Chapter 56: The Escape is nigh. Remember the rating is MA.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: gun violence, physical violence

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.

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Previously: "Clary shook her long crimson hair back over her shoulders, her shapely left leg peeked from the slit in her dress, she sniffed and blinked her tears away, and her arms shook as she took the safety off and cocked the gun in her left hand. "Nobody fucking move."

Clary took a step back to get her bearings as she held the gun, leveling it straight at Jonathan. Personally, she hated guns. But, her dad wanted her to know how to use one, so they had met once a week at the shooting range, since she was sixteen. Thanks, Dad. Trent, Brian, Pangborn and Jonathan kept their hands up. Jonathan took a small step towards her and she narrowed her eyes. She cleared her throat and glared at them. "Back up by the staircase, boys. That means you too, dear." Jonathan smirked at her and walked backwards, staring intently at her, as his minions followed suit. "Of course, my love. Your wish is my command…" Clary shivered at his voice and avoided making direct eye contact with Jonathan. She felt vulnerable with him in such close proximity. He can't hurt you now. You're almost free.

Jace stood up, his hands still cuffed behind his back, and glared at him. "Don't fucking speak to her, Morgenstern." Jonathan returned his glare then smiled. Jace walked towards Clary and nodded past her. "Welcome to the party, Tessa." Clary quickly cut her eyes to her right in time to see Tessa standing beside her and hummed. Tessa went behind Jace and unlocked his cuffs. She took them, then pulled out another pair. "Hello Jace, Clary. Might I be of assistance? I've already taken care of the helicopter. It shall be at our disposal, when we leave. The ballroom is locked on this end, so no collateral issues with curious guests. Our team is safe, but still unconscious in the 'copter."

Clary half-smiled and nodded, holding her gun on the men as Jace walked over, frisked them, and removed their guns and tasers, kicking them across the floor, keeping a gun for himself. He then spoke low to Tessa who nodded and looked at Pangborn and Brian, while Jace held his gun on them. "Let's cooperate with Ms. Gray, shall we gentlemen?" Tessa walked behind Pangborn and Brian and pushed them to the staircase at gunpoint. Once there, she cuffed their hands through the spindles of the staircase. Jace then pressed his gun against Jonathan's back and shoved him and Trent over to Tessa, where she did the same to them, on the other side of the staircase. She leaned close to Jonathan as she fastened the cuff around his wrist. "That ball was such a snooze fest, Mr. Morgenstern. I mean really… no DJ?" Jonathan smiled darkly at Tessa. She winked at Clary, then walked outside into the courtyard. Clary, still holding the gun, scanned the room. Tessa returned a few minutes later and she and Jace secured the great hall one more time. "Okay, lovebirds and Amatis. I moved our bags from the van to the helicopter. We'll fly over the border and rendezvous with our contacts at landing."

Jonathan stood tall, his right hand cuffed to Trent's, eyes locked on Clary, his jaw clenched. She trembled under his gaze, accidentally looking into his black eyes. She felt a compulsion to go to him, release him… runaway with him. Stop. He still has some pull from the treatment. You're stronger than him. He can't hurt you. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. She took an involuntary step forward, as his voice caressed her from across the hall. "Clarissa. Look at me, love. You cannot leave. You belong to me. You know th–" His head suddenly swung to the side and he grunted, as Jace punched him in the face. "I told you not to speak to her, you disgusting piece of shit." Jonathan growled and lunged for Jace's gun. The two men scuffled for a few seconds, with Jace shoving him down and stepping away. Jonathan chuckled and sat on the stairs, rubbing his jaw with his free hand. He looks too confident, something is off. Clary looked hard at Jace. "Jace, we have to leave now." He hummed and walked over to her, kissing her temple, gently taking the gun from her hand. "Okay, sweetheart. You get Amatis. She trusts you. Let's go."

Clary walked over to her aunt, who was still kneeling on the floor. She leaned down and rubbed her back. "Up, up, Aunt Amatis. You're safe now. It's okay. I need you to come with me. We're leaving. I-I'll take care of you now." Amatis looked up at Clary with tearful eyes, nodded, and stood up. Clary clasped her hand in hers and they walked towards the front doors. Clary jumped when she heard his silken voice again behind her. "No kiss goodbye, love? Remember Clarissa, you are my wife. We are wed… one. You are mine and I will always find you–" Clary stopped at the doors and turned back to him. Amatis' eyes flew wide and Jace wrapped his arm around Clary, afraid she may go back into the great hall. She gently shook Jace's hold on her and stepped back into the hall. "I'll be fine, Jace. Just stay with me."

Trembling, Clary walked to the middle of the room and took a deep breath. Jonathan remained seated and smirked at her. Come closer, little kitten. Jonathan tilted his head to one side and raked his eyes over her appraisingly. "I am not your wife, Jonathan. You never asked me… I never said yes. I'm going to have this fucking sham of a marriage annulled when I get back to New York, so go fuck yourself. You'll never touch me again." She pulled the emerald ring from her finger and threw it across the room at him. Jonathan's eyes glittered dangerously as he looked down at the ring, then back up to his wife. Arousal stirred deep in his abdomen. She looked so fierce and angry. So hot. He stood up, jerking Trent's arm up with him. He dragged his eyes from Clary over to Jace, who still had his gun fixed on him, then back to his wife. He licked his lips. "We shall see, love. We shall see." Clary scoffed, then turned and hurried out of Morgenstern Manor with Jace covering her back. Amatis took one look back at him, pursed her lips then followed her niece.

Jonathan heard the helicopter starting in the courtyard and quickly pulled the cuff key from his mouth, having lifted it from Herondale during their little wrestling match. Idiot. He quickly unlocked his cuff, handing it to Trent and with his phone, called for backup from the security still at the ball. "Clarissa, Amatis, and Herondale can't have made it to the helicopter yet, we can still stop them. Remember, Clarissa is to remain unharmed. I don't care about anyone else." Jonathan raced after Clary into the courtyard, spying her about one hundred yards ahead of him. Goddammit, Clarissa. "They're getting closer to the helicopter. Hurry!" He sped up. She's moving slowly because of her ankle. Good. I still have one little surprise left for her.

Clary looked back as they hurried to the helicopter and gasped when she saw Jonathan in the distance running after them, with his men. She felt a stab of terror shoot through her body. No, no, no! He's going to catch us… Clary tried to speed up, but still had a difficult time with her ankle sprain and running in high heels was taking its toll on her. "Jace, it's Jonathan– he's loose!" Jace shook his head and turned around, firing two shots at the ground towards their pursuers. Amatis screamed and fell down, covering her head. Shit. Clary cried out and stopped to help her aunt up. "Amatis, get up. It's okay, we have to get to the helicopter." Amatis got up and started limping towards the helicopter, whimpering, wrapping her arms tightly around Clary. "Are you hurt? I've got you, Amatis, just keep going…" Clary looked ahead and could see Tessa and Jem in the cockpit of the 'copter waving for them to hurry. The wind picked up, blowing her hair around her face. Will and Andrew jumped out, running towards them, firing past them to slow down their pursuers. Jonathan won't return fire, he won't risk hitting me. Jace ran up ahead to join his cousin, firing past them. Almost there. They were almost ten feet from Jace and his team when Clary felt her aunt jerk to a stop. What the hell?

Amatis squeezed her tighter, then started giggling maniacally, as she lifted Clary up and slammed her onto the ground beneath her. Clary saw stars and gasped in pain as she felt the wind knocked from her lungs and her elbow scrape on the pavement. She heard Jace scream her name and his footsteps coming quickly behind her. Unable to catch her breath she blinked at her aunt who smiled down at her, reaching into her pocket. "You have to stay, sweet Clarissa. This is home… such a lovely couple." Traitor. Clary looked down, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Amatis pull a gun out and turn towards Jace. Clary thought she screamed, but only a gasp came from her as she hit Amatis' hand, jostling it downward as she fired. Jace grunted and fell backwards onto the pavement, not moving. Oh my god. No– not my Jace. Clary started sobbing and struggling wildly against Amatis, trying to get to Jace, screaming. "What have you done? You fucking shot him! No– Jace!" Amatis tried to pin her down, using her weight. Clary's adrenalin kicked in and she struck out hard with her casted right arm, hitting Amatis in the nose. Blood streamed down her aunt's face and she fell down, clutching her nose, groaning.

Clary scrambled off the ground and launched herself at Jace's still form, screaming his name. Arms circled her waist and she was violently pulled from Jace, her back slammed against a hard body. A strong hand circled her neck and slid up to her jaw, squeezing it painfully, while an arm pinned hers down at her sides. Clary screamed as Jonathan nuzzled his face into her hair, growling into her ear. "Got you, naughty girl." He lifted her up and started backing up. Trent and Brian walked up on either side of them, pointing their guns at Will and Andrew, as they encroached towards them. Will looked down at Jace, then back at Jonathan, clenching his teeth and leveling his gun towards him. "Let go of her, you fucking coward. Hiding behind a tiny little woman… typical Morgenstern pussy." Jonathan chuckled and squeezed her tighter against him. "I don't think so, Herondale. She is my wife. I should have you shot for attempted kidnapping." Clary sobbed and struggled against him, looking down at her fallen lover. "Jace… please baby. Please…" Jonathan shook her face. "Don't fucking say his name, Clarissa. What have I–" Clary started jerking around in his arms, elbowing him and kicking her legs, his grip loosened and she dropped down, when she heard gunshots.

Jonathan gasped and fell back onto the ground pulling her with him, and rolling over, facedown. Clary screamed and rolled away from him, watching blood pool around his head, as Trent and Brian both collapsed from their wounds. All head shots. He's dead. He's dead… Clary's head swam, her vision blurred, and her ears roared. "Come on, love. I've got you–" Will scooped her up from the ground, firing behind him as more of Jonathan's men poured into the courtyard in pursuit. Clary hysterically tried to jump out of Will's arms, screaming Jace's name over and over. "Will– please! We can't leave him. Jace!" She looked wildly over Will's shoulder, unable to see Jace through the crowd of men gathering by Jonathan. Will cursed and shoved Clary up into the helicopter, where she was pulled into the waiting arms of the love of her life. Jace fucking Herondale. He smiled tightly and ran his hands over her. "Clary, baby. Are you hurt, did he harm you?" Am I hurt? You were shot! Clary gasped and mumbled hysterically, as he kissed her lips. She pulled away and gripped his shirt, pulling it open beneath his jacket to find a Kevlar vest with a large bullet dent over his heart. Clary started laughing and kissing him, as he held her tightly against him, murmuring declarations of love into her hair. Will plopped into the seat next to them. "Everyone buckle up. We're ready Tessa." She looked back, making sure everyone was accounted for, then nodded to Will. Lifting the helicopter into the air. Why aren't they pursuing us anymore… where's Amatis?

Clary sat on Jace's lap as he buckled the seatbelt around them, holding her tightly against him. She looked down into the courtyard, as the helicopter rose into the sky. She could see Aunt Amatis sitting on the ground, talking to medical personnel, outside of the crowd around where Jonathan had been shot. I can't believe he's dead. It's over. Clary closed her eyes and felt a heavy sadness fall over her, as she began to sob. She thought of their discussion, a few days before, in the state room, when he had shared his sadness… his trauma. Jonathan had been a victim of Valentine's insanity, just as she had been… and her mother. She hated Jonathan Morgenstern… Sebastian… for everything he'd done to her, but she also pitied him, holding out hope that he would realize how wrong he had been… realize that he needed help. He would never get it now.

Clary swallowed her tears and cuddled against Jace who kept whispering loving words to her and kissing her head. No matter. He's dead. As the helicopter pulled higher into the night's sky, she looked back down and tilted her head, frowning. She saw the medical team rushing a gurney towards the manor. Pangborn ran beside the gurney holding a cloth against the patient's head. Clary cried out and pointed to the ground below. Jace and Will looked down, looked at each other, and cursed. He wasn't dead. They were rushing him into Morgenstern Manor for treatment. Clary began to tremble and buried her face against Jace's chest. He hugged her against him, rocking her. Will laid a hand on Jace's shoulder and squeezed This isn't fucking over.