Yahoo! I'm back my fans! :D Over Spring Break I've been trying to take all the free time I have to transfer my chapters into a notebook I bought for this story. All the chapters were on my iPod so it took a lot of time, not to mention the finger cramps! Ugh... Anyway, since summer break is almost upon me I will most likely have a little more free time to work on this story. And those of you that knew of my other story: The Art of Swords, don't worry ! It will be coming back in the Summer of 2012! But, then again I have CST's in May, so during that month I may be busy with studying. XP*Sigh* Oh well! You can expect more updates and revisions as well. As I said beofre, I have made this chapter longer and more detailed! Check out my profile for some polls and updates. I have also been busy with reading fanfictions as well. But, enough about the time period and yada yada yada.~ Lets get back to the story!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Motrtal Instruments Series or anything else affiliated with it. All the wonderful characters go to Cassandra Clare.

Chapter 1

"Jace Herondale! Where are you? You are in so much trouble when I find you! Plus, you're totally buying new lipstick!" yelled a tall beauteous girl. Her name was Isabelle or Izzy for a nickname. She had charcoal colored eyes, pure black waist length hair, and a skin tone that marveled Snow White's, and she had the slim figure of an hour glass. Her lip color was a natural rose pink, but she often covered it with shining red lipstick. "Jace! Dang it Jace, where are you?" she continued to shout out. "I swear he acts like a five-year-old… Even Max is more mature, and he's ten!" Isabelle thought.

Isabelle Lightwood was obviously looking for her step-brother, Jace, in her spy gear. Yes, that's right, she's a spy, and her midnight black suit brought out her gorgeous features even more. The black leather stuck to her skin like glue, but allowed easy movement for combat. It shaped out even more of her chest, hips, and her thin, but firm, legs. She always wore five inch high heeled combat boots, and surprisingly she never lost balance during her fights.

And she was about ready to kick Jace's butt for the most unbelievable surprise her left in her room. See, she had just come back from a mission with her mother, Maryse. They had come back from an old abandoned warehouse where rebellious werewolves from the Downtown pack were trying to pick a fight with the head vampire clan. It was a known fact that the Moon's children and the Night's children did not get along very well.

The mission was to stop this battling that had been happening for the past four days and nights. Turns out the werewolves were also holding some illegal club that was not authorized buy HQ. It was a simple task her and her mother could do alone. A few guts and blood were shed, none of their own though. The rebels were taken into spy custody and were sent to the New York's base. The Dumont Vampire Clan was sent back to their residence in the abandoned hotel: Hotel Dumort.

All Isabelle wanted to do was strip off her blood stained gear and get rid of the stench of rotting guts and take a nice shower. Of course, that all changed when she finally reached the door to her room…

The walls were adorned by lipstick trails and the entire room was in a complete disaster. Clothes were scattered around the room, the closet was in disarray, her vanity table was a mess, her drawers were out and more clothes were spilling out of them, and finally her bedspread were strewn about the room. In other words, it looked like a twister had hit the place, and she had known, Jace had been in her room, again. By the time she had finished cleaning her room she had found the lipstick tube that was adorning the white painted walls.

So now she was still stuck in her wretched gear looking for Jace. She had screamed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. It echoed in the big empty hall of the Institute in which she lived in. On the outside it was disguised as an old abandoned church, but on the inside it was lushly furnished with many pieces of fine art, and many different levels. She was currently on the residential level. "I'm going to murder him when I find him…" Izzy muttered under her breath. Maybe Alec, her brother, would know where he went off too. "Alec! Where are you? Alec! ALEC! AL-!"

"Be quiet, Izzy!" A voice growled out. Isabelle turned her head to her left where she saw her older brother with an angry expression. He was coming out from behind a door with ruffled hair. His face held annoyance and when he spoke, irritation, "I was to get some sleep, Izzy. What's the big deal anyway? In about two hours I have a mission to go to Brooklyn, alone." He bit out. "You know how I am when I don't get my sleep." He crossed his muscled arms over his chest which was covered in a white T-shirt, and he wore men's sleeping pants. His hair feathered around his head from the nap he had taken.

Despite being Isabelle's older brother, he had some different features. His eyes were a crystal blue which were brought out even more from his jet black hair. His skin tone was the same as Izzy's. He had one more attribute – he was gay, but he didn't show much evidence to it. He wore simple clothes as much as possible and his hair had no highlights. When out on a mission he would wear the regular spy suit and the black combat boots as every other spy did, depending on their region.

He heard Isabelle huffed and turned her head away from her brother. "Alec!" she whined.

Alec sighed, "What is it, Isabelle?" He leaned up against the door jamb, waiting for his sister to explain.

"Do you know where Jace is?" she asked him, looking back up into his face. "I know he was in my room playing around." Isabelle huffed again and crossed her arms over her chest.

Alec raised a brow at his sister. "Are you sure it was Jace and not Max? Jace is seventeen and Max is only ten. It could have been Max this time."

Isabelle shook her head and said, "Pfft. Please, Jace acts like he's the ten year old. Max is way more mature. At least you and I are more mature for our age…" She trailed off with her eyes closed and a smirk plastered on her face.

Alec snorted in annoyance and rolled his eyes. He watched as Izzy opened her eyes and looked at him with a frown. "Isabelle, I know I'm mature. I'm eighteen, I'm supposed to act mature, but you cry over a broken nail and your sixteen." He smirked at sister who looked about ready to smack him upside the head.

Izzy growled out, "Do you know how long it takes to get me to do them perfectly? And right when I finish I end up getting called out on a mission where I end up fighting some simpleminded human or raged up downworlder? Then, it turns out that they made me bust a nail. If you were more homosexual and hung out with me or mom more you might understand… Anyway, have you seen Jace or not?"

Alec sighed, "He was called into the main library about a mission. Hodge said it was important…" He trailed off pondering about it.

Isabelle was about to say something when both siblings heard the ruffle of feathers. They both turned their attention to right to see nothing but the empty hallway they stood in. The walls were made of oak and stained a dark burgundy. The ceiling was painted with different scenes with angels, cherubs, and etc. The hallway was carpeted a dark red with golden crosses.

Isabelle and Alec heard the ruffle of feathers again and looked up into the dark rafters above them. They saw nothing but darkness at first, then they were both staring into a pair of onyx colored eyes. It was Hugo; Hodge's pet crow. Hodge is their private tutor, retired spy, and one of the seven residents living in the Institute. See, there were seven people and two animals altogether living in the New York Institute. All together the people were Maryse, Robert, Hodge, Hugo, Church, Alec, Jace, Isabelle, and Max.

Isabelle was the first to speak, "Hugo! What are you doing? Did Hodge send you? Are you merely looking for that lazy cat, Church?" She put her hands on her hips. Alec held out his arm and Hugo flew down from the rafters with a loud caw.

"Look, he has something in his beak. A note maybe?" Alec asked as he stroked the belly of Hugo with his index finger. He watched as Izzy took the small rolled up piece of parchment colored paper. "Well what does it say?"

Izzy looked u from the paper at her brother with an annoyed expression, "I just started reading the paper. Relax Alexander." She looked back down at the paper and continued reading it. "It seems… It seems that Hodge has a dangerously important mission for Jace, you, and I. Hodge also wrote to see him immediately in the main library after the retrieval of this message. And that's all it says," Isabelle stated looking up at her brother. "Wow! Hodge must think were ready for this kind of mission.

Alec walked over behind Isabelle, Hugo ruffling his feathers softly. When Alec got behind his sister, he peered over her shoulder rereading the message. When he finished reading he slapped Isabelle upside the head, Hugo flying off his arm with angry caws. "That's all it said huh? Nothing about my other mission huh? I believe you forgot to read all of it, sister. I believe it said something about dad taking over my other mission. You were going to make a fool outta me?" Alec growled out low with venom laced in his voice.

Isabelle was on her knees, the message laying on the floor in front of her, and her hands rubbing the back of her head. Hugo was flying in circles above her with angry caws directed towards her. "You didn't have to smack me in the head for it! You could've asked me about it…" Isabelle grumbled. She looked over her shoulder to find Alec's retreating form down the hall, Hugo flying closely behind. "Hey where are you going?" Izzy shouted as she got back up on her feet.

Alec stopped in the middle of the hall and Hugo landed on his shoulder. He turned his head towards his sister, "I don't know if you remember, but Hodge said to go see him immediately after we got the message." Alec turned his head back and began walking down the hall again.

Izzy got up quickly and ran off down the hall, shouting, "Hey! Wait up!"

A young man was sitting in a plush red chair. He was tall, slender, but muscular, and he was gorgeous. He had long curly blond hair that reached his eyes, gold colored eyes, with silver specks, and just to be quick – he looked like an angel. He looked perfect, well except for the small chip in his front bottom tooth. This was Jace.

Jace was currently sitting across from the Institute's tutor, Hodge. They were both awaiting the arrival of Alec and Isabelle in the main library. Hodge was sitting behind a large, well-crafted oak desk. He was wearing a fine pressed tweed suit and Jace was wearing his spy suit with his gear strapped to his belt.

A few minutes of quietness went by without a word said. Jace was just idly sitting in his chair while twirling one of his blades between his fingers. Hodge was waiting patiently for the two arrivals while he was sipping tea. It was a known fact that Hodge was quite skilled with herbal remedies to cure almost anything. Then, the great oak double doors to the library busted open and came rushing the two expectants.

"My, why are you two so late? I sent Hugo out only ten minutes ago. I had the feeling both of you were together, so it should've taken five minutes at the least." Hodge sat back up on his chair as he watched Alec and Isabelle take their seats next to Jace, Isabelle slapping him upside the head while she sat next to him. Hugo came flying in silently and circled his master's head before landing gently on his right shoulder. Hodge flinched from even the light weight on his shoulder, evidence of an old would.

Jace spoke next, putting his blade away in its pocket that was stitched to his belt, "We have a very important mission on our hands guys, but with me and my total awesomeness, I believe we can make it" His famous arrogant smirk was plastered on his pale lips, and grew larger at Izzy. "Have something on your mind, dear Isabelle? Or are you refraining from tackling me to the chair and strangling me to death?"

Hodge cleared his throat, "Isabelle, calm down, and Jace, just shut up for once. This is very important." When all attention was on him he spoke, "You three all remember the lesson on the great spy Valentine, correct?" All three heads nodded. "And you remember our history lesson about him?" Three more nods.

"He was cruel and wanted to take over the world, right? When his plans failed he decided to kill himself and the rest of his family" Izzy explained to the amazement of everyone. All three pairs of eyes were wide-eyed and staring at her. "What? Even I pay attention during lessons."

Jace snorted, "Yea, now if only you learned how to cook…" He looked over at Isabelle who was fuming. She hated it how he teased her for not knowing how to cook. Heck she makes great fish and liver soup, but the fish was whole and the liver was another story…

Hodge took back the attention by slamming his left hand on the desk. The startled crow from his shoulder jumped a little in the air with a surprised caw. "Jace as I said before shut up. Well it seems Valentine, well…"

"Well…" Alec dragged out, speaking for the first time since he came into the library. "What it is? It's not like Valentine came back from the dead and is showing his face again." Alec snorted at the unlikely possibility. He knew his and his family's remains were buried on guarded spy ground.

Hodge gave a look of knowing. "Apparently, he has."

Oh boy! More details good for you guys? I hope so! See ya again next time in the next chapter of The Art of Spying. Chow for Now! :D

Fact: Did you know I was oringally gonna call this The Art of Spying and Loving? But I thought the title was a little too long so I just cut with this. ^u^ Tell me what'cha think about this name and which you prefer in the polls on my profile.