Fear

Fantasy, Reality, Hope

Chapter 32- Fantasy, Reality, Hope

Jace POV

Helplessly, I watch as Clary and Sebastian erupt in an incredible light. My throat is hoarse from screaming her name and my muscles are tired from trying to throw Ash's grip from my arms.

"Ash, let me go!" I cry. "Clary! Clary! Please let me go to her."

I can hear the others shouting to Clary, Simon's screams are almost as agonising my own. I should be checking that my family is okay, that my siblings aren't hurt, but all I can see is the light that blocks Clary from me.

As soon as things started to go wrong for the endarkened, they had turned and begun flee- no doubt regrouping for an attack. Isabelle was collapsed against Simon, sobbing quietly and screaming for Clary with Alec standing close beside her, making sure that neither her nor Simon would run down to Clary. Magnus' hand was tightly wrapped around Alec's, apologising repeatedly for not being able to do anything to counteract the beam of light.

I don't know how long Clary and Sebastian had been encased in the light, but I hear Isabelle tell Ash that it's okay to release me. As soon as he releases me, I run down the hill towards the ruin where the light is, Ash and Isabelle closely tailing behind me.

I don't think, I just shove my hands into the light and try to grab onto Clary. The pain is incredible and I can't even begin to think about the pain Clary is in as I indignantly scream out in pain. My hand hits something solid and I grab onto it- Clary's arm. I yank her free of the light and pull her to lie down in my arms, thankful to be free from the pain.

"Clary!" I cradle her head in my lap as Isabelle leans down next to me to take Clary's pulse.

"Jace, I... I," Isabelle stutters, panicking. "I can't find her pulse."

"Magnus," I turn to him frantically, "do something."

Silently, he kneels down beside Clary and presses his hand flat against her stomach, blue sparks flirting from his fingertips, but nothing happens. "We need to get her to the institute. I have no idea how the rune she used has affected her: I'll need to study her more."

I nod solemnly and before I can reply to him, dozens of endarkened warriors appear from the other side of the hill.

"Magnus, Simon. You take Clary back to the institute. Send for help- as many shadowhunters as possible." I order, but at their hesitation, I add an aggressive, "Go."

"Jace," Alec lays a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. "Clary's dead- there's no pulse. There's nothing we can do for her."

I shrug off his hand and frown distastefully at his pitiful stare. "She isn't dead, Alec, I can feel it. I'm not giving up on her."

He nods, clearly sensing my pain and grief through our parabatai bond, "Okay."

Immediately, Magnus and Simon jump into action, Simon swiftly swinging his best friend's lifeless body into his arms and running behind Magnus to jump through a portal.

I watch as they carry Clary away before whirling around to face the endarkened, my face hardened into a death glare that I want to save for Sebastian. My jaw locks in place and I am faintly aware of where everyone is: Alec and Isabelle have closed in on my ranks, assuming our usual, natural fighting stance. If it weren't that I was being fuelled by anger and grief, the normality of this formation would comfort me.

Ash is somewhere over to my far left beside Alec, looking somehow conflicted and determined at the same time. Without moving my glare from the row of endarkened soldiers, I levelly ask him, surprised my how calm I sound, "Are you fighting with us."