It just occurred to me that I haven't done disclaimers. Cassandra Clare owns the characters!

Clary had never slept on the floor of a wooden cell before. The experience was worse than she expected.

The guards, whom Clary had found to be traitors against Raphael, were apart of the lower levels of a slave trade. They had captured women in Pendragon and sold them to an underground slave unit. All of the slaves were female. All of the customers were men.

Clary's cell was like a window in a shop. Three of the four walls were a rotting wood, filled with splinters and termites. The fourth wall was built of bars of carved rock. They were indestructible, by any human means. When Clary looked out of her cell, she could see a long, dark hallway, with cells similar to hers. Occasionally, you would hear a customer thudding down the hall and stop at a cell. Then, another set of footsteps, belonging to the gatekeeper. Then, a menacing chink of bars being opened. Then, a girl being forced out of her cage. Then, more walking. Then, silence.

Men had passed by Clary's cell once or twice. She developed a strategy of hiding in the corner, hidden. If the couldn't see her face, they wouldn't be interested. It had worked so far.

Clary sat, curled up in a ball, her red curls cascading over her blue dress. Her mind wandered to that morning.

That morning. A feeling of completeness. Being apart of something. Being whole.

Then drifting out of the haze, and realizing the danger they were in.

Then, Jace. Jace, promising protection and love. She could picture his chiseled features, growing confused when she didn't return to her chamber that night.

He would never be able to find her. How would he track down this location? It's a highly secret black-market. She wouldn't be found.

And even if he did know where she was, would it be worth it? A trek to unknown, illegal territories, for her?

In that moment, Clary decided not to pity herself. She was alive. If anything, she was away from Sebastian. It could be worse.

She mentally decided to move on from Jace. He wouldn't come for her. She had to make an attack plan, herself. She couldn't remain a damsel in distress forever. She couldn't rely on him.

If they were to meet again, and if he were to remember her, than God would've sent some sort of angel down to help them.

Unfortunately, Clary didn't believe in angels.

A bug scuttled across the floor in front of her feet. She recoiled, but slightly. In her mind, she knew she would have to get used to them.

J. P. O. V.

It was dark out. And she still wasn't back.

Where else could she be? With Raphael? In his chamber?

The anger boiling inside of Jace was dangerously high. When his thoughts drifted to where she might be, and what she might be doing, he was about ready to blow. His hands were crushing the green sheets of the bed. His knuckles, turning white in his grip. When he wasn't destroying the blankets, he was frenetically pacing around the room.

He knew he should wait a little while longer. Just to be sure.

But Jace was a hormonal young man, missing the girl he loved.

So, without thinking twice, Jace threw open the doors, and began to search the castle.

Jace found in frustratingly difficult to look around, with the hoards of servants running around.

"Missing?No one saw her leave!"

"The Prince is heartbroken."

"Did she run away?"

"Is there a search party?"

Jace's head spun in the conversations. He was about ready to pull his hair out. He darted between people, searching for fiery red hair, or that familiar face, or those green eyes. He couldn't find them.

"Excuse me?" A little girl, with strawberry blonde hair and bright blue eyes pulled on Jace's arm. She couldn't have been more than five.

"What?" Jace said, abruptly, yanking away. The crowds of servants kept bumping into him.

The little girl cocked her head to the side. "Were you busy?" Her blue eyes sparkled in the reflection through the window. She could barely be heard over the roar of conversation.

By now, Jace was annoyed. "Yes, actually!"

The girl looked hurt. She hung her head. "Oh," she said slowly, "I just wanted to help." She turned to leave.

"With what?" Jace shouted at her. People were running in between them, creating a large gap between Jace and the girl.

She smiled, like a little kid who answered a question correctly in class.

"I know where she is!"

Jace stopped, and stared blankly at her. How could she know? In a few seconds, he weighed his options. What other choice did he have?

"Then, by all means," he shouted back to her, "Lead the way!"

S. P. O. V.

Prince Raphael had called the search off. It had been assumed that she ran away.

Probably ran away with the golden boy, no doubt.

Prince Raphael was hurt. This time, however, Simon felt no pity. You couldn't always have what you wanted.

He set out two plates of fruit with a loaf of bread for Isabelle and Max. They defiantly needed to eat. For one reason or another, Simon decided it was time for him to go. There was nothing for him here. If there was, he had blown the opportunity by offending her.

So, he picked up a rucksack bag, and left his poor excuse of a house.

Two men were across the cobblestone path from his house. They were talking to Isabelle.

Simon hadn't noticed Isabelle leave. He kept walking.

As he turned his back, and began walking down the path, there was a yell. He whirled around.

Isabelle was being restrained by the men. She was thrashing, and one of them men hit her across the face.

Simon couldn't remember when he dropped his bag, or how he got over to the men, or how he had knocked them out. But, he did.

And when Simon came back down to Earth, Isabelle was on the ground, looking up in shock and awe.

Simon's eyes widened at the two men, knocked out before him.

Isabelle jumped up and threw her arms around him.

"Simon!" She shrieked. "I was getting water, and they came, and I thought – or didn't think – Oh, thank you!" She had buried her head in his chest.

Simon tentatively wrapped his arms around her. "Uh, anytime?"

Isabelle looked up, and noticed the rucksack bag. Her features contorted into a frown. "Where were you going?"

Simon paused. He noticed that Isabelle and never let go of him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

His face found its way into a wiry smile. "Nowhere."

I am loving the progression of Simon and Isabelle!

And Clary's newfound strength!

And Jace's determination!

And the little girl! Anyone care to guess at who she is?

Anyway, I WOULD LOVE REVIEWS!

REMEMBER, reward of fluff at one hundred!

"It is my belief... that the truth is generally preferable to lies." ~ Albus Dumbledore.

Review, please?

~KayInInk