Hey everyone. So, I thought I'd let everyone know I might be a bit behind updating both my fictions because my classes are keeping me pretty busy. Thanks for reading!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jocelyn

"Do you really have to go?"

Jocelyn smiled warmly, feeling sick like she always did when she smiled at Valentine. "I promised Jace, and he's been so good lately that I don't see the point in punishing him. He specifically asked to go around town, and I can hardly see the reason in denying him that."

"I'm not suggesting punishing him," said Valentine, propping his head up on his hand and watching while Jocelyn walked from place to place in her robe. "I'm just suggesting that perhaps you could go a little later, or another day. I'm more than amendable to letting him explore the city at another time."

But how many other times will you be locked away in your secret meetings with Malachi and Jonathan while I am free to take Jace to Luke and Magnus? Jocelyn wondered with a bitter smile. "Today is the time that works best for me."

Valentine sensed the hardness in her voice. "Is there something you want?" he asked curiously. "Is there something you need to get? I can send someone to get it for you; I certainly wouldn't want to tax you."

Something in the way he had spoken alerted Jocelyn and she turned about to face him. He was lying in their bed, his bare chest, covered in the faintest traces of black marks, glinting in the light of the rising sun. His hair was an attractive white mess, and his eyes were particularly grey, the type of grey that was unknowable and secretive. One of his eyebrows was raised in polite inquiry, but Jocelyn sensed something more. She pressed her lips together into a straight line and met his look of interest with one of her own.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," said Valentine slowly, now sitting up, his eyes sweeping over her frame. "You have seemed out of sorts lately, unusually tired, eating very little, and I heard you vomiting just the other day." Again, his eyes swept over her and again, Jocelyn felt a shiver of fear. "Are you ill?"

"I'm perfectly well, Valentine," said answered with her usual verve.

"Pregnant?" he asked with his sharp, acute gaze flashing to her stomach.

Not if those herbs have anything to say about it. "I would think not. We've been careful, and I'd know by now."

Still, Valentine's face held the slightest look of disbelief. "You're not…sad, are you?"

Sad? I am devastated, desolate, alone in this miserable world, but can you know that? No. Slowly, Jocelyn drifted over to Valentine and the bed and sank down beside him. She allowed one had to explore his shoulders, the other, play in his hair, before bending over the kissing him luxuriously. She felt him respond, pulling her closer and down on him, and she forced herself to remain in the circle of his arms with the knowledge that she was even now, plotting his downfall.

"You have given me everything I ever wanted, Valentine," she whispered in his ear. "I have my daughter, I have my son-I have two sons-I have my home and my heritage. How could I be sad now?"

"You had a son once," Valentine pointed out, though he seemed less concerned than before. "And it made you miserable."

No, you made me miserable, Jonathan was just a consequence of that. "Perhaps, but you've given me Jace, and now I have a perfect little angel to love."

"I wanted him for you," Valentine said, tracing circles on his shoulders with his thumbs. "I knew the son you would have raised, so I raised him to be the perfect replacement."

And that is cruel enough, to steal him from his mother and father, just to make me happy. "And I have never been more grateful or more pleased-except for maybe when our daughter was born."

As usual, when Jocelyn mentioned Clary, a shadow seemed to pass through Valentine. "Perhaps I have not been quite so fair to Clarissa."

"You want what is best for her, I know," sighed Jocelyn, wishing she could shake the life out of him. "It is hard for her to adjust, and hard to accept change…but Jace has been so wonderful to her, and so much better to her than anyone else."

"They will be happy together," Valentine agreed.

"All the more reason to reward him," Jocelyn answered, and she sat up, a playful little grin on her face. "I want him to know that he's the most welcome in this family, and holds just as dear a place in my heart as Clary. And how else could I do that, but to give him what he wants? The Angel knows, Maryse didn't."

"Does he mention the Lightwoods often?" Valentine asked, leaned back and relaxing onto the pillow. It seemed he had consented to Jocelyn's whims and was going to sleep before his meeting that day.

"He was very happy to see Isabelle and Alec again," Jocelyn said in a measured voice. "I think it might even do both he and Clary a bit of good to see them again. They were such good friends before all this happened."

"Yes," agreed Valentine, "but I don't know that I like have the Lightwood boy around Jace. He's a bad influence on him, at any rate."

"Valentine," Jocelyn said, her voice holding a warning that made him look at her. "I don't want you to speak like that. Alexander Lightwood comes from just as good a family as any, and he's a properly trained shadowhunter. It shouldn't matter if he's a homosexual."

"I didn't mean that," said Valentine tiredly, "though it is something to be concerned of. No, I meant that he and Jace were once parabatai, and that the two might still have some partially formed connection. Jace belongs with Jonathan, he's good for Jonathan, and besides, those two are unique. The two greatest warriors of this age, and they belong together."

"I think it can't hurt to show Jace that you trust him with his old friends," Jocelyn said in clipped tones. "He might think more highly of you if you did."

Though Valentine looked unhappy about it, he sighed and closed his eyes. "I'll think on it, Jocelyn, I'll think on it. No doubt, you're right, but it still worries me."

"Well, regardless of the Lightwood boy, his sister is a marvelous young woman. I think Clary would benefit from her company." Jocelyn paused a moment before pushing on. "I wish the young girl wasn't getting married though."

"Malachi is a good man," said Valentine indifferently.

"He's twice her age-at least." Jocelyn had turned her back on Valentine, but had slipped off her robe. She smirked when she heard the bed creak under his weight as he turned to watch her. Take a good long look, my backside is all you'll be seeing soon. "I mean, I wouldn't want Clary marrying a man that old, and I'm sure Isabelle isn't too pleased either. She's such a beautiful young girl; she could probably have anyone."

"It's not my decision to make," said Valentine distractedly. "Malachi is a loyal friend."

"He's abusing his power over a young woman to make her marry him." Jocelyn turned to face him, and knew that she could say anything and he would probably agree with her. "I just don't want to see her hurt, and I'm sure after losing her parents, her friends, that finding herself engaged is the last straw. Is there nothing you can do?"

"I'm afraid not," he said lazily.

"I don't want that for our daughter."

Valentine's face twitched. "Well, it won't be that way, will it? She and Jace will remain firmly apart until she's completed her training. She'll need to be a proper shadowhunter before she can be a proper wife."

Jocelyn wanted to turn about and smack Valentine across the face, but she managed to winked at him, buttoning up a very fashionable, mauve coat. "I'm sure she'll make progress soon, especially now that you're letting Jace train her. He certainly has a way with her."

Valentine was far too busy admiring the cut of the jacket and the fit of the pants Jocelyn had just slipped into than paying attention to what she had said. Instead, he nodded faintly and gestured her over once more, brushing a lingering kiss on her lips.

"Jace and I will be back before dinner," she said sweetly.

"I look forward to it."

Jace

"Where is Valentine taking you if we're all leaving?" Jace wondered, watching Clary pack up her school books into a shoulder bag. "Are you going with him and Jonathan?"

"Doubt it," said Clary shortly. "I don't think he'll take me anywhere in public. Can't have his people seeing his pathetic excuse for a daughter, can he?"

Jace frowned. I really hope she doesn't mean that. "But Jocelyn and I are going out."

"I don't have the slightest clue," Clary sighed, rubbing her back on the spot where Jace had marked her the night before. "You don't think he knows, do you?"

"How could he?" asked Jace sharply, his eyes flicking to the door and back, just to make sure no one was there. "You taught Isabelle and she marked Alec after they left; we didn't mark each other until almost three in the morning yesterday."

"It just seems a bit odd," Clary said uncertainly. "He's not saying where he's putting me, just locking me up while everyone else is out." Clary looked pensively at the floor before saying waspishly, "I feel like the family dog that has to get put in a kennel while the family is out."

Jace rose and came to Clary's side, wrapping her up in his arms and kissing her cheeks before kissing her lips. "You're not the family dog," Jace said softly. "Valentine just doesn't want to risk you having free time on your hands. It means he's scared of you; scared of what you might be capable of doing."

"I don't like that we're being separated," Clary continued, but Jace's words, and kisses, had had the desired effect, and she relaxed a little. "You'll be back for dinner, though, won't you?"

"Of course," Jace answered easily. "While I'm out, I'll slip a copy of that crafty rune of yours that will unlock the cell holding Luke, Magnus, and Simon, come back here, we'll all have dinner, and then, as soon as the plates are washed, you, me, and Jocelyn can slip out back while Valentine works." Jace felt a thrill of excitement. He was about to free from Valentine and Jonathan, about to be with his brother and sister again.

"How are Isabelle and Alec getting out?" Clary wondered.

"Malachi's might be a good shadowhunter, but he hasn't got anything on Isabelle and Alec," said Jace with such hard certainty, Clary doubted whether Malachi would be in a fit physical condition once they were done with him.

Clary zipped her pack of books, pencils, and paper up. "By the Angel, I hope this works. If it doesn't-"

"If it doesn't, you and I might as well kiss our lives goodbye." Jace reached down and swung her pack up on his back, smiling a little when she thanked him. "Valentine might like me, but I don't think even my charm and winning personality is going to get me out of this."

Unsettled, Clary took his hand in hers. "Let's not think about it."

Jace agreed thoughtlessly and led Clary from her room, down the stairs, and into the sitting room, where he waited with her quietly. After a bit, Jocelyn arrived, looking dressed for a day in the oncoming brisk autumn. When she saw Clary with her things packed she raised one eyebrow.

"Going out?"

"I don't think so," Clary said, looking around. "Where's Valentine?"

"He'll be down shortly, I should think," said Jocelyn. "Should we wait-"

"No," said Clary firmly. "No, the sooner you get going, the better. I feel bad about this as it is."

Jace looked ready to argue, but Jocelyn nodded her head sharply. "You've got nothing to worry about, Clary. Jace and I will be fine."

Jace kissed Clary firmly on the lips, and she smiled up at him shakily. "We'll be back soon, just keep a level head and an even temper where Valentine is concerned."

Clary smiled wryly. "I'll do my best."

Though Jocelyn looked unhappy leaving her daughter to wait on Valentine, she and Jace left, walking rather than taking a carriage. It was a pleasant day, warm from the summer, but with a slight chill in the air that announced the arrival of autumn. Jocelyn kept Jace in pace with her, though he was chomping at the bit to get to the Gard. People saw them, though, and it became obvious that Jace was going to have to play the part; someone must have been on good terms with Valentine, someone must have been more than happy to tell him that they had just seen his wife and step-son.

The sooner this is over, the better, Jace thought again and again to himself. By this time tomorrow, we'll be outside Alicante, out in the wild, free from Valentine and plotting the destruction of his Clave.

Jocelyn took Jace first to a book store where she made a few small purchases and spent a good thirty minutes pretending to be interested in the owner's troubles. They went to an art supplies store where she bought more paintbrushes. They even spent an hour sampling different types of cookies and sweets and buying a few. They had to look mundane, and mundane they looked.

"Are you finished?" Jace asked rather testily as Jocelyn watched the owner of the sweet shop tying ribbon around a box. "Can we go soon?"

"Jace," said Jocelyn demurely, "if we draw too much attention to ourselves, someone is going to go to Valentine, and if someone goes to Valentine, we might as well not have come at all."

"I know that," said Jace, frustrated, "but I hate waiting to act. And all the time we're out here, Clary is somewhere with Valentine."

"More the reason to take our time," she answered. "He doesn't expect us till almost dinner. Coming back early to take Clary will only arouse suspicion."

Jace frowned but didn't disagree; he just didn't enjoy leaving Clary alone with her father and Jonathan for company. "How much longer, then?"

Jocelyn shot him a warning look, but he saw her gaze soften and knew she too was thinking of Clary. "We'll go once we finish up here. It shouldn't take more than five minutes."

When the owner of the store returned with the box tied in a tight gold ribbon. She handed it to Jocelyn with quick smile at Jace. "Try not to eat them all tonight," she warned him playfully.

"I'll do my best," said Jace with an empty, winning smile, and then snatched up the box and turned for the door.

Once they were outside, Jocelyn gave him a reprising look. "You really should try to remember who the enemy is; no need to flaunt your bad temper to everyone."

"It's not everyone," said Jace and then winked at her.

Jocelyn laughed and led the way through the city up toward the Gard. As they approached, they received a few uncertain looks, but mostly due to the fact it was Valentine's wife who was before them. As they drew up to the entrance to the Gard, Jocelyn pulled Jace closer to her.

"Let me talk, alright?" she told him sharply.

At the entrance to the Gard, two armed men stood at attention, their faces impassive. As Jocelyn drew up to them, they shared an unsure look, wondering what the wife of their leader was doing here. When she stood before them, she took Jace's collar and pushed him before her. Her face was rather harsh and lined with anger.

"I'd like entrance to the Gard and the prison ward below," she said without preamble. "I've just heard from my future son-in-law the most atrocious things. He needs to see what happens to those who challenge the authority of Valentine. Even if they are part of our family."

Damn, she's good, Jace thought while Jocelyn cast him a very dark look.

"Ma'am, as much as I'd like to grant you entrance-"

"Then stop talking and do it," answered Jocelyn smartly. "I'm quite sure Valentine will not hold you accountable for my orders. Now, let us through." The men looked like they wanted to argue, but Jocelyn cast them a superior look, and said, "Now."

No wonder Valentine liked her, thought Jace at the icy silence that followed her pronouncement. She's as strong-minded as him.

"Yes, ma'am," said the other solider, and opened the door for their entrance. They both bowed Jace and Jocelyn through into the Gard and the prison ward below.

Luke

"Simon, drink it," Luke urged, thrusting his arm into Simon's face again. The young vampire cast Luke's arm a fearful look, like it were going to come alive and throttle him, and then pressed back against the wall. "Simon, you need to eat."

"Not this again," he said weakly, though every fiber in his being was begging for him to feed. "I've had your blood once, Luke, and I won't have it again."

The memory was still too fresh in both their minds for either to forget, but it hardly seemed to bother Luke. He saw just how pale and translucent Simon's skin was, saw the blue veins beneath the thin skin; Simon needed to feed again, whether he wanted to or not.

"Simon, it's been almost a week since last time," Luke urged, "you can't go on like this."

"They'll bring-"

"No one is bringing you blood, Simon," Magnus snapped from his place opposite them. "Don't you understand that now? Valentine doesn't need you anymore, he doesn't care if you live or die, he won't feed you anymore."

Simon looked surreptitiously to Luke, who nodded firmly. "But, then you'll die."

"I didn't last time, so how about we try again." Luke held out his arm once more. "Just a little, Simon, that's all you need."

"Who's to say that Valentine won't need me anymore?"

"Oh, he'll need you," came an annoyingly superior voice, a voice Simon had almost forgotten. "But, by the time he figures that out, you'll be long gone."

Simon, Luke, and Magnus all turned to face the sound of the voice and saw, through the small window in their door, the familiar gold head of Jace Lightwood. "Jace?" Luke asked at once, standing to see him properly. "Jace, what are you doing here?" If Valentine knows you're here he'll kill you.

"Oh, thought I'd come for a stroll, see how the old gang is-"

"Jace, don't be an ass, we haven't got the time."

Jocelyn, thought Luke at the sound of her tired voice. "Jocelyn?"

"Luke," came her answer, but it sounded far away.

"She can't see you, she's keeping watch," Jace said quickly. "You get to deal with me instead."

"A joy, I'm sure," muttered Magnus, but he was smiling all the same.

"So, you three about ready to blow this joint, or did you like the décor of the place?" Jace asked, catching Luke's eye.

"We're open to suggestions," Luke said evenly.

"Good," Jace answered, his eyes gleaming. "Clary designed a rune, an opening rune, and I'm going to show you how to make it. Tonight, after the guard comes down to check on you, use it, and get out."

Magnus was on his feet now, looking quite alive. "Why not now?"

"It's the middle of the day, and Alec's in school," Jace said simply. "Luke, you know where Malachi lives, don't you?"

"Yes," he said after a beat, thinking fast.

"Good. Valentine stuck the Lightwoods there, and they're breaking out tonight to join us," Jace said in an undertone. "You can meet them there, get some weapons, then come to Valentine's house. We'll be waiting."

"You've been busy," Luke said with a grin as Jace passed a stele and the drawing of the rune Clary had designed through the bars.

"Well, I guess that was Valentine's mistake, wasn't it?" Jace asked, catching their eyes. "Giving me all that free time?"

Alec

If tension had a taste, it would be this, Alec thought as he chewed on a piece of dry pork chop. Thick and unwilling to break.

"If you're not going to eat your food, Alexander, then I won't allow you to join us anymore," Malachi said over the table to Alec. "I don't have to serve you the best we have here."

"Yes, you do," snapped Isabelle, between the two of them. Alec smiled at her and Malachi gave her a furious, contained look that said he was going to speak with her about it. Isabelle graced him with one of her most charming little smiles

"I believe this is my home, Ms. Isabelle, and as such, I can choose what goes on in it," he returned with an unfriendly grimace.

"If you marry me, it's my house too," said Isabelle with a turn of her head, and then engaged Alec in conversation before Malachi could reprimand her. "But you really should drink some of the wine, it's quite good."

"I'm sure it is," Alec agreed, and the two took a drink, sharing a secret look. Malachi had rolled his eyes and returned to his food, and Alec lowered his voice. "Do you think it's all worked right?"

"Well, no one has stormed in, arresting us yet, have they?" asked Isabelle, chewing her food thoughtfully. "I'm not sure when they'll be here, but I'm sure they haven't been caught."

"Do you know where Malachi keeps all his weapons?" asked Alec. "We'll need all of them, even just to escape the city."

"Yes," said Isabelle, with an air of one tired of worrying. "Yes, don't worry."

How can I not worry? Alec wondered, amused. We've planned an escape under the very nose of Valentine, with his wife and children, and are waiting on the aid of a warlock, werewolf, and vampire. It's not the sort of thing someone does normally. For a moment, Alec had a vision of Jace, and found himself smiling just a little. Well, almost no one.

"Let's just save the celebrating for after we escape," Alec suggested, and then bowed his head to finish his food.

The dinner ended quickly, with Malachi telling Alec to go back up to the attic to finish his studies and Isabelle to go to the kitchen and help Myra with the plates and cleaning. He stood before them, looking like a lord ruling over his lands and people, and smirked at Isabelle's protest.

"It's best you learn now," he said, "I want us to keep a clean household once we're married."

Probably shouldn't push her like that, Alec observed, seeing Isabelle's fingers twitch with the desire to hold a weapon. Might not turn out quite how you plan for it to.

"I'll be in my study, should either of you need me," Malachi said with finality, and then turned and left them to stare at the table covered in dishes.

"I'll help," Alec sighed, and began balancing plates on his arms carefully.

The two took the stairs to the basement kitchen slowly, and found Myra and Archer waiting for them, looking expectant. When they had both put the plates down and taken in their surroundings they found that Myra was standing with a dark face and her hands on her hips. For a moment, both looked at her blankly, then Isabelle smiled sweetly and dipped her a very elegant curtsy.

"Yes, Myra?"

"We have company," she said thickly. "Or, should I say, you have company?"

"What do you-"

"A warlock!" Archer cried, jumping up. "And a werewolf and a vampire!"

Magnus, Alec thought at once, his eyes moving to the shadows of the kitchen.

"When exactly were you planning on telling me that you had invited some Downworlders into this house?" she asked slowly.

"Slipped my mind," Isabelle said, trying to look innocent. "Can we see them?"

"Can you see them?" Myra crowed. "Of course you can see them, see them right out!"

"That's the plan," said Alec cheerily. "Them and us too. We're all leaving."

"What?" Myra asked, holding her son close. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that they're here get us out, and we're running away," Isabelle returned. "You didn't really expect me to sit here and let Malachi marry me?"

"You're bound to his will-"

"Not," said Alec kindly, "anymore. Clary's pretty good with runes. I'm assuming her father never knew that."

"Clary?" piped up Archer. "Who's Clary?"

Isabelle winked at him. "Valentine's daughter."

"Are you-are you free?" gasped Myra, her eyes searching over Isabelle like she was some new species. "Are you not bound to Valentine anymore?"

"Neither Valentine nor Malachi," she said with her eyes flashing. "We're running away, and when we come back, we're going to tear Valentine's Clave apart."

"Impossible," whispered Myra, stopping Archer from running to Isabelle. "His power is absolute."

"Not as absolute as he thinks," Alec returned. "Myra, come with us. We're all leaving tonight, us, Clary and Jace, even Valentine's wife. We're leaving to raise an army to help us fight Valentine. Come with us."

"It's hopeless," Myra said with a sad look. "You don't see it now, because you're young and so full of hope, but this just can't work. Then where will you be? You'll be killed, if you're lucky. If not, he'll send you right back here, and he'll make sure you don't escape."

"That's something worth fighting for," Alec said passionately. "I'd rather die than live like this, and if I die fighting for my freedom, better for me."

Myra looked between the two of them, holding her son tight against her, and her eyes fell. "I can't. I can't risk my son, not for something like this."

"Myra-"

She held up a hand. "I won't stop you, but I won't join you. Take your friends and do as you must, but I will stay out of this."

Isabelle's eyes dropped to Archer, the little boy who had taken Max's place in her heart for a time, and it hurt all over again. Like someone was taking Max from her once more. She ground her teeth and turned to her brother, to the only other person in the world it seemed who could understand her.

"If it's your choice, Myra, we'll leave you," Alec said when it was apparent Isabelle couldn't bring herself to speak. "But when we come back, we'll come for you. We'll help you."

"You will have to do as you see fit," she said softly, and her eyes were on Isabelle. "I'm glad I met you, even if it was due to such horrible circumstances."

"Me too," she answered, but already her mind was stirring and her hands were burning for a weapon.

"They're through there," Myra pointed to the cellar.

Alec rushed past, throwing open the door, and his first sight was Magnus, his face aglow with the blue light he was producing from his palm. The moment the warlock saw Alec, his flame flickered, but his eyes widened and a burning glow seemed to emit from them.

"Magnus, I…"

"Am here to let you out?" Magnus answered with a curve of the lip. "It's about time too Alexander. Do you know it smells like raw meat in here?"

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Well, it's certainly suiting Simon," Magnus chuckled, and then raised his palm and the light fell on Luke, who was prowling in the corner and Simon, who had helped himself to some blood from a hunk of cold beef. "Hasn't fed right in weeks."

"As soon as we're done here we'll get you something proper," said Isabelle joining them. "Come on, I'll show you the house."

"What a nice hostess," Magnus said darkly, and followed her out.

For Alec, it seemed that time was suddenly leaping forward in odd spurts. One moment, they were in the basement, Myra watching them rush past her with a face of stone, and Archer cheering after them. The next, they were upstairs, he, Magnus, Luke, and Simon tearing the weapon's room apart while Isabelle called Malachi down. Alec could remember the look on Malachi's face when he saw the destruction and the chaos and the Downworlders standing in his foyer. For a second, he stared at them blankly, and then Magnus threw a ball of flames at him, and the next second, he was running at them, avoiding the fire.

Isabelle was there, a dagger at the ready, and she caught the collar of Malachi's shirt with it, pinning him to the wall. Already, the fire from Magnus was spreading, and Malachi was screaming orders, surprised that Isabelle and Alec seemed unaffected by his demands. He was thrashing about, cursing them and threatening to call for Valentine. Isabelle just smiled her beautiful, dangerous smile, the one Alec had seen on her face right before she killed a demon.

"That's the plan," she said with relish, and struck him over the top of his head with the hilt of dagger before running off, Alec, Magnus, Luke, and Simon right behind her.