I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! This is the first time in about 5 years that I have written fanfiction, so I hope it's not that dreadful. Remember to review with insight on the story and things you liked/didn't like. Please ignore any inaccuracies in the Mortal Instruments world.
Clary dropped the sword, letting it skitter away from her. Jonathan's eyes followed it for a moment before resting upon his mother.
Jocelyn stood slowly, hastily wiping the tears from her face. Her eyes were puffy and red, but she smiled weakly.
Within the space of time it took to breathe Jocelyn closed the distance between herself and her son, wrapping him in her arms. Jonathan looked surprised at first and his arms draped around his mother awkwardly.
A pang of sadness washed through Clary. Sebastian hadn't been capable of love. He thought that domination was the key. He believed that forcing someone to admire you was love.
But now, Sebastian was gone, replaced by Jonathan. By the look on his face, Clary could tell that he was experiencing love for the first time. Real love, untainted by evil and darkness.
Clary felt a rush of warmth towards her mother. What was she feeling right now, as she embraced the son that had been denied to her all these years? Forced to accept that he was still the same person that had killed so many Shadowhunters and wreaked so much chaos, yet completely and utterly different?
"I hate to defile this beautiful moment, but the portal is closing," said Simon, his voice carrying over the strange scene.
Clary whipped around. The portal was indeed closing, fractures spreading across the image of Idris.
The group turned and raced for the portal. Alec and Magnus disappeared through it first, their hands intertwined. Luke and Isabelle went next, melting into the image. The room began to shake violently.
Clary hung back, watching Jonathan. Jocelyn had broken away from him, and it was obvious she was unsure of what she should do next.
"Go," said Jonathan firmly. "I'll stay. I won't cause you any more trouble."
Clary saw Jace nodding at this, though he looked uncomfortable all the same.
"Come on Clary," said Simon, looking uneasy. "It's what's right."
Clary glanced at her mother's face, seeing the look of incredible sadness. She had just gotten her son back, and she would have to lose him all over again.
"No," said Clary loudly, straining to be heard over the shaking and moaning of the room. "He's coming with us."
Simon and Jace both stared at her, appalled. Jocelyn brought her hand to her mouth, her eyes refilling with tears.
A chunk of the portal broke off and shattered against the floor.
"Now come on, we need to go!" yelled Clary.
She grabbed Simon and Jace both by the arm and hurled herself through the portal, trusting that her mother and Jonathan would follow close behind.
She felt a cool burst of air wash over her, and the world spun dizzyingly.
Clary stumbled to her knees, landing sprawled in a heap against Simon and Jace. Soft grass caressed her legs. She felt bruised all over, mentally and physically.
The air warped ahead of her and Jocelyn emerged, followed by Jonathan. The portal shimmered; revealing one last glimpse of the throne room filled with dead Dark Shadowhunters, before it collapsed in on itself and disappeared.
"Clary, you're crushing my lungs," said Jace softly, breaking the silence.
Clary muttered an apology and sat up. Jace wrapped his arms around her, encircling her in familiar warmth. He curled himself against her, burying his face in her hair.
"Did I do the right thing?" she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear her.
He exhaled, clearly uncertain. "We'll know soon enough," he replied, kissing her cheek gently.
"Would you have killed him?" she asked, letting him hold her. She had never felt more emotionally confused in her life.
"I don't know," he admitted.
There were groans from all around her as the group climbed to their feet. Clary glanced around at her friends and family. Luke wore a look of sadness, mourning the loss of his sister. Magnus and Alec leaned against each other, Magnus whispering something to Alec that made the younger boy's mouth crinkle into a small smile. Isabelle stood facing away from the group, Simon standing at her side awkwardly. Behind them Jonathan stood, looking unsure of himself, while Jocelyn still looked stunned by the return of her son.
Clary realized with a start that it was one thing to pardon Jonathan, but another completely to deal with the consequences. What would they do now? If Jonathan entered Alicante there would be panic. There was no way for Clary to convince everyone that Jonathan was different now. No one would believe her. Where was he supposed to go?
Jocelyn stepped forward. "We have to get Jonathan away from here," she said. "Someone will notice us eventually, and then there will be panic. Most likely we'll be arrested."
"When the gateway to this world was destroyed, it momentarily cut off the defenses of the city," said Jonathan. "For a few minutes we should be able to create a portal out of here."
Everyone looked to Magnus.
"Whoa there," he said, holding up his long-fingered hands. "I know you just had a moment back there, but how do we know that he isn't going to start his madness again once we get out of here?"
"He's not going to," said Clary firmly. How could she explain that she knew? It was more of a feeling deep in her gut, not something based on fact.
"Clary, if we bring him back to New York and he does something, it could be catastrophic," said Luke, his voice sounding hollow.
Jonathan stepped forward.
"I can't say anything to convince you that I changed," he said slowly. "You'll have to take my word for it. I deserve to have stayed in Edom to rot forever, but you chose to bring me here. I offered to let Clary kill me. If there's anything else I can do to prove it to you, I won't hesitate to do it."
There was a moment of tense silence.
"But we don't have much time," he finished. "So if you can make a portal, it's now or never."
Magnus's hands began to twirl and dance through the air, golden sparks lacing the air with energy. A doorway formed in front of him, gradually gaining depth.
It finished forming. It hung in the air, a gateway to swirling oblivion.
"Right this way," said Magnus stiffly. It was evident that he didn't believe Jonathan had really changed.
Simon and Isabelle disappeared through the portal, followed by Luke and Jocelyn. Alec said something to Magnus, who nodded, before he too disappeared. Jonathan went next, stepping through the gateway almost tentatively, as if unsure of what he would find on the other side.
Clary stepped up to the portal.
"Let us hope that you have made the right choice," said Magnus. There was no trace of humor in his voice, only seriousness. A chill rushed down her spine.
As she stepped through the portal, Jace close behind, she hoped with all her heart that she had made the right choice.
Otherwise, the consequences would be deadly.