Chapter 18

Jace and Clary followed a stream of water until they came to an opening. The water fell over the side to a pool below. Voices could be heard from behind them. There was nowhere for them to go but down.

"Clary, where going to have jump."

"What?"

"We have to jump. We don' t have a choice."

On the count of three they jumped. Splashing in the pool below. Jace and Clary swam to the bank. Soaked from head to toe, Clary rang out her hair. She kept thinking about what she saw in the pool in the dragon's cave. Her mother had been leaving clues but she never understood what they meant until now. The question remained how she was going to stop Camille.

Luke and others of the order managed to escape the cave and get back to the mansion. Wayland attended the to the wounded. Alec had been badly injured by Meliorn trying to protect his little brother Max who had also been injured. Luke, Stephan and Robert went to the study with Magnus to discuss their next move of action.

"We need a plan to stop Camille once and for all." Robert said as they entered the room.

"How are suppose to that exactly?" Stephan asked.

"She knows our every move. She always seems to be one step head of us." Robert stated.

"Yes. She must be using the crystals to travel in time." Luke pondered. "If only there was a way we could gain them back. Then we could stop her."

"What about the dragon's heart?" A voice came from the other side of the room.

"Jordan." Luke said when he saw who it was. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it. You did what I asked right?"

"Of course, Dad. I'm not stupid." He said walking toward Luke. Maia trailed behind him.

"I didn't know you had a son, Luke." Stephan said shocked.

"I didn't know Jordan existed until a couple years ago when he showed up in my store looking for a job. Besides it was a long time ago. Let's just come up with a plan to stop Camille. I'll explain this later."

"Well I know one thing for sure only the dragon's heir can touch the dragon's heart." Robert stepped in.

"I wonder if Camille knows that." Stephan stated.

"I'm sure she does." Robert replied. "Luke, do we have plan. I mean you sent Jace to go with Clary to find it."

"Yes because Clary is the only one who can. Jace and Clary are stronger together than apart."

"We know that Luke, we need a plan, a leader. Valentine trusted you to take over as leader if anything happen to him." Stephan stepped in.

"I don't know if I can. I mean Robert yours sons are fighting for their lives, your daughter is missing and now I have to explain to Simon's mother that her son has been taken by the same person who had threatening. She trusted me to look after him. To keep him safe." Luke bellowed.

"Look I know it's been difficult but it's not your fault."

The discussion went on. Sebastian and Jonathan joined in after their wounds were attended to. They asked to accompany their sister, but Luke insisted they stay here. He told them that he needed them here. Then Jonathan suggested sending Adam and Harold to accompany her. Sebastian agreed. Luke acknowledges the idea and told the twins to contact their friends. It was also agreed that the order would get the crystals from Camille to stop her.

Jace lead Clary to an old cottage on the ranch. Vines were overgrown around the house. Locating the door was quite difficult. Once found Jace cut away at the vine with his sword. He then turned the knob slowly. The creaked as it opened.

"It's kind of dark in there." Clary said.

"Yeah." Jace replied. He pulled out a small flashlight from his pocket. The light was bright enough to see. "Come on."

Clary grabbed Jace by the arm and stayed close to him. Dust covered everything. It was like walking in a haunted house. They walked through strands of hanging dust. Clary tightens her grip on Jace's arm. They walked slowly together. When they came to a wall with light switch Jace flipped it on. The dust disappeared as soon as the light filled the room.

"Ok, that's weird." Clary said astonished.

"Yeah" Jace said turning off his flashlight. "It must be some sort of spell or something."

"How can that be?" Clary asked.

Jace just shrugged his shoulders. They both then walked around the house. Turning on lights. When they did the same thing happened in each room the dust disappeared. It was like the house only seemed not used when the lights were off. Clary it must be some kind of charm to defer enemies from entering the house but why? What was in this old cottage that need protecting. She started to explore the cottage. She came upon a room, which had large trunk sitting at the foot of the bed.

Clary walked into the room. Sat in front of the trunk and opened it. It looked like it was her mothers. A blanket lay over the top of the contents of the trunk. She pulled the blanket out then set it aside. In the trunk was a white dress. A photo album caught her eye. She took it out then started to look at it. Pictures of her mother and father at their wedding, her mother looked so young in the photo. Clary continued to look at the album. Then she came across a photo that seemed impossible. It was she and Jace. She flipped through the album further pictures of Jace and his father Stephan along with hers standing next to each other.

"That's not possible." Clary thought to herself. When she flipped to the next page. A note was attached. She took out the note and read it.

Clary,

You probably wondering why there are pictures of you and Jace in this photo album. It is because in this time everything was where it should be. Unfortunately time as been altered by a woman named Camille. She has gone back in time to change the future. if she succeeds she could change the future forever. Change it to where you do not exist. By now you have seen the dragon and he has shown you what happened that night. She has failed numerous times because I have sent you away with your brothers. Clary you and Jace are the ones who can return time back to where it should be. Find the dragon's stone before Camille does. The journal will lead you to it. Good luck my daughter.

Love,

Mom.

Clary knew what she had to do. She knew she was running out of time. She sat on the floor next to the trunk thinking for a moment. Then a set of footsteps from outside startled her. She quickly got up.

When Clary stepped into the living room of the cottage she saw Jace standing at the window with his sword drawn. She ran to the window and looked out. At first she thought it was Meliorn and Kyle, but then when they got closer to sighed with relief. Place her hand on Jace's arm.

"Relax, it's just Adam and Harold." She told him.

"Whose Adam and Harold?"

"There my brothers friends."

Jace stowed his sword back in the holster. He watched Clary opened the door to greet the two men. They were tall like Jonathan and Sebastian. He was relieved that they were not twins.

"So your friends with her brothers?" Jace asked them.

"Yeah." replied Adam.

"Why are you guys here?" Clary asked.

"Sebastian didn't like the idea about you being alone with Jace." Said Harold.

"That's not why Harold. He wanted to make sure you had some extra protection. You know from Camille's goons."

"I can protect Clary just fine." Jace said annoyed.

Adam just looked at him. Then Clary told Adam and Harold about the photo album and the note she found in it. She told him that time was running out and that she needed to find the dragon's heart fast. Harold asked her to show them the photo album. Clary went to fetch it and gave to them to view. They confirmed her theory.

"It appears time as been altered. Just as Magnus said it was." Adam said.

"So, that means what exactly." Harold asked.

"It means Camille has been going back in time to rid of the order."

"Why is she trying get rid of the order?" Clary asked.

"She was kicked out." Jace replied sarcastically.

"Something likes that." Adam said.

"Adam you should tell her." Harold said.

"Tell me what?" Clary asked looking at one then to other.

"Camille has Simon." Adam said with his head bowed.

"What?"

Simon found himself strapped to a chair, a bright light shown above him making it hard to see where he was.

"Hello" he cried out. "Is anybody there?"

A faint voice came from one side of the room. He didn't recognize who it was. When the figure moved closer the bright light made it difficult to see whom this person was.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?"

The figure walked around behind him. "Where is she?"

"Where is who?" Simon asked.

"Your friend Clary. Where is she?"

"I don't know." Simon replied.

The figure struck him with his hand. The blow made Simon's head turn to one side. He felt something warm trickle down his chin. He licked his lips and tasted salt. Blood he thought.

"I don't know where she is. I swear." Simon replied again.

The figure struck him again. "You're lying."

"Please. I don't know anything." Simon cried begging his interrogator to stop hitting him. "I swear to you I don't know where Clary is?"

"And if you did." The figure asked.

"I wouldn't tell you."

"I thought so." The figure said. "Take him away."

Simon felt two sets of hands untie him from the chair and drag him off.