City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments Fan-fic)

Chapter 18: Tomorrow

Clear, pristine water reflected the sun's rays into the air, blindingly bright to look at even in the shadows of the forestry. The deep blue surface sparkled stunningly, the calls of chirping birds surrounding the postcard-like scene before them.

And yet, she had to suppress a shudder from tingling its way up her spine: Lake Lyn didn't exactly hold many pleasant memories for Clary.

The powdery sand that her feet sunk into and the water that was so still it looked as if it were frozen - minus the ice - took her back; to months and months ago. To the first time when she plunged headfirst into the lake from a Portal. To when Valentine stood before her, and she lay helpless just feet away from where she stood now. And to when Jace's body fell to the earth, an expression of utter disbelief in his eyes.

The shores of Lake Lyn weren't her idea of a romantic walk or picnic. No; Clary would have liked to never see the place and it's silent waters and innocent exterior ever again.

But Clary never had a choice anymore. It was do what she had to do versus the end of the human race. It was between putting her and the ones she cared about in danger or watching the world burn.

In all honesty, Clary still didn't know if the choice she took was the right one.

With the sun now directly above them, the sky a soft baby blue, Clary lead their weary group past the tree line and to the water's edge.

They stood there for what felt like hours, staring out across the surface of the water and to the other side that was impossibly far away and seemed close enough to reach across and touch at the same time.

Clary's sandpaper-dry tongue licked her chapped lips, suddenly thirsty as she ripped her gaze from the poisoned water and to her companions.

Jace crouched down and Clary wordlessly helped Isabelle and Simon lower Alec to the sand. She tried hard not to flinch away from the marble-gray tint to his skin that now reached his shoulders. Tendrils of the stuff like wisps of smoke clung to his arms and strangled his neck.

"What now?" Simon croaked through gritted teeth.

Clary frowned at him. He was too pale to be normal for a human, like usual, but something else was different. Simon's eyes were sunken into his skull, dark bags under them like some kind of bizarre panda's. Veins on his temples looked like blue trees in winter, thin twigs branching outwards. He hadn't fed in too long.

Clary's heart clenched when she realized none of the others looked any better off. Jace's shirt was completely beyond repair, burns from demon blood lining his chest and crimson coating his wrists. Isabelle's usual sleek black hair looked like something between a rat's nest and Bellatrix Lestrange's.

The birds stopped singing, as if they had sensed their presence in the otherwise calm.

Silence had never felt so loud.

She realized, now, why the ringing in her ears was the only thing to fill the emptiness. It had been far too long since she had last heard any kind of laugh.

And no, Sebastian's maniacal screams did not count.

"Wait, I suppose... Maxim said she would know when to come," Isabelle said.

Jace nodded once before unceremoniously plopping down on the sand. Dirty blonde locks hid his eyes.

Isabelle settled herself beside him and closed her eyes, like she was wishing the past few days were a nightmare she dreamed up. Clary knew the feeling all too well. Jace spoke softly beside Isabelle, too quiet for Clary to hear, but she thought she could guess what - or who - they were talking about.