EDITED ON 5/30/2020
I just realized I'd never shown you what Clary now looks like, nor had I considered this myself. So last night I went searching for an actress that looked enough like Matt that she'd fit what I wanted Clary to look like. In the end I went ahead and picked Catharine Daddario, Matt's younger sister. Picture is included above.
Alec pushed Jace's blade away with ease and backed up, breathing hard. They'd been at it for hours and Jace's anger hadn't seemed to dwindle in the slightest.
"You're hurting." Alec told him, deciding that beating around the bush wouldn't be beneficial in this situation.
"You didn't even touch me." Jace said, extending his arms as if to show Alec that he was in one piece.
"I'm not talking about that." Alec replied as they circled each other. "I'm talking about the Downworlders."
Jace hung his head and for a second Alec felt guilty about bringing it up. He'd kept telling his sisters that Jace needed time, that he'd be back to his usual self in a few days, but their bond was aching, he could feel the emotional turmoil that Jace was in. He couldn't ignore it any longer. He'd debated having Clary speak to his Parabatai, but he'd vetoed that idea almost as soon as he'd thought of it, remembering the conversation they'd had a few days prior. He couldn't risk causing Jace more pain or having Jace make a move.
"Jace. You didn't know." Alec tried to reassure him. "It wasn't your fault."
"Never said it was." Jace responded, nonchalantly. "Come on, got another round in you or startin' to get tired?"
Alec grinned and he leapt at Jace, swinging his blade and missing as the blond haired Shadowhunter ran across the courtyard.
"So, what does this pure angel blood do for you anyway?" Alec asked conversationally.
"I don't know." Jace admitted. "Other than the ability to activate that sword. Maybe that's all it's good for."
"Clary's got the ability to draw new runes." Alec said. "So, you must be able to do something special."
"You mean other than kick your ass?" Jace teased.
Jace swung his blade, connecting with Alec's. Soon they were just a blur of blades as they swung and connected each time, never hitting each other. Finally, Alec's blade got connected between both of Jace's. Jace grinned, thinking he'd won when Alec swung his other blade up, tapping Jace on the ribs to show him that he'd made the kill.
"Wanna go hand-to-hand?" Alec suggested.
"Oh," Jace grinned menacingly. "I thought you'd never ask."
After a particularly even match, Jace got called away by Inquisitor Herondale and Alec went in search of his sister, Isabelle. He found her in her room laying in her bed, sweating and shaking. She was going through withdrawal.
"Izzy. Tell me what to do and I can do it." He begged.
"I'm okay." She assured him. Her voice was hoarse and weak, trembling like her body. "I just need to sweat it out.
"Izzy." He whispered as he sat on the bed next to her, He grabbed a bowl filled with cold water and a washcloth. "Izzy."
She turned onto her back and he lifted the washcloth to her forehead.
"Stop!" She cried the second it touched her skin. "Stop, it burns."
Alec watched her as she shook. Her hair was sticking to her face, and her eyes were lidded as she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. She was breathing heavily and wouldn't look him in the eyes. "No one knows right?" She asked.
"No." Alec said quietly. "Not even Clary or Magnus. They all think you have the flu."
"Good." Izzy sighed.
Alec's phone buzzed and he checked it, a conflicted look on his face.
"What is it?" Izzy croaked.
"A demon attack." Alec informed her.
"Go." Izzy told him. "I'll be fine."
"I can't leave you like this." He shook his head, putting his phone away.
"Alec." He looked at her. "Go."
"Fine." He sighed. "Call me if you need anything.
—
After their disturbing find at the attack site, Alec left Clary and Jace and went to enlist Magnus' help.
He walked into the apartment he now semi-shared with his boyfriend and daughter and found Magnus looking out the window.
"Hey." He called.
Magnus turned around to face him. "You read my mind." He beamed. "I was just about to call you."
"Daddy!" A little girl ran out of the hallway and bounded up to Alec. He stooped down and enveloped the girl in his arms.
"Madzie!" He grinned, smoothing her hair down with his hand. He lifted her up onto his hip as he stood again and moved forward to press a kiss to Magnus' lips.
"There's a greater demon." Alec whispered to Magnus. "We need your help. It's been leaving this on its victims." He handed Magnus a packet full of sand.
"Oh, dear." Magnus said. "This sand, it's from Duduael."
"Which is... a dimension of Hell?" Alec asked, uncertain.
"The worst dimension." Magnus confirmed. "Did you find this on their face?"
Alec hummed in confirmation.
"How did he get loose?" Magnus wondered aloud. "He's been shackled for centuries."
"Who, Magnus?" Alec asked as Madzie snuggled farther into him.
"The demon who taught man the weapons of war. A Greater Demon, Azazel, one of the Princes of Hell."
"Right, a real prince." Alec remarked sarcastically. He set his Daughter down and instructed her to go play. Once she was gone, he continued. "Why is it so dark in here?"
When he turned back around Raphael Santiago was standing next to Magnus.
"Hello, Alec."
"What is he doing here?" Alec demanded. "Our Daughter is here! What if he hurts her like he did Izzy?"
"Raphael has something important to tell you." Magnus tried to calm him. "And he would never hurt Madzie, nor would I let him."
"Nothing he says matters to me."
"Your sister's in trouble." Raphael told him.
"Izzy? You're damn right she is. She's suffering withdrawal back at the institute because of you!" Alec almost shouted.
"She just came by the Dumort, begging for a bite."
"What?" Alec whispered.
"I didn't touch her. You have my word." Raphael promised. "But there are plenty of vampires more than eager to take a bite."
"I never should have left her alone." Alec groaned, making his way to the front door.
Magnus rushed to grab his arm and stop him. "It's not your fault. Don't worry. We'll find her."
Raphael grabbed a piece of paper out of his jacket and handed it to Alec. "Here's the address to the closest den. There's a good chance she's there."
"Let's go." He grumbled.
Raphael followed Alec while Magnus stayed behind to watch Madzie.
When the pair arrived at the den, they found bodies littered around in the alley way. Alec examined the closest one. "Azazel did this." He murmured.
He stood up and they wandered further into the alley. Raphael stooped down by the wall and grabbed something off the ground.
"Izzy's necklace." Raphael said, handing it off to Alec.
"It's broken." Alec's voice wavered a little bit, but Raphael didn't say anything. "Where is she?"
"I thought Izzy had the flu," Clary said. "Why would she leave the institute?"
She, Alec, Jace and Raphael were all standing around a table in the ops room, trying to find Izzy.
"I don't know." Alec told her. "But if he's hurt her . . ." He shook his head.
"She could have escaped." Jace tried to reassure Alec.
"He's right." Raphael added. "We don't even know if he has her."
"She hasn't called. And she's not answering her phone." Alec was close to panicking.
"But she's alive." Clary cut in. "I'm sure of it."
"I don't understand." Raphael admitted. "Why Izzy? What could a Greater Demon want with her."
"I think I know who we could ask." Jace shared a meaningful look with Clary.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Valentine said, his voice was hoarse, and he had a cut on the side of his head that was surrounded by dried blood. "But it's so nice to see the both of you."
"Azazel wouldn't leave Duduael on his own." Clary ignored him. "Someone broke him out. Someone with access to the mortal cup."
"Circle Members." Jace added. "They released the greater demon to break you out of here."
"I thought I raised you to have common sense." Valentine replied, scathingly. "If the Greater Demon wanted to free me, how would I still be here having this inane conversation with you two?"
Clary and Jace exchanged a look.
"I want to banish demon filth from our realm!" Valentine hissed.
"If that's true, then tell your followers to give back the cup. We can force Azazel to give us Izzy." She directed the last part to Jace.
"I don't know where the cup is." Valentine admitted.
"If you're lying," Jace threatened. "So, help the Angel."
"If you were smart, Jace, you'd use me as bait." Jace looked startled. "The only way to control a Greater Demon is with the Mortal Cup. Azazel would do anything to destroy it. So, summon him with your Warlock friend and tell him I have the Cup. Offer him a trade. Me for Isabelle."
"That could work." Clary told Jace. "Once we have Izzy, I can take him out with my sunlight rune."
"This is a trap." Jace protested. "What could possibly make you think that we could trust him?"
"I'm not sure I would trust me either, if I were you, but the longer Azazel has Isabelle, the greater the chance she dies."
"We don't have a choice, Jace." Clary said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not letting my sister die. Not when I could've done something to stop it."
Jace looked at her, his eyes were full of pain and conflicting emotions. He didn't seem to know what to say to her. His body was half turned away from her, as if he were fighting with himself, trying to stop himself from doing something he'd regret.
"This better not be a trap." Clary rounded on Valentine. "Your life's on the line too."
"Clarissa," Valentine leaned in towards her. "I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my daughter."
"Not anymore." She spat. "And Jace is your son. You've hurt him plenty."
Valentine didn't respond, instead he turned to look at Jace. A twisted smirk appeared on his face when he saw that Jace had turned away completely.
"You didn't tell her." He accused, sounding amused.
"Tell me what?" Clary asked.
"You must still have feelings for her, huh?" Valentine taunted. "Isn't that a pickle?"
Jace turned back to Valentine and took a few steps forward. He raised his arm and pointed at him threateningly. "Not another word."
"What is he talking about?" Clary asked, it was clear that she was worried, if not a little freaked out, as she turned to Jace.
"You wanna do the honors or shall I?" Valentine asked.
"I said 'Shut up!'" Jace surged forward and punched Valentine across the face.
Clary gasped as his head snapped to the side and he spit blood from his mouth. "It's rude to keep a girl waiting, Jace."
"Jace. What is going on?" Clary demanded.
Valentine stared up at Jace with a smug smile and Jace glared down at him.
"Valentine's not my Father." Jace answered.
"You're not my brother?" Clary asked, gasping a little. She took an unsteady step backwards and something in Jace snapped. He surged forward, grabbed her by the arms and placed his lips on hers. Clary froze, tensing up as his lips moved over hers frantically. She didn't kiss him back, only stood there as he kissed her before she pushed him away, pulling herself out of his grip.
She scurried backwards, putting distance between the two of them as Valentine laughed maniacally. She looked up at Jace with now-red-rimmed eyes that were quickly filling with tears. She ran out of the cell and up the stairs, not trusting that she wouldn't run into someone in the elevator. She stumbled twice before falling up the stairs and twisting her ankle too far, the wrong way causing it to snap and send white-hot pain up her leg and through her foot. She cried out before pushing herself back up to her feet and stumbling to the entrance hall, waving off the few concerned Shadowhunters that approached her. She threw open the far-left door and thought of Magnus' apartment as she stumbled into the portal sobbing.
A few seconds later she collapsed onto the ground of Magnus' living room, bawling. She heard hurried footsteps and felt two pairs of hands on her back. There was talking going on above her as she buried her face in the soft carpet, but the roaring sound of her pulse in her ears was making it difficult for her to understand.
As she tried to wiggle away from the hands that were rubbing her back and brushing the hair away from her face, the pain in her foot disappeared as she felt the bones of her ankle snap back into place and fuse back together. She let out a sigh of relief as the pain dissipated and her sobs lessened some.
"... she okay?" She caught the end of someone's sentence. The voice was vaguely familiar to her, but not so much so that she could identify it upon hearing it.
"She will be." Magnus replied. It was him that was rubbing firm circles into her shoulder blades and the stranger was holding her hair back from her face, making it easier for her to hear and breathe.
"Did you call her brother?"
"I sent him a fire message." Magnus confirmed.
"No." Clary hiccupped through her now soft sobs.
"Biscuit!" Magnus sighed, clearly relieved. He took her under the arms and sat her up, allowing her to recline against him, sideways across his lap, held up by his arm. She could now see him and Raphael Santiago. "What happened? Who hurt you? Raphael and I were just getting ready to portal to you when you showed up here."
Clary took a minute to process this new information, briefly wondering why Magnus and Raphael would be portaling to see her when she remembered her necklace. She'd been so caught up with what had been happening that she hadn't realized that it had been pulsing, signaling that she was hurt enough, or in danger enough that it felt the need to notify Magnus.
"Jace." She said finally, making both men raise an eyebrow. "He isn't Valentine's son, he kissed me. I didn't want it. I've finally gotten over him, accepted that we will never be together, that he's my brother, and then this happens. I ran away, up the stairs. I fell."
Magnus was silent as he absorbed what Clary had told him, Raphael on the other hand didn't need much time.
"D'you want me to kill him?" He asked. "Cause I can."
Magnus shot him a glare and Clary just looked at him, confused. "What?" Raphael asked. "I actually like this one." He indicated Clary with a gesture. "There's just something different about her. About you." He said the last bit to Clary with an unidentifiable look on his face.
Clary held his gaze for a minute longer, breaking it when Alec threw the door open and rushed in. His eyes were wide, and his breathing was labored as if he'd run all the way there. Maybe he had.
"Clary!" He gasped, sinking to his knees beside Raphael, not even taking the time to give the man a nasty look. "By the Angel, what happened? Are you alright?" He took his sister from his boyfriend's arms and held her close to his chest.
Clary didn't answer, instead choosing to wrap her arms around her brother's neck and bury her face in his shoulder. Alec kissed her hair and looked to Magnus.
"It seems Jace made a move, but the feeling was not mutual." Magnus muttered, watching the raven-haired woman carefully as she shook slightly where she was cradled in her big brother's arms.
"He did what?" Alec roared.
Magnus, Raphael and Clary all flinched. Alec noticed and tightened his hold on Clary.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He murmured to her, smoothing her hair back.
"What did he do?" Alec looked to Magnus and Raphael. "What did he do to her?"
"Kissed her." Raphael shrugged. "Nothing too bad, just spooked her, I guess."
"You said she was hurt." Alec turned to Magnus.
Magnus nodded, looking at the Lightwood boy with sympathy in his eyes. Alec was clearly worried about Clary. One sister missing and the other had been injured and was currently emotionally destroyed. Alec's Big Brother instincts were off the charts at the moment.
"She was." Magnus confirmed. "I healed her. She broke her ankle running away from him."
"I'll kill him." Alec growled.
"No, you won't." Clary pulled her face away from his shoulder. "He's your Parabatai, Alec. And our brother."
"Our brother who kissed you against your will."
"He's hurt and he's confused, he doesn't know what to do anymore. It was a mistake. He just scared me."
Looking into his sister's eyes, Alec knows that Jace didn't just 'scare' her. But he nods anyways, wanting to make his sister happy.
"I promise."
Alec walked out onto the rooftop of the institute and spotted Jace standing near the ledge.
"There you are." He called. "Magnus is downstairs and the Inquisitor's council meeting will be over in an hour. We don't have much time." His voice was monotone and had no feeling, no warmth, no familiarity to it.
Jace didn't turn around, didn't even move. For a second, Alec was worried that he'd died. He quickly shook the thought away since they were Parabatai. Alec would've felt Jace die, that and he was standing up. He didn't think that dead people could stand.
Alec heaved a sigh before asking: "Jace. You okay?" At this moment, Alec really didn't care. He was pissed. He was angry at Jace for hurting his sister.
Jace, once again, didn't say anything. Instead, he turned around and allowed Alec to see the tears running down his cheeks. And despite all the anger that Alec was harboring towards the man, he enveloped him in a hug and allowed him to cry into his shoulder, much like Clary had only a few hours prior.
"I messed up, Alec. I messed up so bad." Jace cried.
"Yeah." Alec agreed. "I know. What were you thinking, Jace?" He chided quietly.
"I'm so confused." Jace sobbed. "I don't know what I'm feeling, what I'm doing, what I'm supposed to do. I don't even know who I am anymore."
"You're Jace Lightwood." Alec told him. "You're the same person you've always been. My brother. And Izzy's and Max's and Clary's."
"I'm not a Lightwood, though." Jace argued. "Not like the rest of you."
"You could be." Alec told him. "If you wanted to."
Jace shook his head. "No, I don't want that. I don't need it. Not like Clary did. I just," He sighed. "I just want to be sure of myself again."
"You will be." Alec assured him.
Jace let go of Alec, the tears had stopped flowing. "I never meant to hurt her, Alec. You've got to believe me."
Alec sighed and swallowed down his anger. "I believe you, Jace."
—
Alec pulled on the chains restraining Valentine.
"Is the courtyard glamoured?" He asked Magnus who was finishing the summoning circle.
"No one can see us." He confirmed with a sigh.
"I don't know." Alec said. "Still seems like a risk."
"We have no choice." Magnus replied. "It's the only space big enough."
Jace walked out of the institute towards the three men. "Security cameras in the cell are down. We've got a half hour until the Inquisitor's done with her meeting."
They took their places around the circle and prepared themselves.
"Is Clary ready?" Jace asked.
"Let's do this." Alec said with a nod.
Magnus waved his hands. "I call upon the power of the pentagon. Azazel! I summon thee! From within our realm, into this mystical confinement, I summon thee. You seek the mortal cup; we seek the return of our friend. For this exchange, I summon thee!"
Thunder clapped as Azazel appeared in the summoning circle, trapped. Jace and Alec readied their weapons and dropped into defensive stances as Azazel turned and looked at Magnus.
"Well." Azazel drawled. "If it isn't Magnus Bane. Brave move."
"Return Isabelle Lightwood and we'll hand over Valentine." Magnus bargained. "He can lead you to the mortal cup."
Azazel considered this and turned to the shackled Valentine. "Valentine Morgenstern." He marveled. "The man who dares to dream big."
He looked at Valentine for a moment longer before turning back to Magnus. "It is a tempting offer," He stated. "But I don't have your friend, Isabelle."
"He's lying." Alec surmised.
"I'm not so sure." Jace argued.
"There's no time for debate." Magnus interjected. "The barrier's weakening." He shot a blast of magic at Azazel to distract him.
"We can still find Isabelle, but we can't let Azazel get away." Jace told Alec.
"Clary, now!" Alec yelled over his shoulder.
Clary stalked out of the institute and thrust her palm towards Azazel, but nothing happened. The sunlight rune didn't work.
"It's - It's not working." She stammered as she tried again.
"What are you talking about?" Jace asked.
"Nothing's happening!" She panicked.
"You thought you could contain me?" Azazel roared. He threw his arms out to the sides and everyone got thrown backwards as the light bulbs from the lamps on the walls shattered.
The three Shadowhunters started screaming in pain as they convulsed on the ground.
"Alec!" Clary screamed.
"Ahhh! Magnus! Stop him!" Alec howled.
Azazel approached Magnus who was trying to scramble to his feet. "Stupid warlock." He intoned as he touched his face.
Azazel then approached Valentine and kneeled in front of him. "Now a present for you, my dear Valentine." He grabbed his face making his scream in pain, harmonizing with the other's screams.
Jace stood up, his eyes glowing gold and launched himself at Azazel who vanished before Jace's blade could connect with him.
As soon as he was gone, the pain vanished, and Alec grabbed Clary's hand trying and failing to sit up all the way.
"How did you do that?" He asked Jace.
The blond just shook his head. "I have no idea. It doesn't matter. He got away."
Alex helped Clary to his feet before moving to assist Magnus.
"Hey. Are you okay?" The Shadowhunter asked. "Are you alright?"
"I ... I think so." Magnus said, he was unsteady on his feet and swayed a little once he was standing by himself. He looked dazed and confused and Alex was worried he'd hit his head.
"Okay." He led Magnus inside while Jace and Clary grabbed Valentine who's just regained consciousness.
"Help me!" Valentine begged. "Help me!"
"You're sure you're okay?" Alec asked again as he led Magnus through the halls.
"I'm fine." Magnus said again. "Just a little . . . tired. Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix."
"I can come back home with you, if you like." Alec offered. "Madzie is staying with Cat for the weekend so we could just relax."
"No!" Magnus protested quickly and Alec had to push away the feeling of hurt that overcame him. What had he done to upset Magnus? "No. It's okay. I'll call you tomorrow."
Magnus walked away as Alec's phone rang. He reluctantly pulled it out of his pocket and answered quickly when he saw who was calling.
"Izzy!" He cried.
"I'm okay." She said. "Look, I know I shouldn't have snuck out. "
"It . . . It doesn't matter. You're alive." He grinned. He could feel tears of relief coming to his eyes as he just relished the feeling of knowing his sister was safe.
"Of course, I'm alive." Izzy said.
"No, there was a greater demon attack." Alec explained. "And I just . . ."
"I'm so sorry." Izzy interrupted. "I should've called you, but I figured you'd be so angry with me and-"
"Izzy, I'm not angry. I just want you back home, safe."
"I'm safe. I promise." She assured him. "And I'm in a good place. I'm getting better but I can't come home. Not now."
"If it was something I said, I just want you to know, I just -"
"No!" Izzy cried. "No, it wasn't you. You've been great. This is just a battle I need to fight on my own." She sighed when he stayed silent. "I love you, Alec."
"I love you, too." He replied.
"I'll be home soon."
"Bye." He whispered, hanging up.
He ran his hands through his hair and turned to go find his other sister. It'd been a long day and all he wanted to do was relax. But that plan went in the gutter as soon as a guard approached him.
"Sir, Valentine Morgenstern is in his cell screaming that he's Magnus Bane." Alec stared at him. "We thought you'd want to know."
By now you should all know that I've been holding a poll to see who you would like to see end up with Clary. There aren't many options that are presented on the show that are too appealing so, after talking with a reader for a while yesterday I've decided to add the option of an OC Warlock. I'm going to list some options for his casting below. If you think an OC Warlock is the way to go, vote on the actor who'll portray him.
1. Jeremy Irvine
2. Brenton Thwaites
3. Tyler Posey
4. KJ Apa
5. Cody Christian
I personally am leaning towards Jeremy Irvine because he just looks like someone who could be a warlock. (See pic below) That's all for now, darlings. Thank you for reading. Remember to Vote, Vote and Comment. ❤️