Disclaimer: I don't own the MI series, and I wouldn't if I could. It all belongs to CC, who is a wonderful author!

So for those skipping chapters, Clary has crashed through the hole in the church roof, where Jace has found Isabelle and the others.

BTW: ALEC IS NOT DEAD! HE IS MERELY UNCONSIOUS (because Sebastian cannot retrieve a Shadowhunter's complete life source because of Raziel's protection).

"Clary!" Jace yelled frantically. He sprinted across the church and caught Clary in his arms. He then put her on the ground, completely forgetting he was still vulnerable to one of his worst enemies.

Clary's eyes fluttered a few times. "Jace," she managed in a weak voice. "Where are we?"

Jace's heartbeat slowed, knowing that Clary was fine. At least he thought so until he saw her arm and her obscured Flight Rune. "What the hell happened?" He demanded. He immediately sent an accusing look towards an amused Sebastian.

"How touching to worry over your girlfriend like that," Sebastian said. "Yet you forget that I am still in power here."

Jace spun around, only to find Tenebrius' blades hurling up into the air and roughly chaining him to the wall next to Isabelle. "Clary!" He shouted as Tenebrius jostled her to the wall next to him.

"Since you are all here, Shadowhunters," Sebastian declared, "I will show you what my newly created Curatrix is able to do!" He snapped his fingers, and Magnus's wrists were free from the manacles. Magnus rushed towards Alec, but was stopped by Tenebrius.

"Your boyfriend is safe," assured Sebastian. "And he will remain so unless you do not do my bidding."

Magnus looked at Sebastian with an expression that could kill off a few demons.

"No?" Sebastian said. "Then Alec here will have to suffer for you." He began to raise his hand towards Alec when Magnus cried for him to stop.

"I knew you would do it," Sebastian said with a smirk. "Now summon me a couple hundred mundanes."

Alec began to stir on the floor. "Don't, Magnus," he croaked. "The Clave will never forgive you."

Magnus shook his head. "My duty is not towards the foolish Clave," he said sadly yet firmly. "Even if the Shadow-world burns in this decision, I would never regret putting you as my priority."

He raised his hands, and 500, maybe even 600 mundanes appeared out of thin air. They were of all different kinds—men and women, young and old, American to Asian. They also looked very frightened.

"Mommy," a little boy cried, his blue eyes shimmering with tears. "What's happening?"

Sebastian laughed a cruel laugh. "What is happening?" He mimicked. "You shall see in a few moments." He then turned towards Jace, Clary, Isabelle, Alec (who finally managed to stand), Simon, and Magnus.

"This is the greatest way to find energy for my Curatrix," he declared. "Mundane souls."

Tenebrius pointed his blades made of Curatrix's metal towards the crowd of mundanes. A huge light surrounded them, and their bodies were gone as soon as they had been there.

Instead of them, Tenebrius' blades practically glowed with energy. "Mundane souls are not protected by Raziel," Sebastian explained triumphantly. "And they leave no evidence behind that their souls were taken."

Magnus' face was white. "So that is your way of fighting," was all he said.

Simon had a look of utmost disgust on his face. "You…bastard," he said. "Murderer!"

Sebastian just laughed. "A child of the Night who steals the blood of the living calls ME a murderer?" That silenced Simon. Sebastian was just like his father—he had a way of speaking that could not be argued against.

"At least he has a decent mind," Jace shouted at his 'brother'. "He wouldn't just wipe out 500 or so lives just to control the Clave!"

Sebastian turned to Jace. "Do you know," he said in a deadly soft voice. "That even if I cannot take your soul, I can torture it to the point of madness? Alec was lucky that Tenebrius was inexperienced…now he knows how to suck out souls better. He could pull your soul almost away from your body."

Tenebrius turned to face Jace, seeming delighted of consuming more souls. Jace's complexion paled, but he said nothing. He just closed his eyes gently, waiting for the agony to come.

"Wait!" Clary screamed. "Don't hurt him, please!"

Sebastian held up a hand to stop Tenebrius for a moment. "And what is in your power to stop me," he asked. He said it almost as if it was a rhetorical question. But the confidence in his eyes suddenly faded when he saw his sister's face.

"If I willingly let you take my soul instead," she said in a trembling voice. "Will you free the rest of my friends?"

GASP! Will Sebastian accept Clary's offer? Even SSV does not know how the plot will go yet… :P

Please R&R, I've got 41 reviews right now.