A Rune For Heartache

Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments nor do I make profit out of this. It's just for fun.

Okayyyy! So let the fun begin. So people don't be mad with me or whatever (well those who prefer Alec gay), but this is an Alec/O.C girl story. There will be some confusion on Alec's part about his feelings but that will clear out as the plot of the story is revealed.

A/N: the story is AU people; I'll tell you now that the Valentine business takes the back-burner in this, but the Mortal Cup is in involved in some other shenanigans and so is our mystery girl.

Okay, so enough said. Read, enjoy and review please.

Chapter 1

"Daughter", called a deep, velvety voice from the figure that sat on the high backed armchair in the shadow of the opulent room.

"Yes father?" answered a soft but accented voice from the deep red chaise lounge near the roaring fire.

"Child, do you not think that now is the time to go to your fated, for surely you are going to lose him if you keep away any longer. His eye and his heart wonder. Surely you feel the need to be with him even as we speak." Asked the deep voice, concern showing on the father's face even in the deep shadows of the room.

Mediterranean blue eyes clouded with annoyance and a frown marred the milk chocolate face of the girl, who looked to be no more than 17 years of age. In her mind she had all the time in the world and more to worry about such things. Really, now was just not the time, she had demons to hunt and kill, and a world to watch. Now was just not the time.

"Father, I hardly think that the situation is so dire that I need to go to him now, plus you pulled me out of a hunt when called for me, which, I might add, was very important." Said the girl in a slightly annoyed voice.

"I think the situation is dire enough if he fancies himself in love with his friend, Jace Wayland. You really are blind to this, aren't you? This is not one the things you refuse to acknowledge, you cannot run away from this and you had better realise that now because you will be leaving for the Institute in a week's time" the man said as he stood from his throne like armchair. His tall, built and muscular body illuminated by the fire.

The girl looked at her father. Hair, black as midnight and eyes as deep a blue as hers, the only difference was his olive skin tone to her milk chocolate complexion. He looked to be in his late twenties, but she knew that it was as far from the truth for him as it was for her. Appearances were just that, appearances.

The truth was that, she and her father were more alike than either one of them wanted to admit at this point. If her mother were there right now, she surely would have pointed that out, but alas, she was out enjoying the golden sun of Egypt, going through secret tunnels, escaping traps and reading hieroglyphs in the tombs of dead pharaohs.

"I know my place father," she said tightly, "and I wasn't planning on running away from this, as you so kindly pointed out. I was merely biding my time; the boy had to live his life without the impending doom of being fated to one person for all of eternity hanging over his head. I would rather he be a shirt lifter than to have had him resent me."

"But I do feel it you know," she said softly, looking her father in the eye, "I feel the emptiness in my heart and I feel his pain, rejection and loneliness. How can I try to be with him when I am just as damaged as him?"

At that last thing uttered by his daughter, the man had a broken look on his face. He knew what his lengthy absences did to his daughter. To make matters worse, he could not take her with him, not because he did not want to, but because it was not allowed. It really crushed him to hear her, his strong, fierce and stubborn daughter, admit to feeling like that because of him, and he knew it was because of him.

In a moment of affection, he rushed forward and hugged his daughter to him, and he felt her shake with sobs as she cried into his shoulder. This was a rare moment for she rarely ever cried, and it was the first time that he got to comfort his daughter when she did this time.

"You know," he said softly as he felt her sobs subside, "I felt pretty much the same way you did about your mother, like I had all the time in the world and that I wasn't ready for her to be in my life. We may have forever, but if I hadn't given it a chance, I wouldn't have had you, and you are so precious to me, you and your mother too.

It is a rare gift my child, to find the one you're fated to be with, even amongst our kind. Do not throw this chance away, don't throw the chance of a happy life away because you're afraid. Have the courage to love and be loved in return. You are brave, you are my daughter and I love you."

"Thank you father," she said softly, "thank you for this."

"Yes well, you are my daughter and I know you will be mad at me for this, but Rufaro will be your guard when you go to the Institute" he said, shifting slightly to the side to get away from his daughter's oncoming wrath.

A dumbfounded and dazed look crossed her face as she tried to wrap her head around what her father had just said, "You want that dunderhead of a D grade angel called Rufaro to be my guard?" she asked in a dangerously low voice. "Father! I am not a child, I do need a babysitter, God!" she finished, shouting.

"Do not say His name child", said the man sternly, "but I'm not, how do you kids say it these days, ah yes, I'm not going to budge on this one. You are going and Rufaro is going with and that is final.

"If it makes you happy father, then I shall go" she said demurely.

"Oh no child, this is for you, only for you and your happiness" he said, hugging his daughter again.

"Hmm, it is as you say, but I think it is about time I get back to my hunt. I'll to track that demon down again, but no sweat" she said as she knew that their time together was drawing to a close.

A small smile made its way to the father's face. He knew that his daughter was only putting on a brave face because saying goodbye was always hard for him too, so he just went along with it, "Well you are the best hunter here on Earth considering how many years you've been at it."

"Are you trying to say that I'm old? Where is my father and what did you do to him?" she asked rhetorically with a smile, "I think you are hanging out with Rufaro too much" she finished with a small laugh escaping from her lips.

"Yes well, anything to keep me up with the times right. I have to go sweetheart, you will see me sooner this time. I think I'm due for a month long holiday in few weeks' time, so you'll be bored to death with your old man" he said with a smile.

"Yes, yes now go before you get into trouble. I love you father, see you in a week", said the girl as she walked to through the door.

And in a column of white light, the man disappeared from the room, leaving it empty.

Okay, okay, so that's the first chapter down. I know it's a lot of mystery (helloooo, no names mentioned) but that's all part of the story right, but next chapter there will be a name and the girl will get to meet the demon-slayer gang.

*Interesting fact: the name Rufaro means Gift in Shona.