Disclaimer: SOME of the dialogue in this chapter, all characters (apart from Grace), main story line and the settings belong to Cassandra Clare. The rest of the writing, Grace and my story plot belong to me. I (unfortunately) do not own The Infernal Devices.

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'This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no!
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no!
Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no!'

- Part Of Me, Katy Perry

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

"What do you mean, I'm not allowed to go!?" Grace exclaimed. Charlotte just looked at her sadly.

"I'm sorry, Grace," she said. "But your presence will just antagonize Benedict even more. And you are still not very well. You need to rest. I am sure that Will and Tessa will tell you everything when we return." Grace opened her mouth to argue but one stern look from Charlotte stopped her.

"Fine," she said grumpily.

"Thank you, Grace," Charlotte said before drawing on her gloves and rushing to the carriage to meet Will and Tessa.

Grace spent the rest of the day in the library with Jem. By the time Will, Charlotte and Tessa returned, she had pretty much worn a path in the carpet. Will bounded into the library like an excited puppy. He swiftly told them about their meeting with Benedict and the plan for the Council meeting tomorrow: "He's been working for the Magister all along!" Will said. "Just so he can get the cure for demon pox. Even Gideon was shocked, so much that he came back with us and renounced his claim to the name of Lightwood."

"By the Angel, that is some feat," Jem said.

"I know!" Will said. "But anyway, he has agreed to side with Charlotte tomorrow."

"Well, that's good," Jem said, returning to his book. Will turned to Grace.

"Grace," he said. "Can I have a word with you, please." She sighed, glanced at Jem who was quietly reading a book and then followed Will out of the library.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"I'm going to tell Tessa," Will said, his piercing blue eyes searching her face. "I'm going to tell her everything." Grace hesitated.

"All right, good," she said. "Tessa should know, of course. When are you planning to talk to her?"

"I don't know yet, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow," Will said. He turned to her. "When do you think would be a good time?"

"I think she's gone to sleep now," Grace said. "She is quite tired. After all, she's just lost her brother, you almost gave your life for her and-" Grace broke off abruptly. And Jem has just asked her to marry him. "Anyway, the point is that she's had a trying couple of days. Tell her everything tomorrow, after the Council meeting." Will nodded.

"You're right," he said. "Thanks, Gracey. I'll see you in the morning." He turned and started walking down the corridor.

"Will," Grace said, stopping him. He turned.

"Yeah?" Grace opened her mouth to tell Will everything that Jem had said to her when he first told her he wanted to marry Tessa. She wanted to tell him that maybe he shouldn't tell Tessa that he loved her because of the position that he'd put her in. But then she remembered Magnus's words:

"In the end, it isn't up to you, Grace. It's up to the three of them."

Grace gave Will a small, faltered smile. "It's nothing," she said. "Good night, Will." After he had disappeared from sight, Grace pounded her fist against the wall. God, what had she done? She had encouraged the both of them to make their feelings known to Tessa, and now she had put Tessa in a very bad position.

But Grace had chosen to give Jem her blessing, so effectively she had chosen Jem to love Tessa out of her two brothers.

What kind of monster chose one of their brothers to save?

I would, Grace thought. I did.

***

The next morning, after Charlotte had forced Grace to wear a light blue dress, they all gathered at Westminster Abbey to go to the Council meeting that would decide their fate. As Sophie had helped Grace dress this morning, Grace had asked her how she felt about Gideon Lightwood being in the Institute.

"It is the worst thing in the world," Sophie had said sullenly as she laced up Grace's corset. "Now he will see me as I really am: a servant."

"I don't think he would care, Soph," Grace reassured her. "He would love you anywhere because you are beautiful anywhere." Sophie had shaken her head with a sigh.

"If only that were true, Miss," she said. "You are too young and innocent to know the way to a man's heart, but I can tell you that it is not by working as his servant." Grace had left it at that, not wanting to upset Sophie anymore.

Gideon himself now trailed behind the group as they descended into the treasury and into the Council chamber. He looked nervous and uncomfortable with the scene but he held his head high, showing he did not regret his decision.

"How the hell do you get down these steps in this thing?" Grace muttered furiously as she attempted to hobble down the steps that lead into the chamber. Will has laughing to himself while Jem had a little more self control, but the laughter in his eyes was clear.

Tessa smiled sympathetically. "Ignore them," she said. "Men have no idea how hard it is to appear elegant in those shoes and a corset." Both Grace and Tessa shot the boys a reproachful look which only made them laugh harder, clutching their sides. Tessa proceeded to help Grace down the steps.

As soon as they entered the chamber, the laughter in the group died as every Shadowhunter turned towards them. Grace's mouth ran dry as their fierce gazes rested on her. She knew what they were thinking. She was awake which meant she had fought off the demon, but it also meant that she was dangerous again.

Jem slipped his hand into hers. "It's all right," he whispered in her ear. "We're not going to let them take you away." Grace swallowed hard and nodded, walking purposefully up the aisle. They sat down, Grace in-between Will and Jem, and the Council session began.

First, the Consul asked Charlotte to recount the events of the two weeks whilst holding the Mortal Sword. Grace was very conscious that, throughout Charlotte's story, she was holding back some details. For example, the exact time that Philip Blackthorn came to the Institute was withheld. Unfortunately, she couldn't lie about what they had to do to wake Grace and rescuing Jem, or about Jessamine.

"Benedict," the Consul said once Charlotte had returned to her seat. "Any words?"

"Yes," Benedict said, standing up slowly. "I formally retract my claim on the London Institute." There was a collective gasp that echoed around the chamber. "Charlotte Branwell is not as soft-hearted as I first thought. She dealt with the spy, Miss Lovelace, quickly and without compassion, as she did in the case of Mr Blackthorn. I believe she is doing a fine job at running the Institute."

"And couldn't you have come to this conclusion two weeks ago?" the Consul asked wearily. He sighed and passed the voting jar to the Inquisitor who passed it around the room. When it was Grace's turn, she whispered Charlotte's name before passing it onto Jem. Finally, the Consul took back the jar and, in fiery letters, Charlotte's name floated in the air. The inhabitants of the Institute cheered loudly, hugging each other.

"Settle down, please!" the Inquisitor yelled. Everyone quietened down.

"Moving on," the Consul said. "Miss Grace Carstairs, come forward." Grace gulped but stood from her seat and proceeded forward to face the Consul. There was muttering in the crowd but it soon fell silent.

"Miss Carstairs," the Consul said. "It has become apparent that you have been removed from the care of the Silent Brothers without the authority of the Council so now we must discuss whether or not you are safe to remain out of the Silent City." Grace closed her fists tight at her side but she nodded. "Bring forth the Mortal Sword."

The Inquisitor stepped forward and placed the Sword in Grace's hands. She winced as the demon inside her fought against the angelic powers of the Sword but she held strong.

"State your full name," the Inquisitor told her.

"Grace Emma Carstairs," Grace replied quietly.

"Where were you born, Grace Carstairs?"

"The Shanghai Institute in China," she said. The Inquisitor looked up at the Consul and nodded. As the Inquisitor stepped back, the Consul stood so he was looming over Grace.

"Grace Carstairs," he said. "Do you deny that the Greater Demon Yanluo took control of your body and sent you into a deep sleep?"

"No, I don't but-" Grace started but the Consul interrupted her.

"Do you deny that, if you hadn't of woken up, the demon could have taken control of your actions permanently?" he questioned her.

"I don't deny it however-"

"Then you can see why we are concerned about the safety of our Shadowhunters," the Consul said. "And we must take action to prevent this happening again and so-"

"Consul, please," Grace said. "I know you are concerned but I assure you that I am capable of controlling Yanluo." The Consul blinked as if he couldn't believe he was interrupted so Grace took the opportunity to carry on.

"The only reason why Yanluo ever made an appearance in the first place was because Mortmain was in procession of a medallion fused with the essence of Yanluo that gave the demon an energy boost," Grace said. She was now directing her speech to the whole crowd. "Yes, I admit for a few minutes the beast had full control of me but I fought it and came out on top, despite the medallion. However, in order to make sure it didn't reappear, I pushed it down and it dragged me with it." Grace now looked directly at Jem who was watching her, mouth open.

"It created a complex vision where my past had been rewritten," she continued. "I lived in a world where my parents never died and Yanluo never tortured my brother. It was almost perfect and I could have stayed there forever, happy and free from pain. But I didn't, I fought it to save everyone. So, I assure you, Consul, Yanluo has no control of me." Everyone stared at her, some with sympathy, some with shock and some with suspicion. Only Tessa and Will looked understanding.

"Very well," the Consul finally said. He signalled to the Inquisitor who took the Mortal Sword from Grace's hands. She didn't realise that she was holding it so tight that she had cut deep gashes into her palms. "We shall have a vote," the Consul continued. "All in favour of allowing Miss Carstairs to remain in the London Institute." Most hands were raised in the air and Grace sighed with relief. "You may sit, Miss Carstairs, but be warned. If Yanluo makes another appearance after this, then we will have to take action." Grace avoided the Consul's gaze and bowed, gratefully returned to her seat where Jem latched onto her wrist.

"Gracey," he whispered. "Why didn't you tell me that's what Yanluo did to you?"

"There was never a good time," she said softly. "And I didn't want to hurt you." Jem released his grip on her wrist but lightly brushed her fingers.

"Do you need to talk about it?" he asked. Grace was silent but slowly nodded, realising that she did need to talk about it with her brother, because he was the only one who would really understand it. Jem squeezed her fingers and they turned back to the Consul.

"The last subject on the list today is the sentence of Philip Blackthorn," the Inquisitor said. Grace bit her lip but said nothing. "Mr Blackthorn is currently being held in the Silent City and has been questioned thoroughly by the Silent Brothers. They have gone through his mind also and have found that he was told us the whole truth."

"As you all know, Mr Blackthorn betrayed us by working for Mortmain," the Consul said. "He caused the death of two mundanes in the Institute and almost the death of Shadowhunter. Usually, the sentence for this is removing the Nephilm gift but, as he has cooperated, we have decided to give a more lenient sentence."

"Mr Blackthorn shall have his Marks removed and will become a mundane at nine o'clock tonight," the Inquisitor announced. "He cannot make contact with any Nephilm again or ask for help should he be attacked. There is no greater shame." Tessa looked sideways at Grace who remained emotionless.

"This Council is now adjourned," the Consul said, standing from his chair and leaving. Suddenly, there was a scream from the back of the room. Grace whipped out a seraph blade from the folds of her skirts as the chamber descended into panic. Tessa started shouting for Henry as she pinned something down under her hat.

"What's going on?" Grace asked, running towards her. Henry had smashed the thing, pulling it's bronze legs apart.

"That, is an automaton," he said, holding the broken metal spider up. "It seems like it was watching in on the Council meeting." Grace looked up at Benedict who was bright scarlet in the face.

"The Magister," Will said, coming towards them. "He knows that Benedict has betrayed him and Grace won't be where he can reach her." Grace looked at the shattered creature.

If Mortmain could watch a Council meeting, probably one of the most heavily guarded events for Nephilm, unnoticed, then what did that mean for Institutes? Grace shuddered. He could be watching them anywhere.

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Just the epilogue now then on to Clockwork Princess!!! It will also be in this book as it's easier.

So, let me know what you think of this one! This is basically rounding up Clockwork Prince so not a lot really happens.

Ok, see ya then! Thank you so much for your support!