"How's Lydia?" I asked Alec as he walked over to Jace, Isabelle, Clary and I in the Ops Center after checking on Lydia from when she was attacked.

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

Jace exhales, "So is Hodge."

"Maybe he was attacked, too." Isabelle was seated in front of the monitor, looking through the footage.

I cross my arms, shrugging lightly, "Maybe he's the one who attacked her."

Isabelle looks back at me, "Hodge?"

"Yeah." I looked at her, "Come on- both Hodge and the Mortal Cup go missing as Lydia is attacked? There's too many hints for us to miss this- it's not just a coincidence."

"No way, Zee." Isabelle shook her head, looking back at the footage, "We've known him our entire lives- he would never do that to us."

Then, when she came up to the footage where Lydia was attacked, Hodge appeared onto the screen; as the attacker.

I clear my throat, slight surprise threaded in my expression as to why Hodge would do this, "You were saying?"

Jace was hurt, "I led him right to the Cup."

"We treated him like family." Alec was betrayed, "How could he do this to us?"

"That's how." Isabelle pulled up the footage of Hodge standing over Jocelyn.

Clary questions, "What is that ring?"

Isabelle looks closer, "Looks like he's talking to someone."

Jace huffs, "And I can bet who it is."

I looked down, "Valentine."

Alec exhales, "Well, that explains how he deactivated the Punishment rune, but- it doesn't explain where he got the ring."

Clary crosses her arms, "You think someone smuggled it past the wards?"

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

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

"Really?" asked Jace, his teeth lightly gritting, "Isn't that what you just said about Hodge?"

Jace adds, "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 thought out loud, "What about the Forsaken attack?"

"No." Alec shakes his head, "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 looked through the footage from when they were attacked.

Alec watches her fast forwarding, "Go to the other camera."

Jace has her stop, "There."

There he was.

Hodge slipped off the ring from the Forsaken.

"Son of a bitch." I muttered, huffing deeply, "The Forsaken was just the delivery boy."

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

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

Clary shook her head, "We won't let that happen."

Jace suddenly walks away from us, catching us off guard, "I'm gonna make sure of it."

-

"Jace, what are you doing?" I walked over to him and Alec as they were gearing up.

Jace grabbed his seraph blade, "Every second we waste here, Hodge gets closer to Valentine."

"Hey, we're a team, all right?" I stammered at his words because he was right, "Let me come with you."

"No." Jace shook his head, "You need to help wake Jocelyn- not a wild goose chase for Hodge."

"You know, it's usually you backing me- not me trying to back you?" I reminded him, "What is with you lately?"

"Lydia, Hodge-" Jace stopped and looked at me, "All this is happening- because I didn't stop Valentine."

"Jace, you can't let emotions cloud your judgment." I reminded him, "I'm worried about you."

Jace stares at me, "Valentine is my father."

I shot back, "He's my father too."

"That's different." Jace shook his head.

"How is it any different?" I questioned, "We were both raised by him- and then we were at the Institute- how is it any different?"

Jace put his seraph blade in his sheath, walking away from me, "You don't get it."

-

"For Shadowhunters, you don't seem to do a lot of Shadowhunting." Raphael remarked as Isabelle, Clary, and I followed Simon in the DuMort.

I was dressed in black jeans, a white t shirt that was tucked in them and maroon leather jacket, my hair straight, black combat boots on my feet.

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

Clary exhales, "We need to talk to Camille."

"We know you have her here." I followed up, "We tracked her to the DuMort."

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

"Just a second." Simon whispers to us, then pulls Raphael to the side to convince him.

They quietly bicker amongst themselves, before Raphael joins us again, "I'll bring you what's left of Camille's things, but- speaking to her is out of the question."

"Her things?" Clary repeated his words, "This isn't the kind of book she would've just left sitting around."

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

I stepped closer, "We're supposed to be allies."

"And we are." Raphael shot back, "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." Raphael continued, "Camille stays where she is."

I scoff deeply, shaking my head, seething through my teeth, "You're going to regret that."

-

"Give me a second- I gotta deal with this." I heard a male voice from the coffin I laid in, "No one told me anything about a new prisoner."

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

"Don't go anywhere." The man's footsteps faded as the coffin began to suddenly move.

Then, the coffin opens, revealing Simon as we were in the room that Camille was locked in, "Sure this will work?"

"Izzy and Clary will be fine." I sat up, "By the time that vamp finds Raphael, we'll be long gone."

Simon grabs my hands and helps me out of the coffin, as I grunt, "Let's make this quick- if anyone catches us, we're dead."

Simon hands me a bolt cutter, shooting me a playful smile as he heads over to Camille's coffin, "Some of us already are."

Simon exhales deeply as he looks at me, "Once we open this, there's no going back- everything we've done to unite the Downworld goes out the window."

"Think about it this way." I used the bolt cutter to cut the chains, tossing it to the side, "If Valentine gets the Cup, there won't be a Downworld left to unite."

Simon nods and pulls open the coffin, where Camille laid, her eyes closed.

Seconds later, she sat up quickly, shrieking with her fangs revealed, as I pulled out a kindjal quickly and put it to her neck, "Not so fast, crazy bitch."

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

Simon held a stake, "Excuse me?"

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

Simon shot back, "How do you know I don't want to stake you?"

Camille smirked, "Do you?"

Simon stares at her, "No."

"You know what- we don't have time for this." I put my blade closer to Camille's neck, "Where's the Book of the White?"

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

"The Book of the White." Simon repeated, "Big, white spell book- kind of explains itself."

Camille shrugs, "Never heard of it."

"And yet we tracked it to you." I snipped.

"Darling- what would I possibly want with a spell book?" asked Camille, staring at me.

"You're right." I gave her a smirk, "Put her back in."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Camille blurts when Simon and I began shoving her into a laying position, "You said it was a warlock book?"

I roll my eyes, "Do you know where it is or not?"

"It's in my apartment on the Upper East Side." Camille confesses, "My own pied-a-terre."

"I can take you there but you'll have to get me out of here first." Camille smirked at having the upper hand, "Or you can leave me in here, and never get the book- totally up to you."

-

"Simon, it's 6:00 a.m." I reminded him as we snuck out, Camille right behind us, "The sun's almost up."

"No problem." Simon whispered back, "We'll go downstairs and take the tunnels out."

Raphael suddenly appeared, many vampires backing him, "Going somewhere?"

Camille hissed, "Raphael."

"You should have stayed put." Raphael points at her 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 said, then looks at me as I held my kindjals tightly, "Our alliance is finished."

"The Accords may prohibit killing mundanes, but they say nothing about sunburned vampires." They began coming closer to us as we backed away, "Simon's betrayed us just as Camille did- they deserve the same fate."

"Adios." Raphael hissed, "Kill them."

Before they could make a move on us, the wall broke open, sunlight flashing in, separating us from them.

Isabelle stepped in, Clary behind her, "Seriously, guys?"

"Typical vampire always underestimating a Shadowhunter." Isabelle smirked at Raphael when her and Clary joined us.

I smirked as well as we backed up, "Adios."

-

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

"Yeah- well, you're not." I reminded her, "Tell us where the hell the book is."

Camille sighs again, "Patience, my dear-"

"Damn it-" I stopped suddenly, spinning to face her, "You're already pushing it- don't think I won't kill you just because of how irritating you are."

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

Simon's eyes squint, "Simon."

Camille smiles, "A Writ of Transmutation."

Simon questioned, "What the hell is that?"

"A document stating you asked her to turn you into a vampire." Isabelle realized.

Camille's smile didn't fade, "Signed and sealed in your blood, of course."

Simon scoffs, "Haven't you had enough of my blood?"

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

"You want Simon to pardon you?" I questioned, putting my blade up to her neck, "You killed Simon- the least we could do is return the favor."

Camille didn't move, "And yet the second I go up in smoke, so does any hope of you finding your precious book."

My teeth grit in annoyance, "The second Valentine gets his hands on the Cup, so does your kind."

Simon puts a hand on my shoulder, "It's okay."

I roll my eyes, stepping back, "Where do we get this document?"

Camille smiles and walks past me, "I know a guy."

-

"So, Magnus, how long has it been?" Camille walked through his apartment, "One hundred? One hundred fifty years?"

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

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

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

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

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

Camille smiles, "A clean slate."

Simon corrected her, "She wants a Writ of Turning-Me-Into-A-Vampire."

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

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

"We'll never be done with each other." Camille chuckles lightly at Magnus' words.

Isabelle places a hand on my back, quietly speaking to me, "I'm gonna call for backup."

I nod at her as she left us alone, as I looked at Simon, "Simon, can I talk to you for a minute?"

I walked into a room as Simon followed me, as he sat down and watched me.

"You don't have to go through with this." I looked 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 admits, "Nothing matters but Jocelyn- we have to wake her up."

"I guess you're right." I sat next to him, "I just don't want you to- give up whatever justice you have left against her."

Simon looks at me, "Zee-"

"Simon, Camille's dangerous." I reminded him, "If you sign this, we'll just be setting her free to kill again."

"She's not half as bad as Valentine." Simon reminded me instead, "And if we have any chance at stopping him, it's by waking up Jocelyn."

Suddenly Alec walks into the room, as I got up when he did, "Alec, did you guys find Hodge?"

Alec sighs, "Yeah, but- Valentine has the Cup."

"What?" I blurt out, "Where's Jace? Is he okay?"

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

"Then, we need to find Jace first." I shook my head, beginning to walk past Alec, "He's in a dark place- and we don't know what he's gonna do-"

"Luke is out looking for him." Alec grabs my arm and stopped me, "Jace wants us to stay on mission."

"Jace went after Valentine on his own." I reminded him, "Jace is stupid- are we really going to listen to Jace right now?"

"Yes." Alec let go of me, "We have to find the book."

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

"Okay." I exhale, "We'll stick to the plan."

Camille walks in, filled with glee, "Ready to sign?"

Simon stood still, "Take us to the apartment, give us the book, then you can have your pardon."

Camille smiles, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

-

"I thought the underground parking was nice." Simon quietly said as we walked into Camille's apartment, gaping at how big it was.

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

Camille shrugs, "I've got a lot of time on my hands."

A man walked over to Camille, "Welcome home, Madame Belcourt."

Isabelle exhales, "This place creeps me out."

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

"Good idea." Magnus gestured for Alec to go ahead, "If I know Camille, she'll have a trick or three up her sleeve."

Isabelle and I walked away from them as we scanned the perimeter, my phone buzzing in my back pocket.

I pulled it out, to see Jace's contact, answering it immediately, "You're an idiot."

Jace ignores this, "Where are you?"

"What?" I questioned, "What's wrong?"

"Zee-" Jace inhales, "Where are you?"

"At Camille's apartment, Upper East Side." I placed a hand on my hip, "Alucard building, 13th floor."

"You're in danger-" Jace's tone was rushed and serious, "Valentine's probably already on the way- you all need to leave, now."

"No-" I denied, "We are too close to finding the Book of the White- to risk it. I'm not leaving without it."

Jace raises his voice, "Zee, you need to leave!"

"You said yourself, we have to stay on mission." I shot back at him, "I'm sorry- but, we're staying until Clary finds the book-"

"You need to leave now!-" Jace began once more, but I hung up, cutting off his sentence.

-

I ran into the room we had came in, Isabelle right behind me, "Did you find it?"

Clary looks at me, nodding, holding the book, "Yeah-"

"Good, because we gotta book." I immediately said, "Valentine's here."

Before we could even take a step, a portal opened, Valentine and two Circle members entering the room.

"Zee, Clarissa." Valentine looks between Clary and I. "So good to see you both."

Valentine inched closer to me, "Where's your brother?"

I stepped back, "You think I'd tell you?"

"You won't have to." Valentine began taking a step closer to me as Simon got in the way, Valentine throwing him to the ground with ease.

"Simon!" Isabelle whipped her whip at Valentine, as he pulled her and threw her into the ground as well, the two members putting their blades to their necks and pulling them up.

"Clary- don't let go of that book." I instruct, pulling out my kindjals, backing away as Valentine inched closer to me.

"Stop!" Jace's shout filled our ears as he ran in, "Get away from her!"

Valentine stopped, and looked at his son.

Jace stood still, his seraph blade pointed at Valentine, "This time you're not getting away."

Valentine faces him, "Finally ready to kill your own father?"

Jace held his ground, "You abandoned me."

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

Jace's voice was low, "You trained me well."

"And yet, I still have so much to teach you." Valentine sighed deeply, then gestured, "I brought you here for a reason- fight me, and watch your friends die."

On cue, Alec and Magnus were dragged in, two Circle members holding seraph blades to their necks.

Valentine gestured to us all, "See, you are strong, but- they make you weak."

"Let us go." Clary suddenly spoke, holding the book tightly, "You can have the book- we won't be able to stop you without it."

"Ah, Clarissa." Valentine sighed dramatically, "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 admits, "I want you to wake up your mother."

Then he turned to Jace, "You ready?"

Jace let his guard down, "If I go with you- promise me you won't hurt them."

My eyes widen, "What?"

Valentine was clear, "You have my word."

"Jace, no-" I took a step closer, small tears beginning to burn in my eyes, "What're you doing?"

Jace stared into my eyes as Valentine opened a portal, "I'm sorry, Zee."

"Valentine is wrong- you're nothing like him!" I dropped my kindjals, "You're a good person!"

"You don't know that, Zee." Jace repeated himself, "You don't know that!"

"Yes I do!" I argued, "I know you."

Jace's eyes held a red tint as he spoke to me, "I don't even know myself anymore."

"Let them go." Valentine instructs, as his men did, then entered the portal, disappearing.

"Get back, get back!" Jace guarded as Isabelle, Alec, Magnus and I tried to go for him, "Alec, I mean it!"

"Jace, please!" Tears fell from my eyes.

Valentine grabbed Jace, pulling him through the portal, as it disappeared, along with Jace.

I looked at Alec, pure hurt on my expression.

Alec wrapped his arms around me and held me as I cried, sorrow filling the room at the lost of Jace.

authors note:

they do wake up jocelyn after this, I just didn't feel like writing it because it was such a short scene-

zalec is literally best friend goals, i-

question: what's your favorite chapter of redamancy so far?

also, thank you for 2k !!

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