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Chapter Twelve
Seb stood in the corner, his eyes staring into the blackness of the wall, cobwebs and dust tickling his pale skin. Jace had sent him there, but he held no bitterness or resent. He was content with his decision and felt prepared to brave the consequences. From behind him he heard faint drifting whispers, like vapour creeping across a creek. His sharp ears tuned in. He could catch the odd word amongst the thick fog of the blurred phrases. He heard a deep male voice harshly whisper something about "Trust" and "The enemy". His ears also picked up a higher female voice counter with words like "brother" and "changed". His palms sweated, he didn't want to be sent back to hell's quarters with Valentine. He needed his siblings to trust him.
"We can't let him stay here!" whispered Jace his tones gradually getting louder and louder. "I'm almost certain he's a spy!" Clary sighed.
"Look Jace this is the last time I'm saying it. He's my brother. He was compassionate and kind-hearted once and I believe he can grow to become so again. I'm letting him stay and if you don't like it you're going to have to leave." The fire burned bright in Clary's eyes as Jace stared into them; their first fight.
Clary called out with the voice of someone far older than her years, "Seb, you can stay." A warm glow filled Seb, he had been accepted and he was loved. He felt the emotion swell up inside of him; he was indestructible. That was until he saw Jace's face. Never before had Seb appreciated the phrase 'if looks could kill' as much as he did now. Jace's jaw was clenched, his mouth pursed into a furious frown, his eyes bored through Seb as if staring into his soul. Seb felt his heart sink, it was so unusual for him of recent times, experiencing all these human emotions.
Keeping his eyes locked onto Seb's, Jace marched across the wooden floor, his boots clanging and banging, echoing around the room. He placed his hand upon the door and twisted the lock. Seb was suddenly reminded of Uncle Luke's ghost stories, of crackling fire places and ghostly moans. An involuntary shiver shattered Seb's spine. Jace paced back to the bed, entwining his hand with Clary's once more.
Clary sat up, removing her head from the support of the plush pillow. Her back aching, she slipped her delicate hand underneath the fabric and produced the tattered, green notebook. "Read to me" she said her voice croaking, making her seem vulnerable. Just the sounds of her voice made Jace want to gather her in his arms and never let her go. Jace took the book from her and opened up the ancient pages, dust flying up out of it. Clary could hear the soft snores of Jocelyn and turning towards Seb she could see that his eyes were wide open with curiosity and mild shock. "I trust you, Seb, I really do. But, I don't think you're quite ready to hear this yet. There are a lot of things Jocelyn has to explain to you before you can dive into the world of this book. I would hate to be the one to break it to you. That wouldn't be right. I hope this isn't too much to ask but would you mind pretending like nothing happened today? Keeping up a facade to Valentine and reporting back to us?" With that Clary burst into a fit of coughing, her eyes watered and her face flushed the same shade as her hair. Jace soothed her, patting her back with a smile sickly sweet with the air of love. Jace turned up to look at Seb. "You can go now." He said.
Clary settled down as the door clicked shut, locked. Jace began to read, the simple letters on the page turning into words in his mouth.
"Day 23: since then, I have administered the blood on a daily basis. All seems to be going well.
Day 32: Jocelyn is waking up every night, drenched in sweat and deluded by nightmares. The demon blood appears to be having side effects. It is a small price to pay and Jocelyn will have to endure, for the bigger picture.
Day 68: I have enslaved the angel Ithuriel. Demon blood is exhilarating but it is only temporary. I have high hopes for the prospect of angel blood.
Day 79: The angel blood gives me bounds of strength. I feel euphoric and invincible.
Day 200: Not long now to the baby and future king of shadow hunters arrives. Jocelyn's face is sunken, her eyes ringed and her skin grey but there seems to be no health issues. All is going to plan.
Day 205: Jocelyn grows ever more suspicious.
Day 213: Today Luke confronted me. Accused me of all kinds of things. Some of it was not too far from the truth. He shall have to be eradicated.
Day 217: Luke has been dealt with. He was 'accidently' bitten on a hunt. It may have been a full moon.
Day 240: Today Luke shows up. He is a werewolf. I asked him to shoot himself and he did. Even he knew what a despicable creature had become. Problem solved.
Day 252: The baby was born today; healthy. His eyes are a deep midnight black, the shade mine turn under the influence of demon blood, which to me is increasingly interesting and curious. Jocelyn screamed and panicked. But, all is well.
Day 257: Jocelyn grows ever more skittish and depressed. She cannot take the experiment. But I can. I love our little king.
Day 400: Jocelyn continues to mope. I am worried for her. I remember the euphoric feeling the angel blood gave me? Maybe that will help?
Day 408: I administered the angel blood, Jocelyn seems considerably more perky and of course, unaware."
Jace slammed shut the book, no longer caring about the fragile binding or the breakable pages. His face was an ashy white, his eyes grave, his mouth fixed in a straight line. "Clary" he said in a sombre tone. "What is the age difference between you and Seb?" Clary looked puzzled; the pieces had not yet fit into place. "Fourteen months. Why?" Clary asked, the haziness of the iratze clouding her usually sharp brain. "Clary, Jocelyn was pregnant with you when she was given angel blood. The blood of Ithuriel runs through your veins." Jace whispered looking deep into the emerald sea of her eyes, watching as the realisation struck her face like a lightning bolt.
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