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January 08, 1989

Valentine reached for the phone with an unsteady hand and dialed the all too familiar number. After a mundane exchange with the guard that answered the phone there was an unbearably long pause as Valentine waited for his mother.

"Valentine what have you done?" Her voice was cold and menacing. A shiver coursed through Valentine's body. There weren't many reasons he'd call her so late or from this location, it was blatantly obvious something was wrong.

"It didn't go according to plan." Valentine responded clearly, with no waver to his voice, though his heart was hammering away in his chest.

"Valentine?" She questioned harshly. He swallowed hard.

"Stephen was in the vehicle with Amatis and the baby…not Celine…the baby is still alive…completely fine…He's with Starkweather at the moment…" Valentine attempted to sound strong and confident, but he knew his mother could hear the apprehension in his voice. The phone was silent, completely silent, for much too long.

"…Mother what do I do?" Valentine asked with a touch of desperation.

"I can hear the fear and anxiety in your voice Valentine, it's not becoming. I won't always be here for you to seek counsel from. It appears you're not nearly as ready as your father thought to plan and execute a mission of your own. At what point did you honestly think removing the child from the scene of the accident would be advantageous at all?" Her words were sharp and cutting.

"He was alive, barely a scratch, the vehicle was on fire, they couldn't leave him there, I couldn't let them just leave him there."

"Jocelyn and that baby are making you weak Valentine. You should have just left the child there. Now I have to clean up your mess!" She scolded harshly.

"They weren't even supposed to be in the vehicle." Valentine argued.

"How much do you really think that matters to me?...Somebody will call you later at home to break the news to you about the accident. Practice acting solemn. You can schedule a flight home after you get the call…Keep your mouth shut…I'll speak with you further when you get here." She hung up the phone without another word.

Seraphina looked up at her husband as he walked into the room. She still held one hand on the receiver. He furrowed his eyebrows at her in almost a reprimanding way.

"I was in the middle of a rather important meeting My Dear. This couldn't wait?" Seraphina took a deep breath and sat back in her chair as she shook her head.

"Victor, we have a pressing family matter at hand that needs immediate attention." Victor paced across the room and stood behind his wife, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm listening."

"Celine wasn't in the vehicle, but Stephen and Amatis were." He nodded.

"So, Valentine's ready for more responsibility and Michael's little experiment worked?" She shook her head.

"Hardly…Anything that doesn't go completely according to plan I see as an absolute failure…Although, I could really care less Amatis was in the vehicle as opposed to Celine."

"I'm not seeing the urgency My Dear. We can deal with Celine later."

"That's not the issue. It appears the baby survived and your suddenly oversensitive son took it upon himself to have the child removed from the scene…He's with Starkweather at the moment." She glanced over her shoulder at her husband. He nodded slowly.

"Well, we can't have an unaccounted for child, and returning him to Michael is pointless. If he catches wind of what happened it will push him away from us further… I don't suppose you wish to kill the child now?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"I do have some boundaries Dear…Even the guards don't have the stomach to kill a baby in cold blood…Besides…He is a Wayland after all." He chuckled.

"Fine. We'll need another child then."

"Mortmain is in town…Senior, not Axel himself, but he's here with one of Axel's adult sons and an infant…We already have his vehicle tailed. We could attack when the infant is in the car…Two birds with one stone…It would also make a nice decoy accident should Michael notice one of his devices missing." She said thoughtfully with one eyebrow raised. He had a calculating expression on his face.

"We don't have much time…Michael's sure to notice Amatis missing soon enough. Make the call, see if can be done quickly…"


December 16, 1989

Seraphina was led into the poorly lit library with four guards trailing closely behind her and two additional guards scurrying in front of her.

"It appears I've finally died and gone to hell." An almost amused deep masculine voice echoed from well within the room. A bright fire burned in the fireplace popping and crackling behind the silhouette of the man, the only real noise in the eerily quiet place, the only light as well.

"Now Axel is that anyway to great a guest?" She responded sarcastically. The man snorted.

"On a first name basis are we? If you were an actual guest I would be more welcoming, but without any warning at all you show up on my doorstep in the middle of the night; you're more closely regarded as an intruder." He countered just as sarcastically. Seraphina walked the full distance across the room. As she approached she could see he was dressed casually in a dark colored robe with slippers. A cigar burned in his hand as his other hand rested in his pocket.

"I'm here to negotiate Mr. Mortmain." He nodded and gestured for her to take a seat not far from him; he stood just in front of a plush recliner. She sat at the edge of a firm leather wingback chair, her ankles crossed, her purse held tightly in her lap. Had the guards not been so thorough she might still have a pistol in the lining of her purse, another in the inseam of her jacket, and a dagger in her cleavage, but alas, they were very ungentlemanly. Axel sat back in his chair.

"You're a very long way from home Mrs. Morgenstern and I can't help but notice you've come alone." He stated quizzically. It was apparent, but still very curious.

"Obviously." She said simply. He nodded.

"Well go on then." He took a puff of his cigar and let the smoke out slowly.

"May we speak in private?" She questioned as she diverted her gaze to the half a dozen guards standing silently in the room. He smirked and jerked his head at the guards.

"Leave us…" They quietly exited the library.

"…Privacy." He said lightly as he took another puff from his cigar.

"I wish to end this feud." Seraphina stated matter-of-factly. He nodded slowly.

"Which feud would that be?" The sarcasm was heavy in his tone. She made a slightly irritated noise in the back of her throat.

"Mr. Mortmain, work with me here."

"Doll, you can't blame me for not being able to read your mind." He said with a smirk. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You killed my husband!" She snapped. He shook his head.

"Oh my. I hadn't heard your husband had passed. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss." He was obviously suppressing a laugh as he took another puff of his cigar.

"You rather keep playing this deadly game? Fine. The next family member you lose may very well be your wife!" She spat. Though, an open threat wasn't smart. She stood up flustered and turned to walk away.

"Seraphina, come back." He called after her. She shook her head as she hastily paced towards the door.

"You killed my father. What did you think I'd do?" He snapped harshly as he stood up. She stopped in her tracks. It was completely taboo to come so close to divulging the truth. She turned slowly.

"So you admit you killed my husband?" She asked cautiously.

"No more than you'd admit you killed my father…" An eerie silence fell between the two.

"…I want my grandson back." Axel snarled abruptly. She shook her head. She knew this could get her killed, but she was taking a dangerous chance.

"He's dead Axel." Her words were even no feeling behind them at all.

"You're lying." He growled. She paced back into the room and took a deep breath.

"I have no reason to lie. I can return the remains of the child to you, but the child is deceased." He took an uneasy step backwards as he sat back in the chair.

"Why? He was just a baby." He muttered. She shook her head.

"Collateral damage Axel. He survived the accident, but died a few days later. At that point we couldn't possibly return the body…" He nodded slowly. It was logical, though completely a lie, but he'd never learn the truth. It took another moment for him to attempt to compose himself.

"…I have enough enemies without you being on that list. What do you want?" She asked directly.

"A life for a life." She paced back towards him with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Whose?" She asked bluntly. He smirked.

"Your son's." Valentine had been stripped of all responsibly just after the accident, a sign many saw as indicating he had committed an unfavorable act and was being punished. Mortmain saw that as evidence that Valentine was the responsible party in the death of his father and loss of his grandson.

"Absolutely not. That's completely out of the question. I have but one child Axel, you have four. I will exchange my life for a truce between the families." He sat back in his chair and took a puff of his cigar.

"No. I don't see that as being advantageous. Valentine will just retaliate if you're not there to keep him under control…If Valentine is out of the question…then…I lost a grandson…so shall you." He said with a smirk. Seraphina took a deep breath.

"I will make arrangements for Michael's son-" She began, but he quickly cut her off.

"Now Seraphina, Michael isn't your son, nor is the boy his biological child." She took an exasperated breath.

"I raised Michael as my son and he loves that boy like his own." She snapped. He smirked.

"What do you know of love?..." She made an irritated noise in the back of her throat, but didn't give into his goading.

"…No…I want the real thing. I want Valentine's son." The room fell into silence again. Seraphina took a deep breath.

"Fine." He sat forward in his chair.

"You can't be serious Seraphina. That's your only grandchild." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"For a complete truce it's worth it. He's an infant, not even a year old. I can't have more children, but Valentine certainly can and will." He smirked again as he sat back in his chair.

"How come I have the distinct feeling I'm making a deal with the devil?" Seraphine smiled an unsettling smile.

"Oh Axel, because you are."

"If Valentine retaliates…If you cross me-" She cut him off.

"He will retaliate I'm quite certain. I need somebody that can take the fall; somebody expendable. I'm not turning this into a war with another family. I want one of your men to pin this on. I need it to be believable." He nodded slightly.

"Fair enough. I have somebody in mind. Mr. Alexei de Quincey has worn out his welcome here and has had more than one altercation with your son." Seraphina smirked.

"Perfect. I know just the man you're referring to."


December 24, 1999 - 06:30

"Be good." Michael said gently as he kneeled before Jace in the living room of the small hotel suite, one hand on Jace's shoulder, a book he had been holding in the other hand. Jace's arms were crossed over his chest a scowl on his face as he stared at the ground. It had been a long night. Michael drove the four hour drive down to the city after a long day of work not even reaching the hotel until close to midnight. He wanted to make sure Jace wasn't far from the Lightwoods, but it was going to be twice as long of a day for Michael since he had to drive all the way to Chicago now.

"But it's Christmas Eve." Jace complained. Michael tried to give him a reassuring smile as he put the book down on the carpet and brought his hand up gently under Jace's chin and guided his eyes back to his.

"I know Sport. I'm sorry. I have to work." Jace jerked his chin away from his father and kicked at the ground.

"You always have to work." He muttered.

"I wish I didn't." He said softly. He picked up the book he had on the ground next to him. Though the book was very old it had been kept in very good condition.

"I was waiting for just the right time to give you this book, but I think you're finally old enough, responsible enough..." He handed the book to Jace and he took it reflexively. Jace looked down at the titleA tale of Two Cities.

"…The book belonged to your father, your biological father, and his father before him, and his father before him, and so on. The book was purchased in 1880 and given to your great-great-great grandfather by your great-great-great grandmother as a gift. I think that's the right amount of greats…" Michael chuckled slightly trying to lighten the mood. Jace was looking down at the book. He carefully opened the first page and his fingertips gently brushed over the inscription With hope at last, William Herondale.

"I don't think you've read the story yet…If might be a little advanced for you." He trailed off. Jace took a deep breath as he closed the book and clutched it to his chest.

"I guess I'll see you whenever you get back." Jace muttered under his breath with a shrug. Michael reached out and pulled Jace in for a huge, something he never did. The way he was raised he rarely ever showed affection.

"Always remember I love you Jace." He said softly. Michael never said he loved Jace, even though he did very much. He was raised by the belief that To love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be the one destroyed. Those closest to him all died, and he seemed to think that maybe if he just didn't say those words, it would make them less true. The whole display obviously took Jace off guard, but after a moment he had one of his arms tightly around his father's neck, the other one still clutching the book to his chest.

"You are coming back aren't you?" Jace asked quietly as his voice broke slightly. Michael swallowed hard.

"Goodbye son." Michael whispered, without answering Jace's question. He hated to lie to his son, but he couldn't burden him with the truth either. He knew this goodbye was a burden enough and wasn't sure if he was being considerate or selfish in this moment. Goodbye was something else Michael never said, and Jace knew it. Michael always said it was bad luck to say goodbye.

"Dad, please don't leave me." Jace pleaded.

"I'll always be with you Jace. I'll always be watching over you." He said softly. He reluctantly pulled away from Jace. He nearly had to pry Jace's arm from around his neck, but he was eventually able to stand. Jace's eyes shined and his lips turned down in a frown as his bottom lip quivered. He clutched the book to his chest for dear life, he just needed something to hold on to.

"Be strong. You're a big boy now. You're not a baby anymore. No tears." A few tears trickled down Jace's cheeks and he took off into one of the two small attached bedrooms slamming the door shut behind him. Michael shook his head and no matter how much he wanted to go after him, he knew dragging this out wouldn't make things better. He grabbed a small black briefcase and took a note he had prepared out of the bag leaving it on the small kitchenette table. The note was very simple and not too uncommon. He often left a note for Jace of who he could contact in an emergency. At the manor house he'd often leave a note telling him to contact Thomas in an emergency. However, this time he left the contact information for the Lightwoods and instructions to call them first thing Christmas morning if he wasn't back by then. He headed out. He'd never know that not five minutes later Jace raced out of his room for one final goodbye.


December 24, 1999 - 23:35

Michael was dressed entirely in black as he walked through the basement of the Mortmain mansion. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, but there was little he felt like he could do about it now. All the explosives were set to go off in about 10 minutes, at exactly quarter 'till midnight, and if he didn't get out of the building and off the grounds in time, he'd never survive the blast. He was nearly at the stairs that led up to the hatchway he had entered the grounds through when he heard a faint deep chuckle from not far away. He turned to see a figure in a dark robe pacing towards him. A light glow could be seen from the unmistakable cigar in the man's mouth. Though he couldn't tell if the man was armed, Michael already had a 45 caliber H&K in hand and pointed it reflexively at him.

"I very much doubt you're Santa Clause…" The man said sarcastically. Michael backed up slowly and silently towards the stairs.

"…She called you know. Seraphina." The man said as he reached up slowly and pulled the cigar from his lips. Michael froze in his tracks. It almost didn't surprise him. She liked to tie up loose ends. She'd never kill him herself, but he could certainly see her doing something like this to get rid of him.

"Really?" Michael asked cautiously.

"I was rather surprised to hear from her after all these years. I thought she was joking, but here you are." Michael nodded slowly.

"Here I am."

"I expected you'd have put a bullet in my head by now." The man said as he brought his cigar to his mouth for another puff. Michael shrugged.

"That's not why I came…Plus, I could say the same to you." The man laughed.

"There's a truce between our families. The first to shed blood will break that truce. I won't be that man…So why are you here?"

"I was told you were the one that took Valentine's son. I came to try to find proof." He lied effortlessly. Very few knew Valentine had Jonathan back.

"You're not Valentine then?" Michael shook his head.

"No. What exactly did Seraphina tell you?"

"Apparently a lie." Michael snickered.

"She's good at that…" They stood quietly at a stand still for a couple minutes. Michael could just imagine the clock ticking down.

"…Well seeing as Jonathan doesn't appear to be here, I think I'll go." Michael took another step backwards.

"Oh he's here." The man said evenly. Michael stopped.

"What?" The man chuckled.

"He's here. He's sleeping upstairs…" Michael furrowed his eyebrows at the man. Michael didn't know if he should pursue asking the man questions, he could very well just be lying and trying to buy time. It was quiet for a long moment.

"…I didn't take him. She gave him to me. Traded Valentine's first born child for a truce between the families. Kind of a heartless bitch if you ask me…" The man chuckled.

"…My wife's much too sensitive a woman. She would never forgive me for killing an innocent child…Unlike Seraphina…She returned the remains of my grandson you know. Said he died in a car accident, but I have a hard time believing her, his remains were so badly burned I had them DNA tested to make sure she wasn't lying to me; she's not exactly trustworthy. I figured when that boy of Valentine's gets old enough I can turn him against his father, poetic justice." He chuckled.

"I don't understand why she'd kill your grandson for no reason, and then give you back the remains. Why she'd lie and say the child was in a car accident if he wasn't. Then just turn around and give you Valentine's son. It doesn't make sense." The man shook his head.

"Nobody knows why Seraphina does what she does." Michael's mind started to race. Could Jonathan really be in the house? Could there be the slightest chance the child upstairs was his? Why would Seraphina give any child to this man? His son's body was burnt beyond recognition, though Stephen and Amatis's burns still left them identifiable. The alarm on his wrist sounded breaking his train of thought. He had 60 seconds left to get out or he'd be dead. He didn't have any more time to think and there was nothing he could do about who was or wasn't upstairs right now, he couldn't stop the bombs from going off at this point. He had to just assume the man was lying.

"What is that?" The man asked with a note of concern.

"Time's up." Without hesitation Michael put a bullet through the man's head before he raced up the stairs. His boots had barely hit the snow outside as he heard the first domino of explosions going off. He had originally debated timing them farther apart, but there was nothing he could do about it now. They sounded like the grand finally of a fireworks display, and towards the end looked pretty similar as well. In the ten minutes or so it took him to race across the heavily snow blanketed compound the house was completely engulfed in flames and crumbling to the ground; additional explosions resonated through the night sky. Michael was exhausted, wet and cold as he scaled the fence, slipping several times before making it over. Sirens could already be heard in the distance.

He took off into the snow covered woods, falling a number of times as he tripped over sticks and rocks. The icy wind whipped at his face and blew fast falling snow all around him. Lucky for him the blizzard like conditions were quick to help hid his tracks. He came back the way he had come, though the path was impossible to find and the snow completely obstructed his vision. What had taken him months to devise and install without being noticed, took less than 30 minutes to bring the entire mansion crashing down to a raging inferno of rubble.

Michael wanted to return, wanted to confront Seraphina, wanted to know what the man was talking about, but he knew she'd never tell him anything. Seraphina kept her secrets to herself. This was the out he had been looking for. The perfect way to disappear. He couldn't second guess himself now. He already planned this out and it just was icing on the cake that she had expected he'd be killed anyway. He'd go back to check on Jace. Keep an eye on him. One day he'd find a way to be free from her for once and for all. He was barely able to fish the keys to his truck out of his pocket and unlock the door with his numb hands. He climbed into his vehicle that was covered with snow and deep in the forest. The trails he had driven down to get there were long gone. He turned on the truck and blasted the heat, though seeing the vehicle wasn't warmed up, only cold air poured out at him. He used his teeth to pull the gloves from his numb painfully tingling hands. He threw the gloves on the ground with his wet ski mask. He took off his wet coat and tossed that on the ground too. He grabbed a blanket from the back seat and wrapped it around him. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but he was too exhausted to stay awake.


December 25, 1999 - 12:00

Jace sat stubbornly on the couch in the living room of the small hotel room refusing to call the Lightwoods as he had been instructed. He hung up the phone a number of times when the front desk called and put the do not disturb sign on the door. He sat with his arms crossed, his book clutched to his chest, scowling out the window at the falling snow. He barely slept all night, except briefly here and there despite his hardest efforts to stay awake. There was a knock on the door and the door opened to an older woman with fair blonde to white hair and a skirt suit. He glared at her.

"Didn't you see the do not disturb sign?" He snapped rudely. The woman smiled slightly as she walked further into the room. Jace was taken aback by the several police officers that trailed her.

"Jonathan…My name is Chief Imogen Herondale…"


April 16, 2009

Seraphina was seated at her desk reviewing documents, but looked up at the sound of the door opening. Jonathan sauntered into the office with his hands clasped behind his back. Seraphina leaned back in her chair.

"Out." She snapped and flourished her hand in the direction of the guards. The two guards that had been standing just inside her office left quietly.

"So? How did your first little assignment go?" She asked expectantly.

"I like to think it was a great success." Jonathan said confidently with a smirk. Seraphina raised an eyebrow at him unimpressed with his arrogant behavior.

"So does that mean everything went according to plan?" Jonathan shrugged nonchalantly.

"In a matter of speaking." Seraphina narrowed her eyes in irritation.

"Jonathan, do attempt to act professional." Jonathan paced farther into the room.

"Well the man is dead…but the woman has been brought to the hospital. She's in a coma…They don't expect her to survive."

"That doesn't sound like a great success Jonathan…That nearly sounds like a failure…What of the girl?" Jonathan looked away evasively.

"The girl is unharmed as requested." Seraphina crossed her arms on the desk and leaned forward on them as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why do I get the impression you're keeping something from me?"

"I'd rather like the opportunity to pursue her." Seraphina shook her head.

"Absolutely not."

"Why? What did-"

"Don't talk back to me boy." She snapped as she smacked the palm of her hand down hard on the desk. The door to the office swung open violently. Valentine stalked into the room with a furious expression on his face, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

"Jonathan, get out!" He shouted harshly, his gaze fixed on Seraphina.

"But-" Jonathan started to protest.

"Jonathan, go." Seraphina hissed. He scoffed as he stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him.

"Mother, what have you done?" Valentine seethed.


MOST NOTEWORTHY DATES (reverse chronological order):


July 10, 2009 - Present day

April 16, 2009 – Jocelyn & Luke's car accident

July 12, 2008 – Ella Herondale (Will's sister) drowns to death

December 24, 1999 – Michael Wayland's fake date of death

December 24, 1999 – Axel Mortmain's mansion burns to the ground

May 07 - 13, 1995 – Clary visits Jace at Wayland Manor House

August 27, 1990 – Clary (Clarissa Adele Garroway/Fray/Morgenstern) born

July 29, 1990 – Izzy (Isabelle Lightwood) born

February 16, 1990 – Michael Wayland helps Jocelyn Morgenstern (alias Jocelyn Fray) & Lucian Graymark (alias Luke Garroway) Flee

December 24, 1989 – Jonathan Valentine Morgenstern "kidnapped"

July 21, 1989 – Celine Herondale dies

July 21, 1989 – Jace (Jonathan Christopher Wayland/Herondale) born

July 10, 1989 – Jonathan Valentine Morgenstern born

January 08, 1989 – Stephan Herondale, Amatis Wayland & Jonathan Christopher Wayland car accident

July 10, 1988 – Jonathan Christopher Wayland's fake birth date (alias Jonathan Valentine Morgenstern)

June 27, 1988 – Alec (Alexander Lightwood) born

June 25, 1988 – Jonathan Christopher Wayland born

June 25, 1988 – Valentine & Jocelyn's wedding day