Chapter 1:
Clary POV
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" I hear Jace yell from his bedroom.
We had just come back from a demon raid inside of an abandoned warehouse and it was safe to say we were exhausted. Not bothering to say goodnight we all left to our designated bedrooms. As I entered to room I would retire to after nights like these, I found a manila folder on my bed, the name "Clary" written on it in black sharpie. From Jace's reaction I assumed the same thing was in his room and immediately opened the package.
What I saw inside took my breath away.
Inside is a schedule and a school ID with my face on it. The exact picture from my sophomore year school ID, in fact this is the same school I spent my last two years, a place I never thought I'd go back to after the past months events.
I run into the hallway only to run into Alec who is holding a folder identical to mine. We give each other confused looks and make our way to the library where voices are yelling at each other.
"You're kidding me right? This is a joke. I have one job and that's to fight demons not go to public school and babysit some helpless teens!" I hear Isabelle yelling at Robert and Maryse when I enter the library.
Jace is already there, lost in thought while looking at his own ID badge. Like the rest of us his gear is still on and his clothes are splattered with ichor and sweat. I walk over to the wall he's leaning on, he doesn't seem to notice me until I'm inches away from him, as our eyes meet we don't say anything. Fatigue is making my body sink and I'm too tired to fight whatever we've been brought into against our will.
"Ah. Good, you've all received your introductory packets."
I look at him confused as Isabelle lets out a sigh of defeat before sinking into a chair behind her.
" What have you got us into Robert?" Jace speaks up to his adoptive father.
"Congratulations." He says enthusiastically "As of Monday morning you are all officially students of the Manhattan public school system!"
When none of us are amused Maryse decides to speak up.
"What he means is this is your newest, long term mission. Demon activity has been lighting up St. Xavier High School for the past couple of weeks, oddly enough after Sebastian decided to disappear."
I feel my heartbeat quicken. I was never fond of my high school, I liked it enough but I couldn't imagine why Sebastian would be targeting my old high school.
"So what do you want us to do?" I hear myself say and instantly regretting it as all eyes fell on me.
"That's a good question. There's a greater demon on the loose in that area. We know that Sebastian is behind this but wouldn't be stupid enough to do the dirty work himself."
"So you want us to kill a greater demon?" Alec says, his voice rising in suspicion.
"Not exactly. Just to send him back to his home realm or get Sebastian out of his hiding place. We had no other choice, it's a high school, when would a bunch of 30, 40, 50 year old clave member be allowed in a school full of teenagers, now that would be suspicious. But most of all Clary is our most valuable asset in this plan."
I look up shocked at Maryse's words.
"What do you mean?" I ask cautiously, knowing where this is going.
" Don't play dumb Clarissa." Robert speaks up sharply.
All eyes turn to him sharply and I feel Jace's comforting hand reach for mine.
" You've spent the last two years at St. Xavier, and over10 years with some of the students. You know what it's like in a high school." Robert continued as if he hadn't just been shut down.
I feel Jace, Alec, and Isabelle's eyes boring holes through me. I had never told them about my high school because I never thought it would be important.
"I have a question." Jace says after a second.
We all look at him to continue.
"Are there uniforms at this school? I don't mean to brag but I look incredibly sexy in a polo."
I can't help but smile a little at the thought of that. At the same time I hear Isabelle gag at the other side of the room.
I take it this meeting is adjourned.
By the time I reach my bedroom I'm totally drained from drawing so many iratzes not 2 hours ago and fighting of at least 12 hydras, yet my mind is reeling.
I look my schedule over remembering most of the teachers on the list. I jump when I hear a knock on my open doorframe.
"Can I come in?" Jace asks, I nod, not looking up at him.
"What on your mind?" he asks me, sitting next to me on my bed.
I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts together but only jumbles them some more. I lean my head on his shoulder, the smell of a fresh iratze still burning his skin mixed with sweat lingered on his body, I suddenly feel self conscious on how I smell right now.
"How can I go back there?" not really talking to Jace. "I've been gone months with no explanation to why I disappeared and all of a sudden I'm back. How do I keep training?" I ask all of my thoughts suddenly flooding through mouth "What if he's already expecting us there? It could already be too late all those kids are probably as good as dead and there's nothing we can do about it, I have one job and I can't even-"
"Hey." Jace says, taking my face into his hands. "You're not alone here, you know I have your back and always will and so does Izzy and Alec. Jesus, you look exhausted. Go, sleep we can talk about it tomorrow."
Exhaustion wiped over me once again where it took all my energy to remove my gear jacket, take of my boots and pants so I was only in my ichor stained t shirt and a pair of shorts. Once my head made contact with my pillow all other thoughts escaped me. I feel the tension of the bed ease as Jace stands up to leave.
"Wait." I barely whisper, I'm surprised he actually hears me. "Stay, please." I plead.
He walks to close the door and then removes his own jacket, shirt and pants until he's just in a pair of boxers. Under any other circumstances I would've felt embarrassed at my boyfriend nearly naked next to me, but I'm too tired to care.
I rest my head on his chest and I feel his arm wrap around my waist.
"You're right." I mumble "You would look sexy in uniform, but have you seen my in my skirt for school?"
I feel his heart beat speed up as he takes in a sharp breath. I chuckle a little to myself, boys, before sleep overcomes me.
I wake up the next day feeling better than I had last night. I turn in the bed to face Jace who's still sound asleep, the only time he seems totally at peace. I don't bother waking him up and get up to take a shower, I feel disgusting having not showered after yesterday's demon raid.
After showering and changing into a pair of leggings and a gray sweater I walk back into my bedroom to see Jace missing from it. My heart drops for a second in disappointment until I see a piece of paper on my bed: ' Meeting in the library, see you there (; "
I can't help but smile as I walk into the library to see everyone already gathered and surprisingly my mother, Luke, Simon, and a couple other clave members I don't recognize. I levitate towards my mother and Luke to ask what this is about until Maryse stands up from behind a desk.
"Okay everyone, we're all here for the first order of business." She says, grabbing everyone's attention.
"As of tomorrow Alexander and Isabelle Lightwood, Jace Herondale, Simon Lewis and Clarissa Morgenstern will start the most pivotal mission in finding the whereabouts of Jonathan Morgenstern." I cringe at the sound of 'Morgenstern" coming after my first name but don't speak.
"How do we know this isn't just a greater demon finding another breeding ground?" A man probably in his late 60s asks from a couch.
" Tis is the first demonic activity ever at that location, greater demons would never take that kind of risk without a higher boss informing them to. We've discussed the consequences and alternate scenarios and are almost certain that this is part of Jonathan's overall plan." She answers him.
"Wouldn't you say this is a little risky? Sending our next generation, our children into a demons lair? Why not wait for Jonathan to make the first move?" I hear my mother say behind me.
"Yeah, why not just send the sister, Clarissa, that's all he's ever had interest in and he might come out sooner." Another man says through the crowd of people.
Everyone immediately begins arguing on whether the idea is a good or bad one. I see Jace fighting through the crowd of clave members and grabs my hand so we're standing together. He must've also showered, his hair is still damp and he's changed into a pair of jeans and a black t shirt.
"Excuse me!" Maryse yells through the arguments ensuing. "The decision has been made, fighting will not change the clave's decision. We brought you all here to tell your respected institutes to stay prepared and stay alert, for now though, this is the best we can do to stay one step ahead of Jonathan."
The meeting was left at that and clave member continued to mingle in the library. I feel Jace tugging me with him toward the library door with Simon, Alec and Isabelle in tow, all of wanting to get out of there as fast as we could.
"So what now?" Isabelle says as we reach the circular area outside of the library, she still sounds bitter from the decision made.
" I've never been to school before, I've never even been inside of one." Alec chimes in.
Simon and I exchange glances remembering the crowded hallways of St. Xavier, a fight happening almost every week in the hallways, the friends we left behind there…
"I know two people who have." Jace says breaking me free of my thoughts; I look up at him as he looks down at me curiously.
I shrug "Yeah, it's like being homeschooled but with 2000 other kids."
Jace smirks and we all look at each around as if asking each other how we spend our last day of freedom.
"Come on." I say, pulling Jace with me, everyone follows us out the door grabbing their jackets as we walk out into the cool weather.
"Where are we going" Jace finally questions me.
"Back to school shopping" is all I say.
3 hours and 12 stores later, what had originally been a trip to get backpacks and notebooks for Alec, Jace, and Isabelle turned into a shopping spree for Izzy to find a brand new wardrobe for school. Not fun.
We're now on the subway on the way to my house to pick p my old school supplies and a couple of changes of clothes for the week when I get a call from my mom.
"Hello?" I answer cautiously.
"Clary? Hello?" My mom answers back "Clarissa where have you been? You've been gone almost 4 hours!"
Dammit. Did I really forget to call my mom?
"Yeah… um, sorry about that mom I was with Jace, Alec, Izzy, and Simon to get them some school supplies…"
"mmhmm." Is all she says, her concern turning into annoyance.
I sigh and see Jace giving me a curious look next to me.
"Okay well I'm going home to pick up some supplies but I'll be back at the institute by around 3 or 4 is that okay?" I ask her
There's a pause.
" That's fine sweetie but Luke and I have to leave for the annual Clave meeting in Idris, I have no idea when we'll be back but at the soonest 2 weeks." She blurts out as if this news is terrible.
"That's fine mom I'll see you guys in two weeks." I say
"I love you baby. Stay safe."
"I promise mom, love you too." I say
She hangs up as we reach our stop and get off of the subway.
"Everything okay?" Jace asks me
I just nod, feeling somewhat bad for making my mom worry. I don't bother looking up at him as we continue walking down the street.
When we make it to my house it looks dark and lifeless. I don't bother going through the front door since I forgot my key at the institute, Instead I do what I've done about a million times and climb over the gate to the backyard and then into my room.
Simon apparently had the same idea and is already in my room sitting on my bed. Jace, Alec, and Izzy follow behind me and filter into the small room.
When everyone is in I close the window and start looking under my bed to find my old Jansport backpack and my other school supplies.
"Oh my god I can't!" I hear Izzy say from across my room.
I hit my head on the bed frame and feel my cheeks go red when I see she's holding a picture of Simon and I on our first day of school when we were 5. I had on a pair of overalls with a bright orange shirt under, my hair in pigtails and a unicorn backpack on. Simon with a spider man shirt and his glasses almost too big for his face, we were holding hands.
Isabelle was laughing so hard while Jace took the picture examining it hard under his gaze, Simon and I feeling awkward as ever as I practically ran into my closet to pack.
I jump when I feel arms wrap around my waist as I'm shoving clothes into my duffel bag.
"I think you looked adorable." He whispers into my ear making goose bumps raise all over my skin.
" Yeah, kindergarten was an awkward year for everyone." I say back, turning around in his arms.
"I could imagine. Overalls? Really?" he retorts jokingly.
I slap him on the chest before going in to kiss him.
"Um guys?" Simon says outside of my room.
We both stop our lips almost touching as Jace pulls back impatiently.
" What ratface?" he yells out of my room.
"Yeah we have a little problem." He says back cautiously.
Jace and I look at each other before running out of my room to see the scene before us, or at least, the person.
Sebastian.
Hello Everyone! So this is my first chapter of my second fanfic and I really hope you guys enjoy because I really enjoyed writing it! Comment how you guys feel about this story so I know it's still worth writing!
Love you all!
XOXO
Erin