writing this story and I hope you guys enjoyed it! :) I don'rt know when I'll get the sequel up, I'm super busy... I couldn't help myself! I HAD to bring back Max! I just had to! I hope you guys liked this and that you'll review! That would be super awesome!