Princess Alicia Vivian Renata Graymark

When the sun began to rise on my final day, I didn't let myself stay in bed. After quickly getting dressed, I grabbed my tablet and headed to Ops, all the while reading any updates I had been sent.

I quickly found an empty table, pulling up a holographic map of the city. As I started updating the map with the information I had received, Alec and Izzy joined me. It wasn't too long later when Clary and Jace joined the three of us.

"Anything new?" Izzy asked them.

"We tried tracking him together, like we did with Jonathan, but for some reason, it didn't work," the redhead responded.

"Magnus' wards are up," Jace said, joining my side. He placed a quick kiss on the top of my head, making me blush. "Valentine must still be in the city."

"Thank the Angel for Magnus and the warlocks," Izzy smiled slightly look at the updated map in front of us.

"Well, they didn't raise the wards for us," Alec snarked down at her.

"Teams are out doing block-by-block sweeps throughout the city," I informed the others, "We'll find him."

I nodded at the Lightwood siblings as they moved to the other end to the table.

When I noticed the look of uncertainty on Clary's face, I turned to her to whisper, "Hey, you okay?"

"I thought I'd be relieved when Jonathan was finally dead," she admitted to me, "But actually, I feel worse."

"I get it," I reached over, grabbing her hand, "He was your brother."

I shared a smile with her, happy that at least our relationship would be okay before the end.

Beep Beep Beep

I looked up in alarm as the Institute lit up red and a siren began to go off.

I started towards another screen, "Aerial Sensors."

"Is it Valentine?" Clary asked me.

"No," I stated as I blew up the map. "Could be some kind of Wraith demon." We watched as a red dot made its way quickly across the map. "Everyone, get ready," I told them, "We have a demon to hunt."

We all headed off in different directions.

I reached for my tablet as I headed back to my room to get ready. I sent off a notification, setting all my shadowhunters on alert.

I quickly met up with the others, all dressed in full gear. It didn't take long until we were running across the city once again. We slowed to a stop at an intersection, all looking towards the sky.

"Where is it?" Jace asked us.

"It should be right on top of us," I told him, surveying the skies.

"Alec! Lis!" I suddenly heard Jace's raised voice.

I immediately drew my bow, releasing an arrow in the direction my instincts were leading me to. The arrow hit the demon's wing, causing it to fly behind another building.

"I've never seen a demon like that," Izzy commented as we compacted together.

I continued staring at the sky, Clary on my back.

"On your six!" Jace suddenly stated.

Alec responded sooner, spinning around to shoot an arrow.

He missed.

"Can you see it?" Izzy asked us.

We circled around, gazes concentrated at the sky. I kept an arrow pointed at the sky as the screeches continued to sound around us.

"What the hell is it waiting for?" Clary asked us.

"It's coming around for another pass," Alec said to us.

"Alec!" I heard a call as I kept an arrow notched in the opposite direction.

"Relax, I got this," I heard him say.

The sound of squelching let me know he had hit it, which had me spinning around to face the different parts of the demon splattered around us.

"Nice," I commented, still keeping my bow taut.

I barely blinked as the different parts suddenly come to life and turned into several little demons.

I shot my notched arrow at one of the creatures, instantly destroying one. The others got away before we could destroy anymore.

"Hey, who threw something at my car?" I heard a policeman ask as we all began looking at the different directions the demons went.

"Over there," Alec pointed. "And there."

"They're splitting up," I confirmed to them as we looked around in worry.

We ended up running through the streets once more, chasing after one of the demons. We slowed down to a walk when my phone rang.

"At least four demons are still unaccounted for," Alec was saying to the others, "We need to notify all available personnel."

I hung up, a grim look settling on my face.

"What's wrong?" Jace immediately asked me, "Is everything okay?"

"That was Luke," I told them as we slowed to a walk, "Valentine's on his way to Idris."

"What?" Alec gasped.

Izzy responded just as quickly, "How?"

"He made a deal with the Seelie Queen," I calmly told them, "Luke's warned all the other Downworld leaders."

"Damn Valentine," Jace immediately cursed.

"If Valentine gets to that lake–" Izzy immediately began to worry.

"He won't," Alec cut her off, "Malachi's army is armed and waiting for him."

"We need to warn them," Clary nodded to herself, "Who knows how many Circle members will be there?"

"If we lower the wards, these demons could get out, spread beyond the city."

"We don't have to lower them," I told Izzy. I turned to the others with a placating look, "I've been able to handle my powers for a while now. I can handle a portal."

"Do you think your portal can pierce through the wards?" Clary asked me in concern.

"They don't need to be," I shrugged sheepishly at them, "I'm keyed into the wards so I can travel straight through them. Some people still remember what I did for them."

They grimly nod at her.

"We can't all go," Alec said to us, "The demons need to be dealt with."

"Clary and I will go," I immediately ordered them. "You three stay here, slay the beasts."

I can't let you come with us Jace. I've come this far to change your fate, just a bit further.

Jace, Izzy and Alec nod, bowing their heads.

"Fine," Jace stepped towards me, grasping both sides of my face, "Be careful."

I did not respond, instead I chose to leap into his arms, giving him a deep kiss.

"I love you," I told him, as I pulled away from him. "I love you so much, Jay."

"I love you too," he whispered, grinning wildly at me.

He leant down, gave me one last kiss before eventually stepping back.

I turned to Clary, nodding at her. She quickly joined my side just as I opened a portal. Just before I stepped through the portal, I turned, catching Jace's eyes one last time.

I love you.

Clary and I stepped through the portal.

And I wish we had a longer time together.

I panted slightly once we stepped through the portal.

At least I didn't collapse this time!

It must mean that Jace truly did heal me from whatever Sebastian gave me.

"Where's the army?" Clary asked me as we stepped through into an abandoned forest.

"We're still a hike away from Lake Lyn," I told her, "My navigation's still off."

"We need to hurry," she told me, "We can't let Valentine reach the lake."

I quickly led us into a jog through the woods. With our pace, we soon ended up close to the lake in what I assumed to be Malachi's camp. We headed towards the most ornate tent, rightfully assuming that it was Malachi's tent.

"Consul Malachi," I greeted the man that exited the tent.

"Clary Fairchild of the New York Institute," Clary introduced herself.

"I know who you are," he told the redhead by my side.

If he wants to be a grouchy old man, I'll have to deal with him in a different way.

I straightened, staring him down with a single brow raised. He immediately understood, standing straight before entering a deep bow.

"Your majesty," he greeted me, the shadowhunters at his side, immediately following his actions.

"Rise," I boredly responded with a wave of my hand, "Valentine is on his way to Lake Lyn. He has the Sword and the Cup."

I moved to turn back to the direction of the lake but was stopped by his next words, "Yes, I'm quite aware of Valentine's progress."

I shared a look with Clary before I turned back to the Consul, "We need to get to the water. Now."

"I'm afraid that's not gonna happen," he told me grimly before slowly turning his head to face one of his men, revealing his Circle mark on his neck.

"You're a Circle member," Clary gasped before we were swiftly grabbed and led into Malachi's tent.

"You can't…" Clary continued to struggle, "Let us go!"

"Get off me!"

It wasn't long until we found ourselves chained to a metal pole, our backs to each other as we sat on the ground.

The groaned in annoyance as Clary continued to fight against our chains.

"You know," Clary stopped her actions, choosing to instead listen to my words, "Malachi replaced my father as the Consul when he died." I paused as I remembered my brilliant father. "He used to bring me along to his assemblies where he would let Malachi give these speeches. Do you have any idea how many speeches I heard Malachi give when I was younger? How many times I've heard him preach loyalty to the Clave above all else under the Angel? And all along, he…" I sighed, "-he's been working with our greatest enemy and betraying my father's memory."

"How does the Consul, one of the…" I felt her shake her head from behind me, "-the leaders of the entire Clave, end up a Circle member?"

"Valentine threatened to wipe out any Shadowhunters who opposed him," I shrugged, "Malachi's just trying to save his own ass."

"And sit back while everything around him is destroyed."

I turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, only to catch sight of Malachi and several of his soldiers as they entered the tent.

"How could you side with him?" I asked him, a deep frown settled on my face.

"There is only one side. The side of the Angels," he told us, "Valentine is only doing what the Clave has been trying to accomplish for centuries, eradicate demons."

"No. No, the Angels," I emphasised with a shake of my head, "-would never be in favour of killing millions of innocent Downworlders along with demons."

"When Raziel created the first Shadowhunter," he said, kneeling down to our level, "-there was no such thing as Downworlders. But over the centuries, disgusting half-breeds emerged. Warlocks, vampires, Seelies, werewolves. They banded together, grew more powerful. But finally they will be destroyed. And so will you."

As he rose, his soldiers immediately grabbed us, moving us outside. We must have been kept inside for a while because the sun had set once again. Clary was led to a tree stump, her hands still in chains behind her back.

I was forced to my knees in front of her.

"It's gonna be okay," I told her, trying to give her a small smile.

"How?" she tearfully asked me.

Because your path doesn't end here.

"Your father won't approve," he was saying to her, "-but he'll understand your deaths were a necessary sacrifice."

"My father would never have approved of any of your actions," I spoke up instead. "You do this all in the name of mass genocide? You're the Consul of the Clave!" I shouted at him, "How can you let this happen?"

"Cleanse the world of demons?" he dismissed me, "How can I not?" He turned to someone beside him, waving a hand, "Proceed!"

"No!" I screamed as I caught sight of her slumped body on the tree stump. I felt my eyes burn as I caught sight of the axe dropping towards Clary's body.

My scream for once did exactly as I hoped it would. The axeman was flung far away from Clary and our chains broken. I used their moment of surprise to my advantage, punching one of my guards in the stomach before grabbing the sword off of another one, using it to pierce him and Malachi in one go. I hurried to Clary's side, throwing another blade in her direction. Back to back, we soon fought off the rest of Malachi's soldiers.

We were soon left with only Malachi alive at our feet.

"Wait, please," he quickly began to beg me, "Wait."

I shook my head, "This is for my father."

I quickly slashed my blade across his throat, giving him a faster death than I would have hoped. I didn't care, turning to run into my sister's arms.

"Are you okay?" I tearfully asked her. "You okay?"

She nodded, pulling me back into a quick hug, "I'm okay, little sister. I'm okay."

Happy with her reassurances, I pulled away.

"We have to go."

I quickly led the way, running off in the direction of the Lake.

When we got there, we did a quick scan of the place, finding no one in sight.

"Are we too late?" she asked me.

"No." I shook my head as I stepped onto a rock by the Lake. This is it. "No, if he'd raised the Angel," I jumped back to land, hopping back beside her, "we'd know it. We beat him here. We can stop him."

I smiled sadly at her. This is it. She grinned back at me in relief.

I turned around, accepting my fate. And was quickly grabbed by Valentine and stabbed centimetres away from my heart. I could feel the knife scrape against my heart as I gasped deep breaths. I looked down at the thing that was killing me and then up at the person who was doing it.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty. I had to," he whispered in my ear, "I thank you for taking Jace's place."

With those words he released me, causing me to drop to the ground.

I blinked and found myself in the garden of my parent's old manor. Under the tree I spent most my time playing under.

"Lissa!" I heard a voice yell.

"Lissa!" someone quickly picked me up, cradling me in their arms.

"Jay-" I whispered, blinking up at the blonde man.

I blinked again, only to find myself in Clary's arms, her tears hailing down at me.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, "I saw-" I took a deep breath, "I saw this a long time a- ago."

"Lissa. Why didn't you stop this?" I was with him again.

I smiled in contentment, tears slipping from my own eyes, "For you-"

"Oh, hey, save your breath, okay?" I heard Clary's voice. "Don't say anything. You need your strength." I found myself nodding, the two worlds blurring out of focus. "It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay."

The world settled around me.

I was under my favourite tree with my favourite person.

"Don't leave me, Lis," more tears fell when I heard him beg me to stay. "You promised you would never leave me."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, bringing a weak hand to his cheek, caressing it gently, "I love you."

"I love you too, Lis," he sobbed as my body grew fainter and the world around me began to fade once again. "Don't close your eyes. Lis, don't close your eyes. Hey, no!" he grasped my face, trying to keep me awake. It was pointless, the world was replaced by a blank canvas as his voice soon became an echo far behind me.

Stay with me.

Please stay with me.

Please.

Just look at me.

Just look at me.

I'm sorry.