Well, hey guys! Thanks for commenting so fast! It was so awesome to get up this morning and check the story to see all of those comments!

~ THEMESONGS ~

Defiance ~ The Young Veins

Better Late than Never ~ Outasight

.M.I.W.

3. Better Late than Never

The sky is a pale blue by the time I'm only three or so blocks away from the Institute, the sun just above the horizon.

I'd walked through most of the night, because there was no chance in hell I was going to sleep in some abandoned, grungy alley. Or sleep at all. No.

To be honest, ever since I learned that the Mortal Instruments could be my possible place of death, I didn't want to take any chances. I've had dreams – well, more like nightmares, really – where demons have tried to hunt me, and pull me into their control. They could've originated here. Which means they could be more powerful… here.

But enough of that. I'm tired of dealing with all of the stuff I can't fix now.

Because, finally, it was in sight.

The huge, ornate, intricately-carved-from-marble church that loomed over so many buildings. To the mortal eye, it appeared to be in ruin and not in its truest form that was presented to me.

The Brooklyn Institute.

Even in a time where I should be probably curled up in the fetal position, screaming for everything to stop for at least five seconds, I could smile at the sight of it.

I ran across the street, almost run over by several taxi cabs in the process. I didn't blame the drivers, though. They couldn't see me. I decided to use some glamour when it was five in the morning when a typical suit stared me down in horror as I walked past him.

I leapt up the steps to the Institute, taking two at a time. I held my hand out to the door, pressing my palm against the wood. "Hello again." I whispered, almost feeling the whole building pulse in recognition. That only made my smile grow. "Madison Verdantia."

The two huge oak doors swung open quietly, revealing the large foyer. That familiar blood red carpet lined with gold led straight to the shiny, golden, retro elevator.

I could've jumped up and clicked my heels together at my excitement, but held it together, and smoothly walked inside, reaching up to finger one of the straps of my rucksack. Because I'm a badass. And badasses don't get excited over stupid foyers.

The doors closed behind me once I was in the middle of the room, enveloping the area in complete and total silence. The muffled footfalls of my boots on the carpet were the only sounds as I strode towards the elevator.

I stopped in front of it, pushing the button with the 'up' arrow on it. It glowed in a result, and I listened as the elevator descended to my level. The gate opened, revealing the inside of it –

"Meow."

I looked down at the ground. Sitting peacefully there was a gigantic gray furball. Intelligent yellow eyes gazed up at me, his featherlike tail swishing along the carpet of the elevator, as if beckoning me to come in.

"Church!" I grinned, stepping into the elevator. I dropped immediately to my knees as the door closed behind me, and Church stalked forward, standing with his front paws on my thighs as he strained to reach my hands. I stroked the top of his head, and then the side of his cheek, rewarded with his deep, thrumming purr. "I missed you too! How's everything been?"

Church opened his eyes at that point, yellow orbs gazing back with enough intensity to burn holes through me. I frowned. "That bad, huh?"

The elevator stopped on the third floor of the Institute, and the rickety door slid open. I straightened up, Church rubbing against my legs, still purring. Obviously relieved I was here. I stepped out of the elevator and looked down at him. "All right," I sighed, "I guess my first order of business is to check on my wayward cousin."

Church led me through several winding hallways, until stopping at one doorway that was already open. He plopped down unceremoniously at the door, looking up at me expectantly.

I peered inside, and smirked.

Inside was a huge gym, an empty space with training weapons hanging on the walls, mats placed off to the left side of the room, training dummies in various sizes (to mimic the rough sizes of Forsaken, werewolves, vampires, and demons) to the right.

And right in the middle, laying on the floor in a rather… compromising position, were Jace and Clary. And by compromising position (because you pervs are just dying to know, I'm sure), I mean she was on top of him, and they just started kissing.

My eyebrows raised, and I folded my arms across my chest as I leaned against the doorframe, hooking my left ankle behind my right. Like a boss.

Yeah. In case you were wondering, I am a boss. All the time. Just one of those things that come naturally, I'm afraid.

"You know, I come all this way – first from a place swarming with vampires, alchemists, and half vampires, and then from a world perpetually stuck in the 1800s –" I announced dryly, "and all I have for a welcoming party is Church."

The gray cat flattened his ears and looked up at me accusingly. I shrugged. "No offense, Church."

Jace and Clary broke apart immediately. Clary jumped up on her feet, a wide smile on her face. "Madi!" She cried, and ran towards me.

She crashed into me, wrapping her arms tightly around my shoulders. I started in surprise at the sudden contact, and took to hugging her back awkwardly. "That's better." I said. "To be honest, I was worried you forgot about me."

"You know that's impossible!" Clary pulled back, still smiling, making me smile back.

"Yeah." Jace said, frowning at me from where he was. Still lying on the floor. "Only you can ruin a mood."

"Oh please," I rolled my eyes, "If that's what you call a mood, then I must be your everyday Juliet."

Jace slowly pulled himself from the floor, walking towards us.

"Anyway," Clary said, making me look back at her. "It's a good thing that you're here. My mom's engagement party is in two weeks. You should stay until then!"

I frowned, clearly confused. In my last little crusade in this world, Jocelyn and Luke had gotten married. Why would they be celebrating their engagement party afterwards?

So, being the idiot I was, I voiced the question. "But aren't they already married?"

Clary's eyes clouded in confusion. "What?"

I furrowed my brows. "Yeah… That's why I came last time. Magnus made a portal for Jace. He came to my dimension to invite me. The wedding got postponed because of your amnesia, but after that was worked out, we had it. We went together. You and Jace, Isabelle and Simon, Alec and Magnus, me and Meliorn…?"

Meliorn. He was in this world. I could see him. My heart skipped a little (as cliché-ly as possible, I'm sure) at the realization.

But what was keeping my attention were the confused expressions on both Jace and Clary's faces.

"Madi…" Jace said. "Magnus made me the portal to find you because of Clary's curse."

I frowned, slowly folding my arms across my chest. I looked at both of them warily for a long time, before giving up. I shook my head, raking a hand through my hair. "You're right. I'm sorry. I think I'm getting myself mixed up between worlds or something."

"Worlds?" A familiar voice questioned.

I looked over my shoulder to see Isabelle walking down the hallway, smiling. I pulled on a fake smile as well as a fake answer. "Social worlds, Izzy. Certain circles are becoming very frazzled lately."

"I'll say." She agreed. Once she reached me, she held her arms out, and pulled me into a friendly hug. "Are you here because of the Shadowhunter?"

I pulled back, hooking my thumbs in the pockets of my jeans. "Yeah." I replied. "The Scotland's Institute said it would be something up my alley, but not much else. Care to fill me in?"

"Well, it was a mangled corpse – probably from some werewolves or something. I think you just missed the patrol to check it out."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Story of my life. Oh well, I don't think I'll be missing much besides some gore. Could I get a room?"

"Sure!" Isabelle grinned, grabbing my arm. "I'm so glad that you're back! The Institute's been boring without you!"

I let her tow me down the hall, away from Jace and Clary. I craned my arm around to wave at them. "I'll see you guys later!" I called.

With that, I quickly met Isabelle's pace, and let her talk to me about fashion and question what I'd been doing since the last time I was here. Since Isabelle didn't know I wasn't Nephilim, I gave her the most generic answer I could. I'd dealt with a vampire infestation in Montana, found a demon there, and tracked it to Scotland before it could possess a witch.

So I wasn't technically lying. I did deal with a vampire infestation, and (unknowingly) tracked a demon to some sort of English countryside to fight a witch.

"And here's your room!" Isabelle said cheerily, stopping at the end of the hallway before it turned sharply to the right. She opened the door to the room, letting me look inside. "I'll leave you to change and stuff… unless you have clothes to change into."

Damn it. I looked down at my gear and sighed. I didn't even think of it. In Ingary I wore a bunch of dresses. I didn't have a stich of clothing except for the ones on my back. Meaning only one thing.

I'd have to make a trip home.

My home.

In my dimension.

"Yeah, I do." I said. "Thanks Isabelle. I'll come downstairs after I change."

"All right, just call if you need anything."

With that, she walked back the way we'd come, and I walked inside of my room, closing the door behind me. The room I was staying in now was similar to the room I had last time. Then I realized the obvious. This was the room I had the last time I was here.

Amazing deduction skills, Verdantia. You surely know how to spot 'em.

Same bed, to the right was the same huge window that led out the roof and the angry looking gargoyle that glared and snarled out to the New York clouds, the bathroom right in front of me. That was nice of Isabelle.

Thinking nothing more about it, I locked the door behind me. I pulled off my rucksack and set it on the chest in front of the bed, then taking off my jacket to hang it on one of the bedposts. I unhooked my seraph blades from my hips, and set them on the bed, then shucked off my boots.

I stepped away from my bed, and held out my arm, palm out to face the empty space in front of me. I planted my feet sturdily underneath me, and narrowed my eyes.

Okay, so, for those of you who have no idea what's going on, don't worry. I'm not having a nervous breakdown. Nor am I playing Iron Man. I'm actually trying to make a portal that will take me to my dimension, a place where all of these worlds that I have been to are books.

See? I'm not crazy.

Anyways, portal. Portal to my room. Portal to my room where I can step out and been on level ground – not falling like last time. Portal into my room. Portal…

A blue, swirling mass spiraled out of thin air, and I quickly stepped through it.

.M.I.W.

A few hours had passed since my little raid, where I had gotten a few shirts, shorts, jeans, and a pair of shoes. The trip overall went well, and ended up with my nose bleeding for only an hour and a half. But, that wasn't too bad, because I was passed out through a quarter of that time.

And yes, for those of you people wondering if I'm out of my mind, this is progress for me.

I found myself drifting through the halls of the Institute. I had changed into a pair of shorts and an oversized tank top with the phrase, "life is too important to be taken seriously" with a tank top underneath it. My gray Chucks padded against the carpet, and brought me to the library, where Jace was reading.

"Working hard, or hardly working?" I joked, strolling into the room.

Jace looked up, then looked me over. "I think this is the first time I've actually seen you in normal clothes." He observed.

I shrugged, and sat in the chair across from him. I then reached for one of his books, looking at the golden font on the cover. "Lucidum Somniates." I read aloud. Then I frowned. "Jace… What have you been up to?"

He reached forward, trying to snatch the book from me. I tipped my chair back on two legs to hold it out of his reach. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I saw the dark rings beneath them. I frowned. "Nightmares bothering you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

His eyes widened only a fraction. "How do you –"

"We need to talk." I said. "Immediately."

.M.I.W.

Jace and I walked down the streets of Brooklyn. The sun was beating down hotly, making me grateful I was wearing shorts. Here, summer was definitely in full swing.

I glanced over at Jace, who was staring at the street with his hands in his pockets. I frowned, then took a step sideways to bump his shoulder reassuringly. "So, what's been going on? Or do you just have a casual interest in lucid dreaming?"

He didn't say anything, and I nudged him again. "I thought we had a 'no secret' policy."

"Yeah, but this secret could hurt people."

"Or one person. I know the nightmares are about Clary." I frowned, hooking my thumbs in the pockets of my jeans. "We've both been keeping stuff from each other."

"What've you been keeping from me?" He asked.

"That I've been having the same problem."

"Really?"

"I think we have a common enemy." I said. "I came here to figure out why."

"Why are they a threat to you?" He asked.

"According to my sources, she's been trying to use me too. She's been using dreams – nightmares – to try and control me. Maybe kill me."

"Kill you?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes." I nodded. "Her name is Lilith, by the way."

"Wait, wait, wait." Jace stepped in front of me, golden eyes boring into mine. "How do you know this?"

"Because one of her demons told me." I said in my best 'no duh' voice I could muster. "That demon's dead. This one – Lilith – is going to die, too. I'm not worried."

"Seems like it." He mused, watching me step around him.

"You shouldn't be either." I called over my shoulder, letting him catch up.

.M.I.W.

Jace and I walked for the rest of that time in silence, making our way back to the Institute. It was a quiet walk, both of us seeming to know there wasn't anything else to talk about. There was no need. We'd gotten out all that the other needed to know, and it was satisfying enough.

But, as we turned down another street, a figure running down the street changed that.

Yup. She was running. And dodging. She just jumped behind a building. Then she peaked around the said building (not even seeing us, or not noting us as a threat, pick your favorite), and started running again.

I stopped, cocking my head to the side in confusion. Jace also stopped beside me, frowning. "What the hell?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth." I replied. "I…"

Then she was closer.

That was when it all suddenly clicked.

My mind was racing in a hundred different directions, demanding all different questions. Could it be? Was that really her? What was she doing here? How did she get here? Why was she looking like such a spazz?

"Madi –"

I suddenly took off, ignoring Jace's call for me to hold on, towards the girl that I knew only too well.

"Claire!" I shouted, running faster when she froze. "Claire!"

Slowly, the girl from my dimension turned around. Yes. I grinned. That was definitely her. Same brown hair, same green eyes, same mannerisms, same… look of complete rage?

I skidded to a stop just in front of her, my stupid smile in place just as her fist was careening towards my face.

"You lair!"

.M.I.W.

Poor Madi. Not a break in sight!

ShoutOuts ~

SoccerGirl4Life30: Lol yay! Thank you so much! Your excitement is awesome!

Breeze the She-Wolf: Whoot! Happy dances are the best! And, oh yes, be prepared, lots of kick-assing and snarkiness to come!

BookNinja15: Yes! I love Claire! I'm so glad she wanted to write this! We've been so excited when talking about this series!

Nyx's Pinky Girl: Well, Claire says thanks, and so do I! Yes! Madi's coming back, and will be into her full glory soon enough!

: Thank you for commenting! I'm so glad you did! As for pointers on a character like Madi? Oh, gosh, I don't really know. I've never really created a character like her before until now. As for your spoiler, yes, Madi goes back to Ingary. Soon, actually. Claire's role is going to be huge, and that's all I'm going to say about that. Vodka and sunflowers appreciated!

AnimeVamp1997: Yes! Skyrim is amazing! I'm going to start playing it again soon! I had to stop because it got so life-consuming. I hope it won't be as annoying to start over as an arrow would be to the knee! :P

April Marciano: Yes, yes she is lol. Sorry, I don't know how else to respond. xD