A/N: Hey guys, I know long time no writing huh? well my internet was cut for the past two months...but in saying that, I managed to finish this story, actually its been sitting on my laptop for the past month or two. I set myself a deadline for practise purposes and met my deadline surprisingly well, it was the publishing process that took long lolz...imagine if I were in the professional field lolz...I'd probably be fired for lack of material or something or rather. Well here goes nothing, and please feel free to point out mistakes, blatant errors or even inconsistency. I know I have plenty lol...oh well have fun reading.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own TMI Cassandra Clare owns it all.

City of Jewels

--- 14. Truth Be Told ---

Clary appeared at the near entrance.

The look on Lucian's face was dumbstruck, and that never sit well with him on a lighter note. This whole situation had gotten way out of hand the minute he stepped foot in this city surrounded by pure evil.

He eyed Clary as she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest as if she were lost in some kind of trance. Something was off with her but he couldn't quite pin point the problem. Sure she looked like the same girl that he once used to push on the swings. Her hair so fiery red that it seemed ablaze at full swing, a blouse that was once white, covered in smudges of what looked like blood, her lips contorted into a smirk like she was hiding a dark secret from the world. But her eyes seemed different—cold. Lifeless, almost soulless.

Oblivious to the fact that Clary had been possessed by Valentine—Luke positioned himself so that he was standing as a point guard, obviously he was only being the leader as to be expected.

He watched Clary cock her head from side to side and stare at him expectantly, but his animal instinct knew that something was up. He eyed with pure caution. Demons seemed to slow from their attacking stances as they sensed Clary near. Jace and Sebastian still at war with each other, the others still were fighting, but Luke fell back to the side as his eyes glued toward Clary.

Inches from the altar—stood two Downworlder children that Luke had never seen before. A boy that obviously shared the same animal instinct as himself—just by his stench— and the other was a little girl that had the face of a child. A fey child he guessed. Both shuffled on the ground as they woke up to a war they apparently had been invited to.

Luke nodded toward Maia who happened to be paying attention and with a silent gesture he ordered her over to their aid. Without hesitation Maia nodded and made her way gingerly toward the altar.

Clary noticed how wary Lucian seemed around her. She cocked an eyebrow. I'll give you something to look at my dear Lucian. Clary silently thought. In an instant, Clary raised her arms and ordered her fellow worshippers to stop fighting.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Clary shouted amongst the crazy horde of demons.

The Demons instantly pulled back and the whole room froze. Swords were frozen in the air as heads turned her way. The demons slithered over the rock face and appeared behind Clary with their heads bowed.

Luke's head snapped toward Clary holding her eyes with his. Her smug grin never faltered and Luke had a feeling it was meant for triumph. Although many creatures had been vanquished already, there still were at least twenty still standing, every attempt to try and take a Nephilim or Downworlder out—the demons failed. Magnus helped a lot with his fire fingers while Mallaertach had a few victims of its own from the quick movements only Jace could be sure of. Luke was feeling light-headed as well as the rest of them. He never knew that these pretty jewels were sucking away his energy. He just thought it was the aftermath from transforming. Little did he know that it would be only a few hours before each and every one of them lost their ability to fight and their energy to walk. These jewels were working slowly, but Clary had a few tricks up her sleeves to speed up the process.

The Demons swooped into a circle surrounding the teenagers and adults in one synchronized motion. Alec, Magnus, Luke, Jocelyn, Simon, Isabelle and even Jace, looked dumbstruck, although Sebastian was an exception. He thought Valentine was present at all times, he was completely oblivious to the fact that Clary had fought against his possession once or twice, but this was obviously Valentine's doing. Silent glares were thrown toward Clary. They were all thinking the same thing along the lines of, "Did Clary just control the demons?" Clary chuckled low in her throat as she stared at each of them in triumph. But only one person existed in her eyes: Lucian Graymark.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the beauty and the beast," Clary gestured toward Jocelyn and Lucian who seemed to be attached to each other. She cocked her head to the side. "I should've known you would steal my wife from under my nose. Tell me Lucian...how it is remotely possible that you—of all people—got to lead the Clave and got the girl?" Luke was baffled, he wondered what the hell Clary was talking about, but turned to Jace as he muttered something incoherently. Luke furrowed his eyebrows.

"Jace, what's wrong? Clary…?" Luke whipped his head from Jace to Clary as if sensing there was something wrong. Jace snapped his head up curling his lips back while his fists whitened at his knuckles. He took a few steps toward Luke and then glared at Clary.

"It's Valentine, not Clary. He's possessed her somehow." Jace muttered through clenched teeth. Luke hissed and snarled something menacing as he pushed Jocelyn behind him as a form of protection and glared toward Clary.

"Valentine…? You're alive?!" Lucian growled while making a face of his own; balling his fist up. His chest was shaking as his temper boiled to the surface.

Clary chuckled while pacing slowly back and forth with her arms behind her back. She shook her head and paused in her tracks.

"Temper, temper, Lucian. You don't want to scare the poor children."

Clary motioned her hands around the room as if pointing out the children. She cocked her head to the side again. A habit that she had grown so fond of doing lately.

"I've been dreaming of this day that we meet again, Lucian. I just didn't expect it would be sooner rather than later." She finished with a sly hiss to her tone.

Luke still glaring as well as Jace, but Jocelyn seemed terrified; her daughter was possessed by her ex husband? She couldn't shake the eerie feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.

"Well, I'm flattered you think about me Valentine, but I on the other hand, buried your name the minute we burned you to the ground!" Luke snarled.

Clary still with her smug look on her face regarded him curiously. She noticed how protective he was of Jocelyn. An urge of jealousy shot through Clary as only known to her fathers evil. Valentine—through Clary's eyes—remembered just how Jocelyn made him find his heart back when they shared each others company. Back when Valentine was married to her. But that was no longer a loving memory of his. Now it was a past that had come to bite him in the back seeing as how he lost his lover to his ex-right hand man. All of a sudden Clary laughed right out as if she couldn't help it. The fine laughter reverberated through the cave like a wind chime getting busted by a slam of a door. Pacing to and fro, Clary had her head somewhere else where Valentine wanted her: Staging an act and God forbid the sucker who plagued its doom. Then abruptly she stopped dead in her wake, and her silence droned on as did the glaring around the room. She cocked an eyebrow.

"Such a cliché isn't it? The villain dies…hero gets the girl and all live happily ever after?" She said thoughtfully. Her evil laugh trilled throughout the cave.

"—But what happens when the villain comes back for one last victory?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "—stupid question, I guess they don't tell us about that in today's fairy tales, do they not?"

She pegged her eyes back on Lucian while a smile tugged at her mouth. She loved the way Lucian looked so confused.

"What say you Lucian? What is our conclusion to this bedtime story? How is this fairy tale supposed to end?"

Lucian held her stare square in the face. His knuckles about to explode the way his fists were balling up tight. He bared his teeth. "I kill you and send you where you belong! Preferably Hell!"

Luke snapped his shoulders squared out to the sides as he challenged her—Valentine. Luke was at the ready. Clary sighed.

"Oh wouldn't that be easy, but what happens when there's a triple whammy?"

Maryse and Robert stepped out of the shadows they were hiding in. Lucians face blanched all over. His fury set to the side. A few gasps sounded from the children as they noticed exactly who came to view. Astonishment branded on their faces as both Maryse and Robert stood along side Clary.

Isabelle cried out for her parents while Alec stood near her comforting her. Lucian on the other hand looked betrayed.

"Maryse…? Robert…?" He asked completely baffled to say anything else.

Clary stood there admiring the many faces and the expressions they shot at her; most in disdain and horror, she smiled.

"Lucian…you remember Pangborn and Blackwell," She gestured toward Maryse and Robert Lightwood. They both nodded as a form of greeting, but their evil looks on their faces was by far from being a kind greeting gesture. They seemed like they had 'kill' painted on their faces.

"—they've become my favorite…spies, if you will." Clary continued. She thought she may as well explain further as her mind screamed triumph.

"I'll elaborate, shall I? Long story short, I found out the Lightwoods and the Penhallow's were guarding the Mortal Instruments so it was just as well I caught them when I did. Taking control of them was just too easy; I just had to have them. I led them to the City of Jewels to house the Mortal cup which they believed they were keeping safe, and we all know how that story played out, because they were never to know that this was a sanctuary for demons. So I possessed them right where you're standing now."

Clary looked at the many confused faces on everyone. She rolled her eyes.

"You know that compassion of yours? It's really starting to bug me. Always have to save someone, it's pathetic, really. I used to look up to you, you know? My own right hand man, I knew how dedicated you were to those around you, but you always did fail to choose your friends from your enemies. Neither Maryse nor Robert showed any loyalty toward you, it was I. If I remember correctly, they were quick to turn their backs on you, and determined to destroy you."

"You expect me to believe that? If I recall correctly, I remember that you were more than happy to toss me out like a piece of scrap meat and leave me to the dogs. I fail to see how that makes you a loyal friend."

"I did it for the survival of our race."

"No you did for the benefit of yourself. And as for Maryse and Robert, I doubt they deserved to be at the mercy of you and those delinquent maniacs you had possess them. Clary especially."

"You have no idea do you? Your dear friends were quick to sell you out, just for a council seat. Although I commend them for thinking you were one of my allies, it made the possession all the more easier. And I don't see how Clary is any of your business; she's a Morgenstern not a filthy Graymark. She was more than honored to sacrifice herself to me. That's the only way possible."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Well you're in my world now! The underworld of my sacred sanctuary. So I welcome you with grace an honor, as I too have become a leader of sorts. And so I must see to my guest that they have a splendid evening, as do I."

"You sound like a pastor on hemorrhoids."

"Touche…as I was saying, You're here on your own will. So as soon as you enter, you're practically giving me permission to take you as one of mine—control you, if you will. Any minute I can steal your body and invade your soulless body, but don't worry, I have no intention on doing that to you, it's practically disgusting if you think about it."

"Maryse…Robert? Is this true?" Robert chuckled. "You're a slow one Lucian. And please call me Pangborn! Robert sounds more like road-kill. Freakishly."

"So the votes in favor of Robert…?"

"Were all them, I only take credit for the luring of the Mortal Instruments. I showed them the path and they bought the cup right where I wanted it to be."

"Why did Mrs. Penhallow call my mother the Inquisitor!" Isabelle cried. Clary averted her eyes to the girl who seemed to be crying. She crooked a smile.

"I think that's a question for your leader over here," her head gave a subtle nod toward Luke. "Lucian? Care to explain to these children why you made Maryse the inquisitor?" He shot a silent glare toward Clary as a warning.

"Oh forgive me if I'm wrong but it was you who lead the Clave to believe you were an honest, respected man, but you left the finest detail out of all, did you not?"

"Valentine," he warned.

"Allow me," she cleared her throat.

"I, Lucian Graymark, hereby give Maryse the position of being the Inquisitor as well as the power to enforce the law on all those who carry the mark of the Angel, if, you discard all those who were in favor of Robert Lightwood."

"I never said that!" Luke growled.

"No, but it's what she believed she was doing. So it was only fair that I gave her a motive."

"So it was you who changed her mind?"

"Oh don't be so surprised Lucian. Surely you understand why I did what I had to. I couldn't let you lead the Clave to the ground, especially when no-one considered the danger you beasts carry, and it was just as well, no one should be led under false pretense, after all you're a monster, you don't belong in our world."

"Look who's talking, but you still failed to do so, I'm still the leader of the clave, and by 'our world' you mean this world of yours? Is this your insane fantasy you have over world abomination? This on-going hatred you have over Downworlders?"

"Yes well, Downworlders don't deserve to live, people like you. Animal's who go around terrorizing cities, taking innocent lives, they're no better than vermin. Pests that carry diseases with no reason to live but spread it to the first thing they come in contact with."

"Is this what this is all about Valentine? Still blaming the Lycan's for your father's death? I suppose you're going to tell me that your grand plans to avenge his honor, is by slaughtering innocent people?"

"YES!" Clary hissed, "that's exactly what I'm going to do, and do NOT speak of my father!"

"He was like a father to me too, or have you forgotten that brother," Luke said complete with sincerity.

"I am NOT your brother and neither was HE your father, you disgrace his name for your vile existence!"

"What are you going to do? Create retribution upon those who refuse to obey your orders? Take out innocent lives just to seek your own victory? I'm sorry Valentine but that's not going to happen, not if I can help it."

"That's where you're wrong Lucian, I have become invincible and I have yet to do more, it's just a matter of time before I steal those powers of filthy Downworlders and I'll be unstoppable. And I will not let you get in my way, not this time."

In an instant blur, Clary rushed over to Lucian, her speed was one of a vampire, her strength as powerful as a warrior, but the fierce and evil gaze was that of Valentine. Her Seraph blade that she held in her grasp was now seized in the air as she took her stance in front of Lucian. Her fierce gaze pierced through him as she shouted Sakkara and with an instant glow of fluorescent, the weapon beamed its beautiful light. Then as fast as a lightening bolt she swiped the handle part down on Luke's face fazing him making blood fly from his mouth. He never saw it coming. Before she could swipe another swing this time aiming with the sharp edge of her blade, Lucian caught it with both his hands and kicked his leg out and sent her flying across the room then tumbling hopelessly on the ground. A growl escaped from Lukes' chest and his transformation came into view. Huffing and puffing out from his muzzle as soon as he let the beast come out to play. His sharp teeth were fiercely snapping, as if he was looking for something to consume. Eyes fixated on Clary with bloodlust. His body was shaking with fury and his growl only got louder.

"Luke! Don't!" Jocelyn shouted and rushed in front of him blocking his line of sight. She made a calming gesture with her hands and tried to get his attention.

"Lucian, Please. Somewhere in there is my daughter. If you kill…if you kill Valentine. You'll kill her too." Jocelyn pleaded as her tears glistened at the brim of her eyes. It must have worked because a few seconds later Lucian softened his gaze to stare at her. His anger dying out and fading to nothing more than his breathing.

"Please!" She said again but this time she collapsed to the floor as her knees gave way. "Don't hurt my baby! She's all I have, I-I can't lose her too. She's in there I know it..." Moments later Lucian nodded and transformed back to his human form, He knelt down to help her to her feet and started hugging her to calm her shakes down.

"Thank you," Jocelyn whispered. Luke still held Clary's gaze with a glare and his eyes narrowed.

"You've got a lot of nerve Valentine. You're lucky this time round." Clary chuckled as she gracefully found her feet. She cocked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't call it luck my friend. I call it thinking ahead." She tapped the side of her temple with two fingers then smiled. "—One of the few reasons why I chose this body. Like I said, I'm untouchable." Clary stated and shuffled to her feet. "—Now, where were we before you interrupted? Oh right, I was killing you and the rest of these parasites! Pangborn and Blackwell! When you've finished with them, make sure my floors don't get dirty."

Maryse and Robert bowed. "Yes, master."

"Father? Where do I stand in all of this?" Sebastian zoned in.

"Oh shut up Jonathan, you've been nothing but an annoyance since you've been here; you're just as bad as these filthy animals." Sebastian's eyes expanded.

"But, father…I…" Sebastian pleaded and Clary waved her hand to stop him. "Save it Jonathan, I can't have you ruining my plans, you should've stayed away, you can only blame yourself."

"My followers! Kill them; make sure there are no survivors!" Clary ordered and the room suddenly roared as demons swooped havoc once again while the few Nephilim defended their honor. Sebastian on the other hand swiped the demons away in order to get closer to Clary.

"Father! Don't turn your back on me!" Sebastian yelled as his grip tightened around his seraph blade swiping another Demon out of his way. Clary stood there and glanced back at him.

"Jonathan? Do you have something to say?" she asked.

He hesitated for a moment and then spoke. "You!" He jabbed a finger toward Clary. "—I've done nothing but abide by you, and this is what I get? You disown me? Your own flesh and blood…" He said accusingly. His eyes turning red as rage boiled to the surface.

Clary rolled her eyes. "Please Jonathan, your blood is nothing but of greater demon, nothing of you brands you as my child, now if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to," she wavered and turned on her heel.

Sebastian growled low in his throat. "We'll just have to see about that," he snapped as his lips curled back in anger. In what seemed like seconds, Sebastian scurried toward Clary with his seraph blade seized in the air naming it Armaleis. He sliced it across the air in attempt to cut her head off, but Clary whipped around like a tornado and pulled out a weapon of her own and blocked his attack, making a clang of noise. Clary as fast as Valentine's artillery skills allowed her; stabbed the weapon right through Sebastian's heart, piercing a hole through his flesh, he never saw it coming.

"Stupid little boy, I told you not to get in the way!" Clary muttered and twisted the sword while pulling it out of him.

Sebastian coughed up blood and while his eyes expanded, they watered a little, as he realized his father didn't love him like he thought he did. His hand covered the place where his heart rested and looked at the black sludge staining his hands. He couldn't believe it; his own father had defeated him. He fell to his knees and then to the ground like a lifeless corpse slamming on the gravel—face first.

The looks on everybody's faces were astonishing to say the least. Jace seemed a tad bit annoyed that it took Valentine to take Sebastian out and he was slightly hoping that it would've been him. But something tugged at his brain as he thought of how much of this was Valentine's fault. It seemed too good to be true to be over. Clary—somewhere in there—was heart broken. Although how much she hated Sebastian, for the things he done to her mother and to her—couldn't help the fact that she felt sorry for Sebastian, and that she lost a brother all over again. The thought vanished as soon as his eyes glared at her with bloodlust. Those lifeless eyes seemed to watch her like a hawk as if saying this isn't over.

Clary had struggled to the surface but in an instance Valentine took her out. It was a war inside her body as well as in The City of Jewels. Blood seeped from the serrated wound as Sebastian's body started shaking. His eyes rolled back to all whites as his mouth opened wide. A black clouded smoke disembodied from him, as his body lay lifeless on the ground protesting against the cloud of smoke. He was dead, but something evil came to life. The room fell darker as if a storm was on its way, overcastting the pretty jewels making room for no light, but it wasn't a storm. No, it was an evil force that was greater than The Soul Source. It was more powerful than Valentine himself. The greater demon blood that boiled through Sebastian's veins had been released into this world to wreak havoc. A shrieking hiss reverberated out of the walls.

A/N:

"I'm scared! Someone turn the lights back on!" Simon shrieked just as the thunder boomed louder.

"What a douche bag!" Sebastian and Jace muttered.

"Hey! Leave him alone! He's just…sensitive," Isabelle protested and cuddled up next to Simon.

A few eye rolls shot their way. "Oh puhleeeze! 'Sensitive' is just another fucking expression for 'being a pussy!'" Sebastian retorted.

"Or 'being gay!'" Magnus added with his eyebrows wagging up and down.

"Ugh! Tell them to leave Simon alone!" Isabelle ordered glaring at the Author.

"Guys, break it up please! This is no time for fighting, leave the pansy vampire alone!" Author says in a bored tone hiding a smirk.

Jace nods toward the Author with a smile. "Niiice," he commended while holding up a high five.

*Jace and Author slap a high five in the air* (*Author shakes hand from the impact*)