Jace's gasp filed the dark room as he was wrenched back into his body. He panted for a few moments, registering his surrounds. Then he looked down at his tightly clenched hand. With anxious caution he slowly uncurled it, praying to see what he had held so tight. There it lay in his palm, the single golden hair of Jonathan Morgenstern.
The sight of it filled him with hope but also grief. The image of ruby droplets rolling down Clary's skin seemed to reflect from the hair. He clenched his fist and eyes, trying to eradicate the image from his mind. She was suffering and there was nothing he could do to stop it. His now glassy eyes opened slightly and looked over at her still and carefully laid out form on the bed next to him. Seeing her body unmarked and peaceful chased away some of the pain and calmed him.
He jumped when a hand suddenly dropped down onto his shoulder. He turned and looked up at the owner. Magnus's cat's eyes stared down at him, questioningly, expectant. Silently he lifted his other hand, producing a small, glass vial. Carefully Jace lifted his closed fist to the opening and allowed the strand to slip into the tube. Almost immediately Magus put a cork in the top, sealing it from the elements. Jace was, finally, able to relax and slumped in relief.
"I'll start getting everything we'll need," Magnus murmured quietly.
"Things we'll need? Why can't we just use a tracking spell?" Jace asked, agitated.
"Jonathan is no longer completely human so the usual tracking spell won't work. As he is able to walk between realms, we'll require a more complicated process and spell," Magus said.
"How long will that take?" Jace asked impatiently.
"No more than a day or two. Some of the supplies will take time to procure. As I said, it's more complicated," Magnus said calmly.
Jace sighed, "Ok."
"Best get started," Magnus said, striding over to, and out the door, leaving Jace alone once again in the dark to sit vigil by Clary's bed side.
Magnus shut the bedroom door with a soft click and sigh. He turned and descended the staircase wearily. No matter how much the shadowhunter tested his patience he could not help by sympathise with the angel boy. He would be just as lost and desperate if it were Alec. Even more so, most likely. He patted his breast pocket, reassuring himself that the glass cylinder was still safely tucked away in there.
He entered the front room and instantly moved to Alec's side once again and rested his hand on the younger mans shoulder. The room was silent, no one daring speak a word, fearing they may hear of failure. It was Isabelle, who was unable to contain herself any longer, that broke the silence.
"Well? Did it work? Where's Jace?" she said quickly, firing out questions in rapid succession.
Magnus took a deep breath, "Jace is upstairs resting and was indeed able to retrieve a sufficient sample, a strand of hair, –"
"What are we waiting for then? Put a tracing spell on it!" Isabelle urged.
"It is not that simple –" Magnus began.
"Why not? It worked last time why not now?" Isabelle demanded with obvious irritation.
"Last time Jonathan was human. Now he is able to walk between realms, which means a much more complex and powerful tracking spell will be required, one which allows a search of both the physical world and the other side," the warlock explained, repeating what he had told Jace not a few moments before.
"How long will that take to prepare?" Maryse asked before Isabelle could.
"A day or two," Magnus replied frankly.
This caused protest from nearly everyone in the room, except Alec, who sat quietly in his chair, knowing Magnus was giving them the best, and shortest, time he possibly could. Questions flew one after another at the warlock behind him, "Why so long?", "What about Clary!" and so on. But still he and Magnus remained silent until his family finally began to quiet and Magnus could explain.
"As I said before, it is a more complicated process than usual and requires items which I cannot immediately obtain. Not only that but the spell itself also takes time to prepare and carry out correctly. And with only one strand of hair at our disposal we cannot afford mistakes. As for Clary, I have placed her under an enchantment which will keep her physical state protected and healthy for her return," he clarified in one uninterrupted statement.
Maryse and Isabelle looked like they wanted to argue but eventually relented and sat back in their chairs. Robert as usual, sat patiently, allowing things to happen as was necessary. Their surrender let Magnus relax somewhat. He rubbed his temple, trying to sooth the unrelenting ache that came with such high magic use in so short a time. Alec of course notice this small action and rose from his chair.
"We best be off then. We all need some rest, and Magnus needs to being gathering supplies," Alec knew the last bit was true, but would not happen until Magnus had rested as well.
"I suppose," Maryse sighed, standing to see her son and his partner out.
"Thank you, for all you're doing," said Robert as he held the door open for them.
Magnus simply nodded then continued over the threshold, onto the porch and down the stairs to wait for Alec at the gate.
Alec soon moved to follow him, pausing only briefly to speak to his father, "Keep an eye on Jace, make sure he takes his serum, I know Magnus left a new bottle, and that he looks after himself."
"Already planned to, he is still my son," Robert smiled and waved Alec off before shutting the door on the warlock and his sons retreating forms.
Magnus and Alec walked down the street toward the small house which Magnus was residing in for the time being. They did not hold hands but walked close enough that their shoulders continued to brush against each other. Neither spoke until they began to walk into the lower part of town where Alec's voice finally broke the silence.
"Magnus?"
"Yes, Alec?"
"Do you really think this is going to work?"
Magnus didn't answer until a few moments later, sullenly and quietly.
"I honestly do not know."