Why was it always dark when she woke up? Clary didn't know how many days she'd been held, Sebastian wouldn't let her out of the tiny room she was being kept in so she was left to pace and slam her fists against the wall where the hidden door was. After what she could only guess had been a couple hours of that, her hands bloody and raw she'd fall to the ground in a heap of despair and wait for Sebastian to come back. Every day (she guessed anyways) he'd come down and ask her to be with him forever and every day she'd say no. He'd leave the room his expression one of disappointment and he'd come back and ask her again the next day.
Today was different though; Sebastian came down and pulled her to her feet without saying a word. He dragged her up the stairs at an alarmingly fast rate since Clary hadn't been doing much walking in her cramped cell; she was dragged down the halls over the soft carpet and pushed into the room Sebastian had brought her in the first night. He tossed her into the sofa and stood across from her his arms crossed across his broad chest, he was wearing armor like he was ready to go charging into battle and his dark eye gleamed dangerously. "Clean yourself up Clarissa, there's an extra dress in the wardrobe" he said nodding towards a tall oak cabinet set in the back of the room. Then left, leaving Clary to find the bathroom by herself; she opened one door and found it to be an empty closet. After some trial and error she found the bathroom, there was a clean tiled shower and a long porcelain sink, the lights were turned low but even with bad lighting Clary could see how terrible she looked. Her cheeks were sunken in and her eyes were hidden behind dark circles, even worse when she lifted her shirt she could count her ribs. Her hair was a matted mess sitting on top of her head and she was surprised she could even stand at this point.
She stripped out of her clothes and turned on the shower, the bathroom quickly filled with steam and soon the mirror was completely clouded and she couldn't see her reflection. She climbed into the shower and let the water wash over her head and down her back and for a moment forgot where she was and what might happen to her. There were small bottles sitting in a shower caddy and Clary picked the nearest one and started massaging the soap into her hair. It wasn't long until the water turned cold and she had to face the inevitable. She got out from under the mildly warm water and wrapped one of the fluffy white towels around her chest and let her wet hair fall against her shoulders. She braved a peek in the mirror to see that she looked a bit better, her cheeks had a slight flush and her eyes looked a little brighter but she still looked worse for wear. She eased open the bathroom door and walked over to the wardrobe and took out the only dress hanging in it. It was a deep green colour with gold designs embroidered around the bodice, she held it against herself and it hung just above her ankles and fit tightly against her body. She slid it on over her head and shook her hair out, she still didn't have shoes and wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to do now that she'd gotten herself cleaned up.
She walked around the room and tried the door only to find it locked from the outside. She shook the handle and slammed her fists against the wood but it was no use, she was stuck. Clary leaned back against the door and slid down to the floor letting the dress pool around her she let out a sigh of frustration this was ridiculous, she just wanted to go home. After a minute or two of staring at the carpet the door was thrust open and slammed into the back of her head sending her toppling forward, she was eye level with a pair of heavy black boots and heard Sebastian laugh above her. "I'd ask what you're doing on the floor but I honestly couldn't care less, on your feet Clarissa you're coming with me." She begrudgingly got off the floor and let Sebastian lead her down the hallway in silence. The only sound was their echoing footsteps and Sebastian's occasional eerie whistle. The carpet ran out and they were walking over stones the halls lit by a dark witch light barely making anything visible, they got to two huge wooden doors that opened for them when they got closer making a loud graon. The room was flooded with light and there were two thrones sitting smack in the middle of the room, there was an aisle leading up to the thrones and a sea of red clad shadow hunters filling the available empty space. They all turned and looked at them raising an arm in salute to Sebastian as they crossed the threshold and took a seat. Sebastian sat down in a large red and black throne and motioned for Clary to sit in the smaller but identical one next to him. She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin defiantly, "You said I had a choice Sebastian" her voice wavered but she never broke eye contact "you asked if I would be with you and I said no. YOU SAID I HAD A CHOICE!" she yelled making him smile. "Sit Down Clarissa." Clary stared him down and set her mouth in a thin line, "No." Sebastian's smile grew and he motioned to someone behind him. She was shoved forwards into the throne and was then fastened to it by some type of magic she'd never seen before, she felt like a huge weight had been placed against her chest and legs and was holding her back. Sebastian turned to her and was about to say something when a huge crash sounded down the hall and every shadow hunter in the throne room drew a sword and turned towards the door.A few rushed into the halls and the rest moved with precision and blocked off every entrance. Sebastian laughed, a terrible deep laugh like he actually found whatever was happening funny.
"Could it be that your friends have finally arrived Clary?" he asked standing up and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. Clary's heart started hammering against her ribcage, that thought hadn't actually occurred to her, she knew they'd be looking for her but had almost given up on whether or not they'd find her. Sebastian marched towards the middle of the room, his soldiers turning to him for instructions, "Alright half that way and the rest that way" he ordered motioning to two of the exits. They all flooded into the halls with her brother trailing after them, he was about to close the door when he turned to her and said "I will not hesitate to kill them Clarissa, I won't let them have you." With that he was gone, leaving Clary alone still unable to move with a painful ache in her chest, she thought of her friends Simon, Izzy, Alec and lastly Jace. If Sebastian did anything to hurt them she would kill him, she'd forget he was her brother, she'd stop hoping there was good in him, she would make sure he never hurt anyone again.
Some time had passed and the halls were quiet, Jace crept around a corner with Alec following close behind. They hadn't ran into any soldiers yet and Jace found that surprising, after the short time he'd spent with Sebastian he noticed he always had a few soldiers on hand, so where were they? The continued their trek down the carpeted hall when they finally ran into their first guard. Jace heard a quick intake of breath and looked over his shoulder to see Alec, his face white and his hand shaking on the hilt of his sword. "What's the matter?" he whispered reaching for his own sword, "I know him Jace. He was in Alicante with us, he helped us fight Sebastian the first time that's when he was taken." Alec's eye never left the red clad soldier and Jace felt his heart clench, "turn away Alec." Alec cocked an eyebrow at him and leaned forwards "we're doing this together Jace." Jace scowled at him and gave him a light shove in the chest and then said more forcefully "look away Alec." The dark haired boy looked like he was still ready to put up an argument but after Jace unsheathed his sword and turned towards Sebastian's soldier Alec relented and turned to face the wall. Jace rushed forward his sword held in front of him and with a quick sweep of his arm and a flick of his wrist the soldier fell to the ground with a dull thud his blood slowly pooling around his chest. Alec flinched when he heard the body fall but turned despite his discomfort and followed Jace, being sure not to glance at the body as he stepped over it.
They progressed down the hallway with Jace methodically slicing throats while Alec tried not to vomit, he hadn't thought it would be this hard, but he knew these people, these were good people who were doing this against their will. Finally they reached what Jace had said was the throne room, he hadn't gone into detail as to how he knew where it was but Alec could only imagine the things he wasn't sharing when it came to the time he'd spent with Sebastian. Jace was about to push open the door when Alec grabbed him roughly by the collar of his jacket and pulled him backwards around a corner, Jace let out a small yelp but let himself be pulled backwards by his parabatai. Jace was about to ask why Alec had suddenly got all grabby when two soldiers walked by casually spinning their swords in their hands. He felt his heart pick up speed and couldn't believe he'd almost risked Clary's life by being too impatient to make sure the coast was clear.
Alec gave him a tap on the head and stepped in front of him this time leading the way. "You sure you're okay with this?" he asked as Alec unsheathed his sword, the dark haired boy took a deep breath and braced his open palm against the door "we're getting Clary back Jace." With that he swung the huge doors open to find an empty throne room save two people sitting atop a sort of stage with two thrones. Sebastian occupied one his legs resting rigidly in front of him with one hand on the hilt of a sword and the other hand holding one of Clary's. Jace sucked in a breath and heard Alec swear beside him.
Jace took in her appearance, Clary's cheeks were sunken in and had no colour making her appear ill, she looked like she was in pain and being held against the throne. Jace watched her wiggle and squirm trying to get her hand away from her brother's but it was no use whatever invisible force was holding her back was relentless.
"Well, well what do we have here? Where's the rest of the rag tag gang? I see a poor excuse of a man and a powerful shadow hunter who has an unhealthy obsession with my sister but no flamboyant warlock or disrespectful slut." Jace saw Alec's shoulders tense and he looked like he was ready to lunge but managed to bite back his anger and just hold his sword at the ready.
"Give us Clary Sebastian." Jace demanded his voice firm but not as forceful as he would have liked. Sebastian laughed but just tightened his grip on Clary's hand, "Make me." He smirked and gestured with his hand then Clary was being dragged upwards by an invisible force, suspended in the air, she let out a yelp but bit her lip to keep from screaming, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Jace's heart lurched all he could see was Clary all he could think was that she had to get to him where she was safe. Sebastian lunged forwards unsheathing two swords one from either hip and started slashing. His moves seemed sporadic to Alec and not at all planned but Jace was able to read them and block and occasionally get a hit in himself. Even with both of them the dark shadow hunter was faster and stronger and pushing them back away from Clary with ease, Jace hated to think it but if he weren't worried about Alec he may be able to fight back full force and take him down.
At that moment Alec let out a cry and his hand pressed quickly against his side, Jace saw the blood slipping between his fingers and knew it was deeper than a scratch. He felt a fire start to burn deep in the pit of his stomach and was blinded by rage. First he takes Clary and now he hurts Alec. Jace didn't think , he couldn't think, he just acted, his hands were swinging faster than he'd thought possible and soon he was overtaking Sebastian his swings too fast to block or intercept. He backed him up towards the thrones and didn't ease up his assault until they were standing metres from where Clary was still suspended midair. With a flick of his wrist he knocked the other boys sword from his hand and gave him a swift kick in the knee sending him to the ground. Sebastian looked up at him his eyes burning with anger but Jace didn't stop there. He lifted the hilt of his sword and brought it down, slamming it into his head gaining a satisfying crunch and a spurt of blood. Sebastian wavered but didn't fall, Jace lifted his blade and held it against the pale boys throat and whispered with menacing intensity, "Let her down now or I swear to the angel I will paint the halls of this place with your blood." To prove his point Jace pressed down until a small trail of blood trickled from Sebastian's neck and down the collar of his shirt. Even with the sword to his throat he smirked, "Oh Jace" he laughed "don't you see you're already too late." Sweat trickled down the side of his brow and he was almost too scared to ask, "what do you mean too late?" Sebastian laughed again this time spitting up blood. "What you didn't think I was ready for you? You didn't think I was prepared for you to bring the warlock and the girl with the whip? Oh I was ready, sure I knew you'd take out my army especially with that Magnus character, I am impressed that you got to me so quickly though I thought my men would have done a better job at holding you off. You see that spell that I have Clary in is activated by one single thing, me. She's alive because I'm alive, you kill me well, I'll let you guess the rest."
Jace couldn't breathe, he was doing to Clary what he'd done to him not the same but not all that different. Until the spell was taken off there was nothing they could do Sebastian had beaten them. Jace heard running footsteps but didn't need to turn to know that it was Magnus,Simon and Isabelle, he didn't need to turn when he heard Alec explaining everything in a hushed whisper with Isabelle gasping like she'd been punched in the gut and Simon staying quiet. And he didn't when he felt Magnus' large hand clasp his shoulder and pull him away from Sebastian. Clary was still being held, all she could was watch. She willed Jace to look at her so she could somehow tell him that it was alright that it wasn't his fault and they'd figure a way out of this they always did but he wouldn't look at her.
Magnus lifted his hand to Sebastian's forehead and they all watched as his body shook until he fell face down onto the concrete floor. Clary was beginning to feel breathless and wanted to get down and thankfully Magnus moved towards her next while the others tied up the dark shadow hunter and dragged him down the hall. "How are you love?" Magnus asked in a fatherly tone she wasn't used to. "It could be worse." She joked but her voice came out croaky and dry like she'd swallowed sand. The warlock gave her a look of pity and started chanting something below his breath. Clary watched his hands shake and could tell his magic was almost spent but decided against interrupting in case that affected his abilities to get her down. His chanting became more persistent and louder until she felt the air around her body pulse and vibrate, then she had a terrible moment of weightlessness before she was dropped unceremoniously to the floor. Magnus' eyes were shut and he made no attempt to catch so her body slammed into the concrete just as her friends walked back into the throne room.
She felt her entire spine jar and her hip lock, it was all she could do to keep from crying out. Jace, Alec, Simon and Izzy all ran towards her each asking if she was okay, if she was hurt, then Alec turned on Magnus demanding an explanation as to why he didn't catch her. After reassuring everyone that the fall wasn't that bad and that she'd survive Jace helped her to her feet, he kept his gaze averted like he was ashamed but didn't pull away when she slipped her hand in his and tugged his arm closer. She led them down the hall to the first room Sebastian had taken her that wasn't her cell and ushered them around the fire which Alec stocked before collapsing into a large overly cushioned chair resting his hand on his newly bandaged wound. They explained that they'd locked Sebastian in a small room branching off of the main hall and that there was no way he could get out. Magnus left the room to send a message to Maryse telling her that they'd gotten Sebastian and that Clary was safe.
Izzy threw herself into the chair opposite Alec sitting on top of Simon and let her feet rest on the coffee table. Clary was shocked at how calm everyone seemed except for Jace. She was sitting on the couch with him next to her but he was sitting a little bit of a ways from her and his hands were in his lap, his eyes focused on the fire.
Magnus came back and explained that Maryse had gone against her better judgment and not informed the clave that they'd left and that it was now up to them to figure out a way to explain how they just so happened to find Clary and take down Sebastian. "Alright children as fun and eventful as this day has been I vote we just spend the night here. Sebastian has wonderful security for prisoners, so good even he can't get out of it so no one will need to be keeping watch not to mention he won't be waking up for a few days." None of them seemed to like the idea of staying the night in Sebastian's lair but they were all exhausted and Clary could feel her eyes start to droop, Isabelle looked exhausted and had curled up in Simon's lap, his eyes weren't even open anymore. Alec stood and reached for Magnus' hand and let himself be led out of the room, next to go was Izzy and Simon who lumbered slowly out the door quietly shutting it behind them leaving Jace and Clary alone. Jace stayed quiet and tried to pull away when Clary went to take his hand.
She felt her tears brim her eyes, Jace was here they were finally together again and he couldn't even look at her. Was it because of what he thought Sebastian did to her, did he think she was dirty now untouchable, tainted? Slowly the tears slid down her cheeks and she couldn't help the sob that escaped her lips. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry and she hadn't since Sebastian's had her, her mind had slipped into a sort of numb state not really processing anything so Jace ignoring and avoiding her hit her like an emotional wave. Another sob escaped and soon she was gasping clinging to the couch cushion like it was the only thing keeping her from falling to the floor and curling up into a ball. Jace who'd moved to stand by the fire place looked at her like he was afraid to come near her but all of his reservations disappeared when he saw the look of complete and utter hurt cross her face. He slowly walked towards her and scooped her up into his arms pulling her in close to his chest, he ran his hands through her hair and down her back and whispered that he was sorry over and over and over again until Clary finally stopped him. "Why Jace?" she whimpered "why are you sorry?" She looked up at him her glassy green eyes open so wide and Jace had to swallow his own tears, "I'm sorry I couldn't get to you in time and save you from him. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you Clary I promised I would protect you and I couldn't". Clary bit her lip and grabbed his shirt in her hands her fingers trembling, "Jace I thought that…I thought that maybe you were afraid of what Sebastian did that maybe… well maybe you didn't think of me the same…" She trailed off not quite sure how to phrase what she was thinking but the expression of horror painted on Jace's face told her that she'd said enough. "How could you ever think that?" He yelled "I would kill that son of a bitch for doing anything to you but I would never EVER think any less of you Clary." He said everything so rushed and panicked like he couldn't get his point across fast enough.
A new wave of tears hit her but these ones were of relief, when she looked back up this time tears were streaming down Jace's cheeks, she lifted her hand to his face and lightly brushed them away but they kept coming. "Jace what's wrong?" He looked down at her and his lip quivered.
"I thought I could do it Clary. I thought I could keep you safe and now your life depends on Sebastian all because I didn't have the guts to go against the clave right away. I did this to you Clary can't you see that it's my fault that all of this happened." He choked back a sob and Clary felt his body trembling under her hands. She crawled out of his lap and took both of his hands in hers and led him over to the bed.
Shadows from the fire danced across his face making his tear filled eyes bright and his golden hair glow. Clary tugged off his shirt and replaced the one she was wearing with it then slipped her pants off and pulled back the covers, Jace wiggled out of his jeans and crawled into bed next to her in his boxers. Clary led his head to her chest and pulled the covers up around them so they were shrouded in the thick blankets. Jace snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her against him so their bodies were pressed tightly together and he cried in her shoulder, he cried until he couldn't cry anymore, until there were no tears left. Clary didn't say anything just mimicked what he did for her, she ran her hands up and down his back, his arms and through his hair occasionally placing gentle kisses against his temple. When his body was finally exhausted and he'd stopped shaking he let Clary pull him even tighter against her and snuggle in so they were a mess of limbs and sheets. They fell asleep like that, their bodies pressed tightly together holding each other like they were afraid of what might happen if either let go. Clary for the first time since she'd been here felt safe, and in Jace's arms she was finally able to fall asleep.
So not only have I updated but it's an unusually long chapter and I even added a bit emotional Jace upon request ;) I'd be grateful for any reviews so don't be shy and thanks for sticking with me this long.