Author's Note: I don't want to make it feel like this story is dragging too will pick up next chapter. Soon introducing Clary.
Part I:
"You shall find out how salt is the taste of another man's bread and how hard is the way up and down another man's stairs."
Chapter IV:
Valentine knocks on the door of the apartment, with Jonathan standing back watching him.
"Hello," a man says as the door swings open. Jonathan tilts his head to the side, looking around his dad's shoulder. The man had dark hair, shoulder length, and green cat eyes. Warlock. Valentine holds out his hand.
"Magnus I presume. I'm Christopher," Valentine lies smoothly, "I need a portal made asap."
"It'll cost you," the man says, looking at Jonathan, then he reaches out and shakes the extended hand. "How much are you wiling to pay?"
"I have two hundred on me... I have a car, I can leave it with you until I return," Valentine says to him. Magnus nods, looking at him.
"And how do you plan on getting back?"
"I was hoping you could help us out," Valentine goes on to say. Jonathan swallows, and crosses his arms to keep from fidgeting too much. Hopefully Jace would be in one piece when they show up. Magnus sighs dramatically, leaning on the door frame.
"I suppose. But that would require I come with you, or I keep the portal open for a period of time. How long will your visit be?"
"Maybe five minutes," Valentine says.
"I like me a man who can do business quick. Then sure, come on inside and I'll set you guys up," Magnus says, turning. The two follow him. Jonathan looks around the spacious living room, with fluffy purple pillows on the couch and shiny velvet curtains covering the window. Some paintings, not yet hung up. A beautiful kitchen with bright red cupboards. The whole place practically screamed of a shiny character.
"Where are you guys going?" Magnus goes to a wall with a curtain hanging down, and pushes the cloth aside. Behind it was a plain brick wall.
"Germany."
"Nice. Money?" Magnus turns around, and Valentine digs in his pocket and hands over a lot of twenties. Magnus counts it out, nods, then turns and holds a hand out to the curtain.
"Behold. Germany." Magnus chants in a language Sebastian has heard before, but doesn't understand. Slowly, a spark lights up in the middle of the wall, slowly widening and casting a blue green light over the room. The light turns white as it gets large, turning into a bubbling oval. Jonathan sets his bag down, looking at Magnus.
"Is it alright if I leave this with you," Jonathan asks him.
"Certainly," Magnus responds, breaking his chanting, but his eyes remain on the widening portal. After a few more seconds, Magnus holds up his other hand and looks at them. "It's ready."
"You stay here, Jonathan," Valentine says, turning to look at his boy. Jonathan huffs, but nods, crossing his arms. Valentine tosses his car keys to Magnus, then turns to the portal. Slowly, a picture of a cottage shows up, materializing in the oval. Valentine takes a step forward, when suddenly something hits him in the shoulder.
Jonathan blinks, staring at an arrow that has hit his father. Jonathan whips around, seeing a two men and a woman, standing in the doorway.
"Valentine," the woman calls out, and Magnus takes in a loud breath, looking at Valentine. The eccentric man's dramatic act would have made Jonathan laugh, had this been another situation. Jonathan looks at his father, who's staring at the woman, then he looks at Jonathan.
"Run," Valentine says to him, and the two run through the portal, their feet leaving carpet and stepping onto grass. Jonathan's eyes search around, looking for Jace, and he can swear he sees a blond head in the far left, down a hill. Jonathan sprints. His wounds protest, but he sprints.
His father stumbles, and Jonathan stops and turns, seeing an arrow in Valentine's calf. His father looks up at him.
"Keep running, Jonathan."
"Why?!"
"Just do it! You're my son, I don't know what they'd do with you," Valentine says to him. Jonathan freezes, then turns and sprints, trying to move in a way that will make him hard to hit.
Why was he running? He didn't run back at the apartment. Jonathan stops, looking back, seeing that he's already run a long way. Valentine is kneeling, staring back at him, and next to him are the woman and two men. Already, Jonathan can see two other people making their way through the portal. Can he take on five people? No. Could he, with Jace? Maybe. Then again, he is injured. Jace is too.
Jonathan looks over his shoulder, seeing the blond far away, but getting closer. Jace was not exactly running, even though it was obvious their father was in trouble. Meaning Jace was still hurting.
Could they really take on five people? Jonathan weighs the thought, knowing he doesn't have much time.
The second etches by. "Shit," Jonathan says, running back to his father. He has made his decision. But as soon as he starts sprinting, the man with the arrows lifts his bow. Jonathan raises his hands in the air, slowing to a walk.
"Who are you," Jonathan asks quickly. Their black shadowhunter gear meant they could be from the circle, or the clave. The dark haired woman walks forward.
"Maryse Lightwood of the New York Institute," the woman responds. So, they belonged to the clave. "From your looks, I take it your Jonathan."
"I am."
"And the blond far behind you? Do you know him?" The woman looks behind Jonathan, and he follows her gaze to see Jace jogging, much closer.
"My brother. Jace."
"I see," the woman says, and she looks at Valentine. "Do you understand why we're here?"
"For my father, I'm guessing."
"Very smart. We're taking him to the city of bones. Since you and your friend are young, you might get off easy. But you're to come with us," she says. Jonathan swallows, looking at his father. The city of Bones? The ultimate jail in this world? Fantastic.
"And where do you expect me and my brother to go?" Jonathan sets his jaw and lifts his head. Maryse narrows her eyes.
"To the Institute for now. When we contact the Inquisitor, it'll be decided."
"Fine," Jonathan states, letting out a small sigh. So this was it. By now, Jace is ten feet away, and he stops to stare.
"What exactly are you doing," Jace calls out.
"You're being apprehended by the clave," Maryse answers back.
"And you expect us to just go like that?" Jace tilts his head, looking at Valentine, who shakes his head slightly. Jace frowns.
"Robert, watch Jace. Aline, watch Jonathan," Maryse says. Jonathan watches as one of the newcomers approach him, a young and fit female. She moves behind Jonathan.
"Walk," she says. Jonathan walks, following the rest of the group, with Maryse leading. They all walk back to the portal. He stares at the back of his father, who's limping right now. The clave would not go easy on him. Would they go easy on Jace? What about himself, Jonathan? Would they be kind to the kids who were raised by an ex-circle member?
Lost in his own thoughts, Jonathan has to take a minute to process when Valentine suddenly turn around, knocking the blade from the newcomer, and delivering a shot to his face. Oh shit. His heart rate jumps up, and Jonathan turns around, but the woman is expecting it. So Aline hits him square in the face. Jonathan grabs her arm, pulling it downwards, then grabs her shoulder and pushes her back. She stumbles back, and Jonathan charges at her, kicking her square in the stomach.
As she falls, Jonathan sees Jace, fighting with Robert. And the arrow guy is in the back, bow raised, but not having any clear way to hit anyone. So Jonathan goes for him.
He angles his body, dodging a flying arrow. Tackles the boy to the ground. Punches are thrown.
Jonathan rolls off the boy, to the side, jumps up and turns around. He sees Robert fall, still conscious though, so Jonathan runs and takes the free Jace's hand and tugs him hard to the portal.
Aline is up now. But she can't take both Jace and Jonathan on, and so they pretty much throw her back to the ground. Jonathan keeps running, past a man who's unconscious on the ground, toward where Maryse and Valentine are now fighting.
Jonathan can't help but grin. The fight was making him feel elated. He kicks Maryse in the leg, and Jace copies him. She falls on her stomach, and Jonathan runs to the portal with Jace and Valentine.
Inside the apartment, Jonathan grabs his bag and leads the way to the door. All of them dart out the door, down flights of stairs, and back onto the streets of New York. They run for the car, and Jonathan tries to open the passenger door, but it's locked.
"Magnus! I left the keys with Magnus," Valentine says, and Jace swears. Jonathan snorts, looking at his father.
"Get the keys."
"They're right behind us! I'm not going to the city of bones," Valentine replies. Suddenly, Magnus comes out the door, jogging toward them.
"They're coming you know. Here," Magnus holds out a set of keys. Valentine snatches it, opening the door and throwing himself into the driver's seat. The boys copy him.
He turns on the car, just as someone comes outside. A boy with blue eyes. Arrow-boy. He runs down the stairs, stupidly jumping in front of the car. Wasting no time, Valentine drives forward and hits the boy dead on. The boy rolls over the hood, falling off the side of the car.
"Fucking shit dad," Jonathan says, a laugh escaping. Jace leans forward, looking at Valentine.
"How the hell did the clave know we were here," Jace demands.
"I don't know."
"Dad, where are we going?"
"I don't know."
"What are we doing now?"
"You guys-"
"They all know what we look like now, dad. Both the clave and circle know-"
"You guys, shut up the fuck up and let me think," Valentine says angrily, and both guys quiet down. Silently, they drive fast down the streets of New York. After a tense minute, Valentine digs into his pocket, pulling out his phone and dialing a number. The distraction causes them to nearly hit someone on the road, and they hastily stop, everyone being thrown against their seat belts.
"Father," Jonathan hisses.
"Shut up! Seriously. Hello, Hodge? Where are you? I'm coming over right now, I know the Institute is empty," Valentine says. Both boys look at him.
"The Institute? We're going to the Institute?"
"Yes, we are."
"That's fucked up," Jace mumbles, and Jonathan looks out the window, shaking his head. Valentine keeps talking to Hodge, asking if he can pick something up. After a while, he's practically pleading. But soon, he hangs up, and they drive silently. All he can think about is that both the clave and circle are after them. Feeling his heart rate start to go down, Jonathan relaxes and watches the building and people pass by. Enjoys the hum of the car. When he feels that it's right, he asks a question.
"Father, why are we going to the Institute?" Jonathan breaks the silence calmly. His father sighs deeply.
"I'm picking up the mortal cup."