Chapter 1

Clary smiled. She'd finally done it; left her mother, step-father and suburbia behind. She looked up at the building in front of her. The gothic architecture added to the charm of the building, it was beautiful though a little run down she had to admit. She unloaded her bags and boxes from the cab and walked up the stone steps to the door. She stared through the glass and gave a knock before realising there was an intercom right next to her head. She had not been sent a key by the person she'd be renting the apartment with.

Clary read the labels next to each buzzer from the top down "3a M. Bane…. 2b A. Lightwood and J. Lightwood… 2a I. Lightwood… 1b …" The slot next to 1a was empty Clary noted, also noting the large amounts of Lightwoods who lived in this building. She had applied to live with a girl called Isabelle Lightwood- clearly the owner of apartment 2a. Clary pressed the button and waited for a response, the bell rang but nothing happened. She pressed again. Still nothing. It was getting dark, and she feared for all of her possessions abandoned on the pavement. Panicking she decided to press the buzzer for 2b. They were Lightwood's too, so surely they could help her? The bell rang, and a voice spoke. "Hello, the one and only Jace speaking?" The voice was faintly British, and almost musical. "Hello?" The voice repeated. Clary snapped out of her daydream and came back to her senses;

"Erm hey. I'm Clary Fra-" The voice interrupted,

"I'm sorry, but if this is a cold call we're really not interested. You should press the button for 3a. He loves cold callers"

"No, erm, my name is Clary Fray, I'm meant to be moving in to apartment 2a."

"Then why have you called 2b? Is it because you want to talk to your new neighbours before you move in officially? Or perhaps because you have heard of me?" Clary interrupted the voice.

"I'm sorry, I've absolutely no idea who you are, but I pressed the button for 2a and there was no answer, I thought you might be able to help?"

"Oh. In that case I'll open the door." There was a click and the voice disappeared, but the door opened. She grabbed what she could and began to walk up the stairs because there was no lift. The entryway and halls were eccentrically decorated. Black and white chequered floor with hot pink walls, there were strange artistic paintings and sculptures everywhere, all abstract in a way that you had to squint to make anything out. She reached the first floor where apartment 2a, and 2b were both located, exactly adjacent to each other. The door to 2b swung open, and outstepped the most handsome man Clary had ever seen, yet the closer she looked the more she noticed how he was not a man at all. He was young like her, maybe even her age (not that she looked 18) or a little older. He had ruffled golden hair and amber eyes which resembled honey. He was considerably taller than she was, but he wasn't gangly and awkward like her friend Simon, he was toned and muscular and quite heavily tattooed on his arms. She couldn't help but stare at him hopelessly wishing she was wearing something a little nicer. "I tend to have that effect a lot." He smirked, taking in her expression and the length of time she'd been staring at him. She looked away impulsively.

"Sorry- I" He interrupted her again. It seemed to be a habit, but the interruption came much to her relief as she couldn't quite explain why she had stared at him for so long without embarrassing herself.

"I'm Jace Lightwood." He smiled charmingly. "You must be Clarissa, sorry it's why I didn't recognise you at the door, I was expecting a Clarissa not Clary. I'm afraid Izzy has gone out. Alec tells me, she's gone to see that fancy French boyfriend of hers Meilorn or something." He shrugged and Clary just nodded. She had no idea what he was going on about. "But you're welcome to come and stay with us for a bit until she gets back."

"Okay, I just need to go and collect the rest of my stuff from the pavement." She said shyly backing away.

"Need help?" His eyes sparkled.

"Sure I suppose." She walked back downstairs and grabbed another box, with him on her heels.

Within minutes, Jace and Clary had transported everything she had bought up onto the 2nd floor landing. Few words passed between them, just small talk about the weather and life in the city.

"Just leave your stuff here" Jace dismissed, throwing open the door and wandering in. Clary hung back hesitantly.

"Are you sure Jace? I mean nobody is going to come and steal it right?" She followed him cautiously into the apartment.

"No, no…. Nobody comes in here apart from us." He collapsed down onto an old tattered looking sofa. Clary stood awkwardly in the doorway, swaying from one foot to the other, looking around the apartment. It was dark, the only light came from the windows which faced out onto the street, and a small table lamp situated next to the brown, tattered and thread bare sofa, on which Jace had positioned himself. The walls were bare of decoration, leaving the brick showing. There was a small fire place and a large furry rug on the wooded floor. The whole place was spotless, not an item of furniture out of place, yet it was still cosy. "Clarissa? Are you just going to stand there?" His muscular arms thrown wide over the back of the sofa, his head tilted puzzled to the side. She pushed her hair behind her ear and made her way over towards an armchair adjacent to the sofa. She sat and tapped her foot on the floor, as Jace flung his feet up onto the coffee table, watching her every move. They sat in silence. She knew Jace was watching, but she couldn't make eye contact with him.

"This is a nice place you've got." Clary said looking around.

"Thanks" he replied. They spent another minute in silence. Jace still watching, Clary still avoiding.

"Do you know when your sister will be back?"

"My sister?" The confusion was evident in his voice. His eyebrows narrowed as he pondered. "OH! You mean Izzy! She's not my sister." He shook his head with a smile, Clary stared. "She's Alec's sister. Speaking of whom…. ALEC!" He called.

A young man about Jace's age appeared at the door to one of the rooms. "What do you want Jace?" Clary could see the blueness of his eyes from across the room, sparkling in the low light. His hair was a jet black, and from what Clary could see his arms were also covered in heavy black tattoos. He didn't even notice Clary was there.

"Clary this is Alec. Izzy's brother. Clary Alec, Alec Clary." Jace introduced. Alec's eyes flicked to her, taking her in.

"Okay." He didn't bother saying hello. "So…. Why is she here?" His eyes went back to Jace.

"She's Izzy's new roomie." Jace lay back on the sofa, arms outstretched.

"Oh. Okay then." He went back into his room before Clary even got chance to ask about Isabelle.

"Sorry about him." Jace turned to her, his muscular arms still outstretched. "Don't worry Clary" He said relaxed. "She'll be back soon." Just as he finished saying it, Alec appeared in the doorway again, tossing Clary a key.

"I called her. She said go right on in." Then the black haired boy disappeared once again.

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