City of Actum Tempus(City of Past)

Chapter 4 The Reunion

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the one and only ...wait for it. Nah caus I am evil I am not going to reveal it. You guys would know after reading the chapter anyways so let me have some fun. But no action happens in this chapter as I believed the mystery character deserved more appreciation and screen time (page time) so this chapter is all about the character.

Ps. this is happening while Jace and Clary are burning in pillars of heavenly fire.

Enjoy and rate and reviewJJJJJJ

-Huda

During the whole unfolding of the events, nobody noticed the small boy hidden behind Jonathan, surrounded by his great black wings. As soon as he heard Jace’s unrestricted cry of pain, the boy stepped away from Jonathan and peeped out towards the angel. Jace never showed any pain; he believed it made you weak, all his short life the boy had hero worshipped Jace and thought he was the best shadowhunter ever, the boy wanted to be like Jace when he grew up but of course he never got the chance. The boy was itching to see everybody again but the open cry of pain from Jace of all people was the last straw for him and he couldn’t resist looking.

After hearing the strongest person he knew the little boy desperately needed his family’s comfort. Whether it’s his mum or his big brother or sister who had looked down onto him but also loved him he wouldn’t mind his father either because no matter how distant he was the boy knew that his father loved his youngest.

Without thinking he ran out to his mother who was the closest familiar face. As soon as Mayrse saw him she whispered,”Max?”

Isabelle and Robert saw Max run into his mother’s outstretched arms and tore through the crowd to them. Robert got there first and swept them both in a bone crunching bear hug. Isabelle on the other hand was stunned into immobility as soon as she got a clear view of her little brother. She stared at the mob of chocolate brown hair between her parents’ dark hair. All thoughts of angels, Clary and Jace left her and all she remembered was Max. Max holding an old wooden soldier of Jace; hoping it’ll protect him from that monster Sebastian; Max holing a toy not Isabelle who should have been there to take care of him and kill that bastard demon.

Max broke away from their parents’ embrace and wrapped his skinny arms around Isabelle’s waist. Oh how she had missed him! There time apart was also torture for Max; watching his sister blame herself for his death, he so desperately wanted to erase that ridiculous notion that Izzy was fixed upon but he couldn’t because he was dead.  It was extremely painful for him to watch his strong independent sister crumble under the weight of his death.

“Max, is it really you?” wondered Izzy.

“Yes, Izzy I’ve missed you soo much” Max said hugging her even tighter.

“But how is it possible?” enquired Robert who was now holding Mayrse closely, all thoughts of divorce and months of arguing forgotten. “The angels are going to send everybody back just like Angel Ithuriel has promised. They brought me back first because I didn’t want to part with my friend and as a token to earn everyone’s trust”, Max replied in his child like voice which was music to his gathered family’s ears having accepted that they would never hear it again.

Isabelle crushed Max to her chest just as an appealing masculine voice spoke, “The angels will also repair the damage done to things. The manors and buildings affected will be restored like the Fairchild mansions and the Guard.” Before the speaker could continue Isabelle swung her arm back and punched him in the jaw. She was about to continue her assault on the undefended boy when Max came between then and cried out quite loudly, “STOP IZZY! You are hurting Jon.”

Her parents came behind her and held her back while Jonathan stood there looking at the floor whishing a pit would open up to swallow him. He regretted speaking but he was so used to adding information at the end of Max’s speeches that he couldn’t help himself. Now he had an aching jaw and everyone’s eyes one him. Look where your big mouth had gotten you, Jonathan, remember you are hated by all and you can’t hope to make friends. He thought sadly.

On the steps of the Accords Hall Alec was frozen to spot still staring at the golden pillar of fire that was his parabatia – more than brother in all ways that mattered; just a few moments ago. He was snapped out of his staring by his little brother crying out for Izzy to stop. It can’t be! He is probably hallucinating because of the fire burning Jace being parabatia meant they could feel each other. He was losing his mind; he had seen Max’s body go up in flames and his ashes taken to the Silent City (City of Bones) just like every other shadowhunter. Yet when he looked over to his sister’s jet black hair near the angel he also saw his little brother with his glasses.

Alec ran as fast as he could to his family forgetting about Jace for a moment. While running he also recognised the boy with black wing, it was Sebastian. But on closer inspection he was dumbstruck at his posture; Alec was confused forgetting all about the angel. He remembered it being straight, cruel and confident always, Sebastian looked intimidating and when his true identity was revealed he oozed out evil and demonic energy. But this boy looked broken and tired as if he held the weight of the world on his shoulders which weighed him down. The great black wings should have been menacing and intimidating but they were slumped like their owner and sparked with heavenly fire, Alec observed even more surprised.

Max stood with his arms wrapped around the older boy’s waist and Alec’s first instinct was to snatch Max away but as he came to a stop beside Izzy, who had stopped trying to kill Jonathan; Alec heard Sebastian mutter fondly and sadly to Max, “Maxy it’s ok. There is no need to defend me, you should go and be happy with your family I don’t mean to get in the way. I deserve their hatred after what I did.” Max tuned to his very confused family; having given up trying to get Jon out of his self pity, knowing the argument it will no doubt start. “Didn’t you hear the angel say that Jonathan is good? I was so lonely up there but Jon was always there for me. He cheered me up whenever I got sad by everybody crying over me. He was there to comfort me after I had to watch you, Iz – blame yourself for my death. He helped me process mum and dad’s divorce. He is my friend and no one is going to harm him.”

That empowering speech made everyone remember with perfect clarity all the events that had taken place in less than half an hour. Mayrse and Robert were looking red faced and embarrassed at how they have flung into each other’s arms after having requested a divorce. Isabelle knelt down to hug her brother after Alec released him and was now sobbing happy tears while Max tried to comfort her.

“Jace will be fine. He will have a pair of wings along with heavenly fire as will Clary. You will undoubtedly have the strongest parabatia and I think he will make the fact know more than once.” Jonathan explained due to Alec’s worried expression while looking over at Jace’s pillar, “Not to mention the most annoying, show off and reckless of them.” Jonathan chuckled. “Oh I don’t know about that. Now that the world has two fire welding Morgensterns in the world, who knows maybe Herondale has met his match.” Alec grinned feeling reassured remembering all the times Clary had taken ricks and rushed into things single-mindedly rivalling Jace. And now there was another Morgenstern on earth to deal with.