It was the next day when Cynthia was called upon. She pulled on her gear and accompanied her father wherever he went. The first stop was the ship where Cynthia saw both Jace's and Jonathan's dead bodies upon the ground, her breath catching in her chest. The rising horror threatened to knock her out before the man next to her snapped out "Enough. You do not touch Cynthia. Unless you wish to be punished. And harshly at that."

Cynthia blinked and the floor was normal once more. She realized she was doubled over with her hands. Her eyes flickered up at the demon that was stood before them, Valentine's eyes almost narrowed as he told it "Save your talents for when they are needed. Which, incidentally, is now."

She just stared at the demon with her face pale- what was this thing? How did it know that her worst fear was the boys she loved both being dead?

Oh she understood a fear demon. Or greater demon. Father has the Mortal Cup, of course… he can summon these things.

This was some dark, evil stuff. A part of her wanted to run away and not have anything to do with it… but her feet just led her forwards after her father. Obedient, even in the face of such slaughter that they were marching towards.

Cynthia had never been to the Silent City before, but she'd seen photos. All the way through the entrance, she kept her eyes closed, following Valentine's footsteps. The flames that were burning each side were scaring her. Fire. No matter how many years later it was, she hated it with a passion.

"Pause, Cynthia." Her fathers quiet voice told her, causing her to very nearly crash into his back. Cynthia stood very still as the demons rushed past her like a blanket of black shadows into the City. What were they waiting for.

Then something slammed into Cynthia. Not physically, but mentally. It was like a mental train the way it screeched and smashed. Her knees buckled from underneath her, but her father didn't spare her a second glance as he told her. "Wait outside if you can't handle this."

She scowled at that, rising to her feet. "I can handle it." She told him in a cold tone, starting forwards and walking into the City.

Cynthia's first impression was carnage. It was like a blanket of red and black was coating the floor. The girl very nearly retched at the sight, willing herself to turn away. But she didn't. Cynthia knew deep down that what had just happened was so wrong that she should have stabbed Valentine in the back for doing it. But the other part told her to get a grip and stop being such a coward. She was in this family, loyal to her father to the end. She'd have to get used to it.

So it was with her head held high that she followed Valentine as he stepped through the bodies that littered the floor, not looking down once. Cynthia didn't want to see those horribly mutilated faces that gave her nightmares as a child.

As they walked into the council chamber, Cynthia's eyes were immediately drawn to the blade that was behind the seats upon the wall. Maellartach. The Mortal Sword. With a glance to her father, Cynthia waited for him to step up and take it, but he didn't move. She frowned a little, but then he nodded towards it "Take it" he told her and Cynthia stood there in surprise- really? He didn't seem to be joking, so she walked over to the Sword, standing before it. Taking a deep breath, she raised both hands and lifted it down.

It was heavy. That was the first thing she noticed. So heavy that her arms very nearly dropped it. She gripped it by the hilt, a light gasp escaping her as she did so- it was like hooks were embedding themselves into her skin, threatening to pull her insides out if she dropped it.

Suddenly, the blade was snagged from her hand, accompanied by "Some weapons are too strong for you to handle Cynthia."

She snorted lightly and the man let out a chuckle "Soon you will be able to withstand it, I assure you." Cynthia watched as he slid the sword into a sheath that he slung across his back, wondering just how the hell it wasn't causing him to fall backwards. It was an immensely heavy blade at that. Valentine paused as if someone had called his name, making Cynthia freeze- had they been caught?

"Cynthia, wait up here and keep guard. The first sign of life, of Shadowhunters coming, you find me. Is that understood?"

"I understand." She walked with him until the door loomed in sight where the entrance to the Silent City was visible, waiting there while he descended the stairs that would lead him down into the deepest cells. Whatever for she wondered.

Cynthia surveyed the devastation before her with almost bored eyes. Was it monstrous of her to not really care about what these creatures, once Shadowhunters had gone through before dying? It didn't involve her, and so she ignored all thoughts about feeling guilt and sorrow.

Not long later, a clatter sounded, voices following suit. Someone was coming.

The effect was instantaneous as she dashed down into the darkness of the City, listening intently for the mans voice. There, through the darkness she saw him lit up by witchlight, crouched before a cell. He was talking to someone.

"Time to go." She told him hurriedly, freezing as she heard a familiar voice call out as the man straightened up "Who's that?"

Cynthia very nearly ran forwards at the sound of that voice. Jace. It was Jace. She would have too if Valentine hadn't been faster, clamping a hand over her mouth and telling her quietly that she almost missed it "Like you said- time to go."

She wanted to stay, but allowed the man to drag her away and escape together.

-LightInYourNightmare-

"Why couldn't I see him?!"

Cynthia was angry as they appeared home, glaring at the man who lay the heavy sword in its sheath down upon the kitchen table. He ignored her ranting and angry words until she was done. Only then did he tell her "What would letting Jonathan see you with myself achieve, hmm? Your efforts of keeping him in the dark on your past would be for nothing then. If you let him for one moment know about who you really are, you think he would still want to see you? Or stand the sight of you? You are headstrong and impulsive at times, my girl. You need to think carefully before you jump into the flames."

Cynthia groaned and sank down onto the sofa, feeling morose. Valentine paused before telling her "He is special, Jonathan… Jace is. I never told you exactly what my involvement in his life was."

She gazed up at him before saying "Is he part demon too?"

"No. Quite the opposite. Just as I infused you and Jonathan with demon blood, I did the same to him. But with angel blood."

"Who is he? Where did you get him from? Don't lie to me… not on Jace."

"I've no reason to lie. But there are things I must tell you once the story is over. Jonathan, Jace's parents were Herondales. Ones that were great friends of mine. You see, his father died and mother killed herself in grief. The baby was eight months old. I could not… lose this experiment. So I took the child from his mother. Raised him until he was ten."

Cynthia let her eyes close, a low groan of disgust escaping her as she muttered out "Jace has no idea of his parentage, does he?"

"He thinks I am his father, Cynthia. And I want to keep it that way. For now at least. In his mind, he has a sister named Clary, and Jocelyn is his mother."

Cynthia was even more disgusted now as she said slowly "Jace and Clary are in love, and they think themselves siblings-? That is just the most cruelest act I can imagine! How could you let them think that?"

"It suits me, and so it stays. If you ever cross paths with him, you believe that too."

"But Jace is not a bad person." She whined out. Valentine ignored her, simply saying "Jonathan is home. Go find him and tell him I wish to be briefed on his visit to Paris."

Cynthia blinked at that, but then saw the black leather jacket that was slung over the back of the sofa. It was the one he'd worn when he'd left. He really was back.

A bubble of happiness and excitement escaped her at that. As soon as Valentine left the room, she turned into a little girl again and dashed through the house looking for the demon boy. She eventually found him in the bathroom, his eyes closed as he lay in the bath.

Cynthia shut the door behind her and stepped forwards, kneeling down next to the bath and folding her arms upon the cold metal side.

"It's rude to stare." He just told her with his eyes still closed. Cynthia leaned forwards and captured his damp lips to her own for a moment, muttering against them "I can't see anything under the bubbles."

"I could stand up and-"

"No. I don't wish to see you naked Jonathan."

He opened his eyes now, turning his head to the girl, a look of amusement about his face "You're going to see me naked soon, you know?"

"I will? How do you figure that out?"

"Because I intend on ravishing you before the week is out." He told her pleasantly, closing his eyes once more. "Can't be just throwing each other onto beds and kissing against walls forever."

Cynthia's cheeks flushed red as she told him "What makes you think I'd sleep with you?"

"Because, I bet if I open my eyes… your cheeks will be burning red at the mere thought of it.' A pause and he opened a lazy eye, a smirk spreading across his face and letting it close once more, saying in satisfaction "Once again, my suspicions were correct. You want me to invade your bed as much as I want to."

"Oh? Then I can't raid yours?"

"Not your style. You're the type of girl that lies on her back and lets me do everything."

Cynthia scoffed in disbelief at that, grabbing his chin and turning his head to face her, his eyes open once more, their midnight depths sparkling with dark playfulness. "You are the most infuriating boy ever, did you know that?" she told him with a light growl. His only response was "I love it when you growl and try to be dominant. It's very attractive on a girl like yourself."

A tut and Cynthia leaned forwards, pressing her lips to his own once more, letting her hand fall from his face. She just asked now "How was Paris?"

A pause and the demon boy replied "a picture of beauty. Not that it matches your own."

"You suck."

"You will be sucking soon."

Cynthia let the words die in her throat at that, utterly giving up- there was just no talking to him when he was in a mood like this.

"I bought you something back." He told her, starting to get out of the bath. Cynthia turned away, not having any inclination to look, no matter how much he was stalling. As soon as he pulled the dressing gown on and tightened the belt around his waist, she turned and followed him down to his bedroom which was an utter mess as usual. He grabbed the bag that was situated on the edge of the bed and rummaged around inside of it, puling out something she couldn't see.

"Walk over to the mirror and close your eyes" Jonathan told her. She just glared, snapping out "Oh yeah (!)"

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her over to the mirror and whispering into her ear "Trust me. Close your eyes."

A pause and Cynthia let her eyes close. There was a quiet snap as something was opened, then a flash of cold as something was put around her neck. The lips were at her ear once more as he whispered "And open them."

Cynthia opened her eyes and stared at the necklace that was resting off center, almost over her heart. She straightened it and stared- it was oval in shape with an elegant D in the middle, surrounded by what seemed to be little tiny etchings of horses.

"Is this-?" she wondered aloud, and Jonathan nodded, saying into her ear '"The Darkstones. With the freewill, sheer strength and endurance of wild horses."'

"It's beautiful." Cynthia said quietly, genuinely taken aback- where had he gotten such a priceless treasure from? It was a piece of herself, this. She turned it over and over in her hand, laughing out softly "Thank you."

"It belongs to you, my little wild mare." He told her in amusement, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Such a beautiful piece belongs around your pretty neck, not behind some glass to be displayed like a trophy."

Cynthia didn't reply to that. Instead she raised one of his hands to her lips and kissed it gently with a smile upon her face. After a quiet moment, Jonathan told her "I leave for Alicante soon. And you are coming with me."

A pause and Cynthia let herself rest against his chest, asking "Is it time for the war?"

"The war has always been raging. We've just never been apart of it until now."