Author's Note: These characters belong to Cassandra Clare.

Clary's POV

After the heartbreak, the numbness set in. It was like my body knew just how much pain I could tolerate, and once I reached that point my mind just shut down. The feeling sort of reminded me of the drug induced haze I had felt so often while in the hospital. Except this time, it was natural and it was welcome.

Slowly, I got to my feet. I felt like a sleepwalker; one foot plodding in front of the other unsure of my destination. A moment later, I realized I had reached the couch. I sat down and let my mind drift in a sea of nothingness… knowing for the moment that was all I could handle.

How long I sat there I didn't know, but at some point I must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing I knew the sound of the door opening was waking me up. I sat up in time to see Magnus walking towards me with a concerned look on his face.

"Clary, what's wrong," he asked anxiously.

His concern (although well meant) instantly rubbed me the wrong way. It was an irrational feeling. He wasn't the one who tried to baby me all the time. So I took a deep breath and tried to give him a reassuring smile.

"Nothing I can't handle," I answered "but I do need to talk to you"

His concerned look changed into one of curiosity. "What about," he asked.

I hesitated, not really knowing how to start the conversation; then decided to start by admitting I had eavesdropped.

"Magnus," I began. "I overheard you and Jace arguing last night…… What were you talking about?"

Magnus' gaze was unfathomable as he stared at me. His cat like eyes seemed to be reading me in a way that was slightly unnerving. I wondered what he was seeing; a weak human girl or a shadowhunter strong enough to handle whatever he was contemplating sharing with me? I waited anxiously for him to answer.

"If you heard us talking Clary, you know that Jace doesn't want me to talk to you……:

I started to interrupt. This wasn't about Jace.

"But," Magnus continued. "I don't agree. I know that no one has really talked to you about what has happened while you were in the hospital, and I understand their reasoning, but the time for sheltering you from the truth has passed. Are you ready for the truth, Clary? I can assure you, it's not an easy one to hear."

I took in Magnus' serious expression and a feeling of dread flowed through me. I hesitated for a moment and then nodded silently.

Magnus nodded back to me and started to speak.

"As you know, two weeks ago you and Jace were attacked. What you don't know, is that was just the beginning. Ever since that night there has been a rise in demon activity the likes of which I've never seen in this city. Three days after you were injured Alec was attacked by an Eilorn demon- only one, but it gave the same message to him that the other one had for Jace. He told Alec, "Your days are numbered."

"The attacks on humans have risen also, and it's been challenging to try and be everywhere we need to be."

I interrupted, "Why doesn't the Clave send shadowhunters to help? Why would my mom leave if she was needed here?"

"Clary, it's going to take some time to tell you everything; be patient," he chastised.

I nodded, and Magnus continued.

"Four days ago…….Jonathen appeared in Idris. He and a few demons attacked a group of Shadowhunters. I wasn't there, and I can only tell you what is being told to me, but the attacks are becoming more frequent and the Clave have their hands full. They're still repairing the damage from the battle with Valentine, the demon towers are still not fully repaired, and the wards are simply not as effective as the towers were. Things are pretty desperate for them right now. They're not really worried about what's going on in New York, and Isabelle is a very low priority for them.

I felt an immediate flash of anger.

"But Magnus," I protested. "Don't they see this is all tied together? If they find Isabelle, they find Jonathen; or at least they have the opportunity to find out more about what he has planned. How can they be so shortsighted?"

"I agree Clary, but it has been two weeks….and they have reason to believe that it's too late for Isabelle. The Clave is focusing on protecting Idris. In fact, they've called for all Shadowhunters to return to Idris."

One thing Magnus had just said jumped out at me, and I focused on it.

"Magnus," I asked reluctantly. "Why do the Clave think Isabelle's….dead?"

"Before I answer that question I want you to know that despite everything, I disagree with them. I know that this will be difficult for you to hear, but please hold on to that. There is still hope."

I nodded, and silently waited for Magnus to continue.

"A few days ago a box was delivered to me…..and in the box was Isabelle's hand."

I felt the blood rush from my head, my heartbeat doubled, and I felt myself start to hyperventilate.

I felt Magnus grab my shoulders.

"Clary, calm down. You are strong; show me your strength now."

I focused on Magnus' words, and used them to try and find my center. I had no control over my heartbeat, but worked hard to focus on my breathing. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out; for a full minute I didn't let myself focus on anything but that.

"Good, Clary…..good," Magnus whispered.

"I'm okay," I was finally able to say.

I refused to let myself dwell on Isabelle and what Magnus had just told me. I let the information flow through me instead of letting it stick. I new it was avoidance at its worst, but I needed to understand what was happening. It was the only way I would be able to help find her.

"Please continue," I begged Magnus.

He eyed me speculatively. "If you're sure," he stated.

"I'm sure," I said.

"Clary, you can only imagine what Alec and Jace were feeling when I had to tell them. At first, they both believed that it meant she was dead, but I convinced them otherwise."

"How, Magnus; how can you be so sure she's still alive?"

"Because of her blood," he stated simply. "Her blood was tainted, Clary. I think that Jonathen is poisoning her with demon blood. Why would he be doing that if he was planning to kill her?"

I gasped as I was suddenly thrust into the memory of sitting across from Isabelle at Java Jones. (Had that just been two weeks ago?) I could see Isabelle's tear filled eyes as she told me about her dreams, about Jonathen cutting her, and saying he had plans for her. It all started to make sense. And for the first time I felt a spark of hope that what Magnus had said might be true; Isabelle might still be alive. I would continue to believe that.

"Clary, what are you thinking," Magnus asked.

I quickly told Magnus about Isabelle and me meeting the day before she disappeared. As the story continued, Magnus looked more and more astonished.

"Why wasn't I told about this sooner," he asked.

"Jace and I were going to tell you everything the night we were attacked, but with everything that happened I guess no one has thought to say anything."

Magnus looked grim.

"I understand, but so much time has been lost. If we hope to save Isabelle, we must find her soon."

"Exactly what will the blood do to her," I asked.

"Clary, demon blood to an average human acts as poison. It would kill them…slowly or quickly depending on the exposure, but they would die. But with Nephelim, it's different. It transforms them."

"Think for a moment about what you're mother went through when she ingested the demon blood given to her by Valentine. She had nightmares, felt like she was going insane; and that was just a small amount she drank. It was not enough to transform her, but look what it did to Jonathen. If Isabelle's dreams are accurate, she was given blood directly into her bloodstream…..the effect will be similar to what happened to Jonathen."

"But Magnus, how did she withstand it for so long? It had been a month since we had gotten back from Idris, and what your describing…..it just wasn't happening to her."

"I can only speculate," Magnus said. "But I think it's because it only happened the one time. Isabelle, like all Nephelim, has the Angel's blood. The two bloods cannot coexist. The moment they came into contact one would try and overcome the other. Obviously, the demon blood was losing its hold on Isabelle. With time, I think she could have recovered….That's just something we'll never know.

"Why would he have done this Magnus," I asked him.

"I don't know Clary, but think about it. Jonathen was completely confident that he and Valentine would win the conflict that was ahead. He probably intended to finish the process he started…and that is the only reason he left her alive."

Magnus seemed to weigh his next words carefully before he continued.

"Clary, you need to understand that Isabelle has suffered....that she is still suffering. What she shared with you (I believe) is just a small portion of what she was going through. She is very strong to have held on. We can only hope that her strength is serving her now as well."

For a moment guilt washed over me. How could we have not seen her suffering? We shouldn't have let her push us away. But I knew that guilt was a wasted emotion right now. I pushed it aside.

"What do you need my help with, Magnus. How can we find her?"

For the next hour, Magnus explained his plan to me. I grew more and more concerned as it was laid out. I now understood why Jace had been so reluctant to do this. Summoning a demon was definitely not a Clave approved option. But we were running out of time. Reluctantly, I found myself agreeing to try.

"Clary," Magnus said. "I will be doing this, but I need you there to act as a safety net. The demon I encountered when trying to track Isabelle was very powerful. I'm more prepared for him this time, but I may need your help Also, their will be a point in the ritual where you will have to create a rune of release. I will tell you more about it befrore the ritual begins.

"I think your overestimating my abilities, Magnus."

"I don't think so, Clary. You're more powerful then you know."

"Jace doesn't think so," I said before I could stop myself.

Magnus looked at me speculatively for a moment, and finally spoke.

"No Clary…that's not true. Jace does trust you; I just don't think he trusts himself."

"What do you mean," I asked.

"He's afraid of losing you, Clary… Jace isn't used to being afraid, and I don't think he's handling it very well. But don't make the mistake of interpreting that as him thinking you're weak, because his admiration for you shows every time he looks at you."

I appreciated what Magnus was trying to do, but I couldn't think about Jace right now. I needed to focus on Isabelle.

"So when are we going to do this," I asked.

"Tonight," Magnus answered. "I need to prepare, and we need to go over the finer points of what will take place. Now that you've agreed, I need to let Alec and Jace know."

"Why, Jace," I asked. "He told me he wouldn't watch as I put myself in danger. He also said the Clave wouldn't approve. There is no way he's going to come."

I could see Magnus turning over what I had just said. I could tell he knew something had happened between Jace and me, but he didn't ask about it. He understood me enough to know I wouldn't want to talk about it.

"Clary," Magnus replied. "I thought you knew him better then that. He'll be there; I can guarantee it."

"Plus," he added. "We need them there… because if things go wrong, they will be the only ones there who can save us."

The hours passed quickly, and before I really had time to dwell on what was to come, it was time to go. We were meeting up with Jace and Alec at an abandoned warehouse just a few blocks away. We had an hour before we were going to begin, but we still had to set things up, and that would take some time.

I watched with fascination as Magnus drew the pentagram out with an ordinary piece of white chalk onto the concrete floor. He was just making the outline, because it had to be carved into the concrete floor. I was surprised when I learned from Magnus that just drawing it out wasn't enough; in much the same way that Shadowhunter Marks couldn't simply be drawn- it to must be embedded to be effective.

After helping Magnus finish up, we stood waiting for Alec and Jace to arrive. I wasn't convinced that Jace would come, and part of me hoped that he wouldn't. With everything that had happened this afternoon, I had been able to avoid dwelling on what had happened between us , but to see him….I didn't know if I could take it. I needed to be wholly focused on what would be happening over the next hour; I couldn't allow thoughts of him to distract me.

Hearing the door open, I turned and watched as Alec and then Jace walked in. So Magnus had been right; he had come.

I turned around facing away from them. I wasn't ready for any kind of conversation- or confrontation -with him. It was not the time or place. But as much as I wished I could be oblivious to anything but the part I was about to play in the coming ritual, I couldn't help the feeling of despair that washed over me and the tears that filled my eyes. Even though we were no longer together, I still felt the tug of an invisible cord that seemed to pull us toward each other. Part of me wanted to cut the cord, but a bigger part wanted to let it pull me to the place I knew I belonged. It was a painful contradiction.

I heard footsteps behind me and then a hand touched my shoulder. I quickly wiped the tears out of my eyes, and turned around to see Alec.

For the first time since leaving the hospital, I really looked at him. He looked so tired. His eyes were sad. He looked like a person who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I knew that's probably how he felt.

"Thank you for helping my sister, Clary. I know it's been difficult for you," he said. His eyes momentarily shifted to the right; quickly casting a glance toward Jace.

"I love Isabelle," I said. "I want to help her, too…." I hesitated, not sure if I should continue. "Magnus told me what happened while I was in the hospital. I'm so sorry."

Alec's face went white. "I'm trying to just focus on finding her. I can't think about him doing that to her. She's going through hell because of that sick….." Alec trailed off and abruptly walked away. His pain was palpable and it was a terrible thing.

"Are you ready," I heard Magnus call.

Nodding my head, I walked over to the pentagram and looked around.

We were each standing at one of the cardinal points; north, south, east, and west. Jace was standing right across from me and I tried to avoid his eyes; it just seemed easier somehow if I wasn't looking at him.

Magnus drew my attention when he started giving us last minute instructions.

"As you know, I have a sample of Isabelle's blood. While I still believe that Jonathen has Isabelle, I don't believe he is still giving her his blood; he knows that would give us too much power over him. I believe that he has somehow brought demons to his side, and to rescue Isabelle we must do the same."

As Magnus spoke, my eyes were drawn to a white cloth he was holding in his hand. I noticed the dark brown stains, and realized with horror I was looking at the mixture of Isabelle and the demons blood. I quickly looked away and tried not to think about where he had gotten the sample. It was just too horrible.

"The Book of White has shown me a way to control a demon in much the same way that Valentine did using the Mortal Cup. I will summon the demon to us using his blood to do so. I will trap him here and we must glean as much information as we can. Clary, I trust you to do this."

I looked intently at Magnus. Something wasn't making sense.

"Why do I need to speak with him, Magnus; you're going to be here."

"Yes I will, Clary; but unfortunately I will be indisposed. You see, the Book of White says there is only one way for me to trap and control a demon without the Mortal Cup; I must act as the vessel to hold him here."

I looked quickly at Alec, and immediately knew that he and Magnus had already discussed this. Their was no way that Alec would have that calm, accepting look on his face if this was as much as a shock to him as it was to me. Magnus was going to allow a demon to possess his body, and Alec had agreed with this. It was completely crazy.

Suddenly, I heard Jace.

"What the hell, Magnus? Is this some kind of Joke?" Jace then turned on Alec. "How could you have agreed to this?"

"Because it will work, Jace; I know it will. We're going to do this. It's up to you to decide if you're going to stay or not."

Alec's words were blunt. Jace stared at him for what seemed like ages, before he looked at me. I couldn't read his mind, but so much was said with that look. He was asking me to leave, but I couldn't. He must have seen my answer, because with a sigh of resignation I knew his answer as well. He was staying, and I felt immediately relieved. Until that moment, I hadn't realized how tense I had become.

"Clary, as soon as you get the information, you must apply the Mark we discussed. Alec and Jace, you must stand ready to kill it….You will have only a small window of opportunity. The moment the demon is released we will no longer be in control of him. If he makes it back to Jonathen….the consequences will be dire."

I looked at Alec and Jace and saw them standing with their blades at the ready. The soft glow that the blades were emitting somehow comforted me. I knew I was safe even in this crazy situation.

I watched as Magnus stepped into the center of the pentagram. I clutched my stele to my side like it was a talisman, and tried to shove down the fear rising in my chest.

I stood outside the pentagram and watched nervously as Magnus raised his hands and started the ritual.

I looked away and met Jace's eyes; they were troubled. I'm sure that mine mirrored the same emotion.

Was this the right thing to do? We were Nephilim; children of the angel. It felt wrong to align ourselves with demons. But we were quickly running out of options. How much time could Isabelle possibly have left before it was too late? And though I didn't want to admit it, I couldn't deny the feeling that it probably already was.

Magnus suddenly started to speak. It was a language I had never heard before, but I knew what it was. It was the demon language. Over and over again, Magnus said the same words; "Itcha naw cochepali"

It started out slow and rough, but as the moments passed, his voice grew louder, and his voice faster, until you could no longer discern one word from the next.

For a few moments, nothing seemed to change. Then all of a sudden, everything changed.

Sparks of electricity began to flow from thin air into the tips of Magnus' raised hands. His eyes began to glow, and I fought hard to suppress the shudder that suddenly ran through my body. The edges of the pentagram began to glow, and then flames momentarily burst forth, filling the air with the acrid smell of smoke.

Suddenly a black shapeless figure hovered over Magnus' head. For an instant, it seemed to be trapped in the electrical current. Then as if traveling into a conduit, it was propelled directly into Magnus' body, and everything went quiet.

Everything was exactly how it had been before the ritual began with one glaring exception; Magnus was no longer here. His body was, but his essence….his soul had departed from him. In its place, there was something truly evil.

There the body of Magnus stood; face devoid of all emotion, mouth slack, and eyes as black as pitch.

A gravely voice filled the room. The sound reminded me of two boulders grinding together. It was inhuman; and it was coming from Magnus.

"Do you know who you have summoned," it asked.

I stepped forward, trying to display an air of confidence I didn't really feel. Ignoring his question, I asked one of my own.

"What do you know about Isabelle Lightwood?"

Author's Note: Hope this started to answer some of your questions. This was kind of a transitional chapter….and things will start moving at a faster pace now.

Next chapter will be from Jace's POV.

Sorry this chapter was so late, but I just started a full time job and I am moving my posting days to Sundays. The next chapter WILL be posted Sunday the 27th.

Also, I've started writing an outtake from Isabelle's POV as to what's been happening to her. It's a one shot that will end with Jonathen removing her hand. If you're interested in reading that let me know. If there is enough interest I will finish it.

Till next time….toodle doo.