My Beautiful One

Epilogue

Jace and Clary had decided to get married in the London Institute. I'd been surprised, considering that both of them had lived in New York for at least most of their lives, but they'd said there was too much bad blood there. That, and the fact that even three months after the end of the war, Manhattan was still recovering from the battle.

When I got back to the city I wondered how the mundanes had managed to ignore that the place had been nearly ripped apart, and I learnt from Maryse that apparently there had been severe hurricane warnings and they'd all been evacuated the night before. Less than a week after the battle was over and the Clave had managed to get all the dead bodies out of Manhattan, the mundies came right back and settled down again. It's never ceased to amaze me how the human race manages to get over these things and keep their illusions, and I almost admire them for it.

But now, Sebastian and I were on the London Underground heading for Blackfriars Station. He was listening to music, looking very much like any normal mundane eighteen-year-old, and also very happy.

Yes, that's right, eighteen-year-old. Despite Valentine's calculations, Sebastian had not been taken over by his demon side for good by the time he turned eighteen on August 19th. Not since the battle in the City of Heavenly Fire had he been demonic at all, but still we'd all held our breath on the night before his birthday. Anyway: Sebastian didn't turn into a demon and we all hugged him to the point that he looked hilariously uncomfortable.

He'd been hiding away in his apartment until then, so when he went out, the Clave arrested him and sentenced him to death all over again (they let him off, of course, after we reminded them of how powerful he was and that he could just break out again so there was really no point). When he was out, he surprised me by wanting to speak to his mother. It turned out that though it was obvious they were never going to have the same relationship Clary had with Jocelyn, the two seemed to have a truce, which was good.

Sebastian's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "Listen, Amari." He said, grinning as he held an ear bud out to me. I put it in, drowning out the ta-chug-ta-chug of the Circle Line by leaning to put my empty ear against his shoulder.

Tonight... we are young. So let's set the world on fire! We will burn brighter, than the sun!

The ear bud fell out as I practically jumped off him, glowering while he laughed. The sound attracted the attention of some of the other passengers: a middle-aged woman who shot him a poisonous glare and lifted her newspaper higher over her face, and two teenage girls. One was a small brunette and the other a crazy-haired blond, and they both giggled and blushed while staring at my boyfriend like he was the rising sun.

"Don't get any ideas, Sebby. You've already suggested that once" I said, deliberately using the nickname I knew he hated to tease him. "Who gave you that iPod anyway? I didn't know you were into mundane technology."

"Clary gave it to me." He replied. "And yes I am into mundane technology. I'm kind of into all things mundane now that I have the time. Art, literature, music, video games... anyway. You should hear the next song on the playlist."

He held the ear bud out to me again, a sly, devious expression on his face, and I took it reluctantly.

Don't get too close, it's dark inside. It's where my demons hide, it's where my demons-

I grabbed the iPod out of his hand, turning it on and glancing at the title of the song. Demons, by Imagine Dragons.

"What is Clary trying to suggest to you?" I muttered ruefully to myself, shaking my head. Sebastian chuckled, tweaking a lock of my hair before taking the music player back, turning it off, and shoving it into his pocket.