This is my first Mortal Instruments fanfic. This story has been in my head for a long time and I finally decided to write it out. This first chapter was a little short but more should come soon. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Instruments
Jace had fought off four demons already. He could feel the sweat dribble down his back. It was late and he needed to get back to the institute. He stood poised and ready. The last demon was the biggest and meanest of them all. It looked much like a huge scorpion with large claws and razor sharp tail that dripped with poison. Jace pulled a Seraph blade from his pocket and spoke the name of an angel.
Just as the blade was transforming into a beautiful sword the demon came at him. The blade was knocked to the ground and slid several feet away. Jace tried to lunge for the blade but was thrown in the other direction by an enormous claw.
Instantly the other claw clamped down on his torso. Jace tried with all his might to squirm free but he could feel the claw digging into his skin, as the demon's grip was too tight. While keeping an eye on the demon he scrambled around in his pocket hoping that he would find another seraph blade. But none was to be found. The one that lay at least twenty feet away was the last one and Jace knew there was no way he would be able to reach it.
The demon eyed him and raised its tail high in the air ready for the deadly blow. Jace had gotten in many tight places but none that he had not been able to get out of but he was beginning to think this was his final battle.
Just as the tail looked as if it were going to strike Jace heard a scream in the darkness. Jace looked as a figure came flying through the air and landed on the demon's back. A glowing blade was thrust into its head. The demon let out an earsplitting screech as it crumpled to the ground. Jace shoved himself back several feet as the demon shriveled and disappeared.
"Are you okay?" Jace heard a female voice next to him. He looked up to find a girl about his age kneeling down. "That was close. It almost got you with its tail."
"I'm fine," Jace said looking around for something that might help him stand.
The girl reached out her hand, but when Jace reached out to take it he winced and fell back down with his hand clutching his side. He pulled away his shirt to reveal a nasty gash on his left side. "Here. Let me help." The girl pulled out her stele and with a steady hand traced the healing ruin next to the gash.
Jace could feel it healing immediately. When most of the pain was gone Jace looked at the girl. "Thanks."
"No problem." She reached down again to offer him a hand up.
Soon Jace was standing face to face with the girl. It was too dark to see much except for her thin form and long hair pulled back into a braid. The girl suddenly began to look about franticly. "Did you loose something?" Jace muttered.
"No…no, where is your partner?" the girl said while surveying the area.
"What partner? I don't have one." Jace eyed her strangely.
"Rule #1: never demon hunt alone." The girl turned to give him the evil eye. "If I hadn't come along you'd be dead." Her eyes were intense.
"Ha, who needs a partner? I demon hunt alone all the time."
"You're an idiot then," the girl said and turned to walk down the street.
Jace stood in awe. No girl had ever called him an idiot before, except for Isabelle but she didn't count. "Hold up," he called as he jogged to catch up with her. "Where are you going?"
"Away from you." Jace reached out and grabbed her arm. The girl jerked her arm away but turned to face him. In the glow of the streetlights Jace could make out her brown hair and cold eyes.
"Hey look we didn't have the best of starts so let's start over. I'm Jace," he said with an impish grin while cocking his head to the side and holding out his hand.
The girl rolled her eyes but took his hand. "The name's Ariel," she said still looking at him with cold eyes as she brushed a strand a hair out of her eyes.
"So…Ariel, what brings you to the Big Apple?"
"I'm looking for the institute."
"Well, you're in luck. I live at the institute and I'm heading back there now."
"Good. I'll come with you."
After an odd silence Jace turned to head up the street with Ariel following close behind him. Neither said a word as they walked up the steps. Ariel stopped to gaze up at the building as Jace pushed open the door.
"Are you coming?" Jace said impatiently. Ariel quickly nodded and bound up the steps. She followed him in.
In the entryway at the bottom of the steps sat Church who growled at Jace and then promptly stood and sauntered up the steps. Jace shook his head and started up the steps.
"What was that all about?" Ariel asked.
Jace turned and looked at her matter-of-factly then sighed. "It means I'm in trouble for going out alone and that Hodge wants to speak to me." Jace turned to continue up the stairs. Ariel followed.
Jace followed the cat down the hall and stopped in front of the library. "You wanted to talk to me?" Jace said to the man sitting at the desk.
The man in the tweed suit looked up with tired eyes and rubbed his forehead with his palms. "Jace, how many times have I told you not to go out hunting alone?" Jace just shrugged his shoulders. Then the man cocked his head to the side then sighed, "Who is she? You know mundanes are not allowed in the institute." Jace moved out of the way without a word so that Hodge could get a clear view of Ariel.
"Sir, I'm not a mundane."
"I can clearly see that," Hodge said as he noticed the sword hanging from her belt. "I'm Hodge," his said standing and extending a hand.
"I'm Ariel," she said taking his hand.
"Nice to meet you. It is awful late so why doesn't Jace show you to a room and you can tell me about yourself tomorrow." Hodge gestured toward the door and gave Jace a look.
"Come on," Jace said walking down the hall. He flipped on the lights in a room. "You can stay here. The bathroom is right over there. My room is two door down if you need anything." Jace smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I'm sure I'll be fine," Ariel looked at Jace impassively.
"Good night then," Jace muttered as he headed down the hall. Ariel watched him go into the room two doors down.
She then closed the door to her room. She turned and looked at the stark white room with a bed and dresser. The bed had white sheets and pillow. The dresser had a lamp and clock. Except for that the room was bare. Ariel slung the backpack off her shoulders and undid the buckle to her sheath as the sword slumped in the corner by the door.
She walked over to the bed where she plopped down. She dropped the backpack on the floor and reached up to pull the pillow under her head. The bed creaked a bit but at least it was fairly comfortable. It was much better than the park bench she had been considering before she had ran into that demon and Jace. She kicked off her boots and closed her eyes.
She started to doze off when she heard muffled voices out in the hall. "Who is she?"
"Her name's Ariel and she's a shadowhunter. That's all I know."
"Well, how'd she get here?"
"I brought her with me." Ariel recognized one voice to be Jace. The other voice was male but not Hodge.
"I wonder how many people are staying here?" Ariel thought to herself. Oh well, she would find out in the morning. She soon heard the voices moving down the hall and two doors close. She turned over on her side and stared at the clock until her eyes finally drooped shut.