"So the trial is happening later today?" Isaac asked Magnus once he had returned to the apartment.

         Magnus had barely spoken to him, fixing his attention on trying to the win the trial as Isaac trailed after him, offering his help. But what he didn't realize was that the trial which would decide Isabelle's fate was that day. And Isaac, like everyone else, was not prepared.

         Everyone knew the truth of the trial. They didn't care about the ambush or Isabelle's involvement, what they cared about was the Cup – one that Clary had. And the Lightwood was close with the girl before she vanished, like everyone knew, but they also knew Clary cared for her friend.

         Isaac wanted to go and find Clary, tell her all about the trial and try and save Isabelle, but that wasn't what the brunette Shadowhunter would want. Isabelle would risk her life if it meant the Cup and her friends were safe – much like Clary. And while Isaac wanted to save her, he knew that if he took her away, she would still have to live in hiding for the rest of her life.

         The warlock nodded, "And I am totally unprepared for it! What am I going to say? A Downworlder has never defended a Shadowhunter before, and even if I do have a great defense, so what? It will all be ruined by the Clave."

         The Clave. That twisted government just like the rest of them. Isaac knew it wasn't true for every Shadowhunter, but the Clave definitely thought they were better than everyone else. They thought they were above the law, that they could decide when to follow it and when to venture from it. Isaac thought it was all complete bullshit.

         That Clave was going to strip an innocent Shadowhunter – one of their own – of her runes and leave her to die. Isaac didn't think that sounded fair, but what Clave would listen to a werewolf. They were Downworlders, after all.

         "I wish I could go," Isaac sighed, "Try and plead on her behalf, something that would accuse me instead of her."

         "It's too risky," Magnus shook his head, "You would be arrested alongside her if you appeared in front of them. It wouldn't let her off the hook."

         Isaac nodded. "I know...it's just – ah – I hate feelings. I really hate feelings, especially right now."

         The warlock smiled, laughing at him slightly as he threw his head against the couch in frustration. "Very descriptive, please continue."

         Isaac thought about. He never really talked about Allison since her death. He had fled to quickly to speak to the pack, and Chris never wanted to hear her name again. He had tried therapy to get over her death, but it didn't work out well when he was trying to hunt those who needed to be hunted. But he also never tried to get over her death, not really.

         And Magnus was his friend. Magnus was his friend who had told him about his true family, had gotten him to speak Allison's name for the first time in what seemed like forever, and he had been there when he really realized his feelings for Isabelle. He had been there for him and he had been there for the warlock, listening to fantasies he so desperately wanted to forget.

         With a sigh, Isaac started:

         "I haven't like someone since...since Allison. She was brave, fierce, and at first I thought I wouldn't have a chance with her. She was dating one of my best friends. And then they broke up and moved on, and she moved on to me. I felt alive when I was with her, and I knew I would do anything for her."

         He wiped a tear that was threatening to spill, "And then she died. She died in the most Allison way possible; saving her friends. It felt like everything shattered with her. Allison was the first person to really welcome me, to help me get past my childhood...and then she was gone."

         Magnus said nothing as he stared at Isaac with pity. Now he realized why he wouldn't just get the girl, admit that he liked her and see that she liked him back. He was afraid, he was so afraid of losing someone else that he loved. So afraid that he wouldn't be there to save him.

         And now it was happening again. Isabelle was put on trial – one that would probably sentence her to an impending death. It was just like Allison, but slower, and like both times, Isaac was helpless.

         He was always helpless.

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         "We couldn't even count the demons," Clary told them in a panicked voice.

         After his little chat with Magnus, Isaac went back to Jade Wolf to wait for Clary and Luke to return. The warlock had a trial to attend and the werewolf had his sister and father figure to wait for. It had been awkward in the time before they arrived. Isaac refused to speak to Michael and he never really got along with Jace. The only thing they had in common was a desire to protect Clary. Though his was much stronger than Isaac's.

         But immediately when they returned, Clary filled them in one all the details. Or was beginning to.

         "Yeah, but we still gotta get Jocelyn out of there," Luke reminded the redhead.

         It was always about Jocelyn. Always about the two Fairchild girls, Isaac had noticed. Everyone focused on Clary and Clary always focused on her mother. But he bit his tongue for once and didn't say anything. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he wanted his mother back. She had abandoned him and kept Clary, that stung more than anything.

         "That would be a suicide mission," Jace walked pass them, taking a seat next to his father.

         "Doesn't have to be," Clary disagreed, shaking her head, "I have the Cup. Demons have to obey me."

         Michael shook his head, "That's what Valentine wants. He knows you'll do anything to save your mother. He wants you to take out the Cup and use it."

         "And if I do?" Clary asked. Isaac sniffed the air again, smelling something of pride from Michael. Why would he be prideful in this? Like something was going his way?

         "He'll take it," Michael crossed his arms, not skipping a beat, "And he'll kill us, too."

         It was one thing, to Isaac, to understand the mind of a psycho. It was another to know every thought of his without even thinking. He knew what it was like to get into the mind of a monster, but it took difficulty and time, but Michael answered it in a heartbeat, like they were his very own thoughts.

         "Let him try," Clary finished, trying to be menacing, but Isaac almost laughed. That was the least menacing thing he had ever seen, she practically resembled a gummy bear.

         They waited until later to actually leave, thinking that night was the best time to leave. Isaac had no objections to it, only caring that Michael did not in fact suggest it. He didn't trust a thing that came from his mouth, no matter how smart or logical it was.

         They all stayed in Jade Wolf, not caring to leave. If anyone saw them, anyone from the Clave or who worked for them, game over. They would be arrested for treason and forced to give up the Cup. And the worst punishments would go to Luke and Isaac, who would probably be killed before even thinking of giving them a trial. But that was what they called fair in the Clave.

         Isaac stared at his phone, though, hoping that Magnus would text him something about the trial. He tried not to draw suspicion, but with his knee bouncing and his eyes trained at the phone, it wasn't hard to tell that something was wrong with him.

         Clary was the first one to come up to him, placing her hand on his shoulder in a comforting way. "Hey, is everything alright?" she softly asked.

         Isaac nodded, "I'm fine," spewing yet another lie right at her face, and she didn't even notice. He had told so many, Isaac wasn't sure how he knew what was the truth.

         And he hated that. He hated how much he lied, especially to Clary. He lied about his biological parents, lied so many times to her because he wanted to believe that. He wanted to believe that they weren't actually related, he wanted to believe that Jocelyn wasn't his mother and Clary wasn't his sister. And most importantly, that Valentine wasn't his father.

         But he was. He was still a Fairchild at the end of the day, no matter how many times he called himself Lahey.

         Clary left him after that, and he sighed, looking right back down at his phone. And like magic, a text from Magnus appeared: Not going well.

         It was only three words. Three words that shattered his heart completely. Not going well. It meant so many things, it could have been that the opposing side wasn't doing well and they were winning, but that was a foolish thought.

         No, Isaac knew what it meant. He knew that it meant he would never see Isabelle again, he would never have his feelings return, and nothing would ever happen between them. But he wasn't the only one losing that amazing girl. Alec would be losing his sister, so would Jace, and everyone else would be losing a friend – a great friend who cared so much for everyone.

         He stared down at the phone, not daring to look up. What could he say? Would he say anything? Jace deserved to know, he needed to know that his sister was on trial and it wasn't going well, but he didn't.

         As Isaac looked up, seeing Jace murmuring to Clary with a tiny smile on his face, he realized that he couldn't ruin that. It seemed for once that everything was alright in his world. Maybe his parabatai bond was weak, but he had his father (though Isaac still didn't trust him) and he had Clary. Hearing this would break him.

         Maybe it was another lie. Maybe it was just another secret that Isaac wanted to keep. It seemed he was good at it, just like he was good at deciding him knowing something and others being in the dark was better. Just like with Clary, keeping the secret of their true bond because it was better. It was protecting her from everything he had ever done, every mistake he had made in Beacon Hills and every monster he defeated. Or the monster that he had become. She had already learned about who she really was, who her father was, and that she had two brothers (one that died) in only a few weeks. She didn't actually need to meet the brother who survived and was shipped away.

         But then the sun finally fell and it was time to leave. No longer could Isaac dwell on the text that Magnus sent or think about all his secrets that he kept. They all got up to leave, Isaac not speaking a word to anyone as they did so. And it wasn't long before they reached Renwick.

         "This doesn't make any sense," Luke was the first one to speak, "There were a thousand demons here last night."

         "That's what he wants," Michael explained, "He wants to draw us in, force Clary to use the Cup."

         It was then that a few Shadowhunters (rogue ones) came running outside of the building, fighting them. They immediately attacked Michael and Luke, but one made its way to Isaac. He had never killed a Shadowhunter before, never killed anything that was technically alive, but that night might change that.

         He brought out his claws, slashing the collarbone of the Shadowhunter, vaguely hearing words from Luke and the others, but he didn't care enough to listen. The rogue Shadowhunter took a step back, seeing the damage Isaac did to him before charging in anger. Isaac moved out of the way just in the nick of time, causing more anger to appear inside the Shadowhunter.

         Isaac took his blade and threw it on the ground, slashing his stomach again. The Shadowhunter clutched his stomach, falling slightly, and Isaac threw him to the ground, his claws up ready to slash his throat. That's when he remembered the words from his friends:

         Not all monsters do monstrous things.

         No, he didn't kill the Shadowhunter. That would be proving that Downworlders were all killers and what he was doing was right in the Circle member's eyes, Isaac knew that. Instead, he just knocked the member out, making it look like he was dead before standing up again.

         Isaac Lahey – Isaac Fairchild – was not a killer. And he wouldn't become one that day.

         The werewolf then looked up to see Clary sneaking in the building. It looked like the others could handle the rogue Shadowhunters so he went inside, following the redhead.

         He heard a door opening when he walked in, then a harsh clashing of something on the ground. Isaac turned to where he heard it, racing towards when a faint, "Mom...Mom!" was heard. He reached the room to find Clary standing over the body of Jocelyn Fairchild.

         "Mom, please, wake up," she whimpered. Isaac went over to her, bringing his sister close to him and holding her, not allowing himself to see her glossy eyes when he knew that she was feeling already. It would only break his heart more.

         Then Isaac could hear the sound of the doors being shut loudly and the two siblings turned sharply to see Jace and his father. "Where's Luke?" Clary asked.

         "We left him fighting Blackwell," Jace saw the look on her face and explained, "Luke told us to leave him, Clary."

         Isaac heard the growling of demons before they even appeared, banging against the door. He could smell the desperation for the doors to open radiating off them.

         Clary raced to the door, only to be brought back by Jace. "No! What are you doing? Get back!"

         "Jace, we cannot shut Luke out! He has to make it inside!" Clary cried to him.

         "No, Clary, there is not enough time!" Jace said to her in a commanding voice. Isaac went to the door, making sure it was strong enough. If it came to it, he would use his strength to keep the door shut and the demons out.

         "We have to secure the room," Michael continued, "We don't even know if Luke is still..."

         "Alive?" Clary finished for him, looking at him in shock, "Jace, no. You have to tell him! We cannot shut Luke out! He will die for nothing!" she looked back at her mother, "I can't wake her up."

         "Luke wants you and Jocelyn out of here," Michael told her, "That's all he cares about. Pull yourself together."

         "Clary, if you don't help us, no one survives," Jace calmly said. Isaac pushed against the door then, the rune fading as it was almost only he strength holding them out. "Do you understand? We will get her home. Look at me! We will find a way to wake her up. Do you believe me?"

         Isaac pushed against the door with all his strength, but the demons were much stronger than him. "Get ready!" his words were almost lost in his gritted teeth, but the message was still heard loud and clear.

         It was only moments later, moments filled with the grunting of Isaac as he tried to keep the door closed, before anyone spoke again.

         "Clary, now!" Jace commanded, walking towards the center of the room, "We can't wait any longer."

         Clary walked to him, taking out the Cup and holding it high, "Demons, I command you! Find Valentine!"

         Nothing happened. No demons left, they only became angrier. The other doors were getting compromised, but Isaac couldn't even think about that as he tried to keep his shut.

         Clary looked back at Jace before trying again. "Demons, find Valentine!"

         It was then that Michael stepped forward, looking at them, "Let me try."

         Don't give it to him, Isaac thought, his eyes nearly shut as he focused all his energy on keeping the doors shut.

         Michael smiled at them, taking his blade and impaling into his arm. He groaned, falling to the ground as he revealed himself as Valentine, still smiling at that.

         Knew it, Isaac thought again, but his thoughts helped nothing of what was happening.

         "Valentine," Jace spat with so much malice Isaac actually thought he was going to attack the man.

         Valentine only raised the Cup, smirking like a winner, "Demons...attack my enemies." The demons broke through another door as Isaac pushed himself off of the main one, falling to the ground. "I command you!"

         "Knock it off, guys!" Clary yelled and the demons went away, "You're not the only one who knows how to cast a glamour." Valentine looked at the cup in his hand only to find a mug that he threw to the ground. "Should we let the demons take care of this? Or..."

         "No," Jace answered, his eyes set on revenge, "Send them away."

         "Demons, be gone!" Clary commanded and the demons all disappeared.

         "You pretended to be my father," Jace looked at him, not letting go of the gaze.

         "I wasn't pretending, Jace," Valentine put his hands up. Isaac looked up then, hearing no skip in his heart as he said those words. Then it all completed in his mind, like a puzzle; Jace was the brother that supposedly died in the fire. Jace was his brother.

         "You murdered him," Jace took a step forward, bringing his blade to Valentine's throat, "You're a liar!"

         "I am your father. I always have been," Valentine calmly replied, reminding Isaac of Star Wars, "The face that you saw as Michael Wayland was mine. Then and now. It was a powerful glamour. I want you to know me as I am. To know the truth about me...and you."

         "Jace! Jace, don't listen to him!" Clary interrupted, "He's my father. We know that for a fact."

         "Yes, that's true. That's a fact. I am your father, Clary," Valentine then looked at Jace again, "And Jace's. Think about it. Why are the two of you so drawn together? You are meant to be. Blood calls to blood, no? Ah...my only wish is that your brother Isaac was here too, but he died in that fire."

         "Isaac..." Clary muttered, looking down at the ground as her eyes drew tears.

         It was then that he stood up. "Me..." Isaac spat, "You're talking about me. The brother that was sent away from you..."

         Valentine smiled, looking at the three of them. "My dear family...together at last. A lost mother, found. Two brothers and a sister, finally united."

         Jace screamed, running to Valentine, who only looked at him, "You won't kill me. You won't kill me. I said that you were weak, and I meant it. What's wrong, Jace? Can't kill the man who raised you, hmm?"

         "I can!" Clary yelled running to them as Valentine turned to grab Jace, holding the boy in front of him making it impossible for him to be killed.

         "Go ahead, Clary. Two for one," Valentine said, "We can't even fight back, huh? No? Come with me, son. You know that you love me. Your sister and brother are welcome to join us. And bring your mother alone. We can find a way to get her moving again."

         Valentine pushed Jace towards Clary as he went through the Portal, disappearing. Luke pushed open the doors that Isaac fought so hard to keep closed. He went straight to Jocelyn. The three siblings didn't look at each other.

         "Jocelyn," Luke muttered, looking at her with such awe, "I'm taking you home."

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         "Why didn't you tell me?" Clary muttered, still looking at their mother, "Why didn't you tell me that you knew?"

         Isaac sighed, looking down at his hands as he realized what she was asking. "I was afraid...I came looking for my family, but I never realized that I was staying with them for two years. Magnus told me, and then I was afraid of your reaction."

         "My reaction?" Clary asked, confused, turning to him, "Isaac, you always knew that I thought of you as a brother before."

         "Okay, let me rephrase that," Isaac muttered to himself, "I was afraid of your reaction to everything that I've done. I wasn't only trying to protect you, I thought that if I didn't let myself believe, then it wouldn't be true. I wouldn't be the third child of Valentine, I guess."

         Clary looked at him for only a second more before bringing him into a hug, comforting him just like he needed. There were virtually no more secrets between them. She knew the truth, he didn't have to hide it anymore.

         And for the first time in a while, everything seemed to be looking up for Isaac Fairchild.

I hope you know, isaac and isabelle are going to kiss soon ;)