I dislike school. And politics. I have been sick for an entire week twice in the last three weeks and I am so done with it. And of course, class work.

You guys are awesome. Honestly. Truly.

-Jen

Ch.12

"What have you done?" Valentine's cool, collected voice cut through the silence of Jonathan's room. The door was open but the room was dark, with only light from the moon, shining through the window. From what Valentine could see, the place was trashed. He'd been gone most of the evening, unaware of the havoc Jonathan had been wreaking.

Valentine did not enter the room, as he could not see Jonathan and he knew that he was there lurking in the shadow. He crossed his arms across his chest and waited. "Clary needs to come home." He said from somewhere in the left quadrant.

"Jonathan." Valentine sighed. "She will. Once she gets me the cup." Jonathan stepped into the moonlight. His arms were crossed as if he was holding himself.

"She's getting distracted." He answered. Valentine waited for his son to explain but he did not. He just stood there staring out the window.

"Trust your sister." Valentine said.

"I do."

"Then what's the problem?" Jonathan turned. The look on his face would scare anyone. His jaw was set, his hair a mess. He didn't want to say it. Shouldn't have to say it.

"Him." Was all Jonathan said, turning and kicking his broken bed. Valentine sighed.

"Do you know how expensive this furniture is Jonathan? Do you expect me to replace it all? It was old, expensive, handmade furniture!" He didn't answer. "For angels sake!" Jonathan ground his teeth.

"He and Clary are in a relationship." He said blankly. For once, Valentine didn't have a response. He stared at Jonathan and he stared back. The house was once again, silent. "I'll sleep in Clary's room." Jonathan muttered, picking up his steele and Seraph Blade and pushing his way past his father.

"Are you sure?" Valentine said as Jonathan reached her door. He stopped and glanced back.

"They were in bed together." He said. "I know what I saw."

"Bed." Valentine said. "or bed." Jonathan suppressed a growl.

"Bed." He answered. "She was sleeping. He was playing with her hair." Valentine was silent. "I need to kill something." Jonathan muttered under his breath too quiet for Valentine to hear, before slipping in Clary's empty bedroom.

Two Days Later

It was early on a Saturday morning. Alec, Isabelle and Jace were gone. To where, Clary had no idea. She'd been walking around the institute aimlessly when she neared Jocelyn's office. Immediately she picked up the angst in Jocelyn's voice as she spoke to Magnus. "I don't think it's wise." Jocelyn said. Clary stopped a good fifty feet back, worried that Magnus would pick up on her eavesdropping. At least if she was back there and he sensed her, she could claim she couldn't hear anything. A normal shadowhunter's ears wouldn't have been able to pick up the conversation.

"Jocelyn, do you understand the situation?" Magnus asked. "I haven't sensed one of Valentine's scouts in about seven months. There could be a chance he's found you. You need to leave." Clary tensed.

"Maybe he gave up on New York." She said halfheartedly. Sighing she added "My family is here. My life is here. I can't just-"

"You've done it before." Silence stretched in the small room. Finally Jocelyn sighed.

"I can't do it again. I won't do it again."

"Do you know what could happen, what will happen, if Valentine gets ahold of you? Do you know what he'll do to the world?" Jocelyn was silent. "Jocelyn, if he gets the-"

"I know Magnus." Jocelyn snapped. "I know." Magnus sighed. Silence stretched on. "I'm going to take Londyn over to Luke's tonight. If you're so sure there aren't any of his men out there."

"You know what Jocelyn? Do what you want. Don't listen to an old, senile Warlock. Go get caught by the Circle. Have fun." Magnus opened the door to the study and walked down the opposite direction of Clary, disappearing around the corner. Turning, Clary went in the opposite direction before Jocelyn could see her and slipped securely into her own room. She locked the door as she thought through the information given. Had Magnus really not sensed her? Had she really heard all that? Taking a deep breath, Clary curled up in her chair with her sketch book and drew. She drew her brother. She drew her father. She even drew a picture of Jace. After what felt like hours, she stretched her bored muscles and looked up towards the door, Only to gasp.

"What the fuck Jonathan!" She hissed, standing up. He stood off the side by her dresser, watching her silently. He didn't smile or greet her warmly. He seemed cold. Off. "What are you doing here?" She asked after her heart settled. It was barely midday.

"Couldn't sleep." He answered.

"How did you get Father's ring?" Clary stood up and made her way over to him. When she went to touch his arm, he moved away from her, as if she'd shocked him.

"He gave it to me." It was the truth. Jonathan had let his anger build up, choosing to tear the house apart as a way to calm. Valentine had finally relented and given him the ring.

"Its not safe for you to be here." Clary said. "If the others come back-"

"Your friends are gone for the day." He said. "The Pandemonium, if my sources are correct."

"Magnus Bane is here. So is Jocelyn and Londyn-"

"So the thing has a name?" Clary frowned, choosing to try and approach her brother once again.

"Jon, what wrong?" She asked softly. "Why are you here?" She took his hand, even as he tried to pull away. She could see, smell the wet blood on the hem of his white shirt. When could she smell blood? Jonathan pulled her hand up to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. He kept her hand there, as he took in her scent. Clary didn't say anything, only watched as her brother struggled.

"I love you Clary." He said finally. Love. A word Jonathan had never expressed before. Her eyes widened at sound on his lips, and she pulled him into a hug after the shock had worn off. "You won't leave me." He said into her hair. "Promise me you won't." Clary closed her eyes. Her brother sounded so broken. She wondered if something had happened at home.

"I won't Jon." She answered. She loved her brother but he was a prison. Her prison. And she'd been sentenced for life. After her brother seemed to of calmed down Clary told him what she'd overheard.

"I think the cup is in there." Clary said, referring to the office.

"You think?" Jonathan asked, dubiously.

"I've never been inside. The door is locked and there's a kind of humming coming from it."

"Like a spell." Clary nodded. Jonathan worked his jaw, thinking. "It's most likely a warning." He said.

"What should I do?" She asked him. Jonathan smiled for the first time since she'd noticed him watching her.

"You should wait. I'm going to tell Father." Clary sighed.

"Okay." Jonathan kissed Clary on the forehead.

"Nice drawing of Jonathan." He added, surprising Clary once again as he disappeared. Later that night, after she'd had dinner, she noticed the sketchbook had been moved. And Jace's picture had been ripped out.

Four Days Later

"Clary," Clarissa blinked awake. Groggily she turned to look at the clock on her nightstand. It was only 3am. Sighing, she turned back onto her side, hugging the comforter close to her chest. Closing her eyes, she tried to find sleep. "Clarissa." There. She'd heard the voice. It seemed to be coming from everywhere but nowhere. Slipping out of the covers she peered around the room. Slowly she opened the bedroom door and peered out. "Clarissa." She felt almost like a tug in her chest. She followed the voice down corridors and steps into what appeared to be the basement. A creepy basement made of stone blocks and filled with cobwebs. It was at a dead end that she stumbled upon the mirror. "Come closer darling." Clary could make out the faint outline of a woman. She had long black hair, and a slim body. However, her eyes were not there. Snakes replaced them.

"Who are you?" Clary asked in awe. She was not frightened strangely. The woman seemed oddly familiar.

"I am many things." The woman answered. "But you may call me Lilith." Clary blinked. Where had she heard that name before. "You are in search for the Mortal Cup." She added when Clary said nothing. "And Valentine is coming." Clary eyed the woman credulously. "Am I wrong?" She asked, with a click.

"N-No." She answered.

"I can help you find it, or get through the Warlocks spell undetected at least." Clary took a step back.

"I've been here for months. Why are you just now talking to me?" Lilith seemed to get larger in the mirror as if she was getting closer.

"Your mind was not yet open to me." Clary blinked.

"This… isn't real." She said. Lilith nodded.

"I am using your dreams to connect with you, you are right. I cannot leave my dimension." Clary felt a bit safer knowing this wasn't real. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Do you know what is wrong with you child? Why you are sick?" Clary shook her head. "It is my blood inside you. You and your brother." She started pacing within the mirror. "However Valentine also gave you Angel blood."

"It's fighting. I know." Clary cut in. Lilith nodded.

"Correct. And it will settle. It all depends on you."

"Me?"

"Yes. Your personality. How you act. You will always be strong. You will always have a heart that your brother does not. But only one can truly win.

"As for the cup, it is something hidden. What you see is not what is there."