***************** Chapter 17 *******************
"Good evening my darling." Valentine called to his wife opening the bedroom door.
"Hello dear." Jocelyn greeted cautiously. "I missed you today."
Valentine seemed to grin at this. He walked across the room and took a seat next to his wife on the bed. He slowly cupped her face and kissed her deeply. It was the type of kiss he used when he wanted to seduce her.
"I missed you too my love." He said bringing his lips down to her neck.
Jocelyn nudged him gently before he went further. She could feel her husbands need growing beside her.
"I wish to speak with you about something while you can still form complete sentences." She teased.
Valentine smiled and kissed her hand; holding it firmly in his.
"What is it my darling?" he asked.
"It's about the plan to steal the mortal sword." She sighed.
Valentine's eyes grew wide.
"What about it?" he begged cautiously.
"I wanted to ask you to wait until Clary returns from school next month. Wait for her to return home safely before you take the sword." She begged.
Valentine looked at her for a moment before answering.
"My darling. I assure you our daughter is safe. I would never put any of our children in danger."
"I know Valentine but I will never feel right until my daughter is here. Where I can see her and protect her. Not out in the middle of New York with a bunch of teenage girls and boys." Jocelyn said exasperated.
Valentine chuckled.
"I think Clary is safer from boys in New York than she is at home." He grinned.
"What do you mean?" Jocelyn asked knowing full well what he was implying.
Valentine wrapped his arms around her softly. He enjoyed having distracted her from their original discussion.
"I want Clarissa to be happy. You know there have been many proposals of marriage for all of our children. Respecting your wishes I have not agreed to any of them… yet."
"Yet?" Jocelyn keyed in on the word. Her husband always did have a knack for twisting words.
"Yes, yet. I had wanted Clarissa to meet these boys and choose for herself after she finished this school. However, certain events have persuaded me otherwise."
"You have decided to abandon this silly idea of an arrange marriage?" She asked trying to keep the hope from her voice.
"No, quite the opposite actually. I have decided to choose for her." He spoke matter-of-factly.
"I see…and whom have you deemed worthy for our daughter?" She asked bitterly.
Valentine pushed her hair to the side and gently kissed her temples. His hands sliding down to undo the zipper of her dress.
"The only boy I know for certain that will truly love and protect her."
Jocelyn stood still watching his movements. Letting his hands caress her body. She looked up in a gesture meaning for him to get to the point. He looked down into her beautiful green eyes and smiled.
"I'm referring to Jace of course."
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Clary stepped onto the cold dirt beneath her feet. She looked around surprised when she noticed that they were standing in the middle of central park.
"What?" she asked.
Jonathan turned around and smiled at her.
"You said it yourself Clary. The more people to protect you, the better." Jonathan replied.
She saw Alec appear and walk towards them followed by Isabelle, Arline and Helen. All of them wear dressed in gear and wore hoods to cover their faces.
"We're not taking any chances with an army of Forsaken outside the door. We're taking them all out!" Jace finished.
Clary smiled.
"Well? What now?" Isabelle asked when they reached them.
"You are all aware of the plan?" Jonathan asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Well then as the leader of the Anti-Valentine league, I say, let's go!" Jonathan smiled looking at Clary who was giggling.
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The cave was cold and she was thankful that they were wearing hoods that kept the brisk air from their skin. Clary landed with a thud next to her brother.
"Ah!" a voice gasped.
Jonathan held out his witchlight and Clary could see the outline of a girl. Grabbing her own light that Jace had given her for her birthday, she placed it into her hand. She now saw that the girl was a faerie.
"I told you I would be back sweetheart." Jonathan said calmly to the trembling girl.
"And you brought friends." She added.
Clary could hear Aline and Helen land behind her. They were all here now.
"Are there guards?" Jonathan asked.
"No... There maybe some at the entrance but you and the other man are the only ones I've ever seen enter the tunnel." She spoke quietly.
"Good." Jonathan said motioning for Clary to begin.
By now all seven of them had their witch lights out illuminating the cave. Clary could see the faces of the other poor creatures now looking at them. She could feel water come to her eyes when she looked at their faces. The faerie girl was covered in blood and the man who obviously was a werewolf was chained to the wall with silver. Their eyes looked sad and broken. It was time that she gave them some hope.
Clary grabbed her Stele and put all of her feelings into it.
"Open." She whispered tiredly.
Suddenly every cell door and lock burst open. Everyone jumped back in surprise. They got up and walked out of the cell with the faerie girl in toe. They were quickly joined by two werewolves and three vampires. The rest of the creatures still lay dead in their cells. The gang's smiles were short lived however. Without warning the halls were filled with Forsaken.
"Damn it!" Jonathan shouted.
"Watch out!' Clary yelled shoving the faerie girl back behind her.
The werewolves quickly transformed and leaped at the creatures. The team followed suite with the vampires joining in behind them. Jace had run up to one of the monsters shoving his sword through its heart killing it instantly. In that second another Forsaken lunged at him from behind. Jace went to brace himself before the creature fell dead at his feet; an arrow sticking out of its head. Jace briefly caught Alec's eye and nodded a thanks before spinning around to attack another one.
Clary was at the back of the pack with Isabelle and Alec. The hallway was narrow and the Forsaken were mobbed together. Jonathan, Jace and Helen were striking the creatures down as fast as they could. The small space was more of a hindrance for the creatures than them. The creatures would often hit each other in an attempt to hit them. Their power would be useless here.
Another Forsaken fell dead with arrows in their heads.
"Nice shot Alec!" Isabelle called.
Unfortunately that got the attention of two of the monsters who had smashed through the dungeon bars to attack Alec. Isabelle snapped her whip beheading one creature completely. The other rushed passed her and Clary pierced its heart just before it reached Alec. Just as Isabelle looked up at Clary ne of the vampire was thrown back through the air smashing against the wall. When Clary looked down at the vampire he didn't move. His body began to decay showing that he was obviously dead.
A scream filled the tunnel as Clary looked up to see Aline fall to the floor in front of perhaps the biggest Forsaken. Jace jumped in front of her before the monster could administer the final blow. The tunnel was littered with dead Forsaken and only three were left standing. Alec shot his arrow impelling the monsters in its neck. However, that didn't stop the creature. Having room to move now it slammed its first down hitting Jace in the head.
"Nooooo!" Clary screamed rushing forward.
She jumped at the creature! Isabelle ran besides her severing the monsters arm before it could hit Clary. Clary lunged and felt Heosphoros pierce the creature's skin. She added more force and pushed the blade through the creature's heart. The monster's body began to spasm. She narrowly pulled her blade out and moved in time before the monster fell down on top of her. Dead.
A final curl littered the tunnel as she looked up to see her brother land the final blow to the last Forsaken. Clary was trying to catch her breath. She pushed her way to Jace who hadn't moved. He was lying unconscious on the ground. A train of blood littered down the wall indicating where his head made impact.
"Oh Jace." She whispered leaning down.
"I'm so sorry Clary." Aline shouted red faced with tears streaming down her eyes. "It's…it's all my fault."
Clary didn't answer her; she was in a daze. The only thing she could focus on was the boy she loved bleeding to death on the floor in front of her.
*********************************Authors Note**************************************************
Enjoy the double update! Have a wonderful fourth of July and try not to blow any digits off! As always let me know what you think! ^.-