A/N: Sorry this chapter is late. Life has been really busy. There's a lot to tell in this chapter so it is a long chapter. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 17

"How can you be alive?" Luke asked his friend disbelieving that Stephan was here in the same room. "I mean I saw fall."

Stephan sighed. "Believe me I thought I was Luke. Until a couple of days ago I woke up here."

Robert and Luke exchanged looks. Jace stepped up to his father. He wanted to embrace him but he was furious. He didn't really know what to say. His father had been out of his life for twelve years. He shook his head then stalked out of the room slamming the door behind him.

"Jace" Alec cried after as he followed Jace out into the hallway.

"Leave me alone." He told him.

"Hey your dad's alive Jace and your treating it like it a bad thing." Alec said.

"So" Jace scowled.

Then Stephen appeared behind them. "Is everything ok?" He asked.

Alec looked to Jace then stalked off before saying. "I don't know ask him."

Stephen looked at Jace. He sighed through his noise. "Jace?"

"What?" He said standing at the window with his arms crossed.

"You probably don't want to talk to me. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. If there was any way I could contact you I would have." Stephen told his son.

Jace remain silent as Stephen talked. Then not wanting to listen anymore he turned and headed back to the room not looking at Stephen.

Camille had just returned from her trip when she saw Ragnor sitting by the fire. She saw look of grief on his face. She knew something was wrong but didn't want to admit it. She looked around the room. Meliorn and Kyle where standing in the shadows. Camille looked toward Ragnor and asked:

"Ragnor, where's Raphael?" She asked.

"Dead." He replied.

"Dead? What do you mean dead? How could he be dead?"

"Sebastian killed him after he shot Helen."

"Sebastian killed my Raphael?" She said her nostrils flaring. "How?"

"With his own gun. I'm sorry Camille." Ragnor said sympathetically. "I had him spy on the twins. He said Helen was there. He over heard her giving them a warning about your plan. I told him to kill her then dispose of those twins. Unfortunately it didn't go as planned."

"Go as planned?" She said through her teeth. "Of course it didn't as planned Raphael is dead."

"My lady."

"No Ragnor. You have failed me." Camille scolded.

"Camille, please." Ragnor tried to plead with Camille, but she was not having it.

"I should have killed those twin brothers when they were kids. They are nothing more then throne in my thigh now. If only we had that journal." She pondered.

"Their little sister has it. She is very clever."

"Yes she is. We find a way to retrieve the journal."

"But my Camille how are we going to get a journal from a little girl. Do you really think she can stop us? I mean she is only a teenager." Ragnor replied.

"That teenager is the key to restoring what has already been changed. If she figures out the content of that journal it will be the end of our revenge." Camille scolded him. "Do not underestimate the daughter of the dragon."

The meeting of the order was short, it was agreed that the dragon would be awaken at dawn. Clary was still in disbelieved that the dragon really existed. She thought the order was pulling her leg. She stood by the window of the study deep in thought. Magnus had been watching her.

"Is everything all are Clarissa?" he asked.

Clary turned toward him startled when she heard him speak. "Yes, no, I don't know."

"Your worried about meeting the dragon."

"Yes, I am still not sure he really exist. I mean dragon's are a myth aren't they?" She looked at him curiously.

He smiled then walked toward her and stood by the window next to her. "This isn't just about the dragon is it?"

"What does it matter? Jace hates me now. You saw the look on his face when you revealed I was the dragons heir." Clary said almost in tears.

"Yes. He'll come around if is to help you." Magnus replied.

"What do mean help me? My mother wrote me letter stating that I was the only one who could restore time?" She looked at him curious and puzzled.

"Your mother spoke of the prophecy."

"Prophecy?"

Magnus sighed. " Yes, the prophecy says two lovers of two households will restore the balance of time that has been broken."

"So this has nothing to do with me being the dragon's heir?"

"Not entirely. You see many years ago the dragon foresaw his fate. He also saw two lovers with an amulet. Together they defeated their enemy never to be seen again."

"Jace and I must defeat Camille together. I don't see how that's possible. He won't say a word to me."

Magnus smiled then placed his hand on Clary's shoulder. "If Camille is to be defeated he will help you because love is stronger then death itself." He got up from the window seat and walked off without other word.

When Clary and the rest of the order including Jace arrived at the dragon's lair. Magnus placed the pouch of gold and jewels at the offering alter. He said some words in a language Clary couldn't understand. It sounded like an ancient language she never heard of. Then the ground started to shake. Rumbling sound came from the back of alter. Clary heard a yawn and for a moment she thought it was a lion, but then a huge dark figure appeared.

His head was large with horns on the top of his head. They curled upward like a waves. He had two large yellow eyes. His wings were retracted against his body. His tail whipped behind. It had what looked like a triangular disc with spikes. Clary gasped at the sight of him. She couldn't believe it the dragon was real.

"My Lord," Magnus said bowing to the dragon. A puff of smoke exited his nostrils as he breath out. The dragon looked to Clary.

"Come my child." He summoned.

Clary looked behind her to her brothers Sebastian and Jonathan. They nodded in sync for her to go. She swallowed hard. Her breathing was rapid. Her heart pounded in her chest. She walked slowly up to the dragon. Clary never felt so scared in her life.

"Do not be afraid." He said in a reassuring voice.

"How can I not be afraid of something I have never seen before?" Her voice shook as she spoke.

"I can understand. You must not be afraid for I will not harm you." He said kindly.

Clary swallowed, "I know so my brothers tell me." She looked into his yellow serpent eyes. Then looked over to her brothers. They looked away.

"Yet you wonder why they brought you here."

"Yes."

"Though you want to know why you are the dragons heir."

"I do."

"You must understand Clary that the dragon's heir is not one person who is chosen." The dragon started to explain. "It is a duo who love each other."

"What does that mean?"

"It is written that love can break any spell or bring time together." The dragon shifted his body. "For fear comes from love. It is what makes us brave."

"But I'm not brave."

"You are, Clary. You love your brothers, your mother, Jace." The dragon said as looked in Jace's direction. Clary followed it. She looked at him thinking he would look away, but he didn't. He looked at her with adoration. A boy wanting to tell the girl he loved how he felt.

Clary lowered her eyes. "How does love make us brave? I don't understand"

"It makes you brave because you are willing to protect them. Come Clary I want to show you something." He entered a cave entrance towards the back. Clary followed. They reached a room. Inside was a pool of water. The dragon walked over to the pool of water.

The pool was crystal clear. Clary could see the bottom. She then looked at the dragon wondering what she was supposed to be looking at. He told her to look in the pool. She did as the dragon said.

The clear water started to fog then an image appeared. It was she as a little girl in her father's arms. Then the image changed showing her the night her father died, but she noticed something in the image. A light in the background, it looked like a portal of some kind. A woman fled through it with silver blonde hair. Camille she thought. When the image disappeared she turn to the dragon. She knew then what her mother was trying to her.

Camille stood in the cave entrance. She saw the remaining members of the order. Now was the perfect time to finish them off she thought. She made her way into the cave. Alex saw her coming and drew his sword. Jonathan and Sebastian followed as well as the others.

"You think you can defeat me." She laughed.

Jace was standing next to Luke. "Jace, find Clary. Help her find the dragon's stone and whatever you do protect that journal with your life. Also take care of Clary." He said with passion in his heart. "Now go."

Jace ran off towards the back of the cave calling for Clary. As he got deeper into the cavern he could hear the battle had begun.

Clary heard a commotion somewhere behind her. The dragon ran off at the sound. She was now alone or was she. A voice coming from the entrance of the room, her heart pounded in her chest.

"Clary," the voice said.

Clary wanted to scream and run, but she didn't know where to go or how to get out of the cave.

"Clary" the voice said again getting closer. Then a figure appeared.

"Jace" Clary said, "Is that you?"

He smiled at her. "Yes, it's me Clary."

"Do you know how to get out of here?" She asked.

"Yes, this way." Jace said holding out his hand. Clary took his hand. Jace led here out of the room and into a corridor.