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Chapter 15: Nighttime Events

Maia had to wander away from the draining talk of the other council members. There was only so long one could stand to hear Geoffrey Whitesnake say ''you heard the fairy!'' And hear Lily whisper ''oh, he's gonna beat em' up now'' in regard to Robert Lightwood's glare at the man.

They were in another room of the large building, the questioning over for the day. It was dark outside, the sun already set. Renage's 'what went wrong' story had taken more time than any anticipated. They would finish her questioning tomorrow, hopefully without anymore red herrings.

Maia pinched the bridge of her nose. Those questions were the real event, asking Renage straight out what she and her helpers injected Clary with. Tomorrow they would find out what Moriah was.

''Stressed, are we?''

Maia's instinct was to lunge at the voice, but that wasn't allowed due to the fact he was technically a free Shadowhunter. She lowered her hand and glared at Jonathan Morgenstern. ''What are you doing here?''

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. ''Waiting for my ride.'' He inclined his head to Robert Lightwood. ''I'm the Inquisitor's problem for the duration of my visit. Can't go anywhere without him. Practically joined at the hip, him and I.''

''Give him my condolences.''

''Quippy.'' He studied her, his green eyes as threatening as his dark ones had been. They still had that sparkle to them, the same sparkle they had when he had killed Jorden. ''Lost in thought?''

''None of your business.''

''Thinking about Moriah, are you?''

''Isn't everyone?'' Maia looked towards the group she had just left, silently willing Lily to come over and save her from talking to him any further. ''That's what this whole event is about.''

''I hope you are also considering the consequences of your decision.''

Maia was surprised. She turned back to him. ''You realize there are such a thing as consequences? My word.''

Jonathan's eyes continued to sparkle. ''You're not for her, are you?''

''Yeah, it's that easy.''

''You want her dead?''

''No!'' She scoffed. ''God, she's still a child. I don't want her killed.''

''Then off to the Silent City? Perhaps the Iron Sisters?''

''I-'' Maia fumbled for words before clamping her jaw shut. ''I don't need to explain myself to you. You are not entitled to any information.''

He lazily inspected his fingernails. ''You sill haven't answered my question.''

''Which was?''

''Have you considered the consequences of your decision?'' He raised an eyebrow at her. ''The decision to condemn Moriah and take her from Clary and Jace. Do you know what the consequences of that decision will be?''

Maia felt a horrible weight settle on her. ''I have no doubt they love her,'' she replied. ''But isn't it really the best for them too? Maybe- maybe they can still see her…''

Jonathan laughed at that. ''Yeah, the Clave will surely declare her evil and then give out visitation rights.''

''What is the point you are trying to get at here?''

''Have you considered the consequences?''

''From who?''

Jonathan looked at her, blinking slowly. ''Did you hear about the events that happened at Simon's Ascension?''

Maia stared. ''What does that have to do with-''

''George Lovelace nearly died,'' Jonathan went on. ''Should've died. He was a mundane drinking the blood of the Angels. He was deemed unworthy.''

''Yes and then he was fine.'' Maia waved her hand. ''I know the story. What's your point?''

''I wonder what Simon would've been like had he died,'' Jonathan mused. ''It would've hurt, wouldn't have?''

Anger and hatred for Jonathan swirled in Maia. ''Losing people usually does.''

''When Clary told me what had happened, I wondered- what if it had been Simon? What if the Angels had declared Simon unworthy? What would everyone have done?''

Maia swallowed the lump in her throat. She remembered the day of Simon's Ascension, pacing and worrying and waiting for word from Idris. She had feared that very outcome.

''I wonder what Clary would've done,'' Jonathan continued to ponder. ''Getting thrown into this mystical world, having had the rug pulled out from under her too many times to count, lost her best friend first to the undead and then to memory loss- what would she have done had the Angels said at the final moment 'no'?''

Maia flinched as Jonathan leaned close to her. ''I don't know for sure, but I think- I think she wouldn't have said a word. I think she would've watched Simon burn in complete silence. And then she would've stood up and slaughtered every Shadowhunter in that room and torn Idris down brick by brick.''

''Not Clary.''

''No?'' He smirked. ''As someone once told me, she is my sister.''

Maia stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. ''And don't forget,'' he added, straightening up. ''That Jace will by right her side.''

He walked away then, leaving Maia to turn over his words. Maia wanted to not give them any merit, but she wondered if he was speaking some truth.

No matter the sentencing, Clary and Jace would not take this lying down. But surely Jonathan was wrong in saying they would take revenge on the entire Shadow World? After all, they had many friends.

Are any of us their friends if we allow their daughter to be taken away?

Maia leaned back against the wall in weariness. She closed her eyes, the darkness not even coming close to the complete emptiness that had once been Jonathan's eyes. And now, were Moriah's.

Alec felt his exhaustion deep in his bones. He closed the Lightwood Manor's front door behind him, taking a moment to lean back against it wearily. Magnus had had to stay behind at the Hall for a while to 'discus' more, and Alec had thought it was best to leave. For one, he needed to come back and take care of the boys. For another, being in that room felt like…betrayal.

'Do you hate her?'

Jace's face as he asked him that question…he had been so blunt, so straightforward. So scared.

Alec hadn't lied- he didn't hate Moriah. But it would be a lie to say he wasn't scared or wary of her. Did he want the Clave to take her away, send her off to the Silent City like Geoffrey Whitesnake wanted? No. But did he want her here…?

She will be here, Alec chided himself fiercely. She is Jace's and Clary's daughter and she will stay with them. Anything else is unthinkable.

And yet the thought of Moriah and her black eyes and vacant stare haunting the Institute also seemed unthinkable.

Alec pushed himself away from the door, shoving his thoughts aside. He peeked in the living room to see if anyone was there, and smirked as he entered to look at the people on the couch.

Rafe and little Max were sound asleep, little Max with his sippy cup still in his grip. Alec took it from him and placed it on the side table. The blanket that was laid over them was falling, so Alec picked it up and fixed it. Both boys were in pajamas. Clearly he didn't need to rush back; Nana Maryse had everything in hand.

Alec stroked some of Rafe's hair back from his face before straightening up. He'd get himself washed up before carrying them up to his and Magnus' room. Smiling at the peace on his children's faces, he turned around to leave, but froze in his steps. ''Jesus Christ, Moriah.''

Moriah was sitting on the floor next to one of the armchairs by the archway, which had blocked her from sight when Alec had entered the room. She was surrounded by Rafe's and Max's toys, but had two books open next to her, and one opened in her hands. She stared at Alec, her expression blank as ever, black eyes glittering.

Alec took a deep breath to make his heart stop pounding. ''I didn't know you were there.''

Moriah blinked slowly at him. Then she turned back to her book. ''What are you doing down here?'' Alec asked. ''Isn't everyone upstairs?''

Moriah didn't pay him any attention. Alec came over to her, ignoring the goosebumps that appeared on his arms. He made to crouch down next to her, but saw her grip on the book tighten, and her look at him out of the corner of her eye. Like an animal that wasn't sure what you were going to do next.

Alec made sure to move slowly. He glanced at the open book at his feet. '' Go, Dogs, Go,''' he read, ''and…'' he bent his head to look at the cover of the thick book Moriah was holding. ''Something in a language I do not know… You like variety, do you?''

Moriah closed the book in her lap and looked at him. Alec felt like he was being studied as her dark gaze looked him up and down. ''Why don't we go see who's awake upstairs?'' He offered.

He slowly removed the book from her lap and placed it on the floor. ''Ugh. Light reading, hmm?'' He gently took her cold hand and pulled her to her feet. She stared at his shirt rather than him. ''C'mon. Let's go find Jace.''

He was about to get to his feet when Moriah put a hand on his arm. ''Hmmm,'' she mumbled. ''Ta ta.''

''Yeah,'' Alec said, not sure how one was supposed to interact with toddler babble when it came from a demon child. ''Sure.''

She looked him in the eyes, patting his arm right where his parabati rune was. ''Ta ta.''

''Okay.'' He stood up, still holding her other hand. ''Let's go.''

''Ta ta.''

''Yeah. We'll go find your parents.''

''Ta ta she mommy.''

''Yeah,'' Alec replied, recognizing the word mommy. ''We'll go find your mom.''

''She ta ta.''

''Sure.'' He led her up the stairs, gripping her hand tight as her small body attempted to go up the stairs without crawling. It took a while to get up the first flight to the landing, but they stopped as Jace came to meet them.

His hair was wet from a shower, and he looked puzzled to see them. ''You were asleep next to Clary five minutes ago,'' he said to Moriah. Moriah made a purring noise.

''How is Clary?'' Alec asked. He felt ill remembering the testimonies that had taken place that day, and couldn't imagine what it must've been like for Clary, to have to sit there through them. Nor could he imagine what it must've been like for Jace. ''Is she okay?''

''She's asleep,'' Jace answered evasively, clearly shutting down the topic. He turned his attention back to Moriah. ''And you were supposed to be, too.''

He took her hand, and Moriah quickly dropped Alec's and went to stand very close to Jace. Jace tousled her hair. ''What was she doing?''

''Reading,'' Alec said. ''At least pretending to. Also chanting.''

''Chanting?'' Jace raised an eyebrow at him. ''Moriah? Chanting?''

Alec shrugged. ''She's very chatty tonight. Kept saying 'ta ta' over and over again. I don't know what she thinks she's saying.''

'' 'Ta ta'?''

''Ta ta,'' Moriah confirmed, wrapping her arms around Jace's legs.

Alec repressed the shiver that went through him as he watched her embrace him. ''Maybe it's one of the weird things Simon is trying to teach her.''

A peculiar expression was on Jace's face. He looked down at Moriah, who was blinking up at him. Alec watched him nudge her slightly.''Moriah.''

Moriah gave a slow blink. She awkwardly nudged him back. ''Ta ta.''

''She's calling you ta ta?'' Alec asked, his interaction with Moriah playing over in his head. She did start saying it when he mentioned Jace. ''Why?''

''She's saying 'Tatâ'. It's Romanian.'' Jace's tone was very quiet. He was staring at Moriah with an expression Alec couldn't even begin to decipher. ''It means 'father'.''

Alec was floored.''Really?'' Jace nodded. ''Jace- she's speaking! She's asking for you! That's huge!''

''Yeah.'' Alec didn't understand the look on Jace's face. Without another word he picked Moriah up and nodded goodnight, walking up the stairs and disappearing down the hall.

Alec watched him go. There was this horrible ache in him, this feeling of not being a good enough brother and parabati. It was as if Jace were miles away, and Alec wondered if he was responsible for the distance.

He scratched the back of his head and looked back down the stairs at the living room. He had better hurry up and get done so he could put the boys in bed. He started up, pausing as he remembered the book written in a foreign language that Moriah had been holding.

Did- did Moriah look up the Romanian word for father?

Jace walked quietly into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. His gaze went to the bed, where Clary was thankfully still asleep. She had been exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

Moriah lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him. She pressed her cold fingers against his neck. ''Tatâ.''

''Yes?''

''Tatâ si mommy.''

''That's right,'' Jace whispered back to her. ''Tatâ and mommy.''

''Nu vreau să merg,''Moriah mumbled, her tongue moving awkwardly as she tried to form the words.''Stau aici.''

Jacetook a trembling breath as he realized this was Moriah's first real conversation. He nodded. ''You stay here. With me.''

''Si mommy.''

''And mommy.''

''Hmmm.'' Moriah wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. ''Hmmm.''

Jace held her tightly as he went to sit on the bed. He kept thinking about how all through the meeting, Moriah had sat as still and silent as a stone, her gaze never waivering from Renage as she gave her testimony.

Jace adjusted her so she was laying across his lap. He kissed her forehead. ''Hey.'' She looked at him, blinking. ''You are not going anywhere. You will stay with us always, okay?'' Moriah made a noise in her throat. ''I love you.''

''Hmmm.'' She snuggled up close against him, closing her eyes.

Jace moved so they were laying down next to Clary. He ran one hand through Moriah's hair, the other reached for Clary. Even in her sleep, Clary interlocked her fingers with his.

With a sigh, Jace leaned back and closed his eyes. Day one was over. Maybe they would make it through this, especially since Renage admitted to something going wrong. But with or without the Clave's approval, Jace knew one thing for certain: Moriah was not going to be taken away. She was staying with him and Clary, and that was final.

Isabelle hadn't been asleep. She had just been laying in the quiet darkness of her room, eyes closed, trying not to think about all the things that could go wrong tomorrow. And yet she was unable to stop thinking of backup plans.

What is Renage's plan? Who's coming to help her?

Though she wasn't asleep, it was still startling to suddenly have a pillow thrown in her face.

''What the hell-'' she began to exclaim, sitting up. Jonathan put a finger to his lips.

''If you can go without swearing for a moment,'' he whispered, ''follow me.''

''Where?''

''Celeste is here.''

''Celeste?'' Isabelle stared at him. ''Why is she here? How is she here?''

Jonathan spread his hands. ''No idea. But she's here and waiting outside.''

''How-''

''Answers are just outside. Let's go.''

Confused and curious, Isabelle threw her covers back and got up. She grabbed her black sweatshirt and shrugged it on over her tank top. She noticed Jonathan smirking at her, his green eyes glowing in the dark like a cat's. ''What?''

''That looks like a boy's sweatshirt.''

''So what if it is?''

''Stealing Simon's clothes? I had no idea you were so sentimental.''

''Can we just get this over with please?'' Isabelle waved her hand to the door and Jonathan, still looking smug, led the way out. ''Why'd you come to me anyway?''

''Celeste is like a bad omen,'' he replied. ''If she shows up out of the blue, it's not good.''

''How nice.'' Isabelle closed her door behind her. They made their way to the stairs. Maybe it was the weariness from the long day that made her feel very uninhibited, so she bluntly asked, ''So are you and her a thing?''

Jonathan stopped walking and turned to her, that completely bewildered expression on his face. '' 'A thing'?''

''Yeah. You know, like an item.''

''An item,'' he repeated, completely dumbfounded. ''Celeste and I.''

Isabelle shrugged. ''I don't know. You seem to care about her.''

''Based on what evidence?''

''You went to save her, you asked for her help when Jace and Clary were missing. It was just a question.''

''Well the answer is no.'' He continued down the stairs, scoffing. ''Celeste and I. I'd rather drink hemlock.''

''You charmer, you.''

They made it to the front door. Isabelle opened it quietly and slowly, wincing at the slight creak. A thought occurred to her. ''What about your bracelet?''

''Celeste is on the back porch.''

''Oh, so nice and out of sight?''

''Exactly.''

They stepped out, Isabelle closing the door behind them. They walked around the porch to the back, Isabelle shivering in the cold night air. She had her sweatshirt, but she was only wearing pajama shorts, leaving her legs bare. ''Let's hurry this up.''

There was Celeste standing there. And with her-

Jonathan froze. ''Why are they with you?''

Celeste gestured to the two fairies she brought with her. ''They are traitors,'' she explained. ''They are going to help us.''

''Who are you?'' Isabelle demanded.

''I'm Fern,'' one of them said. ''And this is-''

''May,'' Jonathan finished. ''You remember, Isabelle. Renage just told us a fascinating story about her.''

Isabelle felt anger wrap around her heart. May shuffled her feet. ''I'm sure she spared no details…''

''You're one of them,'' Isabelle said bitterly. ''Both of you 'worked' on Clary, didn't you?''

May opened her mouth to speak, but Fern held up a hand. ''If you must know, May here was mostly a lackey. 'Bring this, fetch that' kinda deal. I, however, was the one responsible for most of Clary's injections. The ones Aster didn't see to himself, that is.''

''Thanks, that really clears it up.'' Jonathan clenched his fists. ''Now, how about I kill you both?''

''Do wait a minute,'' Celeste interrupted. ''I didn't bring them here for nothing.''

''How did you get here?'' Isabelle demanded. ''Who let you into Idris?''

''I did,'' spoke a voice. Isabelle snapped her head to the side and there, on the other side of the porch railing, was the Seelie Queen herself.

She could feel Jonathan tense up next to her. ''What in the hell-''

''I owed dear Celeste here,'' the Queen said, her tone implying there might be another adjective she'd rather use, ''a favor. My realms have access to many tunnels, Idris only one of them.''

''A favor?'' Jonathan repeated.

''A favor,'' Celeste confirmed.

''Where was this favor when I was bleeding to death in her realms?''

''I didn't know you were there.''

''And if you had?''

''Eh.'' Celeste waved the matter aside. ''I needed to bring May and Fern here. They have something to tell you.''

A feeling of hope sparked inside Isabelle. ''About Renage?''

Fern nudged May. May nodded. ''This whole Inquest thing- it wasn't her idea to give herself up.''

''We know,'' Jonathan told her.

''Her goal is to stall the Clave until her back up can get here.''

''Who's her back up?'' Isabelle demanded.

May exchanged a look with Fern. Then she looked to Jonathan. ''Do you know a vampire by the name of…Jane?''

Isabelle watched as Jonathan ran a hand over his face. ''She was apart of turning Moriah into a demon?''

May shook her head. ''No. She was one of the creatures against it. But now- with Moriah in the world- well, she wants in. And Renage wanted not to get in trouble with any other Underworld creatures, so they collaborated. Renage stalls the Clave and Jane swoops in and takes Moriah.''

''How do they plan to pull that off?'' Isabelle asked. ''During the Inquest or after the sentencing?''

''It doesn't matter. All that matters is that the Shadowhunters are all in the Accords Hall.''

''Why?''

May caught her breath. Fern sighed. ''Those creatures I told you about?'' She addressed Jonathan. ''The ones so frightening, the entire Clave would turn and flee?'' She spread her hands. ''Well, Jane's… got one.''

''What do you mean, 'got'?'' Isabelle asked.

Fern tugged her golden earring. ''It's her…pet. It will do anything she asks.''

Jonathan spun the bracelet on his wrist. ''Why are you telling us?''

''Damned if I know.''

But May met their gaze. She looked…sad? ''It was never supposed to go that way,'' she whispered. ''With Clary. I- I never wanted…''

Anger swirled in Isabelle. ''Well it did,'' she replied. ''Are we seriously supposed to believe that you are giving us this info out of the goodness of your hearts?''

''Don't speak to her that way,'' Fern warned.

''And why did you help?'' Isabelle said, turning to the Seeelie Queen. ''Why are you involved?''

The Queen shrugged. ''I was one of the creatures who did not want this child to be created.''

''You-'' Isabelle was at a loss for words. ''You knew this was happening?''

''No. If you recall when I was questioned, I said I had no idea why those fairies would have abducted Clary Fray and Jace Herondale.''

'' 'As things are to my knowledge' ''Isabelle recalled.

''And at that time, to my knowledge, Clary was not pregnant.''

Isabelle briefly considered how much trouble she could get in if she murdered the Queen right then and there. After all, she was in Idris without permission. She knew. All that time. All those months…she knew.

''I just don't want Jane to take the girl,'' May insisted. ''That's the truth.''

''As do I,'' the Queen said. ''Jane having that child will be very disastrous indeed.''

''We are risking our necks to tell you this,'' Fern finished. ''We are not lying.''

There was a moment of silence as Isabelle and Jonathan both thought this over. ''I certainly hope you will do something about this,'' the Seelie Queen said briskly. ''Otherwise the outcome will not be pleasant for any creature.''

''Is that your way of saying you will not be helping?'' Isabelle asked.

''My kingdom can not afford to. You Shadowhunters have made sure of that.'' She turned away. ''We are now even, Celeste. The next time we meet, I cannot guarantee you will leave my presence with your head intact.''

''It was lovely seeing you as well,'' Celeste called after her. Isabelle clenched her fists as the Seelie Queen disappeared into the night.

She knew.

Jonathan watched her go as well. ''What are you going to do now?'' He said, prying his gaze away and turning to Celeste.

Celeste blinked slowly. ''I thought we'd save Moriah, but I suppose we could do something else. Bowling, perhaps?''

''Will you be around?''

''Of course.'' She walked to the railing then, clearly taking that as a dismissal. ''You girls come with,'' she told the fairies.

Fern gave a sigh. ''Look what you got us into,'' she said to May. ''Stuck with the mad girl.''

''We aren't really going bowling, are we?'' May whispered back.

They all hopped over the railing and traipsed away, no doubt to take shelter in the woods.

Isabelle watched them go with narrow eyes. ''So, this Jane creature?''

''Vampire,'' Jonathan answered. ''I'm guessing since I last saw her, she became a high ranking creature in the Underworld.''

''When was the last time you saw her?''

''When I turned her sister.''

Isabelle felt like throwing her hands in the air. ''Into what? A Forsaken?''

He shook his head. ''No. Vampire. It was years ago.''

Isabelle sighed. ''So, this Jane vampire is coming into Idris with a big ass monster, planning to kidnap Moriah and hide her away to raise her as the monster Renage had hoped she'd be from the beginning?''

Jonathan leaned against the porch railing. ''Sounds like it.''

''And Renage probably has little to no idea of the plan, so interrogating her about it will lead nowhere at best, and at worse lead to Jane changing her plan, taking what little lead we have here?''

''Yep.''

Isabelle risked the urge to kick something. ''So what do we do?''

Jonathan was silent. ''I don't know.''

''We have to tell Clary and Jace.'' He shook his head. ''You're shaking your head why are you shaking your head?''

''Clary has to testify more. If she knows, someone will pick up on her nervousness. We can't take that chance.''

''We can't take the chance she gets completely blindsided!''

Silence again. ''We'll tell Alec,'' Jonathan said, ''and Simon, if you want. When we first get word of Jane, we tell Jace and Clary.''

''Why-''

''Because any other way the Clave gets involved,'' he insisted. ''Jace and Clary are being watched like hawks. Already the Councils are afraid of them slipping off somewhere. If they even so much as look at each other in a strange manner, they will be questioned about anything and everything. If we keep it between ourselves, we just might be able to stop Jane.''

''And what about the other Underworld creatures like her?''

''Only Jane would be so full of herself to think she could invade Idris.'' He paused. ''Only Jane actually stands a chance of succeeding.''

Isabelle shoved her fists in her pockets. This was too much information, too many variables. ''Fine. We'll talk to Alec and Simon in the morning.'' Maybe they would add some more prospective to this situation.

She began to traipse back to the house, wondering how on earth she was supposed to wait for the rest of the night to pass. She turned around again when she realized Jonathan wasn't following. He was still standing at the porch, looking out to the woods, in the direction the Seelie Queen had disappeared to.

Isabelle left him there and continued on her way. The Manor house seemed too big and silent. She thought of the history of the house, how much sorrow it had seen. She wondered if this visit to Idris too would end in sorrow.

Me: Please note Moriah's sentences came curtesy of Google Translate, which we all know has it's issues despite it's best intentions. If you are someone who speaks Romanian and notices something undeniably wrong, feel free to tell me.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Happy Writing!