I glowered through the walls of my gleaming, silver prison. I'd learned that this nifty box made of seraph blades and one rune for binding was called a Malachi Configuration and that it was much easier to rescue someone else from one than to rescue yourself.
Fortunately, the guards hadn't taken my weapons and stele to a different room in the Institute, choosing to leave them sitting tantalizingly close.
"This is stupid," I announced to the books in the library. Apparently the Inquisitor was not respecting my immunity and had set a trap for me. Jace was the bait, I realized. His prison had conveniently only had walls. Mine had a roof, too.
A quiet "mrow" answered my declaration and Peeta trotted forward.
"Peeta!" I cried, getting as close to the burning silver walls as I dared. "You wonderful little kitten! Go find Izzy and Alec, okay?"
He gave me another little mrow and darted off. There was going to be a way out of this. I knew it. There had to be.
And sure enough, my wonderful little cat returned within a few minutes with the two elder Lightwood children in tow.
"Jaci!" Isabelle cried. "What happened?"
"The Inquisitor taking Jace was just a trap. She wanted me. Which is bad on multiple levels."
Alec stared at my prison with a look of horror. "This will start a war with the Fey…"
"And Valentine's working up to a war, too," I pointed out.
Isabelle darted forward. "What if we could break the Seelie Court's bond on you?"
I thought that over. "I'd still be a prisoner of the Clave," I pointed out, "but it wouldn't be leading to war."
The dark haired girl grinned at that. "Good, because Brother Zachariah is already here."
I gave her a confused look.
"You have to ask her," Alec said, sounding slightly annoyed.
Isabelle rolled her eyes. "I know. I'm getting to that part. Jaci, would you like to be my parabatai?"
xxx
It was probably the strangest parabatai ceremony that had ever occurred, but it all went smoothly and I could feel the warmth of the new permanent mark that had formed on my chest. And through it, I could sense Isabelle's strength.
"This is amazing," I whispered.
My parabatai grinned at me and then turned to the Silent Brother. "Thank you."
Others would have warned against this ceremony. Brother Zachariah's voice was delivered directly into our minds which made me shiver. You are both fortunate it worked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Usually parabatai are chosen around the age of twelve," Alec explained. "The ceremony only works for children and the Clave defines anyone under the age of eighteen to be a child."
There is trouble in Downworld, Brother Zachariah said. I must leave you now.
"The bond between parabatai is stronger than blood," Isabelle said, "so we've freed you from the Seelie Court."
"That's one war prevented," I mumbled, studying the interior of the Malachi Configuration. Something suddenly occurred to me. "Where is the Inquisitor anyway?"
"One of the studies fighting with Mom," Isabelle answered simply. "They'd just about calmed down when they were informed that you'd been caught. Mom didn't like that much."
I frowned. "So we probably don't have much time left before she comes to gloat. I have to get out of here."
"The only way to dismantle the Configuration is to remove the blades," Alec said, circling my cage. "And the only way to safely remove the blades is if you're the one who placed them."
Half formed ideas flew into my mind. "What if the blades moved without being touched?"
Alec stared at me like I was insane. "That's not possible."
"Ignore the laws of physics for a second, okay?"
"Then the trap would be disabled and no one would be harmed, theoretically."
I nodded. That was good. I could move the blades with Light magic, I just hoped my new parabatai and her brother were okay with that.
"I should probably tell you," I began, attempting to think of the runes I would need and talk at the same time, "the Queen wanted me for more reasons than I could be an ambassador for her. Valentine did things to me when I was a baby and I can, um, use the runes a little bit differently than everyone else. Please don't freak out and please stand back. I'm breaking out of this thing."
xx
"How did you do that?" Clary demanded as Jace climbed in the truck. "And where's Jaci?"
"Go, Luke," Jace ordered, glancing over his shoulder back towards the Institute. "The guards took Jaci. We have to get to Simon and Maia before it's too late, though."
"But how did you do that?" Clary insisted.
"You mean how did I get onto the roof? First I climbed out Isabelle's window and up the wall. There are a number of ornamental gargoyles that make good handholds. Also, I'd like to note for the record that my motorcycle is no longer where I left it. I bet the Inquisitor took it on a joyride around Hoboken."
Clary sighed. "I meant how did you jump off the cathedral roof and not die?"
Jace met her gaze and Clary felt herself wanting to shrink. "The same way you created that rune."
"But what about Jaci?" Luke reminded them.
Jace shook his head. "She has the backing of the Seelie Court to protect her. The Inquisitor might question her but she wouldn't dream of doing anything that might start a war with the Fey. Even she's not that stupid."
Clary sighed with relief this time. "So she's safe."
"For now," Luke said grimly. His focus was entirely on the traffic ahead. "Jace, did you have a particular destination in mind or did you just want to get away from the Institute?"
"Valentine's taken Maia and Simon to the boat to perform the Ritual. He'll want to do it as soon as possible." Jace straightened up in the seat. "I've got to get there and stop him."
The truck jerked suddenly. "No," Luke said.
"Okay, we have to get there and stop him."
"Jace, I'm not having you go back to that ship. It's too dangerous."
Jace couldn't believe him. "You saw what I just did and you're worried about me?"
"I'm worried about you."
"There's no time for that. After my father kills your friends, he'll call on an army of demons you can't even imagine. After that, he'll be unstoppable."
"Then the Clave-"
"The Inquisitor won't do anything," Jace interrupted. "She's blocked the Lightwoods' access to the Clave. She wouldn't call for reinforcements, even when I told her what Valentine has planned. She's obsessed with this insane plan she has."
Clary felt it was time to chime in. "What plan?"
"She wanted to trade me to my father for the Mortal Instruments. I told her Valentine would never go for it, but she didn't believe me. Isabelle and Alec are going to tell her what happened with Simon and Maia and Jaci will do what she can but I'm not too optimistic. She doesn't believe me about Valentine and she's not going to upset her precious plan just to save a couple of Downworlders."
"So we need to get to the boat," Clary said. "We can't wait for them."
"We need a boat to get to another boat," Luke pointed out. "Neither of you can walk on water."
At that moment, Clary received a text on her phone from Isabelle. "It's an address. Down by the waterfront."
"That's where we have to go to meet Magnus," Jace explained. "He'll get us across the water."
Luke grumbled and made an illegal U turn. "You'd better be prepared, Jace."
The Shadowhunter boy nodded, blond hair falling in his eyes briefly. "So should you. Valentine's been using a fear demon – the fear demon: Agramon. It killed the Silent Brothers, Jaci saw it there. It's probably what's been gathering the blood of victims for Valentine but was interrupted with the werewolf child." He turned to Clary. "Looks like we're going to need that new fearless rune you created."
xx
My wonderful plan to break out of the prison didn't work. Not even remotely. The Seraphtongue spells were ineffective against the seraph blades since I hadn't been the one to place them.
"At least you tried," Isabelle offered as comfort. Alec, on the other hand, looked too startled by my ability to do magic to say much of anything.
At that moment, the library doors flew open to admit a harassed looked Maryse followed by a demented looking Inquisitor. Maryse froze at the sight of the Malachi Configuration but the Inquisitor simply rushed past.
"It's sunset," the Inquisitor snapped. "We will soon have Valentine's answer to our demands."
"Speak of the devil…" I muttered softly.
"Silence!" the Inquisitor shouted. The walls of my cage flared in response.
But I had been right. A patch of air, near the globe, had started to shimmer and a humanoid shape began to emerge.
"Valentine." The Inquisitor did her best to smooth out her deranged appearance. Apparently an entire day of fighting with Maryse had taken its toll.
"Imogen." Valentine looked exactly as he had the last time I'd seen him, complete with the Mortal Sword strapped over his shoulder. My body automatically tensed, half anticipating the arrival of the Greater Demon he had with him in the Silent City. But this was just a projection and Valentine couldn't physically harm any of us in the library. "And Maryse, my Maryse – it has been a long time."
"I'm not your Maryse," Mrs. Lightwood spat at him.
Valentine turned his gaze to Isabelle and Alec. "And these must be your children. They look just like you." He smiled at them but the blank look in his eyes made it worse than a glare. "And Jaelyn. I'm glad you're well. Though you do have a habit of being confined."
What a funny joke about that time he'd drugged me and removed my ability to move. Look at how much we were all laughing.
"Leave the children out of this, Valentine," Maryse said, stepping forward so that she was between the projection of Valentine and Alec, Isabelle, and myself.
"Well that hardly seems fair," Valentine drawled. "You refused to leave my children out of this." His gaze turned to the Inquisitor. "I got your message. Surely that's not the best you can do?"
The Inquisitor seemed to have to work to keep her voice steady. "I hope the terms of my offer were perfectly clear."
"Jonathan and Jaelyn in return for the Mortal Instruments. That was it, correct? Otherwise you'll kill them?" His eyes flicked towards me at that last statement.
"Kill them?" Isabelle cried. "MOM!"
"Isabelle. Shut up."
Only shock kept me from joining in Izzy's outrage.
The Inquisitor glared at me. "You have the terms correct, Morgenstern."
"Then my answer is no."
"No? You can't bluff me, Valentine. I will do exactly as threatened."
Valentine considered her evenly. "Oh, I have no doubt in you, Imogen. You have always been a woman of single-minded ruthless focus. I recognize these qualities in you because I possess them myself."
I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with Valentine. And I was not happy about that. Especially since it seemed to concern my imminent death.
"I am nothing like you," the Inquisitor spat. "I follow the Law!"
"Even when it instructs you to kill a boy and a girl still in their teens just to punish me? This is not about the Law, Imogen, it is that you hate and blame me for the death of your son and this is your manner of recompensing me. It will make no difference. I will not give up the Mortal Instruments. Not for Jaelyn. Not even for Jonathan."
"But he's your son. Your child…"
"Children make their own choices," Valentine explained. "That's something you never understood. I offered Jonathan safety if he stayed with me; he spurned it and returned to you, and you'll exact your revenge on him as I told him you would. And Jaelyn, I did not make you an offer yet. Do you wish to join me?"
I took a moment to steady myself. "You can rot in hell."
Valentine coolly turned his attention back to the frozen Inquisitor. "There you see. I have offered them both a choice, and they both chose to forsake their personal safety and to have nothing to do with me. Why would I want to bargain for them?"
The Inquisitor's mouth flopped like a fish a couple times before she spoke. "The Clave will insist on their deaths, should you not give me the Mortal Instruments. I won't be able to stop them…" Her gaze turned to me and for the first time I saw something in her face other than cold dislike. It was guilt.
"I'm aware of that," Valentine said calmly, "but there is nothing I can, or would, do. I offered them a chance. They didn't take it."
The Inquisitor's gaze stayed on me as Valentine stepped back and vanished. I could see the change in her features as the realization broke over her: she had failed. And in failing, she had signed death warrants for two innocent children.
She swayed where she stood and then fell into the nearest chair. "My God," she whispered. "What have I done?"
xx
"Get your father," Maryse instructed Isabelle. Then she turned her full attention on the Inquisitor. "What have you done, Imogen? You've handed victory to Valentine. That's what you've done.
"You knew exactly what Valentine was planning when you locked Jace up. You refused to allow the Clave to become involved because it would have interfered with your plan. You wanted to make Valentine suffer as he had made you suffer; to show him you had the power to kill his son the way he killed yours. You wanted to humble him.
"But Valentine will not be humbled. I could have told you that. You never had a hold over him. He only pretended to consider your offer to make absolutely certain that we would have no time to call for reinforcements from Idris. And now it's too late."
That I did not like. I did not like it at all.
"It's not too late," I snapped. "If we get to Valentine's ship as soon as we can, with all of the Conclave, we still stand a chance. He can already call demons with the partially converted sword but it's only halfway there."
"The Fey," the Inquisitor said, picking her head up and looking vaguely alive.
I glared at her through the shimmering walls of my prison. "Do you really think you'll receive help after how you've treated me? Do you realize how lucky you are that the Seelie Queen hasn't started her own war with the Clave?"
The Inquisitor looked broken and crushed. She was a powerful marionette puppet but now her strings were cut.
"Now I would suggest you let me out immediately before Queen Aeval's representative arrives to see what's happened to me."
My words had the desired effect and the Inquisitor got woodenly to her feet, crossed the room, and withdrew the blade that marked north in the Configuration. Immediately, the silver walls were extinguished.
"Thank you," I said with harsh civility. "Now we need to get going."
I swept out of the room dramatically, only stopping to grab my things. Surprisingly, Alec followed.
"I see you didn't mention that you can't ask the Seelie Court for help anymore," he said with a hint of a smile.
I shrugged as I worked on rearming myself. "It didn't seem important. We should get to the weapons room. I don't have nearly enough for what we'll be facing."
Alec gave a glance to my collection of knives. "I think we can fix that. So you're planning on breaking into Valentine's ship by yourself?"
"If no one's planning on coming with me, yes."
"Don't be so dramatic," he scolded, shoving the door of the weapons room open. "My mom will make the Inquisitor call the Conclave. We may not have the force of the whole Clave, but it's better than just the four of us."
I knew immediately that he meant Jace, Izzy, himself, and me. I couldn't help but remember the first time we went out hunting demons together. At the time, I'd thought the three of them made the perfect team and I awkwardly threw them off but now I knew better.
Quickly, I searched the room and added three seraph blades and a longsword to my arsenal. Then, after brief consideration, I picked up a bow.
Alec spared me a brief glance that clearly showed his confusion. "Won't you need a quiver?"
"Nope."
"Where are you going to get arrows then?"
"Magic."
He just shook his head at me, grabbed some weapons and led the way out the door. "The Clave isn't going to like that."
"I don't really care what the Clave does or doesn't like since they were going to have me killed. Valentine did something to me as a baby that lets me use magic and I'm going to use it against him."
"Glad to hear that," Maryse said, appearing suddenly in the hall with her daughter, husband, and the Inquisitor in tow. "Not the magic part exactly, but that you're using it against Valentine." She rested her hand on my shoulder briefly. "We have a lot to talk about, Jaci. But first, we need to get to the ship."
I nodded sharply, the movement of my circlet reminding me that I still wore it, despite having broken the bond with the Fey.
"Ready, parabatai?" Isabelle asked, coming up beside me and cramming into the elevator next to me.
I drew one of my seraph blades and gave it a twirl. "I hope so."
The doorbell of the Institute began to ring as the elevator descended.
"The Conclave aren't coming here to meet, are they?" Alec asked, clearly confused.
His father answered. "No, we're meeting them at the boats."
"Then who would be coming here?" Isabelle asked.
I couldn't think of anyone. Jocelyn was in the hospital; Jace, Clary, Simon, Luke, Magnus, and Maia were all on the ship; and… my friends list was depressingly short.
On edge and bristling with weapons, we marched through the churchlike portion of the Institute and to the massive wooden doors. Robert shouldered the doors open and there on the steps stood-
"Caelia?" I asked.
She fluttered her wings in response. Apparently that was how she said hello. "Queen Aeval sent me."
Isabelle stepped forward. "The Fey have no power over Jaci anymore. We broke her binding."
This time, Caelia smiled. "I know. That's why she sent me, to inform you that you are free to come and go from the court as much as you please."
I raised my eyebrows. "She's livid, isn't she."
Caelia shrugged. "She is more upset with Valentine."
My heart leaped with hope. "So the Fey will fight with us?"
"Maybe," the faerie answered ambiguously. "I'm here to help however I may."
"Can you get us to the ship faster?" I asked, remembering her ability to travel without having to traverse the middle bits.
She glanced over all of us. "No. I can only take you, Jaci. On my own, I won't be able to break Valentine's wards. With you, you can break the wards and I can take you there. The rest will come when they are able."
I turned to Maryse, understanding very well that she was in charge in this situation. She just nodded briefly.
"All right, Caelia," I said. "Let's fly."
