The Mortal Instruments

(Just after City of Glass, before City of Fallen Angels)

Clary's POV

Isabelle, Jace, Alec and I were lounging on the sofa inside the Institute. I suddenly heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it." Isabelle said, standing up and walking to the door. A woman with olive toned skin and emerald eyes was standing at the door.

"Hello. My name is Gianna. Does Ms Clary Fray happen to be around?" She asked politely.

Isabelle looked confused. "Umm... She's right here." She answered, beckoning me to come forward to the doorway. The woman, Gianna, looked shocked at my appearance. Her eyes widened. not in fear, but concern.

"But she's too young. The kids inside with her must be coming too..." She mumbled to herself. But the glum and shocked expression disappeared as fast as it came. She smiled brightly at me and handed me an envelope.

"Well, I really must be going now. Thank you so much for your time. Good day!" She said, and then she was off. Isabelle and I went inside.

"Well, that was weird." Isabelle exclaimed.

"Tell me about it. Did you notice what she was mumbling before she handed me the envelope?" I asked.

"Yeah. She was saying something about us being too young and Alec and Jace to be coming with us somewhere or something like that." Isabelle replied.

"Excuse me for breaking your little 'private conversation' but in case you didn't notice, we're still here you know. Alec and Jace, Jace and Alec. Just in case you forgot about us." Jace said sarcastically. Isabelle rolled her eyes.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Open it and let's see what's inside!" Alec said.

I turned the envelope around and noticed it had one of those old fashioned wax seals sealing it. Embossed on the seal was a crest with the letter 'V' on it. I wonder what it stood for? I quickly took the seal off and unfolded the letter inside it. The words were written in ancient, gothic, leathery script.

Dearest Isabelle, Alec, Jace and Clary,

I do so very hope you are all well. Now, mind you, I know what you are thinking, you are thinking who sent this letter. Well, you'll find it out sooner or later! I hope you can come and join us for the Reaping for the Fiction Games. Do not fret, dear ones. It is not very bad. You can just hop on a plane that will take you to our home in Volterra, Italy. Now, I know you must be becoming suspicious of this letter since it wants you to go somewhere you have never even heard of. As I said awhile ago, do not fret. I assure you that no harm will come to yourselves on the way to our lovely home.

But now, back to the point. A limousine will arrive for you tomorrow at nine o' clock sharp. Please do not be late, for it will not wait for you. The limousine will take you to the nearest international airport, and an escort will guide you to where you should go. When the plane lands at the Italian airport, another escort, Heidi, will greet you there. There will also be another limousine waiting for you outside the airport, which will take you straight to Volterra, Italy. I hope that you will enjoy your stay at our lovely home. Every single thing will be explained on your arrival in Volterra.

Warm regards,

The Volturi

"Okay... I am getting very freaked out by now." Isabelle said awkwardly.

"I guess we better go and pack our stuff then." I said nonchalantly. Alec, Jace and Isabelle looked at me like I had grown three heads.

"Are you crazy? We don't even know who these goddamned Volturi are! And I have another question for you. How did that Gianna woman see past the glamour on the Institute anyway?" Jace asked heatedly.

"I don't know,OK, Jace? She must've been another Shadowhunter for her to see through the glamour!" I half-yelled, glaring at him.

"Besides, it said right there on the note that these 'Volturi'; whoever they are, promise to keep us safe at every turn. Can't you read? Now stop blaming Clary and just pack your stuff! We'll be leaving tomorrow, as it said on the letter." Isabelle huffed.

"Fine. But I'm warning you, I have a really bad feeling about this..." Jace warned. Isabelle rolled her eyes.

"OK! OK! Break it up, you two!" Alec said, trying to make peace. Jace huffed and stormed out of the room, into his bedroom, slamming the bedroom door as he went inside.

I looked picked up the envelope and looked at it once more. I now noticed that the back of the letter that has been sent to us had a set of different crests on it. There was one of a scarlet and gold color, with a lion in the middle of it. The words; 'Gryffindor' were etched down the bottom in a small banner. I wonder what it was for.

The second one however, was the opposite of the 'Gryffindor' one. The next one was black and silver, with a lion,a hand, and three normal clovers on a banner. And instead of 'Gryffindor', it had the words 'Cullen' on it.

The third set was the strangest of all. It was round, colored red, and a cross was placed in it. It looked like something that belonged in Hotel Dumort.

The fourth one was even weirder. Instead of a crest, there was a picture, no, drawing, of a pendant that looked like a locket. The pendant had the words 'ECW & GKD' carved into it.

The fifth had an emblem instead of a crest. It was a golden bird with its wings spread open, and its talons were holding a bunch of arrows. There was also a wreath of leaves on each side of the emblem, and a 'C' was carved onto the bottom of the emblem. the words 'CAPITOL' was also embroidered at the very top.

Last, but DEFINITELY not the least, was a rune. The angelic rune that Jace, Alec and Isabelle always wear. I wonder how they knew about it. I decided to just keep all of these symbols to myself. There was no reason to make Jace more pissed than he is at me now, after all.

I slumped on the couch, tired and sore. Looks like we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.