"Hey, are you alright?" Alec came to my side when I was walking through the Institute, a hard look on my face as I fixed the sleeve of my leather jacket after Isabelle had texted us to meet her.

"I'm fine." I muttered, trying not to think about the demon blood running through my veins, "Why?"

"You haven't been yourself." Alec's expression scanned my face as I walked faster, clueless to what had happened at the Citadel, as I had made Clary and Isabelle swear not to speak of it, "You seem off-"

"I'm fine, Alec- drop it-" I dropped my arms to my sides, "Any idea what the alert was about?"

"Heard a big storm's moving in." Alec huffed lightly at me shutting him out, "Always increases demon activity."

I glance, "And Jace is-"

"Not here." Alec cut me off.

"He's shut me out." I mumbled quietly, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear, "You're the closest thing I have to knowing if he's alright- I don't understand what's going on."

"Me neither." Alec sighs, then walks over to Isabelle with me, "What did we miss?"

"Let's see." Isabelle glided her finger over the screen, "The Citadel was breached, Magdalena is dead, Cleophas is missing."

"Oh, my God." Clary joined us, "Valentine?"

"Who else could it be?" I glanced at her.

"Aldertree's heading to Idris to meet with the Council." Isabelle looked between us all.

I barely glanced at them, then walked away quickly, "I'll go check with ops-"

-

"So, you met Cleophas?" Luke questioned as I walked next to him towards the Jade Wolf.

"Yeah, we met at the Citadel." I was blunt and short, "She's missing- thought talking to you would get us a lead."

I stared at the ground as we walked, "We think something bad could've happened- I don't know what, but Cleophas could be hurt- she could need help."

"Hold it, hold it." Luke stopped me and looked down at me, "Zee, listen to me, Cleo may not be the victim here- she could be working with Valentine."

"That's an interesting idea, what makes you think that?" I remark, looking up at him, crossing my arms, "She looked so dedicated to the Iron Sisters."

Luke shook his head, exposing her, "When the Circle disbanded, she had to be."

I stare at him, "She was a member of the Circle?"

"And she worshipped Valentine, followed him around like a little puppy." Luke continued, "When I finally figured out what Valentine was up to I'd lost my sister for good."

"Well-" I nod once, "We'll get her back-"

"I don't know." Luke sighed, "It might be too late."

"I lost just my mother." My expression hardened, staring at him, "You're not going to lose your sister- not on my watch."

-

"Told you, Zee." Luke said to me as I stood with him and Alaric in the Jade Wolf, "I've used all the department's resources- there's no sign of her."

"Well, we're figure something else out-" I began to say, but my head snaps toward the door opening and shaky breathing.

In stumbled a bleeding Cleophas, "Luke-"

"Hey, hey, hey-" I rushed over quick and caught her when she fell back, looking up toward Luke.

"Lucian-" Cleophas mustered out within her heavy breaths, "Help me-"

I pulled out my stele and ran it over her Iratze, helping her stand up straight, taking a step back.

"Of all the places you could go, you chose to ask a Downworlder for help?" Luke stared at his sister, "A soulless monster, a filthy animal."

"Or have you forgotten all the names you called me?" Luke shot at her, "Because I haven't."

"Alright, let's not have an argument right now? I get you guys are sibling's and all, but there's more pressing matters to worry about." I interject, then looked at Cleophas, "Spit it out- what happened at the Citadel?"

"Valentine's men infiltrated- we tried to fight them off." Cleophas exhales, "They killed Magdalena and took me."

I didn't buy it right off the bat.

"Only you?" Luke scoffs, "Why is that?"

"I don't know." Cleophas replied, "He brought me to New York, locked me up- I managed to get a jump on one of his guards and fight my way out."

Luke didn't buy it either, "You can't seriously expect us to believe that."

"I know where Valentine's hiding." Cleophas tried, "I can lead you to him."

I put on a straight face over my hard one, turning to Luke, my back to Cleophas, "Luke, we have to do this- it's our only chance to find Valentine."

"No way." Luke immediately denied, "I'll be damned if I put you in jeopardy-"

I inhale, "If we could just have a conversation-"

"Not now, Zee." Luke shut it down.

"Luke, a word, now-" I raised my voice lightly, stern, as I walked away from them and back into the kitchen.

"Look." Luke immediately spoke when he joined me, the doors closing, "I know my sister's convincing, but you can't fall for her lies-"

"No she's not- you think I fell for that?" I crossed my arms, gesturing my head to the doors, "She's hiding something- I know it."

"Well done." Luke seemed slightly taken back, but proud, "Now, what the hell are they planning?"

"That's what we have to figure out." I stated the obvious, "Except- Valentine already has the Soul-Sword, Luke- if your sister can lead us to him- maybe we could get it back."

"Not happening." Luke shook his head.

"Well, isn't that what cops do?" I shot back at him, "Go undercover?"

"I didn't realize you had a badge." Luke shot right back at me, staring at me.

"Luke, this is a chance we might not have again-" I stare at him, "I know it sounds reckless- but, I can handle it-"

"You expect me to let you indulge in what Cleo has up her sleeve- without any backup? It's even more reckless than you're making it seem-" Luke called me out, "We're turning Cleo over to the Clave- they have more resources."

"And when was the last time that the Clave was helpful?" I confronted him, having a point.

"Zee, we'll find another way." Luke didn't budge, "I'm gonna go talk to the pack- we're taking Cleo to the Institute."

Before I could say another word, Luke left me alone in the kitchen, discussing with Alaric.

I huffed and left the kitchen, walking over to Cleophas, keeping watch over her.

"We leave in five." Luke told Alaric, then walks over to Cleophas and I, "It's time."

I stare at him with a hard expression, making Luke sigh, "Kiddo, it'll be okay."

"Yeah, it will." I clenched my jaw lightly, closing my eyes for a second, then grabbed his taser and tased him, a groan leaving his lips as he fell to the ground, "I'm sorry, you're just going to have to trust me-"

I dropped the taser and grabbed Cleopha's arm, pulling her along with me, "Let's go-"

-

I walked next to Cleophas down an alley, looking around, staying completely silent.

I couldn't help but let my thoughts crowd my mind due to the uttering silence, my thoughts clouded about the demon blood in my veins and what had happened at the Citadel.

The same rush I had felt after my mother has been killed ran through my veins, making me stop in my tracks.

My breathing became heavy as I looked down, my eyes going completely black, my hand gripping onto the wall.

Cleophas stopped when she noticed I wasn't walking with her anymore, "Zee- are you alright?"

I don't reply.

Cleophas took a step closer to me, "Zee?"

I exhale, the rush slowly leaving the body.

"I'm fine." I shortly replied, looking up when my eyes were no longer black, rubbing my temple, "Where are we going, exactly?"

Cleophas starts walking again, "We're close-"

I roll my eyes lightly, "You realize by going against Valentine, you're risking your life?"

"I have to make amends." Cleophas said to me.

My eyes widened at the sound of distorted screaming, a gasp leaving my lips as I stopped and fell into the wall, my hand going to my ear.

"Zee!" Cleophas stops again and looks at me, her eyes slightly wide, "What is it? What's wrong?-"

I groaned, grabbing out my kindjals, clenching my jaw to endure the pain I felt by the screaming, but my eyes couldn't help but start to burn with tears, "What are you doing to me?-"

Cleophas stares, "I'm not doing anything-"

"Liar!" I raised my voice, kicking her back, then grabbing her and pushing her against the wall, my kindjal to her neck, "The sound in my head- it's- it's- coming from Valentine, isn't it?"

Cleophas breathes heavily, "What sound?"

A gasp left my lips, my hands shaky as I dropped the kindjals and stepped back, "It's getting louder!"

"Activate my hearing rune-" Cleophas grabbed myself arm, gesturing to it, "There-"

I grabbed my stele and activated it, my other hand going to my temple, a tear falling from my eye.

Cleophas' expression dropped, "It's not possible-"

"What is it?" I shoved my stele in my pocket, my teeth gritting, "Tell me! What is Valentine doing to me?-"

"It's not Valentine." Cleophas took a step back, breathing heavily, "It is an angel."

I scoff, "Angel?-"

"Here on earth." Cleophas swallows, "I think he's holding him captive- the angel is crying out for help."

I took a few steps back from her when the screaming had died down, wiping the tear that fell from my eye.

"Valentine- how could you?" Cleophas looked up at the sky, "His cry is so full of pain."

"Don't bullshit me." I put my kindjals back in their sheaths, "Angels are rare- almost no one's ever seen one before-"

"It's unheard of." said Cleophas, "Iron Sisters hear the angels whisper when we're forging our weapons, but even we've never seen one- to communicate with one, you must be blessed by the angels."

I scoff, "That's a load of crap-"

Cleophas took a step closer, "Zee, you are blessed."

"No more lies, Cleophas." I snipped back at her, "I know you're working with Valentine- you killed Magdalena, didn't you?"

"I loved Magdalena." Cleophas admitted, sniffling, "I thought Valentine I thought his way was the only way to make the world a better place- a safer place."

"Clearly you sided with the wrong person." I clenched my jaw, "You're in over your head-"

"No matter what sacrifices had to be made, but harming an angel, holding him captive-" Cleophas says, "That goes against everything we believe in."

I gape, "What, and killing Downworlders doesn't?"

"You don't understand." Cleophas exhales, "An angel is pure goodness- they're the embodiment of what Shadowhunters stand for, if Valentine's harming an angel, then everything we love will be destroyed."

"You're done, Cleophas." I grabbed her arm and started pulling her along, "I should've listened to Luke- you're going right to the Clave-"

"No! Please." Cleophas tugged and stopped me, "Let me take you to Valentine- we have to free the angel, then I'll turn myself in."

"And I'm supposed to believe you?" I looked at her, "Why would you help me now?"

"Don't you see the storm coming?" Cleophas points out, "If Valentine has the angel and a bolt of lightning- he can activate the Soul-Sword."

I stare at her, going silent for a few seconds.

"We have to hurry." I gave in with a huff, then ran down the alley with her, hearing car tires shrieking to a stop on the road ahead of us.

Luke jumped out the car, his gun aimed at Cleophas, "Cleo, you hurt her, I'll drop you where you stand-"

"Luke, drop the gun-" I immediately raise my voice, getting in front of Cleophas.

Jace jumped out after him, taking a few steps toward me but stops, "Zee, get out of the way!-"

I looked at him, my eyes slightly widening in my hard expression, "Jace- what the hell are you doing here?"

"Luke said you were in trouble-" Jace took a step closer, "Zee, move-"

"Luke, I said drop the gun-" I looked at him, holding my ground, "We need her."

-

"If Valentine needs lightning to activate the Sword, he probably put Ithuriel up on the rooftop." I held my kindjals tightly, running up the stairs of the building with Jace.

Jace looks at me, going up the stairs, "Cleophas could have been lying, Zee-"

"She's not, alright?" I denied, "Not about this."

Jace stops, "How do you know?"

"I just know." I stopped as well, staring at him for a second, before I kept going, "Trust me-"

Jace followed me as we went to the rooftop, our eyes landing on the man in chains, guarded by four circle members.

The lightning strikes wildly as Jace and I charged for them, taking two at a time, killing them as quickly as we could to get to the Angel.

"We have to hurry-" I shoved my kindjals back and rushed over, grabbing at the chains, pulling out my stele and trying to break them.

"Nothing's working." Jace grunts when his sword couldn't cut it, trying once more.

I looked at him, "Why can't we break the chain?-"

"I don't know." Jace stammered, "Valentine must have used a warlock, some kind of dark magic-"

The familiar screaming left the Angel's mouth, a gasp leaving my lips as my hand goes to my head.

Jace looks at me, "Are you okay?-"

My jaw clenched as I flipped my stele in my hand and started drawing a rune on the chain cuffs, as Jace watched me, "What's happening? What are you doing?-"

"Hang on, I got it-" I pulled my stele away when I had drawn the rune, the screaming disappearing.

The Angel broke free of the chains, spreading his wings, and looked between Jace and I, holding out his hands for us.

Slowly Jace and I took his hands, a gasp leaving my lips at the sight of a vision the Angel had shown us.

Then, he shot himself to the sky.

I slowly looked at Jace, "What the hell was that?"

authors note:

ok i said i was thinking about deleting this book, but after writing this chapter, i change my mind

i have ideas for this ship tbh

but ahhh i lowkey loved zee in this chapter

thank you for 11k !

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