A/N: This story was originally published about two years ago. I am currently revising it and then I will continue with the story.

I do not own any part of the Mortal Instruments Series.

CHAPTER 1 – THE TRUTH

"CLARY…." Her mother called from kitchen. Screamed was more like it, Clary turned the volume down on her stereo.

"Clary come down stairs please…." Jocelyn's voice seemed frantic. Peeling her skin from the stool she had been sitting on, she made her way downstairs. Clary had spent the better part of the day locked inside her room painting, as usual. Now she was sitting on the arm of the couch in her childhood home. She had lived in the same house for as long as she could remember. It was a quaint two story beach house with an unobstructed view of the water. Living in Miami was a great deal like being a fish in an aquarium. Tourist, vacationers, and retirees flooded the streets 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over the beautiful beach life that she enjoyed every day.

Jocelyn was sitting next to her father, Luke. She seemed to shaking but Clary couldn't be sure. Her mother was not the type to sit quivering on the couch. Her mother had always been the brave one, the one who ran towards the sound of chaos.

"I'm so sorry honey," Clary looked at her mother concerned. What could have possibly happened?

"Mom? What's wrong?"

"The truth is your dad and I have not been completely honest with you." Jocelyn finally looked up. It was clear she had been crying. "I had always imagined that you would find out about this differently, when you were a bit more…ready. But that doesn't matter now."

"What is she talking about Dad?" Clary looked towards Luke, her eyes begged for an explanation.

"We didn't meet in college Clary; in fact, your mother and I have known each other our entire lives." He started.

Jocelyn took a deep breath and took her daughters hand in hers; just like she used to do when Clary was a child and she was about to deliver bad news. "Before I married Luke, I was married to a man named Valentine. I was too young to know what love was but he got me pregnant, so we married to keep our families honor."

Clary opened her mouth, but no words came out. Honor? Was her mother serious? Running her hands through her tangled hair, Clary turned to look directly at her mother.

"Luke is your father Clary, I promise." Jocelyn said sensing Clary's question. "This child was a son. I was only eighteen, but I adjusted to my new life quickly." Her mother's tone had changed, as if she had dove head first into her memories. "I became so ill that the healers would not let me out of bed. It wasn't until after I gave birth that I figured out why…" Jocelyn looked at Luke, as if she was drawing from him the strength to continue her story. "Valentine named our son Jonathan. Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern. But something was wrong with him. He never cried, or smiled…and his eyes…." tears were lining her eyes now, "I then realized that Valentine had done something to him."

"Wait… did you say healers?" Clary interrupted.

"Yes, I'll get there in a minute" Jocelyn hated being interrupted. "I knew that I could not stay with Valentine, but leaving was not easy. I turned to my best friend at the time… your father." She smiled meekly at her husband.

"I helped her escape from Valentine eventually; Jonathan is still with his father somewhere. That's part of the problem Clary. Valentine thinks that you are his daughter; he doesn't know about the affair that Jocelyn and I had." Luke held his hand out to her.

Clary took it and slid down onto the cushion. "So, why all the fuss now? I've been alive for eighteen years and he never seemed to care."

"It's deeper than that honey" Jocelyn glance nervously at Luke before continuing "We've been in hiding for eighteen years, living under the radar without a trace. Until yesterday, when I found this," she said holding up a piece of paper passing it to Clary "taped to the refrigerator."

'I want what is mine kitten.'

"You mean someone was in the apartment?" Clary asked, and Jocelyn nodded her head. Little hairs stood up on the back of her neck.

"It has not been easy hiding all of these years. Valentine is a very… resourceful man." Her mother continued bitterly. "We have had help, that necklace you wear for example; it keeps people from being able to track you. So, for now you are still safe. But, we can't rely on that Clary" Luke stood up and walked to the closet.

"Clary you're different than other people. The fairy tales I read you as a child are much more real than you would believe. "

"Mom, I don't understand what you're talking about," This was too much for Clary. She was half expecting Ashton Kutcher to pop out of the closet with a camera crew yelling PUNK'D! Luke returned from the hall with three empty duffle bags.

"You are a shadowhunter Clary." He said it so matter of fact, tapping his watch at Jocelyn.

"A Shadowhunter…" she repeated sarcastically, making it clear that she didn't believe a word he was saying.

"There is no way to truly explain everything now, but I promise all of your questions will be answered. I'm sorry that we didn't do this sooner honey."

"Do what sooner?" She demanded. Her head was spinning as she eyed the duffle bags suspiciously.

"It's not safe here anymore, Valentine knows that we are here and it won't take much snooping for him to figure out who you are. Jocelyn and I need to go into hiding."

"What about me…" Clary stammered, tears were building in her eyes. This is not happening, this is not happening….

"Shadowhunters are the soldiers that protect ordinary people from demons. We are warriors Clary; it's in your blood and we should never have kept that from you. You are going to the place where you can learn what you need to survive. The Institute in New York will be a safe haven; we have friends there who will train you."

"Demons…you're joking right? I'm going to learn how to fight demons in the big apple?"

"Yes honey, I know it sounds strange but you don't have a choice." Jocelyn said putting her arms around her daughter pulling her in for a hug. "I'm sorry my love, I really need you to trust me right now." Her mother pleaded, her eyes searching Clary's for a sign that she understood.

Clary sighed in defeat "So when do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. First thing, these are for you to pack." Luke motioned to the bags. "Clary, I don't want to scare you too badly but you need to know this." he said looking at Jocelyn for confirmation. "Take what you can because anything left behind has to be burned. It's the only way to protect your identity."

That was all Clary could handle. She ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door closed behind her. All she wanted to do was throw herself onto her bed and huff like a child. But in her heart Clary knew this was true. Being different was something Clary understood very well. She never quite fit in anywhere. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and looked around the room. Burned?

Clary walked over to her easel, staring at the almost finished painting. Moving the canvas aside, she grabbed the wooden legs and folded it down; placing it into the side pouch of the first bag. She wondered about where she was going. The Institute didn't really sound all that friendly. A school that taught you to kill demons, what kind of place was that? What if she didn't want to be part of this whole thing? She wanted so badly to run out into the living room and tell her mother that she wasn't going to play this ridiculous game. But instead she gathered up all of her brushes and pencils. Every last art supply Clary owned was inside of her travel case. She had spent years devising and crafting the perfect carrying case so she never had to do without. Art was her passion. She packed her pictures and jewelry, anything she wouldn't be able to replace; admittedly it wasn't much. Maybe New York would be nice, she had always wanted to visit.

The finality of everything sank deeper with ever shirt and dress she packed away.

Her hand went, like it always did when she was upset, to her necklace. It had been a gift on her fifth birthday and she thought back to what her mother had said… the necklace you wear keeps people from being able to track you. She was afraid to take it off, but she pulled out her mirror and studied the design etched onto the surface of the emerald. Clary couldn't tear her eyes from the lines, even as they started to move and wiggle. Untraceable. She could have read it like English.

Clary was snapped out of her trance by a knock on her door. Shaking away the fuzziness, she opened the door to see her mother standing in the hall.

"Can I come in for a minute?" Jocelyn asked. Clary just sighed stepping back and let her enter. Jocelyn sat on Clary's bed with her hands folded over a silver box. She was dressed strangely in a black body suit. She looked like a stranger from a comic book.

"Come to tell me that you're cat woman now?" she said nastily. Clary couldn't help being angry.

"It's my fighting gear Clary, it keeps me safe. You will have your own soon; although it will probably be much more updated." Jocelyn said flatly. She sounded tired and stressed.

"Come sit, it's time for me to give you something every shadowhunter must have. These belonged to my mother; she would want you to have them." She handed Clary the silver box "Open it."

Clary lifted the lid and looked inside. A rock and a jeweled pen. "That is a witchlight, it will bring you light in the darkest moments. And this", she said lifting up the emerald encrusted pen "is your stele. You will learn how to use it soon."

"Thanks mom, but being honest I wish this wasn't happening…"

"Me either Clary, there are so many things you still don't know, so many things I wanted to tell you….and I will, once thing are back to normal."

Clary started to tell her mother that normal was now gone when she heard the door bell ring, Jocelyn stiffened. Her bed room door opened and Luke walked in. He nodded to Jocelyn and then turned toward Clary. "Our only chance of protection requires that your mother and I leave tonight, but the Institute has sent you their best to keep you safe and escort you to New York."

"This shit gets better and better!" Clary was furious. How could they do this; expecting her to literally drop everything and pack her things. To just run away with some stranger while they went off together, they wouldn't really do that to her. Would they?

"Why can't I go with you guys?"

"There is no safer place than the Institute. Remember that Clary." Luke insisted, pulling her in for a hug. Clary felt him stroking her hair; she couldn't help but cry harder. She was going to miss her mom and dad so much.

"Promise me that you will come back for me?" She sobbed.

"Oh honey, all of this is for you."

The door bell chimed again and Luke pulled away from Clary, "I'll be right back."

"Clary I want you to know that I love you very much." Her mother squeezed her shoulders but she could only nod.

Luke returned and he was not alone. Dressed head to toe in black gear, similar to her mothers, stood her 'protection detail'. Normally the fact that there were several blades and a pistol strapped to his belt would have bothered Clary, but she couldn't take her eyes off of his face. His strong features and broad shoulders made him seem so much larger than Luke, but seemed to be around her age. His skin swirled with black lines which only made his golden hair seem to glow, and his eyes laced with honey entranced her. He looked like a mix of 007 and an Abercrombie model.

"Clary this is Jace, he will be your escort." Her father introduced.

"Hi," she said suddenly aware of her tiny shorts and tank top. He nodded without looking her way and glanced around her room.

"What kind of wards are we working with Lucian?" Jace had walked over to the windows and was looking out into the alley below. Clary's eyes followed him against her will.

"It was standard before yesterday, but I called in a favor with an old warlock buddy of mine. This place should be clear for the next eighteen hours or so." Luke answered. Lucian? Clary thought, how well does Luke know this guy?

"Alright. I walked the parameter with the sensor before I came up, and everything seems clear. Your contact is waiting outside with your safe house location and weapons." Jace said to Jocelyn. "May the Angel walk with you,"

"And with you, Jace Herondale" she replied. "Take care of my daughter, it is your responsibility."

"I am good at what I do." Jace said with a reassuring grin.

Luke and Jocelyn hugged Clary one last time before leaving. Clary sat numbly on the bed. It had begun. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do now, especially considering that Apollo himself was standing in her bedroom.

"Uh…you alright Red?" Jace said looking at her for the first time that night. Sizing her up, he decided that what she lacked in hight, she made up for in presence. Long auburn locks fell down her back and he was positive she wasn't wearing a bra. A smirk played at his lips but died when he saw her glare suspiciously.

"Fine, I'm just tired. I don't really understand why you care though, I didn't ask you to come here." She snapped angrily.

"I have a job to do Red. You get to decide if we take the easy road or the hard road. I recommend that you get some rest before we portal tomorrow morning ."

"What's a portal? Why can't we fly?" She protested.

"Because it's safer that way; do you always ask so many questions?" He snapped back at her. This was a simple recovery mission; he would not let this tiny girl get to him.

"Only when a stranger shows up and starts making suggestions" she retorted turning her back to him placing the last items in the bag. Jace did a sweep of the apartment before moving all of her bags into the living room.

"We will have to sleep in here tonight" he said motioning to the couches." Clary curled up on the couch and watched him methodically walk up to each door around the living room and shut it. He pulled a long silver object from his pocket and traced the tip over the wood. Clary gasped in surprise as lines sprang from the tip, writhing as he moved away. "UNBREAKABLE." She didn't realize that she had said it out loud but Jace turned to her.

"What did you say?"

"Unbreakable… that's what you wrote, right?"

"Yeah, but your mom said you have no training or marks yet, there is no way that you should be able to read that." He explained and finished the rest of the doors, including the front.

Jace finished and plopped down on the couch next to Clary's.

"A bit of advice, if you're interested" he started, leaning in toward her. He smelled delectable, it was unnerving but she nodded for him to continue

"Don't tell people about what you just did. It isn't normal."

"Are you calling me a freak?"

"Nah, just special." He replied with a wink sitting back.

A/N: This is the first of the revised chapters! I hope you like the beginning, please review and let me know what you think.

P.S. I know you can all see that giant button right in the middle, so just click it and share your thoughts. Chapter two is almost complete! I want at least five reviews before I post, let me know what you want to see more of. :)

xoxo