A/N: Hey guys, sorry it's been a while. The last couple of months have been crazy, but i'm so excited to give you another chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7
We got to Pandemonium in record time, thanks to my amazing driving skills no doubt, and bundled out of the BatVan. Everywhere was quiet. I pulled out my seraph blade as Clary touched her necklace again. She did the weird, gaspy vision thing before running down the alley towards the club.
"Clary!" I yelled racing after her.
"Dot. Dot!" she was screaming now, something which made my skin crawl.
"Clary! Clary, stop! Where are you going?" Jace caught up to her and caught her by her arms.
"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!" She pulled away from Jace and ran, this time I was right beside her. Dot was trying to help us and now she was being punished for it. We ran inside the club, to find it empty. The lights were still flashing but the club was silent. Walking towards the back, Clary pun and started at me.
"No. She was just trying to help us. Now, she's gone." I pulled Clary into a hug and she shook against me.
"Girls, I'm sorry." Simon said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't understand. Dot's like another sister to us." I whispered still holding Clary close.
"It's not safe here. We have to go back to the Institute right now." Alec's eyes flicked around. I knew he was right, but we couldn't just leave it at that. Jocelyn was gone, we couldn't trust Luke and now they had taken Dot too. We had to do something.
"So, what now?" Clary had pulled away from me and was staring at the others. "Valentine has my mom and Dot, and we're just gonna give up? What about my memories? They can't just be gone?" I knew what the last option was but there was no way in hell…
"There is another option." Jace interrupted.
"Don't even...", "Absolutely not.", "Don't you dare!" Izzy, Alec and I spoke in unison. We glared at Jace.
"I'm not afraid of the Silent Brothers." Jace said cockily.
"It's not a question of being scared! What you're suggesting… she's not doing it. No way!" I snapped at him. Jace looked taken aback at the ferocity. Clary put a hand on my shoulder.
"Who are the Silent Brothers?" She asked cautiously, knowing better than to upset me further.
"They're Shadowhunters with superior powers." Jace started.
"Who possess the ability to recover memories." Izzy continued.
"A process that can also kill you, so there's that." Alec finished coldly.
"Your bedside manner is abysmal." Simon quipped.
"It's not funny, Simon." I turned to Clary. "What he's suggesting, yeah, it could get you back your memories, or it could get back something else; something useless, or it could kill you! There is such a small chance of getting what we actually need. It's too higher risk."
"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." Alec was berating Jace.
"This isn't our choice to make. This is Clary's decision." Jace said, looking at Clary. I threw my arms in the air.
"Oh no, because why should the people who actually know what's in store, make an informed decision! No, let's leave it to the girl who only found out she was a Shadowhunter 12 hours ago!" My face was flushing and my hands were shaking. How could he do this?
"You can't ask her to do this. She doesn't know what she's facing. She's not prepared." Izzy interjected. I gestured towards her,
"Thank you!" Clary put her hand back on my arm. I turned to look at her.
"If anyone can tell me another way to recover my memories and still get the answers we need, I'm listening." I stared at her, outraged.
"Are you mad? This could kill you! How would you being dead, help Jocelyn?" Clary quirked a smile at me.
"What other choice do we have?" She said.
"Any choice. Anything would be better than this!" I gripped her arms. "I can't lose you."
"Then give me another option." She stated simply, shrugging her shoulders. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"I can't."
"That settles it." She looked around us and began to walk out.
"See? I told you she's one of us." Jace laughed. I grabbed his arm.
"If she dies, I'll kill you." I wasn't kidding either, and he knew it. I flounced after her in a rage.
I didn't drive to the City Of Bones. Even I was sensible enough to realise that anger doesn't help driving. Clary and Simon sat up front with Izzy, Alec, Jace and I in the back.
"How could you let her do this?" I hissed to Jace. He grabbed my hand.
"I won't let any harm come to her." Sticking out my pinkie, I stared at him.
"Promise me." Jace just stared at my finger.
"Seriously?" I glared at him.
"Dude, it's just better to get it over with," Alec muttered, with a bored expression.
"You did this?" Jace looked at him with surprise. Alec shrugged.
"Got her to shut up and pass out." I choked out a laugh.
"Charming!" He smirked slightly at me as I shook my head. I turned my gaze back to Jace.
"Promise me." He rolled his eyes and wrapped his finger round mine.
"I promise you." I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you." He smiled back and pulled his hand away, sitting back. I sat back as well, taking a breath.
"Can I ask you a question?" Izzy asked me, looking at her lap. "You don't have to answer if it's too hard." I took a deep breath and nodded. "How did you escape London?" My heartrate sped up.
"My parents had this plan for when the Circle came. I hid in a cupboard until all the noise stopped; waited for an hour to see if they would come and get me but they didn't. So I got my bag, glamoured myself, snuck onto the tube and then a plane and came to New York." I reeled of the basics but began to frown a little as I couldn't remember what happened next.
"Everything okay?" I was so busy fishing through the blackness that I almost didn't hear Alec's question. I shook my head.
"Is it possible that I've been wiped too?" I looked up at Jace. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose so. Do you think Dot did it?" I shook my head.
"It's a time before I knew Dot. Between getting off the plane in New York and being told Jocelyn would adopt me, there is these… patches of black. Like someone in particular has been wiped out." Alec frowned.
"Only a powerful warlock could do that." I nodded. Looking up at Jace I said,
"I'm coming in with you."
"Are you serious?" Alec and Izzy spoke at the same time. I looked at them with a smirk.
"Oh, creepy."
"You were just losing your mind about it 10 minutes ago. And now you want a go?" Alec's face showed he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I'm Clary's big sister. I'm allowed to worry about her. I don't worry about myself in the same way." I smiled at the siblings.
"Then who does?" Izzy asked curiously.
"Who does what?" I was confused now.
"Who does worry about you in the same way?" I shrugged my shoulders. I hadn't ever thought about it.
"No-one I guess." Izzy looked sad. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm made of tough stuff." I grinned as the van came to a stop. I jumped out of the van and was faced with the underside of a tall bridge that towered above us. Fire barrels lit up the area and burnt out cars finished the décor.
"Yeah, this place isn't creepy. Not at all." Simon said and I was inclined to agree. Izzy chuckled.
"Don't tell me you're afraid." Simon scoffed at that.
"Are you kidding me? I was born afraid... which sounded a lot better in my head." Izzy and I laughed before I headed off to check it was safe.
"Let's check it out." Alec said following after me. I rolled my eyes, ahead of the pack, as usual.
"Wait here a minute. I wanna see if it's safe." Jace said, I'm assuming to Clary. I doubt he was saying it to Simon. I laughed. What would be there ship name? Jimon? That made me chuckle even more.
"Hey." I heard Alec stop and talk to the others behind me. I pretended I couldn't hear. "If something goes wrong... if something happens to them, that's on us. You know that, don't you?" I sighed. I had forgotten how much they were putting out on the line for us. We had turned their whole world upside down. Guilt flowed through me like an ice, cold river.
"Yeah." Jace answered. "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." I grinned. Simon always used to call me the stray Jocelyn had picked up at the market.
"You were never a stray." I smiled again. Alec and Izzy really cared about Jace. They all cared about and loved each other.
"The point is, nothing's changed. We're in this fight together. There's just... a couple more of us." I took a breath and walked over to them.
"Looks all clear." The boys nodded and Jace tuned to call Clary. "Hang on," I said grabbing their arms. "I wanted to thank you. All of you. For everything you're doing for us. I think we forgot how much you're risking to help us, and we do appreciate it. Even if it may not come off that way." Jace and Izzy smiled and Alec nodded. I nodded back.
"Come on, it's all clear. Let's go." Jace called to Clary. I walked forwards slowly towards the entrance. At some point Jace and Clary had passed us so Simon, Alec, Izzy and I brought up the rear. Alec was on high alert, watching for anything that was going to try to harm us. Izzy walked in front, arm looped through Simon's. I noticed Alec stare at the connection and growl.
"Down boy," I whispered to him. He turned to glare at him, which I combatted with a brilliant smile.
"I still can't believe you're doing this," he muttered to me. I sighed.
"I have to, we have no idea which warlock wiped my memories and we have nowhere to start. Except from here." Alec hmph'd.
"I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?" I gasped, holding my hand over my heart.
"You did?" He rolled his eyes.
"Not anymore." I grinned and punched him in the shoulder – hard.
"Ow," he complained, clutching his shoulder. Izzy turned and cocked an eyebrow. When she saw Alec holding his shoulder and me flexing my fist, she grinned, winked at me and faced forward again. "What was that for?"
"That's the second time in 2 days you have insulted me. First my accent and now my intelligence. I don't let people get to 3." I smiled charmingly and walked up to where Clary, Jace, Simon and Izzy were standing. Jace noticed Alec massaging his shoulder.
"What happened?" Alec just glared at me and I just smiled at Jace.
"Are we doing this or what?" I said, causing Jace rolled his eyes and Clary to stare at me.
"You've changed your tune." I sighed.
"Yeah well, It turns out I have some foggy patches too so…" Simon spluttered.
"Hang on a sec, both my best friends are about to enter some super scary…" He gestured to the doorway, showing a dark passageway inside. "thing, to do something that may or may not kill them, in the hopes that they may or may not retrieve some memories someone stole from them." Clary, Jace and I looked between each other.
"Yep,", "Pretty much,", "Basically," We spoke in unison. Simon sighed. We all tuned to face the entrance.
"We can do this." Clary whispered to herself, taking my hand.
"Yeah, you can. You're the freakin' Fray's. You can do anything." I grinned at the unexpected call back to my pep talk. Simon went to go in, but I grabbed his shoulders.
"All right, hold up." Jace said.
"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." I laughed along with Izzy.
"You're not that funny. But by all means, go ahead." Jace gestured to the door. "Of course, the minute you enter, you'll die." Simon spun and stared at Jace.
"Problem is, now I don't trust you."
"He's not lying. Now. He was before." Izzy smirked.
"The rune energy in the City of Bones will kill any mundane who dares to enter, so, please..." Alec said with his usual gusto.
"The Brothers creep me out. I'll mind the mundane." Izzy sighed.
"Your sacrifice is noted, Izzy," said Jace.
"Talk about sacrifice. I'm missing a financial analysis class." Simon rambled to us. A short sigh behind us alerted me to Alec's patience running out.
"I can't be here anymore, so, Jace, I'm gonna mind the perimeter." I tuned to look at him. He offered me a small, minute, reassuring smile before turning and leaving. I sighed.
"I don't wanna leave you." Clary was saying to Sion.
"Go be a bad ass Shadowhunter, all right? Get your memories back, save your mother. I'll be right here... guarding the entrance to hell." She hugged Simon.
"Clary, Charlie, you don't keep the Silent Brothers waiting." I groaned.
"It's not like we have an appointment!" I snapped. Clary let go and Simon moved on to me. I squeezed him tight. "I'll look after her," I whispered into his ear. I felt him nod against my neck and I let go.
"You got this." He said loudly as we entered the City of Bones. I turned round and gave him a sarcastic salute before turning the corner. Going down a long set of winding stirs we ended up in what looked and felt like some caves. Water dripped from the ceiling and wind rushed through the chambers softly.
"Well this is charming," I muttered to myself.
"What did you expect the City of Bones to look like," Jace smirked at me.
"Good point." Jace pulled something out of his jacket and it lit up.
"What's that?" she asked.
"It's witch light. We carry it to remind us that light can be found in even the darkest of places." I cocked an eyebrow at him. He smiled. "And it's cooler than a flashlight." I laughed as he gave it to Clary and we continued on. As we rounded another corner we came to a large statue of Jonathon Shadowhunter with the 3 Mortal Instruments.
"Is that meant to be the Mortal Cup?" She pointed to the stone chalice in the statue's hand. I have to say, as cool as it was, ever since that Doctor Who episode with the Weeping Angels becoming all the statues, it kinda freaked me out.
"Yeah." Jace commented, answering her question.
"What's that say?" she was pointing to a panel at the bottom of the statue with Latin writing engraved onto it.
"It's the Shadowhunter creed. 'Looking better in black than the widows of our enemies.'" I laughed out loud at that one. Clary chuckled a bit more reservedly.
"My Latin's pretty rusty, but I'm almost positive that's not what that says." I smiled and ran my fingers over the words.
"For Shadowhunters, the descent into hell is easy." I said. My Latin was rusty too, but I wouldn't forget that.
"That should be a postcard." She joked. I smirked and continued on.
"It's this way." Jace said but Clary stopped him. Sensing this was going to turn into a touchy feely moment I left them to it. Rounding the last corner I walked into a dark room. Walking up to a stone panel engraved with the clairvoyance rune, I ran my fingers across it gently. A strong wind instantly swept round the chamber and the torches on the walls lit. I gasped in shock. 6 or 8 Silent Brothers surrounded me.
"Shadowhunter." The Brother spoke inside my head, making my head ring at the low tone. "Come into the circle." Looking at the floor I saw an inked circle drawn onto the stone. Stepping inside, I stared at the Brother. "The search of your unconscious... is a perilous one." I nodded.
"I understand the risks." I spoke loud and clearly, pushing strength and courage.
"If you are not strong enough... the Soul-Sword will kill you." The Brother spoke again. I breathed deeply keeping my heart steady.
Nodding again, I stated, "I'm ready."
"The Soul-Sword reveals all." I looked up and saw the Sword begin lowered above me. At that moment Clary and Jace rounded the corner.
"Charlie!" She called.
"It's okay." I whispered, "I'm ready." I closed my eyes as I felt the tip of the sword touch my head.
I was young again. Sat at home in London. My mother sat before me:
"You need to find Magnus Bane. He'll help you."
"How do you know?"
"He's helped us before."
I was at Jocelyn's now. A tall, slim man stood in front of me:
"Magnus Bane, I hear you've looking for me,"
He was here again. Holding my hand. Feelings of warmth and familiarity prickled my skin:
"We've decided it's up to you. What you remember and what you don't. You have been through so much. I can take away anything you want to forget."
"I don't want to forget,"
Jocelyn was here too:
"Sweetie, you saw some terrible things. Things that no-body ever wants to see. Magnus can take that."
"But they are my memories. Those things happened. I don't want to forget them. I don't want to live in hope that my friends and my family are alive, when I know that they are not. If I forget that things, I won't remember the facts. Don't make me forget."
"As you wish,"
He let me remember my parents:
The man, Magnus pressed his fingers on the side of her head and closed his eyes.
But he took something…
My eyes flashed open. I caught my breath before staring at Clary and Jace.
"What did you see?" Clary asked. I shook my head, not being able to get the words out, and stood beside the wall. All my lost memories were of him. Of Magnus. That's what he took. He took all mention, all interaction between us. He was the one who my mum had sent me to find. He was the one who sorted out my papers. He was the one who gave me a new family and then removed all trace of him being involved. I knew that I needed to find him. I needed to talk to him. To ask him why. I owed him everything. My life, my family. Everything I had was because of him.
"Come into the circle." The Brothers were starting on Clary now. I nodded at her.
"It'll be okay. You're strong enough." She nodded gently.
"Step away, Jace Wayland." He rushed forwards and whispered,
"We'll be right here." He came to stand by me. "You okay?" he whispered. I nodded, keeping my eyes fixed on Clary.
"The search of your unconscious... is a perilous one." The Brother said again. I guess this wasn't really the place for new material.
"Please... my memories were blocked. I have to get them back." Clary pleaded.
"If you are not strong enough... the Soul-Sword will kill you." She flicked her eyes to me again. I smiled as much as I could and nodded. She closed her eyes and whispered,
"I'm ready."
"The Soul-Sword reveals all."
She wasn't in it for very long. About a minute late she gasped and her eyes flew open. The Brothers backed off.
"Wait... Wait, where are they going? We aren't done. We can't be done." Jace and I rushed towards her.
"Clary, do you know where the Cup is?" She shook her head.
"Only fragments of her memory were accessible to us." The Brother spoke.
"It can't be true... what I saw." Clary was on the verge of tears. Whatever she had seen, couldn't have been good.
The Brother spoke again. "Your memory does not lie. You must accept what has been revealed."
"I can't... I can't." Clary was hyperventilating, tears streaming down her face.
"What is it? What did you see?" I whispered, gripping her arms trying to hold her up.
"My mother lied to me. She lied all these years about my father." What?
"About your father? What about your father?" Jace asked confused. We both stared at her waiting.
"My father... My father is Valentine." I felt like I had been smacked in the face. I couldn't breathe. Clary pulled from my grip, running off and I let her. Jace flicked his eyes between me and the back of Clary.
"Go," I whispered and he did. Trying to my breath back to normal, I followed slowly. Clary was Valentine's daughter. The leader of the Circle. The reason my parents were killed. The reason Jace's father was dead. The reason we were in this mess right now, was because Clary was Valentine's daughter. I heard Alec's voice as I reached the top of the stairs.
"What happened? What did you find out? Where's Charlie?"
"Present," I murmured coming out into the night.
"Valentine is Clary's father." Jace admitted slowly. Alec's gaze flicked from Jace, to Clary, and then to me. I couldn't look at him. I was having a hard enough time processing it myself. Looking around, I tried to spot Simon. Where was he?
"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?" Alec's voice raised in panic.
"That's enough, Alec." Jace put a hand on Alec's chest.
"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's voice broke.
"Where's Simon?" I asked quietly. Izzy came back into the clearing, so I repeated my question. "Where's Simon?" She looked at me, panic in her eyes.
"I told him to stay in the van. I've searched everywhere." This night was just getting better and better.
"He's gone?" Clary screeched.
"I can't find him." Izzy apologized.
"You were supposed to protect him!" Clary cried, pushing her out of the way and running to the van. "Simon!"
"Ugh, these mundanes are killing me." Jace moaned. I ignored him and followed Clary to the van.
"Simon? No. Simon!" Clary held up his head phoned dejectedly.
"Is that the mundane's name?" A male voice called from above us. A male and a female were stood on one of the bridge supports, the female holding Simon upside down in her grip. Vamps, if I'm guessing. "I'm afraid Simon's coming with us."
"No! No, he's not a part of this." Clary screeched rushing forwards.
"And it'll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him." Jace said with a warning tone.
"Careful. We'd be violating the Accords." Alec tried to stay Jace.
"I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right. The Night Children have broken no laws. We're negotiating." I scoffed. The man's eyes caught mine.
"You don't like the term?" He asked, with a cocky smile on his face.
"I just don't think kidnapping is the same thing as negotiating." I answered back sharply. Alec put a hand on my arm. I took a breath as the man smiled again.
"The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup. And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people." And they disappeared. Clary screamed for Simon long after they were gone. I just stood staring at where he had been. Our best friend. Sweet, kind Simon had been kidnapped by vampires. I knew he wouldn't be the same afterwards. I turned to look at Alec.
"We have to get him back." Alec looked at me gravely, before nodding gently. I took a breath. They wouldn't let us down.
So... what did we think? As you guys know I love to hear from you so leave me a review telling me your thoughts.
No reviews on the last chapter so as always,
Have a great week!
Zoe x
