The rest of the day passed uneventfully.

There was no news from the Clave and the house was full of restlessness.

Alec waited in the office, day and night, for Magnus or anyone who knew anything.

But no one came until 1:34 am.

A Portal opened in the office.

Alec asleep on the couch because his wakefullness runes had loss their affect.

Magnus Bane shook Alec awake.

"Magnus," Alec mumbled.

"Hello, my dear Alexander," Magnus said. "Did you sleep well?"

Alec nodded.

"The fighting is over," Magnus said.

"Did we win?" Alec asked. He felt Magnus take his hand.

So it wasn't good news.

"We did," Magnus said. "But it came with a very heavy price."

Alec was still too sleepy to understand.

"Just go back to sleep," Magnus said. He admired the quiet innocence in sleepy Alec.

Alec nodded.

..........

There was a knock at the door. Clary's head, which had been resting on Jace's shoulder, popped up.

The door creaked open slowly. Mr. Bane was there.

Clary immediately panicked.

Jace was in her bed, shirtless, and she was only in a tank top and shorts.

It looked bad.

"I've seen worse," Mr. Bane said, softly.

She only relaxed slightly.

"The fighting is over," Mr. Bane said. "But there's been a substantial death toll."

"My mom-"

"-never went to Idris. She's still on the run," Mr. Bane said. "Valentine was taken captive but your brother---"

"He's dead, isn't he?" Clary asked. She felt herself going numb, as if his death couldn't possibly make her feel any worse than she already did.

"I'm so sorry, Clary," Mr. Bane said. He left the room.

She fell back against the pillows, closing her eyes.

.........

Isabelle wandered the halls of her old home as everyone got ready to leave.

All Shadowhunters were being recalled back to the Gard to witness the trial of Valentine and take a census.

It was also to see who was missing and pay last respects.

It was being called the Uprising.

Isabelle dreaded the worst.

Alec caught her by the shoulder as she passed by the dining room.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

"No," Isabelle said.

"I'm sure Mom and Dad are fine," Alec said.

"Don't lie to me, Alec," Isabelle said, exhaustedly. "I'm not 12 anymore."

Alec let go of her shoulder and stepped back.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Not good," she said.

"Why don't you go lay down?"

"Because I can't," Isabelle snapped. She spun away from him and her ponytail almost smacked him in the face.

..........

Everyone was sent through the Portal one by one.

On the other side, the Gard was filled with parents, searching desperately for the children. A lot of children didn't find their parents.

The Lightwood kids moved together through the crowd.

They only found their father.

Max was the first to start crying. He clung to his dad and Isabelle was following close behind.

Alec couldn't move.

He wanted to scream.

His parents hadn't always been the most supportive but the idea that one of them was gone . . .

He felt like he was going to fall to pieces in the sea of people.

He needed someone.

He felt a hand on his back.

He turned around.

Jace.

The romantic side of Alec wanted Magnus but another part of him needed Jace.

Alec fell into Jace's hug.

Only then was he able to cry.

........

A room had been set aside for all of the fallen Shadowhunters, on both sides.

Confirmation was needed as well as a grim reminder of the substantial loss.

Sebastian's body had been placed in the farthest corner of the room.

Clary had slipped away from Jace's side. She didn't need him right now.

She sat in chair, staring at the lifeless body of her brother. His face was empty, devoid of any emotion.

She wondered if he had ever felt anything but hate.

Did he ever love her?

She wanted her mother beside her.

Her eyes closed and tears slipped through cracks, pouring down her face, silently.

She didn't want to attract attention.

Sebastian would be buried. He wouldn't get the proper Shadowhunter ritual because he was a traitor.

He had killed Jace's mother and probably many others.

She knew exactly what he had done and she wanted to justify his actions so bad--- but there was no coming back from this.

.........

The meeting was called to order by Jace's grandmother, Imogen. She had just been appointed Inquisitor an hour ago, simply because she had the strongest vendetta against Valentine.

Her son was missing because of him.

Valentine sat in a Malachi Configuration, trapped by that and a dozen other spells and tricks so he was rendered immobile.

He was silent and unmoving, even when asked what he would plead.

Inquisitor Herondale took that as a guilty.

The crowd watched impassively. They all wanted him dead.

Jace, Clary, Alec, and Isabelle sat high above, watching the proceedings. Everyone was shaken up.

Mr. Bane appeared beside them about half way through.

He and Alec exchanged looks that were undecipherable by the others.

Mr. Bane watched for awhile before disappearing without a word.

The Inquisitor's official ruling was approaching after hours of witness testimonies.

"Don't you think it's a little strange that he's just letting this happen?" Jace asked. Alec glanced at Jace.

"Jace, he's going to be dead within an hour," Alec said.

"Not without a bang," Jace said. "He wants to reform the Clave. His hand is being forced. Yeah, he can't leave so he has to do his best to take out the Clave."

"What can he do from there?" Alec asked.

"Blow up the Gard," Isabelle proposed.

"Exactly," Jace said.

"Jace-"

"-is right," Mr. Bane said, suddenly behind them. He stood up.

"Might I interject?" Mr. Bane called loudly.

"Magnus Bane," Imogen Herondale said, "it is kind of you-"

"Actually, I'm going to save you again," Mr. Bane said.

Valentine was beginning to grin.

"I'd recommend an evacuation," Mr. Bane said. "Leave Valentine though."

"It's Downworlders like him that bring down us all," Valentine said.

"Yes, well you intend to bring down the Gard on us all," Mr. Bane said.

"You're so smart," Valentine said. "Aren't you, Mr. Bane? Would you like the Clave to know the extent of your knowledge?"

His words were more directed at Alec than anyone else.

Alec unconciously grabbed Jace's arm.

"Inquisitor," Mr. Bane begged, "you must evacuate this session."

"If I don't?" the Inquisitor asked.

"He's going to blow this place up!" Mr. Bane shouted, losing his patience. "You will all die."

"How do you know this?" the Inquisitor asked.

"Because he's insane!" Mr. Bane said.

"You should listen, Inquisitor," Valentine said.

Imogen hesitated.