"--and as we remember our fallen brothers and sisters, we cannot afford to lose sight of everything that the Academy stands for: education, knowledge, and justice to become better Shadowhunters. Ave Atque Vale."

The ceremony concluded.

Alec's eyes were locked on the twenty bodies laying on the funeral pyre just outside the Blackthorn manor. It was set to be demolished in the morning.

Everyone stood around him, including Jace and his siblings.

They exited the row.

They didn't disturb him. Everyone grieved in their own way.

Alec's view of the pyre was blocked as a line of Shadowhunters paid their respects.

The sun was beginning to set.

"We're heading back," Isabelle said, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. She stood in the row behind him. "Do you want us to wait?"

"No," Alec mumbled. Her hand moved as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

"I love you, Alec," she whispered. Then she was gone.

Among the dead was the Pontmercy boy who almost beat up Max on their first day. Two Year 6's died and Sebastian was still missing, despite all the rubble being cleared away.

No one told Clary but everyone knew he was a suspect.

Time passed and the bodies went up in beautiful flames.

"Staring at fire doesn't do much good."

Mr. Bane had appeared in the seat next to Alec.

"That was almost me," Alec said. "We had barely passed through--"

"But it wasn't."

Alec watched Mr. Bane with intent.

"Self-pity isn't charming," Mr. Bane said. Alec's heart started racing. But Mr. Bane seemed to regret the words and disappeared, leaving Alec in front of a burning pyre.

.........

Jace found Clary in the bell tower.

He moved quietly and slowly, staring out at the magnificent view. You could see quite a bit from that height including the towers of Alicante in the distance.

Jace sat beside her on the dusty ground.

Her feet swished back and forth and she seemed more intent on watching them than him.

"How are you doing?" he asked. He immediately regretted the question.

She didn't answer.

"They'll find him--"

"I'm not worried about him. He can handle himself."

Jace slipped off his jacket and put it over her like a blanket. He could almost hear her shivering.

"Where were you?" Jace asked her.

"I was going downstairs," she said. "If I had left a second sooner--"

She stopped and shook her head.

"I wasn't expecting this," she said.

"No one was," Jace said. Her head fell against his shoulder. He moved his arm around her and pulled her closer.

"I'm not sure I should stay," Clary said. Jace tried to stay calm.

"Why not?" Jace asked, trying to keep his voice level. He wanted to scream at her.

She couldn't leave.

"Because I can't handle the death," she said.

"There's going to be death wherever you go," he said.

"I can't accept that."

"Those who experience death more often are the most likely to live," Jace said.

She looked up at him.

"What does that even mean?"

"I think Shadowhunters value life more than, say mundanes. Simply because we know that life is short."

She looked back down at her feet, which had stopped moving.

"And Clary, look at your mother. You can't outrun this life. Otherwise you have to actually run. But stay a Shadowhunter and you could settle down in Alicante and never have to fight a battle in your life."

"And if the battle comes to Alicante?"

"Then may the Angel help us all," Jace said. "Now I'm freezing, so give me my jacket back or get me some hot chocolate."

She didn't smile.

But she did stand up.

And to Jace, that was a much needed victory.

.........

Alec lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His "History of Downworlders" textbook was lying on his stomach, face down and utterly useless.

........

Isabelle sat at Max's bedside, relieving her mother of her duties for awhile. He was asleep so there wasn't much for her to do besides think.

..........

Jace and Clary felt bad laughing at such a mournful time but they had just realized that their Latin teacher had cheeks like a squirrel.

.........

Sebastian woke up somewhere dark and cold, thankful to be alive.