₪ 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

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[He has this horrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Enough so that he can't concentrate on answering the question about Somarium. Because if she's from where he thinks she's from then...

But they were finally past that...]

You just created the portal... You don't remember...

[markofthemind]

[She brushes back her wet hair impatiently, still annoyed.] Yeah, I just-- [wait. double-take.] Hey, how do you know that?

What don't I remember? What's going on, Jace?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

I know because that already happened in my time. I'm from your future.

[Wait, wait, wait.] But that's not what's important. [He grabs her shoulders.] Clary. We're not siblings. He lied to us.

[markofthemind]

[Clary just stares at him, no comprehension whatsoever in her eyes.]

...what?

[Maybe she's dreaming, or still drowning and passed out or she hit her head-- Jace wouldn't be this cruel to her. Even after declaring so hurtfully he apparently didn't have feelings for her anymore, he wouldn't...]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

I'm serious. My fath...Valentine lied to us. I'm not your brother and I never have been.

[Those gold eyes of his look wild and desperate. Jace doesn't know what he'll do if she doesn't believe him. He's been here almost a year without her. She has to believe him.]

You just haven't learned this part yet. But you will.

[markofthemind]

[Her mouth feels like sand and thinking is impossible. What is he saying? Why is he telling her this, and so shortly after... But no. Something else, something else he said--

She blurts it incredulously, still completely at a loss.]

You're from the future?

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

Yes. We're not siblings. There's someone named Sebastian who is really your brother. Valentine raised both of us but I was born a Herondale.

[He hates feeling this frantic and he knows the story is insane but he could just get her to believe him...]

It was all a trick. In this world timelines get all mixed up. None of it makes sense but I promise you that we're not siblings.

[markofthemind]

[Clary lifts a hand to her head subconsciously, feeling dizzy. She doesn't understand anything more than the fact his words feel like he's mocking her, even if she knows his tone is anything but that. Clary shakes her head violently, raining little droplets of water.]

Jace, what are you talking about?

Weren't you just telling me you wanted to be only my brother from now on?

['This world,' he'd said. What world? Idris? And seriously-- the future? Maybe she really had hit her head on something in the lake. Shuddering, Clary stared at him accusingly, looking lost even though she seemed to be trying to be angry again.]

I know you didn't want me coming to Idris, but this isn't funny.

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

[It's like those words shatter his entire world. All confidence that he has falls apart and he can only stare at her trying to believe that she'll just trust him.]

I'm...not joking.

[He looks away and holds out the coat he brought.]

It's too cold for you to just be wet out here.

[markofthemind]

[That look on Jace's face makes her flinch involuntarily. The anger melts away, but the confusion is still there, weighing down heavier than ever. Clary takes the coat and quickly puts it on, still shivering, knowing that what she really wants is to seek warmth in Jace's embrace again.

She looks away, shaking her head again slowly.]

Jace, I don't understand...

How can we not--? I mean, what you're saying is... [absolutely ridiculous and makes utterly no sense at all.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

You do have a brother. His name is Jonathan and he was disguised as Sebastian. When we were in the womb our mothers were given angel blood. With Jonathan it was demon blood.

Valentine raised Jonathan and I in different houses. My mother was Celine Herondale and my father was Stephen Herondale. Two people I don't even know.

He lied to us. My father...Valentine lied to us. [He sticks his hands in his pockets and looks out at the water. It's easier than seeing eyes that don't believe him.]

This isn't Idris. We're in Somarium. It's a different world. Some world of dreams. It brings people from different times and worlds...

[He looks down at the ground.] In my time, we know we're not siblings and that we can be together. We fought so hard and won. You named me Jace Lightwood.

[markofthemind]

[Listening to everything is like feeling a crushing weight slowly settling down on her, forcing the air from her lungs. Clary licks her suddenly dry lips, still just staring at him for a long time.

There are so many questions, and they only lead to more questions, and it's all too much. Her voice is tiny and lost.]

Let's- let's go inside somewhere and- and talk. I'm cold...

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

I can take you to the mansion. Iz, Alec, and Magnus live there too.

[He reaches out to wrap an arm around her then hesitates.]

There's space for you.

[markofthemind]

[Clary hesitates too.

But she wants it, wants him to embrace her and keep her from falling apart because that's exactly what this feels like. Her head hurts.

Slowly, Clary steps closer, letting him wrap that offered arm around her comfortably. If they're really not siblings... Although, honestly, she's not even sure what she believes anymore. She didn't even understand half the things Jace just said.

Suddenly exhausted, Clary merely nods, letting him lead her.]

Okay.

[Isabelle and Alec aren't a surprise, but Magnus...? She glances toward the dark lake again, uncertainly.]

Are you sure about Luke? He grabbed me as I went into the Portal...

[At this point, after everything Jace has just said, after being informed this is a different world or the future or something, it seems almost laughable she's still stuck on that. But no matter how angry she'd been with Luke... he's still her family.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

Izzy, Alec, the warlock, and the vamp are the only ones here.

[He holds her close as he gets out his Dreamberry and pulls up the contact list. A quick scroll through and...]

Luke isn't here.

[markofthemind]

Simon's here too?

[That's something of a relief. Jace, Simon, the others... not Luke, but--

She still doesn't understand, her mind spinning, and though everything else is confusing and there and trying to be made sense of, the single thing that keeps going around and around in her head the most is We're not siblings. At this point, despite the fact it's everything she's wanted, Clary just doesn't even know how to react.

Take it slow, then. One thing at a time. First, getting out of the cold and finding something dry to wear.]

[ischarming.livejournal.com]

He's here. He's dating someone named Ange here.

[Yes, he has been keeping tabs. Don't ask why, he just has.]

[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?