The Mortal Instruments: Fanfiction

(Note: This story takes place after the events of the fifth book in the series. All happenings are fictional and most likely will not transpire in the real books)

Hello dear readers! Before we begin, there are a few things I need to say. First of all, this is a Mortal Instruments Fanfiction, and it contains spoilers for pretty much the whole series. Okay, now, I know that there are many MALEC fangirls out there (I am one myself) so it may seem strange that this fanfiction is NOT a MALEC pairing. Now, I know what you're all thinking; WTF? They're awesome together, how could you put Magnus with someone else, blah blah blah. Now, I totally understand, but I am asking you, the good people who take the time to read my stories, not to judge. I cannot back down from a challenge, and when one of my friends challenged me to give Magnus another partner, I decided; I can do that. I love MALEC as much as the next fan girl/boy, but the point is that this story tales place right after CoLS, and Alec and Magnus are no longer together (SPOILER! Right there, but I did warn you). So I ask you please to read and enjoy, and please do not flame me for any lack of MALEC, because I too feel badly about it. No flames please!

Disclaimer: Do I LOOK like I could own any of the characters except Arella? No. I'm not even out of college yet, for the Angel's sake.

Night draped itself over the walls of the Institute like a velvet blanket, covering every nook and cranny of the building; save for where the witchlight runes burned from their stones. Alec and Magnus were nestled under the covers of their bed, both snoring softly and fast asleep. Down the hall, Jace and Clary were in a similar situation, though neither of them snored. But Isabelle found herself unable to sleep that night. Something had felt wrong when she climbed into bed, and she couldn't shake this strange sense of foreboding that clouded her mind with worry. Normally, sleep came easily, especially after a long day of training like today. But now she found herself staring out the open window from her bed, watching as the stars turned across the indigo sky with the moon, clouds illuminated by its light. Why couldn't she sleep? She considered waking Jace, but she didn't want to disturb him, and Alec was an absolute nightmare if he was disturbed at this sort of hour. So, without any other option, Isabelle had resigned herself to spending the rest of the night watching the sky, hoping that maybe she would get lucky and see a shooting star or something of interest. With a sigh, she glanced down at the sidewalk and gasped aloud, nearly falling out of bed. A girl was leaning against the wrought iron fence that surrounded the Institute, and it was clear from the way she was staring at the building that she was not a mundane. Humans would see only a crumbling church; the glamour would make sure of that. But this girl was staring as if she could see the vast parapets and tall windows hidden to normal eyes. She was also clutching her right shoulder, and even in the half-light Isabelle could see the dark stain of blood upon her jacket sleeve. Something strange shivered up her spine, like a spark or bolt of energy, and it was accompanied by an odd feeling that she had never felt before. Nervous now, she bolted out of bed, grabbing her knife from the bedside table and rushing to Jace's room… But it was empty.

"Damnit, Jace!" she groaned, then sprinted in the other direction. When she reached the door to Clary's room she hesitated, and then burst inside, knowing that now really wasn't the time to worry about what she might walk in on.

"Jace, get up!" she shouted, rushing to the bed and shaking him. Clary jolted, sitting up and shaking her fiery red hair from her eyes.

"Isabelle? What's going on?" she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes and blinking at Isabelle.

"Someone's outside." Isabelle said, still trying to rouse Jace. "Jace, come on! Wake up!" he groaned and rolled over, glowering at her.

"It's probably a drunk mundane… You know how they wander around." He said with a dismissing wave of his hand. "Go back to sleep, Isabelle. You've been too paranoid recently." Isabelle growled, grabbing Jace's arm and pulling him into a seated position.

"Jace, this is not normal. She can see the Institute… For all we know she might be a demon, or something worse." Clary, who had been listening intently, jumped out of bed, throwing a sweater on over her tank top and sleep shorts.

"Jace, let's at least look. If you're right and it's nothing, then we can go right back to sleep." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But Isabelle is right; we can't overlook anything, especially with everything that's just happened." Jace frowned, but got up, stretching and grabbing his seraph blade from the dresser drawer.

"Fine. But if this is some drunk mundane, and I have to go out there and deal with it, you're both in trouble." He said, slumping out into the hall with the girls close behind him. They reached the front door in a matter of moments, and the odd sensation slipped down Isabelle's spine again.

"Do you feel that?" she asked, but the wide-eyes expression on Clary's face gave her the answer. Jace noticed as well, and his steps became more hesitant.

"What is it?" he asked, one hand on the door, ready to go outside.

"I have no idea. But see, that's how I knew something wasn't right. This doesn't feel like anything… Usual." Isabelle said, unable to apply the word 'normal' to their situation. Clary hung close behind Jace, her hand resting on his arm. Cautiously, he pushed the door open and slipped out into the cool night. Mist hung over everything, and the strange spark that filled them all seemed to be affecting the air as well; everything was crackling with a gentle energy. The girl was closer now, looking up the steps at the three of them.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Jace shouted. The girl lurched forward a bit, the bloodstains apparent and growing on her clothing.

"I apologize for infringing… I saw the building and thought… Thought that you might offer me sanctuary…" she said, a bit breathlessly. Isabelle glanced at Jace, who seemed unsure, and at Clary, who looked like she wanted nothing more than to help.

"What do you think?" she asked. Jace shrugged his broad shoulders.

"I don't know… But I don't sense anything demonic about her. Still, she's definitely not a mundane, that's for sure." He replied, staring down the stairs with his blade held out in front of him. Clary and Isabelle followed apprehensively, ready for a fight, or maybe an ambush. The girl could be bait and, with someone like Sebastian on the loose, only the Angel knew what was to come next. They reached her, and the scent of blood was overwhelming, coppery and thick. Jace extended his free hand to the girl and she took it; he was alarmed to feel how much she was trembling, how cold she was. Clary moved in behind her, supporting her as they climbed the steps and retreated inside.

Jace deposited the girl on the couch, watching as she whimpered and clutched at her shoulder.

"Are you a Shadowhunter?" Isabelle asked, rather bluntly, and Jace glared at her. "What? If she is, then we can heal her with an iratze. It'll take less time." She said indignantly.

"No… But an iratze will do just fine." The girl said, surprising all three of them. Runes were poison to Downworlders; they burned their skin like acid, and humans would die and become Fallen if Runes were to be inked on their skin. Jace hesitated, then handed Clary the steele and moved aside.

"Jace… If she's not a Shadowhunter, then she'll die." Isabelle said, pulling Clary back. The girl gave a light chuckle.

"If you want proof…" she sat up and, with a great effort, pulled her jacket off. The first thing they all saw was the gaping wound on her shoulder, obviously made by a rather large and very sharp set of teeth. The second was the single Rune inked at her collarbone, a deep burgundy color and unrecognizable amidst the blood. There was more ink on her shoulders and trailing down her back, but Clary didn't take the time to decipher the image before carefully inking the Rune onto the girl's fair skin. She sighed audibly as the ink set and her wounds began sealing themselves, glowing faintly silver as they healed. "Thank you… That feels much better." The girl leaned back against the cushions, being careful to keep the blood off of the couch. Clary smiled, but Jace looked unconvinced.

"So, if you aren't a Shadowhunter, and you aren't a mundane or a Downworlder, then what are you?" he asked. The girl shrugged.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure. I find it hard to answer questions I don't know the answer to myself." She replied with a coy smile. Isabelle snorted a little, grabbing the jacket from the girl and throwing it on the table.

"What the hell happened to you anyway? Looks like something tried to eat you, for the Angel's sake." She said, moving to sit on the couch next to her.

"I ran into a demon… And I don't currently have the strength to fight." The girl said, running a hand over her newly-healed shoulder. "It managed to get a bite in before I could escape… And then I made my way here. But- we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Arella." She said, extending her hand to Isabelle, who took it and shook.

"Isabelle Lightwood. Pleasure to meet you." She said. Arella smiled, offering the introduction to Clary.

"I'm Clary. Clary Fray." She said, taking a seat next to Isabelle. When Jace said nothing, she glared pointedly at him.

"Oh fine." He said, and then extended his own hand with a sigh. "Jace Lightwood." Arella rolled her eyes but returned the gesture. A strange silence fell over the trio; they could hear Alec's bed creaking as he or Magnus shifted in their sleep. Isabelle shot a dirty look in the direction of her brother's room and Jace snickered.

"Calm down there, Isabelle. If they weren't both asleep, they'd be out here already to see what all the fuss is." He said, giving her a light and playful tap on the shoulder.

"I know… I just worry about him. About what would happen if something went wrong again." Jace fell silent; he remembered what had happened. Magnus had left Alec, and it had taken over two weeks of pleading to get them back together. Even now that they seemed on good terms and everything looked back to normal, the two didn't act as close as they once did, Magnus angered and Alec utterly depressed. The mortality difference was a bit of a hurdle, but Isabelle and Clary had been working round the clock, trying to brainstorm potential solutions that didn't involve Alec becoming a Downworlder. So far, they had come up with nothing.

"Well, we have a few spare rooms that you could stay in." Jace said, breaking the silence and drawing attention back onto the current situation. "That is, unless you want to leave." Arella shook her head, looking just a bit sheepish.

"If it isn't too much trouble, I think I'll stay. I really don't have anywhere else to go." She said. Isabelle frowned at Jace; she knew he was trying to drive her out on purpose now. He just didn't want to deal with an unknown guest, who could do anything to them while they slept. Hell, they didn't even know what this girl was. But Isabelle knew to trust her instincts, and she sensed nothing dangerous about Arella… She was just a bit unusual.

"Come on. The room next to mine is free. Simon's is a bit further down the hall, but he's out tonight." She said, not wanting to worry about what he might be doing. Even if he was a Daylighter, he no longer had the Mark of Cain to protect him should anyone decide to attack. And with Sebastian on the loose… She shook her head to clear it of such thoughts; fretting like this would get her nowhere. Besides, Simon was a vampire; he could handle himself just fine. Arella followed her down the hall to the spare room while Jace and Clary watched them go.

"I don't trust her." Jace said. "How can she not know what she is? I'm not buying it." Clary sighed; he did have a rather good point.

"But Isabelle was right, I didn't feel anything demonic about her. Maybe she is a Shadowhunter and doesn't know it, like I was before you found me." But Jace was shaking his head.

"She knows what we are. If she was a Shadowhunter, I guarantee that she would be able to tell us. So how does she have a Rune then, if she isn't one of us? Mundanes can't withstand Runes." Clary didn't know what to say. She had never heard of anything like this ever happening before, maybe the girl was like Jace's inner fire, which he had gained when she had been forced to stab him with an Angelic sword.

"Come on, let's go to bed." She said, taking his hand and pulling him down to her room. Jace sighed, peeling off his shirt and dropping back onto the mattress, rolling over and closing his eyes. Clary didn't even object when he gathered most of the blankets near him; she could tell that he was actually worried, no matter how much he tried to hide it. Slipping under the remaining sheets, she closed her eyes, but it would be a while before her mind quieted down enough for her to fall asleep.

The next morning dawned uneventfully, much to Clary's relief. Isabelle was already awake by the time she and Jace made their way into the kitchen, and even then he was still yawning and looked asleep on his feet. Alec and Magnus were also awake, seated on the couch where Arella had lain. Maybe it had all been a dream.

"So, what happened in here last night?" Alec asked, avoiding Magnus' eye. "The whole room reeks like blood." Isabelle opened her mouth to explain, but at that moment there was the sound of a door opening and closing, and all eyes turned to the hallway. Arella was standing in the doorway, looking at all of them with wide eyes.

"Oh… Am I interrupting?" she said, stepping into the room. Isabelle had obviously left her some clothes, because Clary was quite certain that she had not been wearing that halter top last night. Alec was gaping at herm but Magnus just looked uncomfortable.

"No, not at all. We were just starting to make breakfast… Do you want anything?" Isabelle asked, flicking on the stove and spraying a pan with some Pam.

"Yes, if it isn't an trouble." Arella replied, taking a seat on the edge of the couch and turning to Alec and Magnus. "I'm Arella… Nice to meet you." She said, perhaps a bit shyly. Alec just nodded; the strange sensation the girl produced was obviously effecting him as well, but Magnus ignored the greeting, turning to stare at the wall and looking frustrated. Jace put his arms around Clary and sat her down at the table, watching as Arella curled her knees to her chest and absently ran her fingertips over the tattoo on her shoulder. Now that she was cleaned and her back exposed, Clary could make out a complex and very large design inked there.

"Arella? May I ask what that is on your back?" she said, feeling a bit intrusive. But Arella smiled, lifting her long auburn hair and turning. Imprinted on her skin was an impressive image; two immense tawny wings folded tight and held in place by black chains. Even Jace looked impressed, which was not an easy feat.

"Wow… Where did you get that done?" Isabelle asked. "Because that must be an awesome tattoo parlor." Arella laughed, dropping her hair and sitting back down.

"Honestly, I don't remember getting that either. I was probably with my friends… and plastered." She admitted, going slightly red in the face. "I used to hang out with a rough crowd… But then I left and… Okay, I ran away from home." Jace was watching her, obviously looking for any sign of a lie. Isabelle, on the other hand, was totally entranced by the story.

"What happened?" she asked. Arella shrugged.

"Again, I couldn't tell you. My memory is full of holes." She said. Alec looked to Magnus, who ignored his gaze once again.

"You might be able to do something about it, right?" he asked.

"No." Magnus said indignantly, in a tone that signaled the end of the discussion. Isabelle wanted to argue, but Alec shook his head and then stood up, fleeing the room. Magnus cringed when they heard the door slam, frowning at the wall. Arella smiled, a little sadly, and glanced over at Magnus.

"What?" he snapped, gritting his teeth.

"Nothing. I just… feel sad." She said with a sigh. "It isn't a good feeling, what I sense in him. Confliction, regret, sadness… Love." Magnus slammed his fist down on the arm of the couch, breathing heavily. He sat there smoldering for a while as the others just watched him and Arella, waiting for him to snap again. But he didn't. Arella rested a hand on his shoulder, and the anger seemed to drain away from him as he slumped forward on the couch, tears at the corners of his cat-like eyes.

"He betrayed me… Lied to me." Magnus mumbled, looking more like a distraught teenager than a powerful warlock.

"I know. But was he really trying to hurt you? Or did he honestly think that what he was trying to do was for the best?" Arella asked. Magnus shrugged as she pulled her hand away and curled back into her own corner. "I think… That if you're lucky enough to have someone who loves you, you should fight for him." Her voice was small, wistful sounding, and Isabelle looked sympathetic. Jace, on the other hand, looked even more concerned now, his eyes boring into Arella with distrust. Clary tugged on his sleeve and he relented, dropping into a chair next to her and clasping her hands in his. Isabelle deposited a stack of pancakes on the table and, much to everyone's surprise, they actually smelled delicious. Normally, Isabelle's cooking wasn't much to write home about, but this actually looked alright. Arella joined them at the table, situating herself as far away from the others as possible and eating silently. Clary noticed that Jace still peered over at her from time to time; normally this would make her feel insecure, but it was the look of suspicion in his eyes that comforted her. Of course Jace was just worried about her and the others here. He had been against helping Arella in the first place, and it didn't help that they still had no idea what she could do, aside from that weird display with Magnus just moments ago. Clary had never seen anyone calm the warlock down like that…Not even Alec could affect him that quickly, and that was when they were on good terms. Arella cleared her plate when she was done and then retreated to her room. If it hadn't been for the intense Shadowhunter training and excellent hearing, none of them would have heard her footsteps on the stone floor.

"I need to talk with her." Jace said, standing up and tossing his plate in the sink. Isabelle stopped him, looking stern.

"Jace, we all know how you are with people-"

"You mean charming and handsome?" he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Isabelle shook her head, but Clary interrupted.

"I'll do it. Jace can be in the room, but I think that if we approach her too strong she might be less likely to answer honestly. And I know your theories," she looked at Jace. "About what she might be, but I don't get the feeling that she's working for Sebastian. I just don't get that bad feeling from her." She said. He frowned, but knew that he was both outnumbered and out reasoned.

"Fine." He said stiffly, drumming his fingertips against the table. Clary smiled at Isabelle who winked; they knew the battle was well won. She stood and made her way into the hall, Jace following closely behind her. When they reached the door he moved to push it open, but Clary grabbed his arm and then knocked.

"Come in!" Arella said from inside, and she slowly opened the door, keeping Jace behind her. Arella was laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, but she turned when the two of them entered. "Yes? Do you need something?" she asked.

"Yes… Actually, we need to speak with you." Clary said, glaring pointedly at Jace, who was scowling at the carpet, not pleased that he was being kept silent. "We need to know who you are and where you come from." Arella was quiet for a moment, then she sat up, brushing her hair behind her ears as she twisted around to face them.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." She said. Jace laughed openly, crossing his arms and staring at her.

"We fight demons for a living. We're half human, half angel. I doubt there's anything we can't believe." He said. Arella frowned at him.

"Some things are beyond even your minds. You Shadowhunters have strict rules of what is and is not to be. And it is your Clave that forced me to leave my home in the first place, though I had committed no crime." She said, a hint of loathing in her voice. "If your Clave were to hear of my whereabouts, they would hunt me down and kill me, and you would all be punished as well for harboring me." Jace instantly turned and made for the door, but Clary grabbed his arm and Arella gave a terrified yelp.

"Jace, wait." Clary said, but he yanked his arm out of her grasp.

"Why should I? She's just admitted that she's wanted. If we turn her in now that we know this, we could be sanctioned, our Runes could be stripped. Is that what you want?" he shouted, looking half angered and half scared.

"Jace, we can't just turn her over! Didn't you hear her? She's done nothing wrong! And I'm not getting a demonic aura from her at all… At least hear her out." Clary pleaded, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him in place. He sighed and stopped struggling, and Arella relaxed.

"Fine. But I want the whole story. What are you? And why is the Clave seeking you?" Jace asked. Arella straightened up.

"I should not exist. The Clave and my father consider me to be a mistake. My mother… I have no relationship with her, nor do I want one. Like you, I am half angel. My father is Raziel." Jace gaped at her, and Clary could tell that he wanted to interrupt, but Arella pressed on. "Unfortunately, my other bloodline is not so pure… My mother is a Greater Demon, Nephet, a succubus-"

"That's a lie!" Jace shouted, stepping forward and glaring at her. "Half demon and half angel? It's impossible. No angel would ever mate with a demon; especially not Raziel." Clary was tugging on his arm, but he refused to listen. Arella jerked back, scowling back at him, violet eyes into blue.

"Have you ever known Raziel? I sense his blood in you; you've met him. My father was careless, when he met my mother he was younger. She saved his life when he got into a rough spot with a Prince of Hell- Azazel himself. He was wounded and I will admit; my mother was entranced by him, as he was by her. You know what happened next, I'm the result. But when I was born and Raziel found out, he instantly tried to have me killed. You see, I was an abomination. Something not to exist. It was even thought to be an impossibility before I came along. I've been alive for two hundred years, and every single one of those years I have been hunted by my father. The Clave only knows of me from recent events; a Shadowhunter saw me hunting an animal." Jace had begun to relax, but he was still tense, ready for a fight any moment. Clary, on the other hand was confused.

"Hunting?" she asked. Arella brushed the question off.

"It's a long explanation. All you need to know is that I hunt animals and not people." She leaned back against the pillows, watching Jace warily. "So what? Are you going to turn me in? Let the Clave burn me? Because it won't work. But when they realize that, they will hand me over to my father, and he will smite me himself." Jace looked away, mumbling under his breath. Clary could see that he was conflicted, and she was too. Disobeying the Clave was serious, but she couldn't watch them kill Arella. It wasn't right.

"No. We won't turn you in." she said.

"Clary, are you serious?" Jace snapped, twisting around to stare at her. She stared right back, determined.

"Yes, I am. Jace, we can't. She isn't working for Sebastian; if she was a vampire, the Clave would let her live because she chooses animals over people. She doesn't break any laws. Why should it matter who her mother is?" Arella smiled.

"Thank you. But I understand if you want me to leave. I wouldn't want the Clave to be angry with you as well." She said. Jace nodded, but Clary shook her head.

"No. We can't just kick you out. You're half angel… We're the same in that way." She said. Jace groaned, throwing his hand into the air in an expression of defeat. "You know that Isabelle would think the same, as would Magnus."

"Magnus doesn't count." Jace said exasperatedly. "He's a Downworlder." Clary rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Then Alec would agree." Arella shook her head.

"Please… Can we keep this between us? I like Isabelle and Alec and Magnus. I don't want to frighten them off. Many people don't react all that well to my true identity." Jace grumbled again as Clary nodded in agreement.

"Great, just great. Let's not tell everyone that there's a half angel half demon living with us, who just happens to be wanted by the Clave and could get us all killed!" he said. Arella flinched.

"If you want me to leave, I will." She repeated, but again Clary shook her head.

"No. You're staying. I'm not sending you out there just to be hunted down again. If it comes to it, we can try reasoning with the Clave. It's worked before." In truth, Clary could barely think of even one time when the Clave had listened to reason, but she didn't need to frighten Arella further. Arella smiled.

"Thank you. And thank you, Jace." She said, but Jace ignored her and stormed out of the room, looking very unhappy. Clary ignored this and took Arella's hand.

"Come on. I'll show you around. What do you want to see?" she asked. Arella thought for a moment.

"Do you have an archery range? Or a weapons room?" A bit taken aback, Clary nodded, and Arella's face lit up in a smile.