“Jace is in love with the idea of dying,” said Isabelle.”

“Investigation?" Isabelle laughed. "Now we're detectives? Maybe we should all have code names.""Good idea," said Jace. "I shall be Baron Hotschaft Von Hugenstein.”

“What did Isabelle want?" Jace asked.Alec hesitated. "Isabelle says the Queen of the Seelie Court has requested an audience with us.""Sure," said Magnus. "And Madonna wants me as a backup dancer on her next world tour."Alec looked puzzled. "Who's Madonna?""Who's the Queen of the Seelie Court?" said Clary."She is the Queen of Faerie," said Magnus. "Well, the local one, anyway."Jace put his head in his hands. "Tell Isabelle no.""But she thinks it's a good idea," Alec protested."Then tell her no twice.”

“Oh, its big enough,” he said patronizingly, “but somehow I was expecting…you know.” He gestured with his hands, indicating something roughly the size of a house cat.“It’s the Mortal Cup, Jace, not the Mortal Toilet Bowl,” said Isabelle.-Jace & Isabelle, pg.349-”

“We shouldn’t,” protested Isabelle. “The Clave has a plan.”“The Clave has the collective intelligence of a pineapple,” said Jace.Alec blinked up at them. “Jace is right.”Isabelle turned on her brother. “What do you know? You weren’t even paying attention.”“I was,” Alec said, injured. “I said Jace was right.”“Yeah, but there’s like a 90% chance of me being right most of the time, so that’s not proof you were listening,” said Jace. “That’s just a good guess.”

“I'ts a girl" Jace said, recovering his composure. "Surely you've seen girls before, Alec. Your sister Isabelle is one.”