Chapter 17

The man, known as Jace's dad, stepped out from the locker, approaching Jace with a shocked expression. In seconds, he wrapped his son in a hug that caused both men to shed a tear.

"Oh, Jace. I can't believe it," Jace's dad said before pulling away. Jace wavered a bit, turning his head a little which revealed the swollen wound on his neck. "Son, you're hurt. How did you find me?"

Jace's voice started to go horse again, his head shaking as he looked at his dad with a gapped mouth. "You're dead. Valentine killed you. Valentine's, Valentine's here."

Shaking his head, Jace's dad grabbed his son's head and made him look at him. "No, Jace. It's me." He then moved his head to look at me and my sister, both of us standing before the man in shock. "I'm Michael Wayland. I'm Jace's father. Look, I know what Jace told you, but I've been here for ten years. Valentine took off and left me."

Clary quickly spoke up about our mother, "And Jocelyn Fairchild?"

"He took her with him. You are?"

I spoke up, my mind still spinning with unanswered questions. "I'm Faith, this is my younger sister Clary, we're her daughters."

Suddenly, Jace started to fall, causing both Michael and myself to grab ahold of him and steady him. "Jace," I said, catching his arm and looking at him worriedly. My eyes then moved to Michael and Clary. "He's getting worst, I can feel it."

Jace, ignoring my words, started to speak through his pants. "We have to find Clary's father, not my father." His breath suddenly becomes heavier, causing his eyes to waver from closing to open.

Michael held onto his son tightly as he started to dig through Jace's pockets. "His Stele, where is it?"

I reach in Jace's back pocket and pull it out, handing it over to Michael. Jace's shirt was lifted and the Stele waved over the ruin Jace had made before only this time it didn't seem to do anything.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at Michael worriedly.

"The ruin is weak," Michael said, slipping Jace's Stele back into Jace's pocket.

"The Ravener venom must be spreading. We have to get him help," I said, taking Jace's arm and swinging it over my shoulders. Michael copied my action on the other side, both of us being the only thing keeping Jace from falling flat on the ground.

"We closed the Portal though," Clary said worriedly.

Michael shook his head, "Valentine's got a standing Portal. Let's go." We started to move, Clary following behind. Michael tried to grab Jace's attention in hopes of keeping him awake. "Hey, Jace, stay with me. Hey. Do you remember our first demon fight? We were way out past the Institute, way up at Kinshasa. You were only eight, but you were so brave. Do you remember what you said?"

Jace opened his eyes, his voice almost unrecognizable as he looked at his dad faintly. "I'm ready to die."

"And then I said, "Sometimes it's as brave to live as it is to die." Do you remember?"

Nodding slowly, Jace confirmed, "I do." He began to shed a tear as he looked at his dad, "It's true. It's really you."

Michael rested his head again his son's head before we continued to move on. We found the portal and went through it. It sat us right on the bridge, causing us to look around in worry.

"Luke, he might be able to help us," I said, looking over my shoulder at Clary. She nodded and led the way to the familiar Chines restaurant.

The second we burst through the double doors into the Chines restaurant, my eyes caught sight of Luke talking to Luke. Both guys looked up at us, standing as we approached a booth.

"We need help!" Clary yells!

"Clary, what happened?" Simon asked, worry drip in his voice as he gets a view of Jace.

Michael scooted into the booth, pulling Jace with him. Jace groans as we move him to sit down. The second his butt hits the booth, he passes out, his head falling to the side slightly.

"We thought we found Valentine, but he was already gone," Clary exsplained.

Luke moved over to us, looking at Michael with a shocked expression, "Michael Wayland?"

My eyes moved from Jace to Luke, explaining. "Valentine took our mother with him, but we found Jace's father."

Simon's eyes went wide, "What? I thought Valentine killed Jace's father?"

Michael looked up at the vampire that stood next to Clary, "He tried."

Luke shook his head, waving his hands in front of him, "This can't be. I thought I'd never see you again."

"I never thought I'd see anyone again," Michael mumbled.

Focusing my attention on Jace, I moved a damp piece of hair out of his face, my hand lightly cupping his cheek. He was so warm, causing my own body temperature to rise like I had a few to many layers on. It wasn't until Luke asked what happened did I look away from Jace again.

"Demon got him. He can't fight the poison. His runes are too weak and he needs blood, but we can't go back to the Institute," I explained, trying to stick with bullets points at the moment.

Clary quickly grabbed Simon's attention, seeming to grab the rest of the room's as well. "Simon, there's gotta be some kind of blood at Hotel DuMort. Could you call Raphael?"

As Clary spoke, I looked at Luke, asking, "Can you get some water?" Luke nodded in response, standing and leaving while Simon answered Clary's request which came out more as a question.

"Calling won't work. We have to do this in person. My van is in the garage. You drive, I'll hide under a blanket to stay out of the sun, and there's underground parking in the hotel."

Clary nodded, "Okay."

Luke returned with a large bowl of water and a rag, sitting it on the table in front of us.

Michael, still holding onto his son, spoke up, looking at all of us with concern. "He's weaker. You gotta hurry."

Yeah, tell me about it. I already feel myself growing weaker just kneeling here. My body ached like I had just worked out to hard. The only difference was it was bearable for me.

Clary and Simon turned to leave, only to stop when I spoke up. "I'm coming with you," I quickly stood up, taking a step out to follow. The feeling you get when you've stood up to fast spins my head and I begin to waver a little.

Quickly, Luke rises and grabs onto me, steading me as he looks at me worriedly.

"What happening?" I mumbled, my head still coming down from it's spin.

Luke, looking me over, did his best to explain. "It's the Connection. As Jace weakens, so will you. You have to stay here."

My sister moved over to me, taking my hand as she looks at me reassuringly, "It's okay. We'll be back as soon as we can. Just hang on." I nod in response and watch as Clary and Simon leave.

Pulling out the near-by table chair, Luke sits me down in it, making sure I won't faint before returning to Jace and Michael.

I closed Michael and Luke out, their words becoming mumbles in the background as my head spun. Everything seemed to move so slow for my eyes, racing to catch up. One of my hands gripped tightly to the table, keeping me sitting in my chair. It wasn't until I heard Jace's groans of wakening that I seemed to snap my body somewhat back to normal.

"Faith, Faith," Jace mumbled out, sounding weak as he turned his head to look around.

I practically slid out of my chair and onto the floor next to him. One hand took his while the other lightly laid on his shoulder, "I'm here, I'm here."

Michael looked over at me, seeming to pick up on the past works of Luke and bringing them up. "Luke mentioned a Connection. Is that true? I thought those were just stories?"

"Yeah, so did a lot of people," I said, glancing over at Michael before returning to Michael.

"Well... it's nice to meet you then," Michael said, making me look over at him. My eyes staid on him, silence in my voice. Something was off, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Not because of Jace, but because of Michael. This cold feeling sat over me and my mind seemed to search for some type of memory but found none.

Between the three of us, we were able to get Jace in the very back where a sitting area was. Hoping to make him more comfortable, we laid him on the red couch, my butt immediately sitting on the coffee table across from him.

I don't know how much time passed before Clary returned with blood and no Simon, but I know I didn't move from that spot. My eyes staid on Jace, my hand holding onto his. Anytime I went to pull my hand away, he'd give it a squeeze, keeping it secured in his.

Luke hooked up the blood, leading it to his arm, before going to the front with Clary. Michael sat on the end of the couch, watching me watch his son.

"I feel like I know you. You're so much like your mother," Michael said, causing me to look at him. A small chuckle left his lips, "You're fearless, and loving, and you got a mind of your own. A little stubborn, perhaps?"

A smile formed on my lips, "Sometimes too much," I said before returning to Jace.

Michael paused for only a second before speaking. "You know, the second I saw Jace, standing in front of you so protectively, I knew something was going on. I could feel it, the power you two held. I always thought Connections were stories and fairy tales. Turns out my son has a Connection." I looked over at Michael, finding him staring right at me with a distant smile. "And it could be with a better one."

I smiled at his words, my eyes looking down at the ground for a moment. They returned to Michael when he stood, giving me a small nod, before leaving the backroom.

As if he was waiting for Michael to leave, Jace opens his eyes, letting out a small groan as he seems to come too. His color is back to normal and he feels stronger than he did before.

"Hey," Jace said when his eyes notice me.

"Hey," I responded, my figure sitting up a bit better as I smiled at him. "You're looking better."

Jace releases my hand, looking up at the blood bag that is pumping fresh blood in his system. "Yeah, uh, fresh blood. These vamps may be on to something."

We both let out a chuckle and I nodded in agreement.

"I talked to your dad for a bit. Seems like I won him over," I said, making Jace smile and look down at his hands. He pushed himself up a bit so he was sitting more upward instead of laying down flat.

Once Jace looked comfortable, I brought up an old subject that had pocked at the back of my mind for a while now. "Do you remember that story you once told me about the boy who trained the falcon with kindness? That was you, wasn't it? He broke your falcon's neck."

Jace looked down at his hands, looking as if he was caught in something he didn't want to be found out. "I ruined it. It wanted to be fed. It wouldn't hunt."

"But he must have known it would hurt you. He's so loving now. Why would he do that?" I asked, hoping that this coldness I felt with Michael around was just something Jace felt.

"We're not mundanes, Faith. He had a lesson to teach me. That's how it's done," Jace said, looking over at me.

"Well I have a lesson for you. Don't die on me," I said, lightly nudging his arm. We both laughed and he nodded as an answer. Once the laughter had calmed and skipped away, Jace spoke up again.

He looked at me sympathetic, "I'm sorry we could find Jocelyn."

I shrugged, unsure how I truly felt about the subject. It wasn't something that was pushing at my mind at the moment. Jace was more important in my eyes right now. "Yeah, well, maybe finding your father will help lead us to Valentine. Meliorn said so. Seelies can't lie."

"Yeah. And they take tangled paths wherever they go."

I nodded in agreement, but brought my eyes together in slight concentration as I said my next words. "Although I think it's because they see more that way." I paused for a moment, debating if I should bring it up. "The other dimension..." my words trailed off, seeming to silence themselves any further.

Jace pushed himself up and swung his legs around, sitting right in front of me. He looked at me curiously, requesting, "Tell me."

A sigh left my lips as my head looked down at my hands. "We said things... Did things..." My head looked back up at Jace, my eyebrows pulling together in confusion. "Was that me? Was it you? Was it even real?"

Taking a moment to just stare at me, Jace then laid one hand on my cheeks and rubbed it soothingly with his thumb. It glides over my lips, followed by his eyes as he speaks with a quiet voice.

"This is real, Faith. This is you and me. Here and now."

My eyes look down to his lips which pull me in like magnets. Out lips meet and it feels like the first time I ever kissed him again. They dance together passionately, leaving anything open.

When Jace's hands grab my waste and slip under my butt, he lifts me up and sets him on his lap as he leans back into the couch. Our lips never pull away, instead my fingers dance around his face as Jace keeps his under me.

This, I want this, but not here, not with everyone in the other room. So, for once no one has to walk in to pull us away, I do it myself.

Almost breathlessly, I pull my lips away, my eyes still half closed as we absorb the little air between us. "We should... see the rest of the group," I said, almost unsure.

"Yeah," Jace mumbles against the air. Once again, his lips meet mine, seeming to test my past words.

I follow them, pulling away with a smile that I know he shares.

We eventually grasp as much energy as we can and stand, joining the small group out front. The five of us found ourselves at a table, talking about Valentine and Michael. Jace and Michael sat on one side with Clary and Luke on the other. I turned a chair and sat it close to Jace, holding his hand under the table as if it was our strength source.

"Why would Valentine tell a prisoner what he was planning to do?" Clary asked?

"He didn't. Well, not directly. But he gave me a way to learn all about his plans," Michael answered.

Jace looked at his dad confused, "How do you mean?"

Michael sighed, "He injected me with Downworlder blood." Jace quickly turned his head and looked at the ground angrily, causing my hand to give his a small squeeze. Michael continued, "The pain was excruciating. Sometimes I was sick for days. But it's not often you got a Shadowhunter to experiment on. So I guess that's why he always stopped short of killing me. But, little by little I developed enhanced hearing and vision. They mentioned hiding at Renwick's."

"Who's Renwick?" I asked?

"It's not a who. It's a where. It's a deserted smallpox hospital on one of the islands of the East River," Michael explained, looking past his son at me.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair, "Right under our noses."

"And we can't track over water," Clary added, seeming to discover Valentine's plan become smarter.

Michael looked at each of us, seeming to grab his son's attention for a moment. "He left me to die in that cage."

"Valentine never wasted time on compassion," Luke said, making his own personal point.

Jace stood up, releasing my hand as he took a couple of steps away from the table in anger. "He won't get any from me when the time comes."

Michael spoke up, stopping his son from walking away. "Before it does, you need a strategy. Waiting a day could mean the difference between failure and success."

Turning to his father, Jace gestured over to me, "Okay. Faith and I will scout Renwick's tonight."

I stand, taking the couple of steps it took to reach Jace. I half pleaded as I spoke, "Jace, don't. Your runes are still too weak."

"I'm fine, Faith," Jace said, looking down at me slightly annoyed.

"You might be able to pull that with everyone here. But I can feel you. Luke and I can go," I said, pulling out the Connection card for the first time. I'll defiantly have to play that card more often.

Jace, at my words, grew protective. "I don't want you out there without me."

Clary stood, swooping in to save the day as she looked at the two of us. "Then I'll go with Luke."

Sighing, Jace looks over at Luke who doesn't look like he's objecting. This causes him to look slightly annoyed again. "Don't let her get you into trouble." With that, he turns, heading to the very back again.

Michael stands, going after his son while I'm left with my little family.

Luke stands, walking over to stand behind Clary. I look between both of them, "Be careful. And if it looks too crowded then come back, we'll figure out a different way to see what's in there.

Clary and Luke grabbed their jackets before leaving, both giving me a quick hug goodbye. This could finally be our chance to end this, to end all of this. Everyone would be happy. Mom would be back to Clary and Luke, and Jace has his father. And I have Jace.

It sounds perfect, and that's exactly the problem. It sounds too perfect.

That feeling I get again where my brain is searching for a past memory but doesn't find it haunts my mind again. But I don't let it take over yet, I'm not ready for it to ruin this moment.

I decide to clean up the front a bit from the mess we sort of created. Once finished, I head towards the back to find Michael and Jace. I stop at the wall next to the doorway when I hear grunting.

My eyes peek around the corner to find Jace practicing fighting with his dad, seeming to fail slightly. I'm ready to walk in and talk about how crazy this is, but stop myself when Michael speaks up and stops it himself.

Ducking back, I listen.

"Something's wrong. Shadowhunters mend quickly, but after all my time in prison, I shouldn't be able to get a shot in on you. You're still weak." He pauses, only to speak up again as if he's come to the realization. "Faith."

"What do you mean, "Faith"?" Jace asks, confused and slightly out of breath.

Michael explains, "I've been watching you. When she suggested that she and Luke go to scout Renwick's you were ready to drop it all and stay here with her."

"You said so yourself, I needed to train."

The next words that leave Michael's lips make my heart tighten. "Nothing would have stopped the Jace I know from going on a mission, even as a child. I see how attached you are to her, but this kind of thing doesn't always make you stronger."

Jace, defending himself and in a way me, says, "She's my Connection, dad."

"Yes, of course. But you're also a warrior, born to serve. And some of us are meant to render greater services than others. I thought you were one of those. Getting involved too deeply with any woman will only weaken your resolve."

"What Faith and I have, it makes us stronger when we're together. I know it sounds crazy but I love her. And I'm not going to throw her away because everyone thinks we're weak."

My heart skips a beat at Jace's words. He loves me? He actually said the words. It comes to my attention that both of us have said those words to others, but never to each other. It was something that apparently wasn't needed to be said with everything we felt. But that didn't stop the small blush and the racing heart.

"I'm saying it wasn't what I expected of you. But seeing you two..." Michael pauses, sighing. "What kind of father would deprive his son of that happiness? Maybe you should rest."

I hear movement and quickly duck to another hallway. Peeking around, I notice Michael leaving the room and a Jace that looks almost saddened by his dad's words.

His dad was supposed to be different. He was supposed to understand and support Jace and me. Instead he seems to do that while also trying to change things.

All three of us seemed to disappear into different rooms until Clary and Luke returned. The five of us met in the back, Clary and Luke explaining what they saw.

"We couldn't even count the demons," Clary said.

"Yeah, but we still gotta get Jocelyn out of there," Luke said, seeming to agree with Clary while also worried for our mother.

Jace shook his head, pacing slightly, "That would be a suicide mission."

Clary shrugged, looking at all of us, "Doesn't have to be. I have the Cup. Demons have to obey me."

Michael spoke up, leaning against one of the pillars, "That's what Valentine wants. He knows you'll do anything to save your mother. He wants you to take out the Cup and use it."

"And if I do?" Clary asks.

"He'll take it. And he'll kill us, too."

I scuffed, crossing my arms as I spoke confidently, "I'd like to see him try."

Michael turned to me, answering almost defensively. "You just might, if you're not smart."

Well, alrighty then.

The five of us grabbed our jackets, discussing a plan as we left. One plan seemed to combine with another until the only one that seemed reasonable came to mind.

Unlike Luke and Clary's encounterment, the Renwick building was empty and bare to the eye. It made no sense at first until Luke, Jace, and Michael approached the building. Instantly, Shadowhunters ran out, holding their own weapons as they attacked the weaponed group.

With the front door clear, Clary and I snuck inside with our blades. The building was large and only half lit, but that didn't stop our search for our mother.

One room after another seemed to become bare before we bust through a pair of double doors. There she was, mom, Jocelyn, floating in the air in some type of force field. Her eyes were closed in an unconscious state, her body laying down like she was simple asleep.

Clary's grip on her blade faltered and she dropped it, letting it bounce and close on the floor. She ran over to our mom, looking at her with teary eyes as she begged for her to wake up.

My feet were glued to the ground, my eyes hanging on Clary and our floating mother. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. It was like I was in shock, but I knew I wasn't. Something, actually a long list of things, kept me from approaching my mother with the same actions my sister had.

I just... couldn't do it.

Suddenly, the set of double doors across the room swung open, entering Jac and Michael. They quickly lock the doors behind them with a ruin, causing my eyes to settle on them for real.

"Where's Luke?" I asked, making my way over to them.

"We left him fighting the Shadowhunter Blackwell," Jace said as Michael locked the other doors behind me.

Clary, looking away from our mother, looked at us, "What?"

Jace turned to my sister, "Luke told us to leave him, Clary."

I jump and look behind me as the sound of Demons snarling and banging on the door catches my ears. Michael backs away from the locked door, looking almost nervous.

My body turns and my feet take a step towards it, ready to bust it open, kill those demons, and get to Luke. But Jace's hand on my wrist stops me, "No! What are you doing?"

Looking back at Jace, I say like it's obvious, "Jace, we cannot shut Luke out! He has to make it inside!"

"No, Faith, there is not enough time!"

Michael spoke up, making his way over to us, "We have to secure the room. We don't even know if-"

"Luke is still alive?" I glared at Michael who looked at me silently. My eyes looked back at Jace begging, hoping that lie before he'd choose me again. "Jace, no. You have to tell him! We cannot shut Luke out! He's my dad, please!"

Clary speaks up, grabbing our attention for only a second as she speaks about our mom. "I can't wake her up."

The demons screech as they bang against the door, causing my head to glance at it. Michael speaks up, making me look at him. "Luke wants you, Clary, and Jocelyn out of here. That's all he cares about. Pull yourself together."

Pull myself together? If I wasn't in the situation I was in, I'd so have a yelling match with this guy right now.

Jace, noticing my stance grow tenser at his dad's words, spoke up in a soothing town. "Faith, we will get Jocelyn home, find a way to wake her up, and Luke will be fine. Look at me! Do you believe me?"

I pause, actually considering on shaking my head no. But that would be a lie, so I nod.

The banging on the doors grow louder, causing me to turn towards them fully and grip my blade harshly. Michael and Jace do the same things, all of us facing the doors as we stand like we're ready to fight.

"Clary, now! We can't wait any longer!" Jace yells.

Quickly, my sister pulls out the Cup from her small bag and holds it out towards the locked doors. "Demons, I command you! Find Valentine!"

Nothing happens, instead the demons begin to bang against the walls of the room. They scratch, claw, and screech like their hunting something. "Demons, find Valentine!" Clary orders again but still nothing happens.

"Let me try," Michael says, turning towards Clary with an outstretched hand.

That's when it hits me. What my brain has been clawing at to remember. A story. One that holds a villain that pretends to be the hero to win people over. Then, at the end, turns his back on everyone and destroys them.

Michael. He's not the real Michael. He's not Jace's father. He's...

"Clary, wait!" I yell just as Clary hands the cup over. "Stop! The Cup works!" Everyone turns to me, including Michael as he holds the cup in his hand. "He's Valentine," I say, in between shaky breaths.

Everyone turns to Michael who is now smirking. "Smart girl," He says as he pulls out his Stele. He pulls up his shirt and waves it over a ruin on his stomach. Right before our eyes Michael's body and voice forms a new look. One the represents Valentine.

Jace shook his head, his mouth dropping open as his eyes begin to fill with tears, "No."

Valentine holds out the cup, smirking at us, "Demons attack my enemies!" The demons continue to scratch and snarl at the walls and doors of the room.

Clary looks around, yelling out, "Knock it off, guys!"

Suddenly, the screeching comes to a halt and the only sound is the demon as they leave. My eyes go wide along with Valentines as we turn and look at Clary. "You're not the only one who knows how to cast a glamour."

Clary holds up the real Cup while Valentine is holding onto a mug. He throws it on the ground in anger, letting it shatter into pieces.

Jace took a step towards Valentine, "You pretended to be my father. You murdered him." He quickly raises his blade, running towards Valentine to strike him. But he doesn't reach him as Valentine easily throws Jace across the room and into some boxes.

My eyes go wide as I watch Jace land harshly. When they return to Valentine, I find his settled on me. My hands grip my bald as I look at him angrily.

"Well, if it isn't my lovely daughters," Valentine smirks. Though his words are directed towards both Clary and I, his eyes stay on me, trying to burn me with his words.

"I'm not your daughter," I practically hiss at him.

Shrugging, Valentine half agrees, "Maybe not by blood. But you are mine none the less." I can't help my eyes as they pull together in confusion. "You don't think I didn't know about you? About Luke? The day you met Jace, I could sense you hundreds of miles away. For that, I thank you. Because you lead me straight to my family."

I was right. I caused this. Luke tried to tell me I never could have done that but here Valentine was, proving him wrong and me right.

This was one of those times I never wanted to be right.

Using the anger I had, I ran to attack Valentine. I swung my blade, watching as he ducked to the side. The blade just scratches his arm, but does little to no damage. He grabs my wrist with one hand before grabbing my arm with the other. He turns us around, keeping my blade in my hand as he rises it to my neck.

Jace, who at some point ran back over, stands next to Clary, looking at us with fear in their eyes. Jace holds up his blade, but doesn't move from his spot.

Valentine smirks at Jace, noticing the fear in his eyes. "You won't kill me. I said that you were weak, and I meant it. I killed your father, years before you thought I did. Then, a simple ruin made you think you saw your father. But it was me."

Shaking in anger, confusion, and so many unknown emotions, Jace denied Valentines words. "No! You're lying!"

"Then how would I know the story of your first fight?" Jace was silent, seeing Valentine's unforgivable point. "What's wrong, Jace? Can't kill the man who raised you, hmm?"

"I can!" Clary spoke up with anger, clearly ready to take Jace's blade and fight Valentine. But one blade pushed closer to my neck stops anyone from making a move.

Valentine nods towards his daughter, "Go ahead, Clary. We both know I'd cut her head off before you'd even touch me with that blade." No one moves as they watch Valentine and me.

I swear, my breath is held in the pit of my stomach as I try not to move and get my neck scratched.

"Come with me. All of you."

"Not in a hundred years," I bark out, feeling the blade just graze my neck.

Valentine looked down at me, his smirk still evident on his face. "We'll see," He says before lowering the blade. He shoves me towards Jace who quickly catches me, making sure I'm okay.

Throwing my blade to the side, Valentine turns and waves his hand, opening a portal. He gives us all one last glance before walking through it and disappearing from our eyes.

Suddenly, as if the powers of the ruin locks had vanished when Valentine did, Luke burst through the doors. He quickly ran over to Jocelyn, having no idea what just happened. Having no idea why the room had grown so quiet and lost one person. Having no idea why Jace was standing next to me in tears.

We returned to the Institute after that, taking Jocelyn to the medical room. In seconds it had grown crowded, leaving me to disappear into my room.

A loud sigh left my lips as I shed myself out of my jacket. It wasn't until I sat my jacket down on my desk chair did my door open again. Jace entered, looking almost distant as he seemed to talk to the floor.

"Clary gave Lydia the Cup. Hodge is taking her to lock it up until she goes back to Idris." I nod as my answer, unsure what more I could say. "How did you know that he was Valentine?" Jace asked the burning question.

I paused, trying to figure it all out for a moment. When the puzzle pieces seemed to create a small picture, I spoke up. "In one of my journals, I wrote about this man who won the hearts of those around him. He tricked them. Turns out he was the enemy all along."

Jace finally looked at me, but not with the sweet, loving eyes he did just a few hours ago. "You should've told me."

"Would you have believed me?" I asked honestly. His sigh gave me my answer, telling me that no he wouldn't have, which only would have made this whole situation worst.

I took a step towards him, "Jace I'm so sorry about your dad."

"Valentine tricked me."

"He tricked all of us."

"But he tricked me the most. In a way he's like-"

I knew what he was going to say, what he was thinking. I quickly stopped him, erasing any and all thoughts of the subject. "No. He's not your dad. And he's not mine. So don't you dare think for even a second anything else than that."

Jace was silent as he looks at the ground, unable to meet my eyes through most of this conversation. "I'm weak. He was right about that. I should have killed him."

Taking another step towards him, caused Jace to look up at me. "Jace, he had a blade to my throat. No one, not even Clary, could make a move." My words only caused his eyes to fall again, as if the memory haunted him.

This was my chance, maybe my only chance to finally speak up. "I heard what you said to him back at the restaurant. You're not weak and you know it. I know it. He's just trying to get into your head."

Jace looked at me, meeting my eyes and just staring at them again. "Well, it's working," He said before turning and leaving my room. My chest hurt as I watched the door close behind Jace, leaving me in my empty room once again.

This was defiantly an all over the place with the emotions chapter. There was scenes like the kiss in the back room that were epic. Then there was scenes like towards the end that make you question what will happen next.

All I can say is Jace and Faith will be going through another life changing moment in the next chapter.

Sorry it's taken so long to update. We're in the process of trying to move and it's going a lot faster then we thought. Please comment, vote, and stay with me as I juggle a hundred and one things!