After their training session was cut short and they eventually returned to work a couple of hours later and Serena found herself on the roof of the Institute.
She'd found her brother looking at atmospheric pressure droppings, looking for signs that the magic apartment that housed Jonathan's sarcophagus was on the move and that Clary would be with him. It was small, very small, but it was a ray of hope.
Plagued with more questions than answers, Serena called out to Ithuriel for help, yelling his name at the sky, white waves racing for the clouds.
"Hello, my child," the angel smiled at her as he landed on the roof of the Institute.
"Hello, Ithuriel," she greeted.
"A congratulations for your vanquishing of Lilith and deciphering of my message, but why have you called me here?"
"Ithuriel, I have two questions I need you to answer."
"I will hear your questions, but I cannot promise you an answer," the angel replied, and Serena nodded in understanding.
"Jia Penhallow says that the Clave doesn't employ torture to its Downworld prisoners. The Downworlders say otherwise. As a friend to so many Downworlders and their voice to the Clave, I need to know, are they being tortured?"
The Angel sighed. "Alas, what you ask of me I cannot answer, for if your vision of what the Clave should be would come to pass, you must find out that answer for yourself in due time."
Serena memorised his words, imprinting them into her brain to review later.
"I understand. But the second thing I ask, I might dare insist that you answer. Lucien Greymark claims Clary and Jonathan may have gotten out of that building before the explosion, that they might still be alive. And for the sake of my brother, I have to ask, is Clary Fairchild alive?"
Ithuriel's smile was warm.
"That is a question I can gladly answer, for you would've found out shortly anyway. Yes, Clarissa Fairchild lives."
And Ithuriel took to the skies.
******************************************************************
"Clary's alive," Serena announced as she walked into the ops centre to see Alec, Jace and Luke gathered around a console desk.
"How do you know? Are you sure?" Jace questioned as he moved towards his sister who rushed down the stairs, their hands joining.
"I called out to Ithuriel. He confirmed it. Clary's alive, little brother."
Jace squeezed his sister as he spun her around, truly grateful for what she'd done.
Luke then hugged her too.
"Thank you," he said, and Serena smiled at him.
"Thank me, when we find Clary."