I am the one star that keeps burning
So brightly
It is the last light
To fade into the rising sun
I'm with you whenever you tell
My story
For I am all I've done

The sky over Idris was clear and the sun was shining brightly over their heads, as Jace stood in the crowd of those who attended Isabelle's funeral. Clary was next to him, holding his hand, and Alec stood on his other side, jaw clenched, staring ahead. He was trying to keep it together in front of everyone, but Jace knew him enough to tell that he was falling apart. They had stood together like this when they had buried their brother Max and being here now to bury Isabelle as well was nearly unbearable. Jace had never been one of many emotions, but the bond he shared with his adoptive siblings was unique. He had always believed them to be invincible, untouchable. Never had he imagined to lose Isabelle to an ordinary hunt like the hundreds they had done before. She had always been so alive, so strong, how could this have happened to her? The Lightwood's brightest flame had died and with her, parts of her family's hearts were burned on the pyre her body was lit aflame on. Jace sucked in his breath and lowered the gaze of his golden eyes to the ground, gripping Clary's hand more tightly. It seemed like every inhabitant of Idris had come to pay their last respect to Isabelle. Even Helen had been allowed to attend the funeral and Jace met her gaze briefly when he looked up. Her blue eyes were filled with tears and she looked away quickly, shifting closer to Aline.

When it was over and the people were starting to leave, Jace stayed behind and told his family that he would be home later, because he needed a walk to clear his head. Clary only left him hesitantly when her mother led her away from him and he mentally thanked Jocelyn for understanding that he needed a moment to himself with his sister, or what was left of her. He stared at the pyre for a long time, unable to really understand that his Isabelle was gone now and would never return. Although they hadn't known each other for all of his life and hadn't shared a parabatai bond, she had been as important to him as Alec. She had been the one who was the most like him and he knew that no matter what he did, it would remind him of her from now on. Finally, when the smoke started to subside and the pyre was only glowing anymore, he reached out and placed a crumbled picture on the ashes, one he had always kept close to him after Max's death. It showed all four Lightwood children, smiling and goofing in front of the camera. Jace had his arms wrapped tightly wrapped around Isabelle, both grinning. The corners of his mouth curled up now as he stared at the photograph, the edges of it curling up from the heat until it slowly burned to ashes as well. "Ave atque vale", he whispered and swallowed hard to fight back tears, before he turned around and finally walked away, but not towards home, but up to the hills in front of Alicante, where he sat down and let his gaze wander over the city. The sun was finally sinking and Jace sat in silence for a while, his thoughts with his sister. After a while he sighed heavily and reached inside his jacket, taking out an envelope with his name on it in Isabelle's handwriting. They had found the letters in her nightstand, one for each one of them, but Jace hadn't had the bravery to open it so far. Now his shaking fingers slowly opened the letter and took out a piece of paper that he unfolded. The handwriting was so familiar, yet different than usual. He could tell it had taken a lot from her to write, her hands had been shaking. Still she had found words for her family, words that were supposed to comfort them and give them a final goodbye.

Dear Jace,

When you read this, I certainly have kicked the bucket, or you have been sneaking through my stuff for no good reason, in which case I forbid you to continue to read until the first case is true. Anyway, my dearest brother. I know that my end will probably come sooner than we all thought and I might not find the strength to tell all of you what I want you to know, so I wrote you this letter to have a proper goodbye. I felt the life slipping from me those past few days and I am afraid to leave this world behind before I can write down a few words as some sort of a legacy, something I leave behind for you when I continue my journey to a place I don't quite know yet.

First of all: I am incredibly sorry to leave you. If it was my choice, I would have still annoyed you when we were both 100 and racing the streets on mobility scooters. I never wanted to be the first of us three to leave but I guess one had to be. So I will go to wherever Max went when he died and I am sure that I will be alright. It is you who I am scared for, because I know that you will suffer. I know you will wear a brave face but on the inside you will fall apart. Please don't just drown your pain in silly bar fights, too much booze and reckless hunts. I have no use for you in heaven, you hear me? I am dead now, so you have to live the life I never had the chance to have. I want you to share your grief with Clary and Alec and talk to them whenever you are sad, just like you used to tell me. And then live. Live, love, laugh. Enjoy your life to the fullest. Marry Clary, have beautiful children and grow old. I don't want to see you up here before you are covered in wrinkles and have a bald patch on your head. Please be good to our parents, no matter how many mistakes they made. Help Alec, because I know it will hurt him the most. And keep in touch with Simon, who will be hurting as well and has no one besides Clary to turn to now. I know you will be happy again one day and I will look down at you and be happy for you as well. I had so many plans for the future I never admitted to want, a husband, children and a save home in Idris – but maybe that wouldn't really have been me. I died like I lived, fast and without regrets. Although I never turned 18, I had an amazing time on earth and lived life to the fullest while it lasted. And I had the best nine years with you, my beloved brother, for which I thank you. When you came into our family, I knew we would grow close, but I never imagined how close. Life with you was the funniest, wildest and most amazing thing I was ever blessed to experience and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. You were the best bigger brother I could dream of, the complete opposite of Alec. We did so many stupid things in our youth, partied hard, had uncountable hangovers, incredible hunts, went to hell and back together, saved the worlds numerous times and through it all, we just looked insanely hot! Farewell, my darling. Don't cry too much because salty stuff is bad for the skin. Thank you for always having my back. Don't forget me! And never stop talking about me because people never truly die as long as they are remembered. I will always be with you, just look up at the night sky and find me in the brightest burning star, shining down on you.

I love you to the moon and back and I will see you again,

Isabelle


My dearest readers, I bid you farewell because this is the end, finally. I thank you so much for your kind support as I wrote this story and for sticking with me until the very end 3 If you liked my story, check out my other Mortal Instrument/TID fanfics!