A/N: Hi. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, and enjoy this one. I'll respond to reviews at the end of the chapter, so see you then. A quick note, Italics mean it's a short-term flashback (Not a different year), or a thought depending on context.
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-ToAC
Previously:
Clary went to say something else, but Jace interrupted by walking over. He looked incredibly worried, and the emotional link between Jace and Clary confirmed this for the redhead.
"What's happened?" Asked Clary worriedly.
"Will's disappeared on the way to Jocelyn and Luke's" Stated Jace, shocking the other three adults.
2030
Clary and Jace quickly sped through the streets of New York City on the demon-powered motorbike, the redhead clinging tightly onto her husband. The conversation from barely half an hour ago still rang vividly in her head.
"What do you mean by 'he's disappeared'?" Asked Clary, still in shock.
"Charlie's saying that they were walking to Jocelyn's and Luke's;" Explained Jace "She turned away for a second, but when she turned back, he was gone without a trace."
"Are you sure it isn't Will playing a trick?" Queried Simon, referring to multiple times in the past when the Herondale children would pretend to disappear, just to spook out the two Lovelaces.
"He would never do that to Charlie." Insisted Jace and Clary simultaneously. Isabelle and Simon accepted this response.
"I'll call mum and Luke and tell them what's going on." Remarked Clary. She turned to Jace. "Tell Charlie to head there."
"I'll get in touch with Alec and Magnus. More eyes on the problem may be useful." Commented Isabelle. Clary thanked her.
After that conversation, all of the Shadowhunters in the institute had sprung into action. Cecily was on her way to the Garroways to make sure Charlie was alright. Meanwhile, Simon was driving with Isabelle and Jordan to hopefully use the parabatai bond between Jordan and Will to find the young Herondale. Clary and Jace were biking around the streets surrounding the Institute, worriedly looking for their son. Suddenly, Clary's phone began to ring. She took it out and saw it was Tessa calling her. She quickly answered the phone, holding it between her cheek and shoulder.
"What's going on, Tessa?" Asked Clary, shouting against the roar of the motorbike.
"Clary, you and Jace need to get over to mine and Jem's." Remarked Tessa over the phone. Tessa and Jem lived in a studio apartment in the suburbs of Manhattan.
"We're a bit busy at the moment, Tessa." Responded Clary, still shouting.
"It's to do with Will." Stated Tessa, changing Clary's mind.
"We'll be there straight away!" Declared Clary; she quickly relayed Tessa's information to Jace, who began to navigate towards the couple's apartment.
On the motorbike, it took around half an hour to reach the modest studio apartment that housed the Shadowhunter and Warlock couple.
The second couple like that we know Thought Clary to herself. They rang the doorbell and were let in by Jem.
"What do you have about Will?" Asked Jace and Clary simultaneously. At that moment, Tessa entered with a roll of what looked like papyrus.
"You two will want to see this." Insisted Tessa, handing the worried parents the papyrus scroll.
"This was posted through our door, but we couldn't get a look at the person who posted it." Explained Jem. Jace unrolled the papyrus, revealing a message in spidery handwriting. It read 'If you want Will Herondale back, bring me Tessa Gray. Columbus Park, Midnight. –M'
"Why could they possibly want you?" Queried Clary.
"I have no idea." Responded Tessa. "But we're going to find out."
"You're doing what this M says?" Asked Jace, sounding as if Tessa had just said the stupidest thing in the world.
"If it gets you your son back, I'm willing to follow one instruction." Retorted Tessa.
"Alright." Stated Clary.
"Clary, you seriously can't be agreeing with this." Remarked Jace. It wasn't often that Jace had to try and persuade Clary to change her mind; it was usually the other way round.
"I wasn't finished, Jace." Scolded the redhead. "I agree that we should meet up with this 'M' to get Will back. But that doesn't mean you go alone, Tessa."
So that was how it ended up with Clary and Simon crouching in a bush on the outskirts of Columbus Park, watching for the mysterious 'M'. Tessa and Jem stood in the centre of the park. Meanwhile, Alec and Jace were at an elevated position, overlooking the park. Izzy was waiting with Jocelyn and Luke on the junction of Mulberry and Bayard, backup for if the situation went south. Also hiding around the outskirts of the park were the three other teenagers, who had insisted on joining their parents on the mission.
"I have to go!" Insisted Jordan to the four adults, who stood in the entrance hall of the Institute, finishing fitting their weapons; also standing in the hall were Cecily and Charlie, having returned from the Garroways'
"We don't know how powerful this 'M' is, Jordan" Remarked Izzy. "It's too risky.""
"I don't care. Will's my parabatai. He's as much my responsibility as yours." Retorted Jordan, showing the importance of the matter; the only time Jordan would ever argue with his parents would be when it concerned Will.
"Another pair of hands would be useful, Iz." Commented Simon.
"Fine." Remarked Izzy.
"I'm coming too." Said Charlie. Clary and Jace went to protest.
"He's my brother. We protect our own." Argued Charlie. Her parents were quietened by her courage.
"I'm going too!" Insisted Cecily, confusing both pairs of parents, as well as the two other teenagers.
"Why? You're not Will's parabatai, or his family. Why do you 'need' to go?" Queried Simon confusedly.
"I, uh, I… I'm Charlie's parabatai. You shouldn't split up parabatai, especially in battle." Remarked Cecily, trying to cover up the slight hesitation. The parents didn't even bother with arguing further. The teenagers had come prepared, already with knives and seraph blades clipped to their belts.
"I think your daughter has a crush on my son." Whispered Clary to Simon, making her parabatai smile and chuckle quietly.
"Yeah. You picked up on that too. I wasn't like that when we were their age, was I?" Responded Simon, turning to face the redheaded Shadowhunter; Clary shook her head in response. There was a small breeze, so her movement didn't cause any more disturbance than there was already.
"You were a lot subtler." Assured Clary, before noticing movement in the park. A figure was moving towards Jem and Tessa. It took Clary a moment in the dark to see that it was actually two figures, with one dragging the other a rope tied around each arm. Clary immediately recognised Will as the bound figure, and gasped silently. Sensing his parabatai's worry, Simon placed a calming hand on her shoulder. The figure dragging Will forward had grey-black hair in the orange light of the street lights, and looked to be in his mid-40s, with incredibly pale skin. Clary noticed a flitter of shocked recognition pass over both Jem and Tessa's faces, but this disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"So you're M." Remarked Tessa. "I should have guessed."
"Tessa Gray, I assume." Responded M coldly "It's nice to finally meet my father's murderer."
Once again, Clary gasped. After they had been given the photo album by Julian and Emma, Clary and Jace had looked in the various history books available in the Institute library, as well as talking to Jem, Tessa, and Clary's distant cousins in the London Institute about the Victorian Shadowhunters. They had battled against Axel Mortmain, or 'the Magister', which had all climaxed with Tessa unleashing Ithuriel, the angel who had given both Jace and Clary, and therefore their children the star shaped scar, on him.
"Axel Mortmain Jr., at your service." Remarked M.
"I'm sorry. If you're Mortmain's son, you're-" Interjected Jem
"192 years old. A vampire got me in the 1880s." Explained Mortmain. "Hence the midnight meeting. Now, don't talk to me about living beyond your years. After all, your husband seems to have cracked the secret of eternal youth, Tessa Herondale."
Within the bush, Clary's eyes widened with realisation. Mortmain thought Will, Clary's and Jace's Will, was the same as Jem's and Tessa's Will.
"Now, give yourself up, and your husband goes free." Instructed Mortmain. "Don't, and well…"
Mortmain drew a sharp knife from a back pocket and placed it against Will's throat. In a panic, Clary jumped out of hiding, despite Simon's disagreement. Every figure in the park turned to the revealed woman.
"Don't you dare touch my son!" Shouted Clary, with all the fury she could muster. This shout was enough to make Mortmain loosen his grip on Will. The teenager took this moment to free himself and kick Mortmain where it hurt, causing the vampire to drop the knife. Mortmain scrambled for the knife and for Will, but an arrow thudded into the vampire's shoulder, causing Mortmain to scream in pain. He hastily pulled the arrow out and stood, hand over the wound.
"You will pay for this. You shall learn to fear me." Spat Mortmain, before sprinting off. More concerned with Will, Clary let Mortmain flee. Clary ran to Will, and cut the ropes binding his wrists. With nobody to hide from, each of the teenagers and Simon left their concealed spots. Will, no longer bound, quickly hugged his mum, repeatedly thanking her, Tessa, and the Angel. After he had let go of Clary, Will was hug tackled by both Charlie and Jordan. Instead of hugging, Will and Cecily just smiled brightly at each other. With the situation resolved, the group of Shadowhunters headed back to the Institute.
It was about 1:30AM, and Charlie was sitting in her bedroom, reading. There was a knock on her door. She looked up to see Cecily standing in the doorframe.
"Hey," Greeted Cecily. "Can we talk?"
"Of course;" Responded Charlie, putting down her book. "What's up?"
"It's about Will." Explained Cecily "I think I may have a crush on him…"
"What do you mean you have a crush on my sister?" Asked Jordan loudly, causing Will to go bright red.
"I mean what I said." Answered Will.
"You have a crush on Cecily, my sister?" Repeated Jordan.
"Yes, what about that is so hard to understand?" Queried Cecily.
"It's just a bit shocking. So you have a crush on your brother's parabatai?" Responded Charlie.
"Yes, I have a crush on my parabatai's brother and my brother's parabatai." Stated Cecily. "I know how confusing that is."
"Have you told anyone else?" Asked Jordan, genuinely interested in Will's 'matter'.
"Who else would I tell?" Responded Will indignantly.
"Charlie?!" Retorted Jordan.
"She's got looser lips than you do." Commented Will. "She would never keep a secret from Cecily."
"Fair enough." Responded Jordan. "Are you going to do anything about it?"
"I don't know yet." Answered Charlie honestly. Cecily nodded in understanding and appreciation.
"I'll stand by you, no matter what." Commented Charlie. Cecily thanked Charlie and left the room. In the corridor, Cecily and Will walked past each other. Before they entered their respective rooms, the two exchanged smiles. However, both hid a storm of hidden emotions and thoughts. Inside their rooms, both teenagers exhaled, with the stress and nerves quickly dissipating. Their parabatai's sensed this, as well as hearing the two doors close, and realised what must have happened. This caused the parabatai and siblings to smile. Little did they know that both of their conversations were able to be overheard by Clary downstairs, with enhanced senses runes. The conversation between Wil and Jordan made Clary smile, which was noticed by Jace.
"What is it, Clary?" Jace Queried.
"Our son has a crush." Stated Clary, making Jace smile.
"Is it a particular Lovelace, by the name of Cecily?" Guessed Jace; Clary nodded in response.
"Don't mention we know, though;" Instructed Clary. "I think that was meant to be a private conversation."
"I understand that," Replied Jace. "But I can't promise anything."
Izzy and Simon were also sitting in the lounge, so Clary relayed the information of Charlie's and Cecily's conversation. Both of the Lovelace parents smirked.
"I told you." Simon remarked.
"Yes, and I agreed with you." Izzy responded. "It is obvious."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed that. Now to respond to reviews:
bienvenu: Thank you so much for appreciating the info. As for the typos, I wrote a lot of this on a tablet (autocorrect) and the American and British versions of the books use Raphael, so I'll be using that spelling.
Please remember to review and I'll see you in the next chapter, which will be the beginning of a new event/couplet.
Keep on Reading
-ToAC
