Emma was breathing hard, the Mortal Sword trained unwaveringly on Annabel. Slow down, she told herself. Hyperventilating won't help. But, considering what she had just seen, potentially appropriate...

She took a quick glance at Jules. He seemed in shock, clinging to Livvy's limp body. Her heart went out to him. He had lost his sister. The sister he had taken care of for years, ever since he was twelve. Practically his daughter. He was still whispering to her, pleading with her to wake up, even though he must have known she wouldn't.

In her peripheral vision she saw Ty- why had she forgotten about him? He had lost his twin- getting helped to his feet by a young blonde boy. Kit. Yes, that would probably be what's best for him right now, she thought. Kit ushered Ty back along the way he had come, talking to him soothingly along the way.

She whipped her gaze back to Annabel and the Black Volume that she hugged close to her chest, as if to protect it. But Emma wasn't fooled by her seemingly hopelessness now. She had seen Annabel wield the Mortal Sword, the very weapon Emma was holding now, against the Inquisitor, Robert Lightwood, as well as -her heart clenched- Livvy. Yes, this was the very weapon that had killed the little 14-year-old girl being held in her older brother's arms.

Now that, she thought, would be poetic justice. But alas, even after all that Annabel had done, it was illegal to kill another Shadowhunter, and she knew that, even if Annabel herself had violated that rule, and twice.

And what of Robert? Emma stole a glance at him. He was lying, dead, on the floor where he had fallen. Jia Penhallow, the Consul, was kneeling next to him, checking for a heartbeat. It wouldn't matter. Emma knew, as she was sure Jia did, that their Inquisitor was dead.

She tore her eyes back to Annabel yet again. The point of the sword trembled with rage.

"Give me the Black Volume," she said in a deadly tone, although she was tired and wanted to just sit down and cry. She silently congratulated herself on keeping her composure. "Or I will have to take it from you."

Annabel's eyes widened in fear. "You don't understand-"

"I understand enough." Emma's voice cut her off.

"No!" Annabel's voice was pleading, "You have to understand!" There was definite desperation there now. "The sword- the sword-"

"It hurt." Emma finished, silencing her again. "Undoubtedly. It compels you to tell the truth, one that you were disinclined to give. I get it- you were scared that the Clave were going to torture you like they did all those years ago. But don't you see? You just, like, seriously increased that chance."

Annabel started shaking even worse than before.

"I know it hurt. Of course it did. I bet it hurt like little hooks dug into your skin, didn't it?" she was rambling now. "But do you know what? Julian had to endure that too. Oh but that was awhile ago, wasn't it? Oh yes- he was twelve years old, at the time. You're how old right now? Well, you can take away the years you spent in your coffin. I'll be generous."

Annabel stuttered, disbelief and even a little bit of awe one her face. "T-twelve..." she said the word faintly.

"Yes. All the Blackthorns, in fact. Livvy and Ty and Dru and I. All of us." Emma was angry now.

"That-that's not right." Annabel started backing away from the sword. "Torture- that's torture. To little children-"

Emma closed the gap between them again. She was not getting away. Not now. Emma wondered what to do with Annabel. She glanced to her right: Julian was slowly picking up Livvy in his arms. He stepped down from the stage, careful not to jostle Livvy's body. His every movement was infused with sorrow. And just like that, he was gone. She didn't have to look to see him leave. She could feel it. It was a slight burning in her parabatai mark.

Emma looked around again. It was just her and Annabel. All of the Shadowhunters had left, Ty had gone away with Kit, and now Julian and Livvy were gone. The only people left save her and Annabel were Jia and the dead body of Robert. Alec knelt on the ground next to his father, a lost look on his face.

With that, Emma made her decision. Killing Annabel would be a mercy, and she wasn't worthy of mercy. She had killed two Shadowhunters and a warlock, all illegally. She would wait until the Clave showed up, which would be in only a minute.

She kept the sword steady. Her arm was getting a bit tired by now, but that didn't matter. She had fought through bigger things than this. Emma could overpower Annabel, obviously, but, as afore mentioned, she was very tired. In addition, she didn't want to harm Jia or Alec, as they didn't seem to be paying attention and could possibly get hurt.

Besides, Annabel didn't seem very keen on giving up the Black Volume. Emma didn't want to fight if she didn't have to. It had been a long day. So, she kept her left arm steady and waited for the Clave to arrive.

A/N: Thanks again for being here! Please comment and vote on the chapters, and let me know what you think, and what you suspect will happen next. If you haven't noticed, this story is told from multiple points of view, like the books this is based off of.
Continue to add this book to your library and reading lists, let's make sure that all fans of the series will know about it!