A/N: Sorry for the wait again, my computer broke and I had to save up for a new one as well as rewrite this again, so that was great. Anyway, this chapter's a bit longer than usual to make up for it, so hope you enjoy!

Chapter 11

Izzy and Simon had to wait only a few minutes before Magnus and Alec arrived. With the absence of the redhead, it was clear that they too had been unsuccessful. The only option they had was to wait, twiddling their thumbs, for Jace's return. Simon was already agitated, filled with anxiety for his friend, and was pacing the room, frantically running his hands through his hair.

It was also clear that his anxiousness was affecting the rest of the group, spreading as the minutes ticked by. Izzy could feel the knot in her stomach twisting tighter and tighter, wrapping an invisible vice around her heart. She could see Alec twist his hands in his lap as Magnus tried to comfort him, one arm across his shoulder. She knew they could never truly rest until Simon had his friend back, and Alec his parabatai.

Hours passed, yet no one wanted to leave the room. Izzy understood why. Before Clary, when it was just the three of them on their missions together, she and Alec would fight together whilst Jace went off on his own. That way they covered more ground. However, they always had arranged a meeting point to be at, Jace would always be there. Waiting for him to show up, even if the moments were filled with worry, promised hope that he would return, whereas leaving… it would be as if they were giving up on him, like they knew he wouldn't make it. However, as the clock's hands seemed to spin slower and slower, the ticks almost mocking them, Izzy no longer wanted to prolong the inevitable.

"Guys, we can't wait around here forever." They all started at the sound of her voice interrupting the silence sprawled out before them, filling their eardrums. "I'm sure Jace has most likely found Clary by now and is waiting for the right moment to escape with her. We must have hope." She paused, taking in the pale faces before her, all wide eyed and staring blankly at her except Alec, whose gaze remained firmly on the floor, shoulders hunched. "But for now, we need to rest. We must trust in Jace, and that he and Clary will be fine, and will return. If they haven't come back by tomorrow, then we will fight."

Finished, Izzy turned to Simon who was staring blankly ahead, as if her couldn't see her at all. She felt his pain like it was her own. Jace was like her brother, and Claryhad grown to be one of her closest friends. If they didn't make it… Izzy shook away the thought. No. They would make it. They had to. She couldn't stand to see Simon so broken. She pulled him firmly into an embrace, and, after he regained his balance, his arms came up to return it. She felt some of the weight she had been carrying with her slip off her shoulders. It was the first time in a long time that she had truly felt safe, like she was home.

-000000000000000000000000-

Clary awoke to an empty room. She still felt exhausted, but the pain was gone. She looked down to see her arms still locked in the cuffs, but they were no longer bleeding, only traces of blood replaced the agony that was there before. A wave of confusion overcame her. What happened? Why heal her? She looked down at the bowls, only to find they were gone too. Why on earth would they need her blood so badly? She was surprised Sebastian hadn't let her bleed out. It would be just like him, killing her in order to spite his father. Maybe he does have some humanity in him after all, she wondered. Then again, maybe he needs me for something else. Sebastian wasn't one to let people live out of the kindness of his own heart – he didn't have any.

She could feel her legs cramping up again, she realised. It would only be a matter of time before – Wait! She could feel her legs! The tingling sensation of the enchantment trapping them in place had faded now to a dull buzz. The spell must be fading! Adrenaline began to overcome her senses as she began to move her legs. Yes – the spell had to be weakening! She felt some give to the invisible wall trapping them in place, whereas before there was none.

Over the next few minutes, she continued to wiggle and kick her way out, feeling it give a little more each time. It was like she was finally denting the metal cage encircling her, whereas before her feet would only bounce back off it. By the time an hour had passed, she could nearly move them freely altogether. The buzz was only a faint hum now. Nevertheless, Valentine or Sebastian could be back any minute. Her legs were freed but her arms were still trapped in their metal restraints. She tried to remember the right words Sebastian had used on the cuffs to make them spring open – something like Veet? Vight? but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She hurriedly put her feet back into their original, encased position.

"Hello Clarissa" Valentine said, stepping into the small cave.

"What do you want?" Clary spat viciously, irked by the sight of him when freedom was so close to her grasp.

"Easy now, I don't want to have to hurt you again," he said with a sneer. Clary never wanted to do anything more than wipe that condescending smirk off of his face, to force him to see that she could escape, and that she was not the little weakling he knew her as, forever underestimating her despite her rune capabilities. But she knew that she had to bide her time. Even knowing she had the upper hand still didn't purge the feeling of wanting to stab him right there and then.

"I just wanted to thank you personally for…" he searched for the right word, "donating your blood so willingly." At this he smiled. "You shall help us usher in a new dawn for our people, help us to make the perfect soldier. An army of destruction that shall burn your people at ashes."

"They are your people too, Valentine."

He laughed humourlessly. "No. Downworlders and those who associate themselves with them are nothing less than filth. I shall purge this – this weak generation of Shadowhunters, those who sympathise with their kind," at this he spat, "and your blood is the key for all this to happen. You should be proud, Clarissa."

"What do you mean? Why do you need my blood so badly?" Valentine laughed, provoking her fiery temper once more.

"No need for you to worry about that now dear, you'll find out soon enough. In fact, Sebastian is going to test our theory soon." Clary felt a wave of fear shudder through her at these words. Whatever this so called 'theory' was, it couldn't be good. And if it worked? Nothing could stop him. "Don't worry Clarissa, I'll be sure to tell you if it is successful. You can stay here and decide if you want to be on the winning or losing side."

With that he left, leaving Clary even more confused than before. However, this time, she was not helpless. She could get free, even if it did mean the possibility of getting lost in these encircling tunnels forever. She didn't care, as long as she could be freed from these sadistic monsters. The pressure on her legs had vanished completely. Only one thing left to do. She looked at the cuffs restraining her frustratedly. Come on Clary, think. What was that word Sebastian had used? Veet…? Vight..? Viet? VIET! It had to be.

"Viet" Clary whispered under her breath. The cuffs sprang open. She was free.

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A light tread of footsteps signalled an approach Jace's room, and his head was wrenched back as Sebastian seized his golden hair, hovering an inch away from his face. "Miss me, brother?" said Sebastian.

"I'm not your brother," Jace spat. "I barely even know you, other than the fact that you're a sick psychopath working for my father." At this Sebastian chuckled, stepping back and releasing Jace's head so it hung limply once more.

"Ah I see dear old dad hasn't told you yet." Sebastian stared at Jace with a knowing smirk, one eyebrow cocked. He had the upper hand, and he revelled that Jace knew it. Much as he didn't want to ask, curiosity got the best of him, forcing out the question through gritted teeth.

"Tell me what, exactly."

"The truth… about your family." At this Jace's eyes widened incredulously.

"What would you know about my family?"

Sebastian laughed again, crossing his arms. "Oh, more than you would know." Jace's rage was bubbling over, infusing the air with his frustration, fists clenching as he stared Sebastian down. "Fine, I'll tell you," sighed Sebastian, growing bored of the game. "Valentine isn't your father – he's mine. Your mother died and Valentine raised you as his own, his 'perfect angel boy'," Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Anyway, yours and Clary's blood is infused with the blood of an angel, mine with the blood of a demon. We were both experiments. As you can tell, Valentine was such a great Dad," he said sarcastically.

Jace had remained very confused throughout all of this, but a realisation was beginning to dawn on him, knocking at the back of his mind. "Wait – so that means -"

"Yup, Clary isn't your sister. Congrats. A lot of good that does you now."

Jace's face lit up as the news was finally confirmed out loud. Their love wasn't a gross monstrosity, unnatural and to be shunned – it was pure. It was real. They could have a future together. They couldbe together. "But if Clary was your sister… you kissed your sister?!"Sebastian rolled his eyes.

"That didn't stop you though, did it? She's my sister, I can do what I want with her. Clary is mine."

Jace's face twisted in anger. "She doesn't belong to anybody. Besides, you think the fact that her sicko brother kissed her would make her actually like you?"

Sebastian began to walk around Jace, a dog on the prowl. "Better me than you, brother. Look at you. All strung up like a baby. You didn't even fight back. You should be ashamed of yourself, trying to be the hero again and rescue her when you can't even protect yourself. Pathetic." Sebastian seized his throat beneath his hands, enjoying the reddening of Jace's face.

"I won't leave without her," Jace forced out, lack of oxygen making his head fuzzy.

"Oh, I'm surprised you think you'll ever leave. In fact, I think you overestimate your abilities. I can take you down easily brother." As if to emphasise his point, he squeezed Jace's neck harder, watching his arms flail about in their ropes, before letting go, his fingers denting marks into the skin.

Jace choked on the sudden rush of air, and would've fallen to his knees if it weren't for the restraints holding him up. He hung there limply for a while, before gaining enough energy to look Sebastian in the eye once more, a confrontation. "Untie me then, and we can see who the best Jonathan really is."

Sebastian began to reach for the ropes, consumed by his rage – but then his hand dropped, and a smirk filled his face once more. "You really think I'm that idiotic, to fall for your trap like that. No, I think I'll keep you for a little while. In fact, I enjoy seeing you suffer. It's very… satisfying." He said, tracing the bruises on Jace's neck. "Now, I'll leave you to think about what you've done. I have an errand to run." Sebastian seized the bowls, drew one iratze on Jace's arm, and left.

"Oh, and Clary will pay for the things you said." Sebastian smirked as he left the room.

Terror consumed Jace's heart. Clary was to be punished because of him. How could he have been so stupid? To confront someone as dangerous as Sebastian. What will happen to her now? Jace couldn't bear the thought.

-00000000000000000000000000-

As Sebastian wound his way out of the tunnels, he finally got his first sensation of fresh air. Releasing a breath, he felt on as if he was on top of the world. His errand was simple: find someone to test Valentine's theory.

He had to be stealthy now that the Lightwoods might possibly know he's not on the Shadowhunter's side, considering that Jace had put two and two together, and due to the disappearances of both Jace and Clary, it won't be long before they did. However, many of the adults probably wouldn't know. He could easily snag one of those.

As he walked up one of the hills, on the outskirts of the centre of Idris, he noticed some moving black spots in the distance, cast in darkness by the shadows of the city lights. Perfect, he thought. There were still a few stragglers after the demon battle. He could weed out one of those. He immediately laid down in the long grass to shelter himself from their sight.

He spotted his target – a person hovering on the edge of the group. "Excuse me" he called, still shrouded in the grass. At the noise the man turned around, his hand on his sword.

"Who's there" he called warily, walking towards the sound of his voice and away from the rest of the group, his hand taking a tighter grip on his sword.

Sebastian revealed himself from the grass, feigning an injury on his leg. "I need help! My friend is in trouble!" The man was in his fourties, dark hair cut closely to his head, a well shaven beard and a friendly face. His hand slipped from his dagger as he saw there was no demon, just a Shadowhunter in need of assistance. The rest of the group were unbothered by Sebastian, too preoccupied with their own injured to care.

The man smiled at Sebastian. "Of course. How can I help?"

"My friend, he's badly injured. I barely escaped with my life." He gestured to his limp leg. "He's over this way; follow me!" He gestured to an enclosure of trees about half a mile from where they stood.

Sebastian made sure to lead him as far as possible away from the group, putting a whole field of distance between them.

"We've been walking an awful while young man - are you sure you know the way?" The man said in a friendly tone. Sebastian saw out of the corner of his eye that the man had subtly rested his hand on his seraph blade. He knew how quickly a trained Shadowhunter could go from seemingly nonchalant to violent action within less than a second. However, he pretended not to notice this, saying:

"Yes, its just a bit further that way," he pointed. Whilst the man turned his head to follow where he was pointing and his hand slipped from the blade, Sebastian sprang into action, elbowing him fiercely in the head. The man collapsed immediately and Sebastian began to drag him towards the cave entrance, only a few feet away now.

Father will finally be proud of me now. He grinned. Unfortunately for you, he thought, looking at the limp man in his arms, the first of many experiments to come.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with me through this, I really do appreciate it. However, UPDATES WILL BE MORE IRREGULAR for this story as I have to focus on school again, so I apologise. Anyway, feel free to review, I love reading them!