Sorry this took a while, but I was in exam jail for a bit. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Thirty

Luke

"Do you have a map of Idris, specifically Alicante?" Luke asked Magnus early in the morning. "And fresh coffee?"

Magnus was slouched in a seat at the table, watching the sun rise over the city and the light glinting off the many windows. For a moment, he saw another city, a city of Glass, and he wondered vaguely how the city looked now and how the people of the city might be fairing that day. "Sorry, what?"

"A map and coffee," repeated Luke grimly, "do you have any?"

Magnus pointed his finger sharply at the coffee pot in his kitchen and the sound of steaming water and dribbling coffee filled the room. "I probably have a map of Alicante somewhere." He drifted over to the wall where a number of books were sequestered and began picking through them. When he found the one he wanted, he held it out wordlessly to Luke.

Luke spread the map out before him, scouring it. "Well, the best place would be to approach from the north gate, nearest to the first circle of the city. It will be better protected, but we'll be able to move faster to find Valentine."

Magnus flicked his gaze over the map. "You don't think Valentine will be expecting an attack like this?"

"How do you mean?" asked Luke in a hard voice. He had been racking his brain for a way to break into the city and rescue Jocelyn and Clary since they'd escaped. He had feared, naturally, that no matter what he did, it would be too late, and either Clary or Jocelyn, or both, would have come to a bad end, but he planned swift retribution and this seemed to be the only way he knew. "I don't think entering by the south gate would help us any."

Magnus knew what was on Luke's mind, and didn't begrudge him one bit, but he wasn't going to risk his own life for something like this. "I think coming by the gates either way will prove disastrous."

"Well, there's no other way into the city," Luke answered.

Magnus pointed to the part of the wall directly behind the town house Valentine had claimed. "If we break through the barrier here-"

"We can't break through the barrier," said Luke fiercely.

"Of course we can," Magnus said shortly. "Valentine took down the shields as soon as he'd vanquished the demons. Didn't you notice how easy it was for us to escape?" Luke opened his mouth, but then realized that Magnus had been right. "There might still be some sort of guard around the city, but not one as powerful as the wards."

Luke pressed his lips together; it would put Jocelyn in more danger if she were right at the sight of the attack. "Is there no other way?"

"None I can think of," said Magnus tiredly. "Not one that might yield such good results. We could end Valentine there if we just move fast enough."

"He's sure to have some sort of guard around him since our escape," Luke reasoned. "He might even have Jonathan with him."

The thought of Jonathan's presence seemed to unsettle Luke a bit, and he turned to look out at the city. The boy who would have been my godson. He had accepted quite a while ago that Jonathan was a monster, but some small part of him balked at the idea of murdering a young man. He also wondered quickly whether Jocelyn had any care for her son, or if she really had transferred all those feelings over to Jace.

"I think a group of us might be able to withstand him a bit," Magnus said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Alec and I could hold him up, or if I have a few werewolves with me."

Luke slouched over to the kitchen and poured himself a mug of steaming coffee and inhaled the scent. He felt his mind stir a bit, as if someone had lit a fire in his thoughts. "I think we'd only have to hold him off until we reached Valentine. He's bound to serve Valentine's will, and Valentine's no fool; if we can corner him, we can force his hand. He'll order Jonathan down if we threaten his life."

"The boy could still cut quite a path of destruction through us before we reach Valentine." Magnus helped himself to coffee as well, but he was still looking out over the city. "I'll look for him when we reach the city. How is the pack?"

Luke covered his face to stifle a yawn. "They are going to need a few weeks to recover. Many of them have been spread throughout the city, living on the fringes of society, and in hiding from Valentine's scouts. Most of them need food, medical attention, and a few nights of good, solid rest. They'll be ready for the fight though."

Magnus seemed uncertain and his gaze traveled across the room to where Alec, Isabelle, and Simon were passed out on his sofas. "They're not the only ones in need of some help. Are we going to let the Lightwoods in on this fight?"

"I don't see how we'll stop them," said Luke, though he didn't like the idea of Simon in the fray. "They were ready for a fight in Alicante, and I doubt they're going to let us stop them."

"I might have a few useful spells-"

"Don't bother, Magnus," said Luke, and he felt horrible saying it, but looked at them and added, "We could use them, their skill."

Magnus scrunched up his nose. "They're going to want revenge, and it might be hard to stop them seeking it against Jonathan."

Luke scratched his face. "We'll just have to keep an eye on them. Now, I'm taking a shower, my pack is coming over in an hour, and we should update them on the plan of attack."

Clary

Forced to watch from the bedroom window, while her father went about the manor house drawing a ring of binding runes, she could do nothing but beat her fists against the sill. The moment he had announced his intentions, Valentine had ordered them all to their room, like children, and then left to imprison them. He went slowly, taking his time and checking that the runes were binding, and when he was done, he stood looking down on them like he'd accomplished a great work.

"He can't do this, Jace, he can't." Clary didn't tear her eyes away from her father, but she could feel Jace moving about and then joining her. He sank down beside her to look out Valentine's work.

"It seems that he is."

Clary jerked about to look at him. "Aren't you angry?"

Jace chuckled. "Of course I am. I'm furious, but what can I do?" Jace looked on helplessly at Valentine's runes and shuddered. "We're bound to him, and now he's binding us here. I don't think he's done the runes wrong either."

"We're bound here with Jonathan," Clary pointed out rather bitterly.

"This is true." This, at least seemed to unsettle Jace, and he flicked his gaze at Valentine again, now looking calculating. "I'm sure he's not pleased with the new living arrangements."

Clary bit her lip. She remembered the way his dark eyes seemed to follow her, stripping off layer after layer of her, down to her soul. She shuddered as she recalled how he had attacked her in the house and held her down, running his hands over her; how long would it take now for him to turn on her? Mindlessly, she slipped her hand into Jace's a felt him squeeze tightly.

You've got Jace to keep Jonathan away, she reminded herself, but this was accompanied by the disturbing thought, But he could get hurt, and it would be your fault.

It wasn't just Clary that was trapped in the house with Jonathan, and she knew it. Before, Jonathan had ignored Jace because Jonathan had assumed he could go a few weeks and then leave, but now that he was faced with an infinity of just Clary and Jace for company, they were going to run into each other, and she felt sure that they would fight. It did little for her nerves to know that her brother and her fiancé would be at each other's throat.

Are you two even engaged anymore? Clary wondered, realizing that, since they would never be leaving the house, no one was going to care if they were married. Is everyone just going to forget I ever existed?

No, said a voice firmly. No, Luke and the Lightwoods were out there, and they were coming.

Valentine was coming back to the house and Clary felt something pulling her backward, tugging around her middle, dragging her back to her door and to the hall. She looked curiously at Jace, wondering if he felt it too, and he stood, shivering.

"It seems just calling for us is below Valentine now," Jace said bitterly. "We're being summoned by his will."

Clary allowed herself to stand and lurched toward the hall where she and Jace headed back down. They both stood in the entrance hall, wondering where Jonathan was and how he had managed to defy Valentine's will. Clearly, this thought was on Valentine's mind when he arrived and looked around, his eyes glinting ever so slightly. However, he managed to hide his annoyance and frown at Clary and Jace instead.

"You will find I have been more than generous with the land I have allowed you. You have up to the very end of the drive, and into the woods behind the manor. You have land to hunt-which you will have to because I'll only be coming once a month with supplies. There is the lake, the grasslands, and you have horses." He seemed rather pleased with his generosity. "Clarissa, I expect you to continue your lessons, though now it seems much less important that you complete them so soon."

Clary looked away bitterly. "I'll do my best."

"I'm glad to hear it." Valentine surveyed his daughter with the usual dislike. "As for you, Jace, since Jonathan will continue her lessons, you will be placed in charge of keeping the house in order. You'll have to hunt once your stores run low, and keep a running list of supplies you'll need. You should be pleased, you're practically the master of this manor."

Jace's lips curved into a smirk. "I'm thrilled."

Valentine straightened up and looked around again, undoubtedly looking for his son. "Jonathan!"

His cry was met with nothing but silence and Clary felt bitter respect that her brother had somehow managed to evade her father's command. He is part greater-demon, maybe he's not as bound by the runes as we are. The thought was a small beacon of hope, though she doubted whether her brother would help her even if he could escape.

"Jonathan, come here!"

This time, a door slammed above them and the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps sounded around them. Clary turned and saw her brother appear at the top of the steps, his face grim and his eyes narrowed. "You rang, Father?"

"I'd like you to come here, Jonathan. I need to speak to you."

For some reason, this made Jonathan laugh. "You need me at this very moment? I assure you that when you return next month I'll be here; I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm aware of that, but before I go I believe I must give you directions for the next month." Valentine watched while Jonathan came down the steps, and he seemed to be struggling as much as he could as he took the stairs.

"Well, don't tax me too much, Father, because I'll be so occupied with the goings-on at the manor that I might not have time to complete it." Jonathan smiled angelically. Even Clary was impressed by his blatant mocking of her father.

"I'll do my best," said Valentine with a sharp look. "You are to continue with Clarissa's education. I want my daughter to be shadowhunter one day."

Jonathan flushed. "You do it then."

"Jonathan," said Valentine, and there was something in his voice that made both Clary and Jace's knees quiver. He was trying to press his will on Jonathan and Clary and Jace were feelings the resulting power. "You are going to continue training your sister, and when I visit next month, she will demonstrate such skills to me and if I find her lacking, you will be held accountable."

This surprised Jonathan, whose eyes widened and cheeks flushed angrily. "Well, we can't have that, can we? The Angel only knows what my punishment will be then."

"I'm glad you see the seriousness of the situation," Valentine said carelessly, choosing to ignore Jonathan sarcasm. "Until next time, then."

As he turned to leave, the three stood in the entrance hall, bound by his will, and watched him mount his horse, turn about, and gallop off into the freedom beyond the manor lands. Once he'd passed beyond the gate, they felt their muscles relax and their bodies slouch. For a moment, they were quiet, and then Jonathan turned on Clary and Jace.

"Well, what are you two still doing here?" He looked downright furious. "Hasn't Valentine given you something useless to do?"

"You're supposed to be training me," Clary said dryly.

This only seemed to infuriate Jonathan more, because his eyes flashed and his hand snapped across her face. Clary tumbled but Jace caught her and swung her up. "What's your problem?" Clary demanded.

"This place is my problem, this place and being stuck in it with two is my problem!" Jonathan drew a threatening step closer his hand raised, but Jace placed himself nearer to Clary, and he seemed to check at the sight of his parabatai. "I spent my childhood trapped in the country, and now I'll spend the rest of my life there? No, no…" Jonathan's hand dropped and he became oddly resigned, thoughtful. "Not me, I won't stay…" His gaze flicked to them, unseeing. "Just go make sure there's a dinner ready for me."

With that, Jonathan turned and took the stairs two at a time, his head bowed. Clary watched him go feel completely confused at his swiftly shifting emotions and looked to Jace, who seemed very white. He met her eyes but couldn't hold her gaze, and looked down instead, unable to face his parabatai's distress.

"What is it?" Clary asked at once, leading Jace back into the small sitting room and placing him on a couch. "It's about Jonathan, isn't it?"

Jace covered his face with his hands, thinking. "He's very…willful, more than I think Valentine knows."

Clary thought of her father's angry face when Jonathan refused to come down. "How? I thought we were all bound to Valentine's will through the runes."

Jace shrugged. "I haven't the slightest clue, but maybe…maybe it's something to do with the fact that he's part demon. Runes don't affect them the same way they do us."

"I thought runes hurt them," Clary asked quizzically.

"It's not that it's hurts them," Jace said, "it's the power of the Angel that burns them. If you were to mark a demon with a healing a rune, it wouldn't do anything to it. Maybe Jonathan has a way of-of closing off his human side. The side that is affected by rune power."

Clary sank down beside Jace. "If there's true than he's a demon, isn't he? If he's shutting off his human nature, all that's left it the demon, right?" Even before Clary had asked it, she knew she should have guessed just by the look in Jace's eyes; they were haunted, cold.

Tied to a demon, Clary thought with horrible realization. His parabatai is a demon.

"That's what I thought," he said in a soft voice.

"He might hurt us," Clary murmured, her face still smarting from his hand.

"I don't think so," Jace said, and his hand brushed her cheek as if he guessed what she was feeling. "I mean, he might hit us or something, but I don't think he'd ever do any serious damage. He hasn't hurt me yet, in fact, he stopped just now."

"Has it got anything to do with the bond?"

Jace chuckled darkly. "It never stopped him before, but maybe it's his demon instincts kicking in. He recognizes the bond we share, regardless of the fact that I'm part angel, and responds accordingly. Demons don't tend to hurt each other without provocation, maybe he thinks I'm his ally or something."

Clary drew her legs up to curl against his side. "If Jonathan can break out somehow, if he can escape the rune ring Valentine put up, do you think he'd take us with him?"

Jace considered Clary a moment, and then thought of Jonathan, who had looked on them with burning hatred. "No, no he won't hurt us, but I doubt he'd ever help us. If anything, I'd be a bit more concerned if Jonathan could break free. He'd probably go after Valentine, and I doubt Valentine's got it in him to kill Jonathan."

"Maybe we'd get lucky and they'd finish each other off," Clary suggested.

"Or, more likely, Jonathan would kill Valentine and put himself in power." Jace bit his lip. "I think I'd take Valentine any day."

Jocelyn

"I've been waiting, Jocelyn. I thought you might have been wondering where I went."

Jocelyn lifted her gaze from the book she had been reading slowly, taking her time and forcing Valentine to wait on her longer. He was standing in the door to their bedroom, dressed in his riding gear, his hands on his hips and his eyes resting on her perfect, upturned face. He raised one eyebrow questioningly and she smiled ironically.

"I believe I know where you went, Valentine." She carefully marked her place in the book and placed it upon the table so he could see what she had been reading: A Brief Genealogy of Prominent Families. It was probably the dullest thing she had ever opened, but she knew Valentine would have placed her children in a country manor house that belonged to one of these families Even if Valentine didn't like them, even if he found them an awful reminder of his past crimes, Valentine would want the best of everything now that he could have it. I'm going to find where you locked them up; you might have forbidden me to mention them, but you didn't forbid me to go looking.

"Did you?" Valentine entered the room, his gaze lingering on the book only a moment. He didn't know what she was doing with it. "I left while you were still asleep. I didn't think you could have guessed."

Jocelyn looked away from him. "I am no fool, Valentine."

He sat across from her, staring at her face hungrily. "I never thought you to be one."

He was teasing her and she knew it. Valentine had forbidden Jocelyn mentioning her children, and so she couldn't say he had gone to see them. "I assumed you were dealing with personal business."

"Personal indeed." He reached toward the table between them and plucked up a bottle of aged bourbon and a tumbler. As he poured, he said casually, "I am happy to say I was most pleased with the situation. It went quite as well as I'd hoped. Would you care for a glass, my dear?"

Jocelyn eyed the drink and took it, sipping it delicately. "Then I must be happy for you." Jocelyn knew the part of her that Valentine loved the most was that hard, determined, rebellious nature, and she had now taken to being so uninteresting as to make him leave her alone. If you can tease me, I can be dull and boring in return.

"Happy?" Valentine watched her, wanting her to say something, anything, that he might draw her into conversation. "You seem indifferent to it."

Here Jocelyn smiled viciously. "I must be indifferent, as you wished."

"I did not wish you to die before me," he said darkly, almost in a grouchy manner.

Jocelyn laughed as if he'd never been more amusing. "What did you expect of me, taking away my things? You keep me locked in this house with no one for company by the books. I would like more to my life than these empty halls."

"I would be glad to give you more."

Damn, thought Jocelyn quickly, having allowed Valentine an in. "I think you give me quite enough."

"My dear, perhaps I would like more." His eyes now were glimmering, feeling victorious from his recent work at the manor house, he now felt quite ready for another battle with Jocelyn. "You have promised me more, as you recall, because we must have more."

Jocelyn shivered, biting her lip. "I'm not interested at the moment in building that future at the moment."

"It's not your choice," Valentine said simply. "I have most certainly done as you asked, and now I expect some return."

Jocelyn took a long swill of her drink and pretended he had not spoken. "You look tired. Perhaps you ought to eat."

"Perhaps you should have waited for me so we could dine together," he said with a smirk.

"I did not know how long you would be gone, and I wasn't going to starve myself waiting on your return." Jocelyn finished the drink and stood. "However, I will go and make something-"

"Unnecessary," said Valentine, standing and looking down on her. "I'll be able to help myself to something tonight. You are right, though, I am tired, and might retire to bed."

Jocelyn stepped aside. "Then go."

"Come with me."

It was an official order and Jocelyn felt something constrict around her wrists and ankles, holding her there. She tried to test her will against Valentine's but he was pressing down on her and she felt her knees trembling. Finally, with a great sigh, she looked away from him, waiting for him to say something else.

"Jocelyn, I would like you to join me," he said kindly, but she knew he was taunting her.

"I know you would," she said emptily, and her mind returned to that conversation she had had months ago with Luke, locked in his cell. He had told her to do anything to protect Clary, but had he envisioned this as anything? "Wouldn't you prefer me to get you food?"

"No, not really," he said, and his hand found her chin and lifted her gaze up to his. She saw that his eyes were dark with some memory. "I have given you everything I can Jocelyn, allowed you everything, and yet you turn from me as if I was some monster. I don't know anymore what there is I can do, and, frankly, I'm tired of trying."

"I think you know what you've done," she said in a hard voice.

"I know I've spared your precious…feelings." His fingers constricted on her chin and Jocelyn ground her teeth together at the pain. "I think it's about time you ended this game."

Jocelyn allowed Valentine to lead her over to the bed they shared and she sank onto it, still looking at him with empty, cold eyes. He sat beside her but she didn't move. "I'll make you pay for this."

"I look forward to it," said Valentine pleasantly, happy that he had evoked some emotion in Jocelyn. "I'm getting quite tired of this dull, little wife I've been stuck with."

"You don't have to be stuck with me," she said, and Valentine kissed her. She remained still, but his hand curled in her hair, tugging on her scalp, and she gasped sharply. "You might as well banish me from Alicante. I'm hardly a shadowhunter anymore."

"You're still my wife, and I don't like losing the things that are mine," he murmured against her neck, and she fell back onto the bed when he pushed her. He continued kissing her, but added, rather ironically, "And besides, am I to understand that if I banished you, you would simply go back into hiding and pretend the shadow world didn't exist? You wouldn't go looking for that half-breed Lucian and seek to supplant me?"

"Whether we sought to supplant you or not," said Jocelyn, cringing at the feel of his hands on her hips, "I'd still go looking for Lucian."

Valentine's breath hissed and he sat up so he could look down on her smug face. "How can you say that? It's a disgrace, the union of a shadowhunter and animal."

"You really are that jealous of him?" she asked with a light in her eyes.

She felt his fingers dig into her hips and one of his legs slide between her own. She frowned and he laughed at her helplessness. "I'm not especially jealous seeing as I've still got you and I'll soon have his head."

Jocelyn bit back any sharp reply when Valentine bowed his head again, returned to kissing her neck, and allowed his hands to explore her waist, her shoulders, her body. He was using much more force than necessary, and Jocelyn occasionally felt sharp stabs of pain when his hand squeezed too tight or his teeth broke her skin. When he sat up again, this time to unbutton his shirt and toss it aside, and grinned up at him mercilessly.

"Maybe he'll soon have yours."