Drapetomania | Shadowhunters [Jace Wayland]

17; Dead Mundie

"So this will help with. . .?"

"I'm surrounded by idiots," Tris sighed. "This means we'll be able to find out if he was murdered quite a few hours ago and if the demon had the chance to escape."

"Oh."

Tris reached for the man's eyelid, pressing it a little, finding it stiff. Then the neck and the jaw. Very stiff. Tris stood up. "He's been here for more than two hours which must've given the demon a good amount of time to get away. We need to check up on this mundane."

"Nothing in the immediate area," Alec looked at Luke. "We're taking the body back to the Institute."

"I'll run some tests to see what kind of demon we're dealing with. Tris, will you help?" Isabelle asked, looking at her.

Tris nodded.

"Clary and I will widen the perimeter, just in case," Alec stated, nodding at the others and giving Tris a smile. 

"Hey, Fray! We got a demon to hunt."

▪▪▪

Simon was sitting on Tris' bed while the brunette girl was in the bathroom, getting out of her blood soaked jeans and changing into a pair of sweatpants and a comfortable t-shirt, letting her hair down and walking out of the room to sit beside her brother, who answered a call and put it on speaker.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?" 

"Dinner tomorrow," she stated. "Eight o'clock. Don't disappoint me."

"You sound just like Grandma, except with more guilt," Tris smiled. "If that's even possible."

"Your sister is coming home for the weekend, and I think it would be a good time for us to all get together. What do you two feel like? Ribs or burgers?"

"Ribs!"

"I'm actually kind of on a liquid diet now."

Tris scowled at Simon, quietly mimicking him.

"What? One of those cleanses?" Elaine scoffed. "That's why you look so anemic. When was the last time we had a nice family dinner?" 

"Look, Mom, I-I really want to come, it's just--my manager has me on this really tight deadline and I have to find female singer for one of our gigs," Simon lied.

"I am sure Raphael will understand."

"Yeah, well, you don't know him like I do."

"But I know what family means to you," Elaine softly said.

Simon smiled a bit. "Yeah, you're right. We'll be there."

▪▪▪

"Did you kill the werewolf Gretel Monroe?" 

The blonde boy's hands were wrapped around the glowing sword as the truth was being pulled out of him, one by one, as the Head of the New York Institute sat in front of him, his back straight, but relaxed.

"No."

"But you captured her for your father, Valentine Morgenstern, after being encouraged by your spellbound sister," Aldertree argued.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions."

"You have a great love for your sister, don't you?"

"Yes," Jace strained.

"In fact, to my understanding, you two were involved in a romantic relationship prior to the discovery that you were siblings. Is that true?" 

"Yes."

"What about now? Do you love her the way a brother loves his sister?"

"Yes. I-I like someone else."

"I see. Do you love your father? "

"I love the dream of the father I wished he'd be," Jace frowned.

"The kind of father who wouldn't kill a young boy's falcon?" Jace's head shot up. "Yes. I know more than you think about you and dear dad. To love is to destroy. Quite a harsh lesson for a six-year-old boy. Do you agree with that sentiment?" 

"Yes."

"Do you feel your father's goal to kill all Downworlders is just?" 

"Yes and no."

"Which one is it?" 

"Both. My father's world view may be misguided, but I've seen the vampire dens that are thriving because of the Clave's lack of action. Your lack of action."

"Final question. Can you pledge your unconditional loyalty to the Clave?" 

"Facilis descensus Averno."

"I asked you a question. Can you pledge your unconditional loyalty to the Clave?" 

The sword glowed brighter.

"Answer!" 

"No!" Jace yelled. "No, I can't."

▪▪▪