Hey guys! Hope you enjoy this new chapter!

P.S. I actually wrote this chapter AGES ago but I've never had internet on my laptop so I havn't been able to upload it. But that does mean that this is a reasonably long chapter. Okay, enjoy!

Previously:

"Wait—" Clary said. "Do you want to go on without me? I just need to take care of something."

Izzy turned, still mid-laugh. "Yeah, but be quick. We have so much to do!"

Clary sighed in relief and turned the other way. She needed to find Jace.

Clary POV

Seven hours left

Clary had been searching the hallways for at least a quarter of an hour before she finally found Jace in the gardens. He was lounging on a stone bench at the edge of the courtyard, golden eyes focused on a singular white rose in his hand. He rolled the stem around between his forefinger and thumb, jaw clenched. Not for the first time, Clary admired how beautiful he was.

"Jace?" she said eventually.

He looked up, and scowled. "What do you want now, Clarissa?"

She took a sharp breath. Clarissa. That's what her father had called her. "Uh…" She trailed off, at a loss for words. Finally, as she had been looking for him beforehand, she'd had a chance to think. And now she understood how he felt when he's ignored her. And she knew it was cruel to give him to idea that they could actually be together when in fact she would be either dead or in Jonathan and Valentine's hands within seven hours. But she didn't care.

"You're wearing the necklace." Jace said softly.

Clary glanced down at the green heart necklace that was hung around her neck. "Yeah. I am."

She looked back to Jace, but he'd already looked away. "Look," she said, "I'm sorry. Sorry for everything."

Jace pursed his lips, turning his gaze to her. It had transformed from soft and unguarded, to hard and steely. "To be honest, I don't care."

Clary looked away. "God, Jace, you're so stupid." She sighed, and shook her head.

Jace clenched his jaw. "And," he said, "I'm assuming you're the intelligent one?"

"In this case, yes!" Clary cried. Feeling her anger begin to build, she forced herself to take a few deep breaths. "Look—"

"Yeah, I should've," Jace said. "I should've seen it coming, with Valentine's daughter."

Clary exhaled, lips parted in shock. "That's what you really believe?"

"Yep." His gaze was steely.

Clary didn't say anything, but looked at Jace with a feeling of utmost betrayal.

She stalked out of the courtyard, but began to run as soon as she was out of Jace's view, wanting to get to the safety of her bedroom where she could cry alone. Cry not only for the fact that she and Jace would never forgive each other, but because she only had until midnight to live. Because she'd never to able experience any of the things she thought she would.

But she didn't get as far as her bedroom. As soon as she reached the willow tree she'd sat underneath earlier that day, there were tears streaming down her face. Nobody will be able to see me if I sit behind the leaves, she thought.

Clary pushed the leaves away, and collapsed against the trunk of the tree. She folded in on herself, sobbing silently. Why me?

She leant back against the tree and calmed her breathing, pulling her knees up to her chest. Why me?

She saw what she had carved only a few hours ago on the tree. Clary. She kicked it, and let out a cry. Her name was smudged, but still legible.

"Clary?"

Clary didn't need to see who it was, because she knew it would be Jace. "Go away." She croaked.

There was a crunching sound as he took a step towards her. "Why would I do that when there's a damsel in distress in my midst?"

She scoffed. "You never cared about damsels in distress. Only yourself."

He chuckled. "You know that's not true."

Clary didn't respond. You care about Max. Which is why I need to go tonight.

Jace took another step towards her, so she just turned even more away from him. "Did I not tell you to go away?" She cried, a fresh tear slipping down her cheek.

"Sometimes you don't mean what you say." Was his response as he sat down beside her, legs stretched out onto the grass.

Clary was still turned away from him. "Go away!" She said, her voice shaking. "I mean it Jace! You have no idea what—"

"Shhhhh," Jace shushed her, and gently lifted her into his lap. "Shhhhhh…" She turned into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. Slowly her breathing calmed, until she finally exhaled and relaxed, curled up in his lap. If these moments were my last, it would be all right, she thought. She was happy.

"Now," he said, loosening his grip on her so she could lean back and see his face. He wiped away her tears with his thumb, and smiled a little, his expression soft. "Feel like continuing that apology?"

Clary looked away. "I know you don't care. But…I guess I was just angry because I'd finally met someone that I actually loved and then you just ignored me and I thought it was just another hook-up for you and I was so upset. And then it just happened way too quickly and you know how it's easier to ignore someone than actually confess your feelings? And—"

"Wait," Jace said. "It's a very good speech and all but you said the L word." His expression was softening even more by the second.

"L word?" Clary said, feeling confused. "Uh…lo…li…liberty? Language?" She guessed.

Jace exhaled, the corners of his mouth turning upwards a little. "No, and no."

Then it struck her. "Oh." Love. The word was love. She looked away, wishing she could sink into the ground and never resurface.

"No, I mean, it's all right." Jace said, "how could you not fall in love with me?"

Clary forced herself to look at him. He was smirking, a twinkle in his eyes.

She licked her lips, and looked down at her lap. So this is how it will go.

"I mean, I guess it's okay." He mumbled, leaning towards Clary until their noses were touching slightly. "Seeing as, you know, I may…" his breath was warm on her face. "Feel the same way…"

Clary tilted her head slightly, her lips parting slightly. Jace moved a fraction closer, then she did, until their lips were almost touching. They were sharing the same air, but barely breathing at all.

It was Jace who finally closed the distance between them, until they were finally kissing. Clary melted into his arms as they tightened around around her, and cupped his face with her hands, gently brushing his cheekbone with her thumb. He smiled against her lips, and began to twirl a little of her hair around his finger. Her heart thumping wildly in her chest, and she relished the feeling of his strong arms around her.

"I forgive you," Jace murmered, breaking away and pulling Clary close to his chest. She smiled in realisng that his heart was beating just as fast as hers. She closed her eyes and snuggled into his chest as he placed a kiss on her head.

"And we're not just a hook-up, or a one off, or—"

"Jace," Clary said, holding a finger to his lips, "it's all right. I know."

Jace exhaled. "Good."

And in those few moments, Clary was happy. She knew she didn't have long to live. But hell, if her last few hours were spent with Jace, it would be okay.

Jonathan slipped the bottle into his pocket, and his seraph blade into his belt, just in case things didn't go to plan. He had left nothing to chance, had planned out the whole thing immaculatly. He knew that the easiest way to success was to use poison—there was a chance that in a physical fight, there was a small possibility that Jonathan might lose.

But he was driven. He wanted the prize that came at the end of all his hard work—organizing everything with his stupid sister and her friends. But it didn't matter how he did it—because at the end of the night Valentine Morgenstern would be dead.

Six and a half hours left

When Clary returned to her and Izzy's room, it was indeed chaos.

"CLARY!" Izzy screamed upon Clary's entrance. "COME HERE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE AND A HALF HOURS UNTIL THE PARTY STARTS!"

Clary smiled a little, and brushed her hair away from her face. "It's okay, Iz, we can be fasionably late."

Izzy sighed and rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Okay," she said, "Maia and Aline, you're on hair. Helen, you're on music. And Magnus, come here and help me with Clary's make-up."

Soon, Beyonce was playing through Izzy's speaker and Clary was being attacked with make-up brushes. All the other girls (plus Magnus) had their make-up done, but not their hair.

An hour later, hair and make-up were done. They all helped each other into their dresses, (or suit, in Magnus's case), and began to walk to the commonroom.

When Clary saw a flicker of gold in the corner of her eye as they entered the room, her heart beat sped up noticably. While Simon unsuccesfully tried to hide his awe as he stared at Izzy, and Jordan pulled Maia in for a long, slow kiss, Clary found that she no longer had anybody to hide behind. She stared at the rug, refusing to look in Jace's direction.

"Hey…" she said eventually, after the silence between them had become too awkward. She raised her eyes to meet his cautiously.

"You look beautiful," he murmered, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms arouund her waist.

Clary smiled, and leaned into his chest. After they had kissed under the willow tree, Clary had recieved an urgent phone call from Izzy that went somethng long the lines of "CLARY GET THE HECK DOWN HERE THE PARTY STARTS IN ONE AND A HALF HOURS!". While she and Jace had been walking back to the school, neither of them could stop smiling.

And now, with Jace's arms around her, Clary smiled again. "I know." She said, and traced the veins in his arm with her finger.

"And," he said, nuzzling his face into her neck, "I was wondering if you would come to this party as my date?"

Clary's heart leaped. "Uh…I'll have to think about it."

She turned towards him, and his arms moved to being looped around her back. His eyebrows were knotted in confusion. "You're rejecting me?"

Clary rolled her eyes. "No, of course not."

Jace smiled again, and his eyes moved to Clary's lips. Exhaling softly, she stood on her tiptoes so they could kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leant back, giggling a little. Jace held her from falling with one arm, and pushed her hair back from her face with the the other.

They were interupted with a little squeal. "Finally!" It was Izzy, holding Simon's hands but turned towards Clary and Jace.

"Okay everybody, come on!" Maia yelled, Jordan trailing behind her. "Let's get this party started!"

They laughed and whooped together as they walked to the dining hall.

Five hours left: the party

When Clary entered the dining hall on Jace's arm, she smiled. The lights were swiched off, only a few lanterns and the disco ball overhead to provide light. Green and pink streamers were hung around the walls, and small round tables lined the sides of the hall. The dining area was layed out with coffee cakes, soda, and various snacks and drinks.

Clary turned to Izzy. "You've done an amazing job."

Izzy smiled. "I know. You can thank me later, after you're finally sixteen!" And with that she dragged Simon over to the dance floor.

Finally, Clary thought. She never actually knew what time she'd been born, so she just settled for midnight, the beginning of the day she was born. Then again, the midnight of her sixteenth year would be her downfall.

"So," Jace said, bringing Clary out of her thoughts, "what do you wanna do first?"

Clary smiled a little, and looked around her. "Uh…maybe we should get something to eat?"

Jace raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about your stomach, as usual."

Clary hit him on the arm playfully as they drifted past the tables to the dining area. Once they were past the jugs of blood, Clary inhaled in delight. Set in front of her was a steaming heap of what smelled like coconut pancakes.

"Hmm," Jace mused, "Izzy must have ordered from Takis."

"Takis?"

"It's a restaurant. I'll have to take you there sometime."

Clary grimaced, but did not tell him that there was never going to be a sometime. Instead, she helped herself to a large serving of the coconut pancakes, and lead Jace over to a round table.

Once she'd finished eating, or they'd becuase Jace kept on stealing pieces of her pancakes, he lead her onto the dance floor.

"Jace," Clary laughed, "I have no idea how to dance. I'll probably just stand on your toes."

Jace moved her arms to around his neck. "And you think that'll hurt me?"

Clary rolled her eyes, but began to dance as the lights dimmed.

Jace POV

Jace smiled down at Clary. He couldn't believe that after everything, she was finally his. Well, not really his, exactly. He doubted that she'd premit that.

He kissed her on the head, and pulled her into his chest.

"Nope." She said, pulling her arms down from his neck and to around his waist. "Okay, that's better."

She snuggled into his chest, and he tightened his arms around her. If only this moment would last forever.

Clary POV

Four hours left

Suddenly a screech of feedback filled the hall.

"Okay," it was Izzy, holding a microphone in her hand as she stood on one of the benches at the front of the hall. "Hello everybody! First of all, let's give it up for the birthday girl!"

There was an eruption of claps, yells and whistles. Since when was I this popular?

"And second, I would like to welcome her up on the stage!"

"Bench, you mean!" said a distant voice from the back of the hall. He sounded extremely drunk.

Izzy rolled her eyes as Clary began to walk towards the front. The sea of people parted to form a path for her. Ah, she thought, I understand now. I'm not actually popular, Izzy is.

Clary walked through as confidently as she could manage, and gave Izzy a death stare as she stepped up onto the bench. "You're evil, I swear." She muttered, and took the microphone from Izzy's hands.

"Hello!" She said, and there was a smattering of applause. Jeez, Clary, you're gonna be dead by midnight and you're still thinking about you're fear of public speaking?

She bit her lip and continued. "I would like to thank my awesome bestie Izzy and glittery friend Magnus for organizing this awesome party!" A couple more people yelled and whistled. It was then that she realised that this might be the last chance she would get to thank all of the people she loved.

"And," Clary continued, "my other bestie Simon for always being there for me, my…kinda friend?" She found Alec in the sea of people below her, her head tilted, a smile on her face. He gave her a slight nod.

"My kinda friend Alec and some of my best girlfriends, Maia, Aline and Helen. Luke—who has been like a father to me since I was thirteen. And my…my…" she trailed off.

She took a deep breath. "My boyfriend, Jace."

There was an eruption of applause, yells, and whistles as Clary steped off the bench. She was enveloped by people, clapping her on the back and ruffling her hair.

Eventually though, she escaped and colllapsed on a chair at an empty table.

Suddenly somebody whispered in her ear. "I liked that."

She whipped her head around, to find Jace's face inches away from hers.

She smiled a little, lowering her eyes. "I knew you would."

"So…" he trailed off as he pulled a chair from another table over so he could sit next to Clary. "Does that mean you're my girlfriend?"

"Maybe…"

Jace brushed the hair away from her eyes. "Would you like to keep dancing?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped herself. "You know what? Uh, maybe later. I gotta go—do something first."

"Uh, okay…"

Clary gave him a half-smile and ran out of the room, stopping only when she reached her and Izzy's room. She sat down at her desk and found a sheet of paper and a pen, and began to write the letter.

Two hours left

When Clary returned to the hall, she almost threw up. The clock. It said 10 o'clock. She only had two hours left.

"Clary! Oh my god where have you been!" It was Izzy, hands on hips and a nasty scowl plastered on her face.

"Uh…here, Iz. I've been here all along."

"No, you havn't. Stop lying." She cast her eyes skyward. "Anyway, you need to go and see Jace. He thinks you've forgotten about him."

If only it were that easy.

One minute left

It was Alec who reminded Clary of what she had to do.

She and Jace had been dancing, and she'd lost track of time.

"Where's Max? I can't find him." Alec said as he pushed through the crowd of dancing couples, his eyebrows knotted together.

"Max?" Jace said, and broke a part from Clary. "He'll be in the junior precinct. He's not allowed to come to the senior precinct."

Alec grimaced. "Yeah, I know. But Izzy brought him over for a little and he's just dissapeared!"

Clary's eyes widened as she glanced at the clock. One minute to midnight.

She sucked in a breath. Where is he? Where do I meet Jonathan?

Suddenly a massive dong reverberated throughout the the school. And another. And another.

Midnight, she thought, her head pounding. The bell tower. He wants me to meet him at the bell tower. There was the old ruins of an old church on the fields a little way from the senior precinct. That must be what he meant.

I have to go now, she thought, or Max will be dead.

So with that she kissed Jace one last time and raced off through the doors. She couldn't bring herself to look back, becuase she might not have been able to leave. She couldn't even say goodbye.

Maia POV

Maia and Jordan were slow dancing when the clock struck midnight. As soon as the first dong sounded, Jordan's eye widened. He stepped back, breaking away from Maia's embrace.

"What—are you—" She started, but Jordan interrupted.

"You know what? I've gotta go to the bathroom. I think I must have—uh…eaten…something…" He pushed his hair back from his forhead and stumbled a few steps backwards.

"Wait—you're just gonna leave me here!"

"I'm sorry, Maia. I'm so sorry."

And with that he ran out of the hall. It was just then that Maia realised something. Something she'd never thought of before.

When Clary had shown her the note from he brother, Maia had recognized the handwriting.

It wasn't Clary's brother's handwriting. It wasn't Hodge's. It was Jordan's.

Dun dun dun!

Please favourite, follow and review, and have a good morning/afternoon/night.

Delta is out!

P.S Just so you know, in the next chapter, everything is revealed! (plus a heap of plot twists)

Now Delta is out!