Jace was beyond annoyed. That was putting it lightly.
Remind him why he was grateful for his sister again?
Because after the whole Jonathan ordeal, he'd been holed up in the infirmary as Danica talked over some test results with Serena before she came in to heal the last of his wounds, when Jace had received an unexpected visitor.
He was really the only person that Clary wanted to talk to after the death of her brother. Their conversation hadn't been long but it had been meaningful and meaningful enough that Clary had allowed him to kiss her. And he kissed her back with equal fervour.
At least until his twin sister walked in on the moment and Jace knew that he was monumentally screwed. Both he and Clary turned tomato red as they sprang apart and Clary made a hasty exit before Serena finished healing her brother. And the worst part was that she didn't say a word as she worked with a mischievous grin.
Since then, she hadn't stopped teasing him about it. And to make matters worse, she'd told Izzy and the two of them were relentless.
Despite their victory over Jonathan, they still had to deal with Valentine who was still missing. The warlocks were still maintaining the wards around Brooklyn, so Valentine was still here, and Serena and Alec had dispatched Shadowhunters to do a block-by-block search for him. But as they finished organising that, the alarm at the Institute sounded. Ariel sensors had picked up something in the sky.
So, the five of them had geared up, Alec the most crucial to the mission as his bow would make the most effective weapon against an aerial demon.
As they ran through the streets of New York, they stopped at an intersection as they scanned their surroundings.
"Where is it?" Jace asked.
"It should be right on top of us," his twin answered as she held her swords.
"Alec!" Clary yelled and the boy had his bow drawn as the demon flew between the skyscrapers, almost hiding behind them.
"I've never seen a demon like that," Izzy noted as it flew out of sight.
"Worry about what it is after we kill it," Serena pointed out as they formed a circle, all of them facing outward as they kept their eyes peeled for it. "Baby, if there was ever a time not to miss," Serena said semi-jokingly.
"Don't you trust me?" he winked at her and she smirked.
"On your six!" Jace yelled as he and his parabatai switched spots and Alec fired.
And he missed.
"You were saying?" Serena said smugly.
"Shut up," Alec said to his wife as he drew another arrow.
"Joke around later. Can you see it?" Izzy asked, but no one could. They could hear its screeches clear as day, but it stayed hidden.
"What the hell is it waiting for?" Clary wondered.
"It's coming around for another pass," Serena noted as Alec followed it with his arrow, aiming.
"Alec!" Izzy called out as it began to fly straight at them, roaring as they fanned out into a single line, Alec at the centre with his bow drawn.
"Relax, I got this," he said calmly before exhaling and firing.
The demon broke apart as its entrails fell to the ground, setting off car alarms.
"Nice," Jace praised his parabatai.
"It's not over just yet," Serena said and the rest of them turned to where the demon had apparently been split into smaller creatures that split up. Some ran up buildings and others into the subway.
And to make matters worse, before they could even chase after any of them, Clary got a call from Luke.
"Valentine's in Idris," she announced, and they all froze.
"How?" Alec asked.
"He made a deal with the Seelie Queen. Luke's already warned the other Downworld leaders," she answered, and Serena kicked the trunk of a car, making the alarm go off.
"That's what I get for saving her life," she muttered. "I'm going to wring her skinny, little neck!" she threatened and Alec put an arm around her, his contact making the bubble of anger in her chest pop.
"Damn Valentine," Jace swore.
"If Valentine gets to that lake-" Izzy began.
"He won't. Malachi's army is armed and waiting for him," Alec pointed out.
"We need to warn him. Who knows how many Circle members will be there?" Clary pointed out.
"And how many members of the Clave aren't secretly working for Valentine," Serena said and they all looked grimly at her.
"If we lower the wards, the demons will get out and spread throughout the city," Izzy said.
"Maybe we don't have to lower them. Maybe my Portal rune can pierce the wards," the redhead suggested.
"We can't all go, the demons need to be dealt with," Alec spoke up.
"Clary and I will go. You two stay, slay the beasts. What do you want to do?" Jace asked his sister who sighed as she contemplated. He wouldn't make this choice for her because she had just as much of a reason to want Valentine dead as the two of them, perhaps even more of a reason after what was written inside those journals.
"As much as I want to be there to help you kill Valentine, I'm more useful here. I still have Downworlders to deal with," she said and Jace nodded as they turned away, readying themselves for battle. "Jacey!" Serena called before Clary began drawing. "Make it hurt."
He came to kiss her forehead. "I promise." And he turned to follow Clary as they disappeared through the Portal.
********************************
Serena had an eerily bad feeling. Something that told her that the pit in her stomach and the sour taste in the back of her mouth was nothing compared to what was going to happen. Something bad was going to happen, that much she was sure of and she liked it even less that her twin and his lover had been separated from them.
While she could do nothing about her bad feeling, she could do something about the strange demons that had appeared in the city only to keep multiplying. The aerial sensors were picking up over fifty demonic presences with the numbers still climbing by the minute. Not only that but they were a rare sub-species of asmodei, demons straight from Edom. Tenacious and intelligent. One would think that the city streets would be flowing with blood, but the demons hadn't attacked anyone or anything yet, they all just kept circling the city, unable to get out because of the warlock wards.
Magnus had actually been the one to call Serena about the demons when one got a little too close to his warlocks on the roof of his apartment building that were maintaining the shields around New York.
The three Shadowhunters were set to meet the warlock at Croton Point where they'd located the rift, however, before they left...
"Alec, no!" Serena whined. "Why can't I take them?"
"You know why," Alec persisted as he handed her the weapons. "These are aerial demons, you stand no chance against them with your swords. And they are way too fast when they split for you to get them."
"I appreciate the gesture, but I have my voice. I'll be fine," Serena insisted.
"Your voice is still healing. And do you really want to go into this unarmed?"
"Why can't I just take the throwing knives?"
"Because Raj already took the throwing knives when you sent him on assignment."
"But Alec, you know I'm a crappy shot," Serena complained.
"Hey," he chastised before he claimed her lips harshly. "That's my wife you're talking about. And my wife is not a crappy shot."
"Tell that to the -"
"You are a good shot. Don't doubt yourself. Now just take the damn bow and quiver and let's go. We're wasting time," Alec chided before walking off.
"I hate you!" Serena called after him.
"Love you too!" he returned and Serena rolled her eyes at Alec's extra bow and quiver set that he'd shoved into her arms.
She preferred close-quarter combat, much like her twin, both of them choosing blades and swords as their weapons. A bow was not her forte but that was her husband for you, always making sure she was safe because as much as she hated to say it, her swords probably would be useless against these demons. And to add salt to the wound, he was also right in that they were wasting time. Serena had received a fire message from her grandmother revealing the results of her request for troop movements around Lake Lyn. Consul Malachi had apparently vanished into thin air when Imogen came to speak to him in person. The only reason he would do that was if he was a spy for Valentine.
That meant that Jace and Clary were alone in enemy territory with Valentine and his small army with absolutely no backup.
So, yeah, they really did have to hurry up as Serena reluctantly slung the quiver over her shoulder and tightened her grip on the bow. Here goes nothing.
********************************
Magnus's Portal spat them out on the beach. The sun shone down on them as the waves lapped at the shore and the sand crunched under their shoes. It was actually a rather lovely day, at least until they followed a trail of blood that led right to the circular rift that took you straight to hell.
"Where did all the demons go?" Izzy wondered.
"I'm not sure. They just don't normally fly off into the sunset,'" Magnus quipped.
"Well, let's not stick around until they make an appearance," Alec said.
"The amount of energy required to seal a rift from Edom is substantial, it is, after all, the most powerful hell dimension. It's not just a flick of the wrist. I may even need your help Serena, if it comes to it," he said as he stood on the opposite side of the hole.
Serena nodded. "Whatever you need, Sparkles."
Magnus's hands glowed red this time as his magic surrounded the rift, but a roar from within the hole had them peering over the edge into the fiery pit as they spied another demon flying up towards them.
The creature soared through the hole as Alec locked his arms around Serena and moved her away from danger. Izzy wasn't so lucky as its massive wing knocked her down.
"Izzy!" her parabatai yelled.
"GO! I'm alright!" she promised as she took a heavy breath, but she was awake and that was what mattered.
"Cover me," Magnus ordered and Serena and Alec nodded at each other as their glamours fell, revealing the weapons strapped to their bodies.
Alec tore down the beach as the creature flew freely in the skies, his long legs making quick work of the distance. However, Alec's first arrow didn't exactly serve its purpose. It missed the creature but it got its attention as it veered off and came flying back at Alec.
"Crap!" Alec cursed before he went sprinting back the way he came, pushing his legs as fast as he could as the demon neared him, spitting out fireballs that scorched the sand beside him. "Serena!"
It was instinct. The same way Alec had the instinct to push her out of the way when the demon flew through or any other time he protected her in battle, when he threw himself over her to take the impact, this was instinct.
All her nerves faded away, everything else didn't exist. All that mattered in this one moment in time was the fact that her husband's life rested in her hands.
She drew back her arrow, squinting her eyes a little bit as she aimed, recalling every word of Alec's smooth voice when he had stood behind her, so very close behind her, and taught her how to do this. She knew how to do this. And if there was ever a time to prove it, it was now.
Inhale.
Aim.
Exhale.
Release.
And the demon exploded as Alec crashed onto the sand.
"Alec!" Serena yelled as she began shooting at the small demonic creatures that came running for her husband, missing several, that thankfully Izzy got with her whip. "Are you ok?" she asked her husband as she offered him a hand and he gave her a charming smile that made her knees weak.
"I told you, you were a good shot."
Serena rolled her eyes before she hugged him.
"ANGEL!" screamed Magnus and Alec's hand was wrapped in Serena's as they went sprinting back to the warlock. The rift was almost sealed, but that last little circle seemed to be fighting back, not wanting to close.
Serena didn't hesitate to take Magnus's hand, imbuing him with the heavenly strength he needed to close the rift for good. Once it was shut though, Magnus collapsed to his knees, taking Serena down with him.
"Whoa!" Alec exclaimed as he rushed to catch her before she crashed into the sand, her eyes fluttering as Izzy steadied Magnus. "I got you," Alec promised as he twirled his stele in his fingers running it over her irazte and her stamina rune just to be safe. "Everyone okay?" he called, receiving nods from Izzy and Magnus. "Then let's get the hell out of here."
********************************
"Any word from Jace and Clary?" Magnus asked as he walked about the Institute.
"Asides from the vague text I got 10 minutes ago? 'Got free. All fine. Headed to Lake.' Nothing. And when my twin returns, I shall be educating him on how to send a proper text," Serena answered sinisterly as she tapped away on the tablet she held.
"S, is this strange to you?" Izzy called from where she was watching a monitor. "The aerial sensors show no demonic activity."
"Yeah, it's strange," Serena said. "Demons don't just vanish."
"There's nothing on the ground either. So it would seem that the asmodei completely disappeared," Alec added.
"I've never heard of that," Magnus said. "Once they pass through the rift, the demons are here to stay until they're properly banished."
"Then where the hell are they?" Alec thundered.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Magnus replied.
"Well, we have to start somewhere," Serena sighed. "I'll send out a team to look through the sewers and subways for the -" she stopped as the tablet fell from her hand onto the ground and her knees began to click.
"S?" Izzy prompted nervously.
"Wrong. Something's wrong. Something's wrong with my twin," she rambled and her next movements were robotic. It was as if some other primordial force was in control of her body and Alec's as they reached for each other at the exact same time Alec let out a pained groan.
"Alexander, are you ok?" Magnus asked worriedly as Serena's hands lifted up the edge of his shirt to see his parabatai rune burn a harsh pink.
"His parabatai rune," Izzy whispered.
"Jace!" Alec called, leaning all of his body weight on Serena as he let out another tortured sound.
"No. No. No. No. No," Serena muttered as she clutched her husband, easing him onto the ground as their bond flared with only a fraction of his pain. "Alec. Alec!"
"AHHH!" Alec screamed as Serena held him to her chest, her eyes blinded by tears as he writhed. And she did the only thing she could do right now as she started to hum. It was the saddened melody Jace had played for her on the piano months ago when she'd become Institute Head. And it seemed sadder now as she hummed it, the harmony entwined with the sound of her sobs.
Her voice calmed Alec and numbed his pain, but it was still there. No matter how much power the angels gave her, she couldn't stop Alec from feeling it as his soul was ripped in two.
Serena's cheek was pressed to Alec's soft hair as she cried, still humming as she held him, trying to ease his pain, and then his screams stopped. There was only one reason why his screams would stop and Serena didn't want to believe it. She refused to believe it as his rune faded completely, leaving nothing but clear skin.
And then Alec said the worst words he could ever say, the words that absolutely broke his wife as she lost half of her very being.
"I... I can't feel him. He's dead."
Alec was still gasping for breath as Izzy took hold of her brother who also had trouble comprehending what this all meant, that Jace was really dead.
Serena's face was painted with tears as she rose on shaky feet, simply staring at nothing as her very being cut in two. Not just her heart or her soul, but her very existence. She and Jace came into this world together. They had lived their lives together. Serena thought they'd die together. It shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't...
Everything seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks.
All of Valentine's deception, finding out she was a Herondale, almost losing her husband, almost losing Izzy, having to fight her demonically possessed husband who almost killed her, Robert's infidelity, Max's dalliance with death, almost losing Jace, and now...now losing Jace.
"Angel, are you..."
And Magnus was cut off as Serena let out a purely deafening scream. Out of instinct, Magnus wrapped a shield of protective magic around them as the heavenly energy burst forth from her mouth. But yet, her voice didn't do what it normally did.
Her voice didn't calm anyone, nor did it weaken a demon. Her voice didn't even shatter all the stained glass windows as one would think. The white waves were shaped like circles this time and they all seemed to be tearing at the air as if it was trying to rip through reality.
Serena screamed out her heartbreak, she screamed out her anguish and she screamed out every bit of pain she'd ever felt, every bit of pain that crushed down on her shoulders at this moment.
And when she stopped, finally out of breath as her chest rose and fell heavily, she faced the carnage her scream had wrought.
A swirling Portal stood before her but it wasn't gold as it usually was. This Portal was alive with angelic energy. It was both powered by Serena and a gift from the angels. She could feel it.
And Serena's grief transformed into rage, a protective rage like no other, a vengeful rage that would see their world go up in flames if need be.
She leaned over her shoulder as she spoke. "You don't have to come, but I will not stop you if you do. But make your choice quickly."
And they were on their feet as they watched Serena stalk through the Portal.
The three of them didn't hesitate to follow after her as the Portal spat them out into the City of Glass.
********************************
They were too late.
When they landed, they were a while away from the shores of Lake Lyn, but they were close enough to see as the evening sky glowed gold as Valentine had raised the Angel.
"By the angel," Izzy gasped and Serena broke into a sprint as she became a blur in the woods. And her family followed after her.