"Jace, I didn't think you might it quite literally when you said you wouldn't be letting me out of your sight." I looked at him from my bed, holding a pencil in my hand, my sketch book resting on my lap.

"I did mean it quite literally." Jace shoves some cold spaghetti into my mouth, having watch me draw for a while now.

"You've been watching me for- so long now-" I turned onto my stomach, looking at him, "Don't you think you need a break?"

Jace stares at me for a few moments, before looking down at his container of spaghetti, "I could watch you for hours."

I stare at him for a few seconds, swallowing hard and sitting up on my bed, "Don't you get tired?"

"I'm all rested up." Jace shut the container when he was done with it and set it to the side, "What do you wanna do now?"

"Kick you out of my room?" I hugged myself lightly, watching him, "Who knows what we could do with all this alone time on our hands-"

Jace chuckled lightly at my joke and looked down at his hands, "A number of things-"

I softly smiled at things being slightly less awkward between us. I could feel the tension, but it was okay.

My eyes scanned his facial structure, before I felt a deep burning on my hand, a gasp leaving my lips, looking down at my palm, unintentionally calling out, "Jace-"

"What's wrong?-" Jace got up quickly and rushed over to me, holding my hand gently, "Are you okay? What the hell is this-"

"I don't- god, I don't know-" I breathed heavy, holding my wrist and letting out another cry in pain.

-

"La Chair Brulee." Magnus said after he had used his magic to take the pain out my burning hand, going right into explaining, "It means the burnt flesh- it's an old blood oath spell."

"Then it must be Iris." Jace was still holding my burnt hand over his, "She said you owed her a favor."

I looked at him, swallowing hard, "At Max's party, she said I have to find Madzie-"

"Then we better start looking." Magnus exhales deeply, "I can get rid of the pain, but that's about it."

Magnus then looks at me, trailing off, "I'm afraid once the magic reaches your heart-"

"So- what you're saying is, if I don't find Madzie- I'm gonna end up dead." I blinked, "Damn- didn't think I'd go that easy-"

"No- no." Jace stood up, not taking it lightly, "Magnus, there has to be a cure- there has to be something we can do to stop this."

"Can't we force Iris to undo it?" Alec questioned.

"I wish it were that easy." Magnus huffed, "But- blood oath spells are completely binding- even Iris herself can't reverse it now."

-

"Are you okay?" Alec questioned me over the phone as I stood to the side at the Jade Wolf, away from Jace and Luke, "Are you getting any rushes- because of the blood oath? You're okay, right?-"

"I'm fine, Alec-" I replied in a hush tone, "I haven't been getting any rushes- but, Jace won't leave me alone- he'll find out if I do have one-"

"Zee, maybe it's about time we tell everyone? Your blood- you can't activate the Soul Sword, so Valentine might use Clary instead- we need everyone on this-" Alec tried to persuade.

"Valentine doesn't make any sense- he was the one who injected me with demon blood and he still wants me unharmed- I don't understand his plan-" I huffed lightly and facepalmed, "Look, you promised me that you wouldn't tell anyone-"

"I know- but, I don't-" Alec huffed lightly, "If you die- now, or later because Valentine somehow gets the Soul Sword activated-"

"Well, it seems like dying either way, Alec-" I shot at him, then looked back, "I gotta go-"

I hung up and walked over to Jace and Luke as he spoke, "I'll round up some wolves and see if we can get a scent-"

"Oh, alright- great-" I began walking backwards, leaving them again.

"Hey-" Jace stopped me, "Where are you going?"

"To get Simon." I said.

Jace grimaced, "What- why?"

"Because being on four wheels is better than two feet?" I shot him a look and shoved my phone in my back pocket before leaving the Jade Wolf and going out to the shed, knocking on the door, "Dude?-"

I parked the door open, "Warning- incoming sunlight- you in there?"

Before I could get a reply out of Simon, there was a growing snarl coming from behind me.

I slowly turned my head, my eyes landing on a wolf, one that was growling and glaring at me.

I gasped when it threw itself at me, my back hitting the wall, grabbing the top of the trash can next to me as a shield, keeping myself behind it.

"Zee?-" Simon's voice filled my ears, a small gasp leaving my lips when the werewolf knocked the top from my hands.

"Zee!" Simon let his hand out into the sunlight, holding an oar out for me to take, as I grabbed it quickly and knocked the wolf behind the dumpsters in one quick movement.

Jace skid to a stop next to me, breathing out, "Nice-"

"Thanks-" I flipped the oar in my hand.

Jace shouts at the wolf behind the dumpsters, pulling out his seraph blade, "Show yourself!

They obeyed.

And up stood Maia.

-

"See the scorched grass?" Jace pointed to the ground when he and I skimmed the park, after Luke stayed back to take care of Maia, "Someone opened a Portal."

Simon rushed to a stop next to us, "Nothing over there- and without the wolves to help us pick up a scent, this is gonna take forever."

"Ticking clock here, guys-" I held up my burnt hand.

Jace sighs, "Everyone keep looking-"

"Maybe he can help-" Simon points to the homeless looking man seated at the bench, jogging over to him.

"Simon? Simon- don't be stupid-" I rushed after him, Jace right on my tail.

"Excuse me, um- a little girl might have gotten kidnapped a few days ago." Simon tried, "I was wondering if you've seen her."

The man shied away, "I don't know what you're talking about."

I huff and gave in, "Are you sure you haven't seen anything? She's a little girl-"

"She's about this tall, pigtails, always-" I gestured with my hands, my eyes landing on his jacket pocket, "-wears a scarf."

Simon points, "Hey, where'd you get that scarf?"

"Nowhere. I found it- it's mine-" The man slightly turned away, holding onto the scarf.

A small smirk on my lips formed, leaning against the bench against my arms, "That jacket seems- old- do you need a new one?"

The man looked at me as I had caught his attention.

"Do you wanna make a trade?" I questioned, holding my hand out for the scarf, a grin forming on the man's lips.

My smirk formed wider as I looked up at Jace, who looked down at me, "What?-"

-

"Keep heading north." Jace held the scarf in his hand, "The signal's faint, but- we can still track her."

Simon looks at him, "Don't sound too excited."

"It's too easy." Jace shook his head.

"It wasn't easy." Simon shot back, "That jacket's at least two sizes small on that guy- I don't know how Zee did it."

I shrug, "I should be a salesman-"

"Valentine's too smart to have not thought about blocking the signal." Jace reminds us, "If we can track Madzie, it's because he wants us to- we'll be walking into a trap."

"What are you suggesting?" Simon questions, "That we don't find Madzie- and just let Zee die?"

Jace denied, "That's not what I'm saying."

I stayed silent for a few seconds.

I exposed now that I thought that I couldn't activate the Soul Sword, the entire Downworld would be after Clary instead of me.

She did put me in this mess.

But, I wasn't going to do that to her.

It could go in a way that I activate the sword, then suffer the affects afterwards along with all the other Downworlders.

In other words, I couldn't risk it.

"Scarf's our only option." I messed with my hands, "But, that doesn't change the fact that whatever happens- you guys can't let him take me alive."

"What?" Simon spoke, looking at me through the mirror, "Zee, you're kind of freaking me out."

"Simon, I'm prepared to die." I looked at him through the mirror, my voice lowering, "For a while now, all I've wanted is to just- die."

My mind immediately went to the tension between Jace and I.

How we were brother and sister.

How I lost my mom.

How I was injected with demon blood.

"I don't have a problem with it- I'll go." My voice remained low, "So much has happened, that I don't mind- it'll put me out of my misery."

"But, if you really think about it- Maia was right to try and kill me." I looked down at my hands, "One life viruses- thousands- I would rather die than let Valentine activate the Sword and wipe out the Downworld."

"Please, I need you guys to promise me-" I looked between them, "If Valentine ever gets to me-"

"No." Simon denied, "Absolutely not."

"I promise." Jace suddenly spoke and looked back at me, "If it ever comes to that, I won't let him take you alive."

-

"You sure we're safe up here?" Simon hopped onto the roof of his van, one that I laid flat on, looking up at the stars.

"I'm going to die, Simon-" I exhale slow, "I'd rather it be looking at the stars then the doors of your van."

"Maybe we should go looking for Jace-" Simon suggests, "I can carry you on my back if you can't move-"

"Simon, it's spreading to my heart." My voice was low, "I'll be dead by the time we find him- if Jace says he's gonna bring Madzie back- he will."

"Sure, yeah." Simon nodded lightly, "But at what point do we say he's been gone too long?"

"I trust Jace with my life, Simon." I looked at him, my hands on my stomach, "I know he'll pull through."

Part of me was hoping he wouldn't.

"Hey-" I reached and grabbed Simon's hand, "If I don't make it- just- know, I'm glad you're here with me."

"Stop- you will, you have to-" Simon squeezed my hair and started running his free hand through my hair to comfort me, "Think about it- you haven't had every single flavor of ice cream in the entire world yet- you're really gonna go that way?"

"Simon-" I softly laughed and looked at him, "I don't need to try every single flavor of ice cream in the entire world-"

"Well, what about going without getting the satisfaction that I- totally had a small crush on you when I first met you-" Simon points at me, softly smiling.

I pointed at him, "You're with my little sister-"

"Yes, I know- but this was- way before I had the guts to confess my feelings for her-" Simon kept talking to try and keep me awake, "You were nice to me- easy to talk to-"

"Alright, Simon-" My eyes were barely open, a small smile on my face, "Hey- thanks."

"For what?" Simon looked down at me.

"I feel- okay." My grip on his hand got weaker, "Ironic given the situation we're in, but- I feel- okay for the first time in a long time."

Simon squeezed my hand when I was barely holding his anymore, "Hang on a little longer- please."

-

My breathing was slow, and my vision was blurry.

I could feel the magic inches away from my heart.

I knew that this was it.

I had stopped talking a while ago, but Simon kept making sure I was awake, trying to spark conversation repeatedly to try and get me to stay with him.

"Zee-" Simon noticed the point I was at in my condition, "Zee, stay awake-"

"Stay awake just a little longer- come on," Simon pulled me into him, his arms around me, looking down at me, "Don't go-"

My eyes slightly opened, reaching up and putting a hand on his face, my voice barely there anymore when I spoke, "Hey- it's okay-"

"It's fine-" I tried to assure him, but my voice began to cut off, my hand dropping, "It's-"

"Zee!" Jace's voice brought me back from slipping away completely.

"Jace!" Simon lifted me up and hopped off the van, rushing me over to Jace and Madzie, setting me on the ground onto my knees in front of her.

I tried to open my eyes completely but my condition was clear, as Madzie set a hand on my shoulder, the both of us being surrounded by magic, the magic the was once racing to my heart now fading.

Then, Madzie opened up a portal.

"Madzie, what are you doing?-" I blinked a few times to process, "Madzie-"

Before I could do anything, Madzie brought them portal upon us.

-

A small groan left my lips as I slowly sat up, holding my head, my ankle chained to the ground.

I looked around, seeing Madzie stood a few feet away from me, surrounded by Downworlders.

"Not again-" I tried to pull on the chains, grunting when they don't loosen or break, "Damn it-"

"Well done, Madzie." Valentine walked over to us and patted her back, "Your nana is gonna be so proud of you."

"But- you still have a lot more to do before you can see her, okay?" Valentine said to her, "So run along-"

Madzie did as she was told, as Valentine looked toward me, "Hello again, Zee."

I clenched my jaw and forced myself onto my feet, "Are you kidding me?-"

"You must still hate me for what happened to your mother." Valentine sighed, "I don't blame you. Margaret's death will always be my greatest regret."

My fist clenched at my side as I brought it up and made it come in contact with his jaw before I could stop myself.

"I deserved that, that's a given." Valentine stepped back, holding his jaw, looking at me.

"You're idiotic-" I spat at him, "I have demon blood- I can't activate the Soul Sword- I'm not your pure angel."

"That's where you're wrong, Zee." Valentine stepped closer to me, taunting me, "You are my pure angel- you know why? You're half and half. Pure good and evil- you activate the Soul Sword- then it's abilities retract onto you- and guess what happens?"

I stare at him, staying silent.

"If you were going to say that you die, you're correct-" Valentine pursed his lips, "That way- you'll be out of the way."

"You'd murder your own daughter." I stared at him in disgust, "Use me as a pawn- to carry out your work?"

"I wish I didn't need to do this but, you're my only match, Zee." Valentine took a step back, "I'm just wiping out competition."

-

I tried to pull on the chain once again, the entire place empty now as they had fled, leaving me alone.

But, I knew it was a trap.

Footsteps sounded the room, making me turn my head and looked toward them, seeing the familiar flop of blond hair, "Jace!-"

"Zee!" Jace turned at my voice and immediately rushed over to me, his seraph blade at hand.

I threw my arms around him the moment he got to me, holding onto him in a tight grip, catching him off guard as he lightly stumbled backwards.

Jace hugged me back with one arm slowly, rubbing my lower back, "Are you okay?"

"I'm- fine-" I slipped away, pulling on the chain, "Please- help me get out of this- we have to go before Valentine gets back- everyone just- left out of no where-"

Jace nodded quick and broke the chain for me, turning as we both went to run but quickly stopped when Valentine stood there with Madzie, "Going someplace?"

Jace went to charge, but Madzie held him back which her magic, making Valentine speak again, "I didn't think so- she's strong for her age, isn't she?"

"Madzie-?" I fell to my knees, "Please let Jace go."

Valentine hums, "Now- why would she do that, hm?"

"Because you wanna hurt people- you're the bad guy, here-" I looked back at Madzie, "We're the good guys- he wants to hurt people- people like Iris- like your nana-"

"Don't forget- this is the mean person that got your nana in trouble in the first place." Valentine fed Madzie lies, "Now, if you want to see Iris, you have to be a good little girl and do exactly what I say, okay?"

Suddenly, Simon appeared, landing a punch on Valentine's jaw, Madzie letting go of Jace, "Run!-"

Before Jace and I could do anything, Valentine had Simon by the neck, "Brave and stupid-"

I warned, "You let go of him-"

"Sweetheart, save your magic for what's to come- it's time to go." Valentine told Madzie, having her open a portal instead, "I'll see you soon, Zee-"

"No!-" I tried to run but Jace grabbed my arm quick, Valentine disappearing into the portal with Madzie, and Simon.

authors note:

this was an interesting chapter tbh

zee activates the sword, she dies

good and fresh

zee and simon contentttt

thank you for 16k !!

vote and comment loadsss