predestined | jace herondale

11

"Dad?" Jace weakly said, staring at the man.

"Son." The man slowly got up, hugging him instantly, "Oh, Jace- I can't believe it."

"Son, you're hurt." He noticed the sting, "How did you find me?-"

"You're dead." Jace's eyes were wide with shock, his voice was low and weak, "Valentine killed you. Valentine's here-"

"No, Jace. It's me." He looks at my mother and I, "I'm Michael Wayland. I'm Jace's father."

I step back, squinting my eye in suspicion, keeping a guard on my mother.

"Look, I know what Jace told you, but I've been here for ten years. Valentine took off and left me-" Michael explained.

"What about Jocelyn Fairchild?" I question.

"He took her with him." Michael told me, staring at me, "You are?"

"I'm Zee-" I began, putting away my blade.

"My daughter." Margaret cuts me off, pulling me into her chest instantly, hugging me tight, "Oh my god-"

I hugged back instantly, holding onto her, tears slipping her eyes as she rubs my back.

Jace starts to fall, Michael catching him, "Jace, no!"

I looked at him, slowly slipping away from my mom, "Jace-"

"It's Ravener venom." I held on mother's hand, then held Jace's face, "He kept telling me he was all right-"

"We have to find your father, not my father-" Jace breathes heavily, "Valentine's-"

"Jace- it's okay, we'll have another chance-" I ran a hand through his hair, biting my bottom lip in worry, "It'll be okay-"

"His stele." Michael held him up, "Where is it?"

Michael dug through Jace's pockets, pulling out the card that held the Mortal Cup in it.

I snatch it instantly, shoving it into my pocket, "Back pocket-"

Michael grabs the stele, running it over the healing rune, "The rune is weak-"

"Ravener venom must be spreading." I breathed, "We have to get him help- but, we closed the Portal-"

"Valentine's got a standing Portal." Margaret told me instantly, pulling on my arm, "Let's get him help-"

I nod towards her, letting Jace wrap an arm around me for support.

"Hey, Jace, stay with me." Michael said, "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 looks at him, "I'm ready to die."

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

"I do." Jace breathes heavily, "It's true. It's you."

"Let's go." Michael leads, as we made our way to the portal.

-

The shove the doors of Jade Wolf open, "Luke!"

"Zee, what happened?" Simon came into my sight, stopping before the sunlight hit him.

"We thought we found Valentine, but he was already gone." I exhale deeply, setting down Jace in a booth, Michael next to him.

Luke's eyes fall onto my mother, "Margaret?"

"Lucian-" Margaret expresses, hugging him.

"I thought-" Luke was in shock, "I saw-"

"I'll explain everything later- I just- we need to help Jace." Margaret pulls away, coming to my side.