Clary chose her side, "Simon, I think Zee can help us."

Simon looked taken back, "What?"

"All right, come on, everyone inside." I followed up the steps and walked over to Jace, as Clary and Simon followed Jace and I into the Institute.

"I know." Clary whispers to Simon as I drew a rune on my hand, "Trust me."

Simon watched me, "She's, like, burning herself."

"Hey, what's going on, man?" Simon blurts out when I grabbed his hand, "I'm not your type-"

"You're not wrong." I shrug, holding his hand until the Institute became visible to him.

"Where are we- what the hell?" Simon stares with wide eyes and blurts out, "Clary, is there a war going on that I don't know about?"

"There is now." Jace said, walking further in as I followed him.

"I think my mother's at the center of it." Clary exhales deeply and followed Jace and I, Simon on her trail.

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

Simon looks between Jace and I, "So- these cold-blooded killers are gonna help us?"

Clary corrects him, "They're not a killers, they're protecting us."

"Sure, you can add him to the mix." I look at the security footage, "It's sort of our thing."

"Your thing?" Simon repeats, "You guys have a thing?"

"She means a Shadowhunter thing." Clary fills him in, "That's what they do, protecting humans from demons."

"Told you you'll get it eventually." I shrugged, Jace's arms crossed as he watched the footage with me.

"Demons, right." Simon didn't buy it, "That makes perfect sense, 'cause there are demons running all around New York."

I inhale sharply, nodding, "That is the first correct thing you've said all day."

Jace looks between the screens, "NYPD."

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

"No, our wards will deter them." Jace answered her, "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 walked over as I muttered a small 'oh no' under my breath, "Why is there a mundane in the Institute?"

Jace sighs, "A Circle member followed him to get to Clary."

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

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

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

Alec was stiff, "And since the revolt we've been forbidden to even hear about the Circle."

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

I remark, "Says the girl who didn't know she was a Shadowhunter?"

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

"There is." I exhaled, walking away from them and towards the training room to find Hodge, "You coming?"

"Yeah." Clary replied, and I stopped when I heard two pairs of footsteps following me.

I spun to face them, stopping them, "Oh- no, Simon can't come."

Clary argues, "Hey, we're a package deal."

Simon agreed, "Yeah."

I looked between them for a moment, not being able to tell if they were serious or not.

"Okay, that just made me throw up in my mouth a little, uhm-" I cringed lightly, clearing my throat, "I'm trying to save your mundie boyfriend's life by not taking him with us because there are dunes all over the training room floor that would kill him."

Clary speaks, "He's not my-"

"I'm not, like-" Simon said in unison with her,
"We're, uh, just friends."

Clary corrects him, "Best friends."

"Yeah, and I'm tough." Simon hits my arm lightly, "I can handle runes. So, uh, bring on the runes- what exactly are runes?"

I look from my arm to his hand, "If you touch me again, I'll break your hand."

"Calm down, Zee." Isabelle joins the conversation,
"Runes give Shadowhunters our demon-fighting powers."

"So hot." Simon looked back at her, then stammers out, "The rune."

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

Jace comments, "On second thought, the runes might be less lethal."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Isabelle shot him a death stare, "Please excuse my brother's lack of manners."

"This is Alec and I'm Isabelle." She introduced herself and held her hand out for him.

"Lewis. Simon, Simon Lewis." Simon grabbed her hand, "Two first names- am I still talking?"

"He's fine here, come on." I pat Simon's shoulder, "Hey, uh- don't eat the food. Dangerous."

I walked up the steps, Clary following me into the training room, noticing Hodge training with a fellow Shadowhunter, "Who is that guy?"

"That's Hodge Starkweather, our weapons trainer." I filled her in, "And, more important for us, a former Circle member."

"After the uprising, Hodge repented and he was sent to live and work here to make amends." I continued as Hodge stepped away, "But, he's forbidden to ever leave the Institute."

Hodge pulled on his tank top, his eyes on Clary as we walked over to him, "Jocelyn."

"Uh, I'm Clary." Clary quietly says, "Uh, Jocelyn Fray is my mother."

"Well, she was Jocelyn Fairchild when I knew her." Hodge recalled, "And she was one of my best friends."

Clary brought up, "She's been kidnapped by someone named Valentine and his men."

I crossed my arms, "By the Circle, Hodge."

"But- that's impossible." Hodge looked at me with a confused glance, "Valentine's dead and the Circle died with him-"

Hodge grunts, his hand over his Circle rune.

Clary almost jumps, "What's happening?"

"I swore a vow never to speak of what we did." Hodge strains out, "This is the Clave's way of making sure I keep that vow."

"We can't torture him, Zee." Clary looks at me, "Is there anyone else we can ask?"

"If the Circle really is back and they've taken Jocelyn-" Hodge pushes through, "Our leader- our leader of the Circle was Valentine Morgenstern. We thought he wanted to protect humans, like all Shadowhunters."

"But, we never realized the lengths which Valentine was willing to go- the people he was willing to sacrifice." Hodge struggled, but kept going, "Most of humanity would die if we carried out Valentine's plan."

"But I- I still don't understand." Clary admits, "How does my mother relate to any of this?"

Hodge stares at her, "Jocelyn was a member of the Circle as well."

"No- I can't believe it." Clary was shocked, "My mother, she-"

"The important thing is that Jocelyn left the Circle." Hodge cuts her off, his teeth gritted from the sizzling pain of his Circle rune, "And so none of this even matters, because Valentine died in a fire years ago-"

"Hodge!" I caught Hodge has he fell, "Hodge-"

Clary stepped back and shook her head, "I'm sorry, but we can't ask you to do this."

"Clary, we don't have a choice." I held Hodge up, "You understand that, Hodge, right?"

"Zee is right." Hodge leaned to me for support and stood back up, "Valentine nearly destroyed the Shadow World and humanity along with it. If he'd gotten the Cup-"

"Wait a minute." Clary stops him,"My mother told me she hid something from someone. If it's this Cup-"

"Clary, the Mortal Cup is the most important object in the Shadow World." I looked at her, "Whoever possesses it can create more Shadowhunters."

"And in the wrong hands control demons." Hodge's voice was dangerously low, "If Jocelyn hid the Cup from Valentine, then she's in more danger than you can possibly imagine."

"Hodge- I hate to make you suffer like this." Clary was tearing up, "I'm so sorry."

"Your mother was only trying to protect you." Hodge stood straight, "And now you must protect her. Stop Valentine before he destroys us all."

Clary then turns and runs off, heading towards the entrance of the Institute.

"Clary!" I ran after her, "Look, will you just calm down?"

"Calm down?" Clary abruptly stops, making me run into her and stumble, her spinning to face me, "Really, calm down?"

I stood straight, "Yeah?"

Clary scoffs, "Okay, Zee, you might be some kind of emotionless G.I. Joe, but-"

I cut her off, "What is a G.I. Joe- and what is the relevance?"

Clary went in depth, "A soldier who doesn't understand human emotions, who doesn't know what it's like to lose someone, to lose your own mother."

"Maybe I don't." I cross my arms, "But, I'm pretty sure her being kidnapped and me never seeing her again kinda matches that."

Clary's jaw slightly drops, "I didn't know."

"That's precisely my point." I said, "You don't know anything about this- you don't know about me, you don't know about my life but in the Shadow World, no training and no plan gets you killed."

Clary sighs and leans against the wall, "Okay, so we know that Valentine is back and wants the Cup, and for some reason he thinks my mother has it."

"Could she?" I asked, "Have the Cup?"

Clary admits, "I don't know."

"Look, Clary, I looked at your sketchbook earlier- you know about rune, you've drawn them." I explained, "You- you know something, just think."

"I've tried, Zee, okay?" Clary busts, "It's just this empty blackness."

Realization crosses my mind, "Your memory's been wiped."

"That's not possible." Clary shook her head then pauses, "Is it?"

I nodded, "Yeah, if you know a warlock."

"A warlock?" Clary repeats my words in unison.

"Yeah, a warlock, Clary." I went in depth, "Immortal beings, they're half-demon, half-human- sometimes their fingers spark."

"Dot, my mom's assistant, her hands had this purple glow when she opened the wall and my mom pushed me through and I ended up at the police station." Clary mentions, Dot's face flashing in my mind.

"That was a Portal." I said, pretending as if I didn't know Dot, "Dot must have been a warlock, only warlocks can create them."

"Wait, so you're saying if we find the real Dot, she could help us find the Cup and get my mom back?" Clary asks, standing up straight.

I shrug, "Unless she's working for Valentine."

"Even better." Clary walks back into the Institute, her words making me roll my eyes, "She'll lead us right to him."

-

"Let's get out of here, just you and me." Simon slipped on his jacket as he stood with Clary, Isabelle, Jace and I in the training room, whispering to Clary, "We can get Dot ourselves."

"Simon, there are demons out there, okay?" Clary made it clear, "Actual demons with tentacles that wanna murder us, do you know how to kill a demon?"

"I'm an Internet search away." Simon reasons, fixing his jacket.

Clary shot him a look, "Simon, I really don't think it's that simple."

"I bet you it's not that hard." Simon shot back, my eyes widening when his eyes fell onto the seraph blades Isabelle and I stood in front of.

My arm wrapped around Isabelle as I touched a blade, Jace smacking my hand away, "No, Zee."

I smack his hand back, "I was just looking-"

Isabelle looks at Jace and I, "Fifty bucks says he doesn't approve this mission."

On cue, Alec walks over to us, "I don't approve of this mission."

I sigh deeply and turn to face him, "Alec."

"I spoke with the Clave." Alec said, "They're sending Seelie scouts to search for Valentine, but they made it clear, the little girl does not leave the premises."

"Hey, my name is not "little girl", okay?" Clary interjects, "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 reasoned for me, "With Valentine's people out there searching for Clary, she's not safe outside alone."

Isabelle nods in agreement, "Jace has a point."

"Et tu, Izzy?" Alec huffs at his sister 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 held her necklace, gasping loudly, her eyes going wide.

"Uh-" I was the first to speak, trailing off in everyone's silence, "Did you- have a heart attack or something?"

"I'm fine-" Clary clears her throat, "Weirdly, I think I know where Dot is."

"Great." Simon speaks up, "I'll drive."

"What?" Simon notices the looks on our faces, "Unless you have, like, a Shadowhunter-mobile or something. You were kidding about the runes on the floor killing me right?"

I winked at him, walking away from them, hopping down the steps as everyone followed me.

Simon chases after Clary, "Wait- am I gonna die?"

-

Clary lead us down the alley towards the Pandemonium, looking around, walking ahead of us, holding her necklace.

She abruptly stops, holding her necklace tight, letting out a loud gasp, making me jump back lightly; startled, "God- you've got to stop doing that-"

"Dot- Dot!" She didn't reply to me and only cried out Dot's name, running off, turning down the alley.

"I'm already annoyed with her." I mutter under my breath, picking up speed and chasing after her.

Jace ran next to me, as Simon, Isabelle and Alec kept their normal pace, "You're the one who decided to help her-"

"You still have no idea why!" I shot back, running faster and skidding in front of Clary, "Hey, stop!"

The others caught up to us, as I questioned, "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."

Simon puts a hand on her arm, "Clary, I'm sorry."

"You don't understand." Clary shook her head, "Dot's like my big sister."

I looked down at my feet, staying silent.

I won't tell her yet, the time isn't right.

"It's not safe here." Alec shook his head, "We have to go back to the Institute right now."

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

I clear my throat, "I kind of agree with Alec right now, we should get back to the Institute if Dot's not here."

"What about my memories?" Clary was grasping at every single string, "They can't just be gone?"

Jace speaks up, "There is another option."

Alec, Isabelle and I instantly shot out our protests and denials in unison.

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

"Jace, even I'm not willing to let her go that far." I shook my head, "And I'm reckless."

Clary cuts in, "Who are the Silent Brothers?"

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

Isabelle continues, "Who possess the ability to recover memories."

"A process that can also kill you, so there's that." Alec adds in, his face straight.

Simon comments, "Your bedside manner is abysmal."

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

"This isn't our choice to make- this is Clary's decision." Jace crosses his arms, "Look, If Zee really wants to help her, I'm giving her all the options here."

"You can't ask her to do this." Isabelle said, "She doesn't know what she's facing."

I sigh, "Izzy's right, 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 shot at us, then spoke due to our silence, "That settles it."

-

We had arrived, and checked if the other was safe.

Now, Jace and Alec were walking together, Isabelle and Simon, and Clary and I.

"You have to understand, the Silent Brothers aren't like us." I had my hands in the pockets of my leather jacket, "Brothers communicate without using words, using just their thoughts."

Clary looks at me, "That doesn't sound so bad."

"Don't let their silence fool you." I trail off, "They'll hold the Soul-Sword to your head, and with its blade, carve the truth from your mind. If you're not strong enough, you will die."

"I take it back." Clary inhales deeply, "That sounds level ten bad."

"Clary, you should know, the pain will be excruciating." I stopped and looked at her, "You don't have to do this if-"

"I'll do anything." Clary stops me, "Walk through fire, battle demons, whatever it takes."

"I have to get my mom back." Clary told me, "I can't- I won't lose her."

"Walking through fire is easier said than done." I shot her a look, remarking, as I walked over to the entrance, coming to a stop.

Clary lets out a shaky breath when the others join us, "I can do this."

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

Then, Simon took a step towards the entrance.

I sigh dramatically, "Simon-"

"All right, hold up." Jace stopped him.

"Surprise, surprise." Simon spun to face us, "No mundanes allowed, just like in the training room, right?"

"Wrong!" He continued before any of us could reply, "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 move, but I quickly speak up, "Of course, the minute you enter, you'll die."

"Problem is, now- I don't trust you." Simon turns back around and gestures between Jace and I.

"She's not lying." Alec speaks up, gesturing towards the entrance, "The rune energy in the City of Bones will kill any mundane who dares to enter, so, please-"

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

"Your sacrifice is noted, Izzy." I nudge her and walk over to the entrance, "Come on, Clary."

"Talk about sacrifice." Simon blurts out, "I'm missing a financial analysis class."

"I can't be here anymore, so, Zee, Jace, I'm gonna mind the perimeter." Alec walks away from us.

Clary hugs Simon, "I don't wanna leave you."

"Go be a bad ass Shadowhunter, all right? Get your memories back, save your mother." Simon hugged back and pulled away, "I'll be right here guarding the entrance to hell."

I look between them, "Actually, that was inspiring."

Jace looks at me, holding back a laugh, "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna give it a go." I walked over to him, putting my hands on his arms, "Go on, Jace. Find the woman that you'll love with all of your heart and let's all pray to the Angel that she overlooks your best features, such as how self-conceited and cocky you are."

Jace playfully shoved me back, as I returned the gesture, letting out a laugh, Clary looking between Jace and I.

"All right- come on." I gestured for Clary to come along, as I walked back over to the entrance.

Simon nods at her, "You got this."

Clary slowly follows me, as we entered.

I lead her through, and once it started getting darker, I brought out my witch light.

Clary notices the bright light, "What's that?"

"It's witch light." I told her, walking with it in my hand, "We carry it to remind us that light can be found in even the darkest of places- and it's cooler than a flashlight."

"Is that meant to be the Mortal Cup?" Clary asks when we stopped by a statue, gesturing towards the cup held in it.

I nodded, "Yeah."

"What's that say?" Clary gestures to the writing and a small smile forms on my lips when reading it made me think about Jace.

"It's the Shadowhunter creed." I purse my lips to hold a straight face, as I could hear Jace jokingly telling me this in my mind, "Looking better in black than the widows of our enemies."

Clary shoots me a look, "My Latin's pretty rusty, but I'm almost positive that's not what that says."

"I'm kidding- it's an inside joke between Jace and I." I admit, "It means for Shadowhunters, the descent into hell is easy."

"Speaking of Jace." Clary mentions, "You and him seem really close."

"We're close, yeah." I walked further, "We grew up together. Him, Alec, Izzy and I."

"Isabelle told me that you're her parabatai." Clary brought up, "What does that mean?"

"It means her and I are tethered together through a rune." I explained, "There's no human bond that compares to what Izzy and I have."

"We're bound together for life." I went in depth, "Bound to fight together, to protect each other. In battle, our hearts beat as one. If one of us were to die a part of the other would die inside as well. Alec and Jace are parabatai as well."

"Isabelle also told me that wherever you go, Jace is bound to follow." I could hear slight teasing in her voice, as if we were two teens gossiping at a sleepover.

"You could say that-" I barely shrug and turned the corner, "It's this way."

"Hey, I'm sorry about what I said before about your mom." Clary caught up with me, "I didn't know."

"It's fine- I don't really care." I walked further towards the shining light, "Save the apologies for the mundanes- everyone has a sad song. That's just mine."

Clary remarks, "Were you just born with no feelings or is that something you picked up over time?"

"I've been trained my entire life that emotions cloud your judgement." I stopped, my eyes falling onto the rune on the ground, "Things don't really effect me anymore."

"I've drawn this before." Clary points out, "But- I don't know what it means."

"It means clairvoyance." I told her, Silent Brothers stepping out form the darkness.

"Shadowhunters." Brother Jeremiah called out through his mind, "Come into the circle."

Clary and I stepped into the light as Brother Jeremiah spoke again, "Step away, Zee Young."

I looked at Clary, "I'll be waiting over there, okay?"

She gave me a small nod, as I walked back into the darkness, leaving her alone with the Silent Brothers.

I wanted around for a little while, until I heard Clary's gasps, "Wait- wait, where are they going?"

"We aren't done- we can't be done." Clary cried out, making me rush over to her as she backed away.

"Clary, do you know where the Cup is?" I instantly ask, tears burning in her eyes making me confused.

Clary shook her head, "No-"

"Only fragments of her memory were accessible to us." Brother Jeremiah told me, as I looked between them.

Clary shook her head once more, "It can't be true what I saw."

"Your memory does not lie." Brother Jeremiah spoke again, "You must accept what has been revealed."

"I can't- I can't." Clary had tears streaming down her cheeks, her eyes glued to me in shock.

"What is it, Clary?" I asked, looking at her, "What did you see?"

Clary swallows, her voice weak, "You're my sister?"

I looked down, going silent.

"That's why you've been helping me." Her voice was shaky, "You're my sister."

I barely nod and look back up at her, "Yeah- yeah I am, Clary."

"My mother lied to me." Clary sniffles, "She lied all these years about my father-"

My eyebrows furrow, "About your father? What about your father?"

"Zee, our father is Valentine." Another tear escapes her eye, my heart dropping at her words.

I knew we were sisters but I always thought the man that raised me was her father was well.

We were half sisters, but, the man that raised me wasn't Valentine.

This confused me.

I grew serious, "What?"

-

"What happened?" Jace asked when Clary and I emerge back outside, "What did you find out?"

I clear my throat, "Clary and I are sisters and Valentine is our father."

Jace blinks, "Sisters?"

"Valentine's your father?" Alec said in unison with him.

I sigh deeply, "Yeah."

"Wait a minute." Alec paused, then began his accusation, "You're telling me this girl shows up out of nowhere and she's Valentine's daughter? Did it occur to you that she might be a spy? This might be part of her plan?"

I look at him, "That's enough, Alec."

"Do you think I planned for my mom to get kidnapped?" Clary was clearly upset, "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?"

When Isabelle ran over to us without the mundane, Clary's eyes went even wider, "Where's Simon?"

"I told him to stay in the van." Isabelle was out of breath, "I've searched everywhere."

Clary's eyes filled with more tears, "He's gone?"

Isabelle shook her head, "I can't find him."

"You were supposed to protect him!" Clary seemed angry, as she ran off towards the van, "Simon!"

I huff dramatically and rushing after her, "I think I might just kill myself and call it a day at this point."

"Simon?" Clary shouts for him, "Simon!"

"Is that the mundane's name?" Raphael Santiago caught all our attention, making us look up to where the sound came from, where he stood on the higher platform and out of reach, with one of his fellow vampires, Simon hanging by his ankles, "I'm afraid Simon's coming with us."

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

I stepped closer, "And it'll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him-"

"Careful." Alec held his arm out, holding me back with ease, "We'd be violating the Accords."

"I'm afraid your sidekick's quite right." Raphael taunts, "The Night Children have broken no laws."

"We're negotiating." Raphael reasoned, "The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup."

"And the clock is ticking." Raphael shrugs, "Tick-tock, people."

Then, when they disappear into the night, Clary screams Simon's name into the air, over and over.

authors note:

omfg lowkey zace is goals

a good and fresh gif of izzy because she's a queen

i feel like this book's confusing, idk why sksksk

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