Sorry it's short, but another one will be posted tonight. My internet has been down and it got fixed today! Yay! This story may or may not end tonight depending on my ambition :) But one more is coming. So enjoy.

Jace woke peacefully, a smile plastered to his face, curled into a ball. He blindly searched the bed for the sheet, pulling it higher over his naked frame. "Good morning, beautiful," he cooed. Eyes closed, he reached out toward the redhead beside him, confused when his hand collided with the mattress. It was cold. The serenity was shattered as his eyes flew open, and he bolted upright. She wasn't there. Her clothes had disappeared from where they'd lain next to his. "Clary?" he called out, wincing at the hoarseness in his voice. He heard the shower running from the bathroom and immediately sighed in relief. He tugged on his clothes and knocked on the door, patiently awaiting a response. One never came.

Panic returned as Jace burst through the door. Had she fallen and hit her head? Was she drowning in the bathtub? He yanked back the shower curtain to find the steamy water running over emptiness. "DAMMIT!" he yelled, loud enough to awaken the entire hotel. I reached for his keys where they'd been on the nightstand, finding them. He cursed again, snatching his wallet and Clary's forgotten cell phone and sprinting from the room. He slammed his hand down on the concierge's desk, startling a small squeal from her. "Nearest bus station," he commanded. "Now." She furrowed her brow. Certainly someone staying at this nice of a hotel didn't need to take the bus, but she didn't dare voice her thoughts.

"Two blocks east," she squeaked out. Jace took off running again, not bothering to check out as he sprinted the short distance to his destination. Had he been in his right mind, he'd make a joke to himself about his sexy athleticism, but now was not the time. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for the lady to check busses to New York.

"The next one leaves in ten minutes, sir." Jace scrubbed his hands over his face, asking for the nearest car rental service. "There isn't one for miles," the clerk said, snapping her gum impatiently. "So do you want the ticket or not." Out of options, Jace purchased it, pushing his way to the front, sighing in relief as the bus arrived five minutes early. It was an hour and a half ride, one that Jace was sure would drag on. How far ahead of him was she? He shoved his hands into his coat pocket, feeling an unfamiliar paper inside. The bus groaned as it pulled away, heading toward the person Jace needed most. With shaky hands, he unfolded the not, written on the paper provided by the hotel.

Jace, it said in shaky script.

I know that you don't understand why I'm doing this. You just have to trust me. I can't let this man, my father, hurt you. I can't let you die because of me. But I also can't let my mother die. I'm sorry that it has come to this. I'm sorry that I left you. What I did last night, it was selfish. I know that there's a chance that I won't be coming back, that I won't see you again, and I just…I just need you…needed to share that experience with you. I love you more than you can ever imagine, and because of that, I can't allow you to lay your life on the line for mine. I want you to live a long, happy life, Jace. I can't be the reason it's cut short. I hope one day you can forgive me, and I know that even if we don't meet again on this earth, in this lifetime, we will see each other again someday. I love you, Jace.

There were spots of water on the page, falling onto the smudged ink as Jace cried over the note, the same way Clary had.

X.O.X.O.X

The room was enveloped in darkness. Clary's body was tingling from Jace's touch, alive with a burning fire as Jace slumbered peacefully beside her. She set her jaw and closed her eyes. The time had come. With all the willpower she could muster, she untangled herself from the warm embrace of her true love, sliding into the clothes that had been discarded beside his. She'd gotten a text that morning, telling her to meet Valentine in the basement of Pandemonium, the place where she and Jace had pretty much started. Oh the irony. She reached over and flicked the desk lamp on, checking to make sure Jace was still asleep. She snatched the pen and paper that were provided and quickly scrawled a note, her tears silently smudging her words as the last few sentences flowed from the tip of the pen. She hated herself for doing this. She hadn't planned on what happened last night, but her selfishness and greed took control. She couldn't go into this suicide situation without having Jace that way, without experiencing him fully. And that was purely for her gain. She knew it would tear him up inside.

With a deep breath, she crept up beside him and slipped the keys from the bedside table, wincing at the jangling noise they made. The boy didn't stir, and Clary's heart shattered. "Goodbye, Jace," she whispered into the darkness, leaning down to place a kiss on his forehead. She turned to go, before looking over her shoulder. "I love you," she added softly before closing the door behind her.

She jammed the keys into the ignition and stepped on the gas. She had to get there before Jace woke, had to make sure that Valentine was gone before Jace was even within range. The highway seemed to disappear around her as she sped toward New York, somehow avoiding all cops along the way. She pulled up to Pandemonium all too quickly and reached into her pocket for her cell phone. She just had to hear his voice one more time, even if it was the recording of his voicemail. It wasn't there. She decided it was a sign, that talking to Jace, hearing his brokenness, his disappointment, would shatter her courage, ruin her plan. She slammed Jace's car door, leaving the keys beneath the gas cover.

Pandemonium looked creepy in the morning. Deserted. Nobody waited outside, bribing the bouncer to get inside. The colorful lights that flashed out the door were turned off, leaving a dark building on a corner lot. Clary cringed at the echoing sound her footsteps made as she pushed through the broken door. She searched for stairs to the basement. For a back door marked for employees. For anything, but came up short. She cried out in frustration right before she felt the pain of a knife sliding along her side. "I knew you'd come, Clarissa. I knew you couldn't resist your daddy."

Clary gasped as his face came into view. Black, seductive eyes, snow white hair. Her father was a walking contrast. From a distance, his face had a soft attractiveness, one that would make him seem approachable, like he was a guy you wanted to be your friend, but up close, the malice and ruthlessness was visible in the endless midnight orbs. They seemed to swim with demons, seemed to cut you with a look. Clary felt the warm blood soak into her shirt. "Where's…mom…." She grunted, softly through her panting breaths.

"Ah, right to the point. You really are my daughter. You don't like to stall." He steered her toward a door, pressing the blade into her back to keep her from moving. "You're mother is down here," he said, opening a door and exposing a pitch-black staircase. Before Clary could say a word, Valentine pushed her down the steep stairs and slammed the door behind her.

Well, well, well. Valentine. Hmm...What's going to happen next?