Clary's eyes opened and fixed on the figure standing over her. A hooded being in parchment robes, a Silent Brother, from this angle she caught a glimpse of his face under the hood. This was not just any Silent Brother, it was Brother Zachariah, or as she had known him James Carstairs. Magnus and Tessa had told her stories of Jem and Will shadowhunters from Tessa's younger years. She had met Jem once before, he was a terrifying creature to look at first but underneath it all she could see the Jem that once was, the Jem who like her had to fight to survive.
Clary hoped no one else was in the room or had noticed her eyes open but this was not the case. Magnus and Simon leaped right towards her. "You gave us quite the scare Biscuit," Magnus said softly.
"I don't blame you for anything, don't ever do that again," Simon added.
Clary nodded and looked around the room she was still in the Library, so she hadn't been out long. Most eyes were one her including one set that wasn't there before she had passed out, Hodge. Clary was so startled it was clear Jace had not shared the information they had gathered. Maybe he couldn't betray his tutor or maybe he was in on it, she thought.
Jem looked at her strangely then. Can you hear me? She knew the cumulative power of the Silent Brothers could read into the mind of a shadowhunter but they could not read minds as an active thing. No something was allowing her to do this; her Angel had to be involved.
It's good to see you awake, Clary. And yes, I heard you just then, why do you think Jace would need to betray his tutor.
There are traitors in the Institute. Person or people working with Valentine, conspiring to hand me over along with the Cup and I believe Jace. Though I'm not entirely certain how he fits in.
Who would do such a thing?
Hodge Starkweather.
How do you know this?
Perhaps it would be better if I showed you. Clary pulled herself into a seated position her body ached, the after effects of the twist she had added to the glamour rune she drawn on herself. Once upright she clasped one of Jem's hands inside hers, it was inhumanly cold and the chill sent a shiver down her back. She wasn't totally sure why she was doing it, but she looked directly into the closed eyes of the Silent Brother. Then as if someone had pressed play on a movie she began to replay the morning's events with Jace. Some parts worked in fast fast-forward and others in slow motion, Clary was sure she was not controlling the speed perhaps that was Jem's doing. When the playback was done the Silence of the Brotherhood filled Clary's mind and seemingly the surrounding room.
Before you say anything to everyone I have something to add, I know how to find the Cup.
Jem looked down at Clary, I have a plan play along. Then stood straight up and addressed the room. Clarissa Fairchild Morgenstern will need to return to the Silent City for questioning on her involvement with Valentine and Jonathan Morgenstern as well as the disappearance of the Mortal Cup. She may choose one shadowhunter to accompany her there, choose wisely Ms. Morgenstern.
Clary sat silent for a moment acting stunned as murmurs ran through the room about what had just transpired. Being careful not to draw too much attention she signed a message to Simon who was staring right at her, "it's okay, I'm not in trouble. Tell Magnus to call Tessa."
"It must be a shadowhunter," Clary asked. Yes. "Then I choose Jace, if he is willing." Clary turned and looked at Jace and begged him to understand.
"Of course," Jace said and he moved over to Clary's side. He had been drawn to her since the moment he had first seen her in the club and now he would protect her from the anything the Silent Brothers tried to throw her way.
We will leave at once.
Clary gathered herself together and walked over to Magnus and Simon, she leaned in to give them both a hug and whispered. "Trust no one from the Institute, Jem is on our side. I will meet you are Magnus' shortly. Please call Tessa, I need to see her. It's important."
They faces remained sullen and shocked as they whispered good-byes and good lucks. The rest of the shadowhunters murmured quietly in a far corner of the room. Clary took Jace's hand in hers and the followed Jem. At the doors of the Library Clary turned to Hodge and looked him straight in the eyes, "Mene, mene tekel upsharin." She smiled slightly as his face dropped, then she turned and left the room. They proceeded through the Institute and out the front doors. Once inside the Brother's carriage Jace finally asked what had been on his mind from the moment Clary had sat upright and not spoken with Brother Zachariah. "What's going on?"
"I know Brother Zachariah, he was the person who explained with a shadowhunter was and has asked on several occasions if I will join the ranks of the shadowhunters. It always meant leaving my family so I always refused. Well now I barely have any family left so I'm reconsidering. Anyway, that's a story for a different day. To answer what is going on now. I have known and known of Jem for a long time and I trust him unlike the members of your Institute, so I told him what happened with Hodge and he is taking us to a safe house. I am not going to be questioned and you are not my advocate here. But we had to have a reason to explain our absence the no shadowhunter would question."
"Wait who is Jem," Jace said
"Brother Zachariah's Christian name is James, Jem for short," Clary said.
"Right," Jace said confused. "And you know how to do the whole Silent Brother mind talking?"
"That was actually a first," Clary admitted.
"Good to know," Jace said. There was silence for a few minutes Clary looked out the window of the Silent Brother's carriage. This was the first time she had ridden in it up she had heard stories of how it moved like a ghost through and around whatever it wanted. Watching it now it made her slightly queasy jumping up and over cars on the busy New York streets as they made their way from the Institute in Manhattan to Magnus' flat in Brooklyn. The silence was broken when Jace spoke up again.
"What do you think Valentine meant when he said I was his son too?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. But I know someone how can help us find out. That is if she agrees."
Silence followed again and shortly they were outside Magnus' apartment. They exited the carriage and Clary was grateful to be on solid ground again. "Do you want to stay, Tessa will be here soon," she asked Jem.
No, I must return to the City of Bones. I will come by again soon to check on you.
"Thank you for your help," Clary said. Then she turned away from the Brother and led Jace up the stairs to Magnus' apartment.