Jace's POV
"Are we there yet?" Jace Herondale asked his parents from the back seat of their black SUV sounding like he could die of boredom any minute now.
"Jace, like I told you ten minutes ago, we still have ten miles to go. So why don't you settle down and take a nap or something. We'll be there in about a half hour an hour and a half tops." Stephen Herondale, his father, said obviously trying not to lose his temper with his only son.
Jace sighed loudly; making sure his parents knew his discomfort. He couldn't wait to see the Lightwoods again. They were the closest thing his family had to, well, family. When he heard they were being transferred to New York- to the Lightwoods- he could barely contain his excitement. He hadn't seen his parabatai since their last summer. Their parents had made an arrangement that Jace and Alec would take turns living with each other, and their families, over the summer. It still seemed like decades that they had seen each other even though they kept in touch via emails and letters (kind of old fashioned but it worked) but it wasn't the same as being in battle together. He was also looking forward to leading and fighting in a team, not really at the thought of being part of a team, he just liked showing off his superiority. Hey maybe I could give them some pointers teach them some tricks, I am the greatest Shadowhunter of our generation after all, he thought to himself with a smile on his face.
As he stared out the window watching the Virginian country side go by, all he could think about was New York and all the new possibilities.
Clary's POV
"Okay how about Lawn Chair Crisis?" Eric suggested grabbing the pop tart box.
"Dude 'how about' you stick to drumming and leave the names to someone with more than two brain cells," Kirk said confiscating the box before Eric could finish them all.
Clary chuckled from her spot on the coach across from Eric, Matt and Kirk, who were her best friend, Simon's, band mates. As if on cue Simon came striding into the living room where a fight was about to break loose between Eric and Kirk over the remaining pop tarts.
"Come on guys if you're going to start throwing punches take it outside." He said casually taking the box from Kirk then going to sit next to Clary, who was curled up on the coach.
"What are you fighting about in anyway?" Simon said absently reaching into the box to get a pop tart, then offering Clary one.
"The pop tarts," Kirk said watching as she bit into one.
"No, we were fighting because Kirk called me dumb!" Eric said outraged at his lei.
"It's stupid, genius, he called you stupid." Matt said correcting Eric's terrible grammar, then returning to his nap on the lazy boy.
"And that's not true I didn't call Eric stupid, I just pointed out that his last two brain cells would probably die while coming up with a band name," Kirk said walking across too Simon to get a pop tart. Eric attacked him midstride causing Simon to jump up, just faster than an average human, and tear them apart, throughing Eric to the floor- with no effort at all, Clary noticed.
"No fighting in my house," said Simon. "If you're going to act like idiots go do it in your own homes, 'cause when you leave here I'm left with the mess and I'm in deep shit with my mom 'cause you two had a stupid argument."
He looked absolutely furious, probably recalling the time they had this big blow out over some stupid reason Clary couldn't remember, knocking over almost every piece of furniture in the room then breaking Simon's moms cherished old grandfather clock that had been an antique. He had been grounded for nearly two months. He was quite livid the next day when Eric and Kirk showed up at school all buddy-buddy again not even remotely sorry about what they'd done. On the contrary they were bragging about all the damage they had inflicted. To this day Simon hasn't let them live that down.
"Besides, I think he meant it as a joke Eric, I'm not saying what he said was right but you do have a tendency to over react." Simon said helping him to his feet.
"Yah, but don't blame him completely Kirk has a track record of being an insensitive, inconsiderate ass. They're not really the best combo are they, I'm surprised you're still friends. Then again they do say opposites attract." Clary said now stuck in a debate with herself on the whole 'opposites attract' thing. It can't really be right can it, if your absolute polar opposites you'd constantly be fighting with one another wouldn't you. Seems like quite a one sided debate to her but she firmly believed complete opposites wouldn't get along, like cats and dogs or fire and ice. It just seemed really unlikely. So caught up in her reverie she completely missed Eric and Kirks make up session. Next thing she knew Simon was telling his band mates to go home.
"You're the one who insisted we start band practice at six (18:00)." Matt commented on Simons reasoning that it was late and their moms were probably looking for them, stretching his arms over his head then stifling a yawn. Clary always saw him as the kind of aloof intellectual of the group he was so smart and observant of all the little things it completely baffled her how much he knew. Thankfully he was only observant to some aspects and completely disregarded others, like she was, completely oblivious to the little meaningless things and only noticing the deep, out of the ordinary things like Simons speed, agility and strength which were obviously not of this world per say.
"I have my reasons," Simon said his eyes going dark for a moment, in seconds the familiar bright glow was back as if it had never left. "But I'm serious guys it's really time to go," he said ushering them out the front door.
"Bye guys," she yelled after them. They answered with a chorus of 'Bye Clary' then left.
Jace's POV
Jace was awoken from his nap by the welcoming sounds of the city. This place is always so lively Jace thought to himself. It felt like he was energised just by looking at it like he fed of the energy, he absolutely loved it. He couldn't wait to go out searching for demons in this place. He felt like a kid again, right before he … . He stopped that thought right in its tracks, that was history and he wasn't going to let that memory , the one he had supressed for so long- the one he couldn't bear to think about without actually reliving it, ruin this for him. Steeling himself from the pain, the hurt and just letting the excitement overtake him while keeping his mask of content boredom on his face the whole time.
He had always hidden or suppressed his feelings, leaving contempt as his shield and sarcasm as his weapon, ever since that day the day that changed him forever. He learnt then that to show any meaningful emotion was to show weakness, and he wasn't weak. "To love is to destroy ." The words came unbidden to his mind, strange how the things you learn when you're young just never seem to leave you "And to be loved is to be the one destroyed." A familiar classical song played over the radio drowning out the unbidden voice.
He thought to himself how lucky he was to have never been put in such a position, to not have loved anyone outside his family. No girl had ever caught his interest like that. Usually just wanting them then wanting them to leave him the hell alone.
The Institute came into view and the long wait seemed worth it. At first glance it didn't seem like much it even looked run down and abandoned with its broken-in windows, the doors that were sealed with yellow police tape, the really bent iron fence that surrounded the entire building and the trash that was piled up beside the steps. But that was all just a glamour, he relaxed his mind waiting for the true image to surface. Like waiting for something to surface from the dark wallows of a lake. And it came, he could see the tall spires scraping the sky, the gleam of the leaded windows, focusing on the brass plate with the name of the Institute etched into it as it came closer and closer.
As they stopped, the door to the Institute flew open revealing Max, the youngest of the Lightwood children, with the most dazzling smile on his face, like his most favourite person in the world had just shown up, incidentally that was exactly the reason. Max absolutely adored Jace. Behind him jogging down the hall was his eldest sibling and Jace's parabatai Alec, also looking distinctly happy to see Jace. The feeling was mutual- parabatai meant a pair of warriors that fought together, they were supposed to be closer than brothers and that's exactly what they were. Marys and Robert Lightwood followed him out to greet their old friends whom they haven't seen in years. It was absolutely wonderful to see them, they were like a second pair of parents to Jace and he couldn't contain the joy he felt at seeing them all, only two people was missing from the happy gathering. The beauteous Isabel finally makes her grand entrance, Jace thought sarcastically as he watched her trudge down the hall to join their happy gathering. She didn't even look remotely excited to see him, but he knew she was. Isabel was just that type of person who was independent and strong without faltering in confidence. She was the closest thing he had to a sister.
"It's so good to see you again my friend," Jace said giving Alec a big bear hug then pulling away to look at Max, ruffling his hair.
Jace caught a glimpse of movement down the hall. Instantly recognizing Hodge with Hugo perched neatly on his left shoulder, his beak like nose and his perfectly pressed gray tweed suit. He was as familiar to him as any of the Lightwoods also being one of the greatest tutors you could find helped a great deal in recognition.
"It's so good to have you back with us Jace." Hodge said smiling in his direction, a real true smile and it warmed Jace to the core. Isabel scowled at his choice of words bringing his attention back to her 'o so' warm welcome.
"Hey Izzy think of the upsides, you get to hang out with yours truly all day. You're welcome," he said cockily.
Isabel made a face that brought that devilish crooked grin to his face, also causing both Alec and Max to fall over with laughter.
"Man it's good to be back," Jace said relishing in Alec and Max's laughter.
Clary's POV
"I know you were just trying to do the right thing, but I don't think you need to use those supernatural perks of yours to do it." Clary lectured him while doing the dishes after dinner.
She wasn't very impressed he'd used his vampire powers in a room full of people who didn't even have the slightest clue about the shadow world. Having Eric bragging about a vampire being a part of their band, is only going to draw attention from the Clave and her mother was very steadfast on still being presumed dead and staying as far from trouble as possible. They didn't actually want to make it any easier for 'him' to find them.
"I know! How many times do I have to apologise before you forgive me?" Simon said leaning against the counter with a flask full of blood in his hand, looking rather content to actually feel sorry for what he'd done.
"Until you mean it! This is serious Simon, and I have to say it feels awfully idiotic to be telling you this, of all people," Clary said emphasizing the 'you' while moving to the cupboard to pack away the now dry dishes.
"Okay-okay I get it! There's no need to chop my head off you know," he said a little sarcastic. "Besides they didn't notice anything in anyway, you're just over reacting now you're a little too sensitive if you ask me. Like Eric." He said taking a swig from the flask.
"Unlike Eric I have a reason to be and you know that," she said sounding distinctly pissed at that moment a scowl forming on her face when she saw the wet patch running diagonally across her favourite blue blouse from leaning against the sink.
"I know and I am truly sorry Clary," he said finally sounding sincere.
"There was that so bad, a sincere apology didn't kill you after all," Clary said looking up with a sardonic smile on her face, mocking him for his tediousness.
"Ok Fray I get the point, I'll try my best not to do it again," Simon said rolling his eyes at her choice of words.
"Good that's all I wanted to know," Clary said walking towards the door leading to the living room where an old black and white horror movie was playing on TV.
They sat down on the couch facing the television set focusing on the movie which seemed to be something about Frankenstein. She couldn't exactly place her finger on it but it was on the tip of her tongue. So focused on figuring out the movie she wasn't really paying much attention to her surroundings that when there was even the slightest knock she nearly jumped of the couch. Grabbing a seraph blade she inched towards the door. It was much too late for visitors, because of that reason the unexpected knock put Clary on edge. She opened it slightly blade ready to strike just in case it was an unwanted visitor. Cautiously studying the person outside the door she saw something familiar. Lowering her arm so the blade rested at her side she opened the door completely. There in the pale glow of the moon stood Raphael the acting leader of the vampire coven in Uptown New York while their leader Camille was in Idris for the Accords, the peace negotiations between Shadowhunters and Downworlders. He was just a little taller than she was with thick black curls tumbling over his forehead. The gold chain he always wore around his neck glittered in the moonlight. His open black V-neck t-shirt showing off his cross shaped scar on his chest perfectly.
"Raphael," Clary nodded her greeting. "What do you want?" she asked firmly holding the seraph blade in her right hand.
"You asked me to keep an eye out for a certain Eidolon demon." He said with his lovely Spanish accented voice.
"What of it?" She asked narrowing her eyes already anticipating his answer.
"He's in New York," Raphael said confirming her suspicions.