"Clary, come on." Simon pushes, wanting Clary to go with him, "We gotta go."

"Simon," Clary grabs his hand, "I think Jace can help us."

"What- do I just not exist now?" I remark, walking towards the steps.

"Well-" Clary decided to mutter, "According to us, that's what we thought so-"

I stop, shooting Jace a look.

"How do we know this Mick Jagger- looking guy and your meth dealing sister is even gonna try-" Simon began to stammer, as Clary pulled him behind us.

"I'm not a meth dealer." I roll my eyes, continuing to walk up the steps.

Jace faces him, "Mundane, we do not have the time."

"Come on, Simon." I sigh, walking into the Institute, as they follow me.

"I still can't believe I'm staring at her right now-" Simon whispers to Clary, "Is it just me or did she get hotter?"

I looked back at him, holding my stele pointed to arm to draw a rune, shooting him a look, Jace pursing his lips to hold back laugh, Clary rolling her eyes at his comment.

"Just me?" Simon nervously said, "Okay-"

"Not just you-" Jace crosses his arms.

I draw the rune onto my arm, as I clench my jaw at the pain, Simon staring at me, "She's, like, burning herself."

I shove my stele into my pocket, grabbing Simon's hand.

"Wow-" Simon's eyes went wide, "What're you doing- I'm not your type-"

"Yeah- you're not." I agree with him simply, his eyes widening not being able to see the Institute.

"Where are we? What the hell?" Simon questions, looking straight ahead, "Clary, is there a war going on that I don't know about?"

"There is now." Jace walks off and into the Ops Center, as I followed right behind him.

"I think my mother's at the center of it." Clary sighs, pulling Simon along.

"What is this place?" Simon looked around, "There's a lot of gear in here. What'd they do, rob a tech shop?"

Simon stares at Clary, "So this cold-blooded killer is gonna help us?"

"He's not a killer." I looked at him, "He saved her life."

"We-" Jace nudges me, correcting me, "We're protecting you- It's sort of our thing."

"Your thing? You guys have a thing?" Simon questions.

"He means a Shadowhunter thing." Clary crosses her arms, "That's what they do, protecting humans from demons."

"Demons, right." Simon sarcastically repeats, "Yeah- totally- your older sister ran off three years ago to be part of a fantasy fight club. That makes perfect sense, 'cause there are demons running all around New York."

"That is the first correct thing you've said all day." I looked at him.

"NYPD." Jace pulls up the footage on the screen.

"Won't they find us?" Clary questioned.

"No- our wards will deter them." Jace explained, "And the NYPD will do their typical mundie thing for a few hours and then the area will be clear."

"What is going on?" Alec walks over, "Why is there a mundane in the Institute?"

I face him, "A Circle member followed him to get to Clary."

"A Circle rune, just like the guys that took my mother." Clary exclaimed.

"What exactly is a Circle member and why are they trying to kill us?" Simon continued to question.

"All we know is a long time ago the Circle led a revolt." Jace explains, "A lot of Shadowhunters got killed including my father."

"And since the revolt we've been forbidden to even hear about the Circle." Alec continued, stood behind me.

"But, how is that even possible?" Clary asked, "It's your history."

"Says the girl who didn't know she was a Shadowhunter?" Jace remarks.

"Yeah- yeah, you're right." Clary calls out after us when we head towards Izzy, "And now the only person who knows the truth is missing, so I don't care about your rules or what's forbidden, I'm- there's got to be someone out there who can tell us- why they've taken my mother."

"There is." Jace starts to walk towards the training room, "You coming?"

"Yeah." Clary follows him, Simon right by her side.

"No, no, no." Jace stops Simon, "Not you."

"Hey, we're a package deal." Clary fought, not wanting to leave Simon's side.

"I might throw up." I mutter under my breath, stood next to Alec as I stared at what went down.

Alec looks down at me, replying to me in a low tone, "You and Jace act like that all the time- of course, when you're not in bed together."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." I shot him a look that practically screamed that I would kill him.

"Simon's staying with me." Clary continued, not listening to Jace.

"There are runes all over the training room floor that would kill your mundie boyfriend." I spoke up from where I stood, as they all look back at me, "So- there's that."

"He's not my-" Clary began.

Simon began in unison, "I'm not, like-"

"We're, uh, just friends." Simon clears his throat.

"Best friends." Clary nods.

Alec nudges me, "And my point has been proven."

I roll my eyes hard, a small chuckle leaving his lips.

"Yeah, and I'm tough. I can handle runes." Simon hits Jace's shoulder lightly, then shakes the pain off, "So, uh, bring on the runes. What exactly are runes?"

"They give Shadowhunters our demon-fighting powers." Isabelle steps up, using her stele to wave over a rune.

"So hot." Simon stares, clearing his throat when he sees the look on Jace's face, "The rune."

"Don't worry, Clary. I'll watch over the best friend." Isabelle smiles, "In fact, I was about to make breakfast."

"On second thought, the runes might be less lethal." Jace remarks, earning a small laugh from me.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Isabelle held her hand out for Simon to take, introducing her and Alec, "Please excuse my brother's lack of manners. This is Alec and I'm Isabelle."

"Lewis. Simon, Simon Lewis." Simon grabbed her hand, stammering, "Two first names. Am I still talking?"

"See? Best friend's safe and sound here." Jace gestures.

"Jace, if anything happens to him-" Clary began to warn.

"Go on, I'll be fine." Simon waves her off, "I think."

"Where are we going?" Clary looks at Jace.

"Training room." Jace points, then looks at Simon, "Hey, uh- don't eat the food. Dangerous."

-

My music blasted in my ears, as I blended in the charcoal with the pad of my finger, doing what I always spent my free time doing.

The drawing of New York City rested on the white sheet canvas, as I tried to get my mind off everything that's happened in the past few days.

A hand touches my shoulder, a gasp leaving my lips in surprise, my eyes landing on Alec.

I pull out of headphones, "I didn't hear you come in-"

"You didn't hear me purposely slam the door to try and get your attention either-" Alec points out, "I brought you some food-"

"You brought me food?" I pause my music, putting my phone down, facing him, noticing the tray in his hands of chips and guacamole.

"Yeah-" Alec gave me a small smile, "You didn't eat earlier anyway so- I snagged some from Izzy when she was fixing it up for the mundane."

"Awh-" I rub the charcoal off my offending finger and onto his nose, "I'm glad to see that you care about my well being."

Alec goes cross eyed, staring at his nose.

I giggle at the face he made, taking the tray from him, giving him a smile, "Thank you-"

"You're welcome." Alec shot me a lazy smile, wiping away the charcoal from his nose.

I place down the tray onto a table, grabbing my phone, my headphones still connected to it, grabbing Alec's wrist, pulling him to my bed, "Come here-"

"What?" Alec drags out, sitting next to me.

"I shuffled my songs and a suggested song came up- based on what I listen to-" I place an earbud in his ear, putting one in mine, playing the song, "And this song came on and it's really good-"

"Zee-" Alec looks at me, a minute into the song, "I'll never understand the mundane thought behind their music."

"That's because you were taught and raised with the fact that emotions cloud your judgment." I point at him, "First rule of being mundane is love makes you stronger. Mundane's feel every emotion- they don't push it away like Shadowhunters do."

"And that includes-" Alec pieced together the gist of the song I had him listen to with me, "The aftermath of losing someone- and needing them, breaking without them because of how much you loved them."

"It includes it all." I shrug, looking at him, "Now that I think about it- I've never asked you this."

Alec looks at me, "Ask me what?"

I look at him, my eyes connecting with his,
"How you ever been in love?"

He swallows, staying silent for a moment.

He looks away, his gaze falling to the ground, "Yeah- I have. I am."

"Oh?" I inhale sharply, "Whoever that is- is the luckiest person in the world."

"And the Shadow World- and the Down World-" I continue, "All the worlds-"

Alec chuckles softly, a small smile falling onto my lips.

-

"Jace- oh my god." I walked over to him in the Ops Center as he stood alone, looking at the screens, as I had taken off my leather jacket, a small breeze hitting my bare arms at how quickly I was walking towards him, holding the bowl of guacamole, chips on the side of it, as I shoved a chip in my mouth, "Try this-"

Jace looks at me, "Where did you-"

"I don't know what Izzy did-" I looked at him, swallowing, "But- it's good-"

"How much have you had?" Jace takes a chip, scoops some guacamole on his chip and eats it.

I pause, looking into the distance in thought for a moment, then looking at him, "A lot."

Jace shoots me a look, as I got defensive, "What? I haven't eaten-"

"They taste normal to me-" Jace shrugs, as I sat on the table, swinging my legs lightly, as he stood in front of me, his arms crossed, "You sure the hunger isn't getting to your head?"

"I'm- fine." I ate another chip, "Completely, totally fine- I'm pretty sure."

"Yeah?" Jace wipes off guacamole off the corner of my mouth, eating it, "You seem really anxious."

"No idea what you're talking about, man-" I start to put another chip in my mouth, Jace grabbing my wrist and stopping me, as I shot him a look, my mouth lightly open, ready for the chip that wouldn't come.

"Jace-" I stare at him, "You're preventing me from feeding myself."

"I know." Jace stares right back at me, "Is this your way of telling me you're stressed?"

"Stressed?" I repeat, "I'm not stressed- do you really think I stress eat? That's outrageous-"

"Zee-" Jace could read right through me, "You've been slightly off since Clary showed up."

A tremulous smiles forms on my lips; busted.

"Talk to me." Jace took the chip out of my hand and ate it instead, crossing his arms.

I shot him a look, my smile dropping. I sigh deeply, setting my food to the side.

"I feel like she hates me." I quietly said, looking away, "I mean- I left her without saying goodbye for three years. I can't imagine how she felt, Jace."

"She doesn't hate you, Zee." Jace slightly shook his head.

"Are you sure about that?" I sat up, sighing in defeat, "I mean- one second she's happy to see that I'm alive. The next- she's making remarks and actually acts like I don't exist."

"Zee-" Jace kept his arms crossed, "She thought you were dead for two years."

"It's not like I wanted to her to think that." I defensively said, "It was Jocelyn who made her think that- without my knowledge. She decided to let me know after Clary thought I was gone."

Jace sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"It's like she's going through everything that's happened- every lie that was told to her about me-" I use my hand to gesture, "And is putting it all on me- and hating me for it. I mean- I left her at 18 to come here and- become a Shadowhunter."

"Zee-" Jace puts a hand on my arm, "You're her sister- her family. Most likely her only family left at this point. She'll come around."

I deeply sigh, "I'll take your word for it."

"Hey, Zee-" The corner of Jace's mouth lightly turns up, "Where does all that food even go?"

I softly laugh, rolling my eyes playfully as he chuckles.

-

"This is the least revealing thing you have?" Clary stares at herself in the mirror as we sat in Isabelle's room.

"What? All the naughty bits are covered." Isabelle shrugs lightly and sat down on the bed, "A little too much in my opinion."

Clary sighs, "Where's Simon?"

"Huh?" I looked at her, leaning against the dresser, crossing my arms.

Isabelle puts the same look on her face, playing along with me, "Who?"

The look on Clary's face was priceless.

"Kidding." Isabelle chuckles, "He's in good hands with the boys."

"So, um-" Clary clears her throat, looking at Isabelle, "-you, Alec, and Jace are what, like, family?"

"Yeah-" Isabelle shrugs, acting clueless to what she really meant, even if she knew.

Clary looks at me, "And you're- so close to them and they're like family right?" Then she points between Isabelle and I, "And you guys are- parabatai?"

"Yeah- Izzy's my parabatai." I cross my arms.

"Let's talk about the real matter here-" Isabelle sits up, "Translation, you want to know if either of us having a thing going on with Jace."

"Why would I care?" Clary clears her throat.

"Because you do." I turn away, "Don't worry- in every way, Jace is my best friend-"

"Do best friends sleep with each other?" Isabelle slightly teased, as I shot her a look right away, not wanting Clary to know about it, Isabelle's eyes widening, her clearing her throat, "Uhm- I mean- they don't- right? Yeah-"

"Wait-" Clary stops, "You and Jace are sleeping together?"

"No- no." I shook my head, "It's not current- that was a while ago."

Clary stares at me, wanting to get more out of me about it.

"It only happened like once or twice-" I wave it off, Isabelle clearing her throat, "Okay- maybe a few times- but the point is, our relationship now is strictly platonic."

"Don't worry about me either." Isabelle adds in, "In every way, he's like my brother. Our parents took Jace in when he was ten. We trained together. Learned to fight side by side."

"A few days ago, all I had to worry about was getting into art school." Clary sighs deeply, looking down.

"Art school-" I looked at her, "Your drawings were really good. Inspired by mine?"

"My mom has them around the house." Clary looks up, "How did you know about my drawings-"

"Jocelyn kept my drawings." I softly smiled to myself, then face them.

"She knows about your drawings because she's a caring older sister that's been watching over you all these years." Isabelle walks over to me and wraps an arm around me, "You know all those birthday gifts you got from an unknown sender? Those were her."

"Isabelle-" I looked at her, my eyes slightly wide.

"What?" Isabelle shot me a look, "She deserves to know."

"You got me my first sketch book when I first started drawing." Clary stared at me, recalling every memory, and the pain along with it, "That was you-"

I stay silent, looking at my feet.

"You know what-" Clary's expression had changed, hurt crossing over her features, "I don't care about your birthday presents- you left me, Zee."

I looked up at her in surprise, "Clary, I-"

She was hurt. She was stressed and going out of her mind because of her mother and seeing me only fueled her anger. And I stood there and listened to it. I knew I deserved it.

"I was mourning over the loss of my sister that was here- sexing it up and having the time of her life." Clary's eyes filled with tears.

"Clary-" Isabelle was backing me up, "This wasn't her choice. You have no idea what condition she was in when she first showed up here."

"I- I started art, just like my sister. I wanted to be just like you. I missed you- so much." A tear slipped her eye, "But- now that I've been reunited with you, I wish I never looked up to you as much as I did."

"Clary-" I slipped away from Isabelle and placed a hand on her shoulder, only for her to pull away, a sigh leaving my lips, "I'm sorry- okay- and I deserve everything you're throwing at me. But- I don't know what to tell you."

I couldn't tell her about what Jocelyn asked me to do.

I couldn't tell her that her mother was the one who brought up the topic of making her believe I was dead.

I couldn't tell her that her mother went through with it without my consent.

Clary wipes her tear and looks away.

"Is this the part where I apologize and I give you the pep talk about harnessing your inner Shadowhunter and accepting your true destiny?" I question quietly.

Clary sniffles, "Was that the pep talk?"

"Basically." I cross my arms, "I know you hate me right now- and the last person you'd want to see helping you is me. But I'm going to stand by your side. You were born to do this. No matter what has happened this is who you are."

"Not exactly feeling that." Clary looks straight at me, then clears her throat, attempting to be professional, "Okay, but now we just have to find Dot."

"And track down and kill the most dangerous rogue Shadowhunter in history before he kills us all." Isabelle adds in, "Come on, let's go."

-

"Let's get out of here, just you and me." Simon whispers to Clary, putting on his jacket, "We can get Dot ourselves."

"Simon, there are demons out there, okay?"
Clary fixes his collar, as they stood in the training room, "Actual demons with tentacles that wanna murder us. Do you know how to kill a demon?"

"I'm an Internet search away." Simon reasons.

"Simon, I really don't think it's that simple." Clary sighs.

Simon shot right back, "I bet you it's not that hard."

I walk over by Isabelle, opening up the weapons safe, touching the blade in astonishment.

Jace walks over, smacking my hand away, "No, Zee."

"Ow-" I smack his hand back, crossing my arms.

"Fifty bucks says he doesn't approve this mission." Isabelle shoots us a look, Clary and Simon standing behind us.

"I don't approve of this mission." Alec walks over.

"Called it." Isabelle proudly said, her arms crossed.

"I brought your jacket-" Alec hands it to me, as I gave him a small smile, putting it on, "I spoke with the Clave. They're sending Seelie scouts to search for Valentine, but they made it clear, she does not leave the premises."

"Hey, I have a name, okay?" Clary spoke up, "I don't care what that Clave thing or you want, I'm going to find Dot."

"Alec, this warlock could have the answers we need." Jace began.

I add in, "With Valentine's people out there searching for Clary, she's not safe outside alone."

"They has a point." Isabelle points out.

"Et tu, Izzy?" Alec looks between us, then looks at Clary, "All right, since you have all the answers, where do you suggest we search?"

"We should start at Dot's apartment in Greenpoint, and there's this thrift store that she-" Clary touches her necklace, her eyes widening, a gasp leaving her lips.

"What's wrong? What is it?" I question.

"I, um-" Clary looks at us all, "Weirdly, I think I know where Dot is."

"Great." Simon says, "I'll drive."

We all shot him a look, causing him to speak up again, "What? Unless you have, like, a Shadowhunter-mobile or something."

He looks between us again, "You were kidding about the runes on the floor killing me right?"

"Possibly." Jace pats his back, walking through them, heading down the steps.

I slightly giggle, glancing at Simon, looking at Clary as I walked through them and followed Jace, "He's cute."

Isabelle and Alec follow me, Simon following Clary, "Wait am I gonna die?"

-

Clary lead us down the alley towards the Pandemonium, looking around.

Suddenly she stops, a gasp leaving her lips, "Dot. Dot!"

She ran, turning down the alley, rushing off.

"What- the hell-" I mutter, picking up speed, rushing after my little sister, "Clary! Clary, stop!"

I grab her arm, making her stop, the others catching up to us, "Where are you going?"

"Two men, Circle members the same ones who came to my house, who took my mom." Clary breathes, "They have Dot. They're gonna hurt her or kill her. We have to stop them!"

"Whoa-" I try to contain her, only for her to push through me and rush off into the Pandemonium.

Jace and I bolt after her, Simon right on our trails.

I slow down once we were inside, sticking by Alec and Isabelle, Jace slowing down to our pace also, Simon rushing behind Clary.

"No." Clary whispers once she came to a stop, "She was just trying to help me. Now, she's gone."

"Clary, I'm sorry." Simon places a hand on her shoulder, as we all came to a stop by her.

"You don't understand." Clary looks between us all, small tears in her eyes, "Dot's like my big sister."

I bit the inside of my cheek, looking away, a pained look etching on my face, as I tried to hide it.

Alec noticed right away, clearing his throat, "It's not safe here. We have to go back to the Institute right now."

"So, what now?" Clary says, "Valentine has my mom and Dot, and we're just gonna give up?"

"What about my memories?" Clary quesitoned, "They can't just be gone?"

Jace inhales sharply, "There is another option."

Alec, Isabelle and I had already ganged up on him, shooting him our disagreements.

"I'm not afraid of the Silent Brothers." Jace softly chuckled.

Clary begs the question for her and Simon, "Who are the Silent Brothers?"

"They're Shadowhunters with superior powers." Jace began.

"Who possess the ability to recover memories." I explained quietly.

Alec shot her a look, adding in, "A process that can also kill you, so- there's that."

"Your bedside manner is abysmal." Simon comments.

"We've broken at least 18 Clave rules and now you want to go to the City of Bones?" Alec stared at Jace, "There's no way. I won't allow it."

"Jace- she doesn't know what she's facing. She could get killed-" I shook my head, taking Alec's side, "I'm not letting you do this."

"This isn't our choice to make." Jace looks between Alec and I, "This is Clary's decision."

"You can't ask her to do this." Isabelle sides with us, "Zee's right- she doesn't know what she's facing, she's not prepared."

"If anyone can tell me another way to recover my memories and still get the answers we need, I'm listening." Clary spoke up, then took an answer from our silence, "That settles it."

"See? I told you she's one of us." Jace breaks out into a small smile.

"Clary- no." I shook my head in denial, taking up the older sister role I've always had.

Clary rolls her eyes lightly, starting to walk past me, not acknowledging what I said.

"Clary-" I grab her arm and stop her, "I said no."

"Since when do you have the authority to tell me what to do?" A look of annoyance crossed Clary's features.

"Since I'm your older sister." I shot back at her, "This isn't safe, Clary- I can't let you do this."

"The day you left me was the day I stopped listening- and trusting you." Clary stared at me straight in the eye, then pulled away, walking away from us, Simon running after her.

Jace watched Clary walk away, then looked at me, "Zee-"

"Save it." I held my palm up, looking up at them, holding back the tears in my eyes, "I'm fine."

Alec stares at me, the look on his face showing me that he did not like how Clary was acting towards me.

Isabelle had pure sympathy in her eyes, "Zee- she's upset because of her Mom. She didn't mean that-"

"She did." I shook my head, following after Clary and Simon, "Let's get this over with."

-

"Yeah, this place isn't creepy." Simon immediately said when we all got out of his van, "Not at all."

Isabelle slightly smiled, "Don't tell me you're afraid."

"Are you kidding me?" Simon looked around, "I was born afraid- which sounded a lot better in my head."

"Let's check it out." Alec instructs, walking down the path.

I followed right behind him, Isabelle and Jace soon following us.

I sigh deeply when Jace comes to my side, "Jace- maybe we shouldn't be doing this."

"Are your overprotective sister instincts kicking in?" Jace looks at me, "It'll be fine-"

"Jace." I stop, looking at him, "She won't listen to me- but she will listen to you."

"Zee- this was her choice." Jace places a hand on my arm.

"She doesn't know what she's dealing with." I replied, "She can't turn into what we are overnight and risking her life- at the Silent Brothers- it isn't going to change that."

"Hey." Alec came to my side, staring at Jace, "If something goes wrong if something happens to her, that's on us. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah." Jace looks between us, "And you know exactly what'd happen if Valentine gets the Cup before we do."

"She's lost everything. I know exactly what that feels like." Jace sighs deeply.

"She never lost me." I told him, "You know that, Jace."

"She feels like she has." Jace said, then looked at Alec, "And what's your problem with her, anyway? Your family always used to welcome strays."

Alec rolls his eyes as if he was hiding the real reason, then looked at Jace, "You were never a stray."

"The point is, nothing's changed." Jace spoke, "We're in this fight together. There's just one more of us."

"Clary- come on, it's all clear." Jace reaches out for her, then grabs her hand and walks ahead of us.

Simon slowly follows, Isabelle linking arms with him, keeping him company.

I sigh, looking at my feet as I walked with Alec.

"You okay?" Alec walked alongside me, looking at our surroundings.

"I already said I'm fine." I shortly said.

"I'm waiting for an answer I believe." Alec looks at me, "I can tell you're not okay."

"What can I say, Alec?" I looked at him, "Clary- is the only part of my family that I have left. The family I left a while ago. My mother was taken from me- Jocelyn is now- gone. All I have is Clary. And it shows that she wants nothing to do with me."

"That doesn't give her any right to treat you that way." Alec spoke, "Family shouldn't treat family that way."

"She barely considers me family anymore, Alec." I cross my arms, "I mean- I left her."

"You didn't leave her, Zee." Alec wasn't going to let me blame myself, "You had no choice. You were portaled outside the Institute- you were scared and alone- and needed help."

"I didn't go back to see her after that day." I swallow, "She thought I was dead, Alec."

"Maybe you didn't- but you never stopped looking after her- you sent her presents- I mean, you're probably the best sister anyone could ask for." Alec shrugs softly.

"You're such a softie." I made eye contact with him, a small smile on my lips.

Alec softly smiled, silence falling between us.

"Clary was so happy to see you when she got here- what happened?" Alec quietly questioned, breaking the silence.

I clear my throat, "Well- she said, and I quote, "I was mourning over the loss of my sister that was here- sexing it up and having the time of her life." I mean- it's self explanatory."

Alec looks away, "She has no idea what she's talking about."

Slowly, our conversation comes to an end when we stop in front of the entrance.

"I can do this." Clary whispers, staring at it.

"Yeah, you can." Simon supports her, "You're Clary freakin' Fray. You can do anything."

"All right, hold up." Jace stops Simon from going any closer to the entrance.

"Surprise, surprise." Simon looks back at us, "No mundanes allowed, just like in the training room, right? Wrong! I've seen every horror movie ever made and the funny best friend who gets left behind dead man."

"You're not that funny." Jace crosses his arms, "But by all means, go ahead."

Simon starts to walk over, but I spoke up quickly, "Of course, Jace forgot to mention that the minute you enter, you'll die."

Simon turns and looks at Jace, "Problem is, now I don't trust you-"

"Zee's not lying." Alec steps up, then gestures, "The rune energy in the City of Bones will kill any mundane who dares to enter, so, please."

"The Brothers creep me out." Isabelle smiles, "I'll mind the mundane."

"Your sacrifice is noted, Izzy." Jace walks over to the entrance.

"Talk about sacrifice." Simon looks at Clary, "I'm missing a financial analysis class."

"I can't be here anymore, so, Jace, I'm gonna mind the perimeter." Alec gestures, then looks at me, "Wanna tag along?"

"Please." I mutter, following Alec.

-

"So, is cracking someone's mind open supposed to take this long?" Simon heated his hands up over the fire, "Maybe we, or you should go check?"

"Jace has it covered." Alec shortly said, his arms crossed as he leant against the metal, I stood next to him.

"Take my word for it." Isabelle smiles, "The Silent Brothers are quite unpleasant."

"That's not helping- not at all." Simon stammers, "What if Clary can't handle the Brothers? What does that-"

"It literally never stops talking." Alec stares at him, rolling his eyes.

"Alec-" I softly laugh, looking at him, "This it- is a he."

"Calling him that would mean I care- so nope." Alec dramatically exhales.

"Is he always so charming?" Simon questions.

"Firstborn." Isabelle shrugs, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."

"I feel his pain." Simon hums in response, "Only son. Mother wants me to be a CPA."

Isabelle almost hums, "And you? What do you want?"

"Me?" Simon blinks, "Um- well, I'm in a band."

"Yeah? What type of music? Let me guess." Isabelle points at him, "Indie rock?"

Simon chuckles, "Yeah."

"Got anything on your phone?" Isabelle questioned.

"I do- we recorded our last set. We killed. It's-" Simon reaches into his pockets, "I left my phone in the van."

"Let's go get it." Isabelle smiles, placing a hand on his back, the both of them turning towards the path we came down.

Alec notices, "Where is it going?"

"We'll be right back." Isabelle looked at us, noticing the looks on our faces, "What? He passes the time."

Isabelle starts to lead Simon away as he spoke, "I can hear you guys, you know?"

-

"What happened?" I question the minute Jace and Clary walked out, tears streaming down Clary's face, "What did you find out?"

Jace swallows, "Valentine is their father."

"What?" My eyes went wide.

"Wait a minute." Alec breathes out, "You're telling me this girl shows up out of nowhere and she's Valentine's daughter? And- Zee- she's-"

Alec looks at me, "Did you know about this?"

"Why the hell would I know?" I looked at him immediately, "I'm just as shocked as you-"

"Did you know?" Clary steps closer to me, tears in her eyes, "I mean- I'm pretty damn sure you kept the fact that you had a sister from them- so who knows what else you've been hiding."

"Clary-" I began.

Clary's anger and shock got the best of her, "How could any of us trust a word you say?"

"How could we trust a word you say?" Alec stepped up for me before I could speak, "Have you forgotten she has been by our sides for the past three years- and you've just dropped out of no where?"

"She'll run out on you, just like she did with me." Clary pushed, a tear slipping from her eye.

I stepped back, looking away, "Out of all the times you have to call me out and insult me- you choose now?"

"Clary- stop." Jace stops her, "She has no part in this."

"Jace- did it occur to you that she might be a spy?" Alec pressed, "This might be part of her plan?"

"That's enough, Alec." Jace sighed.

"Do you think I planned for my mom to get kidnapped? Or- or for Dot to be taken? Or to have a giant sword dangle over my head and find out that my father is one of the most dangerous people in the world? Really?" Clary blurts out, running a hand through her hair, "Where's Simon? Where's Simon?"

Isabelle ran over, "I told him to stay in the van. I've searched everywhere."

Clary's eyes widen, "He's gone?"

"I can't find him." Isabelle honestly told us.

"You were supposed to protect him!" Clary ran towards the van, "Simon!"

"Ugh, these mundanes are killing me-" Jace groans lightly, chasing after Clary.

We all rush over to the van, Clary calling out Simon's name, "Simon? Simon!"

"Is that the mundane's name?" The sound of a voice fills my ears, as we all quickly turned, as a man held Simon by his feet, standing on the high platform, "I'm afraid Simon's coming with us."

"No! No, he's not a part of this." Clary screams.

"And it'll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him." Jace calls out, coming to my side.

"Careful." Alec said, "We'd be violating the Accords."

"I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right." He said, "The Night Children have broken no laws. We're negotiating."

"The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup." He said, speaking before him, the woman next to him and Simon disappear, "And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people."

Clary screams into the cold night, "Simon!"

authors note:

HAD TO UNPUBLISH THIS CHAPTER SUPER QUICK CAUSE I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE SONG ZEE AND ALEC LISTENED TO IS WIDE EYED BY BILLY LOCKETT

clary's being a bitch ikikik

literally clary coming at zee in isabelle's room was so sloppy oml my bad

sksksks zalec tho uhmmm

and zace ? brotp all the way ok

also zee's such a mood, i can't-

vote and comment loooads