Chapter 15: Shadows of the Past

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Orion's POV – The Weight of Secrets

The night air in New York felt heavier than usual as Orion wandered outside the Institute, lost in thought. His conversation with Magnus still echoed in his mind— Power clings to you like an old friend. Not angelic, not mundane. Something older.

He scoffed to himself. "Fantastic. Just what I needed—more cryptic nonsense."

The events of the night had only deepened his confusion. The vampires had hesitated when facing him. Not fear, not exactly—more like recognition. As if they saw something in him that he didn't. And then there was his mother. Why had she left? What did she and his father know that he didn't?

A gust of wind swirled around him in response to his frustration, the air pressure subtly shifting. Orion exhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down. Great, he thought. Now I'm a walking barometer.

His thoughts were interrupted by approaching footsteps.

Simon.

Orion turned as Simon stepped outside, his usual humor absent. His fists were clenched, and his expression was tight, like he was either about to punch something or write terrible poetry about his feelings.

"Let me guess," Orion said dryly. "Jace and Clary?"

Simon scoffed. "What gave it away?"

Orion leaned against the wall. "The fact that you look like you'd punch a wall if you thought it would help."

Simon chuckled humorlessly, running a hand through his hair. "It's just—he's Jace. The arrogant, golden boy Shadowhunter. And she's—" He hesitated. "She's been my best friend forever. It's always been the two of us. And now it's like I don't even know where I stand anymore."

Orion gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, it's a real shocker. The brooding, muscled warrior with a tragic past gets the girl. Who could've seen that coming?"

Simon shot him a look. "You're not helping."

Orion sighed. "Fine, here's the thing—love and loyalty aren't the same. Clary cares about you, but you can't force someone to feel something they don't. You're important to her, but maybe not in the way you want."

Simon let out a slow breath. "Yeah… I guess." He shook his head. "Anyway, I should probably head back before I do something dramatic, like write a sad song or something."

Orion smirked. "I'd pay to see that."

Simon chuckled despite himself. "I'll put it on my nonexistent album."

Orion watched as Simon walked back inside, knowing the conversation had helped but hadn't fixed anything. Some wounds needed time to heal. Others never did.

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Clary's POV – The Truth About Luke

The next morning, Clary stood outside Luke's bookstore, her stomach tight with nerves. It felt different now—he wasn't just her mom's best friend anymore. He was someone with secrets. Big ones.

She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The store was empty, dust swirling in the morning light. Luke stood behind the counter, flipping through an old book.

He looked up as she entered. "Clary," he said, surprised. "You shouldn't be here."

"Why?" Clary demanded. "Why have you been avoiding me? My mom is missing, and I need answers."

Luke sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It's complicated."

"It always is," Clary muttered. "Try me."

Before Luke could respond, voices echoed from the back of the store.

Two men stepped into the main room. Their clothes were worn, but their postures screamed danger.

Clary quickly ducked behind a bookshelf, listening.

"You swore loyalty to Valentine once," one of the men sneered. "Why do you still pretend to care for that woman and her child?"

Luke's voice turned sharp. "I told you before—I want nothing to do with the Circle."

Clary's stomach twisted. The Circle?

One of the men sneered. "Loyalty isn't so easily discarded, Garroway. You know what he wants. The Mortal Cup. It's the only thing that can build his army. And Jocelyn hid it from him."

Luke's silence was answer enough.

Clary's heart pounded. My mother had the Mortal Cup?

She didn't wait to hear more. She turned and ran, her mind racing.

---

Clary sat at the Institute, staring at her hands. The Mortal Cup. Her mother had hidden it.

Then, like lightning striking, it hit her.

Her mother's tarot cards.

She bolted upright. "I need to go to Madame Dorothea's."

Jace, Alec, and Isabelle all turned to her in confusion.

"Who?" Jace asked.

"Our neighbor. She's a witch. My mom painted her a tarot deck years ago."

Jace raised an eyebrow. "And you think she stuffed the Mortal Cup inside a playing card?"

Clary exhaled sharply. "Just trust me."

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The apartment smelled like incense. Madame Dorothea sat cross-legged on a cushion, watching them with knowing eyes.

"You've come for something, haven't you?" she said.

Clary scanned the tarot deck. Then she saw it—a card with an ornate golden cup.

She reached for it. The card shimmered.

And then—

A pulse of energy exploded outward. The Mortal Cup materialized in Clary's hands.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then Dorothea screamed.

Her body twisted. Her skin blackened. Her eyes burned like twin pits of darkness.

The demon Abaddon emerged.

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Orion's POV – The Demon's Path

Orion had stayed behind at the Institute. But the sudden crack of magic sent a shiver down his spine.

He ran through the halls—only to skid to a halt as a massive demon blocked his way.

Alec and Isabelle were cornered.

Orion rolled his eyes. "Oh great, I was just thinking my night needed more terrifying monsters."

The demon lunged.

Orion extended his hand. The air thickened, pressing down. The demon staggered, caught in invisible pressure.

Isabelle's whip struck. Alec's arrow flew.

The demon didn't fall.

Orion exhaled sharply. "Fine. Time to turn this up a notch."

He clenched his fist, the air crushing inward. The demon hissed—then collapsed into ash.

Alec stared. "That… was new."

Orion ignored him. His gut told him something was wrong.

"Something's happening to Clary," he said.

Then he ran.

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The Betrayal

By the time Clary and Simon stumbled into the Institute, the battle was over. Clary held the Mortal Cup—

But Jace was missing.

Hodge stepped forward.

"You shouldn't have come back," he murmured.

Before anyone could react, he struck Clary down.

The Cup slipped from her grasp.

And then—

A portal ripped open.

A figure stepped through.

Valentine Morgenstern.

The room turned deathly silent. His presence weighed on them, suffocating.

He smiled.

"Ah," he said, taking the Cup from Hodge's trembling hands. "At last."

Orion narrowed his eyes. "Well, this is just fantastic."

Jace, appearing just in time to see the betrayal, stepped forward, his fists clenched.

Valentine turned to him.

"Hello, son."