Warning: Contains spoilers for the Infernal Devices series!
***November 2008. Alicante, Idris***
"So, this is the Glass City?" whistled Clary as she looked around in awe. "Yup. Beautiful isn't it? Is it weird that it still feels like home even though I've lived in New York longer than I lived here?" Jace questioned. "No, I think that is pretty normal. This is where you lived with your mother. It was your childhood home." She answered softly.
"We will be staying with the Penhallows while we are here. Please remember that Jia is the Consul and act appropriately everyone." Maryse begged.
"Oh, you mean like how Jia acted appropriately when her daughter told her she was gay, unlike you and dad?" Isabelle snapped.
"Isabelle!" Maryse and Alec chided in unison. It was still a sore spot for the family, but Maryse had been trying to rebuild her relationship with her eldest son. Robert, on the other hand, was handling the situation by spending more and more time in Idris. It has been nearly two months since the entire family had been in the same house together, so Maryse decided to bring everyone with her to Idris this week. "I will be in and out of meetings throughout the week, so I expect you all to keep yourselves busy and out of trouble" she rubbed her forehead.
"I have plans with Aline and Helen tonight. Clary, do you want to come?" asked Isabelle. "Oh, well, actually Jace and I already have plans, but thank you!" Clary blushed. "I'm going to show her around the city a bit" Jace shrugged, "Do you want to join us, Alec?" he added, not wanting his Parabatai to be left out. "No, thanks, I think I'm going to hang out with Max tonight." Alec replied. "Well, good, then. Everyone has plans for the evening while Robert and I have dinner plans with Jia and Patrick.
That evening, Jace and Clary were wandering through the city as Jace pointed out places of interest. They had stopped in front of a weapons store and were debating going in when they heard a gasp from behind them. "Jocelyn?" Clary turned around at the sound of her mother's name. "Oh, I'm so sorry, you just look so much like someone I use to know…" the lady trialed off awkwardly. "Jocelyn was my mother's name." Clary answered hesitantly. "I knew Jocelyn had a son before she left, but I never knew that she had a daughter. She was a very good friend of mine, once upon a time. She was my brother, Luke's, very best friend, actually." The woman smiled slightly. "You're Luke's sister?" Clary's eyes widened. "Yes, I'm Amatis Greymark." She answered. Clary cleared her throat, "I'm Clary. Clary Fray. I'm Luke and Jocelyn's daughter." Amatis looked like she was going to pass out. "Daughter? When? How? I didn't know!" she faltered, "Would you mind coming back to my house. I think we have a lot we need to discuss." She said with tears in her eyes. Clary looked to Jace, and he inclined his head slightly. "Okay." Clary answered simply.
Clary and Jace spent the next several hours at Amatis's house. Clary filled her in on everything she had been told about her parents, as well as her own life. Amatis shared stories of Luke and Jocelyn as children, up to their disappearance. Clary had never had the opportunity to meet anyone who knew her parents as children. She was not surprised to find out that Amatis was her last living relative. She was a very kind woman, but Clary still felt uneasy about the whole situation. She enjoyed getting to learn more about her parents, but she didn't feel a connection to this woman yet, and she was afraid Amatis would expect something from her. "Thank you for coming over tonight, Clary. I am so very glad to be able to meet you. You are welcome here anytime, okay? I'd like to keep in touch, maybe a letter every now and then, would that be alright?" Amatis asked shyly. "Yeah, sure, that would be fine." Clary responded, relieved. The young couple made it back to the Penhallow's house just before midnight.
The next morning, Clary noticed that Jace was unusually quiet as they sat down to eat breakfast. When she looked over at him it was obvious that his mind was a million miles away. Clearly, the others took notice as well. "Jace," Alec called. When Jace didn't respond, he tried again, "Earth to Jace…" still he received nothing. "I just wanted to inform you that Clary and I have decided to run away together. We spent all night making passionate love. Also, she told me that she thinks my penis is twice as big as yours." Alec declared with a straight face. Isabelle guffawed. "Alec!" Clary screeched as her face flamed. "Yes, yes. I know. I think so too." Jace answered absently. This caused everyone to laugh out loud, which finally brought Jace back to the present, "What's so funny?" he questioned. "Well, you just admitted that my penis is twice as big as yours and that you approve of my absconding with your girlfriend. "Ha-ha, very cute." He just rolled his eyes in exasperation. "What's up? What's going on in that blonde head of yours?" Alec asked. "Nothing" he replied breezily. "Seriously? Come on, Jace. You've been lost in thought all morning. What's wrong?" Clary tried. Jace rubbed the back of his neck, "Our visit with your aunt last night has gotten me thinking. Maybe, while we are in Alicante, I might see if I can track down Tessa Gray. I heard Magnus mention that she would be here for the meetings." He admitted quietly. "Who?" Isabelle questioned. "Tessa Gray. Both Magnus and Brother Zachariah told me that she knows something about my family." He shrugged. "I think that's a great idea, Jace. Why don't we ask Jia where Tessa is staying, and see if we can find her this evening?" Clary nodded. The four young Shadowhunters finished their meal, and spent the rest of the afternoon in the weapon's shop helping Clary find the perfect weapon. Despite the serious nature of the task, they enjoyed the opportunity to laugh and spend time together.
Jace fidgeted with the bottom of his shirt as he waited to see if someone would respond to his knock. Clary laid a calming hand on his lower back. A young woman with long brown hair and gray eyes opened the door, "Clary? What are you doing here?" she asked bewilderedly. Jace shot Clary a sharp look. "I'm sorry, have we met?" Clary raised her eyebrows. "Well, the last time I saw you, you were a teeny tiny thing. I guess I'm not surprised you don't remember me. I'm Tessa, but considering that you knocked on my door, I assume you already knew that." She replied pleasantly. "This is my boyfriend, Jace Herondale. Magnus told us you might be able to tell us a little about his family?" Clary explained. Tessa's smile widened, "Yes, of course. You've grown quite a bit yourself, Jace, since the last picture I saw of you. Please, come in. This is such a nice surprise!" Jace and Clary followed her into the small kitchen. The trio sat drinking tea as Tessa began her story. She told them about how she had traveled from her home in New York to England to live with her brother, but was kidnapped by the Dark Sisters. She recounted her surprise at finding out she was part warlock and part Shadowhunter. Clary was confused, until Tessa explained the story of Adele Starkweather. Jace wanted to rolls his eyes. He didn't see how this concerned him at all. Then, Tessa went on to discuss how she was rescued by a very attractive Shadowhunter named William Herondale. She grinned wryly as she talked about his supposed curse and how he had tried so hard to keep everyone at a distance. Jace perked up, now they were getting somewhere. Tessa went on to describe their courtship and how they eventually married and spent several decades running the London Institute. Tears filled her eyes as she shared her surprise at finding out she was pregnant, after years of thinking she would never have children. Her heart felt heavy as she described her children, James and Lucie. She spent hours filling them in on the Herondale family tree, which of course, ended with Jace. Jace felt like his head as going to explode, "So, what you are telling me is, you are my great -great-great-grandmother?" he scoffed. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you." She watched him carefully. He rocked back in his chair, "Then why didn't you ever seek me out? When my parents died, where were you? I was sent to live with the Lightwoods because I didn't have any family left!" he seethed. Tessa sighed, "I wanted to be there, trust me, but as you can imagine, not many Shadowhunters are fond of finding out they have Warlock blood. Your Grandmother, Imogen, went as far as to try to have me banned from Idris to keep me away from her precious son, Stephen, your father. As the inquisitor, she felt it would be a disgrace for anyone to find out about her connection to me. So, I stayed away out of respect. I did receive a letter once, from your mother, when you were very young. It had a picture of you. I was touched that she had reached out to me, but when I asked about possibly meeting you, she said it would be too confusing for you and too painful for her. I never heard from her again. I returned to my work in the spiral labyrinth, and news involving Shadowhunter affairs are few and far between there. I didn't even learn of your mother's death until several years later. By then, you were settled with the Lightwoods. You didn't even know I existed. I decided to leave you be. I always kept hope that you would seek me out one day, but I never wanted to force myself upon you." She murmured as gently grabbed his hand. The anger drained from his body, "I see." was his only response. Clary and Jace left late that night with a promise to stop in again before returning to New York. "How odd is it that both of us found long-lost relatives in the same week?" Clary chuckled. "I know. I certainly wasn't expecting this when we agreed to join Maryse. Honestly, I'm hoping there aren't any more surprises for the rest of the week. I'm exhausted." He yawned. However, they were not that fortunate.