Authors note: Sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with writing my own novel's as well as dealing with every day life. I hope to have more for you soon. Thanks for reading.

Clary

Behind the door, I could hear screams. Some of them echoed long and true. Screams of pure agony and terror. I huddled in the corner of the room with my hands over my ears. Please, let it stop. Please.

It continued.

I didn't know what was going on. Nobody came to my door; no one came to fetch me. I sat in my room and waited for the worst. Was Jonathan punishing people? Putting them to the sword? Was he massacring the townsfolk who acted disobediently? No one answered my questions.

The days turned to weeks, the weeks turned to months. I waited for something to happen, anything. Yet nothing ever did. I stayed locked away in the tower with only Jonathan and the occasional guard to keep me busy. I hated the visits from my brother. He never let me forget that my life was in his hands. Nor that the pregnancy was almost at it's end.

My belly was round and swollen. My son would be on his way soon enough. I dreaded the outcome of his birth. What face would leer up at me? Jonathan's or Jace's? I guess there was nothing to do but find out. It wouldn't be long before the contractions started and then only the Gods could know who was to be born.

The door rattled, shaking me from my thoughts. I awkwardly climbed to my feet. I walked towards the door when it was thrown open. A man stood there in dirty, grimy garb. In his hands he held a fine short sword of tempered steel. His eyes were dark and shadowed. A dead guard lay at his feet, leaking blood from a grievous wound.

"Please! Don't hurt me or my baby." I cried.

He stepped into the room with his hands turned up. "I'm here to free you, princess."

I couldn't believe my ears. This man, this dirty, disgruntled man was here to free me? Could it be true? Had the Gods heard my prayers at long last? My feet slid across the floor as I crossed the room. Blood covered the mans coat and pants.

"Is it true? Are you really here to help me?"

He nodded his head, "I am here by the Circle's command. The city has been under siege for the past week or so."

I remembered the angry outburst from Jonathan over the last few weeks. He never said the reason for his anger, yet he took it out on me. I heard nothing of this siege until now.

The man continued, "We managed to ram the outer postern gates and a battle is being fought in the courtyard. I managed to slip away to find you here, to rescue you."

I could have kissed him. Now all the screaming seemed to make sense. Morgenstern castle was being put to the sword, with this Circle in the lead. I never heard of such an establishment before. Were they rogue fighters or part of some hostile country? My questions would have to wait.

I grabbed my cloak off the embroidered chair, a chair where Jonathan took his pleasure more times than I could count, and never hesitated. I followed the unnamed man outside into the stairwell and we descended. I could still hear screams and cries of terror in the background. I blocked off the sounds and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Only one thing remained in my mind.

I wanted to see my dear brother bleed.

Jace

My hands were sticky with blood. Each step, each sword slash, brought me closer to my goal. My body wanted me to run and search each room until I found Clary. I wanted to find her and fight for the only reason worth living for. Yet, I had to follow orders.

They placed me in the vanguard. I was ordered to attack the postern gate with 2,000 men. Once inside, we were to kill or capture all of the castle's garrison. Once we held the courtyard, the rest of our men would come in to take the castle itself.

Everything went according to plan. The Morgenstern legacy once held over 10,000 loyal men. Now it was nothing but a faint shadow of it's former glory. Jonathan created his own disaster.

The courtyard before me was littered with fallen bodies and puddles of tacky blood. I stepped over the fallen and walked towards the castle's gates. A ram cracked into the hard wood by the force of the army. I found Tessa at the sidelines.

"Is he inside?" I asked.

Tessa's long hair flew in the wind. "He is. He resides inside with only 300 of his Kingsguard. An easy target."

"What about Clarissa?"

"Don't worry about the girl. She was imprisoned in a tower on the east side of the castle. I sent a man in after her through the east entrance. With any luck, she'll tucked away from all this chaos and destruction."

I nodded my head. Blonde hair fell into my eyes and blocked my vision. "What do we do now?"

Tessa looked at me. "Your job is simple. Once this ram breaks the gates, I will send my men in to kill the guards. Then it is up to you to slay Jonathan Morgenstern."

"I want to kill him more than you can imagine, but why me? I'm not trained nor skilled except for the little training you supplied for me over the months. Surely you have better men fighting for you?"

"I do, but they need to see you kill him in order to win them to your cause."

"What cause?"

Tessa's eyes flared. "Do you think these men will follow a gutter rat like you just because the princess loves you? She needs a King. A true and rightful King. These men will follow no less."

"Killing Morgenstern will make me that King?"

"Killing Morgenstern will make you a God."

I stepped back a step at the fierceness in her voice. "I will do it."

"Good, now stay back and wait. We are almost inside the gates."

I stepped even farther back and watched the soldiers beat down the gate. The giant castle door proved strong. Even so, deep cracks ran vertically down its surface. It would break any time now.

And break it did.

With a creak and a groan, the door gave in. In the chaos, the soldiers battled their way insides. Blood began to spill out into the grass from the castle's entrance. I waited for my cue to come before I entered. Jonathan Morgenstern was mine to deal with. I would have my revenge. For myself and for the girl I loved.

Except that something appeared to be wrong.

I could see a bright light coming from the open door. A man's shape came running out, his clothes washed in flames. He screamed a high pitched noise and fell into the dirt, unmoving. I sucked in a deep breath and lifted my sword, I then entered into the great hall.

It was on fire.

Fire ate at everything. Men lay burning on the floor, crying for help. The great hall tapestries were crumbled and black amongst the floor. I could find Tessa no where in the chaos. Some men still lingered, fighting against the Morgenstern Kingsguard. I watched as men died like flies in the melee of swords and maces. The body count for both sides climbed higher and higher.

Yet even in all this chaos, there was one sight that gave me strength.

Jonathan stood on the King's dais beside his throne. His face lit up with glee and mirth at the death and destruction around him. He smiled and laughed. I strode across the room and lifted my sword.

"Jonathan Morgenstern, I challenge you to fight me in single combat to the death. Do you decline?"

Jonathan drew a fine steel blade from his holster. "You expect me to run and cower from a peasant like you? Swing your blade true, Jace Wayland, for tonight . . . you die."

He ran at me with his sword high.