Blood Confessions

I turned to face the big, black pools staring in surprise. It could only be one person and indeed it was her.

I wasn't sure why I'd stuck around for so long. Maryse had asked to meet her in the sanctuary. It was quite uneventful, seeing as though neither of us were really pleased with the "assignment" the Clave had presented us with. A few uncontrollable rogues claiming they knew where Jonathan Morgenstern was. Just another assignment to remind us of the destruction caused by the Morgenstern men. She went through the brief quicker than I imagined, fortunately for both of us.

She seemed off. Maryse was normally in control and calm. But tonight she was being controlled. She wouldn't stop fidgeting and glancing around. Trying to keep her tears back?

This was a touchy subject for her. The death of the youngest Lightwood, Max, had occurred amongst many during the war. I may not like the Nephilim but I do keep tabs. How could I not, especially with this family, she was a Lightwood.

I'd heard her coming. Not the clack of her heels but her voice; soft and sweet. She was speaking in hushed tones with her brothers about the Ravener demon they'd just killed. She sounded proud but quickly changed to consideration. I figured they got a bit beat up. She was an unusual one. Strong but yet breakable.

I heard the low groan of the Institute doors opening. I couldn't hear their footsteps but I'd heard her again, telling Jace and Alec she was going to check something out.

Where she was going, I wanted to know. But I soon found out as I sensed her nearing the Sanctuary doors. She was close, hands on the heavy doors and pushing them open just enough that she could squeeze through.

Once stepping through, she moved her eyes up from the ground and onto me; taking me in. Those big, black pools finally fell on my face and into my eyes. Her doe eyes widening in surprise.

She just stared at me and, I, her. I noticed that her irises weren't really black but the darkest shade of brown with a subtle golden ring around the pupil. Beautiful.

I shook my head, the strands of my hair falling just above my eyes.

As if somehow the word was a trigger on my brain, I spoke. "Hello, Isabelle."

Raphael Santiago. What was he doing here?

I just wanted to be alone in the sanctuary for a while. That demon hunting really drained me and I wanted to sit in peace. But I guess that's too much to ask, since I walk in there and see him. Out of all people why did it have to be him?

I resented him. He was cocky and undermined anyone who wasn't a vampire. Ok, well Nephilim can be like that too but,..I just hate him! For whatever reason I do, I don't know. But I do regret it a bit afterwards, which is odd as I rarely regret things.

He stood there now, in the middle of the Sanctuary, dressed in black attire like me. Except he looked a little cleaner and put together.

I stared at him, his eyes were glistening. The witchlight glow reflecting on his rich, chocolate brown eyes.

How can someone so dead and conceited have such warm looking eyes?

"Hello Isabelle." He spoke; bringing me back to the present.

I mentally slapped myself for getting carried away like that.

He had a slight accent when he spoke, making his voice, dare I say, appealing to most girls.

He wasn't bad looking, he was quite hot actually. His almond shaped eyes were striking. The tanned skin and Hispanic looks were a plus.

All of a sudden I felt stupid for checking him out. Why?

Oh yeah, because he just spoke to me and here I was checking him out.

I replied looking away. "Hello Raphael."

"What brings you to the Sanctuary?" he asked curiously.

"I live here. I can go wherever I want," I said "What's your excuse?"

"I had a meeting with your mother regarding some Clave business."

I hadn't seen my mother anywhere when I came in. She was long gone before we came.

"I see. So, why are you still here?" I probably sounded rude but it's not like he'd care.

The corners of his mouth twitched. Is he really finding this conversation amusing? "Did you have fun killing that Ravenor demon?"

I lifted an eyebrow and he looked at me waiting. I let out and exasperated sigh, "Yes. I very much liked kicking demon butt while looking amazingly hot doing so." He smiled.

Ok, so he was finding this amusing. Raphael Santiago has let out a smile and at me for that matter.

"Yes. I imagined you did." he said looking at the witchlight on the wall.

A blush crept up my face. This only made his smile wider when he looked back at me.

"Are my eyes deceiving me? Isabelle Lightwood is blushing?"

With that gleaming white grin he moved gracefully towards me. We had a good ten feet distance between us but he was getting closer and my breathing was slowing. The clack of his boots against the smooth floor was becoming louder. He paused, and then closed the remaining distance with a long stride.

Now we were standing face to face, staring into each other's eyes. I hadn't realised I was holding my breath the whole time till he spoke.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"No, I'm not okay and will you quit staring at me like that? It's creepy." I think I spoke a little too loud because a smile tugged on his lips.

So he finds everything I do amusing, huh?

He tilts his head and raises his eyebrow as if it taunting me. I felt something inside me when he did that. Was I seriously getting butterflies? Well, it was quite cute.

I huffed and looked away. I suddenly felt slight movement near my head. When I turned my head, my face met his smooth, cool fingers.

The touch was shocking but it felt good. His long tanned fingers against the striking, paleness of my skin. My breathing comes out short and ragged.

Of course, I'd come in to contact with other guys. So why was I so conscious about his touch? What makes him so different?

I heard the loud creak of the Sanctuary doors opening breaking me out of his touch. I jumped back. Immediately I regretted it. But why?

It was Alec.

"Have you seen Jace?" he asked.

Then he gave me a weird look; narrowing his eyes. He was taking the situation before him; me and Raphael standing a foot apart. I quickly composed myself and tried to look calm.

"What's going on here?" Alec had his big brother look on.

"Nothing!" I said frantically. Maybe I wasn't so successful at being calm then.

His eyes narrowed again. "Fine," He was obviously not convinced. "Just be in the library in 10."

I nodded and he backed out, shutting the door, not before giving a suspecting look at Raphael.

I sighed in relief.

A small chuckle escaped my lips.

Isabelle Lightwood, you really do amuse me.

The moment she heard the doors opening, she moved away quickly, as if my touch was suddenly burning her. This was a side I had never seen to her. She was normally so strong and confident, she held herself up, and you could see it in her strides. And now, she was standing looking shaken; seeming high strung when her brother walked in. I thought she'd have brushed it off coolly.

Like her mother, she also seemed off today. What was it with these Lightwood women? They had confidence written all over and a glare that could bring any mundane down. But when it came to commitment and family they would break like China.

I decided to not get under her skin anymore. I didn't want her kicking me out after she was composed. After all, I was here for a reason.

She removed her gaze from the door, hastily to me.

"Typical protective brothers," I said, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"What about them?" Her voice was unstable but her gaze suddenly hard.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I've had my share of them." Grimly, I remembered the last time I had seen them. She shrunk back from my gaze.

"What?" She whispered.

I gave her a bitter half smile and turned my back to her. I focused my gaze on the witchlight, like a little ball of fire.

"You forget that I have a past. I had parents and siblings like you, once upon a time." Why was I telling her such things? It's like I couldn't stop, the words came out by themselves. I spent so ling building up a wall but why was she now tearing it down; and I was letting her?

"I'm not a monster like you think. I loved my family, too. When the unfortunate event, I had no choice to leave it all behind. They thought I was dead, and I was. Exactly why I couldn't stay with them. I had to except the unfortunate event and leave my past behind."

"I'm sorry," Her voice barely coming out, "I shouldn't have promoted you to go on."

My head turned slightly towards her, just so I could see her through the corner of eye.

"Sorry. Such an overused verb. I don't see how that word can just smooth over matters. Especially, if they can't empathise." The heat was rising in her cheeks. Great. I had said something to make her angry.

"You're wrong. I do know how you feel." She was fuming, "I lost my brother to that psycho who's still out there trying to hurt another one of my brothers."

Now I fully turned around. "I wasn't specifically talking about you, Isabelle. I was merely stating a fact." I closed the gap between us that she had created and she stumbled against the wall. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She looked so vulnerable now.

"I know this is a touchy subject for you." Would she accept my apology?

"I thought you implied sorry doesn't solve everything?" She was so beautiful even when angry. She stumbled back a bit more losing her balance. Quite odd for a skilled shadowhunter.

My hand shot out to grasp her shoulder. Her body tensed under my touch.

"No it doesn't. But sometimes it offers a little relief and comfort, doesn't it?"

I moved closer inhaling her intoxicating scent. She was backed up against the wall and in my grasp. Wide eyed and breathing heavily. Not knowing what to do, her eyes flickered away from me and around the room. A hint of realisation in her eyes as they roamed.

Again, her eyes were on me again.

"You kept changing the subject. You still haven't answered my question. What are you still doing here?"

As if they had a mind of their own, my fingers reached out and moved the stray hairs back behind her ear. Moving to her face, they caressed her porcelain skin. She shivered from the coolness and parted her lips to say something.

"Shh." Her eyes widened.

Lightwoods loved to have the last word, but not this time.

"I stayed..." I started. My head dipped down near her ear. She gasped as my cold lips grazed her cheek. "Because I wanted to see you."

A/N: Hope you guys liked it. This was my first fan fic. I'll be doing more oneshots, so keep a look out.

Follow me on Twitter: Sadia Begum(SadiaB97) and my Parabatai Emma Donovan(EmmaIrelandXxX). She's amazing and helps me run this fan account SexyBeastsInc. Check us out on Tumblr as well.

Credits to: Magnus Bane(I_Sparkle_Daily) on Twitter - For coming up with the title, my sister - For drawing the fan art. Check it out on our fan account on Twitter and Tumblr SexyBeastsInc.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. All rights are to Cassandra Clare.