I walked out of the library and made my way back home, my mind being a cluttered mess. Warlock…. Magic…. Demons…. Downworlders…. Not Human. I groaned as I tucked a strand of red hair back in its bun. One thing was clear for sure. I was in trouble. A lot of it. Jace and his friends knew about me and I had to tell mom. She would not take it well but I would tell her anyways.

I took a deep breathe "You can do it Clary!" I twisted the doorknob. It was locked. She wasn't home. I rolled my eyes and whispered "Shocker!".

It was late night. I sat on a stool adding finishing touches to the painting when I felt the familiar warm energy light up at the base of my spine. My body started to numb and images flashed in my mind's eye. I pulled open the drawer and snatched a rough sheet and a pencil and let my hand flow across its surface.

After a while the numbness faded away and my surroundings became clearer. I put the pencil down and stretched my still shaking fingers. I sighed in relief. A relief that turned into pure panic when I saw what I had sketched. My mom. She sat on the floor of a dungeon with her hands chained. Her mouth rested in a thin line and her eyes threw daggers.

My heart started beating wildly and my hands trembled. How? I wiped the sweat from my forehead with clammy fingers as I reached a conclusion. Jace! What if he had her! No… He didn't know about her. I reached my phone and gave her a call. She didn't pick up.

I paced across my room and swung the phone roughly "Damn it! Pick up the phone!"

Where was she? Why wasn't she answering my calls?

My lip trembled as I bit it. I dialed Simon's number.

His voice answered "He-"

I interrupted "She isn't home!"

"Okay… Slow down. Who isn't home?"

I rasped "My mom, it is late and she isn't back. What do I do!"

Simon tried to calm me down "Clary, she is probably just late from work. That's quite usual for Jocelyn."

I pinched the bridge of my nose with a shaky hand "Yes, but it is never more than a couple of hours. She hasn't been home since morning and she isn't picking up the phone."

He sighed "Clary… Are you okay?"

I paused.

He continued "Cause you are being really paranoid. Did something happen?"

I wanted to tell him. But I couldn't. I never could. So, I sighed and lied "No."

He sighed "Look give it time. If she isn't back by a few hours we can go look for her."

I swallowed "Okay… Thanks."

I threw the phone on my bed and growled. It was my fault.

She was in danger. I knew it in my gut. I needed help.

Help…

An idea clicked in my mind and I sprinted to her room. It was strange invading her space. The last time I entered her room was perhaps when I was eight. I switched on the lamp. It was a simple and small space and the walls were bare of the paintings I remembered being there. I walked to her cupboard and opened it. I searched through different drawers for anything. The papers, forms, checkbooks rustled as I emptied it but nothing of use came out. I shut the cupboard with a resonating bang and strode towards the dresser. I searched it. Interesting. I picked up a dusty album and my hand twitched to open it but my eyes latched onto the envelope under it. I kept the album aside. I seized the envelope and wiped the dust off it.

'Lucian Graymark'

I opened it when I heard a crash and recoiled. What was that? A series of crashes sounded. I stood up from the floor, my heart in my throat. I slid the envelope in my pocket and looked around the room for anything I could defend myself with. I grabbed a body spray and crept out of the room.

The wood creaked beneath my feet and my eyes watered. I shook my head. Now was not the time to cry. Kitchen utensils crashed and a growl rang through the house. I bit my lip. My feet froze. I forced myself to move. I stepped down the stairs when my foot slipped and I fell. Damn it! I rolled down the steps, my head banging against the wood as a whimper left my lips. Another growl sounded. I slid up using the wall as support and straightened up. The spray still in my hand, I rubbed my head. I had an ominous feeling that the thing in my house was not human. My throat closed up and I swallowed.

I walked backwards in the opposite direction of where the creature was, with the intention of escaping out of the window when it appeared in front of me. I screamed and ran. It was this big ugly thing that looked like a slug. It opened its mouth and bared its bloody canines. I wanted to retch at the sight but instead I grabbed everything I saw and threw it at the creature. Unfortunately, that did nothing to deter it. In fact, it probably made it want to kill me more. I was backed up against the wall. The slug sliding its way towards me. My chest heaved and my knees shook. I darted to my side but it was quick and it slid after. A tear escaped my eye and I wiped it.

I sucked in a sharp breath. My body felt warm and tingly and sweat gathered at my brow. It was hot. So hot. My body was burning. The creature balked. I looked down at myself and saw that I was in fact burning. My whole body was on fire. I quivered and cried out. What was happening? The fire spread. First the wooden cabinets. Then the curtains. Then the slug. I stiffened and my eyes widened.

I entered this hazy state and stared. Just stared. Mesmerized by the movements of the fire. My hands reached out to touch it. I didn't want to but the fire in me didn't care. I gathered the flames in my palms and brought them in front of my face to examine it closely. I didn't know how long I stood there watching the fire dance on my palm but the cabinet behind me fell and the fire spread further. That movement snapped me back in control. I looked around. No! I coughed and wheezed. Smoke had filled the house. I tried to breathe but all air escaped my lungs. My head spun and my eyes rolled to the back of my head as I fell to the floor and let the last bit of consciousness escape me.

But before that I noticed the footsteps that sounded in the house.

MAGNUS POV

I opened the jar and selected the herbs as my magic lingered under my skin. I handpicked the required amount and dumped the rest back in it. I added them in the potion and muttered a spell as my magic come to the surface. Then my arm abruptly lit up on fire, interrupting my spell. My eyes widened "Is this…" and my heart felt a stab of pain. I coughed and wheezed while rubbing my chest. I straightened up and sighed. Looked like little Biscuit needed help.

I summoned my magic and formed a portal.