Okay, I know it's Thursday. I'm sorry. I could explain, but... I'd rather just get to the story, and I know you feel the same way.

To the Guest called A: HAH. I'm glad you think my authors notes are sassy, and I'm glad you like my writing. That's all I could ever ask for. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments. I just mess with the characters, and ruin their lives.

-Sebastian Verlac-

It's all set. We're leaving in just under an hour, and I've packed all of the essentials for everyone in the back of the van, and moved all of my fathers money into an account he won't be able to trace. I don't feel guilty about this. We are indebted to these people for a lot more than this, and it's not like my father can't get more money. I haven't wrung him out and left him to dry.

Once he realizes we're gone, he'll leave this place. There's no way my father will let himself be arrested. He'll go after them, then. I'll be in jail, and won't be able to help them beyond this. I have to make sure he doesn't find them.

The last hour passes the slowest. Each moment seems to drag on for an eternity. I pass the time by watching the others from the screen that he keeps placed in a small, dark room. Other than the phone he uses to speak the them, and the screen he uses to watch them, the room only contains an overstuffed reclining chair. Father has always insisted on giving them their privacy. He makes sure that they know he's watching them, whenever he is. I've never seen the point of keeping cameras in their rooms if we're going to leave them to their privacy.

I check on Isabelle and Simon first. They're laying on the bed, wrapped up in each others arms. "Do you think Max is really okay?" She asks, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck.

A sad smile rests on Simon's awkward face. "I hope so. And if not, we can-"

I switch the Magnus and Alec. I don't want to hear the rest of Simon's sentence. Magnus is laying on the porch swing with... GROSS. That's worse! I cannot unsee that. I needed therapy before, but now that I've seen my therapist in the throws of passion with Alec Lightwood, I might need to consider a different therapist.

My eyes are bleeding when I switch to Jordan's room. He's boring since he stopped drinking. Jonathan and Aspen are not in their room. The comforter lays crumpled on the bed, but no one is in the room. When I switch to Clary and Jace's room, I see the four of them sitting on the floor. They're laughing. "I can't believe you remember that! You were like six years old." Jonathan says, smiling affectionately at Clary.

I feel a twinge of jealousy. They grew up together. Developed a relationship that's natural between a brother and his sister. I watched them living their normal lives, knowing that they'd be taken one day.

The first time my father took me with him to 'check on them' Jonathan and I were 14. Clary was 12. I'd told my father right away that I liked her. It wasn't until six months later that he told me the girl I loved was going to be married to my best friend. I felt betrayed. Jace had taken the one thing that was meant to be mine. I tried to move on, and I tried not to be angry with Jace. I asked my father if I could take another girl as my wife, and he told me she was a whore. He made me kill her, though Jace doesn't know that it wasn't my choice. That was the first time I killed someone. After that, I didn't care. I did it six more times, before Clary got here. And somehow, while I have sick thoughts about her, she still makes me better. She makes me want to be better.

I watch the four of them laughing together, and making jokes. I want to be a part of it. To know what family, friendship and belonging feels like. They smile, laugh and speak on cue. "Shut it, dickbrain!" Aspen yells, when Jonathan says something about a proverbial collar comment. Clary frowns, like she's hearing something she'd rather now know about. I suppose your siblings sex life is something you shouldn't be interested in. Yet another thing that's off about me.

I should have a family. Valentine took everything from me, the day he kept me from my mother, my brother and my sister. The man didn't even let me take his last name. He can't do this anymore. I am going to burn his life, in the only way I know how. He'll never see any of these kids ever again. I'm going to make them safe. I have changed.

Later

"It's time." I announce, after everyone gathers into the long, wide hallway.

"What's the plan?" Alec asks. I can't bring myself to look at him after the porch swing incident.

"Father is sleeping." I tell them. "If we're quiet enough, we can just walk right out."

"Seems simple enough..." Simon mutters, putting his arm around Isabelle's waist.

I nod. "Hopefully." Then I remember the problem of transportation. "Do any of you know how to drive? We can't all fit comfortably in the van."

"I do, but it's been two and a half years..." Magnus trails off.

"Yeah, it's been two years since I've driven, too." Alec says.

Jon chuckles. "I can drive, and I'm hardly out of practice. Let me." I toss him a set of keys, and he catches them mid-air.

"Those are for the grey and black Challenger." I tell him, and he breaks out into a grin. Of course he's more excited about the car than he is about getting out of here... I shake my head, and turn to the door leading into the stairwell, and unlock it. I turn back to them and say "Be very quiet. He's a light sleeper." before exiting and leading everyone down the stair.

-Clary Fray-

We are stealthy as shit, as we creep down a long, darkened corridor. The only sounds are the sounds of indoor heating systems and the very loud sound of my own heartbeat, rallying against my ribcage.

We file down another flight of stairs, as quietly as humanly possible. The longer we walk through the building, the faster my heart races.

"We're almost to the garage." Sebastian whispers. "This will be the last hallway."

The last hallway is different from the others. It's dimly lit by lamps, lining the stone walls. There's a lush maroon carpet along the length of the floor. "What are you doing, Sebastian?"

We collectively suck in a sharp breath, whirling around to see Valentine standing tall and tense behind us. "We're leaving." Sebastian says, firmly. I step closer to Jonathan.

"The meek shall not inherit the Earth, my boy." The words fall from Valentine's mouth as if they pain him.

Sebastian stiffens, his eyes hard and cold. "I am not meek." His voice is as icy as his eyes are, and I wonder if he has any affection at all for Valentine.

"You are." Says Valentine. "Tell me, son. Where did I go wrong? What made you so submissive, and weak? Look at Jonathan and Clarissa. They're strong, and they were raised by a woman. What's wrong with you?"

Sebastian steps away from the group, toward Vally Boy, his hands clenched into tight fists. "It's over, Father. I am not weak, and I not submissive. If I was, I would still be doing your bidding." His eyes close, and I imagine he's letting his anger boil until a sinister smirk crosses his face. Then he tackles his father, crashing into him with a grunt, as both men slam hard into the floor.

No one moves, as the two of them exchange fists. We're stunned into silence, and all we can do is watch. None of us expected this.

Sebastian Verlac has anger issues (which we already knew). I can see the repressed anger flowing out of him with each punch he throws. Valentine's face is bloodied; not to say he didn't put up a good fight for such an old man. He's been looking physically weaker lately, and I can't believe I didn't notice it until now. The first time I saw him, he looked so intimidating. Lately, he looked tired. Nonetheless, Sebastian will feel the effects of this brawl in the morning.

He bashes his fathers head against the concrete of the walls, even after he's already knocked unconscious. "Sebastian!" Jonathan grabs him by the shoulder, tearing him away from his father. He collides with Jon's chest, anger spread across his face. "Enough, Sebastian." Jonathan says softly. It comes as a surprise to all of us when Sebastian sinks into Jonathan's arms, and they lower to the floor. I never thought I'd see the two of them hugging each other.

"Am I the only one that thinks this is really erotic?" Aspen asks, casually.

I'm pretty sure I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. "Gross! They're my brothers."

She shrugs, flipping copper hair over her thin shoulder. "They're not my brothers."

-Jonathan Fray-

He doesn't cry, but I suspect that he is trying very hard not to. Something tells me he doesn't know that he's allowed to cry. I'm not quite sure why I let him hug me. After everything, this boy does not deserve to be comforted. I can't bring myself to believe this. "It's okay." I whisper, despite telling myself over and over that he deserves to suffer through this alone. He's finally stood up to his father, and he's facing jail time. All for Clary, knowing full well that she may never forgive him. I know that I won't.

He takes a shaky breath and pulls out of my arms. "We should go. I don't know where Pangborn and Blackwell are." I nod awkwardly, and we rise to our feet. We walk the rest of the way down the corridor and through a door into the large parking garage that Sebastian pulled into when we first got here. There are at least 20 vehicles in here, but the van and the Challenger have both been moved to the door. Clary, Aspen, Jace and I get into the challenger, while the others get in the van. Wordlessly, we pull out behind Sebastian and drive off into the night.

Good riddance.

... I'm not good at writing fight scenes, so sorry that was short and not detailed at all.

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-IWriteNaked