Fan Fiction- The Mortal Instruments

This chapter is going to be a little controversial; keep in mind this is from my perspective, and so while you may not agree with it, its just how I see it.

Firstly, I'm going to explain significance of the last chapter.

Touched- Morgenstern/girl- His touch is one of deception, intending to cause hurt, irreparable damage and agony.

Touched- Lightwood/Bane- Rushed heat- full of uncertainty of the future, he just wants to be as close as possible without considering the consequences.

Touched- Fairchild/Herondale- A light touch expressing the meaning of love- trust, faith and belief in each other.

Also, I've realised my time-line may be a bit messed up- Team Good are going to have to either observe Sebastian and see the Queen on the same day, or they'll split up.

Chapter 10- Me and Mine

Two. That's all that was needed. I would kill any others. My demons could bathe in their blood and ashes.

Clary's POV (I had Muse's Futurism in my head while writing this. Don't know who Muse are? Type Muse- Starlight into YouTube!)

Every eternity ends. Therefore it is not. Forever is never a possibility; it is something dreamt up by an unimaginative brain. There are so many different ways to die. Look out for that speeding car; hit at 40mph, you have an 80% chance of dying. Keep an eye on that candle; you don't want to set the house on fire. Immortality is a lie. Some people just live a little longer than others. The world will collapse on them too eventually.

So, although our moment together felt infinite, really it ended as soon as it started. And now, in a blink of an eye later, I was walking home alongside Isabelle, not quite sure of what so say to the girl.

"So, how are you and Simon?" I asked awkwardly.

"We're fine," she replied non-committally.

"Are you two official now? Has he asked you out?"

"No and no. But we're working on it. It doesn't help that he's still a tiny bit afraid of me, and that I'm a tiny bit jealous of you."

"You don't have to be jealous. I'm hardly a threat; Simon and I are just best friends."

"You've known him all your life. I've known him for less than a year."

"Then it'll get easier."

"Maybe. Anyway, here we are. Sweet dreams, Clary." She was walking away before I could even reply. I guess she felt conflicted even in my presence.

"Mom. Luke. I'm home," I called, listening for a response.

"How was training today, sweetheart?" I was surprised to see my mom in overalls, and splattered with paint. I thought she'd stopped after we'd become involved with the Shadowhunter world again. There was a relaxed smile on her face.

"Yeah, it was good," I said, trying to fill my voice with enthusiasm.

"Were Isabelle and Alec harsh?" she said sympathetically, knowing I had feigned excitement, but misinterpreting it.

"A little. But I'm also just really tired now," I yawned, and this time she bought my pretence.

"Okay, baby. You go get some rest. I was thinking we could go out tomorrow and see a movie? You know, just an ordinary night?"

I stared for a second. I could feel tears burn the back of my eyes. I wish I could have said yes. In that moment I would have given anything. But no, I thought bitterly, tomorrow I am going to find my satanic older brother. "I can't mom. Maryse said I couldn't miss a day of training."

Her face fell, and I hated myself. Why was I doing this? "Another day then. That reminds me, I have to call Maryse, ask her about your training."

I almost cursed out loud. "Mom, I don't think you should... I mean I think she's really busy with Clave business.."

"I'm sure she'll have a few spare moments. Now, I thought you were tired?" She raised her eyebrows at me, so, with another internal swearword, I retreated to my bedroom.

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Alec's POV

"So, Brother Zachariah sent a message. He says demons have just disappeared from Prague. He thinks it has to be Sebastian." Jace leant forward with anticipation.

I sighed. "We have to be really careful when we're there-"

"When you are where, Alexander?" A tall figure stood in the doorway. The voice was not a happy one.

We're screwed, I thought with a wince. Mom would be furious when she found about every lie we'd told. I didn't even try to dig myself out of this hole.

"Maryse!" Magnus said joyfully, as if her name had just inspired a great hope. "How was your trip?"

The Lightwood woman moved forward, incredulity in her blue eyes. "You are helping children go after a mass murderer? Do you not have any sense, Magnus?"

"I have a lot of that actually; living for 700 years tends to help you improve it dramatically. (From reading TMI and the first of the Bane Chronicles, you can tell Magnus lies almost compulsively about his age). And you can hardly call them children, Maryse. If you look at it objectively, you'll see that they're our best chances."

"Objectively?" Her voice was ice. "They are my children, warlock. They are not hunting a psychopath, when there are fully trained adults in the Clave who can do it. How can you even say that when you know Alec could be killed?"

"Maryse. Do not presume to tell me how I feel about your son. Regardless of what you and I think, they will still go after Jonathan Morgenstern. Isn't it better we give them any possible help, rather than putting them in even more danger?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, still scowling. I blinked, realising she reminded me of myself.

A shrill noise cut through the tense atmosphere. Maryse held her mobile to her ear. "Hello, Jocelyn."

Isabelle launched herself at our mom without a second thought. "Stop!" she gasped.

"Hold on a moment, Jocelyn." She looked at her daughter with narrowed eyes. "What is it Isabelle?"

"Please, you can't tell her about Jace and Clary."

Maryse spun away abruptly, closing the door so she could continue her conversation in private.

"She's going to tell Jocelyn everything, isn't she?" Jace said with a groan. I could relate to his frustration, as it basically meant our entire plan had been ruined.

But, I also felt heavy relief. A deep knot of anxiety had buried itself in my stomach when we'd made these plans. As every day had passed, I felt like death was drawing closer and closer; like we'd been given the death sentence. Paranoia or not, it was a very real possibility where Sebastian was concerned.

I caught both Izzy and Magnus looking at me with differing expressions, and wondered whether my emotions were written across my face.

"You never actually wanted to go, did you?" Izzy's voice was accusatory.

"Not everyone likes having near death experiences on a daily basis," I snapped defensively.

"You are over-exaggerating!" Izzy shot back. I knew this could quickly ascend into a sibling war. "You know, sometimes you would think that you don't even want to be a Shadowhunter!"

I raised my eyes to meet her defiant black ones. "Maybe I don't," I said quietly.

Jace's expression turned from amused to incredulous disbelief, "What? How can you even say that? Why would you even become my parabatai in the first place if you felt like that?"

I could tell my words had done much more than just hurt him; they'd rattled his entire world. The problem was, Jace was delusional. It wasn't fair for me to let him believe a lie. Sure it was good to be able to be fast and strong, to be part of a supernatural world, to wear runes designed by the Angel itself. But it was it worth it, was the real question. Would Max have died if we had have been mundane? No, as Sebastian wouldn't have even heard of us. As brilliant as it was being an elite warrior with angel blood, there was no getting away from the fact it was a violent life.

Magnus shook his head at me in a silent warning, seeing the impending disaster. Seeing everything was about to spiral out of control. He eyes said, Don't go any further. Whatever you say, you are going to regret it later. There was a sad knowing in them too.

For a split-second, I considered taking his advice. It would be the most unselfish thing to do. Yet, I'd had enough of doing things just to placate others. "The only reason I'm still a Shadowhunter now is for you. Because I know if I wasn't here, you'd have done something stupid or irrational that would have got you killed, or not seen that attack coming from behind you until it was too late. I don't want to live in a world full of brutality, blood and death. I'd give it up in a heartbeat, if it weren't for you."

An awful silence filled the room, almost tangible with its weight. They could tell how serious I was about this. And they hated it. I must be the most controversial Shadowhunter that has ever lived. The gay, warlock-loving Shadowhunter, who didn't even want to be a Shadowhunter. The punch-line to some terrible joke somewhere, I'm sure.

"Get out of here Alec. Just get out." Jace's voice was flat and vicious.

I opened my mouth, knowing this time thoughtless, hurtful words would flow out, but a hand clamped over my mouth. The other latched onto my arm and dragged me from the room.

I glared at him, rubbing my arm resentfully. "Am I not allowed to speak for myself any more?"

"You said quite enough Alexander. No matter what Maryse says now, you've really messed this one up this time."

My breath was temporarily stolen. "You- you won't support me? I thought you cared about what I believe."

"Alec." He sighed and wrapped an arm around my waist, drawing me closer. "I just think you have a remarkably bad sense of timing."

I rest my head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry. All I want is to be listened to, to have people know who I truly am. I don't want to be someone else's version of myself, I just want to be me."

I felt his lips brush my hair. "I know, sweetheart, I know."

Magnus' POV

Sometimes I hate those huge, soulful blue eyes. If he looked at me like that and told me to jump off a cliff, I would have a hard time saying no. It was even worse when his voice became pleading. Did he not know how desperately I loved him? Even though I'd decided to give up my immortality, I treasured every moment I got to hold him in my arms.

I glanced up from Alec when I heard Maryse striding purposefully down the corridor. She stopped when she saw us. Alec stepped back, his face tinged a little pink. Although he had proclaimed his love for me in a rather drastic way in front of the Clave, he still wasn't overly comfortable showing affection on a regular basis in front of people.

"What did you tell Jocelyn?" I asked solemnly. I watched her closely; I'd known this woman for a long time, and I held great faith in her.

Maryse raised her chin and looked me directly in the eye. "I told her I was pleased with Clary's progress in training and Jace's progress in political knowledge."

I grinned. She had not let me down.

My smile widened as Alec gaped. "You lied to her?"

"No. I told her a loose truth. There is a huge difference, Alexander." For the first time in years, Maryse's eyes sparkled. "Hasn't Magnus told you of the old Lightwoods?"

He glanced at me with his eyebrows raised.

"Lightwoods are renowned for deception, my love. This generation is no different, and although your mother was not born a Lightwood, she had certainly adopted the family's traits."

"I guess this means we're going tomorrow." His face was paler than usual, and he looked as if the floor had just disappeared from beneath his feet.

"Is that a problem?" Maryse asked, her eyes perceptive.

"No," he said softly, but there was both dread and misery in his voice.

"You don't have to go," I said, but it was obvious he wouldn't listen to me.

"Yes I do." He pulled away from me completely, striding away towards his room. I stared after him. He was putting so much responsibility upon himself that it was almost crushing him. In brief moments he forgot about it, but it was always there in the background, waiting to fall back down upon him. I had no idea just how long he could bear the weight. Inevitably, he would either have to let it go, or collapse from the burden.

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Clary's POV

It first burnt with bright flames. When they subsided, the dark ash formed a shape. Or, more accurately, a rune. It was different to the ones I'd seen before. Its lines seemed somewhat insubstantial at the edges, blurring as if weren't fully corporeal. I also didn't know what it meant. Usually I thought of a word, and it formed a rune inside my head, but not this time. Could it be dangerous? Or did it have some special purpose? It couldn't be a coincidence that it appeared the night before I would see my brother again.

I opened my eyes, looking at the ceiling of my bedroom. The golden word had faded from my wall, but I hated looking at the spot it had been. It was almost as if it was still tainted. I reached out and grabbed my sketchpad and pencil from my beside table. Carefully, I etched the Mark from my dream onto the page. It didn't work; the Mark in my dream had been almost alive and shimmering, this one was dead and lifeless.

This time, I took my stele, and traced it over the lines I'd drawn. I yelped as the paper ignited before my eyes. I hadn't even completed the rune.

Obviously, this rune was incredibly dangerous then. I looked down at the skin on my arm for a second. Perhaps it would only work on a Shadowhunter. A ghastly image of my skin charring and melting rose in my mind, and I quickly put my stele away. Curious as I may be, I was definitely not suicidal.

Maybe I could use it on my brother, I thought bitterly. It would certainly be an appropriate way for him to die; fire consuming him, dragging him into Hell, where he would burn for an eternity.

Okay, title significance is the different family relations- Jonathan's attitude towards Jace and Clary, Jocelyn and Clary's strained relationship, Maryse's love for her children and Clary's attitude towards Jonathan.

I may write another chapter before Freedom from Exams day, i.e. June 24th, but don't count on it. On the plus side, it will probably be an exciting chapter when it does get written; they FINALLY meet Jonathan Morgenstern again.

I would love to get 50 reviews for this chapter; only 4 to go!

Thank you for reading, BlackHeartedTigress xo.