Me: Thank you OliviaWhite55 for taking the time to review last chapter! It means a lot. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 22
''She was here and you didn't tell us?'' Isabelle exclaimed when Jace told her and Max about Clary.
''It was late,'' Jace explained as he ducked Isabelle whacking him with a cereal box.
''Who cares?''
''Yeah,'' said Max, sitting up on the kitchen stool to hit Jace with the empty milk container. Jace grabbed it.
''I feel very under attack.''
''As you should.'' Isabelle slammed the box down and went to the utensil drawer to dig out spoons.
''So is she okay?'' Max asked as Jace poured him cereal.
An image of Clary's exhausted face went through Jace's mind. ''I haven't gotten the full story yet,'' he admitted as he handed his little brother the bowl.
''But was she hurt?'' Isabelle pressed. ''The blood in her room-''
She stopped talking as Jace's phone buzzed. Trying not to choke on his cereal, Jace glanced at his phone. It was a text from Clary. Breakfast at Taki's?
Jace texted back quickly. Alone or with Isabelle and Max?
There was a pause as she replied. They might as well come.
Okay. See you in a few. Jace clicked off his phone. ''Change of plans,'' he said, taking Isabelle's spoon from her hand just as she was about to dig in. She raised her eyebrow at him. ''That was Clary. She wants to see us.''
…
Clary was already sitting at a table when they got there. Jace was surprised at how drained she looked- defiantly worse then before she left. Her eyes looked very red, as if she had been crying. But she smiled in greeting and after being pestered by Isabelle for an explanation, Clary took a breath to compose herself and told them.
They took the news in silence. Taki's wasn't busy in the mornings and they had the place to themselves. Nevertheless, they spoke in low tones in fear of being overheard. ''Now before you say anything,'' Clary warned. ''No, I am not being manipulated, influenced, and these memories are, indeed, 100%, mine, and real.''
From the way she said those things, Jace wondered what had transpired at her house. ''Okay,'' said Isabelle, leaning forward in her seat. ''You are saying not only that Jonathan was a good person before everything that happened, but that you think he can be again?''
Clary nodded. ''This time he doesn't even have any demon blood.''
''So you want us to trust him?''
''I'm not asking you to trust him. I'm not asking you to do anything. Sebastian did horrible things and nothing can just erase that.'' Clary took a deep breath. ''I'm just explaining what happened last night and apologizing for worrying everyone.''
''Why didn't you tell us about the memories coming back?'' Jace asked.
''I didn't know what was happening,'' Clary confessed. ''And when I realized it-''
''You went off the deep end,'' Isabelle finished.
Clary looked offended, but she just slumped in her chair. ''Kinda.''
''So what now?'' Max asked.
''You want us to just…'' Isabelle fumbled for words. ''Let Jonathan be?''
Jace watched Clary's face. She sat up again in her chair. She started picking at the sleeve of her sweatshirt, twirling a loose thread. Jace knew that movement. Clary was nervous. She hesitated in responding so that Max cut in. ''As opposed to what, Izzy?''
His tone was challenging and Isabelle knew it. She shrugged noncommittally. ''I don't know, Max.''
''What about the Clave?'' Jace posed. He looked at Clary. ''If they found out…''
''They'd be mad at me,'' Max emphasized. ''Because I brought him back and then lied about it. So if you are going to tell the Clave, it's me you are throwing under the bus. Not Jonathan.''
''No one is throwing anyone under the bus!'' Isabelle exclaimed.
''Really? Cause it certainly sounds that way.''
''Max,'' Clary finally spoke. ''It's okay, they have a point. The Clave would certainly have a problem if they found out-''
''I never said anything about informing the Clave.'' Jace held up his hands innocently.
''Yeah,'' Isabelle agreed. ''We would never, Clary.''
Clary nodded. ''I appreciate that.'' She looked down at her hands again as silence settled over them.
''So,'' Isabelle ventured again. ''Is there anything you want us to do?''
Clary shook her head. ''No. It's my problem now.'' She smiled at them. ''Thanks, though.'' Her smiled wavered as a thought occurred to her. ''Actually, Alec and Magnus…''
''I can tell them if you want.''
Clary closed her eyes in relief. ''I would really appreciate that. I don't think I can repeat myself again.''
''Did things not go well with your mom?'' Jace asked finally. Clary expression answered perfectly.
''I'll figure it out.'' She got up then. ''I have to take care of some things. I think I left some of my books at the Institute though.''
''I'll come with you,'' Jace said, moving to stand.
''No, you haven't finished eating,'' Clary said, gesturing to his plate. She walked around the table and kissed him. ''I'll just run and get them. See you later?''
Clary began walking to the door when Max sprang up. ''I'll come too! I've finished.''
Clary wordlessly let Max follow her out of the diner and onto the sidewalk. Isabelle turned in her seat to watch them go and turned back to Jace only when they were out of sight. ''Well?''
Jace focused on his sister. ''Well what?''
'' 'What about the Clave','' Isabelle repeated in a mocking tone. She slapped his arm. ''You knew!''
''Knew what?''
''About Jonathan! About Clary's and Max's whole plan to get him out!''
''I did not!''
''Oh, please. If you didn't know you would've flipped out ten times over in the past 2 hours alone.''
Jace wanted to protest again, but didn't see the point. ''She was planning on killing him,'' he admitted in defeat.
''Well, that worked out great!''
''What do you want me to do? Kill him now?''
''It's to late for that!''
''Obviously.'' Jace pushed his plate back in disgust. ''Now that Clary's remembered such 'happy' times…''
Isabelle scowled. ''You don't believe that, do you?''
''Believe she's remembered things? Sure. It makes sense actually, how she knew certain things like her rune power and such.''
Isabelle gaped at him. ''You don't trust him, do you?''
''Hell no.'' Jace stared at Isabelle, wondering exactly what kind of idiot she took him for. ''Which brings me to repeat my former sentiment: What do you want me to do?''
Isabelle slumped in her seat. ''Something happened with Jocelyn this morning,'' Jace continued. ''Hence the whole disclaimer at the beginning of Clary's speech and how crappy she looked.''
''I can imagine.'' Isabelle sighed. ''I guess we just…wait?''
''For what? The other shoe to drop?''
''Maybe?'' It was Jace's turn to gape at her. ''Clary clearly thinks Jonathan can change,'' Isabelle continued. ''I think it's bull but we are not going to convince her of that. And if her mother thinks the same then who does that leave Clary to turn to? Jonathan? Is that what we want?'' They both shuddered at the thought. ''I say we let her be and be there for her when she needs us.''
Jace resisted the urge to bang his head against the table. ''I guess so.''
''You don't think the Clave will find out, do you?'' Isabelle asked carefully.
''Not unless one of us snitches.'' A horrible thought occurred to Jace. ''Not unless Jocelyn snitches.''
Isabelle shook her head wildly. ''She wouldn't. Clary would never forgive her.''
Jace spread his arms, not being able to agree or disagree with that sentiment. Isabelle gave a sigh before standing up. ''I'm going to go see Alec and Magnus,'' she announced, pushing her chair in. ''You heading home?''
''Eventually.'' Something in his tone gave him away, making Isabelle pause and study him.
''Don't do anything stupid.''
''Who, me?'' Isabelle raised her hand to smack his arm again, and Jace backed away in anticipation. ''What is with the physical abuse lately, woman?''
''Sometimes,'' Isabelle said with great severity. ''I just have no words.''
…
Jace trudged to the lot Max led them to yesterday. He wasted no time reaching for the doorknob and yanking it open.
Jonathan was sitting on the couch. He frowned as Jace entered. ''I guess our educations really did differ,'' he said as Jace stood glaring at him. ''Valentine never taught you how to knock?''
''Cut the crap,'' Jace said. ''Clary told me.''
Jonathan's eyes flashed. ''How nice.''
''She thinks she can give you a chance.''
Jonathan looked surprised at that. But he replied with, ''And you told her she's stupid?''
''I don't trust you. But I trust her.'' Jace kept his gaze on Jonathan, trying to bite down the anger and hatred rising in him. ''So I warn you, you may think you can chalk everything you did up to having demon blood-''
''I never said that,'' Jonathan interjected harshly. He actually looked angered by the suggestion.
Jace nodded. ''Good,'' he said. ''Because any bastard who shifts the blame onto something other than himself is irredeemable.'' he inhaled sharply before continuing. ''So I warn you, the first step out of line, the first mere hint of you causing any sort of harm and/or trouble-''
''You'll kill me?'' Jonathan guessed.
Jace shook his head. ''Clary probably will want to,'' he said. ''But I'll ask her to let me handle it. And if she agrees…'' Jace lowered his voice, staring at Jonathan. ''Our educations weren't that different, brother dear. I will make sure you will have something to remember us by before we send you back to Hell.''
Jonathan stiffened at the mention of Hell, but other than that he didn't look fearful. He simply eyed Jace as he slowly turned to leave. Just as he was about to close the door, Jonathan spoke. ''Jace.''
Jace looked at him, his fingers tightening on the doorknob. He hated the sight of him, hated everything about him. This must've shown in his expression, but Jonathan didn't seem to notice. He just stared at him blankly. ''You promise?''
Jace managed a stiff nod before exiting, slamming the door loudly behind him.
