A/N: Hey guys, it's been a while since I've uploaded anything. I have decided to go in another direction of writing. I hope you like it :).

"I love you, Clary"

"I love you too Dad, I'm going to miss you." I said, squeezing my eyes shut, as I wrapped my arms around my father.

Today was the day I had to move in with my mother. I've lived with my father for as long as I could remember. Unfortunately, I did not know much about my mom, other than the occasional short conversation on the phone.

I stepped back from my father and turned into the airport terminal. Holding back tears, I forced a smile on my face to the air hostess, who impatiently ushered me into the airplane. As I found my seat, I sat down, heaving a sigh. Leaving the UK was going to be hard for me. It was all I had ever known. The plane's engine roared to life. It represented a new beginning.

My new beginning.

"Clary!" I heard, as I walked out of the airport terminal.

"Clary!" I whipped my head around, searching for the owner of the voice.

"Clary!" I heard once more. Turning my head to the right, I found a short, red-haired woman jumping up and down, excitedly shouting my name. She ran towards me, clutching a paper, with was I assumed was my name written on it. As she reached me, she enveloped me in a warm hug.

"Oh, my baby girl. I've missed you so much." She said as she released my from the hug.

My smile brightened. She looked exactly like me. The same uncontrollable red hair, the same short 5'4 height, and the same green eyes. So this was my mother.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I took her in. It had been 17 years since I have seen her. I was a baby then, so I don't remember her, but God, I had missed her.

I noticed, from the corner of my eye, a tall, dark-skinned man with a bright smile, coming towards us. As he reached us, he stretched his arm towards me, anticipating a handshake and said, "Hello Clary, I'm Luke."

Luke was my step-father. After my parents divorced, my mother fell in love with a man named Luke Garroway. We had spoken briefly on the phone many times.

Disregarding the formalities, I hugged him. "Hi Luke." As I released him, I felt a familiar tingle down my spine.

Turning to my left, I saw a dark shadow swirling its was into the airport. Increasing its speed, it propelled itself towards the ceiling. My eyes widened as I followed its path above across the ceiling.

"Clary, are you ok?" My mother asked, furrowing her eyebrows. Focusing my eyes back on her, I noticed her and Luke looking at me oddly. I guess it was kind of weird the way I stared off into space.

"I'm fine." I smiled assuredly at them. I flickered my eyes back to where I saw the shadow, but it was gone.

Seeing shadows was nothing new to me. I had been seeing them since I was 5. I saw them everywhere; in my room, in school, outside, and even in my dreams. They haunted me wherever I went.

"I think it's time for us to go." With those words uttered from Luke, he grabbed my black suitcase and we began walking outside towards the car.

New York City, I noticed, looked much like London. Busy streets and busy people with busy lives. Getting from the airport to our apartment was a hassle. As we sat stuck in traffic, from the passenger seat, my mother asked, "So Clary, how is your father doing?"

"He's doing well, I think. He just expanded Morgenstern Inc. I'm really going to miss seeing him everyday." I say longingly. My mother and Luke then shared a look.

"What's wrong?" I questioned.

"Nothing." My mother replied. I stared at them quizzically. What was that look about?

We finally reached the 3 story apartment building. Walking into the door, I noticed the lights were off in the small room. The lights flickered on and a group of people shouted out, "Welcome home Clary!"

Startled, I stumbled backwards in shock. A group of 6 people stared at me expectedly with bright smiles on their faces. A white banner hung above their heads with the same "Welcome Home Clary!" written on it. In the middle of the room, a white and blue cake was perched on the table with my name on it. I smiled. This was my welcoming party. A tall, raven haired girl walked towards me. She looked like a model with her long legs and pretty features. She wore a short, long sleeve black dress and the highest heels I had ever seen. When she reached me, she enveloped me in a hug, squealing, "By the Angel, Clary! I finally get to meet you! We are going to have so much fun together. We'll go shopping, and then out to eat, and shop some mo-"

"Heel Isabelle," said a boy behind her. The boy in question was tall and gangly. He had dark brown hair and square glasses covering his brown eyes. A bright smile on his face, he walked forward and put his arm around Isabelle's shoulder.

Isabelle rolled her eyes and shrugged his arm off her shoulders. He laughed and turned towards me saying, "Sorry about Isabelle, she get's a little excited sometimes. I'm Simon, resident nerd."

I laughed at his comment and replied, "I'm Clary, resident newcomer."

"We know," a bored voice said.

Looking behind Simon, I saw a tall boy, who looked similar to Isabelle. He stood wearing a black sweater and black jeans. His face was scrunched up in a bored manner, rolling his eyes.

Isabelle sighed annoyingly at her brother, "Don't mind Alec, he's always like this. You'll learn to get used to it." Alec turned and glared at his sister, muttering a, "Nice to meet you."

After the encounter with Simon, Isabelle, and Alec, I met Maryse and Robert. They were Alec and Isabelle's parents. I also met Max, their little brother.

We settled on the various couches in the living room, with Simon and Max sitting on the ground. Isabelle broke the silence and said, "Our other brother Jace is still coming, but he apparently seems to think the world revolves around his timing. I swear if he-"

A knock of the door interrupted her train of thought. I heard Simon mutter, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear."

Luke stood to answer the door. As he opened the door I saw a familiar figure. A slim, muscular boy stood at the door. His curly, golden hair shined with the sunlight. He himself, looked like a glorious angel. I stood up and took in his golden eyes, scrunched up in confusion and shock.

"Clare?"

"Jace?"