Hello! I am back! Look, I am so sorry I have not been updating lately. School has been a handful and I've been so busy, haven't had much time to write. However, I am still working on this story, and I PROMISE that I will finish it. As an apology, here is a SUPER-LONG CHAPTER just for you! And I will be publishing Here is the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Cassandra Clare's ideas or characters.


Chapter 17: Fallen and Awoken

Werecat funerals were much different from other funerals. Mundane funerals consist of people dressed in black, coffins that contained the bodies to be buried or cremated to ashes, and long speeches from loved ones of the departed. Shadowhunters, in contrast, dress in white, burn their fallen on a pyre in the Silent City to bury their ashes with their families, and spoke specific ritual words for their fallen ally's passing. Werewolves, vampires, Seelies, and warlocks have their own traditions, each involving rituals involving their cultures. Werewolves would howl and bury their fallen pack mates, vampires would perform specific acts in honor of their fallen clansmen, and Seelies would gather together to release their fallen into nature, the domain all Seelies rule. Warlocks don't always die, but do calcify, and those events are grim and full of sorrow, gathering in the Spiral as one of their own is locked in their own coffin, imprisoned in their own mind for centuries to come.

Werecat funerals were different from all of them.

Everyone in attendance was dressed in their armor or attire of silver and gold that shown in the light of the sunrise. Each person also wore a cloak around their shoulders, with a deep blue hood resting on their heads combined with a mask that covered their faces from the nose down, obscuring their faces much like the mask of a ninja would. All of the women, and occasional men, were armed. All of the patrons, even the children, had a sword strapped to their hip, all on the left side. Few carried different weapons, such as axes or spears, all made of silver and gold, each one crafted more for beauty than for effectiveness in combat. These weapons were ceremonial, not for fighting.

Rather than a Pyre or caskets, there were statues before the crowd. Werecat tradition stated that each fallen werecat be immortalized in stone, each one unique and beautiful. The corpses were healed of their injuries by a variety of spells, and every fallen soldier, child, and enemy was dressed in identical golden togas before transformed to stone. Once the stone casting spells were complete, each statue was surrounded by numerous candles, each lit with a different color flame, each color representing a different blessing and spell for their soul. Most of them are part of a specific spell used to protect the soul of the fallen, keeping them out of the clutches of demons and their masters.

Magnus looked down at the gathering with a familiar feeling of sadness and depression. There were thousands of statues, thousands of dead, and thousands left to mourn. All around him, the scent and sensation of death and pain was everywhere, especially permeating the castle walls. The castle infirmaries were flooded with wounded and dying women, men, and children, and their cries echoed endlessly in the stone walls. It was stifling, the sensation of a nation suffering. The land was silent as they awaited their queen, for the ceremony to commence.

For the past twelve hours, Kiara, Alyssa, and Hannah had been hard at work trying to help the people recover from the damage that Helena had brought. All through the night and day, the three of them ran around, attending to the wounded, helping lost children find their families or friends, and consoling those who lost a loved one. Kiara ordered the castle gates be opened and welcomed all of who needed assistance into her home. The servants scampered around like ants, running from one room to the next, cleaning up damage, bringing supplies, delivering children and elders to safe rooms. It was like a bee hive, alive and buzzing, but not with joy and light. It buzzed with panic, worry, and anger.

Naturally, Magnus and the others insisted upon helping the servants and the royal women once the danger had subsided. Despite this, Kiara ordered them to bed in a tone that indicated they shouldn't argue. She saw through their exhaustion and ordered them to rest, stating they needed to be cared for just as much as her people did. Magnus wanted to argue with his sister that she was just as exhausted and in need of care as they were, but before he could she disappeared down the hall with a small child that was crying for his mother and sisters. Each of them had gone to bed with sick feelings in their stomachs, and all of them held their loved ones closer. Magnus and Alec even made Rafael and Max sleep with them in their room, keeping them locked between their larger bodies, trying to calm their own shaking bodies and nerves.

All of them slept fitfully, and were awoken hours later by the knock of a new maid. She didn't give her name, nor did she inform them of where their other maid was. It was better not to ask, considering the tears she swimming in her eyes. After quietly informed them that the funeral would be commencing in half an hour and that the queen wished for their attendance, she gave each of them unique garbs made of silver and gold before disappearing down the hall, trying to hide her quiet sobs into her hand. Now, it was nearly thirty minutes later, and Magnus was dreading the ceremony to come. All of them were. No one liked going to funerals, after all.

Alec stood at his side, dressed in a set of leather armor that was made of gold and black, etched with faces of angels and flowing like a river. A silver bow rested on his shoulder, while a golden quiver full of arrows sat on his back. There was no hood or mask covering his handsome and grim face, which intrigued Magnus a tiny bit. Magnus himself wore a golden warlock robe that closely resembled the robe traditionally worn at warlock funeral. However, unlike warlock robes that depicted dark colors of mourning and demonic faces, this one trickled to silver at the end, and had moving images of werecat warriors on the back. He had also foregone his more elaborate makeup, going with simple eyeliner and silver eyeshadow, matching the trims on his robe. Other than the armor and robe they were given, both men wore their regular clothes they wore for funerals, Alec in white and Magnus in deep colors. Each one of them held one of their boys in their arms, both of them dressed in identical golden and silver attire the maid gave them. They even had their own little swords, but Magnus and Alec didn't let them use them. Rafael and Max didn't argue like they normally would have, still too shocked and shaken to care.

Jace, Simon, Clary, and Izzy were also dressed in armor identical to Alec's, and wore white clothes underneath. Just like Alec, they were armed, each of them with their own weapons made of silver and gold. Clary and Simon both had identical style swords, Jace had two long swords, one on each hip, and Izzy had a silver whip attached to her hip. None of them spoke as they waited for Kiara as the maid instructed. It took an eternity before they heard footsteps and the rustle of fabric approach them.

"You all look nice," a voice said from behind them. The group silently turned to see three women standing behind them.

Kiara stood in the middle, dressed in a golden toga-like dress, brown hair streaked with silver, and plain, tan sandals were on her feet. Just like Alec and the others, she did not wear a hood and mask. Her fans rested on the belt wrapped around her hips, and she wore the same breastplate they saw when they first met her. A deep purple cape was clasped to the shoulders of her armor, surrounding her back like a waterfall, depicting moving images of female warriors like Magnus's robe did. No make-up was on her face, and her only jewelry was the black and gold chain crown wrapped around her forehead.

Alyssa stood at her right side, dressed in silver armor, with a hood over her head and mask covering her lower face. The hood completely covered her auburn hair and the top half of her face. Just like the people in the crowd, she had a sword strapped to her left side. Beneath her armor, she wore a pair of black pants with a white blouse, and on her feet were a pair of simple, black ballet flats. For some reason, she refused to make eye contact with any of them, always looking down to her hands that were clasped in front of her.

Lady Hannah stood on Kiara's other side, dressed in the same armor, but without a hood and mask as well. She had forgone her traditional hairstyle for a simple ponytail that rested high on her head, looking as stiff and erect as the rest of her. Rather than one sword, she had two, one strapped on each hip, and her silver breastplate had no intricate designs. For a few moments, the three women just stared solemnly at the group of eight, silent and grave.

"You look beautiful," Clary said kindly with as much pleasantness she could muster in such a grim situation. Kiara gave a half-hearted grin and did a little curtsey. Then, she walked over to Clary and gave her a hug, shocking the girl to stiffness until she hugged the queen back. Kiara let go and continued to hug all of the Shadowhunters before reaching Alec, Magnus, and the boys.

Magnus could see the pain and sorrow in his sister's eyes as she looked at her nieces. Her eyes were so tender and loving as she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads. She then reached around and hugged Alec, who gave her a one armed hug since his other was holding Max to his chest. Then, they released each other before Kiara latched onto Magnus, so fast that he didn't see her face. He could feel her measured, wobbly breaths against him, and wrapped his free arms around her tightly, knowing nothing he said would help at the moment. The siblings held each other for a minute before Kiara released him and stepped back, turning to face all of them.

"Shall we then?" the queen asked, gesturing to the balcony doors behind them. All of them separated like the Red Sea, letting her through them to open the doors. With a hard push, they flew open, nearly blinding them all in orange and pink sunlight. Then, after taking a deep, focused breath, she slowly made her way onto the balcony.

The glass in the windows that had shattered the previous night was restored, but the cracks and crevices in the stone remained. Each of them walked carefully to the edge of the stone structure, hoping it wouldn't crumble. Kiara, Alyssa, and Hannah did not walk as cautiously, however, and strolled to the balcony with purpose. As they gathered next to the royal three, all of them heard the sound of horns playing a melancholy tune from somewhere above them. When Kiara stepped to the rail, it stopped. All at once, the people bellow them looked up to their queen in unison.

"Sisters and brothers," Kiara began, her voice ringing out with a sort of regal tone. "Today, we honor the fallen, those who willingly gave their lives to protect us, and those who were caught in the strife. None of these people deserved the fate they were given, and let us send them off treasuring their lives and memories.

"Each of the fallen were someone to us. Mother, sister, friend, lover, wife, child, the occasional father, brother, husband, nephew, or even a simple neighbor you spoke to but once a month. These statues encase their bodies, preserving them as they were when their spirits departed this realm, joining the angels above. We create these statues to honor their lives, as each of them mattered to someone, and deserve to be remembered."

"That may be so, but why do you bury our enemies with our children?" an angry voice called out. "You bury the enemy with our people! They are the ones who caused the deaths of those we loved! Why do they deserve honor?" At his question, there was a ripple in the crowd, many unsure voices asking the same question. Magnus looked to his sister, but she remained calm, her face still the same.

"I understand you are angry and confused by my decision," Kiara answered to the crowd. "But I do this because no matter who they were or what they believed, they were still one of us. They may have followed a path of death, destruction, and heartache, but they are still our sisters. Their decisions and actions caused misery, but I have no doubt that they had loved ones as well. Each one of the enemies we cast in stone was also a person, and deserves the same respect and dignity as our allies and our loved ones."

"How can you say that?!" another person called out. This one sounded like a man. "Two of those monsters murdered my wife and kids!, and you have them cast in stone like they were heroes!"

"I did not say I did this because I believed them to be heroes or that I agreed with their decisions," Kiara continued, her voice hardening a bit. "But I cannot live with myself if I did not give one of my people a proper burial rite. Even if they murdered my friends, I would have them buried. To me, it is not a matter of whom I do or not care for. It is a matter of morals."

"What about Helena?" the first person called out again. "She would not do this to our fallen!" Magnus glanced at his sister again, seeing her tense up at the mention of her adoptive mother's name. Kiara paused for a moment, trying to collect herself with deep, calming breaths. Quietly, Magnus raised his free hand and placed it on Kiara's shoulder, while Hannah did the same on her other side. Kiara glanced around at her brother and her Aunt, giving them both a smile of thanks and reached up to give both of them a light squeeze. Then, she turned back to the crowd, her face hard.

"Yes, I am sure Helena would have burned our people's bodies rather than honor them in stone," Kiara began, her voice quaking the tiniest bit. "However, if we did the same then would that make us any better than her?"

Bellow them, the crowd began to murmur once more, glancing around at one another. Alyssa and Hannah remained immobile, only their eyes scanning the crowd, while Kiara leaned forward a bit on the rail, placing her hands on the cracked stone. For a moment, Magnus felt a twinge of pride for his sister. It was strange. He knew she was an adult and a wonderful leader, but seeing her trying to reason with her people rather than forcing her own way was amazing. In a way, he felt proud.

"We all know why Helena is our enemy," Kiara continued. "She lied, kidnapped and killed children, and used her power to benefit herself, not the people. Her actions were without honor and without care for those who were around her. I do not want to be like her, or ever become her. One way I can attempt to make sure that does not happen is by doing things she would not."

"So you are burying our enemy with our ancestors because you are trying to be different from her?" someone new asked suspiciously.

"That is not all of it. Yes, I do want to be different from Helena—I want to be better—but that is not the only reason. I mentioned the morals of it before, but there is one other reason. I know many of you have lost those you love to Helena in some way. Perhaps her servants slayed your loved ones, or perhaps those you loved left to join Helena all those years ago. My best friend and battle partner, Sasha, was among those who did. Just last night, I slayed her, driving the knife through her myself. It made my heart scream in agony and my body grow numb, but I had no other option. Helena had twisted her vision to make her see me as the enemy and wish for my death, so much so that she disregarded her own life. She was my best friend, but Helena corrupted her and made her my enemy.

"Despite the atrocities I know Sasha committed, I could not help but care for her and worry about her all of these years. I do not blame her for her actions; I blame Helena, and partially myself. So, Sasha is cast in the stone crowd, being laid to rest with her people. Though she was my enemy, I still love her and wish to honor her. Sasha was not the only one corrupted by Helena. You have every right to be angry with our enemies, but we must also learn to remember that they are like us, responsible for their choices and given spirits. They are we; they just chose the wrong path to follow. We should hate the sin itself, but not the sinner.

"My friends, we live in a cruel world, and that shall not change for centuries to come. However, we can begin to try for a better world. That is why we exist. To slay evils that corrupt, fight the servants of the Morning Star and his followers so that the world may become safer and a better place. One of those evils has no solid form: anger. Anger is one of the most evil monsters in the world, and we must learn to control it. It is anger and the refusal to forgive that helps keep our world chaotic and in pain. If we are to help this world, we must learn to forgive and let go of our anger. I am not saying it shall be easy, but let this be the first step we all take. Even I must learn to forgive and let go. I do not order you to join me, but I ask humbly that you do."

This time, when Kiara stopped talking, the crowd remained silent. They seemed to be in a state of contemplation, but no one spoke a word of argument. For a minute, Kiara just looked down at her people, and for a moment, Magnus and the others could see the faintest hint of tears in her eyes. But they quickly vanished, and Kiara raised her hands.

"Now, let us honor the fallen." Then, the trumpets sounded again, playing a hauntingly beautiful melody. As the trumpets plays, the crowd members moved their right hands, placing their hands on their sword hilts, but did not draw them. Hannah and Alyssa did as well. Jace, Clary, and Simon hastily caught up, while Izzy placed her hand on the sword Jace had on his other hip. Only Kiara, Alec, Magnus, Max, and Rafael did not reach for weapons.

"Light the candles," Kiara commanded, her voice echoing throughout the land. In a flash, the candles below them caught fire, casting the pristine white statues into a rainbow glow. Each candle had a flame that matched the color of the candle's wax.

"Each candle we light represents a blessing, a prayer, and a spell," Kiara continued, her voice somewhat tender despite the thunderous echo it caused. "With each flame, we pray for the salvation of the fallen spirit, that they may find peace and joy in the afterlife, and that their spirits may be protected from the demonic forces that wish to claim revenge. Let us join the angels in heaven, if not to rest, then to assist them in our pledge to cease the Morning Star's corruption on this world."

As she finished her sentence, the crowd began drawing their swords, pointing them up towards the sky above. Jace, Simon, Clary, and Izzy joined in, while Alec and Magnus continued to carry their sons and watch. Kiara then lowered her hands in front of her chest, muttering something under her breath. As she muttered, a large ball of light began to form in her hands, rapidly changing colors and growing larger until it was the size of a basketball. Once she stopped muttering, she held the ball over the ledge. Then she dropped it.

The ball fell rapidly until it landed on the tips of one of the statues bellow. When it made contact, it exploded in a bright flash. Light then spread to the statues around it, then to the statues around them, and so one until every single statue was glowing brightly in gold. It was nearly blinding.

"Michael, Heavenly General, we ask that you watch over our fallen soldiers whom you shared your blood," Kiara continued, her voice ringing out. "As our first queen Veronica was saved by you, we ask that you save your soldiers here on Earth from the depths of hell. Let them be at peace, for they have completed their missions as best they could. Ask the Lord to forgive the sins of those who are wicked, and embrace those who have experienced suffering. Finally, allow them to find comfort and peace in the realm of the angels, and never let them suffer again."

As she spoke, all of the swords that were held up began to glow in the same blinding light. Not a single person in the audience was affected by it, but the Shadowhunters and warlocks had to shut their eyes as to not become blind. Then, the land began to quake, shaking them all furiously. Again, the crowd and the royals were unaffected by this, but the others had to grasp onto the railing for support. Then, a tremendous bang sounded from somewhere far away, and a huge gust of wind blew through the streets. It was so strong that they had to keep their eyes closed, and didn't see it taking the flames off of the candles and somehow lifting them to the heavens. Then everything was silent. The group opened their eyes to see that Alyssa, Hannah, and the crowd had put their swords away, and the light on the statues had gone out. There was no noise other than the sound of the occasional bird in the distance. No force shook the earth. All was still and silent. Kiara raised her head, closing her eyes with a pained, mournful expression.

"Farewell," Kiara said softly. The crowd echoed the word in a single voice. Kiara then let out a breath, her body slouching a bit as she did. All of them saw beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and heard her small pants for air. Each of them looked a bit concerned, but Lady Hannah turned to them and nodded her head reassuringly. After a moment to regroup herself, Kiara stood tall again, and turned back to her people.

"Now, my people, I know for years I have not allowed our people to retaliate against Helena for her actions against us," Kiara said, her voice angry and cold. "But after the events of yesterday, I cannot stand by any longer. This attack has proven to me that Helena is growing more desperate to force my hand, and I do not want her to launch another attack of this magnitude again. Not when we are not prepared."

Magnus's eyes widened at Kiara's words. Her tone was so cold and angry that it almost scared him. It was a million times more cold than the way she had spoken to him when they first found her. Even Max, who loved his aunt dearly, tried to curl himself into his Papa's chest more, shaking a bit at her words.

"So, tonight, I shall attempt to contact her myself. For the last time, I shall try to make peace with her, and have her call off her attacks and surrender herself. However, I highly doubt that she will consider doing this, so I warn you now. Prepare yourselves my friends, because if she does not comply, we shall meet her blow for blow. We will be at war."

At this declaration, the crowd burst into a frenzy of shouts and approvals, all of them raising their swords and other weapons into their air, cheering for their queen. Even the children seemed anxious for a war, which was a sad thing to see.

"I shall inform you of the decision tomorrow," she continued over the excited crowd. "Until then, rest. Spend time with your loved ones, treat your injuries, come to the castle for food and assistance. By dawn tomorrow, the decision will be made."

Then, Kiara turned on her heel and marched towards the doors, with her wife and aunt on her heels. The others rushed to join her, a million questions rushing through their heads. When they entered the doors, ready to ask their questions, they were shocked to find that Kiara, Alyssa, and Hannah were nowhere in sight. They had vanished.


The group didn't see Kiara again until late that night at dinner. She had changed out of her formal garb for a pair of white shorts and a blue off the shoulder top with the same sandals from earlier that day. Hannah had changed back into her normal armor, and Alyssa was nowhere to be found. Kiara said that her wife hadn't felt well after everything that had happened, and needed to rest in the springs for a little while.

The table was oddly quiet this night. Everyone ate in silence, wanting to ask questions or make comments about what had been decided. Even so, none of them asked due to the young ears that did not need to hear all of the gruesome details they needed to learn.

The dinner dragged on for what seemed like hours, the only sounds being the crackling of the hearth and the sound of cutlery on plates. None of them ate very much, including Kiara. She only got through two slices of pizza before calling it quits. All of them observed her, and it was clear that she was anxious about contacting her former mother.

When dinner finally ended, Kiara and Hannah vanished again, claiming they would be starting preparations for contacting Helena. The servants led the group to the baths once more, where they all soaked in the large baths rather than the solitary ones. The men and women were separated, but they did keep farther away from each other. Well, except for Magnus. He had been to many large bathhouses in his time and was not uncomfortable with being in one with other men. However, this time bath was not jovial and full of chatter and laughter. It was quiet and anxious. Even Max and Rafael didn't splash and play as they normally would have, just staying as close to their family members as possible and holding them, trying to cheer them up as much as they could.

They spent nearly an hour in the baths before a woman armor came in to tell them Queen Kiara was nearly ready for them. So, the six boys and two girls got out and headed back to their rooms. There, they dressed in normal clothes, but were sure to keep their weapons on them. Magnus and Alec put Rafael and Max to sleep before they went to join the others, telling them that this was grown-up business and they didn't need to worry. They would have joined the others sooner, but Max was too afraid to go to sleep without his dads there to keep him and Rafael safe. So, the two men stayed until they knew the boys were asleep. When they were, they asked a maid to ask Alyssa if she would be willing to watch the boys since she wasn't going to be participating in the conference. Their sister-in-law readily complied and sat with them, and as they left they saw her reaching over to gently stroke Max's scrunched up face. Then, they joined the others outside, and followed the maid to the grand ballroom, silent and moving with purpose.

They entered the grand room to find it very dim and dark. The only light they had was from the mountain of candles scattered around the center of the elegant dancefloor. In the middle of it, Kiara kneeled down, tracing something on the floor, muttering in a language they didn't know. Hannah was off to the side, placing more candles around the room, looking more nervous and tense than any of them had ever seen. Kiara looked up as they approached her slowly, their footsteps echoing off of the tile.

"Oh, good, you're here," she said hastily, plastering on a fake reassuring smile as she stood up. "We are almost ready to start. If you guys don't want to be here that's fine."

"If you thought we wouldn't want to be here then why did you have us summoned?" Jace asked. Kiara's confident smile faltered, and they all saw a flash of apprehension cross her feline eyes.

"Just thought you would like to see the show?" she said, though it sounded more like a question. Jace nodded his head, clearly not buying the answer, and looked around.

"Why are only you two doing this? Can't your servants help?" he asked casually. Kiara didn't look up again, turning back to the sand she had placed on the floor to look for any flaws.

"I sent them all home early," she replied as nonchalantly as possible. "They didn't need to be here to see this, you know?" Just then, she dropped the bowl she was holding, spilling the contents all over the floor and her shoes. As it made contact, she let out a small yelp, before bending down to scoop it up in her hands, muttering curses while doing so. It was clear she was stressed, and didn't want to admit it. Magnus knew what that was like, and how it was not helping her. So, he sighed and turned to the rest of the group.

"Would you all go and help Hannah with the candles?" he asked, his tone light with a hidden edge. "If you are using the spell I think you are using, then she'll be at it for an hour if she works on her own."

All of them got the hint and walked away, grabbing unlit candles as they went. Then it was just Magnus and Kiara in the circle. Silently, Magnus bent down to help his sister scoop up the sand. For a moment, the two of them just kept scooping up sand until it was all in the bowl again. Finally, Kiara let out a defeated sigh and looked up.

"I was that obvious?" Kiara asked, her smile dropping and a mask of fear replacing it. Magnus nodded his head, picking up the bowl and handing it to his sister.

"You don't have to do this, you know?" Magnus said, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder. "I am sure Hannah could do it for you."

"No," Kiara said defiantly, her glare set to the floor. "It has to be me. I've been putting this off long enough. After what she did, I can't let her continue doing this. I can't show any weakness to her by having someone else do it."

"It's alright to be scared," Magnus said softly. Kiara looked up at her elder brother with pained eyes that he hated seeing.

"I know, but I have thousands of people relying on me. I can't afford to be scared." Magnus didn't know what else to say, knew there was nothing else he could say, and looked around him. At this place that was so beautiful and so scarred. When he had arrived in chains, he silently thought this land his sister ruled was the most beautiful place he had ever seen on his travels, or at least was one of them. It reflected his sister, full of light, love, and beauty that just came naturally to her. Now, it was cold, angry, afraid, and tense, just like their queen was. Despite it all, Magnus knew all he could do was stand by his sister and catch her if she needed help. That's what he planned to do.

"We are finished," Hannah called from behind him. Magnus looked back to his sister, who had placed her own hand over the one he had on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine, I promise," Kiara whispered, squeezing his hand. Then, she pushed it off and walked out of the circle, Magnus on her heels. He remained silent as he watched her place the finishing touches on the circle's edges, drawing elaborate shapes and symbols in a strange blue paste.

"For the record, I think this is a bad idea," Simon piped up. A moment later, he groaned in pain at the two elbows that jabbed into his sides.

"No, what I mean is that this could be trap, you know? If you contact her from here can't she try to break through?"

"She did that last night," Kiara said without looking up, her voice grim. "And I am well aware that this is a stupid idea. I'm probably giving her more cracks to sneak through, but I can't just wait for a peaceful solution anymore. I've got to take action."

"Kiara," Hannah said, her voice gentle and concerned. "I know you feel guilty about what happened last night, but that was not your fault."

"In a way it was," Kiara said darkly, angrily marking the marble floor with trembling fingers. "They got through on my watch, because I took Helena's throne away. If she has the power to do this once, she can do it again. I have to try to stop her before that happens."

"But going to war?" Jace asked. "You said it yourself that Helena's army had your outmanned."

"What other choice do I have, Jace?" Kiara asked quietly, her voice so meek and small it was scary. Everyone was also shocked that she called him Jace. Not once had she done that. She always picked on him and gave him little nicknames.

"For centuries I have tried to negotiate with her peacefully," she continued, her voice trembling with decades of repressed frustration and rage. "I've sent letters, envoys, held meeting with her generals, but nothing has worked. If anything, they made Helena more anxious to crush me and my foolish dreams of peace. Because I have not taken action, I've allowed countless deaths to not just my people, but to hers. Last night was proof that she will never surrender until she gains what she desires. Last night was proof that peaceful negotiations will do nothing in this case. I have no choice. What would you do in my position?"

All of them were silent by her question, because none of them knew what they would have done in her position. They knew how to fight, how to lead a squad or an Institute, but leading a nation was not something they knew. In that moment, they saw how taxing it truly was, to have thousands of people depending on you for answers and protection. Thousands of lives that they had to protect, serve, and care for. None of them had ever experienced positions of power and leadership outside of each other and the Institute. In New York there were less than a hundred to lead. Here, one person was leading a thousand, and had been doing so for decades, while fighting off the woman who rescued her. In that moment, all of them came to understand what pain Kiara was truly feeling, yet refusing to show her people. In that moment, they all felt her pain and understood. Without waiting for a response, Kiara began to chant.

Red and blue smoke began to form above the circle as she spoke, filling the air around them. Kiara began to chant louder, raising her hands as fire appeared in them. The smoke began to churn faster and faster, whipping everyone's hair around and burning their eyes. Only Magnus remained unaffected by it, having become used to this sort of magic ages ago. Hannah didn't seem affected either, staring tensely at the rising smoke and flames.

Translate this into French:

"Oh Angel, Gabriel, Messenger to God, show me the face of whom I wish to speak." Kiara called out in a terrifying, earth-shattering voice, lifting her head, voice, and arms to the ceiling, as if she were possessed. As she spoke and chanted, the room shook violently, the chandeliers and torches above and around them vibrating so much they feared they would detach from their anchors. Then, the smoke in place, as if time had frozen, before rushing back to the pentagon, coming together like a screen. It converged together, becoming almost solid looking. As they watched, the smoke began to shift and warp into a feminine human form. Slowly, it took shape, and new colors replaced the red and blue, until the smoke image depicted a beautiful woman in full battle garb. This was Helena.

She was the spitting image of her sister, but there were numerous differences as well. They both possessed the same dark, nearly black eyes, light brown hair, and fit, mature figures. Their postures were identical, erect and proper, with an air of regal stature surrounding them both. Just on these factors, they could have been mistaken for twins. However, the differences began, and however small they were, they easily showed you how different the siblings were.

Helena's face was marred by a beautiful but deadly smile that reminded everyone of the Seelie Queen. Her eyes contained playful, malevolent mischief and intent to harm in some way. She was dressed in armor nearly identical to Hannah's, but hers was midnight blue and grey. The faces on her breastplate cried out in agony, begging for freedom from the hell in which they were imprisoned. Strapped to her hips were a pair of short duel swords along with numerous knife sheaths and holders strapped to her legs. On her head was a golden and black chain crown, wrapping around her entire forehead, identical to Kiara's. All of them remained silent, waiting for Kiara or Helena to speak first.

"Daughter," the former queen stated with a condescending and poisonous smile. She spoke the word like it were a curse, her voice light and lovely, but concealing a pit of knives. Kiara took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I am not your daughter," Kiara said, though it clearly pained her to say this.

"Why have you reached out to me again, my dear?" Helena continued, ignoring her protégé's remark. "Finally come to your senses?"

"I have always had my senses. You, on the other hand, have none," Kiara said, willing her voice to remain steady and hard. "Helena, this has to stop."

"What does?" the woman asked with feigned innocence. All of them glared at her, wanting to wring her neck, but knowing it was nothing but an apparition.

"This senseless bloodshed between our people," Kiara answered, her voice tight and controlled. "If this continues, our race will end up killing itself, and the world will be less protected from demonic forces."

"And why should I care about that?" Helena asked, her smile still in place. "The realm of our land is protected, and the Shadowhunters are fully capable of slaying demons. They replaced our people, and we should not have to be burdened with a responsibility that no longer befalls us solely. Even if the world ends, our realm will remain alive and well. I see no reason to endanger my subjects in order to protect feeble mundanes, nor a race of people who tried to exterminate our kind centuries ago. If they die protecting their realm, that is no trouble to me, and it should not be to you."

"Yet you willingly sacrifice your people to your own kind and make them enemies because they do not share in your ideals?" Kiara asked angrily, her body trembling with rage. Helena shrugged in a non-caring fashion.

"Those who are not with me are against me," Helena said plainly. "You, my dear, have turned people against me. Therefore, it stands to reason that you and your followers must die."

"And those who die for you? What of them?" Another shrug.

"They served their purpose." This statement sent a fresh wave of fury through the gathering. Jace, Izzy, and Alec reached for their weapons. Clary and Simon simultaneously balled their fists and clenched their teeth, while Magnus, Kiara, and Helena willed the magic fires within them to quell before they lashed out as well.

"I ask you this once more, Helena," Kiara plead. "Please, cease this bloodshed and surrender. Neither of us can go on like this. The schism between our people has gone on long enough. Come home. Stand trial. End this conflict without anymore innocent blood spilling on our soil."

Her tone had changed from the regal, demanding authority to something new, something foreign to them. It sounded like she was almost pleading, like a child to their mother. Helena did not seem moved by this. Instead, she began glancing around, curiously observing the crowd behind her. When her eyes fell on Magnus, she smiled maliciously. It was unnerving to Magnus for reasons he could and could not understand. Perhaps it was the fact that this woman was responsible for his sister's life. Or perhaps it was the fact that she was staring at him like a Shax demon stalking their prey.

"My, my, Kiara, have you become so desperate for allies that you have turned to your treacherous brother and his little companions?" she asked mockingly. Instinctively, Alec stepped a bit in front of him, immediately on guard. Kiara did as well, her body tensing up at the mention of her older brother, who was standing right there, being devoured by Helena's cold, cruel eyes.

"He's not the traitor I was lead to believe," Kiara said curtly. "Even so, I would not have met him and learned the truth had you not sent your girls to attack them and investigate."

"I have no idea what you mean," Helena said, but the smirk on her face gave away her lie. She was unapologetic and just watched them with sinister intrigue and amusement, smirk in place.

"The famous heroes of the New York Institute, accompanied by Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn," Helena said as she continued to let her eyes prowl upon them. "Such interesting beings, each of you. Particularly the three anomalies. Very intriguing." At the word anomaly, her eyes lingered on Jace, Clary, and Magnus.

"I've always been intriguing, but it doesn't sound like a compliment from you," Jace said, wrapping an arm around Clary, who was glaring challengingly at the evil queen. Helena chuckled at that before turning her gaze directly to Magnus, ignoring the two with excess angel blood. Her dark eyes sparked with dangerous mystery and intent to harm. Under her gaze, Magnus couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. There was something about her that put him on edge, and it wasn't just the fact that she was a demented sociopath.

"Magnus Bane," Helena spoke to him directly, her tone deceivingly kind and concerned. "Do you think it wise to ally yourself with a sister with whom you have not seen for centuries? Is it wise for you to follow her without question? She tells you only what she wants you to know in order to beckon you to her side. How can you be sure that it was my cats that attacked your friends in the first place?"

"After hearing what she has to say about you and the events of last night, I am more than inclined to believe what she has told me," he said with feigned respect and calm. "I trust her."

"Yet she does not trust you," Helena replied with the same expression and tone. "She never will. Take it from me. Once her trust in someone is broken, it can never be repaired. Why else do you think she would keep you so close? Because she truly wishes to build a relationship with you as siblings? That is what she tells you, yes? It is because she wishes to keep you and your family monitored without your suspicion. She keeps you here not out of a wish to protect you, but to observe and analyze you, to see where your true loyalties lie."

"Why would she do that?" Izzy asked, her voice hard and cold. "She used that truth spell on all of us when she had us locked up. If we were lying to her, we would have confessed to it and then we would have been history. What reason would she have to not trust us?"

"You Nephilim are part of a history that nearly eradicated our kind out of spite and arrogance," Helena answered, her eyes flashing with seemingly genuine anger for a moment. "She and I may not have been part of that time, but ever since our kind has kept a close eye on the developments of the Shadowhunters. We see how you treat others with demon blood as inferior and wretched, out of spite and jealousy of our gifts and might. You are required to report all you find to your superiors, obey your law to the last breath, and punish those you deem guilty with little to no evidence based on their species alone. Now, you lot have been said to be better than that, but who is to say the situation will be different this time. After all, the Clave doesn't know about Krymméno Florr or her warriors, yet they are Downworlders that do not abide by the Accords. Who is to say that you won't leave here and go straight to them once you are finished helping her?"

"We would never!" Clary said angrily, her face turning as red as her hair as blood rushed to her snarling face.

"You may," Helena said with an amused smile, seemingly finding Clary's frustration entertaining. "After all, you are born to be loyal soldiers above all else. A queen cannot afford to place complete trust in anyone, not even her own family. I say this from experience. It is why I have remained in power for so long, and why Kiara has gained her position. Consistently broken trust has caused her to become cautious of anyone and everyone, especially those who have wronged her." She turned to Magnus again with that last sentence, her eyes boaring into him.

"I understand the compulsion to assist those who share blood with you, Mr. Bane," Helena continued. "However, the blood you two share is hardly worth honoring in any way, don't you think? I've spoken with your father in the past. Do you know what he thinks of you and your half-sister? Rubbish. Nothing more than the result of a conquest of helpless women consumed by desire or fear."

Magnus felt his cheeks burn against his will. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kiara remain stiff, but pink tinted her pale cheeks as well. It was rare for Magnus to be ashamed or self-conscious; he had lived so long he didn't see the need to worry. However, there were rare instances when someone could hit just the right buttons and hit just the right marks to reveal his true insecurities he tried every day to keep at bay. He felt Alec take his hand and squeeze it in a silent transfer of strength and care. Magnus was grateful for this, but did not face him. Instead, he turned to Helena, forcing his guard up.

"This has nothing to do with our father. You're trying to distract us from the real issue." Helena and Magnus stared at each other for a moment, both of them daring the other to look away.

"This is not about your blood, this is about you," Helena continued, ignoring the true statement Magnus made. "Do you think that your sister deserves your assistance or compassion? Tell me, Mr. Bane, when she first met you again, how did she react? What did she do? How did she treat you? I bet it was hostile, unforgiving, ruthless. If you were interrogated by her, then you must have been locked in the dungeons for some time. You weren't guilty of anything done to her, yet she probably forced you to feel guilt for all she suffered simply because she needed someone to blame other than herself. She chose you to bear all of her hate and anger, anger that you do not deserve. She still harbors it now. I know her. I raised her. I can tell when she is hiding anger towards someone. Let me tell you now: she is still angry with you, and hates you."

Despite knowing that Helena was probably lying, Magnus couldn't help but wonder if what she said was true. Kiara had done what Helena described, to nearly exact detail, and it struck something in him. How did she know this information? That question, however, was pushed aside as Magnus willed his now conflicting emotions to calm down. He knew he was being manipulated, knew he couldn't let Helena get to him, but part of him agreed with what she said.

Kiara did lock them up on little grounds of crimes other than entering a base she had set up. Just hearing his name had sent her into rage and the next moment they were locked in those miserable cells. Even after she welcomed them, she treated him like dirt and barely gave him any acknowledgement until he confronted her. The only time she seemed happy to see him beforehand was when he and Alec told her they had kids. Magnus couldn't deny, he was angry with the way his sister had treated him, like he was the bad guy, always being put down and blamed for her pain. He turned to her and his mind froze.

Kiara was looking at him with the most raw, pained eyes he had seen from her. They were full of sorrow, regret, and slight anger, but the emotion that trumped all of them was fear. Helena was right, she was scared of him. No, that wasn't it. She was scared of what he would say, what he would do, if he believed Helena. She was scared of them, not because she thought they were lying, but because she had been betrayed in the past by those she deemed close to her. Even then, she still formed bonds, and was trying to form them now. In the end, Magnus couldn't blame her for her apprehension towards him at first, even if he felt he didn't deserve it. However, both of them were making strides to do the right thing, despite the fear and the difficulty of it.

"Perhaps she does, Helena," Magnus began, turning to face the former queen. "But I would rather be on her side and have her hate me than join a sociopath like you."

"Enough of this prattle," Kiara said firmly, facing Helena. Magnus and the others heard the force in her voice, but they all caught the relief and gratefulness in her eyes as she turned away. "I ask this of your for the last time, Helena. Surrender yourself and your people."

"You know I shall never do that, my kitten," Helena responded, her condescending smile back in place.

"Then we are at an impasse," Kiara replied, her anger and resolve evident. "It is time we settle this matter once and for all."

"Do you declare war, kitten?" Helena asked in the same tone as before. "It took you long enough. Don't you believe it easier to just relinquish power to me, where it rightfully belongs? I have proven time and time again that my numbers and strength is far superior."

"I cannot willingly give up on what I know if best for our people," Kiara answered coldly, her eyes burning and teeth clenched. "Your rule is not just, it is tyranny. I will never surrender it to you without a fight."

"Then prepare your people for war, child," Helena said with amusement. "Prepare them for death. I give you two days to prepare."

"How do I know that you won't break that pact and ambush us as we prepare?" Kiara asked accusingly, her eyes narrow. Helena smiled indulgently.

"Kitten, where would the sense of victory be if I did not crush your people fully in battle? There is no satisfaction in killing an already wounded cub, rather than a fully grown tigress that's out for blood." Kiara seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding her head in agreement.

"Very well." Helena smiled evilly at the cat-eyed woman's response.

"My darling, I feel it best you should know that I am not the only one who is eager to meet you in person." With that said, Helena's image evaporated, the smoke molding and shifting to form a new figure. When it solidified, there was a man standing in the center of the pentagram, his face mostly distorted and hard to see. Even so, it was clear he was smiling and his eyes held a menacing, nearly psychotic type of glee.

"Hello, my darling pet," the man said, his voice smooth as silk. "Oh, I have missed you so. We have much to catch up on."

With those words, the smoke blew apart, dispersing throughout the entire room until it was completely gone. The pentagram was swept away with the smoke, seemingly picking up the sand and paint with it. All around them the candles still burned and gave them light, but everything else was gone. For a moment, they all just stared in confusion. Wanting to break the silence, Magnus turned to his sister, about to ask her something. He stopped short in shock.

Kiara collapsed to the floor on all fours, her body trembling as she hyperventilated harshly. Her face was paler than a sheet of paper, and there were tracks of tears falling from her eyes, creating a puddle on the floor. They could see her entire body trembling harshly. She could barely keep herself up, like all her muscles and strength completely deteriorated.

"He's here," they heard her muttering, her voice trembling as much as her body, so quiet it was nearly inaudible. "How is he alive? What did she do? Dear Michael, why him?" As she asked these questions to know one, her legs finally gave out and she curled up on the floor, holding her knees to her chest. It was most undignified and childish, but it was terrifying for them to see her like this. All of them, even Hannah, stared in shock and fear, unsure of what to do.

Slowly, Magnus approached Kiara like she was a wounded animal. He didn't know why he was the one doing it, but the compulsion was too strong to ignore. Treading lightly, he stopped right beside her and kneeled down. Slowly, he placed a gentle hand on her back and tried to speak, keeping his voice gentle.

"Ki—"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" The next thing Magnus knew, he was flying across the room, his body burning from the burn on his sister's magic fire. He flew right into the wall, a good twenty feet away, the impact making cracks and rocking the room. Alec immediately rushed over to his love while everyone else stared at Kiara in shock and fear. She began to scramble backwards, still on all fours, all composure and reason lost. Her wide, bulging eyes were filled with wild, unbridled terror, blinding her vision and senses. No longer did she look human. With her feline eyes and her frantic movements and breathing, she looked like a wounded animal trying to escape slaughter. As she backed into a corner, she curled in upon herself, hugging her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth, continuing to mutter incoherently.

None of them moved at this point, unable to register what happened. Even Hannah, who always knew what to do in a crisis, was staring in shock and horror at the queen. Magnus was helped to his feet by Alec, assuring him he was fine. Alec didn't push the question further when he followed the warlock's eyes to see what was happening with Kiara. Immediately, he started to help Magnus walk closer to the others as they stared at her.

"What do we do?" Clary asked. "We can't leave her like this. She'll end up hurting herself."

Without answering, Izzy slowly began to walk towards Kiara. Alec and Jace both moved to stop her, but Hannah held a hand out in front of them, prompting them to wait. The two men looked on with apprehension as their sister neared the frightened queen. Slowly, she tapped her foot on the ground when she was a few feet away from Kiara, prompting her to look up. When Kiara's eyes landed on Izzy, they remained wide and fearful, but she did not move to do anything. With greatly exaggerated movement, Izzy slowly took the whip from around her wrist and placed it on the ground, kicking it far away from her. Kiara's eyes followed the whip as it skittered across the marble floor, it's clattering echoing in the room. When she turned back to Izzy, the woman was kneeling in front of her, much closer, but not touching her.

For the longest time, the two women just stared at each other. Kiara continued to breathe harshly, tears still rolling down her face and her eyes still flooded with terror, but she still did not move to attack Izzy. Izzy, in return, continued to stare at Kiara, not moving, her form relaxed and yet ready to spring if need be. They stared into each other's eyes, seeming to have a psychic conversation that none of them could interpret. Then, Izzy slowly reached one of her hands up and reached slowly towards Kiara. The queen initially cowered away from the hand, but eventually she ran out of room against the wall and it made gentle contact with her face. Kiara stared with wide eyes at Izzy, who continued to stare back, not saying a word. Slowly, Kiara allowed her face to lean into the soft hand, still frightened.

"Kiara, do you know who I am?" Izzy asked softly, her voice gentle and patient. Kiara's eyes flittered across the room, hopping from place to place until they came back to rest on Izzy. They were still scared, but the cloud was dissipating.

"Y-You—Master?" she asked, her voice willed with confusion and fright. She sounded like Max after he had a nightmare. It broke everyone's hearts.

"No Master," Izzy said soothingly, placing her hand more firmly on Kiara's cheek. "Tell me your name."

"Kiara…" she said meekly. "W-where?"

"Not there," Izzy whispered softly. "You are safe."

"Safe?" Kiara asked meekly. Izzy nodded her head slowly, her eyes never leaving Kiara's. Kiara continued to mutter incoherently under her breath, asking questions and trying to make sense of everything around her. Izzy waited patiently while everyone else held their breath. Slowly, Kiara's eyes began to clear, though they still remained a bit veiled. When the frantic, horror-struck look nearly vanished, Izzy slowly reached out her other hand and placed it on Kiara's shoulder. The queen didn't resist, or seem to register the action. Then, slowly, Izzy pulled Kiara to her, hugging the queen against her chest. Kiara froze, her body going stiff as a board, rigid and inanimate. Everyone held their breath, some of them even bracing themselves to jump in if Kiara lashed out. However, they didn't need to.

In the next moment, Kiara broke down sobbing into Izzy's shoulder.

All her walls came crumbling down in an instant. All of the strength, the lack of fear, the sense of duty and responsibility, it all vanished to reveal the terrified, frightened girl behind it all. Her entire body wracked with heaves and quakes as the tears spilled onto Izzy's shoulder, her arms wrapping around the other woman's torso like a vice, terrified that if she let go she would vanish. Izzy just sat there, allowing herself to be squeezed and used as a tissue, whispering soft, calming words into the other woman's hair.

"M-m-make i-it sto-op," the group could make out at one point. "Sto-hic-op!"

Everyone continued to stare as Izzy continued to rock the queen as if she were a child having a nightmare. It broke everyone's heart. This wasn't the type of fear everyone dealt with regularly. This was the type that broke your sanity, made you question everything around you, and caused you to close off from the world. The sight was terrifying and heart breaking, but Izzy just remained calm and rocked the woman like a child, as if she had dealt with this before.

Over time, Kiara's breathing became much more even and less gasp-like. The tears continued to roll, but they were slowing to a steady stream across her blotchy cheeks. The babbling stopped, but her mouth still formed words that none of them could make out. Izzy slowed her rocking to a stop in time with Kiara's slowing tears, until she and Kiara were just sitting there hugging. No one dared to move.

After a minute of deafening silence, Izzy slowly began to unwrap her arms from around Kiara. Kiara's grip lessened, but she still didn't let go. Slowly, Izzy began to maneuver herself and the queen to a squatting position, moving the queen's arms to wrap around her shoulders instead of her waist. The two women stood up, awkwardly and clumsily, with Kiara supporting much of Kiara's weight. When they finally stood upright, Kiara refused to look up at the others, still pale and shaking like a baby deer. Izzy looked to everyone else, her eyes hard.

"I'm taking Kiara to her room," she said with authority. "She needs to rest. I'll watch her until she falls asleep. Don't wait up for me."

With that said, Izzy began to slowly lead Kiara across the floor, past the pentagram and towards the grandiose doors. Kiara still didn't look up the entire way, swaying slightly as they walked. Slowly but surly, they made it to the door, which opened automatically by some unseen force. Together, the two women walked through and entered the dark hallways of the palace. The doors slid shut behind them.

"What the hell was that?" Jace asked as soon as the doors shut. "Kiara just went bezerk! She almost killed Magnus!"

"She didn't almost kill me, she just knocked me for a loop," Magnus corrected quietly. "And to answer your question, I think she was having a panic attack."

"Panic attack?" Clary asked. Magnus slowly nodded his head.

"I've seen panic attacks before, and they've never been that extreme," Jace said, his tone a cross between guarded and sympathetic.

"I have," Magnus said. "Only a couple times. Ones that extreme are rare, at least from what Catarina has told me. The reason she attacked was because she was unable to discern her memories from reality. It's like she was trapped in a dream, only she was awake. She lashed out as a protective reflex, not with the intent to harm me or any of us."

"Still, she was dangerous," Clary said quietly, almost frightened. "How was Izzy able to calm her down? It's like she knew exactly what to do in situations like this. Have any of you ever had panic attacks that she helped you with?"

"Not us," Alec answered quietly, his voice far away. "Max did. He had night terrors as a toddler."

"He did?" Jace asked, surprised. Alec nodded.

"They happened before you came to live with us," Alec explained. "And our parents didn't know about them. Only Izzy and I did. I only found out by accident when I heard him and Izzy one night when I couldn't sleep. Izzy, she knew and she dealt with them on her own."

"Why?" Jace asked. "You used to have nightmares; you told me. Why wouldn't he or Izzy tell Maryse or Robert?"

"I don't know," Alec answered. "But Izzy was always able to calm him down whenever he had his fits at night. By the time you came to live with us, he had rarely had them. I still don't know how Izzy did it, but she just knew what to do. Just like in this situation."

"But what caused it? Who was that man?" Simon asked worriedly.

No one had an answer, so they turned to the only woman who could. Lady Hannah was still staring at the ruined pentagram, her face half shaded from the fading candlelight. She looked like a statue, unmoving and her eyes stone cold. Every muscle in her body was rigid and poised, like a snake ready to strike. Rage marred her immaculate face as she clenched her teeth and her eyes blazed.

"That man…" she said, almost to herself. "How could she? How did she? How?"

"How what?" Magnus asked. "Who was he?" He asked the question with complete confusion, but in his heart he already dreaded the answer he knew was to come. Hannah slowly turned to the group, her eyes still ablaze. However, along with that fire, tears swam in them. Tears of pain and betrayal and sorrow. None of them had ever seen her cry before. It was more terrifying than her anger.

"That man," she began. "He is the reason we found Kiara."

"What?" everyone exclaimed at once. Hannah nodded her head.

"I thought you had killed him? Nearly a hundred years ago?" Simon exclaimed. Hannah turned her gaze back to the empty space.

"Helena did," she answered quietly, her voice so cold it nearly froze their blood. "That one man broke Kiara's spirit all those years ago. He inflicted fifty years of torture and pain on her. Helena's resurrected him somehow."


Man this was a long one! Nearly fifty pages on Word! Hope this makes up for my incredibly long absence! Please review and comment!

Love KiaraBaneTMI