EDITED: 11/27/14 (Happy Thanksgiving!)

I'm extending the poll for the gender of the baby. Please vote! So for only 8 of you guys have participated. It would be really helpful!

CLARY

I went home like Isabelle told me to. She was a big girl. If she wanted to be left alone, then who was I to stop her. I was going to bed.

I changed back into my pajamas and I went to sleep

I didn't sleep well, but I also didn't sleep terribly. I was thankful that I didn't wake up until the following morning, when Jace kissed me. My eyes opened.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hi," I moaned, How'd it go?"

"Fine," he said, as he leaned down and kissed me again.

"What was it?"

"Nothing. It was a false alarm."

"Really? All that for nothing?"

"Yeah," he told me," Hey, which room is Izzy in?"

"She isn't here," I yawned.

"What?" he asked," Where is she?"

"She's at home waiting for a Simon," I replied.

"No," he said," She isn't."

"Jace, what are you talking about?"

"Isabelle spent the night. Didn't she?"

"She stayed at the apartment, to wait for Simon," I explained, " Like I said."

"She wasn't there."

I had a sinking feeling. Something had happened to her. I could feel it.

"Jace, we have to find her," I urged.

"I know, I'll get Magnus," he told me.

"I'll go to Alicante and see if she was sent anywhere," I added, as I got out of bed.

"No, you need to stay here."

"You're not serious. I understand about last night, but this is ridiculous. I'm helping."

"Please, Clary, I want to keep you safe."

"I know. That's why I'm going to go into Alicante."

"I would prefer that you didn't. I want to know where you are," he said.

"I'll be in Alicante," I argued.

"Clary," he breathed.

"Fine."

"Thank you. I'm not saying that you have to stay in the house. Just keep to the manor houses on the road."

"Okay."

"Good," he smiled.

He pulled his gear back on, gave me one more kiss, and left.

I hurriedly got dressed. I fully intended to stay within the manor houses. However, it wasn't going to be the way Jace meant. I had something I wanted, no, that I needed to do.

I went over to the dresser and opened the top drawer. After digging beneath all the clothes I found what I was looking for.

I dangled the locket in front of my face, before setting it in my hand. When I let the smooth oval rest in my palm I felt a surge if energy rush through me. I had missed the feeling. It had been over a month since I had last worn it. Since I had stopped wearing it I had kept it hidden. I hadn't wanted to face Jace's questions, which was mostly because I still had questions of my own.

A MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE

"Clary, where are you?" Isabelle asked, on the other end.

"I don't know," I admitted," I mean I'm not lost, I'm just not sure exactly where I am."

"I understand what you're going through, but you can't just run away. What if something happened to you?"

"Nothing is going to happen."

Moments later I was proven wrong, when I tripped on a rock and fell to the ground. The phone went flying out of my hands. I sat up, a put a hand to my forehead. I glanced down at the ground.

The rock which I had tripped on had been torn from it's place. But there was more to it. Something shone for under where the rock had been. I picked the object up.

It was a locket. It's face had an intricate design of hills and gray stones, and an engraving of the letters EH. Something in it called to me.

Isabelle calling to me broke my concentration.

I quickly got up, and took the phone back in my hands.

"Clary? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just tripped," I told her," I have to go."

I immediately hung up. I glanced around. I hadn't realized where I was before that moment. Before me stood Herondale Manor.

When I got to the manor I wasted no time going inside. I wasn't sure exactly where to look, but I felt that I should start in the library

I began to go through the drawers. It didn't take long for me to find something. Even if it wasn't what I was looking for.

It was a series of letters. As I read them one by one I found not questions than answers.

March 18th, 1990

Dearest Amatis,

The time has come. I can no longer keep you safe. This is is the day we always feared. I would like to say that everything will alright, but this time I cannot. Valentine will come for you. Both of you. He does not know the entirety of our betrayal. Though I have no doubts that when he discovers what we have hidden he will not hesitate to dispose of the evidence. You must leave, and not return until you know it to be safe again. I have asked for aid from Brother Zachariah. From this moment on you can trust no one but him. He has sworn to protect you with his life. I had hoped it would never come to this. This is all I can do.

-Stephan

March 23rd, 1990

Stephen,

I vowed to stay with you forever, and I will hold myself to that. I will always be your wife, even if we are parted. It is my duty to be with you. I will stay.

-Amatis

April 2nd, 1990

Dearest,

I understand that you want to uphold your place beside me, however it is no longer safe. I feel you have neglected to remember that you are not alone, and that others will suffer if you chose to remain.

With love,

Stephan

April 9th, 1990

My love,

I have understood you, unlike how I had hoped you were understanding me. I will remain. I have taken precautions. Brother Zachariah has taken the task. I am the only one who may now be hurt by what I have chosen. I beg you to be more discrete in future letters. It is simple to understand what your wishes are.

Love,

Amatis

April 15th, 1990

Dear Amatis,

I care also for your safety. I had intended for you to go with Brother Zachariah. While my trust in him is firm, I know that what he has been entrusted with would fare far better if you were there. Please, my love, think also of yourself.

-Stephan

April 20th, 1990

Loving Stephan,

You act as if I have make my decision on a whim. I assure you that I have not. I know what I am risking. However it is my risk. I have received word from Brother Zachariah. He says all is well. No harm will come to them.

-Amatis

April 27th, 1990

Amatis,

You must leave. I can hold Valentine off no longer. I fear he has discovered us. The time has come. I will also be sending Celine away. I hope this makes you take what I am telling you more serious. You are in danger. Join Brother Zachariah.

-Stephan

The next letter was the last. It was also unsent. I felt a tightening in my chest, but I pushed on, and I read it.

May 3rd, 1990

Amatis,

You have not responded. I can only hope that this means you have gone to Brother Zachariah. I cannot lie, I fear that I will never see you again. If I am indeed tight I want you to know that I love you, I have always loved you. My time is short, therefore this letter shall be as well, which is rather tragic considering this will likely be our last. You will be my true wife as long as I live, and even after I have gone. My only request is that you remain safe, and that you tell the last Herondale about me, and the life we would have had.

I love you,

-Stephan.

I felt tears forming. It broke my heart. He had loved her so much. and he had died. She never did see him again. He had been right. Stephan dies less that three weeks later.

The creaking of floorboards made my head whip up.

A mixture of fear and horror ran through my body. He stood in the doorway, staring at me. I took everything in. His blonde hair, and his eyes, and his emotionless, blood splattered face.

I had no time to fully process what was happening. In a matter of seconds a portal appeared behind him and he was gone, leaving my in shock.

Jace. I had to get to Jace and tell him. No. It was too late for that. I had to go to Tessa. She was the safest person to be with.

So what do you think? What did Clary figure out? Who is the boy/man? Is it Sebastian? What is the locket? What does Jem/ Brother Zachariah know? And what happened to Isabelle?

I'm kind of setting things up for later chapters. Some twists and turns are coming.

I'm not going to say much.

Okay, so maybe I'll say a little. This week was my spring break, so I did to some stuff. I volunteered at the library. I read In the After by Demitria Lunetta, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier. I really recommend Ruby Red! I loved it. I really want to see the movie. But you know I can't find it anywhere because it's a German movie. Suddenly I've discovered what it feels like to not be able to watch things because you don't live in a certain country. It's a little new to me. But I did finally get to watch A Royal Affair, which is a Danish movie. I also really recommend that. It was so beautiful. Oh and I watched The Book Thief. I cried. That pretty much sums up my week. Have fun! Even tell me what you did, or talk about the movies and books I read and saw.

PLEASE REVIEW!

I have a goal of 20. When I get that I'll put up the next chapter.

~Lillie