Prologue though Chapter 2 Summary

The story opens with the Prologue, titled "Smoke and Diamonds." A rogue shadowhunter named Valentine is in the penthouse of the Metropole in Manhattan. The apartment is uninhabited and Valentine has hired a young warlock named Elias to summon a demon named Argamon. The warlock asks for payment but Valentine says he'll pay only after Argamon is summoned. Elias carefully constructs a pentagram he believes will keep Argamon from escaping. Because the demon feeds on fears and Elias's fear is that Argamon will escape, the pentagram is ultimately useless and Argamon does escape, killing Elias in the process. Argamon then turns to Valentine but Valentine says he has possession of the Mortal Cup and that Argamon must obey him or "face the consequences," though he doesn't specify what those consequences might be. Argamon pledges obedience to Valentine.

Part one...