The Aftermath Chronicles: A TMI FanFic

Part 24

The search party for Ragnor Fell was lead by the Consul and had over 30 participants, including Jace and Clary. 

They had narrowed his location down to an library in an abandoned inner-city school. The LA Institute was just down the road from it. 

"We're staying together," the Consul ordered as the group amassed outside the fenced in school. "Stick with your assigned groups and this should be painless. Kill Ragnor Fell if he resists in any way. For his crimes against the Clave, he is not guaranteed a trial."

There was a collective nod and someone carved a rune on the lock and it melted away. The group filed in.

Jace and Clary were on the team of seven set to go in the library. 

It was only a short walk to the wing.

All of the lights were off in the school, the library not excluded from that. 

But witchlight glowed from the far end of the room. Aisles of books separated them from the source. Two Shadowhunters diverged from the main group, clearing the sides. Jace moved forward quickly, eager to find Ragnor Fell.

He wanted to be the one to kill him.

When they finally reached the end of the aisles, they were in an area filled with desks and chairs once used for studying.

Ragnor Fell was crumpled on the floor beside the far wall. He was still breathing. 

One of the older Shadowhunters put out his arm, stopping Jace from going forward.

"What's the matter with him?" someone asked.

"The power of the Labyrinth," Clary said. "No warlock has ever been able to completely take it on. James-- I mean Tyrannus, died almost immediately."

"Are we sure it's not a trap?" the Shadowhunter holding back Jace asked.

"We could always kill him for good measure," Jace said.

Ragnor Fell gasped and his eyes shot open. 

Clary put a seraph blade to his throat, reacting faster than all of the others.

"One reason," she demanded. "One reason why I shouldn't kill you."

"No use, darling," Ragnor said, gasping for air. "I'm dying anyways."

"What a shame," Clary said. "You didn't even get to use your pretty powers."

"Oh. But I did," Ragnor said. "The Labyrinth has been restored to it's rightful place in the universe. You can't say I didn't do anything right."

"Clary, kill him," Jace said.

"Don't," the older Shadowhunter said. "We don't need problems with the warlock community. We'll make sure he's good and dead after the Labyrinth kills him."

"Take him," Clary said, switching places with the older Shadowhunter holding back Jace. She put a hand on his chest, looking him in the eyes.

"Almost done, right?" she whispered in his ear. He nodded and she took her place beside him, her hand in his. Ragnor Fell continued breathing heavily.

"How long is this going to take?" another Shadowhunter asked.

"Just a minute or so now," Ragnor said. His green skin was looking as pale as green could look. He smiled. "I can't say this wasn't a pleasant way to die. Surrounded by seven of my closest enemies. And you, Jace Herondale. The things I could tell you. About you. About your father. About your ancestors even beyond that. Will Herondale. What a character he was. I only had the fortune of meeting him once or twice through Magnus but he was, oh, well, he was quite like you. Charming. Handsome. A great warrior. Who lost his parabatai. Ah, Jem Carstairs was his name I believe. I'm quite certain you could find him these days. If you looked."

Jace didn't like this. 

Ragnor coughed.

"Seems my hubris got the best of me in the end though. I thought I could take on the Labyrinth. No one can take on everything," Ragnor said. "Remember that."

Something felt wrong about all of this, like it was show.

Jace slipped a knife out of his belt, careful not to raise suspicion. 

In an instant, he threw it. The knife caught in Ragnor's chest. His eyes grew wide. He stared down at his chest as if he hadn't been expecting that.

"For Alexander," Jace said. He let go of Clary's hand and exited the library.

........

Jace was waiting for Isabelle when she returned from her second trip to the Silent City. 

He stood sat on the steps of the Gard. He looked up when he saw her coming. She stopped a few feet from him.

"Ragnor Fell is dead," he said. "I killed him."

"Good," she said. "At least some balance has been restored to the universe."

"You and Charlie?"

"We'll see how the trial goes," she said, knowing exactly what she was speaking about. "That is, with your approval."

"If we held everyone accountable for what they did when they were possessed then where would we be as a society?" Jace asked.

"It's nice to see you being so. . . spunky," Isabelle said, choosing her words carefully.

"It's nice to see you," Jace said. He stood up and the two embraced.

Isabelle sighed.

"I hope this is the end of our dramatic lives," Isabelle said. "I was so hoping for some normalcy."

Jace smiled, pulling away from the hug.

"So you and Charlie?" he asked, as they descended the stairs.

Isabelle punched him.

"It's complicated," she said.

"I would think so," Jace laughed.

"He's sweet," Isabelle said.

"I don't quite know what you see in him--"

"Ah!"

"--but whatever."

.......

Jocelyn had pulled Clary aside from the madness that ensued after Jace left.

"He can't just go around killing warlocks," Jocelyn said.

"Ragnor was dying anyways," Clary said.

"That doesn't give him permission," she said. 

"You know why he did it," Clary said. "Cut him a break."

"It's the Consul he needs to be afraid of," Jocelyn said. "The investigation that's about to begin will be messy."

"Is Robert at the head of it?"

"Yes," Jocelyn said, slowly.

"Jace won't be in any trouble," Clary said. "Ragnor Fell is dead. It's over. Why can't everyone just be content with that?"

"The warlock community will demand a fair investigation."

"Ragnor Fell went insane."

"That's not going to cut it," Jocelyn sighed. Jocelyn turned back to watch the crowd of Shadowhunters. 

"What do you know about Jem Carstairs?"