A/N: Hey everyone! I am soooo sorry! It has taken me forever to update! Summer has been really hectic, and my computer crashed, so that by the time I got a new one and re-loaded my previous documents, summer was almost over. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, and I hope you like this chapter! I promise to update soon, and it'll probably be over in a chapter or two! Don't forget to read and review, and most importantly enjoy! Feedback and all constructive criticism is welcome! Thanks!
Chapter Five:
Clary and Jace rushed out of the apartment, leaving Luke and Jocelyn behind after giving them a quick summary about how Isabelle had gone on a date with Meliorn and now she had been kidnapped and taken hostage by the Seelie Court. Jace suspected that Meliorn was behind it all.
"He set up a trap for her!" Jace exclaimed angrily. "I knew she should've never trusted that guy!"
"Maybe he was helpless," Clary said, "he really seemed to like her you know," Clary replied meekly.
"Are you kidding? This is the Seelie Queen we're talking about! And Meliorn, who's a royal knight of the Seelie Court! They are tricksters-"
"-And mischievous. They look cute, but they're actually a dangerous race of people. I know, I know. You've told me before Jace. Calm down already! It'll be fine! Besides, the Queen wouldn't have captured her if she didn't want something from us," Clary reasoned.
"Yeah, I guess. Clary, you should go back and stay at the Institute, this could be dangerous," Jace said, looking at Clary with worry.
"Jace," Clary began menacingly, "I'm coming with you whether you like it or not! I'm fed up of everyone telling me I'm inexperienced, blah, blah, blah! And you know what? I'm not taking it anymore. You can tell me not to come, but I'm following you down there, whether you like it or not!" Clary finished furiously, jabbing Jace with her finger.
"Ow," Jace said. "Well, I guess I can't stop you. Anyway, ladies first?" he said with a twinkle, hoping to get back in Clary's good books.
They had come to the lake, and the moon was perfectly positioned. Clary stepped in, feeling the familiar feeling of wetness envelope her, and by the time she had landed and regained her composure, Jace was by her side.
"Now what do we do? Isabelle said they knew whenever someone came. Will someone come to get us? Or should we just go?" Clary asked nervously. She realized that on their last visit here, she hadn't quite noticed all the various passageways surrounding them. She blushed slightly, remembering their last visit down here, but nevertheless, glanced around her in worry.
"Listen," Jace said, taking her hand.
Clary listened hard, and presently, she heard it. Loud shouting was erupting from the passage closest on her right. Without saying a word to each other, they dashed down the passageway and into the Court. It was the same as before, except this time, the Seelie Queen was sitting on her throne, a crowd of faeries standing below her, shouting and jeering at a figure that had been tied up from the ceiling. Isabelle. Meliorn was kneeling in front of the Queen, tears streaming down his inhuman face. Clary felt Jace stiffen by her side, and knew that she wanted to rush into the throng.
"Jace no! They haven't noticed that we're here. Just listen!" Clary begged. Jace obliged, although he was still tense and would be ready to move to Isabelle's rescue at any time.
Suddenly, the Court went silent and Meliorn began to speak.
"Please. I beg of you. Let me stay here, with her!" Meliorn begged.
"How dare you!" The Queen spat. "It is a disgrace! You've fallen in love with a Nephilim and are ready to give up everything for her! You refuse to take your rightful place in Idris as our representative, and Lucian Graymark, has promptly placed someone else there. How do we know they aren't doing as he says? That faerie isn't even reporting to me thoroughly! You must go to Idris or else she will die!"
"Please! No! Let me stay here with her!"
"Meliorn! Just go! I'll be coming to Idris soon for further studies! Just go would you! It'll be fine! Quit acting like a complete lovesick idiot! It's romantic enough, but still! In matters of life and death, it's not amusing!" Isabelle yelled in desperation. Her hands were hooked to the ceiling, and she was dangling from the ceiling in humiliation, yet, her head was held high, and anyone who dared to look at her, was met with a steely and proud gaze.
"Ah! But see! There is the problem! Even if you do go Meliorn, Luke will not accept you, for as the Nephilim Clarissa told me when she declined my offer, he doesn't like you, and only those who Luke like and see fit can do the duty of being a representative. Which is why I approached Clarissa to ask Lucian Graymark and convince him of making you, my valiant knight, the representative for the Fair Folk. She declined, and Luke proceeded to choose another faerie. And you were delighted were you not?" she spat at him again. "You refused to convince Lucian yourself and prove your worth. I asked you repeatedly to bring me Clarisssa, so that perhaps we could somehow make her see sense and convince Lucian, but you refused. I was forced to kidnap her, and shall keep her hostage until Clarissa comes to me. Although, as I can now see, she already has," the Queen said dangerously.
And suddenly, before Jace and Clary could even react, they were brought out from behind the pillar behind which they were hiding and found themselves face to face with the entire Seelie Court.