Chapter 40…

{Alec's POV}

Once Clary had revealed to Jace his blood connection to Ithuriel, I did not feel shocked as the others did.

Rather, it was as if I had found the answer to a question after many, many years. Deep down I had always known that Jace was different, something extra - know I knew what it was.

At least know I had an excuse for why Jace would always beat me in combat lessons.

"What do you mean activate?"

Jace asked Clary dubiously.

"You see how the sword is darkened from my touch? I tempered it with my demonic origins, whereas Jace's angelic blood wil counteract it."

Clary explained as easily as if she were counting to 10.

"So you're saying I just have to hold it?"

"Baisically yes, although it may sting a little - the rest of us need to stand back."

Clary ordered the rest of us, and in return we all moved a few paces away from Jace.

{Jace's POV}

I suddenly felt very isolated as soon as everyone had backed away.

Although, I noticed that Clary didn't back away as far as the others.

"Go ahead."

She gestured to the sword, a soft expression playing on her face and voice.

I didn't want to show any hesitation, but there was some part of me that doubted I was 'special'. I was just an ordinary shadowhunter, trained and raised the same as Izzy, Alec and Jon. Yet I guess some part of me had always felt different - distanced slightly from the others.

Calmly I grabbed the hilt of the sword and whipped it out of the glass case, swinging the perfectly balanced blade in a cutting arc.

At first nothing happened, I looked to Clary for an explanation.

But my tongue caught as I saw her face, it was twisted in a quiet mix of fear and rage.

Realising what she was looking at I nearly dropped Mataellarch, the words etched onto the sword were gleaming a malicious red.

Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

I now knew what they meant, after Clary had whispered them to me last time she encountered the Mortal Sword.

If I cannot move Heaven I will raise Hell.

But as brightly as the words shone - they rapidly dimned.

I gazed on in wonder as the darkness enveloping the sword began to evaporate. A gleaming silver sucking out the dark.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp fizzling pain shoot up my arm, proceeding to spread throughout the rest of my body.

I did not feel the sword slip out of my hand, my thoughts were consumed by this intesifying agony - if I hadn't had known better I would have been convinced that my blood was on fire.

{Clary's POV}

Seeing Jace cry out in pain snapped my body into movement, my legs striding out in front of me as I collapsed behind Jace.

Just in time for his back to fall against me, he clutched his arm wildly and continued to wimper in pain.

Hearing another set of footsteps I lifted my head and shouted,

"No, don't touch the sword. It's converting."

And I saw Consul Penhallow stalk away from the sword, a scowl on her face from obeying orders from me.

Thought my attention remained devoted to Jace, his body tensing tightly on top of my knees.

"Alec!"

I called out and a moment later felt his presence by my side.

"Draw an iratze on his right arm"

I commanded - and he swiftly complied.

A parabatai's rune was much more powerful, due to the sacred Nephilim bond shared between them.

When the rune was drawn fully into his skin, Jace relaxed in response and his breath became more and more even.

Finally, I allowed myself to let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding.

As I was about to speak with Jace, a near blinding spark erupted from across the wide hall.

The small spark then fizzed outward to form the shape of a portal.

I glanced as Alec to see if he had an explanation - but when he met my gaze he just shrugged.

{Alec's POV}

I reponded to Clary's silent question by shrugging my shoulders, I had no idea why there was a portal opening in the middle of the Guard.

When my gaze returned to the portal I felt a weight on my chest lift as I saw who stepped through first.

Magnus.

I felt Izzy shoot me a knowing glance, whenever Magnus entered the room my mood would lift.

Magnus returned my blushing smirk with his own and a wink.

I then redirected my attention back to the portal and thought my jaw was going to hit the floor.

My parents. Jace's parents. Jocelyn and Luke. And Jonathan.

Seeing Jonathan awake was like a breath of fresh air after inhaling smoke for a long time.

Izzy rushed over to him and leapt into his arms for a tight hug, I followed suit and pulled Jon into another tight embrace.

"Welcome back to the land of the living brother"

I breathed into his ear.

"Good to be back"

He replied, patting me on the back as I drew away.

{Jace's POV}

I watched with a conflicted expression as I saw my parents leap into the room from the portal.

The pain in my arm had dulled to a numbing ache, whether that was from the iratze's or the shock of seeing my parents I wasn't sure.

Slowly, I realised that Clary had pushed herself away from me and was backing away silently.

As my parents saw me they walked hurriedly over to me, preparing to embrace me.

Before they got the chance I jumped up into a crouch then stood up straight and backed away.

"Jace, what's wrong?"

The concern in my mother's voice unsettled me - yet I had to get answer's.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

My father countered reflexively.

"What I am."

I saw the realisation that I had discovered their secret dawn on their face.

"So it is true then? I have the blood of Ithuriel in me"

I spoke in a saddened certainty.

"Jace you need to let us explain-"

"Believe me, I'm all ears."

I cut across my father, something that was considered extremely disrespectful in Shadowhunter society - but I didn't care.

Everyone in the hall was now blinking between my parents and I, all except Jocelyn whose gaze seemed to be glued to just over my shoulder. Clary.

"We did not realise that Valentine was experimenting on you until you were born."

My father began.

"Whilst I was pregnant, Valentine had been adding powders to my every drink and told me it would help with the baby. Later I discovered that these were in fact powdered remnants of Ithuriel's blood."

My mother breifly explained.

"When you were born we knew you were different. Your eyes. They were a deep gold that has ceased to fade over the years - when we took you to the Silent Brothers they examined you and told us the truth."

"That still doesn't explain why you didn't tell me?"

My parents faces went blank, it was clear they had no explanation for me.

Consumed with a blinding frustration I opened my mouth to fire at them, when a small hand slid onto my shoulder.

I glanced to the side and saw her, Clary's honest green eyes pierced through my anger as if it wasn't there. Her delicate hand on my skin instantly cooling me.

"Growing up knowing your different is a pain I would not wish on you Jace. It is better to grow up blinded to it, your parents may have not realised it at the time but they did you a favour."

Her voice carried out through the room, but her eyes never left mine.

Tearing my gaze away from Clary I looked at my parents - both of whom seemed startled that Clary would support them like this.

However, I knew she wasn't doing it for them - she was doing it for me.

"Isn't it about time we resume battle strategy?"

I announced calmly.

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Song 18 ~ Falling - Harry Styles