*************** Chapter 23 *******************
Clary fell to the floor covering her wet ears. She was trying to block out the images that the angel given her but to no avail. Tears raced down her cheeks. Seeing her father poison Jonathan and taking the angels blood to feed to his own. Clary knew that Jace and she had angel blood in them. She had just never thought about how her father obtained it. It seemed silly now that she would not have contemplated that. She felt sick with disgust and shame. She opened her eyes and saw the thick black dirt that covered her hands. It was then her eyes landed once again on the angel before her.
"Ithuriel." She cried out reaching out to him. "I will get you out of here. I promise."
Jace didn't remove his gaze from the angel before him. He saw Clary mouth something out of the corner of his eye but he wasn't listening. The angel had turned his head to face him with its blood stained face.
"Jonathan Herondale." The booming voice commanded in his mind. "Valentine seeks the sword to summon my brother Raziel and bring death to your race. It is imperative that you stop him."
Jace reluctantly nodded in understanding.
"I am powerless to help you in this state. I need you to release me from this misery my child. My blood has made you and Clarissa powerful. Working together you should be able to free me from this misery." Ithuriel begged.
Jace looked down at the seraph blade in his hand. He could feel his body tremble knowing what he must do.
"Clary, do you think you can release this seal?" he asked out loud catching her attention.
"I don't know but I am going to try." She grabbed her stele out and began drawing.
A set of ruins appeared in her mind as she quickly completed the lines pouring strength into the ruins. With one last breath she completed the final line. The ruins lit up around her as if on fire flooding the dark room in light. The stone floor shook and cracked open as the previous marks faded away.
"Ithuriel." Jace spoke illuminating the blade in his hand.
He reached the blade out to the angel's outstretched hands. The angel took the blade, taking a deep sigh, and brought it to its chest.
"NO!" Clary shouted.
Jace reached forward and grabbed her. Ithuriel seemed to pause.
"It's okay baby. It's what he wants." Jace held her firmly whispering in her ear.
Clary looked at the angel who faced her in silence. After a moment she collected herself and looked down.
"I'm so sorry Ithuriel…tha…thank you for …everything." She spoke softly holding back her sobs.
The angel smiled a sad but genuine smile before plunging the blade through its chest.
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Hours had passed and Jonathan felt like his body had been hit by a truck. Although the sun was now setting it his body still felt tired and stiff. He had heard his bedroom door close and felt the bed sink down next to him. He slowly lifted his heavy eyelids and looked down at his sister. Her eyes were red and puffy as tears slid down her cheeks. She met his gaze briefly before hiding her face into his chest.
"Clary, what's wrong?" he asked a slight panic jolting him awake.
Clary wrapped her arms around him and kept her face buried in his shoulder.
"Sis, did something happen with Jace? Did you two get in a fight?" he whispered rubbing her back softly trying to calm down the sobs that were rocketing through her delicate frame.
"No…"she sobbed. "I just …want you to hold me…please."
"Okay, okay. Just calm down sweetheart." He whispered wrapping his arms tightly around her.
Jonathan heard his door open slowly. He looked up to see Jace in the doorway. His face was pale and his eyes were red like Clary's. Jace closed the door and quietly looked up and met Jonathan's gaze.
"Jace, what happened?" he asked somewhat bitterly.
"Besides Clary lying and telling me she was all right when she wasn't…a lot Jonathan." Jace sighed laying down on the other side of Clary. Jace slithered his arm between Clary and Jonathan before managing to wrap it around her waist. Her arms didn't release Jonathan but her breathing seemed to calm down. Jace snuggled his face into her shoulder blades and lightly kissed her neck. Jonathan still held her to his chest.
"It's going to be alright. Settle down little red." Jonathan whispered into her ear.
After about ten minutes Clary's body finally stopped shaking and her breathing returned to normal.
"Now that you've calmed down may I ask what happened?" Jonathan asked.
"We took a trip to Wayland manor and found one of Valentines victims in a cell in the cellar." Jace spoke flatly.
Jonathan looked up at him puzzled.
"I thought the manor had been abandoned?"
"It was. The creature was alive all this time… it was an…" Jace stopped seemingly unable to finish the sentence.
There was silence for a few seconds before Clary lifted her head from Jonathan's shoulder.
"An angel." She finished. "A poor battered and torn angel with its eyes gouged out and its wings bloody and raw. His name was Ithuriel and … It was the same angel whose blood Valentine gave us."
Clary lifted her fingers to Jonathan's face; turning his face to look at her. His dark eyes studied her. She could see the coldness and lust that the demon blood had poisoned him with. At the same time she could see love. He looked at her with undying love and kindness. She smiled sadly.
"I'm so glad that Valentine found mom and I when he did. I don't know what that monster would have turned you into if we hadn't been here." She whispered.
Jonathan looked down at her and frowned. He had fought his entire life not to be a monster. If Clary hadn't come or Jace to some degree, who knows what his father would have twisted him into. He might be leading a demon army to attack Idris by now.
"I love you so much." Clary whispered, kissing him on the cheek.
"I love you too sis." Jonathan smiled.
"And what about me? You going to leave me for Jonathan?" Jace teased.
Jonathan looked away. If his demon side had it his way he would have already claimed his sister for his own. Jonathan knew that Clary had probably never told Jace how Jonathan felt and he was suddenly thankful she hadn't.
"Oh yes angel boy. How could we have forgotten you?" Jonathan replied.
"I know. I am rather unforgettable."
Clary chuckled sitting up. Jonathan moved his arm trying to wake it up before taking a long stretch. Clary turned and gave Jace a peck on the lips before lifting herself from the bed. Jonathan sat up cracking his neck and grabbing some clean clothes from the dresser.
"By the way I forgot to mention one other problem." Jace spoke up suddenly.
Jonathan stopped what he was doing as both him and Clary looked at Jace curiously.
"The angel told me Valentine's plan and it's not going to be easy to stop him."
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The arrow zoomed through the air hitting the center of the bullseye.
"Nice shot Simon! Keep it up and you'll give Alec a good run for his money." Isabelle called out.
Simon blushed lowering his bow to reload. Alec looked at him sternly but Simon could see a smile form at the edge of his lips. Simon was happy that he could make Alec proud. Alec was hard to please and didn't give his approval easily. It had been almost a week since he was brought back home to New York. He had been staying at the institute gathering his thoughts and being given a 'proper' education before he was allowed to see his family again. Simon missed his family and knew they must be worried sick. However, he was grateful for some time to gather his thoughts before facing them. His excuse as to why he went missing was rather pathetic; even he had to admit it.
He had texted his sister from Isabelle's phone to let her know that he was fine. He just needed sometime away from things. He told her that he went across country to see his favorite band and become a better writer. Of course he would never do such a thing but it seemed like something that a teenage musician might do. His sister was pissed but still relayed the message to his mother. There would be hell to pay when he got home.
Alec had told him the history of the Nephilim briefly. The rest he had assigned Simon to read out of books. The first book that he was required to read was the shadowhunter codex. Simon had gotten through it in one long afternoon. It was a pretty boring read. The shadowhunters just seem pretty full of themselves and it bothered him. If it wasn't for the help of those werewolves and vampires that were imprisoned with him he doubted he would still be alive.
Today was proving to be a bit more exciting. Isabelle and Alec were taking him to Magnus's so he could have some spell put on him to keep demons from possessing him. He didn't really understand it all but if it meant getting out of the house he was down for it.
"Simon!" Max yelled rushing into the room.
Simon put down his bow and looked at the boy who was in a flurry.
"I need the next one. I want to know what happens next!" he said holding up his Angel Sanctuary manga. Simon had made friends with Max rather quickly. They both shared a love of manga and comic books. Simon had given Max some suggestions of good anime to watch and Max was in love. What boy wouldn't love Dragon ball Z?
Simon looked at the small boy and chuckled.
"I'll bring my whole collection over when I talk to my parents. You're just going to have to wait a few days Max." Simon replied.
"Awwww really?" Max whined.
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"Happy birthday Jace!" they all sang as Jace blew out the candles of his cake.
"Don't forget to make a wish!" Clary smiled.
"You can take the shadowhunter out of the mundane city but apparently you can't take the mundane out of the shadowhunter." Jonathan teased nudging Clary in the side.
Jace looked up at his brother and his future wife. He knew that making a wish on the candles was just some silly mundane tradition that Clary picked up but he hoped that there was some truth to it. Before he blew out the candles he closed his eyes and wished with all of his heart that they would be able to stop their father and finally be happy.
"Clary told me that she already gave you her gift so I thought I would present you with mine." Jonathan grinned.
Jace took the poorly wrapped present from his older brother. Jace began to open it slowly pulling the wrapping paper away. When he was done he looked down at a thick music book called, "The best piano solos ever."
"Thank you Jonathan!" Jace smiled.
"Something for you to keep you occupied while in New York." Jonathan grinned.
Valentine had requested that Jonathan stay behind for the next two weeks while Jace accompanied Clary in New York. It was a good chance to see what Valentine was up to so he agreed.
"Now it is time for our present!" Jocelyn smiled.
Jace nodded and took the small wrapped box from Jocelyn. He looked at is confusingly. After he unwrapped it he saw a small ring box in his hand. Jace looked up at his adopted mother and father.
"Not that I'm not grateful but shouldn't I be the one to pick out Clarissa's ring?" he asked.
Valentine and Jocelyn looked at him. It took his mother a moment before she really understood what he was asking.
"It's not an engagement ring!" she laughed.
Valentine looked at his wife confused.
"In mundane traditions a man proposes and gives the girl a ring to place on her left ring finger. The engagement ring signifies she is taken." Jocelyn explained to her husband.
"A silly tradition." Valentine replied coldly.
Jace shrugged his shoulders and slowly opened the ring box. His jaw dropped as he looked at the silver ring inside.
"Is this…" he started as his fingers traced the soring herons giant 'H' on the ring.
"Yes. It is the Herondale family ring." His mother smiled.
"But…how?" he asked looking up at her.
He knew this was a present from Jocelyn more than his adoptive father.
"I have my ways. In time when you are ready I will introduce you to someone who knows all about the Herondale family and can answer any questions you might have." She smiled.
Valentine looked a little uncomfortable but Jocelyn ignored him. Jace put the ring on his finger and admired it on his hand. The band was thick and heavy. It was the first time in his life that he really felt a connection to his birth family.
"Stephen would have wanted you to have it my son. Happy Birthday." Valentine smiled at him.
"Thank you father and mother. I…I don't know what to say."
"Your thank you is enough. Now who is ready for cake?" Jocelyn smiled turning away to cut the cake.
********************A/N****************************************
Sorry for the delay! Just got back from California and didn't have a chance to update. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Things are about to take off in the next chapter but I wanted to set up some more back story. If you have any ideas or requests let me know. :P