Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments series.
MADE OF GLASS
Prologue
When she left the house her step-mother forced her into a skimpy little black dress. But, she would never wear that tiny scrap of clothing to school. Who do you think she is?
Well, she is Clary Morgenstern. Her story is one of the most complicated you'll ever hear.
When Clary was a little girl, her family was considered perfect in the face of her young eyes. Her parents, Valentine and Jocelyn, got along handsomely, and they had the perfect little daughter. It wasn't until her mother left them that Clary realized something was wrong. You see, what is perceived on the surface is not always what lies underneath. Everything took a downwards spiral after Jocelyn disappeared when Clary was in sixth grade; Valentine got remarried to a wretched woman by the name of Sofie, and every day Clary's father got ghastlier and nastier to his daughter. About a month or two after the marriage, Clary's life hit an all time low.
It was towards the end of the school year, and Clary was in sixth grade. Clary was about to walk out of the house when Sofie stopped her. "Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" Sofie took on a hard look. She hadn't liked Clary from the very beginning, but for Clary that was all right because the feeling was mutual. Clary took a glance down at her normal skinny jeans, t-shirt, and converse look.
"Uh…" Clary hesitated, confused, "to school?"
Sofie let out a harsh laugh, "now that you're my sorry excuse for a daughter you have to try to at least not look as pathetic as you actually are…or do you want to be a loser and a freak like your mother was?" That was a low blow, and no matter how much Clary tried not to let the comment affect her, it did.
Clary glared back, a sneer placed on her face, "I'm the most popular girl in school and that's without you're interference." Clary replied snidely, purposely making a show of looking Sofie up and down, "not that I'd ever consider for a second a word that came out of your filthy mouth. Who knows where that thing has been, or whom it has been with," Clary didn't even try to mask her disgust before turning and storming out the door.
Clary's words were true; she was the most popular girl in the school, though she has no idea how it happened. One day, people just parted in the hallway for her and said hello as she passed. Rumors say that it was because she's the hottest girl in the grade, as boys trailed her down the hallway, unconcealed drool hanging from their chins while girls stared on enviously. Other rumors say it was because she slept her was through the boys in the class. This last rumor we can obviously dispel, seeing as though she was only in sixth grade
When she got home that same day, her father uncharacteristically greeted her, "honey, you're home." Clary's eyes narrowed in suspicion when she spotted Sofie standing beside her father with tears in her eyes and a smirk directed towards Clary. Her father continued, "is it true that you talked back to your mother and cursed at her?"
Clary looked up at him, feigning innocence, "I would never curse at my mother."
Valentine crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes were blazing and Clary couldn't help but shrink away, "Sofie said-"
Clary found her courage and immediately cut her father off, "Sofie is not my mother nor will she ever be," Clary snarled.
Clary had no time to think, no time to move, no time to react as a hand came flying across her cheek, sending her head snapping to the side. The smack resonated throughout the room. Clary stood stunned in complete silence before lifting a trembling hand up to touch her trembling cheek.
"Daddy?" Clary whimpered sounding so vulnerable, innocent, and hurt as tears welled up in her eyes.
From that day forward, everyday before she went to school, Sofie would pick out her outfit, and everyday Clary would change her clothes before she got to school, and everyday her father or step-mother would beat her both mentally and physically.
It got worse and worse every passing day. Valentine had this pent up anger inside of him that was directed straight at Clary. She supposed it was because she was the spitting image of her mother who left them, and every day he saw her face was a reminder of the woman who abandoned him.
Clary had to use loads of make up and concealer to cover up the bruises that would appear on her face and body. Too many times to count, Clary was brought to the hospital for limbs, and one time a broken rib punctured her lung. They went to many different hospitals so the doctors wouldn't ask too many questions.
Sofie made her dress like a slut, and it's a good thing they didn't drive her to school or else she wouldn't be able to change. Clary's stepmother always threw insults at her, calling her worthless, insignificant, stupid, freak, nerd, geek, loser, fat.
Clary struggled through it all, not exactly coming out stronger than when it started. And slowly, it was all wearing on her. She felt as though she was reaching the point of no return. It was why she divulged into books, to get away from reality. She would much rather live the life of another, as a character in a story than as the person she really is, because she hates that person. There must be a reason why all three of her parents hate her, so Clary had begun to hate herself as well, succumbing to the circumstances. Her mother left, her father abuses her, and her stepmother abuses her.
It was the middle of junior year when the police showed up on Clary's doorstep. It was all Clary could do not to collapse as an officer coaxed her from the house into a police car, murmuring nice words about how she's safe and how everything would be okay. Three other officers entered the house and restrained both Sofie and Valentine, whom were led by the officers to a separate police car. They were all driven to the station, where Valentine and Sofie were brought out of the car to face charges of child abuse, child neglect, and domestic abuse.
Clary was led out of the car and brought straight into the waiting arms of her real mother, who was the one to call the police and report her case as victim of domestic abuse and suspicion of child abuse by the same man. However, in the arms of her mother, she felt more lost than ever before.
It had been years since Clary had last seen her mother, and since then she'd been put through constant violence and cruelty by her own father, whom Clary had thought to be the perfect man. Clary was completely and utterly broken, and her mother, just added gas to the burning fire in the pit of Clary's stomach. All she felt was resentment towards the woman standing before her, hugging her tightly.
Clary pushed off the woman and took a step back, "Why?" Clary's voice was hoarse and barely audible. Staring boldly into the hurt eyes of her mother Clary raised her voice, "Why did you leave me? Why did it take you so long to help me?" Clary's voice broke and before Jocelyn could respond, Clary turned and walked away. At first it was a slow walk, but then she found herself picking up speed, and soon she was full out sprinting back to her house. The only place she had ever called home; the place where she had a happy family, the place where she was beaten to the brink of death, and the place where she found herself now. Clary walked into the house and collapsed onto her knees on the floor, tears leaking from her eyes and falling onto her hands, which were splayed flat against the hard wood floors. Her hands tightened into balls as she clenched her fists and let out a sob. Soon enough she was curled into a ball, lying in a puddle of her own making.
That was where her mother and two other police officers found her. Clary was asleep; her eyes crusted shut and tear lines streaking down her face. Jocelyn took a look at her daughter who looked so shattered when she came into the police station, and knew then that leaving her all those years ago was the worst decision of her life. Jocelyn clasped a hand over her mouth as tears threatened her. The police had left as soon as they found Clary, so Jocelyn was alone in the place that haunted her nightmare, and would soon haunt Clary's as well. Jocelyn let out a heart-shattering moan as she dropped down on her hands and knees beside Clary, letting the tears slip out of her eyes thinking about the man that ruined her and her daughter. She reached out a tentative hand and watched as it shook uncontrollably, before placing it gently on her daughter's head.
"I'm so sorry," she murmured, "so sorry." Jocelyn gasped as the tears took over her body and sobs wracked her frame, continually muttering the words, "so sorry."
If anyone had walked into the house they would have seen a mother and a daughter lying peacefully on the ground asleep. But this family is broken beyond repair…right?
A/N:
Hi everyone, i'm Lily.
Thanks for reading!
I just wanted to let you guys know that Chapter 4 would be the chapter when Clary goes to school and meets jace. The chapters before that are just her dealing with her issues.
Anyway, please review and tell me what you think, i'm always up for editing it. (o_o) (that's supposed to be a smiley face...)
