The Mortal Instruments: City of Tainted Blood (Book 2) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 13: A Madman's Plan

"Love takes us all down two roads: one of bliss and another of blisters"

- A smart soul I used to know

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"You do realize, Jace, my mother is the Consul?" Aline sat back in her chair and looked at all of them with a disbelieving stare. The daughter of the Consul had arrived several minutes ago and Jace had jumped right to the point of needing her to stay in the New York Institute while they were gone, pretending to be watching over them while they were supposedly sick.

"Yes but would it kill you to help us?"

Aline looked at Jace levelly, as if he were insane. "If I do this for you, I could be arrested by the Clave and not to mention be grounded by my mother for the rest of my life."

"Please, Aline," Clary pleaded, stepping forward.

"How do you even know that the Clave is meeting to discuss about Clary or anything even related to her?" Aline crossed her arms, her perfect eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, Jocelyn and Luke were called to Idris. Jocelyn isn't even a member of the Clave anymore." Simon said as he played with Isabelle's fingers. Isabelle was still slightly cold to Simon, still sour about seeing him so warm with Josephine earlier.

"Did Jia say anything about why she was going to Idris?"

"No. She just told me there was an important matter she needed to attend to."

"Clary," Everyone but Aline and Clary herself said in unison.

Aline pursed her lips. "This plan is so ridiculously stupid but why do I feel so obliged to help all of you?"

Jace grinned in satisfaction. "So you'll do it?"

Aline bit her lip, gnawing at the chapped skin as she cast her eyes downward in thought. "Yeah, okay."

Aline was flooded and smothered with thank you's. She rolled her eyes and stood up, stretching. "How long will all of you be gone?"

"Three days," Alec muttered as he stared at the carpet.

"I don't know how the hell am I going to cover up for all six of you-"

"Clary and Josephine aren't going," Jace piped in quietly. Her mouth falling open, Clary turned her head sharply to glare at her boyfriend, only to find that his eyes were already on her: steely and hard.

"No! I have to go-"

"Clary," Jace groaned. "Its too dangerous. And you're in more trouble than you need already."

Clary groaned internally. This was the time when she had wanted to follow Jace to Idris during the Mortal War all over again.

"Don't you dare tell me it's too dangerous if the rest of you are going as well. If what the Clave is discussing about is me, I want to be there to hear it."

"We'll tell you everything we hear when we get back."

"Not if there's something you don't want me to hear. I have to be there to hear everything."

"And I don't ever remember agreeing to letting Clary stay." Simon folded his arms over his chest, challenging Jace. Clary wanted to leap into her best friend's arms and thank him.

Jace pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you want to be responsible if all of us get our asses hauled into custody? I am trying to protect her."

"So protect her in Idris and try not to get arrested."

Jace took a step towards Simon threateningly and stopped himself. "I won't take the risk."