Guess who's back !
Hope you're all ready, because it's going to get good…
Chapter 37…
{Jace's POV}
I felt a cup being pressed to my mouth, and hesitantly drank. Flickering my eyes to see who was holding the cup, I was wildly taken aback.
It was Aline Penhallow.
Then it all came rushing back, the Lake, how Clary has saved me, how I had collapsed.
"How did I get here?"
I asked Aline politely.
"Well I only know that about 3 hours ago, Alec and some redhead were carrying you through my door. I assumed they must have managed to drag you here."
She smiled at me.
Redhead?
Oh, Clary.
I thought briefly, before following up with another question.
"Where are they now?"
"In the front room I suppose. You have recovered well, so you can go see them."
Smiling gratefully I stood up from the bed I was laying on and strode over to the door.
Springing down the steps, my eyes automatically went to Clary first - as they usually did. And hers met mine swiftly, yet as quickly as our eyes met she looked away again.
{Clary's POV}
As soon as I laid my eyes on Jace my heart lifted simultaneously - but denying him the chance to see my change in mood, I looked away.
"How you feeling sleeping beauty?"
Alec mocked his parabatai.
"Well rested."
Jace answered as he bumped shoulders with Alec.
I rose from my grand armchair and wandered over to the back window which overlooked the many streets of Alicante.
"We have to leave now."
I spoke loudly, but in a dazed tone. My mind lingering on something else.
"Are you sure Clary. We've had a long day and it's only 7 in the evening. It can wait until tomorrow."
Spinning round to look Alec in the face, I saw something I hadn't seen him show me before. Kindness, he cared.
"I cannot do that. I thank you Helen and Aline for the brief hospitality - but if you are discovered giving shelter to me… I couldn't allow you to be punished for it after what you did for Jace."
I spoke in a bland tone, because I was grateful for what sanctuary they had given us. But I knew that it was to be my last moment of peace for a while.
"It was no trouble. What are friends for? But who actually are you Red?"
Helen asked, and I realised that they still didn't know who I was. Which explained their confusion as to why they might get in trouble for housing me.
Shooting a few awkward glances at Izzy, I evenly replied,
"Maybe it would be better if you did not know. But you will, soon enough."
I said with absolution.
Then I turned to Jace who was deliberately looking away from me, his face contorted with thought.
"Jace, are you well enough to come to the guard?"
"Yes."
His eyes snapped up to meet mine then, a challenging fierceness in them that I had not seen as of yet.
His expression telling me without words that he would have said he was fine even if he was on a deathbed. This was a quality of Jace I admired, his loyalty.
"Fine. Then we leave now."
I commanded and picked up Heosphoros from the table as I made my way to the front door.
I heard the others say some quick farewells and gave sharp thanks to the two girls before following suit.
Without looking back I pulled the door open and slipped out into the streets of Alicante.
The sky was just beginning to darken, the beginnings of dusk showing. Implying that the Council would not be in session for much longer, so we had to get moving, and fast.
We had run silently and stayed out of sight by clinging to the walls of buildings and houses. With Alec leading the way, as he knew the ins and outs of the city best.
~ time skip ~
After roughly ten minutes of jogging down winding streets lined with tall, thin houses - we arrived at a clearing.
Standing in the middle was a majestic building, great in size. This must be the guard then, as Alec had slowed to a stop.
"Where's the front door?"
I asked him, with a devilish glint in my eye.
"On the left side of the building. Clary are you sure about this?"
"Yes. I have endured worse than The Clave."
I replied, putting unnecessary emphasis on 'The Clave'.
Yet my words were still true at the time - I genuinely thought there was no torture left for me to endure. I had lived through them all.
Looking back now, I realise how naive I was.
{Jace's POV}
I knew that Clary was purposefully hiding her emotions, ever since this morning I hadn't been able to read her at all.
It was as if I barely knew her again. I knew her walls had resurfaced, I wanted to confront her about it, yet my feelings towards her were probably not our most important issue.
We were up against the main door to the guard - Clary looked to Alec for assurance that she could enter now.
Once Alex gave her a sharp nod her face changed, back into the determined, fiery girl I had met on that roof.
Shoving both doors forcefully Clary strode into the grand hall, with me on her left and Alec and Izzy on her right.
An eruption of gasps sounded through the room - all eyes staring at the 4 geared up teenagers marching through.
On the dias stood Consul Penhallow and my grandmother.
I saw her face pale slightly when she laid her eyes on me, shock clear as day in her expression.
But all stares fixed on Clary, whether she was fazed by this or not I could not tell.
Her full lips were hardened into a line, the features of her face set.
This is the face of a warrior. The face of a girl who never experienced love and happiness.
However, I couldn't imagine Clary being any other way.
{Clary's POV}
Not allowing myself to be distracted by everyone's reactions, I glided purposefully to the Dias.
I reached the platform and stood before the Consul and Inquisitor, both of their faces masked with shock and anger.
"Who do you think you are!?"
The Consul asked - she had not seen my face before. Unlike Imogen, who was paling by the second.
"Clarissa Morgenstern."
I announced proudly, looking directly into Imogen's eyes.
"You should not have come here."
Inquisitor Herondale spoke with concern - probably for Jace, she could no longer protect him from punishments.
"Actually I am glad I did."
I turned around to address the rest of the Hall.
"It is true, I am the daughter of Valentine. And Lilith."
My exclamation sent echoes of whispers around the room - the rumours confirmed.
"And if you were wise, you would use both of these assets instead of hunting me. I know all his plans, where he is."
I shouted to all the Nephilim, each one hanging onto every word.
"And my special skill set could be of great use to you."
I gleamed a grin on the last part - revelling in their reactions.
Finally twisting around to face the Consul I glared, awaiting her response.
"You have some nerve coming here, Clarissa Morgenstern. I give the order and you are dead."
I smirked wickedly at her pathetic threat.
"As fun as that sounds. It is not my intention to spark a war against you, my father on the other hand…"
The Consul looked dumbfounded, as she should be. The child of her most hated enemy was in the heart of her city.
"Trial. I say we trial the girl."
A loud man's voice called out from the crowd of Nephilim behind me.
A cheer of agreement followed, at least 50 shadowhunters in that room agreed. Which was more than half - so the Consul has no choice but to give me a fair hearing.
Pursing her lips in frustration she walked toward me.
I cursed myself, why did I have to be so goddamned small - the Consul practically towered over me.
"You need to be careful Morgenstern. Filthy half breeds like you cannot be trusted, I know that."
Her words did not touch me, I had heard them all before. Yet I was taken aback by how kind her daughter had been to me and wondered whether this was how Aline would have treated me if she knew what I was.
Consul Penhallow walked past me and the others, leaving me facing Imogen.
Beckoning me to her with a sharp motion, she whispered.
"You are too stand on the dias and deliver your plea."
She ordered, none too gently.
As I moved to the dias, I felt a tight hand grasp my wrist.
"You have involved my grandson in this now. Be very careful Miss Morgenstern."
What will happen to Clary?
And how will the trial go?
Review this chapter and let me know what you think.
Song 15 ~ Lights Up - Harry Styles