CHAPTER 5

I stumbled back several steps, whipping out a seraph blade from my weapons belt. "Raziel," I whispered and the blade blazed up with light. Lightning flickered above us and I got a quick glance of the monster in front of me. Wings that were the colour of coal and tattered to the very ends unfurled behind his back and large, curved horns sprouted from his head. Black, curly hair covered his jaw line and tangled around the horns and flowed long enough to touch the small of his back between his wings. He was terrifying and not to mention the size of him; so tall that he towered at least four heads above me if not more.

He wore a black cape that billowed out and around his wings and his torso and chest were bare. He wore long black pants that went right to his ankle and flared a little on the bottom.

At the sight of my puny sword, Lucifer barked out a laugh that seemed to echo through the valley, bounce off the mountains and hills and make the stream ripple. "You think that is going to defeat me, girl? I am an angel!" He boomed, spit spraying into my face.

I wiped it out of my eyes, hoping that my face showed more determination and fearlessness than what I felt inside. "Yes, from hell." Was all I said and with a growl, lurched forward swiping the sword in front of me. It barely grazed him for in a blink he was gone and behind me, his claws raking along my back. I heard the material of my shadowhunter gear tear and felt something warm slowly trickle down my spine. I barely felt the pain as I whirled around, sword out, ready to slash at the enemy. He danced back out of reach and then outstretched his arm towards me, his nails or claws more like extended. I jumped away and ducked under his arm, running towards the stream.

His hands clasped around my shoulders, pulling me back towards him. I struggled under his grasp, stumbling forwards as he suddenly let go. I flung my seraph blade in his direction and felt in lodge in something. With a look of shock and surprise I noticed that it had sunk into the flesh of Lucifer's bare torso. A scream of agony erupted from him and I took the advantage I had and ran as fast as I could to the stream and the silver glow it let off.

Underneath me, I felt the ground begin to shake violently and lightning, thunder and rain all clashed together. Wind whipped pugnaciously at my hair and clothes and trees were almost torn apart by the brutality of the force.

A roar of the laughter erupted from behind me, joined by a clash of thunder and lightning. Something wrapped around my ankle and pulled, sending me toppling to the shaking ground. My chin hit the earth, almost hard enough to shake my teeth. I tasted blood rise in my mouth and I spat into the dirt. I twisted in the grasp around my ankle, gazing up into the ugly face of Lucifer. The seraph blade was no longer lodged in his flesh but was discarded a distance away.

My fingers groped along my weapons belt, searching for a suitable whisper as Lucifer's voice rung all around the valley. "Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid girl. You really thought that you could defeat me? Me, Lucifer, the one that turned on the great God?"

A tremor of fear ran through me as I struggled to release my ankle. Lucifer's grip only tightened. I gasped as his long nails dug into the skin of my leg. Like a father does to a child, he tip toed his fingers up the outside of my leg; although the only difference was that each time he deliberately fastened his claws into my leg with each movement. I could feel blood running down my leg and a searing pain crawling up my calves and thighs.

"You are going to die now, little Shadowhunter. Any last words?" His hands were at my stomach now, the claws gradually digging in, tearing the fabric of the black gear I wore.

I spat in his face and was answered by a growl of anger. Swiping a dagger from my weapons belt I swung it up into Lucifer's face where it inserted into his eye. He roared, instantly releasing me. Rolling onto my belly, I hauled myself from the ground and began to sprint away, my dagger discarded on the ground.

I stumbled and gasped as a searing pain erupted in my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I saw the hilt of my dagger sticking up out of my shoulder. I gritted my teeth against the agonising pain, using my good arm and legs to push me along until I finally reached the edge of the stream. I could feel the heavy thread of Lucifer's behind me. Anxiously, I pulled the container out of my pocket and slammed it into the stream, watching as the liquid filled the container. I jumped behind a tree, my free hand stumbling for my stele.

A square of light blazed on the trunk of the tree as I drew the portal with the tip of the stele. At first I pictured the Silent City except thoughts of Jace kept pushing their way into my mind. I faltered through the portal, feeling it close behind me in time, with the thought of Jace's bedroom in my head.

***PAGE BREAK***

"Jace…" I whispered, feeling all of my energy drain as soon as I caught sight of Jace. He was standing at his window, staring out at the gates, phone in hand.

He spun around, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of me; bloody and bruised and holding a container with a silver liquid. "Clary!" He said, his voice filled with alarm and shock. I felt my knees give out from underneath me and felt myself pitch forward into his arms. Gently, he lowered both of us to the ground, where he held me carefully. Jace's eyes immediately went to the dagger which was still wedged within my shoulder. "By the angel, Clary, what the hell happened to you?"

I took a deep breath, feeling my eyes begin to slip closed. "Clary," he said, shaking me gently. "Stay with me, ok?" He looked up. "Alec! Isabelle!" He called out desperately.

A few minutes passed with him repeating my name gently, tears welling up silently in his eyes. With a shaky breath I reached up and ran a finger across his cheekbone, blood from my fingertips staining his skin. I watched as his eyes fluttered closed, savouring the feel of my touch. He reached up and took my hand in his; bringing it to his lips despite the blood they had on them. "What happened, Clary?"

I took a shuddering breath and held up the container with the silver glowing water from the stream. Jace took it between two of his fingers, holding it up at eye sight level. "I went… to the darkest corner… of Alicante… and fought the demon angel, Lucifer… for the elixir… for you…"

Jace's eyes widened in shock and alarm. "By the angel, Clary!" At that moment Isabelle and Alec burst into the room, their eyes enlarging at the sight before them.

"By the angel!" They both exploded together and Alec took off running down the hallway. "Where are you going, Alexander?" Isabelle yelled after him.

"To get Mum!" Alec yelled back. Isabelle dropped to her knees beside her brother and myself, taking in the situation.

"What happened to you?" I just shook my head weakly at him, clutching Jace's shirt in my fingers and burying my face into his stomach.

"Isabelle…" Jace began, looking up at her with pleading eyes. "Could you get a towel from my bathroom? We have to stop the bleeding."

Towels were being pressed to my wounds as Maryse stopped in the doorway, a hand over her mouth and her son standing behind her. "Oh, God," was all she said. "Alec," she whispered, not turning around. "Call Magnus and write a letter to the Silent Brothers immediately."