Chapter 35

Faith's POV

My eyes watch the keys on the piano push music out and into my ears. Jace played the piano beautifully, captivating me as I slowly walked in and admired him.

"I didn't know you could play," I said, walking slowly to him as he continued to play.

Jace smiled and glanced up at me, "I don't usually play unless the timing is right."

"And what makes this timing right?" I asked, standing next to him.

"Well, a few things," He smiled and finished the song. He scooched over a little, letting me sit next to him. He took my hand in his and turned a little so he could fully face me. "Hey, I've been wanting to ask you something and I know the timing isn't the be-"

Before Jace could finish Sebastian and Clary poked their heads in the room. "Sorry to interrupt. Um, Alec is about to make an announcement."

Jace sighs and nods to them.

I gave Jace a saddened smile, "Sorry. We can talk later."

"Yeah," Jace mumbled before we stood up and headed to the OPS Center where Alec stood, making an announcement.

"We have lost seven of our own, but we can't allow a single radical Seelie to define the entire Downworld, any more than we can allow Valentine to define all Shadowhunters. So, to restore unity with our allies, I will be hosting regular cabinet meetings here with the Downworld leaders of New York. Security will be tighter, both here and in the sub-cells. Please, let's make the Downworlders feel welcome."

Alec nods before walking over to Clary, Jace, and I as the crowd dissolved.

Nodding to his friend, Jace said, "Look at you. In charge for a week, you're already shaking things up. I think this cabinet thing's a good idea."

"Yeah, I'm not sure everyone agrees," Alec said, nervous.

Izzy walks over to us, joining us as Clary says, "All the more reason to do it. How can we help?"

"Actually, I need you, Faith, and Jace for a mission. Going to the Seelie Court."

"Where is that?" I asked?

Izzy spoke up, "The nearest entrance is in Central Park. But it's in another realm. Where the Seelie Queen lives."

Alec nodded, "I requested an audience with her to discuss Kaelie's crimes. However, she said she'll only meet with "Valentine's experiments and the Connection Girl"."

Clary looked at me, "Wow. Charming nicknames."

"Yeah," I mumbled. "So you think the Seelie Queen is responsible for Kaelie's attacks?"

"That's what I want you to find out."

Jace crossed his arms, nodding, "That would make sense. Those murders weren't exactly Kaelie's style."

I looked at Jace questionable, "How did you know Kaelie?"

"Book club," Jace said, making Clary and I eye him. He chuckle, "Yeah, I read, why does everyone find that so hard to believe?"

Shaking his head and getting our attention, Alec said, "Look, focus. We need to find out if she's complicit. An entire faction could be turning against us."

I looked at Jace, "That shouldn't be too hard, right? Seelies can't lie."

"Technically, yes. But after hundreds of years of practice, they can expertly manipulate the truth, and the queen's the master."

"She's very dangerous. The entire realm is. More than one Shadowhunter hasn't made it back," Izzy added.

A loud deep breath left my lips, "Great, what could go wrong?"

Jace and I head to Central Park, looking over a bridge at some water as the faint feeling of winter coming makes us hold our jackets close to us. Clary suddenly approaches us with Simon, making Jace turn and groan at the sight.

"What is he doing here?"

"Hello to you. I'm joining the mission," Simon said.

"No, you're not. You weren't invited."

"I already told him that," Clary shrugged, clearly not caring.

Simon rose a finger, "But then I pointed out that if you can have Faith than Clary can have me."

"I was invited," I said though.

"You can never have too much backup. And you've seen my fighting skills firsthand."

Jace shook his head, looking at Simon, "There will be no fighting. If you hurt anyone in the queen's realm, she has every right to hurt you. This is a sensitive political mission. It takes a certain charm."

Simon smirked, fixing his jacket, "Well, I'll have you know, I was voted vice president in the eighth grade. And you do not win an election without charm. So..."

I eyed Simon, smiling slightly, "Simon, this isn't middle school."

Jace nodded in agreement, "Seelies have the beauty of angels and the viciousness of demons, and those opposing qualities make them unpredictable. A vampire or a werewolf, they prefer to attack you head on, but Seelies, they wanna trick you into your own self-destruction."

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think? I mean, aren't Seelies, like, woodland hippies who eat berries and dance?"

"You thought the same about Kaelie."

"And who saved Clary from her?"

I rolled my eyes, "Okay, enough. You can come Simon. We have to go." I turned to Jace, "Where's the entrance?"

Jace nods, seeming to agree for now, before looking over the bridge at the water, "There."

All of our eyes widened, "The Seelie Court is in a creek?"

"Not in it. Through it," Jace says and takes a couple of steps back. He offers his hand to me, asking, "Do you trust me?"

"Always," I said, confused. I took his hand before we ran and leaped over the fence and into the water. But before we hit the water, a portal opened and we were transported to the Seelie world.

Simon and Clary appeared next to us as we looked around. Snow fell on our heads, covering the beautiful woods around us.

"Whoa," Clary whispered out.

"It's like something from a storybook," I said in aww at the scene around me.

Jace took my hand before the four of us started our journey deeper into the woods. Simon started to venter over to a tree where insects buzzed around it. He eyed the tree, "Is that blood?"

"Simon, get away from the tree!" Jace ordered.

Reaching out and touching one of the branches, Simon pulls it away to see the liquid on his gloved caused by some bugs he crushed. Jace quickly runs up, grabbing Simon, and pulling his away.

"What the hell are you doing?" Simon asked angrily as Jace pushed him.

"Saving you. As usual."

"From a tree?" Simon asked, laughing slightly.

Jace pointed to the tree Simon just touched, "That is called a kill tree. It would have wrapped its vines around you and torn you limb from limb."

My eyed went wide at Jace words, the words, "That sounds pleasant," being mumbled from my lips.

Calming down some and sighing, Jace said, "Look, in the Seelie Realm, it's not just creatures that are deadly. It's everything. If you wanna survive, don't touch, eat or smell anything. No matter how small."

Everyone nodded before we walked onward, the rest of the journey turning to silence. With Jace's words to echo in my ears, I realized how dangerous this really was and I found myself taking Jace's hand. He gave it a small squeeze, as if sensing my nerves, and pulled it up to give the back of my hand a kiss. The action made me smile and a blush to appear on my face.

The blush disappeared when the Seelie castle came into view and my serious tone overtook me. We walked into the Seelie courtroom and immediately got greeted with Seelies touching our hair and whispering words of welcome. It was only after they walked away that I noticed my stele was hone.

Clary noticed too and looked to Jace in fear, "My stele. Our weapons."

"It's okay," Jace nods in reassurance.

Suddenly, a girl, looking to be about twelve, walks in with guards all around her. "You'll get everything back when you leave the court."

Jace quickly bows, causing us to do the same as he addressed the girl, "You're Majesty, what a rare honor."

Simon pointed to the young girl, "Wait, that's the queen?"

The Seelie Queen eyed Simon, "Why is the vampire here? He was not invited."

"He's with me," Clary said, as if that would convince her enough to let him stay. To my surprise though, Jace spoke up, speaking very highly of Simon which surprised all of us.

"My lady, Simon has proven himself a worthy warrior and a loyal friend. We insisted he be here with us. Anything you have to say to us, you can say to him."

"Very well. The vampire can stay."

"You're as generous as you are lovely."

I knew that Jace was just trying to stay on the Seelie Queen's good side but I still found myself getting a little jealous of his words.

The Seelie Queen turned to one of her guards, "Set an extra place at the table for our fourth guest." They nod and leave to set another place at a small table. Pillows sit around, letting us all sit on the ground while the Queen talked to some of her servants.

Clary spoke quietly to us, but mostly to Jace, "I thought you said she was ancient. She hasn't even hit puberty."

"She is ancient. She uses Seelie magic to manipulate her age."

"Smart," I said, impressed.

Simon chuckle, "Are you kidding? That's brilliant. She tries to seem all innocent and cute, but really she's just–"

"Hungry?" The Queen asked, suddenly standing by us. She sits down on one of the pillows and looks to us.

Jace straightens a little as he sits next to the Queen with me next to him, Simon next to me, and Clary next to him. "That's very kind, but we really should discuss business."

The Queen rolled her eyes, "Business is boring. That's why I sent a proxy to your Downworlder cabinet meeting. I'd like to know more about Valentine's children and your connection."

"Child actually," Clary said, grabbing the Queen's attention, "I'm the only one."

Looking at Jace, the Queen asked, "Are you sure?"

"I'm not Valentine's son."

"Very well," She said before looking straight at me, "I'd love to hear more about your Connection. Never before have I met someone with a Soulmate. It's intriguing."

Slightly nervous, I shifted and said, "Um, it's mostly how it sounds. We're connected, we can feel each other. Our thoughts, feelings-"

"Pain?"

"Uh, yes."

The Seelie Queen tilted her head a little, "Have you explored without it further?"

"What do you mean?" Jace asked?

"I mean, have you explored what it's like without it? Is it just bounded by a ruin or more?"

Already I didn't like where this was going, but before I could say much about it Clary was quick to speak by. "The last time their ruins were threatened, Faith almost died."

Jace turned a bit, "Your Majesty, we really should talk about Kaelie. Were you surprised to hear one of your knights was killing Shadowhunters?"

"She was quiet, precisely why she made an effective killer. The sweeter the honey, the deadlier the trap."

"Did Kaelie kill on her own or was she working with someone else?" My sister asked?

As she spoke, the Queen rose and grabbed an apple, "Another knight helped. But I took care of him." Taking a vicious bite in the apple, the Queen reveals a sharp set of teeth. She then throws the apple back on the table before turning to face me.

"I'd like a moment alone with the Connection girl."

It takes me a moment to realize she's talking about me and not Jace and me. "Alone?" I asked, double checking to which she nods in agreement.

Jace glanced over at me for a split second before looking at the lady, "My lady, perhaps you could discuss here. We prefer not to be separated."

The Seelie Queen smiled at Jace's words, "Don't worry. I'll bring her back with all her limbs attached."

Jace turned to me, making me give him a half reassuring smile, "It's alright, I'll be okay." I rise and follow the Queen into another room, leaving just the two of us. "Why did you want to meet with me alone?" I asked curiously.

Standing tall and strong, the Queen replies with, "In all my life I've never met a Connection. I've heard stories and such, but seeing it in person is something very few people can admit too."

"So, what? You want to test it or something? Because I've been down that road before and it's not that fun."

"No, I want to see it vanquished."

I was very surprised by her words, to the point I asked, "What?" just to make sure I hear correctly.

"It's a rare thing, and when someone holds that kind of power it can be a threat."

Shaking my head and pointing outward then to myself, I said in disbelief, "Jace and I aren't a threat, we're here for peace."

"That may be true now, but what's to say it for the future?"

Quickly I shook my head, taking a step back as I said, "I won't be a part of this." With that I turned and walked away, heading back out to Jace, Clary, and Simon. They all had stood and was anxious for my return.

Quickly I walked over to Jace taking his arm as he asked, "What happened?"

"She wants to get rid of our Connection ruin," I whispered to him, my eyes watching the Queen closely.

Jace turned back to the Seelie Queen and took a step back, "Your Majesty, with your permission, we should get going."

"But you've only just arrived."

Suddenly, vines wrap around Clary, Jace, and Simon's legs, pushing me away from them.

"What are you doing!" I yelled as everyone struggles in the growing vines.

"It's futile to struggle. Vitis veritas. Enchanted vines that only obey me."

"Let them go!" I yelled!

"But they killed several of my kind."

Confused, Simon asked, "What? We didn't kill anyone!"

Jace, also confused, said, "Your Majesty, you must be mistaken."

Gesturing upward, the Seelie Queen explained, "The birds, bees, bugs, they're all in my service."

It clicked in my head, "The bugs at the kill tree."

"Their deaths require justice. Unless, of course, you'd rather play a game."

Turning fully to the Queen, I grew in tension as the vines grew tighter, "What kind of game?"

"It's simple, really. Everyone reveals their deepest secrets towards you. If they decline, your connection ruin will be taken off. If they agree then they will be spared."

Struggling, Simone said, "We don't have any secrets."

"Are you sure about that?" The vines start to wrap around their necks, tighter and tighter. I watch with fear before shaking my head, "Okay, let's just get this over with."

I quickly move to Simon, "Simon, whatcha got?"

Simon struggles for a second before choking out his words. "I used to think you were faking being sick when we were kids. I told Clary that you were a horrible sister." The vines still don't loosen.

"What else?" I asked panicky.

"I still don't think you're a great sister."

Simon's words shock me but the wines release and vanish into the ground. Simon looks at me sadly, but I shake my head and quickly move to my sister.

"Clary, your turn."

"I don't know what you want me to say? I've already said everything." The vines tighten, saying otherwise.

Panicking more, I yell, "There has to be something. Think!"

Clary pauses, thinking for a second before closing her eyes, as if she hates the words she is about to say. "I had feelings for Jace when we first came to the Institute."

Everyone looks at Clary surprised as my mouth parts in shock, "What?" I mumble out.

"But then I found out about the connection and I saw how happy you two were. Those feelings are gone now, they didn't mean anything, I promise."

The vines disappear, releasing Clary. Simon looks at Clary in shock and sadness as I do the same. Quickly I move to Jace, fearful.

"Do you have feelings for Clary?"

"What? No, never."

"Then what are you hiding from me?" I asked, angry.

Jace shook his head, "Nothing." But the vines tighten and I find myself not believing his words and growing more worried.

"What is it, Jace?!"

"I swear, it's nothing."

"Jace!"

"I was going to ask you to marry me!" Jace yelled and any words I was about to say go silent. "This morning, what I was going to ask you... I was going to ask you to marry me."

The vines suddenly disappear as I continue to look at Jace in shock. He rubs his neck, unable to meet my eyes as he sighs. "I wanted to ask you to marry me, but we got ordered on this mission and... It wasn't the right timing. I didn't want to say it like this."

I'm surprised by his words that I can't seem to find my own. Luckily, Clary spoke up, "Are we free to go now?"

"Oh, yes. It seems one of you already has," The Queen smiled in enjoyment. Clary turns and we find Simon is gone.

Well, this really is a crappy place.

It feels like the air was sucked out of me and no matter how bad I tried to find the words, I couldn't. In fact, it wasn't until we had returned to the Institute, everyone going their own ways, that it finally hit me what Jace was saying.

He wanted to marry me. He loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me. And todays actions may have ruined that.

Quickly, I hunted down Jace in the Control room where he was with Alec and Izzy, filling them in. They nodded, making him turn and face me.

"Faith-"

"I love you. Since the moment I bumped into you at that club and I thought I was going crazy, I loved you. Before and after this connection, I loved you. And it scares me half to death because if it ever came down to choosing between you or my sister... I would choose you. And I don't want that. But I don't want to lose you. I want you and everything that comes with it. So ask me."

Jace smiles at my words, looking to Alec and Izzy as if to make sure he heard me right. They quickly nod and smile before he turns back to me. Jace reaches into his pocket and goes down on one knee.

Opening the box to reveal a ring, Jace asks, "Will you, Faith Fairchild, do me the honor of marring me?"

I smiled, tears threatening my eyes, "Yes, I will."

Jace slides the ring on my finger before he stands and we kiss. Everyone around us claps, making me realize them. It felt slightly embarrassing, but I couldn't help but blush. My eyes, even in the crowd, catch sight of Clary who seemed to have watched the act from afar. She gives me a small smile and nod, to which I do the same before Clary walks away.

The chapter everyone has been waiting for!!!

So I've decided I will be going till the end of Season 2 (but not end it the same way season 2 ends) and then that may be it for this book. Love lost the spark for it but maybe when I'm writing some of these chapters I might get it back so who knows. Anyway hope your enjoying the book!