I walk into my room, noticing Jace stood with his back toward me, holding the box, staring at the objects inside.

"Jace?" My voice is quiet and in a whisper, as to why he was still in my room even after I left.

"How could I not know?" He slams the box closed, looking back at me.

I swallow hard, knowing he was referring to the box, knowing that we were picking up right where we left off with our most recent conversation, "Jace- I don't know."

"But, Jace, the one thing I know for sure is you are not a bad person." I walked over to him, "You're not Valentine."

"I should have killed him." Jace's voice is dangerously low, "And yet I can't shake the feeling that he was right."

"Well- you know what, he wasn't. He's getting to your head." I put a hand on his arm, "Valentine is my father, too. We're the same-"

"No, we're not, Zee." Jace raises his voice, "No, we are not. Margaret raised you- and then Jocelyn took over."

"I was raised by Valentine, and a pair of baby booties isn't gonna change that." Jace was ready to throw the box onto the ground.

I caught it quickly, the wood hitting my hand hard, "Jace, stop!"

Jace stares at me, anger threaded in his actions.

"I don't have the answers." My voice was calm, "I can't explain what I don't know. But- Jocelyn, she can. We are so close to waking her up. You want answers as badly as I do, we have to go back to the Hotel DuMort and talk to Camille."

"Fine." Jace sighs, "Where's Simon?"

"I just said goodbye to him-" I grab a bit of my dress, lifting it up, running out of my room and through the Institute, grabbing the bookmark on the way, spotting Simon, "Simon, wait!"

He stops at the sound of my voice, turning, "What's going on?"

"We need your help." Jace came to my side after I came to a stop.

I swallow, holding up the bookmark, "The Book of the White. It contains the spell that can wake Jocelyn, but she hid it so Valentine can never find it."

Jace nods, "We have a lead."

"The Bookmark of the White?" Simon stares at it.

"It's a piece of the book itself." I explain, "Magnus tracked its owner to the Hotel DuMort, but it belongs to the one and only Camille."

"Okay, um-" Simon inhaled deeply, "I'll set a meeting with Raphael."

I smile, "Thank you."

-

"How's Lydia?" Clary asks as we all grouped into the Ops Center, stood behind Isabelle who was seated, looking through the security footage.

"Better." Alec comes to my side, "Magnus is doing what he can to help her, but it's bad. And the Cup is definitely missing."

Jace inhales deeply, "So is Hodge."

"Maybe he was attacked, too." Isabelle suggests, looking through the footage.

I threw out a possibility, "Maybe he's the one who attacked her."

"Hodge?" Isabelle glances at me, "No way. We've known him our entire lives. He would never do that to us."

We watched the sped up footage, Isabelle spotting right as Lydia pulled out the Mortal Cup, Hodge attacking her and knocking her to the ground, grabbing the Mortal Cup from her.

"I led him right to the Cup." Jace stares at the footage in betrayal.

Betrayal crosses Alec's face as well, "We treated him like family. How could he do this to us?"

Isabelle switched to a different camera, watching the footage, Hodge stood by Jocelyn, talking to someone, but we couldn't see who.

"That's how." Clary spoke, "What is that ring?"

"Looks like he's talking to someone." Isabelle points out.

Jace and I spoke in unison without intending to, "And I can bet who it is."

Jace and I looked at each other, our eyes connecting.

I clear my throat, looking away, "Valentine."

"Well, that explains how he deactivated the Punishment rune, but it doesn't explain where he got the ring." Alec slips his hands into his pockets.

Clary questions, "You think someone smuggled it past the wards?"

"Maybe." Jace exclaimed, "Hodge wasn't the only ex-Circle member around here."

Isabelle looks back at him, "Look, I know I don't always see eye to eye with my parents, but I know they're not traitors."

"Really? Isn't that what you just said about Hodge?" Jace shot back at her, "It'd have to be someone we trusted, but if there was an intruder inside the Institute, we would have found them by now."

I looked up at Jace and Alec, "What about the Forsaken attack?"

"No." Alec looks at me, "We killed that thing, and I didn't see a ring."

"He didn't have one during the autopsy, but maybe there's something in the footage." Isabelle pulls it up, fast forwarding through it.

"Go to the other camera." Alec tells her, as we watched Hodge take the ring off the Forsaken.

Jace points, "There."

I place my hands on my hips, "So, it wasn't a random attack."

"He was just the delivery boy." Jace scoffs.

"If he gives that Cup to Valentine, he'll create an army of Shadowhunters." Alec said, "With that kind of power behind him, he'll kill thousands."

"He'll kill thousands just creating the army." Isabelle sighs, "Most mundanes won't survive that."

I look at them, "We won't let that happen."

"I'm gonna make sure of it." Jace walks away.

-

"Jace, what are you doing?" I walk over to him as him and Alec were dressed out of their suits and into their normal clothes, gearing up.

"Every second we waste here, Hodge gets closer to Valentine." Jace doesn't look at me, handing Alec his bow.

I stare at him, "What if Hodge is already with Valentine?"

"That's even worse." He shortly said, grabbing his blade.

"What I mean is-" I huff, "We're a team, all right? I know you're mad right now, but Hodge could be dangerous."

"Two of us, one of him." Jace dismissively said, "Check the math, but I'm pretty sure he's outnumbered."

"Didn't he teach you everything you know?" I question, "Training wise?"

"We'll work our way through it." He simply said.

"Hey- what is with you?" I push, "Would you just talk to me for a second?"

Jace stood and looks at me, "Lydia, Hodge- all this is happening because I didn't stop Valentine."

"What? So you're going to take the blame now?" I gape at him, "Jace, you cannot let emotions cloud your judgment."

"Hey- you're learning." Alec comments, putting on his quiver.

I looked at him, staying silent.

"Now is not the time, I see that now." Alec clears his throat, readjusting his bow.

I playfully roll my eyes, looking at Jace, "Jace-"

"You need to wake Jocelyn up." Jace orders, "She was his prisoner and his wife. If anyone can stop him, she can."

"Jace, listen to me-" I began.

He cuts me off, staring at me in the eye, "You can do this."

"Now is not the time for words of encouragement." I ran a hand through my hair, "I'm worried about you, Jace."

"I'm fine." Jace shortly said, looking away.

"You're not thinking straight." I said to him, "You're anger and whatever Valentine said is getting to your head-"

Jace steps closer to me, "He's my father."

"Actually-" I correct him, "He's our father."

"You don't get it." Jace shook his head, grabbing the rest of what he needs, walking away.

Alec looks at me, giving me a sympathetic look, before following him, "Jace-"

-

As we had changed out of our dresses, we walked into the Hotel DuMort, Simon and Raphael facing us.

I was dressed in a maroon t shirt, one that was tucked into black ripped jeans, black heeled ankle boots on my feet, a black leather jacket covering my bare arms.

"For Shadowhunters, you don't seem to do a lot of Shadowhunting." Raphael folds his hands, looking at us.

Isabelle scoffs, "There is more to the job than killing demons."

"We need to talk to Camille." Clary puts her hands on her hips, "We know you have her here. We tracked her to the DuMort."

"It's true, but I'm afraid she's a bit tied up at the moment." Raphael stares at us, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Just a second." Simon pulls Raphael to the side, whispering, "Look, I know this sounds crazy, but we have to let them talk to Camille. She has a spell book that could wake up Jocelyn Fairchild. Valentine might have the Cup. The entire Downworld's in danger."

"She's far too dangerous." Raphael shook his head, "Or did you already forget what happened last time you "talked" to her?"

"It's not like she can kill me again." Simon shot back.

"You said it yourself if Valentine has the Cup, the entire Downworld is at risk. Camille will only make things worse." Raphael faces us, "I'll bring you what's left of Camille's things, but speaking to her is out of the question."

"Her things?" I repeat, "This isn't the kind of book she would've just left sitting around."

Raphael sighs, "I'm sorry but that's the best I can do."

I step closer to him, my teeth gritting, "We're supposed to be allies."

"And we are." Raphael confirms, "But Shadowhunters have no business interfering with the Night Children's affairs. You may look to the Clave for justice, but the vampires look to me. Camille stays where she is."

"You're making a big mistake." My voice was dangerously low.

-

"Give me a second, I gotta deal with this." A muffled voice filled my ears as I laid in the coffin, staring into complete darkness, "No one told me anything about a new prisoner."

"That's because you're not advisor to the interim chapter president." Simon spoke, "I mean, you can take it up with Raphael if you want, but, uh, I wouldn't wouldn't wanna tell you what happened to the last guy that challenged him."

"Don't go anywhere." The man said, before I hear his footsteps fade.

The coffin starts to move, a few moments later, Simon opening the coffin, looking down at me.

"Sure this will work?" He questions.

I sat up, "Izzy and Clary- they got this."

"By the time that vamp finds Raphael, we'll be long gone." I looked at him, "I also- don't know how to get out of a coffin."

"You're extremely short- and you're wearing heels-" Simon picks me up, setting me down, "You'd fall on your face if you tried."

I shot him a look, "Let's get this over with. If anyone catches us, we're dead."

"Some of us already are." Simon hands me a bolt cutter, leading me to Camille's coffin.

"Once we open this, there's no going back." Simon stares at the coffin, chained and locked up, "Everything we've done to unite the Downworld goes out the window."

"Simon- there's isn't any other way." I exhale, "If Valentine gets ahold of the Cup there won't be a Downworld left to unite."

Simon nods, as I use the bolt cutter, breaking the lock and chains. Simon slides them to the ground, as I dropped the bolt cutter.

Simon opens the coffin, Camille laying there, her eyes closed, as I blurted out, "She's dead."

"Well, yeah." Simon looks at me, "What'd you expect? She's a vampire."

Camille sits up and screeches, hissing at me, revealing her fangs.

I quickly grabbed my blade and held it to her neck, "Not so fast."

Camille looks at Simon, "What took you so long?"

"Excuse me?" Simon's voice went high.

"I knew you'd come back for your sire, just like you did before." Camille smiles, "We're forever linked, you and I."

"How do you know I don't want to stake you?" Simon referred to the stick he was holding, pointed right at her.

"Do you?" She questions.

"No." Simon quietly admits.

"As much as I'd love the pleasure to-" I began dramatically, "That's not why we're here. Where's the Book of the White?"

She looks at me, "The book of the what?"

"The Book of the White." Simon repeats, "Big, white spell book. Kind of explains itself."

"Never heard of it." Camille simply said.

I roll my eyes, "And yet we tracked it to you."

"Darling," Camille looks at me, "What would I possibly want with a spell book?"

"You know what? You're right." I use her own words against her, starting to push her back in a lying position, "Put her back in-"

"Okay, okay, okay-" Camille forces herself back up, "You said it was a warlock book?"

"Yeah- I have a feeling Jocelyn Fairchild gave it to you." I said, "She ran an antique store. Vampires sell that sort of stuff, right? "

"All the time." She scoffs, "But- if Jocelyn was even half as charming as you, I'm pretty sure I'd remember her."

"What about Dorothea Rollins?" I question, "She was my Jocelyn's assistant."

"Dot? Oh, but of course." She smiles, "She was our favorite customer. So your entire life has been paid for by my antiquities. I guess that means you owe me."

I spat, "Do you know where it is or not?"

"It's in my apartment on the Upper East Side. My own pied-a-terre." She spoke, "I can take you there but you'll have to get me out of here first."

Camille lays back and leans on her elbow, exclaiming softly, "Or you can leave me in here, and never get the book. Totally up to you."

Simon and I look at each other, debating what we should do, a sigh leaving my lips.

-

"Simon, it's 6:00 a.m." I quietly said as Camille and I followed him out the door, "The sun's almost up."

"No problem." He told me, "We'll go downstairs and take the tunnels out. Come on-"

"Going somewhere?" Raphael and a few vampires blocked our path.

Camille stares at him, "Raphael."

"You should have stayed put." Raphael points, then looks at Simon, "I'm disappointed in you."

Simon stammers, "I- I guess it's too late to put her back in the box?"

"I'm afraid so." Raphael looks at me, "Our alliance is finished."

My heart dropped at his words, mentally yelling at myself for going through with breaking Camille out, even if we had to.

"The Accords may prohibit killing mundanes, but they say nothing about sunburned vampires. Simon's betrayed us just as Camille did. They deserve the same fate." Raphael stares to walk over to us, as we backed away, "Adios."

Raphael looks back at the calories, "Kill them."

Before they could make any moves, a hole in the wall broke, sunlight pouring through, the vampires hissing and jumping back.

"Seriously, guys?" Isabelle said, walking in with Clary, looking at us.

Isabelle came to my side, smiling at Raphael, "Typical vampire always underestimating a Shadowhunter."

Clary stands behind me, Isabelle waving at them with a smile on her lips, "Adios."

With that, we made a quick exit.

-

Camille sighs as we walked through the tunnels, "I think I'd have been better off just staying in the coffin."

"Well- now you're out." I walked, "Now, tell us where the book is."

"Patience, my dear-" Camille began.

I abruptly stop, facing her, "I don't have the time for patience."

"There's still one more thing I require of, um-" Camille points at Simon.

"Simon." Simon said his name, rolling his eyes.

"A Writ of Transmutation." Camille told us, looking at us.

Simon questions, "What the hell is that?"

Isabelle looked at him, "A document stating you asked her to turn you into a vampire."

"Signed and sealed in your blood, of course." Camille smiled wittily.

"Haven't you had enough of my blood?" Simon stares at her, his voice low.

"Never." Her smile remained, "And I definitely don't want the Clave to falsely accuse me of killing mundanes."

"You want Simon to pardon you?" Clary looks between us, "We got you out- because of us, you're not prisoner anymore. No way-"

"You killed Simon." Anger was threaded in my tone, as I held my blade tight, as she backed into the wall, my blade against her neck, "The least we could do is return the favor."

"And yet the second I go up in smoke, so does any hope of you finding your precious book." She bravely shot at me.

My jaw clenched, as I pressed the cool blade of her skin, staring at her dead in the eye, my voice dangerously low and threaded with hatred, "I'll find another way."

"It's okay." Simon places his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.

I swallow, blinking hard, stepping back, letting go of Camille, "Where do we get this document?"

"I know a guy." She smiles, walking past me.

-

"So, Magnus, how long has it been?" Camille talked out loud as we followed her through Magnus' apartment, "One hundred? One hundred fifty years?"

"One hundred and thirty-eight." Magnus corrects her, "Oddly, I haven't missed you."

Camille faces him, "Of course you have, my love."

Magnus seemed completely caught off guard, not knowing what to say.

Clary cuts in, "All right, you two can catch up later. Right now, we need to find the Book of the White."

"And you will, but not without payment." Camille looks at Magnus, "You of all people should understand that."

"Of course." Magnus spoke, "And what is it you require?"

Camille answers, "A clean slate."

"She wants a Writ of Turning-Me-Into-A-Vampire." Simon blurts out.

I sigh, "And we need you to draft it."

Magnus hums in response, "I thought I was done with you."

"We'll never be done with each other." Camille deviously smiled.

"I'm gonna call for backup." Isabelle glances at us, then walks away.

"I'm- gonna take a walk." Clary walks away from us, not wanting to be around Camille any longer.

"Simon, can I talk to you for a second?" I question, walking out and into a room, Simon following me.

"Simon- you don't have to go through with this." I began, slipping off my leather jacket, putting it down as Simon sat down, looking at me, "She is in no position of negotiating for her satisfaction."

I crouch, holding his hands, looking at him, "If you want to go out there and stake Camille through the heart, I will hold her down while you do it."

"I don't even care about that anymore." Simon honestly told me, "Nothing matters but Jocelyn. We have to wake her up."

I weakly smile, letting go of his hands, standing up, "She loves you so much."

"She was always kind of like a second mom to me." Simon chuckles, "Remember when she got me that sealed copy of Battletoads? I didn't even care that she opened it."

I chuckle, "She just wanted to watch us all play."

"How'd my impression on your mother go?" Simon looked at me, "Did she like me?"

"Simon-" I shot him a look, "She already knew you-"

"Well- yes- I know-" Simon rambles, "But- I technically haven't seen her in two years and- I finally know your actual- like- parent- and-"

"Simon." I laugh softly, "She still really likes you. Even more now."

"Good-" Simon smiles, looking at his hands.

I brought the conversation back to the roots, "Simon, Camille's dangerous. If you sign this thing, we'll just be setting her free to kill again."

"No." Simon shook his head, "She's not half as bad as Valentine. Your mom beat him once. If Valentine has a weakness- either her- or Jocelyn know it."

"My mother has no idea." I told him, "We've talked about it and-"

"Maybe Jocelyn is it." Simon looks at me, "But- we have to at least find out."

"I guess it's not just Clary that needs Jocelyn." I sigh, crossing my arms, "It's all of us."

The sound of footsteps approaching filled my ears, Alec walking into the room.

I turn, my eyes connecting with his as I walked over to him instantly, my hands touching his biceps as I stared up at him, "Alec-"

"Hey-" Alec greets me, squeezing my forearms lightly in comfort, then fixing his sleeve.

"Did you find Hodge?" My hands drop to my sides.

"Yeah, but Valentine has the Cup." Alec informs me, sighing.

I blurt out, "What?"

"Where's Jace?" I immediately ask, "Is he okay?"

"He went after Valentine by himself." Alec exhales, "It's like he's totally lost it. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

"This isn't good at all-" I run a hand through my hair stressfully, pacing, "We need to find Jace- he's in a dark place-"

I stop, starting to walk past Alec, "We don't know what he's gonna do-"

Alec puts his arm out, stopping me, my chest pressing against his arm, "Luke is out looking for him. Jace wants us to stay on mission. That means we have to find the book."

"He's right." Simon got up, siding with Alec, "We have to wake up Jocelyn."

I exhale deeply, facing Simon, "It's our only way to stop Valentine."

Camille walks in and over to Simon, holding the document with a petty smile on her lips, "Ready to sign?"

My jaw clenched at the sight of her, along with my fists, wanting to punch her in the face once more.

As I took a step closer to Camille, Alec's arm shoots out, wrapping around my waist and holding me back.

Simon looks at me, then at Camille, "Take us to the apartment, give us the book, then you can have your pardon."

My fists unclench, Camille looking back at Alec and I, then back at Simon, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

-

"I thought the underground parking was nice." Simon whispers to me as we walked through Camille's place, as we all went there with her, including Magnus.

"Wow." Alec looks around, "You've got a lot of books."

"I've got a lot of time on my hands." Camille told him.

A man came up to Camille, "Welcome home, Madame Belcourt."

"Isabelle eyes the place, "This place creeps me out.

"Yeah." Alec agrees, "Let's check the perimeter."

"Good idea." Magnus nods, "If I know Camille, she'll have a trick or three up her sleeve."

Magnus, Alec and Isabelle leave the room, Clary looking around, "I still don't get it. Why do you have this place if you live at Hotel DuMort?"

"The DuMort has too many rules. Think of it like Gracie Mansion. It's the official residence, but it doesn't mean I have to live there." Camille sighs, "This place gives me the freedom to indulge in certain proclivities."

"You know, the mayor has the same problem." Simon skims through a book, Camille walking over to him, poking him with her feather pen, making Simon drop the book, "Ow!"

"Come with me." Camille led him where the document rested, handing him the pen, "On the dotted line."

"Simon-" I took a step closer to him.

Simon shook his head and went along, signing the document.

"Thank you." Camille took the document.

"He did what you asked." I call out, "Now- give us the Book of the White."

"I'd love to-" Camille pretends to look through books, stops, and inhales sharply, "But I can't. I have no idea where it is."

"Dot gave it to you." My eyebrows furrow, stepping closer to her.

"I'm sure it's here somewhere." Camille smiles at me, "But if the idea was to hide it, telling me would defeat the purpose. Dot must have put it somewhere when I wasn't looking."

I stare at her, "So- we have to search the whole apartment?"

"See? That's the spirit." She places a hand on her hip, "Although I'd start now. I've got four more rooms just like this one."

My phone rings in my pocket, a sigh leaving my lips as I pulled it out, noticing many missed calls from Jace, a few texts telling me to call him back as soon as I saw it.

I walk away from Simon and Camille, answering the phone, "Jace?"

"Zee-" Jace began to speak.

I cut him off, "Are you okay? Where are you? Have you gone absolutely insane? I mean, you ran off trying to take on Valentine yourself-"

"Zee-" Jace cuts me off, his breathing ragged, shuffles of his footsteps filling the line, "Where are you?"

"I asked first." I ignore his question, wanting him to answer mine.

He began, "Zee- I'm serious-"

"So am I." I fought back.

"Zee- where are you?" He asks once more, now in a more firm and demanding voice.

I sigh, "At Camille's apartment, Upper East Side. Alucard building, 13th floor."

"You're in danger." He told me, "Valentine's probably already on the way. You need to leave, now."

"Jace- I'm staying put." I deny, "We are so close to finding the Book of the White."

"Zee, you need to leave!" He raises his voice in panic.

"I'm not leaving without it." I shot back at him, "You said yourself, we have to stay on mission. That's what I'm doing."

Jace demands, "You need to leave now."

"I can't-" I hung up, shoving my phone back into my pocket.

"I wish my mom had left us something." Clary sighs once I walked back over to them, "Some sort of clue."

"Maybe she did." I look through books, lDid she ever say anything about a book?"

Clary sighs, "I don't think so. And if she did, she erased our memory of anything to do with the Shadow World."

"Well, there's got to be something." Simon spoke, "Maybe the clue has something to do with color, you know? White is the absence of color, so- or is that black?"

"Simon, just let me think for a second." Clary grabbed a cookbook, walking over to the table.

I stop and look at her, "Clary, that's a cookbook."

"I've seen this before." Clary opens it up, "Chicken cacciatore, remember? My mom used to make it all the time."

"How could I forget? Even better the next day." Simon came on her left as I walked over to her right, "The gift that keeps on giving."

"Maybe more than we realized." Clary looks up at Simon and I.

My fingers touch the top of the torn bookmark, "Wait-"

"Is that what I think it is?" Simon looks at us.

I grab the bookmark out of my pocket, aligning it with the part in the book, a small flame appearing, sealing the two parts together, the book shining in front of us, turning into the Book of White.

"This is it-" I whisper, staring at the writing.

Simon and Clary cheer, Isabelle walking in, "We gotta go. He's here."

I nod, handing Clary the book, "Let's go."

We didn't make it very far until Valentine came in through a portal, two Circle members right behind him.

"Oh, Zee-" Valentine sickly smiled at me, "So good to see you again. Clarissa, pleasure to finally meet you."

"Where's your brother?" Valentine pointed his dagger towards me.

I scoff, as I guarded Clary, as she held the book, "You think I'd tell you?"

"You won't have to." Valentine chuckled, ready to make a move on me.

"Stay away from her!" Simon comes between us, Valentine grabbing him and throwing him into the ground.

"Simon!" Isabelle calls out, her whip grabbing Valentine's arm, Valentine throwing her onto the ground as well.

"Get back-" I quietly said to Clary, wanting her to protect the book, "Don't you dare let go of that book-"

Clary obeys, backing away, holding onto the book as tight as she could.

"Valentine-" I stepped closer to him, grabbing out my blade.

"What, Zee?" Valentine stares at me, "You think so lowly of me- that you won't even consider me as your father?"

"Awh-" I pathetically laugh, "You finally get it."

Valentine swings his dagger at me, as I was quick to block it with my blade, staring right at him.

"You have your mother's bravery." Valentine eyes me, "I admire that."

"I could care less-" I spat at him.

"So- you do care?" Valentine moves and swings once more, as I dodge it but barely.

"I've always wanted to know who my father was- where I come from- what he would think of me." I stop his dagger once more, blocking it with my sword, "Now that I've met you- I wish I never did."

Valentine practically growls, grabbing me, pushing me up against the wall, the sharp end of his dagger at my neck, "You'll understand one day."

A gasp comes from Clary's lips, as she covered her mouth quickly, watching in fear.

"That day will never come." My teeth were gritted, as I tried to push him off with all my strength.

He grabs me, lifting me off the ground, his dagger pressing up against my neck, "I have no doubt that you will join me one day."

Anger stirred up within me, "You have no idea what you're talking about-"

"You don't see it yet, do you?" Valentine wickedly smiled at me, "You're so much like me."

My heart rate increased, my mouth dry. I had never felt this angry and I didn't know how to calm down.

I was tense, rage pulsing through my veins.

I scowl, the words slipping through my gritted teeth, "I am nothing like you."

"That anger-" A satisfied grin played at Valentine's lips, "The anger that's in you- it has no compare. That anger will one day fuel the darkness deep inside of you-"

I brought my blade up, pressing it against his neck, "I could slit your throat right now-"

"Do it-" Valentine encouraged, "That's it, Zee. Use that anger- to bring out the darkness."

I stare at him dead in the eye, tears of frustration starting to well up in my eyes.

I drop the blade, letting out a whimper of defeat.

"You're not ready yet." Valentine whispers in astonishment, "But your brother is."

As if on cue, Jace runs in, "Stop!"

The tears in my eyes slipped, Valentine staring at me, "You're weak."

"Let go of her!" Jace shouts, stepping closer, "Let go of her now!"

Valentine's eyes went all black, my eyes widening, a gasp leaving my mouth.

Valentine pathetically laughs at me, looking at Jace, "You really think I'd hurt your sister, Jace?"

Jace held his blade points towards Valentine, nearing us, "Put. Her. Down."

Valentine lets go of me, my back slipping down the wall, my breathing uneven, Valentine's words repeating in my head over and over.

"This time you're not getting away." Jace said from where he stood, Valentine's men grabbing Clary, Isabelle and Simon, holding onto them, holding blades to their necks so they didn't move, Clary not letting go of the book.

"Finally ready to kill your own father?" Valentine held his dagger, staring at Jace.

"You abandoned me." Jace said, his voice low.

"I was protecting you." Valentine shot back, "You weren't ready then, but you've grown. You've become the warrior I've trained you to be."

"You trained me well." Jace held his ground.

I forced myself up, wiping my tears, grabbing my blade.

"And yet, I still have so much to teach you." Valentine exclaims, "I brought you here for a reason."

"Look, fight me, and watch your friends die." Valentine said, two men walking in with Magnus and Alec in their hold, blades to their necks, a grunt leaving Alec's lips.

Valentine stares at Jace, "See, you are strong, but they make you weak."

"Let us go- and I'll give you the book." I spoke up, "We can't stop you without it."

Clary swallows, "She's right, you'll have the upper hand."

"I have the Mortal Cup." Valentine looks at her, "I already have the upper hand."

"I said I'd give you the book." I repeat, staring at him.

"Ah, Zee." Valentine clicks his tongue, "So like your mother. Willing to do anything for those that you love."

"I'm touched, but the book was never part of my plan." Valentine looks at Clary, "I want you to wake up your mother. I know that you will all join me eventually."

Valentine looks at me, "I know you will. I'm not so sure about Margaret."

"You ready?" Valentine looks at Jace.

Jace looks at us all, before letting his guard down, "If I go with you promise me you won't hurt them."

Valentine stares at him, "You have my word."

"No-" My eyes went wide, tinting red with tears, looking at Jace, "Jace, no."

Jace makes eye contact with me, his eyes flashing with something, deep guilt threaded in his features for what he was about to do, "I'm sorry, Zee."

Anger and fear were mixed in my tone.

"Jace, what are you doing?" My voice cracked, moving closer to him, "Jace- please. Just- think about what you're doing- for just one moment-"

"I've thought about it." Jace's voice is soft, "I'm so sorry."

"Jace- listen to me-" The tears started to fall, taking another step closer, Valentine holding his dagger between us, shooting me a warning to not move any closer to Jace, a gasp leaving my lips.

Jace's eyes are glued to me, as I continued, "You're nothing like him- everyone in this room knows what type of man you are- you're good- you're not- you're not like Valentine-"

"You don't know that, Zee-" Jace shook his head, "You don't know that."

My heart broke at his words, feeling absolute sorrow.

"Let them go." Valentine orders, putting his dagger away.

When his men let go of them, they were already making their way towards Jace.

Jace held out his blade, "Get back, get back-"

Simon grabs my arm, pulling me back, my eyes widening, trying to pull away, "Simon!"

"Alec, I mean it." Jace warns, keeping his position.

Valentine opens a portal, then grabs Jace, pulling me along, disappearing into to.

"Jace-" I shout his name, forcefully pulling away from Simon, dropping my blade, running towards the portal.

Alec grabs me by my waist, pulling me away, holding me into him so I couldn't fight back.

"What are you doing?" I push him away after the portal closes, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Saving your life." Alec stared into my eyes, "If you enter a Portal not knowing where you're going, you'll be stuck in limbo forever."

My anger disappeared once I looked into his eyes.

All I felt was sorrow.

I broke, a sob leaving my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks, Alec wrapping his arms around me, holding me into his chest.

"Alec-" I weakly cried out, only looking towards him for comfort in the room full of my friends and family, holding onto him tight, "He took Jace- he took Jace-"

"I know." Alec's tone was low, rubbing my back, "It's gonna be okay."

-

"At least we got Hodge, right?" Simon tried to make my mood brighter, as I leaned against the table after taking off my leather jacket, just getting back, "Zee?"

"We've got to find Jace." I looked up at Simon, "He thinks Valentine did something to him. Raised him to be evil, but- this is Jace we're talking about. He's good."

"He's tough." Simon puts a hand on my shoulder, "He can handle himself."

"Besides knowing Jace, I give it a week before Valentine's-" Simon chuckles, "-begging us to take him back."

"Simon." I looked at him, my face straight.

"We'll save him." He gave me a hopeful smile, "What Valentine told Jace about his friends making him weak, that was wrong. Love makes us stronger."

"First rule of being mundane." I quietly said.

"You saved me from the vampires." Simon spoke, "Without you and Jace, I wouldn't be here. We'll save him. I promise."

I nod, tearing up lightly.

"Young-" Simon pulls me up to my feet, placing his hands on my shoulders, "Whatever you do, don't lose hope. I love you, Zee."

"I love you, too, Simon." I sniffle, hugging him.

-

"Do you really think this is gonna work?" Clary questions as we grouped in the Ops Center, Jocelyn between us.

"Let us hope." Magnus opens the Book of White, snapping his fingers, "Jocelyn!"

He uses his magic, speaking Chthonian, reading off the spell, the spell breaking towards the end.

Luke quickly caught Jocelyn, her eyes opening, "Luke-"

Jocelyn hugs Luke, before Luke sets her down.

"Mom?" Clary's voice is quiet, staring at her mother.

Jocelyn looks at Clary, engulfing her in a hug, "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about your past-"

"I've missed you so much-" Clary held onto her mother.

Jocelyn pulls away from Clary, her eyes landing on Margaret, "There is no way-"

My mother hugs her instantly, "Jocelyn-"

"Margaret-" Jocelyn held onto her tight, gasping in happiness, "I- I thought-"

"We can talk about all that later." Margaret smiles, pulling away, "I'm so happy that you're awake."

Jocelyn smiles at Margaret, then her eyes land on me.

"Zee, honey-" Jocelyn hugs me, holding onto me.

I froze in her grip, then hug back, rubbing her back, "I'm glad you're back- we have a lot we need to talk about."

"I know-" Jocelyn holds me, "I'm so sorry-"

"It's okay." I shortly said, pulling away, not in the mood for any of this, no matter how happy I should feel that she was back.

Jocelyn went back over to Clary, as she broke down in her mother's arms, happy that she was holding her again.

I stare at them for a second, before looking up, trying to blinking upcoming tears.

Alec looks at me from beside me, locking eyes with me.

"I- I can't do this, right now." I muster out in a whisper, breaking eye contact.

I turned and walked away.

authors note:

uh hi idk i liked this chapter a lot-

also, valentine and zee ? father daughter moment that also wasn't a moment but I'm pretending it's a moment ?

awh alec comforting zee and everything- ah, my heart

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