CHAPTER 4

Jace insisted that they go to the park the next morning and have a picnic. Clary knew it was a distraction but was happy to spend time with him no matter what.

They sat under a large shady tree, eating strawberries in the park. "Jace?" Clary questioned. He looked at her, cueing her to continue. "How long do you think it will take?"

At first he showed confusion but after a moment it seemed to sink in. "Oh, Clary," he whispered softly, sadly. "I don't know… soon I hope." She just nodded, lost in her own thoughts. "Clary…" He whispered, softly, drawing her attention back to him. "Everything will work out eventually, I promise you."

She rolled her eyes and looked down at the blanket they sat on, pulling on some loose ends. "Jace…" she began, sighing.

"What is it, Clary? You don't believe me, do you?"

Frustrated tears were welling up in her eyes. "No, I don't! How can you promise that, Jace? Did you suddenly become able to time travel or something? Can you tell the future now?" I practically shouted. I could feel a few people's stares from around the park following us, staring at us as we argued.

"No, but I have to believe don't I? We have to believe, Clary." He softened his voice. He sighed, "Why did I have to fall in love with someone as stubborn as you." He answered jokily, chuckling.

She smiled, "And why did I have to fall in love with someone as cocky as you." She giggled. His hand crawled over to hers and their fingertips touched ever so slightly. "I love you, Jace."

"I love you too, Clary." He thought for a second. "Why don't we go to Taki's for dinner tonight?" Jace offered.

She smiled warmly at him, "Sure."

This is going to be a long night, she thought to herself.

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"A diet coke, please." Clary answered to the waitress after Jace ordered a coke and a large plate of chips.

Once the waitress left, Jace turned his attention to her and raised an eyebrow. "Aren't hungry?" She shook her head with the events that would be coming up in a few hours, Clary wasn't sure she could get her stomach to settle enough.

"Clary… I've been meaning to ask you a question…" He looked nervous, except she couldn't help but think; Jace, nervous? Yeah, right. His hands were twisting anxiously in front of him and sweat was beginning to bead on his forehead. Clary reached over and closed her hands over his, but he pulled them way and reached into the inside pocket of his coat. He stood up in front of her and kneeled down onto one knee. Clary gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth which must have gaping open the size of a cave.

"Clary," he began, opening a small purple velvet box that displayed the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. "I fell for you the very first moment I ever saw you. Without you I wouldn't be here, without you I wouldn't be who I am today, without you I wouldn't be about to do this. Clary, I love you with all of my heart, you are my better half. So, it is with all my heart that I ask you this question. Will you make me one of the happiness people alive and do me the honours of marrying me?"

Clary's face had turned a bright shade of red, clashing with her red hair and freckles. "Yes!" She squealed and sprung myself into Jace's arms. As she brought her lips to Jace's, she was acutely aware of the rest of the audience applauding but it was all lost in the moment. At that moment, it was just Jace and Clary and nothing else. Nothing else or no one else mattered right now.

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"Are you coming back home with me tonight? We can do something tonight; you can introduce me to some movie that you like if you want." Jace asked Clary as they stepped out onto the curb.

She thought for a second, trying to come up with something fast. "Oh, I would love to especially after today but Mum wants me home before ten tonight."

She was still over the moon about the engagement and every time Jace wasn't looking, she would begin to admire my engagement ring. It was beautiful with red rubies encrusted along the top where they led up to a white diamond and on the underside of it was the word, Forever.

"Oh, that's too bad. Well, come over tomorrow then." He suggested.

"I'll try but I think Mum wants to discuss wedding stuff with me. But I'll try and come over tomorrow afternoon." Clary hated lying to Jace but she knew she had to do it; it was for him after all.

***PAGE BREAK***

Clarissa Morgernstern, I see you have chosen to go ahead with the quest to relieve Jace Herondale from the heavenly fire that is consumed inside of him. Brother Zachariah spoke in the voice that bounced around the inside of my brain.

I rubbed my hands together in front of me nervously, bringing warmth into my palms. "Yes," I said, my voice wavering slightly. I cleared my throat and when I spoke next, I hoped it would be clear and steady. "What is it that I have to do exactly?" I had a gut feeling that I wasn't going to like what I had to do, but I was determined that I would do anything for Jace.

In the darkest corner of Alicante lives a greater demon that has lived for many centuries and is very powerful. Explained Brother Enoch. The demon goes by the name of Lucifer, a son of hell. He guards an elixir in which would quench the flame that burns within Jace Herondale.

"Why is it protected?"

Lucifer wants more people to die, more people to go over to the dark side. The elixir cures many deadly diseases not just a heavenly fire incident.

"Oh," was all I could say, shivering in the coldness that the Silent City brought.

Just remember, Clarissa Morgenstern, this quest is incredibly dangerous and must be thought through with care because some have not returned before.

Without hesitating, without dwelling on the end bit, I blurted my answer, "Yes, I'll do it."

***PAGE BREAK***

The portal in front of me flared up with light and I could picture the mountains of Alicante through the square, darkened by the blackness of the night. The Silent Brothers had set up the portal so that I would be transferred straight to my destination.

***PAGE BREAK***

A storm was brewing over head; the clouds were as black as if stained with soot. Thunder grumbled as if giants between heaven and earth were playing bowling and lightning flashed somewhere on the horizon. I wasn't entirely sure what the elixir looked like or where Lucifer was. Brother Zachariah had given me a container in which I would store the cure in, so I guessed that it would be of some sort of liquid form.

I trudged through the tall grass, gazing around at the surroundings which appeared to be untouched by shadowhunters or mankind. A small stream that seemed to let off a silver glow coursed down the valley.

As soon as my eyes had taken in the small stream, a growl rippled across the clearing.