Death was just a dream. An imagined figment that would last for eternity. A perfect world she could live in forever.
"You look beautiful." Her father said.
She saw him standing behind her in the mirror. He put his hands on her shoulders, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of her head. She smiled at him through the mirror. "Should I be nervous?" She asked quietly.
She turned around, the long skirt swirling around her. "Every bride is nervous on her wedding day, Eliza. Though, if you want to run, I'll help you."
She laughed, shaking her head. "The only place I want to run is down the aisle." She admitted.
He smiled back at her. "Then let's go. He's waiting for you."
There was a quick knock on the door just before it opened. Her mother poked her head in before entering the room fully.
"Look at you!" She held out her arms. "My goodness, you look incredible."
Her father put an arm around her mother, hugging her close. "We did good, Jocelyn."
Her mother nodded, smiling. She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Perfect, Valentine. We did perfect with all of them." He agreed with her. "Now, they're ready. Shall we go?"
They detached from one another, both holding hands out for her. She took one last look in the mirror. Her hair fell in soft waves down her shoulders and back. The gold gown was long and slim-fitting, long off-the-shoulder fluttering sleeves made of a fine sheer material. She lifted her hand, admiring the Herondale family ring that rested on her finger. She had grown used to wearing it.
"Yes. Let's go." She told them.
They led her through the corridor of the Hall to the main room. Her breath caught at the sight of so many people, all gathered for her.
Down the room, on the other side of the fountain, she saw him. Standing, waiting for her. She swallowed hard. With both her parents at her side, she started walking.
There were faces she knew and faces she didn't. The Lightwoods all wore faces of pure happiness. Maryse and Robert stood arm in arm, Isabelle next them looking radiant in a dress of soft yellow, her arm around Max's shoulders. On her other side was Alec, Magnus next to him. Magnus gave her a knowing look, shooting a wink at her. She saw Clary, standing next to Simon in a Spring green dress, their arms interlocked. Luke was behind them, his hands on Clary's shoulders. Closer to the front was Jonathan. His green eyes were bright with happiness, a pure smile on his face.
And there was him.
Her parents deposited her in front of him, stepping back to join the rest of their family. The Silent Brother stood before them, a stele in his hand.
Say the words, he instructed them.
Jace took her hands in his, the most glorious of smiles on his face. "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death." The Silent Brother handed Jace the stele. He took her right hand and carefully drew the Wedded Union rune on the skin. It didn't feel like regular runes, there was no burning feeling. Instead, it felt pleasant and warm. It felt like it did whenever Jace kissed her or told her he loved her.
He finished, handing her the stele. She held it carefully. "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death." She recreated the rune on the back of his right hand and wondered if he felt the same sensation she had.
After the ceremony was over, they dismissed themselves to a private room. "Wow." Jace breathed. "I have a beautiful wife." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. "I love you." She said against his lips.
"Not as much as I love you." He chuckled, pulling away.
She looked at the family ring on her finger. "It's grown on me. Do I have to give it back?" She slipped the ring from her finger and put it back where it belonged: on his index finger.
"Well, I was going to wait until we got home." He sighed. He took something from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was a small dark velvet box. He opened it, revealing a thin silver band, heron birds engraved along the metal. "I had it made for you. As a wedding gift."
"Oh, Jace. It's beautiful." He slid the ring onto her finger where she had previously worn his. "But I didn't get you anything." She suddenly thought. "God, we've only been married for five minutes and I'm already a terrible wife."
He laughed, drawing her back into an embrace. "Lizzie, marrying me was the best gift you could have ever given me."
She rested her head on his shoulder, smiling. "Oh, good. I'm off the hook for future gifts then."
He drew away again, producing his stele. His hand was soft and warm against her chest. Just over her heart, he drew the second marriage rune. He gave her the stele and unbuttoned his shirt. He moved it aside, showing her his chest. She put a delicate hand on the skin. For weeks, she'd been memorizing the marriage runes. She didn't want to mess it up. With thick concentration, she etched the rune over his heart.
"Eliza Herondale." Jace whistled. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world."
The children ran in the garden, the small girl's hands feeling of all the flowers as she passed them by. The boy's blonde curls flopped as he ran. Their laughter filled the air. With a smile on her face, she put a hand over her swollen stomach.
"Liz, they're here!" Jace's voice called from inside the house.
She turned to the children, extended her hands. "Henry, Celine! Time to go inside!" They ran to her, each grabbing onto a hand. "Now, when we get inside, see who can hug Daddy the fastest." She led them through the sliding door that led into the dining room.
Jace was setting the table. Both the children raced to him, catapulting onto his legs. "Whoa!" He bent down, putting his arms around them. "What's with the sneak attack?"
"Momma said to race!" Henry told him.
Jace looked at her, eyebrows raised. "Will you get the door? I'm going to get them washed up."
As she passed by him, he kissed her cheek. Celine told them to stop being gross. She walked through the house to the front door, opening it.
Her family was standing on the other side, accompanied also by Isabelle Lightwood. "You're so big!" Her mother exclaimed.
Eliza smiled tersely. "You sound just like the kids. Celine still thinks I've swallowed a watermelon." She shot a playful look at Simon.
He shrugged half-heartedly. She stepped aside, letting them all in. She shut the door quietly. "Where are the little ones?" Her father asked.
She waved her hand towards the staircase. "Jace took them to get washed up before lunch. We've been in the garden."
As if on cue, she heard Henry's rambunctious laugh coming down the stairs. He was running down them carefully, his hand on the bannister. Celine ran behind him. Jace had changed them into clothes not smeared with dirt.
"Papa!" Henry basically launched himself into her father's arms. "Did you bring gifts?" He asked, Valentine picked him up in his arms.
She put her hand over her mouth. "Henry!" She heard Jace chastise him. He came down the stairs, the sun rays hitting him perfectly, washing him in golden light. "That's not very nice to greet Papa like that."
Luke lifted Celine and held her in his arms. "Don't worry, kiddo, we brought plenty of gifts." She had no doubt. Between Luke and her mother's recent vacation in Greece and Valentine's overzealous need to spoil his grandchildren, Henry and Celine wanted for absolutely nothing and they had more than everything.
"Clary," she looked at her sister, "would you help me with the food?"
Clary nodded, following her into the kitchen. Jace had left everything out for them. Clary picked up the bread loaf and the salad bowl. Eliza gingerly held the casserole dish. "How are you feeling?" Clary asked.
She smiled. "Great, actually. Much better than I have the past few weeks. I've been relaxing more, per Jace's neurotic requests." They took the dishes to the dining room and put them on the table. "I have something to ask of you, actually."
"What is it?" Clary asked her.
She turned to her, her hands around her stomach. "We've been talking about names a lot here recently. There's only a few weeks left and we haven't settled on a name. But we know what middle name we want if it's a girl." She smiled shyly at her little sister. "Clary, if it's a girl, we want her middle name to be Clarissa. Is that all right with you?"
Her sister practically hopped, throwing her arms around her neck. "Yes! I would love that!" Clary told her.
"So, I'm guessing you asked her?"
They pulled apart. Jace and everyone else were watching them with keen interest. "As a matter of fact, I did. Did you do what you were supposed to?"
He slung his arm over Jonathan's shoulders. "Of course."
Her twin brother looked delighted. "I would be honored for your son to carry my name, little sister."
Now they just had to settle on first names.
"Oh, before I forget, Alec and Magnus said to tell you that they wished they could be here." Isabelle told them. "They have the boys in Argentina for a week."
Eliza began to wave her hand to dismiss the apology, but a thought sprang to life in her brain. As everyone sat down, she grabbed Jace and pulled him into the foyer. "Something wrong?" He asked, eyes flitting to her stomach.
"No, actually, I just thought of a name. Well, names, I suppose."
He raised his eyebrows. "Tell me more."
She felt the baby kick and winced. Little warrior was getting stronger and stronger every day. "Jonathan Magnus, if it's a boy. I know we decided on Jonathan as a middle name, but Magnus would be chapped if he had to share a first name with our son."
"I like it. No other boy would have a warlock's name."
She grinned as the baby kicked again. "If it's a girl, Alexandra Clarissa."
He leaned forward, kissing her gently on the mouth. "I married a genius." He kissed her again, his hand on her stomach. "Just imagine if we have twins."
She smacked him on the bicep playfully. "Don't say that! We're already going to be outnumbered with three, we'll be in deep with four."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "I love you. And I love this life we've built."
She peered behind him. Their family was sitting around the table, laughing and talking. Clary and Jonathan were helping the kids with their food, making sure they didn't spill it. She put her arms around his waist, hugging him to her as best she could. "I couldn't have dreamt anything better."
She took a breath, her eyes trained on the target that was painted onto the tree. She released the throwing knife and it stuck right in the center of the target.
"Yay, Momma!" Celine's small hands clapped together vigorously. "My turn!" She darted from the picnic blanket, long curls of fair white-blonde hair flying behind her.
"Here." She handed her the knife carefully by the hilt. "You never hand a knife over by the blade. Unless you're trying to kill them, then it's acceptable." She winked.
"Liz, she's only nine." Jace chided from the blanket.
She helped her daughter close her hand around the hilt of the knife. She knelt down so that she was at eye level with Celine. "I'm going to tell you what Papa told me when I was your age." Celine looked up at her with bright blue eyes she had inherited from the grandfather she'd never known. The father Jace had never known. "The knife isn't a knife. It's an extension of you, Celine." She moved a little to the side so Celine had an unobstructed view of the target. She let her hands fall from her shoulders. "Just imagine that you're not throwing the knife, but you're hitting the target with your hand. Try."
She heard her daughter inhale sharply. She watched her aim, her eyes squinted in concentration, and she released the knife.
It didn't hit the center of the target, rather one of the outer rings of the target. Celine's shoulders slumped. "No one hits true the first time." She assured her.
An arrow whistled between their faces and landed in the center of the target. She turned her head. Henry had his bow, his stance poised and relaxed. "Henry!" Celine stomped her foot.
He lowered his bow, grinning. "Bulls-eye!"
Her mouth flattened to a firm line. She stood and walked to the target, taking out both the knife and arrow. She handed the knife back to Celine and gave Henry the arrow. "Keep practicing. You'll get better." She told Celine. "Henry, help your sister, will you? Maybe put the new bow to use with that instead of tormenting her."
He'd gotten the bow as a gift from Alec and Magnus for his twelfth birthday. She didn't think he'd put it down since unwrapping it.
She made her way back to the picnic blanket. Jace had a book in his hands and in his lap, each twin had a head resting on a leg, fast asleep. He put the book down and looked over at her.
"Dean Rosewain called from the Academy earlier." He told her.
She raised her eyebrows. "What did she want?"
She ran her fingers through Lexa's soft blonde hair. "Apparently, Henry got in a fight yesterday." He spoke quietly. "She told me he punched the Acosta boy. Broke his nose."
She sighed. "Are they going to expel him?" He said no. "Did she say what happened?"
Henry had discarded his bow on the ground. He had Celine's knife and was teaching her how to aim it properly.
"All she could get out of Henry was that it was about our family. Henry told Rosewain that he wasn't ever going to let anyone badmouth his family."
She frowned. She saw Jonathan stir and sit up, rubbing his eyes. "Daddy." He grumbled, climbing into Jace's lap. He tangled his arms around Jace's neck and curled into his neck, going back to sleep.
"Henry, sweetheart, come over here." She called.
Her son handed his sister the knife, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and jogged over to the blanket. "Mom, I swear I'm not making fun of her." He told her.
She leaned forward. "Dean Rosewain called your dad earlier. She said you got in a fight yesterday…?"
His face drew together in frustration. Jace said his name slowly. "I only punched Owen because he said Grandma was a bottom feeder for marrying a dirty werewolf. I'm sorry."
She and Jace looked at each other. Jace handed Jonathan to her and stood up. He clapped Henry on the back. "Next time, son, hit him in the mouth."
Her fingers worked deftly, piecing Celine's hair into intricate braided knots, not so different from how she had worn her hair when she was younger. "I used to wear my hair just like this." She told her, wrapping a hair tie around the ends of the pieces. "Except I braided it when I fought, not when I went to dances."
Celine looked at her through the mirror. "You went to dances?" She asked. "I figured you'd be too busy fighting and killing demons."
She laughed quietly, smoothing the stray hairs down. "I went to a party once, with your dad and your aunts and uncle. It was at your Uncle Magnus' house, it had only been a few weeks since I'd met him."
"Was it fun? I bet it was fun if it was Uncle M's party."
"Yeah, it was fun. Simon got turned into a rat that night and we had to break into a vampire nest." Celine's blue eyes widened. "That's when I got this." She pointed to the ragged scar on her neck.
Celine's nose crinkled. "Do you ever miss going out and fighting? You and Dad were the best Shadowhunters, everyone says so. And now you're both stuck here, taking care of us."
She leaned forward, hugging her shoulders. "Sometimes, yeah. But I wouldn't trade this for the world."
She stood up, pulling Celine to her feet. Her daughter looked beautiful, the pink dress long and flowing.
"Ready to go?" Jace knocked on the bedroom door.
Celine nodded excitedly. "Is Henry ready? I don't want to wait any longer." Jace said he was downstairs waiting. "Good. Just let me put on my shoes."
She walked out into the hall, grabbing Jace's hand. "How're you feeling, old man?"
He grimaced, shaking his head. "I still think she's too young to be going to a dance, Liz. She's only seventeen." He grumbled.
She raised her eyebrows at him. "Babe, it's a dance. I mean, think of the things we were doing at seventeen."
He blanched. He rushed into Celine's room. She had just finished putting on her shoes and he pulled her into a tight hug. "Ow, Dad, what is wrong with you?"
"Nothing, sweetheart. Just don't trust boys, okay? If they're anything like I was, run away. I mean, stab first and then run."
The sun was setting, the sky colored with pinks and oranges. Off in the distance of the sky, she could see the faint appearance of the moon. Dusk was her favorite part of the day, only second to dawn.
Jace's arms were wrapped around her, her head on his shoulder. "It's so quiet." She murmured.
"I know. We haven't had an empty house in over twenty years. We should have done this sooner."
She couldn't have agreed more. "How crazy do you think the twins are driving Isabelle and Simon right now?"
Jace chuckled at the thought. "Izzy has probably pulled all her hair out by now." He told her.
She nodded along. "Can I tell you something?" She asked quietly. He hummed in response. "I never thought we'd be here." She admitted. "I mean, we'd been through so much when we were younger and this," she gestured back to the house and then ran her hand over the Wedded Union rune on the back of her hand, "none of it seemed possible. And now, here we are."
His fingers traced patterns over her back. "Over twenty years of marriage and four kids. I'd say we did pretty great."
She smiled softly, returning her head to his shoulder. "Yeah, we did, didn't we?"
She heard voices. They were muted, far off. They were hard to understand and the words seemed to run together like an old radio station.
Every part of her throbbed with dull pain. Her head, her chest, even her feet. Her throat was burning and dry.
The voices grew closer. "She knew all this time?" Someone whispered quietly. "How could she have known and never said anything?"
"Jace said that Valentine threatened practically everyone she cared about. I mean, Maryse told me that he practically tortured her growing up, she was probably scared to death of what he'd do to someone she loved if she told anyone."
"Well, none of it matters now. Valentine is dead."
What?
She opened her eyes. Everything blurred together in a mass of colors.
"Mom. Mom, she's awake."
Someone popped into her immediate line of vision. All she could make out were thickly roped braids of dark red hair. "Eliza, can you hear me?"
Feebly, she nodded. Slowly, everything came into focus. She could clearly make out her mother's face, her usually sharp features softened with concern. Behind her mother, she saw Clary and Luke.
"Clary, go get Magnus." Jocelyn instructed her. Clary left after giving Eliza a soft smile. Jocelyn sat down on the edge of the bed. She smoothed Eliza's hair down, her eyes watery with tears. "Do you remember anything that happened?" Jocelyn handed her the cup of water on the bedside table.
She took a long drink, the burning feeling in her throat subsiding. "Some. I saw the Angel. Valentine summoned him after he-he- Jace. Where's Jace?" She leaned, grabbing her mother by the wrists. She had moved too quickly, pain tearing through her abdomen. Her heart was racing, threatening to tear through her chest.
The image of him lying next to her, his face blank with death, flashed in her mind.
Jocelyn half-stood, leaning her back into the bed, propping her on the pillows. "He's safe, sweetheart. Both of you are."
She relaxed, her heart slowing down. He was okay. How was he okay? She had watched him die. "I heard-I heard you say that he's dead? Valentine's dead?"
A tear fell from Jocelyn's eye, rolling down her cheek. "Yes. He's dead."
Relief washed over her. He was gone. She couldn't believe it. She smiled. Her father was dead. Her brother was dead.
She was free.
The door to the room opened and Magnus walked through, Clary behind him. "You look much better than when you were brought it. Granted, you were half-dead, but still." Magnus breezed past Luke. He went to the empty side of her bed. He put a hand on her forehead and stared into her eyes. "You've even got some color back in your cheeks. How do you feel?"
"Like death." He didn't smile. She looked around. No one was smiling. "What?" She asked them.
"Sweetheart, do you remember being stabbed?" Jocelyn asked her. "Do you remember your father stabbing you?"
How could she not? She'd been so close to killing him and like always, he had bested her. "Yeah. He-He said he was sorry and then he stabbed me. He stabbed Jace." Where was Jace? Her mother had said he was fine. He was alive. But how could he be alive?
A choked noise escaped her mother. "You almost died, Eliza. If help hadn't have come when it did, you would have died. Both of you."
What?
She shook her head. That wasn't possible. "I thought…I thought Jace…Are you sure he's okay? I saw it. I watched it happen. He died." Even herself, she had felt it. The slowing of her heart, running out of blood to pump, tired of trying. The darkness washing over her as the Angel appeared.
None of it made sense. She had watched Jace die, seen the light leave his eyes. He couldn't be alive. It had to be a lie. "Jace. Tell me the truth. He's dead, isn't he?" Jocelyn said nothing. "I saw him, I saw him die. Valentine shoved a sword through his heart. You can tell me the truth. I can take it."
"Jocelyn, she needs to know." Luke said softly.
So, it was true. Jace was dead. Her heart sank.
Jocelyn nodded. "You're right." When she looked back at Eliza, her face was drawn together in hard thought. "Jace is fine, Eliza. I promise. He's alive and well, just as you are."
She swallowed. If she had died, how was she alive? She hadn't consumed any vampire blood. Clary stepped forward, wringing her hands in front of her. "I'm just glad you're okay. We were all really worried about you." Clary leaned in to hug her. As she looked at her sister, there was a knowing look in Clary's eyes. "We'll talk about it later." Clary whispered in her ear.
When she pulled away, she realized she was crying. She rapidly wiped the tears away with the backs of her hands. "Can I see him?" She asked Jocelyn. "Jace, I mean."
Jocelyn looked at Magnus. "Do you want to take her?"
Magnus looped his arm around Eliza's shoulders. "Come on, little dove." He led her out of the room.
She realized that they were in the hospital within Alicante. They were greeted by a long hallway.
"The Council gave your mother and Luke a temporary house to stay in before they returned to New York. Jace is just a little down the hall. Journeying between the two rooms has been tedious work, though he's faring much better than you. You two had everyone worried."
Someone had changed her clothes. She no longer wore the torn and bloody clothes she had died in. She was wearing fresh clothes, a loose-fitting sweatshirt and sweatpants. It was comfortable, but she felt a little unlike herself. She couldn't remember the last time she'd worn sweatpants.
"Magnus, is Declan…is he okay?"
He gave her a knowing look. "He's fine, little dove. You may want to go see him."
She'd have to. She needed to break up with him.
Magnus knocked on the door and a few minutes later, Alec opened it. His face was bright and for once, he actually looked happy. "Hey, Liz!" He reached, engulfing her in a hug.
"Hi, Alec." He drew back and to her surprise, kissed Magnus on the mouth. "Well, how much did I miss?" She asked them.
Alec's cheeks turned pink. "He keeps trying to sneak out to see you, but Mom and Dad have him on strict lockdown. They're pissed he snuck off and only left a note. Plus, they're telling him you need time to heal and rest and be with your family. He isn't too happy about it."
She didn't think he would be.
"Go on in. We'll be out here." Alec nudged her toward the door.
She pulled the sleeves of the sweatshirt down over her hands. She lifted her hand, ready to knock, and hesitated. Instead, she pushed the door open.
Jace was standing by the window. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only light washed jeans. He turned around. A smile graced his face. "Hey, you."
She stepped into the room, shutting the door softly behind her. "Hi." She whispered.
He had a dark scar on his chest and in her mind, she saw Valentine shoving Maellartach into his heart. When he reached her, he leaned down and kissed her.
"I- Jace, wait." She said, pushing him away carefully.
His brow furrowed as he stared back at her. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
She shook her head. "No, no, you're fine. I just-I need to break up with Declan."
The look on his face suggested that he hadn't given her boyfriend a thought at all. She was also guilty of that.
"Right. Declan. I forgot about him." He stepped back.
She reached, running her fingers over the puckered scar. He closed his eyes. "How do you feel?" She whispered.
"I'm alive." He replied, opening his eyes. She cracked half a smile. "You okay?"
She nodded. "I'm here. Definitely feel like I died, though." He sighed, looking away from her. "Look, I just came to make sure you were okay. I had to see for myself that you were alive."
When he looked back at her, there were tears in his eyes. She'd never seen him cry before. "I was glad when I died, Liz. I saw your face when it happened, but I was so happy that I didn't have to watch you die."
Her face fell. "Jace."
"I mean it, Lizzie. I watched Jonathan do his best to kill you and I watched Valentine plunge the Angel's Sword into your chest. I was terrified. And then, I woke up and Clary was there and she was crying over your body and she was screaming at you. She didn't know why you weren't waking up when I did. I never want to feel that way again. I don't ever want to lose you."
She grabbed his hands. "Jace, I swear that you're never going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere."
Jace had disappeared. She had watched him walk away from the mourner's procession, and from the look on his face, judged it best to let him be. Luke had called for him, but Jace ignored him.
She held her hands in front of her body, watching the smoke rise into the air. On the bier, her father's body burned. Cremating him was the Clave's way of making sure he couldn't come back.
It was her first time out of the hospital in days. They'd been keeping her on close observation. It wasn't every day that someone, even Shadowhunters, survived being stabbed in the chest. The Clave had even allowed Magnus to keep an eye on her. He had told her that physically, she was perfectly fine. However, her soul and her mind were extensively weakened. He said that only time and peace of mind would make it better.
Knowing that Valentine and Jonathan were dead was certainly helping.
She trained her eyes on her mother. Jocelyn had turned away from the pyre, Luke standing next to her.
Eliza licked her lip, adjusting her white gear. For death and mourning, the color is white. She didn't feel as if she was mourning. No, she had never felt better. The moment Patrick Penhallow had started the fire, she was really free.
She chided herself for thinking such things. The group of Shadowhunters that had been sent to find Jonathan's body had never found anything. They had determined that he'd been washed away by the river. Jace hadn't believed it and she knew that she shouldn't, but it felt good in believing that he was gone.
For the first time in her life, she felt safe.
Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling of grief. She had hated her father and brother, done everything in her power to stop them. Hell, she had even tried to kill them herself. But they had been her only family for almost fifteen years. Even though they had tortured her and tried to kill her, they were her family.
The pain of Jonathan was the worst. She literally felt as if a piece of her was gone, someone had ripped her in half. They had never been close, not by a long shot. But he had been her twin, the other half of her soul. They had come into the world together and some part of her had believed that they would leave the world together as well.
"Eliza, do you want to go get Jace?" Luke's voice rang out.
She looked at him. He was gesturing to the hill above the cemetery. She made out Jace's figure sitting, elbows on his knees, staring down at them.
She shook her head. "No, you should go." She decided. "I don't think I can be any help to him right now."
He gave her a sympathetic look and headed toward Jace.
"How're you doing?" Her mother asked her, touching her hair affectionately.
She glanced at the remnants of the funeral pyre. Her mouth felt dry. "He's gone." She said. "I don't know how I am, truthfully."
Jocelyn nodded. "I worried about you, when you were young." She told her. "I could see in Jonathan what your father had done. But you were different. I could feel that when I looked at you. Jonathan never cried, but you did. It killed me to leave you behind and I always told myself I would go back for you. And, God, I hate to admit it, but there was a voice in my head that kept telling me that Valentine made you into a monster."
Eliza sucked on her teeth. She hadn't ever wanted to have this conversation with her mother. She had decided that if everything that had happened in the past just went under the rug, everything would be fine.
"He tried." Eliza said quietly.
Jocelyn pulled her into a hug, kissing her temple gently. "My girl, my sweet Eliza Seraphine."
She stood in front of the mirror, staring back at herself. Her hair was still half-wet from the shower, hanging limply from her head. She could see the red, circled scar on her neck where Raphael had bitten her. Her body was covered in the silver of faded runes and the dark black of permanent ones.
On the lower left side of her abdomen was a thin pink line. She ran a finger over it lightly. She looked back in the mirror, her eyes instantly landing on the thick red line that sliced down her chest.
Maellartach had left its mark on her.
There was a knock on the door. She grabbed the robe from the bed and pulled it over her body. "Come in."
Isabelle came into the room, a garment bag in her hands. "Little gift from Magnus. He asked me to drop it by for you." She put the garment bag on the bed, sitting down. "You look a lot better than you did in the hospital. I mean, a lot better."
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Iz." She paused. "But really, you saved us in the valley. Thank you."
Izzy laid back on the bed. "I do what I can." She sighed dramatically. She sat back up. "Well, I've got to go get ready. See you at the celebration."
Eliza mumbled a goodbye and watched Isabelle strut from her room.
She opened the garment bag and inhaled. Magnus had truly outdone himself. She smiled, running a hand down the soft fabric.
Thank you, Magnus. It's beautiful.
In her mind, she heard him laugh. Consider it a thank-you-for-being-alive gift. There are shoes in the bottom of the bag. Got you a seven-and-a-half since I know you like to size up in heels.
She laughed to herself. Of course, that was something he would remember.
It was perfect. Magnus knew how to dress her better than she did herself. The dress fit perfectly, hugging her body at every flattering curve. In fact, she didn't see a place where it didn't look absolutely stunning. She wondered if Magnus had put an enchantment of sorts on it. The dress had long sleeves, but most of the arms were cut out at the top, leaving a little material hanging. It seemed like something a princess in a medieval movie would have worn. Just more…her. Magnus had amplified the personality of the dress, giving it a high slit on the left side.
She bent down, slipping her feet into the silver heels. When she looked back in the mirror, she adjusted her hair. It had dried straight, and she had left it that way.
Her eye makeup was just dark enough that Isabelle would approve, but not so much that Magnus would love it. She had applied a dark red lipstick that perfectly matched the color of the dress.
Just in case, just because she liked to be safe, she had hidden a slim throwing knife in each of her bracelets.
She was meeting everyone at the celebration. For the first time in days, she was alone. She opened the door, stumbling back a step.
Declan reached, steadying her. She stood up straight, a sour taste filling her mouth. "You look lovely." He smiled.
She swallowed. "So, do you." And he did, in a finely made black suit, his hair slicked back.
"Magnus told me where you were staying. I thought we might walk together."
She nodded, stepping out the door. The sun had gone down, but all of the streetlights were on. People walked in the streets, laughing and talking. No one was wearing gear, all dressed for a celebration. Men in fine suits, women in beautiful dresses.
"Declan, we need to talk." She said thickly.
"Yes, we do." He agreed. "What in the devil were you thinking, Eliza, going off after your father like that? You could have gotten yourself killed." He paused. "Hell, you did almost die."
She looked over at him. Her heart wrenched. "I know. But he's dead now. They're both dead now."
"Right. So, Jace isn't really your brother?"
She said no. She repeated what she had for everyone else the past few days. Valentine had threatened to hurt everyone she cared about if she didn't lie about Jace being her brother. She had wanted to tell the truth so many times, especially seeing Jonathan posing as Sebastian Verlac, but he had been extensive in his threats to her.
"I always wondered. He doesn't look anything like you or Clarissa."
She said he wasn't the only one who'd had doubts. "Actually, Declan, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. About Jace. Do you remember when I told you that I lied to Jace to protect him?" Slowly, he said yes. "Before my father came to New York for the Cup, he sent me, a few months before. Jace and I were close. Really close."
Declan stopped walking. "How do you mean?"
She stopped, standing in front of him. "We were…well, you know. Dating, I guess. But then, Valentine came back, and I had Magnus put a block on my memory. And when Valentine got the Cup, he forced me to lie to everyone about who Jace was."
She stared back at him, trying to figure out his thoughts by his expression. "That must have been incredibly difficult for Jace." He said. "Believing his girlfriend was his sister."
"Declan, I-I love him." She'd never said the words aloud to anyone before. She held her breath, waiting for him to respond.
Declan smoothed his suit jacket out. "I see." He said softly. "And he feels the same?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "Of course, he does. How could he not?" She wanted to look away but couldn't. She knew she was doing the right thing, but it broke her heart to do it. Declan was perfect. He was kind-hearted and warm, hell, he courted her. But he wasn't Jace. He may have been perfect, but he wasn't perfect for her. "I suppose there's nothing I can do to sway your decision?"
She smiled at him sadly. "No, I don't think so. It's always been him. But I need you to know. You weren't a sort of rebound or anything. I dated you because I liked you. With you, things were fun, and they were easy." Easy because no one thought he was her brother.
The smile he gave her broke her heart. "This is for the best, my dear Eliza. You love him and we both know there was no real future between us." He put his hand on her shoulder gently, his caramel eyes radiating only kindness. "I appreciate your honesty, Eliza. Please know that I will always care for you."
She nodded. "You too. Thank you, for everything."
He let his arm fall and with only the ability that a vampire could have, he disappeared into the night. She felt lighter, having done what she did.
She no longer felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She had no secrets anymore.
Up ahead, she could see Angel Square. For a moment, she forgot she was actually in Alicante, the square seemed so unlike itself.
There were large trees planted in the middle of the square that had most definitely not been there before. They weren't normal sized trees, they were nearly the size of the demon towers, with trunks of silver. She wondered how they had gotten there. By magic or manual labor?
Ribbons had been twirled around the trunks of the trees and lights hung in the foliage. Tables and benches skirted the edges of the square. People, Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike, were gathered around them, laughing and talking excitedly.
All of the storefronts were brightly lit, doors opened and welcoming partygoers. There was an assortment of food and drinks to choose from.
She spotted Magnus standing next to a tree, talking to a woman she didn't recognize. He looked up, staring off at someone. Her gaze slid over, and she saw her friends. Alec, Izzy, Clary, Simon, Maia, and Aline. Magnus excused himself from the woman and made his way to Alec. His black frock coat blew out behind him and she could see a hint of his violet vest.
As if he sensed her presence, he looked over at her. She waved slightly.
You look perfect. Your Shadowhunter in shining armor is by the Hall steps.
It was just mysterious enough for Magnus to have said it, but obvious enough that she knew exactly who he was talking about.
As he leaned close to Alec, she mouthed a 'thank you' and began walking away. She followed the trees, making her way to the Hall of Accords. The steps seemed vacant, save for one tall silhouette sitting by a pillar.
As she grew closer, going up the stairs, she saw he wore a simple plain white shirt, jeans, and a dark jacket. Either he was underdressed, or she was overdressed. She noticed that he didn't have any visible weapons on him and a pang of regret surged through her as she thought about the two knives hidden in her bracelets.
Better safe than sorry, she told herself.
Jace looked up from the ground, his eyes finding her. His hair looked unkept and his eyes seemed worn with exhaustion. In his lap, she saw a small silver box. "Want some company?" She asked.
He shrugged. "If you want."
With a frown, she adjusted her dress and sat down next to him. "What is that?" She nodded to the box in his lap. There was a pattern of birds plated to the top of the box.
"I stopped by Amatis' house earlier. I wanted to thank Clary, but she wasn't there. Amatis and I talked for a little while and she gave me this. It was my father's."
She looked once again at the birds on the box and then recognized them as herons. Herondale. "Stephen?" Jace said yes. It took her a moment to put it together, why Amatis would have a box belonging to Stephen and then she remembered that Stephen and Amatis had been married once. "What's in it?"
He shrugged again and she wondered if he really was as okay as he'd been letting everyone on to believe. "Some journal pages, a couple letters, basic stuff. I read through it and I guess I thought maybe I would find a connection to him, maybe I'd feel connected. But I don't. I don't feel anything."
She reached, putting her hand over his. "Jace, you don't have to try and force a connection. You never knew him."
"I don't even have a name anymore, Liz. Jonathan Christopher wasn't my name, it never was, but at the same time, it's the only name I've ever had." She asked how he came up with the name Jace. "I didn't." He replied. "Valentine always referred to me as Jonathan and so did everyone else. I didn't even know I had a middle name until I found that journal when I was young, but I guess he wasn't even talking about me. He was talking about the real Jonathan." She bit down on her lip. "I told Maryse when I was younger that my middle name was Christopher and she didn't believe me at first, but I swore that it was. She finally just relented and said that she had forgotten Michael Wayland had named his son Jonathan Christopher. But after that, she started calling me Jace."
Her thumb rubbed circles on the palm of his hand. "Do you think she knew back then, and didn't want to admit to it?" She asked in a soft voice.
"Probably. She probably just didn't want to admit it and gave me a new name that tied me to the Lightwoods and to my new life."
"Because she loved you. She still does. One thing I know for certain is that the Lightwoods have always been your family. You may not have known your biological parents and the father you've always known turned out to be the worst Shadowhunter ever, but your real parents are Robert and Maryse and they've always loved you." He looked at her. The shadows under his eyes were worse than she had originally thought and his face seemed gaunt. "You have a name. You've had one since you were ten." She told him, trying to fix his hair. "Your name is Jace. You can be a Lightwood, or you can be a Herondale, it doesn't matter. But don't choose Herondale because you think it's the right thing to do. Don't just choose it because you suddenly know that Stephen and Celine Herondale were your biological parents."
He leaned over, resting his head on her shoulder. Her hand ran through his hair, picking at the curls. "You think I should go by Lightwood." He observed.
"Like I said, they've always been your family."
He moved away, looking at her. His brow was furrowed in thought. "What about you? Your family? Your name?" She asked what he meant. "Are you going to keep going by Morgenstern or are you going to change it?" She asked what she would change it to. "Fairchild, it's your mother's name."
She leaned back against the pillar. "I hadn't given it any thought, to be honest." She murmured. Changing it to Fairchild seemed to be the best thing to do, it would certainly make everything much easier on her. But…she was the last Morgenstern. If she changed her name, that would mean she was giving up. She wanted to do right by the name, make it into something good.
Sure, every time someone heard the name Morgenstern, they would always think of her father and what he had done. But she wanted them to hear the name, think of that, and then associate it with all the good she planned to do.
"It's the only name I've ever had." She whispered. "I don't want to give it up, I don't think. Is that bad of me?"
He shook his head. "No, it isn't."
"It'll make my life difficult, but honestly, could it be worse than anything I've already experienced?" There was a lilting, comedic tone to her words. Surely nothing ahead of her would be worse than the things she had behind her.
"For both our sakes, I hope not." Jace admitted.
She raised her eyebrows. "Both of us, huh?"
"Liz, I hate to admit it but I'm not going anywhere. I'll be there with you, every step of the way. Forever."
She pressed her lips together to suppress the smile. "Always." She amended.
He began to lean forward and then stopped himself. She frowned at him. "Declan. Have you broken up with him? I know you said that-."
"Yes. I'm single once again." She sighed.
Jace laughed to himself, kissing her lightly on the mouth. When he pulled away, she swiped the lipstick off his lips. "Not anymore." He told her.
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"
"Are you saying yes?"
She drummed her lips on her thigh, her face drawn together in fake thought. "Hmm. I'll have to think about it. I did just get out of a courtship with a man who once courted a Spanish princess." He cleared his throat. There was no annoyance on his face, only slight amusement and a little worry. "Yes, you idiot." She told him. "After everything we've been through, how could I say no?"
He kissed her again.
It was a little while later when they finally decided to rejoin the celebration. Jace's fingers were laced through hers as they weaved their way through the crowd of people. They found the others occupying a table near one of the square's corners.
"Well, looks like the two lovebirds finally decided to come out of their little nest." Isabelle winked, waving them over. In her other hand, she held a flute glass filled with a fuchsia liquid. "Want some?" She offered Eliza.
"Oh, no." She shook her head vigorously. "No odd colored drinks for me."
Izzy offered it to Jace. "Here. Have some."
"No way. Men don't drink frilly stuff like that. Bring me something else, something brown." Izzy's face twisted in disgust. "You know, because men like brown drinks." Jace told her. "Whisky, bourbon." He prattled. "Brown is a very masculine color. See, look at Alec." He gestured over.
Alec's sweater was a faded, rough, brown color. Alec regarded his sweater with sadness. "It used to be black." He sighed.
Eliza fought a laugh. Poor Alec. "You know, a nice sequined headband would really make it look better." Magnus suggested. Simon told Alec to be careful or he'd end up looking like some woman named Olivia Newton-John, who had apparently starred in a movie. "That isn't so bad." Magnus countered.
Maia was sitting next to Simon, her head ducked in conversation with Aline. "Simon, come here." Jace beckoned him.
Sensing a conversation she didn't particularly want to be a part of, she released herself from Jace's hand. Giving him a soft smile, she walked away and headed to Clary's side. She sat down on the bench.
"You look happier than I've ever seen you." Clary observed, a knowing glint in her green eyes.
"Probably because this is the happiest I've ever been." She paused. "Clary, can you tell me what happened? What really happened, I mean."
Clary's eyes softened. "Valentine stabbed you and then he stabbed Jace. The two of you were dead. I drew a rune over part of Valentine's summoning circle. After the Angel killed him, he said I could ask for any one thing. A favor, an answer to a question. Anything. All I could think about was that, for my entire life I had lived a lie. I thought that the only family I had was my mom, Simon, and Luke. Then I met you guys and I found out I had a sister. A badass, demon-slayer sister who is one of the most loyal and caring people I've ever met. And she actually likes me. But then, I see Jace, lying right next to you. I realized that I couldn't bring you back, not without him. I told the Angel that I couldn't choose between the two of you. I wouldn't choose. And he brought you both back."
She sucked on her bottom lip. So, she had been right. She had died. She had watched Jace die and then died herself. And Clary had used her one gift from the Angel to bring her back. To bring them both back. She had given her Jace.
"I won't ever be able to repay you for what you've done, Clary. Not just saving me, but for saving Jace."
Clary looked away. Her eyes had landed on Jace. He was looking back at them, a perplexed look on his face. Clary turned back to Eliza. "It's what sisters do. I think." She smiled uneasily.
Eliza wrapped an arm around her, hugging Clary to her side. "Yeah, I think so too."
Clary's head lifted, her eyes moving to the line of trees. Eliza followed her gaze. There was a woman standing there, watching them. She wore a deep green dress, her scarlet hair cascading down her back.
The Seelie Queen.
She beckoned Clary. Clary looked at Eliza. "Go. I'll be right here." She assured her. She watched her sister get up and walk over to the edge of the trees to meet the Seelie Queen. She scooted to the edge of the bench and tucked her hair behind her ear, listening in.
"Stop there. Come no closer." She heard the Queen say.
"Why have you called me, my lady?" Clary addressed the Queen with the proper formality but had not excluded her sass.
"In exchange for a favor from myself, I would ask you for one."
A favor? That didn't sound good. Clary asked what she meant by a favor. She sat on the edge of the bench, ready to be up and at Clary's side if need be.
"I am aware that the Council has not yet selected a representative for the Fair Folk. I am also away that Lucian Greymark is remarkably close to you. Perhaps you could ask him to consider Meliorn for the seat on the Council."
As in, Isabelle's ex-faerie boyfriend? Clary remarked that she didn't think Luke was very fond of Meliorn. "Not to mention, you knew that Jace wasn't our brother when we were in the Seelie Court and you never said anything about it." Clary brought up.
Her ear twitched and she wished she could get closer. "Perhaps. Though, all those children who share the blood of the Angel are siblings in theory."
Clary said that she didn't think that was how it worked. "I don't think I'll talk to Luke for you." Clary said. "What you did in the Seelie Court was really rude and wrong and I just don't think I want to help you after that."
"Are you refusing a favor from the Seelie Queen?"
"Sounds like it."
A few seconds later, Clary returned to her side. "That was pretty badass of you." Eliza whispered in her ear. "Not everyone has the power to refuse the Seelie Queen."
Clary's cheeks tinged pink.
She looked up, seeing Robert and Maryse. Each of them took a turn shaking Magnus' hand. One of Maryse's arms was roped around Alec's shoulders, hugging him to her. "Be right back." Eliza told Clary.
She moved to Magnus, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned and she immediately hugged him. "Oh, little dove. What a surprise."
"Bout time, don't you think?" She murmured.
"More than."
She grinned, releasing him. "I'm happy for you." She said soberly. "Truly."
His cat-eyes flitted and she looked over. Jace was perched on the wall, watching them. There was an amused look in his eyes, the corner of his mouth turned up. She and Magnus looked back at each other. "And I you, my little dove."
"Fireworks!" She heard Isabelle exclaim.
Magnus gave Eliza a look that she knew meant go on. She walked over to Jace, sitting down beside him. Casually, as if he had been doing it his whole life, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder, looking up at the sky.
It was blank.
"Iz, I thought you said there were fireworks?" Clary asked.
"Soon." Isabelle assured them all.
"I've never seen fireworks before." Eliza mentioned. Everyone leaned, looking at her questioningly. "I really don't know what part of locked-in-a-cottage-for-fifteen-years none of you understood." She said.
No one said anything and they all turned back away.
She felt at peace, among her friends and family. She could hear the indistinct chatter of quiet conversations, but the loudest thing was the sound of Jace's heartbeat.
"Look." Jace whispered.
She raised her head, looking up at the sky. She heard the high whistle of something rising in the sky. Only a second later did it explode into the dark sky. Sparks showered throughout the skyline, bright gold.
She thought of Raziel rising from the lake, shrouded in gold mist. The sky almost seemed exactly like that and she half-expected the Angel to appear before them all.
"Beautiful." She murmured.
"Yeah, you are." Jace whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.
She knew then that everything would be perfectly fine.