Pain radiated throughout my body. It felt like I was thrown in a freezer and locked inside. Slowly I became colder and colder. I looked up at Simon as everything was getting hazy. He had tears in his eyes and was brushing the hair out of my face.
"You're gonna be okay. We'll figure something out," Simon cried.
"I don't think you will. This is...n't some sur...face wound Simon. Some...thing li...ke thi...s-s is har...d to re...cov...er frrrr...om." I stuttered as it became harder to speak. Blood was getting into my throat making everything I said gurgly sounding.
"We'll figure something out. Like we always do," Simon said, leaning down and giving me a quick kiss as Clary ran and kneeled by my side. My hearing was going as things became fuzzy. Half the time I couldn't understand what they were saying but I tried to pay attention.
"There has to be a spell or healing charm that can fix this. She was healed by magic last time," Clary said as she began to cry.
"Magic can only do so much. Even if I accomplished healing a wound like that it would take a lot out of me. Enough so that I might not make it," Ethan said truthfully.
"I'm a g...oner. Do...n't worr...y about sav...ing meeee, deal with Val...entine. Pl...ease," I stuttered.
"I'm not gonna let you die," Simon said.
"And neither will I."
"Jace, please," I said looking over as he, Isabelle and Alec looked at me from afar. Jace understood what I was asking and nodded. Since he had demon blood in his veins he might be able to destroy the sword. Especially because it already had a few cracks. He stepped forward and stood in front of the blade. His hand was inches from the hilt when Valentine started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Isabelle asked with fire in her eyes.
"Oh nothing. Carry on," Valentine said with a smile.
Jace shook off the weirdness and put his hand on the hilt. Except something unexpected happened. Instead of pain like I felt, a bright light emitted from his hand and threw him a few feet back. The light knocked Alec, Ethan, and Isabelle to the ground as well. Valentine using his only opportunity, walked up to the blade and picked it up with a smile.
"What happ...end?" I gasped.
"I don't know," Jace said with complete confusion. "I thought that would work…"
"You're all idiots. I only needed two dark warriors, not three. Jonathan and Carly were all I needed," Valentine sneered.
"So, you didn't do experiments on Jace?" Clary asked.
"Oh, I did, but it wasn't demon blood. Why do you think the sword glowed when he touched it? A heavenly glow," Valentine said as dread crept across everyone's face.
"You made me believe I was evil so when this moment came I'd activate it without knowing. So I would end the downworld without meaning to," Jace said as battle cries could be heard in the distance.
That is when the situation got so much worse. The signal to the army outside was a bright light and now they were being brought into a trap. Ethan threw a fireball at Valentine but while he held the sword a kind of shield went around him.
The army turned the corner and charged Valentine. Valentine smiled as he held the blade out in the air. Isabelle grabbed Ethan's hand and ran as fast as they could out of the room. I couldn't be moved and Simon wouldn't leave so Clary did the best she could and threw herself on top of us.
Valentine with one last grin said the magical word and light filled the room. Screams could be heard from blocks away as the downworlders fell in agony. While I was covered by Simon and Clary I felt that familiar fire in my shoulder, except this time it hit my heart. I gasped for air as fire consumed me.
Fire blasted through my veins; scorching every limb. It felt like lava was now my blood and it was burning through everything. I could feel my wound heal with almost magic speed and my strength return to me. Then what felt like a surge of electricity went through my body and everything went grey. But I know my eyes weren't closed. Darkness consumed me and now nothing could pull me out.
Once every downworlder in the room was down for the count, Valentine dropped the blade. Somehow Clary covering us protected Simon and me from the blade's power. They climbed off of me as rage consumed every part of my being. When they moved, they noticed my wound was gone and that my eyes were closed.
"Carly, your wound is gone," Simon said in wonder.
"Oh, I know," I said, getting to my feet and facing away from them.
The monster in me had taken over but I wasn't completely gone. Not yet anyway. I knew I would never hurt my friends but that didn't mean I wouldn't hurt Valentine.
"Carly…" Ethan said as he and Isabelle re-entered the room. They both saddened at the dead warriors sprawled across the floor but something else was wrong.
"It's taken over, hasn't it? The monster in you has finally been revealed," Valentine said with a smirk.
"Carly, what is he talking about?" Clary asked with confusion.
"You never told them, did you?"
"Shut up!" I yelled in a booming voice.
I turned around too quickly for anyone to see my appearance as I grabbed Valentine by the gruff of his neck and pinned him to the wall nearby. Everyone else was facing my back; still not knowing the true extent of the darkness. I was seething with rage and all I wanted to do was rip Valentine's bald head clean off.
"You never had the guts to tell them the truth. How consumed you would become by the darkness? You couldn't even tell your boyfriend, could you?" Valentine said, trying to spark anger in me and it was working.
"Carly, what is he talking about? Talk to us. What is going on?" Simon asked in a worried tone. He didn't know what was happening or how to react but he was worried.
"I'm going to tear you limb from limb. I'm going to do it slowly so you can feel every second tick by, wishing for death. And then after hours of agony, I will find a way to start over so the pain never stops," I said in a whisper only Valentine could hear. There was no physical reaction but I could see behind those brown eyes, fear was rising.
"Carly, explain what the hell is going on!" Clary yelled with frustration and even more worry.
"Darkness has taken over. She's been consumed," Jace said as the others turned toward him. Him saying those words piqued my interest but then I remembered what Magnus said before we left.
"Consumed?" Isabelle asked.
"I'm no longer weak," I said squeezing Valentine's throat just a little tighter as I turned toward the group with pitch-black eyes, "If that's what you mean."
"Carly…" Simon muttered.
"You should have told us," Jace said.
"I didn't have the time because every time I tried, I was interrupted. A spell, or mission always got in the way. But that is in the past, now I have something to take care of," I said squeezing harder as Valentine's eyes started to bulge.
"Let him go. Give him to the Clave so they can deal with him civilly," Alec said, trying to get through to me.
"If I give him to the Clave, they'll let him live. And I will not allow that," I said as me and Valentine vanished with the soul sword.
Once I vanished, the group split up. Alec went looking for Magnus, Isabelle and Ethan started to deal with the bodies, and Simon, Clary, and Jace ran after me. Simon, having the best sense of smell, led the way to the darkened courtyard, where me and Valentine were fighting.
After leaving the others, I took Valentine and the sword to the courtyard. I threw him to the ground and pointed the blade at his throat. I wanted to cut him right there and now but I knew I wanted some questions answered first. I knelt down beside him and roughly grabbed his hand; placing it on the blade so whatever he said next would be the truth.
"Why did you do this to me?" I asked.
"I wanted a warrior. Someone who could fight by my side and be victorious with me. I wanted you to be my greatest invention and that's exactly what you are," Valentine said with pride.
This brought disgust to my face. I could still feel the good in me. I wasn't completely gone but I also felt the anger and evil of it. An all-consuming rage that I wasn't sure I could control. I didn't go full dark side but I was getting there.
"Why would you experiment on your children? Jace…" I began
"Jace is not my son," Valentine said as I was caught off guard.
"Yes, he is," I said with confusion
"No, he isn't. I stole Jace when he was just a child. I experimented on him to test his abilities. But he is not my blood and he never will be. You do have a brother named Jonathan but it's not him," Valentine said.
"You're lying!" I yelled.
"My hands are touching the soul sword. There is no way I can lie," Valentine said as I noticed Simon, Clary, and Jace arrive on the edge of my vision.
"Do you know how to reverse the effects?" I asked, clenching my teeth. My hands tingled as killing him became the best option. But I held back, knowing I needed answers.
"Why would you want to reverse such beauty?" Valentine asked.
"Answer the question."
"You know the only way to be saved and that will only condemn you further. There isn't a way to completely rid yourself of the evil. The blood has soaked into every tissue and every organ. It is a part of you and will only get stronger. A few days time you won't care who you kill as long as a body is at your feet," Valentine said with a sadistic smile.
I looked over at Simon, Clary, and Jace as they had tears streaming down their cheeks. I didn't even know Jace could cry. I looked back at Valentine and knew I had to be quick so I asked one last question.
"Do you love me? You keep saying you wanted a warrior but what about a daughter. Do you love me or even Clary?" I asked as the others got closer. They heard what I asked and waited for a response. It took him a second to come up with an answer but when he spoke, it surprised everyone.
"Of course I love you. I care for all my children; always have. Even if I am a terrible person and darker than a normal father, I still love you. No matter what," Valentine said as a tear came to my eye.
Every fiber of my being told me to kill him but that one answer broke me. I've never had anyone care for me like Simon had. So, my own father finally saying the words made me happy. But the urges were still there and he had still done a whole lot more bad than good. So I decided to spare this life but not without leaving a gift.
I threw the soul sword toward the others and took out a small blade from a sheath on my leg. I grabbed Valentine by the collar of his shirt and thrust my dagger into his right shoulder blade. It'd hurt but he'd live.
"That is for experimenting on me, Jonathan, Clary, and Jace. For all the people you killed and everyone you hurt. I won't kill you but hopefully, the Clave will," I said ripping my dagger out as I backed away. Jace grabbed the sword and handcuffed Valentine. He smirked and Jace took him inside.
After they were out of sight, I turned around and started to walk away, but Simon grabbed my hand, "Don't leave, please."
"Carly, we'll find a way to fix this. Come back inside," Clary said with pleading eyes. I didn't turn to look at her but I knew her exact expression.
"There's no way to fix this. None at all," I said, ripping my hand from Simon's grasp as I continued to walk away. But he grabbed my hand again, this time turning me around so I'd face him.
"Carly, I love you. No matter how much darkness is within," Simon said, stroking my cheek.
"How can you love a monster?" I asked as he looked into my black eyes. There was nothing but darkness between my eyelids. The original brilliant green had vanished into black holes.
"I could say the same for you. Carly, you don't think I have darkness in me as well? I'm a vampire for God's sake. I deal with controlling my thirst, every day. Sometimes I just want to give in but I keep fighting an uphill battle. I know one day I will most likely lose control but that doesn't mean I should give up," Simon said, looking at me with compassion.
"Carly, please come inside." Clary said as she pleaded some more.
She was trying to be the sister I wanted and needed but it wasn't working. I was still seething with everything she got and I didn't. I wanted nothing to do with her but I focused on Simon and saying goodbye.
"I'm sorry but I can't come with you. Once you find Magnus he'll tell you the only way to fix this and I won't put any of you through that," I said once again vanishing into the dark of night, leaving Simon and Clary staring off into the cold starless sky.
Alec was searching everywhere for Magnus. He didn't know if he got out in time and it scared him to death. Alec searched high and low but there was no sign of his warlock. Eventually, he made it out the front doors where shadowhunters were scurrying around picking up the pieces of the disaster.
Alec stood, frozen, searching the crowd in the rising sun. After a moment, a hand squeezed his shoulder. He turned around and Magnus was there with a smile. Relief spread across Alec as he pulled Magnus in for a hug.
"You're okay…" Alec said with relief.
"I made it out just in time with Madzie. I got her someplace safe and came back to make sure you were alright," Magnus said.
"I have been through many battles. Fear a main part of every fight. But this one was different. I didn't know if you were alive or dead, and that scared me half to death. Not knowing, was the most fear I had ever felt. I love you, Magnus," Alec admitted.
"I love you too."
Alec grabbed Magnus' head and pulled him in for a kiss. It was passionate and needing, a reassurance that this was real and that they were both okay. But it was short lived when Simon ran outside.
"Simon, what are you doing? The sun's out!" Clary yelled as she ran after him. Seconds later, she noticed when he left the shade of the building he didn't burst into flames. He was fine, completely fine.
"Simon, how are you out in the sun?" Alec asked with amazement and confusion.
No vampire could walk out in this much daylight and not turn into ash. What was going on? Was he imagining it? Doubtful, since Magnus and Clary had the same facial expression as he had.
"I don't know. I was helping with cleanup when a beam of sunlight hit my back. I cringed away only I didn't feel any pain. I moved into the light again, finally feeling sunlight on my face for the first time in a year, and it didn't burn. It didn't affect me at all. I don't know what's happening," Simon said with excitement. He could finally walk in the sun but he still had his vampire nature. This kind of power had to have a price.
"This is wonderful Simon!" Clary said, hugging him tightly as a thoughtful expression spread across Magnus' face.
"Do you know what is happening to him, Magnus?" Alec asked as Clary and Simon turned their attention to him.
"Yeah. Simon, you're a daylighter," Magnus said.
"A what?"
"A daylighter. Daylighters are a rare kind of vampire capable of walking in the sunlight. You're the first one I've heard of in a hundred years. The cause of this, I don't know. Drinking Jace's angelic blood might be the culprit. But I don't know for sure," Magnus said.
"This is awesome!" Clary said so happy that her best friend wouldn't have to suffer any longer. He could almost be human and he wouldn't have to hide in the shadows. He'd have a somewhat normal life.
"Just don't flaunt, okay? Other vampires will not be happy about this. They will do anything to become like you. Or crush you so you're not special anymore. Don't let them know, Simon. Okay?" Magnus said as Simon nodded.
"Can me and Simon talk to you in private?" Clary blurted out.
"Of course. Do you mind Alec?" Magnus asked.
"No, it's fine. I'm just glad you're okay," Alec said, giving Magnus one last hug as he walked off toward the Institute.
Once he was out of sight, Magnus led Simon and Clary toward a hidden garden. Having Simon out in view was not a good idea, even if the people were only shadowhunters. After a maze of hedges, they arrived to the beautiful garden. There were roses and tulips planted in organized rows. Vines gripping to every spare surface and a small but dazzling fountain smack in the middle. It was a beautiful sight but sightseeing was not what they came there to do.
"Magnus, before Carly vanished she said you knew how to save her. She didn't want to involve us but she did tell us you knew. Is it magic? Some kind of charm?" Clary asked as Magnus' face dropped.
"What is it?" Simon asked, noticing Magnus' sudden drop in mood.
"There is no way to completely get rid of her abilities. A long time ago, the Clave tested the effects of demon blood and how to cure it. I've read their notes a hundred times over and they never found a 100% cure," Magnus explained.
"But they found something?"
"What they discovered was that if they inflicted other downworlder attributes to the test subject it affected the demon blood differently," Magnus began.
"Like?"
"Once the demon blood was in full effect, they did tests. They tried spells to lock it back it up but that would eventually snap. The Clave injected fairy blood and pure angel blood which killed the victim instantly. They got a test subject bitten by a werewolf and that just made it worse.
The only thing that worked was a vampire's bite. If bitten and drained of enough blood the effects would vanish completely for about a week. If the subject was turned into a vampire the effects would vanish for a month, but when the power came rushing back. The only way to make it vanish for another month was to kill. To take another human life.
I tried to find another way. Anything else. But there was nothing. None of the spells used in the testing were recorded so there was nothing I could do. I told Carly to tell you but she didn't want you guys to worry for her. She didn't want to get in the way," Magnus explained.
"So, the only way to save her is to make her vampire? And even then she has kill once a month?" Clary asked.
"I'm sorry."
"Can't we leave her as she is? She isn't a full demon. Last night I watched her cry and hold back her urges to kill Valentine. If I could just get through to her…" Simon said.
"If you leave her as she is, it will just get worse. The demon blood is slowly consuming her. She has the eyes, strength, and speed. The urges to kill hit her like a brick wall but they will become stronger. Eventually, she won't be able to fight against it. So, Simon, you have to make a decision," Magnus said.
"I-I don't know. She's never wanted to be a vampire. She'd have to kill once a month and I don't want to put her through that. I'd break her," Simon worried.
"Simon, it's better than her going dark and not being able to control herself. She'd have more guilt over that than becoming a vampire. Either way, she'll kill," Clary said.
"What do you think I should do?" Simon asked as he looked up at Magnus.
"It's not my choice to make. Do you want to leave her how she is and hope you can bring her around or are you willing to damn her so she becomes herself for a month at a time?" Magnus said.
"She'll hate me."
"She might but she might also be thankful in the end. Find her and then you'll have to make your decision."
