Hey everyone, it's going to get good in this chapter - hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 26…
{Jace's POV}
After Jon had left, Clary and I had been a blur of movement.
It turns out underneath Clary's warrior clothes, Jon had also given her my set of fighting gear.
Both of us had slipped on the clothes, feeling the familiarity of the material move against our skin, it was like no other sensation. Sometimes I wondered if the clothes actually gave me power, causing the thrum of adrenaline to course through my veins a little faster.
I turned around as Clary stepped out of the bathroom, her hair tied into 1 thick braid winding down her neck and back.
It was all I could do to not gawk at the sight of her, she was stunning.
Her gear ripped off at the shoulders, exposing the layers of lean muscle underneath her skin. Until her gloves began at the top of her forearm, covering her until it reached each of her knuckles, leaving her fingers exposed.
She wore black leather boots that were laced up tightly, reaching the middle of her calf.
I noticed that her weapons belt was empty apart from a few throwing knives. Before I could say anything she turned around to look at herself in the mirror and I saw that strapped to her back were the two most deadly blades I had seen.
Heosphoros and Phaesphoros.
"Are you ready?"
She asked me, whipping around as her eyes scaled me up and down.
"Yes, I just need to grab my seraph blades from downstairs."
Clary nodded and we both started towards the door, striding down the hallway and then jogging down the stairs.
"Clary, Jace?"
A voice called from the living room - it was still dark out so I could only just make out two figures sitting by the fire.
"Yes?"
I called back, now realising it must be Mrs and Mr Blackthorn.
"Be careful."
"We will."
Clary answered immediately as she turned the door handle and we were met with a bitter cold.
Despite it being October time, so still Autumn, the weather was cold at night. It must have rained earlier as the cobblestone roads still had puddles in, and Clary and I splashed through them as we ran up to the Gard.
Even from outside we could hear the sounds of raised voices and violent hisses - but thankfully not the sound of metal on metal.
I looked at Clary as we ascended up the stairs, taking note of her cold expression. Her hands still by her sides as she prepared herself for what we were about to walk into.
Silently, she looked at me and we pushed through the barrier separating us from whatever was inside.
{Clary's POV}
As Jace and I strode into the hall I kept my face completely neutral as I surveyed the scene.
In the centre of the room stood a dozen Seelies at most, each one armed with their spears - laced with poison no doubt.
Although the fey did not have elaborate weaponry, Seelies were trained from a young age to be excellent at combat.
Surrounding the envoy were Nephilim, all of which I recognised - Jia had managed to keep the circle small which I was appreciative of.
"Ah Clarissa Morgenstern, always a delight."
A familiar voice sounded from the middle of the Seelie pack - a voice from a distant memory made fresh in my mind.
"Meliorn."
I scowled, recalling his name.
The faerie knight was the Queen's most trusted guard ; I'm pretty sure the two are lovers, but that is a bit irrelevant in the situation.
"It's been a while hasn't it. How is dear old dad?"
My muscles tightened. My fists clenching and unclenching at my sides.
He was doing this to provoke me, it was standard Seelie behaviour to piss you off.
"Dead. And you'll join him if you don't control your tongue."
I gave him a cold look - but the knight just smiled back at me, much to my annoyance.
"When did they arrive?"
I whirled on Jia opposite me in the hall.
"About half an hour ago, portal I assume. But it should be impossible to portal through Idris's wards."
I frown for a moment, flipping Jia's words over in my mind.
"Not impossible. I've done it."
I replied quickly, trying to fit the pieces together in my mind ; but no matter what way I turned them, none of the facts fit together.
"She's dying to see you, you know."
Meliorn spoke up yet again.
I whipped my gaze back to him and glared,
"The Seelie Queen?"
"Not exactly. Although her majesty is very excited for your arrival into our lands."
"Then who?"
"That would be telling Miss Morgenstern, besides, I think you will enjoy the shock."
Meliorn answered each time, his voice dripping with anticipation and grace. Personally, I found a Seelie's voice repulsive, they were designed to be beautiful in every way to lure in their prey ; but underneath all their beauty was a savage beast ready to pounce at any given moment.
I was about to open my mouth when Imogen spoke up, her posture tense and concerned.
"How long will the Queen hold them for?"
Meliorn turned to the Inquisitor,
"They will remain in the land of faerie as long as the Queen needs them, but we cannot keep them captive."
He looked at me as he continued,
"Anyhow, I'm aware of the talents of this one, I don't know a cage that could hold her against her will for long."
I raised an eyebrow in his direction in agreement.
Smoothly, I swept the room to allow myself to take notice of everyone in the room as a whole. Thankfully, Izzy, Jon and Alec were all in battle gear like myself and Jace - we were all prepared to leave.
"Let's go then."
I announced to the room, and received nods of encouragement from the others.
"Before you leave, I do have a question."
Jia piped up, looking at Meliorn.
"Go ahead."
He gestured, spreading his arms wide as if he were an open book. Which was far from the reality of what Meliorn was ; Seelie's were dark twisted creatures, crafted from deception itself.
"How did you manage to portal in? You shouldn't be able to breach the wards."
Jia asked again. Although I was curious to know how they did it myself, Seelie magic was not very powerful outside of their own lands - so it is perplexing that they should be able to penetrate the home of the Angel's children.
An unnerving smirk spread across Meliorn's lips, sending a warning signal up my spine that there was a much bigger threat at hand than the Seelie Queen.
"When your children return home they will be able to answer your questions, Madam Consul."
The moment he finished speaking a swirling vortex engulfed the wall behind him. I knew it was a portal but there was something funny-looking about it - something not entirely human.
I saw Maryse give Izzy and Alec a quick squeeze before letting go.
Celine did the same for Jace, with Stephen eyeing Meliorn deceptively. However Stephen did catch my eye, sending me a look of 'keep him safe' and I nodded back at him. Never in a million years would I let anything happen to Jace.
"Make sure you are all linked to me somehow when we step through!"
I shouted over the growing noise from the portal. None of the others had ever been to Seelie to my knowledge, and stepping into a portal not knowing where you're going is dangerous.
Jace took one of my hands and Jon took the other, with Alec and Izzy taking each of theirs - a united front.
As much as I should be thinking about the mission we were embarking on ; all I could think about was how at home I felt, how powerful, regardless of my abilities. When I was with these four I felt invincible, just their presence held me higher.
So as we strode into the portal I felt optimistic about the future, and revelled in that feeling. Because it wasn't going to last.
{Izzy's POV}
The moment I was enveloped by the portal my hand was ripped out of Jon's ; and the nauseating feeling of portal travel swept through my gut.
I didn't even have time to consider a graceful landing before I felt myself hit the earth hard - however I managed somehow to roll forwards with some form of dignity.
But that didn't last long as a body came crashing down on top of me.
"Ouch!"
I shouted as I was pinned down by a slightly smaller frame than my own.
"Clary?"
I asked, dumbfounded that I had caught her in a moment of such clumsiness.
Her cheeks pinked a little as she dusted herself off and stood up, then offered me a hand.
"Sorry 'bout that."
She exclaimed, her hands feeling for the comfort of the morgenstern blades strapped tightly to her back.
"No worries - where are we?"
I asked the group looking around, it was only now that I noticed the boys a good 10 feet away from us ; their curiosity spiked on their faces equally.
"We're in the Wander Woods."
Clary stated, anger flushing her voice.
"Wait, where's Meliorn and the other guards?!"
I exclaimed, becoming a bit panicked now.
Clary raised her chin at the boys and they walked over to us before she spoke.
"We are in the Wander Woods ; one of the Queen's private gardens. Except it's a maze, and we're standing in the centre of it right now."
Clary explained, a jagged aggression cutting through the air from her tone.
"This is her Majesty's first test, we have to make it out of here first."
My mouth shaped into an 'O' as I understood, but then a hopeful thought entered my mind.
"But you've been here before right? You know the way to the Court?"
Clary shook her head in submission,
"I have been here, yes, but the woods are enchanted - they change every time."
My hope was squashed in an instant.
"Well we better get moving then."
Jace announced, and we all started moving down the path lined by hedgerows about two stories tall at least, blocking out most of the light.
"Hey things could be a lot worse though, we could be battling demons for our lives."
Jon spoke, trying to cheer the group up a little bit. I heard a chuckle from Clary at my side,
"These are the Wander Woods big brother, don't think this will be a piece of cake."
Clary said darkly as she drew out Heosphoros from her scabbard, making me gulp.
"Facilis descensus averni."
Jace breathed out as he too pulled out a blade, and I easily translated the Silent Brother's motto in my head.
The descent into Hell is easy.
It was plastered on every entrance to the Bone City I had seen, even thinking about that place gave me the shivers.
{time skip}
We had been walking for at least an hour, aimlessly stalking through these woods.
So far we had encountered no beasts, and I was starting to get hungry.
"Will we get food when we're there?"
I whined out loud, clutching my stomach.
"Yes, but you can't eat any of it."
Clary replied as she walked ahead of me with Jon, both of them in sync.
"Ugh, why?"
"Because if you take something of the courts then she kind of owns you - so Izzy under no circumstances can you eat, drink or even taste anything. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
I replied, and gave her a salute which curled up the corner of Jace's lips.
"Here, have a replenishment rune."
Jace said to me as we stopped walking so he could place the tip of his stele to my forearm.
The burning sensation hurt at first as it always did, but as soon as Jace was finished it felt like I had eaten a whole damn pizza.
"Thanks,"
I smiled, with my now satisfied stomach - but I knew these runes didn't last very long and I would need some substantial food soon enough.
As I was about to take a step forward a blade whizzed past my left ear, the repercussions stirring my hair.
A moment later a grotesque sound of a creature choking echoed from behind me.
"Izzy GET BACK!"
Clary screamed as she began running at me, I ducked just in time as Clary soared over my head and sank one of her blades into the creature's chest.
It was at least 8 feet tall, towering over Clary as she dropped to the floor, dragging Heosphoros down its torso. Black tar spilled out of it's skin, fizzing as it dropped to the floor and burned away the grass.
"What was that?"
Jon asked as he offered me a hand, which I took gratefully.
"That was a Perish Demon."
Clary replied as she retrieved her two blades and wiped off the ichor in the grass.
"Perish? I've never heard of one of them."
Alec echoed Clary's name for the beast.
"They don't exist inside our world."
"Then how are they here?"
Jace asked back straight away, his eyebrows being drawn together.
"Perish demons are the servants in Hell, more commonly known as Edom."
Clary replied again, his voice strained and her face taught.
"So how did they get here?"
I queried slowly, unsure of whether I wanted to know the answer or not.
Clary gulped visibly and cleared her throat before answering,
"They've come with the Queen of Hell. My mother."
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!
Lilith is back.
Let me know what your thoughts are as always!
Song 26 - Friends - Chase Atlantic