"There she is! How are you, Clarissa? Our little hero." The sarcasm in Valentines voice didn't surprise Clary. She knew he was angry so it really didn't scare her.

Jon shook his head, motioning for her to not say anything as she sat. She did so but was instantly uncomfortable.

"Darling, would you like to address our little problem before I talk to her privately?" He was referring to her mother for the first time in a long time.

"Well sweetie," her mother cleared her throat. "We are worried that you are turning your back on the family. You don't want to eat with us and you are acting very strange. I've told your father it is just nerves but he seems to not believe me." Clary saw the determination in her eyes, her mom was smarter than she seemed. "Is there any reason you are behaving like this?"

Clary sat there, thinking. "I'm only skipping dinner because I can't eat from nerves and I don't want him to yell at me the whole time. I love you all but sometimes I need to be alone. I am my own person, someone who would rather not be stuck in concrete walls." It may have been going too far but she had needed to say it. "Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't be independent."

Clary would have cleared up her statement but Valentine didn't let her. "Enough! I have not raised you to act like this, a free thinker. You are an obedient woman only. You will be married within three days' time and willingly give birth to the man's children! That is all!"

They all stared at each other for what seemed like ages.

Jon stood up, sick of the tirade and tension. "Father, stop. Yelling and ordering her around does not help anything with her. Do you not know your own daughter?" Valentine sat in his seat, shocked. "You treat the women in this house like trash! It's sickening! I'm going on a trip and taking them. You have no say anymore!"

Valentine laughed until he realized how serious Jon was. "Son, please sit down."

"Nope. Come on Clary, mother, we need to get some help from the servants."

Clary obeyed him and stood up. Following her brother out was the best option she had right now.

"Jon, we need to stop in my room. I need to tell you something."

He turned his head and sighed. "I know you were planning to go to Egypt. I've overheard a few conversations the past few days. Grab Jace and them. I had Izzy cook up some more soup for father to eat in the morning, he'll be dead by nightfall. You think I wasn't planning something against him too? Silly girl."

They walked in silence, pacing through untraveled halls in the house. Jace and a large amount of servants joined them before they reached a suspicious door. Jon gathered them all in the room and spoke with such authority that shivers went down her spine.

"Hello everyone, I have waited for this moment for two weeks. Now most of you know the plan but Clary is unaware of it. Sister, this has been coming for a while. I was aware that Egyptian spies would try to kill dad because of an informant but I needed to make sure he was really dead. So I let them come in here. Hell, I knew it was the Prince when he was carrying you to the carriage. I just needed the perfect moment to go off and kick this into motion. Also, the 'princes' weren't princes at all. They were decoys from Egypt. Dad has done enough damage to Rome and I intend to stop it." She went white but she was happy. She could just be with Jace! "Clary, are you okay?"

"I'm somewhat angry that someone didn't tell me about the princes but I'm happy. I'll finally be free."

Jace smiled and took her hand. "I'm glad." Everyone agreed with him and grabbed the bags that had been hidden behind them. She didn't get a second to speak as Jon explained a good amount exclusively to her and Jace.

"Go in the third carriage and travel to the port. Your stuff is already in there so don't worry. Just be safe. You both deserve this so much more then you think. Also, thanks for meeting me earlier Jace. I know it was a surprise."

Jace nodded. "You've gained my respect. When will you be joining us?"

"Two days, it's all I need to calm down everyone and restore things. Good luck guys."

Jon left the room, leaving them alone.

"It's time to go," Jace gently reminded her. She was free and loved it. But why did she have a sneaking feeling that she would never see her brother again? Putting the thought away, she climbed into the carriage waiting on them and let the rumble of the cobblestones lull her to sleep.

Jace POV

They traveled for hours, something he knew they would do, but the whole day had been so stressful that he didn't realize that Jon had made the biggest sacrifice of all. Earlier, right after the knock on the door during Clary's dance lesson, he knew he would have to meet the prince. It was nerve wrecking but he hadn't realized how important it was.

"Jace, how's my sister?" He heard Jon as soon as he entered the bakery. Jon was relaxing in the corner, biting into one of Clary's favorites.

He sighed and sat opposite of him. "Good. She's hiding but she is okay. Why did you need to talk to me?"

"I, though you may not believe me, know that you are planning some escape. I invited you here to tell you my own little plan though." Jon stood up to stretch then sat back down. Leaning on his elbows, he asked the inevitable. "How long did you think it would take me to recognize you?"

"What do you mean?" Jace, though he thought it was stupid, dropped the act. "Honestly, I know I'm infamous but you don't need to act like I wanted you to see me. The point was for me to blend in."

Jon laughed at him, a real laugh. "Well, my fellow prince, I know you like Clary too. Whatever plan you have I would like to help with if you don't mind. It's time my old man went down." From there Jon explained everything and told him to stay near Clary. She would need all the protection possible.

Jace recalled the memory a moment longer before returning his attention to Clary. She had passed out as soon as they started off but she would have to wake up to board the boat across the sea. He could see the lanterns already, a good sign that no one had realized what was going on. When the carriage stopped as close to the dock as it could get, Jace figured he would just carry her on board. It ended up working for him because Izzy and Alec were in the fifth carriage and offered to get their stuff. Eventually everyone boarded the boat and crouched beneath the railing. As soon as they were a few miles out they would be safe. He hoped so at least.

-2 hours later-

Clary POV

Clary woke up and felt her stomach drop. She had only read about boats and their many uses but she had never been on one. The soup that was in her stomach swished its way up her throat in a matter of seconds when she tried to stand. Out of every place she could puke, this couldn't have been the worst. Her last meal made its way back down, warning her that if she tried anything funny she would pay. Beside her was Jace, who slept on his arm. As peaceful as he looked, she obviously didn't want to wake him. Jace had momentarily distracted her before she felt it again. Clary spotted a bucket a few feet away. Someone had known, or they just happened to put it there. The ship rocked under her as she reached out to grab it, turning greener by the second.

"Hey!" She said as the bucket slipped from her grasp. Whoever had their hand on the rim would get her full wrath.

"Clary? I didn't see you there. Oh geez! You need this more than I do. Take my hand." Alec reached down to slowly pull her up, fully knowing how she felt. "There we go." The contents of her stomach came full swing and Clary wretched into the bucket. "First time on a boat?"

Clary nodded as he held her hair back. As soon as she was done, Clary leaned against the railing. The last thing she wanted to see was Alec dumping the contents that had been in her stomach into the ocean. "Jace never expected me to be seasick did he?"

"You'd be surprised how many people are actually. You are a bit more sensitive than some people are. Example: I almost puked when I woke up." He laughed at her face as she glared at him. Over the horizon they could see what looked like flames. Torches! They were near Egypt. Alec peaked back and grinned.

"Someone is awake. While we are here, well while people get to know who you are, you may want to address Jace as your highness. Just a warning!"

Clary would have responded if it weren't for someone else interrupting her thought process.

"Your highness? She will never have to call me that. Just call me Jonathon in public." Jace laughed in her ear. Alec overheard, probably because he was meant to, and scowled.

"Tell your father that. I can't wait till he finds out about you two. Be warned Clary, the queens hugs are quite," Alec searched for the word. "I can't think of it exactly. She just hugs really tight. Snake like almost."

Jace countered right back. "She gives the best hugs. You just don't like them because 'your ribs are large and you can't breathe'." She could tell he wanted to continue but he didn't. Jace's eyes were glued to the scene before them. If anything, he was glad to be even closer to home.

Sorry. I know it's been a while... But here, new chapter! (I'm trying to update more) Enjoy!

Q's:

1. What is waiting for them?

2. You like the plot twist or no?

3. Anyone seasick or motion sick? (My stepmom got motion sickness playing Mario Cart, I'm not kidding.)

Love y'all!

-A