Disclaimer - I do NOT own anything related to The Mortal Instruments.

Jace In Exile

Chapter 3

Jace could feel Brother Zachariah's rough hands gripping his wrists as they emerged from the portal. There were headstones all around him, and the air had a musty sweet smell of freshly cut grass with the undercurrents of death. He was in the graveyard above the Silent City. Brother Zachariah released his wrists and Jace could hear his words in his head. "You have been our prisoner before Mr. Wayland, visited to find answers for Miss Fray and now finishing your path as a Shadowhunter here. The reversal of ascension is a risky ceremony, one that The Brothers are inexperienced at completing and requires great preparation. I'm afraid you will stay with us a few days until we are ready to perform the reversal."

Was that a tinge of emotion Jace heard in Brother Zachariah's voice? Jace decided to push the issue a little to see if he was imagining things. "So basically the Brothers are not skilled in this ceremony, they would feel bad if they accidentally killed me. Would you let me go and find a place to live in the city while the preparations are taking place? I can't run because I don't have anywhere to go. You could even assign me a chaperone to keep me in line and bring me back to the Brothers when they are ready to perform the reversal." Jace looked at Brother Zachariah with pleading eyes in hopes there was still some compassion behind his sunken face.

Suddenly Brother Enoch appeared next to a mossy headstone. Jace wasn't sure which was older the crumbling stone or the Silent Brother. Brother Enoch spoke in Jace's mind, "Mr. Wayland - the Clave has determined your fate, however the Silent Brothers are not The Clave. We will carry out the reversal ceremony when we are ready. Steps are being taken to ensure the procedure doesn't result in ill effects. Until we can guarantee your safety and determine no harm will come to the Silent City, you will be in Brother Zachariah's care. He will accompany you to the city and he will not leave your side. We will summon him once we are ready to perform the reversal ceremony. Be aware Mr. Wayland you are under watchful eyes. Anyone attempting to thwart you from your sentence will be punished under Clave law. You have approximately one week to get things in order, and you are prohibited from carrying all seraph blades as well as a stele. Brother Zachariah will not intervene on your behalf should trouble come your way, in fact he will use heavy glamour at all times. Do you understand these guidelines?"

They were letting him go, there had to be a catch to this somewhere, I mean besides being followed around by a corpse covered in paper-thin parchment robes. Then again, Brother Zachariah was set apart from the other Silent Brothers. Most of the Brothers seemed alien whereas Brother Zachariah had emotions and more human-like qualities. Jace was trying to hold back his exhilaration at the possibility of seeing Clary again. He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled breath he didn't realize he was holding, " I understand the rules. Can I see my family and Clary?"

Brother Enoch shook his head in affirmation and started to walk away, he turned and added, "Mr. Wayland, there are always reactions to our actions. I would be mindful of this as you start over in the city. Downworlders are known to hold grudges, I would watch my back if I were you" and continued to walk deeper into the graveyard.

Jace let Brother Enoch's words sink in. He never thought the Clave would strip him of his marks and he would no longer be a Shadowhunter, or the fact that Downworlders would come back for retribution. No blades or a stele also stacked the deck against him. He wouldn't be able to protect himself or heal if he was injured. Surely he had some allies in the shadow world outside his family and Clary? There was Luke and Magnus, he wasn't sure if either would care an inkling if he lived or died but he had to start somewhere.

They started to walk down the street outside the graveyard when Jace sensed someone following them. The sun had set while they were conversing with Brother Enoch about the terms of his "house-arrest," the sound of motorcycles filled the air and something triggered his memory. Demon energies were all around them, and Jace knew if he looked up he would find Raphael leading the pack. The head vampire of New York had moles throughout the city and in the shadow world, he was sure someone had shared the news of Jace's sentence from the Clave.

A deep cherry-red motorcycle with black flames appeared in front of him with Raphael at the helm. The vampire king appeared to be floating off the bike and started to walk toward Jace, a huge grin on his face. "Shadowhunter, or should I say ex-Shadowhunter now? I've been looking for you. I assumed they would lock you beneath the ground in the Silent City. I was pleased to hear they released you so soon, and you survived the reversal of your ascension?" Raphael said smugly.

Jace gave Raphael a sidelong look, "Well I've always had powers of persuasion, and I can talk my way out of prison with the best of them. Why would they keep something this good-looking locked up underground? There was no doubt I would survive the ritual, you know how strong I am Raphael, why would you assume I would be too weak for the ceremony? You know this first hand I don't give up easily my friend."

"Friend? I'm not sure I would put us in the "friend" category Nephilim. I came here to see if the rumors were true, the golden boy stripped of his marks, no longer a child of the Angel? You will need my help soon "friend" as the number of Downworlders you've injured or killed is to many too count. Family and friends will seek revenge and you are vulnerable without your precious Shadowhunter marks. Maybe I should turn you - I always thought you would make a good second in my army, an enforcer? I would hate to see your pretty face all messed up or worse you dead in an alley," Raphael said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Suddenly Raphael grabbed Jace's chin with his hand and turned his head to the side revealing two white scars on his neck. Raphael whistled through his teeth, "What is this I see, Valentine's son a vampire plaything? Wow I wonder what Clary thinks about this? I thought you two were true loves, you know exclusive and practically married, of course she always has a soft spot for Simon Lewis. Maybe she gave you an ultimatum? Have to be with both of them in order to have her? " Raphael was laughing at his own joke now, he's stopped abruptly.

Jace could see the light bulb go on inside Raphael's head. Oh crap, why had he taken his collared shirt off in the graveyard? He didn't usually make mistakes like this. The entire day was weighing down on him now. He looked at his surroundings to see if he could use anything as a weapon. He saw something sparkle in the street, a knife or glass bottle, he would take anything right now. He remembered Alec drawing runes on his chest before he walked into the Great Hall today - one for bravery, one for strength, and something to keep his smart mouth at bay. Raphael was still inspecting Jace's neck, so he took the opportunity and punched Raphael in the face. Blood spewed from Raphael's nose giving Jace enough time to put some distance between them. He reached down for the shiny object in the street, a broken bottle. Oh come on really, I'm bringing a knife to a gun fight, he thought. Brother Zachariah picked this time to drop his glamour, and the vampire gang went silent in his presence.

"This is too good, Jace Wayland, super Shadowhunter has a bodyguard! A Silent Brother at that. I've seen it all now. Raphael said laughing again. "He can't stay with you forever Wayland, I'll be back to pay you a visit very soon. I'll be your worst nightmare little Angel boy. Let's ride boys, we need to pay the Daylighter a visit," and the gang of demon bikes rose into the sky and took off like a rocket.

Jace realized he was holding his breath and exhaled loudly. "Thank you Bother Zachariah, I'm not sure why you would put yourself in jeopardy on my behalf, but thanks."

Brother Zachariah nodded his head to Jace, and restored his glamour. Jace noticed now that Brother Zachariah carried a menacing looking bow staff and his face looked lethal under the hood. Not someone you would want to meet in a dark alley. It was easy to forget the Silent Brothers had once been Shadowhunters, warriors who fought just like him. The thought depressed Jace. He wouldn't be a Shadowhunter much longer. He decided not to go down that spiral of doubt and pain right now.

He started walking down the street into the city among the people. There was a celebration going on for some mundane holiday, so it was easy to blend into the crowd. He needed to find Clary and fast if Raphael was going to visit Simon. If he found out Jace's blood was the key for a vampire to walk in the sun again, well that was a situation he didn't want to dwell on. They would keep him in chains, alive and he would be a drinking fountain for vampires. He cringed at the thought, and he would be in deep trouble with Clary if she thought Jace put her best friend in danger. He picked up his pace and headed to the one place he thought Clary would go in a time of need. What would he say to her, did she understand the underlying meaning of the words he said before he walked through the portal? He was ranking as all-time worst boyfriend at the moment.

Thank you for the review! It was much appreciated. I've got a bunch of ideas, it's just having the time to get them all written down.

Will Clary forgive Jace for his hateful words? Will they find a way to reverse the Clave's sentence? Will Jace live through the week...Stay tuned!