A/N: Hey everyone! It's Friday! Meaning the weekend is finally here! Yay!
Thanks to everyone who recently favorite and followed this story. Hope you're all enjoying it so far. A shout out to my reviewers, you all are just amazing your comments kept me motivated to keep on writing which is important as we are getting close to the climax of the story.
As you may notice the chapter shrunk a bit well there is a good reason for that. We are winding down to the end and I just finished outlining the rest of the story. Yay! So by the way it turned out some may be shorter than some of my longer chapters.
Anyways here's chapter 14! Enjoy!
) Chapter 14 (
Many hours later Alec, Jace and Isabelle still stood hunched over the table studying the map. They were all so entranced with puzzling out where Clary could be that they did not even notice the sunset or the moon rise.
Isabelle took a deep breath, "What do you guys think?"
Alec dropped down into a chair, "Well were down to five places all equally probable. At this point it would be best to visit all of them."
She shook her head, "We don't have that kind of time. You heard the shadowhunter's, the ball is going to be in two days."
Jace kept his gaze glued to one spot on the map, "I'll go."
"Jace you cant…"
"I'm going to Izzy." He took one last glance at the map and headed out, "It's my fault. I let him take her…I will bring her back."
XxXx
Jonathon's gaze narrowed, "Clarissa."
Clary darted forward and grabbed the collar of his shirt pulling him down to her eye level. The words she spoke dripped with anger, "I never imagined you would sink so low. We're family are we not?"
"Let me remind you Clary that you brought this down upon yourself. Refusing to step up and take responsibility for what you were made to do. To take down the shadowhunting world."
She was so frustrated that her arms quivered, "I gave you my answer. Yet you went behind my back, using my rune. Did you enjoy watching me suffer like mother? Did you gain…"
He cut her off, "I dare you to say another word…"
She just rolled her eyes, "You think I care. I'm sure you reveled in the fact that for once you could control me. To have the ability to tell me what to do."
He grabbed one of her wrists tightening his grip, "Watch your mouth Clarissa."
She ignored the pain from her abused limb, "Again with Clarissa. You know very well that mother always called me that. Is it your way to feel close to mother? You know why father put that rune on her?"
His other hand grabbed hold of her neck, "Stop!"
Her captured wrist was now numb. "You really believe that mother loved you." She chuckled, "Well you are horribly mistaken. Mother could not bear the sight of you. The only time she ever showed you any affection was under that rune."
He released her and grabbed her arms, "Shut up! You don't know anything!"
She would have imprints of his fingers on her arms for sure, "You don't know anything of what love really is, all you've ever experienced was nothing but a lie. You will never know what it means to be loved."
His silence only proved her statement and it just made her smirk, "Oh brother doesn't the truth hurt."
His voice rose again, "Oh and you do. You may be bound to him but that doesn't mean he loves you."
She slipped from his grasp swinging her leg out to make contact with the back of his legs causing his knees to buckle. Then she took the moment to charge into him knocking him backwards. "That's another thing you bastard. How dare you sneak in my mind!"
He shoved her away with so much force. Clary was thrown into a shelf along the wall, "You've always been a sneaky brat little sister. You know father's rules; everything must be reported to him. Yet, you had the guts to keep secrets from him."
She stood up rolling her shoulders back in an attempt to relieve the tension from the impact, "At least I'm not a cry baby." She held an envelope opener that had fallen from the shelf. "So I'm not allowed peace of mind." Flipping the blade onto the palm of her hand she brought her arm back and threw it. "But you are!"
Not expecting the object he didn't move and as a result it impaled into his shoulder. His brow furrowed as he pulled the metal object out. Letting it fall to his feet his gaze lifted to land on Clary, who stood with the stele in her hand. "At least I know my place. You ungrateful girl!"
Clary disappeared from where she stood and reappeared on Jonathon's back. She latched one arm around catching him in a headlock and then brought the tip of the stele to his neck. "You will never win." The tip dug into his skin causing a bead of blood to appear. "Get that through your thick skull. Father doesn't need you as much as he needs me. If I die, you might as well tag along, because without me, father will make your life a living hell."
He charged backwards crashing into the wall behind him. Clary had slipped away just in time and gracefully landed in a crouched stance.
Jonathon had about enough of her games. He darted forward pinning her into the opposite wall, his forearm pressing into her collarbone, "You may have gotten out, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you flounce away from your duty."
She tilted her head smirking, "Whoever said I was running away."
Clary noted a split second look of surprise cross his eyes—when did she become such a good liar. The moment the man walked through the door she figured out that the answer to her problem was not to run away, but simply play along until the opportune moment. That's when she would unleash her vengeance on those that don't deserve to see the light of day.
The pair of siblings glared at each other silently. Neither one making a move to attack or continue conversing. Someone clearing their throat turned their complete attention to the door where Sarah stood, "My Lord your father wishes to meet with you before dinner is served and my lady it is time you get ready."
Jonathon let go of Clary and gave her a strong shove, which she returned with a punch to his arm.
Clary grinned at the woman, "Come Sarah I will need your help and Jonathon." She turned to her brother who now glared at her, "See you at dinner." He turned on his heel and marched out of the room slamming the door shut on his way out. Turning to the older woman she noticed the look of surprise she held. "Don't mind him Sarah. He's just cranky because I beat him at his own game. Now come, we have much to discuss." She turned and led the way into the closet.
XxXx
Jace sat in his room staring down at the stele in his hand. "Who are you Clary?" If someone asked him that a month ago he would have easily been able answer the question.
Clarissa Morgenstern, now that's a whole different story, yet they're the same person. After hearing of Clary's past that day in Idris he came to terms with the fact that he really didn't know who she was, half shadowhunter, and the daughter of Valentine Morgenstern.
What about his parents? How much did he know them? At this point not much, except that they were willingly involved with Valentine and the Circle. He sighed rubbing his temple. There were still so many holes in both stories and it was really beginning to frustrate him.
Though nothing would deny the fact that he screwed up big time. Letting his anger get the best of him and in turn pushing the fault of his parent's death on Clary. Eventually the frustration faded, making him realize his mistake…Isabelle should have just let Simon beat the shit out of him. Jace felt pretty sure it would have hurt a lot less than the guilt currently hanging over his head.
Jace stepped into the closet and proceeded to change and pack. Sitting around any longer would not bring Clary back and he was an idiot to have thought otherwise.
Never would he have imagined having fallen so hard for someone in such a short time. He couldn't deny the fact that lately he yearned for her presence. He was doomed the moment he ran into Clary outside the club. Even then he couldn't explain what it was about her that held his attention that night. Shrugging it off as a spur of the moment feeling he ended up cursed with her presence the following day in his very own kitchen, courtesy of Isabelle.
It was anything but a curse. Clary brought new meaning into his life that and emotions that he had long believed to be dead. From that day he looked forward to spending time with her and now he wanted nothing but have her back again.
He had made his way into the weapons room when Isabelle found him. She stood leaning against the doorway, "Where are you planning to go?"
He grabbed a set of daggers from a drawer, "Of the places left three are relatively close together. So to avoid wasting time, I'll try those three first and then the ones furthest apart from each other."
Isabelle grabbed a bag off a shelf near her and moved next to him reaching for a dagger, "I'm coming with you."
He slammed the drawer shut, "You need to stay here."
She pulled the drawer open again, "It will be faster if I go with you."
Jace zipped his bag shut, "I know. Not that I wouldn't mind company, but like you said it's getting really close to the ball. Our numbers here are low enough as it is, so no you can't come."
Isabelle sighed and stepped closer pulling him into a hug, "Fine. Just promise me that you wont get yourself killed."
He held her close, "I promise." Letting her go he grabbed his carry bag, "If I don't make it back to the Institute go ahead and head out. I will meet all of you at the ball."
"Alright." He gave her one last hug before walking out of the room.
Ready to leave he headed straight to the elevator where Alec stood waiting. "Is he here?"
Alec nodded and opened the cage like doors.
XxXx
Clary managed to convince Sarah to let her go down to dinner in a fresh pair of slacks and a long sleeved emerald green silk top. Her hair was left down to flow down over her shoulders and back. Apparently she had broken enough rules for a formal dinner that she agreed to at least wear the high heels. Jonathon was obviously upset and she wasn't going to assume that he would play nice just because it was dinner. So she had the stele tucked away inside her back pocket.
Walking down the corridor to the dinning hall she observed the architectural design that had been conserved over the years. In the midst of her concentration she quickly found herself in front of the doors to the dinning hall. Confidently swinging the door open she noticed seconds later that her entrance ceased all conversations directing everyone's attention to the open doorway.
Clary softly smiled, "Pardon my tardiness."
A number of Circle members returned to their conversations. Clary noticed the empty seat situated to the right hand side of her father who sat at the head of the table. As she approached the long table one of the butlers appeared pulling out her chair. She gave him a nod of thanks and took a seat.
Glancing across the table she caught Jonathon sending her a stern glare that caused her to smile. Getting under each other's skin is what siblings do and Clary felt proud that after many years she still knew exactly how to irk her brother.
"Glad you're feeling well my angel."
Clary turned towards the sound of the voice while fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Valentine held an air of command around him that had her questioning why she agreed to even come down for dinner. Forcing a soft smile onto her face she reached for her glass of water, "Yes, father. It was nothing but a minor set back." Though in the back of her mind she knew he could careless. So long as she could stand he considered her well enough to endure a days worth of training.
Not wanting to hold up a fake front any longer she opted to face her brother instead and was surprised to find that he was avoiding her gaze—odd. Yes, earlier she had stepped on some delicate ice, but it would not have been the first time they went at each other's throat.
It was then she spotted a fading bruise creeping up from the collar of his shirt. Of course, Clary sighed, their father must not have taken news of her breaking the rune too well. The idea of her father hitting Jonathon wasn't new. Yet, she still found it hard to believe her brother would stand and take the beating. This was the guy that would send individuals to the infirmary in seconds for something as little as glancing at him too long.
It wasn't until the smell of the food from the plate in front of her overwhelmed her senses that she noticed the ache in her stomach. Tuning out the space around her Clary immersed herself in several pressing matters. The first, coming up with a way to stop what is to happen in a few days—total extermination.
Sarah had brought her up to speed of the current situation. It appeared that the supposed last stand would take place at the French palace situated several miles from Paris—Versailles. Clary initially wondered why the palace of all places. The location made sense once Sarah told her of the masked ball that would be held to bring all the shadowhunters to them under one roof.
She vaguely recalled them completely losing it at the annual ball in Idris. Turned out to be a little more complicated as Johnathan basically had caught them all in a false illusion, which made it easy to have them follow his every command. However, his control was now spread over such a large group that direct commands appeared more as suggestions—his ability was weakened. They are people and as such tend to need an incentive to do really anything. Hence the ultimate trap was designed to draw all of them in without the slightest suspicion.
"Your brother tells me you broke out of the rune."
Clary lifted her gaze to Valentine, "Yes I did."
"I'm impressed." She snuck a glance at her brother who gave her an impassive look. "I will assume that your time away gave you a chance to think matters through."
Clary straightened her posture an inch more, "Yes it was more than sufficient."
"Well." She could hear the tone in his voice drop; everything was riding on how she acted out her next words.
She softly cleared her throat, "I realized my mistake in trying to run away."
He stood from his seat, "Come with me my angel."
XxXx
Jace walked onto the grounds of what used to be Wayland Manor. He knew that it was burned to the ground almost a decade earlier but what he had read of this place made him curious. One of his mother's last entries mentioned Valentine's extended time at this mansion not to mention it was also where his parents drew their last breath. Which made him wonder why they were there in the first place.
Jace walked up to the remains of the building on what he assumed used to be the cobblestone path, which was now claimed by the tall grass at his feet. Not much remained of the large manor except for the marbled floors that once ran throughout the place.
"Find what you were looking for?"
Jace rolled his eyes, "Obviously not."
Magnus took a seat on a large limestone block of what might have been the stand for a sculpture no longer present. "Clary is not here. I could have told you that much."
"I know."
"So what is your real purpose for coming here?"
"This is where my parents were killed."
"Ah that's right. So you wanted to pay them a visit? Shouldn't you have gone to the cemetery?"
Jace dropped his bag to the ground, "I was hoping to find out why, but clearly…" He motioned to the space around them, "I'm not going to find much."
Magnus stretched his arms up letting out a yawn. "The answer to that question may have been standing in front of you for quite some time."
Jace stopped searching through the bag and turned, "What?"
The warlock glanced at the puzzled look on the shadowhunter's face and wondered how the other man still did not know the reason to his parent's death. Didn't he know that his parents tried to protect him from becoming another of Valentine's slave? The dark haired man then quickly realized the problem, "You haven't broken it yet."
Jace still held a confused look on his face, "I still have no idea what you're talking about."
Magnus leaned back on his hands gazing out at the setting sun, "Of course you don't."
A/N: Woo! Another chapter done! Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
Reviews are always welcome and greatly appreciated! Feel free to comment on the chapter, ask questions and point out any errors I may have made in spelling and such.
How this week just flew by and the next will pass just as quickly especially with the four-day weekend. So excited for no classes on Monday! Keep an eye out for the next chapter things are about to get interesting!
Have a great weekend everyone! Until next time!
Edited: November 9, 2012