She dabbed the cloth against Jace's mouth, wiping away the blood. "That was incredibly stupid of you." She whispered.
"He was going to shoot him."
She shook her head slowly. "I don't think so. Besides, I was in the position to move him to safety. Luke could have shot you on accident."
She plucked her stele from the bathroom counter, using it to draw over his old iratze.
"Move him to safety? Liz, Luke would have ended up shooting you."
They shared a quiet look. Jonathan was the most important. He couldn't be hurt. The cut on Jace's lip healed fast and within seconds, she couldn't tell there had ever been a split lip in the first place.
"I don't pose a threat to anyone the way the two of you do. If Jonathan would have been shot, you would have suffered the same fate. And I'm not going to let anything happen to you." She leaned in to kiss him, her lips barely brushing against his as the bathroom door opened.
"Seriously?"
Jonathan leaned against the door frame. Eliza glared back at him. His lip, just as Jace's, had healed. "You could learn to knock and save us all the pain." Jace suggested.
Jonathan huffed in response, his eyes falling on Eliza. "Get changed. I need you to procure something for me." She asked what it was. "Vampire blood. There is a bleeder den not far from here. Pick one and bring the thing back."
Jace rose from his spot on the side of the bathtub. "I can go. I don't like sending her out for this stuff all the time." Jonathan said his attachment and protective nature was endearing, but he would not work. "Why not?" He asked. "You send her all the time to bring back these shady guys. I don't like it."
"You and I both know Eliza is more than capable of protecting herself. And as for this particular hunt, Jace, your face is pretty, but it won't work. This is a job for a-."
"A seductress." Eliza finished for him. "It's not a typical bleeder den, is it?"
Jonathan said no, it wasn't. "I believe there is a certain form of…entertainment the Night Children partake in while feeding on the souls of desolate and deprived women."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jace asked them. "Where are you sending her?"
Eliza smiled at him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "A gentlemen's club. It's a gentlemen's club for vampires."
Jace stiffened and then said there was absolutely no way in hell she was going.
"I'll need a password to get in." She told Jonathan, disregarding Jace. "They won't let any old girl in from the streets.
"Sure they will." Jonathan assured her. "You'll make them."
London was not a warm city. Especially at night. And especially when one was not covered in the typical clothing.
Jonathan had presented her with an elegant black gown that looked more like lingerie than evening wear. The thin wrap didn't help much either.
The thin spikes of the heels clicked on the pavement as she grew closer to her destination. The club was just up ahead. As predicted, there were two guards stationed by the door of the refined looking townhome.
Before leaving, she had glamoured herself so that her runes wouldn't show. They'd never let a Nephilim in.
"Hello gentlemen." She graced them with her best smile. "Care to let a girl in from the cold?"
They looked at her and then at each other. "Password?" The larger of the two asked.
"Pretty please?" She simpered.
"No password, no entry."
She fought off a frown.
"Fellows, this is no way to treat a lady." A voice came from behind her. She turned.
For a vampire, the man was exceptionally good looking. Fine black hair that was slicked back and curled just under his ears. Piercing blue eyes. Regal bone structure.
"Sir." Both the guards nodded.
The man extended the crook of his elbow to her. "She is my guest and will be treated with the same respect as all my other guests."
She slipped her arm through his and joined at his side. She nodded to the guards as they walked up the steps and into the house. "So, this is your party?" She asked.
He looked at her with a peculiar interest. "Do you often attend parties without knowing the host?" She said it came about on occasion, she couldn't know everyone. "I suppose not. You mortals have unfortunately short lives. Tell me your name. I must know it, you are my guest of honor."
"Seraphina." She replied easily.
"A gorgeous name for a gorgeous girl." He supplemented. "I am Edward Delancey. Let's get you a drink." She didn't think it would be very difficult to lure him back to the apartment. He was interested, which wouldn't end well for him.
The townhouse was bigger on the inside than she would have imagined. It opened up into a grand space filled with people. Men wore fine-tailored suits and drank thick liquid from wine champagne glasses. Women were everywhere, floating in brightly colored gowns. Covered in bite marks.
Deeper into the recesses of the room, she could see the feedings. All the men were vampires, and some had snuck off for a snack.
"It is most unusual for you to be unaccompanied, sweet Seraphina." Edward handed her a glass of champagne. He had his own flute, filled near to the brim with scarlet liquid. "I provide a modest number of girls for my guests, but many often bring their own. And yet, you are not one of mine and you came alone."
She took a sip of the champagne. "Are you complaining?" She asked demurely. "I can leave, if you'd like. I'm sure someone around London is willing to show an honest American girl a good time."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Why do I get the feeling there is nothing honest about you?"
She finished her champagne. "No idea."
He took the champagne flute, setting it on a nearby table. "Come. I believe we've made enough small talk." Before she could react, he had hold of her arm and was dragging her up the rounded staircase to the second level. As they passed by the balcony, she swore she saw-.
The back of her head slammed against the wall and his mouth was on hers. She shoved him back. Dark lipstick was smeared across his mouth.
"What are you doing?" She snarled.
She had never seen someone look so offended. "Seraphina, tell me, what do you believe happens at these parties?"
"The girls, they're bleeders. You feed on them, keep them around."
He laughed, the sound short and detached. "How oblivious you are, little one. They are blood whores. Available for…an array of services, if you will."
Her breath caught. Surely Jonathan hadn't known…No, he wouldn't have sent her if he had.
"I was clearly mistaken on the nature of this soiree." She slid against the wall. She hadn't brought any weapons, a foolish mistake. Then again, she hadn't thought she would need any. "I don't offer those services."
He was on her again, his hands pressing down on her shoulders. "You were invited in, sweet Seraphina. My guest of honor." She could feel his breath on her neck, the tip of his nose against her jaw. "You won't be going anywhere until I've made you mine."
"Delancey, step away from the girl."
She knew that voice. She would recognize it anywhere.
Edward didn't move, his hold on her still tight. "Hell has frozen over indeed." He breathed.
It was Declan Kensley, head of the London vampire clan. Her ex-boyfriend. He was dressed casually in tan dress pants, a dark blue sweater, and a chestnut colored overcoat.
"The girl. Let her go." Declan motioned towards her.
She was screwed. So screwed.
Edward grinned back at him. "Come, brother. We could share her, just as we shared Adelaide. I'm sure she will taste just as sweet."
Adelaide? What the-.
It clicked.
Edward. Adelaide. Declan had told her the story of his transformation. His brother-in-law, Edward, had turned him and made him feed on his sister, Adelaide.
"I know just how she tastes, thank you. She is mine." He said the word as if it meant more than it did. His fangs were bared, something she had never seen before. He had never bared them as a threat, they had only occasionally made an accidental appearance.
"Is that so?" Edward asked.
Declan said yes. "Check her neck there. I've made it known."
Edward pushed aside the curls of her hair. His finger traced over the jagged scar on her neck. "So, you do like it rough then, brother?" Edward chuckled. "I always knew you had a dark side."
"I am not your brother." Declan reminded him. "Our acquaintance ended the night you killed me. Now, hand her here and we'll be going."
Like a rag doll, he shoved Eliza towards Declan. "She's yours. She smells a little too like demon for my taste." He shoved past both of them, returning to the party down below.
"Eliza-."
"I have to go."
She took off, carefully running down the stairs. She darted out the door and down the stone steps, past the guards. She heard one of them say something about being too young.
Declan was in front of her. "I'm so sorry." He said tightly. His arm wound back, and his hand smacked against her.
The last thing she saw was the ground coming up towards her.
Her vision blurred into focus. Two shapes became more distinct. Men. Both men.
"Jonathan?" She rasped.
"Shh, little dove, you're safe."
Little dove.
Her head snapped up.
"Magnus."
He was standing next to Declan. Neither of them looked very happy to see her.
She looked around, eyes scouring the room. Two full-sized beds that didn't look like they had been used. It was a small room.
Hotel, they were in a hotel room.
"You need to let me go." She told them. "Let me go." She jerked her arms. The ropes they had used to bind her were a little too tight. "Please let me go."
"You're safe here." Magnus repeated. "Jonathan can't hurt you here."
Hurt her? Did everyone think she was being held against her will.
"He'd never….He wouldn't hurt me." Magnus and Declan shared a look. "He's going to look for me. He'll find me."
"I've put up wards. You're safe from him while you're here." Magnus said. "I need to ask you a few questions, little dove." She shook her head, saying she wouldn't answer anything. Not until they untied her. "If we untie you, you must promise you won't run or attack us. We want to help you."
"Best leave me tied then." She settled into the chair. Magnus sighed dramatically. "How did you find me? I haven't let you in my head in weeks."
Magnus crossed his arms over his chest. "We've been looking for you for weeks, Eliza. Alec told me that Clary spotted you at the Institute. And then, your mother and sister show up at my apartment saying that you, your brother, and Jace attacked them and your brother nearly killed Luke."
"Is he all right?" She asked softly. "Luke."
"Perhaps. The dagger was pure silver. A potentially fatal object to a werewolf." He looked her in the eye. "He could have died."
She bit down. "Jonathan was protecting Jace. Luke hit him." She said indignantly. "That still doesn't explain how you found me."
He pulled back from her, rejoining Declan across from her.
Declan spoke, "I've been back in London for some time. There was unrest among my clan in my absence. Edward Delancey has been trying to create a new clan, persuading vampires over to his side with the promise of unlimited blood. I got word of his party and decided to end him. That is when I saw you. He was treating you like some common blood whore."
She rolled her eyes. "Ever the savior, aren't you?" She hissed. "Let me guess. You got your rocks off saving me from your dick of a brother-in-law and then decided to call Magnus. Right?"
He said it was something like that. Magnus had informed him to keep an eye out and Declan promised to let him know if he heard or saw anything. Immediately upon seeing her, he had called Magnus and told him to report to London. "You didn't seem willing to come on your own. I am sorry I had to hit you."
"That's enough small talk." Magnus decided. "What are you doing with Jonathan? Are you protecting Jace? Is he holding the two of you hostage?" She didn't appreciate the implication of his words. "If Jonathan is forcing the two of you to do his bidding, the Clave will be understanding. They will be lenient."
"I am not under duress." The notion of Jonathan forcing her to do anything was preposterous. "Is the idea of me actually wanting to be with my brother so ridiculous that you will only believe it's because I'm being forced to?" Quietly, Magnus said yes. "Okay. Let me get this straight. You watched me pine after Jace for weeks while under the assumption that he was my brother, and you remained silent. But now that I want to be around my true brother, I must be under some kind of mind-control or something. Interesting logic."
"Jonathan Morgenstern is a sadistic murderer!" Magnus' voice rose. She couldn't recall ever hearing him yell before. "He murdered Max Lightwood and Sebastian Verlac. He attacked Isabelle. He tortured you for years. He's tried to kill you on several occasions. He-."
"He's my brother!" She shouted at him.
They both stepped back against the wall. She yanked on the restraints. One forceful pull and the ropes snapped. She jumped from the chair.
"Jonathan is my brother." She snarled. "I am not under his duress. I am not being forced. My mind is not being controlled. I am not playing pretend and secretly spying on him. I am not protecting Jace because he doesn't need my protection. Jonathan wouldn't harm either of us." She told them. Her voice was calmer than she felt, her heart beating erratically in her chest. "With Jonathan is where I am supposed to be. We were never meant to be apart. Life, death, every step of the way. Lilith said so."
Magnus' cat eyes widened. "Lilith said that?" She said yes. "I see."
"What do you-?"
Her question fell short as Magnus' arms extended out, his palms turned towards her. A dark blue mist spread from his hands, enshrouding her.
"What are you doing?" Declan asked him.
"Magnus, stop." She demanded.
The yellow of his eyes was brightened by his use of magic. "Lilith bound Jace to Jonathan and I have no doubts that she did the same with Eliza." His magic stripped off her glamour. Her runes appeared, dark black ink swirled over the pale of her skin. "See there, on her chest? A demonic version of the Commitment rune. And on her hand." The Marks were a bright white, glowing off her skin.
Declan hummed drearily. "I've encountered enough Shadowhunters in my time to know the runes of marriage when I see them." He told Magnus. "Lilith married Eliza and her brother?"
Magnus shook his head. "Not in the literal sense. The runes are Lilith's fun little way of making sure Eliza will remain loyal to Jonathan."
Declan's faced twisted. "And the parabatai rune on her neck? It's new. Is that also a gift from her mother or brother?"
Woefully, Magnus said it was not. "None of these can be forced on a person. They have to choose it." He looked back at her. "Eliza, tell me the price you're paying for staying with Jonathan."
A wave of warmth ran through her. She could feel the magic pulling something from her. "I'm not." She gasped. "I want to. I want to stay with him. I know it's wrong, I know he's a bad person. I just…I can't leave. I don't know how."
Magnus' face softened. "Oh, little dove. He has clawed himself so deep into your heart and soul." He walked around her, bright eyes scanning over her. "I see the darkness in you. You're drowning in, in his influence. I can help you. The Silent Brothers can strip the runes and free you from Jonathan's influence."
"I can't." She wanted to. For the first time in weeks, she wanted to stray from Jonathan, to go home. "I can't leave."
"If this is about Jace," Declan said, "we can come back for him. We can rescue him too." He assured. "Come with us, Eliza. You need help."
She felt her heart speed up, her stomach tighten. Her nose burned, her eyes watered with hot tears. "Please let me go." She begged. Her voice was stringent, holding back a cry. "I have to go back. He can't hurt Jace and he won't hurt me. But he could hurt someone else." Jonathan couldn't harm Jace so long as they were bound. He wouldn't hurt her. At this point, she didn't think he would know how. Other than hurting someone she cared for. "Magnus," she pleaded, "you have to let me go. I'll be okay, I promise."
He didn't seem to believe her. "Little dove…"
"Magnus, please."
He drew his arms back. The magic receded and the warmth washed over her one last time as the blue mist disappeared into the air. Slowly, she could feel it creeping back into her, the bitter cold that had settled itself in her since the moment she left that rooftop garden with Jonathan and Jace. It was a crueler cold than anything the weather could present. It was a cold that pierced her soul, burrowed down deep in her.
"I can't just leave you with him, Eliza. We have to do something." Magnus walked over to her, taking her into his arms.
She hugged him back, "You have to. I'll be okay, I promise." She stepped back from him. "To be safe, to be sure, you need to put a block on my mind. I can't remember this conversation, I can't remember seeing the two of you."
Declan pushed himself from the wall. He held his hands behind his back. "I believe I have a solution." He explained his idea to them. There was a malicious glint in his light brown eyes. "How do you say it? Killing two birds with one stone?"
She grinned. "I like the way you think, Kensley." She looked over at Magnus. "Do it now, before it comes back. I can feel it, the darkness, it's coming back."
He put his hands on the sides of her head. "Close your eyes."
"I know the drill," she reminded as her eyes shut. Once again, she could feel his magic seeping into her head. It felt more powerful than it had the last time, all those months ago.
"Here is what happened…."
She was cold. That was what she first noticed when she woke up. She was cold and her arm and shoulder hurt.
The room she was in was dimly lit, enough for her to realize she had no idea where she was. It wasn't the room she shared with Jace in the apartment. These floors were made of a dark polished wood and the walls covered in an antique fashion wallpaper. Where the hell was she?
The door to the room flew open. Light flooded in from the hall. Jace was standing there, a seraph blade in each of his hands. She could see the darkness of blood staining his clothes and skin.
"Liz, thank the Angel." He slid both the blades back into his belt before running to her. He helped her up from the bed and pulled her to him. "I thought…"
She pulled back, searching his face. "You thought what?"
He shook his head, refusing to say the words. "Are you okay? What happened?" He questioned. "We got worried when you didn't come back after a couple hours. And then we received a fire-message that they were keeping you here."
She frowned. Her memory was fuzzy, everything tinged with blurs. "I don't…I don't know." She murmured. She looked down at her arm. There was a bite mark on her left wrist, thin trails of blood crusted down her arm. "Oh, God."
Jace's face darkened as she reached up, feeling on the bend where her neck and shoulder met. Her stomach tightened as she felt dried blood.
She remembered the vampire- Edward Delancey- propositioning her in the upstairs hall, sneaking her away from prying eyes. Sinking his teeth into her skin. He hadn't become ill at the taste of her blood, instead relishing in the new taste.
"Lizzie, did he-?"
"No." She said quickly, but she really had no idea what had happened. All she knew was that she put up a fight and he had knocked her out. "I don't think anything happened." She looked around the room. "Where is Jonathan?"
"Downstairs, finishing off the nest. He's looking for Delancey." Jace let her go. He took her hand in his. He led her from the bedroom and down the stairs.
The home was littered with bodies. Dead vampires everywhere they went. Blood had pooled on the floor, it was smeared on the walls.
They found Jonathan in the dining room. He, like Jace, was covered in blood. He had Edward Delancey tied to a chair. She could smell something burning, it smelled like pig fat put she had a feeling that wasn't what it was.
"Are you all right?" Jonathan asked her.
She nodded. "I've been through worse." After all, she had died.
His eyes narrowed as he took in the blood on her arm and neck. "He bit you." He observed icily. He glared down at Delancey. "You attacked my sister, you fanged bastard. You could have killed her."
"I didn't touch her." Delancey growled at him. He whirled his gaze onto Eliza. "Tell him. Tell him I didn't attack you."
"I won't lie for you."
He hissed, baring his teeth. "You lying little bitch!" He struggled against the restraints, shouting out wordlessly as the ropes seared into his skin.
Holy water, she realized. Jonathan had doused the ropes in holy water.
"Was this your little plan, Shadowhunter?" He growled at her. "You snuck into my home and allowed your little friends to come in and slaughter my people."
"Do not talk to my sister!" Jonathan shouted at him. "You mutilated her, you do not get to speak to her!" He smacked Delancey. The force teetered the chair, almost causing it to knock over.
Delancey repeated that he had done no such thing. "I promise you that I didn't so much as taste her blood. But I promise you that if I had, I would have savored every drop. I would have treated her just as I treat all my blood whores." He sneered. "After all, if you look the part-."
Jace moved faster than light. His seraph blade was out and then, in a quick and fluid movement, Edward Delancey's head was on the floor.
His body was slumped over in the chair.
Jace turned, an emotionless look on his face. Blood speckled his face. His golden eyes were dark. "Come on." He put the seraph blade back on his belt, reaching out to grab Eliza's hand. "Let's get you home."
Jace didn't say a word the entire way to the apartment. Maybe it was better that he remained silent. Jace was a ferocious fighter when he was in battle. He had mercilessly killed hundreds of demons, no thought given. The only person he had ever killed was Jonathan. She had tried to save him from that stain.
Without hesitation, he had decapitated Edward Delancey.
Perhaps Jonathan wasn't just having an effect on her.
The hot water ran over her face. She had scrubbed and scrubbed her skin until it was raw, washing away any remnants of her own blood.
The shower door slid open and she glanced back. Jace stepped into the shower. They hadn't been back for long and he hadn't yet rid himself of all the vampire blood. She turned, loofa in hand.
"Come here." She motioned. He did. He let the water run down his face. The blood streaked, blurring and spreading. "You didn't have to kill him. I think slaughtering his entire clan was enough."
He made a face as she wiped the blood from his cheeks. "He hurt you."
She frowned at him. "You can't kill everyone that hurts me, Jace." She rinsed out the loofa. The water ran pink with blood. "I never wanted you to have to kill anyone. I didn't want you to have that stain on your soul."
He closed his eyes as she ran the loofa over his shoulders. "I'd do anything to protect you. Kill for you. Die for you."
She dropped the loofa, stepping back against the shower wall. "I never asked you to do any of that for me."
"You never had to."
We need to talk. Luke's. Sunrise.
The fire-message said only that.
It was against all her better judgements to actually show up. And yet, she did it anyway. A simple lie to the boys about restocking the kitchen. Neither of them had questioned her. Jonathan hadn't thought twice about handing over his ring when she mentioned wanting to pick up some wine from a nice vineyard in Italy she had heard of.
Trust made people weak. Especially men.
The sun was just beginning to rise, the sky painted with soft pinks and brilliant oranges. Her sister was sitting on the steps of Luke's house, her eyes closed.
Clary's eyes opened and then they were looking at one another. "You actually came."
Eliza's mouth quirked into a half-smile. "Don't sound so surprised, baby sister. You asked, therefore you received."
Clary stood up and brushed off the back of her jeans. "Why did you come?" Clary asked. "I know I asked you to, but I didn't think you'd actually do it."
Eliza leaned against the porch railing. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out at the rising sun. "You know why I came, Clarissa." Her eyes slid over to her sister. Clary was watched her with a guarded expression. "To check on you, make sure you're all right. And Luke…"
"He's going to live." Clary told her.
Eliza nodded, a strange sense of relief flooding over her. "Good. That's good." She murmured. "He should have never been hurt. I'm sorry for that."
Clary's eyes narrowed. "Do you seriously mean that?"
"God, Clarissa, give me a break." Eliza scoffed. "I'm not a monster. I still care about the people I've always cared about. Things are just…different now."
"You got that right." Clary muttered. "We heard about a raid on a vampire nest in London. No survivors. Was that you guys?" Quietly, Eliza said yes. She didn't really want to remember the vampires. "You guys killed dozens of innocent vampires? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Eliza's eyes narrowed. Her nostrils flared out. "Innocent?" She growled. "Those vampires were anything but, Clarissa. They practically kidnapped me and their disgusting leader attacked me! They used girls like blood slaves and the world is better off now that they're dead."
Clary's mouth fell open. "I can't believe you guys eliminated an entire group of vampires. They may have violated the Accords, but they at least deserved a trial from the Clave."
Eliza pushed off the porch. "Okay, here's the real deal, little sis." She let her arms fall and walked over to Clary. "I'm not just here to make sure things at home are all fine and dandy. I came back for you."
Clary took a step up on the porch. "To check on me."
Eliza shook her head. "To bring you with me."
"Because Jonathan wants me for something, right?"
She said no tightly. "Contrary to popular beliefs, I am a separate person outside of my brother. I operate outside of his realm." She stepped back from Clary. "There are three people I care about more than anything. Jace, Jonathan, and you. I would like to have all three with me." Clary said she wasn't sure it was a good idea. She drew forward, grabbing Clary's hands. "Clary, I promise you that nothing bad is going to happen to you. You won't have to do anything that you don't have to. Come with me. It's a much better life on the other side."
Clary looked past her, and Eliza glanced back, half-expecting to see Luke and Jocelyn rushing towards them. Maybe even Maryse. Maybe the Conclave. But no one was there. Eliza looked back at Clary.
"What are you so worried about, Clary?" She asked.
"Mom." Clary answered. "She's been so upset about you being gone and if I go-."
Eliza laughed quietly, shaking her head. "Are you scared of our mother?" Clary shrugged. "Jocelyn hid an entire world from you for sixteen years. She lied to you about who you were. She took away your memories. She hid your family from you. For once in your life, think of yourself, Clarissa."
Eliza had become extremely close to Clary. They were standing side by side, Eliza's arm around Clary's shoulders. She had turned Clary so that they were looking out towards the river. "I don't know, Liz…"
Eliza squeezed Clary's shoulders. "Come on, Clary, think of how amazing it would be. We can go anywhere. Prague, Moscow, Oslo, anywhere you want. You could see the world, really experience life. Don't you want that?"
Clary looked over at her. "Maybe…It sounds nice."
She nodded. "But you need to know, if you come, there's no going back. Not for a while, at least. You won't see Simon or Mom or Luke for a long time."
Clary stepped away from her. For a fleeting second, Eliza was scared Clary was going to say no. Worse, she was afraid Clary had some secret system for calling in reinforcements.
"Okay. I want to go."
Eliza grinned. "Good." She took Clary's arm. "I am so glad you see things my way, Clarissa. You won't regret this."
She took out her stele. Clary resisted, trying to pull away. Eliza's grip on her was like iron. The tip of her stele pressed against Clary's skin. She drew a familiar rune she had seen not so long ago.
"What is that?" Clary asked.
"Shh." She finished the rune. After just a second, Clary swayed, her eyes fluttering closed. She fell forward and Eliza caught her. Clary's head fell against her shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll be safe with me." She put her arms around Clary and twisted Jonathan's ring around her finger.
Luke's house faded behind them, everything around her blurring into nothing.
Jonathan was less than pleased with her. In fact, she could almost certainly say he was cross. She had never been one to make callous or rash decisions. Everything for her had to have been thought out to the tiniest and most minute details. Betraying her father, making the others trust her. Bringing Clary to the apartment had not, as Jonathan had so kindly phrased it, been a colossal and stupid mistake. Rather, it was the exact opposite. She just had to get him to see things her way.
She knocked lightly on his door, pushing it open before a response could be delivered. He was sitting at the desk, hunched over and trying to decipher something from a book. The book itself looked like if one where to touch it too harshly, it would fall apart.
"Jonathan." She announced herself. He didn't look up. She sighed. "I know you're upset, but we should talk about this."
He closed the book carefully and looked over at her. Oh, yes, he was upset. "The time to talk would have been before you decided to risk everything by bringing her here. It is too late now."
"You yourself said it was better to ask forgiveness than permission." She reminded him. Quietly, she closed the door. "I know the risk that I was taking, but I believe it will all be worth it."
He stood up. "How so?" He asked her. "A number of things could have happened. She could have ambushed you, attacked you, the Clave could have killed you. Eliza, it was incredibly dangerous of you to seek her out. You put yourself and our mission at risk."
Always the mission. That, no doubt, had been a gift from their father. They both were so focused on their missions that the rest of the world was blocked by blinders. Nothing else mattered, nothing else was important.
"You act as if I didn't think these things through, Jonathan. I'm much smarter than you or father ever gave me credit for. I knew meeting Clary was going to be dangerous, but I also knew how rewarding it would be if things went in our favor." He asked what she meant by that. "I think that you have forgotten that Father didn't just experiment on us. Jace and Clary both have Ithuriel's blood. Our sister has the ability to draw runes never before seen by Shadowhunters. We can use that to our advantage."
His eyes sparked with interest. "What makes you so sure that Clarissa will be forthcoming with her ability?"
Eliza smiled. It was a smile that was not so unlike Jonathan's. Cunning and artificial. "We're her family, big brother. If we show her loyalty and love, she will do the same." He said that Clarissa hated him. She would never help if it meant helping him. "Show her you've had a change of heart then. Fake it if you have to. I don't care what you do, as long as it results in our success."
Jonathan smiled at her. "I like the way you think, little sister. And here I thought you brought her because you missed her."
"You were right to think so. It just so happened that there was an advantage to my sentimentality." She told him. "Now, apologize for doubting me."
They were walking past Jonathan's room when she saw it through the crack in the door. Jonathan. Hugging Clary.
She halted. Jace jerked back, never letting go of her hand. "What is it?" He asked.
"Clary's awake."
She let go of his hand and pushed open Jonathan's door. Jonathan had since let her go and the top of her hair was mussed.
"You're up. I thought you'd sleep forever." Eliza smiled at her. Jace was standing beside her, she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Jonathan, did I see you hugging our sister?"
He shrugged. "Like you said, she's our sister."
She rolled her eyes. "We just came back from the market, are you hungry?" Jace asked her. "Mostly breads and cheeses."
Eliza eyed her shirt. It wasn't what Clary had been wearing when she brought her to the apartment.
"I could eat." Clary said numbly.
Several minutes later, the four of them were seated at the dining table. Clary was picking around with the foods, sampling cheeses and meats. Jonathan had poured her a glass of wine, which she had barely touched. "You own this place?" Clary asked Jonathan.
Once again, he shrugged. "I suppose I do now, upon our father's demise. It's interdimensional. It moves between the worlds." She asked where the front door was. "It's around here somewhere. Perhaps when I trust you, I will show it to you."
Eliza made a noise. "Jonathan, we talked about this." She said tightly.
He gave a relenting look and turned to Clary. "My apologies. If Eliza trusts you, then so do I." He eyed Clary carefully. "I see you found our mother's clothes." She asked what he meant. "Most of the things in the apartment were for our mother. The modernized appliances, the clothes. Father bought it all for her, should she have chosen to return with him."
Eliza grimaced. "We can go out tomorrow and buy you some new things if you want." She offered. Clary shook her head, saying it was fine. She asked what they did with their time besides traveling.
"Not much else, really." Jace said.
Jonathan was working his third glass of wine. Clary said they couldn't do that forever. "And why is that?" He asked her.
"For starters, you're all wanted by the Clave. I don't think you can spend the rest of your lives on the run from them."
Jonathan stared back at Eliza. I told you so, his look said. Slowly, she shook her head once. "Clarissa, if you have a question, you should ask it." Jonathan told her. "It's not polite to beat around the bush."
"Jonathan, she came here of her own accord." Eliza reminded him. "She wanted to be here. I think that says enough for her loyalty. Let her in the loop."
"She didn't come here for us, Liz. She came here for you." Jace told her. "You're the only reason she's here. Because you're her sister."
"I trust her." Clary said. "With my life."
"A dangerous thing for you to say." Jonathan mused. "Many have trusted my dear, sweet sister. And many have lost their lives for it."
Under the table, Eliza kicked him. Both he and Jace inhaled sharply.
"Look," Clary started, leaning forward into the table, "I know you don't trust me. I don't trust you either." She told Jonathan. His eyebrows spiked. "But Liz does. And Jace does too. So, if they trust you, I can try to. Besides, you're my brother, which counts somewhere I think."
Jonathan seemed mildly impressed with her. He nodded and took another drink of his wine. "All right. Spend some time with us and then you can know our plan." Jace asked how long. "One week. Just seven days. And really, how long is the span of a week?"
Jace frowned. "You were dead two weeks ago."
Jonathan's eyes brightened. "Two weeks is a ridiculous amount of time to make someone wait." Clary said she would wait for however long it took for him to trust her. "One week, little sister." Jonathan assured her. "And for the duration of that week, you are not to leave the apartment. You cannot communicate with anyone outside of the three of us." Those were his stipulations.
"She can leave so long as I'm with her." Eliza told Jonathan. "Right?"
Jonathan stared back at her, eyes dark, mouth a fine line. "I suppose."
Eliza reached over across the table and grabbed Clary's hand. "We'll have a girl's day. Shopping and lunch by the canal. The boys can stay in and do whatever they do while I'm gone. Play video games, I think." Her smile was bright, eyes dark just like her brother's.
The sun was setting over the canal, the sky painted a dusty bronze color that matched Jace's sweater. It brought out the gold of his eyes. The water was a deep blue, spots of orange reflected from the sun dotting the surface. There was a slight breeze.
A beautiful evening with a handsome boy.
She held the translation dictionary in her left hand, Jace's hand in her right. "Intendevi?" She asked, the pronunciation butchered.
Jace looked at her, amusement lighting his eyes. Some of their languages coincided. Italian was not one of them. "Intendevo cosa?" He replied smoothly. Did I mean what?
She glanced down at the book. She flipped through it, trying to find the words she was looking for. "Quando hai detto che ero la cosa migliore che ti sia mai capitata."
He stopped walking, pulling her back to him. "Why wouldn't I have meant it?" His eyebrows were furrowed down in concern.
She closed the book and put it in the pocket of her coat. "So many terrible things have happened to you because of me. I just…" She sighed and looked out over the water.
Jace pulled her close, cupping her face with his hands. "What are you trying to say?"
She put her hands over his wrists. "Was it all worth it, Jace?" She asked him. "Every horrible thing that's happened since May, has it all been worth loving me?" He opened his mouth, but she shushed him. "And don't just say yes. Think about it, really think about it. I mean, Jace, you died. Because of me. And now-." She stopped herself. Wherever she was going, she couldn't go there with him. Because of her, Jace had died. His resurrection meant he was tied to Jonathan. In her heart, she knew there was something wrong with that. It was different with her, it was like Lilith said. She and Jonathan had always been bound to one another. Jace had never been destined for Jonathan the way she was.
She watched him think on it. His eyes were hooded, he stared at her through dark lashes. "Yes." He finally said. "It was worth it. Every single second of every single day."
"You're sure?"
"Lizzie, how could I not be? I wish you wouldn't second-guess my love for you. I love you." He leaned forward, kissing her left cheek. "I've always loved you." He kissed her right cheek. "I will always love you." His lips brushed against hers. He pulled back. "Now, can we continue our date?"
It was cooler out than it had been during the day. The breeze had picked up a considerable amount. The close vicinity of the canal made it even cooler.
She pulled Jace's shirt closer, hugging her arms around her body.
"You're up late."
Clary was standing beside her, wearing a pair of silk pajamas that had no doubt been intended for their mother. "So are you." She replied. Clary made a noise that sounded like a laugh. "I'm sorry I brought you here." She looked over at Clary. "Maybe you wanted to come, but I don't think you were ready. Am I right?"
Clary nodded. "I had reservations. I still do."
"Jonathan. And myself, I suspect?" Eliza smiled. "I won't object to your suspicions. I have no doubts they are founded accurately." She looked out at the canal. In the water she could see the reflection of the half-moon. "You've never been given a reason to trust Jonathan. I wouldn't trust him if I were you. And me, well, I made you trust me and now look what I've turned into."
"Is this who you want to be, Liz?" Clary asked her. "Do you want to be Jonathan's pawn, his sister, always tied to him? You'll always be Eliza Morgenstern, but it's up to you on who she really is."
Eliza stepped back from the edge of the balcony. "You see, I don't think I ever really had a choice on who I would be. My name is Eliza Morgenstern, but I don't know who she's supposed to be. I've only ever been Valentine Morgenstern's daughter and Jonathan Morgenstern's sister. I don't know how to be anything else."
The water lapped against the stone below them. In the dim light, she could see the bright glitter of tails just under the water surface. Mermaids with long hair that blended into the water and glimmering teeth, sharp as needles.
"Who do you want to be?" Clary asked. "If you could start over, wipe the slate clean, what kind of person would you want to be?"
She let go of herself.
She didn't want to be a liar, a trickster, a thief. She didn't want to be Valentine's daughter or Jonathan's sister. She didn't want to have the blood of Lilith. She didn't want any special abilities.
She wanted to be Clary's sister and Jocelyn's daughter. Friend of the Lightwoods and Simon Lewis. Magnus Bane's roommate. Friend to all Downworlders and Shadowhunters. Even mundanes.
She wanted to be Jace Herondale's. Whatever that meant. His girlfriend. His wife. His forever.
"I don't know." She murmured. "But it isn't who I am now, that's for certain."
Her brother was busy. Busy in the way only a seventeen year-old boy with a little too much energy could be busy. She could hear the giggles coming from his room.
"Disgusting." She muttered, running her fingers through Jace's hair. She and Clary were on the couch. Jace was sitting in the floor in front of her, leaned back so she could play with his hair as he occupied himself with the war-themed video game.
"And now you know exactly how he feels." Jace didn't bother to tear his eyes away from the screen. She yanked on a curl. "Ow! Babe, you know I only like that when-."
"Ew, shut up. Shut up." Clary scrambled. "I do not want to know about my sister's sex life!"
"It comes with the gig, unfortunately." Jonathan had re-entered the room. His shirt was unbuttoned, the belt of his jeans loosened. His pale hair mussed. "Just be glad they've finally calmed down. For the first few weeks they were-."
"Jonathan." Eliza said tersely. "Shut. Up."
His eyes narrowed. "I was only making conversation with our dear sister."
"Go back to your vampire skank."
He clearly was not used to being addressed in such a manner by her. His mouth pursed in deliberation, he took his leave.
Jace looked up at her. "What's wrong with you?"
She shook her head. She couldn't tell him that with each passing day, she felt less and less connected to her brother. "I need to pee." She maneuvered around him and raced to the bedroom that they shared. She ran into the bathroom and locked the door.
Pulling up her shirt, she examined the blazing white rune. It no longer seemed to glow. Neither, she realized, did the one on her hand.
Eliza swallowed. Whatever this was, it wasn't good. Jonathan was the entire reason she was there. If he found out that her end of the bond was failing…
Well, she just couldn't let that happen.
Jace was asleep. He slept so much lately. And like the dead. In the past, so much as the drop of a pin had been enough to wake him. Now, the world could have been ending and she was certain Jace would sleep through it.
Weeks of sleep depravity had taken an unholy (literally) toll on him.
It was still warm out, for it being three in the morning. It was warm and the world was still. Quiet. The water was as still as it could be, barely audible except for the slosh against the stone. There was no hustle and bustle on the cobblestone streets. Inside the apartment, everything was quiet. Jonathan was asleep, finally. Unlike his counterpart, he hardly slept. Clary was safe in her room. Safe, but not really. She would never be safe around Jonathan.
And Jace. Jace was safe because he was the reason that Jonathan was. Without Jace, there was no Jonathan. Jace could not be harmed because then Jonathan would be. He had to have him.
Then, there was herself. Caught in the middle. Of everything. Protect Clary. Protect Jace. Love Jace. Love Jonathan.
What?
No.
There would be no more loving Jonathan.
It had not come slowly. It had not crept upon her like the dark of the night. It was sudden, being hit by a wave. Realization washed over her like water.
She hated him.
The love between them was false. Created by a rune of darkness, of evil. Of Hell. There was no true feeling between them except for hatred. He had tried to kill her. She had tried to kill him. He was a murderer, a monster. Evil. They may have shared the same blood, the same womb, but they were not the same.
It all came back to her. The vampire nest. Edward had never bitten her. Declan had saved her and taken her to Magnus. That, that was where it began. The recession of Lilith's creation.
Magnus.
It was a start. If anyone could help, it was him.
Eliza?
She let out a sigh of relief.
I need your help.
I was wondering when you would call.
He sounded….amused.
Now is not the time for jokes. I need you to come get me. ASAP.
Is…is this a trap, little dove? I know how fond you are of your…brother.
No, it isn't a trap. I remember what happened. The vampire nest. You and Declan. Our conversation. I need you to get me out of here.
Why?
Because Lilith's hold on me is gone. Which means it's faded on Jonathan as well. If I don't leave here before he's awake, I'm as good as dead. And then we'll never stop him.
Fair enough. Where shall I pick you up?
She sent him an address, the place vivid in her mind. He said he'd get her in two hours. Plenty of time for her to prepare.
"Lizzie?"
She spun around, hugging the thin robe closer to her body. "Hey you." She tried to smile. "Did I wake you?"
He shook his head. He was bare, save for his boxers. "Bad dream." He mumbled. "You were gone." It was a half-explanation, but it tugged at her heart. Soon, she really would be gone.
"I'm right here." She assured, letting her arms fall to her side.
He crossed the balcony to her, taking her in his arms. "Come back to bed." His hand pushed down the robe, leaving her shoulder bare. Soft, warm kisses were peppered from her shoulder to her neck. She closed her eyes.
Damn him.
Not happily, she pulled back from him. "In a minute. Why don't you go on?"
It was rare to refuse him. How could she? When he looked the way he did, kissed the way he did, felt-.
She stopped herself. If she went down that road, she'd never leave.
His eyes searched her, looking for some sign of discontent, of unhappiness. She knew what was going through his mind: had he done something wrong?
On the contrary. It was her who had done something wrong. It was always her.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a soft voice.
Not really seeing any other option, she leaned forward and kissed him. "I am now." She murmured against his lips. And she led him back to bed.
He was asleep. An hour later and he was back to sleep.
Jace had been out for twenty minutes. In a deep enough sleep that she could work. And by work, this meant she was hastily putting together a bag. Throwing knives and seraph blades were tossed into a fine knapsack made of black leather.
She didn't need anything else. She had clothes at the Institute and at Magnus'. Oh, her sword. That was needed.
Something winked at her from the nightstand on her side of the bed. The Morgenstern family ring.
She thought about what Clary had asked her. Who do you want to be?
Biting down on her lip, she grabbed the ring. Twirling it between her fingers, Eliza knew very well what had to be done.
She put the ring back on the nightstand. She grabbed the pen and a piece of paper from the small desk in the corner of the room.
This isn't who I want to be. I'm sorry. -Lizzie
She folded the paper up and scrawled his name on it. She slipped it under the ring.
Tears stung her eyes as she looked down at him. Peaceful, like she hadn't seen him in so long. Their lives- his life was so royally fucked up. All because of her. Because she hadn't died in that Malachi Configuration when she was twelve. Because Jonathan didn't finish the job and kill her at fourteen. Because she had been sent to New York to find the Mortal Cup and she had failed.
She had been right all along. She had ruined Jace's life.
If only she had been the perfect little monster like her brother.
She leaned over and gently, just barely, brushed her lips against his. "I'm sorry." She murmured, pulling back. "I'll save you. I swear on the Angel that I'll save you."
And like a ghost, she was gone.