Disclaimer: SOME of the dialogue in this chapter, the main story plot (not my one) and the characters (apart from Grace and Philip) belong to the awesome mind of Cassandra Clare. Grace, Philip and my adaptions belong to me. So basically anything that isn't in the Infernal Devices.

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'This time, don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics ever jump in line
I'm gonna give all my secrets away.'

- Secrets, OneRepublic

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-*-*-*-*- Will -*-*-*-*-

"What do you mean, we can't go?" Will demanded. "You have to be joking." He and Jem were outside the Institute with Charlotte. Grace wasn't there; she was probably talking to Philip.

"I'm sorry but I'm not, Will," Charlotte said. "You, Jem and Grace need to stay here and protect the Institute. You know how Nephilm always leave the youngest behind to carry on in case...well, you know why."

"This is about Benedict Lightwood, isn't it?" Will said. He was already in a bad mood because of Tessa. Not to say she was the reason, but only the consequence of his curse. "Charlotte, he's a despicable b-"

"What Will is trying to say," Jem interrupted, giving his parabatai a meaningful look, "Is that Benedict will probably blame Grace, Will and I for the raid at de Quincey's town house so he's pressuring you to not let us go." Charlotte sighed.

"Yes," she conceded. "But I also need the both of you to watch Philip." Will and Jem both looked at each other.

"Philip?" Will said, already on edge.

"You heard what Nathaniel said," Charlotte sighed. "I haven't told the Enclave or the Clave about what Mr Gray told us about Grace and the Magister, but I'm not so sure we can trust Philip with this. We've already pushed his buttons too far with Tessa and the de Quincey raid. Writing a fake letter like that..." Will nodded. Jem had told him about the fake letter. At the time, he was angry beyond belief. He still was.

"All I need you to do is watch him," Charlotte said. "Protect the Institute and look after Grace."

"Grace can look after herself," Jem said. "But we'll watch out for her, as always." Charlotte gave them a sympathetic smile, before turning to join Henry and climbing into the carriage that had just rattled through the gates.

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

Grace sat in the drawing room with Philip, Jessamine, Nathaniel and Tessa. Tessa was pacing up and down by the window. Every so often she would glance at Nate and Jessamine then turn back to the window.

"How do you stand it, Grace?" she asked. Grace was slightly taken aback. Was she talking about what Jem had told her? "How many times have you watched them leave? How do you not worry?" Grace relaxed a bit.

"Because I believe that they are going to come back," Grace replied. "It's what we do. We don't say 'goodbye' or 'good luck', just wait for their return."

"Can you imagine saying 'goodbye' to someone before battle?" Jem said, coming into the drawing room with Will. "People may think that you are suggesting something." Will headed straight for Nathaniel, prodding the cup in his hand.

"Is there any tea in this?" he required. "Or is it just pure brandy?" Nate flushed a very dark scarlet.

"Brandy is restorative," he said.

"It often restores men right into the poorhouse," Jem said, a dangerous edge in his voice.

"Really! The two of you are such hypocrites," Jessamine squeaked. "It isn't as if Will doesn't get drunk, and Jem-" Jessamine broke off because of a murderous look from Grace on the opposite of the room. Suddenly, the summoning bell rang, echoing through the Institute.

"The summoning bell," Grace said. "Who on Earth..." She, Philip, Will and Jem got up and walked out of the room. Before she left, Grace gestured to Tessa to come but quietly.

***

Thomas made sure Grace could hear what was going on but not be seen. He had also been given orders by Charlotte to make sure she didn't leave the Institute. Grace reluctantly stood just inside the doors in the darkness while Will, Jem, Philip and Tessa talked to Mortmain. Once he had given them all the information, he disappeared into the night.

"Jem and I need to get to Highgate," Will said to Thomas. "The Dark Sisters are there performing some sort of necromancy."

"What about me?" Grace demanded. Jem pulled her aside, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"You have to stay here, Grace," he said. "You know we can't risk it."

"I hate it when you go out to fight without me," she said, looking down.

"I know," he said gently, lifting her chin. "But someone has to be here to defend the Institute."

"Philip can-"

"Grace," Jem said sternly. Suddenly Grace realised that she was acting like a small child. Reluctantly, she nodded. She and Tessa stood on the steps as Jem and Will prepared.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Grace muttered to herself. Tessa looked sideways at her but quickly glanced away. Grace skipped down the steps and hugged both Jem and Will.

"Go and kick them back to the demonic world they came from," she said to them. Jem nodded grimly before climbing into the carriage. She turned to Will. "What you told me before...I've had an idea about that." Will glanced anxiously around them.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Go and talked to Magnus Bane," she said. "He may be able to find the demon that cursed you." Will looked guarded. "Just, promise me you'll give it a try?" she said. "For a strange reason, I trust him, despite the fact I kicked him in the face. I'm sure he'll help you."

"All right," he said. "As long as you come with me. I don't care what the Clave say about you and Downworlders. I think we've broken that rule enough times now." She agreed and Will climbed into the carriage. Grace stood, alone in the courtyard, and watched them rattle out of the gates.

"Come on, Grace," Philip called from the doors. She lightly ran up the steps and back into the Institute. Sophie, Tessa and Agatha were already inside. Agatha started pushing the door closed but something on the other side was stopping it. Slowly, without anyone touching it, the door handle started to turn.

"They can't be back so soon," Sophie said. Grace stood frozen. Only Shadowhunter blood can open the doors to the Institute. Unless...

"Agatha, don't open-!" but her warning cry came too late. The door burst open and an automaton stood in it's wake, a glittering knife in it's hand. Agatha tried to back away but the clockwork creature was too quick. It grabbed her by the wrist and buried the knife into her chest. Sophie screamed as Agatha choked. Grace finally jumped into action, kicking the automaton in the chest and watching it tumble out of the door. She and Sophie grabbed Agatha and started pulling her back as Tessa rang the summoning bell and slammed the doors shut.

Grace tore a piece of cloth off Sophie's apron and pressed it onto Agatha's wound. She knew that she couldn't do anything. Agatha wasn't a Shadowhunter so there was no way she could draw an iratze. And anyway, she didn't have a stele on her.

"Philip! Help Tessa!" she shouted at him and didn't even bother to look if he was. Suddenly, there was a deafening crack as the doors were ripped off their hinges. The steps were over flowing with automatons but they weren't moving. They were completely motionless.

Grace stood and pulled out two long knives out of her belt. She stood in front of them all, trying to cut them off from line of sight. She heard Thomas clattering down the stairs with Jessamine and Nathaniel but she didn't dare take her eyes off the automatons.

"Miss Grace," Thomas said. "You need to take Miss Lovelace, Miss Gray and Sophie to the Sanctuary. You have to get out of here before they get you."

"I'm not leaving you to fight alone," she growled. "This is my job, Thomas."

"No," said a drawling voice. "Miss Gray, her brother and the delightful Miss Carstairs shall be remaining here." Mortmain stepped out from the crowd of automatons, looking as preened and polished as he had done minutes before. "Excellently done, Nathaniel," he continued. "Seize the shape-changer girl. Mr Blackthorn, would you mind taking care of young Grace?"

Grace whipped around to face Philip who stood there, unsure of himself. "Come quietly, Grace," he said to her. "The Magister has promised that no one has to die if you come quietly."

"Philip...? What are you doing?" Grace asked.

"Just trust me," Philip pleaded. "You always have before." Suddenly Grace had a flashback to the night she was kidnapped by the automatons. Someone had stopped the automatons but said they worked for the Magister. She thought she couldn't see his face but it was in her head clearly now.

"It was you who sent the automatons for the Magister that night they kidnapped me!" she shouted at him. "You were working with the Magister all along! You bastard!" Philip winced at every word. Grace had never seen him look this young and vulnerable.

"Grace, you of all people should understand," he said. "The Clave-" But Grace wasn't listening any more. She snarled and lunged at Philip who just about managed to bring up a sword to block her whirling daggers. It was a vicious fight. Philip was almost always on the back foot, desperately trying to defend himself. Grace would have killed him but then she felt the cold sting of a knife sliding into her side. She gasped and fell to her knees, clutching the wound.

"Grace!" screamed Sophie and Tessa. Nathaniel stood behind Grace with a blood soaked knife in his hand. Grace was vaguely aware of Philip pulling her to her feet and holding her up but placing a knife across her throat. Mortmain was shouting at the automaton holding Tessa to loosen it's grip. Everything was quiet. She could feel her control slipping away.

Hold on, Grace. Hold on.

The room filled with a bright, white light. Grace knew immediately that it was Tessa's necklace. She'd seen that light before. This time, she was stronger and ready for it. She fought back against the rising demon and pushed it down.

Not now. Not today.

Jessamine went flying across the room as a automaton blasted her. That was enough.

Grace came back to her senses. She looked down and bit hard on Philip's hand, tasting blood in her mouth. Philip yelled and released her. She kicked him in the stomach and took his sword, not caring that every movement was agony in her side. "Stay down, you traitor," she hissed at him. "Stay down or I will kill you."

Grace turned and fought side by side with Thomas, covering Sophie and Tessa as they escaped. "Grace, go!" Thomas shouted at her. "You're injured. You can't let them get you!"

"I'm not leaving you!" she yelled at him, searing the arms off another creature.

"Yes, you are," Thomas shouted, his voice determined. He literally picked Grace up with one hand and threw her up the stairs. She landed with a thump. As she picked herself up, she looked over the railing. Thomas was over run with clockwork creatures. They were all over him.

"Grace!" he called to her. "Protect Sophie! Look after her! Tell her I love her!" Grace didn't have the strength to argue with him. She turned at ran like the coward she was, clutching her side as she did so.

***

As she rounded the corner, she just caught Jessamine smacking Nathaniel with a lamp. She didn't even see Jessamine get up. "Grace!" Tessa cried, coming to help her. Grace waved her off.

"I'm fine, Tessa," she said. "It's just a scratch." Sophie unlocked the door to the Sanctuary and they all stumbled inside. Grace leant on a pillar and slid down it, groaning.

"Miss!" Sophie cried, rushing to her.

"I'm fine, Sophie," Grace moaned, struggling to sit up again.

"No, you're not," Sophie fussed, pressing her hands on the puncture. "You shouldn't have to keep fighting. Not like this."

"Oh stop it, Sophie," Jessamine said. "It's her own fault. In fact, it's both Tessa and Grace's fault!"

"When was the last time you ever said anything nice, Jessamine?" Grace asked.

"Oh good God," Jessamine said. "She's gone delusional."

"Grace, where is Thomas?" Sophie asked.

"He threw me up the stairs to get rid of me," Grace mumbled.

"Yep, she's totally mad," Jessamine announced. 

"Sophie? Tessa?" came a voice. "It's Will. Are you all right?"

"Oh thank God," Jessamine said. "Will, it's me, Jessamine! Grace is here too but she got herself injured."

"Open the door and let me in," he called. "We need to help her."

"Don't open the door," Grace groaned. She had a very bad feeling that this was a trap. "Jessie, don't open it." Jessamine ignored her and pulled down the handle. In the doorway, stood Mortmain, Philip and four clockwork creatures.

Grace struggled up and moved in front of the others, pushing through the pain. She must have looked like a pathetic bodyguard. Her head was fuzzy and spinning with blood loss but she knew she couldn't give up. If she gave up, she was giving the demon the Mortmain and that wasn't going to happen. Not on her watch.

"Ah Grace," Mortmain said. "Always fighting. Always ready to sacrifice. This is one fight you aren't going to win, my dear. Although, I admire you for trying." He signalled at the automatons who rushed at her. She tried to fight them off but she was too weak. Two automatons held her in place. She watched helplessly as the other to creatures caught Jessie and Sophie and hauled them out the room.

Mortmain came over to Grace who looked at him with defiant eyes. Philip was just behind him, holding his injured hand. "I have waited for a long time to meet the famous Grace Carstairs," Mortmain said. "Philip was the first to tell me about you. I have to say, I'm disappointed." He nodded at one of the automatons who punched Grace right where her wound was. She groaned and fell to her knees. Mortmain turned to Tessa.

"Now, Miss Gray," he said. "You will either do as I say or I'll crush the throats of the Shadowhunter girl and the servant girl." Mortmain pulled out the medallion that gave Grace nightmares and dangled it carelessly in his fingers. He laughed at the fear in her eyes. "Or if you need even more convincing, you can meet the leader of my army. I think Yanluo has stayed buried long enough, don't you?"

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