A Mortal Instruments Fanfiction: Part 1 - SACRIFICE

chapter 4

"Where is she?" Was the first thing Jace asked. He looked unruffled and calm, having recovered his composure, remembering that with a being so slippery as the Seelie Queen, force would get him nowhere.
"She is safe." Was all Meliorn replied. He was still reeling from Isabelle's tortured howls, her look of indiluted terror for Jace. Shaking his head to clear it, he continued, "Jace Wayland, if you want to return from the Fey Kingdom with your sister, you must listen closely, and you may not like what you hear."
Jace looked at him in confusion at the mention of a sister. Isabelle was in no danger, was she? And then he realised. Clary.
"I'm listening."
"Good. Because I'm the only one who knows the Queen's thoughts in these situations. Believe it or not, Shadowhunter," he smiled tiredly at Jace, "I'm her most trusted courtier." Jace half smiled in return, though is mind was in other, darker places. The faerie knight ploughed on, "In order for Clarissa to leave this place, she must do something in return for the Queen."
"Yes, magic always is balanced when it suits her Majesty, isn't it." Upon learning that Clary was in no immediate danger, Jace had resumed all his normal sarcastic comments and was lounging against a wall in a picture of complete ease, all the vulnerability and terror of the past hour dissipated.
Ignoring Jace's dry comment, Meliorn said,
"I don't if you're aware of the fact that the Queen keeps two trained ravener demons as pets - " And was interrupted by a loud snort from Jace.
"Yes - lovely, docile, cuddlesome things that they are." After rewarding Jace with a scowl, Meliorn continued,
"But as of late, she has had some... Difficulty.... In summoning them to court." He paused, awkwardly. Jace raised an eyebrow pointedly - Well? Meliorn said, now speaking in a formal tone,
"On behalf of the Queen of the Fey, I would like to request the assistance of Clarissa Fairchild in summoning the two aforementioned demons." There was a stunned silence.
"But.....Clary hasn't even been trained.... How could she possibly...." The colour drained from Jace's face, leaving it a stiff, pale mask of horror, as realisation dawned on him. "No." He hissed, "There is no way you are using my sister as bait for a pair of - of monsters - " But Meliorn was already walking away. "Wait - please -" The faerie turned. Jace took a deep breath, "I'll talk to Clary." Meliorn simply inclined his head, his obvious thoughts going unsaid - You know what the answer will be.
"And, Meliorn?" Said Jace. The fairy knight turned in surprise, as Jace continued."Clary really isn't safe, is she."
Jace strode purposefully back into the Queen's room. Both she and Isabelle (now quiet but very white in the face) looked at him in shock.
"Jace?" whispered his adopted sister, "I thought you were... That they would..." Her words melted into tears. Meliorn started to move toward her, but paused as he was reminded of the Queen's presence as she began to speak to him, cutting through Isabelle's quiet sobs.
"Meliorn." Her voice was as pointed and sharp cold as an icicle, "I thought you had dealt with the traitor."For the first time Jace read fear in the Knight's countenance, as he answered,
"Please, Majesty, I have intimated to him your offer - " He was interrupted by a snarl from Jace. The Queen seemed to be put in better spirits at his disquietude, and said,
"Very well. Jonathon, you understand that it would be Clarissa helping us to summon the demons and not you?"
"No one," said Jace, through gritted teeth, "Has agreed to anything yet. Nothing will be decided until I've spoken to clary. Alone." The Queen seemed put out by this, but she soon recovered her composure to say,
"Very well. Shall I summon her for you?" Jace looked as though he were about to attack her a second time, when Meliorn put a firm hand on his shoulder and said,
"No need. I will show you where she is."

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