Dear Jace,

If Jonathon is coming, then I can't stay here. I'll never risk losing you or anyone else, too many people have died already protecting me. I never wanted you to put your life on the line, so I'm leaving and I can't come back. I'm going to back to the mundane world.

But please know that I have always loved you,

Clarissa Morgenstern


TWO YEARS LATER

I pull a backpack over one shoulder and grab the keys to my flat. I run out of the door and lock it behind me quickly. The cool air makes my skin tingle gently. I breath in the fresh air and set off down the street.

I've been living in London for about 2 years now. I enrolled in a local college and I'm studying art. I enjoy it but it's been weird going back to mundane society. I still carry weapons and a stele though, I like to be careful. Jonathon was found a few weeks ago, but I can't go back to the institute. It's been 2 years. I know they won't have forgotten me, but I couldn't face seeing then again, him again. I tell myself every day that I'm over Jace, which I am, but I still couldn't face him.

I only live a few blocks away from my college, which is useful. I push walk through the entrance and head towards the art block. I slip into my classroom and pull my portfolio out of my bag. I arrange my things. I'm working on portraits. Part of me still hurts when I remember all the portraits I drew of Jace.

The tutor enters the room and I busy myself on the portrait of a little girl I'm drawing. The boy in front turns round and flashes me a smile. I try to smile back but part of me feels bad. It feels like cheating. But I suppose that Jace will have found someone new by now. The boy in front of me turns back around and I turn my attention back to the girl I'm drawing.

Fifty minutes later, I pull my bag back onto my shoulder and leave the classroom. I'm due in Art Technology in 20 minutes but I'm hungry so I head to the canteen. I buy a cereal bar and pay the smiling lady. I have a few minutes to kill before class so I take the long way to class. I'm just about to head back to the art block, when I hear a shriek from a nearby corridor.

I spin round and run down the corridor towards the source of the sound. I peer around the corner into the entrance to the IT block and draw breath quickly.

A demon has a girl pinned against the wall. The girl is white with terror and the demon is snarling quietly. I reach slowly into the pocket of my bag and pull out the seraph blade I keep in there for emergencies. I creep quietly round the corner, hiding myself behind a pillar. I slide my bag off my shoulders and hide it behind the pillar. I creep forward until I'm close enough to leap onto the demon. I bend my knees and spring!

I catch the demon by surprise and we tumble to the floor. It releases the girl and I shout "RUN!" to her quickly before raising my seraph blade. The demon bites at me and I roll out of the way quickly. I spin round and stab it quickly. It's eyes bulge as ichor spews from the wound. It falls to the floor but not before it cuts me with one of its claws.

I withdraw as it disappears and cradle my hand. The wound stings, I wonder if the demon had poison. Before I can take a look, a hand grabs mine and I feel the familiar stinging of a stele. I look up and my eyes are met by luminous gold ones.

"JACE!" I say startled. He looks at me sadly. "What are you doing here?" I splutter. He frowns at me. "Do you know how long I have spent searching for you?" he asks. "Jace, stop it. It's been two years, we've both moved on." I say quietly. Jace shakes his head.

"Stop acting like that. Like nothing ever hurts you." he said quietly "That's what you told me, wasn't it?" I grab my bag and dart down the corridor, tears building up in my eyes. He grabs my arm and stops me. I forgot how fast he was.

"Over 2 years, I've been searching for you, Clary. I've never given another girl a glance. You killed me when you left and I've been dying slowly since then." he said sadly. "If you really have moved on, then look me in the eyes and tell me that." I look into his eyes. They were pained. I blinked back the tears.

"I told you. There is no pretending. I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then." he said.

I felt a tear run down my cheek as the memories, that I'd tried to hide for 2 long years, came flooding back . And then, as if it was natural I fell into his arms. He hugged me tightly as I curled into him. He kissed the top of my head gently.

"I love you Jace..." I whispered.