Disclaimer: SOME of the dialogue in this chapter, all characters (apart from Grace and Philip), main story line and the settings belong to Cassandra Clare. The rest of the writing, Grace, Philip and my story plot belong to me. I (unfortunately) do not own The Infernal Devices. ***************************************************************************************
'So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love to light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone, could you make it on your own

If I could, then I would,
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go.'

- Wherever You Will Go, The Calling

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-*-*-*-*- Grace -*-*-*-*-

The world around Grace seemed to slow down as the automatons raced towards them. The Shadowhunters drew their in slow motion and a fierce battle cry went up.

She grabbed Tessa at the same time as Jem and they both dragged her into the Institute.

"Stay here!" Grace shouted as the sound of battle erupted from outside.

"No!" Tessa said. "I can fight them with you!"

"Tessa!" Jem exclaimed. "They're after you! You need to hide!" Without looking to see if she ran, the twins turned and plunged back into the battle.

Jem ran to the right to stop an automaton advancing on Charlotte while Grace dove to the left, avoiding an automaton's blade by centimetres. She rolled out and drew the sword that was strapped to her back. The automaton was sliced in half even before it even took a step.

Grace whirled around, facing two more automatons that ascended the steps, each holding a long sword each. Grace held her sword with a two handed grip, giving the automatons a cheeky smirk. The first swung at her legs, attempted to cut her them off. She jumped over the sword, blocking the next strike from the second automaton who had stabbed at her stomach.

She dropped to the ground, sweeping the first off its feet then stabbing the second through its torso. Oil splattered her gear and face but she stabbed down at the one on the floor and sliced the head off the second. Snatching a dagger from her belt, she launched it at the automaton creeping up behind Cecily as she finished off another. Cecily turned in surprise and watching the metal monster fall.

"Now that's just showing off," she said.

"Rule number one in battle," Grace said as she threw another knife at the automaton Gabriel was fighting. "Always watch your back."

"You're giving me a lesson now!" Cecily yelled.

"Yes, I am," Grace said, ducking under a flying knife then slicing at an automaton. "Rule number two in battle: always listen to Grace. Now go and check on the Silent Brother."

"But-"

"Cecily, now!" she shouted. Cecily growled but did as she was told. Grace made sure that she had made it before turning to survey the rest of the battle.

Gabriel and Gideon were fighting a huge seven foot automaton on the bottom step. They worked seamlessly as a team, chopping off pieces of its arms and legs to hack it to the ground.

Henry was standing in front of Jessamine who was crouched by the wheel of the carriage, sobbing and screaming. He ducked as the automaton he was fighting stabbed its sword at him, colliding with the carriage instead. The glass window in the carriage shattered and the shards rained down on Jessamine.

What Grace focussed on, though, was Jem. Blood was running from a gash down the side of his face as he fought the three automatons surrounding him. His sword-cane was slick with oil and his gear soaked with blood. He was injured and fighting alone; where the hell was Will when you needed him?

Grace took a step forward towards Jem but she never made it. A dark shadow loomed over her, metal hands clamping onto her arms. The next thing she knew, she was flying through the air and then slammed into the Institute wall. Her head cracked against the stone hard but she didn't lose consciousness, desperate to stay awake. She tried to push herself up but something grabbed her around the throat. Grace let out a gurgled cry but the pressure increased around her neck and she was smashed against the wall again, this time being pinned in place.

"Well, well, well," Mrs Black sang. "Look what I have here. Little Miss Carstairs. How have you been since our meeting at The Ring the other day? Obviously, you weren't really yourself then but no matter."

"You bi-"

"Ah, ah, let's not be having that, Miss Carstairs," Mrs Black chided. "Now, this is how it's going to work. You are going to tell me where Miss Gray is or I will kill you and all of your friends, starting with your brother. Sound good?"

"Go...to...hell!" Grace gasped. Mrs Black's face twisted into an ugly snarl.

"You know, Yanluo," she said. "The Magister does not want your assistance anymore. You couldn't complete your side of the bargain, so the Magister has chosen a new demon to lead his army. You have failed." From inside her, Grace could feel the anger bubbling inside of her. Yanluo didn't like being neglected.

"Now, Miss Carstairs," Mrs Black said. "Where is Miss Gray?" In reply, Grace spat in her face. Mrs Black growled and tightened her grip on Grace's throat. Her airway was completely cut off as she thrashed and kicked. But against the strength of the automaton's body, she could do nothing.

The edges of her vision went dark and her heart beat roared in her ears.

"Stop!" somebody cried. Mrs Black turned to see Tessa standing behind her, a sword in her grip and pointing at her. "Let Grace go!" Mrs Black just laughed.

"Miss Gray," she said. "How nice to see you again." Suddenly, she dropped Grace, who crumpled to the ground, and plucked the sword from Tessa's hand as if she was picking apples. Tessa let out a shriek as Mrs Black grabbed her and pressed a cloth to her mouth.

"Grace!" Tessa screamed as Mrs Black dragged her away. "Grace, help me..." She went limp in Mrs Black's metal arms.

Meanwhile, Grace was gasping for breath on her knees on the floor, her whole chest wheezing as she sucked in air. Her vision was completely blurred as she helplessly watch Tessa being kidnapped. Her ears were ringing so loudly that only the thudding of her heart could be heard.

"Grace!" It was Cecily, falling to his knees beside her. "Grace! Are you all right?" But Grace was hardly listening.

"Tessa," she coughed, trying to get the words through her enflamed throat. "She's...got...Tessa!" She struggled to get up onto her feet, then staggered down the steps, trying to keep balance despite her spinning head.

Mrs Black was stuffing Tessa into the carriage and was shouting orders at the automatons, pointing at Grace and telling them to stop her. Somewhere in the chaos, she could hear the Institute doors being thrown open and Will yelling for Jem.

She was still trying to get to Tessa and the carriage, dodging automatons and their blades. For a moment, she could actually see the fear in Mrs Black's eyes, knowing that Grace was coming for her. The demon slammed the door to the carriage and it hurtled through the gates.

Without even hesitating, Grace broke into a run. She shot across the cobblestones and through the gates of the Institute, chasing after the carriage.

Her footsteps echoed as Grace ran, the carriage just in front of her. It was fast, the mechanical horses in a dead gallop but not even tiring. But she was just as fast, adreneline flowing through her veins. Once she was sure she was close enough, Grace leapt and landed on the back of the carriage.

Her boot slipped on one of the luggage railings but she clung on, hugging the bar. The carriage was shaking and lurching every time it turned a corner, as if it were a dog trying to shake off a flea. Grace climbed up onto the roof of the carriage, gritting her teeth at the effort. As she clambered up, an axe flew at her out of nowhere. She dropped into her stomach just in time and drew a dagger, stabbing into the roof of the carriage to stay on.

An automaton stood on the roof in front of her having climbed from the seat next to the driver to stop her. It another axe in its hand.

"I take it you're the footman and you've been ordered to stop me," Grace said with a smirk. "You drew the short straw then." The automaton charged at her, wielding its axe. She dodged it, sawing off its arm then, snatching another blade from her belt, stabbing it through its torso. With a growl, she kicked it off the carriage.

"You just don't give up, do you?" Mrs Black shouted suddenly. She had climbed from the carriage window, standing on the roof opposite Grace. Both of them stumbled to keep their balance as the carriage rocketed over the cobblestones.

"Give Tessa back to us!" Grace yelled.

"Or what, Miss Carstairs?!"

"Or I kill you," Grace said then cocked her head. "Again." Mrs Black laughed.

"You cannot kill me, girl," she cried. "No Shadowhunter has the power to kill me now!"

"I can try," Grace said. Mrs Black smiled then lunged at her. Grace fell backwards and stabbed her dagger up but Mrs Black parried the strike with her metal arm. Before Grace could react, Mrs Black had lifted her off her feet, holding her high above her head.

"Goodbye, Miss Carstairs," she snarled and threw Grace off the carriage.

For a moment, she was weightless, soaring through the air. But then she crashed onto the road, skimmong along like a stone across a lake, rolling to absorb the impact as well as she could. Grace had done some pretty dangerous jumps in her time, but being thrown from the roof of a speeding carriage was a first for her.

She groaned in pain, easing herself up only to see the carriage, with Mrs Black still on it, pick up speed and rattle away, disappearing into London beyond.

"Damn it," Grace whispered. She pushed herself to her feet and, holding her side, started limping back to the Institute, praying that everyone would be all right when she got there.

***

The Institute gate clanged shut behind her as she stumbled across the court yard. The others were still there, all staring at her with a mixture of shock and pain.

"Grace?" It was Jem, standing just in front of her. "Tessa...?" Grace shook her head slowly, meeting Will's eyes who was standing on the steps behind her brother.

"I'm sorry," she said, half speaking to Jem and half speaking to Will. "I chased the carriage and I managed to jump on it, but Mrs Black was there. I couldn't fight her. She threw me off. I lost them near Fleet Street."

Jem closed his eyes as Charlotte gasped, her hand going to he mouth with tears glistening in her eyes. It was only then that Grace noticed the body of Jessamine lying in her arms. She and Jessamine had never really got on, but she was still part of the family.

She took a step forward to pay her repects but a sound ripped through the air that made her heart contract.

Jem coughed. Then coughed again. Grace turned just in time to see her brother slump to the ground, crimson blood painting his fingers. He looked up at her, and she knew that she would never forget the look in his eyes:

Fear. Fear for her.

Grace ran, sliding on her knees and catching Jem in her arms as he collapsed.

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Wow...that was extremely dramatic and emotional to write. I've literally been planning this scene since the moment I started writing this book so I'm so glad that I've finally got down on paper.

So, was my action writing all right??? I do find it hard to get it to flow sometimes so hopefully it all made sense.

Okay then, that's all I have to say about this one. Thank you all so much for your kind support! Your comments and votes really do mean the world to me!

Love y'all!