"So, do you have any clue where we're going?" Isaac asked them, speaking for the first time since he had joined them.

         Isaac had decided not to speak to them during their journey. At least, not until he had to or there was some sort of miracle that allowed him and Clary to magically make up and become friends again. But, as they continued to walk through the woods (which was always like a second home to Isaac) and he hadn't a clue where they were going, he had no other option except to speak.

         Clary turned to him, a part of her shocked that Isaac had spoken, quickly covered it before answering, "I don't know. Just that we'll find Valentine there."

         Isaac nodded, not really believing her at all. It wasn't that Clary was too untrustworthy (though, that could be debated), it was that they were currently walking through the woods without an end in sight.

         But, sighing, he decided not to speak, but to think about Clary had said before. We're gonna take Valentine down for good, are you in? Of course, he had already been persuaded by Isabelle, so he had agreed. But did he want to?

         Clary was ready to fight her father, but Isaac wasn't. He didn't like fighting. He hated violence, yet he was so ready to use it. He was so ready to fight, to kill, and he hated that. He hated how willing he was to kill someone else. He would be a killer if it wasn't for Scott. He would be just like his father. Just like Valentine.

         Isaac didn't want to fight. He wasn't prepared – mentally or physically. Mentally, he wasn't in the right state to. He knew that he would see a proud smirk on Valentine's face right before Isaac clawed his throat out because he was just as violent as him. That was if he knew that Isaac was alive and his son.

         But as they continued to walk and light began to pour in where there was once darkness, Isaac saw speckles in the wind like fairies, and little things that reminded him of magic and reading Harry Potter with Jocelyn (mom) on Sunday mornings. And sadness filled him once more.

         "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore," Clary commented, trying to joke. Isaac cracked a smile.

         "A Wizard of Oz joke," Isaac mused, looking at her up and down with pride, "I've taught you well."

         Clary laughed, diffusing the tension between them for a second as she rolled her eyes and hit him lightly. "Shut up," she muttered.

         There was silence for only a moment more before Meliorn opened his arms grandly, "Welcome to the Seelie Glade, Cray Fairchild. The remotest edges of it."

         "How did we get here?" Clary asked, looking around in awe like Isaac.

         "There are entrances all through the mundane world," Jace told her, eyeing everything in suspicion.

         "You just have to know where to look," Meliorn added.

         Clary then stepped forward with her eyebrows knitted in confusion, "Why did we have to come here to find my father?"

         My. Mine. Hers. No one else's. Those words she spoke so easily were ones that Isaac wanted in the darkest hours of the night. He truly wished that the words meant nothing to him, that he didn't find himself correcting her in his mind. But he did. He corrected himself because Valentine was also his father – not just Clary's.

         "Because of your necklace," Meliorn said, "It's a Portal shard."

         Of course it was. Isaac already knew that, he could have said something...but he didn't. He didn't, he didn't say anything because Jocelyn (mom) told him not to. And he trusted her. What an awful mistake he made.

         "Tell us something we don't know," Jace muttered to himself, looking back to see if anyone was trailing them.

         (There wasn't.)

         "How does it work?" Meliorn asked, but Isaac had a strong feeling that he already knew exactly how the shard worked. He just wanted Clary to answer.

         "When I touch the crystal and I think of someone, I can see where they are," Clary answered with a wistful look on her face, like she was drawing a memory to mind.

         "I'm curious, Shadowhunter, who knows so much about Portals, did you never wonder why this Portal shard doesn't beave the way normal Portals do?" Meliorn asked again.

         "Normal Portals can only take you to places you've been," Jace said, "I guess I never really thought about it."

         "I see Isabelle is the smart one in the family," Meliorn snidely remarked, his eyes looking to Isaac for only a second.

         And Isaac, sweet but innocent Isaac, was filled with something he had never truly felt before. It was like a burn in his throat, a rage that had no reason, and twitch to the eye that he simply couldn't satisfy. The churning in his stomach almost became a growl, but he suppressed it enough for it to keep silent. And for good reason as well.

         But, innocent in this situation, Isaac didn't understand what the feeling was – how he could describe it. It wasn't rage. No, he knew rage like the back of his hand. And sadness he had dealt with all his life, it simply couldn't be that. So what could Isaac be feeling? Was there even a word for it?

         Meliorn then stopped and looked at Clary, "Your Portal shard works the way it does because it's a piece of Portal from another dimension."

         "Another dimension?" Clary asked in disbelief, and Isaac knew he would have acted the same way if he hadn't already seen so much (like the Nogistune) in Beacon Hills. He didn't think anything else could surprise him.

         "You're saying there's a Portal in some other universe that can take us to anyone if we just think of them?" Jace asked him, feeling the same as Clary and showing it just as much.

         "If you can find the only Portal still standing in that dimension...it will take you to your father," Meliorn answered them carefully before continuing his walk.

         Jace and Clary shared a look (surprise, surprise) before continuing, which Isaac had done without a second thought.

         Silence followed them as well. Isaac refused to speak to his sister (his sister!) while Clary and Jace only stole glances instead of speaking. Even though Isaac didn't fully support their relationship, and was rightfully mad about them kissing, he just wished they would stop with the second grade nonsense. And Isaac also didn't want to talk to Meliorn, the one who had won a place inside Isabelle's heart so big that she risked everything to save him.

         Isaac only wished to become that important to her one day.

         "These trees are where the alternate dimensions intersect the Seelie realm," Meliorn finally spoke.

         "How is it possible that the Clave doesn't know about your dimensional doorways?" Jace asked, slightly off guard that he didn't know everything about the situation that was happening.

         "They are our most guarded secret. We are their protectors," Meliorn then faltered before recovering again, "Only Seelies know of their existence."

         "Then why are you telling us?" Clary asked, and Isaac had to agree that it was a valid question. While he was always trying to make a villain out of her, he couldn't argue in saying that he was thinking the same thing as her.

         "I ow you a life debt...and I don't like being indebted to anyone," Meliorn said in cooler, yet calmer, tone than usual.

         "I don't think anyone likes being in debt," Isaac voiced, "I haven't met anyone who likes being in debt their whole lives. But, you know, that's just my experience. Maybe you've met one or two of those weirdos."

         Clary rolled her eyes at the boy, and it was justified in the account of what just happened. She paused for a moment before asking another solemn question, "What would happen if..."

         "If the Seelie Queen finds out I've shared this with you?" Meliorn cut her off before the girl could finished, "I could be executed."

         "Well, we'll be extra careful then," Jace broke in, not a single thread of sympathy in his voice for Meliorn.

         "There is no 'we' in this scenario," Meliorn laughed, his eyes flickering back to Isaac, "At least, not with you. Only Clary and Isaac go in to find the Portal. My debt is to her."

         "What about me?" Isaac raised his hand, "Why am I going with her."

         "I don't find your company appealing," he said simply, causing Isaac to smile.

         "Well I don't find yours appealing either," he smiled, a little proud of that. Clary sent him a look of shock, but he just smiled more at her.

         "You've given us no reason to trust you, Seelie," Jace seethed, quickly saying his words after Isaac finished his. The blonde Shadowhunter wasn't exactly happy that he wasn't able to go along with the girl he liked...Isaac, he didn't really care about.

         "He brought us here," Clary defended him, only causing Jace to seethe more. Then, Meliorn turned around, his hands pulsing and creating a green energy that moved other shrubbery out of the way and starting to create the portal. "I knew the Seelies were one with nature, but..."

         "This will establish a connection to the other dimension," Meliorn answered her thoughts. Well, all of their thoughts.

         There was a pause for a moment as none of them spoke, letting their thoughts consume them, even though Isaac thought it was pretty scary to do so.

         "What's it like?" Clary then voiced, "The other dimension. Is it like this one?"

         "It is..." Meliorn agreed, shrugging slightly before continuing, "but it isn't."

         "Could you be more vague?" Jace snapped, annoyed by the Seelie who seemed to hate him more than he hated Isaac.

         "It is an alternate timeline, in a sense," Meliorn sucked in a breath, "There, Shadowhunters and demons no longer exist."

         "What?"

         "And Downworlders have conformed to the mundane way of life to avoid detection," Meliorn finished.

         "What happened to the Shadowhunters?" Clary asked. She was already new at this, and had only accepted her life days ago, and now in this other world, she was leaving it behind again.

         "Their services were no longer required, because they won the war against the demons, centuries ago. Once they sealed the rifts between their worlds," he sucked in a breathe, "their culture faded away. Once you arrive in the alternate dimension, you will assume the body of the Clary and Isaac in that world. You will think and feel just like them."

         "But I'll still know I'm me, right?" Clary asked, "I'll know I have to find the Portal?"

         Jace, who was experienced with Seelies and their deals, knew a piece of information that he then shared, "There's a catch. With Seelies, there's always a catch."

         "Your alternate self could consume you if you let it," Meliorn agreed, adding on to the information Jace had given them.

         Clary sucked in a breath, afraid, while Isaac almost felt glad that it could happen. A part of him knew it was foolish, that he didn't want that, but another part of him thought what if that world is better than this one? And the thought scared him more than anything.

         "Is there a way to not let it?" Clary asked, making sure no fear was found in her voice.

          Meliorn turned to them, and, straining, he said, "Focus on the differences between that world and ours. Find something or someone to keep you grounded to this one."

         "Easy enough," Clary commented, hopeful that it would be that easy.

         "It will be more difficult than you think," Meliorn disagreed, "If you don't hurry, you could cease to be this world's Clary Fairchild and Isaac Lahey."

         Isaac could smell the fear coming from Clary and Jace (presumably for the redheaded girl), yet he didn't feel that. He didn't fear becoming himself in the other world because it was probably better than his own. In that universe, he could be rich, or loved, or anything else. He could have a better life, so there was no reason to fear it. At least, not for himself.

€

         "I just need to be sure it's safe," Isaac heard Clary say to Jace, "Just in case I don't make it back."

         The way she said it was loud for a whisper, and Isaac could hear it without even trying to train his ears into their conversation. He looked at them, glancing really, to see Clary stuffing the tarot card with the Cup inside it into Jace's jacket. Isaac couldn't lie in seeing her doing that made him feel a pang in his heart, how she didn't even care to consult her longest friend that was present there. But he should've been used to it by now, seeing as she did a lot without him knowing.

         "You're coming back," Jace said to her, and it was now that Isaac was fully listening to them.

         "What do either of us know about interdimensional travel?" Clary asked him, a little laugh leaving her.

         Jace pulled a weird (in Isaac's opinion) thinking face before answering, "Little bit."

         Clary smiled slightly at the comment. "Not helping," she whispered to him, humor laced in her voice.

         And then, Isaac could hear Meliorn stop his haggard breathing that he had as he created the Portal. And, as he guessed, the Seelie turned around to look at them, "It's time."

         Clary looked back at Jace before going up to the Seelie, "Meliorn, I appreciate the risk you're taking, but a life debt requires that you ensure my safety. I'll agree to only go with Isaac...but if I find this alternate Portal, I won't be able to face Valentine without Jace."

         "She'll need a Shadowhunter," Jace input, causing Isaac to scoff and roll his eyes.

         "What's with you Shadowhunters thinking that you're better than everyone else because you have swords?" he rhetorically asked the blonde.

         "They're not swords," Jace defended flatly.

         "And you're not good at rhetorical questions," Isaac shot back, rolling his eyes again before going to stand by Clary,

         Meliorn disregarded what happened and sighed, "If you find the Portal, you may come back for him. Shadowhunters need Seelie permission to go through. Only demons can pass through unaided."

         Meliorn then turned around, letting his magic flow again as he said something in a language that Isaac could only think was the Seelie one. Then, the portal opened, revealing two streams flowing next to each other but never crossing.

         Clary took one last look at Jace before interlocking her hand with Isaac's, the latter leading them both into the Portal.

         He didn't know how to describe the feeling of traveling through this Portal. With ones made by warlocks, it felt like diving into a pool yet never getting wet or actually hitting water, but this...this Portal was much weirder and harder to explain. Another weird thing was feeling himself appear in the universe, going into the body of his other self.

         It felt so strange, so unfamiliar, he thought for a moment that he was this other worldly self, before remembering that he would never have those thoughts if nothing happened.

         "...a Brooklyn fireman heroically rescued a terrified puppy from a drain pipe in Crown Heights yesterday morning. Remy Hershel..." it was the first thing he heard; a newscaster on the TV.

         Isaac looked around, seeing the apartment he had called home for two years, yet something was different. In the other universe, it felt much more industrial, surreal, this time it felt more...more light. That was the word. Everything felt lighter like there was no weight on his shoulders, and Isaac had to admit that he liked it more.

         He looked at Clary, smiling, and he was about to say something as Valentine appeared. As any Shadowhunter from another dimension would do, Clary took a knife from the table and brought it to his neck. "Where's my mother?" she yelled.

         The man who was supposed to be menacing only laughed, "Whoa. Is this from one of your cosplay skits? Uh, honey? You gotta see this. No, seriously, you have to let me come with you, just once, okay? Isaac always gets to go. I want to see what you do at these things, all right?"

         "Val, you're not allowed to do cosplay," Jocelyn laughed, coming into the kitchen in which the other three already were, "You'd stick out like a sore thumb."

         Without even thinking, Clary threw her arms around Jocelyn. "Mom," she said in relief. Isaac couldn't blame her, even though sadness crept up in his heart, she had known their mother all her life, of course losing her meant more. Isaac had truly only known her for two years, but it was still a pain.

         "Wow," Jocelyn laughed, "Wow, if you miss us this much, you should really leave the dorm room more often."

         "Right," Clary chuckled, releasing her mother sheepishly, "Sorry."

         Jocelyn went to sit down as Clary and Isaac explored the universe a little more. Isaac was already staring at a painting when Clary arrived next to him. The painting itself was nothing special, wasn't really even good in Isaac's opinion, it was the name of the artiest that sparked interest; Jocelyn Morgenstern.

         "Clary, Isaac...in honor of your father's Mad Hatter party tonight," Jocelyn started as Valentine laughed, but Isaac didn't find any of it funny. Father. In this universe, they were true siblings who grew up together, in this universe she already knew – there were no secrets between them because they were never separated.

         "Your mom made waffles for the two of you," Valentine finished with a smile. The two of them walked over to the table. "Come on, kids, you two gotta eat somethin', right?"

         There was more laughing, and Isaac had a feel that it happened daily. They were truly a happy family – they weren't separated, they weren't psycho, there weren't any night spent locked in a freezer as his fingers bled from the scratch marks he created. There was happiness instead.

         "So, Clarissa...when do I get to meet this new man in your life, hmm?" Valentine asked.

         "Val..." Jocelyn warned.

         "What?" he defended himself, "I have to...give my stamp of approval, right?"

         He chuckled before Jocelyn looked over at the TV smiling, "Oh, kids, look at this commercial, it's hilarious."

         "Oh, yeah," he agreed, nodding his head, "It's so bad, it's good."

         The two of them looked over to see Hodge on the screen, "...and almost broke when Magnus Bane helped me figure out what I was supposed to do with my life. Now? I run my own dojo."

         They laughed.

         Luke appeared, and Isaac couldn't help but stiffen, "After being mauled by a suspect's dog...Magnus helped me realize that maybe the police force wasn't my calling. So I opened up a rare bookstore. Now, I'm doing what I love. Thanks, Magnus Bane!"

         Then Magnus, Isaac's newest best friend. Yet he still shuddered when he remembered his last talk with Magnus.

         ("He was under that tree looking so sexy, doing a nice little pose exposing his nice abs," Magnus growled.)

         ("Okay!" Isaac shot up, his eyes wide at Magnus' fantasy, "I do not need to know anymore!")

         "I'm Magnus Bane. Come in today for a tarot card and psychic reading. I'll help you find your way," and then the commercial ended as Isaac and Clary looked at each other thinking the same thing; they had to see Magnus.

did you like the reference to the feeling of being unwanted (reprise)?