The sun burns my eyes as I force them open. I'm still in a terrible mood. I just want to stay in bed, but I can't fall asleep and I know I'll just have to get up eventually, so I roll out of bed.
I just leave my pj's on and trudge outside. Thankfully the kitchen is deserted. I grab some cereal and milk, planning to take it to my bedroom. Unfortunately just as I'm about to hightail it out of there, I hear someone opening the door. I turn and it's Jace, of course.
"Good morning." I try to say as cheerfully as possible. He doesn't answer. "So I assume you're still not over your little tantrum. Whenever you're ready to face me, just let me know." I open the door to go but he doesn't answer. "Fine, be that way. Oh goodness I'd almost forgotten. I've figured out where the cup is hidden. Whenever you guys feel like going after it, I'll be in my room." I think I hear him drop a plate but I don't stay to find out.
I few hours later I hear a knock on my door. It's Hodge. "Hello." I say.
"Clary." He says. There's a long silence before he asks "Where is it?"
Ever the one for drama, I let a moment slip by before answering, "The cup? It's at my apartment."
Once we're all ready to go (Jace is still not talking to me) we meet at the giant wooden main entrance.
"So how are we going to get there?" I ask. There's a long silence. "Are you telling me no one thought about this?" Still no one answers. "Ok, we can't haul it on the subway, it's too valuable. Anyone have a car?" No one answers. "None of you have cars? Are you kidding?"
"We've never needed a car before. Plus it's not like we can exactly get a driver's license, we don't technically exist." Isabelle says, also seeming pissed off at me.
"Fine. I have an idea. You guys got a phone?" A few minutes later I hear Simon pick up the phone. "Hey. I need your help. Wait, scratch that. I need your car and your driving skills." He reluctantly agrees.
After the awkward silence in the car, getting to my apartment is a relief. This should be easy, as long as I can avoid Dorothea figuring out we're after the cup. We get inside and everyone starts walking upstairs. "Where are you going?" I ask and everyone turns back to look at me. "You said it was in your apartment." Jace says, with a little glare.
"I meant apartment complex. It's in Dorothea's." I knock on the door and at first no one answers, but then it opens a crack. Dorothea peers out.
"What do you want?" She hisses.
"I just want to get my mother's tarot cards. You see, it's the only thing I have left of her now, and, you know, I'd just like to have them." I say with a pout that hopefully makes her feel some sympathy. She raises an eyebrow.
"Then why do you have Shadowhunters with you?"
"Oh, um, because last time we came here I nearly got killed, and we just want to play it safe." I don't think she's buying it, because she leaves and shuts the door. I look back at them. I'm about to say sorry and that we'll just have to come up with something else, when I hear the door open again and see the deck of tarot cards hit me squarely in the face. I'm not even mad though. I feel a huge smile spread over my face. "Perfect." And I didn't even awaken the demon in Dorothea.
I try the main entrance door, but it's locked.
"Um, Jace you didn't happen to have accidentally locked us in, did you?" I ask nervously.
"Very funny Clary." He says, not believing me. He tries the door and it still doesn't open.
"I don't like this." I murmur. I hear a maniacal laugh from behind me. Yep. I was right. I'm not gonna like this.
"You won't be able to get out of that door." Madame Dorothea growls. "At least, not alive." Suddenly a dark shape rushes to her from her apartment. It strikes at her and she thrusts her arms upward. The dark thing begins to wrap around her. Her back humps monstrously, her whole shape elongating as she rises and rises into the air, her bulk stretching and reforming.
"You really thought I was going to buy that garbage about wanting your mother's tarot cards for sentimential reasons?" She laughs, and her laugh turns into a roar as she completes her transformation.
"Eww." I say in disgust, looking at her. This really pisses her off. "Uh oh." She lunges at me, but Jace jumps in the way. He blocks her claws with his sword dagger thingy. I knew I should have taken a dagger.
Jace begins to slip, but Isabelle thrashes her whip at the demon. It turns and catches the whip midair. It pulls hard on it, sending Isabelle flying. I can see Alec and he looks really mad. He runs to the beast, but Jace has the same idea. The monster swats Alec away and he lands headfirst into Jace's stomach. So now it seems everyone but me is down for the count. Simon is still in the van, but there's no way I can get a message to him from here.
The demon turns back towards me. I feel fear swelling up in my throat but I push it back down. What to do? What to do? Calm down. Focus. What can I use as a weapon? I notice Jace's sword has flung off to the opposite wall. The only problem is the demon is directly in between it and me. I back up against the wall. I feel something cool and metallic rub against my back. The fire extinguisher. I can feel the mischievous smile curl up my cheeks. I've always wanted to do this.
"Well, that was quite a transformation." I say. The demon is very close now. A few more feet. "To be honest though, your new face is lacking a bit." Almost there…Perfect. "Why don't you let me help you with that?" I say as I shoot the foam in its face. It thrashes back and its legs open wide. I take my opportunity and slide head first underneath them.
I reach the sword just in the nick of time. It has just finished wiping off its face and looks angrier than ever. I grip the sword tightly in my hand. It feels awkward and heavy. I grip tighter because my hands are all sweaty. I think back to what Nemo said about dying and getting hurt. This only hardens my resolve. I squeeze the blade. "I am NOT dying here you ugly b-"
The demon interrupts me with a roar. "It is RUDE to interrupt people!" I scream as I run at it. It rakes its claws at me but I swing my sword. I cut it and I swell with pride. This is actually surprisingly easy. Then I notice skin growing over the wounds. Great. So it heals itself.
I run at it again, but suddenly the door bursts open. It's Simon. Before I can say anything he pulls out a bow and arrow (where'd he get a bow and arrow from?) and shoots it at the demon. He misses and my heart sinks, but then I realize he wasn't aiming for the demon, but for the skylight above its head. The glass explodes. Sunlight pours in and the demon starts moaning in agony. It turns into black slime and folds in on itself until it's completely disappeared.
"Well done." I say. We help everyone regain consciousness. Luckily no one was badly injured. We all pile into the van and drive back to the institute, with the Mortal Cup successfully in our possession.
The moment we get back everyone rushes in, but I just stay where I am. Simon looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to get out. "Simon, before you get mad, just let me speak." He doesn't say anything so I continue. "Don't ever think I don't care about you, because I do. You are all I have left. I've only known these Shadowhunters for a few days, but I've known you my whole life." Sort of. "I do care about you. I just can't love anyone romantically right now. My life has just turned upside down and I can only focus on getting my mother back." Technically that last part isn't a lie. Whether it's the Clary coming out in me, or if I actually do care about Simon, I want him to know that I care. I clasp his hand and he doesn't pull away. "Simon, just know I do love you. Just not romantically." We sit there for a few minutes not saying anything. Then he looks up and smiles at me. "I know."
I get out of the car. When I get into the library everyone looks really expectant. "Where have you been?" Jace stabs at me with his eyes, as if he knows I was apologizing to Simon.
"I was getting something from my room." I say, which technically isn't a lie. I pull out my sketchbook and flop it on the desk to prove myself. Hodge looks on expectantly, but Jace raises an eyebrow. "What's the point of this?" He asks. I don't answer, just start turning the pages until I find the one with the rune on it. "I remembered this rune so I drew it." I pull out the deck of tarot cards and search through them until I find the one I'm looking for. I can't help but smile. "The stele?" I ask Jace, not looking at him, just staying focused on the card. I feel him reluctantly hand it over. I meticulously begin drawing the rune on with precision. I hope this works.
When I'm done I place the card on the table. Nothing happens. Then I remember Nemo saying something about taking it out of the card. So hesitantly I reach in and incredibly I can feel my hands wrap around the cup inside the card. I pull it out and stare at it with amazement. Everyone in the room just stares at it for a few moments.
Then Hodge breaks the spell saying, "Isabelle and Alec, go seal off the exit. I don't want anyone to get in here." That's a little suspicious, but I'm sure he just wants to protect the card. Isabelle and Alec run off, leaving Jace and I alone in the library with Hodge. Hodge reaches out his hand for the cup. After a moment I reluctantly give it up. "Maybe you two should go help them." He says.
"I think they're alright on their own." I say, leaking a bit of venom into it. Jace seems a bit confused by my answer, but he also stays. Hodge looks me in the eyes. I see a touch of what? Almost regret. Oh no. This is very bad. I don't like where this is going. Hodge has his hands tightly wrapped around the cup. Maybe if I can make a run for it and get Alec and Isabelle they can help us. No, that'd never work. Instead I start inching towards Jace.
Suddenly I hear Hodge whisper something, I couldn't catch what it was though. Then without warning Hugo, Hodge's bird, swoops toward me, separating me from Jace. I grab a lamp directly next to me and swing at the bird just in time. I hear a caw and the bird goes down in a flurry of feathers. "JACE!" I shriek. I can't find him until I look down. He is fast asleep like a baby, collapsed at Hodge's feet. I run towards him, but am thrown back. Electricity pulses through me. He must have put up some magical barrier. I stand up, shakily. The world is spinning and I can barely stand. I push myself to stay up though.
"You traitor." I hiss at him. "You never notified the Lightwoods, or the Clave did you? You sent Isabelle and Alec out not to barricade demons from getting in, but other Shadowhunters. You needed to distract them while you took the cup for yourself."
"Not myself." He says, sounding detached and sorrowful. My eyes narrow into slits.
"Valentine." He nods. Before I can say anything else, the air besides Hodge is shimmering and then it parts like a curtain and a tall man is revealed.
"Starkweather. You have the cup?" Hodge holds the cup up. I bang against the invisible wall some more. Nothing. I can tell the man is Valentine. He and Hodge start conversing but my mind wanders as I try to discover a way around this force field. I try throwing a book. Nothing. A chair. Nothing. It's as if they can't see or hear me. I scream profanities at them. Then I grab the lamp from before and throw it with all my might at the invisible wall. Instantaneously sparks start flying from it and a moment later it bursts. I don't know how I did it, but it worked and that's what counts. Only now I don't know what to do. I stare right at Valentine, and both he and Hodge stare back at me in disbelief.
"How-" Hodge begins, but falters. A pale outline of an idea starts to form in my head. I decide I might as well give it a go.
"Give me the cup." I say, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. Valentine raises an eyebrow, no longer shocked. He starts to laugh.
"And tell me. Why would I do such a thing?" He asks between giggles.
"Because if you give me the cup, and Jace, I'll show you where the real cup is hidden." At this he stops laughing and I see his eyes narrow.
"The real cup? Don't try to trick me, little girl. I'm not a fool."
I giggle a bit.
"Is something funny?" He asks, again trying to be intimidating.
"I'm sorry." I explain. "It's just so hard to take someone named Valentine seriously. I mean, who names a child Valentine." I continue to laugh, and I can tell I'm getting on his nerves. I try to calm down.
"Since you can't take me seriously, I'll just be going." He says, full of rage.
"Very well, it's your choice. But it'd be a shame if you walk away and fail at destroying all the demons or whatever it is you're aspiring to do because you wouldn't listen to a little girl." I mock him (no longer laughing). I can see I have him now. "I was suspicious of Hodge when he said he was sending messages to the Lightwoods and the Clave. When I asked him about it he dodged the question. My suspicion grew. I learned that cheap parlor trick of taking drawings and making them real, and I had an idea. I knew I had to make Hodge think I knew the cup was hidden somewhere my mom could get to, and I distinctly remembered one tarot card she drew with a cup on it. From there it was rather easy actually. And just as I thought, Hodge revealed himself a traitor." I spit the last word out. "Just give me the cup and Jace and I'll show you where the real cup is."
"Clary-" Hodge begins, but is cut off midsentence by a look from Valentine. He tilts his head to the side and stares at me and if trying to view me from a different angle. "Clary." He mutters to himself. He starts walking towards me. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jace twitch.
I try to back up, but walk against a desk. Just my luck. "Clary. Short for Clarissa, I assume?" I don't like where this is going. I don't answer. "Clary," His face softens, but I can still see the manipulating genius hidden behind his eyes. "I am your father."
I'm silent for a moment. I'm not surprised there's a plot twist like this, I just don't know why I didn't see it before. Then I think about how to use this. I get another twisted idea. "But my mom, how could she lie to me like this? Letting me believe my father is dead?" I pretend to be upset, and Valentine comes in to comfort me. "She only did it to protect you, but yes. It was wrong of her. But it's alright because I'm here now."
I hug him tighter. I can almost reach the cup that he tucked into his back pocket. Then I notice Jace is gone. Valentine can feel me tense up and he pulls away.
"What's wrong?" He asks, not genuinely worried.
"Um, I just, I just would feel horrible if I tricked my own father into taking the wrong cup! You must believe me. The cup you have is a fake, and if you would just-"
Suddenly Jace jumps out with a sword and holds it at Valentine's neck. Valentine doesn't even look mad. "Jace. Please put the sword down." Jace looks a bit confused and then looks at me as if waiting for an answer. Valentine also looks at me as if he's waiting for me to tell Jace. "Oh, um, yeah Jace you can put the sword down." Hopefully Jace buys what Valentine is going to tell him so I can continue on with my plan.
"Jace." Valentine begins. "Clarissa is my daughter." I try hard not to laugh as Jace's jaw drops to the floor. "And Jace you are my son." Hold up.
"He's your SON? So then I'm his SISTER? Oh god, oh god, and we were making out. Oh this is so so wrong. It's like an even more twisted version of Game of Thrones because we didn't even know. Oh god. And you were going to come into my bed. Oh god." I freak out to myself as Jace tries to absorb it all. "I'm going to puke! You might have warned us a little earlier. Some help you are. Oh god, so gross."
Jace drops the sword to the floor. I stop ranting to stare at him. He's pale as a ghost and is starting to tilt. Valentine helps him into a chair. "Daddy?" I say, really hamming it up. "I think you should really give me the cup so we can go get the real one. Isabelle and Alec will be coming in any moment now." Jace looks confused at this. I don't want him to start contradicting me though and messing up all my plans, so I try to subtly tell him, "Isn't that right Jace? That I just pulled a cup from a random tarot card to prove Hodge was a double agent?" He stills looks confused, but luckily he just nods his head.
Valentine begins to hand it over, but Hodge interrupts him. I'd forgotten he was still here. "Valentine. I didn't know I sw-" Valentine only looks at him like he's looking at yesterday's garbage. Disgusted. He hands the cup over to me. "Great." Uh oh, now I need to come up with a fake real cup. What? "It's in, um, my room, yeah. I'll show you." We start walking towards the great doors of the library, when suddenly they burst open. A wall of wind slaps us, even though they don't connect outside.
Then I see the men in white suits. They look almost futuristic and I know immediately they don't belong here. They must be the Editors. Oh no. Shit shit shit. I see them all lock their sights on me and sprint in my direction.
I don't know what to do. I turn away. I hear my name shouted in the background. I run in the opposite direction, but only a great window that overlooks the busy city streets lay ahead. No exit.
I push over bookshelves and desks, and anything I can find, but they're catching up. Thankfully this is a really big library and I can probably run for a while before hitting a dead end. Valentine, Jace, and Hodge just stare in disbelief/confusion. The Mortal Cup is still in my hands. I quickly examine my situation and know there's only one way out.
I pick up speed and sprint towards the back wall. I throw the cup in front of me cracking the window and exploding fragments of glass that bend the light everywhere. I hear a gasp from someone behind me (probably Valentine crying about his precious cup). I just run forward. I reach the end and with all my might I jump onto a desk and propel myself into the night sky. Please work, please work. I pray. I scream but my cries are lost into the night. I think I can hear Jace screaming my name, but it is so faint it could also just be the wind. The Mortal Cup is somewhere below me, but it's the least of my worries. I only stare up at the broken window and the Editors leaning out from it, and I instinctually spread my arms like wings, and slowly it all fades away into blackness.