Hi, everyone! I know a long time ago I said I would write this story, but I never got around to it. Until now (Obviously).
So I'll begin. Here is chapter one! Oh, and by the way, Valentine is alive in this story.
All rights belong to Cassandra Clare.
Clary slowly peeled her eyelid open. She propped herself up on her elbows and blinked tiredly at the harsh sunlight, waiting for her eyes to adjust before looking around. She was in a light yellow room. There were beds lined up on each side of the room and a sink with medical supplies by the door. Was she in the infirmary in the institute? She wasn't in pain and didn't remember getting hurt. She sighed and flopped back down. Clary searched through her memories, trying to remember why she was here. Meeting Jace and the Lightwoods, waking her mom, fighting Valentine and Sebastian, and then nothing. Did she get hurt in the fight with the circle? No, that was so long ago. What happened.
Someone must have heard the mattress creak under her, because the door creaked open and Clary's thoughts trailed off. She looked to the door. It was open slightly and there was an arm on the doorframe. A very muscular arm. Whoever it belonged to was talking quietly to someone on the other side. The door opened fully and someone stepped through.
"Jace!" Clary cried. The boy continued into the room and stood in front of Clary's bed.
"No, Clarissa. We've been over this before," he sighed, "I'm the handsome one. Jace is the one with the pug nose."
Pug nose? Jace's nose was nothing like a pug's! Clary was offended before she remembered to be afraid. There was no denying who the owner of that voice was, especially as he stepped closer.
"Sebastian," she glared, "What are you doing here?" Her voice was cold.
He laughed, "I live here. Have you forgotten? I was just stopping to check on my delightful little sister."
He lived in the institute? That was impossible. There was no way the Clave would allow that. "Get out before I call Jace."
Now he looked worried. Ha! He was afraid of Jace! "Clarissa. It seems you have forgotten. We are not in the New York Institute. We are at the Academy, the headquarters of the Circle."
They kidnaped her! How dare they! No longer tired, Clary leapt out of the hospital bed and shoved Sebastian to the floor. She sat on him and pinned his arms under her legs. Wow. Where had she learned that? He struggled, but it was futile. When had she ever been able to overpower Sebastian? "Let me leave." She demanded.
"You don't want to go back. Don't you remember?"
She glared at him again and slapped him. "I want to leave. Let me go!"
She pulled her hand back to hit him, but he clicked a small button in his hand and a few large men broke in and grabbed Clary by her biceps, hoisted her up and yanked her out of the room.
Her feet dangled and occasionally brushed the spotless floor as she was roughly dragged backwards down the hallway. Something in her brain told her to keep track of the turns in case she needed to find her way around later. Left, right, left, left, right, and another left. The men tossed her in a room, muttering, "Wait here," and locked the door as they left.
She turned and observed the bedroom behind her. It looked studious, like it belonged to a hardworking business person. The kind that always wore a suit and tie and carried a briefcase, was always in a hurry, and always ignored Clary. There was a large desk in one corner and in the other corner, a bed, with crisp corners and sheets tucked tight. A nightstand stood next to the bed. The only thing on it was a small lamp. Everything was spotless. There wasn't even dust on the ceiling fan. The only thing indicating someone stayed there was the closet. When Clary yanked the closet doors open, a large mass of clothes, shoes, scarves, art supplies, and who knows what else tumbled out on her. Only after she dug herself out of the pile did she realize it was all hers. Was this her room? It was so clean! And professional! It didn't suit her at all!
After Clary managed to shove everything back into the closet, she leaned against the closet doors and sunk down, leaning he head back. It was right then that the door banged open. The men came back in. She saw now they were wearing uniforms, and looked identical. She stood up and walked over to them.
"Your father wishes to speak to you," one of them said robotically. She sighed and left the room.
They walked with her to her fathers office, one man on each side. Oh well, it was an improvement from them dragging her backwards down the hall. As she walked, she noticed many little details about the hallway. It, like her room, looked professional. It was a light tan color and spotless. There were expensive, modern lights lining the hall and video cameras at every corner. There were many doors. She suspected this was the living quarters, so that meant there were a LOT of people living here. They walked through a meeting room where a few people looked up from their laptops and conversations to watch the small red head pass. She was well known around the Academy, since her father ran the place. They were now in a much brighter, quieter hallway, Clary noticed. This must be the office wing. One of the men opened a door on her right and she followed him in. The office had a ceiling reaching far above her head and a large executive desk at the far side of the room. It was on a raised platform and had a few steps in front of it. Clary slowly ascended the steps and sat down in a large swivel chair before daring to look up.
"Valentine." She greeted cooly.
"Clarissa," He smiled, "I'm glad to see you awake and well."
Clary gasped at the feel of cold metal as a pair of handcuffs, one on each arm of the chair, snaked around her wrists and locked her in.
"There is no need to be afraid, Clarissa, I would not hurt you. I want you to know I am proud of you and your progress. Your dedication to your studies is outstanding." He sounded kind and caring, like a normal father would.
"What are the handcuffs for then?" Clary spat, not wanting to be tricked into thinking her father actually cared for her.
"A precaution. I heard you attacked your brother this morning. He warned me you forgot everything about the past four years. You must have a concussion."
Four years? Really? It's been four years already? Really? "You kidnapped me four years ago?"
My father looked at me and sighed, "No, Clarissa. You came by choice."
I snorted. Not very lady-like, I know, but really? By choice? Are you kidding me? He thought just because I can't remember the past four years I would believe I joined him by choice? Wow, he must have been crazier than I thought!
"You expect me to believe that? Why would I join my psychopathic family in their quest to destroy the world when I was living perfectly fine with great friends who loved me and wanted to stop you from destroying the world?"
Instead of answering my question, Valentine clicked a few buttons on a keyboard on his desk. A screen descended behind him as he spun around. I watched the screen as a security cameras captured a younger version of me trudging up the Academy steps. I rang the doorbell and a little lady answered. The cameras switched as younger me was walked to Valentine's office and pleaded with him to let me join.
Father spun back around to find my mouth hanging open, my brain still trying to comprehend what I saw.
"You begged us to let you stay. Of course I was suspicious, but after watching you for weeks, I realized I could trust you. You had really joined us. You flourished here and soon became one of the best here, even better than your brother. Just last week though, you were sent demon hunting and you were thrown against a building. You must have gotten a concussion then. When you woke up, you forgot everything about the past four years except your training. That's how you overpowered your brother so easily."
Should I believe him? Was he telling the truth? No. He's my father. He never tells the truth. I decided not to believe him until I learned why I joined him.
"Still stubborn, I see," Valentine said, "Oh well. In time maybe you will remember. For now I believe it is best for you to go about your normal daily routine. That might help with the memory. Of course, you've forgotten your normal daily routine as well as your way around this place, haven't you?"
I nodded meekly. Why was he acting so caring? I almost felt like I had a normal dad!
"Well, I'll give you a map and assign you a guide from your practice group. You are dismissed."
I stood to leave. The two men followed me.
"And Clarissa?" He said, looking up at me from his paperwork as I turned, "It really is good to have you back, alive and well. I'm sure your training group will be thrilled to hear the news."
Ok, what do you think? What happened to Clary? Did Clary join the Circle by choice?
This is my second fanfiction, so I could really use advice/criticism!
Please review!
-Carrie