Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series. Everything recognisable belongs to Cassandra Clare.

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The ground felt too dry and too soft to be the real ground. Like Clary had fallen onto one of the mats in her private training chamber. Her eyes felt sore and she dared not open them. Something was wrong. Just plain wrong.

"Oh good, you're awake." A male voice rang in her ears.

"Hey, Jace, she's awake." She didn't recognise the voice. Raspy. Cold. Ageless, but still childish.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't wake up again Ariel." Jace's voice called out to her, his voice was lower, farther away.

Clary didn't answer. Her confusion left her lost for all words. Her eyes started to focus, colours blended together like a black and white photo. She pressed her palm against her head. It was hurting. It felt like something was banging hard against her temples.

"Hey Clary, how are you feeling?" A familiar voice, it was Jonathan.

"I." Clary began, but stopped as her head stung horrible as she tried to push out the words.

What the hell had happened? She couldn't remember passing out. She had fought Agramon; that much she was sure of, but after that, everything was just erased from her memory.

"It's okay, you hurt your head pretty bad, but it seems like it's nothing to worry about." Jon told her with his everyday calming voice.

"What.. What happened?" Clary pressed out behind stabbing pain.

"I just told you Clary, you hit your head." Jon repeated.

"No. How?" Clary asked, keeping the sentences short.

"You don't remember?" this time it was Isabelle how answered her. When did she get here? Clary's eyes flew around the room. No she wasn't in a room. They were in the car they had stolen.

"No."

"Well, then I don't think we can help you much Clary. We weren't with you." The same unfamiliar voice spoke again, when she looked in the voice direction, she saw the dark-haired, pale-skinned young boy she'd fought alongside in the hotel. A much cleaner, much handsomer version of the guy of course, but Simon, the vampire, sat with his head sticking up from the backseat.

Clary sat up abruptly, causing her head to spin violently. She closed her eyes hard, pushing the nausea away.

Flashback

"Clary, you take the second floor of the warehouse, Alec and Izzy will check the grounds while Simon and I pack out of the car." Jonathan told her. "Who died and made you the boss?" Clary asked sarcastically.

Jon rolled his eyes, a small smile pulling at his lips.

"No one, but I am the oldest." Jon pulled the older brother card, making Clary look down to hide a smile from her brother's view.

"Fine, but you can tell Jace when he get back, that he's an ass for going alone." Clary muttered as she turned around to follow the Lightwoods inside the warehouse.

The building looked like a large brick, grey walls and high ceiling with a cold stone floor. Very old traditional warehouse style if Clary had to be completely honest. Nothing out of the ordinary.

She started opening the doors one by one. Every door was marked with a number. First door, a black door marked as J242, it was clean. No demonic activity. Second door, same dark colour, J243, just as clean.

Every room she entered was stacked with cardboard boxes in different sizes, stacked on top of each other and abandoned, gathering dust. She checked the floor pretty fast, all rooms clean.

Clary was on her way out again when a shadow appeared in the end of the corridor. She acted fast. Hiding behind the open door. The shadow had been large, it could be one of the boys, but Clary didn't think they would be sneaking up on her like that.

There were no sounds, but Clary's mind usually didn't play tricks on her like that. She pulled out a small dagger, keeping it held high, in case of an attack.

She was about to step out of her hiding spot when an arm wrapped tightly around her throat. Clary gasped desperately for air, but the more Clary fought the pressure, the tighter it got.

"Ahh, I was hoping I would find you again little Shadowhunter." The voice was a low whisper in her ears. "Not that I didn't think I would, you're a moderately easy race to track."

"Moloch." Clary hissed when the demon warrior lightened his grip enough for her to force a stream of almost inaudibly sounds.

"So you remember me Clarissa?" he smiled, if one could call it a smile. It was dark, and malicious.

"I'm not stupid," Clary tried to kick him off her with her legs, but he wouldn't budge. "It has only been a week." Again she struggled to get in a good kick.

"Mhm.." Moloch let out a hissing noise. "That's wonderful Morgenstern, but I am not here to make small talk." he let go of Clary's throat, but Moloch's powerful demon-magic held her in place.

"You're not? And I took you for a tea and scones type of guy.. I am truly sorry." Clary spat sarcastically towards him.

The invisible grip around her neck tightened again as the demon grew angrier.

"Now, do you really think it's a good idea to make me angry little shadowhunter?" his dark voice breathed into her ear.

Clary, stubbornly, didn't answer.

The grip grew tighter. Clary had to fight for even the slightest of oxygen.

"I want you to listen to me carefully." He loosened the grip again, making Clary cough harshly. The taste of blood filling her mouth.

The demon started to evaporate into the same black smoke she'd been surrounded by in her room the night he'd told her the truth. But before his human form was completely vanished, he leaned against her, his cold, hard lips touching the ear. His callous voice spoke in long words. Dragging the whisper out of him, like he waited until the words hit her before he continued with the next.

Moloch was gone. Only leaving a thin mist of grey flowing right above the floor.

Clary fell to the ground gasping for air. Every fibre in her body told her to fight the black spots covering her vision. Ignore the blood rolling on her tongue. Short, unfinished breaths filled her lungs, but it wasn't enough. Nausea hit her like a tidal wave. And the next thing she knew a mixture of blood and the little she'd had to eat the past day forced its way up her throat.

Then she collapsed, her knees giving up under her.

End of flashback

"Clary." Jon's voice followed a strong shake of her shoulder.

"I'm fine." Clary smiled, moving away from him to lean against the side of the car's wall.

"I know, you keep saying that when I ask you." He grabs a bottle of water, offering it to her.

"That." Clary didn't wait long before she'd already opened the water bottle, "Is because I always am fine when you ask." Clary informed her brother, who pressed his lips shut, forming a thin white line.

"Okay, I'm not going to argue, just please rest." He sighed, meeting Clary's green eyes. His darker green orbs looking so much more mature than hers.

xxxx

They sat in silence for a long time, listening to the radio playing old 60's hits. The dark sky was lit up by the snow falling gracefully onto the black asphalt.

After a little while the three people in the backseats started breathing heavier and heavier, sleep falling over them.

Clary moved to turn off the radio, but as she did, she received a glare from Jace. "No, I like this song." He murmured with a smile on his lips.

"I'm sure you've never even heard this song before." Clary whispered back in protest.

"Of course I have." Jace looked at her with glittering eyes.

"Yeah, and what's it called?" Clary smirked playfully.

"You don't have to know what every song you like is called." Jace laughed, turning the music up louder.

Clary rolled her eyes, letting the music be for now.

Not talking was nice, but soon interrupted by Jace turning the music off.

"I thought you liked this song?" Clary asked.

"Can I ask you something?" Jace stopped the car on the side of the empty road.

"Ehh, okay?" Clary mumbled bemused.

"I want you to be completely honest with me here, because I know you tend to not be exactly ethical."

"What is it Jace?" Clary asked, her voice turning more irritated now.

"You know what happened earlier, right?" he asked.

"Earlier as in?" Clary replied.

"When you passed out. You remember, I could see it in your face. And it's not good, is it?" Jace watched her carefully.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Clary refused.

"Yeah you do."

"No, I probably hit my head against something while clearing the rooms. Nothing to worry about." Clary smiled falsely

"That's bullshit Clary." Jace muttered, sending her the most annoying gaze Clary had witnessed in a long time.

"No, it's the truth." Clary's voice shook slightly, the demon's voice echoing inside her head.

Jace didn't answer, his eyes rested on the snowflakes falling softly to the ground. His messy curls covered most of his face, leaving Clary staring at him in anger.

"I need some air." Clary whispered before gripping the handle and pushing the door open. "Clary.." Jace moved to stop her, but the vexed green eyes meeting him stopped him.

Jace rolled his eyes, his irritation showing in his smallest expressions.

He leaned back in the driver's seat, taking Clary's "air-break" to his advantage. He hadn't slept for more than a few hours the last few days, and it didn't take long before he followed the others into sleep.

xxxx

Isabelle woke up from the sunlight hitting her face in a sweet, warm stream. She moaned lightly, as she forced her eyes open. She felt the head surface her face rested on, sitting up abruptly. Her cheeks reddened violently as she realised it was Simon's half bare chest.

"Morning." A smirking vampire said in a hushed, sleepy voice.

"Shut up." Isabelle looked away from him with her eyes focused on her brother, who thankfully still slept peacefully.

"I just said morning." Simon bit his lower lip to keep his grin hidden.

"It's not what you said. It's how you said it." Isabelle laughed.

"Can you two be quiet? Or else I'm gonna make sure that that daylighter thing doesn't last much longer." Jace muttered irritated.

"Yeah, and how are you going to do that Shadowhunter?" Simon snapped at him.

"I'll find a way." Jace laughed.

Alec started to wake up, a sleepy expression covering his face, his black hair falling into his blue eyes.

"Where's Clary?" Alec asked, cutting their conversation short.

Jace moved around to watch the seat Clary had supposedly slept in last night. She wasn't there.

"I don't know." Jace answered sceptically.

"Did you see her walk outside?"

"No." Jace replied, "Or.. I did but that was last night. We had a minor argument and Clary left, but she came back. I'm sure she did." Jace sounded confused.

"Well, she's not here now, so..." Isabelle sighed.

"I can see that." Jace snapped back.

"Hey, it's probably nothing. It's not illegal to take a walk." Simon tried to ease the tension.

Jace started to open the car door when Isabelle moved forward, picking up a folded piece of paper.

"Guys.." she whispered.

Jace closed the door again, taking the letter away from Izzy's grip. He opened it, cursing behind his breath as he began reading.

I don't know how to start

I can't begin

I hope you'll

I've been trying for over an hour to come up with the right words, but for some reason everything looks stupid when I try to write it on paper. So I've decided to cut right to the important things. Jace, you're right. I am lying to you, to all of you, and you know me well enough to know I'm not planning on telling you the truth now.

I want all of you to go back home, this, whatever kind of stupid game I've been pulling you into, is over. There's no point in trying to find me, when you read this I've already been to the Institute, they know you're alive, Jace. So go back to your family, go back to Iwan. He needs you more than anyone else.

And Jonathan, I'm really sorry for the shitty way I've been treating you. I wish there was a way for me to make it up to you, but I'm afraid I can't see light at the end of the tunnel for me this time.

Please, DON'T go after me! This is war, and I am picking what side to fight on. There is no going back. Don't make everything harder than it already is.

Clary.

xxxx

The Institute hadn't changed at all since the day Clary left. The halls were empty. It was quiet. Clary could hear the candles fames flicker as she stepped past them.

Clary moved towards the large staircase, wasting no time to get to the Magic Room.

"You."

Clary almost stumbled to the floor when she heard the voice. It had changed. The boy who had challenged her back in the library the day she'd tried to escape for the first time, the boy with the childish laughter and stupid theories about battle tactics. He had changed.

Iwan stood three feet ahead of her. Stone cold face, anger filling his eyes like she'd never seen before.

"Iwan." Clary whispered.

"How dare you come here?" he asked, his voice dangerously close to a yell.

"I- I.." Clary stuttered. "I'm sorry Iwan, please, you've got to let me go. It's not what you think."

"It's not what I think?" Iwan yelled angry. "It's exactly what I think, YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!"

Clary moved closer, putting a finger to her lips, "Please, be quiet."

"You killed my brother, he trusted you. We all trusted you Clary and you killed him!" the boy sounded broken, like he just shattered into a million tiny pieces. "I'm so sorry Iwan. I am." Clary felt the boy's tears like they were acid on her skin.

"You killed him." He whispered one more time, his tears too strong to keep his eyes clear.

"I didn't." Clary whispered as she sat down beside him, "I didn't kill your brother Iwan, Jace is alive."

"W-what?"

Clary hated herself for telling him like that, but she couldn't stand there and watch the twelve year old in such pain, for something that hadn't even happened.

"I didn't kill him Iwan, you have to believe me. Jace is coming home; I am done risking the lives of you people. I haven't killed anyone." Clary wiped away the hot tears from Iwan's face.

"How can I know you're not lying to me?" Iwan asked.

Clary smiled, such a Herondale thing to say. "Because I give you my word." Not very Morgenstern of her.

Iwan looked at her with dubious eyes. "Why are you here?"

xxxx

Four days earlier.

Valentine stepped into the chamber with a stern look on his face.

"Is everything ready?" His voice roared through the room.

Three inner circle members stood guard by each cells. "Yes sir." One of them confirmed.

Hodge Starkweather moved out of the shadows as Valentine came further in to the room. "We are ready to perform the ritual Valentine." His voice was shaking slightly, but his eyes kept their focus.

"Good, very good Starkweather." Valentine smiled maliciously. "BRING THE VAMPIRE OUT FIRST!"

The three guards walked over to one of the cells, slamming the barred doors open.

The vampire girl hissed angry, "I'll fucking kill you!" She screamed when they dragged her out of the cell. "I swear to God I'll kill you!"

"Oh, one who speaks God's name?" Valentine smirked, "Looks like we got ourselves a good one."

The girl, she looked about fifteen, blood red lips, brown hair.

"What's your name darling?" Valentine asked as he pulled out his knife.

"Go to hell." She spat at him.

"Oh, I will. But not yet."

Valentine pushed the knife against the girl's throat. She let out another angry hiss, "When Camille finds out you've killed me... I can promise you, it will not be long." She tried to break free from the guards' grips.

"Any last words?" One of the guards asked with a smirk on his lips.

The girl kept quiet. Her green eyes locked with Valentine, reminding him of Clary's bright eyes. He pressed the knife closer, cutting her throat open. "Lisa. That's my name." the girl gasped as the knife opened a large wound in her neck.

Blood poured into the bucket under them. The dying vampire, Lisa, fell to the floor.

"NEXT!" Valentine yelled.

The wolf boy and the fairy didn't take long. Both were too young to fight back, and too scared to use their words.

Three buckets of blood stood against the wall, the Mortal Sword laying inside a crowd of flames.

"Bring out the Warlock."

A boy with pale white skin and brown hair stepped out of the cell. His eyes, white, no colour nor pupil could be seen in the eyeballs. "Valentine Morgenstern." He said calmly.

"Bellomy." Valentine answered, "It's nice to see you, it has been a long time since we last talked." The guards placed one hand on each side of the Warlock's arms.

"And I need to ask for one more favour." Valentine smiled coldly.

"What makes you think I will help you?" Bellomy asked.

"Revenge." Valentine told the young Warlock, "You didn't deserve what happened to your mother. She didn't deserve to die like that. Don't you agree Bellomy."

"Help with what?" Bellomy asked angry.

"Summon a demon." Valentine answered.

"Is that all?" Bellomy asked with laughter in his voice.

"Yes, I need you to summon Agramon. The demon of fear." Valentine stated with a sly grin on his lips.

"Are you crazy?" Bellomy yelled, backing away from Valentine.

"Are you going to help me or will I have to kill you?" Valentine asks, holding out his knife.

"If I help you." Bellomy look at the Circle leader with his white eyes. "You will let me live?"

"Of course my friend, there is nothing I want more than to see you walk out of here alive." Valentine smiled at the Warlock who'd helped him make a few portals last year.

"Okay."

xxxx

The Warlock's body fell to the floor. Dead. The Circle members were told to fetch his body, and take his blood.

Four buckets. Four Downworlders. The ritual was complete. The Ritual of Infernal Conversion, where the Sword was seethed until burning red and cooled down four times in the blood of Downworld children: a child of Lilith, a child of the moon, a child of the night, and a child of the fey.

xxxx

Present time

Clary thanked Iwan for helping her; she needed to get to the Magic Room before it was too late.

The door was open. Thank God.

She walked inside, ready to turn the room upside down to find what she needed.

"Clary." Jocelyn sat behind the desk, her eyes full of shock.

"Fair.." Clary began, but she stopped herself. She looked at the redheaded woman, her green eyes so similar to Clary's. Clary felt her eyes stinging; she wasn't ready to face her mother. Not after what Clary had done last time they'd spoken to each other.

"Oh Clarissa, what are you doing here? It's not safe." Jocelyn whispered, her voice fairly close to a breaking point.

"Mom." Clary whispered back. "Mom." Her voice broke, tears pressing dangerously hard behind her eyes. "I've screwed up so bad."

Jocelyn pushed away from the desk, moving quickly towards her daughter. "It's okay. It's okay." Jocelyn whispered, her own tears falling from her cheeks.

"No, you don't understand." Clary answered.

"I don't care Clary. Whatever happened, whatever you've done, I don't care." Jocelyn's voice barely made it to Clary's ears before it died.

"I need you to leave." Clary said, looking up at her mother.

"I need you to tell the Herondales that Jace is alive, they will all be here soon. But I need to find something, and you can't be here." Clary stated in panic.

"I'm not leaving you Clarissa." Jocelyn brushed a hand over Clary's messy red hair.

"Yes you are!"

"Clary, please don't do this. You can't come back like this and expect me to leave you." Jocelyn wiped her own tears away. "Don't ask me to do that."

"I have to." Clary said before she looked up again, "How can you even want to help me? I tried to kill you! I've been nothing but horrible to you!" Clary yelled.

"Clary." Jocelyn met her daughter's green eyes. "I know why."

Clary touched the side of her face, feeling the familiar burn run through the scar. "Please leave."

To Clary's surprise, Jocelyn stood up. And after a long, teary gaze towards Clary, she did leave.

Clary dried her face with a piece of her sweater before she stood up. She needed to find the deck of cards. She'd seen Jace with it when they'd been here before. A hand-painted stack of tarot cards.

Clary pushed out books and moved objects around for a good hour before she found them.

Clary felt the demon's words ring in her ears as she looked through them.

"Apparently, my first message wasn't clear enough Clarissa. I told you pick a side. And you will choose mine. Don't mess around with the enemy darling. Now, I have a task for you, if I don't have the Mortal Cup by tomorrow at midnight, you now know how easily I'll find those friends of yours."

Clary shivered. The demon's voice died, and there it was. Ace of Cups. The Mortal Cup.

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