Chapter 50: Excitement and angst. I'm new at writing action scenes (aside from lemons haha) , so…yeah. Jon's a dick. I'm thinking there will be about ten more chapters… a lot of stuff is going to happen before then. Buckle-up.
I do not own any of the characters, only the illustrious Cassandra Clare owns them. I do, however, own this particular story, so please don't be lame and copy/paste it elsewhere.
Thank you for the follows, likes, and reviews! It really means a lot!
Previously: "She adores you so…and is suffering without you. Father, Aunt Amatis, and I all love you… and remember, my love, I will always find you."
One Week Later
Jace leaned against the bathroom counter and watched Clary finish braiding her hair. He felt a stab of nervousness uncoil in his gut. Today was the day. They were going to the airport, where they would try to get past security and fly to London, then to New York. Jace had spoken to Maryse and Alec earlier in the week. He found that Maryse had been coordinating with Will's superiors in British Intelligence and the New York FBI. They had absolutely no doubt that Jace did not kidnap Clary and had no intention of arresting him, which made him feel a little better. The only place either of them were in danger was Idris. We need to get the fuck out of this country. Once in New York, Clary, a US citizen, could file a protection order against Jonathan. Then, just as her mother had, she would file for divorce. When she's okay and free, I'll propose to her… and keep her safe for the rest of our lives.
At least that evil bastard Valentine was dead. One less Morgenstern. That had been the only news that seemed to make Clary feel better this past week. The news story that Valentine Morgenstern had died "peacefully in his sleep", of an apparent heart attack, had broken the day after the gala. In a television interview, Jonathan had indicated that they would wait to have his memorial until his beautiful bride Clarissa was found and returned home to him. Don't hold your breath, fuckface.
Clary told Jace that she was sure Jonathan had killed Valentine because of what the creep tried to do to her. She told him that the Morgensterns controlled the Idrian media and were always spinning their public image. I can't let them swallow her. He watched her smooth back a few loose curls and secure them with jeweled hair pins that she had worn to the gala. She had been annoyed to have to wear them again, but didn't have any other option with the limited hair accessories at the safe house. Tessa had instructed Clary to wear her hair in a tight braid that can be tucked in her coat. Her thick red curls were a dead giveaway to her identity, and would definitely get them made at the airport. They hadn't dared to venture out to buy hair dye because of the constant news coverage of Clary's "kidnapping". So Tessa had instructed her to hide it as much as possible. The weather had been cold this week, so disguises were easier to accomplish.
Clary put on a black cable knit headband, covering the front of her hair (and the hairpins) and wore a gray turtleneck sweater, fleece leggings, with black knee-high boots. Clary stood back from the mirror and held her arms out. "Well, babe? Do you think I will blend in now?" Jace smirked at her and looked her up and down. There is no way in hell this beautiful woman could ever blend in. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips. "Mmm, yes. You look like a hot little college coed, traipsing across Europe." She giggled and walked to the living room. Jace swiped his golden hair back under a gray ski hat and followed her. Jace had quickly allowed Clary to call Simon and Izzy the night before, using his secure phone. They had to be careful in case Jonathan was monitoring their New York friends, so the call had been short and sweet. Clary had tearfully ended the call and Jace held and soothed her the rest of the night, assuring her they would see them soon.
Will, Jem, and Tessa had not joined them at the safe house all week, fearing they would be followed, so all communications had been via Zoom or phone. The plan had been carefully laid out the night before. Per Will's spy at Morgenstern Manor, Amatis was still being held and was not being harmed, which had greatly relieved Clary. He told them that Jonathan and his security detail planned to expand their search further out into Idris, Brocelind Forest, and the plains. The safehouse, where Clary and Jace were hiding, was on the western side of Brocelind Forest, so was no longer secure enough. As such, this was the best time to head to Alicante airport to fly out using their fake credentials. Clary was still nervous about leaving Amatis and Jace knew he had to keep a good eye on her at the airport, if there was a confrontation. He wouldn't put it past her to trade herself for Amatis' freedom. She's so much like her father. Chief Garroway was brave and self-sacrificing too. He assured her that they would rescue Amatis, but as a civilian, she was not to be involved. She had fought him at first, but he eventually wore her down, asking her to leave it to the experts. They put on their coats and turned to each other. "Andrew's outside, Clary. It's time." She took a shaky breath and nodded up at him. She's scared.
Jace held Clary's face in his hands and kissed her lips, running his eyes over her face. He stroked his thumbs over her freckled cheeks and kissed her again. She slid her hands around his waist and returned his kisses. Her beautiful green eyes misted with tears as she gazed at him, as if trying to memorize his face. "Clary, if we get separated– if they find us, I need you to run. Use the phone I gave you and call Will or Tessa. Don't try to be the hero again, okay, sweetheart? If I– You get out of Idris, okay?" Clary gasped and pulled back, shaking her head. "Don't even think that. I won't leave you, Jace. I can't. I can't live without you. I love you, baby." Jace groaned and smashed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply and holding her tightly against him. Clary gripped the front of his coat and moaned when he pulled away and kissed her nose. "I love you too, Clary Fray. Let's go."
They walked outside and got in the back seat of the black SUV. Andrew gave the guy nod to Jace and handed him a black backpack. It would contain cash, credentials, clothes, snacks, water, and emergency weapons. "Hello, lovebirds. We should get to the airport in about two hours. Buckle up." Clary smiled at Andrew and thanked him, as they all fastened their seatbelts. Jace slid a knife into his boot and put his hand on Clary's thigh. He looked out the window at the cottage and watched it as they pulled away. He ran his hand over his side arm, beneath his coat and sighed. It was time to be vigilant. I have to get her out of here. Game on, Morgenstern.
Jonathan Morgenstern sat on their marriage bed and drank his blueberry breakfast smoothie. Her favorite. He liked to drink them with Clarissa after their workouts. He smiled, thinking about her prattling on about antioxidants and the wonders of kale. In her absence he'd had one everyday this week after his post-workout shower, trying to keep himself sane and positive. He missed her and was terrified that she had left Idris for good. He knew she was safe somewhere, that wasn't the problem. It was that she had left Jonathan to be… with him. Jace fucking Herondale. I should have killed him when I had the chance. We shouldn't have forced the marriage. She's too independent. Father should have let me handle wooing her, fixing things with her. Valentine had become obsessed, coveting his son's woman, until he had tried to take her from Jonathan. So, Jonathan had killed him. Oh well, now things will be done my way.
Jonathan had easily asserted his hold on his father's vast empire. His own merciless reputation preceding him hadn't hurt. Valentine's minions had practically tripped over themselves to ingratiate themselves with their new leader. There had even been a few minions who offered beautiful women to comfort him "during such a difficult time", obviously trying to garner favor with their new boss by dangling some whores in front of him. He had not taken kindly to the offers, fracturing one man's arm and another's skull… after reminding them that he was fucking married and no other woman would ever compare to his Clarissa. I will not womanize like my father. Jonathan reached his hand out and pulled her robe to his face, inhaling her scent. He had kept it in their bed with him, holding it at night when he couldn't sleep. I need her back. I have to touch her. See her. Smell her. Taste her. Have her… be inside of her again. Jonathan was jerked from his thoughts when his phone buzzed. "Yes… I'll be right there…" Jonathan jumped from his bed and hurried out the door. They got a reading on one of the tracers. It has to be her this time.
Jonathan leaned over the table, examining the large digital map, opening his new tracer app on his phone, and syncing them. Trent pointed to a road on the western side of Broceland Forest. "This is where our security team picked up the signal. They're heading continuously East, so probably to Alicante Airport. Wherever she's been hiding, must have had frequency jammers because we didn't get a bite until they were on the road. My guess is they were in some sort of tech-secured safehouse. I'm thinking she has the hairclips with her or something." Jonathan took a deep breath and put his hand on his bodyguard's shoulder. "Great work, Trent. I don't want her to make it to the airport… let's keep the publicity to a minimum. They'll have to take the high frontage road along the bluff by Lake Lyn… the other route is still closed and washed out from the Great Thaw. Get a team waiting ahead of them and block the road. We'll come up behind them, so they can't retreat. Remember, she is not to be harmed. As for the other's, kill them all… no loose ends." Jonathan pulled his leather coat on, snapped his gun into his shoulder holster, and slid a knife into his boot. I'm coming, love.
Clary startled awake, when she felt Jace shake her. It was now dark out and Andrew was driving very fast, talking quickly on his headset. She looked out the window and could see they were driving alongside a small bluff next to Lake Lyn. "Clary baby, wake up. Will just called– his inside guy told him that they've been told by Jonathan's private security team to expect you back sometime tonight and tighten the security parameters. Will's team is on their way to help us, if necessary. He said that Jonathan and his thugs left rather quickly, wearing tactical gear." Clary's heart started pounding. Oh shit. He's coming. "We have to prepare to run and fight, if necessary. If we have to leave the truck, you stick directly with me and do as I say, okay baby?" Clary looked over at him in the dim backseat and nodded. "I got it, Jace. Stick with you." Oh fuck. Jace took a long look at her and reached into his backpack, pulling out a small handgun. "Chief taught you how to shoot, right? I used to see you at the range with him…" Clary furrowed her brows and took the gun from him. "Yes… I can handle this little one. I just don't want to have to use it." She checked the clip and safety, then slipped it in her interior pocket.
Bright lights illuminated the back of Andrew's head and Clary looked back. She began to tremble, spotting multiple vehicles in the distance, following them. It's him. Jonathan. Jace took her hand, gave her a reassuring smile, and opened his mouth to speak when Andrew slammed on the breaks. "Fuck! Spike strips… Hold on–" Clary heard a deafening pop, like a gunshot and screamed. The tires blew… we're going too fast. Suddenly everything seemed wrong. Clary felt weightless then was thrown against her seatbelt, then left, then right, she saw their bags fly around the cab of the truck and heard Jace yell something at her. Then glass shattered around her and she hit her head and saw blood… then everything stilled.
Clary smelled blood, mud, and burning rubber. Where's Jace? She opened her eyes and saw that she was staring at the ceiling of the SUV, her arms and legs hanging below her. We're upside down. What happened? There were bright lights shining through her side of the SUV. Headlights? The right side of her head throbbed and there was blood dripping down to the ceiling. I cut my head. We flipped over and rolled. I'm alive. She looked to her left and saw Jace unconscious, hanging beside her. She reached out and grabbed his wrist, feeling for a pulse. It was strong and his hand was warm. Thank god. She looked towards the front seat and could see Andrew moving a little and moaning in pain. We have to get out of here. Clary's head began to pound and her vision blurred. I'm going to pass out. I have to help Jace and Andrew.
Clary fumbled with her seatbelt and pressed the release, falling down onto the ceiling facedown, she screamed when she tried to push herself up, her right arm buckled. Fuck. My arm is broken… maybe my ribs too. Clary's vision went black for a second and she was overcome with pain and dizziness, finding it hard to breathe. Concussion. Clary's eyes flew wide when she heard the distinct sound of glass crunching beneath boots. Clary turned her head and looked out the window to see a familiar pair of combat boots walking towards the truck. No. Run. She turned to look up at Jace and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. He looked peaceful and was breathing steadily, no signs of trauma. She reached her good hand up and brushed his fingers and whispered. "I love you, Jace. I'll c-come back to you…" Clary clutched her broken arm to her chest and crawled from the wreckage, crying out as she realized her right ankle may be broken as well. You have to get away. She closed her eyes tight and tried to stand, grunting in pain and dizziness again. Unable to get away, she laid down on her back, her chest quivering as she sobbed. Not again. Not again.
She heard the boots speed up and stop next to her. He didn't move for a few seconds. Clary kept her eyes closed as she cried, cradling her broken arm against her chest. She heard him squat down next to her and felt a gentle caress on her cheek. "Clarissa," He cooed, "I told you. I will always find you." Clary opened her eyes and looked up into the insane black vortex of her husband's eyes. They glittered angrily as he looked her over, then he sighed heavily. Sliding his arms beneath her, he slowly rose, obviously trying not to hurt her. "No. Please– let me go home. Please, Jonathan… just let me go." Clary began to sob again as he started to walk towards the wreckage when he jerked to a halt. Clary cried out in pain as her injuries were jostled. Swallowing she looked ahead of them, down the road. There were several SUV's racing towards them. Will fucking Herondale. Clary started to struggle, trying to get out of Jonathan's arms. "Help! Will—" He squeezed her tightly against his chest and Clary screamed in pain. He hoisted her higher in his arms as he hurried to his team's vans behind the spike strips. The SUV's wouldn't be able to cross them, which meant she was fucked. Clary cried out when her broken ankle twisted, as he pushed her in the van. Jonathan climbed in behind her ordering the driver to hurry. He gently fastened her seatbelt and turned her face to examine her head wound. He took off her head band, folded it and pressed it on the wound. "Don't you understand, Clarissa. This is home. We're going home. You are fucking mine. It's time you embraced that." Violently shaking her head, Clary felt another wave of dizziness, black spots overtaking her vision. She slowly turned to him and vomited on the front of his coat, her head spinning from the concussion. "Never… Fuck you, Sebastian…" she mumbled before passing out.