As the door shut behind Jace, so did his thoughts. His emotions. He put a lock on the tightly closed door of his mind, where all of his memories and emotions were put away. He refused to let himself feel the things he knew were lurking behind his closed eyelids. He had become accustomed to bottling his emotions, slamming on the breaks of his own mind before he even started to drive it. He had learned to never allow people to see his true self or intentions from his father, who always seemed to be the master of his own emotions. His father, the two words seemed like a knife to the heart. He knew that his father despised him, he knew that his father would never love him in the same ways he loved Jonathan. He wasn't like them, he never would be, and sometimes different was unwelcome. He shivered slightly, and pulled his heavy leather jacket tighter around him, not being able to shake the cold dread that filled him. Jace wouldn't be able to come back here for awhile, wouldn't be able to see the Lightwoods or Clary again anytime soon. Clary, the beautiful red- haired girl who he had grown so fond of. Isabelle and Alec, who had been so kind to him, even after he almost killed Alec. He sighed, their house was just too noticeable. He wanted to be inconspicuous, wanted to be unable to be found, wanted to become a shadow. We are dust and shadows, after all. He began to descend the steps at the back of the house; he had decided to leave by dropping out of his window onto the terrace that connected to his room and overlooked the city, and then silently made his way towards the back of the building. He didn't know where to go next, besides walking towards the city, perhaps if he blended in with the multitude of people in the city, his father would be less likely to be able to find him. He had no doubt that his father was furiously searching for him, Jonathan couldn't keep the truth away from him for that long, and once he did, Jace would have hell to pay. He set his jaw, he wouldn't descend into hell without setting the devil himself on fire first.

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Jonathan trailed behind his father miserably. He couldn't help but feel as though he had betrayed Jace in the worst way possible. Why couldn't he have just lied to his father like Jace did? Why couldn't he be more like Jace and less like the man in front of him? He hated looking like his father, but he hated trusting and admiring him even more. His father wasn't a good person, but he was strong and ruthless and everything Jonathan aspired to be. It made Jonathan sick the way he was too soft and mild and didn't fight as well as Jace did. He would rather be painting or drawing than swinging a sword or his fist around, but that wasn't something his father particularly liked or wanted, and god forbid he disobey his father. "Jonathan," Valentine snapped, "Were you paying attention to anything I just said?" Jonathan looked up at his father, and noticed that his face was slightly drawn, his normally blank eyes that refused to show emotions were burning with it now, something Jonathan was not accustomed to. It terrified him "No. I wasn't. I apologize Father," he said as calmly as possible. Valentine sighed, "It's quite alright, Jonathan. This is probably causing you quite a bit of stress. As I was saying, my best bet is that Jace has used a portal to go to the city of Alicante. Has he ever talked about going into the city with you?" Jonathan froze, Jace was always fascinated with the city, and it was one of Valentine's most emphasized rules that they were not allowed anywhere near the city. If they did, there would be heavy consequences. Jace would be in a whole lot of trouble if that's what he had done. "He... was always fascinated with Alicante, yes. But he doesn't know how to make a portal, and even if he did he wouldn't know what Alicante looked like to be able to imagine it." Valentine smiled tightly, "I don't think he went there alone." Jonathan's mind was whirling, Jace didn't have to do it alone? Jace was in Alicante? A huge weight was lifted off his shoulders, Jace wasn't alone. He was safe. "Yes, that does seem plausible," Jonathan said quietly, keeping the happiness out of his voice. Valentine began walking faster through the forest, and Jonathan had to jog to keep up. The sun was just starting to come up over the horizon, causing dilapidated shadows from the tress above to lay over his father's handsome face and broad shoulders. He kept tightening his large hands into fists and then releasing them, his shoulders were tight and his back as straight as an arrow, betraying just how angry and on edge he truly was. Jonathan, despite being relived that Jace probably wasn't having to do this alone, was terrified for him. His father's wrath was not something he wanted to face, and he definitely didn't want Jace to be subjected to it. He remembered the fire of revolution that had burned in Jace's eyes after every whipping he had received, and he knew he would survive it. He would never be the same, and he would likely lock himself away inside his own head. He didn't want that for Jace, but what could he do? He couldn't exactly stop his father, he would likely die trying if he did. Once Valentine Morgenstern had his mind made up, you'd better get out of his way if you wanted to keep your sanity.

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Jace continued his trek through the city, not knowing what was in the other side, but making a safe bet that it was much more appealing than his father and the wrath that would be awaiting him. He began to walk faster subconsciously, fear beginning to strike ice through his heart. He bumped into a boy with dark hair, and a handsome, albeit slightly strange, face. "Hey- watch where you're going!" He said in a French accent. Jace cursed under his breath. "I'm really sorry!" He said and continued walking. The boy began following him, "It's fine, I'm sorry for being so cross with you. Why are you in such a rush?" Jace paused his hurried pace. "I'm... on my way to a very important meeting." The boy looked suspicious, "Where at?" Jace straightened his posture, "why are you so nosy? I don't even know your name, what makes you think I would tell you what I'm doing?" The boy flinched, but held out his pale hand, "I'm Sebastian. Sebastian Verlac. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." Jace didn't know why, but he liked this boy. He shook his hand warmly, "I'm Jonathan Wayland." Sebastian smirked, "Well, Jonathan Wayland, you look like an angel. An angel that would come back from hell having the devil owe him a favor." Jace didn't know what to say, but he didn't have to say anything when Sebastian placed a kiss to his lips. Jace nearly fell over in surprise, but found that Sebastian was actually a very good kisser. He was spontaneously romantic, too, which was another plus. It was distinctly French, and Jace found himself wanting to live in France when he was older. When they finally broke apart, they both had excellent endurance it seemed. Sebastian smirked his signature smirk. "Ah, pretty boy, you are very open." Jace smirked as well, and said, "yeah well you didn't give me much choice, did you?" Sebastian laughed; a beautifully soft, almost twinkling, sound, making his handsome in an off sort of way face come alive. "Yes, well, I should let you go. Could I have your number, by any chance?" Jace took note of his surroundings, seeing that a few people were staring at them, but many were just going about their business as if this was a natural occurrence, two boys kissing in the street at dawn. He had kissed a boy, and he didn't mind it. He had almost enjoyed it as much as he did kissing Clary. He knew there was a mundane word for being attracted to more than just the opposite sex, but he didn't know what to was. He definitely knew his father would not be happy, but it was just something else he he would keep locked away, never to be found out by his family. He smiled, "I don't have a phone. But I may see you around yet again." Sebastian looked disappointed, but he merely nodded, "All right, then. Good luck on your journey, friend." Jace smiled, and then continued his journey to the other side of the city. Now, he was leaving behind people who had made him realize more about himself and made him happier than he had ever been with his own family, and he had only known them for a short while.

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Jonathan tried his best not to puke up his breakfast, not that he had eaten much anyways, when they landed on the outskirts of Alicante. His father seemed unfazed, albeit a little nostalgic, as if he had been here a million times. Jonathan, on the other hand, was trying his best not to let his eyes bug out of his head. There were so many people, and buildings and things to look at. The glass towers in the distance were so beautiful and huge, he itched to paint the scene; the people looked tiny in the distance, and the sun coming up over the whole thing bathed it in a soft glow, making it look like heaven. Valentine smoothed his already immaculate button-up shirt that was the color of blood, "Jonathan, now is not the time to stand by idly." His tone had a soft threat in it, and Jonathan wasn't about to risk making him any angrier. "I apologize, father. It's just so-" "Beautiful. Yes. I'm sorry you had to see it this way for the first time. I promise to take you back someday, but right now we must find your brother." Valentine's voice was as calm as usual, but something in the way he talked surprised Jonathan. He seemed anxious, and it was something foreign to Jonathan. If his father was nervous, things must be really bad. Jonathan nodded, and smiled up at his father encouragingly. They started walking, rather briskly, and Jonathan let his mind wander. Hadn't Valentine said something about his mother and him living here when they were younger... "Father?" Jonathan asked after about five minutes. "What is it, Jonathan?" Valentine seemed annoyed that he was breaking his concentration, but Jonathan couldn't help it. "Is... does my mother live here? Is that why you're so worried about Jace? Are you afraid he'll leave with her instead of you?" It was a perfectly harmless question, or so Jonathan thought, but Valentine whipped around to face him so fast he was surprised he didn't break his neck. "How dare you ask that now," Valentine's eyes were burning so intensely with the fire of rage that it was all Jonathan could do not to look away. "What have I told you about talking about her, what have I told you about what she did?" His voice was icy as he stepped closer to Jonathan, causing him to crane his neck to look up at him. "I-I don't remember," Jonathan would never forget the murderous look on his father's face as he brought that back of his hand across his face so hard he stumbled back a few feet. "Just because I'm angry at Jace doesn't mean I can't punish you as well, Jonathan," He growled in a low voice, "Do not lie to me and ignore direct orders again. Do you understand?" Jonathan couldn't answer for a few moments, having to look away from his father's angry face, and Valentine crossed the space between them in one long stride, "Do. You. Understand?" He asked harshly, grabbing Jonathan's chin so hard he would be surprised if there weren't finger shaped bruises there tomorrow, forcing him to look at him. "Yes, father," he said quietly, wanting desperately to be anywhere else. Valentine removed his hand, "You'd better, Jonathan, because I am not in the mood to reteach lessons you should've learned a long time ago." He turned around, and began walking again, the stern set of his shoulders enough to make Jonathan begin hurrying after him. Holding his face in his hand, he felt tears begin to prick at the back of his eyes. He should've known better, his curiosity usually never got the best of him like that. That was always Jace's forte, not his. He shivered, something about the mystery of his mother was so enthralling to him, he often snuck into the library to find any information he could on her. Jocelyn Fairchild, his father had told him about how her long red hair had looked in the afternoon sun and how her eyes were so green he could see them still when he closed his eyes. But, he hadn't told him much else, like why she left them or where she was now. He was broken out of his thoughts as his father asked a dark haired boy a few years older than Jonathan if he had seen Jace, though he didn't say Jace but rather described what he looked like. Which was smart, there were likely very few people in the world who looked like Jace. The dark haired boy had a guarded expression on his off-kilter face, his nose was slightly too big and his full lips were slightly uneven, but he was still handsome in an odd sort of way, "Why do you ask? If he wanted to be found, he would have told you were his was, wouldn't he?" He had a French accent, giving him an air of sophistication. Valentine's eyes narrowed, "Sometimes, people do not want what's best for them. I suggest telling us what you know, now, if you value what's best for you," the threat in his voice was clear as day, and the boy's eyes widened. "Er, a boy matching the description you gave me... bumped into me earlier, but he was walking rather quickly towards the other side of the city, sir, I doubt he is very close by now." Valentine set his jaw, "Thank you for your information. Come along, Jonathan, we've nearly found him." He began walking even faster now, and Jonathan gave the boy a small smile before running off after him, terrified for what would happen to his brother once they did find him.

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Jace couldn't shake the feeling that his doom was coming closer and closer to him. He couldn't shake the feeling that his father was coming closer and closer to him every second, forcing him to climb the rocky hills on the other side of city faster than he previously thought possible. Now, however, he was becoming more and more frustrated because he couldn't go faster and escape his father faster. Freedom was so close, he was so close to being able to breathe freely and give his father what Jace knew he wanted, less of a reminder of his mother's betrayal. Valentine had told him about Jocelyn having an affair, and that Jace was another man's child. That's what explained how Jace looked nothing like Valentine, and didn't really act like him either. That also explained why Valentine did not love him the same way he loved Jonathan, why he hurt Jace so much more. Why Jace acted out so much more, why he was such a bad son. He closed his eyes for a moment, locking the door of his mind before the tears came, and finally scrambled to the top of the hill. He cursed under his breath as he saw that there were tons more hills in front of him, they stretched out as far as his eyes could see. Not for the first time that day, he wished he knew how to make a portal, but he wished more that he knew where he could go. He wished he knew were he belonged. He wasn't giving up so soon, though, and started climbing the next hill. His muscles began to burn, however, and he wished he had a stele. A branch snapped, and he paused, ice cold terror creeping into his mind. What was that? He strained his ears, but didn't hear anything else, and assumed (prayed) it was just a wild animal in the distance. He climbed to the top of the next hill, and was nearly panting with exhaustion. Valentine was right, he thought, I'm weak. That thought alone steeled him to keep going, and he made it about halfway up the next hill when he was suddenly thrown backwards, hitting the ground about 10 feet below him with a thud. He scrambled to his feet, but he was just thrown into the stone "wall," which was really the bottom of the hill he had been thrown off of. He was seeing stars, but he could still make out the tall, broad shouldered figure approaching him from where it had thrown him earlier. "Going somewhere, Jonathan?" Valentine's voice was deceptively calm, his face a neutral mask. However, he was making no effort to hide the hatred and rage that burned in his eyes. Jace would see that fire in his nightmares for a long time after this. Jace tried his best to hide the immense terror that was currently rendering him motionless, but apparently he wasn't doing too good of a job because Valentine crossed the rest of the distance between them in one long stride and smirked wickedly, "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Jace suddenly felt the anger he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a very long time course through him as he spat blood at his father's feet, "No, it seems as if my tongue is just fine. Thanks for asking, though, it's really convincing me that you care!" His voice came out smooth and icy, just like Valentine's did when he was trying not to show his anger. Valentine's face changed from the neutral mask he often wore, betraying his true, raw, terrifying rage. Quicker than Jace could blink, Valentine had him by the throat pressed against the stone wall. "Don't push your luck, boy, I'm so inclined to rip out your tongue myself." Jace grinned like the devil himself, with blood on his bared teeth and fire in his eyes. "Does that make you the cat, then? Does that make me the unwanted, mute boy?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, which seemed to make Valentine beyond angry, and heading into the territory of murderous. "I would shut up, if I were you, Jace," Jonathan said, standing on his brother's right side, unable to do anything besides watch his brother being hurt by the man who was supposed to do anything but. Neither of them turned to him, "Don't bother helping him, Jonathan. He is beyond saving." Jace laughed, then. Actually laughed in his father's face, "You're just now realizing this? You're even less smart than I gave you credit for, and that's saying something." Valentine's face seemed to explode with even more fury than either of them could imagine, and he slammed Jace's head into the wall with such force that Jace crumpled and passed out, falling onto the ground with a sickening thud. Jonathan couldn't help but wonder if Jace would have a concussion, or if that would be the least of his worries when Valentine was finished with him.

Sorry this chapter was a little heavy, please review!