"I thought you were…" Valentine began as Jonathan's face darkened.

"Dead?" Jonathan finished with a cooky smile. "For years I wished for that, but it never came. After you sent me to Edom, the pain was excruciating. I was tortured for years and torn apart so many times I lost track. Eventually, Lilith found me and took care of me until I could return and exact my revenge. On you and anyone who gets in my way."

"So, you're just gonna kill me?" Valentine asked as he saw the look on Jonathan's face and realized that was exactly what he planned to do. "You're going to kill your own father? I love you!"

"You do not love me! You never did!" Jonathan snapped as he got real close to Valentine's face. The anger triggered his eyes and they went dark as he spoke, "You were always disappointed in me! You sent me to hell, dad. A father who cares for their child would never do that. You just thought I was a freak and a monster!"

"That is not true," Valentine said.

"I don't care what you say. I'm finishing this," Jonathan said as he pulled the soul sword out of the back of his shirt. For the first time in a long time, Valentine was shocked. "Old man, do you think I am stupid? I've been stalking the Institute for weeks and when you got captured I knew they had this as well. All I had to do was sneak in and steal the sword."

"How are you even holding it? With how much demon blood is inside you that thing should burn your skin at the touch of it," Valentine insisted.

"Oh, it burns. Like a bitch. But when you have been through as much pain as I've been through, it starts to not have an effect. And, Lilith taught me a few tricks," Jonathan said as he lifted the blade above his head and struck it down toward Valentine's neck. Before it could make contact, Valentine grabbed the sword; the blade cutting into his hand. He gripped the sword and it lit up like a Christmas tree.

"I'm holding onto the blade so I cannot lie," Valentine said as he looked up into Jonathan's eyes. "I was never disappointed in you. I was proud of how strong you were and everything you could do. It was wrong of me to send you to Edom but I wanted to make you tough. I love you, Jonathan. I sent Jace away when he was ten and I lost Clary and Carly when they were very young. But you. You were all I had for a long time. Trust me, I do love you."

Tears came to Jonathan's eyes as they changed back to their original color. He wanted so badly to end Valentine but he also knew what kind of power he held. Jonathan backed away and he threw the blade to the floor.


"What do you mean he vanished?" Clary asked as she, Jace, and Isabelle followed Alec to his office.

"I mean, he was with us on one side of the portal but when we got to Idris he was gone," Alec said as everyone entered and he closed the door behind them.

"How does that even happen?" Isabelle asked.

"We don't know. The only way he could have escaped is if someone helped him. This person would have to know a lot about portals and have good reason to take him," Alec explained.

"Have they found the location he was pulled to?" Jace asked.

"Not exactly. Determining something like that is not easy but the witch did get the general area of where he could be. An approximation," Alec said.

"Where?" Isabelle asked.

"In the Idris forest near Lake Lin," Alec admitted.

"Are they starting a search?" Clary asked.

Alec shook his head. "They can't."

"Why can't they?"

"Those forests are filled with rabid werewolves and very poisonous plants. You touch or go anywhere, there's a chance you won't make it back alive. It's way too dangerous," Isabelle explained for Alec.

"The Clave is planning on waiting until they make their next move. Wait them out and strike. It's the only way people won't die," Alec said.

"Someone needs to get a closer look. Send me and I can do recon. Find out what they're doing," Clary said, crossing her arms over her chest with a brave smile.

"The Clave said we can't. No outside help. Especially because you're his daughter. They don't want to take chances with this. I'm sorry," Alec said.

"So what are we supposed to do then?"

"Research and train. Be prepared when the fight comes to you," Alec said, escorting the three out of his office. He closed the door as Isabelle gave Clary a comforting look. Isabelle went off to her room while Jace and Clary went to do some research.

After a few twisting halls, they made it to a small library on the second floor. Each took a book from one of the shelves and did some research on the forest of Idris. They only learned things they already knew so Clary took out a map and tried figuring out where Valentine could be hidden. Her eyes scanned the map over and over for almost 10 minutes. When she was about to give up, she noticed something.

"Jace, I think I found something," Clary said as Jace threw his book down on the couch and walked over to her side. He rubbed his eyes and looked over her shoulder. She could feel his breath on her neck and she shivered. Clary and Jace noticed this and took a step apart.

"Um, n-now this map is about forty years old. So, something could have changed, but this map says there is a hunting cabin near the lake. It was condemned so everyone forgot about it. If there is a chance it's still there then that is most likely where he is," Clary said, pointing to a tiny brown square on the map.

"It's still there," Jace said with a saddened tone.

"How are you so sure?" Clary asked.

"Valentine took me there as a kid. He trained me and beat me inside those walls. A place I try to block out my memories," Jace admitted.

"The Clave probably thinks the cabin is gone. We know where it is. We could go right now and end this. We could bring him back," Clary said.

"They don't want us involved, remember?" Jace questioned.

"We're the best chance they got. Come with me," Clary said as she took out her stele. Her eyes glowed bright yellow as she started drawing a rune.

"What are you doing?" Jace asked with confusion.

"I'm opening a portal," Clary said as she finished the rune. With one push it shot across the room and a golden portal opened up.

"How did you know how to do that?" Jace asked with amazement.

"It just came to me. Now, are you coming with me or not?" Clary asked as she held out her hand.

"You know opening portals in the Institute without permission is a punishable offense," Jace pointed out.

"If we bring back Valentine I don't think it will matter. Are you coming with me?" Clary asked again as she readied her blade and stepped toward the portal.

"I'm not letting you go alone. Besides, rule-breaking is my specialty," Jace said as she grabbed his hand and they jumped through.

When they landed on the other side, they were not near the cabin. Nor were they together. Jace landed on the edge of Lake Lin; which was frozen over at this time of year. He searched around him for Clary because he knew she couldn't have landed too far from him. He spun round and round becoming more and more worried when he couldn't find her.

He was about to head into the forest to search when he saw from the corner of his eye, something struggling. When he turned, terror consumed him. Clary landed in Lake Lin, which was filled with freezing water, making it hard for her to pull herself out. Jace ran the fastest he had ever run and made it to her side in seconds.

He reached out so she could grab his hand but she kept slipping. So he grabbed her arms and pulled her out onto the top of the ice. She was shivering and her lips were dark blue. Jace, not caring if he became cold, took his jacket off and wrapped it around her.

"Well, that could-d ha … ha ... have gone bet-t-ter," Clary said, shivering.

"Yes it could have. Come on, we need to find that cabin. Even with my jacket, you'll get hyperthermia if we don't start moving. Can you walk?" Jace asked with worry as at this point she might already have hyperthermia. He didn't want her to get hurt or worse.

"I do … n't kn-n-ow," Clary said as she pushed herself off the ice. She stood but fell right back down. Her shivering was getting worse and at this rate, they weren't gonna get far.

"Alright, I'm carrying you."

"Ja...ce." Clary said, beginning to decline.

"I came here to find Valentine, not watch you die," Jace said as he put one arm under Clary's legs and one under her arms. He lifted her up bridal style as he started toward the forest. She huddled close to his chest, even though she knew she shouldn't have.

Luckily, they were only a small trek from the cabin. Within 10 minutes the cabin was in their sights. It looked terrible on the outside but Jace knew it was sturdy. It would keep heat and that is all Clary needed. Jace got the door unlocked and carried Clary inside, setting her down on a wooden chair near an old heater.

He closed the door and somehow got the heater going. Once he knew she would be okay by herself, he searched the cabin. No one was on the main floor so he headed for the basement. He slowly opened the door and heard whispers.


"Son, will you please untie me? I have told you the truth and I don't think I need to be restrained," Valentine said, struggling against the chair he was tied to.

"Not yet. I have to…" Jonathan began as he heard footsteps. They were coming from the main floor and from the sound of it only one person was there. He couldn't take the chance of being recognized so it was time to leave.

Jonathan untied Valentine from the chair. He then grabbed the soul sword and Valentine's arm. Suddenly, the door at the top of the stairs to the basement creaked open and he knew the person was going to come down. So he got a portal going and right as Jace made it to the bottom of the stairs the portal closed.

Meanwhile, I was getting worse. After talking to Simon that tingle came back stronger. I tried to distract myself but it was getting really hard to ignore. I went back to the pacing and then I tried to play games on my phone but nothing worked. That is until something fell in the other room.

I jumped up and followed the noise. I ran across the living room and down the hall to the farthest door on the right. I put my ear up to the door and I heard silent crying. Putting my hand on the doorknob, I twisted and it fell onto the wooden floor with a thud. Having this new strength was still something I had to work on.

I slowly opened the creaky door and found Sebastian. He was tied up, beaten, and tipped to the side. I ran up to him and righted his chair. He looked at me with hope and worry as I undid the gag.

"Sebastian, what happened? Last time I saw you, you were heading to the Institute so you could protect me. Why are you tied up in here?" I said as I started untying the ropes around his hands.

"The person who you've been talking to isn't Sebastian. I've been in here for weeks," Sebastian said with tears in his eyes. "He's using a disguise. He masked himself so he could get your trust and kidnap Valentine. I don't know for what means but it's not good."

"That can't be true. He helped me, hid me from my friends, and even risked his life for me. You're lying!" I insisted.

"He's really not." Said another voice as Sebastian's eyes widened with fear. I slowly got to my feet and turned around to be faced with another Sebastian.

"Who are you? Who have I been trusting? Who was helping me?" I yelled as my anger rose. I have been lied to my whole life and it really rubbed me the wrong way.

"I was really hoping I could keep up this facade with you for just a pinch longer but now I have to take things into my own hands," The Sebastian in the doorway said.

"Why disguise yourself at all? What is so bad you have to hide it?" I questioned as a dark tint shone in his eyes.

"Nothing bad," he said as he ran at me. Even with my new abilities I couldn't comprehend his movement till his arm was around my neck, "Just different."

"What are you?" I asked as it became harder to breathe.

"You'll find out very soon."

My brain began to shut off from lack of oxygen. He dropped me to the floor and before everything went dark, I saw a blade go through the real Sebastian's stomach.