FROM THE SHADOWS

[08] DEMON VS MEMORIES

Mabel was mindlessly rubbing at the new rune right under her collarbone. Alec had drawn it while Jace had held her hands. It was meant to protect her when they summoned the greater demon, but it had hurt like a motherfucker. Unlike the other runes she'd gotten so far, this one actually made her want to cry with how much it hurt. It made her understand why Jace had insisted on holding her hands. She wouldn't be surprised if she'd broken a bone or two with how tight she'd squeezed his hands.

The pain had ebbed away, but she was still mindlessly rubbing at the spot until Magnus had led them all into the room where Clary had drawn the pentagram. When Mabel had imagined a pentagram, she hadn't imagined something so detailed. She should've known better, knowing Clary and her art.

"Damn, Weasley, that's beautiful."

Clary drew to her feet and gave Mabel a side-hug. "Thanks, Bels."

The Shadowhunters each took their place on one of the points around the pentagram while Magnus stood behind Clary to perform the spell. Mabel took her place between her sister and Jace and they all held hands. Magnus strictly instructing them not to let go until the end of the ritual.

"I will lead the ceremony and you all must do exactly as I say. The demon's name is Valak. And at some point, he will ask for payment in exchange for Clary's memories."

"What do you mean? What kind of payment?" Jace frowned. Magnus dismissed his worry.

"We will see."

Magnus began speaking in a language that Mabel didn't recognize. At first, nothing seemed to be happening at his words, but then Izzy spoke and told them all that her necklace, the one alerting the wearing to the presence of demons, began pulsing. The next second, a whirl of black smoke entered the pentagram.

"It's time. The demon demands payment."

"What does it want?" Alec asked. Mabel already felt that she wasn't going to like this.

"We must each relinquish a beloved memory of the one we love the most."

Mabel frowned. Who did she love most? She wasn't sure herself. Did she already love her soulmates most? She reckoned she should, but they'd only just met so she couldn't be certain.

Clary was first and a memory of Jocelyn was taken from her. Mabel recognized it as the day of Clary's graduation. Jocelyn was beaming up at her daughter, eyes filled with love and pride as she cheered her on while Clary received her diploma.

Next was Alec, from who a memory of Jace was taken. It looked like they were both a few years younger and Alec was attempting to teach Jace how to shoot a bow and arrow, but Jace was just messing around and the two ended up laughing.

She looked from the memory to her soulmates and caught them sharing a smile, making her lips tug upwards in a smile of her own.

Then it was Jace's turn and, predictably, a memory of Alec appeared. In this memory, Jace was seated behind a piano – Mabel hadn't known he played – and he was playing a song for Alec, who was smiling like an idiot the whole time. It was sweet.

As she watched, Mabel kept smiling. She was okay with their most beloved memory being each other, knowing how long they've been together. It just felt bittersweet that they had to give up such loving memories to the demon.

Before she could dwell on it too long, it was her turn and a memory was taken from her. In the memory, her father put a five year old Mabel down on the ground and she was running towards something. She jumped into the arms of a woman and Mabel's eyes watered. "No..." She shook her head. She recognized this memory. She cherished it. She couldn't lose it. She shook her head more vigorously and felt herself pulling away. "No!"