Disclaimer - I own nothing related to TMI.
Sorry I've taken a couple of days to update. A family member has been in the hospital and I've not had access to my computer. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Thanks for reading! Would love more reviews XO
Jace In Exile
Chapter 16
Jace enjoyed his walk in the city to Magnus' apartment. The storm had passed, and the streets were mostly dry except for a puddle here and there. The air smelled clean for once after the rain. He took a deep breath in and released it. The modeling gig really helped clear his mind, made him feel competent in something outside of killing demons. He still missed the Shadowhunter life, more than he thought he would, the thrill of the chase, the physicality, and feeling of victory after a battle, but at least he was trying to succeed at this mundane lifestyle.
He wished Clary could see his efforts, he missed her so much and when his mind wasn't on dodging crazy vampire kings, and finding a way to make ends meet, he was thinking about her constantly. He hoped she grasped the underlying meaning of the words he last said to her in the Great Hall. Disappointing Clary was not an option for Jace. He loved her unconditionally, but he wouldn't ask her to sacrifice her Shadowhunter status and her new life journey she just started. He would establish himself, prove he could make as a mundane if that was his fate, and try to let her live her life in the way she wanted too.
Clary was the first girl who kept Jace on his toes, always thinking, morphing, changing, and making him want to be a better person. She taught him what love really is, not his skewed view of affection demented by Valentine his crazy pseudo father. He wondered what type of person he would have been if Michael Wayland, his true father had raised him. Once it was determined that Valentine wasn't Jace's real father, Jace started to search for remaining members of the Wayland family, but Maryse explained that the Wayland family line was thought to have died out until Jace was considered a Wayland again.
Jace saw a picture of his father, Michael in an old photograph of the Circle, but there wasn't any resemblance as far as he could tell. He did find out the Wayland family were the initial forgers of Shadowhunter weapons prior the Iron Sisters, maybe that's where he developed his love of deadly toys.
His hand itched at the thought of carrying a seraph blade, he should continue to train even if he wasn't slaying demons anymore. The exercise would do him some good to relieve the stress he carried in his shoulders and neck.
He was glad he decided to call Alec. Seeing his parabatai really built up his internal strength, like the feeling you get after a good run or workout. Probably endorphin related he thought randomly. He would ask Alec to fake train with him in the morning, blow off some steam. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer.
The door swung open, Alec on the other side, a wide grin covered his face. "Hey Brother, good to see you again."
He pulled Jace through the doorway and led him into the living room by his shoulder. Magnus' apartment never ceased to surprise him. Today the living room looked like it belonged in a hunting lodge, very masculine with a bearskin rug on the floor, fire burning brightly in the fireplace, and a large chocolate brown leather sofa with matching ottoman. The sofa was huge, but looked really comfy. Magnus was sprawled in the middle of it covered with a vanilla cream chenille throw. They were watching some old movie with what looked like cowboys on the screen.
Magnus didn't take his eyes off the screen, "Can't deny the Duke. He was a Shadowhunter you know." He finally looked up at Jace, "That jacket is amazing, where did you get it, I don't think it's in stores yet?"
Magnus gawked at the jacket and motioned for Jace to come to him. He admired the leather bomber with envious eyes.
"Jace how in world did you afford this jacket? I thought Alec said you were trying to find a job?" He cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow. He touched the soft velvet and made a purring sound.
"Actually, they gave it to me this morning. I went to a modeling job for some designer…what was the name Zeus or something like that," he looked up trying to pull the name from the air above him.
"Are you saying you modeled Hermes clothing this morning?" Magnus' mouth gaped open, "And they just gave you this jacket?" with skepticism all over his face.
"Yup, I got to pick one piece of clothing I modeled and this is what I chose. It's killer don't you think?" He brushed the front of the jacket and looked down in adoration.
Alec slumped down on the sofa and crossed his hands over his chest, "Are you two going to talk about the jacket all day? I thought we had ceremonies to stop and Jace saving plans to plot." His tone held some irritation layered with worry.
"Sorry Alexander, I was just getting my fill of fashion gab for the day," Magnus smiled at Alec sweetly and walked over to the sofa resuming his previous position.
"Look Alec, I want to stop this reversal of ascension ceremony as much as you do, but I don't want you to get your hopes up. Plus remember I have the whole chaperone thingy going on," he pointed his head to the right corner of the room. Jace could see Brother Zachariah plain as day, he was a little surprised Magnus didn't see him considering they were in the warlock's domicile.
Magnus looked to the right corner, snapped his fingers, and all Brother Zachariah's glamour fell away. "Good afternoon, Brother Zachariah. How are things?"
"Magnus it is good to see you again. I apologize for the heavy glamour, it is a requirement of Mr. Wayland's freedom from being held in the Silent City while the Brotherhood fine tunes the ceremony."
"Always a pleasure, Brother Zachariah. Does you position prevent you from aiding Mr. Wayland in planning his release from this heinous punishment, or are you commissioned to stop us if we attempt to plot in your presence?" Magnus waited for Brother Zachariah to respond, but was confident he would not interfere with their activities that afternoon.
"I cannot assist you in planning an escape from the reversal of ascension ceremony, but I will not interfere either. I'm solely here to provide his glamour, and ensure he doesn't run from the Brothers to be a rogue Shadowhunter on the loose."
"Interesting." Magnus sat cross-legged on the sofa, his hands in front of his chest, blue sparks radiating between his fingers, "You know, I'm glad Brother Zachariah is here. I have a couple of questions I need to ask you in private," he said to the air. "Please excuse us."
Magnus stood up and crossed the room to where Brother Zachariah was standing. He whispered something to the man and they both exited to Magnus' office.
Jace joined Alec on the sofa, feeling the energy vibrate between the two of them, strengthening their parabatai connection. Alec noticed Jace's parabatai rune darken and felt a little relief from his panic.
"So a plan to get me out of the reversal of ascension ceremony? Is that even possible, Alec? I don't want to drag anyone else into this mess or put anyone in danger." Jace hung his head but realized being in Alec's presence made the topic of conversation seem lighter.
"There has to be a way, we've researched and there isn't one time in the history books were Shadowhunters were forced against their freewill to undergo the ceremony. Sure those fools who aligned themselves with demons, or chose to leave the call for a mundane, but none were stripped of their marks because they were exiled…Jace – Mom even called Imogen Herondale."
Jace's face contorted, "Why would she call her? The woman despises me. She would never come to my aid," he said confused.
"Izzy heard Mom talking to Imogen on the phone. Trying to get her to see her side one mother to another. It didn't work. Imogen wants to meet with you before the ceremony to let you know why they decided on such a harsh sentence. It's ridiculous, I mean you're not guilty of anything the Clave accused you of, and you're underage." Alec declared.
"I know but they didn't listen to anything I stated in my testimony, if you can call my time on the stand a testimony. They didn't even ask me any questions, I basically just made a plea."
"Right, the whole trial didn't adhere to Clave law. They didn't allow you an adult Clave member to argue your case."
They both fell silent staring into the fire for a moment.
"Why are you avoiding Clary in all of this? I understand your nature is to run into the danger head on and shelter the rest of us from that ugly part of the world, but she's a Shadowhunter now. She deserves to know what's going on and to offer you her help." Alec said sincerely.
Jace hesitated and then sighed, "My feelings for Clary are foreign to me. I've never experienced this type of connection, and I don't want to ruin her first experience as a Shadowhunter with all my crap going on. She deserves to enjoy exploring this new life, one that's been hidden from her for sixteen years. I don't want to steal that away, I also know my feelings can't progress if I become mundane, what future could we have - her a Shadowhunter and me a mundane, we can't…" he said quietly.
Alec could hear the sadness in Jace's voice as he said his true fear. "I understand you not wanting to pull any of us into this situation, but we are your family and that is what we are here for, as for Clary and you – your future – you can't make the decision for both of you. She has a say in the outcome as well, just remember that…she's only just found out she's a Shadowhunter, she may be willing to leave that behind if it means a future with you."
Jace put his head in his hands and Alec resumed staring intently on the fire.
"Zachariah, I contacted Tessa because I felt that strongly about my feelings - Jace isn't a Wayland." Magnus said in a hushed voice. "You've been with him for three days straight, do you think my theory is possible?"
"Magnus, I'm not supposed to reflect on my days prior to taking my vows as a Silent Brother. Speaking to you alone, without watchful eyes… yes - Jace has many traits of Will, but that could be a coincidence. If there is a blood relation, I'm not sure how that would be possible. I saw Tessa as well," Magnus denoted longing in the Brother's thoughts, "she commented Jace looked familiar to her when she saw him."
"She told me she met Jace at the delivery service she's managing," Magnus rolled his eyes, "why she insists on holding a mundane job right now, I'll never know. Anyway, she asked me if they had met at my house at some point. I didn't recollect any encounter between the two. Then without me hinting about my theory, she commented Jace looked a lot like Will, and maybe that was why she thought he looked familiar."
Magnus put a finger to his lips, "I'm just not sure how they would be related, the connection. I'm going to research the family line more thoroughly."
"I miss Will Herondale more than anyone outside of Tessa, but why are you looking for this connection Magnus? What benefit will it be to the boy if you find he is a descendant of Will's?"
"Because Maryse Lightwood thinks Imogen Herondale has the authority to stop this madness from taking place. If Jace is a Herondale, she might change her mind about him and get the sentence revoked or at least lightened."
"If I could just figure out the connection…all our efforts might be futile." Magnus was hopeful in his thoughts – Jace had to be a descendant of Will Herondale, and somehow related to Imogen.
Clary could hear Simon and Izzy having a DTR in the next room. "Ugh…why am I here!" she groaned in frustration.
She lay back on the couch and started to read A Tale of Two Cities, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What was the smell, or scent…familiar? Why did Jordan's couch smell faintly like Jace? Her Jace? She was seething. Clary bolted off the couch and opened Simon's bedroom door without knocking.
"Simon Lewis are you harboring Jace Wayland on your couch?" she demanded.
Once again a good thing he was a vampire because he would normally be flushed, sweating bullets in this situation as a human. He looked down at the ground and up at Clary through his eyelashes. "Why would you ask that?"
"Because there is a copy of Dickens on the coffee table with the pages dog-eared. You don't defile books like that, and I smelled his scent on the couch." Clary retorted.
Damn it - Simon was going to kill Wayland. "Clary, look he showed up here the night of his sentencing. He didn't have anywhere else to go. I couldn't turn him away. If I'd turned him away and you found out, you'd be angry with me. I didn't realize until he was here for a couple hours that he hadn't called you," his voice softened on the last sentence.
"Well, I guess I misunderstood Jace's message to me in the Great Hall. He does want me to move on," she held back a sob. "I have to go, Izzy. I'll see you at home." She spun on her heels and stormed out of the apartment, barley closing the door behind her.