!I realised I made a slight error in the previous chapter - It is Livia Blackthorn that is the witness!

So ignore any mention of Drusilla Blackthorn in the previous chapter (chapter10)

Chapter 11…

{Clary's POV}

I was forced to clench my jaw to prevent it from dropping open.

"How is this possible? You recreated a Mortal Instrument?"

I fired at Consul Penhallowsitting opposite me with a devilish smile on her face.

"Not exactly, it cannot replace Maetallarch as its origins are not seraphic. Therefore it is not a Mortal Instrument as the iron sisters have assured the Council that it can compel the truth from any living creature with demonic blood, we have tested its powers on many downworlders also in the Gard and it has proved to be successful."

Jia explained a little too excitedly for my taste.

"You haven't tried it on me yet."

I dared, glancing up from my lap to bore my eyes at her.

"What?"

Jia asked,

"So you've tried it on a few warlocks and werewolves, do you really believe that they are equal in power to me?"

I stated rhetorically, leaving Jia to shrink back a bit in her chair.

"I'll test out your new little sword, but don't mistake me for some downworlder with an ounce of power."

I hissed.

{Diana's POV}

I watched in interest as Clary spat out her words to the Consul - who's smug expression had been wiped off of her face.

Truthfully, Clary was correct, her level of power is not something that you could compare to an ordinary vampire. Nevertheless, if the iron sisters have indeed forged the blade then I was 80% sure that it would fulfill its purpose.

I pushed off the drawers I had been leaning on and walked to the desk,

"What happens if the sword doesn't work?"

I asked the Consul,

"When the sword is in the state of compelling the truth it will glow a deep black, we will know if Clarissa doesn't feel compelled by the Infernal Sword to tell the truth."

Jia explained briefly, so there was no option for Clary to lie and get away with it - not that she would need to lie.

The Consul then visibly exhaled and said,

"I shall step outside to notify the Clave that we are ready to transport you Clarissa."

Her voice was sweet, too sweet that it came out sickly.

Then she swiftly with shadowhunter grace rose from her chair and left my office.

Clary lowered her head into her hands and groaned.

"What is it?"

"That woman, she drains all my energy. Besides, things aren't going to be easy in that trial."

She exclaimed.

"Why? Just speak the truth and you will be fine,"

"Oh I intend to, but the Clave won't accept it."

"If the sword compels you to tell the truth like the Mortal Sword then why won't they accept it?"

Clary lifted her head out of her hands and rubbed her eyes as if she were very tired,

"My father was wrong about so many things, but perhaps the only thing he got right is that the Clave is corrupt. Too stuck in their ways to accept change, Imogen isn't so bad, though I think Jace has a lot to do with that."

When I gave her a puzzled look Clary flung her arms wide,

"They will just keep digging until they find something that paints me as the bad guy, there's no way i'll get let off easy unless Raziel himself came down and spoke on my behalf."

I rolled my eyes and slumped into the chair Jia had left vacant - my chair actually.

"Clary, don't be so pessimistic."

I stated,

"How can I be optimistic about a situation like this?"

She asked.

"Remember when you gave that speech a while ago in the Accords Hall and everyone voted?"

Clary nodded, recalling the time when I had first seen her.

"At least half of the Nephilim in that hall voted to accept your help in the war against Valentine. You have more people on your side than you think."

I explained, trying to persuade Clary that though she may feel the world is against her - it really isn't.

"When you're in the Gard I will see if i can find a way to send you information, but I can't do anything too risky. My position as Head of The Ac-"

Clary waved her hand in a smooth gesture to cut me off.

"You have already done enough for me, please do not sacrifice anything else for me, too many people do that."

I was about to ask Clary another question when the doors to my office burst open.

{Clary's POV}

I turned around in my chair and a smile crawled onto my lips as I saw the three figures enter the room.

The Consul had an incredulous look on her face, as she was followed by Emma and Jules.

"Headmistress Wrayburn, these two think that it is acceptable for them to return with us to Alicante-"

"Yes, and I agreed to their request."

Jia's face hardened until her lipids were just a thin line.

"And why do you believe you have the authority to accept their request?"

Jia asked, a delicate amount of poison seeping into her words.

"Because, Consul Penhallow, Emma and Jules would like to see their family. Their Institute was attacked as I'm sure you can recall, it would be without sympathy and understanding. What if it were Aline who had been attacked? I'm sure you would be horrified if you were told not to see her."

(Aline is the Consul's daughter)

Diana's word came out polite and respectful, but there was a devilish gleam in her eye that I secretly admired.

"Besides Emma and Julian are ahead in terms of grades for their age class as well, they won't miss much."

Diana added in at the end, smoothing it all over.

The Consul was forced to put on a smile, she could not go against Diana's argument.

I caught Emma's gaze across the room. She was wearing casual training gear, cargo pants with a black strappy top, it was hot in Idris ; and the both of them had backpacks hanging from their shoulders.

Emma returned my gaze with an encouraging smile.

Without warning a bright light engulfed the room from the right wall, I shielded my eyes from the blinding sight and turned away.

Portals always burned brightest when they first opened, so after a moment I brought my arm down and swallowed. Marching out of the fizzing doorway emerged six Nephilim who were dressed in black, leather gear - each one equipped with multiple weapons hanging from their sides.

Two of them came up to me immediately and one asked, actually more ordered,

"Clarissa Morgenstern, place your arms out - we are conducting a weapons search before we deliver you to the Gard."

Huffing a bit I placed my arms out wide and stood unflinchingly still as the two ran their hands all over my body, checking every possible place I could hide a weapon or stele.

Once they seemed satisfied I dropped my hands, only to find them being pulled behind my back tightly and then being bound together with runed handcuffs - decorated in runes of sealment and caging.

The two guards now gripped my upper arms tightly and looked to Jia, letting her know their check was complete.

"Where are my family?"

Julian asked the Consul,

"They have been given shelter in the Lightwood Family Manor House, they arrived yesterday, apparently the whole Institute was rampaged by the demons."

Jia explained, her voice cold and inconsiderate.

I knew that from a young age Nephilim were told not to use emotions, hell I was taught that lesson more than anyone. But surely Jia could see Julian's face pale as she said her words.

I saw Emma grip her parabatai's hand, squeezing it as Jace would squeeze hers sometimes, the gesture small but all someone might need.

Diana then approached me, and put both her hands to my shoulders and nodded. That was as good a send off I was going to get from her, Diana wasn't big on hugs.

She then stood aside and watched as I was hauled forward and forced to break into a jog through the portal.

{Emma's POV}

Jules and I followed after Clary through the portal, with two guards closely behind us.

Sure, I had been through portal's before, but I don't think I would ever get used to that gut-wrenching feeling of your body being pulled apart and then slapped back together again; similar to how I would used to ping rubber bands at Jules when we were younger, the moment you think that your body will snap you land on the floor at your destination.

I stumbled forward a few steps, still gripping Julian's hand tight and after a few seconds regained my balance and composed myself, smoothing down my hair where it had gone fuzzy at the edges.

I raised my eyes and looked around in curiosity, I knew we must be in Alicante but I had never seen this place before.

The walls were made of jagged stone, whereas the floor was smooth and flat. I could only see because there were torches of fire lining the stone walls, each one casting ominous shadows and shapes everywhere.

Were we underground?

"Where are we?"

Julian asked, thinking along the same lines as me.

The portal had vanished now, fizzing out into nothingness.

"This is the Gard."

Jia announced to the room, we were standing in a clearing with 3 tunnels leading off into deeper darkness.

"I've been to the Gard, this isn't it."

Clary stated, her facial expression reserved and distant.

Jia did not answer Clary's question, just nodded at the two guards behind Jules and I.

Unexpectedly, I felt a hand grasp my upper arm and cringed away from the cold grip, but it was too firm.

"Emma and Julian, you shall now be taken directly to the Lightwood Manor."

"What about Clary?"

I snapped back.

The corner's of the Consul's mouth curled upwards,

"Clarissa will be escorted to her cell until the trial."

Before I could open my mouth to retort, Clary shot me a glare silencing my spirit instantaneously.

I had to clench my teeth together, and then Jules and I were half dragged down one of the tunnels.

As we made our way along the tunnel, I noticed that we were ascending, walking towards the surface. We must be underground.

After a couple minutes of walking in silence we emerged out into a grand space that I did recognise, the Accords Hall.

{Clary's POV}

"Have I got my own special dungeon? Jia you shouldn't have."

I mocked in a sappy voice once Emma and Jules were gone, glaring at the Consul.

"Clarissa Morgenstern, you are a prisoner of the Clave. However you are right, I had the warlocks at the Spiral Labyrinth create and adapt our regular holding cells."

All of my smug attitude seemed to have been sucked out of my body - though I kept my face stern.

I knew what awaited me in my cell, torture.

"Enjoy your stay Clarissa."

Were the Consul's parting words to me as she spun on her heel and strolled down the same tunnel that Emma and Jules had disappeared down.

Harshly, a blindfold was tied around my head and I became very disorientated.

I collapsed to my knees as I felt a hard kick in the back of them, managing to limit my pain to just a murmur of choice words.

Then everything was slowly going black, and the pull to remain conscious was cut and I welcomed the darkness with open arms.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, things are going to be spicing up in the next few chapters I have planned!

Let me know your thoughts as always…

Song 10 ~ Do it like a dude - Jessie J