I have no excuses. Really, I'm so sorry to all of my followers. I feel like every time I'm on here, I'm apologising for something. But thank you for all of your kind words!

AmeliaJane14: In Clary's dream, Jace is NOT a demon. I just couldn't do that... hopefully the question will be answered in this chapter. And your ideas were pretty good.

IridescentxPetals: Yikes. I probably just completely contradicted the 'update the story so often' and I'm apologising to you for that specifically. Because, seriously, your reviews are awesome.

When you need me, fire-message me. I'll be here as soon as I can.

Clary moved toward the stables, securing her hair in a messy braid behind her head.

When you need me…

She wondered why Isabelle had gotten injured in the first place. She was more than a competent fighter, and could hold her own against a few demons. The demon poisoning never should have happened- and was it coincidence that the warlock seemed to know them?

Clary swung herself up onto Jace's horse. It was a regal dark brown Oldenburg, but Idris was small enough that most inhabited places were within walking distance.

Today's journey was at least an hour by horse.

When you need me, fire-message me. I'll be here as soon as I can.

The sentence played over and over again in Clary's head. Sometimes, Magnus Bane emanated familiarity. Others… the warlock would turn into a distorted version of himself- teeth blindingly white and incisors sharpened to points like a vampire's. Only when she was sleeping did he turn into a nightmarish monster, but it was enough to convince her that she needed to have the advantage when meeting him.

Leather bit into her hands, and she looked down to see red lines scored across the surface of her palms where she had clenched the reins too tightly. She told Jace of her dream the first time it happened, but he went alarmingly still and asked why she was dreaming about the Downworlder.

She sighed and set off at a canter. It was difficult to restrain her desire to get there as quickly as possible.

Something was a little off with Jace like it never had been before. Even when-

The sentence stopped abruptly. Clary couldn't even remember what she was going to think. Trying to clear her head, she let herself relax into the lull of the motion beneath the horse's hooves and the flashing greens passing her.

Before too long, she was tying the reins in a secure knot and heading towards the place that the werewolf she'd run into outside Alicante directed her to. The cottage looked pleasant enough, although the harsh modern lines looked incongruous with the organic contours of the forest. Clary barely hesitated before walking up to the heavy door and knocking. There was a shuffling behind the door, and then it swung open reluctantly to reveal Magnus Bane. He grinned. "Clary." Seemingly contented, he opened the door a little wider until she could see down a canary yellow hallway adorned with exotic treasures. She had no doubt he'd procured some of those illegally, but she wasn't about to haul him up for breaking the Accords. She had an insatiable curiosity about what he had to say.

"Please, come in." He ushered her through the door and shut it with a bang, along with the unmistakable murmur of a spell.

Shadowhunter instinct kicked in as Clary glanced around for danger and glamours, but saw none. Magnus led her down the hallway into a room with deep red sofas and dark walls. She followed his lead and sat warily.

"How has Jace been?" He asked.

Clary felt something like a kick to her gut. Anger swirled around her mind, shrouding her thoughts. Did he know how strangely Jace was acting? "He's fine." She lied, keeping her voice steady as she could.

"Really?" The warlock seemed disbelieving- as if he would be amused if the situation was less grave. Because the jovial mood that he met her with had disappeared almost as soon as they sat down. Tension gathered in the air and Clary remained silent until it was almost palpable.

She couldn't take it any longer. Her temper flared. "What's it to you?" Too many questions. Not enough answers. "Tell me. By the angel, what is going on?"

"Clary, I need you to listen carefully. I need you to keep this a secret."

She bristled, but as she opened her mouth to retort, he cut her off.

"And I need your help."

"So, you're saying Jace and this 'Simon' are both stuck somewhere, and you don't know where they are?"

Magnus nodded silently.

"And someone in this… thing… is a demon, but you don't know who it is- but it can't be Jace."

He nodded again.

Clary struggled with the new information but shoved it aside for the moment. Magnus could clearly read her emotions and shifted, mumbling to himself. "I've done this too many times."

She cleared her throat, wanting to talk about something else. "You must really love Alec."

His head jerked up. True surprise flashed across his face for a fleeting second before he regained control and his face smoothed into its normal impassive state. "What makes you say that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Come on. This amount of effort- it's obviously taking a lot out of you. Even if you and he aren't together, this speaks volumes."

Bitter humor chased away the indifference. "I'm lucky Alec is so clueless then, aren't I?"

She took a breath to correct him, to tell him what a wreck Alec had been because of the knowledge that Magnus didn't think he possessed, but he spoke over he once again. "Let me tell you my plan instead." He continued, heedless of her opinion. "If all you are with me at the same point, I can split my energy six ways, and each 'version' of myself can perform a spell, and bring everyone together. Then, together four Shadowhunters, a vampire and a warlock should be able to overpower a demon, even if its been feeding on your emotions throughout the duration of these dreams. I just need to break into Simon and Jace's illusions."

Clary didn't say anything. She just tried to remember Simon. Little flickers here and there came to her- his sticky hand holding hers as they crossed the street to school, the promise that he would never cut her out of his life the first time she'd been to the city of glass and after her mother showed up. But it was more than enough to convince her that both he and Jace needed liberating.

Clary wrapped a strand of red hair around her finger and then unwound it again. Then, she did it again. And again. Magnus had conjured up two cups of coffee, and hers was nearly drained. "I just… I need a little time to regroup before I go back and face a Jace that isn't there." Her voice dipped dangerously on the last word. They'd been through too much, and now she should be closer than ever before. Instead, she was further from him when they'd thought they were siblings. That was the sentence she never finished when she was riding here.

At least she knew that Jace was there. Even when Sebastian controlled him, she knew he was safe. Now, Magnus was telling her that he had no idea where he was.

"Okay." She took a calming breath to clear her head. "Okay. See you later, Magnus."

She put her cup down and walked to where her horse was snuffling at some grass contentedly. She hoisted herself up onto the horse and rode away, not looking back once.

I've just started the next chapter, so hopefully that will be up in the next week. I'm trying to keep a regular updating schedule now.

What do you guys want to happen? How do you want this to end?