"Clary, if you activate that sword, Simon is doomed anyway," Shu shouted. "Along with the rest of the Downworld."

"No, Valentine needs an energy source. He needs lightning."

"Oh, so you think he hasn't thought of that already? Please, by all means. Tell me why the man that has literally outsmarted all of the Shadowhunters, the Clave, the Downworlders, didn't think of this crucial thing in his ultimate plan! Every Institute is powered by an angelic power core. He has the energy source he needs."

"Alec's not picking up," Jace reported. "Let's move."

"Valentine is gonna wish he never laid a hand on Simon," Clary agreed. "I'll make sure of it."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Luke said, holding her back. "You're not going anywhere near that Institute."

"We'll take you back to Magnus," Shu agreed. "He can protect you."

"I don't need to be protected, I need to save Simon."

"The Downworld knows that you're the key to activating the sword. They want you dead."

"I can save Simon," Jace promised.

"Doesn't work that way," Clary protested. "If I'm not the one who shows up, Valentine is gonna kill him."

"And so you think that if you do show up he hasn't prepared for anything you try?" Shu asked. "If you are responsible for the entire Downworld's demise, Clary Fairchild, I will slaughter you and haunt your soul for all eternity in hell! You're going to go to that place all for Simon, and while I care about him, I care more about the millions of people you are risking for your own selfish desires. You are lucky that I'm not killing you right now to make sure that Soul Sword is never activated."

"Wait!"

"Dorothy?"

They hurried over to one of the cages that held a pale and near-dead Dot within.

"There's another way to destroy the sword."

"There you go. You'll start feeling better in no time."

"Thank you."

"Dot, tell us everything you know," Clary said.

"I heard Valentine briefing his men. If Jace touches the sword, his grip will destroy it."

"Me?"

"Why should we believe a word she says?" Luke demanded. "It's probably just another trap."

"Luke, Clary, Shu you know me," Dot protested.

"You've lied to me before," Clary argued.

"Because of the injections. But now that he has the Warlock girl, he's cast me aside. I'm myself again."

"Good story, but I've heard better," Luke scoffed.

"Even if what she believes she heard is real, Valentine couldn't just let her hear it on purpose," Shu pointed out.

"Wait," Jace said. "In the vision from Ithuriel, the demon that destroyed the sword had a clawed hand."

"Exactly, it has nothing to do with you," Clary said.

"Angels are higher beings," Shu said. "They communicate through metaphors. Morgenstern means 'Morning Star,' as in, 'How are thou fallen from heaven. O Lucifer, son of the morning.'"

"Shu has showed me the vision," Magnus continued. "If I'm following the same thought pattern, it seems to be speaking of a…demonic Morgenstern."

"Me," Jace concluded. "That's why Valentine wanted me under his control. I can derail his plan. I can destroy the Soul Sword."

"And destroy yourself in the process," Shu added.

"No," Clary declared. "T-That's a suicide mission. No way."

"Oh, says the girl who's willing to die for the Downworld, what? Yesterday?"

"She's right, Jace," Luke said. "It's too dangerous."

"Oh, and so Clary striding in there to try and save Simon even though she's the key to activating the darn thing and wiping out all Downworlders is so much safer of an option," Shu muttered.

"Look, I'm not gonna touch the sword. I'll just get to it before it's activated and bring the Mortal Instrument back to the Clave where it belongs. Trust me."

"Hasn't he touched the sword before?" Shu asked. "Back during the prison break where Valentine got the sword in the first place?"

"It would still have to be activated by the power core," Magnus pointed out.

"Fine, Jace. You boys be careful. I'll try and join you once I've recovered my magic. It shouldn't take too much longer, but I can't go with you now. Good luck."

"I couldn't feel the soul bond," Shu admitted. "One stupid chain, and I lost a piece of my soul. You don't realize how much you need something until it's gone."

"It's terrifying for both of us," Magnus agreed. "It's easy to forget how much the soul bond connects us, how much of us it's supporting, until it's gone. I was terrified for you."

"I had to use my wrist to escape."

He let out a small chuckle. "Always the fun one."

"But I couldn't stop Valentine from taking Simon, from manipulating that little girl."

"I'm not used to feeling so…powerless."

"You and me both."

"Obviously. How's your magic coming along?"

"Near half strength already."

Clary walked onto the balcony, confirming that she hadn't tried to run away yet, before her phone rang. It was Simon's phone, and she answered it to find Simon and Valentine.

"Oh my god. Simon, are you okay?"

"Simon's fine," Valentine said. "We've just been having a nice talk. You know, he told me your greatest wish was to get to know your old man. Which is funny because it's always been my wish to get to know my daughter. And so I'm here, and I'm waiting for you. And frankly, well…Clarissa, I'm losing my patients."

He stood and held Simon's head back before slicing his neck.

Clary screamed and held her hand over her mouth, nearly dropping the phone in surprise, while Magnus and Shu flinched back in disgust and horror. Magnus looked down and away, while Shu glared at the screen.

Valentine moved around Simon and to the camera. "The vampire has a half-hour, maybe 40 minutes, before he turns to dust. Come quick, Clarissa. He needs blood to survive."

With that, he clicked off the video call.

"Portal me to the Institute," Clary demanded.

"Clary, we can't."

"Now!"

They jumped through the portal to the outside of the Institute.

"Well, here we are," Shu spat.

"Shu, Magnus…I want you both to know I'm not going anywhere near that sword."

"I'll believe it when I see it, darling. You can't predict the future, and you are walking right into Valentine's hands willingly, knowing the risks. If things go south, I'll be able to eternally say I told you so in hell."

"I don't care much what happens to me, Clary," Magnus said.

"Alec's gonna be okay. Simon's gonna be okay," Clary assured them. "We can do this. You two and me."

"Your confidence is overwhelming," Shu muttered.

Suddenly, two Vampires restrained Magnus and Shu each.

"Let go of my hands!" Magnus demanded.

"So you can use your magic against us?" Raphael asked, appearing in front of Clary. "I'm sorry, Magnus. None of us wanted it to come to this."

"No, I'm here to save Simon," Clary said. "I'm not going to touch the sword."

"No, you're not," Raphael agreed, grabbing her arms.

"Stop this!" Magnus shouted. "Stop it now!"

"If I don't do it, more Downworlders are on their way to do it for me. You're too close to her, Magnus."

"Raphael, you don't have to do this," Clary begged.

"Quick and painless."

He hissed with his fangs out and moved to bite her neck. Then, Jace showed up and pulled Raphael back, putting his seraph blade to his chest.

"This ends now."

Luke pulled the Vampires restraining Magnus away, and Shu shoved hers away in one hit each, elbowing them both in the face without turning around.

"Listen up!" Luke shouted.

"You better be right about this, Luke," Maia warned.

"Clary may be able to activate the sword, but I can destroy it," Jace announced. "The angel Ithuriel confirmed that in a vision."

"Angel?" Raphael asked. "Impossible."

"I saw it too," Clary said. "He's telling the truth."

"You kill Clary, Valentine still has the damn sword," Luke pointed out. "Over time, no doubt, he'll find a way to activate it. Now is our chance to destroy that sword for good. Why not let Jace try?"

"Why would a Shadowhunter risk his life for us?" Maia asked.

"Because you and Raphael are gonna tell your Downworld buddies not to lay a hand on Clary," Jace said. "That's the deal."

"And they'll listen to me?" Raphael asked.

"Maybe. You're the leader of the most powerful Vampire clan in all of New York. They respect you."

Raphael hesitated and looked over to Maia. She nodded weakly, and he did so as well.

"What exactly is your plan?"

"Let me guess, charge in, guns blazing?" Shu asked. "Sounds like a fun plan to me."

"Aw, only he gets to go in guns blazing? This is a brilliant plan."

"Obviously. Seelies are here."

"And Luke's pack. How long you think until he finds out?"

"A few minutes at most. He'll take Jace, disguised as Clary, up to see Simon, and it won't be long before the disguise fades away."

"Let's move it."

"On the video call, Simon was in Aldertree's office. This way."

"Careful, Clary," Shu warned. "Circle members could be anywhere."

Clary looked around a corner. "It's Madzie."

The little girl took notice of them before walking down the hall.

"Go get her. I'll find Simon."

"Are you sure?" Magnus asked.

"She's being used, Magnus. None of this is her fault, but she needs to be stopped."

"I'm not leaving Magnus's side," Shu said. "After our soul bond is tampered with and weakened, we don't like going more than ten feet apart. It's a thing. You think you get used to it, but there's no way to get used to having your soul ripped apart, a piece of you missing for even a second."

"Go. I'll be fine on my own. A one man unit is stealthier than two."

"A one Shadowhunter is more vulnerable than a Shadowhunter and a Warlock, but we'll meet you in Aldertree's office as soon as we can."

"Okay."

She turned down the corridor, while Magnus and Shu followed after the path Madzie took.

"Careful," Shu muttered. "This, in it of itself, could be a trap. She's a tough cookie for her age, and her youth makes her hard to oppose."

They turned a corner and found Madzie standing over a dead corpse. Slowly, they stepped forward.

"Hello, sweet pea," Magnus called.

She turned in surprise, and the two of them stopped.

"I'm Magnus. This is Shu."

The girl pulled off the scarf around her neck and the gills on her neck began to suck in the air. The two Warlocks were unaffected though, and slowly continued forward.

"I know your scared," Shu said slowly. "You don't have to be."

Magnus let his eyes show as he knelt down in front of her, and Shu's eyes flared to life as well, her brand flashing to life above the back of her hand.

"See? We're just like you, Madzie. We're Warlocks too."

Madzie's magic began to die down, and the three of them relaxed their Warlock marks once more.

Magnus eyed the man on the floor. "These men are using you for your abilities."

"He said nana was here," Madzie said.

"He lied, honey," Shu said gently. "We wanna help you, Madzie."

"For real," Magnus promised.

She gave them a long examination, before stepping forward, and allowing Magnus to put his hand on her back gently.

There was a large pulse that Shu felt in her chest.

"It's active," Shu muttered.

"What?" Magnus asked.

"Get down!"

She tackled both him and Madzie to the floor, throwing a barrier up with all the angelic protection she had in her. Considering she'd lived as a Downworlder for the past few centuries, her angelic genes were a bit rusty, but she managed as angelic energy from the activated Soul Sword came flooding down the corridors.

"Madzie's safe and sound with Catarina," Shu said. "Meanwhile, I think someone's looking for you."

She nodded forward towards Alec, who was looking around desperately at people heading into the Institute.

Magnus hurried over and grabbed his arm, and was instantly pulled into a tight hug.

"Magnus, I thought…"

"We found Madzie. Shu managed to block us from the Soul Sword attack and we took Madzie to Catarina's. She's safe."

He nodded, breathing hard. "Look…Magnus, on every mission I've ever been on, I've never felt that type of fear. Ever. Not knowing if you were alive or dead, I…I was terrified."

Magnus sighed and put his hand on Alec's arm. "So was I."

"Magnus…I love you."

Magnus smiled. "I love you, too."

Alec kissed him, still breathing hard, before he wrapped his arms around Magnus again.