"I can't believe you just killed that Ravener demon with a tree branch" Jon said derisively. "It did have runes on it" his sister replied, flicking her fiery red hair over her shoulder dramatically, "besides, what was I supposed to use? My Sensor?" "Haha even you couldn't kill a Ravener demon with a Sensor". Despite the jokes, Jon couldn't help but look at his sister with pride knowing that, deep down, he really believed she could do something like that; she was unstoppable. "It's worrying how more and more demons are making their way to the borders every day. I know they can't get through but it makes me think something's being planned". They lived inside the borders of Alicante with their parents, where demons would never stand a chance of invading. This worried Jon; it took a lot to make his sister worried about demons, especially seeing as she both lived safely within the borders of the city and also just so happened to be one of the most promising Shadowhunters of their generation. Clarissa Morgenstern is rivalled by no one in the training room he used to hear their instructors say, I wouldn't be surprised if one day Clarissa Morgenstern made Consul their neighbours would whisper when they didn't think Jon could hear. Jon wasn't jealous of Clary; he was proud that a Morgenstern was on her way to respectability with the Clave and he would light up at seeing how happy it made their mother. But their father loved to point out how humiliating it was for his son, who shares his name with the first ever Shadowhunter, to be forever bested by his baby sister. "It's not like you to be worried" he finally said. "Don't you ever find it strange how we spend our entire lives fighting demons and rogue Downworlders and that's it? Don't you think there'd be at least one bad Shadowhunter out there?" "What are you trying to say?" "I'm saying that these demons are getting closer to our borders and it's illogical for them to think they have any chance of invading the city, so isn't it possible that there could be someone helping them?" "Clary; there hasn't been a known corrupt Shadowhunter since Benedict Lightwood and his descendents are still keeping their distance from Idris because of it. You need to accept that all Shadowhunters are loyal and obedient to the Clave; if you carry on looking for a fight amongst your own people it'll be you they think is the evil one". Clary sighed in agreement and met her brother's eyes –no one could ever decide if they were dark green or black- with her own, "I suppose your right. Come on, the Penhallows are having a Downworlder Fancy-Dress Party tonight at their house and I need time to sort out my Fae costume". "You're going as Fae?" Clary had for some strange reason always had a deep hatred for the Fair Folk, so it was even stranger that she'd be prepared to dress up as one. "What could be better? Sexy goddess on the outside and fierce warrior on the inside equals perfect fit" "You are so full of yourself" "If it gets a boy's attention then I'll be as big-headed as I like". They both laughed as they made their way back through the copse of trees leading towards the borders. They were nearly there when a distinct rustling sound started to flare up from behind them. "Clary?" "Yeeeeeeeeessss" she appeared unfazed by the noise, unlike my paranoid brother she would probably say. "Before we lauched the assault on that pack of Ravener demons, how many did we count? How many where in the glade?" "Seven" "Okay; I killed two and you killed-?" "I made sure to kill four as it is my personal duty to be twice as good as you at everything. Don't worry I'll tell dad you killed three if it'll make you feel better-" "-except I didn't kill three, I killed two. And you killed four". "I really don't see where you're going with this" "I. Killed. Two. And. You. Killed. Four." "Oh" realisation dawned on her face; she hardly ever looked terrified. "I take it you're suggesting that lucky seven is what's making those noises in the bushes behind us. I just thought it was Uncle Lucian and Celine trying to 'liven up their relationship' again so I was trying to ignore it-" "LOOK OUT!" a deep voice shouted from somewhere in front of them. Jon fumbled with his weapons and was very satisfied to have armed himself in less than five seconds, until he glanced to the side to see Future Consul Clary already in battle stance with two seraph blades glowing at the ready and a very angry Ravener demon with serious slash marks on its back. "You got a hit already?!" Jon whined. "It wasn't me. It was him". She pointed towards the blurred figure circling the demon with agile grace; Jon could just made out a mess of blonde hair that in the shadows looked brown and eyes that should've been gold but had surprising flecks of blue. The perfect combination of his parents Jon thought. He'd seen this boy only once before. Uncle Lucian had been reluctant to bring his overly arrogant nephew to the Fairchilds' annual Christmas party but Stephen and Amatis wanted him to get out more; also the Inquisitor had nearly punched him in the face for even hinting at refusing to allow her darling grandson and his talents to be paraded in front of their friends. Well he's got nothing on Clary. Still, he was achieving direct hits every time he lunged toward the demon and only once suffered a counter attack; Clary never suffers from counter attacks oh stop being so bitter Jon. His sister looked furious at seeing this pride-hungry boy trying to claim her prey and it wasn't long before she was beating him to the stab almost every time. Almost. He definitely knew what he was doing and, weirdly, starting orchestrating his movements and stances in accordance with Clary's until the demon was clearly weakened by their combined effort. "Skinny get over here!" the boy shouted in Jon's direction, "I could snap you in two but luckily I've weakened this Ravener so even you should be able to make the kill". "You weakened it?!" Clary shouted incredulously, "I don't know who you think you are but you'd be dead right now if it wasn't for me and my hits on that thing". "Unfortunately, Red, you are clearly mistaken. I don't need a girl to kill my demons for me, you could help me out with other things though-" "Go home to your Grandma, Herondale". "Are you implying that I'm a Grandma's boy? Daddy's girl?" "I am not a daddy's girl". "Then who are you trying to impress? This guy?" That's right Jon thought solemnly, I'm obviously not a skilled Shadowhunter near the end of his training, I'm just Future Consul Clary's pathetic older brother who takes five whole seconds to arm himself and always gets overlooked by everyone in the whole world ever. "Leave him alone. He's my brother". "I'm so sorry" he said, sounding genuinely seriously, "I have three siblings you see so I know what it's like to be completely superior to them in every way and we have that in common-" "Go! Now!" "Fine! My earlier offer of assistance in the non-demon-slaying region still stands if you're interested-" he was actually smiling. "NOW!" she yelled, watching him with disdain as he strolled along past the borders into Alicante with that smug smile on his face the entire time. I already hate him. Jon couldn't tell if the red in his sister's cheeks, almost the same colour as her hair, was the cause of anger, embarrassment, or even blushing? No. Clary is ruthless. She'd never blush. Especially not for a guy like Jonathan Herondale.