Chapter 12:

Finally! He'll find out where that preacher man with the cure was, Jackal thought. Jackal's grandparents along with his Great Uncles Alec and Magnus all shared a hesitant look. They were thinking of keeping this vital information from him! Jackal realized. Why would they do that? Sure, Jackal knew they weren't too happy that he thought of humans as just blood bags, but was that any reason to keep the location of these humans a secret? Jackal pondered. Jackal made a 'come on, tell me' gesture.

"We don't know exactly where they are," Clary spoke slowly.

"Last time we saw them they told us to get lost because Simon is a vampire," Isabelle added.

"So you don't know exactly where they are, but you do know where they were. That's still useful knowledge," Jackal urged.

The group shared another hesitant look.

"Why do you want them?" Jace asked.

"So that preacher man they call a leader can create the cure to rabidism of course," Jackal responded.

"What's rabidism?" Simon inquired.

"It's a disease that causes people to turn into a creature similar to a vampire, but they can't think or make rational decisions; they are only driven by their un-sated need for blood. They attack anything that moves," Jackal explained. "Is it so wrong of me to want to cure that?"

"Why? What's your reasoning for wanting to cure rabidism?" Alec questioned.

"Do I need a reason? Can't I just want to cure it and make the world a safer place?" Jackal tried to sound innocent.

"You don't strike me as someone who wants to do things for the greater good. You're more of a person who does things for your own personal gain. If it benefits the world great, if it doesn't then you don't particularly care," Magnus countered.

"You're right. I want the cure so I can turn humans into vampires without accidently turning them into rabids," Jackal replied.

"Rabids are made by being turned by a vampire?" Simon asked.

"Not all rabids. A rabid can be made in two ways," Jackal explained. "Most humans turned by vampires become rabids; successful transformations are almost unheard of these days. Rabids also result when a human is bitten by a rabid."

"All humans turned by vampires turn into rabids?" Magnus sought clarification.

"Not all vampires, only vampires that are turned by low level vampires. Humans have the greatest chance of becoming actual vampires if they are turned by a master; however, it's not guaranteed," Jackal answered. "So far all the humans I have tried to turn have ended up rabids. That's why I need the preacher man to create the cure. I'm not doing a bad thing. In the end it will benefit humanity. All I need you to do is tell me where you last saw the preacher's group."

"I don't know…" Clary was still hesitant.

"Come on, what can it hurt to tell me? It's not like they are actually still there," Jackal cajoled.

"If you turn all mundanes into vampires where are they going to get blood? You said that vampires here could only drink human blood," Simon pointed out.

"Not all humans will be turned," Jackal replied, curtly, getting impatient. "Come on, just tell me. If you do I'll help you find the person you're looking for."

#

There's been a warp of time and space

Shadowhunters are scarce in this place

Of civilization there is a great dearth

Because vampires rule the entire earth