Chapter 16: Chains of the Past

Jace's POV – The Face of the Past

The room was deathly silent.

Valentine Morgenstern stood tall, the Mortal Cup glinting in his grip. His presence was like a storm held in human form—silent yet crackling with suppressed power. His eyes swept over the room with quiet amusement, as if he were a king surveying his court.

Jace could feel his pulse hammering in his ears.

His father.

No. Not his father. Not really.

"Well," Valentine mused, turning the Cup in his hands, "this certainly saves me some time." He glanced at Hodge. "I expected more resistance."

Hodge swallowed hard, shifting on his feet. "I—"

A blur of motion.

Jace launched himself at Valentine, his blade slicing through the air. But Valentine sidestepped smoothly, as if he'd expected it. Jace's strike cut through empty space, and before he could react, a brutal backhand slammed into his chest.

Jace crashed into the bookshelf, sending old tomes raining down around him.

"That," Valentine said, his voice eerily calm, "was disappointing."

---

Orion's POV – A Sarcastic Intervention

Orion had seen a lot of ridiculous things today—demons, betrayal, Clary pulling a magic cup out of a glorified playing card—but watching Jace get tossed across the room like a ragdoll was definitely top-tier entertainment.

"Wow," Orion muttered, stepping forward. "You really committed to the whole 'dramatic villain' thing, huh? Black armor, ominous monologuing. All that's missing is an evil pet. Let me guess—a snake? No, too cliché. Maybe a raven?"

Valentine turned to him, eyebrows raised. "And you are?"

Orion smirked. "Orion. Just a guy with an unfortunate talent for getting involved in other people's messes." He gestured vaguely at the destruction. "Case in point."

Valentine studied him for a moment, something unreadable flickering in his expression. "You're not a Shadowhunter."

"And you're not as tall as I expected," Orion shot back. "But here we are, both dealing with disappointment."

A muscle in Valentine's jaw twitched.

Jace, regaining his breath, pushed himself up with a glare. "Orion, maybe shut up?"

"Noted," Orion said. "Ignored, but noted."

---

Clary's POV – The Offer

Clary scrambled to Jace's side, heart hammering. "Are you okay?"

"I've been better," Jace muttered, rubbing his ribs. "And I think Orion is trying to get himself killed."

Clary turned her attention back to Valentine. He looked so normal—too normal. This was the man who had turned the Shadow World on its head, the man her mother had feared for years. And yet, his expression wasn't cruel. It was patient, almost expectant.

"I don't have time for games," Valentine said, looking at Jace. "Come with me."

Jace froze. "What?"

"You are my son," Valentine continued, voice smooth as silk. "You belong with me, not these… half-hearted warriors pretending at nobility." His gaze flickered to Clary. "Not with her."

Clary clenched her fists. "You don't get to decide that."

Valentine sighed as if speaking to a petulant child. "You don't understand what's coming, Clarissa. The Shadowhunters are weak. They lack the vision to see what must be done. But with the Mortal Cup, I will rebuild them—stronger, purer. And you," he said, turning back to Jace, "will stand at my side, where you were always meant to be."

Jace stared at him, a storm raging behind his eyes.

"You think you know me," he said quietly. "But you don't. You never did."

---

The Fight

"Enough of this," Orion muttered. "If we're gonna fight, let's fight."

Valentine gave him an amused glance. "You have spirit. But you are outmatched."

Orion shrugged. "Probably. But I do love an underdog moment."

He flicked his wrist. The air around them compressed in an instant, forming an invisible force that lashed out at Valentine. The pressure was enough to crack the floor beneath their feet.

Valentine moved—not fast, but precise. With a flick of his hand, the force shattered like glass. Orion barely had time to react before he was sent flying backward, his body slamming into the wall.

"Okay," Orion groaned. "That was embarrassing."

To enhance Valentine's combat prowess, I'd suggest adding a line that highlights his sheer skill and efficiency in battle. Here's how you could refine the fight scene:

Jace lunged at the same moment, aiming a vicious strike at Valentine's throat. This time, he was ready. Their blades clashed in a blur of silver, sparks flying.

For a moment, it almost seemed like Jace had the upper hand. But Valentine was a seasoned warrior—his movements were calculated, deliberate. He didn't just counter; he controlled the fight, shifting his stance with surgical precision. Every move had a purpose, every step a trap. With a deft twist, he locked Jace's blade before slamming a knee into his stomach, the strike landing with practiced efficiency.

This small addition reinforces that Valentine isn't just powerful—he's dangerously experienced, making him a nearly insurmountable opponent. Let me know if you want further refinements!

Jace lunged at the same moment, aiming a vicious strike at Valentine's throat. This time, he was ready. Their blades clashed in a blur of silver, sparks flying.

For a moment, it almost seemed like Jace had the upper hand. But Valentine was a seasoned warrior—his movements were calculated, deliberate. He twisted his blade, locking Jace's weapon before slamming a knee into his stomach.

Jace gasped, falling back.

Clary reached for her stele, but before she could draw a rune, Valentine's voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough."

The air shifted.

A portal bloomed behind him, swirling with darkness.

---

The Departure

Valentine stepped back toward the portal, still holding the Mortal Cup.

"This was entertaining," he admitted. "But ultimately, futile." He gave Jace one last look. "You will see, in time. When the world crumbles around you, when your so-called allies fail you—you will understand why I do this."

Jace glared at him, breathing hard. "Go to hell."

Valentine only smiled. "Perhaps. But not today."

And with that, he stepped into the portal.

It closed behind him with a crack of displaced air, leaving the room in heavy silence.

Jace clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with rage.

"We lost," Clary whispered.

"No," Jace said, voice ice-cold. "This isn't over."

---

Orion's POV – After the Betrayal

The echo of Valentine's voice still hung in the air long after the portal had closed. The Mortal Cup was gone. Jace was gone. And Hodge's betrayal had left the group reeling.

Orion clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His breathing was steady, controlled, but inside, a storm raged. The moment he had locked eyes with Valentine, something inside him had stirred—a deep, instinctual response. It wasn't fear, but something else. Recognition.

Valentine had looked at him the same way the demon Abaddon had. Like he knew something Orion didn't.

And that unsettled him more than anything.

Isabelle was the first to break the silence. "We have to get Jace back."

Her voice was hard, but there was a desperation beneath it. Alec stood next to her, jaw clenched, his normally composed expression cracking with barely concealed rage.

"We need a plan," Alec said, turning to Clary. "Where did Valentine take him?"

Clary swallowed hard. "I—I don't know." Her fingers trembled where they rested on the floor. "Hodge said Valentine was in some hidden stronghold, somewhere he's been gathering his forces. But I don't know where that is."

"Great," Alec muttered. "So we have nothing."

Orion wasn't looking at Alec. His eyes were on Clary, watching the way she gripped her arms, the way she tried to control her breathing. She was panicking.

And so was Simon.

Simon, who had seen Valentine and knew exactly how much danger Jace was in.

"We might not have nothing," Orion said, his voice even. "Luke."

Clary looked up sharply. "Luke?"

"He used to be in the Circle," Orion pointed out. "If anyone knows where Valentine is hiding, it's him."

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then Clary nodded. "You're right. We need to find Luke."

---

The Institute Under Siege

While Clary and Simon left to find Luke, Orion stayed behind with Alec and Isabelle, the three of them watching over the Institute.

Tension coiled thick in the air. The betrayal had left them vulnerable. With Hodge gone, the Institute was unprotected.

And the Shadowhunters knew it.

The moment the news spread, hunters from the Clave started arriving. Their presence was suffocating—everywhere Orion turned, there were armed warriors, their gazes filled with suspicion and distrust.

Isabelle folded her arms, standing beside Orion at the upper balcony of the Institute, watching as the newcomers took control of their home.

"They don't trust us," she muttered.

"They shouldn't," Alec replied from behind them, his tone sharp. "Jace was taken. The Mortal Cup is in Valentine's hands. And Hodge—" He exhaled sharply. "Hodge was one of ours."

Orion didn't respond.

His instincts were thrumming again. Something was coming.

And it wasn't just the Clave.

---

The Attack

It started with a whisper—a strange shift in the air. Orion caught it first. A sudden drop in pressure, like the entire world had exhaled at once.

Then the wards shattered.

The main doors of the Institute burst inward, sending a shockwave of magic rippling through the halls. Shadowhunters shouted orders, weapons drawn as dozens of demons poured in.

Alec moved first. "Isabelle—"

"I know," she cut him off, already uncoiling her whip.

Orion stepped forward. The demons were moving fast, shadows slithering through the broken barriers like a flood of darkness.

He exhaled slowly, raising his hands.

The air compressed.

The first wave of demons slowed, their movements suddenly heavy, as if the very atmosphere had thickened around them.

Alec loosed an arrow, hitting a hulking, dog-like demon between the eyes. It screeched and collapsed into ash.

Isabelle's golden whip cracked, slicing through the neck of another.

Orion moved with purpose, ducking under an incoming strike and slamming his foot into the ground. The air around him exploded outward, sending a cluster of demons flying backward into the walls.

More kept coming.

"They just keep regenerating," Alec growled. "Where's the Clave?"

"Busy cleaning up Hodge's mess," Isabelle snapped, twisting midair to kick a demon away. "We're on our own."

Orion wasn't listening.

He was watching.

Something about the demons' movements wasn't random. They weren't just attacking blindly—they were targeting the Institute's inner chambers.

And then he realized why.

"They're not here for us," he said sharply.

Alec turned to him, firing another arrow mid-spin. "What?"

"They're searching for something." Orion's gray eyes narrowed. "Or someone."

The moment he said it, something slammed into him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

A shadowed figure loomed above him, its face twisting and shifting, as if struggling to settle on a form. It wasn't like the other demons.

This one was different.

It spoke.

"You reek of divinity."

Orion's breath caught in his throat.

The demon tilted its head, its blackened lips curling. "And yet… you do not belong to them."

Orion reacted instantly, shoving his palm forward. The air collapsed inward, a massive pressure slamming the demon backward.

It hissed in pain, black smoke curling off its body as it twisted into the shadows and disappeared.

Orion pushed himself up, his pulse hammering.

But something was wrong.

His vision blurred. His limbs felt heavy. A burning pain radiated through his chest.

Isabelle grabbed his arm. "Orion? Are you—"

He staggered.

Alec turned just in time to see the blackened veins creeping up Orion's skin.

"Poison," Alec realized. His voice was shaking. "A demon got him."

Orion tried to speak, but his breath came ragged. The world was tilting. Darkness pressed against the edges of his vision.

He barely heard Isabelle's shout for help before everything went black.

---

Orion's POV – The Doors of Valhalla

I felt the pain coarcing through me I saw the look of surprise in the eyes of the people around me. I could send their thoughts I could sent their feelings I got sent there intentions but I knew I am about to die but just as I was about to close my eyes I saw a beautiful scene and front of my eyes as I looked at the skies I felt it and knew that my story is not complete.

I should sleep now.

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Conclusion – A New War Begins

Jace was still missing.

Valentine had the Mortal Cup.

And Orion?

Orion was dead.

But his story wasn't over.

Not yet.

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