Clary had chosen to wait on higher ground that rested near the edge of Gard Hill, staring down at Alicante. She had to admit that this particular view was spectacular, making her realize that she took this place for granted, and it was kind of ironic that now out of all times that she would finally notice how lucky she was to be raised here. That gloomy thought caused her to blow out an exasperated sigh in response to her being left alone with just her thoughts to keep her company as she waited for the final verdict from the entire Clave, making her reluctantly reflect back on what had just happened not too long ago.
She had been granted a limited time in order to speak her thoughts on how they should go about standing their ground when Jonathan and his army would arrive, but of course everyone wasn't so happy with her proposal of having Shadowhunters temporarily binding themselves to a Downworlder of their choosing in order to use their special abilities for the battle that awaited them, and she wasn't the least bit surprised when she was rudely dismissed from the room in order for the Council and its native Idrisians to ponder over her proposal.
The wait for their answer was rather excruciating, but of course this decision was out of her hands, and just as she was losing the last thread of her patience, she immediately tensed up in response to a rustling noise that came from behind her, causing her to spring upright to her feet before her hand reached down to her weapons belt, but once she realized who it was she dropped her arm back at her side. "It's not wise to sneak up on people like that. Especially with how everyone is currently on high alert." She noted dryly as she now held Isabelle's gaze.
Isabelle rolled her eyes as she rested her hands on her hips. "We've been looking for you for quite a while. They've finally have an answer."
Clary felt her throat constrict in response to her nerves getting the best of her after hearing what Isabelle just stated. "What did they say?"
"They agreed to ally themselves with the Downworlders that willingly come to our aid. Now enough with this chit-chat, we have to get going if we want to have enough time for you to show everyone the rune that you spoke so highly of before everyone starts to show up." She replied in a lively tone before she flipped her hair over her shoulder and turned on her heel, proceeding to march her way back in the direction of the Hall.
Clary was too shocked to even process that Isabelle had already walked away, because she was overwhelmed with how relieved she was that they weren't going to give themselves up so easily, but she couldn't help but also feel a deep ache in her chest with knowing that soon she would have to face her brother, and this time instead of fighting by his side, she would be fighting against him. She just hoped that she could reach him before he made his move, and it was that thought that allowed her to break out of her reverie before she had to break out into a jog in order to catch up with Isabelle. "Wait up! Not all of us were blessed with such long legs as you have!"
Isabelle choked back a laugh in response to Clary's words. "Hurry up slowpoke! I'm wearing platforms and still am managing to walk faster than you." She replied teasingly before an amused grin settled upon her lips when she heard the quickening of footfalls from just behind her.
~~
Everything seemed to pass by in a blur after Clary and Isabelle stepped back into the Hall. She had drawn the binding rune on a piece of paper before proceeding to draw the partner rune beside it that would complete the joining of one Shadowhunter with a Downworlder, and soon one by one her fellow peers had started to mark their partners they had chosen for the battle, bringing hope into her heart that this could strengthen the alliances between everyone in order for there to finally be some sort of peace that would carry on for the following generations.
It wasn't long after everyone was marked that they now spread out along the main areas that they thought Jonathan and his army would hit, whilst also making sure people stood guard outside the Accords Hall where the younger Nephilim were being kept along with the elderly.
And now Clary stood at her post as her verdant hues skimmed along the crowded area with the hopes of finding the one person that she needed to talk to before the battle began, but when she couldn't find Jace anywhere, she couldn't help but feel slightly unnerved by his lack of presence since she hadn't spoken to him all morning. There hadn't been time for her to mope when she awoke to an empty bed because her mother had rushed her along to get themselves to the Hall immediately, and as soon as she arrived she had been tossed in the midst of the current chaos, that she didn't have a chance to find him. She then shook her head to help clear her thoughts, and once she looked into the crowd again, her gaze settled upon a familiar face, making her leave her post and all but sprint over in that direction.
Alec had been in the middle of a conversation with Magnus when he suddenly jumped in alarm when he saw a flash of movement coming from his side before a look of confusion passed along his features when he saw who was now looking at him with an anxious expression. "What's the matter with you?"
Clary took a moment to catch her breath before she spoke in a rush. "Where is Jace? I need to have a word with him."
"I'm sure he's around here somewhere. Now if you would kindly give us some privacy. We were in the middle of something before you rudely interrupted." He noted dryly as he waved her off before he turned his attention back on Magnus.
Clary narrowed her eyes into slits before she grasped the collar of his shirt, pulling him down to look at her. "I am not in a playing mood, Alec. Tell me where he is!"
Alec was more than shocked in response to Clary's bold action and the way she had spoken to him, causing a faint flush to spread across his pale complexion out of embarrassment. "Let go of me." He retorted through clenched teeth.
Magnus elicited a sigh before he carefully separated the both of them as a grim expression passed along his features. "I may know where he just scurried off to."
Clary and Alec both looked at Magnus with matching looks of surprise. "What?" They retorted in unison.
Magnus tried not to appear so guilt stricken, making him clear his throat before he passed his fingers through his hair in response to feeling a little anxious under their stares. "He might have come to me earlier this morning, and I may have shown him a way to track down someone."
It took Clary a moment to understand what Magnus was saying before it finally dawned on her. "He's going to try and find Jonathan." As soon as those words fell from her lips she felt a wave of anguish flow throw her entire body with knowing that, that confrontation would end with one of them being removed from her life entirely. And it was that dreadful thought alone that gave her the right mindset to go through with her next action. She looked up at Magnus as she set her jaw in a stubborn stance. "You are going to tell me exactly where he went. Right fucking now."
~~
Jace's POV
His shirt was sticking to his skin by the time he reached the edge of the valley. For a moment he thought the tracking rune had failed him when it suddenly led him within the confines of a cavern, making him follow the little light that happened to seep through the opposite end of the cave, but when he almost twisted his ankle from the lack of light, he retrieved his witchlight and allowed the illumination bleed out between his fingers in order to guide him more safely to his current destination.
It wasn't until he almost reached the end of the cavern that he heard noises from just outside, making him place his witchlight back into his pocket before he crept forward until he was now ducking behind a bulky stalagmite, just as a figure emerged from the shadows near the far end of the cavern, and just as the figure hit the perfect lighting did Jace realize that it was his indeed his current target. It was finally time for him to put an end to Jonathan's insane plan, but he hoped that Clary would forgive him for what he was about to do.
"You've already made your presence well known after failing to keep quiet, so you might as well come out, Jace." Jonathan replied in a callous tone.
Jace froze for only a second before he forced himself to step out into the open, seeing Jonathan a few feet away from him, but still managed to speak in a steady tone even though his body and mind were yelling at him to just attack. "I assume that you know the reason that I'm here."
A smirk curved Jonathan's lips. "Do you really think that you can stop me before I open the gate and let my army wreck havoc upon everything that dares to come into their path?"
Jace shrugged as if unfazed by his words. "Since I'm better than every single one of my peers in every conceivable way, it did occur to me that I'd be able to deal with you with such ease."
His smirk widened as his darkened gaze fixated itself onto Jace. "It's easy for you to say such things, but the beating of your heart is giving away just how you really feel with the thought of trying to overpower me. I just hope that you at least put up a good fight before I kill you." He didn't allow Jace to reply before he moved with such speed and precision in order to suddenly be behind him, proceeding to wrap his arm around his neck, cutting off Jace's air supply until he fell unconscious in his hold.
~~
Jace opened his eyes warily as his mouth was filled with a bitter taste, causing him to be momentarily confused until it dawned on him that he was currently choking on his own blood in response to his short confrontation with Jonathan. That mere revelation had caused him to tense up as he looked around his surroundings, taking notice that he was still in the cavern as he was before he was knocked out, but the only difference was that he was now seated on the ground with his wrists bound tightly with rope. He went completely still in response to the sounds of footsteps approaching him.
"Ah, I see that you are awake little brother." Jonathan replied curtly before he moved to kneel in front of him.
Jace inclined his head to the side to spit out a mouthful of blood onto the ground before he reluctantly looked up at Jonathan. "Don't call me that. We aren't related."
A sly smirk played at his lips before he spoke in a neutral tone. "You have the right to that title since we were raised by the same father. Though I have to admit that I wasn't sure what to expect when we crossed paths once again, but I can say that I was severely disappointed. It seems that our father was far too soft with you. It's a shame. You had so much potential." He reached out to pat Jace's cheek before he rose back up to his feet.
A humorless laugh emitted from Jace's lips as he ignored the dull ache of his head. "I'd ask you to put me out of my misery, but I have a feeling you're about to drag it out with your horrendous monologues."
Jonathan clenched his jaw as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You have a smart mouth. I'm more than sure that you didn't learn that from Valentine. It doesn't seem to me that he taught you much about fighting either since it didn't take much effort to render you unconscious. I guess he decided it was best to teach myself and Clarissa everything he knew, and just give his little angel boy some cookies or useless toys."
Jace swallowed hard in response to hearing him mention Clary, but he refused to let him see how his words affected him. "You've made it easy for me to see the reason why /your/ father kept you locked away, because I know for a fact that I don't recall ever hearing nor seeing you at all when I was raised here in Idris. Though I have to give you the benefit of the doubt, because I hardly can remember my stay here since someone so kindly blocked my memories." He was seething by this point as he carefully tried to see if he could manage to free himself from his restraints when the time was right.
Jonathan shrugged in a neutral way as he began to pace in front of Jace. "I was lucky enough to not see you since you were raised in another manor that was close to the home I was raised in. That was until you happened to come across my sister, and made Valentine teach her a good lesson before he had to block her memories of you for good, but as it turns out, Valentine had a soft spot for you after all. I hadn't known that he sent you to live with the Lightwoods until it was too late and I had no choice but to allow my sister to finish her training with them as he wanted her to. And once again you managed to weasel your way into her heart, but I'll be damned if I allow you to make her turn her back on me. Her rightful place is at my side. Not yours." He stated with a venomous lilt to his words.
Jace's blood was boiling by this point, causing him to momentarily lose his sense of control, because something became so clear to him in this moment. "She isn't yours. Or anyone else's for the matter. She is her own person, and if she willingly chooses to not go along with your plan then so be it. Especially since you've made it so clear that you care for her more than a brother should care for their own sister. It's quite revolting actually."
Jonathan lost his composure for a split second, which almost caused him to act on the instinct of killing Jace on the spot, but once he was able to clear his mind and find his center, he went to kneel in front of Jace, grasping his chin in order to lift his face up to meet his gaze. "You have no right to speak of things that you know nothing about. What Clary and I have is none of your concern. I want you to pay attention to what I'm about to do, because soon this place will be filled with more demons than you can imagine, so watch carefully little brother." He spat before he released his hold on Jace's chin, rising up into a standing position before he went to retrieve the sword that he left resting nearby and proceeded to make his way towards the red-tinged stalagmite in the center of the cave.
Jace watched as Jonathan made his way towards the stalagmite, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of uneasiness pass through him as if something terrible was about to happen.
Jonathan murmured in a rough-sounding demon language before he brought the sword across, hard and fast in a slicing arc, making the top of the stalagmite shear away and a mass of black and red smoke swirled up towards the torn gap located on the roof of the cavern. A nefarious smirk played at his lips as the sounds of shrieks, howls, and snarling were now filling the room before demons rose and vanished overhead in the midst of all of the black smoke. "Behold my army!" Jonathan roared as he watched with pure pride showing on his features as he thought of the gruesome battle that was soon to happen.
Jace recoiled as it appeared as the earth had been torn open and hell had managed to pour through what was left of the stalagmite. He felt bile rise in the back of his throat in response to the horrid stench that the demons had carried with them, and it was then that he really started to pull against his restraints, feeling completely helpless since he couldn't defend himself.
Jonathan chuckled as he now noticed Jace's reaction at witnessing his army. "It's okay, little brother. They're all gone now."
Jace reluctantly looked up at Jonathan through his watery eyes as he fought to stay conscious, whilst ignoring that his wrists were sore and weeping blood in response to trying to remove the rope, and how he had to try to fight back the urge to retch all over the ground because he could still smell the stench that clung in the air. "You released them earlier than you told the Clave." He croaked out as he willed himself to believe that his family, friends, and most importantly that Clary would be okay. He needed to keep faith if he was to attempt to get himself out of this predicament, and go through what he had planned in the first place.
Jonathan peered up at the now empty sky as he shrugged his shoulder. "I'm not some fool. I know they have managed to prepare themselves, so a little early visit shouldn't come as a shock to them."
"Clary will never forgive you if you allow anyone she cares about to come to any harm." He retorted as he hoped to see that the mere mention of Clary would rile him up in order to taunt him enough to release him from his restraints, and not even a moment passed when he witnessed a change in Jonathan's composure, making him feel relatively smug.
"I think I've had enough of your presence for more than a lifetime. It's time to die angel boy." Jonathan said through clenched teeth as reached down to tug Jace up to his feet in a quick and fluid manner.
Jace had to take a moment to catch his breath as his head swayed in response to that sudden motion before he forced himself to smirk in an amused manner as he watched how angry Jonathan had become. "I see that I hit a certain nerve of yours, but are you really going to kill me while I'm tied up? Are you scared at the mere thought of fighting me fairly?"
Jonathan's darkened hues narrowed into slits as his jaw clenched. "For an angel boy, you sure are such a nuisance."
"Why do you keep referring to me as angel boy?" Jace inquired with a hint of annoyance laced in his words.
A flicker of amusement passed across Jonathan's face as the corner of his lip twitched in response to him fighting back the urge to smirk. "You really are so clueless about your upbringing. But since I'm in such a caring mood I guess I can let you in on a little secret. You and my sister happen to be experiments just like me. All thanks to our dearly beloved father."
Jace was momentarily taken aback by his words, making him shake his head stubbornly. "You're lying. Clary and I are nothing like you."
Jonathan was about to say something when all of the sudden he turned to look over his shoulder in response to hearing movement coming from there, but it was too late because soon he felt something embed itself into his shoulder, causing him to choke back a cry as he pried the item out before tossing it on the ground. "You will regret doing that in just a moment."
"Step away from my brother, you piece of shit." Alec replied with a venomous lilt.
Jace sucked in a breath as he saw Alec's familiar silhouette just at the entrance of the cavern, and just as he saw Jonathan take a step forward, he quickly moved and used all the force he could manage to ram himself against him, causing them both to tumble down onto the floor rather ungracefully.
"Jace!" Alec cried out before he broke out into a run to make his way towards Jace, managing to cut him free from his restraints before he cried out when he felt himself being yanked so harshly from Jace before he was tossed aside as if he weighed nothing, and landed on the ground before he felt his eyes begin to close on their own accord, whilst the sounds of a quarrel played in the background.
~~
Clary's POV
She had just reached the area where Magnus said Jace would be when all of the sudden she heard the familiar cries of a battle coming from just a short distance from her, making her run as fast as she could, ignoring the protest from her lungs and legs as she finally reached the edge of what seemed to be a valley, her gaze scanning the area wildly until she was frozen in shock as she watched Jace and Jonathan in mid battle.
It wasn't until she really got a real good look at them both that she noticed that they both were suffering from various injuries, but when she saw Jonathan's shirt covered in massive amounts of blood, she lost it. "Jonathan!" She cried out as she forced herself to make her legs move faster, but in the end she wasn't fast enough, and it was in that moment that she regretted that she had made her presence known, because she witnessed as his movements faltered ever so slightly as he turned his attention on her, allowing Jace to slash the edge of his blade across Jonathan's stomach, causing him to stagger back a step. "No!" She screamed as she watched in horror as Jace proceeded to pierce the blade of the sword through Jonathan's chest in a swift moment before pulling it back out completely.
Clary felt tears trail down her face as she choked back a sob as she made it to them in time to catch Jonathan when he sank to the ground. She immediately cradled him against her as she ran her hand against his cheek, peering down at him through her tears.
"Clary..." He struggled to say before he coughed up a pool of blood.
Clary wept miserably as she propped his head up to allow him to breathe more comfortably as she ran the pads of her fingers against his cheek. "Shh… It's alright. I'm here now, and I'm going to fix you right up. You just stay with me okay?" She pleaded with him as she reached down to find her stele in a frantic manner.
Jonathan reached up with a trembling hand in order to attempt to wipe her face clean of tears as the corner of his mouth quirked up into a faint grin. "Don't waste your tears on me. You know how much I hate it when you ugly cry." He replied in a hushed tone as he hoped he could hear the dulcet laugh of hers one last time.
A half-strangled laugh managed to escape her lips in response to the comment he always said when she cried before she leaned into his touch as she peered down at him, making sure to admire every part of him because she knew that even her special iratze's wouldn't be enough to fix him, and it was that thought alone that made her heart ache furthermore. "Oh, Jonathan… This is all my fault. I shouldn't have ever left your side. Please forgive me." She sniffed as she clung onto him for dear life.
Jonathan shook his head as he reached out to grasp her hand tightly, trying to keep himself alert for a while longer. "Don't you dare blame yourself. I brought this upon myself. I—" He was cut-off mid sentence as he had to turn his head away in order to retch onto the ground before he was slowly going limp in her arms, and as his eyes were closing he barely felt his lips moving as he tried to murmur one last thing to her.
Clary went still as she watched him slowly fade away, making her shake him as she willed him to keep his eyes open before she managed to lean down in time to catch his final words before he stopped breathing altogether. And it was then that she lifted her face up towards the sky and let out a deafening scream.
~~
Jace's POV
He would always be haunted by what happened after his blade had sunk into Jonathan's chest. The mere sound of Clary's cries and pleas for her brother to return to her had nearly broken his heart entirely, but what was worse was what happened the moment he tried to comfort her.
Clary recoiled from his outstretched hand as she kept her hold on her brother as her eyes narrowed into slits as she watched as Jace had the audacity to think that she would want to allow herself to be comforted by him. "Don't you dare touch me. You've done enough. Now fuck off." She retorted through gritted teeth as she felt so many emotions coursing through her as she tried to find the strength to follow through with Jonathan's final order for her. And even though she had every right to despise Jace for what he had done, it didn't stop her from feeling a pang of sadness deep in her chest when she noticed the flash of sorrow that passed along his face as his hand fell back at his side.
"I'm so sorry, Clary. There are no words to describe how I'm feeling right now. I wish there had been another way to have stopped all of this madness, but you have to believe me when I say that I did this for the sake of everyone." He replied in a rough tone as he tried his best to not let himself breakdown in front of her, because he knew that was the last thing she needed to see in this moment.
Clary had to avert her gaze from him altogether in order to follow through with her next action, because it took all of her willpower to force herself to do what needed to be done. "I don't want to hear your meaningless apologies. I am not some fool. I knew that you didn't like him. It didn't go unnoticed about how you would react to the mere mention of him, and it's perfectly clear to me on what I now have to do."
A look of confusion crossed his features as he watched her so closely, and as soon as she forced herself to look at him, he knew deep down what was to happen next, making him shake his head. "Clary, no. You can't just erase everything that we have together!"
She blinked back fresh tears as forced herself to speak in a mumur. "It's too late to save what we had together. It's over now. And I wish so desperately that I had never met you again, because you've only brought such pain into my life. So, now it's only right that you at least promise to do one last thing for me."
Her words had pierced him so deeply, but when he felt a spark of hope blossom in his chest in response to her request, he acted on that feeling instinctively as he wanted so desperately to win her back in that moment. "What is that you want from me?"
The corner of her mouth quirked up into an impassive smile as she reached out in a tentative manner to pinch her fingers around Jonathan's ring as stealthily as possible. "Tell my mom, and Luke that I love them so much, and that I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
Just as he was preparing himself to ask what she meant by what was just stated, he watched in complete shock as she and Jonathan both vanished out of sight, leaving him to finally succumb to his sorrows.
~~
Clary's POV
She hastily wiped away the traitorous tears that managed to escape her eyes before she forced herself to stand upright as she took a hesitant step back in order to admire her work and make sure that she had done everything as correctly as possible.
"Come on..." She mumbled under her breath as she forced herself to keep her gaze straight ahead even though she was aware that Jonathan was lying on the ground behind her.
She was about to cry out in frustration when nothing seemed to be happening after a few passing moments, until something… No someone was starting to materialize right in front of her, making her suck in a breath.
"Why have you summoned me?" Lilith stated in an impassive manner before she realized the current state that Clary was in, making her turn rigid all of the sudden.
"I need your help. Something has happened to Jonathan." She managed to choke out before she stepped out of the way, watching as a look of distraught washed over the woman's face.
Lilith's hand shot up to her mouth as she fought back the urge to cry out in response to seeing her son lying so still on the floor, knowing that he wasn't peacefully sleeping as he appeared to be. She forced herself to tear her gaze away from him to look at Clary as she removed her hand from her mouth. "What have you allowed to happen to my son."
Clary ignored the pain that came with her nails digging into the palm of her hands as she willed herself to stay strong. "I was too late to save him, and I will regret that for as long as I live. But I have summoned you only because Jonathan managed to inform me that you could help me bring him back to life. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is possible to save my son. But for this to happen, I need to make sure that you are willing to do anything I may ask of you. Even if it goes against everything you believe in. As well as deal with any repercussions. Are you prepared to take on all of that?" Lilith stated in a serious manner as she anxiously waited for her answer.
Clary nodded her head in a solemn manner as a look of determination flashed along her features. "Just tell me what needs to be done, and I will do it."
A menacing smirk curved Lilith's lips as she stepped out of the pentagram with such ease, and made her way in front of Clary before she placed her hand against her cheek. "We will both make them all pay for what they have allowed to happen to Jonathan."
A shiver ran down Clary's spine in response to the intensity of both Lilith's words and tone. And even though it was only one particular person that had taken Jonathan away from them, she couldn't bring herself to tell Lilith this because if she had to be completely honest with herself, she still loved him. She knew that a part of her would always love him, but she wasn't going to let that little fact stop her from going through with whatever was going to be thrown in her way in order to bring Jonathan back.
She closed her eyes as she drew in a deep breath before she concentrated on pushing those mundane-like feelings towards the back of her mind, because those feelings alone had led to her turning her back on the only person that had always been there for her, and she would be damned if she allowed those ridiculous feelings to hold her back any longer. And once she found her center, she opened her eyes as she held her head up high, whilst a look of determination settled upon her face as she allowed herself to settle back into her old ways, because it was finally time that she fully lived up to the Morgenstern name.
A/N: I apologize once again for the long overdue update. I was dealing with a stubborn cold, and hardly felt the energy to write, but as soon as I was feeling better I managed to finish writing and edited as best as I could. What did you all think about the ending scene with Clary? I'm curious to know.
