Warning: Brief descriptions may be too graphic for some readers.

Song Suggestion: Hurts Like Hell by Fleurie

KILORN

It was quick.

If there was any pain, it lasted for only an instant.

She died for what she believed in.

I repeat the words over and over in my head. All were meant to bring some level of comfort. But all it did was feed into bitterness I thought broke away months ago.

They were found together. That part hurt the most. I kept that part a secret. Of course, Mare had to confront Maven one last time. She couldn't swallow the pride to just let him die alone. No, she had to kill him herself. But I can't tell her family that.

Telling Gisa was difficult, to say the least. She had such a bright smile just before I quite possibly wiped it away forever with two words.

She's gone.

Telling her parents was worse. Seeing two people, who basically took me into their family and then telling them they just lost another child. I watched as Mare's mother crumpled to the ground. I had barely enough time to catch her before she hit the floor. I lead her to the couch where she cried for hours until she fell asleep with Gisa in her arms. But even then tears escaped from her closed lids. Bree and Tramy came in a few hours before dawn. Based on the looks on their faces they knew, probably got the news in Harbor Bay. Which means Cal did too.

The brothers say nothing when they enter the house. Their mother wakes when they come in, but she says nothing. Instead, she releases her hold on Gisa, trading her over to Tramy, careful not to wake her.

It becomes too much and I stand and leave the living room. But instead of taking my spot on the large chair, Bree sits down on the floor, his back against the couch, and takes his mother's hand. Together, all three watch as Gisa sleeps. She's now the only sister and daughter they have left.

But Gisa is not the only one sleeping in the house. I make my way upstairs to the one room where I know I'll find Mare's father.

The nursery is the smallest room in the house, but it is still grand. It's twice the size of any bedroom back in the stilts. And it's actually the only room in the house with real decoration.

Just before Maven betrayed us, when Shade went to collect the Barrow's, he had taken the flag from their porch along with pictures. Those same photos decorate this room now. Most of them were taken before Bree was conscripted. But only one stands out to me now. It was taken three summers ago.

I was sixteen, Shade was seventeen and Mare was fifteen. I remember it as one of the best days of my life.

I had just finished up my day on the river early. And per her usual Mare had skipped school. Shade was prowling around town, I think he had broken with his girlfriend at the time. It was nothing serious, they never were, and the following week he had moved on to someone new.

Mare's hair was in two braids, to compensate for the heat. Will Whistle had captured this particular moment, Mare and Shade trading in stolen goods for the day.

Our smiles brought on by a joke shade has made and still fresh when the picture was snapped. There was nothing really special about that day, it was more at spending time with the people I loved most.

"The three of you were quite the team." I turn from the picture to see Mare's father standing over the crib that holds sleeping Clara.

I look down at my feet, not wanting to look into his eyes just yet. There's something heartrending about seeing a man who's lost, not one, but two children.

"Yes, we were," I mutter.

And now I'm the only one left.

"There's something you're not telling me," he whispers.

My brow furrows, "I don't get your meaning."

It's then that I meet his eyes. It's insane how someone can age so much in such a short span of time.

"You said her body was found alone. We both know that's not true."

I look away and slump my shoulders, ashamed.

"How could I tell you that is was her pride that got her killed?"

"Pride…," he sighs.

"What?"

He puts his hands in his pockets and looks back down at Clara.

"I want you to tell me the rest."

"But-"

"I need to know. I promise I won't tell anyone else."

I swallow, hesitating.

"They were pretty sure it wasn't from the blast," I say "There was actually no evidence that fire or diamond glass even touched her."

He reaches down and hooks a finger through Clara's little first.

I continue. "Farley said there is no way of telling who did it for sure. Based on the wound on her chest, the weapon was long and flat, probably a sword, mercilessly jabbed through the heart. Killing-" I struggle to swallow. "Killing her almost instantaneously."

"Almost" he whispers.

I can only nod. "From there...," The tears come again. I try to blink them away, I certainly do. But I haven't even described the worst of it. "They're sure of one thing. They know it wasn't Maven. It couldn't be. There was very little blood on his hands. Too little for-for…" My breath catches.

"Just say it, Kilorn."

"They found their bodies, but they didn't find her heart."

I threw up when Farley described it over the radio system. She didn't want to tell me either. But I made her and I wish I hadn't. "Whoever did it wasn't finished when they killed her. Farley said there was a large wound on her back. The killer had ripped her heart out."

He says nothing to this. Instead, he turns to me and quickly I try to wipe away the tears and calm my breathing. But it's impossible.

Then with a sudden and shocking amount of strength, he pulls me to him. His embrace is strange and unfamiliar, but comforting all the same. And he knows why.

"You are not alone, Kilorn. You'll always be family."

I cling to him for who knows how long. I feel just like he says.

I've lost so many people. My parents, Shade, but Mare...my best friend. I loved her in every way possible. Friendship doesn't even begin to describe what we had. We've been linked since the day we met. How am I supposed to move on from this?

They ripped Mare's heart out, but they might have well taken mine.

ANALYSIS

Okay before anyone starts yelling at me...hear me out. Please, I implore you to keep reading. Remember when I said I have a plan?

Let me rip off the band-aid by saying, yes Maven is dead. And yes, Mare is dead. Sorry. But I'm not heartless, (Sorry for the pun, but Cal has influenced me) I cried a little. Whereas Victoria Aveyard claims she has not once while writing the books.

Also, can I just say how well this title fit this chapter? All the chapter titles are song lyrics taken from the suggestions. Kilorn didn't want the family to know the details of Mare's death. And may I remind you, there are a few things Daniel knew that no one else knew. Hence, him keeping vigil over baby Clara.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Moving on, Mare's death was necessary for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons we won't see until the sequel. Some will be seen before this is over. But I promise you the end is something I have a feeling many of you will like.

But my prime reason, my most important reason is something we all love to see...Character Development.

I know, I know, maybe that's not a good enough reason. But all I ask is you be patient with me and we will get through this together. Just please have faith in me. *begs on hands and knees*

From the beginning, I did have this planned. But it will pay off. I said before, I love characters hitting rock bottom because then that is when they will Rise,( Red as the dawn). For example, if anyone here doesn't like Cal (I still kind of don't) you will definitely like him when I'm done.

Besides, not to give a spoiler, from what I've seen, Victoria Aveyard always has another trick up her sleeve and who's to say I'm any different.

Also, let me know who you think killed Maven and Mare? The only hint I'll give you is it was only one person (Not Maven) and the murder weapon was a sword. If you paid attention to detail and think outside the box you'll figure it out. A quick riddle: Look for what you haven't seen.

Also, Chapter 44...well, I can't wait to write that one.

*winks*

PS: I also threw in a little foreshadowing wrapped inside a Shadowhunters allusion, hidden inside the song suggestion.