I really really want to finish this story. Im not kidding but after last year I kind of lost my "mojo." I kind of quit writing. BUT, I WANT TO FINISH THIS! So I will try my best to get this done before I head to college in the fall. There are still a lot of chapters planned.

Chapter 21

Clary skipped dinner. Valentine sent servants to retrieve her twice but she never came down. Jonathan sat there quietly eating his dinner while his father and William's father discussed the engagement. It was not something Jonathan had been expecting. Well, he'd been expecting his father to try and convince Clarissa that it was the right thing to do but he hadn't expected a full "arranged marriage" attack. He'd expected some time to get Jared and Clary close.

"You look upset." A small voice pulled Jonathan from his thoughts. He looked to the right of him and down at William's little sister. Her dark blond hair was pulled into pigtails and her blue eyes were wide with the interest a curiosity of a five year old girl. "Are you upset?" Jonathan opened his mouth to speak but Valentine spoke in his place.

"Jonathan's always angry darling." He said. "No need to worry about it." Jonathan set his jaw.

"You would know something about that wouldn't you." He muttered. Valentine narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. Instead he went back to his earlier conversation with William's father. Jonathan took a bite of his steak and glanced back at the little girl who was still staring at him. Her mother, who sat opposite of Jonathan was watching them with a look of distain. "What?" He snapped.

"Lizabeth." Her mother said quickly. "Eat your food, please." Lizabeth crinkled her face but obliged her mother. Deciding he was no longer hungry, Jonathan pushed his plate away and set his white napkin on the table.

"This dinner is distasteful." He growled. Valentine sighed.

"If you don't like it you are welcome to leave." He said, dismissing his son. Jonathan stood up quickly and left the dining area. Once at Clary's door he knocked twice for he knew from jiggling the handle that it was locked.
"I've already told the others that I'm not coming down!" She yelled. Something hard thudded against the door.

"It's only me sister." He said calmly. "And I only wish to talk." For a moment there was only silence. Then another thud.

"Of all people I would talk to you are the last." Jonathan snorted, and with only a second of thought pushed the door, breaking the lock. He bent down and picked up the book Clary'd thrown. She lay under her covers. Jonathan could only see her red hair sticking on the pillow. Her heartrate was excellerated and he could hear her sniffling. Jonathan almost gagged. Emotions were not his cup of tea. He set the large book on her nightstand and slowly and hesitantly rested a hand on her back.

"Is… everything alright?" He said slowly, noticing her puffy face. She turned away from him.

"Go away Jonathan." She growled. He sat on the edge of the bed. Every part of his brain told him to leave and not get involved yet he stayed where he was, only sitting on the edge of the bed instead of standing.

"I heard about the engagement." He said. Clary's exposed hand turned into a fist. "Pissed me off as well actually." He knew she was listening so he continued. "He controls you in every way like a chess piece. He's taken away your free will. You'd think he'd let you find your own love." Clary looked over at him.

"Why the hell do you care?" She snapped, her voice raspy from the obvious crying.

"I have grown to care for you Clarissa and I must say this is the first time I've seen you cry over something as trivial as this. Physical pain I understand but when Ive angered you or Father's angered you, you've never cried."

"You don't give a shit about me Jonathan. You only use what you can for your own agenda." She sat up. "And TRIVIAL! Love is not trivial Jonathan. You've never felt love. You don't know what it's like. If you did you'd act differently." Jonathan's face stayed neutral. He studied Clary's puffy face and red eyes. "He's just going to use me. Everyone wants to USE me!" Jonathan didn't say anything. Instead he fell backwards so that he lay across Clary's legs. She looked down at him in confusion. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Laying down." He responded. "Admitting defeat." He glanced at her. "Why wouldn't people use you Clary? You're too easy." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared down at him.

"Oh?" She said with an edge in her voice.

"Yup. You're only real focus is taking care of your family-protecting them. AND you're the fastest learner I've ever seen." When she didn't respond he continued. "I'm jealous of you, Little Sister." He sat up. "You learned what it took me all my life to learn. For being born in the Mundane world, you're one of the best shadow hunters I've ever seen. Hell, you're almost as good as me." He was being genuine as far as Clary could tell. She looked out towards the balcony. "So you know what you're going to do?" His voice got dead serious. "You're going to suck it up for now and maybe-just maybe, I can get you out of this wedding." Clary snapped her head towards her older brother.

"What's in it for you." She said, though she didn't sound angry anymore- more like she'd do anything to get out of the marriage. Jonathan smiled.

"I know some things that you don't Clary. I have plans of my own. You'll learn of them eventually. Let's just say you'll owe me. You may not believe that you do, but you will." Clary didn't know what that meant, and she didn't like the sound of owing Demon Boy anything, but at the moment, after her earlier discussion with William, she'd do anything to get away from him.

"Ok."

"I'm impressed you all came back alive." One of the Clave members said bluntly as Magnus pulled Alec into a hug and kissed the top of his head.

"How are you feeling?" He whispered. Alec shrugged slightly.

"Fine." He whispered back unconvincingly. "I'm fine."

"Yes, Well, Jocelyn made an unexpected appearance." Isabelle said looking over at Clary's mother.

"When are we going to do this?" Jocelyn said quickly. "I want my family back." All heads in the room turned to look at the remaining Clave members.

"Two weeks." The woman said. "However, Jocelyn… we've got witnesses… you're daughter will not be permitted safety after this is over." Jocelyn's eyes went wide. Luke was immediately at her side.

"We all know that she's done some bad things… but we all know that she's under the control of Valentine-"

"And if it's true then she's a danger to all of us. We also know that she captured Jace Harondale-" Simon interrupted her.

"I was the only one that saw that happen. She saw me. She was crying. She was forced to do that." The Clave members glanced at each other.

"please," Jocelyn cried. "My child was stolen from me. Give her Clemency-" The woman put her hand up, stopping her mid speech.

"If she attacks us in any way- if she kills anyone or we see her participating on Valentine's side we will capture or kill her. If we happen to get the mortal instruments back, we will put her on trial. If she is found guilty… she will be locked away. Under no circumstances will we let a terrorist go free."