Author Note: Welcome friends! It's been a while. I don't even know if there are people out there interested anymore, I've been MIA for a while on FF and Tumblr. Anyways welcome to my new fanfic! I've been working on this for so long and I'm so excited to get it out here for everyone!

The Elite is a plot conjured out of my own brain however, DISCLAIMER Cassandra Clare owns the world and it's characters. What I do is for shits and gigs.

The Elite is the story of Clary, Jonathan, Jace, Isabelle, and Alec living in Idris if The Circle took place later than in Clare's novels. The Elite is what would have happened (imo) if the kids had been born/alive while The Circle still existed. The Elite takes place 10 years after the uprising of The Circle happened... enjoy! You'll notice I've tweaked it a bit to be able to properly tell the story I imagined, but nothing too dramatic.

Idris's elite children were used to the staring and whispering behind hands. Growing up in Alicante instead of an institute wasn't difficult until they found out about the Circle.

Thanks to their parents, they were the last to find out about it all. That didn't stop the Clave from putting the children on trial. The incredible mind-aching power of the Mortal Sword isn't something the Clave will put on a child unless they feel threatened.

And they felt so threatened that each one of the children nearly passed out until the Clave realized they knew nothing about the Circle.

Clarissa and Jonathan Morgenstern can still remember the day the Consul and Inquisitor burst into their home to drag away their parents.

Clary can still remember her stomach dropping; screaming and crying so hard her head began to pound and her ears began to ache.

Jonathan stood behind his sister, his arms around as she screamed and tried to tear herself from his grip as their parents were hauled through the door. Their father put up a fight, trying to knock out the guards hauling him away. Their mother let it happen, and she was the first out the door.

Clarissa screamed until her throat began to ache. "Daddy! No, please, no, don't take take him!" Afterwards, cried until her eyes became sore.

Jonathan, two years older, tried to comfort his sister, even though he had no clue what had happened, why his parents were stolen from him.

Isabelle and Alexander Lightwood had a much different experience. Isabelle could remember her stomach dropping, but she was rarely one to let it show, even at 7 years old. Alec couldn't help but let the pain show in his eyes, and found it more difficult to be strong for his sister.

Their mother and father stayed calm for the sake of their children and answered the door when the Consul and Inquisitor came knocking that day. In the end, they went willingly.

"Behave," their mother told them as they took her away.

Jace Herondale kept to being the strongest of them all. He didn't collapse under the Mortal Sword while being interrogated. But he loved his parents, just as much as the rest of the children.

His father ushered him to the sitting room.

When they knocked, his father looked straight into his eyes and said, "be brave, son."

His mother came, too, "be the shadowhunter we know you are."

The front door was kicked down, and everyone started.

"We love you, okay? Stay here, Jace," his mother told him before they fled to the front room and were taken not just from his life, but from the world.

The only trouble he caused was when they came to get him.

"I have to stay here!" he yelled. "She told me to stay here!"

The five children remain Idris's most elite. But with locked-up parents, they don't feel special at all.

10 Years Later…

I wake with a start, Jonathan's voice pulling me out of yet another nightmare… not surprising today. My only plans for today are visiting my parents, even though I know no one will join me because no one will bother talking about it. Ten years ago was the day our parents were stripped from our lives and Jace's parents died… or killed; I know that's what bothers him the most, not knowing the truth.

"Clary! Let's go, get up!"

I pull my blankets over my head to try and block out the sound, and the light coming in through a crack in the window curtains.

We were a tight knit group until after the Academy… although our separation started during our time there, if I'm being honest.

Jonathan and I still try to protect each other, but it's not much out of love, it's more because we're siblings, because our parents aren't here to.

Alec and Jace are really close since they're parabatai. They've always been best friends, and becoming parabatai came naturally.

Iz and I used to be pretty close, but our different personalities while at the Academy proved to be hard on our friendship. We're still friends. The thing that bonded us most was being the only daughters of the Circle. The rumours that went around at the Academy about the boys weren't nearly as bad as the one's about us. And we feel the same way about what our parents did; we were both the same age when everything happened, and we got to discover and make sense of it all together. Although most lines remained blurred.

But it got a little weird when I moved up a level early into Jace's classes. Even weirder when both Jace and I got moved up a level higher than Jonathan and Alec. Then Jonathan got weird, never able to get along.

Since we all grew up and lived together, of course I was good friends with Jace, but being in the same level got us a really great friendship. We share a lot; the nightmares, the extra pressure from being at such a high level so early into the Academy.

Last night's nightmare was a dying angel trying to tell me to do something, but it being too late to help or understand. The blinding light, the cold darkness.

I shiver and bundle down further into my pillows, pull the blanket closer around me.

We still all live together in the same house, mostly because the Clave can't decide what to do with us. All of our peers at the academy have better things to do like being trainers and running institutes, but we're still stuck in Alicante. And the guys, who are old enough to be members of the Clave, are rarely invited to the meetings.

Not that I really mind. I've never wanted to be an institute kid, and my parents are here… they're locked away, but they can still be a part of my life if I'm living here.

A few raps on my door startles me. "You're gonna sleep the day away if you don't get up. Let's go, Clary!" It's Jonathan again.

I groan loud enough for him to hear it so he'll go away and not come inside.

"Are you awake?"

I groan again. "Ugh, yes!"

"Alec made pancakes, come get them before they get cold."

I do love pancakes.

I pull back the blankets and wince as the cold air hits my bare skin and then rush to put a sweater and socks on.

"She's up! Hide the children!" Iz yells when she sees me coming down the stairs. Everyone's sitting around the table when I enter the kitchen.

"Ha," I respond, sarcasm dripping from my tone, before turning to the fridge.

While I ponder between orange juice and chocolate milk, I hear a chair slide against the marble floor as someone gets up from the table across the kitchen behind me.

As Jace reaches across me to grab the orange juice from the fridge he whispers, "you were yelling again last night."

My eyes squeeze shut for a second, remembering. Then I shut the door of the fridge and grab a glass before Jace can put away the orange juice. "I know," I whisper back.

"Let me know if you need anything," he says quietly. He puts his arm around my waist and gives a squeeze before going back to the table.

I sigh and cover a plate of pancakes in syrup and butter. When I sit across from Jonathan at the table, I look down at the pancakes and don't feel so hungry anymore.

"What's the agenda today?" Jace asks.

Alec shrugs now. "Nothing so far..."

I decide to jump in. The guys have given me the perfect opportunity to. "Maybe we should go to the Gard."

I feel Izzy tense up beside me, anticipating reactions.

"Maybe not today, Clary, I was thinking we should all go train," Jonathan says.

Anger threatens to bubble up through me. He's always been weird about visiting our parents; I knew he'd be even weirder about it today.

"Why wouldn't we go today?"

Jonathan leans back in his chair across the table from me and fold his arms. "Finish up and then we'll go down the training centre."

"Too bad you're not my dad, or I might listen."

"Yeah well our dad's a little tied up right now."

I push away from the table and go back upstairs. When I reach my room, I lock the door behind me, knowing Jonathan will follow to talk about it. But I don't want to, I just want to go and see my parents, and I don't care if I have to do it alone; it's not like I haven't done it before.

The doorknob wiggling startles me a little while I'm trying to get dressed. When that doesn't work, he knocks. "Come on, Clary," Jonathan's voice is muffled by the door. "Just open the door."

I pull on a tank top and pants and go to unlock the door. Jonathan stands in the doorway. "Want do you want?" I ask him.

"You to come train with us."

"Why? What's the big deal? It's been ten years since they were pulled out from under us and I'd like to see them as much as possible before it happens again."

Jonathan sighs and leans against the door frame. "I just don't want to highlight it. For them or myself."

"Yeah, yourself," I mutter.

He doesn't get mad like I expected, instead, his brows furrow with confusion. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I just want to know; you never come to me with anything, not since we finished at the Academy, anyways."

I shrug. "There's nothing to say."

"What about the nightmares?"

That stops me. I didn't realize he knew - or cared, really. "What about them?"

"I wouldn't know, you don't tell me. Why does Jace know?"

I laugh. It's always been a competition between him and Jace. Jace and Alec are parabatai, Jace got better marks, and now he knows that Jace and I have something he can't put his finger on. But it's because he doesn't pay enough attention as he should; Jace and I are just alike, we just get along well. Jonathan has always been jealous of him, not that he'd ever admit it. "Jace knows because he listens when I talk about it." I don't mention that Jace will tell me about his dreams, too.

"You know what, Clary? Do what you want, I don't care."

"Like you caring has ever stopped me before."

"That's pretty obvious."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I don't care," he repeats, his voice sharp and harsh. He turns and leaves without giving me the chance to say anything back.

We were all a tight knit group just a few years ago in the Academy. During our time there Iz and I seemed to be the most reckless, and our brothers weren't our parents but sure tried to act like it. Jonathan still sees me as his sister that needs protecting.

I quickly pick up my stele and shove it in my pocket.

I think I'm out the door before anyone can see or stop me from going, but then I hear the front door to our house shut behind me and know someone's coming after me. The fast footsteps make me turn though - Jonathan isn't one to run after me - I find Jace running to catch up. It doesn't take him too long considering how fast he is.

"That was intense," Jace gestures back to the house.

"That's Jonathan, you should know that by now."

"I do, I guess I just didn't realize he's like that with you, too."

I think about it… "he's not." I don't remember Jonathan ever being that harsh with me, ever.

"Maybe he's got something on his mind."

"Maybe…"

"So, mind if I join you?" He asks as we head towards the guard, me trying to keep a walking pace with his long-legged walking pace.

"Are you sure… I mean-"

"It's been ten years since they died, Clary. Your parents, Maryse, and Robert are probably the best people to be around anyways; they knew them the best."

"Well in that case, I do mind you joining me."

"Oh, well in that case…" he stops and turns to head back towards the house.

"Jace!" I call after him, I know he's kidding, just like I am.

He turns back around to face me, a smirk on his face. "I'm just kidding."

I roll my eyes. "Obviously." I cross my arms across my lower chest, and bump my side into Jace's. "Thanks," I say quietly.

And there's no time for him to respond as we emerge into the crowded square. I uncross my arms and keep my eyes forward as people's conversations turned hushed. I only see people from my peripheral vision and don't take in any faces. I make up a melody in my head to distract myself from overhearing anything. The normal distance one would walk beside another is forgotten as Jace and I press closer to each other and a path through the crowd suddenly forms for us.

No wonder why our parents did what they did… they were the Elite of Idris, the public's eye was always on them, and most just assume they cracked under pressure. To this day, I still don't know specifics. My guess is only Jonathan does, and he won't tell any of us.

Jace, Iz, and I get by with acting like we don't care about the specifics, Jonathan and Alec get by with caring too much. That's how we swing by. That's why, when Jace turned eighteen, they finally stopped sending someone in to check up on us. Yes, it's when they were supposed to, but if we had ever showed signs of following in our parent's footsteps, I'm sure the Clave would've found a way around that agreement.

Suddenly, walking through the square, my stele feels incredibly warm in my pocket. I know it's just my imagination, my head trying to distract itself from the staring; but it's not the first time this has happened. It used to happen a lot in the Academy… only one of the reasons I missed class often.

I did extremely well in classes about runes and their uses; aced every class, even though I hardly attended. Most shadowhunters memorize runes well, but since I was a kid and was first marked, I've been able to memorize a rune the moment I see it. Talent, I guess. The same way Jace has natural agility and advanced easily with fight training… not that he's ever put it to good use. The five of us have only fought demons a handful of times.

Flashes of runes, my stele hot in my pocket, wanting to be used. Just to occupy myself. The attention from the public used to bother me. As a child, when I went out into town with my parents, I didn't understand why people acted strange around us. Maryse and Robert, Celine and Stephen, they didn't act this way me, so why did these strangers? When I finally asked why, my dad explained, "it's because they don't understand, Clarissa.

"Shadowhunters are all supposed to be equal, but it's not quite like that. Our families are old, valued, and our wealth has been passed down. It's not fair for newer families."

Morgenstern, Herondale, Lightwood, they're some of the oldest names. Wealthy names, and until the fall of The Circle, well-respected names.

Now, though, after the Circle, being in public is way worse. We inherited all of our parents money, but none of the respect. Being at the Academy was practically torture. We all would get ourselves into shit just for a distraction. Rumours would fly around about us all the time. Sometimes it felt like every new month was a call for more drama. People would listen to our conversations, twist our words. I remember my parents always going silent in crowded public, but never understood why until I had to do it at the Academy.

Sometimes, though, the rumours were true. Sometimes, people would take advantage of us. Many times, we found ourselves in the office of the Academy, the Head trying to straighten us out.

I remember a conversation I heard through the office door. "Even without their parents around anymore, they're turning out just like them."

"The elite families have always been this way, but these kids are smart," the Head replied.

"That's what we should be afraid of," answered the voice of a young Aldertree.

That was just three years ago, but it feels like a lifetime.

Reaching the Gard takes forever, or at least it feels that way.

Our footsteps echo along the marble floors down the hallways of the Gard, no one really seems to be around today. I hear murmurs quietly echoing around the corner and slow my footsteps in an attempt to eavesdrop. I stop when I recognize Consul Penhallow and Inquisitor Aldertree. Jace does the same.

"A re-trial is the only option we have," Aldertree is saying. "We can't keep them here forever."

"I suppose it is," Penhallow sounds exhausted. "Although, I don't about the kids… a re-trial could cause something we don't want."

What's that supposed to mean? I think. I look over at Jace, and he seems worried.

"I say we put them up on trial again as well, get to know their motives, make sure they're not planning to take after their parents."

"That's highly unnecessary, Inquisitor. I think it would be best if we sent them to an institute while we work out all this technical business, and bring them back if we need them."

"Maybe we should leave it to the Clave," Aldertree says, but with an optimistic voice, like he thinks everyone will automatically vote in favour of his proposal. Maybe they will, I've never been to a regular Clave meeting to know what the atmosphere is like.

"We'll have to put the idea of a retrial to a vote anyways. The Council will decide if the Clave should take back former Circle members," says Penhallow.

The conversation seems about over and I turn and look up at Jace again. A retrial would not end well, at least not to my knowledge. It would most likely end in-

I don't even want to think about my parents being taken from my life permanently.

He mirrors my worried expression back to me. The only way to get past Aldertree and Penhallow without casualties is to pretend we didn't hear anything. A silent conversation happens and Jace nods, I nod back. As we round the corner, our footsteps announce our presence to Aldertree and Penhallow."If it isn't Clarissa and Jace," Aldertree greets us. I want to vomit at the sound of my full name in his voice.

I nod my head to the both of them in greeting.

"I trust you're both doing well?" Penhallow asks.

"Yes, ma'am," Jace replies.

"You're here to see your parents?" Aldertree asks me.

"Yes," I nod again.

"I could take you-"

"No," I cut him off, "thank you, but I'm sure you're busy. We can find our way just fine."

When we're a good ways away from Penhallow and Aldertree, Jace finally says something.

"Shit."

"Don't swear like a mundane."

"What else am I supposed to say?"

I unclench my fists and stretch out my fingers. "I don't know… at least you're out of it, though."

"Why? Because they already killed my parents? I doubt that."

"I wouldn't say that too loud around here if I were you, and you know I didn't mean it that way."

"Yes you did."

He's right; it just sounded more harsh out loud. So Aldertree wants to retrial my parents so he gets the chance to see if we'll rebel the same way. I don't understand if that's what he's really looking for; why would re-trialing the last-known Circle members be necessary?

Jace grabs my hand and I almost pull away before I realize he's trying to give me something to hold onto. Something I did for him, once, ten years ago.

So I squeeze his hand and hold on.

Over the years, the guards outside my parent's chambers have gotten lazy and stopped confiscating weapons. Today is different; they even take our steles.

My parents have never let on any discomfort about their small cell. They both grew up in their own family manors, and we grew up in them too, before the Circle was brought down. Where they're kept in the Gard is a significant downgrade. It consists of a sitting room, with surprisingly comfortable couches for a jail cell. Along with two couches is one bookshelf with only books of shadowhunter history. There is no kitchen, as all food is brought to them. One small bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. Then a bedroom with beds and no door in the doorway. Comfortable enough to live for a solid ten years but uncomfortable enough that I would want out after ten years.

I know my parents and the Lightwoods can tell something is up right away, but none of them say anything. They just welcome us and ask how we are and everyone gives Jace pity looks, so I remind myself not to because I know he hates it.

"Where's the rest of you?" Dad asks us. The tension in the room increases.

I look at Jace. He shrugs.

"They didn't want to come," I say, "Jonathan is difficult as always."

Mom sighs. "Why do you two fight so much?"

Now I shrug, not really caring with my mind on the talk of a re-trial and whether I should bring it up or not. "You tell me."

I think I see Dad stiffen slightly, but when I look at him straight on, I find I've just imagined it.

"Okay, you two," Maryse says, "what's wrong?"

Now Jace looks at me, obviously thinking it's more my business than his.

I swallow hard. "We ran into Penhallow and Aldertree on the way here… and may or may not have stopped to eavesdrop."

Dad sighs, not with impatience or anger, more like acceptance. "You heard about the re-trial."

"Wait, how did you guys know?" Jace asks, confusion all over his face.

Robert laughs. "Of course we know. How couldn't we with everyone talking about it?"

"Oh," I say. I feel my face fall. They're acting like it's nothing; it's like they don't fully understand.

"We're trying to stop it…" Dad says, mostly to me.

I shake my head, anxiety and fear rise up from my gut to my chest. My head feels hot and a see scrawling runes. My fists clench as I will it to go away. Only seconds pass and I hope no one has noticed. "No," I say. "You shouldn't. I don't want you to go and-"

"Get yourselves killed," Jace interrupts. Suddenly I realize why Jace was giving me something to hold onto. I hadn't realized it until now.

The adults in front of me stare at me, and each other with nothing but pity and sadness in their eyes. Because now there is only two options for them. They're taking up space that the Clave wants back. Space that's unnecessary to be taken. The simple answer is a retrial to strengthen what they know. The Circle was wrong. The Circle was illegal. The Circle was a rebellion and must be terminated. They can either run and live the rest of their lives being hunted down, or be re-tried and take the consequences. Either way, the Elite children of Idris will be nothing but shadowhunters with no parents.

"I guess you've got a decision to make," I say quietly.

"We do," Robert replies.

"What should I tell the others?" I ask.

"Tell them what you know," Dad answers simply.

"Should we mention that the Clave would like us under the Mortal Sword again?" Jace asks.

"What?" Mom says. Clearly, they did not know about this part.

"They want to make sure we won't rebel… like you," I say.

Everyone looks… afraid?

I try to say something to make it better "We hardly know anything, anyways, you never told us-"

"But you and Jace-" Dad is cut off when the doors burst open and the two guard come inside without warning.

"Time's up," one says, and starts towards me, the other to Jace.

I stand. "Since when is there a time limit?" I feel uninvited furry fill my veins.

He starts walking towards me and goes to grab my arm, but I dart from his grasp, too fast to catch.

"Clarissa," I hear Dad scold me and I turn around to look at him, his face is all authority, but his eyes are filled with something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe pride?

The other goes to grab Jace's arm and Jace steps back. "You don't need to force us out, you know. Our legs work just fine."

"Jace," I hear Maryse say under her breath.

I look over at the adults behind me, each with their own reactions written on their faces. The guard tries to grab me while I'm not facing him, but I didn't move up as fast as I did in the Academy for nothing. I turn and catch his arm before he can catch mine.

But he's more experienced than me and twists his arm around mine until he has a better grip on it.

"Let her go!" Jace yells as I grimace from the tight grip and the uncomfortable angle of my arm.

The guard who went after him then grabs the back of Jace's neck and I watch as Jace goes to elbow him in the stomach, but then my dad is there, pinning down Jace's arms. He says something that I don't hear. Jace's eyes soften, but only a bit. He yanks himself away from the guard and storms out of the room.

The guard with his hand still tight on my forearms goes to lead me out of the room, but I pull as hard as I can to release myself from his grip. "I can find the door," I say, looking straight into his flat blue eyes and then stalk ahead of him out of the room.

I resheath the blades that were taken and snatch my stele out of the guard's hand when he passes it to me. I turn to see if Jace is ready, when Aldertree appears out of nowhere.

I dare to look him in the eyes as he asks, "enjoy your visit?"

We stare at his back as he gives zero chance to reply and walks away.

"We should go," Jace mutters, and starts out of the building at what may be a normal pace for tall people. I fast-walk to stay caught up.

When we open the doors and finally step into sunlight, I feel like I can finally breathe.

Jace slows his walking as we go towards the training center.

"What did my dad say to you?" I ask.

"He said, 'they are watching you - and Clarissa.' Remember what Aldertree said? They want to make sure we don't take after them; that we don't continue The Circle."

"What does that... oh." I suddenly realize why it would specifically relate to Jace and I. Reckless, yet skilled; we each moved up quicker than anyone at the Academy. They've always been watching us.

There's silence between us as we go deeper into town, because we're both in thought but also because of the surge of people on the streets. They especially don't need to hear this conversation.

Pedestrians thin as we get closer to the training facility, and when there's no one close enough to hear our conversation, I say what's always been on my mind. The question that Jonathan has never given me a straight answer to, so I've never stopped asking. I wait until we're yards away from our training room doors.

"Do you know what The Circle did?"

Jace stops and turns to look at me. He searches for something in my eyes for a while before sighing heavily. "I don't."

"Alec doesn't?"

He shakes his head.

"Do we have to tell Jonathan?"

Jace looks at me with wide eyes.

"He just doesn't get it. He was the good one, the quiet one. Even Alec-"

"Clary. I can't keep this from Alec, he's my parabatai."

"Jace," I mock. "I want answers. All of them."

Jace sighs. "I do too. But we can't keep this from them. Even if we tried, they would figure it out." He lowers his voice as we enter the training facility; one long hall lined with doors on either side. At the end of the hall is double doors; the training room we use. "There's so many things we were never told, maybe Jonathan and Alec could help."

Suddenly the weight of today comes down on my shoulders and my eyes start to water. Crying is something I haven't done in a long time. My throat hurts as I remember my voice going raw as I screamed for them to bring back my dad all those years ago. The pulse of my stele in my pocket suddenly freaks me out, because I know it's all in my head. I clench my fists so they don't tremble.

Jace still notices. He always does. And pulls me into his chest. And then I can't help it, the tears spill over the edge as he wraps his arms tight around me. My head only reaches his chest as he towers a foot above me and I lean my forehead against it as I attempt to stop the tears.

"What the hell?"

I pull away from Jace at the sound of my brother's voice the short distance away from our training room. I didn't even hear the door open.

Jonathan stops short when he sees our faces; tired, and worried, and waiting to tell. "What happened?"

I sigh and wipe the moisture off my face. "Maybe we should head home first."

A/N: Please review if you could, let me know what you thought! As I said, I've been very out of practice, but I've been working on this for a long time, making it exactly as I'd imagined. And follow the story so you get emails when a new chapter is posted!