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There is soenstern, said Brother Zachariah A secret you both have been keeping

An icy hand closed around Clary's heart "What do you mean?"

The mark of death is on this boy It was another of the Brothers speaking-Enoch, she thought

"Death?" said Jace "Do youto die?" He didn't sound surprised

We mean that you were dead You had passed beyond the portal into the shadow realms, your soul untethered froed a look She sed "The Angel Raziel-," she began

Yes, his mark is all over the boy as well Enoch's voice ithout e back the dead The way of necromancy, the black sorcery of bell, book, and candle That will return a seht hand could place a human's soul back into their body as easily as life was breathed into the first of ood and evil, is a delicate one, young Shadowhunters You have upset it

"But Raziel's the Angel," said Clary "He can do whatever he wants You worship him, don't you? If he chose to do this-"

Did he? asked another of the Brothers Did he choose?

"I " Clary looked at Jace She thought, I could have asked for anything else in the universe World peace, a cure to disease, to live forever But all I wanted was you

We know the ritual of the Instruments, said Zachariah We know that he who possesses the I do not think he could have refused you

Clary set her chin "Well," she said, "it's done now"

Jace gave the ghost of a laugh "They could always kill s back into balance"

Her hands tightened on his arm "Don't be ridiculous" But her voice was thin She tensed further as Brother Zachariah broke away froroup of Silent Brothers and approached the Stars He reached Jace, and Clary had to fight the urge to push hiers under Jace's chin, raising the boy's face to his Zachariah's fingers were sliiven es of the Silent Brothers before, assu them to be all soazed up at Zachariah, who looked down at him with his blind, impassive expression Clary could not help but think ofupward, their faces suffused with shining golden light Would that I had been here, he said, his voice unexpectedly gentle, when you were growing up I would have seen the truth in your face, Jace Lightwood, and knoho you were

Jace looked puzzled but didn't move to pull away

Zachariah turned to the others We cannot and should not harm the boy Old ties exist between the Herondales and the Brothers We owe him help

"Help hat?" Clary de inside his head?"

When a Shadowhunter is born, a ritual is performed, a number of protective spells placed upon the child by both the Silent Brothers and the Iron Sisters

The Iron Sisters, Clary knew from her studies, were the sister sect of the Silent Brothers; even e of crafting Shadowhunter weapons

Brother Zachariah went on When Jace died and then was raised, he was born a second time, with those protections and rituals stripped away It would have left him as open as an unlocked door-open to any kind of demonic influence or malevolence

Clary licked her dry lips "Possession, you mean?"

Not possession Influence I suspect that a powerful demonic pohispers into your ears, Jonathan Herondale You are strong, you fight it, but it wears you down as the sea wears down the sand

"Jace," he whispered through white lips "Jace Lightwood, not Herondale"

Clary, clinging to practicalities, said, "How can you be sure it's a deet it to leave hihtful, said, The ritual ain, the protections laid upon him a second time, as if he had just been born

"Can you do it?" Clary asked

Zachariah inclined his head It can be done The preparations must be made, one of the Iron Sisters called on, an amulet crafted He trailed off Jonathan must remain with us until the ritual is finished This is the safest place for hi for an expression-any expression-of hope, relief, delight, anything But his face was i?" he said

Zachariah spread his thin hands wide A day, perhaps two The ritual is e it, alter it to fit an adult If he were older than eighteen, it would be impossible As it is, it will be difficult But he is not beyond saving

Not beyond saving It was not what Clary had hoped for; she had wanted to be told that the problem was simple, easily solved She looked at Jace His head was bowed, his hair falling forward; the back of his neck looked so vulnerable to her, it made her heart ache

"It's fine," she said softly "I'll stay here with you-"

No The Brothers spoke as a group, their voices inexorable He must remain here alone For e must do, he cannot afford to be distracted

She felt Jace's body tighten The last time he had been alone in the Silent City, he had been unfairly imprisoned, present for the horrible deaths of most of the Silent Brothers, and torine that the idea of another night alone in the City would be anything but awful for him

"Jace," she whispered "I'll do whatever you want o"

"I'll stay," he said He had raised his head, and his voice was strong and clear "I'll stay I'll do whatever I have to do to fix this I just need you to call Izzy and Alec Tell the at Simon's to keep an eye on him Tell them I'll see them tomorrow or the next day"

"But"

"Clary" Gently he took both her hands and held the fro this to me To us You knohat that means? If I can becuredthen I don't have to be afraid of hts in the Silent City for that"

She leaned forward, heedless of the presence of the Silent Brothers, and kissed hiainst his "I'll be back," she whispered "Toht, after the Ironworks party, I'll come back and see you"

The hopefulness in his eyes was enough to break her heart "Maybe I'll be cured by then"