Sorry for the long wait, online school has been quite tough.

Chapter 10…

{Jace's POV}

I must have stumbled back a couple steps, as I felt Izzy's hand grip my arm.

Her expression matching this swell of panic forming in my chest.

My eyes began scanning the room for her.

Standing in the centre of the Hall she stood, looking down at her hands with her eyes wide.

Wordlessly I ran over to her, pushing past the silent crowd who was staring at Clary in confusion.

As I reached her I put a hand on her shoulder.

Clary looked up at me with dead eyes,

"Jace-Jace I didn't-"

"I know, I know."

She was scrambling for words.

"Clarissa Morgenstern you have been summoned to the Gard. This afternoon representatives of the Clave will arrive to take you, along with myself."

Jia's words cut through me, they were sending her to the Gard.

That was where the most wanted criminals went, ones too dangerous to remain in Institute lock-ups.

Clary started leaning against me, her body weight buckling under her, I took most of her weight, supporting her shoulders.

"Headmistress Wrayburn, Clary she, she didn't do it!"

A voice called out from the right of Clary. Emma.

"She was with me all day, she couldn't have."

The young girl protested.

"Miss Wrayburn has no say in the matter, the decision has been made."

The Consul began.

"The Clave understands that Clarissa has been in the Academy, however regarding her ability to create portal runes at her own free will means it is plausible Clarissa could have travelled to each Institute consecutively."

Diana visibly swallowed, as if the words leaving the Consul's mouth were demon icor, scorching and burning her skin.

"I wish it weren't true. But there is a witness."

Diana blurted out, not able to remain silent anymore.

"Who?"

Clary demanded, her voice trembling slightly,

"Livia Blackthorn."

Jia's voice rebounded across the room.

Julian's face paled immensely, Livia was one of his younger sisters.

The room fell silent, all eyes on Clary, Jules, Emma and I in the centre of the room.

Unexpectedly, Clary pushed off of me (now able to carry her own weight) and turned to Julian and Emma first.

"It's okay. Like Emma said, I was with her the whole of yesterday; this is all just a misunderstanding."

Her voice was no longer shaky, but confident and striking.

Then Clary turned to me,

"Is there any point in asking you not to worry?"

She asked, a surprising smirk on her lips.

I pulled her close (I was aware that everyone was watching but I didn't care) and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"I'll be coming with you."

I replied to her, not giving her a chance to object I whispered in her ear,

"You know what they do to prisoners in the Gard, I won't let them hurt you."

I spoke so softly and quietly I reckon the only other two who could have heard were Emma and Jules.

{Clary's POV}

I nodded into Jace's shoulder at his words.

There had always been tales of what the guards did to prisoners in the Gard, that they would be tortured - especially the downworlders.

But to the Clave I was worse than a downworlder, they had been waiting for an opportunity like this to tarnish my name completely. And now that opportunity had arrived.

Dragging me out of my thought was a small tug at my jacket.

I looked down and saw Max, his face creased and confused.

"Clary, why do they think you attacked the Institutes?"

I knelt down and wrapped my arms around him,

"It's just a misunderstanding Max, don't worry I'll be back soon okay? When I get back we can paint the sunrise again together, sound good?"

The little boys face lit up,

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I replied, giving him one last squeeze before I rose to my feet and looked at Diana.

The Consul cleared her throat to deliver one last verdict,

"Clarissa you are to join me in Headmistress Wrayburn's office, I shall allow you to say goodbye."

The word 'goodbye' was like a punch to the gut, it was too final, too sudden.

I could not begin to imagine a life where I ever had to say goodbye to Jace forever, it didn't seem possible to me.

"Students, classes are cancelled for the rest of the day. You are to remain in your year's common rooms. Dismissed."

Diana instructed.

The Consul turned on her heel and retreated back into Diana's office, where I would shortly be joining the 2 of them.

In response, the amount of people in the Entrance Hall dwindled down until there were only 5 of us left : Me, Jace, Emma, Jules and Diana.

She descended the staircase, looking down at her feet in sadness.

"Diana, you have to know...I didn't, I wouldn't do something like this!"

I exclaimed, my voice exasperated and frustrated.

"I know Clary, but things aren't looking good for you right now. If they have a witness…"

Diana's tone was one of regret and empathy.

"But how can they have a witness? If I was with Clary the whole day then she couldn't have been there."

Emma repeated herself from earlier.

I remained quiet, looking down at the floor hard.

"Clary, what are you thinking?"

Jace asked from my side.

"That maybe Drusilla Blackthorn isn't wrong."

I explained.

"Are you saying you were at the LA Institute?"

Jules asked me, confused.

"No. But how easy is it nowadays for a warlock to cast a spell to make someone shapeshift into someone else?"

"It is easy. But how would that person have disarmed the wards without your blood? The blood of a demon and angel."

Diana said smoothly, she was obviously trying to not upset me.

A flicker of a thought flashed my mind,

"But what if that warlock had my blood to disarm the wards already?"

I asked, glancing at Jace.

He returned my gaze and I saw in his eyes that he was thinking of the same thing.

When I had first met Jace properly we had stayed at the warlock Magnus Bane's Apartment. And as payment for allowing us to stay there he requested a vial of my blood. I had given it to him, not thinking much of it at the time.

"Technically that would work. Why does anyone have some of your blood?"

Diana questioned,

"No,"

I replied almost too quickly, making Diana raise her eyebrows at me.

"No, it was just a thought."

I didn't want to put the idea of Magnus going behind our backs before I knew all the facts.

"But these attacks aren't coincidental, someone's out there planning something. This was just a warning sign,"

I stated,

"To show the Clave how easy it is to infiltrate their 'protected' Institutes."

The others nodded in answer to the statement.

Diana shifted the conversation topic smoothly by saying,

"I reckon the envoy from the Clave will be here in a couple hours, are you ready?"

"Yes, is it just me they are taking?"

"Yes."

Jace made a choking sound, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff.

"No way, I'm going."

I turned to Jace now, looking at him.

"I need you to stay here,"

I said in a small, pleading voice.

"Clary you have got to be kidding me right now! You know what they do to prisoners there!"

I sighed,

"I know, I know. But Jace these attacks, they aren't going to stop. And what happens if when I leave here Moloch comes back, and he's not alone?"

Jace was running his hands through his golden blonde hair, clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place with his decision.

"But what if...If they hurt you and I'm not there to protect you?"

He asked, quietly.

I smiled back at him, I know he hated stuff like this, not being in the action or unable to protect people. That is when Jace was at his best, protecting those he loves.

"I can handle myself, I need you here, Max needs you here."

He still seemed unconvinced so I added,

"I'll cut you a deal, if things get bad I will create a portal and bring you straight to Alicante?"

"Fine deal."

He gave in reluctantly.

I now twisted so I was facing Emma and Jules,

"Besides, I was hoping Emma and Jules could come with me,"

"Why?"

Emma asked back, perplexed by why I was asking them, not Jace.

"Because if the Clave is going to let anyone come through with me to the Gard it will be you two. As Drusilla is your sister and your Institute is one of the ones that got attacked you can claim you want to see your family."

"The Clave is confusing and set in their ways, but not heartless. They will let you through with me, then you can relay information back to Jace so he doesn't die of worrying."

I explained, and the rest of them nodded in agreement, smirking a little at my last line.

Diana then spoke to Emma and Jules,

"The two of you need to go and pack a bag of essential items now, that you will take to Idris with you."

The parabatai nodded and then ran out of the room.

"Diana is it ok if I speak to Clary alone?"

Jace asked politely.

"Of course, I'll be waiting for you in my office Clary."

She replied, then began to ascend the stairs once again.

Jace took both of my hands in his and rose them to his lips, laying gentle kisses on them.

"Clary we haven't talked about last night."

He started quietly, making me stiffen slightly.

"I think we need to talk about it."

Jace continued, keeping his hands in mine.

"What do you want me to say?"

I queried out of exasperation,

"I don't think the pain will ever go away, my father will always be there in my mind."

"Clary I know, but isn't this why you have me? Whenever you feel like this you should talk to me about it, that's how relationships work."

"I will try Jace, it's just hard to talk about him sometimes. He did things to me when I was younger, things I don't know if I'll ever be able to say out loud."

My tone had dropped, a whirl of images wiping my vision for a moment.

Jace pulled me into a tight embrace, I had always loved hugging Jace. As he was so much bigger than me it was like diving into water, I was completely surrounded by him, I could breath him in and never let go. Except this time I had to let go.

"Hey, you'll be fine Tiger. I'll have Alec and Jon watch over you there, just try to not piss anyone off too much."

I could feel his smile on my forehead,

"We both know I could try as hard as possible but that will never happen."

I retorted, earning a small chuckle from Jace. That was my favourite laugh of his, where he was taken off guard and couldn't help but show his amusement.

He was the first to pull away, holding onto my shoulders.

However I was then pulled back in to meet Jace's lips, this kiss was different it was full of passion and longing.

Our mouths moved against each other in perfect sync, as Jace and I clung to each other like it was our last kiss.

"What was that for?"

I breathed, a little flustered.

"In case you forget me,"

He answered,

"As if I could ever forget you Jace Herondale."

I commented, then slowly unwound myself from his arms and started walking backwards.

"I'll see you soon Blondie,"

I announced.

"In a bit Tiger."

Jace replied, and then he turned around, jogging off into the school.

I climbed up the steps, and paused for a minute in front of the doors to Diana's office, I knew the second I entered that room things would change, be different.

I could just run - was one of the thoughts crossing my mind. I could just make a portal there and then to wherever I wanted to go, Peru perhaps. But I knew if I did that I would be signing up for a lifetime on the run, and I would have to sacrifice everything I have found here in my new life with the Lightwoods and Jace.

So without putting too much thought into it I pushed the door wide open and strolled into the room.

"Clarissa."

"Consul Penhallow, always a pleasure."

I smiled as sweetly as I could, trying my best to limit the sarcasm, but failing miserably.

Jia announced as she rose from the armchair behind Diana's desk,

"There are some things we need to discuss before you are sent through to the Gard."

"Go ahead."

I answered as I slumped down in one of the chairs opposite her; Diana was over leaning on a chest of drawers to the side of the room. She looked deep in thought, as if she were trying to find a missing piece of a puzzle.

"You will remain in the Gard until your trial."

"Trail?"

I echoed back to her.

How could they trial me? The Mortal Sword does not work on me and last time I touched it I nearly destroyed it entirely, if Jace's angelic blood hadn't been able to counteract it then it would have been left broken.

"Yes, we have had the iron sisters working on a specific type of blade, one that has the same properties as the Mortal Sword. Therefore it will compel whoever holds it to speak only the truth, yet its origins are different."

I was leaning forward on my knees now, looking directly into the Consul's eye.

"You will have a trial under the Infernal Sword."

Thank you for reading this chapter, hope you liked it!

Song 9 ~ Daddy Issues - The Neighbourhood