Chapter 24

It was pitch black, when Luke, Clary and I headed for Renwick's. I didn't know what to expect when we got there but what we found wasn't good.

I parked the Bat Van far enough away from the building not to be spotted from any windows and we crept towards it under the cover of the bushes. I could tell something was bugging Clary, she was on guard, but her brows were furrowed, and it looked like her mind was elsewhere.

"Something's not adding up, Luke." My eyes snapped to hers as my sentiments were voiced. "How did you know Michael was dead?"

"Rumors. When the Lightwoods took Jace into the New York Institute, we thought Michael got hit. There were a lot of Circle members who were trying to avenge Valentine back then." Luke muttered his eyes still on Renwicks.

"Was that 19 years ago?" I look at Clary confused. Why would that matter?

"It was 20. Why?" Luke said, turning to face Clary.

"Twenty?" Clary whispered to herself. That was obviously not the answer she was expecting. A flash in one of the windows caught my eye, dragging me away from the conversation. Blue demonic eyes stared back at us from every window I could see.

"Guys, look." I tapped Luke's arm, forcing them to turn and see what I was seeing.

"Shit." Agreed. We decided to leave very quickly and report out findings to Jace and Michael. I couldn't help but wish Alec and Izzy were here to help for this one. I had a feeling that things were going to get messy.

"We couldn't even count the demons." We had arrived back at The Jade Wolf in record time and were relaying our findings to the others.

"Yeah, but we still gotta get Jocelyn out of there." Luke continued on from Clary.

"That would be a suicide mission." Jace is pacing. You know it's not good when Jace Wayland is pacing.

"Doesn't have to be. I have the Cup. Demons have to obey me." Clary put in.

Michael interjected, "That's what Valentine wants. He knows you'll do anything to save your mother. He wants you to take out the Cup and use it."

"And if she does?" I finally piped up.

Michael turned his dark eyes to me. "He'll take it. And he'll kill us, too."

Clary's face hardened into one of determination. "Let him try." I rolled my eyes. Always the drama queen.

We decided to attack the next night. We came up with a plan for Luke, Michael and Jace to attack any Circle members, giving Clary and I space to find Jocelyn. As we walked to the doors, I noticed how quiet and ominous it felt. The windows were black and empty. No signs of life, like the night before.

"This doesn't make any sense. There were a thousand demons here last night." Luke grumbled as they walked up. Clary and I hid behind a gravestone, blades drawn. We didn't want to get pulled into a fight, if we didn't have to.

"That's what he wants. He wants to draw us in, force Clary to use the Cup." Before Michael had even finished speaking, three Circle members came running out of the double doors heading towards the men. I crouched down even lower trying not to be spotted and felt Clary do the same. We inched round the grave trying to get closer to the doors. The guys dropped straight into the fight, taking one each. I hadn't realised how good Luke was as fighting, but quickly remembered that he had had the same training that I had when I saw him pulling moves that I had been taught and often used in a fight. When we noticed their backs were turned, Clary and I legged it to the doors. We had to find Jocelyn. That was all that mattered.

We ran through the winding corridors of the hospital, glancing through all the windows for any sign of Jocelyn or Valentine. It didn't take us long. We burst through some double doors and came out into a large room. I went to check the exits, but my vision was entrapped by a levitating body surrounded in a green glow.

"Jocelyn?" I couldn't stop myself – it just slipped out my mouth. Clary's sabre dropped onto the floor with a loud clang. My feet moved on their own towards her. Her face was clam and serene, but all I could think was that she looked dead. Clary gripped onto Jocelyn's shoulders and gave her a little shake.

"Mom. Mom!" Her voice cracked painfully, causing me to put a hand on her arm. I couldn't think. My brain was buzzing with information and panic but at the same time I felt numb. "Mom, please, wake up." I felt a tear drop down my face and I wiped it away in frustration.

"Not now," I hissed at myself. A pattering of running feet caused us to look up. Jace and Michael were running towards us – fast. They slid through the door and slammed it shut behind them. They began runeing the door locked. I looked around frantically for Luke; maybe I had just missed him. No, I was right. He wasn't here.

"Where's Luke?" I shouted at them.

"We left him fighting Blackwell." Jace grunted trying to keep the door shut.

"You did what?!" I screamed. Were they insane?

"Luke told us to leave him, guys." Jace reasoned. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Clary ran towards the doors but Jace caught hold of her. "No! What are you doing? Get back!"

I went to follow but was grabbed by the wrist by Michael. I snapped my hand out of his grasp and glared at him. "Don't touch me!"

He put his hands up in resignation and ran off to secure the other exits. Demons smashed against the doors, causing them to shake worryingly.

"Jace, we cannot shut Luke out! He has to make it inside!" Clary cried, struggling against his grasp.

"No, Clary, there is not enough time!" Jace replied.

"We have to secure the room. We don't even know if Luke is still…" Clary cut Michael off, disbelievingly.

"Alive? Jace, no. You have to tell him! We cannot shut Luke out! He will die for nothing!" I looked back at Jocelyn.

"We can't wake her up." I muttered, finding my voice again. The demons screeched loudly causing me to flick my eyes back to the door.

"Luke wants you and Jocelyn out of here. That's all he cares about. Pull yourself together." Michael groaned, turning towards the now quaking doors.

"Clary, if you don't help us, no one survives. Do you understand? We will get her home." Clary looked over to me, and I nodded quickly. "Look at me! We will find a way to wake her up. Do you believe me?" Jace was shouting now over the noise of the demons. "Get ready." I tried to snap back but I kept seeing her just lying there. It reminded me so much of London. A sharp tightening in my chest and a hard shake made me look at Jace who was stood in front of me looking concerned.

"You okay?" I nodded but I was now struggling to breathe, the pain getting worse.

"Let me." A wash of red stood in front of me and Clary's soothing words flitted into my ear. I hadn't had a panic attack like this in years and it was just typical that it had to happen when we were surrounded by demons. As her words crossed my brain, I felt my chest loosen greatly and my breathing began to return to normal. She forced me to make eye contact with her – they were wide and strong. I nodded gently and squeezed her arm tight. She nodded back and we ran to different corners of the room to secure everything.

"Clary, now! We can't wait any longer." Jace shouted as the demons got louder and pushed at the entrances. They screeched so loud and piercing that I almost had to cover my ears. Clary walked over to us and pulled the cup out of her bag.

Taking a deep breath, she held it in front of her and shouted, "Demons, I command you! Find Valentine!" We waited for a second, but the demons kept screeching. "Demons, find Valentine!" Nothing happened. They didn't stop. Michael held his hand out.

"Let me try." Clary quickly passed the Cup over to Michael, causing me to narrow my eyes. He gripped the Cup and turned towards the doors but said nothing. I saw him take a deep breath, before turning to face us once more. His eyes were dark, and a smirk wormed its way onto his face.

"Come on," Jace muttered, suddenly seeming to realise there was a problem. Michael grinned and brought us his blade to his wrist. He sliced at his wrist, but the 'skin' just wavered. A glamour! I knew something was wrong.

"No. No." Jace whimpered, but Clary and I stood strong. You know when you're watching a movie and there is this massive twist that no-one sees coming apart from you – yeah, that's what we were feeling like right now. Michael dropped onto one knee and his skin flickered away to reveal his real self.

"Valentine." Jace hissed, raising his blade.

Valentine held up the cup and shouted, "Demons attack my enemies!" I tried to hide my smirk when nothing happened. "I command you!" The demons kept screeching and trying to get in. Valentine looked around confused. I felt Jace looking at us with a matching expression.

"Alright, that's enough!" I shouted loudly, and for once they stopped and we were left in silence. I slowly pulled the cup from behind my back, keeping my grip firm. Clary had told me the night before that she felt that something was wrong with the whole situation, to which I quickly agreed. We came up with a plan to keep the cup away from Michael at all costs. Cleary we were right to do so.

"You're not the only one who knows how to cast a glamour." Clary quipped, grinning at me. Valentine's gaze flicked from the actual cup to the "World's Best Dad" mug he was currently holding.

"Should we let the demons take care of this? Or…?" Clary asked Jace. Jace shook his head.

"No. Send them away. He's mine." Jace's voices quivered in fury. I nodded.

"Alright guys, pack it up." The demons slowly creeped off to whichever dark corner they came from. I took a step back as I figured this would get ugly and I needed to protect the Cup.

"You pretended to be my father." Jace held his blade high and in warning.

"I wasn't pretending, Jace." I furrowed my brow. What was that supposed to mean?

"You murdered him. You're a liar!" Jace shouted, rushing forward holding his blade to Valentine's neck.

"I am your father. I always have been. The face that you saw as Michael Wayland was mine. Then and now. It was a powerful glamour. I want you to know me as I am. To know the truth about me and you." I shook my head in disbelief.

Clary shouted from behind, "Jace! Jace, don't listen to him! He's my father. We know that for a fact."

"Yes, that's true. That's a fact. I am your father, Clary. And Jace's." I couldn't believe it. Apparently neither could they. Both shook their heads in confusion. "Think about it. Why are the two of you so drawn together? You are meant to be. Blood calls to blood, no?" Jace shook and Valentine seeing him fading nudged the blade from his face with his shoulder. It dropped down by Jace's side useless. Valentine slowly walked to a mirror and opened a portal. "Ah, My dear family together at last. A lost mother, found. A brother and sister, finally united." This seemed to be the last straw for Jace as he lunged at Valentine, gripping his shirt and holding the blade once again against his neck. I shook my head gently. He wasn't going to be able to do it. I knew that look. I started to creep forward gently.

"You won't kill me. You won't kill me. I said that you were weak, and I meant it." Valentine's eyes flicked towards me. "But not you, isn't that right Charlotte. So strong, yet so alone in this world." I tried to block him out moving closer still. "Your mother was the same." I faltered, coming to a sharp stop. "Ah yes, beautiful Amara. Just wouldn't give it up. This crazy idea of a family and a peaceful life." He looked me up and down. "Well, I suppose she got one of her wishes." Valentine tutted gently. "Ah, London. One of my greatest victories." My breathing became hard and fast. "They were well prepared, but it didn't matter in the end, did it?" I clenched my fist. "I have to admit, it was a lot of fun." My vision began to turn red, but I couldn't move; couldn't speak. He knew exactly what to say to immobilise me. Jace jammed the blade in a little farther but did no real damage.

"What's wrong, Jace? Can't kill the man who raised you, hmm?" I drew back my mind to the matter at hand and raised my blade again.

"We can!" Clary and I ran forward, but Valentine grabbed Jace and held him against himself. We didn't have a clear shot.

"Go ahead. Two for one. We can't even fight back, huh?" Clary shook her head gently. "No? Come with me, son. You know that you love me. Your sister is welcome to join us. And bring your mother along. We can find a way to get her moving again." Jace lunged out of Valentines grip, into our arms. We held him tight realising that this was our shot gone. Valentine tutted and began to walk to the portal.

"Oh Charlotte…" He turned with a smirk and threw a small object to me. I instantly grabbed it but kept my eyes on him. "Your mother wants you to have it." And with that he was done, disappeared into Portal. A loud clang caused Clary to turn but I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. Your mother "wants" you to have it. Present tense. Could she be alive? I heard a deep voice behind me and turned around. Luke was here and bent over Jocelyn.

"Jocelyn. I'm taking you home." He whispered, cradling her face. We walked slowly back to the Van, not knowing how to feel. I got in the front and drove us home. To the Institute. Where we belonged. I parked up the van and we got out. We hadn't said a word to each other the whole trip. I had shoved the item Valentine gave me into my pocket, not even stopping to look at it. We walked up the steps and the others headed inside. Figuring it was time, I took the item out of my pocket. I gasped and rolled it around in my fingers. A delicate silver ring, with blue sapphires surrounding a small but tasteful diamond. My mother's engagement ring. I remembered it was mine as well, in the other world and tried to calm my breathing. There was no way Valentine would have taken this off of my Mother's finger and kept it for 10 years just to give it back now. No way. She was alive. I knew she was. I gently placed the ring on my right hand and headed inside.

I was greeted inside by Lydia. Not really who I wanted to see at this particular moment but never mind.

"We have an emergency."

I rolled my eyes and sarcastically muttered, "When don't we?"

Lydia tutted. "This is serious!" Her tone stopped me. "Isabelle is going to be stripped of her runes if we don't give the Mortal Cup back to the Clave. You need to get Clary to give it to me!" I chuckled under my breath.

"Well that going to be rather difficult as Clary doesn't have it." I pulled the Cup from my bag and held it in front of Lydia. "I do." Lydia gasped and took in its beauty. "Take it. Do what you must to save Isabelle." Lydia nodded gently removing it from my grasp. She gave me a brief smile and walked towards the control room. I took a deep breath and leant against the wall. I was tired. More tired than I had ever been. I followed in the direction of Lydia before catching Alec helping Jace and Clary move Jocelyn into the med room. I walked over, keeping my eyes fixed on Jocelyn. I walked past Alec without giving him a second look and sat next to my sister putting my arms round her. Alec stood arms crossed looking pissed.

"Lydia has the Cup." I told him before turning back to Jocelyn.

"Okay." Alec muttered. I rolled my eyes, but obviously Jace wasn't having it.

"Okay? That's it, Alec?"

"I don't want to get into it." Alec tried to leave but Jace stopped him.

"Stop. I do wanna get into it. You almost killed me!" Jace whispered obviously trying not to let us hear and doing a very bad job of it.

"You weakened our parabatai bond just to find me. You betrayed me. You lied to me. You attacked me when I was doing what we should've been doing together." Alec was pissed.

"I didn't betray you, Alec. I saved you from yourself! If you'd have taken Meliorn to be tortured, you would have that on your conscience for the rest of your life." Jace's voice was starting to raise a little now.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Everything you do is for a higher principle. You took the Cup, and you nearly handed it over to Valentine." Alec hissed.

"That was not our intention. You know that." Jace tried to calm Alec but he was on a role now.

"Our intention? Was it your intention to risk Izzy's life for hers? This isn't about Clary. This is about you. Now, I'm gonna go tell my sister that she still has a future." My eyes flicked to Alec at that last line. My sister. He knew how to hurt Jace and he was going for it. I watched as Jace's face turned from angry to hurt – tears filling his eyes. I made a mental note to bollock Alec for that later. Alec stormed off in a rage and Jace was left frozen to the spot. I gently got up and walked over to him. I didn't say anything, but I put my arm round him.

"My," he whispered.

"I know. He didn't mean it. Just like Clary didn't when she said it to me. He's angry. Give him time." Jace nodded and squeezed my hand gently. We turned to face Clary and walked up the steps.

"Do you think she can hear us? Where is she? Is she trapped in there? Is she somewhere else? I mean, I, I look at her, and I see our mother, but…" Clary trails off. I know what she is going through. We have to find some way around this. I'll ask Magnus for help.

"How did you know that he was Valentine?" His eyes flicked from Clary to me. "How could I have been the only one who didn't know?"

"There was just something off. He told me that he knew my mother was pregnant, but he couldn't have." I nodded along to Clary's reasoning.

"You should've told me."

"Would you have believed us?" I cut in.

Jace sighed. "There's something wrong with me." I shook my head.

"You wanted to believe him. I would have, too." Clary muttered.

"No. I'm weak. He was right about that. I should have killed him." I sighed. I couldn't do it either. He got me worked up about London and I couldn't. It was like I knew that there was more to learn.

"He's your father, Jace."

"Yours, too, Clary." Jace replied. "You would have done it." Jace sighed and left. I turned and looked to Clary shrugging my shoulders.