Scarred for Life

Chapter 28

I know that, once again, it's been forever since I've updated and I'm apologizing with an extra long chapter. I know that at the beginning of the first flashback it mostly repeats what was said in the first chapter, but as you read you should notice that some new details were added, explaining how Clary pulled off keeping Michael alive.

Enjoy :)

Clary P.O.V

"You can't Magnus, I swore on the Angel."

Magnus rolled his eyes, clearly getting frustrated. "Didn't we just go over this? You swore on the Angel. You can't tell Jace. I, however, can do whatever the hell I want. Just one question, dear: Why is it such a big deal whether or not Jace finds out? Wouldn't it be better if he found out? He'll forgive you; you'll make up, get married, and live happily ever after killing thousands of demons together. I believe that's how those typical fairy tales work."

"If you really saw all of my memories, then I think you know exactly why I can't tell Jace."

Magnus smirked, his feline eyes flashing. "I'm centuries old. There are so many memories in my head, I'm bound to forget something."

Flashback: Herondale Manor. That night. 8 years ago.

"I can create a rune that will make him forget everything! That way he can't tell the Clave anything! The Circle will remain a secret and Michael will get to live!" I didn't know much about the Circle, but I figured that they weren't mindless killers. I drew my stele out of my belt, already picturing a rune in my mind.

"Clarissa Morgenstern!" my father snapped, "You will not stand here and make a mockery of my prized organization! He deserves to die, therefore he will! Now take the knife from your brother and stab it through this man's disgusting heart!"

There had to be another way. I refused to let this innocent man's blood be on my hands. The rune flashed in my mind again. It was then that I realized it wasn't a memory rune.

I heard Michael speak up and I turned to look at him. "Kill me. I understand you don't want to and I'm grateful, but just kill me."

Bewildered, I whispered, "You want to die?" His only response was a nod. "Why would you want to die?"

Michael just looked fondly at his son and said to me, "He has his instructions, and I know Valentine won't hurt Jace. Even he is above murdering children." He smiled. " I have lived a good life and seen many things. I've met the love of my life and had a beautiful son. I've rid the world of thousands of demons! I have lived a full life and I'm ready to enter the next world."

I dropped down onto my knees bin front of him. "Those all sound wonderful. Wouldn't you want to experience more? You can finish raising your son and kill thousands of more demons!" I had to convince this man that his life was worth living. He can't just give up. I found out how to save him, but he's telling me that he doesn't want it.

"I've also had horrible times. I've seen my love, Celine, murdered, and I've been faced death hundreds of times. But most importantly, I joined in the Circle because I thought it was a noble cause, only to find out it's only interest is enslaving the world, and yet I went along with it."

So obviously he was ready to die. Though there was still one thing that didn't match up. "What are you going to do about your son? He's not old enough to take care of himself."

Jace, who was watching the scene unfold with tears in his eyes, glared at me and hissed, "What are you talking about? I'm older than YOU! Don't stand there and act like you know everything!"

"I promise you, Clarissa Morgenstern, I won't blame you for killing me. You have to do this to please your father, so do it. Take the knife and stab it through my heart. It isn't that difficult, I promise you."

Doing what Michael said, I finally took the dagger out of Jonathon's hand. Turning back to Michael, I hunched my shoulders inward and hid both my stele and the dagger from everyone else's sight. As quickly as I could, I pictured the rune and carved it into the hilt of the dagger. All the while, Michael watched with wide eyes. When it was finished and he could finally see what it meant, he looked up and gave a tiny smile.

I placed the dagger over his heart and paused for the last time. I looked into Jace's eyes, knowing that I was about to 'kill' the only family he had left and whispered, "Forgive me." before plunging the knife into Michael Wayland's heart. The entire time watching the rune on the hilt, and praying that it does what it says.

Cheat death.

Later that night.

Luke didn't stop running until we were deep within Brocelind Forest. Once he found a clearing I jumped off his back and turned around so he could Change.

"Clary?" Luke's deep cut through the silence in the air like a knife and I couldn't help the small squeal that escaped my lips. Luke walked around and kneeled in front of me. "Are you alright, Clare?"

I always hated it when people asked me that. Mommy used to ask me that after training sessions with Dad and Jonathan, even though she could plainly see the bruises and cuts all over my body.

I ignored the question and instead asked, "How did you know the Clave was coming for me tonight?"

Luke reached out and smoothed my hair down. "I didn't. I've known for a while that I had to get you out of there. It just happened that the Clave was there to distract Valentine. I'm so sorry that it took me so long to come get you. I kept hoping that maybe Jocelyn would come back and make everything right."

"She can't make anything right if she's dead." I looked down at my feet, not able to look at Luke's face.

He put two fingers under my chin and forced me to look into his warm brown eyes. "Do you honestly think that she's dead, Clary?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. What am I supposed to think? She's been gone for two years. Either she's dead or she doesn't love me enough to come back."

Luke gathered me into his arms and started rubbing my back. "Of course she loves you, Clary. You are the most selfless little girl I know, and I think Michael Wayland will agree."

My head shot up, almost hitting Luke's chin. "How do you know about Mr. Wayland?"

"We met up when I was scouting out your house tonight. He warned me that the Clave was coming and he also told me what you did for him." Luke's face suddenly went very serious. "That was very risky,
Clary. If Valentine would have seen you, you could have been killed."

"So you're saying… that my rune worked?!"

Luke chuckled and mumbled something along the lines of 'that being the only thing you heard'.

I put my hands on his shoulders and shook him a little. "Luke! Did. My. Rune. Work?"

Luke smirked and pointed over my shoulder. "Turn around and see for yourself." Sure enough, standing behind me was the man who I stabbed in the heart not even 3 hours prior.

"Michael!" I ran and jumped into his arms, not even caring that I hardly know him. He was alive, and my father wasn't after him anymore.

"Hello, Clarissa. It's good to see you without a dagger in your hand." After I had laughed a little he set me on the ground. "How old are you, Clarissa?"

"I'm eight, but I'll be nine in three months."

He touched my face, a fatherly gesture. "You've been forced to grow up so early. You never even got a chance to grow up. You're my son's age, did you know that?"

I nodded. I had thought that he was around my age. "I thought so. When are you gonna go get Jace? I'm sure that he'll be really happy you didn't actually die."

When Michael's face hardened, I thought that I had said something wrong. I opened my mouth to apologize but Mr. Wayland had already started talking. "Jace can't know that I'm still alive. I think that it's best for everyone if he just thinks I'm dead."

I blinked, trying to process what he was saying. Why wouldn't he want to see his son again? "That doesn't make any sense."

I hadn't realized I had said that last part aloud until Michael started talking again. "Think about it, Clary. If Jace thinks I'm dead, then Valentine and the Circle won't have any use for him ever again. If he does know I'm still alive and Valentine finds out, he'll use Jace as leverage to lure me back. It's safer."

"It might be safer, but it still isn't better. You're the only family Jace has left and you are thinking of just abandoning him. The only reason that rune I made even exists is because of him. I thought about how crushed Jace would be if I actually did murder his only living relative. If you think about it, you are only alive because of your son. Now you just want to leave him?!"

After my little outburst, Luke came over and stood next to Michael. "Tell him, Luke. Tell him that he's trying to do is wrong."

Luke looked sad, defeated. "I can't do that, Clary. I know you don't know Jace very well, but how would you feel if your dad tortured him? Would you want him to go through the same pain that you went through?" I shook my head pitifully. "Then you have to understand that Michael is only trying to protect Jace. It's the best choice."

I could feel my shoulders slump inwards and my frizzy, red hair fall in front of my face. I knew that Luke and Michael were right, but it still felt so wrong. I heard one of the grown-ups shift and kneel down in front of me. I felt him move my hair away from my face and I looked up to see Michael. "We aren't done yet, Clary. I need you to swear an Angel's oath that you won't tell anyone, especially Jace, that I am still alive."

I made my eyes really big and pouted out my lip a little bit, hoping to use my little girl cuteness to my advantage. "Do I have to? I promise that I won't tell anyone." I batted my eyelashes for good measure.

Luke looked absolutely horrified. "I've seen that look before. Make her swear that oath before she takes your will away. Don't let her wrap you around her little finger. By the Angel, do it now!"

I sighed, making a mental note in my mind not to use that look on anyone when Luke was around. "Fine, you win. I Clarissa Morgenstern, hereby swear on the Angel that I will not tell anyone, especially Jonathan Herondale, that his father, Michael Herondale, is still alive. If I do, may I be struck down where I stand. Satisfied?"

Michael nodded, traces of humor sparkling in his eyes. "Immensely. I owe my life to you, Clarissa Morgenstern. If there ever comes a time in your life that you need help, send a fire message to this address." He handed me a slip of paper. "Be safe. I'll be sure to watch over both you and my son. I have a feeling that you two will be seeing each other again."

End Flashback

"Satisfied? You big bully." I mumbled the last part, afraid that I would wake up the next morning as a rat.

Magnus smiled, clearly enjoying himself. "I must admit my memories are phenomenal, but I think yours are a close second. Yours has a certain… je ne sais quoi that mine just can't compete with. Oh, and about the Jace matter. I'm going to tell him about Michael with or without your permission. If you want, you can try and stop me." He stopped and looked at his nails, seemingly unconcerned. "I haven't had a good fight in a while."

I knew I had lost this battle. I couldn't fight Magnus, he was a friend; as well as who-knows-how-old warlock with exceptionally strong powers. "If you're going to tell Jace, fine, but I won't be within punching distance when you do."

Magnus smiled. A huge, victorious smile that practically screams 'WINNER'. "And just where do you think you'll be then?"

I rolled my eyes, like the answer was obvious. "In Idris of course, getting rid of my father and brother, once and for all."

Magnus' smile dropped off his face and he sighed. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

I know that there was a lot of different emotions throughout this chapter, but it's about midnight and I'm really tired. I'm sure that I'll read back through this tomorrow and be absolutely horrified. I hope it turned out okay though :)

I want to dedicate this chapter to everyone who reviewed. Seeing all the great reviews when I opened my email everyday really pushed me to get a new chapter up.

Check out Foxface'sSpecialPie's new story The Little Ginger and Prince Not-So-Charming. She's been running a few ideas by me and it really is a good story!

Until next time,

ByTheAngel99

P.S: Sorry if I'm kinda acting like a bitch. I've just had a VERY stressful summer.