City of Ashes

The morning after Jace met Valentine on the demon ship, Maia and Luke wake up at Luke’s place, their injuries mostly healed. As Clary talks to Maia, Maia begins to cry, remembering her poor treatment of Simon. Jace returns with Alec and speaks rudely to Maia, calling her a crybaby. Clary chastises Jace, while Luke wants to know how Jace and Clary managed to fend off the Raum demons.

Clary tells the group an original Mark appeared on her arm and repelled the demons. Everyone is skeptical of her claim. Clary reminds them that the Seelie Queen had said she had the gift of unspoken words, which she thinks refers to runes. Clary thinks she can create runes that are not in the Gray Book. Whatever experiments Valentine performed on her mother when Clary was in Jocelyn’s womb have given Clary special powers. Luke and Magnus ask Clary to draw an original rune.

Clary brings her sketchpad and colors and lets her mind roam as her hand doodles. She finds herself muttering the word “Fearless” (258) and sketches the corresponding rune. To test if the rune works, Jace copies it on Alec’s upper arm with his stele.