Clary and Tessa sit facing each other cross legged on the floor of the storage room where Magnus had stored all of the stuff he had pulled from Jocelyn's apartment. Tessa held a small box on the lid were the initials JC, Clary held a stack of hand painted tarot cards tied with ribbon. They were the two items that Tessa had sensed the most life in. They were Clary's best chance of being able to talk to her birthmother.
"Are you sure you want to do this," Tessa asked. This was not the first time Tessa and Clary had sat in this room holding these objects. Each time before Clary had always answered no and walked away. There was so much uncertainty surrounding her mother, what if she didn't like what she found out. However now more than ever the stakes were high and required action.
"No, but I don't think there is any choice in the matter now," Clary looked down at the cards in her hands. Her Angel had shown her that the cards were the key but Tessa said the box had more energy and life to it.
"Okay," Tessa closed her eyes and seconds later she had changed. Clary had heard stories before but she had never watched Tessa change. Clary wasn't sure what she had expected but it wasn't this. Where Tessa was sitting now sat a boy with white blonde hair and black eyes, he was shockingly attractive but terrifying. Clary recognized him and screamed at the top of her lungs.
Tess too realized something was wrong when she had finished the change. This was not a woman's body but a boy's. She tried to change back but something held her in place. She had felt this feeling only once before and nothing good had come of it then. She knew based on the look on Clary's face as she released a terrified scream that there would be a similar outcome today.
"Hello sister," Jonathan spoke. Clary scrambled backward towards the door she hoped the others heard her screams.
"Tessa change back please," Clary had gotten to her feet and was reaching for the handle of the door.
"Not excited to see me dear sister, but we could have such fun," Jonathan had gotten up and was moving towards her.
"Stay back," Clary screamed.
"I have a message from Father for you Clarissa-" Jonathan was cut off by the door bursting open Jace entered the room following by Magnus and Simon. They all were stunned by the seen in front of them. Jace positioned himself ready to fight if the boy moved any closer to Clary who was clearly terrified. Who was this boy?
"A warlock and a mundane really, you must learn to keep better company sister. And the Angel Boy, you too have finally found each other. Good. Clarissa, time is up. Father is ready to see our family united once again. We are coming, we will get what we want and together we will restore the world order," with that the boy collapsed and Tessa lay crumpled on the floor. Magnus ran to Tessa but Simon, Jace and Clary stayed frozen in place.
Clary new it was all an illusion but it felt so real and what about the message, had Tessa known what she was saying. Why did the box turn her into Jonathan and not her mother? Clary's world was spinning. She now had more questions and no answers. There was no way Tessa would agree to change again for her, this was a onetime only favor and Clary had known the risks since the first time it was offered up. Clary had no idea what to do but she had to take action.
"Jace, call in anyone from the Institute you can trust. I think we are going to need some back up. Simon call Luke and the pack. It sounds like were going to have a fight on our hands," Clary spoke with authority though she was not sure what she was saying. It was as if someone else was speaking for her, though she knew there was accuracy in her words. When she finished she walked out into the apartment and grabbed her bag she pulled on her stele and walked back to Jace, "Mark me, with everything you can think of."
"Are you sure," Jace looked confused.
"Yes, I'm sure," Clary said her face steeled and her body ready. Seconds later she felt the warm bite of the stele against her skin. She was finally a Shadowhunter.