Isabelle sighs when her, Jace and I were heading to Sebastian's apartment, "Zee, don't-"

"No, I didn't trust him from the beginning-" I scoffed lightly, tightening my low pony tail, "I knew something was up with him, and I let my guard down- I should've went with my gut."

"Zee, don't put this all on yourself." Jace places a hand on my back, knowing that it was all I did, "He would've found his way into our lives, one way or another."

I mumbled, "Yeah, whatever-"

"The only thing that matters now is taking Jonathan and Valentine out." Jace said, before pulling his seraph blade out as he headed up to the apartment.

I kicked the door open, my kindjals in my grip, staring at Sebastian's back as he sat in a chair, "Jonathan!"

Jace was at my side, "Turn around and face us-"

"Where is Valentine?" Isabelle held her staff tight.

When Isabelle got no response, she slowly used her staff to push him lightly, revealing Sebastian's lifeless body.

"He's been dead for days." Jace notices, taking a step, "Tortured first."

I exhale slow, "This was the real Sebastian Verlac."

"Ave atque vale." Jace went quiet.

Isabelle and I recite, "Hail and farewell."

Suddenly, Sebastian leaps from his seat and grips onto the wall, making Jace's eyes go wide, "It's a possessing demon-"

When he launched for us, Jace knocked him to the ground as I pierced both kindjals into him, him screeching, the demon fogging out and dying, Sebastian's dead body laying there.

Isabelle stares down the body, "We'll make 'em pay for what they did to you-"

I exhale slow, "We're going to make them pay for everything."

-

"Have you notified the Verlac family yet?" asked Inquisitor Herondale through the video chat that was set up in Alec's office, one that Jace and I were a part of.

Alec nods once, "The Penhallow daughter, Aline, will deliver the message in person, Madame Inquisitor."

"Defiling the body of a fallen soldier and turning it into a booby trap is sadly par for the course for Valentine, isn't it?" Inquisitor Herondale spoke.

"The possessing demon wouldn't have done this its own." Alec tells her, "The trap could only have been set using the Mortal Cup to command it."

Inquisitor Herondale scoffs, "So, he had it all along."

Alec only nodded once, "And our intel shows he's also in possession of the Mortal Sword."

Inquisitor Herondale huffs, "Do you have any good news for me today, Mr. Lightwood?"

"Valentine and Jonathan believe that the New York Institute is in possession of the Mortal Mirror." Alec brought up, "They won't leave the city without it."

Inquisitor Herondale sighs quietly, "Thank the Angel that at least he wasn't able to find that."

"We were." Alec looked back at me, "Zee."

"Believe it or not, my connection with the Angel led us to it." My hands were behind my back, "It's in Idris- the mirror is Lake Lyn."

"That's the very same water that Raziel first rose from." Inquisitor Herondale looked shocked, "Who else knows about this?"

"Unfortunately, the number of people we can trust is getting smaller by the day." Jace interjects, "We thought it best to tell you first."

"We'd like to officially request soldiers from the Guard to be placed in the surrounding woods around the lake." Jace asked her, "It may only be a matter of time before Valentine realizes he's been had."

"I'll speak to Consul Malachi about deployment at once." Inquisitor Herondale said before the video chat cut out, "Good hunting."

Jace huffs, walking around Alec's desk when it cut out, "So- what do we do now?"

"Start looking, obviously." I cross my arms, looking at him, sarcasm slipping my lips, "How hard could it be?"

"The job is too big to go alone." Alec got up, "We need to ask for help."

Jace looks at him, "From who, Alec?"

"From everyone." Alec stares at us.

I stare back, "Who's everyone?"

-

"Where, oh where is Simon?" The Seelie Queen asked when we walked into the room they were all waiting for us in, every other leader stood behind her.

"Your Highness." Clary wasn't happy to see her, "What an unpleasant surprise."

Alec began, "I'm sure she didn't mean to-"

"No offense, Alec, but- I agree with Clary." Jace cut him off, "Your Majesty- is this another one of your little games?"

"The Institute called an emergency meeting of the Downworld Council." Her words ticked me off immediately. "I speak on behalf of the Downworld."

"You're kidding me." I scoffed lightly and began taking a step, my eyes on Magnus, "Are you actually kidding me? What a load of crap-"

Alec grabbed my arm and looks at me, shooting me a look to stop before I could go further, making me clench my jaw and look down.

"Henceforth, when you need anything from the Downworld, you shall address me, Mr. Lightwood." The Seelie Queen made herself clear, "Such is the nature of our new agreement."

Alec kept a hold on my arm, "Your Highness, Valentine believes the Institute has the Mortal Mirror; and he's not going to leave the city without it. I would like the Downworld's help in locating him."

She asks, "In order to capture him so that he might escape once again?"

"In order to execute him so this threat may finally end." Alec made himself clear, my head snapping towards him for just a moment.

It had to be done.

She stares, "Why should we believe you?"

"I understand why you might doubt my intentions after what happened with the Soul Sword- and for that, I am sorry." Alec took charge, "But, I founded this council to make things more transparent between the Downworld and the Clave."

She questioned, "And how has that been going?"

"It's been a bit of a work in progress." Alec said.

"For far too long, the Downworld has depended on the Clave and your Institute to protect us from men like Valentine." She got up, "It's time we learnt our lesson and started fighting for ourselves."

"We can't do this alone." Alec stares at her, "Valentine is a threat to all of us."

She stood her ground regardless, "The answer, Shadowhunters- is no."

-

"Hey-" I peaked my head through the kitchen doors at the Jade Wolf, looking between Maia and Simon, "I don't mean to interrupt what I believe is a- truly, meaningful conversation- but, I need the vampire."

"Zee-" Maia looks at me, "Hey- long time."

"Hey, Crawls." I smirked lightly at the nickname, "Sorry, I've been busy- you know, trying to save your world and all- it really takes it out of ya."

Maia simply smirks at me, then walks away as I looked at Simon, "Come on, Vampey."

"Am I ever going to wear down the nicknames?" Simon asked when we walked outside into the broad daylight, "First it was Mundie, now it's Vampey-"

"Never." I gave him a flat smile, "So, you and Maia?"

"Yeah." Simon was smiling at thought of it, "I guess it kind of just uh- happened."

"That's cute." I simply said, then put my hands in my pockets, "But- I actually have a job for you."

Simon looks at me, "What's wrong?"

"You ready?" I stared up at him, "Gotta promise you won't freak on me or something-"

"You know I always have your back, Young." Simon puts a hand on my shoulder, "And there's no job that's too big-"

I purse my lips, "Well, good- because I need you to talk to the Seelie Queen."

"That job's too big-" Simon immediately turns.

"Oh, come on- don't be a wuss." I came around and stood in front of him again, "Look, if the Clave goes to war with the Downworld, everything that we know and love will be destroyed- and, from what I heard from the ginger about what happened back in the Seelie Court in regards to you- you're probably the only person that even has a chance of getting the Seelie Queen to change her mind and work with us."

"And how do you know this for sure?" Simon asks.

"The first thing she did when we walked in was ask about you." I cross my arms, "Simon, I don't think she has your world in her best interest- I think she wants to see the destruction and that is something that neither of us want to happen-"

Simon stares at me for a moment, then sighs, nodding, "Fine-"

-

"So, you want to use your blood to track your un-trackable brother through the Angelic connection that you and I share?" Jace followed me into the courtyard when we had found out Valentine knew where the real Mirror was.

"Just, hear me out- alright?" I took off my jacket, then tied up my hair, "Jonathan and I both have Morgenstern blood in our veins- I saw a rune when I was zoned out- thought maybe it could work- 'cause, you know- it usually does."

"Well, totally- that sounds great." Jace was sarcastic, "Doable."

"Oh, shut it." I shot him a playful glare, backing away a few steps, "I would've asked the redhead, but- I can tolerate you better."

"You're in a better mood." Jace took off his shirt, tossing it to the side, "The nicknames and remarks have made a comeback-"

"This is the best idea I've got, and I have a really good feeling about it." I stopped, "Sooner we find them, sooner Magnus will realize I've been on his side all along- restore Alec's memories when it's time and then, hopefully- if he doesn't despise me for what I did- he'll love me the same."

"Alright, fine-" Jace took a step closer to me, staring at me, "How do we do this?"

"Just, let me at it." I went quiet, exhaling slow, focusing on my abilities, as my eyes started to glow, the rune searing itself onto my arm, gold and bright, as one appeared in front of me, where I pushed it toward Jace's chest, as it pressed onto his skin.

Suddenly, all our runes lit up, the both of us stood still, feeling the rushing feeling through our veins due to the rune I had created.

Then, suddenly, a wave broke us out of the trance, my head snapping towards Jace, "Got him-"

-

"Why would they hide in a graveyard?" Clary asked the moment we stepped out of the portal I made.

Isabelle looks around, "They probably raided an old weapons cache."

Jace follows, "Doesn't explain what happened to everybody else here."

"I don't think they left." Alec spots fresh blood.

"Let's split up." I pulled out my kindjals, looking at them, "Izzy, Clary- you're with me-"

Clary looked amused for just a moment, "Used my actual name, now, did you?"

"Don't get used to it-" I flip my kindjal in my hand, then ran for the building, the both of them right on my tail, as we slowly inched inside, our weapons tight in our hands, "Stay sharp-"

"You doing alright?" Isabelle looked around, holding her whip, "You look a lot better-"

"Glad you noticed." I slowly walked, looking around, "I'll be a whole lot better when this is all over-"

Isabelle suddenly says, making us both freeze, "Stop-"

"Is she hurt?" asked Clary when the woman in front of us was growling and snarling at us, inching for us.

"No- she's forsaken." I threw a kindjal at her, killing her, and suddenly we were surrounded by many.

Isabelle, Clary and I did our best to find them off, getting blood everywhere, taking them out one by one the more they came for us.

Our grunts filled the room with every move we made fighting off the Forsaken's, taking out every group that showed up when we took out the other.

I grunted, wiping some blood from my chin as if it would make a difference to all the blood on my face and clothes, my expression dropping when another two starting to come for me, "Damn-"

An arrow goes right through them, making them drop dead, Alec stood a few feet away, making me tilt my head lightly to the side, "Thanks-"

"I had that handled." I immediately said to him.

"Sure you did-" Alec walks over to us, covered in blood as well, "You're welcome by the way."

"I'm not thanking you-" I crossed my arms, tilting my head a little more to the side while I talked to him, "I was getting ready to make my move-"

Alec stares at me for a few moments, a small smile forming on his lips despite the circumstance.

"Where's your blonde haired side kick?" I noticed Jace's absence, "Did he find a mirror?-"

Alec pauses, looking at me as if he was processing and was confused, but clears his throat, "Sebastian- we gotta find them."

"Guys!-" Clary points behind us, at the growling and snarling, making us immediately hold our weapons up.

"You guys got this?" I looked between them, taking a few steps back, "I'm going after Sebastian-"

"Go-" Alec nodded only once, as I turned and made a run for it, rushing towards where Sebastian and Jace were on the bridge the moment I spot them, seeing Jace on the ground and Sebastian over him.

"I wonder- have you stopped blathering on because I just punctured your lung?" Sebastian was torturing him, my heart aching when I heard Jace's pained scream, "Or maybe you've realized, here at the end- that I have always been better than you? That I've always been the best-"

"Well, then you haven't fought the right person-" I threw my kindjal, as he growled it landed right in his arm that held the seraph blade he was using to hurt Jace, "Because I'm the best."

Sebastian drops the blade and pulls my kindjal out, looking at me, his teeth clenched, "I missed you, sister-"

"Didn't seem like you cared for me at all when you slit my throat open." I walked toward him, my grip o my other kindjal getting tighter, "I'm one hard bitch to kill-"

"That indeed you are-" Sebastian went to stab me but I dodged, "This time, I won't disappoint-"

My jaw clenched, as I started fighting him off, having a hold of my other kindjal now as well, both blades against his seraph blade, "Why are you out here all by yourself? He left you, didn't he?-"

"If he left you-" I dodged a swing, trying to get a rise out of him, "He's probably not coming back."

"He'll be back for me." Sebastian grunts when I knocked him to the ground, "He will."

"No, he won't-" I almost laughed, knocking him in the face, "He came back for me, though- even after I turned on him and the Circle. That- kind of makes me the favorite, doesn't it?"

Sebastian practically shouts in my face, piercing his seraph blade into my side, as I grunted, blood immediately oozing out when he pulled out the blade.

I got him right back, piercing both kindjals onto his sides, kicking him back, before dropping my kindjals and holding my bleeding side.

Sebastian reaches for his blade, but is stopped when a whip got his arm, Isabelle, Alec and Clary now on the scene as well, as he began fighting them off.

Singlehandedly, he manages to knock them all off their feet, but Isabelle gets back up, catching his hand with her whip again, as he began pulling her towards him, "Well, I suppose this won't be a fair fight, then, will it?-"

"You didn't seem to have a problem when you took a run at my baby brother-" Isabelle was upset, "I trusted you when I was at my weakest! At my lowest- I brought you into my life into my family and you betrayed me!-"

"I saved your life." Sebastian growled at her in anger, "That should be worth something-"

"That's why I'm giving you a more honorable death than you deserve." Isabelle nods at me once, letting go off the whip as I grabbed the seraph blade from the ground and pierced it right through Sebastian.

"That spot on a man's back- that kills him in an instant." I said in his ear when he was croaking out in pain, "First thing father taught me."

I pulled the blade out and stopped it, taking a few steps back, watching as his blood oozed out of him.

Sebastian grabs Jace by the neck in his last few seconds of life, choking him the moment he stood up, as I acted quickly, grabbing Alec's bow and quiver from the ground, before using it, shooting a few arrows at Sebastian, making him let go of Jace and fall off the bridge, then land in the water.

"Wow-" Alec stumbled to his feet, "You using my bow and quiver has got to be the most attractive thing I've ever seen-"

I looked at him, my hand holding his bow tight, not saying anything, as he looked at me, "Did I just say that out loud?-"

"Yeah-" I blinked once, then noticed how just for a moment his expression changed to the confusing expression he had every now and then now.

I shook it off and looked at Sebastian's floating dead body in the river below, "Hail and farewell."

authors note:

a few explanations: ( just for anyone who doesn't understand, i don't want anyone confused !! )

zee doesn't want alec to remember until after they've defeated valentine and sebastian, which is why she's avoiding and dodging everything alec is trying to piece together

alec having those confused moments when looking at her is having some what of a deja vu in a way, for example, bow and quiver, he's seen her use it when she shot the forsaken that got into the institute and attacked, where he had taken the hit for her. and, another example, him looking confused when she says a remark or makes a joke, because since he's forgotten she hasn't been doing much of it, so now that she's getting back into the swing of things, that's playing a part as well.

there weren't many zalec moments in this chapter, but there will be a lot in the next chapter !!

zee and simon are underrated btw, i love their friendship

but, thank you for 41k !!

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