After Jace and Clary's conversation in the hall, Jace told the others. Alec and Isabelle accepted him and the news that he wasn't our sibling. Then once the news was out, Clary and Jace's fight commenced. They tried to not hurt each other as they showed off their skills to Inquisitor Herondale. Each of them would get in an attack and block the next. Once the session was concluded, the Inquisitor got her answer.

In the midst of battle Jace's eyes lit up like spotlights and a rune on his arm shone the same color. From what was noticed, Jace can use his runes without his steele, giving him double the strength. Once the fight was over, Clary and Jace went one way while others went the opposite direction. Inquisitor Herondale gave Jace a look of worry as she went to question Valentine some more.

After a two-hour questioning session, she still had no answers. Even after using the agony rune, he wouldn't talk. So she let the guards continue the grilling as she went to find Jace. Once she found him, she decided it was time to discuss the elephant in the room.

"Jace, can I speak with you for a moment?" Inquisitor Herondale asked as Jace was analyzing a map of the city. There hadn't been any attacks lately so he was searching for a place I could be hiding.

"I'm kind of busy, right now. So…" Jace said, trying to ignore her presence.

"Just give me a moment of your time. Please." Inquisitor said as Jace turned to face her with a sigh. He really didn't want to talk about this, but eventually, he was going to have to.

"When my daughter and son-in-law were killed, it broke me. When I learned you weren't with the bodies I had hope you were alive somewhere. I spent every day of my life these last 18 years trying to find you and finally I did. Not in the way I wanted but you're alive and well," Inquisitor Herondale said.

"I wouldn't say well. I was experimented on as a child and beaten into a soldier. I am happy that I know where I am from but I wouldn't say I'm well," Jace admitted.

"Jonathan, I know life has been hard for you. I wish for anything to change how things happened but that is in the past. Now you are here and fighting for the good of everyone. I wanted to give you this," Inquisitor Herondale said as she placed a necklace in Jace's hand. With closer inspection, he noticed the necklace was a ring on a chain. A very expensive ring, "It's your mother's wedding ring. I thought you might like a keepsake."

"Thank you, Inquisitor," Jace said, feeling tears come to his eyes. He held them back and smiled.

"There's also one other thing I wanted to discuss with you. Because of Lydia Branwell's poor judgement and Victor having to return to London, I have assigned you as the leader of the New York Institute," Inquisitor Herondale announced.

"Not to be rude but I am no leader," Jace pointed out.

"Herondales are born leaders. Even if you weren't raised as one, you are royal and very powerful. Powerful people have powerful positions. Give it a chance. You might just like it," Madame Inquisitor said, walking off before Jace could decline her offer. He then went to go tell Alec the news and Jace got the reaction he thought he would.

"Congratulations," Alec said sarcastically.

"It's not like I wanted this position. I tried to tell her you'd be the better choice but she walked away without hearing me out. I'm no leader, Alec. I am not any happier than you are," Jace insisted.

"You're a Herondale, Jace. You're from a very powerful family. I'm not. I'm the shadowhunter dating a downworlder. No one would choose me to be the leader of the Institute," Alec sighed

"Alec…" Jace began as Clary and Isabelle came running into the room.

"What's wrong?" Alec asked, completely focused on the task at hand.

"There was an alert from one of the sensors. It was near 7th street, the farthest sensor from the Institute. It could be the average demon but with Carly's urges…" Clary began

"It's worth checking out," Jace said.

"You ready?" Alec asked.

"Always."


I awoke a few hours later with the tingle in my fingertips being more prominent. I wanted to choke the life out of something and watch as life faded from its eyes. I pushed the feeling down the best I could and went to Sebastian's kitchen for some water. After gulping down the entire cup, I noticed how quiet the apartment was. It was dark outside, meaning I had slept the entire day.

From what I could tell no one else was in the apartment so I decided to head out. I didn't want to burden Sebastian any more than I already had. I slid on my jacket and when I went for my shadowblade, my hand burned like acid. I pulled away and watched my hand heal almost instantly. I tried again but I got the same reaction.

I decided to screw it and I instead grabbed a knife from one of Sebastian's kitchen drawers. I shoved it into my back pocket and gave the apartment one last look before closing the door. I zipped up my hoodie and pulled the hood over my head. I made my way to the sidewalk out front, I looked both ways, and turned toward the opposite direction of the Institute.

I focused on controlling my eyes and keeping out of sight. I continued walking until I found an abandoned house that looked like no one had given it attention in some time. I staked the place out and everything was quiet. A little too quiet. I took my knife out as I entered the musty home. There was garbage, broken furniture, and a lot of dust. But something was wrong.

Suddenly, there was a creek behind me and I turned to find a man standing in front of the door. He had at least a foot on me in height and he was built like a wrestler. He looked at me with disgust, then recognition, and then even more disgust. His eyes glowed a bright yellow as he growled at me. A werewolf. One who was on his own.

"So, you're the demon girl," Said the wolf

"News spreads fast,"

He quietly laughed. "Things like that don't stay hidden long. But I'm surprised you don't look more demon-like. Where are the eyes?"

"I've learned to control them. Why are you out here wolf? Shouldn't you be with Luke and the rest of the New York pack?" I asked as his face darkened.

"I left that sad excuse of a pack," Said the wolf.

"So, you're just gonna live in this craphole, Omega?" I said, noticing my tone was a taunting one. One that was trying to start a fight. One part of me didn't want this but a bigger part still wanted to kill and if he attacked I had to defend myself.

"What are you doing out here demon girl?" The wolf asked, taking a step closer.

"I was going for a walk and wanted a place to rest till morning. But I can't stay here because the smell of wet dog is just too strong," I taunted.

"Are you trying to piss me off, girlie? I'm not prepared to break the accords for a fight that's not worth my time. You are the size of a mosquito and I don't fight things I can flick off. Piss off before you make me angry," Said the wolf.

"I'm not a shadowhunter anymore. I can't even touch one of their blades without my hand burning. Fighting me wouldn't break accords because I'm one of a kind and rules don't apply. Are you afraid that you'll get beat by a girl?" I asked.

"You won't beat me."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked as my eyes went back to dark abyss'. He backed up, nervous and shocked by the sudden change. But the surprise lasted for a split second as he lunged at me.

I dodged his attack and grabbed him by the back of his collar, throwing him forward. His head went straight through an old armchair. After getting his head free, his anger rose to the max. He howled and jumped into the air transforming right before my feet.

"You're not even man enough to fight me in your human form. How sad I'll have to kill a weak fool," I said as a dark grin spread across my face.

He steadied himself and lunged for my throat but I was much faster and I dodged. I bent backward, dodging him like a flow of bullets. Before I could get to my feet he jumped on me, pinning me to the floor.

I pushed up on him as he kept trying to rip my throat out. When he jumped on me I had lost my knife and it was now a foot or two away. With one hand I kept pushing up on him and with the other, I reached for the blade. With him nearing my neck, I didn't have the time to be weak. I finally grabbed the hilt with the tip of my fingers. I steadied it in my hand and shoved it into the wolf's abdomen. He screeched in pain as I pulled the blade out.

I regained my balance and stabbed him again; this time in the shoulder. He whelped in pain as he tried to crawl away. I wasn't gonna allow that so I stabbed him a third time, this time directly in the heart. He collapsed at my feet, transforming back into his human form.

I turned him onto his back and noticed he was still alive. I went for another blow when a hand caught mine. I looked up at the owner of the hand and found it to be Sebastian.

"Let go," I said, trying to get my hand from his grasp but for some reason, I couldn't.

"You need to control yourself. Killing is one thing but mutilating is something different. The kill is what you aim for, anything else could leave clues that you were here. Control yourself," Sebastian said in a calming tone.

Everything I just did hit me in the face like a dodgeball and my eyes became green once again. "I wanted to kill him. To see the life fade from his eyes. I couldn't fight against it."

"But you did. You could have kept going but you stopped," Sebastian said.

"How did you find me?" I asked, changing the subject.

"I knew you weren't going toward the Institute so I went the opposite direction. When I heard the wolf howl, I knew something was up. I ran toward the house and on luck found you before the other shadowhunters did," Sebastian said, helping me to my feet.

"You shouldn't be helping me. I'll just make you look bad or hurt you," I said as I wiped a tear that had fallen down my cheek.

"That's why we're going to keep this as our secret. There's a sensor across the street that detects demons and they definitely saw you. My apartment is spelled to protect against shadowhunter and warlock runes and spells. I'll stay here and lead them off your path so you can get to my apartment. I'll be at the Institute to spy on them for any readings. If they find anything and you're not ready, I'll diffuse the problem," Sebastian said.

"Why help me? I'm a monster," I said, looking up at him as his face softened.

"Because I don't see a monster. I see a girl struggling and I want to make sure you're okay. Now go, they will be here any minute," Sebastian said as I gave one last nod, running off toward his apartment.


As Clary, Isabelle, Alec, and Jace left the Institute, Clary called Simon and told him their location. He met up with them and all of them headed toward the sensor. After a 10 minute run, they arrived and everything was quiet.

They looked left and right, spotting a figure leaning on the outside of one of the houses. They got closer and noticed his tattoos, realizing he was a shadowhunter. A shadowhunter they didn't recognize.

"What are you doing out here?" Alec asked with suspicion.

"I was trying to find Carly, but I was too late," The stranger said, pointing inside the house.

Isabelle looked at him and then got closer to the house to inspect the inside. Near the entrance was a dead body. A dead werewolf. Isabelle gave the rest of them a look and they each gave a glance inside to see the body. All of them were sad that they didn't get here in time, but they were more interested in the mystery shadowhunter before them.

"How do you know, Carly?" Simon asked in a worried and jealous tone.

"I found her last night hiding in an alleyway. I knew who she was from the rumors and her dark eyes. I have read many of the documents in the Clave's database and I helped her hide her black eyes. Make her seem more human. She slept through the day while I went on some errands for the Institute. When I got back, she was gone. I followed her trail but when I got here, she was nowhere in sight. A few minutes later, you lot showed up," Said the stranger.

"What's you're name?" Jace asked.

"My name is Sebastian Verlac and I'm from the London Institute. I was brought in because of everything Valentine has done the last few weeks. No need to be defensive, I'm on your side," Sebastian said with a believable smile.

"We need to find her before she does anything else like this. If anyone finds out what she's done, the downworld will be hunting her. Are you sure she was gone when you arrived?" Clary asked as she turned to Sebastian.

"Definitely. If she were here, I wouldn't be standing here waiting to see if she'd come back. I want to help you find her. I might not know her well but I know she's suffering and I want to help as much as I can," Sebastian said as jealousy spread across Simon's face. He knew I wouldn't fall for a guy like this but it still made him jealous.

"Let's head back to the Institute and wait for more clues. Sebastian, you can follow us," Isabelle said as they walked back to Institute. Sebastian walked near the back, following the others. Simon stared at him and then turned to talk to Clary.

"Does something seem off with him?" Simon asked, referring to Sebastian.

"Nothing is wrong, Simon. He is our only lead to Carly, so don't go looking for something that isn't there," Clary said as the group kept walking.