Me: Thank you to all who took the time to review last chapter! It means so much! I love that you enjoyed it. I hope you will like this one as well, though fair warning it is not as light.
Disclaimer: I own all but that I don't…yeah that makes sense…
…
Chapter 21: The Unnatural Creatures
Celeste glanced at the plains of Alicante one last time before ducking into the cave entrance. Jace, Clary, and Moriah were all safe. This adventure was over with. It was time to go find another.
I wonder if I shall find one?
Traveling as she had for so long and so many years, Celeste sometimes wondered if she were like the warlocks in that perhaps she would calcify. Though of course, some might say she already had. Or had never been anything but calcified. What does it feel like, to be calcified? Is it like being a caterpillar in a cocoon that will never turn into a butterfly?
I like caterpillars.
Celeste didn't go far into the cave when a noise hit her ears. She turned her head to watch as a piece of paper fluttered to her feet. Fire message?
She bent down and picked up the paper. She never got mail. How fun. She read it quickly.
'Please come.'
-Jace
The paper incinerated immediately.
Celeste stared at the ashes in her palm before traipsing back the way she had come. Jace would not call her for nothing. What had happened? Did the Clave withdraw their judgement? Was Moriah right now being taken into the depths of the Silent City?
She went back out into the daylight of Alicante. She paused a moment, pondering. The Manor or the Hall? Where would they be? Just as she was planning to check both, she snapped her head to the side, aware of the creature beside her.
''My.'' Jane smiled at her. ''Look at you. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were worried. But a thing like you can't feel that, can you?''
Celeste blinked at her. ''Why are you back here?''
''Even if you could,'' Jane mused, ''Why would you? It's not like he knows who you are in this world. Here, you don't even exist.''
''Why are you here?'' Celeste repeated.
Jane paused, looking at her. Her mouth twitched. ''You couldn't have told him, could you? Not even you would do that.''
Celeste looked at Jane in bewilderment. How strange she was, sounding so pleased at the thought of her doing something so forbidden. ''Why are you here?''
Jane finally dropped the line of conversation. ''Now now, don't be coy.''
Celeste looked at her palm and traced the ashes around with her finger. ''The fire message. A trap, I suppose?'' In her mind link, she spoke; Jonathan? Are you there?
''Can't have you leaving just yet, dearest,'' Jane purred. ''See, I may have gotten myself into a bit of a situation.''
Jonathan? ' 'What type of situation?''
''In order to get what I want- what I want being Moriah- I need to hire outside help. This help is very…what's the word? Diligent. They like jobs done the right way, the first time.''
''That's very good of them.'' Why aren't you answering?
''They don't just want Moriah,'' Jane continued. ''They want all of you.''
Celeste raised an eyebrow. ''All? All who?''
''All you unnatural creatures.''
''You want to experiment on all of us? To learn what?''
Jane laughed. ''No, Celeste. I have no desire to experiment on you. No need to mess you up further. No, this help want to do what they do best. And that is eliminate problems.''
''Eliminate…'' Celeste caught her breath, suddenly understanding why Jonathan wasn't answering. ''No.''
Behind her, Celeste could hear more creatures approaching. She was surrounded, she knew it. Jane chuckled and stepped closer to her. ''You are a thorn in my side,'' she said lowly. ''An occasionally very amusing and useful thorn, but a thorn all the same. This next part- I'm going to enjoy immensely.''
Celeste quickly calculated how much damage she could do before Jane's help got too close. But it was pointless. Jane had already done her own calculations. Celeste was grabbed and pinned down before she could plan anything.
…
Jonathan resisted the urge to sigh as the escort undid his bracelet and quickly snapped on the fire cuffs. ''That's right, don't waste a millisecond,'' he taunted. ''Wouldn't want me to scratch my wrist or anything.''
''Shut up,'' the Shadowhunter squeaked. Pale, high voice- not exactly an intimidating escort. Jonathan was almost offended. Sending a newbie to guide him out of Idris? Did he no longer inspire fear and trepidation in his enemies?
The cuffs in place, the escorts both pushed him forward. ''Hurry up,'' the other one said. He didn't sound intimidated.
''What's the rush? Places to go? People to meet?''
He could hear the smirk. ''Something like that.''
They were halfway down the path when it happened. Jonathan was suddenly kicked from behind. Another blow came, and he quickly dodged it and tried to use his cuffed hands to fight. But more people came from the sides, and he suddenly understood. Ambush.
People grabbed his arms. A sack was thrown over his head. The more he fought the more blows were delivered to him, until finally he had to give in and let them drag him away. ''Cla-''
He was knocked unconscious before he could establish the mind link.
…
The sun had nearly completely set as they all made their way back to the Manor. ''Can we run ahead?'' Rafe asked Alec. Clearly he had gotten a second wind. Jace heard Alec agree. Rafe turned to Moriah and his brother. ''C'mon!''
Jace dropped Moriah's hand as she happily raced after the boys. They clambered up to the back porch of the house.
Just as he was slipping his hand back into Clary's, Isabelle hurried towards them. ''Clary,'' she said, pointing to the house, ''Jonathan's escorts are here.''
''Only now?'' She frowned.
''They've been here for a while. Say they can't find him.''
''Did they go in the house?''
Isabelle threw her hands up. ''They only want to talk to you.''
Clary sighed before giving Jace an apologetic smile. She dropped his hand and went quickly with Isabelle back to the house.
Jace inhaled the night air. He watched them go before going to catch up to Magnus and Alec, who had already gone around to meet the kids on the porch.
Jace walked up the porch and approached them. He looked around. ''Where's Moriah?''
Little Max was catching his breath. ''She's really fast!''
Jace smiled at him. ''She ran into the house already,'' Alec said.
''Then Clary's probably already seen her.''
''What's with the soldiers?'' Magnus asked.
''I guess Jonathan's late or something.'' They all started to the front door, entering the foyer.
''He's not here,'' Jace heard Clary say in bewilderment. She was looking at Isabelle and the two guards. ''He's not here.''
''Jonathan's not here?'' Alec repeated incredulously.
Clary shook her head. ''I don't understand, he was waiting before we left. He couldn't leave because of the bracelet. Only Robert can turn it off.''
''He's still at the hall,'' Isabelle confirmed.
Clary looked at them all in the doorway. She frowned. ''Where's Moriah?''
''She ran inside,'' Jace answered. ''Didn't you see her?''
''No.''
''I saw her run ahead,'' Alec insisted.
A horrible idea occurred to Jace. Two people with demon blood, not being where they're supposed to be. The look on Clary's face said she was beginning to think the same thing. Let me be wrong. Let me be wrong.
Clary went to the stairs. ''Moriah!'' She shouted. ''Moriah? Moriah, come here!''
''She's not up here,'' Simon answered, running down. He looked at them all. ''I thought she was with you?''
Clary clutched the stair railing. ''Are you sure?''
Simon blinked. ''Well, no. But I haven't seen her.''
''Moriah!'' Clary called again. ''Moriah!''
''What is with the yelling?'' Max said, standing with Simon on the stairs.
''You got home first,'' Magnus said. ''Have you seen either Jonathan or Moriah?''
Max blinked. ''No.''
The implications of this situation settled over them all. ''No,'' Jace breathed. He ran back out of the house.
''Moriah!'' He shouted. The Manor yard was quickly being plunged into darkness from the impending night. ''Moriah!''
He turned in a circle, his heart pounding in his chest as panic set in. Where to look? Where should I look? There were too many options. It was too big a space.
Moriah was lost in Idris.
…
Alec felt like the Fates were playing with him. 'Oh, you don't like the demon child? Well here, watch your parapatai and your friend suffer through an Inquest. Oh, not like that? Well, how about we have a crazed vampire try and steal her? Still no? Okay, disappearing it is then!'
They set out in groups, Clary and Simon back to the woods, Isabelle and Max towards the city, and Jace and him to the woods on the other side. Magnus stayed back with the boys and the guards, trying to scrounge up what he needed for a successful locator potion. Are the guards going to believe Jonathan is missing, or jump to conclusions? Alec wondered briefly. In either case, they had to hurry.
''They couldn't have gotten far,'' Jace was saying. ''It was only a minute. God, just one damned minute…''
''Jace,'' Alec said harshly. ''We're going to find her.''
Jace turned to him and Alec was alarmed to see him close to tears. ''I can't-''
''You won't.'' Alec clasped his shoulder. ''I won't let that happen.''
Jace clamped his jaw shut. He turned away.
Icy laughter filled the air. ''How sweet.''
Horror struck Alec's heart as they saw in the trees the familiar blue of a hated fairy. ''How the hell did you get out?''
Renage smiled. ''I make friends fast,'' she said. ''It's easy when your interests are aligned.''
''Where the hell is my daughter?'' Jace demanded. Alec held him back.
''What interests?''
Renage twirled a strand of hair around her finger. ''I tried getting Moriah back,'' she mused, ''and then Jane tried. But now, we suppose it's time for something else. Time to pull the plug.''
The cold he felt from Moriah was nothing compared to the cold Alec felt right now as Renage's meaning became clear. She laughed again. ''Time for her to die.''
Just like on the rooftops in Naranth, Jace pounced on Renage. This time, Alec didn't stop him.
Jace slammed Renage against the trunk of a tree. ''Where is she?'' He dug his fingers into Renage's neck, causing the fairy to gasp. ''Tell me where she is.''
Renage smiled. She was laughing? ''You can't kill me,'' she said hoarsely from the pressure Jace had on her windpipe. ''You see, now we can do business. I have something you want, you have something I want.''
Jace tightened his grip. Renage gasped again. ''I'll tell you where she is,'' she promised. ''You might get there in time to save them all.''
''All who?'' Alec demanded.
Renage kept her focus on Jace. ''You know what I want,'' she whispered. ''The same thing I wanted from you in the Cells. I'll settle for it now. Give it to me and you will never hear hide nor hair of me every again. I will wash my hands of Moriah and Clary both.''
''What is she talking about, Jace?'' Alec asked. But Jace continued to look at Renage. Her lips were rapidly turning as blue as her hair. This wasn't right. They were running out of time. Just kill her for god's sake.
Renage gathered what little breath she had left. ''I give you my word. Give me what I want, and I will tell you where they are.''
To Alec's horror and surprise, Jace released his grip.
Renage gagged and coughed. She straightened up, wiping her mouth with a shaky hand. ''You first,'' Jace growled.
''I am a fairy who cannot lie,'' she reminded him.
''And I'm a guy who doesn't have time to kill you until my daughter is okay!'' he yelled back. ''You. First.''
Renage's mouth twitched. She pointed back the way they came. ''In the East Woods, close by Lake Lyn. There's a clearing there. You can't miss it. They will all be there.'' She smiled. ''Now your turn.''
Jace stepped closer to her. ''Jace-'' Alec warned.
Jace stood next to her and whispered something in her ear. Renage closed her eyes and smiled the same smile she had when she had talked so scientifically about Clary's screams. She clasped her hands as Jace stepped back. ''Perfect.''
Jace turned on his heel. ''Let's go.''
Alec felt like his head was spinning. Renage was already walking away. ''I don't-''
''You heard her!'' He broke into a run. ''Lake Lyn. East Wood.''
''What did you tell her?''
''Let's go!''
Knowing there was no time to protest, Alec ran after him.
…
Simon ran with Clary, calling and shouting Moriah's name. Clary alternated between speaking out loud and trying to talk with Jonathan via their mind link. He paused for breath to look at her. ''Anything?''
She shook her head. ''Moriah!''
They ran again. This wasn't working. They needed something more.
Clary stopped sharply. ''Jace?''
Jace and Alec were running towards them. ''East Wood!'' They called. ''Lake Lyn!''
''How-''
''Go!''
Simon and Clary changed directions. Alec and Jace caught up with them. ''Where in the East Wood?'' Simon demanded.
''There's a clearing,'' Alec said. ''Find it.''
''How do you know this?''
''Later.'' There was something about Alec's tone that made Simon wonder if he was going to like the 'later' explanation.
They split up again, Alec and Jace searching one way, Clary and Simon another. They continued to run and shout until Clary froze again. ''What?'' Simon asked.
''I smell smoke.'' She grabbed his arm. ''Listen.'' He waited. ''Do you-''
At first, Simon heard nothing. And then there was the sound of leaves rustling, twigs breaking. A scuffle. A blow. No.
They ran again, faster than even when he had been a vampire. They ran through the trees until they burst through into a clearing. The sight that awaited them was horrible.
A group of four hooded people- or creatures, Simon couldn't be sure- were in the clearing. They were fighting their victims: Jonathan, Celeste, Fern, May, and Moriah.
Jonathan's hands were cuffed, and his blooded and bruised face said he wasn't able to fight much longer. Celeste was down on the ground, and Jonathan was trying to keep one of the people away from her.
Simon ran to them and Clary ran to Fern and May. May had her body hunched over Moriah as another one of the hooded people kicked and slashed her. Fern was trying to keep them off, but someone else was fighting her. There were screams and yells over the crackling of a large fire. All the sounds blended together into one word: Horrific.
Time seemed to slow as Simon's and Clary's voices joined the chaos. They screamed Alec's and Jace's names as they fought. There was something about their presence and the fact that they were calling for backup that made two of the figures decide escape was their best option. They fled, and neither Simon or Clary bothered pursuing.
The figure Simon was fighting tried to get away to go to where May was protecting Moriah. He pushed Simon, and Simon got a glimpse of his face. Whitesnake.
His anger at the man furthered Simon's resolve. He hit and stabbed and slashed with his sword and cursed with his mouth. Finally, Whitesnake too fled. His companion, seeing they were alone, retreated soon after, disappearing into the trees.
There was no one other than themselves in the clearing now.
Sometime during the fray, May had thrusted Moriah away from herself and into Clary. May was now curled on the ground, completely still. Even in the night, Simon could see the red staining her back. Fern struggled upright, and he could tell she was wounded as well. Simon wanted to offer help, but Fern just crawled along the ground to May's side. She wrapped her arms around May, curling herself around her body. She laid her head down, and did not move again.
Jonathan had knelt next to Celeste. His gaze went to her bloody figure before looking to Simon, and then to Clary.
Clary was on her knees, cradling Moriah. She held Moriah's cold, still body tightly to her chest. She was whispering to her, but Simon couldn't make out the words from the cries that were causing her entire body to shake.
In the distance, he could hear Alec and Jace. They had run into the people, were trying to pursue them. They must've given up because soon they too burst into the clearing, only to take in the same sight and share in the feeling of utter defeat. There was nothing but destruction all around them. Nothing but hurt.
How could this have happened?
There was no answer to Simon's question, save for Clary's continuing cries.
…
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