Me: To mermaid12108- Thanks for taking the time to review! I'm glad you enjoyed Max and Alec and hope you like the rest of the story as well.

Chapter 15

The room felt like it was going to explode.

Jocelyn looked as though she wanted to faint. Luke instinctively grabbed Jocelyn's arm. Izzy and Alec both exclaimed What? and Magnus let out a single breath of 'Oh, hell.'

Max looked like he wanted to cry as he recounted his story. Jace considered himself lucky that everyone was focused on Max, otherwise they might've noticed his lack of response at the news.

While Max explained, Jace's mind was reeling with ideas. If Jonathan was responsible for this, what did he want? What magic was he using that made it so Magnus couldn't track Clary? And how did he manage to cover his tracks so that Luke couldn't sense another person had even been in the room?

Jace snapped back to the conversation as he heard Max stop talking. ''Where is he, Max?'' Alec growled. He was shaking. He wants to kill Jonathan, Jace thought. He was glad.

Max interpreted the look on Alec's face as well. ''I don't think he did this!'' he protested.

''Max,'' Isabelle said sharply. ''You of all people know what Sebastian-''

''He's not Sebastian anymore!'' Max shouted.

''You don't know-''

''Yes I do!'' Max stomped his foot in anger. ''Do you honestly think I would've let him out if I thought he was the same person who killed me and hurt everyone? Do you think Clary would?'' Max was trembling in anger. ''She decided to rescue him-''

''That doesn't make it a good idea!''

''Stop!'' Jocelyn's voice cut through them all like iron. They all froze as they waited for her to speak again. She had face buried in her hands, but she straightened as she spoke. Her face was pale. ''Max, do you know where Jonathan is?'' She asked carefully. Max nodded. ''Will you please show us?''

Max looked about the room. It didn't take a genius to know the word murder was on all their minds. ''Not everyone,'' he whispered.

Jocelyn nodded. ''Of course not,'' she replied. ''But would you show Jace, Alec, and Izzy? If they don't mind?'' She looked at them and they nodded willingly.

''Now hang on-'' Magnus protested.

''Jonathan will most likely talk to Jace,'' Jocelyn replied simply to Magnus. ''Alec and Izzy will be there to protect him. Alec will call you with the location but you will stay back. Luke and I will stay here and if they are not back within two hours, you call us and we will take it from there.'' The meaning of take it from there was clear enough that even Max flinched. ''The important thing,'' Jocelyn went on, ''is that we find Clary.'' She looked at Max. ''Are we agreed?'' Max nodded.

….

Their orders received, Max lead them to the lot Clary had described. Jace, Isabelle, and Max waited as Alec paused to inform Magnus over the phone.

Isabelle paced impatiently. The angry, nervous energy she was giving off only increased Jace's own discomfort. Max was looking at his feet. He hadn't been able to bring himself to meet anyone's eyes since they left the apartment. ''Hey.''

Max turned to Jace to show he was listening. He feels guilty, Jace remembered Clary saying. Jace felt momentary shame at the way they all reacted to the news. Max had only been trying to be a good person and give Jonathan a second chance. He had given the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't right for them to hold it against him. ''I'm sorry, Max.''

To Jace's amazement, Max bristled. ''Don't do that,'' he snapped angrily. ''Don't paint me as some sort of poor, manipulated kid. I did the manipulating. I manipulated the Angels, Jonathan, Clary- hell, I manipulated you.''

Jace blinked. He was a little startled to hear his little brother curse for the first time. ''Wait, when did you manipulate me?''

''With Lilith,'' Max said.

Jace felt cold at the memory. He remembered that dream in the Silent City, of Max sitting in front of him… ''That wasn't you.''

''Yes, it was.'' Max glared defiantly.

''You were being influenced by a demon, Max.''

''Oh, so that argument works for me but not Jonathan? Your brother, but not Clary's?'' Jace was spared responding to that when Alec came back over.

''Ready?'' He asked.

Jace nodded, glad for the interruption. Max took a breath to compose himself. He reached out into thin air and made a fist, like he was holding a doorknob. Click.

Max swung the door opened and walked inside. His siblings followed.

Jace glanced at the surroundings, looking for any sign of Clary. His eyes fell straight ahead beyond the counter that acted as a divider between kitchen and living room. On the other side, leaning against the back counter top, was Jonathan.

Jace felt bile rise in his throat. He hated him. He hated him so much.

Jonathan looked confused at the sight of them all. ''Well,'' he said, placing the glass of water he had been holding down beside him. ''To what do I owe the pleasure?''

Jace managed to keep his voice level. ''Where's Clary?'' he demanded.

Jonathan continued to look confused. ''I'll be honest with you and say I've never been one for hide-and-seek.''

''Tell us now,'' Isabelle said with a voice as sharp as her whip, ''And we might consider killing you quickly.''

A brief emotion flashed across Jonathan's face, but before Jace could decipher it, Max spoke. ''Guys, stop! I don't think he did it.''

''Did what?'' Jonathan asked. ''What about Clarissa?''

''Yes he did, Max.'' Alec looked at his little brother with sympathy. ''I don't know what he told you-''

''Ugh!'' Max threw his hands up in the air. ''Will you stop it?''

''I don't suppose anyone would mind filling me in on why you are all in my house?'' Jonathan drummed his fingers on the counter. ''That is, if you are done being all patronizing.''

''You took Clary,'' Jace said.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ''I did?''

''Do you deny it?''

''I don't know.'' Jonathan looked to Alec. ''Do I deny it?''

Alec looked like he wanted to leap across the counter and punch Jonathan. Max held him back. ''Jonathan, have you seen Clary?'' he asked.

''Your family seems to think I have.''

''But did you?''

Jonathan was silent as he looked at first Jace, and then Alec and Isabelle. Jace's patience was getting thiner by the second. ''What do you think, Maxy?'' He said finally. ''Did I see Clary?''

Max was quiet for a second. ''I don't think you did,'' he admitted quietly.

Isabelle let out an angry sigh. ''Max…''

''Interesting,'' Jonathan said, ''You don't believe him.''

''You still haven't answered the question,'' Alec reminded him.

Jonathan shrugged. ''If you won't believe your own brother, why would you believe me?''

Jace's patience had reached the end. In a swift movement he was across the room and standing in front of Jonathan, his hand on his throat. Jonathan made to brush him off but Jace had the element of surprise. He dig his fingers into the other's neck. ''Where is Clary?''

Jonathan had to gasp for breath. ''I don't know,'' he hissed.

''Jace, please!'' Max cried.

Jace ignored Max, considering Jonathan's response. His green eyes dug into Jace, a trace of amusement in them. Go on, do it, they seem to taunt. Jace kept his grip tight on Jonathan's neck for a few more seconds before letting go and stepping back. Jonathan turned around to gag into the sink.

He straightened up and brushed his mouth with the back of his hand. It came away red, but Jace didn't pay any attention. ''I don't know if Max here has told you,'' Jonathan said with a glare as he composed himself. ''But I've just returned from a rather taxing vacation. I'm not exactly in fighting shape. So even if I were to do something to Clarissa, I wouldn't exactly be a match for her.'' He smiled. ''Unless you all think she is an easy opponent?''

Jace looked to Alec and Isabelle, who were still glaring at Jonathan. One look and he knew they too weren't convinced.

Jonathan coughed again. His fingers tightened on the countertop. ''I haven't left this house since coming here with Max and Clarissa,'' he continued. ''Haven't had the strength to go upstairs, let alone make my way to the werewolf's bookstore.''

All of them had the same reaction to that last sentence. ''Werewolf's bookstore?'' Isabelle asked carefully.

Jonathan waved his hand. ''Bookstore, porn shop- whatever you call that hovel.'' He raised an eyebrow at their expressions. ''That's where Clarissa lives, isn't it? With the wolf and her mother?''

Jace sighed impatiently as Max smiled in triumph. ''Told ya,'' he said. Jonathan looked confused as to what proved his innocence, but nobody offered to inform him of Clary's recent move. Jace considered the possibility of Jonathan lying while Max dug in his pocket for Clary's drawing. ''Do you know what this is?'' He asked, handing the paper to Jace across the kitchen counter, who then held it up for Jonathan.

Jonathan took the paper and frowned at it. ''No,'' he said. ''Why?''

''I've seen you think of it,'' Max explained.

''Yes, and while on that subject,'' Alec cut in. ''Why is our brother dreaming of you and seeing your thoughts?''

''I make a good impression?'' As they all glared at him, Jonathan went on, ''Ask the Angels. For some reason, they established a mind link between us. I've done it before with people. Basically, Maxy and I have our own little private chat room.'' He smiled again. ''You don't like?''

''Dissolve it.''

''Sure! Just get me a knife and I'll cut the server right out of his head.''

''How about I-''

''Alec!'' Max snapped. He turned back to Jonathan. ''The picture?''

Jonathan shrugged again. ''If I've seen it before, I don't remember. Is it one of Clarissa's runes?''

''How do you know that?'' Jace demanded. Jonathan held up his hands calmly.

''Just trying to put the pieces together, brother dear.''

''Don't call me that.'' Jonathan smiled, the kind of smile that made Jace think his eyes were about to flash black. Jace had reached his limit of being able to stomach being in his presence. He snatched the paper back and crumpled it into his fist. He walked back around the counter. ''Let's go, guys.''

Alec caught his arm. ''What about…?'' he whispered.

''What about what, Alec?'' Max asked accusingly.

Alec bit his lip and looked at Jonathan, who had propped his chin on his hand to give the appearance of being interested in what Alec was about to say. ''Nothing,'' Alec finished.

Isabelle grabbed Max's shoulder and guided him out the door. ''Lovely visit!'' Jonathan called after them all. ''Let's not do it again anytime soon!''

Me: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you can, please leave a review!