Chapter 1: I Don't Need a Babysitter

I was five years old the first time I saw Jace, the golden boy with the sad eyes. He stood there while my father decided his fate. I had seen him from time to time after that when Mr. Wayland would report in. Mr. Wayland wasn't what I would call a warm person and not someone I would pick to raise a child who had just lost both of his parents. However, I wouldn't leave a child in the care of my father either, but that didn't change the fact that he had always been in charge of my brother and me.

It's been some thirteen since the first time I saw Jace standing in our living room and there he was standing yet again as I walk in. My eyes flit over Jace and land on my father who beckons me forward.

"Clarissa," my father's cold voice comes, "this is Jace Wayland, he will be in charge of your personal security." I roll my eyes.

"I do not need a babysitter," I say harshly. I see Jace tense out of the corner of my eye.

"It was not a request," my father replies, his voice is low and dangerous.

"Whatever," I say, unable to let myself fully conceed, no matter how much that is the smarter option. I turn from both men, set on leaving them when cold, hard fingers wrap around my wrist. I don't need to look to know who it is, the tightness already uncomfortable. I look into those flat blue eyes.

"You will show me respect." The fingers dig into my wrist. I bite my tongue, now was really not the time to say anything. The corners of his mouth pull up, "You're dismissed," he says. "You may wait in your room while I finish with Mr. Wayland. He will collect you when I'm done." My father releases me wrist and I walk to my room.

Once the door is safely locked with me inside, I slump down to the floor. The anger swirls inside me dangerously. I slip into my chair at my desk and turn my notebook to a fresh page. I begin to sketch, pouring everything into the page and trusting it more than I would ever trust a human.

A solid knock on the door startles me.

"Miss Morgenstern?" Jace calls as he knocks again. I roll my eyes but walk to the door anyways. I open it with a bored expression already in place.

"What?" I sigh. His jaw tightens for a second before he inhales.

"You had plans?" he says evenly.

"Of course, let me grab my purse," I turn back to my room and closed the door in his face. I neatly put my picture away before throwing on some sandals and grabbing my purse. When I open, Jace hasn't moved. I can see the fire dancing in his gold eyes.

"Let's go," I say happily and I can see his muscles straining under the suit as he turns to head to the car. Just because my father wants me to have a babysitter doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for the poor bastard.

"Miss Morgenstern," Jace holds the door as I step out of the back of the sleek black sedan. I don't look back at him as I head into the coffee shop. Maia already has a table so I take a seat across from her. Jace's eyes sweep the whole cafe before he pulls seat out from the table and sets it off to the side of me. I guess I should be glad he isn't going to be standing there the whole time, drawing even more attention.

"Who's the hottie in the suit?" Maia comments to me loudly. I can see Jace smirk out of the corner of my eye, but I pay him no mind.

"My father received a bit of a threat or something so he insisted on a babysitter," I say.

"Who knew the consulting business could be so exciting," she winks.

I roll my eyes, "Just ignore him. How is Jordan doing?" Maia lights up just like I knew she would.

"He is a-maz-ing!" she squeals. "I can never thank you enough for hooking us up. He is perfect in every way." She sighs with contemptment and I hold my smile in place. I'm happy for her, really. It's just…

"Have you talked to Simon recently?" Maia asks. The whole cafe goes quiet for me and I'm struggling to breathe. I can feel Jace's eyes on me, but my voice doesn't shake when I answer.

"No, not really. How is he?"

"He's okay, I mean it's hard of course, but he's getting through it. I'm surprised you haven't talked."

"It's just been hard keeping in touch with the distance, you know and I don't even know what I would say if I was to talk to him," I lie easily, well, half lie. Maia nods sympathetically. She reaches over and places a hand on mine.

"I know," she says. "But I'm sure he would love to hear from you. Just call him, kay?" I smile up at her, so glad she doesn't know what she's talking about.

"I'll try," I promise with no intention of following through. "So how's the band?" I change the subject and just like that she's talking animatedly again. I let her ramble on with this safe topic until both of our cups are long empty. I hug her tightly when we stand up, making more empty promises to do this again soon. I slump in the back of the car as Jace pulls away from the curb. I'm much too exhausted for just having a large cup of coffee. But I know if has nothing to do with the coffee but rather the lies.

Jace escorts me to my room, but I just ignore him. I don't have the energy to try and annoy him further. He's opening the door for me when his phone goes off.

"Yes," he answers, then after a pause, "I understand." He clicks the phone shut and then follows me in. His eyes sweep the whole room before he heads into the adjoined bathroom. After a second he comes out, scanning the room again. I prop my hands on my hips.

"What's that all about?" He doesn't answer but goes to my door, shutting and locking it. He locks the window as well before turning to face me.

"There has been a breach of security on the perimeter, we are to stay here until further notice."

"Here? Together?" He nods, a small smirk pulling at his mouth. "No." He rolls his eyes at me.

"Calm it, Red. It shouldn't take that long." I turn and glare at him. His jaw tightens, "What's your problem, princess?" I raise my eyebrow at him.

"Princess?" I spat. He smirks down at me.

"You know, daughter of the king." My lip pulls up over my teeth in disgust. I growl and turn away from him.

"So…" he starts again, "Princess, you going to tell me what's wrong?" I spin around to face him, everything taking on a slightly red tint.

"You," I yell in his face, prodding his stone chest with my index finger. "I do not need some stack of muscle following me around everywhere. Nor do I want to be locked in my room with said muscle. So YOU are my problem." He smiled down at me and cursed my lack of height yet again.

"I didn't know I got you so hot and bothered." I turned from him and headed for the door. I was not dealing with this today. I felt his hand wrap around my arm. I stopped and eyed his hand.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me." His hand was quickly removed, but he stepped in front of me blocking the door.

"I haven't got the all clear yet," he said.

"I don't care."

"Well until I do, you will be staying here," he smirked.

"Try and stop me," I challenged and tried to step around him. He moved quickly to continue to block my path. He raised an eyebrow at another failed attempt. I turned from him. "I'm going to go take a shower."

"Need any help, princess?" I hear him chuckle but I slam the door to the bathroom and lock it without a word. God, couldn't my father of chosen someone a little less annoying.

I step into the hot water, instantly relaxing. I definitely need a break.

When I enter the room again, wrapped in a very fluffy bathrobe, Jace was lounging on the couch.

"Still here," I say.

"Would hate to disappear on you," he answers lazily.

"Oh, that would be a shame," I roll my eyes.

"Why don't you just admit it princess? You want me." He winks. I pause for a beat before offering up my own smile.

"It's true," I start, struggling to keep a straight face, "I do want you. I want you out of my room." Jace places his hand over his heart.

"Oh, you wound me princess."

"I will actually wound you if you keep calling me princess." He opened his mouth the reply, but his phone cut him off.

"Yes," he replied, opening his phone, but not taking his eyes off me. "I understand," he said after a pause, then ended the call before placing the phone in his pocket. He smirked at me. "That was the all clear."

"Thank god, now you can leave," I reply harshly.

"It would seem," he says, but he hasn't risen from the couch. I start to squirm under his scrutiny, aware that to spite the massive coverage, I am only wearing a bathrobe. The heat is creeping up my neck, bring with it a blush to my skin, and then he smirks. He stands and slowly takes measured steps towards me. My eyes narrow more and more as he approaches.

"I could go. Is that what you want?" he whispers, standing inches from me. "Princess?" And with that single word, the spell is broken. I use both hands and my full weight to push against him, but he only stumbles back a half step.

"Get out," I snap. I hear him chuckle as he heads for the door, a deep sounds that glides over my skin. But anger wins as the predominate emotion and I glare as he turns and does a little bow before exiting. I grab a pillow off the bed and send it spiraling towards the closed door. I can feel my temper boiling just beneath the skin. At 18 years old, I know just where my hot headedness leads and it's a dangerous place with my father home. I lock the door, the bolt clicking loudly to my overly alert ears. Then I throw myself onto my bed and grab a book. I'm half way through City of Bones and I can't quite convince myself not to wish there was someone to take down my demons. They just hurt more every day and there is no salvation in the sunlight. I sigh and try to bury myself further in the book. Don't think, just read, I command myself. And I do just that.