Hey everyone!

Thanks for sticking with me. I am sorry it has taken me a bit to update. I promise more tomorrow!

XO RC

Clary's eyes shot open wide as she woke to a loud, harsh banging on the door of her hotel room. She attempted to softly peel Jace's heavy arm from across her hip without waking him, but that was a pointless endeavor.

His eyes shot open just as fast as Clary's had and he stared at her as she slid out of the bed and moved to her leather bag on the floor, wrapping her slender fingers around a seraph blade. The banging continued causing Jace to sit up straight in the bed.

Quietly, Clary tip-toed barefoot to the door and edged herself to the peephole only to drop the blade to the ground and turn herself around. "Really, Jace?"

Jace sat perfectly still for a moment, racking his brain on who could possibly be banging at Clary's door. Automatically it came to him. Isabelle, he thought now remembering that he had texted her last night. With a huff, he got up from the med and opened the door.

Isabelle bobbed in, perky as a cheerleader, stopping at the sight in front of her. "Wow, you two look like hell."

Jace glared at her. "Well, aren't you a pleasant sight," he told her, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh, my dear Jace. It surely isn't morning anymore," she stated with a bit of sass as she closed in on Clary, placing her hands on her back to give her a soft shove into the bathroom. "Get a shower! Chop, chop!"

Clary stood for a moment in the doorway, staring at Isabelle before giving in. So she shut the door to the bathroom and from the outside, you could hear the shower as she turned it on.

Isabelle turned to Jace who had himself now leaned against the desk. "So, what is the plan again?"

Jace put a finger to his lips to hush her and shook his head. He pointed toward the bathroom door and waited a moment until he could hear the shower water begin to run erratically as if to be moving over her body. "Okay, I need you to get her out of this damn hotel room."

Isabelle smiled as she made a spot for herself on the bed, pulling at the covers around her. "I know I don't want be under those sheets," she told him with a giggle and a wink before getting up and moving to Clary's closet where she decided to organize all of the clothes that were scattered on the floor amongst the many shopping bags.

Jace frowned at her. "Knock it off. It isn't like that. You would have nothing to worry about under those sheets."

"So, you really haven't slept with her?" She watched as Jace nodded in response. "Aw, our little Jace is growing up so fast! You are such a little gentleman now," she teased as her eyes shifted to a photograph laying on the desk. "Who are they?"

Jace followed her gaze and looked down before reaching down and handing her the black and white picture. "The original Circle," he answered.

She examined it closely, noticing some people that she knew. Is that my mother and father, and Hodge? Her eyes focused in on her mother. "I can't believe they were ever a part of this."

Jace brushed it off. "Isabelle, focus. I need you to take her out for the day, go have a girls day. Do whatever it is you girls do.." He stopped when he heard the shower turn off.

Isabelle looked up at him. "I got you. We will meet you and Alec at Pandemonium later?"

Jace nodded in response as Clary stepped out of the bathroom, her white towel hanging loosely over her black bra and panties.

She moved to the closet where she noticed that everything had been hung up and organized. Confused, she turned around to find a smiling Isabelle. "Thanks, Izzy," she said sweetly as she sifted through the clothes in search of something to put on. "What are we doing anyways?"

"Well, I figured we could have a girls day! A little shopping, manicures, pedicures, maybe even get our hair done at some big time mundane salon.." Isabelle smiled. "Wear whatever you want... It is a hot one out there though."

Jace watched the girls leave the hotel from the terrace. He saw that Clary had turned back to look up at him. He couldn't make out her facial expression, but he hoped it was a smile. He stood for a few more minutes, watching until she was out of site.

He changed back into his clothes, slipping his arms into his vest searching to make sure his stele was in the right pocket. Then he moved to the desk to retrieve his cell phone and dialed Alec.

It rang a few times before Alec finally answered. "Hello?" He sounded hazy and half-asleep.

"Are you at the Institute? I am leaving her hotel now," he said as he opened her computer to reveal the last website she had been on. Quickly, he scribbled down the address and closed it.

There was a rustling on the other end as Alec answered. "No, but I am headed there now."

Jace made his way out to the hallway, making sure the door was shut tight behind him. "Alright, I will meet you there."

Alec had beat Jace to the Institute. He made his way up in the elevator, then moved toward the weapons room and had almost made it there when he heard loud voices carrying down the long hallway from the library. Curious, he walked slowly and quietly toward them, hiding himself in the shadows of one of the large doors.

He could see Hodge through the cracks, standing at his desk staring intently at a man in front of him. "I don't know where she is, my liege," Hodge told the watched as he bowed his head slightly to the man.

"I know she is in New York, Hodge. I know she went after her mother!" The man was loud and overbearing. He stood in front of the desk accompanied by a slightly muscular blond boy who oddly reminded Alec of Jace. "Where is Jocelyn, Hodge?"

Alec watched as Hodge dug in his desk for something before turning his attention back to the man and his younger companion. The man was saying something softly to him, but Alec couldn't make it out.

"Yes, father," the blond spoke in response before heading out of the library and down the hall toward the guest rooms.

"She is in Brooklyn, Valentine. That is all I know. I haven't seen her since the Uprising." Hodge tore a page out of a little black book and handed it to the man, before sitting back down at his desk. "I can't guarantee that that is still her address, but it is the best I have."

Valentine smiled. "I will find her. And I will find Clarissa. And I will find the Cup." He took the paper from Hodge and called for the blond. "Jonathan, time to go." He watched as the boy returned to his side. "Any sign of your sister?"

"Nothing, Father." Jonathan followed his father to the elevator.

"You will contact me if she turns up here," Valentine called to Hodge in a demanding tone, before turning to the opening elevator doors. His eyes widened as Jace walked out of them.

Jace stared at him and Jonathan, giving them a simple hello, and moving out of their way of the elevator. He noticed the runes and simply assumed that they were just some visiting Shadowhunters. Not paying them much mind, he made his way toward the weapons room, noticing that Alec had fallen in behind him once the elevator doors had closed. "What are you doing?"

Alec pushed the door of the room shut behind them. "We need to get out of here. We need to find the girls. We need to get Isabelle away from that girl." He was rushed and worried.

"What are you talking about, Alec?" Jace glared at him, not to pleased with the tone that dripped from the words "that girl."

Alec took a deep breath. "That man was Valentine. The Valentine."

Jace's eyes widened and he jumped up from the stool. He moved quickly to the elevator and out the doors of the Institute, Alec barely keeping up behind him. His eyes searched the perimeter of the Institute, but Valentine was gone. "Call Isabelle. Now!"

Alec stared at him. "That girl, Clary. Clarissa? She is his daughter?!"

Jace raised his hand. "Call her!" He watched as Alec dialed his sister and threw him the phone.

Isabelle answered the phone pleasantly. "You are interrupting our girls -"

Jace cut her off, "Isabelle, where are you?"

"Bendel's on Fifth, why?" Isabelle could sense something wasn't right. "What is wrong?"

"Put Clary on the phone," Jace begged. He could hear the phone change hands on the other end and waited impatiently for Clary to speak.

"Hello? Jace?" Clary sounded worried on the other end. "Are you okay?"

"Listen to me, I want you and Isabelle to find the busiest store you can and stay there. Alec and I are coming for you." Jace heard Alec mutter something behind him and he shot him a glare.

"Jace, Isabelle and I are perfectly capable of handling ourselves. Tell me what is going on!"

Jace was growing frustrated. "I will explain everything as soon as I get to you. Stay hidden, please," he pleaded with her and he heard an unexpected change in her voice.

"Text us when you are close. We will stay hidden." She agreed reluctantly. "And Jace.."

He smiled. "Yes?"

"Be careful," she breathed softly.

Her words rang through his head as he ended the call. The subway was taking forever and his thoughts were moving a mile a minute. He turned to Alec as the train lurched forward. "Tell me everything you saw."