₪ 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]

[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?

[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?