A Shadowhunter's Connection

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The man, known as Jace's dad, stepped out from the locker, approaching Jace with a shocked expression. In seconds, he wrapped his son in a hug that caused both men to shed a tear.

"Oh, Jace. I can't believe it," Jace's dad said before pulling away. Jace wavered a bit, turning his head a little which revealed the swollen wound on his neck. "Son, you're hurt. How did you find me?"

Jace's voice started to go horse again, his head shaking as he looked at his dad with a gapped mouth. "You're dead. Valentine killed you. Valentine's, Valentine's here."

Shaking his head, Jace's dad grabbed his son's head and made him look at him. "No, Jace. It's me." He then moved his head to look at me and my sister, both of us standing before the man in shock. "I'm Michael Wayland. I'm Jace's father. Look, I know what Jace told you, but I've been here for ten years. Valentine took off and left me."

Clary quickly spoke up about our mother, "And Jocelyn Fairchild?"

"He took her with him. You are?"

I spoke up, my mind still spinning with unanswered questions. "I'm Faith, this is my younger sister Clary, we're her daughters."

Suddenly, Jace started to fall, causing both Michael and myself to grab ahold of him and steady him. "Jace," I said, catching his arm and looking at him worriedly. My eyes then moved to Michael and Clary. "He's getting worst, I can feel it."

Jace, ignoring my words, started to speak through his pants. "We have to find Clary's father, not my father." His breath suddenly becomes heavier, causing his eyes to waver from closing to open.

Michael held onto his son tightly as he started to dig through Jace's pockets. "His Stele, where is it?"

I reach in Jace's back pocket and pull it out, handing it over to Michael. Jace's shirt was lifted and the Stele waved over the ruin Jace had made before only this time it didn't seem to do anything.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at Michael worriedly.

"The ruin is weak," Michael said, slipping Jace's Stele back into Jace's pocket.

"The Ravener venom must be spreading. We have to get him help," I said, taking Jace's arm and swinging it over my shoulders. Michael copied my action on the other side, both of us being the only thing keeping Jace from falling flat on the ground.

"We closed the Portal though," Clary said worriedly.

Michael shook his head, "Valentine's got a standing Portal. Let's go." We started to move, Clary following behind. Michael tried to grab Jace's attention in hopes of keeping him awake. "Hey, Jace, stay with me. Hey. Do you remember our first demon fight? We were way out past the Institute, way up at Kinshasa. You were only eight, but you were so brave. Do you remember what you said?"

Jace opened his eyes, his voice almost unrecognizable as he looked at his dad faintly. "I'm ready to die."

"And then I said, "Sometimes it's as brave to live as it is to die." Do you remember?"

Nodding slowly, Jace confirmed, "I do." He began to shed a tear as he looked at his dad, "It's true. It's really you."

Michael rested his head again his son's head before we continued to move on. We found the portal and went through it. It sat us right on the bridge, causing us to look around in worry.

"Luke, he might be able to help us," I said, looking over my shoulder at Clary. She nodded and led the way to the familiar Chines restaurant.

The second we burst through the double doors into the Chines restaurant, my eyes caught sight of Luke talking to Luke. Both guys looked up at us, standing as we approached a booth.