Ehhh, long time no see? I have no excuses, I'm sorry. But it happened again. Really, what is it with this particular story and me having half written chapters that I forget about? I don't even know. I have the ending planned out and it's gonna be pretty epic.

When I first started talking to my good FF friend JMDeaton, she reviewed a bunch on this story and gave me TONS of ideas and I'm finally putting them to action! That's a good thing, right? Just a couple more chapters, once things really pick up, it's gonna be quick updates and fun stuff and excitement and BIG BOOMS. Oh yeah. Get ready. Prepare your anuses it's gonna rock okay I'm rambling enjoy it bye.

xoxo Em

Clary

Every passing minute that I have to spend in my room getting ready brings me closer and closer to the edge of an anxiety attack. Maia is trying her hardest to keep me calm while also making me look amazing, since this is technically my birthday party. Jace is in his own suite getting ready, so he's not here to help, either.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

I think of how proud my mother will be when I'm finally with her again. By now, I've worked out that Valentine only told me he had her so that I would be easier to manipulate, more pliant. If only he knew. I just hope that I can get through tonight to be able to see her again.

I hope that Jace is able to stay by my side the entire time as well, because he's the glue that's keeping me together right now. I would be hopelessly lost without it, because it's hope that keeps me going.

It's his smile, and his laugh, and his promises of a future that make me push forward. It's the thought of having my mother hug me again and call me her sweet girl that puts a smile on my face. It's the fear of Isabelle's disappointment. It's the faith that the resistance has in my rune-power. It's the misguided sense of security that Valentine has.

It's all of this that will get me through the night with a fake smile plastered on my face and a plan follow. Maia has a plan worked out for us, and all we have to do is follow it. It should be simple, right?

Wrong.

Jace is meeting us at my suite because it's closest to the ballroom, to go over the plan one last time. I'm dressed to the nines with my long teal dress that comes down into a V in the front, showing off a little bit of the chest that is alluded to with an extremely good push up bra. I feel amazingly sexy, but also uncomfortable. My feet are already hurting, and I'm pacing, waiting for Jace to arrive. I hope my makeup doesn't sweat off, because it sure is warm in here.

Finally, there's a knock at the door, and I rush to it, flinging it open. I try not to let the disappointment show on my face as I take in the tall man dressed in a crisp black suit standing before me—my father.

"Clarissa, you look lovely! And your hair," my father says, a wide smile on his face. He actually looks happy to see me. "Well, it looks just like your mother's. So vibrant and curly."

"Thank you," I say, forcing a smile back up at him. "Have you seen Jace, by chance? He's supposed to be escorting me to the party."

"Ah, there's been a change in plans, actually. I will be escorting you; it's only fitting, don't you think? Father and daughter reunited, just in time for your birthday."

I nod with him, looking back to Maia. She gives me a smile and a thumbs up. "I'll be back before the big toast for an outfit change. You don't mind, do you, father? I just couldn't pick between these two dresses, and I want to be able to wear them both," I tell him with a bubbliness to my voice that sounds like excitement, but is really just nerves. His smile falls a little and he becomes flustered before nodding tightly.

"Of course," he says with a curt nod towards Maia—Felicity, as he knows her. "As long as you are happy."

"I am. Thank you so much, dad." I nearly gag on the word; this man doesn't deserve to be called dad. He's far from a dad. He didn't raise me; hell, he didn't even send child support, and the Angel knows that he can afford it. He doesn't know me, or my aspirations and dreams. A real father needs to earn the title of dad.

"Of course," he repeats, his eyes crinkling a bit in a genuine smile. He holds out his arm for me to take, and I feel slightly at ease knowing that I have hidden daggers and a stele in the lining of my dress.

We make our way down the hallway and into the elevator; there are two of his guards following us, both dressed head to toe in black. They tower over us and don't make me feel very safe, but there's nothing to be done about that. It's not like I'm going to be taking him out. As if I could. No, I'll leave all the heavy fighting to the resistance.

When we step off of the main elevator, we are engulfed by people, all dressed similarly. Some turn to smile or say hello, while others watch from afar. Staff is running around everywhere, holding trays with flutes of champagne and taking coats. It's hectic and in the beginning stages of a full on gala. We step through the people, who just… part in front of us like water. I can see Jonathan standing near the door in a boring black and white suit. He stares at me in a way that makes me uncomfortable, and I avert my eyes to help myself. I swear, I see him grin when I do, but I try to block that out.

"And now the real party begins," he leers at me as a waiter opens the door for us to enter.

Valentine walks us in with his head held high, an arrogantly proud smile on his face. If only he knew. Cameras flash all around and I squint, trying to keep the plastered smile on my face as I step forward with him. It's hard to keep your eyes open and force a smile at the same time, and I feel like the cameras are like lightning flashing right in front of my face. Valentine pays no attention as we continue our small procession into the ballroom where the majority of people are gathered. My vision spots until we finally pull away from the small crowd gathered, and the first thing that I see is Jace.

He's standing off to the side, where a group of men stand, all dressed similarly in suits and tuxedos. Jace is the only one that I see, however, standing there in a perfectly tailored black on black 3-piece suit. He looks breathtakingly handsome, the all black enhancing his golden hair that is styled to look slightly messy like I love. The black sculpts and augments his muscles, and that alone makes me want to weep in awe.

My father releases my arm and then I'm heading towards Jace, but I slow down halfway there, noticing how he is grimacing as the man next to him talks. The man has his hand on Jace's back, and Jace himself looks very tense and ready to explode. I step forward hesitantly, and as if sensing my presence, Jace looks up and straight into my eyes. His honey filled eyes widen and he shakes his head infinitesimally before he drops his eyes drop back to the ground.

I'm confused, but turn away and head back to the table marked Morgenstern. I sit there, watching Jace tense even further from where I sit. I can tell that the man that is talking to him makes him uncomfortable; he may even be dangerous. I don't see why else Jace would signal for me to leave him alone. I watch him for a few more minutes, picking at my nails and chewing off my lipstick. I need Jace with me, right now. He doesn't know our plan, and he needs to.

For now, I'll just have to wait for him.

Jace

Every second spent at my father's side is a moment wasted. I feel sick to my stomach, and I don't want Clary coming anywhere near this greedy man. He's almost as bad as Valentine himself. I've spent too long in his shadow, and I want to be rid of him. I've done my time at his side, and I'm about to make some bogus excuse to rejoin Clary when his string of one-sided conversation takes a different turn.

"You must be thrilled about the announcement," he muses, his eyes sharp and calculating, as always. I glance away and try to hide the confusion on my face.

"Of course," I say, keeping my voice confident but my motives cautious. I pray that he continues, or elaborates, or something.

"It's only logical that you are. You'll soon be ruling an entire kingdom!" He chuckles, and my stomach drops straight down to my feet. Ruling? A Kingdom? "Alongside Clarissa, of course."

"Yes, it's quite exciting," I murmur back, feeling my head go light with the realization. Clary is turning seventeen in just a couple of days. In Shadowhunter tradition, seventeen is when one is considered an adult. It's when traditions and positions of power are in the beginning stages of being passed down to the next generation.

"It'll all be yours," he hums contentedly. "Just remember who raised you, son. Who taught you all that you know." He pats me roughly on the back with a disgusting smile before leaving me to stand there alone and dumbfounded. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

After a few moments, I feel my legs beginning to finally move, straight towards Clary who is sitting at the table. She has to know what's going on.

Before I even cross her line of sight, her brother appears behind her, capturing her attention with his lecherous grin. I watch as he takes her hand and leads her straight out to the middle of the ballroom, where other people are gathered, dancing around to the music that the small, upbeat orchestra plays from the side of the small platform stage. He sweeps her away through the crowd, but the last thing that I see is the look of plain annoyance and disgust that is clear on Clary's beautiful face.

With a heavy mind I linger at the edge of the floor, trying to catch a glimpse of Clary so that I can cut into the song. I don't know how I'm going to be able to tell her of Valentine's real plan, without other's overhearing. It's so crowded and loud in here, I can hardly hear my own thoughts.

"Excuse me, kind sir," I hear a clear, confident voice from behind me and turn to see Isabelle standing there adorned in a flowing black dress that hugs her curves almost inappropriately compared to the getups that everyone else is wearing; everyone looks like they come straight out of a prim and proper cotillion magazine. Isabelle looks dangerous and fierce compared to them. "I know it may be forward of me, but may I have this dance?"

I have to hold back the snort, but the eye roll was unpreventable. She reaches forward and smacks me in the arm with a vicious look before composing her face once again into a perfectly happy smile.

"If you keep rolling your eyes like that, they may just fall out of your damned head," she snaps, the smile never leaving her face.

"5 second rule?" I ask, looking around us. Nobody is paying attention.

"No, now let's dance," she says, taking my arm and prodding me towards the floor. We carefully dance our way towards the end closest to the orchestra, where we'll be less likely to be overheard. I keep my gaze level over her head as we waltz around, and my face straighter than a professional poker player.

"How'd you get in here?" I mutter. She shrugs nonchalantly and glances over my shoulder, watching the sea of faces.

"The Resistance has its ways. It's not important," she says simply.

"Then why are you here? It's dangerous. You're an untrained Shadowhunter, you could get yourself killed." I don't mean to be mean, but it's the truth. This isn't the job for someone who has no clue what they're doing. She could very well meet her end tonight.

"I'm untrained, but I'm not stupid. Plus, how could I pass up such an awesome party?" She says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Still untrained," I mutter under my breath.

"I'll manage. Anyways, you should know that Clary's being named he—"

"To the kingdom, yes. My father already had the privilege of dropping that bomb," I roll my eyes. "Clary has no clue."

"She doesn't know? Why wouldn't Valentine tell her?" Isabelle thinks out loud. I shrug and we dodge around a couple that comes a little bit too close to us.

"Shock factor, maybe. When is this plan being put into action?"

"Toast and speech are after dinner, at 7. Nightfall makes it easier to approach the building, and all the security will be focused on the ballroom. Be in the basement by 8. There will be a portal waiting. This place is going up like the Fourth of July at 9 sharp," she smirks, her eyes sparkling with danger.

"We'll be there. I have one question, though."

"Ask away, I need to get moving soon," she answers as the song starts to come to a close.

"What's the Fourth of July?"