Missing someone. It's different for everyone but one thing stays the same. You think about them, all day and all night, everything reminds you of them and no matter how hard you try to forget them even for a second just long enough for you to think clearly they pop back up. The way they smile, how they laugh, but one thing is different about missing someone. The severity of how much it hurts. Sometimes it's a nagging tug at the back of your mind to remind you they're not there, and other times it's like their existence is pummeling your heart, making the hole they left bigger and bigger until you feel like you're suffocating and you won't be able to breathe again until you know they're safe. It's been 5 days since Sebastian took Clary, 5 days of sleepless nights, 5 days of uncontrollable anger and 5 days of feeling like Sebastian thrust his hand into Jace's chest and began twisting his heart around. He was sitting at the table his head in his hands trying to keep his eyes open while Maryse went over yet again what the council could and could not do to get Clary back. It was getting increasingly frustrating not knowing where she was and not being able to look for her until the Clave gave them permission. If he'd had it his way he'd be scouring heaven and earth looking for her but he was under tight restraint with the entire Lightwood family watching over him and a very cranky warlock who kept the house on lockdown.
Jace felt a gentle hand press between his shoulder blades and looked over to see Isabelle standing next to him with a glass of orange juice in her hand; she handed it to him and grabbed a seat watching him as he drank. He went to chug the glass but almost choked when he realized Izzy had mixed some type of alcohol with the juice and it took all of his willpower not to spit it out so he could breathe. After downing the first sip and painfully holding in a cough, the rest of the glass went down easier and he nodded his thanks to her earning him a smirk and a pat on the hand.
Soon after Alec came traipsing down the stairs looking all business, his dark hair usually untamed was coiffed and parted making him look older and more authoritative, his usually hole covered hoodie was replaced with shadow hunter gear and his bow slung over his shoulder. "We start the search today." He announced pulling Jace up to his feet and giving Isabelle's arm a good yank so she was standing next to him. "Excuse me?" Maryse said sounding appalled "you listen to me young man you may be 18 and an adult in the clave's eyes but you are still my son and I will not tolerate-" Alec interrupted her mid-sentence surprising everyone. "Frankly I don't care what you will tolerate and what you won't Clary's been missing 5 days, the council has given us no news, no instructions and I've decided to take matters into my own hands. If you are unwilling to join us then so be it but Jace, Isabelle, Magnus and I will be leaving tonight." With that he spun on his heels leaving a speechless Maryse to stare after him and a bewildered Jace and Isabelle to rush after him looking for an explanation.
They followed him upstairs and into his room where his bed was in disarray and a tired looking Magnus was tossing clothes into a duffle bag. "So commander Lightwood you gonna tell us what that little speech was about or are we following you blindly into battle no ifs, ands or buts?" Isabelle asked crossing her arms over her chest. Jace had stayed quiet but was also curious to know where this sudden dose of bravado came from. Alec looked pointedly at Jace and tossed him his boots, "You have been moping since Clary was taken which is mighty strange if you ask me since you're normally the one who runs head first into a fight without a lick of preparation, and I am not about to sit back and watch Sebastian completely destroy you while Clary is sitting alone somewhere with that creep." Alec looked tired and ragged but underneath all of that Jace saw his will to fight, his need to get his best friend back and the kind of look one only gets with an extreme lust for blood. "Now, now children behave, we have exactly 1 hour until we leave so make sure you have everything because the Clave will be more than a little annoyed we're doing this and won't tolerate a return trip." Magnus stated draping one arm over Alec while holding what looked like a makeup bag in his other hand. "I thought you said we were leaving tonight?" Isabelle asked running a hand through her long hair. "Plans change sweetheart now pack your things and meet me at the bottom of the stairwell in an hour." Magnus said shooing Jace and Isabelle into the hall and closing the door behind them.
"I hate this short notice crap." Izzy grumbled kicking the trim, "You wear the same three outfits anyways how much can you have to get ready?" Jace teased. "You watch your moth pretty boy or your face is gonna go from a ten to a four real quick." She retorted. Jace lifted his hands in mock surrender and walked backwards to the door his room not taking his eyes off Izzy until he was safely behind the closed door.
He hurriedly began throwing shirts and pants into a small bag and grabbed one of the sweaters Clary always borrowed. It unraveled in his hand and something dropped to the floor, leaning down he saw the chain sticking out from just under the bed. He pulled at it and lifted it in front of his nose, it was the necklace Clary always wore, and his ring dangled heavily on the end. She must have taken it off the last night they were together. He thought to himself pulling it over his head. After double checking and then triple checking that he had everything and all of his gear was on, bag in hand he made his way to the bottom of the stairs.
Everyone was already waiting for him, Izzy leaning against the door her arms crossed over her chest, her whip resting against her hip. Alec and Magnus stood next her standing almost arm's length apart probably because Maryse and Robert Lightwood were standing nearby looking extremely annoyed but they kept their mouths firmly shut. Finally after 5 days of not feeling anything but devastated Jace smiled, he was finally going to find Clary and know that she was safe and he was finally going to kill Sebastian.
So please leave me some feedback, it would be much appreciated! Also thank you to everyone who's been leaving comments it makes me insanely happy and keeps me motivated to continue on with the story and the next chapter I'll be giving a few shout outs to my biggest supporters ;) Also I thought some of you might be excited that I updated quicker than usual :)