~ THEMESONGS ~

Oh No! ~ Marina and the Diamonds

Salute Your Solution ~ The Raconteurs

Wait, Wait, Wait ~ The Format

.M.I.W.

20. Yes

"What did you do to him?" Lilith hissed, glaring at Clary. "What did you do?"

I already shot forward, Lilith narrowly dodging my blades as I swung them out. I shadowed her dodge, wheeling around her so that I was still standing between Jace and Clary and Lilith. The demoness glared at me and let out a low hiss.

"You're such a freak," I snarled, stabbing forward with both blades. The demon pulled back, her face twisting into a sneer. "You think I'll fall for your shit?"

I swung out with Sandalphon, twisting Metatron above my head as I slashed out. Lilith leapt back, and let out a low, animalistic growl that set my teeth on edge.

I was already running after her, seeing her rise her hands slowly –

And then I was flung into a wall.

Like, legitimately, a wall.

One second I was on the ground, running, the next my back was being slammed into a wall.

Demon magic. It'll do it to you every time.

"My child, you still have a choice." Lilith pleaded to me before turning on Jace and Clary.

I wheezed, pulling myself to my feet just in time to watch Jace position himself in front of Clary. I grappled my swords, and ran after him.

That is, until, I saw Simon's crumpled body next to the glass coffin. I stopped short, and dropped to my knees at his side.

"Michael," Jace growled, holding up a seraph blade. I looked up just in time to see the blade burst into one of the strongest light's I'd ever seen a blade glow, and he held it before Lilith like the experienced, capable warrior who had fought by my side at Hotel du Mort.

I looked back down at Simon, slowly setting down one of my blades.

"Simon? Simon." I whispered, gently touching the side of the vampire's face. He felt incredibly cold against my fingertips, and when I looked closer, I could see his skin had a faint black tinge to it. Like Belial's skin…

"Ah, Michael," Lilith murmured. I looked up to see her advancing on Jace, and found myself at a sudden crossroads of what I should do. "The captain of the hosts of the Lord. I knew him."

I watched Jace raise the seraph blade a little higher. "Don't come any closer."

I nudged Simon carefully. "Dude, come on." I breathed. "You gotta help me out here."

"Michael slew the demon Sammael, whom I loved," Lilith said. "Why is it, little Shadowhunter, that your angels are so cold and without mercy? Why do they break that which will not obey them?"

Simon slowly opened his eyes, looking incredibly groggy. "Wha – Madi…?"

I grappled his shoulders with my free hand and pulled him away. "Simon, you need to get the hell out of here. Or at least find a place to hide. I promise you'll be okay, I just –"

A sudden howl broke my sentence, and I looked up just in time to see hellhounds leaping out of Lilith's hands. "Oh, this bitch," I muttered darkly.

"Madi? What? Bitch?" Simon asked hoarsely.

"I mean it Simon," I pulled him back a few more feet before leaping forward. "Hide."

I saw one of the hounds already running for Clary, and I gave an all-out sprint to the monster. I pulled my swords back, feeling my blood tingling in my veins. Any second now, I would get the biggest rush of my life.

I pulled my blades back just as Clary stumbled back. "Metatron!" I cried. "Sandalphon!"

Both blades burst into a brighter light (not as bright as Michael's, unfortunately, but it'd do the trick), and I leapt forward.

I sliced through the hellhound's neck, and the whole creature dropped like a dead weight in front of Clary's feet. She let out a scream of horror, but was cut short as soon as she looked at me. I was grinning, feeling the effects of the serum hitting me in the most deliciously painful ways.

"Oh God, yes!" I snarled, whipping around when I heard a cry of surprise.

Lilith was looking at me in horror, and anger, and I my grinning turned a little more maniacal. "My daughter, please!"

"Nope!" I shouted, flying towards her.

She let out a growl in response as I swung my swords out towards her, her palms hitting my blades –

CRACK!

I bounced back at the force of the collision, the sound ringing through my ears. I glared at Lilith, already darting in for another attack. I was going all out for this.

Suddenly, Lilith's eyes scanned the area just as she dodged my next blow. I was getting annoyed now.

"Hey, eyes on me." I snapped.

"Where is she?" Lilith demanded. "Where is the girl?"

"She has nothing to do with this." Jace said, and I lunged at Lilith while she was distracted.

She darted to the side, and attacked with a weak punch that made me back up to Jace's side. "Huh, this bitch." I noted dryly.

"Do not speak to your mother that way," Lilith snarled.

"I repeat my earlier sentiment." I said, flipping my swords casually.

"Hey, you've got no arguments from me," Jace agreed, following suit. "Madi, I don't think you heard earlier, but this demon thinks she can't be killed."

"Because I can't." Lilith spat.

"Oh, I say differently." I disagreed.

"Just what I was thinking," Jace said. "Should we test it?"

"You know I'm a fan of a challenge," I admitted, giving Lilith a cold once-over. "But, somehow this doesn't seem like it will be. I mean, I know I'm a badass, and you're a badass. Two badasses together? Against that? She won't last five minutes."

"I do not wish to destroy you, my child. This is your last chance." Lilith warned.

I laughed, the sound coming out harsh and brittle. I flicked my swords out in front of me. "Really? Could've sworn my last chance was three chances ago. I think I'll get over it."

The demon was suddenly a blur. One second, she was by Jonathan's casket, in the next she was in front of us, slashing forward.

Jace ducked right and I twirled left. He slashed his seraph into Lilith's shoulder while I sliced her side and back of her leg. She crumpled for a split-second, before whipping around to attack me.

I ducked under her first punch, blocking the second and dropping to pull a smooth spin-kick. Lilith dropped hard on her ass, and just as Jace was about to make a killing stab, Lilith flitted out of the way and behind Jace's back.

"Duck!" I ordered, already leaping over Jace's back and swinging into a half-windmill (break dancing terminology here, kiddies, look it up). I kicked Lilith in the face, making her back up a few steps. I finished through by dropping onto my feet just behind Jace, who was already wheeling around.

Jace surged forward while I took Lilith at the side, both of us landing another slice before she darted away.

"Madi, feint!" Jace ordered, and I dropped and pulled myself to my right, craning my neck around to see Lilith coming straight for me.

Jace swung his seraph towards her –

CRACK!

"Oh fuck," I murmured.

Lilith had Jace's seraph, her hand was curled around the blade. She was holding it so tightly that her palm was bleeding black ichor. With a sickening smile, she snapped the seraph blade in half. The blade became (not to quote Kansas, but come on) shiny dust in the wind, and the hit burned up in black fire.

"Poor little Michael," Lilith murmured, dropping the burnt hilt to the floor, where it disintegrated into ash, "He always was weak."

I was already on my feet, throwing my body in front of Jace's and handing him Sandalphon. "Sandalphon," I said shortly. He grasped the blade gratefully and gave a minute nod to show his understanding.

"You and your name-dropping," Jace said dryly. "It's like I'm with the Band with Biblical figures."

"That'd be a sick-ass show," I noted, thinking it over.

Lilith struck forward with a snarl, and I followed suit. I drew Metatron diagonally in front of me, suddenly realizing I didn't understand how to fight with one sword. The weight threw me off. Lilith seemed to sense this as well, grabbing the sword's blade to block it from herself. Now she could easily wheel around and slice off my hand with those talons on her hands.

Her eyes widened as if she realized it too.

This was it.

Her eyes narrowed, and she drew back, and threw me to the side. I slid across the tile floor, major confusion hitting me. She had me, she had me, she had me, she had me! Why didn't see take me?!

And then I figured it out.

The question that I had to ask.

Jace had attempted to distract Lilith through some sick conversation, but I was already on my feet, storming towards them.

"You can't kill me," Jace said, seeming to realize something on his own. "What you said before – I'm the counterweight –"

"Don't flatter yourself," Lilith sneered, her eyes darting to me for a split-second.

It only enhanced the theory.

"Now I've taken about as much of this as I can take. Lilith, what do you want with me?" I demanded, stepping in front of Jace. "Who am I to you?"

She let out a low growl, glancing between Jace and I. Finally, she spoke, looking at Jace, "You and my Jonathan weren't the only ones resurrected that night. My daughter was also brought back."

Now she was looking at me.

My mind was a whir of thought, never settling on one exact idea. I was the counterweight. But why? Why was I the counterweight here? Jace was the counterweight. Why did I become… that?

Why did she keep calling me her daughter?

Why didn't Raziel talk to me through our telepath-communication-crap this go around? He said I'd been damned since I first laid eyes upon a fouled beast – that I'd been cursed by a Greater Demon. He'd never mentioned anyone by name…

I just assumed it was Belial since that was the only one I knew.

It was deemed impossible for my mom to ever have children. My own brother was a one-time miracle that wouldn't happen again. Then one day my mom met this woman. The woman said my mom would have a strong, beautiful daughter. It was fate that she would have a daughter.

A smile grew on the Greater Demon's face. One of pure victory. "My child," she greeted me.

I yanked my sword out of Jace's hands, who seemed to follow my mental wavelength and was too surprised to react. My heart was pounding, my whole body becoming a complete and total unstoppable force as white hot rage hit me.

"You're dead." I said, my voice cold and soft.

I lunged at her.

Lilith tried to back away, but I was already running at her. All the Marks, and the serum? Put that shit together and I was unstoppable. She was done. I swung out, slashing her chest with Metatron. I swung around and stabbed Sandalphon deep into her side.

Lilith cried out in pain and… pride? Looking up at her face she looked almost… exultant. "That's it, my child!" She approved. "How vibrant you are!"

"SHUT UP!" I screamed, already attacking her again.

She flitted back, much to my distaste, her breathing ragged and her expression proud. "Your anger is truly magnificent. Your creation was sublime. It's no wonder Belial coveted you so –"

"I'm not your child!" I yelled, my voice echoing across the rooftop. "I will never be your anything! Got it? Not your daughter, warrior, follower, best friend, bitch –"

A panicked scream cut off the rest of my probably epic rant. I spun around, Jace's eyes wide with horror, as we both watched Clary being drug out from behind some hedges.

And then I realized how fucked over I was.

"No!" Jace cried, just as Clary was whipped up in the air, being held right in front of Lilith. Her dress was torn and dirty, her hair completely out of its combs and clips.

"You bitch!" Clary snarled.

"You see, my child? My Verdantia?" Lilith proclaimed. "You are mine! Unless… you want the girl to die."

Lilith drew her fingers back and flicked them. A silver whip leapt out from them and cut down Clary's side, making her scream in pain as an angry red cut now stretched across her side, already bleeding.

"Clary!" Jace yelled, but froze, trying not to move. That would make things worse.

Lilith drew back her fingers again –

"Stop!" I cried out.

My seraph blades slipped out of my hands, clattering on the floor at my sides.

Lilith paused, and I felt all eyes of the room on me again.

"Don't hurt her. I – I'm done." I said, quietly. "I'm yours."

Lilith grinned darkly. "Of course you are."

"Let her go, then." I commanded. "You have your counterweight – now let Clary go."

The demon seemed to think it over for a moment, then shrugged offhandedly. "No. I don't think I will." She flicked her fingers back, and out. Another gash met Clary's body. "I think you need to learn your first lesson, child, about obedience. You ought to see how your selfishness affects everyone."

Lilith dropped Clary's body, and sent it flying across the tile ten or so feet away from me.

"You will watch her die." Lilith snarled.

She drew her hand back, a black flame surrounding her hand and she pulled it back. Then, she chucked it forward. Towards Clary.

Time slowed down.

"No!" Jace shouted, trying to reach her.

He wouldn't. He was too far away.

But I wasn't.

My feet were already moving.

For some reason, I thought back to that time I stood in the meadow with a demon. Angorian. The one who brought me here to this disaster. We had a conversation there about this moment. It wasn't that long ago, but it also felt like a distant memory.

"The only thing that kept me entertained was the scene of your death."

"Yeah, so how does that go down, exactly?"

"In typical Verdantian fashion, of course. Guns blazing, fighting until the very end, never losing hope. Truly American, but also truly trivial."

I guess this would be typical Verdantian fashion. Fighting until the very end, guns blazing…

Guns blazing.

I have a gun.

I dropped to my knees on the hard tile floor, reaching back for the handle of the Colt resting in the hem of my pants. I pulled it out, flicked off the safety, and aimed it towards Lilith's head – just above the giant black ball coming straight towards me.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Time sped back to its regular pace.

I heard Lilith scream, and knew I hit my target. I shoved Clary as far out of the way as I could, and found myself staring at the black fireball coming straight towards my face.

I spread my arms apart wide, letting out a sharp breath.

It slammed into me with the force of a wrecking ball.

It knocked the air right out of me.

And I felt pain – a deep pain that shoved through my chest. So deep, I already knew there was no way to fix it. It was burning at my heart, constricting it, breaking it.

I fell back.

"Madi! Madi! No!" Someone screamed. "God, no! NO!"

Yes.

.M.I.W.