"I hope you're right about being able to trust your special informant, Isabelle. Or else it's going to be quite difficult to explain to the Queen as to why we are currently trespassing on her territory." Jace retorted in neutral manner as he tried his hardest not to laugh in response to seeing Isabelle look away from him with such haste, which amused him to find out that she was able to be so openly coy in this moment even under these current circumstances.
Isabelle felt her cheeks flush a shade of crimson when Jace so kindly referred to Meliorn as her special friend, but she was thankful that her hair had been veiling her face, which gave her a moment to compose herself. "I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that. Now if you would kindly stop talking entirely then I will gladly lead us to where we need to be before you alert every single person here of our presence." She retorted in a haughty manner before she motioned for him to follow her.
Jace snorted in response to Isabelle brushing off the mention of her former flame and instead got back into her bossy ways in attempt to get the attention of off her love life. He of course just found it more amusing, hence why he still teased her every now and then. But soon humor was the last thing on his mind, because it wasn't until they reached the main corridor that Jace grasped Isabelle's arm in time to pull her to an abrupt stop before quickly bringing them to hide behind a wall in response to hearing voices coming from where they had been planning to walk through.
Isabelle yanked her arm out of Jace's hold, flashing him a look of pure annoyance, because she didn't need him to baby her constantly just like Alec always did, and that thought caused her to want to prove that she could do everything they did on a daily, which gave her the little push she needed. She dared to get a better look at who they had just come across by carefully peeking past the wall, but nothing would have prepared her for what she was about to witness.
~~
Clary had been in the process of trying to convince Meliorn to keep her company while she waited for her brother to handle some business upstairs with the Seelie Queen. The mere mention of the Queen and her brother together in the same room nearly made her sick to her stomach, but that was exactly why she had been seeking some sort of distraction, but as she was starting to get her way, she suddenly felt a familiar presence out of nowhere. Clary averted her gaze from Meliorn entirely and instead directed it at one spot before the corner of her mouth tugged up into an impish-like grin. "You might as well come out, Jace."
Meliorn went completely rigid in response to not sensing their current company, causing him to grasp the hilt of his weapon as he moved to place himself in front of Clary. "Perhaps it is now time for you to get to safety while I handle these trespassers, my lady."
Clary shook her head, grinning furthermore before she moved out from behind Meliorn, allowing her fingers to brush against his hand that had been gripping his weapon as she settled her gaze upon Jace and his current company. "There's no need for that kind of behavior around our guests, Meliorn. Now, why don't you be a good boy for me, and notify my brother that it is time for him to finish the job that he came here to do, and I will handle our guests."
"As you wish, my lady." Meliorn retorted in a neutral manner even though he did not approve of this, but deep down he knew better than to disobey Clary's commands. He stopped to bow in front of her before he rose back up, and purposely went on to lock gazes with Jace as a sudden idea popped into his mind, which caused him to flash a wicked smirk before he tucked a loose strand of her behind her ear and leaned forward to press a gentle kiss against her cheek. He knew it was a risky move because he could never know just how she would react, but in the end she didn't fret over his actions. Though he could've sworn that he caught sight of mild amusement displaying upon her features as he turned to leave.
To say that Isabelle and Jace were taken aback by what they had just witnessed was a complete understatement, but in Isabelle's case, she was shocked the most to come to find out that the one person she thought she could trust at Seelie Court was working with the ones that she came here to stop in the first place. That mere revelation caused a spark of anger to ignite from within her, which gave her the slightest nudge she needed in this moment to finally speak up when it appeared that no one else was going to. "What the actual fuck, Clary! Are you and your brother actually working with Fair Folk now?"
Clary was immediately aware of some of the Endarkened ones entering from both sides of the room as she began to close the distance between herself and Isabelle, whilst she couldn't help but notice that Jace's gaze had never lifted from her since the very moment he entered the room. "It's lovely to see you too, Izzy."
Isabelle narrowed her eyes as she anxiously awaited to see if Clary would try and attack them. "You have no right to call me that. You lost that right when you not only betrayed my family, but our fellow Nephilim as well."
Clary was all but feeding off of Isabelle's hostility, using it to further fuel the familiar thrum that always came with the telltale signs of combat as she came to a complete stop just a few feet away from Isabelle before she discreetly signaled for her army to await her command. "Ouch. Is that how it's going to be between us now? I expected you out of everyone to understand just what a devoted sister would do when it comes to protecting their siblings. Or am I mistaken?"
"Even I have my limits, Clary. What you and your brother are doing is wrong. I don't know how you don't see that. Do you just not care that you have split up families from their loved ones for good, or the innocent lives that you had a part in taking?"
Clary released a sigh as her verdant hues rolled skywards, whilst she now grasped her fingers around the hilt of the dagger that she had so discreetly retrieved. "I am really getting tired of hearing the same shit every time I meet up with you and your family members. I think it's time to show you if I really value the lives of Nephilim." Without skipping a beat, Clary sent the dagger whirling towards Isabelle, holding her breath as she waited for her weapon to hit its mark, but at the very last second, she witnessed Jace pushing Isabelle out of the way, which caused the dagger to graze his arm instead. Clary gritted her teeth in anger before she finally gave the signal that would send the Endarkened to work.
"You, bitch!" Isabelle exclaimed with such vehemence before she uncoiled her whip, sending it lashing out towards Clary.
Clary managed to grasp a part of the whip as it coiled around her arm, gritting her teeth as she ignored the pain when she felt it had slashed the palm of her hand in the process, and instead she began to further wind it around her wrist and arm. "That wasn't very kind of you, Isabelle. I'll make you pay for even having the audacity to lay a hand upon me." She hissed under her breath before she called upon her newly acquired strength, and yanked on the whip with all her might, which managed to nearly send Isabelle flying across the room before landing onto the ground with such force.
"Isabelle!" Jace exclaimed as he disposed of his current opponent before he began to strike down every other Endarkened that stood in his way to get to his sister.
Clary threw the whip down beside a rather wounded-looking Isabelle as she went on to ignore the fact that she was bleeding almost heavily in response to the deep cuts she had just received, using the pain to further fuel the rage that had been gradually taking over her. A pure look of disdain flashed across her features as she witnessed, Isabelle struggling to get back on her feet, and without skipping a beat, Clary went on to kick her in the abdomen with all her might, basking in the sounds of her cries of agony that came in the next moment, which caused a sly smirk to tug at the corner of her mouth. "Please, don't tell me that this is the best that I can expect from the infamous Isabelle Lightwood. I had expected much more from you."
Isabelle pushed herself up from the ground, choking back the coughing fit that threatened to overcome her in a relentless manner as she finally got back up on her feet, whilst trying to ignore the fact that she still felt a little bit unsteady as she did so. She didn't want to give Clary the satisfaction of knowing that she had bested her, so instead she managed to let out a half-hearted laugh as her gaze traveled along Clary's entire form, judging her stance to pinpoint what her next move would be before she even made it. "Why don't you shut your trap for once, and come find out just what I can do." She all but replied in a snarl-like manner.
Clary didn't waste any time after that tempting invitation as she darted forward with such speed and determination, but what she didn't expect was for Isabelle to block her first hit so easily and land a perfectly timed punch. Clary stopped dead in her tracks, watching as Isabelle immediately took up another fighting stance, which caused her to smirk in amusement as her tongue darted out to lap up some of the blood that was now coating her skin in response Isabelle's lucky shot. "Kuddos to you for that rather lucky hit. But I wouldn't let myself too smug if I were you, because that will be the very last time you ever lay a hand on me." Clary noted with a slight venomous lilt to her final words before she let out a battle cry and leapt at Isabelle. The throbbing pain coming from her only fed her need for violence, which allowed her to finally give it her absolute all as she blocked every one of Isabelle's next blows, whilst trying to find an opportunity to land a hit of her own. And as if luck were on her side, in the next passing moment, her opportunity presented itself, and within no time Clary landed a harsh hit that sent Isabelle staggering back enough for Clary to follow through with a hard kick to her right side that caused Isabelle to let out a loud cry of agony before her legs gave out on her and sent her crashing to the floor. Clary was lost to the rage that had all but consumed her in this moment as she went on to straddle a slightly delirious Isabelle, keeping her in place as she brought her fist down with such force, ignoring the stinging sensation that spread out throughout her hand as she punched Isabelle dead in the face again. And just as she retrieved another weapon to finish the job, her head shot up in response to her hearing her name echo throughout the room.
Jace had just finished dispatching of his very last enemy, and all who were left standing was both himself and Clary. And though he cared for her so dearly, he couldn't ignore the fact that Isabelle was his top priority and at that very moment, he could see that she was out cold, which caused him to jump into action by distracting Clary enough until Isabelle could wake on her own. "That's enough, Clary. Step away from my sister."
The corner of Clary's mouth lifted into a faintly amused smile as she twirled her sword with a subtle motion of her wrist, whilst stepping over the bodies of her army to get a little bit closer to her next opponent. "I'm actually quite impressed that you were able to hold your own against my Endarkened army. But I don't think Jonathan will be pleased with what you have just done. I feel that it is now my duty to follow through with the consequences of your actions. I promise that I will make it quick. Because we both know that if it was up to Jonathan to be the one to punish you that it would be anything but quick and painless. Consider it my very last good deed."
Jace didn't have any time to even begin to contemplate over the idea of fighting Clary, because she had jumped straight into action, moving in a blur. At the very last second, Jace had been able to block her attack with his own blade, grunting with the effort that it took be able to hold his own, and it was then in that moment that he was truly able to witness first hand that Clary's abilities and strength had somehow doubled in size. But he would be damned if he let her do something that she would end up regretting. "Dammit, Clary! It's not too late to stop this! Do you honestly think that you wouldn't feel anything if you went on and killed Isabelle just a moment ago? Because there was a time that you thought of her as family. Don't even dare deny that, because I know you better than anyone else."
Clary let out a cry of frustration, feeling her anger spike after hearing his words, whilst secretly hating the fact that he was still able to get into her head. She mustered up as much of her strength to push him back enough to allow her to land a perfectly timed kick to his abdomen, which all but threw him backwards, distancing them enough for Clary to try to think over her next move more carefully. "Don't you dare say that you know me better than anyone. There is only one person in this entire world that knows me. That is Jonathan. Nobody else."
Against all odds, Jace let out a laugh as he straightened back up. "That's where you're wrong, Clary. I was there with you on some your worst days when no one else was. I was the one that you came to with problems that you couldn't even fathom talking to Jonathan about. And I was the only one there to hold you at night when you were having your nightmares, and crying out for your mother, making sure that you always knew that you were safe and loved even when I knew that you wouldn't remember when you woke up the very next morning. And I love you too much to let you throw your entire life away for your brother's stupid fantasy. But if that isn't enough to convince you to stop all this madness and you want to hurt someone then by all means, hurt me. Let Isabelle go, and kill me instead." His voice nearly cracked near the end, but he didn't waste another moment after he had finally made up his mind. He was willing to sacrifice his life if it meant that maybe his death would be enough to finally get through to her. He tossed his seraph blade over in her direction, watching as it finally skidded to a halt at her feet before he took in a deep breath and walked over towards her until he was so close that the edge of her blade was gently prodding his chest.
For just a moment, Clary's vison was momentarily obscured by tears before she shook her head and blinked those traitorous tears away. She hated that she had allowed him to get to her even more than he already had, but the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his own life for not only Isabelle, but the entire Nephilim race, made her so angry. "Are you really that stupid that you would give up your own life for someone that you aren't even related to by blood, or for those disgrace of men and women that claim to be Nephilim? Because if that is true then I seriously need to question my taste in men. I saw so much potential in you. And I still do. Now stop stalling. Pick up your weapon and fight me in the same way you so graciously killed some of my comrades."
Jace shook his head as he gritted his teeth as he went on to press chest further against the blade until he felt just a subtle pricking sensation against his flesh. "No. I won't fight you. What happens next is up to you."
Clary clenched her teeth as she attempted to keep the churning emotions running through her at bay, whilst adjusting her grip on the hilt of the weapon as she pressed the edge of the blade harder against his chest until she finally saw a shade of crimson begin to form around the area. "I said, fight back!"
Jace's chest constricted ever so slightly as he saw a look of indecision flash across her features for the briefest moment, causing him to momentarily ignore the stinging sensation that was beginning to spread across his chest. It was that slightest bit of hope that caused him to grasp onto it so greedily, because he so desperately wanted her back. "You can't hurt me, can you?" It wasn't until he finished speaking that he was able to hear rustling coming from behind Clary. Without tipping her off, his gaze darted briefly behind her, taking notice that Isabelle was beginning to come around and get up onto her feet.
Clary was beyond frustrated with herself, because she knew that he was right. She didn't want to hurt him, but she also knew deep down that if she couldn't have him at all because of their difference of opinions, that she didn't want him to be with anyone else but her. And just as she finally made up her mind, embedding the point of the blade into his chest just slightly, savoring the short gasp of surprise that spilled from Jace's lips, she was completely taken off guard. One moment she had been finally going through with one of the most difficult things she would ever have to go through, and in the next moment everything went completely black.
~~
Clary was roused from her deep slumber by the sound of voices coming from just near where she was currently resting, causing her to keep her eyes closed as well as keep her breathing pattern the same as how it was before she had just awoken, so that way she would appear to still be asleep. This gave her the chance to determine how extreme her injuries were, and after she was sure that they were just minor ones, she allowed herself to focus on all of her senses one by one. At first, she couldn't get an accurate feel as to where she had been brought to, but after focusing a little harder, she nearly gave away the fact that she was awake by releasing a short gasp, when it became clear that she was brought to the one place that had become her true home. That mere revelation was almost enough for her to forget being cautious and go on to make her reckless exit, but the only thing that stopped her was for the fact that she just realized that not only were her wrists bound together, but also her ankles.
Her blood began to boil just by that mere revelation as a string of profanities immediately came to rest at the tip of her tongue, and just as she was about to finally speak her mind, she froze as she barely caught the last words that were spoken. She waited until Jace left the presumed quarters she was currently in before she finally opened her eyes, lifting her head up slowly as to not become dizzy when she felt the telltale signs of her head injury she had sustained, and was met with silhouette of the one who had harmed her.
Clary clenched teeth to stop herself from giving herself away as she tried to not make it obvious that she was trying to take in the darkly lit area they were in, trying to decipher just where she could possibly be since there weren't too many options, because they were in a different realm. And that realm was none other than Edom itself. Which had been her new home recently, and as that thought passed through her mind, Clary closed her eyes briefly as she took in a slow and steady breath as she attempted to allow herself to draw upon the energy from this realm. She was immediately rewarded with a soft caress of power that lapped at her skin, and just as she felt herself gradually becoming stronger, did she feel something else.
At first it was a soft brush against her mind, which felt so oddly familiar, but soon it changed abruptly and caused her to grit her teeth to not utter a sound of discomfort when the sensation had changed to something much more powerful than she had anticipated. It didn't take her long to figure out what just happened. Jonathan had been able to sense her now that she was awake and was calling to her and she knew better than to ignore his call, which is why she was going to do anything in her power to get free. Even if that meant harming herself in the process.
With one last look at Isabelle, making sure she wasn't looking her way, Clary began to try and work her wrists free of the rope. She ignored the protests of her skin being rubbed harshly because of the friction that she needed to accomplish the task until her skin felt so raw and appeared to be both red and partially bloody, did she give herself a little break. And just as she thought it couldn't get any worse, it was then near the end of her current task that Isabelle decided to turn around. Clary flashed her a half-amused smile before she spoke in a slightly annoyed manner. "Well, if it isn't the bitch that knocked me out..."
"Don't bother trying to get out of those. Jace, and I made sure to enforce your binds with a little help of something else." Isabelle noted dryly as she attempted to seem unfazed by Clary's haughty attitude as she moved closer to make sure that her wrists and feet were still bound together before she heaved a sigh and forced herself to take a seat across from her, resting her back against the cold and damp wall of the cave they were currently in.
A sudden spark of curiosity bloomed within Clary in response to what Isabelle had stated, which led to her giving her wrists a second glance and to her own astonishment, she was now aware of a particular rune that was etched into her skin. Her seemingly easy escape plan had now turned into something much more challenging, which was actual much more enticing to her if she had to be honest. After a quick glimpse at her current guard, she immediately knew how she was going to get out of this. She needed to get under Isabelle's skin and she knew exactly how, or rather who to use to do that. "That was a nice touch. I do like the whole bondage type of thing every now and then… And since we are on that topic, I think it's only fit to ask how my Simon is doing? Are you still stringing him along like some sort of pet?"
Isabelle clenched her fists in response to the mere mention of Simon, which nearly caused her to throw herself at Clary out of pure anger, but she knew better than to do that. She was not about to fall into Clary's trap. "Say one more word, and I swear I won't hesitate to gag you."
Clary could all but feel the anger radiating from Isabelle, which meant that her plan was working much better than she had anticipated. She went on to hold her bound hands out in front of her in a defenseless manner as she fought back the urge to smirk in response to what she was about to say next. "I apologize. I shouldn't have compared Simon to some slave. I just couldn't help but take notice that you've been just playing with the poor guy for so long now. He deserves better. Is it wrong to want my friend to be happy?"
"I said, shut up! My relationship with Simon is no concern of yours. That is the very last time I am going to warn you." Isabelle noted through clenched teeth as she crossed her arms over her chest, attempting to draw in deep and calming breaths to help relieve some of the pent-up anger that had been building up within her for only the gods themselves knew exactly for how long.
Clary rested her hands in her lap as she kept her gaze fixated upon Isabelle as the corner of her mouth lifted into a subtle smirk. "But you see, it is of my concern. I have known Simon almost my entire life, and even now I still want him to be happy. He's a very attentive and affectionate lover by the way. I would happen to know…"
Isabelle went completely still as she played back the final words that had come from Clary's mouth, and to say that she was not only shocked but hurt by that piece of information was an understatement. And before she knew what she was about to do, it was too late. Within a moment she had closed the gap between them, resting the blade of the sword she had taken from its resting place onto Clary's throat. "What did you just say?"
Clary wasn't the least bit intimidated by the fact that there was a blade being held against her throat. Instead she pressed herself against it until she felt the sharp blade slice at her porcelain skin, basking in the feel of the pain that came with it as a prurient smirk curved her lips. "You heard exactly what I said. But just because I am such a kind person, I will repeat myself once more, but more clearly. I fucked your precious Simon for all his worth, and he enjoyed every second of it. I even bet that in the very back of your mind, you always wondered how close we had gotten with one another, didn't you? Well now you know."
Tears pricked Isabelle's eyes upon hearing one of the worst possible things imaginable, and just as the thought of slitting Clary's throat to rid the world of one less vile person crossed her mind, the sound of Jace's voice was the only thing that stopped her from doing so. "Get out, Jace. This is between her and I." Isabelle retorted with such vehemence laced in her tone.
Jace edged closer with his hands raised up in a defenseless manner, allowing her to see that he was not a threat, whilst surveying the scene in front of him, trying to determine what exactly was going on. "Isabelle, please take a deep breath and step away from her."
Isabelle was beyond furious in this moment when Jace was still protecting Clary even after everything she had done.
Jace strode across the room as slowly as he could manage as he tried to think of what to do without harming his sister or Clary in the process. "Isabelle, it is not too late to stop this. Do not let her get into your head. Clary doesn't know what she's doing right now. You know that already."
"Oh, she knows exactly what she is doing, Jace. I can't believe that you are still trying to protect her. Clary is gone. Can't you see that!? And since you have always had too much of a soft spot for her it only seems right that I put this shit to an end right now." Isabelle all but snarled as she turned her attention back onto Clary before she drew back her weapon and readied herself to give the one single blow that would end the Morgenstern's plans for good.
"No!" Jace roared in complete despair, watching as the tip of the blade was about to strike its mark as he willed himself to run as fast as he could.
Clary didn't even try to defend herself, and instead she simply smiled up at Isabelle, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeming the least bit terrified as she was finally going to meet her maker. Her last thoughts were solely of her brother as she finally closed her eyes and welcomed both her newly founded fate and the short amount of pain that would come with it. But what she hadn't expected was for Jace to have pushed Isabelle at the very last moment, which caused her to only slash a very long gash along Clary's chest. At first the pain started out as a very faint sting before it began to gradually intensify, forcing a scream out of her before she fell onto her side, curling up into a ball as her body shook and felt as if it was completely aflame.
To say that Jace was beyond horrified of what he had to witness next was a complete understatement, and when he finally found the will to move, he darted forward and got down on his knees beside Clary. He proceeded to cut the rope that was used to keep her bound before he brought her onto his lap, brushing her hair from her face as he tried to keep her from hurting herself as she thrashed against him in complete agony. It wasn't until she stopped screaming and finally stopped resisting in his hold that he noticed something in her features that nearly had him in tears. His hand trembled as he went on to caress her face as she looked up at him. "Clary, is it really you?"
As Isabelle's adrenaline had gradually come down, it was then that she realized what her thoughtless actions could have done. Tears pooled in her eyes as she dared to come closer to where Jace was sat with Clary against his lap, and as if Clary had sensed her presence, her eyes met hers before the corner of her mouth lifted into a solemn smile, which caused Isabelle to stop dead in her tracks.
"Thank you, Izzy." Clary managed to choke out before she felt her eyes close on their own accord and she slipped back into the darkness once again.
~~
Clary woke with a start, bolting upright into a sitting position, which she would regret within the very next moment, because that movement caused her to feel an ache along her entire chest. It felt as if there was an invisible weight being held against her that was not unbearable, but rather uncomfortable. And the more alert she was becoming, she couldn't help but notice that her head was starting to pound, but before she could question why that was, she stiffened in response to noticing one major change that she hadn't notice upon awakening just a moment ago. She couldn't sense her brother at all.
But that wasn't the only thing that had changed. The feeling of pure devotion to her brother and their cause had suddenly not had her in their hold. It was as if she had awoken from a bad dream, where she had not been in control of her actions, and had been left to only watch in horror as she had done so many terrible things. Her breath caught in her throat as tears began to pool in her eyes as she recalled the recent events that had happened from the day Jonathan had been resurrected until her very last confrontation with Isabelle.
The memory of hurting Isabelle made her heart ache. She had been so cruel. Isabelle did not deserve to be spoken to in that way, nor find out about Clary's most private moments with Simon. The waves of emotion that now coursed through her entire core was so foreign to her now, that it almost became too emotionally draining, because she had not felt this much humanity in so long.
That sudden reverie, caused her to try and figure out just how she had broken out from under Jonathan's spell. She pinched the bridge of her nose, shutting her eyes as she ignored the ache coming from her temples as she forced herself to play back the little altercation she had just had with Isabelle. Her eyes sprung open as she inhaled sharply when she recalled when Isabelle had struck her with a sword, causing her to pull down on her shirt to examine the extent of her injury.
It was then that she noticed that someone had gone through the motions of cleaning and bandaging her wound, which forced her to have to gently pull back the bandage, biting down on her lip as to not whimper in response to the pain that came with that action. After the bandage had been pulled back enough, she noticed she had received a deep slash that had gone through the rune she shared with Jonathan. It appeared to be very inflamed and healing at a very slow rate, and just the mere sight of the oozing wound made her both dizzy and nauseous. She gently covered the wound once again, and after a moment the thought of who had gone about treating her injury passed through her mind. Where were Jace and Isabelle?
With a slight grimace she pushed back the makeshift blanket that had been placed onto her before she slowly rose up from the ground, keeping her hand against the wall to keep her stable as she attempted to walk as steadily as possible. But a sudden gasp caused her head to jerk upwards in time to catch sight of Jace. The mere sight of Jace made her stomach clench in response to the wave of uneasiness that overcame her so suddenly. She didn't know what kind of welcoming she would receive after what just happened, but she knew that she needed to hurry and get this over with, because there was something far more important that needed to be dealt with at once. With that in mind, Clary took in a calming breath before she forced herself to clear her throat as she tried to gain some courage, but in the next following moment, she felt herself become extremely light-headed, causing her to lean on the wall for more support then she had intended to do.
Jace had been so startled to see Clary not only awake but walking on her own that it took him a moment to fully comprehend that she was about to lose her balance, causing him to inhale sharply before he rushed to her side in time to catch her in his arms. "By the angel, Clary. You nearly gave me such a fright. You shouldn't be up right now. Especially in your current condition."
"Step away from her right now, Jace. For all we know, she could just be playing one of her little games, or Magnus was wrong about what the sword would do to the binding rune." She replied through gritted teeth as her fingers grasped the hilt of her weapon, waiting to see if it would be needed after all.
"You need to trust me, Izzy. I can tell that it's really her." He all but pleaded to his sibling as he attempted to block Clary from his sister's burning gaze, whilst keeping hold of her as best he could manage.
Clary didn't need to cast a look over in Isabelle's direction to know that she was armed, because she could just hear the vehemence in her tone as she spoke of her to Jace as if she weren't in the room. No that wasn't it. She made it seem as if she were a threat. It was that passing thought that caused her to suddenly go still. Was she still a threat to them? Her brows furrowed as she tried her best to try and take in how she was feeling in this moment, whilst ignoring the worried glance she was now receiving instead from Jace. She was in mild discomfort because of her injury, and was almost one-hundred percent sure that her connection to Jonathan was completely severed for some odd reason, but that was it.
She was so lost in her own inner turmoil that it took her a few moments to even notice that Jace had taken her face into his hands. Her eyelids slid shut for the briefest moment as she basked in both the warmth and feel of his gentle touch. She didn't know how much she had missed his presence until now. It was that mere thought that caused her to miss the tell-tale signs of her emotions getting the best of her because before she knew what was to happen, she was being pulled into an embrace, which allowed her to bury her face against his chest before she began to sob so unmercifully.
"Shh. It's alright, Clary. You are safe now." Jace murmured into her ear as he gently rubbed her back, giving her the time she so desperately needed in this moment. He couldn't even imagine just what she must be going through right now, but what he did know for sure was that he was never going to let her out of his sight ever again. He finally had his Clary back and he would be damned if anyone dared to take her back from him.
Clary had only allowed herself to enjoy the safety of his embrace for one more moment before she forced herself to push away from him entirely, surprising even herself when she managed to stay upright without any help at all. She had even gone on to wave away his attempt at aiding her once again, not wanting to seem like just a fragile girl that always needed the help of a man. Especially not when his sister was practically shooting daggers at her with just a simple glare. She cleared her throat as tried to ignore the protest of her wound in response to her movements. "It's alright, Jace. Your sister is right to be worried. I don't even know if I am truly myself again."
It wasn't until she received a quizzical glance from her current audience that she decided it was best to get them up to speed about her recent activities with her brother.
~~
Clary glanced up in time to see a rather troubled-looking Jace, which made her chest ache slightly, because she knew that she was part of the reason that he was so distressed in this moment. But instead of allowing herself to dwell on the past, she focused on the present, and the very first task she had to do was to get up off the floor and move forward with the plan she had just discussed with Jace and Isabelle. As she was just getting to her feet, she noticed that Jace was rushing towards her, causing her to wave him off, because she so did not to be depending on anyone to help her. "Do you think that Isabelle will be okay going on her own?"
Jace didn't push his luck by overcrowding Clary, as she had not so kindly chided him about not so long ago, and instead came to a complete halt a few steps away from her. His mind was still reeling on their rather elaborate plan that they were all about to follow through with, but he managed to push that to the back of his mind for a moment, and gave her a simple nod in answer to her question. "She wasn't too happy with her part of the plan, but she is tougher than she looks. She will pass on your warning, and make sure that everyone is prepared for Jonathan's sneak attack, while we take him on from here."
Clary felt her stomach clench, but it wasn't exactly because of what Jace reminded her of what they would be doing soon, it was the fact that she had not been completely honest with him when it came to the plan she told him. She needed to keep what she was really going to be doing to herself, because she couldn't risk Jace blowing her cover or putting himself in danger just to save her. And if she had to be completely honest with herself, she was almost petrified by the mere thought of what she was going to force herself to do. She knew deep down that this task needed to be done, but she also knew that there was a chance that she wouldn't make it back alive in the process. In that next moment, Clary didn't know if it was the mere thought of this being her only chance to do something selfish for herself, or if her feelings for Jace hadn't completely gone away, but soon she found herself grabbing at the fabric of his shirt, pulling him to her with all her might before she used her other hand to pull his face down upon hers in the same rough manner.
Jace had been too busy trying to decipher Clary's expression that he was taken completely off guard, allowing himself to be tugged forward, and just as he was about to inquire just what she was doing, he let out a low groan in response to her fingers tugging on his hair, and it was then that he finally caught onto what she wanted. He happily obliged by leaning down as his hands went to rest onto her hips, pulling her flush against him as his lips sought out for hers in as much of a frantic manner as she was behaving.
Clary fought back the urge to release a moan as soon as their lips met, which suddenly made her body become suddenly aflame as she pushed her worries to the back of her mind, and instead focused on just feeling and expressing how much she really needed Jace right now.
~~
"Do you trust me?" She inquired just low enough for him to hear as they made their way up the hill towards the estate the served as Jonathan's fortress, whilst attempting to ignore the wave of nausea that suddenly overcame her as she forced herself to remove her sword from its sheath as she allowed Jace to walk a few steps ahead of her until she could press the tip of the sword against his back just in time when they reached the gate and were greeted by some of the Endarkened.
"Of course, I do." He answered almost immediately, trying not to show just how on edge he was now in response to feeling so defenseless without being able to use his hands with the vast number of enemies now suddenly surrounding himself and Clary.
The leader of the group shuffled past his comrades until he was close enough to notice just who was in his presence. He immediately averted his gaze, knowing well enough by now then to stare at his master's beloved, and instead he bowed before her. "My Queen, I—"
An exasperated noise escaped from Clary's lips as she narrowed her eyes at the one who had spoken to her. "Enough with the pleasantries. Summon our King at once and enlighten him of the gift I have brought for him. The traitor that held his Queen captive. Now take him to a cell until further notice." She didn't allow herself to give Jace another glance, knowing that her composure would fail as soon as her eyes laid upon him, so instead she entered the very place she had dreaded to ever step foot into ever again.
~~
Not much time had since passed as Clary had made her way along this fortress that served as her home as of late. And in that time, she had managed to make her way to her intended destination to begin the preparation of her plan, but soon her time was cut way too short before she was soon bolting up onto her feet upon hearing commotion coming from behind the door of the massive room. She quickly went on about folding back the rug into its rightful position before making sure she composed her features. She knew who would be entering the room, but that didn't help calm her nerves, nor did the fact that she had to suck in a breath when she felt a familiar tug to the one she had once been bound to. It was finally time to bring this all to end. All that needed to happen to put her final plan into motion was for Jonathan to step across the perfectly etched runes that she had hastily drawn along the floor. She just didn't know how she would deal with the aftermath, because tonight she was going to betray not only one but two of the men that she cared so deeply about. No pressure, right?
It wasn't until the very last moment that she second guessed if it would be normal if she were to be standing in the center of the room to wait to greet him. She was left thinking over what she had done in the past when they had been linked as one, which is why she ended up walking up the many steps that led to two thrones upon a dais. She took a seat just time, because in the next moment the door to the room was thrown open with such force as a frantic looking Jonathan peered around the room until his gaze met hers from afar. Clary immediately went still upon meeting his intent gaze that it took her a moment to fully come to, but when she did she rose up from her seat and began to descend from the steps until she was just within his reach. She should have expected his very next move, but that didn't stop her from letting out a startled gasp.
Jonathan tightened his grip around Clary, leaning down to bury his face against the crook of her neck, taking in her familiar scent that immediately calmed the rage that had been ignited within him ever since she had been taken from him. It didn't take long for him to finally feel content enough to break their little reunion to get down to getting some answers, but first he needed to deal with the bastard that took Clary from him in the very first place. He pulled away from her, keeping his fingers of one hand upon her arm as he turned around and gave an order to one of his men in another language that he knew she would not be familiar with before he returned his gaze upon hers. "Tell me exactly what happened to you, my dearest sister."
It took a moment for Clary to focus on what Jonathan had just inquired when she was so on edge when she couldn't happen but notice the subtle wave of power that came with the act of Jonathan activating the barrier she had just gone about setting up. When it became apparent that Jonathan showed no signs of what had happened, she tilted her face up to meet his gaze, knowing that she had to play this next moment out exactly how it would have been done before the mark that bound them was broken, but if she were honest with herself, she didn't really have to act. She loved her brother dearly, no matter what. That is why this would be harder for her in the end. The corner of her mouth lifted into a subtle smile as she raised her arm up to be able to rest her fingers upon his cheek. "I believe what you should really be inquiring about, is what I actually allowed to happen, my dear brother."
Jonathan blinked in confusion upon hearing her rather vague reply, and just as he was feeling the slightest bit of annoyance because it appeared that she didn't want to enlighten him on what she had been up to since the last time they saw one another, he couldn't help but recall one little fact. It was that thought alone that caused his lips to quirk up into a devilish grin. "Ah, I understand now. You are quite vexatious at times, aren't you? Especially when you keep your plans to yourself."
Clary didn't have the time to give a proper response when she peered around Jonathan in time to see someone being dragged into the room. It took all her willpower to not push past Jonathan when she noticed it wasn't just anyone. It was Jace. And he was not in the same state as he had been when they last had seen one another." But her current worries over his wellbeing would have to wait, because not a mere moment had passed when Jace jumped into action.
Within no time Jace had broken free from his bindings and had grabbed the nearest weapon at his current disposal from one of the mediocre guards and dispatched of them both. It was only when he sent a knife sailing towards Jonathan that he halted his current assault. He watched with complete horror as the knife seemed to collide with an invisible barrier of some sort and sent it flying past him until it landed onto the floor. He averted his gaze onto Clary, a mixture of different emotions coursed through his entire being, because in that moment he realized that he had been led astray. "Clary." He managed to rasp out in a tone softer than he had intended.
Jonathan had been so ready to catch the instrument that had been sailing towards his chest with the pure intention of causing harm to him, but to his pure disbelief that was not how it played out. The pure look of betrayal that was displayed on Jace's face though was quite amusing. But it was Jace's devasted tone that caused Jonathan to elicit a laugh as he put two and two together. He casted a look over to his sister, trying to interpret her current emotions, but was left to see an expressionless reaction, and instead he focused his attention back onto Jace with a smirk idling upon his lips. "I dare say that you happen to be experiencing some sort of betrayal right now. Aren't you?" He noted with slight humor laced near the end of his statement.
Clary could hardly meet Jace's gaze because she knew he must be extremely confused and hurt that she had lied to him. But she forced herself to push her emotions aside because she knew that this was always how the next part was going to go. She would rather sacrifice herself to protect those that she cared deeply for. Her composure nearly faltered when he called her name once again in same hoarse manner. She took a steady breath as she went on to continue playing her role, which meant that it was time for her to kick it up a notch. She skimmed her fingers along Jonathan's arm as she forced a devious simper upon her lips, her gaze never leaving Jace's. "Did you really think that I would betray my brother for you. You mean nothing to me. You've served your purpose and are of no use to me anymore." It hurt her so deeply to see what her words had caused Jace to feel in that moment, but she needed to hurt him, so he wouldn't interfere with her plans. She just hoped that she had not gone too far.
Jonathan spurted a laugh when he was able to witness the look of utter betrayal displaying on Jace's features before he managed to catch a glimpse of sadness that shone in his eyes before Jace managed to cloak his emotions in the next passing moment. Jonathan could only imagine what Jace must have been feeling in that moment since even he at some point had moments where he thought his beloved sister had cut herself entirely from him. He ought to be sympathetic with him, but the desire to prolong Jace's torture was too hard to resist. The fleeting thought is what caused his next actions. His gaze never lifted from his viewing of Jace as he moved until he was behind Clary, brushing her hair aside to allow the bare skin of her neck to be exposed to him before he leaned down to skim his nose along her neck before he began to pepper kisses along her delicate skin.
Clary hadn't expected for Jonathan to be so bold in front of their current company, but she wasn't about to pass up this perfect opening that her brother had so kindly set up for her. She forced herself to tear her gaze from Jace, closing her eyes to make sure she wouldn't see his reaction to what she was about to do. Because she knew that she wouldn't be able to go on with what she was about to do if she had to see him hurting even more than he already was. She leaned back against Jonathan as his lips brushed against her skin, allowing a subtle noise to spill past her lips before she reached behind her to give his hair a gentle tug to grab his attention. It didn't take long for him to halt his actions, but once he did, Clary turned around to face him, bringing her hand up rest against his cheek as she met his burning gaze. "I believe it is time to show him that I truly belong to. Don't you agree, my King?"
Jonathan froze momentarily when he couldn't help but stare down at Clary in utter disbelief in response to her words. But he would be damned if he let the moment that he dreamt so long about to pass by him. In a mere second one of his hands was pressed against her lower back, dragging her flush against him as his other hand moved to rest upon hers as he peered down at her with a hint of a smirk at the corner of his mouth. "I thought you would never ask. It is time for us to begin our reign today. And I promise that after every single last drop blood of those that dare to disobey us is shed, I will show you just what you have been missing all of these years."
Clary shivered involuntarily upon hearing the change of his tone upon hearing his final promise, but before she could mask her utter surprise to seeing him almost consumed with desire for her, she had to prepare herself as he tilted her face up as his began to descend down towards hers. Her lids closed as she tried to remain as calm as she could manage. It was finally time to end this. But nothing would prepare her for when their lips did finally meet. It took all her willpower to not push him away, especially when she could hear Jace's reaction. This felt unbelievably wrong, causing her to ignore the bile that threatened to surface at any moment as she forced herself to allow him to part her lips and give him what he craved so badly for so long. Her hand fell from his face during the midst of their kiss and she said a silent prayer that he was far too distracted in this moment to not notice what she was doing. It took her far too long to slowly reach down to grasp the hilt of the sword that had been concealed so discreetly under the multiple layers of clothing she had on. Tears immediately filled her eyes as the moment she dreaded had finally come, making her open her eyes in time to witness Jonathan pull slightly back from her, breaking their kiss as his fingers moved to brush away the traitorous tears that had spilled upon her cheeks. She froze as she thought he had realized what she was doing, but to her utter shock that was not the case at all.
"You're crying…" Jonathan said in a tone far too soft than he had intended to, believing that she had been so overcome with them finally giving into their desires for one another.
Clary shut her eyes for a brief second before she forced herself to look up at him again, her heart aching as tears continued to flow freely along her face. "I am so sorry, Jonathan."
She witnessed the wave of confusion that flashed along his face before a mere look of revelation suddenly appeared in his features, but it was far too late for him to do anything. Within a moment she had broken out of his hold and before she could think too much about what she had to do, she had already raised her sword and brought it home to be sheathed in the depths of his chest. But nothing could've prepared her for what happened next.
Every single one of the runes she had etched onto the sword were now blazing so brightly before the entire sword was growing to be too hot for her to handle. It wasn't until the rune upon the hilt of the sword had scorched the palm of her hand that she whimpered. But nothing could've prepared her when the sword glowed so brightly before she felt the rune that bound her to Jonathan start to hurt so badly until it caused her to cry out in pure agony, falling to her knees before she crumpled entirely onto the floor. She felt as if her whole body had suddenly become aflame until the pain gradually came to a complete halt that she realized that someone was now hovering from above her.
It wasn't just anybody though. It was her Jace. No… He was not hers anymore. Not after what she had done. Tears threatened to spill once again, making her turn her face from him and as she did, she caught a glimpse of someone lying on the ground not far from her. She sucked in a breath when she realized it was Jonathan.
She struggled to get up onto her feet, and just as she was taking her first steps towards Jonathan, she felt fingers clamp down onto her arm, causing her to look back at a pain stricken Jace. "Let go of me! I have to heal him!"
Jace felt his heart constrict when he could see the current state she was in, and it took all his willpower to even speak his next words, because he knew that once he said them aloud that there was no possibility of taking them back. "Clary, he is gone. It is too late to save him. We need to leave before anyone notices what happened to him. Please, come with me now."
Clary shook her head as a sob broke through her chest as she yanked her arm free of his hold. "No, you are wrong. This wasn't supposed to happen like this. Leave if you want to. I am staying here. He needs me."
She didn't bother to wait for his reply as she rushed over to where Jonathan lay, dropping to her knees beside him. But it was then when she was beside him that she knew that Jace had been right. Jonathan was gone. She struggled to pull him up to her, hugging him so tightly against her chest as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. "This wasn't supposed to happen! We promised that if the time came that we both would part this world together! You can't leave me here all alone!"
With each passing second Jace grew more worried. It didn't help when he heard both sounds of voices and footsteps coming closer to where they were. It was that last revelation that broke through to him as he rushed over to Clary, grabbing hold of either side of her arms and began to lift her onto her feet. "We have to go now! Clary, I am so sorry. I truly am, but there was nothing else you could have done. But baby, please let him go. He wouldn't have wanted you to die because of him."
Clary whirled around faster than she could've thought was possible in her current state before she proceeded to shove Jace back a few steps. Her gaze narrowing as anger now filled her in that moment. "Don't you dare speak as if you knew what my brother would have wanted. He deserved a way better upbringing than anyone else. And I will be damned if I let his death be in vain ever again. I am the only one who can bring him back and put a stop to this."
She turned her back on him as she raced across the room and kneeled upon the floor before pressing the palm of her right hand upon the cool tile. Within a moment the tile slid aside to reveal a secret compartment, allowing her to reach down to retrieve the bag she had hidden there earlier. She carefully threw the bag over her shoulder and brushed past Jace to stop in front of a bare wall, proceeding to retrieve her stele before she began to etch out runes upon the bare surface. Sweat began to bead upon her forehead with the amount of energy it was taking her to make sure that every rune had the right amount of power behind them to do her bidding. Within a moment a portal was opened, making her suck in a breath of pure astonishment that it had managed to work.
She didn't waste a second lingering in front of it as she made her way back towards Jonathan, and as she was starting to grab his upper body did she cast a glance over towards Jace. "If you truly ever cared for me then prove it now. Help me bring him to the portal and after we pass through you are free to go as you please. I promise you will never see the both of us ever again."
In the end, Jace didn't really have a choice when the doors of the room finally busted open. He aided her with carrying Jonathan and went through the portal without knowing just what lay on the other side of it.
~~
It had taken Clary longer than she had wanted to finally convince Jace to leave her to tend to his family, but once he was finally gone, did Clary set out to get to work. She went about setting up an alter rather hastily before she began to work on drawing out the runes that were needed in this moment that she had forced herself to memorize over and over just for this occasion before she retrieved the other items she needed from the bag she had brought with her through the portal and headed over towards the shore of Lake Lyn.
Clary withdrew both the mortal sword and cup from the bag, placing the cup onto the sand before she used the tip of the sword to slash a clean line along her upper forearm, letting her blood drip freely into the cup as she began to murmur the words that had come so easily to her lips. After she was sure that both the cup and sword had their fill of her blood, she moved closer towards the water and began to dip the sword into it over and over as her chanting picked up once again. She had to concentrate on staying focused on the current task at hand even though she wanted nothing more than to back away from the water when it had begun to ripple and glow.
Once she had spoken the last words of the summoning spell, Clary went on to throw both the cup and sword into the darkened lake, and not even a mere second had passed when a huge figure began to rise from the water. Her hand automatically flew up to shield her eyes as the figure continued to rise from the water and seemed to illuminate so brightly in the process. It wasn't until she heard the angel speak her name that she dared to glimpse up at him, and as she looked at him, she brought herself into a kneeling position.
"Raziel." Clary greeted the angel as politely as she could manage even though her instincts were telling her that what she had done was completely wrong.
"Why have you summoned me, Nephilim?"
"My lord, Raziel, I have summoned you with the hopes that you would find it in your heart to spare one of your own that has been taken from us too soon."
"It has been so long since I have been summoned, and since then many things have changed. And most of those changes were due to the blood that runs through your veins. Give me one good reason as to why I should not just rid the world of one more Morgenstern?"
Clary nearly went completely still as she shivered involuntarily in response to the vast amount of power that was radiating off him. And it was then after hearing his words that she knew that Raziel had witnessed just what her family had done, but even then, she knew deep down in her heart that she was willing to risk everything if it meant that there was still a chance to save Jonathan. That thought was what gave her the strength to hold her head up high and speak the truth. "You have every right to kill me for what my family has done to our own kind. But I beg that you spare my brother, Jonathan. He had not even come into this world yet before my father and Lilith had corrupted him. Jonathan Fairchild existed deep within Jonathan Morgenstern and never got the chance to ever truly live. I ask that you take my life and bring him back."
"You would truly have me take your life in exchange for bringing another back?"
"Yes." Clary replied with more strength then she thought she could in this moment before she rose up to her feet, closing her eyes as she patiently awaited for the deed to be fulfilled.
"The price that this will take is the returning of abilities that should have never been in your possession. Valentine Morgenstern dared to imprison one of my own to retrieve them, and you have no right to claim them as your own. Are you still willing to give up those enhanced abilities for him and be the same as your fellow Nephilim?"
Clary stilled ever so slightly as she fully comprehended just what he was saying to her. She always knew that some of the things that she was able to do should have been impossible, and over the years she had taken advantage of those abilities and even used them for her own personal gain. The thought of being a normal shadowhunter didn't bother her at all. Because she was willing to give her own life for Jonathan and this matter was meaningless compared to that. Before she had spoken her answer aloud, she suddenly cried out and fell to her knees, holding her head in her hands as she felt as if she were being split into two halves.
It felt like an eternity when the pain finally seemed to cease, and she opened her eyes. She somehow was now resting on her back and had to blink a couple of times for her vision to fully focus and it was then that she realized someone was hovering above her. She was left staring into the most beautiful shade of emerald hues she had ever seen. The same shade that could've only been inherited from one person. Her mother. But that wasn't who was staring down at her with so much concern showing in their features. It was Jonathan. Tears suddenly obscured her vision as a trembling hand reached up to rest against his cheek. "Jonathan… Is it really you?" She managed to croak out as she tried to suppress the sobs that threatened to overcome her at any given moment.
Jonathan gave a subtle nod in answer to her question as the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile, whilst a mixture of tears of both happiness and grief blurred his vision. In that moment nothing else mattered. And without giving much thought to his next actions, he pulled Clary flush against his chest, holding her so tightly as he buried his face against her shoulder. "I can't even begin to explain how truly sorry I am for what I have put you through over these many years. I was in the very depths of darkness for so long, feeling helpless as I watched the other half of myself do such horrendous things… But even through those darkest of times, you were always there. It was only you who was able to give me the strength that I needed to hold on. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I could have held on for so long."
Clary's heart sank when she couldn't help but notice the way his voice wavered near the end. And soon it was useless to hold back her tears. Instead she held onto her dear brother so tightly as if she were worried that if she let go that he would suddenly vanish out of thin air. She didn't know how long they sat there holding one another in silence as they both cried away their sorrows. She pulled back a little way to look up at him, feeling just as caught off guard as before when she finally held his gaze. She was so used to the dark coloring his eyes had been once before, but she had to remind herself that, that wasn't really him. And just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, she suddenly went completely still upon hearing voices nearing the lake.
It took Jonathan a moment to notice what had suddenly caused Clary to tense up, but once he took notice that they were about to have company did he jump straight into action. He brought both himself and Clary up onto their feet and tucked her safely behind him. "Please let me handle this. None of this was your fault. It was all mine. I will go with them willingly, but I don't want you to try to protect me. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you. Do you hear me, Clary?"
Clary stepped out from behind him to stand at his side, reaching down to intertwine their fingers as she too looked towards the crowd of bodies in the short distance that were descending upon them. "We are in this together, whether you like it or not. We are and will always be bound by blood. And no matter what happens next, I will always stay by your side. I truly almost lost you forever and I swear to you that I will never abandon you. Ever."
A/N: I apologize for the overdue update. Life got a bit hectic out of nowhere. I do hope that this chapter was well worth the wait. As promised there is one last chapter left for this story to come to an end. I want to thank everyone who has left such lovely reviews and have not given up on this story. I promise that the epilogue will be posted very soon!
