-Note: I do not own the Mortal Instruments or any character that is associated with the series.

Prologue.

Sweat dampened the brow of Jocelyn Morgerstern's brow as she ground her teeth together, grimacing while her body trembled and pushed with as much force as her frail muscles could muster. The sound of her grunts and screams of agony were heard all throughout the chambers and corridors of the newly structured Morgernstern Palace; her voice reverberating gauntly in her own ears.

"Please, milady, just one push more and it shall be free and you can rest." The Empress' midwife pleaded with her, her tone soothing and gentle as she stroked the inner thighs of the Lady Morgernstern to ready her for the final push and contraction of her lengthy labour.

Jocelyn bowed her head wearily and braced herself for the onslaught of pain that was approaching, her body tensing as she pushed as hard as she could manage with a low scream before slumping down. In the silence, a smile rode across her pale face as she heard the distinct cry of an infant pierce the air while her eyelids flickered, unconsciousness consuming her while exhaustion overtook her body as hostage.

Kenna, the Empress' handmaiden carefully swaddled the beautiful life in her arms, taking her to wash the fluids and waste from her pale flesh. As she cleaned the baby, the secretive maid cast a protective glamour around both herself, the child, and the washroom they were in and began the summoning ritual for the Head Warlock himself from the Isle of Magick. The garnet haired woman carefully placed the tiny daughter in the water and lit the flame of the candles around the round with her forefingers, murmuring the incantations under her breath.

"Cum puer tuus benedicet tibi, o filii et Lilith munere deorum."

A gasp resounded in the echoing reticence of the small room as Kenna watched the flames of the candles flicker and ultimately extinguish, cloaking both her and the child in shadowy light. Streaks of window light streamed in through the stained glass structures of the panes, casting hues of colours all around as Kenna warily gazed around, searching for movement.

"Kenna Herondale." A manly voice whispered, his figure stepping out of the shadows to reveal a tall and colourful man with sparks of magick flying around him. "I take this to be less than a social call." He murmured, his exotic blue eyes, slitted in resemblance to a feline's, flicking to the new child. "Her name will be Clarissa and she will be a most useful entity once trained in your gift, sweet Kenna."

The maiden's eyes widened at the revelation the warlock had digressed, a small imperceptible gasp slipping between her lips. "She is to take my energy? She will tame flames as I have?" She exclaimed, her hand coming to clamp across her lips as she shook her head.

"No, she will surpass your skill, Madame Herondale."

"You would condemn an innocent baby to this curse? Fire wielding is the most unstable of all the elements, Magnus Bane, and you know full well what hardships she will face if you bequeath such a task on little shoulders."

Magnus stared at the woman before him with cold eyes, calculating how to explain the severity of the situation to her. He knew from experience just how stubborn those who held the power of the flame were and he also knew that Kenna was no exception to the rule. "It must be done, Kenna. I do know what will come of the child, what she will accomplish with this gift and I can assure you that the feat is astronomical and well worth any obstacle she will be forced to overcome. I feel I must also remind you that I do not need your blessing to take what was once given to you." As if to punctuate his meaning, the warlock's eyes flashed with a magickal warning and power that stated what he could do without the woman's willingness.

There was a long pause in their conversation, the only sound coming from the gurgling princess that was splashing around merrily, unbeknownst to the talk of her future.

"Fine. I give you my blessing, though it is unneeded. I, Kenna Herondale, the keeper of the element and cendrillion of fire, relinquish my gift to Magnus Bane, High Warlock of the Isle of Magick so he may pass it on to my successor." As the words left her mouth, a shudder ran through the maiden's body and red sparks and swirls of orange and yellow energy emerged from within her chest, leaving her to fall to the floor and gasp. Her flushed skin paled drastically as the effects of her element and core left her body, the signs of which showing themselves in her now murky brown hair and almond coloured eyes that were shedding tears, true tears and not those she was accustomed to while being fused with the earth.

Kenna doubled over on the marbled floor, clutching her chest, as she coughed uncontrollably. "Inform milady, she can hide the child from the eyes of the Emperor. Please." She whispered on her last breath her newly browned eyes beckoning and pleading with Magnus'.

"It shall be done." Magnus answered with a bow of his head, walking over to the child in question. He peered at the girl, his eyes alight with wonder at the future she would bring. Reaching down, he grasped her left wrist in his hand, holding it with fragility and care as to not crush her tint bones, and began his work of weaving spells and molding her soul with that of the essence of the earth; granting her with the abilities of the flame.

As he released her arm, he inspected his handiwork as his eyes ghosted over the glowing and burning mark that had been imprinted into the pale expanse of flesh at the base of her wrist. The rune wove delicately, creating a pattern only he and she and those she would allow to see would know as it swirled and curved inward and pointed towards the inside of herself. To her inner core; the source of her power. It was, in Magnus' opinion, among the most beautiful runes he had created.

He gently bent forward and grabbed the small child from the basin of shallow water, turning to gaze at the pool of ashed that laid where Kenna once was with grief shadowing his face. With a snap of his fingers, the ashes were gone and in their place stood a new maiden. Silently, the warlock handed the now dry baby to her and guided the maid to the door that led to the Empress' chambers.

"Keep her safe, Alessa. Valentine must never sever the bond between Clarissa and her power." He demanded before shimmering away into the approaching night.

'Cum puer tuus benedicet tibi, o filii et Lilith munere deorum' roughly translated means 'come to thee oh son of Lilith and bless thy child with gift of gods'.

Alright, so here's the all new and refurbished prologue. Gives you a bit of insight into how the powers are transferred and who Kenna was. I hope you liked it! Review and tell me what you think? I'd greatly appreciate that.

-TBandL.