₪ One Mark ₪ [accidental video]

[markofthemind]

[She's hurtling through space and nothing makes sense and she can't feel Luke's hand on hers anymore. The scenery rushing up to meet her is nothing like the image in her mind, though judging by the trees and green and sky, it does look like Idris might. And the lake--

The lake is suddenly right there and her impact sends a shower of water into the air, and an image of splashing, flailing limbs to all the Dreamberry network-- because, apparently, someone has kindly left a studiously videotaping Dreamberry on the edge of the shore exactly in front of where Clary has landed several feet into the lake.

She's deep enough that, for a moment, the girl completely vanishes beneath the water. And then another splash and a wild tangle of utterly soaked red hair, and she's gasping loudly for air and swimming for the shore. Dragging herself out near the Dreamberry she hasn't noticed yet, Clary looks around wildly in obvious confusion, already shivering noticeably in the cold air, her hair and long green coat dripping lake water in a pool around her.]

Luke? Where are you?

[Was he here? She remembered he'd been holding onto her, and then he just hadn't been, and-- What happened to people if they got lost mid-Portaling to somewhere? What if they were just lost in limbo forever? Panic welling up suddenly, Clary stumbles to her feet, hugging her elbows to warm her shivering body, and yells again, more desperately.]

Luke!

Comments

[markofthemind]

He's dating someone?

[Things just keep getting weirder.

Jace isn't her brother, Simon has actually moved on, and for all she knows, Isabelle is secretly related to a Burmese python. Deep breaths, Clary.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[He snorts.]

Apparently. Not that I know how that managed to happen.

[markofthemind]

Oh.

[She sighs, reaching up to rub her temple absently.]

Okay. Let's try this whole explaining thing again, but slow down this time.

I thought Herondale was the name of the Inquisitioner. [and, frankly, she did not leave a pleasant impression.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[Right. Explanation.]

It was. She was also my grandmother. She didn't know it until she saw the mark on my shoulder. It's a birthmark that goes through the Herondale line.

[markofthemind]

[...okay. Right. Just go with it. Jace wouldn't lie to her about something this important, of course.]

Birthmark?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

When I was told that it was a scar, that was a lie.

[markofthemind]

Oh-- [Eyes widening slightly, she touches his shoulder where the star-shaped 'scar' is, understanding.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

What do you want to know next?

[markofthemind]

So Valentine isn't your father?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[He sighs.]

No. He isn't. He raised me but he isn't my father.

[markofthemind]

But he's... mine.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

That didn't change.

[markofthemind]

So he took you from the Herondales or... I don't understand, Jace.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

And was responsible for their deaths.

[markofthemind]

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't at this point.

[markofthemind]

[she sighs, pressing closer and shivering again, though perhaps not from the cold this time.]

But you said I do have a brother. A brother who isn't you.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[he just holds her closer.]

Yes. But...he's been brainwashed by Valentine. He's no ally to us.

[markofthemind]

What do you mean?

You said something about demon and angel blood. But what does that even mean? Like, literally?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

Valentine raised us in two different houses. But when we were both in the womb he made sure our mothers were given angel blood or demon blood. I ended up with the former and he with the latter.

[A pause.]

The angel blood happened to you as well. It's why you can create new Marks.

[markofthemind]

[She stops dead in her tracks, voice cracking with uncertainty.]

What?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

After Valentine did the demon blood to your mother, she ran to try and prevent it from happening to another child. She didn't know that it was already too late and there was already extra angel blood in your system.

[Yes, he knows this is a very long, fucked up story.]

[markofthemind]

He gave my mother demon blood?

[Clary stares up at him, horrified and not really comprehending what all this even means, just that it sounds terrible and twisted-- and just like Valentine, which really only makes it worse.]

And what do you mean angel? Like a real angel? I didn't know those even--

[She sounds desperate and confused, moving suddenly to pull away from him.]

I don't understand, Jace.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[Holding her close, he refuses to let her go. If only because he knows it's too cold for her right now without the warmth.]

A real angel. They actually exist. We see one together.

[And then she asks one to bring him back to life not that long after that.]

[markofthemind]

We see an angel?

[She doesn't even know what to focus on anymore. There's too much.

Clary gives up trying to get away because she doesn't even know what she wants anymore, trembling hands tugging Jace's borrowed coat tightly as possibly around her body. She's still rooted to her spot, forgetting all about walking back to where Jace lives now. Her mouth is dry.]

So when the Faerie Queen called us... experiments...?