The Mortal Instruments: City of Past Ghosts (Book 1)

Prologue

Prologue

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"What is all the damn racket about?" Jace questioned Alec who shrugged, obvious that his parabatai didn't know a thing.

"I don't know, Jace. Mom just called us down to the library. She sounded like she was going to faint...or throw up." Alec said, pushing dark hair out of his eyes.

"By the Angel, if Sebastian isn't dead - again - I will freaking scream at the whole bloody Conclave ." Jace growled, thinking of the dead fair headed demon boy that had controlled Jace and almost killed Clary. Even though Sebastian had been destroyed by the Heavenly Fire, leaving Jonathan Morgenstern in his place, he still couldn't help the absolute hatred he had for the fair headed boy.

Jace and Alec burst into the library, stopping dead in his tracks.

Jocelyn was in a corner, sobbing her eyes out while being supported by Luke who was pale and had tears running down his face. Isabelle was crumpled in a heap on the floor near Hodge's old desk, crying quietly to herself. Maryse was staring at a parchment of paper, really looking like she did want to throw up.

"What the freaking, bloody hell is going on? Why are you crying like a bunch of old ninnies watching Downtown Abbey or something?" Jace demanded, an uneasy feeling rolling in his stomach. He ran a hand through his hair while Alec darted over to where Isabelle was huddled up, whispering in her ear.

Jocelyn's eyes snapped up to his at the sound of his and she slowly made her way over to him, her sobbing momentarily stopped.

"Jocelyn?" Jace asked, looking at the woman. She had grew warmer to him since their final battle with Sebastian, finally accepting him. I guess she accepted the fact that Jace was going to be around for a long, long time.

At this moment, Jace could only think of one reason why everyone was crying. Why Jocelyn and Isabelle was reacting like this.

"Has Simon been hurt?" Jace said, feeling sick. He and Simon had grown much, much closer to, with help from his Clary, of course and a persistent Isabelle. Though he still had his name calling habits.

Thinking of Clary, Jace wondered where she was now in LA. What she was doing there, only the Angel knew.

Jocelyn broke into grieving, heartbreaking sobs again, hugging Jace like how a mother would hug a son.

"To lose one now the other?" Jocelyn sobbed desperately, clutching onto Jace like her llife depended on it.

"Would someone freaking tell me what the hell is going on?!" Jace growled, holding Jocelyn up before the woman could slide to the floor.

"It's not Simon, Jace," Maryse choked out. She shakily strode over to Jace-her cool and calm composure that was always carried by Lightwoods gone-and handed him the letter she had been reading. The official stamp of the Council was visible and Jace dared himself to carry on reading.

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To: The members of the New York Institute

From: Consul Ravenshade

...

It is with great grief, sorrow and heavy hearts that we pass the news to you that Clarissa Adele Morgenstern (Fairchild)-who has served the Clave extremely well in our immortal war against demons-has been defeated in battle against a mass group of Draconidea demons in Los Angeles, where she was stationed last. Condolences to family and her comrades in battle. She will forever be remembered by the members of the Clave as a legendary warrior and uniter of the Nephilim and Downworlders.

Ave atque vale, Clarissa Morgenstern.

Yours truly,

Consul Ravenshade

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Jace's hand shook as Luke pried his wife away from Jace, his face glistening with freshly shed tears of sorrow. He knew what defeated in battle meant. It was Clave talk for not just losing a fight but-

"It's Clary, Jace. She's gone."

Silence.

"No, no, NO!" Jace cried in a sudden outburst, leaping away from everyone. "I would have felt it." he gasped. But he knew there was no way he could have physically felt it. They weren't parabatai or married. But Jace expected himself to feel something-anything. An uncomfortable feeling in his being, something troubling his thoughts, anything. But zilch. Zero. Nothing.

Jace felt a tear run down his cheek and he didn't move to wipe it away even if the moisture made him look weak. Just stared sightlessly ahead. He didn't think he could ever do anything ever again.

"Jace," Alec said, his face grief stricken too. "I'm so sorry."

"She's gone, Jace. My parabatai." Isabelle sobbed, showing him her faded parabatai rune. It was a shimmery scar, telling Jace that Izzy's other half, was inactive. Gone. "She's gone."

It was true then.

"Jace!" Alec gasped but his voice sounded so far away...so distant. He only wanted one person now, but she was gone.

Jace felt the sensation of falling and being caught by someone-who, he didn't know. Or care.

"Kill me, Alec," Jace begged, realizing it was his parabatai who had caught him. "Kill me. I need to be with her." He could hear the desperation in his voice, the heart shattering grief and anguish. No, it was more than that. More than his body could comprehend at a single moment, more than any human being had experienced in their whole lifetime.

"I won't. Not like this. No, Jace," Alec said defiantly, biting back tears.

The last thing Jace saw before darkness carried him away into a peaceful, troubleless void, was the piercing, loving green eyes of the girl he loved the most in the world. The only girl he would ever love in the world. Forever. His perfect little angel.

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AN [EDITED]

First, as usual, all credits go to the breathtakingly amazing Cassandra Clare. In this book Clary is NOT Jace's wife...yet...but she is Isabelle's parabatai. At the moment, Jace is eighteen almost nineteen so you do the math for the other characters. I know Jace said he was only about to turn seventeen in COHF but this story timeline is where Jace has been seventeen from book one like he said he was. There's a reason I made Isabelle Clary's parabatai and not Simon. I'll explain later on.

ILYASM, thnx for the reads and votes and I just love all of you. I have another few TMI fanfics; short stories, if you will. Please check them out.

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© 2014 by Charmaine Cheong (EndarkenedWarrior)