Prologue

Clary was sad. Her father was mean with harsh training and punishments for not obeying. Her brother was part demon and doesn't love or show any human emotion. All she wants is to run away. Her mom ran away after their father faked their deaths. Clary was only one month old at the time.

"Clarissa!" Her father's angry voice yells up at her. She shudders and buries herself in her blankets. She was going to run away soon. She could feel it.

Chapter 1

Smack! Our swords collide midair, causing a loud noise. Jonathan disarms me and strikes again. I feel the sword cut into my skin just above my wrists. Blood flows out and he smirks. Father likes us to train with real blades instead of wooden ones. I am weak from lack of sleep.

The nightmares had kept me up for hours last night, haunting me. The images of mangled bodies down in his testing room. The vampire repeatedly dumped into holy water, werewolves being practically bathed in silver, faeries being tortured, and even worse, the angel Ithuriel chained down and deathly looking. I had been wondering around one night when I was 12 and found the room full of these things. Every once in awhile I would get the dreams.

I get pushed onto the ground and I groan. The bruises on my ribs from the previous day reminding me of my pain. I do have a stele, but if I use it to heal injuries, father just hurts me more. It was my sixteenth birthday three days ago and I asked for a sketchbook. I drew pictures of a city that I learned about through books. It is called New York City and for some unknown reason, I feel a pull in my chest, begging me to go there like there is something for me there.

"Get up," fathers harsh voice commands. I obey, carefully to avoid any further pain. "Go practice the piano now, Clarissa." He wants me to learn piano and that is the only thing besides drawing that makes me happy. He dismisses us with a wave of his hand and I go to the music room.

Jonathan stays in the training room, practicing the things he's learned. We are both excellent shadowhunters but I can't beat him yet.

I sit down at the piano bench and start playing. I pour my emotions out into the piece of sad music. Sad mom left me. Sad I have no freedom. Sad I must obey every command father gives me. He gets frustrated whenever I remind him of mother. I am a spitting image of her, the same fiery red hair, the emerald green eyes, the same talent with art. I finish the music and look out the window, lost in thought.

I think of the only good memories if when I was younger and Jonathan was nicer to me. His old smile. His laugh of joy when we would run around the manor. The proud look when he would please father. Then I think of him now. His vicious, cruel smile. His demonic behavior. His satisfaction of seeing me hurt in training because of him.

I am jolted out of my thoughts by footsteps. I grab my book of runes, pretending to study them. I have a talent with them, able to create new runes. Father walks through the door and looks at me.

"Dinner is ready. Come eat." I nod and walk towards the door. He follows me into the dining hall, almost as if sensing my thoughts of escape. I sit down at his right, Jonathan right across from me on his left. He gives me a wicked smile and I glare back.

We begin eating our food. Today is steak, potatoes, corn, and some rice. It is our usual Friday dinner. We make small talk at the table, father asking him about his studies.

"And you, Clarissa? How is the studying going for you?"

"It's great, father. I have memorized almost all the existing runes."

"Wonderful." He stands up. "Now, go get some sleep. We will train in the morning again." I suppress a groan. Again?

He leaves the room and I quickly follow, afraid to be left alone with my brother. Last time that happened, well, lets say it wasn't pretty.

I shut my door to my room and grab my witchlight off my desk. It glows brightly, illuminating my light green walls. I go towards my closet and grab my bag. It was a gift from my father, for my fifteenth birthday. It as an enchanted backpack that can hold lots of things and won't feel heavy. He had Ragnor Fell enchant it, knowing that I wanted a bag like this. The bag is black, with a red C on the outside. It is also glamoured, so nobody can see it unless I want them to.

I grab all my gear from my closet first. I have three pairs of gear, in case they get ruined. Next, I grab my five seraph blades, putting one in my thigh sheath. I grab my mom's dagger and put that in my sheath too. I put my other dagger in the bag. I grab my favorite clothes next, shoving them into my bag. I get my sketchbook next, along with any art supplies I had.

My closet is almost empty now. I grab my shoes and the dresses that I only wear if we have company over. There. Now there is nothing left in my closet. I double-check then nod in satisfaction. I go over to my nightstand and grab my stele out if the drawer. I put that in my shirt pocket. I go into my bathroom and grab everything I need from there. I walk back into my room, witchlight in my hand.

I see a glint of silver and see my grandmother's box. S.M. is engraved on the side. It is wooden with silver latches on it. It is very beautiful, and was carved by her father. I open the box and see the Morgenstern and Fairchild family rings, side by side in the small box. I smile and put the Fairchild ring on my right hand ring finger. I put the box in my bag and look around the room. There is nothing left for him to use to track me with. I smile in satisfaction.

I suddenly realize one flaw in my plan. How am I going to escape? Even if I manage to escape the manor, how will I escape Idris? I didn't think of that. Portal. I need a portal. A rune comes to mind and I don't think. I draw it on the wall with my stele and it turns into a portal. Wow. That is amazing. I need to leave. Fast.

I think of a place that I have been dreaming of. That I felt a pull to.

New York City, here I come.

AN: I know people use this a lot with Clary being raised by Valentine, but i wanted to write one. I am currently writing the second chapter and will update ASAP. Leave your thoughts and suggestions by reviewing. See ya soon!

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns the characters and series. I only own this plot!